Everyone's Belief Sorry, everyone, I let you down.

Liu Jianxing snapped back to reality, gripping his long sword as he began to fend off the attacks of the cloaked figures.

Clang, clang, clang!!!

The cloaked figures surged toward them like shadows in the darkness, each radiating an unsettling malevolent aura that filled the air with tension and unease. Each of them brandished sharp weapons and engaged in combat with the righteous warriors. The flashes of sword and blade danced constantly under the blood-red night sky.

Meanwhile, on Bai Jun's side.

He was enveloped in silvery-white true essence, transforming into a flickering silver silhouette. Clutching his long sword tightly, he spoke to Murong Ci beside him, "Murong Ci, as we guessed earlier, the heart is on the verge of collapsing."

"We need to take out two of them quickly!"

"Speed is crucial!"

Murong Ci nodded in response, his expression calm, "Mm."

"Hehehe!"

Old Gao, standing before the two, laughed mockingly, "What, so confident you can take us on, are you?"

"Perfect. Let me savor the thrill of battle!"

Boom!

With that, his body surged with demonic energy as he charged toward the two. Meanwhile, the clawed figure also silently advanced toward them.

Bang, bang, bang!!!

The four figures clashed, unleashing a powerful aura that swept through the surrounding space.

Whoosh!

A hurricane howled, disrupting the rhythm of the other ongoing battles.

"This is incredible! Is this the fight of grandmasters?!"

"Don't get distracted! Focus on these cloaked figures first!"

From the onset of the battle, Old Gao had already discerned Bai Jun and Murong Ci's strategy.

The two aimed to eliminate him first before dealing with the clawed figure.

This suited his plans just fine, as his role was simply to create an illusion for "Night" to appear.

Naturally, fighting two grandmasters alone was already a strenuous task for him.

Even with the claws protecting him, his strength hadn’t increased significantly, as the current peak of the claws was only at the early stage of a grandmaster's power level.

But that was alright; his mission wasn’t to defeat Bai Jun and Murong Ci.

His role was merely to set the stage for the illusion of "Night's" reappearance.

Bang, bang, bang!!!

Clang, clang, clang!!!

The battle entered a heated phase, with both sides exchanging attacks in rapid succession, sword energy crisscrossing, the scene intense.

After hundreds of rounds of combat.

Bai Jun found an opening in Old Gao’s defense.

The silver true essence exuded an icy chill, instantly freezing Old Gao’s sinister and terrifying demonic energy upon contact, causing Old Gao immense discomfort.

Swish!

Old Gao retreated to the side, staring at his frozen wrist in disbelief as he roared at Bai Jun, "This is the Eternal Frost Zone of Silver True Essence! It can freeze any true essence! How could this be?! How old are you to have reached this level?!"

Bai Jun didn’t slow down. Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword and thrust it forcefully toward Old Gao, "No need for idle chatter! This technique was crafted specifically to deal with scum like you!"

With the shout, boom!

The powerful silver true essence surged toward Old Gao, freezing the air as if it were on the verge of cracking.

Old Gao, wanting to escape, found that his feet had already been frozen to the ground by the cold ice.

Old Gao was about to flee, but he found his feet already encased in ice.

Bai Jun immediately shouted, "Murong Ci! Now!"

At the next moment.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!!

Pure white skeletal spikes shot out continuously from Murong Ci’s fingertips.

"The White Bone Art?! You’re a descendant of the White Bone Clan?!!"

Old Gao was shocked and exclaimed in disbelief, "No!!!"

He looked at the equally injured clawed figure beside him, opening his mouth with a trace of hope, "Save...!"

Boom!

His voice was cut short.

As the bone spikes pierced through, the cloaked Old Gao was instantly killed, his aura extinguished.

With Old Gao’s death.

The other cloaked figures on Liu Jianxing's side were also overwhelmingly defeated.

The clawed figure, clutching his injured side, retreated to the heart.

