Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 741

The man in the golden robe fell silent, and Madam Fang quietly spoke with Han Li, subtly probing his background. Han Li gave vague answers and brushed off her inquiries.

Madam Fang didn’t press the issue of his past. Instead, she revealed that the cultivators, including the man in the golden robe and Ban Qing, had been sent by their sect to help An Yuan City deal with the beast tide.

She explained that the higher-ups of An Yuan City had connections with the Golden Jade Sect. Also, beast tides often provided opportunities for low-level cultivators to break through to higher realms.

Not only the Golden Jade Sect, but a dozen other small sects had also dispatched disciples to An Yuan City. With the arrival of the Heavenly Cave Chamber’s people, conscription during the beast tide was unavoidable, as was customary.

Therefore, Madam Fang assigned Han Li to assist Zhang Gui in commanding the guards, and Han Li agreed. Pleased, Madam Fang advised him to rest, explaining that the beast tide could erupt at any moment. This time, it was a major event involving multiple beast groups, so they needed to conserve their strength.

Han Li smiled faintly and left the detached residence. As the door closed, Madam Fang’s smile vanished, replaced by a worried expression.

“Why did you change your mind, Madam? Is it because you think he’s too valuable?” the man in the golden robe asked, smoothing his fur.

“That’s right. Someone with his level of cultivation at such a young age could become like Elder Hua if nurtured for a few more years. Instead of that, why not have him follow Zhang Gui or the Liu brothers after the beast tide, as originally planned?” Madam Fang asked candidly.

“I’ve already spoken with Commander Zhang and the Liu brothers. They would have been adequate if that person proficient in the Vajra Body Technique hadn’t appeared. But since a more suitable person has emerged, wouldn’t the chances of obtaining that item increase? With the third level of the Vajra Body Technique, he won’t be harmed by mid or low-level spiritual weapons and will be much more helpful with his monstrous strength. Once we startle the beasts guarding it, there won’t be another chance. Madam, don’t you want Junior Brother Ban to make a decision?” the man in the golden robe said, shaking his head.

“Senior Jin’s words make sense. No matter how much potential that person has to become the second Elder Hua, it’s not more important than my son’s decision,” Madam Fang replied.

“That’s a wise decision! The best opportunity is during the beast tide. The beasts guarding that item won’t remain calm, so there’s a chance to escape. Although Junior Brother Lian will have to take risks, there’s no guarantee it will go wrong. If it succeeds, Jin Mo will treat him well, so he won’t hold a grudge against you, Madam,” the man in the golden robe said, feeling relieved and smiling.

“Senior Jin’s magical power is profound, so if we obtain that item, the decision will be no problem. Please take good care of my son,” Madam Fang said.

“Haha, Junior Brother Ban’s talent is just as outstanding. If I succeed, he will surely be able to make a decision with it. Madam, please rest assured,” the man in the golden robe said, looking at the young man in the navy robe and speaking gently. Ban Qing, with a keen eye, bowed to his senior brother, expressing his gratitude. The man and woman beside the man in the golden robe exchanged knowing glances and smiled.

***

However, Han Li had no idea that the people he had just met in the spirit world were plotting against him. If he knew, he would have given a wry smile.

How dare mere mortals and Foundation Establishment cultivators try to use a Nascent Soul cultivator? They were courting death. Even if he couldn’t use his magical power, he had many ways to erase them from the world.

Unaware of this, Han Li decided to stay in the Heavenly Cave Chamber for a while and left the detached residence to meet the scarred giant.

Soon after, Han Li was appointed as a deputy commander, which made the other guards jealous. However, Han Li displayed some of his skills, silencing everyone.

He ended up staying in a quiet personal space instead of a group area. For the next few days, he stayed in his room, repeatedly reciting the fifth level incantation of the Vajra Body Technique.

To master the Vajra Body Technique, he had to inject the surrounding spiritual energy into his body. Only after getting used to this unfamiliar training method could he truly begin training.

Three days later, Han Li left the inn and returned after half a day. Most people didn’t even know he had gone out.

*Ding! Ding!*

On the seventh day, while he was sitting cross-legged on the bed in his room, a loud bell rang outside. The sound was so loud that it felt like the inn was shaking.

Han Li’s eyes snapped open.

The bell rang continuously, and a horn sounded in response, so no one in the city could have missed it. Frowning, he immediately opened the door and went outside.

The western annex was in chaos, with guards coming out with weapons, murmuring with fear.

“Everyone, there’s no need to be so nervous! Even if the beast tide starts, it’s still a long way before it’s our turn. Go back to your rooms and rest. When it’s our turn, we won’t even be able to dream of resting!” Zhang Gui said in a deep voice, scanning the guards, who obediently returned to their rooms.

“Brother Han, let’s go together to assess the scale of the beast tide. Even if it’s a great beast tide, it varies greatly depending on the types of beasts,” Zhang Gui said, approaching Han Li.

“I will follow Brother Zhang’s lead,” Han Li replied after a pause. He wasn’t very interested in the ‘beast tide’ of ordinary beasts and low-level demonic beasts, but he was still a little curious.

The two left the inn and went out into the street, where the atmosphere was noticeably different. The streets, once full of people, were now deserted, with a few people hurrying somewhere.

Instead, the number of demonic beast carriages on the streets had increased, with carriages being pulled by one or more monsters.

People riding giant wolves, wearing the uniforms of An Yuan City’s defense forces, were loudly announcing that the beast tide was imminent, ordering the city to be sealed off and defenses strengthened.

