Ever since the Wang Lie incident, Yang Lingqing had always felt that the Exotic Stone in her home was extraordinary.
This extraordinariness did not refer to its quality, but rather that she felt the stone seemed to be "alive."
From then on, she often secretly chatted with Chen Yang for a few words, watching for his reaction.
Unfortunately, the Exotic Stone never gave any response.
Yang Lingqing raised Chen Yang over her head. After waiting a while and seeing no movement, she lowered her hand again.
She gently stroked Chen Yang and said, "Good treasure, I know how capable you are. If Demon Beasts come later, you must, must warn us!"
Yang Lingqing looked toward the cliff. Below it lay the Yang Family's main stronghold.
If Demon Beasts broke through from here and descended, it would be nothing less than a calamity that toppled the heavens for the Yang Family.
As a cultivator of the Yang Family, protecting the Lineage was their duty. Ever since she had set foot upon the path of cultivation, Yang Lingqing had kept this mission firmly engraved in her heart.
In truth, when Yang Lingqing had raised Chen Yang, he had already sensed the surroundings.
There were indeed traces of Demon Beast auras in the forest, but they were all faint, indicating that they were extremely far away. He could only sense their general direction and could not pinpoint them precisely.
It seemed they were still planning to wear down the patience of those below the mountain.
This should count as the first great tribulation he had faced since entering the Yang Family.
Chen Yang shared Yang Guanfeng's view. This tribulation was dangerous, but if they could overcome it, it would greatly benefit the Yang Family's future development.
Deaths were certainly unavoidable. He could only hope it would not be too tragic.
The Yang Family had treated him well, so Chen Yang decided to pull himself together. At the very least, he had to protect these two children.
The days passed one after another.
A full ten days went by without any disturbance from the wild beasts.
Seeing this, many of the villagers who had come to take refuge believed the danger had passed.
Even though some Yang Family members kindly tried to persuade them otherwise, certain villagers still insisted on returning home.
Some even took the Yang Family's kindness for a conspiracy, claiming that the Yang Family was keeping them here only to make them do hard labor.
"Didn't you see how hard those people who became soldiers train every day?"
"Exactly! Nothing's happened for over ten days, yet they still won't let us leave. Who knows what they're plotting!"
Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei, who had managed the household for years, had long grown accustomed to such situations.
Fine words could not persuade ghosts determined to die.
During this time, the Yang Family had provided food and lodging, already doing all that duty and kindness required. If they still did not appreciate it, then let them go.
Three days later, most villagers without family members among the Clan Soldiers had left. Only around ten percent remained in the Yang Family.
Then, on this day, Yang Guanfeng suddenly returned home and issued three Patriarch's Orders in succession.
First, everyone under the Yang Family's jurisdiction was to take shelter inside the Yang Family compound from this day onward.
Second, all newly trained Clan Soldiers with different surnames were to be divided into three lines—the vanguard, the front line, and the rear line—and defend the east, west, and south sides of the Yang Family.
Third, apart from infants and elderly people unable to walk, everyone else was to be armed for self-defense.
The entire Yang Family immediately sprang into action with drums beating and gongs clanging.
Everyone understood what these three Patriarch's Orders meant.
The Beast Tide was coming!
That very night, the mountains and forests shook, and beastly roars split the heavens!
Only then did the ten percent of villagers who had chosen to remain with the Yang Family understand how correct their choice had been.
Those villagers who had left early had already become white bones in the bellies of savage beasts.
"Take up your weapons! Light the torches!"
The crowd lit their torches, illuminating the Yang Family compound beneath the night sky as brightly as day.
At the mountain pass on the front line, the Clan Soldiers stationed there had already come into contact with the Beast Tide.
Yang Tieli divided his men into three groups, forming a flask-mouth formation to intercept the wild beasts.
At first, they could still hold them back, but later, there were simply too many beasts. They began fighting while retreating.
As casualties continued to mount, the formation also began to waver.
"The vanguard line is behind us to receive us! Do not throw yourselves into disorder!"
