Chapter 437: Nascent Souls Descend, Mei Yun's Encounter, Three Great Demon Monarchs

"This Magic Treasure is destined for me."

Xu Mingshu took one look and declared without hesitation.

"It does appear to be something a Beast Tamer would use. However, you already possess quite a few Magic Treasures. If you take this one, you will need to return some of your other items to the family,"

Xu Mingyuan said with a faint smile.

"That works for me."

"Then take it."

Xu Mingshu happily accepted the item and immediately turned to ask, "Deling, what do you think of this Magic Treasure?"

Xu Deling examined it carefully before replying, "It's even more precious than the Sea-Suppressing Seal. We could call this banner the Myriad Beast Banner.

"If my guess is correct, it's designed to absorb the essence souls of countless beasts and command them.

"The more Demonic Beast Essence Souls it holds, and the stronger they are, the greater its power will become. Its value is absolutely comparable to a Top-Tier Magic Treasure."

Hearing Xu Deling's assessment, Xu Mingshu grew even more fond of it, refusing to let it out of her grip.

Aside from that, there were a few perfectly sealed jade bottles that clearly contained precious pills.

However, since none of the people present were particularly skilled in that area, they decided to keep them sealed and hand them over to Xu Chuan later.

As for the materials, they were all top-grade Tier-4 items.

The Spirit Grasses were also rare Spirit Medicines that Xu Mingyuan and the others had never seen before.

"Deling, Mingxian, are there any materials here that you can use?" Xu Mingyuan asked.

Xu Mingxian shook his head.

Xu Deling said, "These materials are incredibly valuable. From what we've gathered on the Battlefield Outskirts so far, only one or two items can even compare to them.

"I don't have an immediate use for them either, so we should just store them for now.

"Whenever the day comes that I can refine High-Grade Magic Treasures or Top-Tier Magic Treasures, I will request them then."

"Alright."

"Aside from the Sea-Suppressing Seal, I will hold onto the rest and give them to Father when we see him. As for this Magic Treasure, who wants it?"

Xu Mingyuan's gaze swept across the group.

They looked at each other.

Xu Mingxuan threw his hands up. "Although I really want it, I already have the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and the Purple Flame Helmet. It would be a bit of a waste to take this right now."

"I don't need it either. Its attribute is water, which clashes with my affinity. I wouldn't be able to unleash its full power."

"I already have the Myriad Beast Banner, so I'd feel bad fighting for it," Xu Mingshu added.

"Don't consider me either," Xu Dewen said, spreading his hands.

"Fifth Brother, do you need it?" Xu Mingyuan looked at the silent Xu Mingxian.

Hearing this, Xu Mingxian glanced over. "Give it to Deyue for now. She is the only suitable match at the moment. If a more fitting person appears in the family later, she can pass it on."

Xu Deyue initially wanted to decline, as her cultivation path focused on agility and grace.

However, seeing that her father had spoken, she decided not to refuse.

The others naturally wouldn't object and disrespect his decision either.

Once Xu Deyue secured the Sea-Suppressing Seal, the group headed out of the Grotto-Residence, intending to return to the Battlefield Outskirts.

Suddenly, a terrifying pressure erupted, followed by a massive hand formed of Corpse Qi clawing toward Xu Mingyuan and the others.

None of them had time to react.

Only Xu Mingxuan managed to activate the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in the blink of an eye.

A seven-colored light screen instantly enveloped and protected everyone.

As the dark green hand slammed down, the multicolored barrier rippled violently.

In mere moments.

Several cracks began to spread across its surface.

Fortunately, the hand didn't sustain its form for long and slowly dissipated.

"You've got some skills to be able to react to that."

"Grand Elder Gongyang, I was right, wasn't I? These people have quite a few High-Grade Magic Treasures in their hands. Moreover, since this Grotto-Residence was protected by a major grand array, it must hold plenty of treasures."

The one speaking was Yin Shuo, who had decisively retreated two days prior.

He hadn't intended to get involved in this matter again, but he had coincidentally run into Gongyang Shang.

Gongyang Shang and Chou Boyang had discovered that the tracking Secret Art on Zhang Daoran had been erased. After searching the surrounding area to no avail, they ceased their cooperation.

That was how he ended up crossing paths with Yin Shuo.

When Yin Shuo saw Gongyang Shang, his thoughts naturally drifted back to Xu Mingyuan and his group. He convinced the Grand Elder to come and lie in wait here.

