"Have we been doing things wrong?", Xu Ling asked Jin Tianxuan as they both sat at a table overlooking the wall.
"What is causing you to have doubts?", Jin Tianxuan countered the question with another.
Xu Ling sighed, "Over the last few days, Tianbao has been assaulted by a force much larger than what has been recorded in the archives. Usually, an attack such as this would result in catastrophic loses but look."
The two men stopped playing their game of go as Jin Tianxuan followed Xu Ling's arm as it pointed to the main gate of the wall.
"I know what you're trying to say", Jin Tianxuan placed his stone on the board, "Despite the number of invading forces from the devils, causalities are low."
"Low is an understatement", Xu Ling said as he attempted to block his opponent's move, "If we lost thirty percent of our disciples defending against an attack like this, that would be seen as an achievement. Instead, I've heard from the healers that only five percent have perished from the sects and that was only due to overconfidence."
"I've heard the same", Jin Tianxuan admitted, "What's more amazing is the mercenaries."
Xu Ling looked confused so Jin Tianxuan continued.
"In the best of times, five members of the mercenaries teams would fall for every sect disciple", he explained, "Other times when the fighting was at its worse, it was common for ten or more to die for each disciples death."
"That makes sense", Xu Ling nodded, "How can those who lack the resources fight on the same level as us?"
"It's different this time", Jin Tianxuan replied, "Thanks to the Heaven & Earth Pavilion, the mercenaries have made vast improvements and there loses are only slight higher than ours."
"Aren't most mercenaries just independent cultivators that couldn't pass the entry test of a sect?", Xu Ling asked.
"Indeed", Jin Tianxuan agreed.
"That's troubling", Xu Ling had a pensive look on his face, "If ones considered unworthy can rise to the same level as the talented few that we raised, doesn't it mean we are lacking?"
"Perhaps", a voice interrupted the conversation.
The two looked over to see the other three Protectors along with Elder Qing arriving at this time.
The source of the voice, Lei Huang smiled, "At this time, I don't think it's the best opportunity to harbor such dark thoughts. It's better that our duty of protecting the wall is easier, not more difficult."
"What about after?", Xu Ling inquired.
"After we've repelled our enemies?", Lei Huang smirked at his colleague, "I've already thought about it, and sent word to the patriarch."
Lei Huang watched as the eyes of Jin Tianxuan, Mei Lihua, and Shui Yan narrowed before saying, "It appears all of you have as well, with the exception of Protector Xu."
Xu Ling looked everyone in confusion, "You all plan to send invitations to these cultivators? Shouldn't we snuff out a growing uncontrolled force instead?"
"So paranoid", Mei Lihua giggled, "We can always do that later if needed, but why not try to invite them first. All that lurking in shadows has caused you to think the worst of people, Protector Xu. Anyways, I've already set my sights on one so don't make things difficult for me."
"Must be impressive to catch your eye", Shui Yan stated, "Do we know who it is?"
"I don't know his name yet either", Mei Lihua coughed awkwardly, "I have someone looking into it now. But his battle techniques were impressive. He threw out thousands of seeds, and instantly grew sword grass. Enemies standing there were skewered as he finished them with blades of grass he harvested. The techniques were still rough, but I see a lot of potential in him."
"I must admit I have my eye on a few as well", Jin Tianxuan spoke up, "Obviously, the one that fought with a suit made up of artifacts was interesting, but I also saw another that had small flying artifacts following her around. As she battled, the flying artifacts would take advantage of openings to cause damage or outright kill her enemies. Lastly, I witnessed a strange alchemist that used a furnace to fight, and made plans to send an invitation."
Lei Huang was about to stake his own claim when some distance sounds interrupted the conversation.
"What's that?", he inquired as everyone turned to look.
"That's the pavilion", Qing Yun responded, "It looks as though the formation is using lightning to attack the devils."
Off in the distance, they could see arcs of lightning occasionally appear on the array formation surrounding the store. Each time an arc appeared, it would be followed by the crash of trees and a dust cloud of an impact.
"The destruction resulting from that attack doesn't match the lightning being used", Lei Huang observed, "How is it being done?"
The six Nascent soul cultivators watched this strange event happen several more times before Jin Tianxuan spoke.
"When the lightning strikes, I can sense a small object traveling at high speed afterwards", he added.
"I see", Lei Huang rubbed his chin, "This is a phenomenon that's little known about, but in the family's library I once read about rare instances where lightning would cause certain metals to move. It would appear that the senior that watches the shop has created a spell based on this."
