Li Pingcan contemplated for a moment and decided to keep this matter to himself for now.

Firstly, he lacked concrete evidence. Those arrogant sect cultivators would likely dismiss the words of a mere "little bodyguard" like him without proof, while also exposing himself unnecessarily.

Secondly, while sect cultivators might be unaware of such anomalies, would Wei Yanzheng—who controlled the dynasty's destiny—truly know nothing about it?

The deeper implications here were truly difficult to decipher!

............

At the eastern defense line, the wind and snow cut like knives.

The hastily constructed wooden watchtowers creaked ominously in the gale, as if on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

Tens of thousands of peasant soldiers who had just exchanged their hoes for spears huddled together in muddy trenches, trembling with despair.

Their thin armor offered no protection against the bone-chilling cold, let alone the black tide of demonic beasts surging toward the city walls.

"ROAR!"

An iron-backed gray wolf the size of a calf ignored the sparse arrows raining down from the walls and leaped up, clearing the several-zhang-high battlements in a single bound.

Its bloody maw opened wide, razor-sharp fangs effortlessly tearing through a soldier's throat. Warm blood sprayed across the frozen snow, instantly congealing into dark crimson stains.

"Hold the line! Everyone hold the line!"

A junior officer roared hoarsely, brandishing his saber as he tried to organize resistance. But his voice was quickly drowned out by deafening beastly roars and human screams.

Zhou Enxian stood atop the wall. Thanks to Li Pingfu's arrangements, he had been training recruits in the rear and hadn't witnessed actual combat until now.

He watched helplessly as a half-grown boy was impaled through the chest by a boar's tusks. The child didn't even have time to scream before collapsing limply.

Zhou Enxian's scalp prickled. Had he not insisted on taking his son's place in this campaign, that could have been his only bloodline lying there now.

"Beasts!"

Blind rage surged through him. With a furious shout, he nocked an arrow and fired with perfect precision into the eye socket of a leaping demon wolf.

The wounded wolf howled in pain, entering a frenzied state as it charged the soldiers with blood-red eyes, claiming several lives in moments.

This was a massacre without suspense.

Arrows merely tickled the thick hides of these demonic beasts.

Spear thrusts couldn't even pierce their scaled armor.

Before this calamity, mortal lives held less value than roadside weeds—trampled and harvested at will.

...........

Meanwhile, atop the protective formation above Qingyang County, an entirely different scene unfolded.

Led by Wei Yanzheng, the dynasty's cultivators and disciples from three major sects looked down upon the human tragedy below with varying expressions.

"Tch, these mortals are pathetically fragile," remarked Chen Batian of the Divine Blade Sect, stroking his ghost-headed greatsword with undisguised contempt.

"Elder Chen's words are unkind," countered Fairy Luo of Yunxia Valley, her voice cool. "Though weak, they buy us precious time, do they not?"

"Hmph, just cannon fodder," Chen Batian snorted dismissively.

The white-haired elder from Seven Stars Sect merely narrowed his eyes, appearing utterly disinterested in the bloody spectacle below.

"The time is ripe."

Wei Yanzheng's emotionless voice cut through the air. "Black Armor Army—divide the battlefield!"

"Aye!"

A hundred dynasty cultivators responded in unison. Above their military formation, the golden dragon condensed from imperial qi let out a heaven-shaking roar.

Its massive body suddenly split apart, transforming into dozens of smaller golden dragon projections.

"ROAR!"

Wherever the dragon qi passed, it carried an overwhelming heavenly authority. Ordinary demonic beasts recoiled as if encountering their natural predator, not daring to approach.

The chaotic beast tide was forcibly divided into hundreds of isolated pockets by these dragon projections.

Powerful demonic beasts found themselves completely isolated, while the more numerous low-level beasts were herded to continue assaulting the mortal defenses—perfectly executing Wei Yanzheng's strategy of "cannon fodder consumption."

Under this thunderous maneuver, the entire battlefield became startlingly clear.

"Truly impressive, this dynasty's destiny," the Seven Stars elder remarked while stroking his beard, a trace of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

This exemplified the fundamental difference between sects and dynasties—sects pursued individual strength, while dynasties specialized in uniting scattered forces into an unstoppable whole.

"Hahaha! Magnificent!"

Inspired by the spectacle, Chen Batian's heroic spirit soared. Slapping the massive blade on his back—wider than a door—it emitted a resonant hum as it shot skyward.

"Divine Blade disciples—follow me to slay demons!"

Riding his greatsword through the air like a crimson meteor, he plunged straight into the beast tide.

Wherever his blade passed, flesh and blood flew. Each swing released saber radiance dozens of feet long, bisecting every demonic beast in its path.

Fairy Luo of Yunxia Valley gently raised her jade-like hand, sending a water-blue silk ribbon fluttering from her sleeve. It expanded with the wind, transforming into a celestial river.

