Hidden in a valley within the ancestral mountain range stood the last surviving city of humanity—Glory City, the final bastion of mankind. For tens of thousands of years, it had withstood the relentless attacks of demon beast hordes.
The city was home to tens of millions of people, hundreds of thousands of fighters, and powerful Demon Spiritualists.
Demon Spiritualists are powerful beings who stood on the front lines against the demon beasts. These Demon Spiritualists were divided into ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black Gold, and the strongest of them all, the legendary Legend Demon Spiritualist.
At present, Glory City has only one Legend Rank expert and that's Lord Ye Mo.
With their strength and determination, they stood side by side for many years, protecting Glory City, their families, and the place they called home.
Unfortunately, even with all their powers, they couldn't escape the fate of people living in a world filled with countless demon beasts.
Inside the wall of Glory City
The stench of blood permeates the air, born from the countless corpses of both human and demon beasts scattered all over the streets.
The roar of demon beasts can be heard echoing from every direction.
like a trumpet that marks the fall of Glory City.
As hundreds of millions of demon beasts manage to break through the city wall, all the experts within the city are no longer fighting to keep Glory City safe.
Instead they we were fighting to buy time for the people to escape the onslaught of demon beasts.
While many try to escape, some choose to stay, they have already given up, and lost all hope of surviving.
With the destruction of Glory City, there would no longer be a safe place for them to run to.
The outside world? Where more demon beasts lay in wait to maul them?
With that in mind, some people in Glory City didn't even bother to resist, they just stood in their place and waited for the Demon beasts to tear them apart.
After all, what's the point of resisting anyway?
Since death is inevitable, they give up and don't bother to struggle, at the very least, they won't extend their sufferings.
While every corner of Glory City is being shaken by the commotion, resulting in many buildings collapsing, some of which were part of Glory City's earliest infrastructure.
Desperate cries from people of all walks of life echoed throughout the city as they fled in panic.
Witnessing this, both the fighters and the demon spiritualist dashed toward the demon beasts while brandishing their weapon.
Their goal is not to stop the demon beasts from further destroying the city, instead is to shield the people, to buy time for civilians to escape to safety, if there's any they could find.
Among them was Xue Hui, a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy, who was desperately tailing a Black Gold Rank Demon Spiritualist of the Divine Family, Elder Chen Fei, and his niece Chen Linlin, who was being carried by him as they fled.
Earlier
When the news of the demon beast horde successful broken through to the western wall of the glory city, and begun to massacre all the civilians within the city wall.
Chen Zhenlong the patriarch of the Divine Family one of the three major families in Glory City, and father of the only Princess of the family, Chen Linlin.
asked his brother to leave the fight against the countless demon beasts with him, and urged his younger brother Chen Fe to rush back to the Divine Family mansion, to escort his wives and daughter to escape the city, upon witnessing the death and destruction caused by the demon beast horde.
Both Chen Zhenlong and Chen Fe knew that they had already failed in defending the city and were just buying time for the civilians to escape.
With that in mind, they also knew that the only way to survive the onslaught of the demon beast, was to leave the Glory city and run toward the direction of St. Ancestral mountain range and hopefully find a safe place to hide.
At first, Chen Fe resisted the idea and argued that Chen Zhenlong himself should be the one who ran and escaped with his Family.
But Zhenlong could only shake his head and insist that he needed to stay to fight and try to stop the horde from advancing as much as he could.
ensuring that the remaining people have enough time to escape the city.
"As the patriarch of the Divine Family, one of Glory City's three great families," his expression resolute, "how could I, Chen Zhenlong, ever abandon the people of Glory City?"
Chen Zhenlong has that unyielding determination within his eyes, making the other party stop for a moment.
Chen Zhenlong already knew that he would not be coming out in this fight alive, and he only wished for his brother to accompany his wives and daughter to escape the city.
