Chapter 48: Life and Death Moment

“Changri Valley… it’s fallen! Everywhere I looked were the bodies of Xiao Family disciples. Everyone sent by the Xiao Family was wiped out!” The disciple’s voice trembled even more.

“Second Brother, what should we do?” Xu Haofei leapt quickly to Xu Haobo’s side.

Before Xu Haobo could speak, another figure parted the swirling snow and landed before them, shouting loudly:

“Second Uncle, Luofeng Ridge has fallen. Bodies of the Wu Family are scattered everywhere.”

“Second Brother,” Xu Haoyang also flew to Xu Haobo’s front and said urgently, “Second Brother, since both Changri Valley and Luofeng Ridge have fallen, staying here is pointless. The Monster Beasts long ago passed through Changri Valley and Luofeng Ridge and charged Zhongdu City. We should head back to Zhongdu City immediately! That way, we can still serve our clan!”

Xu Haobo hesitated for a moment. “Wait a little longer. Wait until the disciples sent to the Imperial Highway and Zhongdu City return.”

Everyone fell silent immediately. A tense, heavy feeling spread through Tongyou Valley. Every person’s eyes constantly looked towards the direction of the Imperial Highway and Zhongdu City, filled with anxiety.

“They’re back!”

Someone shouted. Through the thick snow, a figure raced forward. It landed with a ‘whoosh’ right in front of Xu Haobo, gasping urgently:

“Second Uncle, disciples from the City Lord’s Manor are dead everywhere on the Imperial Highway! It’s been breached by Monster Beasts!”

Everyone’s hearts sank sharply again. Now, they were all silent, turning their gazes towards Zhongdu City. Seeing everyone’s grim faces, the disciple felt lost and looked around. His eyes fell upon the disciples who had returned from Changri Valley and Luofeng Ridge, and he realized both places had fallen. Thinking this, his heart pounded – Zhongdu City…

Just as all the Xu Clan disciples were growing anxious, a figure finally emerged from the heavy snowfall. Descending via Sword Flight, they stumbled a few steps then knelt ‘thump’ before Xu Haobo, crying uncontrollably:

“Second Uncle! Monster Beasts have surrounded Zhongdu City! Zhongdu City is in peril!”

“Really?” Xu Haobo jumped to the disciple, bending down to shout sharply, “Did you see how many Monster Beasts?”

“They covered the sky and the land! Impossible to count!” the disciple answered, his voice shaking.

“Then… did you enter Zhongdu City? Did you see the Family Head?”

“No!” The disciple shook his head. “It wasn’t possible. Flying Demon Beasts filled the sky. My cultivation is too low; I didn’t dare get close. I just rushed back to tell you.” The disciple lowered his head, ashamed.

Xu Haobo sighed softly and patted the disciple’s shoulder. His voice was low.

“Get up. You did the right thing.”

Pulling the disciple to his feet, Xu Haobo raised his head and scanned the crowd. The moment he looked up, the gloom and anxiety vanished from Xu Haobo’s face, replaced by fervor. His firm gaze swept across each person. Seeing his steady resolve, the unease in every Xu Clan disciple settled. Each one straightened their spine, their own gazes firm as they met Xu Haobo’s eyes.

Xu Haobo’s stirring voice rose slowly: “Disciples of the Xu Clan! Changri Valley, Luofeng Ridge, and the Imperial Highway have all fallen now. Monster Beasts have surrounded Zhongdu City. They are attacking our home! The City Lord’s Manor, the Xiao Family, and the Wu Family have become Zhongdu City’s disgrace! Now, we gain nothing by staying here.

But, if we go back now, we will face tens of thousands of Monster Beasts. No one inside the city walls will come out. We are a lone force. Yet this lone force might cause chaos amongst the Monster Beasts. It might bring our clan hope. Disciples of the Xu Clan… are you prepared to die?”

“We swear to follow the Hall Master to the death! We swear to protect our home!” The Xu Clan disciples raised their arms and cheered.

“Good! We go back!”

As his voice faded, Xu Haobo leapt into the air. A Flying Sword shot beneath his feet. Stepping onto the Flying Sword, Xu Haobo soared towards Zhongdu City. Behind him, hundreds of figures stepped onto their Flying Swords and followed closely, breaking through wind and snow, speeding urgently towards Zhongdu City. On the ground, over a hundred Outer Hall disciples ran desperately. Though they couldn’t manage Sword Flight, they pushed themselves to their limits, racing across the vast snowy land.

※※※

Xu Ziyan flowed through the wind and snow. As she sped, she merged once more into the Snow Force. Her consciousness became ethereal. The path of the Snow Force grew clearer deep within her Soul. At this moment, Xu Ziyan had completely forgotten her purpose. Unwittingly, she drifted deeper into the heart of the Cangmang Mountain Range.

Following the trail left by Xu Ziyan’s Beast Luring Talisman, more and more Monster Beasts gathered. Their ranks kept growing. From low-level Monster Beasts to mid-level, soon high-level Monster Beasts began to join. These high-level Monster Beasts, unlike the mid-level ones, possessed incredibly strong Spiritual Power. They continuously released it, trying to lock onto Xu Ziyan’s presence.

Unknowingly, Xu Ziyan had drifted to the very core of the Cangmang Mountain Range. Waves of Spiritual Power constantly scanned the air, passing over Xu Ziyan’s body countless times. The scanning range steadily narrowed. It was closing in, about to pinpoint Xu Ziyan, hidden amidst the snow.

The Spiritual Power from several high-level Monster Beasts slowly concentrated into a circle only three square meters around Xu Ziyan’s body. They were on the verge of locking her down entirely. The thought of finding the Treading Void Grass that could enhance their own cultivation level excited the Monster Beasts. They lifted their heads towards the sky and let out long, resounding cries:

“Owwwooo!”

“…”

The roars of high-level Monster Beasts were immense. Instantly, the snowflakes in the surrounding area were blasted into powdered snow. The sound waves of their howls spread out fiercely in circles…

Zhongdu City.

The fighting reached white heat. Under the cover of Flying Demon Beasts, many Monster Beasts had scaled the city walls. The City Lord’s Manor and the three great families suffered constant losses. Everyone was now fighting wildly.

Li Wanpeng, Xu Haoran, Xiao Rugui, and Wu Meng fought fiercely against the Monster Beasts, yet their hearts kept sinking lower. All four thought silently: Should we awaken our clans’ ancestors from their Secluded Death Cultivation?

Secluded Death Cultivation meant cutting off everything from the outside world. Only special clan methods could awaken them. Awakening them risked ruining their cultivation.

Just as Xu Haoran wavered indecisively, a sudden commotion broke out behind the Monster Beast ranks…