"Daoist Friend Qi, Daoist Friend Tianluo, the two of you are indeed here."
Two figures arrived, treading upon the clouds. On the left was Xi Daoyun, dressed in a gray robe with stark white hair and beard. He was none other than the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Azure Sect.
On the right was Mo Wentian, the Ancestor of the Mo Family. Clad in a green shirt, his expression was austere, and the spiritual qi swirling around him was so condensed it appeared almost tangible.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort echoed through the air as two streaks of rainbow light suddenly shot up from a certain magic skiff, confronting Xi Daoyun and Mo Wentian high in the sky.
In an instant.
The oppressive pressure of the Nascent Soul stage vanished completely.
"I didn't expect the two of you to be here," Qi Tianxiong stated calmly.
"In today's battle, we Nascent Soul cultivators shall not intervene. How about it?" Xi Daoyun's voice was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
"If you refuse, then the fish dies and the net breaks. We shall see who kills faster—you two, or the two of us!"
His voice was icy and detached, completely devoid of emotion.
The expressions of everyone present, whether from Heavenly Azure Prefecture or Greedy Wolf Prefecture, drastically shifted upon hearing this.
If Nascent Soul cultivators engaged in a mutual slaughter, then what were they all doing here? Simply offering up their lives?
"Are you threatening this Sect Master?"
"So what if I am? Our two sects have already reached a point where one must die for the other to live anyway."
Xi Daoyun continued, "And let the people below listen well. If you fail to abide by the rules, this old man will not mind causing a massive uproar in the Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
"We will see which is greater: the destruction wrought by you demonic cultivators, or the sheer power of this sword cultivator's sword arts!"
He was truly pushing them to the brink.
'He is truly pushing them to the brink,' Xu Chuan thought to himself. 'However, if Xi Daoyun and Mo Wentian can genuinely lure them away, this place will be much safer.'
Even he had not anticipated that both Nascent Soul cultivators would take the route through the Thousand Stone Forest.
If a battle broke out and they found him displeasing to the eye, a sudden palm strike from either of them would be quite unbearable for Xu Chuan.
Qi Tianxiong furrowed his brows, glaring intensely at Xi Daoyun, remaining silent for a long moment.
Demon Lord Tianluo sent a voice transmission, "Brother Qi, the advantage is ours. What harm is there in playing along with them? We have plenty of time before we assault the mountain gates of the Heavenly Azure Sect."
"I will defer to you, Brother Tianluo."
Immediately after, Qi Tianxiong declared, "Very well. My brother and I will play along with you two."
The gazes of the four men met, instantly igniting an earth-shattering collision.
Xi Daoyun summoned his natal flying sword, its gleam cascading like an inverted galaxy. Mo Wentian activated his divine ability, manifesting a towering, heaven-reaching giant tree. Qi Tianxiong similarly unleashed a demonic divine ability, transforming his demonic energy into a gigantic wolf that lunged forward.
Then there was Tianluo, wielding his giant black axe, sending a devastating beam of axe light cleaving straight toward the incoming sword glow.
"Boom!"
The four streams of Nascent Soul power collided, causing the very heavens and earth to rumble. Countless rocks shattered, and the sea of clouds above was forcibly torn apart, revealing pitch-black spatial rifts.
Xi Daoyun and Mo Wentian exchanged a glance, seemingly prepared for this exact moment. After a single clash, they rapidly retreated, transforming into two streaks of light that fled into the distance in separate directions. It was clear they had no desire for a grueling battle of attrition.
Qi Tianxiong sneered coldly and said to Tianluo, "Brother Tianluo, since Xi Daoyun injured you last time, I shall leave him to you."
"Many thanks, Brother Qi."
With that said, the two of them chose their targets and set off in pursuit.
High above the Thousand Stone Forest.
"Kill!"
Someone roared, and immediately, figure after figure surged out from the magic skiffs, swarming densely toward the cultivators of Heavenly Azure Prefecture.
Every cultivator engaged in mid-air combat.
In the Golden Core battlefield, sword lights, demonic flames, magical arts, and divine abilities crisscrossed violently. Every single strike contained terrifying might.
The Foundation Establishment disciples formed small groups of two or three, watching each other's backs.
Flashes of blades and shadows of swords intertwined, accompanied by an endless chorus of ferocious roars and agonizing screams.
Both sides had deployed their absolute elites for this battle; barely a single Qi Refining stage cultivator could be seen.
In mere moments, the battlefield ran with rivers of blood. Spiritual qi and demonic energy clashed chaotically, causing the surrounding heaven and earth energy to become violently turbulent.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf once again faced off against True Lord Green Wood.
The Heavenly Wolf Halberd and the Myriad Wood Ruler, both high-grade magic treasures, collided fiercely. Black and green light saturated the horizon, accompanied by deafening explosions that shook the very world.
This route was predominantly defended by the elites of the Greedy Wolf Sect, alongside the premier Golden Core aristocratic family, the Sima Family, and a few other prominent Golden Core families.
