Chapter 357

Chapter 357: One Guardian for One City

"Senior, this way."

A true immortal of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan led the way for Ye Xu and Xixi to a palace, respectfully inquiring, "Does the Senior have any further instructions?"

"You may leave."

Ye Xu waved his sleeve.

"Yes." The true immortal bowed and withdrew.

"Brother, why did we stay?" Xixi asked, puzzled. Throughout their journey, she had witnessed the chaos of the Azure Realm—a world shrouded in the dark clouds of war.

Before, she could never have imagined there existed worlds beyond the Cloud Realm. But after seeing the turmoil of the Azure Realm, she faintly realized that conflict seemed to be the natural state of worlds.

"To save people."

Ye Xu offered a smile.

In the past, during the upheaval at Godfall Ridge, he had extended aid to Dawn City. Today was no different.

The only change was that this time, his assistance could earn him the power of merit, bolstering his cultivation.

Ye Xu unabashedly considered himself profit-driven, yet he held fundamental benevolence and righteousness in his heart.

"Focus on cultivating," Ye Xu said lightly, ruffling Xixi’s hair. "Once we finish here, I’ll take you to another world to broaden your horizons."

Xixi nodded gently. She entered a side chamber, sat cross-legged, and began practicing the Creation Heart Sutra.

Ye Xu closed his eyes to rest.

One hour later, thirty-six of his true immortal manifestations returned from across the Azure Realm. They had brought back over a hundred million refugees—mostly humans, but also members of the demon clan and demon clan. Most were below the Divine Catastrophe stage, including a vast number of civilians.

However, one of the manifestations had actually been injured.

"Di Wuyou, your audacity borders on madness," Ye Xu remarked coldly as he reabsorbed the manifestations into his true form.

The injured manifestation had been attacked by Dao King in the southeastern Azure Realm. That man, fearing the departure of living beings and the loss of their vital energies, had struck out.

Ye Xu calmed his mind and steadied his breath.

Tian Jiao Divine City was one of the Azure Realm’s nine divine cities. Now that the ancient divine clan of the Yuan Realm had invaded this territory, they would undoubtedly not spare the Tian Jiao Divine Clan. Once they finished dividing their spoils, they would attack.

Time flowed like water.

Two days passed in a blur.

"Report!"

Within Tian Jiao Divine Palace, an Emperor Venerable hurriedly notified the elders of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan, his face pale with alarm. "Ancestor, Clan Leader, the Six Divine Clans of the Yuan Realm are advancing upon Tian Jiao Divine City!"

"They have made their move at last," the Ancestor of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan declared, his expression cold and stern. He ordered a true immortal, "Send for the Senior immediately."

Boom!

Before his words fully faded, a colossal peak—a staggering million feet tall—plummeted from the sky just beyond Tian Jiao Divine City. A giant of a man, built like an iron tower, had heaved the Divine Mountain and hurled it against Tian Jiao Divine City’s defenses.

This Divine Mountain, forged with precious ores like Mystic Magnetic Divine Iron and imbued with the Dao of Primordial Magnetism, exploded upon impact. Countless bolts of electromagnetic lightning erupted, tearing through space across millions of miles.

BOOM!

In an instant, the heavens shook and the earth trembled; inside Tian Jiao Divine City, countless people panicked and wailed incessantly.

"So soon?" The Ancestor of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan wore an awful expression. He transformed into rainbow light and flew forward, glaring at the attacker with surging rage.

The newcomer was an expert at the peak of True Immortal Realm; that Divine Mountain was his immortal artifact, incredibly formidable in strength, and he was no match for it.

If not for the defensive formation of Tian Jiao Divine City, with a single strike, Tian Jiao Divine City would have turned into ruins.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Six true immortals of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan appeared, confronting Ji Hanshan directly.

"Hahaha, I am Ji Hanshan of the Ji clan, sent by our clan leader to deliver a declaration of war to the Tian Jiao Divine Clan." Ji Hanshan roared with wild laughter, his voice thunderous, shaking countless people until their qi and blood churned.

"So powerful!"

The six members of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan exchanged a look, their brows heavy with concern.

"The strength of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan has long been known to our clan. You six represent the highest combat power of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan. Sadly, you’re still too weak." Ji Hanshan shook his head. "Surrender now, and my clan can guarantee the continued flourishing of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan."

"A single Ji clan cannot speak for the ancient divine clans of the Yuan Realm." The Ancestor of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan snorted coldly. "Since ancient times, the ancient divine clans have been insatiable; why would they spare us?"

