CHAPTER 461: CHAPTER 431 FINE WATER FLOWING CLOUD ARRAY

In the Bone Demon Cliff area, because the land is vast and sparsely populated, no cultivators were stationed to guard it. This has resulted in a new demon beast group appearing behind Bone Demon Cliff without timely detection.

This is considered the first shortcoming in the Dubhe Institute’s combat system this time.

Generally speaking, small-scale demon beast groups, or even lone demon beasts, are dealt with by the cultivators stationed in frontline towns.

If the demon beasts are too strong to handle, they can always call for rescue.

Therefore, the task of garrisoning frontline towns is much easier and safer than forming a group to confront the demon beasts, and naturally, there are battle merit points to be awarded for garrison tasks.

Initially, according to Dubhe Institute’s arrangement, the Spirit Sword Sect was to garrison Cold Water Town for one month, just taking it easy, and once the garrison period was over, the mission would be complete and battle merit points would be earned.

However, only a few days into the garrison, things started easily with no sign of danger; at most, a couple of Tier Two demon beasts passed by and were promptly slain by our forces.

And now, a Tier Three demon beast has appeared directly.

Though the Spirit Sword Sect’s team numbered a hundred people, the strongest among them was only at the late-stage Foundation Establishment.

How could a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation withstand the assault of a Tier Three demon beast?

Clearly, it’s impossible.

"A Tier Three demon beast, what should we do about this?"

The Spirit Sword Sect cultivators, upon discovering the tracks of these dozen or so demon beasts, were particularly troubled by the leading Tier Three Golden Rhino.

Even calling for rescue would be futile, as by the time a Crystallization Stage Great Cultivator arrived, our forces would already be trampled to death under the hooves of the Golden Rhino.

The leading Spirit Sword Sect elder, named Lin Zhiyin, though actually over forty, looked like a maiden in her early twenties due to a technique to maintain her youthful appearance.

Lin Zhiyin wore a simple and unadorned purple robe, and with a long sword on her back, she exuded an aura of a sword cultivator.

And the Spirit Sword Sect itself is a sect focusing mainly on sword cultivation, with its core cultivation technique named Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, extremely renowned within the Chu Kingdom’s cultivation realm.

However, no matter how powerful this technique is, it can’t defeat enemies across great realms.

"Elder, with a Tier Three demon beast and the remaining sixteen Tier Two demon beasts, how can we possibly handle them with our strength?"

In the patrol team, a Spirit Sword Sect disciple, having scouted the strength of this batch of demon beasts, promptly reported to Lin Zhiyin, looking extremely grim.

It’s only been a few days of garrison at Cold Water Town, and a Tier Three demon beast has already appeared.

If they were Tier Two demon beasts, they would be manageable.

Lin Zhiyin frowned slightly upon hearing this.

She extended her divine sense to probe in the direction of the demon beast group, and her face quickly changed.

The strength and numbers of the demon beasts were indeed as the disciple reported.

Before Lin Zhiyin could speak, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment elite disciple of Spirit Sword Sect proposed, "Elder, with our strength, going against that Tier Three demon beast would be pure folly. Instead, why don’t we scatter and run, saving as many as we can, which is better than everyone dying here."

Upon hearing this suggestion, some Spirit Sword Sect disciples nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom in it.

Our team’s limited strength is well understood.

"Alas, I don’t think this will work either."

An older Spirit Sword Sect disciple spoke, sighing slightly, "The area around Cold Water Town for a hundred miles is plains, highly favorable for those demon beasts to pursue us."

"We Foundation Establishment Cultivators could manage to escape using flying swords, but what about you Qi Cultivation Stage disciples? How can you outrun those demon beasts?"

"Among those demon beasts, there are a few agile Leopard Demons and Wolf Demons. There are also two flying bird demon beasts.

"If we disperse our forces, we’ll only be more easily hunted by those demon beasts."

As this cultivator finished speaking, the atmosphere became extremely tense and oppressive.

Fact is, Qi Cultivators escaping cannot match the speed of Tier Two demon beasts pursuing.

"The situation is urgent, what shall we do now?"

"Do we stay put and wait for death if we don’t run?"

"Indeed, Elder, please make a decision. Those demon beasts are about to invade Cold Water Town."

Listening to the disciples’ words, Lin Zhiyin thought for a moment, then spoke.

"Escaping is indeed not an option. At this point, we can only seek rescue from the Crystallization Stage Great Cultivators stationed in surrounding towns."

"As I recall, Liao City, over two hundred miles from Cold Water Town, has a group of Dubhe Institute cultivators stationed, led by two Crystallization Stage Great Cultivators. With their flying speed, they can reach Cold Water Town in about one tea’s time."

"Great, now there’s hope for our rescue. Elder, let’s promptly call for aid from Liao City!"

"Yes, that’s right."

With Lin Zhiyin’s permission, a disciple took out a communication flying sword, inscribed the request for help, and sent the communication flying sword swiftly towards the direction of Liao City in the east.

After sending the communication flying sword to Liao City for help, Lin Zhiyin also formed a plan for the impending defense.

"All Jiazi Group disciples, heed the call to form the Fine Water Flowing Cloud Array! We must try to trap these demon beasts until our seniors from Liao City can come to our aid."

"Hold them off as long as we can."

With a solemn expression, Lin Zhiyin ordered some disciples to orchestrate an array to hold off this small beast group.

Spirit Sword Sect had a hundred members here. For easier management, Lin Zhiyin divided them into three teams: Jiazi, Yi, and Bing, taking turns for patrols, night watches, and clearing demon beast remnants.

The members of Jiazi Group are the strongest, with the weakest being late-stage Qi Cultivators.

Upon hearing Lin Zhiyin’s order, the Jiazi Group disciples of Spirit Sword Sect didn’t dare slack off and quickly deployed flying swords, chanting the incantations to activate the Fine Water Flowing Cloud Array, swiftly forming an array.

This is a defense array, highly enduring, and leading them in forming it was Lin Zhiyin herself.

Lin Zhiyin’s cultivation was at the late-stage Foundation Establishment, and with this array, she could handle any opponent below the Crystallization Stage.

However, dealing with a Tier Three demon beast, she knew relying on this array for elimination was not feasible.

The purpose was merely to use the array to hold down the demon beasts, waiting for Dubhe Institute’s reinforcement to arrive.