Coercion (Part 2)

Shang Dingye felt a surge of satisfaction. Prefecture Lord Shangguan, and now there were so many witnesses present.

Everyone saw that the Rebel Alliance experts deliberately let Zhang Ying go.

Seeing that Zhang Ying was about to make another move, he decisively shouted "I'm here!"

Ning Hongli arrived at this moment, and everyone present quickly stepped forward to explain the situation, word by word.

Her face was grim as she stared at Zhang Rongfang.

"This must be a misunderstanding. If we were to fall for the Rebel Alliance's frame-up so easily, we would be letting these rats from the gutter succeed! I guarantee with my reputation as a Grandmaster that Zhang Ying has absolutely no connection with the Rebel Alliance!"

"Caught red-handed, and you still want to deny it?!" Shang Dingye stared intently at Ning Hongli.

"What do you mean by 'caught red-handed'? Shang Dingye, watch your mouth!" Ning Hongli snapped. "Lao Yue just left, you dare touch my nephew?!"

"What, are we, the twelve grandmasters, going to fight amongst ourselves over an outsider?!" Shang Dingye's eyes also blazed with anger.

Indeed, in the eyes of most people in their Jade Void Palace, Zhang Ying was a complete outsider.

Many experts from the Jade Void Palace don't think much of the Heavenly Treasure Palace.

They felt that without their support, the organization over there would be nothing more than a third-rate one, with very few capable fighters.

Many people believe that Ling Ting's high regard for Yue Dewen is due to the Jade Void Palace.

Jin Yuyan, the Palace Master of the Jade Void Palace, is the only Spirit General of the Great Dao Sect, possessing immense strength.

It's important to know that the Sensing Gate they defeated head-on back then were incredibly powerful and spread throughout the country.

Although it was the Sensing Gate that the Moon King Moon Empress Queen had lost, it was far superior to any other sects like the Black Ten Sect or the Heaven Lock Sect.

Even compared to the Eastern Sect Western Sect of the True One Sect, it is inferior.

Such a Sensing Gate, where grandmasters and Great Grandmaster gathered, and even Spirit General Xian Shi, were ultimately defeated by the Jade Void Palace of the Great Dao Sect.

With such a rich heritage, Ling Ting would naturally show some appreciation for the Heavenly Treasure Palace as its flagship.

For this reason, Jade Void Palace treats Zhang Ying more out of consideration for Yue Dewen's personal connections and relationships.

As for the Heavenly Treasure Palace, nobody cares.

Without Lao Yue, Zhang Ying's status as a Daoist Daozi of the Heavenly Treasure Palace was now meaningless.

He can only be considered a decent, talented Daoist, nothing more.

And what about geniuses, even top-tier geniuses?

In this world, in the Great Ling, what is least lacking is genius.

During the final Worship God, there were more than just one or two top geniuses waiting for their seats to be cleared.

"Enough!"

The Great Grandmaster were about to make their move.

A burly figure descended from the rooftop and stood between the two men.

It was Shangguan Feihe! His expression was grim as he glanced at Ning Hongli and Shang Dingye. His hands were still covered in blood, clearly indicating that he had just killed someone.

"No infighting, that's the rule!" His voice boomed like thunder, sending chills down the spines of everyone present.

"Prefecture Lord Shangguan, this time it's not that I, Shang, am acting recklessly, it's that Ning Hongli is breaking the rules. She's protecting her own and doesn't care about any rules!" Shang Dingye sneered.

Several people nearby, clearly Shangguan Feihe's subordinates, quickly stepped forward and recounted what had just happened.

"Did Zhang Ying make a move?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Yes, but he hesitated! He wavered!" Shang Dingye said with a smile.

"I'm not hesitating, I'm just looking for the right opportunity!" Zhang Rongfang retorted.

He was indeed in great danger just now. If he had hesitated even slightly or acted too slowly, he would have been completely labeled a traitor!

"Once you've taken action, there's not enough evidence!" Shangguan Feihe said, dissatisfied. "Shang Dingye, stop causing trouble and stop testing the limits of the rules."

He was clearly very dissatisfied with Shang Dingye.

Based on what just happened, it could easily be described as a frame-up, because anyone in that situation would be suspected.

Once those words were spoken, the tone was basically set.

Ning Hongli breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Zhang Rongfang also began to feel a sense of goodwill towards Shangguan Feihe.

Regardless of personal grudges, focusing solely on the rules, this person's ability to be so fair and just truly surpasses what ordinary people can imagine.

"Prefecture Lord Shangguan." At this moment, Shang Dingye showed no dissatisfaction at being questioned. Instead, his expression remained unchanged, and his eyes regained their composure.

"Actually, at this point, no matter how much I doubt or refute, the evidence is indeed insufficient. But..."

He laughed.

"I have a way to verify whether Zhang Ying has any connection with the Rebel Alliance!"

"What method?" Shangguan Feihe frowned.

At that moment, both Ning Hongli and Zhang Rongfang felt a sense of foreboding.

Their gazes simultaneously fell on Shang Dingye.

But they couldn't stop it; at least a hundred members of the Spirit Army had already gathered around. If even the slightest suspicion arose, the consequences would be "very simple."

Shang Dingye smiled.

"We can arrest all the high-ranking members of the Rebel Alliance Army and have Zhang Ying Daozi personally execute them!"

"Zhang Ying, are you willing?" Shangguan Feihe's gaze fell on Zhang Rongfang.

"I also agree with this method!" Ning Hongli also spoke solemnly.

In her opinion, this was indeed a good idea. No matter what Zhang Ying's past was, even if there was a real connection with the Rebel Alliance, it could be used as an opportunity to sever it.

She believed Zhang Ying would make the right choice! Zhang Rongfang's expression was calm, as if he didn't care about the matter at all.

