Chapter 23: The Beast Tide

The village chief, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke with renewed confidence. "With just you?" His tone carried an edge of skepticism as he scanned the area, sensing no other cultivators nearby. He couldn't fathom how this late Foundation Establishment stage disciple planned to annihilate the entire village.

While sect cultivators were undoubtedly stronger than ordinary ones, there should still be limits. Counting himself, the village boasted twenty Foundation Establishment experts—ten of whom were at the middle stage and formed the backbone of their defense. Among them was Li Jianhong, whose resolve burned brighter than ever after enduring the humiliation of the beast's mark.

With such numbers ganging up on a single opponent, they stood a fair chance—or so he believed.

Hearing the chief's words, Leng Mengli's face twisted in fury. How dare these lowly peasants underestimate him?

"Humph! You'll soon regret your arrogance," Leng Mengli spat coldly. "Come forth, my babies!"

A chilling roar echoed through the air, followed by rapid, thunderous footsteps approaching from beyond the village gates.

Bam! Bam!

"Village chief, it's a beast tide! He's surrounded us!" one of the guards shouted, panic evident in his voice.

"What should we do?" another villager cried out, clutching his weapon tightly.

"How can one person control so many beasts? There must be a limit to anyone's strength!" someone else muttered, their voice trembling.

The scene outside the gates was nothing short of apocalyptic. Dozens upon dozens of demonic beasts surged forward, their eyes glowing crimson with madness. Rhinos charged recklessly, their horns gleaming menacingly under the moonlight. Packs of wolves snarled viciously, their teeth bared and dripping with saliva. Massive tigers prowled alongside agile deer, while crows cawed ominously overhead, their shadows blotting out patches of the sky. Each beast bore strange patterns on its forehead—a pulsating red mark identical to the one on Li Jianhong's arm.

These creatures moved chaotically yet purposefully, driven by instincts warped by corruption. Their presence exuded malice, and their combined aura overwhelmed even seasoned warriors.

"This… this is the true power of the Fangbound Dominion," the village chief muttered grimly, shaking his head wryly. Despite the odds stacked against them, he knew that killing Leng Mengli would sever the connection between him and the beasts. With that thought firmly in mind, he issued swift commands.

Ten Foundation Establishment elders gathered around him, forming a protective circle around Leng Mengli and his monstrous mount. Meanwhile, Li Jianhong launched himself directly toward the giant hawk, spear gleaming with Qi-infused runes.

"To the gates!" the chief barked. "Hunting squad, hold the line! Everyone else, defend the village!"

As the battle began, the villagers fought with everything they had. Archers stationed on rooftops and sentry towers rained arrows infused with spiritual energy down onto the advancing horde. Each volley lit up the night sky like streaks of fire, piercing through the thick hides of rhinos and sending wolves yelping in pain. However, for every beast fell, two more seemed to take its place.

On the ground, warriors wielding melee weapons formed tight formations, shields interlocked to create barriers against charging enemies. Spears jabbed outward, targeting weak points in the beasts' defenses. Techniques honed over years of training came into play as cultivators unleashed bursts of Qi, creating shockwaves that momentarily scattered smaller foes.

Despite their efforts, casualties mounted quickly. A massive tiger leaped over the defensive line, mauling a young warrior before being brought down by a coordinated strike from three hunters. A group of crows descended on masses, clawing at villagers' faces and forcing them to break formation. Some beasts managed to slip past the guards, rampaging through the streets and wreaking havoc within the village itself.

Amidst the chaos, the younger generation stepped forward to prove their worth.

Li Wei, Mei Ling, Wang Lei, and others emerged from the sidelines, their martial souls blazing brightly as they joined the fray.

Mei Ling's Grade 6 Plant Manipulation Martial Soul manifested as vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the legs of a charging rhino and toppling it mid-stride. She followed up with her rapier, executing precise thrusts taught by the village chief. Each stab pierced vital points, dispatching the beast swiftly. Her movements were fluid and calculated, showcasing significant improvement since her earlier sparring match with Lin Feng.

Li Wei, wielding his Grade 5 Broad Sword Martial Soul, cleaved through a wolf pack with devastating efficiency. His sword glowed with a fiery aura, amplifying the force of each swing. Within moments, he reduced an early-stage Qi Refining beast to a heap of flesh and bone. Training with his father had clearly paid off—he now possessed the skill and confidence to handle himself in battle.

"Where's Lin Feng?" Li Wei shouted amidst the carnage, frustration lacing his voice. "Did he run away, scared of fighting? I wanted to see who could kill more beasts!"

"He didn't run," Mei Ling snapped back defensively, slicing through another crow mid-flight. "Lin Feng isn't someone who abandons others. He's probably dealing with beasts elsewhere."

Her faith in Lin Feng wasn't misplaced—but for now, she focused on holding her ground.

