Zhang Ao shouted out his order, and everyone nodded in unison. Zhenyuan energy surged, killing techniques stirred, and they prepared to strike together with him to subdue Yang Kai.
But before they could act, urgent screams suddenly echoed from not far away. The shrieks reached everyone's ears, and every face drained of color.
They immediately released their divine senses to probe. After just a few breaths, the powerful experts surrounding Yang Kai turned grim.
None of them were weak. Under their spiritual probing, they were horrified to discover that one fierce and violent aura after another was pouring in from outside the Nine Peaks. In an instant, the entire Nine Peaks became a scene of panic and alarm.
Along the distant horizon, a mass of energy like rolling black clouds was rapidly approaching. Within those dark clouds, faint silhouettes could be seen standing proudly in the void, gazing coldly down below. A crushing pressure descended from the sky like a mountain.
Zhang Ao's face changed drastically. He had no time to deal with Yang Kai and barked out a question: "What's happening?"
Screams rose and fell without pause, the stench of blood surged skyward, and no one had the leisure to answer Zhang Ao's question. After a long moment, a disciple from the Broken Profound Manor, drenched in blood, rushed over and reported: "Manor Master, it's terrible! Demon beasts — there are swarms of them!"
"Demon beasts?" Zhang Ao's eyes narrowed. He looked toward the commotion just in time to witness a horrifying scene — a giant emerald-eyed python swallowing a warrior whole.
That warrior's affiliation was unknown, but his strength was not insignificant — he was at the peak of the Shenyou Realm. Yet before that colossal python, he had no power to resist at all. The ghastly maw seemed to emit an irresistible suction, pulling the warrior straight into its jaws and swallowing him in one gulp. A visible bulge slid down the python's throat.
Hiss, hisss, hissss…
Strike after strike slammed into the python's body, sending out brilliant sparks. The creature was covered in black scales that seemed impervious to harm — none of the attacks left a mark. With a swing of its head and tail, several more warriors were swallowed, and others were sent flying, exploding into mists of blood on the spot.
This was merely one scene in this bloody hell.
Looking around, the Nine Peaks were now overrun with fierce demon beasts of all shapes and sizes. Each one had crimson eyes, their most savage instincts fully aroused. They rampaged through the crowd, carrying out atrocities beyond belief, and no one could stop them.
Screams echoed endlessly, tangled with overwhelming panic and despair.
"Where did these demon beasts come from?" Zhang Ao's face was white. He kept one wary eye on the black clouds while shouting his question.
"They seem to have come from the direction of the Beast Sea Dense Forest!" Manager Cao hurriedly replied.
Hearing this, every powerful expert surrounding Yang Kai felt as though they'd been plunged into an ice cellar, their bodies trembling from head to toe.
The Beast Sea Dense Forest — that was a territory of the Demon Clan, home to a Great Demon Sovereign. That was one of the most supreme powerhouses in the world!
They glanced again at the rapidly approaching black clouds, and in an instant, they understood what was happening.
"Despicable brat — he's colluding with the demons!" Zhang Ao's eyes blazed with fury. He turned to glare at Yang Kai, but froze when he looked — Yang Kai, who should have been surrounded in their midst, had vanished at some point without anyone noticing. All that remained was their group of several dozen experts gathered in the empty space.
The black clouds finally descended upon the Nine Peaks. From within the rolling waves of darkness, a seven-colored radiance burst forth. Accompanying that prismatic glow, a graceful figure descended from above on fluttering wings, her delicate and beautiful face blank with cold indifference.
Cai Die!
Close behind her, twenty to thirty Demon Clan experts who had already taken human form grinned savagely, spreading outward with overwhelming momentum. Kuang Shi charged ahead like a cannonball, slamming into the ground and leaving a massive crater. Then he shot forward like thunder toward a Transcendent Realm warrior, letting the man's attacks land harmlessly on his sturdy body. He grabbed the warrior, bit down on his neck, and tore through.
Blood sprayed outward. Kuang Shi looked like a man possessed, his eyes filled with wild joy. The Transcendent Realm warrior hadn't even formed the thought to resist before Kuang Shi had bitten clean through his neck, killing him instantly.
The sight of this carnage shattered the courage of nearby warriors, and they scattered in every direction, not daring to face Kuang Shi head-on.
But before they could reach safety, several more demon beasts burst from the sides, blocking their escape routes.
At the summit of one of the Nine Peaks, Yang Kai stood there, watching the bloody hellscape below with detached indifference.
A figure flickered, and the Great Demon Sovereign appeared beside him.
"You took your time getting here, Sovereign," Yang Kai greeted with a smile.
"Hmph. Gathering the troops takes effort, and you hardly gave me much time to begin with," the Sovereign snorted coldly.
"How many came?"
"Three thousand above the sixth rank. Eighty above the seventh. Nine above the eighth."
Yang Kai raised an eyebrows. "Quite the lineup."
"Otherwise, do you think I could hold the Beast Sea Dense Forest on my own and keep that place safe? Your human race would have wiped us out long ago," the Sovereign said slowly, shaking his head. "It's the same principle as your Nine Heavens Holy Land. You relied too heavily on the Holy Lord. Once the old Holy Lord died, this place became indefensible."
"That's them, not me," Yang Kai chuckled. He could see the flaws of the Nine Heavens Holy Land for himself. Unlike the Demon Clan, who had many powerful figures beyond just their supreme Sovereign — so even if the Sovereign died one day, the Beast Sea Dense Forest would not be an easy target to invade.
This time, the Demon Clan had likely committed every last one of their forces.
"Remember your promise to me," the Sovereign said, glancing at Yang Kai.
"Don't worry. Everything's been settled between us — would I go back on my word?" Yang Kai nodded slightly.
"How should I deal with these invaders?" the Great Demon Sovereign asked.
"That's up to you," Yang Kai said, shrugging with an air of complete disinterest.