CHAPTER 257: DEMORALIZED WILL

At the northern part of the ravine, Wind Dragon looked up at the rising barrier and immediately realized they had been cut off from the mortal world. "This is... an overlapping dimension!"

He quickly called out to Lu Chen. "Little Lu, the will of heaven has been sealed. This is our chance! The venerables won't be able to see us anymore."

Lu Chen laughed. "Hahaha! Heaven is on our side! Now nothing is holding us back!"

He poured the last remnants of his spirit qi into the Green Sovereign Divine Trees, focusing on the vine-gate between them. Energy twisted and spiraled rapidly, opening a massive passage between the mortal world and the small world.

Through the gate, the sights of the small world gradually unfolded. Beast leaders, stationed beneath the Innate Green Sovereign Divine Tree, quickly lined up and saluted Lu Chen. "King!"

Seeing the orderly ranks of a hundred thousand beasts, Lu Chen's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Since beginning his cultivation, he had never felt such exhilaration. The sheer thrill of commanding such a formidable army was intoxicating.

"Was the teleportation formation ready this fast? If I release them all now, won't the trial be wasted?"

Little Pup watched the formation take shape at the bottom of the ravine. He let out a breath and activated his innate ability, releasing a tremendous surge of spatial energy that struck and enveloped Lu Chen.

Lu Chen instinctively felt an overwhelming danger closing in on him. He tried to dodge but realized that every possible escape route around him had been sealed. The overlapping dimension also severed all the natural laws connecting him to the outside world. The newly formed teleportation gate instantly collapsed.

Seeing what just happened, the beast leaders in the small world panicked. They attempted to advance with hand seals but were blocked by an invisible barrier.

Lu Chen shouted, "No... the passage is being sealed! This is bad..."

He quickly used the Void Destruction technique to shatter the spatial restraints around him. However, the teleportation formation had completely shut down, and the two Green Sovereign Divine Trees behind him had vanished as well.

"How could it suddenly turn out like this? The passage was fully opened just moments ago."

Black mist continuously erupted from the ravine as Lu Chen wove hand seals, desperately trying to reopen the passage. No matter what he did, the connection to the small world remained severed.

Wind Dragon struck the air with his fist. Watching the space ripples instantly restore themselves, he shook his head wryly. "Little Lu, stop trying. What I feared has come true. We're in real trouble this time."

Looking at Wind Dragon, Lu Chen uttered over and over, "How could it turn out like this?"

A wave of crushing frustration washed over him. His eyes grew hollow, his legs buckled, and he fell to the ground, the Hunyuan Greatsword slipping from his grasp.

At this moment, Lu Chen looked utterly defeated, like someone the world had abandoned.

Wind Dragon saw the look of defeat etched across Lu Chen and, with a bitter smile, released his spirit qi toward Nantian Wan'er, Jun Laoye, and Nantian Yijian, pulling all three to his side. He then formed a protective barrier of spirit qi in front of them.

Nantian Wan'er hurried forward and knelt beside Lu Chen, anxiety in her eyes. "Lu-gege..."

Wind Dragon watched silently, letting her speak.

Turning his attention to the emerging black mist giant, he said calmly, "King... I've always worried that a day like this would come, and that you might not be strong enough to face it. That's why I insisted you focus on your own cultivation.

"The small world is powerful, and the hundred thousand beasts are formidable, but that doesn't make you invincible. Anyone capable of sealing space laws can sever your connection to the small world.

"Right now, even if we wanted to help Red Fox, there's nothing we could do. The only strength you can rely on is your own cultivation."

Glancing down at Lu Chen, who was still kneeling, Wind Dragon shook his head. This was the first time Lu Chen had faced such a trial, so a sense of frustration was expected.

As he had warned before, Lu Chen's cultivation journey had been too smooth. His confidence and pride had always been built on miraculous encounters. Without them, both had evaporated entirely.

Sensing Lu Chen's crushed spirit, Wind Dragon knew he had to help. Otherwise, Lu Chen's cultivation foundation could collapse. But to restore him fully, Lu Chen had to take the initiative and make the first move, igniting a spark of determination. Only then could Wind Dragon help him reclaim his confidence.

Without that spark, even if Wind Dragon assisted him in rebuilding his strength, Lu Chen would remain hesitant and timid, incapable of achieving greatness.

Thus, Wind Dragon decided to provoke him, igniting a spark of defiance that would allow Lu Chen to reclaim his own belief.

