zì jì xiě de shí fēn liáo cǎo ， shèn zhì hái yǒu dà duàn dà duàn de tú mǒ 、 shān jiǎn hén jì 。
字迹写的十分潦草，甚至还有大段大段的涂抹、删减痕迹。
The remnants of Zhang Ming and his team had completed the deployment of their forces in a short time. However, despite their exceptional skills, they were still somewhat at a disadvantage due to the overwhelming power gap.
bù guò sūn èr láng yī jiù néng kàn chū gè dà gài lái 。
不过孙二郎依旧能看出个大概来。
Unexpectedly, the first step of their plan went awry. The few members of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance weren't ordinary opponents. The person responsible for luring them into the ambush was named Qiu Di. He was particularly skilled in evasive maneuvers within this small team.
tài xuán xiān dì suǒ tǒng zhì de xiān zhāo rì yì qiáng shèng ， néng rén yì shì céng chū bù qióng 。 zài gēn qí tā liǎng guó de zhēng dòu zhōng ， lǚ lǚ qǔ shèng 。
太玄仙帝所统治的仙朝日益强盛，能人异士层出不穷。在跟其他两国的争斗中，屡屡取胜。
Just as they were about to make contact and before he could use his evasion techniques, Qiu Di was trapped by a man in white from the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance who used a spatial domain technique. This spatial domain was peculiar; it didn't manifest any specific form but instead emitted a white light circle that suppressed Qiu Di.
tiān dì zhī shī yǔ rén jiān zhì shèng bù néng bù lián shǒu qǐ lái ， duì kàng tài xuán zhī wēi ……
天地之师与人间至圣不能不联手起来，对抗太玄之威……
Qiu Di, determined to die with honor, self-destructed, and Zhang Ming felt his subordinate's life energy disappear. The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members were surprised by this sudden act of desperation.
zhè ge jù qíng ， xiǎn rán bú shì wén rén xīn zhōng zhēn zhèng xiǎng xiē de 。
这个剧情，显然不是文人心中真正想些的。
"Wait! Brother Lin Bai, something is wrong!" one of them realized after a moment. "Why are there no signs of death?"
bù jǐn wén bǐ cuò cí bǐ qǐ zhī qián ruò le xǔ duō ， jiù lián xiě wén de tài dù yě fū yǎn le 。 huò xǔ shì shí zài shòu bù liǎo le ， wén rén shàng wèi xiě dào jié jú ， jiù bù yuàn zài xiě 。 zhōng rì mǎi zuì ， hún hún è è dù rì 。
不仅文笔措辞比起之前弱了许多，就连写文的态度也敷衍了。或许是实在受不了了，文人尚未写到结局，就不愿再写。终日买醉，浑浑噩噩度日。
"Is it fake death?" another wondered.
sūn èr láng duì zhè ge jié guǒ bìng bù gǎn dào yì wài 。
孙二郎对这个结果并不感到意外。
"It can't be," the others agreed. "Their souls have truly been destroyed."
zài shèng cháo dà qǐ ， tài xuán xiān dì gēn wú miàn shèng huáng shēn shàng de fú hào tài guò xiāng sì 。 zhǐ yào zài jù qíng zhōng shāo wēi chī diǎn kuī ， wén rén jiù huì bèi qiān fū suǒ zhǐ 。 rú cǐ xiàn shí yā lì xià ， tài xuán xiān dì zài jù qíng zhōng zì rán yě zhǐ néng shì yǒng yuǎn de shùn fēng shùn shuǐ 。 cháng cǐ yǐ wǎng ， shí lì yě jiù chāo guò le qí tā liǎng wèi shèng zhě yī dà jié 。
在圣朝大启，太玄仙帝跟无面圣皇身上的符号太过相似。只要在剧情中稍微吃点亏，文人就会被千夫所指。如此现实压力下，太玄仙帝在剧情中自然也只能是永远的顺风顺水。长此以往，实力也就超过了其他两位圣者一大截。
Lin Bai's expression turned serious as he looked up at the sky. Soon, his face grew grim: "Be careful; someone is concealing the fate of heaven and earth."
