A rare and fierce rainstorm in the Beast Realm had yet to stop, as if the heavens were on the verge of collapse.

Even the earth of the mountains and forests had been soaked to the point of saturation, unable to absorb another drop.

On that day, the battle began under such conditions.

Wiping the rainwater from his face, Fifth Sheng stood amidst the tense confrontation of the two armies, so absorbed in the grave atmosphere that he didn’t even think of casting a spell to shield himself from the rain.

After surveying the terrain, he sent a telepathic message to Feng Qinxue:
“The Commander guessed right. The Beast army has indeed surrounded us near Tianxing Mountain.”

Feng Qinxue glanced at the Feng ancestor, who was floating at the front lines in a dark green robe, leading the defense.

She gave a soft hum in response.

When Qin Ruqing returned that day, her expression was calm, yet there was an unspoken danger about her.

She didn’t explain much to the others, merely giving a brief and concise account:
“The Ancient Beast Emperor has created a blood pool and is performing a mysterious sacrificial ritual. He seeks to forge a new body to aid in his resurrection.”

“The fusion of his spirit with this new body is the most crucial and dangerous step. To achieve this, he will stop at nothing, even launching an unprecedented large-scale battle. The blood shed during the war will be washed away by the rain, seeping into the ground, and eventually drawn to the blood pool at Tianxing Mountain for his use.”

“The day he begins fusing his soul will be our opportunity.”

“At that time, our army will cooperate with the Beast army, allowing ourselves to be surrounded at Tianxing Mountain. A great battle will take place there. The leaders of the seven mountain and eight vein tribes will all take part, and on our side, Fifth Commander, Commander Feng, and Ancestor Feng will be responsible for facing the enemy head-on and holding them off.”

At this point, everyone held their breath.

They sensed the unspoken implication in Qin Ruqing’s words.

She had assigned several commanders, including Ancestor Feng.

But what about herself?

As expected, Qin Ruqing followed up with her own task: “And I will be responsible for infiltrating Tianxing Mountain and killing the Ancient Beast Emperor during his soul fusion, the moment when he is at his weakest.”

Her tone was calm, as if she were merely stating she was going out for a walk.

Silence fell.

Everyone almost thought they had misheard.

The commander, alone, would infiltrate heavily guarded Tianxing Mountain to kill the unfathomably powerful Ancient Beast Emperor, who had lived for countless ages?

“That’s impossible, Commander! The soul fusion may be the Beast Emperor’s weakest moment, but he won’t be unprepared. By then, Tianxing Mountain will be fortified like an iron wall. How could you go alone?” Several people began arguing.

Ancestor Feng, standing silently, finally spoke up: “Let me go instead.”

Ancestor Feng, the most powerful figure in the cultivation world, considered herself to be a patchwork of old wounds, clinging to a prolonged life.

If she could give that life to kill the Ancient Beast Emperor, it would be worth it.

But Qin Ruqing shook her head. “When I say infiltrate, it means there will be someone inside Tianxing Mountain to assist me.”

“Besides, Tianxing Mountain is protected by many barriers. If the Venerable enters, his high cultivation level will immediately trigger the alarms, ruining the entire plan. I, however, have a way to sneak in quietly. Moreover, the army outside still needs you to lead. The leaders of the seven mountains and eight veins, a total of over a dozen demon kings, will not be easy to deal with. Your task is far heavier than mine.”

Qin Ruqing made her meaning clear.

Ancestor Feng had her own crucial task—to stand guard for the human army, face the demon kings, and keep the Beast army at bay.

Otherwise, if the human side’s highest commander were absent, the Beast side would immediately suspect something was wrong.

“But even if you manage to sneak in, once you reach the final barrier before the blood pool at the mountain’s peak, it’s inevitable that the Ancient Beast Emperor will be alerted. At that point, you’ll face him directly. Commander, do you have a way to deal with him?” Feng Qinxue’s question was direct and concise, as always.

The crux of this battle lay in whether Qin Ruqing could defeat the Ancient Beast Emperor.

If she failed, and the Beast Emperor became enraged, the human race would face utter disaster.

Qin Ruqing smiled slightly. “As the heir of the Dao Ancestor, I have my own methods and trump cards.” She did not elaborate further.

She then opened her palm, revealing an ancient compass. “Moreover, I am not alone. I will have countless heroic souls of our predecessors fighting alongside me.”

The crowd’s gaze was fixed on the compass in Qin Ruqing’s hand.

