Chapter 427 Looking for a chance of survival!
Lingzhou, Taogu County.
As news of yet another great victory in the defense of the city broke through the gloomy sky like spring thunder, the entire city erupted in jubilation.
The emotions of the countless humans who remained behind were so high that an incredibly uplifting and enthusiastic mood began to resonate in every corner of the world, as if a new era had begun.
Especially in teahouses and taverns where people gather, countless joyful faces were reflected under the bright lights.
"It seems that the legendary remnant clan is nothing special. It's just a pity that I'm still one step away from merging with the Dao, and I can't personally go to the battlefield to kill a few to try!"
At the West City Street Restaurant, Fang Jincheng held a wine glass, revealing a heroic expression, his words filled with disdain for the remnants of the fallen dynasty.
At this moment, he was sitting with Princess Chang Le and other young men from the capital. At the next table were the Lu sisters and disciples from the outer court of the Heavenly Academy, such as Yu Shiliu and Gu Zetao, as well as young bloodlines from various aristocratic families.
The highest cultivation level among them was only at the Tongxuan level, which meant they were not capable of going to the battlefield. Therefore, they were ordered to maintain order in the city and take care of the wounded.
The Xicheng Street Restaurant is currently their base, so naturally they're going to discuss the news of their victory.
Hearing Fang Jincheng's words, which sounded as if he had personally killed members of the remnant clan, the young masters of the aristocratic families couldn't help but echo him: "That's right. Since we were able to withstand the first and second attacks, we can withstand the third and fourth. Perhaps... we can even have a chance to counterattack!"
“I agree with that statement. After all, our clan possesses sacred artifacts. If we were able to suppress them in the ancient times, there’s no reason why we can’t do it again!”
"That's right!"
Lu Qingqiu had remained silent until now, when he finally spoke softly: "Everyone should know that we are currently only on the defensive, which is not the same as being able to launch a counterattack."
She had accompanied the Chief of Staff to the sacred site of the ancients and had seen the descendants of the deceased with her own eyes.
She had a deep understanding of the power of the remnant race, which was why she couldn't help but speak up and shatter everyone's illusions.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunyue, who was sitting diagonally opposite her, couldn't help but raise her eyes: "According to Miss Lu, are we just waiting to die now?"
“This is what the princess said, not what my sister said.” Lu Hanyan couldn’t help but fix her eyes and speak up for her sister.
"Is that so? But that's what Miss Lu meant."
"My older sister just hopes that everyone will be more vigilant and not be too careless."
Hearing the sharp exchange between the three, the people at the table couldn't help but exchange glances.
Princess Chang Le, Zhao Yunyue, had a pretty good relationship with the Lu sisters, after all, the Chong King and the Ling Shi family of Yunzhou had always had a close cooperative relationship.
However, due to Ji You's situation, the two sides gradually drifted apart.
However, due to the relationship between their parents, they were not hostile to each other and would still greet each other when they met.
Their relationship truly deteriorated after Ji You's death. At that time, Zhao Yunyue's mocking tone and condescending sarcasm were unacceptable to the Lu sisters.
Just as the atmosphere was beginning to freeze, Fang Jincheng suddenly picked up his wine glass: "By the way, speaking of this battle, I just heard that Shang Xiyao of the Dao Asking Sect personally led people to provide support. Have you heard about it?"
"The Dao Seeking Sect? Really?"
"I don't know if it's true or not. I find it a bit unbelievable, which is why I asked you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yunyue couldn't help but whisper, "It's true, but I didn't just hear about it. I just passed through the main city street and saw with my own eyes the Holy Son of the Dao Inquiry Sect leading his elders back to the city."
Gu Zetao was taken aback upon hearing this: "There is clearly a war in Yuzhou as well, yet this direct disciple of the Holy Son has come to Lingzhou to help. Could it be that there is still a possibility that the two sects can reconcile?"
"Why not? There's no obstacle between them; the only thing is that the one who died has been forgotten."
"this……"
"Zhao Yunyue, respect the dead, don't go too far."
The Lu sisters were not naive girls of thirteen or fourteen, so they naturally understood the subtext in the other person's words, and their brows furrowed instantly.
Zhao Yunyue suddenly stopped smiling and looked at them sharply: "When the appraiser brought her daughter back to the mountain that day, I said that her actions were willful and foolish. Miss Lu kept refuting me, saying that she dared to love and hate, which was beyond the reach of others. But what was the result? Didn't things still develop in the way I said?"
"The judge will not choose the first time, nor will he choose the second time."
"What's the point? In my opinion, the appraiser's initial choice was wrong. She gave up a perfectly good marriage and chose someone no one thought was a good match. What did that person leave her after he died?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqiu put down his wine glass: "Hanyan, let's go back."
Lu Hanyan turned to look at her older sister: "Sister."
