The improved female villains regained their memories.

As a city, it wasn't large, but it was much larger than the tents between tribes. Compared to this city, the villages and mounds built by the barbarians were simply insignificant.

Bargu pulled out his water bag and gulped down several mouthfuls.

An eagle perched on his shoulder, its wings folded, emanating a sinister aura.

"This is Flowing Cloud City," the eagle said in human language.

Bargu nodded and said, "It looks so-so."

“This is the most backward town in the Yan Kingdom. The further you go in, the more towering buildings you see,” the eagle said. “The people of Yan are good at defense, the cavalry are good at offense, and the imperial palace even has a world-destroying immortal. Even if your Iron Ball Bone clan were to unify the country, it would be very difficult to conquer it.”

"is it?"

"Yes."

"How do immortals compare to our sorcerer gods?"

The Witch God is a barbarian who cultivates using demonic energy. Barbarians have a special constitution that allows them to absorb and use demonic energy for cultivation, but the price is an early death. Unlike cultivators who grow longer with practice, the Witch God's lifespan decreases with each practice.

"That depends on the strength comparison. Strictly speaking, your sorcerer god could be easily dealt with by any earth immortal sent by the other side."

"But they can't get out."

“Yes.” The eagle suddenly let out a strange laugh. “But they can’t get out.”

The Yan state was founded on military strength, and the immortals were the emperors.

But now, all the spiritual energy in the world is concentrated in the capital palace, and there is no spiritual energy anywhere else. Immortals dare not go out, local military preparations are in disarray, civil officials are stingy with money, and military officials are afraid of their lives. The former glory is gone.

“Those immortals stay in the imperial city. If they dare to come out, they will become mortals. This is why our southern demon race dares to travel thousands of miles to form an alliance with you. Their greatest advantage is actually their greatest disadvantage. The emperor and the captive immortals can only stay in the cage they have set for themselves, watching us devour their territory step by step.”

"Then there's nothing more to say."

Bargu drew his scimitar.

“You helped me win over my grandfather and unify the tribe, so I’ll show you my strength.”

"Alright," the eagle chuckled sinisterly. "I hope this will broaden my horizons."

"You won't be disappointed."

Dull footsteps echoed in the darkness.

An eerie purple light flickered within the cavalry unit, where a full hundred sorcerers were hidden.

At the entrance of Liuyun City, the same old soldier was still sitting there. He was no longer wrapped in a quilt, but had changed into an overcoat and was sitting there alone.

"Father, it's so late, why are you still here?"

A middle-aged man stepped forward, gave a wry smile, and bent down to help the veteran wrap his clothes tighter.

The veteran glanced at him and slapped his hand away.

"What? The banquet at the City Lord's Mansion is over?"

"Yes, it's over."

"Then what are you doing here? Why don't you hurry back to your wife? What are you doing here looking for an old man like me?"

"Father, look at what you're saying." The middle-aged man smiled ingratiatingly. "I'm just concerned about you. You're the only one guarding this entire city gate. Why are you doing this?"

"Why bother? I'm on military pay, so naturally I have to do what soldiers do. Why do you think I'm doing this?"

"But the others..."

“Others are other people, and your father is your father. If you want to be the city lord’s dog, then go ahead. I won’t stop you, but don’t interfere with me.”

"Oh, Dad, what are you saying? I'm your son, and if I were to become a dog, what would you be?"

"I don't have a son like you."

"Alright, alright, calm down, calm down."

Please forgive the evening breeze. The father and son sat side by side, and the middle-aged man took some food and handed it to the old man.

"Father, have some? It's from the banquet at the City Lord's Mansion, might as well eat it."

"They're using that stuff again?"

"Yes, but let me make this clear first, I didn't smoke it, Dad. Don't worry, I will never touch that stuff!"

"Um……"

The old man hummed softly, took the food, and ate it in small bites.

The middle-aged man went to pour water, and the old man, watching him, suddenly said, "I know you're unhappy with me."

"Oh, Father, you're saying that again. How could I possibly be dissatisfied with you?"

Even if there is no resentment, there is still resentment in one's heart.

"That doesn't count. You are my father, and I have no resentment towards you."

"I've been a soldier my whole life," the old man said. "I've fought against the barbarians my whole life. This is my fate."

The middle-aged man's smile froze, and he remained silent as he sat back down next to the old man.

"You have your career path, I won't stop you. But Five-Colored Powder is no good, just don't take it. I'll stay here for the rest of my life."

“Father, now that we’ve come this far, don’t blame your son for saying more. You’re the only one guarding this place, and no one else is doing anything. If the barbarians come, you can’t fight them all by yourself. It’s an accepted rule that the barbarians come; let them come, they’ll rob us and leave. Why do you have to risk your life?”

It's an unspoken rule that the barbarians raid Flowing Cloud City once a year, and everyone's used to it, except for his father. Last time the barbarians came to raid it, his father stepped forward to fight them, but he was stopped by his father.

Actually, this wasn't the first time. The time before last, and the time before that, it happened many times. The middle-aged man had become numb to it all. He was terrified that his father would have another fit of madness and grab a long gun to go and do something.

Why risk your life?

The old man sneered and asked loudly:

"If he doesn't rob you, you won't have to fight for him? Aren't the valuables he steals the valuables of my Great Yan? Aren't the people he oppresses the people of my Great Yan? You're a guy who works in the City Lord's Mansion, do you even know where the title 'local official' comes from?"

"Alright, alright, I'm just a clerk, I'm not the official in charge..."

"Does that mean you can just ignore it? If you don't, the barbarians will come after you sooner or later. When that happens, they'll steal your wife and bully your son, and nobody else will come to your aid or rescue you. Let's see what you'll do then!"

