Qingzhou City.
Inside the City Lord's mansion.
"Commander Cui, City Master Gu has sent me with two hundred thousand troops to reinforce Qingzhou City."
A white-robed elder declared in a clear voice.
This white-robed elder was named Xiao Shang. His strength was on par with Cui Tianguo's—both were at the Eighth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm.
"Brother Xiao's strength is formidable. With your assistance, Qingzhou City's defense will be even more secure," Cui Tianguo said enthusiastically.
"You flatter me, Brother Cui," Xiao Shang replied. "The last battle you led Qingzhou City's garrison in, where you won a brilliant and decisive victory, is still being celebrated among the troops even now. Compared to you, I am ashamed of my inferiority."
"Last time, the reason our Qingzhou City garrison could defeat the numerically superior Otherworldly Army was largely due to Ye Yunfei," Cui Tianguo said. "If not for Ye Yunfei, Qingzhou City might have already been occupied by the Otherworldly Army."
"Brother Cui exaggerates," Xiao Shang said indifferently. "Ye Yunfei is young, and while he possesses some skill, his reputation has been blown out of proportion. In war, victory relies on the wise command of the leader. The role a mere youth can play, no matter how significant, is ultimately limited."
"Senior Xiao is correct," an elder beside him chimed in. "Ye Yunfei's contribution has been overstated."
"It's not good for a junior to be elevated so high. The higher he is praised now, the harder he will fall later."
Several other elders around Xiao Shang voiced their agreement. Those elders were all experts from the four major powers of Central Land.
Cui Tianguo was momentarily at a loss for words.
"What do you mean by that!" a Guardian Elder from Hudao Academy couldn't hold back and roared angrily. "Whether Dean Ye is praised highly or not has nothing to do with you all. Who gave you the right to comment!"
"Hmph!" Xiao Shang sneered. "Hudao Academy sure has a grand presence. Do you intend to silence me and prevent me from speaking? Others might fear your academy, but I do not."
He was one of the most veteran Grotto-Heaven Realm experts in Central Land and had always maintained close ties with the four major powers. Naturally, he held no goodwill toward Hudao Academy.
"Daring to defy even Senior Xiao… truly, Hudao Academy indeed has a formidable presence," a Fengyun Family elder said with a cold laugh.
"Enough!" Cui Tianguo hurriedly interjected. "Let's stop arguing. We should discuss how to defend Qingzhou City moving forward."
However, at that very moment…
Rumble…!
Suddenly, the entire heaven and earth shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
"Not good! The Otherworldly Army has returned!" someone shouted.
"Let's go see!" Cui Tianguo's expression changed drastically. He led the charge out of the mansion.
The other experts followed Cui Tianguo, rushing out of the City Lord's mansion and soaring into the air one after another.
"Prepare to face the enemy!" Cui Tianguo bellowed.
Immediately, Qingzhou City's army formed up, readying themselves for battle.
Boom…
From all directions, a densely packed mass of Otherworldly Army troops surged forth, tightly sealing off Qingzhou City.
Demonic aura surged to the heavens, blotted out the sky, and rolled toward them.
Countless Ancient Demon Race members erupted in bursts of sharp, piercing laughter.
Then, a force of over four hundred thousand soldiers of the Otherworldly Army revealed themselves, each one seething with murderous intent.
"Denizens of Tianxuan Continent, do not think of resisting. It is useless," an Ancient Demon Race member, eight meters tall, stepped forward from the enemy ranks and spoke in an arrogant voice.
Behind him, over three hundred Grotto-Heaven Realm experts also stepped forward, lining up.
Among them, there were seven alone at the Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm!
Bang! Bang! …
The over three hundred Grotto-Heaven Realm experts simultaneously unleashed their auras. Their combined pressure swept toward Qingzhou City like a torrential flood.
Bam! Bam! Bam! …
Within the Tianxuan Army ranks, many weak martial artists were blasted away on the spot, continuously spitting blood and instantly sustaining severe injuries!
"Too powerful!" Every member of the Tianxuan Army, including their own Grotto-Heaven Realm experts, were dumbstruck.
The Tianxuan Army stationed at Qingzhou City only had around a hundred Grotto-Heaven Realm experts. The strongest among them were merely five Eighth Level Grotto-Heaven Realm masters!
There was no chance of winning this battle. The strengths of the two sides were not on the same level!
The Otherworldly Army's seven Ninth-Level Grotto-Heaven Realm experts alone could crush everything.
"These fellows are so weak! They still dare to think of resisting? How laughable!"
"They're simply a bunch of trash!"
Mocking laughter erupted endlessly from within the Otherworldly Army.
"Don't say I'm not giving you a chance," the Ancient Demon Race expert at the forefront suddenly declared loudly. "Now, I give you two choices. First, hand over Ye Yunfei, and our army will withdraw. Second, refuse to hand over Ye Yunfei, and our army will raze Qingzhou City to the ground. Everyone here will die."
This invasion of Qingzhou City by these Otherworldly experts, bringing such a vast army, had the primary objective of dealing with Ye Yunfei.
