95-101

Chapter 95: Checkmate & The Strongest Piece

By the time I finished constructing the barrier, a couple of days had passed, and the interior part of the wall had turned red from the countless scribbles and symbols of varying sizes. I was concerned that the moisture in the air, typical during these temperatures, would have damaged the array, but so far, that wasn't the case.

Leaning against the mansion's outer wall, I gazed at the yellow-tinted sky now that the barrier was erected. Technically, it wasn't a single barrier but smaller ones mashed together. The entire structure seemed precariously held, any disruption threatening to cause it to crumble down.

Thankfully, the guards patrolled the walls regularly, preventing drunk civilians from inadvertently damaging it and undoing all the work I had invested in.

"At least the barrier is still active," I muttered, focusing on the positive. There was a chance that after all this work, it might have been for nothing. I could have miscalculated something, and the barrier wouldn't have activated.

Still, I wasn't about to underestimate the monstrous beasts. Since completing the barrier, I had been constantly pondering how they might attempt to breach it. We also had to remain vigilant for any monstrous beasts that might have ventured close to test the barriers, knowing full well that the array wouldn't withstand such a challenge.

I straightened away from the wall, and Speedy, now the size of a small dog and tall enough to reach my hip, turned his attention to me. He chewed on a piece of monstrous beast flesh, having eaten almost continuously while I worked on the barrier.

"Stay here and make sure no one enters. If someone does, don't intervene; just inform me when I return," I instructed Speedy, meeting his gaze. He simply resumed chewing, snapping a bone with his powerful jaws. "No matter what happens, don't put yourself in danger."

Speedy lifted his head again, rubbing it against the grassy ground before fixing his gaze on me again.

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

Either way, I just gave him a thumbs-up and a smile. "You're right, pal. Just keep doing what you're doing. I'm going to talk to the guys who run this city."

There were many factors to consider. It would be safer to ensure precautions were taken against any potential threats.

Since I wasn't the town leader, I had to suggest my ideas before implementing them.

Exiting the gates, I noticed the guards' silent observation. Though their presence seemed futile, as ordinary metal offered little defense. They were primarily tasked with preventing civilians from entering. Yet, the town's inhabitants seemed preoccupied with their own problems, paying little attention to my mansion.

As I strolled through the streets of Whitewall Town, I caught glimpses of curious glances from passersby when they thought I wasn't looking.

Upon reaching the governor's mansion, the guards made way for me without questioning my presence or authority. It was rather convenient.

Sensing the governor's Qi signature, I navigated through the mansion until I reached a door at the end of the corridor. Unlike the grandeur of the dining hall where we first met, this door resembled that of a servant's quarters.

I knocked, and a gruff voice from within called, "Come in, Liu Feng."

Undoubtedly, he had sensed my presence as well.

When I entered the room, I was taken aback by its small size. It felt almost like a cubicle, cluttered with papers and lacking adequate light. The scent of ink and damp paper permeated the air.

Without bothering with formalities, I delved straight into business.

"I was wondering if you've noticed any suspicious activity or individuals sneaking in? Have there been any newcomers? Monstrous beasts could potentially use illusionary abilities to infiltrate and sabotage us from within," I queried.

"First of all, no humans have come in recently so it's highly likely we're already surrounded by monstrous beasts within a hundred-mile radius," he explained, pausing briefly to glance at the papers on his desk, folding one and tucking it away. "We've established schedules and tactics to prevent any potential infiltration by monstrous beasts, ensuring the guards remain vigilant and the doors secured."

While such strategies might be unfamiliar to monstrous beasts unaccustomed to strategic warfare, I preferred to err on the side of caution, anticipating that my adversaries would be cunning. It appeared the governor shared this mindset.

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...

As the governor and I discussed our plans, another knock interrupted us, prompting matching frowns.

"Come in," the governor uttered, his expression tight with annoyance.

The newcomers, one clad in green and the other in red, were the leaders of the Lu and Hong Clans, respectively. It seemed they had been keeping tabs on me. The odds of us coincidentally meeting in the governor's office were slim, leading me to speculate about their intentions. They clearly didn't want the governor and me meeting alone, fearing potential collusion or coercion.

"What's with this cramped space? We can barely fit," remarked the Hong Clan Leader.

"It's more comfortable this way. Reminds me of my humble beginnings and keeps me grounded, unlike some," the governor retorted, his gaze sharp as he directed an indirect jab at the clan leaders' opulent lifestyles. "Anyway, what brings you two here?"

"Well, now that the barrier's up, we're curious about our next steps. What's the plan regarding the monstrous beast issue?" inquired the Hong Clan Leader.

"What else can we do?" The governor raised a questioning brow. "We have to wait and persevere through winter. These monstrous beasts typically revert to normal behavior during summer."

"That may not be the case," the Lu Clan Leader interjected unexpectedly. It was unusual to hear him speak unless he was in a spat with his rival clan leader. "Given the recent erratic behavior of the monstrous beasts, we cannot rely on past patterns."

"Regardless, our options are limited," the Hong Clan Leader countered his rival.

The two clan leaders engaged in a silent standoff, a familiar scene for the governor, who turned to me instead. "Could you provide further instructions on dealing with the monstrous beasts?"

Both clan leaders shifted their attention to me, creating a palpable tension in the air. I grasped their intent; they had likely overheard my previous directives. The advice given to the Body Tempering Cultivators had proven effective, exploiting the vulnerabilities of stronger adversaries despite the last-minute nature of the instructions.

Recognizing the potential benefits of training the Body Tempering Cultivators, I retrieved the Monster Encyclopedia from one of the inner pockets of my robe.

"You can have someone make copies if needed," I offered, handing the book to the governor.

He accepted it and flipped through its pages, his eyes widening in anticipation. Closing the book, he fixed me with an intense stare that momentarily gave me pause before he spoke, "May I keep this book for a day to make copies? I'll have a hundred scribes working on it, ensuring every soldier has a copy by tomorrow."

Observing the governor's reaction, the clan leaders seized the opportunity, with the Hong Clan Head chiming in, "Could we also receive some copies?"

"Of course," I interjected before the governor could respond.

It was crucial to establish clarity regarding ownership and favors owed once this ordeal concluded. The governor had no authority over the lending of my book.

Working political games like this were annoying, time-consuming, and often useless when looking at the bigger picture. But it was something I had to do nonetheless. I usually would have shared this kind of knowledge for free. However, I was not naive enough to forget what kind of world I was living in.

Anyway, it was time to put this final nail in the metaphorical coffin.

"Also, we might not be as helpless as it might seem. I know of a way to end this whole thing in one fell swoop," I announced, diverting their attention from the books.

Instantly, their focus shifted, setting aside their usual discord in favor of survival. Despite their usual divisions, the governor and the rival clan leaders appeared almost eager, united by the prospect of a resolution.

"We just need to contact Song Song for backup," I revealed the plan, gauging their reactions.

The clan leaders nodded calmly, their smiles reflecting contentment. However, the governor's demeanor wavered momentarily, his gaze briefly betraying unease before returning to its usual icy calculation. It was a subtle shift, but it didn't escape my notice.

Could it be...?

Just how far was people's fear of Song Song spread? If someone knew of her, it always seemed like she had terrorized them one way or another.

Yet, there was no time to dwell on conjectures or unravel the governor's connection to Song Song. Action was imperative!

"I'm unsure if the clan leaders are aware, given they were not a part of the Blazing Sun Sect, but Song Song is renowned for her... distinctive personality," I tactfully phrased. "Thus, it's crucial for me to assume official leadership, or she could interpret it as a personal slight if her envoy isn't in charge."

"Absolutely, I wholeheartedly support your decision. I've always recognized your leadership qualities, but I hesitated to vocalize them for fear of appearing like a yes-man," chuckled the Hong Clan Leader, shamelessly dramatic as ever. It was a trait I had come to almost tolerate from him.

"Yes," the Lu Clan Leader concurred, brief as always.

We all directed our attention towards the governor, who had remained silent thus far. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and the facade of impassivity began to crack as his gaze faltered.

I had played the political game to the best of my abilities, leveraging my knowledge and power to sway the situation in my favor. By lending them my encyclopedia, I had demonstrated my worth and influence. Furthermore, I had exacerbated the tension between the clan leaders and the governor, ensuring they wouldn't unite against me. The mention of contacting Song Song added a layer of urgency, making it perilous for them to oppose my leadership.

It almost appeared as though I were doing them a favor by assuming control.

"Very well, you can take the leadership," the governor acquiesced, though his reluctance was palpable. Ultimately, his agreement held little weight, as the clan leaders had already pledged their support to me, a fact he undoubtedly recognized. He simply didn't wish to be forced to relinquish his position of authority and risk earning my enmity simultaneously.

Just like that, another checkmate... political bullshit was boring. Though, I might be getting better at it.

