Ye Tian, Xiao Chen, and the others radiated towering killing intent.
For three months, they had relentlessly targeted the Grand Dao Sect in this boundless starry sky, severely wounding all the Grand Dao Sect Old Ancestors, leaving them utterly incapable of seeking further opportunities. Unfortunately, the Grand Dao Sect Old Ancestors still held trump cards, continuously fleeing into perilous lands. This forced their pursuers to temporarily abandon the chase and instead seek opportunities on the Supreme Path. But now, they had no choice but to strike at the Grand Dao Sect, no matter the cost! The White Robe Great Emperor, Lu Xuan, had gone too far!
Soon after, Half-step Supremes from various major factions descended, retrieving their respective Great Emperors. Only then did these Great Emperors realize that this place was divided into outer and inner regions by terrifying rules of power. Even Half-step Supremes were restricted to the outer starry sky!
At this moment, five Old Ancestors from the Grand Dao Sect's 'Xuan' Lineage were hiding on a continent, daring not to venture out. Xuan Shang Old Ancestor, the leader, his hair and beard streaked with white, coughed up blood incessantly. His long robe was tattered, his body covered in countless wounds, from which eerie black blood oozed. He gazed at the myriad stars beyond this realm, his Divine Sense constantly probing the void. A worried expression on his face, he said, "I sense the auras of powerful cultivators from other factions, seemingly searching for us."
As he spoke, he looked at the four Half-step Supreme Old Ancestors behind him. They were in an even more wretched state! Ever since entering the Emperor Realm Area, they had been relentlessly targeted by numerous factions. One day it was the Demon Court hunting them, the next it was Dark Shadow Island. To this day, not only had they failed to find any opportunities on the Supreme Path, but all five of them were severely wounded. Their physical bodies were gravely injured! Their Divine Souls were shattered! They had even been forced to burn their souls just to escape!
"Cough, cough, cough." A hunched old man behind Xuan Shang Old Ancestor sighed, "If we can just hold on for another three months, we'll be able to leave the Bronze Ancient Palace. As long as we return to the sect, this journey will be considered a success."
"Indeed," another Old Ancestor lamented. "On this trip, we no longer hope for any opportunities."
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor worried, "I wonder how Old Ancestors Dao Ming and Dao Yang are faring in the inner starry sky region?"
The other four Old Ancestors shook their heads. "Likely not well."
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's spirit art constantly shifted in his hands as he activated the Grand Dao Scripture, circulating waves of obscure Dao rhyme to conceal the auras of all five of them. It was crucial to remember that several major factions' Half-step Supremes had branded them with Dao Pattern Imprints. If their auras were detected, those Half-step Supremes would instantly descend upon them. With their current combat power, even facing a single peak Half-step Supreme would be a struggle! Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's eyes dimmed as he gazed into the void. "I hope no accidents occur..."
Before he could finish, a thunderous boom erupted! Crack! The void above them tore open, and an overwhelmingly terrifying Half-step Supreme aura poured out like a tidal wave. From within the spatial rift, a colossal roar echoed, followed by a body as vast as a mountain range emerging. Its demonic power surged, burning like a giant sun between heaven and earth. This was a Half-step Supreme demon from the Giant Lizard Race.
"Come out, Xuan Shang Old Ancestor!" The Giant Lizard demon's cold voice boomed. Its Half-step Supreme Dao patterns intertwined like lightning, illuminating the entire continent. Instantly, the Dao Pattern Brand the Demon Court had planted on Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's body flared, then burst forth from him. The Giant Lizard demon sneered, "Xuan Shang! Today, you all die!"
In that instant, the Giant Lizard demon slammed down onto the vast region. Its massive foot alone cracked dozens of miles of mountains and rivers. Its aura devoured the star sea, and an endless stream of power surged within its body, like a divine furnace. Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's figure was immediately exposed. Their painstakingly carved cave dwelling exploded into countless fragments, massive boulders flew, and the earth trembled violently. At this point, only Xuan Shang Old Ancestor could stand to fight! The four Old Ancestors behind him were utterly incapable of further combat!
