Hun Yu acted very politely. After a few humble words, he stood up and left to confer with some team leaders, apparently discussing the next alliance's attack on the beast tide.
Chen Guan studied him for a long moment, his wariness growing.
Noticing his gaze, Gu Xun'er chuckled softly, "Do you believe him?"
Chen Guan shook his head. He wasn't a fool; how could he easily believe someone else's claims?
However, Hun Yu's words confirmed his belief that this person's strength must be above the fifth rank! And
Gu Xun'er, even more powerful than him...
"Before we entered the Heavenly Tomb, Hun Yu was already a seventh-rank Dou Zun. Now, barring any unexpected events, he should be an eighth-rank Dou Zun,"
Gu Xun'er's voice echoed in his ears.
The Hun Clan had their own channels of information, so the Gu Clan was naturally no ordinary person.
Chen Guan remained silent, solemn but not intimidated. Instead, it only fueled his motivation.
This was truly the top young talent of the continent today!
Fortunately, the Saint level was difficult, and even these figures couldn't easily cross it, giving Chen Guan ample time to catch up.
"Very impressive, how about you?"
Chen Guan nodded softly in praise, glancing at Gu Xun'er.
He asked casually, not expecting her to answer truthfully.
However, this time, Gu Xun'er was acting strangely.
With a faint smile, she transmitted, "I'm not as good as you. I was at the Ninth Turn when I entered the Heavenly Tomb, and I'm still at the Ninth Turn now, not even a single step forward."
Ahem...
Chen Guan choked, and glanced at her with a complicated expression.
This time, he truly believed it. A Saint, even a Semi-Saint, exuded a strange aura that could not be concealed.
A Ninth Turn Dou Zun was astonishing, rivaling many of the older generation's powerhouses. Even the Three Great Masters of Danta were at that level.
But considering Gu Xun'er's talent and background, it seemed reasonable.
Furthermore, her claim of no improvement was surely a lie. After all, even Xiao Xuan had said she had made significant progress in the Heavenly Tomb.
Could it be that she was already somewhat confident of reaching Semi-Sainthood?
Chen Guan stopped talking, and the small circle fell silent, all awestruck by the terrifying power of these ancient races.
Amidst this atmosphere, a soft shout suddenly echoed across the square, drawing everyone's attention. It was the Soul Jade that had drawn the attention.
"Everyone, after these past few days of trying, I think you all understand the current situation. None of our teams can break through the Beast Tide. We can't even get past these obstacles. The opportunity to conquer the Ancient Bodhi Tree deep within the Wild Ancient Territory is even more wishful thinking. Our only solution now is to unite our strength and unite as one. Only then will we have a chance to break through."
"I understand your concerns. I also know there will definitely be those who are pretending, lurking among us, unwilling to contribute, or even plotting against each other. This is our most serious problem these days."
"For this reason, I've discussed with Gu Xun'er of the Ancient Clan, and we've decided to reorganize the alliance to fight the Beast Tide. Those willing to join us must be equal until we overcome the Beast Tide. No selfish motives are allowed, let alone plotting against each other. Once discovered, they will become our enemy and will be killed immediately!"
"Of course, we won't force you to join the alliance, but we also don't want some people to take advantage. So, I offer you a choice: Those who agree to join the alliance will stay, while those who don't will voluntarily leave the Ancient Domain Platform a hundred miles away
. This is my bottom line. Everyone, make your decision." In the center of the square, Hun Yu's voice was clear and resonant, exuding a convincing aura and the demeanor of a leader. His words were not flowery, but he stated the facts that must be faced.
Upon hearing this, the noisy square fell silent.
The Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan were undoubtedly the two most powerful and convincing factions at the moment, and they had also been the leaders of the past few days.
Without their leadership, most people present would have had virtually no chance.
They were no fools; they could see this clearly.
With this in mind, many nodded in agreement.
"Brother Hun Yu is right. This time, my Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan will accompany you on this adventure."
A young man in a white robe spoke. He was a man of considerable strength, and his most striking feature was his pair of irises, which evoked a hint of sinisterness amidst his dignity.
Chen Guan had spotted this person earlier, but he seemed completely unaware of his entanglement with the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan, displaying no hostility and possessing considerable cunning.
"Haha, with Brother Jiufeng's words, our chances of surviving the beast tide are even better!" the Soul Clan responded cheerfully.
"I'm Glacier Valley willing to join us."
"The Kongxuan Sect is willing to contribute!"
"..."
Team after team declared their support. Even forces like the Xingyun Pavilion, inherently at odds with the Soul Clan, remained silent for now, refusing to withdraw from the Ancient Domain Platform, a gesture of tacit agreement.
After all, an alliance was the best solution right now, bar none.
"Excellent, it seems everyone has made a decision. If so, let's set off now. The sun is high in the sky now, when the ferocious beasts are at their most indolent. I hope you won't hide anything. Without surviving the beast tide, no one will have a chance to see the ancient Bodhi tree."
Seeing that no one had left, Hun Yu nodded in satisfaction, a smile gracing his jade-white face.
