Tonight was destined to be anything but ordinary. The light drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour!
Thunder and lightning raged, and the wind lashed the rain like a whip. Lightning streaked across the heavens like ghosts in the night sky, tearing the darkness apart.
Thunder roared like the wrath of God, shaking hearts. Wind and rain intertwined, sweeping across the land and displaying nature's boundless power.
Above the Sima Lineage in western Ascension City, a dazzling bolt of lightning suddenly split the pitch-black night, illuminating the entire sky.
In its glare, the Sima Family discovered to their horror that the sky was packed with figures, like a mass of black clouds bearing down on them!
"Enemy attack!"
With that terrified roar, fear spread through the entire Sima Lineage like a plague.
The estate immediately descended into chaos. People fled in panic, screams and shouts rising one after another.
The Sima Family's many powerful senior members, who had been holding a meeting, rushed out of the main hall at once.
The patriarch and elders took the lead, shooting into the sky like meteors.
But once they reached midair, they suddenly realized they were already too late!
Countless dazzling lights flared above the Sima Family. These were clearly powerful attacks that had finished charging, their radiance intertwining to light the entire sky as brightly as day!
The Sima patriarch burned with urgency and bellowed at the top of his lungs:
"Activate the defensive formation at once! Send people to wake all the ancestors in seclusion..."
His voice sounded especially piercing amid the chaos.
"Elders, follow me! Hold back the first wave..."
Before he had even finished speaking, the Sima patriarch led the elders skyward like arrows loosed from their bows.
Their figures wove pillars of light through the air. Yet before that sky-obscuring barrage, those seemingly mighty pillars looked so insignificant, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot or moths flying into a flame!
Just then, countless thunderous roars erupted overhead, deafening enough to make the whole world seem to tremble!
"Go-back-and-die!"
In an instant, countless devastating attacks poured down like a raging torrent, lighting up the sky!
Below, countless members of the Sima Lineage stood rooted like statues, their mouths gaping wide!
An earth-shattering explosion followed. Although a formation had been set up around the area, the blast still seemed like thunder in the heavens and an earthquake beneath the ground, resounding through the clouds.
In an instant, Ascension City seemed to spring to life, the entire city lighting up.
Who knew how many men and women locked in heated battles in bed shuddered in fright...
The city's many factions, residents, and visitors had only just opened their doors to investigate. Before their left feet could even clear the threshold, the powerful shock wave blew them straight back inside!
The Sima estate had become a field of rubble, with devastating casualties among its clansmen, guest retainers, and servants.
Even those lucky enough to survive the ravaging shock wave were gravely wounded, like lambs awaiting slaughter!
Countless figures plunged down like meteors, killing everyone they encountered. Even those lying on the ground at death's door received two more slashes before the attackers were satisfied!
Women, the old and young, those kneeling and begging for mercy, and outside guest retainers alike-all received two slashes without exception.
There were also many softhearted attackers who could not bring themselves to strike when they saw children, women, or people lying gravely wounded on the ground.
But before long, someone behind them would step forward, lead them away, and remove them from the battlefield. Naturally, they would receive none of the merit for this battle!
Their replacements swung their blades at everyone, whether they were lying down, still alive, or half-dead, sending them to reunite in the world below!
After all, evil had to be eradicated completely, the grass cut down and its roots torn out! Mercy toward the enemy was cruelty toward oneself!
A few minutes earlier, in the main residential area for True Disciples of the Misty Sect.
Inside a room in a five- or six-story pavilion, Song Bojian was engaged in vigorous exercise, pressing a delicate beauty beneath him as she eagerly cooperated, panting sweetly!
Suddenly, his Communication Magic Weapons emitted a faint red glow, evidently signaling an urgent message.
Song Bojian paused briefly and looked at the beauty beneath him, his face full of conflict. After hesitating for a second, he muttered that he would be done soon and resumed thrusting.
Meanwhile, far away amid the ruins of the Sima estate in Ascension City, the Sima patriarch's expression was as ugly as could be, as though he were constipated. Inwardly, he cursed like mad.
Soon, he forced himself to appear calm and laughed. "I've already sent a message to True Disciple Song. He said he's gathering his people, and reinforcements will arrive shortly."
"As long as we hold out a little longer, once reinforcements arrive, we'll turn defeat into victory and crush the enemy in one stroke!"
A trace of barely perceptible anxiety leaked into the Sima patriarch's words, but he still strove to keep his voice steady and forceful.
Hearing this, the few remaining elders and clansmen around him immediately perked up, their flagging morale soaring in an instant.
Howling like a pack of hungry wolves, they charged back into the fray and fought the enemy to the death.
