The Pastoral Life of a Cultivation Master

Chapter 3280 The Number of Shadows Striking Again

The shadowy figure reappeared silently from the night!
Under the pitch-black night sky, a sharp, black claw suddenly emerged from the darkness, flashing with a cold light before abruptly retracting into the shadows. Immediately afterwards, countless other black claws shot out, extending and retracting in succession, densely packed, sending chills down one's spine.

The mournful howls rose and fell, echoing through the empty, desolate valley, chilling and piercing the night, reverberating in the ears of every martial artist.

"Elder! The shadow... the shadow has appeared again!" Qian Wantong's face turned pale, and his voice trembled slightly uncontrollably. He forcibly suppressed the fear surging in his heart, and his finger stiffly pointed to the dark night outside the main hall.

"What's the panic!" Qian Ying shouted, his deep true energy carrying his voice, which resonated clearly in the ears of every martial artist, suppressing their inner turmoil. "We've been preparing for a whole day, and the firewood we've stored is enough to burn for more than two nights. This hall's walls are intact and its structure is sturdy, far safer than the damaged hall from last night. What do you have to panic about?"

His gaze sharpened as he swept over everyone in the hall, and he continued in a deep voice, "Everyone, guard your assigned positions and prepare torches. If any shadowy figures break through the fire defenses and enter the hall, throw the torches out immediately. These shadowy figures are naturally afraid of fire and will never be able to withstand the scorching heat of open flames."

Upon hearing this, the martial artists, who were still somewhat flustered and agitated, gradually calmed down.

Since preparations had been made during the day—with ample wood and a well-established defense—if they still couldn't hold out, then it was simply a matter of fate. The men suppressed their fear, gripped their torches and weapons tightly, and strictly adhered to the deployment plan agreed upon during the day, remaining steadfast in their posts and on high alert.

During the day, Qian Wantong and Zhou Ke had already discussed the nighttime vigilance. Two martial artists were assigned to guard each of the four cardinal directions of the main hall, with ample firewood readily available. Upon spotting any unusual movement by a shadowy figure, they would immediately raise a loud alarm and throw torches to deter the attacker. This layered defense minimized the risk of a sneak attack.

The remaining warriors all retreated to the center of the main hall to rest. Every two hours, a shift of guards would take turns to prevent anyone from being on high alert all night, resulting in physical exhaustion and mental fatigue.

In dire circumstances, only by rationally allocating one's physical strength can one persevere for a long time.

Qian Ying and Zhou Zixing walked side by side to the entrance of the main hall, gazing at the boundless darkness outside the door through a ring of blazing bonfires.

The night was thick and dark, and countless shadowy figures darted back and forth across the square, their forms indistinct and elusive. They lingered around the firelight, not charging rashly, like lurking beasts patiently waiting for a breach in the defenses before surging into the hall.

Qian Ying didn't possess Chen Mo's special daytime vision, making it impossible for him to penetrate the thick darkness and see the entire scene in the shadows. To ascertain the number of shadowy figures and assess the surrounding situation, he immediately gave an order.

"Qian Wantong, fire a flare outwards."

"Yes!" Qian Wantong did not hesitate. He rushed to the campfire, took out his gun, raised his hand, aimed at the dark night sky outside the hall, and decisively pulled the trigger.

A projectile shot through the air, leaving a faint trail of white light as it soared into the sky.

The next second, a blinding burst of light suddenly exploded, and the pale light instantly filled the entire square, dispelling the darkness.

"hiss--"

A chorus of gasps filled the hall. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the doorway, their hearts sinking.

The empty plaza was teeming with countless dark figures, their numbers terrifying. They possessed sharp teeth and ferocious faces, roaring and howling towards the main hall. The blinding light caused the figures to instinctively flee in panic into the surrounding darkness.

"Roughly estimated, at least two hundred!" Someone stared intently at the scattering black shadows and gave a deep voice the approximate number.

