High above the battlefield—
The market's strongest experts stood upon the city walls.
Five Xuan Gang Martial Masters.
Seven Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Each possessed terrifying cultivation capable of suppressing entire regions.
Yet none of them looked relaxed.
Instead, their expressions were solemn.
Below them, the defensive formation surrounding Cloud Mist Market flickered continuously.
Countless runes glowed and dimmed.
The spirit stones powering the formation were being consumed at an astonishing rate.
Every collision from the beast tide caused the formation to tremble.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The wall of spiritual light rippled endlessly.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator frowned.
"The consumption rate is too high."
"If this continues, we won't last long."
One of the Xuan Gang elders narrowed his eyes.
"The inner forest beast king must have gone mad."
Another shook his head.
"No."
"Something forced this beast tide."
The atmosphere became increasingly heavy.
Finally—
Guardian Zhao raised his hand.
"The formation will be opened in sections."
"Allow the beasts to enter gradually."
"We'll reduce pressure while using the cultivators to thin their numbers."
The others nodded.
This was the best solution available.
Moments later—
The formation surrounding part of Ding Region slowly opened.
A gap appeared.
Roar!
Roar!
Roar!
The waiting yao beasts surged forward like a flood breaking through a dam.
The battlefield instantly descended into chaos.
---
Below—
The first clash erupted.
Boom!
A giant horned rhinoceros smashed through a defensive line.
Several Qi Refinement cultivators were sent flying.
Blood sprayed across the streets.
Before they could recover—
Crunch!
The rhinoceros trampled one cultivator into a bloody paste.
A woman screamed.
A fireball spell struck the beast.
Bang!
Flames exploded.
The rhinoceros merely staggered.
Then charged again.
Elsewhere—
A pack of wolf beasts swarmed over a group of rogue cultivators.
Screams echoed continuously.
Blood stained the stone roads.
The battlefield resembled hell itself.
People died every second.
Beasts died every second.
The smell of blood filled the air.
Yet despite the danger—
Greed quickly replaced fear.
The contribution jade tokens issued by the market continuously recorded kills.
Every cultivator knew the reward list.
Foundation Establishment treasures.
Rare spirit medicines.
Gang Condensation Pills.
Resources that normally required years of accumulation.
Now obtainable through slaughter.
The result was obvious.
More and more cultivators charged into battle willingly.
---
Within the Core Courtyard gathering area—
Lin Sheng's group assembled.
Everyone had already armed themselves.
Their expressions were serious.
Lin Sheng glanced toward the reward list once more.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Gang Condensation Pill.
9,000 contribution points.
Normally, Fine Grade Gang Condensation Pills cost between ten and fifteen thousand points.
The market had clearly lowered the price to encourage participation.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Lin Sheng quickly calculated.
"Killing Rank-1 Early Stage beasts gives ten to thirty points."
"Mid Stage gives seventy to three hundred."
"Late Stage gives five hundred to fifteen hundred."
Zhao Feng nodded.
"We need roughly fifteen to nineteen late-stage beasts."
Lin Xiaolu inhaled sharply.
"That's insane."
Normally—
Finding that many late-stage beasts required entering the inner forest.
Even then, competition would be fierce.
But now?
The beast tide had delivered them directly to the market.
Lin Sheng looked toward the battlefield.
Through his Mental Field—
He could sense hundreds of powerful signatures.
At least five hundred late-stage Rank-1 beasts had appeared.
The opportunity was unprecedented.
"Then we hunt late-stage beasts only."
Everyone nodded.
No objections.
The plan was simple.
High risk.
High reward.
---
This time, Lin Sheng wore a new pair of gauntlets.
Rank-1 High Grade Magical Artifact.
Dark silver in color.
Numerous spirit inscriptions glowed faintly across the surface.
His Vajra Fist was powerful.
But repeatedly striking high-grade beasts with bare fists carried risks.
Now—
He no longer needed to worry.
Lin Sheng clenched his fist.
Crack!
The gauntlets emitted a metallic hum.
Then the group moved.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Five figures shot across the battlefield.
---
Ding Region.
The higher-class market district.
Normally bustling.
Now covered in blood and rubble.
Several late-stage beasts rampaged through the area.
Cultivators fled desperately.
Among them—
A giant Winged Eagle descended from the sky.
Screeeeech!
Its wings spread nearly ten meters wide.
The pressure alone knocked several people off their feet.
Its target—
A wounded cultivator.
The man stared upward in despair.
He couldn't dodge.
Couldn't fight.
Couldn't run.
Then—
Whoosh!
A figure appeared between them.
Lin Sheng.
The eagle's eyes flashed with ferocity.
Its talons descended.
Tearing through the air.
Shrrk!
Wind pressure exploded outward.
Lin Sheng didn't retreat.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Boom!
Vajra Momentum erupted.
Golden True Qi surged through his body.
The surrounding air vibrated.
The eagle sensed danger.
