Mu Hanyan, the Fifth Prince, and a group of noble family’s sons defending the pass, firmly remain at the city gate, not allowing the Exotic Beasts to advance even a step.

The Sound of battle drums also echoes from the Qingyang Pass opposite, yet those standing on the city wall, including Dan Tai Xuan and others, are full of delight.

As the massive beast horde begins to appear, they truly clenched their fists in anxiety, but shortly after, they notice something is amiss.

The majority of the Exotic Beasts are attacking Beining Pass, while only about ten percent are attacking Qingyang Pass. Like Beining Pass, Qingyang Pass also has catapults and Cloud Piercing Stone Shattering Bows. Under the continuous heavy assault of giant stones and arrow rain, those fewer than two thousand Exotic Beasts are halved in numbers before reaching halfway, suffering tremendous casualties afterward, with only a few hundred beasts reaching the pass below, and even then not all at once, but in small groups of three or five, totaling less than a hundred each time. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Even though Dan Tai Xuan’s troops suffered heavy casualties in prior battles, the combined young members of the Five Great Families capable of fighting together only total about nine hundred, with the hundred elites he brought from the Holy Court only numbering seventy-something, but altogether they still have over a thousand people, and the soldiers of Qingyang Pass number over a thousand people, plus the cultivators temporarily recruited from the civilian population, they still sum to around three thousand people.

With three thousand people against a hundred Exotic Beasts, and defending the city on top of that, of course, they take the advantage. Dan Tai Xuan finally seizes the opportunity to rise in triumph, leading the crowd in a wild slaughter, killing all the Exotic Beasts that rush to the pass.

It must be said, Dan Tai Xuan in his capacity as a Holy Court Steward has indeed exceptional abilities. Despite his strength only being that of a Ninth Rank Sword Master, far less than Mu Hanyan, the sword technique he learned from the Church Court is nonetheless exceedingly exquisite. If he casts aside fear and attacks with full force, his combat power is quite astonishing, surpassing other master of the same rank, and even far superior to the young elites under him, who are also Ninth Rank Sword Masters.

In this battle, the Exotic Beasts that fell by his hand alone were mostly ten, one person’s battle achievements equaling dozens of others.

"Hahahaha, it turns out these Exotic Beasts are just like that, not worth mentioning." The accumulated gloom in his chest is swept away, Dan Tai Xuan laughs heartily.

At this moment, his whole body stained with blood, laughing wildly as his hair dances with the wind, he indeed has quite the heroic, bold air.

"Yes, Sir has the virtue of heaven for life and has spared them several times, yet they lack awareness and dare to offend Qingyang Pass, truly courting death." Mo Yanhong said, flattering.

"Brother Yanhong speaks truthfully. Lord Tantai finally sets aside compassion, which is delightful, and manifests Divine Power, I doubt those Exotic Beasts dare to advance half a step past Qingyang Pass!" Changsun Yi’an shook his broken fan, feigning a wise, sophisticated manner.

Behind them, Fang Zi nearly vomited in disgust. If one isn’t blind, it’s obvious that Qingyang Pass is defended so easily because the main force of Exotic Beasts attacked Beining Pass. They dared to shamelessly utter such words, do they not know shame?

Not just him, even the defending soldiers blushed.

"Lord Tantai, the situation in Beining Pass is critical, how about sending part of our forces to help them?" Fang Zi said.

"From which of your eyes did you see Beining Pass in crisis? I see them coping very easily." Dan Tai Xuan frowned, speaking displeased.

"Indeed, doesn’t Young Master Mu have the prowess of a Great Sword Master, with extraordinary Beast Taming Technique? Didn’t you see Yan Yi and He Qingzong’s Sword Pets? With such power, do they need us to help?" Mo Yanhong said sarcastically.

"Zihe, you should stop saying more. Our task is to hold Qingyang Pass firmly; we must not act recklessly. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility?" Changsun Yi’an tapped his broken fan, speaking heavily.

"Fang Zhe, I think you should focus on yourself, meddling in others’ Mu Hanyan’s affairs without knowing your place." Song Yu and others mocked Fang Zhe.

Fang Zhe’s face went pale; although willing to support Mu Hanyan, he finds himself unable to act alone. If he takes action on his own, he would later certainly face exclusion by the other Four Great Families. After careful consideration, he can only step back, unwilling to see their despicable expressions again.

"Lord Tantai, it’s in my humble opinion that Young Master Fang has a point. Although Beining Pass seems to hold for now, the number of Exotic Beasts is far too many; prolonged battle would be unfavorable for Beining Pass. As the saying goes, ’when the lips are lost, the teeth get cold,’ if Beining Pass falls, Qingyang Pass would find it hard to hold. While the Exotic Beasts relentlessly attack Beining Pass, we should send forces to launch a rear assault, capable of advancing, retreating defensively, possibly defeating these Exotic Beasts in one fell swoop..." The defender of Qingyang Pass couldn’t stand it and spoke out righteously.

"General Chen, if you think we’re in the way, we can withdraw from Qingyang Pass, letting you do whatever you want." Before he finished speaking, Dan Tai Xuan coldly interrupted.

General Chen was speechless, unable to muster a reply. He didn’t have the status of the Fifth Prince, so he couldn’t dare to offend the Holy Court Steward. Moreover, these days, although Dan Tai Xuan along with the elite sons of the Five Great Families performed poorly, without their aid, solely relying on the soldiers to hold Qingyang Pass would indeed be challenging. Hence, he couldn’t afford to offend him.

Seeing Dan Tai Xuan resolute in refusal to act, he could only swallow his words of persuasion.

Thus, a strange situation presents itself in the canyon: on one side, Beining Pass burns with intense battle flames, while on the other, Qingyang Pass remains tranquil. Dan Tai Xuan, Changsun Yi’an, Mo Yanhong, and others cast a cold smile observing the fighting figures over the opposite pass.

As General Chen said, though Beining Pass currently appears to hold, as time passes, the situation grows increasingly unfavorable.

No matter how high in spirits the Fifth Prince and defending soldiers are, or how harmonious their teamwork is, they are after all flesh and blood, bound to exhaustion in time.

Breaking through the naturally formidable Scale Armor of the Exotic Beasts with all strength and consuming the Qi within rapidly, each time when comrades are near exhaustion, rested comrades immediately step forward to replace them, allowing them a brief restoration before once again replacing others.

After a few cycles, everyone at Beining Pass becomes nearly exhausted, even the Sword Pets whose endurance far exceeds humans are fatigued.