"This grand array is truly remarkable. It is my first time seeing such a complex composite grand array!"
The Gray-Robed Old Man paused, his eyes rippling slightly. "It seems those demonic beasts won't be coming out."
"Completely wiped out?!"
Another person exclaimed in disbelief, "I heard the Xu Family only has five Golden Core cultivators...
"
"Idiots," the green-robed young man scoffed disdainfully. "Did you not see True Lord Withered Glory's strength just now?
"Killing five Tier 3 demonic beasts is naturally not an issue for him.
"If I, Tao, had such a profound grand array, I would also be confident in single-handedly slaying those five Tier 3 demonic beasts.
"As for the thousands of low-tier demonic beasts, since the Xu Family is the number one aristocratic family, their heritage is naturally extraordinary. They also have five newly advanced Golden Core cultivators besides True Lord Withered Glory.
Hearing this, everyone shivered.
Then, they fell silent.
They felt that the green-robed young man's words made perfect sense.
"Daoist Friend Tao, are you still interested in targeting this Xu Family?" the Gray-Robed Old Man asked with a half-smile.
The green-robed young man chuckled and immediately left without looking back, leaving behind a trailing voice. "Whoever wants to go can go. We can't even figure out their foundation.
"Barging in would likely just be throwing our lives away.
"Besides, I still want to check out the Ancient Battlefield.
"Daoist Friend Luo, until we meet again."
As for the rest of the group, the green-robed young man completely disregarded them.
Once the green-robed young man left.
The Gray-Robed Old Man cast one last glance at Dongxi before finally letting out a soft sigh and departing.
The others also hurried toward different locations; there was no need to hang themselves on a single tree.
Furthermore, this was a dead man's tree.
A demonic beast army of that scale had been silently annihilated, let alone mostly solitary Golden Core demonic cultivators like them.
One by one, streaks of light flew away into the distance.
In the blink of an eye, the area outside Dongxi...
...returned to tranquility once more.
However.
The Immortal Martial General Alliance and the Great Liang Imperial Palace were not as fortunate.
Their grand arrays had been breached.
Everyone scattered to flee for their lives.
But the vast majority perished under the pursuit of demonic beasts and demonic cultivators.
Lei Yunchao, relying on a secret method of burning essence blood, suffered a massive loss of vitality and fled to a remote, barren mountain to recuperate.
Yet, the Tier 3 demonic beast tracking him had not given up.
It was the Phantom Shadow Bat that had breached the Great Liang Imperial Palace. Although it was only at the early-stage of Tier 3, it excelled at tracking and scouting.
It followed Lei Yunchao's trail relentlessly; finding this barren mountain was only a matter of time.
At the Great Liang Imperial Palace.
The slaughter was still ongoing.
Suddenly, a massive demonic bird with a wingspan of over sixty meters descended.
When its wings spread, they obscured the sun like dark clouds, and black-and-crimson flames coiled around its feathers.
It was precisely the Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow.
The Tier 3 demonic beasts still devouring humans in the palace saw this and immediately flew before it, bowing their heads slightly. "His Highness Hei Ming."
"Have all the factions above the Foundation Establishment stage in the Land of Imprisonment been annihilated?"
A Purple-Striped Lightning Leopard replied, "The Foundation Establishment faction of this so-called Great Wei kingdom should be destroyed, but we are unsure about the other regions."
"Then continue. This is a carnival for our Hundred Thousand Mountains that only occurs once a millennium. You may all revel to your hearts' content!"
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Where is the Black Flame Sparrow?"
"It heard that there is also a Golden Core faction opposite Great Wei, so it went there alongside the Silver Moon Demonic Wolf."
"They are both at the late-stage of Tier 3, and combined with the other Tier 3 Demon Monarchs in that area, wiping out a Golden Core faction should be no problem."
"Your Highness is correct," the Purple-Striped Lightning Leopard said. "This subordinate notices that Your Highness's aura seems somewhat weakened. Could you be injured?"
The Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow shot a fierce glare at the leopard, then casually replied, "I ran into two demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region over in Great Liang.
"Both were at Golden Core Perfection, and they had achieved Great Accomplishment in their Divine Abilities.
"They also possessed high-grade magic treasures.
"I suffered some injuries battling them.
