163: Enter the battlefield, follow me

The scene before Lin Yan's eyes shifted, and he found himself within an ancient, colossal city.

A figure he saw and a voice that echoed in his ears the moment he entered the light gate flashed through his mind, and a smile touched his face.

"You didn't even say you were coming."

"Still acting like a child with all this sneakiness."

"Hurry! Time is of the essence!"

"Charge!"

"Teaming up for danger zones! Teaming up for danger zones!!"

"Looking for powerful fighters above Grade Six! Led by a veteran, absolute safety guaranteed!"

"enlightenment stele! Anyone for the Minor Achievement area of the enlightenment stele?!"

"enlightenment stele Major Achievement! Only Major Achievement! Come quickly, we're heading out in an hour!"

His thoughts were pulled back by the cacophony of voices.

Lin Yan glanced at the many figures rushing toward the city gate, then shifted his gaze to those shouting along the ancient city's streets, a strange expression appearing on his face.

Was this the "team travel" Fu Ying had mentioned to him?

Why did it feel like being back in a wet market from his past life?

And there were truly so many people!

One had to realize this wasn't just a single Sacred Court branch of the Martial Arts Company.

Instead, it was all the King Ranks of the Human Race who met the requirements, encompassing the five major starry sky forces and all the ancient kingdoms.

So, if there were ten thousand at the branch, there were at least two or three million here.

He was just about to leave.

"Bro... Brother..."

A nervous voice came from beside him.

Lin Yan paused and turned his head toward the young man speaking to him, his eyebrows arching slightly.

He had seen this person before.

When he first arrived at the Sacred Court branch, this person seemed to be talking to a guard.

"What is it?"

Xiao You swallowed hard and leaned closer to Lin Yan. "Could... could you take me with you?"

This youth had been so impressive back then; his team must be extraordinary.

Even in the worst-case scenario, if he were a lone wolf, he would surely possess remarkable strength.

It had to be said, his plan was a good one.

But... Lin Yan shook his head without hesitation.

"No."

"Eh?"

Before Xiao You could snap out of it, he saw the youth soar into the sky, quickly vanishing from his sight.

"Holy crap!"

His face immediately filled with regret.

"King Rank Invincible!"

"He really was a big shot!"

"And I let him get away!"

This situation was naturally witnessed by those who were recruiting in front of people clearly entering the battlefield for the first time.

Several people walked toward Xiao You.

"Stop looking."

"Those who can fly in the battlefield are all King Rank Invincible; they won't join our random teams."

"Brother, what's your cultivation? Want to join us?"

...The suppressive force here was quite strong; one had to exert the power of a King Rank Invincible to be able to fly.

Flying at high speed, Lin Yan withdrew his gaze from the densely packed running figures below and looked up slightly at the dark, blood-red sky.

Furthermore, there was a thick Evil Qi that could affect Martial Artists, as if it had condensed over countless eons and through innumerable great battles.

The battlefield... the battlefield... He glanced back at the mottled walls of the towering ancient city and the silhouettes of many ancient buildings.

For some reason...

...it felt as though living beings had resided here for a long time in the distant past.

Had it become this way because of some specific reason?

Lin Yan cast his gaze toward the hazy silhouette of the sky-propping giant stele in the far distance, casting these thoughts aside.

These weren't things he could consider right now.

Improving his strength was the priority.

He flew for an unknown amount of time until he could vaguely make out the outline of the giant stele.

Sudden roars from a battle echoed from ahead.

After a brief moment of thought, Lin Yan headed straight toward the combat zone.

If a major battle was happening here, it was surely someone fighting against a foreign race.

As if to confirm his suspicion...

...as the distance closed, he sensed a distinct difference in auras.

This is... The youth's eyes narrowed slightly.

Yao Race!

"Heh heh..."

"I didn't expect to encounter a King Rank Invincible Prodigy of the Human Race just after entering the battlefield."

"As expected, one must be fast to reap the rewards."

A purple-haired young man stood with a faint smile, holding a sharp greatsword.

"Bah!" The slightly disheveled youth opposite him spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and spoke coldly, "You dare to set an ambush on the mandatory path to the enlightenment stele for my race? I'm afraid you won't live to see it through."

