The battle raged on, and soon the ZUMA creatures near the entrance were cleared out. Moving further inside, we finally encountered one of the Ten Great Fiends renowned throughout the continent: the ZUMA High Priest—or, more accurately, its statue. Currently, the ZUMA High Priest was slumbering in a strange petrified stasis upon a dais six square units wide and six meters high. Its pointed horns, resembling those of a bull, slanted toward the heavens, and several spike-like protuberances jutted from its shoulders, giving it a terrifying and hideous appearance. Its magnificent body was humanoid, yet it was coiled upon the giant stone platform in a bizarre, semi-crouched posture. Even in its petrified sleep, its black-gray eyes, large as fists, seemed to scrutinize us from afar with palpable intensity. This made me wonder: was this creature merely pretending to sleep? Its astonishing deterrent power made figures like Long Yuan Cang Hai and the Lord of Saba City seem light-years behind. That the ZUMA High Priest remained asleep in this state was hard to imagine what the scene would be like if it awakened.

In the area surrounding it, roughly fifteen square meters, the ground was conspicuously bare. Faintly visible on the ground, outlined by a thick, dark, shiny line, was a circle. Outside this circle, save for the ZUMA creatures near the entrance that we had eliminated, the other three directions were still densely packed with ZUMA creatures, all staring intently at us.

“Everyone, be careful! Do not approach that circle, or you will awaken the ZUMA High Priest!” roared Hu Xiao Shan Ye. “Mage legions, eliminate the outer guard ZUMA creatures.”

“Yes!” Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren barked.

“Roar!” Even before the mages could launch their attacks, all the ZUMA creatures charged forward in a frenzy.

“All mages, forty meters ahead, cover the attack with Ice Roar! We absolutely cannot let them break through,” Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren shouted.

The ZUMA creatures here were significantly stronger than those encountered outside, and their numbers were astonishingly high. Furthermore, the terrain here was open, offering no obstacles; if they managed to charge through, the consequences would be unthinkable. Everyone here would perish. Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren saw this clearly, which is why he decisively ordered the area blanketed with Ice Roar, slowing the charge of the ZUMA creatures due to the damage from the freezing magic. Naturally, the ZUMA creatures could not execute a powerful, rapid charge.

Even those that managed to reach close quarters were considerably slowed by the lingering effects of the freeze damage, allowing the warriors and vanguard teams guarding the front line to dispatch them with relative ease.

Despite this, a significant number of ZUMA Guards managed to break through to the front. The warriors were forced into a bitter struggle. Although the speed of the ZUMA Guards was indeed much slower, their numbers were overwhelming. Soon, the originally neat formation was breached, and hundreds of ZUMA Guards closed within ten meters of us.

“Roar! Charge!” (Li Xie), the leader of my squad, yelled, plunging forward toward the breaching ZUMA Guards. Behind us were the fragile bodies of the mages, whom we naturally could not allow these monsters to approach.

Roar! The warriors guarding the inner perimeter were finally forced into action. Fortunately, the number of ZUMA Guards that broke through was small, and they were quickly eliminated by our combined efforts. Thus, the first wave of assaults after encountering the ZUMA High Priest was repelled. However, this marked the first casualty for the main army: several young disciples from the Xiong Ba Sect, who sacrificed their lives holding the line against the ZUMA Guards’ initial furious assault, easing immense pressure on their comrades behind them. They were completely overwhelmed and submerged by the teeming ZUMA Guards. When the charge finally disintegrated, not even fragments of their bodies could be found on the ground.

A wave of sorrow washed over everyone, but the fierce battlefield offered no time to mourn fallen comrades. The ZUMA Guards showed no pause, immediately launching the next wave of assault, as the dense arrow rain from the ZUMA Archers and the overwhelming swarm charge of the Horn Flies once again bore down upon the front-line warriors.

“Rear Squad Four, fill the gap,” Hu Xiao Shan Ye commanded loudly.

