"Let's go!"

Ling Chen, seeing that almost all the villagers had gathered, waved his hand to signal their departure.

The group, nearly a hundred strong, started towards the nearest town.

During the journey, Ling Chen became the guardian of these hundred villagers. He possessed a Mind's Eye and strong Mental Power, allowing him to easily detect nearby movements and divert the group from approaching Exotic Beast hordes in advance.

Even when a few Exotic Beasts tried to interfere with the group, they were insignificant, posing no major threat.

Nevertheless, four or five people still died along the way.

After about half a day, the group finally reached the nearest town.

The town was already packed with refugees from neighboring villages. High protective walls made it safer than the wilderness. Even if a large number of Exotic Beasts attacked, the town walls could offer temporary protection.

Furthermore, the town had a number of Guards. Most of them were warriors with cultivation, strictly trained and capable of resisting Exotic Beast attacks.

However, a town was just a town. It would still be difficult to withstand a powerful, large Exotic Beast.

Clearly, the people in this town understood this. They had to seek refuge in East Desolation City before a large-scale Beast Tide erupted.

East Desolation City was an ancient city that had stood for centuries. Not only were its walls tall, but many Experts from the Martial World resided there. Even the most powerful Exotic Beasts could not breach East Desolation City.

Therefore, after a brief respite, most of the town's inhabitants continued their journey to East Desolation City.

Only a few people remained, hoping to weather the disaster within the town.

These people would likely face a bleak outcome.

They might be safe for a while, but it was not a long-term solution.

The vast procession moved along the main road at a moderate pace. With many ordinary people in their ranks, their marching speed was inevitably slow.

Warriors and Guards were stationed at the front and rear of the procession to prevent surprise attacks.

Within the procession were many Jianghu martial artists. Most had been passing nearby when the Exotic Beast uprising occurred and had joined the group for safety.

After all, even Jianghu martial artists, if lacking sufficient strength, wouldn't dare wander alone. Exotic Beasts now appeared in hordes, so human warriors also chose to band together; it was safer to travel with the main group.

Ling Chen was at the head of the column, accompanied by a few other warriors. However, they were all from minor Families and small Sects, their strength quite average.

"Hey, Brother Ling Chen, you're so young yet you already have the Cultivation of a Seventh or Eighth Level Martial Artist. You must be a Disciple from some major Sect, right?"

Ling Chen was sitting in a carriage. Next to him was a young man in a white robe named Tian Dan, from a third-rate Sect called Jingang Door.

Tian Dan's Cultivation was at the Martial Artist Fivefold Realm. In a third-rate Sect, to reach the Martial Artist Fivefold Realm at his age already marked him as an exceptional genius.

"I'm just a loose cultivator from Jianghu. My master is called the Cyan-robed Guest," Ling Chen said casually.

"The Cyan-robed Guest?" Tian Dan looked thoughtful; he had clearly never heard the name. Soon, however, he chuckled. "But to have mentored such an excellent talent as Brother Ling Chen, this Senior Cyan-robed Guest must be an extraordinary, reclusive expert."

Ling Chen's reputation was widespread in Wind Country and Fire Country, where many knew of him. However, in Aqua Country, far fewer were aware of him. Moreover, when Ling Chen had defeated numerous top talents in the Aqua Country Royal City, he had used the pseudonym Dustless. Besides, with so many people in the world sharing names, it was perfectly normal for Tian Dan not to recognize Ling Chen.

"He is indeed an extraordinary, reclusive expert."

Ling Chen was just making it up, not expecting Tian Dan to take him seriously. He could only nod. The Cyan-robed Guest... he truly is an extraordinary, reclusive expert! If he weren't, how could he have snatched the Void Emperor's royal decree from the hands of so many Top Sky Apex Strong back then?

BOOM!

Just as Tian Dan was about to ask another question, the ground suddenly trembled violently, and a commotion immediately broke out around them.

"What just happened?" Tian Dan's expression changed, and he leaped up from his seat.

Listening to the sounds to pinpoint their source, Ling Chen frowned and said in a low voice, "A large number of Exotic Beasts are approaching!"

"What?"

Seeing Ling Chen wasn't joking, Tian Dan immediately shouted to the nearby Guard Captain, "Quick, alert everyone to be on guard! A horde of Exotic Beasts is coming!"

ROAR!

The words had barely left his mouth when a thunderous roar echoed nearby. A huge tiger with mottled white fur charged out, pouncing with bared fangs and claws.

Two Guards immediately rushed forward and intercepted the mottled tiger.

But behind it, a dense swarm of Exotic Beasts swarmed over the mountainside—a terrifying, dark mass, looking to be hundreds strong.

Within this Beast Tide, First-grade Exotic Beasts were countless, and there were fifty to sixty Tier-2 Exotic Beasts. Even more terrifying, a colossal figure slithered behind the swarm. Wherever it passed, small hills collapsed, and the earth rumbled as if from a minor earthquake.

ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!

Its roars echoed through the mountains. The slithering dark shadow was a gigantic Python covered in black scales. A casual sweep of its massive tail cracked the earth and sent rubble flying. Foul, stinking breath billowed from its mouth, forming dark, cloud-like miasma that shrouded its entire body.

SMASH!

The Python lifted its massive tail, took aim at a small hill, and smashed down, shattering the hill. The force was utterly horrifying.

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake's pupils glowed an intense crimson. It opened its maw and, with a single inhalation, sucked more than a dozen ordinary people along with some warriors into its belly. The sickening "CRUNCH, CRUNCH" chewing sounds that followed made one's blood curdle.

"It's the Blackwater Mysterious Snake, a Three-Star Beginner Level Exotic Beast!" an ashen-faced warrior shrieked.

"Impossible! How could a Third Grade Exotic Beast exist within a thousand-mile radius?"

"To defeat the Blackwater Mysterious Snake, one would need to be at least a Grand Master of the Second Realm! Such experts are only found in East Desolation City. How can we possibly withstand an attack from a Third Grade Exotic Beast? We should run!" Many people turned pale; the mere sight of the Blackwater Mysterious Snake made them want to flee.

They were no match for an Exotic Beast of this level. Whether they ran or not, death seemed inevitable.

"Brother Ling Chen, it looks like we're going to die here today," Tian Dan said, a bitter smile on his face. In his view, they were all likely to perish here today; he saw no hope of survival.

"A mere Blackwater Mysterious Snake. What's there to fear?" Ling Chen remained unfazed, his clothes fluttering in the wind, perfectly composed.

"Brother Ling Chen is right! It's just a mere Third Grade Exotic Beast, a Blackwater Mysterious Snake! Even if we're not its match, we shouldn't fear it. If we join forces, we might just be able to break through!" Hearing Ling Chen's words, Tian Dan suddenly found his fighting spirit rekindled.

"No need for such trouble. Watch me slay this vile beast."

With a light tap of his foot, Ling Chen's body moved like the wind. He executed Wind Shadow Step, treading upon the treetops, and shot towards the Blackwater Mysterious Snake like a bolt of lightning.