NOVPUB
Chapter 500: 496 Siege
To tell the truth, Gu Jinlai was quite surprised.
He had thought that the person to confront him with the power of the City Protection Array would be the City Lord Zhao Hua.
Unexpectedly...
It turned out to be the Sixth Princess?
Or should he say, the mastermind who brought the Sixth Princess here, the Demon Slayer Hall Master Jin Fantian?
"Swoosh!"
At that moment, the void vibrated.
Figures that were already not far from the Demon Slayer Hall descended one after another.
Among the four great leaders of Wind and Rain City, Zhao Hua and Wu Tianya were not present. It was only Cao Wudao and the already present Jin Fantian.
But the nine Martial Saints...
Out of the eight Martial Saints, a full seven of them had arrived.
Even Fang Yan, who had always advanced and retreated together with Wu Tianya, had arrived at the scene.
Seven Martial Saints, two Saints...
No!
Together with Duanmu Shan and Gu Siliang, there should be four Great Saints!
This lineup was almost equivalent to all the top experts of Wind and Rain City launching a full-scale attack.
From this point, it was evident how much Gu Jinlai’s unrestrained rampage through the Outer City District had infringed upon the interests of others.
Eleven top masters, plus the activation of both the Demon Slayer Hall Array and the City Protection Array...
At this moment, Wind and Rain City had become a web of Heaven and Earth.
Seeing the arrival of various saints and Martial Saints, Jin Fantian breathed a sigh of relief.
Facing Gu Jinlai, who possibly possessed the strength of a Seventh or even Eighth Rank Saint, even he, as a Fifth Rank Peak Saint, was under tremendous pressure.
Now that everyone was present and the city’s defensive array was activating, and since Gu Jinlai had not yet taken the chance to break out of the Inner City in the short window before the array fully activated, Jin Fantian could finally declare that the situation was under control.
"Ancient Martial Saint, don’t blame me. If you must blame anyone, blame yourself for not seeing the situation clearly and offending nearly everyone in Wind and Rain City."
Jin Fantian said.
"Gu Jinlai, you killed my heir Cao Tiangang, cutting off my retreat. Did you ever think there would be a day like today?"
Cao Wudao said coldly.
"Heaven seeks to destroy those it has made mad first! Gu Jinlai, you have rampaged long enough in the Outer City District. Now, it’s time to pay the price."
Mu Changsheng said indifferently.
"During this time, the voice of my son Qingge, crying on his deathbed, has continuously echoed in my mind. Gu Jinlai, you killed him right before my eyes. This blood debt can only be repaid with fresh blood."
There was a murderous look in Fang Yan’s eyes as he wished he could flay Gu Jinlai and draw his tendons.
"Fang Qingge? I killed her and have not felt any remorse to date! Do you know how many families she has ruined over these years? Just because the man she liked abandoned her and went to the Imperial Capital to advance his career, she would harm any loving couple she saw, even having a famous talented woman in the West District raped in front of her husband on the day of her wedding, later having both families completely exterminated. Such a woman deserves to die a hundred times..."
Gu Jinlai said coldly.
"Shut up!"
Fang Yan roared, "These lowlifes are born in droves every year. Even if they stopped reproducing, outsiders would still come to seek refuge. Their lives cannot compare to my daughter’s!"
"Lowlifes? In my eyes, you and they are no different."
Gu Jinlai looked at this Martial Saint from the Martial Saint Institute, "At least when I killed her, she too screamed in agony and begged for mercy."
"Gu Jinlai..."
Fang Yan growled lowly, wishing he could rush out immediately and reduce Gu Jinlai to ashes.
However, he was rational and knew he was no match for Gu Jinlai. He quickly turned to the Sixth Princess Duanmu Shan and said, "Your Highness, you heard it. Gu Jinlai has lost his mind and is of no value for recruitment. Please, with the power of the City Protection Array, execute him on the spot."
