?

Being too weak was dangerous. But pretending to have strength he lacked could harm not only himself and the Gu Clan, but all four clans of the Nine Perches Mountains.

Fang Xuhua was reassured by Gu Xuanzhan's composure.

Whether cultivating or making alliances, who wanted to work with a fool?

Fang Xuhua had good news.

"We've all lived through a Beast Tide. We know how brutal it is: first- and second-tier beasts without end, with a few third-tier beasts among them. Thank goodness there are no fourth-tier beasts. Otherwise, how could our four clans have survived here for more than three hundred years?

"The Haoran Sect supports clans like ours on Qingzhou's borders. I met the Sect Leader before leaving. As during the last tide, he intends to send several Purple Mansion cultivators to help us."

Upon hearing that the Haoran Sect would send support, Gu Xuanzhan and Zhang Wendao felt a bit more confident in their hearts.

"We cultivators can usually endure by holding our clan mountains. It's not lost treasures or Pills that trouble us most. It's all the mortal clan members who die."

Zhang Wendao sighed.

"If we could ensure mortal clansmen survive the beast tide, our four families' cultivators could more than double. But mortals have too little resistance against natural disasters and man-made calamities. When the demon beasts attack, if there's no third-tier Formation to protect them, even houses will be trampled flat, let alone mortal flesh and blood."

Gu Xuanzhan said so.

"There's little more we can do now. Let's hope there aren't too many third-tier beasts. Before word spreads, I intend to buy supplies in Heng Prefecture. Will you two join me?" Fang Xuhua asked.

Zhang Wendao quickly agreed. Gu Xuanzhan hesitated a bit.

Fang Xuhua did not press him.

The trip should not take long. The vault held plenty of third-tier artifacts that no one was using; better to exchange them for urgently needed supplies. Once the news spread, prices would soar. They would be competing with too many buyers for too little stock, at prices they could ill afford.

With that settled, Gu Xuanzhan agreed to go.

"Then I'll meet you both at Nine Perches Market in seven days."

Fang Xuhua rose to leave.

After the Fang and Zhang ancestors had left, Gu Xuanzhan summoned the Gu Clan's Foundation Establishment cultivators.

When Gu Wanchang came, he dragged Gu Changhuan along too.

The boy was growing up. Listening to clan business would do him good.

Gu Changhuan was dragged into the meeting hall in a daze, then seeing no one had the intention to chase him out, he found a chair for himself at the far end and sat down.

Seeing everyone gathered, Gu Xuanzhan explained about the beast tide and his upcoming trip to Heng Prefecture.

Gu Wanchang, Gu Wanhua, and Gu Wanhao hadn't personally experienced a large-scale beast tide, but that didn't prevent their hearts from tightening.

As soon as Gu Wanhua heard Gu Xuanzhan was going to Heng Prefecture to purchase supplies, she stood up with a look of shame.

"Supreme Elder, the clan has fewer than forty thousand Spirit Stones available."

Gu Xuanzhan waved his hand, signaling Gu Wanhua to sit down.

"We only recently bought a Foundation Establishment Pill, and the materials for my breakthrough cost plenty too. Having more than thirty thousand left is good. There are treasures in the vault that we can't use at present. I'll take some of those. That should cover the supplies.

"I wanted you to know what's coming and start thinking. How can we protect our mortals and weaker cultivators? How can we kill low-tier beasts in large numbers? We won't solve this overnight, so don't panic."

Gu Changhuan listened attentively. After hearing for a long time, he finally heard what he cared about.

What would happen to the mortals when the Beast Tide came?

But Gu Xuanzhan only mentioned this once, then started talking about other things.

They talked for a long time, but their ideas amounted to stockpiling supplies and drawing back from some of the clan's holdings.

They still had no way to kill large numbers of low-tier beasts. Even a bombardment would require middle-grade first-tier talismans at least. The beasts were tough; one such talisman thrown into a pack could wound a few at most, not kill them.

If they could eliminate most of the first-tier demon beasts, the beast tide would be largely dismantled.

When the group's discussion was almost over, Gu Changhuan, sitting in the corner, looked up, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Gu Wanhao noticed. "Something you want to say, Changhuan?"

Gu Changhuan stood up and first performed a bow.

"Elders, I grew up among mortals. I've seen their gunpowder fireworks. They're beautiful, but dangerous too. A small explosion can burn you; a large one can destroy a house. Why not use gunpowder against the beasts?"

Gunpowder?

The Foundation Establishment cultivators and their Purple Mansion elder searched their memories for the word, then fell into thought.

"If the gunpowder's strength is insufficient, we can also mix in some other flammable materials to increase its strength and make explosives. Their power is enough to split mountains and crack stones," Gu Changhuan continued.

"And the ingredients of gunpowder don't contain Spiritual Qi. For us cultivators, the cost is almost negligible."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes lit up.

They had been searching for solutions to the beast tide within the cultivation world all along, but never thought to look for methods in the mortal world.

"Bring some gunpowder and the craftsmen who make it tomorrow. I want to see its power for myself. No, I'll go to them, and ask whether this could work!"

Gu Xuanzhan was clearly in high spirits, even impatient to go find a pile of gunpowder to test its power right now.

Gu Wanchang and the others were also very happy. If they could rely on gunpowder to deal with low-tier demon beasts, they could preserve more mortal clansmen.

The next day, Gu Xuanzhan brought people to Jade Clear Town.

They didn't alarm anyone else and went directly to a gunpowder workshop.

The gunpowder workshop boss was terrified by the descending immortals and immediately knelt down.

"Please hear me out, Immortals! This workshop operates legally! A worker died in an accidental explosion a few days ago, but I paid his family five hundred taels in compensation. Please believe me!"

Gu Changhuan didn't expect that randomly choosing a gunpowder workshop would pick one with a history of incidents. He coughed and stepped forward.

"We want to check the power of your workshop's gunpowder. Bring out twenty jin of your strongest gunpowder! If you do well, the immortals will reward you, ensuring endless benefits for your descendants!"

The owner sprang up and hurried to bring them twenty jin of explosives himself.

"Are there any old, empty buildings nearby?" Gu Changhuan asked. He was the only junior present, and the elders knew little of mortal affairs. Someone had to speak.

"Yes, yes! I have a few warehouses outside the city that I haven't used for a long time. I'll lead the immortals there," the boss quickly said with a smile.

"No need. You're too slow."

After saying this, Gu Changhuan stored the gunpowder in his Storage Bag.

The group arrived at the gunpowder workshop boss's old warehouse outside the city.

Gu Changhuan placed the gunpowder inside the house, walked out, and nodded to Gu Xuanzhan.

A tiny weak flame fell on the gunpowder pile in the warehouse, instantly causing a violent explosion.

With a boom, the warehouse's roof and walls were blown open.

Looking for more free chapters? Visit www.skynovelvault.com to read over 5,000 free chapters and continue exploring more stories from SkyNovelVault.