But these Martial Artists were like a pack of tenacious Fierce Ghosts that refused to be shaken off, following relentlessly and launching unhurried attacks with all sorts of methods.
Within the Law Enforcement Team, the Golden Core Peak Stage Cultivator who was their Captain used a Magical Treasure to contact his juniors. "They were prepared," he said. "They’re using these explosions to drain our Spiritual Power. We have to get a message back, no matter the cost! Lower Realm 732 is out of control! These Martial Artists have broken free of our control!"
As he spoke, the Captain, a Golden Core Peak Stage Cultivator, turned and charged toward the Immortal Sect gate they had just emerged from. "Light the talisman paper!" he yelled as he ran. "We’re going straight back!"
They had been in the Lower Realm for less than two hours, yet they were already being slaughtered to the point of being forced back to the Cultivation Realm.
For a group of incredibly proud Cultivators, this was an almost unimaginable turn of events.
But now, they had already lost seven of their Foundation Establishment Stage juniors the moment they’d stepped out, and these native Martial Artists from the Lower Realm were like persistent flies they just couldn’t swat away.
Other than escaping quickly before their Spiritual Power was completely depleted, the few Golden Core Stage Cultivators had no better plan.
They stopped trying to flee outward.
Instead, they all turned around, preparing to charge in the direction of the Immortal Sect gate.
But now that they were here...
How could the crowd of Martial Artists possibly let them return so easily?
An increasing number of explosions rang out as more and more Martial Artists and weapons were thrown onto the battlefield. When they had first emerged, it had taken the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators less than half an hour.
But trying to get back to the vicinity of the Immortal Sect gate took them a full two hours.
Finally, when they were just a few thousand meters from the Immortal Sect gate, the horde of Martial Artists, who had until then been attacking from a distance, began to engage them in close combat.
Initially, the Cultivators had assumed that since these Martial Artists were adept with firearms, their individual strength wouldn’t be too terrifying. However, they were proven wrong.
Horribly wrong.
The power these Martial Artists wielded in close combat was terrifying. Even if the Cultivators could fend them off, it was nearly impossible to break through the encirclement formed by the human tide.
The Cultivators used many Techniques and Magical Treasures.
Their Golden Core Stage Cultivation gave them terrifying endurance for sustained combat.
But under the constant attrition from so many Martial Artists, the Spiritual Power stored in their bodies was still depleting at a visible rate.
The leader of the Law Enforcement Team, a Golden Core Peak Stage Cultivator, was the strongest and possessed the most powerful Magical Treasures.
As a result, he was the first Cultivator to cut his way out of the crowd’s encirclement.
He looked at the Immortal Sect gate, now only a little over a hundred meters away.
Tears unknowingly welled up in the Golden Core Peak Stage Cultivator’s eyes.
’This world is simply terrifying. Even at the Golden Core Stage, I’m completely powerless while surrounded by so many people.’
’If I can just get to the Immortal Gate, I can return to my own realm!’
’If I can just get to that place...’
’But in my current state, can I even make it that far?’
Sensing the dwindling Spiritual Qi in his Dantian and the increasing weight of his own body, the Cultivator began to feel despair.
However, he didn’t know if it was because his wish was too intense...
Or if his senses were playing tricks on him.
The Cultivator was startled to find that, at some point, the number of surrounding Martial Artists seemed to have decreased. He glanced around and saw that more and more of them were stopping in their tracks, their faces filled with reverence, as if in awe of someone.
The Cultivator didn’t know what they were doing.
But he knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
His face lit up with elation. He threw all his strength into shaking off the Martial Artists behind him and, seizing the moment while they were no longer swarming him, he sprinted to the Immortal Sect gate and used his Spiritual Qi to ignite the talisman paper given to him by his Elder.
This was the first time he had ever felt so utterly trapped.
And what’s more, it was in a Lower Realm they had never even given a second thought.
This filled him with a deep sense of humiliation.
He had already made up his mind. The moment he returned to the Immortal Palace, he would report to the Elder and have him lead the Law Enforcement Hall to utterly flatten this world and scatter the ashes of these natives to the winds!
Li Chang’an snatched the burning talisman paper from his hand, crushing it out. "You just got here," he said. "What’s the rush to go back?"
The smile on his face was gentle and warm.
But to the Cultivator, that smile was no different from that of the King of the Underworld in the eighteenth layer of Hell.
Li Chang’an unhurriedly produced a Soul-Calling Banner, grinned at the Cultivator, and asked, "Recognize this?"
The moment he saw the Soul-Calling Banner...
The Cultivator came to a sudden realization. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "You... you were the one who killed that Cultivator named Duan?!"
"Damn you, native! Do you have any idea what happens to those who make enemies of Cultivators? Even after you die, even if your soul flees across the myriad realms, there will be no place left for you to hide!"
To think this guy was still daring to threaten him, even at death’s door.
Li Chang’an laughed. "Are those your last words? They’re a little long, I might not remember them all. But don’t you worry. I’ve already killed one Cultivator; I don’t mind getting my hands dirty with another."
Seeing how unfazed he was...
The Cultivator was visibly flustered for a second, but his tone remained calm as he said coolly, "To have developed this world to such an extent in so little time... you must be considered a talent of sorts."
"The Immortal Palace makes special accommodations for exceptional talents like you. As long as you admit you killed the Cultivator by accident and are willing to sincerely apologize and atone, the Immortal Palace will not only forgive what you’ve done, but can even bestow upon you great benefits and authority. From this day forward, you will become a great figure, standing second to one and above all others..."