Chapter 303: Power of Protection
"It seems we've underestimated the unity of humankind."
Emperor Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, stood beside her in human form, black robes swirling around him as his suffocating aura rolled outward.
He gazed at the golden light in the distance, his tone dark and grave. "My Lord, the altar's power far exceeds our expectations. Should we act now? If we wait any longer, it will only become harder to deal with!"
Behind him, the fierce beasts—Bear Lord, Bi Ji, and others—were restless, a heavy glint flashing in their eyes.
Gu Yuena slowly shook her head, a heaviness flickering through her violet eyes. "Wait a little longer. They may have foreseen our move. That's likely why they remain within the Star Auction Pavilion."
"Even I cannot gauge the true depth of the Pavilion's power. Once they depart from its protection, that is when we strike."
Her delicate finger traced the air, tearing open a silent spatial rift.
"When they step beyond its threshold with the altar, stripped of its shelter—that will be our moment."
Inside the Pavilion, Mu En and the others felt a warm current erupt from the altar, flooding through their meridians and spreading across their entire bodies.
They could faintly hear countless tiny voices whispering through heaven and earth—the farmer's prayer for harvest, the soldier's cry for victory, the child's innocent wish for growth…
These whispers gathered into an immense current of faith, merging seamlessly with their souls.
"So this… is the power to protect humanity?"
Ning Qitian murmured softly.
Feeling the endless tide of faith pulsing within him, tears welled in his eyes.
He could almost see the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future—the human race thriving under the altar's protection.
Niu Tian clenched his fists, the potent yet gentle energy surging through him, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "Good! Excellent! With this power, next time I see that Emperor Tian, I'll make him regret crossing me!"
Ling Yun spoke just then, her voice solemn. "The three of you may now wield the altar's basic authority. More importantly, each of you has been granted an 'Invincible Moment'—a single instant when, if faced with mortal peril, the power of faith will automatically generate a shield capable of blocking any attack, even from a god-level being."
"You only have one chance per year."
The three were shocked, instantly realizing the true weight of that "Invincible Moment."
It wasn't just a means of survival—it was a deterrent of unmatched power.
Xuanzi's eyes gleamed coldly. "It seems the soul beasts' plans will fail. With this backup, if they want to take the altar, they'd better think twice about their strength!"
After careful discussion, the three factions decided to leave the Star Auction Pavilion immediately and secure the altar inside the most heavily guarded place—the Sea God Pavilion of Shrek Academy.
Moments later, Mu En and the others carried the altar outside. It was crucial to place it somewhere safe as soon as possible.
…
However, the instant they crossed the Pavilion gates, the space ahead of them twisted violently. Gu Yuena, Emperor Tian, and the others materialized from the void at the far end of the street.
In her flowing purple gown, Gu Yuena hovered above the ground, spatial power radiating from her as she formed an invisible barrier, cutting Mu En's group off from their escorts.
"Leave the altar, and you may live," she said, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.
As her words faded, Emperor Tian, Bear Lord, and Red King unleashed their soul power at once, streaks of light roaring toward the altar. The force of their beastly power shook the buildings along both sides of the street.
"Don't even think about it!"
Niu Tian roared, the phantom of the Azure Bull Python emerging behind him. The sheer pressure distorted the air itself.
He was about to strike back when he suddenly realized his body was completely bound by an invisible force—it was Gu Yuena's spatial restraint!
"As a traitor of the soul beast race, daring to strike at our Lord is unforgivable!"
Emperor Tian's eyes gleamed with killing intent as he glared at Niu Tian.
He knew this creature well and despised his betrayal of the soul beasts.
Before, Niu Tian had hidden within the Clear Sky Sect under Tang San's protection, preventing Emperor Tian from acting. But now that his Lord had recovered her strength, he feared no human god. The time to end this betrayal had come.
Just as Emperor Tian's claw was about to reach the altar, Mu En's eyes hardened. "Activate the Invincible Moment!" he commanded.
In that instant, three radiant beams of golden light burst from behind them, shattering the spatial restraint and surging upward.
High in the air, they converged into the massive phantom of a towering figure clad in ancient armor and wielding a giant shield.
His face was indistinct, yet his presence radiated divine majesty—the Guardian God born from the faith of billions of humans!
The Guardian God raised his enormous shield, protecting Mu En and the altar.
Gu Yuena's spatial force collided with the shield and dissolved instantly, as if swallowed by a bottomless sea. Not even a ripple appeared.
Her face paled as she gasped, "What is this power?"
Emperor Tian and the others struck simultaneously, but the golden shield stood motionless, ringing with a deep metallic clang. Instead, the beasts stumbled backward, blood spilling from their mouths.
Tai Tan burst into laughter, his voice echoing like thunder. "This is the faith of all humankind! As long as humanity endures, this shield will never fall!"
Gu Yuena stared at the colossal phantom covering the sky, feeling the overwhelming force of belief within it, and an unexpected chill of despair touched her soul.
She could sense it clearly—the shield drew strength from every living human on the continent.
Unless she annihilated them all, the barrier could never be broken.
"Withdraw!"
Teeth clenched, Gu Yuena gave the order, unwillingness burning in her violet eyes.
Though furious, Emperor Tian and the others knew the battle was lost. They cast one last venomous look toward the humans within the golden light before retreating through the rift in space.
Watching the soul beasts vanish, Mu En and the others finally exhaled deeply, their taut nerves easing at last.
Ning Qitian wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice trembling with lingering fear. "That was too close… Without the altar's protection, we'd have perished here today. The spatial power of that woman is terrifying. If not for the Invincible Moment, we'd have had no chance to react."
Niu Tian stared into the direction Gu Yuena had disappeared, his gaze heavy.
He knew who she was—as one of the split souls of the Dragon God, her power was undeniable.
They had long since cut ties with the soul beasts, walking their own path among humans.
With Tang San as their ally, they no longer feared the soul beast race.
(END CHAPTER)
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