This aura… It was a Phantom Beast!

It was a type of evil Demonic Beast that fed on souls, a creature that everyone had a duty to slay. This was not something that should have appeared on Earth; it was exceedingly rare even in the Immortal Domain.

Phantom Beasts possessed high intelligence and were especially skilled at creating illusions. Their power was terrifying. Even a juvenile could render a Golden Core Stage Cultivator unconscious, causing them to lose their sense of self as their Three Souls and Six Spirits were gradually devoured.

If one died a normal death, any living being had a chance to be reincarnated. But to be devoured by a Phantom Beast… was to be utterly reduced to ash. Thus, in the Immortal Domain, Phantom Beasts were universally despised, hunted down by all.

The one that had suddenly appeared on Earth was clearly a mature adult; even a Venerable in the Venerable Realm could fall victim if they weren't careful.

But Xu Lai hadn't seen a Phantom Beast in the Immortal Domain for 20,000 years. This was because after the Seventh Divine General had mentioned that this creature was edible and tasted excellent, it took only 50,000 years for Xu Lai and the Divine Generals of the Heavenly Court to eat the Phantom Beasts into an endangered species.

He never expected to find a mature one in the remote Solar System!

He could sense that Beibei was headed in that very direction.

What is this? This is fate!

Xu Lai swallowed. A delicacy like a Phantom Beast was not something one could miss without inviting divine punishment.

No, that's not right. I, Xu Lai, am The Supreme Emperor. I am concerned for the safety of all living beings across the Four Immortal Domains and countless star systems. That is why I have decided to eliminate this Phantom Beast!

Noticing the change in Xu Lai's expression, Ruan Tang asked with concern, "Xu Lai, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Xu Lai smiled. "Honey, I'm stepping out for a bit. I'll be back later to cook you a grand meal."

After saying this, Xu Lai hurriedly left Haitang Court. When his figure reappeared, he was already hovering in the sky above the sea where Mount Zijin had manifested. He stared at the purple mountain peak that was gradually shifting from blurry to solid, a brilliant smile on his face.

So, it's disguised itself as a mountain peak, huh?

Xu Lai's eyes could see through all illusions. He completely ignored the mirage, his gaze penetrating straight to the core of Mount Zijin—a Demonic Beast that resembled a leopard but looked exceptionally delicious and appetizing.

Just look at this fat. This Phantom Beast has clearly been living the good life. How should I cook it?

Xu Lai couldn't help but fall into deep contemplation.

***

Neither the two Demon Kings nor the human Martial Dao experts like Bai Ke had noticed Xu Lai hovering above them. All of their gazes were fixed fervently on Mount Zijin!

On the yacht, an old man wrapped in a black robe spoke in a hoarse voice, "Entering is fraught with peril, but if you find a treasure, you could break through to a new Boundary and extend your life! A hundred years ago, I entered once. Of the ten who went, I was the only survivor. Are you all prepared to die today?"

"Elder Ji…" Ji Jing, a lady in a red palace dress, bit her lip to keep from crying as her eyes reddened.

Due to the death of his grandson, Ji Qingshan, who had resided in Chang'an City for years, had chosen to return to Earth. He was determined to personally lead a team into Mount Zijin to seize another fortune. He needed to step into the Divine Gate Realm to avenge his grandson!

"Elder Ji, we are prepared!" nine humans answered in unison. The weakest among them was at the late Eighth Grade, but all were near the end of their lifespans. The once-a-century opening of the Mount Zijin forbidden area was clearly their last chance to gamble for a future. If they could break through to the Ninth Grade, not only would their lives be extended, but their power would increase exponentially. They would become even more useful to Hua Country and to the Human Race.

"Good," Ji Qingshan roared. He stood up, and his black robe fell away to reveal a face covered in scars, giving him an incredibly fierce appearance.

BOOM…

Mount Zijin finally condensed fully above the sea, churning up monstrous waves. Yuan Man and Orochi exchanged a solemn glance before simultaneously launching their most powerful attacks at the mountain.

BOOM!

In an instant, the sky changed color, the sea roiled with waves a thousand feet high, and the void itself fractured.

THUD!

With a muffled sound, the attacks struck an invisible barrier surrounding Mount Zijin.

"It's just like a hundred years ago. There's a barrier. Find the weakest point!" Yuan Man's narrow eyes squinted, her gaze fixed on a particular spot in the void as she shouted, "There!"

The two Demon Kings joined forces, attacking the barrier's weak point and even using their Lifebound Magical Treasures. The assault lasted for a full half-hour.

A fissure finally appeared at the barrier's weakest point. By now, Yuan Man and Orochi were nearly exhausted. Instead of continuing their attack, they flew backward in perfect unison.

"Human Race!" Orochi bellowed. "It's your turn!"

SWOOSH!

Ji Qingshan pulled a red spear from his robes that emanated a thick, bloody aura. The moment the spear appeared, Spiritual Energy from a hundred miles around began to converge rapidly, making the air so dense it was suffocating. This spear was undoubtedly a treasure!

A well-concealed glint of greed flashed in Orochi's eyes, but he ultimately suppressed it. This forbidden land had appeared suddenly three hundred years ago, and he and Demon King Yuan Man were the first to find it. But they couldn't breach the barrier alone and had no choice but to cooperate with the Human Race. Their method, which had already succeeded twice, was for the two Demon Kings to attack the weak point with all their might, followed by an attack from the Human Race's Magic Artifact, which had been refined for a century!

Today would be the third time.

As Ji Qingshan hurled the blood-red spear with all his strength, it transformed into a streak of light and pierced the thinnest part of the barrier. With a deafening boom, an opening blasted open.

A look of delighted surprise flashed in Orochi's eyes. It was a success!

"Whew," a tense Yuan Man let out a long sigh of relief and said urgently, "Now!"

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The ten Demon Generals under Yuan Man's command, the ten disciples of Sakura Country's Orochi, and the ten Human Race experts led by Ji Qingshan all flew towards the opening in Mount Zijin.

Bai Ke and Ji Jing bowed in the Martial Dao salute toward the backs of Ji Qingshan and the others, silently praying for their safe return.

***

ACHOO!

The Phantom Beast inside Mount Zijin shivered inexplicably. It looked left, right, up, and down, a human-like hesitation in its eyes. It felt as though it had been targeted by something evil...

It must be my imagination. The Phantom Beast muttered to itself. After all, it was the very definition of evil itself. Furthermore, with its strength, it could sweep across Earth virtually unopposed. But, being cautious, it didn't try to forcefully subjugate the planet. Instead, it used illusions to create a small world, filling it with various rare treasures and adding a barrier to lure humans and demons inside.

Then, it would consume the souls of most of its prey, leaving one or two out of every ten alive. It allowed them to leave with a small amount of treasure. This was the only way to ensure a steady, endless supply of prey; it was playing the long game to catch the big fish.

Furthermore, the Phantom Beast only dared to appear once every hundred years. It wasn't that it didn't want to be high-profile; it was simply too afraid.

For instance, the grandfather of my ninth uncle's son's partner lived in a star system with another of our kind. That relative was too brazen about consuming souls, and it got that entire branch of the family wiped out…

As an evil Demonic Beast, this one had great foresight. It had fled the Immortal Domain before disaster struck. After escaping for a full 20,000 years, it finally stopped in this remote star system.

I've run so far and kept such a low profile. Surely, I won't be discovered, right?

The Phantom Beast licked its lips. The centennial feast was finally about to begin.

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