The Totem Dragon Clan had naturally taken note of this scene.
"Is it truly the Evil Monk? He's actually still alive?!"
Lord Long Zhen raised his head to the sky, killing intent surging in his eyes, his aged fists clenched so tight they creaked.
"Long Zhen, do not act alone."
Seeing Long Zhen in this state, Long Junlin spoke.
He knew that Long Zhen had a blood feud with the Evil Monk — the Evil Monk had killed his father. Now, discovering that the Evil Monk was still alive, how could Long Zhen not be enraged?
"Lord!!!"
At that moment, all the experts of the Totem Dragon Clan turned their gaze to Long Junlin, awaiting his command.
"That woman actually wasn't lying to us."
"The Evil Monk is not only alive, but he has come specifically to deal with our Totem Dragon Clan."
As Long Junlin spoke, he produced an object — a golden box, no larger than a palm. Yet once opened, it contained tremendous power.
He carefully placed the Sacred Dragon Ruins inside the box, then handed the box to Long Zhen.
"Lord?" Long Zhen was confused.
"The Evil Monk comes with ill intent. Reinforcements from the clan may not arrive in time."
"If it comes to pass that even I am no match for the Evil Monk, I will cover your escape," Long Junlin said.
"Lord, I cannot accept this," Long Zhen refused repeatedly.
"Silence!" Long Junlin barked angrily.
"What must be protected is the Sacred Dragon Ruins, not you!" Long Junlin thundered, and as he spoke, he forcefully pressed the box containing the Sacred Dragon Ruins into Long Zhen's hands.
Long Zhen did not dare refuse again and had no choice but to store the box away.
Long Junlin then swept his gaze across everyone present.
"Everyone, the Evil Monk has come today to take revenge upon our Totem Dragon Clan. We naturally cannot refuse to fight."
"But the Evil Monk comes with great malice. If we can triumph, that is naturally best. If we cannot, we must at the very least never disgrace the name of our Totem Dragon Clan."
"The Sacred Dragon Ruins are of paramount importance. If... today we truly cannot defeat the Evil Monk, then our lives may be lost, but the Sacred Dragon Ruins must never be lost."
"Even if every one of us perishes here today, I want the Sacred Dragon Ruins to leave safely."
The moment Long Junlin finished speaking, the resounding roar shook the great hall.
"We shall protect the Sacred Dragon Ruins with our lives, defending our Dragon Clan's dignity to the death!"
"We shall protect the Sacred Dragon Ruins with our lives, defending our Dragon Clan's dignity to the death!"
"We shall protect the Sacred Dragon Ruins with our lives, defending our Dragon Clan's dignity to the death!"
…………
……
Long Junlin was not at all surprised by the Totem Dragon Clan's fighting spirit. He had always known that his Totem Dragon Clan were warriors who did not fear death.
And so Long Junlin once again turned his gaze to the sky, his eyes filled with resolve.
Above, black flames churned. Within that sky-blotting mass of dark energy, a path materialized.
And at the end of that path, a figure slowly stepped forward, entering the view of the masses.
The figure who emerged was none other than the Evil Monk.
The Evil Monk swept his gaze downward and smiled wickedly. "People of the Totem Heavenly River, I trust you have been well."
"The Evil Monk — it's the Evil Monk! He's actually alive!!!"
In the next instant, the ocean of billions erupted into chaos. The Evil Monk's name had long since spread far and wide, and now that people saw him again, how could they not be terrified?
In an instant, countless people fled in every direction, desperate to escape this place as quickly as possible.
"Aaargh!!!!"
But soon, piercing screams rang out.
Those black chains that sealed heaven and earth possessed a suction force — anyone who got close was violently devoured and refined.
Those who had not yet approached the chains felt a wave of relief — at least they were still alive.
But their brows remained tightly furrowed, and some of the more cowardly ones broke into bitter sobs, for they had all realized that they were truly trapped here.
"Totem Dragon Clan, your subjects have already pissed themselves in terror, and still you refuse to come out and bow!!!"
As the Evil Monk's words fell, he brought his palm crashing down.
Boom—
The void trembled, and a colossal black hand materialized.
The hand was so enormous it not only blotted out this stretch of the void but also contained devastating power. Were it to land successfully, everyone present would die.
Swish—
At that very moment, a beam of golden light shot skyward and plunged into the colossal black hand.
There was a brief moment of stillness, and in the next instant, countless golden auras surged from within the black hand, spreading like lightning.
Rumble—
As the thunderous roar raged on, the sky was replaced by a flood of golden light, and the sky-blotting black hand had been utterly dismantled.
"Everyone, do not panic. I, Long Junlin, am here."
Suddenly, a figure shot into the sky, standing tall in the void, forming a confrontation with the Evil Monk high above.
This person was none other than Long Junlin.
And right after, the earth shook as countless beams of golden light surged skyward. The Totem Dragon Clan's army of tens of millions appeared, standing in formation behind Long Junlin.
But closest to Long Junlin were four figures, Long Zhen among them.
"Lord Long Junlin is here! Lord Long Zhen is here..."
"Of the Nine Banner Dragon Warriors, five lords have actually come!!!"
The crowd, which had been in utter panic moments before, was instantly filled with a sense of security upon seeing Long Junlin and the others.
The sounds of panicked crying immediately vanished, replaced by jubilant cheers!!!
The Evil Monk may be powerful, but the Nine Banner Dragon Warriors were even more formidable.