Chapter 1273: Moving Out

The void slowly ripped open, and a terrifying aura, like a torrent, surged out, causing the surrounding chaotic expanse to violently churn.

The five Saints of All-Beast Heaven stood in the void, their expressions grim and cold as they gazed at the sacred scroll emerging from the spatial rift. That sacred scroll, known as the Saint Realm Divine Map, was a super holy artifact of the Saint Race. During the great war of annihilation in the past, this map had suppressed and slain numerous Saints from the heavens, earning it a formidable reputation. Now, the Saint Race had not only deployed five Saints but also brought this super holy artifact, clearly indicating they were well-prepared.

What exactly did the Saint Race intend? The five Saints exchanged glances, each seeing a mix of doubt and solemnity in the others' eyes.

"Whatever their intentions, they wouldn't dare to act truly unrestrained," a familiar figure among the five Saints stated in a deep voice. "They don't even dare to step out of that spatial rift. They brought the Saint Realm Divine Map merely to conceal their aura." This figure was Jin Yanghuang, the patriarch of the Golden Lion Clan.

At the boundary wall of the heavens stood a grand protective array known as the "Primordial Saint-Slaying Array." This barrier, created by the combined might of all heavens, was considered one of the primary defenses against the Saint Race. Attempting to forcibly breach this array would entail an immense cost, even for a Saint. The five Saint Race Saints currently appearing were, in fact, merely projections that had connected to All-Beast Heaven through special means. This was because they dared not truly enter All-Beast Heaven; once inside, the Primordial Saint-Slaying Array would activate.

Hearing this, the other four Saints slightly eased their tense postures. Jin Yanghuang was indeed correct; the opponents had seemingly breached the boundary but had not truly stepped into All-Beast Heaven. Currently, the only one who might be considered to have truly entered beyond the boundary was Shi Ying from Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven. However, this was because he had felled a Saint Infant that transformed from a sacred lotus, and it did not constitute the genuine arrival of a Saint.

"Heh heh, Jin Yanghuang, your perception is quite sharp." Within the spatial rift, a terrifying aura surged. The five Saint Race Saints on the Saint Realm Divine Map chuckled, neither confirming nor denying Jin Yanghuang's statement. "However, we don't intend to cross into your realm to fight you. Our sole purpose is to keep you occupied for a while. Once Shi Ying achieves his goal, our mission will be accomplished."

Jin Yanghuang's gaze sharpened. "What exactly are you plotting concerning Ancestral Soul Mountain?!" he demanded. When Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven first appeared, the Saints of All-Beast Heaven had naturally investigated it. Their findings indicated that the Grotto-Heaven was formed from a faint wisp of the Ancestral Dragon's remnant soul, giving birth to Ancestral Soul Mountain. It was believed to be capable of nurturing special Law Domain seeds. Thus, the Saints of All-Beast Heaven designated it as a training ground for Seventh-Rank cultivators, hoping to cultivate more Eighth-Rank Law Domains. However, apart from this, they had made no other significant discoveries. Therefore, in the eyes of the All-Beast Heaven Saints, Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven was merely a training ground. Yet, observing the Saint Race's extensive plotting, it was evident that All-Beast Heaven had overlooked crucial hidden secrets.

Instead of answering Jin Yanghuang's demand, an immense, indescribable power surged out from the spatial rift. Wherever this force swept, small spaces seemed to collapse, creating tiny, fleeting explosions like fireworks within the chaos. A battle between Saints was truly world-shattering. For a place like Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven, even a minor clash would lead to its complete destruction.

"Hmph!" Upon seeing the Saint Race Saints make their move, the five All-Beast Heaven Saints on Jin Yanghuang's side also let out a low, cold snort. The next instant, boundless power surged forth from them as well, seemingly causing rivers of stars to reverse and suns and moons to float adrift.

A total of ten Saints from both sides engaged in combat within the chaotic void. The ensuing commotion was immense, and the shockwaves annihilated countless empty spaces devoid of life. The clash of the ten Saints in the chaotic void outside Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven caused the entire grotto-heaven to tremble violently. It felt as though Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven was a small boat caught in a violent storm, threatening to be torn apart by the raging waves at any moment.

Inside Dragon Spirit Grotto-Heaven, everyone trembled. Though they were considered Seventh-Rank elites, their power was barely more significant than that of ants in the presence of Saints. "The Saint Race truly came prepared," Zhou Yuan murmured, gazing up at the trembling sky, his expression deeply solemn. Although he couldn't directly witness the battle of the Saints in the chaotic void, he could sense the terrifying fluctuations emanating from it, indicating that the Saints of All-Beast Heaven had clearly been obstructed. "The Return to Ruins Temple monitors all heavens, so this massive commotion should be detected soon. However, it appears the Saint Race won't give them time to intervene."

As Zhou Yuan furrowed his brow, the Saint Infant standing atop Chi Xuan's head also observed the sky. He then let out a faint, cold laugh. "It seems no one can stop me now," he declared. He barely spared a glance for Zhou Yuan or the Seventh-Rank elite experts of All-Beast Heaven standing nearby. In his eyes, these "ants" could provoke all they wanted, but they would never be able to affect him in the slightest.

"Aren't you wondering what my Saint Race is plotting? Just watch, and you will see." The Saint Infant, Shi Ying, smiled faintly, then looked down at Chi Xuan, who was prostrate at his feet. "It is time for you to offer your flesh and blood to the Saint Race," he stated.

Chi Xuan's body trembled, his expression fluctuating, before he finally bowed deeply. "This is the honor of my Sin-Beast Race!" he declared. Shi Ying nodded, his youthful face utterly devoid of emotion. He extended a finger and lightly touched Chi Xuan, who immediately let out a pained shriek. Instantly, all his flesh and blood seemed to liquefy and flow away from his body. In mere moments, Chi Xuan's body was reduced to a skeleton, his flesh and blood forming a crimson pool at Shi Ying's feet. The flickering flame of life in Chi Xuan's skull's eye sockets trembled, then dimmed, and finally vanished entirely.

Zhou Yuan's eyelids twitched as he watched the scene. It seemed the Sin-Beast Race was viewed as mere servants by the Saint Race, to be sacrificed at their convenience. It was indeed a pathetic sight.

As these thoughts crossed Zhou Yuan's mind, Shi Ying waved his small hand. The scattered flesh and blood on the ground began to writhe, eventually coalescing into a strange, blood-red rune that swiftly burrowed into the earth.

*Boom! Boom!*

At that moment, everyone felt Ancestral Soul Mountain shaking violently. Blood-red vortexes materialized directly from each of the battle platforms, with pillars of light erupting from within them. These light pillars intertwined, eventually forming blood-red chains. The chains continued to intertwine, then plunged into Ancestral Soul Mountain, spreading outwards.

A cruel curve appeared on Shi Ying's lips as he abruptly raised his small hand. "Rise!" As his furious roar echoed, Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi, and everyone else watched in shock as the entire Ancestral Soul Mountain slowly began to ascend, as if being hoisted by the myriad blood-red chains.

Zhou Yuan's scalp tingled with dread. Could the Saint Race's Saint truly intend to simply move Ancestral Soul Mountain away?