"Alright, alright, I knew you'd say that. Don't worry, Dad. The barbarians only rob in the slums outside. They wouldn't dare touch anything inside. It's been the same old rule for so many years."

The old man suddenly fell silent, turned to look at the middle-aged man, and his expression was serious:

"When you think like that, you're in danger."

"Oh dear, Dad, didn't I tell you..."

"Yes, it's an unspoken rule. You're used to the barbarians coming to plunder from time to time, the city lord is used to the barbarians coming to plunder from time to time, and everyone is used to the barbarians coming to plunder from time to time. So let me ask you, what if one day the barbarians come again, but this time they're not coming to plunder, but to attack the city? What will you do then?"

The middle-aged man was stunned by the question. The old man stood up, slowly walked towards the city gate, and stretched out his calloused hand to stroke it.

"I've been a soldier my whole life, and I know that the city gates are crucial."

“I know what you’re thinking, and what the city lord is thinking. The outer gates of the city are poorly guarded, but the gates of the city lord’s mansion are heavily guarded. This in itself says a lot.”

“Son, you always say your father is confused, but let me tell you, your father is not confused. It is you who are confused.”

“When those barbarians stop thinking about plundering and start thinking about attacking, then Flowing Cloud City will be their first target.”

“You think that just holding the city lord’s mansion is enough? Then let me ask you, if the barbarians occupy the entire Liuyun City and they send people to surround your city lord’s mansion, how many days can the food and provisions in the city lord’s mansion last? How many days can the people inside hold out? Yes, your city lord’s mansion is impregnable, but how long can you hold out for a mansion?”

"Liuyun City is the first city on the northern border defense line, and its function is equivalent to a beacon tower. If Liuyun City falls, the gate to the north will be opened."

To the astonishment of the middle-aged man, the old man's hunched back slowly straightened up.

“Son, your father is just a nobody. I don’t know anything about military strategy or the general trend of the world.”

"But even small people have things to do. What I need to do is guard this city gate."

The old man's words were forceful and resounding, deeply moving.

"Hold it and don't let a single enemy in. That's what I need to do."

Chapter 146 The Unpredictability of Human Hearts

Springtime is in full bloom.

On a fine day, Yang Pingsheng stood in the yard, hanging up the washed clothes one by one.

The wooden door of the thatched hut opened, and Su Murong came out, yawning.

"morning."

Yang Pingsheng looked at her and greeted her with a smile.

"Mmm..."

Su Murong made an unintelligible sound and went to wash his face by the water tank.

Yang Pingsheng smiled helplessly. It seemed that Su Murong had made another mistake in refining pills last night and was punished by Old Qian to refine a complete pill again. He was not allowed to come back to sleep until it was finished.

Su Murong was truly working herself to the bone; when asked to start over, she gritted her teeth and began again. Because she had practiced so late last night, it was already noon when she got up.

After Guijianchou's tavern was raided, Yang Pingsheng and Su Murong had to work full-time at Old Man Qian's pharmacy. Fortunately, Old Man Qian stopped being stingy and formally took Yang Pingsheng and Su Murong as his apprentices, one teaching him medicine and the other teaching him alchemy.

And so, a week passed. Yang Pingsheng smiled as he looked at Su Murong, who was trying to sober him up, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

Today marks the day of the barbarian invasion, and also the day the plan is put into action.

The system seemed very excited, starting early in the morning to review the entire plan with Yang Pingsheng, striving not to make any mistakes today.

To ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, it once again endowed Yang Pingsheng with the qualities of an immortal. His body had been tempered and impurities removed, and Yang Pingsheng could use spiritual energy again.

However, the spiritual energy here is pitifully scarce. In order to maintain and conceal his strength, the system gave Yang Pingsheng an empty spiritual root that can circulate spiritual energy on its own.

The Void Spirit Root, also known as the Attributeless Spirit Root, is generally rarer than the Yin Spirit Root and the Yang Spirit Root.

Humans are born from the two energies of heaven and earth, and absorb the spiritual energy between heaven and earth to produce spiritual roots. The spiritual roots are influenced by themselves and will also exhibit different attributes. For example, if your kidney water energy is too strong, then after it intertwines and merges with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, a water spiritual root will be born.

For example, Luo Benmo has too much Qi in his meridians and is also influenced by Xue Ling. He was born with spiritual energy and was born as a natural immortal. The Qi in his meridians and spiritual energy are intertwined, thus forming the Thunder Spirit Root.

Even if a person's five internal organs are perfectly balanced, there will always be other areas where the energy is excessive. For example, Luo Benmo's meridians are a lightning spiritual root, and Wen Shihan's yin energy is a yin spiritual root.

The reason why Yin and Yang spiritual roots are rare is that it is difficult for a living person to have Yang or Yin energy that surpasses other energies. Yang energy is the energy of Yang, the origin of Heaven, while Yin energy is the energy of Yin, the origin of Earth. It is already very rare for a person to be purely Yang or purely Yin.

As for the Void Spirit Root, that is extremely rare.

The formation of the Void Spirit Root means that all the vital energy in your body is very little. Note that it is not neutralized, but rather very little. You cannot absorb the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. However, due to your special constitution, the spiritual energy that originally had nothing to merge with did not retreat. Instead, it slowly settled in your dantian and circulated on its own, forming the Void Spirit Root.

Once your spiritual root is empty, it means that you can no longer cultivate or create any attribute-based immortal techniques, such as fire attacks, water gentleness, lightning dominance, etc. The immortal techniques you create will be purely composed of spiritual energy and have no special characteristics.