Lin Ze sighed.
He knew Master Baiyun’s character all too well. In that man’s eyes, the lives of ordinary people were as worthless as ants.
Even ordinary warriors meant nothing to him.
Unless someone had the potential to reach the Mortal Realm, they were deemed useless.
That was Master Baiyun’s philosophy.
No one could change it.
Not even Lin Ze.
“Brother Lin, if we truly have no Mortal Realm warriors, let’s join forces. We’ll hold it off as long as we can. The others can escape as far as possible. There’s no hope left,” Qi Yuan said, his voice laced with sorrow and resignation as he looked at Lin Ze.
“Count me in,” the Baiyun Temple Master said, stepping forward.
These three Ninth Layer Peak warriors were among the strongest of their rank. If even their combined efforts couldn’t stop the ferocious beast, then all was truly lost.
Despair spread among the defenders, with many abandoning the idea of fleeing.
Against a ferocious beast’s pursuit, where could they possibly escape to?
“Perhaps I can get Master to act,” Ling Xiao said suddenly.
“You?” The Baiyun Temple Master gave a bitter smile. “If it were Ming Tian or Zuo Leng, maybe. But you? No chance.”
“I know Master looks down on me,” Ling Xiao replied. “But have you forgotten? Master lost a bet to Commander Lin last time and promised to protect me once. Let’s use that today.”
“You’re sure you want to use it?” the Baiyun Temple Master asked, astonished. “A Mortal Realm warrior’s protection is incredibly rare—more valuable than any martial technique at this stage. Are you absolutely certain?”
“Certain,” Ling Xiao said calmly. “If Yunkong City falls, I’d be nothing but a stray dog. No amount of protection would be enough.”
“Lin Ze, what do you think?” the Baiyun Temple Master asked, turning to Lin Ze. He knew Lin Ze had given this opportunity to Ling Xiao to preserve a promising talent.
“It’s his decision,” Lin Ze said, filled with pride.
Ling Xiao’s willingness to sacrifice such an opportunity for Yunkong City was truly commendable.
“Alright, Ling Xiao, what’s your plan? That’s a ferocious beast—at the very least a Level 1 beast, equivalent to a First Layer Mortal Realm warrior. It could easily destroy an ordinary nation!” the Baiyun Temple Master said, frowning. “Are you sure you can survive until Master intervenes?”
“No guarantee,” Ling Xiao admitted, shaking his head.
He was being honest. This decision was the least certain he’d ever made, but he was willing to try.
He had no grand notions of saving the masses.
But he knew clearly that if the beast breached the city, the entire Baiyun Province would become a living hell.
Hong Qi, Ling Luo, Ling Yixue, Leng Mei, Ling Yihang, Lin Ze—all would die.
Ling Xiao was a man of deep loyalty.
He remembered those who showed him even the slightest kindness for a lifetime.
For their sake alone, he had to try.
Moreover, this was how he had always lived.
Between life and death, one could grasp the true essence of martial arts.
This was a crisis, but also an opportunity.
At some point, a wind began to blow on the mountain.
Not strong, but chilling.
An eerie breeze stirred as a jet-black, wolf-shaped ferocious beast, three to four metres tall, approached slowly.
Along the way, all demonic beasts prostrated themselves, trembling.
Warriors with weaker cultivation couldn’t control their legs, shaking uncontrollably, some collapsing to their knees.
Howl~~
The wolf’s cry rang out again.
Lin Ze, the Baiyun Temple Master, and Qi Yuan stood at the forefront, forming a barrier to shield countless warriors from the terrifying sonic assault.
The beast ceased its roar, its eyes glinting with cold indifference.
It glanced disdainfully at the Ninth Layer warriors.
That single look sent a jolt of fear through all but Lin Ze, the Baiyun Temple Master, and Qi Yuan, causing blood to trickle from the corners of their mouths.
Terrifying!
This was the might of a ferocious beast, equivalent to a Mortal Realm warrior!
“Commander Lin, that’s the beast that killed December!” General September said, his face pale.
Dai Yuling had been promoted to one of the Twelve Tiger Guards because one of them had died.
That person was none other than December!
The geniuses of the Hidden Dragon Camp had long been puzzled, wondering what had happened to December.
Now Ling Xiao understood.
December was dead!
Killed by the beast before them!
“I understand,” Lin Ze said, his voice steady.
Though rage burned within him, against a ferocious beast, anger alone was meaningless. It all came down to strength.
“Ling Xiao, listen! The three of us will attack with full force. You seize the chance to get close. As soon as your life is in danger, Master will act. He’s not one to break his word,” Lin Ze said, looking at Ling Xiao.
He was doing this to minimise the chance of Ling Xiao’s death.
Otherwise, sending Ling Xiao alone to draw the beast’s attention would likely result in instant death.
“Understood!” Ling Xiao nodded.
At this point, words were superfluous.
Go!
Three figures shot forward!
They were Yunkong City’s strongest, aside from Master Baiyun. If even they couldn’t hold back the wolf-shaped beast, all hope would rest on Master Baiyun.
“Everyone else, set up defences and prepare to hold the line!” General January took temporary command.
He knew that Lin Ze and the others alone couldn’t stop the beast. They had to prepare for the worst.
When despair reached its peak, it could make people resolute.
If death was inevitable, they’d rather die gloriously.
For these warriors, it was that simple.
They didn’t need to overthink.
Under General January’s command, everyone stood ready. If the Blue-Eyed Clan invaders wanted to enter Yunkong City, they’d have to step over their corpses.
The wolf-shaped beast laughed.
A mocking laugh.
To it, these were merely the futile struggles of ants.
Lin Ze raised his blade, condensing a massive true essence blade.
Behind him, a faint shadow flickered, his martial soul pushed to its limit.
The Baiyun Temple Master and Qi Yuan each placed a hand on Lin Ze’s back, their nine-tenths remnant soul shadows shimmering.
Their power was fully channelled into Lin Ze’s attack.
Three as one!
Though their combined strength couldn’t reach a Mortal Realm warrior’s attack power, it was close—far better than scattered strikes.
The only pity was that, since ancient times, no human had achieved a complete martial soul.
Except Ling Xiao.
With a complete martial soul, this attack would have been even stronger.
The terrifying power converged at a single point.
Lin Ze swung his great blade, unleashing a fearsome force that roared through the air.
Ling Xiao felt that this strike was unstoppable, even for any warrior below the Mortal Realm.
Boom!
Before the blade even landed, the terrifying blade aura crashed down like a meteor shower.
The ground around the wolf-shaped beast began to collapse, as if struck by a meteorite.
Under such an attack, escape was impossible.
