After Changing Her Fate, the Vicious Female Villain and the Protagonist Got an HE! - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Sudden Change

Yue Lan spent a full zhuxiang of time (about 30 minutes), explaining what she knew.

On a certain night half a year ago, intense sounds of fighting had come from the City Lord’s Mansion.

At that time, many cultivators in the city sensed it, and the cautious ones even left the city overnight.

The next morning, the City Lord’s Mansion posted a notice claiming that thieves had broken in the night before and had now been apprehended, urging the cultivators not to panic.

Since then, Yue Lan had sensed that something was amiss.

The City Lord’s Mansion Enforcement Team would patrol various parts of the city daily, but she noticed that the patrolling cultivators had been completely replaced from head to toe. She could no longer see a single familiar face.

Due to the restrictions of Divine Path magic, Yue Lan could not leave the enshrined statue beyond three li.

Most of the people who came to offer incense daily were mortals. Although there were cultivators, they were all unfamiliar faces, with no trustworthy person among them, thus making it impossible to ascertain the truth.

In fact, Yue Lan was not the only one who noticed the anomaly back then, but the cultivators, operating under the principle of self-preservation, chose not to ask further questions and did not attempt to relay this information to external sects.

In this way, due to a combination of factors, the events at the City Lord’s Mansion remained concealed until today.

Yue Lan initially worried it was a conspiracy by the demon race. However, half a year passed, and the Futian Ancient City remained peaceful, with no major moves from the demon race.

She began to doubt her initial guess.

Wen Shurong listened as her Master explained the cause and effect. Thinking of a critical issue, she immediately asked: “Master sacrificed yourself to form the array years ago. That array has always protected the city’s inhabitants. If the demon race intends to attack the city again in the future, the array will be the first to be targeted. Will this still affect Master?”

Yue Lan slowly shook her head, “The current me has, in a sense, thoroughly died once. The previous karma has long been severed. Although the city-protecting grand array was formed from my physical body, it can no longer affect me.”

Hearing this, Wen Shurong felt slightly relieved. Her gaze then fell on the jade carved statue not far away.

“If Futian Ancient City faces a crisis in the future, should this jade carved statue be movable?”

Yue Lan hesitated before speaking: “This object is integrated with the entire shrine. Unless one possesses the Sleeve Universe Technique to move the entire shrine along with it, it cannot be taken away.”

The Sleeve Universe Technique could only be mastered by Great Accomplishment cultivators.

Wen Shurong’s slightly relaxed mind instantly tensed up again.

She then remembered the reply received by Elder Zhao via voice transmission from the Sect Leader in the City Lord’s Mansion’s secret chamber.

The Sect Leader said she had asked Elder Jiu Xuan to set off for Futian Ancient City.

Martial Aunt Jiu Xuan was a Great Accomplishment cultivator, second only to the Sect Leader in cultivation and strength.

If the demon race genuinely attacked the city again and their side was weak, she would plead with Martial Aunt Jiu Xuan to take the shrine away.

A Great Accomplishment cultivator could travel ten thousand li in a day. By the zǐshí (11 PM to 1 AM) that night, Jiu Xuan had arrived at Futian Ancient City, rendezvoused with the five Soul Transformation cultivators of the sect, and reinforced the city’s defenses.

Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun stayed at the shrine and did not leave.

At dawn on the second day, Jiu Xuan arrived at the shrine.

She wore a dark-colored, double-breasted long dress. Although her hair was entirely silver, her face was very youthful, showing no signs of aging.

Seeing the person who arrived, Yue Lan’s calm face broke into a smile.

“It has been many years, Senior Sister Jiu Xuan. Are you well?”

The woman in dark clothes paused in her steps and said flatly: “Not exactly well.”

Not hearing the expected reply, Yue Lan’s smile stiffened slightly.

“With Senior Sister’s strength and status, there should be few in the world who could trouble you?”

Jiu Xuan slightly raised her eyes and looked deeply at her: “Some matters, Junior Sister, you would not be privy to.”

Yue Lan was puzzled: “What do you mean, Senior Sister?”

Jiu Xuan did not answer, instead moving on to another topic.

