Song Changsheng took a deep breath. "Elder Yuann, if you can just hold off that Three-headed Hellhound, I can handle the other two Great Demons."
"They’re here," Yuann Tianshu said, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
As soon as he spoke, three colossal figures arrived outside Five Elements Peak, surrounded by a swarm of thousands of Demon Birds. The overwhelming Demon Qi was enough to make one’s face pale with fright.
"ROAR—"
There was no needless chatter or exchange. Following a furious roar from the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear, the flock of Demon Birds, dense enough to blot out the sky, immediately began to assault the Mountain Protection Array.
A host of Cultivators quickly took their positions, relying on the Mountain Protection Array and using their Magical Artifacts to slaughter the frenzied Demon Birds. The battle was a stalemate from the very beginning.
Initially, the Song Clan managed to hold a slight advantage, but when the main force of the Demon Beasts arrived, they were forced into a passive defense.
"Clan Leader, we have to charge out and hit them! Otherwise, once all these Demon Beasts press forward, the Clan Protection Array won’t be able to hold!"
Although Yuann Tianshu was a Loose Cultivator, he had accumulated a wealth of experience dealing with Beast Tides over the years. Seeing the situation turn grim, he hurriedly warned Song Changsheng.
"Understood."
Song Changsheng nodded, then turned and shouted, "Uncle Tong, Qingxing, Clan Brother Chang’an, lead the members of the Law Enforcement Hall and follow me and the Honored Guest Elder for a counter-charge!"
"As you command!"
The three quickly assembled fifty elite Stewards from the Law Enforcement Hall, who stood ready behind Song Changsheng and the others.
HISS—
Taking out the Control Token, Song Changsheng opened a gap in the Mountain Protection Array.
Seeing this, the Demon Beasts swarmed forward as if they had been injected with stimulants. Song Changsheng didn’t hold back, directly unleashing the Purple Void Divine Fire and incinerating the first wave of attackers into ashes.
He then charged out alongside Yuann Tianshu. Yuann Tianshu engaged the Three-headed Hellhound, while Song Changsheng took on the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear and the Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon.
Song Lutong, Song Qingxing, and Song Chang’an led the elite Law Enforcement Disciples, following close behind to launch a counter-offensive against the Beast Tide.
The trio’s momentum was unstoppable. Like a sharp spearhead, they pierced directly into the beast horde, tearing a bloody path through it.
At the rear of Five Elements Peak, Song Qingqing and the others were also piloting the Black Star Ship, which slowly ascended, ready to provide support to Song Qingxing’s group at a moment’s notice.
Though the Demon Beasts were numerous, only a limited number could attack at once. Song Qingxing’s group was small but elite, and their equipment was top-of-the-line. Led by the two killing machines, Song Qingxing and Song Lutong, they cut through the enemy ranks for a time as if there was no one there to stop them.
However, even the strongest eventually tire. Despite their valiant charge, the group was still unable to suppress the beast horde’s offensive.
Song Lutong had no choice but to lead his people in a retreat.
"Let’s use the Lei Zhenzi."
Song Lutong and the others exchanged a look and unanimously agreed with the plan.
They were ultimately outnumbered, and the price to suppress the Beast Tide by force would be far too great.
Fortunately, the Song Clan had accumulated a large stockpile of Lei Zhenzi over the years, which would be perfect for this situation.
While the battle on the ground raged fiercely, high in the sky, Song Changsheng and Yuann Tianshu were locked in a heated struggle with the three Great Demons.
"BOOM—"
Song Changsheng forced back the Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon with a Mountain-Flipping Seal, then immediately followed with a backhanded halberd strike against the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear.
The Back-Armored Barbarian Bear staggered slightly before swinging a massive paw at Song Changsheng. The razor-sharp aura emanating from its claws made the hair on Song Changsheng’s entire body stand on end.
’Stepping on Snow in Search of Plum Blossoms!’
Song Changsheng’s footwork shifted, and he dodged the fatal blow by a hair’s breadth.
But unexpectedly, the nearby Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon seized the opportunity. Its tail, hard as refined steel, whipped through the air with unstoppable force and slammed into Song Changsheng’s back.
"PFFT—"
Song Changsheng felt as if a wild bull had crashed into his back. His qi and blood surged violently, and he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood as he was sent flying backward.
Struggling to stabilize himself, Song Changsheng’s expression turned grave.
’This Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon may only be Tier Three Low Grade, but its combat strength is in no way inferior to a Tier Three Middle Grade Demon Beast. It must possess a remarkable bloodline.’
