Catastrophe is Imminent

The night was as clear and limpid as water, shrouding the entire Qianteng Immortal Gorge.

Pearls hung high within the Immortal Manor of Yunlu, casting brilliant, radiant spiritual lights. Beneath the mountain gate's archway, people came and went, every single one of them wearing a joyous expression. Today, Ancestor Yunlu was hosting a grand banquet for his disciples. Although many had not received formal invitations, they had taken advantage of the immortal manor's grand array being flung wide open to join in the festive atmosphere and steal a cup of spiritual wine—wasn't the banquet meant for the disciples? Well, then surely they counted as disciples too!

Luo Yu and Qin Yue sat at the head of the table, which was piled high with rare delicacies and fine dishes, exchanging toasts with the students. The jars of spiritual wine piled up like small mounds near the terrace, and even the air was saturated with the rich, savory aroma of wine and meat.

Naturally, such a lively occasion would not be complete without Luoli and Bai Wuhuo. The two of them were engaged in a spirited, tit-for-tat drinking game, surrounded by a large crowd of people enthusiastically holding wine jugs and cheering them on.

Such a bustling scene had never existed in Qianteng Immortal Gorge before. In the past, everyone's pockets were tight, and without a mountain-protecting grand array, people always felt a lingering sense of unease when wandering outside. First, they feared villains stealing into their immortal abodes; second, they feared running into robbers upon stepping out; and third, without spiritual money, what fun could one possibly have? Even if someone ran over to chat with another family, they would only be offered a cup of spiritual tea, perhaps supplemented by a few spiritual fruits if they were lucky. Who would have the nerve to constantly take advantage of others?

Today, however, was entirely different. Who was Ancestor Yunlu? He was none other than their own patriarch! Eating and drinking a little didn't require standing on ceremony; surely the patriarch couldn't be eaten into poverty? Besides, the man was fabulously wealthy and certainly didn't care to make a living by selling formation arrays!

Luo Yu was in high spirits. Looking at the cheering crowd filling the hall and recalling what it had been like when he first arrived, a deep sense of emotion welled up within him. Life in the gorge had been far too peaceful; in the blink of an eye, nearly ten years had already passed...

Over the past few years, Luo Yu had served as a teacher while Qin Yue quietly stayed by his side, continuing to cultivate with unwavering consistency. Luoli and Bai Wuhuo managed the Heaven-Defying Palace and the Supreme Vessel both inside and outside the realm. Disguising themselves as the True Person Feiyuan and the True Person Huanyue, the two of them had even selected a batch of celestial plant seeds and sent them to the Super-Centered Research Office, instructing them to find a way to cultivate them on a massive scale nationwide.

Those officials understood the value of these celestial plants implicitly and attached extraordinary importance to them. Soon, official documents were issued declaring that these celestial plants were a new variety of fluorescent flora bred by the state. They not only possessed high ornamental value, but their floral fragrance was also immensely beneficial to the human body, capable of boosting human immunity, delaying aging, promoting metabolism, purifying the air, and so on. However, their physical stalks and leaves contained various toxic substances and must under no circumstances be consumed.

One advantage that a centralized state had over democratic nations was that the leadership's directives were invariably executed with utmost speed and seriousness. Local officials reasoned that planting flowers and grass would neither harm their own interests nor displease the populace, so why not do it? Besides, these flowers were indeed gorgeous, and they demonstrated the country's ever-changing technological progress. The fluorescent flora from a few years ago had been quite ugly, but this second generation was truly stunning. If they planted more, they could practically double as streetlights! And since it supposedly had so many health benefits, they quickly requisitioned a batch of civilian laborers to get the job done!

While Luoli and Bai Wuhuo had made certain contributions to environmental protection, the achievements of the father and mother could not quite match those of their children. The couple had simply taken all of Britain's trusted cronies and lackeys off to Mruwal, seizing a small town in the northeastern part of the continent named "Linbao City." That small town happened to sit right on a seismic fault line, boasting an abundance of yin energy. Upon arriving on the mainland, a whole nest of vampires had been ecstatic beyond measure: they would never have to face that detestable sunlight ever again! Could there possibly be anything more blissful in the world? His Royal Highness the Prince was truly too great! As for the matter of sustenance... they simply needed to raise a few more pretty and adorable blood slaves.

