864 - 874

Chapter 864: The Four Banishing Blades

Jun'er left with the Wine Master. Li Ke's eyes never left her small frame as she disappeared.

Lan Jue wanted to ask him why he didn't want to meet his daughter, but a look from the Pharmacist kept him quiet. He wouldn't press the issue – this was, after all, a matter between a husband and wife.

"Before we begin, I will explain the principle behind the Banishing Strategy. These years I've been locked within Ultus I was able to learn its secrets."

"The Banishing Stance is known as the single greatest destructive power in the universe. Back in the ancient days the Grand Master of Heaven battled against the four great sages. They were as strong as he, and you can imagine the power at their fingertips. Even so the Banishing Blades were called the most lethal of the Grand Master's weapons. Because of how powerful and dangerous it is, the Strategy has been hidden within Ultus ever since."

"Not copper, nor iron, nor steel, the sword was hidden beneath the crushing weight of Mount Meru. What flame or fluid could quench its keen edge? Ultus – sharp, Occisus – death, Captus – universal red light, Demortus – the ever changing. The blood of the immortals stained their robes." Li Ke's eyes burned as he recounted the old tale of the Banishing Blades.

Turquoise light sprang up from Li Ke's ghostly body and painted the room in its colors. A sharp and oppressive aura filled every corner of the room. Suddenly 'the most lethal of the Grand Master's weapons' seemed more than apt to describe the power of these blades.

Suddenly the Pharmacist's body reacted, releasing an aura of white light. A thirst of slaughter swelled and joined with Ultus' cutting eminence. The two together were murder given form.

Next to react was Lan Jue and Captus. Its red light reached out and where it touched reality was rife with tears. Reality collapsed where the sword's power prevailed.

Last was Demortus, a blue light which radiated around Zhou Qianlin as a tapestry of ever-changing power.

As the light of the four Banishing Blades intermingled they all rang with an ethereal hum. The resonance of it spread far and wide. More than just the residents of Middle Heaven, the whole fleet could hear the near-deafening ring.

Lan Qing was not protected by the power of a sword. He felt the tides of power most acutely. As the sonorous ring of the swords crashed around him he felt his spirit leave his body. It was like his body would break apart at any moment, caught in the joyous reunion of the godblades. He was not the target of their song, but he felt it may destroy him anyway.

What incredible power!

Lan Qing pressed his palms together before his chest, and a radiant golden Buddha appeared seated in the center of his heart. It quietly meditated, humming the Diamond Sutra, encased in the light of Variochana. A golden light, starting from the crown of his head, quickly spread down his entire body fusing body and soul. Blessings of the Buddhas of past, present and future filled him, protecting him from the deadly aura of the Banishing Blades.

As the song of the blades rang out Li Ke's eyes were wide and fervent. This was the day he had hoped so desperately to see! As a bearer of Ultus – the unparalleled weapon of the Grand Master of Heaven – even universal protogenia couldn't stand against him once the Banishing Strategy was enacted.

Now the swords were reunited, but he was no longer Ultus' master. He had become a guide, despite the pain of regret that filled him. He steeled himself against the sadness, for now was the time for strength.

The turquoise light faded. As the deadly power of Ultus was restrained the other swords followed its lead.

The Pharmacist, Lan Jue, and Zhou Qianlin could faintly sense the stirring power within. The gathered swords supplemented one another and awakened something inside them.

Lan Jue's understanding of his weapon ran deep, but in that moment he sensed something change completely. Its surge of power was so quick and intense it frightened him.

ξ

BANG! A bone-jarring shock shuddered through the realm of violet light. The Violet Prince, Princess, and the twelve remaining avatars knelt in this hollow place. In addition were two more Infinite-level figures, the remaining doppelgangers of the home worlds.

All of them had been deep in meditation, but the sudden impact forced them all to awaken. One of Monarch's avatars, seated beside the Prince, shot to his feet. A surge of purple light gushed from it.

"I have felt something, a terrible danger that can impact our future. A rapid, destructive force."

This wasn't the avatar itself, but rather Monarch speaking through this echo of its power.

The Violet Prince looked upon the avatar in shock. "From those humans?"

Monarch's deep voice answered. "No. The sword they stole. So thi is why they were so willing to put themselves in danger, so determined to abscond with that weapon. My first impression was incorrect, there is something more contained within it. The human who brought it to me was not dead, his spirit remained inside – otherwise we would not have suffered at the hands of the interlopers. All of you must recover that sword, no matter the cost."

The Violet Princess answered, unconvinced. "The humans have proven strong, but your merger with Queen and Consort is nearly complete. Soon you will create what the humans call an immortal realm and a Domain for us to survive in. Then we will be able to travel through the universe at a whim, destroying any vestige of humanity without effort. Even if that weapon is dangerous, would it mean anything in the face of your future supremacy?"

Monarch's avatar sniffed derisively. "You understand nothing. The mysteries of their species are revealed to me the more of their essence I consume. Many years ago humans had an immortal realm, stronger and more prosperous than what we will achieve. I suspect that sword is a relic of those times, conveyed to the humans from the gods they once served. The ones who came and took it from me also bore swords of similar caliber. I heard their song, and in the depths of my mind I sensed the danger they present. This danger is such that our power would mean nothing. Your task is to interrupt this power before it can be brought to bear against us. It must be thoroughly destroyed."

The Violet Prince nodded. "As you wish!"

A cold light passed over the avatar's face. "Remember – at any cost!"

"Of course," the Prince replied.

Suddenly, the Princess felt a strange sensation trill through her. Such feelings had plagued her since they consumed human genetics for their own benefit. Monarch was unaffected by the Prince and Princess were more human-like as time went on. They even preferred to converse in human language.

She did not find these human weapons as dangerous as Monarch claimed. More dangerous was the assimilatory power of human genetics. They may have taken this genetic material from the humans, but it was changing them as much as they were using it to empower their abilities.

Once this immortal realm was established they would become more and more like the creatures they consumed. Maybe the human essence would completely replace what they used to be. What would happen then, she wondered?

The Violet Princess knew that much of this evolutionary process was derived from the latent memories of the humans, locked within their DNA. Monarch was trying to mimic what the humans had achieved thousands of years before.

ξ

"In ancient times but one bearer established the Banishing Stance, the Grand Master of Heaven Ling Bao. Beore his overwhelming power even the likes of Heavenly Sovereign Taishang and Celestial Master Yuanshi, along with two others, were at a loss as to what to do. But as the four clashed against the Grand Master they managed to defeat him. Thus the swords earned their titles as the most lethal under heaven. The Strategy, with the four swords as its pivotal center, directed this unfathomable power. From what we can understanding the Strategy focuses and guides a portion of universal protogenia."

Li Ke shared all he knew of the Banishing Strategy with the four new bearers. As they listened intently it was as though gates hiding these secrets from them were opened before their eyes – especially for the three who were already familiar with their swords. Suddenly their knowledge and connection with these godblades was deeper than ever.

"Now we cannot rely on a single person's power to establish the Strategy, of course. Nor can any of you fully command the power it contains. What you must do is approach the home worlds, establish the Strategy, then entice them forward. The enemy will react to you once the trap is in place."

The sword contained profound knowledge, and even though Li Ke had been trapped within it for years he had only scratched the surface of its mysteries. Without the other three weapons parts of those mysteries had been locked away.

Knowledge of the Strategy had always been kept in Ultus, but many specifics of it were contained in the other swords. Only once all four of them were together was the entirety of the Strategy laid bare.

Lan Qing, Lan Jue, Zhou Qianlin, and the Pharmacist were all brilliant people. They could follow Li Ke's information to its logical conclusion, comprehending the substance of his point and asking poignant questions.

Because they lacked the strength to control the swords' power, they had only one chance to lay out the Strategy. Whether or not they could eliminate the enemy was a question too difficult to answer now.

After all, the full strength of these swords – the most lethal weapons under heaven – was unknown. No one knew what would happen once the Strategy was enacted. All they knew came from old legends and whispered tales. They had to rely on faith that these stories were true.

Chapter 865: Daddy… Come!

Right now the only thing they could take faith from was the ringing son of the Banishing Blades. The sound of their long-awaited union rang with such ferocity that the strength within them was evident.

All preparations for the transmutation process were completed. Li Ke addressed them once again. "Now we will use the alien methods to increase your strength. Once you have achieved Nirvana I will pass on Ultus' lineage to Lan Qing. From that point you can begin to practice the Strategy."

Lan Qing nodded slightly. The Pharmacist looked on with sorrowful eyes. Li Ke said the words lightly, but she knew that once he passed the inheritance to Lan Qing her husband would be gone. Already it was clear to everyone that Li Ke's spirit had begun to fade. It seemed he could vanish at any moment.

Lan Jue looked between the two. "We will watch over you. Qianlin's Domain in particular will help keep you safe."

Both Lan Qing and the Pharmacist nodded.

"Lan Jue. Thank you," Li Ke said suddenly.

Lan Jue shrugged. "Just doing my duty," he replied.

"I mean, about Jun'er." A bitter pain crossed Li Ke's ghostly face. "I was never able to fulfil by obligation as her father. You've helped remedy that. Thank you. I chose not to reveal myself to Jun'er because she already has a father – you. Don't misunderstand, my meaning is that you are far more qualified to guider her as a father than I. I have already failed her too much, and I don't wish to negatively influence her life any more than I have."

Lan Jue's surprise was palpable. Inwardly he lamented these star-crossed parents and the agony they'd suffered! Were it not for the misfortunes they'd suffered this man would have lived to be a modern luminary.

"However…" Li Ke hesitated, then dropped his head. "I have to trouble you with a request. Bring Jun'er. I'll just watch from afar, I won't say anything. Is this alright?"

His voice shook. The fluctuations of his emotional state was reflected in his translucent body, which began to flicker.

Lan Jue nodded. "Alright, I'll bring her here." He left to do as he'd been asked.

