This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable

The siege war initiated by the Demon Race against the Human Race appeared even more challenging compared to the internal conflicts within the Human Race.

Due to the irreconcilable differences between the two races, tactics like intimidation, internal betrayal, or infiltration were generally unrealistic.

If the Demon Race couldn't break through the Human Race's formations quickly, reinforcements from the Human Race would arrive rapidly.

Therefore, the Demon Race only had one way to break the city—sheer overwhelming power.

This time, their attack on the Northern River Border was well contemplated and full of confidence.

However, due to Lu Qingshan's presence, the situation took a dramatic turn.

To complete their expedition mission on time, they would have to pay a higher price.

The upcoming battle at the Northern River Border was destined to be a brutal siege.

....

The City Defense Formation at the Northern River Border was already operating at full capacity.

Batch after batch of cultivators took turns to enter the positions, managing the formations to resist the demonic assaults.

Compared to the Demon Race, the number of Seventh Realm cultivators was a critical weakness that the Northern River Border couldn't overcome.

Although so far, the Northern River Great Formation seemed impregnable, and all cultivators hidden within the formation hadn't experienced any casualties yet.

It was like a dam under the assault of a flood. If any brick came loose, it would create a domino effect, leading to a breach.

Once the formation broke, tragedy would begin.

Time was not on the side of the Northern River Border.

Because mana depletion was not something that could be recuperated quickly.

Even though they adopted a rotation system, the rest time given was insufficient for recovering the depleted mana, making it exceedingly difficult to even regain fifty percent.

Of course, without the help of the Black Demon Flower, the Demon Race wasn't having an easy time either.

Both sides were in a constant tug-of-war; sometimes the Northern River Great Formation seemed on the verge of collapsing, yet always a few cultivators would sacrifice everything to bolster the formation when it was at its most precarious.

Occasionally, cultivators from the Northern River Border would launch surprise attacks on the demonic cultivators, killing some who were blinded by the killing frenzy.

Both sides persisted, competing in a test of endurance.

In a flash, nearly two days had passed.

After the demise of the Desiccated Dragon Demon Marshal, Xuan Du, the High Ranking Demon Marshal who assumed command, watched the rippling Northern River Great Formation, his face unemotional.

He knew clearly in his heart that the Northern River Border could not hold out much longer.

"Almost at the end of our rope." The general of the Northern River Border, Wu Yan, wore a heavily fatigued expression.

He glanced back at the first batch of cultivators who were exhausted from rotating to manage the formation, their mana nearly drained, feeling a deep bitterness.

When the first batch of cultivators with drained mana appeared, the barely maintained balance was broken.

From then onwards, they would be perpetually short, with batch after batch of cultivators exhausting their last bit of mana, leading to the inevitable collapse of the formation.

"The only thing to be thankful for is that Young Sect Master Lu had long left here…" Wu Yan's voice grew more bitter as he muttered, "If the Young Sect Leader of the Sword Sect perished with the Northern River Border, it would be as significant a loss as the fall of the Northern River Border itself."

He harbored only gratitude for Lu Qingshan's retreat.

Witnessing Lu Qingshan's feat of breaking through against three thousand cultivators boosted Wu Yan's appraisal of Lu Qingshan to an astonishing height—valuing him as an entity on par with the entirety of the Northern River Border.

In truth, it wasn't an exaggeration.

Indeed, killing the Desiccated Dragon Demon Marshal and destroying the Black Demon Flower were aided by Xia Daoyun's Sword Token.

However, crossing the three thousand cultivators relied entirely on his genuine strength.

A Sixth Realm cultivator leaping across three thousand demonic cultivators in a breath.

This was an achievement shocking to anyone.

"So… go far away, with the potential and talent you possess, you will surely avenge us in the future…" Wu Yan turned back again, looking at the pale, exhausted cultivators of the Northern River Border, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"I won't give up. If the city must fall, then I shall fall with the Northern River Border and stand with all the Northern River Border cultivators."

At this moment, Wu Yan's expression showed a heavy sense of vicissitudes, appearing much older, as if his vitality was slowly fading away.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

At that moment, three thunderous roars suddenly reverberated across heaven and earth.

In the distant sky, it seemed as if three bolts of lightning appeared, capturing the demon cultivators' attention.

