136: Entrust

"Old Liu, lately I've been feeling light on my feet, and the Bottleneck that's been blocked for over a decade seems to be loosening. Do you think I'm about to have a Breakthrough?"

On the city walls of Sanxian City, the guard Li Er had been standing for several hours. Out of boredom, he chatted with his fellow guard, Liu Wu.

Liu Wu rested his hand on his chin, thought for a moment, and said, "Breakthrough my ass. I think you've just visited Zuixian Tower too many times and your body is weak."

Li Er laughed and cursed a bit, then suddenly stopped. He looked into the distance and said, "Old Liu, I really am weak. Why do I see a giant insect jumping around on the horizon?"

"A giant insect?"

Liu Wu followed Li Er's gaze. His pupils shrank, and he cried out in terror, "It's an Formation-Breaking Demon!"

..."An Formation-Breaking Demon, an Formation-Breaking Demon at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage!"

"Alert! Put all effort into reinforcing the City-Protecting Formation!"

"The monster has burrowed underground! Quickly, report to the City Lord!"

Red fireworks exploded over Sanxian City, and the alarm immediately spread throughout the city.

The earth shook violently, and the stone slabs on the city streets arched and cracked. Both Mortals and Cultivators were thrown into chaos, frantically surging toward the city gates to escape.

Inside the City Lord's Manor, Deng Min stumbled in. Just as he was about to burst into Deng Qingyang's residence, he was blocked by Deng Zhong at the door.

"Young City Lord, stop. The City Lord has ordered that anyone wishing to see him must wait for me to announce them!"

Deng Min roared in anger, "Get out of my way! Sanxian City is about to fall, what's there to announce!"

Deng Min was at the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage and was Deng Qingyang's eldest legitimate son. Seeing Deng Zhong dare to block him, anger welled up in his heart.

Deng Zhong had been picked up by Deng Qingyang. He had reached the Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage within a hundred years and had served by Deng Qingyang's side for many years. Deng Qingyang had praised his remarkable talent and loyalty more than once.

"The City Lord has ordered that even the most urgent matters must wait. Young City Lord, stop!" Deng Zhong did not yield an inch.

"You motherfucker!"

Deng Min had long been annoyed with Deng Zhong. Those around him often said that Deng Zhong harbored disloyal intentions and would fight him for the position of City Lord after Deng Qingyang passed away.

Spiritual power surged in his palm as he struck directly at Deng Zhong's vital points.

Deng Zhong did not dodge at all, staring straight at Deng Min with an expression of one ready to die.

Just as Deng Min's palm was about to land, the doors to Deng Qingyang's residence swung open, and a surge of violent spiritual power enveloped Deng Min.

This power not only instantly neutralized his attack but also dragged him into the room like a helpless chick.

"Father..."

Deng Min was pinned to the ground by the spiritual power, unable to move, and panic welled up in his heart.

From behind the curtain, Deng Qingyang's voice drifted out: "It's just an Formation-Breaking Demon; I'm already aware."

For such a trivial matter, you would try to kill Deng Zhong. With such a Heart-Nature, how could I dare to entrust Sanxian City to you?"

Deng Min struggled to lift his head, veins bulging at his temples, as he hissed in defense, "That Formation-Breaking Demon is at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage! The City-Protecting Formation is about to be breached. When that happens, the city will surely become a river of blood, and the people will suffer..."

"So what if the formation is broken? What does it matter if that monster kills a few people?"

Deng Qingyang withdrew his Spiritual Pressure, his voice cold: "Over the years, the Deng Family has protected Sanxian City too well. Those outsiders have likely long forgotten the majesty of the Deng Family."

Only when they are at death's door and the Deng Family steps in to slay the demon will they truly understand that without the protection of the Deng Family, they are nothing more than meat on a chopping block!"

...Deng Min walked out of the City Lord's Manor, and the group of Cultivators who had been waiting for a long time immediately surrounded him.

"What did the City Lord say? When will he act?"

Deng Min sighed, "My father's hidden injuries have flared up. He is currently in secluded cultivation and cannot act."

Someone suggested, "In that case, why don't we withdraw from Sanxian City first and let those commoners take the brunt? Once the Formation-Breaking Demon has had its fill, it will leave on its own."

"Fellow Daoist Li's suggestion is good; that's what we should do."