"You've done well, Elder Yin. Once I capture them, you will certainly receive your share of the rewards."

"Thank you, Grand Elder."

Xu Mingyuan's expression was grave as he immediately cupped his fists toward Xu Dewen. "Senior Li, I must ask you to intervene. On top of the conditions we agreed upon, we will offer you an additional twenty percent of the resources."

Xu Dewen stroked his beard and offered a faint smile. "If you had done this earlier, everything would be fine. If I had made a move last time, no one would have escaped, and we wouldn't be facing this situation now."

Gongyang Shang frowned as he looked at Xu Dewen. The man seemed entirely unfamiliar; he had never seen him before.

However, judging by their words, it sounded as if this person alone could easily deal with him.

"Who are you, Daoist Friend? Why not declare your name? Disguising yourself as a Golden Core junior... surely you're not planning a sneak attack?"

Xu Dewen's gaze turned icy, laced with disdain. "Do I need you to teach me how to conduct myself?! If you obediently leave now, you might spare yourself a physical beating."

"What a joke! Let's see what kind of methods you possess, Daoist Friend!"

"Then watch closely!"

Xu Dewen patted his Yin Corpse Pouch, calling upon the Profound Yin Corpse King.

When Xu Chuan left them behind, he had instructed both the Profound Yin Corpse King and the Blood Fiend Ghost King to act if the situation demanded it.

A beam of grayish-green light burst forth as terrifying Corpse Qi shot into the sky.

From within the grayish-green baleful corpse qi, the piercing shriek of a Tier-4 Corpse King echoed across a radius of dozens of miles.

The dreadful howl was so powerful that it created faint ripples in the surrounding space.

"A Tier-4 Corpse King?!"

Gongyang Shang's eyes widened in shock.

Yin Shuo was completely dumbfounded.

There were barely any Tier-4 Corpse Kings in the entire Corpse Yin Sect. Yet now, an unknown demonic cultivator had one in his possession.

A moment later, unbridled greed filled Gongyang Shang's eyes.

He had dreamed of refining a Tier-4 Corpse King, but to this day, he had never succeeded.

"Impressive methods, Daoist Friend. However, when it comes to Corpse Refinement, my Corpse Yin Sect reigns supreme. Why not gift this refined corpse to me? I can certainly help it reach an even higher level."

Xu Dewen didn't respond. Instead, he drew a black banner from his Storage Ring.

"The Thousand Soul Banner?! Are you from the Heavenly Ghost Sect?!"

"Go, Blood Fiend!"

Since Xu Dewen couldn't control the Thousand Soul Banner himself, he had no choice but to call upon the Blood Fiend Ghost King.

Otherwise, given the current power of the Thousand Soul Banner, it would have been more than enough to give an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator a miserable time.

A mass of Yin qi ghost mist drifted out and materialized beside the Profound Yin Corpse King.

An eerie, grating laugh echoed from the dark mist.

"More delicious food has delivered itself to our doorstep."

"A Tier-4 Ghost King!"

Gongyang Shang's expression completely changed.

"Just who are you? Not only have you nurtured a Tier-4 Corpse King, but you've also cultivated a Tier-4 Ghost King. You're definitely not from the Heavenly Ghost Sect.

"Did you steal that Thousand Soul Banner?"

"What if I did? What if I didn't?" Xu Dewen let out a sinister chuckle. "Kill them!"

The Profound Yin Corpse King immediately charged toward Yin Shuo.

This was because Xu Dewen had secretly transmitted a message to the corpse, telling him that the man held a Magic Treasure perfectly suited for him.

"Oh no!"

Yin Shuo spun around and fled into the distance.

The Profound Yin Corpse King locked its unblinking gaze onto him, as if harboring a deep, bloodthirsty grudge.

But how could his speed possibly outmatch a Tier-4 Corpse King? Unless he possessed an Evasion Divine Ability and had cultivated it to at least the Minor Success realm, it was impossible.

Meanwhile, the Blood Fiend Ghost King raised his hand, firing off a streak of grayish-white light.

Gongyang Shang, fully on guard, formed a hand seal to conjure a Corpse Qi shield, blocking the grayish-white beam.

As the light faded, a White Bone Nail revealed itself.

"A White Bone Nail... You killed that old ghost, Old Demon Yin Wind?!"

Xu Dewen gave a macabre smile.

