The Battle Begins

"Dark Guild Enforcement Elder, Gui Sha."

"The Sacred Family belongs to our Dark Guild. Our lord is in seclusion cultivating; once he emerges, he will surpass the Legendary Rank. If you do not wish for Glory City to be destroyed, spare the Sacred Family and surrender voluntarily. Perhaps we may even spare your lives," Gui Sha said condescendingly.

"Tell that to the Snow Wind Spirit God!" Ye Xiu controlled the Snow Wind Spirit God and raised its massive axe, bringing it down with tremendous force. Yet Dragon Sha merely lifted a hand, and black flames surged from his palm. They not only blocked the Snow Wind Spirit God's attack, but also suppressed it in return.

He can actually suppress the Snow Wind Spirit God. This man is at least Legendary Rank. Ye Xiu was greatly alarmed, but he still held on, refusing to let the Snow Wind Spirit God dissipate.

"Since words have failed, the next time we meet will be your day of death!" A portal appeared beneath Gui Sha's feet, and he prepared to retreat with several Elders.

Shen Hong flapped his wings and escaped the joint assault of Ye Zong and Shangguan Xun.

"Wait for me!"

"Shen Hong! Don't think you can escape!" Ye Zong pursued him relentlessly. Gui Sha raised his hand again, and a stream of black flame shot straight toward Ye Zong.

"So fast! The City Lord will die!" Just as the black flames were about to strike Ye Zong, he suddenly used the air as leverage and dodged the attack. Only after everyone came to their senses did they notice snowflakes drifting down where Ye Zong had been moments ago.

"Phoenix Snow Without Trace! Ye Zong has broken through!"

"Tch, a breakthrough in the middle of battle? Then I won't play with you any longer!" Gui Sha was about to enter the portal with Shen Hong and the others when the teleportation array was suddenly blocked by a thin white membrane, leaving Gui Sha and his people stranded outside.

"That is a Nether Spirit. It has the ability to seal space."

"You want to leave? Have you asked me?" Nie Li continuously formed hand seals, and the Myriad Demon Spirit Array slowly lit up. Countless Black Gold Rank demon spirits flew out from it, roaring as they charged at Gui Sha.

"So this is the grand array you take such pride in? Watch me shatter it!"

Nie Li continuously controlled the demon spirits to attack Gui Sha, while Shen Hong and the others were surrounded by Ye Zong's group. After Gui Sha crushed a demon spirit, he immediately regretted his earlier words. This array was incredibly powerful. He was only at the Black Gold Peak, relying on a treasure bestowed by the Demon Lord to pose as a Legendary Rank expert.

Nie Li would not give him time to think. Tens of thousands of demon spirits gathered into a massive mountain and slowly pressed down. Gui Sha did not dare underestimate it and immediately fused with the Bloodthirsty Ghost Demon. He raised both hands, trying to withstand the blow, but the attack far exceeded what he could bear. Gui Sha's muscles began to tear apart as the mountain steadily descended. Everyone thought Gui Sha was dead, but the mountain suddenly shattered. Gui Sha's battered body was slowly recovering as he was held in the hand of a white-clad, long-haired man.

"Dragon Sha, you came." Gui Sha lifted his head and spoke weakly.

"Are you determined to oppose the Dark Guild?" Dragon Sha slowly asked.

"Your Dark Guild commits every evil imaginable. Glory City has long wished to feast on your flesh and sleep upon your hides!" Nie Li said through gritted teeth.

Dragon Sha said nothing. He merely swept his gaze across the crowd before locking onto Shangguan Xun. He raised a hand, and a golden beam shot from his palm straight toward Shangguan Xun.

"Not good!" The golden light was too fast; Ye Zong and the others had no time to rescue him.

Boom!

The golden light slammed into Shangguan Xun, sending thick white smoke billowing everywhere.

"This is the fate of those who oppose us." Dragon Sha took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand. But the next moment, a series of coughs came from within the smoke.

"Cough... cough. That was choking. Young man, you have no sense of martial ethics." When the smoke dispersed, Shangguan Xun stood before everyone completely unharmed.

How could they not understand now? Shangguan Xun had also entered the Legendary Rank long ago. Dragon Sha's face turned livid at the sight. With two Legendary Rank experts and this mysterious grand array, he was no longer confident of victory. Looking at Shen Hong, who was still struggling desperately, Dragon Sha had already planned his retreat.

