Chapter 81: The Last Sanctuary

All the sects and cultivators of the Northern Wastelands had gathered in the Hua Kingdom.

In the Western Sands.

“Report! The Summoning Thunder Temple has ceased to exist— even the Buddha’s Horn has been buried beneath the yellow sands.”

At this news, all practitioners of Buddhism could do nothing but cover their faces and weep.

“If the Summoning Thunder Temple has vanished, does that mean even the Buddha has disappeared?”

“I recall a legend—one concerning demons. It is said that, should the Buddha of the Summoning Thunder Temple one day perish, it would herald the world’s end, and demons would manifest in this realm!”

“Impossible! I refuse to believe the Summoning Thunder Temple could fall to such a state!”

…

No sooner had this message spread than all corners of the Heavenly Martial Realm were abuzz, the news weaving itself together into something even more dire.

“Say that again! Our Northern Citadel Sanctuary is gone, and so are the other sanctuaries—so many have fallen in a single day! How can this be?”

Within the Northern Wastelands, a Supreme Being suddenly cried out in alarm.

Upon the dais, every Supreme present shared the same wide-eyed disbelief, unable to accept what they were hearing.

They could not bring themselves to believe such a possibility!

“I cannot believe it. Who could destroy so many sanctuaries at once? Even an immortal would find such a feat nearly impossible!”

These were sanctuaries—no ordinary powers. They would not so easily fear even an immortal.

In the Eastern Dominion, an elderly sect master relayed the news he had received, his hand trembling as panic spread within him.

“Could it be that demons have truly come? The mightiest of the Heavenly Martial Realm have perished. With our strength, we can hardly budge a demon. Are we all doomed?”

In the Western Sands, a great cultivator spoke with bitter sorrow. He had always been lauded as the reincarnation of a living Buddha. Upon hearing his words, all present followed his lead.

…

For a time, the entire Heavenly Martial Realm was steeped in shock.

Hearts were gripped with terror.

At this moment—

The Southern Barbarians.

“Report! The Northern Citadel Sanctuary of the Northern Wastelands has perished!”

“Report! The Summoning Thunder Temple of the Western Sands has vanished, buried beneath the yellow sands!”

“Report! In the Eastern Dominion, the moat of the noble clans has turned into a river of death.”

“Report! The Central Continent’s sanctuary has been razed to the ground!”

…

News from across the Heavenly Martial Realm flew to every corner of the Southern Barbarians like falling snowflakes.

Within the Extreme Travel Sanctuary.

The entire protective array of the sanctuary was fully activated, and outside its bounds, many Supreme experts patrolled ceaselessly, magical treasures in hand.

All faces were shadowed and grave.

Inside the ancient hall, the Spirit Chronicle Lord and the Purple Sun Lord had summoned all the powerhouses of both sanctuaries and the entire Southern Barbarians.

As urgent reports poured in from outside, silence reigned in the grand hall.

Every Supreme had been caught completely unprepared by these tidings.

From the initial shock to numb acceptance, they now sat motionless. Some Supremes even wondered if they were dreaming.

“It’s terrifying! How could all the sanctuaries of the Heavenly Martial Realm be annihilated in a single day?”

A Supreme spoke out.

“Who could possess such power, to destroy these sanctuaries one after another with such speed?”

“I cannot even imagine it. Had I heard this before, I would never have believed it!”

“Is the Southern Barbarians now truly the safest place left in the Heavenly Martial Realm? Is this the last untouched land?”

“I fear this is only the beginning! Remember what Senior Zhu once said.”

As the crowd discussed, the Spirit Chronicle Lord and the Purple Sun Lord exchanged a silent glance.

They, too, had not expected Senior Zhu’s words to be fulfilled so swiftly.

Now, it felt as if countless burdens weighed upon their shoulders.

Back in Zhu Xiaoyuan’s little courtyard, Senior Zhu had warned them such events would recur, and often. Though shocked, they had never imagined it would come to this.

Now, in the Heavenly Martial Realm, everyone’s hearts hung by a thread.

“It seems Senior Zhu foresaw all of this. I wonder, has Miss Leng Qianxue arrived yet?” the Purple Sun Lord asked.

In that little courtyard, Senior Zhu had told them to look after Leng Qianxue and her companions. Though he hadn’t said it outright, they all understood—if anything happened, they were to report to Miss Leng Qianxue at once.

For trivial matters, it might not have mattered, but the scale of these events was overwhelming; they no longer knew what to do.

So, they decided to summon Miss Leng Qianxue.

“Miss Qianxue has arrived!”

A ceremonial voice resounded from outside the grand hall.

The sanctuary formation parted slightly, and Leng Qianxue and her companions were escorted in by Supreme patrollers.

At once, every person in the hall, including the Spirit Chronicle Lord, the Purple Sun Lord, and the assembled Supremes, turned their gaze to the newcomers.

Under the intense attention, An Yue’er and Leng Qianxue advanced slowly into the hall.

Both lords rose instantly from their seats to greet them.

“At last, you have come!”

Their demeanor was one of utmost respect, without a trace of presumption.

None of the Supremes present found this strange; by now, all of the Southern Barbarians knew that these few were backed by an unfathomable power—one who, with but a few words, could destroy true immortals and sanctuaries alike!

Even quasi-immortals served at his whim—how could the Supremes do otherwise? The crowd found it entirely reasonable.

“You are too courteous, senior,” An Yue’er replied. “We’ve heard some rumors even in the Chaotic Nation, but are they true? Is it said that, apart from our Southern Barbarians, sanctuaries elsewhere have been destroyed?”

“Four?” she asked.

The Spirit Chronicle Lord shook his head. “No, more than ten!”

“Understand, there were only twenty sanctuaries in the Heavenly Martial Realm. Now, more than half have been wiped out!”

An Yue’er and her companions were stunned. They had thought it was only four—how could it be so many?

“Every region is reporting the destruction of sanctuaries; chaos has gripped the entire realm. And now, talk of demons has emerged…”

The Purple Sun Lord hesitated, but pressed on: “No one even cares about the Voidless Sanctuary anymore. We have sealed off all news within the Southern Barbarians.”

“So, that means the Southern Barbarians are now the last peaceful place in the Heavenly Martial Realm,” An Yue’er remarked.

“Yes,” the Spirit Chronicle Lord affirmed with a nod.

Both their faces were etched with complex emotions. Had it not been for Senior Zhu, could the Southern Barbarians have remained unscathed?

Most likely, the Southern Barbarians would have been the first to fall!

All of them would have been doomed.