Bang bang!
At that moment, the beast tide targeted Purple Sun Mountain.
Roar roar!
The demon beasts howled and began their attack on Purple Sun Mountain.
The Wind Howling Wolf growled, spitting a Wind Blade at the Grand Array.
The Lightning Rabbit opened its mouth, unleashing a lightning bolt towards the Grand Array.
The Fanged Boar followed, launching a black Water Arrow at the Grand Array.
Swarms of demon beasts fixed their gaze on the Mountain Protection Array on Purple Sun, each individual attack being weak, but the combined assault of thousands upon thousands was earth-shattering.
Even Purple Sun Mountain was trembling.
The Grand Array wobbled as if it were about to collapse.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The demon beasts continued attacking, the incessant spells bombarding the array, causing it to sway, seemingly on the verge of breaking.
Yet, the purple light shimmered, forcibly neutralizing many dangers.
Lu Xuanji watched this scene, his heart wavering.
If the Mountain Protection Array were breached, the two million mortals and over a thousand cultivators on Purple Sun Mountain would become demon beast fodder.
"Family cultivators, hold your positions at the array eyes, be prepared for unexpected events!"
At that moment, the voice of the Grand Elder came, cold and ruthless.
"Without the command of the family, do not act rashly!"
Lu Xuanji returned to his cave mansion, sitting on the Dao Platform, channeling True Qi.
The Dao Platform was in operation.
On Purple Sun Mountain, each cave mansion was an array node, under normal circumstances the spirit vein supported the cultivator's cultivation, but at this moment, it transformed into an endless supply of Spiritual Qi to sustain the array's operation, activating the Third Level Purple Sun Grand Array.
As the array operated, a purple light shield arose, enveloping Purple Sun Mountain, a series of runes flickered, resisting the onslaught of the demon beasts.
Bang bang!
The array was in operation, producing intense sounds.
Lu Xuanji's heart was uneasy, worried.
The beast tide, occurring once every hundred years, was almost inevitable.
In the eyes of the demon beasts, humans were the supreme delicacy; consuming humans could unlock intelligence, accelerate cultivation, and were considered the supreme elixir. Whenever the beast tide commenced, it was a grand feast for the demon beasts, a time for banquets.
Seven days later, seeing that the array could not be breached.
Some demon beasts gradually dispersed, going to attack other weaker areas in search of sustenance.
Sensing the decrease in demon beast numbers outside, Lu Xuanji let out a slight sigh of relief.
Purple Sun Mountain was temporarily safe.
But it was not assured.
The demon beast group under Purple Sun Mountain could breach it, but the cost would be immense. Rather than spending a huge price here, it was better to attack some spiritually weak mountains.
However, one should still be wary of the demon beasts returning for a sneak attack.
"The beast tide is truly terrifying, who knows how many Loose Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Clans will be destroyed in it this time!" Lu Xuanji was uneasy, concerned about the family's Purple Mansion Ancestors that went to battle, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and his father who took part in the battle.
Purple Sun Mountain had the Third Level Grand Array, capable of withstanding attacks from a Purple Mansion Cultivator, even a Golden Core Ancestor would take some time to break through.
But maintaining the operation of the Purple Sun Grand Array consumed the Spirit Vein's power.
Operating the array for prolonged periods would lead to the spirit vein's exhaustion, potentially its destruction.
Staying in the Spiritual Mountain passively defending was almost a slow death.
Every beast tide, the Dan Yang Sect led Purple Mansion Cultivators, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and others to intercept high-level demon beasts. Those senior cultivators intercepted many high-level demon beasts on the front lines, resulting in a beast tide dominated by low-level demon beasts, with fewer mid- to high-level demon beasts, allowing humans to huddle within Spiritual Mountains for self-preservation.
The beast tide continued, after lasting a month, it began to retreat.
Some Foundation Establishment Cultivators went to investigate, and the beast tide had retreated ten thousand miles away.
About ten days later, demon beasts fully withdrew to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The beast tide ended.
But the land was left devastated, many towns and Spiritual Mountains suffered destructive blows, countless humans became blood food, and numerous cultivators perished among them.
Under the direction of the Grand Elder, Purple Sun Mountain began orderly evacuations, with two million mortals gradually returning to their places of residence.
One flying ship after another took off, escorting the mortals away.
Many cultivators breathed a sigh of relief.
The beast tide ended, it was finally endured.
In the midst of ruin, the earth began to heal, some human towns started to recover vitality.
Returning to the cave mansion, Lu Xuanji sensed the spiritual cavern.
In the spiritual cavern, almost no Spiritual Qi leaked out.
To maintain the Mountain Protection Array, Purple Sun Mountain's spirit veins depleted severely and needed to recuperate; cultivation would be impossible for five years.
...
Ten days later, the Flood Dragon ship appeared in the void.
Only, the Flood Dragon ship was somewhat dilapidated, wobbling.
On the flying ship, some familiar faces were missing.
At the time of departure, there was a Purple Mansion Ancestor and twelve Foundation Establishment Cultivators; upon returning, only five Foundation Establishment Cultivators remained, the Purple Mansion Ancestor Lu Fuming looked pale, gave a simple greeting, and hurriedly left.
In the crowd, he saw his father.
"Father!"
"Son!"
Seeing his father, Lu Xuanji exclaimed in delight.
Father smiled too, though his expression was somewhat weary.
"My son is dead, impossible!"
"Dad, how did you die!"
"Husband, sob sob sob!"
At that moment, Lu Xuanji heard the cries of some clansmen, their relatives dying in the calamity of the beast tide.
With great power comes great responsibility.
In the family, to support a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, many middle and low-level cultivators sacrificed, living frugally; Foundation Establishment Cultivators enjoyed supreme power, yet the family facing danger, Foundation Establishment Cultivators must charge at the forefront.
Like this beast tide attack, mortals and low-level cultivators could shelter in the mountains, in the Mountain Protection Array, but not Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they had to rush forward.
Intercepting high-level demon beasts at the forward position, reducing the burden on Spiritual Mountains.
Father said little, directly returning to the courtyard.
Mother began cooking.
A moment later, five dishes and three bowls of Spirit Rice were prepared.
Eating Spirit Rice, father said: "On the front lines, attacking demon beasts were endless, there were Purple Mansion Demon Beasts and Golden Core Demon Beasts. The battle was tough..."
Father went on at length, talking about the front lines, discussing the war.
War causes death.
In the frontline battles, the Lu family lost five Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the remaining ones were all injured to varying degrees; of course, the demon race also suffered considerable losses.
"Father, can we not fight? Can we not have peace? Can't we just peacefully farm, manage businesses?" Lu Xuanji asked, a hint of concern flashing in his eyes.
"Nobody likes fighting wars. Losing a few Foundation Establishment Cultivators on the battlefield depletes the clan's Primordial Qi; even sustaining injuries in battle requires years to recuperate... but it's unavoidable."
Father's expression was somewhat melancholic, "Resources are limited, and to compete for resources, the demon race must battle with the human race. The demon race wants humans as blood food to unlock intelligence, enhance their essence, and quicken evolution. The human race, too, hunts demon beasts, using their Inner Cores to refine Foundation Establishment Pills; demon beast furs make Talismans; their bones can forge some Magical Artifacts."