Tiandu

Tiandu City, the largest city in Jingzhou of the Tai'a Divine Kingdom.

Tiandu City is close to Yunhuang. When Yi Yun came out of Yunhuang, his first stop was Tiandu.

As the Floating Sky Ship floated above Tiandu City, Yi Yun stood by the porthole, looking down at the bustling city below.

Unexpectedly, after leaving Yunhuang, passing through Tiandu, and heading towards the Tai'a Divine Kingdom, a year and a half later, he returned to Tiandu, then passed through Tiandu again, and finally returned to Yunhuang.

This truly is a return to...

The only difference is that Yi Yun's strength is now on a completely different level.

Unfortunately, Yi Yun was powerless against the massive Beast Tide, large enough to destroy several divine kingdoms.

The Floating Sky Ship landed on a high platform in Tiandu City. Such a huge airship was a rare sight even in a bustling city like Tiandu. People stopped to watch, filled with a sense of wonder.

Tiandu was still a thriving place. It was early morning, Yi Yun could see early-rising vendors bustling about on the streets, shop owners preparing to open their shops, and an old man with a goatee sitting under a tree basking in the sun.

More and more people in Tiandu are taking to the streets, some leisurely, some busy, to begin their day.

They were unaware of the approaching Beast Tide.

Not to mention the capital, even the imperial city was unaware of this news.

Currently, only the royal family, the powerful families of the capital, and many reclusive Lineage know that the Beast Tide has broken out and Tai'a Divine City is powerless to resist it.

This news cannot be made public, otherwise chaos will ensue.

The millions of civilians in Tai'a Divine City have no chance of evacuation. In desperation, they may storm the army, besiege government offices, and the teleportation arrays between major cities.

At that time, the people will be unable to escape, and the divine kingdom will also be paralyzed.

Currently, all the Tai'a Divine Kingdom can do is to stop the Beast Tide at all costs. If they can't stop it, they will have no choice but to transfer the future hope of the divine kingdom—those geniuses of the divine cities—to Yunhuang.

As for the people of the divine kingdom, they could only leave them be.

"Yi Yun, I'm leaving..."

After the flying boat landed, Luo Huo'er told Yi Yun that she had received a message from the Lineage branch that she was leaving the Tai'a Divine Kingdom.

"Take care." Yi Yun nodded.

"See you again if fate allows." Luo Huo'er looked at Yi Yun, wanting to say something, but in the end she only said these four simple words. Beside her, the little maid Dong'er also stared at Yi Yun with a pair of dark eyes.

"Brother Yi Yun, you must live!"

Xiao Dong'er said.

"Yes, I will." Yi Yun smiled.

The current situation truly saddened him.

Farewell to old friends, the nation faces disaster, and the fate of teachers and predecessors remains unknown...

Luo Huo'er left, Yi Yun wandered alone through the streets of Tiandu, stepping on the thick bluestone slabs beneath his feet. The morning dew still clung to these stones, making the moss in the cracks of the stones exceptionally green.

These bluestones have witnessed countless people of all kinds, countless moments of prosperity and hardship, joy and sorrow. Each one is like a thick history book, bearing the long history of Tiandu City from its founding to the present day.

However... such a history may soon come to an end.

The laughter and vibrant colors of these streets will also be gone.

Thinking about all this, Yi Yun sighed deeply.

More and more pedestrians appeared on the street. Yi Yun saw an old woman pushing a pancake cart and selling pancakes, and a little girl tiptoeing to choose candied hawthorns.

It's hard to believe that these simple, honest people might turn into a pile of bones in just a few months...

It's pitiful that they are unaware of the impending disaster; this is undoubtedly a tragedy, a tragedy for all living beings.

"I need to go home. My home is here."

Yi Yun spoke to the Enforcement Envoy not far behind him.

"Huh?" The Enforcement Envoy was taken aback. He hadn't expected that Tiandu City was Yi Yun's home. The army has its own discipline. At this time, their orders were to stand by, either to stay behind or to evacuate Yunhuang.

If the troops disperse, not only could accidents happen, but information could also leak out.

The Enforcement Envoy initially didn't want to agree, but considering Yi Yun's special status, he thought for a moment and said, "Go and return as soon as possible. Remember, do not leak any information about the Beast Tide! This is a military order!"

"I know." Yi Yun nodded. Although he couldn't bear to see these common people die in ignorance, even if he told them, it would be of no use. The Divine City had not abandoned them. Many sages and great rulers were fighting and sacrificing for them. But in many cases, human power is ultimately no match for the heavens!

"Your Enforcement Envoy..." Yi Yun hesitated for a moment, then said, "If we are to evacuate Yunhuang, could I take a few people with me...?"

