Outer Realm Rift: Battle to Defend the Altar

[System notification: Outer Realm Evil Clan energy fluctuations detected. Main quest "Investigate the Rift" upgraded to "Battle to Defend the Altar." Objective: defend the core of the Gu Clan altar, prevent the Evil Clan vanguard from breaking through the seal, and survive for ≥12 hours. Current team status: Xiao Yan (Heavenly Flame Origin fused, Peak Dou Emperor), Zi Yan (Dragon-Phoenix Bloodline fully awakened, Peak Dou Emperor), Lin Yan (Burning Heaven Flame and Nether Prison Purple Flame fusion, Mid Dou Emperor), Ye Xinlan (alchemy at the realm of "bringing the dead back to life and putting flesh on bare bones," Early Dou Emperor), Lu Mu (spatial formations at major accomplishment, Mid Dou Emperor), Wu Hao (Black Tortoise Space-Splitting Axe and spatial runes, Mid Dou Emperor), Lin Xiuya (sword intent made tangible, "Eagle and Falcon Formation Break," Mid Dou Emperor), Hu Gan (Black Tortoise Indestructible Body, late stage, Mid Dou Emperor). Enemy information: Outer Realm Evil Clan vanguard (number: 500+, average level: Peak Dou Wang-Early Dou Emperor, special units: Evil Clan Warlords x3 (Mid Dou Emperor), evil-energy suicide soldiers x100).]

Chapter 1: Defending the Altar and the First Encounter with the Evil Clan

The Gu Clan altar stood atop Ten-Thousand-Ren Peak in the heart of the Central Plains. Built from ancient bluestone, it was covered in "evil-suppressing runes." A fist-sized "sacred crystal" floated at its core-the key to sealing the Outer Realm rift. Now, the runes around the altar glowed red, and the air twisted into a vortex. The dark Star Domain at the other end of the rift was faintly visible, where countless Evil Clan creatures with compound eyes and bony wings battered the invisible wall of the seal.

"Lu Mu, how are the formation preparations?" Xiao Yan stood at the highest point of the altar, Green Lotus Core Flame flowing across his palm as he surveyed his companions waiting below in battle formation.

Lu Mu wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed to the eight Stone Pagodas around the altar. "The Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation has been activated. Heavenly Flame energy has been infused into every pagoda. Once the Evil Clan breaks through the seal, the formation will draw them into the pagodas and grind them to pieces. But..." He looked at the rift. "This rift is three times larger than the ancient texts describe. The formation might not hold for long."

Ye Xinlan handed a stack of pill bottles out to everyone. "These are Spirit-Calming Pills and Qi Burst Pills. The former stabilize Dou Qi; the latter increase combat strength by 30% for a short time, but there's a risk of backlash. Don't use them unless it's an emergency." She made a point of pressing two extra bottles into Xiao Yan's hands. "Your Heavenly Flame Origin has only just fused. Whatever you do, don't force yourself to overdraw it."

Zi Yan beat her wings, and Dragon Phoenix Golden Flame formed a protective barrier above the altar. "I'll guard the sky. No one's getting a chance to ambush the sacred crystal from above!"

Wu Hao swung up the Space-Splitting Axe and slammed its blade into the ground, sending out a ring of spatial ripples. "Leave the front to Hu Gan and me. I'll chop them up, and he'll take the hits. A perfect combination!"

Hu Gan answered in a muffled voice. Dark-gold Black Tortoise armor covered his entire body, and he planted himself at the altar entrance, looking for all the world like a mobile fortress.

Lin Xiuya's sword stood embedded in a crack in the stone, its sword intent spreading along the runes. "I'll guard the left flank, and Lin Yan will guard the right. Suppress them from a distance. Don't let the suicide soldiers near the altar."

Lin Yan's eyes flickered at his fingertips, and he chuckled. "Suicide soldiers? I'll burn every one that comes and leave them no chance to blow themselves up!"

Before he had finished speaking, the wall of the seal split with a sharp crack. The first to squeeze through were a group of Evil Clan vanguard soldiers. They resembled mantises, each two zhang long, with forelimbs of bony blades that flashed coldly. Their compound eyes swiveled and locked onto the altar's core.

"They're here!" Xiao Yan blurred into motion. Green Lotus Flame turned into a rain of fire that filled the sky, instantly burning the ten leading vanguard soldiers to ash. [System notification: Xiao Yan has killed Evil Clan vanguard soldiers x10 and obtained "evil-energy crystals" x10 (can be used to repair the formation).]

The rest of the Evil Clan vanguard poured out like a tide, their bone blades striking sparks against the Stone Pagodas. The Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation activated at once. Chains of golden light shot from the pagodas, binding dozens of vanguard soldiers in midair. The runes seared their bodies, drawing shrill, anguished hisses.

