Watching the Spectacle

At the same time. In the valley of Severed Mountain. The four great demons still sprawled lazily. Right at this moment, the giant serpent suddenly raised its massive head and cast a glance upward. The golden eagle and the other great demons looked up as well, their eyes showing a hint of surprise and bafflement. There was little fear, only confusion... as if wondering whether these humans had lost their minds. One had just slipped away earlier, and they hadn't bothered to care. And now, more were coming? What was going on? Besides, it seemed someone had struck at Little Snake's offspring. Little Snake really had it rough. The great demons turned their gaze toward the giant serpent. The giant serpent straightened its head, its body rearing upward along with it. Gradually, its massive head rose level with the valley's rim, appearing atop Severed Mountain. This hundred-meter-deep crater of Severed Mountain was actually shorter than the giant serpent's body. That massive head loomed above the mid-mountain ledge. Its enormous eyes, like two giant millstones, gazed into the distance. Far off, a grime-coated python was slithering madly toward them at breakneck speed. Yet... it still could not shake off its pursuers. How powerful were two Rising Light experts? How could a mere Three Sols great demon escape them? At that moment, a stream of water arrows shot forth with a booming blast, blasting a bloody hole right through the python's tough hide. From the valley of Severed Mountain, the giant serpent simply watched. It watched silently, without making a sound. The other three great demons watched the giant serpent as well. After a few seconds, the giant serpent coiled its body. For all its colossal size, it moved without a whisper or hindrance. In an instant, the massive serpent climbed the valley walls and vanished from the deep canyon in the blink of an eye. The three great demons were somewhat surprised. Little Snake ran off? The golden lotus was about to bloom. The giant ape patted the earth as if chuckling, amused that Little Snake had left. With one gone, there was one fewer mouth to share the spoils. The golden eagle shifted its talons slightly, indifferent. Gone was gone. Little Snake was quite strong; dealing with those humans would be no trouble. The real issue was... the golden eagle actually liked eating snakes. If Little Snake hadn't left and its descendant were killed, scavenging the corpse wouldn't have upset Little Snake, right? What a pity! The fierce tiger sprawled on the ground, uninterested in meddling. It didn't care whether Little Snake left or stayed. In fact, it would be best if they all left! *** Boom! With a deafening crash, the python was knocked onto the ground, blood gushing like a river. Haixiao frowned slightly and reached out. The pooling blood converged and flew upward into the air. Demon blood was a treasure; it could not be wasted. She wanted even more to kill this Three Sols serpent intact. However, the serpent had tough skin and thick flesh. Without resorting to potent techniques, she risked letting it slip away—after all, the mountain forest was its home turf. Rumbling blasts sounded continuously. Water arrows flew one after another. The serpent hissed relentlessly, its eyes brimming with rage and madness, yet completely devoid of fear. Why should it fear? If not for the golden lotus being on the verge of blooming, leaving its father tied down, how could these two bastards ever harm it? By now, it was very close to the valley of Severed Mountain. It knew its father should have sensed it. The only worry gnawing at it was whether its father would come. The golden lotus was about to open; if he left and it bloomed... those other powerful beings would surely seize all of them without leaving a speck behind. The golden lotus was a supreme treasure. The python hissed. It did not know... whether he would come... Yet it still wanted to live. Rumble! More and more blood poured out. By now, Haixiao broke into a smile. A Three Sols great demon's defense was truly formidable; it had taken countless attacks just to severely wound this creature. Bringing back this much demonic flesh and blood, along with the divine energy stones, would make this trip worthwhile even if she failed to catch Li Hao. Earlier, she hadn't had the time to search the mud pit where the serpent had lived. Once she subdued this serpent, going back to look might yield even more divine energy stones. Just as she was reveling in her success, Banshan suddenly said in a heavy voice, "Something's not right..." "Hm?" Haixiao had already condensed streams of water arrows, preparing to deliver the killing blow to the great demon. Hearing Banshan's words, she was puzzled. What now? Banshan felt as though his heart had stopped beating. He could hardly breathe. The suffocating sensation of an impending storm weighed down on him. Exhaling softly, he had just opened his mouth to speak when he flickered, instantly vanishing from where he stood. But right as he left, a thunderous boom shattered the darkness! It was as though daylight had returned to the world. A pair of colossal eyes—eyes so vast they barely looked like eyes—shone with a green glare, illuminating the surroundings. A glow like ghostly fire! An immense serpent tail, thick as a pillar supporting the heavens, whipped through the void. With a deafening boom and a heavy thud, a figure was sent flying backward! *Pfft!