Since a Ten Thousand Beasts King appeared among the Stone-eating Scorpions, the beast horde attacks on the Golden Saber Stronghold had, contrary to expectations, decreased instead of increased.

Furthermore, the intensity of each attack was weaker than the last.

In the face of this situation, some rejoiced, celebrating with music and revelry night after night.

But the more experienced elders were filled with dread, sensing a monstrous wave gathering on the horizon.

In a dark hall, within a quiet courtyard.

A gust of wind rustled through the gnarled, ancient trees, sending yellowed leaves fluttering down.

The chief of the Golden Saber Stronghold turned his head, dodging a falling leaf.

He took a deep breath, his expression grave. "Emissary, something is amiss. This abnormality must mean a great calamity is brewing..."

He laid out his speculations for Fang Yang in great detail.

Though he didn’t say it outright, his unspoken plea was for Fang Yang to lead them on a proactive strike, to scout out what was happening with the beast hordes.

"I understand. You may go back for now," Fang Yang said coolly.

With that, he casually caught a falling leaf between his fingers, his demeanor perfectly composed.

In truth, he knew the situation was rather peculiar. But the more that was the case, the more he resolved not to make any rash moves.

Besides, he wasn’t worried about the storm that was likely to erupt.

The first reason was his multiple trump cards.

He had the Autumn Wind Cicada Treasure Robe, which was practically a Resurrection Armor, and the Yimu Saint Spear that could unleash the power of a Tier Six Thunder Dao Saint, among others.

He even knew that Layman Shuqing was surely watching over him, protecting him from the shadows.

Of course, there was also the hint from his divination.

The second reason was that he was simply here on an assessment mission.

His only task was to protect the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone mine.

It would be best if he succeeded, but it wouldn’t matter much if he failed.

There was no need for him to risk his life, let alone fight to the death for the sake of the Golden Saber Stronghold.

Besides, the Cyan Cloud Ink Stone mine was not the Golden Saber Stronghold!

"This... Very well."

The chief’s lips twitched, but seeing that Fang Yang had fallen silent, he knew he was being shown the door.

Before long, the chief of the Golden Saber Stronghold returned to the dark hall.

The moment he returned, a white-haired old man trotted over, panting. "Chief, is the Emissary dispatching his forces?"

"Alas..." The chief sighed. "A man of his stature won’t place himself in needless danger."

At his words, the hall fell instantly silent.

...

The fears of the Golden Saber Stronghold’s chief and his men were finally realized.

On this day, the sky was dark as ink, with faint lightning flickering within the clouds.

Amidst chilling autumn gusts, a tide of Fierce Beasts, with the Stone-eating Scorpion horde at its heart, charged ferociously toward the Golden Saber Stronghold.

BOOM—

A bolt of lightning tore across the dim sky, briefly illuminating the landscape.

On the ground, Stone-eating Scorpions, Burrowing Demon Rats, and other beasts advanced relentlessly, their orderly progression exuding an immense, oppressive pressure.

The most eye-catching of all was the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, surrounded and protected by a myriad of beasts at the very center!

’A Ten Thousand Beasts King’s intelligence is nearly demonic.’

Fang Yang lowered his gaze. ’No wonder the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life needs the Golden Clan’s power to fight the Red Flame Demon Country.’

This wasn’t the first time he had faced a beast tide led by a Ten Thousand Beasts King.

But every time, he was struck by the profound leap in their order of existence.

To a Mortal Cultivator, a Thousand Beasts King might not be a major threat. But if a Thousand Beasts King took that next step forward, it would become something truly terrifying.

Certain special Ten Thousand Beasts Kings could even begin to concentrate the power of their entire horde into themselves!

"Great heavens, how could it be a Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King?!" The chief’s face drained of color.

The others fared even worse, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

At this moment, Fang Yang was the only one on the field who remained perfectly calm.

He was as unflappable as a mountain in a storm, completely unfazed.

His composure instantly piqued Layman Shuqing’s curiosity.

’This isn’t a Swordfish Ten Thousand Beasts King. It’s a Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King, capable of drawing on the power of its horde. How will you handle this?’

BOOM—

Without another word, the people of the Golden Saber Stronghold frantically unleashed their Magic.

The dim sky was instantly lit up by a kaleidoscope of brilliant lights.

A barrage of Fireballs, bamboo spears, ice arrows, and Wind Blades shot toward the beast tide.