As the group contemplated what they had seen, an aura of ethereal power was felt.
"It's only been a few days", Shui Yan exclaimed, "Why are beings of our realm already starting to show up?"
Jin Tianxuan stood up, "I'll go down, and instruct the ones out in the field to retreat."
"I'll follow", Xu Ling said, "One of our golden cores had a breakthrough in his technique recently, and was using this fight to master it."
"I'm surprised to see such a cultivator in your sect", Jin Tianxuan had a slight smile on his face, "A sect of shadow users recruited a man that plays shogi."
Without waiting any longer, Jin Tianxuan jumped onto a sword and flew down. Xu Ling ignored the provocation, and walked into the closest shadow before melting into it. A flash of light illuminated the area for a moment, and the remaining three protectors watched as a large bolt of lightning crossed the sky.
"Protector Lei should show better restraint", Mei Lihua pouted, "I'll make sure nothing happens to him."
Taking graceful steps, Mei Lihua walked to a tree planted near the terrace before fusing with it.
Fang Shi sat on top of the roof of the main hall watching as the formation surrounding the store. He hoped that all the preparations made beforehand would protect his customers. The Mind shield talisman was something he had the system commission after the corpse of the demon had been scanned. The examination revealed that these beings had an especially powerful mental strength, and that they attacked this place to consume the qi of the cultivators and blood of the spiritual beasts.
Fang Shi was slightly regretful, as he wished he could have added a game to the cultivation hall that would improve a person's mental sea. To rectify this situation, he had advertised to all his guests that once the battles were finished, he wished to purchase all the remains. He guessed that if the system could scan more of the devils, the number of methods and techniques that could be added would greatly increase.
As Fang Shi pondered over this, the lights and noise attracted his attention towards the other change made for the defense of the store. Normally, he set the protective arrays to nonlethal measures because he didn't want to become a business known for killing his customers. That's why all previous offenders had been cast into an illusion array that would lead them out of the shop. Unfortunately, this time Fang Shi realized that these beings couldn't be persuaded so he activated the kill arrays. He chose two in particular: a lightning array that would fire projectiles like a railgun, and a light and water array that could produce deadly laser beams. Fang Shi watched as slugs fired at high speed would be launched at an unsuspecting target, punching through it before it drove into the ground. He imagined that the guests currently staying would also be surprised, if they witnessed a devil fall dead after a small hole appeared for no reason.
[ Host, this unit has a report to make.]
"Proceed", Fang Shi replied.
[ This unit has been performing scans to locate the materials required to build the teleportation formation the host requested. During the last sweep, an area to the northwest was found but there are complications.]
"What complications?", Fang Shi became curious.
[ A teleportation array formation was discovered in that location, but this unit has discovered that the beings known as 'devils' are currently using it. During the last sweep, several early Nascent Soul level and a mid level Nascent Soul level 'Devil' was found. ]
"Are you telling me this because this teleportation array could be taken and repurposed?", Fang Shi asked.
[It is possible, host.]
Fang Shi open the system panel to the [Employee] tab, and scrolled down to where all the inactive puppets were located.
"Select these ten puppets", Fang Shi ordered.
The tab changed as ten puppets changed their status from inactive to active, and Fang Shi selected the icon for the first one on the right. A new screen appeared showing the specific information for the puppet, and Fang Shi went to the [Combat Style] option. Another light screen appeared, but this had a series of portraits, each one representing a character from a game, movie, show, or book from the shop. Fang Shi made his selection, and close the screens until he returned to the screen with the ten puppets, and repeated the process for each one. Moments later, ten puppets stood outside his room on the balcony.
"Go to this location, and acquire the teleportation formation", Fang Shi instructed the group, "The priority is the acquisition of the gate, so permission to kill is granted but only if faster ways aren't feasible."
The ten quickly saluted, and then disappeared as they headed to their objective.
"I'm surprised you didn't send me to go get it, system", Fang Shi joked.
[Under other circumstances, this unit would have considered it, but there are several reason why that would be a poor choice.]
"Such as?", Fang Shi wondered.
[As the host stated, the danger present is too much of a risk when the host's realm is only at the level of Foundation Establishment. Also, the store is currently open with customers and guests inside. It's the host's responsibility to ensure the safety of them. Finally, the host is overseeing operations of the store and delegation of this task is the wiser choice. Perhaps in the future, this unit will assign a task for product acquisition.]
