Boulders rumbled down the mountain, crushing countless fleeing Magic Beasts and destroying large swathes of forest along the way.
With each strike from the Beast God in the sky, the endless Magic Beast Mountain Range would gain new, bottomless fissures.
A single palm strike, and a hundred-meter-tall hill vanished without a trace—
This was the limit of what the peak powerhouses of Aetheram Continent could achieve.
Below Lv99, Professional whose magic power hadn't yet undergone qualitative change couldn't single-handedly contend with an entire kingdom's army.
But once magic power began to undergo qualitative change, that was truly one person becoming an army.
With the Beast God's repeated attacks, countless blood-stained clearings appeared along the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
This was the first time Krites had witnessed a peak powerhouse unleash their full power without restraint. Every full-force attack was enough to alter the terrain.
They and those below the peak seemed to be different species altogether.
But the Beast God did not find this a cause for celebration.
The oppressive feeling from the Heavenly Realm's gaze was becoming increasingly evident.
Yet, this was still nothing, as he hadn't reached Lv100 yet.
What truly astonished and angered the Beast God was—
Krites, still many levels away from the peak, was repeatedly escaping death in the face of his unrestrained attacks?
It was as if he had incredible luck, managing to escape his grasp every time.
Once was a fluke, twice was luck.
But what about a dozen times?
The Beast God was witnessing the Holy Law Emperor Country's special magic for the first time.
One could only say, it was indeed worthy of being the continent's most mysterious country, possessing divine magic.
If it were any other country's existence, he would have long since smacked them to death.
Another palm strike missed, and the Beast God stared at Krites.
A hazy, milky-white glow, flickering on and off, enveloped his pale cheeks.
A bizarre life-saving magic.
But he couldn't afford to delay!
The Beast God immediately sent a magic message, summoning other Beast Gods and elite troops from the Orc Empire to encircle and eliminate Krites.
Even if they couldn't get the Totem of Undying, they absolutely could not let this guy take the Totem of Undying back!
A mere existence below the peak could repeatedly escape death from his hands and entangle him for so long.
If the Holy Law Emperor Country were to bring back a beyond-peak powerhouse with two lives, coupled with this strange magic, thanks to the Totem of Undying...
Given that they had already become enemies, the Orc Empire would truly have no way out.
Krites lightly tapped his toes, leaping into the air and flying eastward.
He dared not look back, clutching the Totem of Undying tightly in his hand, his heart growing increasingly anxious.
"Just a little longer—"
Krites murmured to himself, his consciousness also on the verge of collapsing.
Magic power was ceaselessly draining away like water from an open dam. He rummaged in his Huai.
He was out. The special potions he brought were gone.
But—
"The Totem of Undying! It must be brought back!"
Krites gritted his teeth and decisively released his restraints.
The milky-white glow on his body flickered, slowly becoming tinged with a layer of blood-red.
"This guy is crazy!"
The Beast God was greatly alarmed.
He knew what Krites was doing—burning his magic power foundation.
At this rate, in just five minutes, Krites would be completely crippled.
Having lost his magic power, with his lifespan of over three hundred years, he would instantly turn into a pile of withered bones.
No!
Is this guy trying to use the Totem of Undying?
Although the Beast God didn't believe a mere Cardinal would dare to use that treasure coveted by peak powerhouses, he didn't want to gamble.
His qualitatively changed magic power fully ignited, the Beast God was enveloped in golden light, instantly crossing space to block Krites's path.
"Iron Furnace Wall!"
Vast magic power flowed, condensing into a multi-faceted, pitch-black barrier in the air.
Krites couldn't dodge in time and slammed headfirst into it.
In an instant, this defensive barrier solidly enveloped Krites.
The Beast God panted, somewhat exhausted.
He hovered in the air, sneering.
"Damn it! It's your honor to have wasted so much of my time!"
He didn't try to persuade Krites to hand over the Totem of Undying.
A large hand formed of magic power instantly reached for Krites.
Inevitably, Krites was held in the Beast God's palm.
"Pah!"
Krites, barely clinging to life, spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, but it only landed on the Beast God's magic defense.
He wasn't surprised, though, just laughed heartily.
"Vile beast race."
"The Holy Pillar adults will surely kill you!"