That smile sent a shiver down Gongyang Shang's spine.

Old Demon Yin Wind was at roughly the same Cultivation Realm as him—both Peak Early Nascent Soul cultivators. However, the old demon possessed a unique Magic Treasure like the Thousand Soul Banner.

It allowed him to condense the power of a ghost army and unleash an even more terrifying attack.

Although the Yin Corpse Sect also controlled Corpse Puppets, they didn't have such artifacts. Most of them relied entirely on the raw strength of their Corpse Puppets.

Only a select few might possess corpse puppet Formations.

But human nature is selfish, so such secrets were naturally never shared.

As the Blood Fiend Ghost King engaged in a fierce battle with Gongyang Shang, it became clear that his artifacts and realm were slightly inferior. However, the ghost king excelled at Spiritual Sense Attacks.

This forced Gongyang Shang to handle the situation with extreme caution.

'This isn't working. I still have a few Peak Third-Tier Corpse Puppets on hand, but I'm afraid that Tier-4 Corpse King will return soon.

'A Tier-4 Corpse King naturally suppresses Tier-3 Corpse Puppets with its inherent pressure.

'Under that suppression, they probably won't even be able to unleash sixty percent of their strength.'

"I'll remember you! Having killed Old Demon Yin Wind of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, you can just wait to be hunted down by them!"

Xu Dewen chuckled softly. "I am a lone wolf with no fixed residence. If they have the skill, let them come all the way to the Heavenly South to hunt me down."

Gongyang Shang's face contorted with rage. After forcing the Blood Fiend Ghost King back one last time, he immediately activated an evasion technique and fled.

The Blood Fiend Ghost King didn't bother chasing him.

Just a dozen seconds later, the Profound Yin Corpse King returned, dragging Yin Shuo's corpse with him.

The man had already escaped with his life earlier, yet he practically courted death by coming back.

This was the epitome of Insatiable Greed, Like a Snake Swallowing an Elephant.

"Senior Profound Yin, you can take this corpse, and give his soul to Senior Blood Fiend. As for the Storage Pouch on him, that must be handed over."

The Profound Yin Corpse King frowned slightly.

"That Corpse Demon Bangle exerts far greater power in the hands of the Corpse Dao lineage. You can refine it into your Natal Magic Treasure. I will speak to my father about it when he returns."

Hearing this, the Profound Yin Corpse King's brow smoothed out.

The only thing that had caught his eye was the Corpse Demon Bangle anyway. The rest of the materials and Spirit Grasses held little use for him.

"You're not so bad."

The Profound Yin Corpse King tossed the tightly bound soul over to the Blood Fiend Ghost King.

The Blood Fiend Ghost King looked incredibly pleased.

Shortly after, one returned to the Yin Corpse Pouch while the other slipped back into the Thousand Soul Banner.

"It's a good thing Father was prepared and left them behind, otherwise this trip would have been a disaster for us," Xu Mingxuan remarked.

"Let's go. We shouldn't linger here any longer. Let's head back to the Battlefield Outskirts first."

The others nodded in agreement.

Time passed in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, the three-year deadline was fast approaching.

Xu Chuan hadn't found any trace of Mei Yun, but his Heavenly Secret Dao Derivation indicated that his disciple was still alive, giving him some peace of mind.

"It's time to leave."

Xu Chuan didn't waste any time and headed straight for the Battlefield Outskirts.

It took him more than half a month to finally break through the thick fog. A few days later, he reached the location where Xu Mingyuan and the others were gathered.

Xu Mingyuan and the rest immediately stepped forward to greet him, their faces beaming with smiles.

Xu Chuan swept his gaze over them with a faint smile and nodded. "You all look much more capable. It seems you've gone through your fair share of battles."

Xu Mingyuan replied, "Most of our fights were against Chi."

"After all, those creatures are always lurking wherever heavenly materials and earthly treasures can be found."

"Besides that, we also clashed with the Nine Nether Sparrow and the Zhuyan, and we killed a few demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region."

"Not bad," Xu Chuan nodded approvingly.

After this trip to the Ancient Battlefield, their combat experience had significantly improved.

"Father, we have a Gift for you."

"Oh?" The corners of Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly. "What kind of Gift?"

Xu Mingyuan brushed a hand over his Azure Jade Ring, and two streaks of light shot out.

