"Miss Zhao’s cultivation level surely allows her to find teammates much stronger than us."

Zhao Feiyue, being straightforward, replied openly, "We all entered the sect around the same time, and our cultivation is similar; I’m not that strong either."

"Besides,"

Zhao Feiyue glanced around at the Outer Sect disciples before shrugging, "If I were to choose those at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, I’d rather have my elder take me out once."

"My purpose in going out this time is for training."

"Naturally, I want to team up with those who have a chance to strike."

"Moreover, I’ve heard of your achievements, daring to face Bao Yufeng and Liou Tao, both Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer seniors, when you were at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer."

"You’re no weaklings. A perfect team of strong allies."

"Miss Zhao is quite a remarkable person," Liou Yuan understood Zhao Feiyue’s meaning.

Unable to find a reason to reject Zhao Feiyue, he smiled and nodded in agreement, then pointed at Qiu Ming beside him, "If you don’t mind him being talkative, let’s act together."

Zhao Feiyue crossed her arms and responded promptly, "Pleasure working together!"

...

"This time, the destination is the Jiangyang Prefecture. The array of a city there was breached by a Calamity-level Star Evil, and the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Jin Dynasty is repairing it."

"My granduncle is also commanded by the sect to assist in repairing the array and guarding that city."

At the edge of the Sun-Controlling Gourd, Liou Yuan listened to Zhao Feiyue, who sat opposite him, introducing the mission details.

Being a junior of Mr. Zhao, Zhao Feiyue clearly knew more.

She narrated the details of the operation smoothly.

Liou Yuan, hearing this, pondered and asked, "Sending so many Outer Sect disciples, it’s not just about guarding one city, is it?"

The Qinghe Division of Yanhe City has merely over twenty cultivators.

This time, Five Extremes Mountain dispatched over a hundred Outer Sect disciples. If it’s just to guard one city, Liou Yuan found it excessive.

"Of course, it’s not only guarding one city."

"Many cities in Jiangyang Prefecture need support. These seniors and sisters will be allocated to those cities in need."

Zhao Feiyue straightened her back and pointed at herself, then toward Liou Yuan and Qiu Ming.

"As for the three of us teaming up, we will surely follow my granduncle."

"At that time, you will accompany me to the city where the array needs restoration. There, two Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators will also be stationed in the city, ensuring much safety."

Liou Yuan nodded repeatedly, feeling much assured after hearing Zhao Feiyue’s words.

"Indeed, if faced with an irreversible crisis like a Calamity-level Star Evil invasion, with Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators as backup, there’s still room to retreat."

Qiu Ming was even less likely to object, bursting into hearty laughter.

He set out this time for the reward of ten merit points; securing the reward in a safe manner was more than he could ask for.

"Jiangyang Prefecture!" Liou Yuan nodded slightly.

Having listened to Zhao Feiyue’s information, contemplation filled his eyes.

If he remembered correctly, Yanhe City located in Qingyou Prefecture wasn’t far from Jiangyang Prefecture.

And Ge Jinhong, who found the Talismanic Skill on Qiwen Mountain, was within Qingyou Prefecture.

The distance was no more than ten thousand miles, and with his pace, he could reach it in ten days.

"Just right, after finishing this task, I’ll visit Qiwen Mountain. It’s along the way anyway."

"I have to go sooner or later."

Liou Yuan formulated his plan.

The matter of the Talismanic Skill lingered in his mind; seeing the task destination being close to Qiwen Mountain made him quite pleased.

A silent journey followed.

Though Jiangyang Prefecture is within Jin Dynasty’s borders, it is closest to Five Extremes Mountain compared to other prefectures.

This is why the Jin Dynasty sought help from Five Extremes Mountain, which did not refuse.

Within three days, aided by the Sun-Controlling Gourd, a Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact, they entered Jiangyang Prefecture territory at high speed.

The speed could be faster; however, along the way, unwary Star Evils and evil spirits occasionally obstructed them.

In this phase of fierce hostility, nowhere was peaceful.

