The Strongest Dandy in the City Chapter 2249 - 2238: Time’s Up
Previously on The Strongest Dandy in the City...
Right as Ye Chenfeng, Bai Xiaorou, and their companions departed from the Nine Nether Ice Lion's ancestral territory.
Central State.
Before the gates of the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin.
Mighty auras permeated the atmosphere, and while Ye Chenfeng stayed away from the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin, tensions across the Central State had grown ever more volatile. After the Lifebound Tokens of Heavenly Sword Sect's ancestor Hua Fanjiang and the Jins' Jin Nanhuo shattered, the Xiao Yao Palace, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Jins hastened to forge an Alliance, even circulating tales that branded Ye Chenfeng a true demon. They dreaded the mighty experts backing Ye Chenfeng, firmly believing such powerhouses truly existed.
The Demonic Flame Valley and Murongs opted for fifty years of seclusion, shunning all external matters. This fueled the boldness of the Xiao Yao Palace and allies, given their dominant sway in the Central State. Numerous sects got swayed into joining this Alliance.
Furthermore, with Ye Chenfeng gone, additional Divine King Realm ancestors showed up to back the Xiao Yao Palace, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Jins. Following the Alliance's basic setup, these reinforcements had reached the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin's entrance just the day before.
The group now gathered at the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin's gates consisted of the Alliance formed by the Xiao Yao Palace and its partners.
Leading them were Luo Qianjiang, Luo Youfang, Jin Yangcai, and Hua Liukong. Beside them stood three elders, each wearing a look of growing impatience.
Among these, the goateed elder was another Xiao Yao Palace ancestor like Luo Qianjiang, called Zhao Wanfu, wielding Mid Divine King Realm power. The one-eyed elder, blind in his left eye, served as the Jins' remaining Divine King Realm ancestor, Jin Hongsheng, also at Mid Divine King Realm. The final one, sporting entirely white eyebrows, hailed from the Heavenly Sword Sect as ancestor Li Yuanmu, boasting Late Divine King Realm prowess.
The Xiao Yao Palace, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Jins had endured setback after setback, with the Jins left solely with Jin Hongsheng as their lone Divine King Realm ancestor. The Xiao Yao Palace and Heavenly Sword Sect were somewhat better off, retaining Divine King Realm ancestors in secluded cultivation back at their sects.
Luo Qianjiang, Zhao Wanfu, Jin Hongsheng, and Li Yuanmu ranked as top Divine King Realm experts. Apart from these four, four more Initial Stage Divine King Realm ancestors from other allied factions lent their support, positioned directly behind them.
All told, Luo Qianjiang's coalition commanded eight Divine King Realm powerhouses, vastly outnumbering those inside the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin.
A cyan barrier from the Immortal Artifact Azure Sky Shield cloaked the whole Ancient City of Heavenly Origin.
Upon arriving at the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin's gates yesterday, the Xiao Yao Palace Alliance refrained from striking right away. The reason lay with the Array Magic Pavilion, Artifact Refinement Pavilion, Talisman Master Pavilion, and Alchemy Pavilion all siding with Ye Chenfeng. Though not the mightiest in force, these groups proved utterly vital across the Tian Xuan Realm.
Additionally, Luo Qianjiang and allies had spotted no trace of Ye Chenfeng since yesterday, making them nearly certain he wasn't in the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin. This implied the formidable backers of Ye Chenfeng were absent too, filling Luo Qianjiang's crew with glee. Posing as upholders of justice, their Alliance rallied under the cause of demon-slaying and evil-purging, so preserving an air of righteousness suited them perfectly.
They granted the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin's defenders one day to deliberate; factions like the Alchemy Pavilion could switch sides and gain forgiveness. Naturally, this ploy aimed to pull back the Artifact Refinement Pavilion and similar groups.
Yun Rong, Xiao Yongzhan, and Yuan Kun perched on the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin's walls. Powerhouses such as Zhao Xingtu had moved to manage the Azure Sky Shield, pouring spiritual energy nonstop into the Immortal Artifact to block any enemy breakthrough.
With the deadline nearly elapsed, the Xiao Yao Palace appeared ready to unleash their assault the instant it passed.
Yun Rong and his companions furrowed their brows in heavy concern.
Out of nowhere, a fresh group burst forth from the masses beyond the city gates, clearly having just arrived. Yun Rong's face darkened further at the sight of them, instantly identifying the arrivals as kin from the Yun family's collateral branch.
Back when Yun Family Head Yun Gaozhuo chose to relocate the clan to the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin, the main lineage offered no resistance. Yet the power-hungry collateral branch, coveting dominance over the Yun family, stubbornly refused to depart and elected to remain in place.
At the forefront of this band stood Yun Zhen, a white-haired elder in the Initial Stage of the Fifth Layer of the Heavenly God Realm. He commanded the top rank in the Yun family's collateral branch and now styled himself as the true Family Head, rejecting any notion of their secondary standing.
Word of events in the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin had reached Yun Zhen and his followers, prompting their haste to exploit the chaos and forge ties with influences like the Xiao Yao Palace. Above all, they yearned to behold the ruin of Yun Rong, Yun Gaozhuo, and the direct lineage's other members.
Channeling spiritual energy into his throat, Yun Zhen locked eyes on Yun Rong and his companions atop the walls, bellowing, "Yun Rong, cease supporting the tyrant to oppress the people. It's not too late to correct your errors. You're disgracing the Yun family name and unworthy of bearing the Yun surname."
"Should you choose to repent now and allow us to implant restrictions in your Sea of Consciousness, reentry into the Yun family awaits. Henceforth, you'll belong to the collateral branch. Surely the Xiao Yao Palace elders won't object."
Yun Rong, Yun Gaozhuo, and Yun Yutang of the direct lineage seethed with rage and injustice at Yun Zhen's brazen declaration. The collateral branch's audacity knew no bounds, making their eyes twitch in fury. Had these side relatives utterly lost all shame?
The Heavenly Sword Sect's ancestor, Li Yuanmu, ignored the exchange entirely, eyeing the heavens to gauge the hour. A full day had passed for those in the Ancient City of Heavenly Origin to deliberate, yet none had yielded, leaving no cause for further postponement. Ideally, the Artifact Refinement Pavilion and similar factions would have submitted willingly, but their defiance demanded overwhelming force to crush their resistance.
Li Yuanmu declared coolly, "Time's up, everyone. Ready the assault on the city! This goes beyond the Immortal Artifact Azure Sky Shield. Do you truly believe our Heavenly Sword Sect wants for a genuine Immortal Artifact?"
A smirk tugged at Li Yuanmu’s lips as a crimson saber materialized in his grasp, "Behold the Immortal Artifact, Heaven-Slaying Blade, treasured by our Heavenly Sword Sect."
He turned to Luo Qianjiang and the assembled Divine King Realm powerhouses, urging, "Join forces with me to unleash the Heaven-Slaying Blade. I dare say we won't fail to shatter this Azure Sky Shield!"
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)