Shangguan Yan'Er visits late at night, surely for an important matter.

"Immortal Shangguan, can't it wait until tomorrow?"

Shen Xuan blocked the door, preventing Shangguan Yan'Er from entering.

With the beast tide about to break out, he didn't want any trouble.

If Shangguan Yan'Er and he were romantically involved, being close friends of the opposite sex, that would be fine.

Asking him to join the Shangguan family as an offering Elder was absolutely impossible.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, let's talk inside."

Seeing Shen Xuan blocking the doorway, Shangguan Yan'Er reached out to push him.

But no matter how hard she tried, Shen Xuan stood firm and unmovable.

"Shen Fei!"

Shangguan Yan'Er's pretty face flushed red; biting her lip, her voice was both annoyed and embarrassed.

Shen Xuan suddenly found Shangguan Yan'Er, in front of him, quite interesting.

Innocent and adorable, like a neighbor's little sister.

Shen Xuan slightly turned his body.

A gust of fragrant wind swept past.

Shangguan Yan'Er went straight into Shen Xuan's room, breathing heavily, her chest heaving.

"Shen Fei, did you find out?"

"Find out what?"

"The beast tide came early!"

Shangguan Yan'Er lightly approached Shen Xuan, lifted her head, and gazed at him.

"The Bai Family intentionally delayed time, not settling accounts with our Celestial Fortune Commerce Association, just to keep us here to help defend against the beast tide!"

Shangguan Yan'Er stretched out her hand, gently embracing Shen Xuan, her eyes hazy, as if whispering.

"Shen Fei, take Yan'Er with you! Let's leave together!"

Shen Xuan reached out with his Divine Sense, sensing the surroundings, but found no abnormalities nearby.

Clearly, this is Shangguan Yan'Er's personal action.

Shen Xuan found it amusing.

If it were consensual, a fleeting romance to spice up life, it would be fine.

But he didn't get any benefits.

And then Shangguan Yan'Er pulls this stunt.

The more beautiful a woman, the more deceptive she can be.

"How do you know?"

"Hou Jing is familiar with one of the Golden Body Realm War Generals at Bai Family Stronghold; we got it out from him."

Shangguan Yan'Er whispered, "We went to question Bai Tiancheng; he didn't refute, but instead asked us to stay calmly."

"Shen Fei, you arrived at Bai Family Stronghold alone, you must have a way to leave, right!"

Shen Xuan wrapped his arms around Shangguan Yan'Er's waist.

The feel was nice.

Soft and elastic.

At the moment of skin contact, Shangguan Yan'Er's delicate body slightly shivered.

Her pretty face blushed, increasingly radiant and tempting.

Making one irresistibly want to pluck.

"There is definitely a way."

Shen Xuan teased with a smile, "But, I don't intend to leave."

"Ah!"

Shangguan Yan'Er, like a startled little rabbit, suddenly leapt back in shock.

"Why?"

"It's the beast tide!"

"Tens of thousands of demon beasts attacking the stronghold, Bai Family Stronghold might not hold!"

Shen Xuan said calmly, "That's why Bai Tiancheng asked me to help them defend the stronghold."

Shangguan Yan'Er looked utterly incredulous, as if seeing a fool.

After a while.

She seemed to understand.

"How many Spirit Stones did Bai Tiancheng give you?"

"If you take me away, I'll give you double!"

Shen Xuan shook his head.

"What Bai Family Stronghold gave, the Shangguan Clan can't afford."

Shangguan Yan'Er was silent.

She heard clearly.

Shen Xuan said, the Shangguan Clan can't afford it.

Let alone her!

Shangguan Yan'Er walked back to Shen Xuan.

"Shen Fei, do you like Yan'Er?"

"As long as you take Yan'Er away, whatever you want to do, Yan'Er will agree!"

Shangguan Yan'Er deliberately puffed out her chest.

The peaks gently swayed, gracefully charming.

Shen Xuan sighed lightly.

Many years ago, he knew there was no need to involve emotions with women.

Women are meant to be conquered.

Not worshipped.

He disguised as "Shen Fei", not "Ah Fei".

"Does Immortal Shangguan know Celestial Fragrance Pavilion?"

Shangguan Yan'Er was slightly startled.

"I know. It's an affiliate organization of Hehuan Sect in Liang Country."

