72: Chapter 72 Response

Chen Xuanyi looked at him again, nodded, and said, "Yuanjin, open the Formation."

Hearing this, Chen Yuanjin immediately opened a passage in the Formation for the Zhou Family Cultivators to enter.

The Zhou Family Cultivators showed joy on their faces, and Zhou Mingsui gratefully said to Chen Xuanyi, "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Chen. Here, this is the corpse of that Tier 2 Biqing Python."

After saying that, he took out a Storage Pouch and handed it to Chen Xuanyi.

Chen Xuanyi stood on no ceremony and directly accepted it.

With two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than a dozen Qi Refining Cultivators joining them, they immediately felt much more relaxed. Aside from passive defense, they could sometimes spare a hand to launch attacks.

Seeing this, the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators also wanted to join, but they were refused by Chen Xuanyi. Firstly, they had no prior friendship, and secondly, the treasures they offered were far less valuable than what Zhou Mingsui gave.

In the end, those Cultivators had no choice but to give up. Although they felt some resentment, it wasn't much. After all, everyone had practiced the Dao for so many years, and some things went without saying; they could only blame themselves for not having high-value treasures.

After several hours of battle, everyone's magical power began to wane gradually, yet the number of Yao Beasts in the beast tide had not decreased by much.

After a while longer, Master Lingxiao returned, carrying the corpse of a three-headed snake demon in his hand.

Seeing this, the crowd was both shocked and pleasantly surprised. What shocked them was that Master Lingxiao had killed the three-headed snake demon, which possessed equivalent Purple Mansion combat strength, in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. What pleasantly surprised them was that with Master Lingxiao's strength being so formidable, how could this beast tide not be resisted?

After Master Lingxiao returned, his first order of business was to announce a retreat. Firstly, everyone's magical power was almost depleted, and secondly, nighttime was prime time for Yao Beasts to launch sneak attacks. If they remained in the wilderness, they might be killed by some Yao Beast at night without even knowing how it happened.

Once Master Lingxiao permitted the retreat, joy appeared on the faces of all the Cultivators. Then, led by the Xuantian Sect, they retreated in an orderly manner toward a temporarily established city in the rear.

Chen Xuanyi and the others also returned. As soon as they got back, they returned to their quarters to start recovering their magical power, not worried in the least about anything happening?

Don't look down on that crudely built earthen wall outside; it was actually blessed by a Tier 3 Medium Grade Formation. Even if several Tier 3 Low Grade Yao Beasts came at the same time, they wouldn't be able to break through it in a short period.

Historically, a beast tide would at most feature a few Tier 3 Yao Beasts. Even if this year was different, the beast tide in Qinghe County would not see a whole group of Tier 3 Yao Beasts. The reason was very simple: not only was Qinghe County close to the Wanshou Mountain Range, but Longchuan County right next to Qinghe County was also close to it, and a portion of Qingzhou was also close to the Wanshou Mountain Range.

Over the next few days, the Xuantian Sect led all the Cultivators to launch a counterattack. During this period, the Yuxu Sect also brought a batch of Cultivators to reinforce them, making the previously deadlocked battle situation gradually clearer. The Human Race Cultivators began to suppress the Yao Beasts of the Wanshou Mountain Range in turn.

However, the Wanshou Mountain Range had not truly launched a general offensive yet, and the large number of Cultivators dispatched by the Yuxu Sect were currently stationed in Taihe Prefecture. Both sides were still testing each other.

...

Deep within the Wanshou Mountain Range.

A few demonic creatures with wolf heads and human bodies gathered together; they were the Azure Wolf Demon Kings, whose cultivation had reached Tier 4, equivalent to the Golden Core Cultivators of the Human Race.

"Eighth, what did the Three-Tailed Spirit Fox side say?" said an Azure Wolf Demon King wearing a purple robe. Among all the demon kings here, its aura was the most terrifying, being very close to a pseudo-Nascent Soul Cultivator.