Two petite cloaked figures, also gasping for breath, flashed into existence beside the clawed figure.

"Master."

"Master, we failed."

Shitou and Little Bai lowered their heads, apologizing.

To be honest, although they knew it was part of the plan, their hearts still clenched when they saw Gu Yan’s false body get thrown out.

Tap, tap!

Bai Jun and the others approached the clawed figure and the two underlings.

The former reprimanded, "Evil cannot triumph over good! You cannot stand against us!"

"Surrender now!"

The other warriors also voiced their condemnation.

Upon hearing the words, the clawed figure clutched his injured area and slowly stood up. His gloomy voice echoed in everyone's ears: "Fools."

"Night's resurrection is already set in motion."

"And that great one will once again cloak the sky in darkness."

As he spoke, the clawed figure slowly approached the heart.

Taking a deep breath, he radiated a dark aura, "All of you will die in the future! And I will merge with the Night King!"

"Awaken, Demon Heart!!"

As the words fell.

Stab, stab, stab!!!

The heart suddenly stirred; tendrils surged out from it, enveloping the clawed figure, Shitou, and Little Bai.

!!!

"Everyone, be careful!"

Bai Jun didn’t know what they had done, but the feeling was intensely ominous.

In just a few breaths, the clawed figure and the others were absorbed completely.

Immediately afterward.

A scene that made everyone present pale unfolded.

Crunch, crunch!

A gaping maw, brimming with sharp, tiny teeth, gradually formed in the center of the heart.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!!

Tendrils surged out rapidly toward everyone present.

Starting with the injured warriors lying on the ground.

"Ahh!!!"

"Help!!"

With the cries of pain, the tendrils retracted, leaving behind only withered corpses.

Looking back at the heart with its gaping mouth, its aura had risen significantly.

As if savoring the experience, the heart paused its actions.

Is this thing... trying to eat true essence?

Now it's stopped... is it because... it's digesting?!

Bai Jun immediately understood, shouting, "Just as we guessed at the start!"

"This heart is the key to the grand array!"

"Because we've already fed it true essence earlier, the heart needs time to digest it!"

"We can’t let it slowly devour the true essence bit by bit! We must inject a massive amount of true essence all at once to destroy it altogether!!"

With that said.

Most of the warriors exclaimed urgently, "Are you crazy, Bai Jun?! Will this even work?!"

"The heart is alive and wants to devour us! Without true essence, we’ll truly have no way to fight back!"

"There’s no other choice! If we don’t destroy the array, what will happen to the civilians?! We’ll all die here!!"

"I don’t care anymore! Death is death either way! You want true essence, huh? Fine, take it all, monster!"

With a warrior's resolute action, more followed suit.

True essence flowed toward the heart from one warrior after another.

Bai Jun gritted his teeth and poured his strength into the heart.

"Come on!!! For the world!"

"For our families!"

"For those we need to protect!"

Each warrior, their faces flushed red with determination, shouted as they fed their true essence into the heart.

The effect was immediate; the heart began to wail in agony, apparently overwhelmed by the excess true essence it couldn’t digest, distorting and convulsing wildly.

Time slowly passed.

Thump, thump, thump!!!

One warrior after another collapsed from exhaustion, their gazes nervously fixed on the heart.

Thump!

Bai Jun and Murong Ci, drained of their true essence, also fell to the ground.

But...

"What’s going on?!"

"Why hasn’t the heart exploded yet?!"

"How much can it take?!"

All were shocked and panicked.

Bai Jun, unable to believe his eyes, stared at the heart. How could this be...

The heart’s volume had swollen several times larger than before, its wailing now more agonizing. But...

Why hasn't it exploded yet?!

The true essence amount wasn’t enough! He felt it truly wasn’t enough!

Just a little bit more, he believed that just a little more would be enough...

But because they had fought with the Night members earlier, they had lost some of their true essence.

