Chapter 439: Limit Break, Final Preparations

"Yage's tactics are very clear," Lin Xuan said with difficulty, his voice trembling slightly from the pain, "The Void Creatures it sends all target the weaknesses of each cultivation system—Daoist practitioners are adept at using energy barriers, so the Void Dragon can corrode energy; Yin-Yang Masters are skilled at energy manipulation, so the Shadow Demon can absorb energy for its own use; the Yogi's energy attacks are reflected by the Golem; and the natural energy of the Druids and Shamans is also specifically countered."

"It wants to exhaust our energy and focus," Xu Feng took up the topic, "making us unable to concentrate on preparing for the ritual at the Summer Solstice midnight."

Lin Xuan nodded, closed his eyes, and felt the energy flow of the Five Cores. After the consumption just now, the energy reserve had dropped to 83%, and there were still two hours until the Summer Solstice midnight. If this consumption continued, the final ritual might fail due to insufficient energy.

"A decision must be made," Lin Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze firm, "Activate the emergency mode of the Five Elements Core and send energy support to all locations, but control the output and retain at least 70% of the energy for the final ritual."

Xu Feng quickly executed the order, adjusting the energy distribution of the five cores. Five beams of energy in different colors shot out from the cores, connecting to the Five Major Cultivation Centers across the globe to provide support to the practitioners everywhere.

"Xiao Yuan," Lin Xuan turned to her, who had been guarding by his side, "you are responsible for the headquarters' defense. I need to close my eyes and regulate my breath to conserve strength for the final ritual."

Xiao Yuan nodded in agreement and immediately organized a defense team to set up multiple energy barriers around the headquarters. She looked at Lin Xuan with worry from time to time, fearing that his condition would further deteriorate.

Lin Xuan sat cross-legged in the center of the five cores, entering a state of deep breath regulation. His Spirit Body was severely damaged and needed to repair some connections as much as possible to play a key role in the final ritual. However, regulating his breath was not complete rest; his consciousness was still connected to the global battlefield through the five cores, sensing the changes in every location.

At the Beijing Forbidden City, Zhang Qingsong's "Heavenly Master Lightning Method" had already repelled two Void Dragons, but the last and largest one appeared even more tenacious. It circled high in the sky, continuously spewing Void Fire, consuming the energy of the Daoist practitioners.

Just then, a crimson beam of energy descended from the sky and injected into the center of the Array. Zhang Qingsong immediately felt his internal energy surge, and the power of the Heavenly Master Token greatly increased.

"It's Lin Xuan!" Zhang Qingsong said joyfully, "Energy support has arrived from headquarters! Everyone, strike with all your might and completely repel the Void Dragon!"

On Mount Fuji, Yamada Ichiro also received pure white energy support. The power of the Source Flow Seal instantly doubled, and the remaining Shadow Demons were quickly sucked into the seal and turned into nothingness.

At the Ganges Source, Lakshmi received the earth-yellow energy injection. The Sarira shone brilliantly, the phantom of the Buddha Golden Body became more solid, and it slapped a palm toward the Void Demon Statue, knocking it back hundreds of meters.

Practitioners in Europe and Africa also received energy support, and the battle began to develop in a favorable direction.

However, Yage seemed to have anticipated this. Suddenly, the Void Aurora Vortex rotated violently, forming a huge funnel-shaped structure pointing directly at the headquarters. A large amount of purple-black energy fell like raindrops, attempting to break through the headquarters' defenses.

Xiao Yuan led the defense team to resist with all their might. The multiple energy barriers were teetering under the impact of the Void Energy, but they held on.

"Two more hours," Lin Xuan muttered to himself while in the state of breath regulation, "Hold on, human practitioners, for the sake of our world, for the balance of the universe."

Outside the window, the Void Aurora Vortex continued to expand, now almost covering the entire sky. The purple-black aurora meandered through the clouds like a giant Void snake, ready to devour the entire world at any moment.

Time entered the final two-hour countdown, and practitioners across the globe were fighting to the death on their respective battlefields.

Above the Beijing Forbidden City, the largest of the three Void Dragons was still circling, and the offensive and defensive battle with the Daoist practitioners had lasted for nearly an hour. Zhang Qingsong's expression was grave; he discovered that the power of the Heavenly Master Lightning Method was decreasing every time, and the Void Dragon seemed to be adapting and evolving the ability to resist.

"The Lightning Method is becoming less and less effective!" a young Daoist shouted urgently. The Talisman in his hand had just hit the Void Dragon, but it only left a shallow mark on its scales.

Zhang Qingsong took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes: "They are evolving and can adapt to our attack methods. Ordinary Talismans and Lightning Methods can no longer completely defeat them." He looked around at everyone, his voice steady: "Prepare the 'Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Art'!"

This order invigorated all the Daoist practitioners present. The Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Art was one of the most profound collective spells in Daoism, requiring at least nine practitioners at the Golden Core Stage or above to perform it together, and it would consume a massive amount of spiritual power. Once the performance failed, the participants would at best have their spiritual power exhausted, and at worst, their Dao foundation would be damaged.

"Form the Array!" Following Zhang Qingsong's order, twelve high-level Daoists quickly stood in their positions, forming a perfect Taiji Pattern. Zhang Qingsong stood at the center of the Taiji Pattern—the intersection of the Yin and Yang fish—forming seals with his hands and chanting.

The Taiji Pattern gradually glowed, and profound Daoist Runes appeared on the ground, flowing endlessly. Everyone's aura gradually synchronized, and their spiritual power converged into a huge energy vortex.

"Three Pure Ones Return to Origin, Taiji Manifestation!" Zhang Qingsong's voice suddenly rose, and he pushed his hands toward the sky.

A huge Taiji Energy field with a diameter of over a hundred meters appeared out of thin air, covering the entire sky over the Forbidden City. The Void Dragon struggled and roared in the energy field, only to find its movements increasingly restricted, and its body began to be forcibly twisted and compressed by the Taiji Energy field.

At the summit of Mount Fuji, Yamada Ichiro and his disciples also discovered a similar situation. Although the Source Flow Seal had eliminated most of the Shadow Demons, the remaining few showed amazing adaptability; their bodies became more solid, and they were able to partially resist the power of the seal.

"They are evolving!" Yamada Ichiro's expression was grave, "Simple Yin-Yang Arts can no longer completely eliminate them."

An elderly Yin-Yang Master stepped forward and suggested: "Lord Ichiro, perhaps we should try the 'Yin Yang Five Elements Great Array'? Although it hasn't been used for many years, the situation is urgent."

Yamada Ichiro pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement: "Prepare the 'Yin Yang Five Elements Great Array'! Everyone, take your positions!"

Fifteen Yin-Yang Masters quickly divided into five groups, standing at five positions around the shrine, representing the Five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Yamada Ichiro stood at the Array Eye—the stone platform in the center of the shrine—holding an ancestral mirror, and began to guide the ancient Shinto energy.

The Five Elements Energy circulated in the Array, forming a complete cycle. As the chanting grew louder, golden energy lines rose from the shrine, interweaving into a huge energy net that shrouded the Shadow Demons one by one.

"Yin Yang Five Elements, purify the evil spirits!" Yamada Ichiro shouted loudly.