Within the Gudao World Cluster, near the black tunnel entrance, the Ancestor of the Zhan Family was being besieged by over a dozen assailants of unknown origins.
These more than a dozen attackers all possessed formidable combat strength. Within just a few breaths, they had battered the Zhan Family Ancestor, forcing him into a continuous retreat.
"Protect the Ancestor! Slay the enemy!"
Seeing this, the surrounding members of the Zhan Family were enraged to the extreme.
Their own Ancestor was undergoing the tribulation for deity ascension—a matter of utmost importance. For these unknown individuals to suddenly appear and disrupt the Ancestor's tribulation at this critical juncture was akin to severing the Zhan Family's hopes.
Filled with towering fury, the Demigod experts of the Zhan Family waved their hands, and all the Warbeasts beside them let out ferocious roars. Every Warbeast immediately pounced towards the dozen or so mysterious attackers. With hundreds of Warbeasts charging together, their bestial blood boiling, the scene was terrifyingly intense.
Immediately after, the Demigod experts of the Zhan Family also soared into the air, charging from all directions.
"Ancestor, focus on your tribulation. Leave these enemies to us!" a Zhan Family elder at the forefront shouted loudly. This elder was a Zhan Family Elder and also a Perfected Demigod. However, his strength fell short of the Ancestor's, as the Ancestor currently undergoing tribulation was a Perfected Demigod at the Nine-Nine Return to True Immortal level, having cultivated in this realm for vast ages and standing just a step away from divinity.
"Everyone, charge! We absolutely cannot let these villains interfere with our Ancestor's tribulation!" another Advanced Demigod of the Zhan Family roared as he charged forward alongside six Warbeasts.
The other Demigod experts of the Zhan Family were all similarly murderous.
It was important to know that the Zhan Family was a renowned major family within the Chaotic Void Sea, skilled in beast taming, with substantial overall strength. Under normal circumstances, no one dared to provoke them openly.
Now, someone had actually appeared to disrupt their Ancestor's deity tribulation. For the Zhan Family, this was a severe provocation, making every member present seethe with rage.
However, when these furious Zhan Family forces launched a frenzied assault on the mysterious attackers, the latter displayed astonishing combat power.
One figure took a step forward, raised the long saber in his hand, and slashed out. A massive blade beam instantly took form, cutting horizontally through the air and bisecting the dozen or so Demigod-level Warbeasts charging at the forefront. Among those Warbeasts were at least three Advanced Demigod-level beasts and even one at the Perfected Demigod level. They were all slain with a single stroke. Such power stunned the Zhan Family members.
Distant spectators sensing the terror of that blade beam also paled in fright.
The saber-wielding figure was enveloped in a hazy, mysterious halo of light, making his true appearance and aura difficult for outsiders to discern. Clearly, he was cultivating some highly advanced concealment art. In fact, it wasn't just him; all the other mysterious attackers were the same—their bodies shrouded by a luminous veil that obscured their true forms and auras.
Boom!
At that moment, one of the mysterious attackers waved a hand and tossed out a black scroll.
The black scroll unfurled swiftly in space, instantly covering a vast area. It generated a terrifying suction force, forcibly dragging a large swathe of the surrounding space—including everyone within it—into the scroll, the Ancestor of the Zhan Family included.
As he was pulled into the black scroll, the Zhan Family Ancestor roared in fury, unleashing all the energy within his body in a torrential release, attempting to break free from the scroll's confinement.
However, five or six of the mysterious attackers acted in unison, releasing their own energy to suppress the Zhan Family Ancestor. Then, they along with the Ancestor were all sucked into the black scroll, becoming characters depicted within it.
"No good! The Ancestor has been trapped by that treasure!"
Seeing this, all members of the Zhan Family realized the situation had taken a dire turn and launched frenzied attacks. But each of the remaining mysterious attackers demonstrated fearsome combat strength, each blocking a large group of Zhan Family members. Regardless of their strength, no Zhan Family member could advance a single step.
"The Zhan Family Ancestor's situation is looking bad!"
At this moment, Hun Lao sensed that the Ancestor's aura was beginning to weaken, clearly indicating he was already injured.
After roughly five or six breaths, a sharp cry of agony rang out from within the black scroll—precisely the Zhan Family Ancestor's voice.