Too late.
Lin Sheng's right arm shot forward.
Whoosh!
The fist pierced through the air like a cannonball.
Then—
Crack!!!
The eagle's neck twisted completely.
Bones shattered instantly.
Its momentum vanished.
The enormous corpse crashed into the ground.
Boom!
Dust exploded everywhere.
Silence followed.
Several nearby cultivators stared blankly.
One punch.
A late-stage beast died.
Lin Sheng didn't even look at them.
His contribution token flashed.
+1280 Points.
---
The remaining beasts immediately reacted.
Roar!
An Earth Bear charged forward.
Over three meters tall.
Its body resembled a moving mountain.
The ground trembled with every step.
Lin Shou stepped forward.
His eyes burned with battle intent.
Scarlet True Qi erupted around him.
Whoosh!
His saber left its sheath.
A crimson glow illuminated the battlefield.
The surrounding temperature rose instantly.
"Chaoyang Saber Art!"
The Pure Yang True Qi condensed around the blade.
Then exploded outward.
Shiiing!
A scarlet saber arc tore through the air.
The Earth Bear raised its claws.
Too slow.
Slash!
The saber arc pierced directly through its chest.
Blood erupted.
The bear staggered.
Its heart was damaged.
But not dead.
The beast roared furiously.
Then charged again.
Lin Shou's expression remained calm.
He raised his left palm.
Pure Yang True Qi condensed rapidly.
The air distorted from heat.
Then—
Boom!
"Rising Sun Palm!"
A blazing palm strike blasted forward.
The attack resembled a miniature sun.
The bear barely reacted.
Bang!!!
The palm struck its face directly.
Its skull exploded.
Blood and bone fragments scattered everywhere.
The giant corpse collapsed.
Boom!
Another late-stage beast eliminated.
---
Elsewhere—
Two enormous ape beasts charged simultaneously.
Each nearly three meters tall.
Their muscles bulged like iron.
Their cooperation was surprisingly coordinated.
Roar!
Roar!
The pair attacked together.
One targeted Lou Han.
The other targeted Lin Xiaolu.
"Watch out!"
Zhao Feng shouted.
The first ape slammed both fists downward.
Boom!
The ground shattered.
Lou Han narrowly avoided the strike.
Whoosh!
His body spun around.
Claw-shaped True Qi gathered around his fingers.
Dark green light flickered.
Then—
Shrrk!
His claws raked across the ape's arm.
Blood sprayed outward.
The ape roared in pain.
Meanwhile—
The second ape attacked Lin Xiaolu.
Its fist descended like a hammer.
Lin Xiaolu's sword flashed.
Whoosh!
Cold blue True Qi gathered around her blade.
The temperature dropped sharply.
The ape's fist collided.
Clang!
Sparks erupted.
The sword failed to fully penetrate.
But frost rapidly spread across the beast's arm.
Crack!
Ice formed instantly.
The ape's movements slowed.
Lin Xiaolu seized the opportunity.
Whoosh!
Her figure blurred.
A sword flash appeared.
Puchi!
Blood sprayed.
One eye exploded.
The ape screamed.
At that moment—
Lou Han arrived.
Explosive True Qi condensed within his palm.
Then—
Bang!!!
His strike landed directly on the injured ape's chest.
A violent explosion erupted internally.
Crack!
Ribs shattered.
The beast collapsed.
Dead.
The remaining ape immediately panicked.
Before it could escape—
Zhao Feng moved.
Whoosh!
A talisman attached itself to his sword.
Lightning crackled.
Crackle!
Crackle!
The weapon transformed into a streak of silver light.
Slash!
The ape's head flew into the air.
Boom!
The corpse collapsed.
The battlefield briefly cleared.
---
The group regrouped quickly.
Everyone's contribution points continued increasing.
Yet Lin Sheng's expression remained serious.
Because his Mental Field detected something.
Powerful signatures.
Approaching rapidly.
Not beasts.
Humans.
He turned.
Several familiar figures appeared.
At the front—
Bai Ling.
Behind her stood the remaining alliance leaders.
Each one radiated Peak Innate Outer Strength cultivation.
Their subordinates followed closely behind.
Their numbers exceeded twenty.
Bai Ling's gaze swept across the battlefield.
Then landed upon the corpses surrounding Lin Sheng's group.
A trace of surprise flashed across her eyes.
"So many late-stage beasts already?"
Her smile became colder.
"It seems your group has benefited quite well."
Lin Sheng looked at her calmly.
Neither side moved.
The surrounding battlefield continued raging.
Yet the atmosphere between the two groups suddenly became tense.
Very tense.
Everyone knew—
After Lin Zheng's disappearance...
The hatred between both sides had already become irreconcilable.
The beast tide raged around them.
Blood stained the streets.
Roars echoed endlessly.
And amidst the chaos—
Two rival factions stared at each other.
Like predators waiting for the perfect moment to strike.