As the sun set, Xiao Chen and Shi Tou, wearing large bamboo hats, mingled with the crowd and stepped into the city gate of Wuya City.
This city, near the border, was far more bustling than they had imagined, with brightly lit shops lining both sides of the street.
Most of the cultivators coming and going were dressed in close-fitting clothes, with weapons at their waists, and their expressions were hurried but solemn.
The guards at the city gates were several times stricter than those in ordinary cities. Everyone entering the city had to undergo spiritual energy detection, clearly to guard against demon spies.
"I didn't expect so many people."
Shi Tou lowered his voice and peered around through the gaps in his bamboo hat.
"It seems that the demon invasion is really urgent."
Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the notice posted on the street, which read in vermilion ink: "Recruiting cultivators to jointly defend against the demon race."
"All participants will receive spirit crystals and cultivation techniques as rewards after the battle," the seal of the border guards of the Xuanqiong Realm reads.
"Let's go to the tavern first."
Xiao Chen suggested, "If you want to know the specifics, that's where you'll find the clearest information."
Following the aroma of wine, the two found the largest tavern in the city, "Juyi Tavern".
As soon as I pushed open the door, a cacophony of noise hit me. The hall was filled with cultivators, sitting in small groups around tables.
They drank and talked at length, with the topic almost entirely revolving around the "demon race".
"Have you heard? Fighting has broken out on the western border! The demon vanguard consists of cultivators at the late stage of the Dao Proving realm, and they even possess the evil art of devouring human souls!"
"That's right! The Lin family has gone all out this time. It's said they're sending a direct descendant to oversee Wuyai City. We just don't know who it will be. If it's Young Master Lin Jingxing, we'll feel more at ease!"
"Sigh, we rogue cultivators are just here to make up the numbers. If we really encounter demon generals at the Creation Realm or Nirvana Realm, aren't we just easy targets? But there's nothing we can do. If the demons break through the city, none of us will survive!"
Xiao Chen and Shi Tou found an empty table in a corner and sat down, ordering a pot of spirit wine and a few side dishes.
At the next table were three rogue cultivators, who were venting their frustrations about the situation at the border, fueled by alcohol. Xiao Chen took the opportunity to raise his wine glass.
He cupped his hands in greeting to the three men and said, "Gentlemen, I have just arrived from elsewhere. I have heard that the Demon Clan is about to invade. May I ask what the specifics are?"
Seeing Xiao Chen's politeness, the three rogue cultivators lowered their guard. One of them, a bearded cultivator, took a swig of wine.
He sighed, "Don't even mention it! Half a month ago, the Black Wind Pass in the west was breached by the demons, and most of the defending troops were killed. Now the demons are advancing towards Boundless City, and they should arrive in less than ten days!"
Another tall, thin cultivator added, "Right now, all the major powers are sending reinforcements to the border. The Lin family, Burning Flame Valley, and Flowing Cloud Dao Sect have all sent people. However, their morale is not united. Some want to grab credit, while others want to preserve their strength. It doesn't look like a real war is about to begin!"
Xiao Chen listened quietly, nodding in agreement from time to time. He then asked a few more questions about the Lin family's reinforcements before finally understanding the situation.
The Lin family did send a direct descendant, but there is no news yet about who it is. All that is known is that it is a prodigy who can keep the scene in check.
"Thankfully, they haven't issued a warrant for our arrest."
Stone leaned close to Xiao Chen's ear and whispered a sigh of relief, "It seems the Lin family really considers the matter of the Demon Clan a top priority."
Xiao Chen didn't relax. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. The fact that the Lin family hadn't issued a warrant for his arrest didn't mean they had forgotten about the Divine Jade of Travel. Perhaps they wanted to deal with the Demon Clan first and settle accounts with them later.
Just then, Shi Tou suddenly lowered his voice and asked with a conflicted expression, "Senior brother, if the demons really attack, should we...should we take action? We're still being watched by the Lin family. If we're exposed, wouldn't the trouble be even greater?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chen rolled his eyes at him but didn't immediately criticize him. Instead, he picked up his wine glass and slowly said, "Stone, where do you think we can hide?"
Stone paused, then asked, "Hide...hide in another city?"
You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever.
Xiao Chen put down his wine cup, his tone becoming serious, "What kind of beings are the Demon Race? You've heard about them in Misty Valley—they feed on humans, are ferocious and bloodthirsty. Once they break through Boundless City..."
"Everyone in this city, whether cultivators or ordinary people, will be slaughtered. Even if we manage to escape, won't the demons just conquer the next city, and the city after that?"
Shi Tou scratched his head without saying a word, clearly pondering Xiao Chen's words.
Xiao Chen continued, "We are cultivators. Cultivation is not only for becoming stronger, but also for protecting the people we want to protect and guarding the things we want to guard."
"If we can't even stand up to the demons in front of us, what's the use of obtaining the Divine Jade of Travel, or having a high level of cultivation? Are we just going to run away whenever we encounter danger in the future?"
He paused, looking into the stone's eyes: "Moreover, fighting the demons isn't necessarily a bad thing for us. The demons' fighting style is different from that of the cultivators in the Xuanqiong Realm, and fighting them..."
"It can help us accumulate practical experience; after the war, the major forces will also give rewards, such as spirit crystals, cultivation techniques, and resources, which are all things we need now."
"More importantly, if we can make contributions in the fight against the demons, we might be able to get the Lin family to temporarily put aside the matter of the Divine Jade of Travel, at least buying them more time to improve their strength."
Stone listened, then slowly nodded, his eyes shifting from conflicted to resolute: "Senior brother, I understand! They're just demons, right? If they dare to come, we dare to fight! We can't avoid them anyway, so we might as well fight them!"
Xiao Chen looked at him and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Just as he was about to say something more, a series of rhythmic hoofbeats suddenly came from outside the tavern.
Accompanied by the soldiers' shouts: "Make way! The Lin family's reinforcements have arrived! All bystanders, step back!"
The noise in the hall instantly quieted down. The cultivators all stood up and looked towards the door, their eyes full of curiosity. Who exactly had the Lin family sent?
Xiao Chen and Shi Tou also subconsciously looked towards the door, their eyes under their bamboo hats showing a hint of wariness.
They had a premonition that the people the Lin family sent this time were probably related to them.
The cultivators in the tavern could no longer contain themselves and rushed outside. Xiao Chen and Shi Tou followed the crowd to the side of the street and looked up at the sky.
On the distant horizon, a gilded spaceship slowly approached, its hull adorned with lifelike dragon carvings and a prominent "林" (Lin) character inlaid in the center.
It was exactly the same as the Lin family's flying ship that we had seen in Misty Valley, only slightly smaller in size, but it still exuded a powerful aura, like a moving golden fortress, and was particularly dazzling in the setting sun.
"Good heavens, it really is the Lin family's airship! It's exactly the same as the one in Misty Valley!"
Stone lowered his voice, peering at the airship through the gap in his bamboo hat, his tone tinged with wariness.
"It seems the Lin family is really taking this seriously, even sending a spaceship of this caliber."
Xiao Chen nodded, his gaze fixed on the spaceship, his expression grave: "That's right, it's the same model. Anyone who can come in this kind of spaceship must be of high status. It seems that most of our old acquaintances are here too."
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