Xiang Lie’s temper was similar to Duanmu Sheng’s temper. They both had a quick and fiery temper. He did not seem to care if the people around him could withstand the impact from the soundwaves he sent out with his Primal Qi. He did as he liked.
The warriors above and below him had to cover their ears in fear and trepidation.
Everyone’s attention was focused on the flying chariot. They were all waiting for a reply. Most of them were rather certain that Yu Zhenghai was not present at all. If he were here, surely he would not have submitted himself to being surrounded on multiple sides?
Hua Chongyang was about to reply when a soft and melodious voice rang from Liu Bing’s war chariot. “Uncle Xiang.”
Xiang Lie frowned. He looked at Liu Bing’s war chariot.
Everyone’s gaze shifted from Xiang Lie to the war chariot. Clearly, the voice belonged to a lady. They saw a beautiful lady with charming features.
“Yong Ning?”
A graceful and delicate lady stepped into the air from the war chariot. She wore red clothes and had pearls on her hair. Her eyes twinkled like the stars in the skies. This was Great Yan’s Princess Yong Ning, Liu Wenjun.
…
In a hidden building.
When Little Yuan’er saw Princess Yong Ning, she giggled and said, “Master, Sister Yong Ning is pretty.”
Lu Zhou waved his hand. A weak energy barrier appeared around them. He thought it was better to be cautious. After all, their voices could alert the elites to their presence.
…
Princess Yong Ning curtsied at Xiang Lie.
However, her gesture frightened Xiang Lie. Although he was older than her and was respected by her, he did not dare to allow the princess to bow at him. He was merely a subject of the empire after all. He raised a palm, and a surge of energy held Princess Yong Ning in place. He said, “I do not deserve this good fortune, princess.”
Princess Yong Ning smiled faintly. She seemed to bask in the glory of spring as she said, “Uncle Xiang, didn’t you go to Yi Province?”
“I was just passing by.” It was clearly an excuse.
Liang Province was to the north of Yi Province. It was not a place that he would pass by.
“So, it’s Princess Yong Ning…” The Rouli chief, Ha Luo, bowed at Yong Ning. He placed his right hand on his left shoulder as he smiled.
At this moment, Liu Bing said, “Yong Ning, this is not the time for casual conversations.”
Princess Yong Ning asked, “Are we really going to fight?”
Xiang Lie frowned and said, “Yong Ning, if you’re planning to plead for the Nether Sect, you’d better forget it… Please step aside. Nobody would be able to look after you when the battle starts.”
Liu Bing looked at Yong Ning and said, “Do you know why my father allowed me to bring you here?”
How could Yong Ning not know? However, she was neither annoyed nor angry. She only calmly smiled as she said, “Don’t mind me…” Her words seemed to be directed at Liu Bing and the people in the flying chariot.
“Bring her down!” Liu Bing waved his hand. Two of the generals brought Yong Ning back to the war chariot.
The moment Liu Bing’s voice faded, Hua Chongyang made the first move. An avatar that was 80 to 90 feet tall appeared. “Bai Yuqing, fight alongside me.”
“Roger!” Bai Yuqing did not unleash his avatar. The two of them charged at Liu Bing at lightning speed.
The flying chariot retreated. The six generals’ expressions darkened as they went up to meet them.
The two sides were immediately engaged in a fierce battle. Energies from both sides collided.
The soldiers below retreated.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The loud collision between the avatars rang in everyone’s ears. The battle was a dazzling sight.
Ha Luo summoned his wolf king avatar again. He sneered as he looked at the flying chariot.
“Ha Luo, I’m your opponent…” Yang Yan and Di Qing leaped from the flying chariot and charged toward the square formation of the Other Tribesmen.
At this moment, the Four Great Protectors had left the flying chariot.
The cultivators around the Nether Sect’s flying chariot gathered and circulated their Primal Qi. They cast a huge barrier that enveloped the chariot.
Xiang Lie laughed. “Such is the will of the heavens. Not even your four subordinates have the chance to protect you! Yu Zhenghai… Die!” He raised a hand and struck with his palm! A huge talisman seal flew toward the flying chariot.
Boom!
The talisman seal landed on the flying chariot and vanished.
