Chapter 417 – Hometown Engulfed in Flames

Longyao City.

As a remote Base City located in the coastal area at the edge of the continent, Longyao City had almost nothing remarkable about it, fully deserving the title of “rural Base City.”

Although it had a population of sixty million, in today’s human world, humans needed safe havens like Base Cities as habitats, leading to highly concentrated populations. Due to the threat of the Spirit Demon Abyss, human authorities strongly encouraged reproduction. Thus, a Base City with tens of millions of people was merely the minimum standard and not unusual in this world.

Take Tianfeng City, for example. As the Human Sanctuary, its population numbered in the hundreds of millions, comparable to a large nation. That was what qualified as a “major city” in this world.

It was also for this reason that the former rulers of Tianfeng City, the ancestors of the Qin Family, could proclaim themselves the Royal Family, establish their dominion, and govern the entire Tianfeng City as a nation.

Compared to Tianfeng City, Longyao City was indeed inconspicuous.

Of course, this situation had changed several months ago.

As the Seal site of the Spirit Demon Abyss King, Longyao City had now become the most prominent Base City in the entire human world.

After the support dispatched from various Major Base Cities carried out large-scale renovations and arrangements for safety considerations, Longyao City became completely different from its past self.

If Su Ming had returned earlier, he would have seen that many of Longyao City’s layouts were no longer the same as before.

At the very least, Longyao City’s walls had been completely rebuilt. Not only were they much sturdier and harder than before, but Alchemy Devices were also in operation, possessing effects that repelled Phantom Demons while also serving detection and defense functions.

If external enemies attacked, through the reconnaissance of the Alchemy Devices, Longyao City would quickly detect their presence and could deploy defensive barriers in critical moments to resist the enemies.

Due to Longyao City’s importance, the Rank of these defensive barriers was constructed quite high.

Once activated, even if an Upper-Rank Sorcerer used high-sequence Advanced Spirit Arts for long-range bombardment, they could be blocked.

Even a highest-Rank Seven-Star Sorcerer would need to use large-scale Offensive Spirit Arts ranked above sequence eighty for multiple fierce assaults to break the defensive barrier.

This would be enough to drain the Spirit Power of a highest-Rank Seven-Star Sorcerer, rendering them unable to continue fighting.

This demonstrates how much Longyao City’s defense system had improved compared to before.

Coupled with various other measures in different aspects, with the assistance of Major Base Cities across the human world, Longyao City had been transformed into a military stronghold comparable to Tianfeng City, difficult to capture.

Unfortunately, Su Ming was destined not to see Longyao City in its renewed state.

There was no helping it.

Even such a Longyao City ultimately could not withstand the full-force strike of a Divine Artifact.

Thus, Longyao City’s outer walls turned into ruins, completely destroyed.

Thus, countless malevolent forces invaded this Base City, turning it into a sea of flames.

When a massive alchemical airship sped from the other side of the sky and arrived above Longyao City, the city that came into view already resembled a battlefield ravaged by artillery fire, blazing red.

Buildings were collapsing.

Streets were crumbling.

Screams.

Wails.The sounds of slaughter.

Deafening explosions.

All these signs became the main theme of present-day Longyao City, completely plunging this remote Base City into chaos.

Su Ming appeared on the deck of the alchemical airship.

Surrounding him were not only members of Azure Mercury like Chi Qian, Xu Xiayan, and An Zijin, but also numerous Professionals from Tianfeng City.

They were numerous in number, their Auras astonishing—clearly all formidable individuals, not a single one among them ordinary.

Especially the group standing at the forefront, each exuding an aura that seemed capable of making the very atmosphere tremble, signaling to all that they were beings standing at the pinnacle of humanity.

They were Seven-Star Professionals.

They were the apex of humanity, numbering only a dozen or so even in Tianfeng City.

Old Ling was among them, standing right beside Su Ming.

In the end, Old Ling had permitted Su Ming to accompany them, allowing the Azure Mercury members and all those intending to set out to support Longyao City to board a large alchemical airship. In just half a day, they successfully arrived in Longyao City.

But half a day was ultimately too long.

Longyao City had already fallen, and now it could no longer maintain even a semblance of its former appearance, completely transforming into a battlefield engulfed in artillery fire. The sounds of slaughter and the panicked cries of people were everywhere, painting a vivid picture of Hell.

