Chapter 2524: Big Formation Has a Flaw

In Xiaoyue City, Xiaoyue led the charge, with numerous Dao-Melding cultivators marching towards the enemy's Dao Integration city. Lu Ye was among them, his presence unremarkable.

Upon seeing this, the enemy's Dao Integration city immediately began to flee, but how could its hasty retreat match the speed of cultivators in flight? Furthermore, with its own City Lord battling nearby, it couldn't escape too far, as it needed to remain close enough to provide a power boost to its lord. Therefore, it could only flee while simultaneously activating the city's formations to counterattack, attempting to delay the siege.

Although these attacks, empowered by formations and numerous treasures, were formidable, their major drawbacks were long charging times and high energy consumption. Consequently, their effectiveness in this kind of battle was quite limited.

Xiaoyue City had deployed a large number of Dao-Melding cultivators this time, nearly two hundred, which was about eighty percent of their total force—almost their entire contingent.

This demonstrated Xiaoyue City's determination to conquer the enemy.

Of course, this was also related to the fact that Xiaoyue City currently had no Dao Integration cultivator garrisoned. Even Xiaoyue, the sole remaining Dao Integration master, had charged out. Leaving too many Dao-Melding cultivators behind would be pointless; it was better to launch an active assault.

Moments later, after sustaining some casualties, Xiaoyue City's forces approached the enemy city. A barrage of attacks rained down, causing ripples to spread across the defensive formation's light barrier, which flickered erratically.

Blending into the crowd, Lu Ye moved unpredictably, sending out slashes of saber light.

"Friend, you are truly impressive," a voice suddenly remarked. Lu Ye turned to see a burly, bearded man smiling at him from nearby.

"You flatter me," Lu Ye replied with a slight nod.

"Watch out!" the bearded man suddenly exclaimed, pulling Lu Ye's arm and drawing him aside.

The next instant, an attack shot out from the city, narrowly missing their previous position and striking the void.

While such an attack would be potent against an average Dao-Melding cultivator, it was insufficient against Lu Ye. Even if he had remained still, the attack might not have broken through his protective Dao power. Ultimately, these attacks were merely unleashed by Dao-Melding cultivators within the city, empowered by formations, and thus posed no fatal threat to him.

"Thank you," Lu Ye said, acknowledging the man's good intentions regardless.

"No need to be polite, friend," the bearded man chuckled, then glanced around. His spiritual sense surged as he sent a private message: "Seeing how young you are, allow me to presumptuously call you 'little brother.' When we besiege the city, let's besiege it, but don't risk your life unnecessarily."

Hearing this, Lu Ye couldn't help but show a strange expression. After all, he had been conscripted by Yuan Xi not long after entering the Inner World, becoming a part of Yuan Xi City. He had participated in several sieges there, but Yuan Xi City was fundamentally different from typical Dao Integration cities. Thus, he truly didn't know how cultivators in other Dao Integration cities behaved or thought in such situations.

The bearded man appeared simple and forthright, yet his words, both explicit and implicit, hinted at shrewdness.

Lu Ye casually asked, "Why is that?"

The bearded man chuckled. "Little brother, haven't you heard the saying, 'The nail that sticks out gets hammered first'? Why were you targeted and attacked by those inside just now? Wasn't it because you were too conspicuous?"

Lu Ye thought to himself that he had already suppressed his power sufficiently and hadn't deliberately tried to stand out.

"In this Inner World, we Dao-Melding cultivators are at the very bottom. If you want to live long enough, you must hide yourself well," the bearded man earnestly advised.

Lu Ye raised an eyebrow. "So, you've been keeping a low profile, old brother!"

The bearded man chuckled. "Not really. No matter how well I hide, I'm still just a Dao-Melding cultivator. I can't possibly turn the world upside down."

As they chatted, they continued to attack the city with the others. Lu Ye was actually quite curious why this man had suddenly approached him. It was impossible for there to be no reason; as the saying goes, "An unsolicited offer of courtesy indicates ulterior motives." With two hundred Dao-Melding cultivators dispatched from Xiaoyue City, why had only this bearded man sought him out?

As if sensing Lu Ye's doubt, the bearded man grinned. "To be frank, little brother, I have a favor to ask."

Lu Ye unleashed a saber strike and casually said, "Tell me about it."

The bearded man glanced furtively left and right, then privately messaged, "Little brother, I've noticed your Dao Integration city doesn't seem to have many members. Does your City Lord intend to recruit more people?"

With that question, Lu Ye immediately understood his intention: the man wanted to defect to Yuan Xi City.

"Oh? Can't you display your talents in Xiaoyue City, old brother?" Lu Ye teased.

Yuan Xi City did indeed need to recruit more people, as it was severely understaffed. If Lu Ye were the City Lord, recruiting Dao Integration cultivators would require a basis of trust and couldn't be done casually. However, Dao-Melding cultivators could be easily recruited in large numbers, at least enough to fully activate the city's defensive formations, thus eliminating worries when conquering territory externally.

