Chapter 83 Playing Dirty

Chapter 83: Playing Dirty

"Then we can only act according to the situation! When the time comes, do not act alone; at least discuss it with me first!" Wang Longyou had no moral qualms about using others. The five great families had always been using each other anyway. If someone suffered a loss, it was because they weren't clever enough—no one else to blame!

The Kui Wood Wolf didn't keep Wang Hao waiting long. Three days later, he led the beast horde to attack again, this time committing all his forces from the start, adopting a desperate, all-out stance.

The life-risking onslaught of the demon beasts put immense pressure on the Sky Fire Demon Sealing Array.

Low-level Qi Refining cultivators, having too much of their spiritual power drained by the array, vomited blood and fainted on the spot. At this critical moment, the five great families brought out their treasured stockpile of high-grade Spirit Stones and fed them into the array, barely preventing its collapse.

However, such an attack still put the demon beasts at a disadvantage.

The cultivators inside the market only expended their Qi. Even those who fainted from depletion would recover after a few months of rest if withdrawn in time. The demon beasts, on the other hand, were paying with their lives.

In just three hours, over three thousand low-level demon beasts perished, and even more than twenty second-tier beasts were lost—casualties greater than those from two days of previous attacks.

Yet the Kui Wood Wolf showed no concern. Standing coldly before the array, he would tear apart any beast that hesitated or retreated with a swipe of his claws.

By afternoon, both humans and beasts were utterly exhausted. Finally, the Kui Wood Wolf made his move.

He charged forward on his stout limbs, leaped into the air before the array, and unleashed a flurry of attacks with his claws upon the barrier.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

As the array shook violently, many low-level cultivators responsible for operating it vomited blood and fell dead.

"Hurry! Get replacements up there!" Li Yaozu roared, directing teams of loose cultivators to take over for the fallen. He wasn't faring well himself, but as a Foundation Establishment sixth-layer cultivator, he could hold on for a while longer.

Seeing this, Lei Liheng quickly ordered several Foundation Establishment loose cultivators to help Li Yaozu stabilize the array.

"You vile beast! How dare you act so recklessly? This old man will make you regret ever coming to Green Bull Market!"

The Kui Wood Wolf paid no heed to Lei Liheng's threat and continued his relentless assault.

Watching the array's glow grow increasingly dim, everyone knew this couldn't continue. They could hold out, but the cost was becoming too great. The families and friends of those loose cultivators killed by the backlash force were already voicing complaints. If this went on, the reputation of the five great families would be utterly ruined.

"Everyone, we must go out and face them head-on! Otherwise, more than half of the loose cultivators in this market will die!" Lei Liheng turned to look at the others. "Without these low-level loose cultivators, Green Bull Market will exist in name only!"

No one would care about some dead loose cultivators, but the five great families needed their reputation. Once branded as using loose cultivators as cannon fodder, would any more keep coming? How could their businesses continue?

Zhao Gaofang sighed mournfully. "Every demon beast uprising demands its price. Everyone, hesitate no longer!"

The family heads exchanged heavy glances and nodded. They immediately began summoning their clansmen and conscripting loose cultivators.

Moments later, an elite force of four thousand was assembled. Led by the five great families and supported by over twenty Qi Refining families, along with some mid-to-late stage Qi Refining cultivators, they stood ready.

Lei Liheng stood at the forefront of the formation and shouted loudly, "Everyone! I'll skip the long speeches. Anyone who retreats in this battle will face my Lei family's wrath later! Follow me out!"

Amidst rallying cries from the crowd, Lei Liheng gave a signal. Li Yaozu, operating the array formation from within, cast several spells into its core. The array's light barrier flickered momentarily before splitting open down the middle.

The cultivators poured out in a steady stream.

They chose a direction that wasn't the main focus of the beast horde's assault, so they broke through with little resistance.

Seeing humans charging out of the array, the Kui Wood Wolf immediately roared orders for his beasts to surround and attack them.

Lei Liheng, Zhao Gaofang, and the head of the Qian family moved to engage the Kui Wood Wolf directly. The others each chose their opponents to fight.

With support from cultivators inside the array who continued to harass and pin down other beasts through its functions (though weakened), an initial balance was struck on this new front.

Wang Hao found himself facing two second-tier low-grade demon beasts: a leopard and a boar.

