Chapter 421: Zhuyan, Returns

"Rumor has it that the Hundred Thousand Mountains are led by three great demon races: the Nine Nether Sparrow, the Suanni, and the Zhuyan. So, you must belong to the Zhuyan tribe?"

Zhuyan grinned. "That is right. I heard you are very strong!"

It turned out he was a battle maniac.

Xu Chuan smiled faintly, replying with modesty, "I am passable."

Then, without waiting for Zhuyan to respond, he turned to the Nine Nether Sparrow and the Suanni. "Did you two not get beaten enough last time?

"This one intentionally let you off the hook. Do not reach for a yard after taking an inch."

He swept his gaze over the army of demonic beasts. His eyes were indifferent, as if he did not take them seriously at all.

"Planning to use numbers to bully the few this time?"

Spectral flames danced in the Nine Nether Sparrow's eyes as it suppressed its dread of Xu Chuan. Its sharp voice pierced through the demonic clouds. "True Lord Withered Glory, we are not here for personal grudges.

"We are to annihilate all human factions above the Foundation Establishment stage!

"This is the unstoppable tide of events. It is not something you can block with your own strength alone!"

"Over ninety percent of the human race in the Land of Imprisonment has already been wiped out. What more do you want?"

Xu Chuan scoffed. "This one can ignore the fate of others, but if you insist on destroying Dongxi and exterminating the descendants of my bloodline, then you are making an enemy of this True Lord!"

Pausing for a moment, the corners of his mouth curled up in a half-smile. "The previous wave of demonic beasts has already been thoroughly reduced to corpse fertilizer to nourish this land.

"Do you all wish to follow in their footsteps?"

The Suanni's dark golden vertical pupils locked firmly onto Xu Chuan. It spoke in a muffled, heavy voice that rolled like distant thunder.

"True Lord Withered Glory, I admit that your strength is absolute. Among all the Golden Core cultivators in the Land of Imprisonment, you are arguably one of the very best.

"But today is not a one-on-one duel.

"With just your own strength, how can you possibly stand against the demon race army behind me?

"I advise you not to be a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

It was confident that absolutely no Golden Core faction could withstand this force.

Zhuyan did not speak, but the war intent in his eyes grew increasingly dense, seemingly on the verge of erupting out of control.

"You are right." Xu Chuan nodded. "This one alone indeed cannot stop such a lineup. However, since you can use numbers to overwhelm the few...

"This one does not mind doing the same—"

His voice abruptly turned freezing cold. "Bullying others with one's power!"

The final words exploded like a clap of thunder!

The instant his voice faded—

"Roar!!!"

A dragon's roar, far more violent than the combined howling of all the previous demonic beasts, suddenly detonated from deep within the grand array of Dongxi, soaring straight into the highest heavens!

The trace of True Dragon Pressure contained within that roar rippled outward like a tangible shockwave, actually causing the sky-covering demonic clouds to churn violently and scatter!

Immediately after, under the horrified gazes of all the demonic beasts, a flood dragon over three hundred meters long abruptly emerged from the Dongxi grand array.

Its massive body spiraled in the air directly above Xu Chuan's head.

The shadow it cast not only terrified the demonic beasts present but also caused the distant spectating cultivators from Blackwater Region and Heavenly South to change their expressions.

"A Tier 4 Transformed Grand Demon!"

Countless demonic beasts and cultivators cried out in unison!

Moyue's dark golden dragon pupils swept coldly over the demonic beast army below.

The terrifying demonic power belonging to the fourth tier was unleashed without any concealment. Blended with that trace of pressure originating from the True Dragon Bloodline, it cascaded down like a waterfall from the ninth heaven!

"Whimper..."

"Howl..."

In an instant, obvious chaos broke out among the demonic beast army!

Those early-stage third-tier demonic beasts with relatively thin bloodlines felt as if they were being targeted by a natural predator under this dual pressure. Their limbs went soft, and the circulation of their demonic power grew sluggish.

Panicked whimpers rose and fell in succession.

The flying demonic beasts even began to tilt and sway, barely able to maintain their altitude!

Even the mid-to-late stage third-tier demonic beasts felt as if a mountain were pressing down on them, causing their qi and blood to churn violently.

It was a terror rooted deep within their bloodlines.

