Chapter 859: Protective City Formation

"What method!?" Yun Qinghong looked into the distance, his face heavy with deep helplessness. "Do you remember what the Fourth Demon Emperor left behind for Demon Imperial City, something he dedicated half his life to?"

"Patriarch, are you referring to... the city-protecting formation?" Grand Elder Yun Waitian immediately asked.

Below Demon Imperial City lies a city-protecting formation. This fact is now virtually unknown to anyone; it's not that it was a secret to be kept from outsiders, but rather that it has simply been forgotten by history over time. However, many among the Twelve Guardian Families are aware of its existence.

"Indeed, the chronicles of our Illusory Demon Realm record that the Fourth Demon Emperor, in anticipation of a future disaster, spent hundreds of years and immense effort constructing a massive protective profound formation beneath Demon Imperial City. However..." Mu Feiyan shook his head. "This city-protecting formation has been completely dormant since the Fifth Demon Emperor's reign and has not been used for thousands of years since. The power within it must have long since dissipated, rendering it a completely dead formation now... Qinghong, you must understand this."

"That's right, the city-protecting formation is indeed a dead one," Yun Qinghong said solemnly. "But though the formation is dead, its foundation remains, and it's perfectly intact. I specifically confirmed this with the Little Demon Empress half a year ago... At the time, I was merely tasked with a mission; I never imagined we would suddenly be pushed to this point."

"Patriarch Yun, do you mean... forcibly reawakening the city-protecting formation to resist Xuanyuan Wentian?" A Prince gaped, speaking in disbelief. Everyone else was also dumbfounded. If Yun Qinghong were to nod now, they would surely think he had gone mad.

"Exactly!" Yun Qinghong did not hesitate in the slightest, his voice suddenly growing louder, and his gaze becoming incredibly sharp. "Everyone, you must have some idea of how immense the power required to reawaken this city-protecting formation is. And we have less than half an hour! Within this half hour, we must mobilize all available power... all of it! This includes all disciples and all profound crystal resources! There must be no holding back whatsoever!"

The two words "all of it" carried immense weight. Everyone stared at Yun Qinghong in astonishment, and the Yun Family disciples below were also dazed, unable to believe their ears.

"Patriarch Yun, using all our power... all our accumulated resources to forcibly reawaken the city-protecting formation... this, this, this..." A Prince shook his head, completely unable to comprehend. This was not just an exaggeration; it was utterly preposterous. If it hadn't come from Yun Qinghong's mouth, they would have dismissed it as the most absurd joke they had ever heard.

"I am not joking." Yun Qinghong exhaled heavily, his gaze fixed on everyone. "Xuanyuan Wentian is worth us doing this... and we have no choice but to do it! Think about how incredibly powerful the Little Demon Empress's profound energy is. And Xuanyuan Wentian is someone who can defeat the Little Demon Empress! Although he is just one person, what he brings can be considered the greatest calamity in the history of Demon Imperial City! The Rebellion of Prince Huai, if it had succeeded, would have merely been a change in imperial power. But if Xuanyuan Wentian breaks into the city, the consequence will be a city soaked in blood! Perhaps by this time tomorrow, Demon Imperial City will have become ruins, ceasing to exist! Do you wish to be massacred, or do you choose to pour everything into this resistance, which is the only chance for even a brief survival?"

Yun Qinghong's words, like a wake-up call, dramatically changed their expressions. Perhaps only at this moment did they truly realize how terrifying this calamity was. Though it was only one person... it was a power that surpassed the Little Demon Empress! It was a power entirely capable of annihilating the entire Demon Imperial City!

"Brother Yun, I understand," Su Xiangnan nodded heavily. "If I'm not mistaken, this city-protecting formation has eight arrays, each with six eye formations. You give the orders on what to do!"

"Exactly. With no news from the Little Demon Empress, Patriarch Yun is the most suitable to lead the entire situation. Patriarch Yun, please rest assured. This matter concerns the very survival of Demon Imperial City. All forces belonging to my Prince Zheng's estate will be deployed without exception, and all our accumulated profound crystals will be brought out, not a single one held back!"

"Patriarch Yun, please give the orders!" None of the Guardian Family patriarchs, elders, or princes present showed any hesitation now; some were even trembling with tension.

"If Xuanyuan Wentian cannot breach one position, he will certainly change his attack point, so all eight arrays must be defended! It's best to distribute our forces evenly, leaving no weak points. Otherwise, if even one breach occurs, it will be the ruin of Demon Imperial City. As for the deployment, I will transmit instructions to you all shortly. Please return to your families quickly to gather all disciples, bring all profound crystals, and mobilize as many profound practitioners in the city as possible... Everything must be prepared within the shortest time possible, and then we will prepare to reawaken the city-protecting formation."

After speaking, Yun Qinghong didn't wait for their replies. He spun around sharply and sternly commanded, "All Yun Family disciples, heed my order! You have two hundred breaths to prepare. After two hundred breaths, reassemble here. Yun Ye, Yun Qiuyue, Yun Yanzhi, Yun Fanjian, immediately go to the Medicine Pavilion and bring all profound crystals and pills! Do not leave a single one behind!"

Yun Qinghong issued the most desperate order he had given as the Yun Family Patriarch. Other Guardian Families and Princes also returned to their strongholds at the fastest possible speed. With disaster impending, Demon Imperial City was plunged into chaos.

"Qibao... quickly! Leave Demon Imperial City immediately, head south, and go as far as possible! Don't look back!" Tianxia Xiongtu, the only one who hadn't left, rushed to Tianxia Qibao, speaking with urgent anxiety. If it weren't for her nine-month pregnancy, he would have wished to push her away with a single palm.

"No..." Tianxia Qibao stubbornly shook her head. "I want to be with Brother Yun."

