Chapter 2546: Yuanxi's Anger

During the siege, Lu Ye suddenly noticed a change in the enemy’s group of Harmonizers and quickly called out to warn her, stating that they were retreating.

Attacking a Heaven-grade city with the combined power of three people was not simple; their defensive formation was not just for show. However, both Yuan Xi and Lian possessed exceptional strength, especially Yuan Xi. With the current amplification from the Deluge-grade Harmonizer city, her power was terrifying. Moreover, Lu Ye’s Unyielding Blade had a suppressing effect on defensive formations, which was why they were making good progress. If any other three Harmonizers had come, achieving such efficiency would have been impossible.

Hearing this, Yuan Xi glanced back and snorted coldly, deeming their retreat a sensible move.

If the enemy dared to reinforce this Heaven-grade city, she could abandon the siege, lead Lian and Lu Ye to intercept them, and then, with Lord Zhao and his forces, launch a pincer attack. This would undoubtedly disrupt the enemy's formation and create opportunities to eliminate them. In such a battle, if they could further reduce the enemy by one or two Harmonizers, it would essentially secure their victory.

The enemy was undoubtedly wise, as they chose not to reinforce the Heaven-grade city but instead retreated together towards the other Wasteland-grade city. In this situation, Yuan Xi did not wish to create further complications. She had only intended to breach this Heaven-grade city to seize some advantages. As for the Wasteland-grade city, she had no real interest, as breaking its defensive formation would be too difficult, and Lord Zhao and the others, who had been conscripted, might not be willing to exert themselves fully.

"It seems the cultivators inside the city are starting to evacuate. The city has been abandoned, quite decisively." Lian observed the scene within the city through the hazy light screen of the defensive formation. Numerous frantic figures were faintly visible gathering towards the central hall. Such a gathering at this time was a clear prelude to abandoning the city, as cultivators needed to use Harmonizer Orbs to escape into the Harmonized Realm.

As many cultivators left the city, the Heaven-grade city's defensive formation rapidly weakened, and the light screen visibly dimmed.

Yuan Xi's expression was invigorated. She shouted a warning: if they dared to shatter the Harmonizer Orb after abandoning the city, she would ensure they had nowhere to hide in this vast realm. This was a customary shout, though whether she said it or not mattered little. Generally, those abandoning a city would not make such an unwise move, because once a Harmonizer Orb was shattered, the perpetrator would be unable to immediately escape into the Harmonized Realm. The slight time delay in escaping via fragments would be enough to doom them.

No sooner had Yuan Xi finished speaking than a figure suddenly rushed out from the central hall, darting out of the city in the opposite direction, heading straight for the Wasteland-grade city. The last Harmonizer remaining had waited for all the Fused Ones to depart before choosing not to enter the Harmonized Realm but to leave directly. This was because Fellow Daoist Chang's Wasteland-grade city was nearby, and Yuan Xi and her companions were busy breaching the city, so no one had time to intercept him.

Indeed, just as he expected, although Lu Ye and the others saw him fleeing, they ignored him. Firstly, breaching the city was paramount, and secondly, even if they pursued him, they might not succeed. With the last Harmonizer gone, the Heaven-grade city was instantly empty, and its defensive formation was extremely fragile.

Ten breaths later, just as the grand formation was about to break, Yuan Xi's expression suddenly changed. Her gaze darted towards the central hall, and she exclaimed angrily, "How preposterous!"

Lu Ye also sensed that something was wrong, as energy fluctuations were emanating from the central hall, even through the thin light screen of the weakened formation. He suddenly realized something: the last Harmonizer to withdraw had left some small tricks within the central hall before leaving! These "tricks" might have been a simple offensive array, not suitable for direct combat, but if activated, the Harmonizer Orb would likely not be salvageable. From start to finish, the enemy had never intended to make things easy for Yuan Xi; even after abandoning the city, they still managed to thwart her.

As Yuan Xi finished speaking, a dazzling white light erupted from the central hall, immediately followed by the collapse of the hall and the shattering of the city's defensive formation! The formation's collapse was not due to Lu Ye and the others' furious assault, but rather a consequence of the Harmonizer Orb's fragmentation. Within the entire central hall, the Harmonizer Orb was the primary nexus; once this nexus was gone, all other arrays became mere decorations.

Yuan Xi, her expression urgent, darted towards the collapsed ruins. However, before she could reach the spot, she saw streams of fragmented light flying out from the debris. Many of these light streams suddenly vanished as they flew, escaping into the ethereal void, while those that didn't vanish scattered in all directions. Each stream of light was a fragment of a Harmonizer Orb.

Lu Ye could almost clearly perceive the existence of these fragments. At this distance, if he wished, he could easily intercept all of them. However, he did not act. At that moment, countless eyes were watching, and if he were to make a move, his secret would be exposed to everyone.

Almost simultaneously, Lu Ye and the other two darted in three different directions, their respective dao powers surging as they collected the scattered Harmonizer Orb fragments. However, such collection naturally couldn't be exhaustive, and many fragments ultimately flew deep into the void, their eventual recipients unknown.

