Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

As Yang Che stepped in, he found Tianxie Ziyin seated in the main position.

Sha E, the black-robed demon Cultivator with a face full of tattoos and still bearing severe injuries, stood respectfully to the side.

In addition, there were three Nascent Soul Stage elders who stood with hands respectfully clasped, remaining silent.

"You couldn't keep Princess Sha Jin?"

Tianxie Ziyin asked with a cold expression.

Yang Che replied helplessly, "Sha Jin had an Array Talisman on her, and at the last moment, I couldn't stop her."

"Since she had an Array Talisman, it's fine if she escaped."

Tianxie Ziyin had an indifferent, unconcerned expression.

At this moment, Sha E suddenly said worriedly, "Master, Tao Hua is one of the ten Grand Elders of Sand Sea City. Since she escaped with an Array Talisman and returned to Sand Sea City with Princess Sha Jin, they will surely make a comeback. By then, our Zi Tian City will truly be in danger."

Tianxie Ziyin's expression also gradually became solemn: "My cultivation has not yet recovered. Originally, I only wanted to restrict Sha Jin to make Sand Sea City wary, but it seems fate intervened, allowing both Sha Jin and Tao Hua to escape."

Sha E cupped his hands and said, "However, Master has already slain those two Nascent Soul Late Stage Protectors, which will also have a certain deterrent effect. I expect they will likely challenge our Zi Tian City again in a year, taking advantage of the 'tax' collection."

Yang Che's heart stirred upon hearing this.

He had heard from the young boy Wei Chen and his sister Wei Shan that Sand Sea City would send people to various Oasis every ten years to collect the so-called 'tax,' which was full pattern star stones.

This entire Ancient Remnant Sand Sea was under the management of the Ancient Remnant Alliance.

And the largest force in the Ancient Remnant Alliance was Sand Sea City.

In a sense, Sand Sea City represented the Ancient Remnant Alliance.

As soon as Sha E's words fell, the entire hall seemed to be in a suppressed atmosphere.

The three Nascent Soul Stage elders, who were originally Protectors of Holy Scorpion City and now Protectors of Zi Tian City, one of them constantly looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Tianxie Ziyin seemed to sense the thoughts of these three elders and asked coldly, "Protector Hong Li, do you have something to say?"

Hong Li, who was the most highly cultivated among the three elders, reaching Nascent Soul Late Stage, immediately cupped his hands and said:

"Senior, please forgive this Junior for speaking frankly. The Ancient Remnant Alliance is very formidable; it is said that its true core power layer consists of pure descendants of ancient Cultivators.

This Junior believes that we can use the opportunity of Sand Sea City sending people to collect taxes in a year to ease relations with Sand Sea City. As long as Zi Tian City is still willing to accept the Ancient Remnant Alliance's management, I believe Sand Sea City will not make things too difficult for us."

After Hong Li finished speaking, cold sweat streamed down his back, fearing that a single wrong word could bring about a threat to his life.

Fortunately, Tianxie Ziyin did not show any dissatisfaction after hearing his words.

This allowed Hong Li to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

At this moment, Sha E said, "Hong Li, even if our Zi Tian City is willing to ease relations with Sand Sea City, I'm afraid the conditions Sand Sea City proposes will be quite harsh. Just like this time, Tao Hua brought two Protectors and tried to force their way into the Purple Heaven Secret Realm. Since Master had given an order, I naturally couldn't let them in and fought to protect the Teleportation Array. However, the Purple Heaven Secret Realm has always been one of the training grounds for these ancient Cultivator descendants, so Tao Hua will likely not let this go easily."

Upon hearing the City Lord's words, Hong Li's face showed bitterness. He wanted to say something more, but in the end, he held back.

Some things, he knew he could think, but absolutely could not say aloud.

In the Cultivation World, strength has always been respected; whoever is stronger has absolute say.

When Hong Li thought of the Ancient Remnant Alliance, which was rumored to have three ancient Old Ancestors who had entered a 'suspended animation' state, he felt a wave of powerlessness.

