Zhang Fan stood in mid-air, gazing at the dark plains tens of thousands of miles away, watching the overwhelming tide of demonic beasts. His heart was as still as water, his dark, deep eyes showing no ripples.
However, behind him, Lin Haotian, Luo Xiaoxiao, and the cultivators from the Six Royal Mansions had unconcealable fervor in their eyes. Three months of cultivation had brought their fighting spirit to its peak, and they could no longer wait, practically itching to charge into the beast tide and slaughter.
Seeing this, Zhang Fan couldn't help but smile. He turned to look at the crowd and said softly, "Treasures stir the heart, but do not lose yourselves to greed. I have carefully sensed this. In this beast tide, there are thirteen demon kings at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, and thirty-eight top-tier demonic beasts at the Nine Tribulations realm."
At these words, the excited faces of the crowd froze.
"Thirteen beast kings, thirty-eight Nine Tribulations realm top-tier demonic beasts?"
"Are there this many Nine Tribulations realm cultivators on the entire Boundary Heart Continent combined?" Lin Haotian asked Xiao Yi blankly.
Xiao Yi shook his head helplessly. Although there were more than ten Nine Tribulations realm cultivators gathered in the Great Luo Realm this time, several of them had broken through with the help of immortal medicines found there. The remaining few were also prodigies cultivated by the top powers of various factions.
"Like the Cang Lan and Ming Yue siblings, Nangong Feng, and Fu Tian Ling, they are all once-in-a-millennium geniuses."
At least, based on the information Xiao Yi knew, the number of Nine Tribulations realm cultivators on the Boundary Heart Continent was indeed less than the number of Nine Tribulations realm demonic beasts gathered in this beast tide.
As for how many Nine Tribulations realm cultivators were hidden in the shadows, those were the secrets and trump cards of various forces, not to be easily revealed.
Seeing the scene, Heavenly Lord Tian Hua couldn't help but sigh and say, "As expected of a small world opened up by a Void Returning mighty figure. The power gathered in this beast tide alone is enough to contend with all the human cultivators in the Wu Shan star domain, and this is only a portion of it."
The other cultivators, upon hearing Zhang Fan's words, felt a sense of despair. With over fifty Nine Tribulations realm demonic beasts present, how could they possibly fight?
Not to mention the vast numbers of ordinary demonic beasts, even one Nine Tribulations realm demonic beast could easily crush them, a group of cultivators not even at the Seven Tribulations realm.
Seeing their reactions, Zhang Fan smiled and said, "You don't need to worry too much. Although the number of Nine Tribulations realm demonic beasts is large, the Dark Plains are still vast. If they want to prevent us human cultivators from entering, they must be scattered throughout the region."
"If they are too concentrated, it will be easy for us to find a weak point and break through. Therefore, the number of Nine Tribulations realm demonic beasts we will face at any one time will not be too large."
"When we charge into the beast tide later, I will maintain my Sword Domain within a radius of a thousand miles. Whether you want to temper yourselves or hunt as many demonic beasts as possible to obtain their Nascent Souls, you must stay within this area. I can guarantee your lives."
At this moment, a middle-aged man stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Zhang Fan, and asked, "Senior Zhang Fan, may we follow behind you into the Dark Plains later?"
Zhang Fan scanned the crowd and found pairs of expectant eyes staring at him. He chuckled.
After a moment of thought, Zhang Fan said, "You can enter the range of my domain. The Sword Domain will not harm you in the least, but I will not divert any of my attention to watch over your safety. If you perish within, you have only yourselves to blame."
"Thank you, Senior Zhang Fan."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy, and they all bowed to Zhang Fan in gratitude.
They were not related to Zhang Fan in any way and had never expected any special treatment. But as long as Zhang Fan allowed them to enter the Sword Domain, it was already a great blessing.
The omnipresent sword energy had a powerful suppressing effect on demonic beasts. Within the Sword Domain, they could easily hunt demonic beasts of their own level. A powerful demonic beast's Nascent Soul could fetch a sky-high price in the outside world. As long as they could leave alive, even if they gained nothing in the Great Luo Palace, it would be a worthwhile trip.
"Let's go!"
Zhang Fan flew forward, taking the lead towards the Dark Plains. The cultivators behind him hurried to follow. Even the Cang Lan and Ming Yue siblings, along with the cultivators from the True Fire Cave, did not act alone, clearly preparing to follow Zhang Fan into the fray.
Shen Feichen followed alongside Zhang Fan, a hint of worry in his brow. He secretly transmitted to Zhang Fan, "Brother Zhang Fan, we are all acting together this time. Won't our target be too concentrated, potentially attracting the attention of many beast kings?"
Zhang Fan glanced at Shen Feichen, a cryptic smile on his face, and said, "You are right. As our group gathers and charges towards the Dark Plains together, many beast kings will undoubtedly converge. However, this is precisely the situation I wish to see."
"Did Nangong Feng and the others not push through dangerous areas and kill countless demonic beasts just to create this situation? It's just that they lost their lives before they could reap the rewards."
Shen Feichen said no more. Looking at the approaching beast tide and feeling the fierce aura emanating from it, even with his composure, he felt a tremor deep within his heart – a desire for battle.
Since entering the Great Luo Realm, although his strength had improved significantly, he had not had a truly exhilarating fight. The power within him needed an outlet.
Although there were many Nine Tribulations realm demonic beasts, with the help of the Sword Domain, he felt he could fight a group of them alone.
Vast flocks of birds of prey circled overhead, their bodies enormous. As they flapped their sky-covering wings, even before the human cultivators got close, they felt strong gusts of wind buffeting them, the sharp wind causing the muscles of Nascent Soul cultivators to tingle.
On the ground, some demonic beasts were as colossal as mountains. Their footsteps shook the entire small world. Swarms of palm-sized Golden Devouring Rats gathered, emitting ear-piercing sonic waves that assaulted the cultivators' divine souls.
"Too terrifying!"
Even with a large number of powerful cultivators leading the way, several weaker cultivators could not suppress their fear and turned to flee.
The opportunities in the Great Luo Palace were indeed tempting, but one needed to be alive to contend for them.
"Boom!"
Zhang Fan unleashed his Sword Domain. Within a thousand-mile radius, all attacks dissipated into nothingness. Sharp sword energy filled the space. Even without Zhang Fan's deliberate control, thousands of demonic beasts died under the Sword Domain.
A battle that had been brewing for a long time finally commenced.
...