C52 (1/2)
Hearing the two words ”Beast Upheaval”, Lu Que and Zhuge Yan looked at each other, feeling extremely shocked in their hearts. Although both of them had never seen what the Beast Upheaval looked like, there were many records of it in the ancient texts. There were thirty-six records of the beast tide in the 'Secret History of the Green Wood'. Every time a beast tide occurred, it was no less than a natural disaster.
After the Flame Emperor established his first human empire, the Eastern Palace Clan of the Greenwood Continent had always called themselves the Flame Emperor. After the destruction of the Arrogant Flame Emperor's country, the Yan Clan established Da Li, Da Yin, Da Kun, Da Heng, Da Shang, Da Ming, Da Xuan, and seven other empires. Adding all of their efforts, there were a total of nine united dynasties. This was also the origin of the current empire's capital, Jiyuan City. Other than the current capital, Fragrant Sky city was the capital of the once famous empire, and Yan Yang City was the former capital of the Great Yan Empire.
In the past, the two words, Beast Upheaval, seemed to be associated with the Cyanwood Flame Clan. As one of the top three of the continent's nine ultimate worlds, the Beast Upheaval that didn't return to the mountain, cherish the lagoon, and the endless sea of grass would erupt once every hundred or so years. Almost every time it erupted, all life would be annihilated. Furthermore, the Great Yan Empire had been invaded and destroyed by the beast tide descending from the northern sea of grass. This had led to the destruction of the entire capital.
Since the establishment of the Everlasting Mountain, although there had never been any beast tide, there were still one hundred and fifty thousand mountain troops stationed in the mountain and shadow army. This was the reason why the mountain and shadow army were named after the county. On the surface, however, it would appear that the mountain and Yin Army's duty was to guard the Ming Quan Pass and intimidate the thirty-six countries of the sea. But Dhakan had never taken to heart the small countries that lived in the desert and had a population of less than a hundred thousand. The only mission of the Shadow Mountain Troops was to monitor the movements of the Unrecoverable Mountain and to prevent the beast tide that could happen at any time.
As for why they did not send troops to watch over the Endless Sea and the Serene Edge Swamp, that was because the Great Gan Empire was smaller than the Great Yan, Great Li, and Great Yin dynasties, which once unified the entire eastern part of the continent. The boundless sea of grass was currently within the three kingdoms of the Northern Grasslands, while the Serenity Pond was within the borders of Tianxin and Nanli in the south.
But even so, Da Gan still built strongholds and garrisoned heavy soldiers at the border. Especially Pan Shi and Rushing Thunder, the two massive legions with 300,000 troops were established. While guarding against the foreign countries, their main mission was still to defend against the possibility of a beast tide erupting.
Recalling the descriptions of the beast tide in the history books, it was simply the history of the Yan Clan's ancestors' blood. The scene of flying birds blotting out the sky, fierce beasts covering the mountains, and endless waves of strange beasts appearing. Lu Que and Zhuge Yan could not help but shudder at the terrifying sight of the beast tide advancing, meeting with the destruction of villages, cities, and kingdoms.
The two of them had never imagined that there would be a beast tide within the small world created by the painting of the Mountains and Seas. If that was the case, then it was understandable. Not to mention that he was only at the seventh level of the Blood Cave, even if he was at the seventh level of the Qi Cultivating Stage, he still wouldn't be able to withstand the violent beast tide. It was already considered excellent of him to be able to escape from the beast tide with his life.
”Brother Yun, when did the beast tide happen and where are they now?” After a while, Lu Que and Zhuge Yan regained their composure and asked at the same time.
When Yun Xian saw the two recover from their shock so quickly, there was not a single trace of fear on her face. A hint of admiration flashed across her eyes, ”I might not be able to explain it well, but I'll draw it for you.”
As he spoke, he sat up straight and drew out the sword on the side. He drew three concentric circles of different sizes on the ground with the tip of the sword.
Lu Que and Zhuge Yan looked at the three concentric rings on the ground. They didn't know whether it was because Cloudstrings had lost control of his wrist due to his injuries or because he had purposely drawn such a circle. There was actually a small gap. The two of them looked at him for a while, unable to understand what Yun Xian was drawing and looking at him in confusion.
Seeing their expressions, Yun Xing Si did not keep them in suspense and directly explained, ”This outer circle's largest circle represents the entire small world in the painting. In the middle, there are three small mountain ranges, and the three mountains are roughly a circle, while the smallest circle is the lake in the middle.”
