"What did you say... Qingtong has fallen?!"

Yunmeng Marsh, Tuoba Clan’s residence.

Looking at Zhao Qingshang all covered in blood, along with the news he brought, Tuoba Wufeng couldn’t believe his ears.

One of the seven cultivators in the clan, at the sixth-layer Qi Cultivation, and also one of his grand nephews, Tuoba Qingtong, had fallen silently?

Even his grand nephew-in-law was seriously injured, and without several years of recovery, it’s impossible to heal.

"What exactly happened...!"

Tuoba Wufeng clutched Zhao Qingshang’s arm tightly, angrily asking.

"Tell me in detail, I want to know every detail of Qingtong’s fall!"

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

Zhao Qingshang took a deep breath and said, "Nephew and Brother Qingtong were stationed on Wuxi Island..."

Fifteen minutes later, Tuoba Wufeng said gravely, "You mean, Qingtong died under a spirit insect?"

"Yes, yes, Clan Leader!"

Zhao Qingshang said, "I was originally controlling the Fog Python Banner to hold off the Great Yu Navy, and Brother Qingtong went to kill the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Yu Navy, but within just a dozen breaths, Brother Qingtong suddenly fell."

"I was just a step too late, and was chased by a bloody spirit insect, almost fell myself."

"Bloody spirit insect..."

Tuoba Wufeng asked curiously, "What does it look like? What abilities does it have?"

"Reporting to the Clan Leader, I have already used an empty jade scroll to imprint its image inside, please have a look."

Tuoba Wufeng took the jade scroll from Zhao Qingshang’s hand and began examining it carefully.

An odd spirit insect, only as big as a thumb, shaped like a spider, with three pairs of transparent wings on its back, and entirely blood-red, appeared before Tuoba Wufeng’s eyes.

"What kind of spirit insect is this?"

He pondered deep in thought but couldn’t recall ever seeing such a spirit insect.

Zhao Qingshang continued, "Clan Leader, this spirit insect is not afraid of flames, extremely fast, and can shoot out spiritual blades, effortlessly breaking my protective magical shield."

"Luckily, I had the Fog Python Banner, used the thick fog to trap it, and managed to escape with my life."

"Based on nephew’s estimation, the insect’s cultivation is at least at the late-stage Qi Cultivation, otherwise it couldn’t break Nephew’s and Brother Qingtong’s protective magical shields so easily!"

"A late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect..."

Tuoba Wuying murmured, eyes filled with intrigue and disbelief.

"Spirit insect... Mayfly Sect?"

"Or maybe... Mayfly Tower!"

"No, it can’t be..."

Tuoba Wuying’s gaze flickered, "The Great Yu Zheng Clan was one of the main culprits in the downfall of the Mayfly Sect, how could the Mayfly Sect assist the Great Yu Zheng Clan?"

"Unless... the Great Yu Zheng Clan possesses a legacy from the Mayfly Sect."

"To control a late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect, it must require at least a middle-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator."

"Since Yunmeng Marsh has a late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect, there is no guarantee Xuzhou wouldn’t have one either..."

Zhao Qingshang hesitated and asked, "Clan Leader, what should we do next?"

"Wuxi Island has already been occupied by the Great Yu Navy, our navy suffered losses of more than tens of thousands, what if..."

"Why are you anxious?"

Tuoba Wufeng said coldly, "They’re merely mortals, what does it matter if many die?"

"You are severely injured, stay within the clan to heal for the time being, and also instruct the new disciples."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

In recent years, perhaps due to the revival of spiritual qi, the annual spirit root detection unexpectedly found two children with spirit roots within the Tuoba Clan at Yunmeng Marsh, both only five years old!

One is a boy from a branch of the Tuoba Clan, named Tuoba Lingshan.

The other is the daughter of an ordinary fisherman, named Wang Xiaoyu.

Both have been taken into the clan, led by Tuoba Lingyun, initially teaching them cultivation knowledge.

With a wave, signaling Zhao Qingshang to leave, Tuoba Wufeng summoned Tuoba Wugou.

"Clan Leader, what urgent matter is there?"

Tuoba Wufeng said solemnly, "Wugou, Qingtong has fallen."

"What?!"

Tuoba Wugou exclaimed in shock, "How, how is it possible! Qingtong is one of the most experienced second-generation disciples in travel, how could he..."

"This is absolutely true."

Tuoba Wufeng said, "The one who killed Qingtong should be a cultivator hidden by the Great Yu Zheng Clan, using a late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect to ambush and kill Qingtong."

"This enmity, I will definitely avenge!"

"A late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect?" Tuoba Wugou quickly reacted, "Mayfly Sect?"

"Could it be that the Great Yu Zheng Clan contacted remnants of the Mayfly Sect?"

"Impossible..."

Tuoba Wufeng said, "Mayfly Tower and the Great Yu Zheng Clan have deep grudges, Mayfly Tower would never unite with the Great Yu Zheng Clan."

"I suspect that the Great Yu Zheng Clan must have obtained some legacy from Mayfly Tower to cultivate a late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect."

"Then Clan Leader, what do you intend to do?"

"I intend... to contact Mayfly Tower!"

"A single late-stage Qi Cultivation spirit insect, even if I faced it, would be challenging. But if two or three late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators attacked together, it would be worthless to the other side."

Tuoba Wufeng said, "My Tuoba Clan and Mayfly Tower are acquaintances, I’m sure if invited to combat the Great Yu Zheng Clan, they would be willing."

