Front Line of the Beast Tide, Part 27

The first-year students of the Sword School had lived in the depths of the Myriad Beast Forest for a full four years.

For these four years, by day they fought on the front lines of the beast tide.

By night, they slept foot-to-foot with their companions by bonfires and in tents.

In their day and night interactions, and in their navigation through danger and opportunity, trust and bonds were formed first, and along with it, a keen sense of danger.

Therefore, the moment the Song family clashed with the Sword School and the Yan family, all the remaining Sword School disciples simultaneously sensed that the situation had changed.

Someone pointed at the spiritual energy overflowing at the edge of the sky and shouted loudly, “Not good, they’re fighting over there!”

Just moments ago, a series of ominous spiritual energy fluctuations suddenly emerged above the depths of the forest.

Powerful auras clashed, causing mountains to sway, birds to flee, and the ground to tremble, immediately making everyone realize that a great battle was about to ensue below.

“Who with whom?”

“I see runes floating at the edge of the sky, clearly Elder Ruyi’s handwriting. She taught our Talisman School’s basic talismanology (I), there’s no mistaking it!”

“Whose spiritual energy fluctuation is that beside Elder Xu? How can it be so powerful? Not good, they might be in danger!”

“We need to go assist! Let’s find Elder Deng and Elder Zhu first!”

The Sword School students were already extremely vigilant, spontaneously drawing their swords.

Just then, a roar shook heaven and earth.

Trees collapsed, and a large vacuum zone, caused by suppressive power, blasted open above the forest. The Sword School students stumbled, those with weaker foundations falling directly to the ground.

Someone who was observing the battlefield signals in the sky was instantly impacted by the sudden pressure, causing blood vessels to burst in her eyes, scattering specks of blood.

The explosive aura swept through this realm, causing everyone present to experience a momentary blankness of mind.

Tang Yueling snapped back to reality, her face changing dramatically. “Spirit Transformation stage self-detonation?!”

Which Spirit Transformation cultivator self-detonated? The Sword School did not have a Spirit Transformation formation this time.

Was it the Song family or the Yan family? No, the Song family had three Spirit Transformation cultivators; they couldn’t have self-detonated without reason. It must be the Yan family, seeing the situation was dire, who had no choice but to self-detonate first, dragging the Song family down with them.

Things had completely exceeded everyone’s expectations.

She was still thinking when she saw Tian Ning, oblivious to others, stride towards the tent where the Sword School’s leading teachers were, her sword in hand.

With her cold demeanor, unsociable nature, and formidable aura, one might think she was going to depose the leaders.

Tang Yueling asked, “What are you doing?”

Tian Ning’s steps did not falter. She said coldly, “I cannot fight a Spirit Transformation cultivator. I am requesting aid from the Sword School Elders.”

“The Sword School Elders can’t fight a Spirit Transformation cultivator either!” Hearing this answer, Tang Yueling almost fainted. She took three steps in two, quickly reaching Tian Ning’s side. “Put your sword away first. We have other magical artifacts, have you forgotten?”

The two had not walked far when they ran into Xie Ying and others.

Over the past few years, due to frequent group battles to encircle demon beasts, they had become quite familiar with each other.

Unaware of what information they had obtained, they stopped upon seeing the two and whispered, “Elder Husang of the Beast School and Elder Xie Lingjun of the Artifact School are both out of the camp. I heard the Song family has arrived, and this matter is related to the missing Sword School students. Elder Deng and Elder Zhu are also entangled with the Song family. I am worried they will downplay the situation.”

Tang Yueling narrowed her eyes, “What do you plan to do?”

Ling Xiaorui couldn’t contain herself. She raised her arm and shouted, “Depose! Rebel!”

Xie Ying couldn’t help but tap her on the head and quickly said, “I’ve already spoken with Pei Jingzhi of the Array School, Jiang Chanyi and Hua Ling of the Beast School, Shi Fengfei of the Artifact School, and Chen Minjing of your Body School. We’re gathering students to assemble in front of the camp.”

Tang Yueling raised an eyebrow, “Using people to suppress the formation, and attacking en masse?”

