CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: FIERCE BATTLE_1

A vast territory, tens of thousands of zhang across, was being ravaged by violent energy. Under the combined assault of the three factions, the number of demonic creatures visibly and rapidly declined.

The earth was a chaotic mess, scarred by the onslaught of attacks.

"ROAR!"

Six hours of fierce combat later, the last demonic creature let out a defiant roar before dissolving into the ether forever.

Aside from Qin Wudao and Zhang Yangtian, everyone else slumped to the ground. The relentless battle had left them utterly exhausted, the Spiritual Energy within their Dantians almost depleted.

"Let’s rest for four hours to recover our Spiritual Energy. Any objections?" Zhang Yangtian asked, looking at Qin Wudao.

"Agreed!" Qin Wudao nodded faintly and, with the prodigies from the Qin Empire, moved a thousand zhang away to sit cross-legged and cultivate.

Zhang Yangtian, unconcerned, also sat cross-legged where he was. Wisps of Spiritual Energy flocked to him, forming a vortex that helped him recover from the exhaustion of battle.

「A hundred li away.」

At another entrance to the ruins, a similar battle had erupted.

The prodigies of the Holy Fire Sect, the Azure Empire, Gun City, and the Lin Family had joined the fray, slaying tens of thousands of demonic creatures. Unlike Qin Wudao’s group, who had escaped unscathed, their losses were heavy.

Of the five members from the Holy Fire Sect who had entered the ruins, three had fallen!

The Azure Empire had sacrificed six members, Gun City four, and the Lin Family two!

"Everyone, rest where you are! Once our strength is recovered, we’ll set out to find other forces and form alliances!" Lin Jiewen, the highest-ranking individual there and thus the team’s leader, stood on a rock and spoke weakly, his face pale, a trace of fresh blood at the corner of his mouth.

He was only the highest-ranked, not the strongest, so he had suffered serious internal injuries in the recent battle.

Not far away, Duan Yonghui leaned against a rock, his eyes gleaming. No one knew what he was thinking.

"My King, why didn’t you press the advantage?"

Outside the Stele stood five black skeleton demonic creatures, shrouded in a dense, black aura. Their crimson eyes, like the very gaze of death, stared out, and the aura they exuded reached the peak of the Transcendent Realm.

Among the myriad demonic creatures, apart from the Skeleton Demon King, they held the highest status.

They were referred to as Ghost Generals!

"When hunting prey, if you can’t kill with one strike, you must lure the enemy deeper," the Skeleton Demon King said indifferently. "These outsiders, these prodigies, aren’t weak. Even if I were to act, I might not be able to eliminate all of them!

"But by baiting them, by letting them taste victory, they will advance deeper!

"By then, even if they want to leave, it will be too late!"

The five Ghost Generals contemplated his words, still somewhat confused. Such profound matters were too difficult for them to grasp.

"Each of you will lead an army of twenty thousand. Circle around behind these outsiders and form an encirclement. Seal all their escape routes. Understood?" the Skeleton Demon King continued, a bloody light flashing in his eyes.

"As you command!"

After the five Ghost Generals knelt in salute, they withdrew to make preparations.

Shortly after, five armies marched forth, totaling one hundred thousand soldiers. They brandished their weapons, emanating a terrifying aura that shook the void.

The conspiracy was in motion once more! It seemed to signal the prelude to the final battle.

"March!"

On the ravaged battlefield, Zhang Yangtian opened his eyes, looked at the now-rested group, and commanded loudly, taking the lead towards the Mountain of Ten Thousand Blades.

Qin Wudao’s brow furrowed slightly as he followed a thousand zhang behind. It wasn’t that he was afraid; he simply didn’t want to be too close to the people from Changeable Mansion.

Along the way, they encountered no obstructions from demonic creatures, but the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy.

Everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm.

"Another ten li and we’ll reach the foot of the giant mountain!" Qin Wudao calculated the distance. From his position, he could see the mountain range clearly. The mountain was pitch-black, like a colossal sword plunged diagonally into the earth.

Beneath the giant mountain, a Stele could vaguely be seen.

This Stele was the greatest treasure of the Ghost Tomb: the spatial node of a level-four mustard seed world.

Whoever obtained the Stele would essentially possess all the treasures of the Ghost Tomb.

After all, there was nothing in the ruins besides the energy orbs of the demonic creatures. Even the Spiritual Energy in the void was sparse and impure. Long-term cultivation here would lead to a decline in strength.

"Be careful, everyone. We are approaching the domain of Heavenly Realm demonic creatures!" Zhang Yangtian, walking at the front, gradually slowed and sent a discreet voice transmission. His internal Spiritual Energy circulated, ready for battle at any moment.

Even he dared not be careless in such an environment.

Everyone’s heart tightened, and they carefully scanned their surroundings.

The cold glint of their weapons seemed to make the very air freeze, chilling the void.

"ROAR!"

About five li later, an abrupt change occurred. The ground cracked open, a chasm tens of zhang wide yawning open before them. Dust swirled, and from it emerged ten pitch-black figures.

A terrifying aura permeated the surroundings!

"Transcendent Realm demonic creatures! Everyone, be careful!" Zhang Yangtian warned. The Changeable Mansion disciples quickly shifted into formation, forming groups of three. Each group deployed a technique from which a black gas spread, coalescing into a phantasmal demonic shape.

The aura from this phantasmal shape also reached the Transcendent Realm!

"Form the Ten Thousand Flowers Formation!" Hua Lin Yue ordered softly. Over a dozen Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples darted through the void. Their Dharma Idols manifested from their bodies, forming spiritual flowers and grasses, which finally converged into a miniature forest. Then, a vibrant crimson energy emerged, spreading outwards.

In an instant, flowers bloomed across a ten-li radius!

Countless petals adorned the void, painting a scene of vibrant beauty that concealed a deadly intent.

"Set up the Five Elements Integration Formation!" Qin Xiaolong urgently shouted. The eight of them rapidly changed hand seals. Eight beams of light shot up from above their heads, converging to form a powerful formation.

The Five Elements Integration Formation isn’t restricted to only five people; that’s merely the minimum. The more people involved, the stronger the resulting formation.

"Be careful!" Qin Wudao cautioned. He wasn’t surprised that Qin Xiaolong and the others could set up the Five Elements Integration Formation. Before they entered the ruins, the Qin Emperor had gathered numerous prodigies to specially instruct them in formations.

With that, he shot into the air. With a wave of his right hand, the Xuanyuan Sword appeared. Golden Sword Qi surged, turning half the sky a brilliant gold.

At least three black skeleton demonic creatures were caught in his attack.

"Kill!" Zhang Yangtian was not to be outdone. The power of Yin and Yang erupted from him. He lightly tapped three times into the void with his right hand, forming a finger of black energy, a finger of white energy, and a finger of black-and-white intertwined energy.

Yin-Yang Qiankun Finger!

Finger of Yin!

Finger of Yang!

Finger of Yin-Yang!

These were the first three forms of the Divine Skill; their Divine Power was extraordinary, and they were tremendously powerful.

RUMBLE!

The three finger-strikes landed, and with little effort, obliterated three black skeleton demonic creatures.

CLANG...

Then, the clear ring of a sword echoed across the battlefield. Just as Zhang Yangtian dispatched the skeleton demonic creatures, Qin Wudao also eliminated his targets.

One sword strike, three skeleton demonic creatures slain!

This entire exchange took place in mere moments.

In the blink of an eye, six of the ten skeleton demonic creatures were gone!