I subdue demons and monsters, and cultivate immortality in hell to become a saint.

In the midst of this deathly silence, a trembling voice rang out: "Old Zhang... Guiling City is not the only place surrounded by evil spirits."

The speaker was deathly pale, as if he had used up all his strength.

These words were like a thunderclap, startling everyone into looking up.

"Thirty-one cities across the province are still under siege."

The man closed his eyes and said with difficulty, "There are a total of thirty-two cities, and each city is guarded by 100,000 ghost soldiers."

Thirty-two cities! Each city has hundreds of thousands of people!

If the entire city is breached, tens of millions of people will become food for the evil spirits!

This number is like a mountain, pressing down on everyone and making it hard for them to breathe.

Even the usually composed Zhang Yunxiao froze at this moment.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his flesh, and blood dripped from between his fingers onto the table, but he was completely unaware of it.

Tens of millions of people! This is severing the roots of the Chinese nation!

"It's over...it's completely over!"

Someone slumped into a chair, their voice filled with despair.

"This is tantamount to national ruin! Tens of millions of people will be gone, social order will definitely collapse, and then the world will descend into chaos!"

"What can we do? With our limited manpower, we'd just be easy prey!"

"Thirty-three soul generals leading the charge, with three million two hundred thousand evil spirits attacking simultaneously... there's simply no way to win!"

A sense of powerlessness overwhelmed everyone like a tidal wave.

Previously, they could barely manage to hold their own using the terrain and specialized weapons, but now they are facing an organized army of a million. Their strength is not even enough to fill a gap between their teeth.

"What about the underworld? Do they have any solutions?"

Some people, as if grasping at a last straw, looked at Zhong Yingmei pleadingly, "She's a deity from the underworld, surely she can save a few more people, right?"

Zhong Yingmei lowered her head, her voice hoarse and bitter: "The soul messenger left after delivering the message, without saying anything else."

The implication is that the underworld is probably out of the question.

"The underworld only has one City God Temple in the human world, and with that few people, it can't stop 100,000 ghost soldiers."

Zhang Yunxiao took a deep breath, his eyes red-rimmed, but he forcibly suppressed his emotions. "Everyone, prepare for the final battle. Less than five hours left. Notify all special operations personnel: no matter what, you must charge into the besieged city!"

He paused, his voice tinged with sorrow: "We may not be able to be heroes who save the city, but we can choose to stand with the people! Even if we die, we will die on the battlefield!"

"yes!"

After a brief silence, everyone responded in unison, their voices showing no hesitation.

From the day they joined the Special Operations Department, they risked their lives, only they were dying sooner than expected.

They knew in their hearts that if all thirty-two cities were lost, even if the Special Operations Department was preserved, it would have no reason to exist. If the hearts of the people were lost, everything would be lost.

They would rather be martyrs than deserters!

Zhang Yunxiao's gaze fell on Zhong Yingmei through the video screen, and his tone was solemn: "Zhong Yingmei, you are my most outstanding student. I believe you can cooperate with the Underworld to defend Guiling City. Of the thirty-two cities, if we can protect just one, we can leave everyone with a glimmer of hope!"

Chung Ying-mei nodded vigorously, but tears still streamed down her face.

She stared at the black screen of the video, feeling completely lost. Could Guiling City really hold out?

That's a hundred thousand ghost soldiers!

Perhaps this is her final moment.

Thinking of this, Zhong Yingmei suddenly pulled out a black talisman from her bosom. It was a message talisman given to her by Yin Yang Gong Cao, who said that she could ask Zhong Jiu for help in times of crisis.

She had previously thought she wouldn't need it, but now she realizes she was too naive.

Without hesitation, she crushed the talisman, watching the rising wisps of black mist. Her voice was calm yet firm: "My lord, you said that crushing this talisman would bring you help. Now, I have a favor to ask of you."

"If we really can't hold on any longer, please help me save one person."

