The purple silhouette struggled violently within the light dome, firing countless pillars of purple light from its body that bombarded the barrier. The dome flickered violently as cracks continuously spread across its surface, but Qian Renxue gritted her teeth and held on, pouring her power into it relentlessly to maintain its stability.
Lin Mo and Zhao Feng struck simultaneously. Lin Mo's Holy Angel Abyssal Dragon Emperor Martial Soul erupted with full force, unleashing a massive golden pillar of light from his body that blasted toward the purple silhouette. Zhao Feng's Divine Conviction Battleaxe cleaved out a colossal golden axe-glow, carrying the combined power of conviction from countless heroic spirits, which also slammed into the purple silhouette.
Both attacks struck the purple silhouette at the exact same moment. It let out a blood-curdling shriek as the purple light around it fluctuated violently and its aura plummeted. Seizing the opportunity, Qian Renxue channeled all of her Angel power into the dome. The barrier instantly contracted, pinning the purple silhouette down with overwhelming force.
"Seal!" Qian Renxue commanded fiercely. The light dome transformed into countless golden chains, firmly binding the purple silhouette. Golden runes flowed along the chains, radiating an immense sealing power. The purple silhouette struggled violently, causing the chains to groan and creak under the strain, yet they refused to shatter.
"It's not enough!" Qian Renxue's face turned incredibly pale, and her body began to turn translucent. Clearly, maintaining the seal was consuming her power at an alarming rate, and her physical form was on the verge of dissipating. "My power isn't enough; the seal can only hold for a moment! You must pour in more of the power of conviction!"
Lin Mo and Zhao Feng exchanged a glance, both seeing absolute resolve in the other's eyes. They knew this might very well be their last chance; if they failed, not only would Qian Renxue's sacrifice be in vain, but the entire Douluo Continent would be plunged into an eternity of damnation.
"Everyone, burn your soul power! Burn your conviction! Offer up every ounce of your strength!" Zhao Feng's voice resounded through heaven and earth. He took the lead, igniting his own soul power. The golden light around him surged instantly, becoming several times stronger than before. His body began to turn translucent, and even his soul started to burn, yet he didn't hesitate in the slightest, pouring all of his power into the seal.
Lin Mo likewise burned his God-level power. His body too became translucent, and his soul began to burn, but he gritted his teeth and endured, channeling every last drop of his strength into the seal.
Seeing both of their commanders burning away their lives, the Soul Masters' eyes reddened. Without a moment's hesitation, they too ignited their soul power, pouring everything they had into the seal. Even the ordinary civilians burned their own life force, injecting their faint yet unwavering power of conviction into the formation.
Countless streams of golden light surged in from all directions, converging upon the seal. The power of the seal skyrocketed instantly; the golden chains grew unbreakable, binding the purple silhouette in a death grip. The silhouette let out a shriek of absolute agony as its body began to collapse. Its purple radiance constantly dissolved, and its aura plummeted drastically.
"No—! I will not let this end here! This continent will eventually return to the Void! All living beings shall become a part of the nothingness!" the purple silhouette roared for the final time. Then, it utterly disintegrated, bursting into countless specks of purple light that scattered into the air. Those purple specks were swiftly purified by the golden power of conviction, leaving not a single trace behind.
The Void Desert regained its calm. The bizarre purple-veiled black mist dissipated completely, and the sky cleared up once more. Sunlight cascaded down, bathing the devastated earth in a glow that carried a hint of warmth and hope.
Qian Renxue's body had become almost entirely translucent. A look of profound relief graced her face as she turned to Lin Mo and Zhao Feng. "You have done remarkably well. With you protecting this continent, I can finally be at peace."
"Lord Qian Renxue!" Lin Mo's eyes grew red. He wanted to rush over to her, only to realize that his own body had begun to turn translucent as well. The price of burning his life force was the dissipation of his very soul.
"Lin Mo, Zhao Feng, do not grieve," Qian Renxue's voice grew incredibly soft, yet immensely gentle. "A millennium ago, I sacrificed my life to protect this continent. A millennium later, to fight for this land once more—I have no regrets. The same goes for you both. Your sacrifices will not be in vain. The living beings of this continent will remember you; they will inherit your will and continue to protect this land."
Her silhouette completely faded away, transforming into countless golden motes of light that drifted through the air. Those particles fell upon the battlefield, landing on every Soul Master and every civilian, bringing them warmth and strength. This was Qian Renxue's final gift—her ultimate act of guardianship over this land and its people.
"Lord Qian Renxue…" Lin Mo murmured. His body had grown terrifyingly translucent, his soul on the brink of dissipating. He turned to look at Zhao Feng, finding him in the exact same state. The two exchanged a smile; there was no fear in their eyes, only serene resolve and peaceful acceptance.
"Zhao Feng, it has been an honor fighting alongside you for a thousand years," Lin Mo said.
"The honor is mine," Zhao Feng smiled. "If there is an afterlife, let us fight side by side again, and continue to guard this continent."
"Agreed." Lin Mo nodded. His body completely dissolved, transforming into countless blue-and-gold specks of light that drifted away on the breeze.
Zhao Feng also closed his eyes. His body faded entirely, dissolving into countless golden motes of light that scattered into the air.
Their particles interwoven with those of Qian Renxue. Bathed in the sunlight, they shimmered with a breathtaking radiance, as if recounting their millennium of guardianship and their utterly unyielding, regret-free sacrifice.
A deathly silence enveloped the battlefield. All the Soul Masters and civilians stared blankly at the drifting lights, their eyes brimming with tears. They knew that Lin Mo, Zhao Feng, and Qian Renxue—these supreme heroes—had given their lives to protect them.
Su Chen fell to his knees. Tears blurred his vision as he clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, blood dripping to the ground unnoticed. His heart was filled with profound grief, yet equally overflowing with resolve. He understood that the heroes' sacrifices were not meant for them to drown in sorrow, but rather to inspire them to inherit their will and continue guarding this land.
"The heroic spirits are immortal; our guardianship will never cease," Su Chen whispered. His voice was soft, yet incredibly firm.
The surrounding Soul Masters dropped to their knees one after another, shouting in unison: "The heroic spirits are immortal; our guardianship will never cease!"
The deafening roar shook the heavens. The golden motes of light drifting in the air seemed to hear their battle cry, pulsing faintly once more before gradually fading into the sunlight.
...
A hundred years later.
The Void Desert.
This land, once ravaged and saturated with the power of the Void, had now transformed into a vibrant oasis. Lush grass covered the ground, and verdant trees provided ample shade. Crystal-clear streams cascaded down the mountains, converging into small lakes where fish darted joyfully. Birds sang from the branches, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the rich scent of earth. Where was the desolate, terrifying wasteland of yesteryear?
Right in the heart of what was once the Void Desert stood a colossal statue.
------------------------------------------------------
30+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)