All around the array, led by Xu Ming, tens of thousands of Netherworld Beasts roared in unison. With the black hole as the center, a force carrying the intent of death and destruction swiftly rotated, forming a vortex that filled the space between the two arrays of heaven and earth.

Even those reputed as the strongest in various nations had no chance of survival when faced with such power. Amidst cries of panic, one Sword Saint after another was swept into the vortex, helplessly falling toward the black hole.

At the moment they fell into the black hole, black and crimson flames rose up, enveloping them. Amidst sizzling sounds, the Holy-grade experts who fell into the black hole were incinerated, turning to ash, with only their last screams echoing in mid-air.

Stimulated by those screams, the other Sword Saints were even more terrified, using all their strength to fly outward. However, the vortex not only contained the power of the Jiuyou Netherworld but also their own energy previously infused into the seal, and even the full cultivations of the Sword Saints who had died earlier were absorbed into it. This power was so fierce and terrifying that even their Sword Saint Realm prowess couldn’t escape.

Screams followed one after another, and in just a moment, hundreds more experts perished in the black hole. Their entire cultivation, like those who perished before them, was absorbed into the black hole. Meanwhile, the massive figure of the Netherworld King drew ever closer to the black hole’s entrance.

"Help, help!" Finally, someone waved their arms toward the direction of Mu Hanyan and the others, shouting for rescue.

To save or not to save? Mu Hanyan had no compassion for saving all living beings. These people were stubborn and self-destructive; turning to ash was their just fate. With her nature, she naturally wouldn’t risk herself for them, but she also knew that their survival was more beneficial to the Holy Court Continent.

From the current situation, even after refining the Holy Saint Gang Qi infused in the seal by the experts of all nations, the Netherworld King couldn’t fully break the prohibition and escape the cage. But if these experts died in the array, their entire cultivations being refined by the Netherworld King could potentially help it break the final prohibition.

By then, who in the entire Holy Court Continent would be able to contend with it?

Mu Hanyan understood this reasoning, and the others evidently did as well, even the usually sharp-tongued and calculating Ye Yanran remained silent.

"Take action!" Lu Nianxin gave a clear shout, raised her saber, and was the first to charge forward, with the others following closely behind without hesitation.

Watching her grandmother’s heroic figure, Mu Hanyan felt a bit more respect rise in her heart. Although her grandmother seemed overbearing, when it came to major issues, she was decisive and straightforward. This was what truly made a heroine among women.

Knowing that her strength couldn’t compare to theirs, Mu Hanyan didn’t show off but instead stood behind them with Huayue and the others, carefully on guard, preventing a back attack from the Netherworld Beasts around the array below.

Mu Hanyan’s caution was somewhat unnecessary; upon seeing Lu Nianxin and the others’ actions, the Netherworld Beasts below didn’t attack but instead roared more fervently, continuously channeling their energic power into the array. Clearly, they had to exert their full strength to maintain the array, leaving them no time to bother with anything else, allowing Mu Hanyan to let out a slight sigh of relief.

She had witnessed the power of the Netherworld Beast Lord, and even more so the might of Xu Ming. If these Exotic Beasts ignored the array and launched a full attack on them, even the two hundred Sword Saints could hardly defend themselves, let alone rescue others. After all, there were tens of thousands of Netherworld Beasts.

"Boom!" With a thunderous explosion, Lu Nianxin’s overpowering saber light slashed heavily onto the sky, and magma-like light rippled fiercely.

Others also unleashed their sword lights, and in an instant, winds raged, clouds surged, and the heavens and earth changed colors.

Under the combined strike of everyone, the array that responded to both heaven and earth trembled violently, and the giant vortex stalled momentarily.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, a few Sword Saints, trapped within, rushed out. Then, as if their strength had been drained, they collapsed onto the ground exhausted. It was evident that even with Lu Nianxin and the others’ full power, they couldn’t completely break the array. These people exhausted all their Qi to breach the final barrier at the edge of the array.

Soon, the array began to operate again, the vortex spinning once more. Amidst screams, a few more Sword Saints were swept into the black hole, instantly turning to ash.

However, no matter how it was looked at, at least some people were saved. Lu Nianxin and the others felt a surge of confidence, once again striking the sky array with full force. Most were experts of the Sword Saint Realm, who previously worked together seamlessly to seal the Jiuyou Netherworld. This time, flashes of sword shadows aimed at the same spot.

The array trembled again, pausing briefly. This process was very short, just a blink of an eye. But those trapped within the array were also experts, fully prepared, and in that blink of an eye, a dozen Sword Saints rushed out. Like the few before them, as soon as they escaped the array, they collapsed onto the ground exhausted.

Below, Xu Ming frowned, suddenly beginning to chant loudly.

Not good! Mu Hanyan’s heart tightened. The fact that Xu Ming transformed into human form, while the other Netherworld Beasts appeared in beast form, indicated that his power and status far surpassed the other Netherworld Beasts. His chanting bore a resemblance to the Divine Language. If not mistaken, these Netherworld Beasts surely had more tricks up their sleeves, and wouldn’t allow them to rescue experts one after another like this.

Mu Hanyan’s guess was spot on. As Xu Ming chanted, tens of thousands of Netherworld Beasts suddenly raised their heads and let out a mournful, resolute, and fearless howl.

In an instant, all the Netherworld Beasts ignited. Flames consumed their bodies, and under the intense heat, those massive bodies rapidly shrank. Despite their faces being so ferocious, Mu Hanyan could still discern the soul-searing pain in their eyes. Dark energy, filled with a sinister aura, poured into the array from their bodies.

Mu Hanyan didn’t know what kind of spell this was, but judging by the anguished expressions of the Netherworld Beasts, it was akin to the Blood Sacrifice Technique of human cultivators, forcing a boost in power at the cost of lifeforce, but even more cruel and painful.

Lu Nianxin and the others cried out in unison, once more attacking the array with combined force. But this time, the array was entirely unmoved.

Inside the array, a dozen Sword Saints, who were fully prepared to charge out, crashed heavily into the array’s barrier. Then, just like kites with broken strings, they fell toward the black hole, turning to ash amidst their screams.