"An ant trying to stop a chariot. You don't know your own limits."
Seeing Taihao Clan Leader and a dozen or so other Innate Humans not flee for their lives, but instead come out to meet their deaths, the wolf demon let out a derisive chuckle.
"That works out nicely. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down one by one."
"These Innate Humans created by Empress Nuwa taste far better than those Postnatal Humans."
At the Black Tiger Demon's command, tens of millions of demons behind him surged toward the Taihao Tribe below like floodwaters bursting through a dam.
"Stop them!"
Taihao Clan Leader raised the Simple Staff, a Low-grade Postnatal Spirit Artifact, and poured all his strength into it. Thick vines shot from its tip, weaving in an instant into a vast net spanning hundreds of miles above the tribe, in a desperate attempt to raise one last fragile barrier for the clanspeople behind him.
The other elders of the Taihao Tribe also brandished their weapons and unleashed their divine abilities, doing everything they could to hold back the Demon Race and buy the clanspeople a little more time to escape.
"Roar!"
The Black Tiger Demon let out a long howl. A mighty wave of sound surged forth, tearing the woven net of vines to shreds.
Caught in the sonic blast, Taihao Clan Leader and the others felt as though they had been struck by towering waves. Their bones and sinews shattered, and they couldn't help spitting out great mouthfuls of blood. In an instant, they were left utterly debilitated.
Watching the demon army charge toward their tribe like a pack of ravenous wolves and tigers, Taihao Clan Leader and the others were filled with despair.
They knew a brutal massacre was about to begin, but faced with such an overwhelming gap in strength, even laying down their lives could change nothing.
The Tiger Demon at the head of the pack opened his gaping maw, ready to swallow Taihao Clan Leader and the dozen or so other Innate Humans as a single mouthful of food.
At that moment, an unexpected change occurred.
A beam of Five-Colored Divine Light erupted from the stone hut at the center of the Taihao Tribe, shooting straight into the sky. It instantly scattered the thick clouds overhead, bathing the mountains, rivers, and all creation in shifting colors.
When the light faded, Li Qingxu appeared high in the sky, his robes fluttering and his black hair streaming in the wind. Like a Banished Immortal descended to the mortal world, he drew every eye present.
Thanks to the Innate Five Elements Qilin Dao Fruit, Li Qingxu had now shed all his Postnatal Turbid Essence. His bones and organs gleamed like jade, and faint five-colored radiance flowed through his veins. His Divine Soul was clear and pure, and his ability to sense the surrounding Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth had increased more than a hundredfold.
As he reverted to his innate state, his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, carrying him across a great divide in a single bound and into the Early Earth Immortal Realm.
"So this is what it feels like to be an Innate Being?"
"It's like the difference between heaven and earth from before."
Standing high in the sky, Li Qingxu felt the surging, pure divine power within him and the affinity that came from faintly resonating with the Laws of Heaven and Earth, like a fish in water. His heart stirred.
In the Primordial World, three parts came from hard work, seven from luck, and the remaining ninety from one's roots.
Those with exceptional roots were Grand Unity Golden Immortals from birth, while those with inferior roots might never break into the Human Immortal Realm in their entire lives.
Now that he possessed the Innate Five Elements Root, he finally had what it took to become a powerhouse.
"Li Qingxu!"
"It's Li Qingxu! He's emerged from seclusion!"
"This aura... It's so powerful! Far stronger than the clan leader!"
Below, the Taihao Tribe's clanspeople, who had been awaiting death in despair, sensed Li Qingxu's powerful aura and were suddenly overcome with joy. It was as if, in the depths of endless darkness, they had seen a ray of hope piercing the heavens.
The demons present also noticed Li Qingxu's sudden appearance.
"Hmm?"
"I didn't expect this tribe to be hiding such an unusual Human."
"But that's all the better. I imagine your flesh will taste even more delicious than that of the other Innate Humans."
The Black Tiger Demon slowly bared his teeth, his stinking breath billowing forth. His cruel smile was full of greedy hunger and excitement at discovering a "rare delicacy."
"Hmph! You want to eat me? We'll see if your teeth are sharp enough!"
Five-Colored Divine Light flashed in Li Qingxu's eyes as divine power surged through his meridians.
He had never learned any powerful divine abilities, but with the Power of Five Elements he had begun to wield through his Innate Five Elements Root, he was confident he could deal with these demons.
As Li Qingxu channeled his divine power, the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth within thousands of miles around him began to churn violently. The particularly active, volatile Fire Element Spiritual Energy seemed to answer his call, rushing toward his palm.
"Skyfire Meteor!"
Li Qingxu spoke each word clearly.
High above, the clear sky that had just been swept by the Five-Colored Divine Light abruptly turned scarlet. Fiery clouds appeared from nowhere and roiled violently.
Within the clouds, countless dazzling red streaks began to flicker, gather, and stretch.
One enormous meteor after another burst through the clouds. Formed from the divine power of Earth and Fire, they trailed crimson tails hundreds of yards long, scorching through the air as they filled the entire sky like a dense meteor shower!
"Not good! Get out of the way!"
Seeing the Fire Meteors dye the heavens red as they plunged down with unstoppable force, the demons who had been preparing to slaughter the Taihao Tribe were stricken with alarm, sensing an overwhelming threat.
They tried to dodge, but the Fire Meteors fell too fast. And with their huge bodies packed so closely together, there was nowhere to escape.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
One violent explosion after another rang out. Clusters of flame burst across the sky like the wrath of heaven, incinerating every evil thing in the world.
Whether they were Rhino Demons clad in heavy scales, Leopard Demons famed for their speed, or Bird Demons who tried to ward off the attack with their demonic energy, the moment they touched the meteors, their protective demonic energy shattered like paper, and their massive bodies were torn apart.
In just a dozen or so breaths, over ten thousand demons in the Human Immortal Realm had been blasted to death by the Fire Meteors, leaving only scattered limbs and remains across the ground.
"Hiss..."
The millions of humans in the Taihao Tribe stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were seeing.
They had thought that even if Li Qingxu had successfully transformed and reached the Earth Immortal Realm, facing such a large number of demons would still leave him in grave danger and force him into a bloody battle.
Yet Li Qingxu had killed over ten thousand demons with a single divine ability. It was simply terrifying.
Seeing all his underlings dead, the Black Tiger Demon showed no anger. Instead, he grinned, baring his gaping maw.
"Good! Very good!"
"Kill them all, and then I can have you and every single human in the entire Taihao Tribe all to myself!"
The Black Tiger Demon threw back his head and roared. Visible ripples surged outward, causing the surrounding mountains to explode one after another and sending towering columns of water bursting from the lakes.
Tigers were the King of Beasts. Even an ordinary mortal tiger could frighten all the beasts with a single roar.
With Earth Immortal Cultivation, the Black Tiger's roar was even more terrifying. Even cultivators in the Same Realm would have their Blood Qi churning and their heads reeling if caught in its blast.
It could then use the opening to pounce on its opponent, overwhelm him with its powerful body, and seize the advantage before finishing him off.
With these simple yet effective "Three Axes," the Black Tiger had once torn apart several enemies of the same rank, earning a fearsome reputation among demons in the Early Earth Immortal Realm.
Seeing this, the people of the Taihao Tribe below couldn't help holding their breath for Li Qingxu.
The Black Tiger Demon's casual roar earlier had nearly made Taihao Clan Leader and the other elders burst apart.
Now, with a full-strength roar that shattered mountains and rivers, Li Qingxu was right in its path. If it hit him, he could be gravely wounded in an instant.
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