Chapter 575 - 336: Within Reach
These four monsters, along with the previous dragon-headed, tiger-bodied creature called the "Golden Rooster," were collectively known as the Earth Calamities. They were beasts tamed by Xuan You, raised from his own flesh and blood through his Cultivation Technique.
Normally, Xuan You would keep the four Earth Calamities within the Fusheng Domain to absorb the resentful energy of the mortal world, allowing them to grow and strengthen. He only kept the Golden Rooster by his side.
After splitting off the five Earth Calamities, Xuan You normally possessed only half of his total strength. However, by fusing with an Earth Calamity, his power would increase by twenty to thirty percent for each one.
Once he fused with all the Earth Calamities, Xuan You’s power would surge dramatically for a period, far exceeding his own normal limits.
Furthermore, each Earth Calamity could individually fuse with a Forbidden Artifact Fragment and master a Power of Rules.
This was also the reason he had long held the position of Grand Elder of the Golden Soul Sect, a position no one had ever been able to challenge.
After fusing with all the Earth Calamities, Xuan You’s appearance had completely transformed.
His once-aged face rapidly became young and robust, and his body rippled with knotted muscles.
His newly restored, thick limbs were now covered in scales that gleamed with a jet-black luster, as if forged from metal.
Messy, black hair cascaded over his shoulders like a waterfall. His eyes were covered by countless tiny, faintly glowing sacs, making it look as if he had innumerable miniature eyeballs.
Four lines of different colors covered his body, eventually converging on his chest to form a bizarre rune.
Having fused with all the Earth Calamities to reach his current level of power, Xuan You gave a casual wave of his hand. His immense aura solidified, carving a long trench into the ground.
The next moment, he glanced toward Earth Demon Cliff. His figure flickered like a phantom and vanished, crossing several kilometers in a single step as he sped toward his destination.
Meanwhile, Yang An had already left the borders of Ten Soldiers State and was speeding toward Earth Demon Cliff.
The blood-red spot from before had vanished. The Blood Disaster Technique had managed to intercept Xuan You mid-journey, but Yang An didn’t relax in the slightest.
He knew very well that the only place he could go now was Earth Demon Cliff.
But since the Golden Soul Sect knew he had killed Jishan, they must also know Jishan had died at Earth Demon Cliff.
The pursuing Grand Elder, Xuan You, would surely realize where he was headed. Even if his exact location wasn’t locked down, his destination was an open secret, obvious at a glance.
It was now a race against time. If he could just get inside Earth Demon Cliff and get Huan’s help, he would be safe.
But if he didn’t make it in time and was stopped outside, he would be in grave danger. He too was pushing himself to his absolute limit, streaking across the sky like a flashing meteor at full speed.
「Earth Demon Cliff.」
A group of Cultivators from various factions, who had come to Earth Demon Cliff to train, stared at the thick, blood-red mist blanketing the entire area. This place had once been freely accessible, but now Earth Demon Cliff was littered with the corpses and ash of the Cultivators who had entered earlier. Blood stained the tops of several mountains, and the foul stench of gore hung in the air.
The Demon Fiends inside had gone berserk for some unknown reason. They had once seemed to only seek death, but now, in a complete reversal, they ferociously attacked anyone who set foot in Earth Demon Cliff. Many had already died within.
The survivors, sensing something was wrong, had managed to escape in time. As long as they remained outside of Earth Demon Cliff—even if only by a foot—they were safe.
Just as the crowd was feeling helpless, numerous figures appeared in the distance, hurrying toward Earth Demon Cliff.
Sensing the newcomers’ auras, the expressions of the Cultivators still lingering outside Earth Demon Cliff changed instantly.
’It’s people from the nearby Golden Soul Sect!’
"The Grand Elder has given an order: kill anyone who approaches Earth Demon Cliff on sight."
As soon as the members of the Golden Soul Sect arrived, they attacked the onlookers without another word.
Although the Grand Elder’s order was to intercept anyone trying to enter Earth Demon Cliff, the simplest method was to use lethal force. If these people were dead, they certainly couldn’t enter the cliff. This was the best way to report a job well done to the Grand Elder. The official orders were just a formality; subordinates had to learn to read between the lines and take initiative.
No one had expected the Golden Soul Sect’s contingent to act so ruthlessly. Chaos immediately erupted outside Earth Demon Cliff, and many more people died at their hands.
They were merely Cultivators from small and mid-sized local factions, many of whom had come to train despite their low Cultivation Levels. How could they possibly contend with the Golden Soul Sect?
Even the strongest among them couldn’t withstand more than a few moves from the Golden Soul Sect’s forces and could only flee in a panic.
"Damn it! The Golden Soul Sect has completely sealed off Earth Demon Cliff! They won’t let anyone in! That goddamned Golden Soul Sect!"
Not many escaped; most died at the hands of the Golden Soul Sect. Though they were furious, what could they do? The Sect was the number one power in the Fusheng Domain. They could only swallow their anger.
Just as the Golden Soul Sect members were swiftly clearing out the Cultivators outside Earth Demon Cliff, a figure shot toward them from the distance. His aura was immediately detected by everyone present.
"Someone’s coming! Stop him!"
It was an aura far more powerful than anyone present, and its speed was astonishing. In an instant, it captured the attention of every Golden Soul Sect member.
The Cultivators who had escaped the Golden Soul Sect’s attack range all stopped in their tracks, eager to see who was bold enough to try and force their way into Earth Demon Cliff.
The newcomer’s appearance immediately drew out the true experts from the Golden Soul Sect. Several Zombie Gods materialized at once, blocking the approaching figure’s path.