"This formation's pretty good!" Wu Hao cleaved apart a vanguard soldier that lunged at the altar, and the spatial rift on his axe blade ground it to pieces. "Lu Mu, you get a thumbs-up from me!"

Lu Mu's expression, however, was grave. "Don't celebrate too soon. Look at the rift!"

Everyone turned to look. Three Evil Clan Warlords, each three times the size of a vanguard soldier, were slowly squeezing out of the rift. Their skin was purple-black, and they carried bone staves set with emeralds. With a point of the staves, dark-green poisonous spikes burst from the ground and pierced two vanguard soldiers bound by the chains of light-they were actually using the flesh and blood of their own kind as nourishment!

[System notification: Evil Clan Warlords have appeared. The Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation's energy consumption has increased by 100%!]

Chapter 2: The Warlords' Trick and Lin Xiuya's Sword

"The one on the left is mine!" Lin Xiuya drew his sword, and his sword intent became a silver eagle that charged straight at the leftmost Warlord. The Warlord waved its bone staff, and poisonous spikes burst from the ground, only for the silver eagle of sword intent to cut them down one by one.

"Is that all you've got?" Lin Xiuya rode his sword forward, its tip sweeping through the air and leaving a silver trail. "Eagle and Falcon Formation Break!"

The silver trail suddenly burst into countless threads of sword intent, stabbing at the Warlord like a torrential rain. The Warlord roared and raised its bone staff to block, but the sword threads slashed its skin. Dark-green blood splattered onto the ground, eating away small pits.

"Interesting." The Warlord's voice rasped like sandpaper. It suddenly drove its bone staff into the ground, and the corpses of the vanguard soldiers began to melt into a dark-green slurry that flowed through the cracks in the stone toward Lin Xiuya's feet-it was exploiting a flaw in the formation to attack around the chains of light!

Lin Xiuya tapped his toes against the ground and retreated like a drifting willow catkin. His sword threads gathered into a shield to block the slurry, and he suddenly recalled Xiao Yan's rain of fire. "Xiao Yan! Lend me some fire!"

Xiao Yan understood at once. A pillar of Green Lotus Flame shot toward the tip of Lin Xiuya's sword. Flame and sword intent fused into a burning silver eagle, which tore through the slurry and pecked viciously at the Warlord's bone staff. With a crack, the emerald on the staff split. The Warlord let out a pained hiss, its movements visibly slowing.

"Now!" Lin Xiuya moved with his sword, passing through the flames and poisonous mist. One thrust pierced the Warlord's neck, and dark-green blood gushed out, only to be burned into wisps of green smoke by the flames on his sword.

[System notification: Lin Xiuya has killed Evil Clan Warlord x1 and obtained "evil-energy core" x1 (can greatly repair the formation)!]

Seeing this, the Warlord on the right suddenly pointed its bone staff at the barrier around the altar's core. Zi Yan immediately gathered Dragon Phoenix Flame to block it, but the Warlord gave a sinister smile and redirected its staff toward the ground-it had feinted east to strike west! The ground split open, and dozens of vanguard soldiers crawled out of the cracks. Bypassing the Stone Pagodas, they charged straight at Hu Gan at the altar entrance!

"Think you can ambush me? No chance!" Hu Gan crossed his arms over his chest, and his Black Tortoise armor took the vanguard soldiers' bone blades head-on, sparks flying. He unleashed a burst of force, blasting the soldiers in front of him into their companions behind them. "Wu Hao, help me clear out the ones in back!"

Wu Hao had already set his sights on the Warlord. His Space-Splitting Axe swept toward it, trailing a spatial rift. "Your opponent is me!" Axe blade and bone staff collided, and the spatial fluctuations shook the surrounding vanguard soldiers to dust. The force of the axe drove the Warlord back. The emerald on its bone staff flashed, summoning a shield made of evil energy.

"Think that'll stop me?" Wu Hao sneered. The axe handle suddenly spun, and spatial rifts spread along the blade. "Break!"

The rifts struck the shield, and the evil energy shattered like glass. The axe blade followed through into the Warlord's shoulder, shearing away half its body. [System notification: Wu Hao has killed Evil Clan Warlord x1. The Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation has been repaired by 20%!]

When the last Warlord in the middle saw this, it suddenly spun on the spot, its bone staff radiating a blinding green light-it was summoning the evil-energy suicide soldiers! Hundreds of small, scrawny Evil Clan creatures poured out of the rift, their bellies swollen like balloons and their green light growing brighter and brighter.

