Ji Changkong and the contingent led by Chu Yunlong entered the ceaseless, undulating mountain range, where numerous formidable experts lay hidden. It was immediately apparent that these lurking figures were masters from the Northern Barbarians, and as Ji Changkong released his divine soul, his expression grew grave; he finally understood why Chu Yunlong and his comrades had suffered defeat.

Within this sprawling network of mountains, the enemy's strength clearly overshadowed that of Chu Yunlong’s side. They alone commanded eleven Bagua Heaven Sentinels!

Furthermore, the number of their Qixing Heaven Sentinels and ** Heaven Sentinels far surpassed that of the Great Chu Kingdom.

With his divine soul spread wide, Ji Changkong distinctly sensed the intense battle intent emanating from the Northern Barbarian Sentinels. These warriors were spiritually charged and strangely euphoric; far from fearing the impending conflict, they appeared inexplicably excited. Their state was perfectly primed for combat, brimming with unwavering confidence!

In contrast, the experts of Great Chu, though maintaining a semblance of composure under the influence of the Xuanyuan Valley group, were visibly inferior in sheer aura. Another critical factor was that their overall collective strength was significantly less than their opponents'.

Ji Changkong frowned subtly, his gaze sweeping over Chu Yunlong and Changjude Yun. He mused that it was no wonder they looked so utterly defeated; at the current rate, it wouldn't take long before these men were utterly… devoured by the Northern Barbarian masters, leaving not a single survivor.

Standing beside Ji Changkong were Gui Rong, Xiao Poshuan, and the others—a collection of fierce-looking individuals from Xuanyuan Valley, their eyes gleaming with savage intent as they surveyed their surroundings with cold, stern expressions.

“Be careful!” Ji Changkong suddenly cautioned, his voice sharp, directed at those beside him. “Within these endless mountains lurk the Northern Barbarians’ super-experts. Don't let your guard down just because the Asura Royalty isn’t present!”

He spoke these words for his own people, particularly those unrestrained types like Xiao Poshuan, fearing that their tendency toward underestimation might lead them into harm.

“Hah! Those Northern brutes only dare to be arrogant in front of Chu Kingdom folk. Under the might of our Xuanyuan Valley, they only have one path: death!” Fufeng declared carelessly, utterly unconcerned. “Just watch, now that we’ve arrived, those Northern savages will scatter!”

Han Feng, having cultivated in Xuanyuan Valley for years, utilizing its rare materials, had reached the peak of the Bagua Heaven Zenith Realm, and his divine soul had been meticulously reforged. Today, Fufeng possessed unprecedented self-assurance, believing few at the Bagua Heaven level could match him. This was inherent to his personality, and the boost in strength had only amplified his confidence tenfold.

Although the other fierce men of Xuanyuan Valley remained outwardly silent after Han Feng’s boast, their expressions clearly conveyed agreement, suggesting they felt the Chu Kingdom experts were far inferior.

The faces of Chu Yunlong and his comrades naturally fell. While Han Feng might not have intended to target them specifically, the implication of his words was clearly one of disdain. Chu Yunlong could only manage a dry laugh, unable to offer any meaningful retort.

“Do not, under any circumstances, underestimate them!” Ji Changkong huffed softly, his brow furrowed, fixing his gaze on Han Feng. “Among those Northern people, there are over ten Bagua Heaven Sentinels, several of whom are at the peak of the Bagua Heaven realm. The Northern Sentinels are extreme worshippers of power and possess incredibly rich combat experience. If you dare to look down upon them, you will be the one to suffer the consequences!”

He intended these words for the others in the Valley as well.

Han Feng paused, scratching his head, sounding unconvinced. “Those Northern savages can really boast that many formidable Bagua Heaven Sentinels?”

“Eleven! A full eleven Bagua Heaven Sentinels! You must understand, even in our Shuiyun Kingdom, dealing with that number would be difficult,” Ji Changkong stated.

Xiao Poshuan’s expression shifted subtly, and he nodded slowly. “No wonder the Chu Kingdom is collapsing. Eleven Bagua Heaven Sentinels—that truly is overwhelming to handle…”

Chu Yunlong felt a slight measure of relief.

“In short, regardless of whether you are from the Chu Kingdom or our Shuiyun Kingdom, everyone needs to tighten up. The Northern Barbarians’ strength is indeed greater than I anticipated. If we show any complacency, we will be the ones paying the price,” Ji Changkong proclaimed loudly, then continued to expand his divine soul outward in all directions.

