I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon?-Chapter 125: The Beast Tide Crisis, the Coming Storm

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: The Beast Tide Crisis, the Coming Storm

「Nightfall.」

The Star Martial Police Bureau.

Conference Room.

The lights were bright. Around a rectangular conference table, the top brass of Jianghai City had gathered. Each one was a leading elite in their respective industry, all clad in formal suits.

And at the head of the table...

Elder Li and the Chief Commander were seated, looking at each other in some confusion.

After all,

it was already nearing ten o’clock, a time when they should have been resting.

But just half an hour ago,

the Hall Master had suddenly sent a message calling for an emergency meeting, which is what led to this gathering.

CLICK.

Just then, Li Daoming pushed the door open and walked in from the outer hallway. His steps were rushed, and his face showed a hint of fatigue.

At the sound, everyone looked over.

"Hall Master, you said there was something to discuss. Everyone is here now."

The Chief Commander tapped his fingers on the table, speaking with considerable dissatisfaction. "Why so late? Did this meeting really have to be held at night?"

"My apologies, everyone. I had matters to attend to at my hall during the day and have only just finished."

Li Daoming wore an apologetic expression. He walked slowly to the conference table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Seeing the impatient looks on everyone’s faces, he cut straight to the chase.

"I received some critical news on my trip to the Imperial Capital. It concerns the future of Jianghai City, and the situation is extremely grave."

"In a few days, our Jianghai will face the impact of another Beast Tide."

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of shock went through the room.

"What?!"

Everyone present was stunned. They all turned to Li Daoming, terror reflected in their eyes.

Upon hearing this, the faces of Elder Li and the Commander at the head of the table changed drastically, clearly taken by surprise.

After all,

a Beast Tide only occurred about once every twenty years.

The return of a calamitous star from high in the heavens would stimulate the violent instincts within the Star Beasts, igniting their most primitive, frenzied savagery.

Once a Beast Tide began,

overwhelming hordes of Star Beasts would pour out from their nests to besiege prosperous city centers, leaving devastation in their wake.

They would drink blood and devour flesh, using human blood to quench their fury.

Throughout human history, every appearance of a Beast Tide brought with it the deaths of countless citizens, the overturning of cities, and buildings put to the torch.

Some weaker nations were even annihilated by them, their entire civilization and heritage lost!

"Everyone, do not panic. Remain vigilant."

Li Daoming propped his chin on his hands, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he continued to relay the information:

"The scale of this Beast Tide is unlike any before. According to the news from the Imperial Capital, it may surpass all previous ones.

From now on, we must stand united as one to resist the assault of these Star Beasts."

"Mm, what the Hall Master says is reasonable."

Hearing this, the Chief Commander’s expression turned grim. "Hall Master, with a Beast Tide approaching, the City Defense Array on the walls will need to be reactivated. We’ll have to trouble the Li Family for that."

"That is a matter of course."

The Hall Master nodded lightly. "Protecting the people of this city is the Li Family’s undeniable duty."

With that, he looked to the others and said, "I’ve called you all here today mainly to discuss our strategy and prepare for the coming Beast Tide.

Otherwise, relying solely on the City Defense Array on our walls will not be enough to ensure our safety."

As he finished, everyone in the conference room nodded in agreement.

Beast Tides were classified as natural disasters.

They were divided into three major levels according to their crisis grade.

Ordinary Level, Difficult Level, and Hell Level.

The Ordinary Level was manageable. The tide would be led by a King Level Star Beast at most. The Beast Tide that hit Jianghai City twenty years ago was an Ordinary Level.

At that time, three Innate Experts joined forces with a host of Postnatal Realm Martial Artists and quickly suppressed it.

But at the Difficult Level, the degree of disaster was completely different.

The impact of a tide at this level was immense, with the danger increasing exponentially. There would even be appearances by Emperor Level Star Beasts!

They could shatter mountains and raze fortifications. Even if the defending Human Race gave their all and succeeded in repelling the tide, the casualties would be catastrophic, leading to a brutal outcome.

At that point, most of the city would be reduced to ruins, its people left as corpses in the wild... The subsequent cost of rebuilding would be another astronomical expense.

And as for the final level—

Hell Level.

A disaster of this magnitude was exactly as its name implied.

The mortal world would become a living hell!

The legendary Emperor Level Star Beasts would also appear.

Historical records on the Hell Level are scarce. After experiencing a Hell Level Beast Tide, survivors numbered less than one percent. It always meant the complete annihilation of a city.

Often, a city stretching for miles would vanish without a trace overnight.

Before such a natural disaster, humanity was just that insignificant.

"Hall Master, did the Imperial Capital inform you... which level of Beast Tide we will be facing?"

Elder Li stroked his white beard and looked at Li Daoming. "Tell us everything, so we can all prepare in advance."

As he spoke, others in the conference room nodded and chimed in with their agreement.

"Yes, Lord Hall Master, a Beast Tide is a matter of great importance! The information must be transparent!"

"A targeted defense is always better than running around blindly."

"With Jianghai City’s current strength, even dealing with a Difficult Level Beast Tide would be a tough fight."

"If it really turns out to be a Hell Level Beast Tide, then we should just evacuate!"

"..."

The conference room was filled with a cacophony of discussion.

"Ahem, everyone, please quiet down."

Li Daoming coughed lightly to signal for silence, then said slowly, "It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but my own information is limited this time. I will compile all the data I have and distribute it to everyone later."

"The Hall Master is right. Everyone, please be patient."

At this point, the Chief Commander also stood up and addressed the room reassuringly. "Our most urgent task now is to draft several response plans."

Saying this, he guided the meeting toward the topic of defensive preparations.

"We could perhaps add a few more rows to the cluster cannons on the city walls. The Chengbei Group can donate some funds."

"Our Zhang Family can also contribute by helping with the Array Formation!"

"We need more manpower. Forest City next door has personnel to spare. We can have some transferred over..."

A short while later,

the intense discussion concluded.

The nighttime meeting was adjourned.

At the entrance of the Star Martial Police Bureau, the high-level leaders filed out. After a few moments of exchanging pleasantries, they departed in their cars.

Li Daoming stood on the steps by the entrance, watching them leave with a worried heart. He then raised his head to look at the countless stars filling the sky.

’I hope Jianghai City can make it through this Beast Tide safely.’

Every Beast Tide invasion was extremely dangerous, with unpredictable consequences. They had always been a major challenge for Jianghai City.

"Indeed. With the city’s current defenses, we can barely handle a Difficult Level at best." The Commander came to his side and said in a low voice, "Anything higher would be a massive struggle."

"It’s hard to say, Commander. We also have the Jianghai Sword God."

Li Daoming sighed at his words, gazing at the distant city nightscape. "The Celestial Derivation is forty-nine; all things have a chance at survival."

In a daze,

he recalled his conversation with Li Qinghe from earlier in the day, and a new flicker of hope sparked in his heart.

’I hope that girl, Qinghe, is truly confident... that she can persuade the great Sword God to come out of seclusion.’