A chaotic, malevolent aura descended, carrying the weight of a Saint Realm presence, nearly causing the hearts of the on-site Spirit Realm practitioners to stall, as if the dreadful dry corpse had indeed revived. Fortunately, while the Shanggui possessed the alluring essence of a mythical beast, it was still weaker than the corpse. Nevertheless, this was no ordinary creature—it was a Saint Realm monster. The overwhelming pressure pushed Shina Ryō back, tightening her calf muscles and stiffening her entire body, leaving her motionless. Was this the Shanggui faction's true reserve power—the summoning of a Saint Realm Shanggui? In her mind, Guan Ya felt a sharp sense of urgency. She believed that within the group, only she could truly match the Shanggui's strength. Even with her protective set, she still felt a certain apprehension. The difference between the transcendent and the Saint Realm was not merely one of rank—it was a vast gap in realm. Zhao Chenghuang furrowed his brow, quickly weighing the situation in his mind. With his ghostly transformation combined with the 4th-level Yin corpse, he could barely hold his own against this mountain spirit. But to block the creature and prevent it from advancing deep into the park, he would need either Guan Ya or Yuan Shishen to assist. In that case, the remaining three would have to face off against the spirit's eight warriors—something they simply couldn't manage given the significant numerical disadvantage. The mountain spirit's entry into the game had instantly turned the situation into a dire crisis. The Peony Immortal deeply inhaled, striving to keep her voice steady, and said, "The Mountain Spirit faction—well, it seems they've summoned a monster. A monster of Saint Realm rank." At once, the top floor of the bank building fell silent. The Spirit Travelers' faces turned pale, their eyes filled with tension and desperation. Their lives now hung in the balance of the five-member team. Spirit Travelers stationed in the city's shopping centers and at the abandoned subway stations monitored the park's developments through their own means. When the observers relayed the news to their colleagues, everyone grew anxious. The Mountain Spirit faction was always formidable—this was expected—but no one had anticipated that the enemy would launch such a powerful move right from the start, summoning a Saint Realm-level monster to aid them. Even with unwavering confidence in the Primordial Celestial Sovereign and Zhao the City God, they now felt genuinely uneasy. … "This is the power of the Sage Realm—something I've already experienced firsthand," said Ban Wu Xian, his teeth bared, his voice deep and resonant. "Only the enchanting spirits can fully manifest this power. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun, Zhao Chenghuang—whom of you shall meet your end?" Though he had never been this bold before, the infusion of the Mountain Spirit's strength had subtly transformed him, making him more flamboyant and fierce. Ayi, Wei Wo Dú Zūn, and the others gradually stepped back, silent, moving steadily toward the deeper parts of the park. As long as Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun and Zhao Chenghuang combined their efforts to confront Ban Wu Xian, they would immediately charge in, plunging the Blood Jade into the Blood Pool. With only three "weak women" and two shadow corpses, they were certain to be unable to hold them off. Zhao Chenghuang said solemnly, "I can hold Ban Wu Xian at bay, but I'll need an ally—besides that high school girl, any of you three will do. However, how shall we hold off this entire group?" "If someone can hold off Bai Wu Wujin, I can stop them all." Guan Ya paused for a few seconds before saying, "I can try, but the odds aren't great." Zhao Chenghuang frowned, "What do you mean the odds aren't great?" One such phrase could prove fatal to everyone. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and asked, "Zhao Chenghuang, can you really hold them off?" Zhao Chenghuang glanced at him, "With these three working together, it's definitely manageable. Do you have any plan?" Zhang Yuanqing nodded, "I can try to take on Bai Wu Wujin single-handedly." Zhao Chenghuang gave a satisfied nod, "You're right—clever rabbits never have just one den." "Just say 'three dens' and you're done," Zhang Yuanqing said, then lightly pressed his fingertips together in the air, summoning a delicate, miniature stone monkey. The monkey was carved with exquisite detail, its fur lifelike, its face fierce, teeth bared, and eyes blazing with rage, as if in a state of furious anger. "This is the reward for successfully defending the Temple of the Mountain God in the second phase." As soon as the words fell, the stone monkey turned to dust, drifting from the tip of Shang Yuanqing's finger. Immediately, a towering figure of a giant ape—nearly three meters high—coalesced above his head, arms spread wide, teeth bared, roaring skyward. This spectral form then gradually shrank and slowly merged into Shang Yuanqing's body. In the next instant, dense black fur sprouted over his skin, his frame expanded