26: Young Master Shen, please hold me tight.

At the same time.

Inside a pawnshop in the city.

"This sword of yours can be pawned for ten taels of silver at most, no more." The pawnshop boss fiddled with the wooden sword in his hand before finally speaking.

In front of him, the bearded young man immediately became anxious: "What kind of joke is this? This sword was forged from Lightning-Struck Wood taken by the Mountain Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Second Mountain. It's only worth ten taels?"

"Do you understand what Lightning-Struck Wood is?"

"You should know about the Heavenly Sword Sect, right? That's a genuine Immortal Sect!"

"I'll redeem it once I'm done with my business!"

The pawnshop boss calmly pointed at the wooden sword's hilt. Engraved on it were the crossed-out words "Scram," and next to them, seemingly added later, were the words "Immortal Sword." It was clear they weren't carved by the same person.

"Hah~" The young man sighed, then nodded with extreme seriousness: "You don't understand the situation. That old bastard has been unhappy with me for years; he deliberately did that to spite me!"

"Oh?" The pawnshop boss raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Judging by your tone, the Mountain Master of the Second Mountain knows you?"

"More than just knowing me, I have to take care of that motherf*cker until he dies," the young man said with a straight face.

"Alright, alright, I don't have time to chat with you," the pawnshop boss waved his hand and continued, "Ten taels. If I hadn't once dreamed of being a Sword Immortal and had a soft spot for swords, this broken thing wouldn't be worth even one tael. If you don't believe me, go ask another shop."

"I won't pawn it! I won't pawn it!" The young man blurted out, but then he looked at the wine gourd hanging from his waist, which was completely empty.

Forget it!

I'll endure!

I'll be at the Sect soon, and I can't drink when I get back anyway. I'll just make do for now.

After Lin Qingyue took the ten taels of silver, he walked straight towards a restaurant. Just as he was about to enter, his body suddenly shook.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Deafening drum sounds echoed. Lin Qingyue looked up and saw countless common people running like locusts, their faces pale. Simultaneously, a Formation covered the entire Yunzhou City, like a layer of moonlight.

"Yao disaster?"

"Two Great Yao at the Half-step Nascent Soul stage... and so many Golden Core Yao Beasts." Lin Qingyue's mouth twitched. Golden runes shimmered in his eyes—a Divine Ability that allowed him to observe enemies from a distance of a thousand miles.

"Not my business, not my business. Yunzhou is guarded by Xuan Guang Cave. I'm just passing through..."

"I'm still injured. That old bastard said a gentleman doesn't have to save... at most, I can help you call for reinforcements..."

"Aiya, is the Demon Suppression Division crazy? Why can't they just stay in the city and wait for the people from Xuan Guang Cave to arrive? This Formation is definitely strong enough to last a few minutes..."

"Huh, Heavenly Sword Sect clothing, a Disciple of my Sect. Why haven't I seen this little sister before? Foundation Establishment Early Stage..."

"Ah?"

"What is she rushing out for? Is she that reckless?"

On the city gate.

Wang Yuan had arrived leading the Demon Suppressing Army. He watched with a solemn expression as the massive swarm of Ox Yao and the three Tiger Fangs licking the corpses of the city guards approached. His killing intent instantly surged, but reason kept him from acting rashly.

"Lord Inspector, and Lord Shen, where are they?" The white-haired Demon Suppression General hurried over and asked in a deep voice.

Wang Yuan shook his head; he did not know the whereabouts of the Lord Inspector.

"This..." The white-haired Demon Suppression General's expression immediately turned ugly, and his heart sank to the bottom. Having fought with the Great Yao of the Three Races for many years, how could he not recognize the strength of Tiger Lord and Ox Lord?

Half-step Nascent Soul!

How could they possibly defend against them!

"However, the Lord Inspector has already discovered the Yao Race's attack and should be returning soon," Wang Yuan added. He had indeed just received a sound transmission from Xia Youyue.

However, the Inspector seemed to have run into the main army of the Gray Wolf Clan... how long it would take her to arrive was still unknown.

Hearing his words, the Demon Suppression Generals behind him relaxed slightly.

"Then we defend..." The white-haired Demon Suppression General gripped the saber in his hand, his expression resolute.

