I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

The next morning, before dawn.

The beast tide camp outside Chuyang City had already begun to surge.

The roars of beasts, the sound of footsteps, and the flapping of wings intertwined, forming a dull and oppressive symphony that echoed in the morning mist.

Those groups named by the Green-Faced Fox King—Black Wind Leopard, Silver-Maned Wolf, Green-Horned Rhinoceros, Golden-Striped Leopard… as well as a few mixed-blood demon wolves that refused to obey—were pushed to the front.

They did not object at last night's meeting, but their discontent was written in every pair of eyes.

He saw all of this in their eyes: contempt, mockery, and resentment at a fox for daring to ride on their heads.

The Blue-Faced Fox King stood on a low hill behind the camp, his face calm, his gaze sweeping over the advancing herd of beasts without uttering a word.

The morning breeze ruffled his silver-gray fur, making the blue markings on his face gleam slightly. His gaze was not on the advancing demonic beasts, but on the outline of the city in the distance.

The Lava Lizard King stood beside him, a hint of doubt flashing in its dark red vertical pupils. It asked in a low voice, "Old Fox, can these guys... really find out anything?"

"Yes." The Blue-Faced Fox King's voice was very soft, so soft that it was almost swallowed by the morning breeze. "At least let me see what kind of quality that city is."

Lin Xuanjing had been standing on the south wall of Chuyang City for two hours.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the outlines of the distant herd of beasts appeared and disappeared in the fog, like a black sea slowly rising, swallowing the edge of the horizon inch by inch.

He squinted, his gaze piercing through the thin mist as he looked at the demonic beasts pushed to the front: Black Wind Leopard, Silver Mane Wolf, Green Horned Rhinoceros... all of them were irritable and easily angered groups, and he immediately understood.

This is the Blue-Faced Fox King "clearing out his inventory".

A slight smile played on his lips. He turned and whispered to the communication array, "Proceed according to plan. For the first wave, let them approach the city wall. Don't attack rashly."

The defenders on the city wall kept their bodies low, the spirit soldiers hid behind the crenellations, and the crossbowmen had their crossbows cocked, but no one pulled the trigger.

Their eyes were fixed on the approaching black tide, their breathing was extremely low, and their fingers were on the trigger, waiting for the order.

Outside the city, three hundred feet.

The monsters began to accelerate.

Black Wind Leopards charged ahead, their figures like flowing black shadows in the morning mist, moving at an astonishing speed. Each step they took landed silently in the cracks of the rocks, as if they were cutting through the air itself.

The silver-maned wolf followed closely behind, its dark gray mane flying as it ran, emitting a low growl, its fangs gleaming coldly, its gaze fixed on the blurry figures on the city wall.

The blue-horned rhinoceros was at the rear of the group, its four hooves heavy, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly. A faint spiritual light flowed on its blue horn, like an inverted spear.

Two hundred feet.

Lin Xuanjing raised his hand.

The array patterns on the city wall glowed faintly, with a deep blue light flowing across the surface like awakened serpents spreading outwards along the veins of the array patterns.

One hundred and fifty zhang.

"First round, fire the arrows." Lin Xuanjing's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every archer.

Hundreds of spirit-piercing crossbows were fired simultaneously, their spiritual arrows tearing through the morning mist and leaving dense, eerie blue trails in the gray-white light that alternated between twilight and dawn.

The Black Wind Leopard, which was at the forefront, was pierced by an arrow, rolled to the ground, let out a mournful howl, and its body twitched a few times in the dust before becoming still.

The silver-maned wolf pack was scattered by the rain of arrows. Some were hit by arrows and fell to the ground, some turned back and retreated, and some were tripped by their companions and trampled on the ground, letting out a series of short howls.

But more demonic beasts continued to charge forward despite the rain of arrows. They trampled over the corpses of their companions and trod through the scalding blood, breaking through the barrier formed by the formation.

One hundred zhang.

"Round two, rolling stones." Lin Xuanjing raised his hand again.

The defenders on the city wall pushed huge stones off the top of the wall. The stones rolled down the wall and hit the climbing monsters, knocking them off the cliff.

The southern city wall was built against the cliff. Although it was not as impenetrable as the other side of the Burning Bone Pass, it was still about ten meters deep, providing downward kinetic energy for the Spirit Gathering Rolling Stone.

The stones were engraved with weight and acceleration runes. The kinetic energy of the stones as they rolled down was amplified by the array patterns, causing their power to surge. When they hit the monsters, the sound of bones shattering could be clearly heard.