"Please, Your Highness, lend a hand. I can transfer the rights to the Demon-binding Array of the Demon Slayer Hall to Your Highness at any time."
Jin Fantian also bowed slightly, smiling as he showed his stance.
Through the years, Zhao Hua, by binding everyone’s interests together, had pulled everyone into his chariot, making his position as City Lord secure as a rock. Even he, a Peak Saint, found it hard to shake.
But Gu Jinlai’s sudden rise had compelled Zhao Hua to bow down and concede, even though it was under the circumstance of losing a close confidant, Zong Yan. This, naturally, provided Jin Fantian with an opportunity to clarify for everyone that their so-called interests tied with Zhao Hua actually had no value at all.
In front of his seat as City Lord, everyone’s interests could be abandoned.
So, he discreetly contacted the Sixth Princess, explaining to her the matter between Gu Jinlai and Li Yang Cave Heaven, while also secretly allying with Cao Wudao, Fang Yan, Mu Changsheng, Yue Qushan, and others who had direct conflicts of interest with Gu Jinlai. He made them realize that only a local like him could truly stand together with them, thus paving the way to depose Zhao Hua from his position as City Lord.
Now...
Looking at Cao Wudao and the seven great Martial Saints by his side, he knew that the trend was overwhelmingly in his favor.
All he needed was to kill Gu Jinlai with the Sixth Prince’s power to force Zhao Hua to step down, and then he would become the new City Lord of Wind and Rain City.
"Don’t worry."
Duanmu Shan waved her hand.
The City Protection Array was already operational, and at this moment, she could distinctly feel that with a mere thought, she could draw upon the "Spirit Mechanism" power of the array to fortify herself and those she chose, thereby greatly enhancing the might of their Divine Skills.
It also weakened the connection between other individuals and the Heaven and Earth Power, substantially diminishing his strength in all aspects.
Moreover, the Divine Weapons she carried could be activated in one fell swoop, releasing the "Dao" power contained within, making them capable of combat power comparable to that of a Void Immortal.
At this moment, her victory was certain, without any doubt.
Thus, she once again turned her gaze towards Gu Jinlai and sneered coldly, "Gu Jinlai, now, I want to ask you a question. Do you regret not accepting my invitation?"
"You’re not in a rush, but I am very much so."
Gu Jinlai slowly unsheathed the Quasi-Dao Artifact Level Cheng Ying Sword, "No need to talk about regrets. Make your move, all of you together. I’m short on time. Before the people from Chi Long Territory arrive, I intend to leave them a peaceful Wind and Rain City, capable of resisting the demonic waves stirred by the Dragon Tears Demon Emperor."
"Truly stubborn!"
Duanmu Shan’s expression instantly turned stern. "Gu Jinlai, since you..."
"Boom!"
Thunder roared!
The power of the Thunder Light Domain spread out like a vast network from Gu Jinlai as the center; the Chaotic Star Light Body activated, releasing countless bolts of Thunder Power from his body. These, in turn, resonated with the Heaven and Earth Power through the Thunder Light Domain. This resonance caused the might of the thunder within the domain to surge enormously, visibly scattering silver lightning rampantly.
"I told you, I’m in a hurry!"
In Gu Jinlai’s voice, Thunder Dragon formed swords, transforming into eleven sword shadows that struck towards the Four Great Saints and the seven Martial Saints.
"Gu Jinlai, you’re courting death!"
Duanmu Shan shouted fiercely and retreated swiftly.
As she retreated, a top-grade Daoist Artifact indicative of Imperial Family status on her was activated. Her Spiritual Will seemed to merge with the entire City Defense Array, and with a single thought, she maneuvered the "Spirit Mechanism" power toward Jin Fantian, Gu Siliang, Cao Wudao, Mu Changsheng, Fang Yan, and others, pouring energy into them.