Ignoring the last comment with a slightly disturbed look on his face, Fang Shi said, "Connect to the puppets, and let's see how they do."
Ten smaller screens floated in front him, and Fang Shi watched as the puppets rode their weapons towards their goal. The trip was mostly straightforward with the group only stopping twice to battle devils that impeded their progress. Three hours later, the group arrived at a large flat area with a large arch in the middle. The puppets hide their aura as they watched devils pour out of a portal and stream towards the fortress city and the forest. All ten puppets looked at each other and nodded before splitting up. Nine puppets engaged the enemy, surprising and slaughtering the devils as the tenth pulls out a series of flags in preparation of gaining control of the formation.
The tenth puppet swept over the array until it stopped on a certain place, and with efficient movement, it headed to its goal. The other nine puppets immediately changed styles as the tenth arrived at the location, switching from offense to defense. With perfect hand gestures, the tenth puppet controlled the flags to move to certain points of the array as chaos erupted. The fighting continued to intensify until the light and sound produce by the portal disappeared, and the devils watched the gate to their homeland disappear.
The conflict didn't last much longer afterwards as the nine puppets killed the remaining devils that still remained in the area.
"I thought you said there were Nascent Soul level devils, system", Fang Shi noticed how easily the puppets defeated the demons.
[The devils this unit detected have already moved towards the fortress city, and are currently in combat with the protectors.]
"They didn't try to protect their way back home?", Fang Shi deliberated, "Nevermind, system, have them return with the array and then deploy them to the city."
[Understood.]
As the defenders of the wall faced the devils, a different battle was being waged in Blue Moon city. Inside the room sat Liang Tian of the Profound Sword sect, Yun Qian of the Azure River sect, Mayor Chen, and Xiong Tianzu.
"Why have you humans asked to see me today?", Xiong Tianzu looked at the other three suspiciously.
"Good day, Fellow Daoist Xiong", Yun Qian greeted the burly man, "I'm glad you could join us, and I'm sorry we disturbed your day."
"That doesn't answer my question", Xiong Tianzu scoffed.
"Our apologies", Liang Tian told the bear like man, "I'm sure you felt the change to the amount of qi present and according to the senior of the pavilion, it's due to the destruction of mana spiritual veins somewhere in the land."
At the mention of the powerful cultivator that controlled the Heaven & Earth pavilion, Xiong Tianzu became less irritated.
"I have noticed the change", he admitted.
"As much as this change has benefited the city's residents, it will also bring problems", Mayor Chen said.
"Which is why we wish to make a deal with you", Liang Tian stated.
"Is it necessary to make a deal?", Xiong Tianzu warily replied.
"Senior Xiong", Mayor Chen responded, "If something caused the spiritual fruits and herbs to suddenly increase in your forest, what do you think would happen?"
Xiong Tianzu smiled at first when he imagined more food being available, but then frowned.
"I guess it would attract more spiritual beasts and cultivators of my realm into the forest", he answered.
"Yes", Mayor Chen nodded, "And that's what is about to happen to the city. As it is, I will return to the Profound Sword sect because my strength isn't enough to protect the city anymore. A golden core realm brother or sister who is stronger than I will come to oversee the city. Sect masters Liang and Yun wish to assist more, they have to deal with their own sects also increasing in power like the city."
Xiong Tianzu rolled his head from side to side with his face in a pensive state as he processed what was happening.
"Daoist friend Xiong Tianzu", Yun Qian interjected, "It appears that we have been too hastened by the situation. Please take some time to think about our offer, and let us know when you've decided. Forgive my rudeness, but I hope that friend Xiong can contemplate quickly. If the veins continue to strengthen and there's no other solution, we might have to reach out to the Crimson Nimbus sect from Firecloud Ridge to form an alliance. Although we prefer to make agreements with those we know versus those we are vaguely familiar with, we are bound with the duty of protecting this city."
'Bound by duty', Xiong Tianzu snorted in his head, 'If it wasn't for this pavilion and the one who watches over it, your attention to this city would wane.'
"Then I'll take some time to consider your offer", Xiong Tianzu told the three humans, "If there's nothing else, I bid you farewell."
Xiong Tianzu headed back to the cultivation hall, and he once again asked for a premium cultivation pod. As he opened Samsara to play his Totem warrior, he kept the discussion from earlier in the back of his mind.
'I'll gather the families of the forest', he concluded, 'As much conflict we've had with the humans over the years, it would get worse if someone not familiar with this place moved in. Let's see how the others feel about it too."