The power of the fourth-rank demonic beasts was like a mountain pressing down on everyone's spirits, leaving them almost breathless.
Even those who had witnessed the might of fourth-rank beasts before were now plunged into deep silence.
Such formidable beasts, each time they appeared, brought an indescribable sense of oppression.
...
In the Ten Thousand Mountains.
The emergence of nine fourth-rank beasts caused other beasts to retreat hundreds of miles. As these nine beasts stepped into the life-and-death domain, their cultivation was instantly suppressed by one rank.
"Boom!"
A beast roared angrily like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, spewing out a fire elemental sphere with a diameter of several dozen feet. The scorching heat distorted the space as it shot towards the ancient tree.
However, before the fire elemental sphere could get close, ground spirit roots broke through the soil, striking the sphere fiercely, dispersing it with sheer force.
The extreme heat only slightly charred the roots, causing no significant damage.
Following this.
The other beasts sprang into action.
The giant octopus beast swung its thousands of tentacles wildly at the ancient tree, while the Hell Serpent rose up, its flat, menacing head flicking its tongue, shooting venomous liquid like flying swords.
Simultaneously.
The Dark Black Barbaric Bull stomped the ground, its colossal body charging at the ancient tree like a celestial mountain.
Faced with the assault of nine fourth-rank beasts, Lu Qingyang felt no fear. The ancient tree's ground roots churned, extending for tens of thousands of meters, towering like mountains. As they descended, the air exploded with booming sounds.
The momentum was overwhelming.
Like the sky collapsing.
The tentacles of the giant octopus beast were shattered by the tremendous force of the roots, spilling dark green blood and causing it to howl in pain.
Then.
A black cloud descended, and the sturdy roots struck the Hell Serpent's head. The terrifying impact shattered its scales, nearly destroying its body and soul.
Boom!
The roar echoed!
Within the domain, countless ancient tree roots burst from the ground, densely weaving like a fishing net, fiercely attacking the nine beasts.
The nine beasts launched powerful counterattacks, charging at the ancient tree.
In an instant.
One of the weaker beasts was pierced by the roots, its body penetrated by a torrential force, quickly losing its vitality and turning into bones in a matter of moments.
One after another.
After the first beast fell, the second soon followed.
Through the light curtain, the spectators only saw the ancient tree suppressing the nine beasts with an unstoppable force.
In less than a quarter of an hour since the battle began, three fourth-rank beasts had already perished, and the remaining six were heavily injured.
"Boom!"
Several roots tore through the air, and the Dark Black Barbaric Bull's colossal body exploded instantly. This second-ranked beast in the demonic beast chart didn't even have time to let out a cry before its soul was sent to the netherworld.
The Hell Serpent hissed, attempting to escape, but once it stepped into the domain, there was no retreat.
As the serpent retreated, countless roots sealed its path.
What followed was a brutal entanglement.
The Hell Serpent's black scales shattered, and its blood rained down. Despite its desperate struggle, it couldn't break free from the confinement.
Ultimately.
The Hell Serpent's body was pierced, all its essence and blood refined, leaving it motionless.
The remaining beasts felt fear. Led by the giant octopus beast, they ceased their assault on the ancient tree and tried to flee the domain.
But unfortunately, Lu Qingyang would not let the cultivation points slip away. He unleashed all the ancient tree's power, slaughtering the remaining beasts with full force.
In the domain, mid-stage fourth-rank beasts were merely equivalent to early-stage fourth-rank beasts, unable to withstand Lu Qingyang's attacks.
Half an hour later, with the last beast slain, no demonic beast dared to enter the domain.
The beasts gathered outside the domain now retreated like a tide.
Though they lacked intelligence, they knew to avoid danger.
Lu Qingyang's slaughter of tens of thousands of beasts had amassed a terrifying killing aura, instilling fear in the remaining beasts.
With the fall of the nine fourth-rank beasts, their psychological defense was completely shattered.
Henceforth.
The beasts scattered.
Lu Qingyang gazed at the retreating beast tide, feeling a bit regretful.
If the beast tide had continued, he could have devoured more beasts, greatly increasing his chances of advancing to the fourth rank.
But with the retreat, he could do nothing to stop it.
As the beasts dispersed, leaving behind only a field of beast bones, Lu Qingyang checked his data panel.
...
[Name: Lu Qingyang]
[True Form: Ancient Tree]
[Lifespan: 15/]
[Realm: Late Stage of Third Rank (/ Ready for Advancement)]
[Heavenly Court: Not yet established (/)]
[Divine Powers: Ancient Tree Roots (Third Rank), Ancient Tree Spiritual Roots (Third Rank), Immortal Divine Fruit (Third Rank), Immortal Divine Whisper (Third Rank), Insightful True Vision (Third Rank), Ancient Tree Domain (Third Rank)]
...
"With seventy-three thousand cultivation points, I can easily break through. It's a pity I couldn't devour more beasts to leap directly to the fourth rank."
Lu Qingyang thought regretfully.
Even so, achieving the peak of the third rank was still extremely rare, given that without the beast tide, he had been stuck at the early stage of the third rank.
Accumulating enough to break through to the peak of the third rank would have been a distant prospect.
Besides the cultivation points.
What shocked Lu Qingyang was the rapid increase in incense power, which had surged by twelve million, bringing the total to fifteen million.
Inside the ancient tree trunk, the light cluster formed by the incense smoke was nearly full, with countless streams of incense smoke connecting to the Eighth Alliance.
Through the distribution of incense smoke, Lu Qingyang sensed that about half of the surviving humans were now his followers.
This was partly due to the Human Alliance's reduced population after the beast tide. Otherwise, Lu Qingyang guessed he might have had over a hundred million followers.
Calming his mind.
Lu Qingyang decided to break through immediately.
...
Roaring vibrations!
The ancient tree's trunk, standing at 2,500 meters, suddenly extended, surpassing 3,000 meters in height, while its roots expanded from 100,000 meters to 200,000 meters.
Vast amounts of spiritual energy surged into Lu Qingyang's body like a tide, raising the spiritual energy density of the entire Ten Thousand Mountains.
With the breakthrough, Lu Qingyang felt an unprecedented surge of power.
This power.
Gave Lu Qingyang a profound sense of confidence.
Even without the support of the ancient tree domain, he now had the full confidence to single-handedly battle those nine fourth-rank beasts.