He needed not only to ascertain the precise count of these Northern Sentinels but also the detailed distribution of their locations.

Beside Jialuo, the Young Master of the Ye Wu Clan, the massive figure of Xue E’s animal bone necklace suddenly emitted a piercing shriek.

Xue E’s face changed drastically. He snatched the necklace, twisting it until the string snapped. “Someone is using their divine soul to pry at us! His soul managed to slip past our detection—if the Beast Spirit hadn't cried out, I wouldn’t have known!”

Upon Xue E’s warning, the Northern Barbarian Sentinels stirred, their expressions momentarily frozen. They immediately released their own divine souls, meticulously probing the surrounding environment, hoping to locate the soul that dared to spy on them.

Jialuo snorted coldly, gazing toward the distance with icy eyes. “These Great Chu fellows always resort to cheap tricks. Soul probing, hmph, I will ensure he comes only to never leave!”

Three bleached, skeletal heads suddenly materialized in a triangle before Jialuo’s eyes. Six faint wisps of smoke drifted from the empty eye sockets of the skulls. Jialuo’s green eyes flashed with venomous light, and he abruptly opened his mouth to exhale.

Streams of malignant light sprayed from Jialuo’s mouth, showering the three stark white skulls. Under the illumination of this vile light, the skulls began to emit even denser plumes of smoke.

Suddenly, the three skulls violently slammed into each other. In an instant, they shattered, bone fragments scattering wildly, mingling with the faint smoke.

At that precise moment, an extremely violent soul fluctuation erupted from the smoke mixed with bone dust. Three grasping, grotesque evil spirits flew out, casting a hazy green luminescence over the surrounding void.

Under the glow of the green light, a colossal, indistinct figure suddenly shimmered into existence within the emptiness.

Jialuo let out a cold chuckle. “Devour him!”

The three clawing evil spirits lunged toward the gigantic, hazy figure in the void, projecting forces specifically targeting the soul. An aura of boundless, hateful killing intent spread, making the space feel instantly transformed into an Asura’s hell.

The massive figure in the void trembled violently, becoming even more blurred.

The three evil spirits rushed forward but found they could no longer track their target. They could not sense the other party’s will, left only to howl mournfully in the sky, roaring madly in frustration.

Jialuo frowned and snorted. “This fellow is quick to flee.”

With a gesture, the three evil spirits descended from the void and vanished back into the folds of his sleeve.

Xue E and his group had already prepared their soul attacks, waiting for the evil spirits to entangle the giant spectral projection so they could deliver a fatal blow.

Alas, at the most critical juncture, the enormous phantom had vanished with uncanny swiftness.

Elsewhere, Ji Changkong’s expression shifted slightly. He took a deep breath and stated grimly, “We’ve been discovered.”

Xiao Xing was startled. “They found you?”

Xiao Xing was one of the few who knew Ji Changkong practiced the Tai Xu Secret Record. He understood its profound principles and the unique advantages it offered in concealing one’s presence. He had fully expected Ji Changkong, by extending his divine soul, to command complete intelligence over the enemy’s movements, believing discovery was impossible. He was surprised that Ji Changkong’s soul trace was exposed so quickly.

“Yes!” Ji Changkong’s expression was heavy. He surveyed the area, addressing Han Feng and the others. “Not only are the enemy experts numerous, but they also wield strange divine artifacts and spirit treasures. It seems the Northern Barbarians truly spared no expense this time. If you all still take this lightly, this battle might end in our total rout!”

Han Feng and the others were familiar with the peculiar nature of Ji Changkong’s soul power. Seeing that even his soul had been detected finally made them realize the opponents’ extraordinary nature, and they silently resolved to be vigilant and treat the conflict seriously.

“Is the enemy leader a young man?” Ji Changkong turned to look at Chu Yunlong. “Is that youth from the Rakshasa Clan? What is his name?”

Ji Changkong faintly detected a familiar aura around the youth but, due to the hasty departure just now, was uncertain of his identity and needed confirmation.

“He is rumored to be named Jialuo,” replied Chu Shanxin, her face cold. “I learned this from a Northern Barbarian Sentinel. Apparently, he is the Young Master of the Rakshasa Clan. We haven't actually seen his true appearance yet.”

“Jialuo,” Ji Changkong murmured softly, then suddenly burst into laughter. “No mistake, it is indeed him. Fate certainly brings strange encounters; I never expected to run into him here. Perfect timing!”