"Of course, they did not walk away unscathed either!"
"Your Highness is mighty! You must not be far from the realm of a Shapeshifting Demon Monarch!"
The Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow declared proudly, "During this grand feast, this prince will definitely devour a few Golden Core prodigies from the Blackwater Region and Heavenly South, turning them into my stepping stones to enter the Shapeshifting realm!"
Pausing for a moment, he asked, "I heard that fellow, the Profound Feather Nether Serpent, also came. Have any of you seen him?"
"We heard earlier that he also went to that so-called Great Liang."
The Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow's pupils shrank slightly. "Is that so? This prince has not seen him. It seems we missed each other. However, although he is also one of the candidates to become a Shapeshifting Demon Monarch this time...
...compared to this prince, he is still somewhat lacking."
"Alright, enough talk. This prince needs to recuperate here. Go find some premium blood food for this prince to help me recover faster."
"Yes, His Highness Hei Ming!"
The remaining Tier 3 demonic beasts acknowledged the order one after another.
In a certain Commandery City within Great Jin.
"That damn Black Flame Sparrow! The next time I see it, I will definitely kill it!"
"That Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow is not simple. Its Bloodline Power is extraordinary."
"So what? We two still have a combined Divine Ability we haven't used yet. Even someone at Divine Ability Perfection could be severely injured by it."
Occupying this place to recuperate were none other than Black Fiend and White Fiend, who had unexpectedly encountered the Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow.
The two of them were Elders of the Heavenly Fiend Sect.
"It's a pity we were blocked by that beast. That Dongxi Xu Clan has probably been wiped out by the mysterious person who massacred Great Liang by now.
"I wonder if we'll have a chance to run into that person later."
White Fiend sighed emotionally.
"This is only the beginning. Once the people from Heavenly South arrive, that will be the time for the top-tier individuals to enter the stage. You don't need to worry about a lack of opponents."
Black Fiend said calmly, "Our most pressing matter right now is to restore ourselves to our peak condition."
"That's true."
The Poison Dragon Crocodile and its group, having destroyed the Immortal Martial General Alliance, entrenched themselves there. A massive number of demonic beasts and wild beasts spread out in all directions with this place as their center.
They began a further sweep of destruction.
A Second-Tier Demon Beast's intelligence already rivaled that of a human's, and Tier 3 ones were naturally even smarter.
It was just that most demonic beasts struggled to shake off their impulsive and violent natures, making their actions much more straightforward.
This was determined by the bloodline factors within their bodies.
It could be said that their success was due to their bloodlines, and their downfall was also due to their bloodlines.
Unless they could perfectly control it.
First, destroy all the Golden Core factions in the Land of Imprisonment, and then continuously expand outwards from those points.
How many could survive depended entirely on the luck of the human race in the Land of Imprisonment.
Soon, the Poison Dragon Crocodile's group learned that Yuehu Commandery had no Tier 3 demonic beasts holding down the fort, leaving the low-tier demonic beasts headless.
They immediately headed there.
However, with only five high-level demonic beasts, and only one being at the late-stage of Tier 3, even though the remaining low-tier demonic beasts numbered over a hundred thousand, they were still well within the Xu Family's appetite.
The Poison Dragon Crocodile and its companions were swiftly slain.
As for the low-tier demonic beasts, they became sparring partners for the disciples of Dongxi, used to temper their courage and bloodlust.
Knowing that their fellow clansmen had likely died in the jaws of these creatures...
...their hearts were filled with hatred.
This battle lasted for a full six to eight hours.
Because the Poison Dragon Crocodiles had gathered over eighty percent of the demonic beasts and wild beasts from Guangling Commandery and Yuehu Commandery.
Now that they had been wiped out by Dongxi, the survival rate of ordinary people in these two commanderies was significantly higher than in other regions.
Soon, the second day passed in this manner.
However, although the demonic beasts had dwindled...
...Golden Core demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region still occasionally visited Dongxi.
Those who were wary did not dare to trespass.
And those who did trespass all died silently.
Because there was little profit to be made there, many Golden Core demonic cultivators shifted their targets to those Tier 3 demonic beasts.
A Tier 3 demonic beast's entire body was filled with treasures.
Thus, many Golden Core demonic cultivators teamed up to hunt them.
