When all three gates were opened at the same time, Xiang Ning’s cultivation was boosted to tier five, four-star, almost equal to the Thunderclap Mastiff. 

Chu Long and Long Xiaoqi both stared with wide eyes. Was he even human? Was everyone from the Limit Project this powerful? Why hadn’t they encountered anyone this impressive in Heavenly Star City? 

Xiang Ning gripped his sword with both hands and used Dancing Peacock again, this time smoother than the last. His movements were as graceful as flowing water without so much as a pause, while the bloodthirsty beast was pulled forward by the current and cut in half by his sword. 

A tier five special-type beast was killed just like that. 

When the Thunderclap Mastiff died, the rest of the beasts grew anxious. 

Seeing as the beasts started slowly retreating, Xiang Ning put his Devourer back into the metal box and lifted it to his back again. Countless people looked at him with respect. 

Even Long Xiaoqi lost her arrogance, only pelting him with many curious questions. He wryly smiled, answering what he could. 

“How’d you do that just now? What martial skill was that? I can’t believe you weren’t injured at all when you fought such a powerful beast, you were amazing!” 

All throughout Long Xiaoqi’s long string of questions, Xiang Ning looked at Chu Long, thinking he would stop her, but it was hopeless. Like her, his eyes were sparkling. “Fine, fine, I’ll tell you. That skill was called Dancing Peacock. It’s tier four and you can look it up if you want to learn it. As for why the Thunderclap Mastiff’s lightning strike didn’t hurt me, it’s because of my armor.” He pulled up his shirt and revealed his Heaven's Key armor, though he hadn’t worn it during battle. Obviously, he couldn’t tell them about the Yin of Tai Chi body.

As the beasts retreated, everyone heard a commotion that signaled the arrival of the reinforcements from the fortress. The protective shield, having been given enough time, had also restored itself. So in truth, they didn’t need more help. In the end, they were still escorted just in case. 

The train decelerated, dropped off the soldiers at a fortress, then sped off to Hang City. When it arrived, it was already five in the afternoon. Xiang Ning looked at the time, waiting for the final train to Fortress One instead of leaving like the rest. 

“Xiang Ning, aren’t you going to rest in Hang City first?” 

“It’s fine, I’ll be directly heading to the fortress.” 

“Well… alright. Since we don’t have anything to do here, we’ll follow you. I really want to see how treacherous the beast invasion is there,” Chu Long said, licking his lips. 

Long Xiaoqi stuck out her tongue, but didn’t say anything. Their initial plan was indeed to head to the fortress today, but they considered staying overnight in the city since it was late. Going now, though, wouldn’t be a problem. 

Unexpectedly, the mother-daughter pair not far away didn’t leave either. 

“Uh… good afternoon, are you two heading to the fortress too?” 

“Yeah, her father said he had to stay behind in the fortress because there weren't enough people there. He asked us to wait at Hang City, but the kid doesn’t want to.” The woman holding the girl’s hand smiled. 

The girl looked at Xiang Ning and grinned, pointing at him. “Big brother is a big hero!” 

Xiang Ning paused, then smiled. 

“Fortress One, is it?” 

“Yes.” 

“This train is heading to Fortress One.…” 

......

At Fortress One, an urgent siren sounded again. It was already the seventh time it had sounded that day. 

“Fuck! Those filthy animals are here again, they aren’t letting us rest.” 

“Hurry up and get ready, they’re coming. We’ve got to go.” 

“Dear god, I pray that the number of people who return won’t grow smaller again. Then I’ll be able to rest when I return.” 

But when they saw the number of people who had just returned from the front, they sighed. The number had shrunk again. 

“This time, even the ninety-first soldier on the Hunter’s Board was killed.” 

“When will this end? These beasts won’t stop coming.” 

“Wait, why’s it sounding again?” 

“Shit! Let’s go! The beasts are ramping up their offense, the front lines are struggling!” 

Instantly, the fighters rushed out of the fortress to fight. The beasts seemed to know the human schedule, for they specifically ramped up their attacks when they were changing shifts. 

On the battlefield, a squad of five fighters was attacking a tier five, seven-star beast, but the nearby beasts suddenly went berserk and surrounded them while the beast they had almost killed ran off. 

“Li Zimo, what’re you standing there for? Follow it!” 

“Shit, there’s too many of them! If I go, no one will be able to cover you guys.” 

“What the hell! It’s so chaotic that not even the beasts know where they’re running to! I don’t know why they’re so scared, but RUN!” 

“This isn’t normal, I’m afraid it could be a Beast King.” 

A booming roar traveled well across the lands and the command center of the fortress erupted. 

Beep beep beep beep beep beep! 

“Sir, a Beast King has appeared in front of the fortress!” 

“Sir, there’s a total of two hundred and thirty-one fighters trapped on the front lines! Nine tier-four martial artists have died!” 

“Thirty-seven martial artists are requesting help on the right side.…”

“On the left, forty-three are requesting help!” 

“Commander!” 

Within the command center, the crowd looked at the highest-ranked person in the room. 

“Seal off all exits of the fortress, get all able fighters out on the battlefield, and call for Sect Master Qiu!” 

“But Sect Master Qiu—” 

“Hurry, go!” 

The entire fortress was alarmed. 

“Is this the finale?” 

“Nonsense, hurry up!” 

Countless fighters that were previously resting, poured out of the fortress. And saw a massive beast in front of them.

The beast was twelve meters tall and its head was long and slender. It was covered in white fur as it stood there swishing its tail. It looked just like a fox demon of the ancient legends with its blood-red eyes looking down at the battlefield. 

“It’s a Blizzard Fox!” 

“That goddamn animal is finally showing itself!” 

It let out a long, deafening cry, and countless white foxes poured from behind. They were the Blizzard Fox’s minions. The Beast King was an extremely intelligent fox—as smart as the Simian Sage—but it was more cunning. It had a peculiar physiology that resembled gummy candy, so it would be unharmed when hit with regular attacks. That natural defense mechanism was enough to diffuse a majority of the attacks against it. 

The earth shook as the Blizzard Fox stomped the ground, then leaped high into the air and swiped its sharp claws. An entire squad of fighters was wiped out at once; even the beasts surrounding them were sliced to pieces. 

“Ssssss!!” The crowd drew in a sharp breath, losing all hope. 

I would be so afraid if I were there