Chapter 155 With one person standing tall and proud.
Duyan City. The silver-white stone walls that encircle the city rise slowly and steadily, and on the high walls, sword shadows pierce through the clouds and mist, patrolling along the walls.
Three cultivators are stationed every kilometer along the ring road around the city to check each resident entering the city and maintain order.
Buildings within a ten-mile radius of the city center were moved to their original locations. Timber and ironware suspended above the original buildings were then stacked and assembled in sequence to create a magnificent and sturdy tower.
The repairmen below were busy at work, and huge stones rose up and were embedded into the tower.
"What is this?" a voice asked from behind them.
The repairman turned back.
The cultivator carrying a long spear on his shoulder had a frosty expression and sharp, cold eyes.
“Zhu Zhenjun.” The commander recognized the person and hurriedly said, “This tower has a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine floors and is indestructible. Even if the demonic cultivators use their deadly methods, it will still provide a place for the people to hide.”
“I’m talking about this stone.” The spear tip rose, pointing to the stone half-embedded in the wall. Unlike the other stones, this rhomboid, dark gray stone was polished smooth as a mirror on every side, reflecting images clearly.
"True Lord Shen, this is a projection stone," the command device said.
“Of course I know this is a projection stone.” Zhu Huo lowered his brows and smiled coldly with an ambiguous meaning: “Heh, you really have a knack for this.”
The commander felt a sudden drop in the air pressure. Before he could explain, Zhu Huo strode towards another person.
"Nanmen Hong." Her voice was full of disgust: "I have patrolled fifty-eight cities forty times, and you..." The person she addressed by name turned around, and Hong Ying waved her hand towards the tower, "Still doing this?"
Nanmen Hongxian understood the meaning behind Zhu Huo's words and said calmly, "True Lord Chen, these projection stones can connect to all regions of the Five Continents, allowing us to communicate synchronously and understand the situation of the encirclement operation so that we can make timely plans for the next step."
Zhu Huo coldly said, his eyes full of mockery: "How clever of you. Do you think the demonic cultivators don't know about our actions thoroughly or quickly enough?"
Nanmen Hong said, "The projection stone only projects onto the area above the nine hundredth floor inside the tower. Moreover, Venerable Chongjue has already had the array, artifact, magic, and talisman cultivators of the five continents simultaneously enhance their spiritual power sensing. True Lord, there is no need to worry about the news leaking out."
"You actually brought out the Heavy Jade to intimidate me." Zhu Huo glanced at him and scoffed, "Projection Stone, you really enjoy this."
"Young friend, your Fire Phoenix Clan has not left the Extreme Continent for a long time. As a member of the younger generation, it is very good that you take the lead in coming out."
The slightly aged voice sounded very familiar, and at this moment the blurry figure on the projection stone gradually revealed its outline.
It is the Immortal Crane Xiu!
Looking around him, he was in a dense forest, sitting under a banana tree, speaking to someone with a gentle expression.
The man who was greeted so warmly by Elder Zong, with his red hair and arrogant face full of impatience, said: "Old man, you're so annoying. What are you pretending to ask about now?"
"Oh dear." Facing the impolite junior, Master Hexiu remained calm and said gently, "Young friend, please don't be nervous. I am only concerned about rare races and have no other intentions. It is a blessing that you are able to thrive and multiply."
Guan Wangzhen raised an eyebrow and looked at him quietly. After a while, he walked up to the Crane Xiu Master, bowed down and looked down at the person who was smiling at him. One corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a gleaming white tiger tooth: "What do you take my clan for? Procreation?"
Ten Beast Taming Sect cultivators watched him warily.
Master Hexiu stroked his beard and laughed, "I misspoke. Please forgive me, young friend. I will definitely come to apologize with gifts after this operation is over."
Guan Wangzhen sneered, and suddenly the soil around the rock where the Crane Xiu Immortal was sitting rose up like needles pointing directly at the Crane Xiu.
"Guan Wangzhen, what are you doing?!" All sorts of spirit beasts from the Beast Taming Sect immediately gathered around him, surrounding him along with the Beast Taming cultivators.
Guan Wangzhen glanced sideways at the spirit beasts surrounding him with his upturned phoenix eyes, and the corner of his mouth, which was raised, stretched even wider. Against the backdrop of his red hair, he appeared even more domineering and arrogant.
He even more rudely pointed his index finger at He Xiu, his eyes fierce as he warned, "Whether it's a demon or anything else, as long as it's an enemy, I will never back down. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Don't entertain any unrealistic fantasies. Otherwise, those who touch my sect will die; those who touch my people will die. Which do you choose?"
Inside Duyan City, everyone who witnessed this scene was speechless with shock.
In everyone's eyes, Guan Wangzhen's sudden outburst of anger and his disrespectful remarks to an elder who was older and more powerful than him were simply outrageous.
What shocked them even more was that being pointed at and warned by a mere junior in front of their own disciples was such a loss of face that Master He's face turned ashen. After a moment of silence, he could only laugh awkwardly and say, "Young friend, you misunderstand. The encirclement operation is of utmost importance. You have contributed a lot to the demon-slaying just now, so please take a rest."