"Those old foxes are extremely sinister, every single one of them. I went over there, but in the end, there was still no definite plan. They are dying for us to attack right now so they can sit back and reap the profits as fishermen," said the eighth one indignantly.

"That's enough. That group of old foxes has always been like that; they did not do this just once before in the Dynasty battlefield. Now that the Divine Eye Demon Emperor has issued a death order, we must conquer Yan Country and other places. There is no room for those old foxes to stall, unless they are not afraid of the Divine Eye Demon Emperor."

Hearing this, the other Azure Wolf Demon Kings felt deeply unsettled, even carrying a hint of fear.

Toward the Divine Eye Demon Emperor, even as arrogant as the Azure Wolf Demon Race was, they did not dare to act presumptuously at this moment.

On the other side, Taihe Prefecture City.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion, Daoist Wuyou sat upright on the main seat, looking at the Purple Palace Cultivators who were fiercely arguing below.

"I think we should abandon places like Qinghe County and Longchuan County. Only after the Yao Race occupies them can those other Golden Core factions realize how grave Dayan's current crisis is, and not allow them to continue reaping without sowing from behind the scenes," said a red-robed Purple Palace Cultivator.

"Nonsense! If these two counties are abandoned, Cang Prefecture will lose its natural mountain and river barrier, and everything behind will be flat terrain. How will we block them then? Old Ghost Han, don't think that just because Taihe Prefecture isn't your territory, you can spout nonsense here so recklessly!" scolded Master Lingxiao of the Xuantian Sect angrily.

The remaining Purple Palace Cultivators were also divided into three factions. Some agreed with Old Ghost Han's suggestion, while others felt that Master Lingxiao wasn't wrong either.

The neutral faction simply watched the developments from the sidelines. Firstly, they had no particular solutions, and secondly, the ultimate direction of affairs was not something they could decide.

"That's enough." Daoist Wuyou spoke at this moment. The moment he spoke, all the Purple Palace Cultivators present immediately fell silent.

"The Sect Master has already projected the situation here to the other seven Golden Core factions. As long as they aren't fools, they will definitely send people to assist, unless they plan to distance themselves from Yan Country."

"Also, even if they send reinforcements, it won't happen that quickly. Right now, we still have to rely on ourselves."

"Some of you suggested abandoning the two Qinghe counties, while others suggested holding them firmly. Both methods have their own advantages." Daoist Wuyou glanced around at the crowd, his tone shifting, "However, if we abandon the two counties without a natural barrier to hold out against them, we simply won't be able to last until the reinforcements from the other Golden Core factions arrive."

"Therefore, to cope with the current situation, I have decided to abandon Longchuan County, have the Cultivators and Mortals of Longchuan County migrate backward, and then concentrate our forces to hold Qinghe County."

"Firstly, the terrain of Qinghe County is even more precipitous than that of Longchuan County, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Secondly, a portion of Qinghe County intersperses into the Wanshou Mountain Range; holding Qinghe County firmly is beneficial in preventing the beast tide from easily crossing over this place. Anyone who has objections may raise them now."

Daoist Wuyou picked up his teacup, took a sip of spiritual tea, and his expression was very calm.

Seeing that Daoist Wuyou had already given his proposal, the rest naturally wouldn't refute it and immediately nodded.

"Then it shall be done as I said. You are dismissed."

The crowd bowed and withdrew.

Over the next few days, a portion of the Purple Palace Cultivators, following the instructions of the Yuxu Sect, began instructing the various major families, Loose Cultivators, and the Mortals under their command in Longchuan County to migrate.

Another portion of the Purple Palace Cultivators set to work in Qinghe County preparing a Tier 4 Formation to envelop the entire Qinghe County within it.

Such rapid deployment made even the Azure Wolf Demon Kings of the Wanshou Mountain Range feel somewhat surprised.

"Eldest Brother, the Yuxu Sect has ordered the abandonment of Longchuan County; they are dead set on holding Qinghe County. What do we do next?" asked an Azure Wolf Demon King.

"No rush."