Chapter 96: The Lovers

Hong Dosu was just another young man from the Hong Clan. The only notable thing about him was that he stood a head taller than most of his peers and possessed a traditionally handsome face. His father had been mortal, and his mother a cultivator. It was quite an achievement for a mortal man to capture the attention of a female cultivator, indicating that Hong Dosu had inherited the best from both sides of his family.

Currently, he stood by the Hong Clan Leader as the clan leaders, governor, and the new strategic leader discussed plans for the future.

The meeting took place around a large dining table in the governor's mansion, which was devoid of food or drinks. Trusted guards and servants were the only people here allowed to stay in the same room as the only four Qi Gathering Cultivators in town.

Bright morning light streamed through the window as the city's rulers calmly deliberated.

Hong Dosu's gaze wandered toward Liu Feng, a young man of similar age to him who occupied a vastly different position in life. Liu Feng's status surpassed that of the Clan Leaders, a position Hong Dosu could only dream of attaining.

Life seemed unfairly distributed, with talents unevenly spread. Hong Dosu felt a twinge of jealousy toward the young man who had already achieved what seemed beyond his grasp. Despite this, he maintained a calm facade, assuming the role of a background guard.

"So, what are your thoughts on this letter?" Liu Feng presented a piece of paper to his fellow Qi Gathering Cultivators. Hong Dosu was too far away to discern the contents, and even if he were closer, he knew a single misstep could cost him dearly.

As the clan leaders and the governor approached Liu Feng to examine the letter, their expressions shifted from shock to confusion.

"Our adversaries are cunning," Liu Feng remarked knowingly.

With no context, Hong Dosu remained oblivious to the situation.

"I possess an artifact capable of traversing long distances to deliver messages to nearby cities," the governor disclosed, revealing a short sword hidden beneath his sleeve.

While the revelation was significant, the reactions of the others remained inscrutable behind their stoic expressions.

Unversed in politics and lacking leadership training, Hong Dosu was merely a handsome face, serving as a bodyguard in name only. He questioned why a Qi Gathering Cultivator would require his protection.

Nevertheless, having been privy to numerous political discussions among his clan leader, Hong Dosu sensed the tension in the room. One wrong move could escalate into conflict, though the reasons behind it eluded him.

"Then my Hong Clan proposes to dispatch one of our finest scouts to deliver the letter should the governor's method fail," the Hong Clan Leader offered, maintaining his ever-present smile.

Further discussions ensued about strategies for impending monster attacks. However, Hong Dosu understood that the actual planning occurred when only the four Qi Gathering Cultivators were present.

After the meeting, the Qi Gathering Cultivators dispersed with smiles adorning their faces. However, discerning genuine from feigned expressions proved challenging. Yet, as the Hong Clan Leader exited the mansion, he refrained from engaging in his usual bickering with the Lu Clan Head.

Observing his clan leader's peculiar behavior, Hong Dosu refrained from questioning it and followed him like a shadow.

While traversing the streets, the Hong Clan Leader's smile gradually faded, replaced by a scowl.

"Tch," the Clan Leader spat on the ground. "That bastard Mao Shaoqi, relishing being manipulated even as the governor. Can't he see the kid is playing us against each other? Blind fool!"

Hong Dosu listened silently as his clan leader vented his frustrations. Offering words of comfort seemed futile amidst the man's palpable anger. This ritual of venting his rage on the way home was all too familiar, as the clan leader maintained a facade of civility in the presence of other powerhouses.

Approaching the Hong Clan Compound, the streets grew quieter, with fewer houses and passersby.

"By the way, I want you to act as our scout and deliver the letter to this Song Song," the clan leader suddenly instructed, catching Hong Dosu off guard. Typically, the clan leader only spoke to him when issuing orders.

"Yes, sir!" Hong Dosu affirmed.

"But that's not all," the clan leader continued, his demeanor softening slightly. "With your striking appearance, seducing this Song Song should be effortless. Persuade her to aid us, and our clan will seize control of Whitewall Town and potentially neighboring territories after the war."

"Clan leader, I'm aware of the dangers posed by cultivators from the Blazing Sun Sect. What if this plan backfires?" Hong Dosu expressed his apprehension.

As someone of lower status, a Qi Gathering Cultivator could easily overpower him.

"Put your worries aside," the clan leader dismissed. "Women are often susceptible to charm. Look at your father—he won over a woman who had everything, despite him being a mere thief with debts."

Though anger surged within him, Hong Dosu remained silent, accustomed to such insults since childhood.

Why did his mother succumb to a gambling addict's tricks? She held the upper hand as a cultivator and could have killed him anytime. Yet, she tolerated his infidelities and illegitimate offspring.

"Of course, I will carry out your orders, clan leader," he replied.

Hong Dosu comprehended his mission: seduce Song Song and return to ensure retribution against those who had scorned him—starting with the Hong Clan itself!

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"Good," the clan leader smiled. "You have no chance of reaching the neighboring town faster than the governor's artifact. But we're banking on this Song Song girl being outside the town she's supposed to defend. If all else fails, ensure you meet her under the guise of delivering a message and let her see your face."

The clan leader strode toward the clan compound with a smile adorning his face. At the same time, Hong Dosu trailed behind, no longer a mere guard but now searching for any chink in his leader's armor. It was an opportunity he had never anticipated having.

"However, keep an eye out just in case. Liu Feng may be young, but he's shrewd and harder to read than his age suggests. He might be plotting a trap with this ordeal," the clan leader cautioned, leaving Hong Dosu uncertain whether to believe him or consider it a ploy to unsettle him. "Being around him is quite uncomfortable; that much is certain."

With nothing to say, they hung in awkward silence until they reached the gates, where Hong Dosu finally spoke up: "When should I depart?"

"Immediately," the clan leader replied casually. "The governor likely dispatched the Messenger Flying Sword. Are you in need of anything extra for the journey?"

"Perhaps some spirit stones for trading-"

"No," the clan leader interjected. "Spirit stones emit a Qi signature that monstrous beasts can detect."

"Ah, I see," Hong Dosu acquiesced.

Handing him a talisman, the clan leader instructed, "Carry this with you. Though you're not a Qi Gathering Cultivator, it will help suppress any Qi you emit."

"Thank you, clan leader. I won't let you down!" Hong Dosu exclaimed, his words filled with fervor. Yet, beneath his facade, he harbored thoughts of witnessing the clan leader begging for mercy.

Without waiting for a second command, Hong Dosu turned and strode toward the gates. As he traversed the streets, the populace eyed him warily due to the color of his robes, but he paid them no heed. Instead, he envisioned a future where he manipulated a Blazing Sun Sect member to do his bidding.

Being handsome certainly had its advantages. Hong Dosu might have already seduced the clan leader's daughter if he had not been related to everyone in the Hong Clan.

The pristine white walls contrasted starkly with the crimson inner walls, which emitted a scent of blood—a barrier erected by the newcomer, as Hong Dosu had heard. Though its purpose remained vague, he knew the clans had invested significantly in its construction.

"Where do you think you're going?" a guard in green robes questioned as Hong Dosu approached the gate.

"Do you think you can speak to a member of the Hong Clan like that, you Lu pig?" another guard clad in red attire interjected with a scowl.

As mere gate guards, weaker than Hong Dosu, they had no authority to question his actions. He owed them no explanations since he was a more powerful cultivator; they should be seeking his forgiveness. With an air of indifference, he strode past them while they bickered. By the time they realized he had slipped through, their attempts to call out to him were futile—he had already vanished, utilizing his movement technique.

Surprisingly, he encountered no resistance as he passed through the barrier, not even a slight hindrance. Hong Dosu had heard of barriers capable of distinguishing between humans and monstrous beasts. Still, he doubted the city could afford such advanced defenses, but perhaps they did. It wasn't like he was privy to the city's exact resources.

Once beyond the city's protective confines, an invisible tension gripped the air. Racing across the grass at top speed, he hoped to avoid detection by any lurking monstrous beasts. Though the clan leader's talisman would cloak his presence, he could still be seen.

Entering the forest, he silenced his steps, the tall trees casting eerie shadows despite the daylight. Reassuring himself that he could outrun any beasts that spotted him, Hong Dosu pressed on.

But his confidence shattered when he felt a sudden impact, a furious hand striking the back of his head, sending him careening into a tree. Pain exploded across his face as his teeth shattered on impact, the tree splintering under the force.

Confusion and fear swirled in his mind as he tried to process the assault. Before he could react, he was slammed face-first into another tree, the pain intensifying with each blow.

Who was attacking him?

Struggling to speak, he received another brutal punch, sending him flying through the forest, crashing through trees. Agony engulfed him as he glimpsed the twisted angle of his arm, his vision clouded with red.

A scream tore from his lips, abruptly cut off as a hairy foot smashed into his face, sending him crashing to the ground, darkness creeping at the edges of his vision.

Just as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, a powerful grip seized him by the hair, lifting his battered form. His once-handsome face was now a grotesque mask of blood and bruises, his long hair matted and disheveled.

The creature looming over him, a four-armed gorilla, wore a furious expression. "Dirty human," it growled.

