Di Sha City, nestled upon the Somila Great Plain of the Earth Alliance, which itself was the largest and most resource-rich expanse in the Alliance, equal in size to the entirety of the former Dou Hun Continent—Di Sha City sat right at its heart…

As the largest metropolis of the Earth Alliance, Di Sha City truly lived up to the moniker "largest." Its walls spanned over three thousand li, stretching beyond the horizon, rising a thousand zhang high, piercing the very clouds. The ramparts were hewn from a stone known as Purple Cloud Heavenly Net Iron, presenting a faint, ethereal purple hue. This unique iron was extraordinarily robust; a piece the size of a fist could withstand the full force of an Arha-level master’s strike. A wall this thick could not be instantly demolished even by the concerted effort of a Zhou-level expert…

Such a magnificent and terrifying fortress could only have been erected by these immensely powerful demons; ordinary beings could never have achieved such a miracle.

In the four cardinal directions of the city stood four colossal gates. Perhaps to accommodate the varying heights of the demons, these gates towered a hundred zhang tall, forged from Ice Flame Iron, a material a hundred times tougher than the Net Iron. Not only were they sturdy, but they possessed the ability to autonomously absorb all manner of energy, rendering them virtually immune to any non-physical attack.

A city of this magnitude represented near-eternal resilience; unless an Yu-level master personally intervened, breaching it seemed an impossibility…

At that moment, Ye Jingyu and his company arrived before this towering city. Gazing upon the fortress that resembled a colossal mountain, Ye Jingyu was filled with a complex rush of emotion. She lived within a place like this? For all its vastness, this city was nothing more than an elaborate cage. Ling'er, are you well?

Mu, being Yuan’s direct subordinate, was immediately ushered away upon arrival to meet Yuan and report on their progress, while his son, Zhong, took it upon himself to escort Ye Jingyu and the others through Di Sha City.

It had to be admitted that the commerce within Di Sha City had reached a considerable scale. At the very least, Ye Jingyu had not witnessed the kind of scene where drawn blades were the immediate response to any slight. Indeed, its prosperity rivaled that of many cities within the Heaven Alliance.

Zhong was clearly no stranger to Di Sha City, making him the perfect guide for Ye Jingyu. Along the way, he ceaselessly introduced the local specialties of Di Sha City. Trailing behind them, his steward, Zuo Miao, kept pace, a flicker of anxiety occasionally crossing his face. For days now, Zuo Miao had been scheming for an opportunity to approach Ye Jingyu. Ye Jingyu’s formidable strength was beyond question; a powerhouse of his caliber absolutely needed to be recruited into the Dark Alliance. Zuo Miao’s only current hope was that his young master might temporarily step away…

Presently, the group stopped before an establishment named the Pink Marsh Pavilion. Dozens of maidens from various races, clad in gossamer robes that revealed significant skin, stood at the entrance, greeting passersby with practiced smiles. While none of these women matched Xue Ling’s beauty, their figures were exquisitely seductive, easily stirring certain primal responses in male creatures.

Zhong glanced at the flamboyantly dressed women, then at the curious expression on Xue Ling’s face beside Ye Jingyu. He suppressed the urge to bring Ye Jingyu inside for a tour. In recent days, he had learned clearly that this young girl had become something akin to Ye Jingyu’s inverted scale—a point of vulnerability; leading her into such a place and leading her astray would certainly not bode well…

Zhong had no desire to enter, but at this precise moment, certain unwelcome individuals chose to appear at the least opportune time…

“Well, isn't this Young City Lord Zhong of Tian Man City? What brings Brother Zhong here to Pink Marsh Pavilion without stepping in? Could it be that your old man has been squeezing you dry lately, leaving you without even the coin for some simple pleasure?” As Zhong was about to lead Ye Jingyu’s party away, a voice dripping with mockery cut through the air…

Ye Jingyu turned his head and saw a man whose face was half-covered in scales emerging, an arm draped around two girls whose attire barely concealed their forms, yet who dragged tails behind them. The man regarded Zhong with open derision, but his gaze quickly shifted to Xue Ling…

Though Xue Ling lacked the exotic allure of a stunning Hanba, her purity of appearance rendered her countless times more beautiful than the painted courtesans. Her frame was petite, seemingly frail, yet her eyes held a stubborn defiance that lent her a unique charm. Demons accustomed to the jaded women they frequented had never encountered a girl like her. Just like Zhong initially, this man was captivated the moment he saw Xue Ling…

“I thought you were truly desperate for coin, but it seems you’ve found yourself some fine merchandise. Brother Zhong, we’ve been 'buddies' since childhood, haven’t we? Once you tire of this girl, how about passing her over to your brother for a few days?” The man’s face twisted into a lecherous grin, utterly disregarding Ye Jingyu’s presence…

Zhong’s face cycled rapidly from pale to red with fury. What did that bastard mean by childhood buddies? That son of a—this person had been making trouble for him for years, and now he dared call them brothers…

However, Zhong’s immediate concern wasn't how to deal with this man, but rather Ye Jingyu’s safety, for he could already sense a sliver of killing intent radiating from him…

A dragon has an inverted scale; touch it, and death follows…

Xue Ling was Ye Jingyu’s inverted scale!

“He is Rui, the son of Jian, City Lord of Dark Abyss City…” Although Zhong desperately wished for Ye Jingyu to administer a severe lesson to this scoundrel, he did not want Ye Jingyu to actually kill him. After all, while the Nine City Lords harbored rivalries and the younger generation frequently clashed, resulting in death—especially among direct descendants—was strictly forbidden…

If Ye Jingyu, in a fit of rage, summarily erased this man, the ensuing feud would be immense…

Thus, Zhong immediately revealed the man’s identity, hoping Ye Jingyu would exercise restraint due to the man’s lineage and temper his actions…

“Hmph…” Ye Jingyu shot a cold glance at Zhong, let out a frigid snort, then took Xue Ling’s small hand and turned to walk forward…

Seeing that Ye Jingyu made no move to attack, Zhong finally let out a breath of relief. But he hadn't accounted for the arrogant man, Rui, refusing to let the matter drop. Seeing that Ye Jingyu, a mere human, dared to treat him with such disdain, Rui exploded in rage…

“What insolent trash dares act so presumptuously here? Zhong, if you are too cowardly to discipline your servant, then today your 'brother' will teach him a lesson for you…” Rui sneered coldly, and the four Demon Guards trailing him instantly lunged forward, heading straight for Ye Jingyu. Seeing this unfold, Zhong’s entire demeanor shifted, and a cry of alarm escaped his lips: “No, don’t!”