The three Eighth Order Peak Great Evil Gods ranked in the top five had joined forces to accelerate the destruction of the Isolation Mountain Range. This had originally been the matter of greatest concern to all factions in the Heavenly God Trial.
Therefore, during this time, every faction had dispatched spies along the Isolation Mountain Range early on, keeping watch on the movements of the three peak Great Evil Gods at all times.
Over the past few days, the three peak Great Evil Gods had also determined the areas each of them would be responsible for.
Kabaneri, the master of the Hall of Gods, the strongest faction in the East Kingdom, was responsible for the section of the Isolation Mountain Range in the Southeast Area.
Tian Qi, president of the Mist Veil Society, the strongest faction in the West Kingdom, was responsible for the Isolation Mountain Range in the Southwest Area.
And Doris, lord of the Crimson Territory, the strongest faction in the Northern Kingdom, was naturally responsible for the Northeast Area.
The three had tacitly abandoned the Northwest Area. Clearly, they were deliberately avoiding the combination of Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji.
Whether the Great Evil Gods participating in the trial were willing to admit it or not, Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji had grown at a terrifying pace in just over a month. They had indeed become a top-tier force that even those Great Evil Gods did not dare provoke lightly.
After all, they had Zhao Ji as peak combat power, Eighth Order backbone forces like Qiu Tu and Qing Lan, and hundreds of millions of humans. Qiu Tu's side could be said to be strong in both troops and resources. Before the Isolation Mountain Range was opened, the various factions would find it difficult to deal with them.
To some extent, the three peak Evil Gods' desire to bring down the Isolation Mountain Range was not only due to the threat of the Puppet Worms, but also due to the threat posed by Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji.
Meanwhile, outside the Isolation Mountain Range in the Northeast Area.
Doris, lord of the Crimson Territory, wore a dark crimson gown with a slit rising high up her thigh. She sat atop an enormous golden throne, crossing one leg over the other as she listened to a report from her female subordinate.
Her gown could not conceal her long, pale legs. As she crossed them and lightly tapped her toes, those fair, tempting legs drew the gazes of everyone present.
Her charm nearly transcended gender. Even while reporting, her female subordinate's gaze repeatedly darted away, and she even swallowed from time to time.
"Lord, that is what was just reported. During this period, the Human Faction has been acting extremely frequently, and every step of their plan has been closely linked."
"First, Qiu Tu somehow directly took control of an army of tens of thousands of Puppet Worms. Then, using that hundred-thousand-strong Puppet Worm army, he swept through the Cataclysm Zones across the entire Northwest Area and eliminated all dissenters."
"After that, he reached agreements with several Shelters in the Southwest Area and prepared to carry out a large-scale merger."
"They first sent the Calamity Descendants to the Cataclysm Zones of the Northwest Area in advance, having them cooperate with the Northwest Area's military to manage the cities that had been vacated."
"Then, just last night, they used an incredibly powerful Cataclysmic Treasure to transfer more than half the population of the Southwest Area into those controlled cities out of thin air."
"The entire process was almost completely stable. Even though some people failed to be transferred for various reasons, the officials left behind calmed them, and they remained peaceful without causing trouble."
"As for the people who were transferred, they were settled jointly by the Calamity Descendants who had gone ahead and the Northwest Area's military."
"The entire plan was linked step by step, seamless and airtight. They had clearly been laying the groundwork for a long time."
Hearing her subordinate's report, Doris caressed her collarbone with fingers painted in red nail polish. Her fingertips gently wound around a lock of hair as she twirled it and said thoughtfully,
"Moving hundreds of millions of people through thin air in a single night~~?"
"Even if they were all ordinary beings, that was terrifying enough. Was it some Special Treasure Item acknowledged by the World Origin?"
Upon hearing Doris's words, the female subordinate hurriedly said, "The intelligence department's analysis suggests that it should be a Special Treasure Item."
Doris narrowed her eyes, interest gleaming in her amber-like pupils. "So... Qiu Tu now not only controls the largest territory and the greatest population, but also possesses a Special Treasure Item?"
The female subordinate nodded. "That is indeed the case."
At this point, the female subordinate paused before continuing, "Also, because of the newly acquired population, territory, and that Special Treasure Item, Qiu Tu's ranking in the Heavenly God Trial has risen rapidly today. He went directly from eighteenth place to ninth."
"It could be said that according to the World Origin's overall assessment, his current comprehensive strength is already comparable to an Eighth Order Peak deity."
Doris leaned back against her throne and nodded lazily at that, commenting without much concern, "That is only normal."
"He now occupies a quarter of the land and has hundreds of millions of people. His overall score would naturally be very high."
But just then, the female subordinate added, "However... aside from Qiu Tu, there is another matter I believe you should take note of, Lord."
Doris raised her head and looked at her.
The female subordinate said gravely, "While Qiu Tu improved, Zhao Ji also advanced two places, moving from tenth to eighth."
At those words, Doris's previously indifferent expression immediately turned serious.
She lightly tapped her toes, making her fair, slender legs rise and fall as her thoughts continued to spread in every direction.
