The battle had finally reached its conclusion.
Within the depths of Cloud Mist Forest, an oppressive aura mixed with dense Gang Qi erupted into the heavens as Guardian Zhao stood above the corpse of the Mutated Thunder Beast, his killing intent spreading across dozens of miles and causing countless hidden cultivators to shudder involuntarily.
Immediately afterward—
The numerous Divine Senses secretly observing the battlefield vanished one after another.
Some belonged to demonic cultivators.
Some belonged to rogue cultivators.
Others belonged to opportunistic forces hoping to profit from the chaos.
Yet all of them reached the same conclusion.
The battle was over.
And they had lost.
Within the forest, numerous figures began retreating rapidly.
Several demonic cultivators even abandoned their companions as they fled toward the borders of the province.
After all, surviving was more important than loyalty.
Especially for demonic cultivators.
Unfortunately for them, the news spreading through various sound transmission talismans was anything but encouraging.
Among all the surrounding markets affected by the demonic cultivators' coordinated plans, only a single market had fallen successfully.
Every other attempt had failed.
The reason was simple.
Someone had tipped off the Lin Family beforehand.
As a result, numerous preparations had already been secretly made across the province.
Now that the truth had been exposed, the Lin Family had reacted with overwhelming force.
A province-wide extermination order had been issued.
Countless bounties appeared overnight.
The names of known demonic cultivators were circulated throughout the province.
Rewards ranging from spirit stones to cultivation resources had been posted.
Some rewards were so generous that even Foundation Establishment cultivators were tempted.
A single late-stage Qi Refining demonic cultivator's head could be exchanged for a Rank-1 Magical Artifact of one's choice.
Peak Qi Refining demonic cultivators carried even higher rewards.
As for Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators—
The rewards were enough to make countless cultivators' eyes turn red.
The entire province had effectively become hostile territory for them.
Remaining hidden was no longer an option.
Every cultivator would become a hunter.
Every town could become a trap.
Every market could become an execution ground.
Their only choices were to flee the province entirely or seek refuge within dangerous forbidden zones.
Yet everyone knew the truth.
The survival rate within forbidden zones was pitifully low.
Most who entered never returned.
For many demonic cultivators—
Death had merely been delayed.
Meanwhile, above Cloud Mist Market, the fleeing demonic cultivators soon discovered another unpleasant surprise.
The righteous side had anticipated their retreat.
After Guardian Zhao returned to the battlefield, the balance of power shifted completely.
The five Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators who had originally appeared unstoppable suddenly found themselves facing overwhelming pressure.
One was killed by Guardian Zhao personally.
Another was severely injured and later surrounded.
A third managed to escape but left behind a damaged spiritual artifact.
The remaining two barely escaped with their lives.
As for the Qi Refining demonic cultivators—
The losses were catastrophic.
Numerous heads were collected before they could flee.
Storage pouches were seized.
Corpses were gathered.
Several ambitious cultivators immediately began calculating the bounty rewards they would receive.
After all, dead demonic cultivators were valuable.
Very valuable.
For many rogue cultivators, hunting a demonic cultivator was worth months or even years of ordinary income.
Thus while the demonic cultivators viewed the province as a nightmare—
Many cultivators viewed it as an opportunity.
An opportunity to become wealthy overnight.
---
As the last remnants of the beast tide were cleaned up, Cloud Mist Market gradually began recovering from the disaster.
The formation barrier was fully reactivated.
Groups of cultivators were dispatched to patrol the surroundings.
The corpses of countless yao beasts were collected and transported toward designated processing areas.
Some would become materials.
Some would become pills.
Some would be sold.
Others would be used to repair losses suffered by the market.
The contribution jade tokens of every combatant began glowing continuously.
The market's management had started tallying battle achievements.
Every beast killed.
Every demonic cultivator slain.
Every contribution recorded.
An announcement soon spread throughout the market.
Within twenty-four hours, the final contribution rankings would be completed.
Afterward, everyone could exchange their points for rewards.
The announcement immediately excited countless cultivators.
Especially those who had risked their lives throughout the battle.
For many of them—
This was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Even the Foundation Establishment Pills and Gang Condensation Pills would be available.
