Chapter 194: Return of the Holy One! Isolated Island!

A large number of evil beings rushed in. The Holy City’s defense line seemed to have completely collapsed.

Link and Aisha followed a group of guards back to the square.

Due to the convenient communication ability of the public psychological network, the guards had already contacted the high priest.

After the high priest learned of the situation, it was clear that the very survival of the group was at stake. He immediately led several priests to begin chanting and activate the formation.

One by one, mysterious runes appeared around the square. With the high priest and the others’ chanting, a loud rumbling sound was heard. The sand and rocks upon the ground crumbled, constantly surging.

Huge, square stone pillars rose from the surrounding square. The magic within them shone brilliantly, and they appeared tall and majestic.

Each stone pillar looked extremely simple and ancient. Each emitted a curtain of light that connected with that of another stone pillar to jointly build a huge defense field.

Link and the others quickly entered the inside of the defensive formation.

In the square, a large number of people—whose hopes had been shattered—slumped on the ground with dull expressions.

Their grief was greater than death. The sea god’s abandonment made them feel hopeless about the future and fall into despair.

These people were drenched in decadence and defeat. They were just like despondent puddles of mud.

Others sensed the approach of danger. They heard the roar of monsters from outside the defensive formation; their expressions were fearful and anxious.

In addition to the guards that Link encountered, several other teams also came to the square one after another and entered the defensive formation.

Without exception, most of these fighters were in a pathetic state and covered with wounds.

The army of demons pouring into the Holy City gradually surrounded the huge square.

The ferocious monsters gathered together like a surging black wave. They completely cut off the place, turning it into an isolated island.

The monsters roared as they used their spears, harpoons, fangs, and their bodies to bombard the defensive light curtain continuously.

Golden ripples rippled across the light curtain’s surface due to the bombardment, sending fear into the hearts of the people who watched. Fortunately, the defensive formation here was extraordinary.

As a large formation of the Enlightenment Temple, it had been nourished by the faith of many people for thousands of years. Even a godly existence would find it hard to break through in a short time.

Coupled with the high priest and several high-ranking priests’ blessings, it would temporarily remain stable even in the face of the army of evil beings.

But the large number of demons surrounding them outside the defensive light curtain still brought deep despair and great panic to everyone.

Everyone knew that the defensive formation was only temporary and wouldn’t exist forever. They were just delaying the inevitable.

Once the formation’s energy had been exhausted, the defense would be broken, and what awaited them would be their destruction.

Inside the defensive light curtain, the atmosphere was extremely solemn. Everyone’s faces were a little gray, and their eyes were dull—they looked lifeless.

Some people leaned on each other and wept; others sat on the floor with their faces as gray as death.

Suddenly, a violent roar sounded, attracting everyone’s attention.

Link looked toward the sound source and saw a wave of bright energy sweeping through, turning the evil beings with their teeth and claws into a pool of minced meat in an instant.

It was the act of a powerhouse at the Sage-stage. Every blow was terrifying and overwhelmingly powerful!

Two powerful auras approached quickly.

“It’s the great sage and the Lanzhi Sage, as well as a team. They have returned with a team of guards.”

“This should be the last group of city guards who haven’t entered the square yet.”

...

Everyone suddenly started talking.

Under the two holy-rank powerhouses’ attacks, the army of evil beings surrounding the defensive light curtain was exterminated, and that team was able to enter the defensive array.

With the arrival of this large team, the square—which already had little space—became more and more crowded.

Numerous complaints suddenly sounded in the psychological network. However, the two sages’ return finally brought a trace of comfort to the commoners’ panicked hearts.

Many people wanted to know what they should do next.

The great sage didn’t answer, only asking people to treat the wounded as soon as possible instead. Even he didn’t have a better way to deal with the current situation. He could only defend everyone the best he could.

Although he was a Sage-stage powerhouse, there were opponents who were of the same level as him among the evil beings. There were even some who were more terrifying...

There was suddenly a commotion in the crowd, and cry after cry of exclamation sounded!

“Aberrating! Someone is aberrating!”

“He has been in contact with those creatures and has been contaminated by the evil!”

The crowd quickly retreated, freeing up space around the man.

There, a warrior—who had fought with the evil beings—was lying on the ground and panting violently. His face had become hideous and abnormal. Fine fish scales gradually appeared, and bulges appeared on his body. His body mutated uncontrollably.

“Kill him; he cannot be saved,” a guard commander ordered grimly.

But the surrounding guard soldiers didn’t act immediately. There was an unwilling and sad flash in their eyes.

That was a comrade who had just fought alongside them. How could they bear to do it?

Link watched all this unfold. Just as he was about to take action to end the soldier’s pain, the captain took a step forward and cut off the mutant soldier’s head with a single slash.

Soon afterward, a mage stepped forward and condensed a few fireballs, turning the broken corpse into ashes.

A group of fighters stood silently, mourning their teammate. But there was a strange look in the eyes of the many people around them when they looked at the fighters.

Many people even started to stealthily move away from this group of warriors, who had fought against the evil beings.

They were worried that they would be polluted and become monsters.

It just so happened that guards had been fighting against evil for a long time, and many of them had been corroded and polluted by the evil auras.

Another soldier aberrated and even attacked the people. He was stopped by the guards and was quickly killed.

But this incident instantly ignited the dissatisfaction and panic in the hearts of many people like a spark.

Many discordant voices suddenly spoke up in the psychological network.

“People who have been in contact with evil beings should not be allowed in. Entering the defensive formation is also dangerous. Who knows when they will become monsters?”

“That’s right; aren’t you warriors? Go outside and fight with those demons then!”

“Don’t affect us; you’re contaminating us and turning us into monsters!”

“It’s all your fault for being useless. You let us be surrounded by evil beings. What right do you have to enter the defensive formation?”

...

The situation gradually intensified, and these dissatisfied complaints finally turned into a single voice.

“Everyone who has come into contact with evil beings should get out. Don’t bring the pollution into the formation!”

Many people began to drive away the guards who used their lives and blood to protect them.

They wanted to drive the guards out of the defensive formation, wanted them to drag their broken bodies and continue fighting with the monsters.

This was tantamount to sending them to their deaths!

As people who had been in contact with evil beings, Link and Aisha were also targeted!