However, this was not the end!

The next moment.

"Buzz!"

Another equally vast and majestic pressure erupted, though this one was much more upright and peaceful.

That was the primordial spirit pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator!

Just outside Dongxi.

The figure of an elderly man with a ruddy complexion and crane-white hair, clad in a simple gray robe, seemed to step out from the void step by step.

His pace was not fast, but with every step he took, a faint ripple of spiritual qi naturally blossomed beneath his feet, as if harmonizing with the rhythm of heaven and earth.

In just a few steps, he silently appeared right by Xu Chuan's side.

Mo Wentian wore a smile. Stroking his long beard, his gentle gaze swept over the opposing demonic beast army. His voice was not loud, but it transmitted clearly into the ears of every single demonic beast.

"I am the Grand Elder of the Azure Dragon Alliance, Mo Wentian.

"True Lord Withered Glory is the First Elder of my alliance.

"To seek his death is to make an enemy of me."

His tone was mild, yet it contained an unquestionable authority!

"Scram, all of you!"

Moyue was not nearly as polite.

Opening his dragon jaws and spewing scorching sulfurous breath, his voice boomed like a thunderclap. "Otherwise, die!"

He had no intention of speaking about kinship or shared species.

In his eyes, these fools who dared to invade Dongxi were all enemies!

The Nine Nether Sparrow, Suanni, and Zhuyan exchanged glances, an unparalleled solemnity in their eyes.

If it were just Xu Chuan alone, their charge would be enough to kill him and trample Dongxi flat.

But with the addition of a Transformed Grand Demon and a Nascent Soul True Lord, the situation was immediately different.

Moreover, that Transformed Grand Demon's True Dragon Bloodline was so rich that it could already erupt with a trace of True Dragon Pressure.

The three of them possessed tyrannical bloodlines and were not significantly affected.

But as for the rest of the third-tier demonic beasts, the weaker they were, the greater the impact.

Some could not even unleash sixty to seventy percent of their strength.

Even if it was just Xu Chuan and those two across from them, if a real fight broke out, the demonic beasts present—including themselves—might be slaughtered to the very last one.

'What do we do?'

The Nine Nether Sparrow, Suanni, and Zhuyan communicated using their divine senses.

They had marched over with such grand momentum, and quite a few cultivators from both the Blackwater Region and Heavenly South had followed to watch the spectacle.

If they were frightened off by just a few words, the Hundred Thousand Mountains would completely lose all face.

Whether to fight or not, it was a dilemma either way.

Just at this moment.

Xu Chuan suddenly let out a soft chuckle and said, "Of course, if you came all this way just to spar with this one, then naturally, there is no need for the other two to lift a finger."

The Nine Nether Sparrow's eyes lit up. This seemed like a decent way out.

"This guy is actually quite nice," Zhuyan said, scratching his head.

The Nine Nether Sparrow replied, "He probably just doesn't want to make the situation too rigid."

"Since he has given us a way to step down, then we..." the Suanni rumbled.

"We can only take it. But in doing so, it will be hard for us to strike at the Dongxi Xu Clan again."

"What is so hard about that? He merely wants to protect the descendants of his bloodline. We can just negotiate with him and have him relocate all of Dongxi after he comes out of the Ancient Battlefield alive.

"Anyway, as long as there is no Golden Core Aristocratic Family in the next era, the strongest faction here a thousand years from now will probably be around the same level as it is today."

"You actually had a smart idea for once," the Nine Nether Sparrow said, glancing at Zhuyan. "We will do as you suggest."

"The Dongxi Xu Clan should just be an isolated case. They are a variable. Since we cannot erase this variable, we can only move them out of the way."

"Since that is the case, I will be the one to spar!"

The Nine Nether Sparrow and the Suanni rolled their eyes at him, having no intention of competing for the spot.

After the three finished discussing, Zhuyan took a step forward. "I heard you were very strong. I came here this time specifically to spar with you, True Lord Withered Glory. They merely came to back me up."

This was utterly shameless.

Those watching from the shadows could only shake their heads and chuckle.

Demonic beasts were indeed demonic beasts.

Their skin was so thick that not even a magic treasure could pierce it!

Xu Chuan glanced at Moyue and Mo Wentian.