It was the Top-Tier Magic Treasure, the Constellation Disk, and the yellow Jade Slip containing the "Twenty-Eight Supreme Constellations Scripture".

"A Top-Tier Magic Treasure... for the Path of Divination?"

Xu Chuan stared at the Constellation Disk, a look of surprise crossing his face. "I didn't expect you all to stumble upon such an Opportunity."

"The Jade Slip contains an accompanying set of Divination Methods. We weren't sure if it would be of any use to you, Father."

Since Xu Mingyuan didn't know the exact grade of Xu Chuan's divination Inheritance, he didn't dare make any guarantees.

Xu Chuan swept it with his divine sense.

"The 'Twenty-Eight Supreme Constellations Scripture', from the Four Symbols Constellation Holy Land?"

"Could this be an ancient Path of Heavenly Secrets technique from that Holy Land?!"

Xu Chuan recalled hearing the Dragon Girl from the Azure Dragon Secret Realm mention that the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, and the rest of the four symbol sects served as guards for the Four Symbols Constellation Holy Land.

And the very core of the Four Symbols Constellation Holy Land was the lineage of Heavenly Secrets.

'It requires at least the Golden Core stage to start practicing, and this segment allows one to cultivate all the way to Consummate Spirit Transformation. If a suitable descendant appears in the family in the future, they could practice this Cultivation Method.

'As for me, I can at most study the various Heavenly Secret Arts recorded within it.'

After all, there was no way Xu Chuan would completely switch to the Path of Heavenly Secrets.

However, with the Heavenly Secret Dao Derivation, his future achievements on the Path of Heavenly Secrets wouldn't be lacking either.

"These two items are incredibly useful to me. I'll gladly accept them," Xu Chuan said with a smile.

"Father, we also found two Ancient Prodigy Tokens."

"You found more? I haven't even seen a single one yet."

"One was found alongside the Constellation Disk, and the other was on the Battlefield Outskirts. Finding them was mostly thanks to Mingxuan's luck."

Hearing this, Xu Mingxuan chuckled. "It was everyone's effort. Those places were incredibly dangerous. If I were alone, it would've been impossible for me to obtain them."

Afterward.

Xu Mingyuan handed over all the remaining items obtained from the Grotto-Residence, as well as their other spoils, to Xu Chuan.

He also took the opportunity to inform him about the Sea-Suppressing Seal, the Myriad Beast Banner, the Corpse Demon Bangle, and other matters.

Xu Chuan listened quietly.

"Grandfather, I'm returning the Yin Corpse Pouch and the Thousand Soul Banner to their rightful owner."

Xu Dewen's face was filled with envy.

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "While a Corpse Puppet and a Ghost Army can massively boost your strength, possessing both at the same time will make things inconvenient for you in the future.

"However, your grandfather can gift you a Hundred Ghost Banner.

"You can raise your own Ghost Army from scratch."

"Thank you, Grandfather!"

With a flick of his Sleeve Robe, a Hundred Ghost Banner materialized out of thin air and flew directly into Xu Dewen's hands.

He examined it briefly before quickly stowing it away.

For the next day or two.

Xu Chuan went into seclusion to sort through their harvest.

Since Xu Mingyuan and the others didn't recognize many of the harvested Spirit Grasses and Pills, they had to rely on Xu Chuan to appraise their value.

"To think there's actually a Purple Dragon Flower and Heavenly Star Grass here. With these, I finally have all the materials to refine the Purple Dragon Pill."

The Purple Dragon Pill was an elixir specifically used by Early and Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators to advance their Mana.

At Tier-4, any type of pill was exceptionally rare, completely failing to meet the demand.

Many Nascent Soul cultivators were forced to rely purely on bitter cultivation to improve their Mana and slowly wear down the bottlenecks of their realms. Because of this, it was incredibly common for cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage to spend a century or two without making any progress.

There were quite a few who remained stuck at the Early-Stage Nascent Soul realm for their entire lives.

Only Hegemon-Level Nascent Soul Powers or top-tier Nascent Soul Powers had the resources to continuously produce Early and Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivators without breaking their lineage.

"Oh? This is actually a Treasure Body Fruit."

Xu Chuan stared at a half-green, half-red fruit resting among the pile of Spirit Medicines.

The Treasure Body Fruit was an incredibly rare peak Third-Tier Spirit Fruit.

It was practically extinct in the Heavenly South.

Refining its flesh would drastically enhance a cultivator's Physique and physical strength.

