"I think so too. Didn't we manage to hold off the previous Beast Tides as well?"

"Hmph, you did say the previous ones," a cold voice interrupted, "Didn't you hear what the chairman said earlier? This time is different, it's comparable to the one ten years ago. Do you think Anshan City could hold off if it were like ten years ago?"

"Even if it's not the scale of ten years ago, it's still very difficult for us. Have you all forgotten how many people die every time a Beast Tide erupts in Anshan City? Not just ordinary people, but quite a few of us Awakeners die as well."

The meeting room fell silent again.

Yes, even if they managed to hold off, many of them would still die.

"But if we leave, where could we go?" someone sighed, "Small cities might take us in, but medium-sized cities only recruit at least C-level Awakened, right?"

"Maybe they'll take us in?" someone said hopefully, "The situation isn't the same now, they need a lot of manpower to defend the city. Even if we're just D-level Awakened, we're still more useful than ordinary people and Martial Artists, right?"

"That's true, maybe we should give it a try?"

After leaving the meeting room, Hua Jun didn't go back to his office but took several turns and arrived at Chen Fan's office door.

Just as he raised his hand to knock, a voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Hua Jun breathed a sigh of relief. On his way here, he had been worried that the chairman wasn't in the office and had gone somewhere else.

But that possibility should be very small.

After pushing the door open and entering, a figure stood in front of the window, gazing into the distance.

Hua Jun quietly closed the door and softly asked, "Chairman, did you expect me to come?"

"Not exactly."

Chen Fan turned around and looked at him, "I just guessed you might come."

He said, walking to his desk and sitting down, "Tell me, what did you come for? If you are seeking my advice, there's no need for that."

"No need."

Hua Jun said quickly, "Chairman, I've thought it through. I've decided to stay and defend Anshan City with you."

"Are you sure?"

Chen Fan asked.

"I'm sure."

Hua Jun gritted his teeth and then nodded heavily.

"Good, as long as you don't regret it."

Chen Fan nodded.

"?"

Hua Jun was taken aback.

"What's wrong? Does something seem strange?"

"A little, yes."

Hua Jun gave a wry smile, "I thought you would tell me how dangerous it is to stay and ask me to think it over carefully."

"It's indeed very dangerous to stay. Even I don't have absolute confidence in winning."

Chen Fan sighed lightly, "But as I said, I won't interfere with your choices. Since you've decided to stay, then let's prepare. The Beast Tide will probably reach here by tomorrow."

"Yes, Chairman!"

Hua Jun shivered in excitement, his eyes showing a spark of determination.

He came here to see if the chairman really intended to stay.

It seems he did.

There was no rousing pre-battle speech, but he knew, his chairman was such a person.

As for Anshan City's fate after the Beast Tide arrival.

They could only do their best and leave the rest to fate.

...

Time slowly passed.

The ordinary people in the city also sensed something was off.

Large numbers of guards appeared on the city walls, trucks loaded with ammunition drove on the roads, and many guards with loaded guns patrolled the city. Meanwhile, notices were posted in prominent places.

The surrounding crowd immediately gathered to see.

Before long, their faces turned pale, bodies trembling, with some almost falling to the ground.

It was a call-to-arms notice.

Because the Beast Tide was about to erupt, the City Lord's Mansion was urgently recruiting young men to enlist and defend the city, offering good benefits.

If they were Martial Artists, there would be additional rewards.

Those interested could go to the City Lord's Mansion to sign up immediately, effective long-term.

These notices were posted all over the streets and alleyways, spreading quickly throughout Anshan City.

The once bustling Anshan City immediately fell silent, with an air of fear lingering around.

Those who survived to this point had all experienced multiple Beast Tides and knew exactly what that meant.

Some saw it as an opportunity and, after a moment of hesitation, resolutely headed towards the City Lord's Mansion.

Rather than waiting to die inside the city, they'd rather pick up weapons and fight the Fierce Beasts outside.

After all, they ended up in such a plight because of the Fierce Beasts. If not for Chairman Li of the Anshan City Awakened Association taking them in, they'd still be outside struggling to sleep peacefully at night.

Moreover, becoming a guard meant they would get three meals a day with meat, receive firearms and armor, and earn a decent salary. If they were unfortunate enough to die in battle, their families would get a substantial compensation.

Such conditions were already quite good for ordinary people.

Of course, some also noticed that vehicles formed convoys leaving the city during these tense times. Through the windows, they saw not only adults but also elderly and children.

Among them were familiar faces, which made them quickly withdraw their gazes in fright, not daring to look further, wondering to themselves if those in the cars were Awakeners. Were they planning to leave now with their families?

In a spacious office in the Awakened Association, desks filled the room with many people seated behind them, the sound of keyboard typing incessant.

Several people in military uniforms sat upright, not daring to make a sound.

People frequently came in, picked up documents, and left in a hurry.

"Ring, ring."

A phone rang urgently, and Hua Jun answered it. After a few murmurs, he hung up, looking at Chen Fan with a complex expression, "Chairman, Xie Ming and the others just left."

The typing suddenly paused, and many faces showed astonishment.

At such a critical moment, several C-level Awakeners in the city actually left?

What?

"Hmm."

Chen Fan nodded.

This outcome was not unexpected. If they had intended to stay, they would have come earlier, not waited until now.

He looked at the sky; it was already twilight, the sky ablaze with a beautiful glow, resembling the calm before the storm.

The next moment, he stood up and said:

"Starting today, city patrols will be twenty-four hours. Anyone who tries to cause trouble at this time will be executed without mercy."

"Yes!"

Hua Jun quickly responded.

The guards in military uniforms also stood up and saluted.

Leaving the Awakened Association, Chen Fan took out his Martial Arts Association phone, seeing over a dozen missed calls, many from Gu Ze, with messages filled with urgency.

The others were from Sun Wei and others in the Martial Arts Association, clearly in response to the notice he had posted earlier in the afternoon.

His family, having already been informed and mentally prepared, hadn't sent any messages.

"I need to get back, both to the Martial Arts Association and the village."

Chen Fan thought, putting away his phone and heading towards the Martial Arts Association.

Once he dealt with these matters, he would study the Longevity Technique to enhance his combat strength.

Thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel a bit of anticipation.

Even though the third volume of the Longevity Technique was just a Supreme-level Martial Arts, it was unlike any other typical Supreme-level Martial Arts.

He wondered what effects it would have at the Perfection Realm.

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