Chapter 866: Crisis at the Immortal City

With the Misty Dust Banner at full speed, Lu Changsheng arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect in less than a day.

“City Lord Wang, you’re here.”

True Lord Xuanjian had been waiting at the Heavenly Sword Sect and came out immediately to greet Lu Changsheng, briefing him on the situation in Yue Kingdom.

“The Flood Dragon Holy Son and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain have both broken through to Nascent Soul!?”

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow, surprised that Liang Kingdom had suddenly produced two Nascent Soul cultivators.

No wonder True Lord Xuanjian was so urgent.

In the current Liang-Yue War, a single Nascent Soul cultivator could tip the balance of the entire conflict.

Now, with Liang Kingdom gaining two Nascent Soul cultivators at once, the war was completely out of balance.

“In that case, no time to waste—we’ll head there right now.”

Through a divination before leaving, Lu Changsheng knew the situation was critical, so he spoke without delay.

“Agreed.”

True Lord Xuanjian nodded but didn’t move, instead looking at Lu Changsheng.

From their trip to the Starry Sea, he knew traveling on his own was too slow.

It couldn’t compare to Lu Changsheng’s Misty Dust Banner or Golden-Winged Roc.

With the situation so urgent, wasting energy on the journey would leave him needing time to recover upon arrival, delaying any action.

Seeing True Lord Xuanjian waiting for him to lead, Lu Changsheng felt a bit speechless.

He waved the Misty Dust Banner, which unfurled like a colorful cloud, sweeping up the other man and rippling through the air as it sped toward Yue Kingdom.

“True Lord Xuanjian, besides the Flood Dragon Holy Son and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain, what’s the rest of the situation in Liang Kingdom?”

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Changsheng asked for details on the ongoing war.

True Lord Xuanjian held nothing back on these matters.

He explained that Liang Kingdom and Yuan Kingdom were launching a full offensive.

Even True Lord Nine Spirits and Yuan Kingdom’s two Nascent Soul True Lords had joined the fight directly.

Based on the current situation, Liang Kingdom aimed to capture Red Peak Immortal City first, using it as a base to gradually swallow up Yue Kingdom.

“Red Peak Immortal City has True Lord Ziguang holding it down, so it can hold out for a while. Plus, True Lord Hunyuan can go to reinforce and ease the pressure. As long as we get there quickly, we can still make it in time.”

True Lord Xuanjian continued.

Although Liang Kingdom and Yuan Kingdom’s forces outclassed those of Jiang Kingdom and Yue Kingdom by a level,

not every Nascent Soul cultivator was like Lu Changsheng, able to easily slay peers or challenge higher ranks.

Even if two or three Nascent Soul True Lords attacked, they couldn’t quickly breach an immortal city guarded by one.

“We should head straight to Red Peak Immortal City.”

True Lord Xuanjian said to Lu Changsheng, planning to relieve the siege there first.

Moreover, True Lord Incinerating Wither, the Flood Dragon Holy Son, and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain were all newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivators.

With the two of them working together, they could not only suppress but even have a chance to kill or capture them.

As long as they took down a few, the war could be balanced again.

As for completely settling the war, it would depend on Lu Changsheng, the mid-Nascent Soul powerhouse.

After all, Liang Kingdom had the formidable True Lord Nine Spirits and possibly a mysterious Demonic Sect envoy.

These were issues he and True Lord Hunyuan couldn’t handle alone.

“True Lord Tiancang, the Flood Dragon Holy Son, the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain…”

Lu Changsheng gazed calmly toward Yue Kingdom, seeing this as a chance to deal with Beast God Mountain once and for all.

After all, he and Beast God Mountain were old enemies.

Once, his daughter Lu Wangshu had been abducted by True Person Black Crow from Beast God Mountain, nearly dying at his hands.

Later, in the Mirage Domain of Vast Sands, he was hunted by True Lord Tiancang, True Lord Mingsha, and True Lord Yunmei, leaving him in a dire state.

Although True Lord Mingsha led it, Lu Changsheng harbored the deepest grudge against True Lord Tiancang.

