Most of the spirit peach trees planted in the orchard outside Peach Blossom Manor were lower-grade first-tier trees, with only a small number at middle-grade first-tier.
Thus, most of the demonic beasts gathered outside the spirit peach orchard were also lower-grade first-tier, with only a few reaching middle-grade first-tier.
Demonic beasts pursued spiritual treasures that could increase their strength with every bit as much fervor as cultivators-and with even greater brutality.
Situated on the outskirts of the Azure Cloud Range, the Peach Blossom Mountain Liu Lineage was too close to the territory of demonic beasts and suffered attacks year-round. When the spirit fruits ripened, in particular, they drew great numbers of low-tier demonic beasts in search of food.
The demonic beasts currently gathered around Peach Blossom Mountain mainly included Long-Eared Macaques, Black Mountain Bears, Azure Wind Rabbits, Golden-Horned Deer, and Black-Horned Sheep. The demonic birds included Azure Cloud Larks, Firecloud Chickens, Blackwind Cranes, and others. Altogether, there were four to five hundred demonic beasts and birds.
Fortunately, these demonic beasts were generally not very strong in combat.
Liu Changxu belonged to the second squad, led by Second Elder Liu Qiushui, with Sixth Elder Liu Shisheng as deputy leader. Its mid-stage Qi Refinement members included his Third Uncle Liu Shijie, Thirteenth Uncle Liu Shiju, eldest brother Liu Changyong, and fourth elder sister Liu Changyu.
Following their prior arrangements, the second squad headed toward one of the spirit peach orchards under Second Elder Liu Qiushui's leadership.
At that moment, a pack of demonic beasts was attacking the Peach Blossom Formation guarding the orchard.
Although the Peach Blossom Formation was only a middle-grade first-tier formation and lacked great power, it could use the wood spiritual energy within the orchard to conjure peach blossoms and attack intruders even without anyone controlling it. Of course, it worked better with someone at the helm.
Soon, the Lineage cultivators of the second squad were locked in combat with the demonic beasts.
Second Elder Liu Qiushui cleared the way in front, while Sixth Elder Liu Shisheng brought up the rear. Liu Changxu and the other four mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators guarded the flanks, covering the early-stage Qi Refinement Lineage cultivators as they advanced. None of them lingered to grapple with the beasts; they pressed toward the spirit peach orchard.
Second Elder Liu Qiushui swung the long saber artifact in his hand, sending fiery-red streaks of saber energy several dozen feet long slashing relentlessly at the demonic beasts ahead.
A lower-grade first-tier Golden-Horned Deer failed to dodge in time and was cleaved in two by the fiery-red saber energy.
But there were too many demonic beasts. Rather than retreating, they concentrated their attacks on Second Elder Liu Qiushui.
In an instant, fireballs, water arrows, and wind blades unleashed by more than a dozen demonic beasts hurtled toward Second Elder Liu Qiushui.
Second Elder Liu Qiushui hastily retreated, and the beasts seized the opportunity to surround the second squad's Lineage cultivators once again.
The battle between the Lineage cultivators and the demonic beasts reached a white-hot pitch.
Liu Changxu faced three lower-grade first-tier Black-Horned Sheep alone. Their bloodline demonic art was the Black Horn Technique, which, much like the Golden-Horned Deer's ability, allowed them to conjure black horns to attack.
Facing the three Black-Horned Sheep, Liu Changxu held his Tortoiseshell Shield and channeled magical power into it to protect himself while wielding the Dragon Spring Sword with the Wind and Rain Sword Technique. The Dragon Spring Sword released streaks of azure sword qi as he struck three times at one of the sheep. Unable to dodge in time, it was swiftly slain by Liu Changxu.
Seeing this, another Black-Horned Sheep, this one middle-grade first-tier, charged over.
Liu Changxu did his utmost to bring out the Tortoiseshell Shield's full defensive power to protect himself, while using the Wind and Rain Sword Technique to hold off the three Black-Horned Sheep.
Liu Changxu could fight three opponents at once, but the other Lineage members could not necessarily do the same.
Among them, his eldest brother Liu Changyong and two other Lineage members had already suffered serious injuries.
The other Lineage members were also struggling to hold their ground, while Second Elder Liu Qiushui and Sixth Elder Liu Shisheng were each battling six or seven demonic beasts.
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