A Glimmer of Hope

After rescuing another group of people from the Evil Cultivator, Sang Ying finally discovered several Rogue Cultivator among them.

Upon hearing that she was the eldest daughter of the Jimo Household, the other person voluntarily joined their rescue team.

Sang Ying certainly wouldn't refuse their kindness, after all, she was running out of manpower.

Cang Lian had also changed into a guard's uniform at some point and quietly followed Sang Ying. His cultivation level was not low, and although he showed some restraint when he fought, he was still far superior to ordinary guards.

His involvement greatly reduced Sang Ying's pressure, and even the rescue operation progressed very smoothly.

However, Sang Ying and her group were not always so lucky. After eliminating a group of Evil Cultivator, they finally encountered a formidable figure who was well-known among Feng Ji's subordinates.

The battle with that Evil Cultivator left Sang Ying with considerable injuries, but fortunately, with Cang Lian's help, the opponent fell to the ground in front of Sang Ying first.

Upon seeing this, the Rogue Cultivator they had rescued quickly pulled Sang Ying aside to treat her wounds.

"How can you be so careless with yourself? What will happen to Rizhao City if something happens to you!" The Rogue Cultivator was a young girl, who seemed to be a healer.

The medicine powder she prepared herself worked well; as soon as she sprinkled it on Sang Ying's wound, the bleeding stopped, but it would take some time to heal.

"May I ask your name, fellow traveler?" Sang Ying asked, taking the initiative to speak.

The young woman, Rogue Cultivator, was taken aback for a moment, then quickly replied, "Le Ya, my name is Le Ya."

Sang Ying bowed to her, "Thank you, Fellow Le Ya Leya. May I ask you to go and check on the others, and while you're at it, distribute the pills in this bottle to them?"

That was a bottle of mid-grade Rejuvenation Pill, which had remarkable effects on regulating internal energy, restoring Spiritual Qi, and healing external injuries.

As soon as the Rogue Cultivator Le Ya took the bottle, she could smell what was inside. Such high-quality pills were rare even in the Immortal Spirit Realm, but Sang Ying gave them away without hesitation.

Le Ya wanted to persuade her to keep it, but when she met Sang Ying's eyes, she couldn't utter a single word.

"Okay, I'll go right away." Le Ya quickly got up and left.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Cang Lian moved closer to Sang Ying: "Are we really going to stay? Why don't we leave Rizhao City sooner? Anyway, you're not really Jimo Household, why should we stay here and die with them?"

Even though he had been rescued, Cang Lian still found it hard to forget what he had experienced after being captured, and he still harbored hatred towards human cultivators.

If it weren't for Sang Ying, he would never have stayed to help those Human Race.

Sang Ying knew what he was thinking, so she didn't force him to help, but he still offered to help anyway.

"I'm sorry, Cang Lian, I can't leave. Perhaps you don't understand, but the Human Race values promises. If nothing had happened to Rizhao City, I would have left with you. But now Rizhao City is in imminent danger, and I can't leave so easily." Sang Ying swallowed a pill, feeling her Spiritual Power slowly recovering, and then exhaled a heavy breath.

Cang Lian frowned. "You can't save this city."

If Jiang Zhuoxue were still alive in her prime, they might still have a chance to compete. But now, Jiang Zhuoxue's strength has been greatly diminished, she can no longer even maintain her human form, and she has fallen into a deep sleep.

How could Sang Ying, a Golden Core Realm cultivator, possibly possibly be a match for those Evil Cultivators?

"I know." Sang Ying met Cang Lian's gaze. "I know my strength is insignificant, but if there's even a glimmer of hope, I'm willing to try my best. Just as I wouldn't give up on saving you back then, I won't abandon the people in the city now."

She may have truly lost her mind, but perhaps this day was destined from the day she publicly admitted that she was Jimo Zanxing.

Cang Lian stared intently at Sang Ying for a long time before finally lowering his head and saying, "I understand."

This statement sounds like a compromise, or perhaps like shedding one's own shackles.

He stood up, turned his back to Sang Ying, and said, "I'll give you one more day. If you still can't find a solution, I'll take you and the people of the city and leave."

Sang Ying's brow twitched. "You want to reveal your true form? No way!"

Cang Lian had only escaped not long ago, and countless people had witnessed his true form that day. If someone with ulterior motives were to see him, he would likely be captured again and become meat on a chopping block.

But Cang Lian wouldn't listen to her. "Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself first, Miss!"