Without him, True Lord Mingsha wouldn’t have found him or been a match.

As for the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain and the Flood Dragon Holy Son,

one had sent Shadow to Jiang Kingdom to probe him and try to abduct the Nine Nether Hound;

the other had once injured Chu Qingyi.

Now, it was time to settle all scores at once!

Though Lu Changsheng had the Heavenly Yuan Lotus as a second dantian, his magical energy wasn’t endless.

Traveling from Bihu Mountain to the Heavenly Sword Sect and now carrying True Lord Xuanjian toward Yue Kingdom, his energy kept draining.

When it reached half, he patted his Spirit Pet Bag and released the Golden-Winged Roc to take over, using the time to rest and recover.

“City Lord Wang.” True Lord Xuanjian handed over a bottle of Millennia-old Spirit Milk to help Lu Changsheng restore his energy quickly.

“Thanks.”

Although Lu Changsheng’s storage ring held many pills for restoring energy,

he wouldn’t turn down free Millennia-old Spirit Milk.

He took the porcelain vial and drank it in one go.

Seeing Lu Changsheng act so casually, True Lord Xuanjian paused briefly.

He thought the other might worry about poison in the milk.

But considering his dual cultivation of body and magic with a mid-fourth-rank physique, True Lord Xuanjian relaxed.

Unless it was top-tier fourth-rank poison, attempting it up close would endanger the poisoner more.

Besides the physique, True Lord Xuanjian gazed enviously at the Golden-Winged Roc tearing through the void and stirring vast waves.

With the Heavenly Sword Sect’s resources, raising a fourth-rank mount was possible,

but finding and training one suited to him would demand too much time, effort, and resources.

Time, resources, and effort were one thing,

but failing the Shapeshifting Heavenly Tribulation would waste everything.

So, Lu Changsheng having two fourth-rank spirit pets left him astounded.

Especially how obedient the Golden-Winged Roc, a fourth-rank demon king, was.

If their relationship were closer, he’d have asked for advice.

Such beast-taming skills were astonishing.

They could elevate a whole force!

Yue Kingdom.

Red Peak Immortal City.

Smoke hung like thick ink, churning through the sky and creating a heavy, suffocating atmosphere.

A massive beast king clad in dark golden scales, towering like a mountain, relentlessly rammed the immortal city.

Each roar and impact shook the city to its core.

The defensive arrays on the walls flickered, runes dimming as terrifying vibrations spread.

From all sides, endless demonic hordes surged like a black flood, wielding flying boats and artifacts, arrayed with fierce birds and beasts into powerful formations, bombarding the city methodically.

At every command, spells, flying swords, artifacts, and talismans rained down like a storm, exploding in brilliant flashes.

True Lord Tiancang, True Lord Incinerating Wither, the Flood Dragon Holy Son, and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain hovered at the city’s edges, unleashing their powers and treasures in a fierce assault, giving no respite or escape.

“Boom, boom, boom—”

Even with True Lord Ziguang, a Nascent Soul cultivator, fully maintaining the grand array, the city swayed like a boat in a storm under this onslaught.

The array’s light pulsed erratically as gaps appeared in the barriers, cracking the sturdy walls.

True Lord Ziguang strained to hold the array steady while array masters, artifact refiners, and other cultivators rushed to the walls and damaged spots, desperately repairing to keep the demonic forces out.

“Ha ha ha!!!”

At that moment, True Lord Tiancang threw back his head and laughed, his flesh jiggling as he shouted at Red Peak Immortal City: “True Lord Ziguang, I know you’re waiting for True Lord Hunyuan to reinforce you.”

“But I’ve heard True Lord Yuanqi has been ambushed by my sect’s Supreme Elder and fallen. True Lord Hunyuan is too busy saving himself to come—surrender now!”

“If you lead Purple Light Sect to defect, my Supreme Elder might spare your lives.”

True Lord Tiancang’s voice boomed like thunder, reaching every cultivator in the city.

The Liang Kingdom forces cheered up at the news!