"You don't need to pay attention to what this kind of person says; it will only annoy you."
"You're upset because you can't refute it."
In fact, the story of the Daoist Sect's direct descendant, the Holy Son, abandoning his own battlefield and leading his troops to assist the central battlefield was not just something they were talking about.
As those who had been on the battlefield spread the word, almost everyone in the city heard about it.
Their first reaction was disbelief, but after those who had seen Shang Xiyao in person testified on his behalf, it immediately sparked a discussion.
"This Shang Xiyao is truly loyal and devoted. After so many things have happened, he still cares about the appraiser?"
"It's true that feelings are a very elusive thing."
"This is true affection. Even the most hard-hearted judge would be moved."
"Looking at it this way, the appraiser really did make the wrong choice back then..."
"Well, it's hard to say whether something is right or wrong in this kind of thing. It can only be said that the appraiser's choice back then was not wise, and he almost missed the best option."
"Then you made the wrong choice."
"That's true, but I wonder what the people of Spirit Sword Mountain will feel when they see the Dao Seeking Sect coming to their aid..."
At this time, in the city government of Taogu County.
With the battle over, the alchemists of the Dan Sect became busy again, spreading out endless and magnificent alchemical light to heal the wounded who had taken the elixirs.
Those whose injuries were not too serious sat idly in the courtyard, regulating their breathing on their own.
At that moment, Yan Jingxiang was holding a cup of hot tea, sitting opposite Shang Xiyao: "Nephew, today's battle was dangerous, and we are truly grateful for your timely assistance."
Shang Xiyao smiled calmly: "Uncle, there's no need to be so polite. Our Dao Dao Sect has always been on good terms with Lingjian Mountain. No matter what happened in the past, this matter will never change."
"I feel truly indebted to you for thinking this way."
"The human race is now facing a great calamity, and the immortal sects should unite and help each other. Moreover, Xiyao knows that his uncle has always been on his side."
Upon hearing this, Yan Jingxiang suddenly sighed softly to himself.
If their daughter had been more discerning back then, they and the Dao Seeking Sect would have been as close as family, instead of going through such a long and complicated process.
Seeing how understanding Shang Xiyao is now, I am filled with emotion and feel even more troubled by my daughter's choice back then.
Just then, a vermilion wooden door in the main hall of the mansion opened, and Yan Shuyi and You Yingqiu stepped out.
Since returning from the battlefield, the two had a long, private conversation, which they have just finished.
"I'll leave the rest to Headmaster You."
"Rest assured, my lord, this matter concerns the survival of humanity, and I will act with utmost care."
You Yingqiu looked up to say goodbye, then turned and left.
Upon seeing this, everyone in the courtyard turned their attention to the young appraiser, while Shang Xiyao's gaze instantly became intense.
Yan Shuyi watched You Yingqiu leave, then turned around and glanced at them, but only for a moment before turning away expressionlessly and heading towards her own courtyard.
Seeing this, Yan Jingxiang suddenly put down his teacup: "Nephew, please sit down. I'll be right back."
"Xiyao doesn't need any hospitality, Uncle, please make yourself at home."
Shang Xiyao knew he had won over Yan Jingxiang, and his sudden departure was naturally to find Yan Shuyi.
However, he didn't say much, but instead bid farewell to him calmly, pretending not to understand.
After all, in his view, such things cannot be rushed, and given Yan Shuyi's personality, being too eager would only backfire.
Besides, Yan Shuyi ultimately bore a daughter for someone else, and as the direct disciple of the Holy Son, he also had his pride and couldn't be too proactive with such a person.
At the same time, Yan Jingxiang had already arrived at his daughter's courtyard.
Yan Shuyi was playing with her daughter who had just woken up when she looked up when she saw him arrive.
She saw someone from the Dao Asking Sect arrive, and she also saw Shang Xiyao. She had just seen her father chatting happily with him, so she naturally knew why he had come. But she still raised her eyes without showing any emotion.
"What brings you here, Father?"
"Were you injured in today's battle?"
"Thank you for your concern, Father. Shuyi is not injured."
Yan Jingxiang glanced at the baby girl in the swaddling clothes and then said, "If it weren't for Shang Xiyao's intervention today, I might have died on the battlefield. I think our Lingjian Mountain should do something to show our support."
Yan Shuyi nodded after hearing this: "He saved Father's life, which is a great favor. It is only right to express our gratitude. If he has any requests, Father can agree to them himself."
“You are the appraiser of Lingjian Mountain and also my daughter. I think you should go and express your gratitude.”
"My daughter has to take care of Si'er and quickly adjust her breathing to prepare for the next invasion, which may come at any time. There is not much time to waste."
"Shuyi!" Yan Jingxiang suddenly stared intently. "Don't you really know why Shang Xiyao came here?"