A large number of Black Wind Leopards that had climbed up the city wall were smashed down by rolling stones, their bones shattering and making a dull cracking sound.

The silver-maned wolves were a step too slow; before they could even climb the wall, they were struck on the back, letting out a short howl before falling silent.

Forced back by the rolling stones, the massive rhinoceroses staggered backward, knocking down their companions behind them, their sharp horns scraping against the city wall with a piercing sound.

But the monsters did not retreat. They trampled over the corpses of their companions and continued to charge forward, their eyes fixed only on the city wall and the humans who were killing their kind.

"Activate the array patterns." Lin Xuanjing's voice remained calm and composed.

The defensive array patterns on the city wall suddenly lit up, and streaks of dark blue electricity shot out from the wall, striking the monsters that were climbing.

The Black Wind Leopard, struck by the attack, convulsed and fell from the wall like black stones crashing to the ground.

The silver-maned wolf's fur was charred black from electrocution, emitting a pungent burnt smell, and it slid off the wall accompanied by a mournful howl.

The green-horned rhinoceros was the most tenacious, continuing to climb upwards despite the electric arcs. However, with each arc, its movements slowed down, turning its rapid climb into a laborious shuffling.

"These monsters are fighting without any strategy... they're practically throwing their lives away," a lieutenant beside Lin Xuanjing said in a low voice.

"It's not about sending them to their deaths, it's about testing the defensive capabilities of our Chuyang City." Lin Xuanjing's gaze swept across the battlefield and landed on the low hill in the distance.

Beneath the city wall, dozens of monster corpses had piled up, their flesh mangled, bones shattered, and blood staining the yellow earth below the cliff a dark red.

Those who came later climbed higher and higher, stepping over the corpses of their own kind, leaving claw marks and hair embedded in the cracks between the bricks of the city wall.

Lin Xuanjing turned around: "Breakthrough crossbow, aim at that third-tier green-horned rhinoceros."

The three city-breaking crossbows turned simultaneously, and the acceleration array patterns on the crossbows suddenly lit up, with a ghostly blue light flowing across the crossbow arms.

The giant arrow tore through the air with a piercing whistle and accurately struck the blue-horned rhinoceros in the neck.

The first arrow pierced its throat, the second arrow entered its eye socket, and the third arrow pierced its spine, successfully destroying its demon core.

Its massive body stiffened abruptly, then crashed to the ground, slamming against the base of the city wall, kicking up a cloud of dust and shaking the ground.

This strike served as a signal.

Behind them, on the low hill where the Blue-Faced Fox King was located, a deep horn sound rang out, long and muffled, echoing through the valley, passing through the morning mist, and reaching the ears of every demon beast that was attacking the city.

That was the order to retreat.

The monsters that were still attacking the city were relieved and retreated, abandoning the corpses of their kin and fleeing towards the main camp without daring to look back.

The first wave of probing has ended.

The Blue-Faced Fox King stood on the low hill, his face calm, as if the misjudgment in commanding the siege just now had nothing to do with him.

His gaze swept over the retreating horde of beasts, then over the defenders on the city wall.

Although the defenders moved swiftly, the fatigue on their faces and the bloodstains on their bodies were real; no one could fake the exhaustion after a bloody battle.

"What about the casualties?" he asked, his voice as flat as if he were asking about the wind direction today.

"Forty percent of the Black Wind Leopards are dead, thirty percent of the Silver Mane Wolves are dead, and two hundred Green Horned Rhinoceroses have died." The Gale Bat King's voice was high-pitched, carrying a cold indifference.

"That's enough." The Blue-Faced Fox King nodded. "Let them rest. The second wave will begin in an hour."

The Lava Lizard King was taken aback, then leaned closer and whispered, "Old Fox, didn't you say you were going to stall for time? How come you're done so quickly—"

"Speed ​​is what makes it real." The Blue-Faced Fox King interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on the distant city wall. "If I attack once and then stop for three days, won't the Demon Emperor become suspicious? I want this battle to look like a real war of attrition, with many casualties and slow progress, but it is indeed making progress."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his amber eyes: "For the second wave, send those tribes from the central mountains. Aren't they defiant of me? Then let them prove their worth."

An hour later, the second wave of attack was launched.

This time, leading the charge were the Red-maned Lion, the Armored Rhinoceros, and the Thunder Roar Beast from the central mountain region.

They were larger, stronger, and their impact far surpassed that of the first wave. The Red-maned Lion's claws could leave deep scratches on the walls, the Armored Rhinoceros's charge could dent the city gates inward, and the Thunder Roar Beast's lightning could pierce through protective auras.

