Free Web NovelChapter 160: Chapter 159: Internal Strife
Harnessing the Spirit Charm of the entire Xia Country Management District, the attack rained down on Sakai Fuji like a blow that could pierce the stars. The torrent of Spirit Charm also engulfed the thousands of Martial Artists around him, sweeping them away like fish in a tsunami.
Before they even had a chance to scream, all the Martial Artists turned to ash. The blinding black light blotted out the sky, forcing all the Xia Country Martial Artists defending the city wall to shield their eyes.
This attack was more than twice as powerful as the first. It was clear the full might of the Dharma Aspect had been unleashed.
Even Grandmaster Wang felt a lingering fear, his blood boiling with excitement.
Although in theory, he could match a Grandmaster by controlling all the Spirit Charm-charging Ancient Inscriptions in the Xia Country Management District, this was the first time he had actually done so in a real battle.
Sakai Fuji had used his unique understanding of the Domain Dao and his [Deceitful Escape] technique to evade, and even partially nullify, the first attack. As a result, its actual power had been greatly diminished.
But now, with this unobstructed strike, thousands of people, including Sakai Fuji himself, were instantly annihilated and turned to dust. The massive crater from the previous blast was gouged dozens of meters deeper and became twice as wide! freёweɓnovel.com
THUD.
A fiery figure flew out from the sky-blotting clouds of dust and smoke. He casually waved the dust from his face, the [Domain Disc] resting in his left palm. His [Dragon Eye] pupils were bright and clear. "Sakai Fuji is dead."
’Thank goodness for the [Domain Disc] left by Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I can’t imagine how I would have dealt with Sakai Fuji, whose strength was approaching that of a Grandmaster.’
’And when that attack rained down, even while restricted by the Realm, that guy still managed to flee. He was trying to break through the Realm’s perimeter. Fortunately, thanks to that one Life and Death Drill, my [Flaming Illusion] has entered its second stage. I was ultimately able to forcibly block Sakai Fuji and make him endure the full force of the Dharma Aspect’s attack.’
’Once [Flaming Illusion] enters its second stage, it can create an illusory body, much like a Flame Avatar. I can either control it to intercept an opponent or use it to take damage in my stead. I sent it charging forward to block Sakai Fuji’s path of retreat.’
’Although Sakai Fuji was a powerful Grandmaster with strength approaching the highest echelons, he wasn’t fundamentally a Soldier Cultivator or a Body Cultivator. His physical body had its limits, which allowed my [Flaming Illusion] to hold him in place just long enough, preventing him from breaking through the [Domain Disc]’s weakening Realm in time.’
"Thank goodness you’re back," Grandmaster Wang said. "Otherwise, this Inner City wall would have been demolished."
Grandmaster Wang breathed a sigh of relief, a look of amazement brewing in his eyes.
A [Domain Disc] was a type of Hundred Machines Spiritual Treasure, but it was no ordinary one. The number of [Domain Disc]s in existence could be counted on one’s fingers, as it required the power of a Grandmaster to create one.
But how could there be that many Grandmasters in the world? And how many of them would be willing to sacrifice a portion of their own strength to forge such an external tool?
Therefore, anyone who possessed a [Domain Disc] had to be someone deeply trusted by a Grandmaster, someone in whom they had placed great hope.
Grandmaster Wang had never imagined that Jiang Qiu would possess Grandmaster Zhu’s [Domain Disc]. After this battle, the look he gave Jiang Qiu held an even deeper meaning.
After all, he had expected that the Dharma Aspect would be unable to hit Sakai Fuji, and he would have been forced to find another way to restrain him. He never anticipated that Jiang Qiu would bring back hope.
In the eyes of the many Xia Country Martial Artists, Jiang Qiu’s figure was as dazzling as an Azure Dragon descending from the heavens. Backed by the roiling, lingering clouds of dust, the sight was utterly breathtaking.
Soon, the Martial Artists of the Belli Family who had followed Jiang Qiu into the city reached the gate to the Inner City wall. Their numbers had been cut in half, and many of the survivors trembled, their eyes filled with terror.
