Chapter Forty-Three: The True Eruption

Within the tribe, for more than ten days now, Yi Tian had been immersed in the contemplation and refinement of the Pure Yang Technique. After consuming at least a hundred thousand low-grade elemental stones, the Star Mud finally advanced to a crimson hue, countless red stars blooming with radiant scarlet light upon its surface.

His Pure Yang Technique continued to evolve. Through repeated failures, his pace of advancement remained steady, gradually opening new meridian pathways and activating acupoints one after another, with the Pure Yang True Qi becoming ever more concentrated.

Each activated acupoint, when he circulated the Pure Yang Technique and guided the True Qi through his body, formed mysterious, intricate runes—hazy yet profound, containing the elemental power of fire from heaven and earth, continuously tempering his True Qi.

To this day, he could sense six such mysterious runes composed of activated acupoints within him. However, as he pressed on, he realized that continuing to forge more runes would become increasingly complex and arduous, requiring ever longer periods—not something to be accomplished overnight.

As Yi Tian’s avatar cultivated the latest iteration of the Pure Yang Technique, within his body, a thousand or two acupoints shimmered like stars, each one manifesting a mysterious rune. In the end, seven runes intertwined among his acupoints.

On the eve of the coming storm, his Pure Yang Technique advanced to Earth-grade Superior. His True Qi, after undergoing the transformation of this upgraded technique, ascended to a higher level—more refined and scorching.

With the Earth-grade Superior Pure Yang Technique established, Yi Tian began to attempt the cultivation of the Sky Sword Qi. He circulated his True Qi according to the secret method from the opening chapter of the Sky Sword combat technique, the Sky Sword Qi, letting the vast Pure Yang True Qi pass through his acupoints, tempering and transforming it again and again until it became threads of incomparably sharp sword energy, radiating the aura of cleaving the heavens, manifesting within his dantian.

Strands of Sky Sword Qi were born in the space of his dantian, and the next moment, they gathered together like fledgling swallows returning to their nest. Soon, above the space of his dantian, a sword-shaped shadow less than three inches long appeared.

That sword shadow seemed to embody the boundless heavens—able to contain all, able to slaughter all, the epitome of strength and rigidity.

Upon condensing this Sky Sword Qi, the massive fireball formed of Pure Yang True Qi at the center of Yi Tian’s dantian had already dimmed considerably, no longer as solid as before.

When he tried to condense a second Sky Sword Qi, he found, at his current realm, it was impossible. The first Sky Sword Qi was like an anchor in the sea; any attempt to forge a second would be shattered by its force.

Thus, he continued to refine the Sky Sword Qi with his True Qi, allowing it to gradually solidify.

Even his cultivation of the Pure Yang Technique was somewhat affected. The Sky Sword Qi hovered above his dantian, exerting such pressure that the flow of Pure Yang True Qi became sluggish.

Fortunately, the impact was minor. Though the essence of Sky Sword Qi and Pure Yang True Qi differed, both bore his mark, and under his control, no violent conflict arose.

In the official residence of Black Dragon City, the city lord sat at the head of the grand hall, flanked by the eight great families of Black Dragon City and the leaders of other major powers.

They were engaged in deliberations to defend against the impending beast tide.

At the suggestion of the city lord, Qi Lihan, each power dispatched considerable forces to safeguard Black Dragon City.

At that moment, the patriarch of the Shi family, one of the eight, addressed the city lord, “City lord, do you know when the Grand General from Jingmu County will arrive? Without the Grand General here, we have little confidence in withstanding this beast tide.”

The Shi patriarch, being on good terms with the city lord, spoke directly. The other family heads and leaders of the gathered powers all turned their gaze towards the city lord.

With the beast tide about to break, the city lord had already reported the news. However, Jingmu County’s seat was at least seven thousand miles from Black Dragon City. Even if Jingmu County received the message, there might not be time to come to their aid; if help would not arrive, they must prepare to retreat to avoid catastrophe.

The Grand General was the military authority of Tianfeng Empire in Jingmu County, commanding over ten thousand elite troops, with only third-rank and above martial artists permitted to join.

The Grand General who presided over a county was a Human-grade powerhouse, a figure they revered.

Only with the Grand General’s arrival could the beast tide be quelled.

The city lord glanced at the assembly. “The Grand General will come when he sees fit. We must do our duty and hold on until he arrives.”

A roar!

On that very day, from deep within the Fulong Mountains came a thunderous roar, as if rolling thunder across the heavens; even within several thousand miles of Black Dragon City, it could be faintly heard.

The next moment, following that resounding roar, the ground in the Fulong Mountains bordering Black Dragon City began to quake.

Hundreds of miles of mountain range erupted as all the fierce beasts roared in unison, charging out from the mountains, splitting the earth with fissures and sending baleful energy soaring skyward.

The rampage of the fierce beasts terrified all the wild beasts within hundreds of miles at the mountain’s edge, sending them fleeing through the forests toward the human territories. Their numbers were staggering—hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions. From above, they looked like surging waves sweeping across the land toward Black Dragon City.

Everyone across this land now knew—the beast tide had erupted.

Hundreds of thousands of wild beasts poured from the mountains, alongside monstrous creatures as massive as hills and boulders, all bearing overwhelming murderous aura, trampling toward human lands.

Within the Yi Tribe, when the terrifying roar of the beast echoed across the sky and earth, they immediately understood—the beast tide had begun.

The entire tribe moved into orderly action.

Except for the warriors, all families and dependents were sent to the mountain summit.

Should the tribe be unable to withstand the beast tide, they would escape through the ancestral temple’s underground passage into the subterranean space.

Yet, the underground space could not be opened lightly.

Within the passage was a Dragon Seal Stone; once activated, it would sever the corridor completely, even Earth-grade powerhouses could not break through.

Therefore, unless the tribe faced extinction, the chieftain would not permit the entire tribe to seek refuge below.

The senior members of the Yi Tribe knew that the underground space had only one remaining passage to the outside—that path was their final lifeline. If sealed, the underground refuge would lose all meaning.

Thousands of tribespeople gathered atop the mountain, while most warriors were stationed along the lofty stone wall at the foot.

Yi Tian, leading the Reincarnation Squad, had been assigned by the chief to a segment of the wall, a yard long. Beside him were Yi Kai, Yi Hong, Yi Qing, and others with whom he shared close ties.

Over two thousand tribe warriors lined the wall, weapons at the ready.

At the edge of their vision, verdant trees in the mountains were crushed, clouds of dust rising.

Countless beastly roars converged—heaven and earth seemed to pale.

Most warriors, witnessing this, were struck with terror—the momentum was overwhelming, and few had confidence in withstanding such an assault.

Though the beast tide spanned hundreds of miles, the portion facing their tribe was but a small wave; even so, it numbered at least tens of thousands, perhaps over a hundred thousand wild and fierce beasts.

“Let the beasts approach within fifty yards before you begin to shoot. Save your strength and True Qi.”

The chief’s voice spread across the stone wall to the ears of all two thousand warriors.

He began to rally them, to inspire courage.

Soon, under the chief’s encouragement, the warriors’ spirits surged, blood boiling with resolve.

At last, from the hills and forests ahead, thousands of wild beasts burst forth, clouds of dust billowing behind them, with many more fierce beasts yet to appear.

Ten thousand yards, a thousand, a hundred...

Countless wild beasts entered the tribe’s firing range—every warrior’s arrows were already nocked.