Chapter 78: The Panicked City Lord's Mansion

The Huyang Guards were gripped by fear. Their commanding officer, an Eternal True God, instinctively trembled at the sight of 139 super-large legion mechanical secret treasures. He was clearly terrified.

"What is our purpose in coming to Huyang City? Hahaha..." From among the many super-large legion mechanical secret treasures, one giant plant erupted in laughter. The rolling sound waves swept over the Huyang Guards, terrifying them.

The Huyang Guards were flung far away by the impact. Even their commanding officer was sent flying, completely disregarding his dignity.

"This is a disaster! These visitors mean trouble!" As the commander was thrown back, he realized the perilous situation Huyang City was in. "The Huyang Legion alone is no match for 139 super-large legion mechanical secret treasures. Such a formidable force, unafraid of Marquis Jiujiang's deterrent, must have been sent by the Shi Kingdom."

Anyone with even a little insight could deduce this.

If a powerful force dared to invade a Chaos State without authorization, the Divine Kings of the Yu Kingdom would be enraged. Such an aggressive invasion would likely see the invaders reduced to dust within a day.

This was also why the Heart Shadow Gate had previously been unable to establish a base anywhere on the entire Origin Continent. The continent's territory had long since been divided among various divine kingdoms and major powers.

Only by representing the Shi Kingdom and invading the Jiujiang Chaos State could the Heart Shadow Gate justify this as a conflict between two nations.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion, panic had set in. "This is bad." "It's the Heart Shadow Gate!"

"They mean trouble; they're likely coming to attack the City Lord's Mansion!"

The divine power avatars of the five major family heads had convened, observing the city-wide monitoring screens. They witnessed the formidable might of the Heart Shadow Gate's entire army.

"The Heart Shadow Gate once offended the Nine Source Great Sage, who personally attacked their sect," Mo Lixiao said, frowning. "In that battle, three Chaos Realm cultivators from the Heart Shadow Gate used a formation to resist the Great Sage. One was killed, and the other two fled. To this day, they remain hidden, daring not to appear openly. Since then, the Heart Shadow Gate has completely declined, even splintering."

The Huyang City Lord nodded. "The weakened Heart Shadow Gate was recruited and protected by Marquis Liuyin. Their attack today must be at his command!"

Marquis Liuyin is among the most powerful Chaos Realm cultivators in the entire Shi Kingdom. His path has been forged through blood, fire, and dark disaster. He has never feared powerful adversaries. Even the Nine Source Great Sage did not intervene when he took the weakened Heart Shadow Gate under his protection.

The Nine Source Great Sage is known for his good temper; he avoids life-and-death battles unless provoked.

"I've already reported the news to the Marquis," the white-haired elder interjected. "He instructed us to first hold the City Lord's Mansion."

"Hold the City Lord's Mansion."

"Only by relying on the City Lord's Mansion can we hold out for some time." A bitter feeling settled in their hearts.

Huyang City itself functioned like a colossal mechanical secret treasure, with the City Lord's Mansion as its core. Even figures like Blood Cloud and Yu Tianxu had never considered breaching it.

Relying on the unique defenses of the City Lord's Mansion, they had some confidence in holding out for a period. Outside its walls, however, they had no means to resist the Heart Shadow Gate.

"Have the core members of the five major families retreat into the City Lord's Mansion immediately."

"The Heart Shadow Gate is very likely to launch a direct assault." The five major families were in a state of deep panic.

Thousands of large flying ships exuded a terrifying aura, and 139 super-large mechanical secret treasures soared through the sky. Their sheer might deterred the Huyang Guards from approaching and prevented any of the ten Huyang Legions from attempting an interception.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Suddenly, two divine power avatars appeared: the Huyang City Lord and Mo Lixiao.

Instantly, all 139 super-large mechanical secret treasures focused on them. The countless Eternal True Gods and vast numbers of Void True Gods aboard the thousands of large flying ships turned their gaze. This unseen pressure made both the Huyang City Lord and Mo Lixiao tremble.

"As expected of a sect founded by a Divine King," the Huyang City Lord thought with internal surprise, "even in its decline, it still commands thousands of Eternal True Gods."

He wasn't surprised. In its prime, the Heart Shadow Gate had three Chaos Realm guardians, over ten thousand Eternal True Gods, and its base encompassed three entire Chaos States, firmly established with treasures inherited from the Divine King. Its decline and split only occurred after it angered the Nine Source Great Sage.

Despite its decline, various factions still dared not underestimate the Heart Shadow Gate.

This was because the two Chaos Realm cultivators who had fled might one day achieve a breakthrough in strength, becoming unafraid of the Nine Source Great Sage, and thus enabling the Heart Shadow Gate to rise again.