"I have received word that the Demon Lord has emerged from seclusion and is heading for Glory City. The Demon Lord will arrive shortly. Are you still determined to continue this entanglement?" Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, Dragon Sha invoked the Demon Lord.

Nie Li slowly lowered his hands, and the Myriad Demon Spirit Array shut down.

"It seems you understand the greater picture after all," Dragon Sha said with a smile.

"No. The person who will deal with you has arrived." Nie Li shook his head and glanced behind Dragon Sha. Dragon Sha abruptly turned around and found Shangguan Ye already standing before him.

"When did he arrive? How did I fail to notice?" Dragon Sha immediately fused with the Golden Winged Dragon demon spirit and threw a punch at Shangguan Ye. Shangguan Ye caught Dragon Sha's fist with one hand and exerted a little force. The sound of bones shattering immediately rang out.

"Argh..."

"Kneel." Shangguan Ye unleashed Dragon Might, and Dragon Sha instantly dropped to his knees.

"How can this be? Why can't I even bring myself to resist?" Dragon Sha could not understand why he was utterly incapable of fighting back.

Sensing the powerful Soul Power, the Divine Tree immediately unleashed its full strength. Dragon Sha and Gui Sha were instantly drained into desiccated husks.

Seeing that Dragon Sha and Gui Sha were dead, Ye Zong immediately turned on Shen Hong. Meanwhile, outside the city, a red-robed man radiating crimson light attempted to charge into Glory City, only to be repelled by a powerful force.

"You are not from the Spirit Dwelling. How can you possess such divine abilities?" the Demon Lord asked.

"That is not your concern. Even if you enter now, you will only be collecting corpses. Are you still going to force your way in?" Shangguan Ye asked, sitting cross-legged in the air with his chin resting on his hand.

"Hmph. When I return, it will be the day Glory City is destroyed!" The Demon Lord left behind his threat and fled into the sky.

"So impatient. You do not even want your greeting gift." A vast amount of Soul Power gathered in Shangguan Ye's palm, forming a sphere that continuously expanded and compressed. Once it grew larger than the entire city gate, Shangguan Ye hurled it in the direction the Demon Lord had fled. The Soul Jade shot toward the Demon Lord at incredible speed. The Demon Lord, already far away, suddenly noticed a powerful light behind him. When he turned around, the Soul Jade was already right before his eyes.

"I..."

Boom!

A massive mushroom cloud slowly rose. Though it was far away, the people of Glory City still clearly heard the explosion. The shockwave from the blast then made their sleeves rustle in the wind. After a long while, the wind ceased, and Shangguan Ye returned to Glory City. Ye Zong and the others had already cleaned up the battlefield. The enormous Sacred Family had fallen overnight, while the Dark Guild had also suffered severe losses.

"Was that explosion just now your doing? You did not kill the Demon Lord, did you?" Ye Zong asked curiously.

"How could it be that easy?" Shangguan Ye rolled his eyes at Ye Zong.

This upheaval came to an end. Glory City rested and recuperated for several days, while the Sacred Family's businesses were absorbed by the other Three Great Families. The Sacred Family was completely erased from Glory City. Shangguan Ye sat in the seat of honor, with the family members gathered below him.

"Everyone, I wish to propose marriage to Ning'er. Do you have any good suggestions?"

"For the Patriarch's proposal, the display must not be modest. Even if it is only a proposal, it must be handled in grand fashion. Otherwise, where would the Shangguan Family's pride go?"

"That is right! I remember there are still a few Golden Armored Earth Dragons in the Sacred Ancestor Mountain Range. Why not capture them to pull the carriage, then present them to the Winged Dragon Family?" Everyone began discussing enthusiastically.

"Uncle Xun, once the arrangements have been settled, I will be relying on you."

"What are you saying, Patriarch? It is only what I should do."

"Reporting to the Patriarch, Young Master Nie Li has sent a letter." A guard ran up to Shangguan Ye and handed him an envelope.

"Very well, you may leave." Shangguan Ye opened the envelope. Its general contents stated that Nie Li was going out to gain experience and hoped Shangguan Ye would lead everyone in cultivation.