When they saw the massive, crater-like pit in front of the gate, they stood dumbfounded, their jaws trembling. "What... What in the world happened here?"
They had only followed him due to the power Jiang Qiu had displayed, but he was too fast for them to keep up. Then they had been caught in a sudden attack that killed over a hundred of them, leaving them utterly powerless to resist.
The power behind that attack was undoubtedly from a Grandmaster Level expert. Furthermore, it utilized the Nether Dark Spirit Charm, a technique unique to Sang Island’s Martial Artists. It was obviously the strongest expert Sang Island had sent to North Border City.
Although their status was low and they weren’t privy to the inner workings of the powerful, they knew enough to understand one thing: an expert capable of such destruction—of shattering half a building from extreme range—would be a renowned figure even on Sang Island, and certainly no weaker than Xia Country’s own Grandmaster Wang.
But now, it seemed the walls of the Xia Country Management District hadn’t been breached. The Martial Artists who were supposed to be stirring up trouble had vanished, and there was no sign of Grandmaster Sanda either. All that remained was this crater.
At this thought, the Belli Family Martial Artists gulped. How could they not understand what had happened?
The Xia Country Martial Artists had eliminated the Grandmaster from Sang Island and an untold number of his followers!
And judging by the way everyone was looking at him, the key to this entire affair was the very same Jiang Qiu who had just returned.
"Perhaps we shouldn’t have betrayed North Border City... At the very least, we can’t go against the wishes of Xia Country, especially not that young prodigy, Jiang Qiu."
One of the Belli Family’s Martial Artists murmured this, and the thought silently spread through the hearts of all the others.
Jiang Qiu led them into the Xia Country Management District, first dealing with the smaller pockets of troublemakers before discussing the state of the war with Grandmaster Wang.
"Grandmaster Wang, what is the situation with Grandmaster Zhu?"
Jiang Qiu asked in a low voice, a sense of foreboding tightening his chest.
’From the look of it, the enemies Grandmaster Zhu has to face aren’t just the three powerful experts of the Great Demon Race from the Northern Wilderness, but also the Martial Artists from Sang Island. I have no idea how many masters they sent.’
’Even though Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi is incredibly powerful, he’s facing far too many enemies. Among them are the Wolf King, Bear King, and Owl King, whose strengths are approaching the level of a Demon Marshal.’
’Demon Generals are comparable to Grandmasters, and Demon Marshals are on par with our most powerful Grandmasters. Moreover, the Demon Race’s Ancestral Return can grant them unexpectedly powerful Talents, which could severely limit Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi’s capabilities.’
’Besides, Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi is over a hundred years old. He’s no longer in his prime...’
Grandmaster Wang’s brow furrowed, his white temples like frost. "It’s very bad. We just received a report from the front lines. It seems a Grandmaster from the Belli Family made a move. Their old Patriarch was severely wounded in battle, and then assassinated while he was recovering."
"This means that on North Border City’s front lines, only we Xia Country Martial Artists are left to defend it. General Zhu has to face the majority of the powerful Demon Race experts by himself."
Hearing this, Jiang Qiu took a deep breath. He suddenly stopped and looked to the north, his voice cold and heavy. "It seems many within the Belli Family have already betrayed the city, for even their own Patriarch to be killed."
It was said that the old Patriarch of the Belli Family had also been a prodigy in his youth. He had led his people alongside Grandmaster Zhu Weiyi to build a city in the Northern Wilderness. Once, this place had been a home for countless refugees.
But in the end, the family had fractured, its members turning to betrayal.
Now, it was impossible to say how many in the Belli Family still cared for the interests of North Border City, and not just their own selfish gains.
But their internal strife was bound to bring disaster upon the Xia Country Management District.
RING RING RING!
Suddenly, the ringing of a phone interrupted Jiang Qiu’s thoughts. He turned to see Grandmaster Wang, who had just answered it, his eyes wide with shock. "What? Belijie and his men have broken through the North City Gate!"
