Chapter 1063: The Lurker
Zhang Ruochen cast a glance toward the direction of the earth fissure. A seven-colored cloud mass surged up from beneath the ground.
The cloud mass was several hundred meters in diameter, vast and hazy, indistinct and illusory, with only the faint sound of spring water audible from its center.
"The Sacred Source Spirit Spring has emerged!"
A twelve-meter-long Corpse Ancestor Bird flapped a pair of black wings, charging toward the seven-colored cloud mass first.
"Snap!" A bolt of lightning emerged from the cloud mass, piercing through the Corpse Ancestor Bird's abdomen.
The next moment, the Corpse Ancestor Bird turned into a clump of black ash, scattering in midair.
Similarly, other savage beasts that charged in were also struck by lightning, all reduced to ashes, none able to approach the center of the seven-colored cloud mass.
The Fire Golden Crow Beast King stood at the edge of the seven-colored cloud mass and barked, "The outer perimeter of the cloud mass is guarded by the Heavenly Dao rules of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, which haven't fully dissipated yet. All savage beasts, hold back for now."
"Hiss!"
Dense bolts of lightning emerged around the seven-colored cloud mass, forming an electric sea spanning hundreds of meters.
However, the power of the lightning was gradually weakening.
Whether they were beasts on the ground or birds in the air, all retreated to secure advantageous positions.
As soon as the Heavenly Dao rules around the seven-colored cloud mass dissipated, they could charge forward at the first moment to seize the Sacred Source Spirit Spring.
Xiao Hei led twenty sixth-order savage beasts, swaggering toward the seven-colored cloud mass, and said, "Make way, make way. I am an envoy sent by the Devouring Demon Dragon King, tasked with collecting its share of the Sacred Source Spirit Spring. Why aren't you clearing a spot immediately?"
Many savage beasts fixed their gazes on that fluffy white cat, their expressions puzzled.
However, that white cat put on quite a show, with twenty sixth-order savage beasts following behind it, intimidating those beasts that harbored doubts.
"It's you, move aside, move aside. With only a seventh-order Half-Saint cultivation, you're occupying such a good spot. Get to the back immediately."
Xiao Hei pointed at a massive Lion Camel Beast, as if commanding a subordinate, scolding it thoroughly.
That Lion Camel Beast was highly suspicious of Xiao Hei's identity and spoke in human tongue, "You claim to be an envoy of the Demon Dragon King? I've never seen you before."
"Right! I've never seen it either."
Some nearby savage beasts also didn't believe Xiao Hei's identity and refused to budge.
Xiao Hei remained very composed, lifting its chin and sneering, "Your level is too low; you haven't reached the realm I operate in. Anyone who dares to doubt my identity is showing disrespect to the Devouring Demon Dragon King."
At that moment, a pair of massive wings sprouted from Xiao Hei's back, releasing an immensely powerful aura, and its gaze turned exceptionally sharp.
"What a terrifying aura. An ordinary savage beast couldn't be this strong." "Could it really be an envoy of the Demon Dragon King?"
"Rumor has it that the White Li Princess of the Nine Li Cat Clan has close ties with the Demon Dragon King. Could this be her?"
"Impossible? The White Li Princess prefers to take human form, possessing unparalleled beauty and being a top-tier expert. I think it's more likely just a cat clan expert under the White Li Princess's command."
...
Xiao Hei's expression turned extremely ugly because some savage beasts were lying on the ground, staring at its rear, trying to check its physiological traits to confirm its identity.
If not for the goal of seizing the Sacred Source Spirit Spring, it would have already beaten those savage beasts into minced meat.
Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power to monitor Xiao Hei's situation and furrowed his brow.
Originally, he had hoped Xiao Hei would keep a low profile, blending in with the savage beast horde to snatch the Sacred Source Spirit Spring unexpectedly.
But unexpectedly, Xiao Hei was too flashy, daring to claim itself as the Devouring Demon Dragon's envoy.
Such a trick could scare off ordinary savage beasts but wouldn't fool the beast kings for long; it would eventually be exposed.
"Truly unreliable. I'll have to act myself," Zhang Ruochen thought.
At this moment, Wan Huayu, Feng Wanli, Huo Yuan Laozu, and Jingyi Bansheng were attacking from four other directions toward the edge of the earth fissure.
Their combat power was formidable, and they struck ruthlessly, each blow leaving a trail of savage beast corpses.
Zhang Ruochen stomped his foot on the ground, sending yellow sand dozens of meters in all directions flying up.
Then, spreading his arms, he infused a surging sword intent into every grain of sand.
"Swish, swish."
Each grain of sand became like a sword, flying outward in all directions.
The screams of countless savage beasts rang out, and then they all fell to the ground, losing all signs of life.
At this moment, all human cultivators were besieged by savage beasts and struggling to cope, completely unaware that the Blood God Sect's Divine Son had used sword intent.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Ruochen stepped over the beast corpses and charged forward.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen sensed a strong crisis from his left front. A half-human, half-beast creature was rushing toward him at high speed.
"Gu Linfeng, return my father's Ten Saint Blood Armor."
