Chapter 76: The Crimson Night and the Return of the Snowfall

The night of April 4th descended like a heavy, inky curtain, draping the land in a suffocating embrace.

The sky, as if smeared by an invisible yet malevolent giant hand, was stained a horrifying blood-red.

The surging crimson glow, akin to a summons howling from the depths of hell, permeated the air with boundless gloom and an bone-chilling cold.

Yunlu Town, once a peaceful and serene settlement, was now tightly bound by a suffocating aura of oppression.

Undead creatures surged forth like a tumultuous black tide, erupting from beneath the earth and every dark, hidden crevice.

Their faces were twisted and grotesque, their limbs mangled, and their howls were like chilling curses from the Nine Nether Purgatory, making one’s blood run cold.

The streets instantly plunged into pandemonium, houses crumbled under the undead’s assault, and raging fires burned unchecked everywhere, casting the entire town into a terrifying scene of apocalypse.

People fled in frantic disarray, their screams, cries, and shouts intertwining into a desperate elegy.

Some brave souls resolutely took up arms, attempting to engage these terrifying undead in a desperate struggle, yet against the relentless, surging tide of the undead, their figures appeared incredibly small and powerless.

As the blood-red night grew denser, the number of undead continued to swell like a breached flood, gradually plunging Yunlu Town into the abyss of despair.

“Reporting, Your Highness! Yunlu Town, on the outskirts of Bian Su County, has begun to fall.

According to reports from the Shadow Guards, this undead uprising is more severe than any before it.

Lord Bai has already led the remaining Shadow Guards of Yunlu Town into action.”

A soldier, clad in formidable armor, knelt on one knee, his voice laced with tension and concern as he relayed the latest developments to the figure before him.

Deep worry was clearly etched upon his face.

“I understand. You may withdraw.”

Hearing this, the soldier rose, clasped his hands in a respectful salute, and departed.

Within the military camp, a handsome youth, his figure as tall and straight as a pine, with a striking mane of golden short hair, stood with his arms crossed over his chest, silently gazing at the distant sky enveloped in crimson.

He was Lyu Yu, Luli Ling’s elder brother and the future successor of the Holy Spirit Continent.

The previous day, Ouyang Xiyue had hastily departed under Hei’s guidance, and upon emerging from the teleportation array, he had headed directly to the command center located in the heart of Su County.

After a brief yet warm exchange of greetings, a soldier had brought the distressing military report.

“Xiyue, do you know why this undead uprising is more severe than any before?” Lyu Yu inquired, his gaze profound and his voice steady.

“This Xiyue is foolish; I hope Brother Lyu Yu will enlighten me.” Ouyang Xiyue replied softly.

‘Yet, he already harbored a few suspicions in his heart. According to what Luli Ling had said, it was likely because of the lord’s child…’

“That is because you, by accident, slew the child of one of the Undead Kingdom’s lords.

The Undead Kingdom has six great lords and one monarch, and that lord, grieving the loss of his beloved child, has already allied with three of the other six lords, placing a bounty on your head.

Although they do not know your appearance, word has been sent that if the culprit is handed over, this blood-red night can end early.

Xiyue, do you regret it?” In Lyu Yu’s deep, handsome eyes, there was not a ripple, like an abyssal chasm, no one could discern his current thoughts.

“Brother Lyu Yu, I have no regrets whatsoever.

If I cannot even protect those I care about, then what meaning is there in my life?

Brother Lyu Yu, you know I absolutely do not want my father’s tragedy to repeat itself with me.

Brother Lyu Yu, just tell me what you need me to do; I will take responsibility for my own actions.” Ouyang Xiyue’s gaze was exceptionally firm, and he spoke with an unyielding tone.

“Excellent. You are indeed worthy of Ling’er’s high regard, and you have not disgraced our royal family.

There is no harm; you have committed no error, and in fact, I should commend you.

Killing a lord’s heir is a great meritorious deed.

