The Xuanling Realm.
The demonic invasion that had everyone on edge had not yet arrived.
However, when it rains, it pours. No one had expected that the gates to the Ghost Realm would be opened by someone.
The Ten Lakes Stronghold, Flying Phoenix Ridge, and Tongtian Pavilion, along with numerous ghost race lackeys and running dogs, had broken the seal and reopened the Ghost Gate.
Eastern Region, Boundless Mountain Valley.
This was a deathly forbidden zone. The valley was perpetually shrouded in deadly poisonous miasma, and eerie ghostly energy surged from the ground. All that met the eye were white bones and various tattered corpses.
It did not resemble the mortal world, but rather a hellish realm of Asuras.
Deepest part of the valley.
An abyss spewed forth an endless aura of death, with flashes of blood-red light. From deep within the earth, a massive bronze gate could be vaguely seen, already more than half open.
Within the bronze gate, ghosts swarmed, countless scarlet eyes opening and closing, their wails and howls rising and falling, creating an atmosphere of utter terror.
This was the portal to the Ghost Realm, also known as the Ghost Gate.
It had originally been sealed by the White Emperor, but now the seal was broken, and the Ghost Gate was reopened.
Of course, it would still take some time to open completely, but that time was clearly not long.
Various ghostly beings from the Ghost Realm, ravenous and impatient, gathered densely before the Ghost Gate.
Once the Ghost Gate fully opened and the ghost race invaded, it would signal the arrival of a catastrophe.
Within the abyss, several formation grandmasters were repairing the runes on the bronze gate, infusing it with energy to accelerate the opening process.
And in the valley, human cultivators and a vast number of powerful demon beasts guarded the bronze gate.
These were the lackeys of the ghost race, willing to act as running dogs for their own gain, betraying their own kind.
Among them, the Ten Lakes Stronghold, Flying Phoenix Ridge, and Tongtian Pavilion were the most conspicuous. They no longer bothered to conceal themselves, having emerged in full force to guard this place, completely betraying the Xuanling Realm.
Outside the Boundless Mountain Valley, many righteous individuals swarmed, intending to intervene.
Clearly, the world understood the consequences of the Ghost Gate opening, which would surely lead to the Xuanling Realm being devastated and its people suffering immensely.
The ghost race was bloodthirsty and violent, enjoying the consumption of living beings and particularly fond of drinking human blood. If they were allowed to enter the Xuanling Realm, the consequences would be truly unimaginable.
Ten thousand years ago, humanity had the White Emperor to turn the tide.
Now, there was no one who could contend against the ghost race, and the Xuanling Realm might face utter annihilation.
This must be stopped.
The ghost race's lackeys had preemptively set up numerous barriers and various defensive formations within the Boundless Mountain Valley, even utilizing Immortal Spirit Artifacts as the eyes of the formations, making the entire valley as solid as gold.
The arriving righteous individuals were filled with despair. They were utterly incapable of breaking through the barriers and could only watch as the bronze gate opened bit by bit.
At this moment, a large contingent of cultivators arrived from the Southern Region.
Initially, this group did not attract much attention.
After all, among the five great regions and four great oceans of the Xuanling Realm, the Southern Region was widely recognized as the weakest in terms of strength. Furthermore, many of the people who arrived were young, even children.
However, when the group from the Southern Region launched their assault, they shocked all the beings present.
Song Zhenwei, the Dean of Langya Academy, made the first move. A snow-white immortal sword appeared in his hand, its sword light brilliant. A sword energy nearly a thousand meters long tore through the void.
Crack...
A shattering sound followed, and three layers of barriers were directly pulverized.
Everyone stared in dumbfounded silence, followed by a wave of cheers.
Zheng!
An ancient zither floated in the void, Immortal Spirit energy cascading down. The strings vibrated incessantly, and ripples of energy spread out like water waves.
Yue'er also made her move, playing the Qinglai Qin.
The void trembled violently, and countless cracks spread across the sky above the valley. Several layers of barriers were immediately torn apart.
Before everyone could marvel, a perfectly sculpted little girl, like a porcelain doll, rushed into the sky.
