*…!* following the flash of cold steel, the bloodstained full moon is cut diagonally in half, and with it—
*…! …! …!* black and white threads of sword Qi erupts—devouring most of the practitioners behind Qing Ming Yang!
"…"
"…"
As soon as the threads of sword Qi had passed, all the bodies that had been touched by them—
*Boom! Boom! Boom!* explodes into a haze of blood!
Raising a sharp gasp, Qing Ming Yang shouts—
"Run!"
Dragging Su Xuan along, Qing Ming Yang—who had sustained some light injuries, immediately makes a break for it.
...…
"Run!"
Emerging from the white fog's confines with light injuries as well, Lin Yu Heng shouts the same order.
As for where they should run—
"Those who have spatial tearing talismans—use them!"
Taking out the aforementioned talisman, a practitioner infuses spirit Qi to activate it; however—
"Lin-xiong, it's not working!"
"Tch! That deity must have locked the entirety of this realm through their divine senses. Stack the talismans together! We'll blast a hole out of this world through quantity!"
Shouting this, Lin Yu Heng tosses his spear forward, and lands it near the edge of the forest.
"Gather at where my spear is!"
"Understood!"
"Got it!"
...…
"…"
As the Ling Yuan family's practitioners flee in panic, Long Hua sends a message out to Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng through his divine senses.
(Surnamed Qing, surnamed Lin, I'll give you two a shot at good fortune.)
"…!"
"…!"
Simultaneously, Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng, who had heard this in their heads, widened their eyes, but in the next instance—
(Hold the line while receiving this attack from me.)
Raising his right hand, Long Hua points his index finger upwards, and—
"Mountain, mortal realm's most immovable mass."
*Siiiii!!!* a dark rift appears in the heavens, and from within this rift, a black and white hand—carrying an archaic air, presses outwards at the drop of Long Hua's right arm!
"…"
"…"
Seeing the colossal hand's descent, every practitioner of the Ling Yuan family halts their footsteps, as they look upwards with a light of despair in their eyes—for the sheer size of this hand, it's more than capable of crushing the entirety of the Serpent Deity Village in an instant.
"Do not…! Let those Immortals get away!"
Ripping the talismans and ropes off his body, Zhu Xu assumes his Weapon Spirit True Body state, and peels himself away from the icy surface.
"…Hunt them down!"
Similarly, Yang Hai does the same; and pressing both hands onto the ground, he raises a roar—causing his body to expand in volume.
Within the blink of an eye, Yang Hai assumes the appearance of a wolf that stands at five meters in height!
"Hmph!"
*Kakakaka!!!* striking the frozen river beneath his feet, Zhu Xu attempts to break the imprisoned weapon spirits inside free.
...…
Situating themselves inside the forest, on the opposite side of the village—
"…Aim."
"…"
"…"
Having armed all her combat bodies with anti-materiel rifles, Tian Cheng has them assume a crouching posture—in preparation to snipe off any of the practitioners that happen to enter their crosshairs.
"Fire."
*Bang!!! Bang!!! Bang!!!* in a rapid manner, bullets are fired off, and explode on contact, causing miserable shrieks to resound!
...…
(In a situation that requires someone to hold the line, you become the hero—who is willing to sacrifice himself, so that your fellow clansmen will be able to retreat. If you can perform this role well—not only will you not be punished, but you will also be rewarded greatly for your valor.)
"…"
"…"
Recalling Long Hua's words at the same time, Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng grit their teeth.
"…"
"Q-Qing-xiong, you…-?"
Tossing Su Xuan back, Qing Ming Yang takes a step forward with his weapon in the form of a greatsword held tightly in his grip.
"Su Xuan, go and do not look back."
"…"
A look of admiration appears on Su Xuan's face, as he looks to Qing Ming Yang's back—seemingly attempting to carve it into his memories forever.
"…"
Walking over to Qing Ming Yang's side, Lin Yu Heng has a solemn expression on his face—seemingly prepared to die.
"…In the end, it had to come to this."
"So it would seem."
Replying as such to Qing Ming Yang, Lin Yu Heng clenches his right hand—causing his weapon to appear in his grip.
"…"
Prior to taking another step forward, Qing Ming Yang shouts—
"Listen up, my fellow clansmen!"
Simultaneously, numerous practitioners of the Ling Yuan family paused their movements for a brief instance—so as to perk their ears.
"Though this battle is lost-"
Taking over for Qing Ming Yang, Lin Yu Heng adds—
"This is not the end-"
"For we shall be the ones-"
Exchanging a glance with one another, the two shouts—
"To emerge victorious in this war!"
"To emerge victorious in this war!"
Gazing upon Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng's backs, which seemed mountainous in size, all the Ling Yuan family's practitioners swallowed their spit.
In this instance—regardless of gender, all members of the Ling Yuan family felt their eyes wet with tears.
"Let's go then."
"Un."
Kicking off the ground, and charging at the mountain-like hand, Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng both had a single thought in mind—
(For the sake of good fortune!)
(For the sake of good fortune!)
Raising a spirited battle cry, Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng unleashed their strongest divine arts in the face of the descending hand!