Chapter Seventy-Eight: Azure Mist

Helian Quan led the powerful members of the great families away from the central square and into the backyard of his own mansion. His expression was grave as he swept his gaze over the gathered crowd, finally fixing his eyes on the two seven-star magicians among them. His voice was deep as he spoke:

“Everyone, it is imperative that we send troops to reinforce the Imperial Capital. But relying solely on the two thousand remaining soldiers in **** Town will be futile. With so few, we would only serve to swell the Dark Empire’s undead legions! We must contact the family powers and city guards of neighboring cities! However…” At this, a faint sigh escaped everyone’s heart.

Helian Quan was no exception, his mood heavy as he continued:

“I’m sure you’ve all guessed by now—towns near the capital may be just as ignorant as we were, unaware of the treachery of the Ayer and Salem families. With necromancers hiding in the shadows, their situation is perilous… Therefore, I have decided to ignite the Azure Signal! We will send out the highest alert to the surrounding towns!”

“The Azure Signal?”

A few of the strong men looked surprised.

“It was created many years ago by the Yan Clan’s Artificers. Once lit, it forms a pillar of blue smoke in the sky, visible for a hundred miles around,” Helian Quan explained. “These are only found in cities near the capital and at the borders, and are to be used only in the gravest emergencies.”

“Why didn’t anyone use this signal to call for help when the capital was attacked by the Dark Empire?” someone asked.

Helian Quan sighed.

“Who could have foreseen things would deteriorate so quickly? Back then, the capital’s walls were strong, protected by tenfold barriers. When this item was designed, no one imagined the capital would fall as it has. The Azure Signal in the hands of our neighboring town lords was intended merely to warn the capital ahead of time, so preparations could be made!”

The crowd’s faces showed both realization and regret, yet none of them knew that, in truth, it was impossible to send out a warning from within the capital. Against the overwhelming undead army, the Azure Signal would have been useless; the Dark Empire would never allow such a message to escape.

Helian Quan straightened his expression. “The Azure Signal can indeed warn others, but it may also bring war early to the neighboring towns. Without outside aid, they will be hard-pressed to stand against the combined might of the two traitorous families and the necromancers! Therefore, I have decided to select a team from among you to remain behind, leading two hundred city guards to protect the Azure Signal and defend the town. The rest will depart at once for the nearest city, Muth. You are all pillars of the nation. In this time of crisis, I ask that you do not abandon us; for the future of our land, let us cast aside life and death, and fight for the Azure Empire!”

“Rest assured, Commander! We are all children of the Azure Empire. Our families’ fates are tied to this land—we will give everything we have and resist the Dark Empire to the end!”

“That’s right!”

“My child is still in the capital, sir—say no more, let’s depart now!”

“I will join you in battle! I won’t stay behind!”

Helian Quan, well pleased with their response, hesitated no longer. He turned, pressed his hand against an ordinary stone statue behind him, gathered his strength, and pushed down hard.

Click! Click! Click! Click!

A muffled sound of gears and springs rang out. The crowd looked toward the sound and saw a section of wall behind Helian Quan suddenly sink inward, then rotate smoothly one hundred and eighty degrees. Two torch-like objects were embedded in the inner wall.

“Is this the Azure Signal?”

“It is!” Helian Quan gripped the base of the torches with both hands.

Hiss—

From the top of the torches, twin plumes of blue and purple smoke rapidly poured out, twisting together and quickly forming a massive column several meters thick, soaring into the sky from the little courtyard.

From within and without the town, civilians saw the towering column of smoke rise in the distance, dense and unwavering, piercing straight into the clouds! One by one, they stared in astonishment.

“It’s done.” Having lit the Azure Signal, Helian Quan swiftly called out the names of ten people and ordered them to guard the rooftop, then prepared to lead the rest of the group out of the city.

Suddenly!

A violent surge of magical energy erupted from outside the courtyard. Those about to leave felt as if they had plunged into an icy abyss; a chilling aura of death swept over them, and cries of alarm rang out:

“Necromancy!”

“Everyone, be careful!”

Swordsmen and warriors activated their battle auras to shield their bodies! The faces of the magicians turned pale in horror as they scrambled to retreat into the house.

The strength of this magic had reached the seven-star level—far beyond what they could currently defend against. Could there be a second seven-star necromancer hiding in the town?!

Helian Quan and the others barely had time to react before the attack struck. Seven archers and magicians, unable to dodge in time, were slain on the spot by scythes that materialized out of thin air.

“Over there!”

The two seven-star magicians, their lives saved only by their defensive magic and equipment, swept the area with their spiritual senses and quickly located the enemy.

With a roar, Helian Quan vaulted onto the courtyard wall, following the magicians’ lead to lock onto the source of the magic—it was the neighboring yard.

He had barely landed atop the wall when—

Boom!!

The ground beneath his feet shook violently as the courtyard wall was smashed open by an outside force. Five familiar warrior-type Undead Sentinels tore through the entire wall as easily as slicing tofu, darting into the courtyard with lightning speed.

“Ah!” “Ugh…”

Several muffled cries of pain rang out as a few six-star warriors were wounded in the first clash, sent flying back into the crowd.

Though Helian Quan had spotted the necromancer standing in the neighboring yard, he could not advance—the two Undead Sentinels pounced at him from both sides, forcing him back into the courtyard.

“It’s him!”

“How is he still alive?”

But in the blink of battle, more than a dozen people recognized the necromancer in the adjacent yard as none other than the one they had fought against earlier, the one supposedly slain by the archers’ volleys.

The crowd drew a sharp breath in terror; morale plummeted.

The necromancer, who should have been dead and gone, gazed coldly at the group, his eyes fixed on the object behind them that was billowing smoke. He unleashed a flurry of powerful magic, focusing all his might in a savage attempt to destroy the metal apparatus, but failed to do so. Seeing the group bracing for a counterattack, a hint of caution finally flickered in his eyes.

He had originally planned to wait for an opportunity to pick them off one by one once they dispersed, but had not expected Helian Quan to sound the Azure Signal, forcing him to waste an extremely precious seven-star magic scroll in this risky assault.

While commanding the Undead Sentinels to continue their rampage, he pursued the three seven-star powerhouses and the others, all the while chanting an obscure and guttural incantation—preparing his next spell.

Of the fifty remaining in the courtyard, all were already wounded. After the necromancer’s ambush claimed ten more lives, the survivors, desperate to protect the seven-star magicians, threw themselves into a frenzied struggle against the Undead Sentinels. Except for Helian Quan, all were either killed or gravely injured, and casualties continued to mount.

As the necromancer’s second round of spells swelled in ferocity…

The five Undead Sentinels pressed so close that the magicians had no chance to concentrate on their incantations. An unprecedented shadow of death spread swiftly over everyone’s hearts.

It was then—

A sudden flicker of anxiety crossed the necromancer’s face.

He had barely turned his head when a blazing golden sun descended from the sky, a whirling blade of light crashing into the courtyard with unstoppable force!

Six figures, swift as phantoms, vaulted silently over the courtyard wall, their battle auras blazing as they lunged at the chanting necromancer.