“You know Jialuo?” Xiao Xing asked.

Ji Changkong nodded with a smile. “When I was cultivating in the Big Dipper Star Domain, I crossed paths with Jialuo more than once. Heh, I didn’t expect he would also reach the Bagua Heaven realm. It seems the score between us can finally be settled in these continuous mountains.”

“How should we fight them?” Xiao Xing inquired.

“No rush. Let’s traverse these mountains first and observe the situation,” Ji Changkong decided after a moment’s thought. “We’ve just arrived from the Shuiyun Kingdom and are not fully clear on the local conditions. Only by truly understanding the terrain now can we leverage the topography in the coming battles, or at the very least, prevent them from using the terrain to gain an advantage.”

“I can lead you through,” Chu Yunlong offered. “I have spent a long time here and have some understanding of the terrain.”

The others agreed.

Under Ji Changkong’s direction, they temporarily avoided the Northern Barbarian Sentinels. With Chu Yunlong guiding them, they navigated the endless ridges, charting the key strategic points within the complex mountain range.

“If we were to lay down various restrictions throughout these continuous mountains, would that be feasible?” Ji Changkong asked after an hour.

Chu Yunlong shook his head with a bitter smile. “It’s very difficult. Because people from both sides often get separated while fighting in these mountains, if we set up restrictions, everyone could scatter when combat breaks out, potentially…”

“Also, any restriction creates some form of elemental or soul fluctuation, and those Northern savages, by some unknown means, always manage to detect these fluctuations. When the fighting first began, we did consider this and even attempted it. Unfortunately, our restrictions never served their purpose. Once painstakingly set up, they were often destroyed directly by the Northern savages’ sheer brute force, failing to achieve any expected effect.”

“I see,” Ji Changkong frowned, pondering internally.

He could tell that these Northern experts were not as crude as they appeared externally. Most of them possessed spirit treasures and divine artifacts, and the fact that even his stealthy soul probe was detected confirmed that the enemy was far from simple prey.

The failure of the Great Chu Kingdom’s own experts who specialized in setting restrictions was sufficient proof that relying on such measures was futile.

In combat, the Northern Barbarians fought with reckless abandon; their physical strength far surpassed that of the Chu side. Coupled with their sharp divine weapons, strange spirit treasures, and numerical superiority, the Chu Kingdom’s defeat was entirely understandable.

“If we cannot use restrictions, perhaps we can shift our approach,” Ji Changkong mused for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Can we use poison?”

“Use poison?” Chu Yunlong looked surprised, then his expression turned peculiar after thinking it over. “I have no restrictions against it. The Northern experts sometimes coat their divine weapons and spirit treasures with strange toxins, so naturally, we can use them too. However… we lack experts skilled in deploying poison on our side. Moreover, using poison might incite the wild nature of the Northern experts, risking them breaking all rules and invading our Northern Frontier…”

“When war between nations reaches such a critical juncture, how can we afford such scruples!” Ji Changkong rebuked sharply, showing Chu Yunlong no courtesy. “Besides, their weapons carry poison; we are perfectly justified in using it too!”

“But… wouldn’t that be a bit less than honorable?” Chang Biede Yun mumbled, appearing hesitant.

“Less honorable?” Ji Changkong let out a short laugh. “You people suffer for the sake of appearances! At this stage, any method that can maximize the killing of enemy experts is permissible. If you insist on maintaining this adherence to honorable conduct, you are courting death. Wait until your sects are utterly annihilated; then we’ll see how you uphold your righteousness!”

At these words, all the Great Chu Kingdom members fell silent.

After a pause, Chu Yunlong sighed bitterly. “If we use poison, we don’t have many people who understand how to deploy it on our side.”

“That’s fine. If you don’t understand, the people from our Xuanyuan Valley certainly do.”

“Enough. Don’t worry about the deployment details. We’ll walk a bit more shortly, and we will add some ‘flavor’ to the strategic locations. We will inform you which areas to avoid and which are safe later,” Ji Changkong settled the matter decisively, then gave Xiao Xing a meaningful look.

Xiao Xing understood and addressed the Chu Kingdom group. “Using poison isn’t exactly good optics. Our people from Xuanyuan Valley will scout ahead, and you follow closely behind. Maintain good spacing so we can support each other immediately. That should mitigate any issues.”

“Alright… Fine,” Chu Yunlong conceded helplessly.