"I agree as well!"

"..."

A cold light flashed in Deng Min's eyes. With a wave of his hand, a sword strike cut off the man's topknot. "Sanxian City is facing this disaster, and we must stand together in life and death. If anyone else speaks such nonsense, the next thing I cut will be their head!"

Everyone was as silent as a cicada in winter. They hadn't expected the usually gentle Young City Lord to have such a ruthless side.

Deng Min looked around at the crowd and said sternly, "Today, I, Deng Min, will stand with you through life and death to defend Sanxian City together. If the city stands, we live; if the city falls, we die!"

"Deng Hu!"

"Here!"

"Guard the four city gates. If anyone tries to flee without permission, kill them immediately without needing to report!"

"Deng Fei!"

"Here!"

"Summon all Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above to resist the Formation-Breaking Demon together. Anyone who disobeys orders will be dealt with as a traitor to the city!"

"Deng Huo!"

"Here!"

Gather all Cultivators at the Late Qi Condensation Stage and above in Sanxian City to form a Qi-Uniting Formation. Once the Formation-Breaking Demon enters the city, assist the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in slaying the demon!"

"..."

...With thunderous momentum, Deng Min quickly organized the Cultivators in Sanxian City, but he forgot about the Formation Masters who were struggling to hold on.

At the formation eye of the City-Protecting Formation, dozens of Cultivators were performing hand seals, desperately pouring spiritual power into the formation lines.

Under the impact of the immense force from underground, the light barrier enveloping the city rippled like water, and spiderweb-like cracks faintly appeared at the weak points.

The leading Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Sun Tianyi, spat out blood and roared, "Increase the spiritual power output! This beast is gnawing at the formation foundation!"

But the Cultivators had limited spiritual power, and the Deng Family's support was nowhere to be seen. How could they possibly hold on?

"Immortal Master, we really can't hold on anymore!"

Except for Sun Tianyi, the other Cultivators were all at the Qi Condensation stage. They were already at the end of their ropes; how could they continue?

Finally, spitting blood and exhausted of mana... the light of the City-Protecting Formation instantly dimmed. Almost at the same time, the entire Sanxian City heard a tooth-grinding chewing sound coming from underground.

Boom—

With a world-shaking explosion, the Formation-Breaking Demon overturned several buildings and burst out from the ground.

————

At this moment, as soon as Fang Huai entered the Mu Hua Spiritual Vein, he was standing right above the Water Attribute Spiritual Vein.

He had lured the Formation-Breaking Demon here not because he wanted Sanxian City to be destroyed.

By his calculations, as long as the Deng Family Cultivators continuously injected spiritual power into the Sanxian City formation, the Formation-Breaking Demon would never be able to break the City-Protecting Formation.

Since the Formation-Breaking Demon couldn't do anything to the formation and the Deng Family Cultivators couldn't force it out from underground for a while, he could take this opportunity to absorb earth qi and complete his Earth Path Foundation Establishment.

"Wang Teng, guard the vicinity. If any Cultivators approach, you must lure them away. My life is in your hands."

Fang Huai held the Demon Lord Wang Teng in his hands, his tone solemn.

Feeling Fang Huai's trust and the weight of the task, Wang Teng's Devilish Qi surged as he roared, "I will protect Father with my life."

Fang Huai nodded, then turned to look at Li Zhu with a deep gaze.

Li Zhu felt uneasy under his gaze and said, "Stop looking at me. Because of your damn Vow Fiend, my life is tied to yours. I won't let you die."

Fang Huai suddenly grabbed her hand and gripped it firmly.

Li Zhu instinctively tried to pull away, but the moment Fang Huai grasped her, she stopped moving, and a strange emotion welled up in her heart.

"You... you..." The usually quirky and clever girl actually started to stammer.

Fang Huai withdrew his hand and said, "There are over a hundred Origami Demonic Beasts in the Storage Pouch. If Wang Teng can't protect me, release the Origami Demonic Beasts to create chaos and lure the Cultivators away."

"Mm..."

Only then did Li Zhu realize there was an extra Storage Pouch in her palm.

"I'm counting on you," Fang Huai said solemnly, looking straight at Li Zhu.

Li Zhu looked at Fang Huai and gave a light huff. "Don't worry, I'll protect you with my life."