183: Chapter 183 The Tragic Situation in Linhai County

During this Beast Tide, besides Cangjiang Prefecture suffering heavy losses, Linhai Prefecture did not fare much better; the yellow earth was stained everywhere with the blood of the Human Race and the Yao Race.

There are four great Martial King families in Linhai Prefecture: the Zhao, Song, Ouyang, and Ding families. Among them, the Zhao Family and the Ouyang Family each have a venerable Martial King Late Stage powerhouse guarding them, making their strength far superior to the Song Family and the Ding Family.

The Tiger Shark Clan and the Deep Sea Giant Turtle Clan have been fighting with the Four Great Clans of Linhai Prefecture for thousands of years, having long since forged an irreconcilable enmity.

In these thousands of years of conflict, both sides have had their victories and defeats, and there have even been times when Martial King powerhouses and 5th Rank Demon Beasts have died in battle. Therefore, in this Beast Tide, the Black Flood Dragon Clan seemingly gave the various Yao Race factions a choice, but in reality, everything had long been arranged.

The Tiger Shark Clan and the Deep Sea Giant Turtle Clan would definitely choose the Linhai Prefecture side, and they had no way to feign compliance with the Human Race; they could only keep fighting until the agreed-upon ceasefire date.

"Clan Chief, the Tiger Shark Clan has gone mad this time. Thirty Grade 4 Demonic Beasts have died in battle, yet they still won't retreat!" Zhao Haitao anxiously observed the surrounding battle situation, as Yao Beasts filled the mountains and plains, continuously charging toward the Zhao Family's base, Lianhuo Island.

"Order the clansmen to abandon the first three defensive lines and retreat to the last two. We will annihilate the remaining dozen or so Grade 4 Demonic Beasts there." Clan Leader Zhao Qiyuan was also anxious at heart. Thirty Yao Beasts had died, which seemed like a lot, but many of the Zhao Family's Tier 4 Martial Ancestors had also fallen; even with the help of the Formation, ten Martial Ancestors had died.

Since the war began three days ago, the Tiger Shark Clan, led by two clan elders, had been fighting regardless of their own safety; as soon as one died, another immediately took its place, bringing immense defensive pressure to the Zhao Family.

"Seven-Star Martial King Zhao Feiyang, Four-Star Martial King Zhao Licheng, today is the day you die!" Hu Wei's entire body radiated golden light, charging forward with the force of Mount Tai, acting as a meat shield in front of the two. The other 5th Rank Demon Beast, Hu Meng, circled around the three, occasionally launching sonic attacks to assault the Sea of Consciousness of the two Zhao Family Old Ancestors.

"Grandfather, use that Move. Let's heavily injure Hu Meng first, then find an opportunity to deal with Hu Wei," Zhao Licheng secretly transmitted his voice.

"Good. I will block Hu Wei; you trigger the Formation core to activate the God-Devouring Spear and crush Hu Meng!" Seven-Star Martial King Zhao Feiyang crushed one of the Level 5 Talismans he had been hiding, the Nine-Dragon Thunderbolt Talisman. Nine scorching fire dragons, shaped like giant pythons, flew rapidly toward Hu Wei's face. This unexpected strike caught Hu Wei off guard.

At the same time, Zhao Licheng triggered the Formation core, where 5th Rank Ore, Fire Cloud Crystals, had been buried for decades. They converged into a dark red dagger glowing with crimson light, hiding within the black clouds. By the time it reappeared, it was less than a hundred meters from Hu Meng. When Hu Meng discovered it, it was already too late to escape.

Hu Meng instinctively activated its innate Divine Ability, the sonic attack—Tiger Roar—to shock and stun Zhao Licheng's Sea of Consciousness. Zhao Licheng let out a muffled groan and nearly fell from the clouds, plummeting downward.

Although Zhao Licheng suffered this heavy blow, it did not affect the dark red dagger in the slightest; it maintained its original speed and thrust toward Hu Meng's Divine Soul. Hu Meng dodged in time, avoiding the first attack, but the dark red dagger seemed to have a tracking function, flying back and thrusting toward Hu Meng's Divine Soul again.

