“I have already met the Zhang team leader and the Liu brothers by the lady’s side. If there weren’t someone proficient in the Vajra Art, they could still be of use. But now that we have a more suitable candidate, naturally, we should replace them to increase our chances of securing that item. After all, once the third layer of the Vajra Art is mastered, one becomes impervious to attacks from ordinary low-to-mid-tier spiritual artifacts. Coupled with this person’s immense strength, he is the most suitable auxiliary for this mission. If we switch to someone else, the likelihood of failure would be significant. And if we alert the guardian beasts of that item, we won’t get a second chance. Lady, don’t you want your junior brother Pan to have hope of forming his Core in the future?” The man in the embroidered robe shook his head as he spoke.
“Immortal Qin makes a valid point. Even if this person truly has the potential to become a second ‘Old Fire,’ compared to Qing’er’s future Core Formation, I know which is more important.” The lady sighed lightly, seemingly resigned.
“Your decision is wise, my lady! This beast tide is the perfect opportunity. The guardian beasts of that item won’t be able to avoid it, and who knows how many will even survive. So while the body refiners we need for this mission face some danger, it’s not a certainty they’ll perish. If the mission succeeds, I won’t treat him poorly either, ensuring he harbors no resentment toward you.” The man in the embroidered robe relaxed and smiled.
“Immortal Qin’s cultivation is profound. With that item, Core Formation should be no issue. In the future, I hope you’ll continue to look after my son.” The lady didn’t respond directly but instead smiled and brought up her beloved son.
“Haha, Junior Brother Pan’s aptitude is exceptional, no less than mine. If I can form my Core, with that item, he’ll have no trouble either. You needn’t worry, my lady.” The man in the embroidered robe glanced at the blue-robed youth and spoke gently.
Pan Qing, quick-witted, immediately bowed to his senior brother, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.
The young man and woman seated below the embroidered-robed youth exchanged a knowing smile.
For a moment, the hall was filled with harmony, and everyone got along extremely well.
Han Li, of course, had no idea that upon his first arrival in the Spirit Realm, after just one meeting with these people, he had already been ensnared in their schemes.
One couldn’t tell if he was a loner cursed by fate or simply plagued by bad luck. If he knew of this, he could only laugh bitterly.
A handful of mortals and a few Foundation Establishment cultivators actually dared to think of using a Deity Transformation cultivator like him—utterly reckless. Even without his cultivation, he had means to erase them effortlessly.
Naturally, unaware of all this, Han Li was still considering staying with the Tian Dong Trading Company. After leaving the courtyard, he went to meet the scar-faced man and the others.
Soon after, the order appointing Han Li as deputy team leader was officially issued, though not everyone was pleased.
But when Han Li casually demonstrated his immense strength in front of the group, all dissent was silenced in shock.
As a result, Han Li was assigned a quiet, private room, sparing him the need to share with others.
In the following days, he quietly contemplated the fifth layer of the Vajra Art in his room.
Originally, the Ming King Art relied on internal spiritual energy for cultivation, making it extremely convenient. But now, switching to the Vajra Art required the use of spirit-infusion techniques.
This unfamiliar method forced him to familiarize himself before he could truly begin practicing.
However, on the third day, Han Li left the inn briefly, his destination unknown, before quietly returning half a day later.
Aside from a few observant individuals, most didn’t even realize he had left.
But on the seventh day, as Han Li sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes lightly closed, a massive bell toll suddenly echoed from outside, its deep resonance piercing the heavens and shaking the inn faintly.
Startled, Han Li opened his eyes.
The thunderous bell tolls continued one after another, followed by the stirring sound of war horns rising across the city, near and far, echoing as if blown simultaneously from every corner.
Frowning, Han Li pushed open his door and stepped outside.
The western courtyard was in chaos. The guards and knights had emerged from their rooms, some armed, others donning armor, their expressions varied—some excited and eager, others fearful and anxious.
“Stop panicking! Even if the beast tide is here, the first wave isn’t ours to face. Everyone, return to your rooms and rest. Once it’s our turn, you won’t get another chance.” A gruff voice rang out from one courtyard, and soon Zhang Kui emerged, his face stern as he surveyed the disorderly guards and barked orders.
At his command, the guards immediately settled down and obediently returned to their quarters.