"Da Xing, don't kill the human. We need to ask some questions from him," intervened a softer voice, belonging to a small monkey with two tails, contrasting starkly with the intimidating gorilla.

Hong Dosu's thoughts veered away from his mission as the monkey drew nearer, consumed instead by a desperate plea for survival. He refused to meet his end in servitude to those who scorned him.

There was so much in his life that he had not done! He never experienced real love or anything else that was outside the clan. Despite being middle-aged, his mother often spoke about love like a young girl with her head in the clouds.

I-I don't want to die! Please, any gods out there!—his inner plea echoed as the small monkey addressed him.

"Human, you know how to read, right?" the monkey queried.

Shock gripped Hong Dosu at the creature's ability to speak, his heart pounding with fear. Yet, he understood that any hesitation could prove fatal. Drawing upon years of training as a servant, where punishment awaited even the slightest error, he responded without hesitation.

"Y-Yes," he managed, each word causing pain to ripple through his throat and jaw, his broken teeth a stark reminder of his ordeal.

"We captured a sword with a letter attempting to reach a nearby town, and we need you to read it," the monkey presented a familiar letter, thrusting it close to Hong Dosu's face. "What does it say? Read it aloud, word for word. We'll know if you lie, so don't attempt deceit."

"D-Dear Song Song, it seems like more monstrous beasts are attacking us than we initially assumed. Thankfully, the barrier is stronger than ever. We even worked on the side to strengthen it after our first attack. But despite that, I couldn't change the barrier's main effects as it was made to handle stronger and fewer monstrous beasts and not many weaker monstrous beasts. In a way, its weakness is quantity against quality…" Hong Dosu paused, disbelief washing over him as he continued reading. "The killing arrays are still here, but it could still be dangerous if many weaker monsters attacked and triggered it needlessly. We could use some backup. Thankfully, we have one Foundation Establishment Cultivator, even if the monstrous beasts can break through. But I would feel more comfortable with some backup."

The gorilla and monkey-like monstrous beasts exchanged frowns and growls, the monkey addressing a tree as if seeking confirmation. Suddenly, the space shimmered, and a human-sized butterfly with rainbow-colored wings emerged. The butterfly released a strange aroma that permeated the air, even penetrating Hong Dosu's broken nose.

Without uttering a word, the butterfly monster fluttered its wings, emitting a vibrant display of colors. The monkey, seemingly understanding its silent communication, nodded in response.

"Huh, he was telling the truth all along? Well, one can't fake their emotions," the monkey mused. "Humans have more tricks up their sleeves than we thought. This is going to be much harder than anticipated. We were supposed to easily crush these towns."

As Hong Dosu's adrenaline waned, groans of pain escaped his lips. But before he could fully comprehend his predicament, he found himself staring into the gaping maw of the gorilla, its powerful fangs descending upon him.

Ah, he is going to bite my head off—Hong Dosu's thought, just before his head was crushed like a watermelon followed by a sickening crunch as darkness enveloped him.

Chapter 97: A Storm of Songs

I leaned on the balcony's railings on the third floor of my wooden Chinese-style mansion. From up here, I could see everything within and beyond the town.

However, the golden-tinted barrier ruined the view of the forest in the distance. Still, it was quite a view as I could see the governor's mansion and the two clans' compounds from here.

I sighed and looked into the distance as I had been doing for weeks. Outside the walls, Body Tempering disciples were working on traps and other miscellaneous things I had prepared for the next Beast Wave.

It had been a while since I sent the letter to Song Song, and there had been no reply. So, it was safe to assume that the messaging had failed. Song Song would have noticed the strange way I acted in the letter and would have at least paid a visit. But there was no way for the enemy to know the relationship between myself and Song Song.

I had hoped the letters reached her, but I knew the chances were nonexistent. If the message hadn't reached her, then the monstrous beasts should have been fed misinformation.

I had gone through a lot of trouble preparing everything else, too. While my plan would need some luck to be successful, there were also many other factors.

The monstrous beasts might have human-like intelligence and perhaps had even learned how to speak the human language by listening to humans. However, I doubted they knew how to read. But they should have a messenger to read the letter for them.

Here's hoping they were too intelligent to just kill a human. Instead, they would force him to read their letter, at least. If somehow they had disregarded the letter they had caught from the sword, I had ensured the scout got a similar letter on him.

This experience taught me that schemes needed more than just playing around and lying to people. There was also the unstable factor of luck and coincidences to take into account.

I clenched my fist as I remembered the scout, one of the guys who acted as the Hong Clan Leader's bodyguard. I had never spoken to him or known anything about the guard, but he no doubt had a life of his own; perhaps he even had loved ones waiting for his return.

I knew nothing about the guy, and he had not wronged me. But in the end, my plan led to his death, even though the Hong Clan Leader had the right to choose who he wanted. Thankfully, he had offered his own members during the meeting, as I would have hated to send someone and sentence them to death myself.

"This is why I don't like politics," I grumbled. "I don't have the heart for it."

For all I knew, the guy could have been a monstrous murderer who liked killing cats. Or he could have been a saint. Either way, my choice was made, and even if no one would remember that man, I would do so until my time came too. Everyone would die eventually; some just went faster than others. He was already dead, and thinking about these things too much was detrimental when I was in the middle of a war.

But as I sensed a Qi Gathering Cultivator getting closer, it broke me out of my melancholic thoughts. I stared ahead and was greeted by the Hong Clan Leader looking at me with a smile.

Unlike usual, he was alone this time. He had snuck past the guards and was standing in my garden, where Speedy was staring at him with a pointed look.

I was already growing tired of looking at the governor's or the clan leaders' faces so much when we had meetings. Adding to that time was the last thing I wanted. Those guys were almost entirely useless when it came to the logistics of keeping a war or preparing for it.

"Clan Leader, how can I help you?" I asked, leaning on the railings and acting nonchalant, though I was prepared for any of these guys to attack me at a moment's notice.

The clan leader jumped and covered the distance from the ground to the third floor in one leap. He stepped to the edge of the railing I was leaning on and turned toward me with his ever-present smile.

"Well, I just came to give you some information you might consider useful," he said. "Before setting off, the messenger I chose knew that it was unlikely he would make it through this alive. So he volunteered to take a tracking talisman with him to roughly show us how far the monstrous beasts' perimeter is."

I almost believed his story for a second as he looked at the ground with a sad look. But then I remembered who I was talking with, and there was an almost 100% chance this guy had used some underhanded methods to get such information. Also, despite looking sad and singing the messenger's praises, the Hong Clan Leader never mentioned this "hero's" name.

Did he even know the guy's name?

Either way, if his information was accurate, it would be helpful. As the Clan Leader relayed the information to me, I adjusted some plans in my head and reacted accordingly.

If what he said was right, the monstrous beasts were far from the forest entrance, but not that far. I could work with that.

"Anyway, I hope that after the war is over, you remember that the Hong Clan were always your friends and willing to make sacrifices to see that humanity wins against the vile monstrous beasts," the Hong Clan Leader said with a serious look.

Essentially, after removing all the flowery words, he was asking for some benefits after the war. But he was barking up the wrong tree if he wanted something like that.

"I won't have much power after the war is finished since I will be gone, and someone like the governor, who was a part of the higher echelon of the Blazing Sun Sect, would have more pull around these parts," I said.

But he didn't seem to accept my decision despite wrapping my refusal in flowery language that I had learned from the Hong Clan Leader himself. 

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His frown didn't sway me; I had stood against Song Song when I refuted her decisions, and her frowns came with a heavy dose of killing intent and the knowledge that she might actually follow through. Overall, the Hong Clan Head seemed more like a cat than when compared to someone like Song Song.

Ultimately, the clan leader did not intend to stay mad at me; he knew he couldn't afford it. He also knew that I knew that, and he had no advantage in this negotiation. If he thought I would see the man he sacrificed as a genuine sacrifice on his part, I beg to differ. He probably didn't like the guy that much since he would never send someone he cared about on a suicide mission.

"I don't exactly have any power in Whitewall Town after this thing is over," I said, deciding not to mention the elephant in the room: whether we could even get out of this ordeal alive.

"You just have to say that the Hong Clan contributed the most, and your words would be enough," he offered.

"If at the end of this war we all come out alive, and your clan has made a significant contribution, I will make sure to remember to mention your name," I agreed, worded in a way that clarified if his clan didn't pull their weight, they wouldn't earn any compliments.

After this war against monstrous beasts was over and I was far away, the clans could do whatever they wanted against each other for all I cared. This revelation about the Hong Clan Leader would have made me think less of the man. While everyone risked death against a monstrous enemy, the Hong Clan Leader schemed against his allies.

But sadly, I already thought so low of him that my opinion couldn't plummet any further.

"Either way, I will always make sure to help my friends and scorn my enemies," I said, taking a page out of his book. I used flowery words accompanied by an ambiguous smile, and he was free to interpret it however he wished. "Your clan has sacrificed the most in this war until now. I will remember that."

