Chapter 77
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Chapter 77: Far from Enough
The Seventh Prince was completely bewildered.
The Ghost King Guards and Divine Armor Guards had been taken down far too easily. It didn’t match his understanding of the Ghostly Divine Platform’s strength.
Across the Southern Region, there were many ancient sacred lands and forbidden areas. But of them all, the oldest and most resilient throughout the ages had always been the Ghostly Divine Platform. It had witnessed every significant event since the Eternal Night and possessed countless techniques that other sacred lands and forbidden areas could never fully comprehend—such as the war statues.
Because of this, the Seventh Prince had firmly believed that the Ghost King Guards and Divine Armor Guards dispatched to the Vast Forest should have been nearly unstoppable.
He couldn’t understand how this was happening.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yang and Xue Feishuang gave it little thought—especially Zhang Yang.
Since entering the Vast Forest, he had yet to encounter anyone who could withstand even a single punch from him.
In fact, this batch of Ghost King Guards and Divine Armor Guards was indeed stronger than expected. The Ghostly Divine Platform had poured tremendous resources into them.
However, what the people of the Ghostly Divine Platform had failed to realize was that there was another reason behind this imbalance—one connected to the Cangmang Sacred Land.
Years ago, when the Cangmang Sacred Land faced a catastrophic disaster, it had deployed the Great Dao Immortal Sealing Technique to restrict the area, which eventually evolved into the Vast Forest. This had been a proactive measure.
It was clear that the Cangmang Sacred Land had long regarded the Ghostly Divine Platform as its greatest threat and had taken precautions accordingly. But it had taken many years of accumulation to bring those preparations to make them a reality.
After five hundred years, the truth finally began to surface.
However, Zhang Yang did not know, nor did Xue Feishuang, Li Kunhai, or even Chi Zhenyi—let alone the Ghostly Divine Platform.
The Ghostly Divine Platform, having endured countless significant events, had long grown accustomed to the lingering problems left behind by some of them and no longer paid them much attention. Yet they remained unaware that the Vast Forest was different. Even the carefully nurtured Ghost King Guards and Divine Armor Guards could not understand why their powers had failed them, leaving them so easily and frustratingly defeated.
Confused or not, the current situation had become even more dangerous for the Seventh Prince.
His previously distorted, handsome face gradually calmed, as though he had suppressed his inner turmoil and anger. He no longer maintained his leaping leopard stance but stood tall, and the vividly red sword in his hand seemed to drip with fresh blood, faintly emanating a metallic scent.
"It’s strange… you give me a slightly familiar feeling. We must have met before, haven’t we?"
He stared at Zhang Yang, though his words were clearly directed at Xue Feishuang, standing behind him.
Xue Feishuang remained silent. She knew well that the Seventh Prince was highly favored within the royal family of the Great Xia Empire and understood the strength of those backing him. She was also aware that he was the strongest contender for the throne of the Great Xia Empire.
Such a man could not be easily killed before his complete downfall.
Therefore, she would not so easily reveal that she was still alive.
The Seventh Prince chuckled lightly. “In this situation, your silence only makes me more curious about your identity.”
Xue Feishuang still did not speak, but her sword pointed sharply at the Seventh Prince, ready to strike at any moment.
Zhang Yang planted the Thousand Wolves Pillar into the ground. He had an uneasy feeling. The Seventh Prince was far too calm, as if he knew he would not die here.
"You are very confident," Zhang Yang said as he stepped closer to the Seventh Prince. "But you are also angry—frustrated even—because you cannot defeat me. So, your confidence must mean you’re certain you’ll keep your life."
The corners of the Seventh Prince’s mouth curled into a haughty smirk. "No one can kill me, not even you. I lost to you earlier only because I was still adjusting to my transformation and had just stabilized. Once I’m fully settled, it is you who will lose—and die."
"You won’t have that chance!" Zhang Yang shouted, swinging the Thousand Wolves Pillar down.
