Immortality begins with inheriting the myriad arts of cultivation.

"call out!"

Suddenly, a sharp, long howl rang out near Gaojishan Mountain, which could be heard for miles around.

At this moment, all the Bai family cultivators—those hunting demonic beasts outside, those meditating and cultivating in the ancestral land, and those taking care of spiritual herbs and beasts—revealed expressions of shock.

This sharp warning sound is only heard when the clan faces a life-or-death crisis.

……

After the whistling sound rang out.

In the Bai family's council hall, cultivators arrived one after another. Those qualified to enter the council hall to discuss matters were basically cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining.

As soon as they entered the hall, they saw the patriarch and clan leader who were already waiting there. They quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Patriarch and Clan Leader!"

The Bai family patriarch's face was no longer as kind and amiable as usual, but instead became solemn. He merely nodded slightly in response to the clansmen's salutes.

Before long, all the late-stage Qi Refining clansmen who were still on Gaoji Mountain had arrived.

Sitting cross-legged, everyone looked at the clan leader, Bai Mingde, eager to know what had happened.

Bai Mingde cast an inquiring glance at the Bai family patriarch, and only after receiving the patriarch's permission did he solemnly speak: "Everyone, my Bai family has reached a critical moment of life and death. According to the intelligence sent back by our clansmen who are scouting outside, a beast tide consisting of five second-tier demonic beasts and thousands of low-tier demonic beasts is surging towards Gaoji Mountain."

He said gravely, "We may have to face the beast tide head-on!"

"Heavens! Five second-tier demonic beasts!"

"How could there be such a huge beast tide? High Ridge Mountain is in a remote location, why are they heading towards it!"

"Is it too late for us to evacuate to the Immortal City?"

"There are too many second-tier demonic beasts. This beast tide is beyond what our Bai family can withstand!"

……

Upon hearing Bai Mingde's words, the Bai family members present immediately erupted in uproar.

Although second-tier demonic beasts lack intelligence, their fighting instincts are quite strong. Coupled with their powerful bodies, their combat strength is comparable to that of Foundation Establishment cultivators!

The Bai family only has one Foundation Establishment cultivator, their ancestor. Even with the advantage of the formation and terrain, they can only deal with two or three second-tier demonic beasts at most.

But now, five second-tier demonic beasts have arrived. What can they use to fight them?

"Silence!" The Bai family patriarch shouted, immediately silencing the hall.

Bai Mingde shook his head and said, "The beast tide will arrive in a few hours. It's too late to evacuate now. If we really abandon the formation and flee to the Immortal City, I'm afraid our entire clan will be wiped out, and most of us will perish in the beasts' jaws."

"I've discussed it with the patriarch!" Bai Mingde surveyed the crowd. "Our Bai family will hold Gaojishan!"

Upon hearing what Bai Mingde said, some of the people present couldn't help but want to say something.

After all, in their view, holding onto Gaojishan was a dead end, and the Bai family could still evacuate before the beast tide arrived.

Of course, the prerequisite for evacuation is abandoning all mortals in the tribe.

If only the cultivators are evacuated, there will still be losses, but with the ancestor around, they might be able to preserve a portion of the clan's essence!

But mortals are also family members, and have countless connections with everyone present. If they were to say it, it would surely provoke public outrage, so they ultimately did not dare to utter these words.

Bai Mingde knew what they were thinking, so he didn't say anything but waited for the ancestor to speak.

"I know some of you want to escape, but the beast tide hasn't even arrived yet. If we cultivators abandon mortals and run away, the Bai family's reputation will be ruined." The Bai family patriarch's murky eyes swept over everyone. "Who would dare marry their daughter to the Bai family? After you escape, will you still have the face to return to High Ridge Mountain? Are you just going to throw away the foundation your ancestors built over two hundred years?"

As soon as he spoke, the cultivators who had originally wanted to escape all lowered their heads.

Clan cultivators prioritize their family above all else, unlike independent cultivators who are selfish. They are willing to sacrifice everything for their family, even their own lives!

These people wanted to escape not to save their own lives, but to preserve the strength of their families!

The Bai family patriarch then spoke up, "Faced with the beast tide, my Bai family is not entirely powerless. If we bring out all our family's resources, holding out for ten days to half a month should not be a problem!"

Seeing that his clansmen were still in low spirits, he reassured them, "Moreover, several years ago, Fellow Daoist Li Ping, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Immortal City, agreed to become a guest elder of my Bai family. I have already sent clansmen to Immortal City to ask Fellow Daoist Li for help. Once Fellow Daoist Li arrives, with two Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, it will be enough to stop this wave of beasts!"

"Very good!"

"Our ancestor was truly farsighted!"

……

Upon hearing that there would be Foundation Establishment stage outside help, all the talents of the Bai family were greatly encouraged.

In an instant, the pessimistic mood in the hall dissipated considerably.

……

Following the ancestor's instructions, the clansmen dispersed and each performed their duties to resist the beast tide.

Bai Mingde asked anxiously, "Ancestor, do you think Senior Li will come?"

Only he and the patriarch knew that Li Ping, this guest elder, had only agreed to lend them his title. If they wanted him to help, they not only needed to pay a price, but also needed his consent.

The Bai family patriarch shook his head: "It's hard to say, but if there are two Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed at High Ridge Mountain this time, it's not actually that dangerous. In addition, given Xiao Bailin's relationship with him, and the fact that we let him set his conditions, perhaps..."

At this point, the Bai family patriarch suddenly shook his head: "Fine, let fate decide. If Fellow Daoist Li refuses to come, then it is the Bai family's fate. If the formation is broken, you will lead all the cultivators in the clan with cultivation levels above the mid-stage of Qi Refining and under the age of fifty to escape to the Immortal City!"

"I will lead the others, risking our lives to stop the monsters and fight for your survival!"

With tears welling in his eyes, Bai Mingde said, "Yes, Ancestor."

……

Dozens of miles away from Gaoji Mountain, Protector Yan, wearing a cloak that concealed his figure, looked at the great formation that had been fully activated, a look of smug satisfaction in his eyes.

He deliberately lured these monsters here.

Although he already possessed the means to overturn the table with the Immortal City, it seemed there was no need for him to search Li Ping's soul to understand Dai Sangyu's situation.

But for some reason, his intuition kept warning him, as if there were still flaws in his plan.

He immediately realized that all the methods he had previously devised to lure Li Ping out of the city would be wasted if he overturned them, so he might as well make the most of them now.

That's how he came up with the plan to lure the monsters to attack Gaoji Mountain and get Li Ping out of the city!

He sneered, "Heh... You took the Bai family's second-grade mid-level spirit wood and also took in a female cultivator from the Bai family. Now that the Bai family is facing a life-or-death crisis, how can you not come?"

In fact, that second-grade mid-level purple-patterned wood was the one he sold to the Bai family when he was disguised as a rogue cultivator.

……

Immortal Peach Mountain, Li Ping's cave dwelling.

Someone came to bother him early in the morning.

A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Bai family immediately knelt down upon seeing him: "Senior Li, please save my Bai family!"

Bai Lin stood to the side, looking equally anxious!