"Patriarch, the other families have yet to respond, I'm afraid..." The implication in his words was clear.

The Bear Fortress had been besieged for days, but those other families were merely watching the situation unfold, unwilling to engage in a life-and-death struggle with the Beastman horde.

"Such a group of opportunistic cowards!" the Master of the Ye Family pondered for a moment before saying, "Let alone whether the other families will help; we must withstand the initial assault of the Beastmen. Have the Maple Leaf Guards ready for battle at all times!"

As night fell, the Beastman army had positioned itself outside Maple Leaf City, surrounding it completely.

"Hear me, people of Maple Leaf City! We, the Beastman allied forces, have encircled you. Be wise and open the main city gates, surrender the Dragon Lady to us, and we shall retreat immediately. Otherwise, we shall trample Maple Leaf City to the ground, leaving not a single soul!"

"Lay waste to Maple Leaf City, leave no one alive!"

"Lay waste to Maple Leaf City, leave no one alive!"

...

The other Beastmen shouted loudly, each with gleaming eyes, exuding high spirits.

"They are truly arrogant!" In the Ye Family, the upper echelons couldn't help but express their anger: "When has our Ye Family ever been threatened by this barbaric and lowly bunch? Patriarch, let us strike back!"

The Patriarch of the Ye Family cast a glance at the speaker. "Strike back? Opposite us is an allied force of the Ten Great Beastman Tribes. How should our Ye Family strike back? Do you wish for our early annihilation?"

"Then what shall we do? We surely cannot surrender!" The person spoke with some frustration.

The Patriarch of the Ye Family replied sternly, "We shall hold our ground in Maple Leaf City, focusing on defense. The Beastmen may be fierce, but they aren't adept at siege warfare. As long as we hold Maple Leaf City, there's a slim chance for victory. If we can endure for two days, the tide may turn in our favor!"

"Simultaneously, rally the non-Ye Family experts within Maple Leaf City to defend the city together. Should Maple Leaf City be breached, they won't escape either. We are all in this together now. By mobilizing them, the pressure on our Ye Family will lessen!"

"Alright then, I'll do it immediately! But... should we inform the ancestor?"

The Ye Family ancestor, an expert in the Early Stage of the Azure Sky Realm, was the reason the Ye Family had become a dominant force in the region.

"Inform him!" The Patriarch of the Ye Family sighed. "I've heard there is an Azure Sky Realm expert among the Beastmen, from the Lion Tribe, named Lion Roar. Only our ancestor can be his match!"

Roar! At that moment, thunderous sounds came from outside Maple Leaf City. The Beastmen hadn't waited long before launching their attack on the city.

"Carry out what I just instructed; I'll go and seek the ancestor!" After speaking, the Patriarch of the Ye Family headed towards the rear mountain.

The rear mountain was the cultivation place of the ancestor and also the Forbidden Area of the Ye Family. These experts in the Azure Sky Realm were mostly concerned about when they could reach a higher realm, paying little heed to worldly power and influence.

They remained with their clans mainly out of a sense of attachment.

"Ancestor, the seventy-third Patriarch of the Ye Family, Ye Qing, requests an audience with the ancestor!" Ye Qing announced solemnly at the foot of the rear mountain.

Moments later, a deep voice came from the rear mountain. "Ye Qing? What vexing issue prompts you to disturb my peace? Furthermore... why have the Beastmen besieged the Ye Family?"

Ye Qing gave a wry smile before relaying to the Ye Family ancestor what the Lizard Man had told him. "Ancestor, these despicable Beastmen are simply mad, having set their sights on our Ye Family. I originally didn't want to disturb your cultivation, but the opposing forces include an Azure Sky Realm expert..."

"The opposing forces have enlisted an Azure Sky Realm expert; it seems they have major plans!" The Ye Family ancestor said gravely. "This aura... it's the Lion Roar from the Lion Tribe, isn't it? It's been over a hundred years since I last dealt with Lion Roar, and now they've grown so arrogant!"

Ye Qing nodded. "Indeed, ancestor! Since the situation arose unexpectedly, our Ye Family is unprepared. Moreover, with Lion Roar as an Azure Sky Realm expert..."

"No problem, let me handle Lion Roar!" The Ye Family ancestor said casually. "You just need to defend Maple Leaf City. After all, the Beastmen are a base kind. If you cannot even defend Maple Leaf City, there's no need for the Ye Family to exist!"

Ye Qing twitched his lips slightly. You're the ancestor of the Ye Family; is it really okay for you to say such things?

"Rest assured, ancestor. Other than Lion Roar, the remaining Beastmen are no more than rabble, unworthy of our Ye Family's concern!" Ye Qing could only promise, patting his chest in assurance.

"Very well, go back now. I'll go meet this old rival!" As he spoke, a ray of light flew from the rear mountain, followed by a resounding voice echoing through the sky. "Lion Roar, you old bastard, daring to trouble my Ye Family? You must want to become a bald lion!"

From the Beastman army, another ray of light emerged. "Old Master Ye, back then you narrowly won against me. Now this old man seeks another lesson to see what level you have reached after a century of hiding!"

Crash! The Ye Family ancestor was the first to initiate an attack, and Lion Roar responded without hesitating. "We can't fight freely here; do you dare follow me elsewhere?"

With that, Lion Roar led the way, flying to a more open area.

The Ye Family ancestor snorted coldly, flicking his sleeves. "I want to see what underhanded tricks you have up your sleeve!"

The two Azure Sky Realm experts vanished into the horizon, but the battle continued without pause. The Beastmen launched wave after wave of fierce attacks, while the Ye Family put up staunch resistance. Though Maple Leaf City swayed like a shack in a storm, it did not topple.

Ling Feng opened his eyes within the inn. "The Ye Family has only one Azure Sky Realm expert, and now that Lion Roar has lured him away, it's the perfect opportunity for me!"

Speaking to himself, Ling Feng donned a cloak and disappeared from the inn.

The Ye Family resided in the inner section of Maple Leaf City, occupying almost a fifth of the city, a vast expanse. Their forging base was within the Ye Family compound. Ling Feng arrived outside the Ye Family's gate and could hear the constant clanging of metal from within.

"The Ye Family has indeed erected protective formations around," Ling Feng observed as he walked around, nodding slightly. "A Fourth-Level Defense Formation, but it's no trouble for me!"

Having learned formations from Senior Yujizi earlier, Ling Feng had not been idle over the days, delving into study whenever possible. Now his abilities had grown, and his understanding of formations had deepened. A Fourth-Level Formation was no longer a challenge to him.

If given enough time and materials, he could even set up a Sixth Level Formation!

However, formations above the Seventh Level were beyond Ling Feng's current capabilities and would require him to reach the Azure Sky Realm to master them.

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