The Beast Tide had persisted for over an hour, and the conflict had reached the front-line defenses.

During this time, Yang Lingrui had slain three more Demon Beasts, while on the cliff, Linghu and Lingqing had managed to take down the second-level Wolf Demon.

Suddenly, however, a powerful aura struck them all.

A third-level Qi Gathering Demon Beast!

A yak with crimson horns charged down from the mountain, barreling straight toward the Yang family.

Yang Lingrui realized he could not let it approach the defensive line. He leaped forward, meeting the beast head-on to intercept it twenty zhang from the barrier.

But they were a realm apart. Despite the ferocity of Yang Lingrui's Wind Art, he could only fight the creature to a stalemate.

His wind blades left only shallow lacerations upon its hide; they were not enough to deal a fatal blow.

"Fall back!"

Seeing this, Yang Lingrui ordered his clan soldiers to withdraw. Yang Tieli immediately organized the retreat.

To overcome such a powerful beast, Yang Lingrui needed the space to maneuver.

Swoosh—

Yang Lingrui gathered his spiritual power, wrapping his body in a shroud of fierce wind.

This was a technique Yang Lingqing had suggested after observing his Wind Art.

The gale around his form provided a measure of protection and bolstered his agility.

With this, he was no longer significantly slower than the yak demon.

He exploited the long-range advantage of his techniques, leading the beast across the battlefield like a tethered ox. He wore down its stamina while using its reckless, indiscriminate charges to block the swarming tide of lesser beasts.

On the cliff, another massive threat appeared.

A ten-meter-long python demon, also a third-level Qi Gathering beast.

Fortunately, the Yang family had the advantage of numbers, allowing them to engage from two directions. Yang Lingqing and Yang Linghu worked in perfect harmony, barely holding the snake at bay, though killing it remained a daunting task.

Yang Lingqing gripped the Strange Stone tucked into her robes, then hesitated and released it.

"No, it is not yet time."

She considered using the Spiritual Force Impact, but the technique held the power of a mid-stage Qi Gathering cultivator. To waste it on this snake felt unwise.

Whoosh—

A sharp sound cut through the air.

The python demon whipped its tail at Yang Linghu. With a gap of two minor realms, a solid strike would leave him dead or severely wounded.

However, the mud on the ground hindered the beast, slowing the speed of its tail.

Yang Linghu was bold. He stepped forward to meet the force with his shoulder, leveraging the momentum to flip backward in the air before landing.

"Hiss..."

He had neutralized the attack, but a searing pain shot through his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, holding back a cry.

The serpent continued to writhe toward him, but the mud clung to its scales like a relentless parasite.

Realizing that failure to exert its full strength might lead to its defeat in this very spot, the beast surged with power, expanding its body to launch itself free from the mire.

"Hu Zi, look out!"

Yang Lingqing screamed.

Yang Linghu reacted instantly, rolling aside and diving forward.

"Ah!!"

He narrowly avoided a fatal blow, though his right leg was twisted and injured by the force of the python's impact.

The snake landed and fixed its venomous gaze upon Yang Lingqing.

In that split second, she had kicked up a wall of dirt to obscure its vision-without that, Yang Linghu would surely have perished.

Yang Lingqing did not hesitate. She drew the Strange Stone and held it before her.

The situation was dire. If the snake dared to strike at Yang Linghu again, she would unleash the Spiritual Force Impact without a second thought.

Yet, in that moment, a sudden clarity washed over her.

She had been casting her Mud Dragon Art without respite since the tide began. Under the pressure of such constant, high-intensity use, a spark of enlightenment bloomed within her heart.

Seeing her momentarily distracted, the serpent lunged, jaws wide to swallow her whole.

Bang!

In an instant, the earth before Yang Lingqing surged, forming a thick wall of packed soil.

The serpent smashed headlong into the barrier. Although it broke through, the force of the impact left it reeling in pain.

Yang Lingqing seized the moment to rush to Yang Linghu's side, helping him up.

"Hu Zi, take this pill!"

She produced one of the few healing pills the Yang family possessed, a gift from Yang Guanfeng.

It was a genuine Qi Gathering pill. After swallowing it, Yang Linghu found the strength to move his leg, and the agony in his shoulder began to subside.

Having failed repeatedly, the serpent descended into a frenzied rage, charging at the pair like a mad beast.

"Return to the Restricted Grounds!"

"Understood!"

Yang Lingqing raised three mud walls in quick succession-a new ability unlocked after her recent breakthrough in her technique arts to the second level.

The snake smashed through each wall one after another. When it looked up, it saw the two retreating into the mist.

Blinded by its fury, it did not pause to consider the danger and plunged directly into the Cloud-Mountain Mist Formation.

As soon as it entered, however, the beast realized its mistake.

Inside, its vision was completely negated, and its senses were cut off. It could find no trace of its prey.

Sensing a mortal threat, it turned to flee the mist.

Just then, Yang Linghu, who had silently closed the distance, sprang up and delivered a heavy kick to the serpent's head.

Because both he and Yang Lingqing held the sensing tokens for the formation, their vision remained unaffected.

The serpent lashed out instinctively, missing Yang Linghu, only to be impaled by mud spikes rising from the earth.

It shrieked, struggling to move, only to find the ground riddled with the barbs. All the while, Yang Linghu moved like a phantom, striking blow after blow.

After several exchanges, the serpent was bleeding from multiple wounds.

Finally, the desire for survival overcame its rage. Ignoring their strikes, it fought through the pain and scrambled out of the mist, vanishing deep into the mountains.

Yang Lingqing and Yang Linghu pursued it for a short distance. Confirming it had fled, they returned.

They exchanged a look, seeing the joy of survival in each other's eyes.

Without relying on the Spiritual Force Impact, they had joined forces to drive away a third-level Qi Gathering beast. It was a remarkable achievement, worthy of pride.

But the battle had been perilous, and their spiritual power was nearly exhausted.

Just as they prepared to rest, the Strange Stone in Yang Lingqing's hand suddenly pulsated violently.

"There is another!"

They looked in the direction Chen Yang had indicated and witnessed a grim sight.

A gray-furred ape demon was approaching, gnawing on the remains of the python.

The mere pressure of its aura made them tremble.

It was a mid-stage Qi Gathering Demon Beast!

The ape looked at the two with disdain.

That earlier human had been strong, and it had been wise to flee. But these two? They were insignificant-a mere appetizer before the main course.

The beast ignored them entirely. Yang Lingqing's Mud Dragon Art failed to faze it, and it snatched Yang Linghu up with ease, leaving him helpless.

The ape opened its maw, releasing a foul, rot-filled stench.

Eat these two, then go down and slaughter the rest. Devour this entire family, and I will be able to break through to the fifth level of Qi Gathering!

The ape thought with cruel anticipation.

Suddenly, however, a chill ran through its heart.

This inexplicable sense of dread caused it to pause.

Then, a sharp whistle pierced the air.

In that instant, the ape felt a burning heat in its mind, and its strength rapidly drained away.

It dropped Yang Linghu and collapsed to its knees, its pupils dilating.

It turned its head to stare at the girl sitting on the ground, its gaze finally falling upon the stone in her hand.

"It... is..."

Boom.

The ape's massive body crashed to the earth.

It had caught a glimpse of Chen Yang before it died; at least it departed this life knowing what had struck it down.