Of course, the majority of demonic cultivators still cherished their own lives and wouldn't forcefully hunt them at the cost of throwing their lives away.
But there were also those who were quite unlucky and picked the wrong targets.
For example, the two or three who went to the Great Wei Imperial Palace all ended up as blood food for the Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow.
"As expected, Golden Core cultivators are the true delicacy, but waiting here obediently for them to come to my door is far too inefficient."
Not long after.
Once the Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow fully recovered, it left the Great Wei Imperial Palace.
It intended to hunt Blackwater Region Golden Core demonic cultivators everywhere.
This news spread quickly.
Those Golden Core demonic cultivators weren't idiots. Such a fierce beast was equivalent to the very peak experts on their side; they definitely wouldn't be a match for it.
Therefore, every single one of them went into hiding.
Meanwhile, tales of the Dongxi Xu Clan began circulating among the Blackwater Region Golden Core demonic cultivators.
Rumors said they were a branch family of a top-tier faction in Heavenly South, and that a top-tier Golden Core expert from Heavenly South had arrived early to protect them.
"That Dongxi Xu Clan is quite interesting. Could it be that they will survive the Great Tribulation this time?"
A group of three to five Golden Core demonic cultivators gathered together.
"That depends on how strong their protector is. Hasn't the Hundred Thousand Mountains already sent that Double-Headed Black Flame Sparrow onto the field early, hunting us everywhere?"
"That demonic beast is indeed formidable. The number of people who can escape from its claws are few and far between."
"I heard there is also a Profound Feather Nether Serpent with roughly the same strength, but we haven't seen any trace of it."
"Perhaps it swallowed a few Golden Core cultivators and is hiding somewhere to digest them."
And soon.
This news also reached the ears of demonic beasts everywhere.
It seemed that some demonic cultivators wanted to incite a major war between the demonic beasts and the Dongxi Xu Clan.
But this was an Open Scheme.
After all, during this Great Tribulation, the demonic beasts were the main force, and their primary mission was to annihilate all Golden Core factions in the Land of Imprisonment first.
Only after that would the mutual slaughter begin among the demonic beasts, the Blackwater Region Golden Core cultivators, and the Heavenly South Golden Core cultivators.
Until the Ancient Battlefield opened.
A massive number of Tier 3 demonic beasts quickly assembled, driving a sea of low-tier demonic beasts and wild beasts towards their destination.
Under the Withered Glory Tree.
A sense of crisis seemingly arose in Xu Chuan's heart.
He furrowed his brows and began to divine. Utilizing his single exemption from Heavenly Secrets Backlash, he obtained two words.
'Demonic Beasts!'
'Just as I expected, it's them.'
'It seems the news that our Dongxi Xu Clan has not been wiped out has already spread.'
Xu Chuan had long anticipated this, and could even guess that it was highly likely leaked by the Blackwater Region demonic cultivators.
From the current situation...
...the number of Tier 3 demonic beasts and Golden Core demonic cultivators in the Land of Imprisonment had already exceeded two hundred.
Coupled with the subsequent arrival from Heavenly South, some peak Tier 3 beasts and top-tier demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region would inevitably appear.
The situation would only grow increasingly chaotic.
'Ultimately, there must be a battle. However, they should have linked my Dongxi with the Nascent Soul Power of Heavenly South by now.
'This will save us some trouble down the line.'
"All cultivators and martial artists in Dongxi, assemble at the plaza at the foot of the mountain."
Xu Chuan's voice suddenly echoed through every corner of Dongxi.
"That's the Ancestor's voice! Is something major about to happen?"
"It should be related to the so-called Great Tribulation," an old man said, stroking his beard. "But with the Ancestor and the Elders here, our Dongxi will surely remain safe and sound."
Many people engaged in Widespread Discussion.
"Quick! To the plaza!"
For a time, whether it was cultivators meditating in seclusion, martial artists sparring in the Martial Arts Arena, or alchemists refining pills in the Dan Hall...
...all of them, after a brief moment of surprise and uncertainty, headed toward the plaza at the foot of the mountain.
The numerous guards also concluded their patrols and rushed to the plaza.
Streaks of light rose and converged from all over Dongxi, like A Hundred Rivers Return to the Sea, flying toward the expansive bluestone plaza at the mountain's base.