However, Xiyue, you must remember that you are not alone now.

You have me, Ling’er, and Uncle Jian behind you, and our Holy Land Royal Family as your steadfast support.

You are still young, yet you have already borne too many responsibilities for your age.

Rest assured, you are not facing everything alone.” Lyu Yu looked at Ouyang Xiyue’s serious and resolute expression, feeling a pang of inexplicable tenderness in his heart.

He reached out and gently patted Ouyang Xiyue’s head, signaling him to ease his mind.

As Ouyang Xiyue listened to Lyu Yu’s words, a warm current surged through his heart, making him think: ‘This must be what family feels like…’

At this thought, he involuntarily remembered his sister.

However, just a few seconds later, Ouyang Xiyue, still immersed in thoughts of his sister, was startled by Lyu Yu’s sudden pat on his head.

In his memory, his usually stern and unsmiling elder brother was exceptionally aloof, and for him to utter such warm words was already quite unexpected.

He hadn’t anticipated that after only a few months apart, he would seem like a changed person.

“Xiyue, I hear many students from your Sacred Sea Academy have already set off towards Yunlu Town.

I have other pressing matters to attend to and cannot leave.

Would you like to go and rendezvous with them?” Lyu Yu withdrew his hand, glancing at the intelligence report the soldier had just delivered, and his expression seemed to grow even more solemn.

“Brother Lyu Yu, has something happened?” Ouyang Xiyue asked with concern.

“Nothing to worry about.

Just some ‘bugs’ have shown themselves, and I need to deal with them.

Xiyue, you must take care of yourself.

I’ll have Hei accompany you.” After saying this, Lyu Yu turned and issued a series of commands to his subordinate soldiers.

“Brother Lyu Yu, there’s no need to worry.

I’ll be careful.

As for Brother Hei, that won’t be necessary.

My speed might be… a little fast.

I’ll go ahead.” Ouyang Xiyue said, casting an apologetic glance at Hei beside him, then, without waiting for anyone else to speak, he pressed into the empty air.

A sword, entirely silver and adorned with intricate snowflake patterns, instantly materialized beneath his feet.

In that instant, he transformed into a silver arc, vanishing into the distance with astonishing speed.

Watching Ouyang Xiyue’s disappearing figure, Lyu Yu’s lips curved slightly upward, revealing a smile of approval.

“I say, Old Hei, you’re not getting any younger, so how is it that a junior has already outpaced you?

Look at Xiyue; in just a few months, his strength has become so formidable.” Lyu Yu remarked, half-jokingly teasing Hei, whose expression was a little awkward.

“Your Highness Lyu Yu, this old servant hardly wishes to lose face before a junior.

It’s simply that Lord Xiyue’s cultivation speed is truly too rapid.

Among all those this old servant has seen, perhaps only *that* person can compare to Lord Xiyue’s cultivation speed.” Hei finished, immediately lowering his head, not daring to meet Lyu Yu’s gaze.

“Indeed.

After all, Xiyue is the child of *that* person, having inherited such excellent bloodline.

I imagine Xiyue has already learned about *that* esteemed individual from the Holy Light Church.

We can discuss these matters another day; for now, let us focus on the immediate situation.” As Lyu Yu spoke, a holy figure flickered through his mind.

Then, he turned back to look in the direction Ouyang Xiyue had departed, silently lamenting in his heart: ‘They are truly too alike…

Even at such a budding age, he already bears a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to *that* person.

It won’t be long before the events of yesteryear are made public…’

****

Meanwhile, on the other side, the blood-red night pressed down heavily over Yunlu Town like thick ink.

The crimson clouds surged and churned like tumultuous waves, resembling monstrous beasts greedily eyeing this tranquil land.

Undead creatures poured out from every dark corner like a black tide, their faces twisted and horrifying, their eyes empty and lifeless, and their roars chilling to the bone.

Everywhere they went, a scene of desolation and ruin was left in their wake.

