The Beast Tide Attacks, and Zhao Wuji Clings to Life

"Immediately send the highest-level distress signal to the Heaven Dou Empire's military headquarters and to Suotuo City, Barak Royal City, and Spirit City, the nearest cities! Hurry!"

"Yes!" The messenger scrambled to his feet and rushed down from the gate tower.

"Summon every Soul Master in the city! No matter their rank or background, all of them are to help defend the walls! The survival of Treasure Sword City hangs on this one battle!" the city lord continued to roar.

The orders were swiftly passed down.

Reality, however, dealt him a heavy blow.

When most of the capable Soul Masters and Soul Master families who lived in Treasure Sword City heard the words "beast tide," and especially after they saw its terrifying scale, their first thought was not to defend the city, but to flee for their lives!

They took their families and valuables and flooded madly toward another gate, hoping to escape.

No matter how the defenders shouted or threatened them, or even when the city lord personally stepped forward to stop them, he could not stop them from trying to flee.

"Bastards! A bunch of spineless cowards who cling to life!"

The city lord watched the crowd fleeing in chaos, trembling with rage, yet there was nothing he could do.

Even if he forced them to stay, they would wait until the beast tide broke into the city and escape in the chaos.

Just then, the city lord spotted someone particularly familiar among the people trying to flee.

"Senior, please wait!"

The city lord hurried forward and stopped Zhao Wuji.

"Senior, are you the Immovable Wisdom King, renowned throughout the Soul Master World?"

The city lord restrained himself as he asked.

Zhao Wuji stopped. Seeing that he had been recognized, he could only shake his head helplessly and sigh.

"Teacher Zhao, it looks like they recognized you?"

Oscar looked at Teacher Zhao, then at the city lord, not realizing anything was amiss.

"I am. What is it, City Lord?"

When the city lord heard Zhao Wuji confirm his identity, the smile on his face immediately grew warm. He seized Zhao Wuji's hand in both of his.

"Heaven truly has not abandoned Treasure Sword City!"

"Senior, would you be willing to help Treasure Sword City resist the beast tide? With your strength, you could surely lead us until reinforcements arrive!"

The corner of Zhao Wuji's mouth twitched, and he tried to pull his hand back.

They had just finished hunting a Soul Ring for Tang San and were only passing through on their way back to Shrek Academy.

"City Lord, we're only passing through..."

"Even passing through is fate!" The city lord pulled his hand back again.

"Your great name rings in my ears like thunder, Senior. Who in the Soul Master World doesn't know of the Immovable Wisdom King's chivalrous heart?"

Zhao Wuji was embarrassed by the praise. He glanced back at the Shrek Seven Devils.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun were secretly covering their mouths and chuckling off to the side.

"City Lord, listen to me." Zhao Wuji coughed.

"These students of mine are still young. Bringing them to stay here would be sending them to their deaths..."

"Surely you jest, Senior!" The city lord cut him off, his tone frighteningly sincere.

"How could the students you teach be anything less than outstanding? Every one of them must be a heaven-blessed talent. Treasure Sword City may not be wealthy, but we will certainly pay you well after the battle!"

At the mention of payment, Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up at once.

What did the academy lack most?

Money!

Forget it. I'll treat this as a chance to temper these kids. Hopefully, we won't run into that monster who called himself a king again.

"...All right." Zhao Wuji sighed as if resigning himself to his fate.

"But let's be clear: if things go wrong, I'll take the children and retreat whenever I need to."

"Of course, of course!" The city lord readily agreed.

Only then did Zhao Wuji lead the Shrek Seven Devils toward the gate tower.

After they had gone, the city lord's face filled with contempt.

"Pah!"

In the end, aside from the city lord's guards and most of the garrison, only a few local low-level Soul Masters and a handful of mercenaries whose blood still ran hot were willing to stay and defend the city.

And the Shrek Seven Devils.

Standing on the suddenly much emptier city wall, the city lord watched the approaching beast tide, took a deep breath, and drew his sword.

Its blade reflected his aged but resolute face.

"Everyone!" He used his Soul Power to carry his voice across the wall.

"Behind us are our homes, our parents, our wives and children! The beast tide knows no mercy, but we Soul Masters have a duty to defend our land! Today, those willing to live or die with Treasure Sword City, follow me and fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"

The remaining defenders and Soul Masters let out ragged but tragic and stirring roars. They gripped their weapons tightly and stared fixedly at the ever-approaching beast tide.

They did not know why the beast tide had suddenly erupted, nor did they know whether they could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

All they knew was that there was nowhere left to retreat!

They could only fight to the death!

Behind the Soul Beast tide, several dark-purple points of light were moving swiftly. Wherever they passed, the Soul Beasts parted of their own accord.

"What are those?"

Outside the city, four dark-purple points of light swept to the very front of the beast tide in the blink of an eye.

An Luoxian walked at the forefront.

Beside him was an earth-brown demon god, as big as a small city wall. He was the forty-eighth pillar, Demon God of the Fearsome Bull Hagenti.

Beside him was a bull-headed figure with a human body and a pair of wings on his back: the sixty-first pillar, Winged Bull Berserker Sai Gong.

Last was a slender figure covered in azure scales: the seventieth pillar, Azure Demon Rider Xi Er.

Zhao Wuji stood on the city wall, watching the beast tide and estimating its distance. The moment he saw An Luoxian's face, his entire body froze.

That Flame Lion pattern, the way he walked with his head tilted, and that haughty expression.

It's that guy!!!

"Teacher Zhao?" Tang San followed his gaze, and his expression changed instantly.

Dai Mubai reacted fastest, immediately summoning his Martial Soul to possess him.

"Everyone, be careful!"

An Luoxian heard the Shrek Seven Devils from a long way off and looked up, sweeping his gaze across the city wall.

"Oh, we meet again, little bugs."

The winged Sai Gong beside him turned to look at him. "You know these humans?"

"A few interesting little things the king met while inspecting his kingdom," An Luoxian said casually.

"His Majesty summoned us at the time, so the king had no time to deal with them and graciously let them live."

Sai Gong slammed his fists together and flapped his wings twice, a spark of interest in his eyes.

"Interesting? Then let's break into this city and let this great king have some fun too."

Hagenti reminded him in a muffled voice, "His Majesty said we must not slaughter humans on a large scale."

"I didn't say I was going to massacre the city. This great king only wants to have a little fun." Sai Gong grinned.

Xi Er scoffed from behind them. "Forget your fun. Break through the city first."

As soon as he finished speaking, the four demon gods attacked at the same time.

Hagenti took a step forward and smashed a fist into the city gate, leaving a huge dent in the heavy, iron-clad doors.

Sai Gong beat his wings and slammed into the city wall, bringing a section of brick and stone crashing down.

An Luoxian and Xi Er charged through the breach, the beast tide following behind them and pouring into the city like a flood.

Zhao Wuji was quick to react, immediately taking the Shrek Seven Devils and fleeing for his life.

He scooped up Oscar with one hand and grabbed Ning Rongrong with the other, retreating.

Tang San pulled Xiao Wu along, while Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing followed. They plunged into the city's alleys without looking back.

On the city wall, the city lord watched the scene, his face turning black.

Fuck!

He opened his mouth to curse, but feeling the Soul Saint-level presence Zhao Wuji gave off, he could only grit his teeth, turn around, and raise his sword as he roared down below.