"Oh no! They're going to blow themselves up together!" Ye Xinlan cried, throwing out several "ice-sealing talismans." They temporarily froze the suicide soldiers in front, but more were breaking free of the talismans' restraints.

Lin Yan leaped into the air, his twin flames gathering into a giant fireball in his palm. "Burn!" The fireball fell and formed a sea of flames that engulfed the suicide soldiers. Explosions rose and fell within the fire, but dozens still broke through the wall of flame and lunged toward the altar!

"Stop them!" Xiao Yan's Green Lotus Flame and Zi Yan's Dragon Phoenix Flame erupted together, forming a wall of two-colored fire. But the Warlord waved its bone staff, and the suicide soldiers ignored the searing flames, battering a gap through the wall with their own bodies-the sacred crystal was their target!

Just then, a silver chain of light shot from a Stone Pagoda of the Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation and wrapped precisely around the last Warlord's neck-it was Lu Mu! Risking an overload of the formation, he had forcibly mobilized all its remaining energy to restrict the Warlord's movements for the moment!

"Now!" Xiao Yan and Zi Yan exchanged a glance. The Heavenly Flame Origin and Dragon Phoenix Flame fused completely into a giant gold-and-green fire phoenix. It swooped down, swallowing the remaining suicide soldiers and the bound Warlord together.

[System notification: The last Evil Clan Warlord has been killed! The Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation has been repaired by 50%! All evil-energy suicide soldiers have been eliminated. The altar's core is safe for the moment!]

Chapter 3: The Widening Rift and Ye Xinlan's Pill

After a brief calm, the rift suddenly shook violently. The dark Star Domain at its edge became much clearer, and larger silhouettes could faintly be seen-the Evil Clan's main force was gathering on the other side of the rift!

"It won't hold!" Lu Mu spat out a mouthful of blood. Cracks had appeared in three of the Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation's Stone Pagodas. "The formation only has 30% of its energy left. It can hold them off for one more hour at most!"

Lin Yan helped Lu Mu sit down, then collapsed to the ground himself, gasping for breath. "My twin flames are nearly exhausted. That last attack was too much..." His arms were covered in burn blisters, the backlash from forcibly driving his twin flames.

The spatial runes on Wu Hao's Space-Splitting Axe had lost their luster. He leaned against a Stone Pagoda with a bitter smile. "My spatial power is nearly spent too. If we keep fighting, even my axe will shatter."

Ye Xinlan immediately rushed to Lin Yan's side, took out a pill furnace, and gathered green Dou Qi at her fingertips. "Nobody move!" She crushed the Spirit-Calming Pills she had refined earlier, mixed them with fresh herbs, and added three drops of Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame Origin, which Xiao Yan squeezed out by cutting his finger. Golden flames instantly rose in the furnace.

"Is that... a Nirvana Pill?" Lu Mu's eyes widened in surprise. "The ancient texts say this pill can instantly restore Dou Qi and repair damaged meridians, but it needs Heavenly Flame Origin as a catalyst. You really know how to refine it!"

Sweat beaded on Ye Xinlan's forehead, and the hand she used to control the fire trembled slightly. "Don't talk. You'll disturb my control of the fire..." Her Dou Qi was draining rapidly, and this pill had nearly exhausted her alchemy cultivation.

Zi Yan landed beside her and wrapped the pill furnace in Dragon Phoenix Flame. "I'll help you!" The golden flames mingled with the golden flames in the furnace, and the temperature instantly stabilized at the most suitable critical point.

Xiao Yan, meanwhile, stood before the rift, Green Lotus Flame forming a shield around him as he faced the Evil Clan's main force alone as it battered the seal. The Evil Clan's bone spears struck his shield again and again with dull thuds. Blood gradually seeped from the corner of his mouth-the fusion of his Heavenly Flame Origin was still unstable, and forcing himself to hold on had begun to tear his meridians.

"Xiao Yan!" Zi Yan was so anxious she wanted to cry, but she dared not let herself be distracted and could only speed up the operation of the pill furnace.

Lin Xiuya and Hu Gan guarded Xiao Yan on either side. Their sword and armor were covered in cracks, but they continued to hold firm against the pressure. "Hold on! Xin Lan's pills are almost ready!" Lin Xiuya's voice was breathless, and his sword intent had grown so weak he could barely bring it together.

Finally, Ye Xinlan gave a soft cry. "Done!"

The pill furnace opened, and three golden pills floated in the air, giving off a soothing fragrance. She grabbed the pills and threw them to Lin Yan and Wu Hao, then used all her strength to toss the last one to Xiao Yan. "Catch!"