Moyue shapeshifted into his human form and stepped to the side alongside Mo Wentian.

"How should I address you?"

"Zhu Jinsheng, a name given to me by my royal father!" Zhuyan waved a hand. "Enough chitchat, let me see your strength!

"Show me that sword dragon of yours and let us see if it is as powerful as the innate divine ability of my Zhuyan tribe!"

"As you wish!" Xu Chuan nodded, saying no more.

With a thought, the Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella materialized in his hand once more.

He tossed it upward. The umbrella canopy spun open, dropping a curtain of azure-gold light.

Immediately, twenty-eight resplendent streaks of sword light howled out from the umbrella's ribs, rapidly intertwining and condensing in midair!

"Roar—!"

A dragon's roar shook the heavens as a Sword of the Azure Dragon—measuring over two hundred feet long and forged entirely of sharp sword qi—manifested once again!

Sword light flowed across its dragon scales, and piercing brilliance shone from its eyes. Boundless sword intent and pressure instantly filled the heavens and the earth.

Since they were being watched by the crowd and scrutinized from the shadows by Nascent Soul cultivators, he only planned to use eighty percent of his strength.

"Bring it on!"

Zhu Jinsheng unleashed a frenzied roar. Without dodging or evading, he instead beat his chest with both fists.

The crimson demonic qi surrounding his body surged into the sky like an erupting volcano!

His body, several tens of feet tall, turned into a crimson meteor, directly charging to ram into the descending Sword of the Azure Dragon!

He was actually intending to use his physical body to clash head-on with the might of a sword formation that rivaled a Nascent Soul attack!

"Foolish!"

Moyue, watching from the side, snorted coldly.

The next moment, the crimson meteor and the azure-gold sword dragon collided with a thunderous boom!

"Boom!"

Blinding light and raging energy exploded outward!

The sword dragon roared as countless fine, razor-sharp streaks of sword qi shredded at Zhu Jinsheng's protective demonic aura and tough flesh like a violent storm.

Zhu Jinsheng danced madly with his fists, every punch containing the force to shatter mountains and crack the earth.

His crimson demonic aura solidified like physical matter, furiously clashing against the sword qi!

However, the gap between them remained obvious.

The stalemate only lasted for a fraction of a second.

The sword dragon swatted down with a claw. The sharp Geng Metal sword qi tore through the crimson demonic aura, viciously slashing across Zhu Jinsheng's thick chest!

"Screech!"

An ear-piercing sound of friction rang out.

Zhu Jinsheng's skin and flesh, tough as refined iron, were sliced open, leaving a hideous wound several feet long and deep enough to reveal bone. Dark red blood sprayed violently into the air!

"Aargh!"

Zhu Jinsheng roared in pain as the immense force blasted him nearly a kilometer backward.

Yet the vicious glint in his eyes did not wane. Instead, triggered by the agonizing pain and blood, he grew even more frenzied and savage!

"Haha! Exhilarating! Now this is more like it!"

Zhu Jinsheng completely ignored the wound gushing blood on his chest.

Looking up at the sky, he let out an ear-shattering, maddened howl!

With this long cry, a sudden transformation occurred!

From the pores all over his body, a massive amount of eerie, pale-red mist—resembling both steam and a blood haze—suddenly erupted!

The red mist spread rapidly, shrouding his gargantuan frame.

From within the fog came the terrifying sounds of violently popping bones and madly expanding muscles, alongside Zhu Jinsheng's irrepressible low growls that blended agony and raw excitement!

"Innate Divine Ability—Three Heads and Six Arms!"

The red mist suddenly shrank inward, sinking entirely back into Zhu Jinsheng's body!

The next moment, what appeared before everyone's eyes was a terrifying giant ape standing nearly thirty meters tall, like a small mountain!

From the armpits beneath his original arms, another pair of equally thick, sturdy arms covered in crimson bristles had sprouted!

As his four arms swung, they kicked up a horrifying gale that felt as though it could effortlessly tear mountains apart!

His head seemed to have swollen in size as well. Fangs protruded outward, and only the purest desires for slaughter and battle remained in his scarlet eyes.

The skin all over his body took on a metallic sheen of dark red bordering on black.

The wound previously sliced open by the sword qi rapidly stopped bleeding and closed up under the effects of the red mist.