bù guò sūn èr láng dǎo shì yǒu diǎn hào qí ， zhè wén rén yuán běn xīn zhōng suǒ xiǎng de jù qíng zǒu xiàng shì zěn yàng de 。
不过孙二郎倒是有点好奇，这文人原本心中所想的剧情走向是怎样的。
Despite this warning, the rest of the group became more excited than afraid.
xīn zhōng yī dòng ， sūn èr láng fēn chū yī dào shén niàn 、 zuān rù wén rén shí hǎi zhī zhōng 。
心中一动，孙二郎分出一道神念、钻入文人识海之中。
"Concealment of fate? Such a trivial world uses such tactics—there must be something hidden here!"
bù duō shí ， jiù zài zhū duō zá luàn de sī xù zhī zhōng ， zhǎo dào le 《 xuán huáng sān fēn yǎn yì 》 xiāng guān de nèi róng 。
不多时，就在诸多杂乱的思绪之中，找到了《玄黄三分演义》相关的内容。
"We've searched many places without success. This might finally yield some results."
gāi shuō ， wén rén bì jìng shì shèng cháo tǔ shēng tǔ zhǎng de zi mín ， zhè xiē nián mù yù zài shèng huáng ēn zé xià ， qián yì shí shēn chù duì shèng huáng de jìng yǎng ， ràng tā yù xiǎng zhōng de jié jú 、 zuì zhōng hái shì tài xuán xiān dì kè fú zhǒng zhǒng kùn nán ， xiān hòu jiāng qí tā liǎng wèi shèng zhě zhèn yā ， tǒng yī liǎo xuán huáng jiè 。
该说，文人毕竟是圣朝土生土长的子民，这些年沐浴在圣皇恩泽下，潜意识深处对圣皇的敬仰，让他预想中的结局、最终还是太玄仙帝克服种种困难，先后将其他两位胜者镇压，统一了玄黄界。
...
bù guò zhè qí zhōng yǒu guò shī bài 、 cuò zhé ， shèn zhì zhōng tú yí dù xiàn rù jué jìng 、 mìng xuán yī xiàn 。
不过这其中有过失败、挫折，甚至中途一度陷入绝境、命悬一线。
Suddenly, they felt the ground tremble slightly, and an unfamiliar aura emerged from underground.
sūn èr láng bù dé bù chéng rèn ， bǐ qǐ zài xiàn shí zhōng kàn dào de nà ge xiū gǎi bǎn běn ， wén rén nǎo hǎi zhōng zuì chū de jù qíng ān pái ， gèng jiā diē dàng qǐ fú 、 kòu rén xīn xián 。
孙二郎不得不承认，比起在现实中看到的那个修改版本，文人脑海中最初的剧情安排，更加跌宕起伏、扣人心弦。
"What's this?"
“ suǒ wèi wén shì kàn shān bù xǐ píng 。 xiāng bǐ jiào zhī xià ， wài miàn nà bǎn dǎo shì wèi tóng jiáo là le 。”
“所谓文似看山不喜平。相比较之下，外面那版倒是味同嚼蜡了。”
They were initially stunned but then realized: "It really is the Clear Crystal?"
sūn èr láng suī rán shì zhè me xiǎng de ， bù guò zhè běn shū de nèi róng bì jìng qiān shè dào zì jǐ de shī zūn ， tā yě bù gǎn shàn zì zuò zhǔ 。
孙二郎虽然是这么想的，不过这本书的内容毕竟牵涉到自己的师尊，他也不敢擅自做主。
Their senses picked up not only the crystal's aura but also several figures rapidly emerging from the ground.
shǎn shēn yòu fǎn huí shèng huáng zuò zhōng ， xiàng lǐ píng huì bào le cǐ shì 。
闪身又返回圣皇座中，向李平汇报了此事。
"They're trying to escape! They can't hide it anymore."
jǐn jǐn shì yī jiàn xiǎo shì ， què bù zhī wèi hé ràng shèng huáng chén mò le xǔ jiǔ 。
仅仅是一件小事，却不知为何让圣皇沉默了许久。
The group subconsciously thought. Although they wanted to investigate, they hesitated and looked at Lin Bai for instructions.