However, it had no effect on a Third-Tier Physical Body.

It was also the primary material needed to refine the Second-Tier Treasure Body Pill.

The other supplementary ingredients weren't difficult to find—the Xu Family already had them in stock. Only the Treasure Body Fruit had eluded them until now.

A smile blossomed on Xu Chuan's face. "With this, Wenjing's path of Dual Cultivation of Dharma and Body at the Foundation Establishment Stage is wide open. However, a single Treasure Body Fruit is only enough for one person.

"I'll have to plant its Fruit Pit and cultivate a fully mature Treasure Body Fruit tree."

Xu Chuan figured that process would take no less than a century.

Xu Chuan carefully inspected the rest of the Spirit Medicines. Many of them were indeed extremely valuable, serving as primary ingredients for Tier-4 Wound-Healing Pills and Realm-Breaking Pills.

Unfortunately, aside from the Purple Dragon Pill, he hadn't managed to assemble a complete set of materials for any other Tier-4 pill.

The Xu Family would have to continue collecting them in the future.

Since there was less than half a month left until the three-year duration concluded.

They ceased their excursions.

Instead, they found a quiet spot to focus on their cultivation, only relocating if a group of Chi happened to wander near.

The majority of the other major powers adopted the same approach.

However, there were still some Nascent Soul stage experts who ventured out to the Battlefield Outskirts to ruthlessly harvest the remaining resources.

If anyone was unlucky enough to cross their paths, the absolute best-case scenario was losing all their treasures and resources—but most ended up losing their lives.

Xu Chuan's group also encountered a Nascent Soul expert from the Heavenly South.

But the expert was quickly scared off by Moyue's mighty dragon roar and the overwhelming presence of numerous Golden Core cultivators.

Following that, Xu Chuan and the others shifted their position once again.

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Battlefield Depths, nestled within a certain Mountain Range.

There lay a rare terrain configuration known as the 'Nine Dragons Guarding the Core'.

Hidden within this terrain was a bizarre pocket dimension. Inside, there was only one living person and a single spirit.

That person was none other than Mei Yun.

"The time for your departure draws near. Have you memorized everything I told you?"

Mei Yun nodded toward the illusory Primordial Spirit floating in the air. "Ancestor, Mei Yun understands."

"Very well. The matter of changing your name can wait until you return to the Purple Myrtle Domain. As long as you plant your roots in the Heavenly South and establish a powerful Imperial Dynasty.

"One day, you will definitely become one of the top five successors to the Immortal Dynasty."

"Yes, Ancestor. Mei Yun will do everything in his power to achieve this."

In reality, Mei Yun felt utterly miserable. The moment he entered the Ancient Battlefield, he was teleported directly to this place. Not only were there no heavenly materials or earthly treasures to be found, but he had also spent the entire time being nagged by some old fossil who had been dead for who knows how long.

Fortunately, the Spiritual Qi in this space was unimaginably dense.

Moreover, it seemed to be laced with pure threads of Dragon Vein Qi.

It perfectly harmonized with his Cultivation Method.

Because of this, over the past three years, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, directly thrusting him to the Golden Core Early Peak.

Just recently, relying on the pills Xu Chuan had prepared for them, he successfully broke through to the Mid-stage Golden Core in a single stroke.

'Honored Master will certainly be shocked when he sees me after I leave,' Mei Yun mused privately, though his thoughts quickly turned to worry. 'But given Master's sharp intuition, there's no way I can hide this from him.

'Should I practice Speaking the Truth?

'I don't even know if Master will believe me.

'A completely unremarkable Rogue Cultivator suddenly turning out to be one of the princes of a hegemon-level Immortal Dynasty from another domain?

'Even the writers of cheap street novels wouldn't dare pen such a ridiculous plot.'

The 'hegemon-level power' Mei Yun was referring to was entirely different from the Hegemon-Level Nascent Soul Powers found in the Heavenly South or the Blackwater Region.

It was a true Unified Immortal Dynasty.

An entity to which countless Aristocratic Families and Sects bowed their heads in absolute submission.

Whatever, he would figure it out once he got out.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he asked, "Ancestor, what exactly is that stone you gave me? To my eyes, it looks entirely unremarkable."

"You don't need to know right now. Just ensure that once you establish your Imperial Dynasty, you nourish it daily with the Imperial Dynasty's Fortune.

"Of course, whether it will ultimately be of any use depends on your own Providence."

