Meanwhile, Zhou Yunxuan appeared outside the Demon Suppressing Division in an instant, like a streak of golden light.
By then, the streets of Yunzhou City were already packed with anomalies.
These anomalies exuded a nauseating stench and were surging frenziedly toward the Demon Suppressing Division.
However, these anomalies were not particularly powerful. It seemed that the Fox Demon's clone was too weak and could only summon weaker anomalies.
Their numbers, however, were enormous.
She wanted to wear down the power of the sealing array through sheer numbers.
The next moment, several signal flares shot into the sky.
It was the Demon Suppressing Division's call to arms.
Within Yunzhou City, the martial artists who were usually protected by the Demon Suppressing Division, as well as those who harbored a sense of justice, sprang into action when they saw the signal flares rising into the sky.
They took up their weapons and, heedless of the danger, hurried toward the Demon Suppressing Division.
Through everyone's combined efforts, the anomalies surging toward the Demon Suppressing Division were effectively held back.
Although the anomalies were numerous, the martial artists showed no fear.
They coordinated with one another, forming combat squads and engaging the anomalies in fierce battles.
As for Qin Bo...
Anomalies were running rampant there as well, but this came as a pleasant surprise to him.
"Free lifespan delivered right to my door—of course I'm taking it!"
He drew the butcher's knife from his waist and blocked the only route leading to the Demon Suppressing Division.
"Come on!"
With that, he charged into the mass of anomalies, holding the knife in one hand.
[Clang, killed a Resentful-level anomaly, gained one year of lifespan] [Clang, killed a Resentful-level anomalous beast, gained one year of lifespan]
[Clang, killed an Evil-level ghost baleful intent, gained five years of lifespan]
The system's notification chimes rang incessantly in his mind.
Qin Bo felt as if his entire body were brimming with power, the butcher's knife in his hand sweeping wildly through the mass of anomalies.
Every slash brought with it a swath of sinister baleful qi.
As he killed more and more anomalies, he gained a vast amount of lifespan.
He picked out a huge anomaly. Its entire body exuded dense black mist, and its strength was clearly greater than that of the others. Qin Bo slammed both feet against the ground and shot toward it like a cannonball.
"Take this!"
Qin Bo let out an angry roar. Spiritual power surged through the butcher's knife, transforming into a razor-sharp blade glow that slashed viciously toward the anomaly.
Sensing the lethal threat, the anomaly let out a shrill howl and extended two enormous claws, attempting to block Qin Bo's attack.
"Boom!"
The blade glow collided with the claws, erupting into a powerful surge of spiritual energy.
One of the anomaly's claws was severed by the blade glow, and its body was blasted backward by the tremendous force.
Qin Bo pressed his advantage, darted forward in a single stride, and brought his knife down again, killing the anomaly outright.
[Clang, killed an Evil-level peak anomaly, gained ten years of lifespan]
Just then, Zhou Yunxuan broke through the layers of anomalies blocking his way and arrived in the western part of the city.
The western part of the city was deathly silent. The lively streets of the past were now empty, with only a dense evil aura permeating the air.
Zhou Yunxuan proceeded cautiously. He could feel a powerful force hiding somewhere nearby.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept past, and Zhou Yunxuan warily tightened his grip on the long sword in his hand.
"Come out, Fox Demon. I know you're here!"
Zhou Yunxuan shouted.
The instant his voice faded, an enormous four-tailed fox appeared before him.
The four-tailed fox's entire body radiated black light, and its four tails, like black silk ribbons, whipped wildly through the air.
Its eyes flashed with blood-red light, filled with evil and greed.
"Hmph. You finally came, Zhou Yunxuan."
The Fox Demon's voice was as shrill as a night owl's.
"Unfortunately, it's all too late. Once I deal with you, I'll destroy the sealing array. When Lord Tree Demon breaks free, Yunzhou City will become a living hell!"
Zhou Yunxuan gave a cold laugh. "You? Today will be your death day!"
With that, Zhou Yunxuan circulated the qi and blood throughout his body and unleashed his strongest sword technique.
The golden long sword flared brilliantly, and an enormous golden Sword Qi slashed toward the Fox Demon.
A trace of disdain flashed through the Fox Demon's eyes.
It gently waved its tails, and a black spiritual-energy barrier appeared before it, effortlessly blocking Zhou Yunxuan's Sword Qi.
"That's all you've got?" the Fox Demon mocked.
"As expected of a fourth-tier Ferocious-level anomalous beast. Your strength is indeed formidable."
"But don't forget—this is Yunzhou City!"
The instant Zhou Yunxuan finished speaking, a mysterious power suddenly surged from his body.
This power did not come from his own spiritual energy. Instead, it seemed to resonate with the entirety of Yunzhou City.
Deep beneath Yunzhou City, golden runes began to glow faintly.
The runes seemed to possess lives of their own as they converged toward Zhou Yunxuan.
The Fox Demon's expression changed slightly when it saw this. "You... you can actually draw upon Yunzhou City's protective power!"
It turned out that after a thousand years of history, Yunzhou City had an ancient protective formation buried deep underground.
Only the city lord of Yunzhou City could awaken this power at a critical moment when life and death hung in the balance.
As the city lord, Zhou Yunxuan had always shouldered the responsibility of protecting Yunzhou City. This was precisely the best moment for him to wield this power.
Golden runes continuously poured into Zhou Yunxuan's body, and his aura began to soar rapidly.
The Sword Qi that the Fox Demon had effortlessly blocked now surged once more, its radiance nearly illuminating the entire western part of the city.
"Fox Demon, take this next move!"
Zhou Yunxuan let out a great shout and swung the golden long sword in his hand again.
This time, the Sword Qi contained Yunzhou City's protective power, making it several times more powerful than before.
The Fox Demon no longer dared to underestimate him. Black light blazed around its entire body as its nine tails whipped about frenziedly.
A seemingly indestructible black shield condensed before it.
"Boom!"
The Sword Qi collided with the shield, erupting with a heaven-shaking boom.
A powerful shockwave rippled outward. The surrounding buildings instantly crumbled into dust, while enormous cracks split open across the ground.
The Fox Demon's shield trembled violently beneath the impact of the Sword Qi, its black light flickering incessantly.
In the end, the shield could bear no more and shattered with a thunderous crash.
The Fox Demon was blasted backward by the force, coughing up a mouthful of black blood.
"You... you dared to hurt me!"
The Fox Demon's eyes were filled with fury and unwillingness. It had never imagined that Zhou Yunxuan could unleash such overwhelming power.
Zhou Yunxuan pressed his advantage, his figure shooting toward the Fox Demon like lightning.
Seeing this, the Fox Demon hurriedly waved its tails, sending blade after blade of black yin energy shooting toward Zhou Yunxuan.
The golden long sword in Zhou Yunxuan's hand danced rapidly, knocking aside every incoming blade of yin energy.
At the same time, he employed an exquisite movement technique, weaving through the gaps between the blades of yin energy as he gradually closed in on the Fox Demon.
Just as Zhou Yunxuan was about to reach the Fox Demon, it suddenly opened its maw and spewed a black beam of light toward him.
The beam contained the Fox Demon's full-powered strike, and its might was astonishing.
Zhou Yunxuan's expression turned solemn. He perfectly fused Yunzhou City's protective power with his own spiritual energy, forming a golden shield before him.
"Boom!"
The black beam slammed into the golden shield, erupting in a burst of dazzling light.
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