Chapter 4142 - Don’t Worry, I'm Here.

The icy storm on Grand Feng continuously spewed billowing waves of snow across billions of miles as cosmic gods exploded in flames, forming spectacular bursts of color. From above, one could only witness the grand spectacle, but it was difficult to truly grasp the ferocity of the battle within the astralguard formation. The struggle for resources of this magnitude was a fight for the legacy they would leave their descendants, a battle to secure the future of their race. For many, there was no alternative but to sacrifice themselves.

The Upper Star Ruin’s resources were finite, with no guarantee of how long they would last. If the Middlekin Star Ruins’ output was suddenly disrupted, all nova sources would be depleted in any number of years, and it was impossible to predict how long this would take. For this reason, most nova source worlds chose to remain stationary to minimize relocation costs. Even if they were to move a star, it would be far slower than a cosmic god.

As for the Primordial Sands, if the Grand Xia Voidback Hole were to collapse, the six maniverse-class worlds would be the only remaining high-level territories, and each one was an endless treasure trove. This was the reason both the Tian Jiu Cult and the primalwingers were overcome with bloodlust.

From above, a part of the formerly ice-blue astralguard formation had now turned into a dazzling hue. Even the blood of the cosmic gods would soon be scorched away. The cosmic gods were locked in a fierce life-and-death struggle, entirely oblivious to the shadow that had appeared behind the Tian Jiu Cult.

It wasn’t a fleet of astralships, but cosmic gods who had concealed their starlight. Abandoning their vessels, they traveled the cosmos in their physical forms, bunching together to appear as inconspicuous as possible. This was a clear attempt at catching their opponents off guard. The shadowy mass contained cosmic gods of a higher physical order, the elites of their kind. Half hidden by wonders, they fixed their cold eyes on the ice-blue Grand Feng.

"Empress, when do we attack?" The mighty cosmic gods turned to ask the crimson figure.

"Wait." The fiery, ten-thousand-meter-tall figure gazed upon Grand Feng with a warm smile, waiting for the words: "I’ve found you a home."

***

From the edge of the battlefield, a white figure stood with his hands locked behind him, his cold eyes observing the battle through the icy storm on Grand Feng. Feng Linxue, known as the Blizzard Saint, silently followed behind him.

"The leader of the Tian Jiu Cult has yet to appear." Feng Linxue pursed her lips, long hair fluttering in the wind and snow. Her seven-kilometer frame created a perfect height difference for Lord Yue.

In fact, the primalwingers were abuzz with gossip over the mutual admiration and restraint between the two unmarried starlords. Some said they were secretly in love but couldn't openly wed as no such union between two starlords had ever occurred. Of course, these were just rumors.

Hearing this, Lord Yue nodded. "The old fox is cunning and sly. Perhaps he’s plotting something sinister."

"Are you waiting for him to show before you make a move?" Feng Linxue asked.

"If we strike first, we'll lose the upper hand. And we don’t have any countermeasures either," said Lord Yue.

"But I don’t know how much longer I can sustain this," Feng Linxue said.

Her cosmic god army on Grand Feng, constituting the main front, had suffered heavy losses. Reinforcements briefly slowed their collapse, delaying the inevitable. Relying on their powerful wonders and overwhelming numbers, the Tian Jiu Cult pushed on relentlessly like a wild bull plowing through a sheep pen. Trying to stop them from the outside was futile. The colorful divine wonder sphere obliterated the primalwingers, shattering their dazzling wings. For all their supposed immortality, the cosmic gods were fragile on the battlefield.

Feng Linxue watched helplessly as all this unfolded, her heart aching.

"Xue'er." Lord Yue glanced back at her. "Nova source wars are an ever-present reality of the universe. Our long period of peace has made this brutal truth hard to accept. Lives will be lost for future generations to prosper, and in that sacrifice lies a certain glory. Even cosmic gods will one day perish. What we strive for is a meaningful death."

"I know." She looked up at him. There was a secret she would never voice. She had full knowledge of the events on Grand Jiang. Not only had Lord Yue directed her initial dispatch of three million troops, he also orchestrated the political maneuvering in the Jiang Royal Palace. In the end, it all went wrong.

Tianming arrived to offer aid, only to be driven away before he could display his devastating power. While an ordinary cosmic god might still be confused, she knew the truth. Had she trusted Tianming sooner, she wouldn't have to bear such heavy casualties even if there were potential consequences. What made it truly devastating was the fact that both the cosmic god army and astralguard formation were destined to fall if the battle continued. However, Lord Yue still did nothing.

"Don't worry, I'm here." Noticing her hopelessness, Lord Yue turned and met her gaze with a resolute look, as if offering her support.

Grand Feng’s army and the reinforcements were essentially united, fighting shoulder to shoulder.

Lord Yue's commanding voice echoed across the battlefield. "They’re nearing exhaustion. Hold on a little longer and we’ll crush them!"

His words reassured the defenders, preventing a moment of despair that would have allowed the Tian Jiu Cult to break through. Consequently, both sides plunged into a desperate struggle, with casualties mounting to an astonishing degree. Brutality of this scale was unprecedented for the Primordial Sands.

The deadly battle raged on. Countless cosmic gods wondered when the Tian Jiu Cult would finally give out. The defense had fallen back two-thirds. If they retreated further, the enemy would breach the astralguard formation and unleash a battle in the city streets. Had the formation not protected the cosmic-god essences, their death toll would have reached at least eight million.

Crushed into mere cosmic-god essences, these primalwingers were temporarily taken out of the fight. The critical loss of manpower that left their defenses on the brink of collapse. At this point, even those who trusted Lord Yue couldn't help but wonder when the counterattack would begin. How would they hit back?

"Kill! Kill!"

The Tian Jiu Cult had infiltrated two-thirds of the astralguard formation. From this location, they could practically see the glow of the cities on the surface of Grand Feng. This was the new home they longed for! For the conquering force, their excitement reached its peak when the city was finally within their grasp. At this moment, the eyes of every wondemancer were red with bloodlust. There was no turning back on this journey. They were wanderers in this vast universe.

"Eternal Tian Jiu, our guiding light, our new home lies ahead. Illuminate our path forward!"