However, after just a few steps he stopped and turned back to look at him.

"Brother Li," he began. "Or… perhaps brother in law [1. Since he refers to the Pharmacist as sister. This is actually more familiar than 'Brother Li'.]. I must ask, do you really believe Jun'er doesn't understand what's happening? She may be young, but that girl has more wisdom than most adults. That's even before you consider her inheritance from the Clairvoyant. She knows, she just hasn't said anything. She doesn't want to heart you… or perhaps it's to protect herself."

Both Li Ke and the Pharmacist shook at his words. They looked at him, shocked.

Jun'er knew? She already knew?

Li Ke stared in surprise, the Pharmacist couldn't help but stare. She couldn't help but feel like she'd been neglectful of the girl lately. Lan Jue seemed to know her better.

Lan Jue looked from one to the other. "I feel sorry for Jun'er, but she's more mature than you give her credit for. You've been living in your own world, but I think you need to ask her what she thinks. Brother, you don't want to speak with her because you're afraid to cause her pain. But if she knows her father's back, and you say nothing, what sort of damage do you think that will cause? I hope you both speak with her. It may hurt, but at the very least she'll have the memory of her real dad. She'll remember that her father really did come back. At least for a moment your family was whole."

"Of course I'll always be a father to her, that won't ever change. I'll protect her with my life and I promise that nothing will harm her so long as I draw breath."

Li Ke felt like he'd been struck by lightning. His mind was muddled, he didn't know what to say.

"I think A-Jue is right. Some things have to be faced, no matter how unpleasant. Maybe for her, what you think is the right decision may not be the best one." Lan Qing added his opinion.

Li Ke floated silently in the sitting room. He wasn't sure what to say, didn't know what to do. He was entirely at a loss.

Lan Jue didn't wait for him to answer. He simply turned and left to fetch Jun'er. Whatever Li Ke's decision he would bring her here so they could be face to face. They were, after all, family.

When Lan Jue returned, holding Jun'er in his arms, there were several more people in the sitting room. Lin Guoguo, Ke'er, and Xiuxiu were in attendance.

Lin Guoguo had come at Lan Jue's request. She would be the one to strip Lan Qing and the Pharmacist of their memories, so the secrets of the transmutation technique would be lost forever. There was no stronger Adept than Lin Guoguo in the realm of psychic power.

Xiuxiu and Ke'er had come with her. They had not had an opportunity to see their boss in some time so they aimed to advantage of this opportunity.

Mika was gone. Zeus' Amazons were now only three.

Jun'er was dressed in a white fluffy princess' skirt, with her hair combed and pulled into a pony tail. Her big eyes were dull and sightless, but beautiful nonetheless. They were like windows into an endless universe. In her hands she bore the Eye of Tomorrow, the crystal ball the Clairvoyant once used to influence the flows of human destiny.

When he saw her Li Ke's spirit floated forward, but stopped ten meters from where Lan Jue stood. The three amazons jumped when he did, unaware of what was happening. They looked at each other in surprise and alarm.

Lan Jue looked at Li Ke, but spoke to Jun'er. "Mommy's here, little one. How about you play in here for a little while?" He knelt and put her on the floor before taking her hand and leading her to the Pharmacist.

Li Ke watched as Lan Jue and Jun'er passed him by. He remained silent as Lan Jue placed Jun'ers tiny hand in her mother's. Jun'er held tight to her mother, blinking her sightless eyes.

The Pharmacist looked down at her, then at Li Ke floating nearby. She fought to keep her emotions under control so that they wouldn't burst out. Her lips quivered from the effort of keeping tears from her eyes.

Jun'ers expression was calm and sweet, appearing blissfully unaware of what was happening. She lifted her hand, bearing the Eye of Tomorrow, and pointed it at Lan Jue. "Daddy, can you hold this for me, please?"

"Ok." He said. Lan Jue took it from her, and in his hands it looked like a perfectly normal glass bauble.

"Daddy… come!" Jun'er called out again, but when Lan Jue looked toward her, the young girl's hand wasn't stretched toward him. One hand held tightly to the Pharmacist's, while the other reached for Li Ke.

This touching moment struck everyone, filling their hearts.

Li Ke looked at his daughter, not daring to believe. He rubbed his spectral eyes then looked again to make sure she was pointing his way.

The Pharmacist, in her shock, looked at Lan Jue, but he shook his head. He didn't tell Jun'er anything. What he said had been true – Jun'er knew.

Of course! She was the Clairvoyant of the new generation, bearer of the Eye of Tomorrow. How could she not know her own blood was present?

"Jun-… Jun'er." At last Li Ke spoke, and he hurried to her side. He knew he was a spirit and could not touch his daughter, but he threw open his arms anyway and tried to hug her. Everyone's eyes were wet with tears. For a father to be unable to hold his daughter, the sorrow of it was unspeakable.

Jun'er's placid face bore a faint smile and she opened her own arms to accept him. She moved in perfect time with her ghostly father, though she could not see!

"I can feel you, daddy. Don't feel bad, it'll be ok when you come back." Jun'er comforted him through her tiny smile.

The Pharmacist couldn't contain herself any longer. She pressed herself into Qianlin's arms and cried against her shoulder.

Li Ke's body shook. He felt like his whole body was on fire, and nothing was important except this little life in front of him. The worry over aliens, the swords… all of it melted away when that little girl called him daddy. The pain and sadness that had consumed him for so long disappeared. She'd called him daddy.

Li Ke, choked with sobs, kept his arms around his daughter though the effort was fruitless. Jun'er stood happily within his supernatural embrace, smiling contently.

"Daddy, don't cry. Having the whole family together is a happy thing! Now you don't worry, I'm going to look after mommy. You have to be good, too."

Jun'er's sweet voice was like crystal bells in his ears. He hated himself. He hated that he'd decided to leave his wife for that cursed mission. If he'd refused he'd have been with her all along. Maybe she wouldn't have been blind.

But in all the universe there was no cure to take back regrets.

Jun'er lifted her arms and rested them around his phantom neck.

Chapter 866: Li Ke's Decision

Chapter 866: Li Ke's Decision

"Alright… okay!" At last Li Ke was able to fight through his emotion to get the words out. Just seeing his daughter pushed all other thoughts out of his head. With a sharp sigh he appeared to come to a decision. Standing, he turned back toward Lan Qing.

"I'd like to ask for your help."

Lan Qing nodded. "Of course, upperclassman. I'll do whatever I can."

Li Ke spoke with quiet determination. "I want you to help me become the true sword spirit of Ultus."

Lan Qing paused, and the Pharmacist stopped her crying to turn back around and look at them. Neither quite understood what Li Ke wanted.

Li KE turned to the Pharmacist. "I'm sorry, little Yue. I can't hold it back anymore. I need to be selfish."

She looked back, her tear-soaked eyes confused.

Li Ke pulled his spectral face in to a tight, bitter smile. "I'm sorry, I lied to you. The mark of my spirit can't stay locked in Ultus. It is a legendary weapon, incomparably sharp, and it will carve away the last vestige of my soul once my will vanishes. Reincarnation teaches that when our life force passes it is born again in a new body, but I don't want that. Being born again is a fantasy, and even if it were real it would mean I'd forget all that has happened this life. I lied and told you there was a chance to bring me back because I wanted you to seek happiness for yourself. As I am now, an errant soul in a sword, I cannot perform the duties and responsibilities of a husband. I know you, more than you'd probably like to admit. You'll be by my side so long as my spirit remains. But if you tie yourself to the dead you can't leave a real life. So I chose the possibility of reincarnation, and chose to hope you might find a way to be happy."

"But now that I see my daughter I don't want to. I may not have the qualifications to be a real father, but at least I may be able to see her every day. I can watch my treasure flourish. Even just watching would fill my heart with contentment. If I become a sword spirit I can remain here with her."

"You fool." The Pharmacist spat the word, her voice bitter. "Do you think I didn't know you were lying to me? I just wanted you to have your lie because it comforted you. Your face becomes so serious every time you lie. You haven't changed in all the time we've been together. If your spirit vanishes I refuse to live without you."

"No!" Li Ke's anger flared. "Jun'er is already missing a father. How could she go one without you?"

The Pharmacist shot back with cool conviction. "How can you be selfish, but I can't?"

Li Ke stopped. He glanced at Jun'er nearby, still bearing the small smile on her face. "I've made my decision, to become the spirit of Ultus and remain. I'll live so long as the current master of the sword draws breath. I'll be able to watch my little girl. But little Yue you must promise me that you won't throw away your life."

The Pharmacist walked over to Jun'er's side, knelt, and picked her up. She hugged the small girl tightly against her. Li Ke's dedication to his choice was firm and fervent. He floated over to Lan Qing, then nodded that he was ready.

"Come with me." He turned and left the room. Lan Jue, Qianlin, the Pharmacist, Jun'er, and the three amazons remained behind.

Ke'er, Xiuxiu and Lin Guoguo's eyes were red. They were not immune to the emotional scene they'd witnessed.

"Mommy, you should go look after daddy. Daddy Lan Jue is here with me." Jun'er cutely offered.

She nodded, ran her hand along her hair, and gave her small cheek a kiss. She put her down and left to join the two men.

After she was gone, Jun'er lifted her face toward Lan Jue. "Am I a good girl, daddy?"

Lan Jue knelt and wrapped her in a hug. "You little thing. It's okay to cry if you want to."

She wrapped her tiny arms around Lan Jue. Then, with tiny sobs, she cried into his shoulder.

No matter how much wisdom she possessed or how mature she was, Jun'er was still a child!

Lan Jue gently stroked her silk-like hair, eyes heavy with a sad and tender love. She really was a good girl. She'd told her mom to leave for a reason, so that she could let her pain out. To understand this at six years old was incredible.

Xiuxiu, Ke'er and Lin Guoguo quickly gathered round to comfort the little girl.

She didn't cry for long. After a minute or so her tears stopped falling and her sobs ceased. She slowly lifted her head.

