Front Line of the Beast Tide, Part 20

Although anticipated, when the three Spirit Transformation stage cultivators of the Song family gracefully descended from the sky to the center of the Myriad Beast Forest, before the ancient tree, all other factions present felt a tightening in their hearts.

The Song family came with overwhelming force. This matter would likely not end well.

These three Spirit Transformation cultivators consisted of two men and one woman.

One man and one woman were at early Spirit Transformation stage, both possessing formidable power.

The other man was at late Spirit Transformation stage.

He resembled a centenarian, with completely white hair and beard, his body hunched like a withered old root, and his eyelids drooping so low that his pupils were almost invisible.

This person, known by his Daoist title Taihe, was also widely renowned in the cultivation world.

His cultivation was so profound, yet he still couldn’t conceal his decrepit appearance, indicating that his lifespan was likely nearing its end.

If he found no further opportunities for breakthrough, even a Spirit Transformation powerhouse would eventually become nothing more than a pile of bones.

Late Spirit Transformation cultivation was already so terrifying, and adding the shadow of a nearing lifespan, it was like a nuclear weapon, with the danger of detonating at any moment.

The Song family had invested heavily this time, indicating they were determined to obtain the demonic bone.

As expected of an aristocratic family, their accumulated foundation was far beyond what the Sword School, a sect less than a thousand years old, could compare to.

Lin Hebai’s face tensed for a moment, then returned to calm.

There was more than one late Spirit Transformation powerhouse present; they also had one: Yan Yun.

If the Song family harbored any improper thoughts, Yan Yun could at least take out one of them.

As for the remaining two Spirit Transformation cultivators, their combined efforts of several Transform Spirit stage cultivators could at least take out one more.

The worst consequence was nothing more than this.

Only Spirit Transformation cultivators could engage in equal dialogue with Spirit Transformation cultivators.

“That the affairs of Yinlan City have drawn Daoist Taihe from so far away truly makes this old one feel somewhat overwhelmed.” Yan Yun spoke sharply, a keen light shining from beneath her drooping eyelids.

“With this Yan Yun not yet dead, and the Yan family still standing, when did the Sword School’s territory become a place for you to interfere?!”

“It has been many years, and Daoist Kuanglan is still as unforgiving. It makes me somewhat nostalgic. People grow old and their memories fade, but I still vividly recall our contest during the initial Sword Pavilion trial. We are old friends; why be so contentious?”

Taihe’s voice, surprisingly, did not tremble or blur like an old person’s.

Instead, it possessed a gentle yet imposing force.

He sighed, “If not for the disappearance of a young girl from our clan, the Song family would have no intention of interfering in this matter. However, cultivators’ descendants are few. In our Song family’s main lineage, there have only been the sisters Huiyi and Huisi in the past hundred years. Their disappearance this time is of great importance, impacting the future rise and fall of my Song family. Otherwise, why would an old man like me come here to displease you?”

“You know very well how your two descendants disappeared.”

Yan Yun had long anticipated that the Song family would find an excuse to come, as they were always very keen on these things, whether it be bones or eyes. She sneered, “Moreover, what ‘contest vividly recalled,’ said so prettily. I only remember a Carefree Immortal suddenly descending from the sky and beating you, and everyone present, until you cried for your parents and soiled yourselves. I’ve lived my whole life and never seen such a good show!”

“Who’s to say otherwise?” Taihe was not angry. He looked up and calmly narrated, “But she is dead after all.”

Draw swords, only draw swords.

All Sword School disciples present, regardless of their background or sect, immediately drew their swords. A resounding “clang” echoed as chilling sword qi surged forth, the stern sword blades reflecting resolute eyes.

It wasn’t that they didn’t know the consequences of drawing swords against a Spirit Transformation cultivator, but, Lin Hebai gritted her teeth, “To be insulted to this extent, it’s a disgrace to be a member of the Sword School!”

The surrounding air suddenly grew heavy.

Although there was no wind, the forest within a thousand miles immediately became turbulent.

Branches and leaves suddenly trembled, tens of thousands of birds soared into the sky, and creatures on the ground either curled up shivering or fled in panic, as if a disaster was imminent.

Taihe had yet to express his stance. The two early Spirit Transformation cultivators behind him bristled with killing intent. They instantly unleashed their coercive pressure.

The higher one ascended, the more unfathomable the difference in realms became.

Even a single layer difference between Transform Spirit and Spirit Transformation was immeasurable.

But Yan Yun was not one to be underestimated. She lifted her wrinkled eyelids, and the surging, stormy aura immediately dissipated.

Instead, the two early Spirit Transformation cultivators collectively took a step back, blood overflowing from the corners of their mouths.

Yan Yun was not young anymore. She was also an old woman nearing her end.

Her distance from death was like the distance between a child and new life. She looked at Taihe, her eyes calm, and only said, “She still left her name in the world after her death. What about you?”

Taihe stroked his beard, nodding slightly, “Naturally, to pave the way for future generations.”

“Future generations?” Yan Chi raised an eyebrow scornfully, “More like paving the way for selfish desires, perhaps.”

Taihe paused, then said no more. Neither of them spoke.

All the previous probes and clashes were mere skirmishes.

