Chapter 36: One Hundred and Seven Demonic Beasts of the Underworld

“In this light, the master’s talents are indeed suited for the battlefield,” the Azure Wolf remarked, and the shadowy followers nodded in agreement, praising him.

Liu Junjie exclaimed excitedly, “This beast tide has reached tens of millions in number. If the master absorbs them all, wouldn’t he sweep through the Deep Domain?”

The shadowy followers indulged in the fantasy, their eyes alight with possibility.

Yang Dai, having just absorbed a soul, couldn’t help but dampen their enthusiasm. “Don’t get ahead of yourselves. Though the number of shadowy followers may be limitless, absorbing souls comes at a cost. Even if ten million beasts lay before me, I’d need a long time to absorb them all—and the corpses rot quickly. Once they decay, the souls return to the heavens.”

Stone Dragon laughed. “Take your time. Cultivation is a path that demands patience.”

Yang Dai was already feeling dizzy and dared not continue absorbing souls, knowing he would soon be needed in battle. There were still many beast corpses ahead, but he could only rest before continuing.

“Bai Wei, Hungry Ghost Cheng, go ahead and catch up with my teammates. If anything happens, return at once,” Yang Dai instructed. The two shadowy followers moved swiftly.

Looking around, Yang Dai felt uneasy. He summoned fifty more shadowy followers—all wolf soldiers—led by Azure Wolf, dispersing them to guard against beasts that might suddenly crawl up from beneath the overpass and attack.

As for the sky, he had the Pigeon Spirit keeping watch. He dared not let the Pigeon Spirit fly too high, lest it be obliterated by a Mind-Spiral realm expert.

Yang Dai rested a while, then resumed absorbing souls.

Night slowly deepened.

When Yang Dai finally reached Zhou Yingying and the others with his shadowy followers, he breathed a sigh of relief and sat down to meditate.

Seeing dozens of shadowy followers encircle Yang Dai, Zhang Han and the other trial takers felt reassured; so many spirits brought a sense of security.

Zhou Yingying approached and asked, “Does soul absorption consume a lot of your energy?”

Yang Dai caught the implication and replied, “Don’t worry—even if I lose consciousness, my shadowy followers won’t vanish. Only I can recall them. If my talent had no cost, do you think that would be reasonable?”

Zhou Yingying’s brow relaxed, and she smiled. “How’s the harvest?”

Yang Dai answered, “Not bad. I’ve gathered dozens of souls. If any shadowy followers are destroyed, I can replenish them, always keeping a hundred.”

But in truth, it was much more than dozens.

On this stretch of the overpass, he had absorbed a total of one hundred and seven beast souls.

His shadowy followers now numbered six hundred and sixteen.

“Well done. Rest up. Tonight, let your shadowy followers stand guard—you can sleep. There are trial teams stationed by the riverbank beneath the overpass, so you needn’t worry.”

After a few words of reassurance, Zhou Yingying turned and walked to the front, sitting atop the hood of a wrecked car.

Zhang Han and the others spread out on either side of the overpass, keeping watch below.

The elevated road stretched ahead between two mountains. The trees on the slopes looked menacing in the darkness; the atmosphere here was truly frightening.

Yang Dai withdrew his gaze, leaning against Marshal Tianpeng as comfortably as if on a sofa.

The Pigeon Spirit lay crouched, eyes fixed on the night sky. The other shadowy followers were alert as well; days before, Yang Dai had warned them of the terror this beast tide could bring, urging them to be prepared.

The night deepened, moonless and thick with clouds.

Midnight arrived.

Zhang Han and his companions began to take turns on watch, while Zhou Yingying remained alone at the front.

Yang Dai, now rested, felt his spirit restored.

“Ah—!”

A scream came from the left, startling everyone. They rushed to the left edge of the overpass and looked down.

The river surface was churning, water splashing everywhere. A hand could be seen desperately struggling—that was a trial taker, dragged into the river by something unknown.

“Return and hold your positions!” Zhou Yingying’s voice rang out. Zhang Han and the others hastily retreated, as did Yang Dai.

As he walked, Yang Dai glanced at the Pigeon Spirit. He could communicate telepathically with his shadowy followers; the Pigeon Spirit instantly understood, spread its wings, and swooped down toward the river, stirring up a gust.

Zhou Yingying frowned but said nothing.

Soon, the Pigeon Spirit returned, having saved the trial taker and delivered him to his companions.

It landed before Yang Dai, who noticed its body bore several wounds, healing rapidly.

With the unique abilities of the shadowy followers, Yang Dai felt no pity for it.

This episode made Yang Dai sense the impending arrival of the beast tide.

Time continued to pass.

Around three or four in the morning, beastly roars echoed from beyond the distant mountains, shattering the night’s silence. Even the overpass began to tremble.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh…

The sound of breaking air swept overhead. Yang Dai looked up to see dozens of trial takers flying side by side on swords, moving swiftly.

Yang Dai stood, taking a deep breath—he knew the beast tide was imminent.

Guo Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Captain Zhou, are you sure this bridge isn’t the main target of the beast tide?”

Zhou Yingying shot him a glare. “Whether it is or not, we must hold the line!”

Hold the line.

Zhang Han, Qiu Feng, and Yin Xiaoting were moved; this was not their first mission, and they knew what holding the line truly meant.

Zhou Yingying said, “The level of this beast tide keeps rising. The Intelligence Bureau’s data is constantly updated. It may surpass the province-destroying beast tide from three years ago. Hansi Province has far too many people—even if everyone evacuates, it’ll take time. It’s not just us; all other combat squads have been ordered to hold fast.”

The four trial takers looked grim but did not argue; there was no retreat.

Just then, at the far turn of the overpass, a massive beast appeared. It was too distant for Yang Dai to see what kind, but its eyes glowed green and frightening.

“Prepare for battle!” Zhou Yingying shouted, stepping forward.

A thousand meters away, the beast charged at them. As it emerged from between the mountains, Yang Dai and the others, using their cultivator’s keen eyesight, could barely make out its form—a wolf demon, larger than a bus.

Seeing its size, Zhou Yingying’s expression darkened.

Such a creature was no ordinary fiend.

“Howl—”

The wolf demon rushed forward, unstoppable; Yang Dai could feel the overpass trembling.

Zhou Yingying raised her blade, Zhang Han and the others gripped their magical implements, all trembling—the wolf demon was simply too massive. In the Deep Domain, or out in the wilds, upon seeing such a beast, their first instinct would be to flee.

The wolf demon drew closer.

Five hundred meters!

Four hundred meters!

Two hundred meters!

One hundred meters!

Zhou Yingying charged forward with her blade, resolute. Suddenly, a gust swept past her; she glanced aside, eyes wide, as Marshal Tianpeng rushed ahead even faster.

Marshal Tianpeng was no smaller than the wolf demon. Previously gentle, it had masked its ferocity; now, charging forth, its aura was terrifying.

The clouds overhead parted, revealing the bright moon.

Beneath the moon, over the river.

Pig and wolf leaped onto the overpass, colliding midair.