The relentless magical bombardment continued, and the combined army surged forward like an immense torrent of steel, unwavering in its advance. The high-intensity magic and wide-area strikes reduced every ZUMA Guardian that dared to obstruct our path to charred remains.

Soon, the mages’ second wave of attacks ceased. Within the approximate three hundred meters extending from the corner ahead, not a single mutated ZUMA creature remained standing. The warriors on the periphery, save for the initial clashes and skirmishes with the ZUMA Guardians that managed to close the distance, found themselves with no opportunity to strike as the battle progressed. The few mutated ZUMA creatures that managed to bypass the walls of fire and attempt to reach melee range were mercilessly intercepted and destroyed by the Fourth Interception Team of the Mage Legion.

At this moment, the Mage Legion became the absolute main force on the battlefield, while our task as warriors was to protect the mages from any ZUMA Guardian that managed to get close. I never imagined that those notoriously troublesome and terrifying ZUMA Guardians would prove so utterly fragile against the might of the Mage Legion. It was no wonder that achieving the status of a powerful mage had always been the primary career choice for almost everyone on the MARFA Continent; only those lacking sufficient magical talent would settle for secondary professions like Warrior or Taoist.

Approximately three hours passed, and under the barrage of the Mage Legion, the combined army advanced a full two thousand meters. We finally welcomed a much-needed respite. In truth, we warriors weren't overly fatigued, but the mages had been fighting continuously for three hours, their Mana and mental energy severely depleted.

This campaign has been incredibly educational for me; I finally witnessed the terrifying nature of large-scale coordinated combat. My only regret was not seeing the four great Young Masters take action. Although Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild let out that initial roar, the information I could glean from that single cry was far too sparse.

After the hour of rest concluded, the combined army resumed its advance, following the exact same pattern as before: the mages led with ranged attacks, the warriors guarded nearby, and the Taoists provided auxiliary support. A trinity of forces, pushing forward layer by layer. About twelve hours later, we finally fought our way to the junction leading from ZUMA Level Seven-One to ZUMA Level Seven-Two.

Next, it was the warriors' turn to take center stage. Just as when we entered ZUMA Level Seven-One, the warriors' mission was to clear out the ZUMA Guardians swarming the entrance, carving out sufficient space for the Mage Legion.

In a move identical to the previous tactic, Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild let out a thunderous roar the moment we entered. Seizing the brief window when the ZUMA Guardians were stunned, the warriors exerted every ounce of their strength to swiftly slay those guarding the doorway. Following this, the mages advanced, with the Taoists providing flanking support. The combined army moved systematically, continuing their push into ZUMA Level Seven-Two.

It took us a full three days, but we finally reached the end of ZUMA Level Seven-Three. This meant the initial phase of clearing operations was complete. It was at this point that the long-absent Lord of Shabak City, along with the leaders of the Four Great Sects, finally made their appearance.

The first person was not particularly tall, with long blue hair cascading over his shoulders; only a few strands near his beard held a silver sheen. His face was slender, and his blue pupils held an unusual depth and coldness. His mere bearing exuded a captivating, world-overlooking aura of dominance. He appeared to be around fifty, yet I knew that given his level of cultivation, discerning his true age was impossible. In a single glance, I perceived that his cultivation was comparable to that of my master, Jian Li. From the gasps of astonishment around me, I learned this man was the Lord of Shabak City, Mo Zhanting.

Behind him stood four middle-aged men, all possessing extraordinary auras. The one on the far left was a handsome man with a crown of white hair and a face like fine jade, bearing some resemblance to Eagle True Maniac. He was likely the contemporary Sect Master of the Eagle True Sect, Eagle True Qiuyun. The second man from the left possessed a physique as sturdy as a mountain, like a War God descended from the heavens. Of the five, his presence was the most astonishing. He was enveloped in a faint, shimmering, seven-colored radiance—the legendary Phoenix Sky Body Protection, a phenomenon produced when Battle Qi is cultivated to the absolute peak. It was said that once Battle Qi reached this state, conscious exertion to protect the body was unnecessary; the internal Battle Qi would circulate automatically, forming an incredibly potent defensive shield that could not be breached by anything less than a full-force strike from someone at the peak of the Red Moon realm. Without a doubt, this man was the contemporary Sect Master of the Bear Dominance Sect, Bear Dominance Cangmang, whose mastery of Battle Qi was publicly acknowledged as the strongest among all the super-masters on the MARFA Continent.