Several years had gone by, and the experience bars of Luo Yu and Qin Yue had also unconsciously been maxed out. Fearing that their cultivation realms might advance too rapidly, the kitten's experience-grinding time had also been restricted. The trio of siblings advanced in step with one another, and all three of them had now stepped onto the precipice of the Void Realm.

Luo Yu held his wine glass, letting out a soft sigh as his thoughts made a complete round through his memories. Although he had initially intended only to stay here temporarily until they figured out the sealing technique, before he knew it, they had lingered for so long that genuine affection had taken root, and none of them wanted to pack up and move anymore. Still, if all three of them were to undergo a breakthrough simultaneously, it would probably be best to find some sparsely populated place, ascend to the next level, and then return.

Just as Luo Yu was sifting through potential upgrade locations in his mind, a terrifying aura suddenly suppressed his heart. He shuddered slightly, followed instantly by the crisp, clattering sound of wine glasses shattering as they hit the ground.

Luo Yu looked up and scanned his surroundings. Most of the cultivators present wore looks of panic and helplessness; a few with lower cultivation bases had already slumped onto the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

"That's likely a God-Integration cultivator," a calm voice sounded beside his ear. "This person cannot compare to Gu Huo, but it is certainly beyond the capacity of Void-Transforming cultivators."

"Indeed." Bai Wuhuo wore a rare, solemn expression. Narrowing his peach-blossom eyes, he muttered doubtfully, "We haven't provoked any God-Integration cultivators, have we? Judging by the way this aura is radiating outwards, the visitor is definitely not coming with good intentions..."

When the Three Immortals of Qianteng and the swarm of lesser cultivators heard that it was a God-Integration cultivator, their hearts began to pound anxiously. Upon hearing the phrase "not coming with good intentions," they were utterly petrified with fright.

Qin Yue frowned and spoke up, "Disperse! Get as far away from this person as possible! However, do not flee outside the mountain-protecting grand array for now, lest you provoke them... Act according to the circumstances."

Tengxuanzi said, "This... What Immortal Sovereign Qin says is correct. All of you, disperse!"

Luo Yu added, "Everyone in the manor, return to the Heaven-Defying Palace! This is an order, move immediately!"

The subordinates who permanently resided in the Yunlu Immortal Manor hesitated slightly. Qin Yue shot them a sharp, stern glance, and their posture instantly shrank by half. "We obey your command!" they chorused, before retreating in a flurry.

The group of low-tier cultivators were still staring blankly at one another. A Foundation Establishment cultivator stammered, "D-Don't we still have the mountain-protecting... protecting grand array? What... what is there to be afraid of?"

Luo Yu slammed the table and roared, "Have your guts grown fat?! This array cannot withstand a God-Integration cultivator! All of you, scram quickly! Don't stay here and add to the chaos!"

Seeing their patriarch fly into a rage, the minor cultivators scrambled to their feet, scattering and vanishing into thin air in the span of a single breath. The previously bustling Yunlu Immortal Manor was left with only the Three Immortals of Qianteng, who were still lingering hesitantly.

Luo Yu rolled his eyes at the Three Immortals. "Why aren't you leaving?"

Tengxuanzi replied, "This... perhaps it's a misunderstanding? Please wait here for a moment, Immortal Luo, while we go forward and inquire."

Hua Jianli nodded. "Or perhaps they've come to request a formation disk?"

Just as Zhaohe was about to speak, a thunderous, ferocious roar suddenly echoed from the sky: "One, two, three... Oh? There's still half a piece left! Haha! Just as expected! Splendid, simply splendid!"

Luo Yu looked up, and in mere moments, the sky had become choked with rolling dark clouds that blotted out the firmament. Within the clouds loomed a terrifying, hideous creature: its body was like a massive mountain, with a bear's back and a wolf's waist; its four sharp claws resembled towering mountain pillars, and its three pointed toes were as crimson as fresh blood. Its massive face was as fierce as a malevolent ghost. Its huge mouth featured an underbite, and its two rows of tusks were freakishly long, resembling sharp bayonets that curved out past its lips, occupying the majority of its face. Its entire body was covered in long, glowing blue fur, and it trailed a tail so endlessly long that it pierced straight into the clouds. The monster's long fur possessed an eerie quality, drifting upward like smoke and merging seamlessly with the dark clouds, making it impossible to tell where the clouds ended and the fur began, distinguishable only by color.