"Wonderful! That is all I ever wanted," he exclaimed, his happiness masked behind a smile. "Anyway, I won't bore you any longer. I also have my duties to defend the innocent people of Whitewall Town!"

With that said, he jumped off the balcony, landing on the ground noiselessly before slipping past the guards just as easily as he had come in, moving too fast for them to see him.

"Duties to defend Whitewall Town?" I repeated his words and couldn't help but chuckle. This was the same guy who had suggested we sacrifice all the civilians to save their own hides. "Politics is such bullshit."

I looked into the distance at the real heroes of this war. All the Body Tempering Cultivators who worked diligently to dig holes outside the walls. They were the ones who made sure that my plans were carried out quickly and efficiently and did the work of a thousand men with modern machines.

I was about to take a page out of some famous generals from Earth and commit a bit of what might be termed war crimes.

Despite being labeled as such, the concept was still new here and the norm given the circumstances. Most people on the frontlines in this war were what in my previous world would be considered children.

The most important question was which tactics would be most beneficial in this war. Nothing was off the table, and I planned to use every method available.

"The time for politics and talking is over; now is the time for action," I muttered, trying to hype myself up. It was easier said than done. Because if I was wrong, then there was going to be a massacre of human lives and this whole ordeal would be my fault. 

...

Days passed as I waited for an attack that never came. Weeks turned into a month, and still, no devastating attack occurred. However, that only served to put me even more on edge.

On a snowy day, I sat cross-legged in a meditative position on the thawing ground in my mansion's yard. It was cold, and snow covered everything except my mansion. I used arrays to keep the yard dry, as wetness would bother Speedy and slow my training needlessly.

Even with my eyes closed, I could sense the Qi inside me shifting, twisting, and changing. Qi from the surrounding area was absorbed into my pores and then moved to the nape of my neck, where the Spirit Roots began their work, filtering the Qi into a usable form. The whole process left a tingling sensation running down my spine. It wasn't uncomfortable, just a bit strange, like touching something with a third hand I never knew existed.

The progress was slow. Despite a month of practice, my Qi had barely increased by less than ten percent. To reach the two-star Qi Gathering stage would take about a year, give or take a few months. Even if I encountered no bottlenecks, I would be almost in my thirties by the time I reached the peak of Qi Gathering.

Physical training wouldn't directly impact my cultivation stages like before. However, having a stronger body was always beneficial, so I continued my physical training.

The lack of significant growth didn't dishearten me. I knew my cultivation talent was relatively average. The rapid progress during Body Tempering was due to my refined training methods, which were much better than the original Liu Feng's.

After another round of cultivation, I stopped and took a deep breath, feeling the strain on my Spirit Roots. One couldn't cultivate all the time, especially in the early stages when the Spirit Roots were just getting accustomed to Qi. Overusing them could cause damage, even permanent in some cases, especially when training at night in the cold, where Yin Qi from the moon could harm the Spirit Roots. It was like crushing ice with your teeth daily; you might not feel it at first but over time…

I took out a notebook and began writing down my stats. I hadn't had the time to relax like this in a while.

Name: Liu Feng

Age: 17

Talent: C (fifty-three spirit root branches)

Cultivation: Body Tempering (nine-star) → Qi Gathering (one-star)

Strength – 9.9 → 11

Agility – 9.9 → 12

Endurance – 9.9 → 14

Qi – 1

Techniques:

- Sonic Fang Fist (Mortal Grade)

- Rushing Bull Step (Mortal Grade)

- Turtle Shell Body (Mortal Grade)

- Dancing Jade Armor (Semi-Earth Grade)

- Falling Moon Claw (Earth Grade)

Skills:

- Array Conjurer - Level 2 (Practitioner)

My endurance was still leading in growth. By now, the Turtle Shell Body Technique was no longer as helpful. At least it wasn't supposed to be, but considering the changes in Speedy... I smiled fondly thinking of him. He had grown so much since I bought him at the market.

But a sudden cold wind interrupted my thoughts as a snowstorm began setting in, the first of the winter. We were already past the middle of winter, and I hoped this ordeal would soon be over.

As the snowstorm picked up, I had to cancel the barrier protecting the mansion against snow. It would be a waste of spirit stones to keep powering it since it wouldn't handle the weight of accumulated snow.

Suddenly, a crackling sound came from my pocket. I quickly took out a flashing talisman connected to arrays around the forest. Soon, other talismans followed, flashing in my hand.

My heart dropped, and I looked up at the building snowstorm.

During this month and a half, I wondered why the monstrous beasts hadn't attacked. Had my plan been successful? Perhaps the letter had intimidated them, prompting a move to another region? Such assumptions were based on hopeless optimism, and I paid them no mind.

But as I stared at the snowstorm, I realized what the monstrous beasts had been waiting for. Just as we had prepared for them, they had also prepared against us.

One thing was sure: they wouldn't have come out recklessly after waiting so long. We had to fight on their terms.

"Guards!" I called out to the two men at the gate. "Summon the governor and notify the clans. It's time for battle!"

Chapter 98: Charging The Gates

As I walked atop the wall, my heartbeat rang in my ears, and the snow crunched under my feet. The biting wind sent a chill down my spine, and the snowstorm grew stronger and colder with each passing second. I breathed out a misty breath and narrowed my eyes against the howling winds and snow in the distance. No matter how hard I tried, the heavy snowfall made it difficult to see what was happening. 

Even a cultivator's eyes couldn't pierce through it, and there was a good chance the monstrous beasts had calculated this too.

I turned around and gave the town one last look. 

A crowd of people was evacuating on the opposite side from where the attack was coming. We were generally surrounded, but the monstrous beasts knew that spreading their forces would weaken their piercing pressure against the walls. I hoped their commander was not foolish enough to spread their forces too thin and understood the basics of warfare.

Hopefully, if they decided to attack from behind and somehow snuck past the sensory arrays I had painstakingly put up, the governor's soldiers would warn us. There was no smoke signal from the other sides of the walls, indicating no attack there. Even if there was one, it would be hard to see in this heavy snowstorm.

I took a deep breath and calmed my rapidly beating heart. Worrying about everything else or what the enemy had up their sleeve was no use. I had prepared as much as I could with the limited resources available.

Explosions in the distance rang so loud that they drowned out even the howling wind for a second. I narrowed my eyes and stared into the distance. There were some red flashes, but nothing concrete I could make out. However, after a dozen seconds, the winds carried the smell of blood all the way here. Hence, it was safe to assume that some of the arrays I had placed just outside the forest had been effective.

This idea came from landmines in my last life, except I used flawed arrays that would explode on contact as a weapon.

The improvised minefield would have been detected without an army of monstrous beasts who could use Qi. 

Sensing Qi wasn't like any other sense; the closest comparison was knowing when I was close to a fire, even with my eyes closed, because I could feel the heat. But when surrounded by flames, it would be hard to sense a candle in the corner. That was the situation these monstrous beasts were in. I had exploited the vulnerability that came with being in an army of Qi-using monstrous beasts.

"Sir, should we attack too?" asked one of the Body Tempering Cultivators.

Even though the governor and two clan leaders were close by, I had the final decision on these matters. I had ensured everyone knew that over the past few weeks. The last thing I wanted was confusion on the battlefield due to conflicting orders from the governor and me.

"No, hold on for now," I said calmly, though internally I was swearing like a sailor.

This was not good at all. With the limited visibility, one of our biggest advantages was neutralized. 

We had prepared a lot of poisoned spears, and I had made sure everyone here knew the weaknesses of certain monstrous beasts. This would have given even Body Tempering Cultivators a chance to kill them. But all that was in vain as the strong winds from the snowstorm and the limited visibility made it nearly impossible to hit the right target.

I hadn't thought they would be patient enough to wait for a snowstorm. Even monstrous beasts had to eat, and there wasn't much they could consume out here except each other.

Whoever their strategist was, they were dangerous and risk-taking creatures. They preferred that monstrous beasts eat each other rather than attack us on a clear day. They had gambled on a snowstorm occurring. Perhaps they thought that even with some beasts devouring each other, fewer would die compared to attacking our walls.

It seemed my bout of misinformation had held them back quite a bit, and most of all, they hadn't underestimated me.

"They actually developed anti-human strategies," I muttered.

Though we were enemies, I admired whoever came up with this. Monstrous beasts did not have books or other resources to learn from past events. This was all something their strategist had devised on their own.

I grabbed my two daggers and unsheathed them from a hidden sheath in the inner part of my robes. 

Tightening my grip on the blades, I came to a resolution.

No matter what, I had to kill the monstrous beast scheming these strategies. A lot of people would die otherwise. Even if we somehow survived this onslaught and they lost, that strategist could not be allowed to escape.

Suddenly, a deep primal roar in the distance raised the hairs on the back of my neck.

"Something big is rushing toward us!" I yelled loudly enough for the other Qi Gathering Cultivators atop the wall to hear. The governor nodded, and the clan leaders signaled they had heard me.

