This world, after being invaded by the Shitainzu, was divided into two regions. Ten percent of the area was occupied by the Shitainzu, while humans and other races of this realm fought fiercely to drive them back.
However, the Shitainzu were not to be trifled with. The native races, led by humans, did not hold an advantage, and the two sides remained locked in a stalemate.
With the slightest relaxation, these Shitainzu would surge in like locusts.
Although the main theme of this world had become the war against the Shitainzu, it had not yet reached a point of complete despair. After all, decades had passed, and the Shitainzu had only advanced a little.
Without reinforcements, the Shitainzu would find it difficult to conquer this world.
This was because the Shitainzu had longer lifespans than humans, but their cultivation aptitude was far inferior. What humans achieved in a century of effort might equate to a thousand years of their arduous cultivation.
Over time, human cultivators would experience a surge of geniuses, and the Shitainzu would be doomed.
However, they did indeed have reinforcements, on their way. If they didn't, they wouldn't be wasting time here with humans.
The areas already occupied by the Shitainzu were referred to by this world as the Demon Realm.
This place was in a constant state of war. People within the dividing line lived in peace and worked as usual.
However, all sects and forces were required to send talents above the Golden Core stage to the front lines annually. Different levels of forces had different standards; the stronger the force, the more cultivators they had to send.
This was because cultivators at the Golden Core stage could already fly.
This was a rule set by the Immortal Emperors, who had already broken through the void and were battling the Shitainzu Supremes outside the void.
Battles at the Immortal Emperor level were difficult to decide, unless both sides were prepared for a mutually destructive battle.
Luo Xiaowei and Qin Xiaoxiao's spawn points happened to be at the border of the Demon Realm, the primary combat zone between humans and the Shitainzu.
This was a blood-red jungle, the air permeated with the smell of blood, a scent that could induce dizziness.
Scattered skeletons could be seen on the ground from time to time, indicating that this place frequently saw combat.
Upon landing, Luo Xiaowei immediately drew his sword. The air here gave him a sense of killing intent. Coupled with what Chu Yang had told them before entering about the world being at war, it was not hard to guess that this was a remnant of the battlefield.
Suddenly, a fierce fluctuation of spiritual energy erupted ahead, with faint sounds of fighting and shouting.
"Junior Sister, run quickly! We've been ambushed by the Shitainzu!"
"Senior Brother, you go first! Don't mind me!"
"Damn it, those hateful Shitainzu!"
"......"
Luo Xiaowei and Qin Xiaoxiao exchanged a look.
"Want to check it out? This spiritual energy fluctuation is at most at the Nascent Soul stage. We should be able to handle it without much trouble."
"You lead the way!"
The two hit it off immediately. They had come here precisely to fight the Shitainzu. As they were unfamiliar with this world, it would be best to first connect with the local cultivators.
Zeng Yun and Chen Xinyu were both cultivators assigned by their sect to fight on the front lines. They, along with several others, entered the blood-red forest intending to hunt down some Shitainzu and earn points.
They had encountered an injured fourth-realm Shitianzu and excitedly pursued it, only to be led into an encirclement of many fourth-realm cultivators.
Clearly, their eagerness for merit had made them reckless, and they were unfamiliar with the combat here. Soon, they were being slaughtered.
In the end, only Zeng Yun and Chen Xinyu managed to escape, but they were also severely wounded. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they were caught.
Five Shitainzu, whose strength was comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators, charged at them from behind with sneers.
"Die! Greedy and foolish humans!"
A black long spear materialized. Zeng Yun felt danger but still shielded Chen Xinyu from the attack. The spear pierced his body, and blood splattered onto Chen Xinyu's face, causing her to cry out in terror.
"Senior Brother! Let's go together!"
Zeng Yun, his eyes red, roared, "You go! Is this the time for sentimentality? I am a sinner, I have wronged you all!"
"No, no, I can't leave! I'll fight them!"
Chen Xinyu gripped her sword, ready to charge.
Just then, several scorching fireballs, like miniature suns, converged on her.
Several Shitainzu stood still with cold smiles.
"Humans are as foolish as ever, another few extinguished..."
The others chuckled in agreement.
However, at that moment, a sword cry echoed.
"Fall back!"
Boom!
A broad sword screen descended from the sky. Zeng Yun and Chen Xinyu stared, dumbfounded, as if a majestic mountain had appeared before them, exuding a sense of profound safety.
These powerful fireballs were steadily blocked by the sword screen. Although slight cracks appeared, it seemed capable of withstanding a few more attacks.
The sudden sword screen startled the Shitainzu.
"Who is it?"
Luo Xiaowei descended from the sky, landing in front of Zeng Yun and Chen Xinyu.
He wore modern casual clothes, and the [Candle Dragon Burning Heaven Sword] in his hand emitted purple flames that coiled around him.
Luo Xiaowei's back looked slender, but it still gave the two a great sense of security.
However, when they sensed that Luo Xiaowei's aura was only at the peak of the Golden Core stage, that sense of security vanished.
"Run! They are all fourth realm..."
"Run for what? I've even killed... uh, participated in killing a peak sixth realm Shitianzu!"
Seeing their disbelief, Luo Xiaowei's sword intent surged. The undigested [Sword Spirit Grass] within him, combined with the "Grass Character Sword Manual" given by Chu Yang, made his sword intent exceptionally terrifying.
If the state of mind is insufficient, treasures will compensate.
The Shitainzu felt belittled and charged at Luo Xiaowei with ferocious expressions.
"A mere Golden Core, daring to look down on us?"
"Arrogant human genius, trying to step on us?"
"......"
A terrifying pressure was unleashed towards Luo Xiaowei, as if it would tear him apart in the next moment.
But Luo Xiaowei looked up at the sky and shouted, "A Ji! Xiaoxiao! Attack!"
A streak of blue light streaked across the sky. A colossal ice phoenix carried a small girl wielding a giant axe.
Snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and a mist of ice spewed from the ice phoenix's mouth.
An biting wind swept through, and a thick layer of frost covered the ground. The Shitainzu, whose strength was comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators, seemed to freeze instantly, their eyes filled with terror.
The ice phoenix was a top-tier bloodline among magical beasts. Although this ice phoenix had not yet reached the fourth tier, the cold it released was already terrifying, almost freezing these Shitainzu solid.
But this was not the most terrifying thing. The most terrifying was the seemingly delicate girl holding a giant axe.
Upon closer inspection, her face showed a look of panic.
However, sharp cold energy gathered from all directions onto Qin Xiaoxiao's [Sky-Opening Divine Axe], emitting a power that seemed capable of tearing the firmament, making people's faces pale.
"I'm coming down! I'm smashing down! Xiaowei, dodge quickly!"
Qin Xiaoxiao leaped from the back of the "Spicy Chicken" and brought her axe down fiercely.
It was not any particular technique, just a simple, forceful downward chop.
But Luo Xiaowei's scalp tingled. He frantically activated the [Sword Spirit Grass] within his body, continuously reinforcing the sword screen he had conjured.
The Shitainzu, whose strength was comparable to Nascent Soul cultivators, all showed a look of despair in their eyes.
They didn't know why they were so desperate, only that they felt that with this axe strike, anyone would die.
The [Sky-Opening Divine Axe], with a portion of its seal revealed, unleashed its sky-opening power, which was the source of their despair.
"Damn it, why is there such a terrifying person?"
"Have I encountered a top human prodigy? I'm finished..."
"I will dedicate myself to the great Shitianzu..."
Boom!!!
The entire blood-red forest echoed with a deafening roar. Ice shards flew everywhere. The trajectory of the axe strike caused the very air to crack.
The five Shitainzu were shattered by the killing intent contained within the axe strike.
Luo Xiaowei's sword screen also shattered with cracking sounds, but Qin Xiaoxiao had tried her best not to affect that area, so the damage was not significant.
Zeng Yun and Chen Xinyu, witnessing the incredible scene before them, stood with their mouths agape, so shocked they almost forgot to breathe...