The cultivators at the Trading Hub naturally did not believe that the Mist Beast tide could turn the world upside down; perhaps in their minds, no living being could cross the high walls set up by the City Lord's Manor.
They were monks living within high walls, who, under their protection, had lost their sharp claws and keen senses, and could only try to retain their few remaining fighting instincts amidst the chaos of the marketplace.
After Xu Long figured out the connection between the ancient god and the City Lord's Manor, he knew that if he wanted to know all the secrets, he had to go inside the main hall of the City Lord's Manor and search for ancient books.
He kept this matter in mind, so he kept an eye on the movements of the City Lord's Manor in the Trading Hub. City lord Deng Lifu was definitely still there, and if he rashly broke in, he would only be discovered.
However, Xu Long had been hearing more and more news about the Mist Beast tide lately. He was prepared, so he followed the crowd in his surprise, but he was secretly on guard.
The size of the Mist Beast tide is expanding day by day, which is definitely not good news. It indicates that the external situation of Phoenix City has become extremely serious.
The City Lord's Manor will inevitably intervene amidst the influx of cultivators and the horde of Mist Beast, and the expanding horde of Mist Beast will gradually deplete the City Lord's Manor's combat strength.
The deaths of Lower Mist Beast do not cause Higher Mist Beast any distress; they only have eyes for the powerful bodies of cultivators. However, under these grim circumstances, the shifting balance of power will force the City Lord's Manor to shrink its battle lines.
The cultivators who enter the city will be abandoned, and they will become sacrifices in the surging tide of Mist Beast. Meanwhile, the tide of Mist Beast outside the city will use the bodies of the ice-sculpted cultivators to increase its size.
The sheer power of the Mist Beast made Xu Long secretly worried; with the balance of power shifting, this was practically an unsolvable problem for the cultivators of Phoenix City.
Few cultivators leave the city now, but every day there are still cultivators entering the city from outside. They are all escorted by bronze chariots. After arriving in Phoenix City, they either pay Spirit Stone or enter the Eight Trigrams Formation Diagram.
Under the threat of the Mist Beast Tide, the City Lord's Manor had to repeatedly venture out of the city to fight in the open. The Mist Beast Tide would not let these cultivators who entered and left the city go unpunished, and the City Lord's Manor also had an obligation to protect them.
However, the result for both sides was that the strength of the City Lord's Manor was gradually depleted, while the strength of the Mist Beast Tide was gradually increasing.
The two sides frequently clashed outside Phoenix City, but the Mist Beast Tide had never completely sealed off Phoenix City, which still gave some cultivators hope.
Upon hearing this, Xu Long suddenly wondered if this was a conspiracy by the Higher Mist Beast in the Mist Beast tide.
They deliberately feigned weakness to lure cultivators into the city in large numbers, so they could leisurely use the Eternity Ice Mist to hunt them. Meanwhile, the City Lord's Manor was engaged in open-field battles outside the city, also had its strength depleted by the Mist Beast Tide.
This two-birds-with-one-stone strategy cannot be described by ordinary wisdom; perhaps they are even more cunning than true cultivators.
Perhaps at this very moment, amidst those endless blue rivers, pairs of emerald eyes are gazing upon Phoenix City, their gazes piercing through the thick city walls and even seeing through the fickle hearts of people.
These speculations were merely Xu Long's thoughts. The cultivators in the Trading Hub had never experienced Mist Beast tide, let alone fought a great battle with Higher Mist Beast, so they couldn't imagine just how terrifying Higher Mist Beast were.
However, Xu Long believed that the Earth Immortal in the City Lord's Manor were not stupid. At present, the Mist Beast Tide had not completely besieged the city, and the offensive was not obvious, but the strength of the City Lord's Manor was being slowly depleted. Under this strategy, it would be a matter of how the City Lord's Manor would respond.
Xu Long has been investigating the Mist Beast Tide at the Trading Hub these days. While keeping an eye on the City Lord's Manor, he is also gathering information about the Pill Cauldron Sect and has not even let Pavilion Master Xu of the Rogue Cultivators Association go.
These were the points of his plan and doubts. He couldn't strike first, but he at least needed to understand that he needed to know himself and his enemy.
"Brother Deng, I've returned with my team. Today, another massive horde of Mist Beast appeared outside the city, but instead of attacking the city, they're relentlessly hunting down the Mist Beast entering."
"The chariots were also fiercely attacked by the horde of Mist Beast while clearing the way. Many of our fellow cultivators who went out to fight were injured by the Mist Beast. We fought our way out of the Mist Beast and brought some cultivators who had entered the city with us outside the city walls."
"Brother Deng's order to search for the missing chariots yielded no results. However, upon returning to the Muster Platform and checking the command tablets, it was discovered that the missing leader's tablet was shattered..."
"What! Their life tablets are all shattered!"