Ji Changkong led Xiao Poshuan, Xiao Xing, and the other Xuanyuan Valley masters away from the main group, entering a valley densely choked with vines.

“You brat, we don’t seem to have any experts in poison back in the Valley! Don’t tell me you’re just bluffing those people?” Han Feng immediately complained once they were out of earshot of the others.

Xiao Xing and the others looked equally bewildered, staring at Ji Changkong questioningly. “Changkong, what’s going on? We truly don’t have any poison masters in the Valley; how are we supposed to deploy toxins?”

Most of them were unaware that Ji Changkong had intensely studied the poison arts of the Myriad Poisons Sect while in the Southern Yi lands. His techniques, learned from the Sect Master, were naturally superior.

“No trouble, I’ll handle it,” Ji Changkong smiled, telling his comrades, “Back when I was in the Southern Yi region, I learned some methods of utilizing toxins from the Myriad Poisons Sect. Today is the perfect chance to put them to use.”

“Changkong, be careful not to harm yourself with the poison,” Bai Qingya said, sounding somewhat anxious.

Ji Changkong chuckled. “Don’t worry. Since I dare to use it, I have some measure of control. You all just rest assured; the methods of the Myriad Poisons Sect will certainly prove useful here.”

As he spoke, Ji Changkong pulled several jars and bottles from his storage pouch. Moving like lightning, he leaped across the vines in the vicinity, swiftly deploying his toxic arts.

The reason he considered using the Myriad Poisons Sect’s toxins against the Northern Barbarian masters was simple: the enemy contingent was not only formidable but also numerous. Even factoring in the Great Chu experts, Ji Changkong wasn't entirely certain their combined force could achieve a decisive victory in a direct confrontation.

The most likely outcome was a stalemate resulting in heavy losses on both sides—a victory achieved at a devastating cost. Since they were guests in this region, they were not willing to sacrifice their lives entirely. Since any means were permissible in these mountains, employing poison was genuinely the best way to minimize losses for their own side.

Tempered by years of experience, he was no longer that naive youth. He felt no compunction about using methods generally disdained by so-called righteous individuals, as long as it offered greater assurance for the lives of his allies.

Under the watchful eyes of the Xuanyuan Valley contingent, they watched Ji Changkong flash across the soil of the vines ahead, then vanish instantly into the distance, his hands moving with incredible speed.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, eager to see him execute his poisoning techniques, yet they saw no multicolored toxic smoke, nor any obvious change in the surrounding vines or air. Everything appeared utterly ordinary—so ordinary that they suspected Ji Changkong might just be posturing.

“This area is done. I’m moving to the next spot,” Ji Changkong called from afar, signaling his group to follow.

Han Feng and the other Xuanyuan Valley experts looked hesitant, forcing dry laughs. “You just released the poison; won’t we walk right into it if we go now?”

Bai Chanhai and the others shared this sentiment, shaking their heads and suggesting a different route would be safer.

Ji Changkong laughed softly. “Don’t worry. Although I released the toxin, it will take at least another hour to take full effect. Not only will you all be fine, but even the Great Chu people following behind will be safe. Heh, I timed it perfectly. Those Northern savages are currently hunting for our trail. Perhaps the toxins will only truly activate when they arrive here.”

Hearing this, the group finally relaxed. They followed Ji Changkong, curiously scrutinizing the surroundings for any subtle shifts along the way.

“Stop looking. If you could spot the effects, then all my effort would have been wasted,” Ji Changkong chuckled. “Hurry up and follow. Give a word to the Great Chu group as well; I’m moving ahead to continue my work.”

Two hours later.

Ji Changkong leaned against a massive tree, looking slightly fatigued, silently regulating his breath. After a long while, Chu Yunlong and the Great Chu party finally arrived slowly, clearly walking on eggshells, glancing nervously at the surroundings with every few steps, terrified of contamination by some strange poison.

Finally reaching the area, Chu Yunlong looked at Xiao Xing, slightly puzzled. “Is he finished?”

Xiao Xing nodded, his expression unchanged, and smiled. “Yes, according to him, everything is done. Every route we passed has been treated with poison.”

“Why are there no visible changes or signs?” Chu Yunlong asked curiously.

“I don’t know either,” Xiao Xing admitted with a wry smile. “He said the effects won't be immediate; they will only truly manifest once the Northern savages approach.”

“Really?” Chu Shanxin asked, her pretty face etched with skepticism, clearly finding it hard to believe.

