Chapter 385 - 212: Breaking Through to the True Master Realm (Part 2)

Behind the military formation, over a dozen pitch-black True Qi Fire Cannons were aimed directly at the banquet hall!

No one in the entire banquet hall spoke.

There was only the occasional clatter of bowls and chopsticks, and the sound of heavy breathing.

Finally, after the last dish was cleared away and fragrant tea was served,

General Qin Fuhu, who had been silent all this time, lifted his teacup, took a sip, and then gently placed it back on the table.

CLICK.

It was a soft sound, yet it struck everyone’s heart like a heavy hammer!

It’s starting!

In that instant, everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats!

Qin Fuhu slowly raised his head, his hawk-like eyes calmly sweeping over everyone present.

"Everyone."

He began to speak slowly, his voice carrying the authority of one long accustomed to a high position.

"The fighting in the Western Realm has been tight recently. The rebel army in the north has also broken through Jiangzhou and is now pushing south. My three hundred thousand soldiers of the Qilin Army are on constant alert, sleeping on their spears. The pressure... is immense."

He paused, picked up his teacup, and gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the surface.

"You are all pillars of the Cangzhou Martial World, heroes in your own right. With the nation in peril, I trust... you won’t just stand by and watch, will you?"

"After all, we are not just defending the lands of Great Chu, but also... our own homes."

After speaking, he scanned the crowd again, taking in everyone’s expression.

Finally, his gaze landed on Zhao Qingtian, the Sect Leader of the Taiyuan Sect.

Zhao Qingtian quickly stood up, cupped his fist respectfully toward Qin Fuhu, and said in a booming voice:

"The Lord General is right! We Martial Artists receive the emperor’s favor and must serve him faithfully! With the nation in danger, the Taiyuan Sect, from top to bottom, will not shrink from death itself!"

With him taking the lead, the others also rose to their feet and echoed his sentiment.

"The Profound Sound Sect pledges its unwavering service to the Lord General!"

"The Chen Family is willing to contribute our modest strength for the sake of Great Chu!"

...

’A bunch of hypocrites.’

Qin Fuhu looked at the "righteous and loyal" faces before him and sneered inwardly.

He knew that if these people hadn’t been scared witless by his previous iron-fisted methods, they would never be this cooperative.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face as he raised a hand and gestured for them to be seated.

"Good! Very good!"

"It seems the Cangzhou Martial World truly understands where its duty lies!"

"In that case," his voice grew even gentler, "I will not stand on ceremony with you all."

"What I ask for isn’t much..."

He held up one hand.

"Each family and sect need only contribute half of your assets to the war effort."

"Half?!"

As soon as he said it, the entire banquet hall erupted!

Expressions of incredulous shock and horror appeared on everyone’s faces!

Half of their assets?!

This wasn’t just taking a pound of flesh; this was skinning them alive, draining their very blood!

One had to understand that the daily expenses of a large Sect or Noble Family were astronomical!

The Cultivation Resources for countless disciples, the stipends for the Elders, the maintenance of various enterprises...

If half of their assets were taken, how would they survive in the future?!

For a moment, everyone just looked at each other, but no one dared to respond.

Qin Fuhu’s brow slowly furrowed.

"What is it?"

"It is merely half..."

"Are you all... finding this difficult?!"

His tone suddenly sharpened!

At the same time.

A terrifying pressure erupted from his seemingly calm body!

Seventh Layer Peak of True Master Realm!

And it was the purest form of Iron Blood Evil Qi, honed on a Corpse Mountain and Blood Sea!

Although everyone present was a top-tier expert,

they still felt as if their hearts were being viciously squeezed by an invisible hand, making it hard to even breathe!

It was only then that they discovered to their horror!

This Lord General, who had always lived a secluded life and rarely revealed his strength in public...

was actually a genuine, top-tier expert at the Seventh Layer of True Master Realm!

Add to that the dozen-plus True Qi Fire Cannons outside, which were powerful enough to blast them all to smithereens...

Resist?

With what could they possibly resist?!

"I... the Taiyuan Sect... have no objection!"

Zhao Qingtian was once again the first to respond.

With him taking the lead, the others all followed suit.

"The Profound Sound Sect... has no objection either."

"The Cangyun Sect... seconds the motion."

...

"Very good!"

Looking at the humiliated and unwilling faces before him, Qin Fuhu finally broke into a satisfied smile.

He slowly rose and picked up his teacup.

"Everyone, you are indeed people who understand where your duty lies!"

"Come! I will use this tea in place of wine to toast you all!"

...

After the banquet ended, everyone took their leave one after another.

The Sect Leaders of the Three Great Sects walked at the front, followed by the Elders of their respective Sects.

Their expressions were each uglier than the last, so grim you could almost wring water from them.

The entire group was shrouded in a silence so oppressive it was suffocating.

It wasn’t until they were far from the General’s Mansion that Zhao Qingtian could no longer suppress the rage in his heart.

He cursed furiously, "That son of a bitch is going too far!!"

"Does he really think we’re just pigs and sheep for him to slaughter?! Half of our assets! Even bandits aren’t that ruthless!"

Beside him, Liu Ruyan, the Sect Leader of the Profound Sound Sect, had long since lost her usual composure and elegance.

She sighed, her expression grave. "What happened today was indeed a terrible humiliation for us. But... we were outmatched. What could we do? A Cultivation at the Seventh Layer of True Master Realm, plus those dozen-some True Qi Fire Cannons... If we had really fallen out with him today, I’m afraid none of us would have made it out of the General’s Mansion’s gates."

At her words, the group fell silent once again.

Indeed, what could they do?

In the face of absolute military power, all their anger and resentment seemed pale and powerless.

"Sigh..."

Sect Leader Xu Zhouzi of the Cangyun Sect, who had been quiet the whole time, let out a sigh.

His face, which was usually as calm as an old well, was now filled with deep exhaustion and worry.

He looked at his two peers, who also held the reins of their respective sects, and said slowly, "I’m afraid what happened today... is only the beginning. That Qin Fuhu has the Temperament of a true tyrant. His ambition is by no means limited to mere money."

"Today, he can use force to make us hand over half our assets. Tomorrow, he can use the same methods to make us hand over our Cultivation Techniques, our Elixir Recipes, and even... the control of our entire Sects!"

"He’s trying to devour the foundations of our Sects, step by step, until he finally brings the entire Cangzhou Martial World completely under the control of his Qilin Army!"

Hearing this, Zhao Qingtian and Liu Ruyan both looked resentful.

As the leaders of great sects, they naturally understood this as well.

"Then what should we do?!" Liu Ruyan asked, unwilling to accept their fate. "Are we... just supposed to sit here and wait for death, letting him carve us up as he pleases?!"

"No."

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in Xu Zhouzi’s eyes.

"We... have one more chance!"

"What chance?" Zhao Qingtian asked urgently.

"The Celestial Strategy Guard!"