Meanwhile, at Grand Harmony Lake and Heavenly Gate Pass, Ancient Nether City, along with the Nie and Chao families, respectively led the remaining Golden Core factions.
Both of those contingents boasted formidable True Lords at the Golden Core Perfection stage.
Ancient Nether City was clashing with the elites of the Three Sects and the Heavenly Azure Sect led by True Lord Bingqian. The Nie and Chao families were facing the Mo Family, the Lei Family, and the remaining forces from the three cities.
Originally, there were seven cities, but after the recent tribulation, Sieve Constellation City existed in name only.
It would take at least several decades for them to completely recover their vitality.
"Family Head Sima, you go handle True Lord Withered Glory!" True Lord Heavenly Wolf transmitted his voice.
Sima Xiangheng was also a True Lord powerhouse at the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage. Possessing a high-grade magic treasure, his combat prowess was in no way inferior to True Lord Green Wood.
Xu Chuan blasted away several early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators with a single palm strike. Just then, a crisp ringing sound drifted over, piercing directly into his spiritual sea and causing a wave of intense dizziness.
Xu Chuan viciously bit the tip of his tongue, snapping back to clarity in an instant.
Looking up, he saw the Sima Family Head hovering a short distance away, his fingers pinched in a sword seal. His natal flying sword orbited in the air before abruptly splitting into hundreds, then thousands, of sword silhouettes that rained down upon him like a torrential storm.
The chilling glint of the sword shadows completely sealed off any avenue of escape.
Hanging by a hair, Xu Chuan flipped his wrist, summoning the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella.
Pouring his spirit power into it, the umbrella snapped open. Azure-green spiritual light flowed across its surface, revealing the lifelike patterns of an azure dragon as a thick, green screen of light enveloped his body.
"Clang-clang-clang—!"
The dense barrage of sword shadows slammed into the light screen, erupting into a relentless cacophony of metallic clangs. The green screen trembled violently, yet it remained absolutely impenetrable, deflecting every single strike.
"To recover from the influence of my Sima Family's 'Soul-Seizing Heart-Controlling Bell' so swiftly... True Lord Withered Glory possesses a formidable soul indeed."
The Sima Family Head looked at Xu Chuan in genuine astonishment.
Holding the treasure umbrella, Xu Chuan met his gaze. "Daoist Friend praises me too highly. How should I address you?"
"Sima Family, Sima Xiangheng."
Sima Xiangheng knew perfectly well that breaching the defenses of a high-grade magic treasure on his own was nearly impossible, especially since this artifact was far from a run-of-the-mill defensive treasure.
Its umbrella ribs were forged entirely from flying sword magic treasures, capable of forming a sword array with immense destructive power.
He had heard rumors of this before.
"The four of you, attack with me!"
Upon hearing the command, four early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators nearby immediately abandoned their current opponents. Transforming into four demonic silhouettes, they darted over and completely encircled Xu Chuan alongside Sima Xiangheng.
The five men launched a synchronized assault. Divine abilities, magic treasures, and demonic flames—a barrage of devastating attacks all blasted toward the green light screen.
"Rumble—!"
The concentrated barrage struck the barrier. The Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella quivered violently, the dragon motifs on its canopy dimming slightly as the green light rippled frantically like disturbed water.
Xu Chuan's face paled as his internal spirit power drained at a terrifying rate. He immediately swallowed a pill and focused his thoughts.
"Swish-swish-swish—!"
Over a dozen azure flying swords abruptly shot out from the umbrella ribs. Flashing blindingly, they wove into a net of blades that descended to shred the four early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators.
Simultaneously, he flipped his left hand, summoning an ancient, unadorned seal in mid-air. The 'Heaven-Overturning Seal', carrying an overwhelming, mountain-crushing force, smashed fiercely toward the nearest demonic cultivator.
Sima Xiangheng seemed fully prepared. Pinching a seal with his right hand, the black copper bell at his waist chimed once more.
The ringing tone washed over the battlefield again.
Xu Chuan was already on guard; catching him off guard a second time would be immensely difficult.
However, the bell still caused a disturbance in Xu Chuan's divine sense, making his control over the flying swords and the 'Heaven-Overturning Seal' noticeably sluggish.
"Good, very good! You want to play dirty, do you?!"
Furious, Xu Chuan gripped the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella and immediately bolted into the distance.
"Chase him!"
Sima Xiangheng and the other four eagerly pursued.
After covering over fifty kilometers, Xu Chuan recalled his flying sword magic treasures and the 'Heaven-Overturning Seal', relying solely on the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella to maintain a staunch defense.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, six formation flags tore through the air from his sleeve robe. They seamlessly merged into the surrounding space, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Following that, his fingers danced rapidly, forming complex hand seals to deploy a Tier-3 Cloud Firmament Array.