dramatically, tearing through his clothes and pants, his arms rapidly growing all the way to his knees, his facial bones cracking with the strain, his mouth elongating into a thunder god's profile, and his face transforming into that of a fierce, toothy ape. His chest and abdomen remained bare, revealing powerful, well-defined muscles. His gluteal muscles were as solid as steel, and between his legs, two egg-sized testicles swelled visibly. A formidable pressure descended, radiating outward—equal in strength to that of the mountain spirit, standing shoulder-to-shoulder. "Monkey King?" Maiya Reiko exclaimed in surprise, "Is it the Monkey King?" Though she had never seen this boss before, she could already sense it. The black chimpanzee emitted the voice of Zhang Yuanqing: "No, you must call me—Flower and Fruit Mountain, the Supreme Heavenly Saint, the Beautiful Monkey King, Sun Wukong." "Flower and Fruit Mountain, the Supreme Heavenly Saint, the Beautiful Monkey King, Sun Wukong." Reiji Asano uttered it obediently. How impressive—he managed to pick up the reference! Zhang Yuanqing deeply appreciated it. Yet he quickly realized that now wasn't the time for playful banter; after fusing with the Monkey King's spirit, his demeanor had grown more flamboyant and carefree. "Monkey King..." The Shangui faction members' faces tightened, surprised and indignant. They hadn't expected the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign to still hold such a reserve card. Their strengths neutralized each other—neither side gained an advantage. The long-hidden trump card of Byakuya, patiently concealed for so long, was thus effortlessly neutralized by the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign. A card born from the quest would ultimately be resolved by the very elements of the quest itself. In her heart, Kou Bei Yue felt a surge of satisfaction, though she maintained a furious exterior, gritting her After shouting the rallying cry, he swiftly retreated, pulling away to ensure his safety. Kou Beiyue's objective of securing a spot was simply to fish for opportunities—this helped narrow the gap in numbers and allowed him to turn around at critical moments and eliminate these evil professions. Bai Wujin, furious, exclaimed, "I never thought you had reserves! Excellent! Today, I'm going to tear you apart!" With that, he strode forward with his broad belly bulging, stomping steadily toward the Monkey King. Zhang Yuanqing casually grabbed a tree beside him, uprooted it with the soil, and swung it back. Thud! The mountain spirit was struck squarely on the face, staggering sideways and immediately collapsing a whole grove of trees. Zhang Yuanqing dropped the broken trunk and dashed off, delivering a powerful punch to the mountain spirit's face. "Boom!" The shockwave surged like a missile explosion, bending the trees all around, snapping branches, and lifting countless leaves into the air. This punch could easily kill a transcendental-level spiritual traveler, yet it only caused a mild dizziness in the mountain spirit. Thud...thud...thud... The mighty gorilla swung fists the size of water casks, repeatedly hammering them against the mountain spirit's face, splintering its resilient black skin and tearing through the flesh, exposing vivid red muscle. Suddenly, the incantations etched onto the mountain spirit's skin flared to life, radiating a deep crimson glow. The great ape's pupils instantly blurred, his expression growing stunned. Seizing the moment, the mountain spirit drove its head upward with a sudden thrust, its curved horn piercing deeply into the gorilla's chest, spilling a steady stream of warm blood. As the mountain spirit tasted the blood, its fury intensified. It violently shook its head, driving the horn deeper and deepening the wounds. The pain roused Zhang Yuanqing from his unconsciousness; he gnashed his teeth, roared, his lips drawn tight, his sharp white tusks fully exposed, looking terrifying. He lowered his head and bit down firmly on the mountain spirit's shoulder, tearing off a large chunk of flesh. The two monsters writhed and fought fiercely, blood spraying everywhere, causing devastating damage to the park's vegetation. The seven members of the Shanggui faction remained uninvolved in the battle against the Saint Realm monsters, unable to intervene either. Steadfast in their mission, they each employed their own strategies and advanced deeper into the park. Ai-1 flapped his thin wings and soared skyward, taking the lead toward the park's heart. Soon, however, he and the others were engulfed by the spectral brides and the spiritual attendants of Zhao Chenghuang, and began to fall. For a witch-guerrilla, a spiritual attendant proved to be a particularly troublesome foe. Though lacking devastating power, the attendant's illusions and ability to possess their bodies caused constant headaches. "Boom! Boom!" Jiang Jingwei launched two fire balls that exploded against the backs of the two witch-guerrillas. While the blasts failed to injure them directly, the intense heat scorched their wings, and regenerating a pair of wings would take time. "Shhhhh—!" The