53: A ninth-tier demonic beast, the Sky-Splitting Demon Ape!

Everyone got goosebumps.

It was unimaginable what would happen if that pale white flame landed on them.

It would likely disappear without a trace, just like the Giant Skeleton Snake.

"Sect Master."

Chu Nansheng and the others bowed respectfully.

As Lin Chen arrived, the anger on his face finally faded, and he regained his composure.

"Greetings, Sect Master Lin."

The crowd also bowed in haste.

As rumored, although Lin Chen, the Sect Master of the Wending Sect, was only at the Peak Integration Stage, his prestige was extremely high.

One could tell just by the respectful attitude shown toward Lin Chen by so many in the Tribulation Crossing Realm and Mahayana Realm, as well as the woman of unknown Realm.

Lin Chen waved his hand and smiled, "There's no need for such formality. The Wending Sect is also a Sect of Qingzhou, and quelling the beast tide is our duty."

He then looked at the others, "Let's go and check other places."

Before coming here, Lin Chen had already arranged for people to go elsewhere to eliminate the beast tide.

But he wouldn't be at ease until he saw it for himself.

Perhaps... there might be some difficult Yao Beasts; he could take Chu Nansheng with him and deal with them together.

However, just as they were about to leave.

The Xu Family, Zhang Family, Tang Family, Wu Family... a group of people grew anxious.

They rushed in front of Lin Chen and knelt down in a large crowd.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Lin Chen was slightly startled.

Patriarch Xu looked back at the crowd, and after receiving supportive glances, he took a deep breath. "The four major families of Jianghan City and sixteen small-to-medium families are willing to become affiliated forces of the Wending Sect. If the Wending Sect has any commands, our families will not hesitate!"

Hmm?

Lin Chen hadn't expected them to pull such a move.

"Are you sincere?"

He asked casually.

"If there is a single lie, may we die a horrible death!"

Patriarch Xu swore to the heavens, and the other Family heads followed suit.

Lin Chen nodded.

In fact, he had only asked casually. Under his Cave Heaven True Eye, he naturally knew these people were sincere.

There was no harm in it anyway, so he agreed.

He took out some Healing Pills and had an Outer Sect Elder distribute them to everyone.

"Regarding the matter of submission, look for Elder Meng."

Afterward, Lin Chen left with Chu Nansheng and the others.

Only Elder Meng and a few Disciples remained.

"Phew—"

He actually agreed just like that... Patriarch Xu and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

This was truly a turn for the better, a survival from a desperate situation. Not only did they preserve their ancestral property, but they also became a subordinate force of the Wending Sect.

With the protection of the Wending Sect, they could finally hold their heads high.

As for that so-called Upper Sect from before... Heh.

Good riddance!

They handed over so many resources every year, yet when something actually happened, the Upper Sect stood by and did nothing!

Ptui, ptui, ptui!

What trash!

Come and hold us accountable if you have the guts!

See if the Wending Sect doesn't finish you off!

What surprised them even more was yet to come... the Wending Sect actually didn't require them to hand over resources!

Where else could one find such an Upper Sect!

...Meanwhile.

Lin Chen led the people of the Wending Sect, clearing the way as they went.

They suppressed and killed countless Yao Beasts, saving many families and Sects. At the same time, almost all those Sects and families willingly became affiliated forces of the Wending Sect.

Although the Wending Sect currently only had over three thousand people.

But... if the affiliated forces were included, there were already hundreds of thousands!

The prosperity and strength of the power were breathtaking!

However, despite the numbers, they were all small-to-medium-sized forces and couldn't fundamentally enhance the Wending Sect's strength.

Furthermore, after taking in so many affiliated forces, the sect prestige points only increased by over twenty thousand.

Now, the total was less than fifty thousand.

It was said that it could be used to exchange for items, but the exchange portal couldn't be found, and the System had never given any prompts.

"It seems I'll have to ask the System later."

Lin Chen was a bit troubled.

The Yao Beasts were retreating steadily. As everyone pursued them and was about to reach the Monster Beast Wasteland, suddenly—

An extremely terrifying Aura fluctuation covered the entire area.

Everyone's expression changed.

"Oh no!"

"This is the Aura of a Ninth-Rank Demonic Beast!"

"Retreat quickly!"

A Ninth-Rank Demonic Beast's strength was comparable to the Early Stage of the Supreme Realm.

