The Beast Tide Erupts

Qingfeng Mountain was abuzz with talk as the New Student Competition drew near.

Disciples everywhere were discussing it.

"I heard this year's new disciples include five geniuses with outstanding talent. Do you think they'll come compete?"

"Junior Brother Lu, you don't know the whole story."

"Senior Brother, you know something?"

"Indeed. There are five new disciples with outstanding talent. Xiao Muyu joined Green Lotus Peak, Hua Yunqing joined Qingzhu Peak, Liu Yunsheng and Chu Jingxiong joined the main peak, Qingjian Peak, and Yan Kexing joined Qingjing Peak."

"All five of them are practicing in seclusion at their respective peaks. They haven't come to sign up."

"So those five junior brothers and sisters won't compete in the New Student Competition?"

"Those junior brothers and sisters may be a little more talented, but they haven't broken through to the Inner Qi Realm. Among the new disciples at Yunqing Courtyard, three have revealed that they've reached the Inner Qi Realm in the past month alone."

"And there are still disciples who haven't gone out and revealed their cultivation. Some junior brothers and sisters are planning to make a stunning debut on the day of the Martial Arts Competition."

"I see. Senior Brother, you're very well-informed. Do you know which new disciple was the first to break through to the Inner Qi Realm?"

"Let me tell you! I really have heard about this one! That junior brother's name is Chen Qinglin."

"After Junior Brother Chen broke through to the Inner Qi Realm, an Elder from Qingyun Peak took him as a disciple."

"You know about the gathering at the various peaks some time ago, right?"

"I do. What does that junior brother have to do with it?"

"I heard that the gathering was originally organized by that junior brother at Qingyun Peak. So many senior sisters showed up that even the Qingyun Peak disciples wanted to join in."

"But they were turned away. Indignant, they went and organized their own gathering..."

"You know how that gathering turned out, Junior Brother."

"Will this junior brother be competing, then?" Junior Brother Lu asked.

"Probably not."

"Why not?"

"I heard Junior Brother Chen has already reached the middle stage of the Inner Qi Realm. If he competed, there'd be no need to argue about who'd take first place."

"Besides, that junior brother's a Martial Arts Maniac. He's always practicing in his own courtyard. If Senior Brother didn't have such a wide circle of friends, I wouldn't know about him either!" The senior brother sighed.

"You sure know a lot, Senior Brother!"

"Haha... It's nothing, really..."

A plump, genial-looking senior brother stood surrounded by a group of junior disciples. They listened to his tales about Qingfeng Mountain with looks of admiration.

"Bah, what's so impressive about him? What do you mean, if that guy competes, there'll be no suspense in the New Student Competition?"

"If you ask me, Senior Brother Wan is the top new disciple this year."

"You flatter me, Junior Brother. But Junior Brother Chen really is a step ahead of us for now. He's quite impressive."

Senior Brother Wan stopped the junior disciple who was about to argue.

He'd heard a little about Junior Brother Chen, but the boy had no background or resources. A brief lead didn't mean much.

Besides, he was only ahead for the moment, and that didn't conflict with Wan's own interests. There was no reason to make an enemy of him.

Wan had founded the Youqi Society and had his family's support. Given time, surpassing Chen Qinglin would be no problem.

He was probably just some lucky kid.

Smiling, he chatted with his fellow society members, then set off with them for the New Student Competition venue...

Chen Qinglin, of course, knew nothing about any of this. His attention was on something else.

Fu Shenxing's courtyard...

"Several Beast Tides have broken out recently in Great Xuan, all near the edges of mountain ranges."

"King Yan has issued a Demon Extermination Order, and the Three Great Sects have already answered the call. Our sect will inform everyone shortly."

"You disciples of the inner sect and above will likely have to go down the mountain and help exterminate the demons." Fu Shenxing addressed his disciples with a grave expression.

"Beast Tides? Around the mountain ranges!" Chen Qinglin's expression changed.

He hurriedly asked, "Master, have there been any reports of a Beast Tide near Dingyuan County in Changyang County, Cangzhou?" His face was full of anxiety.

"Your Dingyuan County in Changyang County is near the Qingyan Mountain Range. I haven't heard of any Beast Tide there yet, but it's a key area that needs to be guarded."

