One Step Too Late

At this moment, White Emperor City was teeming with people.

Cultivators moved through the streets and alleyways as usual, while clamor filled the air without end.

Upon the city walls, soldiers stood in neat ranks, their gazes blazing like torches as they vigilantly scanned the lands beyond the city.

Suddenly, a burly soldier furrowed his brow and looked toward a certain direction outside the city.

His brows drew together slightly. In the farthest reaches of his vision, a point of white light appeared in the sky, rapidly swelling larger as it emitted a thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth.

"En... enemy attack!" Though the soldier's voice was drowned out by the wind, tension had already spread across the city walls.

Before he could even cry out, urgent bells rang from the watchtowers atop the walls. The clangs echoed through every corner of the city, their majestic sound waves surging like billows and instantly rousing White Emperor City's vigilance.

It was the first time the cultivators had heard bells so urgent and unceasing. Their initial bewilderment was swiftly replaced by nervousness.

They knew full well that these bells bore an extraordinary meaning.

In the past, even when the Demon Race launched a large-scale assault, the bells would only ring in sets of three, repeated three times. Yet today's uninterrupted ringing clearly foretold an even graver situation.

Just as everyone stood uncertain and alarmed, the formations throughout the city suddenly activated.

Amid dazzling golden radiance, countless golden swords of light shot into the sky and condensed into a sword formation in midair. Its sword intent was chilling as it pointed straight beyond the city.

At the same time, the mechanisms atop the walls rapidly activated. Massive fireballs whistled into the air, trailing blazing flames as they smashed toward the swiftly approaching