“Hm?” Xiang Lie frowned. He looked at the Formation veins on the flying chariot and exclaimed in shock, “The Formation veins of the Celestial Masters Sect?”
Meanwhile, Yang Yan and Di Qing were engaged with the Other Tribesmen in an intense battle. It felt as though the entire Liang Province’s city was occupied by avatars.
The cultivators inside the city looked up at the eye-catching battle in the sky.
The Four Great Protectors somehow managed to stand their own ground against the two forces. However, how would the remaining men around the flying chariot defend against the attacks of the Eight-leaf elite, Xiang Lie?
It was exceptionally quiet in the flying chariot. The Nether Sect disciples defended the flying chariot with unflagging effort. They believed in the person onboard the flying chariot even if it cost them their lives.
Xiang Lie said, “Yu Zhenghai, I’ve underestimated you. Are you planning to cower in there your entire life?”
There was no reply.
…
Inside the building.
Lu Zhou did not pay attention to the Four Great Protectors’ battles. Instead, his attention was completely focused on the flying chariot. He was also wondering if Yu Zhenghai was onboard the flying chariot. Yu Zhenghai was the only person who could turn the tides of the battle.
…
Xiang Lie laughed. He raised his palm again and struck at the flying chariot. A huge offensive Daoist talisman seal shone with dazzling brilliance.
Boom!
The flying chariot swayed.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
The Formation veins were beginning to crack.
“This is bad. Sect master… I’m coming!” The Azure Dragon Hall’s Second Seat, Yu Hong, leaped onto the chariot.
Meanwhile, Hua Chongyang and Bai Yuqing had the upper hand in their battle. Hua Chongyang glanced at the flying chariot and said, “Bai Yuqing, reinforce the flying chariot. I’ll handle this!”
“Roger!” Bai Yuqing circulated his Expansive Heavenly Energy. From his position in the air, he charged toward Xiang Lie.
Hua Chongyang immediately felt the pressure on him rise as he fought against six opponents. Six avatars surrounded him like a game of Go.
The thunderous clashing sounds showed no signs of stopping.
For a battle such as this, the opponents no longer had the leisure to mind the buildings on the ground. Most of the city was now reduced to rubble.
Bai Yuqing came at Xiang Lie from the side.
Xiang Lie sneered and said, “A Seven-leaf cultivator is just a Seven-leaf cultivator, after all…” He joined his palms together and made hand signs. Dozens of talismans shot toward Bai Yuqing.
Bai Yuqing looked shocked as he activated his Expansive Heavenly Energy!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
There was a difference in their realms, after all. Bai Yuqing reeled back and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
“Kill the Nether Sect’s Four Great Protectors! Yu Zhenghai is not onboard the flying chariot!” Xiang Lie was confident. He knew Yu Zhenghai very well. If Yu Zhenghai were here, he would have already joined the battle. Yu Zhenghai would not hide in the flying chariot.
Xiang Lie’s voice resounded across the battlefield.
Ha Luo sneered. His wolf king avatar grew larger. “Yang Yan, Di Qing… Do you really think that Six-leaf cultivators can lead an army?”
Whizz!
The Golden Lotus under the wolf king avatar’s paws enlarged as well. There was a cracking sound from one edge of the Golden Lotus… a leaf sprouted. Before long, seven leaves spun around the Golden Lotus.
Ha Luo looked domineering as he stood among the people in the square formation.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Yang Yan and Di Qing were immediately sent flying back by the wolf king. The instant their avatars vanished, they spat out a mouthful of blood.
It was clear that Hua Chongyang would not be able to hold it any longer as well.
Xiang Lie nodded in satisfaction before he dove toward the flying chariot.
Boom!
The Formation veins cracked further.
Boom!
The Formation veins shattered.
The more than 1,000 cultivators of the Nether Sect fell from Xiang Lie’s two sweeping attacks.
Xiang Lie landed on the flying chariot. His Primal Qi surged. It traveled from his dantian’s sea of Qi to the soles of his feet before it flowed throughout the flying chariot. With this, he took control of the Nether Sect’s flying chariot!