These three had heaven-reaching cultivation, but their Lifespan was nearing its end, so to slow down the erosion of their Lifespan, they entered a state of suspended animation using a secret method.

If they were to be awakened, no one in the Ancient Remnant Sand Sea would be their opponent.

Thinking of this, Hong Li glanced at his two sworn brothers and sighed inwardly.

Now, his three Hong clan brothers could only take things one step at a time.

Yang Che took in all the expressions of these people.

He guessed that the power of the Ancient Remnant Alliance might far exceed his imagination, so much so that even the current Tianxie Ziyin had to treat it with caution.

And these three Nascent Soul Stage Protectors clearly had their own agendas.

After another period of oppressive silence in the hall, Tianxie Ziyin broke the silence: "Since this King dares to take over Zi Tian City, I will naturally ensure Zi Tian City's safety. Yang Che, stay. The rest of you may leave."

Sha E respectfully bowed and quickly led the three Nascent Soul Stage Protectors away.

Tianxie Ziyin slowly walked down from the main seat and said, "Yang Che, next, this King will set up the Intercontinental Great Array on the outskirts of Zi Tian Oasis. With this Formation, this King is confident that even if the three ancient Cultivators rumored to be in the Ancient Remnant Alliance awaken, they will not be able to easily break this Formation."

Tianxie Ziyin's tone was still filled with an undeniable, powerful self-confidence.

After a slight pause, she continued, "You have been following this King to Cultivate the Dao of Formation and Restriction for about a hundred years, haven't you? This time, when this King sets up this Intercontinental Great Array, you will participate. If any rare Formation Foundation Materials are needed during this period, you must resolve it for this King."

Upon hearing this, Yang Che's eyes immediately lit up with joy, and at the same time, a warmth rose in his heart.

He knew that Zi Yin was deliberately giving him a chance for true practical experience. This way, his progress in the Dao of Formation and Restriction would surely be rapid, even a qualitative change and improvement.

Next, the two returned to Jie Tian Peak in the Purple Heaven Secret Realm.

Tianxie Ziyin once again drew down lightning, and Yang Che, with the help of the Thunder Fire Refining Hall, fully devoted himself to Cultivating the Heaven and Earth Chaos Art for three months, providing Tianxie Ziyin with a large amount of Ancient God Power.

Afterward, Tianxie Ziyin took Yang Che out of the Purple Heaven Secret Realm and came to the sky above Zi Tian Oasis, beginning to prepare to set up the Intercontinental Great Array over the entire Zi Tian Oasis.

"Defensive Formations prioritize the timing and geographical advantage. Yang Che, look at this Zi Tian Oasis. It is surrounded by desert, separated by a unique city-protecting river. Beneath this city-protecting river is a rare Water Spiritual Vein, which is also the greatest reliance for the existence of this Zi Tian Oasis. Therefore, when this King sets up this city-protecting Formation, I plan to use this Water Spiritual Vein and the endless sand around it as the Foundation of the Great Array."

As soon as Tianxie Ziyin finished speaking, she flicked her jade hand, and countless strange golden runes fell along the side of the city-protecting river closest to the desert.

Yang Che saw that the Hexi area where the Wei Chen siblings once lived was also included.

Soon, an enormous, light golden cover enveloped the entire Zi Tian Oasis.

Countless Cultivators and city residents within the city sensed this strange phenomenon.

Some were surprised, some were confused, and some were horrified.

However, as Sha E appeared in time and transmitted his voice throughout the city, stating that it was done by the City Lord's Mansion and would not affect anyone, the city residents and Cultivators finally calmed down.

Yang Che was single-minded, fully immersing himself in setting up this Intercontinental Great Array with Tianxie Ziyin.

While he personally set up the Formation Foundation, Tianxie Ziyin patiently explained it over and over again. As a result, his progress in the Dao of Formation and Restriction improved daily, even to the point of being called rapid advancements.

In the blink of an eye, more than a year passed.

On this day, it was dusk.

In the desert surrounding Zi Tian Oasis, a mysterious army of Cultivators suddenly appeared.

They formed a massive circle, completely encircling the entire Zi Tian Oasis.