"Audacious!"

Ji Hanshan’s eyes glinted coldly, brimming with killing intent. "It seems the Tian Jiao Divine Clan is determined to face extermination."

"Yuan Magnetic Sky Burst!"

Ji Hanshan violently pumped his magic power, and the hundred-thousand-zhang Divine Mountain erupted with blinding Yuan Magnetic Immortal Light. Countless streams of electricity surged through the void, like giant dragons, numbering in the tens of millions.

In the blink of an eye, the Yuan Magnetic field bloomed, fully enveloping Tian Jiao Divine City.

"Boom!"

Ji Hanshan unleashed his divine power, and the Yuan Magnetic Immortal Mountain smashed down with a deafening crash. Endless Yuan Magnetic Divine Thunders, like flying and dancing dragons, collided against the defensive formation of Tian Jiao Divine City.

The formation was constantly wearing down.

It seemed on the verge of collapse.

Within the divine city, countless citizens wore expressions of sorrow and despair, as if awaiting the end of the world.

"Take action!"

The Ancestor of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan shouted, summoning his Immortal Weapon, ready to resist Ji Hanshan.

If Tian Jiao Divine City was breached, countless citizens would suffer, dying without a place for burial.

The true top experts of the ancient divine clans hadn’t yet arrived; with their combined strength, the six could barely hold off this Ji Hanshan.

"You six, guard the six directions of Tian Jiao Divine City to maintain the stability of the formation."

Suddenly, a voice spoke.

Above the sky, a glimmer of light emerged, like the first beam of dawn, settling over Tian Jiao Divine City.

"Leave the rest to me."

Ye Xu held his sword in one hand, his gaze indifferent.

Clang!

He swung his sword forward; nothing flashy, merely plain and simple. Under the gathering hundred-thousand-zhang Yuan Magnetic Immortal Mountain, it appeared minuscule, like a speck of dust.

However, Ye Xu’s aura felt like a sword’s edge hidden deep within a great abyss.

In that moment, a sharp edge flared out.

Whoosh!

A stunning sword light, like a meteor, sliced across the sky. Countless Divine Thunders turned to ash beneath the blade. With a bang, Ji Hanshan’s treasured immortal artifact, the Divine Mountain, shattered to pieces.

Immortal lights sprayed out everywhere, and the immense Divine Mountain crumbled into fine powder.

That sword stroke left the six true immortals utterly awestruck.

"The power of this senior is truly immense!" The Ancestor of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan said with deep reverence. "The Tian Jiao Divine City is saved."

Tian Jiao Divine City.

Numerous citizens snapped out of their panic and fear. Gazing at the youth standing tall in the heavens, his long robes billowing, each was struck with amazement.

This was their savior!

"Hiss…" Ji Hanshan stared in terror at the boy before him. Fear overwhelmed his heart, and his legs shook uncontrollably, yet he seemed rooted to the spot, unable to take a single step.

Because Ye Xu was watching him.

"When did that terrifying expert emerge in the Tian Jiao Divine City?" Ji Hanshan was stunned inside. There wasn’t a shred of information about Ye Xu in his intelligence reports.

If he had known, how could he have dared act as the vanguard to attack the Tian Jiao Divine City?

"S-Senior…" Sweat dripped from Ji Hanshan’s forehead as he mustered his courage to ask. "You shouldn’t be a member of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan, should you? Why stand against us and aid the Tian Jiao Divine Clan?"

"I am indeed not a member of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan."

Ye Xu chuckled lightly. "But who said someone outside the Tian Jiao Divine Clan couldn’t protect the Tian Jiao Divine City?"

"You’re from the Ji clan, right?"

Ji Hanshan nodded.

"Go tell the Ji clan patriarch and all the top experts of the ancient divine clans." Ye Xu sheathed his sword and said lightly. "This city now belongs to Ye Li."

"Anyone who is an enemy of the Tian Jiao Divine Clan is an enemy of Ye Li."

"Feel free to let them come and try."

"I understand!"

Ji Hanshan felt pardoned from execution and fled the Tian Jiao Divine City at full speed.

"Senior, why release him?" asked a true immortal, puzzled.

"He’s just a minor lackey. Killing or sparing him makes no difference."

Ye Xu dismissed it lightly.

The six exchanged uneasy glances.

If Ji Hanshan was an insignificant ant, so were they.

"Get ready. The Immortal King experts of the ancient divine clans will likely reach the Tian Jiao Divine City very soon." Ye Xu’s lips curled slightly. "That’s when the real fight begins."