novelhk Chapter 96 Kaiyang Town
Chapter 96 Kaiyang Town
As the three flew and chatted, Mao Hongsheng suddenly noticed something and looked into the distance. He saw a dark shadow directly in front of him, so large that it blotted out the sky and he couldn't make out what it was.
"What's that mass up ahead?" Mao Hongsheng asked, and Cheng Jiu and Wen Sishu looked over as well.
Cheng Jiu squinted: "It looks like a bird?"
"Brothers up ahead, what are you standing there for! Run!"
A group of rogue cultivators rushed forward as if fleeing for their lives, and called out to the three people as they saw them.
"Could we be running into a swarm of demonic birds?!"
The three quickly urged their contracted beasts to run backward.
The horde of demonic birds is formed by the gathering of demonic birds. It moves extremely fast and is incredibly fierce. Among them are many carnivorous birds of prey, leaving nothing but desolation in its wake.
Even a Dao Integration Realm expert would have to think twice before facing a horde of demonic birds.
The little cloud beast was much faster than the divine-eyed moon shadow beast, and at this moment, they didn't care about anything else. Wen Sishu and Mao Hongsheng jumped onto the little cloud beast's back.
Even with three people on board, the little cloud beast's speed remained unchanged.
Cheng Jiu had already gotten used to the contract with the little cloud beast, but Wen Sishu and Mao Hongsheng felt dizzy and very uncomfortable. It was too fast!
Although the group was fast, the horde of demon birds was not slow either.
The independent cultivators gradually fell behind.
Cheng Jiu and the other two also noticed. They were all cultivators, and the other party had just reminded them that they couldn't just stand by and watch someone die.
Moreover, continuing to run away like this is not a solution.
After some discussion, Cheng Jiu urged the little cloud beast to fly backward.
They managed to catch a few rogue cultivators who were about to be torn to pieces by the swarm of demonic birds.
Countless demonic birds swooped down on the three of them. The little cloud beast was covered in purple light, and every time it extended its claws, it was cleaved in two.
Cheng Jiu and his two companions also took out their weapons and fought back with all their might.
The rogue cultivators who had been pulled onto the back of the little cloud beast by the three of them didn't sit idle either; they joined in the counterattack.
Upon landing, Cheng Jiu took out the jade pendant given to him by Qingyang Venerable. Golden light enveloped the group, and the demonic bird's continuous attacks failed to break through the protective shield.
"Thank you for your help, fellow Daoists." The five rescued rogue cultivators bowed.
"You're welcome! Fellow Daoist, where did you come from? How did you encounter a swarm of demonic birds?" Cheng Jiu waved his hand.
"We are from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. My name is Liu Cheng." As he spoke, the leader showed off the Loose Cultivator Alliance emblem on his arm.
"The Loose Cultivator Alliance?"
“Yes.” Liu Cheng nodded: “The Heavenly Mystery Sect’s movements were so great that we rogue cultivators also noticed them. We are also part of the cultivation world.”
Therefore, whenever such a major crisis occurs, powerful cultivators at the Mahayana stage among us independent practitioners will unite to form a temporary alliance of independent practitioners. My fellow practitioners and I formed this team temporarily.
Moreover, the rewards offered by the five major sects are very generous. This time, we are heading to Jing Shui Ao to protect the people there during their evacuation.
Unfortunately, we encountered a swarm of demonic birds on the way. If it weren't for you, fellow Daoist, we would probably have been torn to shreds by those birds.
"Yes, yes, thank you so much, fellow Daoists. We will never forget your life-saving grace!"
"No need to be so polite, it was nothing," Cheng Jiu said with a smile.
Outside, many of the attacking demonic birds have given up and flown forward, where a few golden rays can be faintly seen amidst the vast expanse of black.
The birds and beasts above gathered in large flocks, and the birds and beasts that usually looked graceful appeared extremely terrifying in this swarm of black birds.
Even normally docile birds and beasts have revealed their aggressiveness.
Nearly two hours later, the darkness above slowly gave way to daylight. Such a large herd of birds and beasts must have left barren land in their wake. The number of people who could evacuate in time... just thinking about it makes one gasp.
Once the flock of birds and beasts had left, the five independent cultivators bid farewell to the three and headed towards their respective mission locations.
Even after such an unexpected turn of events, once they were safe, their priority was still to complete their mission and protect the civilians during their evacuation.
Even in times like these, independent cultivators have their responsibilities!
"Senior brother, let's hurry up too."
Now that we've encountered such a massive horde of birds and animals, it means the situation has developed in ways that have surprised everyone. Time is of the essence, and we still don't know the extent of the disaster in Kaiyang Town.
Without further ado, the group mounted their little cloud beasts and flew at full speed towards Kaiyang Town.
Although it's called a town, it's actually more like a small city.
The three sensed that demonic beasts were already attacking the city. At the city gates, there were packs of wolves, wild boars, bears, and other demonic creatures. Birds flew overhead, and the city gate guards threw talismans, fireballs, and other offensive weapons in an effort to stop the demonic beasts from entering the city.
