Xu Ping recounted the events in detail, only concealing the matter of the Rat Demon.

Listening to Xu Ping's narration, Hongyi frowned deeply. After pondering for a moment, he began:

"I don't specifically know which faction is responsible, but there are only a few with the capability to act in the entirety of Yue Country. They definitely know that our Qiu Xuan Mountain's focus is entirely diverted by the beast tide, that's why they dared to deliver such a vicious blow."

"This matter won't be left unsettled. Once our Qiu Xuan Mountain endures the beast tide, we will certainly investigate thoroughly who did it, and make them pay." Hongyi said solemnly.

"Indeed, that's how it should be." Xu Ping feigned agreement with a word.

He knew this was just the other's way of speaking for show; once the beast tide is safely passed, Qiu Xuan Mountain would have suffered significant losses, and they wouldn't have the energy to investigate this matter.

Moreover, so much time has already passed, what could still be discovered?

After exchanging a few more words, Xu Ping then took his leave.

...

Cave mansion, little courtyard.

Though he hadn't returned for several months, everything in the surroundings still seemed so familiar.

Xu Ping sat on a stone bench in the small courtyard, silently pondering the matter of the beast tide.

With the size of Qiu Xuan Mountain and the assistance of the other sects, it wouldn't be broken in the short term.

And his Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill would need at least a few years to reach perfection.

Once perfected, even if Qiu Xuan Mountain were indeed broken, he'd have a seventy to eighty percent chance of escaping, unless incredibly unlucky to be targeted by a Third-stage Demon Beast.

But the odds of that were vanishingly small.

"Hopefully, the beast tide can be safely endured." Xu Ping sighed.

To be honest, Qiu Xuan Mountain is considered a top cultivation place in Yue Country; finding another place like it would not be easy.

...

After returning to Qiu Xuan Mountain, Xu Ping hadn't enjoyed his leisure for long before being assigned numerous alchemy tasks.

For healing, mana recovery, detoxification... various pills, they were all available.

To other alchemists, it would seem a terrifying workload, but for Xu Ping, it was quite leisurely.

Every day, there was still time for cultivation, and he could conveniently reap some benefits.

This life was much better compared to other Foundation Establishment cultivators who were given busy and dangerous assignments.

Two months later.

On this day, he completed his routine alchemy tasks.

Exiting the cave mansion.

As usual, he looked towards the north.

Vaguely sensing the invisible evil demon wind, pouring out from the ancient mountain range to the north.

"Is this... the beast tide coming?" Xu Ping became serious.

He went to a high place and looked towards the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, seeing a black "wave" sweeping towards Qiu Xuan Immortal City.

It was an army composed of countless various demon beasts!

Land-walking demon beasts, avian demon beasts... Normally mutually hostile and even murderous demon beasts were now cooperating, jointly launching an assault on the city of cultivators.

Ten days ago, Qiu Xuan Mountain had issued a warning to loose cultivators in the Immortal City, advising against going out due to the beast tide's approach.

Now, there weren't any stationary cultivators outside the Immortal City, as no one would joke with their own lives.

"Fire Scale Wolves? So many Fire Scale Wolves!"

"And avians... so many Gale Falcons..."

...

Many cultivators recognized the types of demon beasts in the beast tide, their expressions exceedingly solemn.

At this time, the cloud-like demon birds dispersed, revealing a giant roc with wings spanning over ten zhang.

Its feathers shimmered with thunderous light, with a tuft of golden feathers on its head resembling a crown.

"Third-stage Demon King—Great Winged Thunder Roc!"

Then, a tiger's roar emanated from the group of demon beasts.

"Ow!"

The innumerable demon beasts that had been charging forward scattered fearfully to both sides, revealing a gigantic tiger demon nearly ten zhang tall.

Its whole body was covered in pure white fur, with a large "King" character atop its head.

"Third-stage Demon King—White Spirit Tiger King!"

The next moment.

Boom!

Accompanied by the shaking of the earth, a several-zhang tall, brown Rat Demon with huge fangs drilled out from underground.

"Third-stage Demon King—Leaping Sky Rat!"

Countless people cried out in shock and terror.

"This Demon King naturally excels at manipulating earth element power, it's a great foe for city defense..."

Three Demon Kings appearing at once, and one of them is even a earth-element Demon King, can this Qiu Xuan Immortal City... hold its ground?

"Hmph!"

At this moment, accompanied by a cold snort, two waves of Golden Core pressure swept across the entire Immortal City. Following that, two escape lights flew towards the outer city, standing in the void before the array.

"Qiu Xuan Patriarch, Zihuan Master!" Xu Ping muttered to himself, uttering their identities.

Qiu Xuan Patriarch, a Middle Stage Golden Core cultivator, single-handedly founded Qiu Xuan Immortal City.

Zihuan Master, similarly a Middle Stage Golden Core cultivator, is an elder of the Luoyun Sect.

The two have illustrious reputations throughout Yue Country.

Though only two figures stood alone in the void, they brought immense safety to everyone in the entire Immortal City.

"Bring the thunder!"

Only hearing a low shout from Qiu Xuan Patriarch.

Boom!

Boom!

On the walls, crimson lightning flashed, effortlessly sweeping across the beast horde.

Wherever the flames and thunder passed, even the Second-stage Demon Beasts could only scream and turn into charred corpses.

"Oh my god!!"

"What... kind of Thunder Skill is this!!"

"How can its power be so strong!!!"

...

