"These patterns, they must be the runes on this great tree," Zhou Yan mused, gazing at the massive tree.
"The runes on this great tree are too complex. I will need a long time to study them. I wonder if the runes on this tree can explain the doubts in my heart?" Zhou Yan pondered.
As Zhou Yan observed the great tree, he suddenly detected a faint fluctuation on its trunk. The fluctuation was subtle, but it did not escape Zhou Yan's notice.
"Could it be that the runes on this tree are alive?" Zhou Yan exclaimed in surprise.
Immediately, he placed his palm on the trunk of the great tree and began to circulate his true qi, channeling it into the tree.
"Hmm?"
"No, my true qi flows into the tree, yet these runes show no reaction whatsoever." Zhou Yan frowned slightly.
"The runes on this great tree are too strange. How could this be?" Zhou Yan couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Could it really be exactly as I suspected?" Zhou Yan muttered to himself.
"No matter what, I have to try."
Zhou Yan took a deep breath. Then, he extended both palms. As his true qi flowed into the tree, the trunk of the great tree began to tremble slightly.
Zhou Yan saw the trembling intensify, and eventually, the entire great tree began to move slowly forward.
As the great tree moved forward, the runes on its trunk started to flash, and streaks of white light shot up into the sky.
Zhou Yan saw that these white light pillars contained terrifying lightning power, a lightning power that seemed capable of destroying all living beings in the world.
"This lightning is indeed the Purple Extreme Thunder, worthy of being called Heavenly Tribulation Divine Thunder," Zhou Yan murmured.
"What exactly is carved on the trunk of this great tree?" Zhou Yan wondered curiously.
At this moment, under Zhou Yan's watchful gaze, the roots of the great tree burrowed downward.
As the great tree descended, it stirred up a gust of fierce wind.
"Swish, swish, swish~" Streaks of white light shot out from the great tree, landing on the ground and transforming into young men in black, each holding a sword, standing on the ground.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Zhou Yan showed surprise at the appearance of these black-clad youths.
"We are the guards of this valley. You have trespassed on our territory, violating our rules," one of the youths said coldly to Zhou Yan.
Hearing the youth's words, Zhou Yan chuckled, "You are guards? I think you look more like assassins. Assassins are beings without emotions."
"What nonsense are you spouting? How can we be assassins? Don't you know we are guards?" the youth retorted angrily.
"Guards? Heh, I think you're just assassins," Zhou Yan said.
"Hmph, assassins. We are indeed assassins. As assassins, we have our dignity. You are merely a mortal human and are in no position to comment on our profession," another youth boomed angrily.
"Oh? Then let's see who is more powerful, you or I?"
Upon hearing Zhou Yan's words, these youths drew their long swords and prepared to engage Zhou Yan in combat.
"Since you are so eager to fight, I shall accompany you."
As soon as the words left his mouth, a sword light erupted from Zhou Yan, slashing towards him. This sword strike was incredibly powerful, its edge imbued with a chilling killing intent that sent shivers down one's spine.
"So powerful."
"This move, even a cultivator at the Divine Monarch stage might not be able to withstand it, let alone me. If this sword were to strike me, my physical body would likely be instantly destroyed."
The speed of this sword light was truly astonishing. In the blink of an eye, it was before Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan's expression remained calm. With a flick of his right hand, a sword light shot out from his palm, meeting the incoming sword strike.
"Bang~"
The two sword lights collided, erupting in a deafening roar.
"Pfft."
The sword light directly pierced the youth's chest. Blood spurted from his chest, staining the stone wall behind him red.
"You are not guards, you are assassins!"
Zhou Yan saw that the eyes of this group of guards held no emotion, only an icy coldness. These were not ordinary assassins, but assassins born specifically to slay cultivators.
"You do have some strength, but this level of strength cannot change your inevitable death," the youth said.
"Heh, in this world, the person who can kill me has not yet been born," Zhou Yan said with a faint smile.
"Since that is the case, I will kill you first, then kill all the demonic beasts here, and then throw your corpse back into the valley," the youth sneered.
"Heh, do you think a few of you can kill me?" Zhou Yan retorted with a cold laugh.
"Haha, we have six experts at the early Divine Monarch stage here. Even if we are no match for you, killing you is more than enough," the youth declared.
Upon hearing the youth's words, a hint of dread appeared on Zhou Yan's face. Six early Divine Monarch stage experts, and so many demonic beasts.
"So, you have come to seek revenge?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Hmph, you killed thirty million demonic beasts guarding our valley, so naturally, we must avenge them!" the youth retorted.
Hearing the youth mention thirty million demonic beasts, Zhou Yan was shocked. He had no idea how these demonic beasts had died. However, judging by the scene, it seemed they had been drained of their vital essence and nascent souls, which led to their demise.
"Then, try me. Let's see if you have the ability," Zhou Yan said.
"Hmph, I want to see how stubborn you can be," saying so, the youth brandished his sharp blade and attacked Zhou Yan.
"Shhh~"
The sharp blade sliced through the air, leaving a long white trail. Zhou Yan only saw a blade appear before him and then vanish.
"What a fast blade."
Zhou Yan praised inwardly. This youth's speed was even faster than his own.
"Rumble~"
As soon as Zhou Yan finished speaking, a tremendous roar echoed from the distant mountain peaks, followed by a powerful oppressive force that surged towards Zhou Yan.
"What is this?" Zhou Yan's brow furrowed, and he thought to himself, "This is bad, this trouble is significant."
In Zhou Yan's perception, a colossal entity was approaching. This behemoth was hundreds of feet tall, its entire body golden, covered in scales. Its limbs were thick and powerful, and its body shimmered with a metallic luster, emitting a dazzling golden light.
This golden monster was completely covered in scales, radiating an intense ferocity that seemed to freeze the surrounding space.