"Could others discover how special it is?"

"True Treasures obscure themselves and shroud the Heavenly Secrets. If a Body Integration stage cultivator on the Path of Heavenly Secrets were to sacrifice their Lifespan to divine it, they might figure it out.

"But considering the current state of the Heavenly South, you can rest easy."

"Only a Body Integration stage cultivator on the Path of Heavenly Secrets could deduce anything from it?!"

Mei Yun was secretly horrified. In this era, even Spirit Transformation experts were practically the stuff of legends.

He stared at the head-sized stone in his hands, wondering just what kind of divine artifact it could possibly be.

'Nourishing it daily with the Imperial Dynasty's Fortune? That's going to exhaust me to death, and it's not even guaranteed to do anything?'

'No matter how good a treasure is, it's completely useless to me.'

'Besides, heaven only knows where the Purple Myrtle Domain actually is!'

'What good is being a damn successor anyway?!'

Mei Yun's eyes rippled slightly as he began scheming to hand it over to Xu Chuan in exchange for some solid Benefits.

'Everyone else probably secured massive hauls, while I just came in here for a bitter cultivation retreat. Who could possibly understand my suffering?

'Don't blame me, Ancestor. I'll just use this to report my results to Master.'

Mei Yun went back to consolidating his Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, waiting for the moment he could finally leave.

Meanwhile.

In the outside world.

Dongxi.

Jade Cold Pool.

"Eldest Brother, according to my calculations, Father and the rest should be coming out today, right?" Xu Mingqing asked.

"Just about."

"Then why are you frowning, Eldest Brother?"

"I don't know why, but I feel an unrelenting sense of unease."

"It shouldn't be anything serious. Didn't Father leave a contingency plan in place? With Seniors Mo Wentian and Scarlet Dragon Child here, even if another Beast Tide strikes, we can fend it off easily.

"Almost all the Early-Stage Nascent Soul experts went into the Ancient Battlefield.

"There's no way they would have their eyes on our tiny Xu Family."

"Our Xu Family certainly hasn't caught their attention yet, but there is one major exception... the Hundred Thousand Mountains!"

"Over the past few months, news of what happened here has probably already reached their so-called Holy Mountain."

"Eldest Brother, you think the Hundred Thousand Mountains won't let our Xu Family off the hook?!"

"Let's just hope my worries are baseless. Otherwise, with Father and the others absent, it will bring down a heaven-shaking disaster upon our family."

However, things rarely go as hoped.

A mere few hours later.

Boom!

A terrifying pressure, thick with the aura of an ancient, savage wilderness, descended from the high heavens without any warning!

This Pressure wasn't targeting any single person. It was as if the invisible firmament had collapsed, piercing straight through the Clan protection grand array and blanketing all of Dongxi!

In an instant.

The valley was like an old well into which a massive boulder had been dropped. Violent waves flared up, only to be forcibly flattened down!

On the streets, inside the houses, and beside the Spirit Fields, countless Xu family members, Guards, and servants—regardless of what they were doing—felt an overwhelming suppression pressing down from the very depths of their souls!

Qi Refining cultivators instantly lost all strength in their knees.

Thud! Thud! Swaths of people collapsed to the ground.

They were left on all fours, trembling like leaves in a storm, completely drenched in cold sweat.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators fared slightly better, though every single one of them went deathly pale.

Through gritted teeth, they circulated every ounce of their Mana just to barely remain standing.

Even so, their backs were hunched, looking as if they were physically bearing the weight of a towering mountain.

Only Golden Core Cultivators like Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingqing had the strength to resist this monstrous pressure.

But even their expressions were indescribably grim.

"Eldest Brother!" Xu Mingqing's face was ashen.

"Stay here. I'll go take a look."

"Eldest Brother!"

Xu Mingwei gave him a reassuring look, then grabbed his Treasure Flood Dragon Bow, shot into the sky, and flew toward the edge of Dongxi.

Crack... Creak...

Along the way, Xu Mingwei could hear the Buildings within the valley groaning under the immense strain.

He swept the area with his divine sense.

Countless people were pinned to the floor on all fours.

The pillars and beams of the wooden houses were fracturing, and roof tiles rained down rapidly.

Even the sturdy stone buildings weren't spared, with fine, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across their walls.

All of Dongxi trembled under the sheer weight of the pressure, throwing the ambient Spiritual Qi into chaos.

