Chapter 1912: Human-Demon War (6)

"Indeed. Yitian City is the only remaining stronghold near our city, and it must be saved. During the last demonic calamity, this city resisted the demons until the very end and remained unharmed. Its current struggle is simply due to a lack of high-level cultivators to oversee it." Elder Gu sighed lightly.

"Brother Gu, do you mean that our Sky Abyss City doesn't need to deploy too many people, and that only a few Integration stage cultivators will suffice?" Zen Master Jinyue's eyes flashed as he asked thoughtfully.

"Precisely, that is my intention. After all, Sky Abyss City is the ultimate target of the current demonic army. Even if we rescue Yitian City, we must be wary of their feint. Yitian City itself does not lack low-to-mid-level disciples, and its defensive capabilities are not weak. If we only send two or three Integration stage cultivators as support, it will be enough to stabilize the dangerous situation there without significantly weakening our city's strength." Elder Gu had clearly thought this through beforehand, and spoke without hesitation.

After hearing Elder Gu's words, the other elders naturally began to whisper amongst themselves, interspersed with discussions.

Ultimately, most agreed with the white-robed elder's suggestion, as this method of rescuing the market was currently the most secure. However, a different dispute arose among the elders regarding the specific personnel to be sent for the rescue.

"Brother Gu, you want me and Fellow Daoist Yu to go as reinforcements. I'm afraid this might not be suitable! It's not that I'm unwilling to take the risk, but Brother Gu should be very clear that I am currently at a critical stage in the preparations for that matter and truly cannot spare the time." A middle-aged man with snow-white eyebrows said, frowning.

Elder Gu had just proposed that he and another elder go to reinforce Yitian City, and he immediately refused without hesitation.

"Brother Gu should also know about my situation. The furnace of Fragrant Zenith Pills I'm refining is at a critical juncture; if I leave, all my previous efforts will be wasted." Another elder also shook his head repeatedly.

"What about Fellow Daoist Qin and Brother Lei?" Elder Gu frowned and turned to ask two others.

As a result, those two elders also looked troubled.

"This is troublesome. I and Zen Master Jinyue, among others, are responsible for Sky Abyss City's overall defense and cannot leave either." Elder Gu became somewhat displeased.

"How about this, Brother Gu, if you are at ease, I can make the trip. Fairy Lin of the Heavenly Emperor Sect and I have been friends for many years, so it's only right for me to lend a hand." Fairy Yinguang's eyes behind her mask flashed, and she spoke suddenly with a cool tone.

"What? The Fairy is willing to go? That's wonderful! With the Fairy's divine abilities, why would I not be at ease? However, the Fairy alone is not enough; at least one more person must be sent." Upon seeing Fairy Yinguang volunteer, Elder Gu was pleasantly surprised and said with great joy. Then, his gaze shifted, and he subconsciously looked at Han Li.

Seeing this, Han Li sighed inwardly, knowing he would likely be unable to avoid this task. He immediately rose, bowed, and said:

"The refinement of the treasures in my possession is almost complete. How about including me on this trip to Yitian City? Since arriving in your esteemed city, I haven't done anything yet, and I've been feeling a bit uneasy about that."

"Brother Han is a Mid-stage cultivator, and has even fought Late-stage cultivators. If you go to support, Yitian City will naturally be even more secure. Then we'll trouble Fellow Daoist with this." Elder Gu, seeing Han Li volunteer, his brow smoothed out, and he thanked him repeatedly with extreme joy.

"Yitian City is of no small importance, so it's only right for me to contribute a little effort. Without further ado, how about Fairy Yinguang and I go back to prepare a little, and then depart tomorrow!" Han Li replied with a free and easy smile.

Although this trip to Yitian City would involve directly confronting high-level demons, with Han Li's current divine abilities, unless he encountered a Demonic Ancestor-tier being, other demons would hardly pose a real threat to him.

Therefore, although he knew there might be some risks on this journey, he felt no fear in his heart.

"The situation in Yitian City is critical, so departing tomorrow is good. However, long-distance teleportation has been cut off everywhere by demonic magic, so our city's teleportation array cannot send you two directly to Yitian City. It can only send you to the nearest hidden teleportation point. The remaining distance will have to be covered by you two using flight techniques." Zen Master Jinyue said with some apology.

"It's fine. With Brother Han's abilities and mine, the remaining journey definitely won't take us long." Fairy Yinguang said indifferently.

Han Li also smiled, not taking it to heart.

Now that the reinforcements had been selected, Elder Gu and the others felt a great weight lifted from their minds. Next, they began to discuss countermeasures for the increasingly intense demonic attacks.

But even though these old eccentrics were all cunning and resourceful, they remained at a loss in the face of the endless low-level demonic beast army. Even Sky Abyss City's current reserves of spirit stones had diminished by more than a tenth due to the astonishing consumption of numerous magic formations.

