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Today’s Baiyun City is very different from the past...

The customs of the Southern Barbarians favor lighting bonfires for celebration, and in the previous days, everywhere within the city, one could see bonfires and the surrounding Southern Barbarian Soldiers.

Those beast-like soldiers would remove their tops in the heavy snow, drink until they blushed, and determine the ownership of a pretty woman from Central Plains based on their alcohol tolerance.

The losers would fall to the ground drunk, while the winners would laugh boisterously and behave lewdly in public, amidst the crying of women and the sinister laughter of beasts.

Joy and humiliation coexist. Men would only dare to hide in their houses, like ostriches burying their heads, covering their ears.

But tonight is different. The bonfire parties that were never absent in the evenings are gone today, and the streets of Baiyun City are exceptionally quiet, there are even patrolling soldiers who, once they see people on the streets, would not hesitate to chop off heads with one strike, omitting even the process of questioning.

"What is... going on?"

In the alleyway, Jiang Xiaoling looked at this abnormal scene with a face full of confusion.

Just now, when they were in the alley, they were blocked by a group of patrolling troops.

If not for the ten or so Southern Barbarian soldiers, who had already been turned into puppets by Mister Hua Pi, providing cover, they would have probably been surrounded and attacked.

"Martial law has been imposed..." Mister Hua Pi said somberly as he looked outside: "The Southern Barbarians have lax military discipline; after taking over a place, they like to celebrate and drink forgetfully. This is mainly because the cities in the Southern Wilderness are easy to defend but hard to attack. Usually, once conquered, it becomes very difficult to give up control, and with a few soldiers guarding, the rest can celebrate every night. Because of this trait, they were beaten to the point of crying by Lumings’ counterattacks several times, and still, they haven’t learned their lesson until now. .."

"This time to have martial law imposed in advance, there is only one possibility, the commander of these Southern Barbarian Soldiers is an informed person, who has predicted an attack on Baiyun City tonight and thus has prepared early."

"An informed person?" Jiang Xiaoling blinked in surprise.

"There’s only that possibility..." Mister Hua Pi scoffed coldly: "It’s in Southern Barbarians’ nature to be unruly, forcibly making them follow military discipline will backfire.

Only an emergency military situation can persuade them to get serious.

What did I say this morning? From the beginning, this place has been a trap, now do you believe it? "

"Just because of that, you’re concluding it’s a trap?" Jiang Xiaoling snorted coldly.

Mister Hua Pi patiently explained, "The Imperial Court has collaborations with the Southern Barbarians, it’s impossible that they would suddenly send troops to attack this place.

Now, in the world, among the overt Central Plains powers, apart from the Imperial Court, those who can confront the Southern Barbarians head-on are the Southern Sea, the Eastern Sea, Tiandu, and Jiangnan.

Geographically speaking, all these regional powers are possible attackers, but from the current situation, only two powers have the capability. "

"Eastern Sea and Southern Sea are new powers, each of them occupies the territory of the Ancient Dragon Palace, and they are desperately digesting the ancient legacies there. In just half a year’s time, even with extraordinary abilities, it isn’t likely for them to dispatch troops!"

"Among the current world powers, only Jiangnan and Tiandu are qualified to send troops."

"Tiandu is an old power, have close relations with that person in the Eastern Sea, but they are also mutually wary. No one can be sure of Tiandu’s current strength, but their probability of sending troops is very small.

One reason is the geography; Southeast County doesn’t appeal to Tiandu, and secondly, it’s about interests.

Tiandu is extremely vigilant towards the Eastern Sea, wary that a certain person may come back and take control of Tiandu again.

Keep in mind that within Tiandu, the forces still loyal to that person are not few. "

"Under the circumstances of the Eastern Sea not dispatching troops, Tiandu would likely refrain from rash actions."

"Excluding Tiandu, in today’s world, only Jiangnan, which is rich and strong with a plethora of soldiers and generals, has the capability to take the initiative to go on the offensive.

With a lengthy border between Southeast County and Jiangnan, comprising four cities, any of them could be Jiangnan’s first attack target.

So why choose your Baiyun City specifically? "

"Is it because this city holds the most strategic value, or because this city has the most resources?" Mister Hua Pi chuckled as he looked at Jiang Xiaoling: "Neither. It’s because this city has you!"

Jiang Xiaoling: "...."

"You initiated that inexplicable summoning, and it’s highly likely that Chen Qing of Jiangnan has sensed it too.

He was already planning to annex the Southeast, and with your move, it’s obvious that he would prioritize attacking Baiyun City.

