Chapter 758: The Torches of Tiangang City

The arrival of the Ran Sect greatly stabilized the morale of the Yun Qianzhou Alliance troops!

The alliance members felt even more confident that they could smoothly pass through the coming month, after all, the hostile forces opposing the Yun Qianzhou Alliance had been completely annihilated.

Without the Mount Jingting Sect lurking nearby, all everyone needed to guard against were humans who might wander here.

None of the various Island Lords believed that anyone could breach the Yun Qianzhou Alliance's defenses.

So what if it was Sect Leader Lu Xiao, a peak Sea Realm expert?

Was he not personally slain by Great Xia's number one prodigy?

At that time, Prodigy Lu was merely at the peak of the River Realm; nowadays, he has already reached the high stage of the Sea Realm!

In fact, when the various Island Lords followed Alliance Leader He to welcome the people of the Ran Sect, what impacted everyone the most was the young master of the Ran Sect!

Sea Realm, fourth stage?!

When we last parted, Sect Leader Lu was only at the peak of the River Realm!

What the hell...

It has been less than a year and a half since we separated; how could Prodigy Lu transform so completely? What exactly did he experience?

Everyone felt both puzzled and awestruck.

More than anything, they felt reassured!

Standing behind Alliance Leader He He Yingcai was indeed Prodigy Lu! With this, the Yun Qianzhou Alliance would naturally enjoy long-term stability and peace.

Although Lu Ran was not clear on everyone's specific thoughts, he could infer the general idea from the faces filled with either reverence or excitement.

He was naturally willing to see this scene, and under the arrangement of the Colorful Divine General, he led his team to station themselves on Yun Qianzhou Island.

This journey was indeed to provide escort and protection for Mr. Conglong.

But everyone was also here to piggyback on the cultivation benefits!

Yu Fish Changsheng's breakthrough to the Heaven Realm had drawn in a mist so thick it was outrageous! With the Central Great Island as the center point, within an eight-hundred-meter radius, one could not see one's own fingers even with a hand stretched out.

Being within the Misty Rain Lake, who would not cultivate quickly?

Lu Ran had specifically brought Tian Tian, Niu Niu Zhengzheng, and others, hoping they could achieve a breakthrough.

This included Yan Yan Shuangzi at the second stage of the Sea Realm, and Gao Yanyan and Qin Lady Yanzhi at the third stage of the Sea Realm; all of them might possibly ride the wind and soar straight up!

Once Mr. Conglong finished his promotion, Lu Ran's next plan was to continue northward, heading toward the Ten Thousand Blade Mountain in the northwest region of the Holy Lingshan Continent.

At that time, letting Phoenix Yan and the two generals, who had already reached the high stage of the Sea Realm, serve as the Sect Leader of Tianhuang Mountain under the Xihuangyi Sect—

Would that not be wonderful?

While Lu Ran fantasized about a bright future, he also activated the Yemo Yemo Xiesu within his garden, the Jinmie Demon, the moment he stationed himself in the Yun Qianzhou Archipelago.

This race possessed several Xie Fa techniques, excellent in both attack and defense.

But for Lu Ran, the only attractive one was the Body of Jinmie!

This technique allowed Lu Ran to ignore high-temperature environments, and even become immune to and absorb all fire-attribute output.

Thus, Lu Ran had one fewer weakness.

Mm... even harder to kill now~

The strength and realm of the Jinmie Demon Yemo Yemo Xiesu within the garden finally settled at the second stage of the Sea Realm.

Barely acceptable.

It was a pity that the divine weapon Ba Huang Dao had been promoted too long ago; a large number of Jinmie Demon dead souls had already returned to heaven, otherwise, the level of this Yemo Yemo Xiesu could have been raised a bit higher.

But it did not matter!

The evil nest of the Jinmie Demon clan was right there; it would not run away. For Lu Ran, that was a fixed resource refresh point.

Thus, Lu Ran stationed himself diligently within the Misty Rain Lake, also racing against time to piggyback on the cultivation benefits.

He was striding forward toward the peak of the Sea Realm!

Meanwhile, far away in the south of the Holy Lingshan Continent—

In the dead of night, in a lush forest southwest of Tiangang City.

