Treason?!

On the way back to First High School, Chu Yuan also got the answer to the question he had just asked Jiang Fei:

"What are the people from the Martial Suppression Bureau doing?"

The people from the Martial Suppression Bureau were fighting...

A streak of light chased a fading shadow from afar. They crashed into an office building almost at the same time!

With a deafening boom, rubble flew everywhere! The building slowly collapsed!

Chu Yuan's pupils contracted. He clearly saw what looked like several figures inside the building...

But no one was paying them any attention now, so the figures were buried in the dust, left to die in despair.

He pondered for a moment, glanced up at the six blood-red pillars of light in the sky, then activated Smoke-Drifting Steps and darted away from the battlefield.

"Chu Yuan! Why are you back again?!"

At First High School, Qi Da watched Chu Yuan approach from the distance, looking anxious.

Earlier, he had told Ma Hui that Chu Yuan "hadn't deserted in the face of danger."

But in truth, he had hoped Chu Yuan would leave. No matter where he went, he'd be safer than at First High School now.

After all, Chu Yuan was just a student, with no particular duties... How could leaving be considered desertion?

Qi Da seemed to think of something. Before Chu Yuan could answer, he urged him anxiously, "Chu Yuan! Get to Second High School! Find someone from the Martial Suppression Bureau and tell them I sent you!"

Chu Yuan didn't understand, but he still asked, "Principal, once those six pillars of light in the sky merge, the Blood-Sucking Array will become the Blood Sacrifice Array, right?"

"Where did you hear that? No... This isn't the time to talk about it. Get to Second High School!"

Ma Hui had made his choice. He selected some people "worth saving" and had Warriors from the Martial Suppression Bureau escort them as they broke through.

If Chu Yuan had looked more closely, he would have noticed that several familiar faces, including Yang Yi, were already gone.

"Chu Yuan, you guessed right. Once the six Blood-Sucking Arrays merge, they'll become the Blood Sacrifice Array!

"When that happens... everyone in Chenyang City will die!" Yan Xuan, his body covered in Blood Veins, spoke mockingly. "Your talent is decent. I'll give you a chance to survive... Join us."

"Join you?" Chu Yuan had his suspicions confirmed, and his anxiety eased. Instead, he looked at Yan Xuan curiously. "So you killed Li Chen and framed me earlier... all to make sure I couldn't stay in Great Qin, so I'd join you."

"That's right."

"I have a question... Aren't you afraid Great Qin will retaliate? Chenyang City will be destroyed by your hands, and Great Qin will hunt you down with everything it has.

"Even if I join you, I'll still be doomed, won't I?"

"Chu Yuan! Don't listen to his nonsense. Get to Second High School! There's someone... who can get you out of Chenyang City!" A trace of anger crept into Qi Da's voice. His heart felt heavy, and he worried Chu Yuan would make an irrational choice.

Even if it was to stay alive... a traitor was still a traitor. No matter how noble the excuse, he would be taking Great Qin's side against them.

"You see, Chu Yuan?

"These people are so hypocritical!

"They say they'll protect you martial arts prodigies and help you escape, but who knows... Maybe those Warriors from the Martial Suppression Bureau are just using it as a respectable excuse to desert?" The Blood Veins on Yan Xuan's face writhed as he scoffed. "Now I can answer your question. Once we're done here, someone will take us to the Outer-Heaven Battlefield!

"Even if Great Qin wants revenge, it'll have to find us first!"

"I see..."

"Bullshit! Do you think the Martial Suppression Bureau is full of gutter-dwelling vermin like you?" Qi Da roared.

"Heh."

Chu Yuan didn't care what Yan Xuan had said. He was simply waiting for the Blood Sacrifice Array to be completed.

Originally, he had planned to get close to the array's core—with Qi Da's help. In other words, he had intended to approach Yan Xuan.

But now it seemed he had a second option, one that would take much less effort...

Chu Yuan hesitated. "If I join you... can I really survive?"

"Of course! We need fresh blood too..." Yan Xuan sounded pleased and shot Qi Da a provocative glance.

"Chu Yuan?!" Qi Da stared at him in disbelief, grief and anger in his eyes.

He couldn't believe the student he had placed so much hope in would really make such a choice!

"Hahahaha! That's right! Join us, and you'll survive!" Yan Xuan cackled. "Chu Yuan, you've made the right choice!

"Don't be afraid of that old dog. He can't do anything to you right now!"

Only then did Chu Yuan notice that, despite his anger, Qi Da hadn't moved an inch.

Energy rippled beneath his feet. He seemed to be resisting the Blood-Sucking Array's energy.

Chu Yuan's gaze shifted. He spoke carefully. "I... can join you, but I have conditions!"

"Go ahead." Yan Xuan looked at Qi Da's expression, relishing the moment, and acted especially generous.

"Spare them." Chu Yuan looked at the crowd not far away.

Aside from the teachers at the Internal Breath Realm, most of the students had already passed out.

Judging by their condition, they could die at any moment.

"You're kindhearted, but will they appreciate it?" Yan Xuan mocked.

Chu Yuan had naturally noticed the hatred in Huang Bo's eyes. He replied calmly, "Whether they appreciate it or not has nothing to do with me.

"There are well over a million people in Chenyang City who can be sacrificed. Losing this many... shouldn't matter, right?"

Yan Xuan thought for a moment. "Fine. I can agree to that."

The people at First High School didn't matter much. They were nothing compared to Chu Yuan's value.

At first, Yan Xuan had ordered his subordinates to target Chu Yuan on a whim, setting up a minor contingency.

If it worked, all the better. If not, it didn't matter...

Who would have thought Chu Yuan would reach the Internal Breath Realm in less than a week?

Yan Xuan had once been a prodigy himself. He knew just how terrifying such talent was!

"Also, my family has to be taken to the Outer-Heaven Battlefield!"

"Of course," Yan Xuan said with a smile. Without that condition, he wouldn't have trusted Chu Yuan.

"But the Blood Sacrifice Array doesn't distinguish friend from foe. If you want to bring your family, shouldn't you bring them here first?"

"With your strength, can't you go pick them up during the final evacuation?" Chu Yuan countered.

"...I can."

"One last condition..." Chu Yuan's gaze flickered. He said gravely, "I want a share of the Blood Sacrifice Array's spoils!"

"That's not happening!"

"You should know how many resources I'd receive in Great Qin with my martial talent!

"There's no reason I should get nothing after joining you, is there?"

"At least you'll stay alive!"

"Yan Xuan, think carefully.

"I've only been cultivating for a week, and I've already reached the Internal Breath Realm. How long do you think it'll take me to surpass you?"

"..."