"No! The Ancestor is wounded!"
Hearing their Ancestor's scream, the Zhan Family forces were both enraged and shocked.
Originally, their Ancestor's impending deity tribulation was a momentous occasion brimming with hope for the Zhan Family. Who could have imagined that before the formal tribulation could even begin, the Ancestor would be wounded by these suddenly appearing mysterious experts?
At this moment, all members of the Zhan Family began to descend into a frenzy, each charging desperately towards the mysterious attackers.
However, at that precise instant, six or seven figures tumbled out consecutively from the black scroll. The Zhan Family Ancestor and the five or six mysterious attackers who had been dragged in earlier were all ejected.
"It seems the Zhan Family Ancestor has already perished."
Someone noticed that the Ancestor who had fallen out of the black scroll was motionless, floating silently, devoid of any life aura.
"Impossible! Could a peak expert on the verge of undergoing deity tribulation have been killed in such a short span?"
Seeing the Zhan Family Ancestor utterly lifeless, no one could quite believe it.
"Let's go."
One of the mysterious attackers spoke in a low voice.
Then, the more than a dozen mysterious attackers turned and left.
Their arrival and departure were equally swift. The moment they turned, before taking more than a few steps, they each vanished into the depths of space, disappearing completely.
"Their strength is genuinely formidable!"
Hun Lao, who had been constantly sensing the auras of the mysterious attackers, couldn't help but comment.
"I might not necessarily be a match for that Zhan Family Ancestor myself, yet they finished him off in moments. They are indeed powerful," Ye Yunfei also nodded, unable to resist the observation.
"Ancestor!"
At this point, the Zhan Family members, seeing their Ancestor's condition, had no mind to pursue the enemies. They all rushed to the Ancestor's side.
"No good! It seems the Ancestor truly has perished!" a Zhan Family Demigod couldn't help but cry out.
"The Ancestor has indeed fallen," the Perfected Demigod of the Zhan Family confirmed, his face extremely grim, after sensing the Ancestor's condition. He nodded, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Let's retrieve the Ancestor's remains first."
The Perfected Demigod retrieved a spatial treasure, carefully placed the Ancestor's body inside, then slowly swept his gaze across the surrounding space, including all the spectators standing at a distance.
"The Zhan Family will remember today's grievance. I don't care about your identities, backgrounds, or your strength. I swear, starting from this day, the Zhan Family will mobilize the entire clan's power. Regardless of the manpower, resources, information, or time required, we will exact vengeance for today's injustice!" the Perfected Demigod declared through gritted teeth, suppressing boundless rage in his heart, enunciating each word.
"Let's go."
With that, the Perfected Demigod flicked his sleeve, leading the Zhan Family members as they departed.
"The Zhan Family Ancestor actually perished. He was a major figure!"
Watching the departing Zhan Family entourage, the onlookers were still somewhat incredulous.
Not long ago, the Zhan Family Ancestor had arrived amidst his clan's fanfare and grandeur, poised to undergo the deity tribulation. At that time, the Zhan Family members were brimming with high spirits. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, they were leaving in disgrace, carrying their Ancestor's corpse?
"Needless to say, it must be the Zhan Family's enemies seeking revenge. Likely old, powerful foes of the Zhan Family. To think they'd choose this moment to strike," one person speculated.
"Possibly these old enemies had long calculated the timing, specifically waiting for the Ancestor's tribulation to suddenly appear and deliver a heavy blow to the Zhan Family," another added.
"It truly is a heavy blow. The loss of an Ancestor on the cusp of divinity is devastating for the Zhan Family."
...
Even after the Zhan Family had completely left, the crowd continued to discuss fervently.
News of the Zhan Family Ancestor's fall quickly spread throughout the Gudao World Cluster, immediately drawing the attention of other major factions, all of whom strengthened their defenses.
Since those major factions also had Perfected Demigod experts within the world cluster preparing to undergo tribulations here, they were large organizations with numerous enemies accrued over their long development. They all feared their own foes might emulate the Zhan Family's enemies, appearing suddenly at a critical moment to sabotage.
Thus, in the following days, those major factions intensified their security, plunging the entire Gudao World Cluster into a highly tense atmosphere.
Three days later.
"Trouble! Powerful enemies are attacking, besieging the Fourth Ancestor!"
