Chapter 146

Yang Miaozhen

Niu Dingtian

Miss Murong Miaozhen

She instinctively hurriedly waved her hands and explained: "No, no! We're not! We still have the ancestral tablets enshrined at home, eh!!!"

Seeing her anxious expression, it seemed as if she feared that if the charge were proven, her ancestors would blame her.

But as soon as those words left her mouth, Yang Miaozhen's face instantly froze; in an instant, she flushed with anger, gritted her teeth, and pointed at Niu Dingtian: "Vile! Base! Shameless!"

Stargazing Platform

Niu Dingtian's expression shifted slightly; he raised his right hand to brush aside the jade-like fingers as green as scallions before him, then chuckled: "Your brother has arrived, Miss Murong; if you don't want your brother to be shot into a hedgehog, you'd better behave for now."

As he spoke, Niu Dingtian flicked his finger at her waist; Murong Miaozhen's whole body went rigid, she stood frozen, unable to move, only able to glare angrily at him, her beautiful eyes scraping up and down his body.

Zhu Tiancheng

Sect Leader

Sect Rules

Immediately thereafter, Murong Miaozhen's eyes seemed to spit fire, her chest heaved continuously, and her face instantly turned as red as if blood were dripping onto it.

Su Lu Zhi

Niu Dingtian stood expressionless to the side, took a deep breath, glanced at Niu Kui, and that cold, solemn voice issued from his mouth, once again breaking the silence in the hallway:

the Venerable (the principal image) - line 27 (maybe exclude)

Manichaean Sect

Sect Treason

Bright Venerable

A group of more than twenty people in raincoats slowly emerged from the hazy rain curtain and, fearlessly, walked onto the drill field in front of the Doumu Palace.

Jin Buhuan

Dharma King

Upon seeing the figure above, before Murong An could speak, Zhu Tiancheng's expression turned sinister; he stepped forward a few steps, pointed at the observatory platform, and shouted sternly: "You surnamed Niu! Having seen the sect leader, you still won't come down to pay your respects? By disregarding the sect's rules like this, are you seeking death?!!!"

By the end of his shouting, Chu Tianchen was already gritting his teeth; thinking back to the humiliation of a year ago, he wished the sect leader beside him would just charge forward.

But the result left Chu Tianchen utterly disappointed; at that moment, his sect leader actually glanced around the surroundings with a bland expression.

Niu Dingtian didn't even glance at Chu Tianchen; this dog of a thing was still as nauseating as last year—better to dispose of him early.

His gaze then shifted slightly, slowly moving through the dim night rain until it settled on the disheveled Su Lu Zhi, and he asked in a low voice: "Please, Envoy of Light, tell this Sovereign! According to the Manichaean Sect's rules, what punishment should one like surnamed Chu, who dares to overthrow his superiors, receive?"

Huh? How familiar those words are!

Su Lu Zhi heard that and was instantly stunned.

"Wuu—wuu—wuu—wuu!"

When he finally reacted and wanted to shout back, he only then realized his mouth had been gagged; so he steeled himself, took a deep breath, and blew the cloth out of his mouth.

"Pah! Pah! Pah!"

"Brother Niu! According to the Manichaean Sect's rules, those who overthrow their superiors should be executed for apostasy! It's not just surnamed Chu who's overthrowing his superiors—surnamed Yu, surnamed Li, and that surnamed Yang are all betraying us from within, overthrowing their superiors! They've betrayed the Manichaean Sect!"

"Brother Niu, if you can dispose of those few, I will honor you as the Bright Sovereign! I will revere you as sect leader! Hahaha~~ Yan Brother, Jin Brother, you two wuu—wuu—wuu—wuu—wuu~~"

Su Lu Zhi let out a wild laugh, finally venting his feelings, but just as he was about to rally others, his mouth was gagged again.

Actually, Su Lu Zhi had long understood that with Yang's hidden martial prowess, even Niu Dingtian might not be a match; but given the circumstances, he could only throw caution to the wind.