This was the famous innate divine ability of the Zhuyan tribe—Three Heads and Six Arms!

For the duration that this innate divine ability was active, both physical strength and defense would skyrocket, and the user would manifest three heads and six arms.

Of course, this full manifestation was only possible for a pure-blooded Zhuyan.

The might of this innate divine ability was comparable to a Greater Divine Ability.

The Zhuyan before them possessed limited bloodline purity, rendering him unable to manifest three heads and only allowing him to grow four arms.

But even so, it was more than enough to make his combat power surge wildly!

Every onlooker wore a grim expression.

It was as if they were pondering whether they would have any chance of winning if they had to face this ferocious beast themselves.

"Roar! Again!"

The four-armed Zhu Jinsheng spoke the human tongue, his voice rumbling like muffled thunder.

He clenched all four giant fists simultaneously and pummeled his chest, which was as sturdy as adamantine, producing loud "thump-thump" sounds.

Following that.

He violently rushed at the spiraling Sword of the Azure Dragon once again!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

His four arms flailed, casting a mountain of fist shadows!

Every punch packed the terrifying, void-shattering force. Physical fist imprints formed from crimson demonic aura madly clashed against the sword dragon's claw strikes and tail whips!

Sword qi and demonic aura continuously shattered, releasing an endless barrage of explosions!

The sword dragon was nimble and swift, its sword qi ever-changing. At times, it split into a rain of swords to harass; at others, it condensed into an oversized blade to chop, or coiled its draconic body to ensnare and constrict.

It was evident that Xu Chuan's mastery over the Azure Dragon Sword Formation had already reached a stage of flawless perfection.

He no longer needed to be bound by physical forms.

Meanwhile, the four-armed Zhu Jinsheng relied on his skyrocketing strength and defense, as well as the attack density and sheer angular advantage provided by his four arms, to forcefully endure the sword qi.

He could even occasionally seize an opening, taking the brunt of the sword qi with one arm while violently slamming his other three arms against the sword dragon's body.

These blows caused the sword light to ripple uncontrollably, eliciting mournful wails from the blades.

The two battled from the sky down to the ground, and then from the ground back up to the high heavens.

Wherever they went, mountains collapsed, the earth fissured, and forests were obliterated. The chaotic energy shockwaves completely reshaped the surrounding terrain.

The deserted Qingjiang County Seat was fully reduced to ruins amidst the great battle.

A mere seven or eight minutes felt exceptionally long in the midst of such a high-intensity bloodbath.

Finally, the boiling pale-red blood mist around Zhu Jinsheng's body noticeably dimmed and thinned out.

His body, having expanded to nearly thirty meters, slowly deflated like a punctured balloon back to its original size. The two extra arms beneath his armpits were the first to turn illusory before dissipating completely.

The frenzied crimson hue in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by deep exhaustion and physical depletion.

"Groan..."

With an unwilling low growl, the four arms completely vanished.

Zhu Jinsheng reverted to his original two-armed appearance, and his aura plummeted drastically.

The sword dragon struck him viciously in the chest with a flick of its tail.

With a muffled grunt, he crashed down from the sky like a meteorite, blasting yet another enormous crater into the earth and kicking up a towering plume of dust.

The Sword of the Azure Dragon spiraled backward.

The twenty-eight flying swords returned to the umbrella's ribs in sequential order.

The Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella retracted its brilliance and landed back in Xu Chuan's hand.

Xu Chuan's breathing was steady, and his complexion was normal. He had clearly handled the preceding battle with complete ease.

He treaded on the air, arriving at the edge of the massive crater to gaze down from above at Zhu Jinsheng, who was slowly staggering to his feet.

"Your strength is significantly greater than that of the Nine Nether Sparrow and the Suanni."

Xu Chuan spoke calmly, a hint of objective evaluation in his tone.

"Of course!" Pride gleamed in Zhu Jinsheng's eyes. "Among the three tribes, my tribe reigns supreme!"

"Your innate divine ability must be the legendary Three Heads and Six Arms, correct?

"It is a pity that your bloodline is not pure enough, only allowing you to manifest four arms.

"If you could achieve the six-armed state, you might actually be able to truly contend with me.

"Or, if you could extend the duration of your innate divine ability by another seven or eight minutes, you might have been able to deplete most of my mana."

