Chapter 140: Repelling Nan Zhongyi

"Don't block me, today nobody can stop me!" Nan Zhongyi's body erupted with a strong surge of true qi, this is what he had concealed!

"You're really despicable! Cough cough... we fought with our lives, yet you still hold back your strength—aren't you afraid we'll all die together?" Nun Shang Rong coughed up a mouthful of blood in anger.

"Hahaha! Nun, your words are going too far—what does 'holding back strength' mean? Can we defeat Dongfang Wuji? Even if we die, I'll stay with you!" Nan Zhongyi laughed, pointing at Dongfang Xing behind Chen Yi He and retorting, "This isn't holding back strength; it's taking advantage of danger—do you understand?"

A cold light flashed in Nan Zhongyi's eyes; that cold light swept over everyone's faces—now he is capable of killing everyone present!

Besides Nan Zhongyi, everyone else is exhausted; Nan Zhongyi, filled with righteous indignation, said, "I have served the court for over thirty years, single-handedly guarding the northern lands—my military achievements are numerous. Today, killing this little demoness is also removing a scourge for the world! You need not obstruct me further, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Nan Zhongyi still harbored reservations; although he had conserved his strength, if everyone before him opposed him, he would still have no chance to strike! He could not match Dongfang Wuji's ability to take on many alone!

"No matter what, you cannot kill our lifesaver!" Yan Shanhai stepped forward, his expression firm, clearly having made a decision, "You think you've held back your strength, but I haven't? Hahaha! Go ahead and take a step forward and try!"

Yan Shanhai said he too had held back his strength!

This time, Nan Zhongyi's inner anger instantly dissipated by half! He tried to sense Yan Shanhai's remaining true qi with his mind, and found Yan Shanhai's interior vague, as if hiding something! Yan Shanhai didn't seem to be lying. He thought, "If Yan Shanhai really, like me, has kept a trick up his sleeve, then I can't take this risk; let's wait and see, maybe it's a bluff or there's a turning point!"

Nan Zhongyi gritted his teeth, furious, yet he remained observant, watching what others thought. Among those present, the person he least wanted to offend was Yan Shanhai—first, Yan Shanhai is stubborn and odd, yet straightforward; second, as the chief of the Five Peaks Alliance, a single call from him moves all its disciples.

Others also knew the current situation; what decision they made depended on their mood. They glanced at Nan Zhongyi, then turned to look at Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing.

Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing are now in a mutually dependent situation—if Dongfang Xing dies, Chen Yi He cannot escape; if Chen Yi He dies, Dongfang Xing must die.

Chen Yi He did not expect a miracle; he had prepared for a life‑or‑death struggle, even if it offered no chance of victory.

Duan Sheng was the most straightforward, standing directly behind Yan Shanhai and saying, "After all, he's the one who saved our lives."

"I may not be a good person, but I know that, as a human, at the very least one must follow one's conscience. They saved us, yet we harmed them—I couldn't sleep. General Nan, can you sleep?" The Western Desert Sword Devil also stood behind Yan Shanhai.

Yan Shanhai's back truly stood like a mountain, blocking Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing.

Nan Zhongyi's face flushed red with anger, and the cold light in his eyes swept over the remaining people.

"Our Five Peaks Alliance must certainly be united—it's a pity that Wuding was killed by that eunuch Zhang Huayu!"

"Nun Shang Rong makes a lot of sense," Linghu Shang said with a laugh. "Hehe, we've forged a grudge with the court, toyed with us this bunch into going in circles! The court, indeed, cannot be trusted!"

Hong Liang, Luo Qingkui, and Hu Bao also successively took sides; needless to say, Ye Wuming did as well—they all chose Yan Shanhai.

"You... you will regret this!" Nan Zhongyi warned, pointing at the group led by Yan Shanhai.

"Hahaha! Do you think the martial world's situation won't change after today? Do you think we'll sit and wait for death?" Yan Shanhai laughed to the heavens, then immediately stopped smiling, and solemnly warned Nan Zhongyi, "If you take another step forward, we nine will join forces and end your life—if you lack benevolence, don't blame us for lacking righteousness!"

"Hahaha! How funny! How funny! You will regret it—just wait! Zhang Huayu will surely grind your bones to ashes!" Nan Zhongyi had already decided to side with Eunuch Zhang; he had intended to present the heads of Chen Yi He and Dongfang Xing as a greeting gift, never expecting to provoke so many people's displeasure.

So what if they're dissatisfied? He still has five hundred thousand Southern Heaven Gate troops—this too can be considered a gift. Having witnessed the power of Eunuch Zhang's Sevenfold Heaven, who would still fear being unable to stride across the world?

"You're ruthless, you're ruthless!" Nan Zhongyi kept pointing at everyone with his hand, from Yan Shanhai to Hu Bao, noting them all, then turned and left without looking back.

"Huu..." Yan Shanhai exhaled, a weary true qi dissipating above his head.

"Chief!" Nun Shang Rong embraced the about‑to‑collapse Yan Shanhai.

"It's fine, it's fine." Yan Shanhai insisted on standing, smiling and waving his hand.

Only then did everyone realize Yan Shanhai had not held back any true qi at all—he had merely put on an act to scare Nan Zhongyi away, and for a moment they all admired Yan Shanhai.

Chen Yi He stepped forward to thank him even more, clasping his fists, he bowed deeply—bowing to Yan Shanhai and to everyone, and did not rise for a long time.

"Little brother, why are you doing this?" Linghou Leng asked Chen Yi He.

"Your great kindness and virtue, I, the younger brother, will never forget! Please accept this bow of mine!" Chen Yi He said sincerely.

"Hahaha! What's the big deal? We're all united, we don't do wicked deeds!" Linghou Leng laughed loudly, the sight of this young man making him want to laugh.

"Indeed! One must be conscientious in being human!" The Western Desert Sword Devil also laughed loudly, "If you could have blocked my three swords back then, you'd already have proved yourself extraordinary; today you even sacrificed yourself to pierce the demon sphere—otherwise, where could we stand now?"

"Thank you, thank you!" Chen Yi He had never been so humble before—humble for love.

"Young man, we think highly of you!" Duan Sheng slapped Chen Yi He's shoulder with his huge palm and said.

Since the Dragon King and Xu Jia successively parted from him, this is the first time Chen Yi He has felt warmth in the martial world.

Not a trace, but a whole mass.

"Quickly see how the little girl is!" Nun Shang Rong was even more concerned about Dongfang Xing's life or death.

"Right, right!" Chen Yi He slapped his forehead—now the only thing he cared about was Dongfang Xing!

Dongfang Xing sat cross‑legged, Ye Wuming's palms pressed against her back, continuously channeling true qi to her, sealing her meridians.