55: The Battle of Qingshui Town, Chasing Stars

His gaze was fixed on the murky waters at the bend of the river ahead.

There, his greatest threat lay hidden—a second-level Qi Refinement Stage Xuan Shui Crocodile Turtle!

It had been two days! This damned beast and its "army" had been besieging Qingshui Town for two days!

Initially, it was just sporadic animal attacks to test the waters. Zhao Tianbao, leading four Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brothers (servants) and over three hundred temporarily recruited village braves, could handle it easily.

But as time passed, the Spirit Awakening Stage Yao Beasts hidden within the herd began to exert their strength. They knew how to coordinate and even how to avoid Zhao Tianbao's fire points to attack the weak links.

Even worse, two days ago, he had been forced to painfully dispatch two Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brothers in different directions to seek reinforcements!

With that, their defensive strength was immediately stretched thin. Although the village braves were valiant, their casualties increased sharply against the thick-skinned, sharp-clawed Yao Beasts.

After two days, nearly a hundred village braves had died or been wounded, and the Spirit Awakening Stage Junior Brothers were all injured, their spiritual power heavily depleted.

Meanwhile, that cunning Xuan Shui Crocodile Turtle remained lurking in the depths of the river bend, showing only part of its back covered in thick blue-black scales and its cold, dark green vertical pupils.

Its massive Demonic Qi acted like an invisible shackle, firmly locking onto Zhao Tianbao.

For over two days, this "Xuan Shui Crocodile Turtle" had never truly gone all out. Like a most cunning hunter, it lurked in the shadows, its cold vertical pupils fixed on Zhao Tianbao.

Whenever Zhao Tianbao wanted to erupt with full power to clear those annoying low-level Yao Beasts, that cold, viscous Qi Refining pressure, heavy with water vapor, would coil around him like a venomous snake, forcing him to divert his attention and making him hesitate to take action.

Conversely, Zhao Tianbao didn't dare to leave the defensive line to actively seek out the crocodile turtle.

Once he left, the two Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brothers and the village braves alone wouldn't be able to stop the onslaught of the herd and those low-level Yao Beasts; the defensive line would collapse in an instant.

The two sides were thus caught in a strange stalemate.

The Qi Refining crocodile turtle used the herd to wear down Zhao Tianbao's strength, testing for weak points in the defensive line and waiting for the chance to deliver a fatal blow.

Zhao Tianbao was pinned to the defensive line, forced to watch as his subordinates and the Mortals he protected suffered casualties, his strength grinding away bit by bit. He was frustrated and furious to the extreme, yet helpless.

"Damned beast!"

Zhao Tianbao gritted his teeth, forcing back several Yao Beasts with a sword strike. His chest heaved violently; more than half of the fire-attribute spiritual power in his body was consumed, and his Meridians throbbed with pain.

He knew this beast was waiting for his spiritual power to run dry or for him to show a greater flaw before launching a fatal blow! The people he sent for help still hadn't sent word... Was he really going to have to abandon Qingshui Town and flee alone?

He glanced at the panicked commoners behind him, then at his scarred and exhausted Junior Brothers and village braves. For the first time, a sense of despair rose in his heart.

"Senior Brother Zhao! Reinforcements... when will the reinforcements arrive?!"

A Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brother used his blade to parry a wild boar's tusks. His arm was numb from the impact, and he cried out with a sob in his voice.

Zhao Tianbao gritted his teeth and didn't answer. Of the two Junior Brothers he sent for help, one went to the more distant Beilin County, and the other went toward Li Family Village to find Li Qingfeng.

Calculating the time, the one who went to Li Family Village should have arrived, but Li Qingfeng... would that man, who had recently risen to fame, actually come?

"Hold on! Hold on for me!"

"Fire! Use the fire oil to burn those wolf cubs charging up!"

"Archers! Aim for that pangolin's eyes!"

Zhao Tianbao roared out commands. He swung out a crimson Sword Qi, cleaving a Spirit Awakening Stage demon wolf attempting to leap over the earthen wall in two, its corpse instantly engulfed in flames.

But just as he made this strike, the water at the river bend suddenly exploded. A thick water arrow, carrying a bone-chilling coldness, shot toward the earthen platform where he stood like a siege crossbow bolt!

Boom!

Half of the earthen platform was blown apart. Zhao Tianbao flipped down in a disheveled state. His scorching Sword Qi collided with the water arrow, erupting into a large cloud of white steam.

His blood and Qi churned; he was seething with hatred but remained helpless.

Just then, a new round of attacks arrived!

Over a dozen Iron-Horned Wild Bulls, their eyes bloodshot from the stimulation of Demonic Qi, were driven by several Spirit Awakening Stage demon jackals. Like runaway chariots, they rumbled toward a section of the fence where a gap had just been smashed!

Behind them followed a dense pack of wild animals and several Yao Beasts with ferocious auras!

"Not good! The western gap is about to break!"

A Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brother cried out in alarm. He was currently entangled by two demon jackals and couldn't pull away.

Zhao Tianbao's eyes nearly split from rage. If he went to plug the gap, the Xuan Shui Crocodile Turtle's attack would surely follow!

But if he didn't go, once the herd broke into the town, the consequences would be unimaginable!

At this critical moment!

"Swoosh—Swoosh—Swoosh—!!!"

A series of sharp, ear-piercing shrieks that seemed capable of tearing the Soul apart suddenly came from the eastern horizon!

Accompanying the shrieks were dozens of blinding lights that streaked across the sky like golden meteors!

These lights were incredibly fast, precisely covering the vanguard of the herd attacking the western gap!

"Puff, puff, puff, puff!"

A dense sound of penetration rang out!

The Spirit Awakening Stage demon jackals at the very front didn't even have time to scream before their heads and hearts were pierced by several golden lights, killing them instantly!

As for those frenzied Iron-Horned Wild Bulls, their tough hides were like paper before the golden light. Several holes the size of bowls were instantly bored through their massive bodies, and they collapsed with a mournful wail!

The beasts following behind fell in swathes like wheat being harvested!

With just one volley of arrows!

That seemingly unstoppable charge of the herd was forcibly strangled outside the gap!

This sudden turn of events brought a moment of silence to the chaotic battlefield!

Everyone subconsciously looked toward the east.

They saw a tall, upright figure, his body surrounded by brilliant, dazzling bright golden spiritual power as if he were a Heavenly God clad in golden armor, treading through the air!

In his hand, he held a longbow of ancient design that exuded a sharp aura. The bowstring, composed of pure golden spiritual power, was slowly dissipating.

The newcomer was Li Qingfeng!

"Senior Brother Li!"

Seeing the newcomer, Zhao Tianbao was first stunned, then a wave of immense joy surged in his heart, and he couldn't help but shout out!

He hadn't expected Li Qingfeng to arrive so quickly! Even more, he hadn't expected his archery to be so terrifying; its power didn't diminish even in a group attack!

The village braves of Qingshui Town and the Spirit Enlightenment Realm Junior Brothers also recognized this "Divine Archer Immortal Master" who had recently risen to fame, and their morale was instantly boosted!

"It's Immortal Master Li from Li Family Village!"

"Immortal Master Li has come to save us!"

"Kill! Follow the Immortal Master and kill the Yao Beasts!"

Li Qingfeng's expression was solemn as he hovered in mid-air, his gaze quickly sweeping across the battlefield.

He didn't even look at the Xuan Shui Crocodile Turtle in the river bend, whose aura had become violent. He raised the cloud-splitting bow embryo again, and the golden spiritual power bowstring instantly condensed!

The second form of the Sun-Piercing Star-Shooting Art—Star Chasing!