The most eye-catching sight is on the city tower at the very center of the city gate, where a woman in red holds a bow and arrow. Every time she shoots an arrow, it takes the life of a monster.
However, most of the monsters were thick-skinned and tough, so these attacks were not fatal to them. They continued to attack the thick city walls and gates.
Birds and beasts kept swooping down at the guards on the city wall, only to be stopped by a thin protective shield.
Through their persistent efforts, the protective shield showed faint signs of cracking.
Seeing this, Cheng Jiu and his two companions rushed into the battlefield without delay. Cheng Jiu, wielding his sword, directly confronted the alpha wolf in the pack. The alpha wolf, not expecting anyone to suddenly emerge from behind, was slashed in half at the waist with a single sword strike.
With the alpha wolf dead, the other wolves, without any sense of reason, pounced on Cheng Jiu.
Without an alpha wolf to direct them, these wolves attacked erratically.
Cheng Jiu held the Heavenly Wood Sword, her eyes already enveloped in a green light, and with a downward swing of her sword, she shouted: "Ten Thousand Woods Spring!"
With a loud shout, countless trees, nurtured by the laws of wood, rose from the ground. Some were tough, some were soft, and their branches and vines entwined around the other demonic beasts that were attacking her.
If someone gets entangled or pierced by the sharp thorns, they will die from being sucked dry if their fur is tough.
This is a move created by Cheng Jiu based on her own Law of Wood. As she swings her sword, the trees also change. Low-level demonic beasts are powerless against this move and become nourishment for these trees. As the number of dead demonic beasts continues to increase, the forest begins to expand.
For a time, Cheng Jiu held the battlefield back.
Mao Hongsheng, who had just smashed a monster's head with that punch, gasped in shock: "Junior Sister, it's only been a few years, and she's become so ferocious!"
Wen Sishu, who was defending him from the side, said: "That pig demon is about to charge over. Don't get distracted in the battle. We might not be able to defeat our junior sister even if we join forces."
"You should move around too!" Mao Hongsheng was speechless when he heard his words. He didn't need anyone to defend him; he was tough and resilient.
"I'm an alchemist! I can't beat them!"
Wen Sishu said this with great confidence, after all, there was nothing he could do. In high-level combat, a pill cultivator like him who didn't know how to make poison and hadn't even refined his body was truly weak in combat.
If it weren't for his stove, Mao Hongsheng would probably have had to save him instead.
"Sorry! I forgot." Mao Hongsheng said, pushing him aside. "Then don't get in my way. I don't need your protection. If all else fails, you can go deal with those Golden Core stage demonic beasts. I'm going to show my strength too."
He slammed his chest, instantly growing hundreds of feet taller, his entire body radiating a bronze glow. He struck the head of the wild boar that attacked him, and the sound of a tiger's roar could be faintly heard.
The wild boar's head exploded like a watermelon, its brains splattering everywhere.
The monsters besieging the city this time were all from the outer perimeter, and none of them were stronger than the Nascent Soul Realm.
Mao Hongsheng charged into the horde of monsters, punching them one by one, blood and flesh splattering everywhere. Almost no monsters dared to approach him, unafraid of death.
Upon hearing Mao Hongsheng's words, Wen Sishu, who was standing to the side, took the alchemy furnace and began to bully the Golden Core stage demonic beasts, one furnace at a time.
If a Nascent Soul stage demon beast sets its sights on him, he immediately hides in the alchemy furnace.
With the combined efforts of Cheng Jiu and Mao Hongsheng, the originally massive number of monsters besieging Kaiyang Town decreased at a visible rate.
The people on the city walls were dumbfounded; they had all gone to the battlefield with a do-or-die mentality, ready to die for their cause.
They didn't believe they could defeat these monsters; they just wanted to stall for time and wait for rescue to protect their loved ones.
But the enemy that seemed invincible to them turned out to be as easy as cutting melons and vegetables in the hands of the three of them, and was no match for them!
Are these guys even human? How can there be such a huge difference between people?
The woman who had been observing from the city wall with a bow and arrow breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the three people who looked like gods descending to earth.
"Mayor!" A maid came over.
"Fellow Daoists have come to protect us. Give the order to the people of the city to prepare. Once the three of you have dealt with these demonic beasts, depart for Maple City immediately. Don't keep them waiting," the woman instructed.
"Yes!" The maid received the order and immediately went to inform the messenger.
On the other side, under the onslaught of the three, many demonic beasts regained their senses and fled the battlefield as if their lives depended on it, staying far away from these three killing gods, especially Cheng Jiu, who killed nearly seven-tenths of the beasts in the field.
After defeating the beast tide, the three arrived at the town gate. Just as they were about to say something, the gate opened wide.
The woman in red, carrying a silver bow on her back, looked heroic and valiant. Upon seeing the three men, she knelt on one knee and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for saving Kaiyang Town from dire straits. I, Hua Lien, the mayor of Kaiyang Town, on behalf of the town's 100,000 people, kowtow to express our gratitude for your life-saving grace!"