"Do you think I'd believe you?"

Zhu Jinsheng's chest heaved violently. His body was covered in dozens, if not hundreds, of sword wounds of varying depths.

Blood dyed his long crimson fur an even deeper shade.

Hearing this, he split his jaws into a grin, revealing bloodstained fangs. "A loss is a loss, I accept it!

"True Lord Withered Glory, you truly live up to your reputation!

"You are much stronger than those so-called Divine Ability Perfection cultivators I fought a few days ago."

Xu Chuan chuckled and said, "In that case, I ask that you take the demonic beasts who came to 'support' you and leave the borders of my Dongxi."

Zhu Jinsheng did not refuse.

This had been his prior agreement with the Nine Nether Sparrow and the others all along.

They would leave after a single battle, saving the Hundred Thousand Mountains from losing any more face.

After transmitting a telepathic message to Xu Chuan, the Nine Nether Sparrow, the Suanni, and Zhu Jinsheng departed, taking the rest of the third-tier demonic beasts with them.

In the blink of an eye, the area outside Dongxi was empty once more.

Xu Chuan did not immediately return inside the array. Instead, he stood in midair with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze slowly swept across the surrounding void as he spoke aloud, his voice spreading across a radius of fifty kilometers.

"If any of the remaining Daoist friends are interested, you are more than welcome to visit my Dongxi and seek this True Lord for a spar."

"This True Lord is always ready to oblige."

Moyue likewise let out a burst of draconic roaring. "Those few old coots hiding in the dark, if you want a fight, come find me! Bullying juniors is far too boring.

"You would serve perfectly for me to loosen my joints."

The hidden Nascent Soul cultivators naturally could not be bothered to reply to Moyue.

Furthermore, this battle allowed them to see that Xu Chuan could barely hold his own against a Nascent Soul cultivator using his sword formation. When combined with a physically formidable Tier 4 flood dragon and an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator...

Against such a lineup, even a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator would have to practice deep deliberation before daring to make a move.

Right at this moment.

A crimson figure shot forward, arriving before the group in a flash.

The red light faded, revealing a figure familiar to Xu Chuan—Yan Longzi.

"Senior Yan Longzi," Xu Chuan chuckled, cupping his fists. "I did not expect you to enter the Land of Imprisonment as well."

"Quite a few juniors from our Heavenly Foundry Sect entered, so I had to come look after them. And of course, drop by to see little Ling while I am at it."

"Daoist Friend Scarlet Dragon Child," Mo Wentian also cupped his fists in greeting.

"Daoist Friend Mo," Scarlet Dragon Child returned the gesture.

"Senior Scarlet Dragon Child, please, step inside."

Mo Wentian returned to his post but did not enter.

It was obvious that Scarlet Dragon Child had come to catch up with Xu Chuan. Mo Wentian only had a passing acquaintance with him, so his presence would inevitably be somewhat awkward.

With Xu Chuan forcing the demonic beasts to retreat, many people inside Dongxi cheered.

They sang praises of Xu Chuan's mighty reputation.

The heavy boulders dangling in their hearts had finally been set down.

Inside the Council Hall.

"Senior, your sudden appearance could not be merely for catching up, correct?"

"You are as sharp as ever," Scarlet Dragon Child smiled, stroking his beard. "Earlier, when Fierce Sun escorted the rest of the disciples back, he also mentioned your affairs.

"I did not quite believe it at first, but seeing it with my own eyes today, it was exactly as he said."

Pausing, he sighed with emotion. "Your rate of growth is truly astonishing, far exceeding my expectations and those of my senior brother.

"With Azure Dragon Prefecture as your foundational ground, I imagine the Xu Clan's steps will not end here."

"Is it not the same for the Heavenly Foundry Sect? In the future, Senior also has the opportunity to step into the realm of a Grand Cultivator, pushing the Heavenly Foundry Sect to even greater heights."

"I will borrow your auspicious words, Daoist Friend Xu."

Scarlet Dragon Child continued, "I came this time to ask for your help, Daoist Friend Xu."

"Ask for my help?"

"You must have heard that the various factions have an agreement: Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators cannot enter the Ancient Battlefield. Although entering the Ancient Battlefield mostly involves random teleportation...