Though outnumbered, the villagers' teamwork and determination allowed them to hold their own. Strategically placed traps slowed down larger beasts, giving archers time to pick them off. Hunters worked in pairs, luring groups of weaker enemies into ambushes where concentrated attacks could eliminate them efficiently.

Even so, the cost was high. Bodies littered the battlefield, both human and beast alike. Blood soaked the earth, turning the once-peaceful village into a grim tableau of war.

Yet despite the losses, hope flickered among the defenders. For every villager who fell, three beasts met their end. Slowly but surely, the tide began to turn—or so it seemed.

During this chaotic period, Lin Feng had already finished recovering inside his hut. Peering cautiously outside, he emerged into the fray, analyzing the battlefield with sharp eyes and a calculating mind.

From what he observed, it seemed that the villagers were managing to hold their ground against the relentless tide of beasts—albeit at great cost. Casualties mounted on both sides, but the defenders' teamwork and strategies allowed them to keep the situation under control. The real question now lay in whether the village chief and the elders could overpower Leng Mengli. That would be the decisive factor in determining the outcome of this battle.

But as Lin Feng stood there watching, a pang of guilt struck him. Despite being physically capable of contributing, he wasn't strong enough yet to take on someone like Leng Mengli directly. His cultivation base simply couldn't compare to those of the late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators or even the middle-stage experts among the elders.

Still, the thought gnawed at him: What kind of person am I if I just stand by while others fight for our survival?

He glanced around, noticing how his peers—Li Wei, Mei Ling, Wang Lei, and others—were giving their all in the battle. Even though they were younger and less experienced than the adults, they fought valiantly, using every ounce of strength and skill they possessed. Mei Ling's precise rapier strikes felled beasts one after another, while Li Wei's fiery broadsword cleaved through enemies with brutal efficiency. Their courage shamed him. How could he have ever considered running away when he was arguably the strongest among them?

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Lin Feng made up his mind. He wouldn't sit idly by any longer. Sprinting toward a group of archers stationed near a rooftop, he grabbed an unused bow and a quiver of arrows lying nearby.

"I'll attack from another side," he said firmly to the surprised archers.

The archers, grateful for the unexpected assistance, nodded quickly. "Thank you! Be careful out there!" one of them called out before turning back to focus on firing volleys at incoming beasts.

Lin Feng didn't waste another moment. Moving swiftly, he found a safe vantage point overlooking a cluster of rampaging beasts. There, he summoned his Designer Panel and imported a Grade 9 Bow and Arrow Martial Soul . Though it was technically the lowest grade martial soul available, its effects were amplified significantly when combined with his superior cultivation and techniques. When wielded by Lin Feng, the bow became far deadlier than it would be in anyone else's hands.

Coating his weapon with the martial soul's energy, he nocked an arrow and drew the string taut. Channeling Qi into the projectile as instructed by Elder Zhou Xuan, he unleashed a devastating shot.

Bang!! Bang!!

The arrows streaked forward like meteors, piercing through demon beasts with terrifying precision. Even early-stage Qi Refining beasts fell instantly, unable to withstand the concentrated force of Lin Feng's attacks. Each arrow carried roughly 10% of his total spiritual energy—a lethal burst of power that cleared entire clusters of enemies in seconds.

As fatigue began to set in from expending so much Qi, Lin Feng activated his Grade 8 Spirit Stone Martial Soul, rapidly replenishing his reserves within minutes. Once recovered, he resumed firing, systematically clearing one area of the village after another.

Word of Lin Feng's actions spread quickly among the villagers. Those who witnessed his pinpoint accuracy and relentless assault couldn't help but marvel at his contribution.

"Is that Lin Feng?"

"He's incredible! Look at how many beasts he's taking down!"

"We're lucky to have him on our side."

Despite the praise, Lin Feng remained focused. He knew better than to let pride cloud his judgment. Every second counted, and the longer the battle dragged on, the higher the risk of catastrophic losses.

Moving stealthily between rooftops and alleyways, Lin Feng targeted areas where the beasts had broken through the defensive lines. In one instance, he spotted a massive rhino charging toward a group of unarmed villagers attempting to barricade themselves inside a house. Without hesitation, he fired three consecutive arrows, each striking vital points on the beast's body. The rhino collapsed mere feet away from its intended victims, sparing their lives.

In another corner of the village, a pack of wolves had surrounded several children hiding behind overturned carts. Lin Feng appeared just in time, unleashing a flurry of arrows that decimated the predators in moments. The children stared at him wide-eyed, trembling with gratitude as he gestured for them to retreat to safety.

Though his efforts were commendable, Lin Feng couldn't shake the feeling that his role in this battle was still limited. While he excelled at picking off isolated groups of beasts, the true threat loomed above—the arrogant disciple of the Fangbound Dominion sect, Leng Mengli.