Winter and Tara Chu were both helpless. Of the four women who once saw Evan Yang off, one—Xin Jiang—had her body destroyed and only a faint soul remains. As for Ye Chen, she found an opportunity to head to the Fiend Realm and hasn't returned since, with no news from that side either. No one knows what condition Ye Chen is in now.
Ten planets away, Patriarch Fenn stood with several others: the Ninefold Palace Lord, the Heaven-Mystic Palace Lord, and a powerhouse from the Black Hand forces.
Beside them sat a man with his eyes tightly closed, but his mouth was curled in a deep smile. He said, "Just a few more hours and this place will break open. Don't worry."
"Grand Immortal, thank you." Patriarch Fenn said with a smile.
"As long as you let me be the lord of this world-realm, this little matter is nothing. Easy to handle." The man laughed.
"Of course, with your strength, Grand Immortal, you're an extraordinary figure even in the Immortal Realm." Patriarch Fenn echoed, smiling.
"You're quite the talker. But don't go back on your word, or I won't mind making you end up like this next time." The man sneered.
Patriarch Fenn and the others twitched internally. Who would dare go against this monster? That would be suicide. But right now, they're using him to deal with Hundred-Bloom Palace and the Genius Pavilion. The lesson Evan Yang gave them back then—they still haven't forgotten.
Seeing everyone fall silent, the man smiled, "What's wrong? Why so quiet? By the way, who was it back then that made you all hate him so much? I'm curious." "Grand Immortal, he was just a minor character, nothing to fear," Patriarch Fenn replied with a smile.
"A minor character, huh? Fine, I won't ask. I'll take a nap. Later, once my magic treasure finishes breaking that formation, you can start your attack." The man laughed.
Patriarch Fenn and the others nodded, their eyes fixed on the formation ahead. This formation had always kept them out, but now, thanks to the strange Immortal Patriarch Fenn had found, after some time, it was finally about to be broken today.
Inside the formation, the people were growing more and more anxious, because the array was trembling.
In the garden, the maid came running over in a panic, "Something's wrong!"
"What is it?" Winter asked.
"A crack has appeared in the formation, and many people have rushed in from there. Hundred-Bloom Palace has suffered heavy losses," the maid said.
"Damn it, so fast!" Winter was shocked.
"Yes, everyone can't hold on much longer. Please, you two must decide." the maid said.
Winter frowned and said, "Since they've come, we have no intention of hiding. Let's make our last stand."
Tara Chu nodded as well. "That's right, let's fight to the end."
With that, the three of them left for the breach and began slaughtering the intruders. Winter, in particular, used her pet to kill many enemies.
With Winter's green-furred spirit beast joining the fight, the attackers turned pale. Soon, those at the breach were driven out, but Hundred-Bloom Palace suffered heavy casualties.
"When did the breach appear?" Winter asked.
"About a quarter of an hour ago," the maid replied.
"Looks like the formation is about to shatter, and other places may also be breached. Now, I order everyone: if you don't want to die, escape through this opening!" Winter didn't want others to die because of her; after all, Patriarch Fenn and the others were mainly here for her group.
The maid shook her head. "I swear to stay here to the death. This is our home for generations."
The remaining people echoed, "We swear to defend it to the death."
Seeing their resolve, Winter felt helpless. At that moment, the formation overhead boomed and shattered like a mirror; the light vanished, and the open sky appeared before everyone. "No, it's broken!" Winter exclaimed in shock.
Seeing this, the maid hurriedly ordered, "Everyone, quickly gather and prepare for the final stand!"
Hundred-Bloom Palace's people quickly assembled. Seeing only a few thousand left, Winter felt helpless, but since they'd made their decision, she could only persist to the end. She flew into the air, leading the remaining people upward.
Meanwhile, elite disciples from the Genius Pavilion also appeared, converging from their posts.
In an instant, their numbers swelled to over ten thousand, flying in the sky like locusts. But compared to the enemy force ten planets away, it was like a mountain facing a pile of dirt.
The dense enemy army surrounded them, leaving no way to escape.
Seeing Winter and the others emerge, Patriarch Fenn laughed loudly, "Ha, you finally dared to come out!"
"Patriarch Fenn, are you really going to wipe us out?" Winter asked.
"Wipe you out? That's exactly my intention. How else could I avenge the grudge he left behind!" Patriarch Fenn replied with a smile.
"If we die today, he won't spare you!" Winter said.
"Spare us? Ha, what a joke! Don't forget, I've got the Grand Immortal here. Even if he survives the Immortal Realm, he'll be skinned alive—that's even better." Patriarch Fenn laughed.