Beside Bear Dominance Cangmang stood a handsome middle-aged man with green hair and blue eyes, resembling Longyuan Feixue in some ways. He was not tall, but in his casual glances, there was an innate, unparalleled imposing might, as if the entire world yielded at his feet—the regal bearing cultivated only by those long accustomed to supreme authority, surpassing even the aura of the Lord of Shabak City. This was the contemporary Sect Master of the Dragon Abyss Sect, Longyuan Canghai.

Next to Longyuan Canghai was a tall, incredibly robust man with black hair, thick brows, and large, resolute features. Even the most skilled sculptor could not capture the spirit of that rugged, masculine, heroic visage. He instinctively reminded me of Simon Yam; indeed, this man looked remarkably like him. The only difference was his grayish-brown eyes. Yet, despite that, I felt an inexplicable kinship with him; in all my time in this world, he was the one who looked most like someone from my original world. This man was the Sect Master of the Tiger Howl Sect, Tiger Howl Changfeng.

Following behind them was a contingent of middle-aged men, also carrying imposing auras, numbering around fifty, along with several white-haired elders. It was clear these were the Elder-level top masters from the Four Great Sects and Shabak City.

Just as Yan Luo had predicted, the Four Great Sects and Shabak were absolutely determined to succeed in this endeavor. Every single one of these individuals was an unparalleled master of extraordinary skill. To distinguish them from the younger masters, the Rangers of the MARFA Continent had given them a specific moniker: Monster Level. Indeed, these old fellows were so powerful they hardly seemed human, which is why the younger Rangers referred to them as Old Monsters.

Now that the main players were on stage, the real show was about to begin. I forcefully suppressed the fear and trembling in my heart. Heavens, the moment these Old Monsters appeared, their terrifying auras, like a massive, invisible field, slammed into the assembled Young Rangers, leaving them utterly shaken.

This is the pinnacle of masters, the very top tier in the Ranger world. Five of them appeared at once. However, I didn't see my master or the experts from the Red Moon Villa and Flowing Cloud Villa. Perhaps negotiations between them had broken down. Thinking of this somewhat eased the worry in my heart; as long as Master wasn't here, things would be manageable.

In the blink of an eye, the Lord of Shabak City, Longyuan Canghai, and their entourage strode into the center of the hall.

“Young Heroes, in the near future, we are about to challenge one of the ten most terrifying monsters on the continent, renowned for centuries: the ZUMA Hierarch.” Mo Zhanting, the Lord of Shabak City, spoke with a voice like a massive bell that resonated throughout the entire ZUMA Temple. “Tell me, do you possess the courage and confidence for this?”

“Roar! Yes, courage! Victory is certain!” A thunderous roar erupted from every corner of the assembly. Everyone roared with passionate abandon. Mo Zhanting was undoubtedly a master at rousing fervor and morale, even more so than Hitler; with just a few words, he ignited the fighting spirit and passion in every Ranger present.