Compared to the three young Dharma Kings, these three old fogeys see things more clearly than anyone—someone like surnamed Yang, who uses the Manichaean Sect for mutual benefit, has no feeling for the sect at all.

Once they stabilize, that will be the day they raise the butcher's knife against the Manichaean Sect; even if they now fly under its banner, they will eventually suffer a blow. Whether they die early or late, they cannot escape death, so they might as well go all out against him!

"Me too!" Jin Buhuan laughed loudly.

Although Su Lu Zhi hadn't finished speaking, Jin Buhuan already grasped his meaning. Indeed, he also saw things fairly clearly; moreover, as a steadfast Manichaean follower, he not only venerates the Bright Sovereign but also upholds the sect's doctrines.

Otherwise, if he had submitted early, he wouldn't need to suffer this ordeal at his age.

"Naturally, me too!" Yan Hongshou laughed loudly, then closed his eyes and said no more.

Niu Dingtian saw this, slowly raised his right hand, and his cold, solemn voice spread throughout the palace walls:

"Those who lead the clamor, twenty siege crossbows fire together—three, two, one, fire!!"

"Boing~ boing~ boing~ boing~ boing~"

As his words fell, wave after wave of strong twanging sounds boomed across the palace walls, instantly spreading to the training grounds below.

"Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!"

At the same time, terrifying tearing-through-air sounds followed, and a dense hail of siege bolts, like meteors falling from the sky, shot through the rain curtain and bombarded Chu Tianchen at the front in a surrounding barrage.

"Watch out for the siege bolts!" Murong An shouted upon noticing, eyes wide with anger.

Saying that, he swiftly darted toward the frontline Chu Tianchen; if his own people were to be shot down right before his eyes, he would have no face to remain sect leader!

"Bang!" "Bang!"

But after knocking aside two outer siege bolts with successive blows, his wrist went slightly numb; at a glance he saw that the bolts before him were as large as spears, with three iron vanes like three blades, chilling to the bone.

"It's an eight-ox crossbow!!" Murong An's pupils shrank, his heart involuntarily turning cold.

This was the weapon Murong An had dreamed of obtaining since launching his uprising; no matter how high his martial skill, he could not withstand a sky-full of eight-ox crossbows aimed at him.

In the blink of an eye, Murong An dared not hesitate; he quickly sidestepped out of the bolt barrage and retreated to the side.

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Before and after only in an instant, Murong An had just withdrawn, before Chu Tianchen could utter a sound; in his terrified gaze, dozens of spear-like siege bolts pierced straight through his body from left to right.

The siege bolts vied with each other, thudding diagonally into the blue stone tiles of the ground, while the tremendous impact had already torn Chu Tianchen's body to shreds, scattering in pieces across the rain.

The blood was swiftly washed away by the rain, disappearing without a trace.

Chu brothers!!

Chu brothers!!

Li Muhe and Yu Qingyang let out an involuntary exclamation; now, among those present, only they are most familiar with him, this is an instinctive reaction.

But after reacting, the two felt a surge of icy chill instantly spread through their bodies, while the rest of the crowd stared, faces full of shock and disbelief, at the miserable scene not far ahead.

This is the fate of those who rebel against superiors and betray the sect's rules; what do you all think? At this moment, Niu Dingtian's indifferent and imposing voice suddenly rang out in the rain.

Although the Observation Platform is far above the ground, Niu Dingtian's gaze now gives a feeling of substantive pressure, as if wherever his eyes fall, the sky-full of crossbow bolts will come shooting down swiftly.

This point, Li Muhe and Yu Qingyang feel it most strongly, both nervously guarding their surroundings.

Hmph!

A cold snort sounded from below.

Murong An's aura unfolded; the misty rain's breath stagnated for a moment. He looked toward Niu Dingtian on the high platform, his gaze intimidating, and he said in a deep voice: 'Hand over my sister, I'll lead my people to retreat, and tonight's matter will be settled!'

At this moment, Murong An indeed felt a retreat arising in his heart; this had nothing to do with cowardice, and he wholeheartedly agreed with the principle that a son of a thousand gold does not sit idly by.

