Chapter Sixty-Three: The Onslaught of Ten Thousand Beasts

Chapter Sixty-Three: The Assault of Ten Thousand Beasts

The group quickened their pace, the tremors of the earth growing ever more intense, as if some colossal creature was trampling the land. The once fiery sky was gradually swallowed by inky darkness, oppressive beyond measure. Yet the fierce wind of the Nine Heavens failed to appear again, as though sealed away by some unknown force.

High above, a torrent formed by the Mystic Wind Serpents swept across the sky like a dragon, thousands upon thousands moving as one. No one had ever imagined so many Mystic Wind Serpents existed within the Abyss of Gods and Demons—it seemed their entire brood had been mobilized.

“If we could catch all those Mystic Wind Serpents, how long would they feed us?” Duan Kun gazed at the distant serpents with longing.

Chu Jie replied dryly, “If they come our way, it’s not us who’ll eat them—it’s them who’ll eat us.”

Everyone shuddered at Chu Jie’s words. With so many Mystic Wind Serpents, just a single charge would be unstoppable; it was truly terrifying. Those of weaker cultivation might perish in moments.

At the front of the line, Zhou Jie spoke up again, “Those Mystic Wind Serpents overhead aren’t particularly powerful beasts. Is there any need to be so afraid?”

Chu Jie remained silent. He had tangled with the Mystic Wind Serpent King before; who could say if an even stronger king lurked among the swarm? Besides, ten thousand serpents were many times more dangerous than a single king. He could only guarantee his own safety, as well as Duan Kun’s. The others were beyond his care. Should the serpents descend, it would be the weaker martial artists who suffered most.

Yet, to venture here one must accept the possibility of death. The Abyss of Gods and Demons was far from ordinary now; the odds of dying were high. Of course, no one wanted to die.

Aside from the strongest cultivators, those at the third or fourth tier of Spirit Confluence looked grim. They had not even reached the abyss’s heart, and already such dangers had emerged. They only hoped that no beast swarm would discover them.

They raced across the seventh terrace of the divine abyss, heading swiftly toward the entrance of the eighth. The terrain grew stranger and more treacherous the deeper they went. Normally, fierce winds raged here, so only the most powerful beasts could survive in such a place.

Suddenly, a lithe figure flashed across their path ahead.

“That’s a Wind Listening Leopard!” Chu Jie’s eyes sparkled. Another one—there seemed to be plenty here. He recalled the leopard slain by the Demon Lord earlier and wished he could capture one himself. But the treasure at the abyss’s heart mattered more now; the leopard would have to wait. Yet something felt off—the leopard was fleeing at remarkable speed. Had something happened?

Soon enough, a mass of small, dark beasts appeared in the distance.

“Stone Spine Fiends! Damn, it’s those things!” someone cried.

Duan Kun explained to Chu Jie, “These beasts are only found on the eighth terrace, but now they’ve come to the seventh. They’re small but their backs are covered in stone-like shells, making their defenses formidable. They, like the Mystic Wind Serpents, travel in packs. There are hundreds here—who knows if more are coming.”

Chu Jie understood; Stone Spine Fiends were indeed troublesome. But with just a few hundred, their group of Spirit Confluence masters should have little problem.

At that moment, Zhou Jie spoke up again, “No need to fear these Stone Spine Fiends. If I weren’t conserving energy, I could handle them all myself.”

His voice rang out, full of confidence.

He was attempting to seize command by whatever means necessary, seeking to establish his authority. Chu Jie didn’t care. If not for the sudden beast tide, he’d have traveled alone with Duan Kun, avoiding this crowd altogether—especially Zhou Jie, who irked him greatly. If not for Zhou Jie’s usefulness in defending against beasts, Chu Jie would have eliminated him long ago.

The true leader, Du Xuan, looked displeased but could do nothing. Without backing, he avoided making enemies unless absolutely necessary, and since there was no direct conflict, he didn’t much care.

Zhou Jie seemed satisfied; after his declaration, several cast hopeful looks his way. Some in the group had already entrusted their lives to him.

“Why do I want to step on his face?” Duan Kun murmured to Chu Jie.

Chu Jie nodded, “I feel the same.”

