Old Customs

"All Goddess Temple members, do your best to rescue local soldiers and cover their retreat. You'll earn one contribution point for helping a hundred soldiers escape, but prioritize your own safety. Don't take unnecessary risks. Anyone too weak to help should return directly to Dinghai City. Keep an eye out for my messages."

Just as Guen was locked in a fierce battle, the East Guardian finally sent word. He also kept everyone updated on the sea beasts' latest movements.

Sea beasts had landed all across East Sea Province!

The situation was dire. The Goddess Temple's East Guardian, one of the Imperial Council's four marshals, senior elders of the Council of Elders, and powerful Fighters from all the factions stationed in East Sea Province had all been deployed.

Humanity's last line of defense was Dinghai City, the only major city in East Sea Province. It had been built from the beginning to serve as a fortress.

There had been very few times in history when East Sea Province had been forced to fall back and defend Dinghai City.

"Has it really gotten this bad?"

Guen glanced over and saw that the main force had already retreated. He didn't dare linger. Aside from the Four-Claw Red Crab, other sea beasts were closing in, surrounding him.

Guen's expression changed.

He could just about handle one Four-Claw Red Crab, but if he was surrounded, even his nimble Body Movement Technique wouldn't help. He wouldn't have room to maneuver.

"Guen, forget about them!"

Carl was frantic, too.

With so many ferocious beasts attacking, even the East Guardian would have to struggle to break free.

Ferocious beasts had far too much vitality!

Even the East Guardian couldn't kill them in one blow.

Guen turned into a streak of lightning and shot into the sky. The beasts rose after him, trying to stop him. Guen dodged and weaved, enduring several attacks. He spat out blood beneath his Flame God Armor, but at last escaped the encirclement by the narrowest margin. Fortunately, the beasts were only average fliers. Guen could use the power of "lightning," and had the advantage in speed.

Once they'd put some distance between themselves and the beasts, Guen and Carl hovered far away and looked back, still shaken.

The beasts roared and taunted them as they plunged into the crowd. With every charge, their enormous bodies claimed several lives. Even more human soldiers were injured or maimed.

"These beasts are vile!" Carl fumed, then tried to console him. "Guen, thank goodness we held them off for a while and gave the main force time to scatter. Otherwise, the casualties would've been even worse. How many get away now is up to their luck."

Guen nodded, his expression grim. "But so far, not a single person from the Council of Elders or the Imperial Council has shown up. Those bastards..."

His gaze swept toward the distance, hatred in his eyes.

East Sea Province belonged to the Empire. Neither the Forest Goddess Temple nor the Crimson Moon Society had direct authority over it. Only the Council of Elders and the Imperial Council were masters of the Empire, and it was their responsibility to defend the whole province.

Otherwise, Planetary Level Fighters like Guen couldn't be darting around everywhere and serving as the army's bedrock.

Fighters from the Council of Elders or the Imperial Council were supposed to patrol the defensive line at regular intervals, fighting off any sea beasts that appeared without warning. But Guen and Carl had been here for so long, and hadn't seen a single Imperial Fighter.

Just one more Planetary Level Fighter could hold off one more sea beast and save at least several hundred soldiers.

"Those scum must've seen you here and deliberately stayed away," Carl said bitterly.

This wasn't the first time. Ever since Guen had killed an Imperial Council Fighter, the Council had been especially hostile toward him. Whenever Guen entered a defense zone assigned to them, he could never find the Fighters who were supposed to be patrolling. They left the defensive line to Guen and Carl.

The Goddess Temple had Smart Watches, and the Imperial Council had its own way of relaying messages.

The beasts they'd encountered before hadn't posed much of a threat, so Guen hadn't thought much of it. He and Carl could handle them. But this time was different.

Just as Guen and Carl were preparing to retreat, two Fighters flew over from the distance. Their faces were the only parts not covered by their Flame God Armor.

The yellow capes on their backs stood out.

Each cape was emblazoned with a roaring lion, its mouth open as if it would soon shake the heavens and earth. It was the Imperial Council's emblem.

"Brothers, we're terribly sorry we're late," one of the Imperial Council's Fighters said apologetically.

Guen and Carl merely glanced at them coldly, then flew away without a word.

The two Imperial Council Fighters burned with anger, but when they saw the sea beasts had noticed them, they hurried off as well.

"That Guen still didn't die? He's terrifying."

"Those sea beasts are just useless. They've been at it for ages and still couldn't kill him."

"Forget it, let's get going. Pity about those poor bastards, though."

The two Imperial Council Fighters glanced casually at the soldiers being chased in every direction, shook their heads, and deliberately put some distance between themselves and the fleeing troops. They headed for Dinghai City from another direction.

Dinghai City was swarming with soldiers, who covered the walls like ants. Fighters constantly flew in and out of the sky above. Everyone looked grim and hurried.

Everyone was busy, except for two guards in front of a palace. They leisurely watched the soldiers and Fighters hurrying about in the distance, completely at ease.