This was it—the last bit of strength left to them by the Dao Sovereign Fusheng before the Abyss was completely sealed.

This power might not necessarily be of any real use, yet at this moment, it granted them immense strength.

Finally, all the leaders reached a consensus.

In the pouring rain, they bowed deeply to Qin Ruqing, and after rising, spoke solemnly:

“Then we shall await your victorious news on the battlefield!”

Await your victorious news.

The sound of the rain pulled everyone back to reality.

A sharp wolf’s howl echoed through the air.

Its fur was sleek and glossy, and its sharp claws gleamed coldly.

A black wolf, standing six zhang tall (approximately 18 meters), revealed its full beast form.

This was the Wolf King.

As the chieftain who had undergone a bloodline baptism in the Abyss and successfully reverted his bloodline to that of his ancestors, the Wolf King led all the beast chieftains of the Seven Mountains and Eight Peaks, who answered his call.

Now fully in his original form, the Wolf King seemed to signal something.

The demon lords around him let out low roars, transforming into their massive beast forms.

On the human side, the Ancestor Feng floated just above the ground, standing at the front of the formation.

His aged hands gripped a green sword with steadiness and power—a sword that had been fed by countless battles and seemed to sense the impending war, trembling with excitement.

To his left stood Fifth Sheng, hands forming seals as green sigils began to glow around him.

On his right, Feng Qinxue’s expression was cold and indifferent.

Her demeanor was icy, and countless crystalline sword shadows shimmered behind her, giving her the appearance of an Ice Queen.

The Western Domain Abbot held a staff, the leader of the Taiyi Sect practiced both swordsmanship and divination, and many heads of prominent noble families were scattered in all directions.

The battle was about to begin.

The torrential rain made the atmosphere even more solemn and quiet.

The Wolf King glanced subtly in the direction of Tianxing Mountain before quickly retracting his gaze.

He had done everything he could; the rest was up to that human.

With a high-pitched howl, the Wolf King signaled.

At the same time, Ancestor Feng raised his sword high.

“Begin the battle!!!”

“Kill!!!”

In an instant, death and bloodshed erupted, so sudden and fierce that it created a moment of stillness, as if time itself had paused.

It was like a slow-motion black-and-white movie.

Only the sound of the rain remained, washing away the souls of the fallen and mingling with the blood as it flowed toward some hidden, unknown place.

---

At the foot of Tianxing Mountain, a group of people was hiding among the branches of towering ancient trees.

Qin Ruqing closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her vast spiritual sense spreading outward.

After a moment, she spoke quietly and quickly:

“The battle has started over there. The blood formation has begun to collect blood. We can move now.”

Her words stirred the people hidden in the branches.

Qirong, hanging upside down from a tree with his legs hooked on a branch, stuck his head out.

Above him, several people stood side by side on the thick branch—Qin Luwei, Tang Zifeng, Feng Mingyue, Fifth Lingyu, and Fifth Youlin—geniuses who had once competed fiercely with her for glory, now all gathered here.

Seeing them look at her, Qin Ruqing hesitated for a moment before repeating her warning:

“Are you sure you want to come with me? We’re facing an ancient Beast Emperor. I’m not even confident I can survive. If you follow me, there’s a high chance you’ll die.”

Qirong unhooked his legs and flipped down from the tree, landing silently. “If I die, I die,” he said nonchalantly.

“If you fail, sister, there won’t be much of a future for the human race anyway. Dying sooner or later doesn’t matter—might as well die now.”

“You finally said something sensible,” Ming Ying retorted, earning a glare from Qirong, which she confidently returned.

She crossed her arms, the purple-red flowing scarf hanging from her forearms shimmering. “This is too important. We can’t let you hog all the glory—at least give us a share!”

Turning back to Qin Ruqing, her beautifully shaped eyes took on a more serious expression. “And besides, we’re not weaklings. We’re the true geniuses who’ve competed with you and obtained the ancient inheritance.”

Something about her words eased the tension in Qin Ruqing’s heart.

She glanced at their bright, determined eyes and made a decision in that moment.

“Alright.” She nodded. “Let’s go together.”

For a brief moment after Qin Ruqing spoke, there was silence.

It was as if destiny had shifted.

An invisible hand lurking in the dark reached down and clenched tightly.

Everyone felt the weight in their hearts, realizing that from this moment forward, it truly was a do-or-die situation.

Qirong, uncomfortable with the atmosphere, broke the silence.

From the distance, the sounds of battle seemed to drift toward them.