The pack of Stone Spine Fiends hadn’t noticed them and continued chasing the Wind Listening Leopard. The group breathed a sigh of relief. Had those fiends charged them, someone would surely be injured, and in such a place, injury spelled disaster.

Everyone remained tense, wary of any unforeseen danger.

As the group ran on, the ground ahead suddenly sank, forming a massive pit. To cross, they’d have to detour, but the sudden appearance of the pit left them uneasy.

“Why did a pit appear?”

“Could it be the work of a beast?”

They stopped ten meters short of the pit, waiting to see if anything stirred. If something emerged and ambushed them, they’d have no time to react.

As they held their breath, the earth trembled again—the ground beneath their feet sank. Panic-stricken, everyone rushed forward.

A thunderous crash signaled the ground’s collapse; one unlucky soul failed to escape and fell in.

Chu Jie sighed inwardly. That one would not survive.

A strange cry echoed from below, and three or four tentacles shot up, attacking the fallen martial artist.

“Save me!” he cried.

But who could save him now? The others looked at one another, unwilling to act. Their strength was insufficient, and the beast below was of unknown rank—none dared intervene.

Chu Jie saw the tentacles and judged the situation salvageable; the beast was not overly ferocious. He acted immediately.

The Wheel of Heaven and Earth streaked forth as a stream of light, radiating brilliance but concealing its true form, unrecognized by all. It swept toward the tentacles, severing them in short order.

The earth churned around the martial artist, still sinking.

Duan Kun maneuvered his shuttle-shaped treasure over, shouting, “Grab on! I’ll pull you up!”

The martial artist clutched the shuttle, and Duan Kun drew him back. But from the pit’s depths, a dozen more tentacles emerged, reaching for him.

Chu Jie struck again, rapidly slicing with the Wheel of Heaven and Earth. Though it consumed much spiritual energy, saving a life was worth it. Sometimes he slaughtered ruthlessly because others sought his life; sometimes, as now, he chose to save.

Once rescued, the martial artist knelt before Chu Jie and Duan Kun. His legs shook with the near brush of death—he was only a third-tier Spirit Confluence cultivator, able to struggle but unable to defeat the beast below. Without rescue, his fate was sealed.

“Thank you for saving my life. From now on, I am yours to command, no matter the risk!” he declared, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

Chu Jie helped him up. “Let’s go—it was nothing, just lending a hand.”

The Wheel of Reincarnation within Chu Jie’s body churned wildly, rapidly absorbing ambient spiritual energy. Since enduring the pressure of that peerless fiend, his Nine Tribulations physique seemed stronger than ever.

Zhou Jie, unable to bear watching, said, “Get up! We need to keep moving. It’s just a beast below—if I weren’t pressed for time, I’d take care of it myself.”

Duan Kun sneered, “Anyone can boast. If you’re so capable, why didn’t you step in?”

Zhou Jie glared at Duan Kun, “Such minor danger isn’t worth my effort.”

The others were speechless; none had seen Zhou Jie act, and could not tell truth from falsehood. The rescued martial artist was disgruntled—without Chu Jie and Duan Kun, he would have perished here. But with his low cultivation, he dared not say more.

Leaving the pit behind, the group pressed on toward the eighth terrace. Chu Jie’s rescue had revealed another treasure, evidently a high-grade one, provoking further envy. Some wondered if Chu Jie and Duan Kun belonged to some powerful faction, but soon dismissed the idea—if they did, why would they travel with this group?

Overhead, the clouds gathered thicker than before. Beastly roars echoed, sending chills through the crowd.

Just then, Chu Jie sensed something pursuing them. He immediately warned, “Hurry! Something’s coming up behind!”

The dim sky and complex terrain hindered their vision, offering little clarity.

At his warning, everyone surged with spiritual energy, striving to run faster.

The wind howled, as if the fierce wind of the Nine Heavens might return, but Chu Jie quickly realized it was only ordinary wind.

Their pursuers gradually came into view—a dense mass of beasts of many kinds, including Stone Spine Fiends and others of unidentifiable species, and even several Wind Listening Leopards.

Among the swarm were numerous wild beasts and dozens of giant black apes walking upright.

Now, the beast tide surged behind them like a flood, sweeping toward their group.