After thinking for a full minute, she finally came back to herself and slowly said, "Although Qiu Tu and that Heavenly God Reincarnation named Zhao Ji have always belonged to the same faction, there have actually always been clear boundaries in how they interact."
"Based on how the two have dealt with each other before, Qiu Tu most likely would not give Zhao Ji something that could improve her overall score."
"So... that means Zhao Ji's strength has likely grown again in these past few days."
Doris paused before adding, "Do not underestimate the fact that she only rose two places. She rose two places among Eighth Order Peaks. That cannot be taken lightly."
As she listened to Doris's analysis, the female subordinate's gaze lingered over Doris's pale legs while she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Lord. That was also the intelligence department's conclusion."
"Furthermore, during this time, following your instructions, the intelligence department has been continuously building a data model for Zhao Ji, analyzing her strength, consulting all sorts of records, and searching for Zhao Ji's identity in her previous life."
"You previously said that Lord Tian Qi had always held himself in high regard. If Zhao Ji had truly only killed the Tree Ancestor after using a Controlled Area to elevate her strength to Eighth Order Peak, then Lord Tian Qi definitely would not have left the Northwest Area."
"Since he left the Northwest Area, Zhao Ji most likely killed the Eighth Order Peak Tree Ancestor while only at the early Eighth Order."
"An expert capable of fighting above her rank even at the Eighth Order would certainly be a renowned figure even among Heavenly Gods. She was most likely someone at the level of a God King."
Hearing her subordinate's words and seeing the look in her eyes, Doris's lazy gaze gained a trace of allure and amusement.
With a smile, she crossed her long, fair right leg and raised her toes, using them to lift her subordinate's chin. "Then, Xiao Mo, have you found her identity?"
As she spoke, Doris blinked slightly. She was already breathtakingly beautiful, and every movement seemed to release a seductive power. In an instant, her subordinate's eyes turned into hearts.
Holding Doris's crystal-like foot in her hands, she let her gaze travel up those long legs and beneath Doris's skirt. She swallowed and said, "Reporting to you, Lord, although we have tried our best, we... we still have no results for now."
As she spoke, her heartbeat sped up continuously, as though she could not wait to start at Doris's delicate foot and lick her way up those legs.
Unfortunately, Doris was clearly only teasing her. Upon hearing Xiao Mo's answer, she lazily said, "That is such a pity."
"I thought you would give me a good answer. It seems I cannot reward you after all~~"
As she spoke, Doris lightly brushed through her wine-red, wavy hair. Moonlight fell across it, giving it a molten-gold gradient sheen.
At the sight, Xiao Mo's eyes filled with sorrow, as if the thing she loved most had just left her.
She could not help opening her mouth to try and make up for it, but just then, a paper crane placed beside Doris's throne suddenly flew up.
Flying over to Doris, the paper crane opened its mouth and said, "Doris, are you ready?"
The voice from the paper crane belonged to Tian Qi. Kabaneri clearly did not wish to deal with Doris recently, which was why he had Tian Qi take command instead.
Hearing Tian Qi's voice, Doris snapped her fingers. Xiao Mo, whose soul had nearly been lured away by Doris, shuddered and immediately came back to her senses.
Only then did Doris speak flirtatiously to the paper crane. "Tian Qi~~ I have been bored to death waiting. If you had not called me soon, I would have gone back for my beauty sleep."
Tian Qi on the other end of the paper crane fell silent for two seconds.
But he clearly had plenty of experience dealing with Doris. He directly ignored her affected words and got to the point. "In one minute, we will bring down the Isolation Mountain Range together."
Doris blinked lightly and answered in a sweet voice, "Alright~~"
The paper crane slowly descended to the ground, and Doris's sultry expression gradually faded.
She gave a soft snort, lifted her fiery red high heel, and stomped on the paper crane. With a smack, it was crushed flat.
Then she rose to her feet and walked on her long legs toward the Isolation Mountain Range.
She looked up at the enormous mountain range that separated the Core Area from the Edge Area.
As a barrier formed by the World Origin to separate two worlds, this enormous mountain range should have been something even Heavenly Gods could not bring down.
But because the two domains were merging, the mountain range had already begun to collapse bit by bit. Cracks crawled upward from its base, while debris fell from it at every moment, shattering into diamond-like dust beneath the moonlight.
Standing beneath the mountain, the tall Doris looked as tiny as an inconspicuous little ant.
Second by second, time passed. Soon, one minute was up.
When the final second of the countdown ended, the entire Isolation Mountain Range suddenly began to tremble faintly, like a sleeping colossal beast slowly awakening.
Seeing this, Doris knew Kabaneri and Tian Qi had already begun.
Her expression abruptly turned solemn, and she took a fierce step forward. An aura far surpassing that of an Eighth Order Peak Great Evil God exploded from her body!
Then she stomped both feet on the ground! In the next instant, pink light spread like a spiderweb beneath her fiery red high heels. Every strand precisely pierced into the purplish gaps in the rock and rapidly spread across the entire mountain wall!
Very quickly, countless pink webs covered the entire Isolation Mountain Range!
