Evacuation

"What do we do now?" Xiao Tianqi asked, turning his gaze to Wu Qingfeng.

Everyone turned to look at Wu Qingfeng.

He previously said he had a backup plan, but now that Zhao Changgeng is dead, if Hu Xiaofeng is still alive, the entire plan has collapsed.

"Don't worry, everyone."

Wu Qingfeng's expression remained largely unchanged. He slowly spoke.

"Hu Xiaofeng can't return to the pass. Besides Junior Nephew Zhao, I've also arranged for others to intercept and kill him there. Please wait patiently for news."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions softened slightly.

Only Song Xuanji remained silent, her face grim.

Zhao Changgeng was someone he brought out from headquarters, and he was the first among the younger generation of the Headquarters Demon-Slaying Bureau to break through to the Great Grandmaster.

Although her talent cannot compare to Lu Shuang's, she is still among the best in the entire Demon-Slaying Bureau.

If he doesn't perish, breaking through to the Celestial Person Realm in the future is almost a certainty.

Now that the person has died far away, he has no way to explain it when he goes back.

Not long after, the token at Wu Qingfeng's waist vibrated again.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Wu Qingfeng took the token, his expression suddenly relaxed, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"Well? Brother Wu, tell us quickly!" the crowd urged.

"Hu Xiaofeng is dead. Moreover, Hu Xiaotian has already left Yangshang Town. He led a whole group of Fifth-Tier Demon Lord lords out, leaving only two fifth-tier Blood-Pupiled Ape to guard their lair."

Wu Qingfeng put away the token, his tone filled with barely suppressed joy.

Smiles finally appeared on everyone's faces.

Hu Xiaofeng is dead, and Hu Xiaotian has also been transferred away from Yangshang Town.

They've been planning this for so long, waiting for this moment.

"Judging from the timeline, it's highly likely that Junior Nephew Zhao perished together with Hu Xiaofeng."

"In that case, I hereby declare Zhao Changgeng to be ranked first in the Grandmaster competition. Does anyone have any objections?"

Wu Qingfeng looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice.

"Of course not." Lu Qingshan was the first to agree.

Even if Zhao Changgeng were still alive, let alone dead, based on this achievement, no one would dare to object to him being ranked first.

The others nodded in agreement.

Song Xuanji's expression remained unpleasant, but he ultimately said nothing.

"We must proceed to Yangshang Town immediately. While Hu Xiaotian is away, we will seize this strategically vital location!"

After Wu Qingfeng finished speaking, he took out his token and sent a message to someone.

Xiao Tianqi and the others also took out their tokens and sent messages.

A moment later, the group leaped into the air and sped off towards Yangshang Town.

On the other side, at Fallen Star Plain.

After several days of continuous defense, everyone had become accustomed to the rhythm of large-scale monster attacks.

In the subsequent attempts, there were basically no casualties; instead, these monsters were used as easy targets for racking up points.

The eight Grandmaster, were divided into four groups, taking turns attacking and defending, and their teamwork became increasingly skillful.

Su Ying and Shen Qingwu remained guarding the same deep pit.

The two initially competed with each other, but later developed a perfect teamwork. Although they still occasionally bickered, neither of them held the other back when it came to a real fight.

"Huh?"

Shen Qingwu suddenly glanced down at the points token at his waist, and frowned.

How did I suddenly become number three?

She looked again carefully, making sure she wasn't mistaken. Then she turned to look at Su Ying:

"Su Ying, let me see your points token."

Su Ying took out her token. 14,700 points. Ranked second.

Shen Qingwu glanced down at his token: 14,300 points, ranking third.

How is that possible?

"On this Fallen Star Plain, besides you, there can't possibly be anyone taller than me. How are the points calculated?"

Su Ying did not answer immediately. Her gaze also fell on the token, as if she were deep in thought.

"Don't forget, the Grandmaster competition isn't limited to Fallen Star Plain."

"You mean... Zhao Changgeng?" Shen Qingwu was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant.

Su Ying nodded.

From the very beginning of the competition, he was everyone's unanimous choice to be the number one Grandmaster.

If he kills enough high-level monsters, his score will easily surpass theirs.

Shen Qingwu remained silent for a moment, then put the token back at his waist and let out a long sigh.

"Sigh. For so many days, you and I have been fiercely competing for first place here, and in the end, it's all just a joke."

Her tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, but not much resentment.

Zhao Changgeng is Great Grandmaster, and she was well aware of this gap.

Just then, the two of them felt the tokens at their waists vibrate almost simultaneously.

Su Ying and Shen Qingwu exchanged a glance and each took out their tokens.

After just one glance, both of their expressions changed slightly.

Su Ying raised her head first, her tone carrying a hint of confirmation:

"Uncle Xiao told me to evacuate Fallen Star Plain and take a detour to hide near Yangshang Town. Things should be similar on your end, right?"

This time, Shen Qingwu did not refute or argue as usual.

She looked down at the words on the token, her brows furrowing slightly, and remained silent for a few moments before speaking.

"Zhao Changgeng had just been ranked first when he immediately ordered us to evacuate. He even specified that we should go to Yangshang Town."

"Yangshang Town has been occupied by demonic beasts. This order doesn't seem like a simple retreat."

She suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to look at Su Ying.

Su Ying didn't speak, but simply nodded at her.

Both of them were intelligent people; the meaning was clear from the given words.

"Let's go find Han Baizhan."

The two got up and quickly found Han Baizhan.

On the high ground where Han Baizhan was located, several disciples of the West City Demon-Slaying Bureau were packing their belongings.

Han Baizhan himself stood at the edge of the platform, holding a communication token in his hand, his expression calm.

"Han Si Zheng, we have received orders to evacuate Fallen Star Plain," Su Ying said first.

"I understand. Not just you. All disciples who came from the outer city to provide support, withdraw completely. Detour around to the vicinity of Yangshang Town and await further orders."

Su Ying and Shen Qingwu exchanged a glance.

Even Han Baizhan received the same order, and the wording was the same: to stand by near Yangshang Town.

This indicates that this is no longer just a task for the two of them; it represents a shift in the entire battle situation.

Without asking any further questions, the two turned and left the high ground, each leading their own squad, and quietly withdrew from behind Fallen Star Plain.

On the other side, at the city gate.

As soon as Lu Feng led Ji Qingqing and the others through the city gate, the token at his waist began to vibrate.

He took it down and saw it was a message from Xiao Tianqi.

The message was brief, instructing him not to linger in the city and to quickly circle around to the vicinity of Yangshang Town to hide and await orders.

Yangshang Town!

Lu Feng murmured the name to himself.

Then, a map of Yongzhou slowly unfolded in his mind.

Yangshang Town is located at a strategic point between two mountain ranges, a crucial passage for demonic beasts entering Yongzhou.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"I see."

I see.

From the very beginning, the focus wasn't just on defense.

They were determined to drive the demonic beasts out of Yongzhou completely.

Severed Cloud Pass is defended or lost, it's all just a piece on the chessboard.

The real killer move is in Yangshang Town.

Once Yangshang Town is captured, the passage for demonic beasts to enter Yongzhou from outside the pass will be cut off, and the demonic beasts within Yongzhou will become like water without a source.

Every one killed is one less; sooner or later, they'll all be wiped out.