Yi Yun couldn't possibly abandon Jiang Xiaorou here, nor could he bear to see Zhou Xiaoke, that adorable little girl, perish in the belly of a wild beast.

The Enforcement Envoy frowned slightly. "Is the person you're bringing a martial artist or a mortal?"

He had a rough idea that Yi Yun probably wanted to bring his family.

"Mortal."

"Alright..." The Enforcement Envoy was not surprised. Yi Yun came from a commoner background, and his family members were naturally ordinary people.

"We can bring them, but... only a few people. You know, it'll be very troublesome if we take mortals with us when we evacuate Yunhuang."

"Um... thank you."

Yi Yun thanked him and hurried towards the Rouyun Mountain Villa.

Yi Yun was eager to see Jiang Xiaorou.

Jiang Xiaorou is Yi Yun's only relative after arriving in this strange world. In Yunhuang, when Yi Yun had no power, he and Jiang Xiaorou depended on each other for survival during those difficult days.

Rouyun Mountain Villa is a hundred miles away from Tiandu City, Yi Yun arrived in half an hour.

This mansion looks even more impressive than when Yi Yun left.

The vermilion gate, the gleaming bronze door studs, and the two imposing stone lions crouching at the entrance all gave it a very imposing look.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

The two guards at the gate didn't recognize Yi Yun at all. They called out to Yi Yun, but Yi Yun didn't answer them at all. He flashed and went straight into the manor.

The two servants were still standing dumbfounded at the door when he suddenly disappeared. They looked at each other, almost thinking they had imagined it.

Inside the mansion, red bricks and green tiles, ancient trees providing shade, and pavilions standing amidst the mountains and waters create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.

Yi Yun had no interest in looking at these things. He knew where Jiang Xiaorou lived. Yi Yun listened intently and could clearly hear even the sound of insects burrowing in the ground within a hundred meters.

He quickly located Jiang Xiaorou's position, and with another flash, Yi Yun arrived at an elegant garden.

In this small courtyard, Yi Yun saw a young girl in green holding a flowerpot, watering the flowers.

Yi Yun recognized the girl in green at a glance as his older sister, Jiang Xiaorou.

After a year and a half apart, with the exquisite food and care at the Rouyun Mountain Villa, Jiang Xiaorou has grown even more graceful and elegant, no longer the naive girl she once was. Her skin has become smoother and more delicate, like solidified jade, and her figure is full and slender, full of youthful vitality.

"Sister Xiaorou!"

Yi Yun called out, his heart filled with countless emotions. He had thought that after going to Tai'a Divine City, he would become a dragon among men, and then return to his hometown in glory, bestowing upon his sister the title of First-Rank Princess or Lady of Imperial Decree, so that she could live a peaceful and stable life as a noble lady. If there was an opportunity, he would also seek out some elixirs and medicines for his sister, so that she could cultivate to a certain level of martial arts and remain forever young.

Unexpectedly, although he shone brightly in Tai'a Divine City, he was unable to return home in glory. Instead, he returned to Tiandu to escape for his life.

What a cruel twist of fate!

"Yun... Yun'er?" Jiang Xiaorou couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the boy who suddenly appeared and was half a head taller than her.

Although Yi Yun grown taller and stronger, Jiang Xiaorou can still recognize him at a glance, no matter how much Yi Yun changes, because they have been together since childhood.

However, she couldn't believe that Yi Yun would suddenly come home, without having received any prior notice.

"It really is Yun'er!"

Jiang Xiaorou was overjoyed. She dropped the flowerpot and hurried over to Yi Yun.

You've grown taller.

Jiang Xiaorou touched Yi Yun's face, her eyes moist. When Yi Yun left, he wasn't even as tall as Jiang Xiaorou. Now, apart from his slightly childish face, he looks like a complete adult.

As for Jiang Xiaorou, she didn't really care how much Yi Yun had achieved or what level he had reached in martial arts. As long as Yi Yun returned safely and she could see Yi Yun more often, she would be very content.

"Sister Xiaorou, I have something to tell you," Yi Yun said urgently.

"What's the matter? Why the rush?" Jiang Xiaorou was a sensitive woman. She was initially overjoyed at Yi Yun's sudden return. However, upon reflection, she realized that the Divine City Trial was not yet over, yet Yi Yun had suddenly traveled millions of miles to return home without any prior notice. This was rather unusual.

Seeing Yi Yun's expression, which seemed to indicate that something had happened, Jiang Xiaorou's expression turned serious.

"Let's talk inside." Yi Yun took Jiang Xiaorou's hand. Even with the people from the Rouyun Mountain Villa, Yi Yun couldn't take them all; he could only bring a few...

[Transitional plots are difficult to write, and it's getting late]

...(To be continued~^~)