Doris's face visibly paled. Clearly, even for an Eighth Order Peak like her, using power of this level was still extremely taxing.
At the same time, in the Southeast Area.
Kabaneri likewise erupted with a terrifying aura that surpassed the Eighth Order Peak!
He transformed into a towering giant. His feet were larger than lakes, his legs were like two pillars supporting the heavens, his body resembled the Isolation Mountain Range itself, and even the two eyes in his head were larger than the moon.
His once-fat body had become incomparably muscular, though it had also turned a strange shade of blue-green.
He gripped twelve bronze chains as thick as buildings. The chains were rooted in the Isolation Mountain Range and wrapped around his body.
Like a giant god preparing to move a mountain, he bore those massive chains on his back, planted feet larger than lakes firmly against the ground, tensed his entire body, and dragged against the Isolation Mountain Range with all his might!
Meanwhile, in the Southwest Area, Tian Qi was equally imposing! Today, he wore a golden robe embroidered with pythons, with a canopy of five-colored providence above his head. Purple energy stretched for three thousand miles as he suddenly clasped his hands together, his golden pupils blazing with dazzling light!
In the next second, the world slowly rotated ninety degrees. He stretched out his hand, and the purple energy extending for three thousand miles transformed into a long sword in his grasp!
Grasping the sword, he shouted, "Heaven Split!"
That sword technique shared the same name as Zhao Ji and Qiu Tu's, yet was entirely different. He swept it viciously across the Isolation Mountain Range!
As the three Eighth Order Peak Great Evil Gods, quasi-Heavenly Gods, went all out, the entire Isolation Mountain Range began to hum and shake!
Then, accompanied by a deafening explosion, the rock layers burst inward from the foundation like collapsing dominoes! Cracks rapidly spread upward from the mountain's base!
Rock masses weighing hundreds and thousands of tons began to fall, smashing into one another in midair and throwing dust across the sky!
The billowing dust formed a gray curtain thousands of meters high, refracting nine layers of halos beneath the moonlight! Crushed stone rolled down the mountain at horrifying speed, crashing toward the surrounding plains and forests!
Wherever it passed, century-old trees were ripped out by the roots, their canopies tumbling in the torrent like green floating corpses!
Finally, amidst that terrifying upheaval, every living being in the four Edge Areas suddenly heard a tremendous crack! in their ears at the exact same moment!
In that instant, countless beings awoke from their sleep. Looking toward the Isolation Mountain Range, their noses inexplicably stung, and tears streamed down their faces.
They knew that the World Barrier protecting them had finally shattered completely.
At the same time, boundless Calamity Power surged from the Core Area toward the four Edge Areas!
That terrifying power brutally transformed everything! Matter began to evolve, becoming spirit entirely; spirit began to ascend, giving birth to the extraordinary!
The Edge Areas had finally merged completely with the Core Area!
Or rather, the Edge Areas had finally become a new Core Area as well.
"The Isolation Mountain Range... has collapsed."
At the same time, Qiu Tu stood atop an office building, watching the dust in the distance rapidly disperse. Feeling the surging Calamity Power and sensing the shackles limiting his strength rapidly lift, he quietly spoke.
Zhao Ji, standing beside him, gave a deep "Mm."
Then she said coolly, "They did it deliberately."
"With the two domains merged, all ownerless Edge Areas will fully solidify. The Mist Zones whose Boundless Mind Sea Areas were pried away will no longer be able to produce new Areas."
"The Boundless Mind Sea Areas in the Edge Areas will become fixed."
"If we want to continue increasing our strength, we can only choose to annex others or... kill each other."
Qiu Tu nodded slightly at that.
Previously, he and Zhao Ji had held the Northwest Area. Though it could not be said that they possessed endless Boundless Mind Sea Areas, more Areas would theoretically continue to emerge, allowing their strength to rise without interruption.
But now that the two domains had merged, the Northwest Area's Areas had become fixed. Their path of advancement had indeed come to an abrupt stop.
Furthermore, if they wanted to win this Heavenly God Trial, one of them would have to make a sacrifice so the other could increase their strength more quickly.
Thinking this, Qiu Tu could not help looking at Zhao Ji and asking, "Then what do we do now?"
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Zhao Ji gave him a cold glance before saying domineeringly, "Since they will not give us a chance to improve in peace, then we will kill our way out."
She said, "If the Northwest Area does not have enough Areas, then we will kill several Eighth Orders and refine them."
"They think they have cut off our path forward, but they do not realize they have actually cut off their own path to survival."
With that, Zhao Ji turned her sharp gaze eastward and said, "There is an Eighth Order Peak Great Evil God in the Northeast Area. She just brought down the Isolation Mountain Range, so she should be weakened right now."
"I think we can make a move against her."
Qiu Tu froze upon hearing Zhao Ji's words.
Over the past few days, the Human Faction's intelligence network had gradually been established, so he knew everything about the three Eighth Order Peak Great Evil Gods bringing down the Isolation Mountain Range.
So, after thinking back briefly,
The Northeast Area was where that Crimson Lord Doris was?
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