Late at night, the sky was filled with red light, obscuring the moonlight.

On the horizon, it seemed as if a gigantic red octopus had emerged, extending its long red tentacles into the deep sky.

In the distance, thunderous noises filled the air as sword rainbows soared through the sky. However, not all were heading to the frontline; some were hastily retreating to the rear.

Those heading to the frontline were naturally the more powerful sword cultivators, while those returning to the rear included new entry-level disciples, sword cultivators whose realm was insufficient, and important figures such as Pill Masters and Talisman Masters.

Without Luo Wangsun, a patriarch like him to guard, even the main island of the Su Family was no longer safe, so the current head of the family, the second in charge, Su Yingren, ordered some family cultivators to retreat to Luoxia Bamboo Island.

Others might not know, but Su Yingren was aware that Yu Xuanwei was currently on Luoxia Bamboo Island.

In this situation, it was highly likely that the latter had already stepped out of the hall and begun setting up more arrays.

With layers upon layers of arrays, coupled with the small size of Luoxia Bamboo Island, it was enough to become a safe haven.

As for the Sun Family's line, they were retreating to Copper Sparrow Island.

On the frontline, where the Sun and Su families had originally been united as one, they were now tacitly divided into two sides, each fighting independently, ignoring each other.

The earlier battle between the Grand Elder and Luo Wangsun had unleashed true qi, as evident from Luo Wangsun being driven away. Such clashes between patriarchs inevitably affected other cultivators from both families.

For instance, Su Hongxian, who used a minor Earth Element Talisman to steal the Water Abyss Flood Dragon Essence Blood, got caught in the conflict and was severely injured. Currently recuperating on the island, upon hearing the battle up front, he too fled hurriedly to the rear.

...

Hoo, hoo, hoo!

Song Yan wielded a Peach Palm Fan, fanning wind into the alchemy furnace to increase the temperature of the mortal fire.

In these recent days, he had come to understand some additional information about flames.

It's said that the Late Stage Of Crimson Palace marks a small qualitative change.

It's not about a sudden surge in power, but once reaching the late stage, one develops a kind of Qi Blood True Flame within. This true flame far exceeds mortal fire, making it a certainty for casting a profound artifact, and even capable of casting a profound treasure. In alchemy, one can also attempt higher-level elixirs.

If before the Late Stage Of Crimson Palace, there were still subdivisions like Caster and Pill Master, by the late stage, it was purely a matter of personal skill.

This can actually be faintly observed from the Early Stage of Crimson Palace.

In the early stage, one's hands can already generate high heat, directly melting ordinary iron, and free shaping it, let alone in the late stage?

Hoo!

Another gust of wind, and suddenly a shout came from outside the room.

"Uncle Bai! Uncle Bai!"

Song Yan looked through the window and saw a skinny little girl wearing a silver sword robe, holding a practice flying sword, nervously gazing this way.

It was Tian Xiaojiu's niece, Tian Xiaoling.

His expression shifted slightly as he looked at the collaborating Pill Master beside him.

The Pill Master said, "Brother Bai, go on. This isn't the crucial moment for the elixir, there's no harm in it."

Song Yan put down the Peach Palm Fan and quickly went outside.

Seeing him, Tian Xiaoling's eyes reddened, and she ran from afar, throwing herself into the arms of the man who had led her onto the path of cultivating profound, crying out, "Uncle Bai, Uncle Bai!"

Song Yan tenderly patted the little girl's head, glancing around at the sword rainbows shooting through the sky. Suddenly, he saw an acquaintance and shouted from afar, "Senior Sister Zhang, please wait!"

In the distance, a sword rainbow paused as if identifying the voice. Recognizing Song Yan, it turned and approached but did not land, hovering above Copper Sparrow Island.

This Senior Sister Zhang was the beautiful female cultivator from the Su Family whom Tian Xiaojiu had escorted to Red Leaf Island and whom Song Yan had treated. She was currently escorting some Su Family disciples back to Luoxia Bamboo Island, passing by Copper Sparrow Island. Yet, mindful of her Su Family identity, she refused to step on a bit of the land here.

The female cultivator named Zhang asked from mid-air, "Brother Bai, what's the matter?"

Song Yan inquired, "Have you seen Junior Sister An Li?"

The female cultivator named Zhang replied, "An Li is an important Pill Master of our Su Family; she has naturally been escorted to Luoxia Bamboo Island."

Song Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then patted the child in his arms and said, "This is the niece of Junior Sister Xiaojiu, take her to Luoxia Bamboo Island."

The female cultivator named Zhang was startled and then descended.

Song Yan ruffled Tian Xiaoling's hair, saying, "Your aunt's old friend, follow her, Luoxia Bamboo Island is safer."

Tian Xiaoling timidly nodded, then walked toward the female cultivator named Zhang with a gentle push from Song Yan. But she had only gone half the distance when a cultivator nearby admonished, "This is a seed of our Sun Family's cultivators. Bai Xiuhu, what do you mean by letting her go with the Su Family?"

Song Yan glanced at him, flicked his fingers, causing a flying sword to clang out of its sheath, hovering around him, coldly looking at him and said, "Sun Family, Su Family, is this never-ending?"

After speaking, he glanced at Tian Xiaoling and said, "Go."

The female cultivator named Zhang looked deeply at Song Yan, took Tian Xiaoling, and quickly departed.

The Sun Family cultivator behind coldly looked at Song Yan, but seeing the direction of the alchemy room and the fierce battle raging in the distance, he merely sneered briefly before leaving.

Song Yan gazed into the distance, feeling a few inevitable emotions: For so many years, the Sword Sect hadn't fallen during the time of Granny Hu or the time of Gu Huangzi. All those storms were weathered, but now... internal strife was rising, making it harder to resist external threats.

Today, there wasn't even a need for him to act; the Sword Sect had already fallen.

...

About half an hour later, a crisp cracking sound came from the center of the northern array shield. A silver-white crack formed from the heart of the transparent shield, then quickly spread to both sides with cracking sounds, causing the sky covering the Sword Sect to be threaded with dense spider patterns.

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