166: Chapter 166 The Heaven-Splitting Demon Emperor Makes His Move, Two Cities Fall! A Dead End Where Everything Is Lost!

[City Gate.]

[5:00 AM.]

[Morning light streams through the gap in the broken wall.]

[As Pei Yuan's words fall, everyone at the city gate freezes in place.]

[Huo Quji stands up from the threshold.]

["Vice Sect Master?" His throat is dry. "Daoist Qingxuan... is dead?"]

[No one answers.]

[A broken Formation Plate slips from Chu Feng's hand.]

[The fragments hit the stone slab with a harsh, crisp sound.]

[No one bends down to pick it up.]

[Lei Zheng closes his one good eye, pressing his hands against his knees.]

[Blood continues to seep from the wound on the back of his hand, but he ignores it.]

[Qin Mobai leans against the city gate pillar, his face covered in blood and grime.]

[He opens his mouth several times, but nothing comes out.]

[Chen Du stands beside him, gripping the broken end of a Formation Flag tightly.]

[Han Qingshuang bows her head.]

[Su Wantang stands beside her, her lips pressed tightly together.]

[Her hands hang at her sides, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.]

[Ma Chengen pulls a broken shield fragment from his robes, turns it over in his hands twice, then stuffs it back.]

[Gao Lingfeng, Xu Yanlie, Gu Yunxi—no one moves, no one speaks.]

[Ling Qingmeng clutches the Jade Slip.]

[Her fingers tighten until her knuckles turn white.]

[She hands the Jade Slip back to you.]

[Her hand is steady, her face deathly pale.]

[You take the Jade Slip.]

[The spiritual light has long since faded.]

[You read the three lines of text again.]

[Ningbian City has fallen.]

[Daoist Qingxuan has been killed in action.]

[Demon Emperor Lietian personally led the demon army to attack; the city fell in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.]

[A Mid-stage Nascent Soul Vice Sect Master of the Tianxuan Sect did not even last the time it takes to burn an incense stick before Demon Emperor Lietian.]

[The deployment plan decided upon earlier has become worthless.]

[Ningbian City was on the flank, where the pressure was lowest. That was your assessment before the battle.]

[The high-combat-power forces were all concentrated in Yunzhong City and Beishun City.]

[Daoist Qingxuan went to the safe zone you had designated.]

[Demon Emperor Lietian stepped into that city.]

[Not long ago, in the Tianxuan Sect main hall.]

[Daoist Qingxuan personally hung the Protector token on your waist.]

["Protector Shen, I trust you."]

[His tone was calm; after speaking, he turned and left.]

[The hem of his robe extinguished a candle in front of the hall.]

["I trust you."]

[You pinch your palm.]

[Your fingernails dig into the wound, and blood seeps out between your fingers.]

[It hurts, then you let go.]

[A second Daoist Qingxuan will not walk out of the ruins of Ningbian City.]

[You look up, scanning every face at the city gate.]

["Listen well."]

[Your voice is low, and all dozen or so people look over.]

["The Tianxuan Sect will remember the vengeance for Daoist Qingxuan. But it will not be avenged today."]

["With Demon Emperor Lietian appearing, the situation in the Northern Territory has completely changed."]

["Tend to your wounds. We will discuss matters at the City Lord's Mansion in the time it takes to burn an incense stick."]

[Huo Quji clenches his left fist.]

[The wound on his fist splits open again, and blood streams down his wrist.]

[He grinds his teeth, says nothing, and turns to leave.]

[Ling Qingmeng glances at you, says nothing, and follows.]

[The others disperse one by one.]

[Their footsteps drag long across the gravel street.]

[You don't leave; you turn to Elder Wen Huaian.]

[He stands on the inside of the city gate, his right arm in a sling.]

[There are three burn holes on the back of his gray robe, the edges charred black.]

["Elder Wen."]

["Speak."]

["Demon Emperor Lietian breached the city in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Daoist Qingxuan could not stop him at all."]

["This combat power is at least the Soul Transformation Stage."]

["In my memory, the only ones in the Central Plains who have reached the Soul Transformation Stage are your Sect's Sect Master, Daoist Xuantian, and the Tianyan Sword Sect Master, Han Wuji."]

[Elder Wen Huaian clenches his left hand slightly but does not interrupt you.]