Seeing this, Chen Fe could only nod in resignation and resolved himself by turning his back away from the fight, and dashed toward the direction of the Divine family Mansion, leaving his older brother behind, while forcing himself to ignore all the sounds of carnage behind him.
But fate shows no mercy to those who try to go against it.
The moment Chen Fe arrived at the now ruined mansion of the Divine Family, the entire building had long been destroyed, countless bodies of his clansmen had scattered all over the place, some were in one piece but most of them were in pieces.
Chen Fe couldn't even recognize some of the corpses, given how gruesome the demon beast tore them apart.
Walking around, Chen Fe's heart momentarily stopped, when he saw the upper part of Chen Yinying's body sprawled on the ground, her lower part was missing.
Chen Fe's knee almost buckled from the sight, seeing how her sister-in-law who usually wore a good nurtured disposition had suffered a gruesome end.
Chen Fe shook his head and immediately continued his search, but couldn't find his other sister-in-law. and could only wish in his heart, that she was still alive somewhere.
Giving up on looking for his elder brother's wife, Chen Fe rushed in the direction of his only niece's residence, knowing that the young lady of the divine family doesn't like to go out and leave her residence.
But before he could step into the courtyard of her residence.
He heard a commotion somewhere north of their Territory.
A demon beast can be heard wreaking havoc in that direction.
Chen Fe stopped for a moment, he was sure that he had just heard a faint sound of someone struggling against the relentless attack of the beast.
Chen Fe's eyes widened when he recognized whose voice it was.
The black gold rank demon spiritualist didn't hesitate further and ran toward the source of the voice.
knowing that if Xue Hui is there, his niece will also be there with him.
If there's one thing everyone in the Divine Family, certainly knew about the adopted servant of Chen Zhenlong.
Xue Hui is extremely loyal to Chen Linlin.
Firmly clutching the weapon in his hand, Chen Fe jumped to the roof, maneuvering himself to land on a perfect angle that would give him a wide opening for attack.
Using the edge of the roof, Chen Fei pushed off with all his strength, springing himself straight onto the back of the demon beast.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH EVEN THE SINGLE STRAND OF MY NIECE'S HAIR, WITH YOUR FILTHY CLAW, YOU FOUL BEAST" Chen Fe roared upon seeing that the beast was about to grab the servant and master duo, wanting to turn the demon beast's attention onto him.
With his weapon in hand, Chen Fe roared furiously, bracing himself to fight with all of his might.
Although Chen Fe couldn't help but inwardly curse his bad luck, after sensing the strength of the demon beast.
"FOR THE DEATH OF MY FAMILY, DIE IN MY HAND!!!
Back in the present.
Xue Hui could only run as fast as he could, while following the elder of the Divine family elder Chen Fe.
Normally, something like catching up to a black gold rank demon spiritualist expert is something a normal person like Xue Hui wouldn't be able to do, even if he gave his all and pushed himself to his limit, he still wouldn't be able to catch up with a powerhouse like Elder Chen Fe.
But with the situation we're in right now, Xue Hui has no problem catching up with them, especially with the Elder's current speed.
Elder Chen Fe is currently carrying his young miss on his arms while leading the way to safety. Her weight is not enough to hinder the Elder's normal speed.
After all his young miss is very light, and if someone like him an ordinary person could carry her with little effort, how can a person who has the strength to easily crush a boulder with his palm be affected by his young miss's weight?
Then, why is Elder Chen Fe having a hard time carrying his young miss?,
The real reason is that Elder Chen Fei was gravely wounded from an earlier encounter and had sustained numerous injuries while fighting the beast.
One of those is the huge spike that pierced Elder Chen Fe's stomach all the way through his back.
It was already a miracle to see that Elder Chen Fei had survived the encounter and could still move despite all his injuries.
Earlier, before the arrival of elder Chen fe.
Xue Hui and his young miss, Chen Linlin, found themselves cornered by the demon beast after fleeing for what felt like an eternity.
