Nuclear-powered Sword Immortal

Chapter 159: Chapter 156: Devil Attacks the City

Taihe City.

This was not the city closest to Jiangzhou State within Star State, but it was the nearest to the Yunqi Mountain Range.

Of course, unlike the Yunqi Mountain Range in Jiangzhou State, the mountains within Star State were not steep, and due to geological reasons, the vegetation was not lush, resulting in a smaller number of devils residing in this mountain range.

On the other hand, in Jiangzhou State, the mountain terrain was rugged, and ravines were everywhere, complemented by towering ancient trees that blocked out the sun, suitable for hiding tracks.

Moreover, as the Yunqi Mountain Range stretched deep into the heart of Jiangzhou State, it facilitated devils leaving the mountains to wreak havoc, thus most devils were active within the Yunqi Mountain Range eastward into Jiangzhou State.

For this reason, Jiangzhou Longque Mountain Villa had to construct fortified cities along the Yunqi Mountain Range and invited the Venerable Daoist and many Divinity Transformation Great Cultivators to preside over them, defending against devils.

However today, Taihe City, which was seldom afflicted by devil attacks, was in complete disarray.

In a thundering roar, thousands and thousands of devils were driving even more fierce beasts out of the Yunqi Mountain Range, forming a massive horde that headed straight for Taihe City, the closest target.

Zhao Qian, who was in charge of Taihe City, had intended to lead everyone in defending the city, but upon sensing the terrifying creatures in the beast tide that had bodies larger than ten meters, his face instantly turned pale.

Without any regard for the lives of Taihe City’s citizens, he immediately gathered all the elite of the Purgatory Sect and retreated towards Baihe City at top speed.

As for the tens of thousands of troops brought by his Purgatory Sect...

It was too late to organize a retreat, and they had no choice but to man the city walls, buying time for their escape.

Even so, when Zhao Qian and his few hundred elites had retreated less than thirty miles from Taihe City, a furious roar was heard.

Soon after, an enormous bear-like devil stood upright, manifesting its demon true body, and its height surged to twenty meters.

The giant paw, containing untold strength, slammed down, and a three-story tall building instantly crumbled like fragile tofu, collapsing and shattering.

"Upper-level Demon! Upper-level Demon! This is an Upper-level Demon that has manifested its demon true body!"

Zhao Qian, witnessing this scene, was filled with uncontrollable fear.

With its demon true body, an Upper-level Demon could withstand the flying swords of Divinity Transformation Cultivators.

Even though the sharp traits of the flying swords from Divinity Transformation Cultivators carried the force of thunderous power and could leave holes with a half-meter diameter on their bodies, it was still difficult to inflict fatal damage on them.

After all, these demons were several tens of meters large and had astonishing regenerative abilities; injuries that would be fatal to humans were mere scratches to them.

Once the Divinity Transformation Cultivators’ flying swords failed to pierce through the demon bodies, their swords would get stuck inside the devils, corroded by the demonic nature and undermining the Yin Gods.

Facing such terrifying beings, only the flying swords filled with True Qi from a Primordial Spirit True Monarch could truly inflict fatal damage on them.

But...

Devils are not mere fierce beasts.

They are formed by the fusion of demon spirits, possessing intelligence.

Coupled with the instinctive wildness of fierce beasts, they could completely maneuver the Qi Blood Power within their bodies to intercept flying swords in mid-air.

In this situation, to confront an Upper-level Demon often required the effort of three Primordial Spirit True Monarchs.

One to attack head-on as a distraction, another to harass from the sides to divide its attention, and a third Primordial Spirit True Monarch to deliver a fatal blow.

And in Star State...

There was only one Primordial Spirit True Monarch, Xin Tianqi.

"How could Upper-level Demons from the Yunqi Mountain Range suddenly emerge!? And invade Star State!?"

Zhao Qian’s face was full of fear.

Immediately afterward, a giant python over sixty meters long climbed the city walls, and in a rush along the walkways, dozens and hundreds of soldiers were crushed to death under its rampage.

The long spears stabbed out by those soldiers in retaliation, and the arrows shot, could not even penetrate its scale armor.

Occasionally, a burst of green poison fog spewed from the mouth of this Great Demon, was sufficient to corrode dozens of people into mere bones.

This was another Great Demon that had condensed a demon true body.

Although its level was not as high as the previous Demon Ape, by relying on its demon true body, its nearly invincible existence in destroying cities and lakes was undeniable.

"Taihe City is finished."

A hint of pain flickered in Zhao Qian’s eyes.

Not daring to look back at Taihe City, he led his group of men straight towards Baihe City.

"Master, the number of devils emerging from the Yunqi Mountain Range this time is vast, and even the Ape Demon Commander has mobilized, creating such a huge disturbance. I fear even if we retreat to Baihe City, we might still not escape our fate."

A disciple beside Zhao Qian spoke.

"Indeed, Baihe City cannot withstand the devils emerging from the Yunqi Mountain Range."

Zhao Qian, recalling the scene when Taihe City was breached, had a heavy look in his eyes: "These devils mobilizing on such a scale surely do not have the simple goal of destroying and laying waste. If I am not mistaken, their target might be the Heavenly Master’s Holy Land that Elder Gu is about to establish. Therefore, our goal in heading to Baihe City is not to save our lives but to notify Elder Gu to prepare."

"Notify Elder Gu..."

This disciple originally wanted to mention that a conflict between Elder Gu and the Sect was inevitable, but thinking about the news from the border of Red State...

It seemed not to be the case.

If the Purgatory Sect truly does not intend to pursue the matter with him, and even plans to admit him into the Elder Council as an elder of the Purgatory Sect, then bringing back this news would undoubtedly help his master gain a foothold.

Relying on the support of this backing, advancing further and donning the red robe was not beyond reach.