Just then, a gust of wind swept past them. The two guards immediately stood up straight.

They were already at the peak of Apprentice Level 9. Only a Planetary Level Fighter—one of the powerful ones, at that—could move so fast that they couldn't make out the figure and could only feel a gust of wind.

"Well, the East Guardian's here, too." A gaunt old man glanced at the newcomer.

The East Guardian didn't so much as look at him. He turned to the others present. "I've killed all the sea beasts above Planet Level 5 in the southeast, except for a few slippery ones. We can send ordinary soldiers and some Planetary Level Fighters to reinforce the area."

"Hahaha! As expected of the East Guardian! Someone, tell the remaining battalions of the Second Legion and five battalions of the First Reserve to go southeast and support the routed garrison. I'll arrange for Planetary Level Fighters to catch up with you shortly. At least two Planetary Level Fighters will accompany every three battalions." The lord of Dinghai City spoke in a booming voice.

The lord of Dinghai City was over two meters tall. His upper body was bare, revealing a series of savage scars that made for a shocking sight.

He stepped into the center of the group and looked around. Everyone present represented one of the major factions in East Sea Province.

The first to speak had been Master Hulu of the Imperial Council, a highly respected elder and one of the Empire's earliest Planetary Level Warriors. A third of the Imperial Council's Planetary Level Warriors had been trained by him. That even included the Fighter Guen had killed, so naturally Master Hulu had little regard for the East Guardian.

Representatives from the Demon Hunters, the Crimson Moon Society, the Council of Elders, the Forest Goddess Temple, and the other factions were also present. The lowest-ranked among them was from the Crimson Moon Society, at Planetary Level 6. But no one dared underestimate him. A Spirit Reader could easily be considered the equal of a Planetary Level 7 or 8 Fighter.

"Everyone has dealt with the sea beasts in their assigned areas. The only ones left are at the Xiang River Outlet. There are two beasts at Planetary Level Peak, along with a large number of high-level beasts. Who'll go?" the lord of Dinghai City asked.

The East Guardian smiled. "City Lord, just tell us what needs doing. We'll accept it. Anyone who doesn't go can pay up instead."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Demon Hunter Representative said gravely, "I won't go. Our Demon Hunter headquarters is right here, and I need to guard against the sea beasts taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack. Here's my offer: the Demon Hunters will provide a hundred sets of low-level beast materials and three and a half million pounds of Sea Gel. We'll also cover a third of the materials needed for reconstruction after the disaster. How does that sound?"

The lord of Dinghai City looked at the Demon Hunter Representative and said firmly, "You'll also need to send at least one person to chart the seabed. Once this is done, I'll agree to expand the area where the Demon Hunters may recruit newcomers in East Sea Province by another twenty percent."

The Demon Hunter Representative frowned, then relaxed. "Fine. You'll have the sea chart within five days."

With that, he turned and walked out.

Master Hulu said with ill intent, "Whenever there's a sea-beast tide, someone has to go underwater and investigate the sea beasts' habitat so we can plan accordingly and avoid surprises. Ideally, it should be someone low-ranked but powerful in a fight—a genius who won't draw the beasts' attention and can still bring back useful information. What a difficult choice."

"Old man, get to the point," the East Guardian said. He had a vague idea what Master Hulu was getting at.

Master Hulu chuckled, then fixed the East Guardian with a cold stare. "That youngster from your Goddess Temple can kill another Fighter through Flame God Armor at Planet First Order. He must be at least Planet Level 5 in strength. Isn't he the perfect person to investigate the seabed?"

The East Guardian gave him a knowing smile. "You're right. Since my Goddess Temple has such a talent, we should do our part. Same old rule: whoever nominates someone is responsible for providing the reward. Going underwater is playing with your life."

The others all nodded.

Low rank, great strength—only a genius could fight across such a gap in levels. Send someone like that to investigate underwater, and the slightest mistake would mean certain death. No one could save them.

Over time, this rule had become established: whoever nominated someone had to offer a treasure valuable enough to make the person willing to go underwater.

The offer the lord of Dinghai City had made was to let the Demon Hunters expand their recruitment territory again. The quality of fighters in East Sea Province was the best in the Empire. Even a small expansion would be an enormous boon to any faction. Who wouldn't want the chance to recruit in East Sea Province?

But the Demon Hunter Association had earned this special privilege only after years of defending East Sea Province and shedding the blood of countless Fighters and geniuses. Everyone envied them, but they could only accept it.

Going underwater was both a danger and an opportunity for the Fighter sent down.

Master Hulu fell silent, frowning.

The East Guardian sneered. "You want to use the sea beasts to eliminate a Goddess Temple genius, but you're afraid he'll come back safely, get an even bigger reward, and soar to new heights. Hulu, you've thought this through rather nicely!"

The East Guardian's blunt accusation made Master Hulu snort in displeasure. Then he said slowly, "Call that youngster to Dinghai City. If he's willing, do you think I can't afford the price?"