But unlike before, the Seventh Prince reacted instantly, shifting sideways to dodge without hesitation. In the same motion, he swung his vividly red sword backward, successfully blocking Xue Feishuang’s surprise attack and sending her flying.
In the Level Eight Returning to Origin Realm within the Vast Forest, only Zhang Yang could contend with him; no one else stood a chance.
As he repelled Xue Feishuang, the Seventh Prince chuckled coldly. "My people have arrived."
As if on cue, a horse’s piercing whinny echoed through the forest.
It was his unmatched warhorse galloping toward him, a wild wind sweeping the leaves as its powerful aura filled the air.
Behind the horse followed ten figures, each radiating a strange and ominous energy. They wielded unique Demon Swords and advanced in a tight formation.
The Demon Sword Guards had arrived—the elite force of the Demon Sword Forbidden Area, cultivated specifically for battles within the Vast Forest.
But their arrival only made the Seventh Prince’s smile brighten briefly.
Because, from all directions, figures suddenly surged forward—people of the Vast Forest.
The leader of the Snow Guards, Yuluan! Ling Yue! Xu Li!
The air combat leader, Night Stalker!
The leader of the Wolf King Guard Squad, Lang Xiaotian! Li Yuheng!
The top genius of the Divine Forbidden Gate, Chen Mo!
Golden Ape King, Yuan Tong!
The boss of the Purple-Eyed Spirit Birds, the Purple-Eyed Thunder Bird!
The king of the Ironback Blue Bull Army, Ironback Blue Bull!
And of course, already present was Xue Feishuang.
That made eight people and three beasts—a total of eleven!
"Kill!"
With Yuluan’s fierce shout, they launched their attack.
Ironback Blue Bull charged directly at the unmatched warhorse, eager to engage.
The others each targeted a Demon Sword Guard, and fierce battles erupted instantly.
Zhang Yang and the Seventh Prince faced off, though both kept a careful eye on the unfolding fight.
And the results made both men frown.
But for very different reasons.
The Seventh Prince frowned because, much like the Ghost King Guards and Divine Armor Guards who had already disappointed him, these Demon Sword Guards were failing to display their usual strength. They were much weaker than expected.
Zhang Yang frowned because, despite the Demon Sword Guards being just a small squad casually dispatched from the Demon Sword Forbidden Area, they were still capable of matching his strongest commanders under fair conditions.
This deeply displeased him.
With such strength, how could they ever hope to confront the Demon Slayer Team? Let alone contend with a single empire, two sacred places, two great forbidden areas, or any of the other powerful forces that might one day become enemies?
The number of talented individuals was far from enough.
The overall strength was far from sufficient.
For the first time, he felt an overwhelming urge to madly recruit talent and gather strength.
The first piercing scream rang out, causing a subtle shift in the tension between the two who stood locked in confrontation.
It came from a Demon Sword Guard—cut down by Xue Feishuang.
Not long after came the second and third screams, as Yuluan and Yuan Tong gained the upper hand, forcing their opponents into retreat, bleeding and battered.
The tide of the battle had begun to turn.
Zhang Yang exhaled slowly. "It’s our turn."
"I told you," the Seventh Prince sneered, "once I stabilize and strengthen myself, I will come to kill you."
As soon as the words left his lips, his figure blurred.
In an instant, six identical apparitions split from him, each darting in a different direction—one of which charged straight toward Zhang Yang.
Almost instinctively, Xue Feishuang let out a low warning. "Be careful, that’s the Thousand Shadows Killing Technique!"
Zhang Yang’s eyes widened, and in that moment, five of the apparitions vanished into thin air, leaving only one. He stepped forward, lifted his leg, and kicked the remaining figure rushing toward him, causing it to explode.
As the figure disappeared, the Thousand Wolves Pillar followed closely, aimed directly at the extraordinary unmatched warhorse that was battling the Ironback Blue Bull without falling behind.
Just as the Thousand Wolves Pillar descended, the Seventh Prince appeared atop the unmatched warhorse.
Boom!
The enormous Thousand Wolves Pillar came crashing down.
