Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 1054 - 656: The War Begins

Chapter 1054: Chapter 656: The War Begins

The towering, majestic city walls stood not far away, their formation patterns flickering with an unsettling light that provided scarce illumination to the pitch-black market, but enough for Xu Yuan to discern the visage of the newcomer.

Apart from its grotesque insectoid compound eyes, its pale skin was riddled with fine black threads, like seams about to burst open at any moment.

How unspeakably ugly...

Compared to their last encounter, Mu Xingyi had now completely transformed into a monstrosity wrapped in human skin.

After staring for several breaths at the figure within the shop, Xu Yuan tossed the Yellow Fragrant Fruit in his hand back onto the stall and pointed at the fully intact City Defense Canopy above, chuckling as he replied:

"I’m naturally here waiting for you all, though I am curious how you managed to get in. The formation hasn’t been broken yet."

As he spoke, a scrutinizing glint flickered in Xu Yuan’s eyes:

"Is that body of yours a projection?"

Mu Xingyi didn’t respond to Xu Yuan’s question:

"Such low-grade probing doesn’t suit your usual style, Brother Xu."

Xu Yuan did not follow his lead in the conversation. After a brief thought, he continued speaking to himself:

"Though we have old ties, personal relationships ultimately vary in closeness. If your true body had descended, I doubt you’d give me the chance to speak. So, this body of yours really is a spellcraft-constructed projection, isn’t it?"

Mu Xingyi’s figure remained concealed in the shadows of the shop:

"This is indeed not my true body."

"An impressive method, to be sure."

Xu Yuan offered a compliment, his narrowed eyes glinting faintly: "But to create a projection powerful enough to bypass the Protective City Formation, I suspect you had to use Sacred Origin, didn’t you?"

Mu Xingyi didn’t bother wasting words on Xu Yuan:

"Sacred Origin projection or true body—putting aside these trivial questions, the real purpose behind my visit should be what concerns you most, Brother Xu."

Xu Yuan’s lips curved into a faint smile:

"So your purpose here isn’t to persuade me to surrender, is it?"

Mu Xingyi’s expression remained tranquil and composed as when they first met, his voice gentle:

"I’ve come to propose a trade, Brother Xu. You did save my life once, after all."

Looking at the inhuman former friend before him, Xu Yuan stroked his chin:

"So, you’re someone who values sentiment. But if you’re saying that, then it sounds like this really is about surrender, isn’t it?"

After a few moments of silence, Mu Xingyi spoke in a slow voice:

"Although you’ll likely refuse, I’ll say it nonetheless. If you willingly allow yourself to be devoured by Mu Nuo, Wan’er and I can serve the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a century, life or death unbound."

Upon hearing this proposal, Xu Yuan couldn’t help but laugh aloud:

"Do I strike you as someone noble enough to sacrifice myself for the people of this city?"

Mu Xingyi shook his head and replied softly:

"I said serve the Prime Minister’s Mansion for a century. The other Saints outside don’t know of our conversation. If you agree, the three of us can cooperate with your people to exterminate them."

"Even if you serve the Prime Minister’s Mansion, my father wouldn’t allow you to live."

"That’s why I said life or death unbound."

"......" Xu Yuan.

After a brief pause, Xu Yuan chuckled and shook his head:

"To pave the way for that Ghost Infant, you two are really willing to throw away your lives. Is this the instinct of all living beings?"

"......"

Mu Xingyi turned his gaze toward the northern part of the city, where an inn he had once temporarily stayed in stood. His tone was serene:

"Had you not been so special, Brother Xu, perhaps the two of us might still share nights of drinking and conversation as we did that day..."

"Enough."

Xu Yuan abruptly cut off Mu Xingyi, his voice calm and amused:

"I did appreciate your personality back then, but I remember our friendship only lasted half a month, didn’t it? Pulling this mutual sentiment act—isn’t that a bit nauseatingly over the top?"

"You won’t win."

"Perhaps not."

"I suppose your mind is made up, Brother Xu."

"Celebrating early is a bad habit, especially when the real game hasn’t even begun."

As he said this, a killing intent flashed in Xu Yuan’s eyes:

"And even if that Ghost Infant of yours doesn’t come looking for me, I’ll seek him out myself as soon as my cultivation advances."

"....."

Silence reigned.

In their prolonged gaze, Mu Xingyi’s calm tone carried a hint of regret:

"So this is the way it must be after all."

And as his gentle murmur faded away, Mu Xingyi slowly closed his grotesque compound eyes, ushering in a sudden upheaval above the heavenly canopy.

