Chapter 395: Beast Tide

“Mr. Gu, it seems that Daoist Ling Xi won’t be coming out anytime soon.” Heaven Arbiter Ashen revealed a confident, calculating expression.

Gu Ning’an frowned. “Ling Xi is your chess piece too, isn’t she? If she’s trapped because of you, why do you look so pleased?”

“Uh…” Heaven Arbiter Ashen’s expression stiffened for a moment before he quickly responded, “Sir, your question has confused me. The reason why Daoist Ling Xi has been classified as a piece by the Heavenly Dao of Chess is because she entered the Path to Heaven. She has the potential to become a great asset to me.

“If she hadn’t entered the Path to Heaven, then even if she was facing the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, she would have fought to the death to resist the flood dragons’ invasion. In that case, she would have been your white piece, not my black piece.”

“Heh…” Gu Ning’an sneered, turning his gaze toward the Path to Heaven that belonged to Daoist Ling Xi.

Hundreds of steps stretched upward, and on each step stood an identical elderly man. Their expressions and movements were exactly the same. Until Ling Xi set foot on their step, she would be unaware of just how many “masters” were waiting for her.

Scanning the figures one by one, Gu Ning’an found the elder he had encountered before, positioned about midway up the steps.

Though this elder looked and felt exactly like the others, the concern in his aged eyes was unique—utterly distinct from the rest.

The elders on the staircase could all be illusions—or they could all be real.

For those who cultivate the Dao of Illusions, encountering self-doubt and becoming trapped in a bottleneck was not uncommon.

Now, it all depended on whether this elder could realize his original purpose for cultivation. If he remained fixated on having Ling Xi open the Heavenly Gate and take him to White Jade Capital, it wouldn’t necessarily be wrong—after all, humans strive for greater heights, and even more so for those who cultivate immortality.

But if he could see through it all, perhaps Ling Xi could escape the Path to Heaven…

“Mr. Gu, as things stand, your chances of losing are far too great.”

“Why not join us instead? It would save you a great deal of trouble.”

Heaven Arbiter Ashen paused before adding, “If there are people you wish to protect, you could tell us once you become a Heaven Arbiter. We would never harm them—not even a hair on their heads. In fact, we could even grant them extended lifespans.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an chuckled. “The game has only just begun. How can you be so sure my old friends will lose?”

“Because I know that Daoist Ling Xuan is about to be in trouble as well. The Flood Dragon Emperor has means to deal with him.” Heaven Arbiter Ashen spoke with certainty.

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “Until the very end, no one can know the outcome. You may have a thousand strategies, but you forget one thing—every living being under heaven has the will to resist.”

The will to resist?

Watching Gu Ning’an step forward into the air, heading toward the Northern Huangtian border, Heaven Arbiter Ashen couldn’t help but recall the words spoken to him by the “Heaven Arbiter Mou.”

A scheme set into motion ten thousand years ago was now unfolding exactly as planned. It made him marvel at the terrifying brilliance of those who wielded the Heavenly Dao of Strategy.

At their level of cultivation, divination and foresight were no longer reliable means of prediction.

At this stage, their battles could only be decided by raw power—or deep, long-term strategy.

That someone could use a scheme from ten thousand years ago to force an existence like Mr. Gu into the game… Even as a Heaven Arbiter himself, Heaven Arbiter Ashen couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for Heaven Arbiter Mou.

Yet, there was one problem—

The Heaven Arbiter Mou had only laid out the pieces, never revealing his ultimate purpose.

Just as with this game of chess, Heaven Arbiter Mou had once said—he could not win.

His calm demeanor was exactly the same as Gu Ning’an’s.

Both of them, despite knowing the immense disparity between their sides, still believed they would lose.

For Mr. Gu, it could be called confidence.

But what about the Heaven Arbiter Mou?

Had something gone wrong with his plan?

Or was his defeat inevitable?

And if so, where would that loss occur?

At this thought, Heaven Arbiter Ashen’s curiosity about the future of the chess game deepened. He took flight, following closely behind Gu Ning’an…

…

At the Northern Huangtian border, the sky and earth were shrouded in an invisible gloom, while deafening roars shook the heavens.

Standing at the sharply defined boundary line, gazing toward Northern Huangtian, one would see that the vast desert had vanished—

In its place surged a tide of countless demonic beasts, roaring forward like an unstoppable flood!

These creatures varied in form—some were cloaked in flames, blazing like molten fireballs; others were covered in jagged, glimmering scales, radiating an icy chill; some had eyes that burned like torches, while their gaping maws spewed putrid, scorching breath.

Like a torrential flood, the beast tide charged fearlessly toward the barrier at the boundary line!

The barrier, shimmering with radiant light, stood as an immense wall before the entire boundary line, keeping the beast tide at bay!

With each thunderous collision, massive beasts struck the barrier and exploded upon impact, turning into clouds of blood mist.

Yet, the thousand-mile-long barrier began to ripple under the relentless suicidal assaults of the beast tide!

Above the clouds, Daoist Ling Xuan, clad in a flowing black robe, stood face-to-face with the Flood Dragon Emperor, who was encased in imposing iron armor.

Daoist Ling Xuan pointed at the countless demonic beasts below, bursting into blood mist one after another, and asked in confusion, “Flood Dragon Emperor, is this truly the result you desire? Sending your subordinates—your kin—to their deaths?”

“The battle for change will always demand sacrifices.” The Flood Dragon Emperor’s voice was as cold as an iron-blooded general unfazed by death.

“Daoist Ling Xuan… We’ve waited so long, and yet, Daoist Ling Xi has yet to appear. It seems she will not be coming after all.”

Daoist Ling Xuan’s expression remained calm as he replied indifferently, “Why can’t you learn from the Void Emperor? Find a place to settle down properly instead of constantly scheming to lead the demon race in conquest.”

“He who inherits the fortune of the demon race must bear responsibility for its future.” As he spoke, the aura around the Flood Dragon Emperor steadily rose. “Since it’s a one-on-one battle, then today, Daoist Ling Xuan, I must send you to your death!”

In an instant, a brilliant silver net unfolded around Daoist Ling Xuan!

“Soul Restraining Technique!”

Daoist Ling Xuan hadn’t expected the Flood Dragon Emperor to unleash a killing move without hesitation!

Facing a technique that directly countered the soul, he dared not be careless. He immediately conjured scorching stars and sent them crashing toward the approaching net!

As the two mystical techniques clashed, they entered a deadlock. From afar, it looked as if a vast silver net had suddenly appeared in the sky, with several radiant golden spheres within it, struggling to break free.

Neither the Flood Dragon Emperor nor Daoist Ling Xuan relented, continuously pouring their mystical energy into their techniques. This contest would be determined by who had the greater reserves—whoever withdrew first or tried to evade would instantly fall into a disadvantageous position.

Under normal circumstances, Daoist Ling Xuan wouldn’t fear competing in mystical energy with the Flood Dragon Emperor. However, at present, he was maintaining a barrier that spanned thousands of miles, while also fending off the relentless attacks of the beast tide.

As a result, his mystical energy consumption far exceeded that of the Flood Dragon Emperor. If this dragged on for too long, he would inevitably be the one to fall…