28: Siege

Feng Qingyang stood atop the city gate tower. As raindrops were about to fall on him, they were separated by an invisible film around his body.

His resolute face watched the soldiers and Law Enforcement Team members rushing back and forth, his expression flickering with uncertainty.

"City Lord, what is the current situation?"

A slightly aged voice suddenly sounded in Feng Qingyang's ear. Feng Qingyang turned around in surprise, his tone becoming somewhat respectful.

"Master Chang, why have you come in person?"

"Haha, Qingyang City has reached a moment of life and death. These old bones of mine still have some strength to fight, so why shouldn't I come?"

The old man wore a greyish-white robe, his hair was white, and the phantom of an ancient giant tree enveloped him, keeping all the rain out.

The wrinkles on his face were deep and numerous; it seemed he was indeed very old. If he didn't break through from the King Rank to the next Rank soon, his life would be like a candle in the wind, about to be extinguished.

He was the King Rank five-star Beast Master of Qingyang City, a Bright Moon Two-Lamp Breeder, and the President of the Qingyang City Breeder Association—Chang Heng.

Now that the Space Gate cannot be used, it will likely take some time for reinforcements from Liuyun City to arrive.

Feng Qingyang remained silent. If the reinforcements from Liuyun City hadn't reached the Wild Rank, or if more Wild Rank beasts appeared in the Han Hai Secret Realm, the reinforcements might not be able to drive the Wild Beasts back.

*Caw!*

A giant bird flew from within the city, its wingspan estimated to be over twenty meters long. It circled above the eastern city gate.

Several people jumped down from the giant bird's back—two young men and one middle-aged man.

Feng Qingyang had received these three yesterday, so he naturally recognized them.

The middle-aged man in the lead had a full beard and looked very fierce; his name was Qin Zhou, and he was the Head of the Qin Family for this operation.

The thin young man on the left, who looked younger, was from the He Family of Liuguang City, named He Liangyu.

The one on the right, exuding an arrogant aura, was from the Feng Family of Liuguang City, named Feng Lixiao.

Qin Zhou cupped his fists toward Feng Qingyang. "We have caused trouble for City Lord Feng this time. We have already sent a request for reinforcements to our main family; the influential figures from home are expected to arrive in an hour."

"During this time, we will do our best to help the City Lord defend Qingyang City."

Feng Qingyang sneered inwardly. It was clearly Qingyang City that was implicated by them, yet his rhetoric made it sound as if they were helping Qingyang City through a crisis.

However, now was not the time to show dissatisfaction. Feng Qingyang replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "King-Rank Beast Masters are scarce in Qingyang City. We will have to rely on the experts from your three families to defend the city."

"We will certainly do our best." Qin Zhou didn't seem to sense the low pressure around Feng Qingyang and remained cheerful.

He Liangyu bowed gently to express his attitude. Although Feng Lixiao was arrogant, he also indicated that the Feng Family would put forth their full effort.

The rain between heaven and earth suddenly suspended in mid-air. The lips of the Tide-Calling Mermaid's Dharma Idol outside the city gate moved, and a pressurized voice appeared again.

"Time is up. It seems you are not prepared to hand over my clansmen. Good, good, good."

"Attack the city."

The words "Attack the city" were spoken in anger. Many ordinary people in the city couldn't withstand the pressure, and blood began to seep from their ears.

The rain fell from the sky once more, pounding against people's skin until it hurt.

The hundred-meter giant wave behind the Dharma Idol also slammed fiercely toward Qingyang City. As the city's first line of defense, the City Defense Barrier was already deformed by the impact of the giant wave.

But at least this strike was blocked by the barrier. Seeing this, the corner of the Tide-Calling Mermaid's mouth curled up, as if everything was within its expectations.

The giant wave crashed onto the ground, causing the standing water to instantly rise by dozens of centimeters.

The water that was originally above the knees suddenly reached the waist depth of an adult.

The Tide-Calling Mermaid reached out with its right hand as if grasping something, and a hundred-meter-long Trident appeared in its hand.

Without needing explanation, all Beast Masters could feel the terrifying power contained within that Trident, as an aura of destruction gathered upon it.

