Chapter 63 - Chapter 64: The Last Stand

​Chen Jiuzhang's leap into the horde of shadow - beasts was met with a chorus of snarls and screeches. The creatures, their eyes glowing a malevolent yellow, lunged at him with claws extended. He brandished the crystal - key, and a wave of white light surged forth, incinerating the nearest beasts. But for every one that fell, two more seemed to take its place.​Su Nian's chains whipped through the air, wrapping around the neck of a massive shadow - wolf. She yanked it towards her, then delivered a powerful kick to its chest, shattering its form into a cloud of darkness. "Jiuzhang! I'll clear a path for you!" she shouted, her voice strained from exertion. Zhang Chengying, his broken peachwood sword sparking, fought side by side with her, sending bolts of electricity into the horde.​Shen Qingluan, her fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal now barely glowing, focused all her remaining energy on creating a shield to protect Yun Tianhe. The old man's face was drained of color, his staff on the verge of shattering. "Hurry!" he gasped, his voice barely audible over the din of battle. "I can't... hold it..."​Luna's starlight - infused attack was starting to falter. The constellation of stars she had summoned was dwindling, and the Dark Overlord was shrugging off her assault. Its ball of malevolent darkness was now fully charged, and with a deafening roar, it prepared to unleash the attack that could destroy them all.​Wu Laogou, in a last - ditch effort, found a small vial hidden deep within his robes. It was filled with a glowing, green liquid—a concoction he had been saving for a dire emergency. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, and he hurled the vial into the midst of the shadow - beasts. The liquid exploded on impact, creating a thick, noxious fog that temporarily blinded the creatures.​Taking advantage of the chaos, Chen Jiuzhang charged forward, his eyes fixed on the Dark Overlord's left shoulder. As he closed in, he could feel the crystal - key vibrating with an intense energy. The visions in his mind were now a blinding flash of images, showing him the exact moment and angle of his strike.​But just as he was about to reach the Dark Overlord, the shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of him. "You think you can defeat us so easily?" it sneered, and it unleashed a blast of dark energy that sent Chen Jiuzhang flying backward. He crashed into the ground, the crystal - key skidding across the floor.​Yun Tianhe, seeing Chen Jiuzhang in danger and his own power on the verge of exhaustion, let out a final, guttural shout. His staff shattered, and the blue - crystal orb exploded in a massive burst of energy. The shockwave sent the shadowy figure flying and disrupted the Dark Overlord's attack. But in the process, Yun Tianhe's body began to fade, his form becoming translucent.​"Take this!" he called out to Chen Jiuzhang, and he threw a small, glowing fragment towards him. "It's... the last piece... of the true power... of the Heart of the Realm..." With those final words, Yun Tianhe disappeared completely, leaving behind only a faint, lingering glow.​Chen Jiuzhang scrambled to his feet and grabbed the fragment. He could feel its power merging with the crystal - key, and a new, overwhelming energy coursed through his body. The Dark Overlord, enraged by the disruption, let out a roar and charged towards him. With a determined look in his eyes, Chen Jiuzhang raised the crystal - key, ready to face the final challenge and save the Gui Xu Secret Realm.