In the face of these cold words, the Yao Race youth's expression didn't change at all; instead, he gave a contemptuous smile.

"Do you think many of you will reach the enlightenment stele safely under the joint suppression of my race and the Demon Race?"

As the words fell...

...the Human Race youth's face changed slightly, and he cursed angrily.

"Beasts!"

Having said that...

...he immediately turned and tried to flee toward the ancient city without looking back.

"No!"

"He had to tell everyone this news immediately!"

"With the two races allied, they only stood a chance if they gathered together!"

However...

...he had only just turned around.

"Running?"

A sharp blade light swept in along with a cold laugh.

The Human Race youth gritted his teeth, turned his head, and swung his sword to parry.

Just as that incredibly fierce attack was about to slam into him...

...another sudden change occurred.

Boom—!

Two dazzling white lights, like lightning tearing through the air, whistled past at incredible speed. They practically grazed the Human Race youth's cheek, shattering the blade light instantly.

"Who?!"

The Yao Race youth was startled and suddenly looked behind the Human Race youth.

Rumble—!

A deafening roar came from the horizon, as if the entire sky was being shaken by this powerful force.

A supreme pressure swept through like a surging tide, churning the layer of Evil Qi in the sky.

A bursting stream of light surrounded by black flames flashed across the sky like a meteor.

There was no answer.

Only a sky full of halberd shadows violently attacking the Yao Race youth.

"Domain Level Prodigy!!"

Amidst an indignant roar that was quickly drowned out...

...there was a loud "Boom."

A brilliant and dazzling mist of blood exploded in the sky.

The Human Race youth, who had been blown back by the aftershock, immediately looked up, his face filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

"A Domain Level Prodigy?!"

The Yao Race youth's words from moments ago echoed clearly in his ears.

He watched the figure clad in black armor and holding a halberd slowly turn around in his field of vision, and he immediately stepped forward.

"My thanks to Your Highness, the King."

"I am Qi Xingzhou, the Sixteenth Prince of the Yonghong Divine Court under the jurisdiction of the Xuanqing Sacred Court."

"May I ask where Your Highness is from?"

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow.

"Yonghong Divine Court? What a coincidence."

He said with a smile.

"Martial Arts Company, Lin Yan."

A look of realization flashed across Qi Xingzhou's face.

"So it is a Highness from the Martial Arts Company."

It wasn't surprising that a Domain Level King would appear there.

After all, the Domain Level experts of the entire Human Race territory were all monopolized by the five major starry sky forces.

But how could he know...

...that while Lin Yan was indeed Domain Level, he was still some distance from being a King.

It was just that the scene had unfolded too quickly; he had been completely shaken by the two supreme pressures and hadn't noticed the fleeting glimpse of Lin Yan's true Grade Seven Late Stage cultivation.

Furthermore, he hadn't deeply researched the five major forces himself.

He had no idea that at present, there was only one King Rank Domain Level expert in the Martial Arts Company: Lin Yan.

If he knew, his jaw would surely drop even further.

At this moment...

...Qi Xingzhou seemed to remember something, and his expression suddenly changed.

"That's right."

"Your Highness Lin Yan."

"I must return immediately to spread the news of the joint ambush by the Yao Race and the Demon Race. Let's talk next time."

With that...

...he prepared to leave, dragging his heavily injured body.

Lin Yan's eyes flickered.

He had heard this information just now as well.

"The battlefield is so vast, and those two races are acting on a plan. By the time your news spreads, who knows how many people will have already died."

Qi Xingzhou paused and answered through gritted teeth.

"If I can save even one, it's worth it."

Lin Yan fell silent for a moment.

This was the first time he had personally felt the charm of "racial righteousness," and from a prince of a Divine Court, no less.

Though it wasn't overwhelming, it was enough to shake his soul.

It seemed to activate a trait hidden deep within the youth's Bloodline.

He spoke softly and turned to walk away.

"The teams within the city should have only just set out."

"With their numbers, they will become alert quickly."

"The focus of the two races won't be on them either."

"So, if you want to resolve our race's predicament..."

"...follow me."