Chapter 1611: The First Battle on the Tongtian Road

An endless expanse of piled corpses and seas of blood filled this unknown new space.

As everyone stood bewildered and shocked, Xu Yang swept his hand, clearing away the countless skeletal remains before them, revealing a massive, ancient stone tablet ahead.

Engraved prominently on its surface in a blood-like hue were three characters!

The Path to Heaven!

"My God, boss, I never imagined the entrance to the Path to Heaven would look like this. How many powerful cultivators throughout history must have perished in this very spot?"

Long Kun and the others were utterly stunned. The Four Demon Saints—Xiao Xiang, Jiu'er, and the others beside them—all stared at the scene before them with expressions of utter disbelief.

This solemn and majestic, blood-stained monument seemed to be forged from the infused souls of countless brilliant cultivators.

The entire area resembled a vast, boundless tomb.

Even the hundreds of thousands of beast warriors behind Xu Yang, despite their bloodthirsty and violent dispositions, found it difficult to resist the subtly radiating aura of terror.

This oppressive atmosphere, born from countless years of accumulating vengeful spirits, evoked a profound sense of desolation, like an abyss.

At the entrance to the Path to Heaven, it felt as though countless resentful spirits encircled them with every step forward, their desperate cries echoing all around.

Soon, even the relatively weaker individuals like Jiu'er and Xiao Xiang couldn't help but frown in discomfort.

Among the Four Demon Saints, only Bai Lian seemed unaffected; Qi Tian and the other two also felt an inexplicable unease.

As for the hundreds of thousands of beast warriors behind them, they suddenly halted, paralyzed by fear. This place was truly terrifying; cultivators lacking a sufficiently strong soul to withstand the pressure would likely be unable to reach the end, their very souls torn apart by the countless vengeful spirits.

Xiao Hua approached Xu Yang, her expression grim.

"A Yang, this place seems far more dreadful than we anticipated. While a few of us might manage, leading hundreds of thousands of troops through this place, as things stand, appears almost impossible."

Xu Yang nodded slightly. "You're right. Activating the Ghost Valley Array requires drawing spatial spiritual energy as its power source. Yet, in this place, apart from an accumulation of endless resentment and the aura of the deceased, I can't detect even a wisp of natural spiritual energy. Using high-level cultivation techniques here is virtually impossible. Therefore, there's only one solution: to alter the environment around this Path to Heaven using my own power. Since we cannot simply push through, we will utterly destroy and transform this place!"

Xu Yang's words were incredibly bold, considering this place was seemingly built upon the remains of hundreds of thousands of powerful ancient cultivators. What terrifying power would it take for one person to overturn the aura of resentful spirits that had festered here for hundreds of thousands of years? Even though Xu Yang possessed immense, world-shaking power, most members of the team remained skeptical that he could achieve this feat alone.

"Damn, boss, are you really planning to take such a risk for all of us? If you do that, you'll likely face an endless onslaught from vengeful souls. How immense must one's spiritual strength be to endure such pressure? Otherwise, let's all work together. Just like when we fought the Twelve Divine Envoys, we can go first and clear a path for you to find an opportunity to break through the powerful vengeful spirits hidden here."

Long Kun's suggestion quickly gained unanimous support from everyone present. After all, every member of the team held Xu Yang in the highest regard. They would readily sacrifice their lives for him, without a moment's hesitation.

This time, however, Xu Yang decisively shook his head, rejecting Long Kun's proposal.

"This place is vastly different from those mere ants in the Second Divine Palace World! This is a true purgatory for cultivators. With your current cultivation levels, you would only be ensnared by the aura of the dormant spirits. Once these endless spirits fixate on you, unless your souls are completely shattered, you will likely never escape their torment."

It had to be admitted that Xu Yang's concerns were well-founded. After all, none of them could compare to Xu Yang in terms of cultivation foundation. Rashly intervening would be like poking a hornet's nest, and an unimaginably tragic end would surely await them.

"Four Demon Saints, heed my command! From this moment, each of you must safeguard the hundreds of thousands of beast legions under your command. I require you to guarantee their safety. Before I finish cleansing this area, I forbid any of your beast warriors from perishing due to the changing environment."

Xu Yang issued a strict command to the Four Demon Saints, emphasizing the paramount importance of preserving the beast army's vitality as much as possible. More than powerful cultivators acting as obstacles, Xu Yang feared the environmental resistance here. No matter how formidable an opponent, Xu Yang believed he could conquer them if he fully exerted himself. However, facing such a hostile environment meant widespread casualties, a burden no one could afford. Xu Yang had promised the beast race to reshape the order of the entire Kunlun Divine Path. He absolutely could not suffer an early defeat, losing troops and generals on this Path to Heaven before even reaching the summit of Kunlun. Xu Yang would never permit such an outcome.

Upon receiving Xu Yang's orders, his subordinate generals immediately set about their tasks, returning to their designated formations within the main army.

Meanwhile, under the collective gaze of Long Kun and the others, Xu Yang stepped into the air, his true form swiftly merging with the massive stone tablet of the Path to Heaven. He stood alone atop the stone tablet bearing the three blood-red characters of "The Path to Heaven," resembling an eternal, unyielding deity who had defied the ages. His demeanor and radiance were so overwhelming, they seemed to eclipse an entire era.

Various specter auras, almost visible to the naked eye, began to rapidly and wildly spread towards Xu Yang. Yet, it was precisely this overwhelming force that made Xu Yang appear even more magnificent. Only by standing in this precise spot could Xu Yang truly grasp the specific dangers inherent in this section of the Path to Heaven's entrance. In his estimation, the dormant skeletal remains and spirits surrounding them were subtly guided by a powerful underlying order. If he could identify and destroy the true dominant power orchestrating these skeletal spirits, the obstacle blocking the army's path would vanish.