Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Calamity of World Annihilation
"Beast tide?"
Looking at the content of the letter, Ji Chen couldn’t help but frown.
Qu Luoning mentioned in the letter that a large number of demon beasts have recently emerged in a desolate mountain range in the eastern part of the Chu Kingdom.
This mountain range is not very far from Celestial Essence City, roughly only a few hundred miles away.
A few days ago, a beast tide suddenly surged out from the mountains, sweeping across the land, spanning hundreds of miles. Wherever it passed, not a single blade of grass survived, and it eventually reached Celestial Essence City. If not for the intervention of the Royal Family, the entire city would have long turned into ruins.
Although the Chu Kingdom’s territory is vast, the problem of the beast tide is a major hidden danger.
Throughout history, many dynasties have fallen under the beast tide, ultimately forced to relocate.
It is said that the mountain range in the eastern part of the Chu Kingdom has been desolate since ancient times, with many demon beasts lurking within, and few dare to set foot there. As a result, the world calls it the Demon Beast Mountain Range.
But over the years, there has never been a significant disturbance or large-scale migration of demon beasts from that mountain range.
They seem to have considered it their home and habitat, living there for tens of thousands of years.
Recently, the emotional state of the beasts within the mountains seems to have become extremely agitated. Before the beast tide swept Celestial Essence City, there had already been several small-scale beast attacks on the city, which eventually caught the attention of the Royal Family, who felt that something unusual must be going on.
However, the Demon Beast Mountain Range is extremely perilous, and throughout countless years, no monarch has ever truly conquered it.
Given the current strength of the Chu Kingdom, it is even more impossible to achieve that.
This letter from Qu Luoning was also out of necessity. Nowadays, the Lingyun Sect has long become the most powerful force within the Chu Kingdom, even surpassing the royal authority.
This is a call for aid, and Qu Luoning hopes Ji Chen can assist the Royal Family and venture into the Demon Beast Mountain Range together to investigate and determine what exactly is happening inside.
The problem of the beast tide is significant, and Ji Chen knows the proverbial relation of lips and teeth, where if one perishes, the other will follow. If such matters are allowed to develop unchecked, it might eventually affect the Lingyun Sect as well.
Moreover, this is a personal request for help from Qu Luoning, and Ji Chen, recalling their fifteen years of acquaintance at the Saint’s Dojo, finds it impossible to ignore.
He summoned Nangong Ao and informed him of the matter.
"The Demon Beast Mountain Range, hmm..."
After understanding the situation, Nangong Ao immediately frowned. He gazed into the distant sky, as if recalling something, and after a moment, said, "In my era, I had heard of this Demon Beast Mountain Range, extremely dangerous. It is said to harbor many ancient-era strange creatures, powerful enough to rival Celestial Essence Realm or even Void Realm cultivators!"
"Rivaling Celestial Essence and Void Realm!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Chen’s expression suddenly changed.
It seems that the situation within the Demon Beast Mountain Range is more complicated than he had imagined.
Even a figure like Nangong Ao, who has lived for thousands of years, turns pale when mentioning this place.
"It is said that during Emperor Ye’s era, there was a beast tide attack event, and those demon beasts also seemed to originate from this mountain range."
"The scale was so vast, it affected not only this region of the Chu Kingdom but the entire Profound Domain. Many dynasties, clan families, and sects were annihilated overnight, and wherever the beast tide passed, not a single blade of grass survived."
Ji Chen remained silent, sinking into thought.
The Apocalypse Beast Tide from Emperor Ye’s era remains recorded in the historical records of many powers to this day.
A million demon beasts surged forth, wreaking havoc upon the world, and it was only after Emperor Ye wielded the ’Mysterious Iron Heavy Halberd’ and battled under the stars for several days that the beasts were eradicated.
And it was after that battle that Emperor Ye was severely injured and disappeared from the eyes of the world.
Even a Saint as powerful as Emperor Ye barely survived such a beast tide, indicating its terrifying nature.
Ji Chen had naturally heard of such things, but now, hearing from Nangong Ao, he learned that the Apocalypse Beast Tide from Emperor Ye’s era actually originated from the Demon Beast Mountain Range in the eastern Chu Kingdom!
"As time swiftly passes, it has nearly been ten thousand years. I didn’t expect a beast tide to appear again in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. Although not large in scale, surely something unknown has happened within those mountains," Nangong Ao said, frowning.
Ji Chen asked, "What do you think, Ao Lao, about how we should respond now?"
Nangong Ao remained silent, and after a long while, said, "It would be best to release the information. This is no longer just a matter for the Chu Kingdom. If the beast tide migrates on a large scale, it may develop into another disaster like Emperor Ye’s era, where the entire Profound Domain won’t have anyone who can remain unaffected!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Chen nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Soon, he replied to Qu Luoning, stating that he would meet her in Celestial Essence City within three days, and instructed her to release the news of the beast tide.
Yet in reality, even without deliberately spreading the news, the beast tide attack on Celestial Essence City, the imperial capital, a few days ago had already spread throughout the Profound Domain.
Many powers, upon learning of the news, rushed directly to the Chu Kingdom, as they seemed to be aware that the beast tide from Emperor Ye’s era also originated from the Demon Beast Mountain Range in the Chu Kingdom. No one within the Profound Domain could remain detached from this matter.
After arranging some matters with Fang Qingyao and Ji Xiaotian, that afternoon, Ji Chen set off alone towards Celestial Essence City, riding atop Ao Tian.
He did not have Nangong Ao accompany him, because if a beast tide appeared, the latter’s presence within Lingyun Sect was crucial to ensuring its safety.
...
Soon, on the third day after leaving Lingyun Sect, Ji Chen descended into Celestial Essence City at noon.
At this moment, Celestial Essence City was filled with numerous cultivators. Compared to the previous time during the Queen of Chu’s birthday, the numbers had increased by several folds.
Moreover, these people came from all over the Profound Domain, with powerful figures from prominent sects like Lingxiao Palace, Sword King Sect, and Purple Cloud Sect all making an appearance.
Within the Imperial Palace, Ji Chen went straight there.
Qu Luoning and Emperor Chu met him in person and informed him of the recent events.
After listening, Ji Chen realized that during his journey to Celestial Essence City over the past three days, the city had suffered two more beast tide attacks.
And the scale was even larger than the first time, already beyond what the Royal Family could handle.
If not for the intervention of powerful figures from major forces like the Purple Cloud Sect to repel the beast tide, Celestial Essence City might have already fallen into ruins.
"Now, with the beast tide frequently emerging and growing in scale, it may bring about a catastrophe reminiscent of Emperor Ye’s era. No Saints are present in today’s Profound Domain, and should a million-beast tide strike, it would surely be an apocalypse!" Emperor Chu worriedly expressed.
With the developments thus far, it had moved beyond what the Chu Kingdom could control.
"Currently, Celestial Essence City is gathering powerful figures from major sects across the Profound Domain. Experts from the other nine kingdoms have also made an appearance. Our Royal Family has summoned these individuals for a conference to be held tomorrow to discuss how we should deal with the appearance of this beast tide," Qu Luoning stated.