Though the flowing water appeared gentle, it concealed deadly currents. Any beast caught within would instantly be pulverized by the deceptively soft waves.

Even the dozing Seven Stars elder finally stirred. Slowly producing a star chart, he began chanting incantations.

Suddenly, seven stars blazed to life in the heavens, casting seven thick beams of starlight like celestial pillars that struck the densest beast concentrations with pinpoint accuracy.

Each impact triggered violent explosions, leaving craters in the earth and reducing countless beasts to ash.

"Qian'er, observe carefully—this is Seven Stars Soul Lock, our sect's secret art," the elder lectured. "Unlike those Divine Blade brutes who charge in roaring, true mastery lies in refined technique, not brute force. Understand?"

Li Qian nodded uncertainly, though watching her master's unflappable demeanor eased her tension somewhat.

Each sect displayed their unique abilities.

For a time, magical treasures and Daoist arts filled the skies, transforming the battlefield into a giant meat grinder harvesting low-level demonic beasts by the score.

Witnessing this, the defenders on the walls erupted in thunderous cheers:

"Immortal masters are mighty!"

"Unmatched immortal elders!"

"Such formidable imperial qi—the dynasty's power lives up to its reputation."

Li Pingcan felt a chill. Had he not possessed the Emerald Dream to conceal his aura, his subtle movements would have been exposed under this sweeping imperial qi scrutiny.

Focusing inward, he communicated with the Green Jiao disguised as his bracelet: "Green Jiao, it's your show now. Remember—only take valuables, avoid confronting the big ones. Safety first."

"Relax, little carp!"

Green Jiao's voice bubbled with barely contained excitement in Li Pingcan's mind. "Your Uncle Jiao may lack other skills, but pilfering runs in the blood! Just watch!"

The small green snake slithered silently from Li Pingcan's wrist, shrinking to earthworm size while perfectly concealing its aura amidst the chaotic battlefield.

Avoiding the dazzling combat zones, it headed for peripheral areas, specifically targeting the corpses of slain or disabled beasts.

"Heh, this iron-armored rhino isn't bad—its horn makes excellent forging material. Mine now!"

Green Jiao's tail flicked, discreetly "liberating" the glowing horn when no one was looking, tucking it into its "dragon skin."

"Oho! Snow ape eyeballs—priceless treasures!"

While "openly" looting, it kept up a running commentary: "These cultivators are such wastrels—why blast out the demon cores during fights? Just giving Uncle Jiao free pickings!"

"That Yunxia Valley lass is pretty enough, but her attacks are too messy—not a single intact pelt to be found. Pity."

"The Divine Blade simpletons are better—clean cuts preserve materials perfectly. Should 'befriend' them more later..."

Green Jiao moved through the carnage with practiced ease, eyes only for glittering demon cores, spirit materials, and anything else of value.

Observing from afar, Li Pingcan alternated between exasperation and amusement.

This rascal had truly perfected the art of "sneaky development"—a masterclass in profiting from chaos with zero losses!

On the battlefield, the situation grew increasingly clear.

Under the cultivators' combined assault, demonic beast numbers dwindled rapidly.

Chen Batian of Divine Blade Sect fought with particular bloodlust, his ghost-headed greatsword whirling like a tempest. Each swing unleashed crimson saber radiance dozens of feet long, leaving no beast standing in its wake.

"Hahaha! Glorious! How dare mere beasts challenge my Divine Blade Sect!" His thunderous laughter echoed skyward.

Spotting the black-scaled river serpent lurking in the waters, his eyes gleamed with greed.

This was a demon beast comparable to late-stage Qi Refinement! Its core, scales, and bones were all premium materials for crafting superior magical implements!

Though Wei Yanzheng had declared the river the sects' domain, the killer kept the spoils—he'd be damned if he let Seven Stars and Yunxia snatch this prize.

"Fortune favors the bold!"

A reckless idea took root.

He secretly instructed his most trusted disciples: "Join me in slaying it! The sect will reward us richly!"

"As you command!"

Throwing caution to the wind, Chen Batian led a dozen elite disciples like an unsheathed blade, breaking from the main force to charge the serpent gathering power in the river depths.

"Beast! Your life is forfeit!"

With a thunderous shout, man and sword became one—a devastating crimson arc streaking down toward the serpent's massive head.

"CLANG!"

The saber radiance struck true, producing a metallic clang and a shower of sparks.

The serpent's incredibly tough scales showed only a faint white mark from the blow.

"ROAR!"

Enraged by the sudden attack, the black-scaled river serpent unleashed an earth-shaking bellow.

Its massive, spike-covered tail whipped up like a black iron whip, smashing toward Chen Batian midair.

Chen Batian's pupils contracted—he hadn't anticipated such terrifying defense. Barely managing to block with his sword, he was sent flying by the tremendous force.

"CRACK!"

His arms went numb as if struck by a battering ram. Blood sprayed from his mouth before he even hit the ground.

"Master!"

The Divine Blade disciples cried out in alarm and fury, unleashing their magical implements against the serpent.

But their attacks might as well have been tickles against the massive beast.

Now thoroughly enraged, the serpent opened its maw and spewed a jet of inky black water. Cultivators touched by it screamed as their protective auras corroded with sizzling sounds, dissolving into puddles of pus and blood.

Within moments, most of the Divine Blade elites were dead or dying.

Having consumed their vital essences, the serpent's aura surged dramatically—the bottleneck that had constrained it for so long finally shattered!

"ROOOOAR!"

An even more deafening roar shook heaven and earth.

The serpent thrashed violently in the river, its black scales molting to reveal new ones, while two horn-like protrusions bulged from its head.

Second-stage demonic beast!

"Disaster!"

The observing Seven Stars elder and Fairy Luo paled. None had anticipated the serpent's breakthrough at this juncture.

Chen Batian, just struggling to his feet, nearly lost his soul from terror when he saw this.

He tried to flee, but the overwhelming pressure from the second-stage beast had already locked onto him.

"No—!"

His despairing shriek was cut short as a massive scaled tail smashed him—sword and all—deep into the riverbed mud. His fate remained unknown.

This sudden development froze the entire battlefield.

Seven Stars and Yunxia cultivators simultaneously ceased fighting.

"That idiot Chen Batian!"

The Seven Stars elder cursed under his breath before ordering: "Form Seven Stars Sword Formation! Defensive positions! Stay alert!"

Fairy Luo likewise frowned, instructing her disciples: "Tighten formations! Prioritize defense! Trust neither Divine Blade nor the dynasty!"

The fragile alliance between factions dissolved completely.

..........

Li Pingcan had been secretly observing Wei Yanzheng throughout. When Divine Blade's forces were effortlessly swatted aside like flies, not a flicker of surprise crossed that impassive face.

Instead, a fleeting, nearly imperceptible glint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Just as I thought!"

Li Pingcan's mind became perfectly clear.

"This old fox never wanted an ordinary late-stage demon beast. His true target was a genuine second-stage demon core to advance his cultivation!"

Using others to eliminate threats while eliminating those others in turn.

He'd used all the sect disciples as whetstones—as "nutrients" to force the serpent's breakthrough!

What a brilliant scheme to sit back and watch tigers fight.

Even as Li Pingcan processed this, the battlefield situation transformed completely.

The newly ascended second-stage serpent wielded terrifying might. Every movement commanded the river's power, its body sheathed in condensed cyan tempest that rendered ordinary spells utterly ineffective.

"H-how do we fight this?!"

Seven Stars and Yunxia disciples panicked completely, their earlier arrogance replaced by ashen faces.

"Lord Wei!"

The Seven Stars elder reacted first, retreating rapidly while bowing toward Wei Yanzheng's platform. "This beast has reached second stage—beyond our capacity! We implore Your Excellency to subdue it for the people's sake!"

"Your Excellency, please act!" Fairy Luo added urgently, her pretty face grave.

Their calculations were transparent—let the dynasty handle this mess Divine Blade's fool had created.

Wei Yanzheng sneered inwardly but outwardly displayed appropriate outrage, thundering:

"As immortal sect exemplars enjoying mortal worship, you retreat before demons? Had your sects not acted recklessly, would this disaster have occurred? Now the serpent has ascended—the blame rests entirely with you! Unless you eliminate it today, you make enemies of Great Yu Dynasty and all living beings!"

His righteous tirade firmly placed the "incompetence" label on the three sects.

The elder and Fairy Luo trembled with rage but could offer no rebuttal—Chen Batian had indeed been their "ally."

"Lord Wei!" Fairy Luo gritted her teeth. "We'll atone through merit! But this beast is formidable—we beg Your Excellency's assistance!"

"Hmph!"

Wei Yanzheng snorted, appearing to reluctantly concede. "Very well! This official shall assist! But hear this—the demon core goes to the dynasty! You may divide the remaining materials!"

Though inwardly cursing, they had no choice but to accept. Something was better than nothing—survival took priority now.

"Formation!"

At the elder's command, Seven Stars disciples arranged themselves. Seven starlight beams converged into a single massive pillar that struck the serpent like divine retribution.

Yunxia disciples reactivated their celestial river, transforming it into layered water barriers to trap the beast.

"ROAR!"

Facing the combined assault, the newly ascended serpent showed no fear—its answering roar carried even greater fury.

With a terrifying sweep of its tail, it met the starlight head-on.

"BOOM!"

The collision produced deafening thunder as starlight scattered instantly.

Following up, the serpent spewed black mist that corroded the water barriers, tearing a massive breach through them!