Chapter 31: The ripple effect from the eighth zone

The clash between the two false kings only grew more volatile by the second with its scale of destruction growing along with it spreading to the rest of the forest. The ground violently shook with tremors as the earth split open while the vegetation was blown to dust.

The spirit beasts from earlier made a run for it as they glanced back fearfully at the growing big mass of black and green continuously clashing against each other, spreading pandemonium and destruction to everything in its path.

The battlefield kept changing sporadically as it crisscrossed all over the place at alarming speeds. Nowhere was safe because of it and it wasn't long before casualties started to appear, either from those spirit beasts whose curiosity got the best of them and lingered on slightly too long, or those with horrible luck to have the two masses directly appear on their path of escape.

A loud yell was heard from an earth claw bear who was in deep hibernation in its cave. It was at the fifth stage of the core formation realm and was known for its sturdy defense. However, the fight between Li Lun and Liao Ying had shifted towards its cave and before it even had a chance to put forth its defense it was blown to bits leaving behind a record of the shortest yet loudest yell.

A mass exodus soon started spreading out throughout the eighth zone due to the fight. Spirit beasts within a 50-mile radius could feel the tremendous shockwaves and pressure from the battle between the two false kings. None of them hesitated as they made a ran for it trying to get as far as they could from that clash. 

They all fled in different directions with some either deliberately or mindlessly headed toward the lower zones which in turn brought chaos of its own. Mass hysteria was created from their sudden appearance and the fact that they had appeared en masse. towards the lower zones. The creatures that inhabited those lower zones were surprised at suddenly being swarmed by the core formation big shots from the upper zone, which in turn caused them to flee for their lives, which led them to the zones below them.

There was a shift in the established spread of spirit beasts, as spirit beasts that were usually seen in Zone Eight were now in Zone Nine, and those that were in Zone Nine were swiftly moving to Zone Ten, while those that were in the core regions of zone ten were forced to move to the outer fringes of Zone Ten which was at the edge of the green fog region.

Core formations spirit beasts that were normally found in Zone Eight were now in Zone Nine, and foundation establishment spirit beasts that inhabited Zone Nine had moved to Zone Ten, while those weaker spirit beasts whose numbers were the highest were forced to be concentrated together as they pushed further down in Zone Ten.

A massive shuffle had happened which was likely to change the way of life in the lower zones of the green fog region for both the spirit beasts and the human organizations that inhabited those affected zones.

The battle between Li Lun and Liao Ying raged on violently with no signs of stopping, spreading chaos and destruction in Zone Eight. It wasn't only the spirit beasts who were shaken by the destruction happening, as the human sects that inhabited Zone Eight could feel the powerful fluctuations from the fight. All of them acted similarly, burning through countless spirit stones and treasures to power their protection arrays hoping that it would be enough to shield them from whatever chaos was happening outside, because it broke, as inhabitants of the place, they knew what fate awaited them if it did. 

This was the day that changed the eighth zone for a long time to come. What had been a norm for centuries had been upended with a new era being ushered in with a reshuffling of hierarchy and powers, all from the fight of two false kings.

Whether that was a good thing or bad only time would tell for its residents.

....

Hundreds of miles northeast of the Green fog swamp sect a dragonfly could be seen shuttling through the forest with tremendous speed. There was a human standing atop the dragonfly with a long sword drawn. This was Haishi and Feng Xin.

Haishi deftly flew through the forest with speed and finesse. She had improved control of her entire body thanks to the lotus dew she drank which increased her maneuverability as she moved each of her four wings in independent directions with an increased ease that she lacked earlier.

As she was flying a sticky grey tongue rushed towards her with terrifying speed aiming to strike her down. The moment the tongue was a few inches away from Haishi it was sliced cleanly in half as the strike still full of momentum slashed at the rest of the body that was neatly camouflaged in a nearby tree. A geyser of blood sprayed out as the creature was soon revealed once it fell on the floor.

The attacker was a large green chameleon with silver-like needles spread out through its whole back down its tail. It lay dead on the ground, body split neatly in half with its eyes wide open.

Feng Xin didn't bother to collect it as Haishi did as she was ordered before, not to stop for a thing.

"This was the eighth one already, don't these spirit beasts learn? I can't release my full pressure here to avoid attracting some palace stage beast but this is getting tiring. Haishi you need to pick up the pace a little more," said Feng Xin as he carefully monitored his surroundings.

Haishi obeyed the instructions as she pushed herself even further. The wings were moving so fast that one would think they were absent if they ignored the powerful wind gale released from them. Spirit qi from all over was constantly flooding her body from all over.

The effects from the primal lotus dew were in full effect at the moment with spiritual qi being effortlessly drawn towards Haishi's body. Every qi she expended was swiftly replaced seconds later. This helped her burn wantonly through her qi without fear of her internal reserves running out.

At the rate she was pushing herself, if it were before, her body would have already been injured from the strain she was subjecting it to. Refining the dew had greatly strengthened and altered her body. Her body could handle the intense speed and her meridians were strong and ductile enough to handle the huge volume of qi that was flooding and coursing through her body, especially the meridians attached to her wings which made them sturdier than before.

Haishi had an exhilarated almost euphoric look at the moment as she burst through the forest with speed she never knew she had. It felt like some part of her had been unleashed after being shackled for a long time. She felt a sense of release the longer she flew, pushing her body to its utmost limits as she did so.

All her life, she had lived cautiously, planning her next move, taking care not to make any noise or create any waves, hiding within her mirage. How could she not when all her neighbors were murderous spirit beasts who would not hesitate to devour her to grow their strength? 

She had led a restrained life and today was the first time in a long time that she acted freely. Feeling the wind beneath her wings, her eyes capturing the beauty of her speed. All the fears that she carried all her life left her body as she lost herself to the rhythm of her flight.

Feng Xin noticed her situation as he smiled in admiration. Haishi's movements became smoother and more efficient. Before she was a brute forcing her speed using the copious qi flowing in her but currently she was integrating the qi to achieve the best results with minimal effort. Her speed had increased by several notches.

Feng Xin nodded in satisfaction at this transformation as this meant they'd reach the location of the swallow birds earlier than he had expected. This would help reduce the number of variables he would have to deal with. Within ten minutes or less, they would be close to the edge of the green fog region and closing in on the rogues from the Green fog swamp sect.