While passing cities in Jiangyang Prefecture territory, Zhao Zhuoran halted several times, deploying Outer Sect disciples from the Sun-Controlling Gourd into the cities to aid local cultivators in resisting Star Evil attacks.

As waves of Outer Sect disciples departed the Sun-Controlling Gourd, it grew emptier.

Because of Zhao Feiyue, Zhao Zhuoran didn’t have Liou Yuan and his team disembark halfway.

Until only ten remained aboard the Sun-Controlling Gourd.

Besides Liou Yuan’s trio, seven Outer Sect disciples, led by a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer disciple, were left.

Near nightfall, they finally reached their destination.

As the Sun-Controlling Gourd descended from the sky, the city revealed its appearance before Liou Yuan’s eyes.

Sunset stained like blood, and the dusk fell upon this city, scarred by warfare.

The towering city walls were riddled with deep cracks and scores, scattered with wall bricks exposing the tarnished interior through the gaps.

Inside, streets lay in desolation.

Most shops were ruins, doors shattered, windows collapsed, goods strewn across, buried in blood and dust.

Amid the ruins, bodies lay, some across the street, others partially buried beneath stones.

On the shaky walls remained few cultivators resisting, battling scattered Star Evils attempting to climb and invade the city.

As it was merely dusk, fewer Star Evils appeared, hence cultivators managed to cope relatively well.

As the Sun-Controlling Gourd descended steadily, nearing close, Liou Yuan could hear the angry shouts of residual cultivators on the walls.

Along with the blood scent wafting from collapsed buildings inside.

This was the consequence of a breached protective array; on the day of Yanhe City’s crisis, had Liou Zhen not arrived in time, Yanhe City would resemble this hellish scene.

Witnessing this, Liou Yuan lightly spoke to his teammates beside him, "The cracks on these walls indicate they were not caused by Star Evils at the Qi Cultivation Realm."

"It indeed experienced a Calamity-level Star Evil."

Zhao Feiyue nodded, responding, "It was a Calamity-level Star Evil, slain by that Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Jin Dynasty."

"But repairing the array isn’t a quick fix."

"Hence, they need our support."

Qiu Ming eyed the setting sun in the west and cursed, "Such bad luck, nightfall approaches, and Star Evils grow more numerous and ferocious by night."

"Without the array’s aid, we have a long night ahead of us."

"No worries, merely small fry; as long as they’re not Calamity-level Star Evils, it’s manageable," Liou Yuan reassured calmly.

Having dealt with Star Evils in Yanhe City numerous times, he appeared collected.

During this conversation, the Sun-Controlling Gourd landed atop the city’s wall.

Liou Yuan discerned the writing on the gate: ’Chouhuai,’ Chouhuai City.

Before landing, Mr. Zhao casually unleashed a True Essence outside the walls, eradicating scattered Star Evils around.

He then placed Liou Yuan and his team on the walls.

"You only need to guard this place."

Zhao Zhuoran coolly swept a glance over Liou Yuan and his companions, lingering momentarily on Zhao Feiyue, before telepathically instructing a few words, "The rest is handled by me and the Jin Dynasty cultivator; you needn’t worry."

Throwing this sentence, Mr. Zhao summoned back the Sun-Controlling Gourd, which turned into a red light entering the city.

As Zhao Feiyue previously mentioned, he’s indeed going to assist the Jin Dynasty Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator in repairing the array.

With Zhao Zhuoran present, Chouhuai City’s cultivators dared not approach.

Once Zhao Zhuoran departed, four to five cultivators drew near, clasping hands towards the leading Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer disciple among the new batch of disciples.

"Friends from Five Extremes Immortal Sect, we’ve awaited you."

The leading of Chouhuai City’s cultivators was a Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer middle-aged man.

Tall and robust, his back slightly hunched from exhaustion.

He wore ordinary iron armor, shattered and twisted, revealing bloodstains at the broken portions.

This blood, it’s hard to tell whether it belongs to him or the Star Evils.

His four companions were equally worn, showing tired stances.

Guarding Chouhuai City these days likely drained them to their limits.