Within the Demonic Beast Forest.
A group of cultivators was locked in a fierce battle with a Golden Core stage demonic beast.
Unfortunately, they had overestimated their abilities and were being brutally overwhelmed by the beast.
"Bang!"
The demonic beast swiped with its claw, sending a cultivator flying.
The cultivator landed in a sorry state beside his fellow disciples, his face filled with despair.
At this point, their entire squad was wiped out!
Only death awaited them!
"Roar—!"
As if to boast, the demonic beast let out a roar and advanced towards them step by step.
Each step felt like a heavy blow to their hearts…
Although demonic beasts couldn't refine pills or artifacts.
The flesh and blood of cultivators, nurtured by True Qi, were a great tonic to them.
At the very least, it offered a delicious taste.
This was the cultivation world.
Every day, countless people lived and died.
Cruel and real.
Soon, the demonic beast arrived before them.
The beast surveyed them, seemingly contemplating which dish to start with.
Having chosen its target, the beast opened its cavernous maw and lunged!
Its foul breath nearly caused the cultivators to pass out on the spot!
Everyone closed their eyes in despair, awaiting the inevitable…
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
…
After a few breaths, everyone dazedly opened their eyes.
They saw the demonic beast frozen in its attacking posture, utterly motionless.
Suddenly!
The demonic beast's pupils contracted, as if it had seen something terrifying!
The next moment!
The demonic beast turned and fled, showing no hesitation whatsoever!
The few cultivators were dumbfounded on the spot!
What was going on?
Had the demonic beast decided to go vegetarian today?
"Whatever the reason, let's go!" the lead senior disciple struggled to prop himself up. "Run quickly!"
"Right, right…"
The group supported each other, staggering towards the forest exit.
On the way, they encountered many cultivator teams in similar situations.
Upon inquiry, they discovered that everyone had experienced the exact same thing!
The demonic beasts, which had been fighting to the death, suddenly ran away!
They even disregarded attacks coming from behind them!
Before long, a large crowd of cultivators had gathered outside the forest.
They looked at each other, utterly bewildered…
Suddenly.
"Rumble—!"
The ground beneath their feet began to shake without warning!
Before anyone could understand what was happening, a terrifying aura erupted from the forest!
Those adventuring on the forest's outskirts were at most at the Nascent Soul realm.
Yet, this aura was an unimaginably terrifying existence to them!
Only their Sect Master possessed an aura like this…
No…
It felt even more terrifying than their Sect Master's aura!
Strangely, although the aura was terrifying, it exerted no pressure on them.
Everyone immediately bolted!
Staying any longer might cost them their lives!
Before long, everyone nearby had fled!
Only Liang Rujing was left squatting alone by the edge of a large pit, utterly bewildered…
"Rumble—!"
The ground shook more and more violently.
Liang Rujing, caught off guard, almost fell.
She dared not linger and quickly retreated.
However, she didn't go far.
After flying several hundred zhang, she stopped.
On the surface, something terrifying had appeared within the forest.
Logically, she should have fled home to hide.
After all, the aura was too terrifying.
If something went wrong, she would likely be reduced to ashes.
But a voice in her mind told her.
Don't leave!
Liang Rujing didn't know why she had such a strange thought, but she chose to trust her intuition.
As the ground continued to shake, the aura grew even more terrifying!
"Whoosh—!"
The terrifying aura stirred up countless gusts of wind, sweeping outwards!
"Whoosh—!"
The surrounding trees swayed violently as they were swept by the gale!
Trees that took three to five people to embrace had their roots split open!
It looked as if they could be uprooted by the wind at any moment!
A quarter of an hour later.
A large number of cultivators arrived at the periphery of the Demonic Beast Forest.
They were the Sect Masters and elders of various major sects from the Imperial City, and even members of the royal family had arrived!
They had sensed this aura in the Imperial City earlier and had rushed over.
Initially, they thought an external enemy had arrived.
But upon arrival, they discovered that this seemed not to be the case…
"Heavens… this aura…" one Sect Master exclaimed in surprise. "What kind of existence… is this…"
From a distance, they had only felt the aura was roughly at the late stage of Nascent Soul.
But upon reaching the vicinity, they realized it was not so!
At the very least…
Peak Nascent Soul!
Or perhaps even the more terrifying Spirit Severing realm!
Hiss—!
At this thought, everyone secretly drew a sharp breath!
Spirit Severing realm!
An existence capable of destroying the Yad Empire with ease!
If this was directed at the Yad Empire, then they were all doomed!
"Everyone, do not panic," Long Xiaotian comforted. "If it is truly a Great Cultivator in the Spirit Severing realm, then we are actually safe!"
Everyone pondered and realized that it was indeed the case.
To put it bluntly.
They didn't even qualify to offend a Spirit Severing realm cultivator!
With them being so busy, why would they bother with insignificant beings like them?
Thinking this way, everyone felt a lot more at ease…
Though it was disheartening, it was the truth…
Could it be…
That a Great Cultivator in the Spirit Severing realm was fighting the demonic beasts?
It seemed…
Not impossible!
The Demonic Beast Forest was just a general term.
No one knew how vast it truly was.
There were rumors that in the deepest parts of the forest, Integration stage and Mahayana stage demonic beasts were considered the lowest existence!
Because there existed terrifying Great Demons in the Tribulation Passing stage—the pinnacle of the cultivation world!
It was rather interesting.
Although there were many powerful demonic beasts in the Demonic Beast Forest, they never left the forest.
It was as if there was some kind of restriction.
If this were not the case, the human empires would likely have been trampled by the hooves of demonic beasts long ago!
No one knew for sure if this was the case.
Regardless, things had been this way for many years, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.
In short.
The middle to the rear of the Demonic Beast Forest was a forbidden zone!
Even those at the peak of Nascent Soul would enter and never return!
This point had been verified repeatedly in the past!
Anyone who could reach the depths and fight demonic beasts was an absolute powerhouse!
Thus, they waited on the spot, hoping to gain some benefits.
After all, witnessing a battle between Great Cultivators was a rare sight.
Who knew if they might gain some enlightenment?
This would be of immense help for their future growth!
"Rumble—!"
Accompanied by violent tremors, the ground split open!
Countless thick trees were uprooted, swirling with the howling gale!
"The aura is even stronger!"
Long Xiaotian finally realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately retreated a considerable distance with his elders.
Even though the aura carried no hostile intent, it was already making him struggle to endure it!
"Look over there!"
One Sect Master, as if witnessing something terrifying, pointed in a direction with a look of horror.