<h4>Volume 9 Chapter 69 Long Ago, There was a Mountain (Part 1)</h4>


    Ages ago, there was an ancient mountain range in the north that was always shrouded in charcoal clouds and a dark miasma. They called the nameless mountain riddled with natural dangers, extending across fifty thousand deste square kilometres “Lifeless grounds, the genesis of miasma”. Only fierce beasts and poisonous snakes or wild deer, boars and the sort would venture to the mountain in herds.


    Over time, the mountain became the den of wild beasts. Purportedly, feeding on the miasma triggered growth that had the normal animals grow several times their usual size and resemble flesh-eating monsters. Whenever they descended the mountain, they’d hunt on humans. It took dozens of people to catch a deer, and hundreds couldn’t hold a candle to a tiger.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Owing to theck of sustenance from insufficient sunlight, the beasts had no choice but to hunt off the mountain. Once they had a taste of meat, they went wild, ransacking viges for food and always leaving every vige a ghost vige by the time they were done. The blood of humans fostered bigger and stronger bodies, rendering even acimed fighters nothing more than hopeless victims.


    The beasts’ advent was no different to a nation-wide shockwave,pelling the monarch to dispatch the military. The military thought they were just dealing with exaggerated folk tales about ordinary beasts running amok. Little did they know they were facing fiends that their weapons didn’t scare. The soldiers made bets amongst each other, seeing who would be able to hunt down the most beasts, and the loser would have to sponsor their trip to the mostvish brothel in the capital.


    The army only realised the severity of the situation when one of them had his head gnawed off upon contact. s, it was toote. Three thousand soldiers became snacks for the beasts in no time at all. Due to theck of amander, the only strategy the military coulde up with was trying to make up for their weakness in numbers, costing hundreds of lives in exchange for one beast. Besides being an unsustainable n, they didn’t ount for the reproduction rate of the beasts.


    A cmitous beast gives birth to four to five fledglings a year, and it only takes a year for them to grow into adults, not to mention their proficiency at conquering humans.


    What was originally “Quell the superstitions” and “Monster hunt” decrees quickly became “Defend our homnd”.


    As their avable information grew, it dawned on the military that the fiends had amander and even a sovereign.


    Among the beasts, particr types were the most challenging to defeat owing to their inconceivable body shapes and strength. Unlike their same kin, their defensive and offensive abilities put the elements and weapons to shame. Some went as far asparing them to a gue for they couldn’t fathom stopping the beasts if thetter were to raid cities or towns. Given they could also call for their kin or subordinates to fortify their ranks, those specific beasts were the core members.


    People theorised that most terrifying beasts were never seen mating due to theck of a partner that could handle their size. Nheless, it didn’t matter that they couldn’t mate as they outlived generations.


    The six beasts leading the others could soar through the sky or tread across the earth would eventually be called “Six Evil Beasts”, often shortened to “Six Evils”.


    The doors to the capital were once broken down - technically wolfed down - impelling the reigning Emperor to reach out to neighbouring states and his own people for support despite that denouncing the system his predecessorsid out. As a result, his vassals knelt outside his pce for three days to protest the decision. Livid, the Emperor had those objecting suspended from the city walls to parley with the six. Half of those who returned, who were also the sole survivors, changed their tone upon returning.


    The young monarch, notwithstanding his near non-existent smithing knowledge, personally forged an iron arrow and offered it his blood for the sake of motivating people to join his cause. World Dragon Guardian arrow would go on to be a symbol and source of motivation for warriors across the Nine Provinces to enlist in his cause.


    To the Emperor’s delight, one after another, regardless of orthodox or unorthodox affiliation, enlisted in no time at all. Even recluse schrs, cksmiths, thieves, self-proimed golden children of Buddhism, deities, sword saints and so on signed up.


    Years of tyrannyter, after innumerable warriors had fallen, after the Emperor’s hair had gone from ck to white, they finally slew thest of Six Evil Beasts.


    The only viable strategy when they came up against Huohu, the mammoth that was impervious to des, was to trap it inside a wall of eternal stone shields and set up an electrical conductor formation to zap it with natural lightning.


    Huohu remained standing after ten shocks and decimated a third of the human forces when it turned into a melee battle. Had the best in thend not finished Huohu with a palm strike in time, more lives would’ve been lost.


    The entire capital was used for a nation-wide banquet to celebrate their liberation, as well as to acknowledge and reward the brave souls who staked their lives on the frontlines. Some heroes decided toy down their arms for good, while some decided to continue serving the imperial court in glory.


    The nation gradually recovered from the anarchy and appeared to be on track to prosperity again when news of Six Evils terrorising thends came after only a ten year respite.