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However, the half-orc squad leader was confused. On this clear, cloudless night, he could hear the sound of raindrops falling. Was he imagining it?

"Tap——"

A curved shadow flashed past, and the half-orc squad leader stared dumbly at his own chest, only to find his body had been split in two where the arc had passed. No blood spattered from the wound, only black ash that flew into the air. Around him, a dozen of his companions were similarly reduced to ash by the arc.

"Tap tap——"

A cross-shaped black arc struck a giant wooden and stone watchtower. In an instant, the solid tower was covered in fine cracks that widened and deepened, causing sand and wood dust to fall in a flurry. A ten-meter tall tower soon collapsed into ruins. The archers and guards who fell from the height were dazed and confused, but fortunately, they were strong orcs, and the ten-meter fall wasn’t enough to break their bones. However, this night offered little respite, for true destruction was approaching step by step.

"Tap tap tap tap tap tap————"

Countless black arcs rained down over the orc military camp. Any object that came into contact with these arcs of death, whether half-orc, human, or wood and metal, was turned to ash. Wails of agony rose amidst the rapid "tap tap" sounds, and the booming collapse of buildings echoed around. In just over ten minutes, a camp with 1,000 half-orcs and 3,000 human soldiers had been completely obliterated.

Under the silent night sky, a white-clad youth stood with his hands behind his back. The pale moonlight bathed him in its silvery glow, and his black shoulder-length hair gently floated in the breeze. His falcon-like eyes gleamed with a distant light.

At that moment, the sound of horse hooves clattering from afar grew near, and soon a red horse arrived in front of the white-clad youth. The rider was a handsome, heroic young girl dressed in the attire of the Tiele Empire. When she saw the white-clad youth, she immediately dismounted and came to his side.

"Xian Lan, you acted on your own again," the Tiele girl said with a frown, clearly upset. "Do you have any idea how much chaos this kind of reckless action causes in our military plans? You were once a famous general of the Tiele. How could you do something so rash?"

Xian Lan tilted his head slightly and replied calmly, "So what if it’s rash? What difference does it make how clever the tactics are if there aren’t enough high-level powerhouses to execute them? In the Battle of the Golden Plains, humans collapsed completely after the fall of the Sword Saint. That’s the tragedy of all generals and strategists in this world. It’s because I learned this from my master that I abandoned the study of tactics and pursued ultimate power instead."

"Is that why you’re here showing off your strength, Xian Lan?" The girl was even more upset after hearing his response. "Do you even understand that while the power of the 'Sacred Domain' can influence the outcome of a battle, it can only do so to a certain extent? No Sword Saint can single-handedly create victory. Your actions must be in sync with the army’s."

Xian Lan shook his head and answered casually, "Those military operations are meaningless. The orcs still hold the initiative in the war. Until the six Sacred Emblems have fully matured, humans cannot launch a counteroffensive against the fallen western territories—unless those old folks are willing to give up the south and deploy the forbidden spell casters here. So, tell them to retreat quickly. Tomorrow, the orcs' retaliatory strike will come. I will challenge that female barbarian again, and I won’t have time to protect them then."

"Don’t joke, Xian Lan. The three armies are advancing separately; how can we retreat so easily?" The girl exclaimed in shock.

"If they can’t retreat, then they will die in battle."

"Why... why have you changed so much since Master Chi Wu Lie died in the 'Star Battle'? Ever since you inherited the 'Dragon-Taming Whip,' you’ve been different."

Xian Lan’s expression darkened as he turned his back to the girl. "You’re meddling too much, Mei Li. Don’t seek to know things you shouldn’t. With the power I inherited from my master, I must achieve the combat prowess worthy of my title as a Tide Knight. Until then, I won’t think about anything else."

As soon as he finished speaking, his white figure had already drifted away into the distance. Even the fastest horse couldn’t keep up with his effortless stride. Yet, no one knew the turmoil in the heart of the departing youth.

"Why won’t you answer me? Why can’t you face me, Xian Lan? I’m your fiancée…"

Under the starlit sky, her sorrowful whisper fell upon the ash-covered ground, silent and unnoticed.

Chapter One: The Goddess's Heart in the Clear Moonlight

"In that distant and dreamlike age

The gods guided the starlight into their embrace,

The spring of life gently poured,

All holy spirits far from sorrow.

Birds sang, rivers flowed freely

The fragrant flowers filled the air around paradise

Prayers for peace echoed through eternity."

The world bears the scars of prohibited wounds.

A despairing melancholy, overflowing with shadowed desires.

Creatures locked in endless conflict.

And suddenly, they hear the Gospel, spreading across the land.

Share this uplifting news with the world.

As long as the sun rises and the journey continues.