The four cultivators relentlessly bombarded Xu Chuan, desperate to slay him and achieve skyrocketing fame. But Sima Xiangheng sensed something amiss and immediately attempted to activate the 'Soul-Seizing Heart-Controlling Bell' again.
Xu Chuan was more than prepared. The very instant his opponent activated the bell, twenty-four streaks of silver radiance condensed within his spiritual sea, transforming into divine sense silver needles as fine as ox hair.
With a mere thought, they shot forward like meteors chasing the moon, viciously piercing straight into Sima Xiangheng's spiritual sea.
A spiritual sense attack, combined with the lethal backlash of the 'Soul-Seizing Heart-Controlling Bell'.
It was double the pleasure!
"Ah!"
Sima Xiangheng felt as though he had been impaled by ten thousand needles; an excruciating agony instantly engulfed his entire body.
Blood poured from his mouth and nose, and he stumbled violently. Before he could even regain his bearings, Xu Chuan flourished his sleeve robe, hurling out the 'Heavy Profound Seal' in a devastating collision.
The raw power of the 'Heavy Profound Seal' was leagues beyond that of the 'Heaven-Overturning Seal'.
As the artifact closed in, a pale yellow light screen flared up several meters around Sima Xiangheng—a clear sign that the defensive magic treasure on his person had triggered automatically.
Yet, beneath the terrifying onslaught of the 'Heavy Profound Seal', the barrier endured for only a fleeting moment before shattering into pieces.
'A mid-grade defensive magic treasure!'
Xu Chuan was mildly surprised. As expected of a premier Golden Core aristocratic family, their underlying wealth and foundation were truly robust.
If his opponent's divine sense had not been severely wounded, allowing him to pour his full magical power into the defensive artifact, he might have been able to withstand the 'Heavy Profound Seal' for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
That duration would have been more than enough for him to escape danger.
But now, the massive seal carried unabated momentum, smashing mercilessly into Sima Xiangheng's chest. The grisly sound of bones shattering was loud and clear as he was sent flying backwards like a kite with a snapped string. His aura instantly withered; he had suffered grievous injuries.
Seeing this, the remaining four demonic cultivators had their ambitions of achieving glory instantly replaced by sheer terror. How could they dare to continue fighting? They spun around, morphing into demonic shadows to desperately flee.
"Since you're already here, you might as well stay!"
Xu Chuan shouted coldly, circulating his divine sense once more. The remainder of his mental energy solidified into invisible blades that instantly pierced into the spiritual seas of the four fleeing cultivators.
Their bodies jerked to a sudden halt, and agonizing screams tore from their throats.
Pitting the soul strength of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator against a divine sense secret method on par with Golden Core Perfection was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
At the exact same time, Xu Chuan formed a sword art hand seal. The ribs of the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella hummed violently as over a dozen azure flying swords tore through the air. Fueled by surging spirit power, they wove together to form a ferocious 'Sword of the Azure Dragon'.
Its serpentine body was composed of thousands of intersecting sword gleams, boasting razor-sharp scales and claws. With a deafening roar, it pounced on the four demonic cultivators.
"Puff-puff-puff—!"
As the blinding sword light flashed, a continuous string of miserable screams rang out.
The four demonic cultivators were instantly slaughtered by the 'Sword of the Azure Dragon'. Their remnant souls were forcefully imprisoned, and their Golden Cores were ruthlessly extracted.
Xu Chuan locked his icy gaze onto the severely wounded Sima Xiangheng. The 'Sword of the Azure Dragon' swung its massive head around and charged at him with apocalyptic momentum.
Pure terror flared in Sima Xiangheng's eyes. In a desperate frenzy, he yanked a crimson-red orb from his storage pouch and hurled it out.
In a split second, black yin flames intertwined with streaks of purple lightning in a catastrophic detonation. The resulting explosion spawned an immense energy storm that forcibly stalled the charge of the 'Sword of the Azure Dragon'.
Xu Chuan was knocked back dozens of meters by the tremendous shockwave.
How could Sima Xiangheng dare to linger? Filled with bone-deep regret for ever picking this fight, he swallowed a wound-healing pill, forcibly rallied a burst of magical power, and dragged his broken body away. Transforming into a streak of black light, he fled frantically toward the center of the battlefield.
Xu Chuan formed a hand seal to recall his formation flags. He fed the remnant souls into the 'Soul-Gathering Banner' to refine yin souls, while carelessly tossing the corpses and Golden Cores directly into the Yin Corpse Pouch as food for the five Profound Yin Blood Corpses.
The ambient aura of death permeating the area was rapidly absorbed by the 'Origin Life and Death Seal' swirling in his dantian.
Only then did he casually give chase to the fleeing Sima Xiangheng.
"True Lord Heavenly Wolf, save me!"
Seeing Sima Xiangheng rushing over in such absolute panic, True Lord Heavenly Wolf's brow knit tightly. It had barely been any time at all, yet Sima Xiangheng was already this grievously wounded?
