12 Great Blue Carp City

Let's have a change of scenery

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"I really can't take it anymore! I'm retiring from the army!"

"I've lost count on how many times I heard you say that…"

"This is for real this time…"

"That line too…"

"Argh! It's those damn beast hordes!! I'm a cultivator! My life should be filled with riches and young ladies fighting for my attention! Why does my god damn luck sucks! Of all the places! I was thrown on the military!!"

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Great Blue Carp City, Country of Avalon

A small city that is located at the intersection of two large countries, since the day it was annouced that a road would be built connecting the two said countries, this place suddenly became livelier. Lively to the point that the city became one of trading points in the location. It is also because of this reason that a lot of people took advantage of the fact that the city is a major trading place, that they built some Sect Branches in here so they can rear in new blood.

But of course the city isn't without a flaw. Green Mulberry City is surrounded by forests, Dire Beasts, Fierce Beasts and even Demonic Beasts can found everywhere, so from time to time there will be a beast wave attacking the city. Along with the progress of the city also comes larger and larger beast waves.

Cultivator from Sect Braches didn't have any choices as well. Since they were staying at the city, the city needs their protection in return. The number of the army constantly expanded, fierce talents emerged and made their names well known to the city.

The city has four points of entry, North Gate, South Gate, West Gate and East Gate. Thick and tall walls surrounded the city filled with people who stood alert and emitting vast amount of dangerous air arround them.

"Halt!!" Two army men crossed thier spears preventing a group of people from entering. "What's the purpose of your visit?" Asked by the man on the left.

"Greetings Sir, we are from Merchant Guild and our purpose is trading with our items." And old balding man respectfully said to the two guards by the East Gate. Behind him is the carraige full of foriegn items and some mercenaries for hire.

After checking the content of the carraige the two guards finally let them enter. The old man was joyous and montioned the people to move inside the city. Waves of sound greeted them, and of course majority of this voices can be heard from merchants. Some are from clans that are recruiting guests, while others are mercenaries who are looking for additional members for thier expedition.

'Mercenaries Guild' is one of the powers that rose up to fame since the road building news was heard. The guild stationed in these area even before the news was leaked, it just grew immensely after it. Most of the cultivators who didn't manage/didn't want to join a sect often joined the 'Mercenaries Guild'. The reason is quite simple really.

Incentives.

The incentives that the Mercenaries Guild offer to the people who join them is very tempting. The lowest rank missions, which are usually 'Escort Missions', alone could give a living for a mercenary. The reason is that the guild would only take 10% of the total rewards for the mission and the rest would be given to the one who finished it. Such tempting offers are really irresistable for cultivators. If they also manage to be a core member, they would recieve a monthly allowance and a Middle Rank inheritance of one's choosing (this might be in a form of a weapon, weapon arts, resources, man power, and etc.).

Another one of the most powerful forces in the Great Blue Carp City is the 'Merchant Guild'. This power only taken root here barely 10 months ago and is already on par with the Mercenaries Guild already. The reason is because of the road building news as well. The 'Blue Carp Auction House' is the sole reason of their success, it is not only an auction house but also a shop as well.

Medicinal pills, Artifact Weapons, Rare Materials, Informations, etc. Somebody would even say that if you're looking for something/someone go to the 'Blue Carp Auction House'. News has it that recently, an alliance was form between the Merchant Guild and Mercenaries Guild which in turn made them even more formidable.

Aside from those two guilds, there are also the Sects that built branches in the Great Blue Carp City as well. These sects are named as Heavenly Beast Sect, Godly Altar Sect, Millenium Star Sect and the Freezing Sky Sect. The former two sects hailed from Grand Majestic Holy Land, while the latter two hailed from the Nameless Peak Holy Land.

As they said, 'A mountain cannot contain two tigers', what more if there's four? Such a small city have four sects? And they even hailed from two seperate countries? Of course there would be some conflicts and skirmishes here and there.

Even the City Lord is having headaches handling these four sects, if it weren't for an oath that he sign with their sect leaders, the City Lord might've already made a move.

***

"Reporting to City Lord! The date for the 2nd yearly recruitment for the four sects had been discussed." A guard entered the room where a middle aged man is sitting while massaging his forhead.

"When will it be?"

"Reporting to City Lord, the date would be on the Day 7 of the 11th month Sir!"

"11th month huh? That would be next month then, wait a minute…" the middle aged man murmured as he suddenly recalled an important matter. "Day 7 is it? It looks like the four sects is quite sincere this time. What a move…" he grinned. The guard on the other hand was puzzled by the city lord's reaction, it was clear that he wasn't aware to a lot of things, well that may be for the best since too much information might be the cause of his death.

