Ambush

Inside the bronze hall, Ma Zhongde frowned deeply as he stared at Zhao Jingyuan. "Chen Jiutian has killed four elders of our Gu God Sect in succession. His might is boundless. Is Lord Xue Ju truly confident he can kill him?"

Xue Ju held the Soul-Severing Spear and said without expression, "You Gu Masters of the Miao Borderlands rely too heavily on the power of your Gu. Your methods are too extreme. Once your Gu are destroyed, you lose nearly all your fighting strength.

"Chen Jiutian's martial arts have reached perfection, without a single obvious weakness. That's why he can counter your Gu Path.

"But the gulf between the Seventh-Realm Origin Pill and the Eighth-Level Divine Altar Realm isn't so easily crossed."

Ma Zhongde drew a deep breath and stared at Zhao Jingyuan. "Your Highness has gone to such lengths to help the Gu God Sect. What do you want in return?"

Zhao Jingyuan smiled. "Sect Leader Ma Jiuxian promised me earlier that once the Myriad Gu Alliance was destroyed, he would devote himself to refining the Time Gu for me.

"So helping the Gu God Sect is helping myself.

"Besides, I want the Gu God Hall and Sect Leader Ma Jiuxian's friendship.

"The Gu Path should not remain trapped in the Miao Borderlands forever. It's time for you to see the splendor of the Central Plains."

Ma Zhongde studied Zhao Jingyuan for a long moment, then cupped his hands. "In that case, we'll follow Your Highness's every arrangement and command in the encirclement of Chen Jiutian!"

Zhao Jingyuan turned his gaze to Xue Ju.

Xue Ju came from the Imperial Guard and was not adept at commanding large armies. The Guard's chief duties were protecting the Capital City and suppressing martial artists who caused trouble within it.

But Xue