These gnollkin weren't as scrawny as they might've seemed at first glance. On the contrary, they were incredibly muscular, their hunched backs covered in thick, bristling manes that only emphasized the bulging muscles beneath. Their frames exuded explosive power, capable of unleashing tremendous brute force in an instant. Especially their heads—with their gaping jaws filled with sharp fangs, each tooth gleaming with a chilling, deadly shine.
Some of them even had savage steel claws strapped to their arms—fist-claws—razor-sharp, capable of tearing through anything in their path. Even steel would be sliced into fragments under their strikes.
When they ran, they didn't just charge upright. They could also drop into a quadrupedal sprint, making them incredibly fast, darting through the mountain pass and pouring into the valley.
Clearly, these gnollkin weren't mindless beasts. Upon entering, they immediately noticed Xuanhuang Village. But instead of blindly attacking, they began to regroup and assemble with tactical coordination.
Their numbers quickly surged—within moments, there were thousands of them.
And it was obvious these weren't just any gnollkin; they were veterans, well-versed in combat and group hunting tactics, highly coordinated, and under leadership.
Amid these muscular gnollkin, several stood out—snow-white fur, manes like icy silk, and piercing blue eyes glowing with frosty energy swirling around them.
These were Frost Gnollkin—a noble bloodline among gnollkin, inherently endowed with frost powers. Within their race, they were considered royalty—natural-born chieftains and commanders.
Currently, these Frost Gnollkin were clearly in charge. The moment they appeared, even the other gnollkin lowered their heads in deference, not daring to look directly at them, as if fearing they'd offend their betters.
"What are these things? They walk like men, wield weapons, but look like wild beasts—wolves or hyenas with jaws made for killing. And there's so many of them… And they're organized too. This must be a tribe—probably from a nearby settlement."
"Can't believe such a terrifying monster force existed near us this whole time. If they came from beyond the valley… who knows how many creatures like this are out there?"
"Doesn't matter how strong they are. If they dare attack our village, we'll slaughter them all. We're not helpless. They'll become fish chow by the end of this."
From atop the village walls, the villagers who saw the tide of gnollkin gathering didn't shrink back in fear. Instead, grim smiles crept across their faces, their eyes burning with killing intent.
They had slain beasts before—these humanoid gnollkin were no different.
As long as it could bleed, it could be killed. And anything that could die—wasn't scary.
"These gnollkin must've come from a nearby tribe. The people we rescued must've provoked them somehow, which triggered the pursuit. Judging by how fast the gnollkin responded, they were likely delayed by something, or else those people would've never escaped."
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed, then he spoke calmly.
"They're not leaving," Huang Chengyan said, eyes flashing coldly. "They're preparing to attack."
There was no mistaking the restless bloodlust in the gnollkin's behavior.
"General Yang, have the troops prepare for battle. Be ready to respond at any moment," Yi Tianxing ordered.
"Rest assured, my lord," Yang Ye said with confidence. "Our soldiers aren't what they used to be. Each of them could crush ten of their past selves. Any enemy, no matter how monstrous, will fall before us."
These were soldiers who had undergone true transformation, armed with cultivation techniques and bonded deeply with Xuanhuang Village. They were ready to defend it with their lives.
This was more than survival—it was about building a true sanctuary in a world gone mad.
Awooo!!!
The gnollkin didn't wait long. Xuanhuang Village had fortified walls, and there weren't many weaknesses to exploit. To break in, they would have to shatter the defenses head-on.
Several Frost Gnollkin howled into the sky, their cries thick with bloodlust and killing intent.
Awooo!!!
Dozens of gnollkin immediately surged forward like a tidal wave, charging the village head-on.
They moved blindingly fast, dropping onto all fours, sprinting like wild predators. Their green, glowing eyes burned with cruel malice as they rushed forward.
Whoosh!!
But before they got close, the arrow towers atop the walls unleashed their fury.
In an instant, nine bolts burst out from each tower like lightning, every one perfectly aimed and moving at terrifying speed. Once a gnollkin was locked on, escape was nearly impossible.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each energy bolt pierced through a gnollkin, tearing through them mid-charge, launching their corpses back into the air. Their bodies dissolved mysteriously after death, leaving nothing but silence.
With two arrow towers, eighteen gnollkin died in the first volley.
Thud! Thud!
And before the next breath passed, the towers fired again—another eighteen bolts, another eighteen dead.
These towers had now been upgraded to Yellow Grade Tier 2. Their internal bolt compartments had expanded, allowing them to unleash up to eighteen bolts in a single barrage, or in rapid succession.
The destructive force of each bolt now matched the full-force strike of a second-stage Divine Sea realm cultivator. Even after the burst volleys, the towers continued firing bolt after bolt with every heartbeat.
Every shot meant a gnollkin died.
Fast, precise, lethal—the arrow towers lived up to their reputation as treasured relics.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Despite the deaths, the sheer number of gnollkin made the fallen seem insignificant. Instead of fear, their ferocity only grew, pushing them to charge even harder.
From the walls, archers joined in, loosing a rain of arrows down upon the advancing horde.
Each arrow howled through the air, their power enough to break bone and draw blood.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Arrows landed true—many gnollkin took hits, some getting pinned and torn apart, others wounded and left howling on the ground.
The savagery of battle was on full display.
"Kill them all!!"
"You bastards think you can take our land?! I'll smash you into meat paste!"
"You want to eat us? Try breaking your teeth on this first!"
The villagers atop the wall didn't just rely on arrows. They hurled down huge boulders, each weighing over a hundred pounds. The rocks were packed with force, smashing into the gnollkin with bone-crushing devastation.
One gnollkin took a direct hit—its bones shattered, its body crumpled in a bloody mess.
Never underestimate ordinary folk—when pushed, they could become powerful warriors.
This was a village where everyone fought.
Crack!!
Some gnollkin reached the base of the wall, slashing at it with steel claws. The thorned vines wrapped around the wooden walls were ripped apart, and the wood itself began to splinter under their assault.
Boom!!
One gnollkin leapt into the air, its powerful legs launching it upward. It nearly cleared the wall in one bound, its claws embedding into the wood as it scaled upward like a beast.
"Kill it!!"
A soldier lunged forward with a long spear, stabbing straight at the climber. But the gnollkin countered, slashing with its claw and cleaving the spear in two.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the valley, Xiongnu scouts had caught up. They stepped into the valley and saw the intense battle raging between humans and monsters in the distance.
"There's a Han village inside… and they're locked in battle with a monstrous force."