This Round Goes to You
Cloud Mirror Continent, Jihuang Sword Palace City.
True Lord Ziji hurried to the dojo where Lie Jiuyou resided.
Inside a white jade pavilion in the dojo, Lie Jiuyou was playing chess with Sword Moon Heavenly Venerate. Seeing True Lord Ziji's flustered appearance, the hand holding his chess piece paused slightly, and he frowned. "Ziji, what has you in such a panic? You're overseeing the sect's affairs now—how are you still so unsteady?"
Without even stopping to catch his breath, Ziji hurried forward. "Sect Master, something has happened. Red Crane has returned to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain. Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain has now officially declared itself a subordinate sect of the Tianli Sect, and Yuchen has also been seized by Red Crane and handed over to the Tianli Sect!"
The chess piece in Lie Jiuyou's hand fell onto the board with a crisp clash like metal striking stone. He sprang to his feet. "How could Red Crane have returned to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain? Wasn't he imprisoned by Fang Mo in Galaxy City?"
Ziji hurriedly replied, "We don't know the details either. But Red Crane truly did return to Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain, subdued Blue Flame True Lord, and ruined our plan. Junior Brother tried to withdraw, but Red Crane injured him. Afterward, the Tianli Sect entered Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain and took over its resources!"
He swallowed, wetting his throat, then continued, "Our people discovered something was wrong, but they didn't dare approach. They only dared contact Blue Flame after the Tianli Sect withdrew, and only then learned what had happened. But it was already too late. Nine Mandarin Duck Mountain had completed the handover with the Tianli Sect and sent notices to all sides, formally submitting to the Tianli Sect. Junior Brother Yuchen was