“As expected, it’s empty,” Xiang Lie said smugly as he was about to turn to face Hua Chongyang.
Suddenly…
Whoosh!
A figure struck Xiang Lie’s back at lightning speed.
As an accomplished cultivator, Xiang Lie had sensed the threat at his back. He quickly activated his protective energy.
“Too late.”
Boom!
Xiang Lie stumbled forward. A strange power easily breached his protective energy.
Puh!
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Uncle Xiang!” Liu Bing who was hovering above his war chariot cried out. He looked horrified when he witnessed this scene. His eyes immediately found the other person in the chariot
It was… not Yu Zhenghai. Instead, it was the Evil Sky Pavilion’s seventh disciple, Si Wuya.
Si Wuya retracted his palm. Several talismans burst into flames in his hands and scattered in the air.
Yu Hong leaped onto the flying chariot while enduring the pain in his body and maintaining the flying chariot’s altitude.
“Mister Seventh! You did it!”
Si Wuya walked forward slowly with a calm expression on his face. He walked to the helm of the flying chariot and looked down at Xiang Lie. He said loudly, “You’re unlucky. I’ve been studying the Celestial Masters Sect’s mantra for a long time. I didn’t expect to be able to use it on you.”
The things in the world were either complementary or antagonistic. An Eight-leaf cultivator was not without weaknesses.
Si Wuya had been studying the Celestial Masters Sect’s mantras cautiously and conscientiously when he was trying to break his master’s mantra some time ago. Apart from that, his Eldest Senior Brother even went through the trouble of procuring a lot of talismans for him to help him break the mantra. He had used all the talismans in one go during his attack. However, this one attack was more than enough.
Boom!
Xiang Lie crashed onto the ground.
Si Wuya knew that Xiang Lie was not dead. However, he was satisfied with gravely injuring Xiang Lie.
Yang Yan, Di Qing, and Bai Yuqing returned, injured.
Hua Chongyang was the only one left fending off his opponents.
Si Wuya looked at Liu Bing and said, “Liu Bing… From the moment you set foot onto Liang Province City, you’ve lost.”
“Hm?”
“Xiang Lie is a minor accident. However, has it ever crossed your mind that the Formations in Liang Province’s city’s Formation are actually untouched?” Si Wuya’s words caused Liu Bing’s warriors to exchange glances among themselves.
“You did this on purpose?” Liu Bing’s brows were tightly knitted together.
“You can say that… Also, these Other Tribesmen, from the beginning until the end, they’re nothing but uncivilized animals to me.” Si Wuya’s words grated on their ears.
When Ha Luo heard this, he was infuriated. His wolf king avatar was activated again.
Perhaps, they were also angered by Si Wuya’s words. The 2,000 witchcraft cultivators in the square formation looked at the skies in unison and released thick purple smoke from their bodies.
The wolf king avatar absorbed the purple smoke and grew larger.
Ha Luo said loudly, “Do you really think you’ve foreseen everything?”
Bai Yuqing hastily went up to Si Wuya’s side and said, “Mister Seventh, I request you to retreat. The plan has succeeded. If we retreat now, Ha Luo will surely turn on Liu Bing!”
Yang Yan and Di Qing bowed as well.
Si Wuya knew that Ha Luo had been holding back. All these years, he and Yu Zhenghai were the only ones who knew how much they understood the Other Tribes.
Retreat?
Act according to plan?
Liu Bing made a grabbing motion. Princess Yong Ning was held up in the air. He had no choice! “Si Wuya, are you bold enough to run away? I won’t let you reap the benefits from our battle here.”
“Yong Ning?!” Si Wuya frowned.
The three Great Protectors bowed again. “Mister Seventh, please act according to the plan!”
Si Wuya looked at Princess Yong Ning who was being held up in the air.
Yong Ning’s expression was calm. She did not panic or struggle. She was even smiling warmly as she looked at Si Wuya on the flying chariot. A hint of satisfaction could be seen in her smile. This was enough for her. She raised her right hand slightly, and an energy sword materialized in her hand.
“Please carry on with your plan…” With a decisive and forceful thrust, Yong Ning stabbed her own chest.
When one was uncertain, it would be easy to fall into a dilemma. When all hell broke loose, the options that were available would seem ridiculously difficult to pick.
