Within the mist-laden void.
Jiang Chen and Jiang Xi received the urgent summons.
"An emergency call," Jiang Xi murmured, her gaze flickering to Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen nodded slowly. He too had seen it.
After spending considerable time in this world, Jiang Chen understood its systems well. The Great Xia Federation provided immense support to its people—free education, resources, and training. But in return, when the Federation faced crises, every citizen bore a duty to stand firm.
The emergency summons was an unbreakable decree.
Anyone who met the qualifications had no choice. Refusal or evasion was punishable by severe consequences, sometimes even a tribunal before the Federation's Martial Court.
Thus, few dared defy it.
"Brother, what should we do now?" Jiang Xi's voice trembled slightly, uncertainty clouding her eyes.
"No need to worry," Jiang Chen replied, his gaze lingering on the mist that thickened around them. "This summons likely concerns the impending dimensional rift—and whatever may emerge from it."
Jiang Xi nodded slightly.
As the two conversed, Jiang Chen's senses stirred.
His gaze swiftly turned toward the distant horizon.
In that instant, his brows furrowed.
Four figures had emerged from the sky, their presence cutting through the air like sharpened blades.
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed in surprise.
The immense power radiating from these individuals was undeniable. Each of them exuded an aura far greater than his current strength.
The weakest among them likely held a battle power in the tens of millions, while the strongest figure's aura surged dangerously close to a hundred million.
"Top cultivators from the Central Realm?" Jiang Chen mused.
Power of this magnitude could only belong to the strongest experts in this world.
Based on his understanding, the Great Xia Federation had yet to produce a Seventh Tier cultivator. Without a Seventh Tier presence, these four undoubtedly stood at the pinnacle of the Sixth Tier.
A spark of curiosity ignited within Jiang Chen.
He had yet to witness the might of the Central Realm's supreme experts.
What martial techniques and mystical powers did they possess?
---
Far in the distance.
The four figures hovered midair, their expressions grim.
"Old Li, this situation is beyond troublesome."
"The sheer magnitude of this aura far exceeds the peak of the Sixth Tier."
One of them spoke in a low, worried tone, casting a glance at the elder in the center.
"This might be a manifestation from a Seventh Tier World."
"Old Li, are you prepared?"
Another quickly followed.
"I'm already in the process, but it will take another half hour."
The elder, addressed as Old Li, spoke gravely.
"Half an hour?"
The fourth figure's voice rose with concern.
"Yes. Gathering the necessary spiritual force takes time. Even though we responded swiftly, the dimensional rift expanded at an alarming rate. We won't reach it in time."
Old Li's bitter smile revealed his frustration.
"By the way, where is Old Zhang?"
"Why hasn't he arrived yet? Has he not emerged?"
The first speaker's brows furrowed further.
"Not yet." Old Li shook his head.
"Old Li, if it truly is a Seventh Tier World, can you stand against it?"
One of the figures spoke again, the question hanging heavily in the air.
All eyes turned to Old Li.
Among them, only Old Li, aside from the absent Old Zhang, was believed to have the slightest chance of confronting a Seventh Tier being.
"I don't know."
Old Li's voice was low, and a tinge of uncertainty crept through it.
They had never faced a Seventh Tier. Its power remained a terrifying unknown.
A tense silence fell over the group.
The Seventh Tier— an existence they could not yet grasp.
"Damn it! No matter what, we can't let these monstrous creatures breach the city. If they do, the devastation will be unimaginable."
One of them cursed, breaking the silence.
"Indeed!"
"We have to stop them."
"And if we manage to hold them off, those of us here will gain access to the Tier-7 World."
"Breaking through to the Seventh Tier will become possible."
"Yes!"
Their voices rang out, each trying to bolster their determination.
But just then—
"ROAR!"
A deafening, guttural howl erupted.
A surge of violent, ominous energy swept through the white mist, instantly dyeing it pitch-black. The choking presence of death spread like a tidal wave.
From the thickened black mist, a colossal creature emerged.
It bore three monstrous heads, each snarling with jagged, blood-streaked fangs. The beast's eyes glowed an eerie crimson, and thick saliva dripped from its jaws.
The reek of death clung to it, malevolence radiating in waves.
"Not good!"
"That aura…"
The expressions of the four twisted in shock, their bodies tensing in unison.
At the instant the massive three-headed beast emerged, an overwhelming sense of dread swept over the battlefield. The pressure was suffocating, as though an ancient force had descended upon the world. Every heartbeat echoed with fear.
Powerful.
Unimaginably powerful.
A crushing weight seemed to settle on the warriors' chests. Their breaths grew labored, and their limbs trembled under the sheer magnitude of the creature's presence.
"What a terrifying monster."
"Seventh Tier... That has to be a Seventh Tier entity!"
A trembling voice pierced the tense air. Even Old Li, the most formidable among them, wore a grave expression on his face. As one who had reached the peak of the Sixth Tier and brushed the threshold of godhood, he could keenly sense the immeasurable might of the three-headed beast. The monstrous creature resembled the mythical Cerberus of ancient legend, but its sinister aura far surpassed the stories.
"All together!"
"We have to hold it back for half an hour!"
Old Li's voice roared like a battle drum, and without a moment's hesitation, his energy surged. A violent crimson light exploded from his body, igniting the heavens with raw power.
"Boom!"
"Rumble!"
The sky churned, and the clouds twisted in response to the eruption of ki. Old Li's aura blazed like a raging inferno, and the air crackled with force.
The other three warriors followed suit, their energies flaring to their absolute limits. Despite their valiant efforts, none of them had crossed the threshold into the Seventh Tier. And against this terrifying foe, their combined might was woefully inadequate.
"Crash!"
With a deafening impact, two figures were flung across the sky like broken meteors. Blood splattered mid-air as their bodies tumbled through the clouds. Even the strongest among them was completely overpowered.
"Boom!"
The shockwaves of their clash tore through the atmosphere. Explosions rang out one after another as the colossal beast continued its relentless assault.
Time passed in a blur of destruction. Less than half a minute had elapsed, and already two warriors were severely injured. The remaining fighter, drenched in sweat and panting heavily, barely stood his ground. Only Old Li still fought with desperate resolve.
"Cough! Cough!"
Blood stained Old Li's lips as he narrowly evaded a vicious swipe from the three-headed monstrosity. The burning crimson aura around him intensified as he began to sacrifice his own life force to bolster his strength.
But it was not enough.
The monster's aura, twisted and corrupt, loomed ever closer to full manifestation. Old Li gritted his teeth, his hands trembling.
"Where did this abomination come from?"
"Could it really be from the forgotten legends of the gods?"
His thoughts spun in turmoil. The beast's resemblance to the mythical Cerberus only deepened his unease.
"Roar!"
A guttural roar erupted from the beast, its blood-red eyes gleaming with malice. Failing to catch its prey, it grew more frenzied. The black mist swirling around it thickened, consuming the land like a creeping plague. The ground beneath cracked and blackened, unable to withstand the creature's malevolent power.
"No!"
Old Li's eyes widened. The realization struck him like a dagger to the heart. If the beast were to fully manifest, it would bring catastrophe upon the world. He could already see the destruction that would follow— entire cities reduced to ruins, countless lives lost.
But no matter how much his spirit burned, his strength was fading.
(End of Chapter)
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