Chapter 1253: The Thanks from Ai Tuanzi

Booming loudly, a scarlet mountain surged forth from the earth. Endless fierce and malevolent energy erupted from it, sweeping across the land and blotting out the sky, even dyeing the clouds crimson. It was a scene reminiscent of the apocalypse.

However, upon seeing the mountain, the teams from various clans showed a collective sigh of relief, for it was their ultimate destination.

And it wasn't just their side that was invigorated by the Ancestral Soul Mountain's emergence. From the distant, dark lands, violent roars also erupted.

Clearly, they too had been waiting for this day.

"So, this is the Ancestral Soul Mountain...?" Zhou Yuan lifted his gaze, staring at the scarlet peak in the distance. The fierce and destructive energy within it was so potent it seemed almost solidified. Merely looking at it caused a sharp sting in his eyes.

The sheer magnitude of that power left even Zhou Yuan astonished.

By his estimation, power of this magnitude—let alone his Nascent Source cultivation—could not be swayed in the slightest, not even by a Dharma Domain expert. Perhaps not even by an ordinary Saint.

"The Ancestral Soul Mountain is formed from a remnant wisp of the Ancestral Dragon's soul," Ai Qing whispered from beside him. "It is the very foundation of this Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven. Our Saints from the Myriad Beasts Heaven once surveyed it, even contemplating moving it. However, they ultimately discovered that disturbing this mountain would cause the entire Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven to crumble."

Zhou Yuan nodded subtly. This Ancestral Soul Mountain could condense Dharma Domain Seeds, and its continued existence would undoubtedly allow more elites of the Myriad Beasts Heaven to reach the Eighth-Grade — the Dharma Domain realm. This would provide a substantial influx of new strength to the Myriad Beasts Heaven. After all, even among the Heavens, the Dharma Domain realm represents a formidable power, second only to Saints, and certainly not to be underestimated. Therefore, in the long run, it was indeed best to leave the Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven undisturbed.

"Could the Saint Race have sent the Fiend Beast clan into the Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven specifically for the Ancestral Soul Mountain?" Zhou Yuan's eyes suddenly flashed. "Are they planning to destroy it?"

Ai Qing paused, then her pretty face grew serious. "That possibility cannot be entirely ruled out," she replied.

"You're overthinking it," a faint voice interjected. Zhou Yuan glanced over to see Ai Zhi of the Spirit Phoenix clan speaking. "Destroying the Ancestral Soul Mountain would require a Saint expert to act personally. Currently, all the Saints of the Myriad Beasts Heaven are focused here; every action we take is likely under their watchful eyes. If the Saint Race truly dispatches a Saint to intervene, our Myriad Beasts Heaven Saints will undoubtedly stop them."

Zhou Yuan chuckled. "Oh? So, it seems the Saint Race went through all that trouble to send the Fiend Beast clan into the Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven perhaps just to contend for a few Dharma Domain Seeds?"

The leaders of other major clans who had drawn closer couldn't help but frown; this very question was a deep-seated doubt in their own minds. Yet, if the Fiend Beast clan truly intended to target the Ancestral Soul Mountain, their Seventh-Grade cultivators wouldn't be able to shake it in the slightest.

As the group pondered, a graceful figure stepped through the air, appearing beside Ai Qing.

A long ponytail swung gently along her slender waist. It was Ai Tuanzi.

Everyone else nodded in greeting.

Ai Tuanzi first cast a glance at Ai Qing, noting her safety, then turned her gaze to Zhou Yuan, a smile gracing her face. "You're Elder Zhou Yuan, aren't you? Thank you so much."

The smile on her face was genuine; indeed, if anything had happened to Ai Qing, it would have been a tremendous blow to her.

She pondered for a moment, feeling her gratitude wasn't fully expressed. So, she pulled out a small cloth pouch and, with a slight wince, retrieved a beloved piece of dried meat. "Please, have this," she offered.