The snow was blocking my sight, but my senses were still sharp. The army of monstrous beasts blurred together like one giant forest fire approaching us. But one of the monstrous beasts had separated from the group and charged straight at us.

Explosions rang closer and closer, signaling that the monstrous beast was still charging even after running through some landmines. They were unable to harm it!

A guttural roar grew louder, and we all tensed in anticipation of what would happen next. The Body Tempering Cultivators grabbed their poison-dipped spears, ready to throw them. In contrast the clan leaders readied their artifacts, and the governor prepared his technique.

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Whatever was charging at us was around the peak of Qi Gathering and had strong defenses. It was too fast to be a turtle-like monstrous beast, so there was still a good chance we could break through its defenses.

I contemplated telling the others how strong the monstrous beast was but decided against it. Such information would only lower morale, and those who needed to know could already sense its strength.

As the monstrous beast grew closer, it revealed itself as a giant creature the size of a truck, resembling a boar with a snout large enough to cover its head. Immediately, I recognized the danger it posed.

The Body Tempering Cultivators threw their spears, but the sharpened metal bounced off its skin, causing no damage. The poison had no chance to take effect.

"Give me this," I said, taking a soldier's spear next to me and imbuing it with Qi.

I threw the projectile, and it cut through the wind at breakneck speed, hitting the monstrous beast at the top of its head. 

But even with all the power I could muster, the spear's metallic tip crumbled upon impact. A small scratch was beneath its fur but nowhere near enough for the poison to enter and slow down the beast.

The clan leaders used their artifacts, shooting beams of Qi at the monstrous boar, but it only made the creature grunt. At the same time, the governor pointed his palm at the beast, and a blast of Qi struck its flank. The monstrous boar shook for a moment, but it did not stop.

The governor and clan leaders began charging their moves again. Still, they were already moving away, realizing the monstrous beast would crash into the wall before they could attack again.

An Earth Legged Boar. I had never seen one before, but it was known for its solid defenses and especially powerful legs. Nothing else was particularly special about the beast, but that seemed more than enough.

As it got closer, I looked for any weak points. The monstrous beast's eyes were hidden behind its snout, rendering it blind. Typically, that would give an average cultivator an advantage as they could dodge out of the way. But now wasn't a time when we could dodge.

Leaning on the edge of the wall, I looked down and roughly calculated how long the monstrous beast would take to reach this place. Stopping it right at the wall would be useless. Its momentum would still carry it through the walls even if it died.

Jumping down, the thick snow crunched under my feet. Unlike in the town where the snow was cleared daily, the snow outside had accumulated to knee height. I had used it to better hide my traps, but running through this was not an option. It would slow me down too much.

I jumped up, maneuvered mid-air, and landed feet-first on the vertical part of the wall. Using Rushing Bull Step, I kicked off the marble stone and shot toward the charging monstrous beast like a bullet.

Once I reached the beast, I maneuvered out of its charge and used my dagger to stab into its back, stopping myself from falling. The daggers only barely pierced the monstrous beast's skin and fat.

There was no time to consider how the book I had read might have underestimated the boar-like beast's toughness. I balanced myself despite the shaking as the beast moved. Imbuing the daggers with Qi, I swung down.

Though my dagger went far enough to draw blood and flesh, it halted as soon as it hit something hard. The monstrous boar grunted and shook its back, trying to shake me off, but it was useless.

I grabbed its fur and repositioned myself

Falling Moon Claw!

Using my strongest attack point-blank and charging it up as much as possible, I created a bleeding cut on the back of its neck. Though the beast heaved heavily and left a trail of blood on the snow, its charge barely slowed. Even if I attacked again and again, it would take a dozen attacks to kill this thing. It would have reached the walls by then, and I would run out of Qi.

I decided in a split second, as the beast was already too close to the wall. Using its back as a foothold, I jumped off just as it smashed into the wall. Immediately, the barrier around the town shimmered and broke, and the part of the wall the boar had smashed down into came down with it.

With its crazy momentum, rocks went flying, hitting some people. Those atop the wall where the beast crashed fell, their screams quieted as the beast crushed their bodies. It was not a pretty sight; their mangled forms were smashed aside.

The monstrous beast grunted and looked around confused, as if what had happened was an accident.

But I didn't have time to observe the beast. Rocks passed toward me, and I used my Qi-imbued daggers to cut them down before any could hit me.

The monstrous beast didn't stay confused for long. It approached one of the fallen Body Tempering Cultivators and crushed his body under its hoof like a bloody pimple. It was a gross sight, and the snow around the broken wall turned red, with a trail of blood leading toward the break in the wall like a road for the other monstrous beasts to follow.

"Governor!" I called out to the only other man I knew could injure the monstrous beast.

Unlike the clan leaders, he had to have techniques that could do real damage. He met my gaze and nodded, and we simultaneously charged toward the monstrous beast.

"Lion Roar Fist!" the governor yelled as crimson Qi gathered in his fist, forming into a lion head silhouette. He slammed his fist into the boar's ribs.

The attack sent the monstrous beast sliding on the snow outside the wall, but its legs steadied. It stared at the governor hatefully, but it seemed to forget about me entirely.

I imbued my daggers with Qi, jumped on its back once more, and began slashing at the exposed nape of its neck. The upper part of the boar's spine was visible after the last attacks, so I relentlessly slashed at its nape, and the beast groaned in pain.

The governor took this chance to imbue his fists with Qi and pummel the boar's ribs. Neither of us used Martial Techniques, knowing we had to conserve our Qi for the other enemies.

"Shit," I cursed under my breath as I sensed the army of monstrous beasts getting closer. At this rate, even if the boar died, we were done.

I abandoned my attack and yelled to the governor, "Get back on the wall! The rest of this guy's friends are coming."

He looked at me confused, questioning my decision, but there was no time to explain. Ultimately, he followed my orders and jumped back atop the wall.

With no more targets around, the boar-like monstrous beast roared. It opened its mouth wide and gathered Qi in its throat, preparing to shoot a blast. But before it could, I swung my dagger and unleashed a Falling Moon Claw slash.

The invisible slashes, shaped like a spiraling cylinder, entered the boar's mouth and sliced the back of its throat. The boar grunted and gurgled, falling to the ground and thrashing before it drowned in its own blood.

No matter how strong a monstrous beast or cultivator was, they still needed to breathe. The boar had run quite a distance and was breathing heavily, so it drowned in its own blood faster than most.

I glanced at the broken part of the wall; the barrier had fallen. Turning to the other side, I saw shadows in the snowstorm of the monstrous beasts charging toward the town.

The wall was broken, and our bluffing barrier was down. Thankfully, in the snowstorm, the leader of the monstrous beasts shouldn't have noticed what had happened. The snowstorm obstructed their view just as much as ours.

But there was no mistaking that we were on the back foot in this conflict, and an opening in the wall had formed much quicker than expected. We suffered a devastating loss before the monstrous beast army reached the walls.

No matter what, I couldn't let any of them enter the city.

Chapter 99: Thinking of a Title

The snowstorm grew heavier, making everything more difficult to see. As the air grew colder, I began taking deeper breaths.

I glanced back at the broken wall and then returned my gaze to the shadows of the monstrous beasts. Though I couldn't sense each monstrous beast since they were all so close together, it felt like a tidal wave of Qi charging toward us.

There were over a thousand monstrous beasts, at least. I couldn't handle even two of them at once without facing grave danger. With this many it was beyond dangerous, and there was no wall to hide behind anymore.

I turned and ran behind the wall, planning to use the opening the boar had left as a choke point against the monstrous beast army. This way, they shouldn't be able to use their numbers as effectively.

As they approached, I finally got a better look at them. It was a cascade of monstrous beasts, each more terrifying than the last. Many predators among them had a natural killer intent oozing out, and in such huge numbers, it sent a chill down my spine.

I looked at the Body Tempering warriors on the ground with me. They looked scared, but thankfully, no one had frozen in fear. It seemed the training they had undergone this month had kept them confident.

Most of the monstrous beasts charging were smaller than the boar I fought before but were still much larger than most normal animals. On closer inspection, they looked like mutated animals: a horse-sized wolf with devil-like horns, two-headed bears, zebras with vampire-like teeth, and more.

Due to the snowstorm, even as the monstrous beasts activated my traps, such as arrays that shot out flashbangs or generated pillars of fire, these traps were not as effective as they would have been otherwise.

As they approached, the traps did not inflict as many casualties as I had hoped. The beasts were barely injured or inconvenienced by them.

"Governor!" I called out.

The old man turned my way, and I ordered, "Manage the soldiers atop the wall for now. I will deal with any monstrous beasts that come through the opening."

Usually, the better choice might have been to have the governor down here. He had higher cultivation than me, but he was still an old man who might not have the stamina to fight as long as I could. Also, I needed him as a trump card in case a strong enemy came so he could deal a few heavy blows.

