Abyssal Demon Offensive

The inn in Yellow Earth City was simpler than imagined.

Calling it an inn was generous; it was just a few rows of rammed-earth bungalows, each room containing only a stone bed and a stone table. But for cultivators who had fought fiercely on the battlefield all day, having a roof over their heads was already a stroke of luck.

As Qin Yuan and Zi Ling walked into the inn's courtyard, they heard a familiar voice:

"Junior Brother Qin!"

Chu Wuyue rushed out from one of the rooms, his white pupils filled with surprise. Behind him, Yun Qingyao also walked out slowly, the mist around her more condensed than before—clearly, she had also made gains today.

"Senior Brother Chu, Senior Sister Yun," Qin Yuan nodded.

Upon seeing the two, Zi Ling paused slightly before bowing, "Zi Ling of the Zi Xiao Sect, greetings to you both."

Chu Wuyue waved his hand, "No need for formalities. Where are Junior Brother Han and Junior Brother Ye? Have you seen them?"

Qin Yuan shook his head, "We were separated after teleporting."

Yun Qingyao said softly, "We also met by chance. We encountered three waves of demonic beasts along the way, all at the Nascent Soul stage, which was quite perilous."

Chu Wuyue grinned, "But the rewards were not small either! We took down two, and our points increased significantly."

He looked at Qin Yuan, battle intent burning in his eyes, "Junior Brother Qin, how many points do you have now?"

Qin Yuan took out his token—a jade plate issued upon entering the battlefield, inscribed with "Xuan Yuan" on the front and a string of numbers on the back: 5780.

"Over five thousand?!" Chu Wuyue's eyes widened, "I only have two thousand!"

Yun Qingyao also showed surprise, "I only have one thousand eight hundred."

Zi Ling gave a wry smile and took out her token: 1430.

The difference was clear.

"Junior Brother Qin, how many did you actually take down today?" Chu Wuyue couldn't help but ask.

"Three demonic beasts, three cultivators," Qin Yuan said calmly.

Chu Wuyue's mouth twitched—the point calculation for killing fellow cultivators and demonic beasts was entirely different. Killing one early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was equivalent to five demonic beasts of the same level.

"Those three from the Golden Sword Sect, you killed them?" Zi Ling asked softly.

Qin Yuan nodded.

Chu Wuyue gave him a thumbs-up, "Impressive!"

Just then, urgent gong sounds came from outside.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

A disciple from the Crimson Flame Sect ran through the street shouting, "All cultivators! Gather at the city wall immediately! The Abyssal Demon tide is coming!"

The inn instantly erupted in chaos.

"So soon?!"

"It's only the first day!"

"Didn't the Abyssal Demon tide usually start on the third day in previous years?"

Complaints aside, everyone quickly rushed out of their rooms, surging towards the city wall.

Qin Yuan and the other three merged into the crowd.

On the city wall of Yellow Earth City, cultivators were already standing in large numbers.

A rough estimate showed over three hundred people, all disciples from various sects who had come to seek refuge today. Their expressions were grim as they gazed at the completely dark expanse outside the city.

In the darkness, countless scarlet lights were approaching.

Those were the eyes of the Abyssal Demons.

Roars, shrieks, chewing sounds... all sorts of hair-raising noises mixed together, surging from the darkness like a tide. Just listening to it made one's scalp tingle.

"Where are the Crimson Flame Sect members?! Aren't they in charge of this city?!" someone shouted indignantly.

A disciple in a crimson robe said coldly, "What's the rush? Senior Brother Yan Lie will be here soon."

As soon as he spoke, a fierce fire suddenly ignited on the beacon tower in the center of the city wall!

Amidst the flames, three figures slowly rose.

The one in the center was a red-haired youth with a resolute face and piercing eyes. He was engulfed in tangible flames, his aura clearly at the late Nascent Soul stage! He was none other than the leader of the Crimson Flame Sect's contingent—Yan Lie.

To his left stood a pale-faced youth with a feminine demeanor, holding a feather fan. His aura was slightly weaker but still at the peak of the middle Nascent Soul stage. To his right was a burly man with a fierce expression, carrying two sabers on his back.

"Yan Lie of the Crimson Flame Sect," the red-haired youth's voice boomed like exploding flames across the city wall, "Tonight, we face the Abyssal Demon tide, and all of you must resist together. Those who kill Abyssal Demons will have their points calculated at double the rate. Those who retreat in fear will be killed without mercy!"

As his voice fell, he raised his hand and waved.

The array patterns on the city wall lit up simultaneously, forming a faint golden barrier that enveloped the entire city.

"The array can only weaken the Abyssal Demons by thirty percent; it won't stop them from entering the city," Yan Lie said coldly. "If you want to survive, you must fight!"

Almost the moment his voice faded—

"Boom!!!"

The first wave of Abyssal Demons crashed against the barrier!

They were wolf-like demonic beasts, their claws and fangs sharp, their eyes blood-red. They charged madly at the light barrier, each impact causing it to tremble violently and emit a strained hum.

"We can't hold it! Prepare to engage!" someone shouted.

The next moment, the light barrier shattered!

Abyssal Demons poured onto the city walls like a tide!

"Kill--!!!"

Combat erupted instantly!

Cultivators from various sects displayed their unique skills: sword light, saber energy, spells, talismans... all sorts of lights exploded on the city walls, clashing with the black tide of demons.

Qin Yuan stood in a corner of the city wall, facing a dozen wolf-like Abyssal Demons.

He raised his hand, spread his fingers, and gently pressed towards the void.

"Suppress."

The air within a ten-zhang radius suddenly solidified! The dozen Abyssal Demons felt as if they were being crushed by an invisible mountain, their movements instantly slowing, terror appearing in their eyes.

Qin Yuan pointed his fingers like a sword and slashed through the air.

"Chiii--!!!"

A dozen faint golden sword beams flashed, and a dozen heads flew off simultaneously!

The numbers on his points token flickered wildly: 5780 → 5980 → 6180 → 6380...

One Abyssal Demon, one hundred points. Double points meant two hundred.

In the blink of an eye, his points broke through six thousand.

The surrounding cultivators were stunned.

"Who is that person?!"

"Nascent Soul late-stage? Killing Abyssal Demons like mowing grass?!"

"From the Xuan Yuan Sect... that bottom-tier sect?"

Chu Wuyue laughed heartily, his white pupils burning with battle intent. "See that? That's my junior brother!"

He also charged into the demon tide, his fists like hammers, each punch crushing an Abyssal Demon. However, compared to Qin Yuan's effortless slaughter, his efficiency was significantly lower.

Around Yun Qingyao, mist transformed into countless ice needles, shooting towards the demon tide like a torrential rain. Each ice needle could pierce an Abyssal Demon's head.

Zi Ling's daggers danced, purple light flashing as she weaved through the demon tide, specifically targeting the Abyssal Demons' vital points.

But most people were in a bitter struggle.

There were too many Abyssal Demons, and their strength generally reached the early Nascent Soul stage, with elites in the middle Nascent Soul stage not uncommon. Many cultivators, after killing one or two, were submerged by more Abyssal Demons, screaming as they were torn to shreds.

Blood flowed freely on the city walls.

"Help--!"

"We can't hold on!"

"Where are the Crimson Flame Sect's experts?!"

Amidst the wails, Yan Lie and two others finally made their move.

Yan Lie formed hand seals, and flames erupted around him, transforming into a hundred-zhang long fire dragon that rampaged through the demon tide! Wherever the fire dragon passed, Abyssal Demons turned to ash!

The white-clothed youth lightly fanned himself, and a fierce wind arose, carrying countless wind blades that sliced the Abyssal Demons into pieces.

The two-sword-wielding strongman was even more ferocious. He charged directly into the depths of the demon tide, his twin sabers spinning like a meat grinder, flesh and blood flying wherever he went.

With these three masters holding the line, the pressure on the city walls significantly decreased.

But the Abyssal Demons seemed endless.

One wave retreated, and another arrived.

The battle continued from midnight until dawn.

When the first ray of dawn pierced the darkness, the last Abyssal Demon finally fell.