At that moment, a deep rumbling sound suddenly echoed from outside the stone door. A milky-white barrier of spiritual light flickered wildly across the surrounding walls, and the ground shook violently, as if the entire hall were about to collapse.
“What’s happening? What’s going on?”
Though the tremors had no effect on the group, the three of them couldn’t help but change expressions. The green-skinned alien let out a furious shout. After exchanging glances with the large-headed alien, the two immediately activated their escape techniques—one transformed into a streak of green light, while the other blurred and vanished on the spot.
Even though the plaza had flight-restricting formations, their cultivation levels allowed them to forcibly channel their spiritual power, rendering such restrictions ineffective—though it cost them extra energy.
Han Li wasted no time either. After a brief hesitation, he flicked his sleeve, sending out a streak of green light that circled the formation.
With a series of *bang* sounds, the green light shredded the formation to pieces before returning to him. Only then did Han Li activate his own escape technique, leaving behind a trail of afterimages as he dashed out.
The moment he stepped outside the stone door, he saw chaos engulfing the plaza. Crowds were frantically fleeing toward the surrounding buildings.
Above the plaza, a faint blue barrier had appeared, enveloping the entire city. Beyond it, countless white orbs the size of human heads rained down like a storm, exploding against the barrier in blinding flashes. The deafening booms sent violent tremors through the shield, making it seem as though it could collapse at any moment.
Han Li was shocked. He quickly raised his head, his pupils flashing with blue light as he focused on the source of the attacks. A few moments later, his eyelids twitched, and he sucked in a sharp breath.
Through his enhanced vision, he saw it clearly—a massive “island” floating at an altitude of three to four thousand *zhang*.
Yes, it was indeed an island—gleaming as if forged from pure silver, spanning nearly ten thousand *zhang* in size. The underside of the island was covered in countless white crystalline pillars, their surfaces flickering with runes as they continuously fired volleys of white orbs downward.
“Damn it, that’s a Jiao Chi Clan’s colossal war vessel! How is this possible? Did their army arrive ahead of schedule?” The large-headed alien, who had somehow produced a blue mirror, gasped in disbelief after a quick glance.
“What’s the use of discussing this now? We need to escape immediately! Brother Yuan, you’ve overseen this city for years—you must know a few secret passages leading outside, right?” The green-skinned alien, who had arrived nearby, asked urgently.
“I do know one secret tunnel that leads to a small hill about ten *li* west of the city. But with so many of our fellow cultivators here, we can’t just abandon them. I’ll gather everyone at the city gates and let them flee as they can. With luck, some might survive,” the large-headed alien said, his face briefly conflicted before hardening with resolve.
“Good, let’s do that,” the red-glowing alien, who had just arrived from the other side of the plaza, agreed immediately.
Han Li and the green-skinned alien voiced no objections.
Seeing this, the large-headed alien acted without delay.
A yellow light flashed around him, and suddenly, a beam of yellow energy shot out, transforming into a colossal, hundred-*zhang*-tall phantom—identical in appearance to the large-headed alien himself.
The sheer size and brilliance of the phantom made it impossible to ignore.
Suddenly, the phantom let out a deep, resonant voice, like the tolling of an ancient bell. The sound instantly calmed the panicked minds of all who heard it.
Tens of thousands of eyes in the plaza snapped toward the phantom in the sky.
With a solemn expression, the phantom spoke:
“Fellow cultivators, do not panic. The city’s defensive formation can hold for a long time—it won’t collapse immediately. Everyone, gather at the four city gates. In fifteen minutes, I will lift the restrictions there, allowing you all to escape. But before you flee, heed my warning: the Jiao Chi Clan has launched this unprovoked attack with the intent to exterminate our Tian Yun Thirteen Clans. Do not entertain thoughts of surrender or compromise. Those captured are either enslaved in their Icefire Black Prison or have their souls and nascent spirits extracted for alchemy and artifact forging.”
His words were chilling.
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances before someone shouted, and chaos erupted as they scattered in all directions.
Once outside the plaza, countless streaks of light shot toward the four city gates.
The large-headed alien made a hand seal, and the phantom above dissipated. He turned to Han Li and the others. “Come with me. Our presence is too conspicuous—we can’t blend in with them.”
The others nodded, and the four of them instantly transformed into streaks of light, flying out of the plaza.
By now, the blue barrier above the city was completely engulfed in the explosions of white orbs. A low hum emanated from the formation—a sign that it was operating at its limit.
As they flew, the large-headed alien kept glancing upward, his expression bitter.
“What’s wrong, Brother Yuan? Reluctant to leave this city?” the red-glowing alien asked lightly.
“I’ve overseen Green Light City for over a thousand years. Every formation here was crafted by my hands. Abandoning it now… is difficult,” the large-headed alien admitted with a sigh.
“Don’t despair. Though the Jiao Chi Clan is powerful, the combined might of our Tian Yun Thirteen Clans may not be inferior. We may yet reclaim it,” the red-glowing alien consoled.
“I hope so,” the large-headed alien replied with a wry smile.
“Brother Yuan, how did the Jiao Chi Clan’s forces arrive so quickly? Just two days ago, our scouts reported they were still two days away. Did their vanguard have something to do with this?” the green-skinned alien suddenly asked.
“I’m not sure. Their vanguard didn’t carry any war vessels—that much is certain. The one above us is a ‘Fortress-class’ vessel, second only to their ‘Domain-class’ and ‘City-class’ ones. It likely houses beings at the third-tier Saint-level—far beyond our ability to resist,” the large-headed alien said grimly.
“Even if there are no Saint-level beings aboard, a vessel this size will have plenty of experts at our level. Our only option is to flee. Let’s just hope the high-ranking Jiao Chi cultivators don’t notice us and focus on the other escapees instead,” the red-glowing alien chuckled darkly.
Han Li’s eyes flickered in realization. The large-headed alien’s earlier speech had been a ploy—to use the fleeing crowd as decoys while they slipped away unnoticed.
Though inwardly wary, Han Li said nothing. In matters of life and death, such tactics were hardly unjustifiable.
Still, he resolved to keep a closer eye on these three aliens.
With their cultivation levels, the group reached an ordinary-looking pavilion in moments. Its doors were tightly shut.
Before his light even touched the ground, the large-headed alien flicked his sleeve, unleashing a gust of wind that shattered the doors into dust.
Han Li and the others darted inside in flashes of light.
The first floor of the pavilion was nearly empty, save for a few tables and chairs and a black, pot-bellied statue with four eyes and four arms, its legs oddly slender.
Finding no obvious entrance, the group turned expectantly to the large-headed alien.
Ignoring their gazes, he glided toward the statue and spat out a yellow crystal, which vanished into the statue’s head.
With a sharp *crack*, a ripple of light spread across the statue’s surface. Its four eyes glowed yellow, and with a thunderous rumble, it stood up—revealing itself as a puppet.
As the large-headed alien formed a hand seal, the puppet’s body expanded, nearly filling the room. Then, it slapped its belly, revealing a glowing rune array.
A small door opened on its stomach, exposing a space large enough to hold a ten-*zhang* teleportation formation.
Without hesitation, the large-headed alien stepped inside and onto the formation.
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