And what of the other four? Were they all dead?!
They were all Golden Core cultivators, for heaven's sake, not merely some Foundation Establishment grunts!
Slaying them so swiftly naturally came with a heavy cost for Xu Chuan. Having used his divine sense secret method back to back, he feared he could only execute it one more time today.
Moreover, his massive divine sense consumption would inevitably hamper his execution of the Thousand Spirits Art. He would no longer be able to maintain flawless control over all twenty-four flying sword magic treasures.
Even his speed when manifesting the 'Sword of the Azure Dragon' would be significantly compromised.
"Family Head Sima, what exactly transpired?"
The moment his voice fell, Xu Chuan was already hurtling toward them, dead set on striking Sima Xiangheng down.
Sima Xiangheng frantically channeled his defensive magic treasure, conjuring the pale yellow light screen once more. Xu Chuan instantly formed the 'Withered Silence Seal' and slammed his palm heavily against the barrier.
"Xu Chuan possesses a horrifyingly powerful divine sense secret method! Below the Nascent Soul stage, even a cultivator at Golden Core Perfection cannot withstand it!
"Ordinary early and mid-stage Golden Core cultivators are nothing but cannon fodder before him!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf, True Lord Green Wood, and all the other surrounding Golden Core cultivators paled in undisguised shock.
"Daoist Friend Sima, you seem to have a bit too much to say."
Xu Chuan chained several palm strikes in rapid succession. Sima Xiangheng had foolishly assumed his artifact's defense could hold out for quite some time.
Yet, in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, jagged cracks spread wildly across the surface.
"This is the defensive screen of a mid-grade defensive magic treasure! How can it be breached so effortlessly by a mere divine ability?!"
Seeing that Xu Chuan was on the verge of killing Sima Xiangheng, True Lord Heavenly Wolf erupted with power, blasting True Lord Green Wood away with a brutal blow. He then unleashed a divine ability, transforming his power into a massive, blood-red phantom wolf that charged forward in a frenzied assault.
Forced onto the defensive, Xu Chuan retreated rapidly. He formed a seal, instantly manifesting three consecutive 'Flourishing Glory Seals' to intercept the incoming attack, barely neutralizing True Lord Heavenly Wolf's divine ability.
Seizing the desperate opening, Sima Xiangheng scurried back, taking shelter beside True Lord Heavenly Wolf.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf said, "Family Head Sima, do not panic. Even if True Lord Withered Glory possesses a potent divine sense secret method, it is common knowledge that such techniques have severe limits on how often they can be used in rapid succession. They drain divine sense incredibly quickly.
"The very fact that he hasn't deployed his sword array or manipulated multiple magic treasures reveals the compromised state of his divine sense.
"If you and the others join forces to encircle him now, we will undoubtedly be able to suppress him."
"I refuse!" Sima Xiangheng shot back, the lingering shadow of trauma gripping his heart. "I will handle True Lord Green Wood; you take True Lord Withered Glory!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf opened his mouth to argue, but after a brief pause, he reluctantly agreed. Gripping the Heavenly Wolf Halberd, he shot straight toward Xu Chuan.
The injured Sima Xiangheng and two early-stage Golden Core cultivators pivoted to gang up on True Lord Green Wood.
Though Sima Xiangheng in his current state was no match for True Lord Green Wood in a one-on-one duel, the combined pressure of multiple attackers and the timely activation of his 'Soul-Seizing Heart-Controlling Bell' constantly disrupted the latter's divine sense.
Time and again, True Lord Green Wood attempted an explosive outburst to instantly kill one of the early-stage Golden Core attackers, only for his momentum to be shattered by the chiming bell. He felt incredibly frustrated, yet he secretly marveled at the robust foundation of the Sima Family.
After all, magic treasures of this specific nature were incredibly bizarre and exceptionally rare.
Much like Xu Chuan's divine sense secret method.
Divine sense secret methods were strictly divided into tiers. Some were only effective during the Foundation Establishment stage, becoming largely obsolete once a cultivator advanced to the Golden Core stage.
A divine sense secret method capable of threatening Golden Core cultivators, however, was immeasurably precious.
Its value easily rivaled that of a top-tier magic treasure.
Sima Xiangheng hovered safely on the outskirts, occasionally activating his magic treasure or launching magical arts and divine abilities to harass True Lord Green Wood. Seeing that he and the other two were slowly grinding their opponent down, his shattered confidence began to reform.
It wasn't that he was weak—it was simply that Xu Chuan was a monstrous freak of nature.
On the other side.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf radiated an oppressive demonic aura like a living hell, faint howls echoing endlessly into the heavens. He swung the Heavenly Wolf Halberd, sending a terrifying, several-meter-long beam of halberd light cleaving fiercely toward Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan gave the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella a gentle spin. The sturdy green screen easily absorbed the devastating beam. Xu Chuan was merely pushed back a dozen feet, completely unharmed.
