Chapter 248: The City Under Siege

Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it.

The vast, surging swarm of insects, like a black cloud covering the sky, emitted a dense, buzzing sound as it covered the entire battlefield step by step. Some possessed sharp claws and fangs, some spat poison mist, and others unleashed bolts of electricity or flames...

Soldier-grade fierce insects correspond to human Wu Xiu at the Spring-Surging Realm.

General-grade fierce insects correspond to human Wu Xiu at the Five Seas Realm.

All the fierce insects were acting under the call of the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, having flown out from the underground to travel together. Only a few General-grade fierce insects had insect-script carved onto their bodies, controlled by Bai Shu to prevent them from being exploited by enemy insect-tamers and Disaster-Fire Realm Great Thought-Masters.

With the "Dissolve" character floating in the air and the Commander-grade exotic insects unable to participate in the battle, only exotic insect larvae like the Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors barely possessed the ability to summon the swarm. It is much like how a young Son of Heaven at the Five Seas Realm can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Dao-Seed Realm Wu Xiu.

On the battlefield, the fighting Wu Xiu were shocked, hurriedly raising their protective magic power.

The Wu Xiu from the Three Chen Palaces and the Heaven One Sect gathered together, led by Chen Wenwu. One of them said with a trembling voice, "Is... isn't this against the rules?"

The inspection envoys from the Crossing-the-Tribulation Temple standing on high ground all remained expressionless, offering no response to the series of questions rising from the camp in the Far West Ash Region.

Zhu Yibai and Yin Jiu stood back-to-back, resisting the enemies, their robes soaked in sweat and blood. Looking up to see the spreading swarm, the former laughed aloud, incomparably heroic, as if the desperate battlefield had just received powerful reinforcements.

The latter’s resolute face also relaxed slightly; he could finally catch his breath.

"I've long heard that the Nine Li Tribe is incredibly mysterious; coffin-salvaging, insect-raising, spirit-taming, and divination are all their specialties. Only today have I truly had my eyes opened. Brother Jiufu, your Nine Li Tribe has been too low-key in the past—were you intentionally feigning weakness to the world?"

Zhu Yibai slapped Yin Jiu hard on the shoulder; fighting side-by-side, the two had forged a bond of camaraderie.

Yin Jiu was slapped so hard he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, though he naturally felt proud of this in his heart.

When it comes to insect-taming, it still has to be the Hidden Ancestor.

If he were willing, the underground of the entire twenty-eight states of the Lingxiao Living Realm would know no peace; the swarm he could summon would be unimaginable. It is a pity that the Nine Li Tribe's strength on the surface is insufficient, and the chiefs of the nine great clans lack the strength and ambition to contend for the world.

More importantly, the Hidden Ancestor will not take orders from anyone in the Nine Li Tribe, unless the leader who went missing a thousand years ago returns.

Casting his gaze toward Li Youyi in the distance, Yin Jiu was finally completely won over by the talent and character he had displayed at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival. It is a pity... Yin Shi did not see all of this.

If she had seen it, perhaps she too would have been convinced by this Divine Hidden One.

The situation changed drastically. "Hidden Ash" and "Bitter Truth," wearing the human skins of ministers and good citizens, gave up their attack on Zhu Yibai and Yin Jiu and rushed rapidly toward the location of the Luan-Born Qilin-Young.

By the sea.

Ming Niansheng and Tantai Jing sensed the movement and looked toward the city area, which was filled with black dots.

Scattered fierce insects had already flown near the Ash Region, only to be shattered into puffs of black smoke by the formation, emitting sizzling sounds.

Tantai Jing, known as the most powerful Great Thought-Master, could not believe that someone in the younger generation could stir up such a massive commotion. Is this really not the method of an insect-tamer at the Spirit-Thought Master level?

Lu Cangsheng flew up from the camp filled with formation flags and landed on the city wall, looking down at the tidal wave of insects: "I truly didn't expect that a one-sided situation would see such a change. It seems Li Youyi's identity as an insect-tamer is also not to be underestimated."

A Seventh Sea Wu Xiu of the Thunder Roar Sect was already boiling with excitement: "Are we not going to make a move yet?"

