Deep within the royal palace, in a dimly lit underground chamber, Xiao Mu’an gently knocked on the door.

"Come in," replied a hoarse, aged voice from inside.

Only then did Xiao Mu’an push the door open. He first bowed respectfully to an elderly man before stepping inside.

The old man’s hair and beard were streaked with white, his face deeply lined with wrinkles, yet his voice carried a surprising vigor.

"The capital has fallen to the invaders?" The elder clearly had already gathered some information.

"Yes," Xiao Mu’an confirmed before briefly recounting the situation outside.

"So, it’s time for us old relics to step forward. Though I fear even our intervention may not be enough to turn the tide this time." The old man let out a long, weary sigh.

This elder was the royal family’s most loyal guardian, his strength far surpassing that of ordinary martial cultivators at the third tier of the Heavenly Realm.

However, he never involved himself in the palace’s internal power struggles. Nor would he act unless the dynasty itself stood on the brink of destruction.

The fact that Xiao Mu’an had sought him out meant the kingdom had indeed reached a dire crisis.

Xiao Mu’an fell silent for a moment before recounting Ye Liuyun’s past deeds and detailing the invaders’ terms for withdrawal.

"Why are you telling me all this?" the old man asked calmly after listening.

"I seek your guidance, Elder. What should I do?" Xiao Mu’an replied directly.

"I have always stayed out of court affairs—"

Before the elder could finish, Xiao Mu’an bowed again. "But your wisdom is invaluable, especially now, when our survival hangs by a thread. I beg for your counsel."

The old man sighed and spoke deliberately, "One must see the essence of things. The alien invaders are insatiable, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. Yet this Ye Liuyun you speak of not only freed you from your slave mark but also refrained from seizing power when he had the chance."

"Who is the enemy, and who can be an ally—do you really need others to spell it out for you?" His voice carried the weight of years, his piercing gaze locking onto Xiao Mu’an.

"But the current situation..." Xiao Mu’an hesitated, his voice tight with worry. The aliens held the upper hand, and he feared even Ye Liuyun might not withstand their onslaught.

The old man raised a weathered hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.

"The choice is yours to make." His tone brooked no argument. "As for me, it’s time I sought out some old friends and lent what strength I have left to the Sacred Land."

With that, he rose from the stone bench, his robes whispering against the cold floor of the secret chamber. Before Xiao Mu’an could utter another word, the elder vanished through the doorway, his figure shooting skyward like an arrow—off to muster allies from who-knew-where. Left alone in the dim candlelight, the young ruler sat motionless, lost in thought for what felt like hours.

When Xiao Mu’an finally emerged, his orders were swift and decisive. A proclamation spread like wildfire across the realm:

*The alien scourge shows no mercy in their conquest. The Sacred Dynasty will never negotiate with these invaders, nor shall we betray those who aided our resistance. To all warriors of humanity—stand united! No surrender, no retreat!*

The edict called every capable fighter to the front lines, while civilians were to evacuate toward the capital under armed escort. Every word rang with steel-clad resolve, leaving no doubt where the throne stood.

Shortly after, a plea for aid winged its way to Ye Liuyun’s camp.

The message arrived as the group strategized over maps. "Not bad," remarked Mo Shaowen, rubbing his chin as he read. "This Xiao Mu’an’s got spine—that proclamation hits harder than a warhammer!"

Mo Tianheng scoffed, crossing his arms. "Should’ve been issued months ago. Bet some sage knocked sense into him at last." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Ye Liuyun chuckled, rolling up the scroll. "Doesn’t matter who enlightened him. That he came around at all means there’s still hope." His eyes gleamed like drawn blades in the firelight.

Ye Liuyun immediately deployed the Blade Corps.

He instructed Ye Tiandao, "Lead your team to eliminate the corpse demons across the regions. Remember, avoid direct confrontation with the alien army. Focus solely on the demons, and don’t collaborate with the forces of the Sacred Dynasty. Keep your movements covert."

"Understood!" Ye Tiandao acknowledged with a firm nod before setting off with his team, their sole mission to hunt down the undead horrors.

Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun assigned Mo Tianheng, Mo Shaowen, Liu Yang, and Liang Bin the task of capturing alien soldiers, hoping to extract intelligence about the enemy’s movements.

As for himself, Ye Liuyun kept a watchful eye on the cities under alien control. The moment a powerful foe emerged, he would strike—either killing or capturing them.

At the same time, Qiong Qi led a team of formation masters, working tirelessly to decipher and dismantle the defensive arrays the aliens had erected around their strongholds.

Ye Liuyun also ordered Yu Xiaofeng to dispatch five thousand Skyhawks to reinforce Liu Kui, along with a substantial supply of war chariots and energy cannons. This bolstered Liu Kui’s forces, enabling them to hold the line against the alien advance—at least for the time being.

When Liu Kui received the reinforcements, his spirits soared. He immediately rallied his remaining troops, preparing once more to stand against the invaders.

Upon hearing the news, Xiao Mu’an let out a sigh of relief.

"So he *is* in the Sacred Land! Thank the heavens I came to my senses—otherwise, the Sacred Dynasty might have already fallen to the aliens."

With the support of Ye Liuyun’s Skyhawks and equipment, Liu Kui soon scored a decisive victory, lifting the morale of the Sacred Land’s warriors.

Meanwhile, the campaign against the corpse demons gained momentum across the land. Ye Tiandao’s Blade Corps proved especially effective, their relentless strikes thinning the ranks of the undead. Inspired by their success, many martial artists began forming hunting parties to clear out the demons, allowing defenseless civilians to retreat from the frontlines. The overall situation showed faint signs of improvement.

However, the alien army soon intensified their assault, pressing forward relentlessly. Liu Kui adopted a strategy of tactical retreats, engaging the enemy in skirmishes to whittle down their numbers.

With the aid of the five thousand Skyhawks, every city the aliens seized came at a heavy cost. Their advance, once swift and unstoppable, began to slow.

Under the relentless efforts of Qiong Qi and the other formation masters, the defensive barrier of a city was finally breached.

Long before the formation collapsed, Ye Liuyun had already detected the presence of over two hundred powerful alien beings lurking within. Just as the barrier shattered and he prepared to strike, several formidable auras surged toward him from the distance.

Leading the charge was an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard—none other than the guardian warrior Xiao Mu’an had sought out earlier. Their timing was no coincidence; they clearly knew his movements and had waited until the formation fell before making their move.

Before the old man even reached the battlefield, his voice boomed across the sky, "It’s time for us old relics to do our part for the Sacred Land!"

His gaze deliberately flickered toward the spot where Ye Liuyun was concealed, and he added meaningfully, "Protecting the Sacred Land will still rely on the strength of the young. But for now, let us old-timers draw the snakes out of their holes!"

Though his words seemed directed at the two other warriors beside him, the message was unmistakably meant for Ye Liuyun. He was signaling that even stronger alien adversaries lay in wait and that they would take the first strike to lure them out.

Ye Liuyun’s golden pupils swept over the three warriors, each exuding an aura of refined true essence—clearly masters on par with the Sword-master himself.

These were the Sacred Land’s mightiest martial cultivators. By stepping forward, they were shouldering the brunt of the danger. Their willingness to sacrifice themselves spoke volumes—they were placing their hopes on Ye Liuyun, ensuring he could strike when the time was right.

Without hesitation, Ye Liuyun bowed deeply to the three warriors before withdrawing from the battlefield with Qiong Qi and the others, retreating to a safe distance to observe.