“ tài xuán xiān dì shì wǒ ， rén jiān zhì shèng shì wǒ ， tiān dì zhī shī yì shì wǒ 。”
“太玄仙帝是我，人间至圣是我，天地之师亦是我。”
Lin Bai quickly decided: "Divide into two groups. Brother Qian, you lead three people to chase those escaping figures; the rest follow me."
zuì zhōng ， shèng huáng huǎn huǎn dào chū yī jù huà ， huí dàng zài bīng lěng de shèng huáng zuò zhōng 。
最终，圣皇缓缓道出一句话，回荡在冰冷的圣皇座中。
Four members of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance immediately set off towards the horizon.
sūn èr láng xiān shì yī lèng ， ér hòu huǎng rán dà wù 。
孙二郎先是一愣，而后恍然大悟。
Meanwhile, Lin Bai led his group toward the source of the Clear Crystal's aura underground.
miàn sè xīn xǐ de lí qù le 。
面色欣喜的离去了。
Despite some array barriers blocking their path, they easily overcame them.
rán ér lǐ píng xún cháng wài wù nán yǐ hàn dòng de xīn jìng ， què yīn wèi cǐ shì nán dé de fàn qǐ liǎo wú fǎ píng xī de lián yī 。
然而李平寻常外物难以撼动的心境，却因为此事难得的泛起了无法平息的涟漪。
"These arrays must be set up by Core Formation cultivators," one of them noted. "And many formations are unfamiliar to me—interesting..."
tā huò xǔ yǒu xiē míng bái ， wèi hé chuán fǎ zài chuàng lì wàn xiān méng zhī hòu ， jiù yì zhí bù wèn shì shì 、 bù xiàn yú dà zhòng shì yě zhōng le 。
他或许有些明白，为何传法在创立万仙盟之后，就一直不问世事、不现于大众视野中了。
Their excitement grew as they approached the destination: a large crater left after an explosion, with fragments of Clear Crystals scattered around.
……
……
"Damn! They're so ruthless; they destroyed it all!"
hóng zé jiè 。
洪泽界。
"The cost must be enormous now—the price for fist-sized crystals has already risen to 50,000 contribution points and is in high demand."
shēn fù shèng cháo dà qǐ zhèn shǒu cǐ jiè de jīn dān xiū shì ， zhāng míng hū de shōu dào le shǒu xià huì bào 。
身负圣朝大启镇守此界的金丹修士，张冥忽的收到了手下汇报。
"We can't waste any pieces—grab them quickly!"
cǐ chù xiǎo shì jiè sì hū chuǎng rù le yī xiē wàn xiān méng de bù sù zhī kè 。
此处小世界似乎闯入了一些万仙盟的不速之客。
...
“ sān míng yuán yīng ， qī míng jīn dān 。”
“三名元婴，七名金丹。”
The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members, initially organized, were soon overwhelmed by greed. They rushed into the crater.
zhāng míng méi tóu jǐn jǐn zhòu qǐ 。
张冥眉头紧紧皱起。
Lin Bai, although tempted, first observed his surroundings carefully.
suī rán tā dì yī shí jiān jiù xiàng shèng cháo fā qù le qiú yuán xìn xī ， dàn yī xiǎng dào zhè lǐ gāng gāng fā xiàn de dà xíng 【 kōng míng liú jīng 】 kuàng mài ， zhāng míng xīn zhōng de tǎn tè gēn běn jiù wú fǎ píng xiē 。
虽然他第一时间就向圣朝发去了求援信息，但一想到这里刚刚发现的大型【空明流晶】矿脉，张冥心中的忐忑根本就无法平歇。
Finding no immediate danger, he followed suit.
“ zhè hóng zé jiè bù dà ， kōng míng liú jīng suǒ xié dài de qì xī yòu shí fēn dú tè 。 zòng shǐ wǒ yǒu zhèn fú shāo zuò zhē yǎn ， kǒng pà yě nán táo zhè xiē rén de chá tàn 。”
“这洪泽界不大，空明流晶所携带的气息又十分独特。纵使我有阵符稍作遮掩，恐怕也难逃这些人的查探。”
"Strange; this doesn't seem to be a natural underground crystal mine. Could it be their storage facility?"