"The Celestial Fragrance Pavilion has many Immortals, each one stunningly beautiful."

"I particularly enjoy going to Celestial Fragrance Pavilion. The Immortals there are amazing speakers, skilled in various arts—offering comprehensive services, they do it all."

"As long as you are willing to pay Spirit Stones, they can make you feel celestial."

"You can even have several Immortals serving you at once!"

Shen Xuan looked at Shangguan Yan'Er disdainfully.

"Immortal Shangguan, do you think your skills surpass those of the Immortals at Celestial Fragrance Pavilion?"

Shangguan Yan'Er's face turned pale with anger.

"Shen Fei, are you comparing me to the fairies of Celestial Fragrance Pavilion?"

"Why not?"

Shen Xuan spoke coldly, "You're the one who started talking about price!"

He truly viewed male-female relationships lightly.

But that doesn't mean he's willing to measure them in Spirit Stones.

To him, a firm Dao heart and enjoying life are not at odds.

The path ahead is long.

In the long years, anyone can only accompany him for part of his journey.

Aside from cultivating, finding a willing female companion for dual cultivation is interesting.

But he'd never link such matters to Spirit Stones.

If it's mutual consent, each enjoying themselves, then there's no debt owed.

With brief encounters, there's gathering and scattering.

Discussing Spirit Stones, ruins the sentiment!

Like Shangguan Yan'Er, requiring Shen Xuan to pay a price for dual cultivation pleasure.

It's better to find Celestial Fragrance Pavilion fairies!

At least, they have transparent pricing!

And excellent service!

Shangguan Yan'Er glared angrily at Shen Xuan.

"Shen Fei, remember this!"

Shangguan Yan'Er forcefully pushed Shen Xuan.

With all her strength, still didn't budge him.

She stomped her foot and circled around him.

At the door of the room.

Shangguan Yan'Er deliberately paused.

As if giving Shen Xuan a chance to admit his mistake.

Shen Xuan was indifferent.

Instead, he heavily shut the door.

Women, ha!

Although Shen Xuan appreciated Shangguan Yan'Er.

It was merely a man's natural instinct to admire beauty.

Given his current status and power.

As long as he wished.

Countless sect families would willingly offer young, beautiful female cultivators, to become dual cultivation partners with him.

Shen Xuan did not wish to form bonds and get married, wasting his energy on partners and offspring.

Regarding Shangguan Yan'Er, Shen Xuan saw very clearly.

She valued his extraordinary combat power.

Always sought to use him.

Yet unwilling to pay any price.

Shangguan Yan'Er's tactics might work on others.

They were useless on Shen Xuan.

In Shen Xuan's eyes, Shangguan Yan'Er was merely scenery outside the window.

Expendable.

...

In the following days, Shen Xuan stayed indoors, refining the Frost Snow Flood Dragon Essence Blood, cultivating the Nine Revolutions True Spirit Transformation.

With the assistance of the Mysterious Jade Talisman, the progress of the Nine Revolutions True Spirit Transformation was swift.

Each time he refined the Frost Snow Flood Dragon Essence Blood, the Nine Revolutions True Spirit Transformation smoothly broke through and advanced.

During this time, Hou Jing from the Celestial Fortune Commerce Association came to visit.

The situation was urgent.

After a brief exchange, Hou Jing stated his purpose.

He wished for Shen Xuan to temporarily join their commerce association, to advance and retreat together.

The reward was negotiable, allowing Shen Xuan to name a price.

Shen Xuan refused with a smile, courteously seeing him out.

A month later.

After refining the Frost Snow Flood Dragon Essence Blood, the Nine Revolutions True Spirit Transformation reached the Fourth Transformation.

Resounding bell chimes echoed from the mountain peak of Caixia Ridge, grand and loud, causing the guest room to tremble slightly.

"It's finally here!"

Shen Xuan opened his eyes.

The small beast tide had finally erupted.

Prior to this, small groups of demon beasts had already gathered near Bai Family Stronghold.

All the barbarians in Bai Family Stronghold had withdrawn inside, ceasing all hunting and gathering.

At this time, Bai Tiancheng hurriedly arrived.

"Brother Shen, the beast tide has erupted. The Grand Elder wants me to take you to see it!"

