"Is the name of that demonic cultivator really Wei Yi?" Liu Xing asked again.

"Who are you?" Prince Yang Jinyan answered after a moment.

Elder Yang Zhaoyan stepped in. "This is Liu Xing, a disciple of the Purple Moon Sect. He's the one who saved your sister and escorted her here safely."

"Yang Liangyu is safe? Thank the heavens!" The prince sighed in relief, then smiled at Liu Xing and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you. I, Yang Jinyan, owe you a debt. Ask anything, and I will give it to you." His smile quickly faded. "At least, that's what I would offer if I still held power. The Twelve Sun Empire now teeters on the brink of destruction, so I cannot compensate you properly right now."

"It's all right," Liu Xing said. "More importantly, is the demonic cultivator helping Yang Lihuo really named Wei Yi?"

He needed to confirm the most crucial piece of information they had mentioned.

"Yes, he declared his name as Wei Yi. Do you know him?" the blood-drenched woman replied.

"Yes," Liu Xing nodded grimly. "In fact, the reason I came here to the City of Suns was to warn you about spirit beasts I encountered. These spirit beasts have a connection to Wei Yi."

Before Liu Xing could elaborate, the abomination relentlessly pounding the barrier struck it again with such force that the impact rang out like a massive gong. Everyone snapped their heads toward the sound. When they saw the spider web crack spreading across the barrier's surface, their eyes widened in shock. The barrier felt so strong that Liu Xing doubted even he could destroy it. Although the abomination was clearly stronger than Liu Xing, a Sun Refining elder maintained the barrier; it shouldn't have yielded so easily.

The monster punched the barrier again, widening the crack. On the third blow, its fist smashed clean through.

"It seems this abomination is stronger than I thought," Elder Yang Zhaoyan said, his voice tight. "We'll have to continue our conversation later."

The creature punched the barrier with its other massive hand, then, like a man parting thick curtains, ripped the opening wider. Its massive, dog-like head peered inside. Spotting the group of cultivators, it let out an ear-splitting roar.

Liu Xing adjusted his stance, bracing himself to move as he glanced around. The prince and the two women looked panicked, and the prince shouted, "Anyone below the third core of the Core Splitting realm, get inside! We're too weak to hurt it, and if we die, it'll only grow stronger!"

"Let the elder handle this!" the blood-drenched woman yelled, the other woman nodding vigorously in agreement.

"Go, all of you," Elder Yang Zhaoyan commanded firmly.

Hearing the order, the cultivators behind began retreating into the relative safety of the compound. Liu Xing glanced at the spirit beast, which had now torn completely through the barrier and was forcing its grotesque bulk inside. He then looked at the elder's expression. While a flicker of anxiety touched his eyes—understandable given the prince's devastating news—he remained outwardly calm. Liu Xing believed the elder could handle the abomination. He turned to follow the other cultivators, but before he could take a step, the elder grabbed him firmly by the back of his collar.

"Not you. You stay with me."

"What? Why?" Liu Xing asked, surprised.

"Because I need to talk with you, and I need to gauge your power," the elder explained, his voice low and serious. "The news the prince delivered is dire. He's still in shock and hasn't fully grasped the implications. But as things stand, I am the strongest person left in this entire empire."

Liu Xing's mind raced. The strongest person in the empire. A chilling sense of doom washed over him. While the elder was undoubtedly powerful, one man couldn't possibly fix this catastrophe alone. The growing spirit beasts army controlled by Yang Lihuo and Wei Yi, combined with the bloodline-hunting spirit beasts now loose... It was too much for Elder Yang Zhaoyan to handle by himself.

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"How can I help?" Liu Xing asked. The abomination had fully entered the barrier now, its maw gaping open, revealing rows upon rows of white fangs and a disturbing black, hand-shaped tongue. It was a terrifying sight, but Liu Xing kept his focus locked on the elder.

"We'll discuss specifics later, in a proper meeting, after we deal with this creature," the elder replied. "The reality is, our forces are critically weak. Aside from myself, there are only nine Core Splitting cultivators remaining, including the prince. I've heard disciples from the great sects are often stronger than others at the same realm. I need to know how strong you are." He glanced pointedly toward the abomination.

