Deston Prefecture.
The Wu tribes advanced and breached the Shadowfell Prefecture border pass. Today, the entire Deston Prefecture is in critical danger.
The Deston Prefecture has gathered commoners and cultivators from the Shadowfell Prefecture and the Sunreach Prefecture, as well as reinforcing troops arriving from all across the Dynasty.
It is a truly chaotic melting pot where fish and dragons intermingle.
The three great cities of Deston Prefecture—Dawnspire City, Highsun City, and Sunfall City—were founded upon the ancient creed: "Three Suns Herald Prosperity."
In this year of the Wu tribes breaching the borders, they have formed an interlocking defensive stance like the horns of a beast, with each city responding to the Wu tribes that have invaded the Dynasty.
The major powers of the Dynasty gathered here continually shift their strategies in response to the crisis of the Wu tribes entering the pass.
With the Dynasty in peril, cultivators of the Body Integration realms have stepped forward to respond, as the Dynasty rallies and dispatches its armies to the front.
Within Highsun City.
Spirit boats could be seen everywhere. The Wu tribes had broken the unspoken rules by deploying Body Integration realm cultivators, which thoroughly enraged the Dynasty.
Cultivators likewise crossed the border pass of Shadowfell Prefecture, charging into the Wu tribes' territory.
Using the strong to bully the weak and striking when the enemy was caught off guard, the Human race was equally capable of doing the same.
With various factions scheming, opportunities could be found everywhere, and Highsun City had thus become a stronghold for human cultivators.
In the cloudy sky, a small, leaf-like boat flew over, carrying three cultivators.
The one leading them was dressed in magnificent robes, a longsword hanging at his waist. With one hand resting on the hilt, he looked incredibly majestic.
This person was none other than the Prefecture Lord of Shadowfell Prefecture, Yun Manlou.
Since fleeing from Shadowfell Prefecture, he had brought the Yun clan to settle down outside Silver Wolf Lake, just beyond Highsun City.
Yet today, as he arrived at Highsun City, his face was filled with sorrow.
"Patriarch, that fellow Ba Siyu is insatiably greedy. Every time he sees us, he demands our clan's treasures and forces our clan to contribute manpower and resources. Why are we coming to see him again?" an elder of the Yun family looked toward the city with indignation.
The Yun family had been on the run for three years.
Originally considered deserters by the Dynasty, they lived like rats scurrying across the street, terrified that the Immortal Suppression Department would come knocking on their door.
However, a Dynasty faction comparable to the Immortal Suppression Department had arrived to hold down the fort in Deston Prefecture—they were the Imperial Protectors.
The members of these Imperial Protectors only emerged when the Dynasty was on the verge of collapse.
Ba Siyu, a mighty figure among the Imperial Protectors, had found them even faster than the Immortal Suppression Department.
He had given the Yun family a way to survive, yet his greed knew no bounds.
"What else can we do?"
Yun Manlou's face was filled with sorrow. "The Azure Cloud Li family has also come to Deston Prefecture."
"What?!" The Yun family elder's expression changed drastically.
He then grumbled sullenly,
"Patriarch, you are always afraid of the Azure Cloud Li family. But during the battle at the Western Border, it was the old nun from the Lotus Ferry Nunnery who fled first.
How could we not flee as well? Could the Azure Cloud Li family actually lay the blame on us?
The Azure Cloud Li family had people die, and they have nowhere to vent their anger, but whose family hasn't lost people?"
Yun Manlou merely let out a long sigh.
"The Azure Cloud Li family ought to be reasonable. I sent a letter to the Li clan three years ago, and the Li family Patriarch, Li Xinnian, expressed his understanding regarding my retreat."
"Then why is the Patriarch so plagued by anxiety?" the elder asked in confusion.
Yun Manlou said bitterly, "He told me that if we had nowhere to go, I could bring our entire clan to take refuge in Azure Cloud."
"This..." The elder's face paled with sheer terror.
How was this a gesture of understanding? This was clearly luring them into a trap!
He gritted his teeth and said, "Are the people of the Azure Cloud Li family truly so unreasonable?"
"There is no need to worry about the Azure Cloud Li family.
Our Yun family is in Deston Prefecture. Ba Siyu may be greedy, but he can protect us.
I presume the Azure Cloud Li family wouldn't dare to act recklessly here. Otherwise, in the face of the nation's greater good, how could they possibly justify themselves?"
Yun Manlou tightly gripped the hilt of his sword, unable to conceal the nervous tension in his heart.
"The Li family holds an official post in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, but I also hold the title of Prefecture Lord.
The experts of my Shadowfell Prefecture are gathered at Silver Wolf Lake, so what is there to fear from the Li family?"
Promptly, Yun Manlou and his two clansmen arrived in the cloudy sky above Highsun City.
Within the layers of clouds lay a hidden world; in the blink of an eye, they arrived in a mountain forest.
This was also inside Ba Siyu's supreme-grade Dharma Treasure, the "Carefree Cloud."
It was rumored that this treasure had accompanied Ba Siyu for tens of thousands of years. Not only did it contain a world of its own, but it also possessed an exceptionally powerful trapping array.
After having the members of the Imperial Protectors in the mountain forest announce their arrival, they reached a palace within the woods.
The moment he stepped inside, Yun Manlou's expression changed drastically.
On the main seat sat a bare-chested, rugged-looking, large man.
The man's face was covered in fierce, bulging flesh, resembling a mountain bandit.
This was the mighty Body Integration realm expert of the Imperial Protectors, Ba Siyu.
Within the main hall, a peerless, elegantly dressed young nobleman could be seen chatting and laughing with Ba Siyu.
It was unknown what was being said, but it made Ba Siyu roar with laughter.
"Hahaha, the Patriarch of the Li family, Li Xinnian, is truly a rare and outstanding talent in this world.
To actually see that I, Ba Siyu, am a supreme pillar of the Dynasty—you indeed have a good eye, far smarter than those fools with eyes but no sight!"
Li family Patriarch, Li Xinnian!
Yun Manlou was sweating profusely. The nightmare that had plagued him for over three years was currently turning its head, revealing a warm and genial smile at him.
Even though Li Xinnian's eyes clearly held no anger, it made Yun Manlou suddenly feel a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!