Seeing the green screen only quiver violently before stabilizing, True Lord Heavenly Wolf scowled.
Shattering this monstrous defense would be no easy feat.
His only viable option was to continuously drain Xu Chuan's magical power until the man could no longer maintain the artifact, or to gather multiple experts and forcefully batter it down.
However, regarding the former, True Lord Heavenly Wolf knew that Xu Chuan was an elite alchemist. While Tier-3 medicinal pills were scarce, it was a given that Xu Chuan had a considerable stockpile of power-restoring pills.
As for the latter, Xu Chuan was no immobile target dummy patiently waiting to be surrounded. His offensive power was close to True Lord Heavenly Wolf's own tier, and he was an absolute master at simultaneously wielding multiple magic treasures.
Even against a group assault, he could retaliate with terrifying ease.
'Damn it! The more I analyze this, the more infuriatingly problematic Xu Chuan proves to be. He might not possess the peerless, overwhelming dominance that Demon Lord Tianluo had during his Golden Core stage...'
'...but his arsenal is vast and utterly balanced, entirely devoid of any glaring weaknesses. It's an entirely different caliber of terrifying!'
'And the most crucial point is...'
'...he is only at the early-stage of the Golden Core!'
Although a towering murderous intent surged within True Lord Heavenly Wolf's heart, he was painfully aware that slaying Xu Chuan alone was exceedingly difficult.
His eyes flickered thoughtfully. As he continuously rained down waves of halberd light, his mind raced, trying to formulate a foolproof method to execute Xu Chuan.
Xu Chuan retaliated periodically, unleashing sporadic divine abilities or hurling ice and fire element magical arts. For the most part, though, he relied heavily on the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella for defense, creating the illusion that he was struggling to keep up.
In truth, his primary focus was secretly siphoning the dense auras of life and death permeating the battlefield, all while utilizing his divine sense to monitor the surrounding skirmishes.
Ten to fifteen kilometers away.
The Foundation Establishment battlefield had long since devolved into a genuine Asura slaughterhouse.
As far as the eye could see, violently exploding spiritual light resembled stars crashing into the earth. The endless roar of detonations, feral screams, and the furious clash of weapons merged into a deafening symphony of carnage.
A thick mist of blood choked the air, painting the once-greystone pillars of the forest in a sickening, eye-piercing crimson.
Severed limbs, broken bodies, and shattered dharma tools intermingled, raining continuously from the sky.
Cultivators from all factions had completely lost themselves to bloodlust.
Some rogue cultivators were instantly blasted by multiple magical arts the moment they clashed, coughing up blood in critical condition. Various family disciples frantically relied on combined-attack formations to endure, only to be swallowed whole by even more massive tides of enemies.
If just one person fell, the formation shattered immediately, sending the remaining survivors scattering for their lives.
But mere seconds later, merciless streaks of sword light would descend, riddling their bodies with bloody holes and scattering a rain of gore across the field.
In other areas, groups formed defensive circles, desperately buying time for a single ally to deploy a talisman treasure.
A moment later.
The talisman treasure morphed into a blazing crimson phoenix. With a piercing cry, it spread its wings and dove, instantly incinerating over a dozen early-stage Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators and severely maiming several mid and late-stage experts.
The maimed cultivators were quickly butchered by the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Foundation Establishment forces shortly after.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators of Cloudstream Town had formed a tight circular formation, defending bitterly against the onslaught.
Outside the array, Greedy Wolf Prefecture's Foundation Establishment troops surged forward in relentless waves, easily doubling their numbers.
The brilliant hues of myriad dharma tools and elemental magical arts merged into a dazzling, chaotic torrent that battered endlessly against their crumbling defenses.
Ye Fan fought entirely on his own.
His qi and blood boiled violently, the Brahma Sacred Fist unleashing unparalleled, overbearing might. Every single punch guaranteed a brutal death or crippling injury, forcibly carving an empty swathe of blood amidst the enemy ranks.
His True Yang Divine Ability radiated blinding beams of light, condensing the fires of True Yang into fiery crows that viciously dive-bombed in all directions.
Any unlucky soul touched by the Tier-3 true fire of the fiery crows would instantly ignite into a roaring inferno, screaming in agony until they were completely reduced to ashes.
Yet, despite his peerless bravery and ferocity, even he was bogged down in an excruciating struggle.
There were simply too many Greedy Wolf Prefecture Foundation Establishment cultivators. He repeatedly found himself caught in impeccably coordinated encirclements by ten to twenty mid and late-stage experts.
Furthermore, those groups invariably included several cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection, occasionally even a Foundation Establishment genius who had comprehended the true intent of a divine ability.
Blade auras, sword rays, fiery serpents, freezing lances... countless lethal attacks pelted him from all angles in an airtight barrage.
