"Let victory be decided—and life and death as well!!"
The moment Murong Huai spoke, everyone present was startled. Even Yu Mingshan's pupils contracted, yet he nodded as though he had expected this all along.
"Adjudication Elder, this..."
Yu Yuanzhen was about to speak, but Murong Huai cut him off. "Let victory be decided—and life and death as well. I gave Senior Yu Mingshan some face. Now, shouldn't Senior give this Adjudication Elder some face in return?"
Though Murong Huai phrased it as a question, his words were utterly firm, leaving no room for refusal. Yu Yuanzhen was about to say something else when Yu Mingshan stepped forward and said, "Fine. This old man agrees. Let victory be decided—and life and death as well!!"
"Father!"
"Old Clan Head..."
Yu Mingshan raised a hand to stop everyone. He understood that this was not a choice Murong Huai had given him, but an ultimatum. Perhaps he should not have stepped forward—no, he had to step forward. Then, he tossed the three Spirit Bones to Yu Yuanzhen for safekeeping.
"Listen carefully, Yuanzhen. If I die, every member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan shall join Spirit Hall. No one is to break this oath."
"Father..."
Yu Yuanzhen tried to speak, but Yu Mingshan met him with a resolute gaze. "Do you understand, Yuanzhen?!"
At that instant, Yu Yuanzhen came to his senses. From beginning to end, Murong Huai had never given them a choice. What Spirit Hall wanted was Yu Mingshan. This was the path to survival he had offered them—a path bought with Yu Mingshan's life. This battle would settle the grudge between Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, ending it with his death.
Ever since Murong Chayue and Murong Fuhai had attacked the mountain last time, aside from