Due to having consumed the Seven-Colored Eye Potion, Su Ming’s vision and Spirit Sense were exceptionally powerful, far beyond what others could achieve. He could easily see the scenes on the ground and witness what was happening in Longyao City.

He saw black-clad Underground Professionals laughing maniacally as they hunted down panicked civilians.

He saw the Professionals of Longyao City, filled with rage and sorrow, rising up recklessly to resist, engaging in fierce battles with the Underground Professionals.

Blood stained every corner of Longyao City, and corpses were carelessly strewn across the streets, composing a symphony of withering lives.

Su Ming also saw the Demon Hunter Academy, the campus he had once attended.

It had collapsed.

He also saw the Key Protected Area, where his parents lived.

It, too, was engulfed in flames.

The glow of Spirit Arts appeared in every corner of Longyao City, continuously causing explosions and destroying every blade of grass and tree in this Base City.

Such a scene, such a tragedy, made Su Ming feel as if his mind had been struck by a thunderous blast. The blood in his entire body surged violently in an instant, rushing straight to his brain.

It wasn’t just Su Ming; even the girls around him, those with Destiny tied to Longyao City, felt a surge of blood rushing to their heads.

“Those bastards…!” Xu Xiayan raged.

“How could this happen?” An Zijin covered her small mouth, while Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei beside her had reddened eyes.

Bai Xuefei, Bai Ruxiang, and Bai Xiaoyan, whose Family had resided in Longyao City for generations, diligently striving to survive there, also turned pale, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

This was devastating news.

This was a catastrophe.

This was, without a doubt, tragic news for those who had once lived in Longyao City and had countless ties to it.

“Boom!”

An overwhelmingly terrifying Aura erupted from Su Ming’s body.

“————!?”Everyone was forced back by the terrifying aura, their faces filled with horror as they stared in Su Ming’s direction.

Especially the Seven-Star Professionals.

They had originally been puzzled and confused as to why Old Ling had suddenly changed his mind, bringing this little monster with boundless potential and limitless prospects onto the alchemical airship, setting off together and bringing him to the battlefield of Longyao City.

Now, they understood.

It was simply because this little monster seemed to have transformed into a true monster in an extremely short time, possessing terrifyingly formidable strength.

That horrifying aura, which directly scattered the clouds in the sky, actually made even them—the pinnacle of humanity—feel a sense of dread and fear. This alone was enough to explain everything.

Su Ming, however, paid no attention to their reactions. He directly transformed into a streak of light, leaving everyone present behind, rushing out of the alchemical airship and shooting violently toward Longyao City below.

“Su Ming!”

“Brother Su Ming!”

“Senior Su Ming!”

“Commander!”

“Lord Commander!”

Xu Xiayan, An Zijin, Jiang Wanyu, Yao Beibei, Chi Qian, Mu Yan, Feng Qing’er, Tong Xinyao, and the other women immediately cried out in alarm one after another.

“Lord Ming Wang!”

Even Bai Ruxiang and Bai Xiaoyan couldn’t help but exclaim.

The powerful experts from Tianfeng City saw this scene and quickly snapped out of their shock, immediately wanting to stop Su Ming’s actions.

But Old Ling stopped them.

“Let him go,” Old Ling shook his head and said, “His parents and loved ones are down there. If we try to stop him from going down now, I’m afraid he won’t recognize anyone and will attack anyone who dares to stand in his way.”

Old Ling’s words made everyone immediately withdraw their hands.

Including those Seven-Star Professionals, they did the same.

They were joking—they didn’t want to oppose Su Ming, who had inexplicably become so terrifying.

They hadn’t lived long enough yet and wouldn’t complain about their lives being too long.

After stopping the experts from Tianfeng City, Old Ling looked at Chi Qian, Xu Xiayan, An Zijin, and the others.

“You go after him, look after him, and also go rescue your families and clan members.”

“Our side will also send a group to go down with you, responsible for rescue operations on the ground and dealing with those ‘Sin’ Underground Professionals.”

“Remember, you’re only responsible for rescue operations on the ground. Don’t go to the Underground Ruins area—that place has probably become the most dangerous location by now.”

That’s what Old Ling said.

“If you notice anything wrong, if there are excessive disturbances in Longyao City that suggest the underground Seal has been broken, then flee with all your might outside Longyao City. Absolutely do not remain in the urban area, understand?”

