Chapter 2879: Action

Lu Ye’s plan was to infiltrate Shibu City by leveraging Xue Jiu’s power.

Previously, such a feat would have been incredibly difficult. Ten-Great cities like Shibu City were heavily fortified and not easily infiltrated.

However, now, the situation had changed. Shibu City, controlled by Xuan Wuzong, Baizhan City by Hongtu, and Qianliu City by Gu Mingyue, had all accepted a large number of cultivators from the Bug and Blood races.

Among them were strong individuals like Xue Kuang.

Although they lived humbly, they still possessed the right to enter and exit Shibu City.

Xue Jiu only needed to establish contact with them, then use his secret possession technique, as he had done previously, to freely enter the city.

Furthermore, with his current Half-Saint cultivation, the Blood Lord was able to approach Shibu City without being detected by anyone.

Standing before Xue Jiu, Xue Kuang observed his demeanor and suddenly spoke, "My Lord, are you preparing to attack Shibu City? If so, this is an excellent opportunity. Xuan Wuzong reportedly returned wounded earlier and should be recovering now."

"I am well aware," Xue Jiu nodded. This information had been provided by Lu Ye. Not only Xuan Wuzong, but Hongtu and Gu Mingyue were in similar states.

It could be said that Xue Jiu could infiltrate any of these three Ten-Great cities using the same method.

As for why Shibu City was chosen...

This was, naturally, Lu Ye's idea.

Relatively, Xuan Wuzong's injuries were likely more severe. Lu Ye had struck him with a saber that day, and the wound was entangled with both the powers of "Shang" and "Liao," in addition to corrosive toxins. His recovery would be significantly more challenging than Hongtu's or Gu Mingyue's.

"Can you enter the Central Grand Hall?" Xue Jiu asked.

Xue Kuang's expression darkened as he shook his head. "We, the defected cultivators from the Bug and Blood races, have never been permitted to approach the Central Grand Hall."

"Truly useless!" Xue Jiu cursed in frustration. He also secretly resented Xuan Wuzong for not treating his subordinates as equals, denying them even the slightest trust.

However, on second thought, he realized he would likely act similarly if he were in Xuan Wuzong's position.

The Central Grand Hall was, after all, the foundation of the city. Individuals like Xue Kuang, who had defected but were not treated well, would naturally harbor resentment. There was no way Xuan Wuzong would permit them close to the Central Grand Hall.

"In that case, we'll have to launch a direct assault. What are your thoughts, Brother Lu?" Xue Jiu slowly inquired.

Xue Kuang was completely bewildered. "Brother Lu?" What "Brother Lu"? Where did this "Brother Lu" come from?

Just as he was confused, a voice suddenly rang out, "Leave it to me!"

Immediately, a streak of blood-red light burst forth from Xue Jiu's body, swiftly materializing beside him into a distinct figure.

Xue Kuang stared, utterly shocked. "Lu Ye!"

He had witnessed Lu Ye's figure from a distance when Lu Ye caused chaos in the Blood Race territory that day, so he naturally recognized him.

But... why was Lu Ye here? And judging by the current situation, he had clearly used a Blood Race secret technique to possess Xue Jiu earlier.

Xue Kuang suddenly recalled Xue Jiu's previous remarks about how he and Lu Ye had become acquainted through battle and would collaborate in the future...

So that's how it was!

So Lu Ye had been here all along!

Suddenly meeting Lu Ye's half-smiling eyes, Xue Kuang's mouth twitched, feeling a surge of embarrassment. After all, only moments before, he had brazenly declared that if he ever saw Lu Ye again, he would tear him into a thousand pieces. Yet, in an instant, the man was standing right before him.

And in such a manner.

A realization dawned on Xue Kuang: he had never brought just Xue Jiu into Shibu City, but two individuals, and he had been completely oblivious to it.

"No time to lose?" Xue Jiu turned to look at Lu Ye.

Although only he and Lu Ye had infiltrated Shibu City, both were exceptionally skilled and daring, making the success rate of their operation very high.

Unless Xuan Wuzong had already advanced to Half-Saint, failure was impossible.

Even though the fusion of the Source Realm had loosened the restrictions on powerful cultivators like Xuan Wuzong, allowing for advancement, he would not have the opportunity to break through to Half-Saint rank in his current injured state.

"I'll borrow one of your subordinates," Lu Ye said, glancing at Xue Kuang.

Xue Jiu understood and instructed, "Cooperate well!"

How could Xue Kuang have any complaints? He hastily replied, "Yes!"

No sooner had he spoken than Lu Ye transformed into a streak of blood-red light and entered his body, his presence vanishing completely.

Moments later, Xue Kuang emerged from his dwelling and headed straight for the Central Grand Hall. His mind was still a little muddled, yet he felt a greater surge of exhilaration and anticipation for the coming revenge.

Since defecting to Shibu City, his authority had been systematically eroded, and his wealth incrementally plundered. A once dignified Cosmic-level City Lord had been reduced to being bullied by any Winged Race member in the city.

How could he not resent this?

He just lacked the ability to resist.

Now, however, things were different. With the Blood Lord's return and his sincere cooperation with Lu Ye, though there were only two of them, Xue Kuang already anticipated that Shibu City would be turned completely upside down today!

Lost in these wild thoughts, he gradually drew closer to the Central Grand Hall.

However, before he even got close, the few Harmonization cultivators guarding the hall outside had already fixed cold gazes upon him.

