*Swoon* *Swoon* *Swoon*

In the span of a single breath, three shining domes covered [Zihoadao] one after another. The grand protective formation, created by a true Half Saint, a 2nd Saint-level formation master, had at last activated.

Capable of resisting nearly any Warrior Emperor attack, the formation surrounding [Zihoadao] was comparable to the ones surrounding the powers of the 2nd or even 1st tier. A gift from the [Great Forest Sect] and one of the several gifts that [Zihoadao] lords had considered reasonable for housing the [Ranking Board] of the region. This latter a task that, while profitable and honorable, was no less dangerous than inviting cultivators far above one's level and unknown motives into one's home.

The formation that had just been activated could be named the hope and the principal defensive measure of [Zihoadao]. The city of pride and combat, the island of the death matches, the home of the [Ranking Board], and the only city where Warrior Emperors weren't an unusual sight. Some hailed from the most famous powers of the region, some of them foreigners that had chosen to challenge the former.

The activation of the three golden-glowing domes was awaited, expected, and desired by all of the people connected or part of the [Yi Clan]. Even the City Lord's, Yi Lao's, plan of action was based on the formation. Yet, while everything appeared to have gone as wished, all of them, from the Warrior Lords and Warrior Kings fighting in the city to the City Lord himself, would discover it was far from it.

***

"YOU!" Yi Lao bellowed, incapable of even voicing the following words, his anger reaching a point that he was close to vomiting blood from pure rage.

"Relying on a formation, even after we showed knowledge of it-" For the second time, the female Warrior Emperor attacker spoke up, her words cold and uncaring. And yet containing subtle mockery as she continued, "-no City Lord, at least a decent one, would have placed all of his money on such plan."

"The formation?! Do you think having to fight to the death would even bother me?! Don't underestimate me, plaything of the demons you worship!" Yi Lao roared back, his aura and domain expanding to the utmost, rage both fueling his drive as it made him discard any limiters, any plans to conserve strength.

"Heh." The woman chuckled, her sword still remaining in a deadlock with Yi Lao's staff. And as her free hand formed a seal - one that any Emperor would immediately recognize, she commanded her companions, "It's time."

[Void Proliferation], the first and only command that no Warrior Emperor would fail to know or learn. A wild and untamed portal into the Void that, when used by all the combatants, would result in an exclusive battleground, one where the Emperor's skills and techniques would not affect the plane and where nearly all of the combats between cultivators of such level took place.

"And now you want to fight me openly? Fine, let me show why I am the one to remain here, protecting the seat of the [Yi Clan] power!" Yi Lao knew that fighting against the three Warrior Emperors was a foolish undertaking, but with the formation blocking him from entering the city to clear it from the attackers as he planned, what else but fighting with all of his force he could do? Escape? Leave his Clan? His city?

Resolved to protect the honor and reputation of the [Zihoadao] and the [Yi Clan], Yi Lao's left hand formed the same seal as he thought about the battles down in the city, the people of his Clan and the Clan's own power that fought below.

"Brave fighters of the [Yi Clan], valiant defenders of [Zihoadao], people of My city, and guests of ours. An unknown enemy has chosen to try and destroy us and everyone in our city. But we will prevail, all while showing the island's namesake honor and dignity. Fight inside the formation, beat the back, and make them pay even for thinking of attacking our city. Stand proud and destroy them. Best of luck!" With only his words capable of breaching the formation, Yi Lao qi-infused voice resounded over the island as his figure disappeared from the plane, entering the Void, where he would probably fight to the death.

Yi Lao's words could be said to be dull and shallow, but combined with his reputation and cultivation, they would influence the people of [Zihoadao]. And not only them but even the visitors, such as the ones gathered in the Main Arena.

Yet, if he had known what would happen as he left the physical part of the plane, Yi Lao would have sought any other strategy but encouraging his people and leaving them to their fate.

***

In response to the words of her liege, ones that could only mean he himself would be entering a treacherous fight, Yi Min whispered only one phrase, "Yes, my Lord."

*Swoosh* *Slash* *Rip*

Stopping caring about any injuries or else, Yi Min launched forwards. And while her opponent's claws, meant for such close range, ripped through her aura and even her skin, she tackled her opponent, releasing one of the less-known, sometimes called deathwish, [Royal Technique] of the [Yi Clan], the [Zhidao Pillars].

Four wooden pillars, looking more like four tree trunks, surrounded Yi Min and her opponent right as their bodies connected.

Each pillar extended from ground to sky. And a few breaths later, the four expanded to the sides enough to connect into a single construct, which resembled a tower or an enormous tree trunk - one that reached the heavens themselves.

The [Zhidao Pillars] had a reason to be considered a deathwish technique as their activation required physical contact. And then would also contain the user and their opponent in a space hardly enough for a single human being. With the two, or more, cultivators inside, the royal technique would continue by suddenly releasing a storm of qi-infused wooden spears, nearly as if branches instantly grew on the insides of the trunk-like construct.

This latter could injure and even kill both user and the enemies, at least if the level was similar, with the only way to remain safe being to predict and avoid the spears. Or, in short, to [Know] how to slither in the narrow space, where a badly-timed breath could result in a fatal injury.

***

"Just why are you attacking [Zihoadao]?!" During a brief break, one both combatants created by stepping back - Yi Qigang had asked but had not received any answer.

With their weapon clash ending in nothing, even slightly to the opponent's favor, as it was Yi Qigang who had received a cut on his left wrist, it was clear that the opponent was far from the usual rogue. And with no one from the city's forces arriving at the scene, it was clear that nearly every attacker was of such level, as otherwise, the other battles would have ended already.

