His words were forceful and clear, and the expressions of the elders suddenly darkened.

They were aware of what the sect was doing, and this inspiring news meant that the people in the city would be put to use!

After the elders in the Elders' Hall dispersed, Yin Cong watched them leave with a deep gaze. Noticing that one person had not moved, he turned his head to look at him and asked, "Elder Sun, is there anything else?"

Sun Jue hesitated, then asked, "Sect Master, is the matter of the Demon Realm Protector truly unrelated to you?"

Yin Cong asked, "What do you want to say?"

"...That day, outside the Chaotian Pavilion of the sect, I saw a dark figure that seemed somewhat similar to Mu Shan, the protector of the Demon Realm. Was he... the sect leader?"

Sun Jue glanced up unintentionally and was horrified to find that the person at the head of the table had changed. Black demonic energy was emanating from his body, enveloping him like a thick fog. His pupils constricted, and he instinctively tried to run away, but found that his feet were bound by the demonic energy, and he could not move at all.

Fear welled up within him. He watched helplessly as the demonic energy coiled around his ankles, corroding his body. His mind felt as if it were being torn apart, causing him unbearable pain. He opened his mouth but could not utter a sound. After a few breaths, blood gushed from Sun Jue's seven orifices, and he collapsed to the ground.

Seeing that he was no longer breathing, Yin Cong slowly withdrew his hand, his demonic energy returning to his body. He then took a bag from his sleeve and put the corpse inside.

Inside the ancient tower in the northeast corner of the palace in Sangzhong City, Geng Qi opened his eyes with a moment of dazedness. In this unfamiliar place, before he could even raise his guard, he noticed the person sitting by the headboard beside him and immediately relaxed. He leaned over and hugged the person, resting his head on his waist and abdomen, and lazily asked, "What are you looking at?"

Rong Yu looked down and saw him yawning like a kitten. His slightly somber expression softened instantly, and he stroked his face: "Are you feeling better?"

"It was nothing to begin with." Geng Qi rubbed his eyes and looked up at him.

"..."

His eyes were moist, his eye sockets were red, and his face was also flushed. Thinking of how he had bitten his lip and had tears in his eyes before, Rong Yu felt hot all over. Seeing that his lips were swollen and he had to frown to move his body, he could only use his spiritual power to suppress his desire and raise his hand to pull the person into his arms so that he could lean on him.

Geng Qi, taking advantage of the situation, said, "My back aches."

"..."

Rong Yu resigned himself to rubbing his waist, and the things in his hands naturally fell into Geng Qi's hands.

That was the "battle report" sent back by the Imperial Advisor. The Lan Gu Sect had erected an unbreakable barrier outside Xiangbo City. If it were forcibly broken, it would inevitably harm the people in the city. The demon race naturally did not care, but the royal family had to take it into consideration.

The differences between the two sides were secondary, since neither side would listen to the other anyway. The awkward situation was that the demons, who were the main attackers, couldn't break through the barrier outside the city!

"Was this barrier there before?"

Rong Yu said, "The barrier is only for protection. Although Xiangbo City is affiliated with Langgu Gate, it is also a county city of Xirong Kingdom and needs to communicate with the outside world, so it cannot have a barrier."

Geng Qi nodded thoughtfully, then frowned slightly.

Since it couldn't be set up before, it must have been set up temporarily. If a temporary barrier can have such a strong defense, then the protective barrier of the Lan Valley Sect must be even more troublesome.

If a sect has hundreds of members, and they are all controlled by the Lan Gu Sect, killing them could be said to be for the sake of the innocent people in the city. But what if the people of the entire county are controlled?

The thing I'm worried about is something that hasn't happened yet, but if the city of Xiangbo is massacred, those people who were living peaceful lives and hadn't done anything wrong—they were the victims—it would be too cruel to slaughter thousands of lives.

Geng Qi asked, "Where will those extracted souls be placed?"

All things have a spirit, and humans are no exception. Every hair of a person can be used as medicine, and for the Lan Valley Sect, a person's soul will be used to set up an array.

The two exchanged a glance. Geng Qi felt a chill run down his spine and raised his hand to lift the corner of the blanket. Suddenly, he felt a pinch somewhere, and his body went limp, causing him to sit back down.

"..."

Rong Yu pulled him into his arms and held him tightly. "Soul repair cannot be done overnight. You are not allowed to leave here until you are fully recovered."

"I'm just going to take a look, I won't do anything reckless... Hmm... Where are you touching me!"

He shuddered and tried to dodge, but was held in place and unable to move.

After struggling for a while to no avail, he turned around and begged for mercy: "I really just want to go and see, I'll suffocate if I stay here any longer!"

He looked at the person behind him with sincere and pitiful eyes, almost as if he were about to put his hands together in front of him in a pleading gesture.

Rong Yu returned the gaze, his eyes shifting several times, and his hand slid down a bit: "One more time."

"Huh?" Geng Qi's face showed a bitter expression: "No, I'm really alright..."

Struggling often leads to compromise in the end. Finally freed from that ancient tower, Geng Qi no longer wanted to move.

Rong Yu carried the boy who had transformed into "Chang Yi" and rode the wind to the outside of Xiangbo City. Geng Qi had one arm around his neck and the other hand held a sugar figurine shaped like Rong Yu, which he put in his mouth.

Rong Yu looked at the "himself" in his hand, whose head had been bitten off, and felt a sudden tightness around his neck, his feelings complicated.

...