249: Chapter 249 arrives as scheduled: the beast tide erupts!

After setting the strategy, it was time to wait for Shi Yin's reply.

A few days later, Shi Yin's reply arrived.

It contained only one line: "Old Ancestor's grand plan, Yin departs immediately."

Crisp and efficient, not a single wasted word.

When Elder Rat handed the reply to Shi Jian, he clicked his tongue: "This child, Shi Yin, has become much steadier than before."

Shi Jian did not respond.

He had never worried about whether Shi Yin would come.

After all, Shi Yin was a child he had raised himself, and combined with the Yao Beast he had bestowed Enlightenment upon, he naturally possessed an extremely high level of obedience toward him.

Therefore, to Shi Jian, Shi Yin was an absolute confidant!

Far incomparable to the Human Race members like the Sun Clan and Zhao Clan; no matter how much grace he bestowed upon them, the racial difference remained, and it was impossible for them to be loyal to him generation after generation.

In fact, even a few hundred years or a few generations later, they might commit acts of betrayal.

Shi Jian would not be surprised at all; once he reached the Golden Core stage, he wouldn't care whether the Human Race pawns betrayed him or not...

Once he possessed the power to flip the table.

He would let everyone in the Human Race know what cruelty meant, what the wrath of thunder meant, leaving a million, ten million corpses in its wake!

For the deaths of Lei Nu and Thunder Badger, he, Shi Jian, would make ten million people pay with their lives!

He would slaughter them until the sky turned dark!

But then again, before possessing the power to flip the table, he still needed to silently endure, with forbearance and restraint.

In the following days, the entire Northern Region entered a state of combat readiness.

With one military order from Sun Chengzhu, the four city gates of Fengshui City were reinforced, all defensive Formations were activated, and the twelve peripheral outposts were consolidated into eight, concentrating forces in the core area.

Those small clans scattered in the periphery farming or mining who could evacuate were all pulled back into the city; those who couldn't evacuate in time were to fortify their positions on the spot and wait for the main army to rendezvous.

Supplies began to be concentrated within the city; Spirit Pills, anti-toxin powders, anti-poison talismans, Spirit-replenishing pills... various combat supplies filled several warehouses.

Dozens of Spirit Ships and flying boats traveled to the Mo Prefecture market every day, urgently purchasing various supplies and stockpiling resources.

Sun Qiming was stationed in the south of the city, with twenty-three Foundation Establishment Cultivator under his command, guarding this place together as the first line of defense.

Zhao Yanshan personally sat in command in the east of the city, with four Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Zhao Family, along with more than ten Foundation Establishment Cultivator from vassal families assisting.

The west and north of the city were commanded by the foreign Elders of the Sect.

More than two thousand Qi Refining Disciples of White Cloud Temple were organized into twenty squads of a hundred, guarding the four sides of the city walls and various key passes.

Including the small clan Cultivators and Loose Cultivators under their command, along with the White Cloud Temple Disciples, there were over five thousand Qi Refining Cultivators stationed here together.

Additionally, several thousand Cultivators were stationed at the other eight outposts.

Although Fengshui City had only been built for a few years and the city walls weren't very high, only seven or eight zhang, and were even crooked and not very good-looking.

But all the necessary Formations had been set up, based on a set of Tier 3 defensive Formations, with three nested Tier 2 Formations.

The three sets of Tier 2 Formations—the outer layer for dispelling poison, the middle layer for object defense, and the inner layer for gathering Qi—plus the Tier 3 defensive Formation, could easily hold off a Golden Core for a while without any problem.

Not to mention holding off the offensives at the Foundation Establishment level; that was more than enough.

As the half-month mark approached.

An icy blue escape light broke through the sky from the northern horizon.

The escape light landed outside Fengshui City, and the cold air spread, leaving a thin layer of frost on the ground.

Shi Yin had arrived.

This Frost Snow Giant Bear was a circle larger than it had been a few years ago, and faint ice crystals flowed between its pale white fur.

Its Golden Core aura was restrained, yet it pressed the surrounding air to become several degrees colder.

Shi Jian was waiting for him at Fengshui Lake.

Seeing Shi Jian, Shi Yin lowered its head respectfully and bowed in submission:

"Yin, pays respects to Old Ancestor."

"It has been many years, seeing that Old Ancestor's demeanor remains unchanged, Yin feels at ease."

"Rise. Was the journey smooth?"

"Smooth. The Sect did not impose too many Restrictions on me; they treated me well with food and drink daily, and they did not place any new Restrictions on me."