Countless Loose Cultivators were deeply shocked by this Thunder Power.

"Geng Metal Divine Thunder?"

Xu Ping looked at those red lightning bolts with a solemn expression.

In terms of destructive power, Bing Fire Divine Thunder was much stronger than Five Element Magic.

Moreover, how could there be just one Divine Thunder emitted from the city wall at this moment?

It was simply hundreds of thunders striking at once!

Even the three Demon Kings had no plans to recklessly take this wave of bombardment head-on.

Thump! Thump!

At this moment, the bell rang loudly.

Hongyi, clad in a purple robe, brought dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the city wall.

Xu Zhixuan, looking into the distance, had a grave expression.

Zhang Changqing seemed a bit eager to try.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian's eyes flickered, his thoughts unknown.

"The beast tide is approaching, Qiu Xuan Immortal City is under martial law, but please be assured, fellow Daoists, resisting the beast tide is a matter for the entire Yue Country. Various Golden Core sects, and even the Luoyun Sect have sent people to support us. Qiu Xuan Immortal City has the ability to ensure everyone's safety..."

Hongyi's smile was calm, seeming not to feel any tension, and this emotion immediately spread, allowing lower-level cultivators to breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, this was the cooperation of all major forces in Yue Country. Although it couldn't be said to be exhaustive, at least they were paying attention.

Moreover, historically, Qiu Xuan Immortal City had been through several beast tides without ever being breached.

"Furthermore, our Qiu Xuan Immortal City recruits Loose Cultivators to join the city's defense efforts. Early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators can earn one battle merit in seven days, mid-stage three battle merits, late-stage six battle merits... If you are a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, you can discuss it with me in detail!"

"After daily settlement, battle merits can be exchanged in this city for Spirit Stones, Magical Artifacts, Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Pills, Secret Techniques... the list is here!"

Hongyi tossed out a list, as Mana surged, a massive list, measuring dozens of feet in both length and width, floated in the air.

On it, line by line, were various rare resources and the requirements for exchanging battle merits, enough to drive any cultivator mad.

"One battle merit can be exchanged for a Lower Grade Spirit Stone..."

"And Magical Artifacts... there are even top-grade Magical Artifacts..."

"These are nothing, look... there's even a Foundation Establishment Pill for exchange, twenty thousand battle merits for one Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"Not to mention, during the campaign, the materials of the Demon Beasts you kill are yours to keep."

Countless Loose Cultivators went crazy.

As the saying goes, under great rewards, there are always brave warriors.

Loose Cultivators are by nature the lowest level in the Cultivation Realm, and they wouldn't easily give up any chance to change their fate, even if it meant taking enormous risks.

...

In the midst of the bustling chaos.

Xu Ping returned to his cave abode.

"I'm still a bit too weak now." Sitting on the chair, he sighed slightly.

The outbreak of the beast tide and the pressure from Golden Core Masters were constant reminders of his weakness.

"The progress of the Elemental Magnetic Escape Skill is still slow. I must devote all my energy to it and strive to reach Perfection as soon as possible," Xu Ping thought to himself.

The pressure the beast tide brought him was truly immense.

...

In the blink of an eye, months passed.

It could be said that the cultivators had very much adapted to the atmosphere of war.

With the protection of a Third-stage Array, no Demon Beast could break through the layers of formations and walls to enter the city and kill.

In the first few months, the interior of Qiu Xuan Immortal City was actually fairly calm, and the prices of various Demon Beast materials plummeted.

Xu Ping's alchemy tasks were heavier than before.

But he still didn't feel strained, and he still had plenty of free time for cultivation each day.

To understand the current situation, he would also send Rat Demons out for reconnaissance to keep abreast of the beast tide's movements.

Of course, to avoid being discovered, the Rat Demons never approached Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, always observing from afar.

...

That day.

In the courtyard of the cave abode.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you seem to be quite at leisure! Unlike me, fighting Demon Beasts day in and day out, with few chances to rest." Xu Zhixuan looked at Xu Ping sitting opposite him with envy.

"I'm not at leisure, busy with alchemy to the point of death, and barely managing to rest for a while, just don't have to fight." Xu Ping said with a wry smile.

"True, and the other two Second-stage Alchemists are said to be working tirelessly to barely complete the tasks. I heard one Alchemist even blew up his Pill Furnace." Xu Zhixuan laughed.

"Saying it with schadenfreude isn't right."

After a few casual words, they turned to serious matters.

"In recent times, the battle has gone quite smoothly. Just the slain Second-stage Great Demons number over fifty, and among the Foundation Establishment fellows, only three were seriously injured... none had fallen...

"In reality, no matter how many Demon Beasts die, it's good news for the Third-stage Demon Kings... The essence of the beast tide is that there are too many types of Demon Beasts with strong reproductive power, which the interior of the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range cannot bear.

"The higher-ranking Demon Beasts drive out some lower-level Demon Beast tribes from the inside out."

Xu Ping sighed.

The driven-out Demon Beast groups, due to their instincts for cultivation, would prioritize attacking the Spirit Vein areas of human territories.

During the beast tide, high-level Demon Beasts would control things secretly, attempting to seize the opportunity to expand their territories.

Thousands of years ago, when the Demon Race was strong, most of the Yue Country was overrun, becoming the territory of Demon Beasts.

This is why, when a beast tide occurs, other Golden Core forces have no choice but to provide support.

They don't want to repeat the catastrophic scenario from thousands of years ago.

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