Chapter 322: Total Annihilation

You were startled, not expecting Captain Gu Yan to issue such an order.

You asked, "Captain, why?"

He said, "The rules tell me that cultivation resources are first, but reason tells me you are more important."

"Your ability! It is the dawn of hope!"

You began to weep.

Even an innocent Deity heart cannot comprehend every person.

"Xia Tao! Run!"

As Gu Yan's shout rang out, Xia Tao, eyes reddened, sprinted toward the distance.

She was still comforting you.

She said, "Little Shu, this is the cruelty of Shi Jie; even when loved ones depart, we cannot halt our steps."

"All partings of life and death are for the final moment of reunion."

"Hmm," you understand this Daoism.

But it cannot stop your sorrow.

The other few squad members converged, and more awakened An Ying Zhu lifeforms charged at you.

"Vice‑captain, you take Little Shu and go; we'll cover the rear."

"Don't act now; preserve the pure world spirit vessel's power, the road home is still long."

The Flame Squad members bore courage as if death were home.

"I…"

Xia Tao could no longer hold back, sobbing wildly like a child.

Another female squad member laughed, "Seeing the vice‑captain's tears, this life has no regrets."

Her smile was full of sorrow.

You were heartbroken, limbs limp, flooded with grief, tears streaming unceasingly, yet your thoughts remained resolute.

You must leave this place!

A fleeting thought crossed your mind: perhaps you, who possess an innocent Deity heart, are the coldest, most ruthless of all.

"Go!"

After a brief hesitation, Xia Tao led you onward in escape.

With four squad members covering, you finally fled the area affected by the Gray Circle.

When Xia Tao set you down, she suddenly knelt, tears streaming, wailing uncontrollably, her right hand pounding the ground.

"Why! Why is this happening?!"

"We were just a hair's breadth from a great victory, yet fate toys with us so!"

Xia Tao and the Flame Squad members had spent over ten years together, fighting side by side countless times, able to entrust them with her back without hesitation.

That is a bond of life and death.

You wanted to comfort her, but didn't know what to say.

After a long while, Xia Tao ceased crying; her pretty face was streaked with tears, no longer the fiery look she once had.

More so, she seemed decadent.

You said, "Sister Xia Tao, I will definitely avenge them."

You looked at the black sun in the sky and declared firmly, "I will eliminate An Ying Zhu; no one will die in vain."

Your goal has always been that.

During special training, many cultivators mocked you, calling you unrealistic and pretentious.

"I believe in you."

Xia Tao forced out a weary smile.

Those words were merely her comfort to you.

"Let's go."

After adjusting your condition, you set off again, stepping onto the road to Home.

There were seven on the way out, but now only you and Xia Tao remain.

Xia Tao held your hand; her heart was in turmoil, filled with many emotions, and you could not tell what she was thinking.

She seemed to have a death‑willing resolve.

You thought, "Could Sister Xia Tao not bear the blow and be contemplating suicide?"

You always appear steadfast.

But you truly fear leaving; each witnessed sorrow seems to linger in your heart, never to fade.

The road coming was short.

The road back now feels infinitely long.

After a few days, Xia Tao's mood seemed much eased, yet you could still sense that death‑willing resolve.

She asked you, "Little Shu, will you re‑join the Dark Extinction Squad?"

You said, "I will always be a member of the Dark Extinction Squad; later Xia Tao will be captain, I will be vice‑captain."

To comfort her, you spoke energetically, "We will recruit more members, grow strong, and never disappoint Captain Gu Yan's expectations."

"Is that so?"

After many days, Xia Tao finally showed a smile, "Little Shu, do you know? Actually I have experienced this kind of parting three times."

"Long ago, Gu Yan and I had just joined the Flame Squad, and we were both very young then."

"I was nineteen, Gu Yan twenty‑one; he was at the Mortal Dust Sixth Realm, I was at the early stage of the Mortal Dust Fifth Realm."

She says, smiling to herself, "Perhaps a genius like you cannot comprehend our cultivation."

"But at that time, I thought I was already quite formidable."

"During the third operation, our captain at the time also died protecting our escape."

You are stunned.

So there were that many people who broke the rules.

More often, the strong shield the weak to escape, rather than the strong abandoning the weak and leaving alone.

Xia Tao continues, "After countless expeditions, the Flame Squad has had a total of 108 members retire."

"At some point, Gu Yan and I became the strongest in the squad."

"I also went from being the junior cultivator guarding the squad banner to becoming the vice‑captain, taking on greater responsibility."

She asks you, "Little Shu, do you think the Flame Squad will burn forever?"

You nod firmly, "Yes."

You say, "Together with Sister Xia Tao, I will bear the will of the fallen members and never waver."

Xia Tao pauses, then asks, "What if I can't be with you? Can you manage alone?"

At that moment, you feel Xia Tao's death‑determination has peaked.

You cry again.

You sob uncontrollably, asking, "Sister Xia Tao, why? We've come this far! Why do you still want to leave?!"

Xia Tao freezes, eyes widening, "Little Shu, can you truly read a person's heart?"

"Mm."

You nod, wiping tears, "I don't want Sister Xia Tao to leave."

"I'm not leaving, you know."

Xia Tao, eyes reddened, smiles, "I will watch you from another Shi Jie and stay by your side."

"Once you one day defeat An Ying Zhu and obtain the key to open that world, you can see us again."

Saying that, she tightly embraces you.

Xia Tao channels all the power of her Pure World Tribe of the Spirits vessel into you, giving you the last hope of survival.

So her death‑determination was for this.

The Pure World Tribe of the Spirits vessel's power is exhausted, destined that only one person can return alive.