A woman with her long hair coiled high and dressed in snow-white robes stood atop a mountain peak, her face showing slight surprise as she gazed into the distance at this ancient city that had risen from the ground.

Under the pitch-black night sky, this magnificent city was actually brightly lit with torches?

It was not hiding itself!

On the contrary, the numerous torches seemed specifically lit for travelers, guiding those who were lost.

The expression of the woman in white gradually changed, becoming filled with interest as she carefully examined the towering ancient city.

In her impression, the Holy Lingshan was an extremely cruel place.

Even the most dominant first and second-grade divine sects would build their sects deep within old forests, making them easy to defend and hard to attack.

At the very least, they would not dare to be so conspicuous!

The woman in white slightly narrowed her beautiful eyes, her gaze shifting subtly.

Barring any accidents, this should be the territory of the Liyuan Sect, right?

I have only left the Mountain Realm for a few years; has the overall atmosphere of the Holy Lingshan already turned out like this?

How is that possible!

Regardless of whether this ancient city belongs to the Wu Sheng faction, its philosophy of existence must be contrary to that of the entire Mountain Realm.

Therefore...

Is this city the one personally established by the legendary "Great Xia Prodigy"?

Did a prodigy arrive within the Liyuan Sect and become the actual person in charge?

"Hoo~" The woman in white floated up gracefully.

She approached Tiangang City silently and soundlessly, weaving quietly through the forest and circling the city to observe.

Suddenly, the woman in white stopped in her tracks, gazing into the distance at the city walls where torches flickered, looking at the soldiers upon them who were somewhat drowsy.

She slowly raised her hand, slipped two fingers into her high coiled hair, and plucked out an embroidery needle.

"Go," the woman in white said, her red lips parting slightly.

The embroidery needle, less than an inch long, thin and tiny, flew from the woman's fingertips and instantly merged into the night.

The woman in white quietly flew backward, disappearing into the mountain forest.

At the battlements, a guard watched the "veteran soldier" dozing off; his heart felt aggrieved, yet he dared not speak to wake him.

Barring any surprises, this would be another peaceful night, no different from the past several months.

Within Tian Gang City, under the rule of the Pear Garden Sect, who would dare to cause trouble?

If refugees arrived, that would be a matter for the city gate side, having nothing to do with this place. Hmm?

The guard suddenly felt a pain like a needle prick at the back of his head!

A thin, tiny embroidery needle easily pierced through Jiang Pin's Water Flow Armor and drilled straight into the man's skull.

It did not feel like a solid object piercing in.

Rather, at the moment the needle tip touched the back of the man's head, it seemed to merge into his brain.

"Uh." The man emitted a muffled throat sound, his eyes becoming dull.

The night grew deeper; the forest grew quieter.

In the mountain forest outside Tian Gang City, the woman in white waited silently, not knowing how long passed.

She suddenly turned her head, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on the corners of her mouth.

There, a man with hollow eyes and a dull expression stepped one by one until he stood behind the woman.

"Whoosh~" a faint sound emerged.

The thin, tiny embroidery needle shot out from between the man's eyebrows.

Strangely, there was no small needle hole between his eyebrows; the Water Flow Armor covering his forehead had been treated as nonexistent by the embroidery needle.

"Uh," the man again emitted a muffled sound, gradually regaining consciousness, then suddenly shivered.

His eyes snapped wide open; borrowing the hazy moonlight, he vaguely made out the face of the woman before him.

The woman was beautiful, possessing an extremely unique aura.

At first glance, she resembled a noble and holy Jiangjiang Xianzi.

At second glance, however, she appeared somewhat seductive, a very contradictory impression.

Yet at this moment, the woman's aura and appearance no longer mattered; the terrifying pressure emanating from her made the man tremble uncontrollably, causing him to instinctively lower his head.

From her red lips, the woman spoke a sentence, laced with a hint of amusement: "Do you intend to stand while speaking to me?"

"M-My lord," the man's legs went soft, and he hastily knelt on the ground, "My lord, spare my life, I..."

"Shh."

The man dared not make another sound.

"What disciple are you?"

"Another Another Shanwei; this humble one is a disciple of Another Another Shanwei..."

"Just right; if you discover anyone nearby, inform me," the woman casually instructed.