As Lan Jue wiped away her tears, Jun'er muttered at him. "Daddy, I'm scared. I've seen some really scary things… that daddy, dead. Mommy, dead. They don't want me."

He gently patted her back. "Impossible, they both love you more than anything. How could they not want their little Jun'er? And you have me! Daddy Lan Jue will be with you forever."

"Ok." Jun'er's tiny voice replied. She hugged him tighter. He kissed her forehead.

Suddenly Jun'ers head shot up. She looked off in a seemingly random direction. "Daddy, be careful."

Lan Jue had quick reaction times and no reason to doubt the little girl. The moment she spoke the words. He took her and the three amazons and hurled themselves toward Zhou Qianlin.

A beam of purple light struck where they'd been kneeling half a breath before.

An aura of creation and destruction raged around them, fluctuating chaotically. Even though Lan Jue had the perception of a Nirvana-level Paragon he had not felt any indication this power was coming.

Jun'er lifted her hand and a sparkling light filled the room. A dimness then overcame them as a twinkling backdrop enveloped everyone like a blanket of stars. The ship disappeared. Suddenly everyone found themselves in a boundless universe.

They could see four twinkling violet dots in the distance, but they closed in quickly to surround Lan Jue and the others.

The twinkling starlight gave their attackers pause before they were engulfed. Lan Jue responded quickly by holding tight to Jun'er and reaching out with his other hand. In a flash fo red, Captus appeared in his grip.

The violet light subsided as a vortex of red light appeared and began to drink it up.

Chapter 867: Life For a Monarch

Chapter 867: Life for a Monarch

Recently Lan Jue's battles had been quick, fierce, and against foes much stronger than he. Under these stifling odds his cultivation and combat experience had grown by leaps and bounds. His comprehension of his sword and his own abilities was deeper than it'd ever been, and though he had only been a Paragon a short while he could still command with flows of protogenia with confidence.

The moment Lan Jue summoned Captus, Zhou Qianlin reacted in kind. Demortus appeared in her hand, ready to join Captus in battle. Flows of blue light surged from her blade and entered into Captus' vortex like bolts of silk. Suddenly it was a whirlpool of red and blue.

The light gathered into a flickering nimbus. Then, in a burst of energy, it shot forth in every direction and battered back the four alien monsters that'd come for them. In the same instant Lan Jue released the dazzling power of his Domain and allowed Boundless Starlight to spread.

Lan Jue's heart was heavy with fear, he knew how dangerous the situation they found themselves in was. These monsters were undoubtedly Infinite-level!

He berated himself for forgetting one very important thing; these aliens were adept at interdimensional travel. Their understanding of how to cross large distances undetected was unparalleled. However in all his battles with these aliens they had never used transference offensively. Humans had forgotten they could do it.

The Violet Prince and his coterie must have appeared through teleportation. It helped that Middle Heaven was relatively empty now, but nonetheless their extraordinary prowess was on full display. What's more, they could hide their aura so well that even the Photographer would be ashamed.

These thoughts flashed through Lan Jue's mind. But right now his top concern was finding out how to stay alive.

Turn!

As Lan Jue's Domain expanded the aliens began to swirl in a clockwise formation around him. The power of their birth and destruction Domain accelerated sharply, forcing it to change a hundred times a second. It overwhelmed the rules of reality and everything around them seemed to break apart.

A dizziness overcame Lan Jue, and before he knew it his Domain was overcome and destroyed. Even Qianlin's Queen of Heaven powers couldn't sustain it.

The Violet Prince grunted. His eyes flared purple-gold, and the monsters that accompanied him stopped their predatory circling. However the purple light did not stop, and became a tornado of deadly power that came crashing down on Lan Jue and the others.

"Our hearts beat as one!" Lan Jue yelled into the buffeting tides of power.

Captus flared red. Under the crushing weight of the aliens' Domain he would have been unable to summon his protogenia as a Reflection of Heaven and Earth. Luckily he had risen to Nirvana, and with Li Ke's direction he had a new comprehension of Captus' true essence.

As he lashed out with the Banishing Blade golden runes burned bright, stamped in the metal. All of a sudden Lan Jue's body became illusory, like there were a hundred thousand copies of him overlaid one on top of the other.

Nirvana the omnipresent, gathered as one!

Faced with the oppressive and deadly power of the Violet Prince, Lan Jue reacted with one of the secret powers of Nirvana.

The sudden amplification of its powers made the golden runes along Captus burn with blinding light. Though Qianlin did not possess the same level of comprehension she shared his through their linked souls. Floating around them the blue light of Demortus coalesced into a haze and settled over Captus.

The power of the two swords mingled, and created a rainbow-hued halo of light. It bloomed outward like the petals of a lotus, spreading out around them. These mysterious petals protected the humans from the rage and chaos of the purple cyclone.

Lan Jue channeled the Harmonious Swords to defend them from the storm. He couldn't retract the sword for fear of exposing him and his companions, even though the Violet Prince was closing in on him.

His other hand still held tightly to Jun'er, protecting her with his body. Lan Jue's Domain remained staunchly denied, and unable to fight off the encroaching power of the alien's creation and destruction abilities.

They were finished! Lan Jue's heart sank. Four Infinite-level monsters joined against him was as terrifying as it was insurmountable. He was effectively powerless, locked down by his enemies' overwhelming strength.

Adding insult to injury the Violet Prince did not attack Lan Jue directly. The monster's pale hand reached out, but toward Jun'er. The other was aimed at Lan Jue's chest.

Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin were focusing their powers on keeping the cyclone from tearing them apart. Qianlin could only watch, forced to cling to Demortus.

In the final moment, just before the Prince's hand could reach them, Lan Jue reacted. He spun around her blocking Jun'er from the Prince with his own body.

He had to protect her, even if it meant his death! This was the only thought going through his mind. He tried to position himself as best he could to block access to Zhou Qianlin as well. Maybe he could buy her some time.

"Agh!" There was a pained grunt and suddenly Lan Jue felt Captus grow lighter. A series of intense explosions followed, and then the combined power of he and Qianlin surged to dispel the tornado raging around them.

Reinforcements! Ln Jue turned around to see what had happened.

However, instead of the Violet Prince's grim and murderous expression he was met with a familiar face.

Her face – as always traditionally beautiful and stunning to behold – was pale. She looked back at him with her big, soft, emotive eyes. All the feelings she'd held back for so long seemed to pour out of those eyes.

He was reflected in them, only him. For a moment her delicate, pretty face was filled serenity. Up until the moment she collapsed to the floor.

"Xiuxiu!"

Chapter 868: I'm Sorry, Boss

"Xiuxiu!"

Lan Jue cried out and lurched forward. The press of enemy protogenia had eased enough for some measure of his power to spread out. He dropped Jun'er's hand and reached out for Xiuxiu.

His heart sank the moment he touched her. There was hardly any trace of vitality left.

Reinforcements had arrived, only a moment too late. The pale pink light that surrounded them was from the Photographer, fighting against the pressure of the aliens' Domain.

She did not come alone. The Terminator had placed his enormous girth between them and their attackers while the Epochrion and the Wine Master manipulated the flows of space-time. All of humanity's Paragons were here in a unified defense.

Lan Jue could sense a hideous, murderous aura wash over them. The Pharmacist – they must have sensed something was amiss.

"Boss…" Xiuxiu's soft voice cut through the din. She sounded weak, different. Her eyes never left Lan Jue's face.

He held onto her limp body, kneeling beside her. "Xiuxiu, why would you do something so stupid…" He still wasn't sure what had happened.

The Violet Prince had been on him, inches from landing a blow. He couldn't have simply given up his chance to cut Lan Jue down. Xiuxiu was closest – she must have used her piercing Discipline to cut through the Prince's Domain and use her own body to block the attack.

She was a ninth level Adept, powerful and talented. However, in the face of an Infinite-level beast like the Prince she was no more dangerous than a normal human. Were it not for the timely intervention of the other Paragons, Xiuxiu would have been utterly destroyed.

"How could you be so stupid?!" Lan Jue's eyes were filling with tears. He knew how potent the Creation and Destruction Domain was. There was no way to save Xiuxiu's rapidly fleeting life. Even the mighty immortals of old couldn't rescue her.

Tears carved two glittering rivulets down Xiuxiu's cheeks. Her eyes were cloudy and unfocused but were kept trained on Lan Jue.

"Why is it so dark? Boss? It's dark. I can't see you… I want to see you." She gripped his arm with what little strength was left to her.

Lan Jue took her hand and squeezed it tight. She squeezed back. "Boss, don't feel bad. I don't deserve it. Maybe this is for the best, it's worth it to die for you. I'm sorry boss, I have to ask your forgiveness. I'll repent in the next world, I'll pray for you. Boss… live happily…"

She gasped the last sentence, and suddenly Lan Jue felt her hand grow heavy. Her body went stiff as a faint violet light began to emerge from her skin. Gradually her form dissolved into motes of violet light, and then she was gone.

Lan Jue tried desperately to gather the motes as they floated away, to no avail. He wanted to force her body to stay. Instead her life force was devoured by these heartless monsters, and nothing remained of his childhood friend. Nothing but a faint sense of sentiment, sorrow, and regret.

Lan Jue's whole body shook.

Xiuxiu had been by his side since they were small. They'd grown up together. No one – not Hera, not Qianlin, not even Lan Qing – no one was with him longer. He'd turned her affections down more than once, but not because he didn't like her. She was like a sister to him!

As he struggled to figure out how to urge the Amazons to lead their own lives, he knew Xiuxiu would be the biggest worry. Her mannerisms were always soft, but inside Xiuxiu was more stubborn than any of the others. No one could change her mind of she firmly believed something.

He'd struggled to find a solution ever since Xiuxiu began to show signs of attachment. Never was an answer forthcoming. The other girls were fond of him, too, but none were around as long as Xiuxiu. She'd been raised by Jue Di as Lan Jue's maidservant, to stay by his side always but not necessarily as his wife.