The next second.

The three Tiger Yao were the first to attack the Formation. Behind the pack of Yao Beasts, Tiger Lord and Ox Lord both watched the scene indifferently.

"Interesting. It seems neither the Inspector nor the people from Xuan Guang Cave are here?" Tiger Lord showed a slight smile.

"Hahaha, Heaven is truly helping us! Tiger Lord, let's attack together and put some effort into breaking the Formation, shall we?" The Ox Yao laughed loudly.

"Good!"

The two Great Yao released monstrous Demonic Qi, terrifying to the extreme. A massive golden tiger claw struck out, and a pair of sharp ox horns thrust forward—both were phantom images of Divine Abilities unleashed by the two Great Yao.

Boom!

Yunzhou City seemed to suffer an earthquake, shaking violently, and the moonlight-like membrane began to show slight cracks.

A Demon Suppression General on the city wall turned pale and said, "In this situation, the Formation might not hold for too long. If the Formation breaks, the common people in the city... we won't have the capacity to protect so many."

"Those beasts from Xuan Guang Cave! A hundred years ago, they took so many resources from my Yunzhou to help repair the Formation, otherwise it definitely could have held out longer!"

What this Demon Suppression General said was true. The ancient Formation laid down by the Grandmaster of Ancient Formations of Sunset Valley back then had managed to stop a Nascent Soul Yao King.

"We can't let this group of Yao Race continue their attack..." Wang Yuan's expression turned resolute, and he spoke coldly, having made a decision in his heart.

The other Demon Suppression Generals remained silent, each taking out their weapons.

"Out of the city!"

"Engage the enemy!"

...On the road leading from You Mountain to Yunzhou City.

A streak of lightning flashed across the night sky.

"My Spiritual Energy is still far too low..." Shen Nian stepped on the Void Realm, his breathing ragged. Frequently using the Nine Steps of Thunder Movement consumed too much Spiritual Energy; after all, this Divine Ability was not meant for someone in the Golden Core Stage to utilize.

Right at this moment.

[Ding, due to the Host's command, the fated female protagonist Xiao Qinger risked her life to kill a Golden Core Stage Tiger Yao. Between life and death, she found a sliver of opportunity to awaken a trace of her Divine Body's power, severely wounding the Golden Core Stage Tiger Yao, but she herself was near death and was rescued by Lin Qingyue, the Chief Disciple of the Second Mountain.]

[Achievement Unlocked: Daughter of Destiny's name spreads throughout Yunzhou, regaining the title of Heavenly Proud Daughter. Reward: 100 preaching value.]

"They've already started fighting... I must go faster!" Shen Nian pulled out the Yao Nascent Soul, hesitating slightly about whether he should abandon the idea of Refining the Pill and just break through to Nascent Soul directly. At the Nascent Soul level, his speed would reach a new height.

But... "Young Master Shen, at this distance, I have a way to get outside Yunzhou City immediately," Xia Youyue's voice rang out. She had caught up, breathing heavily, soaked in fragrant sweat.

For her to catch up to Shen Nian, who was using the Nine Steps of Thunder Movement, was entirely due to the blessing of those Divine Talismans.

The moment she saw Shen Nian disappear, she reacted immediately. After dealing with the remaining Wolf Yao, she rushed straight toward Yunzhou.

To be honest, she had already decided that if she couldn't catch up to Shen Nian, she would use a Talisman herself to teleport, as fighting had likely already broken out in Yunzhou, and there was no time to waste.

Hearing this, Shen Nian's figure appeared directly beside Xia Youyue, without wasting any words.

"Let's go!"

Xia Youyue nodded. A yellow Talisman appeared in her jade hand, emitting an ancient aura.

"Young Master Shen, this Talisman was refined by Sunset Valley and possesses the effect of Spatial Transposition. Using it at this distance is just right to reach outside Yunzhou City," Xia Youyue explained.

Shen Nian nodded and said, "What do I need to do?"

Talismans, huh... Old Ancestor Cang Lang also had Yao Talismans. This stuff seems quite useful. I should try to acquire more when I get the chance.

But why do I seem to have a strong aversion to these things in my memories... "Young Master Shen, please hold me."