This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

Blood stained the skies, the scent of it was overwhelming.

Not only did they fail to reach those three Black Demon Flowers, they couldn't even advance a mile before losing more than half of their people.

The cultivators inside the Northern River Border's light screen helplessly watched their companions die, their eyes filled with bloodshot rage, releasing unwilling low growls.

But... they couldn't rush out.

If they burst out of the Northern River Great Formation, it would be a suicidal outcome, not only failing to save them but also accelerating the fall of Northern River Border.

"Go back... Go back to the Northern River Great Formation!" Wu Yan laughed grimly, his Qi-Blood soared suddenly, bright blood flowers blooming from his pores.

He groaned, as if enduring some pain, his physical body kept cracking, blood flowers splattering in patches.

In contrast, the flames in his Law Domain flared as if drenched in hot oil, bursting upward with unparalleled might, rushing forth to burn away the demonic qi spear and all surrounding demonic qi.

At this moment, he and the remaining dozen Northern River Guard cultivators temporarily escaped the threat of the Black Demon Flowers.

Without hesitation, they quickly retreated before the next wave of Black Demon Flower attacks arrived, fleeing back into the light screen.

Upon returning into the light screen, Northern River Border's Deputy General Zhao Xuan hurried forward to support the severely injured General Wu Yan.

"Defeated... utterly defeated..." Wu Yan pushed Zhao Xuan away, stumbling and grimly laughing.

The power erupted by the Black Demon Flowers was simply too terrifying, even he could hardly resist.

Moreover, even if he could withstand the attacks from the Black Demon Flowers, there remained an extremely vast distance between him and the flowers.

This distance was guarded by over three thousand Seventh Grade Demonic Cultivators, with the top Demon Marshal Desiccated Dragon Demon Marshal standing by the Black Demon Flowers.

How could one possibly overcome such an insurmountable gap?

Unless there was an Eighth Realm Cultivator…

Only an Eighth Realm Cultivator could possibly do it, right?

But Northern River Border didn't have any Eighth Realm Cultivators.

So... this was a deadlock.

In at most a day, Northern River Border's formation would be breached, followed by the inevitable destruction of the city and the deaths of its people.

No one could save them.

...

Northern River Border's city walls stretched wide, surrounded by many cultivators.

Xu Xi was also among these people, and his current location wasn't far from Northern River Border's General Wu Yan.

Furthermore, since Wu Yan hadn't hidden anything from start to finish, Xu Xi easily learned about Northern River Border's current situation.

"Northern River Border ultimately met with its fate of falling, didn't it?" Xu Xi opened his mouth, wanting to say something but couldn't utter a word.

He thought he had prepared himself mentally long ago, but when this day truly came, he realized his mental preparation was utterly useless.

A massive wave of grief surged in his heart.

Having defended Northern River Border for a thousand years, he had long regarded it as his home.

Now, this home was on the brink of destruction under the iron hooves of the Demon Race, how could he not be heartbroken?

But now... who could still save Northern River Border?

He saw no hope.

Darkness filled Xu Xi's eyes.

He couldn't have imagined, having just healed his eyesight and without seeing the Sword Sect Young Sect Master, that he would bear witness to the fall of Northern River Border.

"Destroy those three Demon Flowers, and Northern River Border would have hope to hold out until reinforcements arrive, right?" Just then, a most familiar voice reached Xu Xi's ears.

He widened his eyes suddenly, his spirit shaken, revealing a strong light in his gaze as he turned towards the direction of the voice.

At some unknown time, a very young and handsome male cultivator appeared near Northern River Border's General Wu Yan.

Wu Yan also instinctively looked over.

Following that, his expression changed dramatically, breathing quickened, showing disbelief and an extreme sense of shock.

"Lu... Young Sect Master Lu?!" He exclaimed in astonishment.

As the General of Northern River Border, he had already seen the Sword Sect Young Sect Master's portrait, coupled with Lu Qingshan's striking handsomeness, making it unforgettable; how could he not recognize Lu Qingshan?

"Young Sect Master Lu?" Xu Xi's mind briefly confused.

That young gentleman was the Young Sect Master? From which sect?

