Wu Tao and Lü Yuehua watched Lü Liang confront three Duke-stage Blood Clan members, their hearts in their throats.
No one blamed Wu Tao, for they understood the worry in his heart.
At this moment, the battle between Vice City Lord Lü Liang and the three Duke-stage Blood Clan members was on the verge of erupting.
Although Vice City Lord Lü Liang was a mid-Nascent Soul stage expert, his opponents included a mid-Duke stage Blood Clan member of the same cultivation level, along with two early-Duke stage Blood Clan members as reinforcements!
Even with Lü Liang's varied techniques and abundant treasures, dealing with three Duke-stage Blood Clan members would not be an easy feat.
Meanwhile!
Hong Bai cast a glance in the direction of Wu Tao and Lü Yuehua, suppressing the hatred in his heart.
He was far from being Wu Tao's match currently, and revenge would have to wait for a suitable opportunity.
...
As for Wu Tao and Lü Yuehua, the reason they did not descend to assist was not due to a lack of concern for their father and father-in-law's safety...
It was because of the overwhelming suppression that Nascent Soul cultivators exerted over Core Formation cultivators!
Once a Nascent Soul cultivator activated their domain, fighting Core Formation cultivators was like an adult fighting a child.
If the two of them were to join the fray, they would not only be unable to help but would also become a burden, distracting Lü Liang!
Instead, they knew that the two sides would not actually fight.
Not to mention that Tongguan City was right behind them, allowing Lü Liang to advance or retreat freely, and escape if he couldn't win.
Furthermore, this was not the time for a decisive battle; even if a fight were to break out, it wouldn't be a mere skirmish.
Therefore, Wu Tao and Lü Yuehua were confident that this confrontation would ultimately end without incident!
The three Duke-stage Blood Clan members were not foolish either; they would surely sense the divine senses of other human Nascent Soul cultivators hidden around, making them hesitant.
They would not recklessly engage in battle. Moreover, it was uncertain if the combined might of these three Duke-stage Blood Clan members could even suppress Lü Liang!
Time trickled by, and neither Tongguan City nor the Blood Clan could commit their full strength immediately.
War was much like a game of chess; a player couldn't deploy all their pieces at once...
Both sides would engage in a period of mutual probing before revealing their trump cards!
At the East Gate of Tongguan City, the battle was lively, with pauses and engagements, much like a siege in the human world, and it seemed it would not end anytime soon.
The same was true for the West, North, and South Gates of Tongguan City; it was quite a bustling scene.
The cultivators on the city walls fought and were replaced, then stood their ground, batch after batch, taking turns on watch and venturing out to resist the Blood Clan!
Wu Tao, at times, fought enemies outside and at other times returned to the protective array of Tongguan City to rest.
Seven or eight days passed in this manner. During these days, while they annihilated a considerable number of Blood Beasts and Blood Clan members, their own side also suffered casualties.
However, in Tongguan City, very few, whether cultivators or mortals, shirked their responsibilities at this time...
Fearing death and becoming a disgraceful traitor!
Everyone had their own convictions and things they wished to protect.
For the sake of their homeland behind them, no human with a sense of racial righteousness would choose to retreat or be afraid!
"This time, our East Gate is in trouble."
"Indeed. It is said that we have to deal with two mid-Duke stage Blood Clan cultivators, four early-Duke stage Blood Clan cultivators, and one hundred thousand Blood Clan members and Blood Beasts."
"We only have four Nascent Soul stage or above cultivators at the East Gate. Besides the Vice City Lord, the other three are early-Nascent Soul stage elders."
"Seven against four is a tough fight, and they even have more high-level cultivators than us."
"Among the four gates, ours faces the greatest pressure..."
"Are these Blood Clan members crazy to target us like this?"
"You guys don't know, these Blood Clan bastards like to bully the weak and fear the strong. Tsk, tsk, they probably think we're easy to bully, a soft persimmon, so they've swarmed over."
"What are these Blood Clan fools thinking, daring to look down on us brothers? Damn it, grab your knives and go at them."
"Anyone who chickens out is no man. Brothers, when the time comes, we'll go out and kill a few more Blood Clan members, chop off their heads, and pickle them for wine."
"..."
Initially worried, everyone was stirred up by these words, as if injected with a powerful stimulant, and their emotions ran high!
Each person was filled with fighting spirit, undeterred by death.
At this moment, the Vast Qi Million Grand Array still hovered high above Tongguan City.
In reality, the two sides did not fight from morning till night; the attrition would be too great...
During combat, spiritual energy and stamina were quickly depleted. If they fought continuously, neither side would have the spiritual energy or stamina.