Xiao Yan tilted his head back and swallowed the pill. A warm current instantly surged through his body. His torn meridians began to heal, his exhausted Dou Qi surged back wildly, and his Green Lotus Flame swelled several times over, blasting the Evil Clan's bone spears to pieces! [System notification: Xiao Yan has taken a Nirvana Pill. Status fully restored. Heavenly Flame Origin fusion increased to 80%!]

Lin Yan and Wu Hao instantly recovered their health as well. Burning Heaven Flame and the spatial rifts became active again. Lu Mu seized the chance to repair the formation, and the cracks in the Stone Pagodas gradually healed. "Push a little harder! Forty-five minutes left!"

Chapter 4: The Final Charge and the Meaning of Protecting

A deafening roar came from the rift, and a mountain-sized Evil Clan general broke through the seal. It had no bone wings, but it had ten thick legs, each one pounding toward the altar like a battering ram.

[System notification: Evil Clan general (Peak Dou Emperor) has appeared! Its "Ten-Thousand-Jin Trample" can directly destroy the Stone Pagodas!]

"I'll take it!" Hu Gan charged forward. His Black Tortoise armor collided with the Evil Clan general's massive leg with an earth-shaking crash. He staggered backward, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, but he held firm against the first stomp. "Xiao Yan! Think of something, quick! This thing's ridiculously tough!"

Xiao Yan looked at the sacred crystal at the altar's core, then at his battle-scarred companions, and suddenly understood something. He charged toward the Evil Clan general, but instead of attacking, he infused his Heavenly Flame Origin into the ground. The altar's evil-suppressing runes activated and spread along his Dou Qi, forming an enormous runic formation beneath the general's feet!

"Is that... the Gu Clan's Sacrificial Formation?" Lu Mu cried out. "Xiao Yan, are you mad? That formation uses your own Dou Qi as a sacrifice!"

"Shut up and set the formation!" Xiao Yan's voice rang with unquestionable resolve. "Zi Yan, ignite the runes with Dragon Phoenix Flame! Lin Xiuya, guide the runes with your sword intent and bind its legs! Lin Yan, burn its eyes!"

Zi Yan nodded through her tears. Her Dragon Phoenix Flame ignited the runes, and golden fire climbed the Evil Clan general's legs. Lin Xiuya's sword intent became chains that bound all ten of the general's legs tight. Lin Yan's eyes struck the general's eyes with precision, making it roar in pain.

The Evil Clan general struggled wildly, unleashing Ten-Thousand-Jin Trample again and again. The Stone Pagodas of the Eight Desolations Evil-Locking Formation collapsed one after another, and cracks spread across the altar floor like a spiderweb. Xiao Yan's Dou Qi drained rapidly, and his skin turned as pale as paper, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Wu Hao, get the Space-Splitting Axe ready!" he roared, pouring his last trace of Dou Qi into the Sacrificial Formation. "Now!"

Wu Hao swung his axe through his tears. Spatial rifts spread along the runes, slicing through every one of the Evil Clan general's legs! Hu Gan seized the chance to smash a fist into its joint, bringing its enormous body crashing to the ground.

"Ten minutes left!" Lu Mu's voice was thick with tears. He was using his own Dou Qi to sustain the last Stone Pagoda.

The moment the Evil Clan general fell, the rift began to contract. Without the vanguard's support, the Evil Clan's main force was pushed back by the seal once more!

Xiao Yan collapsed to the ground and smiled weakly as he watched the rift gradually close. Ye Xinlan rushed over to feed him medicine, tears falling onto his face. "You fool! Do you know you almost never woke up again?"

Zi Yan landed beside him and gently covered his body with a dragon wing. "Stupid Xiao Yan..."

Lin Xiuya leaned on his sword, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "But we held it."

Wu Hao planted the Space-Splitting Axe in the ground and dropped onto his backside. "Damn it... If you pull something like that again, I'll throw you to the Evil Clan as a snack."

Lin Yan lay on the ground, gazing at the sky. "Worth it... Look, it's dawn."

A fish-belly white spread across the eastern sky. Sunlight shone through the cracks in the altar and fell on everyone, warm and dazzling.

[System notification: Battle to Defend the Altar successful! Survival time: 12 hours, 0 minutes, 30 seconds! The team has received the blessing of "Gu Clan sacred power" (permanently increases Dou Qi purity by 10%)! Xiao Yan has obtained the title "Altar Guardian." Heavenly Flame Origin fully fused!]

Xiao Yan watched the sacred crystal give off a gentle light and finally understood the meaning of protecting-it wasn't one person trying to be strong alone, but a group standing shoulder to shoulder. He clasped Ye Xinlan's hand beside him, looked at his companions, and closed his eyes with a smile.

After resting, they still had to repair the seal and track down traces of the Evil Clan. But for now, they could get a good sleep. After all, dawn had come.