The Beast God sneered, raising his hand and crushing Krites's right hand.
Along with the spatial ring on his hand, it was also crushed.
A massive amount of resources poured down.
Amidst the shimmering light, the unassuming Totem of Undying was mixed in.
"Totem of Undying"
The Beast God's eyes instantly became as scorching as the sun.
That second life was right at his feet!
"Damn bastard! Beast!"
"You dare!!!"
Krites went mad, his remaining left hand frantically pounded the Beast God, but it was useless.
The Beast God impatiently tossed Krites aside, then flew down and reached for the Totem of Undying.
"Stop! You scoundrel!"
"Stop it!!!"
Krites lay in the blood, scrambling towards the Beast God like a madman.
The latter remained unmoved, quickly reaching for the Totem of Undying.
"The singularity of all, the origin of all things!"
"I command you to be with me, to eradicate the disloyal!"
A great sun quietly rose, crossing space with an eerie speed and landing beside the Beast God.
The Beast God, whose eyes were only on the Totem of Undying, was instantly sent flying.
Scorching divine light burned large, bone-exposing gaps in his body, and the area was like a nuclear explosion.
When the wave of light and heat receded, only a hundreds-of-meters-wide crater remained.
All precious materials had vanished, leaving only the Totem of Undying and some MC resources that Krites had dropped.
A jade-white hand sliced through space, grabbing the Totem of Undying and the MC resources, and taking the dying Krites with it.
Clinging to his last breath, Krites barely opened his eyes.
Seeing the three figures wearing cross crowns, he finally let go of all his guard.
"Lord Jericho... the Totem of Undying..."
Jericho, radiating divine splendor, gently stroked Krites's head with a benevolent expression.
"You did very well. Rest now—"
Krites fell into a deep sleep.
Immediately after, the aura on his body uncontrollably plummeted.
In a breath, he fell from Lv90 to Lv45, wrinkles appeared on his face, and his life's flame gradually extinguished.
Fortunately, another person intervened, pouring endless magic power into his body, barely preventing Krites from dying on the spot.
Having done all this, that Holy Pillar said with a stern face:
"His condition is very bad. His magic power foundation is burnt out, and his declining vitality cannot support his current age."
Jericho's gaze, dark and gloomy, swept over the Beast God, whose fate was unknown.
He really wanted to continue attacking and kill his opponent.
After all, that Beast God was only Lv99. Although he was only one level below him, that one level was a chasm.
But—
There was no time to waste.
The other six Holy Pillars, to help them quickly relocate, were currently being held back by a bunch of peak powerhouses.
The situation here had already been learned by everyone, and soon powerhouses from various countries would arrive.
Jericho opened his magic book, and pure white magic patterns were carved onto the ground.
"Go!"
"Stay!"
Space nearby was torn open, and a pair of large hands holding a crude greatsword, seemingly made of black stone, slashed out.
The two people beside Jericho intervened in time.
A silent collision pressed ripples into the surrounding space, expanding outwards layer by layer, destroying large areas of forest and hills.
"Crack."
Cracks appeared on the stone sword, and it retreated into the spatial rift.
But the stone sword's owner had already achieved his goal.
The spatial ripples surged, and Jericho's teleportation magic was also disrupted.
"Damn it!"
Jericho's face tightened. Sensing several auras rapidly flying from the horizon, he put his magic book away and took out a pure white scepter.
The next moment, nine figures of immense power stood in the air.
Their auras connected, locking down everything within dozens of miles.
The previous Beast God also reappeared, disheveled, in the air, glaring fiercely at Jericho.
Then he turned to a burly, green-faced, fanged being beside him.
"Sorry, Great Venerable, just a little bit more—"
"It's not your fault."
The Beast God Great Venerable raised his hand to interrupt him. He glanced at his injuries, clearly indicating that he wouldn't be of much help in the upcoming war.
"Go north and intercept the witherstone greatsword!"
"Yes!"
Glaring fiercely at Jericho, the Beast God flew away, staggering.
The Beast God Great Venerable refocused his gaze on Jericho, saying coldly:
"Hand over the Totem of Undying, or die!"
Jericho remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the nine individuals one by one.