Old Ling’s instructions made the group of young women hurriedly nod.

“Let’s go!”

Chi Qian was the first to jump off the alchemical airship, chasing after Su Ming.

Mu Yan and Feng Qing’er followed—one jumped down right after, while the other picked up Tong Xinyao before jumping down.

“Let’s go chase Brother Su Ming too!”

An Zijin quickly said, making Jiang Wanyu and Yao Beibei hurriedly nod as well. They took An Zijin with them and jumped off the alchemical airship.

“Sister Xiayan!”

“Commander!”

Bai Xuefei, Bai Ruxiang, and Bai Xiaoyan looked anxiously at Xu Xiayan.

“Let’s go.”

Xu Xiayan took a deep breath, coldly said one sentence, then brought them along as she jumped off the alchemical airship.As a matter of course, Wang Di, Wang Qian, and the others all followed suit.

Without exception, everyone on Su Ming’s side chased after him.

However, when they landed on the ground, the female Hunters of the Bai Family hesitated for a moment before heading toward the Bai Family’s direction first, not joining Su Ming and the others in going to the Key Protected Area.

Xu Xiayan had Wang Qian and several Upper-Rank Professionals follow them, then took Wang Di and headed toward the Xu Family’s direction.

As for Chi Qian, An Zijin, and the others, naturally, every single one of them followed behind Su Ming, heading toward the Key Protected Area.

Old Ling watched this scene and immediately ordered two Seven-Star Professionals to lead a team, taking a group of experts down to deal with the Underground Professionals on the ground.

The rest would join him in heading to the Underground Ruins where the Wang Family’s ancestral graves were located, to prevent the Seal from being broken.

“I hope everything goes smoothly.”

Old Ling looked worriedly in the direction Su Ming had left, then took the lead, transforming into a streak of light and darting toward the Underground Ruins.

On the alchemical airship, figures transformed into streaks of light one after another, descending into Longyao City and landing in the fiery battlefield.

A brutal slaughter began.

……

“Boom!”

As a terrifying aura swept through like a typhoon, the entire atmosphere and earth trembled incessantly, with roaring sounds echoing without end.

Su Ming made no attempt to conceal his own aura, his expression grim and his eyes filled with a cold light. He charged forward recklessly like a comet rampaging across the ground. Wherever he passed, whether it was buildings or obstructors, they either collapsed or were swept into his terrifying Aura, dying on the spot with blood flowing from all seven orifices.

In this manner, Su Ming advanced all the way to the Key Protected Area.

This place should have been one of the safest areas in Longyao City.

Based on the contributions, benefits, and protection provided to Professionals, the relatives of all Professionals were brought to such a place to reside, receiving the Base City’s official key protection.

Places like the Key Protected Area existed in every Base City.

The protective measures here were also the highest-grade in every Base City. Not only were there large numbers of soldiers stationed year-round, standing guard and patrolling, but there were also officially assigned Professionals permanently stationed here to provide nearby protection. It could almost be said to prevent all human persecution and harm. Not even Phantom Demons, let alone a thief, could act recklessly here.

Yet, under the invasion of 『Sin』, this place had ultimately turned into a battlefield.

Countless Underground Professionals clad in black were seen fighting here against soldiers armed with firearms and Professionals wielding weapons.

The Underground Professionals charged forward madly, slaughtering within the Key Protected Area.

The soldiers and Professionals seemed to be blocking them at the cost of their lives, as if buying time.

When Su Ming, transformed into a comet, swept into this place, before his Aura, pressure, and the accompanying shockwaves could spread out, his Spirit Sense rapidly expanded first, enveloping the entire Key Protected Area.

At this moment, Su Ming had already prepared for the worst.Though unwilling to admit it, with fury and killing intent boiling to their peak within his heart, Su Ming held little hope that his parents and relatives could have survived.

Longyao City had fallen for quite some time, and the Key Protected Area had clearly suffered concentrated bombardment from area-effect Offensive Spirit Arts, now reduced to a sea of flames. The chances of ordinary people surviving such artillery fire were exceedingly slim.

Thus, Su Ming had mentally prepared himself for the worst possible news.

But when he activated his Spirit Sense, he froze momentarily—first with bewilderment, then with dawning comprehension as he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Within the perception of his Spirit Sense, his parents and relatives were still alive.

Because of one person.

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(End of Chapter)