Watching Gao Yangwen’s ugly display, some people felt uneasy in their hearts, yet none dared speak up. After all, the man was genuinely strong enough that disobedience could mean death.
“Master Bai Yun, let’s go. It seems Alliance Leader Gao has no intention whatsoever of sitting down to negotiate with us.”
Ling Wuhen’s illusions were completely shattered.
From this day forward, cooperation between Northern Han and the Heavenly Principle Kingdom was impossible unless Gao Yangwen died.
“Want to leave? I’m afraid it won’t be that easy! Since you now know the secrets of our Rebel Alliance, don’t even think about walking out alive.” Gao Yangwen laughed coldly and sinisterly. “Using you two to inaugurate the banners will do nicely.”
“You want to fight?”
Master Bai Yun frowned.
“What if I do? One at First Line Heaven, one at Five Elements Heaven, both trash to me. Killing you is like slaughtering dogs. Come, seize these two spies of the True Demon Empire. On the day we march, we’ll use them to consecrate the flags.”
Gao Yangwen roared.
“Yes, sir!”
From the crowd, more than a dozen warriors who desperately wanted to become Gao Yangwen’s lapdogs leapt forward.
All of them were Celestial Realm warriors and leaders of resistance groups. Though their strength varied, so many surrounding just two people guaranteed victory.
“Wuhen, in a moment I’ll find an opening to use that treasure. You seize the chance and escape.”
Master Bai Yun took a deep breath, resolute determination on his face.
“Let me use it instead,” Ling Wuhen said.
“No need to argue. I’m already old, while your future is boundless. I can tell which matters more.”
Master Bai Yun raised his hand to shield Ling Wuhen, then looked at the storage ring on his finger.
Inside was a treasure meant specifically for taking one’s enemy down together. The user would certainly die.
But if it could create an escape chance for Ling Wuhen, he was willing.
“Neither of you needs to die. The one who deserves death is him, Alliance Leader Gao Yangwen of the Heavenly Principle Alliance!”
At the height of the tense atmosphere in the hall, a clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out.
Immediately after, a youth landed in the middle of the crowd. The explosive energy he released sent the dozen charging warriors flying backwards.
The youth’s face was dark, his gaze ice-cold as he stared at Gao Yangwen on the alliance leader’s throne.
This handsome young man’s entrance was simply too striking.
Every single person’s attention was drawn to him.
They were all stunned. A boy who looked only sixteen or seventeen, had he lost his mind? How dare he wreck Gao Yangwen’s event?
For Gao Yangwen, who cared deeply about face, this was an utter humiliation.
“Ling Xiao!”
The ones most shocked by the youth’s appearance were Ling Wuhen and Master Bai Yun.
They had never expected to see Ling Xiao here, under these circumstances. Joy surged in their hearts.
Yet in the next instant, worry took over.
Against Gao Yangwen, how could Ling Xiao possibly win alone?
“The Chosen Son, Ling Xiao? Heh heh, I never thought you’d deliver yourself right into my hands.”
Gao Yangwen’s anger instantly turned to wild delight.
For him, the only uncertain factor in unifying the Heavenly Dragon Continent had been Ling Xiao.
Now Ling Xiao stood before him, and he could crush the boy at any moment.
Yet Ling Xiao paid no attention to his expression or words, merely saying calmly, “Gao Yangjun is your son, isn’t he? Tell him to come out. I have a few questions for him.”
“Hahahaha!”
Gao Yangwen threw his head back and laughed.
Had the boy in front of him gone mad to speak to him like this?
“Young man, you’d better understand your situation. If you’ve come to submit to me, I will naturally welcome you. In the new sacred dynasty, there will certainly be a place for you.
But if you’ve come to cause trouble, I will definitely use you and the two behind you to consecrate the flags.”
As he spoke, Gao Yangwen released energy from both hands, condensing two clumps of earthy-yellow aura, heavy yet domineering.
From head to toe, he naturally radiated furious battle intent and killing aura, making every warrior in the hall tremble.
They shook their heads lightly. To be so boastful in front of Gao Yangwen, this youth was surely doomed.
Yet if they thought this was already the height of arrogance, they had grossly underestimated Ling Xiao.
His next words nearly made their eyes pop out.
“Submit to you? You think you’re worthy? Yes, you barely count as a half-step Yin-Yang Realm expert and you’re the alliance leader of the Heavenly Principle Alliance, but in the end, you’re nothing more than a vicious dog grovelling at the feet of the True Demon Empire.”
Those words were more explosive than a thunderbolt.
Shocked and fearful gazes shot towards Ling Xiao. Everyone thought he had gone insane.
Even if you’re crazy, don’t do it here. Provoking Gao Yangwen might get the rest of us killed too.
A half-step Yin-Yang Realm expert meant nothing in this boy’s eyes?
They seemed to forget that when Gao Yangwen founded the Heavenly Principle Alliance and was surrounded by the sacred dynasty’s army, he had single-handedly slaughtered a hundred thousand troops and saved the alliance.
That happened ten years ago, when Gao Yangwen was only at the Seventh Cave Heaven stage, not even half-step Yin-Yang yet.
This kid must be unaware of that history, which was why he dared provoke such a terrifying butcher so ignorantly.
Among the guests were warriors from the True Demon Empire, disguised of course.
One of them was the demonic capital’s city lord, here secretly to support Gao Yangwen.
Hearing Ling Xiao describe the mighty True Demon Empire so lightly filled him with irritation.
Yet he still did not reveal his identity.
Gao Yangwen was now completely enraged. His originally wise and heroic face turned instantly ferocious and terrifying.
He smashed a cup on the floor, and dozens of elite Heavenly Principle Alliance warriors immediately rushed in from outside, surrounding Ling Xiao, Ling Wuhen, and Master Bai Yun completely.
“Good lad. This alliance leader showed you respect, yet you refuse to take face. Since I founded the Heavenly Principle Alliance, no one has ever dared speak to me like this. You’re the first in history. If I don’t use you today to consecrate the flags, I’ll truly be letting down the countless brothers and sisters of my alliance.”
Gao Yangwen’s voice was sinister and icy. In his view, cooperation was no longer possible. Even if Ling Xiao wanted it now, he would never agree.
Only by killing this ignorant, arrogant brat could the hatred in his heart be satisfied.
“Heh, anyone can speak ruthlessly. Today we’ll see who ends up consecrating whose flags!”
Ling Xiao smiled faintly. “When you first founded the Heavenly Principle Alliance, you truly upheld the idea of acting on heaven’s behalf. Honestly, I admired you then.
But now you’re nothing more than an old bastard who recognises thieves as his father. Kill you, and I believe the vast majority of people on the Heavenly Dragon Continent will rejoice.”
That lightly spoken sentence amid his chuckle once again detonated the entire hall.
