By nightfall, all of Laiyang City had gone pitch-black. No one dared light a lamp at a time like this.
A stifling atmosphere weighed on everyone's hearts. At that moment, whether they were Martial Artists or not, they all knew that something big was going to happen tonight!
Inside Kaishan Martial Arts School, Huang Ling sat boldly in the seat of honor, while Chang Yuchun, the Hall Master, stood below him, bent forward like a subordinate.
"Hall Master Chang, what happens next depends on you. Whether you can take down Ox Demon Martial Arts School will decide whether Kaishan Martial Arts School can keep operating in Laiyang City!"
Huang Ling had decided to target Ox Demon Martial Arts School first, because he already knew that Zhang Longyun had led the alliance between the martial halls.
In that case, he would start by pulling out this thorn in his side!
"Rest assured, Lord City Lord. Kaishan Martial Arts School is now far stronger than Ox Demon Martial Arts School. I'll deliver Zhang Longyun's head to your mansion!"
"Mm!"
Chang Yuchun respectfully took his leave, then immediately began deploying his forces. The entire Kaishan Martial Arts School sprang into action.
Over twenty Viscera Refiners, more than forty Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Artists, and over a thousand disciples at Bone Forging or below—that was the strength of Kaishan Martial Arts School now!
Without another word, Chang Yuchun strode at the head of the group, leading them toward Ox Demon Martial Arts School.
Huang Ling had been City Lord for decades, and he was a master at playing the wolf against the tiger. He was sending Kaishan Martial Arts School to attack the other martial halls, then planned to step in afterward and clean up the mess himself.
That way, the City Lord's Mansion could obtain the most for the least cost. Power, prestige—everything would ultimately belong to Huang Ling!
As for Kaishan Martial Arts School, that depended on his mood. If he was in a bad mood and Chang Yuchun, that dog, didn't obey, he'd have him killed!
Chang Yuchun could never have guessed what City Lord Huang Ling was planning. If he had known, he probably wouldn't have pledged his allegiance.
Though he was a Martial Artist, Chang Yuchun had lost the heart to defy heaven and earth. His fate was all but sealed.
But that fate still lay some way off. For now, Ox Demon Martial Arts School was the one that should be nervous.
Before long, Ox Demon Martial Arts School noticed Kaishan Martial Arts School's movements, and some disciples hurried back to report.
Zhang Yunhu was carefully going over the ledgers when he suddenly heard a commotion outside. He immediately went out to investigate.
"Tell me quickly, what happened? Why are you all in such a panic?"
"Huh? Steward Zhang, you haven't heard? Kaishan Martial Arts School is attacking! There are people as far as the eye can see!"
"How is that possible? Why would Kaishan Martial Arts School suddenly attack us? You—" Zhang Yunhu was about to argue when a loud shout suddenly rang out:
"Zhang Longyun, you bastard! Get out here and face your death at the hands of your Uncle Chang! Today is the day Ox Demon Martial Arts School is wiped out!"
"What? It really is that bastard Chang Yuchun!" Zhang Yunhu's eyes blazed with fury.
Though he didn't want to believe it, he knew it had to be true!
"Damn it, Big Brother hasn't broken through yet, and now Kaishan Martial Arts School is attacking. What are we supposed to do?"
Zhang Yunhu was growing frantic. Over the past six months, he had watched Kaishan Martial Arts School grow stronger and stronger, feeding on the lifeblood of the other three martial halls—including theirs.
Not only had disciples at Bone Forging and below joined Kaishan Martial Arts School; even some Martial Masters had been unable to resist the temptation.
The two sides were now completely mismatched. Zhang Yunhu wasn't confident that every member of Ox Demon Martial Arts School could take on three opponents!
When the realms were roughly equal, numbers became the key to victory. That was common knowledge.
"Quickly! Go invite all the Martial Masters here. Gather the disciples—we'll fight Kaishan Martial Arts School to the death!" Zhang Yunhu shouted.
