“If you can’t take it, don’t act for now. Let’s observe the situation first.” The woman didn’t turn her head, but her voice carried out.
The White Tiger Holy Clan’s Third Elder bowed slightly, then retreated. This time, he was acting on orders, just testing the waters and seeing how things stood. The order was given by this woman, who was the White Tiger Holy Clan’s Imperial Lord and the foremost person in Youwu Continent, Shang Ruoyu.
The White Tiger Holy Clan suffered heavy losses in Shenwu Continent, especially after Shang Zhengtin of the White Tiger Holy Clan’s Xileng branch died in battle. The White Tiger Holy Clan’s Third Elder, Shang Zhenghai, then sent a message to Youwu Continent.
After dealing with some matters at hand, Shang Ruoyu came to Shenwu Continent, but she was not in a hurry to act; she had plenty of time.
The White Tiger Holy Clan made no further moves, but this incident enraged the Shenwu Law Enforcement. This was a blatant disregard for Shenwu Continent’s rules, an act of provocation!
The Shenwu Law Enforcement discussed the matter and formulated a plan, which was to be executed by Mei Tianling.
Qin Chu was unaware of these events. Every day, he Cultivated with top-grade Heaven Origin Pills, Cultivating Origin Qi, Sword Intent, and Battle Intent.
Qin Chu’s Sword Intent and Battle Intent had both recently undergone a Breakthrough. His Sword Intent was at the Early Stage of Level Seven, and his Battle Intent was at the Early Stage of Level Six, both with significant room for refinement.
While Qin Chu was Cultivating, Qin Lingxi and Shang Shuyu also entered Heavenly Sword Mountain to Cultivate Sword Intent, so they did not receive news of the Vermilion Bird Holy Land being attacked.
Qingyi, who was guarding the Vermilion Bird Holy Clan’s stronghold, met with the messenger arranged by Qin Longhan. The messenger conveyed Qin Longhan’s words, telling Qin Lingxi, Qingyi, and Qin Chu to be careful and not to leave Heavenly Sword City, as Heavenly Sword City was not a place where the enemy could launch a large-scale attack.
The White Tiger Holy Clan’s attack on the Vermilion Bird Holy Land gradually faded with time, but this fading was merely a facade, as some matters moved into the shadows.
On the outskirts of Black Tortoise Holy Mountain, several black-robed figures dragged a man into the forest.
“Zhen Beicang, twenty years ago, before the Black Tortoise Holy Clan sealed the mountain, you committed many evil deeds in the Jianghu, humiliating and killing several women. Because some people found it inconvenient to act, and others couldn’t do anything about your Black Tortoise Holy Clan, you have always remained at large.” The voice of the leader, a woman with a black veil covering her face, came out.
“Who are you people? I am an Elder of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan!” the captured man roared.
“It’s not important. You shouldn’t be alive in this world. Now you have a chance to live; it just depends on whether you can seize it. First, break his legs, then we’ll question him,” the woman said.
A black-robed figure covered Zhen Beicang’s mouth, while another delivered two sharp kicks, directly breaking Zhen Beicang’s legs at the knees!
Zhen Beicang’s arms were tied behind his back, and his mouth was covered. The intense pain made his body tremble uncontrollably.
“First, uncover his mouth. I ask you, where is the White Tiger Holy Clan hidden in the Black Tortoise Holy Clan’s territory? If you don’t speak, I’ll break your arms!” The black-robed woman who had broken Zhen Beicang’s legs asked, also in a female voice.
Zhen Beicang hesitated. He knew about this matter; he was an Elder of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan, and he was present when Zhen Beixuan received the White Tiger Holy Clan’s forces. But this was a great secret of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan.
Seeing that Zhen Beicang remained silent, the woman who had broken Zhen Beicang’s legs stepped on his lower back, untied the animal sinew binding his arms, grabbed his left arm, and began to twist it, slowly.