Also, I trusted no one other than myself with the duty of defending the opening in the wall. If Song Song had been here, I might have entrusted this to her, but for now, this was the best I could do. I had the most lethal skill set needed to handle this. I knew the weaknesses of monstrous beasts better than anyone here, even though they each had a copy of my monstrous beast encyclopedia. 

Some monstrous beasts were too big and durable to fall for my traps. They eventually approached the crack in the wall, charging toward it with as many as could fit through the opening. 

As soon as they crossed the invisible line that was the broken wall, I charged at them, my mind focused on coming up with different ways to kill them. I aimed at their general weak points: eyes, mouths, and for creatures with big nostrils, their noses. 

The first few monstrous beasts fell quickly, slashes piercing their eyes and turning their brains into mush. They dropped dead where the wall used to be, forming new walls of flesh. 

But I was under no illusion that this would work for long. I jumped atop the corpses of the big, monstrous beasts I had killed and saw the field of attackers running through my traps. Many died, and many survived. 

With a thought, the marble walls shone brightly. Many of my arrays were weakened during the snowstorm, especially the flashbangs and the arrays involving heat. But the snowstorm didn't benefit me either. 

"Ice Array, activate!" I muttered under my breath, and there was a sudden chill in the area on the outer part of the wall. 

Unlike the others, this array had a considerable boost. Within a split second, it froze the snow, turning it into ice and transforming the field outside the wall into a glacial environment. The monstrous beasts charging slipped and fell onto the ice with a resounding bang. 

It looked pretty comical as some truck-sized monstrous beasts tried standing up, only to slip and fall again. This one move halted the entire monstrous beast army from charging at the opening in the wall as they struggled to approach in general. 

This was more effective than I had assumed. 

But there was no time to laugh at my enemies falling down. It was only a matter of time before they did something about it or got used to moving on ice. Instead, I concentrated on my next move, closing my eyes and sending Qi inside of me in preparation. 

While my cultivation might not have advanced much over the last month and a half, it didn't mean I hadn't improved. The monstrous beasts had made a mistake waiting so long to attack, and by the end of this battle, they would learn that lesson the hard way. 

During these months, I went from a Qi Gathering Cultivator new to having Qi to someone who trained with it every day. This past month, my focus was on improving my Qi and learning how to use my techniques in tandem. A whole month of scheming how to best kill monstrous beasts had given me plenty of time to come up with some wild ideas. 

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I first used the Dancing Jade Armor Technique to create a pair of green boots. Then, I used Falling Moon Claw to create two stationary invisible slashes that rotated like chainsaws and attached to the bottoms of my feet like Qi. I kept the power low so they wouldn't cut my armor. 

It was a complicated technique, something I had thought about but never put into practice before. It was one of those ideas inspired by using Falling Moon Claw to cut apples really well. Practicing it was pretty fun. 

With the boots ready, I stepped onto the ice, and there was the sound of something grinding. At first, I had difficulty adjusting, but thankfully, as a cultivator, I had better balance than anyone from Earth. Even on my first try, I got it down quickly and skated through the ice at breakneck speed. 

This was a battle, and I should have been serious, and I was. But something about using new techniques brought a smile to my face. 

As soon as I got close to an ostrich-like monstrous beast with three legs, I cut off its head as it tried to stand up. I grabbed its head mid-air and threw it at a flying monstrous beast to knock it off balance. 

The flying beast was a crow-like creature with three red eyes, the size of an eagle. It barely felt my throw but still turned toward me and got lower, likely more troubled by the snowstorm than my attack. But it didn't matter. This gave me enough time to get close, jump, and stab it through the neck. The tip of my blade emerged on the other side, dripping with blood as the monstrous beast made a gurgling caw-like sound. 

Just like that, I butchered more monstrous beasts. The low visibility helped me move about and use assassination tactics. Monstrous beasts had a harder time sensing Qi because, unlike humans, they were not trained for it. Human and monstrous beast Qi felt the same when it came down to it, so most wouldn't be able to tell whether I was a friend or foe before it was too late. 

Of course, I wasn't the only one taking advantage of the situation. The governor and clan leaders were shooting Qi beams at the disadvantaged, flying monstrous beasts. At the same time, the Body Tempering warriors threw spears at those struggling to get up. 

Even the Body Tempering cultivators were doing decent damage thanks to their spears being dipped in a handmade poison that the governor, clan leaders, and I had worked hard to make. While I had little knowledge of poisons and wouldn't consider myself skilled in the field, I had read many interesting things on the library's second and third floors. Poisons were one of the many fields of knowledge I had dabbled in. 

As it seemed like another massacre, I sensed a Qi signature approaching at breakneck speed. It couldn't have been another human since I was the only one here. Without hesitation, I turned around and slashed before I could even see the monstrous beast. 

However, I cut only through the air, as the monstrous beast was already airborne. It looked like a thin humanoid lizard with dark claws and three fingers on its feet and hands. Those claws had a dusting of ice on them, and there were holes in the ice it had been coming from, so it was safe to assume it had used its claws to grab onto and move through the ice. 

Its hand turned into a blur, and I barely raised a dagger in time to defend. A metallic clanking sound rang out, and I was pushed back. In a split second, I had used my dagger to defend against it clawing at my face and lost sight of it. When I lowered my arm, it was already gone. 

Thankfully, while I couldn't see it, I could still sense its presence. I turned around and raised my daggers to defend my vitals, but I still ended up with a piercing pain in my shoulder. Three deep claw marks oozed blood. 

It was overwhelmingly faster than me. In a split-second decision, I decided not to continue fighting it. I could already foresee myself bleeding out on the ice and dying. 

So, I jumped back and started skating backward, using my Qi senses to avoid stumbling. But the monstrous beast gave chase, moving so fast it was just a blur. The snowstorm did not help my visibility at all. 

Falling Moon Claw!

I imbued Qi into my daggers and swung them wildly, sending a barrage of slashes where I could sense the monstrous beast. While it did slow down, it somehow blitzed through all my slashes, dodging them effortlessly. 

This guy was the definition of a speed blitz. How the hell was he moving so fast on slippery ice? 

Once again, I tried manipulating the slashes to corner it from all angles. But the lizard-like monstrous beast moved through them all and finally caught up to me. Within seconds, dozens of slashes appeared along my forearms and a few on my thighs as I tried to defend myself. 

Dancing Jade Armor!

A greenish hue surrounded me, and the monstrous beast could no longer get through my defenses. However, keeping this technique up while using the skates was hard.

If I lost even an ounce of concentration, all my techniques would crumble simultaneously, and I would be in serious trouble. The skating technique required a lot of focus to maintain.

As I kept backing off and got closer to the wall, I tried sending flying slashes at the lizard-like monstrous beast. It seemed wholly concentrated on dodging my attacks. Perhaps that was why it reacted a bit too late when a crimson beam of Qi hit its shoulder, courtesy of one of the clan leaders. The monstrous beast seemed surprised.

"Bad move, little buddy," I said. That split second of distraction cost the lizard-like monstrous beast dearly, as a flying invisible slash was enough to sever its leg.

While I could afford to make mistakes, all my moves were lethal to him, so he could afford none. But I didn't stop there and went for the decapitation. Before my knives could touch its skin, it blitzed me again and appeared beside me.

I barely tilted my head to the side as it missed hitting my left artery, leaving only a tiny cut on my jaw.

What?

That was when I noticed its leg was back to normal. I was initially confused until I saw the leg I had cut off was on the icy ground, covered in a dusting of snow.

"Regeneration? You are crazy fast and can heal. That is quite a dangerous combination," I said.

While the regeneration was fast, its Qi had dropped significantly. That must have taken a lot out of it. Damn, I doubt it would fall for the same trick again. 

"To regenerate bone, flesh, and nerves so easily. If we weren't in the middle of a battlefield, I would love to discover how your body works," I admitted.

What a shame I had to kill this creature. Unlike most cultivators here, I could see how some monstrous beasts could be intelligent beings with whom we might work. But I wasn't blind to reality and knew my view was skewed.

We consumed each other as food and resources. We couldn't work together with those dynamic, intelligent beings or not. Still, I would have loved to talk with an intelligent monstrous beast and discover how they saw the world.

Were we monsters to them? Or just feisty food?

"It really is a shame. But I am too weak to follow my whims and wishes. With enough power, I could make my own rules."

After saying that, I finally backed off enough and entered the town grounds through the broken part of the wall, with the lizard-like monstrous beast still giving chase.

Chapter 100: My Besto Frendo

Even though I had moved back behind the wall, the lizard-like monstrous beast followed me without hesitation. This time, I didn't have the privilege of skating around or allowing its hits to push me back.

But it didn't take long for the tables to turn. As I jumped back, the monstrous beast was about to give chase, but its eyes widened as it noticed that not everything was as it seemed.

Three new Qi signatures had landed, and we had cornered the monstrous beast in a four-way prong. We all attacked immediately without an ounce of hesitation.

