61: Chapter 61 Siege! Enemy Attack!

Huo Liangyu, a direct Disciple of the Huo Family, ranked ninth.

Everyone in the Family called her Huo Lao Jiu.

This was very common among third-rank noble families, which used their Bloodline to maintain the Family's operations... Their prestige was so high that it was difficult for ordinary people to shake.

Those with superior Bloodlines birthed Immortal Seedlings... who would then enter the Immortal Sects to help the Family maintain their rule.

Day after day, year after year, the Family was able to grow and prosper!

As a third-rank Family, the Huo Family naturally had deep roots and numerous offspring.

However, one should not think that just because the Huo Family was powerful, its Disciples could simply lie back and count silver.

Aside from a few wastrels, their excellent upbringing gave the noble Disciples an elite aura... ordinary people simply could not compete with them.

Thinking about it this way... a monopoly had become inevitable!

As a woman, Huo Liangyu could have avoided such conflicts entirely... She could have relied on the Huo Family's status to marry into another third-rank noble Family for an alliance.

However, she was strong-willed by nature and did not take that path.

Instead, she chose to study literature and practice martial arts.

Although she was a woman, thanks to her drive, she had achieved some measure of success.

After placing in the top ten of the Huo Family's internal martial arts competition, she chose the Sanchuan Sand Sea, received a small amount of funding from the Huo Family, and took root there!

Unfortunately, as a woman whose parents held little power within the Family, she received little assistance.

Although the assessments within the Huo Family were not as strict as those of the Ministry of Personnel, they still required one to have income and strengths, leading to constant open and secret struggles!

She felt increasingly troubled... This three-way ambush was clearly aimed entirely at her.

The cause... was certainly because she had obtained a second-grade Heaven and Earth Wonder, a 'Wutong-like' tree, half a month ago!

The Huo Family's Dao Foundation Ancestor was skilled at controlling spirit birds, and it was rumored that he even possessed a Phoenix feather!

Therefore, he had always been extremely fond of collecting anything related to the Phoenix!

Although the 'Wutong-like' was not as good as a true spiritual Wutong tree, it possessed the same characteristics; if cultivated properly in the future, it could truly grow to resemble one.

It was common knowledge that a Phoenix perched upon a Wutong tree.

After the Lunar New Year, it would be that Dao Foundation Ancestor's 260th birthday; she could use this second-grade Heaven and Earth Wonder to earn the Old Ancestor's favor.

At that point, she would finally have a backer!

But despite all her calculations, she had not accounted for the news leaking out, leading to... this three-way ambush!

Because, aside from Huo Family Disciples, no one knew the vulnerabilities of the Huo Family's Formation, let alone its shielding nodes!

And the Black Fiend Bandits and Yao Beasts before her had struck exactly at her fatal weakness!

They were standing right on the node... If she hadn't discovered it in time and activated the gate Formation, these Yao Beasts and bandits would have rushed in long ago!

Within noble families, everything appeared warm and affectionate on the surface, but deep down, everyone wished for their competitors to die! Huo Liangyu was already accustomed to this!

Huo Liangyu took a deep breath and looked up, meeting the eyes of the guards beside her.

No one dared to meet her gaze... With a formidable enemy at the gates, she could not afford to assign blame, so she had to compose herself.

"I know it wasn't you who acted... otherwise, you would have fled during the chaos!"

"We rise and fall together; if I die here... it goes without saying how they will treat you!"

"No one has any use for a servant who betrays their master for personal gain!"

"For now... guard with me and wait for reinforcements. I can let bygones be bygones for everything! Everyone... can you do that?"

The group exchanged glances, then replied in low, solemn voices, "We are willing to serve you, my Lady!"

Huo Liangyu nodded and gritted her teeth, saying, "Go and prepare... the bandits are about to attack the city!"

Before her words had faded, the sound of war drums thundered below the city gates!

Amidst the rolling yellow sand, the gravel-covered Yellow Sand Yao Beasts and the bandits dressed in black robes, mounted on horseback, were clearly separated!

The leading second-rank martial artist rode forward. A long, narrow scar on his face made him look exceptionally ferocious.

As he gazed at Huo Liangyu atop the city wall, a glint of perverse covetousness flashed in his eyes.

He licked his lips and spoke aloud. His Qi and blood vibrated, carrying his voice through the air!

"Beauty... I don't think there's any need for you to struggle!"

"You are so sharp-witted; naturally, you know the purpose of our arrival!"

"You also know exactly who secretly harmed you!"

"The Formation has sealed your teleportation array! It has also cut off your long-distance communication!"

"Where else can you run to?"

"Are you counting on those guards who escaped earlier?"

"Hahahaha... that's nothing but a pipe dream!"

"For hundreds of miles around, these are all useless cities; there are barely any Immortal Dynasty officials who have reached the ninth rank. How could they possibly save you!"

A lecherous look flashed in his eyes as he dragged out a guard, who wore an obsequious expression. He chuckled.

"Beauty... why bother with such tiring noble Family competition?"

"How about this... submit to me, come up to the mountain to be my wife, and I'll hand this traitor over to you!"

"Not only that... I won't kill a single person; I'll even allow all of you to become bandits!"

"If you please me, you won't even need to hand over your treasure; I'll take you there myself and slaughter them!"

"What do you think?"

As a daughter of a noble Family, Huo Liangyu had never heard such vulgar remarks. Her face flushed red, and she pounded the parapet. "You scoundrel!"

The second-in-command of the Black Fiend Bandits, Black Dog, licked his parched lips.

"What a fiery mare... I've never tasted a noble woman before!"

"You're merely a first-rank; how can you possibly deal with me?"

"Since you won't surrender... I'll just have to beat you until you do!"

Huo Liangyu looked on coldly and said, "A mere bandit, what do you know of the power of a Formation? You are but a second-rank martial artist; I would like to see how your flesh and blood can brave a rain of arrows to break my Huo Family Formation!"

Unexpectedly, the second-in-command, Black Dog, did not get angry; instead, he revealed a mocking smile. "Don't worry... your clansman has naturally prepared a Sharp Weapon for me to lay siege to your city!"

Black Dog gestured, and a grotesque figure with a stone-skinned, tiger-like body and a human head appeared amidst the sandstorm!

Its body was as massive as an elephant. Although its aura was still at the first rank, the Demonic Qi and power radiating from its body were terrifyingly dense!

It roared to the heavens... "Stone Tiger Warrior!!!"

"Beast!"

Black Dog said no more and gestured slightly. The Stone Tiger Warrior tensed, ready to strike.

"Beauty... opportunity knocks but once!"

"If I break in..."

Before he could finish, Huo Liangyu said in a low voice, "Very well..."

"Hmm?"

A glint of interest flashed in Black Dog's eyes. Huo Liangyu pointed at the traitor and said, "Kill this eyesore first... and I will consider it!"

Black Dog did not suspect a thing; no matter how the guard begged for mercy, it was to no avail. With one hand, he crushed the guard's skull!

He looked up, beaming with satisfaction. "Are you satisfied? Have you considered my offer?"

Huo Liangyu sneered, "I refuse!"

Black Dog was instantly enraged... and was about to wave his hand to order the Stone Tiger Warrior to attack the city!

But at that very moment... a gust of wind from an arrow struck from behind!

He was quick to react and grabbed it with his hand, but his palm was cut!

The many Yao Beasts and Black Fiend Bandits turned their heads in succession... only to see shadows looming amidst the rolling sandstorm!

Black Dog braced himself as if facing a formidable enemy!

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!"