The group advanced cautiously toward the palace, though the anticipation of treasures within began to overwhelm their caution. The towering structure loomed ahead, a monument of forgotten grandeur. Golden spires rose into the heavens, their tips wreathed in faint, ethereal light. The gates were enormous, each carved from obsidian and inlaid with veins of shimmering jade that pulsed with an ancient energy.
Surrounding the palace, the landscape seemed almost otherworldly. Fields of crystalline grass stretched outward, their edges glinting like shards of glass under the fading sunlight. Ancient trees, their trunks as thick as houses, bore fruits that glowed faintly, emitting a fragrance so potent that it seemed to rejuvenate the spirit with each breath.
Streams of translucent water meandered through the area, their surfaces alive with the reflection of a sky that now glowed in hues of deep amber. A herd of cloud antelopes, their bodies wreathed in mist, grazed peacefully in the distance, while birds with radiant plumage fluttered about, their songs forming a gentle symphony that added to the scene's serenity.
Tianyang's sharp eyes scanned their surroundings. Despite the beauty of the area, there was an unnatural stillness in the air. Even the wind seemed hesitant, as though the very land feared disturbing the silence.
"Something isn't right," he muttered under his breath, his hand tightening around the hilt of his high legendary -grade sword Yang(one of the two yin & yang swords).
Yuqing, walking beside him, nodded in agreement. She could feel it too—a faint, almost imperceptible ripple in the air, as though some unseen predator watched from the shadows.
"Stay alert," she whispered to the group, though her voice was drowned out by the excited chatter of the others.
"They're too careless," Tianyang said with a sigh. "We need to—"
Before he could finish, a sudden, oppressive roar tore through the air.
The tranquil landscape erupted into chaos as the ground split apart. Massive fissures snaked through the crystalline grass, and from them emerged a horde of beasts. Sky Beasts, Heaven Beasts, and even a few Divine Beasts charged forward, their eyes glowing with primal rage.
"Defensive formation!" Qin Xuan'er's voice rang out, commanding immediate attention.
The group scrambled into position, forming a defensive circle. Tianyang and Yuqing, however, stayed calm amidst the panic.
"Hold this," Tianyang said, handing Yuqing a mid sky-tier formation plate. "I'll anchor the first layer of the formation. Can you assist with the second?"
"Of course," Yuqing replied, her hands already moving to weave energy into the formation's core. Despite the chaos, she clung to him, her touch steady and reassuring.
The first wave consisted of Sky Beasts, their power ranging from low to high in their respective tiers. A pack of Thunderclaw Panthers led the charge, their sleek black bodies crackling with electric arcs. Behind them, Steel-Fanged Boars barreled forward, their tusks gleaming like polished blades.
"Stay behind the barrier!" Tianyang shouted as he activated the formation.
A translucent dome of energy sprang up around the group, the runes engraved into it glowing with a faint blue light. The beasts' attacks collided with the barrier, sending ripples of energy across its surface but failing to breach it.
"They're testing the defenses," Yuqing said, her voice calm but firm.
Tianyang nodded. "Let them waste their strength. We'll counter when the time is right."
The strategy worked. After several failed attempts, the beasts grew frustrated, their movements becoming erratic.
"Now!" Qin Xuan'er yelled.
The group surged forward. One elder unleashed a low sky-tier fire technique, sending a wave of flames toward the panthers. Another elder followed with an intermediate earth-tier spear technique, impaling three boars in a single strike.
Tianyang and Yuqing worked seamlessly, moving in tandem. He used a low sky-tier sword technique, his blade carving arcs of light that cleaved through the beasts, while Yuqing's low sky-tier sword whip technique snapped with lethal precision, slicing through the panthers' hides.
Within moments, the first wave was repelled, but the group's relief was short-lived.
The second wave came almost immediately. This time, Heaven Beasts emerged, their auras suffocating. A Molten Scaled Serpent, its body radiating intense heat, slithered forward, its golden eyes locked onto the group. Beside it, a Frostclad Mammoth, its massive frame covered in icy armor, charged forward, each step shaking the ground.
"Adapt your techniques!" Qin Xuan'er commanded.
Tianyang stepped forward, his sword glowing with the energy of a mid sky-tier technique. He clashed with the serpent, his blade meeting its scales with a resounding clang. The serpent retaliated, its tail sweeping toward him, but Yuqing intervened, her whip sword wrapping around its tail and yanking it off course.
"Focus on its head!" she shouted.
Tianyang nodded, leaping into the air and driving his sword downward. The blade pierced through the serpent's skull, and it let out a final, ear-splitting screech before collapsing.
The Frostclad Mammoth proved more challenging. Its icy armor deflected most attacks, and its sheer size made it difficult to approach. Qin Xuan'er took the lead, her high legendary grade spear with high sky-tier spear technique glowing with energy.
"Distract it while I charge!" she ordered.
The group obeyed, drawing the beast's attention with ranged attacks. When the moment was right, Qin Xuan'er lunged forward, her spear piercing through the mammoth's chest in an explosion of light.
As they successfully repelled the second wave, the final wave arrived.
The final wave was the most harrowing. Divine Beasts emerged, their auras so oppressive that it brought weaker cultivators to their knees.
A Golden-Eyed Basilisk slithered into view, its gaze alone enough to paralyze those who met its eyes. Beside it stood a Thunderhorn Stag, lightning arcing between its massive antlers.
Tianyang and Yuqing moved to intercept the stag, their movements perfectly synchronized. He used a high sky-tier sword technique, each slash sending arcs of energy toward the beast, while she unleashed a high sky-tier sword whip technique, her weapon coiling around the stag's legs and toppling it.
Meanwhile, Qin Xuan'er faced the basilisk. Her mid sky-tier spear technique created a whirlwind of energy around her, deflecting the basilisk's petrifying gaze. She lunged forward, her spear piercing through its eye in a shower of golden blood.
After fighting for whole night, their bodies start to withered out with exhaustion.
By the time the last Divine Beast fell, the group was battered without any energy left.
Just as they thought it was over, the ground began to tremble. Cracks spread across the earth, swallowing the bodies of the fallen beasts. The sky darkened, black clouds swirling ominously overhead. Lightning flashed, illuminating the chaos below.
Then, a deafening roar split the air.
A massive chasm opened in the earth, and from it emerged a colossal beast. It towered over the group, its body wreathed in golden flames streaked with crimson. Its eyes burned like twin suns, and its claws gleamed like polished steel.
The beast exuded an aura so powerful that it made some weaker cultivators lose
consciousness.
Yuqing clung tightly to Tianyang's arm, her voice trembling. "This beast… it's Saint-level." Her tone was a mix of terror and awe.
Tianyang's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles white. "And it seems to be more powerful than the Saint Azure Dragon we met before."
The beast roared again, the force of its voice splitting the heavens. Lightning flashed, winds howled, and the earth quaked beneath its feet.
"This will be the hardest battle, that we've faced till now." Tianyang said, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.
Yuqing nodded, her determination shining through. "But we'll face it together."
The group braced themselves, their weapons raised and their hearts pounding. The final battle had begun.
Please Read The Auxiliary Volume For Important Information!