Chapter 2623: Preparing to Besiege the City

Lu Ye attacked the dice's defenses while checking his recent gains from killing enemies.

After eliminating his foes just now, he had pocketed the "surprise."

Immediately, a strange expression appeared on his face.

The "surprise" he received this time didn't enhance his own strength. One part of it, surprisingly, increased his speed, just like a previous gain. As for the other part... that was quite interesting. This particular "surprise" offered no increase to his own power, no direct benefit, nor was it intended for the player (chess player). However, it could be used in an appropriate situation.

A moment later, the dice's external defense was broken. Lu Ye reached out and grabbed for the dice.

As before, the moment he touched it, the dice transformed into a stream of light, flying towards Yuan Xi and disappearing into her body.

It was now the White pieces' turn. The three White pieces clearly wanted to exchange pleasantries with Lu Ye, but Lu Ye had already been moved. He flickered, transforming into a beam of light, and shot out of that grid square.

This time, he crossed over a dozen more grid squares. When he stabilized himself, he immediately saw a group of Black pieces gathered ahead. Their respective Dao powers surged, and in front of them lay numerous mangled corpses.

A fierce battle had evidently just concluded here, ending in a victory for the Black pieces. All the White pieces had been killed before Lu Ye arrived.

Previously, if Lu Ye had charged into this place alone, these numerous Black pieces would surely have swarmed him. But at this moment, they looked terrified, scattering and cautiously eyeing Lu Ye, suspicious and wary.

Lu Ye saw this situation and knew they had received a warning from Blackblood.

Blackblood had probably informed these enemies of his (Lu Ye's) strength, instructing them not to engage him directly and to prioritize evasion.

They were all very obedient, sticking to the edges of the grid squares, poised for immediate escape.

Seeing this, Lu Ye unhesitatingly unleashed his Blood Sea. Instantly, blood waves surged, filling the grid square.

Within the blood-red expanse, he shot like an arrow towards a Black piece he had targeted earlier. This one had shown signs of drawing on external power, clearly an Integration realm cultivator.

With the Blood Sea concealing him, the enemy wouldn't be able to discern his movements for a short time. With a bit of luck, he could achieve a swift kill!

However, this Black piece was undoubtedly cautious. Sensing something was wrong, he immediately evaded from his spot, simultaneously shouting, "Quickly break the Blood Sea!"

As he spoke, he was the first to act, his Dao power reverberating in all directions.

And as his shout echoed, the numerous Black pieces within the Blood Sea all employed their respective techniques.

In an instant, the Blood Sea became turbulent.

Lu Ye knew his Blood Sea probably wouldn't last long. He hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, and maintaining the Blood Sea like this put a significant strain on him. Moreover, the enemy numbers were indeed quite high.

However, just a little time would be enough.

The Integration realm Black piece he had targeted was currently evading rapidly, his movements completely erratic. This was undoubtedly a smart move, as it made it difficult for Lu Ye to track him and execute an effective interception.

According to Blackblood's recent warning, the approaching enemy (Lu Ye) wasn't fast, so as long as the Blood Sea was broken, he would be safe.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, the Blood Sea around him suddenly thickened, causing his movements to abruptly halt.

He had anticipated this. Since the enemy could deploy a Blood Sea, they naturally excelled in certain bloodline techniques, such as controlling the Blood Sea to effectively restrain enemies caught within it.

Immediately, he channeled his Dao power, and his entire being transformed into a fiery glow, as if burning. Intense heat scorched all around him, and the sensation of stagnation instantly vanished.

He could already feel the turbulence in the Blood Sea; it would surely break in just two more breaths.

However, just then, a blood-red line suddenly flashed across his vision. Immediately afterward, an immense chill struck his back. As his body jolted, a stinging pain erupted.

His flames abruptly extinguished at that moment, as if sealed away. Along with the vanishing light, all his strength also disappeared.

The Blood Sea receded, and the entire grid square returned to clarity.

The numerous Black cultivators turned their gazes and were horrified to find Lu Ye standing behind one of their Integration realm members, a dark long blade piercing through his body.

Lu Ye shook the long blade in his hand. With a burst of Dao power, he annihilated the life force of this Integration realm Black piece.

He then turned his gaze towards the numerous Fusion realm cultivators...

There was still a little time. Currently, the Blood Sea couldn't be deployed again, which meant he couldn't kill another Integration realm cultivator. But these Fusion realm cultivators shouldn't expect to survive!

He moved swiftly, like a tiger among sheep, initiating a massacre amidst the desperate shouts and terrified gazes of the Fusion realm cultivators.

It wasn't until the Black pieces' turn, when Blackblood moved the surviving cultivators away, that Lu Ye stopped and began to examine his gains.

"Grand Commander, prepare for the siege!" Yuan Xi's voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Are we there?" Lu Ye's spirits lifted.

"Next time we will be!" Yuan Xi replied.

Lu Ye immediately grew expectant.

A long time had passed since he left Yuan Xi City. Under Yuan Xi's command, he had been advancing continuously towards Blackblood City, with the objective of conquering this Cosmic-tier city.

If they succeeded, Yuan Xi City's rank would soar directly to the Cosmic tier. If that happened, Yuan Xi would take a significant step closer to her grand ambition!

