Pure Sun Pass was the only stronghold humanity currently possessed, the central hub of the Human Race's grand army—its symbolic significance far outweighed its offensive role.
Aside from the very first great battle against No Return Pass, when this towering fortress had clashed with the Ink Clan army while covering the rear, it had remained on the periphery of every major engagement over the years.
Until now. The great fortress surged forward, the Artifacts stationed along its ramparts blazing to life as they unleashed a relentless bombardment upon a section of the Ink Clan's defensive line. The furious, unceasing barrage soon tore a gap in the fortifications, and the nearby Qingyang Army immediately poured through, their assault sending that stretch of void shuddering.
The Ink Clan's powerhouses noticed the development at once, and more than a dozen Pseudo Lords rushed over. At the same time, over a hundred figures soared from Pure Sun Pass to meet them—these were the Human Race's Eighth-Order masters who had been stationed within the fortress all along, responsible for keeping it operational.
These Eighth-Orders alone could never hope to stop such a number of Pseudo Lords, but with Pure Sun Pass at their backs, they could draw upon its considerable aid. They had no intention of fighting the Pseudo Lords to the death—pinning them down and stalling was more than sufficient.
The two sides clashed almost immediately, secret arts and Artifact light erupting in rapid succession.
On one flank of the vast battlefield, along the front held by the Burning Moon Army, Human and Ink warriors clashed ceaselessly. Yet under the Ink Clan's ironclad defense, the Burning Moon Army could find no breakthrough. No matter how fierce the fighting, it meant nothing unless that airtight defensive line was torn open—only then could humanity press forward and deal devastating blows to the Ink Clan.
Amid the brutal exchanges, the Ink Clan repelled wave after wave of Human attacks. Casualties on both sides were enormous.
Then, at some point, the Ink Clan defenders on this front suddenly noticed that the Human assault had weakened considerably. Perplexed, they watched as the densely packed Human armies parted left and right, and more than a dozen warships—distinctly different from ordinary vessels—pushed to the forefront. Behind those dozen ships followed an even more massive warship.
Purging Vessels!
The Ink Clan powerhouse commanding this section recognized the warship at a glance—it was a Purging Vessel forged by the Human Race.
Confusion flickered across his eyes. In all their countless clashes, this was the first time he had ever seen the Humans deploy a Purging Vessel to the front lines. Previously, these special warships had always been stationed at the rear, shielded by the main Human forces. After all, they were not designed for charges into the fray—they served an entirely different purpose.
Why would the Humans bring their Purging Vessels forward?
In the next instant, as though realizing something, his face contorted in stark terror. Spiritual energy surged as he screamed: "Don't let them get close—blow them apart!"
A sky-darkening hail of attacks descended upon the Human warships. The dozen vessels screening the Purging Vessel pushed their protective formations to the absolute limit, but within moments they shattered, warships erupting into debris. The squad members aboard were wiped from existence.
More attacks bore down on the Purging Vessel. Its protective formation flared with dazzling light, then quickly dimmed, fracturing into ruin.
The next breath, the colossal Purging Vessel detonated.
Yet the Ink Clan commander's face held not a shred of triumph—only mounting dread. The very instant the Purging Vessel burst apart, he threw himself backward in retreat.
Like a great sun illuminating all directions, the detonation site blazed with searing radiance that bleached the surrounding void to the brightness of day.
The light slowly faded, and across a battlefield formerly saturated with Ink Force, a vast circular region now stood in stark relief for all to see. Within that expanse, every trace of Ink Force had been utterly purified. The Ink Clan warriors caught inside writhed and screamed in agony—those whose strength was insufficient perished on the spot.
The Ink Clan commander who had retreated still could not escape the reach of the Purifying Light's radiance. Dense plumes of Ink Force leaked uncontrollably from his entire body, as though he had been plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil. The excruciating pain twisted his features beyond recognition. More terrifying still, as his Ink Force drained away, his cultivation plummeted at a terrifying rate.
Turning his head to look back, he saw the Human army surging forward, and the depths of his heart went cold. This defensive line was going to fall…
Across the battlefield, scene after scene of solar detonations erupted, one after another, rising and falling like a tide. Those brilliant flashes of light were the most dreaded nightmare of every Ink Clan warrior.
This was the final assault on No Return Pass. Mo Na Ye had shown the resolve to gamble everything—as the attackers, how could the Human Race hold anything back?
The moment Mi Jinglun had issued the order to launch an all-out assault on No Return Pass, a secret command had already spread to every army corps.
Using the Purifying Light sealed within the Purging Vessels to forcibly breach the Ink Clan's defensive lines!
The Human Race currently possessed no small number of Purging Vessels—nearly every division had its own. The total count of these vessels, each sealed with Purifying Light, had long surpassed a thousand.
The Ink Clan's defenses were indeed solid as stone. A direct Human assault could break through, but the cost would be staggering. The Purging Vessels, however, could drastically reduce Human casualties.
A soldier killed was gone forever. A Purging Vessel destroyed could be rebuilt. Such a simple calculation—surely Mi Jinglun could not have miscalculated.
This had been a contingency he had devised long ago, one he would not deploy lightly unless absolutely forced. Humanity's current resources were not yet abundant, and forging over a thousand Purging Vessels was no small undertaking.
But when forced to launch an all-out assault on No Return Pass without full preparation, there was no other way.