It was no wonder the demons inside Luoyang Prison were so brazen. Nine-Ren Mountain, the city lord, and a large force of elite immortal soldiers were all tied down at the prison's many entrances and exits, unable to leave. Though Nine Central City was vast and its defenses strong, the forces had to be spread across the entire city, leaving none of its individual points particularly well defended.
Meanwhile, Nine-Ren Mountain was constantly fighting large and small battles against the demons within Luoyang Prison. The ongoing losses meant that capable forces had to be continually drawn from Nine Central City. This made it impossible for the city's defenses to be without gaps. Given enough time, the demons could always find an opening, however small.
Even if the Lotus Avatar's true soul had reached the Golden Immortal realm, another Golden Immortal stationed in the city still could not fundamentally change the situation.
Ever since Lu Xiaotian's last incursion into Luoyang Prison had caused heavy casualties among the immortal soldiers, many of the prison's key strongholds had fallen into demonic hands. The incomplete defensive line was what left the main city so frequently harassed. With the Lotus Avatar covertly nudging things along, it was easy to steer public opinion in the city against Nine-Ren Mountain.
This was also why Yihua Daoist had seen the City Lord's Mansion's fortune shifting eastward as soon as he arrived in Nine Central City.
Streams of dark-red smoke spilled over the city walls and into the city. A huge demonic shadow loomed within, while the bodies of the few immortal soldiers stationed on that section of the wall began to change color beneath the smoke's influence.
Chattering cries rang out continuously from the murky smoke. One after another, demonic creatures charged out, each with a horn growing