"They only made me swear a Dao oath not to harm any Disciples of the Shangqing Sect."

Shi Yin paused and added: "The people from the Zhou Family even asked if I wanted to bring a few Foundation Establishment clansmen to help."

Shi Jian laughed: "You brought them?"

"No, too troublesome."

"Hmm, better not to bring them. Don't let them get involved in this kind of business."

Shi Jian turned and walked back, with Shi Yin following behind. Two white bears, one large and one small, walked slowly along the lake shore.

However, there were some slight differences between the two.

Shi Jian's fur was snow-white, but the fur around his shoulders and neck was blue, tied into braids and draped around.

Shi Yin was entirely pale white, with several pale Yao patterns on its body, and no mixed colors.

"The opponents this time are three Dragon pythons and one Queen Bee. Among the Dragon pythons, there is a Level 7 pseudo-king; I will deal with it."

"The remaining Red-scaled Dragon python belongs to you."

"Level 5?"

"Level 5, skilled in close combat, cultivates the path of the Physical Body. Plus, belonging to the Dragon python lineage, its Physical Body is likely not inferior to a Level 6 Yao Beast."

"At that time, you must be prepared. Just hold it off; there is no need to kill the enemy."

Shi Yin nodded without any hesitation.

A Level 5 Yao General against a Level 5 Yao General; that was fair enough...

Although Old Ancestor praised the opponent as if it were god-like, and the Dragon python lineage was indeed strong, they, the Bear Clan great Yaos, were also top-tier powerful beings among the Yao Beasts!

Soon, the half-month deadline had arrived.

Early in the morning, before the sky was fully bright, the Qi Refining Disciple on duty at the watchtower of Fengshui City issued the first warning.

"In the south, there is abnormal movement!"

The communication jade talisman on top of the watchtower flashed, transmitting the message to all outposts.

Sun Chengzhu flew onto the city wall at the first opportunity and gazed into the distance.

At the end of the southern horizon, a layer of gray-black shadow was spreading.

It was not miasma; miasma was green. This gray-black layer was insects!

It was a sky-covering insect tide!

The buzzing sound of wings vibrating could be heard from dozens of miles away, like someone grinding sandpaper against one's eardrums.

"The east route insect tide is half a day earlier than expected."

Sun Chengzhu's expression did not change as he turned to instruct the messenger Disciple beside him: "Order all Cultivator units to meet the enemy according to the plan."

"Open all city defense Formations; all Cultivators, prepare."

"Foundation Establishment Elders, do not leave your defense zones; be ready to respond to the beast tide impact at any time!"

Orders were passed down layer by layer, and Fengshui City instantly became busy, but it was busy without chaos; the half-month of preparation had not been in vain.

Everyone knew where to go and what to do.

Everything was in perfect order; stabilizing the footing was the first half of the battle won!

South of the city.

Zhao Yanshan stood on top of a tower, squinting at the distance.

He was staring at the south, at the undercurrents beneath the water.

Between the southern and northern regions of the Evil Water Marsh, there was a main river channel dozens of miles wide. This river channel was a natural boundary line and also the only path for the Dragon Python Clan to head north.

The river surface was calm, and the calmer it was, the more suspicious it was!

Sure enough.

Just past the Si hour, the river surface exploded.

Countless black Dragon python shadows and snake bodies surged from the bottom of the water; some were over a dozen zhang long, while the smaller ones were three or four zhang long, densely packed and filling the entire river channel.

They churned the muddy water and rushed wildly toward the north bank; the motion was no different from a flood with the gates opened.

The Dragon Python Clan had launched their attack!

Almost at the same moment.

In the direction of the western mountains, the Turtle Clan units also began to move.

Hundreds and thousands of giant turtles of varying sizes arranged in a loose Formation, slowly advancing toward the outskirts of the Northern Region...

But the speed was very slow, so slow it was like taking a stroll.

At this moment, all three routes had arrived.

Shi Jian leaped out of Fengshui Lake, his body shrouded in purple-gold lightning.

He did not make a move immediately, but hung in mid-air, overlooking the entire battlefield.

To the south, the Dragon python tide.

To the east, the insect tide.

To the west, the turtle Formation.

Three-sided siege, coming aggressively, but facing this vast scene, Shi Jian felt no ripples; compared to the national war between the Shangqing Sect and the Jin State back then, this Formation was a bit small-time.

"It has come!"

"Let this seat see exactly what kind of quality you all have!"

"Today, you are the challengers!"