Chapter 381: Weakness Is Defeat

Through the lightning and thunder, the pair flew straight towards the Idol. Circulating her energy, it coursed between her sword and her body, activating the two gems which began to glow. 

"Ugh..."

In moments, the gems greedily devoured two- thirds of her energy, taking on a much brighter shine and Ming Yue poured even more of her strength. Her sword began to hum as the various forces came together, using her Quintessence Force as the vessel that carried the others. 

"You pitiful souls, do you wish to join our clan? Come and see the truth of the world!" 

The Idol of Chaos was a mere puppet for the Hundun and it could not see their true intentions. It opened its arms wide as if to welcome them but small bolts of lightning shot out. 

Matron Shuang flew swiftly, avoiding the strikes as they came closer to this ungodly being. 

'Whatever you plan to do, now would be the best time!"

The dragon shouted out as Ming Yue focused. 

"Merge, merge together!"

Return to Simplicity, if there were a time to reach the next stage of the Sword Dao, it would now.  At this point, she was on the brink of it. Ming Yue knew the principle, now she had to put it into practice. She had succeeded once against the Tao Feng and now she would need to succeed again. 

Her whole being was ready for the constant battle had sharpened her mind. The young cultivator gripped her sword tightly and swung out in a natural manner, releasing an attack of wind, lightning, sword, soul, and mental energy. It flew out as a massive arc that which resembled a crescent moon, five different powers all meshed with the help of her Quintessence energy.

All those on the ground couldn't help but feel a sense of insignificance, a sense of dread.

In front of this attack, they were simply nothing and there was nothing they could do to stop it. That was the sensation they felt when Ming Yue launched her attack, it could not be stopped nor could it be avoided, like a truth that could not be denied.

From her simple swing came out a fearsome attack and the Idol of Chaos could not help but falter as the collective minds of the Hundun Clan felt a bit of fear within their hearts. However, they weren't going to cower away, not when they had their Idol.

"Insolent human! You dare attack the Idol of Chaos!" 

The many voices shouted out in anger as it directed its attention towards the attack. Its eyes glowed as two beams of lightning shot out but against this attack, it did nothing.

Rather this brilliant crescent moon flew forth and through the Idol's body, leaving behind a massive gash that ran from its chest down to its legs. Within it was the white and black lightning that had condensed into its internal body. There was so much of it within its body that it all spilled out at once, sparking with an electric fury. 

"Aaagghhhhhh!"

The collective voices screamed in pain and the Idol's focus was broken. The flowing lightning ceased as it clutched the open wound. 

"Lowly being! You will pay for this! You will suffer the retribution of the Hundun!"

The lightning formation crumbled as the chariot brought the Idol of Chaos away, retreating from the battlefield. And for the fight between Kong Zhi and the others, it had ended long ago. 

Why?

Because both sides had been dealt massive losses and with the Hundun Clan's sudden interference, they had another thing to be wary of. 

Du Xiu and Kong Zhi stared at each other, they locked eyes for just a few moments.

"Shi Hou, we're retreating." 

The Roaring King looked to him and nodded before turning around, his voice boomed out loud.

"Retreat! The Lord demands it!"

There was a silence before the demons of his army turned back. Some were unwilling but most understood, they were in no shape to continue. And Kong Zhi wasn't stupid enough to just throw more bodies into this battle not when he knew that the Hundun Clan had finally made their move.

"It is far from over. I will take this forest and destroy your strongholds."

Speaking his last words to Du Xiu, he released his True Vajra Form and turned back, leaving with his men.

"Shi Hou, when we return, summon the other two. We have some things to discuss."*

"Yes, my lord!"

As he walked away, Ming Yue and the two Hel- Fire Dragons dropped down to the ground. Matron Shuang snarled landed right in front of Kong Zhi, all three of her heads pierced into his body as she snarled at him. However, he only chuckled and walked past her.

"You can't kill me now, your child still needs you."

He taunted her before leaving and the Matron let him. If they fought now, the result would end with both of them dead. She would have obtained revenge for her child but that very child would be left without a mother. In the end, he walked away freely. 

But Kong Zhi felt only bitterness.

"If only I had the power..." he thought, "I could destroy Du Xiu and that Hundun Clan."

Alas, retreating was the only option he had. 

And so, the demons retreated, leaving the human armies and the beasts of the forest. This attempt of theirs to conquer the Boundless Beast Forest had failed but it did not mean that they would give up like this. 

Fortunately, for now, this was a victory for the others, one that came at a great cost. 

When the demons were gone, the various beasts gathered under the tree that Elder Shu left behind. Those that were free from the demon's control returned to their families. Many of them were young, forced to fight each other as a way of entertainment. Now that they were free, these beasts could not help but shed tears. 

Ming Yue jumped off of the Matron and watched as she and her child gathered by the tree as well. 

The tree itself was beautiful, white leaves and flowers adorned it as petals fell with each passing second. Born from Elder Shu's sacrifice, mournful howls and mews filled the air as the beasts rested by the tree. 

"I should bring Hua Xiong here, she would want to see this."

Ming Yue looked at this scene, feeling the somber atmosphere. She then turned and looked to the soldiers of the Five Armies. Their weapons were sheathed whilst many of them dropped to the floor from exhaustion. But with the losses they incurred, the injured needed to be tended to.  At the very least, Elder Shu's tree was able to prevent many who would have died long ago. 

"If only I was stronger..." she thought, "Perhaps, Elder Shu would not have died. Perhaps, I could have ended this at the Merciless Storm Peak."

Ming Yue began to walk towards them, taking out the medicine from her spatial ring. Whistling out loud, two shadows emerged from their hiding spot, coming up to her. 

"Hei Yue, Xiao Yin, help me treat the soldiers."

The owl and fox blinked and nodded, understanding her instructions. Carrying the bandages and salves for her, they faithfully followed Ming Yue as she began to apply medicines to those that were heavily injured. 

"Oh thank you, Fairy."

"It- it doesn't hurt as much anymore."

"Urgh, my arm..."

"These bandages... thank you."

"Fairy of the Moon, my wounds, thank you."

Ming Yue was more than overwhelmed by this sight, so much pain and suffering in front of her. No matter how strong her mental fortitude was, she could not help but feel compassion for them. Bloodied faces and wrecked bodies, it was just a constant stream of one injured person to the next. 

It didn't take long before she ran out of her own personal medicines. 

"If only I made more."

There were at least several hundred that were injured but there were no pills to help heal them. After all, pills were expensive to make and even more expensive to purchase. Having enough for every soldier would cost over a hundred fortunes and no country had that amount of wealth. 

And the four commanders gathered together as they looked around. 

"Damn it, our losses are much worse because of the Hundun Clan."

"It couldn't be helped, who would've thought that they would obtain something like this."

"If only we were quicker."

"If only we prepared better."

"If only..."

In this battle, they might have successfully repelled Kong Zhi but it did not feel like a victory. Everyone realized it, their shortcomings, their weaknesses. It was a time of reflection for neither side gained anything, they only lost. 

But the war was not over, rather it was just getting started. Even more battles like these would erupt, more bodies would be piled on, more blood would be spilled. 

It was war and in war, weakness is defeat.