“ kàn lái ， zhè yī zhàn shì wú fǎ bì miǎn de le 。”
“看来，这一战是无法避免的了。”
Just then, a white jade arrow silently emerged from beneath the ground and shot towards the figures in the crater.
zhāng míng xùn sù pán suàn le xià mù qián zì jǐ suǒ néng diào yòng de lì liàng 。
张冥迅速盘算了下目前自己所能调用的力量。
"Be careful!" Lin Bai shouted instinctively.
suàn shàng zì jǐ ， mǎn dǎ mǎn suàn cái wǔ wèi jīn dān 。
算上自己，满打满算才五位金丹。
He fully activated his spatial domain technique and set up hundreds of signal flags around him for additional protection. However, the white jade arrow was even faster than expected.
kě yǐ shuō shí lì xuán shū ， bài jú yǐ dìng 。
可以说实力悬殊，败局已定。
A dazzling light ball appeared underground and instantly engulfed all the cultivators inside the crater, along with their spatial domains.
ruò shì zì jǐ xuǎn zé chè tuì ， shèng cháo yě bú huì jiàng xià duō me yán zhòng de chéng fá 。
若是自己选择撤退，圣朝也不会降下多么严重的惩罚。
Zhang Ming watched the deaths of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members without any emotion: "Farewell, Brother Qiu Di."
bù guò ， shēn wèi dà qǐ jūn rén de jiāo ào ， ràng zhāng míng zhù dìng bù kě néng lián yī zhàn de yǒng qì dōu méi yǒu 、 jiù zhí jiē chè lí 。
不过，身为大启军人的骄傲，让张冥注定不可能连一战的勇气都没有、就直接撤离。
He quickly moved towards his other subordinate who had served as a decoy.
zhāng míng hěn shì guǒ duàn ， zhí jiē jiāng wéi yī de 【 zhē tiān fú 】 dǎ chū 。
张冥很是果断，直接将唯一的【遮天符】打出。
Their situation was far worse compared to Zhang Ming's side. Without the powerful weapons like the Massacre Arrow, they could only rely on minor tactics. They were soon caught and engaged in fierce combat.
gù míng sī yì ， zhē tiān fú lù ， néng gòu zhē yǎn tiān jī 。
顾名思义，遮天符箓，能够遮掩天机。
When Zhang Ming arrived with reinforcements, only two of them remained, struggling against overwhelming odds.
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī ， xuán huáng jiè xiū shì yǔn luò zhī hòu ， tiān kōng zhōng huì yǒu yì xiàng jiàng lín 。 yǔn luò xiū shì shēng píng ， nǎi zhì jù tǐ sǐ fǎ ， dū huì xiáng xì wú bǐ de zài tiān mù shàng fú xiàn 。
众所周知，玄黄界修士陨落之后，天空中会有异象降临。陨落修士生平，乃至具体死法，都会详细无比的在天幕上浮现。
A Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivator named Qian tried to persuade them: "Why do you insist? These are just external possessions—how can they compare to your lives? We have no intention of harming you..."
píng cháng qíng kuàng xià hái hǎo ， ruò shì shì jīn rì zhè bān shēng sǐ xiāng dòu ， rèn yì yī fāng chū xiàn shāng wáng ， dū huì shùn jiān chuán biàn 。 dà dà tí gāo zuò zhàn nán dù 。
平常情况下还好，若是似今日这般生死相斗，任意一方出现伤亡，都会瞬间传遍。大大提高作战难度。
Despite his words, he continued attacking with full force. Zhang Ming's armor glowed crimson as a red line streaked towards the Qian cultivator.
bù guò yǒu le 【 zhē tiān fú 】， què shì néng jiāng jìng yù niǔ zhuǎn 、 shèn zhì huà zuò zì shēn yǒu lì de zuò zhàn tiáo jiàn 。
不过有了【遮天符】，却是能将境遇扭转、甚至化作自身有利的作战条件。
"Brother Qian, be careful!" Lin Bai warned.