"Hmph!" Bai Qingya let out a low sound from a distance, casting a cold glance at Chu Shanxin before murmuring, "Believe it or not."

Chu Shanxin was startled, staring at Bai Qingya for a moment before smiling charmingly, "I was wrong, I shouldn't have doubted the brilliant and mighty Young Master Ji. Yes, I'll watch as those Northern Barbarians fall one by one, all perishing behind us."

Bai Qingya coldly turned her head away, clearly not inclined to bother with her.

Chang Duo De Yun Song Yu and his group, by this point, had fully reconciled their thoughts. Facing the existential crisis of their sect, they no longer viewed the use of poison as a negative thing.

Sometimes that's just how things are; once you figure something out, you truly let go of the knot in your heart. Song Yu and Chu Yunlong were now worried that the poisons might not be effective.

On the side of the Great Chu Kingdom, the Celestial Masters were skeptical of Xiao Xing's claims, with many even believing Ji Changkong was being deliberately mysterious. This was because as they traveled, they hadn't noticed the slightest change or any abnormality, which made them doubt Ji Changkong's words.

After a while, Ji Changkong slowly regained his composure, glanced at the crowd, whose faces were filled with confusion, and said lightly, "We'll wait right here. I've already allowed our residual presence here to leak out. I imagine those Northern Barbarians won't take long to track us down along the path we took."

Someone blurted out, "Then what should we do?"

"Simple!" Ji Changkong smiled. "We'll just wait here, wait for those Northern Barbarians to sneak up on us."

"Ah!" the person exclaimed, "Shouldn't we be doing something?"

Ji Changkong shrugged. "What needed to be done, I've already done. Now everyone just needs to rest well, rest until the Northern Barbarians arrive."

The crowd exchanged glances, looking as if they didn't know what to say.

The masters from Xuanyuan Valley, although equally puzzled internally, did not voice any doubts. They all sat down on the spot to rest, silently awaiting the arrival of the Northern Barbarians.

The people from the Great Chu Kingdom looked strange, glancing around for a while, unable to settle down to circulate their energy as quietly as the Xuanyuan Valley members. A string in their minds was pulled taut until they finally noticed that everyone from Xuanyuan Valley had entered a state of readiness; only then did they slowly start finding places to rest.

"Rustle! Head rustle!"

"Hiss hiss hiss hiss!"

"Swish swish swish!"

Faint footsteps, the sound of rapid movement, the sound of leaves drifting—gradually, these sounds traveled from a distance, reaching the ears of everyone present.

The masters who were silently circulating their energy detected the faint sounds coming from afar. These masters, having reached the Eighth Heaven Realm of Bagua, instantly grew tense. From those sounds, they had already deduced that the approaching party was numerous.

Chu Yunlong's expression shifted slightly. "These Northern Barbarians are indeed formidable; they have a way to mask the aura of so many Divine Souls!"

Although they had been cultivating silently, their Divine Souls had not been idle, having been released long ago to observe secretly. Unfortunately, their Divine Souls had detected nothing unusual, forcing them in the end to rely solely on their hearing to ascertain the enemy's tracks.

And at this moment, the arrivals were almost upon them.

Ji Changkong opened his eyes, smiled at Chu Yunlong, and said, "The Northern Barbarian masters have quite the technique. They can utilize Spirit Treasures above them to form soul-insulating barriers, forcefully intercepting our Divine Soul surveillance."

"They're here!" Han Feng suddenly stood up, his face icy cold, though his eyes held a spark of excitement. "Perfect!"

"Someone must have been poisoned. I hope most of them are already dead!" Chu Shanxin looked at Ji Changkong with eager anticipation. "Have those people been poisoned?"

Ji Changkong smiled and nodded, his expression mysterious. "Most of them have been poisoned." The crowd stirred, their hearts filled with expectation, the tension instantly vanishing as they secretly awaited the arrival of the Northern Barbarian masters.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters began to emerge one by one from the dense forest, their tall, imposing bodies standing like small mountains before everyone.

The peculiar Northern Barbarians were clearly different from the Central Land people in appearance. Not only did their hair and eye colors differ from the Central Landers, but some of them had sharp spikes covering their bodies, or horns growing from their heads, and some even possessed shaggy tails.

