NOVPUBThe Jackal-headed God’s eyes shimmered with a sharp glint as he suddenly made a proposal.
Before, they only spread their teachings and had never openly occupied cities as they were doing now; things had gone smoothly for them—a stark contrast to the fierce resistance they now faced from the cities of the great Qian, which irritated them greatly.
Having said that, the Jackal-headed God was the first to fly over, followed by the other deities.
Wang Ba was tailing these few deities, and soon flew to a city closest to Chongwen City.
At this moment outside the city, white waves churned, almost submerging it.
However, atop the city walls shone a flow of golden light, staunchly holding back the surging waves stirred by the Evil Gods.
Dozens of cultivator figures stood upon the walls, each forming magical seals with their hands, activating magic tools—on the one hand, strenuously defending against the flood outside; on the other hand, operating specially-made crossbows to shoot and kill the Incense Fire Dao cultivators who took advantage of the chaos to launch their attacks.
There were also scholars full of profound knowledge standing on the walls, reciting the words of the sages, invoking the power of heaven and earth with their righteous Qi, and under the Empowerment of the Dragon Transformation Pool looming above, their might was in no way inferior to an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
And just by speaking out, cultivators of the Incense Fire Dao below the fourth class could hardly resist and would tumble into the waters below.
But the Incense Fire Dao cultivators were not entirely without means.
Although limited by the Evil Gods they worshipped, their available spells were somewhat restricted; yet when coordinated, some high-class cultivators could barely withstand the joint attack from the great scholars and the Huangji Continent cultivators, constantly wearing down the protective Formation outside the city.
The golden light grew dimmer.
The price was the numerous Incense Fire Dao cultivators who continued to die in succession.
From afar, Wang Ba could vaguely recognize the familiar figures of the Well God and other Evil Gods such as the River God and Rain God hiding among the clouds, quietly overlooking the fierce battle below for conquering and defending the city, their expressions almost indifferent as the Incense Fire Dao cultivators fell one by one.
Full of grief and anger, these Incense Fire Dao cultivators were powerless to change anything.
Their fates, ever since they were forced or volunteered to offer Tribute to the Evil Gods, were no longer under their own control.
Wang Ba’s gaze flickered as he focused on the native cultivators within the city.
Among these native cultivators were several Nascent Soul cultivators.
The Dao Law and secret techniques they used were quite similar to those in the Fenglin Continent with a few clever tricks. Wang Ba could mostly identify their origins at a glance, figuring them out and even readily spotting flaws, easily capable of breaking through. 𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖕𝔲𝔟.𝔠𝖔𝖒
But that wasn’t the point.
"A mere city, and yet it has so many middle and high-class cultivators… The foundation of Huangji Continent is actually this profound."
"How come I never heard anything about this in the memories of that scholar just now?"
Wang Ba was both surprised and puzzled.
According to what he had just learned, every city had cultivators controlled by Qian assisting scholars in managing the city, mining nearby ores, cultivating Spirit Plants, and so on.
But except for those provincial cities, strategically important strongholds, and outside the Imperial Capital, an ordinary city would at most have one Nascent Soul cultivator leading a group of Golden Core and Foundation Building cultivators as Guardians.
But the situation inside this city, the strength of the cultivators, far exceeded what he had come to understand.
Especially under the Empowerment of the Dragon Pool, these rather ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, leveraging the locale, Formation, and specially-made crossbows, exhibited collective strength not weaker than a Nascent Soul Perfect Great Cultivator with a grasp of a Dao Secret.
On the side of the Incense Fire Dao cultivators, not only were they suppressed by the Dragon Pool, but they were also naturally countered by the great scholars, their strengths pressed to the utmost limit.
This increase and decrease were quite a match.
Of course, this was under the condition that the Evil Gods did not intervene.
Finally, after observing for a long time, the Evil Gods in the sky, upon confirming a sure victory, decisively took action...
In just 15 minutes later.
Dilapidated walls and the city, having collapsed, stood desolately in the mud soaked by floods.
Cultivators of the Incense Fire Dao, like ants moving through, were transporting the still living mortals, cultivators, and scholars out of the city. They themselves were stuffing all sorts of remaining items inside their Storage Treasures.
This was one of their few benefits, aside from cultivation advancement.
"Heh, we came to enjoy the spectacle this time and ended up with some benefits. The Well God and the others just divided tens of thousands of mortals among us. It’s not much, but it’s something for nothing. Just now, the Well God also asked if we wanted anything else?"
In the air, the Jackal-headed God cheerfully said to Wang Ba.
"Please thank the Well God on my behalf."
Wang Ba replied casually.
At this moment.
Below Wang Ba, an Incense Fire Dao cultivator was escorting a Nascent Soul cultivator with a vacant gaze and soul nearly dissipated.
Wang Ba’s expression shifted slightly, pointing at the Nascent Soul cultivator, he said to the Jackal-headed God:
"I wish to keep this one."
"A cultivator?"
The Jackal-headed God was slightly surprised, then immediately realized:
"Ah I see, you have slumbered for a long time, and there must be few cultivators offering tribute in your palace… I will speak to the Well God immediately."
With that, He flew towards the Well God and other Evil Gods planning further attacks on the surrounding cities.
"Divine Venerable, this is the one you wanted..."
The Incense Fire Dao cultivator, escorting the Qian cultivator, flew up with trepidation and handed over the cultivator whose consciousness was scattered.
Wang Ba waved his hand casually, and the Incense Fire Dao cultivator immediately knelt to pay respect, then carefully flew back down.
Looking at the bewildered Qian cultivator, Wang Ba did not hesitate for a moment, as Yin God Power quietly probed forth.
Before long, a crimson lotus appeared on the forehead of the Qian cultivator and then gradually faded. He then opened his eyes and respectfully performed a kneeling salute to Wang Ba:
