Chapter 1457: Strange Colored Blood

Before Qing Huanxiang could say more, a swift, ghostly black shadow was already upon them!

A loud explosion erupted right in front of them!

"Boom!"

The terrifying shockwave spread out, even slightly distorting the surrounding space!

Fortunately, the giant turtle used its golden shell to block the impact, shielding Qing Huanxiang behind it, preventing significant damage.

Even so, Gui Shoutian, who had transformed into the giant turtle, was not faring well. His brows twitched repeatedly, indicating that he had already sustained injuries. Even his formidable defense could not easily withstand the self-destruction of these terrifying black shadows!

In a moment of desperation, Qing Huanxiang quickly channeled all his demonic energy, fiercely attacking the incoming black shadows while pulling the old turtle back, retreating toward Shadow Island.

Watching this scene, the guards from various divisions broke out in a cold sweat.

"Hiss..."

"It's those black shadows again!"

"After their failed ambush last time, they've returned in even greater numbers!"

"Although there are many of them, their aura doesn't seem as terrifying as before. Still, Qing Huanxiang and Gui Shoutian alone can't hold them off!"

"Our only option now is for all divisions to join forces!"

"Each division should leave some forces to guard their respective areas, while the rest head to the urban-rural border. We must stop these invading shadows at all costs!"

Urgent messages echoed through the communication devices, and streaks of light darted across the city sky.

Within moments, Qing Huanxiang and Gui Shoutian, leading their retreating forces, had returned to the urban-rural border. They took up positions on either side of the highway entrance, their expressions grave.

Around their towering figures, ripples in the void continuously spread out!

The Labor Protection Division, the Night Soil Collection Division, the Vegetable Farming Division, the Security Division...

The elites of Shadow Island's various divisions all appeared, led by their respective commanders, glaring fiercely at the tide of black shadows surging toward them.

In addition to these thousands of fighters, civilian patrols had also mobilized nearly half their forces to assist. Even though Shadow Island had no central command at the moment, everyone was united and coordinated.

Almost instantly, the strongest forces had gathered at the city's edge, forming Shadow Island's top-tier defense.

Tens of thousands of people stood ready, awaiting the order from the esteemed Master Lu.

Even the usually carefree "King of Scrolls" and his son had taken their positions with their divisions. Some gripped the controls of excavators, others stood guard beside piles of bricks, and some wore brand-new work uniforms, their expressions solemn.

As the tide of black shadows drew closer, their ferocious faces twisted with madness. They were now only a thousand feet from the highway entrance, mere breaths away from charging in!

Master Lu's deep voice boomed, his beard and hair whipping wildly.

"Night Soil Collection Division, take the front lines!"

As soon as his command was given, members of the Night Soil Collection Division stepped forward. Some held buckets of night soil, others drove sewage trucks, and some gripped massive hoses.

The Night Soil Collection Division had always been the backbone of Shadow Island. Facing such an unprecedented enemy, they were the natural choice to lead the charge.

With a wave of Master Lu's hand, all the members unleashed their full power!

"Night Soil Dance of the Nine Heavens!"

"Wheel of Night Soil Manifestation!"

"Climbing the Wheel, Attached to Night Soil!"

The more powerful cultivators unleashed their divine abilities, causing countless illusions and phenomena to appear in the void. Profound and mysterious techniques, infused with the power of the supreme Dao, surged toward the enemy tide.

Those with slightly weaker cultivation used their divine tools, skillfully executing night soil martial arts, relentlessly attacking the oncoming black shadows.

After a terrifying round of attacks, there was some effect.

At the front of the shadowy tide, many figures fell to the ground in pain, noticeably slowing their advance.

But the respite was short-lived.

Before the night soil collectors could feel relief, many of the fallen shadows began to rise again, howling madly as they continued their charge. Their bodies gathered terrifying energy, clearly preparing to self-destruct!

Witnessing this, everyone on the battlefield was horrified.

The night soil collectors wanted to attack again, but they had already exhausted their strength and couldn't quickly muster their powers again.

Following Master Lu's command, they reluctantly retreated to recover, making way for the Labor Protection Division to take the field.

In the next moment, bricks flew through the air toward the shadowy tide, and excavators roared into battle, displaying their might.

Countless magical tools rained down on the shadows like a spring shower, accompanied by dull thuds. A portion of the tide seemed to be knocked down, but more and more shadows surged forward, and the sound of self-destruction echoed continuously.

"Boom! Boom!"

The shockwaves alone caused significant casualties among the front-line workers, who could only rely on the excavators to hold the line. The sight filled the divisions with rage, their eyes burning with fury.

But with the larger battle at hand, each division had its role. Even as they witnessed the casualties, they couldn't recklessly charge in to rescue, as it would only lead to more deaths. Instead, they channeled their grief and anger into their attacks, continuing to press the assault.

Wave after wave of attacks were launched, each division revealing their trump cards. The black tide continued to surge closer, and the battle gradually reached a fever pitch. Blood and tears flowed at the highway entrance, and the sounds of slaughter filled the heavens.

After a full night of bloody combat, thanks to the protection of various equipment and the bravery of the divisions, the tenacious defense finally succeeded. Although the casualties were heavy, not a single shadow had breached the city, and the safety of the residents and their homes was preserved.

Surveying the devastated battlefield, the exhausted Master Lu let out a long sigh, his expression complex. He remained silent for a long time.

Until Pork Rong arrived with a few vegetable-selling aunties, looking equally disheveled, to pay their respects.

"Master Lu, we've discovered something new!"

Hearing this, Master Lu raised his eyes in curiosity and followed them.

Arriving at an abandoned construction site piled with the remains of black shadows, he noticed that the severed limbs and broken bodies were oozing black-blue blood.

For a moment, Master Lu was stunned.

The division commanders who had arrived one after another couldn't help but whisper in surprise.

"How can any living being have such strangely colored blood?"

"These shadows are definitely not human!"

"What exactly are they? Why are they so intent on attacking Shadow Island? During the battle, I felt like these shadows had no fear of death, willing to self-destruct at any moment!"

"I felt the same. What kind of terrifying creatures are they, to be so bizarre?"

As the whispers echoed, everyone's expressions grew more serious.

After much speculation, no conclusions were reached, and countless questions lingered in everyone's minds.

Looking at the gruesome scene around them, Master Lu felt increasingly that the situation was dire. He could only console everyone with a solemn tone while leading the cleanup of the battlefield and tending to the wounded.

"Everyone," he said, "these creatures are truly strange, and their methods are horrifying. They are beyond our understanding. With strange events occurring frequently and disasters persisting, it seems the world is on the brink of chaos. In the face of such a calamity, all we can do is protect our homes and defend Shadow Island, this haven of ours."

"As for everything else, we'll have to wait for the higher-ups to make decisions."

His words earned nods of agreement, and the divisions quickly returned to their tasks.

Meanwhile, outside Shadow Island, the number of black shadows seemed to have decreased significantly, leading to endless speculation among the cultivators of Cloud Star. However, with no clear answers, everyone quietly assumed it was divine intervention and seized the opportunity to exterminate the dark demons, refining their spiritual energy and restoring their cultivation.

Across Cloud Star, a war of universal defense had begun.

As the battles grew more intense, many cultivators returned to their peak strength, and some even rose to new heights through the baptism of blood and fire...