Chapter 260: Chapter 259: Desperate Situation
The high walls of Gao Yuan City’s Outer City had been destroyed several hours ago by the sudden attack of the Kunlun Demon Clan. Although waves of Martial Artists sacrificed themselves to stop the Demon Race’s invasion and organize the evacuation of Outer City residents into the Inner City, the area was simply too vast, transportation was limited, and manpower was scarce. Due to this combination of factors, many people were unable to evacuate.
As a result, most of the high schools in the Outer City, especially those closer to the Inner City, were torn down by the Demon Race and reduced to rubble. Eighth Middle School was no exception. Not long after the principal led everyone to evacuate, it was trampled flat by a Demon Race army.
At this moment, the surviving students of Eighth Middle School, along with most of the other residents, were huddled in the center of the evacuation group. They carpeted the streets like puddles of muddy water, waiting for the next fleet of armored vehicles to arrive.
There were too many people and not enough armored vehicles to carry them all. Once a batch was full, the convoy would set off for the Inner City in a great procession.
Fortunately, their position was relatively deep within the crowd. Although they could still hear the RUMBLING sounds of fighting, they were actually at least twenty kilometers away, far from the battle between the Demon Marshal, [Mountain King], and Grandmaster Qian.
Furthermore, they were in the innermost group, which meant it would be their turn to board in the next round. After another half an hour, they should be safe.
Of course, this safety was only relative. If the Outer City fell completely, the Inner City would also be in grave danger. But in truth, many among them had already experienced this kind of exodus over a decade ago.
Back then, large swaths of the Outer City had also fallen, but fortunately, Grand General Luo Beixing had been defending the Inner City. On the main battlefield, he personally slew a Demon Marshal and repelled the invasion. In the end, everyone returned to their posts and rebuilt their homes.
At this very moment, Zhao Gongzheng was harboring the same hope. He stood before the students with his hands clasped behind his back, his voice resolute as he declared, "There is nothing to fear from the Demon Race’s attack! You have powerful Martial Artists at the front, holding them back. When the time is right, you too will become powerful Martial Artists!
"During the last siege, most of the Outer City was turned to ruins, but wasn’t it all rebuilt?
"Don’t be afraid just because the Kunlun Demon Clan has [Chen], a reincarnation of an Ancient Demon Emperor. He may be powerful, but there’s a chance that someone even stronger will be born among you!
"The top scorer in last year’s college entrance exams for the Northwest Province, Jiang Qiu—Jiang Divine—who shattered the Test Stone during the Spirit Fusion Test at Northwest Martial University, didn’t he come from our school?
"In less than a year, he went from a Spirit Body Realm Martial Artist to a Dharma Realm Martial Artist! He fought in the battle for North Border City and entered the Northern Wilderness Great Secret Realm with Tang Guang, the number one Sword Dao genius of Jiangnan, as a representative of the Xia Country!
"His talent is extraordinary, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow in his footsteps. Even if you don’t shine as brightly, just getting into Northwest Martial University and becoming a Martial Artist will be a life-changing event for you.
"Then, you will have your own power to protect your honor, your families, your hometown, and your country!"
Spit flew as he spoke, his glasses bouncing on the bridge of his nose. Zhao Gongzheng didn’t know how long it had been since he’d given such a hoarse, impassioned speech. All he saw was a sea of students who hadn’t even reached the Steel Bone Realm, their faces filled with grief, fear, terror, and tears.
Not long after the level-two alarm had sounded, the Demon Race army broke through the Outer City. A few small demon squads had even quickly infiltrated the high schools and residential areas deeper inside. The only Dharma Realm Martial Artist at Eighth Middle School, Principal Sun De, had already died in battle while covering their escape!
"Cough, cough..."
Suddenly choking, Zhao Gongzheng clutched his chest and hunched over, coughing. A cyan light struggled to stay contained within his cloudy eyes.