"Zzzz—"

The piercing clash of metal rang across the sky dome. Without warning, an enormous bladed insect foot impaled the City Defense Canopy from the outside. Its tip descended rapidly, striking the Prefecture City’s ground like a colossal sword, raising a cloud of dust.

And this was merely the beginning,

As the massive foot blade began slashing, carving open a chasm a hundred zhang wide in the City Defense Canopy. Sunlight and the frenzied insect tide poured through the breach, cascading downward. The shrieking cries of the swarm soon filled the entire city...

Witnessing this, Xu Yuan had been about to make a sarcastic remark regarding their destructive prowess, which paled compared to Emperor Bai’s. But as his gaze shifted to the man before him, Mu Xingyi had already begun to slowly open his eyes, his aura suddenly deepening into unfathomable territory.

Oh?

The Bug Saint can transfer his true body into a spellcraft projection?

The astonishment in Xu Yuan’s eyes had yet to fade when a fine seam on Mu Xingyi’s skin suddenly split open, revealing a slender whip blade emerging from within.

In a moment of suspended time, the whip blade abruptly lashed out at Xu Yuan.

From above to below, the swinging strike left a slash mark that stretched dozens of zhang across the ground, cutting through market stalls and houses alike, splitting them cleanly in two. Only after a breath did the gusts created by the strike belatedly burst forth!

The turbulent airflow ruffled Xu Yuan’s garments, and Mu Xingyi stared at the still-dashing man before him, his compound eyes reflecting a peculiar glint.

Xu Yuan likewise gazed back, his tone tinged with subtle helplessness:

"The moment negotiations fail, you immediately resort to killing?"

Mu Xingyi fixed his eyes on the man:

"With your cultivation, you shouldn’t have been able to react."

Xu Yuan shrugged, narrowing his eyes into a playful grin:

"They say if a slash is fast enough, one wouldn’t even realize they’ve died. Perhaps I’m already dead and just don’t realize it."

"...."

Mu Xingyi said nothing,

Insect People differed from other lifeforms.

They didn’t possess will-spirits for perceiving their surroundings.

However,

Their compound eyes provided them with dynamic vision far superior to humans of the same rank.

Moments ago, when the whip blade nearly touched its target, Mu Xingyi clearly saw Xu Changtian’s figure flicker for an instant, barely evading his strike.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan let out a faint sigh:

"To be honest, I envy you a little; you don’t have to do anything but eat your own father, and you can directly gain the power of a Saint..."

Before the sentence finished, Mu Xingyi’s concealed whip blade lashed out again, a dozen abrupt slash marks extending from beneath Xu Yuan’s feet, cleaving the southeastern region of Yellow Dragon Market into distinct halves!

Yet bizarrely,

Beyond a slight dusting of grime on his robes, Xu Changtian remained entirely unscathed, standing perfectly intact before him.

Every time a strike approached, his figure would flicker slightly.

Glancing over the chaos strewn behind him, Xu Yuan sensed his now half-depleted dantian and let out a resigned sigh:

"I originally planned to wait for your wife to show herself, but since you’re so generous, I suppose I’ll return the favor as a gesture of hospitality."

"So you’ve indeed set up a trap here. But are you convinced your trap will affect me..."

Before he could finish, Mu Xingyi’s brow furrowed sharply as he suddenly noticed his body frozen by some kind of force.

In the next instant,

Countless translucent, mystical talismans illuminated the market’s darkness. The crystalline talismans interlocked piece by piece, forming a spherical barrier that enveloped the entire market!

Mu Xingyi’s compound eyes rolled rapidly, scanning the surroundings. Though he couldn’t pinpoint the caster’s location, several thoughts flashed through his mind:

A pre-laid spellcraft formation.

The caster must possess at least Transcendent Mortal cultivation.

Breaking this talisman formation wouldn’t be difficult, but it would take time.

With Sacred Origin safeguarding him, these talismans would still inflict injuries.

Choosing to shed his shell and escape would prevent harm but would consume significant Sacred Origin.

As these scrambled thoughts rushed through him, hesitation struck—and then, before he could act, the surroundings transformed again!

The talisman-generated sphere suddenly constricted, as if golden chains were binding themselves to his form, locking his aura tightly within this talisman prison.

At this moment, Mu Xingyi’s rapidly darting compound eyes caught movement atop the towering West City Wall.

Suspended mid-air was a burly, imposing man.

The figure fixed a downward stare upon him.

And behind him,

stood hundreds of fortress-grade ballistae, bows drawn and poised to unleash!