Scattered casualties began to appear on the city wall. Some people were struck by the lightning of the Thunder Roar Beast, their protective aura shattered, they coughed up blood and fell from the city wall.

Someone was dragged off the city wall by the red-maned lion, and screams came from below, but were quickly drowned out by the roars of the beast.

Some people were knocked to the ground and unconscious by the impact of the armored rhinoceros, and were dragged off the city wall by their companions.

Lin Xuanjing's expression remained calm, but his gaze was still fixed on the few third-tier demonic beasts of these races in the distance.

They are still observing and have not yet made a move.

"Third Battalion, go up to the city wall to replace the wounded. Fourth Battalion, stand by." His voice was steady as he quickly transmitted the message through the communication array.

His only task at present is to cooperate with the Blue-Faced Fox King to put on a good show.

The victory of Chuyang City came when the Burning Sky Crimson Ape began attacking Tingfeng Pass and the main force began to fight them.

He activated the array plate in his hand, and the defensive array patterns on the city wall began to operate, enveloping the city wall in a dark blue light shield.

The monsters from the central mountains rushed to the city wall, crashed into the light barrier, and made a dull thud.

The light shield trembled violently, but it did not shatter; Lin Xuanqing controlled its power to the point of "barely holding on".

"They are operating in a tiered manner under the command of the third-tier demonic beasts, not charging recklessly." Lin Xuanqing's voice came from the communication array, carrying a hint of the calmness unique to battlefield analysts. "They are looking for the real weak point in the defense line. If the command is smart enough, they will save their true elite forces for last."

"Then let them see the 'weak point'," Lin Xuanjing said calmly. "Open a breach in the southern section of the city wall."

The array patterns on the southern section of the city wall suddenly dimmed, and a gap more than ten feet wide appeared in the light shield.

The armored rhinoceroses at the forefront immediately turned and charged toward the breach, their iron hooves pounding the ground and dust billowing up, like a group of out-of-control battering rams.

But just as they were about to step into the breach, hundreds of spears simultaneously thrust out from behind the city wall.

The spears thrust out from both sides of the gap, precisely piercing the armored rhinoceros's neck, eye sockets, and abdomen.

Blood gushed out, and the giant beasts crashed to the ground, completely blocking the breach, their corpses piling up into a low wall of flesh and blood.

"Well done." A smile finally appeared on Lin Xuanjing's lips, and he shouted, "Third Battalion, cover! Seal the breach!"

On the city wall, the defending soldiers moved quickly to fill the gaps, the array patterns lit up again, and the light shield closed.

The monsters that followed crashed into the closing light barrier, were repelled by the dark blue arcs of electricity, and roared angrily.

By repeatedly exploiting the "weak points of the formation," a large number of demonic beasts fell into the trap, and new mountains of corpses were piled up at the gaps.

The second wave of attacks was also blocked.

This time, however, the defenders on the city wall paid a price.

Dozens of people were injured or killed, including seven seriously wounded who were rushed off the city wall. Their blood left long, dark red trails on the ground where they were dragged.

At sunset, the third wave of the offensive was launched.

This time, the Blue-Faced Fox King sent out several of his least favorite troublesome tribes, placing them at the very front of the procession, and then letting them collide with the array patterns on the city wall.

The array masters created the illusion of "array overload" according to the pre-arranged plan.

The light shield on the city wall flickered violently, emitting a piercing buzz, like a lamp about to go out. Large areas of the array patterns dimmed, and cracks spread visibly.

"The weakness of the formation has been exposed!" Amidst the beast tide, a demon king roared excitedly, his voice booming like thunder.

Those troublesome demon beasts that the Green-Faced Fox King had placed at the front of the formation received the order to attack.

They burst out of the beast tide and pounced toward the "dim" gap, their sharp claws slicing through the air, creating a whooshing sound, and their roars filled the air.

Then, they crashed into something real.

Inside the city gate, Lin Xuanqing personally activated a backup three-layer array.

A wall of cold, golden light rose from the ground like a glass screen, firmly sealing the gap.

The demonic beasts charging at the forefront crashed into the wall of light, their bones shattering, blood flowing freely, and screams echoing everywhere. Broken horns and sharp claws left white marks on the wall of light.

On the city wall, crossbows were fired simultaneously, and giant arrows accurately pierced the bodies of those monsters, pinning them to the base of the wall. Some were pierced through, while others were pinned to the ground, struggling and howling, their blood staining the land red.

