A sea of people flowed through the gates of the Moonlit Grove City. Even though it was a 3rd-level city, the atmosphere was teeming with a feverish energy. Countless cultivators, drawn like moths to a flame, passed through it in search of the sky-high reward that tempted their ambitious hearts.
In the streets, chaos was a symphony. Stall owners shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices competing for the attention of passersby. Mercenaries with sharp eyes and bounty hunters moved like shadows, negotiating, observing, and analyzing the volatile scenario.
— "Metal Cutting Talismans, Vine Talismans! Forged by the best master in the region!"
— "The most detailed map of the Clear Waters Mountains! Don't skimp, a good map is the difference between glory and an anonymous grave!"
— "Unrivaled defensive equipment and techniques! Buy now or regret it for the rest of your miserable lives!"
The insane demand had already depleted the stores' supplies, and the prices of basic items like healing pills and protection talismans soared with every passing hour.
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Tang Manor
"Four days... Four days since our last communication." — Tang Wei sighed, his eyes drifting from the documents to the distant silhouette of the mountains. "I hope she is alright."
The work of withdrawing the businesses was almost finished. As expected, the pressure from the Shang family, which had already retreated because of Chen Wei, stopped completely the moment the alliance with the City Lord became an open secret. No one knew the details of the agreement, and not knowing made them hesitate.
Still, worry gnawed at his soul. The commotion in the mountains attracted not only treasure hunters but also vultures: "This kind of chaos always attracts evil cultivators... and, given the scale, there must be some at my level." — The thought made him remember the men his daughter had faced, and the terrifying moment when the connection was lost.
It was then that a familiar, heavy, suffocating feeling hit him, like a cold hand squeezing his heart. The jade bracelet. It had been activated!
"Chun Xi... what have you found this time?" — he murmured, reaching into his storage bag for an exquisitely crafted lamp.
It was a Vital Lamp. He activated it with a series of gestures, watching the flame dance:"My daughter, you have to hold on tight...! You promised me!"
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City Lord's Manor – A few hours later
A bang echoed through the main hall, making the servants jump in fright. A solid wooden table lay in pieces.
In the center of the room, the City Lord, Feng Zhao, and his son, Feng Lian, exchanged grave looks. The young man, a nineteen-year-old genius whose robes from the Heavenly Sword Sect made him stand out, had just received a message.
Feng Zhao looked at his son, the satisfaction of moments before replaced by a mask of pure apprehension, as he heard him speak: — "Father, we need to prepare! A large-scale earthquake is happening in the mountains, and several nearby cities are within range..." — Feng Lian said, his tone solemn.
City Lord Feng's heart froze. A single word, a nightmare for any leader of a frontier city, echoed in his mind: Stampede. A tide of Spiritual Beasts!
— "Father, we have a few hours. Seven at most, to prepare!"
— "Son, take care of your friends. Prepare to evacuate, if necessary!" — Feng Zhao replied, his voice resounding with the authority of one who faces the abyss.
— "Guards! Pass on my orders! Arm the city! Issue a mandatory recruitment order for all families and hunting groups!..."
— "Issue reward orders for all cultivators for contributions in the fight..."
In moments, the hall filled with urgent commands, and the guards rushed out, the gravity of the news stamped on their faces.
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The City
Panic spread like fire through dry straw. Earthquake! Stampede! Words that meant death and destruction.
— "A stampede? That hasn't happened in decades!"
— "Thank goodness I didn't enter those mountains..."
— "How many died because of the reward?!"
— "Silence! Do you want to be killed? The fault is not theirs, but the fools who risked it!"
Groups of cultivators moved through the city in search of any resource they could use. Only to realize there was very little. The few who still had some were selling them for those who wanted to profit by risking their lives.
Fear soon gave way to desperate urgency. The city gates began to close. Cultivators who were outside rushed in, while the City Lord issued generous rewards for anyone willing to fight. For many, the crisis was also a bloody opportunity.
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In the Mountains
While most were running to save their lives, a figure cut through the air in the opposite direction, moving like a lightning bolt against the tide. Covered by a robe, Tang Wei was pushing his body to the absolute limit, barely suppressing the venom in his heart!
'My daughter, hold on a little longer! I'm on my way!' — he prayed in his heart, ignoring his burning muscles and scorching lungs, his attention divided between the Vital Lamp in his hand and his path.
The flame inside it was darkening. Gaining a putrid and corrupt tone!
He knew what that meant. A word that filled him with a terror deeper than death itself: Corruption!
The moment he realized it, his mind went blank. His body reacted out of pure instinct, shooting out of the city!
'The corrupted can be saved, as long as they are in their initial state... If it goes beyond that, they must be killed without mercy!' — The cold words echoed in his mind, but his heart rejected them.
He would accept nothing less than saving his daughter. He had to save her!! Corruption corrupted the very soul, which meant a complete death, without a chance of reincarnation!!
But even though he was anxious and extremely worried, he still had to divide his attention to protect himself from the groups of spiritual animals that emerged from time to time and, worse, from those who were following him!
'I'm probably the target. They have been following me for so long... But I don't have time to deal with them.' — These pursuers started a few hours ago, and even the danger in the mountains was not preventing them from continuing to follow him.
Although irritated with them, he was still thinking about how to use the situation ahead to get rid of them.
— Boommm... Boommm...
The earth began to tremble at his feet and in the distance, a huge, seemingly endless tide of beasts appeared!
Immense worry appeared on his face, but it lasted only a moment, and two talismans appeared in his hand and were placed on him.
In an instant, his figure disappeared!
In a few seconds, three shadows appeared in his place, their faces hidden, but the aura emanating from them was obscure and malicious!
— "This sheep is really fat! hahaha... he actually has a concealment talisman!~" — Exclaimed the guy in the middle, as he seemed to look towards the gigantic tide that was approaching.
— "First, should we continue?... This disaster can quickly worsen..." — Commented the tallest one, his voice hoarse and discordant.
The first, the masked one with the most malicious and strongest aura. Obviously, he was the leader; he moved his head, revealing his greedy and lustful eyes: — "We can't risk it, the aura of this Patriarch is as pure as those geniuses, and his taste must be too; just consume him and we can level up."
— "And we don't have time, either we advance or we die! Only then will we have a chance to survive!!" — he completed, looking dissatisfied at the guy in the middle; the reason they had no choice was his fault.
But now was not the time to blame each other, he needed his brothers and would not let his resource escape!!!