Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!-Chapter 573: Three Passes on the Border

On the Southern Diaspora’s Human Clan border, an immense Ancient City was situated, flanked by towering mountains that pierced the clouds. The city was almost always shrouded in mist and protected by powerful Arrays.

Directly before the Ancient City lay the territory of the Demon Race.

However, three defensive passes also stood here, all guarded by Arrays and powerful experts.

The first pass: Thousand Cities.

Legend had it that in ancient times, a Human Clan expert named Thousand Cities guarded the first pass, holding back a Demon Race army of millions.

For three long years, the sky over this land remained dark. There was no sunlight, no rain; everything was silent and desolate.

Only one Human Clan expert stood against the Demon Race’s million-strong army.

Only after the Demon Race completely retreated did the Human Clan from behind gradually arrive, finding an old man, skeletal and frail.

He had long lost his vitality. His white hair was sparse, his body shriveled, and his Dantian was terribly fractured.

Yet, his hand still tightly gripped his sword.

The blood of Demon Race experts had dyed the ground before him red, and also the sword in his hand. After eons, this sword birthed its own God, underwent Tao Verification on its own, and transformed into a Heaven Tao Divine Weapon.

Later generations named it the Thousand Cities Sword.

From then on, the Thousand Cities Sword became the Ancient City’s bulwark, the Human Race Alliance’s most powerful trump card, and even a symbol of faith.

Of course, throughout the ages, many coveted this sword and tried to steal it. But once the sword left this place, it would become utterly immobile, as heavy as Mount Tai.

No matter how hard these experts tried, they could never move it and, in the end, had no choice but to return it.

The second pass: Dawn.

It was guarded by Array Masters, Divine Power Holders, and some elderly Human Clan experts from the Human Race Alliance.

Though not numerous, they formed the core of the entire Human Race Alliance.

The third pass: Wu Yang.

Also a name: Saint Wu Yang.

He was born here and faced Demon Race experts from a young age, entering the battlefield at seven. He was arguably the only one to reach the Great Saint Realm by achieving Tao Verification through slaughter.

He defended the Human Clan border for 8,000 years, achieving glorious military exploits and slaying countless Demon Race members.

In the end, he died tragically at the hands of the Demon Emperor; even his bones turned to dust and scattered with the wind.

To commemorate Saint Wu Yang, the people named the third pass Wu Yang.

"They’re here."

Atop the high city wall, a general in silver armor, his face stern, watched a group of people on the main road.

Although he did not recognize the experts from the Wuji Sect, at this moment, hardly anyone besides them would dare to come here.

"Is this the Wuji Sect that merged with Fairy Valley?" another general whispered. "They don’t look like much."

"Who cares! They made this mess, they can deal with it."

"Yes, sir!"

"But only a dozen or so people? Is that enough?"

"Who knows?"

Their gazes were intense as they continually sized up the group.

Wuji Sect.

A Sect that had appeared only a few years ago yet had already shocked the Southern Diaspora.

Merging with Fairy Valley, slaying Star Sea experts, annihilating the Demon Emperor’s offspring...

Setting aside their other achievements, these few alone were enough to take one’s breath away.

Mo Wuwei led the way, walking with vigorous strides. He was robust, his gaze fixed forward, and he soon brought the group to the city gates.

But the gates of the Ancient City remained tightly shut.

Mo Wuwei looked up. "Mo Wuwei of the Wuji Sect."

The general sneered. "Never heard of you."

"Will you open the city gates?" Mo Wuwei asked.

"If I don’t know you, why would I open them?" the general chuckled.

Mo Wuwei turned his head. "Is that so? Then, perhaps we should return?"

A Saint Realm expert chuckled. "Indeed, my lord!"

Hearing this exchange, the general’s face stiffened. He reluctantly ordered the city gates opened.

He had long heard that this Wuji Sect was arrogant, domineering, and ostentatious, that they bullied the weak and engaged in petty thievery and mischief. In its early years, upon entering the Southern Diaspora, the Wuji Sect had plundered the resources of over eighty factions, which laid its foundation. So he had wanted to test just how arrogant they were. He never expected this test would cause him to lose face. They wouldn’t open the city gates? Fine, then they would go back. When that time came, the Demon Race’s army would charge in, the Demon Emperor would invade with an Emperor Weapon, and none of it would concern the Wuji Sect.

