"Take action!"

With a loud roar, the battle erupted instantly.

Nightmare, initially the prime suspect, was the first to showcase his abilities. His pupils suddenly rolled back, and his entire body began to convulse as if in a seizure, muttering words under his breath.

The scarce combat ability of the Fifth-Rank Prophet—sensory exchange!

At the same time, Ji Xiaoyu crouched low, gathering a torrential surge of Qi Force, preparing the Wave Motion Fist!

At that moment, Gu Jianlin and Tang Ling sprang into action without hesitation.

However, Mountain Ghost and Demon Blade appeared as if they had suffered a stroke, standing dazed on the spot.

The sword blade radiated searing Sword Qi.

The finger gleamed with an intense black light.

Crossing paths, they launched a calculated strike.

At that instant, Mountain Ghost and Demon Blade regained their senses simultaneously. One shoved out their hostage without hesitation and withdrew violently, while the other vanished instantly from the spot!

"Demon Blade is mine; you deal with Mountain Ghost!"

Tang Ling shouted loudly.

At the same time, a phantom-like shadow flickered behind her.

Demon Blade, aligned with the Ghost Slayer Path, mastered core spatial and temporal abilities. At the Fourth-Tier Shura level, they could effortlessly enhance their speed tenfold, or even directly freeze time and space!

At that moment, the world seemed to sink into a swamp-like silence. Space-time froze in an instant, and the pitch-black forest became deathly still. Only an icy blade's glimmer flashed, slicing across the air!

Beheading!

But at the brink of disaster, an overwhelming Sword Intent surged skyward, countless intertwining sword lights radiating outward!

With a resounding boom, the frozen space-time was torn apart by the soaring Sword Intent, and the sounds of the world returned once more.

In ancient times in the East, there was a mysterious group of cultivators known as Sword Cultivators. They honed their spirit and intent through ancient methods passed down from the primordial era, believing it allowed them to connect with their cherished swords and, using Sword Dao as a foundation, perceive the rhythm of the Great Dao.

Eventually, they perfected unparalleled combat techniques—commanding swords with Qi, forging swords with intent!

Tracing back to Bai Ze Venerable, this lineage evolved into the Sword Sect Path!

At the Fourth-Tier Sword Spirit level, one could manifest their intent into an actual sword.

Tang Ling had prepared this move in advance, specifically as a countermeasure against space-time freezing!

Although Shura's space-time freezing was formidable and unbreakable from within, it could be neutralized from the outside!

As the icy blade approached, Tang Ling turned abruptly, unleashing a decisive sword slash. Sword Qi burst forth violently!

With a thunderous sound, Demon Blade's defensive blade crumbled instantly during her timely block. Yet, she narrowly avoided a fatal blow by virtualizing herself and retreating just in time.

Tang Ling, with her relentless personality, pursued without pause, wielding the Iron Sword in a furious charge.

Scarlet hair flowing, her vermillion eyes burned with unrelenting killing intent.

On the other side, it was now a clash between two Divine combatants.

"Challenging me was a foolish decision. I am no second-rate Divine!"

Mountain Ghost erupted furiously, the entity of a blazing lion spirit roaring behind him, "You stand no chance against me!"

As the soil burst upward from the force, he dove forward like a rampaging demon.

Gu Jianlin's forehead blazed with pitch-black Ghost Fire as four towering golden Ghost Hands, also aflame, materialized behind him.

Bam!

The fists met with an explosive sound akin to clashing steel.

"Impossible!"

Mountain Ghost stared in disbelief at his own fist, unable to comprehend how it was stopped so easily.

The pitch-black Ghost Fire on his opponent's forehead sent a sudden shiver through his soul.

"Keep going then."

Gu Jianlin tightened his grip, the sound of his fingers crushing the fist crackling audibly.

In his Dual Core Drive state, combined with the berserk amplification of Ghost Transformation, his raw power was unyielding.

Simultaneously, the flame-shrouded lion lunged forward but was sent flying by the fearsome punches of the four golden Ghost Hands. The collision of spiritual entities produced a thunderous boom!

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Each fiery strike from the Ghost Hands was suffused with overwhelming force, roaring like cannon fire and scattering embers in their wake, their gale-like fist blows packing an unstoppable momentum.

No matter how ferociously the lion spirit retaliated, it was ultimately battered senseless.

Fists fell like rain, blows overlapping!

Meanwhile, Gu Jianlin's palm suddenly ignited with Divine Sacrificial Fire, burning fiercely!

Mountain Ghost countered without hesitation, his pale Ghost Fire erupting in defiance!

Their life forces began a brutal tug-of-war between the two Divine combatants.

It took only an instant for Mountain Ghost to realize his life force was rapidly draining at an impossible rate!

It defied all sense of reason.

Who exactly was the Third Rank, and who was the Fourth?

The most crucial factor was that as a Fourth-Order Cloud Monarch, his ability to control life and death was now rendered useless.

If this were a battlefield with enough corpses around, a swarm attack could end this quickly!

Boom!

Mountain Ghost stomped on the ground to retreat, his battered lion spirit moving to shield him.

He spread his arms wide, and the lion spirit roared behind him in unison.

Darkness coalesced, with countless black particles gathering to form a flashing black Qi Realm.

At that moment, Gu Jianlin raised both hands, the four flaming Ghost Hands behind him condensing darkness into a void-like vortex, black particles converging and trembling uncontrollably.

A parrot circled above, screeching, "Do it, clash!"

Boom!

The darkness detonated, ancient trees bursting on the spot, wiping out even the charging living corpses in all directions!

Mountain Ghost, the Fourth-Order Cloud Monarch, was blasted into the distance, his body bloodied and mangled, utterly devastated.

The victor of this Divine Path clash turned out to be the Third-Rank Great Fate Master!