But few were willing to follow his orders. After all, no one was a fool. They could all see how things stood.
If they didn't run now, they might never get another chance.
Seeing this, Zhang Yunhu was anxious but helpless. He could only go find the Viscera Refiners himself to hold the line.
But after searching, he discovered that of the eighteen Martial Masters who had remained at the martial hall, only half were still there.
And they were all long-serving members of Ox Demon Martial Arts School, most of them already old.
An elderly Martial Master stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, "Steward Zhang, the martial hall has treated us well. Now that it's in danger, we won't run!"
The other men clearly felt the same way.
Zhang Yunhu was moved, but he also knew that with only the few men before him, they probably wouldn't make any difference.
He was thinking it over and had just opened his mouth when he felt a heavy hand settle on his shoulder.
He turned around and saw that it was his Big Brother, Zhang Longyun.
At the sight of that familiar face, Zhang Yunhu nearly burst into tears. Zhang Longyun could only pat his shoulder gently and say with a smile, "Third Brother, you've worked hard. Let me take it from here."
"Big Brother, did you break through?"
Seeing the hope in Zhang Yunhu's eyes, Zhang Longyun gave a bitter smile. "Almost."
In an instant, Zhang Yunhu's smile vanished, and his body swayed. He murmured, "How could this happen? How could you be so close, Big Brother? Without a breakthrough, how is Ox Demon Martial Arts School supposed to survive this crisis?"
Just then, Chang Yuchun led Kaishan Martial Arts School's elite in a deadly charge. They were all bristling with killing intent, and many carried bloodied weapons. Clearly, they had already started killing.
Zhang Longyun watched Chang Yuchun slash a disciple who had blocked his path. His fury surged, and at last he could hold back no longer.
"Scoundrel, prepare to die!"
He unleashed his full strength in a single move. His surging blood and qi burst forth, cracking the hard floor beneath him.
At once, the Martial Artists on both sides clashed, but deliberately kept clear of the two men at the center.
As Chang Yuchun and Zhang Longyun fought, every blow landed with tremendous force. The air cracked around them, driving the onlookers even farther away.
After a few exchanges, Chang Yuchun burst into laughter. "Zhang Longyun, I knew you hadn't broken through. The Xiantian bottleneck isn't something a brute like you can overcome!
"But today is your last day. Lord Wang, Lord Li, Lord Zhao, come help me!"
Three figures suddenly appeared. They were the Viscera Refiners recruited by the City Lord's Mansion, each skilled in combined attacks.
There had been four of them, but Zhang San had suddenly gone missing today, leaving only three.
Together, the three could hold off Zhang Longyun at Peak Viscera Refining for a time. With Chang Yuchun, who was evenly matched with him, alongside them, Zhang Longyun was clearly at a disadvantage.
As the fight continued, the four men soon forced Zhang Longyun into a corner. Once he had nowhere left to retreat, he would be defeated!
Zhang Yunhu was frantic with worry, but there was nothing he could do. He was only at the Blood Coagulation Realm; he was nowhere near strong enough to break up the fight.
Suddenly, Chang Yuchun seized his chance and prepared to deal a grievous blow to Zhang Longyun, who was struggling to defend himself. But an indistinct afterimage suddenly appeared.
In a few leaps, the Martial Artists blocking his path were sent flying one after another.
Chang Yuchun, who had been about to finish the fight, felt his scalp go numb. It was as if an ancient ferocious beast had fixed its eyes on him.
A warning blared in his mind: "Run! Or you'll die!"
Chang Yuchun abandoned his chance to attack without hesitation, but he still felt a sharp pain in his back. He turned and looked down, only to see that his viscera had been smashed open!
Filled with bitter resentment, Chang Yuchun toppled straight to the ground.
With a single strike, Chang Yuchun, a Viscera Refining expert at his peak, was dead!
The sudden turn of events stunned everyone present. They stared blankly at the young figure.
Dressed in blue, handsome and refined, he looked like an immortal banished from the heavens!