It was impossible not to hide his intentions. He simply hoped to no longer only contribute 30% of his effort. 40% or 50% would be more than enough. As
soon as Hun Yu finished speaking, the crowd in the square quickly began to move. Figures flew up into the sky, finally forming a dense mass like a vast, dark cloud, hovering in mid-air.
Though they seemed united, a closer look revealed that everyone was roughly divided into two camps: one group followed Hun Yu's team, while the rest, those who disdained the Soul Clan and the Soul Palace, sided with Gu Xun'er.
Consequently, Chen Guan and the others, who stood closer to Gu Xun'er, were positioned at the front, just behind the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan.
The closer one was to the front, the greater the pressure.
Chen Guan understood this, but said nothing.
After all, a forger must be strong. With sufficient strength, it doesn't matter where they are, and vice versa.
Just like the numerous Dou Zongs and even the more ambitious Dou Huangs in the team, even at the center, they were still on the brink of death, destined to become prey for ferocious beasts.
"Everyone, move!"
In the sky, Hun Yu glanced at the line behind Gu Xun'er, nearly twice his own length, then ignored it. With a loud shout, he took the lead and soared towards the northern sky.
Behind him, a large, dark mass of troops, accompanied by a rumbling sound of breaking wind, quickly followed.
Gu Xun'er did the same.
A dense mass of people, like a dark cloud, streaked across the sky at lightning speed. A hundred-mile journey took less than five minutes, a considerable slowness for a Dou Zun, but just right for a Dou Huang or Dou Zong.
As the large force passed over a lush mountain, a seemingly endless black plain appeared before everyone's gaze.
As their eyes swept across the black plain, gasps echoed through the ranks, even those who had crossed it many times before, their faces grim.
Below, the endless black plain wasn't originally its color; it was instead inhabited by enormous, ferocious beasts, their bodies shrouded in layers of black aura, creating this visual effect.
Fierce roars and roars, like thunder, echoed endlessly throughout the land, leaving even the Dou Huang or Dou Zong pale from the shock.
"No wonder even the Soul Clan and the Ancient Clan are forming an alliance. With such a terrifying beast tide, even they probably wouldn't have a chance of making it through on their own."
Amidst the crowd, within the Xingyun Pavilion team, Xiao Yan's throat churned in amazement.
He had some understanding of both clans and had initially wondered if they were simply exploiting them. But now, witnessing the horror of the beast tide, he finally understood.
At the front of the team,
Gu Xun'er, Hun Yu, Chen Guan, and the others were also silent, their gazes fixed on the distant horizon beyond the boundless beast tide.
The ancient Bodhi tree, right there!
Thinking of the ancient Bodhi tree's benefits, even Soul Jade felt a surge of excitement.
"Now is the perfect time to attack, Gu Xun'er. Let's divide the work. I'll lead the charge first. Once my forces are exhausted and retreat, you'll immediately lead the charge. Repeat this cycle, ensuring we charge forward with one force!"
Knowing that many factions held little regard for him, Soul Jade simply instructed Gu Xun'er directly, allowing each to lead their own forces, achieving the same results.
Gu Xun'er nodded in agreement, pleased with the outcome.
"Everyone, follow me!"
Soul Jade's face remained warm, his gaze slowly sweeping across the large force behind him. Then, abruptly, he turned and swept forward, followed closely by the black-robed figures of the Soul Clan.
As Soul Jade moved, the others followed suit, quickly forming a triangular arrowhead formation, with Soul Jade and his group at the forefront, bearing the brunt of the attack.
"Charge!"
Seeing the formation take shape, Hun Yu waved his hand fiercely, his body taking the lead, sending it hurtling towards the nearby beast tide with a sharp, piercing sound of breaking wind.
As he moved, the dark, dense formation of arrows behind him rumbled in close, the whistling sound of breaking wind echoing through the sky.
"Roar, roar!"
Even from a thousand feet away, the ferocious beasts noticed the massive display. A wave of furious roars echoed like thunder, spreading far and wide, triggering even more roars.
"Great Soul Hand of Destruction!"
"Dead Tree Resurrects!"
"Soul Sacrifice!"
"..."
A thousand feet away, and in the blink of an eye, they were there. Terrorizing fighting spirit surged from Hun Yu and the others in front, unleashing a flurry of fighting skills that swept across the land.
In an instant, the ferocious beasts within a hundred feet were reduced to blood and gore. Simultaneously, this massive force charged relentlessly into the beast tide!
Swish! Swish! "Swish!"
Amidst the crowd, Chen Guan, longsword in hand, slashed at the ferocious beasts surging from both sides with ease, his mental energy radiating throughout the scene.
Seeing the mighty display of Hun Yu and the others at the front, he couldn't help but shake his head and laugh. They
all talked big, about giving it their all and not hiding anything, but you, at least a seventh-level Dou Zun, can only sweep away ferocious beasts within a hundred feet with a single strike?
You're kidding!
Gu Xun'er, on the other hand, was truly eye-catching. With a single point of her finger, a swarm of ferocious beasts exploded, her brilliance unmatched, even surpassing Hun Yu at the front.
But her own strength was inherently greater than Hun Yu's, and her exertion wasn't necessarily greater than his.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see the full extent of their power, but some Dou Huangs and Dou Zongs had no idea of the terrifying extent of their power. Seeing the leader's impressive power, they unleashed a ferocious slaughter, each one like a shot of chicken blood, gradually becoming overwhelmed.
They're all little fools...
"Sister Qingchen, come closer to me."
Not far from Chen Guan, Ran Qingchen cradled a guqin in one hand. Her jade fingers plucked the zither, sending ripples of sound like a tide, suffocating the oncoming beasts. They felt like they were stuck in a quagmire, their movements clumsy and swiftly drowned by the overwhelming wave of fighting spirit.
Ran Qingchen's assistance, however, relieved the surrounding crowds of pressure, making it far easier to deal with them than elsewhere.
However, those who had taken advantage showed no gratitude. Their occasional glances at Ran Qingchen were filled with a mixture of amazement and amusement, as if they were looking at a fool.
Compared to these seasoned veterans of Zhongzhou, Ran Qingchen, nestled in the Valley of Sound, seemed a bit too naive.
Ran Qingchen heard Chen Guan's message and moved closer.
Little Medical Fairy and the others understood Chen Guan's intention and shifted their positions to position Ran Qingchen in the center.
Even if they were to take advantage, it should be their own talents...
With Chen Guan, the wealthy dog, around, they didn't have to worry about exhaustion. It wouldn't be long before Ran Qingchen would realize she was expending more energy than the others, and naturally, she would understand certain things.
Regarding training, what others tell you is never as profound as understanding it yourself.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
The team advanced rapidly as the earth trembled. Blood and the corpses of ferocious beasts filled their path, leaving limbs and claws strewn everywhere.
However, this slaughter failed to frighten the beast tide. Instead, it intensified their reckless charge against the team.
This rapid advance continued for approximately three thousand feet before they were finally intercepted by a beast with the strength of an eight-star Dou Zun. Although it was instantly destroyed by the group, their advance was significantly slowed.
Because some of the beasts had become significantly stronger, they could at least temporarily hold the team back, and they could no longer sweep with the devastating force they had at the beginning.
The front line's inability to advance quickly forced the ferocious beasts to close in on them from the left, right, and rear, forcing them to engage in a fierce battle. Over time, casualties began to form among the crowd, and shrill screams echoed from all directions.
"Hurry!"
a two-star Dou Zun, under immense pressure, shouted loudly to the front. He was simultaneously dealing with three terrifying beasts, and with those around him unable to escape to help, his own survival was already a concern.
Under normal circumstances, he would not have dared to speak to Hun Yu like this, but with life and death at stake, there was no room for such concerns.
Hun Yu, at the forefront, nodded vigorously upon hearing this and unleashed another powerful fighting technique, even more powerful than before.
In just half a minute, he finally utterly destroyed the beasts blocking his path.
"Ah!"
Almost instantly, the Dou Zun who had shouted earlier could no longer hold on and succumbed tragically to the giant claws of the three medium-sized beasts.
The first Dou Zun had fallen!
Witnessing the tragic death of a Dou Zun, many Dou Zun powerhouses mourned the loss, their hearts suddenly heavy. Dou Zongs and even the few Dou Huangs who had managed to survive were frantic, truly desperate.
"Gu Xun'er, I'm exhausted. You guys hold on for a while,"
Hun Yu said, his face slightly grim, breathing heavily.
Gu Xun'er said nothing more, leading Gu Qingyang and the others forward to provide support.
The team continued to advance, each step built with bones and blood. After two hours, the vast team had shrunk by at least half!
Throughout this journey, Gu Xun'er and Hun Yu alternated between being the "arrowheads," and Chen Guan and his group inevitably experienced the feeling of being at the forefront for four or five minutes at a time.
Even the strongest Hun Yu and Gu Xun'er could only hold on for about twenty minutes. For a frail, powerless Nine-Star Dou Zun like him to hold on for a full five minutes, Chen Guan felt he had reached his limit!
"How far is it?"
behind Gu Xun'er, Chen Guan, struggling to slay a ferocious beast with his sword, asked breathlessly.
Looking around, he saw a sea of black beasts, the path they had come from completely invisible.
Gu Xun'er turned back, not even glancing at Chen Guan, her lips twitching slightly. With her temperament, she felt the urge to complain.
Suppressing the thought with difficulty, she replied, "We'll be through the beast tide in about an hour."
Upon hearing this, the warriors, who also looked exhausted but listened intently, perked up.
So, they'd already made it most of the way.
Not far!
Only the surviving Dou Zong and low-rank Dou Zun looked pale. They were truly exhausted and couldn't afford to slack off.
Hearing that they were nearly a third of the way there, their desperation grew even more frantic.
Chen Guan nodded slightly, glancing at the Soul Jade team, who were about to make a substitution. He stumbled, and was quickly grabbed by the immensely grown Ran Qingchen on the other side.
"It's our turn now. Sister Qingchen, help me up. I can still fight for another three minutes!"