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor swept his sleeve, immediately burning his soul. Mysterious Dao rhyme surged around him as he began to circulate the third volume of the Grand Dao Scripture. Dao to Nature! Borrowing the power of heaven and earth, merging with heaven and earth. Xuan Shang Old Ancestor chanted under his breath, reciting the spirit art of the third volume of the Grand Dao Scripture: "Dao to Nature! The path of the Grand Dao, if it emerges from within, the power of the Grand Dao, if it emerges from within..."
Boom! Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's aura surged dramatically! He was going to force a battle!
The Giant Lizard demon snorted coldly, fighting directly with its demonic body. Its enormous tail swept across like a mountain range. Boom! In an instant, the endless Dao patterns Xuan Shang Old Ancestor conjured were continuously annihilated. Both were within a 'Stance,' but Xuan Shang Old Ancestor's 'Stance' was clearly crumbling. Torrential spiritual energy surged. The void above them shattered and reformed countless times. The earth cracked into ravines tens of thousands of feet deep, underground rivers instantly evaporated, and distant mountains snapped and collapsed. Pfft! In just a few exchanges, Xuan Shang Old Ancestor spat out a mouthful of vital blood, his qi and blood withered. He was sent flying tens of thousands of feet, crashing heavily to the ground, leaving a long, deep chasm behind him! He was utterly outmatched! The Giant Lizard demon was in peak condition, and even with his soul burning, Xuan Shang Old Ancestor was no match!
The Giant Lizard demon spoke coldly, its voice like thunder, "Your sect's White Robe Great Emperor, Lu Xuan, slaughtered Great Emperors from our factions in the Emperor Realm Area, forcing them into this region. This is the consequence of your Grand Dao Sect enraging us!"
Xuan Shang Old Ancestor coughed up blood, struggling to rise from the ground. He let out a bitter laugh. "Lu Xuan? The White Robe Great Emperor?"
The other four Old Ancestors all wore complex expressions. They didn't blame Lu Xuan. Their being targeted by numerous factions on this journey had little to do with him. The Grand Dao Sect was destined to contend for the Supreme Fruit Position in this era, which inevitably meant offending other powers. It was simply that this day had arrived a little sooner.
The Giant Lizard demon said coldly, "To kill you, it's not just our Demon Court that has mobilized. This time, you are all doomed!"
The next instant, the Giant Lizard demon unleashed a terrifying Spirit Weapon. It was a grotesque, irregular lump, but with a soft roar from the demon, the lump suddenly expanded to the size of a mountain range, its surface interwoven with Dao patterns. It pressed down directly towards Xuan Shang Old Ancestor! Boom! This Spirit Treasure, imbued with the Giant Lizard demon's surging vital blood, shot towards the heavens, shaking the cosmos. Its mere oppressive force shattered mountains and rivers. For a moment, heaven and earth trembled, and vast ripples spread. Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Before it even landed, Xuan Shang Old Ancestor continuously spat blood, utterly unable to bear the pressure.
In that moment, Xuan Shang Old Ancestor and the others were overcome with sorrow, howling towards the sky. "Ancestor, we have shamed you! Is Heaven truly forsaking us?"
Just then, "Alas..." A woman's sigh echoed faintly from above the void. Instantly, the Giant Lizard demon's terrifying Spirit Treasure was blocked by a mysterious power, freezing in mid-air. All of them froze, looking up at the void. Above the void stood a girl in a green dress. Her face was delicate as carved jade, and beneath her simple dress, a hint of a tiny, almost imperceptible curve showed. Her chest was slightly puffed out, and her arms, like white jade, were crossed over her chest as she looked at the five Grand Dao Sect Old Ancestors. She shook her head and said, "The Grand Dao Sect is truly miserable."