Among the Xu Family clansmen, the ordinary people who were meant to pass away from old age had already died.
Today, any member of the Xu Clan, even if not an immortal cultivator, was at least a martial artist.
Therefore.
The Xu Family women, including Bai Jing and Yang Ronghua, also walked out of the Xu Family Manor and arrived at the plaza.
Fifteen minutes later.
Seven to eight thousand people had gathered in the plaza.
Everyone maintained an appropriate distance, their expressions solemn.
At the very front of the crowd naturally stood the Xu Family clansmen.
The scale was almost identical to an Ancestral sacrifice. They lined up in order of seniority, followed by the Xu Clan's Vassals, guards, servants, and so forth.
A moment later.
Hum—
From the direction of the Jade Cold Pool, a clear and resonant streak of light pierced the sky.
In the blink of an eye, it crossed several miles and arrived instantly.
Xu Chuan, clad in a simple green robe with an ordinary visage and a restrained aura, appeared as nothing more than a common scholar.
He did not deliberately release any Pressure, nor was he accompanied by radiant auspicious lights; he merely stood there simply.
Yet, the moment he appeared.
The seven to eight thousand pairs of eyes in the plaza simultaneously focused on him, and the faint unease and restlessness in everyone's hearts miraculously calmed down.
It was as if, as long as this figure was present, they had nothing to fear even if the sky were to fall.
Xu Chuan swept his gaze over the crowd.
His eyes were like ancient wells, devoid of the slightest ripple.
"Previously, many of you experienced a battle with the demonic beasts, but that was merely an appetizer,"
Xu Chuan declared calmly. "The true Tribulation is about to arrive."
"Among you, perhaps many are harboring resentment in your hearts, wondering why our Xu Family did not save your clansmen. Soon, you will be able to see for yourselves.
"Just what exactly constitutes a Great Tribulation!
"Today, our Xu Family is already the sole surviving Golden Core faction here.
"And the demonic beast forces will not allow us to exist, unless we beat them until they hurt, beat them until they are terrified, forcing them to compromise.
"If you have resentment, vent it all onto the incoming demonic beasts."
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "From this moment on, everyone in Dongxi will prepare for battle! Those who disobey orders will be killed!"
"Zhou, Qin, Zhao, Wang, and Li, your five Vassal families are to form your respective units. Combat Hall disciples will form squads of six and platoons of twelve, awaiting further deployment.
"The guards will also operate in squads of twelve.
"Xu Clan disciples, whether Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment, will form teams of three on your own.
"Chongjian, Chongfei, Wenjing, 'Yuan', and the disciples who have comprehended the True Intent of a Divine Ability may act freely to slay demonic beasts or support squads in danger.
"As for the Tier 3 and above demonic beasts, we Golden Core cultivators will naturally intercept them for you."
Xu Chuan issued his commands methodically.
"In half an incense stick's time, everyone is to gather near the Foggy Area to distribute Tokens. Holding a Token will prevent your vision and Divine sense from being obstructed by the fog."
"Begin your preparations."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
Everyone cupped their hands in unison.
They all felt the heavy tension of the impending storm.
Half an incense stick's time later.
The crowd assembled once again.
Xu Chonghui distributed the Tokens. These were all temporary Tokens, valid for ten days.
Having experienced the previous battle, the majority of the people were clearly not as afraid of the demonic beasts.
Some were even excitedly discussing with their companions how many demonic beasts they planned to slay this time.
Xu Chuan's Divine sense enveloped a radius of over sixty miles.
Two hours later.
Outside Dongxi.
Along the distant mountain skyline, it initially started as just a streak of ominous dark dust rising from the horizon.
Immediately after, the dust storm spread and expanded at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Like splashed thick ink, it swiftly dyed half the sky.
It was not a dark cloud, but a demonic cloud formed by a mixture of dust kicked up by the stampede of countless demonic beasts and their sweeping demonic qi!
"Boom... Boom... Boom...
"
Muffled sounds echoed from the extreme distance.
At first, they were faint.
But as the sound drew closer, it grew louder and louder.
It gradually transformed from low, muffled thuds into an unending, thunderous roar.
The ground in Dongxi began to tremble slightly.
