Chapter 2187: Beast Tide

"My guess is that the patriarchs are either preoccupied with something and cannot escape, or there’s an unknown secret behind this anomaly in the Sacred Land. If the situation were beyond their control and threatened the survival of our various clans, they would surely find a way to send us a message. Since they could send people out of the Sacred Land without any warning, it suggests they intend to test us rather than intervene directly. And once we leave the Sacred Land, True Immortal Ning certainly won't stand by idly."

As Patriarch Yuanxiang spoke, he looked at Liu Li.

Liu Li's face was stern. Qin Sang had never discussed this matter in detail before. Only now did she grasp the full picture, realizing there was a powerful enemy hidden within the Sacred Land.

"The enmity originated in the lower realm. Fellow Daoist Qin incurred their wrath to protect the beings of that realm, which is a noble cause. They are our shared enemies; how can Fellow Daoist Qin bear this burden alone? Once we are out, I will definitely report this to my master and ask her to intervene!"

Liu Li stated firmly, "From now on, I will face them alongside Fellow Daoist Qin!"

Qin Sang opened his mouth, about to speak, but Liu Li interrupted him. "This is a different situation. Brother Qin's life is at risk this time. If I stand by idly, how could I ever comfortably accept your help in the future? I was constrained in the Ancient Jade Scorpion Hall because I don't understand detoxification methods, but as long as it's not a place like that, unsealing the Heavenly Emperor Talisman will allow me to at least tie down one person and reduce the pressure on Fellow Daoist Qin!"

Liu Li's tone was resolute, her lips pressed tightly together. Her expression at that moment perfectly mirrored the stubborn face from his memory.

Unsealing the Heavenly Emperor Talisman required Liu Li, as its host, to pay a considerable price. This opportunity was precious and was meant to be used at a critical moment after finding the secret realm.

Seeing Liu Li's expression, Qin Sang knew her mind was made up. He did not try to dissuade her further, simply nodding silently.

Working together, they could retreat safely even against three late-stage Void Refinement cultivators. However, to eliminate the hidden dangers and kill the Immortal Child and the informants, they would need favorable timing, geographical advantage, and human cooperation. They had none of these!

What the two Integration stage mighty figures intended to do remained unknown, and the Immortal Child's whereabouts were also a mystery. Any planning now would be futile, like grasping at reflections. They could only wait and see, acting according to the time and the situation.

After a brief discussion, the three returned to the cliff, their expressions normal.

Qin Sang and Liu Li found a spot at the edge of the stone platform, took out their meditation cushions, and sat down to meditate and regulate their breathing, just like everyone else, awaiting a turning point.

At this moment, Qin Sang appeared to be in deep meditation, but in reality, a wisp of his consciousness had entered the small grotto-heaven.

After subduing the Thunder Beast Battle Guard, Qin Sang placed it within the small grotto-heaven. It stood quietly at the foot of Mount Daiyu, motionless, like an inanimate puppet without intelligence.

During this time, Qin Sang's understanding of the Thunder Beast Battle Guard deepened. He realized it couldn't be simply described as either an inanimate object or a living being.

The Thunder Beast Battle Guard was indeed not a common creature of the world, but it was also not a mere lump of iron devoid of intelligence.

It possessed an extreme combat instinct. The Thunder Generals guarding the Thunder Palace were evolutions of the Thunder Beast Battle Guard's power, and their divine abilities were only a portion of its own. Their fighting prowess was undeniably formidable.

On the other hand, it was very 'simple,' with no extraneous thoughts, only its master and combat in its heart. Once it recognized a master, it would completely obey their will, making the description 'puppet' somewhat accurate.

Without a master, its intelligence might slowly grow, and after some fortuitous encounters, it could become a truly self-aware being, much like the spirit talisman that transformed into Taiyi. However, it could also lose control, as combat and slaughter are inseparable, eventually turning into a terrifying killing machine. This was likely why the patriarch of the Yi Ren Clan sealed it.

Qin Sang guessed that the one who sealed the Thunder Beast Battle Guard was not its original master. Rather, after the Yi Ren Clan patriarch obtained Mount Yuanqiao, he discovered this battle guard, sealed it, and left it for future generations.

As for the Huoshan Pearl, Qin Sang had originally thought there was a pair, and that the Thunder Beast was missing its right eye. He now realized there was likely only one, and its right eye was inherently an illusory one.

Perhaps the creator of the Thunder Beast Battle Guard designed it this way, or perhaps the Thunder Beast Battle Guard could not withstand two Huoshan Pearls. This might be a direction for improving the Thunder Beast Battle Guard in the future.

Of course, it was too early to consider these matters now. The more he understood the Thunder Beast Battle Guard, the more Qin Sang marveled at its sophistication, unable to help but admire it. He wondered if he would have the ability to improve it once he reached the peak of the Void Refinement stage.