"...Best of Luck!" Hearing such words and perfectly aware of his Lord's character, Yi Qigang could only inwardly wish the same for Lord Yi as he continued his own fight.

However unlikely it may seem, Yi Qigang's opponent, a whole head lower, armed with a simple-looking dagger, had managed to block every slash of the four-foot long saber. Even more, Yi Qigang was the one who had received the first and only wound inflicted during this combat.

With more questions than answers and unable to overpower his opponent, Yi Qigang had no choice but to move on to martial skills. And yet, even his signature skill combination, the [Uncut Vine Prison] to capture his opponent and a wood-qi infused saber slash to finish the latter, was crushed as if nothing. And with the opponent merely using a couple of uncomplicated, generally-known skills, Yi Qigang fell even to a bigger disadvantage than during the weapon clash itself.

"Just who are you?!" Barely containing his desire to curse, retreating to avoid the few aura slashes his opponent released, Yi Qigang growled out.

But again, there was no answer, the young and petite man rushing forwards, his hardly spirit-tier dagger releasing aura slashes that forced even Yi Qigang's high-tier weapon to tremble.

*Crack*

In the silence before the slashes or weapons connected, a cracking sound was heard, Yi Qigang biting on a pill nearly every guard carried inside his cheek.

The [Qi-Loan Pill] - a medicine that would allow a cultivator to squeeze every last ounce of qi out of their body and surroundings, elevating one's strength for at least half a level. Given to most beginner Warrior Kings as well to all of the Warrior Lords [Yi Clan] fighters, the [Qi-Loan Pill] was considered a last resort, a pill that could give them a boost of strength to face the enemies they couldn't win against, even if the price was enormous.

Between losing without question and the possibility of winning, even if the pill's recoil could damage his meridians, Yi Qigang's choice was the latter, to win. And if feasible, to destroy at least the foe before him.

*CLANG*

Under the City's Palace, about the same time as the city's principal defensive formation activated.

Hundreds of feet below the lowest of the known cellars of the majestic palace that served as the city's headquarters and the residence of the [Zihoadao] Lord, there was an enclosed, empty chamber.

A heavy gate made of pure [Saint Steel], impossible to damage by any cultivator beneath the Warrior Emperor realm, covered in runes and with seven always active defensive formations, blocked the entrance to this unknown chamber. And even to reach that gate, the dangers and trials were many. After all, only a single corridor, full of traps and accessible only through a secret passage that few living people knew about, led towards it.

Under the City Lord's orders, passed by Yi Min and reinforced by Cai Zhenkang, who had remained outside to defend the Palace, Yi De had rushed towards this chamber at his utmost speed.

"May I be forgiven for the intrusion, but the current City Lord has commanded me to do so." Yi De deeply bowed to the two golden, made of the same [Saint Steel] as the gate, statues flanking the entrance, one resembling a kirin while the other made after the image of a flood dragon.

Only after having stated his intentions, perfectly aware that the statues were not mere decorations, Yi De allowed himself to touch the gate, releasing his qi, identifying himself before the formations.

*Creak*

And as if the gate was sentient, the truth being far simpler as the formations had merely compared the submitted qi against the ones of the people allowed to enter, the two heavy sides slightly opened, revealing a space barely enough for a person to pass.

Bowing again, now to both the statues and the gate itself, Yi De slowly walked inside, not allowing himself the rush he felt the situation called for. After all, he was about to enter a nearly-sacred place. So how could he run inside without showing the respect that the likes of Great Elder Yi Rong, even if the latter would not even notice, were entitled to?

The inner sanctum of a power, the place where the protector or protectors of the latter would dwell in. Experts who spent their remaining lives in meditation, extending their lives to the utmost while both waiting and looking after their respective clan, sect, or city. A nearly sacred place, where no cultivator, except for the current head or leader, would be usually allowed to enter. It was such the place that Yi De was entering, and while under orders to do so, how could he not feel stressed about what he would do?

*Plop*

Facing the only thing in the entire room, a life-like human-sized wooden statue, Yi De fell to his knees.

And as if he was praying, his hands clasped together, Yi De recited the lines that would allow him to activate the formation surrounding the statue, which was nothing but the physical form of a portal to a pocket realm. One where time was slowed down, and Great Elder Yi Rong, the last of the original [Yi Clan] members, a Warrior Emperor of the 6th level, had spent over two hundred years in seclusion.

"Great Elder, I beg for forgiveness as I violate your seclusion. [Zihoadao], and the [Yi Clan] has fallen into dire straits, and my liege, Yi Lao, the fifth Lord of the City and the one who currently holds the mantle of the Clan's leadership, has been forced to beseech your help." Following the customary procedure, one that even the impending doom of a power would not change, Yi De communicated to the crack in the plane's space.

"Speak. Tell me why the sorry excuses of our bloodline have brought over one of the greatest clans of my time. But before that, where is the current Patriarch of the Clan? Why do they send someone who has no blood relation to us?!" Several breaths passed before an answer reached Yi De's ears.

And while the distant voice had started coldly and dispassionately, even as it berated the Lord and his older brother, the Clan's Head, by the end, it nearly roared, making Yi De shiver. Even his voice shook as he started explaining while he attempted his best at disguising the nervousness he felt from facing one of the legendary [Yi Clan] five, the ones responsible for the creation of the clan as it was, as well of the elevation of the [Yi Company] to a 3rd-tier power.

Unknown to Yi De, there was another person in the room as he started his retelling. Someone who had arrived in a way that not even the formations and guardians at the entrance had noticed how this someone had invaded the impossible-to-breach chamber...