208 Chapter 207: Assassination Attemp (1/2)
While I was busily communing with the Spirit Engraved Pillars and settling the business with Tian Yu Di, the ten invading sects were far from inactive.
I didn't even realize that it had already been noon, the sun shining brightly over the plaza and enveloping the place in searing heat. Don't blame me. I was busily placing my spirit consciousness in the Spirit World created by the nine Spirit Engraved Pillars to seal Tian Yu Di inside. For some reason, I had the feeling that they were sealing far more than Tian Yu Di.
After all, even though I had already freed Tian Yu Di, the Spirit World remained intact. The nine Spirit Engraved Pillars in the Spirit World continued to pulse and throb with vast amounts of qi, almost as if it was holding something back.
Unfortunately, I was too preoccupied with the current crisis in Nine-Tailed Fox Sect to investigate it. This was a few minutes ago, while I was still negotiating with Tian Yu Di. As I said, it had just turned noon, and the sun was at its zenith.
Despite the scorching rays of the sun shining down upon Tushan City and Nine-Tailed Fox Sect's main sect grounds, shadows began to approach from all directions.
Shi Jing Yun, the representative from Dark Fiend Valley Sect and overall commander of the combined forces of six out of the seven Valley Sects, along with Cloud Sky Mountain's Wu Tuo, Divine Shadow Sect's Liang Yang Zu and Dark Asura Sect's Yuan Tian Ya, had appeared.
”Master Yuan, did you succeed in eliminating Lang Xie?” Wu Tuo immediately asked the moment he caught sight of Yuan Tian Ya. He was evidently most concerned over the fate of the vice-commander of Blood Blades, not because of any concern for the latter's wellbeing, but because he was worried about the threat Lang Xie might pose to their invasion.
Shi Jing Yun was similarly concerned, and despite staying quiet, he gazed intensely at Yuan Tian Ya.
”Lang Xie escaped with severe injuries,” Yuan Tian Ya replied indifferently. He was being shadowed by his subordinate commanders. ”For the time being, he is no longer capable of fighting. I assure you, he currently will not be able to interfere with our next assault on Nine-Tailed Fox Sect.”
”Lang Xie will always be a threat as long as he is alive!” Liang Yang Zu interrupted furiously. Evidently he did not share Yuan Tian Ya's confidence and was clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles had turned pale. ”He is the most terrifying martial artist in Nine-Tailed Fox Sect. As long as he is alive, even if we eliminate Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, he will continue to haunt us in future. He will definitely return stronger than ever and seek revenge on us.”
”No,” Yuan Tian Ya disagreed confidently. ”Lang Xie can no longer threaten us. No matter how strong he is, even he can't fight against the masters above us.” He glanced at the heavens, his expression cool and calculated. ”This operation against Nine-Tailed Fox Sect was ordered by the people from above. If we really are unable to eliminate Lang Xie, then the higher-ups will naturally send their elites to deal with him.”
The moment everyone heard his assuring words, they relaxed. It was true. With the backing of the Martial Arts Alliance, Lang Xie wouldn't pose any threat to them.
”There is still the problem of the royal family, though,” Liang Yang Zu remarked, his expression still grave despite relaxing a fraction at Yuan Tian Ya's assurance. The Dark Asura Sect Leader nodded, equally serious.
”You're right. That's why the Martial Arts Alliance has ordered us to attack. We are to hold nothing back this time, and are to employ our full fighting strength to take Nine-Tailed Fox Sect.” Yuan Tian Ya sighed heavily. ”There has been movement in the royal family, and they may send the Imperial Guard anytime, regardless of whether the Diet reaches a decision. The Martial Arts Alliance wants to avoid that, and to finish this invasion before that happens.”
Wu Tuo nodded, his face darkening. ”Once the Imperial Guard mobilizes, then it's too late for us. Too late for the Martial Arts Alliance.”
”That's why we've to succeed in this assault.” Yuan Tian Ya gritted his teeth. ”It's do or die. If we fail, then we lose everything.”
”We won't let that happen,” Shi Jing Yun declared quietly. ”We'll definitely defeat Nine-Tailed Fox Sect.”
”If only things will be that easy.” Wu Tuo sighed heavily and wiped the perspiration from his face as he glanced at the heavily guarded entrance.