Of course, due to the enormous demand, the market had enlisted additional help.
The Dan Dao Hall.
Several alchemy alliances.
And most notably—
Shen Xiuyong.
The newly advanced Foundation Establishment Alchemist.
With his participation, the production of high-quality pills would become much faster.
His reputation within the market rose even higher.
Many people already believed that he would become a Rank-2 Alchemist within the next few years.
---
Inside one of the temporary resting areas.
Lin Sheng's group finally relaxed.
Their clothes were stained with blood.
Their bodies were exhausted.
Yet their expressions carried obvious excitement.
Because they had succeeded.
Every member of the group had accumulated enough contribution points for a Gang Condensation Pill.
Even Lou Han, whose condition had nearly acted up several times during the battle, managed to reach the required amount.
Lin Xiaolu immediately hugged her contribution token.
"We actually did it."
Lin Shou smiled.
"The path to Xuan Gang is finally within reach."
Even Zhao Feng's usually calm expression softened slightly.
For rogue cultivators and trainees like them, opportunities like this rarely appeared.
One beast tide had accomplished what years of ordinary hunting might not.
Not far away, Bai Ling and her alliance had similarly achieved their objective.
The competition between the two groups had effectively ended in a draw.
Both sides obtained enough points.
Though the hostility between them remained.
Lin Sheng himself wasn't particularly concerned about the contribution points anymore.
His greatest harvest lay elsewhere.
During the battle, while everyone focused on killing beasts and surviving, he had quietly gathered enormous quantities of yao beast blood, bones, organs, and essence.
Ordinary cultivators viewed such materials as valuable.
Lin Sheng viewed them differently.
To him—
They represented fuel.
Fuel for strengthening his body.
Fuel for experimentation.
Fuel for future growth.
Back inside his room, he retrieved a jade slip from his storage pouch.
His eyes landed upon its contents once again.
Myriad Body Forging Method.
A body refinement technique discovered within one of the storage pouches seized during the beast tide.
After several days of analysis, the Chip had already completed a preliminary assessment.
Unlike ordinary body refinement methods that focused on tempering flesh through medicinal baths or spiritual energy—
This technique viewed the body as a weapon.
Or more specifically—
As raw ore.
The cultivator would repeatedly forge themselves like a blacksmith refining metal.
Impurities would be removed.
Strength would increase.
Potential would improve.
Again and again.
Until perfection was achieved.
The first stage was known as the Ten Forging Realm.
Successfully completing ten complete refinements would allow one's physical body to rival Peak Qi Refining cultivators.
The second stage was known as the Hundred Forging Realm.
Completing one hundred refinements would grant physical strength comparable to Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.
A terrifying technique.
Yet it possessed equally terrifying requirements.
Resources.
Endless resources.
Spiritual herbs.
Yao beast blood.
Rare metals.
Elemental treasures.
Practically any spiritual material could be used as forging fuel.
Furthermore—
The technique required spiritual roots.
Without spiritual roots, a cultivator could not guide the forging process properly.
Most martial artists would fail immediately.
However, Lin Sheng wasn't most martial artists.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The spiritual root requirement..."
"Can probably be bypassed."
The Chip immediately displayed numerous projections.
Thousands of calculations flowed rapidly.
His original body refinement qigong already functioned differently from ordinary cultivation systems.
If he combined the advantages of both methods—
Perhaps a new path could be created.
One uniquely suited for him.
One that removed the spiritual root requirement entirely.
The thought alone caused anticipation to appear within his eyes.
---
Outside, the market slowly recovered from the devastation.
For twenty-four hours after the battle ended, countless cultivators worked tirelessly.
Buildings were repaired.
Roads were cleared.
Formation nodes were restored.
Even various factions contributed manpower and resources.
Because everyone understood one thing.
Cloud Mist Market had survived.
The beast tide was over.
Yet the consequences had only just begun.
Within the shadows.
The remnants of the demonic cultivators were fleeing.
The Lin Family had begun moving. Countless hidden currents were starting to stir throughout the province.
And somewhere beyond the market—
Unbeknownst to most cultivators, the end of the beast tide was not the end of the storm.
It was merely the beginning of a much larger one.