Once they took the city, they’d claim rich rewards and plunder resources.

The Yue Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom cultivators in the city turned pale with fear.

Already on edge from the siege by the demonic hordes and four Nascent Soul cultivators,

their only hope had been reinforcements from Hunyuan Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect.

Now, with news that True Lord Yuanqi was ambushed and True Lord Hunyuan couldn’t come, despair set in.

“Everyone, stay steady—don’t believe the demonic lies! True Lord Hunyuan is on his way. Once he arrives, the crisis will end.”

True Lord Ziguang’s expression shifted slightly as he broadcasted his voice to steady the troops.

He then used a secret talisman to contact True Lord Hunyuan, asking about the situation and True Lord Yuanqi’s status.

After a long wait, a message came from True Lord Hunyuan.

True Lord Yuanqi had been ambushed by True Lord Nine Spirits, his body and Qi destroyed.

This news filled True Lord Hunyuan with grief.

Forty years ago, his disciple ‘True Person Wuji’ had fallen in this war.

Now, after Hunyuan Sect’s efforts to raise another Nascent Soul cultivator,

he was struck down shortly after breaking through.

Such a loss meant that even if True Lord Yuanqi seized a new body, his Nascent Soul essence would be damaged, stalling his cultivation at the early Nascent Soul stages.

“What!?”

True Lord Ziguang was stunned and glared at True Lord Tiancang and the others outside the city.

He had been holding the array waiting for True Lord Hunyuan’s aid,

but with True Lord Yuanqi ambushed and True Lord Hunyuan delayed, he couldn’t hold out.

If the city fell, facing four Nascent Soul cultivators would be fatal.

True Lord Ziguang began to consider retreat.

Without reinforcements, defending was suicide.

Better to abandon the city and escape.

Though it meant losing a key stronghold and heavy losses,

as long as he survived, Purple Light Sect would endure.

Pushing on could lead to his downfall, dooming the sect.

“True Lord Ziguang, hold on as best you can. True Lord Juejian reports that True Lord Xuanjian is en route and has invited the Lord of Dameng Immortal City.”

The jade talisman vibrated with another message from True Lord Hunyuan.

“True Lord Xuanjian and the Lord of Dameng Immortal City?”

True Lord Ziguang respected True Lord Xuanjian’s strength.

Without him, Yue Kingdom would have fallen years ago.

If True Lord Xuanjian arrived in time, they could stabilize things.

As for Lu Changsheng, the Lord of Dameng Immortal City, he dismissed him.

Intelligence suggested the man had Nascent Soul power but health issues, never leaving his city.

Despite multiple invitations, he’d only sent a early Core Formation son to help.

So, True Lord Ziguang had no faith or fondness for him, expecting a quick retreat if things turned sour.

“True Lord Xuanjian…”

True Lord Ziguang eyed the fourth-rank beast king pounding the city and the four Nascent Soul cultivators assaulting it, weighing his options.

Even if True Lord Xuanjian was coming,

the distance from Jiang Kingdom to Yue Kingdom meant it would take days at full speed.

Holding out that long would be tough—he’d need to play his trump cards and pay a price.

If True Lord Xuanjian got delayed by True Lord Nine Spirits or Yuan Kingdom’s Nascent Soul cultivators, he’d be done for.

Then, with the array broken and him weakened, escaping their pursuit would be impossible.

“Retreat!”

After thinking it over, True Lord Ziguang decided to flee.

As long as he lived, there was hope for Purple Light Sect and Yue Kingdom.

Losing him here would mean losing everything.

“This is for the greater good!”

True Lord Ziguang felt no regret, eyeing True Lord Tiancang and the others.

Among them, True Lord Incinerating Wither and the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain attacked less fiercely.

From intelligence, True Lord Incinerating Wither had forced his breakthrough, leaving his Nascent Soul incomplete and weakest—he was the gap.

But True Lord Incinerating Wither was close to the fourth-rank beast king, which was tenacious and hard to deal with despite being artificially raised.

“I’ll break through from the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain’s side!”

