Chapter 220

People stared dumbfounded at Anuo on the stage; Anuo, as if she had done something wrong, turned her little face pale with fear: "I—I didn't know the old man would let me win…"

Hmm… seems like it is.

Jingxu Daoist's defense, in people's eyes, simply vanished for no apparent reason.

Maybe he really overestimated himself, trying to brute-force a child's attack—and ended up getting knocked out.

Ye Tinglan suddenly wondered if his earlier vigilance had been misdirected; this glutinous dumpling, when cut open, was entirely black inside.

But it was indeed strange—Anuo's strength was unnaturally immense. Even the mighty and brutal Emperor's Supreme World Scripture didn't possess such overwhelming force; besides, the Emperor's Supreme World Scripture primarily focused on qi, with physical enhancement being secondary. Yet Anuo's was reversed—her body was mysteriously strong, and all energy entering her belly transformed instantly into physical power.

Hence her slow growth… Anuo was eleven years old, yet still looked like a five- or six-year-old, soft and squishy.

Ye Tinglan glanced at the Dongjiang Gang's position, seriously doubting that if the matches continued, the rest would all be crushed by Anuo.

At that moment, Zhang Rongzhi's voice came from the stage: "Tianxing Sword Sect: five wins. Shi Boss…"

Shi Tielong had just regained consciousness under his subordinates' care, gazing dazedly at the scene; Zhang Rongzhi's voice sounded as if from beyond the heavens: "Shi Boss, if the rule is six wins out of ten, and you lose one more match, you may as well surrender outright…"

Shi Tielong looked around helplessly; the third-grade elders from his own Dongjiang Gang and Lingyun Gate all deliberately avoided his gaze.

Their morale had shattered.

Remember, the rules allowed one person to fight multiple times; there was no requirement for consecutive matches—meaning Shen Tang, having rested so long, could still step onto the stage.

Even if Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou were both injured, even if Anuo was just a "lucky child."

Yet they still felt that Shen Tang, drenched in blood, could swing her wheelchair and flatten them all.

Besides, Shen Tang, Lu Xingzhou, and Lu Nunu had all displayed combat power far exceeding their cultivation levels—was this how Tianxing Sword Sect operated? Could Zhang Shaoyou and the others also fight second-grade opponents?

Shen Tang quietly asked Lu Xingzhou: "Do you think we should go up and clean up, or let Master Zhang and the others stretch their limbs?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "You shouldn't draw more attention—you'd better appear severely injured and unable to fight. Let's see who they send next; if they're strong, have your death-servant strike. If they're ordinary, let Master Zhang and Protector Qin handle them—it'll show Tianxing Sword Sect isn't just relying on you and me."

Shen Tang nodded; her death-servant, Shen Qi, was at the peak of third-grade, and Tianxing Sword Sect's true combat power had barely been unleashed—they had ample confidence.

Yet she softly sighed; she herself was barely injured, yet had to feign grave wounds—just to impress her father. Thinking of this, even this overwhelming victory failed to stir any joy.

Amid the silence, Zhang Rongzhi pressed again: "Shi Boss?"

Shi Tielong's gaze swept over Shi Zhong's junior disciples—there was one at the peak of third-grade.

If Shen Tang and Lu Xingzhou were both injured, and the mysterious woman didn't intervene, this one might still sweep five in a row.

But seeing their hesitant, evasive expressions, Shi Tielong fell silent for a moment, then said: "Our men are heavily wounded and need immediate treatment—we won't delay. If Master Shen agrees to reschedule five more matches, I'll owe you this favor. If Master Shen refuses, then I admit defeat."

Lu Xingzhou chuckled silently: "This old Shi is quite clever."

Currently, Tianxing Sword Sect had five wins; theoretically, a 5-5 tie was still possible. Though everyone present believed a clean sweep was inevitable, outsiders didn't know—publicly, Dongjiang Gang was merely "reluctantly surrendering" to treat their wounded, preserving some face.

Shen Tang smiled faintly: "An agreement is an agreement. If Shi Boss disagrees, you may certainly reschedule five new matches—I'm not unwilling to consider. But today's match? Either continue, or admit defeat with dignity. Why drag it out and become a laughingstock?"

Shi Tielong lost his last shred of dignity, his face dark with rage: "I said—if Master Shen refuses, we admit defeat."

With that, he barely straightened his body, bowed to the judging panel, and led his men away.

Zhang Rongzhi smiled and rose to announce: "The martial contest between Tianxing Sword Sect and Dongjiang Gang has concluded. Dongjiang Gang has surrendered the final five matches—thus declared defeated. Tianxing Sword Sect wins ten to zero!"

Shi Tielong staggered, his rage overwhelming his heart—he fainted again.

People felt no regret that the spectacle had ended abruptly; first and second-grade fighters had already appeared—no one expected more. The main drama had already unfolded in the opening five matches; the rest were merely ordinary third-grade duels—whether fought or not, it made no difference.

Yet watching the Dongjiang Gang's retreating, humiliated figures, many suddenly realized something.

This time, Tianxing Sword Sect had faced, single-handedly, the equal third-grade sect Dongjiang Gang, the first-grade sect Canglan Sect, and the first-grade sect Chunsan Pavilion—and achieved a perfect ten-to-zero victory.

Among them, they defeated one each of lower first-grade, middle second-grade, middle third-grade, and lower third-grade—all victories across ranks—and one whose cultivation was unknown, yet the arbiter claimed was also first-grade!

What kind of fantasy tale was this?

How could this still be merely a power struggle among local factions in a remote commandery?

This was an event that would shake the entire world! The Heroic Ranks would be overturned!

…………

Back at Dongjiang Gang's temporary base in Xiazhou, Shi Tielong, ignoring the consequences of his sect's decline, stared in agony at the Thunderbolt Divine Sword, Lei Chong, lying on the ground.