"Then you two, as a couple, leave together!" Tianxia Xiongtu grabbed Xiao Yun, roaring in a low voice. "Take my daughter away immediately! Even if not for my daughter, do it for your wife and your child who is about to be born... if you don't leave now, it will be too late!"

"I..." Xiao Yun panicked. He glanced at Tianxia Qibao but shook his head resolutely. "At a time like this, how can I selfishly flee... If I were to live on in such a way, I wouldn't have the face to welcome the birth of my child. Qibao, you..."

"Brother Yun, don't say anything more." Tianxia Qibao leaned gently against him, smiling. "Whether we live or die, our family will be together. No one will be alone."

"You, you, you... you two..." Tianxia Xiongtu stomped his foot in frustration.

"Brother Tianxia, please rest assured," Yun Qinghong said with a smile. "I won't allow them to die before me. Moreover, with the city-protecting formation powered by all our combined strength, no matter how powerful Xuanyuan Wentian is, he won't be able to easily break through it."

"Sigh!" Tianxia Xiongtu sighed heavily, then soared into the air, flying frantically towards his family's direction.

The air currents in Demon Imperial City immediately began to churn, and the Yun Family was in an uproar, yet Yun Qinghong remained quietly suspended in place. He looked up at the sky, closed his eyes, and let out a soft sigh. "This method is undoubtedly like drinking poison to quench thirst. Even if it temporarily stops Xuanyuan Wentian, it will severely deplete Demon Imperial City's strength and foundation, and it certainly won't be able to resist a second attack. However, Xuanyuan Wentian will arrive in half an hour, and besides this, there is no other choice." Perhaps, all they could hope for was a miracle.

News of the impending disaster spread throughout Demon Imperial City. All city residents quickly received the news. The air was filled with heavy fear and commotion, and the streets were crowded with countless people, both mortals and profound practitioners, desperately fleeing towards the city gates. However, nearly half of the population remained. With the Yun Family leading, and the Twelve Guardian Families and various Princes' estates forming the core, the strengths of all families, sects, and powers, big and small, within the city were swiftly organized and integrated. Soon, the distribution of forces for the eight arrays was complete. The combined power released by countless profound practitioners formed profound energy storms capable of shaking the heavens, and the radiant energy from profound crystals piled high as mountains illuminated the sky in purple.

Such a scene was unprecedented in the history of the Illusory Demon Realm. As Yun Qinghong had anticipated, under such immense power, the city-protecting formation, dormant for millennia, was rapidly reawakened. Streaks of profound light shot up from beneath Demon Imperial City, and massive translucent light barriers slowly formed in the sky, connecting and then enveloping the entire Demon Imperial City.

As the city-protecting formation was completed, the northern sky suddenly darkened.

"That blackness... it's Xuanyuan Wentian!" Tianxia Yiye exclaimed in alarm!

The Yun Family and the Tianxia Family were stationed in the northernmost array of the city-protecting formation. Dozens of Yun Family elders and twenty thousand disciples were present, and not a single one of the sixteen thousand spirits from the Tianxia Family was missing. If one were to return to the Yun Family or the Tianxia Family at this moment, they would find both vast family compounds completely empty. This was a true last stand, with no retreat! The other Guardian Families were doing the same. Led by these two major Guardian Families, there were also three hundred thousand profound practitioners from ordinary sects behind them. Although their power level was far below that of the Guardian Families, the combined strength of three hundred thousand profound practitioners could not be underestimated. The other seven arrays were also manned by defensive forces of similar strength.

An intense darkness rapidly spread from the north towards Demon Imperial City. This gloom was entirely different from ordinary dark clouds; just a glance would send a chill through one's body, make their heart pound, and feel like plummeting into an icy abyss. Many of the weaker profound practitioners behind them were drenched in cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably.

"Is this what you meant by... Xuanyuan Wentian's exceptionally strange black profound energy?" Even someone as powerful as Yun Qinghong felt extremely uncomfortable under this dark aura, which hadn't even approached yet. The approaching dark aura was far more terrifying than anticipated. Tianxia Xiongtu, standing at the forefront, watched the blackened northern sky, his expression growing heavier and heavier. At this moment, he clearly felt that not a single word of Yun Qinghong's was an exaggeration. Because it was an oppressive force even heavier and more terrifying than that of the Little Demon Empress!

"All Tianxia disciples, heed my command... prepare for battle! If you don't want to die, use all your strength!" Tianxia Xiongtu roared.

"The city-protecting formation allows passage out, but not in. Remember not to accidentally step outside the formation," Yun Qinghong said in a deep voice, raising his hands, purple lightning flashing in his palms. Dozens of lightning spirits already circled his body. "I never expected Xuanyuan Wentian's strength to be so great, almost twice as powerful as the Little Demon Empress!" The terrifying aura from the north made Yun Qinghong's chest feel constricted, as if it might burst, and his expression grew even graver.

"Huh? No... that's not right." Xiao Yun's profound energy surged, and he trembled slightly with tension. "Although Xuanyuan Wentian defeated the Little Demon Empress back then, he himself was in a very sorry state and severely injured, almost unable to stand. Even if he was stronger than the Little Demon Empress, it shouldn't have been by much."

Yun Qinghong: "..."

"No," Tianxia Yiye shook his head. "Xuanyuan Wentian's aura has changed; it's much, much stronger than it was three months ago on the Profound Sky Continent. This aura alone, being almost twice as powerful as the Little Demon Empress, is absolutely no exaggeration!"

"Wh-what!?" Xiao Yun's face turned ashen with shock. He quickly focused to sense the aura from the north, his face gradually turning pale, and cold sweat pouring down his forehead. "H-how could this be..."