Xuanyuan Che and the other three found a secluded valley in the battlefield to rest for the time being.
After the successive battles, Yun Mengyao and the other two needed time to digest what they had gained from the ancient estate and stabilize their rapidly rising cultivation.
The valley was tranquil, its waterfall hanging like a ribbon.
Yun Mengyao set down layer upon layer of concealment and defensive formations, and they all began refining their Dao Fruits.
Xuanyuan Che sat cross-legged atop a bluish stone, examining his inner self. After fusing with the branch spirit root of the twelve-petaled Chaos Green Lotus, his Dao foundation had become incomparably solid. The Chaos Sea within him was boundless, and every wisp of Chaos Qi weighed as heavily as a mountain.
He had a feeling that, if he wished, he could summon the Saint Tribulation at any moment. Yet he was still accumulating strength, seeking to reach a state of true, flawless perfection.
"Che'er." After arranging the formations, Yun Mengyao came over and sat beside him. "You killed Yuxi and Yan Kuang in succession, severely wounded the Saint King of Burning Heaven Valley, and slew the Saint King of Heavenly Palace Academy. This enmity has been forged too deeply. I fear that once we leave the battlefield, the storm will not be small."
Xuanyuan Che opened his eyes and smiled. "Don't worry, Second Senior Sister. They are merely two first-rate factions; they cannot stir up much of a wave. If they know what is good for them, this matter will end here. But if they truly refuse to let it go..."
A cold glint flashed through his eyes. "I do not mind reshuffling the power structure of the Central Continent."
His tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable confidence. Possessing the Innate Chaos Dao Body and the supreme bloodlines of both the Xuanyuan and Ji imperial clans, his foundation and confidence far surpassed anything anyone in the Lower Realm could imagine.
If not for tempering his heart amid the mortal world and experiencing the joys of cultivation, he could have wiped out so-called first-rate factions with a flick of his finger.
Watching his confident expression, Yun Mengyao let out a soft sigh, her helplessness tinged with indulgence. "You... always cause trouble like this. But so be it. No matter what happens, your senior sister will always stand by your side." She reached out, intending out of habit to ruffle his hair. Yet recalling the sight of him displaying such Divine Might just now, her hand paused in midair, and she felt it was somewhat inappropriate.
Xuanyuan Che instead lowered his head of his own accord, bringing it beneath her hand like a lazy cat. Smiling, he said, "I knew Second Senior Sister was the best."
Yun Mengyao's heart softened, and that trace of concern was instantly flung beyond the clouds. She gently rubbed the top of his head, the affection in her eyes growing even deeper. No matter how strong her little junior brother became, in her eyes, he would always be the younger brother who needed looking after.
At that moment, Mu Qingxue also finished cultivating and walked over. Seeing this scene, the corner of her cool lips lifted in a faint arc.
Thunder Roar Ravine was the last to emerge. That Saint Fruit had been rather difficult to absorb. His blood and qi surged mightily, and he had completely refined the Saint Pill. His cultivation had stabilized at the peak of the mid-stage Tai Xu Realm, while the strength of his physical body had soared, no weaker than a Saint's.
"Wonderful! Hahaha!" He burst into laughter. Spotting Xuanyuan Che, he immediately came over. "Little Junior Brother, next time there's some old Saint King bastard like that, let your senior brother go up and pound him with a few punches first to satisfy the itch!"
Xuanyuan Che could not help laughing. "Alright. Next time, Third Senior Brother will go first."
After resting for a while, Yun Mengyao looked at her Identity Token.
"The battlefield has been open for nearly ten days, and only the final two days remain. Our points are already more than sufficient, and our rankings are firmly near the top. Should we continue exploring, or head directly to the exit area?" She looked toward Xuanyuan Che, seeking his opinion. Without anyone noticing, Xuanyuan Che had already become the absolute core of their small group.
After pondering briefly, Xuanyuan Che said, "Let's go straight to the exit. During these final two days, the fighting in the battlefield will only become fiercer and crueler. All sorts of demons and monsters will crawl out. We are not afraid of them, but there is no need to invite unnecessary trouble. Besides..."
His gaze turned toward the direction of the battlefield exit, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The Netherworld Clan will not let this go so easily. Perhaps they will stir up something at the very end."
At the mention of the Netherworld Clan, Yun Mengyao and Mu Qingxue both grew serious. This race was the most unfathomable and bizarre, skilled in schemes and conspiracies. They truly had to be on guard.
"Alright, then we'll wait in the exit area." Yun Mengyao nodded.
The four immediately rose and transformed into streaks of light, speeding toward the exit of the Myriad Races Battlefield.
The closer they drew to the exit, the more cultivators they encountered. The moment Xuanyuan Che's group of four appeared, they caused an enormous commotion.
"Those four Baleful Intent stars from Eastern Xuan Academy!"
"Quick, move aside! Don't block their path!"
"That's Xuanyuan Che? He looks so young, and he's so handsome... He actually blew apart a Saint King with one punch?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you want to die?"
Wherever they passed, the crowd split apart like a tide. Every cultivator looked at them with awe and curiosity. Their ferocious reputation had already spread throughout the battlefield.
Xuanyuan Che, however, paid it no mind and remained composed.
He had killed them, so what? He had no need to explain himself.
Before long, the four reached a mountain near the exit area. Rather than gathering with the other academies, they occupied a place of their own and quietly awaited the battlefield's end.
Just as Xuanyuan Che had expected, unprecedented chaos erupted in the battlefield during the final moments. For the sake of the final rankings and to seize others' points, the slaughter became brutal beyond measure. Beams of light frequently shot into the sky as cultivators crushed their tokens to save their lives and depart.
Some peak geniuses also erupted at this moment, displaying astonishing strength as their rankings rapidly climbed.
Yet no one dared provoke Xuanyuan Che's group. None could surpass their points either. They remained firmly among the top ten, while Xuanyuan Che sat at the very top of the rankings, leading by an insurmountable margin.
However, amid the calm waiting, Xuanyuan Che finally caught an exceedingly faint spatial fluctuation spreading from the deepest regions of the battlefield. It carried a dense, deathly Netherworld aura, and it was... growing stronger.
As expected... is it finally coming? Xuanyuan Che thought, a trace of chill flashing in the depths of his eyes.
He secretly transmitted his voice to his three senior siblings. "There may be an unexpected change at the final moment."
The three immediately became alert.
Time passed second by second.
Just one hour before the battlefield was due to end, a sudden upheaval occurred!
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The entire Myriad Races Battlefield suddenly began to shake violently!
The sky abruptly darkened. Scarlet light seeped from cracks in the earth, while dense, nauseating Netherworld Death Qi erupted like tsunamis from several directions within the battlefield, spreading swiftly!
Countless hideous, terrifying Netherworld creatures crawled out from beneath the ground, slaughtering anyone they saw! Among them were even quite a few powerful Netherworld Clan cultivators!
"The Netherworld Clan! The Netherworld Clan has launched a full-scale invasion!"
"How did they get in?! Why haven't the battlefield rules rejected them?"
"Run!"
The exit area instantly descended into chaos. At the same time, a cold and evil voice boomed across heaven and earth, filled with mockery and cruelty:
"Hehehehe... Geniuses of the Three Thousand Dao Domains? Perfect. You shall serve as the first batch of blood-food sacrifices to welcome the descent of my clan's Netherworld Crown Prince!"
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