But before Ji Yuan and the others could pursue the traces of the demonic cultivators, a terrifying wave of energy suddenly erupted within the county city of Luoxia Commandery. A heaven-shattering roar, akin to a divine tribulation, echoed across the land. The countless commoners in the city mistook it for divine wrath, believing heaven and earth were about to be destroyed!
Ji Yuan and the others, disregarding laws and restrictions, spurred the spiritual energy within their bodies and ascended rapidly into the high heavens. They were far from the only ones. Dozens of figures, all cultivators of the third realm or higher, rose into the sky from across the entire county city. Those without flight capabilities, the third-realm martial artists, leaped onto the nearest tall buildings. Streams of gazes turned towards the city center, and even from tens of miles away, a terrifying fluctuation could be felt. That power had completely surpassed the third realm; only those at the Golden Core stage or above could wield such might.
Within a mere twenty to thirty breaths, the spiritual energy within and outside the entire county city was affected by this terrifying fluctuation, becoming incredibly violent. Almost all cultivators of the first and second realms quickly circulated their cultivation techniques, isolating themselves from the outside world. They feared that the rampant spiritual energy might surge into their bodies or resonate with their own spiritual power.
"Could it be that the County Governor has been assassinated?" In an instant, almost all the third-realm onlookers shared the same thought. Otherwise, it was difficult to comprehend why such a terrifying fluctuation would suddenly erupt from the County Governor's mansion. It was equivalent to two great cultivators at the mid-Golden Core stage unleashing their full power without reservation.
"Rebirth Tower!!!" At that very moment, a furious roar spread throughout the entire city. Ji Yuan immediately recognized it as the voice of Governor Fan Yuqing. The next moment, seven figures appeared above the Governor's mansion. Five of them exhibited signs of demonic cultivation techniques, their spiritual energy surging, while the other two figures exuded monstrous energy, eventually transforming into their true demonic forms. They were actually two Golden Core stage Wind-Rending Eagles! The Wind-Rending Demonic Domain!
Ji Yuan's expression shifted. He had not expected the Wind-Rending Demonic Domain to not only participate but also to openly and wantonly interfere in human affairs! If this was the case, the situation would become infinitely more complicated than originally anticipated. This was no longer just an internal human conflict, but a war between the human and demonic races!
"Rebirth Tower forces! Kill!" "Wind-Rending Demonic Domain! Kill!" Two fierce shouts erupted, instantly spreading for hundreds of miles. The moment their voices rose, figures materialized from all over the city, attacking their pre-determined targets without hesitation. Forces aligned with the County Governor, or even those maintaining neutrality, were immediately assaulted by those who had defected to Rebirth Tower and the cultivators of the Five Demonic Sects. Even the Mingxin Pavilion could not escape. In just over ten breaths, seven or eight third-realm cultivators arrived in succession. In addition to them, over a dozen third-realm martial artists, with their brutal demeanor, charged forth, destroying countless houses along the way.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan and the others were about to intervene, but suddenly felt a sense of dread. Countless complex and profound runes appeared in the sky above the city, and array patterns intertwined. However, in mere breaths, all the runes and array patterns collapsed. No matter how the County Governor manipulated the dozens of great arrays within the city, he could only maintain the core array eye of the Governor's mansion. The entire county city was paralyzed; all the great arrays were collapsing and incapable of unleashing even a sliver of their power.
At the same time, Ji Yuan and the others saw rolling demonic energy surge into the sky from beyond the four city walls. Endless demonic energy converged into a thick, dark cloud, slowly pressing down upon the city. A heavy and desperate atmosphere immediately permeated the city.
"Don't get distracted!" At this moment, Elder Hong Tian shouted loudly. He emanated boundless lightning, single-handedly holding off three cultivators of the same realm. Lin Yubai and the others followed closely, intercepting the remaining third-realm cultivators. Qian Nishang and the old woman beside her stood on the roof of the Mingxin Pavilion merchant guild, array flags and plates floating before them. The third-realm cultivators of Mingxin Pavilion stood on each floor, channeling their spiritual energy into the array flags. As for the third-realm martial artists affiliated with Mingxin Pavilion, they had already taken to the streets, guarding the entire merchant guild behind them.
By this point, no one was concerned with gains and losses, for if they could not unite, their only fate would be death. The dozens of blade-wielding enforcers of the Mingjian Division had already engaged the approaching martial artists. They too had no choice; the attackers would not spare them due to their affiliation with the Mingjian Division.