Loose gravel danced upon the bluestone slabs, and dense ripples broke out across the pond surfaces.
On the distant mountains, entire swaths of trees collapsed, and dust plumed into the heavens!
"They're here!"
Xu Chuan, Xu Mingwei, and the others stood high in the sky, lined up in a single row.
"Mingxian, open our field of vision!" Xu Chuan commanded via voice transmission.
Xu Mingxian, who was controlling the formations at the Jade Cold Pool, immediately activated the array.
At this moment, everyone could see the scene unfolding outside Dongxi.
"That is...!"
A sharp-eyed Qi Refining disciple cried out in shock, his trembling finger pointing toward the eastern horizon.
Giant, towering silhouettes pierced through the churning demonic clouds one after another, revealing their true forms!
In mere moments.
Those colossal beasts arrived just a few miles outside Dongxi.
Leading the charge were six late-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts.
There was an Earth-Rending Golden Rhinoceros with a completely golden body and a spiral horn on its head; a Flying Centipede over a hundred meters long with fleshy wings; and an Omen Hound with three heads, six tails, and feathers burning with black flames.
There was a Rock Giant towering fifty meters high; an Abyssal Poison Flood Dragon with scales like black crystals and a bulging forehead; and a Profound Shell Giant Crab shaped like a massive crab, carrying a heavy carapace and sporting dual pincers like siege rams.
Behind them were eight Mid-Grade Tier 3 demonic beasts of varying shapes with auras not far behind, followed by nearly twenty early-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts.
A lineup like this was enough to match the total Golden Core combat strength of a Nascent Soul sect.
The crowd in Dongxi watched in dumbfounded silence, the sounds of nervous gulping rising one after another.
Terror filled many of their faces.
Lin Qianfeng looked at Lei Xiaoyun and asked, "Brother Lei, are those real?"
"I... I don't know," Lei Xiaoyun replied with a bitter expression.
"Which faction could possibly withstand a demonic beast army of this scale? Even just a tenth of it would be enough to annihilate a Golden Core Aristocratic Family, right?
Can Dongxi really hold out against this?"
Jiang Wusheng's eyes were filled with dread.
"They are, after all, the last Golden Core Aristocratic Family standing," Lei Xiaoyun stated. "Besides, we are already grasshoppers tied to the same rope, aren't we?"
The disciples of the Jiang, Lei, and Lin Families all fell silent.
Their families had likely already been destroyed. The world was vast, yet with demonic beasts swarming everywhere, where could they possibly hide?!
Down on the ground.
As far as the eye could see—the mountain forests, the plains, the river valleys—any piece of land that could be stood upon was entirely swallowed by a black tide!
It was a destructive flood composed of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of low-tier demonic beasts and frenzied wild beasts!
Meanwhile, on a mountain peak several dozen miles away, flanking the demonic beast army...
...over ten streaks of distinctly colored, sinister-looking demonic light quietly descended, revealing their figures.
These were none other than the Blackwater Region Golden Core demonic cultivators who had rushed over after hearing the news.
They did not approach but merely watched from a distance, concealing their auras like vultures hiding in the shadows, waiting for the grand feast to commence.
"Tsk, tsk, what a grand spectacle!"
A seductively beautiful woman dressed in colorful robes covered her mouth with a light chuckle, her eyes brimming with schadenfreude. "Six late-stage Tier 3s, eight mid-stages, over twenty early-stages...
"I'm afraid no Golden Core faction could possibly withstand such force.
"The Dongxi Xu Clan is truly unlucky.
"However, if the people from Heavenly South were to abandon the Heritage of this branch, perhaps a few Golden Core cultivators might still manage to survive.
"After all, I hear that True Lord Withered Glory is quite exceptional.
"He is considered the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul stage in an entire prefecture."
Next to her, a dwarf-like old man cackled weirdly. "They are quite unlucky indeed. I just hope we can scavenge something useful from this Xu Family.
"Hopefully, it won't be nothing but garbage like the previous times."
A tall, burly man carrying a bronze coffin on his back, his face as deathly pale as a corpse's, snorted coldly. His voice was hoarse as he said, "I'd actually prefer it if True Lord Withered Glory died in battle.
"Then I would be able to add another precious Corpse to my collection."
