Chapter 1020: Fate as Fragile as Paper Amidst the Calamity

The Black Desolation was far away; even at Ji Yuan's current speed, it would not be a quick journey from Cloud Continent. However, the demons and monsters from the Black Desolation had already begun to pour forth.

Unlike the Southern Desolation's great mountains, where darkness perpetually covered the sky, the Black Desolation surprisingly showed some light. This light, however, was not a true dawn but the malevolent glow from the Star of Evil Sun. Facing the Black Desolation, a place far more dangerous than the Southern Desolation—to an immeasurable degree—the heaviest burden ultimately fell upon Tianyu Continent.

If one were to ask which continent currently had the fewest demons and monsters, it would undoubtedly be Tianyu Continent. Though it had suffered greatly during the past period of demonic chaos, after human civilization's literary and martial fortunes greatly flourished, a fervent martial spirit permeated human society throughout Tianyu Continent.

In Tianyu Continent, nine out of ten age-appropriate children were exposed to martial arts from a young age. The martial arts trend among the populace was exceptionally strong, and many even considered military service an honor. Furthermore, the Art of War flourished greatly. It could be said that apart from a few true founders like Yin Chong, who authored military treatises and laid the groundwork for the Art of War, Tianyu Continent's military strategists were unparalleled in the world in terms of both quality and quantity of their core forces.

While their emotional intensity was not as exaggerated as that of Da Zhen's new citizens, the people of Tianyu Continent, from commoners to royal courts, harbored an extreme hatred for demons and monsters. For years, they had spared no effort in eradicating every demon and monster they discovered. The righteous cultivators of Tianyu Continent also provided strong support, so much so that before this great catastrophe unfolded, there were almost no demons or monsters left within Tianyu Continent; those with sufficient cultivation had already fled, while the rest had been annihilated.

After the great catastrophe began, some demons and monsters did re-emerge, like those who ambushed the old beggar. However, these creatures were unfamiliar with the situation in Tianyu Continent, and most had already met their demise. Newly spawned demons and monsters could hardly cause any trouble. Even with some unrest among the populace, the people of Tianyu Continent were keenly aware of the Black Desolation's threat and, under this calamitous pressure, appeared remarkably united. It was noteworthy that even among those humans who awakened their ancient desolate valley bloodline, the vast majority did not lose their true nature.

Although the heavenly mechanisms were currently chaotic, the massive movements in both desolate regions naturally could not escape the notice of the powerful figures in Tianyu Continent. In fact, given the scale of the activity, it was simply impossible to conceal.

Because the Southern Desolation's great mountains were located directly on Southern Desolation Continent, the righteous cultivators, led by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion and the Hengshan Mountain God, immediately engaged in a head-on clash with the innumerable demons and monsters. In Tianyu Continent, however, the Black Desolation demons and monsters were still en route.

If one were standing at the very edge of the Dark Dream Spirit Continent at this moment, they would witness endless demonic winds and miasma howling under the dim, malevolent light of the Evil Sun, with all manner of monstrous spirits, ghosts, and fiends roaring from within.

"Wooo...""Hooo... roarrr...""Arrrgh—"

Tens of thousands of demons and monsters hissed and roared in unison, their excitement and ferocity completely unconcealable and needing no concealment. Even some shapeshifting demons and great fiends with considerable cultivation, or even demon kings, couldn't help but roar amidst the spectacular sight of all the Black Desolation's creatures pouring forth.

The terrifying sounds of the demons and monsters subtly reached Tianyu Continent, even across vast oceans.

In a human village on the outer edge of Tianyu Continent, a child deep in sleep suddenly awoke with a start, trembling. He heard strange and terrifying hisses and roars from afar; the mere sound made him feel as if he was still trapped in a nightmare.

"Ah..."The child screamed in fright and clutched his mother.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"The mother immediately awoke at her child's scream, as did the sleeping father beside her. The mother reached out and felt the child's forehead; he had no fever, but her hand was covered in sweat.

"My child, did you have a nightmare? Mommy's here, mommy's here. Daddy and mommy are both here, don't be afraid, don't be afraid!"

"Daddy, Mommy, I'm scared! I heard so many terrifying sounds, they're so scary! Woo woo woo, so scary woo woo woo woo..."

