Chapter 100: The Battle of the Eight Trees of Guilin Against the Sacred Sect

“Forgive me.”
“Tonight, I have no mind to play games with you!”
The sinister prince Zi Gui spoke as he flashed a wicked smile toward Fan Sheng, while his right hand swiftly reached for his waist, grasping the Netherworld Jade that had long hung there. Urgently muttering an incantation, he intoned, “Netherworld Jade, spirit of the evil king, Xuan Dan battle soul, heed my summons, swift!”

As the chant left his lips, the jade, pulsating with spiritual energy, suddenly radiated a brilliant white light under the night sky. The entire Forgetting Pavilion was illuminated as brightly as daylight by the dazzling glow emanating from the translucent white jade talisman.

Aware that this Netherworld Jade was one of the ten sacred artifacts of the Wild Realm, Fan Sheng, despite being protected by the Myriad Defense Divine Flute, could not underestimate its power.

At the moment the intense white light flared, Fan Sheng quickly blurred and transformed into a wisp of azure smoke, drifting over ten yards backward.

Once he regained footing, he immediately channeled the “Supreme Goodness Like Water” force within him into the flute. Merging it with the spiritual energy stored inside the flute, he grasped the instrument with his left arm and swung it forward with great effort.

A subtle yet tangible force poured from the flute’s body. After a brief moment of gathering momentum in midair, it transformed into an ancient, enormous white axe that descended upon the Forgetting Pavilion where Zi Gui stood.

Though the axe wielded a gentle force that produced no fierce gusts, its imposing presence was undeniable.

Yet, as the white axe struck the ancient tree before the pavilion, the leaves shielding the pavilion instantly turned to ash at a speed invisible to the naked eye. The mountain breeze then scattered the ashes, erasing all traces into the vast expanse of the world.

If one thought this giant axe, formed by the combination of the “Supreme Goodness Like Water” energy and the spiritual power of the Myriad Defense Divine Flute, was merely ornamental, they would be gravely mistaken.

In the entire Wild Realms, including the Celestial Emperor and Demon Emperor, no one dared to belittle Fan Sheng’s power derived from the “Supreme Goodness Like Water” force.

Zi Gui, as an old rival, certainly understood the strength of Fan Sheng all too well.

Seeing the white giant axe approach the pavilion, though its force seemed moderate, the overwhelming power concealed within it was unmistakable under Zi Gui’s Netherworld Heavenly Eye.

If struck by this blow, the Forgetting Pavilion would shatter and collapse amid the storm, and even Zi Gui’s very body might be gravely harmed.

So, at the critical moment when the white axe flew in, Zi Gui’s Netherworld Jade had already completed its rapid charge.

The white light radiating from the jade swiftly condensed into human forms. As the luminance dimmed, the figures that sprang from the Netherworld Jade were fully revealed beneath the night’s shadow.

Tall and imposing, each stood over eight feet, and there were exactly eight of them, each wielding a profound Dark Heaven Giant Halberd. An ominous aura drifted off their bodies, making them appear extraordinarily formidable in the moonlight.

“The Eight Trees of Guilin!”

Fan Sheng’s heart jolted at the sight, realizing that a fierce battle was imminent tonight.

About ten thousand years ago, when Fan Sheng was just beginning his journey, he had heard tales of the Eight Great Protectors of the Southern Wild Demonic Clan, collectively known as the Eight Trees of Guilin.

These eight trees were divine entities born alongside heaven and earth at creation.

After countless years of cultivation, they had each transformed into humanoid forms and united with the Netherworld Evil King to establish the barbarian tribe of the Southern Wild.

Though nominally protectors of the Southern Wild Demonic Clan, the Eight Trees of Guilin wielded power that rivaled even the Netherworld Evil King himself.

Each of these trees was a refined ancient spirit with over ten thousand years of cultivation, possessing power far beyond ordinary great gods.

Fan Sheng recalled that in a grand war between gods and demons long ago, at least ten ancient gods had fallen by the hands of the Eight Trees of Guilin.

Later, thanks to Fan Xian the War God and Fan Sheng stealing the demonic clan’s sacred artifact—the Myriad Defense Evil Flute—they led the divine realm’s legions to reclaim the territory, sealing all demonic royal family members and powerful foes, including the Eight Trees of Guilin, within Xuan Dan Mountain.

Unexpectedly, after ten thousand years, Zi Gui, relying on his formidable cultivation, had forcibly broken the seal and fled.

His other treasure—the Netherworld Jade—had brought the Eight Trees of Guilin and other ancient demonic elites along with him.

Although the half-wounded Zi Gui was no match for Fan Sheng alone, with the Eight Trees of Guilin and the Netherworld Jade assisting, the outcome might yet be rewritten.

Before anyone could react, just as the white giant axe was about to strike the Forgetting Pavilion, one of the Eight Trees, “Jian Li,” standing at the pavilion’s forefront, raised his giant halberd without hesitation and charged to intercept Fan Sheng’s giant axe.

The ancient aura contained within Jian Li’s halberd burst forth with his swing, merging with immense force to collide head-on with the giant axe.

“Pop...”

Unexpectedly, the collision produced no earth-shaking roar but instead a soft popping sound.

After blocking the white giant axe, it instantly split into two axes, attacking Jian Li’s head and feet simultaneously with incredible speed and surprising dexterity, beyond ordinary comprehension.

Few would have predicted that the giant axe, formed from the “Supreme Goodness Like Water” technique, could autonomously divide into two and skillfully target different parts of an enemy as though it possessed life itself.

However, Jian Li was no pushover. Although the Eight Trees of Guilin were renowned for their group combat, years of cultivation had also honed their individual combat prowess.

With tens of thousands of years of experience, even the dullest among them would hardly be weak.

When the giant axe split into two, the burly Jian Li nimbly executed a sideways somersault, tossing his halberd. The weapon flashed twice through the air with lightning speed, cleaving both axes invisibly in midair.

Thus, the Forgetting Pavilion, which had withstood storms for tens of thousands of years, was spared destruction by the clash of these ancient warriors.

Watching the agile and ancient power-filled movements of the Eight Trees of Guilin, the previously confident Fan Sheng could only sigh inwardly, realizing that the task entrusted by the Celestial Emperor would likely fail today.

“Bring it on!”

The burly Jian Li shouted from beneath the tree.

Fan Sheng cautiously surveyed the eight surrounding the pavilion before fixing his gaze on Zi Gui.

As their eyes met, a sly smile curled at the corner of Zi Gui’s lips, a hint of wickedness gleaming in his eyes. He taunted softly, “Fan Sheng, do you still believe you have the power to kill me today?”

“Perhaps I do not, but the Demon Transformation Vase does!”

Fan Sheng feigned calm but was already scheming his escape from Xuan Dan Mountain.