"Especially the Vice Tower Master of Mayfly Tower, Fire Spirit!"

"Years ago, he was heavily injured in the Great Yu Imperial Palace, recuperating until now."

"Mayfly Tower huh..."

Tuoba Wugou said, "Clan Leader, feel free to proceed, Yunmeng Marsh is in my care, nothing will happen."

"Thank you, Wugou sister."

Tuoba Wufeng said, "Wuying is currently in Xuzhou assisting King Chen against Xu Mujun, I will return after contacting Mayfly Tower."

"Alright!"

Having arranged all this, Tuoba Wufeng immediately stepped on a flying sword, flying towards the southeast.

Within a few breaths, his silhouette vanished into the dense fog, disappearing from sight.

Three days later.

His silhouette reappeared at the seashore.

After confirming the direction, he stepped on the flying sword and delved into the sea, quickly disappearing from sight.

...

Guangqing City.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

"Boom...!!!"

Over a hundred Red Coat Cannons fired in unison, and immediately hundreds of shells fiercely struck the walls of Guangqing City.

The walls, structured by the situation, finally collapsed under the relentless bombing of the Red Coat Cannons.

Large rocks mixed with bricks and rolling logs cascaded down from the city walls.

The members of the White Lotus Sect atop the walls screamed as they fell, slamming heavily to the ground.

Screams of killing and wailing filled the air, incredibly tragic.

Xu Mujun personally led a hundred thousand Dragon-soaring Army in a starry night march to swiftly annihilate the White Lotus Sect rebels.

Fortunately, the roads between Xuzhou and Qingzhou were smooth, allowing the Red Coat Cannons to quickly follow.

"Boom!!!"

Another round of bombardment came, once again poundingly striking the walls.

Countless large stones and logs fell, and countless White Lotus Sect members were blown to pieces.

Finally.

After ten successive bombings, more than half of Guangqing City’s eastern and southern walls had been blown down.

Even the gates of both cities were reduced to rubble.

Guangqing City was now fully exposed under the Dragon-soaring Army’s military might.

"Clang...!"

Xu Mujun drew his long knife with one hand, pointing remotely at Guangqing City.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Charge~!"

A hundred thousand Dragon-soaring Army roared in unison, charging towards Guangqing from both the east and south directions.

Only more than five thousand cavalry remained at the original place as a reserve force.

As they galloped fiercely, a Captain shouted loudly.

"Those holding weapons, kill!"

"Those wearing white scarves, kill!"

"Those blocking our way, kill!"

Countless shouts echoed from the army formations, and the leading Dragon-soaring soldiers swiftly dismounted, leaping over the ruins and storming into Guangqing City.

Inside Guangqing City was the chaotic White Lotus Sect.

Still in panic, they were effortlessly slain by the charging Dragon-soaring Army.

"Splat!"

"Ah!"

"Run fast!"

"Meet your doom...!"

As the cries echoed, the Dragon-soaring Army’s morale soared, showing no mercy to the weak White Lotus Sect members, quickly breaking through the first defense line.

When the Dragon-soaring Army truly charged into the inner city, they suddenly saw countless White Lotus Sect members, wearing white scarves and with fervent eyes, rushing out from the alleys from all directions.

They wore simple clothes, wielded sharp weapons, without any protective armor, and charged forward with fanatic eyes.

While charging, they continuously formed strange hand seals in front of their chests, loudly shouting:

"The Immortal Master grants the true divine power, ten thousand Celestial Soldiers reveal divine powers. All Immortal Families heed my command, quickly enter my mortal body!"

"I am indeed a Celestial Soldier and General!"

"Ha!"

Amidst the shouts, the eyes and voices of the White Lotus Sect members became even more frenzied.

Among the crowd, several people suddenly emitted a golden light from their bodies.

"Splat!"

"Bang!"

"Neigh~!"

In an instant, this group of unarmored White Lotus Sect members clashed fiercely with the elite Dragon-soaring Army.

The steel knives in the hands of the Dragon-soaring Army effortlessly decapitated the leading White Lotus Sect members, along with their fervent followers.

In just a few breaths, the White Lotus Sect members were overturned, with heavy casualties.

"What kind of White Lotus Sect summoning god is this, a bunch of ignorant followers, kill them all!"

A Dragon-soaring Captain shouted angrily, stepping forward to slay another White Lotus Sect member.

With a swift slash, the steel knife in his hand emitted a muffled sound.

His expression changed slightly, instinctively looking up.

He saw a thin man with a bare upper body clutching his long knife tightly with both hands.

The long knife had only left a trace of blood, instead of cutting him in half.

The frail man opened his mouth and laughed, his sallow teeth exposed, appearing extremely disgusting and terrifying.

"Haha, hahaha..."

"I possess divine power, immune to blades and spears!"

"Silent Old Mother, Hometown of the True Void!"

The frail White Lotus Sect member shouted loudly, then fiercely pulled, causing the Captain to stagger instinctively, almost falling to the ground.

Almost simultaneously, more White Lotus Sect members surged forward, their eyes fervently tackling the Captain to the ground.

Their hands wielded knives, sickles, even scissors, and thimbles, all stabbing towards him.

"Ah...!"

"Silent Old Mother, Hometown of the True Void!"

A phrase of fervent shouts echoed from the streets and alleys, as groups of men, women, even elders and children, shouted fanatical slogans, charged at the Dragon-soaring Army recklessly.