Chapter 2538: Yuanxi City Returns

Under Lu Ye’s watchful eye, the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city hastily sent a message.

At the second battlefield, City Lord Zhao led a group of Dao Integration cultivators in a fierce assault on the enemy's formation, finally breaching it. However, before the city could fully fall, the cultivators of the enemy's Heaven-grade city had already used their Dao Integration Orbs to escape into the Harmony Realm.

City Lord Zhao hadn't even had time to relish the joy of victory when he frowned and turned his head to look towards his own city.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he looked at You Die, who had been standing silently nearby with a pale face, and said, “Get out!”

You Die gritted her teeth and turned to chase in the direction where Yuan Xi City had fled.

Previously, City Lord Zhao and his group were busy with the siege and hadn't paid much attention to their own city. However, You Die had been constantly monitoring the situation there. The reason was simple: she had personally witnessed the cultivator named Wu sending Lu Ye into that Barren-grade city, and naturally, she was very concerned about Lu Ye's safety.

Then she saw a battle suddenly erupt there, and she knew without a doubt it was related to Lu Ye.

She didn't know what Lu Ye had done inside the city, only regretting that she couldn't go to assist him in battle.

Now that the other party suddenly wanted to let her go, it undoubtedly indicated that Lu Ye had done something within their city, gaining leverage over them.

Thus, You Die left without the slightest hesitation, knowing that in her current state, staying would only be a burden.

Whatever Lu Ye intended to do, her departure was the best way to cooperate. Once she returned to Yuan Xi City, she could command her own city and find an opportunity to rendezvous with Lu Ye.

“Are you satisfied now, fellow cultivator?” the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the Barren-grade city slowly asked Lu Ye.

Lu Ye did not reply. He merely maintained a cautious stance, watching You Die's figure disappear from sight.

You Die was safe, and Yuan Xi City was now far away. Next, he had to consider his own situation.

He couldn't rely on the Void Dao Patterns. The Dao Integration cultivator before him was very strong, and at such close proximity, any unusual movement from his side would give the opponent an opportunity to interrupt him.

It seemed he could only rely on the will of the Star Abyss.

As long as the opponent still valued their Dao Integration Orbs, he could use his own Orb to threaten their Dao Integration cultivators. He could make them swear an oath to let him leave; as long as the oath wasn't overly demanding, they should consider it.

At the second battlefield, after the city fell and a brief cleanup of the area, City Lord Zhao immediately led his group of Dao Integration cultivators in a hasty return.

However, just as they entered the city, Lu Ye’s Dao power surged. The blade of his long saber pulsed with energy, ready to strike.

The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city was greatly alarmed by this sight and sternly shouted, “Stop!”

Lu Ye, however, merely looked at City Lord Zhao and the others and declared, “Dare to come any closer, and I will strike!”

City Lord Zhao indeed dared not advance further. He stood his ground with a grim expression, glancing at the dilapidated gate of the Central Hall. Having understood the situation, he couldn't help but sneer, “If you dare to strike, you will die!”

Lu Ye raised his chin slightly, looked at him disdainfully, and said with an arrogant expression, “Even before I die, I can still shatter your Dao Integration Orb!”

Seeing Lu Ye directly confront his City Lord, the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city quickly intervened to mediate: “Fellow cultivator, we can sit down and talk things through. After all, we are on the same side. Why must we fight to a mutual destruction and become a laughing stock for others?”

The 'others' he referred to were the two enemy Dao Integration Cities.

Originally, six Dao Integration Cities had gathered here: Yuan Xi City, two Barren-grade cities, and three Heaven-grade cities. Now, two of the Heaven-grade cities had been breached. Of the remaining two Barren-grade cities, one was an ally and the other an enemy, and the sole remaining Heaven-grade city also belonged to the enemy.

The enemy Barren-grade city and Heaven-grade city had concluded their battles earlier than City Lord Zhao's group. They were now moored nearby, observing the situation with an air of enjoying the spectacle.

Lu Ye calmly stated, “You're afraid I'll actually shatter the Dao Integration Orb, leaving City Lord Zhao here weakened and unable to contend with them later, aren't you?”

Under normal circumstances, the shattering of a Dao Integration Orb, while unacceptable, wouldn't lead to more dire consequences. However, in this specific situation, if the Orb were destroyed, City Lord Zhao and his group would likely not escape disaster, as the two enemy Dao Integration Cities weren't merely watching for entertainment.

If a suitable opportunity arose, they certainly wouldn't hesitate to strike.

“Why bother, fellow cultivator? We are all on the same side,” the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city pleaded earnestly.

“You didn't say we were on the same side when you ambushed and injured my friend, did you?” Lu Ye retorted with a mocking expression.

It was fortunate that You Die had truly been wholeheartedly cooperating with the siege earlier, completely unguarded against City Lord Zhao. Otherwise, even with the vast power disparity, she wouldn't have been so easily severely wounded.

“You should be glad I didn't kill her!” City Lord Zhao snorted coldly.

The moment he finished speaking, Lu Ye slashed his saber downward. The saber's energy surged into the Central Hall, and cries of agony echoed from within, clearly indicating that many of the Fusion Dao cultivators stationed there had been injured.

City Lord Zhao's body twitched slightly but quickly froze again, as the saber's energy on Lu Ye's long saber had reformed. Furthermore, the previous strike hadn't been aimed at the Dao Integration Orb, so it must have been a warning.

“Don't be impulsive, fellow cultivator!” The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city broke out in a cold sweat. If it weren't inappropriate, he would have likely told his City Lord to shut up.

He could tell that this soldier cultivator had a somewhat volatile temperament and was the kind of person who responded well to gentle handling but poorly to aggression. He couldn't be provoked, or he might genuinely do something terrible.