It seemed there was still much left, but according to past custom, a demonic calamity would last for over a hundred years. The current calamity had only been ongoing for less than a year, which naturally caused great concern among the elders.

At this moment, Han Li suddenly smiled and said:

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry too much about this. While low-level demonic beasts in the Demon Realm may indeed be countless, collecting and taming them likely expends considerable effort for the Ancient Demon race. Furthermore, bringing these demonic beasts from the Demon Realm to the Human Realm is certainly not an easy feat. After all, even though the inter-realm power between the two realms has greatly diminished, some still remains. Such a large number of low-level demonic beasts is definitely a huge burden for the demon race. Otherwise, why would those demons go to such trouble to test things out?"

"We naturally know this. However, the ferocity of this demonic calamity is truly somewhat unexpected. We genuinely don't know if Sky Abyss City can exhaust this demonic beast army first." Elder Gu said with a wry smile.

"Actually, compared to the demonic beast army and the high-level demons that have already appeared, I am more concerned about how many Demonic Ancestor true bodies will descend upon this realm in a few decades." Fairy Yinguang, however, spoke with a heavy expression.

"What do you mean by that, Fairy?" Upon hearing this, Han Li's expression shifted, and he asked without hesitation.

"Previously, once a demonic calamity reached its mid-stage, the inter-realm power could no longer block the descent of Demonic Ancestor true bodies. However, for some unknown reason, not all of these Demonic Ancestors could descend upon this realm; only a handful could come to the Human Realm during each calamity. With the combined efforts of the Human and Demon races, along with a few other nearby races' Grand Ascension stage cultivators, they could still contend equally with these Ancestors. But since this demonic calamity is so formidable, the number of descending Demonic Ancestors will likely be vastly different from before. Even if not many, if the demon race were to send down over a dozen Demonic Ancestor-tier beings in one go, our Human and Demon races would be utterly unable to resist." Fairy Yinguang said slowly.

"Zen Master Jinyue and I have actually speculated about this matter before. However, Sacred Island should have precautions in place. We just need to do our best with our own responsibilities." Elder Gu showed no undue surprise at Fairy Yinguang's words; instead, a cold glint flashed across his face as he spoke.

"That's true. Sacred Island has many wise individuals from both our races. Since they could predict that this demonic calamity would be extraordinary, they surely have countermeasures for it. In that case, I will take my leave now and go back to prepare for the trip to Yitian City." Upon hearing this, Fairy Yinguang's delicate expression softened, and after a moment's thought, she bid farewell.

Elder Gu and the others naturally had no objections and all rose to see her off.

Not long after Fairy Yinguang left, Han Li also took his leave, using the excuse of preparing for his journey the next day.

Soon after returning to his cave abode, Han Li immediately summoned Hai Dashao's two disciples. He bestowed upon them some treasures and elixirs, and after giving them solemn instructions, he returned to his secret chamber on the top floor to meditate.

Although he believed this trip shouldn't pose too great a danger, it was naturally very beneficial to maintain his mental state at its peak before departing.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Han Li flew alone straight to the teleportation array in Sky Abyss City.

Several hours later, he saw from a distance a beautiful white-robed woman wearing a mask standing outside the teleportation hall.

"My apologies for making you wait so long, Fairy!"

With a flicker of his escape light, Han Li mysteriously appeared beside the woman and said with a slight smile.

"No need to be so polite, Brother Han. I've only just arrived myself. Let's depart now!" Fairy Yinguang's eyes briefly swept over Han Li's face before she said calmly.

Subsequently, the woman led the way into the teleportation hall, with Han Li following unhurriedly.

Inside the teleportation hall, several guard escorts were already respectfully waiting. Upon seeing Han Li and the other enter, they immediately saluted them, and the leader respectfully said:

"Seniors, this junior has already prepared the teleportation array. We will soon transport you to a teleportation point roughly a month's journey from Yitian City. However, to avoid detection by demons, this teleportation point has not been activated since the demonic calamity began. Therefore, when you are transported to the other end, please be extra careful, in case that teleportation point has already been exposed."

"So, you're saying that when we go over, we might fall into a demonic ambush?" Fairy Yinguang raised an eyebrow and asked coldly.

"Reporting to Senior, the location of that teleportation point is exceptionally well-hidden, so logically, it should not be exposed. My previous words were merely a precaution, just in case!" The guard's heart chilled, and he hurriedly and cautiously explained.

"Is there any problem with the teleportation array itself?" Han Li asked calmly.

"Absolutely no problem. This junior just tested it." The leading guard said with great certainty.

"Since there's no problem with the teleportation itself, even if there's a demonic ambush on the other side, Fairy Yinguang and I won't be concerned. Prepare for teleportation immediately." Upon hearing this, Han Li commanded without hesitation.