Lian became notoriously excited with the ethereal saber. The gnome's power grew significantly as his pure nature, connected to the laws of the world, facilitated the fusion of earth power with the Albedo clan technique. A new power was created, much more devastating than before. With 70% of his remaining Qi, he could fight using this new weapon with almost no extra consumption, making his creation extremely valuable.
Lian advanced with overwhelming momentum, skillfully wielding his ethereal saber. With each strike, the earth writhed and shattered in a spectacle of destruction. The carnage was visible, with hundreds and hundreds of demons being slain in the blink of an eye. As the group advanced, the seemingly endless sea of demons stretched out before them. No matter how many fell, it seemed that new ones emerged to fill the void left by their fallen comrades. The combat was relentless, a desperate fight against an endless horde of evil creatures.
The members of the Enchant clan faced painful losses with each step. They fell, one after another, amidst the chaos of battle. However, even in the face of adversity, they did not falter. With tireless determination, they continued to approach the Divine barrier, fueled by the hope of reaching safety beyond it.
When they were just a few hundred meters away, Lian closed his eyes and quickly focused. Suddenly, the Divine barrier trembled vigorously, its splendor and divinity increasing in an uncontrollable frenzy. All the cracks instantly healed, and its presence expanded in all directions.
As the group advanced, dangerously close to the Divine barrier, they were surprised by the unexpected reaction that occurred. The shining barrier enveloped them in an instant, emanating an aura of indescribable divine power. However, nothing happened to them. In contrast, the demons who dared to touch the barrier were consumed by an overwhelming force. They were pulverized in an explosion of energy, reduced to ashes and nothing more. The power of the barrier was so grandiose and impenetrable that no demon could survive its touch.
As the divine barrier expanded, stretching for hundreds of meters, it finally stopped. The group was in shock, speechless, realizing that no demons were attacking them anymore. A wave of relief and security swept through their hearts, causing many to smile with gratitude.
Saya and the Albedo clan group watched from inside the barrier as Lian remained outside. Less than a third of the demons had been defeated in battle, and everyone recognized Lian's overwhelming power. However, the overwhelming number of enemies instilled fear, making the idea of fighting alone extremely dangerous. Lian had not detected the presence of the powerful demon named Anri nearby, so he advanced cautiously, aware that a devastating and surprise attack could be planned. Now that they had safely approached the barrier, he no longer needed to hold back.
A stormy wave of Qi swept across the area, then breached the barrier, and everyone there felt a fierce Qi burning in their meridians and soul. All the Griffins living within the barrier, along with the invading humans, watched outside towards Lian.
He was floating in the sky as the Root Gate was fully opened, and his blood energy was inflamed without sparing a single drop. With a thought, the gnome poured all his earth power into his meridians. Instantly, the world fell silent, and everything within thousands of meters seemed covered with a red mist like fire. All the demons, Griffins, and humans were instantly suppressed without any chance of resisting. In fact, even the will to resist was crushed.
Meanwhile, Lian's killing intent engulfed all directions, painting a potential scene of blood and carnage. He pushed the Earth Dragon King Style to its limit. The absolute weight of the technique seemed too much for the world to bear. Lian's mere presence alone could pulverize all forms of life.
*DESTRUCTION!*
Suddenly, he fell from the sky. It felt like a million volcanoes were erupting simultaneously. The earth and the heavens trembled violently as everyone felt the same violent tremors in their bodies. "This is madness..."
On the other hand, the Griffins and cultivators of the Enchant clan felt their knees give way. When the dust settled, nothing remained. The entire forest within hundreds of meters was destroyed. Every form of life was annihilated, leaving behind only a scene of death. In the center stood a young man with thousands of white and pure roots sprouting from his body, spreading in all directions.
These roots completely sucked and absorbed all the black Qi, blood, flesh, bones—everything... in a matter of minutes, everything was completely empty and deserted. After that, the roots retracted and returned inside Lian. All the spectators were left with their jaws dropped. Was all this destruction the work of a human or a demon who was so ravenously devouring every form of life?
Lian returned inside the barrier shortly after, and a great commotion ensued there. When he entered and looked ahead, a grand scene appeared before his eyes. The entire group that lived there, composed of fewer than 100 Griffins, had lined up in front of him, waiting for him.
The humans were ignored and left there, not daring to utter a sound as they watched. All the Griffins took on their human forms, kneeling in reverence with their heads bowed. It was a gesture of deep respect and submission, a collective manifestation of recognition of the greatness of the Sovereign of Legends.
The eyes of the Griffins, even as they remained lowered, conveyed a mixture of devotion and trust, for they knew that Lian was their master and protector. Saya was dragged into the depths and was extremely confused as she was forced to stay there, her head bowed in reverence like everyone else.
Lian observed the scene before him with unwavering serenity, showing no emotion or sign of surprise. He had created this sanctuary and allowed the Griffins to continue living in the past. Every piece of that sacred place belonged to him, a result of his own intervention. The barrier that protected them had been built with his own hands, and only he possessed the power to move it or use it at will.
Naturally, the Griffins, who had already received a revelation that he was returning, understood that they were in his presence. "Sovereign, welcome back!!!" They all shouted in extreme respect and reverence. Their hearts were euphoric and relieved, as their leader had returned and the calamity that befell them could be resolved.
The words of the Griffins echoed powerfully in Saya's mind, reverberating like thunder within her. Throughout her life, she had always considered the Sovereign and Master of the Griffins as a mere legend, something distant and unattainable. However, the cruel reality unfolded before her eyes, with the Griffins facing the imminent threat of extinction. With that unexpected encounter with Lian and now witnessing the respect and veneration of the Griffins towards him, Saya understood that fate had woven a complex web to unite them.
Saya's deepest longing was to protect and preserve her race, to ensure the continuation of the Griffin lineage. Now, confronted with the imposing presence of Lian, the Sovereign of Legends, the magnitude of the situation unfolded before her. For Saya, this revelation was more than mere coincidence. Her amber eyes, which usually sparkled with vivacity and curiosity, now shone with radiant brilliance. A radiant smile formed on her lips, revealing an infectious joy. The lines of worry that used to adorn her forehead disappeared, replaced by a serene expression.
The orange wings, which once trembled with fear, now rose with grace and enthusiasm. Every movement of her body was infused with renewed energy and unwavering confidence. Her countenance was filled with tenderness and admiration, as if she were witnessing something truly extraordinary. Her eyes fixated on that special figure. It was as if the whole world disappeared, leaving only the glow of that powerful and overwhelming feeling.