The group galloped on their horses, hastily fleeing.

They had fled for over a hundred miles when a thundering roar was heard in front of them.

Following which, Gu Luochen appeared with a team of Divine Demon Martial Artists in front of them.

Seeing Zhao Qian, Gu Luochen quickly bowed: "Elder Zhao, has something happened to Taihe City?"

"Countless devils surged out from the Yunqi Mountain Range, Taihe City has fallen..."

"Taihe City has fallen?"

Gu Luochen’s heart sank: "We have ultimately arrived too late."

Immediately, he said, "The Patriarch ascended to observe from a high vantage and discovered that demons were gathering in the Yunqi Mountain Range to the east of Taihe City, rolling towards Taihe City. He realized that the demons might attack Taihe City and specially sent me to summon Elder Zhao. We rushed over at full speed, but it was still a step too late."

"Elder Gu already knows about this?"

Zhao Qian was taken aback.

And...

Observing from a high vantage!?

This is a legendary technique, not easy to master at all.

Gu Jinlai...

Has already reached this stage?

"Elder Zhao, you and your men fall back to Baihe City. Once the Patriarch learned of the change in Taihe City, he immediately mobilized the elites from Lingxiao City and Changjun City, who are now rushing to Baihe City at full speed. Let us use Baihe City as a base to snipe the demons! Let these invaders in our Star State have a one-way trip!"

Gu Luochen said.

Zhao Qian nodded.

He also took advantage of the opportunity to assist Gu Jinlai in defending Baihe City to strengthen the relationship between them.

Otherwise, even if they had been friends for thirty or forty years, without regular contact, they would gradually drift apart.

Zhao Qian had already felt this during their previous interactions.

Especially since he had lost Taihe City, even though he had managed to evacuate the elites, an entire army of ten thousand had been trapped there, and the sect would inevitably punish them severely.

If he didn’t want to be completely wiped out, he must cling to the growing tree that was Gu Jinlai.

...

Zhao Qian led his men to Baihe City.

Meanwhile, the news that demons from the Yunqi Mountain Range had invaded Taihe City, turning the surroundings of Taihe City into a hellish scene for hundreds of miles, quickly spread.

For a time, the Cold Moon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Dragon Sparrow Manor, and State Governor Mansion all simultaneously contracted their defenses.

Xin Tianqi immediately contacted Xue Yue, hoping that the State Lord Mansion could send troops to help defend the area around Taihe City.

Unfortunately, this proposal was rejected by Xue Yue due to the tense situation in the north.

Demons!

Though they are humanity’s true foes, human hearts are complex. How can unity be easily achieved?

Without the support of the State Lord Mansion, Xin Tianqi immediately ordered Cheng Wanli to summon the Refining Demon Hall Master, forming a mixed team composed of Meteor Star Guards and Demon Hunters, and headed directly towards Baihe City to reinforce it.

As for the Purgatory Sect...

The foundation of the Purgatory Sect was Taihe City itself.

With Taihe City destroyed, they obviously couldn’t mobilize personnel in time.

Thus, Lu Dengxian could only adopt an elite strategy, allowing the available Elders like Lu Zhanfeng and the Conquest Hall Master, Luu Zhenbei, along with six Refining God Immortals, to lead three hundred Qi Refinement, Gang Condensation, and Hugging Pill Realm experts, rushing at full speed towards Baihe City to reinforce and possibly recapture Taihe City.

...

All forces within Star State were making moves.

Baihe City.

Zhao Qian, along with several hundred elites and others like Gu Luochen, had already retreated to the outskirts of Baihe City.

At this time, at the gates of Baihe City, thousands of elite soldiers were transporting copious amounts of war machinery into Baihe City.

At the same time, citizens from the county towns towards Taihe City were being rapidly evacuated.

Demons feed on humans, extracting the spiritual essence within human bodies. Once they swept through, the entire county town would certainly not have a single survivor.

Under these circumstances, everyone needed to evacuate westward to Baihe City as quickly as possible.

...

Upon arriving at Baihe City, Zhao Qian immediately found Gu Jinlai, who was directing Heavenly Masters from the Great Sun Heavenly Sect in operating artillery.

"Elder Gu."

Zhao Qian, carrying a sense of guilt, bowed, "I have over four hundred people on my side, besides the direct family and disciples, including thirty-two in the Hugging Pill Realm, and two hundred and forty-four in the Qi Refinement and Gang Condensation realms, all at Elder Gu’s disposal."

"Elder Zhao is considerate."

Gu Jinlai nodded.

As a newly promoted Red Robed Elder, taking over Zhao Qian’s few hundred people was not a difficult task.

"Elder Gu, when Taihe City fell, I personally witnessed the Demon Ape Commander from the Yunqi Mountain Range reveal its Demon True Body, and besides, there was another Upper-level Demon with a Demon True Body. I don’t know how many Middle Level Demons and Lower Demons that haven’t formed a Demon True Body there are. This battle..."

"Leave it to me,"

Gu Jinlai said calmly.

During this period, Lingxiao City had been recuperating and had not triggered a war externally, accumulating a massive amount of bullets, gunpowder, and rockets.

These weapons, when used against smaller-bodied, agile Divinity Transformation Cultivators or even Hugging Pill Cultivators, might not be very effective, but if used to kill Fierce Beasts or demons...

They couldn’t be more suitable.

And...

Thousands of demons!

If they in Lingxiao City could withstand this challenge, obtaining the bodies and Essence Blood of thousands of demons, the already thousand-strong team of Divine Demon Martial Artists would undoubtedly undergo a new transformation.

Even he might take the opportunity to cultivate an Upper-level Demon Body.

By then, even if there were accounts to be settled after the Divine Sword Assembly, Lingxiao City would stand fearless.