Xiuxiu was younger than Lan Jue by a few years. They grew up and trained together. Ever since then Lan Jue had developed a familial kinship with her. So, although he knew it was wrong to not flatly refuse her advances, he couldn't bear to hurt the girl – woman – who had dedicated her life to him

He never thought it would end this way, it was the only thing he could think about. Xiuxiu was dead. She died saving his life. He couldn't shake the image of her eyes as she looked at him. She'd loved him until the light faded away and the darkness took her.

An indescribable pain tore through every fiber of his being. It was his heart breaking, no less devastating than the day Hera died.

Xiuxiu was dead. Dead!

"A-Jue, snap out of it!" A pleading shout pulled him from the state of shock. His head shot up, and his red eyes narrowed into angry slits.

"Bastard!" He roared. Like a feral beast he hurled himself at the Violent Prince.

Chaos prevailed. Jun'er had had the forethought to use one of her most potent abilities to separate the fighters from Middle Heaven. The ferocity of their exchange could easily rip the bastion apart from the inside. But she was just a child, and even with the help of the Eye of Tomorrow she couldn't protect them for long.

Ten Paragons were desperately fighting for their lives. Nearby, the Pharmacist was guarding the door and blocking two more Nirvana-level aliens from entering.

Lan Qing had not appeared. He was likely busy absorbing Ultus' inheritance.

The aliens had chosen the perfect time to attack – besieging the stronghold to destroy the reinforcements [1. A military tactic wherein the attacker lays siege to an important positions defenders are unwilling to give up. The defenders are forced to call for reinforcements, who thus fall into ambushes laid by the attackers. Now the defenders are without reinforcements against a powerfully positioned enemy force. Here the humans can't give up Middle Heaven so all the Paragons have to join in to defend it. The aliens can then pick off the Paragons and leave the humans weak.]. The humans were short Lan Qing's might and guidance, and were forced to protect him and the ship.

If Xiuxiu had not taken the blow meant for Lan Jue, he would have been seriously injured or even killed. Without the Harmonious Swords humanity's ability to fight back would be severely impaired.

Captus exploded with an intense red light as Lan Jue rushed forward, bringing Captus down on his enemy like a hammer. Qianlin remained by his side, but no matter how much she tried she found she couldn't combine her powers to his. In this moment there was no love in his heart, only hatred.

Pink light flickered around Luo Xianni throughout the fight. She was the sole Infinite-level Paragon defending the humans, and the only one with a clear mind. She knew how precarious their position was, and the moment the aliens' Domain broke past hers it would destroy Jun'er's protective shell. Exposed to the raging protogenia of so many Paragons, Middle Heaven would be torn apart from the inside. The results would be catastrophic.

They had to find another battlefield.

"Quickly!" Luo Xianni shouted toward the Wine Master.

The old Avenue leader knew what was needed without being told. He appeared in front of her in a flash of silver light. Holding his scepter high, archaic runes appeared floating in the air around them and the gem in its center flared. As waves of light poured from him Luo Xianni brandished her small pink camera.

Combined power from the two interspatial powerhouses caused reality to lurch uncomfortably. The aliens' Domain shook under the pressure.

All four of the Infinite-level aliens were locked in combat. The Violet Prince was entangled by Lan Jue's rabid onslaught. With the addition of Zhou Qianlin and the Prince's fear of their Harmonious Swords he was on his back foot.

The Violet Princess was squared off against the two Gods of Wine, the Pontiff, and the Gourmet. All four of them were far inferior to the Princess in cultivation, but the Pontiff's light-based powers had a restrictive effect on her and he was nearly a Reflection of Heaven and Earth. Likewise the Gods of Wine were adept at battlefield control and were keeping her tangled up. Indeed the Princess had the upper hand, but for now they weren't letting her employ her full powers.

The Terminator elected to face iron with iron. He faced off against one of the planet's avatars alone, relying on his overwhelming strength to keep his target locked down. The final alien was left to the Epochrion and the rest of the Avenue' Paragons.

For the time being the Epochrion's powers, paired with attacks by the Pauper and the Driver, were enough to keep the avatar distracted. What frightened their enemy the most was the Driver's Primordial Lightning, for even with its superior cultivation it didn't dare risk a direct blow.

Chapter 869: Sobering Kiss

The Keeper and Bookworm were helping the Pharmacist, working hard to keep enemy reinforcements at bay.

Chu Cheng had returned to Tyrannosaurus, because each bastion required a Paragon commander. Hua Li had left to gather the Tears of Neptune, as requested by Li Ke. Other than them, all the rest of mankind's Paragons were here, at war [1. Alright, but where is the damn Astral Phantom?!]. However, not all of the alien leadership had come.

Including the Prince and the other three Infinite-level attackers, only seven alien elite were here. Perhaps that was the limit they could teleport with their abilities. Still, it was more than enough to destroy Middle Heaven. Losing the East's last hope was unacceptable, so this fight had to quickly be moved elsewhere.

Ka-cha! For a moment everything froze, went silent, and was overlaid with a pink light. Then everything began to quake and ripple.

Lan Jue's pain and rage came crashing down on the Prince. Monster though he was, he was still a living thing and the fear that gripped him was real. His defense stuttered from the Photographer's intervention.

His hesitation lasted only a moment before everything returned to normal. In that moment Luo Xianni cast her hand toward Jun'er, emitting a beam of light that hung over the small girl. She disappeared, and with her the shell of protective power she'd created. The Photographer's Domain shattered as well.

But as the tides of protogenia burst out, obliterating everything in the room, the aliens were shocked to find what lay behind the metal walls. They weren't in Middle Heaven any longer. They were out in space, separate from the armada.

Teleported?

Luo Xianni's reaction had been a clever one. She didn't try to teleport everyone directly for she knew it was likely to be blocked by the aliens' power. After all, their enemy had the power advantage.

Instead she called upon the Wine Master to conceal their plans, releasing his Domain as though he were there to support their defenses. While he did so she spread her power out and carved a pocket of reality around the whole room. She moved them, and in fact that whole cabin out into space.

Since the Violet Prince was distracted by Lan Jue's attack, he hadn't noticed nor had time to prevent it. Thus Luo Xianni was able to succeed with her ploy. In fact even Luo Xianni was surprised it worked.

A harsh roar bellowed from the Prince. He was calling for others.

"Grab A-Jue, get him to snap out of it." Luo Xianni grunted, and a pink light surrounded Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin. Both were pulled back from the Prince, and Luo Xianni took their place.

He had a healthy fear of the Photographer as well. Though she was not as powerful as that human with the staff, she was the only other creature who could stand toe to toe with him. Aside from her only Lan Jue and Qianlin's Harmonious Swords could defeat him.

Lan Jue swiped with Captus but struck empty space. His red, angry eyes were cast all around to search for something to kill but were met with only the twinkling stars.

It was him. He killed Xiuxiu – he killed her!

The only thought running through his addled mind was vengeance for Xiuxiu. His rage, his need for blood, had thrust him into a berserker frenzy.

"A-Jue, you have to calm down!" Zhou Qianlin hugged him tightly from behind to try and stop him from racing off. He was not himself, and the torrent of emotion he felt was preventing him from summoning his full power. The only way they might defeat these creatures is through the Harmonious Swords.

As she held onto him Qianlin released her Domain. The Light of Guanyin fell over the battlefield and the two of them. Its calming nature soothed the erratic flows of protogenia radiating from Lan Jue.

One of the most dangerous situations for a Paragon was to lose control of their protogenia. These powers belonged to the universe, and were borrowed by the Paragon. They were conduits, and if they lost control of this flow the power of the universe could backfire. A rebound like that could destroy the Paragon.

The Queen of Heaven's powers were magnificent for just this situation. Almost instantly the dangerously regular pulses of protogenia were calmed. To Lan Jue it felt like a gust of warm wind blowing through him, soothing his heart and easing his pain.

He stopped, struck dumb in the moment of his anger. He began to shake as tears rolled down his face.

"Xiuxiu… Xiuxiu's dead. She's dead!" He lifted is left hand, and held tightly in his palm was a small storage device she'd given him just before she died. Somehow she'd managed to protect it from being destroyed by the Violet Prince's attack.

He didn't know what it was she gave him. He almost didn't want to know, but it was the only thing of hers he had left. He felt the sorrow and guilt growing in his heart.

Lan Jue slowly turned and faced Zhou Qianlin. She looked hazy through his tears. "Xiuxiu is dead. The Violet Prince killed her."

Qianlin didn't answer him. With pain in her own eyes she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.

Her lips were warm. The essence of her – of her compassion and her love – was conveyed through that kiss into his body. It nourished him, nourished his soul. No words were needed now. Through that kiss Zhou Qianlin told him that he still had her. She was still here.

The blood-shot color drained from his eyes. Gradually the haze of rage and anguish drained away.

Qianlin put her hands on his shoulders and gently pushed him away. She looked depply into his eyes. "We can't be sad now. We have to kill our enemies, and make them sacrifices to the memory of Xiuxiu."

He nodded firmly, causing the tears to be cast from his face. They floated in the nothingness around them. He took her hand in one of his gripped tightly to Captus with the other.

Zhou Qianlin's kiss had calmed enough to where he didn't rush back into the fight. He stood at a distance, surveying what was going on.

Seven enemies. Among them were the Violet Prince and three other Infinite-level aliens. On his side, other than his brothers all other Paragons were in combat.

Luo Xianni was trading blows with the Prince. Luckily she didn't have to worry about universal protogenia while under the protection of Qianlin's Domain. The Terminator also had one of the elite locked down, and for the time being he needn't worry for his life.

But the situation was more precarious for the Gods of Wine. It was four on one, but the four humans were only part of the Realm of Protogenia. Luckily for them the Pontiff's abilities were opposed to the monster's, and the Gods of Wine were expertly keeping her on her back feet. If any of them slip up, however, it could mean their death.

