Chapter 515: Rebellion and Gifts

Xu Jin's first stop as deputy commander of the Blood Wyvern was the Iron Blood Army of the Blood God Sect.

This matched Xu Jin's speculation closely.

If Grand Emperor Hong, the deputy sect leader, intended to seize control of the Blood God Sect's military power, it would most likely be the Iron Blood Army.

Among the four armies, the Blood God Guard must be ruled out first.

The Blood God Guard was the most elite force of the Blood God Sect, with few members.

Divided into Left Guard and Right Guard, each with two thousand soldiers.

The lowest cultivation base among them was Sixth Stage mid-level, directly controlled by the sect's Left and Right Protectors.

If Grand Emperor Hong targeted the Blood God Guard, it would be like stabbing the Left and Right Protectors right in the heart—success was nearly impossible.

The Blood Moon Army and Blood Cloud Army were the garrison forces of the sect's two major cities, second only to the Blood God Guard in elite status.

The Iron Blood Army, by contrast, was relatively ordinary.

It was the largest and most diverse army within the Blood God Sect.

Over ninety percent of its members were non-humans; Blood God Sect followers made up only about five percent, all of whom were officers.

Its core consisted of Fourth and Fifth Stage non-humans, but there were also many Sixth and Seventh Stage members.

The commander of the Iron Blood Army was an Eighth Stage powerhouse.

Yet Xu Jin was utterly unafraid; though he was the blade and the mission was his, the one actually leading the operation and setting the procedures was Blood Wyvern Grand Commander Zhong Ji.

When Grand Commander Zhong Ji had given him the Blood Wyvern token, he had said that within the Blood God Sect, anyone bearing the Blood Wyvern token held authority one rank above any official—except the Left and Right Protectors and the heads of each hall.

Xu Jin had received a Six-Star Blood Wyvern token.

During last night's Wen Meng interrogation, Xu Jin had learned that Zhong Ji held a Seven-Star Blood Wyvern token.

Theoretically, in terms of authority, Grand Commander Zhong Ji was the most powerful figure in the Blood God Sect, excluding the Left and Right Protectors and the hall heads.

Of course, this was without considering personal strength.

Xu Jin estimated that, given Zhong Ji's personality and style, he would show caution when facing Eighth Stage or even Seventh Stage Ninth Reversal peak cultivators.

But cultivators below Seventh Stage Ninth Reversal peak would likely face the wildly arrogant Zhong Ji.

Very soon, Xu Jin witnessed this firsthand!

Early in the morning, Zhong Ji led his three squads of Blood Wyverns, along with Xu Jin's depleted Blood Wyvern squad, charging fiercely toward the Third Battalion's encampment of the Iron Blood Army.

The camp guard officer, seeing them approach, shouted loudly.

Zhong Ji merely glanced at Xu Jin, the deputy commander, and Xu Jin immediately understood what to do.

"Halt! This is a military camp—"

Crack!

Xu Jin moved like a ghost, lunging forward and delivering a slap that sent the guard officer flying—along with two of his teeth.

In the same instant, Xu Jin followed like a shadow, stomping his foot onto the officer's chest and flashing his token: "Blood Wyvern on official business. How dare you block us?"

"Are you trying to die?"

Xu Jin spun back in an instant, stomped the ground, and impaled another non-human officer attempting to sound the alarm with earth spikes.

Two spikes pierced his thighs, lifting him off the ground; a third spike shattered the horn he was about to blow.

A Fifth Stage Seventh Reversal human officer and a Sixth Stage Fourth Reversal non-human officer were both dealt with by Xu Jin as if it were nothing.

Several Blood Wyvern squad members stared in shock; some even gave Xu Jin a thumbs-up.

To eliminate these two at the gate, most of them could manage it.

But to do it as cleanly and efficiently as Xu Jin had—no one else could.

"Blood Wyvern on official business! Go, summon your commander!" Zhong Ji stepped forward and slapped his Seven-Star Blood Wyvern token directly onto the human officer's face.

His blood-red cloak flared as he strode boldly toward the command tent; the officer scrambled to his feet and ran to report.

Xu Jin followed Zhong Ji closely, like a loyal hound.