The shadowy figures were elusive and moved extremely fast, and their appearances were identical, making it impossible to count them accurately; one could only make a rough judgment by sight.

Over two hundred! This number weighed heavily on the hearts of all the martial artists, like a boulder. The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense, and a thick sense of panic quietly spread. In the firelight, everyone's faces were pale, and their fingertips trembled slightly. If so many shadowy figures were to charge together, the consequences would be unimaginable if the defensive line collapsed.

Even Qian Ying, who was used to seeing battles, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine and a fine layer of cold sweat break out on his back after seeing the size of the shadowy figures. But the situation was passive, and they had no better choice than to rely on the bonfire defense line in the main hall and hold on to their death.

Zhou Zixing turned to Qian Ying and whispered, "Elder Qian, should we two take the initiative to rush out and kill a few of the shadowy figures to boost morale?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Ying rolled her eyes inwardly and couldn't help but silently complain.

What is this old man thinking?

Zhou Zixing is already advanced in years, his lifespan is nearing its end, and his vital energy is declining. He shouldn't be recklessly taking risks. Now that the situation is unclear and the number of shadowy figures is enormous, the best strategy is to remain safe and defend. Why would he want to actively break through the defensive line and fight?

You don't know the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt until you're in charge of the household.

Everyone had worked tirelessly during the day, dismantling walls, chopping wood, and moving supplies, leaving them all exhausted. Now that the main hall had ample firewood reserves and a solid defense, relying on firelight for defense was the best solution; why risk going out on their own?
If the fighting becomes too loud and attracts more shadowy figures lurking in the valley to gather and surround them, then they are courting death.

Fortunately, Zhou Zixing still had some sense of propriety. His suggestion was only transmitted through his voice and was not heard by other martial artists, otherwise it would have caused unrest among them.

Suppressing her helplessness, Qian Ying replied coldly via telepathy, "No need. Just stay and guard the main hall. Let the shadowy figures outside roar and clamor. As long as they can't break through the fire defense line, there's no need to pay them any attention."

Even if the shadowy figure roars deafeningly, it won't cause any real harm. As long as it can't break through the defenses, all the commotion is just a bluff.

High in the sky, the flares slowly dimmed, their light gradually fading, and the pitch-black night once again swallowed the entire square. A chilling darkness enveloped the world once more, concealing those menacing shadows within it once more.

There was no need for two people to stand guard at the entrance simultaneously; the bonfires burned continuously and brightly at the temple gate, indicating that the defenses were already solid. Qian Ying and Zhou Zixing exchanged a glance, then slowly retreated, no longer holding the entrance.

“Qian Wantong,” Qian Ying said in a deep voice.

"Yes!" Qian Wantong quickly stepped forward and bowed in response.

"Take your men and keep a close watch on the surrounding area. Strictly control the firewood reserves inside the hall; there must be no shortage. Guard against the shadowy figures breaching the defenses and attacking everyone," Qian Ying instructed solemnly.

"Understood!" Qian Wantong nodded hurriedly, but secretly he was making plans in his heart.

He had no intention of holding the most dangerous position at the entrance of the main hall. Last night, the mutated black shadow had managed to lift a giant log and smash it against the campfire defense line. If another powerful black shadow launched a strong attack tonight, the guards at the entrance would be the first to bear the brunt, facing extreme danger.

Once the two elders had left, he planned to quietly change the guards. This kind of tedious and dangerous guard duty could be easily replaced by someone else; there was no need to put himself in danger.

Having made up his mind, Qian Wantong's gaze swept over the crowd in the hall, and he finally assigned the task of guarding the entrance to the martial artists of the Ouyang family, with Ouyang Jun leading the team to guard the key position at the front of the hall.

The night was deep, the campfire crackled and flickered.

In the pitch-black valley, the roars continued unabated. Dark shadows lurked in the depths of darkness, coldly staring at the fire-lit hall, seemingly ready to rush in and tear everyone apart at any moment.