A Grim State of Affairs

Shogunate Mountain Range.

Nowadays, people simply do not dare to go in.

Because just outside the mountain range, the uproar and roars of the demonic beasts inside can often be heard.

Most people do not know what is happening inside.

Of course, there are also a few people who know that great changes have taken place inside, and it has already become a living hell on earth.

Human and demonic beast corpses are everywhere, in all kinds of weeds, mountain streams, and mountain valleys. The entire mountain range is filled with the smell of blood.

Fortunately, a rain has come, which has dissipated some of this unpleasant odor.

But the atmosphere has become even more gloomy and cold.

In a gorge.

The human cultivators stationed here, judging by their attire, are people from South Sand Royal Sword Sect and the Li Family.

However, the morale of these Royal Sword Sect disciples is very low. While being disheveled and covered in dirt, many people are also injured.

And the top level people of Royal Sword Sect and Li Family are also here.

In addition to more than a dozen Martial Venerables who are the top combatants from both sides, there is also Li Renhao, Li Jiaxin, Xu Mo Zhu and others, as well as Royal Sword Sect’s sect leader Yang Tianyu and Li Family’s patriarch Li Shuhua.

Yang Tianyu is tall in stature, with sword-like eyebrows, and has an imposing manner.

Li Shuhua looks refined, with the temperament of a scholar.

But at this moment, they all have worried looks on their faces, and are very solemn.

"It's all my fault, it's all because I was blind, it's all because I was reckless!"

Under this atmosphere, Li Renhao had long been tortured by the remorse in her heart, choking back tears of regret.

She never imagined that the handkerchief she accidentally lost at the time would lead to such consequences.

During this period of time, Royal Sword Sect and Li Family fought many consecutive days of fierce battles with the demonic beasts in Shogunate Mountain Range because they were looking for that handkerchief.

Although they also inflicted heavy losses on the demonic beasts, the disciples of Li Family and Royal Sword Sect who came to the mountain also lost half of their members.

And there were also many accidents in the process.

Originally, they had also retrieved the handkerchief, and after rigorous appraisal by everyone, they discovered that this handkerchief was far more than just a holy-grade artifact.

It had reached the emperor grade, or even higher existence.

The excited Li Family and Royal Sword Sect almost fainted from excitement, but just when they were about to head home, another major accident happened.

South Sand's great demon beast who had never emerged - Song Ke - suddenly attacked them, not only inflicting heavy casualties on both sides, but also snatching away the handkerchief.

In a fit of anger, including Li Family’s patriarch and Royal Sword Sect’s sect leader personally rushed over, intending to take back the handkerchief.

After all, this was an emperor-grade, or even higher existence.

With it, the two sects might be able to leap out of South Sand and lead their sects onto a higher stage.

So in the following time, Li Family and Royal Sword Sect fought many fierce battles with Song Ke's many demonic beasts over the handkerchief, making the whole incident escalate.

But they still underestimated Song Ke.

Thinking he was just a demon king, they didn't expect his realm to have already reached half-saint.

Even with more than a dozen Martial Venerables, and Li Shuhua and Yang Tianyu who were late-stage Martial Venerables, they were still no match for Song Ke.

After inflicting heavy damage on them again, Song Ke chased them to this gorge.

And the surroundings had already been surrounded by endless demonic beasts.

The severity of the situation had exceeded everyone's imagination.

"Now is not the time for regret. The most critical thing is to come up with a solution as soon as possible!" Yang Tianyu said solemnly.

"Why don't we ask other sects for help?" Li Jiaxin asked.

"No."

At this time, a white-haired young man holding a sword spoke out, "This handkerchief is of great importance. If other sects get involved, they will surely want a share of it!"

His identity was not simple either.

Li Chenghao, Li Renhao's elder brother, not only the heir of Li Family, but also the number one genius of Royal Sword Sect.

At the Martial Venerable realm, he was truly a proud son of heaven.

"What Chenghao said makes sense. We have already put so much effort into this handkerchief. If we let other forces get involved, we still don't know who the handkerchief will end up with in the end." Li Family’s patriarch Li Shuhua agreed.

Everyone else nodded in agreement.

But apart from this, they couldn’t come up with any other ideas.

They had even considered retreating.

But retreating was the worst plan. Once they retreated, it would be equivalent to all the efforts made by Li Family and Royal Sword Sect these days being in vain.

"But I'm very puzzled. Why did Song Ke drive us here but has not made a move against us?" Xu Mo Zhu asked with a frown at this time: "If we lay ambushes around here and wait for them to attack, wouldn't our chances be much greater?!"

No one could answer Xu Mo Zhu.

Because they were just as puzzled, and could only guess that Song Ke was not fully certain either.

"Patriarch Li, Sect Leader Yang, gentlemen, bad news!"

Just then, a Royal Sword Sect disciple hurriedly walked over to report:

"What's the matter?" Yang Tianyu asked.

"Just now, the sect's patrol team had a small-scale battle with the demonic beasts on the outskirts. They forced out from a demon king's mouth that Song Ke is breaking through to sainthood!"

"What?!"

At the disciple's words, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

This major accident was almost too much for them to accept.

Once Song Ke breaks through to sainthood, they would have no chance of winning at all.

"What should we do?"

Yang Tianyu asked in despair, "Retreat?"

"Sigh!"

"I'm afraid that's all we can do now."

After a long silence, everyone sighed dejectedly, with faces full of reluctance.

But what else could they do now? Song Ke who broke through to sainthood was simply not on the same level as them anymore.

If they were still stubborn, I'm afraid the entire Li Family and Royal Sword Sect would be buried here.

"Retreat!"

Li Shuhua and Yang Tianyu looked at each other, and gave the order with bleeding hearts.

After the decision was made, a large number of disciples gathered and began to retreat in an orderly manner towards the outside.

"Boom boom boom..."

However, just as the disciples of the two sects began to move, deafening sounds suddenly came from the earth, like an earthquake.

Then, before the wide-eyed and amazed gazes of everyone, an enormous human head formed by countless tree trunks blocked their way.

At the same time, strong auras rushed in from all over the forest, and more than a dozen powerful demon kings appeared.

"Greetings, Lord of the Forest!"

All the demon kings knelt down to the big face together.

"Song Ke!"

Seeing this, Li Shuhua and the others' expressions sank, and their hearts immediately fell to the bottom of the valley.

"What's going on? Wasn't it said that Song Ke was breaking through?" Li Jiaxin asked solemnly.

"This is probably not his real body."

Yang Tianyu said solemnly: "As a tree spirit who has cultivated for tens of thousands of years, Song Ke's cultivation is already terrifying. All trees in the forest can become his body. This Song Ke in front of us is probably just an avatar formed by him diverting some attention during his breakthrough."

Everyone nodded.

But their faces were still solemn.

Because this old demon Song Ke was simply too terrifying. Just one avatar was enough to make them feel powerless. I'm afraid only Li Shuhua and Yang Tianyu joining forces could contend against him.

"Song Ke, the handkerchief is yours now. We won't snatch it anymore. We'll withdraw from Shogunate Mountain Range right now."

Since they had decided to retreat, Yang Tianyu and the others no longer had much will to fight. Yang Tianyu stepped forward and said.

And his attitude was clearly conceding defeat.

"Withdraw?"

"You killed so many of my children by coming to the mountain range. Now you want to just withdraw as you wish?"

The big face showed contempt, and made a strange, gong-like sound.

"Song Ke, it was your demonic beasts who attacked us first. And now it's not even your real body. Don't tell me you think we can't leave if we want to?" Li Shuhua said coldly.

"Then try it!"

The big face said disdainfully.