In a situation like this, activating his [Bright Eyes] consumed a great deal of Spirit Charm. He had used it repeatedly to help the group evade the Demon Race and merge with the evacuee column, and his body could no longer take the strain.
He had never been born a genius. Back in the day, he too had been a student from Eighth Middle School who got into Northwest Martial University, but his aptitude was only average. He had a Talent that just barely got him over the admission line.
He spent a semester honing his skills at Northwest Martial University before he finally managed to earn enough resources to break through to Third Rank Yangshui Jade Sinews. Because he had joined the Spirit Control Academy and was in a non-combat department, his direct combat prowess wasn’t very high.
After graduating, he returned to Eighth Middle School to work. More than twenty years later, he was still only at the Middle Rank of the Bright Soul Realm. He would likely never be able to condense a Dharma Aspect in this lifetime, nor would it be easy for him to advance any further.
’He wasn’t like those geniuses whose Spirit Charm seemed endless, who could unleash a Secret Technique that enveloped the world one moment and a Soldier Skill that swept across the battlefield the next. He could only do his best to use his Spirit Charm at critical moments, never wasting a drop.’
’Honestly, he knew that this situation was different from the last siege. Back then, the Demon Race wasn’t so numerous, nor were they so strong. More importantly, they didn’t have this... "conviction" they had now!’
’They fought as if they were born to save the world, charging forward with a reckless disregard for their own lives. They rallied massive numbers of Demon Beasts to destroy buildings and city walls, determined to level everything in Gao Yuan City and establish a new kingdom!’
’Even someone as powerful as Grand General Luo had suffered setbacks in his recent engagements, finding it difficult to slay Demon Marshal Level beings anymore. It was as if his era was coming to a close.’
’The fall of Tianshan City was already suffocating most of the people in Gao Yuan City. If Gao Yuan City faced an attack of that magnitude, it would very likely suffer the same fate...’
’But what could he do? He was the head of the Martial Inspection Department at Eighth Middle School. Could he really afford to show even a hint of despair?’
He forced his [Bright Eyes] open again. A powerful sense of transcendence flooded his mind. The landscape for five kilometers around appeared in his vision like a data model, revealing the aura of every Demon Race member in the area without exception!
’Another group of the Demon Race has broken through the front line and is heading this way?!’
In that instant, Zhao Gongzheng’s pupils constricted. A feeling of powerlessness dragged him down like seaweed wrapping around his arms. The cyan light in his flickering eyes gradually dimmed, revealing the dents in his wind-and-dust-scratched glasses.
Nearby, the head of the resource department, Li Ang, noticed the change in his expression. The scar on his face twitched as he took a deep breath. "What’s wrong?"
By the time they reached this area, several of Eighth Middle School’s Martial Arts Instructors had already died. Even the Armor Li Ang wore was torn to shreds, and the blood on his face was still wet.
All they had to do was wait about half an hour for the next armored convoy, and everyone could enter the Inner City, where dozens of Grandmasters were stationed, along with several of the most powerful among them. There, they would be temporarily safe.
Afterward, the higher-ups would probably also find a way to let the students escape Gao Yuan City first. After all, this fresh blood represented infinite possibilities; they could become the hope for fighting the Kunlun Demon Clan in the future.
’It’s just that the prodigies from the Inner City will be first, followed by the Inner City high schools, and only then the Outer City high schools...’
"A large group of the Kunlun Demon Clan broke through Grandmaster Qian’s defensive line and are heading for us," Zhao Gongzheng said, his voice grim as he spoke quietly, away from the students.
Hearing this, Li Ang’s eyes went wide. "How many? What level are they?"
’As long as there are no Ancestral Great Demons, it should be manageable. Even a few wouldn’t be a problem. The army escorting the evacuees is from the Tianjiao Base, and there are several Dharma Realm executive committee members present.’
However...
"Over a thousand Great Demons, led by a Demon General."
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