"Pfft!"

As her magical implement was damaged, Fairy Luo immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning deathly pale.

"Trouble! This beast has ancestral revival power, its demonic strength far surpasses ordinary second-tier demonic beasts!" The white-haired old man exclaimed in horror.

Wei Yanzheng's pupils shone with light, his eyes revealing a profound, determined expression.

"Ancestral bloodline! Hahaha! Heaven helps me!"

This was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for!

With a explosive shout, no longer concealing anything, his figure shot into the sky.

"In my name, I borrow the dragon energy of heaven and earth, command!"

Overwhelming heavenly authority descended as a terrifying power far exceeding the Refining Qi stage erupted within his body.

His figure rose continuously amidst golden light, his aura skyrocketing. In just a few short breaths, he had broken through the bottleneck of the ninth layer of Refining Qi, reaching the Foundation Establishment level!

"False Core" power!

"Beast, die!"

Wei Yanzheng's voice carried the judgment of a celestial god as he pointed forward. The boundless dynasty dragon energy condensed into a golden greatsword dozens of feet long, carrying the might to cleave mountains and rivers, slashing down directly at the river serpent's head.

Facing this world-destroying strike, the river serpent suddenly coiled its body, all its green scales standing erect as an incredibly thick layer of green energy shield firmly protected it.

"BOOM!"

The golden greatsword violently collided with the green energy shield, causing the entire Qingyang County's city protection formation to tremble violently.

Turbulent energy currents swept in all directions, river water flowing backward, mountain rocks flying as if doomsday had arrived.

When the light dispersed, the river serpent had been forcibly sent flying, its massive body crashing into the ground and creating a huge crater.

Even its indestructible green scale armor now bore several terrifying sword wounds deep enough to see bone, green blood flowing continuously.

On the other side, Wei Yanzheng wasn't faring well either.

Hovering in midair, his face pale with a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, the "False Core" spiritual light around him had dimmed considerably.

He never expected this beast to be so formidable that even his "False Core" strike couldn't instantly kill it!

"ROAR!"

Severely wounded, the river serpent was thoroughly enraged.

It opened its bloody maw and spat out a dark blue demon core emitting terrifying cold energy, meeting the golden greatsword coming for another strike!

Another earth-shaking collision occurred.

Both the demon core and greatsword let out cries of unbearable strain.

The river serpent could no longer hold on, its massive body crashing heavily into the river, creating towering waves as it fled desperately downstream toward the Dayu River without looking back.

Meanwhile, Wei Yanzheng spat out a mouthful of blood, the "False Core" spiritual light around him completely dispersing as he fell from midair, his aura withered.

Mutual destruction!

With the river serpent's escape, the fearless beast tide that had seemed to lose its backbone instantly collapsed, turning direction like a receding tide.

"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"

Wei Yanzheng trembled with rage, his face deathly pale.

Giving up the bride and losing the dowry!

He had paid a huge price, not only failing to obtain that second-tier demon core but also suffering serious internal injuries himself. This deal was utterly disastrous!

Meanwhile, far away, Li Pingcan and the Green Jiao hid in a secluded corner, happily counting their spoils.

"Tsk tsk, these sect cultivators are really rich. Look at this flying sword - at least a mid-grade first-tier magical implement!"

"And this jade pendant contains spiritual energy equivalent to ten low-grade spirit stones!"

The Green Jiao stuffed treasures into its "dragon-skin pouch" while gloating: "That official surnamed Wei must be green with anger now, hahaha! Serves him right!"

Li Pingcan also couldn't help but laugh.

When two fight, the third profits.

This beast disaster's biggest winner turned out to be him, the "little bodyguard" who had been slacking off the entire time, occasionally killing a low-tier demon beast.

.........

East City Defense Line.

With the river serpent fleeing and the Three-Eyed Ape slain, the beast tide collapsed like a receding tide.

But many frightened demon beasts still charged toward the city.

Li Pingfu, with his vigorous energy and tireless stamina, firmly held the most dangerous gap in the defense line.

Behind him stood the terrified yet courageously inspired Yunshui County soldiers because of his presence.

"ROAR!"

An ear-splitting tiger roar sounded as a tiger demon far larger than ordinary tigers, with eerily dark red fur, stepped on its companions' corpses to leap onto the city wall.

Its copper-bell-sized eyes shone with bloodthirsty ferocity, the stench from its gaping maw nauseating.

First-tier mid-stage tiger demon!

Its imposing manner made surrounding soldiers retreat in fear, their formation momentarily disrupted.