Having lived in the harsh, cold lands of the north for so long, the Northern Barbarians were stout and tall, their muscles strong and powerful. The constant tempering in such an adverse environment made their bodies even tougher. In the cultivation of the Celestial Path, these Northern Barbarians also tended to hone their bodies to be impervious to blades and spears!

One by one, the Northern Barbarian figures lined up before Ji Changkong and his group, their eyes brimming with a bloodthirsty desire to kill.

"No, no wounded, no signs of poisoning..." Chu Shanxin stared blankly at the arriving Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters, her face full of bewilderment. She looked for a long time but couldn't spot a single trace of poisoning on any of them. Every single one appeared full of fighting spirit, in peak condition—how could anyone possibly be poisoned?

The highly confident Celestial Masters of the Great Chu Kingdom all looked towards Ji Changkong, their expressions suggesting they felt he had failed.

"Young Master Ji, this... what is going on?" Chu Yunlong asked in surprise, suddenly feeling a touch of worry.

"Uh, perhaps the efficacy of the medicine was a bit low," Ji Changkong offered a strange smile, feigning apology. "Well... perhaps we can't rely on the poison anymore. A moment from now, we'll have to rely on true strength to survive."

At these words, the people of the Great Chu Kingdom were instantly stunned into silence.

Even many among the Xuanyuan Valley contingent wore extremely odd expressions, suddenly feeling as if Ji Changkong had played a massive joke on them.

"Who? Who is using their Divine Soul to spy on us?" Gāluó's eyes flashed with fierce light, his expression cold as he swept his gaze over the group on this side. He snorted, "To dare use Divine Souls to spy on our side—you truly don't cherish your lives!"

Blood Crocodile, bearing his hexagonal shield on his back, burst into loud laughter. "You cowardly Chu people, why aren't you running today?"

"Young Master Gāluó, long time no see." Ji Changkong smiled, looking at Gāluó and nodding slowly.

"Who are you?" Gāluó sized up Ji Changkong and snorted. "I don't recall meeting you?"

Ji Changkong smiled. "Young Master Gāluó is indeed forgetful. In the Endless Star Domain, I recall saying we would meet again. When I was in the Big Dipper Star Domain, I killed so many of your Yaksha clan's Seven-Star Celestial Masters; you forgot me so quickly? It seems you don't take your clansmen's lives to heart."

"It's you!!" Gāluó's face, which wasn't handsome to begin with, suddenly twisted into a savage grimace, like an enraged beast. He glared intensely at Ji Changkong, then suddenly roared with laughter, "Ji Changkong, I was just looking for you, I didn't expect you to walk right into the door yourself!"

"I am also pleased to run into you here." Ji Changkong's smile slowly faded as he looked at Gāluó calmly. "Back in the Big Dipper Star Domain, I once said that the next time I saw you, I would certainly kill you. Today is the day I fulfill that promise!"

"Hahahaha!" Gāluó pointed at Ji Changkong and roared, "You can kill me? Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

"Yes, I can kill you." Ji Changkong's expression grew calmer, his demeanor indifferent, not showing the slightest ripple. However, at this moment, his Divine Soul had quietly condensed, and the power of his soul had already locked onto Gāluó.

"Good!" Gāluó laughed loudly, pointing a finger at Ji Changkong with arrogance, "Between this brat and me, none of you are to interfere!"

The Celestial Masters on the Northern Barbarian side grinned menacingly and nodded, shouting in chorus, "Young Master, smash this nonsense Xuanyuan to pieces! Haha, I hope Young Master's spiked mace can smash right into his skull! We want to see how Ji Changkong's brain matter differs!"

As the speaker finished, he licked his lips, displaying a savage, bloodthirsty look.

"Don't worry, I will let you see that scene!" Gāluó laughed wildly, suddenly waving a hand coldly. "Except for that brat, no one else is to move. Kill all the rest! I want to watch them die one by one here. Today, we will crush Chu Kingdom! And march into the Central Lands!"

"March into the Central Lands! March into the Central Lands!"

The Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters roared frantically.

The Northern Barbarian Celestial Masters next to him pounced like savage beasts starved for years, screaming like ghosts crying and wolves howling in the air, their cries shaking the heavens. ***

The people of Xuanyuan Valley and the Great Chu Kingdom had long abandoned any hope of luck. They concentrated all their focus, unleashing every bit of power in their bodies, ready to fight to the death at any moment.

In an instant, the masters on both sides were locked in a chaotic melee, and a battle of extreme brutality immediately erupted.

