BOOM.

It was like a spark falling to the earth, a meteorite colliding with Earth.

In the Jing State Wilderness Area, where the Temporary Stadium once stood, a colossal deep pit suddenly appeared, sending a mushroom cloud of dust billowing into the sky. Humanity's marvel proved fragile before the meteorite, as delicate as a paper scroll. It left no trace, and everything was reduced to ruins.

This was nature's ferocity, a stark display of the Earth Federation's vulnerability in the face of this sudden celestial disaster.

「The next moment.」

A majestic, arrogant, wild, and defiant roar suddenly echoed through the Jing State Wilderness Area, reaching Jing State and the hearts of everyone who received the information. Its tone was chilling, brazenly revealing a boiling bloodthirst and a predator's savage anticipation for its prey.

"I've heard the Federal Human Race is holding a Martial Arts Academy competition. Daring to fight to the death, are they? HAHAHAHA! Without the participation of my Beast Clan, how can you humans, these powerless children, possibly withstand our conquest? It would be better to let my clan teach you how to hunt! Come out, my children! Sweep away all enemies you see! Devour all food you encounter! Let these humans, who claim to be the spirits of all creation, witness true strength! HAHAHAHA..."

Upon hearing this, the four Martial Emperors, who had sensed the life fluctuations within the meteorite, all looked grim, their hearts tightening.

Disaster had descended!

The "Beast Tide Sky Curtain," or rather, the "Beast Nest Sky Descent"!

Based on its size and danger level, the Beast Nest before them was at least a royal-level behemoth. The scattered energy and the kinetic force of its descent had directly flattened nearly everything within a ten-mile radius! One can only imagine how astonishingly destructive it was.

And this was just the beginning. The most dreaded aspect of a Beast Nest was the nearly endless Beast Tide that followed. Jing State hadn't experienced a Beast Tide for nearly twenty years. Was it about to endure one again?

The facts proved their worries pointless, because what was destined to happen would happen; the unchangeable would inevitably remain unchanged.

Who could have imagined that even after the Federation had deployed hundreds of fleets to the Star War Battlefield, and utilized countless resources and powerful figures to erect a protective sky curtain, a Beast Nest could still breach it? No, not just one—they had seen at least ten!

「And then.」

The Beast Nest didn't wait for their response. Like an ant hive, it began to disgorge its 'workers' relentlessly. Densely packed, large and small, they numbered in the millions, even tens of millions—a countless, bizarre assortment of all kinds. Although the vast majority were lower Soldier-level beasts, there were also intermediate Soldier-level beasts and even upper-class Soldier-level beasts among them. In fact, they were even stronger than the beast groups on the Death Battlefield, which had already lost their capacity to fight.

"Are you planning to use this new generation of my Human Race for training?"

Edward had discerned the Beast Nest's intent. His tone became colder, and a boundless killing intent rose from him.

"HAHAHAHA! Does your Human Race possess the capability to serve as training fodder for my clan?" The Beast Nest scoffed, its voice dripping with disdain. "This is a hunt! A hunt commanded by the great Beast God! The Human Race is destined to be nothing more than food for my clan! You ants, who cannot even perceive the vastness of Heaven and Earth, are merely struggling in vain! HAHAHAHA..."

「…」

Yun Tianyi finally completed his reconnaissance, his mental message conveying a heavy tone. It's at least an expert at the Eight Extremes Martial Emperor realm or higher! he transmitted. Even if we join forces, we can only trap him and wait for rescue!

They were indeed the four deans of the Federation's Martial Arts Academies, but their primary contributions lay not in their personal strength, but in teaching and cultivating others. Compared to their successors, they were, at best, hindrances, with the strongest among them being only a third-level Martial Emperor. That referred to Mu Dongjun, the dean of the Federal Martial Arts Academy!

"No matter its realm, we cannot retreat!" Mu Dongjun declared, his voice grim. "We fight! Fight until reinforcements arrive! Otherwise, be prepared to die for our country. The Federation can survive without us old geezers, but it cannot lose those promising young talents..."

At this moment, the four old geezers made a decisive resolution, fully aware of their value and role.

Although the students participating in this Federal Martial Arts Competition generally possessed low realms, they were the true geniuses of the Federation. Merely a year after enrollment, a large number of them had already appeared as second-level Warriors. In the past, this would have been unthinkable. This rapid progress was partly due to the surge of Spiritual Energy, which was incrementally transforming their physiques, and partly due to a major blossoming of talent forged by the Federation's protracted wars. Each of them held the potential to cross the threshold of the Martial Master Realm before graduation.

As for these old geezers, despite their current high realms, hadn't each of them earned their cultivation through a lifetime of battles and countless life-or-death crises, forged by the relentless crucible of war? Compared to these exquisitely talented youths, they were indeed just unrefined old soldiers.

"If that's the case, and if reinforcements don't arrive, then let us contribute to the Human Race one last time! HAHAHAHA..."

Once these young talents matured and stepped onto the battlefield, they could become pillars of strength within a few short years. For that future, what did their own sacrifices matter? Everything was for the Federation.