In an instant, the Trident transformed from an illusion into a solid form. The Tide-Calling Mermaid aimed directly at Qingyang City's defense barrier and hurled the Trident.

The Trident struck the barrier. This time, the barrier could not hold. A crisp tearing sound rang out, and cracks spread from the point of impact.

Then, the barrier protecting Qingyang City shattered into pieces in the air like punctured glass, while the Trident continued forward with undiminished momentum.

*BOOM!*

The sound of a violent collision exploded in their ears. The city wall also failed to withstand the Trident's attack and collapsed, leaving a massive gap dozens of meters wide.

The only good news was that the Trident finally disappeared after this strike.

A gap had been torn in Qingyang City. The sea beasts that had been waiting outside the city gate for a long time were like hyenas catching the scent of blood, scrambling to pour into the opening.

"City Guard, block the gap!" It was the voice of the adjutant.

Immediately, well-trained soldiers summoned their beasts and rushed to the gap to withstand the various strange beasts in the water. The slaughter began, with all sorts of colorful Skills clashing at the opening.

From time to time, various severed limbs floated with the current toward either the inside or outside of the city.

The Tide-Calling Mermaid looked at the gap, clearly dissatisfied. Then, a second Trident reappeared in its palm.

Feng Qingyang, who had been staring at its movements, had his pupils constrict slightly. "Beast Masters of King Rank five-star and above, join me in blocking this strike!"

After shouting this, he flew into the air, and three different bird-type beasts appeared beside him.

One was a glowing bird; an intense light blossomed from its body, and then a thick giant shield made of light appeared in front of it.

The other two birds likely had no shield-type Skills, but the best defense is a good offense. They simultaneously unleashed their strongest ultimate Skills, targeting the Trident in the Tide-Calling Mermaid's hand.

Qin Zhou, He Liangyu, and Feng Lixiao, who were still on the city wall, followed Feng Qingyang's command and flew into the air to stay by his side.

Each summoned their own beasts and released Skills to attack the incoming Trident.

For a moment, flying feathers, water currents, lightning, and wind swirls hit the Trident simultaneously. An ear-piercing explosion erupted, sounding like the first crack of creation. For a moment, the Beast Masters and beasts near the wall lost their perception of the world.

Then came a bright flash. After the brilliant light faded, the Beast Masters in the air were all sent flying back by the shockwave, but the Trident had finally been blocked by their joint efforts.

"Hmph."

The Tide-Calling Mermaid snorted coldly. It discovered that among those who had just joined forces to block the attack, there were the culprits who had captured its clansmen. It immediately continued to attack in anger.

After all, this was not the ocean, and the power of the Sea Spirit Trident was significantly weakened.

Its hands rose slightly, and four currents of water began to spiral upward around its body, quickly accelerating to form hundred-meter-high Water Tornados.

These four Water Tornados carried a terrifying momentum toward the city gate. Wherever they went, the beasts in the water—friend or foe—were swept inside and torn to pieces by the horrific pressure.

Every attack of the Tide-Calling Mermaid seemed to carry the might of heaven and earth, making one's blood run cold.

"This old man will block one." Master Chang Heng stepped out from a corner of the city gate tower and resolutely met the leftmost Water Tornado.

When he was close to the Water Tornado, the tree shadow enveloping him suddenly became solid and instantly took root outside the city gate.

As if absorbing massive energy from underground, its trunk, branches, and leaves grew frantically, reaching a height of seventy or eighty meters in a short while.

Ancient and vigorous vines hung between its branches, and an emerald snake head emerged from the top of the tree, looking at the approaching Water Tornado with cold eyes.

Leaves fell from the ancient tree one after another, forming a wall made entirely of leaves in the path of the Water Tornado.

After hitting the wall of leaves, the Water Tornado's forward speed clearly slowed down.

Taking this opportunity, the emerald snake head spat out a blast of cold air toward the Water Tornado. The cold air touched the water surface and directly formed a thick layer of ice.

When the cold air touched the base of the Water Tornado, the ice was torn into powder as soon as it formed, but it was still useful. The speed and height of the Water Tornado were slowly decreasing.

The other Water Tornados were blocked by several King-Rank Beast Masters commanding seven or eight King-Ranked Beasts using different methods.