Meanwhile, outside True Disciple Song's room in the Misty Sect, more than a dozen Heavenly Prodigies of the Sima Family had gathered, every one of them anxious and worried.
"Senior Brother Song, why haven't you come out yet? Are you not in your room?!" one of the Sima Family's Heavenly Prodigies shouted, burning with urgency.
"Exactly! The situation is already critical. If Senior Brother isn't in his room, please tell us where he's gone!" another Heavenly Prodigy chimed in.
Faced with their questions, the two disciples standing outside the room grew somewhat impatient. One snorted coldly and said:
"Hmph! Senior Brother is cultivating in seclusion inside. This is a crucial moment. How could he allow the likes of you to disturb him? He'll come out soon. Just wait."
With that, the two disciples stood on either side of the doorway like guardian deities, firmly barring the frantic visitors outside.
Suspicion flickered in the eyes of the Sima Family disciples, but there was nothing they could do!
Less than a minute later, Song Bojian opened the door looking utterly drained, offering a fleeting glimpse of the intimate scene inside before quickly shutting it out of sight.
"I already know why you've come. Gather everyone at once and follow me to reinforce the Sima Family.
"Hmph! I'd like to see who's swallowed a bear's heart and a leopard's gall, daring to dig up the ground over the God of War's head..."
The Sima Family disciples rejoiced at his words, tossing their earlier suspicions to the back of their minds!
The center of the Sima estate had broken into dozens of battlefields, large and small. Each Sima cultivator faced three or four opponents. Though they formed battle formations in groups of three to five, they could not hold out for long.
Among the ruins of what had once been the guest quarters, a dozen or so experts of the Song Family were besieged by fifty or sixty attackers, groaning bitterly.
The Song Family had originally sent over fifty experts. Caught completely off guard, they had lost nearly half to a single devastating attack, while the survivors were all badly wounded. After a brief clash, they had lost half their remaining numbers...
"What faction do you belong to? I am a member of the Song Family of Lin Hai City! Our power is vast, and many of our clansmen are True Disciples of the Misty Sect!"
"Stop at once, and we can let bygones be bygones. Otherwise..."
Before the Song Family's leader could finish, a loud shout interrupted him.
"Brothers in the nearby squads, come help at once! We've got a big fish here! Don't let him escape!"
A black-clad man shouted in delight. Clearly, he was some sort of leader himself, with no lowly rank.
The nearby squads rushed over upon hearing him, calling for further support as they came. Like predators catching the scent of blood, everyone nearby swarmed toward them.
Word had it that the young master in charge had given strict orders: if those responsible for any area allowed even one enemy to escape, they would all be held accountable and lose their rewards after the battle!
Besides, before the fighting began, the young master had sent over plenty of rewards. Almost everyone had received something!
How could they possibly not fight with everything they had?
The Song Family members immediately came under concentrated fire. Attacks rained down so thickly that they had no chance to fight back.
Only an occasional affectionate greeting rang out, full of impotent fury.
In a ten-story pavilion not far from the Sima estate, Ming Hao stood quietly by the window, listening as the sounds of battle gradually faded.
An indescribable look flickered through his eyes, as though he had his own particular view of this battle.
"Qing Yun," Ming Hao called softly.
"At your service," Qing Yun responded at once.
"How long has this battle been going on?" Ming Hao's voice was calm and cool.
"Over ten minutes, young master."
Qing Yun answered.
Ming Hao nodded slightly and continued, "Has there been any movement from the City Lord's Residence?"
"Rest assured, young master. The City Lord's Residence won't be able to come anytime soon," Qing Yun answered confidently.
The corners of Ming Hao's lips lifted into a barely perceptible smile. "Oh?"
Meanwhile, the Drill Ground at the City Lord's Residence was packed with Misty Sect disciples, assembled and ready to deploy.
They wore matching uniforms and held various weapons, waiting solemnly for orders.
Several leading disciples grew increasingly anxious as they stared at the commander's empty seat. They paced back and forth, occasionally whispering to one another, clearly uneasy over the prolonged delay in sending out the troops.
"City Lord, the Guard Army has been assembled for some time! When will we deploy?!"
At last, an armored Misty Sect disciple could bear it no longer. Standing outside the city lord's study, the disciple shouted loudly.
Yet no response came from the study. The disciple's shout echoed through the silent City Lord's Residence, but like a stone sinking into the sea, it stirred not the slightest ripple.
Inside the study, Lu Jianming, the city lord of Ascension City, leisurely toyed with the Storage Ring in his hand. A faint smile hung on his lips, as though he cared nothing for what was happening outside.
"Zhao Jun and the others certainly know what's good for them," Lu Jianming murmured softly, a hint of satisfaction in his voice...
Song Bojian and the others from the Misty Sect were still hurrying along the road to provide reinforcements...
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