Everyone understood that if it came to a real fight, it would likely be a struggle to the death or a mutually destructive outcome.

But it wasn’t time yet.

The mirror surface appearing before the ancient tree was casually broken and defiled, yet a clean spot remained untouched.

As long as the Heart-Protecting Mirror was not shattered, there was still a chance.

The other early Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Song family spoke, “While this demonic bone is still sealed, and demonic energy has not yet fully corroded the entire forest, why not act sooner?”

Yan Chi roared, “Who dares?”

“Listen well,” she said in a deep voice, the red marks at the corners of her eyes terrifyingly vivid, “I don’t care whether you want the demonic bone or anything else, but if you dare to destroy the Myriad Beast Forest, destroy the livelihood of Yinlan City’s millions of people, then you are an enemy of my Yan family! My Yan family line will fight you to the death!”

The demonic bone had fallen into the Myriad Beast Forest over three hundred years ago and had long become an inseparable part of it.

If forcibly removed, a battle between Spirit Transformation cultivators could easily destroy not only the forest but also annihilate Yinlan City.

Where would the millions of displaced common people go then? Where would their future lie? Yan Chi could absolutely not allow this possibility.

Therefore, when Yan Chi wrote to Wang Quan, the Sect Leader of the World Sword School, earlier, she made a condition: she wanted him to let this disaster unfold gently, with the least possible cost. Originally, Yan Chi wanted to use the taotie to devour the demonic bone, as it was a divine beast and could surely achieve what ordinary people could not.

But Wang Quan refused, saying instead that he had already sent the person who could resolve this matter.

And the term he used was “they,” implying more than one person.

Yan Chi had met Wang Quan a few times, but her most vivid impression was when he was touring the Divine Land with Carefree Immortal and several senior sisters and brothers.

At that time, her cultivation was not high.

She stood by Yan Yun on the pavilion, leaning on the railing, curiously observing the harmonious and prosperous Divine Land, gazing at the layered pavilions, elegantly arranged terraces, the magnificent palaces, and the ethereal, graceful auspicious clouds dotting the landscape.

She was captivated, but in her heart, she saw the bitter coldness of Yinlan City.

It was then that Yan Yun suddenly pointed to someone on the street and said, “There, that person down there is the number one under heaven.”

Perhaps because of their simple lifestyle, perhaps because running a sect and raising students was simply too expensive, even the number one under heaven, Carefree Immortal, and her students were conspicuously poor.

In the divine capital, where new clothes and gold embroidery were everywhere, the few of them wore old clothes, drawing frequent glances from passersby, some even with overt disdain.

Only one half-grown junior brother, wearing a slightly ill-fitting, golden-bright lavish robe, with a good sword at his waist, walked behind Carefree Immortal with immense pride.

If anyone dared to look down on him, he would certainly glare back mercilessly.

His hands were restless all the way; he had to look at this stall, browse that shop, and try on anything new and beautiful.

Even demon beasts walking towards them would be caught by him, quickly stroked a few times without stopping, only then feeling he hadn’t lost out.

Yan Chi, who still thought of her hometown amidst the bustling divine capital, naturally didn’t like Wang Quan, who was the only one wearing new clothes among his senior sisters and brothers.

“Why be so harsh?” Yan Yun said, “They were originally beggars, fisherwomen, or village shepherds, children of farmers. How could they have a good background like yours?”

Yan Chi said nothing.

In fact, when she studied in the divine capital, her fellow disciples, though not openly showing it, secretly called her a country bumpkin.

Of course, she didn’t care. Although this place was like spring all year round and beautiful in every way, she still preferred the rugged, but snowy and wine-filled, Yinlan City.

That junior brother was curious about everything, pondering everything. It was highly likely he was a beggar.

The more Yan Chi thought about it, the more it made sense.

These students had quite good relationships with each other and indulged him, allowing him to tease cats and dogs, and cause trouble.

Much later, Yan Chi met Wang Quan several more times, but none left as deep an impression as this one.

Perhaps it was because only then was he the annoying junior brother, and not the much-admired senior brother he later became.

Of course, the degree of annoyance hadn’t changed at all.

For example, with this matter, Wang Quan had already sent the answer but refused to reveal the riddle’s solution or the method of solving it.

This made Yan Chi so frustrated she wished she could rush to World Sword Mountain, grab him by the collar, and beat this riddle-man senseless just to barely vent her anger.

The Song family’s early Spirit Transformation cultivator heard this and frowned, “This tiny bit of vitality is merely a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot; being completely corrupted is only a matter of time.”

“Since it’s a matter of time,” Yan Chi interrupted, “can’t the three of you Spirit Transformation cultivators even wait that long?”

The person wanted to say more, but saw Taihe raise his hand. He immediately stopped speaking, holding his breath and retreating to the side.

The white-haired old man tapped the ground with his gnarled staff.

A green vine immediately broke through the earth, twisting and weaving into a rattan chair.

He unhurriedly sat down, “No hurry. Let’s see what good ideas the Sword School has first.”

Before he finished speaking, the round mirror in the phantom seemed to dim a bit more.

The silent Spirit Transformation cultivator suddenly felt a surge of confidence, and couldn’t help but curve his lips with an air of absolute certainty.