Chapter 980: East Wilderness War

She took out a robe and put it on.

Qian Jiarun gave an awkward smile, explaining with a fawning expression, "I never expected Fairy Wang to be so powerful; even a seventh-layer Core Formation demon couldn't stand against her."

He hadn't realized Wang Qingling's strength was so formidable. He didn't dare stake the lives of his entire clan on Wang Qingling; he couldn't afford to lose.

"Fellow Daoist Qian, you flatter me," Wang Qingling said modestly. "If not for your assistance, I wouldn't have been able to kill her. But enough of this, let's deal with these attacking demonic beasts first!" If Qian Jiarun had deployed his nine copper coin artifacts earlier, Wang Qingling wouldn't have been injured.

Boom! A tremendous clap of thunder echoed, and a vast sheet of silver lightning descended from the sky, striking the fleeing demonic beasts. They collapsed to the ground, their bodies charred black, emitting a burnt smell.

The Icewind Flood Dragon opened its enormous maw and pounced on the low-level demonic beasts. They were no match for it; the Icewind Flood Dragon devoured many of them, feasting to its fill.

Wang Xiansheng directed nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators to divide and eliminate the demonic beasts, which scattered and fled in all directions.

A small mound swelled from the ground, moving rapidly along the beach. Wherever it passed, a large section of thick yellow earth walls, several zhang thick, rose from the ground, blocking the escaping demonic beasts. Over a thousand Qian family cultivators charged out, forming teams of thirty to slaughter the fleeing beasts.

Without a Core Formation demon commander, these demonic beasts were in disarray. They gathered together, and a volley of arrows riddled the bodies of over a dozen beasts.

The Earth Dragon Earthworm burrowed out from underground, opened its bloody maw, and swallowed a yellow octopus whole.

Out of tens of thousands of low-level demonic beasts, only a small portion managed to escape; the majority were eliminated by the cultivators.

Qian Jiarun invited Wang Qingling, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Mengbin into the clan for a banquet, while other Foundation Establishment cultivators would be specially arranged for.

"Fairy Wang, thank you for your help," Qian Jiarun said, raising his wine cup. "On behalf of the entire Qian family, over two thousand souls, I toast you." He emptied his cup first as a sign of respect.

Wang Qingling didn't slight him and returned the toast.

The six of them exchanged toasts, laughing and chatting.

After three rounds of drinks, Qian Jiarun brought up the main topic. "Fairy Wang, how is the situation? I heard that two sea regions have fallen." He knew nothing of the outside world, as the demonic beast invasion had cut off communications. Wang Qingling, being sent to reinforce, should know the current state of affairs.

"The situation is quite grim," Wang Qingling replied truthfully. "The three major forces—demonic beasts, sea folk, and barbarian tribes—launched a surprise attack, catching us off guard. I heard several Nascent Soul cultivators have fallen, and many Nascent Soul demonic beasts have also been killed or injured. We are currently in a stalemate." The alliance of demonic beasts, sea folk, and barbarian tribes had launched a massive invasion, catching humanity unprepared and causing heavy losses. Even Nascent Soul cultivators had engaged, with casualties on both sides. The conflict was now in a state of attrition, with Nascent Soul cultivators no longer easily making moves, and Core Formation cultivators becoming the primary combatants.

"You shouldn't worry too much," Wang Qiuming advised. "This isn't just about the South Sea cultivating world; it's a human affair. I heard that the higher-ups have already requested assistance from the Central Plains cultivating world. The demonic beasts won't be able to take the South Sea, but to be safe, you should still evacuate some of your clan members to the rear; it will be safer there."

Qian Jiarun nodded. Even if Wang Qiuming hadn't said anything, he would have done so.

East Barren, Beast Control Nation.Mount Peach, once a stronghold of the Wang family, had been occupied by other forces after the Wang family's destruction.

Mount Peach was scorched black, with most of its peach trees fallen. Tens of thousands of low-level demonic beasts surrounded the entire mountain. A yellowish-brown light screen enveloped Mount Peach, as seven Core Formation half-demons led tens of thousands of low-level demonic beasts in an assault. Various spells rained down on the yellowish-brown light screen, blooming like fireworks.

Thousands of cultivators' corpses lay scattered around Mount Peach, with numerous magical artifacts strewn across the ground.

Melodious zither music continuously emanated from within the yellowish-brown light screen. The eyes of some low-level demonic beasts turned blood red, and they furiously attacked their companions.

Inside the yellowish-brown light screen, hundreds of cultivators huddled in small groups, despair etched on most of their faces.

On the mountaintop, four men and one woman were discussing how to break out, including Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan.

