*thoom* The city's main gate trembled under the force of the oncoming spirit beast horde, a thunderous rumble filling the air as thousands of feet pounded the earth.
The sky was a pale blue, but the ominous cloud of dust and debris raised by the beasts stained it with streaks of grey.
The walls, though towering and reinforced, seemed almost too small against the incoming tide of creatures.
Every guard and the cultivators from the sects in the Northern Bei Kingdom standing in the defensive lines knew what was at stake.
"Ready yourselves!" The captain of the guard, a grizzled man with a scar running down the side of his face, yelled out orders.
His armor gleamed under the sunlight, a mix of gold and steel, as his eyes swept over the battlefield as the first ranks of beasts surged forward.
Massive arachnoid beasts, their bulbous bodies glistening with black chitin, skittered forward on eight segmented legs, their jaws snapping hungrily.
Their eyes, too many to count, glowed with eerie green light as they closed in.
Alongside them were serpentine creatures with wings that shimmered like oil on water, their elongated bodies slithering through the dirt before launching into the air.
Other beasts, like armadillo creatures covered in jagged spikes, rolled forward in tight balls, their sheer weight and momentum smashing into anything in their path.
As the beasts drew closer, "Release the first wave!" the captain shouted and immediately, the cultivators lining the walls and gates sprang into action.
A wave of flame erupted from a group of fire cultivators belonging to the same sect and with a roar, the flames swept across the ground, setting the earth ablaze and incinerating the front ranks of the spirit beasts.
The arachnoid creatures screeched as the fire scorched their exoskeletons, their legs twitching as they collapsed into smoldering heaps.
But more kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
To the left, a cultivator raised her arms high, and a torrent of water surged from her fingertips. *woosh*
The water twisted and danced in the air, forming a massive wave that slammed into the advancing beasts with tremendous force.
*THOOM* The serpentine creatures with their slick wings were caught in the surge, their bodies flailing helplessly as they were swept away and drowned beneath the rushing tide.
The water then froze, turning into icy spikes that pierced the remaining beasts as they struggled to climb over the frozen barrier.
Meanwhile, on the ground, a cultivator planted his feet firmly and let out a deep growl.
The cultivators' hearts sank seeing this terror. The horde of smaller beasts had been overwhelming enough, but this?
"W-Was this the beast that started the whole beast tide?"
"We are fucked..."
"Let's retreat..."
*swish* However, at this time, a gust of wind flew past them and everyone turned to look at the beautiful woman's silver hair fluttering in the wind.
"W-Who is that?"
*woosh* A sharp, nearly invisible aura rippled from Jin Wei's body and her fingers gripped around the hilt of her sword as white energy began to gather along the blade's edge.
The gathered energy crackled like lightning, radiating a sharp, cutting presence that seemed to slice through the very air around her.
Her blade shimmered under the morning sun, and the centipede's segmented body shifted, hundreds of claws digging into the earth as it prepared to strike.
With the grace of a leaf caught in the breeze, Jin Wei moved, her body... a blur as she shot forward like an arrow shot from a bow.
Her speed was such that the onlookers barely registered her movement until she was already beneath the beast.
*clang*
The beast struck first, its massive tail lashing toward her, sharp legs and venomous stingers aimed to skewer her where she stood.
*swish* Jin Wei's sword flashed in response, meeting the attack with a deafening clash.
*clank* Sparks flew as steel clashed with hardened scales and the force of the blow sent a gust of wind rippling outward, but Jin Wei's stance didn't falter.
Her feet remained firm, her sword unwavering.
"WOAH!" the onlookers were dumbfounded as she looked so cool and graceful.
Chen Zin who was amidst the crowd smiled "The only thing she is good at is... sword."
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!