Longsha was still alive, but his face was as white as a sheet of paper. He couldn't fathom the possibility of his master being defeated by this youth. Desperation took over as he tried to run, but soon he was surrounded from all sides. He shouted, "Nie Li, you'd better spare my life, or else neither you, Ye Zong, nor even your lord Ye Mo could withstand the consequences!"
Nie Li thought, Is he stupid? Does he think he can leave here alive? But his years of experience reminded him not to drop his guard. A cornered opponent was always the most dangerous. Feigning ignorance, he said, "Longsha, your life is hanging by a thread. Perhaps if you reveal something useful, I'll grant you a quick death."
Longsha gritted his teeth. "Nie Li, you shouldn't be so high and mighty. Let me tell you this: if you kill me today, a secret art will be triggered. It's connected to the lives of the three leaders of the Dark Guild. Over the years, we planted seeds in countless demon beasts. If all of us die, they will converge on the place of our deaths, destroying everything in their path. Even you won't be able to stop a rampage of millions of demon beasts."
Nie Li calculated that the horde of demon beasts would arrive in five days. He thought, I can take them down using reserves of oil and explosion tactics, as well as a Tai Yi Killing Array. The main challenge would be dealing with the Sacred Family.
Without further words, he severed Longsha's head and sheathed his sword. Retrieving Goddess Yu Yan will have to wait, he thought.
Nie Li then reported the impending demon horde to the City Lord, Ye Zong, advising him to stay wary of the Sacred Family and to keep the events of that day a secret to avoid alarming Shen Hong. He also suggested that the Dark Guild should not be eradicated just yet, as they would likely try to keep the death of their leaders a secret from their allies.
Ye Zong questioned, "And why do you think so?"
Nie Li smirked. "Well, you should know the nature of human beings. We are greedy by nature, and no organization is free of such people, whether good or bad. If the Dark Guild reveals the deaths, they'll risk being devoured by their own allies."
Ye Zong looked at Nie Li as if staring at an ancient monster. "You brat. Not only are you stronger than me at the young age of 13, but your tactical mind surpasses mine. They used to call me a genius, but compared to you, I'm nothing. Maybe I should just pass the mantle of City Lord to you," he joked.
"Please, City Lord, don't joke around. You're still young and contribute so much to Glory City. Besides, I have no intention of taking your position; it's too much work."
Ye Zong chuckled, but his expression quickly turned serious. "We should focus on the impending catastrophe."
Nie Li handed over some scrolls. "These contain my secret skill, Yin-Yang Dragon's Fire Blast. This ring holds a thousand of such scrolls. They ignite upon contact with demon beast blood. If used correctly alongside the other three lines of defense, they should take down 75% of the horde. As for the Legend Ranks, don't worry—I'll handle them myself."
"The rest of the horde will provide a challenge to strengthen our spirit masters. Also, I noticed an array book on your desk the other day. I believe I can install an array that will serve as a final line of defense. I'll go over the details with you later, but for now, I need to make sure Ziyun is safe."
Nie Li left quickly, leaving Ye Zong dumbfounded. "An array? This brat never ceases to surprise me."
Nie Li found Ye Ziyun and waved. "Yun'er, are you alright? You're not hurt, are you?"
Ziyun's face lit up with relief. "Nie Li, thank the heavens you're safe. You have no idea how worried I was." Her expression turned serious as she added, "Promise me you'll never put your life in danger for me again. Glory City can afford to lose me, but not you."
Nie Li's eyes darkened with anger. "Yun'er, maybe Glory City can afford to lose you, but I can't. To me, my Glory City is you and my loved ones. How could I ever sacrifice you for the greater good? If I had to, I'd sacrifice the world for you. Don't mistake me for a hero."
Ziyun's eyes welled up with tears as she remembered all that Nie Li had been through. "I promise I won't put myself in danger again." She wiped her tears and continued, "I know there's more you haven't told me, but I'll grow stronger so I can share your burdens."
Ye Zong, who had overheard their conversation, couldn't help but feel relieved. Maybe this kid isn't so bad after all. He treasures my daughter as much as I do, if not more, he thought.
Nie Li looked at Ziyun with a mischievous grin. "Well, my little Yun'er, if you're that determined to grow stronger, maybe I should triple your training."
Cold sweat trickled down Ziyun's back. "Noooooo!" she exclaimed.