367: The beast tide is coming

"Jie jie jie..."

A chilling, sinister laugh echoed through the grotto.

Golden Scale Demon Marshal extended a claw covered in scales, its fingertips sharp as knives.

He gently stroked a shimmering Demon Crystal embedded in the throne's armrest.

A blurry projection emerged from the Demon Crystal, showing Yao Delong entering Bhikkhu City.

His conspicuous Yin Yang Sect Core Disciple robes and handsome young face were clearly highlighted.

"People from the Yin Yang Sect... have finally arrived!"

Golden Scale Demon Marshal's voice was raspy and harsh, like metal scraping.

"The target is Yao Delong! It's him! Jie jie jie... As long as we capture him,"

"the massive resources promised by the Demonic Lord will be within reach! My promotion to the Tenth Rank is just around the corner!"

Flames of greed and ambition burned fiercely in his golden vertical pupils.

He stood up abruptly, a terrifying demonic pressure sweeping through the grotto like a storm, causing debris to fall from the walls.

"Roar—!"

He let out a deafening roar that pierced through the rock walls and echoed at the forest's edge.

Rumble!

The ground shook! Several massive and ferocious figures crashed through the rock walls like small mountains, appearing outside the grotto.

They were of various forms: a giant bear wreathed in dark red flames,

a fierce tiger with bone wings and protruding fangs, and a giant python coiled like a mountain... without exception, their auras had reached the Eighth Rank Peak!

They were the strongest Yao Beast Commanders under the Golden Scale Demon Marshal!

"Assemble all the hordes!"

Golden Scale Demon Marshal's voice carried an unquestionable killing intent.

"Target: Bhikkhu City! Attack the city immediately! Tear that city apart for this King!"

"Bring that human brat named Yao Delong to me alive!"

"Roar—!!!"

Several Eighth Rank Yao Beast Commanders roared earth-shatteringly in response to their King's command.

Terrifying Demonic Qi rose into the sky like beacon fire, quickly spreading deep into the forest.

The Great Desolate Forest, which had been silent for a moment, instantly boiled over!

The roars of countless Yao Beasts merged into a wave of destruction, surging frantically toward Bhikkhu City!

Meanwhile, on the eastern city wall of Bhikkhu City.

Yao Delong, Li Linger, and Han Ruyi leaned against the railing, looking into the distance.

Yao Delong scanned the city's defenses and keenly noticed that the thickness and height of the walls,

as well as the defensive runes inscribed on them, were much stronger than when he had left a few months ago!

The flow of light from the City Protection Array also appeared more solid and fluid.

"Huh? These defenses... seem to have been reinforced quite a bit?" Yao Delong was somewhat surprised.

Hearing this, Han Ruyi's beautiful eyes lit up. She stepped forward and said with a hint of pride and gratitude:

"Benefactor has a good eye! This is all thanks to you!"

"Oh?" Yao Delong raised an eyebrow.

"That day, Benefactor treated my father and didn't take a single cent."

Han Ruyi's voice was clear and pleasant, filled with sincerity.

"My father was grateful for your great virtue and felt that what you said was absolutely right—"

"Resources should be used where they matter most, to protect the peace of the region."

"Thus, my father took those resources, along with all the reserves available in the city,"

"and invested them all into reinforcing the defenses and upgrading the City Protection Array!"

She pointed to the massive walls beneath their feet and the constantly flowing light shield above:

"Now, Bhikkhu City's defenses are as solid as a fortress!"

"Even if a Shape-shifting Great Demon were to come in person, it wouldn't be easy to break through; it would take at least several days!"

"I suspect that the Shape-shifting Great Demon commanding the beast tide also realized the defenses were hard to breach,"

"which is why it has remained idle, only constantly harassing and testing us, looking for weaknesses or waiting for an opportunity."

She looked at Yao Delong, her eyes shining with trust:

"However, now that we have you, Benefactor, along with the Senior Brothers and Elders of the Moyang Sect presiding here, we will surely weather this beast tide safely!"

Yao Delong nodded slightly, approving of Han Tianzheng's decision.

Using resources where they are most needed—that is the Righteous Path.

Beside him, Li Linger was like a curious child, leaning on the battlements and looking around,

full of novelty towards the vast Great Desolate Forest in the distance, seemingly unaware of the impending storm.

Just then!

Li Cen, the Peak Master of Heavenly Sword Peak, who had been hiding deep in the Void Realm watching the show with interest, suddenly frowned!

His vast, sea-like Divine Thought instantly captured that, in the nearby void,

a very subtle yet uniquely rhythmic spatial fluctuation had quietly arisen!

"Who?!"

Li Cen's Divine Thought was like an invisible sharp sword, instantly locking onto that area.

The terrifying pressure of a Void Refining Great Expert was ready to be unleashed!

"Hehe..."

A light laugh, as pleasant as silver bells yet carrying endless charm and an ethereal quality,

rang out without warning in the void locked by Li Cen's Divine Thought.

The space rippled like water, and a graceful figure stepped out.

The newcomer was a beautiful woman in a moon-white palace dress with flowing cloud sleeves.

Her hair was piled high and held by an ancient jade hairpin, and her face was exquisitely beautiful.

Her skin was as white as snow, as if shrouded in a hazy moonlight, making her features hard to see clearly yet breathtakingly beautiful.

Her phoenix eyes sparkled, and with every glance, they seemed to contain thousands of stars, deep and mysterious.

She had an ethereal and otherworldly aura, yet also possessed the elegance of someone in a high position and an indescribable charm.

These two distinct temperaments blended perfectly in her,

forming a unique majesty that one dared not look at directly.

"Peak Master Li, it has been a long time. I trust you have been well?"

The beautiful woman spoke, her voice like celestial music, with a hint of a lazy smile.

Seeing who it was, a flash of surprise crossed Li Cen's eyes.

He immediately withdrew his pressure and bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of respect:

"So it is Hall Master Mo of the Moyang Sect's Hall of the Illusory Moon! I have been impolite."

"I didn't expect that a small beast tide would actually prompt Hall Master Mo to come in person?"

The newcomer was none other than Mo Qingxian, the Hall Master of the Hall of the Illusory Moon, whose status was esteemed and whose strength was unfathomable!

Another super expert who had also stepped into the Void Refining Realm!

Mo Qingxian covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes wandering as she seemingly inadvertently glanced at Li Linger, who was peeking around on the city wall below.

In the depths of her gaze, there was a trace of imperceptible doting and concern:

"Peak Master Li must be joking. I didn't come for this mere beast tide."

She paused, her voice soft yet carrying an unquestionable tone:

"It's for that girl, Linger."

"She has a lively personality and insisted on following her brother for experience; as entrusted by the Sect Head, I came to take a look."

Li Cen understood.

So that cute girl revolving around Yao Delong was actually being secretly protected by the Hall Master of the Hall of the Illusory Moon!

Her status within the Moyang Sect was likely extraordinary as well.

"Haha, so that's how it is." Li Cen laughed heartily and said frankly,

"My trip is somewhat similar to yours, Hall Master Mo."

"I am here on the orders of the Sect Master to secretly monitor our Yin Yang Sect Disciple Yao Delong's True Disciple Assessment mission and, by the way... ensure his safety."