Chu Tianyao slowly said, "Lord Nangong... you don't really need to think about all this."

"This is the cultivation world... Strictly speaking, there is no such thing as attacking or defending a city... Cultivators can fly and escape into the earth, so who can a city possibly trap?"

"If I had to name it, it would be what's known as a city-protecting formation..."

Chu Tianyao continued, "However, since Ruoli and I are inside the city... even if Guan Xin activates the city's protective formation, we still have a way to break it."

"Therefore, this is also a meaningless act."

"My opinion is that Murong Ran doesn't care about the gain or loss of this ancient Ning City at all..."

"She just wants us all to come together... to come out of the shadows and into the light, and then wipe us all out."

Nangong Yanyu seemed lost in thought and remained silent for a moment.

Xiao Ruoli said, "Uncle Nangong, things have come to this point... there's no need to hesitate, we should just launch a counterattack."

"Take this city first, then we'll face Murong Ran's army..."

"Murong Ran intends to annihilate us completely, and so do we."

Xiao Ruoli's expression was firm: "If we want to rebuild the Azure Dragon Dynasty, there will inevitably be an earth-shattering battle."

Nangong Yanyu nodded. "Since both Her Highness the Princess and Young Master Chu Tianyao have said so... then I will launch the attack first thing tomorrow morning."

Xiao Ruoli said in a deep voice, "Uncle Nangong, just focus on attacking the City Lord's Mansion and taking Guan Xin. You don't need to worry about us here."

Chu Tianyao also smiled and said, "Mr. Nangong, with me here... they can't harm the Ning family in the slightest."

Nangong Yanyu pondered for a moment, then said, "In that case, let's each prepare... and begin our operation first thing tomorrow morning!"

The next morning, Nangong Yanyu gathered all the people in Gu Ning City.

He took the lead and charged straight into Guan Xin's city lord's mansion.

On the street, this group of people encountered the Qionghuang Army inside the city!

However, the battle ended very quickly...

Nangong Yanyu led an army of nearly 20,000 men and encountered the Qionghuang Army of more than 1,000 men.

Almost instantly, the Qionghuang Army was submerged in the crowd.

Outside Ning's residence, the troops that heard the sounds of fighting did not choose to attack Ning Zeyuan's government office.

They did not attempt to stop Nangong Yanyu's army...

These troops chose to withdraw immediately.

Meanwhile, Guan Xin, sitting calmly in the city lord's mansion, watched as Nangong Yanyu's troops drew closer, his expression remaining remarkably calm.

There was no trace of panic on his face, as if everything was going according to plan.

Nangong Yanyu and her group advanced all the way!

They did encounter resistance during their attack on the city lord's mansion in Gu Ning City.

But this resistance... seems rather weak and insignificant!

There were only a few interceptions by a thousand-strong force, and none of these forces even had a Golden Core cultivator.

Nangong Yanyu successfully captured the city lord's mansion.

Guan Xin didn't even appear during this process.

"What's going on? Has Murong Ran really given up on Gu Ning City like this?"

Despite not understanding why, Nangong Yanyu still managed to take over the entire city...

Guan Xin, on the other hand, led the main force to retreat outside the city.

It's as if he never intended to defend the city in the first place...

Despite having captured Gu Ning City, Nan Gong Yan Yu felt a great sense of unease.

"Why would this happen...? Did Murong Ran lure us into the city just to surround us on the outside and then wipe us out in one fell swoop?"

"Was this city abandoned too easily?"

"Did I overlook something...? What exactly is Murong Ran's plan?"

Nangong Yanyu felt an increasing sense of unease, but he couldn't figure out the problem for the time being.

Outside the city, Guan Xin led the main force of Gu Ning City to set up camp...

Over the next two or three days, Qionghuang Army troops arrived in the vicinity of Gu Ning City.

Nangong Yanyu stood atop the city wall, looking down.

A large number of Qionghuang Army soldiers have been stationed outside the city, completely surrounding the entire Gu Ning City.

The scene was already hinting at a situation where we were surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Nangong Yanyu was momentarily stunned...

"How similar this scene is to what it was ten years ago?"

"That day, atop the walls of Purple Dream Dragon City, the late emperor faced his vast army in the same manner..."

"However, on that day I was forced to retreat... and today, I lead the former troops of the Azure Dragon Dynasty to gather here..."

"Your Highness the Princess and Young Master Chu Tianyao are by my side. I will not back down again... I will fight back for Your Majesty to reclaim this empire!"

Standing beside Nangong Yanyu was Xiao Ruoli, dressed in a cloud-patterned robe.

Unlike ten years ago, Xiao Ruoli is now powerful enough...

That once frail little girl has grown into a powerful figure at the pinnacle of this world.

"Uncle Nangong, no matter how many enemies there are, I believe I can defeat them."

Chu Tianyao stood beside Xiao Ruoli and took her hand...

"Ruoli, with me here, no one can hurt you in the slightest."

Under the command of Nangong Yanyu, the defenses of Gu Ning City have been completed.

With a defense force of nearly 20,000 men, the ancient city of Ning was fortified and seemingly impregnable...

In addition, they have three Nascent Soul level experts: Chu Tianyao, Xiao Ruoli, and Nangong Yanyu.

It's hard to imagine what price Murong Ran would have to pay to wipe out Nangong Yanyu and the others in one fell swoop.

Or rather, can she really do it?!

Will Murong Ran regret giving up this ancient city of Gu Ning so easily?

At this moment... in Qiongming City, thousands of miles away.

Inside the Qionghuang Palace

Murong Ran sat on the throne, holding the latest battle report in her hand.

"Your subject Guan Xin, following Your Majesty's instructions... after a brief resistance, led all the Qionghuang Army away from Guning City."

"I have already set up camp outside the old city of Ning... and joined up with the friendly forces who came to suppress the rebels."

"Before leaving the ancient city of Gu Ning, I made arrangements according to Your Majesty's instructions... and they will take effect today..."

Murong Ran looked at the news in the battle report, her face expressionless.

She waved her hand, "All of you may leave..."

All the civil and military officials bowed and withdrew.

In the vast Qionghuang Palace, only Murong Ran remained.

She slowly rose from the throne.

Not far from the Qionghuang Palace is a very tall building.

This building is called the Nine-Story Building.

On this day, Murong Ran, dressed in a dazzling phoenix robe, climbed the tower alone in the glow of the setting sun.

She climbed the nine-story tower alone!

Murong Ran ascended the steps, each step steady and deliberate...

She climbed to the highest point step by step, and step by step she trampled the whole world under her feet.