Once they reached the edge and realized they were trapped, both resigned themselves to their fate.
Bracing for the attack, Xue Hui held Chen Linlin tightly, preparing for the moment the demon beast would pounce.
But it seems that heaven still has a small remaining pity left for both of them.
At the last second, moments away from being mauled to death by the demon beast, Elder Chen Fe arrived and fought the Demon beast, while he and his young miss ran to safety.
But the fight didn't go well for Elder Chen Fe, the demon beast proved to be a formidable opponent, and pushed the Elder to a desperate struggle.
In the end, Elder Chen Fe, judged that he would not be able to win against the demon beast, and with his niece's safety on his mind, Elder Chen Fe decided to abandon the fight against the Demon Beast and try to bring his niece out of Glory City.
With the use of life savings talisman, something that elder Chen Fe has kept in his interspatial ring for who knows how long since he stumbled upon it in his younger days.
Naturally, he had kept the talisman, saving it as a trump card—something he could use to preserve his life if the moment ever came.
Chen Fei hated that the moment he had been preparing for, the moment he actually needed to use it, had finally arrived.
using it, he momentarily incapacitated his opponent, giving Chen Fe a time to quickly turn his heel and run toward his Niece and his servant, and carried them both, away from the fallen Demon beast.
Even though the trio managed to escape the demon beast, with all the injuries Elder Chen Fe had sustained, he could only dash for a short time before he had to stop, and continue running in a much slower phase.
That's how Xue Hui found himself, trailing behind them.
It was fortunate enough that Elder Chen Fei didn't abandon him during the escape. Although the two knew each other by name and face, they had little to no interaction in the past, despite living under the same roof in the Divine Family's mansion.
After all, his job is to take care of all his young miss needs, and he spent most of his time, on her side, away from everyone.
That's why Xue Hui had limited interaction with the people outside Chen Linlin's courtyard.
Xue Hui is eternally grateful in his heart, that Elder Chen Fe brought him along.
Elder Chen Fe has no obligation to save him.
His name is not Chen, but Xue, although he was adopted into the Divine Family.
He was after all, just a servant for the young Miss of the family, and not a member of the Divine family.
While being grateful in his heart, Xue Hui didn't notice when Elder Chen Fe suddenly halted his step, this sudden pause caused Xue Hui to end up falling on his butt, as he bumped his body to now standing still Elder Chen Fe.
"Hui! I want you to carry, Lin'er, and run as fast as you can, do not stop nor look behind, you hear me my boy!?"
While still trying to comprehend what just happened and why they suddenly stopped. He heard the elder speak to him.
Looking up, he saw the face of Elder Chen Fe, bearing both a grim and resigned expression.
Elder Chen Fe is looking in the direction of the ruined mansion, the same direction from which they just fled.
Sensing an undescribable energy pulling him from the ground, Elder Chen Fe gently placed Chen Linlin back in Xue Hui's arms.
"Hui, go and carry Lin'er to safety, that damn beast is tailing us, and it's closing fast"
Both Xue Hui and Chen Linlin's hearts dropped, when they heard what elder Chen Fe said.
Although they can't hear or feel anything behind them, they both know that the sensing ability of a Black Gold rank demon spiritual expert is heighten in unimaginable extent.
So if Elder Chen Fe said that the demon beast is closing in on them, meaning that it's just a matter of time before it catches up to them.
"Uncle" with tears flowing down to her delicate cheeks, Chen Linlin stared at her uncle with a knowing look.
Chen Fe could only look back and nod to Chen Linlin, "I'm sorry, Lin'er, uncle could only carry you this far, all I can do now is to buy you and Xue Hui some time to run, it's up to our fate what gonna happened next." Chen Fe gently placed a kiss on Chen Linlin's forehead, that gentle kiss conveyed all the emotions he wanted to tell his niece.
This is a goodbye and both of them knew it.
"XUE HUI!"