Was this why they came up short?

Damn it!

"Damn it!"

Bai Jun slammed his fist against the ground in desperation.

By now, the heart with the gaping maw had swelled to an alarming size.

Even the outer skin had turned translucent from absorbing too much true essence.

Everyone knew the heart had reached its breaking point. But!

They no longer had any more true essence left!

And the demonic entity seemed irritable from overindulging in true essence.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!!

Brutal tendrils surged out in thick, swarming clusters. Radiating out in all directions.

Stab, stab, stab!!!

One after another, the exhausted warriors became like sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

Deng Feng's side.

His face was pale with worry, and he quickly asked Old Turtle, "Old Turtle! What should we do?! What's going on?"

Old Turtle's expression was also grim: "This is bad, Deng Feng. There's not enough energy, and it's made the evil creature go berserk!"

"Unfortunately, your current strength is too weak, and your energy doesn't matter much..."

"It's no good, I'll open a gap in the array for you. Let's escape quickly!"

"As long as we survive, there will be opportunities!"

After hearing this, Deng Feng was a bit conflicted: "No, I have to bring Bai Lian with me."

"At a time like this, are you still thinking about a woman?!"

"No! I have to protect Bai Lian!"

At this moment, it was as if the tentacles intentionally or coincidentally aimed towards Deng Feng.

Seeing this scene, Bai Lian seemed to realize something. She quickly pushed away Deng Feng, who was arguing with Old Turtle, and shouted, "Brother Deng Feng! Be careful!"

"Thud!!"

The sound cut off abruptly.

A tentacle pierced through Bai Lian's body, its powerful force stringing her up into the air and then fiercely slamming her to the ground.

"Splat!"

Warm blood splashed onto Deng Feng's face.

"Hmm..."

Pushed to the ground, Deng Feng let out a sound of unclear meaning.

What happened?

He trembled and looked towards Bai Lian, who had been pierced through the chest by the tentacle.

Her face still carried a smile of relief, as if happy to see Deng Feng was okay.

Bai Lian, her breath weak, said, "It's... it's so good..."

"Brother Deng Feng, you're safe..."

"This way... Lian Lian can die without regret."

Her breath gradually faded, and the light in Bai Lian's eyes disappeared.

In an instant.

"Hum!"

Deng Feng's mind went blank, and the sounds around him abruptly ceased.

"Thump! Thump!!"

His pupils contracted to pinpoints, his breathing became rapid, and his heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.

Bai Lian.

Bai Lian is dead?

Right in front of me?

Why? How? Why did this happen?

What was the reason? Why!

....

......

....

"Thump! Thump!"

[Why....]

[Because, you're too weak....]

[You can't protect anything, you can't save anything....]

[You can only watch one person after another die in front of you....]

[Deng Feng.... you.... can't do anything....]

An unknown, enticing voice echoed repeatedly in Deng Feng's ears.

Deng Feng's body began to tremble.

Yes, I am too weak.

Because I am too weak, I couldn't participate in this level of battle, and because I was too weak, Bai Lian died.

It's all because... I am too weak.

But....

Even so.....

It's unforgivable...

It's unforgivable!

I can't forgive this!!

"Hum! Hum! Hum!!"

Deng Feng looked up, staring at the evil creature with its bloodthirsty maw in the distance. His entire body erupted with emerald light, "I can't forgive you!! You accursed evil creature!!!"

"Roar!!"

A massive Azure Dragon illusion appeared on Deng Feng's body.

An immensely sacred aura surged through this space.

"Boom!"

Deng Feng's hair turned green. His mind was submerged in hatred and fury.

In that instant, he suddenly gained the strength of a grand master.

"Hum!"

"You deserve to die!!!"

Deng Feng blinked and was instantly in front of the evil creature, his fist clenching as he fiercely struck toward it.

"Roar!"

Feeling the threat, the evil creature screamed from its heart, releasing tentacles to block.