A Human King phantom appeared behind A'li, casting its reflection upon the firmament.
Immediately.
A pair of seven-colored glazed wings appeared on A'li's back. Colorful clouds filled the sky, and unquenchable flames erupted, making the sky seem as if it were burning, illuminating the entire Boundless Mountain Valley.
"It's the Little Human King from the Southern Region, Luo Li of the Luo family."
"Human King bloodline, Phoenix Undying Physique. The Little Human King is truly too powerful!"
All eyes in the valley turned towards the sky, their hearts churning with immense shock.
Some human cultivators felt their souls tremble, almost unable to resist kneeling and prostrating themselves on the spot.
Many demon beasts, sensing the phoenix aura emanating from A'li, were filled with fanaticism and even showed signs of submission.
"No matter how monstrous she is, she's just a little kid. When the ghost race invades, she'll only become food."
Within the valley, Wu Ji, the ancestor of the Ten Lakes Stronghold, stared intently at A'li, his face filled with disdain.
If Luo Li were given a few more decades to grow, she might become another White Emperor, but as it stood, she posed no significant threat.
"You must immediately stop opening the Ghost Gate and abandon evil for good, otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."
A'li's childish voice carried a domineering tone. Despite her young age, she already possessed the aura of a superior.
She floated in mid-air, her entire body radiating a hazy luminescence, like a little celestial maiden.
"Little brat, are you still not weaned? Such a bold tone. I'd like to see how you plan to be impolite."
Wu Ji sneered, stroking his white beard with immense arrogance, convinced that a mere child could not stir up any significant trouble.
A'li bit her lip and pouted, angered.
Her Human King bloodline surged within her, and her wings vibrated, her terrifying aura completely erupting.
Then, the willow branch circlet on her head glowed with divine light, and Daoist rhymes permeated the air. Each leaf exuded a law, weaving together into halos of law.
Simultaneously, a seemingly ordinary bowknot on her head emitted resplendent light, and the power of spacetime vibrated, instantly changing the very fabric of heaven and earth.
At this moment, A'li truly resembled a little celestial maiden, her entire being enveloped in Immortal Spirit energy.
She clenched her small fists and struck forcefully.
Rumble!
The Boundless Mountain Valley erupted in a massive explosion, the earth shaking and mountains trembling. A'li unleashed various divine abilities of the Luo family, consecutively shattering layer after layer of barriers.
She had managed to break through nearly ten layers of barriers in one go, displaying an astonishing ferocity.
Everyone was stunned. Who could have imagined that the youngest among them possessed the most terrifying strength?
What treasures were the willow branch circlet and the bowknot on the Little Human King's head, to be so formidable!
Wu Ji was too shocked to speak, regretting provoking A'li, and at the same time, he was filled with confusion. Wasn't the Southern Region the most barren? How could several immortal artifacts suddenly appear!
If this continued, the barriers and defensive formations would likely be broken through in no time, which was a very unfavorable situation.
"Amitabha, everyone, let us attack together, shatter all obstacles, and kill these scums and traitors."
Huineng chanted Buddhist mantras, his body enveloped in Buddhist light, his horse-like face filled with killing intent.
He recited scriptures, and a colossal Buddha's hand descended from the sky, striking fiercely towards the Boundless Mountain Valley.
Others also began to attack.
Starlight flickered, and a delicate black rose bloomed in the void.
Wang Wanjian transformed himself into a blade, Xuan Yang let out a sharp cry, and Lin Mengmeng fully activated her Zhen Tian Ba Ti...
The experts from the Southern Region unleashed their attacks one after another, displaying their strongest offensive capabilities without reservation.
"From now on, whoever says the Southern Region is the weakest, I'll be the first to disagree."
"Everyone, let's go together, break through the layers of barriers, and destroy these sons of bitches."
Other experts were filled with excitement and joined the fray.
The scales of victory began to tip towards the side of righteousness.
The faces of the ghost race's lackeys within the valley changed drastically. Their previous composure vanished, replaced by sheer panic.
But soon, their sorrow turned to joy, and they became extremely excited because they heard the formation grandmasters in the abyss shouting.
"The Ghost Gate, fully opened!"