Looking at Ma Fang, who was in a sorry state, Deng Shouchong couldn't help but repeat the words aloud when he heard that the life tablet had shattered.
Ma Fang before me was dressed in tattered clothes, her black robes were torn at the cuffs, and there was a layer of frost on her face and hair that had not yet melted.
His body was somewhat hunched over, as if he had suffered some kind of blow, and deep in his eyes there was still a trace of fear that had not faded, as if he had experienced something unforgettable before.
Seeing Deng Shouchong's astonished expression, he nodded dejectedly again after hearing this.
Ma Fang was certain that the chariot leader must have died in the Mist Beast tide, because judging from his experience of fighting in the field outside the city during this period, dozens of cultivators had already lost their lives in the Mist Beast tide.
This is only what he saw. What about the others? What about the large number of cultivators who entered the city? They don't have the protection of war chariots!
Having experienced the outbreak of the Mist Beast tide, Ma Fang knew all too well the methods these Mist Beast used.
They must be waiting outside Phoenix City, annihilating the cultivators entering the city while also weakening some of the City Lord's Manor's strength.
That's why they besieged the outskirts of Phoenix City, and those cultivators who fell in the Eternity Ice Mist would eventually become the host for the next wave of Mist Beast.
After hearing Ma Fang's explanation, Deng Shouchong immediately understood the key point. He also felt that the matter was too strange, but he did not expect that the Mist Beast Tide had already planned its expansion when it gathered.
The City Lord's Manor is responsible for driving out the Mist Beast and protecting the city. Now the Mist Beast tide is growing stronger and stronger, and more and more people are being lost in it. If the Mist Beast tide launches an offensive, wouldn't the City Lord's Manor lose some of its strength?
This would disrupt the balance of power in suppressing the other two forces, making them even weaker in the face of the Mist Beast Tide attack, something the City Lord's Manor could not accept.
With a heavy heart, Deng Shouchong patted Ma Fang on the shoulder, and then the two said goodbye. Deng Shouchong and headed towards the City Lord's Manor.
"Uncle, the missing Muster Platform's token has been shattered. The cultivators at the Muster Platform have discovered a large horde of Mist Beast gathering, and many cultivators who went out to fight in the field have already perished."
After Deng Shouchong entered the main hall, he reported to the city lord, as this matter could not be kept from him.
The situation with the Mist Beast Tide is extremely critical. Judging from the scale of their formation around the city, it is certain that cultivators are being wiped out every day.
The City Lord's Manor is still engaged in open-field battles outside the city, but has suffered considerable losses. The city lord must make a decision on how to deal with the situation at this critical juncture.
Upon hearing Deng Shouchong's slightly anxious words, the city lord frowned, a deep sense of worry creeping into his expression.
He was proficient in the art of divination and, by utilizing the radiation from the City Heart, he had a comprehensive understanding of this entire area, so he naturally knew about any unusual occurrences outside the city.
But he remained silent. Deng Shouchong knew that his uncle was not worried about the cultivators who had turned into ice sculptures, but about the tide of Mist Beast.
He was worried that this massive wave of Mist Beast might affect the City Lord's Manor's plans!
"Uncle, why don't I lead the cultivators from the Muster Platform out of the city for a battle to disperse the gathered Mist Beast tide, so that we can welcome some of the cultivators entering the city and also weaken the Mist Beast tide."
Seeing the doubt in the city lord's eyes, Deng Shouchong volunteered again, his words already showing that he had disregarded his own life and death.
This plan is extremely important to the City Lord's Manor, so it is understandable that the uncle hesitated. If it were any other time when a horde of Mist Beast gathered, he would have already ordered all the cultivators in the city to go out and fight in the open to drive away the Mist Beast.
Upon hearing this, the city lord shook his head slightly, and Deng Shouchong's face immediately darkened.
The city lord didn't want any further complications at this point, but how could they deal with the countless hordes of Mist Beast surging around the city?
Before Deng Shouchong ask another question, the city lord continued:
"I consulted the divination the other day. This tide of Mist Beast is coming on strong, but its gathering is quite strange. There must be some unknown secret behind it."
"The tide of Mist Beast is immense. If we attack rashly, it will surely engulf countless cultivators. The ice sculpture cultivators among them have already been used as furnaces, and the continuous influx of ice sculpture cultivators will increase the strength of the Mist Beast tide."
"Therefore, I have decided that you, Shouchong, will stay and guard the City Lord's Manor, while I will go out of the city to investigate!"
"Ah! Uncle, why take such a risk! Even if a horde of Mist Beast attacks, we can simply close the Eight Gates. If you really need to find out the truth, why don't you let your nephew go in your place?"
Upon hearing the city lord's words, Deng Shouchong immediately stood up and knelt down, his face filled with pleading.
He understood the hidden dangers within the Mist Beast Tide; the heavy, Eternity Ice Mist offered no hope whatsoever.