"You're dismissed." The city lord said to the guard. The guard then saluted before leaving the room of the city lord.

The city lord then stood up and gazed at a distance. It was like he was reminiscing some memories from his past. There was a trace of melancholy in his heart. He was also worried. It hasn't been that long since the Great Blue Carp City had been flourishing, he even believed that it still hasn't reached it's peak since the road conneting to the two countries is still on progress.

His worries was caused by the beast hordes. He had been the city lord for about 40 years now but this is his first time seeing beasts hordes these big. Before they only experience a total of 5-7,000 beasts in a beast horde attack and that's the largest that they experienced. However, ever since the road building news was leaked, the beast waves are getting bigger and bigger in numbers, just a few days ago they faced a total of 10,000 beasts already.

Of course, anybody that was living in this city for quite sometime already felt something strange. The city lord too, knew that something fishy is going on yet he can't find the source of it. Whoever/whatever the reason for these events really knows how to hide thier tracks.

That is also why the city lord is quite grateful for the actions of the four sects. But at same time he was also worrying about the mortality rate of the next beast horde would be, and what will be the damages it will deal to the city.

"Hopefully I'm just being paranoid."

***

Outskirts of the Great Blue Carp City.

There was huge patch of green land just a kilometer away from the east gate. In this patch of land two groups of people wearing different colored robes are clashing with each other.

One group was wearing a sky blue robe and wears a snowflake badge in their chests, while the other group wore a dark red robes in, thier badges looked like a figure of a person was standing on top an altar.

These were disciples of Freezing Sky Sect and the Godly Altar Sect.

"Surnamed Chu! Know your place! Just obidiently hand over that treasure and none of you will get hurt!" One of the people who wore dark red robes said.

"You wish! Our Freezing Sky Sect went through hell and back just to get this item and you're asking for us to just give it up? With just you bunch? Stop making me laugh!" Berated by a girl wearing the disciple robe of Freezing Sky Sect.

"What sharp tongue you have there woman! I would be more than happy to 'experience' that tongue of yours after I'm done with you! You guys get them!"

"Hollow God's Blade!"

"Roaring Gale!"

"World Breaking Finger!"

One technique after another was released by the disciples of the Godly Altar Sect, the blue robes disciples decided to fall back, constantly retreating while also waiting for a chance to escape towards the city. They just came back from a long expedition and yet who knew that disciples of Godly altar Sect laid an ambush. They made sure that the mission was kept a secret yet they somehow got a hold of informations for it.

"Furious Cold Wind!"

"Frost Shield!"

"Freezing Gale!"

The disciples of the Freezing Sky Sect also fought back, however since they just came back from a long expedition, they were spent. Physically thier okay, but not mentally. The long ardous road really took a toll on them and the effects are showing now.

"Senior Sister Chu! This can't go on! Let's release the emergency signal!"

"No! We definetely can't or we will attract the attention of the beasts nearby, that would only cause more danger. Let retreat first!"

"Yes!"

As they ran for thier lives, the dark red robed disciples furiously went after them. No matter what they absolutely can't let them get away. The treasure that they've got is close to being priceless already and if they manage to take it back. Being sent to the main branch of the sect while also carrying a inner disciple position would be easy for them. This is a temptation that they can't resist.

As for the people who are retreating, they ran like there was no tomorrow. The 'item' absolutely can't fall towards the hands of those people, in fact it must not be touched or even known by the Godly Altar Sect at all cost. Or else, all hell will break loose.

They ran and they ran until they barely knew where they're at, it was only one disciple from the Freezing Sky Sect who's paying attention to their surroundings. And when he realized where they at, cold sweat filled his back and said:

"Senior Sister Chu we cannot go any further!"

Their speed dropped down considerably, they also notice that the pursuit actually slowed down as well, allowing them to catch their breaths first.

"Look around…" the young blue robed disciple said, the woman surnamed 'Chu' looked around and same goes for the other ones. When they did realize it, fear emerged from thier faces and thier hands imediately trembled.

"What luck! Really? Out of all the places available? Dark Bamboo Forest? Really?!"

*Chuk* *Chuk*

The blue robe disciples became alert, faces became solemn, they looked around to see that serveral bushes from thier back shook a bit.

Then suddenly, a figure came out of the bushes while they also heard another problem.

"There you are slut!"

"Shit they've catched up! What do we do Senior Sister?" All of them are panicking, they don't who to be scared of, there basically a potential pincer attack. The woman surnamed 'Chu' gritted her teeth. She looked at the figure who's emerging from the shadows as she went through her storage bag and threw something at that shadow.

"Catch!" After doing so, they immediately retreated full speed towards the city.

Suddenly a word can be heard from the shadow.

"What's this?"