Shade of Autumn, Golden Eagle, Axe Wielding Fiend, and the Settlement Lord were focused on holding off the tide.
They couldn't dismiss the potential perpetrator of this ordeal, but they were forced into a corner.
"Could we send someone else to find this perpetrator?"
"No... If this is the scale of the horde they control, this perpetrator might have Third Foundation cultivation."
"..."
Without other options, they thought the only ideal candidates would be among themselves.
Three of them were also Third Foundation Cultivators. Shade of Autumn was the closest to their battle strength.
Besides them would be the Second Foundation Cultivators, but one alone would not be able to handle a Third Foundation Cultivator.
Sending more than one would put them at a disadvantage.
"Actually... A group as large and mixed as this does not necessarily mean a lone Third Foundation Cultivator."
The Settlement Lord spoke up, immediately gaining the other three's attention.
"There could be multiple lower-ranked Cultivators; Two, if not three, Second Foundation Cultivators."
"That still doesn't work in our favour..."
"No, but we can entrust at least one Second Foundation Cultivator."
"Who...?"
Their first thought was to send Shade of Autumn and work together to make up for her absence.
She, however, had a different idea.
...
Amidst the rain of arrows and crazed beasts, blood fell on the crimson soil.
Fury burned in the eyes of the countless beasts which opposed the desperation of the human army.
The scent of iron became a repugnant stench of rot and copper.
The mixture of various beasts and their blood created a sickly display of violence.
Yet, as if delighted in the scenery, one sole man continues to fight with heightened fervour.
Sun's halberd had long since been dyed red.
Tearing apart the countless beasts with brutal efficiency.
Although the scent of blood assaulted his nose as much as the others, his body was gaining more ferocity by the second.
His assimilated Dao Art -- Crown Ring Tyrant's War Banner -- was perfect for this occasion.
The pale gold of his other Dao Art -- Golden Arc and Ribbon -- flickered against the red of the scenery.
Sun himself was quite mired in the blood, as well.
Patches of his fair skin were stained red, and his golden blonde hair bled with the vicious colour, too.
Unfortunately, some of it was his own blood.
His fury was not invincible to that of the beast's fury.
Wounds scratched his armour and body, leaving dents and blemishes on the metal's surface.
"Sun!"
Whipping his head around, he let his focus falter for a breath's time, merely bracing for impact.
As a large beast fell upon him, Sun was unable to defend himself.
Winds surged before him, and the beast's corpse began to dry and wither to dust.
Looking back again, he saw Shade of Autumn fight her way towards him.
"We have a proposal for you!"
As the two fought side by side, Sun couldn't help but feel an awful foreboding in the back of his mind.
"What is it?"
"There is likely a perpetrator behind this beast group's sudden arrival, and its odd mixture, as well."
"So... is this related to the Demonic Cultivator attacking us?"
"Likely... furthermore, there is the possibility of multiple perpetrators controlling the tide."
"What!"
Shade of Autumn sighed and swept the area with a sickly gale.
"Listen. This is a duty we must entrust to you, Sun."
"Seniors and I must remain here to hold off the bulk of the tide."
"We will work to make up for your absence and give you a chance to burst through the group."
Sun listened as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
'Such an important task! If I fail here, then the Settlement would be facing ruin!'
It was a nasty thought, one that sickened Sun as horrible memories flooded his mind.
However, he wasn't disagreeing with the plan.
A weird sense of satisfaction filled him as he was given such an important role.
"I understand. Do we have any idea where this perpetrator may be?"
"No. Even through Immersion, we can't detect them. There may be multiple as well, which we aren't hoping for..."
"I see. I'll still take this on regardless."
Shade of Autumn gave him a nod.
"Prepare yourself."
At that call, a powerful pressure pushed outwards.
The loud sounds of rustling shook the air.
Dao Art -- Leaves Carry the Tide of Autumn!
Shade of Autumn's skin peeled into countless leaves, which surged forth like a massive tide.
Similarly, greater pressures could be felt from a far distance.
A storm of gold and brown erupted from a bird-like human figure, like the breath of a dragon.
Another pressure was felt on Sun's other side; the ground burst apart into a massive cloud, which overtook a patch of the sky.
A shadow was cast as the dirt cloud blocked the starlit sky.
Sun wasted no time. Grabbing onto a Dao Art Medium on his body, his figure darkened.
Turning into a shadowy figure allowed him to conceal himself amidst the shadows.
Doing so, he ran forth into the tide.
The myriad beasts' attentions were split between his seniors and Shade of Autumn.
Sun managed to run through the clearing as the beast group parted.
He trusted his seniors to hold them off and desperately ran further into the beasts.
It didn't take long for more beasts to come forth, however, filling in the parting of the group with more ferocious beasts.
Sun made an effort not to collide with any of them, but their bustling closeness made that difficult.
Channelling Qi into his legs, he leapt forward, bounding to the sky a few feet high.
...
Beyond Corpse Mountain Settlement's boundary.
Within the forest were countless beasts surged forth.
A cloaked figure sat on a massive beast, one that exudes a majestic aura, commanding with an air of authority.
Lying lazily on top of the great beast, the cloaked figure took note of the three great auras from beyond the forest.
"Hmm, so they are getting serious now? What a poor choice, they couldn't possibly win this war of attrition. Hmph"
He snorted in disdain as he turned to lie on his other side.
Before him were three other beasts.
Equally as great and authoritative as the one he was lying on.
"Hmm, which of you to send first...?"