That half-human, half-beast creature growled, its five fingers extending silver claws, tearing down from Zhang Ruochen's diagonal upper side toward his neck.
The light on the silver claws was exceptionally bright, blinding some savage beasts' eyes.
"Tan Zhongli?"
Zhang Ruochen stared at the half-human, half-beast creature in confusion, sensing the aura of that Undying Blood Clan's young prince, Tan Zhongli.
Could the Undying Blood Clan also transform into savage beasts?
Before Zhang Ruochen could think further, Tan Zhongli's claw mark had already reached above his head at an angle.
Zhang Ruochen immediately circulated his sacred qi, channeling it into the Seven Kills Fist Gloves, and raised his arm to strike a palm at Tan Zhongli.
"Bang."
The claw mark and palm strike collided, creating a stalemate.
Zhang Ruochen's body swayed slightly, his bones emitting cracking sounds as he transferred Tan Zhongli's force through his body into the ground.
The yellow sand beneath his feet lifted layer by layer, like ripples spreading into the distance.
Tan Zhongli's body flipped backward, landing dozens of meters away, staring at Zhang Ruochen in shock.
A few days ago, they had clashed once in Yingsha City. At that time, even with the power of the Ten Saint Blood Armor, Gu Linfeng was no match for him.
Now, just a few days later, Gu Linfeng, without using the Ten Saint Blood Armor's power, could not only block his attack but even repel him.
How could a person's strength grow so fast in just a few days?
Zhang Ruochen first fixed his gaze on Tan Zhongli, then glanced in the direction from which Tan Zhongli had charged. He noticed that in that area, there were over a dozen half-human, half-beast figures.
As long as a savage beast's cultivation reached a certain level, it could cultivate a human form.
If a savage beast's cultivation wasn't profound enough to achieve a flawless human form, it would retain some beastly traits, becoming half-human, half-beast.
Among the savage beast horde, half-human, half-beast forms were quite common. However, Tan Zhongli's appearance made Zhang Ruochen sense something was off.
Could it be that experts from the Undying Blood Clan had infiltrated the savage beast horde, also aiming to seize the Sacred Source Spirit Spring?
Although the Undying Blood Clan and some beast kings among the savage beasts were allies against humanity, when it came to the Sacred Source Spirit Spring, they would never cooperate.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately raised his voice, "So the Undying Blood Clan also covets the Sacred Source Spirit Spring. What kind of experts have you brought?"
All the savage beasts present heard Zhang Ruochen's voice.
Especially the few beast kings, who let out furious roars. Clearly, they hadn't expected the Undying Blood Clan to be lurking among the savage beast horde.
Since they were exposed, the Undying Blood Clan members no longer hid.
"Whoosh—"
Over a dozen half-human, half-beast figures immediately emitted a blood-red radiance, transforming into over a dozen Undying Blood Clan members with fleshy wings.
Their gazes were all filled with killing intent, fixed on Zhang Ruochen.
If not for Zhang Ruochen, their identities wouldn't have been exposed so quickly.
An Undying Blood Clan member in blood armor spoke in an aged voice, issuing an order to Tan Zhongli, "Tan Zhongli, your recklessness has ruined the Crown Prince's plan. Kill the Blood God Sect's Divine Son and offer his blood. Only then can you return and make amends. Otherwise, you'll have to await death as atonement."
With that, over a dozen Undying Blood Clan experts flew toward the seven-colored cloud mass.
"Damn it."
Tan Zhongli clenched his ten fingers tightly and let out a fierce roar.
Instantly, his half-human, half-beast body burst apart, turning into a cloud of blood mist.
When the blood mist condensed again, it had formed an Undying Blood Clan body, with two pairs of silver fleshy wings on its back.
Originally, Tan Zhongli had planned a surprise attack, killing Gu Linfeng in one blow to reclaim the Ten Saint Blood Armor.
But he hadn't expected Gu Linfeng's cultivation to have increased so much, blocking his attack and even exposing the Undying Blood Clan's intentions.
If he didn't kill Gu Linfeng, he couldn't explain himself to the Crown Prince upon return.
"Die!"
Tan Zhongli's two pairs of silver fleshy wings spun rapidly, like four silver light blades, slashing toward Zhang Ruochen.
Silver light flew outward in all directions.
Any savage beast that touched the silver light was instantly torn in two.
Zhang Ruochen extended his left arm, immediately producing a dragon's roar as a blood-red dragon surged along his arm.
At the same time, the ten sanctified acupoints on his left arm lit up with ten points of light, releasing a powerful sacred force.
"Bang."
A palm print and a blood dragon struck forward simultaneously.
Tan Zhongli's four silver wings shattered the blood dragon's head and continued forward, colliding with the over ten-meter-long blood-red palm print.
The silver wings and palm print clashed repeatedly, sparking flashes of fire and producing a harsh metallic grinding sound.
"Get down."
Zhang Ruochen shouted deeply, exerting force with his arm, flipping the palm print over, and directly pressing Tan Zhongli beneath it. With a boom, he slammed him into the ground.