Chapter 2302: Blank Murals

Just like that, they entered? Yuan Xilin subconsciously turned back, looking at the city gate.

They had prepared quite a few contingencies, in case they were stopped...

But these city gate guards didn't even raise a hand. Is Wei'an City's defense really this lax?

However, he had recently observed Wei'an City through a water mirror; this great city bustled with commerce, its gates flowing ceaselessly day and night — if blocked for just a moment, long queues would form behind. If the gate inspections were especially strict, it would greatly hinder passage efficiency.

Besides, it was the middle of the night; the guards on duty should be slack too. Just now he had even seen two guards dozing off in a corner, their hats nearly falling off.

Forget it; probably because Wei'an City has been peaceful for so long with no incidents, the defenses have grown this lax.

Let Qixia Sect give them a good lesson then.

Inside the city, lights blazed bright; spore lamps glowed steadily, covering every street and alley. But few people moved on the streets; the several squads that passed through the gates entered the city like water absorbed by a sponge, instantly vanishing who knows where.

The entire city seemed asleep, exceptionally quiet.

Yuan Xilin had already assigned tasks while on the leaf boat; at this moment he simply said: "Disperse, act separately."

Qixia Sect immediately split into two groups, heading in different directions.

Yuan Xilin himself led several disciples, rushing toward Wei'an City's tallest spire.

The tower stood seven stories high, thirty-three zhang in total, its body painted dark red, majestic and stout.

It is said the tower holds over two hundred Bai Yu murals, engraved with the story of the Dragon God leading immortals against heavenly demons.

Hmph, from the Heavenly Palace to human kingdoms, all love to sing praises and extol virtues.

If this landmark building collapsed, it would crush the Dragon God Temple beside it, so Yuan Xilin came.

Nearly every building they passed had lights on, but the official road had no pedestrians; shadows flickered in alley depths. Yuan Xilin expanded his divine sense to check — they were just cats or dogs, or bats and foxes.

Soon, they reached the base of the Red Tower.

This tower isn't some official restricted area, so it needs no guards; naturally anyone can come and go. Reaching here, Yuan Xilin should have directly summoned Xuling and pushed it down with one hand.

But as if possessed, he instead stepped into the Red Tower.

Inside the tower it was pitch black, no light at all.

The disciples beside him were perceptive; they ignited a wisp of true fire in their hands to illuminate for the Sect Master.

From the outside, this tower appeared extremely thick and solid; everyone knew it was built with honest materials and workmanship.

But the moment the true fire lit up, everyone's gaze fell on the tower's murals, and all let out a "Huh?"

The mural directly facing the entrance was actually blank.

There was nothing inside the frame.

Yuan Xilin frowned; his disciples automatically dispersed to examine the other murals.

"This one isn't painted either!"

"This one is blank too!"

"The murals on the second and third floors are all empty as well."

The murals' material was entirely Bai Yu, each piece square and set into the wall, clean and grand. But the biggest problem was —

They were all blank!

Where were the murals that should have been painted on them? Yuan Xilin believed Wei'an City's officials could not possibly have put up all white boards here!

This tower is suspicious.

Yuan Xilin's eyes flashed; the long sword in his hand thrust straight at a mural.

"Shh-la" — the sound of tearing silk.

The mural was slashed open with a large gash.

Yuan Xilin's pupils contracted sharply; his flying sword pierced through two more murals.

"Shh, shh" — two sounds.

Yuan Xilin decided instantly: "Everyone out, quick!"

No jade or stone could block his sword, but the problem was, the feel of these several thrusts was clearly that of piercing through window paper!

The dull resistance of cutting jade — there wasn't a trace of it.

With these several swords down, how could he still not know he had walked into their trap?

This paper-pasted Red Tower is fundamentally not Wei'an City's real building!

Everyone hurried out of the tower, originally expecting the tower gate to suddenly shut, but it didn't.

They exited very smoothly; the street was still extremely quiet.

The only difference was that the open space before the tower had, at some unknown time, gained over a dozen people.

The one in front was precisely Liu Qingdao. Behind him, every single one was a great power; there were demons and humans.

Liu Qingdao laughed heartily: "Sect Master Yuan, we finally meet."

At the last streamside meeting, Liu Qingdao saw only Yuan Xilin's phantom; this time it is the real person.

"Good methods, this tower is actually paper-pasted." Yuan Xilin turned back to gaze up at the Red Tower. Stepping out and looking, the tower still looked so real; who could have guessed its insides were all paper-pasted? "You dare confront me here — could it be this entire district is also paper-pasted?"

This is a trap, and they just walked straight into it.

Liu Qingdao smiled: "Though not exactly right, not far off either."

He raised his hand, two fingers curling forward: "Attack!"

The great powers of the Bingyuan Division didn't hesitate, stepping forward to engage.

Since Qixia Sect entered the trap, Wei'an City is safe from worry; they can let loose completely!

What tempers and pride these newly-emerged immortals have, Liu Qingdao knows best. Speaking nicely to negotiate, they would only think you weak and bullyable; after all, the cultivation world's tradition for thousands of years has been the strong are revered.

Since that's the case, let's fight a satisfying battle and see whose fist is harder!

As his words fell, a sudden boom came from afar; something exploded, the vibration transmitting right to everyone's feet.

Everyone turned; they saw thick smoke rolling in Chengnan's sky, rushing straight to the heavens.

Unlike Yuan Xilin's choice of Hongta, Chu Elder prioritized the target of nearly a hundred households by the river, most of which had lights on, clearly indicating they were inhabited.

He directly summoned his own Xu Ling, which were over a dozen fire apes.

Their method of attack was simple, crude, yet effective: they charged through the residential area with their bodies engulfed in flames, and upon colliding with heavy or solid objects, they would trigger explosions.

Walls, beams, pillars, and doors were all set ablaze and blown apart.

Chu Elder specifically chose this large residential area to attack in order to give Weian City a bloody lesson.

An eye for an eye, blood for blood!

Liu Qingdao watched the chaos in Chengnan from afar, his expression neither startled nor angry, and he only said:

"It's been years since we last met, but Chu Elder's temper is still as volatile as ever."

Chu Elder's Xu Ling had left a deep impression on Liu Qingdao before—it was essentially a super-large incendiary bomb in the form of an ape, and he had once seen it blast a heavenly demon into pieces right in front of Liu Qingdao.

Now, however, he was using this weapon of mass destruction to bombard ordinary civilians.

Liu Qingdao's attitude made Yuan Xilin secretly frown.

Although the people of Weian City are subjects of Cangyan, Liu Qingdao sat and watched them being blown to pieces with such casual indifference. While it's true that in the eyes of immortals, mortals are like ants, don't the great immortals of the Bureau of Yuan have a duty to protect the civilians of their territories?

Could it be...

Liu Qingdao's next words, "otherwise," followed immediately:

"Chu Elder never actually stepped into those residential areas, did he? Otherwise, he wouldn't be conducting such indiscriminate bombardment."

Yuan Xilin's face sank like water: "What do you mean?"