They also ordered ordinary residents, except for cultivators and city soldiers, to stay in their residences. Anyone who left the city gates and interfered with the beast tide would be killed regardless of their status.

While Han Li and Zhang Gui rode giant horned wolves towards the nearest city wall, a giant man in a purple robe stood silently with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance from a huge tower-like building in the southern part of An Yuan City.

At that moment, the door opened, and a soldier in armor approached quickly, kneeling on one knee and reporting, “Reporting to the City Lord! The beast groups that have gathered this time consist of three types: the Azure Wolf Beasts from the Jadeite Grasslands, the Crimson Python Beasts from the Black Ridge Mountains, and the Leopard Avian Beasts!”

“So, three groups have gathered! Even if it’s not the others, the Azure Wolf Beasts and the Crimson Python Beasts haven’t caused a beast tide in over 300 years, and now there are so many! The Leopard Avian Beasts, which are strong in aerial combat, are also troublesome. Ordinary arrows will hardly inflict any serious wounds…” the giant man in the purple robe sighed, showing signs of anxiety.

“My Lord, didn’t you purchase Explosive Crystal Arrows from the Heavenly Cave Chamber? With special arrows, we can defend against aerial combat. Moreover, the cultivators can fly, so they will be a great help. If they cooperate, the Leopard Avian Beasts won’t be a problem,” the soldier said.

“I have to believe that for now. Gather the cultivators in one place to monitor the Leopard Avian Beasts, and let the cultivators and ordinary soldiers deal with the Azure Wolf Beasts and the Crimson Python Beasts. Oh, and don’t forget to organize the recruited personnel so they can join the defense forces on patrol,” the City Lord said.

“Yes, my Lord!” the soldier replied and hurried out to carry out the order. The City Lord of An Yuan City looked out the window again with a dark face.

***

Standing on the city wall of An Yuan City, Han Li looked into the distance and was greatly surprised. The yellow land tens of miles outside the city suddenly looked like a vast blue sea. Upon closer inspection, they were blue wolves of varying sizes.

The blue wolves with turquoise eyes and sharp fangs looked ferocious. There were so many that it was impossible to count them. They howled frequently, seemingly signaling to each other.

“It’s fortunate that they are Azure Wolf Beasts. If Crimson Wolves or Yellow Wolves, or even the rare Silver Wolves, had come, An Yuan City would never have been able to withstand it,” Zhang Gui muttered with a dark expression.

“Silver Wolves…” Han Li said, coming to his senses at the scarred giant’s words.

“Have you never seen Silver Wolf Beasts before? They are the most difficult wolves to deal with. One of them is probably equal to a dozen or so ordinary Azure Wolf Beasts. I happened to see one in a previous beast tide, and it was so brutal that the memory is still vivid,” Zhang Gui said.

Upon hearing Zhang Gui’s words, Han Li’s heart fluttered for a moment. The mention of Silver Wolves naturally reminded him of Yin Yue. Yin Yue was a silver wolf and was called the Yin Yue Wolf Clan, so she might be related to these Silver Wolves. But whether that was true or not, there was nothing he could do about it in his current situation.

“If they were just ordinary wolf monsters, even if there were many of them, humans wouldn’t be afraid if they built high walls to defend themselves.

The problem is that they are following the orders of low-level demonic beasts that have already become intelligent! Moreover, there are quite a few mutated monsters mixed in, which are somewhere between ordinary monsters and demonic beasts. These monsters usually possess mysterious powers, making them much more difficult to deal with. Their physique, strength, and speed are far superior to their own kind. At least, ordinary low-level cultivators would have difficulty dealing with them one-on-one,” the scarred giant explained with a serious face.

“Then how many mutated monsters are there among them?” Han Li asked.

“It’s said that one appears for every thousand,” Zhang Gui said, as if he wasn’t sure, after thinking for a moment.

“One for every thousand?” Han Li smiled wryly as he scanned the waves of blue monsters. There must be at least millions of Azure Wolf Beasts. That meant there were thousands of mutated monsters.

With so many mutated monsters gathering, the safety of the city, which did not have a Core Formation cultivator, was bound to be in danger.

“Let’s move to another place. Shouldn’t we see the situation of the other beast groups?” Zhang Gui sighed, looking down for a moment. Even he could see that the situation of this beast tide was not good.

“Brother Zhang, are you also unsure if you can defend the city this time?” Han Li asked.

“I am a little worried. The cities that collapsed before were also cities that were less than ten thousand years old, like An Yuan City, and they happened to face a great beast tide. And now, they say that even Leopard Avian Beasts have appeared in this beast tide. Although there aren’t many, each one is a first-level demonic beast from birth, so it will be dangerous if we don’t prepare well for aerial combat,” Zhang Gui said.

“Are Leopard Avian Beasts that fearsome?” Han Li asked, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at Zhang Gui, who was full of worry.

“Leopard Avian Beasts are not as physically strong as other avian monsters, but they kill people with the potent poison they are born with. There is no way to attack them up close, and we can only attack and shoot them down from afar. But they are intelligent and quite fast, so it’s difficult to deal with them. Moreover, An Yuan City is most vulnerable to aerial combat,” Zhang Gui explained.

“Doesn’t the City Lord of An Yuan City know that he is vulnerable to aerial combat?” Han Li asked.

“What can he do if he knows? I heard that so many people died in the previous beast tide, and it took a lot of resources to restore the current level of defense, so the City Lord has been working hard. They say they borrowed some weapons and soldiers from other nearby cities, but even so, I don’t know how well they are prepared for aerial combat,” Zhang Gui said. Han Li was speechless at Zhang Gui’s words.