Chu Chen maneuvered his Soul Power to fly through the air, heading directly for the teleportation array on the third underground level.
With a flash of white light, Chu Chen vanished within the teleportation array.
When Chu Chen reappeared, he was already within Cyan Dragon City.
At this moment, Cyan Dragon City was a scene of widespread wailing, the once bustling streets had turned into a purgatory on earth.
Throughout the city were Beast Masters missing limbs, with their weeping families beside them, corpses filled every shop, and the azure pavement had turned dark brown, the color of dried blood.
Witnessing such sights, Chu Chen could no longer suppress his anger.
But now was not the time for anger. Shouts and cries of battle emanated from outside the city, injured Beast Masters were carried down from the city walls continuously, while others charged onto the walls with the determination to die.
Everyone knew well that if Cyan Dragon City fell, they would have no chance of survival, and besides, their family was within the city — even in death, they couldn't let the Star Beasts breach in.
At this moment, Zhang Tianlong was solemnly watching the beast tide, focused on those two Star Beasts exuding a terrifying aura.
"Grandpa, can we still hold on?" Zhang Yuyan asked quietly.
Zhang Tianlong was taken aback upon hearing this. He had agreed with Zhang Yuyan that she should only call him Old Marshal in the barracks. Now, changing the form of address clearly indicated despair.
"Yuyan, humanity will not perish," Zhang Tianlong said with firm conviction.
However, Zhang Yuyan's face showed a look of hopelessness; the other meaning in Zhang Tianlong's words was that Cyan Dragon City couldn't be held.
He naturally noticed his granddaughter's anomaly; he turned his head and gave a kindly smile, gently rubbed her head, and said softly, "Yuyan, soon you should escort Chu Chen's parents to Qilin City; leave this place to me."
Zhang Yuyan shook her head stubbornly and said, "I won't leave, Uncle and Aunt have already been sent to Qilin City by me."
Once again, Zhang Tianlong was startled, and then he said in a deep voice, "Chu Chen hasn't returned yet; he must have encountered trouble. Go to Qilin City to wait, and when he comes back, it'll not be too late for you to follow."
Zhang Yuyan shook her head and said, "Grandpa, I'm no longer a child. Our entire Zhang Family are loyal and courageous; I'm not one to cling to life and fear death."
Zhang Tianlong fell into silence upon hearing her words; after a moment, he sighed and said, "My foolish granddaughter, should anything happen to you, how could I explain to your parents."
"Grandpa, I was immature before and made you worry, but I have grown up now. Whatever we will face, I will always be by your side; after all, you are my only family."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianlong rubbed Zhang Yuyan's head again and said, "Foolish child." With that, his right hand swiftly chopped at Zhang Yuyan's neck.
Zhang Yuyan groaned and then instantly fainted.
Looking at the unconscious Zhang Yuyan, Zhang Tianlong said with full affection, "Foolish granddaughter, how could I stand by and watch you die before my eyes?" With that, he waved to his trusted aide behind him.
At this moment, beside the street on the western side of the city, several members of Cyan Dragon Army were escorting a middle-aged couple toward the city's teleportation array.
The middle-aged man being escorted shouted angrily, "Xiao Wang, Xiao Zhang, are you all rebelling? I'm the Grand Commander; let me go."
"Commander, stop shouting. This was ordered by General Zhang; we dare not disobey," the Cyan Dragon Army member surnamed Wang said with a wry smile.
The middle-aged man was taken aback by this and then said proudly, "General Zhang is my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Quick, send me back, I'll speak to her personally."
"Commander, stop struggling. General Zhang gave a death order that we must send you to Qilin City no matter what; otherwise, we shouldn't return," added the member of Cyan Dragon Army surnamed Zhang in a low voice.
This middle-aged man was none other than Father Chu and Mrs. Chu, sent to Qilin City by Zhang Yuyan.
Seeing that hard tactics didn't work, Father Chu immediately decided to resort to softer ones.
Thinking of this, he softened his tone and spoke again, "You bunch of rascals, how have I treated you in usual times?"
"Needless to say, you've been truly good to us. The benefits always came to us first; as long as you speak, we brothers will never object."
Father Chu was delighted upon hearing this and quickly said, "That's right, now loosen me up."
"Sir, please stop making things difficult for us."
Father Chu sighed upon hearing this and said, "You should know the current situation in Cyan Dragon City. Taking me away now would make me a deserter. When I was in Celestial Star City, I was in the City Defense Army; it's been through life and death multiple times. Making me a deserter is impossible. If you don't let me go, I'll bite my tongue and kill myself now."
"Commander, why do this?"
"If the country perishes, where is the home? If Cyan Dragon City falls, humanity will gradually fall apart and ultimately die. Since death is certain, I'm willing to die on the battlefield," Father Chu said with determination.
Mrs. Chu did not stop him upon hearing this; she said with composure, "Yes, the two of us are willing to die alongside Cyan Dragon City."
The Cyan Dragon Army members fell silent upon hearing this. On one side was the commander who treated them as family, and on the other was the general, leaving them in a dilemma.
At this moment, the city gate suddenly emitted a sharp insect screech, followed by an incredibly terrifying pressure.
Everyone's focus was captivated by this call.
"This... This is the Shadow Golden Mantis! Our son has returned," Mrs. Chu exclaimed suddenly.