All sorts of Light Armor, Bone Shields, and water barriers rose into the air.

In response, the beast horde surged forward like a relentless flood.

They advanced with a momentum that threatened to shatter and devour everything in their path, to crush cities and strongholds, striking terror into the hearts of all.

Meanwhile, Fang Yang’s eagle and snake swarms worked in concert, fanning out to his left and right to lend their strength to the defense.

As for him, he conjured one thunderfire spear after another, hurling them to assassinate the Tier Four Thousand Beasts Kings.

Like blooming flowers of blood, one Thousand Beasts King after another was silenced.

Seeing this, the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King fixed its chilling, murderous gaze on Fang Yang.

Because of Fang Yang’s precision strikes, the beast tide’s advance was actually being held back!

SKREEE...

The Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King moved past its brethren and, tilting its head to the sky, let out a long, piercing cry.

The other Stone-eating Scorpions, drawn by its call, also raised their heads and let out a cacophony of ghastly shrieks.

The next moment, specks of dark light began to lift from the bodies of the scorpions, converging upon the Ten Thousand Beasts King.

As it absorbed the light, the Ten Thousand Beasts King’s body began to make popping sounds, swelling up like a balloon.

In the blink of an eye, it had grown to the size of a small mountain!

"We’re done for... completely done for..."

"Monster, I’m not afraid of you! I’m not afraid!"

"SOB... I’m still a virgin..."

Cries of sorrow, regret, and anger erupted from within the Golden Saber Stronghold, a cacophony of despair.

Faced with the sight of such a monstrous Ten Thousand Beasts King, it was hard not to feel utter despair.

’Is this the power of a legendary Saint?’ they wondered.

’It’s time for you to show your hand, Fang Yang.’ Seeing this, Layman Shuqing grew even more expectant.

But Fang Yang remained silent, his gaze still fixed intently on the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King.

Once he had ascertained that the Ten Thousand Beasts King had no other tricks up its sleeve, he made his move.

"You beast! Your rampage ends here."

With a light tap of his foot, the Thunderfire Wings on his back began to vibrate.

With a great RUSTLE, the Golden Tai Chi Diagram materialized above his head and unfurled completely, casting half the sky in a brilliant golden light.

In an instant, beneath the Golden Tai Chi Diagram, the Eighteen Layers of Fire Realm spread out completely. Masses of Anomalous Flame, like falling meteorites, rained down and inundated the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King.

The Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King roared in fury, struggling to advance through the flames, but every step was an ordeal.

"Hmph." Fang Yang’s eyes flashed with a cold light as the Thunder Cauldron within him boomed.

His second Lifebound Skill—the Thunder Sea!

The Golden Tai Chi Diagram erupted once more. Rolling thunder, like a violet ocean, poured down, carrying with it an aura of utter destruction.

This was because the lightning had been tempered by the Yimu Saint Spear.

This killing blow sent a chill through the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King. It let out a series of sharp shrieks, unleashing powerful sonic waves.

And within those gray-white sonic waves, a normal-sized projection of the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King appeared.

It was its Soul!

In its moment of peril, the Ten Thousand Beasts King remained composed, attempting to preemptively destroy Fang Yang with a sonic soul attack.

For a split second, Layman Shuqing prepared to intervene.

But an instant later, a look of admiration appeared in Layman Shuqing’s eyes.

A powerful flapping of eagle wings resounded as Fang Yang manifested his Ten Thousand Eagle Souls, forcing back the Ten Thousand Beasts King’s soul projection with a single strike.

The world suddenly fell silent as a deeper darkness descended.

From the center of the Golden Tai Chi Diagram, the phantom of a black Giant Kun slowly poked its head out. Then, like a leaping carp, it shot out violently.

Before everyone’s eyes, the black Giant Kun phantom surged upward and, in a single leap, crushed the Soul of the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King.

It was dead.

The Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King was dead.

The battle had lasted no more than a few minutes, and Fang Yang had killed the Stone-eating Scorpion Ten Thousand Beasts King.

The scene was met with a moment of stunned silence, followed by an earth-shattering roar from the defenders.

’Anomalous Flame, divine lightning, the Golden Tai Chi Diagram, a soul ten thousand times more powerful, a Tier Four defeating a Tier Five...’

Layman Shuqing’s gaze burned as he stared at Fang Yang. ’A Great Saint Seed is truly extraordinary. Perhaps you can truly walk the path of the Kun-Peng and ascend to the throne of a Great Saint!’