Xuan Wuzong had forbidden any cultivators from the Bug or Blood races from approaching the Central Grand Hall. For some time, these races had been behaving cautiously, not daring to step within three li of the hall.

Until today, when Xue Kuang arrived!

"Stop!" A sharp cry resonated from ahead. "The Lord has commanded that no cultivators from the Bug or Blood races are to approach this area. Retreat immediately!"

Xue Kuang suppressed the sharpness in his eyes and, while continuing to advance, smiled and said, "Fellow Daoists, please don't be alarmed. I am merely taking a stroll and happened to pass by."

The guard who had spoken earlier snorted coldly, "I don't care if you're passing by. If you don't retreat now, don't blame us for acting impolitely."

Not only did Xue Kuang not retreat, he actually quickened his pace, blood qi swirling around him, all the while muttering, "Don't attack, don't attack, I'm leaving right away!"

However, his appearance was indeed suspicious.

The guards outside the hall could tolerate it no longer and attacked him one after another!

Almost simultaneously with the guards' attack, a streak of blood-red light suddenly shot out from Xue Kuang's body, instantly transforming into a human figure that violently crashed into the Central Grand Hall.

The guards were astonished. Before they could even discern who the person was, the figure that had slammed into the Central Grand Hall suddenly retreated, coming to a halt beside them.

"A human?" The guards were bewildered, unable to comprehend the situation.

A few steps in front of them, Lu Ye, however, frowned slightly.

His plan to charge directly into the hall had failed because the entire Central Grand Hall was protected by a defensive formation.

If the protective grand formation of the Harmonization City was considered the outer array, then the Central Grand Hall housed the inner array.

Normally, this inner array would not be activated unless the outer array was breached and the city's cultivators were fighting to the death to protect the Harmonization Orb.

However, this array was currently activated, and Lu Ye had just been repelled by its luminous barrier.

It wasn't due to Lu Ye's lack of speed, but rather the vigilance of the cultivator stationed inside. Noticing Xue Kuang's unusual behavior, they activated the inner array almost the instant Lu Ye emerged.

"What a pity..." Lu Ye sighed inwardly. Had he managed to rush in just now, he could have directly shattered the Harmonization Orb.

Yet, in the end, his attempt fell short.

"Lu Ye! How can this be you!" Inside the hall, an ancient voice suddenly boomed, filled with shock and fury.

Recent rumors about Lu Ye had been causing a stir throughout the Star Abyss.

First, the young man had forcefully slain Zong Shenliang in the Hehe Realm. Just when everyone believed he would be permanently exiled to that nameless place, he suddenly reappeared outside Senluo City. There, he cooperated with the Dragon Lord and Phoenix Lord to repel Xuan Wuzong and his group, subsequently launching a powerful assault on Senluo City.

Such a grand Ten-Great Harmonization City was thus destroyed.

Shibu City was currently under strict guard precisely because of these preceding events.

Upon his previous return, Xuan Wuzong had explicitly ordered everyone to be wary of Lu Ye.

Thus, the Harmonization cultivator guarding the hall could never have imagined that this human expert, who had recently risen to unparalleled prominence in the Star Abyss, had actually infiltrated Shibu City.

He had almost stormed the Central Grand Hall just moments ago, filling them with lingering dread.

Upon hearing the voice from within the hall, the guards awoke as if from a dream, belatedly comprehending the situation. Immediately, their respective Dao powers surged.

A wave of blood-red light suddenly spread out, as Xue Kuang made the first move. He had endured for so many days, his pent-up grievances and fury nearly uncontrollable. Now that Lu Ye was exposed, he had no more reservations; he was determined to vent his frustration, no matter the cost.

The blood sea surged, enveloping the guards. Even without the amplification of the Harmonization Orb, Xue Kuang still possessed formidable power, and his inherent strength was far beyond what these guards could match.

It could be said that the death of these guards was inevitable.

Almost simultaneously with Xue Kuang's action, Lu Ye's Pan Shan Saber was unsheathed from his waist, a dark green hue swiftly flowing along its blade as he unleashed a powerful forward slash.

With a resounding boom, a loud noise echoed from within the dense blood sea. The Central Grand Hall trembled slightly, and inside, the Harmonization cultivator guarding it drastically changed his expression.

Currently, Shibu City housed not only the Bug and Blood Race cultivators who had defected years ago, but also recently arrived cultivators from Senluo City.

That day, when Lu Ye forcibly breached Senluo City's protective formation, countless eyes bore witness. A portion of those cultivators had since defected to Shibu City, relaying their experiences.

Thus, the news that "Lu Ye possessed an incredible method to rapidly breach defensive formations" had already reached the ears of this Harmonization cultivator.

He had been somewhat skeptical before, but witnessing it firsthand, he could no longer doubt it.

For as the saber strike descended, the inner array's luminous barrier appeared to be corroded by some power, showing immediate signs of dissolving.

"How dare you!" A sharp, furious cry suddenly echoed from somewhere within the city.

It was Xuan Wuzong who had been alarmed.

Although he was in secluded cultivation, healing his injuries, he controlled the city's grand formation jade token. How could he not detect such a significant commotion within the city?

Before shouting, he didn't know precisely what was happening in the city, only that something was amiss. However, after his outcry, his divine sense picked up a presence, and he was instantly shocked and enraged. "Lu Ye!"

This fellow... how had he entered his Shibu City, and was he truly attacking the inner array of the Central Grand Hall?

This was so preposterous and absurd that he almost thought he hadn't fully woken up.