Vice Director Gao, who had been advancing at high speed, suddenly stopped atop a large boulder. The flying sword hovering at his side let out a clear, crisp ring. Its blade instantly burst into scorching flames, transforming into a streak of crimson light that shot toward a Mutated Beast that had burst from the dense woods ahead. The creature resembled a wild boar and was covered in rock-like scales.

"SSSSHK!"

The flaming sword accurately pierced the Mutated Beast’s eye socket. Searing Sword Qi erupted instantly. The beast let out a bloodcurdling howl as its massive body crashed to the ground. Its head was already scorched black, emitting a pungent, burnt smell.

Vice Director Gao merely twitched a finger. The flying sword deftly spun back, leaving a trail of sparks, and came to a halt beside him, its tip still pulsing with crimson light.

Almost simultaneously, three wolf-like creatures burst from the bushes to the left, moving so fast they left afterimages. Their fur had an unnatural metallic sheen, and their claws tore through the air with a whistling sound.

"Thunder!"

Wang Jianchao barked a low command. He threw a piece of Rune Paper, and a blinding electric light gathered in his palm. It then transformed into three small lightning spears that precisely struck the three mutated Demon Wolves!

"CRACKLE!"

The electric light exploded. The three Demon Wolves convulsed, emitted black smoke, and collapsed. The smell of burnt fur and scorched flesh filled the air.

Liu Xin, meanwhile, guarded Wang Jianchao’s flank. She held her gun with both hands, warily watching the surrounding vegetation.

Yang Wenqing landed behind the other three, a gun in one hand and his Cyan Blade short sword in the other. He found he had almost no opportunity to intervene.

"Threat neutralized. There’s an energy signature of a Spirit Grass under the large tree to the right. Judging by its aura, it’s a Soul Reviving Grass."

Vice Director Gao’s voice rang out.

Yang Wenqing’s Golden Core immediately detected the energy signature Vice Director Gao had mentioned. He accurately located the target. By the time he had placed it in his Storage Bag, the other three were already pushing forward again. Gunshots echoed from other parts of the forest, so he quickly cast a Light Body Spell Dharma Seal on himself to speed up and catch them.

「Two minutes later...」

They encountered another skirmish and successfully collected another Soul Reviving Grass. Suddenly, a dense, skin-crawling rustle came from the ground ahead of the team.

Then, Yang Wenqing saw a black tide surge out from under the layer of humus. It was a swarm of fist-sized ants with dark golden carapaces and vicious-looking mandibles—Golden Armor Spirit-Eating Ants!

The carapaces of these mutated ants were tough enough to resist ordinary blades. What was more troublesome was their immense number. Once they swarmed someone at close range, escape was nearly impossible.

"It’s the Golden Armor Spirit-Eating Ants! Be careful, their acid can corrode Spiritual Qi shields!" Vice Director Gao warned. The flames on his hovering sword flared brighter, clearly preparing for a wide-area attack, but its efficiency would be greatly reduced against so many small, dense targets.

"Let me handle this!" Wang Jianchao shouted. He crushed an energy crystal in his right hand. A burst of pure Spiritual Qi erupted instantly, which he then channeled with both hands. He formed an immense Dharma Seal, ten times more complex and profound than the one he used for his earlier lightning spell. A blinding radiance of lightning gathered wildly before him, letting out a heart-stopping, deafening CRACKLE.

"Celestial Thunder Net!"

With his sharp cry, a massive net of lightning appeared out of thin air. Composed of countless crackling arcs of electricity and covering a thirty-meter radius, it descended upon the golden tide of ants!

"BZZZZZZT—CRACKLE—!"

The moment the electric net made contact with the ant swarm, a continuous, ear-piercing shriek erupted.

Before the violent power of the lightning, the Golden Armor Spirit-Eating Ants’ tough carapaces were like paper. They were instantly electrocuted into charcoal, and a peculiar, sweet fragrance began to fill the air.