In one area, amidst intersecting beams of light and fierce bombardment, thick smoke immediately began to billow. The surrounding trees were instantly obliterated. The small mountains behind Ji Changkong and the others were actually blasted apart by the Northern Barbarian masters' attacks, collapsing deep into the earth.

Gāluó grasped the blood-stained spiked mace, his face fixed in a cold, sinister grin as he stared at Ji Changkong. "You escaped me in the Big Dipper Star Domain, but this time, I wonder where you can run. Wherever you flee, we will wash it with blood. Ji Changkong, aren't you the Xuanyuan of the Ji family? I want to see if this Xuanyuan of yours is truly as formidable as the rumors claim!"

"Is that so? Then let me show you." Ji Changkong's expression turned stern, completely unaffected by Gāluó's words. He drew the Dragon Radiance Long Saber and calmly walked towards Gāluó.

As the Young Master of the Yaksha clan, Gāluó certainly didn't lack the assistance of rare treasures in his cultivation. Although Gāluó was incredibly ferocious, his innate talent must have been decent, otherwise, he wouldn't have broken through to the Eighth Heaven Realm of Bagua in such a short time.

Also being in the Eighth Heaven Realm of Bagua, Gāluó must possess hidden treasures under the might of the Yaksha clan and must have practiced the Yaksha clan's miraculous secret techniques. This was indeed a worthy opponent for a fight.

With this in mind, Ji Changkong raised the Dragon Radiance Long Saber, and a gigantic blood dragon suddenly manifested in the void. A thick, bloody stench permeated the heaven and earth. As soon as the blood dragon appeared, it immediately targeted Gāluó and rushed towards him ferociously.

Gāluó's face was filled with frenzied killing intent. He thrust his massive spiked mace towards the sky. Wisps of black smoke suddenly emerged from the mace. These wisps of smoke gathered rapidly after leaving the mace, condensing into a terrifying, spike-covered ferocious beast in a short time. This beast roared towards the sky and immediately entangled itself with the blood dragon.

Gāluó sneered at Ji Changkong. "To think you want to harm me with mere object manifestation techniques!"

Saying this, Gāluó stared intently at Ji Changkong. A faint, eerie green light suddenly emanated from his eyes. Within that green light was power capable of influencing the Divine Soul, carrying a strange, dizzying, almost soporific quality. What Chu Yunlong said was not false; these Northern Barbarians were indeed adept at using poison. The green light escaping Gāluó's pupils seemed to be created using phosgene fire and ground beast bones, possessing a rather peculiar nature.

Ji Changkong's expression remained calm, his eyes slowly narrowing as he looked at Gāluó. "When it comes to playing with poison, you are far too inexperienced."

He merely turned the profound principles of the Great Void Secret Record, and his Divine Soul was no longer affected by Gāluó. With the blood of the Four Sacred Beasts residing within him, he was immune to poison; his body was utterly unharmed.

With a flick of his will, the Dragon Radiance Long Saber in his hand flew out, speeding straight towards Gāluó. As it was mid-air, the long saber swallowed the preceding blood dragon into itself. A dragon's roar suddenly echoed from within the long saber, and the blade suddenly erupted with an incomparably massive beam of saber light!

Crackling sounds suddenly echoed in the air. Under the assault of this saber light, the earth was ripped apart, and vast chasms appeared.

Gāluó remained unafraid, watching the saber light approach coldly. "The Xuanyuan of the Ji family does indeed have some tricks!"

As he spoke, Gāluó began to spur the Yaksha clan's ultimate skill. The Yaksha clan's Soul Skill flashed through Gāluó's mind, and just as he was preparing to unleash the secret technique using his vital essence, he suddenly felt a strange sensation within his body. The speed at which his vital essence was gathering suddenly slowed considerably.

"Ah! What's happening? What's going on!"

"My power, my power! I can't control my vital essence!"

"Damn it, what is wrong with me?"

"..."

Suddenly, cries of alarm erupted from among the Yaksha clan masters. The Yaksha masters cried out as if they had all simultaneously contracted some bizarre illness.

At this moment, the masters from the Great Chu Kingdom and Xuanyuan Valley immediately seized the opportunity, launching a fierce assault on the Yaksha masters. In battle, a tiny oversight could alter the outcome, let alone such a severe situation?

In just this instant, over ten Northern Barbarian masters were killed.

Chu Yunlong's side suddenly saw their eyes light up, and they all turned their gaze to Ji Changkong, their eyes filled with immense joy!