53: A beast tide is about to rise; Zhao Tianbao calls for help.

Time flew by, and a month passed quickly amidst busyness and tension.

On the wasteland east of Li Family Village, the outline of a brand-New Town was already clearly visible.

The main roads had been rammed and widened, dividing the area into residential zones, workshop zones, and the core Town Guardian Residence area.

The first batch of houses was rising from the ground, replacing temporary shacks.

Although the houses were mostly earth-and-wood structures and somewhat crude, the neatly planned streets, the incipient town walls (a mix of earth and stone), the Town Guardian Residence in the core area (where Li Dashan was stationed), and the reserved Ancestral Hall Square all displayed burgeoning vitality.

Artisans and laborers from the three villages and Black Mountain Town worked with great fervor, and the entire construction site was filled with hope and vigor.

The restoration of Black Mountain Town was also basically complete.

The docks and peripheral shacks destroyed by the Black Water Profound Python had been cleared and rebuilt; though it was still somewhat desolate, people's hearts had stabilized.

Town Guardian Lin and influential families like the Suns and Lius, with Li Qingfeng's tacit consent, cooperated with Zhang Shitou to maintain daily operations.

But this month had not been peaceful.

The New Town construction site had encountered three Yao Beast harassments.

One was a pack of demonized jackals harassing at night; before they could even approach the outer cordon, they were discovered by the patrol team on the watchtower.

Li Qingfeng received the warning and arrived riding the wind. While in mid-air, he fired three consecutive arrows from the cloud-splitting bow embryo. Three streaks of golden light accurately sniped the three leading strong demon-jackals, and the rest immediately fled in terror.

The second time was a demonized wild boar attempting to sneak in from the woods; it had thick hide and flesh, and its impact force was astonishing.

As a result, just as it burst out of the woods, it was forcibly trapped by Wang Tiezhu and several patrol members who had practiced some moves, using lassos and sharpened wooden stakes. Finally, Wang Tiezhu shattered its head with a heavy punch.

The third time was at dawn, when a demonized vulture with a wingspan of nearly a zhang tried to dive down and snatch an early-rising child.

At the critical moment, an icy arrow shot out from within the town, accurately piercing the vulture's neck and pinning it to the ground. The one who fired was none other than Li Qinghe, who happened to be returning from the outskirts of Black Mountain.

Black Mountain Town also suffered one incident.

A thick-skinned wild boar yao that had recently transformed was grunting and trying to push its way into the town.

Fortunately, Zhang Shitou was leading a day-and-night patrol and discovered it in time.

He didn't force a close-quarters fight either. He pulled out several fireball talismans given to him by Li Qingfeng and threw three of them in quick succession. The fireballs exploded, making the wild boar howl as its flesh was torn open, and it collapsed motionless in a short while.

This also allowed the people of Black Mountain Town to witness the "Immortal Master's" methods; even just the Immortal Master's subordinates could keep them safe.

These few small-scale attacks were quickly suppressed, instead becoming the best practical drills for New Town and Black Mountain Town, greatly increasing the vigilance of the patrols and residents.

The news of Li Qingfeng killing a Qi Refinement Stage giant python with a single arrow in Black Mountain Town spread as if it had grown wings.

At that time, there were indeed several Spirit Enlightenment Realm handymen sent by other "Town Guardian Immortals" in the town, and they had seen everything clearly from the shadows.

After returning and embellishing the story, Li Qingfeng's reputation for "divine archery" and "killing a Qi Refinement Stage Yao Beast with one arrow" spread among his fellow disciples in the Northern Border of Barren Mountain Domain.

Many people muttered to themselves that this newly emerged Li Qingfeng appeared to be only at the Qi Refining First Layer, but his killing methods were truly formidable.

However, the demonic aura in the north did not weaken because of Li Qingfeng's reputation; instead, it grew more intense.

Just as everything in New Town and Black Mountain Town was progressing according to plan, trouble came knocking.

On this day, Li Qingfeng was in New Town's simple assembly hall, discussing details of militia training and fortification reinforcement for both locations with Li Dashan, Wang Tiezhu, Zhang Shitou, and others.

A travel-worn, weary, and panicked Spirit Enlightenment Realm handyman from the Qingxuan Sect stumbled inside.

"Town Guardian... Li! Help! Senior Brother Zhao from Qingshui Town sent me! I beg Senior Brother Li to save us!" The handyman fell to his knees with a thud, his voice carrying a sob.

Li Qingfeng frowned. "Get up and speak. What happened with Zhao Tianbao?"

The handyman scrambled up, panting heavily, and said urgently:

"Yao Beasts! So many Yao Beasts! Traces have been found on the outskirts of Stone Village, Wazi Hamlet, and Kaoshan Village under Senior Brother Zhao's jurisdiction!"