Countless people felt an agonizing tightness in their chests, struggling to breathe as if the air around them had solidified or been sucked completely dry.

A brief moment later.

The overwhelming aura vanished as abruptly as it had arrived.

Thankfully, the dreadful pressure had only lasted for a short time.

By the time Xu Mingwei reached the perimeter.

He saw two figures standing off against three humanoid Shapeshifting Great Demons in the distance.

It was none other than Mo Wentian and Scarlet Dragon Child.

Both men floated in mid-air, their expressions graver than ever as they stared down the three entities standing about half a mile away.

The figure on the left was tall and gaunt, clad in a robe of ink-black feathers. His face was chillingly aloof, carrying an apathy that seemed to look down upon all living beings.

Deep within his eyes, flickering spectral blue flames danced—it was the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord.

On the right stood a figure as massive as a mountain, draped in armor that resembled a dark golden mane. He possessed the head of a lion and the body of a man.

When his large, bell-like eyes blinked, golden light spilled forth, radiating a terrifying natural majesty. The faint sounds of wind and thunder accompanied his every movement—this was the Suanni Demon Lord.

The one in the center was undeniably the Zhuyan Demon Lord.

His entire body was covered in crimson fur, his muscles knotted and coiled like dragons. A single horn protruded from his forehead, and his eyes blazed with violent War Intent and bottomless cruelty.

Just the simple act of breathing caused the surrounding air to boil with intense heat, filling the area with oppressive Baleful Qi.

"Seniors."

Xu Mingwei flew up to their side, cupping his fists in a respectful greeting.

"Why are you here?"

"This is a matter concerning my Xu Family. With my father absent, it's my duty to step up and face it."

A flash of approval gleamed in Scarlet Dragon Child's eyes, but he still shook his head. "You are not your father. Without Nascent Soul Combat Power, you have no way to intervene in this battle.

"You should retreat."

Seeing Xu Mingwei's reluctance, Scarlet Dragon Child sent him a secret transmission, "It will be incredibly difficult for the two of us to hold off all three of them. You need to hurry and escape with the elite members of your family."

"There's no need to persuade me further, Senior. I know what I'm doing and won't cause any trouble for either of you."

"Very well."

Seeing his determination, Scarlet Dragon Child finally dropped the matter.

Mo Wentian took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in his heart as he cupped his hands and spoke loudly, "Three Demon Monarchs, this is the family of the First Elder of our Azure Dragon Alliance.

"May I ask what brings all of you here together?"

The Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord sneered coldly. "Azure Dragon Alliance? Never heard of it!"

"Although our Azure Dragon Alliance is a newly established faction, we also have a Tier 4 Transformed Grand Demon overseeing it, granting us three sources of Nascent Soul Combat Power."

Hearing this, the expressions of the three Demon Monarchs shifted slightly.

The Suanni Demon Lord rumbled, "This family has slaughtered dozens of Tier 3 Demonic Beasts from our Hundred Thousand Mountains. Moreover, since they reside within the Land of Imprisonment, we have every right to deal with them.

"I suggest you and your so-called First Elder's alliance step aside.

"Otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"

Scarlet Dragon Child's pupils contracted slightly, and he spoke in a solemn tone. "I am Scarlet Dragon Child, Grand Elder of the Heavenly Foundry Sect. Can the three of you do me a favor and let this matter go?

"The Demonic Beast horde attacked Dongxi and was annihilated because they lacked strength. It's perfectly normal for them to be wiped out.

"After all, plenty of them met their end at the hands of other factions.

"Both the Blackwater Region and the Heavenly South have also lost their share of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators to your Demonic Beasts.

"This was nothing more than a conflict between juniors. Why must the three of you intervene personally?

"Aren't you taking this a bit too far?!"

"The Xu Family is a faction of the Land of Imprisonment, so our Hundred Thousand Mountains has every right to govern them. The Heavenly Foundry Sect, on the other hand, is located far away in the southern region of the Heavenly South. Why are you interfering?" the Suanni Demon Lord boomed.

The Nine Nether Sparrow also sneered. "Exactly! Your Heavenly Foundry Sect is overstepping its bounds. For a faction penned up in our Hundred Thousand Mountains, we can exterminate them whenever we please!"

"Are you truly determined to annihilate the Xu Clan?"