Frankly speaking, those who survived until now were clever people—or in this case, clever beasts. Not many truly wanted a life-or-death fight here today; especially those beasts not originally under the Kui Wood Wolf's command but forced into obedience—they were simply going through the motions without real effort involved.

But now that humans dared come out for a decisive battle? It gave some beasts hope for victory—and thoughts about grabbing benefits too, perhaps?

So the leopard and the boar set their sights upon Wang Hao specifically, thinking him easy prey as a mere Foundation Establishment first-layer cultivator.

The leopard moved swiftly, its tail whipping out sharp wind blades repeatedly. The boar was simpler still, relying on thick hide and brute strength to charge recklessly forward.

Wang Hao stepped lightly upon his Clear Source Boots, dodging the leopard's attacks while commanding the Ash Calamity Sword. He continuously slashed out sword beams, striking the boar's body repeatedly.

Alas, he only left a few bloody scratches—he couldn't penetrate its defense at all! The boar's body shimmered with earthy yellow spiritual light, its hide covered by condensed earthen armor. It likely belonged to the Earth-Armor Boar tribe; such beasts naturally possessed strong defense, plus an awakened defensive supernatural ability, making them hard to kill for same-tier cultivators indeed!

Wang Hao slashed twice more, still to little effect. He stopped being stubborn then and began employing spell attacks instead.

Since the hard approach failed? Try something softer then!

Both hands released two fiery dragons consecutively, encircling the Earth-Armor Boar completely. The scorching heat made surrounding low-level beasts retreat fearfully quite a bit away.

But the Earth-Armor Boar remained unmoved initially, thinking Wang Hao helpless against it perhaps? Yet as the fiery dragons coiled around it tightly, that contemptuous look gradually turned into terror within its eyes.

No matter how strong its body was, it was flesh nonetheless; the fiery dragons were mere flame constructs shaped by magic. After reaching Foundation Establishment, Wang Hao had fused Red Lotus True Fire within them—capable of burning almost anything.

The boar's immense strength struggled futilely against the bindings. Lacking offensive spells to consume the dragons' power, it could only endure passively.

No matter how thick its earthen armor was, moments later, the Red Lotus True Fire roasted it thoroughly into a charred pig indeed!

"Young Fellow Daoist Wang, splendid work killing a second-tier beast so quickly!" Lei Liheng praised loudly even while struggling against the Kui Wood Wolf himself, making the latter glance toward Wang Hao momentarily.

Wang Hao thought inwardly, This old fox is up to no good, probably using me as target bait.

But amidst the chaotic melee currently, second-tier beasts couldn't understand human speech anyway, so there was likely minimal effect truly.

The remaining leopard glanced warily at Wang Hao yet ultimately didn't dare flee either! Its tail coiled like a whip, gathering power, then suddenly lashed out a brilliant blade of light!

Wang Hao's eyes narrowed, recognizing this attack far surpassed previous ones several times over. He countered by slashing out three sword beams, meeting it head-on!

Boom!

Two attacks collided, erupting in a shockwave spanning a twenty-zhang radius. Wang Hao lightly tapped his Clear Source Boots, darting away swiftly!

"Get away quickly!"

Foundation Establishment cultivators naturally dodged easily enough, but two Qi Refining ones hadn't moved their feet yet before the shockwave tore them apart completely. Nearby, two other Qi Refining cultivators wielding Demon-Slaying Crossbows were caught in the blast and suffered severe injuries too.

Nearby demon beasts were also affected, several reduced to piles of minced meat instantly.

Wang Hao glanced across the battlefield, seeing the leopard's aura somewhat weakened now. Clearly, that attack had consumed significant demonic power.

Strike while the enemy is weak—take its life then! Wang Hao flashed forward elegantly, swinging the Ash Calamity Sword once—sending the large leopard head soaring through the air beautifully!

"Well done, Young Fellow Daoist Wang! Truly a dragon among men indeed!" Lei Liheng's timely cheers rang out again. "Young Fellow Daoist Wang needn't mind me, hurry and assist other Fellow Daoists to exterminate the remaining beasts!"

Mind you, my ass! Wang Hao really wanted to spit in his face. This old thing is shameless indeed, playing the 'praise to kill' game, huh? Fine, you play dirty, I'll oblige you then...