"They aren't isolated cases; it's on a large scale! Scouts report at least dozens of transformed Yao Beasts leading the way, followed by hundreds of wild beasts driven mad by Demonic Qi! From the looks of it, they intend to charge the villages!"

"Immortal Master Zhao is fighting desperately with three other brothers and recruited local braves, fighting and retreating, but they are severely short-handed. Senior Brother Zhao says this is the precursor to a 'small-scale beast tide'! The Qingshui Town area is likely to bear the brunt!"

He swallowed hard and pleaded:

"Senior Brother Zhao sent me and another brother to seek help separately. He went further to Beilin County to find Immortal Master Wang. Since I was closest to you, I rushed here! I beg Senior Brother Li, for the sake of our fellow discipleship, save the people of Qingshui Town! Senior Brother Zhao said that if the siege is lifted, there will surely be a generous reward!"

The atmosphere in the assembly hall suddenly became heavy.

Wang Tiezhu folded his arms and snorted:

"Zhao Tianbao? He wanted to detain our brother Stone before, and now he remembers our fellow discipleship? He occupies Qingshui Town and three villages—quite a large territory—and now that he's met a tough opponent, he knows to ask for help? But... he's somewhat smart. If a small-scale beast tide truly forms and Qingshui Town can't hold it back, those Yao Beasts and wild beasts will scatter, and our New Town and Black Mountain Town will inevitably be affected."

Zhang Shitou rubbed his chin.

"That's true. If Qingshui Town is really overrun by the beast swarm, where will those thousands of refugees go? Nine times out of ten, they'll flood toward our New Town and Black Mountain Town! Our pressure would be even greater then! Moreover, with so many Yao Beasts, if no one stops them and they scatter everywhere, it'll be a huge threat to us too!"

"More importantly, if we ignore a fellow disciple's plea for help, it wouldn't look good for our reputation. Having a poor reputation within the Sect would make it hard to maintain a foothold in the future."

Li Dashan also frowned.

"Fenger, we must be cautious about this. We definitely have to help, but we can't leave home unguarded."

Li Qingfeng tapped his fingers on the table, thought for a moment, and made a decision.

"Help! For both public and private reasons, I must go. If Qingshui Town falls and the demonic disaster flows south, we will be the first to suffer. If we can help Zhao Tianbao stabilize the situation, it will also benefit us. Besides, we cannot ignore a fellow disciple's plea. However, the home front certainly cannot be left empty."

He looked at the messenger handyman.

"Go down and rest first, get something to eat. I'll prepare and set off immediately."

The handyman withdrew with a thousand thanks.

Li Qingfeng said to Wang Tiezhu:

"Iron Pillar, you and Stone must stay. New Town and Black Mountain Town are our Foundations and must not be lost. Especially now that the number of refugees is increasing, we must guard strictly. Militia training cannot stop, and patrols must be doubled. I will go and return as quickly as possible."

To deal with the increasingly frequent Yao Beast harassments, both New Town and Black Mountain Town began large-scale recruitment of young and strong men.

They mainly picked from old hunters and strong young men.

Li Dashan was in charge of coordination, while Wang Tiezhu and Zhang Shitou were responsible for training.

The training content was simple: basic moves to temper strength and train reflexes.

Wang Tiezhu brought out the hard-body techniques he had practiced in the Sect, such as horse stance, lifting stone locks, and fist and foot drills.

Zhang Shitou also taught simple coordination and trap setting.

Li Qingfeng would occasionally offer a few pointers on breathing and circulating Qi and blood. Although they couldn't cultivate for immortality, practicing well could strengthen the body, increase strength, and make them run faster, giving them a better chance of survival when facing ordinary wild beasts or even newly transformed Yao Beasts.

This burgeoning militia patrol became an important force for guarding their home.

Wang Tiezhu nodded heavily.

"Don't worry, Brother Feng! Leave the home to Stone and me! Be very careful; if things don't look right, retreat. Don't force a hard fight!"

"I know." Li Qingfeng nodded and said to Li Dashan:

"Father, the recruitment and training of the militia cannot stop. Tell them that if they train well, they can not only protect their homes, but those with outstanding performance will be given priority for Spiritual Root testing at next month's 'Immortal Ascension Assembly'!"

"Immortal Ascension Assembly?" Li Dashan was stunned.

"Yes," a sharp light flashed in Li Qingfeng's eyes.

"In one month, when the core area of New Town is completed, we will formally hold the 'Immortal Ascension Assembly' at the Ancestral Hall Square! We will widely recruit age-appropriate children and youths from our jurisdiction to test their Spiritual Roots! You can release this news now!"

Using the hope of the Immortal Ascension Assembly to motivate the militia and unite the people's hearts was the best method at the moment.