Compared to this monster, the few people on the ground looked like nothing more than helpless little chicks.

The Three Immortals of Qianteng, who had originally intended to "go forward and inquire," now stood rooted to the spot like wooden chickens, utterly paralyzed and rendered speechless by the sheer terror of the monster.

"The ancient fierce beast, Taowu!" Bai Wuhuo treated the situation as a mortal crisis. "This beast was born from concentrated grievances and is violently ruthless... Damn it, how did it end up running all the way here?!"

"Hahaha!" The Taowu in the clouds burst into wild laughter upon hearing this. "There are three and a half divine beasts here; how could Ao not come? Advancing to the Mahayana Realm depends entirely on gobbling all of you down!"

Luoli gasped in surprise, "It actually wants to eat us! What good does eating us do for it?"

Bai Wuhuo said coldly, "In its past life, it was of divine descent. After death, its lingering grievance took form; it possesses the divine bloodline but lost the divine body, so it probably wants to devour divine beasts to mend its physical form."

Luoli remarked, "So it thinks of us as a health tonic! How truly evil!"

Seeing that a delectable meal was set right before it, the Taowu was in such a bursting good mood that it didn't even bother to quibble over their disrespectful words. It swung a massive claw and struck the barrier. The barrier instantly swayed violently, deforming to a severe degree.

"Quite sturdy, though!" the Taowu praised. "Too bad it cannot protect you!"

With that, it slammed heavily against the barrier a second time. The barrier immediately caved inward with a deafening, thunderous roar, and in the place where the Yunlu Immortal Manor once stood... Cuiwei Peak was smashed into fine powder. Yet, the barrier somehow snapped back into place by a hair's breadth, trembling on the verge of shattering and entirely incapable of enduring another heavier blow.

Luo Yu and the others had already flashed out of range of the peak the moment the claw came down, and their hearts were filled with dismay. They had originally intended to drive the three immortals away so they could retreat back to the Heaven-Defying Palace... but now, they probably wouldn't even have the chance to rummage through the gravel to find the teleportation array!

The Three Immortals had also escaped safely, yet they remained standing nearby in a panic, entirely clueless about saving their own skins. Knowing that they viewed him as an honored master out of a somewhat foolish loyalty, Luo Yu felt an indescribable depression weigh heavily upon his chest and roared at them, "Why are you still following us? Are you looking for death?! Scram, get as far away as you can!"

Bai Wuhuo swept his gaze around, his expression turning solemn. "Lasses, you go first. Let this lord come and have a go at it."

Luoli let out a cold snort. "Second-year-syndrome adolescent, can you even beat it? Don't be so arrogant!"

Bai Wuhuo broke into a brilliant smile. "Well, anyway, none of us can beat it by adding our strengths together. Since my cultivation is the highest here, I can at least stall it a bit. You lot just obediently run for your lives!"

The Taowu chuckled in the clouds, "Don't rush, don't rush! Not a single one of you is getting away!"

Qin Yue cast a calm glance at Bai Wuhuo, a thought flickering through his mind as a gleaming, dazzling long blade materialized in his hand. "Xiaoyu... you take them and leave first... Be a good boy, listen to me."

Luo Yu panicked and yanked him back. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Bai Wuhuo chimed in, "Danna, you'd better let this lord go... Besides, I'm a lone wolf; even if I die, no one will be heartbroken."

Qin Yue replied, "You asked me to treat you like family, and Qin Yue naturally will not break that promise—but do you... honestly believe you can last even a few moves under this lord's hands?"

Luoli shrieked, "I won't let big brother go throw his life away alone! If we're going up, we go together!"

Luo Yu wore a bitter expression. "Right... we can't escape anyway; if we're going to die, we'll die together."

Bai Wuhuo chuckled darkly, "Alright then! If we're going up, do it quickly, or else once it smashes the barrier open, all of our hard work for the entire year will go to waste!"