Chapter 2585: Avenging Without Delay

Lu Ye felt the situation was dire. Even if Neon Chi Lian wasn't present in her true form, she would still be incredibly difficult to deal with.

Yuan Xi's reaction just now showed how wary she was of Neon Chi Lian.

With Yuan Xi occupied by Neon Chi Lian, how could Lu Ye, with his current abilities, contend with Chang Ming?

A powerful cultivator like Chang Ming was different from the Path Integration cultivators Lu Ye had killed before.

Chang Ming, having received the order, was already charging forward, sword in hand.

Yuan Xi hurriedly interjected, "Wait!" At the same time, she glared fiercely at the approaching Chang Ming, her eyes full of menace.

Chang Ming remained completely unfazed, soaring forward with an unstoppable aura. There was only one person in this world he would willingly obey!

Neon Chi Lian slightly raised a hand and looked at Yuan Xi, saying, "What else do you want to say?"

Chang Ming had reached them, but at that very instant, he sheathed his sword and stood respectfully to the side.

Yuan Xi instantly switched to a smiling face, looking reproachfully at Neon Chi Lian. "Look at you, we were talking so nicely, and then you just turn hostile? Still so impulsive after all this time."

Lu Ye glanced sideways, unable to help but admire the City Lord's adaptability.

A moment ago, she had been defiant, talking about breaking her limbs and dragging her back. Now that Neon Chi Lian was serious, she was all smiles.

Having spent so much time with Yuan Xi, Lu Ye had truly never seen this side of her.

Then he saw Yuan Xi, with her hands behind her back, make a gesture to him, indicating for him to stay calm. She then stepped forward, smiling, and said, "I've told you before, we can always talk things through. Don't be so quick to anger. Come, let's chat for a bit."

As she spoke, her white armor quickly receded, and she walked directly up to Neon Chi Lian, wrapping her arm around her neck.

Neon Chi Lian was tall, about half a head taller than Yuan Xi. The two women stood there, and it was unclear what they began to talk about.

Lu Ye stood rooted to the spot, watching the City Lord and Neon Chi Lian with their arms around each other, feeling a sense of unreality.

They were just fighting to the death; how did it suddenly come to this?

He suddenly felt eyes on him from the side. Turning his head, he met Chang Ming's scrutinizing gaze.

Their eyes met, and Chang Ming gave him a faint smile.

Lu Ye's thumb traced the Dao weapon on his Panshan Blade, wondering to himself how many moves he could withstand if Chang Ming suddenly attacked now.

"Hahaha!" Yuan Xi's boisterous laughter suddenly rang out nearby. When Lu Ye looked over, he saw Yuan Xi looking very happy, and Neon Chi Lian was also smiling sweetly, her face flushed.

It felt increasingly unreal...

Lu Ye couldn't help but recall the previous battle and the Path Integration cultivators who had died miserably at Yuan Xi's hands, feeling it was a waste for them.

This conflict was undoubtedly orchestrated by Chang Ming in secret, intending to overpower and destroy Yuan Xi's Path Integration city. However, his goal was never to kill Yuan Xi; he was following Neon Chi Lian's orders to break Yuan Xi's resolve and force her back to Scarlet Refining City.

"It seems the fight is off," Chang Ming suddenly said.

Lu Ye thought, *Given the situation, it would be strange if they still fought.*

"What is your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?" Chang Ming asked again.

Lu Ye considered for a moment, then cupped his fists in a salute: "Human race, Lu Ye!"

Chang Ming nodded slightly. "You are... a bit strange." He couldn't see through Lu Ye, still unsure if he was a Path Integration or Fusion Dao cultivator. He also couldn't understand what method Lu Ye used to allow Yuan Xi to maintain the White Radiance form of her Dao weapon for so long.

According to his estimation, Yuan Xi had expended at least several hundred thousand units of Dao power in the previous battle, far exceeding her maximum reserve. Even if Lu Ye truly was a Path Integration cultivator, he shouldn't have been able to supply that much.

However, he wouldn't easily inquire about such matters, as they involved Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi's boisterous laughter echoed from over there again, accompanied by Neon Chi Lian's delicate giggles. They seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation.

A moment later, Yuan Xi stepped back and said, "Alright, I understand everything you've said. I will do what I promised you, rest assured."

Neon Chi Lian nodded. "You'd better not trick me this time!"

"Absolutely not!" Yuan Xi promised, patting her chest.

"Then I'll be going," Neon Chi Lian said, looking somewhat reluctant. She then glanced towards Lu Ye before her form flickered and suddenly vanished.

Chang Ming cupped his fists. "My apologies for the previous matters, City Lord. I take my leave!"

With that, he swiftly soared into the distance.

Now that he had lost his status as the City Lord of Eagleflight City, he dared not linger. Otherwise, if Yuan Xi settled scores later, he would be no match for her.

Fortunately, Yuan Xi had no intention of making things difficult for him; she simply watched him leave with a cold gaze.

"My Lady," Lu Ye stepped forward, his eyes seeking clarification.

"It's nothing," Yuan Xi shook her head, stepped forward, and patted Lu Ye's shoulder. "Let's go."

Although she appeared carefree, Lu Ye still noticed a hint of sorrow in her brow.

It seemed she was able to easily change Neon Chi Lian's attitude by agreeing to some condition, a condition Yuan Xi was not willing to accept.