Ye Fan's physical body had reached the Tier 2 Perfection stage, granting him enough raw power to brawl bare-handed against a Tier 2 Peak Demonic Beast. His iron fists blurred into an impenetrable defense, deflecting anything that drew close.
But the endless deluge of dharma tools and magical arts slowly chipped away at him. Over time, countless fine, bloody lacerations began to mar his once-invulnerable, Tier 2 Perfection physique.
Deep within, the sickening 'creak' of bones straining under insufferable pressure echoed faintly as microscopic fractures began to spread.
He was like a vicious beast hopelessly tangled in a thick spiderweb; fighting tenaciously, yet inexorably pinned down.
When the brothers Huang Tianxiong and Huang Tianba fell, he could only watch helplessly, utterly unable to intervene. All he managed to do was violently retrieve their mangled corpses.
By this point, the number of Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators that had perished by Ye Fan's hands numbered sixty to seventy.
Under normal circumstances, such a terrifying body count would strike profound dread into the hearts of any adversary.
But this was an all-out war zone. Almost everyone had succumbed to maddening bloodlust.
Their eyes were bloodshot, and their minds were completely devoid of anything save a singular, all-consuming urge to kill.
Ye Fan, too, was slowly being dragged into this vortex of endless slaughter. But suddenly, a cool voice transmitted directly into his mind. He shuddered violently as his spiritual sea instantly cleared.
"The battlefield is the ultimate crucible for tempering one's willpower. Calm your heart and focus your mind. Push your battle intent to its absolute limit, resonate with it, and refine it further.
"Furthermore, why are you hoarding that talisman treasure? Rely on your defensive dharma tools to buy yourself a moment to activate it. If the tools can't hold, just detonate them entirely—it's not like you lack dharma tools."
"Thank you for your guidance, Honored Master. This disciple was nearly swallowed entirely by the battlefield's killing intent, on the verge of becoming a mindless butcher."
"Do not be careless!"
"Understood!"
Ye Fan followed the instructions meticulously. After ruthlessly self-destructing two secondary defensive dharma tools, he finally succeeded in activating the talisman treasure.
This specific talisman treasure was no ordinary item—it was an imprint directly derived from Xu Chuan's own 'Heavy Profound Seal'.
An ink-black seal levitated majestically overhead.
Its terrifying, suppressive pressure descended upon the field, a weight far heavier than an entire mountain range.
It utterly enveloped an area over a radius of over three hundred meters, pinning the bodies of every single Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator within, making it practically impossible for them to move.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Ye Fan stoked his personal battle intent to its very zenith, inadvertently sparking a powerful resonance within the hearts of his allies.
The cultivators of Cloudstream Town, along with the rest of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Foundation Establishment troops, were deeply infected by this fervor. Unconsciously, they raised their weapons and roared, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Even though the 'Heavy Profound Seal' talisman treasure could only endure for a brief dozen or so breaths, it was more than enough time for the allied forces to brutally massacre every single demonic sect disciple caught within its suppressing radius.
In merely a matter of moments.
A waterfall of blood poured from the sky, and hundreds of mangled corpses slammed heavily into the stone floor of the Thousand Stone Forest.
While Ye Fan had not slain all of them single-handedly, witnessing so many of their comrades annihilated in a single instant struck sheer terror into the remaining Foundation Establishment forces of Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
This spectacular massacre also successfully drew the side-glances of numerous experts in the Golden Core battlefield above.
"Is that a talisman treasure?"
"Its power is virtually on par with a true magic treasure!"
"It must be an imprint forged from True Lord Withered Glory's high-grade magic treasure. Otherwise, there is absolutely no way it could harbor such terrifying might."
"That seems to be a complete, fully-charged talisman treasure, which means it can still be deployed up to nine times! If so, wouldn't our Foundation Establishment disciples suffer a catastrophic loss of at least a third of their total forces?!"
"No! We must eradicate that brat immediately! Under no circumstances can he be allowed to unleash that talisman treasure again!"
However, it was evidently beyond the capabilities of the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators to stop him. Having tasted the immense tactical advantage it provided, the rest of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture forces vigorously shielded Ye Fan, viciously rebuffing anyone attempting to interrupt him.
Meanwhile, the demonic cultivators scattered in all directions like frightened prey, desperately terrified of grouping up and being annihilated in a single, sweeping blow.
After all, the suppressive aura of that giant seal rained down indiscriminately upon everyone within its grasp. The more cultivators caught within its horrific range, the higher the death toll.
Under such crushing pressure, only those at Foundation Establishment Perfection retained a sliver of strength to resist. Even then, they were reduced to less than half their normal power, their magical power stagnant and sluggish. In that pitiful state, any random mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily decapitate a Perfection-stage expert.
Triggering it twice more in rapid succession, another several hundred Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators were effortlessly butchered.
Panic consumed them. What was once an unstoppable tide of steel sweeping across the battlefield had now been single-handedly brought to a devastating halt by one man.
"Brat, you are courting death!"
