Chapter 896: Voting

While Xing Lao was explaining the situation to Xiaoyue, Wang Jianqiang had been sizing up Xing Lao and the people behind him.

On the surface, this Xing Lao was merely a Sixth-Order Will-Level Cultivator, but in reality, he was a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator who had fallen from his realm after self-severing his cultivation.

His strength was far from as simple as it appeared.

Besides this Xing Lao, he also discovered two other Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators in this team who had self-severed their cultivation.

As for the others, they were all Fifth Order and Sixth-Order Will-Level.

If these people joined forces.

They would even have a chance to kill a Ninth-Order Will-Level Cultivator.

That Wan Guiyuan was actually able to escape repeatedly while being hunted by this team shows that Ye Lingyun's cultivation must have progressed quite a bit over these years.

"In other words, Xing Lao, you don't know whether Ye Lingyun is dead or alive right now?"

After listening to Xing Lao's account, Xiaoyue Daoren frowned and said.

Xing Lao nodded, "That is correct."

"I understand. Xing Lao, you all may withdraw for now," said Xiaoyue Daoren.

Hearing Xiaoyue Daoren's words, Xing Lao and the others flashed their figures and hid themselves in the surroundings once more.

Xiaoyue Daoren waved his palm, and a layer of Restriction appeared all around.

Then he looked at Wang Jianqiang, "Leader, what should we do?"

Wang Jianqiang frowned and pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "Since it is so dangerous behind this spatial rift, we should not enter. We only need to leave a few people here to guard it, ensuring that Ye Lingyun does not return to Wenxian City to cause trouble while I infiltrate it."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Xiaoyue Daoren was unwilling in his heart.

He and Ye Lingyun had a deep, sea-like hatred; now that such a good opportunity had finally arrived, how could he easily give it up?

"Leader, I think this is inappropriate. Since this person is a prodigy from the Immortal Abandoned Land, we must kill him to eliminate future trouble. Now that we finally have such a good opportunity, we must kill the opponent; we must see the person if they are alive, or their corpse if they are dead."

Hearing Xiaoyue Daoren's words, many people in the Elite Squad showed their agreement.

A Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator who has self-severed their cultivation is difficult for ordinary Nascent Soul Stage cultivators to resist.

But for top-tier Monsters like them who can reach the Ninth-Order Will-Level, it was just average.

The Flame World behind the rift could be called dangerous for Xing Lao and the others.

But in their view, it might not be considered dangerous at all.

If one doesn't go in to explore, who can say for sure?

Hearing the group's discussion, Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "Our mission for this trip is to destroy Wenxian City."

"As long as we trap this Ye Lingyun in this Flame World, he will be unable to participate in this battle and affect us."

"There is no need to go in and take risks."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, the group's eyes flickered.

Just at this moment, a voice filled with mockery suddenly came.

"Wan Guiyuan, such a small danger is enough to scare you away; your courage is truly too small."

"It is truly laughable that someone like you could end up as the Leader of Youzhou."

Wang Jianqiang looked at Cao Tian, his eyes narrowing as if he had been provoked, and he sneered, "Cao Tian, no matter how incompetent Wan may be, I am still the Leader of Youzhou; you do not yet have the qualifications to mock me."

"The reason Wan wants to withdraw is simply because I do not wish to create extra complications."

Cao Tian sneered, "Heh, that sounds nice. It is merely a Flame World; those cultivators from Tianlang Hall have been able to enter and exit it several times. With the strength of our team, do we still need to worry?"

Wang Jianqiang frowned, "So, you are saying you want to enter the Flame World?"

Cao Tian sneered again, "Cao is not as cowardly and fearful as you."

After Cao Tian's voice fell, one person in the crowd suddenly spoke, "Since this Ye Lingyun is a hidden, powerful enemy, it is naturally safest to kill him before the final battle begins."

This person was the other Ninth-Order Will-Level Cultivator from Cangzhou besides Cao Tian.

"I agree with Daoist Friend Cao's view."

"I also agree with Daoist Friend Cao's point of view."

Just as the other cultivator from Cangzhou finished speaking, two voices came from the crowd in succession.

Both of them came from Tengzhou.

Wang Jianqiang's gaze flashed, and he said coldly, "I am the leader of this Elite Squad."

Cao Tian chuckled, "What? Has your disguise of being cowardly and fearful been exposed by us, so now you want to use your authority to suppress us?"

"You indeed possess the decision-making power for this Elite Squad and can forcibly order us not to enter the Flame World, but this will only make us look down on you even more."

"You all?" Wang Jianqiang stared at Cao Tian, "You cannot represent everyone."

Cao Tian shook his head, "What, you don't believe me?"

"If you don't believe it, you can hold a vote to decide whether to enter the Flame World or not. At that time, everyone's wishes will naturally be clear."

Wang Jianqiang's expression froze.

He stared at Cao Tian for a long while, then sneered as if out of spite, "You want to decide by vote? Fine, Wan will give you this opportunity."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over every member of the Elite Squad, "Those who support Wan and wish to act cautiously, come to my side."

"Those who support Daoist Friend Cao, go to his side."

"Those who are neutral, just stand where you are."

Hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, the corners of Cao Tian's mouth lifted, revealing a look of triumph.

It was as if his sinister plot had succeeded.

He stood where he was with his arms crossed, looking confident of success.

After Wang Jianqiang's voice fell, the other Ninth-Order Will-Level Cultivator from Cangzhou and the two cultivators from Tengzhou did not hesitate in the slightest; they flashed their figures and stood beside Cao Tian.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiaoyue Daoren also flashed over to Cao Tian's side.

He knew very well that as a Youzhou cultivator, siding with Cao Tian at this juncture would very likely invite hostility from Wan Guiyuan.

But he could no longer concern himself with that.

Ye Lingyun had brought him immense humiliation; this person must die!

He had to ensure Ye Lingyun perished.

After Xiaoyue Daoren, no one else stood with Cao Tian, but apart from Mu Lingxi, no one else stood with Wang Jianqiang either.

Instead, they all chose neutrality.

For these people, there was no need to take sides at a time like this.

What Cao Tian said was actually correct.

How strong could a Spirit Transformation Cultivator be who had exhausted their potential and severed their own cultivation?

Places those people felt were dangerous were not necessarily dangerous for them.

Whether they entered the Flame World or not, it did not really matter to them.

"Wan Guiyuan, five to two; it seems there are more people on my side."

Cao Tian looked at Wang Jianqiang, a smug smile spreading across his face.

Wang Jianqiang's expression turned ugly, "Since that is the case, then as you wish."

"However, since you are so insistent on entering the Flame World, I hope you can still smile if our team suffers huge losses because of it."

"I do not believe such a scene will occur."

Cao Tian retorted tit for tat.

Wang Jianqiang stared fixedly at Cao Tian, and Cao Tian met Wang Jianqiang's gaze with a face full of smugness.

A moment later, Wang Jianqiang took a deep breath and was the first to look away.

With an expressionless face, he said, "Since the result is out, let us go in."

As he spoke, he looked at Mu Lingxi beside him, "Junior Sister Lu, let us go."

Once the words fell, he stepped into the spatial rift with a sullen face.