216: It's a crisis, but also an opportunity!

“What a pity! The Immortal City now needs to focus all its efforts on dealing with the imminent Beast Tide outbreak, leaving no time or energy to investigate the cause of the outbreak.”

Yuan Hong sighed softly, then looked solemnly at Lu Ming, who was sitting opposite him.

“Fellow Daoist Han, as an Immortal City Guest Elder, you have the duty to protect the Immortal City and resist external enemies. This time...”

“Don't worry, I will give it my all!”

Lu Ming agreed before Yuan Hong could finish speaking. Although he could ignore the backlash from the contract, he had no intention of breaking his promise.

Although fighting the Beast Tide carries certain risks, where else is completely risk-free?

The Immortal City also has a Golden Core True Person presiding over it; isn't that much safer than other places?

Furthermore, the Beast Tide is a crisis, but it is also an Opportunity.

The karma golden book can record not only Cultivators but also Yao Beasts.

He currently has a pile of Cultivation Techniques and Secret Arts he needs to Cultivate. Although Cultivating using a Golden Core True Person is vigorous and lasting, the time limit always leaves him feeling unsatisfied.

It was the unpleasant feeling of being forcibly stopped right after soaring into the clouds.

Therefore, while this Beast Tide is a crisis for the Immortal City, for Lu Ming, it is an Opportunity—a great harvest, and one where he doesn't fear being noticed by others.

“Hoo~ Fellow Daoist is truly righteous, I admire you!”

Seeing Lu Ming agree, Yuan Hong finally felt a weight lifted from his chest.

Of course, he didn't come looking for Lu Ming today out of boredom; he came with a mission.

The Immortal City is about to face the Beast Tide invasion and needs to unite and rally all available forces.

As the person who introduced Lu Ming as a Guest Elder, he was naturally responsible for coming here to mobilize and persuade him.

Although it wasn't a mandatory invitation, if Lu Ming refused, Yuan Hong might also bear some joint responsibility.

What? You say Commander Sikong invited this person back then?

But the problem is, this mission was issued by Commander Sikong himself.

If he dared to speak up, it would be like, 'Who dares to accuse this official in my court!'

Fortunately, this Fellow Daoist Han is reasonable and agreed without the slightest hesitation. This level of Heart-Nature and character is superior and extremely rare—he is definitely worth befriending!

“Fellow Daoist, rest assured, the Immortal City never treats meritorious people unfairly. After this Beast Tide ends, I will personally request merits for you and raise your Guest Elder Rank.

At the same time, we will issue corresponding Contribution Points based on the number of Yao Beasts you kill. I presume Fellow Daoist is familiar with Contribution Points?"

“Of course.” Lu Ming nodded, but inwardly, he didn't care.

The biggest benefit of the Guest Elder Rank is the Immortal Cave, but he no longer cares about that.

As for what Contribution Points can be exchanged for, he held even less hope.

He couldn't obtain the good items, and he looked down on the ordinary ones.

But it didn't matter; his true intention was elsewhere.

After the two chatted for a few more sentences, Yuan Hong bid farewell and left.

Before leaving, Yuan Hong told Lu Ming that someone would come shortly to notify him of the corresponding location he needed to guard.

After seeing Yuan Hong out of the courtyard, Lu Ming turned and went back inside.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, he sat cross-legged on a Prayer Mat, deep in thought.

“Although this Beast Tide is a rare great Opportunity for me, I cannot go without preparing any countermeasures.

I must obtain benefits while ensuring my own safety; I cannot put the cart before the horse!”

Therefore, I still need to make careful arrangements!

---

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The sound of heavy War Drums, like sudden thunder, exploded from the towering city wall and instantly spread throughout the entire Heavenly Star Immortal City.

The wide streets near the city wall were already bustling with people, but more Cultivators were standing solemnly atop the city wall.

Their eyes gazed into the distance, their faces a mixture of fear, solemnity, and various other emotions. The air was filled with a repressive atmosphere, signaling an impending storm.

At first, there was only a blurry black line on the horizon.

But soon, the black line wriggled and expanded, transforming into a boundless black tide, carrying dust that filled the sky, surging toward the Immortal City with overwhelming momentum. The ground even began to tremble slightly.

As the “tide” drew closer, everyone on the wall gasped sharply.

That was no tide; it was clearly a torrent formed by countless ferocious Yao Beasts!

In the sky, wings covered the sun, and various Fierce Birds shrieked and circled.

On the ground, ten thousand beasts stampeded. Those countless species that were natural enemies in the past had now cast aside their previous grievances and were heading straight for the Immortal City!

“It's the Scarlet-Eyed Flame Ox! Looking at that number, there must be no less than a thousand!”

“And the Iron-Armored Earth Dragon! Its defense is so tough that Magical Artifacts of the same Rank can barely scratch it!”

“In the sky... those are the Iron-Beaked Thunder Eagle and the Rotten Bone Vulture! They've actually mixed together! Can the Immortal City's Formation really stop them?”

“...”

Recognizing the ferocious figures within the Beast Tide, the Cultivators' moods grew heavier.

Unconcealable fear permeated the sounds of exclamations and discussions!

If they hadn't seen the figures standing firm atop the city wall, their morale would likely have collapsed by now, and they would have turned and fled.

Lu Ming stood on the southern city wall, his robes flapping loudly in the wind as he gazed solemnly into the distance.

This time, his True Body had come. Even if he encountered trouble, he could adapt on the fly. After all, he still carried two minor universe teleportation talismans; he couldn't possibly waste them on a Clone!

Beside him were dozens of Cultivators, the lowest of whom were all Qi Refining Middle Stage.

They needed to face the Tier 1 Yao Beasts, while he was responsible for Securing the Formation.

If no Tier 2 demon beasts appeared, he would only need to monitor this group of low-Rank Cultivators and offer appropriate assistance.

“This is what a real Beast Tide looks like!”

Lu Ming gazed at the endless Beast Tide and muttered to himself.

The Beast Tide at the Green Bamboo Market was utterly insignificant compared to the current scene.

It is no exaggeration to say that in a Beast Tide of this scale, any number of Qi Refining Cultivators thrown in would be torn to shreds!

Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators have a high probability of having their Dao extinguished and their bodies perish.

As for these Qi Refining Cultivators fighting on the front lines, most were originally Immortal City Black Armor Guard, while the rest came for the high contribution rewards offered by the Immortal City.

Those rewards were negligible to Lu Ming, but to these low-level Loose Cultivators, they were heaven-sent Opportunities.

Perhaps the savings of their entire lives could not compare to the gains from slaying a few Yao Beasts.

If they hadn't retained their rationality, they would have charged out “awoo-ing” to desperately fight the Yao Beasts.

Lu Ming ignored this; he was not a Saint.

People must always pay the price for their own choices!

Therefore, he respected the fates of others and abandoned his desire to play the savior. He didn't even try to dissuade Old Man Zhou and Zhang Li's family when they wanted to participate in the battle.

Working honestly and earning money at Ink Talisman Pavilion was certainly stable, but Cultivators' desires are never fully satisfied.

Perhaps in their view, this was a rare Opportunity!

Since that was the case, why should he obstruct them and cause resentment!