An early-stage Golden Core expert swooped down, executing a minor success divine ability and fiercely slamming a palm directly toward Ye Fan.
"Fight!"
Ye Fan wildly circulated the Brahma Sacred Fist. Surging magical power flooded his veins as a faint golden radiance shimmered across his skin. His face displayed zero fear; instead, the battle intent raging in his eyes fully manifested into literal burning flames.
His comprehension of true battle intent, previously stalled at sixty percent, miraculously vaulted to eighty percent in this dire moment.
It was a true epiphany birthed in the heat of slaughter!
And that wasn't all. Having relentlessly unleashed the Brahma Sacred Fist, the third stance—which had been bottlenecked at the large success stage for ages—finally showed signs of shattering its shackles.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Ye Fan had completely transformed into a war immortal. Anchored by an invincible conviction, his iron fists battered out ceaselessly, his raw momentum climbing higher and higher with every strike.
Astonishingly, despite relying on a divine ability, that early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator was completely incapable of suppressing Ye Fan!
If Ye Fan had been a purely Qi-cultivating Foundation Establishment disciple, an early-stage Golden Core expert wielding a mere rudimentary divine ability would have effortlessly crushed him.
But Ye Fan was a master of the dual cultivation of Dharma and Body. With his flesh refined to the absolute peak of Tier 2 Perfection, his raw physical strength was unparalleled.
Bolstered by the tri-fold augmentation of magical power, bodily strength, and peerless battle intent, the might of his Brahma Sacred Fist had multiplied exponentially. Moreover, because his divine sense had already crossed into the Golden Core tier...
...he possessed the absolute clarity and control necessary to perfectly master this terrifying power that wildly exceeded his actual cultivation base.
Battle intent was an exceedingly unique element. Far more than merely the true intent of a divine ability, it functioned as a direct amplifier for the body itself— akin to consuming a potent stimulant that violently forced out latent potential.
The only difference was that explosive battle intent came with absolutely zero crippling side effects.
"How is this possible?!"
The more the early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator fought, the deeper his horror grew. Under Ye Fan's surging, tide-like barrage of punches, he actually felt as though he was slowly being pushed onto the back foot!
"Impossible! How could I possibly lose to a mere Foundation Establishment ant?!"
With a frantic flip of his wrist, a gargantuan copper hammer materialized in his grip. "Die for me!"
The copper hammer instantly expanded to over ten feet in size. Exuding a crushing, apocalyptic aura, it plunged furiously toward Ye Fan.
"Battle intent manifesting as fire, the intent to incinerate the heavens... So that's how it is!"
In that transcendent moment, Ye Fan fully grasped the ultimate, perfected meaning behind the third move of the Brahma Sacred Fist: the 'Heaven Burning Fist'.
"Dominate the Heavens, Sever the Heavens, Burn the Heavens!"
Ye Fan rapidly threw three devastating punches. The three seamlessly merged into a singular strike, generating a gale-force shockwave as sharp as a razor's edge.
Bang!
Ye Fan's bare fist collided directly with the colossal copper hammer, producing a deafening, metallic boom.
The very next moment.
The massive copper hammer was savagely blasted backwards into the air, simultaneously dealing a severe, concussive blow to the Golden Core demonic cultivator wielding it.
Naturally, Ye Fan paid a price. The sleeve robe on his striking arm violently detonated into shreds, and blood spurted profusely from tearing skin. Yet, utterly ignoring the gruesome wound, the battle intent raging in his eyes merely skyrocketed even higher.
Xu Chuan frowned slightly. 'What an absurdly domineering fist art. The colossal rebound force from merging three punches into one is something even a Tier 2 Perfection physique cannot fully endure. Could it require a Tier 3 physical body to master completely?
'Just the perfection of the Heaven Burning Fist alone rivals the power of other entry-level divine abilities. Unifying all three punches... its might undoubtedly borders on a minor success divine ability.
'As expected of a pinnacle body refinement cultivation method from the True Demon Realm. It truly is horrifying!'
"We cannot allow this brat to survive! If he manages to advance to the Golden Core, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
"I will annihilate him!"
A mid-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator hurtled down from the sky. Gripped tightly in his hands was a gruesome bone blade nearly on par with a mid-grade magic treasure, radiating a shockingly terrifying bloodlust.
"To openly attempt to murder my disciple right in front of this True Lord... do you think I'm already dead?!"
Xu Chuan bellowed furiously. Unleashing his divine sense secret method once more, twenty-four silver needles of pure mental energy effortlessly breached the attacker's spiritual sea in a split second.
The mid-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator unleashed a single, bloodcurdling shriek before instantly plummeting out of the sky, barely clinging to his final breath.
Xu Chuan quickly transmitted his voice to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan surged upward, intercepting the falling expert. With one brutal punch, he pulverized the man's skull into mist, ending his life instantly.
This horrific display completely petrified every single Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivator present!