"Hand over Ye Yunfei?!" The members of the Tianxuan Army were taken aback.
Could it be that this Otherworldly Army came specifically for Ye Yunfei?
"Hmph!" a Guardian Elder from Hudao Academy roared sternly. "You Otherworldly beings, if you want to fight, then fight! We, the people of Tianxuan Continent, do not have the habit of betraying our own!"
"Correct," Cui Tianguo also declared loudly. "Our Tianxuan Army will not betray our own people. Ye Yunfei is a member of our Tianxuan Army. You Otherworldly beings, abandon any hope of us handing him over."
Simultaneously, Cui Tianguo secretly sent a sound transmission to the Guardian Elder, asking, "Elder Zhu, where is Dean Ye?"
"Dean Ye is currently in seclusion, cultivating," the Guardian Elder replied.
"In seclusion?" Cui Tianguo couldn't help but be stunned.
At that moment, Xiao Shang suddenly spoke up. "Brother Cui, we cannot speak so hastily. This Otherworldly Army has clearly come targeting Ye Yunfei. As you can see, given Qingzhou City's current strength, it is simply impossible for us to resist this Otherworldly force. Therefore, I believe sacrificing Ye Yunfei alone to save all of Qingzhou City would be a good choice."
"Brother Xiao, such an action is inappropriate," Cui Tianguo frowned, revealing displeasure.
"Commander Cui, I know you have a good relationship with Ye Yunfei and wish to protect him," a Fengyun Family elder named Feng Yunyue said with a cold sneer. "However, I hope you can proceed with the bigger picture in mind and prioritize the collective interests of our Tianxuan Army. Sacrificing Ye Yunfei alone in exchange for the Otherworldly Army's retreat—this transaction is absolutely worthwhile."
"Feng Yunyue, how can you say that!" Cui Tianguo raged. "Facing the Otherworldly Army, we people of Tianxuan Continent should be united, confronting the enemy together. How could we betray our own? Moreover, these Otherworldly beings are solely intent on devouring our Tianxuan Continent. How can you possibly believe their words?"
"Esteemed Ancient Demon Race sir, if we hand over Ye Yunfei, will your army truly withdraw?" a Xiao Clan elder suddenly called out loudly.
"Correct. I, Suo Tian, honor my word," the tall Ancient Demon Race expert standing at the Otherworldly Army's front coldly nodded. This Ancient Demon Race was named Suo Tian, the commander of this branch of the Otherworldly Army.
"In that case, I vote in favor of handing over Ye Yunfei!" the Xiao Clan elder turned and proclaimed.
"I am in favor."
"I also agree."
…
In an instant, roughly fifty or sixty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts voiced their approval.
"You…" Cui Tianguo was so angry he couldn't speak.
"By the way, why isn't Ye Yunfei here?" the Xiao Clan elder suddenly cried out. "He wouldn't have slipped away because he saw the tide turning against him!"
"Yes! Where is Ye Yunfei?"
Only then did everyone notice that Ye Yunfei still hadn't made an appearance.
"Hmph! Brother Cui, is this the young genius you've been praising so highly?" Xiao Shang said furiously. "He actually fled before battle!"
"Dean Ye would absolutely not flee," a Guardian Elder from Hudao Academy stated. "He is still cultivating in seclusion."
"Hahaha…! How laughable! With a vast army pressing at our borders, Ye Yunfei still has the mood to cultivate in seclusion? Who are you trying to fool?" Feng Yunyue from the Fengyun Family sneered. "It seems Ye Yunfei truly has run away!"
Then, Feng Yunyue suddenly spoke loudly to the Ancient Demon Race expert. "Esteemed Ancient Demon Race sir, Ye Yunfei has already fled the battlefield. However, his teacher's kin is still here. How about this—we help you capture Ye Yunfei's teacher's kin and hand them over. Given Ye Yunfei's character, he will definitely go to you to rescue them. Then, you will have the opportunity to capture Ye Yunfei."
As he spoke, a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes. The four major Central Land powers and Ye Yunfei, and by extension Hudao Academy, had already formed a deep enmity. They would seize any opportunity to create difficulties. The current situation presented an excellent chance, and Feng Yunyue naturally wouldn't let it slip.
"Acceptable," Suo Tian nodded coldly. He was happy to watch the Tianxuan Army fall into internal strife. The other Otherworldly experts also smiled coldly and remained silent.
"Feng Yunyue, you dare!" The three Guardian Elders and five ordinary elders from Hudao Academy were utterly enraged.
"I support this method," Xiao Shang spoke coldly. "Everyone, for Qingzhou City's safety, please bear with the inconvenience."
Immediately, the fifty or sixty Grotto-Heaven Realm experts surrounded the Hudao Academy members in a tight encirclement.
"Xiao Shang, have you gone mad!" Cui Tianguo anxiously cried out. "You're actually going to strike against our own people!"
"Brother Cui, do not interfere in this matter," Xiao Shang replied indifferently.