C1400 Trying to Escape
C1400 Trying to Escape
In contrast, Mo Ying and the other senior members of the sect suffered only minor injuries from the backlash when their protective array was breached. They were far enough from where the black sword light struck to avoid serious harm. Their own cultivation was formidable, and their defenses were robust. Despite being overwhelmed by the powerful aura of an Emperor, which rendered them nearly immobile, they managed to preserve themselves.
They couldn't fathom why Lin Xuan had deliberately altered his attack's trajectory. Had the fearsome black sword light struck them directly, it would have torn through the Devil Cloud Sect's protective shield in an instant, rendering it virtually ineffective. They would have stood no chance against it. Pinned in place and unable to flee, they would have had no choice but to face the onslaught head-on, and the outcome would have been predictable.
Mo Ying and the sect's other high-ranking members, at the late period of Emperor Level and even the Peak Martial Monarch Stage, could have been decimated by as much as eighty percent. Those who survived would have been severely wounded, losing the majority of their combat capabilities. Such a blow would have left the Devil Cloud Sect powerless to resist, effectively ending the conflict once and for all.
Yet, Lin Xuan chose to unleash his attack on a more remote area. Despite the magnitude of the disturbance, with the earth trembling and numerous buildings obliterated, a great number of warriors perished. Still, it failed to deliver a significant blow to the Devil Cloud Sect. They were baffled by his decision.
But that no longer mattered. For individuals like Mo Ying, at the late Emperor Level and the Peak Martial Monarch Stage, neither the billowing dust nor the surging air could obstruct their vision or perception. Through the tumult, they witnessed something truly horrifying: the immense black sword light, with its awe-inspiring might, had caused an uproar upon striking the ground, as if it had the power to obliterate the very heavens and earth itself.
The structure did not entirely crumble and vanish. A significant portion remained intact. Despite being riddled with cracks and a substantial breach, it still presented a unified whole. The sharpness and the aura it emitted caused Mo Ying and the other high-ranking members to feel their hearts skip a beat. In other words, even in its severely damaged state, the sword light was beyond their ability to withstand. It had the power to annihilate them all—such was the fearsome might of a Half-level Emperor, beyond their capacity to compare or even imagine.
Then, something even more peculiar occurred. The black sword light, which seemed on the verge of shattering yet retained considerable power, did not continue its assault on them. Nor did it break apart. Instead, it transformed into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and dissipated. It vanished as quickly as a receding tide, as if it had never been there at all. If not for the ravaged earth, the extensive ruins, and the countless casualties of the Devil Cloud Sect, one might doubt its existence.
This turn of events left Mo Ying and the other warriors baffled. What was happening? Despite the black sword light's extensive damage, it still possessed significant power—a fact they could clearly perceive. It couldn't have vanished simply due to a depletion of energy. Only Lin Xuan, its master, could have commanded it to disappear in such a manner. Yet, it seemed wasteful to let it dissipate when it could still be of use. Such a formidable offensive capability was not something even Lin Xuan could deploy casually. They would have exploited it to the fullest, and they were at a loss to understand why he hadn't.
Could it be that Lin Xuan was merely toying with them? However, their concern for this mystery was short-lived. They soon made an even more significant discovery. As Lin Xuan caused the fearsome thousand-foot black sword light to vanish, the oppressive Emperor-level aura permeating the void also withdrew rapidly, like water without a source. The pressure they had been under was lifted, and they regained much of their fighting strength. A wave of relief and a strong will to survive flooded their hearts. Before, they were paralyzed and without hope. Now, with their abilities restored, they were determined to seize even the slimmest chance for survival.
No one wanted to meet their end here.
Negotiation with Lin Xuan was out of the question; he would not entertain the idea of surrender.
Their only option, if they wished to live, was to flee.
Without delay.
Someone among the Devil Clan's high-ranking officials made an attempt.
Rip!
A grating noise echoed through the air.
A fissure materialized in the void.
This individual was attempting to make an escape by tearing through the void.
He was Mo Yuhe, the Head Elder of the Devil Cloud Sect, and his cultivation had reached the Peak Martial Monarch Stage.
For him, within the bounds of the Dongyuan Continent, achieving the pinnacle of his cultivation realm meant that tearing open the void was well within his capabilities.
Indeed, tearing through the void offered a swift means of escape.
The destination and distance of the void were mysteries to all, making pursuit a challenging endeavor.
Yet, this tactic was seldom employed against peers.
At the Emperor Level, even without grasping the False Profound Meaning related to space, one's mastery of energy was sufficient to rend the void and detect spatial disturbances nearby.
Should a peer detect such activity, they need only disrupt the space as the escapee enters the rift.
In an instant, space itself would become a razor-sharp blade, cleaving the escapee in twain.
The lethality of spatial slicing was unparalleled.
To date, there have been no accounts of anyone withstanding such a force, not even in the chronicles of Ancient Times, an era of martial prosperity.
But in this moment, there was no room for second thoughts.
Mo Ying and the other leaders were under no illusion that their own speed could outmatch that of Lin Xuan, who was likely a formidable Half-level Emperor.
Their only recourse was this element of surprise.
Once inside the void's tear, whisked away to an indeterminate distance, they might elude Lin Xuan's grasp.
Even a legendary Half-level Emperor would struggle to track them swiftly.
Then, the escapee could seek sanctuary on the Central Essence Continent, at the Demon Aura Hall headquarters, to report the ordeal and plot their vengeance.
Lin Xuan wiped out an entire continental branch in one fell swoop.
As the headquarters, the Devil Cloud Sect couldn't possibly remain unresponsive.
Otherwise, it would be a clear sign of disloyalty and dissent.
They would never overlook the vengeance for the annihilation of their sect.
Yet, even among those of the same rank, they were capable of disrupting the fabric of space, rendering escape through the Void ineffective, and could even directly neutralize their adversaries.
They couldn't believe that Lin Xuan, an existence beyond their wildest dreams, was unaware of such capabilities.
All they could do was hope that Lin Xuan was far enough away and not entirely focused on them.
— Chapter 32 - The Devil Cloud Sect