My Love Life With The Sect Masters in Xianxia (Patreon)

Chapter 122: Who Is the Hunter, and Who Is the Prey?

"Spiritual beasts attacking the city?"

Li Ran and Yue Jianli exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.

Qin Ruyan's tone didn’t sound like she was joking.

The commotion coming from the inn and the streets also made it clear that something serious was happening.

A major crisis was unfolding!

Yue Jianli hurriedly got out of bed, but her legs were weak and wobbly, almost causing her to fall.

Li Ran reached out to steady her. "Are you alright?"

Yue Jianli glared at him angrily. "What do you think? It’s all your fault..."

Li Ran scratched his head awkwardly.

Since Qin Ruyan was still outside the door, Yue Jianli couldn’t leave through the main entrance. She opened the window, preparing to fly out.

Li Ran grabbed her hand and placed a jade-green pendant into her palm. He said seriously, "Be careful. If you encounter danger, crush this pendant. I'll sense your location immediately."

Yue Jianli held the pendant tightly and looked at him earnestly.

"Even though you’re a bad person and a shameless scoundrel... I… I don’t hate you at all."

With that, she turned away, her face flushed red, and leaped into the air.

Li Ran stood there in stunned silence before shaking his head with a smile.

"It’s rare to see her not being stubborn."

He quickly changed into proper attire and opened the door to find Qin Ruyan anxiously waiting outside.

"You just said spiritual beasts are attacking the city?" he asked.

Qin Ruyan nodded. "We’ve just received the news—a beast tide is approaching the city!"

"Let’s head out and take a look!"

The two of them quickly left the inn. The streets were crowded with panicked citizens under the flickering lamplight, all rushing toward the northern part of the city.

Above them, sharp cries echoed as cultivators flew overhead on their swords. The scene was chaotic and tumultuous.

Li Ran and Qin Ruyan rose into the air, flying against the flow of the crowd toward the city gate.

By the time they arrived, both righteous and demonic cultivators had already gathered on the city wall, including the entire group from the Hidden Gauze Sect.

When they saw Li Ran descend, they immediately surrounded him. "Holy Son!"

Noticing their pale faces, Li Ran frowned. "What’s the situation?"

The group stepped aside. "Holy Son, look for yourself."

Li Ran walked to the edge of the city wall and froze at the sight.

In the distance, a massive black cloud was surging toward the city, accompanied by billowing dust and thunderous roars.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a cloud at all. It was a horde of snarling, ferocious spiritual beasts charging straight for Nanfeng City!

Li Ran frowned deeply. "This city is at least five hundred miles away from the Ten Thousand Mountains. Why are these beasts attacking here?"

Previously, the attacked villages and outposts had been closer to the mountains, which was still understandable. But Nanfeng City was so far away—why would the beasts make such an effort to come here?

Lin Langyue said gravely, "Unless there’s a leader commanding them..."

Li Ran added, "Or something drove them out of the mountains."

But what could possibly terrify this horde of beasts enough to flee over five hundred miles?

Either answer was troubling.

Just then, a soft chime echoed in Li Ran’s mind—it was a system notification.

【Mission issued: The Hunt】

【Hunt down the beast horde from the Ten Thousand Mountains and use their blood to bring glory to humanity!】

【Complete the mission to receive rewards!】

【The quality of the rewards depends on the number of beasts killed.】

“The Hunt…”

Li Ran’s heart stirred, but his expression remained calm.

At this moment, Qin Ruyan asked, "The biggest question now is, what should we do?"

Two options lay before them:

Run or fight.

Fleeing would be the wisest choice.

No one would have to pay any price. Just wait until dawn, and the beast tide would naturally retreat.

But in doing so, Nanfeng City would undoubtedly be lost, and the hundreds of thousands of citizens within would become food for the beasts.

This was something all the cultivators understood deep down.

Who would want to fight these savage beasts?

However, in such a situation, many found it difficult to voice their thoughts, especially the righteous sect disciples.

At this moment, Bai Jiangye chuckled and said, "Well, everyone, what are we waiting for? I have no interest in risking my life against these beasts."

Other demonic sect members chimed in, expressing their intention to leave first.

Even those in the righteous sect began to waver.

Steward Liu of the Divine Dao Sect said, "I agree that retreating would be the better choice. This beast tide is far too overwhelming; we should avoid a direct confrontation for now."

"I think Steward Liu has a point."

"Yes, we should leave quickly!"

"Who would be foolish enough to fight these beasts head-on?"

"This tide is too terrifying; it’s beyond our capability to handle."

"Fairy Lin, give the order to retreat!"

The disciples of the righteous sects clamored, their desire to retreat evident.

Yue Jianli frowned deeply. "As cultivators, you’re willing to abandon the people behind you? How can you still call yourselves part of the righteous sect?"

Her words left everyone momentarily ashamed.

But someone retorted indignantly, "The lives of the common people matter, but don’t our lives matter too?"

"Exactly! Why should we risk our lives for them?"

"Mortals are nothing more than ants. Does it matter if a few more die?"

"The world is never short of ordinary people!"

Faced with the looming beast tide, their masks of morality and righteousness were thoroughly torn off.

"You all…"

Yue Jianli gripped her sword tightly, seething with anger.

Lin Langyue’s heart was in turmoil.

She didn’t want to abandon the citizens behind them, but she also had no right to demand that these cultivators risk their lives.

In the hearts of many, mortals were nothing more than ants.

Normally, they might do a few good deeds to maintain their image, but expecting them to genuinely risk their lives was unrealistic.

As the beast tide drew closer, everyone grew increasingly restless.

Fifty miles… thirty miles… twenty miles…

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook violently as if an earthquake had struck, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps like torrential rain.

The roars of the beasts were now at their ears, and their crimson eyes and menacing fangs could already be seen.

Among the tide were many massive creatures, radiating a terrifying and oppressive aura!

"Fairy Lin, stop hesitating! Let’s go quickly!"

"Retreat! It’s not worth it for the mortals!"

Everyone prepared their magical artifacts, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

"So this is the righteousness of the so-called righteous sect? How utterly laughable."

Lin Langyue clenched her fists. Just as she was about to speak, Li Ran suddenly let out a cold laugh.

The righteous disciples looked annoyed but dared not retort.

Li Ran stood with his hands behind his back. "Disciples of Hidden Gauze Sect, heed my command!"

"Yes!"

The disciples knelt on one knee in unison.

"Form a defensive formation. Activate all protective artifacts. Watch each other’s backs. I will not allow a single one of you to die!"

"Understood!"

Li Ran’s voice rang loud and clear, echoing through the night sky. "Let these beasts know who the real prey is!"

He shot into the air, golden flames erupting from his body like a blazing comet.

In front of everyone’s stunned gazes, he streaked toward the beast tide like a burning meteor, leaving a fiery trail in his wake.

A thunderous impact followed, shaking the heavens and the earth.