Lu Cangsheng looked toward the position of the full moon in the sky, secretly calculating the time, and shook his head: "The current situation is even more blurred; to act rashly would be to risk total destruction."

Qin Qian said: "That's right, let them fight. The bell will ring soon; when that time comes, we will bypass the battlefield directly and be the first to enter the Dragon Palace."

"If the Luan-Born Qilin-Young wins, the Crossing-the-Tribulation Temple might truly support the forces behind him, and the consequences would be unimaginable."

"Only by entering the Dragon Palace first can we remain in an invincible position."

Within the Thunder Roar Sect, it was clearly divided into conservative and radical factions.

From the first floor of the Bright Moon Seven Stars Pavilion, two figures, a man and a woman, rushed out, looking in disbelief at the swarm of insects surging like a black flood along the Universe Great Dao.

The woman in white said: "I didn't expect there to be variables. This is troublesome now; how should we choose?"

The man in white said: "The swarm was brought by those seven Prince-grade exotic insect larvae; it must be unstable. As long as the Luan-Born Qilin-Young organizes a Great Thought-Master phalanx and uses thought-power, he can break it."

The woman in white said: "Will Li Youyi and Zuoqiu Hong give him the chance to organize a Great Thought-Master phalanx? The twenty-eight Disaster-Fire Realm Great Thought-Masters by the sea are easy to mobilize, but letting Ge Xiantong escape the formation is likely a situation the Luan-Born Qilin-Young would even less like to see."

The man in white pondered for a moment: "Then let's wait a while longer, until the situation becomes certain."

Not to mention the Far West Ash Region and the various factions being stunned by the sudden army of insects, even Zuoqiu Hongting was momentarily lost, looking at Li Youyi with eyes full of questions.

Where did you summon them from?

Is this Qiuzhou City your home, or mine?

Having originally decided to fight to the death, she now felt her confidence reignited, her spirit soaring.

The Luan-Born Qilin-Young and Long Dian displayed the demeanor expected of top experts of the younger generation; they did not lose their footing due to the sudden, massive change, both maintaining sharp eyes and calm minds.

Long Dian took out a small bottle of Son of Heaven Dragon Blood and poured it into his mouth.

The dragon blood was scalding, like swallowing magma as it went down his throat.

Li Youyi and Zuoqiu Hongting exchanged a glance and attacked Long Dian. But the moment they moved, the energy flow intertwined by the four of them changed, subsequently drawing in the Azure Luan and the Qilin.

The Azure Luan flew toward Zuoqiu Hongting; after spreading its wings, it was as large as a blue cloud, carrying both wind and fire powers.

Hurricanes howled, and flames scorched.

The Qilin rushed fiercely toward Li Youyi, five zhang long, like a small metal mountain. Although it was a battle-method thought-form, its body was incredibly solid, and its eyes were full of wisdom.

It gathered metal and wood within, covered by clouds and mist without.

Li Youyi, currently leaping in the air above the street, had no choice but to forcefully change his direction of attack, stepping on the Jade Cauldron and colliding with the Qilin's head.

"Boom!"

Magic power collided, and the air vibrated.

Suddenly.

The handsome true form of the Luan-Born Qilin-Young appeared out of thin air above Li Youyi's head like a phantom, his speed reaching a shocking degree. He was very clear about one thing: as long as he killed Li Youyi, the insect-tamer, the insect army would naturally disperse.

He held a silver staff; after swinging it, silver light filled the sky, and the energy sent the surrounding Wu Xiu flying.

Li Youyi, located beneath the silver staff, finally felt the terror of the Luan-Born Qilin-Young, locked firmly by the opponent's battle-method thought-form, unable to escape, and forced to fight head-on.

"Bang!"

The Yellow Dragon Sword swung to block.

His left arm sank, and the Startling Feather Sword in his left hand thrust forward, aiming to strike the Luan-Born Qilin-Young's right chest. This was because Cang Li had once said that the Luan-Born Qilin-Young's heart was not on the left side.

Things went against his wishes; the moment the Yellow Dragon Sword and the silver staff touched, a terrifying, immense force shook Li Youyi so hard he could barely grip the hilt, and his body fell straight down.

