Three Emperors Barrier, East Ridge Pass.
After several months of calm,
Suddenly...
A desolate horn call sounded.
That was the summons before the arrival of battle.
Some Prodigies who were meditating or cultivating, upon hearing this sound, suddenly opened their eyes, their expressions stirring.
In their expressions, there was surprise, but more often, excitement and eagerness to try.
"Is there another battle? It's a good opportunity to continue training!"
"It seems the Ba Clan still can't stand the loneliness. That's good, it seems the lesson wasn't profound enough."
If it were before, these Prodigies' emotions would definitely be somewhat nervous, worried, and uneasy.
However, after the Prodigy Blood Battle, they all grew and were tempered.
Of course, the most important reason was naturally because of Jun Xiaoyao.
With this existence who could slay a Quasi-Emperor as their backbone and stabilizing force, what did they have to fear?
With a Senior leading the way, they would also be much safer.
Soon, all the Prodigies were summoned to a square.
Jun Xiaoyao and others naturally also came.
Above the square, an old Senior's expression was solemn, grave, and his brows were furrowed.
He surveyed the Prodigies present and spoke.
"The reason for summoning you here, I believe you all should know, is that traces of the Black Calamity Race have appeared again."
"Heh heh, the Ba Clan truly hasn't changed their ways."
"Exactly, it seems they didn't learn their lesson last time and want to continue seeking abuse."
"This time, even if Prodigies from the bounty list appear, so what? We're still not afraid."
The Prodigies present all spoke, their Battle Intent high and morale strong.
However, the next sentence from the old Senior silenced the entire crowd.
"The Black Calamity Race that appeared this time has nothing to do with the Ba Clan."
"What…"
Many Prodigies were stunned.
When they came to the Three Emperors Barrier for training, they only encountered Undead Fiends and the Ba Clan.
So upon hearing the old Senior's words, some Prodigies were instinctively a bit confused.
However, they also knew that the Black Calamity Race, called a Race, was because it wasn't just the Ba Clan lineage.
The Ba Clan was one of the flourishing Races within the Black Calamity Race.
But it was only one of them.
"Senior, your meaning is…"
A Prodigy suddenly felt a bit uneasy and asked tentatively.
"That's right, a scouting team found traces of another type of Black Calamity Race in an area called Shattered Star River in No Man's Land."
"That is… the Devouring Race!"
"Devouring Race!"
The Prodigies present, upon hearing this familiar yet unfamiliar term, all felt their hearts tremble.
It was familiar because, in the past, they had also heard of epic battles where many Human Race groups fought against the Devouring Race.
It was unfamiliar because these Prodigies who came for training had never encountered the Devouring Race.
"Given your backgrounds, I presume you have more or less heard some stories of the Devouring Race."
"All Black Calamity Race are cruel beyond measure, and the Devouring Race are the best among them."
"The reason they are called the Devouring Race is that their sole goal of existence is to devour."
"They not only devour all living beings but also devour the Origin of entire worlds."
"Other Black Calamity Race, you might still be able to communicate with them."
"But the Devouring Race are a group of extremely ferocious beasts that only know slaughter and devouring."
"Once, during the Ancient Black Calamity, the Devouring Race caused boundless destruction to our Human Race."
"Who knows how many world Origins were devoured by the Devouring Race, and billions of living beings were slaughtered and refined by the Devouring Race."
Upon hearing the old Senior's words,
Some of the Prodigies present felt their scalps tingle.
Their previous Battle Intent and morale seemed to be doused with a bucket of cold water, becoming silent.
"Moreover, there's another point: in terms of numbers, the Devouring Race should be the most numerous existence among the Black Calamity Race."
"Countless Devouring Race will tear apart and swallow an entire world like a world-ending tide."
These words from the old Senior made all the Prodigies present afraid to breathe, each with furrowed brows and solemn expressions.
And if one were to say who had the calmest expression among the entire crowd, it was naturally Jun Xiaoyao and other Imperial Clan elites.
Jun Xiaoyao, before this, had no understanding or research on the Devouring Race.
But to summarize simply,
Aren't the Devouring Race just Zerg?
Just like the Ba Clan is related to the drought demon, which are zombies.
The Devouring Race, however, are very similar to the Zerg, or one could even say they are the Zerg.
They are merely Zerg that have been alienation by strange Qi.
"Annihilation Black Calamity, the Source of strange Qi…"
Jun Xiaoyao immediately thought of many things, and he also sensed a certain conspiracy and the presence of a mastermind.
To alienation some special beings with strange Qi and methods, forming terrifying Black Calamity Race.
What kind of earth-shattering method must this be?
Of course, this was only Jun Xiaoyao's current conjecture.
At this moment, as if seeing the uneasiness of the Prodigies present, the old Senior then eased the atmosphere.
"Telling you this is to make sure you don't underestimate the enemy and to keep your hearts from soaring."
"But the situation this time is not that serious."
"The Devouring Race dispatched are not many, and their Rank is not very high, at most General-level Devourers, so the threat level won't be particularly great."
"But we just don't know what their purpose for dispatching them is."
"So this operation, going to the Shattered Star River, can also be considered a training for you to find out their purpose."
Upon hearing the old Senior's words, a Prodigy suddenly asked, "Senior, are the General-level Devourers you mentioned the Rank of the Devouring Race?"
Although the Prodigies present had some understanding of the Devouring Race, they clearly didn't know much.
And they certainly wouldn't know the Rank of the Devouring Race.
The old Senior said, "That's right, just like the Ba Clan, you can distinguish their Realm and Bloodline by the color of their eyes."
"The Devouring Race also have a strict Rank system."
"That is Slave-level, Soldier-level, General-level, King-level, Emperor-level, Ancestor-level."
"A General-level Devourer is roughly equivalent to the Supreme Seven Realms."
"A King-level Devouring Race is a Quasi-Emperor."
"An Imperial-level Devourer is naturally a Great Emperor."
"Although at the same Rank, the Devouring Race's strength is also stronger than that of the Human Race."
"But as long as you don't encounter top-tier General-level Devourers, self-preservation and escape should not be a problem."
Upon hearing the old Senior's explanation, the Prodigies present finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Although the Devouring Race were terrifying, they were not entirely without a chance of victory.
"Alright, you all prepare yourselves a bit, then set off." The old Senior said.
All the Prodigies present responded.
"Devouring Race, huh, a bit interesting. I wonder what kind of merit I can get this time?"
Jun Xiaoyao pondered.
The one-year agreement was not far off.
This might be his last chance to acquire merit.
If he only slayed General-level Devourers, he might also get a good amount of merit.
But it would definitely not help Jun Xiaoyao win this bet.
Therefore, for Jun Xiaoyao to ensure he wins the bet, the minimum standard would have to be…
Slaying a King-level Devouring Race!