Cloudstring pointed his sword at the empty space between the circle and said, ”I call this place the outer valley of the mountains and the edge of the small world, and this valley between the mountains and the lake is called the inner valley. When I came here, it was to the outer valley and also where I met a beast tide. Luckily, I was at the edge of the beast tide and was injured, but I was still able to escape. ”
”Did you encounter a beast tide in the outer valley?” Lu Que looked at the diagram on the ground for a while, ”According to the books, the Beast Upheaval will destroy all humans and animals on the way. Brother Yun, forgive this little brother for being blunt, but since the beast tide has discovered you, even if you are at the periphery of the beast tide and have climbed over the mountains, there should still be many fierce beasts chasing after you. ”
Yun Xing Si shook his head and said, ”According to the records in the book, it is indeed true, but there is still some discrepancy between the situation here and what is written in the book. It took me a long time to finally climb over the cliff. Although those ferocious beasts walked through the forest as if it was flat ground, there is not much I could do about the sheer cliff. ”
Speaking up to here, Yun Xing Si looked at Lu Que with a strange look, ”Didn't you notice that in this small world, there are no large sized birds of prey?” Otherwise, your cave on the cliff is simply a natural nest of birds of prey. How could it be your turn to hide here? ”
Lu Que thought about it and nodded his head. He had been worried about this problem when he had entered the cave. However, after checking for any claw marks or bird feathers and no other odors, he finally felt relieved. He had been facing the vast valley, but he did not see any large birds. Previously, he thought it was strange, but after listening to Yun Xing Si's explanation, he realized that there were no large birds of prey.
”Brother Yinsi, what is this hole?” Is it a valley between two mountain ranges? ” Zhuge Yan pointed to the gap between the three mountain ranges in the middle and asked.
He said, ”You are right, I have seen from a distance that there is a gap connecting the inner and outer valleys at the point where the two mountains intersect. If I'm not wrong, the beast tide in the outer valley should pass through this natural mountain path and enter the inner valley.” Furthermore, after going through the accumulation of resources along the way, the size of the monster tide should be even larger than when I first saw it. ”
”Brother Yinsi, then according to your estimation, when will the beast tide arrive?” Zhuge Yan asked.
Yun Xing Si frowned and thought for a while. He then said with uncertainty, ”I can't say for sure either. If it's fast, then it's tonight. If it's slow, it should be tomorrow.”
”Then isn't our situation very dangerous? The beast tide had already happened, did the three reverends not know? If they do not make a move, with our cultivation, staying here will be equivalent to suicide. ” He had been forced by his grandfather to come here, and had never thought about becoming the next chief. Now that the beast tide was approaching, this already dangerous place was about to become a dead end.
”If this is the main event of the competition, then what is the real purpose of the Academy opening the Mountain Sea Painting?” Lu Que suddenly thought of something and said.
”What did you say?” How could this be? ” Zhuge Yan gaped at Lu Que.
”Lu Que, what you're saying is that the question of the Academy is, who can last until the end under the circumstances of the beast tide, and who will be the new Chief? This monster tide is man-made? ” Yun Fang Si was also shocked by Lu Que's words. If that was the case, not to mention the three of them, even if the sixty-four of them were to gather together, they would still be unable to deal with the overwhelming beast tide.
”He shouldn't be the only one. Before we left, the first one said that surviving here for fifteen days was only the first stage and there is still the second stage. However, he didn't say what the second stage is.” Zhuge Yan added.
”I'm not talking about that.” ”Lu Que knew they were having second thoughts and shook his head.” There must be a reason why the Mountain Sea Painting was sealed a hundred years ago, and there definitely was a reason why Chief Luo used the competition to restart the Mountain Sea Painting. ”As for the reason?” Saying this, Lu Que stared unwaveringly at the simple map that Yun Xin had drawn. His right index finger and thumb were constantly rubbing the corners of his hunting coat as he tried to deduce the purpose of the first person, Luo Canglan, and even the intentions of his mother and uncle, the Emperor.
”Seal? Restart? ” Hearing this, Zhuge Yan seemed to have thought of something. His mind raced as he constantly muttered these two words. His grandfather, Zhuge, was the head of the Phoenix Cry School before he became prime minister. He needed to know more about the secrets of the Nine University Palace than Lu Que and Cloud String.
Suddenly, Zhuge Yan's eyes lit up and he said loudly, ”I know.”