Yang Tieli charged at the forefront of the formation, shouting commands as he swung his blade and slew two savage beasts.
Seeing their leader's courage, the Clan Soldiers were encouraged, and their formation quickly stabilized once more.
But at that moment, two earthshaking roars came from the forest!
The cries sent shivers down their spines, and the Clan Soldiers began to panic.
After the roars ceased, two brawny figures smashed through a stretch of trees in succession and charged out of the forest.
A wild boar built like a bull, and a Three-Eyed Black Tiger!
The Clan Soldiers were all horrified at the sight.
"Th-this... what kind of monster is that?"
"They're demons! They're demons!"
"Are we all going to die here?"
The power of Demon Beasts was far too terrifying, beyond anything they could withstand.
Watching the two Demon Beasts charge toward them, the Clan Soldiers fell into complete chaos.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
Just then, a fierce wind suddenly rose, and two blade-shaped Gale Winds swept over the crowd's heads.
Wherever the Gale Winds passed, countless wild beasts were severed in two.
Splat!
The Gale Winds were incredibly fast and half-transparent. The two Demon Beasts at the First Level of Qi Gathering could not dodge in time and were sent tumbling to the ground.
The Gale Winds sank deeply into their flesh. Blood splashed everywhere, and the two Demon Beasts instantly lost their former majesty, beginning to howl in agony.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Without hesitation, Yang Lingrui unleashed another pair of Gale Winds, slicing across the two Demon Beasts' necks and completely extinguishing their lives.
Yang Tieli let out a great sigh of relief at the sight, thinking that their Immortal Master was indeed extraordinarily formidable.
He turned and shouted, "Pull yourselves together! The Immortal Master's divine arts can slay demons! Do not hold him back!"
"Yes, Chief!"
"Don't be afraid, everyone! Kill with me!"
Yang Lingrui's instant slaughter of the two Demon Beasts greatly boosted the Clan Soldiers' morale and fighting spirit!
Maintaining this momentum, they held on until the vanguard arrived to support them.
The two groups successfully merged and withdrew from the mountain pass.
Beyond that lay open plains. The Yang Family's prearranged archers began firing in volleys. After several rounds, the beast horde suffered grievous casualties. Yang Lingrui also slew another Demon Beast at the First Level of Qi Gathering, managing to withstand the Beast Tide's initial assault.
"The Immortal Master is mighty!"
"Our Immortal Master's divine arts are invincible!"
The Clan Soldiers shouted the Immortal Master's name, but Yang Lingrui knew in his heart that the greatest contributor to blocking this first wave was still their ancestor.
Yang Guanfeng had penetrated deep into the mountains alone and was now intercepting and killing Demon Beasts there. Those three Demon Beasts had merely slipped through the net.
Grandfather's cultivation is profound, so he should be fine. I wonder how things are with my brother and sister, Yang Lingrui thought.
At the same time, at the Yang Family cliff.
After dealing with several dozen ordinary wild beasts, Chen Yang sent out a fluctuation, allowing Yang Lingqing to discover in advance three Wolf demons hidden in the shadows and preparing to launch a surprise attack!
With Chen Yang's warning, their tracks were exposed and their ambush failed, so they began a frontal assault.
Yang Linghu tangled with two Wolf demons at the First Level of Qi Gathering, while Yang Lingqing used the Mud Dragon Technique to wear down the stamina of another Wolf demon at the Second Level of Qi Gathering.
Because Chen Yang's Spirit Power Impact had a limited number of uses, she would not employ it unless it was a critical moment.
"If I can cultivate the Mud Dragon Technique to the Second Level of Qi Gathering, I'll be able to control its transformations in shape. My strength will surely rise greatly. By then, perhaps I can even subdue Demon Beasts at the third level."
As she grappled with the Wolf demon, Yang Lingqing thought this to herself.
At this moment, the battle on the other side had already reached its conclusion.
Though Yang Linghu had also been injured, he had snapped the necks of both young Wolf demons.
"Lingqing, I'm coming to help you!"
Yang Linghu leaped over, and the two began fighting together.
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