Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Bai Family Asks for Help

SWOOSH!

Suddenly, a sharp, long cry rang out near Gaoji Mountain, audible for a hundred miles.

At that moment, every Cultivator of the Bai family—whether they were out hunting Demon Beasts, meditating in the ancestral lands, or tending to Spirit Grass and Spirit Beasts—wore looks of shock.

This piercing alarm was only ever sounded when the clan faced a life-or-death crisis.

...

After the cry echoed, Cultivators arrived one after another at the Bai family’s council hall. Those qualified to enter for discussions were almost all at the Late-stage of Qi Refining.

As they entered, they immediately saw the Ancestor and the Clan Leader already waiting. They hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Ancestor, Clan Leader!"

The Bai family’s Ancestor’s usual kind and amiable expression was gone, replaced by a grim solemnity. He merely gave a slight nod in response to their greetings.

Before long, all the Late-stage Qi Refining clan members still on Gaoji Mountain had gathered.

Seated cross-legged, everyone looked to Clan Leader Bai Mingde, eager to know what had happened.

Bai Mingde shot a questioning glance at the Bai family’s Ancestor. Only after receiving the Ancestor’s approval did he speak grimly. "Everyone, the Bai family has reached a moment of life and death. According to intelligence from our scouts, a beast tide—composed of five Tier Two Demon Beasts and several thousand Low-Tier Demon Beasts—is surging toward Gaoji Mountain."

He added gravely, "We may have to face this beast tide head-on!"

"Heavens, five Tier Two Demon Beasts!"

"How could there be such a massive beast tide? Gaoji Mountain is in a remote location. Why would they come toward us!"

"Is there still time for us to retreat to the Immortal City?"

"That’s too many Tier Two Demon Beasts! This isn’t a beast tide the Bai family can possibly withstand!"

...

Hearing Bai Mingde’s words, the assembled Bai clan members instantly erupted in an uproar.

Although Tier Two Demon Beasts lack high intelligence, their combat instincts are sharp. Combined with their powerful bodies, their fighting strength is comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

The Bai family has only one Foundation Establishment Cultivator—the Ancestor. Even with the advantage of our Array and home terrain, he could at most handle two or three Tier Two Demon Beasts.

But now, a full five Tier Two Demon Beasts were coming. What could they possibly use to fight back?

"Silence!" the Bai family’s Ancestor boomed, instantly quieting the hall.

Bai Mingde shook his head. "The beast tide will arrive in a few hours. It’s too late to evacuate now. If we abandon our Array and flee to the Immortal City, I fear our entire clan will be annihilated. Most of us would be devoured by the beasts."

"The Ancestor and I have discussed this!" Bai Mingde’s gaze swept over the crowd. "The Bai family will make its stand on Gaoji Mountain!"

Upon hearing Bai Mingde’s declaration, some among the crowd couldn’t help but want to speak up.

After all, in their eyes, defending Gaoji Mountain was a dead end. Since the beast tide hadn’t arrived yet, the Bai family could still evacuate.

Of course, evacuating would mean abandoning all the mortals in the clan.

If only the Cultivators fled, there would still be losses, but with the Ancestor present, they might be able to preserve the core of the clan!

But the mortals were also their kin, connected to everyone present by countless threads. Saying such a thing would surely provoke public outrage, so in the end, they didn’t dare voice it.

Bai Mingde knew what they were thinking. He said nothing, waiting for the Ancestor to speak.

"I know some of you want to run," the Bai family Ancestor’s cloudy eyes swept over everyone. "But if we Cultivators abandon the mortals and flee before the beast tide even arrives, the Bai family’s reputation will be ruined forever. Who would dare marry their daughters to the Bai family then? After running away, would you have the face to ever return to Gaoji Mountain? Are you going to just throw away the foundation our ancestors fought two hundred years to build?"

As soon as he spoke, the few Cultivators who had been considering flight lowered their heads in shame.

Clan Cultivators put their family first in all things. They are not selfish like Loose Cultivators; they can sacrifice anything for the clan, even their own lives!

These few had wanted to flee not to save their own skins, but to preserve the clan’s vital strength!

The Bai family’s Ancestor spoke again. "Faced with this beast tide, the Bai family is not entirely without the power to resist. If we bring out all of our clan’s reserves, holding out for ten days to half a month won’t be a problem!"

Seeing that morale was still low, he offered them a reassurance. "Furthermore, several years ago, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Immortal City, Fellow Daoist Li Ping, already agreed to be our Bai family’s Honored Guest Elder. I have already sent a clan member to the Immortal City to ask Fellow Daoist Li for help. Once he arrives, with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators joining forces, it will be enough to stop this beast tide!"

"That’s wonderful!"

"The Ancestor is truly farsighted!"

...

Hearing that they had a Foundation Establishment Stage expert as backup, all the Bai clan members’ spirits were greatly lifted.

For a moment, much of the pessimistic mood in the hall dissipated.

...

Following the Ancestor’s orders, the clan members dispersed, each taking up their respective duties to defend against the beast tide.

Only then did Bai Mingde ask worriedly, "Ancestor, do you think Elder Li will come?"

Only he and the Ancestor knew that Li Ping’s position as Honored Guest Elder was, in reality, just an agreement to let them use his name. If they wanted him to actually intervene, not only would they have to pay a certain price, but they would also need his consent.

The Bai family’s Ancestor shook his head. "It’s hard to say. However, with two Foundation Establishment Cultivators defending Gaoji Mountain, the situation isn’t actually that dangerous. Plus, with young Bai Lin’s relationship with him, and since we’re letting him name his price, perhaps..."

At this, the Bai family’s Ancestor suddenly shook his head again. "No matter. Let’s leave it to fate. If Fellow Daoist Li is unwilling to come, then the Bai family’s time has come. If the Array is breached, you will lead all the Cultivators with a Cultivation at or above Middle-stage Qi Refining and under the age of fifty to flee to the Immortal City!"

"I will lead the others and risk my life to hold back the Demon Beasts, to buy you a sliver of hope for survival!"

Tears welled in Bai Mingde’s eyes. "Yes, Ancestor."

...

Dozens of miles from Gaoji Mountain, Guardian Yan, clad in his form-hiding cloak, gazed at the fully activated Grand Array. A look of triumphant scheming appeared in his eyes.

He had deliberately lured these Demon Beasts here.

Although he already had the means to ’flip the table’ with the Immortal City, making it seem unnecessary to use Soul Searching on Li Ping to learn about Dai Sangyu’s situation.

But for some reason, his spiritual sense kept warning him, as if there was still a flaw in his plan.

’All those schemes I set up to lure Li Ping out of the city will go to waste if I flip the table now,’ he thought immediately. ’Might as well use them.’

And so, the plot to have Demon Beasts attack Gaoji Mountain to lure Li Ping out of the city was born!

He sneered. "Heh... You took the Bai family’s Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Wood, and you accepted their Female Cultivator. Now that the Bai family is facing a life-or-death crisis, how could you not come?"

In fact, he was the one who, disguised as a Loose Cultivator, had sold that Tier Two Middle Grade Purple-Vein Wood to the Bai family in the first place.

...

「Immortal Peach Mountain, Li Ping’s residence.」

Someone came to disturb him early in the morning.

A Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator from the Bai family fell to his knees the moment he saw him. "Elder Li, I beg you, please save the Bai family!"

Bai Lin stood to the side, her face also etched with anxiety!

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