"You have amazing instincts," I told the monstrous beast. "But you're quite reckless. With a bit of training, I could see you becoming a skilled fighter who would be able to hit way above their level."

Though I could see its future potential, monstrous beasts generally had no concept of training. If this lizard-like monstrous beast had been trained, I would have been dead before I could retreat behind these walls. Perhaps training was a concept their leader needed more time to implement.

The clan leader, the governor, and I simultaneously shot long-range Qi attacks at the monstrous beast. Its eyes widened just before an explosion engulfed it.

"He jumped!" I yelled, pointing at the sky where the lizard-like monstrous beast was. "I will take care of this. Save your Qi."

I contemplated using a flying slash, but wasting Qi was not something I could afford. Fatigue was already catching up to me, and my Qi reserves were less than half full.

In the end, I decided on the next best thing: jumping up and giving chase of the monstrous beast while we were both in midair. Since it couldn't use its feet to kick off the ground, it couldn't build up any speed in midair. But it was still a fast monstrous beast. It tried to slash at me and even landed a couple of hits.

But I didn't mind. I swung my daggers and pierced its eyes. I skewered the monstrous beast continuously as we fell to the ground, making sure to deal as much damage as possible so its regeneration factor wouldn't keep up.

By the time we landed, the lizard-like monstrous beast's body was riddled with holes and oozing blood. I stood cautiously over its corpse as the Qi inside it fizzled out and it died.

But despite our success, we did not get the chance to celebrate. A reverberating crash sounded in the distance. The snowstorm made it hard to see, but such a huge army was hard to miss.

Powerful bear-like and moose-like monstrous beasts stomped through the ice, turning it into chunks and crushed powder. It didn't take long before the array holding the ice cracked, and a large spider-web-like fissure spread through it.

"The array is broken," the governor pointed out with a solemn look on his face.

Behind the powerful monstrous beasts, the faster ones charged forward with frightening speed as soon as the ice was gone.

Whoever was leading these monstrous beasts had already figured out a countermeasure to what I was doing. Dealing with someone smart while my life was on the line was a pain in the ass. I preferred friendly competition or a healthy rivalry over death battles.

But even with the advantage, it seemed that was not enough for the mastermind behind the monstrous beasts. A giant porcupine-like monstrous beast stepped forward, inflating like a pufferfish until it was the size of a commercial airplane. Then, without waiting long, the spikes on its back shot toward us.

"Damn," I cursed under my breath as the porcupine's spikes, the size of electric poles, flew at deadly speed.

I intercepted a couple of the spikes that came my way, but the screams and grunts of the Body Tempering Cultivators made me grit my teeth. 

"Everyone! Get behind the walls!" I yelled.

The porcupine somehow grew a new wave of spikes and shot them out just as ferociously. Thankfully, most of the remaining Body Tempering Cultivators followed my orders and jumped behind the wall, though a few were unfortunately skewered.

The wall shook as the spikes landed and dug into it. Despite their size, the spikes didn't do much damage to the wall but caused it to shake, which was quite worrying.

There were no more arrays outside the walls, and there wasn't much else I could do except let the monstrous beasts run us over. As I was thinking this, the monstrous beasts were not yet close enough to attack. There was a shift in the air, and from the corner of my eye, I saw a four-armed gorilla appear out of nowhere. Somehow, a monster of that size had evaded my senses.

By the time I turned toward it, the four-armed gorilla had covered half the distance. I was screwed. Its giant, meaty fist was heading my way, and there was no way I could get out of this unscathed.

Whoever this monstrous beast was, it wasn't underestimating me and seemed to be going all out from the beginning.

Damn, how was this fair? I thought these monstrous beasts had intelligence, and a small part of me hoped they had developed feelings I could exploit, like honor.

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This was a Foundation Establishment monstrous beast, and it wasn't holding back at all. 

At least be a bit arrogant, my dude. What was up with all that Qi in your fist?

Also, how come I hadn't sensed him? This guy was Foundation Establishment and used a method to hide his Qi and sneak attack me.

What the hell? He didn't have to try so damn hard to kill a meager Qi Gathering Cultivator! This was like using a rocket from a stealth jet to kill a rabbit. Absolute overkill!

The fist was too fast for me to raise my arms and block; it was faster than I could even move my eyes to look at the attacker. Even if I could block it, there was no doubt in my mind that the attack would still kill me. It had too much Qi and raw power behind it to be stopped.

As time seemed to slow down, I wondered if this was one of those moments where everything moves slowly just before people die. Instinctively, my body thought I was already dead.

But despite the danger, I wasn't necessarily too worried. Why? Because I trusted someone to have my back!

Boom!

Something fell from the sky, landing between us. It was Speedy, now the size of a car, and he used his shell to block the punch.

For a moment, I was worried about Speedy.

However, I knew one thing for sure. Turtle-type monsters were considered weak because they were dreadfully slow and didn't have strong attacks. They were deemed weak because no cultivator would be in danger even if they encountered them. The average cultivator could easily escape from turtle-like monstrous beasts.

Turtle-like monstrous beasts made up for their lack of strength and speed with overwhelming defense. Their defensive power was such that, in some cases, it skipped rank, and even Foundation Establishment creatures would have a hard time hurting a Qi Gathering turtle!

There was a loud sound and a strong wind generated from the aftermath of the attack, but despite that, Speedy didn't even budge. He had his head and legs out of his shell and was facing me.

The not-so-little guy had an almost bored look as this whole thing happened.

After it was over, Speedy rolled over and landed on his legs. The gorilla monstrous beast was still there, staring at his bloodied knuckles.

Then he looked at Speedy with a hateful gaze and roared, "Why is a monstrous beast working for a human? How dare you betray your own kind? You would stop our glorious advancements just to be treated like a pet?"

The gorilla's voice was enraged and growl-like. Still, Speedy was the epitome of calmness, just staring at the Foundation Establishment monstrous beast. If I was reading this right, Speedy didn't care about complicated things.

Politics? Ambition? Power? A greater purpose in life? Speedy cared for none of that. He was living my dream life of doing whatever he wanted.

A carpet flew down and landed next to the governor. That was the artifact Speedy had used to stay in the sky. He had been quite high up, where no monstrous beast should have been able to sense him. Even though Speedy was heavier than his size might suggest and had an incredible mass, his defense was strong enough that even falling from great heights did not visibly hurt him.

"What did you say?" the gorilla grumbled, staring at Speedy with a veil of hatred.

Huh? Could he understand Speedy, even though he couldn't speak? They were both monstrous beasts, so that might be the case.

"You think that our hatred is so cheap that a measly turtle does not care about it?" The four-armed gorilla's eyes turned red as he took a step forward. He looked ready to fight Speedy and almost forgot about poor old me.

But before he could continue, there was a shimmer in the air, and a human-sized butterfly appeared out of nowhere. Its wings were rainbow-colored, with an almost hypnotic effect to put someone at ease.

The butterfly's wings flashed with a strange light, and even though I didn't understand why, it seemed to be panicking.

What was more worrying was that despite the butterfly monstrous beast being close and having shown itself, I could not sense its presence at all. If it weren't for the shifting air and falling snow around it, I would have doubted its existence, possibly considering it an illusion.

It seemed like it had the ability to turn invisible and even hide others. That was likely how the gorilla had gotten so far into enemy lines without anyone sensing his monstrous Qi reserves. This kind of ability was very dangerous.

"Thanks for breaking me out of my stupor," the gorilla said, now eerily calm. "After everything humans have done to monstrous beasts, I was surprised that one of our kind would still take their side."

The butterfly's wings flashed again in a myriad of colors and now seemed calmer.

"Yes, I know I was supposed to wait and sneak attack the hidden Foundation Establishment human. But at this rate, the guy won't even need to show up," the gorilla stared at me. "Their leader is too dangerous. Even if we somehow won, with the losses he is making us suffer, we would still end up losing."

He must have figured out I was the leader when I ordered the Body Tempering Cultivators to come down. That was a wild and risky assumption on his part, but he had been right.

"If it makes you feel any better, it's not just humans being cruel to monstrous beasts. Don't act like you guys don't also destroy villages on a whim and eat everyone from the youngest to the oldest of any human you encounter," I said.

Of course, I was lumping all monstrous beasts into one category. It was an ignorant assumption on his part that all humans kill monstrous beasts. The average mortal couldn't kill a monstrous beast even if they wanted to, and mortals still made up the majority of humans. He was blaming humanity as a whole for the sins of the powerful few, who were less than one percent of the entire human population.

But I didn't care. I was using these arguments to buy time to activate a barrage of arrays all over the city. I also bought time for the governor and the clan leaders to retreat. The gorilla-like monstrous beast had its eyes on me, and it would be a waste if the governor and clan leaders died because they were too close to the fight.

"Something about you makes me uncomfortable," the four-armed gorilla said, taking a step toward us. The snow under his feet crunched, and the ground cracked with every step as he spread his Qi over his body. "For some reason, it feels like if I let you live, monstrous beasts will never be able to move forward with a guy like you around."