“Excellent. Let us use our courage and our hot blood to write a new legend of heroes.” Mo Zhanting spoke with passionate fervor, then shifted his tone directly to the main point: “From this moment on, only those with strength at the Red Moon level will be permitted to enter the ZUMA Hierarch’s Lair. This is for everyone’s safety. Heroes who are not selected should not be discouraged, as even if we kill the ZUMA Hierarch today, nine other great monsters remain. You will all have opportunities.” The so-called Ten Great Monsters referred to the Woma Hierarch of the Woma Temple, the ZUMA Hierarch of the ZUMA Temple, the Iris Hierarch of the Demon Sealing Hall on the Demon Sealing Continent, the Yellow Spring Hierarch at the bottom of the Bone Tomb on the Cangyue Continent, the Ox Demon King of the Ox Demon Cave on the Cangyue Continent, the Red Moon Demon in the Demon Altar within the Red Moon Canyon, the Twin Headed Gold Gang, the Twin Headed Blood Demon, the Demon Dragon Hierarch in the Demon Dragon Blood Domain on the Demon Dragon Continent, and the Dark Skeleton Spirit at the bottom of the Skeleton Cave.

The lairs of these Ten Great Monsters are known as the Ten Great Forbidden Zones. However, among these ten, the ZUMA Temple and the Death Coffin are the few places that humans have successfully entered and exited, making them the most familiar locations to us. Therefore, we can prepare more thoroughly for these two, significantly increasing the probability of successful demon slaying.

Still, I couldn't help but admire the Lord of Shabak City’s silver tongue and audacious lies. He was clearly aiming to seize the ZUMA Head Talisman, and they had no certainty of killing the ZUMA Hierarch, yet he spun it into a battle destined for victory, where everyone would be immortalized. Perhaps this is the so-called glib eloquence that all great figures must master.

“Victory! Victory! Victory!” The surroundings were already swallowed by earth-shattering cheers.

Next, naturally, came the strength testing and selection process. The criteria for selection were simple: Warriors needed to be able to unleash the Blazing Sword Skill; Mages needed to be able to cast the Ice Roar; and Taoists needed to be able to summon the Sacred Covenant Divine Beast to qualify.

These three skills are the basic techniques that every standard Red Moon Ranger must master. The ability to cast them naturally signifies supreme personal strength. I, of course, passed without any suspense.

It took only an hour to select all the Red Moon Rangers. Most of them were familiar faces from the ZUMA Hall, but there were also many strangers. Judging by the guild markings on their bodies, nearly half belonged to the Four Great Sects and Shabak City, while the rest were from smaller factions or unaffiliated individuals. A rough estimate suggested that over nine hundred people were selected: Warriors accounted for the largest group at around five hundred, Mages numbered over two hundred, while Taoists were fewer than a hundred.

The selected nine hundred would join the Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects, the Lord of Shabak City, and the elders accompanying them to challenge the ZUMA Hierarch. This constituted the strongest fighting force that could be mustered within the ZUMA Temple. I just wondered how many of them would make it out alive. After all, the fearsome reputation of the ZUMA Hierarch was well-known across the MARFA Continent; no one knew how long this terrifying great demon had existed. And since the discovery of the ZUMA Temple two thousand years ago, many had attempted to challenge the Hierarch, but without exception, all ended in tragic defeat. However, looking back across two millennia, such a grand-scale demon-slaying campaign was extremely rare. Nearly a thousand Red Moon experts, coupled with over fifty Elder-level masters from the Great Sects, the Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects, and the elite core of Shabak City—this combined strength represented the most powerful demon-slaying lineup in history. It was understandable why everyone held such high hopes for this operation.

Soon, the chosen participants were divided into three main formations. In essence, the structure was similar to before, only scaled down from over five thousand to the current nine hundred-plus. But these remaining nine hundred were the absolute elite; the weakest among them had reached the standard of early Red Moon level.

Before entering the Hierarch’s Lair, everyone was issued a standard ZUMA Set. Warriors were equipped with the God of War Armor and could choose between the Well Sword, or Frosty Crystal Sword. Mages received the standard ZUMA Set, plus the Demon Robe and a Guyu staff. Taoists received ZUMA equipment along with the Dragon Pattern Sword and Ghostly Battle Robe. This constituted the basic rewards for this mission; in addition, there would be numerous gold coins as compensation upon completion—the rewards were incredibly generous. It was no wonder so many dared to risk participating. On one hand, it was due to Mo Zhanting's highly provocative and generous oration; on the other, the overwhelming lineup of powerful masters gave the Rangers hope for success. But most importantly were the rich rewards; without that incentive, absolutely no one would risk participating.