The general dared not say more.

RUMBLE!

The heavy city gates were slowly pulled open.

The Wuji Sect group stepped into the Ancient City. However, what met their eyes was not a bustling metropolis, but a desolate city, one seemingly built upon yellow sand.

There was no vitality, only the soft whisper of wind and sand.

Most houses were built of packed earth, as were the courtyards. Some pieces of charred, cured meat hung before doorways, swaying in the wind.

Figures were sparse within the Ancient City. The few people who passed by were all soldiers in armor. Their complexions were sallow and lacked vitality, but their eyes were incredibly resolute and sharp, like those of beasts in the darkness.

Their stares alone could send shivers down one’s spine.

Fortunately, they hurried past.

"The look in their eyes is terrifying," a Saint Realm expert whispered.

"They’ve dealt with the Demon Race year-round and are accustomed to life and death. The Essence Qi Spirit they’ve condensed is naturally stronger than that of ordinary cultivators," an elderly Saint Realm expert explained. "The elders from Fairy Valley are even more formidable. They constantly exude an intense murderous aura. If you recklessly get too close, you’ll likely meet with disaster."

The group of young cultivators gaped.

The old Saint Realm expert continued, "I once encountered one. Even from ten meters away, it sent chills down my spine, as if I’d fallen into an icy cavern."

He recalled the terrifying sight.

Just then, a youth clad in animal skins approached them. He was lean, with dark skin and short, messy, somewhat straw-colored hair.

In dress, demeanor, and even his eyes, he seemed less a person of this era and more like someone who had stepped out of an ancient age.

The youth, looking somewhat weary, asked, "The Wuji Sect?"

"Yes!" the old Saint Realm expert replied.

"Who’s in charge?"

"I am!" Mo Wuwei stepped forward, then gestured to Jiang Ni’er. "And her as well."

The youth looked surprised.

A team of only about ten people, yet it had two leaders? Was that appropriate?

But he didn’t inquire further. He nodded and said, "I am Feng, a member of the Human Race Alliance. Under orders from the higher-ups, I’ve come to receive you. You can only stay in the Ancient City for one day; you must leave tomorrow."

Jiang Ni’er found this unreasonable and asked, "Leave the Ancient City? To go where?"

Feng pointed towards the far side of the Ancient City. "There are three more defensive passes. The first is called Thousand Cities, the second Dawn, and the third Wu Yang. You are to go to the first pass, Thousand Cities."

Jiang Ni’er pursed her lips. "Can we meet your Human Race Alliance’s higher-ups?"

Feng shook his head. "No. The Human Race Alliance will not get involved in matters between you. You need to handle the Demon Race problem yourselves."

Jiang Ni’er laughed. "Timid as mice."

Her words were pure sarcasm and ridicule. A blatant mockery of the Human Race Alliance.

The Human Clan border? An alliance to defend the Human Clan? All they did was shout about Human Clan lives being paramount. Yet, when real trouble arose, every last one of them became utterly spineless... She recalled Chen Pingping’s words: even without the Qin Meng incident, hadn’t the Demon Race always been making moves? Qin Meng was dead. And the Demon Emperor and the Demon Race had found their excuse to ignite the flames of war.

Sigh.

Chen Pingping had said with a helpless sigh, "All the factions in the Southern Diaspora provide a hefty amount of resources every year; the three super-factions contribute even more. But the Human Race Alliance... it’s just so-so. It can handle minor skirmishes, but for any major crisis, we still have to rely on the entirety of the Southern Diaspora."

"Then what about us?" Jiang Ni’er had asked. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Disregard them. You just do what you must. If the sky falls, I’ll be here. If I can’t hold it up, the entire Southern Diaspora stands behind me. Relying solely on the Human Race Alliance’s defenses and the defensive line they’ve established is far from enough." Chen Pingping had half-closed his eyes, then patted Jiang Ni’er’s shoulder, offering a final piece of advice. "Remember, while completing the mission, your lives are paramount. I want all of you to return in one piece."

Jiang Ni’er had nodded. "Alright."