“How could we?” Xie Ying gave a wry smile, her expression firm. “But with strength in numbers, there’s always a chance to make a statement. The Sword School has ninety-seven disciples missing contact this time. Our Talisman School alone has twenty-two students. That’s not a small number.”

Ling Xiaorui gripped her fist and added, “If Senior Sister Su Qing were here, it would be great.”

Xie Ying shook her head, “Although it’s not good to say, Su Qing being with the missing students actually makes one feel more at ease.”

Tang Yueling thought, ‘At ease about what? Su Qing is probably eating rough fare somewhere, waiting for them to rescue her. If she hadn’t gone missing, that would be ideal, saving her from getting mixed up in this muddy water.’

But what came out of her mouth was, “No time to waste. Let’s go find Deng Mingjian now!”

Deng Mingjian’s cultivation was far above that of the students, so he naturally sensed the anomaly before them.

But as a leading teacher, he had many tasks, such as sending messages to the Sword School outpost in Yinlan City to report the situation, contacting other personnel for support, and so on.

Therefore, by the time he swiftly handled everything and rushed out of his tent, clad in his robes, he ran into the gathering students.

Over a thousand students were assembled.

Their pure white robes in the forest were like fresh snow. The young faces of the first year were uniformly filled with anger and fervor. “Elder Deng, Elder Ruyi and Elder Hebai are in trouble! When are we going to help them?!”

“Are the ninety-seven missing Sword School students going to be rescued or not?!”

“Where is Elder Zhu? Why isn’t he going to help?!”

Zhu Yushu was from the Zhu family, one of the Song family’s vassals.

He had already excused himself, not participating in this dispute.

Elder Deng, Elder Deng, Elder Deng!

A chorus of indignant “Elder Dengs” echoed in Deng Mingjian’s ears.

He was surprised to find that he wasn’t angry; instead, he felt a thrill. He wouldn’t admit that in that moment, he felt it was because he might be getting old, seeing the passion of youth also made his blood surge.

In fact, he meticulously maintained himself daily, and there wasn’t a single fine line around his eyes yet.

Deng Mingjian had lived for how many years, and these youngsters had only lived for how many years? He saw through the students’ purpose at a glance: weren’t they afraid he would run away, or ignore the matter, and thus used numbers to pressure him?

They were still too young, not understanding the external market conditions, not understanding the fierce competition and the difficulty of finding work.

To hold a position like youth lecturer in a famous major sect like the World Sword School required not only strength but also a bit of luck and connections.

A full meal once and full meals always; he could distinguish between the two.

Deng Mingjian’s thoughts raced. He realized that these numbers could not only pressure him but also pressure the Song family.

With students present, the Song family, unless they wanted to openly declare war on the Sword School, would surely be somewhat deterred.

Moreover, his divine sense subtly swept over Tang Yueling. It was about time for this Young Lady to release the two Song sisters, wasn’t it?

Of course, the Song family had coveted the demonic bone for a long time and would certainly seize the opportunity to cause trouble, just as they had once annihilated the Witch tribe for the Eye of the Divine Descendant. It was only a matter of time.

But did this Tang family Young Lady act so recklessly without any objection from her family? He had once seen the Tang family head from afar; that was not an easy person to get along with.

All the above thoughts formed in the blink of an eye. Now was not the time for deep thought.

Deng Mingjian looked at the gathered, subtly restless students, his gaze sharp. “Since that is the case, do you all dare to disregard life and death and come with me to assist?”

As he expected, he heard the students raise their arms and shout, full of youthful spirit, “Elder Deng thinks too little of us! Let’s go, what is there to fear!”

….

Deng Mingjian bringing reinforcements once again changed the situation on the field.

Although the less than two thousand students who came were of low cultivation, they were mere ants that could be crushed by a single finger for the Spirit Transformation stage elders of the Song family.

However, the entire new force of the Sword School’s first year was present.

If they dared to harm a single hair on these students, it would completely break ties and declare war on the World Sword School.

Carefree Immortal’s death was only three hundred years ago.