Han Li smiled faintly.
It was said Zhang Kui had led this guard team for over a decade, and his authority was unquestionable.
“Brother Han, come with me to assess the scale and types of the beast tide. Even major tides vary in size, and the beasts range from weak to strong.” Spotting Han Li, Zhang Kui approached and made the suggestion.
“Since Brother Zhang suggests it, I’d be happy to oblige.” Han Li paused briefly before agreeing readily.
Truthfully, while he wasn’t overly concerned about a “beast tide” composed of ordinary beasts and low-level demonic creatures, he was still curious.
Now that he had a chance to witness it firsthand, he wouldn’t refuse.
When the two stepped onto the streets outside the inn, the scene had transformed entirely. The once-bustling roads were now nearly deserted, with the few remaining pedestrians hurrying along in evident panic.
The number of beast-drawn carriages had multiplied, racing wildly through the streets, some pulled by one or several monstrous creatures. Among them were riders mounted on the giant horned wolves unique to the Tian Dong Trading Company. These riders wore the uniform of An Yuan City’s guards, shouting orders as they galloped—announcing the beast tide’s arrival and imposing a city-wide lockdown.
The orders were simple: aside from body refiners and city soldiers, ordinary residents were to remain indoors. Anyone venturing out and hindering the defense efforts would be executed without mercy.
As Han Li and Zhang Kui rode their horned wolves toward the nearest city wall, atop a tower-like structure in An Yuan City’s southern district, a burly man in purple robes stood by a window, one hand on the sill, the other behind his back, gazing grimly into the distance.
Suddenly, the door opened, and an armored warrior clad in green bone-plate strode in, kneeling before the purple-robed man and reporting in a low voice, “City Lord, the invading beast hordes have been identified. There are three waves: the Emerald Grassland’s Green Wolf Beasts, the Black Ridge Mountains’ Crimson Python Beasts, and the Leopard Wing Beasts.”
“So it’s these three groups. This is troublesome. Other beasts would’ve been manageable, but the Green Wolves and Crimson Pythons haven’t surged in over three hundred years—their numbers must be staggering. And the Leopard Wing Beasts are even worse. Our city’s aerial defenses are our weakest point. Though we’ve borrowed and purchased additional crossbows, ordinary bolts won’t do much against them.” The city lord sighed, his brow furrowed with worry.
“My lord, didn’t we order a batch of Explosive Crystal Arrows from the Tian Dong Trading Company? With those specialized bolts, we should hold the skies. Besides, the assisting cultivators can fly—they’ll be a great help against the Leopard Wing Beasts. With their support, we should manage.” The armored warrior offered reassurance.
“For now, that’s all we can hope for. Gather the cultivators and assign them to monitor the Leopard Wing Beasts. The Green Wolves and Crimson Pythons can be left to the body refiners and soldiers. Also, organize the conscripted forces quickly and integrate them into the defenses in rotations.” The city lord issued further instructions.
“Yes, my lord!” The warrior bowed and withdrew to carry out the orders.
The city lord turned back to the window, his expression darkening once more.
…
Han Li stood atop a section of An Yuan City’s wall, gazing at the distant scene. Though his face was calm, his mind reeled.
Beyond the wall, miles away, the once-yellow earth had turned into an endless sea of green—countless Green Wolf Beasts, their eyes glowing emerald, bodies a pale hue, fangs bared in ferocity.
Their numbers were beyond calculation, an overwhelming tide stretching as far as the eye could see.
Most of the wolves were silent, save for the occasional howl, as if communicating among themselves.
“Thankfully, these are just ordinary Green Wolves. If they were Red or Yellow Wolves—or worse, the rare Silver Wolves—An Yuan City wouldn’t stand a chance against such numbers.” Zhang Kui muttered beside Han Li, his fists clenched, his face pale.
“Silver Wolves?” Han Li snapped out of his daze at the mention, his expression shifting slightly.
“What, Brother Han has never seen Silver Wolf Beasts? Of all the wolf types, they’re the most formidable. A single ordinary Silver Wolf is worth over a dozen Green Wolves. I once saw them in a past beast tide—their terror is unforgettable.” The scar-faced man explained offhandedly, surprised by Han Li’s reaction.
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