Then again, if he weren't so reckless, how could he possibly act in such a manner, alone in a Barren-grade city?

“You should also be glad I didn't kill them!” Lu Ye stared coldly at City Lord Zhao.

City Lord Zhao's face grew even darker, but he dared not say anything more. The opponent's confrontational intent was too obvious.

“Fellow cultivator, we cultivators live by the principle of swift vengeance and acting on our impulses. Being indecisive and dragging one's feet isn't manly. Don't worry, if you die, we will certainly avenge you!”

From the distant Barren-grade city, where they were watching the spectacle, a loud shout echoed. No one knew who was yelling, inciting the situation.

They didn't actually know what was happening here, but since they were in an adversarial position, they were naturally delighted to see their enemies suffer misfortune.

“What do you want, fellow cultivator?” the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city asked, looking at Lu Ye.

“In this situation, what else could I want but to survive?”

The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city nodded: “No problem. Fellow cultivator, you are free to leave anytime, and we will absolutely not stop you.” He had actually discerned Lu Ye’s intention, as Lu Ye hadn't killed anyone since entering the city, and his actions regarding the shattering of the Dao Integration Orb were merely threats.

Therefore, in his view, Lu Ye was unwilling to push things to an irreversible extreme.

Lu Ye slowly shook his head: “I am not a three-year-old child. Do not try to fool me, fellow cultivator.”

The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city said, “I truly have no such intention, and I genuinely will not obstruct you, fellow cultivator.”

“You might not, but your City Lord seems somewhat unwilling,” Lu Ye said, glancing at City Lord Zhao, who had been staring coldly at him.

The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city looked towards City Lord Zhao.

City Lord Zhao's eyelids flickered slightly. “I can let you go,” he said.

“Words mean nothing!” Lu Ye stated.

City Lord Zhao looked impatient. “What do you intend to do?”

Lu Ye suddenly gripped his saber with both hands: “Swear an oath. Within twenty breaths, all Dao Integration cultivators in this city must not make any move to hinder or pursue me for one hour after I leave. If even one person fails to comply… we will both perish!”

The faces of the many Dao Integration cultivators in the city fell. No one wanted to lightly swear an Oath of the Star Abyss, even if this particular oath wasn't heavily binding.

However, if they didn't meet Lu Ye's demands, his stance indicated he was truly willing to fight to the death.

“Why must you push so hard, fellow cultivator?” the Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city sighed.

“Three breaths have passed!” Lu Ye said, his expression calm.

The Dao Integration cultivator guarding the city felt helpless and could only look at City Lord Zhao. Whether to swear the oath depended on the City Lord's decision. However, he surmised that even if the City Lord was furious, he would have to concede, as the Dao Integration City was his, and in the current situation, he couldn't bear the consequence of the Dao Integration Orb being shattered.

“Ten breaths!” Lu Ye said coldly, the saber's energy on his long saber pulsing even more fiercely.

But at that very moment, he suddenly frowned, his gaze shifting to behind City Lord Zhao and his group. Once he clearly saw the scene there, his expression instantly turned grim.

What were You Die and her group doing? Why had they come back again?!

In his plan, once You Die returned to Yuan Xi City, she could activate the secret technique enhanced by the Mirage, allowing the city to lie dormant and hidden once more.

Surely, they wouldn't be so unlucky as to encounter the previous situation again, where their concealment was broken.

As for him, he had no real intention of fighting to the death. He only had one life; who would willingly die when they could live? He still needed his useful body to save the starry sky.

Everything before was merely a pretense.

The most likely outcome was that he would be captured alive and suffer some humiliation, but as long as City Lord Yuan Xi returned, she would find a way to rescue him. He had great confidence in City Lord Yuan Xi.

But now, Yuan Xi City, which had only left a short while ago, had actually turned back.

What was everything he had done for, then?

Even if their city returned, it shouldn't have done so openly. At the very least, it should have activated the Mirage's secret technique and returned stealthily.

You Die shouldn't be so foolish. As a Bug Mother who had lived for countless years, could she really not analyze such a simple situation?

As various thoughts churned in Lu Ye’s mind, City Lord Zhao and the others also followed his gaze and saw Yuan Xi City rapidly approaching.

When he turned back, a smirk played on City Lord Zhao’s lips: “Surrender now, or I will immediately breach your Dao Integration City and kill all your friends!”

Threats, anyone could make them. Now he would see who would be constrained by whom.

Lu Ye remained unperturbed, his gaze brightly fixed on a familiar figure atop his city's tall tower.

He knew You Die wouldn't be that foolish. It turned out that Fu Wei had finally brought City Lord Yuan Xi back. Although it was a bit late, it wasn't too late after all.

City Lord Yuan Xi hadn't anticipated this before leaving; such an incident occurred shortly after her departure. The main reason was that the so-called 'military supervisor' had caused trouble, precisely locating the city's hidden position and then breaking its concealment, which led to everything that followed.

From afar, their eyes met, and City Lord Yuan Xi called out loudly, “Grand Commander, you aren't injured anywhere, are you?”

“Reporting to City Lord, I am not!” Lu Ye replied with full vigor.

“That's good then!”

As they spoke, Yuan Xi City slowly came to a halt; whether intentionally or not, it positioned itself in a standoff against the two Barren-grade cities.

Yuan Xi’s gaze shifted from Lu Ye, immediately turning cold. After sweeping over City Lord Zhao and his group, she precisely fixed her eyes on City Lord Zhao: “You were the one who injured Xiao Die?”

City Lord Zhao, unwilling to lose his composure, responded indifferently, “What if I was?”