Chapter 260: Sorrow
These two sacred treasures, one a pale yellow short sword and the other a purple pagoda, exuded a dazzling brilliance as they floated in the air, merging with the heavens and earth.
With the sacred treasures in their hands, Dragon Jueshen and Feng Lingxiao exchanged glances. They knew that if they didn't quickly defeat the Li family, they would be unable to answer to the three Desolation Gods.
"I will break the formation, you deal with that old dog!" Feng Lingxiao said decisively.
"After breaking the formation, your Sacred Palace will lead the attack," Dragon Jueshen stated plainly.
Though their top demon factions were allied, they kept meticulous accounts with each other.
Feng Lingxiao didn't argue, as his injuries made him reluctant to fight Li Muxiu and risk aggravating them. He had no choice but to let the Sacred Palace elders cover the gap.
They quickly merged their souls with the sacred treasures, connecting with their spiritual essence to understand their properties.
Moments later, their eyes gleamed with power. They absorbed the treasures and soared into the sky, issuing commands.
The demon kings and elders, understanding the order, prepared for a full assault on Qingzhou City.
Ancient war horns sounded as demon banners rose, signaling the attack.
Simultaneously, Dragon Jueshen and Feng Lingxiao charged at Qingzhou City.
Boom!!
As the first rays of dawn illuminated Qingzhou City, a thunderous roar shook the sky above.
The golden defensive formation of Qingzhou City appeared, resembling an inverted divine bowl, blocking a terrifying purple-black beam. Countless divine runes flickered like chaotic butterflies.
The deafening sound alarmed the entire city. Soldiers resting in the makeshift barracks on the city walls were jolted awake.
On the city wall, Li Muxiu, who had been meditating, opened his eyes. His soul sense extended beyond the city and saw the two leading figures of the demon factions, each wielding a sacred treasure.
"Sacred heart treasures!" Li Muxiu's face turned pale. He burst from the tower, soaring into the sky with a roar, "Stop!"
But Feng Lingxiao ignored him, fully channeling the power of the purple-black Xuan Yu Zhonglou Pagoda. This pagoda's spiritual essence commanded the force of one hundred thousand black waters, each drop weighing a ton. Combined, their concentrated impact nearly shattered the city's formation.
If it were any other city, the formation would have already collapsed.
The defensive formation of Qingzhou City was one of the strongest in Great Yu, second only to the Imperial City's Xuantianshen Emperor Array, built by the first Grand Diviner of the Sitians. Its power could withstand the full force of Absolute Learning Realm attacks.
Yet, under Feng Lingxiao's sacred heart treasure, the formation rapidly weakened.
Li Muxiu attacked in fury, but Dragon Jueshen intercepted him. The short sword's golden light nearly split the void, its domain enveloping Li Muxiu, suppressing his blood and power.
Li Muxiu, shocked and enraged, punched out with his Invincible Fist, activating his half-step invincible domain. Though half-step Dao Domain couldn't fully exhibit its prowess, it could momentarily withstand Dragon Jueshen's onslaught.
In defense, half-step Dao Domain's speed wasn't much slower.
"Ten Extreme Sword Shadows!" Dragon Jueshen activated the short sword's power, unleashing ten extreme sword lights at Li Muxiu.
Li Muxiu's face darkened. He wielded a green ribbon that wrapped around his fist, countering the oncoming sword lights with his invincible punches. Each step forward was firm, breaking the sword lights and pushing towards Dragon Jueshen.
Dragon Jueshen's face changed. He didn't expect the old dog to have a sacred heart treasure. But he wasn't surprised; the God General's Mansion had thousands of years of heritage.
He remained cold, continuously applying domain pressure. Li Muxiu's blood boiled, restrained by the overwhelming force.
Meanwhile, the formation shook violently as Feng Lingxiao's pagoda struck again, emitting a blinding light.
"Stop him!" Li Xiaoran shouted.
The commotion had awakened everyone. Seeing Li Muxiu fighting Dragon Jueshen and Feng Lingxiao attacking the formation, they acted quickly.
A radiant blade light cut through the sky, aiming for Feng Lingxiao.