This was the anchor sent by Prince Jin—yet during his unconsciousness, it was allegedly shattered by a single finger snap.

Others' injuries, however severe, at least had discernible causes and were treatable—but this one? No one even knew how to wake it up. If they returned it like this to Prince Jin, would Dongjiang Gang be torn apart by his furious wrath?

"This matter was botched," Shi Zhong's expression was grim: "I've pondered long—Shen Tang's technique is almost certainly the Emperor's Supreme World Scripture. Do you understand what that means?" Shi Tielong slumped in his chair, his mind still foggy: "Emperor's…"

Suddenly, he jolted: "Tang… she's the missing Princess Chaohuang, Gu Yitang!"

"Precisely. Only this explains the Emperor's strange edict—and why Prince Jin repeatedly aided you against her," Shi Zhong stamped his foot: "You've meddled in the imperial succession without even knowing it—and so deeply!"

Shi Tielong turned deathly pale.

Shi Zhong declared firmly: "Since you're already entangled, make your allegiance clear. I'll return to Canglan Sect immediately and persuade the Sect Master to fully support Prince Jin! If you can gain Prince Jin's public patronage, Princess Chaohuang won't easily crush you as she did the Incense Pavilion."

Shi Tielong hurriedly said: "Thank you, Uncle."

Shi Zhong's eyes glinted sharply: "Since we've offended them, we must offend them utterly. Unless they're dead, I'll never rest easy."

Shi Tielong nodded: "Correct."

"For now, I'll return to the sect to recover. You must swiftly send this Lei Master back to Prince Jin—even if you get scolded, exaggerate everything. Make Prince Jin's hatred fall squarely on Tianxing Sword Sect. Understood?"

Shi Tielong bowed: "Understood."

Shi Zhong quickly led his men away.

His haste wasn't merely to "return and recover"—that woman who could shatter a first-grade divine sword with a finger snap was terrifying. Who knew if she'd come after them next? The commandery governor and the Army's Demon Suppression Bureau looked like they'd already merged—should Dongjiang Gang be wiped out, the entire commandery would cover for the Princess.

Why wait here to die?

As he and his junior disciples traveled halfway, the sky darkened abruptly.

A faint, seductive laugh echoed, gnawing at their hearts and souls.

Shi Zhong's eyes nearly saw the image of celestial maidens scattering flowers—he gasped in horror: "Chanyu Hehuan Sect!"

"Oh? What a lucky find—didn't expect to find a wounded Canglan Sect elder here…" The woman's laughter came from all directions: "Though a bit old… your second-grade cultivation is real. This furnace—I claim it…"

"The Dark Goddess herself!" Shi Zhong's heart plunged into utter despair.

It's over.

Even as he lost consciousness, Shi Zhong never thought this was someone sent by the Heavenly Stride Sword Sect; he only felt he was incredibly unlucky.

A thousand li away in another direction, Gu Xuyang, covered in blood, crashed down from the sky with a boom.

Several blood-stained men carrying long swords on their shoulders stepped one foot onto his chest: "Old Gu, when you of Chunshan Pavilion killed my disciples and destroyed my secret caves, did you know this day would come!"

Likewise, Gu Xuyang never suspected the Heavenly Stride Sword Sect had any connection with the demonic Blood Refining Sect; his dying words were curses: "Damn your grandmother! Dongjiang Gang and Lingyun Sect, you've ruined me!"

Important figures of a sect usually keep a Life Tablet within their sect; when the tablet shatters, the sect can trace the enemy.

No matter how they traced it, all others could see were only their sect's ancient enemies, the Nüwa Hehuan Sect and the Blood Refining Sect.

The Nüwa and the Blood Refining Sect also knew they had acted as Lu Xingzhou's gun once, but they were happy to be that gun, because the target was their enemy. They actually owed Lu Xingzhou a favor for providing the intelligence; strictly speaking, they still owed him a debt.

There was another possibility: someone without a Life Tablet...

The Dongjiang Gang members were escorting the unconscious Lei Chong to the capital. Just after leaving the Dongjiang Commandery territory not far, a black shadow silently surged into their formation, chopped off Lei Chong's head with a single sword strike, and vanished.

Shen Tang's death knight, Shen Qi.

The escorting Dongjiang Gang members turned as pale as earth.

The one killed was a First-Rank powerhouse, a key general of the Prince of Jin!

If they failed in their escort and had someone's head taken on the road, and if they honestly went to the Prince of Jin's mansion to apologize with a whip on their back, then the head that would be taken would be their own.

The gang members looked at each other and immediately reached a consensus: "What the hell are we going there for? Sneak back, pick up the old and young ones, and go straight to join Shen Tang! She has absorbed so many forces combined; can she lack a few of us?"

"Do you think my arrangements were too ruthless?" In Shen Tang's room, Lu Xingzhou was wrapping a bandage around her shoulder wound and asked casually: "That Gu Xuyang was at least somewhat magnanimous; he wasn't a bad person... The ending I arranged for him is exactly the same as Shi Zhong's."

Shen Tang tilted her head slightly, looking at Lu Xingzhou's focused expression as he treated the wound. She looked for a very long time, then said softly: "Struggles for power, struggles for the succession—throughout history, it has always been kill or be killed... personal character means nothing here. If we had fallen into their hands, our fate would not have been any better. Mercy is the benevolence of a woman, like the old me."

Lu Xingzhou hummed: "As long as you don't blame me, that's fine."

"You were a ruthless strategist to begin with," Shen Tang laughed. "It was only after meeting you that I learned to make my heart harder. Why are you asking this now..."

"Because after meeting you, I felt that there are still places in the human heart worth being soft for."

(End of this chapter)