Chapter 2664 - Homeland

In that moment, a flash of determination and resolve passed through Lin Xiao’s dim, turbid eyes. Years of endurance and a lifetime of ups and downs had endowed him with exceptional mental strength. His rich experiences allowed him to maintain his composure even in the face of such a crisis. That was the quality of the older generation!

In the blink of an eye, he tightened his grip on the Sword in the Forest, his eyes fixed on the alien monster, ‘Lin Jianxing’. At the same time, his chest swelled and he shouted, "Second branch brethren, listen up! Exit your ships and head into the starry sky!"

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

That was his first decisive choice! No matter how massive the Grandvoid was, it remained a closed space where the appearance of a top-tier enemy could easily result in the death and injury of millions if the battle escalated. But to the boundless starry sky, even the ship was no different from a speck of dust or a mosquito.

Although escaping into the starry sky under the bombardment of the Second Exterminatus Army might not be a good choice, it was still much better than staying in an enclosed space.

The Grandvoid actually began to split in half from the center of the blade. Its entrance was located at the hilt, but opening that entrance would not allow everyone to escape in a short amount of time. Considering starry battles, all ships required rapid deployment capabilities, so the Lin Clan had put a lot of thought into developing new functions for astralships. For example, the splitting of the Grandvoid's blade was an innovation of the Lin Clan.

However, the hilt of the sword didn’t split. That meant that the fifty million Lin Clan members inside the blade were now exposed to the starry sky, with exits everywhere.

"Obey the second patriarch’s orders!"

"Everyone, quickly!"

"Hurry! Hurry!"

“Protect the old and the sick!”

If there was no threat inside, then being inside an astralship was obviously safer. But now, escaping into the boundless starry sky had even greater survival chances. They were all gathered around the astralship, so they didn't have to worry about nova source for now.

After the Grandvoid had an accident, all the giant swords of the Lin Clan had come to a halt. The tips of their swords were redirected toward the approaching enemies!

Fifty million Lin Clan members had arrived in the starry sky, a number many times greater than the fifty thousand astral gods on the other side. However, all the enemies were astral gods, with significantly higher individual destructive power. Among the fifty million Lin clansmen, even if there were tens of thousands of astral gods, they were still no match for the fifty thousand astral gods of the Second Exterminatus Army.

That indicated that, while they had escaped the alien monster, they were still in considerable danger!

However, Lin Xiao’s resolute choice had indeed caught the alien monster completely by surprise. After the Grandvoid split, even Lin Xiao had arrived in the starry sky, standing on the surface of the Grandvoid. Yet the alien monster, ’Lin Jianxing’, was still relentlessly chasing after him and Dongshen Yue.

"Do you think you can escape my grasp just by letting people go?" He grinned, transforming into a storm of black mist with countless demonic claws surging toward Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue.

"Who said I was trying to escape? I just set up the board to destroy you and wipe out these wretched ebon insects," Lin Xiao said with a cold, fierce smile. His eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a sword, and even Dongshen Yue wore a disdainful expression. The two of them seemed to have returned to their youthful days, fighting side by side and facing life and death together. Such a heroic and tacit understanding was rare among ordinary people.

"Hmph," ‘Lin Jianxing’ sneered. Lin Xiao's decision to send the fifty million second branch members out had no effect on him. He didn't pause for a moment and once again charged at Lin Xiao. "You were lucky to escape just now. There won't be such good luck next time."

"Don't get close! Everyone, quickly board other astralships!" That was Lin Xiao's hope for the second branch. He inwardly sneered, because he knew very well that it was a pipe dream to threaten Lin Feng and Lin Xiaodao through him and his wife. "We've lived to this age. Do they really expect us to sacrifice others just to survive? I’d rather die standing!"

Lin Xiao and Dongshen Yue exchanged glances, their eyes relaxed and carefree. They had no fear of death, but plenty of trust in each other. In that instant, they had decided to sacrifice themselves to save others and allow everyone to escape.

"Isn’t death easy? I don't believe this guy is so strong that I won't even have time to take my own life," Lin Xiao teased. However, he remained fully focused, ready to fight to the death and buy time for the juniors.

“Be careful, Old Granny....”

“Don’t worry.”

Now, it was just left to see if the controllers of the other astralship would agree to quickly protect the second branch members and bring them away under the pressure! "Changkong, it's up to you!" After saying that, Lin Xiao charged into the demonic cloud. Swordlight and demonic clouds shook and sparkled on the surface of Grandvoid.

In the distance, the Second Exterminatus Army was approaching with formidable momentum, getting closer and closer. Although there were hundreds of sword-ships, it was still difficult to evacuate fifty million people in a short amount of time.

Every moment was a moment of fear!

But Lin Xiao had never anticipated one thing. That was that, after deciding to leave the Infinitum Swordsea and escaping to safety, there were hardly any cowards among them. It was especially true for the second branch.

When he, filled with heroic spirit, charged into the demonic cloud, nearly a thousand Lin Clan cultivators suddenly appeared around the demonic cloud.

"All cosmic cartographers, come over here!"

"Don't leave!"

"Swordbeasts into your swords, prepare for battle!"

The ones speaking and organizing were Lin Lang, Lin Bei, Lin Weijian, and others from the second branch who had once vied with Lin Xiao for the position of branch master.

There were over a thousand cosmic cartographers, most of whom were middle-aged or elderly. Their eyes were filled with sword light, and all their swordbeasts gathered in their swords. For a moment, thousands of divine swords gleamed, their aura reaching the heavens!

"Attack!!"

They didn't leave! No matter what Lin Xiao said, staying behind and fighting was the lifelong wish of every Lin Clan member. They weren’t weak and there were more than a thousand of them, each accompanied by five or six swordbeasts, their killing power all concentrated in their swords. Every one of them had fierce eyes and surging sword ki. Their gazes filled with reverence as they saw the elderly couple who were prepared to sacrifice themselves.

"Second Patriarch set an example for all of us in the Lin Clan! We may not be the strongest clan in the Infinitum Mundus, but we’ve had our glorious moments. Our inheritance has been passed down for thousands of generations, enduring the ages. Why? It's because we don't fear, we don't give up! Because our ancestors taught us to sacrifice, taught us... that a great clan is the protector of every descendant!"

"A strong homeland results in prosperity for generations to come! Only with principles can love for your family come! How can we let those carrying firewood for the people perish in the cold?”