Feng Lingxiao smirked, unleashing his domain. The blade light disintegrated before reaching him. He continued attacking the formation with his pagoda, which trembled under the assault.
Another figure flew out, sending a sword light at the pagoda, which shook under the impact, slowing the attack.
Feng Lingxiao's face darkened. He saw several figures approaching, including Ji Qingqing, wielding the Taiyuan Sword, a sacred heart treasure.
Ji Qingqing's Taiyuan Sword, gifted secretly by her father, could bypass domain suppression, enabling her to injure Peaceful Dao Realm opponents from a distance.
Though dangerous in close combat, the formation's protection allowed her to strike fearlessly.
"Damn it!" Feng Lingxiao cursed, striking again with the pagoda.
Ji Qingqing retaliated with her sword, reducing its impact but failing to halt the continuous drain on the formation's power.
"Hurry, stop him!" Li Tiangang, clutching an ancient bronze war blade, soared into the sky. His strike, though powerful, couldn't penetrate Feng Lingxiao's domain and dissipated.
Li Tiangang's face darkened as he heard the war horns outside. The ground beneath the city trembled, signaling the massive demon army's approach.
His blood ran cold. The demons were launching a full assault.
"Prepare for battle, vanguard to the walls!" Li Tiangang shouted, rushing to the walls to organize the defense.
The soldiers, already on alert, unleashed volleys of flaming arrows and cannon fire at the approaching demon tide.
Amid the chaos, towering demon figures emerged, wielding weapons and smashing the city's defensive formation. These were demon kings and elders, each a formidable opponent.
Li Tiangang's heart sank. The demon forces were overwhelming.
"Activate the Divine Array's Life Wheel!" he roared.
The Divine Array, the Sunlight Life Wheel Array, could absorb the life force of all beings within, amplifying its power.
As his order was issued, golden threads of life force rose from the city, merging with the array, which began to repair itself.
In the depths of the God General's Mansion, the ancestral hall's candles flickered as golden lights emerged, revealing the souls of past Li family ancestors.
"Life Wheel activated. Qingzhou City is at its last stand."
"Never thought I'd see the Life Wheel activated in my lifetime."
"Seventeenth Ancestor sacrificed his soul for the bloodline's guidance. Now, it's our turn to pave the way."
"We must stand before our people, not behind them. Let's fight!"
The ancestors' souls, once mighty warriors, stepped out of the ancestral hall, ready for battle.
At the hall's entrance, Li Qingzheng, an old man with white hair, wept as he watched the ancestors depart.
"You've done enough," an ancestor said as he passed, patting Li Qingzheng's shoulder.
"Thank you," Li Qingzheng said, tears streaming down his face.
The ancestors, donning golden armor, soared into the sky, joining the battle.
"Brothers, together one last time?" Li Xuanqing's soul asked Li Qingzheng, who nodded, his spirit lifted.
As they merged, Li Qingzheng stood tall, his body rejuvenated, ready to fight.
"Let's go!" he shouted, leading the charge.
The ancestors' souls, bathed in golden light, flew across the sky, joining the battle against the demons.
In the mansion, the descendants, including He Jianlan and Gao Qingqing, watched in awe as their ancestors' souls merged with them, enhancing their power.
"Will you fight with me?" an ancestor's soul asked He Jianlan.
"Yes!" she replied, feeling the surge of power as they merged.
Elsewhere, Wang Xiangru hesitated before an elder's soul. Seeing her reluctance, the soul moved on, finding another host.
In Linglong Courtyard, two golden souls approached Li Yuanzhao.
"Will you fight?" a young soul asked.
"I can?" Li Yuanzhao hesitated.
"You can," the soul affirmed, merging with him and boosting his power.
"Give me your body, and I'll handle the rest," the soul said.
Li Yuanzhao, recalling his childhood, nodded firmly, "I'm not afraid!"
"Good!" the soul said, flying into battle.
In Feihua Courtyard, Wang Xiangru stepped back from an elder's soul, feeling unworthy. The soul moved on without a word.
In Shuohua Courtyard, many ancestors' souls merged with the willing, enhancing their power.
The combined might of the Li family, past and present, surged into battle, determined to protect their home.