After a period of busy activity, they regrouped. Lu Ye noticed Yuan Xi's displeased expression as she glared fiercely at the enemy's Wasteland-grade city.

Just a few moments earlier, the enemy's group of Harmonizers had retreated into this Wasteland-grade city. Their smooth retreat was, of course, because Lord Zhao and his forces had not exerted their full effort. They had only been conscripted by Yuan Xi's city to help, and naturally, they were unwilling to fight to the death, knowing they would gain no benefit from the outcome.

From Lord Zhao's perspective, Yuan Xi's city had already seized Lian Zai and breached an enemy Heaven-grade city, which amounted to a huge gain. Therefore, he was somewhat confused as to why Yuan Xi's expression was so grim.

"City Lord Yuan, our task here is complete; we shall take our leave," Lord Zhao said politely, cupping his hands. He did not know the background of the woman before him, only that he could not afford to offend her, and thus he was unwilling to get too deeply involved. At that moment, he simply wished to leave with his Harmonizer city, far from this place.

"Who told you our task here is complete?" Yuan Xi's gaze was icy as she stared ahead, meeting the Heaven-grade City Lord's eyes from afar. In his gaze, there was an accusation of blood and tears, mixed with a faint sense of schadenfreude. The order to shatter the Harmonizer Orb had undoubtedly come from him, executed by the last remaining Harmonizer. He clearly wanted to see this result: if he suffered, his enemy should not gain the maximum benefit. This undoubtedly infuriated Yuan Xi.

Because the Harmonizer Orb fragments they had obtained were only twenty percent of what was expected. If Lu Ye had shattered the Harmonizer Orb, the yield would never have been so meager. This made Yuan Xi feel a significant loss, and naturally, she intended to find a way to make it back! Moreover, she had clearly warned the remaining Harmonizer that if he dared to shatter the Harmonizer Orb, he would have no place to hide in this realm, yet he had brazenly ignored her. How could she tolerate that?

"This... what else needs to be done?" Lord Zhao suddenly had an ominous feeling. Lian Zai had already been seized, and the Heaven-grade city breached. What else did this madwoman want? Surely she wasn't planning to attack another's Wasteland-grade city.

Yuan Xi gestured forward, stating, "Only when that city is breached will our business here be complete!" It was indeed true... Lord Zhao wore a speechless expression. If anyone else had said that to him, he would have immediately turned and left. But considering Yuan Xi's mysterious origins, he patiently replied, "City Lord Yuan, that city has gained four more Harmonizers. It might not be so easy to breach."

In terms of Harmonizer-level comparisons, their strengths were currently similar, but in a siege, the enemy had many Fused Ones assisting them within the city. All these factors had to be considered, making sieges always much more difficult than defending. He did not believe their current forces could breach the city.

"Whether it can be breached or not, we'll only know after we try," Yuan Xi said, fuming. She knew she had suffered a huge loss this time, and she would not let the day's events rest, no matter what. Especially since the enemy had retreated into the city and not left immediately, which clearly seemed like a provocation.

Lord Zhao frowned, finding the woman's madness somewhat unreasonable, and his expression grew slightly colder. "Apologies, but my city does not undertake ventures without a reasonable chance of success. Therefore, I may have to disappoint City Lord Yuan." If he were to follow this madwoman into a reckless battle, not only would there be no clear outcome, but what if casualties occurred? Furthermore, such a fight would consume dao power, which would be a loss; who would compensate for that?

Yuan Xi didn't even glance at him. Her faint voice reached him: "Commander!" "At your service!" Lu Ye stepped forward. "Send a message to the Viceroy City. Tell them there's a Wasteland-grade city here that accepted conscription but then fled from battle when accompanying me, leaving my city in a disadvantageous position. Ask the Viceroy City how they intend to handle it." "Yes!" Lu Ye affirmed, then looked at Lord Zhao. "May I inquire about your esteemed name, City Lord!"

Lord Zhao's face twitched. He looked at Yuan Xi, who was effectively wielding a feather as a command arrow, and cursed himself for agreeing to the conscription earlier. He had previously messaged the Viceroy City and knew that such conscriptions were not mandatory, so his city could have refused entirely. They had already offered assistance once, which had been enough to save Yuan Xi's face. If Yuan Xi were to conscript them again, he would certainly refuse. But hearing Yuan Xi's words, this was not a second conscription at all; she had cleverly twisted the concept. If this truly escalated to the Viceroy City, Lord Zhao knew with certainty that the Viceroy City would not side with him.

Pressing his lips together, Lord Zhao cupped his hands. "City Lord Yuan, I have considered it carefully. What you just said is not without merit. We should always see things through from beginning to end. I and my subordinates are willing to accompany City Lord Yuan into battle!"

"Excellent, let's proceed!" As Yuan Xi spoke, she charged first towards the Wasteland-grade city, clearly unwilling to waste another moment. Lian and Lu Ye followed closely behind.

Around Lord Zhao, a group of Harmonizers looked at him. He sighed helplessly, nodded slightly, and whispered, "Protect yourselves." They would exert effort, but he could not allow his Harmonizers to suffer any losses.

In an instant, nearly ten figures aggressively approached the enemy's Wasteland-grade city.