"King, do you still want to save Red Fox?" Wind Dragon fixed his gaze on the head of the black mist giant emerging from the ground. He flexed his joints and said seriously, "With the Hunyuan Greatsword, nothing in this continent can stop us.

"But if we leave now, Red Fox will almost certainly perish. It's not entirely hopeless. If we act quickly, we might break through and reopen the passage in time to save her.

"The chances are slim... but it's the only option we have."

Crouched beside Lu Chen, Nantian Wan'er responded, "Lord Wind Dragon, if what you say is true, I'll go with you."

She tried everything she could think of to reignite his confidence, but since this was the first time Lu Chen had faced such crushing defeat, no words could lift him back up.

"Wan'er, this isn't your place to speak," Wind Dragon said from the side, shaking his head. He had already formulated a plan. He was just waiting for Lu Chen to respond, not for her to speak on his behalf.

Ten breaths passed, and Lu Chen remained unresponsive. His head drooped lower, and Wind Dragon noticed his fingers trembling.

Controlling the Hunyuan Greatsword, Eggy tried to rise from the ground. Yet Lu Chen's overwhelming despair made it impossible to move. Even the sword's energy had begun to dissipate, and the Void Destruction power quickly retracted into the Planetary Jade Token.

Wind Dragon shook his head with a long sigh. He smiled helplessly. "Backing down already? Afraid so soon? Was all your confidence and pride really just built on outside power? How can you hope to find Grandpa like that? How can you discover the true path of cultivation with such a weak will?"

He had thought that invoking the villagers and Blindman Lu would spark a reaction, but Lu Chen still showed no response.

Step by step, Wind Dragon approached and crouched before him. With the gravest voice, he said, "King, have you made your choice? The giant has already emerged halfway. This is our only chance."

At that moment, Lu Chen moved his lips. Nantian Wan'er leaned in, straining to catch his words.

Her face lit up after hearing him. "Lu-gege says he's willing to do it! Lord Wind Dragon, Lu-gege has agreed! He's going to do it!"

Wind Dragon observed him. "Is that so? How come I didn't hear it?"

Of course, he had heard Lu Chen's mutterings, but it wasn't the firm, resolute voice he needed. He wanted Lu Chen to speak with determination, even if it required him to muster all his strength to do so.

"King, it's okay to be afraid. This is your first real trial. The giant's strength approaches the pinnacle of the continent. None of this is your fault," Wind Dragon said while keeping an eye on Lu Chen's reaction. "But your grandpa, the villagers... they're all waiting for you. How can you give up now?"

Seeing him still muttering, Wind Dragon sighed deeply, picked up the Hunyuan Greatsword, and slowly stood. "Enough... perhaps we've waited long enough. It would be a tragedy if Red Fox's life ended here, along with the fate of the Nine-Tailed Red Fox Clan.

"And a tragedy for the villagers of Greenheaven Village. The culprits who killed them have yet to face justice. Their souls will forever remain unrested."

Holding the Hunyuan Greatsword, Wind Dragon clung to the last shred of hope. He pressed the fourth button, and a surge of black energy shot forth. "Eggy, it's your turn. Take us out of here!"

Watching Wind Dragon grip the sword, Nantian Wan'er jumped to her feet. "Lord Wind Dragon... what are you doing? That giant is far too powerful!"

"The king cannot decide for himself. But Red Fox shouldn't die here, nor will I let her," Wind Dragon said, brushing his left hand along the Hunyuan Greatsword, gradually merging his energy with it. "I'll try one more time. If we still can't save Red Fox, I'll take you all and flee immediately."

Ignoring her objections, Wind Dragon held the sword horizontally before him, his expression resolute. "King, if there is still even a shred of faith in you, stand up! Stand for the villagers, for your grandpa!"

Dark blue spirit qi surged from Wind Dragon's forehead, spreading across his body and flowing into the Hunyuan Greatsword. "Eggy, let's go!"

Eggy sensed Wind Dragon's energy and let out an excited cry. "Creak! Creak!"

The power of Void Destruction intensified, propelling Wind Dragon directly toward the giant.

Nantian Wan'er watched him charge and shook Lu Chen frantically. "Lu-gege! Wake up! Have you forgotten about your grandpa? They're all waiting for you!"

When Lu Chen remained unresponsive, Nantian Wan'er cut her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto his forehead. Her blood essence glowed brightly, quickly merging into his brow. She sat cross-legged beside him, letting her consciousness sink into his mind.