"Y-Yes, my lord," the Another Another Shanwei disciple said, trembling.

"What is this city called?"

"Tian Gang City, my lord; the 'Tian Gang' of 'Tian Gang Di Sha'."

"Why are the torches burning so brightly? Do you not fear people coming to burn, kill, and plunder?"

"We... we Tian Gang City take in refugees and shelter weak divine disciples, so we light torches. Tian Gang City belongs to the Pear Garden Sect; no one dares to harbor ill intentions."

The woman nodded lightly and asked again: "Who is your City Lord?"

"Wu Wu Sheng! The City Lord of Tian Gang City is none other than Lu Lu Zongzhu of the Pear Garden Sect, Lord Wu Sheng! He is at the peak of the Sea Realm and possesses a second-grade divine weapon..."

The Another Another Shanwei disciple spoke tremulously, dumping intelligence all at once.

He emphasized just how powerful Wu Sheng was, unsure himself whether he was trying to increase his chances of survival through this method.

"A Great Xia Prodigy?"

"Ah?" The man paused for a moment, then hastily shook his head, "No, no, he is not a Great Xia Prodigy."

The woman in white frowned slightly.

Not a Prodigy?

Just a powerful Wu Sheng believer with an upright style of conduct?

She suddenly asked: "How do you know about Great Xia Prodigies? Have you seen one?"

"We... it is said that our City Lord Wu belongs to the Ran Sect! The master of the Ran Sect is precisely a Great Xia Prodigy!"

Hearing this, the woman in white's beautiful eyes lit up.

As expected!

In this dark and cruel Holy Lingshan, the only person capable of lighting up an ancient city and sheltering compatriots could only be someone from the unique group known as "Great Xia Prodigies."

And this Prodigy was actually so domineering!

Could he even bring the City Lord of the Pear Garden Sect, a first-rate divine sect of the Wu Sheng faction, under his command?

Truly remarkable...

"Tell me about this master of the Ran Sect," the woman in white said, lifting her head slightly to gaze at the night sky in the far distance.

The vast city's flickering firelight dyed that patch of sky somewhat fiery red.

"It is said the master of the Ran Sect is named Lu Ran, the number one Great Xia Prodigy!"

The woman in white couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly.

Her slender jade fingers gently twisted the embroidery needle as her mind became active.

The number one prodigy of Great Xia?

Sounds like quite an extraordinary figure indeed.

"I heard he helped the City Lord of Wu slay the previous Sect Master of Liyuan Sect, supported the City Lord of Wu in rising to power and purged the corrupt customs of Liyuan Sect, and afterward built this Tiangang City."

The disciple of Another Another Shanwei chattered on, his voice growing smaller and smaller.

"Continue." The woman in white looked down at the trembling creatures beneath her.

"My lord, I-I only joined after Tiangang City was established, I came later..." The man was seized with terror, his stammering words carrying a sob at the edge.

As a high-tier cultivator of Jiang Jing, he was acutely aware that the mysterious woman before him was absolutely not merely at the Sea realm!

Beneath her gaze, he shook like chaff sifted in a sieve, unable to muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

"Came later..." The woman murmured softly, seeming somewhat disappointed.

"My lord!" The disciple of Another Another Shanwei's heart clenched; suddenly thinking of something, he hurriedly said, "I've heard this number one prodigy of Great Xia is immensely powerful, capable even of helping others defy fate and alter their destiny."

"Oh?" The woman in white's heart gave a slight start.

"Yes, my lord! It's said that many of the powerful Divine disciples in Tiangang City, believers of Master Yu Fu, believers of Divine Lie Tian... originally all seemed to be weak Divine disciples!"

The woman in white's expression grew increasingly astonished.

"I asked them about it. Though they wouldn't say, their temperaments and the way they handled things were completely unlike the disciples of the Lietianyi Sect or the Yufuyi Sect, and their Divine techniques seemed a bit off too! I dug all this out!"

The disciple of Another Another Shanwei gave a soft cry, enveloped and crushed by the terrifying pressure.

The noble and enchanting woman in white extended her long crimson tongue and licked the corner of her lips.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with a strange light as she said softly:

"Speak slowly, speak in detail."

(End of this chapter)