"Beast, don't get cocky!"

Li Pingfu advanced instead of retreating, stomping his foot to shoot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, actively meeting it.

Seeing this, the tiger demon grew even more violent, swinging a paw the size of a fan with air-rending force toward Li Pingfu's head.

Facing this thunderous strike, Li Pingfu's eyes remained steady as he suddenly lowered his stance, narrowly avoiding the paw's edge at an impossible angle while thrusting his spear like a venomous snake striking at the tiger's soft belly.

The pained tiger demon retaliated with a vicious bite, but Li Pingfu had already predicted this, borrowing the force to spin and rise again, fists clenched like a bear smashing down from above!

"Break!"

The punch landed squarely on the tiger's spine.

With a crisp "crack", the tiger's backbone was forcibly broken!

Its massive body collapsed, twitching, devoid of its former majesty.

"What are you gaping at? Finish it!" Li Pingfu sharply rebuked the dumbstruck soldiers behind him.

Only then did they snap out of it, rushing forward to end the tiger demon's life with their spears.

"Pfft!"

At that moment, another wolf demon took advantage of their distraction, lunging from the shadows with sharp claws aimed at a young soldier frozen in place.

The teenage soldier, barely thirteen or fourteen, was scared witless, forgetting to dodge as death seemed imminent.

Quick as lightning, Li Pingfu appeared before the youth like a ghost. Without even turning, he precisely speared the wolf demon's throat with a backhand thrust.

Warm blood splashed the boy's face as he stared blankly at the ferocious wolf head inches away, then at the mountain-like reliable back before him, his eyes instantly reddening.

"Thud!"

He knelt and kowtowed heavily to Li Pingfu. "Thank... thank County Captain for saving my life!"

Without turning, Li Pingfu said sternly: "Stand up, take your weapon. Next time you might not be so lucky."

Hearing this, the boy wiped his tears and firmly gripped his spear again.

..........

After the battle.

With Wei Yanzheng severely injured, his deputy Jiang Yunsheng sat solemnly on a temporary command platform, listening to battle reports from various counties.

Even when hearing shocking casualty numbers, he only slightly raised an eyebrow.

"Wangjiang Town garrison: three thousand, survivors under five hundred."

"Linhe County militia: five thousand, over half dead, all survivors injured."

"......"

Scroll after scroll coldly recorded the disappearance of living souls.

Human lives were as cheap as grass before this calamity.

When Li Pingfu's turn came, he steadily reported: "Sir, Yunshui County conscripted three thousand militia. This battle: 321 dead, 107 severely injured, over thirty low-tier demon beasts slain."

This caused a stir.

A trace of genuine surprise flashed in Jiang Yunsheng's deep eyes as he looked up, his hawk-like gaze locking onto Li Pingfu.

Three thousand against endless beast tide, yet casualties under ten percent?

These losses were simply unbelievable!

"How did you achieve this?" Wei Yanzheng asked gravely.

"Reporting, sir," Li Pingfu replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This subordinate merely organized soldiers into ancient-style ten-man squads for mutual support, supplemented with medicinal pills, thus preserving some lives."

Though stated lightly, the experts present understood the skill involved.

Other officers would never waste precious pills on "cannon fodder."

Only the wealthy Li family could afford such "extravagance."

Zhou Enxian felt especially moved.

Not only had he received pills, but Li Pingfu had secretly given him a bottle of genuine "spiritual pills"!

After consuming them, his years of accumulated hidden injuries were healed, even his years-stagnant bottleneck showed signs of loosening.

This kindness was like rebirth!

Looking at that upright figure on the platform, Zhou Enxian felt this disciple was his life's proudest achievement!

Jiang Yunsheng fell silent, complex emotions flashing in his eyes.

But merit was merit, undeniable.

He slowly nodded: "Well done. County Captain Li demonstrates excellent command and deserves highest honors."

Publicly announcing Li Pingfu's promotion to Deputy Commander of Qingyang County defense, rank raised, commanding eastern city defenses with doubled troops.

He also awarded hundreds in gold and several bottles of healing pills.

These rewards elevated Li Pingfu's military prestige to its peak, making other county captains green with envy.

As night deepened, daytime clamor and bloodshed were gradually swallowed by darkness.

Li Pingcan changed into inconspicuous night clothes and quietly left camp.

The Green Jiao on his wrist couldn't contain its excitement, mentally transmitting: "Little carp, this old dragon already smells that big guy's stench - weak aura, seems daytime injuries hit it hard!"

