Chapter 72: Heihuang! The Tragic State of the Sunset Forest

Three months later.

At the peak of a mountain valley in the Sunset Forest, Zhexian stood quietly as before, his deep gaze fixed on the Ice and Fire Dual Springs in the distance.

His robes fluttered gently in the wind, his long hair like ink, as if he had merged into one with heaven and earth, a transcendent aura radiating from his entire being.

At the bottom of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs, the scope of the Shenyuan Liefeng had already far exceeded the diameter of the spring's base.

Abyssal Creatures continuously surged out from the pitch-black rift, yet the moment they appeared, they were swallowed by the extreme temperatures of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs and turned to ash.

Suddenly, a violent tremor came from the rift; the surrounding Abyssal Creatures seemed to sense some terrifying existence, stopping their advance one after another, prostrating themselves on the ground, shivering.

Immediately following, a tall figure slowly walked out from the rift.

It was a tall woman, her entire body covered in dark purple scales, with a pair of huge wings growing from her back, sharp bone claws extending from the tips of the wings. Her eyes were as deep as black holes, flickering with a heart-palpitating black light.

She was precisely a top-tier existence among the Abyssal Creatures—Heihuang!

The appearance of Heihuang instantly made the surrounding air oppressive and heavy. Her gaze swept across the surroundings, finally fixing on the Ice and Fire Dual Springs, a cold sneer curling the corners of her mouth.

"Mere spring water, and you dare to block my path?" Heihuang's voice was low and cold, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

She stepped forward, the ground beneath her feet cracking inch by inch under her power. The extreme temperatures of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs seemed to have no effect on her; her scales shimmered with a cold, dark luster amidst the intertwined light of ice and fire.

However, the moment she stepped out of the range of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs, the formation originally used to stabilize the Ice and Fire Dual Springs suddenly lost its balance.

The core runes of the formation began to flicker violently, then shattered one by one.

The temperature of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs instantly spiraled out of control, the energies of extreme cold and extreme heat intertwining to form a terrifying energy storm.

Before Heihuang could react, she was swept into this energy storm.

"What?!" A trace of shock flashed in Heihuang's eyes; she attempted to break free, but the energy of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs had completely erupted, the energies of extreme cold and extreme heat raging madly upon her body.

Her scales began to crack, her wings freezing in the extreme cold, only to melt in the extreme heat.

Heihuang let out a shrill roar, yet her voice was quickly swallowed by the energy storm.

In just a few breaths, Heihuang's body was completely evaporated by the energy of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs, turning into nothingness.

However, the disappearance of Heihuang did not allow the Ice and Fire Dual Springs to return to calm.

On the contrary, having lost the suppression of the formation, the energy of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs was completely out of control, the energies of extreme cold and extreme heat intertwining to form a power that could destroy heaven and earth.

"Boom—!"

With a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering loud noise, the Ice and Fire Dual Springs completely exploded.

A terrifying energy shockwave swept toward the surroundings; wherever it passed, mountain rocks shattered and trees turned to dust.

All the medicinal herbs and Immortal Herbs turned to ash at this moment.

Zhexian stood at the peak of the valley, watching all this with a calm gaze.

His robes snapped loudly in the energy storm, yet his figure remained motionless.

"The story is about to get interesting."

Having said this, Zhexian turned and left this place, not intending to intervene in this matter.

Not long after.

The Ice and Fire Dual Springs had vanished, and the barrier blocking the invasion of the Abyssal Creatures had disappeared.

Countless Abyssal Creatures rushed out from the Shenyuan Liefeng all at once.

Endless, a black, oppressive mass.

Leading the team were several Heihuang, though no higher-level existences had appeared yet.

To them, this team seemed more like a vanguard.

After rushing out from the bottom of the spring, the several Heihuang looked at each other, then issued orders.

Countless Abyssal Creatures began to invade the surroundings.

The poisonous miasma that had originally trapped this place was also dispersed by the explosion of the Ice and Fire Dual Springs just now, and for a time, the figures of countless Abyssal Creatures were exposed to this continent.

Rumble—

Listening to the bursts of footsteps.

The Soul Beasts of the Sunset Forest all raised their heads to look over there, not yet understanding what had happened.

The rumbling footsteps drew closer and closer, and the earth began to tremble slightly.

The trees in the distance collapsed one after another under the trampling of the Abyssal Creatures, and the black, oppressive figures surged over like a tide; wherever they passed, not a blade of grass remained.

Several Heihuang stood at the very front of the team, their gazes cold and cruel. They scanned this unfamiliar land, a ferocious smile curling the corners of their mouths.

"The humans of this continent do not seem to have discovered our existence yet," one of the Heihuang said in a low voice, the sound as harsh as metal grinding.

Another Heihuang nodded, a trace of greed flashing in its eyes: "Such fresh air, it is truly fascinating."

Following the orders of the Heihuang, countless Abyssal Creatures began to spread out to the surroundings.

Their speed was extremely fast; wherever they passed, the Soul Beasts fled in all directions, yet they were quickly caught up to and beaten to death by the Abyssal Creatures.

Throughout the interior of the Sunset Forest, screams were everywhere.

At the same time.

On the outskirts of the Sunset Forest, a small team composed of an academy instructor and several students was moving forward cautiously.

They had come to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings, yet today, the Sunset Forest seemed exceptionally quiet, quiet to the point of being eerie.

The instructor leading the team was a middle-aged man wearing an academy uniform, holding a long sword in his hand, his gaze scanning the surroundings vigilantly. Behind him followed three students, two boys and one girl, all around fifteen or sixteen years old, their faces carrying a hint of nervousness and excitement.

"Teacher, why is the Sunset Forest so quiet today?" one male student couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his tone carrying a trace of unease.

The instructor frowned and said in a deep voice: "It is indeed a bit strange; everyone be careful and stay close to me."

Just at this moment, bursts of shrill and desperate screams of Soul Beasts came from the distance, as if the entire forest were wailing.

"What is going on?!" The female student's expression changed, and she gripped the staff in her hand tightly, her voice trembling slightly.

The instructor's expression also became grave: "These sounds... something is wrong!"

However, before they could take action, the ground in the distance began to tremble slightly.

Immediately following, a series of low, heavy footsteps echoed, as if an army of thousands was closing in.

"Teacher, what is that?!" another male student pointed into the distance, his voice filled with terror.

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing, only to see a pitch-black mass of figures surging toward them.

Those creatures were covered from head to toe in jet-black scales, their eyes scarlet, and they emitted low hisses from their mouths, as if they were demons from hell.

"What the hell is that thing?!" The lead teacher's pupils contracted sharply, and his face turned pale in an instant.

"These things look so terrifying!" The female student's voice was filled with fear, and the staff in her hand trembled slightly.

"Run!" The lead teacher immediately summoned his martial soul, blocking the path in front of the three students.

(End of chapter)