As she slid down, the guards behind her, along with the common people who came out, all knelt down to thank the three for saving Kaiyang Town from disaster.
The three were stunned by the honesty of these people. It was Cheng Jiu who reacted and rose up on the lotus flower, saying, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so polite. We were entrusted by Kaiyang Town, and it is the responsibility of us cultivators to rescue Kaiyang Town."
“Regardless of the circumstances, without the three of you fellow Daoists, I fear Kaiyang Town would have suffered a terrible calamity.” Hualian stood up with the help of her.
“Mayor of Hualien Township, there’s no need for such formalities! Are you all ready? We’ve encountered many strange occurrences along the way, and we’re worried that things might change if we delay. If you’re ready, then let’s set off now!” Wen Sishu asked.
"Kaiyang Town began preparations immediately after the Tianji Sect reported the news. The townspeople have packed their belongings and are just waiting for your instructions, fellow Daoists." Hua Lian spoke humbly, directly handing the reins of the conversation to the three of them.
“In that case, Mayor of Hualien, let’s set off. The sun is high in the sky now, and it wouldn’t be safe to travel at night if we go too late,” Wen Sishu said.
"Okay, I'll arrange it right away." Hualien arranged for the guards to organize the town's residents to prepare for the relocation in an orderly manner.
The place that Kaiyang Town is going to is Fengcheng, which is 200 miles away. Fengcheng is the main city of Kaiyang Town and is on the same level as Hailian City.
Although this stretch of road is not far, it is inevitable that monsters will leap out of the forest and attack the main road.
In situations like this, it's absolutely crucial not to act discreetly. After all, there are so many ordinary people who are only at the Qi Refining stage. If we keep a low profile, the migration of so many people will be like a delicious treat to some demonic beasts. With so many demonic beasts, even ants can kill an elephant, and they can't protect everyone.
It would be better to unleash our power and suppress those mindless, malicious monsters.
Cheng Jiu sat on the Little Cloud Beast, with the Divine Eye Moon Shadow Beast beside him. The two beasts grew larger, and the pressure of the Nascent Soul stage was released without restraint, yet they cleverly avoided the crowd below, intimidating both sides of the road.
Mao Hongsheng maintained his towering height of 100 feet, leading the way, but he would stop occasionally to wait for something to happen.
The people below walked in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the guards, while the children they led and carried looked at Cheng Jiu in the sky and Mao Hongsheng, who was leading the way, with pure and envious eyes.
As for Wen Sishu, he would cover the rear. He had high defensive capabilities and could protect the rear if any danger arose.
Aside from the children, almost everyone present had some cultivation experience, so they traveled quite quickly and finally arrived in Maple City before nightfall.
A fierce battle had clearly taken place here; an open area near the city wall was stained crimson.
Upon seeing the group from afar, the soldiers shouted, "Who are you? State your names!"
"I am Hua Lian, the mayor of Kaiyang Town, and I have come to Fengcheng escorted by three fellow Daoists from the Guiyuan Sect." Hua Lian had just learned that the three were from the Guiyuan Sect.
Mentioning the name of Guiyuan Sect worked wonders. After a while, the city gate slowly opened, and a group of guards ran out of the city to register the people who came. Perhaps because Cheng Jiu and the other two were there, their attitude was unbelievably good.
The registered citizens, seeing the usually arrogant adults speaking to them so gently, felt flattered and somewhat apprehensive.
"I am Qiu Hua, the city lord of Fengcheng. I greet you three fellow Daoists." As the guards helped the people with the ritual, a chubby man was escorted out of the city and headed straight for Cheng Jiu and his companions.
"May I ask who the three of you are?" Qiu Hua's eyes gleamed as he scrutinized the three men.
Cheng Jiu and the other two felt very uncomfortable, their eyes flashing with warning: "This doesn't seem to have anything to do with you!"
"Yes, yes, yes, I apologize for my rudeness." Qiu Hua was startled by the three of them and couldn't help but apologize: "It's getting late, fellow Daoists. It's not safe to travel at night. Please allow me to show you hospitality and invite you to stay at my residence for the night."
His regard for the three men increased even further. After all, it was obvious to everyone that they were not very old, while he, a Nascent Soul cultivator, was actually frightened by them.
With such strength, age, and talent, one should be among the most core disciples of the sect.
If you could climb up to one of them and become his subordinate, wouldn't that be like rising to the top in one step?
The more he thought about it, the more eager he became, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Cheng Jiu and the other two looked at the sky and realized it was getting late, so they agreed.
As for the concern that the other party might attack them, putting everything else aside, this is the territory of the Guiyuan Sect.
The fact that the three of them came out of the mission hall is also verifiable. If that city lord dares to attack the three of them, this area will probably be plowed up three-tenths of the way.
Besides, the three of them were not to be underestimated, so they agreed. However, they stayed at an inn in the city. As for the city lord's mansion, they were not familiar with it and there was no need to disturb it.