Liou Yuan gazed down at the battle below the city walls with a heavy expression.

Beside him, Wei Ying had calmed her emotions, her eyes still damp as she softly comforted him, "Don’t worry, Yanhe City has faced invasions by Calamity-level Star Evil beings before."

"According to my father, this river has at least repelled over five Calamity-level Star Evils. Though the one before us is powerful, it won’t break through this array anytime soon."

"Hmm!" Liou Yuan nodded.

The two exchanged no more than a few sentences.

Below the city wall, the Star Evil suddenly and unexpectedly lifted its head while battling the water soldiers continuously emerging from the moat, its gaze fixed upon the walls of Yanhe City.

Liou Yuan’s eyes had never once strayed from the Star Evil.

The moment it cast its gaze, his eyes inevitably locked with the Star Evil’s.

The emotions once belonging to Mr. Wei—previously vacant and wooden—lit up with vitality upon meeting Liou Yuan’s gaze.

A flood of negative emotions—grief, despair—poured from the Star Evil’s eyes towards Liou Yuan like an overwhelming tide.

Liou Yuan’s mind was struck as if by a mighty blow, a sudden shock without time to react.

His body froze in place, akin to being under an Immobilization Spell.

Wei Ying shared the same predicament as Liou Yuan.

She, too, had been watching the Star Evil below.

That single glance caught Wei Ying off guard as well.

Though the two were quite distant from the Star Evil, with the moat protecting them.

Neither anticipated that their mere exchange of glances would render them nearly immobile.

Luckily, Liou Yuan always carried life-saving items with him, such as the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads.

Although his body lost its mobility, the influence on his Spiritual Qi was minimal.

Almost immediately upon being shocked, Liou Yuan frantically channelled Spiritual Power towards the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads on his wrist.

Buzz! A pale yellow spherical shield instantly formed from the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads, enveloping Liou Yuan completely.

The rigid, corpse-like body regained its freedom the moment the shield rose.

"It works; this item restrains the Star Evil," Liou Yuan understood in his heart.

With the defense barrier in place, he took a step towards Wei Ying, positioning himself between her and the Star Evil to block its view.

Only then did Wei Ying escape from the terrifying state.

"Lower your head," Liou Yuan softly instructed Wei Ying.

With terror still gripping her, Wei Ying quickly lowered her head, not daring to glance at the Star Evil again.

Liou Yuan also looked down, then relieved the protective barrier of the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads.

Though his Spiritual Power had strengthened considerably, there was no need for such wasteful consumption.

As long as they didn’t look into the Star Evil’s eyes, they wouldn’t be affected.

All this happened in an instant, from the gaze of the Star Evil to Liou Yuan using the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads to break the impasse, and then removing the protection of the beads.

As he lowered his head, a chill spread across Liou Yuan’s nose.

Reaching out to wipe his nose, his palm was stained with a shocking smear of crimson.

It was his nosebleed.

Wei Ying fared no better.

Blood streamed uncontrollably from her dainty nose, soaking her robes in red.

Hardly daring to ponder the outcome had Liou Yuan’s reaction been a beat slower.

"This creature has this ability,"

"I finally understand how Mr. Wei’s forces ended in annihilation." Liou Yuan grasped his bleeding nostril, his eyes filled with shock.

Without the Moat Array, he likely wouldn’t have had the chance to use the Yellow Jade Buddhist Beads.

With just one glance, he and Wei Ying would perish on the spot.

"Thank you!" Wei Ying’s grateful, gentle voice echoed in Liou Yuan’s ears then.

When not hurling sharp comments, Wei Ying displayed the demeanor of a refined lady.

Liou Yuan was about to respond.

Suddenly, from the depths of his consciousness, the Fixed Star Compass reacted.

Light erupted within him, visible only to Liou Yuan.

The rays of light coalesced into characters not of this world.

[Detected level-1 Alien Star Evil aura.]

[Danger level: Type 1, Grade D.]

[Slay Alien Star Evil to receive special reward: Low-Level Star Bath]

"Alien Star Evil!" Liou Yuan silently mouthed the Fixed Star Compass’s assessment of this Star Evil in his mind.

For the first time, he saw a Star Evil labelled ’Alien’ on the Fixed Star Compass.

Regarding danger level, the Calamity-level Star Evil before him clearly surpassed any Star Evil Liou Yuan had encountered.

Rightfully, it was categorised, albeit into Grade D.

Clearly, the Star Evil currently entangled with the Yanhe City array was extremely troublesome among Level 1 Star Evils.

As for the final hint from the Fixed Star Compass about slaying the Star Evil, and the reward of Star Bath, Liou Yuan glanced at it then dismissed it.

It was impractical.

He couldn’t imagine any possibility of defeating this Star Evil.

Liou Yuan’s current concern was the Fixed Star Compass’s reaction.

"I didn’t actively activate the Fixed Star Compass," Liou Yuan thought with a strange expression.

Since the detection of that old dog, only half a month had passed, and the Fixed Star Compass hadn’t replenished enough star energy.

Therefore, Liou Yuan couldn’t have activated it.

Yet, in this state, the Fixed Star Compass reacted.

There’s only one possibility.

"The Fixed Star Compass acted on its own."

"Perhaps something on this Alien Star Evil attracts the Fixed Star Compass?"

No matter what the Alien Star Evil had.

Liou Yuan certainly wouldn’t entertain thoughts about that Star Evil.

Never mind slaying it.

He’d be burning incense for luck if it didn’t enter the city.

"This place is not suitable to linger, let’s descend from the walls first," Liou Yuan turned to Wei Ying behind him and said.

"Mm!" The latter had no reason to refuse, had it not been for Liou Yuan, Wei Ying’s life might have been claimed by that Alien Star Evil’s glance.

Having retreated from the walls, Wei Ying, who had witnessed her father’s body being occupied by the Star Evil, was dispirited and gloomily said to Liou Yuan, "Mr. Liou, I’ll return to Dongcheng first."

Her duty was to oversee the Dongcheng area.

Hearing the Star Evil’s eerie howl, knowing it was her father’s killer, prompted her to come.

However, after witnessing it, Wei Ying felt even more disarrayed.

Due to Liou Yuan’s care for her atop the city and their prior mutual understanding, Wei Ying now addressed Liou Yuan as Mr. Liou.

"Don’t dwell too much, Mr. Wei perished while eliminating threats for Yanhe City’s populace."

"You’re his daughter; you must rise above it, as the people of Dongcheng rely on your protection."

Before parting, Liou Yuan offered rare words of comfort.

This rekindled some spirit in Wei Ying, her gaze gradually firming.

"Mr. Liou is right; I’m father’s daughter and must not shame his name."

"Thank you, Mr. Liou." Wei Ying smiled lightly, waved, then strode away.