"To the esteemed members of the Heart Shadow Gate," the Huyang City Lord began.

A three-eyed man emerged from a flying ship, revealing himself with a smile. "I am Feng Yuqi of the Heart Shadow Gate. I greet the Huyang City Lord and Commander Mo Lixiao."

"So you are the Heart Shadow Gate Master," the Huyang City Lord said. "What is the Heart Shadow Gate planning by arriving in Huyang City with such a grand display?"

"Alas."

The three-eyed man sighed softly. "My Heart Shadow Gate has declined to this point; we have searched the world but struggled to find a base for our sect. We came to Huyang City merely to seek a temporary place to settle."

At that moment, the 139 super-large mechanical secret treasures loomed over the Huyang City Lord and Commander Mo Lixiao.

No matter how pitiful the three-eyed man sounded, neither the Huyang City Lord nor Mo Lixiao dared to believe him.

If they merely sought a place to settle, why such a grand display?

"Heart Shadow Gate Master, please restrain your disciples and ensure they do not disturb Huyang City," the Huyang City Lord said.

"I will do my utmost to restrain my disciples," the three-eyed man smiled. "I won't accompany you two further; I still need to settle my disciples. After all, the Heart Shadow Gate has too many disciples, and their placement is quite a task."

With that, he immediately returned to a nearby large flying ship.

The Huyang City Lord and Commander Mo Lixiao exchanged a glance, then could only temporarily dismiss their divine power avatars.

Inside the flying ship.

The three-eyed man's face was grim as he transmitted orders: "Proceed according to plan."

"Understood."

Thousands of large flying ships and numerous super-large mechanical secret treasures moved in unison, exuding terrifying power.

"Gate Master," an elder transmitted, "I still believe we should have directly conquered the City Lord's Mansion with a thunderous strike." All eighteen elders were now commanding super-large legion mechanical secret treasures.

"A large city takes endless ages to construct, and its core, the City Lord's Mansion, is not easily conquered," the three-eyed man replied. "Even if we were to take it, my Heart Shadow Gate would likely suffer casualties. Our true opponent in this war isn't the hundred-plus Eternal True Gods from the City Lord's Mansion's five major families, but the army under Marquis Jiujiang."

"The Gate Master is right," an elder concurred. "We must preserve sufficient strength. The stronger we remain, the more Marquis Liuyin will rely on us. If we suffer heavy losses fighting Marquis Jiujiang's army, our standing under Marquis Liuyin will diminish."

"Exactly."

The three-eyed man continued, "The most powerful army in Jiujiang Chaos State is located in Jiujiang City, not Huyang City. Furthermore, Marquis Jiujiang might also call upon powerful Eternal True Gods from other regions of the Yu Kingdom. Therefore, we must proceed with caution."

"Gate Master," a cold voice transmitted, "Sometimes, war demands a swift, decisive strike to instill terror. Only with sufficient deterrence will Marquis Jiujiang's army truly be wary. You may not wish for too many casualties among our disciples, but when contending for a sect's base, one cannot be soft-hearted!"

"Given the Heart Shadow Gate's current predicament, we must proceed cautiously at every step, and above all, we need unity." The three-eyed man felt a headache coming on; the sect's strongest, the Mind Eye Elder, held different views.

"I'm just speaking privately with the Gate Master," the Mind Eye Elder said, though he disagreed with the Gate Master.

Given his temperament,

he would have immediately destroyed the City Lord's Mansion, willing to incur some casualties, to first secure complete control of Huyang City.

If Marquis Jiujiang dared to send a large army, then they should kill! Kill until Marquis Jiujiang hesitated, kill until he felt deep regret!

As for the casualties among the sect's disciples—for the future of the sect, it's all worth it! "The two patriarchs side with the Gate Master, so be it. Although Feng Yuqi is a bit soft-hearted, he is still devoted to the sect." The Mind Eye Elder had to hold his tongue due to the instructions from the two Chaos Realm cultivators.

Meanwhile, Luo Feng, inside the Dream Flower Tower, also received a stream of messages. Various factions within Huyang City were in a state of panic, sensing that the entire city was on the verge of a major upheaval.

"The Heart Shadow Gate army has reached Huyang City? With 139 super-large legion mechanical secret treasures? And thousands of Eternal True Gods?" Luo Feng was stunned. He immediately called out to his servant, "Molosa, let's go out and see."

"What happened?" Molosa, still eating meat, reluctantly put it down and followed his master outside.

Mo Yuqingyan and the Dream Flower Tower Lord followed them.

Flying high into the sky, Luo Feng gazed into the distance. Even with Huyang City's array interfering, he could still pierce through the void to observe the vast armada of the Heart Shadow Gate's thousands of flying ships and numerous super-large legion mechanical secret treasures.