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. The nightmare is over, just sleep..."

As the father was speaking, cries were heard nearby—a child from a neighboring house, crying loudly, evidently also greatly frightened. Before long, it seemed other children also began to cry.

"Woof woof woof..." "Woof woof...""Woof woof woof woof..."

Dogs in the village also started barking. This situation of crying children and restless animals was not unique to this village; it was happening frequently in coastal areas of Tianyu Continent, and even in many inland locations. Although it eventually quieted down, this situation was sufficient to serve as a warning.

Compared to the mortal realm, the righteous cultivators, including immortals and Buddhas, had already detected the changes in the Black Desolation. Lights of protective barriers lit up in various coastal areas of Tianyu Continent, and a considerable number of righteous cultivators who had long been stationed there became vigilant. Among them was Dao Yuanzi, the sect master of Qianyuan Sect.

Dao Yuanzi stood on a peak of Qianyuan Sect's Artifact Mountain, gazing towards the distant Black Desolation and then up at the Evil Sun. His expression was extremely solemn.

"Alas, as demons rise, righteousness wanes—just as expected!" Dao Yuanzi sighed. "Ring the Mountain-Quelling Bell."

"Yes!" replied a disciple.

After receiving the command, a disciple behind Dao Yuanzi flew to another peak and personally cast a spell, pointing it towards a magical bell whose form was similar but not identical to the large bell inside Qianyuan Sect's main gate.

"Dong... dong... dong... dong..."

The sound of the bell resonated throughout the coastal regions, reaching the locations of protective barriers set up by various righteous factions. Spreading in all directions, its speed varying with distance, it gradually reverberated throughout all of Tianyu Continent.

The old beggar and his two companions, deep inland in Tianyu Continent, also heard the bell. They, who had been traveling by wind, immediately halted their movement.

"The bell rings incessantly? This is bad! The worst has happened—perhaps the Black Desolation's demons and monsters are about to swarm out entirely!"

"What?" Yang Zong and Lu Xiaoyou were equally alarmed. "Master, we should go immediately!" they urged. This was much earlier than expected; according to Tianyu Continent's cultivators, the Black Desolation was likely to erupt only after the Dragon Race's pioneering efforts concluded. Although Mr. Ji had warned that it might happen earlier, this was significantly sooner.

"Indeed," the old beggar affirmed. "We shall depart immediately, under the stars."

Without further ado, the old beggar immediately took his two disciples and flew south. At the same time, he formed a hand seal and pointed towards the sky ahead. Immediately, all distant clouds dispersed, revealing the starlight above and allowing a clearer view of the distant river of stars.

Nowadays, most immortal ports in Tianyu Continent also emitted starlight, echoing the celestial river of stars.

Throughout Tianyu Continent, not only the old beggar and his companions but also more and more magical lights illuminated the night sky as powerful figures from all sides rushed towards the coast.

Lu Yang, Wen Qiu, Gaoyun, Huayuan... these were some of the nations within Tianyu Continent.

In almost every named nation, their emperors—whether reviewing memorials by candlelight, deep in slumber, or even engaged with their concubines—all subtly heard the sound of the bell.

As these mortal emperors were feeling bewildered, lost, or suddenly enlightened, eunuchs soon rushed in. Their reports were largely similar: immortal masters sought an audience. The subsequent news they received sent shivers down the emperors' spines.

In a relatively short period, righteous factions from all sides converged on the coastal areas in the southern part of Tianyu Continent. Not only were there cultivators on the mainland, but some islands in the seas on both sides were also filled with protective barriers and cultivators from various factions.

At the same time, immortal cultivators continuously appeared and cast spells, relocating all the people living closer to the coast amidst the reverence of the populace.

In fact, long ago, the coastal nations had undergone a contraction. However, even without wars among the nations of Tianyu Continent at the time, they maintained vigilance and a degree of exclusion towards other nations, making it impossible to allow large-scale migration of foreign citizens. Thus, the population contraction in coastal nations mostly involved moving north without crossing national borders. Even now, many people still lived in the south and chose not to move.

This time, powerful figures from all sides almost forcibly relocated the remaining people during their inspection. If any were missed, they could only pray for good fortune.