After a long while, he said hoarsely:
"Orc Empire, Demi-human Alliance, Dwarf Empire—and Dragon Island?"
"When did you guys get along so harmoniously?"
The Beast God Great Venerable remained unmoved.
"Less nonsense! Hand over the Totem of Undying!"
"Heh—
Jericho sneered mockingly.
"After so many years, Mongzel, are you still so naive?"
"Mr. Jericho, we have no intention of being enemies with the Holy Law Emperor Country."
Fox tails, blotting out the sky, swayed. The only alluring woman among the nine gently fanned herself.
She said with a smile:
"Something like the Totem of Undying goes against the rules of Aetheram Continent too much. Destroy it, and we can leave now."
"Why don't you say that to the Elven Kingdom?"
Jericho laughed heartily, his face full of sarcasm.
"Oh, I forgot—you wouldn't dare."
"After all, after the Elven Kingdom easily suppressed Doragon, you immediately went to offer gifts and apologize—"
"Orcs, Demi-humans—you really are good at adapting to circumstances."
Mongzel's expression remained unchanged. Such a small trick wasn't worth his anger.
He raised the stone sword in his hand.
"So, you plan to die here?"
"Die?"
Jericho scoffed, slamming his scepter heavily on the ground.
"It seems our benevolence all these years has given you the foolish belief that you can challenge the Kingdom of God—"
"Kingdom of God?"
Mongzel burst into laughter, his laughter, infused with qualitatively changed magic power, tore through the clouds, causing rocks to roll down the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
After a long while, Mongzel looked at Jericho with interest.
"A bunch of Heretics, now calling yourselves the Kingdom of God—interesting."
"Jericho, don't say I didn't give you a chance, come on!"
With the greatsword resting on his shoulder, Mongzel mocked:
"Come and show off your proud divine summoning magic! Let me see if the gods you summon will prioritize purging their own ranks or listen to you and deal with us."
"Let me see if your so-called gods will erase you for the Totem of Undying!"
Jericho's face instantly became terribly grim.
This was precisely why he and the other Holy Pillars, who were engaged in a bitter struggle, were unwilling to use divine summoning magic.
He was confident that the High God of the Holy Law Emperor Country, if he learned about the Totem of Undying, would absolutely strike at the Holy Law Emperor Country first.
From the moment the Totem of Undying appeared, the Holy Law Emperor Country's divine summoning magic became a taboo that could never be used.
But—
"To deal with trash like you, why would I need to summon a god?"
Jericho raised his staff.
"It seems you are determined to be enemies with our Holy Law Emperor Country!"
"Very well—if the benevolence of the Holy Law Emperor Country cannot make you lay down your arms, this old man doesn't mind showing you the might of the Holy Law Emperor Country!"
"It's a pity that some of you are destined not to board the great ship of the new era!"
Mongzel spat.
The next moment, he snatched up his greatsword and charged at Jericho first.
"So much nonsense!"
"Kill!!!"
A war involving over a dozen peak powerhouses erupted on the eastern foothills of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
This place had completely become a forbidden zone.
The collision of endless magic power dyed the sky and earth here in a myriad of colors.
Although not all of these people were Lv100 existences, there were four Lv100s.
And Jericho and his two companions, fighting side by side, managed to temporarily withstand the siege of these nine individuals.
Even though they were always at a disadvantage, they at least showed no signs of defeat.
Mongzel and the others grew increasingly solemn, their actions becoming more cunning.
The true power of the Holy Law Emperor Country had never truly been displayed, and few on the continent had seen them in action.
Now, seeing them, these existences from the Holy Law Emperor Country indeed had something special.
This made it even more imperative not to let them take the Totem of Undying, otherwise, once they broke through, who else could restrain them besides the Elven Kingdom?
The nine individuals, originally with their own agendas, now finally united.
At the same time, the battle for the witherstone greatsword in the north also entered a white-hot stage.
However, compared to the struggle for the Totem of Undying, the scene was not as grand.
Jericho and the others, who were fighting fiercely and constantly aiming for each other's vital points, did not notice.
In the sky not far away, several figures were hidden in subspace, observing the scene.
The aura on these people was distinctly different from that of the many peak powerhouses.
It was the life aura of a beyond-peak existence, like Xitali.