“Before I came to Futian Ancient City, I created a clone and infiltrated the demon race’s territory. I have now ascertained the demon race’s movements. They are preparing to launch another large-scale beast horde.”

These words successfully shifted Yue Lan’s attention. Her expression visibly became much more serious.

“The Green Winged Tiger clan leads the demon race internally. If I recall correctly, that peak sixth-tier great demon has been preparing for its tribulation crossing?”

Jiu Xuan nodded: “Correct. That demon is comparable to the Sect Leader in strength and is the most dangerous opponent.”

“Does Senior Sister have any countermeasures?”

“Against the demon race, we can only confront them head-on. There is no other way.”

Upon hearing this, Yue Lan was silent for a moment, her gaze falling upon the two girls beside her.

“Shurong, Junior Niece Qin, you both heard. While the demon race has not yet attacked the city, you should quickly leave this place and return to the Lingxiao Sect.”

“No, I’m not going!”

Wen Shurong’s eyes were red, and she stared fixedly at the woman before her.

“Unless Master leaves with us, I’m not going anywhere!”

Yue Lan frowned upon hearing this: “You child, after all these years, you haven’t progressed in anything else, but your temper has certainly grown stubborn!”

Beside them, Qin Niyun interjected appropriately: “Martial Aunt Yue Lan, neither Junior Sister Wen nor I are people who fear death. Now that we know about the demon race’s movements and Futian Ancient City needs manpower, we can stay and contribute our strength.”

Yue Lan pursed her lips, still disagreeing.

“Junior Niece Qin, both you and Shurong are currently at the Core Formation Stage. Against a large-scale beast horde, your strength is insufficient.”

Wen Shurong stood her ground: “No matter what Master says, as long as you don’t leave, I won’t leave!”

Jiu Xuan looked at the two girls and made a decision.

“Stop arguing over this. Junior Niece Wen and Junior Niece Qin will both stay.”

Yue Lan looked at the dark-clothed woman in disbelief: “Senior Sister, you…”

“They are not as weak as you imagine.”

Jiu Xuan added: “Junior Sister, are you aware that the fifty-one Core Formation, nineteen Nascent Soul, and three Soul Transformation cultivators who aided the evildoers in the City Lord’s Mansion all perished at their hands?”

“What?”

Yue Lan showed a clear expression of astonishment.

The higher a cultivator’s realm, the more difficult it was to fight across realms. The Core Formation Stage and Soul Transformation Stage were two major realms apart. It was hard to imagine what kind of battle could achieve such a result.

For a moment, Yue Lan was stunned and speechless.

Wen Shurong transmitted a message to her Senior Sister Qin Niyun. After a brief discussion, they decided to reveal the matter of the Innate Spiritual Treasures.

Both Yue Lan and Jiu Xuan were trustworthy individuals. There was no need to hide too much from them.

With a consensus reached, the two flicked their sleeves. A flash of spiritual light appeared before them, and the Shan Hai Zither and Cang Lan Flute materialized simultaneously.

Seeing the two treasures, Yue Lan was even more astonished.

“These are… Innate Spiritual Treasures?”

Wen Shurong held the Shan Hai Zither, her beautiful eyes looking directly at the woman: “Master, can you be at ease now?”

Yue Lan nodded helplessly: “The Innate Spiritual Treasures possess infinite power. Since you have acquired this opportunity, you can naturally stay.”

Jiu Xuan looked at the Shan Hai Zither and Cang Lan Flute, deep in thought: “If I’m not mistaken, these two treasures are a pair?”

Wen Shurong was about to explain, but her Senior Sister spoke before her: “They originate from the same source. It is as Martial Aunt said.”

At this moment, Jiu Xuan seemed to understand something. She gave Qin Niyun a meaningful look but did not say anything further.

Jiu Xuan did not conceal the news of the demon race. She issued an evacuation order in advance, allowing those in the city who wished to leave to withdraw as soon as possible.

However, once they left the city, they were responsible for their own safety and would not be escorted.

For a time, the entire Futian Ancient City was more bustling than ever before.

The cultivators and ordinary people in the city made varying choices.

A small number immediately evacuated upon hearing the news, leaving the ancient city with their families.