The next moment, he reacted sharply, "Sword Sect Young Sect Master!"

——The person the Northern River Border General addressed so respectfully as Young Sect Master could only be Sword Sect Young Sect Master, who else could it be?

Not just Xu Xi, other cultivators also realized this moment, gazed at the young male cultivator in extreme amazement.

He was indeed the Sword Sect Young Sect Master, Lu Qingshan, who recently made a name at Yumen Pass, residing in Hanguang Courtyard, defending Feather Demon City all by himself with a Sixth Realm cultivation?!

"Young Sect Master Lu, why are you here?" Over here, Wu Yan's face turned pale, scalp tingling, speaking with panic.

The fall of Northern River Border was a foregone conclusion.

But he never expected that, apart from sacrificing all the cultivators in the city, it would also take down a Sword Sect Young Sect Master.

This was a genius Sword Cultivator with hopes of achieving Sword Immortal, a peerless talent potentially emerging once every thousand years, who was expected to become the new Sect Master of Sword Sect after a millennium, yet he was going to perish at Northern River Border?

Wu Yan's mind was in chaos, unable to decide what to do.

"Destroy those three Demon Flowers, and Northern River Border would have hope to hold out until reinforcements arrive, right?" Lu Qingshan asked Wu Yan again, seeing no answer to his question.

"Yes..." Wu Yan, in a dazed state, replied instinctively, then sharply reacted, "Young Sect Master Lu, why are you asking this?"

Lu Qingshan fell silent for a moment, then calmly looked towards the three Black Demon Flowers at the furthest end of the Demon Race's formation, and finally said, "Perhaps I can destroy those three Demon Flowers."

"How is that possible?" Wu Yan instinctively refuted, "Not to mention anything else, how would you get past over three thousand Seventh Grade cultivators? Moreover, there's Desiccated Dragon Demon Marshal guarding by the Demon Flowers, without killing him, how could the flowers be destroyed?"

In his conception, only an Eighth Realm cultivator could achieve this task under such circumstances.

And Wu Yan distinctly remembered that the recently famous Young Sect Master Lu was merely a Sixth Realm Sword Cultivator.

"I can give it a try." Lu Qingshan said.

"No, no!" Wu Yan shook his head, resolutely rejecting Lu Qingshan's proposal, solemnly stating, "You are the Sword Sect Young Sect Master, regardless of identity or potential, you are currently the highest at Northern River Border; your life is the most valuable.

Any of us can die, but you must not die, how could I let you do such a suicidal deed?"

Wu Yan's tone was emphatic.

He was already contemplating in his mind how to preserve Lu Qingshan's life desperately after Northern River Great Formation was breached.

"No, quite the contrary, it's precisely because I'm the Sword Sect Young Sect Master that certain responsibilities I cannot evade," Lu Qingshan shook his head, assuredly saying, "It's not just that I must not die, it's that only after I die would you all follow."

Sword Sect Sword Cultivators, during battles, always take the lead, charge at the forefront, fight to the death without retreat.

Sword Sect Sword Cultivators always die first.

This is the pride of Sword Sect Cultivators, their faith and persistence, also the reason why Sword Sect won the respect of Yumen Pass Cultivators.

As Sword Sect Young Sect Master, moreover, he should be.

"Moreover," he spoke softly, "in this world, there has never been anyone who cannot die."

Once his words ended, Lu Qingshan no longer delayed, releasing a long howl.

Through that cry, his figure shot into the sky, unexpectedly to everyone, within a mere moment, he had already rushed out of the protective light shield of Northern River Great Formation.

His direction...

Straight towards the three Black Demon Flowers!

Ahead of Lu Qingshan were dense demonic shadows and surging demonic qi.

Behind him, was the faltering Northern River Border.

Just as Lu Qingshan mentioned, even if Northern River Border were to fall, it must happen after his demise.

Because, he is the Sword Sect Young Sect Master.

"But..."

Amid the crowd, Xu Xi finally and completely understood what Lu Qingshan meant earlier by "helping him", watching Lu Qingshan's decisive silhouette rushing out from the Northern River Great Formation, trembling all over, whispering with trembling lips:

"There has never been anyone who must die, either..."