zhē tiān fú bù dàn néng jiāng xiū shì yǔn luò yì xiàng zhē bì ， hái néng jīng què shí bié dí wǒ shuāng fāng 、 qū bié duì dài 。
遮天符不但能将修士陨落异象遮蔽，还能精确识别敌我双方、区别对待。
The power gap between them was too great; even with his protective armor, it wasn't enough to bridge the difference between Core Formation and Golden Core stages.
wǒ fāng jī shā duì fāng xiū shì ， bú huì yǒu yì xiàng shēng chéng 。 dàn ruò shì wǒ fāng xiū shì bèi jī shā ， zé yī rán yǒu yì xiàng jiàng lín 、 tí xǐng 。
我方击杀对方修士，不会有异像生成。但若是我方修士被击杀，则依然有异像降临、提醒。
He narrowly avoided the attack but was severely wounded in return. His armor's glow dimmed.
suī rán bù zhī dào zhè fú lù shēng xiào de jù tǐ yuán lǐ ， dàn háo wú yí wèn ， jǐn jǐn zhè yī méi zhē tiān fú 、 jiù néng jiāng niǔ zhuǎn yī fēn shèng shì 。
虽然不知道这符箓生效的具体原理，但毫无疑问，仅仅这一枚遮天符、就能将扭转一分胜势。
"Hmm? What kind of protective treasure is this? It didn't crack under my full power strike?"
“ guāng kào zhè yī méi fú lù ， hái bù gòu 。”
“光靠这一枚符箓，还不够。”
Qian cultivator was surprised and even more greedy.
zhāng míng yòu kàn xiàng huái zhōng de yī gēn bái yù xiǎo jiàn 。
张冥又看向怀中的一根白玉小箭。
"We are destined to die here."
“ kě xī ， yǐ wǒ men xiǎo duì de zī lì ， měi cì wài chū zuì duō zhǐ néng shēn qǐng yī gēn miè jūn jiàn 。”
“可惜，以我们小队的资历，每次外出最多只能申请一根灭军箭。”
Zhang Ming thought, but he had no regrets. He had delayed long enough for the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance's discovery; before they could claim the giant Clear Crystal mine, his forces would reclaim it.
“ yào shì néng duō gǎo diǎn ， bié shuō zhè xiē yuán yīng xiū shì le ， jiù suàn shì huà shén wǒ yě bù jù 。”
“要是能多搞点，别说这些元婴修士了，就算是化神我也不惧。”
"After my death, my family will be proud of me," he thought calmly as he faced the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivators. "Perhaps even the Holy Faceless Emperor himself will commend me."
miè jūn jiàn ， shì shèng cháo xún tiān jiàn de ruò huà bǎn běn 。
灭军箭，是圣朝巡天箭的弱化版本。
"燃魂！" (Ignite Soul!)
suī shuō shì ruò huà ， dàn duì yú yuán yīng jìng yǐ jí yuán yīng jìng zhī xià de xiū shì ， dōu néng zào chéng huǐ miè xìng de dǎ jī 。
虽说是弱化，但对于元婴境以及元婴境之下的修士，都能造成毁灭性的打击。
The remaining few members didn't hesitate. Their souls ignited, and their weakened energy surged.
bìng qiě zì dài zhuī zōng 、 qì xī suǒ dìng gōng néng ， zhǐ yào bèi dīng shàng ， jué wú xìng miǎn zhī lǐ 。
并且自带追踪、气息锁定功能，只要被盯上，绝无幸免之理。
"What are you doing?!" The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivators screamed in confusion.
“ zhǐ yǒu zhè yī gēn ， xū yào zuì dà huà lì yòng 。”
“只有这一根，需要最大化利用。”
They didn't need to fight these doomed individuals head-on; despite the overwhelming power disparity, they focused on avoiding injury.
hěn kuài ， zhāng míng xīn zhōng biàn yǒu le zhǔ yì 。
很快，张冥心中便有了主意。
As the effects of Ignite Soul diminished, Zhang Ming and his allies reached the end of their lives. Just as consciousness was about to fade, he saw a familiar figure.
