My Apocalypse System Arrives 10 Years Early

Chapter 566: Chapter 352: Saint Tier Guardian, Beast Tide Border Guard (Part 2)

The surface was shrouded in darkness. After another harsh winter, the entire globe was frozen solid. Icicles as thick as bowls hung from the eaves, and many houses in the village had collapsed under the weight of the snow and ice.

But none of that mattered. This place had been abandoned long ago.

With no sunlight, there would likely be no more warm springs with blooming flowers. The world would remain frozen. Fortunately, the Underground Cities’ ecosystems were already established, so the impact wasn’t too significant.

Due to the ”global hibernation,” the Mountain Guardian Beasts that had been stationed on the surface had all been moved underground, leaving their original lairs empty.

Li Xiang had swept through the surrounding area back and forth many times, and there were no large Exotic Beasts left. However, in the darkness, many of Earth’s native plants and animals had possibly absorbed enough Extraordinary Particles and had actually begun to mutate.

Now that there was an abundant source of Space Exotic Beasts, Li Xiang naturally wouldn’t target these native ”Demon Beasts.” Compared to the Space Exotic Beasts, these local Mutated Creatures felt more familiar to him. Besides, not enough time had passed; they were still too weak.

Li Xiang activated his Nine Nether Falsehood-Breaking Gaze and scanned his surroundings. He spotted another nest of Space Exotic Beasts seventy to eighty kilometers to the northwest. The strongest among them were merely two Saint Tier leaders. With a flash, he appeared in their lair.

This place was originally a Primeval Forest, but many of the trees had frozen to death, with less than a tenth surviving. The same was likely true for the animals. Any that had survived were probably just food for the Space Exotic Beasts.

It was a flock of Black Fire Profound Crows, their entire bodies wreathed in flames. Those at Tier Six and above had wingspans of over ten meters. When they flew, they looked like a series of small suns. Perhaps these were the very things the ancient Hou Yi had shot down.

The two Saint Tier crows were even more terrifying in size, with wingspans of three to four hundred meters. A single flap of their wings sent a scorching black wind howling for dozens of kilometers.

Li Xiang hovered in mid-air, his feet barely touching down. Below him, the forest had been trampled into a complete mess by the Exotic Beasts. Many dead trees had long ago been burned to charcoal by the black flames emanating from these creatures.

But Li Xiang’s Earth Vein Perception Ability detected new life within the thick layer of ash. Native Earth plants were sprouting from their rhizomes, struggling to push through the ashes and reach the outside.

The layer of ash not only provided insulation and warmth but was also rich in nutrients.

The moment Li Xiang appeared, the Black Fire Profound Crows below Saint Tier scattered in fear, frantically flapping their wings to escape. The two giant avians with hundred-meter wingspans, however, dove at Li Xiang from the left and right.

It was a male and female pair.

”SKREEE—!”

The combined wingspans of the two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows stretched seven to eight hundred meters, large enough to blot out the sky. Before they even reached him, a torrent of countless black-flame meteorites rained down on Li Xiang.

Li Xiang’s Mach 80 afterimage weaved a silver web of light amidst the fiery rain. He struck out with his White Jade Golden Hook Rod, clashing violently with the two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows.

Though his form was small, each of his blows held the power to cleave mountains. He moved so fast that the two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows couldn’t dodge at all, and they were beaten until they squawked chaotically.

The Tiers of these two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows were quite high—one was Tier Twenty-sixth, and the other was Twenty-fourth Tier. But under Li Xiang’s Hook Rod, they were completely unable to fight back.

In less than half an hour, the two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows had been struck down into the valley, grievously wounded and coughing up blood.

Li Xiang planted a foot on the male crow’s head as the Golden Chains of a Soul Contract pierced into the depths of its Divine Soul.

”Submit, or be annihilated.”

When forming contracts with the Spirit Pets he’d raised himself, Li Xiang was always gentle, even asking for their consent. But with captives like these Space Exotic Beasts, he naturally resorted to brute force and was utterly uncompromising.

The imperious whisper echoing in its Sea of Consciousness, combined with the killing intent radiating from Li Xiang, finally made the struggling, ferocious bird lower its flaming head.

Soon after, Li Xiang used the same method to subjugate the female crow.

”Great Master, we, this husband and wife, will forever obey your command!” The pair of crows lay prostrate on the ground, trembling in fear. After forging the Soul Contract, they could clearly sense that a single thought from Li Xiang would be enough to utterly annihilate them, body and soul.

After a brief exchange via their Divine Souls, Li Xiang was quite satisfied with the two newly subjugated Saint Tier raptors.

Since he hadn’t killed them, the system offered no reward. But these two Saint Tier raptors were the best reward in themselves. No, the best reward was the entire flock of seven to eight thousand Black Fire Profound Crows.

”You can move your nest over there and guard that region.” Li Xiang assigned a new location for the two Saint Tier Black Fire Profound Crows’ nest. It was to be above a satellite city of Underground Dungeon 03, guarding the main city in tandem with the underground settlement.

At the same time, Li Xiang slipped into the satellite city to explain the situation and tell them not to worry.

The soldiers and officers guarding the satellite city were stunned by the news. ’Li Sheng is incredible,’ they thought. ’He can even pull off a crazy stunt like this?’

As seasoned warriors, they naturally guessed Li Xiang’s intentions. They figured he planned to subjugate a series of Exotic Beast clans to protect the entirety of City No. 03.

If humans were to guard the area themselves, Exotic Beasts from other places would certainly attack. But with Exotic Beasts occupying this territory, others that came across it likely wouldn’t try to take it.

Even if they did fight over it... well, that would be a war between Exotic Beasts, and it would have nothing to do with the Earth Humans.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, many of the soldiers and militia in this satellite city remained at their posts, not relaxing in the slightest. Although the Underground City was on lockdown, some Exotic Beasts could burrow through the earth and dig tunnels. There was no guarantee against sneak attacks, and sporadic battles were a constant occurrence, making a tight defense absolutely necessary.