"Whir!" Sensing its master's will, the Thunder Beast Battle Guard's armor vibrated, its eyes flashing with fierce light, poised to strike.

Qin Sang took this opportunity to familiarize himself with the Thunder Beast Battle Guard's divine abilities, preparing for the upcoming battle.

"Whoosh!" The Thunder Beast Battle Guard transformed into a streak of lightning, shooting towards the sky.

Accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder, the Thunder Beast Battle Guard was bathed in lightning, darting freely amidst the electrical currents, leaving trails of afterimages, like a true thunder beast commanding the tempest!

Over the years, the small grotto-heaven had been slowly recovering and was now able to withstand the impact of these divine abilities without fear of collapse.

Time flowed slowly, and Qin Sang continuously practiced the Thunder Beast Battle Guard's divine abilities, becoming increasingly familiar with it.

After an unknown period, Qin Sang suddenly felt something amiss outside and immediately awoke.

Qin Sang mentally calculated and realized he had been there for over ten days. His gaze swept around, noticing many new, unfamiliar faces on the mountain.

Liu Li, Patriarch Yuanxiang, Yuan Jian, and others were all roused. Most of the other people also awoke, turning their gazes almost simultaneously towards the area beyond the mist, in the direction they had come from.

"Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" The mist began to churn uneasily, and vibrations resonated through it. Initially faint, they grew steadily clearer, as if a colossal heart was beating outside.

Hearing this sound, everyone felt a deep sense of unease.

"What's out there?" Qin Sang mentally asked Patriarch Yuanxiang. "Has anyone gone out to investigate these past few days?"

Everyone was awaiting orders from the Saint Realm mighty figures, but the two mighty figures hadn't appeared, their actions unknown.

"I heard from fellow Daoists who arrived these past two days that the Sacred Land has been completely destroyed by the radiant light," Patriarch Yuanxiang said with regret. The Sacred Land held immense significance for the Yi Ren Clan, and hearing this news, everyone sighed with dismay.

"With the destruction of the Sacred Land, the barriers between the two spaces were torn apart and merged. The radiant light swept over everything, almost erasing the spatial rifts. The Heart Lake is now surrounded, transforming this place into an isolated island. During this time, the passage appeared twice more, so there should likely not be many more fellow Daoists arriving..."

"What about Feather King?" Qin Sang asked softly.

This was also a point of confusion for Patriarch Yuanxiang. He shook his head and said, "Still no trace. I don't know where Feather King has hidden himself."

Crisis often brought great opportunities. He didn't believe the entire Feather Clan had left the Sacred Land; they must have some unknown means to hide themselves.

"So, there are still only two Saint Realm mighty figures..." Qin Sang mused, realizing the situation remained unchanged.

As they spoke, the vibrations grew clearer.

At this moment, those who dared to remain, apart from Liu Li and a few others, were all top cultivators from various tribes, possessing extremely keen spiritual senses.

"It seems something has entered!" Someone abruptly stood up and shouted loudly.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" Figures flew out from the mountain one after another, hovering in mid-air, gazing at the mist with grave expressions.

Some occasionally looked up at the sky, but the two Saint Realm mighty figures still gave no command.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." The mist churned, and a hurricane seemed to rage within it, intensifying the feeling of unease.

It was certain that something had entered, but its true nature was unknown, and no one volunteered to investigate.

However, someone finally couldn't hold back. An old man with deer antlers on his head and white hair and beard whistled. A flash of light and shadow appeared before him, revealing a fierce tiger. The tiger was entirely emerald green, not a physical entity, but more ferocious than a real tiger.

"Go!" the antlered elder commanded in a low voice. The fierce tiger leaped powerfully, disappearing into the depths of the mist in an instant.

After only a brief moment, the old man let out a cold snort, his face turning grim as he said darkly, "We're in trouble!"

"Elder Li, what exactly is attacking? Is it those gray figures from before?" someone beside him asked.

"It's demonic beasts! Countless demonic beasts, a beast tide!" the antlered elder replied.

"What?"

"Why would it be the Demon Clan?"

"What exactly do the Eastern Sea Water Clan want?"

Their communication was not concealed. As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings erupted into a clamor.

Everyone was in disbelief, and some even felt panic.

For many years, the Human Race's Xun and Kan Prefectures, the Yi Ren Clan, and the Eastern Sea Water Clan had formed a three-way standoff. While the three forces weren't exactly harmonious, they maintained a semblance of peace.

Their Heaven Division, in particular, had frequent dealings with the Eastern Sea Water Clan, with an unspoken understanding of potentially uniting against the Water Division and the Human Race.

How could the Eastern Sea Water Clan attack the Yi Ren Clan without provocation, and with no prior warning?

Moreover, the Eastern Sea Water Clan alone couldn't possibly trap all the Yi Ren Clan patriarchs, unless they had allied with the Demon Realm!