If it were only ordinary bows and crossbows, Murong An would naturally not fear in the slightest, and he would have the confidence to go in and out seven times.

But if the aura surrounding the palace walls were all operators of eight-ox crossbows, then the crossbow beds would need at least double; if that were the case, even if he grew two more legs, he couldn't bring a single living person out tonight.

Yet such military forbidden weapons are extremely rare even in border army fortresses; where did this kid get so many of them?

"Your sister?" Niu Dingtian's eyes showed confusion, and he suddenly asked in surprise.

"I only have one lady named Murong Miaozhen here, about to be taken into my chambers; your sister surnames Yang, they have absolutely no relation."

"You rebel and make yourself emperor, why do you demand my sister? Don't tell me you really think the Sun Moon Divine Sect has no one."

"You really want to die?" The cold light in Murong An's eyes seemed to condense into substance.

Immediately after, an immensely suppressive aura erupted from his body; even the raindrops in the sky shattered on contact, instantly turning into vapor.

"Sure enough, a grand master, seems to have reached the late stage, not far from the peak."

Niu Dingtian felt the powerful aura from below, and instantly formed a clear judgment.

But… Murong An's appearance is ordinary, he looks like he's in his early forties, how does he have such a beautiful young sister?

Being over forty and able to attain postnatal grand master level, his talent at least surpasses the Four Absolutes; if he could really cause a stir within Jin State's borders, at least in two years Xiangyang here would be more comfortable.

Thinking of this, Niu Dingtian slightly narrowed his eyes, raised his brow, and said: 'No sister, but I have a brother-in-law; as long as Murong brother leaves the World Honored One's token and those two traitors, from now on the northern Manichaean Sect will be yours, the southern Manichaean Sect mine—how about that?'

Speaking, Niu Dingtian slightly raised his hand, preparing to show off his muscles.

Only then did firelight suddenly flare on the surrounding palace walls; sixty teams of eight-ox crossbow bolts protruded in unison from the walls, aimed at the crowd below. Occasionally lightning flashed, rows of bolt tips gleamed sharply and menacingly, flashing with a suppressive light.

Upon hearing this, not only did Murong An's face change color, but even Fentian on the Observation Platform and the Manichaean Sect's high-ranking officials below all turned pale.

Of course, Murong An was startled that Niu Dingtian knew his background, and even more furious that the other side didn't know its place, actually daring to set his sights on his sister.

The others never expected that just as there was one who had seized control of the Manichaean Sect, now another comes along wanting to split the Manichaean Sect.

Su Lu Zhi, Jin Buhuan, and Yan Hongshou exchanged a glance, sensibly shut their mouths—more talk would be useless; these outsiders simply aren't reliable!

But they never imagined that, whether it be those surnamed Niu or those surnamed Yang, if the other side didn't possess overwhelming strength, they'd probably have been gnawed down to the bone already.

"What exactly do you want to do?" Fentian's chest heaved with anger, gritting his teeth to try to stay calm.

Niu Dingtian said lightly: 'Anyway, we share the same doctrinal goal; I'll be sect leader, you vice sect leader—wouldn't uniting the two sects be better?'

They can defect halfway when things get tough; if this crew isn't improved, I really fear one day I won't be able to stop myself from killing all those fence-sitters.

"Believe me, as long as Murong An can stir things up in the north, it's only beneficial for us with no downside, but we must also guard against him growing strong and becoming an enemy. Since he cares so much about this sister, keeping her here would be a perfect check, wouldn't it?"

"A woman's vision sometimes needs to be far-reaching, her mind broad; only then can she undertake great undertakings. You can't just beat someone to death with a stick because Murong An screwed you over once— as for…"

At the end of his words, Niu Dingtian suddenly looked down at Yu Qingyang and Li Muhe, his attitude shifting drastically, and he sneered:

"As for those two, if they can betray once they can betray countless times; keeping them is a disaster. In a moment I'll send them to meet Chu Tiancheng."

(End of chapter)