As the woman twisted his arm, Zhen Beicang’s body trembled again. He couldn’t scream because his mouth was covered again.
Not just one twist, the woman who had broken Zhen Beicang’s legs twisted his left arm twice, and she still didn’t let go, just holding it there. “Uncover his mouth. If he doesn’t speak again, I’ll rip this arm off, skin and flesh.”
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! They are hidden in the great canyon on the side of Black Tortoise Holy Mountain.” Zhen Beicang couldn’t hold on any longer. He knew that the people who caught him didn’t care about his life or death. If he didn’t speak, they would truly rip off his arm. If this arm was twisted off and pulled away, there was still the other one. He felt that if his arms were pulled off, the other party would not hesitate to pull off his head.
“Very good. You Black Tortoise Holy Clan truly dare to court death!” The first woman to speak said, her voice full of anger.
“I’ve already told you, can you let me go?” Zhen Beicang’s face was covered in cold sweat. With his legs broken and his arm twisted, he was in unbearable pain.
Just as the leading woman was about to speak, the woman holding Zhen Beicang’s arm delivered a flying kick, breaking Zhen Beicang’s throat and shattering his neck bone.
“Demoness Su, you…” The leading woman’s eyes were full of surprise.
“President Mei, you didn’t say to let him go, and besides, I didn’t say to let him go. Shouldn’t he die? Why do we select targets who are extremely evil? Because they must die,” the killer woman said.
This group was led by President Mei Tianling of the Alchemist Guild, with Grand Elder Su of Demon City Castle and several managers from Demon City Castle assisting. They didn’t intend to handle this gently; first, they sought out the core members of the Black Tortoise Holy Clan who had committed many evil deeds, and then subjected them to severe torture.
“Alright! He truly deserves to die, and that’s why he was chosen!” Mei Tianling nodded. When Shenwu Law Enforcement acts, they cannot harm the innocent. Zhen Beicang deserved his death, so any torment was reasonable.
“The mission is complete! But the consequences of this situation are very serious. The Black Tortoise Holy Clan has truly gotten involved. If this war breaks out, it will have a wide impact,” Grand Elder Su said.
“Indeed! Our Shenwu Continent, with its five powerful Holy Clans with strong Bloodlines, has two families betraying Shenwu Continent. No matter how this is handled, Shenwu Continent will be greatly weakened. We should go back, and everyone can discuss how to proceed.” Mei Tianling sighed. They had verified the information, and once confirmed, they were very conflicted. How to decide in the end would still require the high-level officials of Shenwu Continent to deliberate.
“What a bunch of rebellious fellows,” Grand Elder Su cursed.
“Notify your Great Demon to return to Shenwu City. This matter still needs his old man’s decision; no one else will do,” Mei Tianling said to Great Demoness Su.
Inside the great canyon on the side of Black Tortoise Holy Mountain, a temporary grand hall had been erected. The woman seated in the main position had her face covered with a green veil, a golden hairpin in her black hair, and a sapphire ornament clasped in the center of her black hair bun.
“Third Elder, arrange for defenses. War should be coming soon!” the woman said.
“War is coming soon?” Shang Zhenghai was a bit puzzled.
“Cultivators at the Seventh-level Venerable Realm have appeared in Shenwu Continent. They captured people from the Black Tortoise Holy Clan and left, so our hiding place within the Black Tortoise Holy Clan will soon be exposed,” Shang Ruoyu said, looking in the direction of Black Tortoise Holy Mountain.
“Then shouldn’t we notify the Black Tortoise Holy Clan, and shouldn’t we retreat?” Shang Zhenghai asked.
“Why should we notify them? Why should we retreat? The Black Tortoise Holy Clan will soon become the public enemy of Shenwu Continent. What can they do? I and the White Tiger Holy Clan will be their only lifeline. This Black Tortoise Holy Mountain is good, and its defenses are also excellent. It can serve as our White Tiger Holy Clan’s branch in Shenwu Continent,” Shang Ruoyu said.