Chapter Sixty-Five: A Gathering of All Demons

Two thousand meters away from the Tomb of the Six Sages, deep within the endless primeval forest, there was no time to think. As the two sides collided, a thunderous explosion resounded, and without a single word, they finally engaged in battle.

Countless leaves from ancient trees in the forest were shaken loose by the shockwave, branches rattled, and within several dozen meters, pines, banyans, cypresses, and low shrubs—all became casualties of the energy clash. Almost instantaneously, the three joined forces, forming a curtain of energy that met the charge of dozens of black foxes. In this simple and brutal contest of vital energy, neither side gained the upper hand.

Dan Qiusheng, at the mid-level of Yuan Emperor, level 67; Hua Feng, at the initial Yuan Emperor, level 61; and Yun Meng, at the peak of Yuan King, level 60. Even together, they only barely managed to withstand the full-force attack from dozens of peak Yuan Kings and three initial Yuan Emperor monsters on the black fox side.

The massive surge of energy was no less than the detonation of a small nuclear bomb. Centered on them, a circular vacuum zone was formed almost in an instant.

Locked in a stalemate, Dan Qiusheng faced the enemy with one hand, lifted a wine jug with his right, and downed a mouthful of fiery liquor. His spirits ablaze, he ignored whether his adversaries were human or monster and shouted, “Are you here for the new energy? To risk everything like this, aren’t you afraid you’ll all perish in China?”

His voice carried through the barrier. The black foxes, having failed to break through, swiftly retreated to a hundred yards away and hovered in the sky.

“Dan Qiusheng from the Dao Alliance, is it? Do you think you few can stop us?” The black fox, lurking in thick mist, spoke with a sinister chill.

As he spoke, the atmosphere seemed to grow colder and more foreboding.

“Hua Feng, it feels like the weather suddenly turned cold,” Yun Meng observed, feeling the temperature drop rapidly.

“Don’t worry, Yun Meng. Watch me.” With that, Dan Qiusheng summoned seven flying swords, crafted from thousand-year peachwood. They spun around Hua Feng and the others, infused with his pure vital energy.

The swords emitted a faint golden glow, resembling seven golden flames. Soon, Yun Meng felt the temperature rising again, the swords’ aura dispersing the chilling energy pressed upon them by the black fox’s band of monsters.

“Whether we can stop them or not, we’ll only know by trying.” Realizing he wouldn’t glean any useful information, Dan Qiusheng chose to slaughter these hostile intruders, the Three Axe Demons—eliminate as many as possible.

“Hua Feng, don’t hold back. Give it your all—take down the black fox!” Dan Qiusheng sent a message to Hua Feng.

“No problem. Let’s do it!” Hua Feng replied, “Meng, take care of yourself. With your Snow Dance Phantom Step, not a single stray spirit should be able to approach you. We’ll capture the black fox and decide what to do next!”

“Got it, Hua Feng. Be careful, I can protect myself.” Yun Meng withdrew from the battle circle, performing her Snow Dance Phantom Step, moving gracefully as she observed the fight.

Dan Qiusheng, exerting his full power, sent the seven flying swords streaking like rainbows through the sun toward the black fox’s monsters, who showed no intention of retreating. The air was filled with the piercing whistle of blades.

Hua Feng’s thoughts moved, and the Primordial Staff appeared in his hand. He followed Dan Qiusheng, moving with the grace of time’s spiral, like a startled swan, like a swimming dragon. The staff, sensing its new master’s battle intent, shone brightly, its power multiplied several times over.

At the first contact, the black fox revealed its true form—a six-tailed black fox with blue-green eyes glowing with a demonic light, startling everyone.

With a beastly howl, the other monsters revealed their original forms as well. In an instant, wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards appeared before them.

After sending out a blade of vital energy, Hua Feng and Dan Qiusheng saw that it had no effect on these fully transformed beasts. They hovered in the air, pondering their next move. Observing closely, Hua Feng realized that these creatures—birds, beasts, wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards—were not rare species, but ones he had seen in books or encountered in life. They were nothing like the imagined demon forms from ancient mythologies, nothing like the divine beasts described in the classics.