If there truly was an enemy plotting against the Yi Ren Clan, now was indeed the optimal time. All the patriarchs and masters of various clans were in the Sacred Land, leaving the outside vulnerable. As long as they controlled the Sacred Land, the outside would be defenseless!

Just then, a cold voice suddenly resonated from the sky.

"Everyone, attack! Stop them! If even one gets through, I will hold you accountable!"

At the same time, the cultivators of the Water Division also heard the Saint Realm mighty figure's warning.

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts but also a sense of relief. The Saint Realm mighty figure's tone was calm, suggesting the situation wasn't as dire as they had feared.

Before long, they finally saw the true appearance of the enemy.

Within the mist, a vast, dark mass surged forward like an enormous black tide. Roars like thunder, deafening, emanated from within the tide, and wherever it passed, it seemed as if mountains crumbled and the earth split.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the dark tide was composed of countless demonic beasts—a beast tide, indeed!

The number of demonic beasts was immense, packed together without gaps, and they comprised every conceivable species.

Wolves, tigers, leopards, dragons, phoenixes, Qilin—whether spirit beasts, auspicious beasts, or common demonic beasts; land beasts, aquatic creatures, sky fowls—every type of demon known to Qin Sang was present, along with countless others he had never seen or even heard of.

Everyone's eyes widened. Like Qin Sang, they discovered that they didn't recognize so many of these demonic beasts. This absolutely could not have been summoned by the Eastern Sea Water Clan.

Even if the entire Demon Realm mobilized its forces, they likely couldn't gather so many demonic beasts.

"This... this appears to be a Golden Xuan Tortoise of the ancient Black Tortoise clan. I heard from a fellow Daoist of the Water Clan that the Golden Xuan Tortoise was once one of the strong clans of the East Sea, with power no less than the Dragon Clan. However, their bloodline became extinct in a great upheaval long ago, and they have vanished. How could such a massive Golden Xuan Tortoise exist here?"

Someone pointed at a tortoise-like beast, utterly incredulous.

Immediately after, others, just like him, began discovering ancient, exotic species that had long been extinct in the world and only existed in records.

Soon, everyone noticed more and more anomalies.

It was absolutely impossible for so many ancient exotic species and ancient demonic beasts to appear here simultaneously, unless they had traveled back to an era when ancient demon clans proliferated and the Demon Court ruled the world, or even earlier.

"Something's wrong!" someone exclaimed. "These are definitely not real demonic beasts! They must be illusions!"

With the aid of his Heavenly Eye Butterfly, Qin Sang was likely among the first to notice the anomaly. While these demonic beasts might indeed be illusions, their formidable aura was undoubtedly real, and they had to be treated as genuine enemies.

"Stand behind us." Qin Sang's expression was grave as he sent a mental message to Liu Li.

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Patriarch Yuanxiang and Yuan Ren, while Liu Li took a step back.

Just then, someone else suddenly shouted, "Look there!"

Everyone followed his gaze. Those with good eyesight could discern a figure flashing and disappearing among the beast horde.

"It's those strange gray figures! Something strange is definitely going on!"

As everyone searched intently, two more gray figures were found. Unlike the previous ones, these seemed to possess intelligence, lurking erratically within the beast tide instead of charging recklessly.

It appeared that these beast hordes were likely under their command.

It was unclear whether the gray figures had undergone a change, or if these were different from the gray figures they had encountered before.

The crowd buzzed with discussion, while simultaneously unleashing their various techniques to confront the beast tide.

However, the appearance of the gray figures cast a shadow over their hearts, and they inevitably harbored reservations when launching their attacks.

Just then, Qin Sang suddenly noticed a flash of light within the dense mass of beasts. Soon after, others also spotted it.

"A fellow Daoist is trapped in the beast tide! Save them!"

Without hesitation, everyone immediately took action, regardless of which tribe the trapped individual belonged to.

A fierce battle was surely coming, and the more allies they had, the better. Other grievances could be set aside for now.

Streaks of light shot towards the beast tide like an arrow shower. The demonic beasts at the forefront instantly vanished into thin air, leaving no physical traces, confirming that these beasts were indeed illusions.

Working together, everyone carved an opening in the beast tide, and the cluster of light surged out. There were more than ten people, including several faces familiar to Qin Sang.

"Oh? True Immortal Qin!" Jixia, catching sight of Qin Sang, flew over, his face filled with lingering fear. "Oh dear! I almost died in there, nearly missing True Immortal Qin!"

Besides Jixia, there were also Sima Huang and Young Master. The other members of the Siyou Clan were nowhere to be seen, nor was the Immortal Child.

Sima Huang and Young Master also saw Qin Sang, but deliberately avoided his gaze and flew to the other side.

Qin Sang frowned. He had intended to send a direct mental message to question them, but after a moment's thought, he decided to hold back for now.