Three days had passed since Mount Aethermoor appeared. The mountain's growth had finally stopped. By now, roughly half of what had been the bustling city of Oakvale lay buried beneath the mountain's massive foundation and sprawling foothills.What remained in the emptied city were official forces handling cleanup and security.Martial artists who hadn't evacuated in time or refused to leave had also gathered there, alongside daring adventurers seeking fortune and cultivators from every corner of the world, many accompanied by followers. Each group was marked by distinct energy waves.Inside a makeshift official camp at the foot of Mount Aethermoor, Dustin stood on a nearby rise. He gazed at the towering mountain before him, its immense presence rising into the sky and carrying a boundless sense of desolation that left him deeply contemplative.Earlier, he'd personally seen Natasha off on a train bound for safer territory. She'd wanted to stay behind, but after joint persuasion fr

Scarlet knew that if she didn't stop this phantasmal spirit, the team would suffer devastating losses. Her Wildfire Spear erupted in crimson flames more intense than ever before. She became one with her weapon and shot forward like a meteor, meeting the descending energy blade head-on."Scarlet!" Adam shouted, but it was too late to stop her.Spear and blade collided with a deafening explosion and blinding light. Scarlet grunted as she was thrown backward, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. But her grip on the spear never loosened. The energy blade-wielding phantasmal spirit also staggered, its glow dimming slightly."It's not a physical entity, and its power comes from the crystals! Attack the largest crystal clusters!" Scarlet shouted sharply as she steadied herself midair.Adam understood immediately and directed the remaining combat-capable members. "Fire and lightning casters, focus your attacks on the third and fifth crystal clusters on the left. Everyone els

"It's the lightning spirit! Hold the formation," the squad captain barked.The lightning spirit slammed into the Mystic Water Formation's barrier, erupting in blinding violet light accompanied by a harsh crackling hiss.Water was meant to restrain lightning, so the formation should have held a natural advantage. Yet, the lightning spirit carried an unusually pure and violent strain of Violet Thunder Miasma. The impact sent the barrier shuddering violently, and several people inside the formation went pale.Seeing this, a calculating gleam flashed in Anders' eyes. He was about to order the second squad to provide support when he heard Elowen chuckle behind him. "Evander, this lightning spirit is quite interesting. The thunder miasma it condensed is remarkably pure."Her brother merely nodded slightly without any other reaction. The three Quinton family guards were like wooden statues, completely indifferent to the fierce battle ahead. In contrast, the people from the Moseys felt

"Watch out!" Aveline warned as she drew her twin daggers and charged forward. Blanche followed closely behind, drawing her longsword rimed with frost.The Frost family members quickly formed ranks and unleashed their techniques in unison. Intersecting arcs of icy spells and sword aura crisscrossed the gorge.The glacial wraiths were formidable foes, especially within their native terrain. Their translucent forms flickered through the frozen air, and the ice blades in their hands were razor-sharp, each strike freezing the target.One of the Frost family members was slashed across the arm. Frost raced along the wound, and within seconds, his limb went numb.Albus' eyes sharpened at the sight. Without drawing his longsword, he raised two fingers and gestured toward the injured man's arm. A thread of icy sword aura, nearly visible yet refined to an extreme degree, shot forward and sank into the wound. The spreading frost met something colder and purer than itself and was instantly

Climbing teams from various factions struggled up the different slopes of Mount Aethermoor as they fought for opportunity and survival.At the base of the mountain stood a massive abandoned city. It was surrounded by a sea of temporary camps with tens of thousands still lingering there.Among them were a small number of civilians who hadn't fully evacuated, and personnel left behind by various factions to handle logistics and supplies. There were also rogue cultivators and wandering martial artists who were drawn by rumors but hesitated to venture close.Grace and Dustin remained behind, overseeing operations or calmly observing how the situation developed.None of them realized that Mount Aethermoor, a sacred peak silent for 3,000 years, had never limited its trials to those who climbed it.At midday, an abrupt change occurred. Without warning, the base of the mountain suddenly lit up with countless crisscrossing, intricately complex golden sigils.The glowing lines spread benea