Chapter 42: The Remarkable Newcomer [Third Update]

Amidst the furious roars of the chimpanzee, the pale wolf burst from the earth, howling, “Wolf army, assemble!” One by one, shadowy figures emerged swiftly from the ground, surrounding Yang Dai, Liang Zixiao, and Xiong Lie. The pigeon spirit circled above, entangled in combat with the demon birds, while monstrous beasts from all directions hurled themselves onto the street—a great battle had begun.

Marshal Tianpeng and the wolf demon charged into the horde, slashing wildly among the monsters. Seven hundred and ninety-six shades gathered, flinging themselves into the fray. Relying on the unique nature of the shades, they fought recklessly, unafraid of injury.

The chimpanzee leaped into the densest cluster of monsters, smashing a dozen with a single blow. Grabbing a massive python, it whipped it around like a flail, battering the surrounding creatures—a true black whirlwind, unstoppable.

With difficulty, Xiong Lie asked, “Who are you?” He remembered Yang Dai—he had almost been slain by the horned ape demon before, saved only by Yang Dai’s timely arrival. He hadn’t paid much attention then, never expecting Yang Dai could summon so many souls to fight.

Yang Dai produced his credentials and handed them to Xiong Lie. “Intelligence Bureau... double SS-class. Could it be—you’re the Overlord Who Won’t Cross the River?” Xiong Lie mused aloud. Yang Dai did not deny it, telling him to focus on healing.

With the great demons slain, the monster horde was leaderless. Most of the powerful demons here had been killed by Xiong Lie; the rest were mere spirits. With the appearance of the chimpanzee, more and more monsters began to retreat.

Liang Zixiao stood beside Yang Dai, wielding Yang Dai’s sword with ease, cutting down the beasts as if slicing through vegetables. Liu Junjie, using his finger as a blade, displayed the sword techniques Liang Zixiao had taught him—learned through diligent practice. Against weaker monsters, he was effective.

The nearby monsters were all drawn by Xiong Lie’s formidable aura. Once Yang Dai’s shades joined the battle, the monsters sensed trouble and began to fear. In less than ten minutes, the beasts in this district had all fled. Though some of Yang Dai’s shades were wounded, not a single one was destroyed.

Nearly eight hundred shades gathered around Yang Dai, who breathed a quiet sigh of relief—it was finally over. After taking Yang Dai’s healing elixir, Xiong Lie regained a bit of strength. He had already used up his own pills during the prolonged fight; otherwise, he wouldn’t have lasted a full day and night.

Sitting up, Xiong Lie marveled, “So this is your gift? Truly domineering. We’re both SS-class, yet I feel your potential far outstrips mine.” Yang Dai smiled. “Xiong Guozhu, keep this to yourself. I tell others I can only summon a hundred.” Xiong Lie grinned. “Don’t worry, I understand. I never reveal the full extent of my powers either. From now on, I’ll call you Little Yang, and you can call me Old Brother.”

The two began to chat, Xiong Lie now warmly regarding Yang Dai as his savior. After learning Xiong Lie had single-handedly slain two great demons, Yang Dai was filled with admiration, the weight in his heart finally lifting.

With the fall of the great demons, the beast tide was sure to collapse—an unbreakable rule. Without the organization of the great demons, the horde would scatter, making it easy for humanity to hunt them down one by one.

Yang Dai’s gaze lingered on the horned ape demon, temptation burning within him. But the gulf in power was too vast. “Old Brother, can you help me seal its soul?” he asked, unable to resist. Xiong Lie shook his head with a wry smile. “You’re asking too much. We’re of similar rank, and I don’t know such powerful sealing arts. Its corpse will be taken into custody; if its soul remains intact in the future, I’ll put in a word for you. Once your own power rises, you can absorb it then.”