Hearing his name being called with a tone full of authority, Xue Hui unconsciously stood straight and listened attentively to what Elder Chen Fe was about to say.
"I want you to fulfill your duty as Lin'er attendant for the last time, give all your might to carry her away to Glory City, while I hold that demon beast behind us." Xue Hui unconsciously gulps and nods unsurely to the imposing elder of the Divine family.
Seeing Xue Hui's hesitation, Chen Fe continued, knowing that even survival is uncertain, it's better to fight till the end, than to just wait and cower until the demon beast feasts on them.
"Xue Hui, you've always been my Lin'er strength" Hearing the elder's words, Xue Hui looked at him curiously.
"When my brother first brought you to our house and made you Lin'er's attendant, I thought he had lost his mind. After all, you're a boy, and Lin'er is the young princess of the Divine Family. How could someone like you be fit to serve her? Even putting aside your gender, your talent was too weak. An attendant of a main family member should at least be able to protect themselves—and their master."
Seeing the confusion on the boy's expression Chen Fe revealed the reason why his elder brother chose Xue Hui to become Chen Linlin's attendant in the first place.
"At first, I didn't understand why my brother chose you. But later, I realized the reason behind his decision. Because your innate talent is so poor—so difficult to cultivate—you're actually the only person in the Divine Family who can truly connect with our little princess."
Xue Hui's eyes widened, when he heard the reason behind the patriarch's past action.
While it is true that Chen Linlin used to have a great innate talent when she was very little, that was all changed when she was struck by an illness, a rare condition that utterly withered her soul realms and lost all her ability not only to cultivate, but also her chances to live a normal life.
Because of this, Chen Linlin chooses to seclude herself in her room, away from the eyes of everyone, Only a few members of the main family were allowed to see her, Chen Fe who is her uncle, was not even included with those people back then.
Upon seeing the realization in the boy's eyes, Chen Fe nodded and placed his hand on Xue Hui's shoulder.
"Because of you, Lin'er found someone who she's willing to talk to, although your talent is poor, it's actually the very reason why she's willing to let you in within her small bubble."
Emotions flare up in both men, although it's faint, there's a tiny amount of shakiness in Chen Fe's tone.
"I'm her uncle, yet I was helpless—I couldn't do anything to help my niece. Despite all my wealth and power, I was useless in her situation. That's why I am so glad my brother brought you into our house."
Xue Hui felt Elder Chen Fei's hand tremble on his shoulder.
"Ever since you became Lin'er's attendant, she finally found someone she could consider an equal." He glanced at his niece before looking back at the boy. "Someone she isn't afraid to be herself around, someone who makes her feel she isn't alone in the vast mansion of the Divine Family. For that, I, Chen Fei, will always be grateful for all your hard work in making sure Lin'er never suffered alone. That is why you will always be one of the most valuable members of our Divine Family!"
Hearing what Elder Chen Fe said, Xue Hui choked back the emotions threatening to burst out.
Elder Chen Fei continues.
"And for that, I want you to fulfill that role for the last time, go and carry Lin'er, run as fast as you can, don't let go of her and make sure" Chen Fe grip on Xue Hui shoulder, his eyes boring on Xue Hui's Soul "don't make her experience the feeling of loneliness no matter what!"
Tightening his hold on the girl in his embrace, Xue Hui nodded, his eyes no longer holding the doubt he had before, but instead, it was replaced with an unyielding glow.
Seeing this Chen Fe walked towards the direction of the approaching demon beast and lightly pushed Xue Hui's back, prompting him to go ahead.
"Run, my boy! Even with death upon us, how could we just surrender our lives without struggling to the bitter end!"
Kicking his leg as fast as he could, Xue Hui ran without looking back, other than his own breathing the other noise that entered his mind, is the sobbing of Chen Linlin in his embrace.
Then he heard it,
The roar of the demon beast was accompanied by the yell of someone who had already resigned himself to fight til his last breath.
End of chapter 1