Rumble!!! Another deafening roar echoed. Ji Yuan quickly looked over and saw rolling demonic energy surging into the sky in the distance. "Vast Tower!" he exclaimed in a deep voice, his eyes filled with disbelief. No one had expected Vast Tower to also be a pawn of Rebirth Tower! No, perhaps Vast Tower itself was controlled by the demonic forces. At this moment, countless demonic creatures poured out of Vast Tower, madly slaughtering the innocent civilians in the city.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan's eyebrows shot up, and rage surged within him. He could no longer care about self-preservation; all his reason dissolved into overwhelming fury. He stepped forward abruptly, flying out over ten miles at his fastest speed, then looked down. Demons of various forms were slaughtering human civilians. The piteous cries seemed insignificant amidst the demonic roars. No longer suppressing his anger, Ji Yuan ferociously attacked the rampaging demons. He decisively revealed two powerful phenomena: white clouds rose behind him, and a great sun slowly ascended. Simultaneously, countless golden lotuses bloomed in the void, scattering golden radiance. With both powerful phenomena unleashed, they were even enough to suppress and kill ordinary third-realm cultivators of the same realm, let alone a group of first and second-realm demons!
A large number of demons were shattered into blood mist under the might of the phenomena. The scene they had created of rivers of blood from slaughtering mortals now became their own reality. In an instant, dozens of demons were killed, and more perished under the might of the two powerful phenomena. The commotion here naturally attracted the attention of powerful demons. Five or six third-realm demons flew over. Before they were even thirty yards away, they transformed into their true demonic forms. Although demons were arrogant, they were not blind and could clearly see two extremely powerful phenomena. A single individual possessing two phenomena was undoubtedly a contemporary prodigy. Therefore, they were filled with caution. Maintaining some distance, they unleashed their innate divine abilities.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan stomped on the void. The great sun behind him slowly rose against the backdrop of white clouds. At the same time, a lotus bloomed on his shoulder, and his aura suddenly surged. Golden radiance cascaded from the void, further enhancing his aura, pushing him directly into the late third realm. The powerful energy circulating continuously within him further amplified his momentum. He swung his sword, which was held behind him, and with a single sweep, all the innate divine abilities were shattered by a sword light. His spiritual power, comparable to the late third realm, erupted. The great sun rose and set, instantly slaying two early third-realm demons. Their massive demonic forms turned into countless fragments, falling onto the houses below along with the bloody rain. Ji Yuan then stepped on the golden lotuses in the void, appearing before a demon in an instant. The sword in his hand sliced through the air, immediately cutting down the demon before him.
Although demons were powerful, they were divided into ranks. Against ordinary human cultivators, they naturally held a significant advantage. However, against a human prodigy rarely seen in hundreds or thousands of years, their only fate was to be directly suppressed and killed. As Ji Yuan was clearing out demons, deafening roars echoed throughout the city once more. Over ten terrifying auras swept out; the long-standing clashes between Golden Core stage great cultivators finally saw action. The demonic and demonic races attacked seven Golden Core stage existences. The County Governor's side had four: Governor Fan Yuqing, who used arrays; a Supreme Elder from a sect; and experts from the imperial court. Adding to them was Wang Zhenyuan, the head of the Mingjian Division, a powerhouse ranked among the top five in the prefecture. However, he was now being targeted by a magical treasure. Four individuals had been deployed, using a magical treasure to restrain Wang Zhenyuan, preventing him from unleashing his full strength.
Meanwhile, the demonic forces outside the city had swept in. A demon army of tens of thousands was attacking the city, along with two hundred thousand rebels who were already prepared. With only the city's garrison forces, even with the imperial court's meticulously crafted weaponry, it was impossible to hold them back. At the same time, Ji Yuan also found himself in crisis. He had ultimately been targeted by the demonic and demonic races, and prodigies were also attacking him. Although they were not contemporary prodigies, but rather elders from the previous generation who had long since passed their prime, they were actually more troublesome for him. Such experts had no obvious weaknesses; long years had allowed them to cultivate a multitude of means and accumulate substantial wealth.
An inevitable great battle ensued. Even with Ji Yuan unleashing all his abilities, even at the cost of severe injuries, he only managed to kill two or three. Helpless, he had to retreat to the Mingxin Pavilion merchant guild, seeking refuge within the array to recuperate. Elder Hong Tian and Lin Yubai, among others, were also heavily injured. If they fought desperately, they still had some strength, but afterwards, the lightest outcome would be the shattering of their Dao foundation, and a more serious consequence would be death. Just as everyone was at a loss, a beam of lightning suddenly flashed, followed by rolling thunder from afar after a dozen breaths. A figure, not particularly imposing, appeared. With a single casual strike, he killed the demons and demonic cultivators who were besieging Mingxin Pavilion.
Xu Chengfeng! The person who arrived was none other than the peak master of the Nine Profound Sect's Thunder Marsh Peak, Xu Chengfeng, renowned as invincible within the same realm! Seeing this, Ji Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that regardless of victory or defeat today, they could now be considered safe. If everything went smoothly, all matters should conclude soon.