Yang Dai felt disappointed but could only let it go. It wasn’t until dusk that a cultivator of the Heart-Whirl Realm arrived, flying in. Landing before Xiong Lie, he exclaimed, “Xiong Guozhu, the beast tide has retreated! You’ve succeeded!” His eyes shone with hero worship.

Xiong Lie grinned. “Call for some more people and take this young man back, too.” Most of Yang Dai’s shades had already disappeared underground, leaving only a hundred above ground.

The Heart-Whirl cultivator looked at Yang Dai and the shades around him, instantly realizing these souls must be tied to this young trial-taker, since he knew Xiong Lie’s gift.

“No need, you all go ahead. I’ll return on my own,” Yang Dai replied, shaking his head. Xiong Lie, understanding his true intention, nodded. “Be careful, though the beast tide has scattered, who knows if more monsters are lying in wait.”

Yang Dai nodded. So Xiong Lie was taken away by the Heart-Whirl cultivator, while Yang Dai began soul-searching once more. He had put his life on the line; he must have something to show for it!

Yang Dai summoned the chimpanzee to his side, naming it Black Wukong. From now on, Black Wukong would command the monster souls. Black Wukong bared two rows of yellow teeth in a grin, agreeing. He could speak, but was unaccustomed to doing so.

Marshal Tianpeng, facing Black Wukong, was terrified, not daring to come close. Under the shades’ protection, Yang Dai once again began the joyful but exhausting task of soul absorption.

...

Western Han Province, Wind City.

Inside a villa, Yang’s mother was busily packing, her husband lounging on the sofa watching the news. “Old Yang, come help! You’re not a trial-taker—sitting there smoking and watching the news as if you’re some important leader,” she scolded.

Yang Teng replied irritably, “What do you know? If Xiong Lie turns the tide, we won’t have to evacuate!” Little Yang Chao and Little Yang Yan were packing their toys; only Yang Teng, the man of the house, remained seated.

Yang’s mother sighed, “Two cities have already fallen. No matter how strong Xiong Lie is, he’s only one man. This beast tide comes in two waves. Who knows how our son is faring? It’s your fault—if you’d agreed to let him leave Western Han Province, he wouldn’t have returned.”

Yang Teng fell silent, lighting another cigarette.

“Breaking news: according to the Intelligence Bureau at the front lines, Xiong Guozhu has slain two great demons overnight, the beast tide is dispersing, and the crisis is nearly over!” The reporter on TV was visibly thrilled. Yang’s mother rushed to the television.

Yang Teng nearly dropped his cigarette, the reporter’s excited voice echoing through the room.

“Last night, Xiong Guozhu went out alone on intelligence and at five in the morning slew the demon commanding the avian horde. By one in the afternoon, he killed the demon behind the land beasts. The Intelligence Bureau’s trial-takers have already met up with Xiong Guozhu, who will soon return—”

“Hahaha! I knew it!” Yang Teng leaped up, fist pumping, as if he himself were Xiong Lie. He looked smugly at his wife. “See? I told you—Xiong Lie would turn the tide!”

She sighed in admiration, “He truly is remarkable—no wonder he became a national pillar.” Turning, she called the children to stop packing.

Yang Teng began dialing his phone, but couldn’t reach Yang Dai. So he started calling friends and relatives to assure them of their safety.

Soon, the family was gathered in the living room, watching the news and discussing the severity of the beast tide. On the screen, Xiong Lie finally appeared, bloodied and battered, staggering forward with trial-takers supporting him. The reporter did not shy away—this was the nation’s policy now: to let the people see the apocalypse’s cruelty, to avoid raising flowers in a greenhouse.

The reporter hurried over, asking excitedly, “Xiong Guozhu, you’ve once again saved a province. What do you want to say?”

Xiong Lie grinned. “I did my best, but I nearly died this time. Luckily, a trial-taker arrived in time and saved me, so he deserves some of the credit. The new generation of trial-takers is truly outstanding.”

“Who is this trial-taker?”

“The Overlord Who Won’t Cross the River!”