"Alright!"

Shen Xuan asked no further, and followed him away.

According to the agreement he had with Elder Bai, he wouldn't take action unless absolutely necessary.

However, it was good to first go observe, to understand the types of demon beasts, to know oneself and the enemy.

To be honest, he had only read about "beast tides" in cultivation scriptures before, and was somewhat curious.

If there were high-tier water attribute demon beasts among the horde, it would be even better.

At this time, Bai Family Stronghold was already under martial law, with fully armed barbarian warriors everywhere.

The barbarians were naturally all combat-ready, disciplined, and the stronghold was orderly, with no chaos occurring.

Following Bai Tiancheng, Shen Xuan left Bai Family Stronghold, transforming into two escape lights, flying towards the foremost Feiyan Pass.

By the time they arrived, the demon beasts had already begun attacking Feiyan Pass.

"Nearby Bai Family Stronghold, there are many predatory demon beast groups. The main forces in the current beast tide are the Black-backed Demon Wolf pack, the Bloodthirsty Forest Leopard pack, and the Purple-Scaled Demon Python pack."

Bai Tiancheng explained to Shen Xuan.

Standing atop Feiyan Pass, Shen Xuan looked towards the battlefield not far away, his expression calm.

Countless demon beasts, accompanied by various fierce beasts, surged towards Feiyan Pass.

Three thousand barbarian archers, each defending a section of the wall, shot arrows at the roaring, charging beast horde.

Arrows fell like rain.

Painful howls of wild beasts resounded.

Beneath the ten-zhang-high walls, corpses of beasts piled up.

"Even with numerous low-tier demon beasts and ordinary wild beasts, they can't breach the pass."

"The real challenge is those demon beasts that have gained momentum."

Indeed.

After the time it takes for an incense to burn.

A thunderous roar of a bear echoed from the rear of the beast horde.

Over a dozen Earth Demon Bears, each towering three zhang, weighing over a thousand pounds, brandishing gigantic stone clubs, charged rapidly towards Feiyan Pass.

"Tier Two Bear Demons!"

Shen Xuan marveled silently.

Though they were only low-grade Tier Two.

Over a dozen Tier Two Bear Demons attacking simultaneously caused the ground to rumble.

Like an army of thousands, their momentum was terrifying.

Behind them, over ten thousand demon beasts, led by Tier Two Black-backed Demon Wolves, Bloodthirsty Forest Leopards, and Purple-Scaled Demon Pythons, surged wildly.

The pass opened wide.

Over ten thousand well-trained barbarian warriors, under the command of three Golden Body Realm barbarian war generals, formed an array, engaging in close combat with the charging demon beast horde.

"The Earth Demon Bears are immensely powerful, capable of breaking the pass directly; we can only go out to meet the enemy."

Initially, the barbarian warriors could maintain their formation, resisting the beast tide's assault.

As time passed.

Barbarian warriors and demon beasts both suffered horrific casualties.

What surprised Shen Xuan was.

Those demon beasts seemed to lose reason, fearlessly charging the barbarian formation.

As the front beasts died, those behind endlessly filled in, continuing their assault.

As the casualties increased, the barbarian troops gradually became unable to hold on.

"We can't hold it anymore!"

Bai Tiancheng flew into the barbarian ranks.

In his hands, two sharp, one-zhang-long scimitars appeared.

Where he passed, the scimitars sliced through like lightning.

In one breath, he slew five Tier Two demon beasts.

Including one Tier Two Earth Demon Bear.

Bai Tiancheng's participation gave the barbarian troops a moment's respite.

Over ten thousand barbarian warriors, more than thirty percent lost.

Under the cover of Bai Tiancheng and the three Golden Body Realm war generals, the barbarian warriors retreated within the pass.

Archers on the walls rained down arrows once more.

However, this time, the effect was significantly reduced.

Several hundred Black-backed Demon Wolves and Bloodthirsty Forest Leopards, under the arrow rain, leaped up the walls.

The barbarian warriors fought while retreating, suffering heavy losses.

Many barbarian warriors were torn apart alive by demon beasts, devoured whole.

Shen Xuan did not intervene.

He restrained his aura, concealed his form, and quietly left.

In his view.

Though this war was brutal, it was only just beginning.

The real hard battle was still ahead.

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