"But there's no need to worry too much. Beast Tides below the commandery city are limited to second-order Demonic Beasts. The County Town should be able to hold them off."

Understanding Chen Qinglin's anxiety, Fu Shenxing answered quickly.

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"Master, I need to go back first. When the sect issues its missions, please accept one for me in that direction." Chen Qinglin said as he prepared to take his leave.

"Wait, Qinglin. I've already accepted a mission for you to reinforce the area around Dingyuan County. Take this token to Spirit Beast Peak and request a Green Feather Eagle. That'll be faster."

"This token can also unleash a single strike at the Origin Embracing Realm. I'm giving you this Human-tier Mid-grade Magic Sword as well. Go, quickly!"

"Thank you, Master."

Fu Shenxing handed Chen Qinglin a token, and Chen Qinglin hurried off.

"As for the rest of you, I've made arrangements for you too. Go reinforce your hometowns..."

"Yes, Master!" *4

"Ling'er, you don't need to take part in this mission. Stay safe at Qingyun Peak and wait for good news."

"Master... Will Junior Brother be all right?"

Ling Ling looked worriedly at her senior brothers and sisters, then turned her gaze toward the direction Chen Qinglin had gone.

At that moment, she hated her own frail body. She couldn't do anything. Otherwise, she could have gone with her junior brother this time.

Screee...

A streak of green lightning shot out from Qingfeng Mountain, heading straight toward Changyang County in Cangzhou.

One after another, more green streaks of light flew in every direction.

Panic seized Qingfeng Mountain, and no one had time to think about the New Student Competition.

Soon, the sect issued a notice, and the disciples learned that something so grave had happened in Great Xuan.

They rushed to the Mission Hall to accept assignments bound for their hometowns.

Those who couldn't wait headed straight for Spirit Beast Peak, or met up with their family elders in Qingfeng City before hurrying off in every direction.

The same thing was happening at the Overlord Saber Sect, Cloud Show Valley, and the various academies throughout Great Xuan.

Great Xuan was suddenly on edge, as if a storm were brewing.

The Patrol Division and Xuan Yu Guard rushed in every direction, putting down anyone who took advantage of the chaos to cause trouble...

High in the sky, Chen Qinglin watched the devastation he passed along the way, his heart burning with anxiety.

Please be safe! he prayed silently.

Qingyan Town...

A solemn mood hung over the town as Town Guard Wei Zhan organized the town guards to patrol day and night.

Inside the Town Guard Hall, Wei Zhan wore a troubled expression. He'd just received word that huge numbers of wild beasts had surged out of the Qingyan Mountain Range and attacked nearby villages.

Few people had survived the attacks.

The surviving villagers from the surrounding area were now gathering in Qingyan Town.

He'd already organized people to take them in and set aside part of the town for shelter. But signs of mutant beasts had also appeared in the mountains near Qingyan Town.

Panic was spreading through the town. Some Lineages had received word days earlier and left Qingyan Town together, heading for Dingyuan County.

To prevent unrest, he'd had to seal the town gates. Even so, plenty of people had slipped away.

Fortunately, the Iron Sword Martial Arts School was still here. It had two Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists, though he'd heard its old Head of the School, Xie Song, had failed to break through to the Inner Qi Realm and suffered severe damage to his Blood Qi.

He really was getting old!

Including Wei Zhan, Qingyan Town had three Martial Artists in the Inner Qi Realm. All of them were only at the early stage.

But the Beast Tide's main targets were the commandery and county seats. Not many mutant beasts or ferocious beasts would reach Qingyan Town—at most, a few second-order mutant beasts.

There was still a chance they could hold them off.

"Report!..." A town guard came running in a panic.

"What is it? Speak!" Wei Zhan's expression sharpened. He sensed something bad had happened.

"Town... Town Chief, outside the town... the Beast Tide is here!" the breathless messenger reported.

"What!" Wei Zhan shot to his feet and hurried outside, speaking rapidly as he went.

"Go to the Iron Sword Martial Arts School at once. Tell Head Xie to bring the school to the city walls."

"Hurry!"

"Yes!"