A dense swarm of insects wasn't terrifying in itself. These insects weren't individually powerful—any cultivator at the Divine Sea Realm could crush one with ease. But when they gathered into a massive cloud, like a living hive, their ability to fly at high speeds and strike all at once made them devastating. Even fierce beasts and predatory birds were devoured by the swarm, leaving not even bones behind.
The core problem was the inability to annihilate these Black Armored Corpse Beetles en masse in an instant.
This time, the forces from General Valley had unleashed Blazing Talismans in unison. Dozens, even hundreds of talismans ignited simultaneously, unleashing devastating flames with no dead angles. The beetle swarm couldn't escape—they fell in droves.
Such was the fearsome strength of a united force. Had they attacked one by one with the same talismans, they could never have crushed the swarm so decisively.
"Too terrifying… What do we do? This is a sign that the High Priest is awakening. The black clouds blotting out the sky—that's the swarm, summoned by the High Priest! According to legend, these black beetles are only the lowest tier. Above them are Bronze Corpse Beetles, whose bodies resemble bronze. The black ones are known as Black Iron Corpse Beetles, and above them are Silver Corpse Beetles and Golden Corpse Beetles, the latter also called Holy Armored Corpse Beetles.If the bronze-tier ones arrive, our entire oasis will be annihilated!"
"I'm scared—I don't want to stay here anymore! I want to go through that spatial gate, to Xuanhuang City! That's the true paradise, where humans belong!"
"If just the omen is this terrifying… how strong must the High Priest himself be?"
Citizens poured out of their homes, staring pale-faced at the countless beetle corpses scattered across the ground.
Many instinctively rushed toward the spatial gate, hoping to try again—could they enter?
But again, the gate rejected them. The invisible barrier remained, preventing entry.
"It's no use… still can't get in."
"Don't waste the effort. We need the access qualification—without it, the gate won't let us through. Let the children go. We can die, but these kids are still young. They have a chance. If they survive, our existence will be remembered in this desert."
One elder spoke solemnly.
"Yes, let the children pass through. Let them bring supplies. Even if we never get through, at least some will survive."
Moved by this, the people began organizing the children of General City to carry vital supplies and step into the spatial gate.
There were tens of thousands of children in the city—thanks to the protection of General Valley, they had survived despite hardships. Now, they could escape.
"Poor child… Grandma can't care for you anymore. Go in. Once you're through, you'll be safe. There will be no more danger. Grandma will be watching over you."
An elderly woman tearfully sent a four- or five-year-old child toward the gate.
"Grandma, I don't want to leave you behind! Let's go in together!"
The child suddenly pulled the woman forward. Strangely, she passed through the barrier without resistance.
"What's happening?! How did she pass? Isn't there a barrier? Why wasn't she blocked?!"
"Quick, try again!"
The crowd was stunned. Chaos stirred once more. Yet, most still couldn't pass—the gate rejected them.
"A child… and an old woman. Could it be that children and elders can freely enter?"
They tested it—and confirmed it. Only children and elders had the qualification to pass through.
Yi Tianxing simply observed silently.
"The gate is here. Who can enter depends on fate. Xuanhuang City doesn't welcome cowards who cling to life. That's the baseline."
"Is war finally coming? I can hardly wait. Since arriving in this golden desert, I haven't had a real fight. The Undying Army? I've faced worse. What I truly want… is to see the strength of the High Priest himself."
The High Priest had broken free from his seal unexpectedly, awakening forcibly. He wouldn't be at his full power—perhaps just reborn, at his weakest. If he could emerge under the Heavenly Dao's suppression, then he couldn't be invincible. He could be defeated—killed.
"Undying spirits… My Innate Yin-Yang Eyes need to evolve. I need vast numbers of souls. Souls are the perfect nourishment for their transformation."
Yi Tianxing whispered with anticipation.
The evacuation proceeded in an orderly fashion. Children and elders, carrying supplies, passed through the gate toward Xuanhuang City.
By afternoon...
WOOOOOOOO…
A terrifying wail echoed from the sky. The sound was strange—like wind howling, but mixed with the grinding crash of countless grains of sand colliding. Piercing and unbearable.
"Look! At the edge of the sky—it's the Black Storm! The legendary Black Storm! Is this another calamity brought by the High Priest?! I've never seen anything so horrifying!"
"Quick! Find shelter—not in houses! Go underground! A storm like this can rip homes off the ground!"
"It's over… This is a natural catastrophe. Its destructive power is worse than the beetle swarm. Darkness will fall across the land."
The sun vanished—completely blotted out.
Black Storm—the deadliest sandstorm of the desert. Known as Black Wind, it created towering walls of sand with near-zero visibility, sometimes less than two meters. Formed from violent winds and dense dust, these storms were disasters born from desert winds and terrain.
Sand choked the sun, blocked all light. Black lightning danced through the storm.
This wasn't just a storm—it was a world-ending calamity.
"It's really here…" said Feng Xianlin, standing atop General Valley, his expression grave.
"You think some damn High Priest can destroy the world?" Xue Kunlun sneered. "Activate the grand formation. I don't believe we can't withstand a storm."
"Begin!"
Yue Qiang stared coldly at the looming storm.
"Wind!"
Feng Xianlin stood atop a massive altar in the General's Mansion and uttered a single word. The altar glowed with divine radiance. Heaven and earth energy surged toward it, growing denser by the second.
A few breaths later, a blue beam of light soared skyward. Within it, countless wind vortexes howled, like a massive tornado.
"Flower!"
In the Hua General's Mansion, Hua Mulan stood atop another altar. Pink light erupted, becoming a pillar of petals stretching to the heavens—countless flowers bloomed within, dazzling and beautiful.
"Snow!"
In the Xue General's Mansion, a chilling voice rang out. A white pillar of light rose, filled with fluttering snowflakes. The temperature dropped sharply, turning the air bitingly cold.
"Moon!"
Yue Qiang's voice echoed through the void. A cold light shot up to the sky, and a radiant moon appeared within the beam, casting a serene glow across the land.
The four divine lights, stationed at each corner of General Valley, formed a mysterious connection. Threads of divine energy wove together.
In an instant, a brilliant barrier enveloped the valley—then expanded to cover all of General City. The shimmering shield was breathtaking.