“How did you guys come in here?” Zhao Xiang Rui was surprised when he saw them.
There was a barrier here, and it was impossible that Xia Chang Tian had broken it by force. Even if they had entered, there were so many people here. It wasn’t possible that he had slipped the notice of every single one.
It was not only Xia Chang Tian and Zhao Xiang Rui. It seemed like it was the first time that Gao Zhi Hong and the other guards had seen them appear in the city as well. They had been going around setting themselves up against them, so they had sent a lot of men out but they couldn’t catch a hold of them at all.
No matter how Gao Zhi Hong and Red had hopped around, they cared nothing for it. However, now that Xia Chang Tian and Zhao Xiang Qi appeared, things were totally different!
“Hmph, you don’t have to worry yourself about how we came in here.” Xia Chang Tian said, “Right now, I’m only going to ask you one thing. Are you going to surrender or not?”
“Surrender? Ha ha ha-” Song Chang Jie seemed as if he had heard the biggest joke of his life as he laughed out loud, saying, “It’s been so many years, and you’ve just buried yourself in refining pills. You’ve left all the things in the guild to me. I’ve toiled and laboured for so long, but I have to remain suppressed under your feet. I have had enough of this!”
“That’s why you betrayed me, worked together with those from the inner region to poison the outskirts and deceived me?” Xia Chang Tian was rather hurt. He had always treated Song Chang Jie as the next in line and nurtured him. He didn’t think that he would have harboured these kinds of thoughts!
When everyone around them heard what he said, they all sucked in a breath. So the things that had happened around the city were caused by Song Chang Jie and Zhao Xiang Riu? Then those people who had died because they went to check what had happened were killed by them as well?
“When the envoys did not return, I knew that you had already known about it.” Song Chang Jie did not deny it, saying, “However, so what if you know the reason why? The outcome is the same. We are determined to serve a new leader.”
“New leader?” Zhao Xiang Qi frowned, “It seems that you have already decided to lean on this title. You don’t even want to keep your dignity!”
“Dignity? After being with you for so many years, my dignity has long since been weathered away by your calls to come here and go there. However, following Master is not the same. A single tiny scheme of hers can cause you to suffer a crushing defeat. Although I do not know how you survived, the outcome is the same.
“Outcome? We have returned and your plans are but air.” Zhao Xiang Qi said, “The Cloud Protection Unit follows the direct orders of Chang Tian and I. Are you still able to order them around?”
“Ha ha ha, do you think that the current Cloud Protection Unit is still the same one as the past?” Song Chang Jie guffawed, “You can try to give them an order. See if they’ll listen to you!”
Xia Chang Tian looked at the guards, who immediately aimed the spirit weapons at them.
“What have you done to them?” Xia Chang Tian questioned.
“Nothing, actually.” Song Chang Jie said, “Although these people take their orders directly from President, it’s been so many years. They’ve long since flocked under my banner. Could it be that you don’t notice that the Cloud Protection Unit lacks a few of the more familiar people, and gained many new faces? Oh right, you were too busy refining pills that you didn’t even realise.”
Cloud Protection Unit. It was supposed to be the guard that protected President and Subdivision Leader. However, it was now replaced with those who pledged loyalty to Song Chang Jie and the others.
“You dared to defect!” Gao Zhi Hong glared at those who used to be their disciples, his eyes frosted over.
“Team Leader, you cannot blame us. A bird has to find a place to lay its nest.” Someone said.
“It’s good that you’re self aware. You know that you are beasts!” Red cried out.
“Red, we have already gotten rid of those from your Safflower Sect. I wonder if you will be able to find their bones?”
“Hmph, I will definitely let you pay in blood for what you have done to them!” Red declared.
“Just based on yourself? Men, raze them to the ground!” Zhang Xing never liked Red to begin with. When he thought of her, he subconsciously recalled her various torture methods. Right now, it was a rare opportunity to get rid of her, one that he was not about to let go of.
“Protect President and Subdivision leader!”
The guards moved and those who were on the viewing platform flew down. They could ignore everyone else, but they had to protect President and Subdivision leader. When they moved, all the followers and opposers moved to action as well.
It was only now that she realised the resting area was divided into four. One of the areas was for those from the inner region. They cared nothing for this. Another was for the subordinates of Song Chang Jie. One was neutral, and another was for those who pledged loyalty to Xia Zhang Tian and the others.
The moment they acted, aside from those from the inner religion, everyone started to fight. The entire plaza was in absolute chaos.
“You guys stay here. You’re not allowed to go out.” Mao San Quan set up a protective array and instructed the students as he took Wei Zheng with him and left.
“Little Seven, protect everyone well.” Sima You Yue saw that the Divine Devil clansmen were outside and many had been dragged into the battle. She followed Mao San Quan out and fought her way over to where the Divine Devil Valley was.
“Master Uncle, Senior.” Sima You Yue came to their side and managed to rescue a disciple who had been surrounded.
“Why did you come?!” Ying Bai Chun saw that Sima You Yue had come over and said, “Hurry back into the protective array!”
“They’re attacks are too fierce. Let’s go back together!” Sima You Yue called out to him.
“Bai Chun, take them back to the protective array.” Liang Wu Ming called out.
“Yes, Master.” Ying Bai Chun replied, “Follow me.”
He and Sima You Yue worked together to lead the students back to where the sect was. Little Seven opened the barrier to let them inside.
“Thank you, Valley Masters!”
Sima You Yue was rather curious, asking, “How did you know that it was me?”
“Aside from you, nobody can call Valley Master ‘Master Uncle.” The person smiled in reply.
“That’s true.” Sima You Yue turned around and looked at the battlefield, saying, “The situation doesn’t look optimistic!”
“The Cloud Protection Unit has switched sides, which was unexpected. I wonder if they have any cards they have not played. Otherwise, this battle…” Su Xiao Xiao was a little worried.
“I feel the same. I feel like Captain Gao and the others aren’t this weak.” Han Miao Shuang believed in them fully.
“They won’t even listen to President’s orders. I’m afraid that it won’t be possible for us to stop them.” Little Seven said.
“I agree.” Ying Bai Chun said, “However, you do not have to be too worried. Those people will come over after they settle those outside.”
“Those outside?”
“They’re the ex-guards. There’s also Red’s Safflower Sect as well as other reinforcements.” Ying Bai Chun said.
“Where are they now?”
“Cleaning up those who are supporting Song Chang Jie.”
“If they don’t come here soon, I’m afraid that they won’t be able to hold on much longer.”
Ying Bai Chun was rather worried when he saw the dire circumstances on one side.
However, the reinforcements didn’t seem like they would be coming any earlier.
Time trickled by, and each minute and second was extremely hard to bear.
“Screech-”
Just as everyone thought that the battle was going to be over, the sound of a phoenix cry sounded, filling Sima You Yue with joy.