Since Zhong Ji needed such a person, Xu Jin would play the role well—before being thrown out as a scapegoat.

Of course, Xu Jin was also skilled at using others' power to intimidate.

Once the Blood Wyvern token was displayed and the blood-red cloak moved through the camp, terror spread instantly.

Among the Blood God Sect's non-human members, none understood the terror of the Blood Wyvern.

But the sect's mid- and high-ranking human officers knew full well.

Soon, the commander of the Iron Blood Army's Third Battalion arrived with a group of officers.

The commander was human, with a cultivation base of Seventh Stage Seventh Reversal.

Among the officers, many were non-humans.

In comparison, the non-humans had higher cultivation: three of them were Seventh Stage Eighth Reversal.

Several others were Seventh Stage late-level.

Seeing over a dozen Seventh Stage officers approaching, Grand Commander Zhong Ji lost his earlier arrogance.

His bluster dimmed slightly.

Especially the non-human officers—each towering in size, glaring fiercely.

Even Zhong Ji's steps grew smaller.

There was no choice: the Blood Wyvern's authority was strong, but its personal strength was weak.

Commander Jin Jin Dafeng had already been uneasy upon hearing of the Blood Wyvern's arrival—he knew their authority well.

But now, as he met them face-to-face, he realized Grand Commander Zhong Ji seemed slightly intimidated.

His confidence surged instantly.

And he immediately realized: this was his own territory!

"Grand Commander Zhong, this is a military camp! Why the unauthorized intrusion?"

Zhong Ji hesitated.

He wasn't afraid.

He simply thought long-term.

The Blood Wyvern's authority was great, but he couldn't remain Grand Commander forever.

So when facing true high-level leaders of the Blood God Sect—or mid-level officers with immense potential—he always left room.

Leaving room now meant securing his own future.

Otherwise, if he made enemies everywhere, especially deadly ones, he might complete his superior's orders—but one day, someone might slip a knife into his back.

Dying mysteriously would be a terrible loss. Especially on the Eight Wilderness Continent, where land was vast and people sparse, non-humans held deep hostility toward human sect members—human cultivators died daily.

If he angered these powerful mid- and high-level officers, they could easily kill him in the wild, frame it on non-humans, and vanish without a trace.

Kill fast enough, and it would be flawless.

Why was Zhong Ji so cautious?

Because he had done it himself.

So when facing Commander Jin Jin Dafeng of the Iron Blood Army's Third Battalion, Zhong Ji was hesitant, preferring to follow proper procedure.

When Jin Jin Dafeng shouted his question, Zhong Ji instinctively glanced at Xu Jin.

Thanks to Wen Meng's enhancement last night, Xu Jin had become Zhong Ji's most trusted brother—in his conscious mind, and even his subconscious.

Originally, Zhong Ji had planned for Xu Jin to step forward, provoke Commander Jin Jin Dafeng, and then he would step in to resolve things through proper channels.

But the moment Zhong Ji's gaze flickered toward him, Xu Jin reacted as if he'd received a signal—he shot forward instantly!

He channeled star force into the Seven-Star Blood Wyvern token Zhong Ji had just given him; crimson starlight flared violently as he swung the token straight at Commander Jin Jin Dafeng.

"Commander Jin, if your camp doesn't even allow the Blood Wyvern to enter, what secrets are you hiding?" Xu Jin roared as he lunged.

Jin Jin Dafeng naturally didn't take the blow—he stepped back instantly. Two Seventh Stage Eighth Reversal non-humans surged forward: "How dare you!"

The two Seventh Stage non-humans attacked Xu Jin simultaneously.

In that instant, even Zhong Ji and the other Blood Wyverns froze.

Even stunned.

My heavens!

They were here to investigate.

Not to bully their way through a military camp!

Even the Blood Wyvern wouldn't dare clash directly with an entire army, would they?

If they got surrounded and annihilated, who would they appeal to?

As everyone stood in shock, Xu Jin was already fighting the two Seventh Stage non-humans.

The two Seventh Stage Eighth Reversal non-humans were merely ordinary cultivators of that level.

Seeing them attack, Xu Jin instantly accelerated, briefly activating Flowing Flash.

