A massive city enveloped in a pale-yellow light barrier stood surrounded by over a hundred silver warships of varying sizes, floating ominously in the air.
The smaller silver warships measured around a thousand zhang in length, while the largest stretched over ten thousand zhang, resembling a small city hovering directly above the colossal metropolis.
Within the most enormous of these warships, over a dozen Void Refinement-stage cultivators from the Horned Race stood atop a pavilion-like structure, gazing intently at the city below.
Behind them, seated on a chair, was a young woman with silver-white skin and striking purple-gold pupils.
Some of the group whispered among themselves, while others pointed and gestured toward the city beneath them.
The young woman, however, wore a contemplative expression, as if deep in thought.
Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light appeared at the pavilion’s entrance, and a streak of red light shot in, circling once before darting toward the woman.
With a slight raise of her delicate brows, she beckoned with one hand, and the red light transformed into a flickering flame, settling into her palm.
She cradled the flame and immersed her spiritual sense into it.
After a long moment, her expression darkened, and she spoke in an icy tone, “Such incompetence! A complete disgrace!”
The others stiffened at her words, falling silent and turning their gazes toward her.
“Venerable One, what has happened to anger you so?” asked a slightly hunched man cautiously.
“Hmph! A group of upper-tier seventh and eighth-stage warriors went to capture Jia Tianmu, but one squad was completely annihilated upon teleportation, while the other failed to even activate their teleportation array!” The woman’s purple pupils flashed with fury.
“How is that possible? Even if Jia Tianmu is skilled in puppetry, he’s merely a mid-tier upper-rank cultivator. How could he annihilate his pursuers?” A narrow-faced woman voiced her disbelief.
“According to the survivors, it wasn’t Jia Tianmu who did it—it was someone else,” the young woman replied, shaking her head.
“Someone else? Could there be another Saint Race member lingering in this region besides the forces at Hengshui City?” The hunched man was visibly startled.
“No, not a Body Integration cultivator—just an upper-tier seventh-stage warrior. That’s why I called them useless! For so many to fall at the hands of a single peer!” The woman’s voice grew even colder as her pupils shimmered with purple light.
The others, sensing her rage, remained silent, not daring to speak further.
“Send word to Envoys Tu immediately. Inform them of the incident’s location and have them take over the pursuit of Jia Tianmu. We will focus on capturing Hengshui City!” Her words were sharp as blades, each syllable laced with authority.
“But Envoy Tu is already occupied with another mission. Would he be willing to come?” someone ventured cautiously.
“Just tell him that the person who intervened is the very one they’ve been trying to intercept. They’ll take the task without complaint,” the woman replied coolly, glancing at the speaker.
“The one who rescued Jia Tianmu is the target Envoy Tu has been hunting?” The group exchanged stunned looks.
“Enough. This matter is closed. Our priority now is to take this city within three days! Once it falls, the remaining Jinhua City will be isolated, as good as ours. Proceed as planned,” the woman commanded.
“Yes!” The Horned Race elites bowed in unison before departing the pavilion, each returning to their respective warships.
An hour later, at the woman’s order, all the warships shimmered with spiritual light, unleashing a deafening roar.
Countless Horned Race warriors, twin-headed eagles, and hundreds of winged flood dragons surged from the warships, forming disciplined ranks in the sky, encircling the city from all sides.
Following them, multicolored puppets emerged from the warships—most humanoid, some as small as ordinary people, others towering over ten zhang tall.
Among them were three colossal beast puppets, each over a hundred zhang in size.
One resembled a giant tortoise with three heads and a spiked shell.
Another had a tiger’s head and an ape’s body, crowned with massive golden antlers.
The third was a crystalline, ant-like puppet, the largest of all, its flawless white body seemingly forged from spirit crystal.
At the sight of this overwhelming assault, the city beneath the barrier erupted into chaos.
Through the translucent shield, numerous formations within the city flared to life, shooting thick beams of light into the barrier overhead.
The already solid-looking shield grew even more radiant, its surface now teeming with glowing runes.
From the city’s structures, countless figures took flight, many rushing toward the activated formations.
“Begin the attack!” The silver-skinned woman aboard the largest warship commanded.
Moments later, the three colossal puppets led the assault.
The giant tortoise’s shell shimmered, unleashing a barrage of piercing spikes.
The tiger-headed ape roared, spewing a golden beam crackling with wind and thunder.
The crystalline ant exhaled a dense green mist that billowed forward.
Almost simultaneously, the warships unleashed their own volleys, countless beams of light blanketing the sky.
In an instant, the air shook with thunderous explosions, relentless as crashing waves or rolling thunder.
—
Deep within the belly of a towering mountain, a dim and silent hall lay shrouded in darkness, untouched for who knew how long.
But then, a white flash erupted in the center of the hall, revealing a glowing teleportation formation several zhang wide.
The formation hummed softly before flaring brighter, and two blurred figures materialized within it.
One wore a green robe and appeared youthful, while the other had disheveled hair obscuring half his face.
Han Li and Jia Tianmu!
“This place is highly secret—a teleportation formation built by our Ancient Race, reserved for emergencies. Few even know of its existence. We’re now far from the Horned Race’s occupied territory, just days away from Yun City, the third-largest city of the Thirteen Sky Cloud Clans,” Jia Tianmu explained with a smile, scanning their surroundings.
He flicked a spell toward a crystal embedded in the wall, and instantly, the hall brightened as over a dozen light sources activated, illuminating the space.
Han Li observed the hall—about a hundred zhang wide, constructed from plain blue-white stone, yet immaculately clean.
He nodded slightly. “Indeed, it seems no one has been here for a long time. How far is this Yun City you mentioned? I’ve heard even your Great Elder has gone there.”
“Oh, you know of that? Well, Yun City is only half a month’s journey from here. It’s the third-largest city of the Thirteen Clans, uniquely constructed and quite famous. It’s also the closest major city to the Horned Race’s frontlines. Once war breaks out in earnest, it’ll likely become our central stronghold,” Jia Tianmu chuckled.
“Good. A city of such renown must be sizable. I have some matters to attend to in a major city,” Han Li replied neutrally.
“I have a temporary residence in Yun City—consider me half a local. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I may not handle grand affairs, but minor matters are within my power,” Jia Tianmu offered warmly, clearly eager to befriend Han Li after witnessing his effortless slaughter of multiple upper-tier cultivators.
“Thank you. I may indeed seek your assistance later,” Han Li replied without outright refusing the goodwill.
“Right now, entering Yun City isn’t easy for outsiders, especially newcomers like you. But having seen you eliminate Horned Race elites, I can vouch for you. Speaking of which—why not join our Ancient Race as a guest elder? I have some influence and could introduce you directly to our elders. With your abilities, you’d be highly valued. The benefits far exceed what you might imagine, and it’d make navigating the Thirteen Clans much easier,” Jia Tianmu suggested with a grin.
“Your offer is generous, but I’m unsure how long I’ll remain in the Sky Cloud region. Let’s discuss this another time,” Han Li deflected lightly.
“Fair enough! For now, let’s head to Yun City. I have several close friends there who’d be delighted to meet you,” Jia Tianmu pressed enthusiastically.
Han Li nodded but said nothing further.
By then, they had already exited the teleportation formation and approached the hall’s entrance.
Pushing open the doors, they found a winding stone passage spiraling upward.
In flashes of light, Han Li and Jia Tianmu vanished into the passage.
Moments later, a white streak and a green beam shot from the mountainside, streaking across the sky toward the distant horizon.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage