The Long Journey to Immortality

As they were talking, the Taoist Master Wuwei handed a jade tablet to Han Lu.

Holding the jade tablet, she infused it with a little spiritual power to activate it, and a not-too-complex spell entered Han Lu's mind.

This technique is called "Beast Driving Technique". By continuously performing this spell according to the technique, one can drive away some nearby demonic beasts whose cultivation level is insufficient to that of the caster.

However, this technique is more effective on land animals, but less effective on birds.

The effect is somewhat lackluster, but it is very suitable for use in this situation.

"Later, I will form an array with my five colleagues to cast a spell, while Fairy Zhenfeng will form an array with these seven fellow Daoists to cast a spell."

"If everything goes smoothly, we only need to cast a spell for a quarter of an hour when the beast tide approaches, and we will be able to accomplish our goal."

Based on his past experiences, the Taoist Wuwei predicted the process of driving away the beast tide.

Han Lu sensed the hidden meaning in Wuwei Daoist's words, "What if things don't go smoothly, Fellow Daoist Wuwei?"

The Taoist Master Wuwei naturally had a "Plan B".

"Then I can only trouble you all to join me in stepping out of the formation to defend against the enemy, actively kill some of the demonic beasts, and force them to leave."

"Please rest assured, Fairy Han, although most of the monsters in the beast tide are at the Qi Refining stage, there are also quite a few at the Foundation Establishment stage who are playing a leading role."

"They generally won't provoke a tribe on their own initiative. Even if we happen to pass by unintentionally, if we show a little strength, they will avoid us."

"After all, the beast tides occur to migrate and perpetuate the species, and these monsters are unlikely to actively become our enemies."

The Taoist Master Wuwei explained it very clearly, but Han Lu still had questions.

Since the question wasn't really related to the important matter, Han Lu didn't waste any more time and chose to ask quietly later via telepathy.

In just ten breaths, Han Lu easily mastered this not-so-complex spell.

With a simple application, a faint red light emanated from Han Lu's body.

As a true spirit, Han Lu was not afraid of these red lights, but she could sense the deterrent effect of her "Beast Driving Technique" on low-level demonic beasts when she used it, given her cultivation level.

"If the eight of them were to form a magic array and cast spells simultaneously, it would indeed be effective against the beast tide."

Once it was confirmed that Han Lu had mastered the technique, the group split into two teams, each led by a Golden Core cultivator on a cloud, to a point fifty meters above the settlement.

Standing high and looking far, Han Lu, a Golden Core cultivator, easily spotted the rising dust ten kilometers away with her excellent eyesight, and knew the approximate location of the beast tide.

"The beast tide will arrive in about 25 minutes," Wuwei Daoren judged. "Fellow Daoists, let me go and investigate the strength of the beast tide."

As a Golden Core cultivator assigned to this location by the Western Alliance, Daoist Wuwei voluntarily took on the responsibility himself.

He flew alone, quickly approaching the beast tide, wanting to find out which kinds of savage beasts had caused it, and how many beasts were running around in the billowing dust.

[Author's Note] GTA5 is being given away for free on the Epic Games Store. Readers who haven't played GTA5 can grab it. You can also check out my related works and read my older book, "Living in Los Santos." I'd rate it at least 15 points better than this one (out of 100).

Chapter 686 Resisting the Beast Tide

The Taoist Master Wuwei went and returned in just three minutes, figuring out the general situation of the beast tide and bringing back some bad news.

Not only that, but there was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a Western Union Medal on his chest by his side.

This monk was the sentry who had just cast a spell outside the settlement to issue a warning.

“Fairy Zhenfeng, the situation is dire,” Wuwei Daoist said solemnly, his previous relaxed demeanor completely gone. “The savage beast tribe is on the path of this beast tide, and besides…”

"This beast tide is coming in a fierce manner. I only used my divine sense to scan around and found a total of seven kinds of demonic beasts mixed in with the beast tide."

"The monsters in the beast tide are not only diverse in type, but also numerous."

"There are approximately two thousand of them, which is equivalent to the total size of the previous two beast tides."

The Taoist Wuwei said nervously, "With such a large scale, even if we successfully use our magic to drive away some of the demonic beasts, I'm afraid such a massive beast tide will not be able to change direction freely and will eventually just brush past the edge of the settlement."