They instinctively turned to look.

Then, they realized it wasn't thunder, but three sword lights.

Fiery red, deep blue, and emerald green sword lights pierced the sky, seemingly dividing the entire sky.

All the cultivators from the Northern River Border were shaken mentally at this moment.

The three sword lights penetrated the demon tides in the blink of an eye.

The splendid sword light burst forth, illuminating the land of the Northern River Border.

The might of the three sword lights was boundless, cleaving through the demonic tide, slashing towards the Flame Demons within.

These Flame Demons were Seventh Grade, not weak, yet were now being slaughtered, heads rolling, blood splattering.

This shocked both the human and demon sides, and both the demon cultivators and the Northern River Border cultivators were astonished.

"Is this... Young Sect Master Lu?!" On the city wall of the Northern River Border, Wu Yan, watching the three sword lights, exclaimed, "He's back?!"

The three sword lights danced through the demon tides, and within just moments, dozens of Seventh Grade demon cultivators had been killed or wounded.

"I am back." It was Lu Qingshan's voice, spreading in all directions.

Then, a figure appeared above the heavens outside the Northern River Border, traversing the air with the Air-walking Skill.

"You dare to return! Such audacity!" Xuan Du, the temporarily commanding High Ranking Demon Marshal, looked at Lu Qingshan's return, his violet eyes filled with ferocity.

"Had you quietly fled, we wouldn't have been able to do anything to you, but as the saying goes, you came to the Netherworld with no door," Xuan Du sneered, "You could've lived, yet you chose to return to your death."

"The Northern River is Yumen Pass's fortress, and Yumen Pass belongs to the Sword Sect. I am the Young Sect Leader of the Sword Sect."

Lu Qingshan's voice was full of texture, like a sword howling through the clouds, responding to Xuan Du, while also letting the Northern River Border cultivators know his determination, "Therefore, I have no reason to abandon the Northern River Border and flee on my own."

Sword Cultivators cultivate not just the sword, but also a Sword Heart, and resolve their thoughts.

"Whether the Northern River Border can hold until reinforcements arrive, I... will fight alongside you to the last moment!" His voice lingered, echoing through the skies outside the Northern River Border.

His gaze traveled across the vast distance, looking toward the Northern River Border.

On the city wall of the Northern River Border, General Wu Yan's eyes reflected an unprecedented light, looking toward Lu Qingshan outside the city.

A complicated expression, indescribable, appeared on his face, leaving him standing frozen, lost in thought.

Moments later, he abruptly waved his sleeve, and in his capacity as a Seventh Realm cultivator, as the general of the Northern River Border, with an age far exceeding Lu Qingshan's, he deeply bowed toward Lu Qingshan's direction.

"Regardless of whether the Northern River Border still stands after this battle, I stand with it. I remain with all the cultivators of the Northern River Border."

Wu Yan's voice was not loud, yet resolute.

In that instant, almost all the Northern River Border cultivators heard Wu Yan's declaration.

In the silence, it was unclear who first bowed toward Lu Qingshan's direction.

Soon enough, with the exception of those still managing the formation, all the Northern River Border cultivators bowed toward Lu Qingshan.

There were Sixth Realm cultivators, as well as Seventh Realm cultivators...

There were Sword Cultivators, Body Cultivators, Dharma Cultivators, and Spiritual Cultivators, Beast Cultivators, Nether Cultivators...

No matter who they were, they all felt compelled to bow in silent reverence.

At this moment, all words seemed powerless to express the emotions roiling within their hearts.

A single sword spanning three thousand cultivators in a breath.

This was enough to make anyone's heart submit.

However, Lu Qingshan's return under such circumstances truly made them wholeheartedly devoted to the Young Sect Leader of the Sword Sect.

In the distance, Sword Cultivator Xu Xi, an elder under the Sword Sect, looked toward the slender figure on the heavens, gently stroking his Life-bound Sword with his withered hand, murmuring repeatedly, "To die without regret, to die without regret."

He knew that the three-foot swords under the Sword Sect would only become more and more fearsome to enemies.

The legacy of the Sword Sect would never break, nor would its momentum weaken.

And they, the Northern River Border cultivators, would also never find a better resting place than today.