Chapter 33: You go first! No! If my Royal Brother does not leave, then neither shall I.

The system remained silent.

Li Muchen could not hear a response and called out to the system several times in his mind.

[...]

The system continued to keep silent, thinking to itself: *The host is too agitated right now; I should let him calm down first.*

A few minutes passed, and Li Muchen compromised.

"Fine, five hundred it is!"

"Put it on my tab for now; hurry and give the Speed-Enhancing Pills to Vermilion Bird and the others."

[Very well, transaction successful.]

[The Speed-Enhancing Pills have been administered to the four divine beasts. Their cultivation will increase to the second level for a short period.]

Li Muchen’s anxious heart finally settled.

This was for the best; the barrier would not break in the short term. Now, he just had to wait for Yun Qing to complete his breakthrough. Before that, they could only wait.

...

Time ticked away, second by second.

The Holy Lord of Green Wood Mountain, along with Hu Bai and the other demons, had spent two hours at the city gate trying to break through the barrier.

"We've been attacking for two hours now; why is there no reaction from this barrier?"

Hu Bai was naturally impatient, and now he was growing even more restless.

"What kind of spell is this broken barrier made of? Why is it so hard to break?!"

"Senior Brother, I have an idea."

"What idea? Speak!"

"I’ve noticed that the weakest point of this barrier is at the center, mid-air."

"I have been focusing my attacks there, and I’ve discovered that there is indeed a slight loosening in that spot."

"In a moment, let’s all attack at once. We will focus all our power on that weakest point."

"I refuse to believe this barrier won't break."

Hu Bai looked at Qixi with an appreciative gaze, a crafty light shining in his eyes. "That is a good plan!"

"When it comes to using one's brain, you are as sharp as ever, Junior Brother."

"You flatter me, Senior Brother."

"Good, let’s not delay."

"Everyone, listen up—"

"Gather here."

At Hu Bai’s command, the tiger demons he brought with him all gathered in one direction. Hu Bai explained the plan to them, and they all flew into the air, reaching the center point of the barrier.

"Everyone—"

"Use your best techniques."

"Put your all into it, and strike that center point like mad."

"If we don't break this barrier today,"

"I will never leave!"

As Hu Bai finished his words, both the cultivators and the demons unleashed their most powerful spells, attacking that specific spot frantically.

An hour later, the location under relentless attack began to show signs of giving way.

"Look—"

"This method really works."

"The barrier, which hadn't budged, has finally started to loosen."

"Great!"

"Push a little harder—"

"At this rate, the barrier will be broken soon."

"Yes—let's push harder!"

"Everyone, exert your strength together and keep attacking that spot."

Seeing that the barrier was no longer as impenetrable as it had been at the start, their morale soared. They assumed it was the Holy Lord of Green Wood Mountain’s strategy that was working.

Little did they know, that was not the case at all.

The reason the barrier was starting to falter was that three out of the four hours had already passed. Now, there was less than an hour remaining.

The effects of the Speed-Enhancing Pills in the bodies of Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Azure Dragon, and White Tiger would soon vanish. Once the effects wore off, their cultivation would instantly revert to its original state. Furthermore, due to the backlash of the medication, the four of them would only be able to utilize half of their original combat power.

By that time, let alone maintaining the barrier, even protecting themselves would become a major problem, to say nothing of protecting the citizens of the Great Tang Kingdom and ensuring the palace was not slaughtered.

Inside the barrier, the four divine beasts remained in their respective positions, exerting their power to prevent the barrier from collapsing. Outside, the intensity and speed of Hu Bai and his group’s attacks had increased significantly. At their current rate, it might take less than an hour for a breach to be torn into the barrier. Once that happened, they would be able to enter the Great Tang Kingdom through the opening.

...

Meanwhile, within the palace of the Great Tang Kingdom.

Li Muchen was mentally connected to Vermilion Bird and the others, so he knew exactly what was happening at the city gate the moment it occurred. Coupled with guards constantly rushing in to report the real-time situation, even Empress Dowager Dou and Princess Pingyang were aware of the crisis.

Li Qingyan clenched her fists, her face filled with worry.

"This is bad. If things continue like this..."

"Our city gate barrier will definitely be broken."

"Royal Brother, do you have any other escape routes?"

Li Qingyan walked up to Li Muchen and grasped his arm. "If it really comes to it, let's seize the time and leave now, shall we?"

Li Qingyan’s suggestion was immediately met with agreement from everyone else.

"My son, Pingyang is right."

"This barrier won't hold forever. We must leave while there is still time."

"My Lord, the Empress Dowager and the Princess are right."

"As long as we survive, there will be hope. Staying in the palace to the bitter end will only make us souls lost to the demons."

"We subordinates beg you, My Lord, please leave first!"

The secret guards and soldiers also began to plead with Li Muchen to leave.

Li Muchen remained unmoved and rejected everyone’s advice. "No—"

"I cannot leave."

"My son!"

"Royal Brother!"

"My Lord!"

Everyone was horrified, unable to understand why Li Muchen insisted on staying here to wait for death.

"Stop talking, all of you!"

"Yun Qing is still undergoing his breakthrough. I cannot abandon him."

"The bond of master and disciple has been formed."

"How could I, Li Muchen, be someone who betrays his teacher?"

"If you want to leave, then go yourselves."

"My Lord, I am willing to stay and guard Young Master Yun Qing to the death."

"I am also willing to stay, I only beg that you, My Lord, leave immediately."

"My Lord, if you do not care for your own life, you must think of the Empress Dowager and Princess Pingyang..."

"They are your mother and sister."

"How can you bear to watch them die at the hands of those demons?"

The secret guard's words stirred ripples in Li Muchen’s heart.

The guards were right; his mother and sister were defenseless women. He could not let them stay here and die. If Green Wood Mountain and the demon forces truly broke the barrier early, they would face nothing but death.

Li Muchen clenched his fists and pressed his lips together, remaining silent. After a while, he looked at his mother and sister. "Mother, you and Pingyang should leave the palace first."

"If the barrier is broken, mix in with the crowd and flee the city immediately."

"Their target is me and Yun Qing; their first priority will be coming to the palace."

"No—if you don't leave, Royal Brother, then I won't go either!"