Zhao Rui and Cang Zhenzi stared, dumbfounded, at the enormous Exotic Beast climbing out before them, their hearts pounding in shock.

"Zhao Zhenren, that thing must be a thousand feet tall."

Cang Zhenzi’s breathing grew ragged.

When it came to Exotic Beasts, size was its own form of power. It wasn’t just about their special abilities; their sheer muscle and bone density were extraordinary.

An ordinary Exotic Beast possessed power comparable to a True Dharma Master. So just how terrifyingly strong was this behemoth before them?

"Call for backup."

Zhao Rui wasn’t confident either and quickly dialed Master Qingyang’s number.

In just that short moment, the Exotic Beast’s head shot out. A single, snow-white horn on its head glinted coldly in the sunlight.

Its entire head was monstrously ugly, resembling a Yaksha or some other foul beast. Its enormous eyes were yellowish-brown, but its tiny pupils were so deep they looked like the dark mouths of caves.

Next came its neck, arms, and torso... The creature had a humanoid body, like that of a great ape.

But its limbs were covered in a hard, bony carapace.

It looked as if it were wearing a suit of Armor.

"ROAR!"

Having pulled its body from the passage, the Exotic Beast opened its cavernous maw and let out a furious roar at the sky. The immense sound immediately echoed across the entire Pacific Ocean.

East Woguo, having detected the anomaly, had already dispatched warships and planes to monitor the situation closely from a safe distance.

Several Martial Artists also hovered in the air, their expressions grim as they watched from afar.

On the Dongqi side, Zhao Rui and Cang Zhenzi didn’t have to wait long. Soon, the Central Plains Court also sent destroyers and electronic reconnaissance vessels.

Accompanying them were numerous Martial Dao masters, not just the few True Masters assigned to Dongqi’s coastal defense.

It also included Dharma Masters from other regions.

"What in the world is that thing?"

Master Qingyang, who had rushed to the scene, flew to Zhao Rui’s side. He too was dumbstruck by the sight of the distant Exotic Beast.

In all their years in Gui Xu, they had never seen an Exotic Beast like this. Its size was beyond their imagination.

It was more than three times the height of an ordinary Exotic Beast.

Against an Exotic Beast like this, no city wall or fortress would offer any protection.

A single one of its massive feet could step right over them.

Perhaps only the Innate Sacred beings from legends, like the giant Kuafu who chased the sun, could possess such a colossal form.

"If you don’t know, I have even less of a clue."

Zhao Rui shrugged and gave a wry smile.

The Exotic Beast’s sheer size kept both sides from making any rash moves. They could only watch it closely from a distance.

No one could bear the consequences of provoking it.

In the distance, Zhao Rui spotted the Saint Lotus Sect Leader, whom he had met once before.

At that moment, he was with the East Woguo faction, his expression grim as he stared at the giant beast.

"Sect Leader, I trust you’ve been well."

With a single thought, Zhao Rui flickered across dozens of miles of open sea, reappearing not far from the Saint Lotus Sect Leader.

"You? You actually made it back alive?"

The Saint Lotus Sect Leader froze, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"I have you to thank for my good fortune, Sect Leader. I’m back."

Zhao Rui smiled calmly.

"The Witch Venerable..."

"Her? I have no idea. Probably off enjoying life in some forgotten corner of the world."

Hearing Zhao Rui’s teasing tone, the Saint Lotus Sect Leader couldn’t help but narrow his eyes as he mentally re-evaluated Zhao Rui’s power.

"Sect Leader, you are a man of profound knowledge. Surely you know what this creature is?"

Zhao Rui turned his head toward the giant Exotic Beast, which had now emerged almost completely, and looked curiously at the Saint Lotus Sect Leader.

"If anyone else were to ask, I would not say. But you, Zhao Zhenren, have earned the right to know. This is a Ghost Yong Beast, a vanguard sent by the Barbaric Race."

"A vanguard?"

Zhao Rui’s pupils contracted. He asked in a low voice, "You mean the Manghuang Race has discovered this passage and is migrating toward our world?"

"Correct. Soon, more and more passages will open. When the contact surface between the two worlds exceeds a critical threshold, the entirety of Gui Xu will merge with Blue Star. When that happens, the very mountains and rivers will transform, and the world will be turned upside down..."

The Saint Lotus Sect Leader spoke with a casual, detached air, but the scene his words described was anything but comforting. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Sect Leader, are you a person of Gui Xu, or a person of Blue Star?"

"Does it matter?"

"Then what is your goal, Sect Leader? Given the circumstances, shouldn’t all of humanity join forces to overcome this crisis together?"

"Oh? Zhao Zhenren seems to have the compassionate heart of a Bodhisattva. But what does the chaos of this world have to do with me?"

The Saint Lotus Sect Leader laughed, glanced at Zhao Rui with a trace of disdain, and then chuckled. "So, you’re just a common mortal after all."

Zhao Rui didn’t get angry. He simply smiled back freely and said, "Those who walk different paths cannot walk together. In that case, we’ll meet again."

With that, his figure flickered and vanished.

"Sect Leader, why didn’t you stop him?"

Seeing Zhao Rui leave so brazenly, one of the Holy Lotus Sect’s Divine Envoys asked with his head bowed.

"The man is progressing too quickly. I wasn’t confident I could have stopped him."

The Saint Lotus Sect Leader’s face was grim as he spoke. He turned to look at the Ghost Yong Beast, which had now fully emerged in the distance, and said with a frown, "The Wilderness Alien Race is arriving faster than I anticipated. We are running out of time. What is the status of the base in Siberia?"

"Everything is proceeding according to plan."

"Pick up the pace. The situation has changed. Make sure it’s completed within one month."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

The Divine Envoy bowed in assent, then took two steps back and blended into the crowd.

The sky gradually darkened, as if the arrival of the Ghost Yong Beast had changed the very climate.

Gusts of wind swept across the sea, growing stronger by the moment, and the waves rose higher and higher in response.