As everyone disembarked from the airship, Lin Jingxing and Luo Qingyang were summoned by several elders to discuss defense matters, while the other prodigies gathered in twos and threes to familiarize themselves with the environment or exchange cultivation insights.
Xiao Chen wasn't interested in the excitement, so he wandered around the city with Shi Tou, hoping to take the opportunity to learn about Sunshine City's defenses.
The two walked along the street and saw that there were monks wearing armor everywhere in the city. Most of the shops were closed, and in their place were temporary supply warehouses and medical tents.
Occasionally, one might see people who look like ordinary citizens, but they are mostly young and strong men assisting the cultivators. Although their faces show worry, they also carry a sense of determination.
"Brother, may I ask how the city's defenses are arranged?" Xiao Chen stopped a patrolling cultivator and asked with his hands clasped in greeting.
Seeing Xiao Chen's extraordinary bearing, the cultivator quickly replied, "Fellow Daoist, are you here to provide support? Our Sunlight City has three main gates: the East Gate 'Sunrise Gate', the West Gate 'Moon Gazing Gate', and the North Gate 'Demon Suppression Gate'."
This corresponds perfectly to the three top powers stationed here: Qingyun Sect guards Chaoyang Gate, Liuyun Dao Sect guards Zhenmo Gate, and the most difficult to defend, Wangyue Gate, is said to be jointly defended by the Lin family and other forces such as Nanli Sect.
Xiao Chen understood. The three city gates each had their own function, and were guarded by the three major forces respectively, forming a triangular formation that supported each other.
He thanked the patrolling monks and continued walking forward with the stone, eventually arriving near the West Gate.
Just as they reached the city gate, they saw Lu Mingyuan leading several cultivators from the Nanli Sect hurrying towards them. Upon seeing Xiao Chen and Shi Tou, he immediately waved and said, "Young friend Xiao, young friend Shi Tou, we were just looking for you!"
Xiao Chen and Shi Tou stepped forward, and Lu Mingyuan got straight to the point: "The elders of the various forces have just discussed and decided that our team will be responsible for guarding the West Gate, 'Wangyue Gate'. I've already spoken to Lin and Luo, and now I'll take you to the city gate to familiarize yourselves with the defenses."
"Wangyue Gate?" Xiao Chen looked at the city gate not far away. The gate was taller than any other building in the city, and a huge plaque hung above it.
The three large characters "Wangyuemen" on the plaque are vigorous and powerful. On the city walls on both sides of the city gate, there are patterns of a crescent moon. The moonlight patterns are connected with the defensive runes on the city walls, which are faintly mysterious.
"Why is this city gate called the Moon Gazing Gate?" Stone couldn't help but ask.
Lu Mingyuan explained with a smile: "This gate faces west. Every full moon night, the moonlight will shine on the city gate, resonating with the moon-patterned runes on the city wall, which greatly enhances the gate's defensive power. Hence, it is named 'Moon-Gazing Gate'."
If the demons dared to attack under the moonlight, the city gates alone could inflict a heavy loss on them.
As they spoke, the group arrived at the Moon Gazing Gate. The gate was eight zhang high and five zhang wide, its panels made of millennia-old black iron, covered with countless grooves, clearly intended to house defensive magical artifacts.
Inside the city gate, dozens of cultivators were busy. Some were setting up formations, some were adjusting crossbows for defense, and others were moving boulders, ready to block the city gate at any time.
"Young friend Xiao, young friend Shi Tou, you've just arrived, so please familiarize yourselves with the defensive layout of the city gates first."
Xiao Chen nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping over the defensive structures of the city gate. He could sense that although the defenses of Wangyue Gate were strong, they would probably not be able to withstand the onslaught of the demon army for long.
He turned to look outside the city, where a wide plain stretched out, and at the edge of the plain, a patch of black mist could be faintly seen.
That was the aura emanating from the area where the demons were active, like a giant net, slowly enveloping the city of Sunshine.
On the city wall of Wangyue Gate, Xiao Chen, Lin Jingxing, and others stood leaning against the railing, their eyes fixed on the horizon of the plain outside the city.
The black demonic energy, almost as if it were alive, slowly spread towards Sunlight City, leaving its mark wherever it passed.
The vegetation withered instantly, leaving dark brown marks on the ground. The fishy, pungent smell in the air grew stronger and stronger, sending chills down one's spine.
"This demonic energy... is too sinister." A prodigy from the Nanli Sect couldn't help but shudder, his voice filled with lingering fear. "Just looking at it makes me feel uncomfortable all over, as if countless eyes are watching me from the shadows."
The others nodded in agreement, and even Luo Qingyang frowned. The cold power contained in this demonic energy could easily erode a cultivator's mind. If one was shrouded in it for a long time, it might affect their cultivation or even cause them to be assimilated by the demonic energy.
The stone is the only exception.
He didn't find it creepy at all. Instead, he squinted his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and showed a comfortable expression on his face: "This thing... smells quite nice, like soaking in a hot spring."
Xiao Chen turned and glanced at him, understanding dawning on him. The Stone's Nine Nether Demon God Body was originally of the same origin as Yin and Dark Power.
The demonic energy of this demon race, which is deadly to others, is like a "tonic" to him, subtly nourishing his physique.
"Don't be careless." Xiao Chen patted Shi Tou's shoulder and reminded him, "Although this demonic energy is harmless to you, what is hidden inside is the real threat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Chen's divine sense quietly probed out. He could clearly feel that the spreading demonic energy was condensing in the air, gradually forming an invisible black mist like water vapor.
Within the black mist, the faint sounds of dense footsteps and low roars could be heard, as if countless demonic soldiers were hidden in the mist, their numbers so great that they made one's heart tremble. Just sensing that dense aura was enough to send chills down one's spine.
“The number of demonic soldiers inside is probably not small,” Xiao Chen said in a deep voice, his tone solemn. “Moreover, the fog formed by demonic energy can block divine sense. At that time, we will not be able to see the situation inside the fog at all, and we can only defend passively.”
Lin Jingxing's expression changed: "Tens of thousands of demon soldiers? If they attack the city at the same time, the defenses of Wangyue Gate probably won't last long!"
Just as everyone was filled with worry, Lu Mingyuan, who was standing at the very front, suddenly moved.
His eyes were fixed on the rapidly spreading demonic energy, and a surge of immense fighting spirit suddenly erupted from his body.
That was the aura of the peak of the Creation Realm, pressing down like a towering mountain. Golden spiritual power swirled around him, forming an invisible barrier that forced the surrounding cold demonic energy back several feet.
This fighting spirit, like a sharp sword, pierced straight into the distant demonic energy, as if declaring war on the demons hidden in the mist!
As if sensing Lu Mingyuan's provocation, the black demonic energy outside the city suddenly accelerated its spread, its originally slow speed suddenly increasing several times, surging towards Wangyue Gate like a black tide, and the fishy smell in the air instantly became extremely strong.
"Senior, should we intervene?" Lin Jingxing asked hurriedly, worried that the demonic energy would quickly envelop the city gate, putting the defending cultivators at a disadvantage.
Lu Mingyuan shook his head, a resolute glint in his eyes: "It can't be stopped. This demonic energy is the 'vanguard' of the demon army's advance, formed by the convergence of the auras of countless demon soldiers. Unless all the demon soldiers can be killed, it is impossible to completely dispel it."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd on the city wall, and said in a deep voice, "But I can stop what's inside from advancing! This demonic energy can spread, but the demonic soldiers hidden in the fog will have to get past my sword before they can even step through the city gate!"
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