"Five Beasts War Body, activate!"
Song Changsheng activated his War Body without hesitation. His aura soared as he beat his wings, brandished the Mountain-Shaking Halberd, and charged straight for the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear.
The Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon naturally wouldn’t give Song Changsheng the chance to kill the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear, and immediately moved to pincer-attack him.
The two beasts and one man instantly engaged in a bloody, life-or-death struggle.
Meanwhile, Yuann Tianshu, wielding his Cyan Blade, was struggling to hold off the Three-headed Hellhound.
The Three-headed Hellhound possessed an extraordinary bloodline and high Spiritual Wisdom. Having only recently broken through to the Mid-stage Purple Mansion, Yuann Tianshu could barely fend it off, focusing only on preventing it from disturbing Song Changsheng.
"SCREECH—"
Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the sky.
Hearing the familiar sound, Song Changsheng, who was in the heat of battle, had his expression change drastically. He shouted anxiously to Yuann Tianshu, "Elder Yuann, be careful!"
The words had barely left his lips when a streak of golden light shot toward Yuann Tianshu’s back with the speed of lightning.
Warned by Song Changsheng, Yuann Tianshu instinctively dodged to the side, but the golden light was simply too fast. A large chunk of flesh was torn from his waist.
"The Red-tailed Golden Eagle!"
As Yuann Tianshu was wounded, Song Changsheng also got a clear look at the attacker. It was the very same Red-tailed Golden Eagle that he and Niu Dazhuang had encountered on the Canglan River.
He hadn’t expected the Red-tailed Golden Eagle to be so vengeful. Not only had it followed the beast horde all the way to Five Elements Peak, but it had also remained hidden, waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch a fatal strike.
Its timing had been perfect. If Yuann Tianshu’s reaction had been even a fraction of a second slower, he would have been killed or at least gravely wounded.
Yuann Tianshu was already no match for the Three-headed Hellhound. Now, having been ambushed by the Red-tailed Golden Eagle, his situation instantly became critical.
’Yin Yang Annihilation!’
Song Changsheng directly activated his Innate Divine Technique, enveloping both the Earth-Breaking Earth Dragon and the Back-Armored Barbarian Bear. Under the tearing force of the Yin and Yang Qi, both Great Demons suffered injuries of varying degrees.
After temporarily repelling the two beasts, Song Changsheng flashed several times to appear beside Yuann Tianshu. With a wave of his wide sleeve, he summoned the Spirit-Slaying Gourd, and the Spirit-Slaying Flying Knife shot straight toward the left head of the Three-headed Hellhound.
"AWOO—"
The three hideous heads opened their cavernous maws simultaneously, spewing a beam of black light that knocked the Spirit-Slaying Flying Knife away.
The black beam’s power did not diminish as it continued toward Song Changsheng with terrifying might.
"Defense!"
Song Changsheng whipped out the Tai Chi Diagram to protect himself, then pulled Yuann Tianshu along as they rapidly retreated from the battlefield.
"BOOM—"
With an earth-shattering crash, the black beam failed to break through the Tai Chi Diagram’s defense.
Seeing Song Changsheng and the others flee, the Red-tailed Golden Eagle gave swift chase, its pupils glinting with a light called hatred.
"Uncle Tong!"
Seeing that he was about to be intercepted by the Red-tailed Golden Eagle, Song Changsheng immediately roared in the direction of Five Elements Peak.
Hearing Song Changsheng’s shout, Song Lutong’s spirits lifted, and he quickly responded, "Coming!"
The Black Star Ship, which had been lying in wait, instantly opened fire. A thick pillar of white light tore through the void, heading straight for the Red-tailed Golden Eagle with a searing heat.
This was the first time the Black Star Ship had been used in actual combat since its modifications by Lu Tianchou. Its power was far greater than before. If this shot landed, the Red-tailed Golden Eagle would be gravely wounded, if not killed outright.
"SCREECH—"
The Red-tailed Golden Eagle let out a long cry and, relying on its extreme speed, managed to narrowly dodge the attack.
Although it was uninjured, it had lost its chance to strike at Song Changsheng and could only watch helplessly as they returned to Five Elements Peak.
"SCREECH—"
The Red-tailed Golden Eagle let out a resentful shriek. It circled high above Five Elements Peak, unwilling to leave for a long time.
But Song Changsheng was in no mood to pay it any mind now, because Yuann Tianshu’s injuries... were severe!
...