Chapter 173: Chapter 171: Crossing Paths However, with Lou Yi acting as a mediator, the misunderstanding quickly dissipated. Landlord Jia was not a stubborn person. After a brief consideration, he accepted the plan to cooperate with the bandits from Sunset Mountain. Of course, he also proposed a few reasonable conditions: A separate residential area for the bandits, and they must not enter other parts of the manor without cause; The bandits must conceal their identities and not reveal to outsiders that they are from Sunset Mountain; Food and lodging would be provided free of charge, but they must turn over half of the loot from slain monsters... In this way, the defensive strength within the manor greatly increased, and with the Black Bear Spirit, who had strength akin to a monster, in command. Any fierce beasts and monsters that strayed in from the beast tide were effortlessly killed, with almost no casualties. However, this was still the early stage of the beast tide, far from its peak. Lou Yi patrolled back and forth, decisively executing beheading operations on any threatening monsters to prevent them from endangering Jia Family Manor. Eventually. Hearing about the situation here, people from other villages in Xinxiang flocked here with their families. How could Jia Family Manor accommodate so many people? But they couldn’t just drive them away, as they were all fellow villagers. Landlord Jia had no choice but to instruct everyone to continue expanding outside the original walls and build temporary housing. It might not be as safe as inside the manor, but it was better to stay together and look out for each other, as the risk was smaller than holding out in the villages. Lou Yi even saw some familiar faces. However, he did not rashly go up to greet them, to avoid unnecessary trouble. Seeing that the situation at Jia Family Manor was stabilizing, Lou Yi had a mind to return to the city. According to past history, Jia Family Manor was not on the main route of the beast tide, and its current defensive capability was quite sufficient. Moreover, he was not a babysitter and couldn’t stay here indefinitely. Although he had accumulated a lot of energy during this period, breaking through the three hundred mark. But the crucial Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, the Nirvana Divine Flower, needed for the Breathing Technique, and other required resources still needed to be acquired back in the city. Lou Yi was just about to propose his departure to Landlord Jia. "Whoa..." A large black horse rushed to the outside of Jia Family Manor. A young man with a handsome face and fair skin dismounted urgently. However, at this moment, his face was covered in dust, hair disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot. His clothes were tattered in several places, revealing bloody flesh. Who else could it be but the drifter Liu Yuan? Clearly, reaching Jia Family Manor was not easy for him. Upon seeing Lou Yi, Liu Yuan was overjoyed, "Brother Yi, I finally found you!" "What’s going on?" Seeing Liu Yuan in such a state, Lou Yi sensed something unusual. "You mustn’t return to Tai City Main City!" Liu Yuan explained, panting, "Sect Leader Jiang Chi of the Heavy Sword Sect has broken through to Martial Artist Realm and is preparing to strike at the Extreme Fist Sect, having set a three-day deadline, which the entire city knows about..." "Ru Da and I split up, scouring Sunset Mountain and Xinxiang, never expecting you to be at Jia Family Manor." After listening to Liu Yuan, Lou Yi’s expression changed: "Three-day deadline, isn’t that due today?" "Let’s go!" Without further ado, he mounted his horse and rushed towards the main city. "Hey, wait for me! Brother Yi, isn’t this like throwing dumplings at a dog, no return?" Liu Yuan looked worried. He came specifically to warn Lou Yi not to return and meet his demise, only to find the latter intent on going his own way. "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing." Lou Yi said solemnly. There was a fire raging in his heart at this moment. The fire grew more intense. Waiting for the right moment, it would erupt, earth-shattering! ... Tai City, outside the Extreme Fist Sect. After Zhou Yang was killed by Elder Miao Xiyang of the Heavy Sword Sect, the conflict between the two sects was completely