Chapter 2663 - Heavy Burden

The Lin Clan had nine infinitum-class divine swords! It was a quantity second only to the ebons. Even a massive race like the ebons only had ten passed down since ancient times. As for the third rank, the sanctlighters, they only possessed four, which was in an entirely different league.

The fact that Lin Xiao could subdue the Lin Clan’s Sword in the Forest was also the reason he had earned the respect of the entire clan. All the other infinitum-class swords were ownerless, as it was truly difficult to command them unless one was a foundationeer.

However, it was the Sword in the Forest’s quality that allowed it to warn Lin Xiao in the nick of time. As soon as he had realized the threat, he swiftly pushed Dongshen Yue aside and attacked the threat behind him. He drew his sword and struck behind him. His sword was like a fierce tiger, its aura sweeping across thousands of miles!

Despite his frail and aged appearance, Lin Xiao, due to his determination and lifelong cultivation, unleashed a strike reminiscent of his prime. The combined power of six lifebound beasts with eight hundred thousand stars merged into his sword and struck out, creating a dazzling sword radiance that swept through the area.

Within the Grandvoid, tens of millions of people were shaken and gasped in astonishment.

"There's an assassin!"

"Protect the second patriarch!"

A chorus of alarmed voices rang out as chaos erupted.

Lin Xiao's quick reaction caused the Grandvoid to go off-course and directly collide with the nearby Phantavoid, the friction producing dazzling sparks and sending millions of Lin Clan members tumbling.

"Second Patriarch!" People watched in terror as a dark shadow appeared behind Lin Xiao. The figure possessed a unique and ominous power, undoubtedly originating from the ancestral world. Emerging from the darkness was none other than ‘Lin Jianxing’, whose entire body had transformed into a black, crystalline matter.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"The alien monster!"

"It's still here!"

After the internal conflict of the Lin Clan, ‘Lin Jianxing’ had disappeared without reappearing until now. The Lin Clan had conducted a detailed investigation before they’d boarded the ships. However, the fact that this monster had still appeared indicated that it possessed exceptional hiding and lurking abilities. As soon as the figure's identity was revealed, the Grandvoid fell into chaos and many people felt their scalps tingle with fear. They had no idea what to do and silently prayed for Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue!

In the blink of an eye, most people thought of one thing: the creature from the ancestral realm had appeared here to target Lin Xiao, and it was undoubtedly planning to threaten Lin Feng, Lin Xiaodao, and the entire Lin Clan!

"Danger!" many people loudly shouted, their faces pale. The mysterious and elusive alien monster had created quite a shadow in their minds during their time in the Infinitum Swordsea.

Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue understood that well. Although Lin Xiao had pushed Dongshen Yue aside, she didn't leave him. She shook her skeletal staff, causing the profound power of the Grandnorth Dongshen Clan to ripple outward, coordinating with Lin Xiao's Sword in the Forest.

The sword and the dark shadow abruptly clashed, and the sword radiance was quickly swallowed up. The dark shadow lunged at Lin Xiao like a demonic claw.

"Explode!" Lin Xiao calmly responded. He pointed with his hand, causing the swallowed sword radiance to burst open. It ripped through the dark shadow, creating a burst of sword energy and light that illuminated the Grandvoid! The move allowed Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue to retreat, narrowly avoiding the opponent's deadly strike.

"Thank goodness the Sword in the Forest has a danger-sensing ability!"

When a cosmic artifact reached infinitum-class, it possessed a level of intelligence comparable to a wildbeast. After all, the bestiae within them were derived from infinitum-class nova source wildbeasts. Their physical bodies might have perished long ago, but their bestiae were preserved, slumbering within the artifacts.

Although they had narrowly escaped the opponent's deadly strike, Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue didn’t feel at ease. An immense pressure was still bearing down on them.

They looked up and saw ‘Lin Jianxing’, who appeared like a dark, starry demon god, once again locking onto them. He summoned a tide of demonic clouds and charged toward them. In an enclosed space, if the tide of demonic clouds rolled in, it could easily engulf the surrounding Lin Clan members. It would be a massacre for ordinary gods, which most of the fifty million Lin Clan members on board were!

Gods had significantly greater vitality than ordinary humans, but when faced with such a creature from the ancestral world, the danger would be immense once they densely gathered. Lin Xiao had no way to protect everyone.

Meanwhile, he had received news that the Second Exterminatus Army was launching a full-scale attack.

An attack from both inside and outside!

"Second Patriarch, what's going on?!"

Lin Changkong, Lin Chongyao, and other Lin Clan heroes quickly asked.

"The alien monster is here for me!" Lin Xiao had no time to explain further. He simply uttered those seven words and the others instantly understood the gravity of their situation. It was clear that the ebons' camp was now making their final desperate move.

They could see that the enemy had gone all out. Not only had they activated their astralships for the attack, but at least three hundred thousand astral gods, along with their lifebound beasts and warbeasts, had emerged from their ships. Armed with their artifacts, they were prepared to cooperate with their ships to break into the Lin Clan's ships!

In a nova source war, if astral gods left their ships and entered a melee, it meant that one side of the conflict had thrown caution to the wind and desired victory regardless of the casualties.

The astral gods’ eyes were bloodshot as they led the beast tide, deeply intimidating the Lin Clan. As they charged forward with the astralships as their core, the scene was eerily similar to the recent war that had erupted within the Flameyellow Guard Formation. The main difference was that there were flameyellow fiends to stop them on the Sun, but there was no such obstacle here.

It was a double-edged sword to field astral gods. The advantage was an increase in combat power, but the disadvantage was that close-quarters combat led to a significant increase in casualties.

In nova source wars, especially starry encounters, unless absolutely necessary, they relied on war machines to determine victory or defeat and mutually deter each other.

Without a doubt, Shenxi Tianxi had chosen to fight the Lin Clan to the death. The Lin Clan's breakout force now faced the greatest pressure since their escape. Their highest authority, Lin Xiao, was also in the most dangerous situation.

As all those troubles converged on them, Lin Xiao's frail shoulders were forced to bear the future of the entire clan. He had no time to think! "Ancestors, Ku... I hope Lin Xiao won't let you down!"