Sometimes, after one or two rounds of fighting, there would be a significant pause.
And during these ceasefires and periods of rest, they would each send out individuals with sharp tongues to engage in verbal combat.
However, when it came to curses, humanity had a clear advantage over these fiendish Blood Clan members!
In a short time, a few nimble-tongued human experts in verbal duels had enraged the Blood Clan outside Tongguan City to the point of near death.
Their faces flushed, and seeing that they could not win the verbal spar, the Blood Clan decided to engage in a battle of formations!
For instance, at the East Gate, the three mid-Duke stage Blood Clan leaders, after a brief discussion, chose the strongest among them.
These three mid-Duke stage Blood Clan leaders were named Xue Yuanxi, Xue Yuanyuan, and Xue Dishi. Among them, Xue Yuanxi was the strongest!
Xue Yuanxi was a burly man with bat wings that spanned several yards behind him. He was clad in blood-red armor, appearing like a god of war, majestic and unmatched in aura.
This individual was currently the strongest Blood Clan member at the East Gate.
Xue Yuanxi leaped out, laughing heartily, and declared, "What's wrong, have all the men in Tongguan City perished? Why is no one daring to challenge me, Xue Yuanxi, in a duel..."
"You're quite good with your tongues, but when it comes to actual combat, you all cower!"
"Didn't you just say that as long as you are here, you wouldn't allow a fiend like me to be arrogant? Now, I am here to be arrogant, where are your people..."
"Hahahaha, Tongguan City truly has no men."
Here, Xue Yuanxi seized upon the phrase "Tongguan City has no men" and launched a barrage of insults.
At the East Gate of Tongguan City stood four Nascent Soul cultivators: Lü Liang, Fang Ru, Yang Tian, and Chu Fei!
Lü Liang took a deep breath upon hearing this and said, "There's no other way. Only I can step up to salvage our dignity, otherwise, our morale will surely plummet."
Yang Tian immediately shook his head, "Brother Lü, that won't do. If you weren't the Vice City Lord, you would be the one to go!
But now that you are the Vice City Lord, you absolutely cannot go. If you win, it's fine, but if you lose, it would be disastrous. You are responsible for guarding the East Gate, and any mishap would endanger all of Tongguan City."
Veins bulged on Lü Liang's hands as he took a deep breath. Although he knew Yang Tian's words were reasonable, he could not tolerate this insult.
Xue Yuanxi's voice was exceptionally loud.
It could be heard by the cultivators within Tongguan City and the Blood Clan outside.
Ignoring the objections of the other three, Lü Liang's voice rang out, "Xue Yuanxi, since you wish to seek death, how about you and I give it a try."
Lü Liang stepped directly outside the range of Tongguan City's grand array and said calmly.
...
As the Vice City Lord of Tongguan City, Lü Liang's swordsmanship was renowned, and his spiritual energy had reached the peak of the mid-Nascent Soul stage. He was known as the number one individual beneath the City Lord.
What Lü Liang excelled at and was most proficient in was undoubtedly the "Snow Falls on the Human World" sword technique. He had honed the ultimate move of this technique, "Heaven and Earth Turn White," to a point where it could freeze ten thousand miles and arrive in a single breath.
"Ten thousand miles frozen, arriving in a single breath" spoke volumes of its power; the myriad aspects of a snowy land were contained within a single strike.
Lü Liang, being one of Tongguan City's top cultivators, naturally had the confidence to defeat Xue Yuanxi!
...
The reason he had held back initially was his concern that the Blood Clan might be treacherous and resort to underhanded tactics!
However, it seemed that he could not afford not to act now.
Xue Yuanxi laughed heartily, "So it is Vice City Lord Lü of Tongguan City. Let me, Xue Yuanxi, have a go at this human expert."
The strong wind howled.
"You probably don't know what kind of opponent you are facing. I, Xue Yuanxi, am battle-hardened and no mere incompetent. Today, let's see how I defeat you, the Vice City Lord, and sever your head."
...
Without hesitation, Xue Yuanxi wielded his natal artifact, the Blood Iron Adamant Bar, and unleashed a thousand-zhang bloody staff shadow!
This strike contained not only brute force but also killing intent forged through countless battles.
These elements combined to form an incredibly potent force that surged towards Lü Liang!
With a single strike, the very space seemed to crack, and the heavens appeared to invert.
The blood-colored staff was like a boundary between life and death; stepping back meant life, advancing meant death.
This strike, embodying the Dao of Force, shattering all in its path, a union of essence, energy, and spirit, could truly destroy the heavens.
As the staff was about to strike Lü Liang, Lü Liang, who had been watching silently, finally moved.