"However, there's a problem now," Yuan Xi spoke again.

"Please tell me, my lady!"

"Blackblood has already ordered his vice-city lords to return to the city. So, once our trump card is exposed, we must breach the city within one turn, or we'll lose the opportunity."

The "trump card" she spoke of was undoubtedly the lotus seed that Lu Ye had been carrying.

Blackblood probably hadn't noticed this yet. However, once Lu Ye attacked the city, he would surely use the lotus seed. At that point, how could Blackblood allow his Integration realm city to remain in place and be attacked? His vice-city lords had already returned, and they could maneuver the Integration realm city away from its original grid square at any time, just as You Die had previously moved Yuan Xi City.

Even if Yuan Xi deployed personnel to pursue afterward, the effect wouldn't be very good.

Therefore, there was only one chance!

And for this one opportunity, Yuan Xi had been steadily deploying her forces. At this very moment, the grid squares in the vicinity of Blackblood City were home to forty-five Integration realm cultivators and over a thousand Fusion realm cultivators!

"Don't worry, my lady, Blackblood City will surely fall!" Lu Ye, however, was full of confidence.

"Oh?" Yuan Xi's heart stirred, and she showed a rare moment of cleverness. "Grand Commander, have you received some new surprise?"

Lu Ye smiled and quietly informed her, making Yuan Xi's eyes light up.

As the two communicated, Blackblood sneered repeatedly.

Yuan Xi's intentions were clear on the board. He wasn't blind; how could he not see them? But he wasn't flustered at all, because his Second Vice-City Lord Yun Ke and Fourth Vice-City Lord Luo Molie had already returned to the main city under his command. Besides these two, there were over ten other Integration realm cultivators and a large number of Fusion realm cultivators within the city.

Such a lineup, augmented by the foundation of a Cosmic-tier Integration realm city, was sufficient to ensure the city's temporary safety.

In fact, if he wished, he could even have his vice-city lords maneuver the Integration realm city away from its current position right now, but he chose not to.

Because Blackblood City remaining there would effectively tie down the White pieces under Yuan Xi's command. In such a situation, those White pieces would also have to stay put.

He even wished Yuan Xi would deploy those White pieces to attack the city. That way, those forty-five Integration realm cultivators wouldn't be able to do anything else.

Only that human soldier cultivator... Blackblood looked in Lu Ye's direction, his gaze dark. This fellow, still so lively, was truly an eyesore. However, he had previously escaped from Jiao, indicating his extraordinary strength, and he had subsequently killed several Integration realm cultivators, which must have further improved his power.

He couldn't be allowed to grow stronger, nor could he be allowed to receive any more "surprises."

Furthermore, looking at this soldier cultivator's current position, he was clearly about to be deployed by Yuan Xi to participate in the siege.

With that thought, Blackblood turned his head to another grid square: "Jiao, your chance has come!"

Jiao was currently on a killing spree. The changes in the chess game's rules made it easier for both players to maneuver their pieces. Consequently, Blackblood couldn't prevent Lu Ye's killings, and Yuan Xi similarly couldn't prevent Jiao's, as pieces could now move across more than one grid square, creating too many variables.

Blackblood had consistently been moving Jiao in Lu Ye's direction. Previously, he wasn't sure of Lu Ye's ultimate destination, making it hard to target him precisely, so he could only adjust Jiao's general direction.

Now that it was confirmed Lu Ye was participating in the siege, the destination was clear.

On the entire board, there were few Black pieces that could deal with Lu Ye, and Jiao was one of them!

During this time, while Lu Ye gained from killing enemies, hadn't Jiao as well?

Moreover, in Blackblood's observation, Jiao had killed more enemies than Lu Ye. Therefore, the strength gap between the two should have widened even further than before. In other words, as long as these two met, Jiao had a high probability of succeeding.

Jiao's spirits lifted upon hearing this. "How long?"

"Two turns!" Blackblood stated. Currently, Jiao was approximately forty grid squares away from Blackblood City. He could now move a piece up to twenty squares per turn, so Jiao could reach Blackblood City's location in just two turns.

"Don't you dare disappoint me this time!" Blackblood said in a deep voice.

Jiao snorted coldly, his short blade transforming into a cascade of blades, dicing the enemy in front of him into pieces. Only then did he say, "Don't worry, this time he's as good as dead!"

"It had better be!" Blackblood finished, then turned his gaze to Blackblood City.

Because at that very moment, numerous White pieces on the board began to move, charging simultaneously into Blackblood City's location. And just as he had expected, Lu Ye, who was more than a dozen squares away, also transformed into a beam of light, breaking through the constraints of each grid square and reaching the front of Blackblood City.

A formation of forty-five Integration realm cultivators and over a thousand Fusion realm cultivators was indeed massive in scale.

Under normal circumstances, even a Vast-tier city couldn't muster such a foundation for a siege, and one also had to consider that these cultivators had all grown stronger after killing enemies.

However, relying solely on such a lineup was still far from enough to breach the defenses of a Cosmic-tier city.

Even if there weren't many Integration realm cultivators guarding this Cosmic-tier city at the moment.

Blackblood was confident that even if Blackblood City remained stationary and allowed these enemies to launch a full assault, the city's current defenses could hold out for half a day.