This wave resulted in the greatest casualties among the monsters.

But amidst the chaos, a dark golden figure suddenly rose from the beast horde.

That was one of the leaders of the vanguard, the third-tier Iron-Winged Golden Eagle.

It soared into the sky from behind the beast tide, its wings spread wide, the iron feathers at the tips gleaming with a metallic sheen in the twilight, moving at an astonishing speed, like a golden lightning bolt piercing through the gray sky.

Instead of rushing towards the city wall, it passed directly through the weak point of the formation, crossed the city wall, and flew towards the city!

"Not good—" Lin Xuanjing's expression changed drastically.

The iron-winged golden eagle's target was not the guards on the city wall, but the camp behind the city wall.

Lin Xuanfeng's voice came from the communication array: "Leave it to me."

From the direction of Qingze, a streak of azure sword light shot into the sky, as fast as a shooting star.

The sword light drew a sharp arc in the twilight, slashing straight towards the iron-winged golden eagle.

Lin Xuanfeng's figure merged with the sword light in mid-air, his whole being like a long sword drawn from its sheath, exuding a chilling sword intent.

The sword light collided with the golden eagle in mid-air, producing a deafening roar.

A visible shockwave spread out from the point of impact, ripping off the roof tiles of several barracks below, snapping trees, and sending dust flying.

The Iron-Winged Golden Eagle was forced back by a sword strike, letting out a sharp cry. A small section of its wingtip was cut off, and golden feathers drifted down into the air, shimmering faintly in the twilight.

That's right, Lin Xuanfeng also successfully formed his core!

Despite being only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, he was still able to handle a late-stage third-tier demon beast with ease.

His sword intent condensed in the night wind, like an invisible city wall, firmly keeping the golden eagle outside the camp.

But Lin Xuanfeng did not pursue. He simply stood with his sword horizontally in mid-air, staring coldly at the circling golden eagle, his whole body exuding a chilling sword intent.

The Iron-Winged Golden Eagle circled twice, let out a reluctant cry, and then flapped its wings and flew back to the rear of the beast tide.

Lin Xuanfeng sheathed his sword and landed on the ground, his voice calm and composed: "He's already been released."

Lin Xuanqing's voice came from the communication array, carrying a hint of barely perceptible amusement: "It didn't suspect anything, did it?"

"no."

…………

The Blue-Faced Fox King stood on the low hill, squinting as he watched the Iron-Winged Golden Eagle fly back.

"Lord Green-Faced Fox, just as you said, this Chuyang City is putting on an act! There are a large number of cultivators waiting in their camp, and less than a tenth of them are standing on the city wall!" The Iron-Winged Golden Eagle landed beside the Green-Faced Fox King, folded its wings, and there was a faint sword mark on its golden feathers.

"As expected..." The corners of the Blue-Faced Fox King's mouth turned up slightly, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his amber eyes. "This Chuyang City is feigning weakness to the enemy."

"Very good, go and rest!"

"Yes!" The Iron-Winged Golden Eagle bowed and retreated into the shadows.

After he left, the Lava Lizard King approached, his voice tinged with lingering fear: "Old Fox, it's all your fault. If we had just foolishly charged in, the losses would have been devastating..."

The Blue-Faced Fox King did not answer, but simply turned and walked towards the camp.

Inside the tent, the lights were dim.

The five core demon kings had all arrived, their gazes fixed on the Green-Faced Fox King. Each of them wore a different expression, some of which showed conviction, some of which showed awe, and some of which showed a sense of "so this is how it can be done."

The Blue-Faced Fox King surveyed the crowd, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet each word clear: "Tomorrow, I will send out all the most unruly tribes, as well as those small tribes in the central mountains that have always been unruly, to wear down the forces of Chuyang City. However, I will take it slow and prolong the process."

He paused, his voice deepening, "Once they're mostly dead, I'll send a military report back to the Demon Emperor. Chuyang City's defenses are stronger than expected, but they've already been depleted by more than half. I need reinforcements, or at least, I need time."

"However, I suspect the Demon Emperor won't send reinforcements, which gives us a reason to delay the battle!"

The Iron-Backed Bear King scratched his head: "What about ourselves? When are we going to go?"

The Blue-Faced Fox King glanced at him, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his amber eyes: "When the Demon Emperor's side starts fighting, when he is engaged in a fierce battle at Tingfeng Pass, then we can 'break through' Chuyang City and go to support the army. That will be the real achievement."

The tent fell silent, save for the faint crackling of the burning grease in the lamps.

A moment later, all five demon kings smiled.