A storm was coming
A few teachers from the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineering Academy and disciples from the Illustrious Virtue Hall also rushed over, eyeing Fire Phoenix and the others with predatory intent.
"Heh, the head of the Illustrious Virtue Hall betrayed the country. His Majesty ordered the arrest and execution of his entire clan. Do you all intend to oppose the Empire?" The captain sneered, took out a crimson token, and coldly scrutinized the group.
"..."
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent instantly.
Rumors of Jing Hongchen's treason had been circulating for some time, causing Meng Hongchen's reputation to plummet. Now, with official confirmation, many disciples of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy, who already despised Jing Hongchen's treason, were unlikely to stand up to help him and scattered like birds and beasts.
Only Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan remained standing in front of him.
"If you still refuse to hand over the person, then don't force us to take action..." The captain sneered and stepped forward.
A dozen or so red figures surrounded them.
Their escape route was blocked.
"Old Ji."
At this tense moment, Lu Cheng spoke softly, calmly observing the Fire Phoenix captain opposite him.
"Get out of the way..."
"Hehe, you're smart enough to know what's Xiao Bai." The leading woman smiled.
Ji Juechen glanced at Lu Cheng with some surprise, but slowly sheathed his black sword and stood solemnly to the side.
A red-armored female guard swaggered forward, gave the latter a provocative look, and escorted Meng Hongchen away. Ji Juechen frowned slightly, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, turning slightly white.
He genuinely considered Lu Cheng and Meng Hongchen as friends.
So after those guys left, he looked at Lu Cheng with some confusion. "Why did you let them take Meng Hongchen away? We could have fought our way out."
"And then? Where to go?"
Lu Cheng's gaze remained fixed on the direction in which the figures had departed, and he asked calmly.
"The entire Mingdu is a united front. Hall Master Jing is imprisoned, and even his former relatives and friends dare not come to his rescue. What makes you think that after rescuing him, you can leave Mingdu alive?"
"So you're not going to save him?" Ji Juechen was even more puzzled.
If they didn't know Lu Cheng's identity, it would be understandable, but the problem is... this guy in front of them is the one who turned the entire competition upside down a few years ago, not to mention the Body Sect attack on the Illustrious Virtue Hall, which was orchestrated by this guy...
"Save them, and save them in a grand and public way."
Lu Cheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
"How could I possibly let that old man get what he wants..."
On the other side.
In a forest outside Mingdu.
Numerous figures in black robes were scattered on an ancient tree. Unlike last time, this time the Body Sect had almost emptied its coffers. There were six upper elders, six lower elders, the sect leader Du Busi, and law enforcement elders, totaling thirty-four people, including twenty-three titled experts and eleven Soul Douluo peak combat power.
Among them are two Limit Douluo.
That's right. After returning, with the help of Du Busi, the Grand Elder also successfully advanced and broke through to the Limit Douluo. Super Douluo who can reach Level 97 are not particularly weak, let alone those with Body Martial Soul. After obtaining the Immortal Herb, he practically swept through everything without encountering any hurdles...
These dozens of people, gathered together, were enough to annihilate most of the kingdoms' nobles across the entire continent; it was truly terrifying.
But by sheer coincidence, they ended up being brought together by the Body Sect.
"Xiao Cheng, so shall we just rush straight in through the city gate tomorrow? We haven't been to the old emperor's palace of the Sun Moon Empire yet," a white-haired elder said with a grin.
"No, that would be too ostentatious, and it wouldn't leave a lasting impression on the Sun Moon Empire." Lu Cheng smiled.
He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a blue robe.
Despite his youth, he showed no nervousness in front of many veterans, instead acting as if he were a leader among them.
He waved.
To everyone's astonishment, a pitch-black door appeared out of nowhere.
"This is another world, filled with the dead. Elders, just wait here for the night and await the calamity tomorrow," Lu Cheng said with a smile.
"..."
As the pitch-black gate slowly opened, many powerful members of the Body Sect felt the chilling aura of the dead within, their eyes twitching. They looked at the handsome and gentle young man again. If they didn't know that this kid was their sect's young sect leader, their first reaction would probably be that he was some kind of Evil Soul Master.
After all, with that dense aura of the undead, no one would argue that he's Evil Soul Master.
After Lu Cheng patiently explained, the crowd reluctantly began to believe him.
They all stepped into it.
Lu Cheng remained calm, his gaze fixed on Mingdu.
A mocking smile curled at his lips.
"Trial? Execution of nine generations of your family? Heh... I'm here to cause trouble for you, you old bastard. The Simulation Device forced me to join the Holy Spirit Cult; it's time to settle this score."
The next day.
Sunlight streamed down on Mingdu.
The square was packed with people.
At the very center, dozens of figures, their hands and feet bound by shackles, were being herded to the playground with faltering steps. At the very front was Jing Hongchen, whose once jet-black hair had turned completely white, and whose eyes held a trace of vicissitude and despair. Who could have imagined that a single incident of the Illustrious Virtue Hall invasion would drag him and his entire family into hell?
Meanwhile, the Illustrious Virtue Hall researchers he saved were cursing him behind his back, looking like they wanted to fight to the death but were forced to back down.
The world is a cold and indifferent place.
Not long ago, he was the revered Illustrious Virtue Hall, but now he has fallen into the mire and is despised by everyone.
He glanced reluctantly at his granddaughter, whose head was still hanging low, and sighed softly, "My dear, I'm sorry."
"No, it's me who's sorry to Grandpa..." Meng Hongchen raised her head, her big eyes brimming with tears.
"Grandpa, if the Body Sect really comes to save you, would you be willing to leave?" Meng Hongchen asked blankly.
"Hehe..." Jing Hongchen shook his head with a wry smile.
Those old geezers have always been lawless and impulsive; they had no motive to save themselves...
"If they really come to rescue you, are you willing to leave?" Meng Hongchen bit her red lips and stared intently at Jing Hongchen as she asked.
"..."
The smile on Jing Hongchen's face slowly froze and stiffened.
Looking at his granddaughter's slightly apologetic eyes, he suddenly understood something...
It's the area under the lamp that's dark!
That makes sense. The map of the Illustrious Virtue Hall is only in his office, and the only people he can directly access, besides himself, are his most beloved granddaughter. He has never doubted her, until now...
Jing Hongchen's eyelids twitched wildly, but he wasn't angry. After all, he had been in prison for the past few days and had learned that he was going to be executed along with his entire family, becoming a weapon for that old beast to consolidate his military power. His loyalty to the Sun Moon Imperial Family had long since dropped to zero.
"A Meng, what you said... is it true?!"
Meng Hongchen nodded.
Before Jing Hongchen could ask any more questions, they had already arrived at the execution ground.
Cold nooses hung in mid-air, surrounded by the guards of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Tool Legion, who were driving them away, their faces expressionless and their voices icy.
"You won't even leave me the last shred of dignity?" Jing Hongchen glanced at the figure on the high platform, and the last trace of hesitation in her heart was completely severed.
"Good!"