My uncle is a veteran Earth Immortal, so his combat power is not an issue, but a son of a wealthy family shouldn't sit under a dangerous roof!
Looking at Deng Shouchong kneeling on the ground before him, a rare look of satisfaction flashed in the city lord's eyes.
After his elder brother's death, he took over the heavy responsibility of Phoenix City. Although the previous city lord had earned a great reputation, he had always caused a loss of strength to the City Lord's Manor.
Although the large-scale Mist Beast tide was driven out, Phoenix City has forever lost its old city lord.
After taking on the heavy responsibility, he immediately stopped the aggressive military campaign and consolidated Phoenix City's overall strength by introducing other forces.
All this was orchestrated through layers of management, all for the sake of a plan that the City Lord's Manor had kept unchanged for countless years—a top-secret plan that the City Lord's Manor had been planning for a long time.
It concerns the many living beings in the Land of Exile, it concerns the myriad worlds beyond this space, it concerns whether countless cultivators can break through this realm, and it concerns the absolute secrets of that ancient era.
And those figures buried in history, Phoenix City shall reappear in all the heavens and myriad realms, and the proud divine bird shall forever perch in the place of its birth!
This is the unwavering belief of the City Lord's Manor, a plan they have cultivated for countless years in the Land of Exile, all for the purpose of restoring the totem to shine once more throughout the myriad realms.
Phoenix City is not the end, nor is the divine bird flying above the command flag the final destination. The distant glory and yesterday's splendor must be brought up by someone.
If possible, the city lord would definitely be the cultivator most willing to be number one!
"The horde of Mist Beast is fraught with danger, so I must be careful. This time, I will have Branch Master Chen and Sect Master Yuan accompany me out of the city, and the three Earth Immortal will provide support. Given the massive horde of Mist Beast, we should be able to advance and retreat with ease."
"Should we inform the Muster Platform about this and ask them to provide support?"
"No need for a big fuss. We're just going to investigate. The best outcome would be to drive out the Mist Beast. The City Lord's Manor's Mansion cannot afford any further losses!"
Deng Shouchong's worries lessened slightly when he heard that three Earth Immortal had gone out of the city to investigate.
The city lord was indeed thoughtful; he brought all the Earth Immortal with him when he went out to drive away the Mist Beast tide, thus balancing the power within the city.
When asked about the cultivators from the Muster Platform going out of the city for field battles, the city lord gave him a meaningful look after finishing his sentence.
Deng Shouchong understood his uncle's meaning: the matter of the three Earth Immortal leaving the city should not be publicized, and a decision should be made after he returned.
The situation on the outskirts of Phoenix City is becoming increasingly tense, and the gathering of the Mist Beast horde is severely impacting the Phoenix City's operations.
The city lord had already planned ahead; he would not abandon the power of the Phoenix City Lord's Manor, and under the heavy tide of Mist Beast, he would take the initiative to attack.
Under the unified command of the three Earth Immortal, the best outcome would be a decisive victory, thus resolving the crisis of the Mist Beast Tide.
After careful consideration, the city lord made a series of arrangements for Deng Shouchong, and then the main hall fell silent.
The city lord's worries were not only about the Mist Beast tide, but also about the formless anomaly.
When the Mist Beast tide attacked, he actually performed two divinations. The divination for the Mist Beast tide was clear, but the divination for the anomaly was still intangible, which left him with some lingering doubts.
Even as Earth Immortal, I could not discern anything through divination. Is the strange phenomenon in Blackwater City truly shrouded in endless mystery?
Or is someone deliberately concealing the secrets of heaven for him? Is it a variable brought about by the Heaven Patroler? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the appearance of this anomaly for the City Lord's Manor's plans?
After much deliberation, the city lord's mind grew increasingly heavy. He knew he was certainly unable to predict the unpredictable anomaly, and could only secretly guard against the other party disrupting the City Lord's Manor's plans.
"I have left a wisp of my Dharma Body here. While you are stationed at the City Lord's Manor's Mansion, be extra vigilant and guard against anyone causing trouble in the city!"
The city lord was still sitting cross-legged on the ground when he spoke, but he stood up as soon as he finished speaking. After taking a few steps, his body, which had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, gradually formed a solid shadow.
Stepping out of the shadows, the city lord had already reached the outside of the main hall in a few steps, with Deng Shouchong by his side.
He glanced back at the shadow left inside the hall; the light above the dome dimmed for a moment after the city lord left.
The solid shadow was completely swallowed by the darkness, and when it sat cross-legged in it, it became indistinguishable from the darkness itself.
After a subtle energy fluctuation arose and the two left, the interior of the hall returned to deep silence.
At this moment, in the alchemy room of the South Si Dao Field, a plume of smoke rose from the alchemy furnace in front of Yuan Changhe, and a rich medicinal fragrance immediately filled the closed alchemy room.