Patriarch Fenn lounged at the back, grinning smugly.
Winter glimpsed the man reclining on the chair and snorted coldly, "Borrowing a tiger's might!"
"Borrowing a tiger's might? Little girl, you've got quite the mouth," Patriarch Fenn sneered.
"Did I say anything wrong? With your strength, you could never destroy this place, but I didn't expect you'd bring in such a mysterious person." Winter sneered, showing no fear.
"Little girl, that's called real strength! You're just throwing eggs at a stone. If you'd listened to me and surrendered earlier, you wouldn't have had to face this day." Patriarch Fenn laughed.
"Surrender? Dream on. We'd rather die than surrender." Winter replied.
"Tsk tsk, just as stubborn as he was back then, but you're not him. He had the strength; you don't." Patriarch Fenn mocked.
"It doesn't matter whether we have it or not. But bullying the weak like this is disgraceful." Winter said. "Enough talk—let's see how you escape today. Everyone, attack!" Patriarch Fenn laughed. With that, hundreds of thousands of attacks came from all directions.
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Winter immediately ordered the remaining ten thousand to cluster together and resist the incoming attacks.
But there were too few people. One by one, they fell from the sky—at first a few, then dozens at a time. Some didn't even have time to dodge with their souls, dying instantly; others were left mangled.
Patriarch Fenn and his group watched with broad smiles—even the man reclining there said, "These girls are quite pretty. How can you bear to kill them?"
"Grand Immortal, these people all have masters—and their master is now in the Immortal Realm, though he's not nearly as strong as you." Patriarch Fenn laughed.
"They have masters? Even better—I love taking what others love." the man said with a smile.
"Oh? What do you want, Grand Immortal?" Patriarch Fenn asked curiously.
"Simple. Just make sure no one seriously injures those girls—the rest can be dealt with however you like." the man instructed.
Patriarch Fenn frowned. If Winter and her group ended up getting close to this man, he'd suffer for it, making things difficult for him.
"What's wrong? You disagree?" the man asked curiously.
"Well, they're stubborn. If we don't attack them, they'll attack everyone else." Patriarch Fenn offered a random excuse.
"So what! It's just a few deaths." the man replied carelessly.
A few deaths—Patriarch Fenn and his group felt a pang, but there was nothing they could do. Having attracted such a terrifying person, they could only smile and agree, "Fine, I'll have them do it."
So Patriarch Fenn ordered his men not to attack Winter and her group. Instantly, their area was free of pressure, and they joyfully counterattacked.
As a result, many of Patriarch Fenn's people died. Watching his disciples fall, Patriarch Fenn felt heartache, while the Grand Immortal beside him watched as if enjoying a show. "Too weak—dead is dead."
Too weak? But they said nothing—if they spoke up, they'd likely be punished. All they could do was watch people die.
But Hundred-Bloom Palace and Genius Pavilion suffered heavy losses, dwindling to only a few hundred. Seeing those survivors clustered around Winter, the others dared not act.
Patriarch Fenn had no choice but to say to the Grand Immortal, "Grand Immortal, look at this."
"This is troublesome. How about this: send people forward to challenge them one-on-one." the man suggested after thinking.
Patriarch Fenn was stunned; it seemed impractical, but since the man gave the order, he had to instruct his people: three against one. Soon, thousands surrounded them.
But Winter and her group wouldn't sit and wait for death. Soon, thousands fell, but Winter's side suffered as well—exhausted and wounded.
After the first batch died, Patriarch Fenn complained, "Grand Immortal, what do you think of this method?"
"This method is great—just repeat it a few times and you'll wear them out. Then it'll be easy." the man laughed.
Patriarch Fenn and his group were stunned; they hadn't expected this approach, but they had no power to resist. All they could do was send more people. Those sent grumbled, watching their comrades die, and finally Patriarch Fenn said, "Anyone who disobeys dies now."
Those called up had no choice but to go forward. After the second round, then the third, and finally the fourth, only a few dozen were left. Winter and Tara Chu were nearly exhausted, but the green-furred spirit beast guarded them, keeping others away.
"Go on," Winter said to her spirit beast, reluctant to let it die with her.
The spirit beast shook its head, refusing to leave.
Seeing the spirit beast's determination, Winter felt helpless. Tara Chu looked at Winter and said, "Looks like we'll never see him again."
"Yes, since that's the case, let's die together." Winter took out a glass cup, inside which was a soul—the soul of Ginger Xin.