The green-robed young man who had appeared outside Dongxi earlier spoke up. "Fellow Daoist friends, do not underestimate this Dongxi Xu Clan.
"The way I, Tao, see it, victory and defeat are unpredictable."
"Daoist Friend Tao, you're worrying far too much," Lady Cai scoffed.
"Whether I'm overthinking or not, we'll know if we just keep watching."
The rest of the group watched silently, not saying another word.
Among the demonic cultivators present, there were no less than four whose strength matched the green-robed young man's.
The remaining ones all had their own tricks and boasted impressive strength.
Upon seeing the lineup outside, many people's hands gripped their Dharma Tools so tightly they were faintly trembling.
High in the sky, however, Xu Chuan's figure remained as tall and unyielding as a pine.
He gazed at the suffocatingly dense wave of frenzied demonic beasts outside the Light Screen, his face still devoid of any ripples.
It was as though all of this was still beneath his notice.
As for those Blackwater Region Golden Core demonic cultivators, they were all under the surveillance of his Divine sense.
"This so-called Dongxi Xu Clan is right here? From the looks of it, there's absolutely nothing!" the Flying Centipede said, its massive body slithering about.
"All we can say is that this Xu Clan indeed possesses some skill."
The Earth-Rending Golden Rhinoceros stomped its two front hooves heavily.
Instantly, a heavy "Boom" echoed throughout the entire space.
Wave after wave of spatial ripples spread out, and as they undulated across the space above Dongxi, an unusual aura indeed revealed itself.
A scene filled with mist briefly flashed before them.
"There really is something." A trace of ferocity and cunning flashed through the Abyssal Poison Flood Dragon's dark green vertical pupils.
"The grand array here is extremely high-level," the Earth-Rending Golden Rhinoceros rumbled. "To only elicit this much of a reaction after being struck by my stomp, it has likely reached what humans call Third-Tier High-Grade.
"I fear that only if we all attack together will we be able to break through it in a few hours."
A Nascent Soul cultivator could break it in a single strike.
The combined power of these Tier 3 demonic beasts was naturally not inferior, but since their attacks would be scattered, breaking through would inevitably take a considerable amount of time.
"Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and attack!" the Black Flame Omen Hound urged.
Right at that moment.
Xu Chuan stepped out from the grand array.
"Is your Hundred Thousand Mountains truly unwilling to give our Azure Dragon Prefecture any face?"
"We don't know any Azure Dragon Prefecture!" the Profound Shell Giant Crab shrieked bizarrely. "We only recognize the orders of the Demon Monarch!"
"If that is the case, then come and try your luck."
Xu Chuan did not say anything more and turned to walk back. "If you want to annihilate my Dongxi Xu Clan, then you better be prepared to die here!"
"And to the Daoist friends from the Blackwater Region in the distance, if you have any ideas, you are more than welcome to try as well."
"The battle is a paid event. Those who wish to spectate are free to intrude into my Dongxi territory, but naturally, the admission fee will be your lives!"
Upon hearing this, even the green-robed young man was slightly startled.
'What powerful Divine sense!'
'What arrogant words!'
'What a True Lord Withered Glory!'
Many of them felt indignant upon hearing this, yet none would genuinely charge into Dongxi.
"Just as I expected, it's this same routine again. Last time, the Dongxi Xu Clan swallowed up five demonic beasts just like this, including two late-stage Tier 3s, three mid-stage Tier 3s, and a horde of low-tier beasts."
"They are truly cautious," the large man carrying the bronze coffin muttered. "By preventing others from seeing their Heritage, they make people feel apprehensive.
"Only these idiotic demonic beasts would blindly charge right in.
"However, if the Xu Family can genuinely massacre them this time, then their Heritage is truly terrifying. Perhaps the majority of their Heavenly South main branch's Golden Core forces have all gathered here in Dongxi."
The others nodded slightly upon hearing this, feeling that it made sense.
As for the Earth-Rending Golden Rhinoceros and the others, they naturally wouldn't be frightened off by Xu Chuan's mere few words.
"Charge!"
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Waves of heaven-shaking beastly roars echoed out.
Over thirty Tier 3 demonic beasts led the charge, storming straight into the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array.
Following them, roughly a hundred thousand of the hundreds of thousands of low-tier demonic beasts surged in.