A furious roar erupted from within a world that had been occupied by the Demon Race, followed by tumultuous cries of battle.
The patrol teams of the Demon Race outside the world, hearing the commotion, swiftly turned and charged back into the world behind them.
"What's happening within the Demon Race's territory?"
The disturbance from the Demon Race-occupied world quickly drew everyone's attention.
Not long ago, this world had been taken by Demon Race forces. It was said an Ancestor from Demon Capital was in secluded cultivation within, preparing to undergo the deity tribulation in the Gudao World Cluster.
After the incident with the Zhan Family Ancestor, the Demon Race had bolstered its defenses. The world's interior and exterior were now patrolled by substantial Demon Race forces at all times, forbidding unauthorized entry.
Rumors held that a large group of Demon Race experts were stationed secretly within the world. Unexpectedly, chaos had suddenly erupted.
Ferocious battle cries and torrential explosions of energy emanated from within, making it clear a fierce conflict was underway.
"Could the Demon Race also have enemies seeking revenge?"
More and more people gathered outside the Demon Race-occupied world, listening to the commotion with apprehension.
The intensity of the battle indicated both sides possessed considerable strength.
"It seems Demon Race enemies truly have come for revenge!" someone exclaimed.
"That's not strange. The Demon Race has made countless enemies. Their nature is cruel and violent, quick to take lives. Especially in recent times, the Demon Race has invaded many world clusters, committing many brutal massacres. So, their list of enemies is long. It's just surprising their enemies would choose this moment to strike," someone nearby commented in a low voice.
"A valid point. The Demon Race indeed has far too many enemies. Perhaps it's people from the world clusters they invaded recently, seeking vengeance," others nodded in agreement.
"Kill! Protect the Ancestor!"
At this moment, an enraged roar burst from within the Demon Race-occupied world.
"Seems the enemies have turned their focus to the Demon Race Ancestor. The situation likely mirrors the Zhan Family's—their enemies also aim to target an Ancestor undergoing tribulation," those observing outside thought with concealed shock.
"One must admit, this tactic is vicious! An Ancestor of a power about to undergo deity tribulation represents its greatest hope. Killing that Ancestor at such a critical moment strangles the faction's hope, dealing an immense blow," someone sighed.
"Right. Who could the Demon Race's enemies be? From what I know, the Demon Race's overall strength seems a notch above the Zhan Family's. What forces or experts within the Chaotic Void Sea dare seek vengeance against the Demon Race at such a time—and specifically target an Ancestor on the verge of ascension?" a voice suddenly questioned.
"Exactly! Who dares cause trouble for the Demon Race now?"
Pondering the question, people exchanged bewildered glances, unable to think of anyone who would dare provoke a superpower like the Demon Race under these circumstances. With insufficient strength, it would be akin to suicide.
After all, to protect their impending Ancestor's tribulation, the Demon Race had transferred a significant force of experts and an elite army from their headquarters. Only factions or peak experts of formidable power would dare seek vengeance now.
"Who are you? Why are you causing havoc within Demon Race territory?" Another furious roar erupted from within the world, but no answer came.
The sounds of combat grew more intense, terrifying waves of energy continuously radiating outwards, striking fear into the hearts of those sensing them.
"Disaster! The Ancestor is severely wounded!" After a while, another voice filled with utmost fury echoed from within the world.
Thereafter, the fighting grew even more ferocious. Roar after roar from Demon Race members sounded, showing each was enraged to the extreme, fighting the enemies with their lives on the line.
"How terrifying! The Demon Race Ancestor was actually severely wounded," everyone outside felt profound shock upon sensing the events inside.
Not long ago, a mysterious and powerful enemy of unknown origin had slain the Zhan Family Ancestor on the cusp of ascension. Now, the Demon Race Ancestor was also severely wounded. Both the Zhan Family Ancestor and the Demon Race Ancestor were considered among the top-tier figures within the Chaotic Void Sea.
"Something seems off. Could there be a faction secretly targeting Perfected Demigods of major powers who are about to undergo deity tribulation?" Hun Lao sent a voice transmission to Ye Yunfei.
At this moment, Ye Yunfei was also standing outside the Demon Race-occupied world, keenly perceiving the tumultuous energy fluctuations emanating from within.