It's Our Turn

Western Ox Continent, Huangliang City.

This once-prosperous city now teeters on the brink of collapse under the relentless assault of bloodthirsty, fearless demonic beasts.

The beasts are savage, and all communication has been cut off. Even when scraps of news manage to slip through, the most common response is—"Hold on, there's hope. Rescue efforts are being organized."

Which is basically just useless lip service.

Lizhi leans wearily against the city wall. To her left, a section of the wall is already half-collapsed. She absently traces the protective artifact in her hand, sensing its nearly depleted spiritual energy.

She hadn’t hoarded the life-saving pills Xu Jin gave her last time, distributing them instead to other gravely injured cultivators.

They had fought just as fiercely for this city. Lizhi had no reason—nor could she bear—to watch them die without lifting a finger.

Now, the remaining pills are almost gone.

Some questioned the origin of these miraculous pills, but Lizhi brushed them off with vague answers.

A few might have guessed the truth; others remained puzzled. But Lizhi’s actions up to now had earned everyone’s trust.

In the end, they could only accept it as a stroke of divine mercy—two extra chances at life.

Lately, the demonic beasts prowling the outskirts have multiplied. It’s as if someone has deliberately targeted this stubborn, inconvenient city, aiming to wipe it off the map.

"Feels like we’re damn well about to break," a rough male voice grumbles behind her.

Lizhi glances up to see a burly, scar-covered man hauling himself onto the wall. His gaze lingers on the civilians below, scavenging demonic beast carcasses for food.

A faint smile tugs at Lizhi’s lips.

"A fortune-teller once said I’m hard to kill. And some mighty cultivator promised I’d taste lychees one day. Haven’t had any yet."

The man lets out a dry chuckle, gripping the wall. After a long silence, he finally speaks.

"Lizhi, I’m no good with words—just honesty. Strictly speaking, you’ve already died once for Huangliang City. You’ve given everything. With that artifact, you could leave. Find a way to survive. Your talent’s too good to waste. Not all of us need to die here."

Lizhi shakes her head. "I don’t want to spend the rest of my life sleepless, regretting that I ran."

The man turns to her, conflicted. He opens his mouth, but no words come out. In the end, he just gives a heavy nod.

Her words strike deep.

He doesn’t want to leave either. That’s why he’s still here.

The two stand in silence until a sudden disturbance snaps them to attention.

Lizhi springs to her feet, eyes locked on the horizon.

Beyond the flat plains surrounding Huangliang City, a massive dust cloud rises, stretching for miles.

The man’s face pales.

"How many beasts is that?"

Even at the city’s peak strength, they’d never faced an onslaught like this. Now? It’s hopeless.

Lizhi presses her lips into a thin line. "Tell everyone to prepare."

The man doesn’t move. "This time, we won’t hold. No one would blame you for leaving."

Lizhi doesn’t answer, tightening her grip on the artifact.

"I’ll hold the first wave."

The man starts to protest—

Then a terrifying surge of Dao essence erupts from the sky behind them.

They whirl around.

A streak of rainbow light hurtles toward them.

At the same time, a brilliant azure beam shoots past, streaking straight for the approaching dust cloud.

Their eyes barely track it—

Then, an earth-shattering explosion.

The azure pillar pierces the heavens, its shockwave rippling across the land even from miles away.

Lizhi and the man gape as the wind howls around them, their clothes whipping violently.

When the light fades, the dust settles.

A sword scar cleaves the earth miles away, a canyon-like gash left in its wake.

Lizhi stands frozen, barely registering that she—and the city—have just been spared annihilation.

Only shock remains.

"Am I... dreaming?" she murmurs.

"Don’t think so."

The rainbow light lands behind them. Chu Xingchen steps forward, answering her whisper.

Lizhi spins around at the familiar voice, her face lighting up.

"Senior Chu!"

He smiles. "Long time no see. You’ve had it rough, huh?"

Lizhi nearly throws her arms around him before catching herself—Western Ox customs might not mesh with Central Continent restraint. Awkwardly, she lowers her hands.

Chu Xingchen notices and gives her shoulder a reassuring pat. "You’ve done well."

"Our home. Our fight. Can’t call that hardship." Her grin mirrors her old guide self. "If you hadn’t come, we’d have been done for."

He nods. "Timing worked out."

Gratitude swells in her chest—for the artifact that saved her, for Chu Xingchen’s last-minute rescue. Words fail her.

Then, mischief flickers in her eyes. She gives him a once-over.

"Knew you were lying before. No Core Formation cultivator could’ve cut like that."

Chu Xingchen arches a brow. "Can’t a man improve? I’m a Nascent Soul cultivator now."

Lizhi squints. "That power... Nascent Soul?"

"Ever met one?"

"...No."

"Then there you go. Central Continent Nascent Souls are built different. Visit someday—you’ll see."

Something still feels off, but with no frame of reference, she lets it slide with a laugh. Then, remembering:

"You’re here for Senior Xu, right? He went to Bodhisattva Barbarian territory—left a while ago. If it’s urgent, don’t linger on our account. Your mission matters more."

She gestures at the city. "We Western Ox folk can handle ourselves."

Chu Xingchen’s smile deepens. "This time, you—all of Western Ox—are the mission."

Lizhi blinks.

Without explaining, he motions behind him.

She follows his gaze—

And gasps.

The sky darkens under an endless tide of cultivators’ rainbow lights.

More than the beast horde.

More than she’s ever seen.

All here, today, for Western Ox.

As the sea of light descends, Chu Xingchen says:

"We are all human, no different whether from the Central Plains or the Western Ox-Horn Continent."

"Since we are human, it is only natural that we stand together against our foes."

"This world may have those who turn a blind eye, but there will always be those who step forward."

"Do not lose heart—now it is our turn to act."

Lizhi nodded firmly, her large eyes glistening with tears, her face radiant with a bright smile.