The nations of Tianyu Continent had grown militarily strong in recent years. At this moment of life and death, even the greatest prejudices were set aside. Large armies were swiftly mobilized, and great military commanders from each nation were dispatched, all rushing together to the coast of Tianyu Continent.

Although the mobilization and march of large armies required time, the soldiers now were no ordinary folk. Led by great military commanders and aided by immortal masters, their marching speed was much faster than before. For the nations closer to the sea, the fastest of their armies had already reached the protective barriers of the immortal cultivators along the coast.

At this moment, these soldiers and generals discovered that immortals were everywhere, Buddhas were frequently encountered, the sky was ablaze with dazzling immortal magic, and magical lights flowed in all directions. It was as if they were no longer in the mortal realm.

In a month and a half, whether it was the armies already gathered or the righteous cultivators from all sides, including immortal and Buddhist cultivators, they could all vaguely discern a vast darkness to the south. It was an uncountable number of demons and monsters charging forth, their demonic clouds and miasma covering the sky, and even their monstrous forms.

The vast majority of these demons and monsters seemed frenzied. Most could already see the land of Tianyu Continent ahead, perceiving the endless immortal light and the blood-soaked aura of the military strategists. Yet, they all let out strange cries and charged forward, drawn by the promise of endless flesh and blood.

Some strong individuals among the demons and monsters, however, hid among the innumerable monstrous spirits. They even led a considerable number of demons and monsters to avoid the direct confrontation, beginning to fly to one side, attempting to bypass the righteous formations.

"Woah..." "Roar...""Giggle giggle giggle...""Ah ha ha ha..."

Filled with grotesque laughter and various eerie roars and screams, the sounds of the demons and monsters had already affected Tianyu Continent. Though the demons had not yet touched the land, the southern tip of Tianyu Continent had already grown dim.

"What boundless demonic clouds, what towering fiendish flames!"

Buddha-seal Bright King's expression was calm, his spiritual eyes gazing directly at the demonic miasma ahead. Beside him were many eminent monks, not on the land of Tianyu Continent, but on a small island, and many were even standing on the surface of the sea.

"Venerable One, those evildoers have gone to the east."

An old monk beside Buddha-seal Bright King pointed towards a massive "black ink" that had branched off, a torrent so dense it seemed to connect heaven and sea, dyeing the seawater black, and bypassing some of the locations that would have first encountered the immortal protective barriers.

The old monk, Buddha-seal, pressed his palms together, softly chanted a Buddhist name, and then issued a command: "All monks, follow me!" Buddha-seal Bright King took a step, already ascending into the high sky. Many eminent monks followed him, also flying high, as endless Buddhist light illuminated that part of the sky. This stream of Buddhist cultivators was like a golden-yellow river, flowing towards where the demons and monsters had branched off, while similar golden rivers simultaneously rose in several other places.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble...*

From the sea rose massive Buddhas. These Buddhas seemed to appear out of thin air, then slowly ascended, reaching hundreds of zhang in height, rivaling towering mountains. Their entire bodies were golden. They performed Buddhist salutations just like the various Bright Kings, then assumed various forms: some formed hand seals, some lowered their gaze, some had long eyebrows, some reclined. They were identical to the current appearances of many Bright Kings—these were precisely the Dharma-forms of the Bright Kings, rarely seen by mortals.

"My Buddha's true Dharma, immeasurable light, immeasurable wisdom! My Buddha's compassion also holds the wrath to subjugate demons and eradicate fiends—"

"Buddha's mercy!"

Buddhist cultivators formed hand seals or cast spells, their mouths continuously chanting scriptures. Immortal cultivators each conjured their magic artifacts or ascended to the sky to cast spells. Meanwhile, each soldier of the military armies on the shore of Tianyu Continent gripped their weapons tightly in an excited state mixed with fear and tension. The demons and monsters were still distant, but some archers had already unconsciously drawn their magically forged arrows, their hands trembling slightly.

Amidst a cacophony of strange sounds that almost caused ear-ringing, the righteous forces of Tianyu Continent, including humanity, clashed with the Black Desolation's demons and monsters...

With countless casualties among demons, monsters, immortals, Buddhas, and humans, the saying "During a great calamity, lives are as fragile as paper" could not be more apt.