"Alright! I'll carry out the execution!"

He knew that if he hesitated even slightly, Shangguan Feihe would immediately kill him with a single palm strike.

Nowadays, if it weren't for Shangguan Feihe, the terrifying Worship God Great Grandmaster, everyone would have to follow his rules.

It seems that Shang Dingye has already begun to deal with him personally.

He wasn't afraid of Shang Dingye, but behind Shang Dingye was the Shang Family of the Twelve Clan Estates, which wasn't just one Grandmaster.

Within the Twelve Clan Estates, each sect has at least two Grandmasters on average. The strongest of them, the Shangguan Family, even has five Grandmasters, including one Worship God Great Grandmaster.

Its terrifying strength is completely equivalent to the foundation of a medium-sized national religion.

Therefore, the reason why the Great Dao Sect dares to have the courage to sweep across the world is because it has a truly solid foundation.

At this moment, Shangguan Feihe and Ning Hongli confirmed that Zhang Rongfang had agreed to carry out the execution without any hesitation, and they immediately nodded in relief.

"Now, continue to disperse and eliminate the Rebel Alliance! Capture those who can be captured alive."

Finally, Shangguan Feihe left behind a single sentence.

The group dispersed to continue the search.

Three hours later.

As dawn broke, the morning sun shone brightly.

On the tallest Wild Goose Pagoda in Ning An Prefecture, the Hongyan Pagoda.

The Wild Goose Pagoda, with eight stories, is nearly thirty meters tall. Its entire body is brown, resembling the feathers of a wild goose, and each story has goose-shaped eaves. It is a scenic spot in Ning An Prefecture.

Zhang Rongfang received a message instructing him to go to the top of the Wild Goose Pagoda and take over the task of the executioner.

"This time, the Prefecture Lord needs Daozi to behead the Rebel Alliance Army one by one in front of all the Spirit Army and residents of the city. This is to demonstrate our authority!"

These are the Messenger Daoist's original words.

Zhang Rongfang remained expressionless.

Follow the streets below, step by step, closer to the tower.

He had already made up his mind. As long as it wasn't his master Zhang Xuan and the others, the rest of the high-ranking members of the Rebel Alliance were just irrelevant people, and killing them wouldn't matter.

Let's get through this crisis first.

There will be plenty of time to settle accounts with Shang Dingye later!

Judging by the time, Uncle Zuo and the others should be arriving soon. By then, there will already be First Squad of the Spirit Army guarding the area from the street to the entrance of the Wild Goose Pagoda.

A dense array of crossbow bolts and gun barrels were aimed at the outer perimeter through the gaps in the giant shield, guarding against any possible attacks or raids.

In the passage protected by the Spirit Army.

Zhang Rongfang quickly arrived at the tower gate and saw Ning Hongli looking at him with a worried expression, standing inside the gate.

"Are you alright?" Ning Hongli asked softly. "Xiaoying, tell me the truth, are you really okay?"

"Don't worry." Zhang Rongfang nodded seriously.

This time, he has to get through it no matter what.

He took the decapitation knife offered by the Daoist priest beside him.

The knife is two meters long, entirely silver-white, with an exceptionally sharp blade and a very thick back.

He lifted it up with one hand and climbed up layer by layer.

Ning Hongli followed behind him.

When he reached the eighth floor, Shang Dingye stood in the hallway, squinting as he observed him.

"Whether it's true or not, we'll see how you perform this time. Don't disappoint me," Shang Dingye said sarcastically.

"That's no trouble for Master Shang," Zhang Rongfang replied indifferently.

"That's good. No wonder you're Yue Dewen's apprentice." Shang Dingye smiled and gestured for him to proceed.

Zhang Rongfang didn't bother to look at him, brushed past him, and went up the stairs.

He knew very well that even if he successfully carried out the execution, he would become the target of the Rebel Alliance for killing so many of their Rebel Alliance.

Shang Dingye's actions were an open conspiracy.

These veteran masters truly lived up to their reputations; each one used increasingly dirty methods.

By taking advantage of the situation, he was forced to move forward.

With a creak, the wooden door to the ninth floor was pushed open.

In the small hall upstairs, two rows of weak prisoners covered in blood were already kneeling.

Shangguan Feihe sat by the window, seemingly meditating and practicing his Civilian Skill with his eyes closed.

"Take him to the terrace and behead him. Let everyone see it clearly."

He gave a brief instruction.

"Yes!" Zhang Rongfang's gaze swept across the entire room, from the first person to the last.

Instantly, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

There are no masters among them!

"There are three groups of sixty people in total. We'll introduce them before killing them. Is that alright?" Shang Dingye suddenly spoke up from behind.

Three batches!? "No!" Zhang Rongfang's heart skipped a beat.

But with Shangguan Feihe present, he couldn't possibly make any other statement.

"Let's begin. The first one will be taken out," Shangguan Feihe said calmly.

Soon, the first heavily pregnant, plump woman was pulled out.

With rags stuffed in her mouth, her hands tied, and her legs broken, she was dragged to the outdoor terrace.

That terrace was a specially constructed temporary display stand.

It is five meters long and three meters wide, extending outwards in a rectangular shape, and has no guardrails.

Zhang Rongfang remained expressionless as he followed the people dragging him forward to stand on the terrace.

The people below the tower began to explain the fat woman's background, why she was killed, and so on.

The introduction was completed shortly afterward.

Zhang Rongfang raised his knife, his face cold, and suddenly slashed.

In a flash.

A splash of blood erupted, and the fat woman was instantly decapitated, collapsing to the ground.

Because the knife was too fast and too sharp, her head didn't even fly off; it remained in place, looking like there was just a red line on her neck, nothing more.

"The second one!" he said in a deep voice.