Things also looked dire for the Pharmacist. She was strong enough to handle a Nirvana-level foe on her own, but she was currently facing three. The Keeper and Bookworm could only help from the sidelines, and their powerful attacks were barely able to penetrate the enemy's Domain. None of the three aliens focused on them, because doing so might expose the other two to the Harbinger Faerie's deadly abilities.

Clearly these beasts' target was the Pharmacist herself. Under their fierce onslaught Occisus' light was squeezed into the area just around her, the only thing standing between her and disaster. Things weren't good anywhere Lan Jue looked.

His observation lasted only a moment, then he made his decision. He threw back his head and let loose a booming cry toward the heavens. His deep, booming shout shuddered through the battlefield, summoned from the depths of his soul, and everyone could feel it. He released his Domain and let it flow from him at full force.

In the distance at least six more Nirvana-level aliens were quickly approaching. Once they arrived, even if Chu Cheng and Hua Li joined the fight, all hope was lost.

If they wanted to survive, they would have to punish the alien attackers dearly right this moment.

His crystal-clear eyes reflected the light of Captus as Lan Jue held the legendary sword aloft. His Boundless Starlight Domain surged forth.

However it did not spread out far. In fact it expanded only three meters around Lan Jue and Qianlin before stopping. Stars in the distance dimmed once his Domain emerged, as though his power drank their light into itself. He and Qianlin let their powers flow, and they amplified each other to a shocking degree.

The Violet Prince narrowed his eyes as he glared their way. Monarch had ordered them to spare nothing to bring that sword back, but the sword wasn't here. It was back on Middle Heaven.

Chapter 870: Disadvantages

Moments after the Photographer teleported them away from Middle Heaven the bastion powered on its shields. It was no longer possible for the aliens to simply transfer themselves aboard. Even at the level of Nirvana the creatures couldn't master the Creation and Destruction Domain enough to teleport themselves.

In fact even the three home worlds couldn't transfer. Only the Violet Prince and Princess had the innate energy and depth of knowledge of their Domain to do so. Even still the requirement in energy was immense. It was for that reason the Prince didn't immediately destroy Lan Jue upon appearing within Middle Heaven. If he hadn't already been drained by the transference, even Xiuxiu's interruption wouldn't have saved Lan Jue from him.

As the fight stretched on both the Prince and Princess were recovering their stored of energy. He looked across the battlefield to get his bearings.

Monarch had told him that there were three other weapons like the one they'd lost. At least one needed to be brought back, though the more he could capture the better. Best was if the Prince could wrest all four from the hands of their enemy. Three were brought to bear against him now, but his first order of business was to kill one human in particular.

For the time being he was unreachable. Luo Xianni was strong, and had both Lan Jue and Qianlin protected. Until the rest of his elite warriors came, he would have to stall.

Of all the humans this woman was the only one who could stand toe to toe against him. The other human defenders could collapse at any moment, and the situation could quickly turn bad for his prey. Lan Jue and Qianlin could only help defend one group, possibly killing one of his own. But if the two could be separated the danger to his side would be mitigated. The rest of his elite fighters would arrive and this war would end.

Ten seconds at most, then six more Nirvana-level aliens would reach them. Both sides were in a race against time. These ten seconds would determine who had the upper hand.

Lan Jue was on the move. He raced forward with the deadly point of Captus aimed in the Pharmacist's direction. Her situation was the most precarious as three Nirvana-level elite had surrounded her. It was the best decision, for Lan Jue and Qianlin's Harmonious Blades could kill one or two of them before the others arrived.

The tell-tale flash of rainbow color appeared. Lan Jue had cleared the haze of anger from his mind and thus the connection between him and Qianlin was renewed. The simple yet forceful beam of light pierced the darkness as it reached for a target.

In the same moment Lan Jue attacked the three aliens assailing the Pharmacist scattered like snow on the breeze.

Through his psionic connection the Violet Prince controlled his side throughout the battlefield. He had been watching and waiting for Lan Jue to make his decision, with the aim to stretch out the battle. Buying time was far easier when he only needed a few seconds.

From where he battled with the Photographer it looked like the Harmonious Sword strike missed. What's more, it was headed right for the Pharmacist.

Friendly fire? The Violet Prince paused, surprised at how poorly organized the humans' defenses were. He didn't believe it, something suddenly didn't feel right.

From the corner of his eye he saw the Pharmacist thrust forward with Occisus, aiming for the precise center of the multicolor beam. Suddenly she vanished and the spot she'd occupied was swallowed up by Lan Jue's attack.

No, that wasn't right. The sparkling light of Lan Jue's Boundless Starlight Domain was the backdrop that surrounded them, and as the power of the Harmonious Swords cut through it the light suddenly changed direction. The Prince spied a faint figure that seemed to guide it – toward the three fleeing avatars and the Violet Princess.

Everything happened in the space of an instant.

The Violet Princess had her battle firmly in hand. The energy she'd spent in the transportation was gradually returning, and with each passing moment she was coming closer to overpowering the Paragons. Even the Pontiff's pure light of faith had begun to be contaminated by her violet powers.

In the face of her dominance, the light of the Harmonious Swords came crashing down from on high. It wasn't the fight time she'd faced Lan Jue and Qianlin, and the power they bore frightened her. It'd taken her and her 'brother' to defeat Lan Jue and the Pharmacist last time. Qianlin hadn't been part of that battle.

Although Lan Jue and Qianlin were but Paragons of Nirvana, she knew what they could accomplish when they fought together. Hand in hand, neither the Prince or Princess dared try to face down the Harmonious Swords straight on. It was an attack nearly as devastating as the ones they'd faced from the staff-bearing man.

She tried to dodge, but before she could two more blasts of power came from either side. Neither one of those were strong enough to threaten her life, but they were enough to cut off her escape. She was pinned by the Arcane Magnate and the Karmic Scholar.

Lan Jue's attack changed everyone's tactics. The Bookworm and Keeper were not considered powerhouses among the Paragons, but they were among the most experienced. Their wisdom manifested in perfectly timed cooperation, and they didn't hesitate in the slightest.

The Violet Princess was facing four Paragons. As her options for defense were stripped away all of them came at her, throwing caution to the wind in return for a chance to end her life. Lan Jue and Qianlin's deadly ray was blocking her only route. Suddenly she found herself in a fatal predicament with no option. She had to try and defend against a direct hit from the Harmonious Swords.

The Violet Prince's pupils had contracted to pinpricks. He recognized the danger to his sister's life.

Where before they could have relied on the home worlds to protect them, he knew such succor would not be coming. Monarch had made it clear they were to stop at nothing to get the godblades, everything else was secondary. Even their lives.

With a hideous, beastial roar the Prince released the full might of his Domain around him. Creation and Destruction reigned in the depths of his Domain, a hundred thousand beginnings and endings flashing by in an instant. He focused all of it into a punch and thrust his fist in the direction of the Violet Princess.

His attack came with a cost, for in the moment after shifting his focus Luo Xianni was on him. She took advantage of his distraction to land a blow on his back, and caused him to go reeling far from the Princess' location.

Still his attack was on its way and likely to be effective. An attack of such strength, once it arrived, would tear through the Paragons like paper. At the Princess' cultivation, she only needed a smallest opportunity to escape their trap.

Lan Jue scowled as he and Qianlin raced toward her. However, in order to deceive the enemy that had had to first fly in the direction of the Pharmacist. It would be a few moments before they could join their friends.

All the while the punch from the Prince was tearing through space. Pregnant with the full brunt of his Creation and Destruction discipline it coalesced and collapsed in on itself like a black hole in the midst of tearing itself apart.

The violet light around the Princess flared brightly, and scales appeared along the length of her back. She used them to protect against the Keeper and Bookworm's attack. Her body bowed forward slightly and she raised her arms high, disregarding all the other Paragons and focusing all of her strength on defending against Lan Jue and Qianlin's attack.

She had faith in her brother's strength. The humans she tangled with were capable but in the face of the Prince's full power they could only run or be destroyed. For the Princess his power would serve to amplify her abilities and neutralize the Harmonious Swords attack.

The Prince's desperate attack was exactly the right call. By the time she warded off the Harmonious Swords the six other alien elite would arrive, and together they would kill all the humans who oppose them.

Her hands were raised and a wicked looking sword had appeared in her grip to help her deflect the blow. But the look on her face was one of fear and surprise.

They weren't running. All four Paragons were ignoring the Prince's attack and keeping her pinned.

Scores of thick vines poured from Aubert de Villain and wrapped her tight. They bristled with thorns that dug into her porcelain flesh and drank her blood. He burned with a ghastly red light, and all the while his vines tugged at her sword arm making it unstable.

Bess had moved in, and ten blood-red, dagger like fingernails were swiping at the Princess. Every strike plunged deep into sensitive pressure points on her body.

Chapter 871: The Pontiff's Epiphany!

Both the Violet Prince and Violet Princess had consumed vast amounts of human genetic material, even adopting the human form, so that they might grasp the potential of the species. So far it had worked very well for them. However, the familiar anatomy came with all the special characteristics of normal humans. Namely, acupuncture points.

The Prince and Princess could use their alien powers to cut off this internal system, but doing so would severely limit the potency of the human form. They would no longer really be human. As such they kept the meridians and acupuncture points intact.

There was an ocean of difference between the powers of the Gods of Wine and the Princess. However, they were still Paragons, old and wise. Both of them together, along with the pressure from the Bookworm and Keeper, made her organs feel like they were on fire. It was a sign the damage was running deep.

It was so intense that two streams of steaming qi seeped from her feet. At some point in the chaotic exchange two hands had appeared around her ankles, gripping tightly to her feet. Grey fires crept up her legs, simultaneously blocking her vessels and draining her vital essence.