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

"Fight!"

Four voices cried out in unison, a single, unified will.

To the east, a colossal, faint Azure Dragon suddenly coiled, its scales intricately detailed, its aura majestic and boundless.

To the south, a fiery Vermilion Bird materialized, its head held high as if poised to soar into the heavens, its body wreathed in crimson flames.

To the west, a White Tiger, radiant as jade, appeared. A serene aura emanated from it, yet its bared fangs, sharp claws, and earth-shattering roars could make Heaven and Earth tremble.

To the north, a dark, cyan-black Black Tortoise manifested, its visage terrifying. Its beak was sharp, its broad carapace bristled with jagged spikes, resembling a strange, miniature landscape.

As the Four Symbols gathered, ancient bloodlines awakened. The Talents stirring within their blood began to project their influence across Heaven and Earth for dozens of miles around.

"Azure Dragon!"

"Vermilion Bird!"

"White Tiger!"

"Black Tortoise!"

"Four Symbols Formation, rise!"

With resounding roars and hisses, the four magnificent figures took their respective positions. Their bodies shimmered with light, their mental energy continuously converging to weave a Heaven and Earth net in mid-air. Densely woven, as exquisite as fine threads, its shadows like ethereal ghosts, it suddenly descended from the sky, blanketing the surroundings.

"HAHAHAHA! My children, advance! I shall hold back these four little ones for you, tear open a passage, and let you hunt in all directions!"

The arrogant and frenzied voice echoed throughout the area.

BOOM! A gigantic tail erupted from the ground, slamming violently against the Four Symbols Formation. The net, serene and flawless as jade, instantly spiderwebbed with countless cracks.

Meanwhile, countless beasts began to devour each other. The weaker ones rapidly diminished, while the ferocious ones grew in number and power, their auras becoming increasingly formidable, like baleful soldiers summoned from the netherworld.

ROAR!

SQUAWK!

HOWL!

The bestial cries rose and fell in waves. A lithe, eerie figure with glowing green eyes suddenly squeezed through the net, its gaze fixed on the direction where the most enticing aroma drifted on the air. Its razor-sharp claws tore savagely at the ground, instantly gouging out a pit one to two meters deep.

SHRIEK!

A high-pitched shriek, like that of an infant, cast an ominous pall over the surroundings. It was about to begin its hunt. As a General-level beast, it was destined to advance to become a leader-level beast in this grand feast.

「…」

Unfortunately for it, as the rumbling sounds of its digging echoed across the silent wilderness area, the beast failed to notice a flickering figure suddenly emerge from beneath the ground, directly in its path.

Boundless coldness and killing intent converged, manifesting as the blade in his hand.

The Liyun Blade was raised high. A sharp cry suddenly cut through the air, echoing in all directions.

"Fatal---One Slash!"

「In an instant.」

Across the wilderness, a brilliant, fleeting blade light, like a suddenly sprung trap, flashed through the abdomen of the upper-class Soldier-level beast—a creature comparable to a high-level Martial Master or a low-level Martial General.

A powerful General-level beast, one that hadn't even had the chance to unleash its bloodline talent, was instantly slain by Wang Zhan, becoming another casualty claimed by his hand.

Power +73

Agility +82

Physique +69

Then, a proud, upright figure appeared where the General-level beast had stood, a chilling killing intent radiating from him. His aura plummeted with the execution of the Fatal One Slash, hitting rock bottom in an instant. His clothes hung loosely, as if he had been reduced to mere skin and bones.

But this state didn't last long. In the blink of an eye, his well-built frame filled out his clothes once more. Everything returned to normal, as abruptly as that spectral blade light had appeared, making the entire exchange feel like a hazy, fleeting dream.

As expected, Wang Zhan mused. To make a fortune, one must engage in significant ventures. There's no future in messing with small fry.

But Wang Zhan didn't pause to savor his spoils. He simply snatched the beast core from the slain General-level beast. Sensing the restless energy roiling within it, a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind. However, on the battlefield, there was no time for deep contemplation. He merely lifted his head, gazing at the scene before him—a spectacle that seemed like the descent of gods or immortals.

Each colossal phantom stood ten thousand feet tall. The Beast Nest itself remained silent, yet its light was as brilliant and hazy as the sun. Azure, red, jade, black, and white lights suffused nearly every crevice of this domain, bathing the entire expanse in an illumination as bright as day.

Wang Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly.

I'm still too weak... he thought. Compared to them, even if I can fight or kill a Grandmaster, I'm nothing but an ant in their presence. Disposing of me would take them no more effort than lifting a finger.

He didn't dwell on it further, firm in his belief that one day he too would reach such an inhuman realm. Gripping the Liyun Blade tightly, he charged forward recklessly once more, ignoring the weakness and pain wracking his body, and unleashed another slash.

"Fatal---One Slash!"

The blade light landed precisely on another General-level beast, cleaving it perfectly down the middle of its skull, splitting it in two.

Power +68

Agility +63

Physique +72

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