Afterwards, he tried to persuade him in a kind and gentle manner, but Guan Wangzhen glared at him arrogantly without moving. It was only the Crane Immortal who quietly moved aside and sat down somewhere else.
The group of artifact cultivators were dumbfounded.
He actually tolerated it? Master Hexiu, a high-ranking elder of the Beast Taming Sect, actually tolerated it?
The onlookers turned to the leader of the Dingsheng Sect.
However, Zhu Huo, the team leader, was even more arrogant and domineering: "Serves you right!"
After finishing his commentary, his sharp eyes immediately swept over: "What's so special about this?"
The repairman then remembered the inexplicable projection from the projection stone and immediately became flustered.
"Shibai, if you ask me, you should come back to the Zhu family. Although the cultivators who participated in this trial have advanced rapidly, there are many paths that no one has tried before. Why bother to walk a path that no one has walked before and become a pathfinder? Just focus on cultivating your magic."
The projection stone suddenly switched from He Xiu Zhenren's side to the Zhu family's team!
Zhu Shengli continued, "However, the Dingsheng Sect does indeed have some methods. No wonder it has managed to survive until now. Shibai, you should also teach some cultivation techniques to our Zhu family's descendants so that they can absorb them well and grow faster. Don't you most hope that the Zhu family's descendants can cultivate peacefully and smoothly? Tell me, and I will break it down carefully and then go back to teach everyone."
Wow, how shameless! The dignified head of the Zhu family actually coveted the cultivation secrets of the Dingsheng Sect, and even secretly had Zhu Shibai leak the sect's important methods.
So what exactly is the method?
The people inside Duyan City stopped in their tracks and listened intently.
As the projection stone began to take shape, a smooth and beautiful outline slowly spoke: "To obtain the method, one needs neither talent nor hard work. In addition, one must have a firm and unwavering Dao heart."
Well, what Zhu Shibai said was essentially meaningless. The audience felt a pang of disappointment, then picked up their feet and continued working.
Zhu Shengli's voice also carried a hint of disappointment: "What you've said, well, I suppose you wouldn't hide it from me. It seems your smooth advancement is all thanks to yourself. If you hadn't insisted on cultivating weapon techniques, you might have already reached the Golden Core stage many years ago. Why wait until now! Shibai, Dingsheng Sect will only hold you back. You should go home!"
“Patriarch.” Zhu Shibai’s cold voice revealed an undeniable firmness: “I have made it very clear that I am a disciple of Dingsheng Sect, and I will remain in Dingsheng Sect during my training.”
"Shi Bai, you yourself said that one must have a firm Dao heart. With your wavering mind, cultivating both the Dao of Weapons and the Dao of Techniques simultaneously, how can you call that firmness?" Zhu Shenglin's voice was clearly filled with suppressed anger: "Don't think that you're all set just because you've advanced to the Golden Core stage. The further you go, the more difficult it will become. Think it over carefully! If you suffer any injury or loss, I can't guarantee your position as the next head of the family!"
“Patriarch, there is no need to protect me.” Zhu Shibai’s image was clearly projected into the projection stone, his expression calm and composed: “Patriarch, if you can find a more suitable successor than me, then so be it.”
"I'm not afraid," Zhu Shibai said. "My sensory artifact has detected demonic energy, which means the demonic cultivators are about to arrive. I'll go ahead and meet them."
He nodded slightly and walked straight ahead, leaving Zhu Shengli, whose face was alternating between pale and flushed, standing there alone.
The onlookers, who had already started to walk away, unconsciously stopped to watch, sighing with emotion.
Who would have thought! The head of the family, Zhu Shengli, is a worried and anxious father, while the renowned Zhu Shibai is actually an arrogant and rebellious son.
A murderous aura swept over them, and the weapon cultivators felt a chill run down their spines, shrinking back.
Zhu Huo's eyes glared like they were being tempered by fire, and he thrust out his spear, blocking Nanmen Hong's path.
Nanmen Hong smiled slightly: "Perhaps something went wrong. This is a common problem when placing projection stones. Zhu Zhenjun, there's no need to be impatient."
Zhu Huo glanced at him and said, word by word, "You really know a lot about projection stones."
The repairman rushed forward, saying, "We'll go debug it right now, right now!"
Unexpectedly, a group of people rushed forward, and the image on the projection stone jumped several times. Suddenly, a stunningly beautiful face appeared on the projection screen.
A look of confusion crossed her bright eyes as she stared at someone, seemingly wondering if she had misheard: "What did you say?"
"I'll speak." A majestic and powerful voice pierced through the projection stone and entered everyone's ears: "The Shen family gave you a chance this time, but you didn't know how to cherish it. Just now, when the demonic cultivators attacked, you didn't even keep a close eye on your younger brother. Do you know how hard-won this opportunity is? He begged the clan elders for a long time before they reluctantly agreed to let you come."
