237: An era without saints?! (Thirty-six)

Within the Heavenly Dao Ruins, a piece of news swept through Tianxu City like a storm.

"Have you heard? The Immortal Wang Family and the Central Continent's Ji Family have joined forces and discovered a heavily injured Path Devouring Beast King in the God Burial Abyss!"

"It's more than just a discovery! It's said that the Wang Family Qilin Son personally took action and, at a great cost, tore a scale from that beast king!"

Inside a tavern, a Loose Cultivator was speaking animatedly with spit flying everywhere, mysteriously pulling an Image Recording Stone from his robes.

Activating it with magic power, an image emerged.

In the image, a massive black scale shimmering with divine radiance was floating quietly.

A faint trace of God Realm pressure still lingered upon that scale.

"Hiss—it really is a God Realm scale!"

"It seems that Path Devouring Beast King is truly at the end of its tether!"

The tavern instantly erupted into a frenzy, everyone's eyes filled with greed.

"The Wang and Ji families have already issued an invitation, calling upon heroes from all paths to join the crusade. Once it's done, everyone gets a share!"

"A Path Devouring Beast King! What grade would the 'Dao Core' condensed within its body be?"

Hearing this, an older Cultivator shook his head, a hint of apprehension in his eyes.

"The Dao Core is good, but do you not value your life?"

"The Dao principles contained within that thing are incredibly violent. One slip-up, and your dao foundation is destroyed, resulting in instant death!"

"Normally, who would dare to actively provoke a Dao-Devouring Beast?"

These words caused many to sober up slightly.

"But soon, an even more crazed voice rang out.

"What is there to fear! The bold feast while the timid starve!"

"This is the Dharma-Ending Age; this is the only hope for us to achieve a Breakthrough in our Bottleneck!"

"Furthermore, with the allied forces of the Wang and Ji families as the main force this time, can't we just follow behind and get a sip of the soup?"

"Let's go! To the God Burial Abyss!"

In the face of immense temptation, reason was completely drowned by greed.

Countless Loose Cultivators and Prodigy teams from major powers swarmed toward the God Burial Abyss... in a remote mountain hollow.

Gu Zhan listened to the news he had just gathered, his expression grave.

"My Lord, this matter feels strange everywhere. I'm afraid it's a trap."

He looked at Gu Yun, who was resting nearby with his eyes closed.

Gu Yun slowly opened his eyes and smiled.

"It is a trap, but it's also a feast."

"Of course we are going."

Gu Zhan was taken aback: "But..."

Gu Yun stood up, brushed the dust off his robes, and looked toward the direction of the bustling God Burial Abyss.

His calm voice carried a hint of playfulness.

"With so many beasts of burden willing to work for me, why not?"

Gu Zhan was confused, but out of absolute trust in Gu Yun, he didn't ask further.

The two figures flickered and vanished from the spot.

When they reappeared, they were quietly hidden atop a lonely peak far from the crowds.

This was the best spot to watch this grand show... Outside the God Burial Abyss, there was a sea of people and fluttering banners.

The Wang Family Qilin Son, Wang Teng, stood side-by-side with the Ji Family Divine Maiden on a magnificent chariot, receiving the gaze of the masses.

Wang Teng's Dharma Eye swept across the field but did not find Gu Yun's figure. He felt a bit suspicious, but mostly triumphant.

"It seems that fellow heard the news and was scared out of his wits, not daring to come."

The Ji Family Divine Maiden also sneered upon hearing this.

"Just a shrinking turtle."

"Good, it saves us from dirtying our hands."

Wang Teng smiled proudly and raised his hand, his voice resonant and reaching everywhere.

"Everyone!"

"Follow me into the abyss and slay that beast!"

"Kill!"

Amidst the heaven-shaking battle cries, the allied forces of the Wang and Ji families, acting as the absolute main force, took the lead. They occupied the most advantageous 'main attack' positions and marched grandly toward the depths of the God Burial Abyss.

The other forces followed closely behind; in reality, they were being used as cannon fodder to wear down the Dao-Devouring Beasts.

Looking down at the dense crowd below, Gu Yun's eyes turned cold atop the mountain peak.

"The time has come."

He no longer suppressed himself.

Boom!

A surge of Primordial Chaos Sacred Body Origin Aura soared into the sky from his body!

To a Dao-Devouring Beast, this Aura was no ordinary delicacy.

It was like a Mortal facing a long-life Immortal Pill—an irresistible temptation originating from the Soul's instinct!

The moment the Aura erupted.

The entire Heavenly Dao Ruins instantly fell silent.

Immediately after.

Roar—!

Roar—!

One after another, greedy roars filled with avarice echoed from every corner of the Heavenly Dao Ruins.

Underground, in cracks, in shadows... countless Dao-Devouring Beasts that were sleeping or wandering all went mad at this moment.

Their crimson eyes all looked toward the same direction.

The God Burial Abyss!

A black tide composed purely of Dao-Devouring Beasts formed.

They ignored the scattered Cultivators on the outskirts, their goal clear and fanatical.

They wanted to rush toward the central area where the Aura was most concentrated!

And that was precisely where the Wang and Ji allied forces were located.

The perfect "trap" they had set up became, at this moment, the "bullseye" attracting all the firepower.

From high-and-mighty hunters, they instantly became prey hunted by ten thousand beasts!

"What's happening?"

"Where did so many Dao-Devouring Beasts come from!"

The Wang and Ji allied forces, who were full of Aura just a moment ago, were violently struck by the black beast tide surging from all directions in the next.

The formation instantly fell into chaos.

"No! Their target isn't us!"

"Run! They're heading for the Wang and Ji families!"

The Cultivators on the outskirts who had intended to profit were scared to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, scrambling to escape.

Atop the chariot, the arrogance and smugness on the faces of the Wang Family Qilin Son and the Ji Family Divine Maiden turned into shock and fury.

"We've been set up!"

Wang Teng roared hoarsely; he finally understood.

This was no coincidence at all!

Atop the mountain peak.

Gu Zhan stared blankly at the tragic battle between humans and beasts below, watching the Wang and Ji allied forces being instantly submerged by the black beast tide, feeling admiration that reached the point of prostration.

Gu Yun stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

"Let these 'beasts of burden' wear down the effective strength of the beast tide for us first."

"And while we're at it, let's see just what that so-called 'Beast King' is made of."

In the battlefield below, the Wang and Ji allied forces suffered heavy casualties under the impact of the endless beast tide, and their defensive lines were in critical danger.

The Wang Family Qilin Son was covered in blood, and the Dao Protectors around him fell one by one.

At the moment he was driven to a dead end by several high-tier Dao-Devouring Beasts, he suddenly looked up.

His Dharma Eye pierced through the chaotic battlefield and the Void Realm.

He happened to see that white-robed figure watching the battle calmly like an outsider atop that distant lonely peak.

Humiliation.

Anger.

Fear.

All sorts of emotions surged into his heart at once.

The Wang Family Qilin Son let out a roar.

"Gu Yun—!"

And at this very moment.

In the deepest part of the God Burial Abyss, a terrifying Aura far exceeding all Dao-Devouring Beasts and truly belonging to the God Realm was completely awakened by this endless flesh and blood and that extremely tempting Hongmeng Aura.

A roar erupted from the bottom of the abyss, echoing in all directions!