"Patience." Li Pingcan responded. "First use my old method to scout."

Concentrating, glowing mushrooms lit up, drawing a faint light trail only he could see on the dark river surface.

This was his Druid tracking art - more sensitive than any hound's nose, stealthier than any scout's steps.

Following the Glowshroom's guidance, his figure leapt through the night, soon reaching a remote riverside.

Before approaching, he keenly detected two faint yet extraordinarily pure cultivator auras.

Immediately suppressing all presence, he landed like a leaf on a riverside ancient tree, peering through dense foliage.

Downstream, the Seven Stars Sect's white-haired elder stood by the shore, with Li Qian carefully supporting him.

"Master, take it slow."

The elder said: "No matter. This master only exhausted some vitality battling that demonic serpent earlier. But that beast was injured by my 'Seven Stars Sword Qi' - now is its weakest moment. We absolutely cannot let it escape!"

As he spoke, he took out an ancient star chart. Infused with magic power, its light flowed until pointing at a spot in the river's center.

"Found it! That underwater cave!" The elder's eyes shone.

"What an old fox!"

Li Pingcan inwardly sneered. This old man's daytime act of being suppressed by Wei Yanzheng was all pretense!

He clearly intended to use Wei Yanzheng and Divine Blade Sect to weaken the serpent before reaping benefits!

Without revealing himself, Li Pingcan transformed into an inconspicuous kingfisher, silently following the sneaky elder.

The elder and Li Qian circled the riverbank several times to confirm no pursuers before riding sword glows toward the river center.

Li Qian hurriedly followed.

As they approached, the calm water suddenly exploded as the river serpent shot up, spewing a terrifying water spirit breath at them!

"Wretched beast! Still resisting!"

The elder coldly snorted. Despite appearing injured, he had mostly recovered.

His whiskers transformed into an indestructible net, blocking the dragon breath.

"Qian'er, use 'Seven Stars Soul Lock' to trap it! I'll attack!"

"Yes, Master!"

Li Qian quickly took out seven star-embroidered banners, throwing them in specific positions.

Instantly, seven beams of starlight rose from the banners, interlocking to immobilize the already severely wounded serpent.

"Wretched beast! Today is your demise!"

The elder laughed heartily, producing another whisker that transformed into countless sharp swords raining down on the serpent's vitals!

Cornered, the serpent did the unexpected - charging into the sword rain!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

Countless swords pierced its flesh, green scales torn as blood gushed like a fountain, dyeing the river red.

"ROAR!"

The serpent roared in agony but didn't stop, creating a fleeting gap in the sword rain to spit a blood arrow containing its core!

The arrow shot like a spear, piercing the elder's body.

Just as death seemed certain, an anomaly occurred!

Li Qian suddenly groaned, her chest inexplicably exploding in blood mist as she collapsed.

Meanwhile, the elder's body healed perfectly, his weakened aura restored to peak.

"Mas...ter...why...?"

Her bright eyes filled with shock and confusion.

She remembered how he taught her cultivation, life philosophies...she thought him second only to her mother in kindness.

Yet now...

The elder didn't even glance at her, instead smiling victoriously.

"My good disciple, raising you all these years finally proved useful."

This was the Seven Stars Sect's secret art "Flower Transplanting" - transferring fatal injuries to a pre-marked substitute.

Anticipating the serpent's death throes, he had used his disciple's life to create this killing opportunity!

"ROAR!"

The serpent, enraged at its failed strike, mustered final demonic power to whip its tail like a divine spear with tremendous force!

The tail lashed at the momentarily complacent elder!

"Bad!"

The elder paled, never expecting the serpent to counterattack after "Seven Stars Piercing Sun"!

Trapped, he could only cross his whisker and maximize protective energy!

"BOOM!"

A mountain-crumbling impact shattered his whisker.

"Pfft!"

Like lightning-struck, he flew backward, vomiting blood - clearly critically injured.

The serpent finally exhausted its life force, collapsing as a fist-sized, dark blue demon core emitting vast spiritual energy floated above water.

Second-tier demon core!

"Cough...hahaha!"

The bloodied elder crawled from rubble, his face showing manic joy.

Trembling, he reached for the treasure.

But a foot stepped on it first.

"Old senior, with your condition, this treasure might be too much for you."

A smiling voice spoke.

Looking up, he saw a masked black-clad figure grinning down.

"When two fight, the third profits."

The phrase flashed through his mind before countless wind blades from [Dance of the Wind] shredded him to pieces.