At that moment, the hordes of rampaging living corpses swarmed forward.

Ji Xiaoyu, having charged up for an eternity, unleashed her power at last. "Adogen!"

A Qi Gong Wave erupted, obliterating countless living corpses instantly!

But just then, the dense sound of gunfire echoed from the forest.

The combat-trained mercenaries had handled the surrounding corpses and trained countless red-dot sights on them.

Eagle Eyes gleamed razor-sharp in the darkness.

The barrels of their assault rifles roared, enveloped in domineering force as if they were feral beasts.

Damn it!

Most of these mercenaries were Second Rank Hunters proficient in Eagle Eye and Domineering Aura. With the added power of firearms, their bullet storms could wipe out everyone here.

Not to mention, Third-Rank Frenzy Hunters among them were already taking sniper positions.

In the modern era, the Overlord Path combined with firearms always dominates the top tier.

In certain scenarios, it's even the strongest!

At that instant, Nightmare stared at the downed Dawn and Poison Master, his face pale as a ghost.

Ji Xiaoyu drew out a previously prepared makeshift cudgel, ready for a desperate stand.

Tang Ling abandoned her pursuit, turning to position the Iron Sword defensively before her, vermillion eyes brimming with murderous resolve.

Just then, the string of Stone Beads on Gu Jianlin's wrist abruptly stopped vibrating.

At this moment, a familiar warmth and reassurance flooded his heart.

She was here.

In a fleeting instant, time froze once again. The world turned into stark black and white, fragmented like an aged photograph. From the darkness far away, a piercingly cold blade sliced through, like blood-red lightning, disappearing as fast as it came.

Boom!

The frozen timestream shattered.

All the mercenary weapons were cleaved apart, their cuts as smooth as mirrors!

"Butcher!"

Moon Princess's crisp voice rang out like a nimble pixie in the night, quicksilver and lively.

A raucous laugh echoed in reply: "Got it, boss!"

Rumble!

A massive black tire rolled down from the hilltop, carrying a burly man within.

Explosive Qi Force erupted outward, sending the mercenaries flying in its wake!

"I call this move, Meat Bomb Impact!"

Boom!

Another deafening blast sounded as the tire exploded under the wild Qi.

Mercenaries were flung skyward, coughing blood, their bodies shattered and strewn apart.

The hulking figure of Butcher stood drenched in the resulting blood rain, lifting a single finger to the sky. "Heaven and earth, I alone..."

Before he finished his declaration, a swarm of living corpses overwhelmed him, dragging him to the ground.

Fortunately, his thick skin and brute strength allowed him to punch through the corpses three at a time, scrambling back up in a sorry state!

"Idiot!"

Moon Princess landed lightly. Dressed in a white down jacket and draped in a scarf, her figure seemed slender and petite, concealing her form. Only her black silk-clad legs under the pink skirt remained as captivating as ever.

Scanning the crowd, she spotted the familiar figure she had yearned for and began striding toward him joyously.

Then, suddenly, her steps faltered, halting in place.

Her nimble, clear eyes contracted sharply.

Because Mountain Ghost and Demon Blade weren't dead yet, lunging at her again from both sides.

Of course, that wasn't the main point.

The main point was this:

The black-forehead-flamed young man stood back-to-back with the red-haired older sister, seamlessly understanding each other without needing a single word.

The blood-drenched Iron Sword quivered, brimming with fiery Sword Qi.

A slender finger pulsed with black light.

Boom!

The lion spirit behind Mountain Ghost was pierced through by a fleeting black ray, collapsing into decay.

At the same time, his shoulder was run through, black curses spreading like living tendrils.

His agonizing wails echoed, a scream filled with despair.

Meanwhile, Demon Blade's broken weapon shattered once more, her right arm severed by the scorching Sword Qi, blood spraying out!

At this juncture, Butcher struck decisively, weaving around to land behind the injured woman. His right fist hurtled forward!

One punch, straight through the chest.

Her internal organs burst apart.

Demon Blade perished instantly.

Mountain Ghost, crawling and staggering on the ground, tried to escape but saw a shadow descending from the sky!

A blood-colored blade tore through the air, pinning him firmly to the ground!

Blood spattered outward, painting the night red.

At that moment, Mountain Ghost's eyes widened in disbelief, dead without closure!

Tang Ling lifted her gaze toward the small figure leaping from the hilltop above.

Thump!

Gu Jianlin raised his arms, catching the descending girl in a perfect princess carry.

The cool fragrance of her body, the familiar warmth of her presence.

"Why are you wearing so much?"

He asked in surprise.

"Hmph!"

Moon Princess hid her expression behind a cat-mask, her eyes cold, letting out a haughty "hmph" brimming with grievance.

Gu Jianlin froze, and the parrot screeched, "Ah, the master's beloved little sweetheart!"

·

·

Without warning.

A fierce barrage of gunfire erupted in the distance.

Explosions shook the earth.

Mr. Liu's furious voice boomed, "Damn you, Si Wei'an! We're all on the You Ying Group board—if you didn't want me to take my share, fine. But bringing all these corpses to ambush me? They almost bit my behind off! Wait for me to settle this with you right now!"

He roared, "Brothers, charge into the ruins! Take them down!"

Gunfire roared like torrential rain.

Steady, synchronized footsteps echoed.

It felt as if an entire army was marching up the slope!

At the summit of the hill stood two towering cliffs, forming a gorge.

Between the cliffs loomed an ancient, giant stone statue of a monk with a low-hanging head and a tattered crimson robe, its back facing the dim sky.

The monk had no hair, no facial features, and a triangular red cloth covering its face.

On the statue's head squatted a man dressed in a tailored suit.

He peered down over the forest, a twisted grin spreading like that of a Joker, stretching all the way to his ears.