["Please, Elder, contact Daoist Xuantian immediately."]

["The Eastern Region must have someone of the Soul Transformation Stage stationed here."]

["Otherwise, whichever city Demon Emperor Lietian wants to attack will be the next Ningbian City."]

[Elder Wen Huaian does not nod immediately.]

["The Sect Master entered the Wuwang Secret Realm for closed-door cultivation three months ago. Communication within the Secret Realm is extremely unstable."]

["Unstable and completely cut off are two different things. Even if there is only a ten percent chance of it being received, this message must be sent."]

[Elder Wen Huaian pauses for two breaths.]

["Very well. I will send it."]

[He strides toward the City Lord's Mansion.]

[After taking three steps, he stops.]

["Protector Shen, the deployment of Ningbian City was something the Sect Master also approved at the time. It was not your judgment alone."]

[You do not respond to this.]

["See you at the meeting hall in the time it takes to burn an incense stick."]

[Elder Wen Huaian says nothing more.]

[His gray-robed figure turns the corner and disappears behind the ruins.]

[5:15 AM.]

[The side hall of the City Lord's Mansion.]

[You close the door and take out the second communication Jade Slip.]

[You switch to the Tianxuan Sect's exclusive frequency.]

[You channel spiritual power into it, and it connects after five breaths.]

[Hall Master Chi Yang's voice comes through, dry.]

["I saw the news. Qingxuan, he..."]

[His voice catches.]

["Damn it."]

["Hall Master Chi Yang." You cut him off.]

["A few things, confirm them immediately. What was the Sect Master's cultivation level before he went into closed-door cultivation?"]

["Nascent Soul Great Perfection. He was aiming for the Soul Transformation Stage. He has been in seclusion for nearly ten years."]

["Has he broken through?"]

["It is impossible to know from inside the seclusion chamber."]

["Can messages be sent in?"]

["A quarter of an hour ago, I set up an emergency communication formation outside the seclusion chamber. The message has been sent in."]

[Hall Master Chi Yang's voice lowers.]

["But whether or not he comes out of seclusion is the Sect Master's own decision."]

["If the breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Stage is interrupted, Qi Deviation is no joke. He will weigh the risks himself."]

[You grip the Jade Slip and speak plainly.]

["Hall Master Chi Yang."]

["If the Sect Master comes out without breaking through to the Soul Transformation Stage—facing a Soul Transformation Stage Demon Emperor with Nascent Soul Great Perfection, coming out is just suicide."]

[Hall Master Chi Yang's breathing skips a beat.]

[Then it rises.]

["That is still for him to decide!"]

["Qingxuan died on the front lines; the Tianxuan Sect will never cower in the back!"]

["I have handed over the Sect's defense to Hall Master Lei Zhen; his Sect-protecting formation can completely withstand attacks from ordinary great demons."]

["I am taking off immediately, heading straight for Yunzhong City."]

["I am at least at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection; even if I have to risk this old life, I can still knock out a few of that beast's teeth!"]

["Pei Yuan is severely injured, and Elder Wen Huaian has lost an arm. You are short on people at the front. I will go to fill the gap."]

["Cut the crap, take off before dawn, and arrive by noon tomorrow at the latest."]

[You do not try to persuade him further.]

["Waiting for you."]

["Also—"]

[Hall Master Chi Yang's voice drops.]

["Kid. Don't shoulder the matter of Qingxuan alone."]

["In that situation, whoever made the decision would have had the same result."]

[The communication is cut off.]

[You put down the Jade Slip and stand in the side hall for three breaths.]

[You take out the third one.]

[5:30 AM.]

[You switch the Jade Slip to the Beishun City joint defense frequency.]

[You channel spiritual power into it.]

["Attention, all of Beishun City."]

["Demon Emperor Lietian has appeared. Ningbian City has fallen, and Tianxuan Sect Vice Sect Master Daoist Qingxuan has been killed in action."]

["Demon Emperor Lietian's combat power is at least at the Soul Transformation level, and he breached the city in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick."]

["Beishun City is the next target."]

["Everyone, enter the highest state of alert."]

["Once the main force of Demon Emperor Lietian is detected—do not hold the line to the death; retreat immediately. Survival is the priority."]

[The message is sent.]

[You stare at the Jade Slip.]

[Five breaths, ten breaths, thirty breaths.]

[The Jade Slip shows no reaction.]

[You switch to the private frequency of Elder Han of the Moyun Sect.]

["Elder Han. Please reply upon receiving."]

[You channel spiritual power into it.]

[You wait for twenty breaths; no one answers.]

[You switch to the frequency of Su Wanqing of Lingxu Valley.]

["Su Wanqing. Report on the situation in Beishun City, reply immediately."]

[Ten breaths, twenty breaths.]

[No one answers.]

[All three frequencies are silent.]

[You press your thumb against the edge of the Jade Slip.]

[Your finger doesn't move, but the veins on the back of your hand bulge.]

[5:45 AM.]

[The City Lord's Mansion meeting hall.]

[The door is pushed open.]

[Elder Wen Huaian sits on the left side of the main seat.]

[His left hand rests on his knee, and he shakes his head at you.]

["There is no reply from the Wuwang Secret Realm. The message was sent. Whether it can be received depends on fate."]

[Pei Yuan is carried in by two Tianyan Sword Sect Disciples.]

[His chest armor is completely shattered, and his inner shirt is soaked in blood.]

[After sitting down, he leans his sword against the leg of the table, his hand not letting go.]

[Elder Muxing follows closely and takes a seat.]

[Her forehead is swollen and red, her silver hair is hastily tied up, and her hairpin is broken, with only half remaining.]

[Ji Wuya walks in, leaning on his sword.]

[He is limping on his left leg.]

[After sitting down, he lays his long sword horizontally on the table.]

[Huo Quji stands against the wall.]

[His right fist is wrapped in cloth, and blood is still seeping through.]

[Ling Qingmeng stands by the window.]

[Her arms are crossed over her chest, and she doesn't say a word.]

[You walk to the head of the table.]

[You do not sit.]

[You look at everyone present.]

[Just as you are about to speak.]

[The communication Jade Slip in your robes vibrates violently.]

[It is not the Beishun City frequency; it is an emergency message from the Lingxiao Sect.]

[You take out the Jade Slip and channel spiritual power into it.]

[The voice is broken, mixed with gasps.]

[Half of it is stuck in the throat, forced out.]

["Beishun City... has fallen..."]

[Everyone in the meeting hall stares at the Jade Slip in your hand.]

["Demon Emperor Lietian... an hour ago... personally led the demon army to breach Beishun City..."]

["We of the Lingxiao Sect rushed to support... we were half a step too late..."]

[The voice cuts off for three breaths.]

[Then it continues, mixed with the sound of coughing up blood.]

["Elder Han of the Moyun Sect... has been killed in action..."]

["Su Wanqing of Lingxu Valley... has been killed in action..."]

["The eleven accompanying Disciples... have all been killed in action..."]

["We... are retreating, severely injured..."]

["Inside Beishun City... not a single one of the sent Sect Disciples has survived..."]

[The communication is cut off, and the spiritual light fades.]

[The meeting hall falls silent.]

[Huo Quji's back leaves the wall.]

[He clenches his fist, and blood seeping from the cloth drips onto the floor tiles.]

[Ling Qingmeng releases her crossed arms.]

[They hang at her sides.]

[The veins on Pei Yuan's hand gripping his sword bulge.]

[The sword scabbard leaves a white mark on the table leg.]

[Elder Muxing closes her eyes.]

[Her silver hair covers half of her face.]

[Ji Wuya presses his right hand down on the long sword lying across the table, his fingers not relaxing.]

[You stand at the head of the table.]

[The Jade Slip in your hand still retains some warmth.]

[Ningbian City has fallen.]

[Beishun City has fallen.]

[Overnight, both flanks of the Northern Territory defense line were torn apart simultaneously.]

[You look up at the map of the Northern Territory hanging on the wall.]

[The marker for Yunzhong City is pinned alone on the left flank.]

[Ningbian City in the middle is gone.]

[Beishun City on the right flank is gone.]

[The supply line is cut.]

[The reinforcement route is cut.]

[The flank cover is gone.]

[In front of Yunzhong City is Demon Emperor Lietian's million-strong demon army.]

[The flanks are empty.]

[Behind you, only the last official road for a southern retreat remains.]

[You walk to the map.]

[You raise your hand and press on the marker for Yunzhong City.]

[Your fingertip is stained with blood.]

[Leaving a red print on the parchment map.]