Shhh!

The sonic boom vanished as quickly as it appeared; Xu Jin's shoulders, thick with earth star force, slammed into the chests of the two Seventh Stage non-humans like falling stars.

Their protective starlight shattered instantly.

As their ribs cracked with crisp snaps, blood gushed from their mouths, along with chunks of internal organs.

One strike—severely wounded.

Xu Jin pressed his advantage, charging forward, knocking them flying as he roared: "You attacked the Blood Wyvern of the Criminal Tribunal! Is your Iron Blood Army planning to betray the sect?"

Commander Jin Jin Dafeng, seeing Xu Jin injure his men, had already prepared to intervene personally.

He was about to call for all his officers to join the attack.

If his own territory was violated like this, and the Iron Blood Army commander asked later, he'd lose his rank for sure!

After all, a weak soldier is just one, but a weak commander ruins the whole unit.

But hearing the words "heresy" made him go numb!

Damn, this accusation is way too big!

So big he couldn't possibly handle it!

"Don't smear me with false accusations!" Jin Jin Dafeng roared.

"Then what were you trying to do by ordering foreign officers to kill us, the Blood Hawks, to silence us?

If you're not a heretic,

then you're definitely a traitor.

You're ordering foreign forces to kill us to cover it up!

Then you'll pin the blame on the foreigners!" Xu Jin roared.

Jin Jin Dafeng went completely numb.

Damn, each accusation was more terrifying than the last!

"Heresy" was still just an accusation, leaving room for self-defense.

But if you use "ordering foreign forces to kill the Blood Hawks to silence them" as an excuse to label him a traitor, it's like shit falling into your pants—whether it's shit or not, it's still shit!

In an instant, Jin Jin Dafeng crumbled.

The foreign officer injured by Xu Jin also went numb.

Were they about to be made scapegoats by their commander?

Could this even happen?

All their earlier arrogance vanished.

Commander Jin Jin Dafeng instantly panicked, immediately dissipated his star force, halted in place, and pleaded with deep grievance: "Commander Zhong, I am not a traitor, I never intended to silence anyone—I simply didn't understand. Please see clearly!"

Behind him, Zhong Ji was stunned.

He hadn't expected that Qi Jin, alone, would charge out, use a few moves and a few words, and bring down the commander of the Third Division of the Iron Blood Army, forcing him to surrender outright!

Suddenly, he learned: things could be done this way!

When Xu Jin heard Jin Jin Dafeng take the bait, he immediately perked up. In this world, slander fears most a self-defense!

Once you defend yourself, you fall into the trap of proving your innocence!

"If you're not a traitor, how do you prove it?

And your actions just now—with your subordinates—were clearly an attempt to silence us!

If you didn't try to silence us, how do you prove it?" Xu Jin roared.

Regarding how to handle such matters, Xu Jin had long discussed and strategized with State Advisor Cheng Cheng Yuexiao.

The Blood God Sect is clearly in a period of transition, but its methods of recruiting followers naturally attract all kinds of corrupt and perverse tendencies within.

Break it with force!

More crucially, the Penal Chamber's laws are incomplete, riddled with loopholes, and rife with internal scheming.

Discretionary power is immense.

Opposite him, Commander Jin Jin Dafeng froze.

Prove it?

How could he prove it?

Not only him—even Xu Jin couldn't imagine how to prove it!

This matter, aside from cutting out one's heart to prove innocence, seemed impossible to verify!

Yet, reality proved Xu Jin was shallow.

Fifteen minutes later, Jin Jin Dafeng, with a completely changed attitude, actually proved he had no intention to silence them!

"Commander Zhong, a small token, insufficient to show respect—please accept it!"

"Deputy Commander Qi, a small token, insufficient to show respect, insufficient to show respect."

Watching Zhong Ji nod and openly accept the pouch Jin Jin Dafeng offered, Xu Jin also calmly accepted his own.

The instant he stowed it in his space pouch, Xu Jin's mind-scan swept over it—and his eyes widened in surprise!

Pure Pearl!

The gift Jin Jin Dafeng had given him was a Pure Pearl!

(End of Chapter)