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....
The underground hall beneath Nie Mansion was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the complex array formations inscribed into the floor and walls. Strange symbols shimmered in the darkness, pulsating like a living entity. The scent of burnt incense and alchemical reagents lingered in the air, a testament to the two days Nie Li had spent tirelessly perfecting the final stage of his project. (Image)
Nie Li then stretched for a bit and walked in the room to sit cross-legged in the center of the hall, his hands tracing complex runes midair as he interfaced with the A.I. Chip. His orange hair, slightly disheveled, framed his determined expression. His normally sharp blue eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but his spirit remained unwavering.
The A.I. Chip's mechanical voice resounded in his mind.
[Beep! Connection array optimization complete. The Guardian Program has been calibrated. Final confirmation required before deployment.]
Nie Li took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. This was it—the moment he had been working toward for days. The culmination of every calculated move, every inscribed rune, every sleepless hour.
"Deploy the connection parameters," he commanded.
A soft hum echoed through the underground hall. The ten thousand beast array within Nie Mansion flared to life, its energy rising like an invisible tide. A deep golden light radiated from the formation, pulsing outward in rhythmic waves. The morning light filtering through the cracks of the hall flickered under its intensity.
At that moment, across the city, the results of Nie Li's labor began to unfold.
---
Glory City Awakens
Outside, as dawn painted the horizon with streaks of amber and violet, Glory City was suddenly bathed in ethereal light. From Nie Mansion, an enormous white pillar of energy shot into the sky, stretching beyond the clouds.
At the Alchemy Association, the array Nie Li had designed flared in response. The intricate patterns carved into the association's floors and walls shimmered, their energy linking with the Nie Mansion's core array.
From there, one by one, the massive formations in each major faction ignited.
The Hyuan Family's Array, a deep emerald hue, vibrated into connection.
The Winged Dragon Family's Array, strengthened with storm elements, let out a thunderous pulse.
The Divine Family's Array, dense with protective inscriptions, resonated powerfully.
Finally, the City Lord Mansion's Array, standing as the last pillar, surged with an ancient brilliance.
These arrays, previously independent and isolated in their own domains, are now linked together in a symmetrical formation. The entire city became enveloped in a web of mystical light, its energies converging at a single point—Nie Mansion, the heart of the network. (Image)
The people of Glory City stirred from their sleep, stepping out of their homes in awe. Even veteran experts were left speechless, their eyes widening as they beheld the phenomenon.
---
Back in the underground hall, Nie Li watched the A.I. Chip's progress display.
"Connection Array: 10%... 20%... 40%..."
Each second felt like an eternity, yet he knew it was working flawlessly.
"80%... 90%..."
The walls trembled slightly as the final surge of energy stabilized.
"100%... Connection array successfully deployed. All ten thousand beast arrays have been integrated. The Defense matrix has been amplified by 640%. Offensive capability increased tenfold."
Nie Li exhaled, his lips curling into a satisfied smile.
It was done.
The network of arrays he had meticulously constructed was no longer a mere concept—it was reality. The defensive strength of Glory City had just soared to an unprecedented level, a level that even the strongest demonic horde would struggle to break through.
Nie Li stood, stretching his sore muscles. He had no time for rest. Now that the system was in place, he had to finalize the delegation of authority.
With a few commands to the A.I. Chip, he set up the control units. Each major family head, as well as the Alchemy Association president, had received control access to their respective arrays.
However, there was an underlying reality behind this system. Even though the families had control over their arrays, Nie Li alone held the center override.
If needed, he could take full command of all connected formations at any time, overriding even the City Lord himself. This was a precaution he had installed—an assurance that Glory City's defenses would never fall into the wrong hands and would be able to defend against the enemies.
Nie Li activated the final protocol.
"Automated Intelligence Guardian deployed."
A subtle shift in energy rippled through the underground chamber. The Guardian Unit, an advanced A.I. construct embedded into the array, came online. This autonomous system had been programmed with hundreds of battle strategies, capable of adapting to any invasion scenario.
Even if all human controllers were incapacitated, the Guardian would act independently, activating the defenses at full power. Unlike a human controller, whose maximum utilization of an array might cap at 70%, the Guardian Unit could execute at 100% efficiency—or beyond.
Nie Li ran a final systems check before shutting down the A.I. Chip's interface. He could finally afford to take a short break.
Stretching his fingers, he muttered, "With this, I don't have to worry about the city's security anymore. Now it's like a fortress, able to defend soundly and attack freely. Lets see who dares to attack, even the strongest Legend ranks would be crushed under the might of Grand Ten Thousands Beast Array without offering any resistance."
If anyone dared to invade Glory City now, they would be walking into a death trap.
With the Ten Thousand Beasts Arrays reinforced and interconnected, its power is incomparable to its previous model.
Nie Li allowed himself a moment to bask in the success. But deep in his heart, he knew this was just one step in a much greater plan.
For now, Glory City was safe.
But beyond the walls, dangers far greater than mere demon beasts lurked in the shadows.
And he needed to prepare for them.
...
Later that night
The grand hall of the City Lord Mansion was dimly lit, yet the presence of the most influential figures in the Snow Wind Family made the atmosphere feel heavier than ever. It was late into the night, yet no one showed signs of fatigue—this meeting was far too important for such concerns.
At the head of the table sat Ye Zong, the City Lord of Glory City. His sharp eyes swept across the room, his regal posture making it clear that he was in command. Beside him sat Ye Xiu, one of the strongest members of the Snow Wind Family, his expression calm and observant.