Those who were already preparing to die, like Bai Jun and others, were suddenly shocked.

"Azure Dragon illusion!"

"This is the Azure Dragon Qi!"

"How is there another destined one on our side?!"

The Azure Dragon Sect members were elated, shouting, "Deng Feng can use Azure Dragon Qi now!!"

The other warriors were also excited! It's a destined one!!

They roared with all their might, pouring all their faith into Deng Feng.

The Azure Dragon Descendant!! This time! We're saved!!

"Go! Destined One!"

"Charge, Deng Feng!!"

"Deng Feng!!! Keep it up!!!"

"Don't lose, lad!!!!"

"Go!!!!"

Everyone screamed at the top of their lungs with all their strength.

Deng Feng's determination also reached its peak.

Yes, respond to everyone's faith, Deng Feng!

With this power! Protect everyone!

Destroy the evil creature in front of you!!

Old Turtle also excitedly shouted to Deng Feng in his mind, "Deng Feng!! Do it!! I didn't expect you to really pull it off!!! Hahaha!! I really didn't misjudge you!!"

Screams, expectations, cries, love, family.........

All kinds of faith converged together.

Deng Feng looked at the evil creature, feeling an unprecedented sense of confidence!

He can do it!

Just like Gu Yan said!

It's not about whether he can do it or not! But now! He must do this!

He gritted his teeth, struck fiercely. When he saw the tentacle shield destroyed and the heart exposed.

Deng Feng inhaled deeply, unleashing all his strength, shouting, "Die!!! Evil cre......"

However.......

It was as if a pause button had been pressed on the world.

Deng Feng's actions and voice all ceased abruptly.

Strong gales blew away all the dust, revealing the current scene.

Then, as if to declare its arrival.

"Hum!!"

"Boom!!"

"!!!"

An eerie aura suddenly descended upon this place.

A terrifying and spine-chilling presence relentlessly assaulted everyone's psyche.

"Thump! Thump!"

Between each other, they could only hear their breathing and heartbeat.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment, everyone stared blankly at the scene before them, as if they couldn't believe their eyes.

Their minds were blank, filled only with fear and despair.

Deng Feng was the destined one, briefly rising to the level of a grand master, clearly within just one step of turning the tide.

But..... but why? Why didn't it turn out like they imagined?

Everyone's mind was filled with this thought.

They stared in horror and shock.

"No... isn't this impossible."

"Is there another enemy?"

Each muttered, as if they couldn't believe how the situation had unfolded.

Especially when they saw the heart wasn't destroyed yet, everyone was filled with endless despair.

Their breathing became more and more difficult, as if they temporarily lost the ability to breathe due to the cruel reality.

Just see.

That suddenly appeared, an existence that made people feel utterly powerless, wore a bizarre black garment......

And then........ with a single hand, he seized the neck of the spiked Deng Feng.

The latter, with his throat caught, opened his mouth wide, his eyes glazed over, clearly unconscious.

Following that.

In front of everyone's rigid expressions.

Gu Yan gripped Deng Feng's neck, lifting him up.......

"Boom! The whistle of demonic Qi swept through the space.

The horrifying demonic Qi instantly enveloped Deng Feng's Azure Dragon illusion behind him.

"No!!"

With Old Turtle's cry.

The Azure Dragon illusion was devoured clean.

Then.

Gu Yan casually threw Deng Feng, who was left with a sliver of life out of mercy, as if throwing rubbish.

Turning his head, he looked at the despairing crowd.

Slowly spoke........

"Sorry everyone."

A voice filled with arrogance, as if from the abyss, appeared.

"Let you guys down."

"Boom!"

"Roar!!"

As the voice fell.

A dark, shadowy evil Azure Dragon illusion appeared behind Gu Yan.

Azure Dragon Qi! Absorption successful!!!

Everyone's ears were ringing, everyone... felt the hopelessness of the moment.