“The Eastern Commandery Marquis? Talk about enemies crossing paths. I thought I would not run into him here, yet here he is.”
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth. Perfect. Killing Jiao Batian had not been satisfying enough. This time, facing the Eastern Commandery Marquis, he would finally experience the thrill of battling a true First Cave Heaven realm warrior.
Jiao Batian had been too weak to serve as a proper benchmark.
The Eastern Commandery Marquis was different. This man had once been a war hero of the Divine Phoenix Empire. Although he had now grown decadent and indulgent, the experience he had accumulated over the years would never disappear.
He was therefore an extremely troublesome opponent.
Facing a genuine First Cave Heaven realm warrior with only early Ninth Heaven cultivation would be difficult.
Yet Ling Xiao felt no fear.
After all, he had not even used his full strength against Jiao Batian.
“Where has that Gao Yangjun you mentioned gone?”
Ling Xiao asked.
“I am not entirely sure. After he betrayed President Wu Xiang, he left. He is probably at the city lord’s mansion now.”
The shopkeeper replied.
“Good. Once I settle matters here, I will pay a visit to the city lord’s mansion and make that Gao Yangjun pay. Traitors must die horribly, or we cannot make an example of them.”
Ling Xiao gently patted the shopkeeper’s shoulder and said, “Alright. Rest here for now. I have already healed most of your injuries. You will not die. After I deal with the situation in the rear courtyard, I will treat you again properly.”
“Mm.”
The shopkeeper did not know the full extent of Ling Xiao’s strength, but the reputation of the Chosen of Heaven was simply too resounding. He held absolute reverence and blind trust in Ling Xiao, the Chosen of Heaven.
Ling Xiao stood up. His expression turned sombre, and a cold killing intent spread in all directions.
…
In the rear courtyard of the Xianglong Trading Company, the city lord’s army had forced the society’s warriors into a corner with no retreat.
Both sides stood with weapons drawn, their eyes filled with boundless hatred and murderous intent.
In mid-air, two figures were locked in fierce combat.
This was an absolute life-and-death duel.
No mistakes were allowed. Whoever erred would die without a burial place.
One of them was Wu Xiang.
His face was deathly pale, his expression furious. His attacks grew ever more ferocious and reckless. He was even willing to sustain injuries if it meant killing his opponent quickly.
He had no choice. He had been poisoned.
It was a poison extremely difficult to neutralise. The longer the fight dragged on, the weaker he would become, and the less likely victory would be.
His opponent was a martial artist who had just entered the Cave Heaven realm. Under normal circumstances, Wu Xiang would not have feared him.
But now, he had to kill the man as quickly as possible to break the siege on the Xianglong Trading Company.
He could have escaped.
With his cultivation and strength, no one here could stop him.
Yet if he fled, what would happen to all his good brothers?
He had personally founded the Holy Dynasty Restoration Society. At this critical moment, how could he possibly choose to run away?
That would be too despicable, too shameless.
It was simply not his way.
His opponent, a middle-aged man clad in purple battle robes and wearing a purple-gold crown that radiated noble aura, was none other than the Eastern Commandery Marquis.
The marquis knew full well that Wu Xiang was poisoned, so from start to finish he refused to clash directly. He simply relied on his superior movement technique to keep dodging.
Seeing the sorrowful yet helpless expression on Wu Xiang’s face, a victorious smile spread across his own.
The smile was thick with mockery and teasing, exactly like a cat toying with a mouse.
Down below, the warriors of the Xianglong Trading Company dared not act rashly, even though rage burned in their eyes and they wished to perish together with the enemy.
But they could not. If they moved, the city lord’s forces would move as well, and far from helping, they would only cause greater losses.
Feng Yaorao and Po Qianjun stood at the front, their faces grim and unsightly, filled with unwillingness and fierce anger.
The enemy could clearly have ordered the army to slaughter them all.
Yet they deliberately refrained.
Why?
Precisely to torment their president in front of their eyes.
This was humiliation, helplessness, and heartrending pain.
“Yaorao, listen carefully. The moment fighting breaks out, I will protect you with everything I have. No matter what, you must find Ling Xiao. This grudge must be avenged!”
Po Qianjun suddenly turned to Feng Yaorao and said, “The way this bastard Eastern Commandery Marquis is fighting, President Wu Xiang will lose sooner or later. Only Ling Xiao can avenge us.”
“When we joined the Restoration Society together, we swore to live and die as one. I will not run.”
Feng Yaorao shook her head.
“Foolish! If you do not leave, who will spread word of what happened here? Who will avenge us?”
Po Qianjun snapped angrily.
“Yue Qin is still here. Her cultivation is higher than ours. She has a better chance of escaping.”
Feng Yaorao replied calmly.
“I am not leaving either. I will not abandon President Wu Xiang.”
Yue Qin shook her head firmly.
“Stop arguing, all of you. Not one of you is leaving this place today. Everyone from your Xianglong Trading Company has only one path: death!”
The Eastern Commandery Marquis’s voice suddenly rang out, dripping with contempt and disdain. “This marquis has grown bored of playing. Wu Xiang, do not blame me for being dishonourable. Blame yourself for having poor judgement and trusting that little villain Gao Yangjun. Heh heh heh heh.”
“Pfft!”
Wu Xiang crashed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. His complexion worsened, his body grew extremely feeble, and he was almost incapable of continuing the fight.
“Brothers, protect the president!”
Po Qianjun roared, raised his long spear, and charged forward with his men.
They had reached this point. So be it. At least before dying they would drag a few enemies down with them.
“Kill!”
The group charged together.
Those who remained were all loyal and courageous members of the Holy Dynasty Restoration Society. Even in this utterly desperate situation, they could still defend the dignity of their society with their blood.
“Hmph, a bunch of trash and rubbish! None of you need to lift a finger. Let this marquis handle it!”
The Eastern Commandery Marquis snorted coldly. “With just this handful of you, you actually delusionally believe you can overthrow the rule of the True Demon Empire? It is utterly laughable. Before absolute strength, your bold words and your courage are utterly worthless.
All of you, die!”
Amid his cold laughter, black flames ignited around the Eastern Commandery Marquis’s body.
These flames were ice-cold.
They were flames from the underworld, the defining trait of the Nether Phoenix clan.
He punched forward with both fists. The powerful black flames transformed into a gigantic Nether Phoenix that swooped outward.
A shrill phoenix cry resounded. Dark clouds pressed down over the entire Xianglong Trading Company, turning the air as cold as hell itself.
“Now!”
Wu Xiang, who had appeared completely incapacitated on the ground, suddenly sprang up. Crimson light in his hand formed an enormous cross.
“Blood Cross!”
The Eastern Commandery Marquis’s expression changed dramatically. He realised he had been tricked.
He had never imagined that even at this point Wu Xiang could remain so calm and devise such a method to deal with him.
