The fairies I flirted with in the game became real?!

The flames dancing atop the city walls flickered across Li Muyang's face, shadowing it with uncertainty.

Yan Xiaoru stood on the ramparts, her gaze coldly surveying the vast encampment of the Blood Lotus Cult beyond the city.

The continuous stretch of tents unfurled in the darkness, sprawling into its deepest reaches.

Clad in armor and red headbands, the devotees of the Blood Lotus Cult carried swords and halberds, patrolling incessantly around their tents.

The large banners representing the various helmsmen and incense masters of the Blood Lotus Cult fluttered in the dark.

Seven helmsmen and four incense masters, each leading six banner leaders... During this turmoil in Tianjiao City, it seemed the Blood Lotus Cult had drawn out all their forces.

In eerie silence, they had laid in ambush, tens of thousands of ordinary devotees, outside Tianjiao City.

Gazing at such a formation, the Sect Master of the Refinement Demon Sect sighed softly, "After this is over, no matter how much loss we suffer, the Blood Lotus Cult will certainly gain a huge reputation."

To incite rebellion within Tianjiao City, a stronghold of the mighty Refinement Demon Sect, and force the Sect Master and the twelve Elders into a desperate escape—even if not a single one of the Sect's powerful Elders perished, the mere fact of their flight would be enough to shock the world.

Moreover, given the current situation, it appeared difficult for all the Elders of the Sect to escape Tianjiao City intact and unharmed.

Yan Xiaoru glanced indifferently behind her at the city, where at the base of the gate tower and the streets of Tianjiao City, torches blazed in unison, mobilizing all the Sect's Cultivators and the patrolling soldiers within the city.

In the outermost parts, there were the Loose Cultivators staying in Tianjiao City, along with Cultivators from other sects.

This group of Cultivators numbered in the thousands, having been forced to remain inside Tianjiao City due to the abrupt arrival of the blood mist.

Having heard that the Blood Lotus Cult was about to breach the city, all the Cultivators now within its walls had come together, ready to fight their way out of the city alongside the Sect's Cultivators.

For the Cultivators within the city, this night's sudden assault was their only path to survival.

Should the demonic followers of the Blood Lotus Cult break into the city, every Cultivator remaining inside would be put to death without exception.

Looking at the shadows under the cover of night, Yan Xiaoru's eyes were cold. She knew that the fleeing Elders of the Sect, as well as the Sect Master, were concealed within the crowd.

They had changed their appearances and disguised themselves, taking on different identities to blend in with those leaving the city, in an attempt to avoid the Blood Lotus Cult's focused assault.

As long as they weren't the primary targets of the Blood Lotus Cult's pursuit, these powerful figures of the Sect would find ways to escape the chaos.

Although not every Elder of the Sect was adept at controlling Demon Beasts or concocting Transformation Pills, those who managed to become Elders each had their trump cards and methods. Even with their cultivation diminished, they were not to be taken lightly.

Yan Xiaoru was aware of this, and the City Lord of Tianjiao City undoubtedly knew as well.

Yet the two of them, left to face the circumstances openly, could only tacitly avoid acknowledging this fact.

In this night's attack, they would become the primary targets of the Blood Lotus Cult.

Yan Xiaoru glanced at Li Muyang, then towards the City Lord Ou Ziyu: "Let's part ways here, Lord Ou."

Ou Ziyu, clad in a vestment robe, gave a bitter smile and saluted Yan Xiaoru: "Elder Yan, take care on your journey."

Having said that, Ou Ziyu left with his entourage.

The sortie that night involved three prongs.

Ou Ziyu and Yan Xiaoru, each leading twenty thousand, would strike from the east and west gates respectively. The remaining twenty thousand warriors and assorted Cultivators were to be led by the Deputy City Lord, who would make a breakout from the south gate.

The three-pronged assault was meant to disperse and escape, aiming to divide the force of the demonic followers of the Blood Lotus Cult waiting outside the city.

Yan Xiaoru had no intention of entangling with the demonic followers of the Blood Lotus Cult anymore; should the situation turn dire, she would abandon her troops and flee immediately.

But before leaving, Yan Xiaoru turned to Li Muyang by her side.

"…Why did you come back?"

Since his return from the blood mist earlier in the day, there had been hardly any communication between Yan Xiaoru and Li Muyang; she had been conspicuously avoiding him.

But now, as they were about to leave the city and face the crazed followers of the Blood Lotus Cult beyond the walls, no one could guarantee their survival.

In such a perilous situation, Yan Xiaoru finally spoke up.

She asked the question once more with eyes that were icy and indifferent.

And this time, there were only two people on the city wall; there were no other onlookers.

Yan Xiaoru's cold gaze fixated on Li Muyang as she said, "I won't ask you where you learned that Body Refining Technique or how you refined your body to be so powerful."

"Nor will I inquire about the origin of the people behind you; a country person with no Sect or background couldn't possibly refine such a powerful physique."

"Today, I only have one question for you... why did you come back?"

"Was it your own will? Or was it someone else's instruction behind you?"

Yan Xiaoru's eyes were icy cold.

Faced with such a Yan Xiaoru, Li Muyang gave a bitter smile, somewhat helpless.

He knew that the incredible strength of his Martial God Domineering Body had made this Demon Sect Elder wary and cautious of him.

This was the real reason why Yan Xiaoru had been avoiding Li Muyang today.

After all, Yan Xiaoru knew Li Muyang better than anyone else in the Refinement Demon Sect.

The two of them had met often in the dead of night over the past three months in Wuliuxiang Alley, with Yan Xiaoru teaching Li Muyang how to cultivate.

In the beginning, when Li Muyang was struggling with his cultivation, Yan Xiaoru had even personally taught him many times.

Back then, Li Muyang did not possess the Martial God Domineering Body.

In Yan Xiaoru's view, Li Muyang's formidable physical strength seemed to have been acquired suddenly and had come into play precisely during the Blood Lotus Sect's attack on the city...

If Li Muyang hadn't resolutely helped Yan Xiaoru by first defeating the martial soldiers of the Blood Lotus Sect and then capturing its leader, Nangong Ting,

Li Muyang would likely have already been labeled as an undercover agent for the Blood Lotus Sect by now.

Looking at Yan Xiaoru's indifferent and distant eyes, Li Muyang sighed and said,

"Elder Yan, there is no one behind me."

"I'm just a lucky person who has fortuitously obtained some opportunities. I'm not anyone's undercover agent, nor am I anyone's puppet."

"I came back to find you because it was my own volition."

"Elder Yan has treated me generously, imparting me with Cultivation Techniques, helping me ascend to the Inner Sect, gifting me a ring and providing me with Spiritual Objects."

"Both emotionally and rationally, I couldn't abandon Elder Yan and leave amidst such danger."

Li Muyang's eyes were sincere.

In the Cultivation World, it was not rare for lucky individuals to occasionally receive ancient inheritances or opportunities.

After all, the ancient chaos had left countless inheritances and chances in the world.

Even the ancestors of the major Sects in today's Cultivation World were all ordinary people who had fortuitously obtained ancient inheritances.

Even Yan Xiaoru had luckily attained the Nether Demon Manual, which allowed her, at a young age, to become a Demon Sect Elder and strike awe in all directions.

After hearing Li Muyang's words, Yan Xiaoru's expression remained cold.

But Li Muyang, who knew her well, could already see that the woman's emotions were easing.

There was silence atop the city wall.

Just when Li Muyang thought he had safely made it through, Yan Xiaoru suddenly spoke up.

"To you, what am I?"