Bai, his expression as stern as frost, led the Shadow Guards like an unbreakable wall, firmly positioned between the undead and the townspeople.

The weapons in the Shadow Guards’ hands gleamed with cold light, and each swing was accompanied by the wails and dissipation of the undead.

Their figures moved with ghost-like agility through the blood-red night, protecting every inch of Yunlu Town.

Among the throng, the students of Sacred Sea Academy proved equally formidable.

A youth with long blue hair, styled into delicate braids, and a pair of captivating silver eyes, stood as straight and tall as a pine.

The magic array in his hands shimmered with mysterious and brilliant light, as powerful spells, like shooting stars, streaked across the night sky, accurately striking the undead and repelling them one by one.

This was none other than Night Xuehui, the student council president of Sacred Sea Academy.

Not far away, a streak of long purple hair stood out vividly against the blood-red night.

Her figure was graceful and lithe, and she possessed eyes of pure black, as deep as a black hole.

Her hands deftly formed seals, and one protective shield after another swiftly materialized at her command, safeguarding her companions.

This was Lin Yao, the student council vice-president, highly skilled in spatial magic.

A little further back, Lin Wanyun had reined in her usual assertiveness, focusing instead on casting her supplementary healing magic, working alongside her medical class peers to offer warmth and hope to the injured.

Although the number of undead continued to surge like a tide, and the situation grew increasingly dire, no one showed any intention of retreating.

They cooperated seamlessly, like a cohesive battle unit, bravely resisting the undead’s attacks, and in this blood-red night, they shone with the most dazzling light, protecting Yunlu Town’s last vestiges of peace.

“This cannot continue, President.

The number of undead is simply too vast.

We must carve a bloody path to eliminate the enemy’s commander; only then will the undead under his command completely collapse.”

Lin Yao radiated a mysterious silver glow, with spatial fluctuations constantly flickering around her.

Her hands rapidly formed seals, using spatial magic to create air shields, fending off wave after wave of undead magic.

When she had a moment, she would also cast teleportation spells, safely bringing injured classmates who were too far to retreat to the rear.

“Feasible.

Help me block a few waves of undead magic, and I’ll carve a path.” Night Xuehui said, then activated his bloodline power.

A six-pointed star pattern slowly emerged in his silver eyes, shimmering brightly under the crimson glow.

However, just as he was about to act, he suddenly paused.

He sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching at an astonishing speed, an aura that also emanated a mysterious power not belonging to humans.

Not only did Night Xuehui halt his actions, but Lin Yao, Lin Wanyun, and all the students of Sacred Sea Academy also stopped, turning their gaze in the same direction.

In that very instant, as everyone paused, an incredibly formidable aura whistled over their heads.

Where this aura passed, the sky, previously illuminated by a blood-red hue, began to flutter with pure white snowflakes.

“It’s snowing?! How is this possible?

Under the suppression of the blood-red night, someone can actually alter the terrain of an entire area!” A student exclaimed in astonished disbelief.

“Could it be a powerful figure has arrived?

What a mighty aura!

Classmates, let us continue fighting alongside this great one!”

“Charge!”

The morale of the crowd, which had been somewhat dampened by the endless tide of undead pouring into Yunlu Town, suddenly soared.

“He’s here.

This fellow has grown much stronger again.” Night Xuehui slowly closed his eyes, sighing inwardly.

“Is that Ouyang Xiyue?

How has his aura become so powerful?

We haven’t seen him for such a short time, President, yet he’s even more monstrous than you.” Lin Yao, who had just successfully fended off two more waves of undead magic attacks, wiped the sweat from her forehead, speaking with a look of utter disbelief.

Night Xuehui shrugged with a helpless expression, letting out a soft sigh.

“Who knows?

I’ve always found it hard to see through that guy.

Since he’s here, let’s just cover for him.”

Lin Yao responded decisively, “Alright!”