âThe power of Extinguishing Spirit⊠Extinguishing Spirit Force!â
âWhat?!â
âYou⊠who are youâŠ?â
The three corrupted beings were taken completely off guard by the sudden assault of the Extinguishing Spirit Storm. Their pupils clouded over, their disbelieving voices echoing faintly in the oppressive stillness.
This battlefield fell into an eerie silence. They stumbled through the air, their jet-black pupils reflecting sheer disbelief.
A deathly force beyond comprehensionâa humanoid Extinguishing Spirit Storm combined with a divine sense surpassing the Deity Transformation Stageâhad shattered every convention of their understanding, exceeding the bounds of this world.
Swish!
A streak of black flame slashed through the skyâa simple, straightforward axe strike. No dazzling light, no overwhelming aura, no ground-shaking roarsâjust the pure, unembellished motion of a blade cutting.
Chen Xun had already appeared behind them. His form bristled with deadly intent as he walked forward without even glancing back.
Behind him, the corrupted beings struggled to lower their heads, their bodies trembling as their essence drained away. Their cursed blood was being forcibly extracted, their divine senses obliterated. Their bodies, already severed in two, wavered in the air as the last vestiges of their power dissipated.
âThe three of you are not weak,â Chen Xun remarked with a faint smile, tilting his head slightly. âBut compared to my companion, youâre a little lacking.â
A single drop of cursed blood slid off his axe, splashing to the ground with an ominous hiss. The already frigid atmosphere thickened with an even deeper chill.
âYou⊠deserve⊠death! The cause and effect of our kind⊠will never spare you!!â
The faces of the corrupted beings twisted into grotesque masks of rage and despair. With their last reserves of power, they let out piercing screams filled with unyielding hatred. But their cries were futile as the deathly aura engulfed them, dragging them into an eternal abyss.
The oppressive aura, instead of dissipating, began to coalesce into Chen Xunâs divine sense, causing his expression to flicker with interest. The strength of these Deity Transformation Stage corrupted beings was indeed formidable, enough to slightly loosen the bottleneck in his own divine sense cultivation.
âMoo!â
A low, resonant call echoed from the distance.
Three hundred miles away.
Two Deity Transformation Stage corrupted beings were faltering. The black ox had taken their most ferocious attacks head-on, and even the oppressive power of their cursed mountain was shattered by the crushing force of the black coffin.
âMoo!â The black oxâs calm gaze was steady and resolute. Its body was shockingly resilient, its defense capable of withstanding full-powered attacks from Deity Transformation Stage corrupted beings with nothing more than a few retreating steps.
Everything Brother Xun taught itâstay calm, test defenses, avoid overexertion, and most importantly, never leave an enemyâs retreat openâthe black ox followed religiously.
âRetreat!â
âWe need reinforcements!â
The corrupted beings unleashed waves of blood-red sword energy, the deadly currents slicing through the air toward the black ox. But their attacks dissipated as they collided with a spinning formation wheel that emerged in midair, sending fiery sparks scattering in all directions.
âMoo!â
With a single snort, the black ox manipulated its five-element formation flags, anchoring them at the cardinal points. A perpetual stream of elemental energy filled the area, locking the corrupted beings in place with an unbreakable barrier.
Panic filled their hearts. This oxâs power was evolving, its presence becoming increasingly oppressive. But before they could react, the black coffin descended from the heavens with a suffocating aura of death, the weight of its presence pressing the corrupted beings down like a mountain.
The black ox remained composed, its massive form unmoving as the corrupted beings attempted to self-destruct, channeling their overwhelming power into a final, desperate gambit.
âMoo!â
With a thunderous roar, the black coffin sealed their explosive energy within its walls. The corrupted beingsâ roars of defiance were abruptly silenced as the coffin spun upward, encapsulating their forms and energy.
The black ox snorted softly, its massive body radiating calm and control as it continued performing sealing rituals. Everything had unfolded exactly as Brother Xunâs plans dictatedâfrom containment to elimination.
In the distance, Chen Xun watched the scene unfold, his expression momentarily awkward. The black ox had perfectly followed his prescribed combat strategies: patience, observation, and decisive action.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chi lay sprawled beneath the Five Elements Spirit Tree, his tongue lolling and eyes glazed over in exaggerated feigned death. His overacting drew a chuckle from Chen Xun, who shook his head with an amused sigh.
âYouâve already seen everything,â he said softly. âThereâs no need to play dead. If I didnât trust you, would I have revealed these secrets in the first place?â
Xiao Chi sprang up, scratching his head sheepishly. âAh, Brother Xun, youâve seen through meâŠâ
Chen Xunâs expression turned serious as he turned his gaze toward the depths of the battlefield. âMore corrupted beings are bound to come. If they gather in greater numbers, even we might not hold them off indefinitely.â
âMoo!â
The black ox strode forward, its calm demeanor exuding confidence as it nudged Chen Xun reassuringly.
âPrepare yourselves,â Chen Xun said, his tone grave. âWe have no choice but to carve our way through.â
Before they could respond, a deep, resonant hum filled the air. In the distance, the ground trembled violently. The sight that met their eyes left them all stunned.
Far on the horizon, ancient warshipsâtens of thousands of themâemerged from the blackened terrain. The air resonated with the sound of ancient drums and horns, their mournful notes echoing across the battlefield.
âThose areâŠâ Xiao Chiâs voice trembled as he stared at the fleet, memories of their power flashing through his mind.
The ancient warships sailed forward, their weathered flags fluttering in defiance of time. An unstoppable tide of determination and unity surged toward the horizon, bearing the legacy of the realmâs ancient defenders.
Chen Xun stood at the prow of his ship, his gaze unyielding. The arrival of these warships meant only one thing: the battle for the ancestral land was far from over.