Liu Xing understood the unspoken question. The elder needed to know if he could be counted as an ally. Liu Xing wasn't a citizen of this empire, let alone a member of this clan. He had no obligation to stay and fight for a doomed cause. Refusing now would signal he wasn't an ally, that he wouldn't help the empire or fight alongside the Yang clan. They would remain polite—he was still a Purple Moon Sect disciple—but he would receive the cold shoulder until he inevitably left.

Liu Xing turned to face the hulking abomination. He could refuse, turn his back, and leave. But he had already steeled himself. It felt irrational, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that this whole disaster was partly his fault. If he had been stronger in that forest full of bone floras, perhaps this empire wouldn't be crumbling. He knew it was illogical, but the guilt lingered. So, he would channel that irrational guilt into action. He would help. He would not back down.

"I'll fight," Liu Xing declared, his voice steady.

The elder nodded, his calm expression softening with a hint of approval. He then took several steps back, leaving the immediate battlefield to Liu Xing.

Liu Xing resolved to win. The elder likely doubted his chances and stood ready to intervene. He shared that doubt but was equally determined to triumph as well to gauge his own newfound strength.

"Elder, how strong is this abomination?" Liu Xing asked, keeping his eyes on the creature.

"I can't pinpoint its exact strength, but it's at least as strong as a cultivator at the Core Splitting realm with five cores," the elder replied calmly. "Why? Are you afraid?"

"Of course I'm afraid. I could die if I'm careless for even a split second," Liu Xing admitted honestly. "But I'll still fight. And... I think I want some reward for what I'm about to do."

Sweat began to prickle his back as his heart hammered, pumping blood and adrenaline through his veins. Asking for a reward had been spontaneous, but he didn't regret it. If the elder agreed, it would provide extra motivation not just to fight, but to win.

The elder cracked a slight smile, though his eyes narrowed fractionally. "Heh, do you think you can win?"

"I don't know," Liu Xing said. "But at the very least, I can impress you."

The abomination before them rose onto its hind legs, its already imposing stature becoming even more intimidating. It loomed over them, looking down at Liu Xing and the elder, thick saliva dripping from its fanged maw. Liu Xing had to crane his neck just to meet its hateful gaze.

"Impress me, then," the elder offered. "Hold out against it for at least an hour, and I'll give you one thing of your choosing. How about it?"

"Deal," Liu Xing said without hesitation. He entered the Ethereal Pearl into his mouth, flexed his fingers inside the black Thunderstrike Gauntlets, and summoned his gun to his left hand. He then channeled the potent qi that had belonged to Wei Gang into the Ethereal Pearl. He could have used this potent qi to advance his own cultivation but had held onto it. Now, it would fuel his fight against the abomination.

Liu Xing willed the gun to absorb some of his own qi, forming six bullets. Simultaneously, he directed the potent qi flowing through the Ethereal Pearl to activate his necklace, enveloping himself in a stable qi. With his preparations complete, he braced himself, waiting for the creature to make the first move. This fight would be incredibly challenging, but he was determined to endure.

"Good luck," the elder said softly.

As if those words were a starting gun, the abomination let out a piercing howl and whipped its long, arm-like limb toward Liu Xing like a giant lash.

Seeing the attack coming, he activated his Lightning Cloak and launched himself upward with explosive force. The ground beneath him cratered as he shot skyward like a rocket. He clenched his right gauntleted fist, channeling stable qi into it until yellow, spiraling lines covered his gauntlet. Then, putting all his strength behind it, he aimed a powerful punch straight at the abomination's jaw.

His fist connected with a sickening thud but feeling less like striking flesh and more like hitting a steel wall. Even so, the blow packed enough force to snap the creature's jaw shut with an audible crack and jerk its massive head backward. A high-pitched squeal, like the sound of someone accidentally stepping on a dog's tail, tore through the air as the abomination stumbled back a step, momentarily stunned.

The battle had begun.

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