Half to lighten the mood and half out of curiosity, he asked, “If the blood formation can absorb the blood from the war, why don’t we just destroy it? That would stop the ritual, wouldn’t it?”

“That would alert the enemy,” answered Feng Mingyue, who was standing in the shade, holding a sword.

She was so quiet that she was nearly invisible.

This was the most remarkable thing.

Sword cultivators usually had a powerful presence, yet Feng Mingyue had concealed hers entirely, a testament to her mastery.

Her swordsmanship had reached perfection.

Qin Ruqing nodded, acknowledging Feng Mingyue’s point.

“If the blood array is destroyed, the Ancient Beast Emperor will undoubtedly realize that the humans have discovered his plan. At that point, he will choose another time to fuse with his new body, and the defenses will become even tighter, making it nearly impossible for us to succeed.”

Qin Ruqing explained while squatting down, placing her hand flat on the rain-soaked earth, carefully sensing its energy.

After confirming, she said firmly, “The time has come. We ascend the mountain now.”

Her pitch-black eyes swept over the group as she continued her instructions: “Our goal this time is not to engage in battle with those guarding Tianxing Mountain, but to stealthily reach the summit and assassinate the Ancient Beast Emperor while he is fusing with his new body.”

“There is only one chance. Everyone must give it their all, even at the cost of your lives. This battle can only end in victory, not defeat!”

In that moment, Qin Ruqing was no longer the peer who had once competed with them.

She had become the sole heir of the Dao Ancestor and the true leader of the human race.

Everyone stood straight and solemn, responding in unison, “We obey the Commander’s orders!”

“Move out!”

Qin Ruqing waved her hand, taking the lead, with over a dozen shadowy figures swiftly following her towards the rear of Tianxing Mountain.

At that moment, a patrol of armored soldiers passed by, oblivious to the activity nearby.

If Tianxing Mountain were to be divided into a “front door” and a “back door,” the front door would be the white jade staircase leading up the mountain.

However, this staircase was narrow, constantly patrolled by soldiers.

Anyone walking on it would be completely exposed, as if begging to be caught.

Qin Ruqing had already scouted the path using elemental techniques.

Their entry point was at the back of Tianxing Mountain, which was steep, with a nearly 90-degree vertical cliff, making it the least guarded area.

Standing before the cliff, Qin Ruqing tilted her chin up. “We have fifteen minutes. In fifteen minutes, the patrol from the southwest will sweep through this area. In that time, we need to climb high enough to be out of their sight.”

“How are we supposed to climb this?” Xiao Fenhua placed her hand on the smooth surface of the cliff, finding it almost impossible to spot any handholds, a look of worry crossing her face.

“Make it quick,” Qin Ruqing said nonchalantly, arms crossed. “Oh, I forgot to mention. The first barrier is relatively easy to pass, but it has many restrictions. Flying artifacts won’t work due to the barrier’s rules, and there are flying beast patrols in the air as well.”

With a swift movement, Feng Mingyue drew a gleaming short dagger, her tone flat but decisive, “If there are no handholds, we’ll use blades and swords to climb.” She glanced at Qin Ruqing. “What about the first barrier?”

“The first barrier covers all of Tianxing Mountain with no gaps, so it’s just a basic protective array. As for how to pass it…” Qin Ruqing raised an eyebrow, “Do you need my help?”

“No need,” Feng Mingyue replied calmly.

Her hand moved so fast that no one could see exactly how she did it.

By the time anyone realized, her sword was already back in its sheath, and she was standing inside the barrier.

Qi Rong’s mouth dropped open, clearly stunned. “Mingyue, how did you manage that? Using sword energy without alerting the barrier?”

Feng Mingyue glanced at him but didn’t have time to respond before another voice spoke up, “As long as you’re fast and sharp enough.”

It was Dan Qing.

As he spoke, his hand instinctively rested on his sword, his expression thoughtful, as if measuring whether he could replicate Feng Mingyue’s feat. “To put it simply, you slip through while the barrier isn’t paying attention…”

As if demonstrating, he drew his sword in a flash, and with a glimmer of sword light, he too was inside the barrier.

He let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.

Qirong gave a thumbs-up in admiration, “You sword cultivators are incredible!” Then he frowned again, “But what about those of us who aren’t sword cultivators?”

What followed was a showcase of individual skills.

Monk Huineng chanted a scripture, causing golden symbols to float around his body, allowing him to calmly walk through the barrier.