Some beasts entered the high walls through the towers, while others descended from the skies above. Soon, an intense and desperate battle erupted atop the city walls. The ten-meter-wide wall was crowded with beasts of various kinds and humans. Some were still alive, others were injured, and many had already drawn their last breath. It was clear that today’s battle was more challenging than ever before, but strangely, the beasts didn’t show the slightest sign of despair; instead, their faces were filled with murderous intent. As golden brilliance flashed from the humans, and different hues of mist-like energy surged around the beasts, sinister and excited smiles appeared on the beasts’ faces.
Yan Xiaobao stood on the ground gazing up at the city walls. He was waiting for the gates to open, but it seemed no beast was able to leap into the city below and unlock the gates. As for why they hadn’t completed their task, Yan Xiaobao could only speculate that every beast was doing its utmost on the narrow walls.
Even the flying beasts, which should have been able to bypass the walls entirely, were kept at bay by a handful of surviving defenders. These crossbow cannons, preserved even after Wan’s destruction, were positioned within the city and aimed at any beast attempting to breach their Sanctuary. Seeing this, Yan Xiaobao nodded slowly. It made sense—humans weren’t as simple as he’d imagined. They knew what the beasts lacked in warfare. Defending a city was no easy feat, but the humans had a clear advantage in that the beasts attacked in small groups. They couldn’t deploy their entire army where the humans were. Yan Xiaobao’s gaze remained fixed on the top of the walls. The beasts’ raw power and agile movements outmatched the humans’ nearly stacked formation. Some beasts fell to the humans’ overwhelming numbers, but others used their agility to dodge death, some relied on their brute strength, and the winged beasts leveraged their ability to fly and defeat the enemies before them.
The young man summoned his martial power wings and ascended into the sky, closely observing the fierce battle raging on the walls. Yan Xiaobao could tell that while the beasts held the upper hand, their numbers today were greater than ever. These opponents were undoubtedly stronger than the humans they had fought outside the city. Considering this fact, Yan Xiaobao felt a surge of pride for the beasts and their performance. They had fought all day, and as the sun began setting on the horizon, a thunderous horn echoed across the battlefield. It was the signal for retreat. Every beast scrambled to climb down the towers, fly away, or leap off the walls to escape, while the humans, who appeared to gain energy from the beasts’ retreat, watched the spectacle unfold.
Yan Xiaobao waited for all the soldiers to return. Some had minor injuries, others were gravely wounded and carried by beasts, and some never made it back at all. Watching the Wood Element Beasts begin to heal the most severe injuries, Yan Xiaobao felt quite satisfied. He noted that although the losses were substantial, they were less severe than he had expected. Walking through the encampment, Yan Xiaobao approached one beast after another.
"You did well today," he said to one expert. "Keep up the good work," he said to another. "We appreciate all your efforts," he told a third expert, greeting every beast he met as he passed through the camp. He also shared a few provisions with the beasts. As night fell upon them, Yan Xiaobao was among the first to join the watch rotation.
Yan Xiaobao felt a bit useless. Despite being the Great Marshall, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t contributed much. When he volunteered to take up the guard duty, the Saints initially objected, but upon seeing the displeasure etched on the young man’s face, they suddenly agreed it might be a good idea to include him as a sentinel.
Yan Xiaobao stayed up all night, his gaze shifting between the small bonfires on the city walls and the beast camp. Some beasts worked through the night, while others allowed themselves to recuperate. Some ate, others slept. The atmosphere in the camp was tense and uneasy. A few beasts were still running around, using their energy to heal their comrades. These experts wouldn’t be able to take part in the next day’s battle, but their healing ensured that within several days, two experts would return to the field instead of just one.
"It really looks like a battlefield," Yan Xiaobao muttered to himself. Though he held the title of Great Marshall, everything he knew about warfare came from his studies in the Old World. All his knowledge was gleaned from books, books describing ancient wars and tactics. While this knowledge was valuable, it paled in comparison to the experience gained in actual combat—something Yan Xiaobao lacked. Tension gripped his heart. Everything depended on him and his ability to devise the right strategy. The pressure weighed heavily upon him. The air was thick with the intent to kill, mingled with the smell of blood and rotting flesh.
Everything was so different from the books. "Pull yourself together!" Yan Xiaobao scolded himself, slapping his cheeks hard with both palms. Although he didn’t strike himself as fiercely as Wan Qiao often did, he still tasted blood in his mouth. He could no longer afford to second-guess himself. He needed to be decisive.
He stood there for a while and came to a conclusion. Although he wasn’t ready to start a holy war yet, there was one task he needed to accomplish.
"Wan Qiao, come here!" he called out, and the woman immediately appeared at his side. "I have a job for you," he said, as the woman listened attentively. When he finished explaining his plan, a faint smile appeared on the youthful-looking woman’s face. She was evidently pleased to be part of the plan the following day.