CHAPTER 172: NEW DAY, NEW ARRIVAL

"Great work, everyone."

The sky was just about to brighten up, welcoming the dawn of a new day.

Xu Tao stood atop the castle’s balcony with his hands folded behind his back, looking out toward the horizon as the last wisps of demonic miasma dissipated into the morning light.

Below him, everyone had gathered. Not only those who fought hard to defend the walls—Jehanne, Arthur, Yifa, Zetian, and Achilles—but even the residents who stayed behind, the civilians, and even the weaker fighters who couldn’t participate in the Diamond Bus Experience.

Everyone was there, gathered, not one injured at all. A testament to their new strength. Xu Tao nodded, smiling in satisfaction.

"...With this, our job is done," he muttered. "Rest up in your quar—"

But just as he was about to dismiss them, and announce a celebration slated for that night...

DING!

A crisp notification rang in his ears.

[

New Quest Generated: Helping the Homeless (2)!

Quest Details:

Once again, the System has summoned more wanderers (50) with fate connections to the current residents, based on the current progression level. Help them stabilize into this world like what you did with the first batch!

Quest Rewards:

Unique Title upgrade, Landlord II

]

Xu Tao’s eyes narrowed.

"More?"

Almost immediately, the others received the same notification.

Jehanne blinked rapidly and looked toward him. Yifa frowned, a little confused. Xu Tao knew that they, too, received the same notification as him.

"Fifty more people?"

The three barely had time to process the quest details. After all, together with the first light of dawn, a golden pillar of light erupted near the castle. To be precise, it was beyond the southern wall, the area Xu Tao defended just earlier!

Xu Tao moved without hesitation, disappearing without a word. Jehanne and Yifa followed after him quickly, while the rest, intrigued by the three’s sudden action, followed blindly.

Since the wall was nearby, it didn’t really take them time to arrive.

"..."

Under his scrutinizing gaze, the large pillar of golden light began to tremble.

Within the next few moments, dozens of human figures jumped out of the swirling light one after another—disoriented and confused.

Among the various people that arrived, the very first group to land wore familiar armors, making Jehanne’s shoulders twitch. "You guys...!"

"C-Commander Jehanne?! Your Holiness the Saint is here, you bastards!"

"What?! Oh, it’s true! Our Saint!"

"Leader!"

Ten armored soldiers clad in the insignia of the old French army stumbled forward.

Their captain—a tall, scar-faced knight—immediately drew his sword when he found himself surrounded by strangers. His movements were swift, ready to hack away at the slightest suspicious movement, before his soldiers called Jehanne’s name.

He turned to where they were looking, eyes wide in shock. "Saint d’Arc... you’re alive?"

"Captain Montluc...?" Jehanne gasped.

Before she could respond further, another ten appeared on the opposite side of the array—each wearing dark Azure Dragon Sect uniforms. One among them was an older woman, seemingly in her prime, with silver hair and piercing eyes.

As soon as she arrived, her body stiffened up. A familiar Qi reached her, an energy she didn’t expect to find there. She glanced toward the wall, at the one at the forefront, and raised a brow.

"Great Elder Xu Tao?" she asked calmly. "Weren’t you supposed to be in seclusion?"

Xu Tao forced a smile, recognizing the woman instantly. "...Elder Lu."

But of course, they didn’t have time for an emotional reunion.

Next came the steel-clad cavalrymen—ten of them, all in full ceremonial armor, similar to what Arthur wore. With wary eyes, they scanned the surroundings, hands right over their respective weapons. But when their eyes swept across a familiar face, they all called at the same time:

"Your Majesty!"

Arthur stiffened, not expecting "those guys" to come here too.

It didn’t stop there.

Another flash rippled before a procession of elegant young women in black and gold court dresses appeared. Their attire gave away their origin immediately, as it was undoubtedly similar to what one of those on the wall was currently wearing.

"Her Majesty the Empress!" The women cupped their fists, bowing respectfully as soon as they found her—Wu Zetian.

Zetian closed her fan with an audible snap. "They’re my palace maids... How did they come here?" she wondered as she brought a hand to her forehead.

The last group landed with an earth-shaking thud. Bronze shields, horsehair crests, and rough hides greeted the early morning sun. As if by instinct, their gazes were pulled to where a certain blonde demigod was, their lips parting in a mix of awe and surprise.

"My Lord!"

Achilles blinked as ten Myrmidon warriors rushed toward him, slamming their spears against their shields in ritual salute.

He stared for a second, genuinely confused... then gave a small nod.

"Stand down."

In less than a minute, fifty new soldiers of five completely different factions stood together in the wide field—each one confused, tense, and very prepared to fight, eyeing each other suspiciously.

The knights and soldiers reached for swords, spears, or bows.

The cultivators quietly entered into their combat stances, Qi trembling faintly.

Zetian’s maids took out hidden daggers from their sleeves with frightening professionalism.

For a terrifying moment... it looked like the fifty newcomers would start fighting before they even got the chance to introduce themselves.

And that was when Xu Tao stepped forward.

He didn’t speak. There was no need to. Instead, he simply let his Qi flow.

Despite him just being at the Golden Core Stage, the air vibrated under his silent killing intent.

A single wave of golden Sword Intent swept across the battlefield like a silent tide, passing over every new face who just arrived.

To the cultivators, the threat was so real, it felt like they had blades pressed against their napes. They all had the idea that one wrong move would spell their doom. Even Elder Lu had a cold sweat drip down her forehead while enduring the silent pressure Xu Tao released.

For the others who couldn’t really detect Qi, the effects were a bit lower.

However, despite being trained soldiers, facing life-and-death battles like it was an everyday scene... their knees trembled, weapons dropping to the ground as they lost their grips. Their hearts clenched tight, almost as if a phantom was roughly grabbing them.

In that instant, every last one of them understood.

There was a single supreme being here—and it was not them.