It could dodge once or twice, but it could not dodge dozens of continuous attacks. The dark red dagger finally pierced into Hu Meng's Divine Soul, directly knocking Hu Meng back to its original form.

A Yao Beast with a tiger's head and a shark's tail clutched its tiger head in the sky, rolling wildly and howling miserably. It was in unbearable pain, smashing its head against the mountains, reducing a dozen peaks on the outskirts of Lianhuo Island to powder, with no sign of stopping.

"Ah! It hurts, it kills me! My head!"

The dark red dagger was constructed from a large amount of Fire Cloud Crystals. Fire Cloud Crystals specifically countered Divine Souls; whether it was the Human Race's Sea of Consciousness or a Yao Beast's Divine Soul, once tainted by Fire Cloud Crystals, it would inevitably suffer heavy damage. In its desperation, Hu Meng had actually used its mental-type innate Divine Ability to counter the dark red dagger.

Not only was it completely countered in its Move, but it was also ruthlessly pierced in the Divine Soul by the dagger. It was only because Hu Meng was powerful that it did not pass out on the spot.

Having succeeded in one strike, Zhao Licheng wanted to press the advantage and kill Hu Meng on the spot, but before he could take a few steps forward, Hu Wei tore his robes with a single claw, leaving three streaks of bright red blood.

"Licheng, come back!" Seven-Star Martial King Zhao Feiyang shouted urgently. Hu Wei's Late Stage 5th Rank strength was truly not to be underestimated; without him blocking in front, a single strike had broken Zhao Licheng's defense.

...

Compared to the intensity of the fighting on the Zhao Family's side, the Song Family's side seemed more like children playing house. After fighting for three days, the casualties on both sides amounted to fewer than four Martial Ancestors and Grade 4 Demonic Beasts.

Old Ancestor Song Yongsheng of the Song Family and the Tiger Shark Clan Elder Hu Shi had been trading victories and defeats over these past three days. Both had some wounds on their bodies, but none were fundamental, and they would be able to recover after recuperating for a period of time after the battle.

"Hu Shi, why bother? Our strength is equal; neither of us can do anything to the other. Isn't it better to just quietly wait for the Beast Tide to end?" Old Ancestor Song Yongsheng looked helplessly at Hu Shi, who was launching another attack at him from the mountain col. How did this damned Tiger Shark even Cultivate to the 5th Rank? It didn't know how to be flexible at all, only knowing how to charge and kill blindly.

...

At the Ouyang Family's base, Butterfly Island, Ouyang Jingxuan held his severed arm, looking with resentment at Clan Leader Ji Yan, who had a tuft of green hair on his head not far away. This guy's strength had become even stronger.

"Grand-uncle, I will block Clan Leader Ji Yan later. With the help of the Formation, it should be safe," Ouyang Ruifeng looked worriedly at Ouyang Jingxuan's severed arm, volunteering to take on the maddened 5th Rank Late Stage Demon Beast opposite them.

"Ruifeng, you are no match for him. Let me do it!" Ouyang Jingxuan tied his severed arm tightly to his waist, saying with a firm gaze.

Clan Leader Ji Yan's strength could not be resisted by relying on a 5th Rank Formation. If they let Ouyang Ruifeng face this formidable enemy, Clan Leader Ji Yan, it was very likely that something the Ouyang Family could not accept would happen.

"Clan Leader Ji Yan, don't think you are the only one who has had a Breakthrough in strength. Take my sword!" Ouyang Jingxuan had been careless and was seized by an opportunity by Clan Leader Ji Yan, who bit his left arm. The bones in his left arm broke instantly, leaving two unhealable bloody holes.

This completely infuriated Ouyang Jingxuan. He activated his Natal Divine Sword, which had been hidden in his Sea of Consciousness for a hundred years and had absorbed an unknown amount of spiritual essence. As the Divine Sword left its sheath, it bloomed with a dazzling brilliance, stabbing straight at Clan Leader Ji Yan, making him unable to open his eyes.

"Ah!"

Clan Leader Ji Yan let out a miserable scream and transformed into a giant sea turtle, retreating more than three thousand meters before stopping his backward momentum. A short turtle hand touched the bloody scar on the top of its head, and then it let out a cold snort.

"Old man Ouyang, you hide things quite deeply."