Chapter 1144: Sword Dao Claims Supremacy

"Lord City Master, this is terrible news! The third reconnaissance team reports that a Great Demon King is attacking outside the city, and it seems a beast tide is about to erupt!"

"What did you say?!" City Master Zhang's pupils constricted as he heard the news. He shot up, his sudden movement knocking over the table.

"Immediately summon the Guard Commander and the other two Deputy City Masters..."

The attack by the Great Demon King and the impending beast tide quickly alerted all the high-ranking officials of Muxue City.

The atmosphere in the City Master's mansion council hall was as heavy as lead clouds. Even the serving maids pouring tea were extremely cautious, fearing they might inadvertently offend someone and incur the wrath of these important figures.

"According to the captain of the third reconnaissance team, the scarcity of beasts outside Muxue City is because they've been summoned by a Great Demon King?" Deputy City Master Yao was deeply moved. "And it's not just one Great Demon King; there's the Frost Elephant Great Demon King, the White Snake Great Demon King, and two others they couldn't clearly identify?"

"Is the intelligence confirmed? Why isn't the captain of the third reconnaissance team here to report?" Commander Gongsun of the Guard asked, narrowing his eyes, detecting the ill intent in Deputy City Master Ma's tone. "He collapsed, severely injured, after reporting to the city gate guards. What, does Deputy City Master Ma have a way to wake him up?"

"How could it not be impossible? Those are four Great Demon Kings! The Frost Elephant Great Demon King, leading them, has ravaged the ice plains for over a millennium. Countless Integration-stage cultivators have been trampled to death by it. It's rumored to have long since advanced to the late Integration stage. How could a mere reconnaissance team escape in the face of the Frost Elephant Great Demon King?" he retorted. "I suspect this captain might be a spy bought by another city, fabricating false intelligence to deceive us and throw us into disarray!"

Commander Gongsun roared, "Nonsense! Are you implying the person I chose is a fraud?!" The council hall instantly became tense, with the two Integration-stage cultivators seemingly ready to fight at a moment's notice.

The City Master, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. He held absolute authority in the city, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Muxue City was his creation. "Enough, Little Ma. This matter should be genuine. Although beasts generally lack intelligence, the Frost Elephant Demon King is, after all, an ancient demon in the late Integration stage. It's not surprising for it to possess some cunning. It likely allowed the team captain to escape on purpose, precisely to let us know about this in advance and to provoke us."

Silence fell among them. What the City Master said was tantamount to a definitive conclusion. All five people present were at the Integration stage, but facing four Great Demon Kings and a fierce, fearless beast tide, they still felt a sense of powerlessness.

"Since it has come to this, we can only fight," the City Master said in a deep voice, standing up. Muxue City was his life's work; he couldn't abandon it like this.

"Full city alert! Deputy City Master Ma, gather cultivators from the sects, academies, and gangs within the city. Regardless of their cultivation level, all must participate in the battle!" he commanded. "Commander Gongsun, mobilize the guard army and put the entire city on high alert."

Orders were issued one after another. Although the battle hadn't begun, everyone felt the impending tension of a storm.

"Deputy City Master Yao, take a few people to scout the enemy's situation and determine the scale of the beast tide. Remember, do not approach the Great Demon Kings!" Deputy City Master Yao, tasked with this dangerous mission, prepared to set out in the blizzard, leading a few of his bolder confidants. The journey was silent.

The confidants were trembling with fear. Though brave, they weren't martyrs. If they were detected by the four Great Demon Kings, it would be difficult for Deputy Master Yao to even protect himself, let alone them.

"Deputy Master Yao, why don't we send a few Nascent Soul stage cultivators to scout the situation? We shouldn't go ourselves, should we?"

"Nonsense! What could Nascent Soul stage cultivators understand? Are you trying to desert during battle?! If we can't overcome this beast tide, you and I might have a chance to escape, but what about our wives, children, and elders? Should we abandon them?" To be honest, Deputy City Master Yao was also afraid, but what good would fear do? They would have to face the beast tide sooner or later. Gathering intelligence beforehand and preparing early could offer a sliver of hope.

"But..." "Silence! We're approaching the beast tide!"

The confidants were too scared to speak. They cautiously approached, their brows gradually furrowing, their hearts filled with unease. This beast tide was unusually quiet, a silence that sent shivers down their spines.

They bravely drew closer and witnessed an unbelievable scene, their heartbeats slowing a few beats.

Beast corpses were piled high like mountains. Heavy, feathery snow almost covered the bodies, concealing the smell of blood. The beasts' eyes were wide open in death, as if they had encountered an indescribable terror.

"Did... did the Great Demon Kings fight among themselves?" one confidant stammered, finding his own question absurd. What kind of being could have killed these beasts, and were they still here? At the thought, their hearts leaped to their throats, and they dared not breathe.

They quietly landed and cautiously observed their surroundings, fearing they might disturb the terrifying enemy. Several colossal figures blocked their path. As the northern wind swept through, dispersing the chill that enveloped these figures, they saw the immense forms clearly, and a cold dread shot up from their feet to their very souls.

The corpses of Great Demon Kings.

"Look quickly! That's the Northern Whale King, said to be a collateral descendant of the Kunpeng clan, which roams the snow! It's been cut in half!" "That's the Saber-toothed Tiger King! It once launched a beast tide that annihilated Yong'an City, which was guarded by two Integration-stage grand cultivators. Deputy City Master Ma fled to our Muxue City after that!" "And that's the White Snake King! It's rumored its invisibility technique is unmatched, and it's even ambushed and killed Integration-stage grand cultivators!"

Suddenly, a confidant stumbled and fell to the ground, trembling as he pointed at the enormous body blocking his way. "The Frost... the Frost Elephant Great Demon King has fallen!" Even in death, the Frost Elephant Great Demon King still exuded cold air, a testament to its terror in life. But no matter how fearsome its legends, it lay dead in the icy wilderness outside the city that day.

Deputy City Master Yao bravely examined the wounds, his expression growing increasingly solemn. The cuts were clean and smooth, like mirrors. Both the minor beasts and the Frost Elephant Great Demon King had been severed by a single sword stroke, with no second move needed.

"This person... could be considered a master of the sword."

"Hurry and save Teacher Lu! He must still be alive!" students pleaded anxiously with the guards at the city gate. The guards exchanged bitter smiles. How could a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator survive an encounter with a rodent demon rabbit? By the time these children ran over, Teacher Lu would probably be nothing but bones, gnawed by the demon rabbit. Even if they had the ability to rescue him, with the beast tide approaching and strict orders from above that no one could leave the city without the commander's personal written order, it was impossible for them to attempt a rescue.

Fang Zhige, who had initially been very confident in Teacher Lu, instantly changed his expression upon hearing the news of the beast tide. No matter how powerful Teacher Lu was, it was impossible for him to survive a beast tide. Their Nine Ghosts Alliance would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot against such a force.

Gong Che looked out at the snowy landscape beyond the city and suddenly became excited. "Look, isn't that Teacher Lu?!" Fang Zhige shook his head. "How could it be...?"

"Students, your teacher is back," Lu Yang said, carrying a sack full of trophies – all rabbits. "Although there were quite a lot of enemies, fortunately, I have many more ways to preserve my life, so I managed to survive," Lu Yang said with lingering fear.

(Extra chapter for Alliance Master Shenying Leiming)