However, Yuan Xi had her own considerations, so Lu Ye had never offered his opinion on the matter. You Die, Fu Wei, and Huan Qing had all been brought into Yuan Xi City for various reasons, not through deliberate recruitment.

Furthermore, with the enhancement of the Mirage Beast's secret technique, Yuan Xi City's need for Dao-Melding cultivators was no longer as great.

While Yuan Xi City needed recruits, Lu Ye genuinely looked down on individuals like the bearded man. Being a member of Xiaoyue City yet contemplating defecting to another Dao Integration city spoke to his character. Such a person would never endure hardships together; they would surely flee at the first sign of trouble.

"Alas," the bearded man sighed, "as you've seen, little brother, there are so many Dao-Melding cultivators in Xiaoyue City, and many of them have unique skills. I'm just ordinary, with no background, no powerful backing, and no bright future. Reaching Dao-Melding is my limit in this life. Without the regard of the Dao Integration lords in the city, how can I ever make a name for myself?"

Lu Ye remained silent.

The bearded man continued, "I see your city doesn't have many people, little brother. I don't ask for great convenience after joining, only that your city's Dao Integration masters treat everyone equally. If so, I will dedicate my life to serving your city."

"But old brother," Lu Ye said, "I can't make decisions about recruiting people for the city. I'm just a Dao-Melding cultivator myself."

"Didn't they say you were the Grand City Protector here, little brother?" the bearded man asked with some surprise.

He had undoubtedly heard of Lu Ye's title as Grand City Protector. Yuan Xi had introduced him as such when they entered Xiaoyue City a few days prior.

"Old brother," Lu Ye said, giving him a flat look, "how much real authority and power do you think I, as Grand City Protector, actually have?"

"You have a point..." The bearded man nodded thoughtfully, then sighed. "In any case, little brother, could you please convey a message to your city's Dao Integration masters for me?"

"No problem at all!" Lu Ye readily agreed. As for actually delivering the message, that was entirely up to him.

The bearded man's face showed gratitude. "Thank you so much, little brother. If this works out, I'll treat you to drinks in the Harmony Realm. Even if it doesn't, I'll still remember your kindness. But you know, little brother, this matter isn't exactly honorable, so whether it succeeds or not, it's best if the people in this city don't find out. Otherwise, I'll have no place here anymore."

"Understood," Lu Ye nodded, then shot forward, putting distance between himself and the bearded man.

If he stayed with him any longer, who knew what else the man would say.

The bearded man couldn't possibly have missed such an obvious attempt at distance, but he didn't seem to mind, merely chuckling as he watched Lu Ye's shifting figure.

In this short time, the light barrier of the enemy Dao Integration city's defensive formation had grown noticeably dimmer, indicating that the siege was indeed effective.

Lu Ye was somewhat surprised.

Based on his initial assessment, Xiaoyue City's offensive shouldn't have had such a significant effect.

While it was true that Xiaoyue City had sent out almost its entire force, and Xiaoyue herself was leading the charge, they were still facing a Desolate-level Dao Integration city, which also had a Dao Integration cultivator garrisoned. In such battles, defense was always more convenient and advantageous than offense, unless the attacking side's overall strength was clearly superior.

Yet, in reality, the siege was indeed effective, and in such a short period.

Having been preoccupied with the bearded man earlier, Lu Ye hadn't had much time to observe.

Now, after watching for a while, he finally discovered the problem.

This Desolate-level Dao Integration city's defensive formation... had a flaw!

Simply put, the grand formation had been breached in a short time previously. Although it had been repaired, the hasty nature of the repairs meant its defensive capabilities had not reached the required standard.

Furthermore, the cultivators within the city had sustained significant casualties and losses before. It could be said that the defenses of this Desolate-level Dao Integration city were even inferior to those of a typical Celestial-level city.

No wonder Xiaoyue City had shown such audacious courage.

Judging from the previous City Lord's shouting, he undoubtedly knew Luo Feng, and there was deep enmity between them.

Luo Feng's understanding of this Dao Integration city's current situation was definitely not as simple as he had mentioned a few days ago. He must have been very familiar with the details of this Desolate-level Dao Integration city, which was why Xiaoyue had personally led the troops to attack.

This was trouble.

Lu Ye secretly bared his teeth.

Xiaoyue City and Yuan Xi City had joined forces, discussing several plans.

Now, it seemed that within the framework of this grand plan, Xiaoyue City had its own agenda.

And Yuan Xi City also had its own agenda.

This was quite normal. Even though they were currently on the same side, they weren't close. They had only come together due to shared interests, so who could truly trust others wholeheartedly? Everyone would have their own small calculations.

Yuan Xi's plan was to end her own battle quickly, then take Lu Ye to charge into the enemy's central hall, have Lu Ye shatter the Dao Integration Pearl, give Xiaoyue City its agreed share, and claim the rest for themselves.

She was currently fighting one against three, and she didn't have to face cultivators at the City Lord level. Resolving the situation wouldn't be difficult, but it would take some time.

Therefore, she probably wouldn't make it in time before the city before them was breached.