This was the smell of the Golden Armor Spirit-Eating Ants’ flesh, which was rich in Spiritual Qi—a rare and valuable delicacy on the market.

The lightning lasted for several breaths before slowly dissipating. The once-daunting golden tide of ants was now nothing but a field of charred remains on the ground. Only the unique, meaty aroma served as proof of their existence.

"Clean up the battlefield. Collect any intact flesh. Move quickly!" Vice Director Gao ordered calmly, his flying sword circling at a low altitude on guard.

Yang Wenqing immediately stepped forward and quickly began gathering the intact carcasses into his Storage Bag.

"DOOM!!!"

The sound from before echoed again, but this time it was far more ferocious. It was followed by a terrifying, visible shockwave—a mixture of a thick, foul stench and violent Spiritual Qi—that swept toward them like a tsunami!

Everywhere the shockwave passed, trees shook violently, their branches and leaves whipping about wildly. Smaller rocks on the ground were sent flying. Yang Wenqing felt a sudden tightness in his chest and immediately cast the Golden Light Body Protection Spell, erecting a golden shield around himself.

Vice Director Gao’s expression turned incredibly grim. With a flick of his sleeve, his gaze, sharp as a hawk’s, locked onto the center of the forest. He said in a low voice, "What a powerful aura. There’s at least one Demon close to the Foundation Establishment Stage, or the Gathering Spirit altar itself has spawned some kind of monster!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Jianchao and Liu Xin’s faces also became extremely solemn. A Demon nearing the Foundation Establishment Stage was far more powerful than the Mutated Beasts they had just faced. It was strong enough to pose a lethal threat to them.

But none of them, not even Yang Wenqing, were nervous. The Government Soldiers had artillery set up. Even a true Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be blown to pieces on the spot.

Just as this thought crossed their minds, three red flares shot up from the camp behind them—the signal for an artillery strike!

"Take cover. Artillery strike in five minutes."

While issuing the warning, Vice Director Gao took out a piece of Rune Paper and activated it. The paper ignited without any wind, then transformed into a thick, ochre stream of light that sank into the ground at his feet.

"VMMMM—"

The ground trembled slightly, and a thick, solid wall of rammed earth instantly rose from the ground, shielding the four of them securely behind it. Runes flowed across the wall’s surface, emitting an aura as steady as a mountain.

Five minutes passed in a flash.

"WHOOSH—WHOOSH—WHOOSH—!"

A sharp, piercing whistle grew from a distant cry to a roar, like the shriek of Death passing overhead. A dozen streaks of fiery Spiritual Light, trailing long plumes of flame like falling meteors, soared into the sky from the camp behind them. They tore across the bizarre, barrier-tinted sky and smashed down viciously into the heart of the forest!

The next moment—

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The earth shook and the mountains trembled!

The explosions from the first salvo merged into a single, terrifying, eardrum-shattering roar. Even at a considerable distance and with the earthen wall and forest to dampen the blast, Yang Wenqing still felt as if a giant hammer had slammed into his chest. His ears rang, and the ground beneath his feet heaved violently like waves.

Then, a blinding white light erupted from the center of the forest, instantly devouring everything. It was followed by a pillar of thick smoke, dust, and shredded trees that rose toward the sky, forming an ever-expanding mushroom cloud.

Immediately after, a searing heatwave mixed with the smell of earth, splintered wood, and char swept over them—a second tsunami that slammed violently against the earthen wall with a dull thud.

And that was only the beginning!

More fiery tails streaked across the sky, and then...

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!"

Deafening explosions echoed once more, continuously pounding the earth and the hearts of everyone present. The center of the distant forest had already transformed into a deadly inferno of raging flames. Blinding flashes of light repeatedly illuminated the dim woods as billowing smoke blotted out the sky.

Before this godlike, destructive power, an individual’s martial prowess seemed so insignificant.

Yang Wenqing pressed himself against the trembling earthen wall, feeling the seemingly endless roar and vibration. A profound sense of awe for such absolute power filled his heart.