"Perhaps we should change our current plans slightly."

The Taoist Wuwei suggested, "Everyone, we should leave the magic array and move forward to the settlement to force the beast tide to change its course in advance. Only in this way can we completely solve the problem."

Upon hearing that they were to leave the magic array, one cultivator asked, "Senior Wuwei, if you leave the array to cast your spell, how will our safety be guaranteed?"

Along with the beast tide came many flying demonic beasts, which were the real threat to all the cultivators.

After a moment of contemplation, Daoist Wuwei said, “That’s easy. We’ll regroup. Fairy Zhenfeng will lead three fellow Daoists to be in charge of guarding and protecting the Dharma, while the rest of you will join me in using the Beast-Driving Technique to drive away the beast tide.”

"In this way, the problem can be solved."

The Taoist Master Wuwei looked at Han Lu and asked, "Fairy Zhenfeng, what do you think of this?"

Han Lu naturally had no objection. "I will follow Fellow Daoist Wuwei's arrangement. I wonder which three fellow Daoists are willing to accompany me to protect everyone?"

With the two Golden Core cultivators making such a statement, the other cultivators naturally had nothing to say.

It's clear to everyone which of the two tasks is more dangerous and which is easier.

Naturally, Wuwei Daoist offered more spirit stones as a reward, which is why people were willing to follow Han Lu, who looked like a "pretty face with no substance," to do the dirty and tiring work.

The disheveled Western Region cultivator who was somewhat familiar with Han Lu was among these three.

With the tasks assigned, the group wasted no time and immediately rode on the clouds driven by the two Golden Core cultivators, charging towards the surging beast tide.

During the flight, Han Lu secretly transmitted her voice, inquiring about the reason why the beast tide formed and impacted the Western Regions.

Han Lu had expected a lengthy explanation of science, but instead received a reply that was similar to "no comment".

Han Lu could sense the underlying meaning behind the "no comment" statement, indicating that the matter was not a closely guarded secret.

Rather, it is because the Taoist Master Wuwei and the Western Alliance behind him truly do not know the reason behind it, which is why they cannot disclose it.

This piqued Han Lu's curiosity about the inexplicable beast tide. She planned to wait for her father or mother to arrive and ask the two old masters from the wilderness about this matter to resolve her doubts.

When they arrived at a point about a thousand paces from the beast tide, Wuwei Daoren gave an order, and everyone followed the two Golden Core cultivators as previously arranged.

Han Lu and three other cultivators broke away from the crowd and circled around the dark clouds controlled by the Daoist Wuwei, ready to strike at any moment and kill the migratory birds and beasts that had lost their minds and wanted to attack the cultivators.

Before the beasts arrived, Han Lu spread her divine sense to guard against the flock of birds that were ahead of the beasts on the ground, while also keeping her attention on Wuwei Daoren and the others.

Then, the Taoist Master Wuwei led everyone in chanting incantations, and everyone worked together to cast the spell.

In unison, a large amount of red light emerged from each of the spellcasting cultivators and finally converged together, like a giant hand waving and driving away the oncoming tide of beasts.

While casting the spell, the Taoist Wuwei was also deliberately controlling the position of the dark cloud he sat on, so as to ensure that the beast tide was guided correctly and would not simply bypass the cultivators and continue to rush towards the settlement.

The vanguard of the beast tide became restless and agitated under the influence of the "Beast Driving Technique," subconsciously deviating from their course of travel.

Meanwhile, some of the more intelligent beasts in the herd howled, trying their best to restrain their companions and lead the beast tide away from the cultivators not far away.

Seeing that the situation was very favorable, the Taoist Wuwei sat on the dark cloud and shouted a few words to encourage people, while reminding Han Lu to protect the Dharma diligently.

Han Lu did not hold back and immediately used her spiritual power sword to set up a sword formation around a hundred-meter area centered on Wuwei Daoren.

The sword formation is called the "Nine Spirits Formation," which requires nine spirit swords that have been refined with the essence and blood of nine kinds of demonic beasts and true spirits to be set up.

The version arranged by Han Lu was naturally a "scaled-down" version, consisting only of the three spirits: Fire Phoenix, Ice Phoenix, and Illusion Phoenix.

However, given the current situation where the primary focus is on dispelling flying beasts, the true spiritual energy that these three spirits bring to the spirit sword is sufficient to completely protect everyone.