I also quickly changed into the issued ZUMA gear, though for my weapon, helmet, and armor, I switched to lighter heavy armor, the Frosty Crystal Sword, and the Taoist helmet. After all, the God of War Armor, the Black Iron Helmet, and the Well Sword were too cumbersome and would prevent me from utilizing my speed advantage. I decided not to reveal the Dragon Shadow Sword, the Thrusting Sword, or the Hundred Battles Blade, certain that if my true identity were exposed, Li Xie would be the first to target me. As for the Lord of Shabak City, I dared not even contemplate it, given that I had killed his son.

Others were also busy changing equipment. About half an hour later, everyone was geared up and ready, awaiting the final command.

“Now, move out.” The moment the Lord of Shabak City gave the order, the final decisive battle was about to commence.

Passing through the massive stone gate, the world ahead instantly darkened, followed by gusts of fierce wind ripping through the air. Dense masses of ZUMA Guardians charged toward us with frenzy.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!” The masters from the Tiger Howl Sect simultaneously unleashed earth-shattering tiger roars, like countless fierce tigers gathering in the mountains. The powerful sonic waves actually shattered the ZUMA Guardians charging at the very front into pieces. Those of us in the rear, having prepared in advance, covered our ears and stared dumbfounded at the horrifying scene. This was the combined effect of the Old Monsters from the Tiger Howl Sect. The path ahead had instantly become a terrifying slaughterhouse, while we in the rear only felt slight tinnitus and palpitations, suffering no ill effects. This demonstrated that the masters of the Tiger Howl Sect had controlled the sound waves to a level of perfection, far surpassing the capabilities of Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild by countless degrees. They had literally blasted open a thirty-square-meter space in the passage ahead.

“Charge!” Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild roared, leading us as we rushed into the cleared area. We quickly formed up, and immediately, dense waves of ZUMA Guardians swarmed out again, swinging their massive hammers wildly and desperately down upon us.

The fighting ahead was fierce, but I, positioned in the rear, was quite comfortable. Our current mission was straightforward: simply hold firm so the mages could establish themselves. Therefore, the combat at the front was handled entirely by the Vanguard Squad. Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, I spared a moment to observe the surrounding environment. Several massive pillars stood scattered around the hall, topped with fiercely burning eternal flames. The high ceiling was about twenty meters high—certainly tall enough for a game of volleyball. The floor was paved with solid, thick, dark grey unknown marble. All around were swarms of ZUMA creatures: ZUMA Statues, ZUMA Archers, Pú Moths, ZUMA Guardians, giant rats, and so on. There was even a dense cloud of creatures resembling bats, flying overhead, the unique Horned Flies of the ZUMA Temple. Honestly, these small things were not only highly damaging but alarmingly numerous. Unless the mother body was eliminated, they were endless. Directly in front, the mass of ZUMA Guardians and ZUMA Statues—the heavily attacking creatures—were furiously charging against the Warriors at the very front and the Vanguard Squad.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Waves of deafening roars and screams sounded intermittently. Many Warriors were swept away upon the first impact. It must be remembered that the ZUMA Guardians inside the Hierarch’s Lair were far more potent than their mutated counterparts outside, with both attack power, speed, and defense increased by more than twofold. This was why only Rangers with strength reaching the Red Moon level were selected to enter the ZUMA Hierarch’s Lair; those below the Red Moon level couldn't even penetrate the ZUMA Guardians' defense and would only become a burden, adding to the casualties.

