"Two Third Grade Exotic Beasts!" the warriors on the city walls cried out in shock. Normally, not even one Third Grade Exotic Beast would appear, yet now, two had appeared at once.

"It's not over yet." Ling Chen shook his head. Not far from the main gate ahead, dust billowed and the earth shook. Vaguely, he could see another figure as large as a small mountain.

This was an ape-like Exotic Beast, its body much larger than both the Golden Sword Lion and the Gu Huo Bird, and its aura was even stronger. The ape's eyes were blood-red, its body covered with golden fur that flickered like two dancing flames. A Third Grade Intermediate Exotic Beast, the Fire Eye Golden Ape.

"So many Third Grade Exotic Beasts! How can we possibly defend against them?"

"We can't beat them! We should all run away!"

"No, wait! East Desolation City has many experts. There must be someone who can deal with these monsters."

The Beast Tide had just arrived, and panic was already sweeping through East Desolation City. However, a few people had not yet lost hope. In a city as large as East Desolation, there were surely experts who could contend with these Exotic Beasts.

"Can you deal with Exotic Beasts of this level?" Tian Dan asked, looking at Ling Chen beside him. Ling Chen's calm demeanor led Tian Dan to believe he might have a strategy to repel the enemy.

"No, I can't. A Third Grade Intermediate Exotic Beast requires at least a Fourth Realm Grand Master to match it. To kill one, you'd need the cultivation of a Grand Master of the Sixth Layer Realm. You're overestimating me."

Ling Chen shook his head. Although he had killed the Blackwater Mysterious Snake, it was only a Third Grade Beginner Exotic Beast. Between a Third Grade Beginner Exotic Beast and a Third Grade Intermediate Exotic Beast, there was a difference of several tiers, a considerable gap in strength.

However, since East Desolation City was a major border city of Aqua Country, it should at least have a few Grand Masters stationed there.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

Just as Ling Chen expected, his words had barely faded when several figures with imposing auras appeared on the city walls, each exuding a powerful presence.

Seven Great Master Level Powerhouses appeared on the city walls. The strongest among them was an old man in white robes, a Grand Master of the Sixth Layer Realm.

"That's the resident Elder from Sky Void Palace in East Desolation City, along with resident Elders from other Righteous Path Sects! Thankfully, they're all in the city," Tian Dan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with pleasant surprise.

Most major cities in Aqua Country had a resident Elder from Sky Void Palace. East Desolation City, being one of the foremost cities in Aqua Country, also hosted Elders from other second and third-rate Sects in addition to Sky Void Palace.

East Desolation City was also the foundation for several minor Sects and prominent Aristocratic Families. It wasn't unusual for these minor Sects and Families to have one or two Great Master Level Powerhouses.

"Fellow Martial Artists, there's no need to panic! With Elder Geng here, his strength is more than enough to handle these Exotic Beasts." The speaker was a middle-aged man in a blue robe with a square face and an air of heroism about him. He was the City Lord of East Desolation City.

Hearing this, the crowd finally calmed down.

"The rest of you, deal with the Gu Huo Bird and the Golden Sword Lion. As for the Fire Eye Golden Ape, leave it to me," Elder Geng instructed, giving the others a meaningful look.

"Yes, sir!" With that, the group of Great Master Level Powerhouses dispersed, each rocketing towards the Exotic Beasts attacking the city.

"Archers, prepare!" The city wall was lined with defending soldiers. Watching the Beast Tide surge forward, the commanding general bellowed, and dense formations of archers appeared on the ramparts.

"Loose!" With the command, a dense volley of arrows, like a swarm of locusts, rained down fiercely upon the horde of Exotic Beasts.

Hundreds of Exotic Beasts were struck by steel-forged arrows. Some were knocked down, their heads exploding on impact; others, though pierced by arrows, continued to charge madly.

BOOM!

The first wave of the Beast Tide quickly surged to the base of the city walls. Thousands of Exotic Beasts slammed into the ramparts, sending stone fragments flying and leaving deep indentations on the wall.

The many warriors on the city wall could feel the entire structure shuddering as if an earthquake had struck.

"Quick, pour the oil!" Soldiers on the wall brought out cauldrons of prepared oil and violently tipped them over the edge, sending it cascading down.

The next moment, flaming arrows shot down from above, igniting a massive blaze around the city's perimeter.

Once the fire erupted, ordinary beasts dared not approach. However, the Exotic Beasts, fearless of death, continued to charge, wave after wave crashing against the city wall.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the city wall, growing more numerous, and the holes gouged into it grew larger.

BOOM!

The Fire Eye Golden Ape leaped, landing directly onto the middle section of the city wall. Before the horrified eyes of many, it punched a hole into the rampart and, using this new handhold, rapidly began to climb upwards.

"Vile creature!" Elder Geng roared, stepping on air as he executed his Light Skill. He thrust out a palm, and scorching True Qi condensed into a Palm Seal. In moments, everyone felt its astonishing power and searing heat.

The Fire Eye Golden Ape also spotted the True Qi Palm Seal. Its eyes turned icy cold, locking onto the Palm Seal's trajectory, before it opened its mouth and unleashed a crimson beam of light.

BOOM!

The two attacks collided, unleashing a terrifying shockwave. A large crater suddenly appeared in the city wall, sending debris flying everywhere.

The Fire Eye Golden Ape's massive body plummeted from the city wall, crashing outside the city. It crushed a pile of Exotic Beasts beneath it and kicked up a tremendous wave of earth and dust.

Elder Geng moved instantly, relentlessly pursuing. He executed his Light Skill, leaping onto a tower outside the city, then dashed across rooftops and walls, positioning himself directly above the Fire Eye Golden Ape before fiercely slamming down another palm strike.

The Fire Eye Golden Ape reacted swiftly, simultaneously swatting out with its own palm and shattering Elder Geng's Palm Power.

Man and beast became locked in a fierce struggle. Meanwhile, intense battles raged in various locations throughout the city.

Of the two Third Grade Beginner Exotic Beasts, the Golden Sword Lion was somewhat easier to handle. Being a terrestrial creature, it couldn't cause significant trouble against East Desolation City's seven-foot-thick walls, at least not immediately. The Gu Huo Bird, however, was a flying Exotic Beast. From its aerial advantage, it periodically spat out blasts of Ghostfire-like energy, incinerating the defending soldiers. Three Grand Masters were ganging up on the Gu Huo Bird. One of them was a Third Level Grand Master, but he wasn't skilled in speed or Light Skill, so he couldn't touch the Gu Huo Bird.

For a time, the entire western section of the city wall became precarious. The defending soldiers suffered heavy casualties, multiple sections of the wall were damaged, and the Gu Huo Bird's silhouette flitted everywhere, spreading panic.

Looks like I have no choice but to intervene. Ling Chen thought, dispatching a Second-grade Peak Exotic Beast. His gaze then fell upon the Gu Huo Bird. The creature was wreaking havoc; it had already killed over a hundred people during the chaos. If this continued, the situation would become dire.

Ling Chen had initially thought the three Great Master Level Powerhouses could kill the Gu Huo Bird, but he hadn't expected them to be utterly incapable of harming the creature.

"Damn it! This monster is abusing its ability to fly! It's completely lawless!" an elderly Grand Master fumed, his eyes wide and beard bristling with anger, yet he was utterly helpless.

"Unless Elder Geng intervenes, I'm afraid no one else in East Desolation City can handle this monster," the Third Level Grand Master said, shaking his head.

"Let me try." Just then, a voice suddenly sounded beside their ears. The next moment, a young, sword-wielding figure appeared in their line of sight. It was Ling Chen.