Not far from them was Ye Lian, a seasoned elder and teacher of Ye Han, along with other elders who had gathered to discuss the most pressing matter of the night—Nie Li.
The discussion began with Ye Lian voicing his growing concerns. He cleared his throat, his voice steady but filled with unease.
"City Lord, I must once again express my apprehensions regarding Nie Li. His strength is... unnatural. To single-handedly defeat two Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualists at his age is already alarming, but now he holds control over the core arrays of Glory City. That kind of power is dangerous."
His words hung in the air like a shadow, causing murmurs among the elders.
Ye Xiu leaned forward, his expression unwavering.
"Elder Ye Lian, I understand your worries, but we must not forget—his power is his own merit. His cultivation speed is indeed astonishing, even unbelievable, but it is a result of his own efforts. If we were to doubt every genius that appears, we would be no better than the stubborn old families who fear change."
Ye Lian narrowed his eyes. "Efforts or not, power must be kept in check."
Ye Xiu shook his head, exhaling slightly before continuing.
"Nie Li is not a threat to Glory City. He is its greatest benefactor. I personally spoke to Vice Principal Ye Sheng, and he informed me that Nie Li has met our ancestor, Ye Yan. More than that, Nie Li has agreed to share his knowledge with the Holy Orchid Academy. He agreed to provide the academy with powerful new elixirs and cultivation techniques. This is not the action of a power-hungry individual—this is the act of a hero."
His words silenced the murmurs.
The room fell into a tense stillness before Ye Zong finally spoke, his deep voice filled with authority.
"The assassin that Nie Li caught has committed suicide."
All eyes turned toward him.
"The Dark Guild is still a significant threat to us," he continued. "But there is no denying that Nie Li has made the defenses of Glory City impregnable."
Ye Lian frowned. "Impregnable? City Lord, are you truly certain of that?"
Ye Xiu responded before Ye Zong could.
"City Lord may not have reached Legend rank yet, but he is infinitely close. If he says that the array is impregnable, then I believe him."
His words caused the elders to exchange glances. Ye Zong, seeing the opportunity, elaborated.
"I personally tested the array's strength. Even without being fully connected, it was enough to withstand my full power, even overpower me. And now, with all arrays fully integrated? Even a horde of demon beasts led by multiple Legend-ranked beings would be unable to breach our city."
Gasps filled the room.
A quiet elder muttered, "Unbelievable..."
Ye Zong nodded. "Nie Li has done something that no one in thousands of years could accomplish. He has given us something that we never had—true security. And with this security, Glory City can now take its first step toward true prosperity."
There was a long silence before he continued.
"Furthermore, I am willing to fully support Nie Li's ambition of building his own academy—Glory Academy. This is not just his dream but the future of our city. An academy that surpasses the Holy Orchid Institute, one that will shape generations of stronger cultivators. I support it wholeheartedly."
A few elders nodded in agreement. Ye Lian, despite his previous reservations, remained silent.
Ye Xiu smiled slightly. "Nie Li has even offered teaching positions to the City Lord Mansion and other important families. He has made it clear that he does not discriminate against us. He even granted the position of Inscription Elder to Master Xue Yin."
This caused some elders to look at each other, nodding in approval. Xue Yin is Ye Ziyun's aunt, talented in inscription studies, she was a valuable person in the Snow wind family.
Then, an elder at the far end of the table hesitantly raised his voice.
"If that is the case... why not take the next step?"
Everyone turned toward him.
He continued cautiously, "If we truly wish to strengthen our connection with him, why not arrange a marriage? We could offer one of our direct descendants to Nie Li."
The air in the room suddenly grew thick.
All eyes, almost involuntarily, turned to Ye Zong.
After all, in the entire Snow Wind Family, there was no better candidate than Ye Ziyun—his daughter. She was the same age as Nie Li, had outstanding talent, a good character, and was the direct heir of the family. It was the most logical choice.
Ye Zong coughed, his expression unreadable.
"Onto more pressing matters," he said quickly, changing the subject. "My only concern now is the Sacred Family and their ties to the Dark Guild."
The sudden shift in conversation was obvious, but the elders did not press further.
Instead, the discussion turned to Shen Hong, the head of the Sacred Family, and the recent suspicions surrounding their activities.
Ye Xiu crossed his arms. "The Sacred Family has been behaving too boldly as of late, suspicious activities have been reported multiple times, and their dealings with the Dark Guild are becoming more apparent to our scouts."
Ye Zong nodded. "We cannot act yet because we lack solid evidence, Shen Hong is a veteran at deception. But we must remain vigilant, Nie Li's previous actions against the Sacred Family has already raised concerns about them, and given his foresight, I am inclined to believe he may know more than he lets on."
Ye Lian, who had been lost in thought, sighed inwardly, 'It seems Ye Han, has no chance against Nie Li. His aspirations to become the next City Lord...' He looked at everyone and sighed heavily. 'They are over.'
For years, Ye Han had been seen as the heir pushed by Ye Zong for the City Lord position, but now? With Nie Li's rising influence, strength, and intelligence, Ye Han's shadow was growing smaller by the day.
Even if Ye Han refused to acknowledge it, the reality was clear.
Nie Li was no longer just a talented young man.
He was becoming an unstoppable force, to go against him is to go against the Glory City.
And no one—not the Sacred Family, not the Dark Guild, and certainly not an envious disciple—could change that.
The meeting ended late into the night, with many elders leaving deep in thought.
Ye Zong stood by a window, looking out over Glory City.
For the first time in a long time... he felt at ease. Glory City was safe. Its future was secure.
And it was all because of Nie Li.
'I guess that kid is not so bad for my Ziyun... '