Chapter 83

"You really intend to surrender?" Jia Tianlong felt somewhat surprised.

"Surrender? Of course—but which side is surrendering to which? That’s still uncertain!" Wang’s sect master slightly narrowed his eyes, casually resting his hand on the hilt of his sword as he spoke slowly.

"What do you mean by that?" Jia Tianlong’s expression darkened; he waved his hand, giving a flanking gesture.

Instantly, his iron guards surged forward, forming a semicircle to encircle Wang Juechu, while simultaneously drawing crossbows from their backs, their glowing blue-tipped bolts all aimed squarely at him.

It seemed that at Jia Tianlong’s first command, they would unhesitatingly unleash a volley of bolts, instantly killing Wang Juechu on the spot.

"Do you think that after moving our main hall to Sunset Peak, we never considered the possibility of an external invasion we couldn’t repel?" Wang’s sect master ignored the crossbows entirely, his voice dripping with a chilling threat.

Hearing this, Jia Tianlong’s heart sank slightly; a premonition of ill omen flickered in his mind. He did not interrupt, merely maintaining his grim expression, waiting to hear what the man would say next.

"The Seventh Sect Master, Master Li, was the one who moved our sect here. He was not only ambitious and visionary, but also an expert in earthworks and mechanical devices—a true genius." Here, Wang’s sect master paused briefly, a hint of admiration appearing on his face.

Then he continued:

"Master Li chose Sunset Peak as our main hall’s location for two reasons: first, the peak’s terrain is treacherous and easily defensible—an ideal stronghold; second, within the mountain’s belly lies another world—a naturally formed, enormous stone-stalactite cave. This cave is immense, occupying nearly two-thirds of the entire peak’s interior. Seeing this wonder, Master Li conceived a plan: using his expertise in earthworks and the cave’s natural structure, he transformed the entire mountain into a colossal natural trap. Now, if anyone activates the pre-set mechanism, the whole peak will collapse instantly, burying everyone atop it."

After speaking these words, Wang’s sect master fell silent, his cold, deathly gaze sweeping over the dark mass of people before him.

Jia Tianlong listened, momentarily stunned. He naturally did not believe the man’s words, yet for the moment, he had no ready rebuttal to the threat.

Others on the peak who had heard these words could not help but stir; they whispered among themselves, and some of the more alert ones began edging toward the only path down the mountain, ready to flee at the first sign of trouble.

"Silence! Anyone who moves or makes noise will be executed on the spot!"

Jia Tianlong quickly regained his composure. Seeing his own men, merely on the strength of this one man’s words, beginning to panic, he grew furious. He knew that if he didn’t stop it immediately, the situation would spiral out of control; without hesitation, he shouted a lethal order.

Jia Tianlong’s command was carried out efficiently by his trusted subordinates. After several cowardly men attempting to flee were beheaded on the spot, the rest were cowed into silence; the unrest subsided.

But Jia Tianlong knew well: this calm was only superficial and temporary. If he could not quickly prove the man’s words were lies, neither his own men nor those from other sects would remain at ease here—any slight disturbance would send them all fleeing.

"You don’t expect us to believe you just because of your words, do you?" Jia Tianlong forced down his anger, preparing to personally expose the man’s deception.

"Of course not. I have ample proof for you to witness firsthand. But listen well—if anyone, after seeing my proof, attempts to flee or continues the attack, I will order the mechanism fully activated, and we will all perish together." Wang Juechu’s words brimmed with lethal intent, the threat unmistakable.

Jia Tianlong carefully studied the man’s expression, searching for any sign of weakness. But the man’s face remained icy, revealing no trace of deceit or even the slightest hint of guilt.

This made him wonder inwardly: could the man’s words be true? Could there really be such a devastating plan?

"Activate Mechanism Two!" Wang Juechu suddenly turned his head and shouted toward the main hall.

Then he turned aside, fixing his gaze on a smaller stone pavilion, ignoring Jia Tianlong entirely.

Jia Tianlong, enraged by this blatant contempt, clenched his teeth, vowing silently: if the man’s proof failed to satisfy him, he would immediately order the archers to turn Wang Juechu into a human pincushion.

Yet Wang Juechu’s strange, fixed stare at the stone pavilion drew the attention of the Wild Wolf Sect’s men; they could not help but shift their gaze toward it as well, wondering what strange event might unfold.

Just as the Wild Wolf Sect’s men grew uneasy, no one noticed that at the outer edge of the dark crowd, two men dressed in Duan Shui Liu robes were bowing their heads, whispering quietly.

"Han Li, do you think our sect master is telling the truth? Could Sunset Peak really be hollow? I’ve been here several times before—how did I never sense anything odd?"

"Could Wang’s sect master be lying to buy time?"

"Or perhaps…"

One young man kept pressing the other, who remained silent, with a barrage of questions, clearly desperate for an explanation to his doubts.

These two were none other than Han Li and Li Feiyu, who had originally been on their way to Elder Li’s quarters.

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