The power of the Infernal Vanguard was born from the blood of Hades. Devouring the essence of life was the gift of the Gourmet's inheritance! But his power and those of the aliens was different in that he destroyed the essence of life for rebirth. It was completely opposed to the aliens' abilities of consumption for the purpose of personal amplification. This was the perfect moment for the Gourmet to exploit that difference against the Princess.

Were these humans crazy, she thought. They continued to fight in spite of immanent destruction. Did they hope to simply shrug off the Prince's attack? It would almost certainly mean their death.

She looked at them, three faces full of determination. But more than determination, there was sorrow and admiration.

Three? Where was the fourth?

She looked up, and for the first time there was utter disbelief in the Princess' eyes. She saw that the Violet Prince's attack would not come to save her, for in the midst of its all-consuming destruction was a single figure – a bright silhouette against the darkness.

No, not a figure. A mountain. A golden mountain whose peak was populated with a host of angels chanting in unison. It was the holy mountain, glimmering with the white light of faith. Pure white light spewed from its crest, and from the base rippled a pool of golden splendor.

Reflection of Heaven and Earth!

One figure stood at the highest point of this mountain. It was the Pontiff, clad in his resplendent robes with his scepter held aloft. His face was ablaze with the light of pure faith, and from his mouth poured prayers to the on high. In those deep eyes was profound understanding.

As his life had come near its end the Pontiff had achieved an awakening. At last he understood why he'd been stuck at the cusp of advancement for years. He knew why it was he could never progress.

It was his own heart. The faith within him was not pure. Without pure faith how could he receive God's love? Even with the worship of so many devour followers.

In the face of all his failings, all his shortcoming, the Pontiff placed himself between his allies at the Violet Prince's attack. Despite the knowledge that it would mean his end, he was willing to sacrifice himself. It was then he knew what he was missing.

Satan's mad smile as he died came to mind. If such a creature could face death unflinchingly, why not a man of faith?

It wasn't a decision that set him free, but instead instilled him with a sense of the sublime. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this way, it'd been so many long years since he'd felt such a connection. He felt proud!

For the first time in who knew how long he was proud of himself. Faith had burned away the final obstacle to his advancement, and at last he arose to become a Reflection of Heaven and Earth. The golden mountain burned defiantly as the Prince's black destruction bore down on it. They collided in a magnificent and terrible display of mutual destruction.

The Pontiff smiled contentedly. The truths he'd found crystallized in his mind, imprinted themselves on his soul, and were imparted into his holy scepter. A single beam of light, a gleaming spear of faith amidst the darkness, shot toward Middle Heaven and the Prince's power annihilated itself against the Pontiff. He would die, but in his final moments he imparted his legacy.

Constantine was the bearer of the Spear of Fate, but he was still young. Only Metatron was wise enough to accept the burden of this position. The Pontiff had faith that by virtue of the knowledge within the scepter Metatron would break the poisoned cycle they'd wrought and break through to become the next Paragon of the Citadel.

The Pontiff had spent his life in service to the Citadel. It was fitting that his last moments would be given to ensure its survival.

Just before the end the Pontiff closed his eyes. His heart was filled with a quiet joy. Death took him, and he went serenely.

If you are waiting for me in another world, Satan, then be ready to greet me.

The light of the Harmonious Swords collapsed upon the Princess just as the Pontiff drew his final breath. He's given his life for this moment.

Boom—The weapon separating the Princess from the light shattered instantly. Cracks turned her skin to broken glass. Golden-purple energy shot from the fissures, concentrated rays of ruin that fired out toward the Paragons that entrapped her.

A toxic cloud of purple bellowed from between her pretty lips. Her gorgeous features were broken and twisted, more hellspawn than human. Right away the Paragons could tell their coordinated effort had really hit the mark.

The creeping hand of death was crawling up her spine. She needed to flee, she was desperate to escape. Monarch's orders were forgotten as she fought for her life – a reaction all living creatures shared.

She struggled to get free but before she could another ray of light hit her. This one gleamed with a righteous, murderous white. The Harmonious Swords weren't the only danger, as the Pharmacist proved.

Lan Jue feint had scattered the three she was fighting against. Now she was free to lend a hand and focused her Reflection powers through Occisus. The blade hummed with additional power from Captus and Demortus.

The Pharmacist hated these beasts. These monsters stole her husband from her in his prime. They were responsible for her daughter's damaged eyes. That hate, and rage, and bloodlust crystallized within Occisus and she brought all of it to bear against the Princess.

The captured Princess could only lift her arms to protect herself.

Clang! A monster such as she would not so easily be brought down. The Princess was a reservoir of power far greater than any of theirs, and even Occisus couldn't break her defense. But it did cut halfway through her lifted arms.

If only Ultus was with them. The keenest of the Banishing Blades would easily cut through the Princess' empowered flesh. Without the fourth sword overcoming her defenses was a mighty undertaking.

And they did it anyway.

There was a flash of black and white before her eyes when suddenly the Princess discovered half her body had gone ashen grey. She watched in horror as pieces of her began to disintegrate.

Magnificent as she was she could not completely protect herself. Every last ounce of power she focused on keeping her core from ruin. Yet the skin on half her body was gone, revealing the sickness beneath.

Onlookers where shocked to see what lay below the Princess' beautiful façade. All of her was made of worms, writhing and working to keep the meat sack moving [1. ED: Didn't they just say they kept the humans' internal structure?! Guess not… ].

One by one the maggots were destroyed by the Pharmacist's sustained attack. The Princess' life force was draining at a swift pace. The alien royalty couldn't believe it, she had come to think there was almost nothing that could stand in her way. Nothing in the universe could harm her, especially not the humans.

Two figures appeared above her. Their two swords pointed with perfect synchronicity and another kaleidoscope of light burst forth. She raged and bucked, desperate to force her way out. Geysers of golden power burst from within her.

But Lan Jue would not allow it.

"Bonds of Devotion!"

This expression of their Harmonious Swords was not a single unbroken beam. Instead it was threads of power formed into the shape of a net. They swallowed up the golden-purple light beaming from her.

Each ray that was cast from the Princess was a single maggot in the throes of death. They were atomized the moment they touched the net. Little by little the Violet Princess was being consumed.

The Pharmacist recovered after being deflected. She came again blade first, reaching out with her barbarity. Her Slaughter Discipline encased the Princess and cut her off from any hope of escape. Spears of white light slipped through the holes of Lan Jue's net and proceeded to cut her enemy to pieces.

Chapter 872: Death and the Princess

By now the three Nirvana-level aliens scared away by Lan Jue's attack had realized they were not his target. The Princess' subordinates hurried back but were barred from helping her by the Bookworm, Keeper, the Gods of Wine, and the Gourmet.

Lan Jue had decided on his first target moments after coming back to his senses. With Qianlin's help, he knew that they could kill at least one Nirvana-level monster. But was that enough to alter the outcome of this battle? He didn't think so.

The combined power of the four Infinite-level aliens was beyond their abilities. What's more, they were wise, informed, and by some means were able to protect themselves from the dangers of universal protogenia. While Lan Jue's own side was not weak, they certainly didn't have enough peak-level powerhouses to contend with their foes. Once they ran out of stamina more of them would die, then the battle would be lost.

So, in order to change this grim fate he had to kill one of their strongest. If he could create a space for his allies to take advantage of, they could fight back.

He chose the Princess. What he had not anticipated was the Pontiff's noble sacrifice.

When the Violet Prince shed Luo Xianni's pressure and came to the Princess' aid, Lan Jue thought the best they'd manage was to injure her severely. Worse, there was the potential for harming his own people who might get caught in the path of the Harmonious Swords. Instead the man Lan Jue had come to deeply despise, whose dark heart had plagued Lan Jue for years, chose the righteous path. He gave his life, the thing Lan Jue knew was most precious to the covetous old man.

For the first time he had a sense of admiration toward the Pontiff. His final act helped to wash away the many sins he'd committed through his life. In doing so the late Citadel ruler ensured his organization could rise from the ashes left behind by the alien attack.

The Violet Princess' body gradually burned away. The Prince fought like a wild animal, trying to come to her aid. However, Luo Xianni fought back just as hard to keep him pinned down. He was forced to watch as his sister was slowly annihilated by the combined power of three Banishing Blades.

Lan Jue didn't dare let up, for he knew how tenacious the life of an Infinite was. These monsters grew to prominence through the consumption of outside life force. He knew that given even the slightest chance the Princess could claw her way back from death.

He had to keep it up. He had to continue to barrage the Princess with his full power until she was erased from reality.

As layers of the Princess were destroyed a translucent crystal appeared. It was perfectly formed and shimmered with a golden purple light. Little by little the octagonal crystal was revealed nestled in the muscle of her chest.

With no flesh to hide it, brilliant light radiated from the Princess' core. Even the light of the three swords couldn't cover it. But once the vital crystal was burned from the monster's body the rest of the Princess exploded into a mess of flesh. This detritus, that had been the nightmare of humanity for years, was incinerated by the light of the Harmonious Swords.

But the crystal seemed to have a mind of its own. The glittering gem propelled itself with appalling speed at the net closing in around it. It struck with such force that it broke through and started back toward the alien home worlds.

It was trying to flee! Lan Jue and the others did not slacken their assault but it still did not seem to be enough. What was left of the Violet Princess took the opportunity.

Everyone knew that these crystals were the essence of the monsters. Destroying the Princess' body had been a victory, but without her crystal there would remake her, and she would return to terrorize mankind.

But Lan Jue was prepared. The two of them had tangled many times, this was just the chance he'd been waiting for.

Thump! The crystal stopped dead in its desperate escape, like it'd been caught in a trap. Another net, this one blue. A figure appeared hovering nearby – none other than Hua Li.

He'd arrived on the scene a short time before. The moment combat broke out in Middle Heaven he'd started back, only to discover they were teleported outside of the armada. When he finally reached his friends he saw Lan Jue make his move and decided to wait and see where he would be needed.