“ fú gé ！”
“符葛！”
"General Xiao Sun?"
“ xiǎo rén zài ！” zhāng míng shǒu xià yī wèi shēn chuān tǔ huáng sè fú shì de jīn dān zhōng qī xiū shì dùn shí yīng dào 。
“小人在！”张冥手下一位身穿土黄色服饰的金丹中期修士顿时应道。
Zhang Ming felt at peace. Golden light enveloped him, and he seemed to see the Great Holy Faceless Emperor in a vortex of stars.
“ nǐ yòng 【 bēn liú fú 】， jiāng zhè xiē kōng míng liú jīng ， bān yùn zhì cǐ chù dì dǐ 。” zhāng míng zài dì tú shàng biāo jì chū jù tǐ wèi zhì 。
“你用【奔流符】，将这些空明流晶，搬运至此处地底。”张冥在地图上标记出具体位置。
...
fú gé méi yǒu sī háo yóu yù ， jiāng zhāng míng dì guò de chǔ wù jiè shōu qǐ 。
符葛没有丝毫犹豫，将张冥递过的储物戒收起。
Baron Zhang collected the remaining thoughts of Zhang Ming's group and looked at the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members. Instantly, an infinite amount of killing intent surrounded them.
shēn shàng huáng guāng yī shǎn ， xiāo shī zài dì miàn zhī shàng 。
身上黄光一闪，消失在地面之上。
After a moment, the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members became sacrificial offerings for the Celestial Warriors.
chǔ wù jiè zhōng shì zhāng míng tā men kāi cǎi chū lái de quán bù ， zhǐ shì cǐ chù jù xíng kuàng mài zhōng de yī xiǎo bù fèn 。
储物戒中是张冥他们开采出来的全部，只是此处巨型矿脉中的一小部分。
Zhang Ming turned to the silent sky, his eyes flickering with a sudden thought as he pointed upwards.
bù guò ruò shì jiāng qí yǐn bào ， zài jīng guò tè shū yǐn dǎo ， nà sàn yì de qì xī zú yǐ xī yǐn dì miàn shàng wàn xiān méng xiū shì de zhù yì 。
不过若是将其引爆，再经过特殊引导，那散溢的气息足以吸引地面上万仙盟修士的注意。
A falling star appeared slowly, but it was entirely fabricated information that contradicted reality.
The remnants of Zhang Ming and his team had completed the deployment of their forces in a short time. However, despite their exceptional skills, they were still somewhat at a disadvantage due to the overwhelming power gap.
Unexpectedly, the first step of their plan went awry. The few members of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance weren't ordinary opponents. The person responsible for luring them into the ambush was named Qiu Di. He was particularly skilled in evasive maneuvers within this small team.
Just as they were about to make contact and before he could use his evasion techniques, Qiu Di was trapped by a man in white from the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance who used a spatial domain technique. This spatial domain was peculiar; it didn't manifest any specific form but instead emitted a white light circle that suppressed Qiu Di.
Qiu Di, determined to die with honor, self-destructed, and Zhang Ming felt his subordinate's life energy disappear. The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members were surprised by this sudden act of desperation.
"Wait! Brother Lin Bai, something is wrong!" one of them realized after a moment. "Why are there no signs of death?"
"Is it fake death?" another wondered.
"It can't be," the others agreed. "Their souls have truly been destroyed."
Lin Bai's expression turned serious as he looked up at the sky. Soon, his face grew grim: "Be careful; someone is concealing the fate of heaven and earth."
Despite this warning, the rest of the group became more excited than afraid.
"Concealment of fate? Such a trivial world uses such tactics—there must be something hidden here!"
"We've searched many places without success. This might finally yield some results."
...
Suddenly, they felt the ground tremble slightly, and an unfamiliar aura emerged from underground.
"What's this?"
They were initially stunned but then realized: "It really is the Clear Crystal?"
Their senses picked up not only the crystal's aura but also several figures rapidly emerging from the ground.