True Lord Ziguang chose her as his escape route and ordered his people to keep morale up while waiting for the chance.

“Boom, boom, boom!!!”

As the array took hit after hit, True Lord Ziguang shot into the sky, a purple mirror above him unleashing thousands of purple lights, turning the world purple.

“The city’s lost—everyone, escape now!”

His robes billowed as he activated his divine ability and treasure, spreading his Nascent Soul domain and messaging his Core Formation subordinates.

Then, he tore through the void toward the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain.

“True Lord Ziguang’s trying to flee—stop him!”

True Lord Tiancang shouted, slapping his round belly to unleash his Nascent Soul divine ability.

Dense white threads shot out like a net to trap him.

The Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain’s eyes sharpened like blades, her long purple hair whipping like a cloak, her skin glowing with faint purple patterns as a wolf shadow roared.

But as a veteran Nascent Soul True Lord, True Lord Ziguang was prepared and broke through the wolf shadow easily.

“You won’t escape that easily!!! Yellow Springs Dragon Seal!!!”

The Flood Dragon Holy Son saw this and let out a fierce cry, his vertical pupils flashing as he summoned his life treasure, surging yellow waves toward True Lord Ziguang.

The dragon pattern on his shoulder seemed to come alive, its dark golden eyes fixed with predatory cruelty.

Instantly, True Lord Ziguang’s energy stalled.

“What kind of ability is this?” True Lord Ziguang was shocked that the Flood Dragon Holy Son, newly ascended, had such a power.

He burst with purple light, forming mysterious runes to ignore the effect and keep fleeing.

“Hiss, hiss—”

True Lord Tiancang, despite his bulk, moved fast, slapping his belly with dull thuds that echoed like silkworm cries, disrupting True Lord Ziguang’s spirit.

“Holy Maiden, break the city here! True Lord Incinerating Wither, come with us to chase True Lord Ziguang!”

The Flood Dragon Holy Son roared, knowing True Lord Tiancang’s abilities were great for tracking.

Once they locked onto True Lord Ziguang’s energy, he couldn’t shake them.

With that, the Flood Dragon Holy Son coiled with dragons, swept up True Lord Tiancang and True Lord Incinerating Wither, and chased through the yellow waves.

Though newly ascended with his abilities just forming, his fusion with the Yellow Springs Dragon remnant soul let him control this power confidently, eager for the fight!

The Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain knew she couldn’t match the Flood Dragon Holy Son yet.

Her purple hair flew wildly as she stared coldly at Red Peak Immortal City and ordered, “Everyone, attack with all your might!”

“True Lord Ziguang… has fled.”

“Wasn’t True Lord Hunyuan coming?”

“It’s over! It’s over!”

“True Lord, don’t abandon us… sob, sob.”

The cultivators in Red Peak Immortal City, except those from Purple Light Sect who got the message, were stunned.

They’d just been told True Lord Hunyuan was on the way, and now he was gone, leaving them to their fate.

Even with True Lord Tiancang and the others chasing, without True Lord Ziguang to maintain the array, they couldn’t hold against the fourth-rank beast king and Liang Kingdom’s forces.

And Liang Kingdom still had a Nascent Soul True Lord!

“True Lord Ziguang just ran!?”

On the walls, Lu Qingxian stared in shock.

He never expected a Nascent Soul True Lord to abandon the city and them.

Even if retreating, he could have warned them to buy time with the array for an escape.

But he hadn’t—even recently boosting morale.

“Dammit!” Lu Qingxian clenched his fists, knuckles white, his eyes flashing with thunder and fire as anger boiled.

“Run!”

He pushed aside his rage, knowing escape was key.

He quickly alerted Lu Xingyang, Lu Ziyun, Lu Qingze, and the others to flee.

With a Nascent Soul cultivator gone, staying was suicide.

“Boom! Boom! Crack!!!”

Without True Lord Ziguang, the array shattered under the Holy Maiden of Beast God Mountain and the beast king’s assault, walls exploding.

Despair and panic engulfed Red Peak Immortal City!