For a monstrous beast, this guy was quite dramatic.

I formed a Qi coating around myself, ready to use the Dancing Jade Armor Technique immediately. Since he no longer had the element of surprise, I should still be able to react to his speed somewhat. While the guy was much faster than me, he was still slower than I could move my Qi.

However, the four-armed gorilla took me by surprise once again. Instead of attacking, he grabbed the edge of Speedy's shell and lifted the big guy with no problems, even though the ground around his feet cracked and caved in under the weight.

"As a monstrous beast who has lived among my own kind for many years, I know how to take care of turtle-type monstrous beasts!" he grunted. With his muscles bulging, he threw Speedy in a sumo throw outside the walls.

Well, shit... there went my defense plan. Speedy's defensive capabilities were where seventy percent of my confidence came from.

Chapter 101: A Bitter Loss

"Governor, from now on you will take command! Protect the soldiers!" I yelled out, hoping he understood my meaning.

After that, I immediately backed off, and the gorilla gave chase.

The monstrous beast was much faster than me. In less than a second, it was already in front of me. Despite my attempt to create some distance, it was useless. He threw a punch, and I crossed my arms, using the Dancing Jade Armour Technique to form a shield of jade in front of me.

But despite all my defenses, his fist crashed through the jade armor and struck my arms. Though some of the momentum of his attack was lost as it broke through the Dancing Jade Armour Technique, I still flew back like a rocket. I smashed into one of the houses, causing it to crumble.

My arms tingled, and my ears rang. 

Handling even two more hits like that would be next to impossible. Even though this attack wasn't as powerful as the first, it was still dangerous enough to kill me.

At least the people had evacuated as far away from the battle as possible. Otherwise, there would have been many casualties.

The gorilla-like monstrous beast didn't allow me any time to gather my bearings. I sensed his Qi signature already closing in on me.

I burst through the rubble and tried to run away, but the gorilla was so fast that I couldn't predict where the next attack would come from!

Forget handling two more attacks. One hit to a blind spot in my defenses, and I was a dead man!

I bit the inside of my cheek and spat a glob of blood on the ground. The blood wriggled and formed into a singular letter that meant 'Bind.' The air to my left shifted, signaling the gorilla's attack. There was no time to react, but the monstrous beast froze in place for a split second.

Though he broke free almost instantly, and there was no time to dodge, it was enough to bring up my arms and defend myself.

Baam!

Even though I used the Dancing Jade Armour Technique and jumped back to go with the impact instead of fighting against it, every bone in my body rattled. It felt like he was about to knock my skeleton out of me.

I used the force of his punch to fly as close to the middle of the city as possible.

While mid-air, I couldn't help but think—what a ridiculous difference in power. Without outside factors, no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't have been able to defend against even one attack.

The contrast in power between a Qi Gathering and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was overwhelming. There was no chance I could defeat this guy in combat!

Despite the four-armed gorilla giving chase like a mad dog, he still looked around cautiously. That caution was what was stopping him from going all out.

He must have been expecting a sneak attack from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. That was why he was not going all out like he did in the first attack, using most of his Qi for defense.

I came crashing down on the town's market, smashing through a couple of stalls and finally stopping after colliding with the wall of a restaurant. Spider-web-like cracks spread across the restaurant's wall.

How long would it take for the monstrous beast to notice there was no Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Though their initial sneak attack had failed, they were prepared to fight someone like that.

Even through the snowstorm and the sharp winds, I heard the screams from where I had left the battlefield, followed by another loud crash.

With the wall broken, the Body Tempering Cultivators stood no chance against the army of monstrous beasts.

There was another cloud of dust in the distance and a loud roar. More of the town wall was coming down as I sensed monstrous beasts breaking through, and my heart sank.

The walls were coming down one way or another... I had failed.

But there was no time to dwell on failure. The four-armed gorilla was already too close again.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Once more, I used a Binding array to halt him for a split second and readied myself to defend. The monstrous beast attacked the same way, but this time instead of meeting a rigid shield from the Dancing Jade Armour Technique, my new shield was like rubber, caving inward and hugging his fist.

It wasn't a good strategy against bladed weapons, but blunt damage could be considerably lessened this way. This idea came from anime in my previous life.

Of course, the difference in our power was still too vast, and he broke through the shield. But this time the power was vastly reduced, and even though I smashed through the restaurant, I did a backflip on the way out to lessen the force, my feet dragging on the ground.

I was still in the market and had not flown halfway across town from one punch.

Slowly, I was getting used to the rhythm of this battle.

But it wasn't all due to me. This attack had been weaker overall. The further into town we got, the more cautious the monstrous beast grew and the more his eyes wandered.

In a way, I understood his fear. A Foundation Establishment Cultivator could kill him in one attack if he dropped his defenses. He knew nothing about what stage the Foundation Establishment Cultivator might be at, adding to the perceived risk.

While it seemed that the monstrous beasts were numerous, I doubted they had many Foundation Establishment beasts in their ranks.

Seeing that his last attack did not have much effect on me, the gorilla-like monstrous beast channeled more of his Qi into his fists, causing his defenses to lower.

I was doomed if he kept attacking like that. But despite the fear crawling through my body, I smiled and leaned forward as if I had no intention of turning tail and running again as soon as he showed signs of attacking.

My confident stance made him frown, and his Qi returned to mainly being concentrated on defense.

Observing his actions made me feel like I could read his thoughts. He must have thought there was no rush to kill me since the monstrous beasts were already breaking through the gates. Soon enough, the whole place would be swarmed, and he just had to make sure I wouldn't escape. His main priority was to keep his defenses up in case a Foundation Establishment Cultivator tried to sneak attack him.

But I couldn't continue dwelling on my ability to read him as a large explosion occurred in the distance, visible even through the snowstorm. It came from the frontlines.

There was no need to turn around and take my eyes off the four-armed gorilla to know what had happened. Monstrous beasts were spilling into the city like a tidal wave.

I didn't fault the governor or the rest of the defensive forces for being unable to defend the wall. I had no idea what to do against such a large army. We no longer had any tricks up our sleeves to protect the town from monstrous beasts.

Sensing this, the four-armed gorilla dropped all pretenses of attacking and used all his Qi to coat his body. He had no defensive martial arts and seemed to lack the special abilities some monstrous beasts had. The gorilla still had a tough body, and even without martial arts, handling the attack of a human Cultivator of a similar stage should be no problem.

There was no chance for me to run away now. I could hear the monstrous beasts charging through, destroying houses, shops, and any other building in their way. They were razing the town to the ground.

"Do not despair, human. You did very well considering how outnumbered you were," the gorilla suddenly said.

What was that? Was this guy trying to comfort me? So they were capable of sympathy after all. 

The more I learned about these guys, the more sorry I felt for them. They were like humans too, just in different animal-like bodies.

"I would like to apologize to you too. While a little rough around the edges, your strategies were amazing," I said calmly, dropping any facade of panic I might have built. These guys had played it well and hadn't underestimated me. "If we had met under different circumstances, I would have liked to talk with you about our differences, how we see the world, and how we could unite our races. But sadly, I'm too weak to follow my whims and wishes... and I cannot let any of you escape this city alive."

By now, the monstrous beasts had destroyed half the town. I was glad I had decided to evacuate the civilians to the opposite side.

With all the monstrous beasts in the town, I was on the back foot, and the four-armed gorilla was even more cautious than ever. He probably thought the nonexistent Foundation Establishment Cultivator would attack him now or never. So, he was careful not to rush things.

However, there was something in his eyes—a look I couldn't decipher. Was he unsure of something?

"I have lost the battle," I said as a rhino-like monstrous beast ran through the house next to me, looking ready to stomp me to bloody bits. "But in many ways, I expected this."

Still, losing was a bitter feeling.

With but a thought, I sent a specific pulse of Qi that traveled throughout the town and bounced off the crimson writings on the walls. This single pulse activated all the arrays I had prepared beforehand.

Loud explosions rang through the town, but they were not dangerous enough to harm the monstrous beasts—nothing compared to the traps they had faced outside the walls.

I immediately created a spherical barrier around me, stopping air or any other chemical from entering or leaving. Clouds of dark purple smoke began rising all over town as the explosions opened the barrels I had prepared.

The purple clouds settled down at frightening speeds, covering the whole town in a purple mist. The gas was imbued with Qi, dulling my Qi senses and doing the same for everyone else.

My heartbeat increased as I saw the purple mist shifting toward my barrier. This thin sheet of Qi was protecting me from certain death, which was quite nerve-wracking.

Ever since I knew we were fighting against monstrous beasts that vastly outnumbered us, I never believed I could hold these walls, no matter how hard I tried.

My mother always said: hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

A question had been hanging in my head for a while: How would someone defeat a stronger enemy? The answer was to use poison.

What about defeating many enemies that were stronger than me? The answer was to use a lot of poison.

On Earth, there was another name for this strategy. It was called chemical warfare.