On the projection stone, the onlookers saw the usually aloof Shen Qingluo show a surprised expression, and then burst out laughing as if she had heard an extremely funny joke.
She crossed her arms, tilted her head back, and scanned the Zhu family cultivators present: "If any of you need my protection, you can ask me for help. I'll consider it and perhaps grant you a chance to be protected by me."
Shen Ting was furious: "Absurd! You're just a mere Golden Core stage girl, yet you dare to spout such nonsense! You become like those you associate with, and since joining the Dingsheng Sect, you've not only recklessly pursued both cultivation paths, but you also mimic Ji Mingran's arrogant and ignorant pronouncements. You should know that there are always people more powerful than you, and the Shen family has hundreds upon hundreds more powerful members than you. And yet you keep saying you want to be the head of the Shen family—on what grounds? Just because of your narrow-mindedness, short-sightedness, and shallow methods?"
Shen Ting continued to rebuke, "Even the Shen family members are unwilling to protect you, so how can you be the head of this family?"
“Yes, it’s me.” Shen Qingluo nimbly flipped over and sat on the tall Qilin beast, looking down at the Shen family members, including Shen Ting and Shen Ningzhuang. She pulled on the reins and swayed leisurely as she walked out of the crowd: “I will become the head of the Shen family, but I didn’t say that you are all members of my Shen family.”
Shen Qingluo's gaze swept over everyone looking at her, some with jealousy, some with surprise, some with fear, some with pleading, and some with resentment... In the past, she would have been imprisoned by the emotions revealed in these eyes, but now, as Shen Qingluo's fingers brushed against the feather scales of the Qilin beast, her heart was as still as water.
Riding on a Qilin beast, she walked ahead of the Shen family cultivators and proclaimed, "Although I am not the strongest now, this is your opportunity. My magnanimity is inversely proportional to my strength. If you are willing to submit to me, come sooner rather than later, and I will still accept you. If I become stronger, it may be too late."
"I'm going to exterminate the demons. If you're hoping for my protection, then don't come."
Shen Ting was furious and trembling with rage: "You!" As she spoke, she gasped for breath, and the Shen family disciples swarmed around to look after her.
The cultivators in Duyan City could not believe their eyes and ears.
What's going on here?
Has Shen Qingluo gone mad? How dare she spout such nonsense? Where does her confidence come from?
The artifact cultivator's hands trembled uncontrollably. This was the personal disciple of the very person behind him, Master Zhu. How could Master Zhu tolerate his disciple being exposed like this in front of everyone!
"Not bad." The weapon cultivators heard Zhu Huo chuckle softly behind them, and said in a pleasant whisper, "Finally, we're no longer feeling so stifled."
The weapon cultivators had just breathed a sigh of relief when Zhu Huo's attitude changed abruptly. He shouted, "Why aren't you hurrying up! How long are you going to let people see us? Do you want even the demonic cultivators to know about our whereabouts?!"
The repairmen shuddered and quickly continued debugging.
Zhu Huo glared at Nanmen Hong: "He Xiu, Zhu Shengli, and Shen Ting are talking like this, they must not know about you placing the projection stone. Well, you actually did this secretly behind everyone's back. I'll see how they deal with you when they get back."
Nanmen Hong remained nonchalant as always: "I did mention it, but they just didn't take it to heart."
Zhu Huo sneered, "You mentioned it? It was just a vague and slight mention, wasn't it?" Just as she was about to question Nanmen Hong, the weapon cultivators in front of her erupted in an uproar.
"Heavens, this is... this is!" The busy figure of the artifact repairman froze, staring wide-eyed at the projection stone in disbelief.
The projection stone switched the image again, and this time, lifeless, grotesque faces flashed across the screen, sending chills down one's spine.
A deathly silence fell over Duyan City.
Demonic cultivator.
These are all demonic cultivators.
The projection stone rapidly shrank, and the field of vision became increasingly distant from the plain. Even so, the projection stone still could not capture all the demonic cultivators within the image.
How many demonic cultivators were there? They were simply countless!
Ten miles ahead of the massive demonic army, a group of cultivators were rushing forward. On the other side of the Desolate Continent's Wish River, opposite the vast demonic army, there was a small group of figures.
It's a team sent to suppress the cultivators!
May the team on the other side of the river be gazing at the opposite bank, as if waiting for their companions to return.
Upon witnessing this scene, the people in Duyan City were filled with a sense of awe and respect.
Faced with such a terrifying army of demonic cultivators, not one of them chose to turn their back on the enemy and give up on escape. Instead, they faced the danger without fear, turning their faces towards the opposite bank. In the face of dire straits, they neither fled nor abandoned their comrades, truly demonstrating the fearless spirit of righteous cultivators!
However, the next second, a clear and melodious voice, completely out of place with this horrifying scene, rang out:
"Let's just cancel!"
The scene shifts, and Ji Mingran's face suddenly appears on the projection stone.
"Hurry up, let's run now."
The Du Yan City group, who had just been full of admiration: ? ? ?
run?
She said run?
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