Zhong Yingmei smiled faintly, her eyes full of tenderness, "Protect my brother, Zhong Jiu."

"I am already aware of this."

Zhong Jiu's voice was as light as a gentle breeze, yet it carried an undeniable pressure that lingered above the City God's Mansion.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

Zhong Yingmei felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders, and a smile immediately spread across her face. Her eyes and brows radiated joy, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

With the righteous gods of the underworld protecting her, my silly little sister's future days will surely be smooth sailing and peaceful!

Zhong Jiu never expected that Zhong Yingmei would use all the hard-won opportunity she had obtained on herself.

"You silly girl, I'm a seventh-rank righteous god, who do you think you are to protect?"

Zhong Jiu shook his head helplessly, but his eyes held an unyielding warmth.

In terms of strength, he could protect Zhong Yingmei with one hand, so why would she need to worry about him?

But this profound sense of family affection still warmed his heart.

This is the bond of blood ties, and it is also the fundamental reason why he insisted on protecting this world, even after setting aside the system's tasks!

"One hundred thousand ghost soldiers?"

Zhong Jiu's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes as black as an abyss, unfathomable and filled with a chilling aura.

Faced with such a calamity, the authorities will naturally not sit idly by!

Online push notifications flooded social media, television broadcasts urgent announcements, and text messages bombarded every citizen.

Even the community, which had only recently returned to order, immediately sprang into action, and the news of the 100,000 evil spirits being sent to Guiling City spread rapidly to every household!

"Holy crap! Are 100,000 evil spirits attacking?"

"My God! Are they going to raze Guiling City to the ground?"

"I knew these monstrous things were up to no good; they really do want to destroy the world!"

"Oh no, what should we do?"

"Don't panic! We have the City God here to protect us!"

"Let's go, let's go to the City God Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings. The City God will surely protect us!"

Panic instantly gripped the entire city, more intense than any previous crisis!

Previously, when Guiling City was at its most difficult, it was only when ghosts committed sporadic crimes. But now, an army of 100,000 is pressing in. This is a threat of a completely different scale!

What other purpose could there be besides wiping out the entire city?

Many people were devastated. After just a few days of peace, this false tranquility shattered completely like a bubble.

Some people cried desperately, some screamed wildly, and others had empty eyes and blank expressions, completely at a loss.

Some people obeyed and did as instructed, keeping the doors and windows tightly shut, with the whole family huddled together in one room, not daring to breathe.

Some people felt unsafe even at home, so they rushed to the City God Temple like madmen, which was the only sacred place in their hearts!

As long as the City God Temple still stands, Guiling City has not been captured!

Before long, the City God Temple was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder, and a steady stream of people was on its way.

Old Tian couldn't stop it, the officials were helpless, and even Zhong Jiu could only remain silent in the face of this overwhelming public opinion.

As a guardian deity of the region, he couldn't possibly drive away the people who came seeking refuge, could he?

If you actually did that, it would only cause resentment and be a losing proposition.

"You've ruined the peaceful life of ordinary people, haven't you? Thousand-Eyed Demon King, is that it? I'll remember you!"

Zhong Jiu sneered inwardly; this feud was now officially formed!

In fact, the situation in Guiling City is already considered a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

With the City God Temple in charge, most people still have some confidence. If they really go to the brink of despair, at least they still have the City God Temple as a place to rely on.

But what about other cities?

Looking around, all that could be seen was despair; where was there even a shred of safety?

"What should I do? Someone tell me what to do!"

"My daughter was just born, I don't want to die! I haven't had enough time to hold her!"

"God, how cruel you are! Why must we suffer like this!"

"It's over, everything's over, there's no hope!"

"Dad! Mom! Wife! You all stay inside and don't move. I'll guard the door. If anyone's going to die, I'll be the one!"

Grief, pain, fear, despair...

A wave of negative emotions swept over the other thirty-one besieged cities.