Follow the path of Dao from infancy Chapter 1809 Chapter 472: Gathering (Part 2)

Long Potian, the City Lord from the Ancestor Dragon Clan, holds a position identical to those in other frontier cities; every city lord remains firmly under the Ancestor Dragon Clan's command.

Right now, Long Potian appeared as a middle-aged figure dressed in golden robes, gazing solemnly at the suspended golden radiance in the chamber, which formed a holographic view of Dragon Gate City stretching into the surrounding emptiness.

"You're back. Was Qingge just here?"

Long Potian lifted his head, his deeply creased forehead locking eyes with Qingxuan, though his tone stayed composed, as though the heavens might crumble yet fail to stir his features.

"Yes, he mentioned earlier that he has a junior disciple who wants to come here for training, and I just went to arrange accommodation."

Qingxuan gave a nod, then inquired, "What is this?"

"Junior disciple?"

Long Potian appeared to remember something. To qualify as Long Qingge's junior disciple, that person would undoubtedly be a direct follower of the Dao Origin Immortal Emperor.

Still, he chose not to inquire more, offered a slight nod, and then spoke with focus, "Examine this region carefully and tell me if you spot anything unusual."

With a gesture of his hand, he indicated a portion of the outer void beyond Dragon Gate City shown in the glowing projection.

Qingxuan concentrated his sight there but failed to notice any oddities at first. He quickly activated a hidden method, causing his eyes to shift to shades of green and purple; upon viewing once more, he immediately caught sight of a barely visible gray strand in that void segment, only a touch deeper than the area around it, so faint that it escaped detection without intense scrutiny.

"What is this?"

"This could be a void rift!"

Long Potian declared gravely, "Over the past few centuries, conflicts have erupted time and again at Jianlong Pass with alarming regularity; yet in the last hundred-plus years, the fighting at Jianlong Pass has eased somewhat, while Northern Flame Pass faces assaults from Ancient Demon troops. We first believed the Ancient Demons were shifting their approach to target Northern Flame Pass, but..."

"A void rift?"

Qingxuan's eyes narrowed sharply, grasping Long Potian's implications as his expression twisted in shock:

"They're pretending to strike one way but truly intend to skirt past Jianlong Pass and assault Dragon Gate City?"

"That's a strong possibility."

Long Potian replied, "It could also serve as a probe, designed to trick us into thinking exactly that."

"Hmm?"

Qingxuan felt confused at first, but soon caught the city lord's intent, "So you haven't shared this information with the Pass Leader yet?"

"I've already sent the report, including my suspicions. As for the Pass Leader's final choice, that's beyond my knowledge. Ling Xu first detected this rift while on patrol; he stumbled upon it by chance, but ever since, a nagging dread has gripped me."

Long Potian explained.

For a figure of his stature, such unease pointed to an approaching catastrophe.

"Shifting troops from other areas to prepare could play right into a Ancient Demons' deception, drawing our forces away from key spots; yet dismissing it as false when it's real would leave Dragon Gate City alone to face the onslaught, and we know these Ancient Demons won't attack in limited numbers."

Qingxuan's brows knit tightly.

Numerous powerful lineages exist in the Eastern Domain, but endless frontier conflicts have led to conscripting fighters from all peoples over the past thousand years—in short, there's a dire lack of hands! A profound shortage!

The toll of endless battles, combined with the slow pace of replenishing and training warriors, just manages to match the losses, turning any redeployment into a dangerous gamble!

Theoretically, uncovering this intel should prove advantageous, yet after ten millennia of clashing with the cunning Ancient Demons and enduring their sly war maneuvers, we've suffered devastating defeats and can't avoid doubt.

"In light of this, how stands the Transmission Immortal Array? Could it allow swift aid from distant lands if conflict erupts? If they're plotting an attack, they'll surely target the teleportation array for destruction, so it must be under tight watch!"

Qingxuan suggested.

Even if reinforcements via the teleportation array move slowly, buying time could still secure the front.

"Mm, I intend to send the Dragon Shield Tower to guard it, particularly the Heavenly Armor Department!"

Long Potian stated with seriousness, "Soon, the Ancient Demons may unleash their typical strikes, but they might try disrupting the teleportation array too, which would expose their plans. For the moment, we act as if unaware of this void rift's presence."

"Moving the Heavenly Armor Department would weaken the front lines, leading to heavy casualties."

Qingxuan pointed out.

"No alternative exists; we must weigh the risks."

Long Potian responded heavily, "The remaining Dragon Shield Towers will simply endure greater strain."

Qingxuan, upon hearing those words, realized it was their sole viable path forward. Provided the teleportation array endures, whatever schemes the Ancient Demons devise can at least be stalled.

...

Eastern Domain frontier, Jianlong Pass.

This formidable barrier spans billions of miles, linked by nine grand cities suspended in the void, each acting as a node in the formation that creates this ironclad bulwark against the True Realm Ten Thousand Races and the Ancient Demons.

Currently, the emptiness is cloaked in a murky gray fog, with endless specks of debris floating about, infused with the ancient tang of bloodshed from ages past.

This sharp odor, built up across endless eras, blends the lifeblood of countless peoples into a bizarre, suffocating reek; each inhalation on this killing ground feels like immersion in a sea of gore, scattering the mind, as if echoes of tormented souls' cries and terrifying bellows fill the air.

For those with fragile wills, entering this zone triggers instant turmoil and savage urges.

This domain operates as a relentless grinder, crushing all in its path—even geniuses, Quasi-Emperors, and Immortal Emperors have perished within its jaws.

In the Ancient Demon Cataclysm of ten thousand years back, a single Great Emperor from the Eastern Domain held this line solo against billions of charging Ancient Demons, only to fall under a united barrage from the Ancient Demon Emperor, his sovereign form ripped apart, leaving the Eastern Domain forces to reclaim just one limb and a scarred Immortal Forbidden Emperor Weapon from the fray.