In a flash Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin were by Hua Li's side. He said nothing, bringing his hand down upon Hua Li's net of power. Instantly the Princess' crystal was encased in a shell of Lan Jue's Domain. Captured in Boundless Starlight, the flash of the five thunders rumbled ominously.

Pure empyrean lightning, All-Heaven Lightning, and Primordial lightning blasted the crystal with alternating strikes. Eventually the crystal stopped, and struggled no more. There was a twinkle of light and the inert crystal appeared in Lan Jue's hand.

The Violet Princess had fallen!

At last the incredibly powerful monster had been defeated, though it was but one of their elite. However it was one of only two that possessed a true inheritance from the home worlds themselves. Monarch's remaining offspring, the Violet Prince, was shocked by what he saw. But it lasted only a moment, for now his reinforcements had arrived.

The Pharmacist did not pause to celebrate their victory over the Violet Princess. Once the threat was neutralized she turned around and returned to face the three alien elite that had entangled her before. Before the Keeper and Bookworm had struggled to keep the situation from spiraling out of control, but with the Pharmacist they managed to stabilize their section of the battlefield.

Under Lan Jue's direction Hua Li went to join the Driver. Lan Jue's lightning-bearing friend, together with the Epochrion and Pauper, were facing an uphill battle. However the Wine Master had also come to their aid after the teleportation was complete. Altogether they were managing to keep the Infinite-level beast they faced from wreaking havoc. Now with Hua Li's help their situation was even better – maybe even equal to their foe.

The rest was left up to Lan Jue and Qianlin. Together they would have to face the encroaching six aliens and protect their allies. Lan Jue's eyes flashed with a clear and resolute light. Both sides had suffered, with the aliens losing the Princess and the Pontiff destroyed by the Prince. Humanity's losses were worse, however, with the death of Xiuxiu.

It was far past time to exact vengeance on these beasts.

Once again Lan Jue released his Boundless Starlight and in response the light of distance stars shone brightly upon them. In contrast to before, though, this time the light of the stars covered a much larger area.

The incoming alien reinforcements were immediately swallowed up. Lan Jue and Qianlin followed up by releasing a prismatic spray from their Harmonious Swords to black their path forward.

At the same time Qianlin was stretching to spread the warmth of her Queen of Light Discipline ever farther. Primarily it had to reach Luo Xianni, so that she could use her full strength without fear of universal protogenia.

Lan Jue's expression was as deep and inscrutable as the sea. He was cold, calculating, collected, and the calmer he was the most dangerous he became. The power summoned through him and Qianlin, channeled through their swords, stopped the aliens dead in their tracks. But it did not stop them from reacting.

Humanity wasn't alone in adapting to the situation!

The six avatars of Monarch, Queen and Consort linked hands and created a circle. Together they released their Creation and Destruction Discipline and allowed it to spread its chaos. Meanwhile their bodies also began to change.

Threads of purple light appeared between them and twined together. Quickly the light coalesced into a shape, a figure that swallowed up the rich aura of strength seeping from all the avatars around it.

Was there no end to what these beasts could do? Lan Jue was almost at a loss, for as he watched these six beasts combined into one. The three-headed, six-armed horror's central head took the shape of Monarch's 'human' features. On either side were Queen and Consort.

A nightmarish amalgamation of the three – a sort of humanoid hydra!

Once they combined into a single form, the strength of the new creation's aura surged. All of a sudden it was stronger than the fallen Princess, even stronger than the Prince. It even seemed to surpass the mighty avatar Lan Jue had fought in the depths of Monarch.

"Humans, your species is destined for destruction. It is foolish to think you can resist your fate. Give in to the inevitable and we will grant you immortality." The middle head, Monarch's, spoke to them.

Lan Jue didn't bother to reply. In lieu of words he thrust forward with Captus and released a stream of focused flow in its direction. Qianlin imitated and released her thousand blades as one style to join with Lan Jue's, and together they melded into the versicolored ray of the Harmonious Swords. Together they wielded power as though they commanded the Infinite.

Lights flashed around all of the monster's six arms. Weapons appeared in each one; knife, gun, sword, halberd, axe and spear.

Monarch's arms bore the knife and sword. As Lan Jue and Qianlin's attack came bearing down on it the aura of power surged.

All at once all six weapons were employed, producing six beams of golden-purple light that combined into one. The two columns of energy crashed into one another.

Boom- - - -! The Boundless Starlight shell they fought in shuddered from the impact. Qianlin and Lan Jue felt a wall of force strike them so hard it knocked them back.

Chapter 873: Fire With Fire

Such a powerful aura! Such powerful protogenia! Once the six avatars joined it wasn't so simple as adding up the sum of their parts. This new creature was several orders of magnitude stronger.

This was undoubtedly a stalwart and deadly foe.

Once more they were faced with a stalemate. Lan Jue blanched to think that if the Princess were still alive they would be doomed. He and Qianlin fought back against this new monster, empowered by the Harmonious Swords and the Boundless Starlight Domain that surrounded them.

Pandemonium prevailed. Neither side could find an advantage yet. On the face of it humanity had the numbers, but each alien attacker was more than their match on an individual level. Whether numbers or strength would prevail, was as yet impossible to determine.

Chu Cheng arrived on the scene a short time after Hua Li. He came to the Terminator's aid and helped equalize their footing.

ξ

Middle Heaven.

A strange sphere had been carved out of part of the bastion's bridge. It was what was left after the Photographer teleported the enemy into space, a prompt decision that saved the ship from destruction.

The Prince and his monsters were after the swords, but they would not have given up an opportunity to destroy Middle Heaven. This ship, more than any other, was responsible for the deaths of countless alien warriors. Destroying it would make their battle against the humans far easier.

Flows of energy wafted around a room at the edge of the damaged section. Lan Qing knelt therein, surrounded by a turquoise light.

Li Ke had begun the process of transferring control of Ultus the moment they left the others. It was a ceremony of acceptance – first, of Lan Qing as the sword's master, then for himself as the spirit of the weapon. In this way he would remain, his soul a part of the weapon so long as Lan Qing wielded it.

In a way, he had to be the one to accept Lan Qing. But the process was not going smoothly.

Lan Qing's qualifications were solid. He was strong, and his inheritance was a vestige of the old world. However, the root of his powers rested in Buddhism. The Banishing Blades were the tools of Daoist masters, and the benevolence inherent in Vairochana's legacy did not meld well with Ultus' keen and cutting nature.

Lan Qing sat cross-legged on the floor with hands folded before him. Resting in the center of his core was the figure of a miniature Buddha, none other than Vairochana. Ultus hovered in the air across from the admiral.

Some part of the Buddha was rejecting Ultus, nor was the power of Ultus respectful of the legacy it was faced against. As one of the greatest weapons in the Daoist arsenal, one could imagine the arrogance a Banishing Blade might possess.

Even after years as the weapon's master, Li Ke never truly earned the weapon's acceptance. The reason was simple – he was never strong enough. Lan Qing did not face that problem, and instead it became a difference of ideals.

Buddhism also required the protection of its dharma! Lan Qing meditated on this as he looked past Ultus' bloodthirst, past its cutting aura. But the blade struggled for it would accept the light of Vairochana. Neither side gave ground.

If Lan Qing had not already been a Paragon perhaps the process would have been easier. After all, he had not accepted the lineage of Vairochana until after his breakthrough. Yet it was lucky that he was already so strong, for the dangers of the sword were minimal to a Paragon.

All he needed was time to resolve their differences. After all, he just inherited the Buddha's legacy, he wasn't Vairochana himself.

Back in the days when Celestial Master Tongtian was bearer of the swords he was captured by Dipankara Buddha. Ever since the Banishing Blades – and especially Ultus – were suspicious of Buddhist faith.

Lan Qing and the will of the sword continued to clash, working through their differences.

Li Ke stood to the side. His body ebbed and flowed with the energies that Ultus output, and anxiety was writ on his ghostly face. If this failed and Lan Qing was not accepted by Ultus, then his soul would be expelled. He would die a final death, and the seal that sustained him would burn away.

He had thought, while searching among the Paragons, that Lan Qing would be suitable. He hadn't expected to encounter this problem. No matter how rushed or how desperate he was, though, he had to give them time. All that could be done was wait for Lan Qing to be accepted.

The minutes ticked by, and inch by inch the golden light from within him stretched out. Whatever conflict constricted his essence loosened its grip. Part of the test to become the master of Ultus was to suffer its essence. For what master could wield a weapon he could not control? Lan Qing began to understand the weapon the longer he struggled against it.

The Eastern admiral was aware of the sneak attack by the aliens even though he couldn't help. He felt the danger but continued to meditate because he knew rushing would solve nothing. Breaking off this process before it was complete could result in a backlash from Ultus that could threaten his life. It would at least injure him severely. Only once he had joined with Ultus and was accepted as its new master could he lend his strength to the fight.

So he focused all of his keen mind and willing spirit on becoming the next bearer of Ultus.

Lan Qing was not only wise but persistent, even stubborn. Tendrils of light reached out around him, crystalline cyan streamers of luminescence that seeped from his every pore. They were met with an equal number of threads from Ultus.

Once he saw this Li Ke finally heaved a sigh of relief. The Banishing Blade was beginning to compromise.

Eventually Ultus discovered it could not dissuade Lan Qing of his truth, and it's only option was to submit. It was a weapon of the gods and had the pride to prove it but even so the sword was possessed of only a rudimentary will. It may not agree with Lan Qing's lineage, but it needed a strong arm to wield it.

Li Ke wondered whether this mighty weapon and Lan Qing coming together wasn't the best of both worlds. Perhaps the peace of Buddhist faith could allay the dangers of Ultus' sharpness.

When Li Ke came to possess the sword he was already lauded as a once-in-a-generation Talent. He did not take precautions, accepted risks in order to gain quick success. How was Ultus any different? As he took and overcome these risks again and again, an abiding arrogance grew in his heart. His shortcuts were eventually his undoing.