"They're trying to escape! They can't hide it anymore."
The group subconsciously thought. Although they wanted to investigate, they hesitated and looked at Lin Bai for instructions.
Lin Bai quickly decided: "Divide into two groups. Brother Qian, you lead three people to chase those escaping figures; the rest follow me."
Four members of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance immediately set off towards the horizon.
Meanwhile, Lin Bai led his group toward the source of the Clear Crystal's aura underground.
Despite some array barriers blocking their path, they easily overcame them.
"These arrays must be set up by Core Formation cultivators," one of them noted. "And many formations are unfamiliar to me—interesting..."
Their excitement grew as they approached the destination: a large crater left after an explosion, with fragments of Clear Crystals scattered around.
"Damn! They're so ruthless; they destroyed it all!"
"The cost must be enormous now—the price for fist-sized crystals has already risen to 50,000 contribution points and is in high demand."
"We can't waste any pieces—grab them quickly!"
...
The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members, initially organized, were soon overwhelmed by greed. They rushed into the crater.
Lin Bai, although tempted, first observed his surroundings carefully.
Finding no immediate danger, he followed suit.
"Strange; this doesn't seem to be a natural underground crystal mine. Could it be their storage facility?"
Just then, a white jade arrow silently emerged from beneath the ground and shot towards the figures in the crater.
"Be careful!" Lin Bai shouted instinctively.
He fully activated his spatial domain technique and set up hundreds of signal flags around him for additional protection. However, the white jade arrow was even faster than expected.
A dazzling light ball appeared underground and instantly engulfed all the cultivators inside the crater, along with their spatial domains.
Zhang Ming watched the deaths of the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members without any emotion: "Farewell, Brother Qiu Di."
He quickly moved towards his other subordinate who had served as a decoy.
Their situation was far worse compared to Zhang Ming's side. Without the powerful weapons like the Massacre Arrow, they could only rely on minor tactics. They were soon caught and engaged in fierce combat.
When Zhang Ming arrived with reinforcements, only two of them remained, struggling against overwhelming odds.
A Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivator named Qian tried to persuade them: "Why do you insist? These are just external possessions—how can they compare to your lives? We have no intention of harming you..."
Despite his words, he continued attacking with full force. Zhang Ming's armor glowed crimson as a red line streaked towards the Qian cultivator.
"Brother Qian, be careful!" Lin Bai warned.
The power gap between them was too great; even with his protective armor, it wasn't enough to bridge the difference between Core Formation and Golden Core stages.
He narrowly avoided the attack but was severely wounded in return. His armor's glow dimmed.
"Hmm? What kind of protective treasure is this? It didn't crack under my full power strike?"
Qian cultivator was surprised and even more greedy.
"We are destined to die here."
Zhang Ming thought, but he had no regrets. He had delayed long enough for the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance's discovery; before they could claim the giant Clear Crystal mine, his forces would reclaim it.
"After my death, my family will be proud of me," he thought calmly as he faced the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivators. "Perhaps even the Holy Faceless Emperor himself will commend me."
"燃魂！" (Ignite Soul!)
The remaining few members didn't hesitate. Their souls ignited, and their weakened energy surged.
"What are you doing?!" The Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance cultivators screamed in confusion.
They didn't need to fight these doomed individuals head-on; despite the overwhelming power disparity, they focused on avoiding injury.
As the effects of Ignite Soul diminished, Zhang Ming and his allies reached the end of their lives. Just as consciousness was about to fade, he saw a familiar figure.
"General Xiao Sun?"
Zhang Ming felt at peace. Golden light enveloped him, and he seemed to see the Great Holy Faceless Emperor in a vortex of stars.
...
Baron Zhang collected the remaining thoughts of Zhang Ming's group and looked at the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members. Instantly, an infinite amount of killing intent surrounded them.
After a moment, the Ten Thousand Virtue Alliance members became sacrificial offerings for the Celestial Warriors.
Zhang Ming turned to the silent sky, his eyes flickering with a sudden thought as he pointed upwards.
A falling star appeared slowly, but it was entirely fabricated information that contradicted reality.