Zhou Huai couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.

Damn it.

These beasts actually learned to feint.

Knowing that he held the Zhen Tian Seal and was difficult to deal with, they simply split into two groups: one to distract him head-on, and the other to flank and attack his home base.

Precisely this maneuver struck Zhou Huai's weakness.

A Hell-level BOSS of the Rock Spirit Giant Serpent's caliber couldn't be stopped by the defensive Formations Zhuge Kongming had set up.

Once it broke through, the consequences would be unimaginable.

And the only one Zhou Huai had who could fight it was Gandalf.

But Gandalf couldn't leave.

Above, the Purgatory Flame Dragon was still watching menacingly.

If Gandalf left, it would surely take advantage of the opening.

To reinforce, or not to reinforce?

This was a difficult choice.

No matter what he chose, he would be incredibly passive.

In this beast tide battle, Zhou Huai felt a surge of anxiety for the first time.

His mind raced, trying to find a way to break the deadlock.

But this time, his mind was blank.

A dead end.

A complete and utter dead end.

Gandalf alone simply couldn't handle two Hell-level BOSSes above Rank 50.

Before long, the Rock Spirit Giant Serpent would completely tear through all the defenses of the west city gate.

Then, it would charge straight in.

He, Zhou Huai, might survive.

But the brothers of the Eternal Night Guild would likely not survive a single one.

The hundreds of thousands of residents in Donghai City who had not yet evacuated would also be pulverized under the iron hooves of the beast tide.

His newly triggered challenge mission would also end in failure.

Thinking of this, a bitter smile tugged at the corner of Zhou Huai's mouth.

But he was not one to give up easily.

The more desperate the situation, the more intense his resistance would be.

Since that was the case... a hint of resolute ruthlessness flashed in Zhou Huai's eyes.

Then he could only make a painful sacrifice.

He was prepared to abandon Yaso and Xiang Yu's second advancement challenges and forcibly recall them.

Then, he would take everyone, abandon other areas within the city, and retreat all personnel to the Ye Family Manor.

With the Ye Family Manor's defensive fortifications and the temporary Formations Zhuge Kongming had set up, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) they might be able to hold out for a while longer.

Shrink the forces, concentrate at one point.

As long as those two Hell-level BOSSes dared to come over, he would have the newly recalled Clones, carrying the Zhen Tian Seal, play a one-for-one exchange with them!

This approach was cruel.

It meant he would completely abandon most of Donghai City's ordinary residents.

But at present, there seemed to be no better solution.

Only this way could he maximize the chances for more people to survive this catastrophe.

Just as Zhou Huai was about to issue the forced recall order, Ding!

A clear and pleasant System notification sound, without any warning, rang in his mind!

Congratulations, Host! Your Clone "Yaso" has completed this second advancement challenge instance!

Congratulations, Host! Your Clone "Yaso" has successfully advanced to an SS-Class Profession—Thunder Sword Master!

Zhou Huai's body trembled violently!

His bloodshot eyes, strained from anxiety, instantly widened!

Immediately after, an uncontrollable surge of ecstasy, like a volcanic eruption, welled up from the bottom of his heart!

"Succeeded?"

"Yaso... he finally succeeded in advancing his Profession!"

Truly, Heaven never seals off all exits!

Thunder Sword Master, Thunder Sword Master.

Although there was only a one-word difference, between SS-Class and S-Class, there was an insurmountable chasm!

Zhou Huai no longer hesitated, his consciousness instantly returning to his main body!

...In the bedroom of the Ye Family Manor.

Zhou Huai suddenly opened his eyes from the bed.

He didn't even have time to feel his body's weakness before he eagerly looked towards the bedside.

The space there was violently twisting at a visible speed.

A teleportation portal, emitting a faint purple glow, slowly opened.

The next second, a tall figure slowly walked out of the portal.

It was still that unruly black long hair.

It was still that face with a bit of stubble, full of a sense of vicissitude.

He was still wearing the Eternal Night Guild's exclusive trench coat with the crescent moon emblem.

But Zhou Huai could clearly feel that he was different.

If the previous Yaso was a peerless weapon, sharp and ready to drink blood at any moment, then at this moment, he was an ancient divine sword, hidden in its sheath, yet still capable of making heaven and earth lose their luster.

He just stood there quietly, not releasing any aura.

But the air in the room seemed to become solidified and sharp.

The invisible Sword Intent even made Zhou Huai's skin feel a stinging sensation, like being pricked by needles.

Zhou Huai suppressed the excitement in his heart and quickly opened Yaso's attribute panel.

Name: Yaso

Profession: SS-Class Thunder Sword Master

Rank: LV42 (1578154 / 22000000)

Health Points: 21122 / 21122

Mana Points: 7111 / 7111

Strength: 3275

Agility: 32111

Stamina: 3389

Mental Energy: 2570

Physical Damage: 51741

Physical Defense: 2701

Magic Resistance: 2223

Skill List:

Passive Skill: Sword Intent Sharpness -> Sword Heart Clarity (LV1)

Effect: Increases Agility attribute by 300%. Every attack you make contains the profound truth of the Dao of the Sword, allowing you to discern the enemy's weaknesses, ignoring 30% of the target's physical and magic defense. Additionally, it applies an execution effect to targets with less than 10% Health Points.

Skill 1: Thunderous Strike -> Ten Thousand Thunder Summon (LV1)

Effect: Consumes 2000 Mana Points, summons the Divine Power of Nine Heavens Thunder, conducting indiscriminate destructive bombardment on all enemies in the designated area, dealing 500% attack power in lightning damage, and applying the 【Thunder Punishment】 effect (all attributes reduced by 30%), lasting 10 seconds. Cooldown: 60 seconds.

Skill 2: Lightning Rush -> Lightning Incarnation (LV1)

Effect: Consumes 500 Mana Points, transforms into a flash of lightning, leaving three Lightning Incarnations on the battlefield that inherit 80% of the main body's attributes. The Incarnations last for 30 seconds. Incarnations can mimic all skills released by the main body (excluding ultimate skills), dealing 100% of the main body's damage. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

Skill 3 (Active): Thunder Armor -> Thunder God's Armor (LV1)

Hones oneself with the power of thunder, transforming into an indestructible lightning armor! Upon activation, consumes 20 Mana Points per second. All attributes increase by 200%. The raging thunder surrounding the body absorbs 50% of incoming attack damage and grants immunity to crowd control effects!

Skill 4: Thunder Blink Seal -> Thunder God's Seal (LV1)

Effect: No attack required. Wherever your gaze falls, a 【Thunder God's Mark】 can be applied. Consumes 100 Mana Points to instantly teleport to any target within a 1000-meter range that has a 【Thunder God's Mark】, and deals 200% attack power in lightning damage to the target. No cooldown.

Skill 5: World-Destroying Thunder -> Divine Thunder Heavenly Punishment · Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin (LV1)

Effect: Consumes 5000 Mana Points, using oneself as a conduit, transforming thousands of thunderbolts into swords, launching the ultimate judgment on the designated target. After use, deals damage to the target. Cooldown: 5 hours.

Skill 6: Thunder Prison Extinction Sword. )

Effect: Consumes 5000 Mana Points, sets up a Sword Force Thunder Prison, a Concept forming a World-Destroying Sword Formation, trapping the area (10-meter radius), making escape impossible, lasting 6 seconds. High-frequency Sword Intent thunder bombardment (deals 500% physical damage per second). Cooldown: 2 hours.