He looked at Lan Qing, seated stoically like a bodhisattva. He knew, however, that the admiral's body was enduring a world of suffering just below the surface.

The elder Lan had been caught in the chaos of war since breaking through to Paragon. He'd wracked his brain every day and night, using everything at his disposal to combat destruction at the hands of the aliens. He'd been blessed with a string of shining successes. Using only three bastions and twelve fleets he'd continued to punish the vastly superior enemy force. At every step he'd been pitted against a foe just as smart as he who had a sordid history of outmaneuvering human leaders.

It was to be expected that the speed of his cultivation would be affected by his change in focus. Since breaking through he'd stayed more or less the same, a Reflection of Heaven and Earth. He hadn't even had time to deeply explore the truths of his protogenia.

Lan Qing felt the power of Ultus enter him like a hundred thousand daggers. It was a universe of agony that assailed him body and mind, testing his will. Lan Qing resisted by sitting quietly in the light of Vairochana.

But the mightiest weapon under heaven was not so easily repelled. Ultus' deadly power was focused not on Lan Qing's body, but his very soul. He felt every excruciating incision carving him apart as Ultus continued to fill him with its power.

Lan Qing grit his teeth and bore it. At the same time he focused his beleaguered mind on the sword's secrets.

What he discovered was that the sword did not disagree with him. On the contrary, it was Lan Qing who could not accept the method Ultus chose to join their minds. Domination, not submission… Ultus was trying to control him.

If Lan Qing had not been a Paragon he would not have sensed it, the feeling was faint and ambiguous. He realized Li Ke must have experienced this, and was influenced by the creeping authority of the sword.

Lan Jue, Zhou Qianlin and the Pharmacist had not faced this trial when joining with their swords. This struggle was unique to Ultus. Submit? Lan Qing would not allow it!

Giving in was not part of the admiral's nature. How could he give in to a tool? He knew that once he conceded to the will of the sword his spirit would begin to come under its rule. He would not have the means or right to summon Ultus' true power.

So he endured, despite the pain. No matter how cruel or vicious Ultus' attack on his soul he had to persevere. With Vairochana firmly set in the center of his Core, armed with his knowledge of protogenia, guided by the Buddhas of the Three Times, he did not retreat. He experienced, he understood, and he adapted.

Chapter 874: Joining With the Sword

If Li Ke was still master of the sword Lan Qing would be unable to break his connection and fuse with Ultus. However, with only the sword's own will to contend against dominating it would be much easier. As resistance waned Lan Qing took in the tendrils of power from Ultus into himself where it began to join with the light around Vairochana.

The nimbus of orange light surrounding the Buddha took on a turquoise hue. Ultimately it was Lan Qing's wind-element Discipline that connected him with fully with the sword. It was impossible to force Ultus to accept Vairochana entirely, instead he found common ground through wind.

Lan Qing was surprised by the result.

When it was time to break through to Paragon, Lan Qing forsook his natural Talent and took on the inheritance of Vairochana with his father's guidance. His wind Discipline remained, but separate from the new powers of the Buddhist lineage. Upon rising to a Reflection he wanted to find a way to join the two and thus improve his protogenic potency. In doing so he would pave the way toward Nirvana. Only, he hadn't had the time.

Instead by happy circumstance his forced delay ultimately facilitated his success in combining with Ultus. As it was without bias Lan Qing's wind powers served as a bridge between his protogenia and the godblade.

A pale corona of light flickered around him, and a small smile touched Lan Qing's lips. His hands slowly curled into the dharma mudra seal and mystical sigils appeared in his palm. As the turquoise light gradually withdraw a halo of orange encircled Lan Qing's head. Vairochana's radiance shined all around him.

Was it over? Li Ke's eyes glimmered. As he watched Lan Qing opened his mouth and a beam of turquoise light burst forth. It was Ultus.

The sword's light was the same, but for the fact that it seemed somehow softer. This was because any trace of its keen nature had been removed.

Now was Li Ke's time. The spirit began to meditate and all of his experience, his will, dissolved into a beam of light that melded with that of Ultus.

The process was smoother than he'd thought it might be. While soothing chants hung in the air Li Ke allowed himself to become one with the godblade. The power of the sword stabilized his ebbing spirit.

He'd prepared himself to suffer the bite of Ultus through this process. It was certain, Li Ke thought, that he would suffer injuries from the sword's cutting essence that he might not recover from. Yet now that the time was upon him he was surprised to find his fears were for naught. None of the danger or pain he'd prepared for was present. He became the spirit of the sword without incident.

Lan Qing opened his eyes, and a faint flickering of turquoise light appeared and vanished within his orange halo. A wonderful sensation drew his attention to the sword, still before him.

He smiled. Ultus, first of the Banishing Blades – the greatest weapon of the gods!

Godblade was a worthy name. Even the faintest vestiges of its will was almost more than he could accept.

He opened his mouth and the sword, dissolving into a beam of light, vanished within. Immediately the light of his halo intensified. A moment later he was a streak of light flying into the distance.

ξ

On the outskirts of the armada, the battle between man and monster raged on.

The fight between the Violet Prince and the Photographer was evenly matched and they traded blows that shook the heavens. Had Luo Xianni been given more time to find the essence of her Infinite powers the fight would have been easier, for humanity's potency was always more than what these aliens could achieve. But she was still freshly arisen, and unfamiliar with the nuances the Infinite contained. Were Jue Di alive the situation would have been very different. As it was the humans were beginning to lose steam.

Luo Xianni was managing to hold her own, but the others were flagging. Faced off against other Infinite-level monstrosities the Paragons were at an increasingly dangerous disadvantage. The Violet Princess was dead and the Prince was busy, but that left two peak-strength enemies still to deal with. They were the avatars of Monarch and Queen.

Terminator and Chu Cheng were a team, facing the might of Queen's avatar. Relying on his staggering strength, Terminator had so far been able to withstand Queen's devastating attacks. She lashed at the two of them with tendrils of purple light more cutting than any sword save Ultus. Mighty as the Terminator's defenses were his body was still soaked from the blood of several dozen wounds. None threatened his life, but they'd begun to take a toll on his abilities.

The Terminator had suffered some trauma before Chu Cheng arrived. Although he helped to take some of the focus off the Conclave's leader, Chu Cheng was only a Reflection of Heaven and Earth. Against an enemy as puissant as the Queen there was little he could do. The Terminator had to shield Chu Cheng from the avatar's attacks otherwise a single successful hit might end him.

With time Terminator was forced to expend more energy, and Chu Cheng's stamina was also quickly being spent. As the pressure mounted both men knew a single misstep could mean their lives.

Things were somewhat less bleak in the fight against Monarch's avatar. The Wine Master and Epochrion were bringing the full might of space-time to bear against the terrifying alien. The Pauper and Driver backed them up. The Driver's Primordial lightning was particularly effective in containing the avatar and was most lethal. So long as these Paragons continued to fight in unison they could defend themselves.

However the might of a creature of the Infinite was the stuff of legends. It crushed the waves of space-time protogenia as they came and shrugged off its debilitating effects. Each time the avatar fought back the four Paragons had to struggle mightily to respond.

Most importantly, the Wine Master and Epochrion were battling against someone several classes above them. They were managing to contain some measure of the avatar' Infinite powers but it cost them greatly. Eventually they would tire.

Luckily the Driver's cultivation was also nearly Reflection-level. Even without a breakthrough his Primordial Lightning was a threat to the monster and gave them an edge. Still, it was clear the only way they could hope to survive was to finish the fight quickly. Each passing minute inched their chances closer to zero.

This engagement teetered on a razor's edge. If one side should fall all the rest would follow. This was especially true for the humans.

Things were no better for Lan Jue and Zhou Qianlin. Hand in hand they wielded the power of the Harmonious Blades masterfully, but the monster they faced was the strongest of them all. Once the avatars combined into this three headed, six armed abomination its power surpassed even the Infinite. Jue Di in his prime would have struggled.

Lan Jue and Qianlin fought with all of their strength. So far they were able to distract the creature. And indeed distract was their purpose. Captured within Lan Jue's Boundless Starlight the hydra couldn't influence the other fights, but that was all they could hope to achieve. Any attempt to kill the beast was futile, especially after expending so much energy in killing the Princess.

Fear began to worm its way into Lan Jue's mind. If they were forced to continue the fight like this the only outcome would be defeat. If any flank collapsed everything would be lost.

The greatest hopes were placed on the Pharmacist, who faced the best odds. She was battling three Nirvana-level creatures and had the Gods of Wine, the Keeper, and the Bookworm to aid her. But Lan Jue quickly found they had nowhere to go, for the simple reason that they were too tired. Some of them had taken injuries, in particular the Gods of Wine and the Gourmet. They'd pushed themselves to their limit in fighting the Violet Princess. She was now dead but their strength had quickly fallen off. Hua Li was fresh, but unfortunately was weaker in cultivation.

As a result most of the responsibility for the fight fell on the Pharmacist's shoulders. While the fight looks like seven on three, it was hardly as easy as the math might suggest.

What's more the Pharmacist had just experienced a deeply emotional event, one which was still affecting her. Her Slaughter Domain was deadly, but only empowered her if she took life. Thus far she'd only managed to kill one. Strong as the Princess was a single victory didn't catalyze the full might of the Pharmacist's Domain. So it was that her battle was the only one that could put pressure on the enemy, but killing them seemed unlikely.

What could they do? Unless something drastic changed they were on losing footing.

A voice rang in Lan Jue's ear. "Lan Jue, if things start to come apart you take Qianlin and the Pharmacist and return to the bastion. Its defenses should keep you safe. I know a way that will take me out and this bastard with me – or at least seriously wound it."

Lan Jue felt his heart skip a beat. The plan was delivered calmly, but he could hear the solemn sadness in it.

Terminator! The Northern leader couldn't hold out any more. He had one chance to go out together with his foe. If he waited any longer he couldn't have the energy remaining to do it.