Demonic birds were in the sky, demonic insects on the ground. Aerial escape? As soon as one flew out of the formation, tens of thousands of demonic beasts would unleash spells simultaneously, making it impossible to get far. Core Formation cultivators who had tried this before had been devoured by the beasts. They had to think of another way.

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan had accepted the summons and joined other cultivators to guard Peach Blossom Valley. However, there were simply too many low-level demonic beasts; they were no match. Nascent Soul cultivators held back the Nascent Soul demons, allowing others to escape.

During their escape, Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan encountered demonic beasts. They barely managed to reach Mount Peach, but it wasn't long before the demons caught up and trapped them there.

"Fellow Daoist Cheng, Madam Cheng, as you can see, reinforcements from the rear haven't arrived," a middle-aged man, thin as a stick, suggested. His left arm was missing. "If we continue to hold out and wait for aid, it will be a dead end. Our numbers are constantly dwindling. Let's try to break out in separate groups! That way, there's still a glimmer of hope. What do you think?"

"What about those low-level cultivators?" Cheng Zhenyu frowned, saying, "We can't protect them." He could barely protect himself, let alone care for those lower-level cultivators.

"Let them break out separately, leaving their fate to chance. They might even help distract the demonic beasts. If we get the chance, we'll avenge them later. It's a matter of everyone for themselves."

Just as Cheng Zhenyu was about to say something, the ground shook violently, and a massive ball of fire spread across the yellowish-brown light screen.

"No, the demonic beasts are attacking again!" the middle-aged man exclaimed, his face turning grim. He quickly departed, while the other two men ran in different directions, intending to break out separately.

"Madam, take this Qian Yuan Flying Spirit Talisman," Cheng Zhenyu said, taking out a shimmering silver talisman and solemnly handing it to Zheng Nan. "Use this talisman to escape later; I will hold back the enemies."

Zheng Nan shook her head, gripping Cheng Zhenyu's hand tightly. Her face resolute, she said, "Husband, we've shared joys and sorrows for so many years. When have I ever abandoned you to save myself? 'Living and dying together' is not just a saying."

Cheng Zhenyu sighed deeply, embracing Zheng Nan. "Madam," he said, "you've suffered with me."

Boom! A deafening roar erupted, and a barrage of attacks struck, instantly shattering the yellowish-brown light screen.

Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan transformed into two streaks of light and shot through the air with great speed. Other cultivators also scattered and fled.

Various magical lights ignited, quickly reaching them. A chorus of screams followed, as the low-level cultivators all perished under the concentrated attacks.

Cheng Zhenyu wielded three yellow flying swords, unleashing a vast expanse of yellow sword qi that shattered the incoming giant fireballs. Zheng Nan's slender fingers swept across the zither strings, producing rapid music. A large wave of invisible sound waves surged forth, colliding with the demonic beasts' attacks and erupting into a powerful shockwave.

Caw! Caw! Two enormous crimson crows swooped in, moving incredibly fast.

A pale blue sound wave shot out, swiftly passing through the bodies of the two crimson crows. They instantly froze in mid-air, unmoving.

Three long yellow streaks of light shot over, slicing them into a shower of blood as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

A whooshing sound pierced the air as several invisible gales shot forth, instantly appearing before Cheng Zhenyu.

Several sound waves shot out to meet them.Boom!The two forces annihilated each other, and a visible ring of air current spread outwards. Cheng Zhenyu and Zheng Nan used this shockwave to propel themselves high into the sky.

Although low-level demonic beasts were numerous, their attacks couldn't reach too high; this was an advantage for Core Formation cultivators.

They hadn't flown far when a black bear paw, several zhang large, materialized out of thin air and slammed down fiercely towards them.

"Madam, be careful!" Cheng Zhenyu shielded Zheng Nan. The black bear paw easily shattered his protective spiritual light, leaving five horrifying bloody gashes on his back, with bone faintly visible.

The two swiftly plummeted towards the ground, falling heavily.

Two enormous golden-backed vultures swooped down, and two massive black tigers pounced from the ground.

The four Third-tier demonic beasts lunged at the couple, with thousands of other demonic beasts following close behind.

Just as despair etched itself onto their faces, a loud whooshing sound cut through the air. An intensely dazzling green long rainbow shot straight towards them, swiftly piercing the bodies of the four Third-tier demonic beasts.

Blood splattered everywhere as the four Third-tier demonic beasts disintegrated into a shower of blood.

A flash of green light revealed a verdant flying sword, exuding powerful spiritual energy.

Thousands of low-level demonic beasts swarmed forward. The green flying sword let out a clear hum, and countless green sword qi surged outwards, shooting in all directions.

A large number of low-level demonic beasts collapsed into pools of blood, their bodies riddled with holes. A strong smell of blood filled the air.