"Roar!"
The roar continued, shaking the heavens and earth.
Xu Nian followed the roar and quickly arrived at the center of the noise.
However, the scene before him made him involuntarily gasp in surprise.
At this moment, a man was engaged in battle with an incredibly powerful fierce beast.
This fierce beast was covered in crimson scale armor, extremely hard.
Its size was at least twice that of a high-level fierce beast.
Opposing it was a man with a head of white hair, his strength equally formidable.
The sword in his hand swung with heart-stirring ripples.
Each slash on the beastās body left a terrifying scar on its impenetrable scale armor.
Of course, the beastās claws were equally fearsome, each swipe tearing through the space around them.
Moreover, the terrifying power in its strikes forced the white-haired man to retreat step by step.
"Is this the battle of Earth Immortal Peak level? This manās profound argumentation is at least at the Fifth Realm, possibly reaching the Sixth Level Realm; I probably couldnāt even take one strike from that sword light," Xu Nian couldnāt help but marvel.
And this Earth Immortal Peak level fierce beast, clearly, has developed a certain intelligence, no longer fighting solely on instinct like other fierce beasts, but utilizing basic battle techniques.
Coupled with its formidable defense and terrifying strength.
If Xu Nian were to take one of its hits, he would likely be crushed into a pulp.
Watching the battle ahead, Xu Nian was utterly shocked.
He didnāt expect to encounter such a level of combat here.
The man and the fierce beast were locked in a furious battle, the sky darkened around them.
However, ultimately, the white-haired man had the upper hand, and with one sword stroke, severed one of the beastās arms.
"Roar!"
The beast let out another wailing cry.
Realizing it was no match, it turned to flee.
But the white-haired man would not let it have its way; with piercing eyes, his sword shone brightly and struck once more.
As that strike landed, Xu Nian felt his soul instinctively tremble.
The next moment, the distant beast was cleaved in half.
"Soul attack merged into swordsmanship?" Xu Nianās eyes widened in astonishment.
The sword technique used by the white-haired man contained powerful soul attack waves, very strong.
If Xu Nian were the target, he would undoubtedly be doomed.
"So strong!" Xu Nian marveled within.
An Earth Immortal Peak strong person was truly beyond what he could contend with.
Such an Earth Immortal Peak strong person could kill him with barely a movement.
Having slain the fierce beast, the Earth Immortal Peak strong person approached the beast and extracted a red crystal the size of a thumb from its brain.
Though far away, Xu Nian could feel the immensely pure energy contained within that red crystal.
"Could it be that a crystal akin to a Demon Core is born within Earth Immortal Peak level demon beasts?" Xu Nian speculated to himself.
This pure energy was strikingly similar to the surrounding gray energy, yet lacked any violent factors, appearing instead very serene.
"Come out!"
As Xu Nian was lost in thought, the voice of the Earth Immortal Peak strong person suddenly echoed in his mind.
Startled for a moment, Xu Nian realized his presence had been discovered by this formidable person.
He decided not to hide anymore and stepped out.
"Junior Xu Nian, greets Senior!" Xu Nian respectfully bowed and said.
An Earth Immortal Peak strong person was not to be trifled with; unless he hid within the Chaos Divine Palace, this white-haired power could kill him instantly.
The white-haired man glanced at Xu Nian, a look of surprise on his face.
"Transcendance Tribulation Stage?" The white-haired man clearly hadnāt expected that the hidden presence was merely at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.
A mere transcendence peak lad entering the Hell Sea was sheer recklessness.
Moreover, this place was already the edge of the Hell Seaās depths, where high-level fierce beasts could appear at any moment, possibly even Earth Immortal Peak level fierce beasts.
Could this guy have reached here by sheer luck?
"Kid, how did you get here?" The white-haired man asked.
"In response to Senior, I came with sect seniors, but got separated during a fierce beast attack," Xu Nian replied candidly, guessing the white-haired manās suspicions.
He knew saying this would make the white-haired man think he had arrived under the protection of his sect elders.
Xu Nian didnāt want to reveal his strength; although Earth Immortal Peak strong people might not harbor ill intentions against him, possessing transcendance peak power while hiding middle-stage Earth Immortal peak strength might attract those eyeing his secrets.
Sure enough, the white-haired man nodded after hearing Xu Nianās explanation.
"Kid, you must be lucky; getting separated from your sect seniors and not encountering fierce beasts here. Just one ordinary fierce beast could tear you apart," the white-haired man said.
Xu Nian chuckled, unfazed, and asked, "Senior, are you an Earth Immortal Peak strong person?"
"Kid, I know what you want to ask; youāre curious about my identity, right? Thereās no harm in telling you; I am merely a loose cultivator. If Iām not mistaken, youāre from one of the sects like Tiande Sect or Mountain Sea Sect, arenāt you?" the white-haired man said with a smile.
"Iām from the Tiande Sect, Senior! Are you from the Tianhen Star Domain as well?" Xu Nian smiled and asked.
The white-haired man smiled back, looking at Xu Nian, "You sect disciples always pride yourselves, looking down on loose cultivators. But in truth, there are many powerful loose cultivators in the Tianhen Star Domain, Iām just insignificant; theyāre merely not after fame or fortune."
Xu Nian pondered, realizing he had underestimated the number of Earth Immortal Peak strong people in the Tianhen Star Domain. It seemed many were just living incognito.
Their pursuits were all about ascending to the Immortal Realm, unperturbed by mundane fame and wealth.
"So what brings you here, Senior?" Xu Nian asked.
"Iām specifically here to hunt fierce beasts and seize these Red Origin Crystals. As for you all, I know your goal is the Ancient Sage Sect, isnāt it?" the white-haired man said with a chuckle.
"Senior knows?" Xu Nian was slightly surprised.
He hadnāt expected the white-haired man to know their aim.
"Itās not much of a secret; in the Tianhen Star Domain, about a hundred people know of this. They just donāt have the inclination to pursue it. A word of advice, this Ancient Sage Sect isnāt easily enterable, and once inside, itās quite possible you may never come out. Itās a place even more perilous than this Hell Sea. Of course, if you can come out, youāll receive great fortune," the white-haired man said with a smile.
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior," Xu Nian said after a moment of thought.
"Alright, kid, as we are destined, Iāve advised you. Whether you heed it is up to you. I must continue hunting fierce beasts. You should find your sect elders," the white-haired man remarked before disappearing into the gray energy sea.
He vanished so swiftly that Xu Nian barely had time to react.