Chapter 561: Useless! Useless!

When the tremor from Central Diguo arrived, the lair thunderously opened.

A towering, majestic figure, its whole body ablaze with golden light like a stellar core, wings spread as if to eclipse the great sun, aura soaring to the heavens, ferocity overwhelming, stepped out slowly.

He bore a rebellious, untamed young face, etched with cruelty and indifference; his golden pupils spun like twin blades, so sharp that none could dare stare.

It was the Ancient Freak sealed here by the Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan, hailed as the last hope of the clan's younger generation, proclaimed by the clan's ancient entity that he might one day lead the Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan to challenge the Ten Fierce throne—a top‑tier monster… Hun Tianqiong!

Jin Lieyu, upon seeing Hun Tianqiong emerge, felt as if he had found a lifeline; he hurriedly recounted, embellishing the episode where he was defeated by Dou Tianxiong in Emperor Beast City, then brushed aside by Ye Wuque, his dignity trampled, his tone dripping with resentment and grievance.

However, as soon as he finished speaking—

"Useless!"

A flash of cold light sparked in Hun Tianqiong's eyes, and he mercilessly slapped through the air!

"Slap—!!!"

A crisp, ringing slap, mingled with the muffled crack of bones!

Jin Lieyu didn't even have time to react; his whole body flew out like a broken sandbag, slammed hard into a distant golden peak, crushing the mountain down!

Blood spewed from his mouth, half his facial bones shattered, his breath instantly waned, his injuries worse than when Dou Tianxiong had previously maimed him!

"Can't even take down a lowly ape tribe or a human the size of an ant! Then scared off in a scramble! You've utterly disgraced the Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan!"

Hun Tianqiong's voice was ice‑cold and bone‑piercing, brimming with unabashed contempt and ruthlessness, even toward a junior of his own clan, showing no mercy!

Struck so heavily, Jin Lieyu dared not utter a single complaint, not even a wail; he gritted his teeth against the agony, rolled and crawled back beneath Hun Tianqiong's feet, his head bowed low, his body trembling violently from fear and pain, his voice quivering: "Little… Little Ancestor's anger! It's… it's Jin Lieyu's incompetence! But… but those two humans and ape beings were truly… truly wicked! Especially that human, he…"

"Enough!" Hun Tianqiong interrupted impatiently, his gaze full of disdain and sneer, "Heh, in my day I swept a whole era, slaying the so‑called Human Heavenly Pride countless times! Their blood still burns fresh in my memory. Even the Golden Emperor Dragon of that era could not match me! A mere human ant, a lowly monkey, should not have made you…"

He outright dismissed Jin Lieyu's description of Ye Wuque's power, seeing it merely as an excuse for his own incompetence.

"Let's go, straight to Central Diguo!" Hun Tianqiong said grimly, "If we meet those two ants on the way, crush them outright! Their blood will proclaim my return, and also… cleanse the slight disgrace your actions have brought upon our clan!"

Jin Lieyu tried to further explain Ye Wuque's terror, but a cold stare from Hun Tianqiong silenced him.

"No need to say more," Hun Tianqiong said indifferently, "The dignity of my Golden-Winged Great Peng Clan will not be trampled. This man, I will kill. That monkey, also must die."

With that, he flapped his wings, summoning a towering golden gale, shaping it into a golden bolt that cleaved the void, and surged toward Central Diguo.

Bruised and grievously wounded, Jin Lieyu forced himself to keep up, his heart a swirl of emotions—fear of Hun Tianqiong, a twisted thrill at the prospect of Little Ancestor avenging him, yet above all, a lingering dread over Ye Wuque's unfathomable power.

……

As more Ancient Freaks broke their seals and entered the world, waves of domineering, ferocious, sharp, or vast terror rose like beacon fires in the night across the Ten Thousand Beasts Archipelago, each sensing the others, subtly forming an invisible standoff and clash!

The entire Ten Thousand Beasts Archipelago's atmosphere, due to the successive emergence of these Ancient Freaks, was suddenly thrust to an unprecedented extreme!

The air was saturated with tension, anticipation, and a murderous aura, so intense it seemed unbreakable!

Countless contemporary Heavenly Prides from Zhutian Wanjie, already exploring the archipelago, felt the heart‑pounding ancient and powerful aura, their faces growing solemn as the pressure on their minds multiplied.

They knew the true dragon‑versus‑tiger battle was only just beginning!

Around the outer edge of Central Diguo's core restricted zone, the vast void region weakened by Chaos mist and spatial storms, now serves as the gathering place for the young elite of Zhutian Wanjie!

Radiant streams from all directions, like countless rivers converging into the sea, continuously poured into this region.

Each beam of light represented a being—powerful, mysterious, or of astonishing pedigree.

Demonic aura surged! Various fierce, ancient, bizarre beast auras collided and intertwined here, forming a chaotic, towering field of life energy!

To the naked eye, countless silhouettes floated in the void.

There were Golden-Winged Great Pengs with wings that eclipsed the sky, radiant with golden light.

There were Bifangs, one‑legged and stepping on air, surrounded by blue flames.

There were Vermilion Birds with splendid plumage, burning seven‑colored divine fire.

There were Nine‑headed Birds, fierce and intimidating.

There were Golden Crows, three‑legged, treading the sun, bearing a regal aura.

There were Lightning Birds, surrounded by electric light, unmatched in speed.

There were Heaven‑Trampling Divine Elephants, bodies as massive as mountains, strength unparalleled.

There were Black Tortoises, coiled with serpents, possessing astonishing defense.

There were Sacred Heavenly Horses, holy and ethereal, treading light.

There were Moon‑Howling Sky Wolves, howling at the moon, their silver glow dazzling.

There were Ancient Overlord Tigers, terrifyingly patterned, aura soaring to the heavens.

There were Calamity Poisonous Jiao, spreading lethal toxin, terrifyingly fierce.

Even more bizarre, unheard‑of races appeared, such as Dung Sea Mad Maggot, Sun‑Devouring Sky Serpent, Ancient Dung Beetle, Rift Heaven Demon Mosquito, Undying Holy Fly, and so on…

A kaleidoscope of wonders, overwhelming the eyes, showcasing the diversity and wildness of the beast world.

And the Ten Great Emperor Fiend Clans, whose presence shines like ten blazing suns across the sky, the focus wherever they go, their heirs' aura descended here unabashedly, stirring waves of awe!

From the Golden Emperor Dragon Clan, Ao Huanggu and Ao Tianyin radiated golden light, their Dragon Might dominating the region.

From the Undying Divine Phoenix Clan, Huang Fuyao and its internal Ancient Freak wielded seven‑colored divine fire that scorched the heavens and boiled the seas.

From the Reverse Chaos Heavenly Demon Clan, Chen Shimei and another vague figure exuded a sinister aura, disrupting the rules.

From the Final Demon Bull Clan, its heir, towering like a mountain, exuded overwhelming demonic aura, as if heralding the end of all things.

From the Nine-Leaf Emperor Sword Vine Clan, Jian Guchen and Jian Wushuang, their sword qi soaring to the heavens, cleaving the void…

Other Emperor Fiend clans' silhouettes flickered in and out, each representing a pinnacle of the Zhutian Beast Path.

Of course, this is the Origin Ancient Road that gathers Zhutian Wanjie's elite; besides endless beasts, the number and quality of humans are likewise not to be underestimated!

Human Heavenly Prides from various Star Domains, ancient realms, and lineages, whether in small groups or solitary, each exuded a dense aura and sharp gaze; to stand amidst so many ferocious beasts already proved their strength.

Additionally, mysterious plant‑like beings, like walking ancient trees or demonic vines, were present.

Pure elemental lives existed, such as Flame Sprites, Lei Dian Giants, and Ice Queens.

Descendants of ancient witch tribes, bearing bizarre tattoos, radiated sacrificial power.

Remnants of ancient divine demons coursed with dragon‑like vigor, their battle spirit shaking heaven and earth… Zhutian myriad races, a hundred vessels vying in the currents, wondrous scenes unfolding!