"What a grand display," Luo Feng praised. "As expected of a sect founded by a Divine King; even in its decline, it remains formidable."

The Heart Shadow Gate was a typical Divine King sect. At its peak, it was considered a major power with countless disciples.

The Duan Donghe lineage, perhaps its ancestors found cultivating disciples too troublesome, had always been a single-line succession. The previous Duan Donghe even died in the Cosmic Sea. Fortunately, Luo Feng inherited it, continuing the legacy and becoming the 193rd Duan Donghe.

"With the Heart Shadow Gate's arrival, Huyang City's situation is likely to change dramatically," the Dream Flower Tower Lord said, a hint of panic in his voice.

"They'll deal with the City Lord's Mansion first," Luo Feng observed from afar. Suddenly, his expression changed. "Not good."

"Master, what's wrong?" Molosa asked. Mo Yuqingyan and the Dream Flower Tower Lord also looked puzzled.

"The Heart Shadow Gate army is heading directly for the center of Huyang City; they are currently occupying the cave dwellings in 'Chaos A Zone'," Luo Feng said quickly. "Let's go, quickly, don't let them take over my cave dwelling."

"Forcibly occupying cave dwellings?" Molosa was startled.

Luo Feng immediately boarded his flying ship with Molosa and Mo Yuqingyan, directly traversing the void to rush back to his own cave dwelling.

Within Huyang City's boundaries, short-distance void traversal was not difficult for Luo Feng.

At this moment, the City Lord's Mansion, the heart of Huyang City, was in utter disarray, with the elites of the five major families having already retreated within its walls.

"The Heart Shadow Gate has attacked?" Mo Li Feiyun and Diao Rongqi were among the bustling core members of the five major families. The sisters looked outside, understanding only that the situation was dire.

"Father and Senior Brother Gao Wu are preparing for battle," Mo Li Feiyun said, worried.

"Don't worry, the City Lord's Mansion isn't easily conquered," Diao Rongqi reassured her.

By this point, the elites of the five major families, along with most of the Huyang Legion and Huyang Guards, had retreated to the City Lord's Mansion. Only a few remained to guard the three forbidden areas.

"The Heart Shadow Gate claimed they sought a place to settle, yet now they are heading straight for the City Lord's Mansion," the white-haired elder observed from afar.

"Are they going to start a war?" the head of the Mei Wu clan worried. "We can only confront them now," the Huyang City Lord said.

As branches of major families, they had come to Huyang City to live comfortably. Why would they be willing to fight to the death?

However, since this involved a conflict between two nations, they dared not surrender.

On the City Lord's Mansion side, counting both the direct Eternal True Gods of the five major families and their numerous affiliated Eternal True Gods, there were only about a hundred in total. Even with the City Lord's Mansion's special defenses, they weren't entirely confident they could hold out.

The Huyang City Lord and Mo Lixiao watched from afar, only to see the vast Heart Shadow Gate army descending not upon the City Lord's Mansion, but upon the many cave dwellings in the adjacent 'Chaos A Zone'.

"This cave dwelling of yours now belongs to my Heart Shadow Gate!" "Move out quickly!"

"Our Heart Shadow Gate claims this cave dwelling." One cave dwelling after another was forcibly seized.

Among them, the Zhu clan's cave dwelling occupied an enormous area, ranking among the top super-large dwellings in Chaos A Zone. It was far larger than Luo Feng's small cave dwelling, having been formed by combining multiple purchased dwellings.

"To the esteemed members of the Heart Shadow Gate, this is the ancestral land of my Zhu clan," Zhu Hu, the clan patriarch, personally stepped forward, accompanied by five Eternal True Gods. All of them appeared ingratiating and respectful. "My Zhu clan is willing to offer treasures to preserve our ancestral land."

"So what if it's ancestral land?" Suddenly, a gigantic golden eye descended, its voice rumbling. The huge golden eye fixated on Zhu Hu, making his heart pound with fear as he sensed the threat of death.

"Move out quickly, or not a single member of the Zhu clan will be spared," the giant golden eye thundered. "And let me see these 'treasures' you speak of. If they're not precious enough, you won't need to move; you can all just die here."

The green secret patterns on the skinny old man Zhu Hu's face twisted slightly. The five Eternal True Gods behind him were filled with grief and indignation.

"Alright, we'll move now," Zhu Hu could only endure, not daring to disobey in the slightest, while also obediently presenting treasures.

"Whose cave dwelling is that?" one of the super-large legion mechanical secret treasures asked, looking towards Luo Feng's small dwelling.

"Uncle-Master, that's Lord Luo He's cave dwelling," a disciple replied.