“Yes!” Li Xie roared. “Brothers, follow me.”

“Yes!” I had no choice but to move up with the team to fill the vacancy left by the fallen disciples of the Xiong Ba Sect. This spot was the very front line, directly facing the onslaught of the ZUMA Guards.

This is bad; dying here, smashed by ZUMA Guards, would be such a waste, I thought with a wry smile, even as I forced myself to focus, staring tensely ahead.

Roar! Soon, the second wave of charging ZUMA Guards slammed into us with brutal force, acting as if we were mere decorations in their path.

Roar! Retreat is impossible; this was my sole conviction at the moment. Fierce Battle Qi instantly coalesced, and the scorching, spiraling Battle Qi within my lower abdomen began to circulate, erupting like a volcanic explosion, spewing forth astonishing energy.

“Roar! Blazing Fire!” Although I had mastered the Blazing Fire Sword Technique for some time, I was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary, as it consumed an astonishing amount of Battle Qi. With my current cultivation level, I could manage at most five blasts of Blazing Fire Sword Qi before collapsing from severe exhaustion of both strength and energy.

But now, there was no room for reserve. In a normal encounter, I might have relied on my agile footwork to dodge attacks, but in a large-scale group battle, the emphasis was on direct confrontation; there was no opportunity for trickery. Only now did I understand why most warriors on the continent favored the head-on clash like Long Zhan: on the battlefield, it was the only way to counter the enemy.

It seemed my martial skills were ill-suited for large-scale group combat—this was the first time I recognized the serious deficiency in my techniques. But there was no time for further reflection now.

The intense Blazing Fire Battle Qi burst forth instantly, whistling through the air.

Clang! Thud! The ZUMA Guard charging in front of me was immediately pierced through the chest by the powerful Blazing Fire Sword Qi and crashed to the ground, but even more ZUMA Guards rushed forward relentlessly.

With almost no pause, the scorching Blazing Fire Battle Qi inside me spun madly.

Roar! With a turning sweep, another Blazing Fire Slash was unleashed—another dazzling burst of Blazing Fire Sword Qi erupted, accurately striking a ZUMA Guard.

I didn't even have time to see if it fell, as the charging ZUMA Guards were now less than six meters away. The previous two continuous Blazing Fire strikes had brought the Sword Qi within my body to its absolute peak intensity due to the repeated turbulence.

Roar! With virtually no restraint, I compressed all my Battle Qi energy into the Frost Condensing Sword, unleashing the move, Sweeping a Thousand Armies. The powerful Blazing Fire Sword Qi manifested in a bizarre, golden-yellow crescent shape, sweeping horizontally across the enemy ranks.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! The massive crescent of Blazing Fire instantly severed the five ZUMA Guards directly in front of me at the waist.

But at this moment, my body was completely empty, feeling no trace of Battle Qi energy, and the hands gripping the sword felt as heavy as mountains. I couldn't even lift it.

More ZUMA Guards rushed toward me, quickly filling the void left by the ones I had just cut down. Several giant hammers were raised high and smashed down toward me mercilessly.

Damn it, no way! Am I really going to die here? I even thought about tearing open a Town Portal Scroll right then and fleeing, but I didn't even have the strength to do that.

Yan Luo, you’ve caused me terrible trouble this time.

“Fall back!” A furious roar sounded, and I felt myself caught by a giant hand, then flung backward uncontrollably, as if soaring through the clouds. It was Li Xie, who tossed me back into the rear ranks when he saw I was unable to fight on.

Thump! I landed flat on my back, feeling like my entire body was coming apart, ass bruised and battered. A wave of nausea and a high-pitched ringing in my ears washed over me; I nearly blacked out.