Even so, the selected Red Moon Warriors were not the main force in this battle. Leading the charge were the Elder-level masters from the Four Great Sects and Shabak City. Our task as Warriors was to protect the mages behind us from harm. In this battle, the mages were the absolute core force. At this moment, over two hundred mages were mixed with the super mages from the Four Great Sects and Shabak City, forming a brand-new Mage Legion. Commanding them was Eagle True Maniac. It seemed his achievements in commanding the Mage Legion during previous battles had earned the recognition of the older generation of monsters. In the ensuing fight, Eagle True Maniac continued to act as the commander of the Mage Legion, directing the battle.

Bear Dominance Heaven led all the Warriors, forming a defensive line around the Mage Legion, ready to strike down any approaching ZUMA creature at any moment.

“Vanguard Squad, fall back!” Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild remained the overall commander of the entire battle. Even the Vanguard Squad, composed of the Lord of Shabak City, the Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects, and those Monster-level Elders, had to obey his orders. It appeared the Four Great Sects were indeed dedicated to cultivating the capabilities of their younger generation. Tiger Howl Shakes the Wild did not disappoint them; from the Vanguard Squad's forceful breakthrough to the integration of the follow-up troops and the advance of the Mage Legion, every movement was perfectly timed and interwoven. Now that the Mage Legion had secured their footing, it was naturally time for the mages to showcase their power.

“Yes!” The captain of the Vanguard Squad was the Lord of Shabak City. Despite being the leader of the continent's strongest guild, he displayed no displeasure in taking orders from a junior for the sake of their common goal.

Swish! Swish! Dozens of figures blurred backward rapidly.

“First Squad, attack the Horned Fly mother body. All other squads, commence free attack forty meters ahead,” Eagle True Maniac stated grimly.

Boom! Boom! Swish! Swish! Countless streaks of colorful light instantly illuminated the entire Hierarch’s Lair. Though few in number, this contingent of the Mage Legion consisted of elites selected from ten thousand. Moreover, this group included the Elder-level masters and the young elite disciples from the Four Great Sects and Shabak City, whose combined power was truly top-tier, rivaling the momentum of the thousand-person formation preceding them.

Ice Roar, Blazing Fire, Wall of Fire, Laser Movie, Hellfire—various large-area attack magics rained down like a furious storm, instantly engulfing the dense masses of ZUMA creatures.

The targeted Horned Fly mother body was pulverized on the spot. The oncoming swarm of Horned Flies was swept away by the sweeping Half Moon Sword Qi and Assassination Sword Qi launched by the Warriors on the outer perimeter before they could even draw close.

Some ZUMA Guardians charging at the very front went into a frenzy, heedless of everything as they rushed the formation. But what awaited them was the retreating Vanguard Squad, led by the Lord of Shabak City—the super masters. They stood like a gigantic reef amidst the dense black torrent. The vast majority of ZUMA creatures attempting to reach melee range were ruthlessly slain by them. The few ZUMA Guardians that broke through their defense were blocked by us, the close-combat Warriors acting as personal bodyguards. The mages remained completely unharmed.

At this juncture, the rhythm of the battle once again fell firmly into the hands of Tiger Howl Mountain Wild. The Mages continued to play their irreplaceable role; arrayed in formation and guarded by the Warriors and the vanguard squad, they advanced slowly yet resolutely, much like a colossal war machine. The arrow volleys from the Zuma Archers were intercepted by the Warriors, and even the few shafts that pierced the defensive line were deflected by the Mages' magic shields. Any Mage who sustained an injury was immediately tended to by the Taoists' group healing spell, mending their wounds. The Mages received the most stringent protection and care. Any Zuma Guards that were lucky enough to break through the Mages' net of fire found themselves cut down by the Warriors before they could even get close enough to engage. Most of the injured Mages were those whose mana had been completely depleted, leaving them unable to sustain their shields, thus suffering damage from the Zuma Archers' relentless rain of arrows.

If you enjoy this, please consider hitting the 'Collect' button. If your bookshelf is already full, never mind; a gentle click is a small effort, but it means the world to me as the greatest support.

Your single, gentle click warms my entire writing life. Come to the Fantasy/Xuanhuan Channel on Yiqiwenshu.com—more wonderful content awaits you!