Chapter 379

Immortal Palace Fragments, the settlement of the remnant tribe guarding the ruins.

When Wang Ping and the others rushed into that shattered hall complex, the Void behind them remained silent. There was no sign of any pursuers coming from the direction where that gaunt Void God had disappeared—at least not for now.

But this silence only made Wang Ping feel even more uneasy.

He knew the Pure World Court too well. Those silver beings never easily give up their targets. That God Transformation's retreat was certainly not out of fear, but...

"He's waiting for reinforcements." Cang Xuan said coldly, voicing what Wang Ping had in mind.

Wang Ping nodded, his face solemn: "At most three days, the next wave of attack will arrive. When it comes, there may be more than one God Transformation."

Yun Hao's face changed: "Three days... what can we do?"

"Prepare." Wang Ping said in a deep voice, "Mobilize all available forces, set up defenses, repair formations, distribute pills, and have everyone ready for a last stand."

Yun Hao nodded heavily, turned and went to make arrangements.

Wang Ping looked at the others: "Brother Cang, how many more can your sword cut?"

Cang Xuan gripped his long sword tight, dried blood still on the blade, but his gaze remained stern as before: "Tell me how many you need, I'll cut that many."

Wang Ping looked at Yu Liuli: "Liuli, the Immortal Sound Bell..."

"It can still ring." Yu Liuli whispered, her face pale, clearly the previous strike had drained her greatly, but her eyes were firm: "Although I can no longer perform the awakening secret art, I can still interfere with the power of order."

Wang Ping looked at the Mysterious Turtle Venerable and the Herbal Immortal Maiden.

The Mysterious Turtle Venerable sat on a broken stone step, gasping heavily. The shield on his body had dissipated; the price of burning three thousand years of lifespan had weakened his breath by at least thirty percent compared to before. Seeing Wang Ping's gaze, he grinned, his smile still heroic: "I'm fine! I can take a few more palms, no problem!"

The Herbal Immortal Maiden was treating the wounded without looking up: "This old woman can still save a hundred. Any more, and I can't hold up."

Wang Ping looked at them, a feeling hard to describe welled up in his heart.

These people could have chosen not to come.

But they came.

For a promise, for a three‑ten‑thousand‑year‑slumbering shade, for those strangers, the survivors.

He drew a deep breath, about to speak, when suddenly—

A small figure shot out from the crowd and bumped headfirst into his arms.

Jiu Er.

She trembled all over, her tiny body pressed tightly against Wang Ping, as if that were the only way to feel safe. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen, her voice broken: "Big... big brother... Jiu Er is so scared... those bad people... those bad people are always outside... Jiu Er can feel them approaching every night... Jiu Er thought... thought she would never see big brother again..."

A sour feeling rose in Wang Ping's heart.

He squatted down, gently embraced Jiu Er, and stroked her hair.

"Don't be afraid, big brother is here."

Jiu Er lifted her head, tears glistening as she looked at him: "Big brother... is Jiu Er useless? Jiu Er only knows how to hide here, can't do anything... Uncle Yun Hao and the others go out to fight every day, Jiu Er can only stay behind... Jiu Er also wants to help, but... but Jiu Er is too weak..."

As she spoke, tears streamed down again.

Wang Ping looked at her, a complex emotion surged in his heart.

This little girl had followed them since the Primordial Chaos Immortal Palace. She was originally a spirit of the pill chamber, and by chance came to coexist with the Primordial Chaos Azure Sprout. She had never experienced brutal battle, never faced a life‑or‑death trial; she was merely a child who wanted to live and protect those around her.

But now she blamed herself for being unable to help.

"Jiu Er." Wang Ping said softly, cupping her face, "You are amazing. You are even more amazing than I imagined."

Jiu Er froze.

Wang Ping continued: "Don't you remember? You used the power of the Primordial Chaos Azure Sprout to send a message to the Spirit Realm, telling big brother that the Immortal Palace was in danger. Without you, big brother would have had no idea what was happening here, nor would he have been able to rush to your rescue in time."

Jiu Er blinked, as if recalling something.

"Moreover," Wang Ping pointed to the busy survivor warriors behind him, "Look, Uncle Yun Hao and the others are still alive because of what? Because you have been using the Primordial Chaos Azure Sprout's power to stabilize this void, to help them resist the erosion of the Order's power. Without you, this place would have collapsed long ago."

Jiu Er followed his finger, looking at those warriors, at those shattered yet still standing halls, at this Immortal Palace fragment that has drifted in the void for thirty thousand years without collapsing.

Light gradually appeared in her eyes.

"Jiu Er... are you really useful?"

"Useful." Wang Ping nodded firmly, "And next, big brother needs you to help with something even bigger."

Jiu Er puffed out her tiny chest: "Jiu Er will definitely help!"

Wang Ping smiled slightly, about to say something, when suddenly—

The void shuddered violently.

A terrifying pressure emanated from outside the Immortal Palace fragment.

Wang Ping snapped his head up, his Primordial Chaos divine sense instantly spreading out.