As far as everyone knew, besides Old Ancestor Li Tiangang, the strongest person in the Wending Sect was Fang Hong, who was at the Peak Mahayana Stage.

Although Fang Hong had also come along today.

But... he was likely no match for a Ninth-Rank Demonic Beast!

"Wuahahahahaha..."

"You've killed so many of my Yao Race and still think you can escape unscathed?"

"Today, all of you shall die here!"

Cold sweat poured down everyone's faces. Looking toward the source of the sound, they saw a crack opening in the void ahead.

A pair of massive hairy hands grabbed the void crack and forcefully tore open a giant rift.

Then.

A demonic ape stepped out, ten thousand feet tall, its entire body bathed in thunder.

Its muscles were knotted, bulging like mountain ranges.

Its fur was dark purple, each strand incredibly hard.

Its eyes were crimson gold, bright and piercing.

"Roar—"

It stood up and roared; all the Yao Beasts were so frightened they prostrated themselves on the ground.

Some of the more cowardly Cultivators turned pale with fright, unable to even walk.

"Sky-Splitting Thunder Ape!"

Some well-informed people immediately recognized it.

Rumor had it that this Yao Beast was a primordial mutation with terrifying power. Born with the ability to use the power of thunder and lightning, it could shatter Laws with a single punch.

Its size could change freely, becoming large or small.

"You're all useless!"

"A few human Cultivators could chase you down and kill you!"

"You've truly disgraced the Yao Race!"

The Sky-Splitting Demonic Ape's voice was deafening, making people's eardrums ache.

Hearing this, the Yao Beasts kept kowtowing, whimpering and squealing incessantly.

Some Yao Beasts that had developed intelligence and could speak some human language stammered an explanation, "...Hu... Human... powerful... we are no... no ma... match..." "Excuses!"

The Sky-Splitting Demonic Ape struck down with its palm, instantly smashing the few Yao Beasts in front of it into meat paste.

The Yao Beasts were terrified.

They kowtowed even harder; no Yao Beast dared to speak again.

The Sky-Splitting Demonic Ape was quite satisfied and grinned widely, "They're just a few human Cultivators. Watch how this venerable one eats them all to avenge our fallen brothers!"

After saying that, it stood upright, its size suddenly doubling.

Its left arm extended forward while its right arm pulled back to gather strength.

Immediately after.

Its right arm swung down, striking with a ferocious palm!

Instantly, a bolt of thunder carrying a fiercely powerful Aura surged toward everyone's faces!

Even without the thunder, the sheer mass of that dark palm was enough to crush everyone on the spot!

Except for a very few people like Lin Chen, Fang Hong, and Chu Nansheng, everyone else's expressions changed abruptly, and their hearts skipped a beat!

Seeing the colossal demonic ape's palm about to land on their heads.

Lin Chen said calmly, "Fang Hong."

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Fang Hong immediately used all his strength to strike out with a palm.

A massive phantom palm rose to meet it, colliding head-on with the demonic ape's giant palm!

Bang—

Thunder crackled, and fierce astral winds whipped up all around.

Many Yao Beasts and human Cultivators below felt their blood and Qi roil from the powerful pressure, stumbling and falling.

Boom—

Another loud explosion occurred.

The phantom palm Fang Hong had struck out was instantly shattered!

He was sent flying backward, disappearing from sight!

"Hahahaha!"

The Sky-Splitting Demonic Ape laughed wildly, its massive hairy palm continuing its downward strike!

"We're going to die! We're going to die!"

Many people from the affiliated forces were so terrified their legs turned to jelly.

They were filled with regret.

They thought that with a powerhouse at the Peak Mahayana Stage overseeing things, nothing would go wrong if they followed to hunt down the Yao Beasts.

Now it seemed that not only them, but even Sect Master Lin Chen would likely meet his end here.

Whoosh—

Just as they were so tense they couldn't breathe, a square heaven seal tore through the air.

It forcefully withstood the momentum of the demonic ape's giant palm.

In the next moment.

Fang Hong appeared beneath the square heaven seal, veins bulging on his forehead and teeth clenched tight.

He used every ounce of his cultivation to resist with all his might.

Behind him were the Sect Master and the people of the Wending Sect.

He—

Must not retreat!

Even if he died, he could not take half a step back!