Many warriors from my own rotation group retreated along with me; it seemed they too had reached their limit. This was the advantage of wave assaults: never letting the warriors fight to the death unnecessarily—fight when needed, retreat when necessary, preserve your life, and there will be more chances later.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Suddenly, streaks of white light enveloped me, bringing a wave of coolness and indescribable comfort throughout my body. It was the Mass Healing spell cast by the Taoist legion. My stamina recovered at an astonishing rate. I felt not only that my depleted Battle Qi had been restored but also that its intensity seemed slightly higher than before. Was it an illusion? Since mastering the Blazing Fire Sword Technique, the speed at which my Battle Qi energy increased had slowed down. I hadn't experienced such a distinct feeling of Battle Qi enhancement in a long time. Could it be because I had continuously cast the Blazing Fire Sword Technique just now? Thinking of this, my heart tightened; I felt I might have grasped something important. But the intense battlefield allowed no room for distraction.

“Kid, hurry up, it’s almost our turn.” The warrior from my rotation group called out loudly.

“Yes,” I quickly ran back to the main formation. The warriors currently at the front were already in a desperate fight and looked like they couldn't hold on much longer. They were soon withdrawn, and those too exhausted to retreat further were grabbed by Li Xie’s huge hands and flung back, just like I had been moments before. This was another crucial duty of the rotation leader: maximizing the preservation of teammates' lives. Although the method was crude, it was the most direct and effective.

The mages in the rear continued to grit their teeth, desperately unleashing their spells. Under Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren's command, the mages’ spells always appeared at the most opportune moment in the most appropriate locations, maximizing damage to the ZUMA creatures.

Soon, the subsequent waves of ZUMA Guards approaching the front were blanketed by the mages' dense spell fire. Like a massive, consuming inferno, most of the ZUMA Guards that charged in were instantly pulverized into dust. Even the few who managed to escape the magical bombardment were easily intercepted by the warriors stationed at the front. Only then was the most stubborn and ferocious assault encountered inside the ZUMA High Priest's Lair finally repelled, and the mages' magic created an effective barrier. The pressure on the front-line warriors was greatly eased.

The initiative on the battlefield was once again firmly in Hu Xiao Shan Ye’s hands.

Phew, that was close! It seems that if we can just hold on, the ZUMA Guards should be eliminated thanks to the mages’ magic. Thinking this, I couldn't help but look towards the mage legion commanded by Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren.

The mage legion of over two hundred people had been reorganized by Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren into four squads. Currently, Squads One and Two were continuously casting spells, everyone’s faces pale, fine beads of sweat covering their foreheads, yet they persisted through gritted teeth.

Squads Three and Four were rushing to gulp down mana potions while desperately catching their breath. Moreover, several mages, perhaps depleted beyond recovery, simply downed healing potions whole, solely to restore their magic as quickly as possible. The Taoists were also busy, showering the exhausted mages with gentle white light and dazzling gold and blue Ghost Shields.

It must be said that while the warriors at the front line were undoubtedly in the most physical danger on the battlefield, the mages were the most weary and strained. As the absolute main force of the battle, the mages had been continuously casting spells for nearly three hours. Although they rotated, that brief interval was simply not enough for them to fully recover. Every mage was burning and releasing their magic to the utmost of their strength.

Another two hours passed. There was no standing ZUMA creature left in the vicinity. The statue-like ZUMA High Priest still squatted silently on the dais, exuding an air of peculiar solitude and decline. In millennia, its lair had been invaded perhaps a dozen times, yet this statue still stood tall. Beneath its left hand rested a black object resembling a human head. Upon closer inspection, its facial features bore some similarity to a human, but its savage and terrifying visage caused a chilling sensation in the heart. Yes, that was the ZUMA Head, the ultimate objective of this entire campaign.

I do not know the full extent of the ZUMA High Priest’s divine powers, but the fact that it has stood unfallen for a thousand years proves everything. The final battle was about to commence, and what remained was clearly beyond the scope of involvement for us small fry.

Before the main fighting ended, I had quietly managed to conceal myself beneath several ZUMA Guard corpses during a lull when no one was paying attention. Through the gaps, I observed the unfolding scene.

