And yet, this youth had taken it head-on?
"So this is the strength of the so-called number one body cultivator of the Chaotic Star Sea?"
Zhu Chen slowly raised his head, his gaze calm and indifferent.
"I don't think it's anything special."
Behind him, five divine ring grotto-heavens manifested one after another.
The power in his fist surged violently—
and in the next instant, the massive bearded man was blasted thousands of meters away, crashing straight into the stone pillar where the Extreme Yin Ancestor and the others stood.
"—Hiss!"
The instant the Barbarian Beard was blasted away by Zhu Chen's punch, every cultivator inside the Void Heaven Palace couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath.
The Barbarian Beard—the number one body cultivator of the Chaotic Star Sea—had actually lost in a contest of pure physical strength!
If news of this were to spread, it would undoubtedly shock both the Inner and Outer Star Seas.
"These people possess terrifying physical bodies, and when they attacked earlier, there were even phantom demonic beasts appearing. They're clearly demons!"
Suddenly, someone shouted.
In an instant, the atmosphere changed.
Expressions turned solemn, and when the crowd looked at Zhu Chen and the others again, their gazes were filled with intense hostility.
In the Chaotic Star Sea, the enmity between humans and demons was ingrained.
Demonic beasts devoured humans to increase their cultivation, while humans hunted demonic beasts for demon cores.
When the two sides met outside, it was often a fight to the death.
"No wonder I've never seen these people before—so they're demons."
"Demons possess powerful bodies, and their cultivation paths revolve around their demonic forms. No wonder the Barbarian Beard couldn't overpower them."
"Damn it! The Void Heaven Palace is sacred ground for the human race. How did demons infiltrate this place?"
"They must know that divine sense is restricted here. That's why they dared to act so boldly."
As the rumors spread, nearly all the human cultivators in the Void Heaven Palace cast unfriendly glances toward Zhu Chen and the others.
Some who originally intended to stay out of the conflict also rose and quietly surrounded them.
Among them, Wan Tianming, sect master of the Myriad Laws Sect, was the most resolute.
He prided himself on being a leader of the righteous path and valued his reputation above all else. If he could slay these demons disguised as humans, his standing in the Chaotic Star Sea would become unassailable.
Of course, Wan Tianming wasn't foolish.
Demons capable of taking human form were great demons who had survived heavenly tribulations.
Their level was at least eighth-tier, equivalent to an early Nascent Soul cultivator.
And the demon who had just overwhelmed the Barbarian Beard in physical strength was likely a ninth-tier demon beast.
To attack recklessly would be extremely dangerous.
"Brother Barbarian, it seems the righteous and demonic paths must temporarily join forces to eliminate these demons,"
Wan Tianming said gravely as he flew toward the stone pillar where the Barbarian Beard had crashed.
"Hmph! This is between me and him. What business is it of yours?"
The Barbarian Beard roared, smashing the stone pinning him down with a punch and leaping out of the pit, fury written across his face.
Wan Tianming and the others noticed the trace of blood at the corner of his mouth and were instantly stunned.
The Barbarian Beard cultivated the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art and wore the top-tier defensive treasure, the Royal Scale Armor. Even a full-strength attack from a cultivator of the same realm would find it difficult to injure him.
Yet he had suffered internal damage from a single punch.
This meant that the strength of that transformed demon was even more terrifying than they had anticipated.
"Brother Man, perhaps we should follow Sect Master Wan's suggestion," the Extreme Yin Ancestor said solemnly. "These demons clearly came for the opportunities within the Void Heaven Palace.
If we don't deal with them now and they enter the inner palace, our plans may be ruined."
Qingyi Jushi nodded in agreement.
At this moment, eliminating the infiltrating demons was the priority. The conflict between righteous and demonic paths could be settled later.
However, the Barbarian Beard only cared about reclaiming the face he had just lost.
"I don't care what you do," he growled. "That brat is mine."
As soon as the words fell, his aura exploded once more as he charged toward Zhu Chen.
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