Who knew how much legacy and connections she had left behind? Just the countless secret realm resources within the Sword School’s territory were astonishing, not to mention the Tai’a Sword, which defended and protected all under heaven, was still in the hands of Sect Leader Wang Quan.

They absolutely could not follow the Han family’s path and easily make enemies.

Therefore, there was only one path to take now, and that was speed!

Taihe Zhenren no longer hesitated.

His charred body condensed into an arc of light, instantly rushing towards that dark opening.

With his late Spirit Transformation cultivation, if he fought openly, he might be able to resist a few moves.

But if he used all his abilities for escape, he was indeed unstoppable.

Yan Chi, Lin Hebai, and Xu Ruyi watched Taihe Zhenren vanish instantly before their eyes, all filled with extreme rage. “What a useless rat!”

They were about to chase after him into the inner world when a vibrant green grass filament suddenly extended from the cave entrance.

It swayed a few times, as if someone had extended a finger and wagged it.

This meant refusal.

Thanks to Jiang Xiaocao always running to the Body School and Husang’s occasional words, Lin Hebai vaguely understood his origin. She decisively stopped Yan Chi and Xu Ruyi. “Don’t go forward! That rat will get his retribution.”

Yan Chi frowned deeply, then suddenly understood the spiritual connection of this grass.

Yan Yan had corresponded with her, telling her about the Abyssal Void.

At the same time, countless grass filaments surged from the opening, forcibly sealing the entire space.

The old one couldn’t, but the young one could.

The three turned around, once again fixing their gaze on the sole remaining Spirit Transformation cultivator of the Song family.

Although his cultivation was above everyone else’s, at this moment, he felt an inexplicable chill.

This was probably because Yan Yun’s death had paved the way for his reevaluation of the situation.

But at this moment, he was in the right.

The Song family’s Spirit Transformation cultivator aggressively said, “I came here to find the missing descendants of the Song family! If not for your Sword School’s inadequate protection, why would there be this entanglement today?!”

What a preemptive strike.

Tang Yueling was just about to release the two sisters as hostages when a voice reached her ear, coming from Deng Mingjian, [If you release them now, what leverage will the Sword School have to negotiate with the Song family later?]

Tang Yueling’s eyes flickered for a moment. Deng Mingjian smiled faintly, [Why do you think the Sect Leader allows so many aristocratic disciples to enroll?]

On one hand, it was naturally because the Sword School was fragmented and shared power with the aristocratic families.

On the other hand, it was for leverage.

Tang Yueling understood. It seemed that even if she didn’t act first, the Sword School would.

And in fact, the entire Sword School had assumed that the Qi family would be the first to cause trouble, as the Qi family hadn’t even participated in this mission, merely sending a discarded pawn from their family.

So that was the reason.

Tang Yueling’s heart settled somewhat. She then felt particularly displeased by this sense of calm.

According to this, she was also a pawn, also leverage.

But she had relaxed too early.

Because soon, the highest-cultivated Yan Chi and the leading elders were the first to notice something was wrong, followed by the Sword School disciples, and then the numerous rogue cultivators scattered from the depths of the forest to its edge.

Finally, this unsettling sensation reached the Yan family army guarding the city wall at the edge of Zhenyao Pass.

It was as if invisible sound waves, filled with madness, radiated out from the center of the forest. It was as if this forest was in its final, desperate struggle, and this dying madness also infected every demon beast residing within the forest.

Although there was no wind, the trees in the forest suddenly began to sway.

The ground first trembled in waves, as if some monstrous flood was about to be unleashed.

Yan Chi’s pupils constricted to their smallest. She suddenly turned her head, looking through layers of intertwined trees towards Zhenyao Pass.

Yan Chi turned back to look at everyone. Her gaze had returned to calm, a calm that came from being prepared for the worst. “It’s time to retreat.”

Not long after, the soldier in Zhenyao Pass’s watchtower put down her spyglass, her expression grim.

She was a seasoned veteran, even the corners of her brows were tinged with the white of twilight.

Her experience told her a storm was brewing. With a “bang,” the old soldier forcefully struck the alarm gong, shouting with a hoarse voice, “Report—! Beast tide riot!”