"Don't mention it. I ran into scouts from the Essence Fire Race on the way here and nearly didn't make it back. I have an important situation to report to Elder Yi."
Bu Yao's tone was somewhat grave.
"Then hurry up! We'll be retreating soon."
The guard urged him on.
"Retreat? What happened?"
Bu Yao was slightly taken aback, his face full of confusion.
"I heard we're abandoning this stronghold and retreating to another one to reinforce its forces. It's an order from above. The women, children, old, and infirm will retreat to the Sky Lizard Mountain Range first, while the High-Level Cultivators will withdraw later."
The guard explained.
Bu Yao nodded and said nothing more.
Perhaps because they were about to retreat, the guards did not inspect him at all and let him pass directly. The Red Giant Dove flew into the stone archway and landed in an empty area.
Bu Yao jumped to the ground, recalled the Spirit Bird, and strode toward the mountain top.
Along the way, he encountered quite a few acquaintances and greeted them. When he met those he was close with, he exchanged a few more words.
After a little over half an hour, Bu Yao appeared on the Bluestone Plaza at the mountain top. Not far away stood an Azure palace more than twenty zhang tall, with two guards at the entrance.
Just as Bu Yao was about to find someone to announce his arrival, a deafening explosion rang out from inside the palace, and the entire Azure palace began to shake violently.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Panic-stricken voices came from inside the palace. The two guards rushed in to investigate at once, and before long, two screams rang out.
The alarm blared, and large numbers of cultivators rushed toward the mountain top.