"Scarlet Dragon Child, your strength isn't bad, but you can't stop us. Your Heavenly Foundry Sect is only renowned for Artificing. When it comes to raw strength and Heritage, you aren't considered top-tier.

"I advise you not to wade into these muddy waters."

Scarlet Dragon Child's face darkened upon hearing this.

Yet internally, he felt a wave of bitterness.

He truly hadn't anticipated that the Hundred Thousand Mountains would deploy their Three Great Demon Monarchs all at once just for the sake of the Xu Family.

This was a battle better avoided if at all possible.

Otherwise, relying solely on himself and Mo Wentian, they wouldn't be able to stop the trio.

"Daoist Friend Xu Chuan has formidable connections. Are you truly dead set on wiping out his bloodline relatives?!"

"You mean True Lord Withered Glory?" the Zhuyan Demon Lord rumbled. "I heard he suppressed my son. His strength is indeed extraordinary, but how can a mere Golden Core Cultivator defy the greater flow of events!"

"He has a deep relationship with the Ancestor of Profound Moon!"

"The Ancestor of Profound Moon, Zhang Fan?!"

The expressions of the three demon lords abruptly changed.

"Daoist Friend Xu Chuan's potential is in no way inferior to the Ancestor of Profound Moon's in his youth. If you do this, you will be forging an irreconcilable blood feud with him."

"Hmph! A Prodigy is only a true Prodigy once they've actually matured!" the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord sneered. "As for the Ancestor of Profound Moon, I admit he has the qualifications to threaten us.

"But I don't believe he would turn hostile against our Hundred Thousand Mountains just for the sake of a measly Golden Core Family Clan."

'These Demonic Beasts have such putrid tempers. They won't listen to reason or threats!'

Scarlet Dragon Child felt utterly helpless.

"Daoist Friend Scarlet Dragon Child, what do we do now?" Mo Wentian asked via secret transmission.

"Xu Chuan and the others should be back in less than half a day. If you and I don't even try to hold the line, we won't have the face to see him. All of our prior goodwill efforts would be entirely wasted."

"Daoist Friend Scarlet Dragon Child makes a valid point."

Mo Wentian sighed inwardly; there was no avoiding this battle.

Just then.

Xu Mingwei simultaneously transmitted a message to both of them. "Seniors, my Xu Family is endlessly grateful for your assistance. If you truly cannot stop them, you may leave. My Xu Family will hold absolutely no resentment toward you.

"This is a Tribulation destined for our Xu Family.

"My father had already foreseen this.

"However, what he didn't expect was for the Hundred Thousand Mountains to place such importance on our family, sending three Demon Monarchs all at once."

Besides thanking Scarlet Dragon Child and Mo Wentian, he also sent a message instructing Xu Mingqing to put their plan into action.

A Teleportation Array had been constructed beneath Dongxi, capable of transporting them to the underground region of the Azure Sea Forest.

The space there was massive—large enough to easily accommodate over a hundred thousand people.

This was exactly what the contingency was for.

Xu Mingqing didn't hesitate. He rushed back to the Xu Family Manor and rallied all the Xu Clan members to assemble and evacuate to the Azure Sea Forest.

Bai Jing and the others didn't waste time asking questions.

They had all felt that dreadful pressure earlier; it wasn't something ordinary manpower could resist.

"Mother, Father predicted all of this a long time ago. Please follow me to the sanctuary."

"Understood."

"Where is your eldest brother?" Yang Ronghua asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Eldest Brother went to hold off the enemies. Don't worry, sister-in-law, with Seniors Scarlet Dragon Child and Mo Wentian—who Father invited—supporting him, Eldest Brother will be fine."

Bai Jing added, "Ronghua, as long as we make it to safety, Wei'er should be able to find a way to escape even if he's no match for them."

"I understand, Mother."

Bai Jing, Yang Ronghua, Xu Dezhao, and the rest immediately sprang into action.

Xu Chonghui also rushed to notify everyone else to take shelter in the Grand Manor, making sure the order covered not just the Vassal Families, but even the Mortals living at the foot of the mountain.

They all mobilized with immense discipline.

The Nine Nether Sparrow and the other demon lords naturally noticed the commotion below.

However, they paid it no mind, assuming the Xu Family was merely trying to hide out of fear that the impending Nascent Soul battle would obliterate the innocent.

"Do they actually think hiding underground will save them?"

The eyes of the Nine Nether Sparrow Demon Lord brimmed with absolute contempt.