Zhou Yuan stared, momentarily stunned, at the dried meat in her delicate, pale hand. This individual was clearly the Myriad Beasts Heaven's paramount representative. With his own spirit having recently broken through to the late stage of the Transformed Realm, he could faintly perceive the terrifying surge of Genesis Qi within Ai Tuanzi's body. This long-ponytail woman, appearing delicate and fair, possessed immense power, far surpassing that of Jiang Ba from the Xuan Dragon clan.

But what was the deal with offering him a piece of dried meat?

Zhou Yuan hesitated, but ultimately reached out and accepted it. However, before he could even take a bite, a tongue swiftly coiled around the jerky, snatching it away and swallowing it whole.

Zhou Yuan was speechless. Who else but that little rascal Tun Tun would do such a thing?

Tun Tun devoured the jerky, seemingly quite pleased with the taste. Its eyes then sparkled as they fixated on the cloth pouch in Ai Tuanzi's hand.

Seeing this, Ai Tuanzi immediately grew wary and tucked the pouch away, clearly unwilling to part with any more.

Zhou Yuan was left somewhat bewildered and amused. The Myriad Beasts Heaven's most powerful pseudo-Dharma Domain cultivator was also a true food enthusiast. In that light, her offering of a single piece of dried meat was indeed a significant gesture of sincerity.

After expressing her thanks to Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi's expression turned serious. She addressed the group: "The Ancestral Soul Mountain has appeared. We will soon discover the true depth of the Fiend Beast clan's strength. Everyone, prepare to move out."

At her words, everyone's expressions grew taut. For the past month, despite fierce clashes with the Fiend Beast clan, their most elite forces had remained unrevealed, making their true strength impossible to gauge.

However, various signs indicated that the Fiend Beast clan's power this time was exceptionally strong, fully on par with their own.

But no matter how much they had concealed their power before, with the Ancestral Soul Mountain now revealed, they would surely shed their disguise and unleash their full strength.

The experts from each clan exchanged grim glances, faintly detecting the scent of blood that precedes a major battle.

Once Ai Tuanzi made her decision, commands were swiftly disseminated throughout the clans. Soon, streaks of light continually pierced the air from all directions across the battlefield.

With the forces arrayed, the main contingent, led by Ai Tuanzi and the other clan leaders, majestically sliced through the sky, heading directly towards the distant Ancestral Soul Mountain.

About fifteen minutes later.

The main force landed on the outskirts of the Ancestral Soul Mountain.

Zhou Yuan followed the main contingent, his gaze instantly fixed on the blood-red mountain.

The mountain was majestic, continuously spewing forth fierce and destructive energy, which formed layers of blood-red mist.

As Zhou Yuan stared at the Ancestral Soul Mountain, he felt a subtle sense of trepidation. With his spirit perception, now in the late stage of the Transformed Realm, he sensed that the Ancestral Soul Mountain seemed to possess a living presence, as if it were a sentient peak.

As Zhou Yuan continued to observe the Ancestral Soul Mountain, an inky black torrent was seen rolling in from another direction of the massive peak.

An overwhelming aura of violence emanated from within that black torrent.

The Myriad Beasts Heaven's main force watched, their gazes steadily growing colder and sharper.

Even Tun Tun, perched on Zhou Yuan's head, involuntarily sharpened its claws, emitting a low hiss.

As the black torrent rolled closer, Zhou Yuan finally saw clearly: within it were numerous dark figures, identical to the Fiend Beast expert he had previously struck down. Horrifying black bone spurs protruded from their bodies, making them appear savage and malevolent.

The black torrent gradually came to a halt on the opposite side of the Ancestral Soul Mountain.

The two forces confronted each other from afar. As their gazes clashed, no sounds of battle erupted, yet a chilling killing intent surged beneath the silence.

The two races were destined enemies.

The Fiend Beast clan was created by the Saint God of the Saint Race specifically to counter the Primordial Beast clan.

From the perspective of the Primordial Beast clan, the Fiend Beast clan was an abominable creation, conceived from the desecrated corpses and bloodlines of their many ancestors.

Thus, when the two sides met, an inescapable war to the death was guaranteed.