His face instantly turned deathly pale.

Not just one.

There are four.

Four God Transformations, leading at least fifty Order Apostles and over a hundred combat puppets, are rapidly approaching the Immortal Palace fragment.

The leader is the gaunt God Transformation that retreated earlier. Beside him are three beings with even stronger auras—two mid‑stage God Transformations and one late‑stage God Transformation.

Four God Transformations.

This force is enough to completely erase the Immortal Palace fragment.

"They're here." Wang Ping's voice low and grave, "Faster and stronger than expected."

Yun Hao's face instantly turned deathly pale.

The Mysterious Turtle Venerable struggled to rise, but as soon as he stood he collapsed again. His breath is too weak; fighting again would be suicide.

The Herbal Immortal Maiden's hand trembled slightly; she had already saved nearly a hundred people, her spiritual power nearly exhausted.

Cang Xuan gripped his sword hilt, knuckles whitening. No matter how strong his sword, it cannot block four God Transformations.

Yu Liuli clung to her ancient zither, the Immortal Sound Bell dim and lusterless.

Despair, like dark clouds, shrouded every heart.

Just then——

A small figure walked out from behind Wang Ping.

Jiu Er.

She walked to the very front, facing the approaching silver light, her tiny frame appearing especially frail in the void.

"Jiu Er!" Wang Ping's heart tightened, and he was about to step forward.

But Jiu Er turned her head, looked at him, and wore a brilliant smile on her face.

That smile was innocent and pure, yet carried an indescribable firmness.

"Big brother, Jiu Er said she would help."

Before her words faded, a terrifying spatial fluctuation suddenly erupted from her whole body.

The fluctuation's strength, intensity, and violence startled everyone. Wang Ping's chaotic divine sense was actually forced back three zhang in the face of it.

Behind Jiu Er, a huge phantom appeared.

It was a tree.

A giant tree, its whole body chaotic in color, trunk thick as a mountain, branches and leaves lush like clouds, crown piercing deep into the void. Each leaf on the tree shimmered with starlight; its roots plunged deep into the void, as if to anchor the entire heaven and earth firmly.

Establishment Tree.

Primordial Innate Spiritual Root, a divine tree said in legend to be able to connect all heavens and myriad worlds.

And Jiu Er's figure was gradually merging with that giant tree.

The spatial fluctuations around her grew stronger and more violent. Her originally lively big eyes turned deep chaotic in color; within her pupils could be seen countless stars being born and dying, countless spaces folding, countless worlds arising and perishing.

"Jiu Er!" Wang Ping exclaimed in shock.

He wanted to rush forward, but the violent spatial fluctuation made it impossible for him to move an inch.

Yun Hao also rushed up, only to be blocked outside as well.

Everyone could only watch helplessly as that small figure fused with that legendary divine tree.

No one knew how long had passed——perhaps an instant, perhaps ten thousand years——

The violent spatial fluctuation suddenly retracted.

Jiu Er's figure reappeared before everyone.

She was still that little girl, still those lively big eyes, still that youthful face. But now, a faint chaotic light swirled around her, within which countless space laws could be seen turning.

Her aura rose from Golden Core stage, to Nascent Soul stage, then to late Nascent Soul, and finally——

Nascent Soul Grand Completion.

She opened her eyes, looked at Wang Ping, and her eyes were full of joy.

"Big brother, Jiu Er has become stronger!"

Wang Ping stared at her blankly for a long time before murmuring, "Jiu Er… you…"

Jiu Er lowered her head to look at her hands, felt the tremendous power within her, and suddenly laughed.

That smile remained innocent and pure.

But this time, that smile carried an extra confidence.

"The Chaos Azure Sprout told Jiu Er that it had waited a long time for this moment." Jiu Er whispered, "It said that Jiu Er is its fated one, the only person able to truly merge with it after thirty thousand years. It said that if Jiu Er is willing, it will give all its power to Jiu Er."

She raised her head and looked at Wang Ping.

"Big brother, Jiu Er is willing."

Wang Ping looked at her, and a hard-to-describe emotion welled up in his heart.

He recalled the first time he saw Jiu Er, that little creature shivering in the corner of the elixir room.

He recalled how, in the Chaos Immortal Palace, Jiu Er pointed to that Chaos Azure Sprout and said, "It said Jiu Er could stay."

He recalled how, at parting, Jiu Er cried and shouted, "Big brother, you must come back!"

He recalled how just now, Jiu Er flung herself into his arms, crying that she was useless.

But now, that little creature who used only to hide behind him stood before him, telling everyone in her own way——

She could also protect everyone.

"Jiu Er……" Wang Ping's voice sounded hoarse.

But Jiu Er didn't let him continue.

She turned her body, facing the approaching silver light.

The four Void Gods had already entered the outer rim of the Immortal Palace fragments. The gaunt Void God instantly saw Jiu Er, saw the terrifying spatial fluctuation surrounding her, and saw the faint phantom of the Establishment Tree behind her.

His expression changed.

"That… is the Establishment Tree?!"