Some were indecisive, unable to reach a consensus with their families and companions, thus arguing endlessly over the matter.

The rest remained steadfast, staying in the city, vowing to live and die with Futian Ancient City.

Most of these people had lived here for generations and were unwilling to leave their ancestral home.

The massive movement in Futian Ancient City naturally alerted the demon race to the details.

To prevent the human race from being fully prepared, leading to a difficult assault, they chose to advance their plan, launching the first wave of attack at hàishí (9 PM to 11 PM) that night.

Outside the hundred-zhang-high city wall, countless demon beasts rapidly approached.

At this moment, Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun stood on the city wall. Looking out, as far as their eyes could see, there was a dense mass of birds and beasts.

The city-protecting grand array had already risen, and all the cultivators remaining in the city were poised for battle.

Behind the demon race’s forces, dozens of high-tier demon cultivators gathered in one place, constantly communicating.

“The one stationed in Futian Ancient City now is Jiu Xuan from the Lingxiao Sect. This woman is very powerful. Looking at the entire demon race, only the Green Winged Tiger King can defeat her.”

“Brother Ying Er, don’t worry. I have already asked the Tiger King, and he said he will personally come forward to deal with her.”

“If that’s the case, taking Futian Ancient City is a certainty! Humph, that city-protecting array won’t stop us!”

“We should also thank that human traitor. If that person hadn’t given us the array schematics and revealed all the core nodes of the grand array, we wouldn’t be so confident.”

“Brother Bao San, I always feel that human… that his intentions are impure.”

“That can be confirmed, but regardless of his intentions, the fact is that he has helped us for now. If he tries to harm us in the future, we’ll just kill him directly.”

“But that person’s strength is extraordinary. At least, I can’t see through him. I worry…”

“Lang Si, the great battle is imminent. Don’t speak disheartening words! Whatever your speculation, wait until after the battle to discuss it!”

The discussion among the high-tier demon cultivators was clearly overheard by a clone of Jiu Xuan secretly lurking nearby.

Before coming to Futian Ancient City, she had heard the Sect Leader mention Wen Shurong’s experience and understood the existence of an extraordinary enemy in the world.

She also knew the truth about the Canghai Realm incident and could roughly estimate the enemy’s strength.

Although only a residual soul remained, it could not be underestimated.

The current secretive actions of the opponent were merely to evade the detection of the Xuan Yuan Realm’s Heavenly Dao.

Once they found a suitable method, they would no longer have any scruples.

It was a pity that this person’s whereabouts were secretive. Otherwise, if they could be found and annihilated while their strength was not yet fully recovered, it would eliminate a perennial threat.

In a matter of mere breaths, various thoughts flashed through Jiu Xuan’s mind.

Outside Futian City, countless demon beasts had begun their assault.

The group of high-tier demon cultivators acted one after another. Powerful and grand demonic spells were launched simultaneously, bombarding the weak points of the city-protecting grand array.

In just a few moments, the array began to tremble precariously.

If it hadn’t been reinforced last night, it would have been completely breached by now.

Outside the city, a group of avian demon beasts hovered in the air, wings spread, waiting for the array to break before rushing into the city to slaughter.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Wen Shurong and Qin Niyun quickly took action. The music of the Shan Hai Zither and the Cang Lan Flute sounded in sync.

The melodious tunes instantly spread. Some high-tier demon cultivators, caught completely off guard, immediately fell victim, trapped in an illusion. Their demonic power stagnated, and their strength was sealed.

A moment later, the demon cultivators caught in the illusion turned their attacks on their companions, using ruthless moves. For a time, blood stained the sky.

As a result, the intensity of the attacks on the city-protecting grand array sharply decreased. With the joint efforts of the human cultivators, the weak points were quickly repaired.

The combined performance of the zither and flute consumed a significant amount of spiritual power.

After about half a cup of tea, the slightly weaker Wen Shurong’s face gradually turned pale. She quickly took out a pill to restore spiritual power and swallowed it.

It was precisely at this moment that a pitch-black arrow suddenly materialized from the void ahead, instantly locking onto her. With a swoosh, it transformed into an afterimage and shot toward her…

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