"...everyone will generally end up within a specific region. You wouldn't be transported somewhere excessively dangerous.

"Therefore, there is still a chance of running into each other.

"If you happen to encounter disciples of my Heavenly Foundry Sect, I ask that you lend a hand and offer them some protection.

"Once we exit the Ancient Battlefield, our sect can custom-forge a top-tier magic treasure for you as remuneration, though your Xu Clan will have to provide the materials."

Xu Chuan's eyes lit up.

In the future, he planned to forge a guardian Fortune Secret Treasure for the clan to maximize the utility of their Clan Fate.

However, mere mid-grade quality would not catch his eye.

It would take at least another twenty or thirty years before Xu Deling would be capable of forging high-grade magic treasures.

Do not let this seem slow.

True Lord Fierce Sun was over five hundred years old, yet he was only just now capable of forging high-grade magic treasures.

It went to show that the further up one went, the harder it became.

Moreover, Xu Deling's own cultivation could not be left behind.

After all, personal strength was the guarantee for everything!

"Senior Scarlet Dragon Child, you are far too polite. Is this not a given? But what if I do not encounter any..."

"The promise still stands."

Scarlet Dragon Child chuckled and took out a token. "This is a special token. Whenever there is a disciple of my Heavenly Foundry Sect within a radius of five hundred kilometers, it will sense their presence.

"You can use it to check their locations.

"Just like this."

Scarlet Dragon Child gave a brief demonstration. Numerous motes of light appeared in the void. The sole green dot lay precisely over Dongxi, while the rest were all red dots.

"If the red light is faint, it means the person is in grave danger."

"Wait, this range is far greater than five hundred kilometers, is it not?"

"That is because the Ancient Battlefield is unique. The scanning range of divine sense will be compressed to one-tenth, and the same applies to this type of tracking Dharma tool.

"In the outside world, it can reach up to five thousand kilometers."

"It is still quite lacking compared to bloodline tracking methods. Unfortunately, unlike the development of clans, most members of a sect do not share the same bloodline.

"This is just settling for the next best thing."

Xu Chuan accepted the token. "This one agrees to the task and will definitely not betray your trust."

"Since that is settled, this old man will take his leave first."

"By the way, Senior, if you have nowhere to go once the Ancient Battlefield opens, you are welcome to rest your feet at my Dongxi."

"You sly little brat."

Scarlet Dragon Child laughed before turning and departing.

Within the Ancient Battlefield, the stronger one was, the more Chi they would attract.

Someone like Xu Chuan, who possessed Nascent Soul Combat Power while still in the Golden Core stage, actually had a much higher chance of survival.

News of Xu Chuan's battle quickly spread.

Xu Mingwei, Xu Deling, and the others heaved a sigh of relief when they heard.

Xu Dewen also began traveling outside. He ran into Heavenly South cultivators and Blackwater Region demonic cultivators multiple times, fighting five or six battles over the course of just a few days.

But every time, he would flee halfway through the fight.

Although he had Late-Stage Golden Core level mana, as well as offensive and defensive mid-grade magic treasures, and even possessed the Purple Firmament Heavenly Fiend Lamp as his trump card...

At this moment in the Land of Imprisonment, those who died the most were precisely those Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators who had an excessively high opinion of themselves.

The weak either hid themselves away, avoided others, or traveled in large groups.

Many of the Golden Core Perfection cultivators who had achieved Great Accomplishment in their divine abilities possessed high-grade magic treasures. They roamed alone, hunting demonic beasts or cultivators from the opposing faction.

If a Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator engaged in a prolonged clash, their mana would be overly drained.

Even if they managed to escape that battle, it would not be long before they were targeted and slaughtered by someone hiding in the dark.

After all, for Golden Core stage cultivators, the fluctuations of battle could be sensed from five hundred kilometers away.

There were many who would track those combat fluctuations specifically to swoop in and pick up cheap kills.

"Daoist Friend, seeing that you are also in the Early-Stage Golden Core, why not join us and travel together?"

Xu Dewen looked at the three Golden Core stage demonic cultivators, a contemplative expression on his face.

"What is wrong, Daoist Friend? Unwilling?"

The three men seemed to harbor intentions of pincer-attacking him.