An hour later, the battle finally concluded.

“Everyone except the Vanguard Squad, retreat outside the door!” Hu Xiao Shan Lin shouted loudly.

“Yes!” In a blink, the main force retreated to the entrance, though this did not include me, who harbored ulterior motives.

At this moment, even the usually steady as a mountain Hu Xiao Shan Ye couldn't help but reveal a nervous expression, because what they were about to face was the ZUMA High Priest, one of the ten most terrifying fiends on the continent for thousands of years. How powerful the ZUMA High Priest truly was, no one could possibly know anymore.

There were countless different versions of legends about the ZUMA High Priest circulating on the continent.

Fierce, brutal, bloodthirsty, terrifying—in short, every word describing evil and immense power could be affixed to the ZUMA High Priest, for it was the embodiment of evil, might, and terror itself. Throughout history, countless powerful heroes had attempted to challenge the evil and mighty ZUMA High Priest, but all were mercilessly slain by him. Those few who managed to escape alive were invariably left mentally shattered by the horror. The terrifying legends surrounding the ZUMA High Priest were too numerous to count. And today? Today the ZUMA High Priest would once again welcome the challenge of human heroes. But would the ZUMA High Priest slaughter the challengers as in the past, or would the brave challengers succeed in dragging him from the altar, creating a new myth? Everyone’s blood began to boil with excitement. However, only Eagle Zhen Kuang Ren and Hu Xiao Shan Ye understood the true purpose of this challenge: it was not to forge a new myth, but to seize the ZUMA Head lying beneath him.

A few elite disciples from renowned sects exchanged complex glances, for they knew the true internal story behind challenging the ZUMA High Priest. The sect leaders and elders were not aiming to kill the ZUMA High Priest. Perhaps the younger generation yearned for eternal fame in history books, but countless heroic ancestors had used their lives and blood to teach the generations to come an unchanging truth: the power of the ZUMA High Priest was insurmountable. All who dared challenge it would pay a devastating price.

Now that their elders had remained inside the ZUMA High Priest's Lair—and though each elder possessed supreme skill—could they manage to escape unharmed when facing the ZUMA High Priest, who had never known defeat throughout history?

At this moment, everyone felt anxious and uneasy. Perhaps the only thing left to do was pray for divine blessing.

Inside the Priest's Lair!

I remained silently prone, holding my breath. I knew that every person present was a super-expert on the level of a monster, possessing a spiritual perception far beyond my imagination. Any slight oversight would surely not escape their notice.

Mo Zhan Ting, Long Yuan Cang Hai, Xiong Ba Cang Mang, Hu Xiao Chang Feng, Eagle Zhen Qiu Yun, and the other elder-level masters meticulously surveyed their surroundings one last time. Once they confirmed the situation was under control, they gathered together: “When the ZUMA High Priest awakens, we will do our best to draw it away. Brother Qiu Yun, the rest is up to you.”

“En!” Eagle Zhen Qiu Yun nodded solemnly, changing into a crimson-purple robe and adorning himself with various strange pieces of jewelry. Hidden in the shadows, I carefully observed the strange crimson-purple robe; its style was somewhat reminiscent of the God of Law Cloak, but I was certain it wasn't one. He wore a Taoist Helmet on his head, his necklace was a white tiger-tooth chain mixed with yellow and white, his wrists sported golden bracelets, and his rings were Demon-Slaying Rings. On his feet were Soul-Avoiding Boots, and his waist was cinched with an Iron Belt. He had stored his long sword in his spatial bag. This attire surprised me, but soon everyone else changed into the same outfit as Eagle Zhen Qiu Yun, which left me utterly bewildered. Taoist Helmet, white tiger-tooth necklace, purple robe, metal bracelets, Demon-Slaying Rings—all these pieces of equipment seemed to share a common characteristic: magic resistance.

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