Immediately after, Ye Fan callously stuffed the headless corpse into his storage pouch and darted back toward the grand array established by the Heavenly Azure Prefecture. As he flew, he roared, "All forces of Cloudstream Town, retreat!"
The cultivators of Cloudstream Town immediately obeyed without hesitation.
By the time anyone snapped out of their shock, it was far too late even for the Golden Core experts to intercept Ye Fan.
He, along with the two hundred surviving Foundation Establishment troops of Cloudstream Town, smoothly slipped back into the absolute safety of the inner perimeter of the grand array.
"How is this... he actually killed Old Demon Black Crow?!" muttered the early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivator who had previously wielded the massive copper hammer.
"It was True Lord Withered Glory's divine sense secret method!" Sima Xiangheng shouted instantly.
"If he goes all out, anyone below the late-stage of the Golden Core will suffer crippling soul damage from a single strike! Even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator will be reduced to agonizing headaches, left at his mercy. And even those at Golden Core Perfection will be heavily wounded, their overall combat prowess severely slashed!
"That is, unless they possess a unique magic treasure specifically designed to defend against spiritual sense attacks!"
The surrounding masses were consumed by dread. The gazes they now fixed upon Xu Chuan were brimming with unparalleled awe and terror.
"True Lord Withered Glory, are you treating this True Lord as completely nonexistent?!" True Lord Heavenly Wolf howled in a frenzied rage, raining down over a dozen terrifying beams of halberd light. Yet, all he managed to do was force the green screen to ripple violently once again.
Not a single crack appeared.
"True Lord Heavenly Wolf, if you had managed to comprehend your divine ability to the perfection stage, this Xu might actually view you with a shred of respect. But as you are right now..."
"...Below the Nascent Soul stage, I am king!"
Immediately following that, Xu Chuan sent a taunting voice transmission. "If you have the guts, follow me. You must be dying to know exactly how your junior brother, True Lord Canglang, met his end, right?"
Faced with a Tier 3 Peak Blood Fiend Ghost King and a late Tier 3 Five Spirits Blood Corpse Formation, True Lord Heavenly Wolf would be hopelessly outmatched.
Even if he barely managed to carve out an escape route, Xu Chuan would be lying in ambush to deliver the final blow.
Xu Chuan feigned a strategic retreat, flying out into the distance.
Sima Xiangheng instantly cried out in alarm, "True Lord Heavenly Wolf, do not pursue him! Beware of a trap!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf frowned deeply. After hesitating for a agonizing moment, he ultimately decided against chasing after Xu Chuan. Midway through his mock retreat, Xu Chuan circled back, mocking coldly, "How truly boring!"
"I'm done fighting. I'm going back!"
Xu Chuan promptly zipped back to the grand array. The absolute second he crossed the defensive light screen, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His aura rapidly withered, and his face instantly turned ghastly pale.
The onlooking Golden Core demonic cultivators were utterly dumbfounded by this sudden sight.
"Could it be that the sheer drain on his power, compounded by True Lord Heavenly Wolf's relentless bombardment, severely damaged his internal organs?"
"It is highly likely."
"Damn it all! He actually managed to slip away!"
"Indeed. If True Lord Heavenly Wolf hadn't been intimidated into staying put, if he had relentlessly given chase, there was a genuine chance he could have struck him down!
"But now that he's narrowly escaped with his life, securing a kill next time will be virtually impossible."
Xu Deyue and Perfected Person Fire Cloud seized the moment of mass distraction. Transforming into streaks of light, they swiftly retreated into the absolute safety of the grand array's inner boundary.
"Daoist Friend Green Wood, this Xu needs to withdraw and recuperate. The rest of you hold the line for now."
Considering Xu Chuan had single-handedly slaughtered five Golden Core demonic cultivators, True Lord Green Wood could hardly raise a word of complaint. After all, despite being the nominal commander on the front lines, his own personal harvest was essentially a total crop failure.
"True Lord Green Wood, it appears your esteemed position as leader exists in name only. But then again, one can hardly blame you. True Lord Withered Glory is far too monstrous. Were he a member of our Greedy Wolf Prefecture, even my sect would be thoroughly unsettled."
"True Lord Heavenly Wolf, cease your pathetic attempts to sow discord."
The fierce battle erupted once more.
However, facing the combined assault of True Lord Heavenly Wolf and Sima Xiangheng, True Lord Green Wood sustained catastrophic injuries in less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn. He frantically fled back into the confines of the grand array.
The remainder of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture's Golden Core and Foundation Establishment forces swiftly sounded the retreat, pulling back in droves.
On the surface, it appeared to be a resounding victory for Greedy Wolf Prefecture. However, their actual casualties amongst the Foundation Establishment ranks wildly eclipsed those of the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, to say nothing of the staggering loss of five Golden Core demonic cultivators.
"Attack! Batter down this grand array as quickly as possible!" True Lord Heavenly Wolf roared through gritted teeth.