CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 119: NATIONWIDE BEAST TIDE, HUMAN DEMON NEGOTIATIONS

Lin Chen didn’t idle around either; with Xiaobai, he began assisting in the reconstruction work.

During this process, he also found Qin Hao and the others, and upon learning they were okay, he breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, every major force suffered casualties, with some even losing everything.

However, as long as their lives were saved, that’s enough.

As long as strength remains, everything can rise again.

At this moment, Wu Ying sat in the Monster Hunter Guild’s hall and said in surprise, "You have a Divine Venerable in Jiuxing City?"

It was clear that Wu Ying was very curious about Qin Shaoshao’s identity.

A Divine Venerable is something only large cities can have.

One Divine Venerable is enough to represent the strength of a city.

Not to mention, Qin Shaoshao also possesses the Celestial Spirit Body.

This kind of physique, whenever it appears, can cause a national sensation.

"I think what we are most concerned about is still this Beast Tide."

Lee Zhen, with a broken arm, had his face much recovered.

Only when Huang Xiaotian informed him did Lee Zhen realize that it wasn’t just Jiuxing City, but other small cities that also suffered attacks from the Beast Tide.

Some cities were even still occupied by Demon Beasts to this very day.

Jiuxing City was lucky that Qin Shaoshao intervened, so the casualties were not severe. The death toll was 5,680 people; those injured exceeded one hundred thousand, Spirit Beast deaths exceeded ten thousand, and injuries surpassed two hundred thousand.

"Do these Demon Beasts want to restart the Human-Demon War?" Wu Ying frowned deeply.

Many small cities in the Cangling Ancient Country were now sending out calls for help, and the entire nation was under a tense atmosphere.

...

"What do you think they’re trying to do?" Huang Xiaotian asked beside Lin Chen as he helped carry wooden planks.

"These Demon Beasts haven’t committed large-scale massacres, which means their fundamental goal isn’t a fight to the death," Lin Chen said while working with Xiaobai, "Their goal can only be one thing... negotiation."

"But wasn’t an agreement already reached in the Late Taichu?" Huang Xiaotian asked.

"If the peace agreement in this world were long-lasting, there wouldn’t be any large-scale wars," Lin Chen chuckled bitterly.

Huang Xiaotian sighed.

Lin Chen asked Xiaobai and the Little Fox to take a rest. As he sat on the ground, he took a sip of water and said, "Do you want to hear my guess?"

Huang Xiaotian nodded.

"My guess may make you feel a bit uncomfortable," Lin Chen said.

Huang Xiaotian asked in confusion, "How did you know before that they would certainly come again?"

"Very simple," Lin Chen said, "they attacked the granary; their purpose wasn’t a feint but to occupy the city and use it as backup for their food supplies."

"At first, my thoughts were the same as yours. But later, when I heard the captain of the ninth team say that other cities were the same, I realized..."

"There has to be even greater Demons behind these Great Demons. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be this coincidental."

"According to my estimates, the food in the granary should only sustain the Beast Tide for about a week, so in the next couple of days, the masterminding Great Demon will approach the Human Race’s top brass for negotiations."

"So, what you mean by uncomfortable is..." Huang Xiaotian was puzzled.

"They might be targeting the Monster Hunter Guild," Lin Chen said.

Huang Xiaotian thought for a moment and recalled the Black Bear Spirit’s actions against Lee Zhen, exhaling a long breath.

Lin Chen added, "It could also be a personal vendetta or simply disdain for our guild, but if it’s the former..."

Huang Xiaotian began to feel uncomfortable.

He knew what Lin Chen was going to say next.

"It can’t be," Huang Xiaotian said urgently, "How could the Human Race agree to such terms..."

....

Two days later, the Beast Tide storm spread across the entire country, and almost every place was aware of it.

According to incomplete statistics, nearly 60 small cities nationwide were currently controlled by Demon Beasts.

Although the Beastmaster Guild quickly directed Beastmasters from major cities to deploy and surround these cities,

those Demon Beasts took the cities’ residents as hostages, and the reinforcements were unwilling to launch an attack, fearing harm to these hostages.

Just as Lin Chen had guessed, the Great Demon behind the scenes finally spoke out, telling the senior members of the Cangling Ancient Country that they were willing to negotiate.

An hour later, the top brass of the Human Race responded, agreeing to negotiate.

Finally, the agreed place was the Celestial Realm Mountain.

This mountain lies in the heart of the Cangling Ancient Country, stretching like a dragon vein from east to west.

The first truce agreement of the Human-Demon War was signed here back in the day.

On the first day of negotiations, news quickly spread that the Demon Race agreed to release all hostages and were willing to continue to adhere to the peace agreement, but they presented new demands.

First, humans must cede more land to the Demon Race.

Second, the Demon Race can designate certain areas as forbidden zones where humans cannot approach.

Third, the humans must release the Great Demon who was suppressed in the Late Taichu.

Fourth, humans must dissolve the Monster Hunter Guild.

The news shocked the entire nation.

"Such a treaty cannot be signed."

"The lands we humans now occupy were hard-won by our ancestors; we must not cede one bit."

"Absolutely."

"The third point is outrageous; those Great Demons have been suppressed since the Late Taichu and possess terrifying strength. Releasing them would lead to endless problems."

"I find the fourth point the most absurd; when the Beast Tide strikes, the Monster Hunter Guild plays the biggest role, often bearing the brunt of the war for us. If they are disbanded, what will we do in the future?"

"Not only this, but the Monster Hunter Guild is the only way for ordinary people to access resources like those available to great powers. If it’s really disbanded, then the promotion space for ordinary people will be almost completely blocked."

As the news spread, the whole nation buzzed with discussions, and voices of opposition flooded like a tide.

Everyone had different opinions as these treaties concerned their interests.

Lin Chen also heard the news. He had anticipated some of it, but some things were beyond his expectations.

Lee Zhen and Huang Xiaotian, upon hearing this, also went to find Lin Chen, as Lee Zhen heard of Lin Chen’s analysis from Huang Xiaotian.

Lin Chen had previously speculated that the Demon Beasts were likely targeting the Monster Hunter Guild.

The three of them sat on the floor, watching Xiaobai training in the yard, and Lin Chen spoke:

"The top brass of the Human Race cannot agree to these four conditions," Lin Chen said.

Lee Zhen was overjoyed upon hearing this, but Lin Chen then poured cold water over them and said, "But the Monster Hunter Guild might not be able to survive."

"Why?" Lee Zhen asked in confusion after hearing this, "The existence of the guild benefits the country and the people; our defense against the Beast Tide and supply of Spirit Beasts are immensely helpful."

"But for the great powers and the top brass, you’re not helpful," Lin Chen replied.

Lee Zhen and Huang Xiaotian fell silent after hearing this.

The Monster Hunter Guild was aimed at civilians; the great powers truly didn’t need them.

This is also why the Monster Hunter Guild was never a formally integrated part of the system.

"If land is ceded, it leaves a tarnished legacy, and releasing the Great Demon is impossible as it would elevate the strength of the Demon Race," Lin Chen continued his analysis, "The only negotiable terms would be the second and fourth."