"Do you gentlemen really intend to make a move? If a battle attracts top-tier Golden Core experts, that would not be ideal at all," Xu Dewen said flatly.

The three paused their steps.

Xu Dewen added, "Of course, I am also afraid of dying, so traveling in a group is not out of the question. However, if you attempt to strike out against me..."

The brawny man, who was the only Mid-Stage Golden Core cultivator among the three, replied, "Please rest assured, Daoist Friend. Since we all seek a path to survival and wish to return to the Blackwater Region alive, we naturally must swear an oath.

"We stand united against outsiders."

Xu Dewen pondered inwardly, 'The time Grandfather guessed for the manifestation of the Ancient Battlefield is fast approaching.

'I was just wondering how to slip into a group of Blackwater Region demonic cultivators. This is quite a good entry point to build an initial impression.

'Perhaps at a critical moment, I can even use these three to vouch for me.'

"Very well. If we are bound by an oath, I shall join."

The four men immediately swore their oaths, one by one.

"Right, how should we address you, Daoist Friend? I am Wang Dahai, this is Brother Zhang Gui, and this is Daoist Friend Song Xing. All three of us are rogue cultivators."

"What a coincidence, I am also a rogue cultivator. I practice a Demonic Cultivation Method that follows the path of baleful fiend qi."

Pausing, Xu Dewen continued, "As for my name, this younger brother goes by Wen De. Feel free to address me however you please."

"Daoist Friend Wen," the three men chuckled and cupped their fists.

Just like that, Xu Dewen successfully infiltrated the group of demonic cultivators.

Whenever they encountered Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators along the way, he refrained from utilizing his mid-grade magic treasures, opting to fight his foes with low-grade magic treasures instead.

After all, one could never let down their guard against others.

To Early and Mid-Stage Golden Core demonic rogue cultivators, a mid-grade magic treasure was considered a heavy treasure.

If he dared to reveal two of them, it would undoubtedly breed greed and covetousness in their hearts.

As for their sworn oaths, they were not so perfectly airtight that they lacked any loopholes to exploit.

On the sixth day after the descent of the Heavenly South cultivators.

Xu Mingwei and Xu Deling returned to Dongxi almost simultaneously, meeting each other just outside.

"Senior Brother Shen?"

"Junior Sister Lu."

The two Azure Cloud Sect disciples were instantly surprised upon seeing each other.

The key point was that they had happened to bump into each other in a place like Dongxi.

Seeing the other's confusion, Shen Fei laughed. "I ran into Daoist Friend Mingwei while roaming. After exchanging pointers in a spar, we continued our journey together."

"Little Sister Qingxue was traveling with me, as was he," Xu Deling said, pointing at Zhang Xuanzhi.

"Why am I just a 'he' when it comes to me?"

Zhang Xuanzhi instantly felt speechless.

"Who told you to always hold us back?" Xu Deling quipped with a beaming smile.

"Deling, quit fooling around. Anyone who visits is a guest."

"Yes, Father," Xu Deling complied.

Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi were immediately startled, their gazes shifting toward Xu Mingwei.

"Greetings, Uncle," the two of them bowed in respect.

"There is no need for such formality, Daoist Friends. Let us just address each other according to our own ranks."

"My, what a lively gathering."

At the entrance of Dongxi.

Two streaks of light—one crimson and one azure—flew over and landed before the crowd.

It was precisely the married couple, Xu Deyue and Ye Fan.

"Eldest Uncle," Xu Deyue and Ye Fan offered the courtesies of a junior before looking toward Xu Deling. "Big Sister Ling."

"You two came back as well? What a coincidence," Xu Deling smiled.

Ye Fan and Xu Deyue naturally recognized Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi. They promptly cupped their fists. "Fairy Lu. Daoist Friend Zhang."

The two gave slight nods before returning the gesture.

They then marveled inwardly at the sheer might of the Xu Clan.

"And this is...?" Ye Fan looked toward Shen Fei.

Xu Mingwei said, "This is Elder Shen Fei from the Azure Cloud Sect, whom I met during my travels. Daoist Friend Shen."

Another round of brief nods and greetings was exchanged.

Shen Fei chuckled. "I never expected that five prodigies on the Prodigy Roll would be gathered in such a small place."