* A mouthful of blood sprayed out. Covered in blood, his cloak shredded to pieces, Banshan revealed a slightly pale face. Banshan! At this moment, Banshan's face was filled with horror. A small shield materialized before him, but the spectral apparition atop it was somewhat dissipated. An Origin God Armament! Haixiao froze for an instant, terror flooding her eyes the next. This was... a snake? Only now did she truly make out its appearance: a gigantic serpent that stood tens of meters tall even while coiled. Its eyes were colossal! The serpent tail had already retracted. Just moments ago, that very tail had sent the fleeing Banshan hurtling away. Spitting blood continuously with the shield hovering before him, Banshan glanced at Haixiao and cursed inwardly! That old woman really only knew how to bring trouble. He had known something was off. The python had bolted forward without pause; even though ahead lay only a barren mountain, far less safe than the dense forest, it had still rushed this way, clearly with a purpose. And now, sure enough, beating the small one brought the old one. This serpent was terrifying! Banshan was dead serious. When he had fled just now, he assumed the beast would target Haixiao first, since she had been the one attacking all along. Yet it hadn't; it had intercepted him instead. That meant this giant serpent intended to slaughter them all! In an instant, he understood its intent and stopped casting blame. At a time like this, only joining forces could counter this peril. Haixiao's expression grew grim as well. Staring at the massive serpent with utter vigilance, she quickly moved closer to Banshan, her peripheral vision already searching for an escape route. The serpent had only whipped Banshan back with its tail and did not press the attack. It waited until the smaller python crawled with difficulty behind it. Only then did a blood-red murderous glint appear in the giant serpent's massive eyes. Banshan felt a wave of bitter regret! He and Haixiao had been on high alert, worried the serpent would continue its onslaught. He hadn't expected the beast was merely waiting for the smaller snake to link up. This caught him somewhat off guard. Snakes were cold-blooded creatures, weren't they? Even after becoming demons, shouldn't that still be true? Why... did this serpent care about the little one's life? The giant serpent waited until the little snake had gathered behind it before turning its gaze toward the two Rising Light experts. A unique oppressive aura locked onto them. Its huge eyes glanced at the shield. Then it took a few extra looks at Banshan. That tail lash had struck him, but half the force had been absorbed by the shield, and the black-robed man had somehow endured the remaining half. Haixiao was nervous now too, knowing she had poked a hornet's nest. She also knew that great demons could understand human speech. Thus, Haixiao spoke up: "Honored powerhouse, this is a misunderstanding. We did not know this was your territory... We will withdraw immediately. Having harmed your... your kin, we are willing to compensate for its injuries!" She took out several divine energy stones. The giant serpent was too fast. She had no confidence in escaping before it could react. The giant serpent looked at her coldly. The next instant, a massive tail suddenly whipped through the void, crashing down toward her. Banshan barked, "Fight! There's no reasoning with it!" What was that useless wreck Haixiao even saying? If someone killed your son or daughter and offered a few divine energy stones, would you accept? Idiot! Banshan vanished on the spot, merging into the darkness. A moment later, a small dark sword emerged, stabbing toward the serpent's tail! Haixiao also shouted in anger. A surging sea roared as a torrent of water energy swept across the world. Boom! That tail instantly shattered the water energy. Just as it was about to strike Haixiao, she turned fluid like running water, transforming into a flash of aquatic light that vanished and reappeared behind the massive tail. At this moment, the Rising Light experts displayed their true prowess. Even facing a formidable foe, two Rising Light experts were confident they could put up a fight. Even if outmatched, they couldn't just flee blindly. Banshan's earlier escape attempt was meant to slip away before the beast reacted. Now that it had failed, running away again would be gambling with their lives. Gambling on whether the serpent would kill Haixiao or him first, or whether it could catch up after finishing off Haixiao alone. He refused to make such a gamble. So he chose to strike back. *Clang!* A loud metallic ring echoed as the small black sword scraped across the serpent's tail, striking sparks along its surface. The tough scales were as hard as plate armor. Banshan was shaken. What formidable defense! He was a Rising Light expert delivering an ambush strike, yet he failed to pierce its defenses. This serpent was at least at the peak of Rising Light! Terrifying! However, the serpent was enormous, and being large sometimes meant moving more clumsily. Even though it seemed agile, its massive frame gave Banshan and Haixiao opportunities. Compared to the giant serpent, the two Rising Light experts appeared diminutive, but being small made it easier to evade. After striking and producing a burst of sparks, Banshan vanished again. The serpent's tail whipped through the air once more, striking only empty space. Banshan was gone. On the other side, Haixiao condensed ten thousand water arrows and fired them toward its eyes! The serpent closed its eyes. *Clang, clang, clang...* A series of resounding clashes rang out, sending sparks flying. The ten thousand arrows shattered, leaving Haixiao thoroughly shaken. It was simply too powerful! The next instant, Haixiao turned into a stream of water, retreating further away. She and Banshan shared the same thought. Fight first to distract the giant serpent, then retreat together, fighting as they fell back. By combining forces, the serpent wouldn't find it easy to kill them. Yama's people were trailing behind. The Three Sols moved slower, but they should be arriving soon. If the seventeen Three Sols arrived, their slower speed would make running even harder... When that happened, if everyone joined forces, maybe... just maybe, they could take down this giant serpent! Indeed, at this stage, both Haixiao and Banshan harbored such an ambition. Take down this giant serpent! A great demon at the peak of Rising Light was utterly terrifying, but if they truly took it down... the harvest would be unimaginable. And inside the massive valley where the serpent lived, was there some supreme treasure? Right now, they could vaguely spot bursts of golden radiance emanating from that valley. Once the serpent failed to kill them in one blow, their greed flared even stronger. This was danger, but it was also opportunity. While they fought, the Wheel-Turning King and his group in the rear seemed to sense the commotion. Soon, the Wheel-Turning King transformed into a gust of wind and flew forward rapidly. When he was still a thousand meters away from the serpent, his expression suddenly shifted! A demon! And a terrifyingly powerful great demon, pressing two Rising Light experts into a corner. The Wheel-Turning King turned to leave, but the sixteen Lords of Hell arrived right behind him, all catching sight of the giant serpent. "So huge!" "A great demon!" "Rising Light... no, peak Rising Light!" In truth, it was hard to tell for sure, but a great demon suppressing two Rising Light experts to the point where they could barely fight back was undeniably powerful. Yet it hadn't exceeded the realm of Rising Light. The Wheel-Turning King wanted to leave, but the sixteen Lords of Hell had flickering gazes, itching to act. In the distance, Banshan also let out a sharp cry: "Join forces and slay this serpent! Setting aside the spoils, if you retreat... once we collapse... its speed far surpasses Three Sols. Picking you off one by one, none of you will escape!" *Bang!* His concentration wavered as he spoke. With that slight lapse, the massive serpent tail slammed down over him with a thunderous roar. The spectral figure on the shield grew even more faint. Coughing blood, Banshan flew backward. Before the tail could strike again, he instantly sank into darkness and vanished once more. Too strong! If the serpent hadn't struggled to land clean hits on them, a few tail strikes would have finished them off. Was this creature really just Rising Light? Or had it already transcended Rising Light? Banshan was thoroughly alarmed. This giant serpent felt comparable to Hou Xiaochen earlier. Hou Xiaochen had slain Rising Light experts with similar ease, except Redhair had failed to evade his strike. He, possessing an Origin God Armament, had managed to deflect part of the blow, escaping with injuries rather than death. Was it peak Rising Light? *** At this moment, the sixteen Lords of Hell all looked toward the Wheel-Turning King. The Wheel-Turning King said nothing; he only wanted to leave. While the giant serpent was tangled with the two Rising Light experts, slipping away was the best move. It was simply too dangerous. Yet the Lords of Hell were eager to act. One of them looked at the valley behind the giant serpent, seeing the streaks of golden light, his eyes darting: "A supreme treasure! It must be a natural treasure... For this giant serpent to guard it, it's definitely extraordinary. It might even be a companion treasure aiding its metamorphosis into a higher realm..." Before the Wheel-Turning King could speak, the other Lords of Hell chimed in: "It's strong, but no matter how strong, it's still Rising Light... If we join forces alongside those two Rising Light experts, we can kill it!" Seventeen Three Sols and two Rising Light experts, plus the Wheel-Turning King wielding an Origin God Armament—could they still fail to slay this serpent? The serpent itself was already a supreme treasure! A Lord of Hell spoke with immense greed: "Its blood, flesh, and gall are all treasures that boost strength! And its hide is the finest material for crafting supernatural god armaments... We might even have a shot at reaching Rising Light! Hall Master Wheel-Turning, let's attack!" The Wheel-Turning King sent a voice transmission: "Are you mad? Fall back immediately! This serpent is too strong; even Banshan is suppressed without a chance to counter. If we go up, a single misstep means death..." "Wealth is found amid danger! Has Hall Master Wheel-Turning grown used to retirement in Silver Moon? Among the ten hall masters, you're the only one who isn't Rising Light... The opportunity is right in front of you, and you don't even know to fight for it?" Before he could say another word, the sixteen Three Sols experts charged forward! They didn't rush in a chaotic swarm. Instead, their supernatural energy erupted in a flash, forming a specialized prison: the Hell Prison! Among the sixteen Lords of Hell, someone shouted: "Let us join forces to slay this serpent! We can discuss the distribution after it's dead. Both of you are smart people—don't pull any tricks right now over petty interests!" Banshan quickly responded, "We won't, rest assured!" Haixiao surged through the air in the form of water, shooting streams of water arrows toward the beast's eyes while calling out, "Rest assured, we aren't fools..." Greed was greed, but while such a formidable foe remained, plotting against allies was something not even Haixiao would do. That was far too dangerous and could easily lead to total annihilation. Meanwhile, the mighty serpent was growing irritated. In the past, supernaturals were killed with a single sweep of its tail. It didn't have much combat experience. Encountering these two bug-like supernaturals, it had failed to swat them dead multiple times. What was more, they possessed all sorts of tricks, such as vanishing into thin air or dispersing into water mist... For a serpent accustomed to brute force, this was exceedingly annoying! Not only that, the sixteen Lords of Hell now fanned out in all directions, expanding the massive prison to hundreds of meters across in an instant. Streams of specialized energy formed a colossal net, descending upon the giant serpent. The leading Lord of Bone-Cracking and Body-Scorching Hell barked, "You two, slip out through the gaps in our Avici Iron Net! Once we pin it down, we will strike together to slay it!" Legend had it that the Equal-Ranking King ruled over Avici Hell, governing sixteen minor hells beneath him. Now, these sixteen Lords of Hell deployed an array-like Avici Iron Net. Beams of light shimmered, forming an immense net that descended toward the colossal python. The gaps were large. Ordinarily, they could seal these gaps, though it consumed substantial mysterious energy. Today, there was no need; the serpent was so massive that sealing them was unnecessary, and it conveniently allowed the two Rising Light experts to slip through. Once they pinned down the giant serpent, no matter how strong it was, breaking free would be nearly impossible. The great net fell swiftly. A flash of fury flared in the serpent's eyes, and it lashed out with its tail! Boom! A strand of the supernatural net snapped instantly, but in the next breath, it restored itself. The giant serpent coiled and slammed its head forward. Boom! Another strand broke. All sixteen Lords of Hell shuddered, thoroughly shaken! The sixteen of them had once combined forces to trap a Rising Light expert, leaving their target utterly immobilized and helpless before being slaughtered. It was precisely because of this that the sixteen were so arrogant and held little respect for the Wheel-Turning King. Having slain a Rising Light expert before, they feared no Rising Light. Even Hou Xiaochen, who had slain Rising Light experts... they felt he was nothing special; they had killed one too. If they met Hou Xiaochen, they believed their combined strength could trap him as well. Yet this serpent had effortlessly snapped the strands of their Avici Iron Net. "Hold the line!" a Lord of Hell roared, erupting with supernatural energy. The others followed suit, and someone shouted, "Banshan, Haixiao, why aren't you attacking yet?" The two Rising Light experts took the chance to slip through the net. At this moment, Banshan and Haixiao were also shaken. These sixteen Lords of Hell under the Equal-Ranking King truly had some skill, managing to bind a peak Rising Light entity with the power of Three Sols! Even though the serpent rammed repeatedly, snapping strands with each strike, the supernatural net possessed countless strands. When one broke, it was swiftly replenished. Under the serpent's frenzy, it temporarily failed to break through the Avici Iron Net. Banshan's eyes flickered. With a wave of his hand, his small shield expanded rapidly, instantly enveloping the strands to add an extra layer of defense. The serpent slammed into it with a thunderous boom, but this time, it failed to snap the net. Everyone rejoiced! A Rising Light expert joining forces with sixteen Three Sols had finally stabilized the net. This way, no matter how strong the serpent was, it was merely a lamb waiting for the slaughter! Though the sixteen Lords of Hell looked somewhat pale, they crushed divine energy stones one after another to replenish their energy. Haixiao also gave a sharp cry, unleashing water arrows once more. Banshan shouted, "Wheel-Turning!" The Wheel-Turning King, who had held back until now, furrowed his brows and sighed. He said nothing more; matters had already reached this point... he might as well strike. He was merely angry and annoyed that the sixteen Lords of Hell refused to listen to him. However, upon seeing their Avici Iron Net, he understood why they were so arrogant! Without a word, the Wheel-Turning King waved his hand, conjuring a bell-like treasure—an Origin God Armament! The bell spun rapidly in the Wheel-Turning King's grip, unleashing countless wind blades in the blink of an eye. Incredibly fierce, these wind blades flew through the openings in the net toward the giant serpent! At this point, Banshan and the sixteen Lords of Hell were responsible for pinning down the giant serpent, while Haixiao and the Wheel-Turning King were tasked with dealing the lethal blow. It seemed this was not the first time the Three Great Organizations had cooperated. The division of labor was crystal clear; without needing to discuss it, they had adopted the optimal offensive formation. *** In the distance. Li Hao was actually watching in secret. He drew in a sharp breath. On one hand, he was shocked by the giant serpent's power; on the other, he was surprised by the formidable strength of the Three Great Organizations. When these people joined forces, they were undeniably powerful. What surprised Li Hao most, however, was that the three factions could cooperate so seamlessly! In Li Hao's mind, there were many rifts and deep grudges between the Three Great Organizations. Yet... these experts from the Three Great Organizations teamed up without the slightest hesitation or friction. That was what truly shook Li Hao. Otherwise, if any single faction had encountered this serpent alone, they would have met certain doom. Now, under their combined assault, it was the serpent that was having bad luck. Li Hao frowned. He wondered whether the other three great demons in the valley would intervene. And where were Southern Fist and Golden Spear hiding? *If those three great demons don't step in... these people might really kill this serpent...* Li Hao felt a headache coming on. He didn't care if the serpent died. However, once the serpent was dead, what if these people didn't go provoke the other three great demons? What if they focused entirely on hunting him down instead? Frankly speaking, if these people joined forces, even a peak Rising Light expert would struggle to escape. Hadn't that massive net just locked down a top-tier powerhouse? Still, this serpent was probably the weakest among the four demonic beasts, wasn't it? Li Hao pondered inwardly. By now, he could clearly see the serpent's light source. It was dazzling, but not nearly as piercing as Hou Xiaochen and the others. Earlier in the valley, when Li Hao's eyes had teared up from the glare, it probably hadn't been caused by this serpent. The other three great demons in the valley were likely stronger than it. *This is practically one against four...* Seventeen Three Sols were definitely comparable to two Rising Light experts working together, meaning the serpent was essentially holding its own against four Rising Light combatants. Utterly terrifying. At this moment, Li Hao gained a clearer understanding of Hou Xiaochen's sheer might. No wonder Blue Moon and her cohort of Rising Light experts didn't dare act rashly. Dealing with Hou Xiaochen would likely require four or five Rising Light experts. *** Meanwhile. Inside the valley. The three great demons grew slightly restless. Little Snake seemed to be trapped. As expected, truly useless. Right at this moment, a peculiar ripple spread through the valley, originating from the fierce tiger. A specific pulse manifested above the other two beasts. "Little Snake is so useless, getting trapped like that... This golden lotus... still needs a little while to mature." "Are you going?" A ripple also emanated from the golden eagle. The tiger looked at the eagle, and the eagle looked back at the tiger. Meanwhile, the giant ape rippled with thought: "Stop bickering over who goes. Little Snake is pretty useless and made too much noise. Besides these supernaturals, there seem to be martial masters nearby as well... Hmm, quite strong. I think I saw that fool from back then... the one who beat up your... your kin!" "Nonsense!" The tiger let out a low roar, its voice subdued. The giant ape didn't care, twitching its nose slightly. "I'm just saying he's a martial master similar to that guy, very strong... full of vigorous vitality. I'll take care of him!" The golden eagle spread its wings slightly, its ripples carrying a lazy tone: "I'll go help Little Snake!" The tiger twitched its tail for a moment: "Besides the one with powerful vitality... there seems to be another human. I'll deal with him!" In an instant, all three great demons chose to strike. The next moment, the golden eagle spread its wings and soared high into the sky, vanishing without a trace. The giant ape vanished with a single leap. The tiger glanced at the golden lotus and flickered away at boundless speed, disappearing from the valley as well. *** Seventeen Three Sols and two Rising Light experts were bombarding the giant serpent relentlessly. The serpent's tough scales were cracking in several places, and it let out enraged hisses. A drop of snake blood fell to the ground, shaking the earth upon impact. Beneath the serpent's body, it still shielded the smaller snake. Right at this moment, a ripple suddenly drifted over, and everyone instantly understood its meaning: *So weak, so stupid. Little Snake... you truly have no ability...* A flicker of anger flashed in the giant serpent's eyes, alongside a trace of self-abasement. Was it really? The next instant, amid everyone's shock, a flash of golden light streaked past. With a sickening rip, a Lord of Hell was torn apart in an instant! Enormous golden talons tore through the void! In the blink of an eye, a Three Sols expert was ripped to pieces! Boom! The giant serpent erupted, crashing straight through the great net. Furious, it whipped its tail out with a thunderous roar, sending the small shield flying. A split second later, another sweep of its tail smashed a blood-spitting Lord of Hell into mincemeat! And the golden eagle's speed was far faster than the serpent's. In a flash of golden radiance—*rip, rip, rip...*—a string of shattering sounds echoed. Seven or eight of the sixteen Lords of Hell, who had been strutting arrogantly just moments ago, were shredded to death in the blink of an eye! This sudden upheaval stunned everyone. The next instant, Banshan turned on his heel and fled without looking back! Madness! There was another great demon! Just as he ran, a deafening boom sounded. A figure flew out, and in the distance, Southern Fist vaulted into the sky, bellowing, "I didn't even do anything bad, damn it!" Boom! A punch flew out—the giant ape's fist. That single strike seemed capable of shattering the heavens! Southern Fist was so frustrated he nearly coughed blood! *I... am so damn unlucky.* *I just followed along to take a look! How was I supposed to know you were all here? I didn't even lift a finger...* Yet this giant ape had caught his scent, tracked him down, and moved with blinding speed. He threw a punch of his own! Boom! Heaven and earth roared. Southern Fist was knocked flying, spitting blood and wanting nothing more than to curse. *Fuck, so strong!* Peak Rising Light? No, maybe even stronger! "Huh... impressive... Wastrel Fist King of the thirty-five rookies?" At that moment, an astonished voice reached Southern Fist's ears. Southern Fist was shocked. Coughing blood, he looked at the giant ape, and sure enough, a look of perplexity appeared in its eyes. Wastrel Fist King? What the hell was that?! Needless to say, he understood where the giant ape had heard that moniker: Yuan Shuo! It had to be him! Yes, this giant ape must have been one of the beasts Yuan Shuo comprehended for his Five Animals Art back in the day. Seeming curious, the giant ape threw another punch! Boom! Heaven and earth crumbled, while Southern Fist shot through the air, fleeing instantly. Stop joking—this creature was too damn strong! His own strength was formidable, but this beast... was not someone he could afford to provoke! The instant he fled, a tiger's roar shook the world from afar! Boom! A sword ray lit up heaven and earth, overturning the terrain. The ground split open, and the sky seemed to tear apart! In the distance, a helpless voice rang out: "I... was truly just passing by!" How utterly helpless! "Roar!" The fierce tiger roared, shaking heaven and earth. Countless trees shattered instantly into dust, exposing a vast expanse of empty ground. The earth had long since cracked open. A man holding a longsword wore a look of helplessness: "Truly... I... really didn't mean to pick a fight..." A sharp glint shone in the tiger's eyes! "One of the thirty-five wastes?" "..." What the hell was this?! Hong Yitang was speechless. He spoke up, "The tiger Yuan Shuo beat up?" "Roar!" "Ahem, sorry, my apologies!" Hong Yitang retreated rapidly with sword in hand, saying helplessly, "A misunderstanding. I'll leave, you go on with your business... I'm just here looking for my daughter. Let's not hurt each other's feelings... If we really fight to the death, with Mount Cang's nine ranges and eighteen depths, this isn't the only treasure trove here. Be careful not to draw even stronger beings..." The tiger's gaze turned chilling as it stared at Hong Yitang! "One of the Seven Trash Swords?" "..." Screw you! Hong Yitang was speechless. Even a tiger Yuan Shuo had beaten up was this foul-mouthed! In the distance, Banshan was already dumbfounded. He had run one way, only for a giant ape and Southern Fist to appear. He had run the other way, only for a fierce tiger and... Hong Yitang to appear? Unbelievable! He dared not dwell on it and fled instantly. Right now, only the final direction was devoid of people. He dared not linger. Behind him came agonizing screams; in the blink of an eye, the sixteen Lords of Hell were completely torn apart and pulverized by the golden eagle and the giant serpent. The Equal-Ranking King's greatest pillar of power in the region was shattered in mere moments. The golden eagle's strength far surpassed the serpent's. Just as Banshan was about to flee, his scalp tingled. A flash of golden light streaked overhead, ripping through the air as colossal golden talons loomed over his head. Banshan's face changed drastically, and he vanished into the darkness! Stealth technique! However... a golden light flashed in the eagle's eyes. Boom! The darkness shattered. Banshan materialized instantly as the talons struck down. With a sickening crunch, one of Banshan's arms was pulverized! Yet he used the momentum to flee once more. A fierce glint appeared in the eagle's eyes. With a sharp cry, it tore through the void and vanished, reappearing to drag Banshan out of the darkness again with another swipe! Terrified, Banshan turned and ran toward Haixiao. At this moment, Haixiao was also struck by the giant serpent's tail. With a booming blast, she was sent flying, but she dared not stop, fleeing immediately despite her grievous injuries. The sixteen Lords of Hell had been slaughtered in an instant, shattering their united front. The giant serpent and the golden eagle were both terrifying entities. The key was... there weren't just two! There were two more! Fortunately, those two were currently held up by Southern Fist and the Earth-Overturning Sword... No, it was those two great demons holding them up. Right now, nobody had the luxury to wonder why these two were so strong. Or why they were trailing them. There was no time to think! The only thing to consider was how to escape, how to survive. Who could have imagined that four great demons resided within Mount Cang? More importantly, they weren't fighting among themselves; when one faced danger, they all struck together! That was what made them truly terrifying! Over there, the Earth-Overturning Sword glanced in their direction, looking at Banshan with his severed arm, at Haixiao flying backward in critical condition, and at the Wheel-Turning King fleeing frantically with his wind bell... He fervently hoped these bastards wouldn't die. Stay alive! Buy him a bit of time... Yet these useless wrecks were all about to perish. Hong Yitang glanced toward Southern Fist, who was being beaten black and blue by the giant ape, coughing blood continuously... Sure enough, Southern Fist was useless too, only slightly stronger than expected—around the mid-stage of Rising Light. Yet... he was no match for the giant ape! Among these four great demons, one was at the peak of Rising Light, while the other three were at a crucial juncture of metamorphosis. Once they transformed, they would surpass Rising Light—whether called Rising Light perfection or half-step transcendence. The fierce tiger before him was one of them. The Earth-Overturning Sword kept retreating, a smile on his face: "Brother Tiger, why go to such lengths against a mere passerby... My sword is not weak! You... seem to be guarding some treasure, awaiting the right moment to transform. Fighting me might leave you injured, and if an injury delays your breakthrough, wouldn't that be a massive loss? I haven't done anything, have I?" The tiger stared coldly at him, its limbs trembling slightly—not out of fear, but coiled and ready to strike at any second. He was formidable! So what? These humans were all wicked. The person before it reminded it of that detestable fellow from years ago. At this moment, the tiger had no desire to listen. It only wanted to beat this guy to death. In an instant, the tiger drifted through the air like clouds and mist. White fog billowed, enveloping the Earth-Overturning Sword—a water tiger! Hong Yitang cursed inwardly. Without lingering, he slashed out with his sword, parting the fog, and turned to flee. Meanwhile, Southern Fist was knocked flying by a punch, using the massive force to shoot straight toward Hong Yitang, roaring with helpless misery, "Take me with you... Brother Hong, let's go together! Don't run off on your own!" How wretched! Hong Yitang completely ignored him. Screw you! Run on your own! I don't want to be with you. One tiger is already troublesome enough; if a giant ape joins in... do you want both of us to die together? Right at this moment, a thunderous crash sounded from afar. Boom! The Wheel-Turning King was struck by the serpent's tail, his body nearly shattering. Yet using the power of his Origin God Armament, he turned into a gust of wind, broke through the tail's blockade, and rushed to regroup with Banshan and Haixiao. The three converged in an instant. Without a word, the Wheel-Turning King expanded the wind bell, enveloping all three. Banshan and Haixiao immediately channeled vast amounts of mysterious energy into the bell. The golden eagle's talons clamped down on the bell, producing a loud crack with a booming crash! Yet it did not break. This showed that Origin God Armaments truly could not be shattered by just anyone. Even as formidable as the golden eagle was, it failed to crush the bell. As if they had practiced together for years, the Wheel-Turning King steered the bell around them, fleeing swiftly toward the outer reaches of Mount Cang. All three were coughing blood, but paying no heed, they poured every drop of mysterious energy into the bell to accelerate its flight, desiring only to break out of Mount Cang and survive! The golden eagle's eyes were chillingly cold, and the giant serpent slithered swiftly after them. The eagle was blindingly fast. With a deafening boom, it struck the bell again, slowing its flight. Fractures even began spider-webbing across the outer defensive barrier. The three experts roared continuously, desperately pumping mysterious energy into the bell as if their lives depended on it. *** All of this played out before Li Hao's eyes. He lay completely motionless, terrified. All four demonic beasts had mobilized! This had exceeded his expectations... As for the golden light emanating from the distant valley, he merely glanced at it, not bothering to look any longer. His only thought was... what should I do? Run? Would that draw attention? Also, Southern Fist was quite strong, far stronger than expected. And Hong Yitang... to think it wasn't Golden Spear. That was unexpected. Where was Hong Yitang's light sphere? Moreover, that guy was freakishly strong; even that terrifying tiger hadn't managed to bring him down. Furthermore, the experts from the Three Great Organizations were also more formidable than anticipated. Even after sixteen Three Sols were slaughtered, the remaining three could coordinate so seamlessly. This made Li Hao wonder: did the higher-ups of the Three Great Organizations cooperate regularly? Otherwise, showing such chemistry in their very first collaboration... would mean their battle awareness was unrealistically sharp. Was that possible? At this moment, this small mountain forest had gathered eight powerhouses with Rising Light combat strength, along with a peak Three Sols expert wielding an Origin God Armament, not to mention the sixteen slain Three Sols... A battle of this scale surpassed every clash in Silver Moon. Even Hou Xiaochen slaying Rising Light experts hadn't reached this level of grandeur. Li Hao made his choice. Play dead! Lie completely still and play dead. Their trajectory wasn't heading his way anyway. He chose to play dead and wait. The shimmering golden light likely meant the flower had matured. He had no interest and no desire for it. His sole thought was that once it matured, those demonic beasts might eat it and leave, returning to their respective territories. This place clearly wasn't their permanent dwelling. So as long as he outlasted them, he would survive. As for snatching the treasure... Li Hao had no wish to seek death. Once those demonic beasts realized the treasure was gone, with creatures flying in the sky, running on land, swimming in water, and shuttling through the forest... if anyone could escape, Li Hao felt it would be better to pray that both sides wiped each other out! Besides, the Demon Hunt Corps was nearby. Stealing the treasure would prompt these beasts to search everywhere, and they would inevitably be found and killed. If he were alone, he might have tried his luck. Right now, it was better to forget it. Covered in leaves, Li Hao lay motionless on the ground like a corpse, waiting for the battle to end. As for Hong Yitang, with whom he had decent relations... forget it. It wasn't that he refused to save him; he simply lacked the qualifications! Besides, that man might not even come to harm. He was ridiculously strong! Lying on the ground, Li Hao still reflected on their battle, wondering who would survive in the end. Did Southern Fist have a chance of making it out alive? What about the experts of the Three Great Organizations? Even if the experts of the Three Great Organizations survived... if Southern Fist and Hong Yitang escaped, would they let them walk out of Mount Cang alive? Having hidden their strength for years, both of them had fully exposed it today. *I really am weak...* Li Hao sighed inwardly. Among everyone present, he might not even be a match for the weakest, the Wheel-Turning King. It was quite a blow. At that moment, tiger roars resounded through the world from afar! The golden eagle's shrill cries echoed in all directions. Rumbles of thunderous combat rang out without pause! The entire Mount Cang seemed to have fallen silent, the roars of ordinary beasts completely vanishing. Only the cries of these great demons reverberated across the wilderness. Intermingled within were the furious curses of Southern Fist and Hong Yitang. Those two seemed to be tangled up once again.