inflamed. Members of the Extreme Fist Sect and the Heavy Sword Sect were instantly engaged in fierce combat. "Kill these bastards!" "Curs of a fallen house, still dare to fight back?" "Kill, kill, kill, slaughter them all!" This was a battle of extermination, but the disparity in strength was overwhelming. The number of disciples in the Heavy Sword Sect was more than double that of the remaining disciples of the Extreme Fist Sect. And in terms of top-tier fighting power, the gap was even wider. The Full Cycle Martial Artists from the Extreme Fist Sect included only Great Elder Zhou Bufeng and Sect Leader Wei Youdao. The Heavy Sword Sect, including the Miao twins, had four people. For Great Cycle Martial Artists, Extreme Fist Sect had Elder Zhou, Elder Zhang, and eight or nine others, while Heavy Sword Sect had over twenty. Extreme Fist Sect did not immediately collapse because they were all resolved to die fighting. Even in defeat, they intended to take their pound of flesh from the enemy before falling. The Heavy Sword Sect was cautious of the other’s desperate retaliation, attacking conservatively, intending to wear them down with overwhelming advantage. Despite this, people from Extreme Fist Sect kept falling. An ordinary disciple with two-level blood approached a person from the Heavy Sword Sect, delivering a punch to their chest, causing them to vomit blood incessantly. But then two broad swords stabbed into his body from front and back, ending his life. Chen Muju, being the leader among the disciples and a Peak Martial Artist of Small Circulation, was proficient in martial arts, holding his own against two fellow disciples from the Heavy Sword Sect. But unexpectedly, an Elder of the Heavy Sword Sect shamelessly slashed at him with a sword. Chen Muju couldn’t dodge in time, and his right arm was severed, shooting towards the sky! "Ah!" His face twisted in pain as he rapidly retreated, dodging continuously, no longer able to take the initiative in attacking. Elder Zhou’s face grew even grimmer as he desperately pushed back two fellow-ranking Martial Artists. But his leg was stabbed by a sword, blood gushing, hindering his mobility. ’Puff!’ A broad sword stealthily struck from the side, stabbing into his abdomen. "Ah!" Elder Zhou gripped the sword tightly, ignoring the blood flowing from his palm, and landed a heavy punch on the ambusher’s throat. ’Bang!’ Both fell, vomiting blood. Meanwhile, Great Elder Zhou Bufeng, drenched in blood, seemed like a figure of red light, locked in a fierce struggle with the three Full Cycle Martial Artists, including Miao twins. Zhou Bufeng, as a top-notch Full Cycle, barely fell behind even facing three opponents alone. He charged left and right, his attacks expansive and bold, trying to forcefully kill one to create a breakthrough. But the three opponents defended tightly, leaving him no opportunity. Once his momentum shifted from strong to weak, his fate would be sealed! "Haha, Wei Youdao, you old turtle, finally willing to come out?" The fourth Full Cycle of the Heavy Sword Sect, Elder Yu, who made deals with Marshal Gao and was the most powerful, mocked coldly, "Hiding so many times, let’s see where you can hide this time!" "Cough, cough!" Wei Youdao, the skinny elder, struggled to fend off attacks while coughing violently. As if he would fall without the enemy even needing to strike. ’Puff!’ After a long defense, his abdomen was finally stabbed by Elder Yu’s sword, soaking his clothes in blood. "Old man, twenty years ago, you set half a foot in the Martial Master Realm, stormed my Heavy Sword Sect, forced my master to fight injured, and ultimately died of those old injuries. Back then, you were glorious; did you ever think today would come?" Elder Yu said hatefully, his eyes filled with viciousness. ’Puff!’ As he spoke, he stabbed Wei Youdao with another sword. Wei Youdao could no longer withstand it and turned to flee. "Retreat to the Martial Arts Hall!" he shouted fiercely at the disciples. Zhou Bufeng, hearing this, retreated while fighting, quickly heading towards the Martial Arts Hall. Other disciples also converged towards the Martial Arts Hall. "Wei Turtle, where are you running!" Elder Yu, hating Wei Youdao, chased relentlessly, leaping into the hall. Alongside him were Miao twins and other high-ranking martial artists. ...