Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 328

Volume 3 - Chapter 59: Listening to Opera, Subduing Demons - Part 2

At the northwestern border of Youzhou, Liyang City was surrounded by towering mountains on all sides, forming a natural barrier. Because of this terrain, Liyang City had become the region's most significant line of defense.

This city also served as the critical thoroughfare for the northwest of Youzhou. The Xia family stationed heavy troops here year-round. Losing Liyang City would mean losing the entire northwestern frontier of Youzhou, along with more than a dozen other cities.

At this moment, several dozen miles outside the city, heaps of corpses piled up—a gruesome mix of demons and soldiers of the Xia family. Tattered battle flags lay draped over the bodies, fluttering weakly in the wind.

Inside the city, within the city lord’s mansion, the council chamber was occupied by three strategists and seven generals. Among them were several young Xia family lieutenant generals, their faces flushed red as they struggled to contain their anger.

“These damned beasts! They’ve cut off our supply lines, intending to starve us to death here!”

“They want to take us down with the least cost. Even these demons are starting to strategize!”

“Should we request reinforcements from the family? There are two demons in the Three Immortals Realm among them, and there might be others hiding. Without the protective array, we’d have fallen already. There’s no need to hold out stubbornly.”

“Reinforcements? The demons of Gluttony Valley are just waiting for us to do that. If the family sends troops, they’ll likely ambush them halfway and use us as bait!”

“Exactly. The family isn’t doing well either. Just half a month ago, the Valley Lord of Gluttony Valley caused a major disturbance, and we still don’t know where they’ve gone.”

“It’s our duty to hold Liyang City. We can’t rely on the family for everything. We have to find a solution ourselves. What if we imitate the methods used by the Xingwu Grand Duke of the Li family in Yanbei and send out a call for help to all the noble families?”

“The situation is different. Yanbei wasn’t defended by those family armies. They were only a small supplementary force.”

“A small force is still a force. At the very least, we can make those noble families bleed a little. They only know how to hoard wealth and oppress the people. When demons attack, they just relocate to deeper shelters with no sense of responsibility. It’s time for them to step up!”

“It’s difficult. We don’t have the time to rally support. However, I have a proposal.”

“What is it?”

All eyes turned to one of the strategists.

The middle-aged strategist swept his gaze around the room, lingering especially on the young Xia family generals. He spoke in a low voice:

“How about we fly a different battle flag?”

“A different battle flag?”

“That’s right. You’ve all heard about what happened in Liang Province, haven’t you? Why not send an elite force disguised in new armor under the banner of that young general from Liang Province, Haotian?”

Hearing this, everyone froze in shock. However, the city defenders of Liyang City exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up as they recognized the potential of this idea.

Yet, the young Xia family generals looked grim. One of them fell into deep thought, while another immediately protested in anger:

“Impossible! This is Youzhou, our Xia family’s territory! We’re not dead yet, and you’re suggesting we fly someone else’s banner?!”

The middle-aged strategist had anticipated resistance and hurriedly added, “This is an extraordinary time. If it can save lives and reduce casualties, wouldn’t it be worth it?”

“No way!”

The young general fumed, “In Youzhou, only one banner can fly—the banner of the Xia family! This is our family’s base of operations!”

“This is just a temporary measure...” The strategist tried to persuade him further.

“What if it doesn’t scare off the demons?”

Another young general interrupted, questioning, “That person has been missing for months, and his banner has already been studied by the demons. Its deterrent effect is long gone. Right now, everyone is trying to scare demons with his banner, but the demons have seen through it. It’s no longer effective.”

“As generals, we can’t fall for the glorified myths and deify a teenager. Even if he’s strong, he’s been missing at the River of Death for so long. His banner has lost its power to intimidate!”

“Exactly.”

The first young general added, “Let’s stop relying on outsiders and focus on luring out one of those Three Immortals Realm demon kings. We could use the command token to trap it within the array and strike it down.”

The middle-aged strategist sighed inwardly, knowing that the young Xia family generals were too consumed by pride in their family’s honor to consider alternatives.

In truth, he believed the strategy might still work. With luck, it could create an opening and bring hope.

As they continued deliberating, a sudden tremor shook the chamber.

Startled, the generals rushed outside.

In the skies above Liyang City, golden runes shimmered as the protective array activated. Outside the city, a figure hovered mid-air, its scythe-like arm striking at the array with force.

“Stop this at once!”

One of the young Xia family generals soared into the air, shouting in fury.

“Oh, I thought you were asleep. Consider this a wake-up call.”

The figure, a middle-aged demon, chuckled lightly but didn’t cease its attacks. Instead, it struck the array several more times. “Don’t let your guard down. We could attack at any time.”

The demon’s brazen display infuriated the young general, his face flushed with rage. He understood the demon’s intention—to keep them constantly tense and exhausted, leaving the city’s soldiers restless and fearful.

“You’ll pay for provoking the Xia family. Gluttony Valley will face retribution!”

The young general roared in anger.

“Oh? What retribution? I’m right here. Why don’t you come out and show me?” The demon sneered mockingly.

Other generals quickly intervened to stop the young general from acting recklessly. One senior general stepped forward, exuding the aura of a Three Immortals Realm cultivator.

Seeing this, the demon halted and retreated several hundred meters with a cold laugh. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

With that, the demon turned to leave.

But the senior general lunged forward, roaring, “You think you can come and go as you please?”

He charged out of the array, unleashing a powerful attack.

The demon fled swiftly, the two clashing as they disappeared into the distance. However, after pursuing for several kilometers, the general stopped, glaring at the densely packed demon army ahead. Any further pursuit would have led him into an ambush.

“Hmph.”

Seeing the general avoid the trap, the demon snorted dismissively. It then gestured for the demon forces to withdraw.

But just as they began to retreat, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from the official road.

A lone figure on horseback approached at a steady pace.

“Hm?”

“A fool daring to take this road? Are they here to slay demons and earn fame?”

The demon arched a brow at the approaching youth but dismissed him. Noble scions had been trying their luck in this area recently, only to die for their arrogance.

However, after flying a few hundred meters away, the demon suddenly stopped.

The air behind him, where his demon forces had stood, began to shift.

The demons on either side of the road were collapsing rapidly, their vitality snuffed out like withering wheat.

The youth on horseback raised his head slightly, meeting the demon’s gaze.

In that instant, the demon’s heart clenched painfully, and an indescribable pressure enveloped him.

Boom!

The demon’s body exploded mid-air.

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