The movements of the energy sword were reflected in Si Wuya’s eyes. He felt as though something had tugged on his heartstrings. With a tap of his feet, he shot toward Yong Ning like a fired arrow.
“A couple with a bitter fate… The Evil Sky Pavilion’s Mister Seventh, this is all both of you will amount to.” Within the moving Grand Witchcraft Formation, Ha Luo had forcibly raised his wolf king avatar to the Eight-leaf stage.
The Eight-leaf wolf king flew toward Si Wuya.
“Mister Seventh!” Every fiber in Yong Ning’s body told her that she had to remain calm. She wanted to remain calm, but when she saw Si Wuya flying to her, she could not control her expression. and she wanted herself to remain calm as well. “Why?”
Si Wuya had always regarded himself as a cold-blooded man who would never be shaken by anything. However, the moment the energy sword sank into Yong Ning’s body, he felt as if his own heart was stabbed.
Blood sprayed everywhere. Her garment was dyed red.
Si Wuya launched countless palm seals in a frenzy. He repelled Liu Bing’s war chariot and caught Liu Ning! Unfortunately, the wolf king avatar swiped its claws and leaving gashes on his back.
Boom!
Si Wuya’s clothes on his upper body were shredded. He held Princess Yong Ning tightly and fell toward the buildings in the distance like a kite with a severed thread.
Ha Luo was extremely delighted by this. He laughed uproariously. “It seems like I’ll be the big winner today!”
He waved his arm. The square formation dissolved. The witchcraft cultivators could not maintain the Eight-leaf avatar for too long. The outcome was set. All that was left was to clean things up. The witchcraft cultivators dove toward the Nether Sect disciples on the ground.
Hua Chongyang could not hold them back. Eventually, he was sent flying by the six generals.
Was everything over?
…
Amidst the rubble…
Si Wuya supported Princess Yong Ning with one arm. For a time, he was speechless. A dark expression could be seen on his face.
He maintained this position for a long time until he no longer could and spat out a mouthful of blood, unable to suppress the surging blood essence in his body.
He had to let go of her as he supported his own weight with both hands on the ground.
Just when Yong Ning was about to fall, Sii Wuya willed himself to rise and catch Yong Ning. He looked up at the battlefield.
Did the plan fail, all because of his own recklessness?
The more than 1,000 disciples of the Nether Sect were instantly surrounded by Liu Bing’s troops and the people of Lou Lan and Rouli.
Yong Ning opened her eyes slightly. She raised her right hand that was stained with blood and grabbed Si Wuya’s arm. She asked weakly, “Why?”
Si Wuya shook his head. His face was pale. He did not know the answer nor did he want an answer… All he knew was, at this moment, it felt as though a huge boulder was weighing down on his heart. His face remained as emotionless and cold as ever like a robot.
Bam!
The huge chariot in the skies broke at this moment.
“Run, now!”
“I can’t…” Si Wuya shook his head. He sounded helpless. Without the flying chariot, how was she supposed to escape? At this moment, he felt as though he had let everyone down. The Four Great Protectors, his brethren in the Nether Sect, and Yong Ning who was willing to die for him…
Si Wuya prided himself on being able to handle various situations that were thrown at him. However, at this moment, he was lost.
Yong Ning’s blood stained his arm. He could not seem to focus to think of a countermeasure.
He was not only suffering, but he was annoyed to no end as well. He forced himself to remain calm.
‘What should I do? Am I going to sit here and look on as everyone else dies before my eyes?’
Creak! Creak! Creak!
An old but energetic figure appeared next to Si Wuya at this moment.
Si Wuya frowned and slowly looked up. He shuddered involuntarily. His eyes were filled with incredulity.
The old man looked indifferent. He was stroking his beard with one hand while the other was resting on his back. A little girl and a nervous middle-aged man stood next to him.
The world seemed to have fallen silent at this moment.
After some time, Si Wuya finally spoke with a trembling voice, “Ma… master?!”
Lu Zhou shook his head. He said, “Rascal…”
“I… This disciple…” Si Wuya could not string his words together. He seemed to have lost his vocal cords.