Yuan Xi did not return to their main city but headed straight in another direction, soon arriving before a Path Integration city: Eagleflight City.

This desolate-grade city had been used as bait by Chang Ming, being the first to engage Yuan Xi's city. After successive battles, two of its City Lords had been successively killed, and now there were no Path Integration cultivators left in the city.

By the time Yuan Xi arrived with Lu Ye, the Fusion Dao cultivators who had witnessed the scene from afar had also fled.

Without much effort, they broke through Eagleflight City's defensive formation, and then Lu Ye shattered its Path Integration Pearl.

Yuan Xi's city had already approached. Lian led numerous Fusion Dao cultivators into Eagleflight City to begin collecting other resources.

Chang Ming had mobilized over fifty Path Integration cultivators and five desolate-grade Path Integration cities this time. Unfortunately, apart from Eagleflight City's Path Integration cultivators being completely annihilated, at least one Path Integration cultivator remained guarding each of the other four cities.

The other four cities were now nowhere to be seen, having clearly departed.

Yuan Xi was currently refining Dao fish to restore her Dao power. Although the Dao power she expended in the later stages of the battle was borrowed from Lu Ye, she had already been at her limit before that. Now that she had a moment of leisure, she naturally had to recover quickly.

Everyone was busy, while Lu Ye, with a complex expression, checked the Star Abyss Treasury.

This battle had been muddled and ended absurdly, but if anyone had benefited the most, it was undoubtedly him.

Not to mention the Star Abyss coins his clone gained from killing Fusion Dao cultivators, he received a large amount simply by lending power to Yuan Xi to kill Path Integration cultivators.

Including his previous accumulation, he now had enough to exchange for an auxiliary treasure.

He was secretly thrilled. If this was the case, he could completely emulate this battle in the future, lending power for Yuan Xi to kill enemies. Wouldn't the efficiency of accumulating Star Abyss coins be far greater than simply "finishing off" opponents?

"Lady Manager, I'm going to the Harmonious Realm," Lu Ye said, greeting Lian, then turned and entered the Central Grand Hall.

A short while later, in the arena, Gong Mao stared blankly at the long blade before him.

How long had it been? Lu Ye had actually managed to send another auxiliary treasure to the arena. It hadn't been long since he'd participated in a death match there, where an auxiliary treasure had been shattered, and now he had sent another one so soon.

Gong Mao drooled with desire. He had been a Path Integration cultivator for many years but still didn't have his own auxiliary treasure. He wanted Lu Ye to help him acquire a suitable one but didn't dare ask, as he couldn't afford the price.

Not lingering in the arena, Lu Ye soon departed.

The next time he returned, it would be for the final death match. At that point, Liao would be able to overcome its second major hurdle, and Lu Ye could begin preparations for his own advancement.

Both the person and the weapon were greatly looking forward to this.

Upon returning to their main city, Lu Ye found it was no longer in its original position but was moving. The fantastical scenery around them remained, with cold currents surging.

Lu Ye immediately sensed Yuan Xi's murderous aura.

"Where are we going?" Lu Ye asked, leaning towards Lian.

Lian sighed, "Yuan Xi suffered such a great loss this time; of course, she won't let it go. She's going for revenge."

Lu Ye thought for a moment and then understood.

Tracing the thread of this conflict, it was Chang Ming who presided over it, setting up ambushes and traps to lure Yuan Xi's city into a snare.

However, from its root, someone else was involved.

Who leaked information about Yuan Xi's city, and who collaborated with Chang Ming? The answer was already clear.

From beginning to end, only one person could clearly discern Yuan Xi's city's movements and cooperate with Chang Ming: the Thunderbolt Deputy City Lord of the Governor's City.

There was no one else besides him.

Lu Ye didn't know what reason the Thunderbolt Deputy City Lord had for colluding with Chang Ming, but this act clearly infuriated Yuan Xi.

She had indeed been pressuring the Thunderbolt Deputy City Lord during this time, making him provide many low-risk tasks, but this was not a reason for Thunderbolt to betray her.

Given Yuan Xi's temperament, if others made the first move, she certainly wouldn't let it go.

Her success in seemingly deterring Neon Chi Lian with just a few words appeared simple, but Lu Ye knew she must have paid some unknown price; otherwise, one of the Ten Great City Lords wouldn't have retreated so easily.

Lu Ye wasn't worried that Yuan Xi's actions would bring trouble to their city. Given her status, even if they went to the Governor's City, Thin Bamboo would likely treat her with respect.

Yuan Xi clearly didn't want to delay her revenge overnight. She immediately began to act without rest; after all, she could recover her strength while traveling.

However, just as their city rounded a few bends in the cold current labyrinth, sounds of conflict suddenly emanated from nearby.

The next moment, You Die's voice rang out in the city: "It's Lingfeng City!"

Lu Ye's eyebrows rose!

While Thunderbolt colluding with Chang Ming to scheme against their city was indeed infuriating, Zhao Lingfeng's betrayal at the last critical moment was even more detestable.

Admittedly, Zhao Lingfeng didn't act with murderous intent at the time, but in that situation, if he had stood firm, he could have delayed them for a while.

In such a moment, it wouldn't have taken long for their city to escape the enemies' sight and find an opportunity to hide.

But it was precisely Zhao Lingfeng's sudden action that broke the stalemate, giving the many Path Integration cultivators the courage and opportunity to attack.