He carefully observed Xu Deyue and Ye Fan before continuing, "Each of you has only practiced for a few decades, yet you have grown to such heights. I am afraid it will not be long before you all surpass us elder disciples."

Lu Qingxue said, "Why so sentimental, Senior Brother Shen? Back then, you were also a prodigy who achieved Divine Ability Core Formation. You just had bad luck and barely missed the Prodigy Grand Assembly."

"No, your generation is different," Shen Fei replied. "Even in the generations before yours, or even further back, their strength did not skyrocket this quickly.

"The opening of the Prodigy Grotto-Heaven provided the blessings of Providence.

"It truly lives up to its reputation!

"Even if it was just a tiny trace, far inferior to the peak of the Ancient Era, it is still no small matter."

"Once Senior Brother Shen returns safely to the sect this time, you will definitely be rewarded with a high-grade magic treasure."

"Then I will gladly accept my junior sister's auspicious words."

"High-grade magic treasures? Is your Azure Cloud Sect lacking them so much?" Xu Deling asked curiously.

"I wouldn't say we lack them. But without special merit, a powerful background, or extraordinary innate talent, even a Golden Core Perfection stage cultivator will not be granted one.

"Senior Brother Shen, he..."

"Within the sect, there are only two Late-Stage Golden Core cultivators with Great Accomplishment in divine abilities who have not received high-grade magic treasures.

"I just happen to be one of those unlucky fools."

Shen Fei mocked himself.

"Let's go, we can chat more inside."

"Inside?"

Lu Qingxue and the others swept their divine senses across their surroundings, but aside from wilderness and fields, there was absolutely nothing.

Right at this moment.

A loud, resounding hawk's cry pierced the air.

In the distance, a streak of purple-azure light sped toward them.

"What a coincidence, Aunt has arrived as well," Xu Deling laughed.

A short moment later.

The Purple-Azure Thunder Hawk arrived at the entrance of the Dongxi estate.

Seeing the crowd, its rider immediately drifted gracefully down from Xu Ying's back.

Xu Deling stepped forward with a smile, linking arms with her in an extremely intimate manner.

"You guys were actually faster than me," she remarked.

Xu Mingshu then turned to look at Lu Qingxue and the others.

Another round of introductions took place.

Only after that did they all proceed into Dongxi.

"The grade of this grand array is not low at all. Such a complex composite grand array... one look is enough to tell that it came from the hands of a Grandmaster of Array Formations," Shen Fei sighed in admiration.

Upon entering Dongxi, the first section was the Foggy Area.

Xu Mingwei flicked his sleeve robe, and a path automatically opened up before them.

After walking for about half a kilometer, they finally arrived at the true Dongxi.

Compared to the devastation outside, this place was undoubtedly an idyllic paradise.

"How rare. To think that in such circumstances, a place of such tranquility and peace could still exist," Shen Fei said, scanning his surroundings.

He noticed that many areas were covered by restrictions, making them difficult for his divine sense to probe.

He promptly ceased trying.

"It is a pity it will not last for long. Once the great battle of the Ancient Era concludes, we will have to leave whether we want to or not," Xu Mingwei said mildly.

They were brought to the Council Hall to be hosted.

Lu Qingxue, Shen Fei, and Zhang Xuanzhi all fell silent upon hearing this.

This place was special. It was not something a single faction could control, let alone something juniors like them had any right to comment on.

"Would you Daoist Friends like to stay at our Xu Clan for a few days?" Xu Mingwei asked.

"This Shen would love to, but I'm afraid it won't be possible. The Ancient Battlefield should open tomorrow, and this Shen must certainly venture inside."

Shen Fei looked at Xu Mingwei. "Will Daoist Friend Mingwei be entering as well?"

"It will depend on the situation. As you know the predicament my Xu Clan is in, it would be extremely dangerous if all our Golden Core cultivators enter."

Shen Fei nodded. "That is indeed true."

Soon after, he smiled again and added, "However, your Xu Clan is extraordinary, with generation after generation of talents. As long as you can break out of this cage, you will definitely soar into the sky."

"I borrow Daoist Friend Shen's auspicious words."

"You have traveled far and are guests. You might as well rest for the day and enter the Ancient Battlefield alongside our Xu Clan tomorrow," Xu Mingshu suggested with a smile.

Shen Fei and Lu Qingxue exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement.