Great Sage Oversees Battle, Stirring Up a Frenzy; Conspiracy Begins to Show in Martial Path

The Golden-Winged Great Peng King's corpse was still radiating residual warmth outside Clear Wind City when dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. A terrifying pressure, far exceeding that of the Nascent Soul Realm, enveloped the land, causing even the city walls of Clear Wind City to tremble slightly. Chen Fan looked up and saw a figure in a purple robe slowly emerge from the dark clouds. The old man's face was gaunt, surrounded by black demonic mist. With every breath, he stirred the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into chaos—it was the Great Sage of the Demon Race, a top-tier existence in the Void Refinement Realm, the Purple Robe Great Sage!

"A mere human, to be able to kill this Saint's Great Peng King, you do have some skill." The Purple Robe Great Sage's voice boomed like thunder. His gaze locked onto Chen Fan, filled with icy killing intent. "But an ant is still an ant. Today, this Saint will personally oversee the battle and flatten all your human cities!"

Before his words even fell, the Purple Robe Great Sage waved his hand, and black demonic mist surged like a tide towards the distance. Moments later, the earth shook, and countless demon race soldiers emerged from all directions to the west. Their numbers far exceeded the army that had previously besieged Clear Wind City, and among them were several early-stage Nascent Soul Demon Kings, their auras immense, like a black torrent, crushing towards Clear Wind City.

"This is bad! The demon army is here!" Elder Li's face turned ashen. "With a Great Sage of the Void Refinement Realm personally overseeing the battle, we simply cannot resist!"

Chen Fan's brow furrowed. He could clearly feel the pressure emanating from the Purple Robe Great Sage, a terrifying power far beyond his current strength. Even if he broke through to the Human Immortal Realm, he would be as insignificant as a child facing a Void Refinement Realm expert. But he did not flinch. He gripped the Evil Slaying Sword in his hand, and the Bloodline Power of the Human Immortal Realm slowly circulated around him. "Elder Li, immediately send a message to the major human sects and request reinforcements! We will hold Clear Wind City first and await the arrival of reinforcements!"

Elder Li nodded hurriedly, took out a Communication Talisman, and injected spiritual energy into it. Messages flew towards the major human sects. Chen Fan then turned and shouted to the human cultivators in the city, "Everyone, the demon army is pressing in, and a Void Refinement Great Sage is overseeing the battle. This battle today concerns the survival of the human race! If we retreat, our homes and loved ones behind us will become food for the demon race! Pick up your weapons and follow me to defend Clear Wind City to the death!"

"Defend Clear Wind City to the death!"

"We will live and die with the human race!"

The human cultivators in the city were ignited by Chen Fan's words, raising their weapons with eyes full of resolute killing intent. They knew there was no retreat; only a fight to the death!

Soon, the demon army arrived beneath Clear Wind City. The few leading Nascent Soul Demon Kings gave the order, and countless demon soldiers charged towards the city walls. Siege engines battered the city gates, and ladders were placed against the city walls. Demon soldiers climbed upwards like ants, roaring, creating an extremely brutal scene.

Chen Fan stood on the front line of the city wall, holding the Evil Slaying Sword. The Bloodline Power of the Human Immortal Realm formed a golden shield around him. Every swing of his sword could kill several demon soldiers. Golden sword energy was like the scythe of the Grim Reaper, continuously reaping the lives of the demon race. Elder Li and other cultivators also fought bravely in their positions, with arrows, spells, and sword energy interweaving to form a solid defensive line.

However, the demon army's numbers were simply too great, and the Purple Robe Great Sage, radiating pressure from above the clouds, suppressed the spiritual energy circulation of the human cultivators. Soon, the human defense line showed a breach. A Black Bear Demon King, in the early stage of Nascent Soul, seized the opportunity, broke through the defense, and brought his massive bear paw down towards the city wall. The city wall instantly cracked, and many human cultivators were sent flying, spitting blood.

"Die for this king!" the Black Bear Demon King roared, striking at the city wall again, intending to completely destroy Clear Wind City's defenses.

Chen Fan's eyes sharpened, and he flashed forward, instantly appearing before the Black Bear Demon King. The Bloodline Power of the Human Immortal Realm condensed into a golden spear in his hand. He unleashed "Blazing Spear Art: Formation Breaking." The spear, carrying a sharp whistle that tore through the air, stabbed towards the Black Bear Demon King's chest.

The Black Bear Demon King's face changed drastically. He hurriedly mobilized his demonic energy to form a shield in front of him. But Chen Fan's spear, imbued with the power of the Human Immortal Realm and the power of the Evil Slaying Sword, easily pierced the shield and plunged into the Black Bear Demon King's chest.

"Ah—!" The Black Bear Demon King let out a shrill scream, his body falling heavily to the ground, no longer breathing.

After dealing with the Black Bear Demon King, Chen Fan did not stop. He flashed forward again, charging towards the other Demon Kings. He knew that only by killing the high-ranking members of the demon race could he disrupt their offensive rhythm and buy time for reinforcements to arrive.

But how could the Purple Robe Great Sage allow him to slaughter so freely? Seeing Chen Fan kill the Black Bear Demon King, a hint of killing intent flashed in the Purple Robe Great Sage's eyes. He raised his hand and shot a wave of black demonic energy towards Chen Fan. The demonic energy was extremely fast, carrying an aura of destruction, and instantly arrived before Chen Fan.

Chen Fan's heart tightened. He hurriedly mobilized his Bloodline Power to form a shield. But the power of the demonic energy was too terrifying. The shield shattered instantly, and Chen Fan was struck by the demonic energy, flying out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the city wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Brother Fan!" Lin Xiaohu's voice came from behind, filled with anxiety and concern. He had already led the civilians to the valley behind, but he couldn't rest easy about Chen Fan and had quietly returned to Clear Wind City.

"Xiaohu, who told you to come back? Go back quickly!" Chen Fan struggled to stand up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with anxiety. He knew the Purple Robe Great Sage's target was him, and it was too dangerous for Xiaohu to remain in the city.

"I'm not going back! I want to fight with you!" Lin Xiaohu ran to Chen Fan's side, holding an ordinary iron sword. Although his strength was weak, his eyes were firm.

Just then, a wave of shouts and killing sounds suddenly came from the distance. Beams of spiritual light flew from the sky. It was the reinforcements from the major human sects! The sect masters and elders of top sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect, Pill Cauldron Sect, Ten Thousand Beasts Valley, Purple Haze Palace, and Pure Void Temple personally led their teams, followed by countless disciples, their auras immense as they charged towards the demon army.

"Purple Robe old monster, how dare you invade our human territory! Today, we will ensure you never return!" The sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect held his long sword, his voice loud, carrying the aura of the late-stage Nascent Soul Realm.

The Purple Robe Great Sage looked at the human reinforcements, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then he sneered, "What if you've come? This Saint is in the Void Refinement Realm. Do you ants in the Nascent Soul Realm think you can contend with this Saint?"

"Whether we can contend or not, we'll find out by trying!" The sect master of the Pill Cauldron Sect took out a golden pill, injected spiritual energy into it, and the pill transformed into a huge flame, shooting towards the Purple Robe Great Sage. The sect masters and elders of other sects also unleashed their strongest spells, and countless beams of spiritual light bombarded the Purple Robe Great Sage.

The Purple Robe Great Sage snorted disdainfully. The black demonic mist around him surged, forming a massive shield. The beams of spiritual light struck the shield, creating earth-shattering roars, but they failed to break it. Instead, they were repelled by the demonic mist, and many human cultivators were hit by the rebound force, spitting blood.

"The gap, it's a gap!" The Purple Robe Great Sage sneered. "Today, this Saint will let you know how vast the difference is between the Void Refinement Realm and the Nascent Soul Realm!"

Just as the Purple Robe Great Sage was about to launch an attack and completely crush the human reinforcements, Chen Fan suddenly noticed something unusual. Although the sect masters and elders of the major human sects were all top-tier experts in the Nascent Soul Realm, their spiritual energy circulation became extremely sluggish under the suppression of the Purple Robe Great Sage's demonic mist, and the power of their spells was far less than usual. Although he was also suppressed by the pressure, the circulation of his Bloodline Power only slowed down slightly and was not significantly affected.

"Why are immortal cultivators with Spiritual Roots so suppressed, while martial cultivators are less affected?" Chen Fan wondered. A passage from Zhao Lie's inheritance suddenly flashed in his mind: "In ancient times, the Martial Path was the orthodox way. The Spiritual Root system is an external entity, cultivating by borrowing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Although progress is rapid, it is also bound by the rules of heaven and earth. Once the rules of heaven and earth change or encounter special suppression, combat power will be greatly reduced."

"External entity? Bound by the rules of heaven and earth?" Chen Fan's heart stirred, and a bold guess formed in his mind: the Spiritual Root immortal cultivation system might indeed have some conspiracy, and the demonic mist of the Great Sage of the Demon Race could just happen to restrain the spiritual energy circulation of Spiritual Root cultivators!

At this moment, the Purple Robe Great Sage's attack had already been launched. The black demonic mist, like a giant palm, struck towards the human reinforcements. The sect masters and elders of the major sects' faces changed drastically. They hurriedly cast defensive spells again, but they still struggled to resist the attack of the demonic mist. The defense line instantly collapsed, and many disciples were hit by the demonic mist and turned into dust.

"This cannot go on!" Chen Fan made up his mind. He took a deep breath, and the Human Immortal Realm Bloodline Power within his body circulated wildly. At the same time, he mobilized the power of the Blazing Spear Art, condensing it into a giant golden blazing spear in his hand.

"Purple Robe old monster, your opponent is me!" Chen Fan shouted, flashing forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging towards the Purple Robe Great Sage. The golden blazing spear, carrying the power to burn the heavens and destroy the earth, stabbed towards the Purple Robe Great Sage's chest.

The Purple Robe Great Sage did not expect Chen Fan to dare to attack him proactively. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he sneered, "Insolent human, since you wish to die, this Saint will grant your wish!" He raised his hand and shot a wave of black demonic energy towards Chen Fan.

Chen Fan neither dodged nor blocked. The golden blazing spear directly pierced the demonic energy and continued towards the Purple Robe Great Sage. The Purple Robe Great Sage's face changed drastically. He did not expect Chen Fan's Bloodline Power to be so powerful that it could easily pierce his demonic energy. He hurriedly dodged to the side. The blazing spear grazed his shoulder, leaving a wound deep enough to see bone, and black blood flowed continuously.

"You actually managed to wound this Saint?" The Purple Robe Great Sage's eyes were filled with disbelief, then he became even more enraged. "Human, you have succeeded in enraging this Saint! Today, this Saint will surely tear you to shreds!"

The black demonic mist around the Purple Robe Great Sage surged, and his aura became even more terrifying. He formed hand seals, and countless streams of black demonic energy shot towards Chen Fan, each carrying an aura of destruction.

Chen Fan's eyes sharpened. The Bloodline Power within his body circulated to its extreme again. He wielded the golden blazing spear, forming a golden barrier to resist the attack of the demonic energy. At the same time, his mind constantly pondered the contents of Zhao Lie's inheritance, trying to find a way to counter a Void Refinement Realm expert.

He knew that it was almost impossible for him alone to defeat the Purple Robe Great Sage. But he had to stall for time, wait for the human reinforcements to adjust their state, and at the same time search for more clues about the conspiracy of the Spiritual Root system. This war between myriad races was not only about the survival of the human race but also about the revival of the orthodox Martial Path. He could never retreat!

On the battlefield, golden blazing spears and black demonic energy continuously collided, creating earth-shattering roars. Chen Fan's figure weaved through the demonic energy, each attack carrying an unyielding will, like a light in the darkness, illuminating the hope of the human cultivators. The Purple Robe Great Sage, enraged by Chen Fan, launched frenzied attacks but was unable to completely defeat Chen Fan.

In the distance, the sect masters and elders of the major human sects looked at Chen Fan's figure, their eyes filled with admiration and confusion. They admired Chen Fan's courage and strength, but they were also puzzled as to why Chen Fan's Bloodline Power was not suppressed by the demonic mist and could even contend with a Void Refinement Realm Great Sage of the Demon Race.

"Could it be... the Martial Path is truly stronger than Spiritual Root cultivation?" The sect master of the Heavenly Sword Sect murmured, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. He had cultivated the Spiritual Root immortal cultivation system for hundreds of years and had always believed it to be the orthodox way. Yet, on the battlefield today, a martial cultivator had become the hope of the human race.

Chen Fan was unaware of their thoughts. All his energy was focused on the battle with the Purple Robe Great Sage. He could feel his Bloodline Power constantly depleting, but at the same time, every collision with a Void Refinement Realm expert was tempering his body and will, deepening his understanding of the Martial Path, and bringing him closer to the Earth Immortal Realm.

And in a corner of the battlefield, a white figure was quietly observing all of this, it was Su Muxue. She looked at Chen Fan's figure, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. She tightly gripped an ancient jade pendant in her hand, on which were carved runes similar to those in the "Martial Path Elixir Scripture"—she seemed to know some secrets about the Spiritual Root system and the ancient Martial Path, but for some reason, she had never spoken.

A great battle concerning the survival of the human race, the revival of the Martial Path, and the truth of the world was fiercely unfolding outside Clear Wind City. And Chen Fan, this newly ascended Human Immortal, stood at the center of the storm, writing the legend of the Martial Path with his fists and will, and step by step moving towards uncovering the conspiracy of the world.