Chapter 578. Concern, Crossing the Milky Way Starfield

Countless stars streaked past Lu Yuan and Jiang Ningxian as they traveled through the spatial passage. Neither found the sight unusual anymore.

They knew that tearing open space once would not take them all the way to Earth. The journey would still require time, but now that they had reached the Milky Way Starfield, their destination was not far away.

"I wonder if the two forces have already attacked Earth, and whether everyone in the Celestial Court is in danger. I hope nothing has happened by the time we arrive," Jiang Ningxian said, her expression growing solemn.

During her time on Earth, she had formed close ties with many members of the Celestial Court, including Zhu Qingyu and Ice Fairy. They had even exchanged insights on cultivation.

She also knew perfectly well how Zhu Qingyu felt about Lu Yuan, though she had no intention of saying anything. Some matters were better left to unfold naturally.

Lu Yuan did not give it much thought. He watched the stars stream past them and said calmly, "It would be best if nothing has happened. Otherwise..."

Killing intent flared in his eyes, and a terrifying presence erupted from him without restraint.

Earth was his homeland. If the Eternals and the Ji Clan had targeted it and brought disaster upon its people, he would show no mercy. The enmity between them had already reached the point where only one side could survive. A confrontation was inevitable.

Under ordinary circumstances, Lu Yuan would not kill needlessly. But if they laid a hand on Earth, he would hold nothing back.

The two disappeared into the spatial passage. Upon reaching its end, Lu Yuan tore open space again, repeating the process as they rapidly drew closer to Earth.

Meanwhile, the Eternal Warship had fully descended over Earth. Crushing pressure rolled from it in waves, so powerful that parts of the land and surrounding mountains had already collapsed beneath it.

And no one aboard had even attacked yet. The experts had not descended either, but their mere presence was enough to instill fear in every living being on Earth.

At the Celestial Court on Mount Tai, Ice Fairy delivered the latest report, her expression dark and her eyes blazing with anger.

"All five supercities have been harassed to varying degrees. Some civilians in remote areas have already been attacked as well. We don't have enough people to protect everyone."

Ever since the Eternals and the Ji Clan ordered their new followers to target Earth and the Celestial Court, incidents had broken out across the planet. At first, the attacks were confined to the famous mountains and great rivers, which the Celestial Court could afford to ignore. However, as time passed, trouble reached the five supercities as well.

The enemy did not dare attack the residents there openly, but their actions still posed a serious threat. Even with the Celestial Court continually dispatching reinforcements, its forces were struggling to cope as more beings submitted to the two factions.

The five supercities held the greatest concentration of civilians and were therefore the most heavily defended. They were unlikely to fall into danger easily. Yet not everyone lived within them. Some refused to leave their hometowns, while other Awakened traveled the world in search of opportunities to advance.

Those were the people the Outer Cosmos beings preyed upon, and casualties continued to mount.

To Ice Fairy, these attacks, together with the harassment of the five supercities, were nothing less than open provocation.

"We have very little strength left to spare," Zhu Qingyu said after considering the situation. "The five supercities must remain our priority. Nothing can be allowed to happen there. As for everywhere else, our reach can only extend so far."

She wanted to protect everyone, but that was impossible. Even twice the Celestial Court's present strength would not be enough. An attacker needed only one opening, while a defender had to remain vigilant every day. They could only concentrate their forces where they could protect the greatest number of people.

"I understand, but I'm afraid that if this continues, there will come a day when we can no longer hold them off," Ice Fairy said with a sigh. "And the two forces are still watching us from above."

If they were facing only the other Outer Cosmos beings, the Celestial Court could manage. But if the Eternals and the Ji Clan suddenly descended to attack, nothing they did would be enough to stop them.

"We can only do all we can within our power," Zhu Qingyu replied.

She was no longer the young woman she had once been. Years of shouldering responsibility had given her a commanding presence, and she now handled every crisis with practiced composure. Even knowing that some problems remained beyond her ability to solve, she maintained the calm expected of a leader.

By now, Zhu Qingyu had become the leading figure within the Celestial Court.

"Exactly. Even if we can't stop them, we'll still be here when the time comes," Young Celestial Master Chunyang said gravely. "No matter what happens, we cannot allow the five supercities to come to harm. King Lu entrusted the Celestial Court and its people to us. We cannot disappoint him."

As a Daoist cultivator, he was usually gentle, but the enemy had nearly reached their doorstep. There was no choice now but to fight.

The other core members of the Celestial Court nodded. King Lu had entrusted Earth and the safety of its people to them. They would do everything in their power to protect them.

Zhu Qingyu soon issued new orders. The Celestial Court would continue consolidating its forces around the five supercities. Celestial Soldiers and Celestial Generals would be transferred from Mount Tai to reinforce them, together with members of the Jiang Clan.

Other places might have to be abandoned, but the ordinary citizens could not be.

They had already asked Jiang Huanyun to establish defensive arrays outside each of the five supercities. Spirit Monkey, Golden-Winged Great Peng, and Peacock King had also rallied the mutated beasts across the world to watch for any disturbances.

The Celestial Court had mobilized every resource at its disposal to protect the people, and its efforts had proven effective. Although beings from numerous starfields had joined the attacks, they had yet to pose a serious threat to the cities.