sound of rushing water echoed as Wei Wuzhun stepped through the surging currents, cutting through the waves. Water was his domain—there were no earth-based creatures among the Shanggui faction to counter him effectively. Tink Rei Nori leaped through the forest, catching up to the unyielding, headlong charge of the solitary master. Raising her Ice Spirit Blade, she shouted, "Frost Descends!" She planted the blade before her, and a piercing cold radiated forth, opening a channel to the polar realms. The frigid currents spread outward, freezing everything in their path. Frost adorned the trees and formed an icy crust on the ground. The river that the solitary master commanded instantly solidified into ice upon contact with the cold flow. As a water spirit, the water ghost could manipulate water but could not break ice. The very foundation of his renown—the Water God Seal—was perfectly countered by Rei Nori's Ice Spirit Blade, leaving him without a reliable advantage. "Huff!" With exceptional combat instinct, Jiang Jingwei, targeting the right moment, transformed into a swirling flame and charged directly at the solitary master. While the water ghost's passive defense ignored physical attacks, it could not withstand the assault of a fire specialist. Once the water within his form was evaporated and no replenishment came, he would perish instantly. Thus, the solitary master abandoned his breakout attempt and immediately retreated. Crunch! A sharp scraping sound echoes as the nine-branch fish, wielding two swords, swiftly carves through the frozen river surface, nimbly weaving around trees and heading deeper into the forest. Jiang Jingwei is in the midst of his sprint, too much inertia preventing him from turning to block. At the crucial moment, a figure emerges from the side, intercepting the nine-branch fish's path—Guan Ya, known for her long, powerful legs. As swift as a leopard, Guan Ya closes the distance, twists her waist, and draws her long legs like a whip, sending a sharp whoosh through the air. As a scout, she naturally evades such an attack; the nine-branch fish bends low, half-squatting to avoid the whip, then drives both legs forward, raising her swords and arching back to strike the woman behind. "Hmph!" A cold exhalation comes from the mixed-race woman. She shifts her footing with a classic martial step, perfectly deflecting the nine-branch fish's backswing. The nine-branch fish is momentarily startled, preparing to rotate, aiming to spin like a top and overwhelm the woman beside her. Guan Ya slightly bent her knees, pressing against the nine-leak fish's waist. The simple motion caused his body to lean slightly, interrupting his momentum. Immediately, Guan Ya raised her palm and pressed it against the nine-leak fish's chest, releasing a steady inner pressure from the palm's center. Thud! The nine-leak fish was struck squarely on the ice by the palm. Guan Ya then leaped into the air, kicking him in the abdomen. The force sent him flying over fifteen meters, crashing heavily into a tree trunk, which instantly trembled, causing a cascade of ice crystals to fall from the branches. The nine-leak fish curled up in pain, his facial features crumpled into a deep frown. Since he rose to fame, relying on scouts' keen observation and years of dedicated practice in his sword techniques, he had been undefeated in close combat—rarely defeated by direct physical engagement, even by opponents stronger than himself. Yet this woman had swiftly defeated him within just ten seconds of close proximity. This overwhelming dominance in physical technique was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. Although two powerful lawful warriors had failed consecutively, they successfully held off the forces of the Mountain God's faction, with Ai Yi, Ta Si Ling Xiao, Xiao Pao, Hong Wei, and others breaking through the combatants and advancing deep into the park. At that moment, something crashed down squarely in front of the group. It was a bronze box, one meter long, wide, and tall, its surface intricately carved with a scene of two armies facing off—swords and spears clashing, the battle fierce and bloody. A palpable sense of solemnity and intensity washed over them. "Clang!" The bronze box opened, and a humanoid figure leapt out. This was a bronze automaton, its facial features resembling those of the Terracotta Army—its eyebrows arched, eyes wide open. Its body and limbs were crafted entirely of bronze, covered in verdigris, with joints long rusted and groaning as it wobbled to a steady stand. It held a war blade, heavily encrusted with bronze rust. Then, one after another, figures emerged from the box—ten, then twenty, then thirty—until a total of thirty bronze automata had stepped forth. They shared the same faces, carrying identical standard-long swords, standing unsteadily, emitting agonizing sounds. Zhao Chenghuang approached with a stern expression, and calmly said, "You six—come on together!" As if in response to his words, a crisp "creak" echoed as all the bronze puppets' heads tilted simultaneously, now uniformly gazing at the six mountain spirits.