If I’m not mistaken, this time, he might even come here personally! "

"He values me that much?" Jiang Xiaoling smiled.

"Chen Qing is different from us; he clearly knows more than we do. So he must understand your significance better than us. What new intelligence means, Chen Qing should be the most understanding. His willingness to go to great lengths is not surprising."

"Then why do you say this is a trap?"

"Because until now, that person hasn’t made a move!

" Mister Hua Pi smirked coldly: "Half a year ago, he began planning to have Capital City pull back its troops as a design against Jiangnan, and this time, with your assistance, the likelihood that he has lured Chen Qing to come in person is even greater. Kid, I’m afraid you won’t be able to save your kin tonight. "

"What do you mean?" Jiang Xiaoling’s expression suddenly turned cold: "You promised me!"

"Indeed, I am curious about your secret, but I don’t want to die.

.." Mister Hua Pi shook his head slightly: "He must have come here as well.

.." Saying this, Mister Hua Pi slightly moved his fingers, and Jiang Xiaoling clearly saw, on the aged fingers of the other party, there were very fine threads.

Following the threads with his eyes, he was suddenly startled. Only then did he realize that above their heads, and unknown since when, there seemed to be a layer of transparent creatures wriggling...

"These are Youyun Jellyfish, which I obtained from the Eastern Sea half a year ago. They are the reason I’ve been able to evade detection for so long.

But no matter how well they hide me, I must not slip up.

I’m guessing that guy has already reached the city.

If I make a move now, it would truly be seeking death! "

Jiang Xiaoling was confused, but he understood one thing clear, the other party seemed to be planning to break their promise and give up on rescuing his mother and sisters.

Just as he was about to retort, suddenly there was a thunderous boom and the entire ground began to shake.

A five-year-old like him, where had he ever experienced such an event?

He fell to the ground, clutching his head. The intense noise, like a bomb, buzzed in his brain and left him dazed for a long time, unable to recover.

What’s happening?

Jiang Xiaoling looked up, only to discover to his astonishment that at some point the sky above Baiyun City had become colorful and dazzling, with countless colorful corals densely covering the sky.

The sky above Baiyun City was now as beautiful and mysterious as the ocean floor, captivating him entirely.

"Eastern Sea Barrier!" Mister Hua Pi looked up, his eyes flashing with surprise.

"This guy... actually set up the Eastern Sea Barrier in Baiyun City? When did he do that, yesterday?"

Doesn’t that mean that guy actually arrived in Baiyun City yesterday?

As this thought occurred to Mister Hua Pi, he felt a cold sweat slide down his back. Had he... possibly been discovered already?

--------------------

"This is?"

Outside the city, Tian Heng, who had already organized a massive army to besiege it, was momentarily stunned.

In order to break into the city quickly, he had brought the newly researched Art Energy Cannons from the academy. He had tested their power personally and knew that one shot could overturn a mountaintop!

The few shots he had just fired were aimed at the city walls.

His plan was to break the walls and then immediately freeze Baiyun City with a water Formation.

On the icy surface, the Western Sea Army had trained for a full half year, and once those Southern Barbarians were trapped in such terrain, they’d be like lambs to the slaughter.

But he hadn’t expected his plan to be frustrated at the very first step.

How could such a rudimentary city as Baiyun City have a protective formation that rivaled those in Jiangnan?

"Eastern Sea Barrier!" Not far away, Ao Zhen immediately recognized the situation: "Heavenly Color Coral—it seems that the Eastern Sea’s development has been quite successful. That guy has actually mastered such a formation!"

Chen Qing also marveled at the scene. He couldn’t understand how that person had made such rapid progress.

In just half a year, he was able to instantly set up such a formidable protective formation.

He didn’t believe that the other party had long been lying in wait in Baiyun City, unless the summoner that appeared in Baiyun City was colluding with the King of Qin.

"This is troublesome..." Ao Zhen frowned, "The Underworld portal has already been opened. If we get stuck here, Shen Eleven over there will probably be under a lot of pressure."

Having participated in the campaign to reclaim the West Sea City, she knew all too well how precious every minute and second was when the Underworld faced an Evil Ghost assault.

With the Eastern Sea Barrier in their way, they would suffer greatly unless they retreated.

If they chose to stand off, they likely wouldn’t be able to withstand the siege.

But she also knew that opening the Underworld to absorb it cost a vast amount of energy, and they were already lacking it. If they retreated now, Jiangnan would have no chance to take the offensive for at least the next year.

"Let me do it..."

Chen Qing sighed.

Upon hearing this, both Tian Heng and Ao Zhen turned to look at Chen Qing in astonishment.