Figures descended onto the Southern Heaven Academy's training grounds. Before long, 300 elite disciples had gathered, every one of them wearing a grave expression.
Wang Cheng came flying through the air on his sword and joined their ranks.
A piercing whistle rang out, and a figure landed before the crowd.
"Greetings, Chancellor!"
All the disciples bowed respectfully.
Ji Zhan swept his gaze over the 300 disciples, his expression exceedingly grave. "Everyone, you are all elite disciples of our academy. To tell the truth, I do not want to send you out. It is far too dangerous right now. But the people of the Heavenly Demon Sect are running rampant, slaughtering countless people to cultivate evil arts and leaving the common folk unable to make a living!"
"The academy's senior members and the experts in Southern Heaven City have all been deployed, but the enemy's forces are simply too vast, and they are hidden in the shadows. We have suffered heavy losses, and now we have no choice but to ask you to act and protect the people of Great Zhou. As disciples of this academy, we must cultivate ourselves, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. Now the world has fallen into chaos, and we must use the swords in our hands to quell this calamity!"
As Ji Zhan's voice fell, the 300 disciples were all indignant, their eyes blazing with fury.
"Evil demons and heretics, kill them without mercy! Kill them without mercy!"
Ji Zhan was very satisfied as he looked at the disciples. Then his gaze fell on Wang Cheng. "Wang Cheng, you will be in charge of this operation. I hope you will take them out and bring them back safely!"
"Chancellor, I will do everything in my power!"
Wang Cheng stepped forward. "Evil demons and heretics have thrown our lands into chaos. They must be slain!"
"All disciples, heed my command! Depart with me!"
Wang Cheng immediately rose into the air on his sword, and figures streaked away through the sky.
After they disappeared, Ji Zhan was the only one left. An elderly figure appeared eerily at his side, but Ji Zhan showed no surprise, as though he had expected it.
He bowed slightly to the old man, his eyes full of respect. "Elder Zhou!"
"Has everything been arranged?" The elderly figure fixed his gaze on Ji Zhan. His voice was calm, but it carried an invisible, overwhelming pressure.
"Elder Zhou, everything has been arranged, and the Heavenly Demon Sect is willing to cooperate. But there are many uncertainties this time. Will the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Blood Clan really cooperate with us?" Ji Zhan asked, his heart trembling.
"It doesn't matter. You only need to make the arrangements. The Heavenly Demon Sect will act. As for the rest, someone will take care of it. What a pity. Wang Cheng truly is a fine young fellow!" After the old man spoke, he vanished eerily once more, as though he had never appeared.
High above a hidden canyon, a black crow flashed past at tremendous speed. As if seeking its own death, it flew straight at the cliff.
But when the crow's body struck the cliff, no blood splattered. Instead, a ripple appeared on the rock face, and the crow's body vanished into it. The scene just now seemed like an illusion.
In fact, this was an illusion array. The Heavenly Demon Sect and the Blood Clan were hiding here.
The moment the crow flew inside, it turned into a figure shrouded from head to toe in black robes, and a Will Character, "Illusion," disappeared.
The crow had been a form the black-robed man created using the Illusion Will Character.
"Illusion Demon, what news have you brought?"
A figure with a terrifying presence appeared and fixed an icy gaze on Illusion Demon.
"Greetings, Sect Master." Illusion Demon hurriedly bowed and delivered the news he had brought. "Southern Heaven Academy is cooperating with us. They want us to help them kill someone. As long as we kill this person, the Heavenly Demon Sect need only change its name, and we may spread our teachings."
"Kill one person? They actually gave our Heavenly Demon Sect an opportunity just to kill one person. Who exactly is this person? I doubt he's so simple," the Heavenly Demon Sect Master said coldly.
"It's very strange. I don't know whether it's a plot. This person's status isn't particularly exalted. He's Wang Cheng, the grandson of the Great Zhou Emperor's teacher, a young man who has just turned eighteen. His talent is quite good, though!" Illusion Demon hurriedly explained.
"Interesting. This should have something to do with the imperial family, but for our Heavenly Demon Sect, this is a fine opportunity." A cold smile appeared on the Heavenly Demon Sect Master's lips.
"Sect Master, should we act immediately? Wang Cheng is already on his way here with 300 elite disciples!" The other elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect looked at their sect master.
"No rush. There's no hurry to kill him. Kill those elite disciples first. After all, if we let them return alive, they'll be formidable enemies of ours in the future. Once they're dead, we'll face far less pressure later. Besides, as long as we haven't killed Wang Cheng, those people will obediently cooperate!" When the Heavenly Demon Sect Master finished speaking, a bloodthirsty gleam appeared at the corners of every elder's mouth.
"Wise, Sect Master!"
The eyes of all the Heavenly Demon Sect's elders and disciples gleamed red at that moment.
"Go! But we're in no hurry. Take it slowly. We can also see what attitude those people take!" the Heavenly Demon Sect Master added.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The dark figures all vanished, leaving Illusion Demon alone.
"Illusion Demon, your identity is well concealed. Go back and continue watching the situation over there. If this is a trap, we can work out a way to deal with it." The Heavenly Demon Sect Master pondered for a moment before giving the order.
A week passed quickly, and the atmosphere at Southern Heaven Academy was oppressive. The elder of the Life Hall walked into the Hall of Righteousness with a grave expression. "Chancellor, we have lost seventeen disciples this week. Should we send help immediately?"
"This is a crisis, but also a chance to temper themselves. If we go to their aid, those disciples will gain nothing from it. They will only come to fear the people of the Heavenly Demon Sect. They were already mentally prepared for this when they left, and the losses are within our expectations. The surviving disciples will surely grow a great deal after they return. Go!"
After hearing the Life Hall elder's words, Ji Zhan frowned slightly and spoke with utter calm.
Only after the Life Hall elder had withdrawn from the Hall of Righteousness did Ji Zhan's face turn vicious. "Damn it! Damn that Heavenly Demon Sect!"
The elderly figure appeared once more in the Hall of Righteousness. "It doesn't matter. We anticipated this long ago. The Heavenly Demon Sect will certainly kill Wang Cheng, but they will also weaken our forces. Such an opportunity is hard to come by, after all, and the Heavenly Demon Sect naturally won't let it pass!"
"But...!"
Ji Zhan was about to speak when the elderly figure stopped him. "Just do your part well. Don't let anything go wrong. If that person appears, the Heavenly Demon Sect's people certainly won't fight to the death. At that point, it will be our affair. That person must die. That is the only result I want!"
After the icy voice fell silent, the elderly figure vanished without a trace once more.
Half a month passed. Of the 300 disciples, roughly a hundred had survived. The losses were enormous.
Inside the Heavenly Demon Sect's lair, the elders all looked at their sect master. "Sect Master, I'm afraid those people are close to their breaking point. If we continue killing the disciples, they may fly into a rage and act. Is it time to end Wang Cheng's life?"
Under their watchful gazes, a flash of red passed through the eyes of the Heavenly Demon Sect Master, who was shrouded in black robes. "Cooperate? I don't believe I ever agreed to that. Today, I want you to act and slaughter every last one of them. Leave no one alive!"
"When all those disciples are about to die, I believe those people will risk everything to save them. The academy will surely be left undefended, and that will be the best time to destroy Southern Heaven Academy. Southern Heaven Academy is our true target!" When the Heavenly Demon Sect Master finished speaking, the sect's elders and disciples were all fervent with excitement.
"Wise, Sect Master! The holy sect shall reign over the world!"
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(End of chapter)