Yan Shuyi raised his eyes after hearing this: "Because the Dao Seeking Sect felt that it was isolated, and after experiencing the tactics of the remnant clan to drag both sides and kill the middle, it was a little worried. How could I not know?"
Yan Jingxiang frowned slightly: "Your thinking is a bit too narrow-minded. Could it be because he still can't forget you?"
"Really? That's perfect, I can't forget him either."
"really?"
Yan Jingxiang was surprised by his daughter's answer, and a hint of joy appeared in his eyes.
But before he could even feel a surge of joy, his daughter's voice rang in his ears again, and her tone suddenly turned cold.
"Back in the sacred land of the sages, Ji You was assassinated on his way to break through to the next realm. I have never been able to find out where that person came from, but there is one thing I am very clear about, and that is who benefits the most after his death."
After Yan Shuyi finished speaking, a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "With the great calamity of the human race looming ahead, I cannot cause internal strife for personal grudges, but I will never forget this matter."
Yan Jingxiang's smile vanished instantly: "You..."
“Father, the Dao Asking Sect may feel that even if the Immortal Sects are allied, there are still differences in their relationships, and they are worried about this, but they have misunderstood.”
"Foolish! The human race is now in grave danger. If we could get help from the Dao Seeking Sect, why would you need to risk your life every time? What about that dead Ji You? Even if he were alive now, what could he do for you?!"
Yan Jingxiang, getting emotional, couldn't help but stand up: "Shuyi, you made the wrong choice back then, and you'll definitely regret it if you make the same mistake again!"
As soon as the words were spoken, a child's cry suddenly rang out in the quiet courtyard.
Yan Shuyi immediately picked up her daughter and ignored her father's words.
But this is different from being speechless; she just felt that saying more would be like casting pearls before swine.
When she fell in love with Ji You, it was never because she considered what he could give her. But if we really look at it from that perspective, without his selfless act of breaking into the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, she might have died three years ago.
Seeing that his daughter had no intention of speaking again, Yan Jingxiang frowned and left the small courtyard, returning to the main courtyard.
Shang Xiyao did not leave; he was still drinking tea. He could tell from Yan Jingxiang's expression that things were not going well.
Although he felt he shouldn't be too hasty, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. He thought to himself, "I am, after all, the direct disciple of the Holy Son. I don't mind that you have given birth to a daughter for someone else. How can you be so picky?"
However, he did not show it.
Because he knew that Yan Shuyi would not accept him, but Yan Jingxiang would, and the Lingjian Mountain disciples would too.
After all, in the face of such a life-or-death crisis, no one would refuse a stronger ally. He only needs to stay here, and even if he does nothing, he will get what he wants.
Meanwhile, You Yingqiu, who had a long talk with Yan Shuyi behind closed doors, had returned to her residence.
At this moment, she was lighting an oil lamp, leaning over the table, carefully choosing her words before gently putting pen to paper.
"The remnant race is fierce and will fight to the death. Although our human race has successfully defended this time, being on the defensive all the time is by no means a good strategy."
"Most importantly, no matter how many times we defend, we can only prolong the life of our race for a moment. When the Holy Emperor of the Remnant Race is fully prepared and begins to refine the Heavenly Dao, we will still be doomed."
"The only way for us to launch a counterattack is to weaken the strongest fighting force of the remnant race."
"I have calculated the secrets of heaven, and the human race still has a glimmer of hope. You all still have the destiny to become immortals. Whether our race can continue and whether the heavenly way can be restored depends on you. Please think carefully."
After finishing writing the letter, You Yingqiu gently lifted the paper, and a breeze suddenly appeared from her sleeve, quickly drying the writing on it.
Then she took out two seals from her sleeve, one of herself and one of the young appraiser of Lingjian Mountain, and then firmly stamped them on the paper and put them into an envelope.
She already has two such letters on her desk.
After the sealing was completed, You Yingqiu took the three letters and went outside to the courtyard. She then summoned Steward Qin and handed him the letters.
Just then, Zuo Qiuyang came from the backyard. He glanced at the departing Steward Qin and couldn't help but ask, "Will this work?"
"The appraiser believes this is the only way."
"This is indeed the only way, but I'm afraid they won't be willing to take the risk."
"That's what I thought at first too, but one sentence from the appraiser woke me up. She said that if we dragged it out any longer, the whole clan would be wiped out, but the first ones to die would definitely not be us."
At the same time, Manager Qin, who had just left the room, immediately distributed the letters to the disciples of the Managerial Academy who were sitting down.
Two of the letters were sent to the east by fast horses, one to the west, and the last one to the northeast.
The first to receive the letter was Shan Hai Ge. The disciple in charge of delivering the message hurriedly went up the mountain and then passed the letter through the layers of disciples. Finally, it was delivered to the master's palace by the deputy master, Hawking.