The thrusting Startling Feather Sword could only change from attack to defense, parrying the second strike of the staff that came piercing through the Luan-Born Qilin-Young's chest.

The silver staff was formed from the Flowing Silver Mask.

It could be solid or liquid, changing unpredictably, and was incredibly dangerous.

"Boom!"

After the magic weapons collided, energy light exploded.

Li Youyi retreated, the stone slabs beneath his feet cracking one after another, plowing a trench dozens of meters long, the end of the trench reaching waist-deep.

His Daoist robe was completely shattered, revealing the Blood Handprint Demon Armor he wore underneath.

His ten fingers ached as if they were splitting, blood seeping from between them, but he still gripped both swords tightly. The symmetrical muscle lines of his arms were full of masculine beauty.

On the other side, after Long Dian swallowed the Son of Heaven Dragon Blood, dragon-scale patterns appeared on his skin. He grabbed the bronze battle-halberd stuck in the ground, blood mist spraying from his pores, his muscles and bones emitting dragon roars, and the space around him showing signs of real distortion.

His eyes were bright, locked onto Zuoqiu Hongting, and he sprang with his legs, swinging the halberd to intercept her, not giving her a chance to join forces with Li Youyi.

Li Youyi circulated his magic power through his body once, and his painful, numb fingers instantly recovered. He met the gaze of the approaching Luan-Born Qilin-Young. The latter was covered in brilliant silver light, his battle-suit as clean as new, and the massive thought-forms of the Azure Luan and Qilin condensed once more.

"Whoosh!"

Blood mist permeated from the soft armor on Li Youyi's body, and more than nine hundred blood-colored scriptures were branded onto his skin, demonic energy erupting.

Above his head, there was a sound of wind breaking as the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors flew over.

Behind them were seven long rivers of insects, winding and twisting, rotating as they advanced.

"Whoosh!"

Li Youyi shot out of the trench like a spring, moving in parallel with the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, his arms bare, swords in hand, colliding with the Luan-Born Qilin-Young once again.

Swords came and staves went, the moves fierce.

The two fought with the shadows of more than a dozen people.

The addition of the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors greatly restricted the Luan-Born Qilin-Young's speed and forced him to divert part of his power to defense. The current Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors could break his protective magic power; their membrane wings could potentially slash his neck, and their claws could potentially pierce his physical body.

The seven insect swarms, like seven long rivers, continuously impacted the Luan-Born Qilin-Young.

After dozens of moves, Li Youyi touched the ground and sprang up, suddenly raising his swords. Behind him, six battle-method thought-form divine shadows appeared explosively, and he opened the sea with both swords, slashing out with 150% combat power.

The Luan-Born Qilin-Young's pupils shrank, and more than seven hundred scriptures erupted from the silver staff in his hand, as if transforming into a great scripture umbrella.

Li Youyi's two swords, along with the seven Phoenix-Winged Moth Emperors, formed nine forces, tyrannically crashing through the scripture umbrella and knocking the Luan-Born Qilin-Young flying, causing him to fall more than ten zhang away.

"Snap, snap!"

The two swords carved two deep sword-qi trenches into the ground between the two, spanning more than ten zhang.

A strand of silver hair drifted slowly down in the air.

The Luan-Born Qilin-Young held the silver staff as the scriptures flew back like a tide, and a bright red bloodstain appeared on his face, which was like a ten-thousand-year glacier. Fortunately, the battle-suit he wore was of an extremely high grade and was equipped with defensive runes; otherwise, those two swords would surely have wounded him.

In the past, he disdained wearing defensive battle-suits or using magic weapons, believing he could fight his way through the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival with his bare hands.

The Wu Xiu who saw that scene were all shocked, breathless.

The Luan-Born Qilin-Young had actually been beaten back and was bleeding!

The last time someone was able to wound the Luan-Born Qilin-Young was Cang Li. But that was the result of the experts of the entire Nine Li Tribe besieging him together, and they paid a tragic price. If Cang Li and Li Jiufu had not fled, the Nine Li Tribe experts would likely have been wiped out by the Luan-Born Qilin-Young.

And Li Youyi was an insect-tamer himself.

The insects he raised were naturally a part of his strength.