But in the very next moment.
The ensuing low-tier demonic beasts crashed violently into a layer of Light Screen one after another.
'We can't get in?!'
The remaining demonic beasts were left utterly bewildered.
Not to mention them, even the distant Blackwater Region Golden Core demonic cultivators were immensely curious.
A black-robed old man who understood grand arrays remarked, "This grand array is incredibly profound. It can trap and defend, and it should also possess misleading effects.
"Presumably, there is at least a Mid-Grade Three-Tier Grandmaster Formation Master inside Dongxi controlling it!
"Otherwise, it would be impossible to maneuver it so seamlessly."
"Is the Xu Family trying to split the battlefield?" Lady Cai guessed. "Because hundreds of thousands of demonic beasts rushing in at once is too massive of a scale, they are letting them in batches?"
The battlefield for Tier 3 demonic beasts was naturally separated from the battlefield for low-tier demonic beasts.
Otherwise, it would easily result in the deaths of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples.
After the Tier 3 demonic beasts charged into the Foggy Area...
...Xu Chuan and his group tightly surrounded them.
On the Xu Family's side, there was a total of eleven Golden Core cultivators, two early-stage Tier 3 Spirit Beasts—the Four-Winged Heavy Bright Bird and the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard—and a mid-stage Tier 3 Purple-Cyan Lightning Eagle.
Although the Four-Winged Heavy Bright Bird was only at the early-stage of Tier 3, its Bloodline Power was incredibly robust; it was essentially an old monster playing young.
Handling a mid-stage Tier 3 opponent would be more than enough for it.
Upon seeing the Xu Family's lineup, the Tier 3 demonic beasts were universally shocked.
However, they quickly regained their composure.
"Eleven human Golden Cores, plus three Spirit Beasts?" The Abyssal Poison Flood Dragon swept its vertical pupils over them, its voice rolling like muffled thunder. "With just this little bit of strength, you dare to think you can contend with us?"
Hearing this, Xu Chuan merely offered a faint smile.
He took a step forward and gently swept his Sleeve Robe.
"Hum!!!"
In an instant, nine dark red figures, appearing like coagulated blood, howled out from the universe within his sleeves!
Every single figure stood over ten feet tall, their muscles knotted like iron, their skin covered in dark red scales, and their eye sockets burning with icy scarlet flames.
They were exactly nine Peak Third-Tier Profound Yin Blood Corpses!
A dense and suffocating Blood Fiend Energy surged into the sky, dyeing half of the mist a deep, dark red!
And this was not the end!
Immediately afterward, five ethereal, illusory ghost shadows emitting bone-piercing coldness quietly surfaced.
They were all early-stage Tier 3 Ghostly Creatures.
The sinister ghost qi intertwined with their shrill, mournful wails, forming an eerie domain that made one's soul tremble!
If not for the Profound Yin Corpse King and the Blood Fiend Ghost King being currently asleep to digest their nourishment...
...just the two of them alone would have been enough to deal with the six late-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts.
"What?!!" The Earth-Rending Golden Rhinoceros's pupils shrank violently.
"Peak Third-Tier Blood Corpses—nine of them?! And Ghostly Creatures too?!" The Abyssal Poison Flood Dragon's savage grin completely froze on its face.
"It's a trap! Fall back immediately!!" the Rock Giant roared with a muffled bellow.
It felt a distinctly lethal threat radiating from those nine Blood Corpses!
At this moment, every single demonic beast's expression drastically changed!
This terrifying power that had suddenly emerged not only instantly erased the numbers gap, but also achieved an overwhelming superiority in pure quality!
Nine Peak Third-Tier Blood Corpses; each one was fully capable of contending against a late-stage Tier 3 demonic beast.
The five Tier 3 Ghostly Creatures specialized in attacking the soul.
For the demonic beast race, unless they possessed extraordinary natural talent, the vast majority had souls that were inferior to those of human cultivators.
Soul attacks would have a substantial impact on them.
How was this A Lamb to the Slaughter?
It was clearly a perfectly laid, absolute death trap waiting to spring!
"Kill them."
Standing at the highest point in the sky, Xu Chuan's robes fluttered wildly. His voice was serene, yet it sliced through the hearts of every demonic beast like the bitterest wind of deep winter.
"Leave none alive."
The slaughter abruptly began!
Xu Deling unleashed a long cry, and blazing crimson-gold flames explosively erupted from her body!
The massive Fire Phoenix phantom behind her spread its wings, emitting a clear, resonant phoenix cry. That pressure originating from an ancient True Spirit's bloodline spread outward as if it were tangible!
Many of the demonic beasts present felt an absolute suppression stemming from their very bloodlines.
This was undoubtedly Adding Frost to Snow!
"Heavenly Sun Shield, come forth!"
Xu Deling didn't hesitate in the slightest, summoning her High-Grade Defensive Magic Treasure, the Heavenly Sun Shield. It transformed into a blazing golden light that orbited her body.
Then, wielding her Fire Phoenix Plume, she took the lead and charged straight into the horde of demonic beasts!
Her berserk attacks instantly scattered these Tier 3 demonic beasts.
Many early-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts were viciously sent flying outward.
As for the opponent she personally singled out, it was none other than that late-stage Tier 3 Omen Hound!
Almost simultaneously, Xu Mingwei made his move.
He didn't charge forward. Instead, hovering in mid-air, he drew the Treasure Flood Dragon Bow back like a full moon.
The bowstring hummed, and a Geng Metal Arrow transformed into a stream of light that tore through the void, instantly traversing a distance of hundreds of meters!
"Squelch!"
A massive, early-stage Tier 3 Ironclad Tyrant Bear's body abruptly stiffened.
It looked down in sheer disbelief at the bowl-sized gaping hole clear through its chest. The residual, razor-sharp metallic energy of the arrow was frantically rampaging within its body, entirely shredding its internal organs.
It let out a final, unwilling roar before crashing heavily to the ground, its life signature rapidly extinguishing.
One single arrow, instantly slaughtering an early-stage Tier 3 beast!
If it hadn't been struck in a vital spot, this Ironclad Tyrant Bear could have withstood three or four arrows before dying.
"Roar!"
Seeing this, a nearby mid-stage Tier 3 Two-Headed Griffin flew into a violent rage. Both heads simultaneously spewed blades of wind and toxic fire as it lunged at Xu Mingwei, intending to disrupt his terrifying long-range lethality.
However—
"Big Brother, focus on shooting. I will protect you."
Xu Mingxuan's clear voice rang out.
He held a dazzling Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in his hand. Though its body was barely a foot tall, it abruptly expanded and hovered above Xu Mingwei's head.
Seven-colored radiance cascaded down, forming an indestructible glazed light barrier that firmly protected the two brothers within!
The wind blades and toxic fire ruthlessly bombarded the barrier, yet they only managed to stir up the faintest of ripples.
'The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda's defense is now comparable to a High-Grade Defensive Magic Treasure. Even if all the mid-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts present attacked together, it could hold them off for a short while.'
Xu Mingwei didn't waste any words. With eyes as sharp as an eagle's, he rapidly loosed arrows from the Treasure Flood Dragon Bow in a relentless barrage!
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
The second arrow was intended to pierce a Phantom Demonic Fox's throat, but it managed to dodge slightly, resulting in only one of its legs being shot off.
The third arrow struck it squarely in the abdomen.
The fourth arrow utterly slaughtered it.
The fifth arrow violently pinned a Rock-Devouring Giant Ant to the ground.
The sixth arrow executed it as well.
Not a single one of Xu Mingwei's arrows ever missed its mark.
Even if he couldn't secure a one-hit kill, he could heavily injure an early-stage Tier 3 demonic beast.
And an injured demonic beast meant that death would imminently follow.
Every single Blood Corpse firmly entangled a late-stage Tier 3 demonic beast, preventing them from easily making a move against anyone else.
Xu Mingyuan, Xu Mingqing, and Mei Yun relied on their magic treasures to each take on an early-stage Tier 3 demonic beast, firmly holding the upper hand.
Xu Deyue, Ye Fan, and Xu Mingshu separately confronted their own mid-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts.
The Four-Winged Heavy Bright Bird and the Black Cloud Spirit Leopard also each selected an equivalent demonic beast as their opponent.
From the very beginning, the flow of battle presented a completely one-sided, overwhelming crushing momentum!