Inside the pitch-black hall, the leader of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion sat upright.
His skin was already a grayish-blue color, devoid of any color, and a putrid stench permeated the entire hall.
Huo Jun took the letter, read it silently for a long time, and then handed it to his younger brother.
Hawking glanced at the letter a few times before looking up: "What is the meaning of this, Headmaster You?"
"He hopes that next time I can personally take action and kill one of them."
"Brother...what do you think?"
Huo Jun looked up at the endless night outside the window and remained silent for a long time.
The Heavenly Dao of the remnant clan has suppressed the current Heavenly Dao, making ascension temporarily impossible. However, his physical body is already decaying beyond repair and cannot wait any longer.
After all, if he were to shed his physical body in this realm and fail to condense into an immortal body, he would eventually be annihilated. The only possibility is to defeat Nightfall.
In fact, this is what the young master of Lingjian Mountain said: perhaps all of humanity will die, but they will definitely not be the first to die.
The problem is that if his physical body is truly shattered, he will have no hope of becoming an immortal and may even die immediately. It is a simple choice, with only the options of agreement or rejection, but it is a difficult one for them.
The next to receive the message was Shang Xingdao, the leader of the Dao Asking Sect. Like Huo Jun, he remained silent for a long time after seeing the letter.
As for the last letter, it was sent to the Sunrise Forest in the northwest of Liangzhou by a disciple in charge of the Heavenly Academy.
This was a letter with content different from the previous two. After being received by the demon guards, it was delivered to the tribe's temporary settlement deep in the forest.
After the battle in the Great Wilderness Forest, the demon race rescued their trapped members and then began to recuperate and rebuild. The injuries of some demon kings and divine generals have already begun to heal.
At this moment, Ye Han, having received the letter, hurriedly went to a large lake in the forest and delivered it to the Demon Emperor.
The Demon Emperor took the letter, unfolded it, and read it silently.
"What does Father think?"
"This move is extremely risky, but it is indeed the only way. Otherwise, once the Holy Emperor of the remnant clan refines the Heavenly Dao, we won't even have the chance to take the risk."
After a long silence, Ye Han spoke: "But I'm afraid the human race will turn against us and refuse to come to our aid."
After hearing this, the Demon Emperor looked at the two seals on the letter: "Is this the young appraiser of Spirit Sword Mountain the one your sister saved on the road?"
"good."
"I heard she's Ji You's legal wife?"
Ye Han didn't know why his father would suddenly bring up a dead person, but he still nodded.
Having received the answer, the Demon Emperor slightly opened his eyes and thought of the young man who resided within the mud body: "It's rare to find a human race worthy of trust, so let's trust them this once."
"yes."
"Let Gu Chuan lead the troops, and you and Feng Yang will assist him from the side."
Ye Han accepted the order and left. He then went to the residence of the Ancient River Demon King to inform him of the matter, and then went to his sister's tent.
To maintain ventilation, the curtains of Fengyang's tent were half-open. As soon as Ye Han arrived, he saw his younger sister holding a charcoal pencil, looking slightly dazed.
On the canvas in front of her, several lines had already been drawn.
That wasn't scenery, it should be people, but Ye Han looked at it for a long time and still couldn't quite understand it.
If this were a group of people, it wouldn't be one person, but two, and these two people seem to be embracing each other.
Just as Ye Han was feeling puzzled, his sister's maid, Xiao Rou, came out of the tent and immediately bowed to Ye Han, saying, "Your Highness."
What is Feng Yang doing?
"The princess is acting silly..."
"?"
Xiao Rou turned to look at her princess: "Your Highness, what happened when you went to rescue your people?"
Ye Han was slightly taken aback: "Why would you ask that?"
"The princess seems different after she came back. As you know, she was depressed because of that Young Master Ji, but she suddenly became lively after she came back."
Upon hearing this, the demon prince looked at his sister again.
Sure enough, he noticed that his sister's eyes were indeed brighter than before, and her expression seemed much more carefree.
What did he encounter? Ye Han thought for a moment and realized that apart from the remnants of the clans and their generals, the only other person he had encountered on this trip was the human who drew his sword.
But it's highly unlikely that my sister and that human are involved. The only possibility...
Could it be that my sister has already forgotten Ji You?
Just then, Feng Yang seemed to notice Ye Han's presence and subconsciously glanced back at him.
When she saw her brother, her eyes widened in panic, and she reached out to grab a piece of white silk to cover the canvas: "Why has Your Majesty come?"
Ye Han snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the voice: "Father told me to inform you that you will be leading troops with me from now on."
"when?"
"When the remnant race attacks the human race next time..."
Upon hearing this, Feng Yang's innocent eyes gradually hardened.
She knew that the human race needed to try to break their current disadvantage, and that the demon race needed to begin to truly ally with them.
(End of this chapter)
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