With a swift movement, before Sang Ying could speak again, he and the other guards headed towards the Evil Cultivator rushing towards them from afar.

Sang Ying shook her head helplessly and stood up again with the help of the Floating River Sword.

Gu Shu, who was hanging around her neck, couldn't help but tease, "Don't talk about him, you're even more annoying than him when you're stubborn!"

"Really?" Sang Ying replied, "Then it seems I also need to reflect on my actions."

After saying that, Floating River Sword with Sword Qi, saving a young girl in the process, and then turned and rushed into the crowd.

After fighting for an unknown period of time, and realizing that the guards were exhausted, Sang Ying had no choice but to lead them back to Jimo Residence.

At this moment, the Jimo Residence was surrounded by guards and Rogue Cultivator in many layers. Fortunately, the mansion was large enough to barely accommodate the people they had rescued.

The rest of the teams returned much earlier; Sang Ying and her group were the last to arrive.

Upon seeing Sang Ying, everyone immediately made way for her and ushered her inside.

"Is Miss injured?!" The butler quickly stepped forward and looked her over. Seeing that she seemed to be only a little tired, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Sang Ying waved her hand to reassure him, then asked, "Where is Madam now? Is everything alright at the manor?"

The steward, who had come to find Fu Yinqiu on her orders, immediately replied, "Madam is well. She is currently trying to transfer the city's protective barrier to our residence."

The original barrier was truly formidable. If Sang Ying and the others hadn't fallen for the trap, the situation, which was neither good nor bad, wouldn't have turned into what it is today.

Upon hearing the steward's words, Sang Ying immediately went to find Fu Yinqiu.

The other party is currently leading the few remaining array cultivators in the city, pondering the array core that has been set up in a secret room in the mansion.

The black ice that Jimo Renjie and his mother had transformed into has been completely cleared away, but even so, a trace of coldness still remains in the secret room.

"Young Miss is back!" Several array cultivators greeted Sang Ying as soon as they saw her.

Sang Ying nodded to them, then quietly called Fu Yinqiu away.

"You want to take the people of the city away?" Fu Yinqiu was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected Sang Ying to go to such lengths for Rizhao City.

Seeing that she wasn't angry, Sang Ying nodded. "Rizhao City can't be defended anymore. Rather than being trapped here to die, we should find a way out for ourselves as soon as possible."

She had already thought it through; going to the Azure Feather Sect or Ten Thousand Daos Born would be better than staying in the city. But it all depended on Fu Yinqiu's decision.

Fu Yinqiu pondered for only a moment before making a decision, "Let's leave and go to Ten Thousand Daos Born!"

Azure Feather Sect should have been their best choice, but Fu Yinqiu, as the wife of the family head, knew that the Jimo Household and Azure Feather Sect had previously relied on each other, which was why the relationship between the two sides was so good, and why the Jimo Household members were able to sit in the position of sect leader.

However, most of the Jimo Household's members perished in that vortex along with the Jimo Household head. The rest of the clansmen have gone off to train somewhere and cannot be found anytime soon.

Seeing the decline of the Jimo Household, Azure Feather Sect Zong might not only refuse to help, but also befriend Feng Ji.

After all, there are no permanent friends in this world, only permanent interests.

Seeing Fu Yinqiu's decisiveness, Sang Ying felt much more at ease. "Then I will give the order and have them begin preparations for leaving."

Fu Yinqiu nodded, and watching Sang Ying's departing figure, she sighed quietly.

A feeling of guilt welled up in my heart.

How could Sang Ying and her group's actions possibly escape the notice of Feng Ji and his men?

Upon receiving news that they were going to abandon the city and leave, Feng Ji stood in the center of the city, shrouded in black smoke, looking at this land filled with ominous signs, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Mobilize all available manpower to surround Jimo Residence. Before sunset tomorrow, I want the entire city under my control!" Especially that Jimo Zanxing!

The Nascent Soul Cultivator behind him immediately obeyed and withdrew, but no one noticed that the jade pendant hanging on Feng Ji's wrist was covered with cracks, as if something would break out of the bead if it were touched even slightly.

A note from the author:

Jimo Qing: Wait for me, I'll be out soon!

The other three brothers: Wait for me, we'll be back soon!

Jiang Zhuoxue: Wait for me, I'll wake up soon!

Sang Ying:... I'm not waiting anymore, I'll type it myself.

See you tomorrow! ~ Sparrow flaps its wings