Simultaneously, she also manipulated the Formation’s power to deprive the Thunder Light Domain—a Divine Skill typically resonant with the Heavenly Person’s Divine Power—of its resonance with the Heaven and Earth Power, drastically reducing the explosive Thunder Power within the domain, nearly reducing it to the level of ordinary Divine Skills.
As Gu Siliang deployed a Golden Bell-like Dao Artifact, a unique ring of golden ripples burst forth, and the eleven significantly weakened Thunder Swords were completely shattered by the ripples emanating from the Golden Bell.
"You’ve been enhanced! Go! Kill him!"
Duanmu Shan’s Divine Thought echoed in everyone’s perception.
Indeed, without needing her reminder, everyone already sensed the augmentation granted by the Formation’s power.
Although this enhancement was evenly distributed among eleven individuals and the amplifying artifact used was not the main Suppressing Divine Weapon of the accompanying Formation, everyone still distinctly felt their combat capabilities ascend.
At least two levels had increased!
Coupled with the weakening of Gu Jinlai’s Divine Skills by the City Defense Array, which was estimated to be weakened by two levels,
it meant that Jin Fantian, originally comparable to a Fifth-Rank Peak Saint, could now erupt with Seventh-Rank Power while Gu Jinlai...
Even if he originally possessed power comparable to an Eighth-Rank Saint, he would now be suppressed to the level of merely a Sixth-Rank Country Guardian Saint.
"Gu Jinlai! Give me back my son’s life!"
Before Jin Fantian could take action, Cao Wudao, the Army Commander of the City Guard Army, already roared, his figure rapidly expanding. He manifested a Saint Body of thirty meters in height, with a precious cauldron appearing over his head. From within the cauldron, a creature resembling the Holy Beast Vermilion Bird soared up, charging straight at Gu Jinlai.
This was his Cultivation to Perfection of a top-grade Divine Skill—Vermilion Bird Fire Wings!
The Dao Artifact he deployed, akin to a precious cauldron and reaching top-grade status, was called the Emperor Yan Cauldron, adding even more might to his Divine Skill.
Plus, with the boost from the City Protection Array...
The blazing Vermilion Bird Illusion seemed to transform into a real Holy Beast Vermilion Bird. As it swooped down, the intense flames seemed to burn the skies, suffocating anyone nearby, its wings flapping setting the void ablaze even without actual fire.
"Boom!"
Thunder shook.
In the void, countless thunders erupted simultaneously.
The might of the Thunder Light Domain was pushed to the extreme by Gu Jinlai.
Countless bolts of thunder furiously struck down at the Vermilion Bird Fire Wings, shattering the Vermilion Bird Shadow inch by inch causing it to fragment.
However, each thunderbolt was weakened and suppressed as it was released, and although the Vermilion Bird Shadow continued to break apart, casting off large amounts of flame, it was never completely dissipated by the Divine Skill.
Eventually, a remnant of the Vermilion Bird Illusion, still ten percent of its original power, reached Gu Jinlai and was shattered by the fist force he unleashed.
Yet the fierce impact wave formed by the flames still swept over his form, but due to the presence of the Cloud Flame Robe, it did not inflict any substantial damage on him.
Despite this, Jin Fantian, Fang Yan, Mu Changsheng, and others could not hide the uncontrollable delight on their faces.
"Good!"
"This Gu Jinlai truly possesses combat power comparable to an Eighth-Rank Saint!? I really wonder how he cultivated! But under the City Protection Array, even if he truly is an Eighth-Rank Saint, he will be suppressed to only the level of a Sixth-Rank Country Guardian Saint. Everyone has been enhanced two levels, and even the weakest among them are equivalent to the Third-Rank Top Martial Saint!"
"Gu Jinlai, you are doomed!"
Each Saint and Martial Saint no longer hesitated. Their Martial Arts Will and Immortal Golden Bodies were stimulated simultaneously, and their overwhelming and violent auras rampaged wildly, roaring across the skies above the Demon-slaying Hall.
