The abrupt turn of events threw the Star Boundary's Pseudo-Emperors into panic. Those who wanted to lend a hand found themselves powerless—they had been outnumbered to begin with, and now the situation had turned impossibly dire. Several of them, caught off guard, were gravely wounded in an instant.
"Is it our turn yet?!" Not far behind Yang Kai, Wen Zishan's robes billowed in the wind. Even facing dozens of Half-Saints, his expression remained perfectly composed as he laughed heartily. "After watching the show for so long, we finally get a chance to fight!"
Ma Qing glanced at him sideways. "Don't you dare die."
Wen Zishan shot back, "You'd die long before I do!"
Ma Qing sneered, "Then let's see whose life is harder to break!"
Wen Zishan smiled, then turned to look at Gao Xueting. A flicker of guilt and reluctance passed through his eyes. "If we make it through this alive..."
"I'll marry you!" A blush crept across Gao Xueting's face.
Wen Zishan reached out and gently patted her head, just as he had done so many years ago. The image of that little girl who used to follow him around, clutching the hem of his robe wherever he went, flashed through his mind, and his expression grew distant. "Little Xueting has grown up!"
"They're coming!" Ma Qing's voice dropped low.
"Stick close to me!" Wen Zishan gave Gao Xueting one final instruction, then raised his hand and seized a long sword suffused with radiant purple light. He pointed it forward, sword energy erupting skyward, and roared: "To... battle!"
The moment the word left his lips, he was the first to charge. Gao Xueting followed right on his heels, and behind them came every remaining army of the Star Boundary. In that moment, from within Lingxiao Palace, every last fighting force the Star Boundary possessed poured forth. Army after army transformed into torrents of steel, carrying with them the tragic resolve of those who would never return, as they met the charge of dozens of Demon Race Half-Saints.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
Figure after figure streaked past Yang Kai. Millions of warriors surged forward, a sky-blotting barrage of Artifacts and secret arts hammered toward the enemy.
Though the Demon Race Half-Saints charging toward them numbered only in the dozens, the enormous gap in cultivation was devastating. The two sides had barely come into contact before the Star Boundary suffered catastrophic losses.
Across the field of vision, bodies erupted into clouds of blood mist, leaving not even bones behind. Though those dozens of Half-Saints were engulfed by the Star Boundary's armies, they moved as though traversing unopposed territory—not a single warrior could withstand even a casual strike from them.
Wen Zishan was gravely wounded in an instant. Had Gao Xueting not risked her life to save him, he would have fallen right there. Yet he clenched his teeth and, together with the other Emperors, fought with reckless abandon to hold back one of the Demon Race Half-Saints.
Yang Kai's eyes turned bloodshot as he stared at everything unfolding before him. He felt as though his heart were dripping blood, and his eyes grew moist. After this battle, of the Star Boundary's already diminished forces, he dared not think how many would survive.
Fortunately, the Half-Saints' target was not the Star Boundary army but Yang Kai himself. Though they rampaged through the ranks, they did not cause the devastation one might have expected. Controlled by the Great Demon God, they were singularly focused on reaching Yang Kai to kill him. Those who happened to be in their path were cut down casually along the way, but as long as one was quick enough to dodge, it was barely possible to hold on.
Figure after figure tore through the Star Boundary's ranks, closing on Yang Kai at terrifying speed. Wherever they passed, they swept everything aside like a gale through withered grass.
Without the Pseudo-Emperors stepping up, no one could stand against these Half-Saints. The blood-soaked ground and the fearless dead served only to slow their advance.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...
Figures suddenly appeared at Yang Kai's sides, surrounding him like stars cradling the moon.
Su Yan, Xue Yue, Shan Qingluo, Xia Ningshang, Ji Yao, Lan Xun, Mo Xiaoqi, Lin Yun'er, Xiao Chen, Xia Sheng, Xiao Baiyi—even Yao Si, Chi Gui, Li Shiqing, and Gao Zhan—all of them were there.
Such a lineup could only be called magnificent. In the past, no one would have dared look down on them. Though they were the Star Boundary's younger generation, every one of them had reached the Emperor Realm. They were the Star Boundary's future—rising stars that, given time, would surely illuminate the heavens. But now, even gathered together, what chance did this group of young people have against the Demon Race Half-Saints?
Yet not one of them showed an ounce of fear. Every face was calm and composed.
"You all..." Yang Kai frowned as he regarded them.
Chi Gui bared his teeth in a savage grin. "The old folks went up to fight, so someone's got to watch your back, right? Lord Void, you're the key to the Star Boundary's survival—don't you dare let us down."
Even as a Great Emperor, Yang Kai didn't know how to respond. All he felt was a surge of warmth rolling through his chest, his entire body burning hot. He answered in a firm voice, "I can't promise anything else, but to live and die alongside all of you—that resolve I have!"
Chi Gui glanced back and chuckled. "That's all I needed to hear."
"They're coming!" Su Yan called out sharply.
Everyone's expressions tightened. Looking over, they saw three figures cutting through the Star Boundary's ranks, hurtling straight toward them. The enemies had not yet arrived, but their chilling killing intent was already making it hard to breathe.
"You focus on dealing with Mo Sheng—these three are ours!" Chi Gui roared. His body transformed into a streak of crimson light as he charged forward.
A phoenix cry rang out as the Seven-Colored Divine Phoenix spread its wings across the sky, blanketing the heavens. The laws of ice spread through the air. Su Yan gripped her sword and led Xue Yue, Shan Qingluo, Xia Ningshang, and Ji Yao to meet one of the Strength Demon Half-Saints.