Having caught the scent of the phoenix, the flying beasts naturally chose to retreat and avoid this noble spirit that they could not afford to offend.

The scene was quite strange. The three cultivators, who had been prepared for a bloody battle, were completely baffled. They couldn't understand why the birds that usually seemed so ferocious in the wilderness were now choosing to dodge instead of baring their fangs and claws and attacking.

The disheveled cultivator watched Han Lu's performance, while the crimson-gold spirit sword standing ten meters away from him seemed lost in thought.

Combining this with Han Lu's Daoist title "True Phoenix," he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and felt as if he had grasped the crux of the matter.

When he looked at Han Lu again, the disheveled-haired cultivator's eyes showed a hint of awe, something he had never seen even when he knew Han Lu was a Golden Core cultivator.

There aren't many clever people like the disheveled monk who can guess the truth from the slightest clues; the other two monks were just marveling at their excellent luck.

Just when everyone was in a good mood, thinking they could neatly keep the beast tide away from the wild beast tribe, an unexpected event occurred.

In the distance, far beyond the reach of the beast tide, a deafening howl suddenly rang out. Even just hearing the sound, one could imagine the ferocious appearance of the beast that made the howl.

Upon hearing this howl, the beast tide, which had already slightly changed, seemed to want to get away from the source of the howl as quickly as possible, and once again chose to flee in a straight line towards it.

Clearly, the one who made this howl instilled even greater fear in the beast horde than the "Beast Driving Technique" used by Wuwei Daoren and others.

Seeing this, Wuwei Daoren thought to himself, "Oh no!" He quickly spent more spiritual energy on casting the "Beast Driving Technique," and a vague sense of foreboding arose in his heart.

Chapter 687 Phoenix Transformation Leads the Way

The red light emitted by the cultivators shone brightly, but it was ultimately no match for the roar of an unknown ferocious beast that appeared behind the beast tide.

Such light, even when shining on Han Lu, a true spirit, could slightly shake her mind.

There are wolves in front and tigers behind.

Many of the monsters in the beast tide were caught in a dilemma.

But ultimately, fearing the danger looming behind them, they resolutely continued along the road leading straight to the beast tribe.

The fabricated terror is ultimately no match for the real driving force propelling the beast tide forward.

In the blink of an eye, the beast tide had advanced another half kilometer.

In another quarter of an hour, they would arrive at the territory of the savage beast tribe and, with the momentum of "ten thousand horses galloping," destroy the settlement that the savage beast tribe had painstakingly built over thousands of years.

Even now, the mortals hiding in their houses in the beast tribe, trembling with fear, can feel the ground shaking and imagine the terrifying scene of the beast tide surging in.

Seeing this scene, Han Lu felt a sense of foreboding and had a guess: "Could it be that this mysterious magical beast hanging behind the beast tide is the root cause of the beast tide that breaks out every few years?"

Han Lu strained her eyes to look out, but she couldn't make out the figure of the monster that had let out the "terrifying howl" through the thin layer of smoke and dust.

Even using one's divine sense, it was impossible to traverse such a vast distance and investigate everything clearly, resulting in the same outcome of finding nothing.

However, based on the current information, Han Lu can roughly judge that there is a demon beast or true spirit with at least the mid-stage of the Transformation Realm driving away the beast tide.

Thinking of this, Han Lu realized that if everything was as she guessed, she might have to take action herself to completely resolve what could be an absolute crisis for the beast tribe.

Knowing he was powerless, the Taoist Wuwei was no longer as relaxed and carefree as before.

With a furrowed brow, the monk from the Western Alliance quickly made arrangements.

As the saying goes, "Where there's life, there's hope."

“Fairy Zhenfeng, please join me in riding the clouds and take as many of the residents of the barbarian tribes as possible onto the auspicious clouds,” Wuwei Daoist made a decisive decision to sacrifice a pawn to save the king, “Save as many people as you can.”

There are probably nearly ten thousand mortals from the Western Regions living in the savage beast tribe. Even if we include the spirit swords that can barely carry one or two people and the flying magic treasures that can carry a dozen or so people, the cultivators like Han Lu and Wuwei Daoren can barely save three or four thousand people at most.

Not to mention the beast tide was just around the corner; in the ensuing chaos, it would be a miracle if more than two thousand people were rescued.