Chapter 456: Deserving Death

"Everyone, please stop fighting. I'll talk."

Cui Xian became very obedient, and his air of an expert vanished completely.

He recounted everything that had happened above.

This corroborated what Yang Ling had said earlier.

"So our Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect... was just absorbed by the Great Dream Dynasty just like that?"

Zhuang Xu muttered to himself:

"Why..."

Why? A flicker of imperceptible mockery flashed through Cui Xian's eyes.

The Sixth-Ranks present turned ashen. They of course knew why.

The other party had already said it: their own First-Rank Land Deity had long since passed away.

This was the reason the Great Dream Dynasty, in league with the Martial Alliance's other first-rate powers, launched an extermination strike against the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect!

"A first-rate sect without a First-Rank Land Deity to hold the fort becomes a piece of fat dripping with oil, attracting countless predators."

Yang Ling's heart stirred, and he suddenly asked:

"Ghost Monkey Cui, is your Cui family a beast-taming clan?"

Cui Xian looked at Yang Ling, his eyes carrying deep wariness:

"That's right. My Cui family is also renowned within the Great Dream Dynasty. Our family has a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme holding the fort."

"Supervisor Yang, this Ghost Monkey Cui's background is indeed extraordinary. That Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme of the Cui family is quite famous within the Martial Alliance."

"Many Grandmasters of the same rank are no match for him. The beasts he commands are terrifying in strength."

The Sixth-Rank who had previously recognized Ghost Monkey Cui spoke with a slightly respectful expression.

The Sixth-Ranks present also understood why his tone was so respectful.

The other party had effortlessly neutralized that ghost monkey, then left Cui Xian behind with a single flying dagger.

This method had clearly transcended the realm of a Mid Sixth-Rank.

This Supervisor Yang, who had been quietly keeping a low profile at the Crimson Fire Iron Mine, was surely a genuine Upper Sixth-Rank!

"Quite famous within the Martial Alliance?"

Yang Ling had previously flipped through the introduction to the Martial Alliance that Shi Jiu had given him.

The introduction wasn't actually very detailed, but it at least marked which first-rate powers existed.

The Great Dream Dynasty was on it, ranked first.

The rest were all sect powers, with some resembling Zhao State's power structure.

But among those sect powers, there were as many as sixteen first-rate ones.

Second-rate ones numbered over three hundred.

As for third-rate, they weren't even qualified to enter the Martial Alliance.

For the Cui family's Third-Rank Grandmaster to be somewhat famous within the Martial Alliance meant that this person's methods among Third-Ranks were absolutely not weak, belonging to the First Tier.

Cui Xian thought Yang Ling was afraid, and immediately laughed:

"Everyone, I, Cui Xian, have some face in the Divine Guard Bureau as well. How about you let me go, and leave this place with me? I'll put in a good word for everyone and ask the Department Head to spare your lives."

"Your Department Head has no intention of sparing our lives at all, otherwise he wouldn't have sent people in time and again."

Yang Ling frowned and said: "How many branches does your Cui family have?"

Cui Xian felt some doubt in his heart, and said warily:

"Why does Your Excellency ask this? Our Cui family has many branches and leaves. If you really want to know how many branches there are, even I don't know."

"If you don't know, then it's time to hit the road."

Yang Ling killed Cui Xian with a single palm strike.

His movements were so fast that Cui Xian had no time to react before his skull was shattered and he died on the spot.

Zhuang Xu and the others gasped sharply.

"This..."

Yang Ling smiled: "Do you really think sparing his life will save your own?

Don't be too naive. Only by advancing to Fifth-Rank and becoming a Lesser Master do you have the qualifications to live in their eyes.

The rest are all insects wasting resources, deserving death."

Everyone thought it over carefully and gradually savored the logic within.

"I once heard some rumors that a first-rate grand sect was exterminated, with everyone below Fifth-Rank slaughtered clean, and only those above Fifth-Rank having the qualifications to live."

"At the time I actually thought the rumors were wrong, but now that I think about it, I can understand."

Zhuang Xu muttered to himself: "They went to great lengths to seize all of our Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect's heritage. How could they then feed it back to us?

Only by becoming a Fifth-Rank Lesser Master do you become useful in their eyes, and only then can you live."

"That's right. The Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect's resources falling into their hands will definitely prioritize their own disciples."

"As for us, having us alive brings them no benefit. Instead, they'd have to constantly guard against our rebellion."

"But what should we do next? Since surrender is impossible, then should we fight our way out?"

"Fight our way out, my ass. The Divine Guard Bureau's Department Head has come to Fire Flood Dragon Island, and the sect's Fifth-Ranks and Fourth-Ranks have already surrendered. How are we supposed to fight our way out?"

"Every path, front and back, leads to death?"

For a moment, the cavern became very quiet.

Yang Ling paid this no mind. He silently finished looting Cui Xian's corpse, obtaining some Spirit Nurturing Pills and some bits of silver, then continued to stand before Little White and stare at it.

"Supervisor Yang, you're an Upper Sixth-Rank, right? Among us, your cultivation level is the highest. What do you say we do?"

A Sixth-Rank looked at Yang Ling, his eyes full of hope.

"The mining shafts are complex. If we stay inside here, perhaps there's a sliver of a chance at survival."

Yang Ling said: "Other than that, there's no other path to take. Going out means certain death."

"But hiding long-term isn't a solution either..."

Many Sixth-Ranks wore bitter smiles.

"You need to have enough patience. Wait until they think you've all thoroughly died down here. There will eventually be a moment of laxity."

"I don't believe those experts will stay on Fire Flood Dragon Island forever."

Yang Ling said.

This was indeed the only way out he believed these Sixth-Ranks had.

They couldn't leave this dungeon, and this was the only path available, with no other choice.

"Gathering here isn't a solution either. Cui Xian is dead, and the other side may send more experts in..."

Zhuang Xu thought for a moment, then cupped his fists toward everyone:

"I'll go hide first. May we meet again if fate allows."

With that, he hurriedly left.

The Sixth-Ranks present exchanged glances, drew deep breaths, and one after another walked deeper into the mine shaft.

They hadn't expected that they, dignified Sixth-Ranks, would one day become beings more miserable than mine slaves.

Very likely, for the next half year or even several years, they would only be able to eke out a survival down here.

Fortunately, there were some mine insects and mine beasts down here. With good luck, they wouldn't starve to death.

As for what would happen later, it was impossible to predict now.

Before they knew it, the vast cavern was left with only Yang Ling alone.

That group of Sixth-Ranks all believed that after Cui Xian's death, the other side would continue sending people over.

This place was already exposed, so they naturally didn't dare linger.

"There's still four hours until the dungeon ends. If Little White hasn't finished evolving, I wonder if it will leave the dungeon and continue evolving?"

Yang Ling was somewhat worried about this.

Time passed second by second.

Rustling footsteps continuously rang out.

Yang Ling made no movement, still standing in place.

After about a quarter of an hour, this cavern had been completely surrounded.

The Divine Guard Bureau's experts wore neat, uniform tight-fitting clothes, holding heavy crossbows aimed at Yang Ling.

The leader glanced at Cui Xian's corpse and said with some emotion:

"Ghost Monkey Cui could even kill Fifth-Ranks. I never expected him to fall at your hands.

Even that Fourth-Rank Grandmaster Ji Tianming of yours couldn't kill you.

A little supervisor, and yet you have such ability?

Come with us. The Department Head truly wants to see you now."