Chapter 1052: The Collapsing Alliance

Chapter 1052: The Collapsing Alliance

The Sword Saint had drawn Du Xuan’s firepower, leaving the remaining Immortals without a major pillar of support.

Clearly, without him, Lin Nuo’s offensive went much smoother. After all, maintaining the Immortal Array required various Immortals, and losing one or two minor ones wasn’t a big deal. But with the pillar gone, flaws emerged.

The Immortal Tiger thought of himself as favored by the Immortal Array, recklessly unleashing his destructive Spirit Bullets, trying to obliterate the Fox People in the mountains.

Lin Nuo released a massive black vortex, still intercepting the Spirit Bullets, then went in for the assault.

With a swoosh, he rapidly closed in on the Immortal Tiger.

Other Immortals quickly cast spells—some aided the Tiger’s defense, while others attempted to bind Lin Nuo. They seemed well-trained, appearing as if Du Xuan’s absence was inconsequential.

Yet, the Immortal Tiger took a hit from Lin Nuo, unable to bear it, and was knocked back several paces.

“Cough… Damned thing…”

The Immortal Tiger clutched his chest, gritting his teeth. The Immortal Array’s protection was failing, leaving him cursing.

“Quick! Help him!”

The healing Immortals rushed in. Seeing the dire situation of their united Immortal Array, they hastily switched their offensive stance to defense, fully focusing on protecting the Immortal Tiger.

This defensive array was exceptionally strong, but the downside was that everyone had to be still.

Though the healing spells were applied to the Tiger and others were covering him, he was stubborn, still wanting to annihilate the Fox People in the mountains, getting back on his feet in a hurry.

“Don’t move recklessly! We need to defend and stabilize the formation!”

One Immortal urged him, but he was unwilling to listen.

However, he did realize the gap between him and Lin Nuo. Anyone who could charge into Hansheng Valley was no ordinary foe.

Still, he yearned to eradicate the Fox People, allying with demons, which would ultimately bring chaos to the world.

Watching as the massive black vortex began to devour his Spirit Balls, he felt helpless.

Spirit Technique devouring was high-level Demon Power, rarely mastered even in the Refining Demon Sect, yet Lin Nuo wielded it effortlessly.

How had a person cultivated by Xuanyun Sect reached this level?

With no choice, he had to switch from offense to defense, joining the other Immortals in transforming their original array into a defensive one. They focused entirely on defense, ensuring they did not move, or everything would collapse entirely.

“Du Xuan, don’t mind the Sword Saint! Quick! Return to the array!”

A voice called out to Du Xuan, who was currently clashing with the Sword Saint. The Sword Saint was fatigued but not yet down for the count.

“You can’t even defend without me?!”

He replied irritably, still engaged with the Sword Saint, forced to take a break to protect the formation.

“Consider yourself lucky!”

He roared, preparing to sheathe his sword and retreat to the array, but Lin Nuo had shifted his target.

Charging in, sword drawn!

That speed, as swift as lightning, truly shocked him, but amidst the shock, he still aimed to defend.

However, his defense couldn’t match Lin Nuo’s strike speed. With one swing, the Dragon and Phoenix souls shot out, striking him directly.

“Ah!”

With a scream, he quickly retreated, finding it impossible to return to the array.

Now, it was his turn to stray from the Immortal Array, becoming a lone individual.

“This… is bad!”

The remaining Immortals sensed something was off; they were in big trouble. They were caught in a dilemma. Now that the array had turned into a defensive formation, they could barely hold against Lin Nuo’s assault without Du Xuan, but the downside was that they couldn’t move, transformed into an immovable, tough boulder, just absorbing hits—if they moved, it would all collapse.

Initially, they expected Du Xuan to return to the fold, but now he was in trouble, and they couldn’t assist him.

Lin Nuo weighed his options and decided to eliminate this sword-wielding fool first. Then the rest would be sitting ducks, bound to face a slow and steady demise.

Lin Nuo launched into battle against Du Xuan. Although Du Xuan had excellent swordsmanship, he was still beneath the Sword Saint. Without the protective backing of their allied Immortal array, he couldn’t act so arrogantly.

The Sword Saint was also gasping for breath, his body weakened. After holding on for so long, he was beginning to falter.

At this moment, if Lin Nuo landed a blow, he predicted it would be fatal.

But now, Ruo’er was watching. Killing in front of her would be inappropriate. Although she didn’t realize the Sword Saint was her father, one could never be sure how things might unfold later.

People like the Sword Saint loved to show off, and they would meet their end eventually—no need for him to lift a finger.

Still, he had to admit that if the old Sword Saint hadn’t come out to hold Du Xuan back, things might have been far more complicated.

First, to eliminate Du Xuan.

Lin Nuo pressed the attack, taking advantage of the momentum, not giving his opponent any chance to breathe. After several strikes, Du Xuan’s body was heavily taxed and thoroughly drained.

He was teetering on the edge of death; just a push away from crossing over.

Seeing the imminent threat, the other Immortals realized the grim reality—if Du Xuan fell in battle, they would all be doomed, ripe for slaughter.

They had thought that their alliance could easily eradicate this demon disciple, but if things continued, they could end up losing their own lives.

Panic ensued, and this wave of alliances was beginning to crumble. Some started to contemplate escape.

The defensive formation had already begun to falter, leading to infighting among the Immortals.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you supporting my Senior Brother?!” A swordsman from the Sword Tomb berated those wanting to flee.

“Our alliance is crumbling! We can’t hold on. We’re not from the Sword Tomb; there’s no need to die alongside you.”

“When we formed this alliance, didn’t we agree to stand together through thick and thin? Now you wish to break your vow? Is this the conduct of your sect?”

“If you want to save him, go ahead!”

Some Immortals hurriedly made tracks, wanting to preserve their own lives, sure there would be opportunities later.

With divisions in morale, the once-mighty alliance fell apart; several Immortals were already retreating.

Dong Xiyan did not leave; she gazed beyond the mountains, faintly sensing a pair of spirited eyes watching her.

Wanting to see Ruo’er, she decided to approach.

“Stop.”

The fatigued Sword Saint still held his sharp sword, blocking her path. Dong Xiyan quickly explained:

“I’m Ruo’er’s master; I just want to see her.”

“You can’t get close.” The Sword Saint continued coldly.

After failing to explain herself, she unwillingly avoided confrontation with the Sword Saint and tried to slip past him.

Now that the Sword Saint was weak, he couldn’t chase her down, and she darted back and forth, looking for an opening to slip by. Yet, the Sword Saint remained focused, keeping his eye on her, not allowing her through.

At this time, Du Xuan also could no longer hold on, and seeing the approaching Immortals scatter made him even angrier.

These people, they are… so cowardly!

But that was normal; they were from different sects. Although they were supposedly united against a common enemy, the internal strife between sects wasn’t a new issue.

As Du Xuan faced his end, multiple sharp swords descended from the sky, aimed at Lin Nuo, perfectly blocking the space between him and Du Xuan.

“More Sword Tomb people? Hmm? Even the old man came.”

Lin Nuo glanced over; the newcomer was none other than the current head of the Sword Tomb, who was, by generation, the Sword Saint’s master.

Besides him, there was another old man from Zifeng Valley, who liked to wander and was elusive. Lin Nuo hadn’t encountered him when he was in Zifeng Valley and had never fought him in his previous life, but he had heard of the man’s reputation—he thought the old man had passed away a long time ago.

“Cough… Master, Master…”

Du Xuan spat a lot of blood, struggling to utter those two words.