”What, losing your nerve, Wu Tuo?” Liang Yang Zu smirked. ”You're the last person I expect to get cold feet.”
”You're mistaken.” Wu Tuo scowled, and glanced at the survivors of his Cloud Sky Mountain. Despite their huge numbers, there was a significant number of them missing. They were obviously casualties sustained when they tried assaulting the Nine-Tailed Fox Sect before. ”I was just wondering if all this is worth it. Whether it's worth losing so many of my subordinates to take this sect.”
”Of course it is!” Yuan Tian Ya hissed. ”The Martial Arts Alliance promised us first priority if we succeed in taking them! We get to claim whoever and whatever we want! The other sects who didn't participate will only get the leftovers!”
”We all made our resolve when we decided to do this,” Shi Jing Yun said, his tone low yet audible. ”There is no turning back.”
”I'm not suggesting that we turn back.” Wu Tuo grimaced and turned back toward the entrance, his shoulders sagging. ”I'm not having second thoughts. I'm just…questioning if all this bloodshed and sacrifices are really necessary.”
”It is,” Liang Yang Zu replied coldly. ”It most definitely is.”
Easy for him to say, since it would the bulk of his subordinates doing the dying and not him. The hypocritical bastards.
*
While the forces of the ten sects gathered outside Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, we were far from idle. The Blood Blades were rushing to their positions, getting ready to conjure their battle-automata and prepare for the latest wave.
The sentries had reported heavy movement among the enemy, and Sect Lady Zi Da Ji concluded that the Martial Arts Alliance had grown impatient, and were preparing for one final assault. They were ready to throw the entirety of their forces to break through our defenses.
One of the Blood Blades members jogged toward the plaza, catching sight of the glowing Spirit Engraved Pillars and my stationary figure at the foot of one of them. He was escorting two ladies, who were struggling to catch up with him.
”Fei Wu? What is he doing at a time like this?” Tang Qi Hong grumbled when she spotted me. ”Doesn't he realize that our sect is in terrible crisis at the moment?”
”Isn't that exactly why he's doing his best to help us solve this crisis?” Tong Xue countered calmly.
”How?” Lian Rou asked, genuinely baffled. She cast a sharp glance at the jogging Tong Xue, who was several paces ahead of her. ”Do you know something we don't?”
Tong Xue turned his head slightly to grin back at her. ”I know a lot of things that you don't.”
Lian Rou sent a qi blast at him, but Tong Xue easily dodged her strike. She muttered an oath. ”Stop playing around and tell us!”
”Shouldn't you already know?” Tong Xue raised an eyebrow as he corrected his trajectory. ”Fei Wu is hoping to find some Spirit Formations or new martial arts that would help us. hmm, I guess it's too late to unearth new martial arts now, as we won't be able to learn them in time for the final battle, but Spirit Formations are another thing altogether.”
Unfortunately, Tong Xue was completely wrong, but I couldn't blame him. I didn't tell him the truth behind my attempt to commune with the Spirit Engraved Pillars. I didn't tell anybody. Not because I didn't trust them, but because they would be horrified if they knew.
I was essentially making a pact with a demon, after all. Truthfully, it almost cost me my life, but everything worked out in the end, so I guess that was worth it.
At that time, though, I was far from completing my end of the deal with Tian Yu Di, so neither my friends nor I knew that. Yet.
”There are a lot more enemies than before,” Tang Qi Hong remarked as she cast a worried glance at the outside of the sect. Even though the bullk of the milling Blood Blades blocked her view, she could see the encroaching forces of the ten invading sects. Worry spiked in her heart, and she picked up her pace. ”Will we really be all right?”
”Lord Lang Xie, Lady Hai Rong and Sect Lady Zi Da Ji will definitely be able to protect Nine-Tailed Fox Sect!” Lian Rou assured her fiercely. ”Trust in them! They will lead Blood Blades to victory against these despicable bastards!”
”Lord Lang Xie is missing, and Instructor Hai Rong is injured,” Tong Xue reminded her bluntly. But Lian Rou remained stubborn.
”Even Lady Da Ji alone will be able to handle all of them by herself!” she insisted.
”I hope you are right.” Tang Qi Hong's worried eyes were riveted on the inexorable, approaching enemy forces. ”Or Nine-Tailed Fox Sect is doomed.”
*
”Sister Su, you've finally arrived. Everyone is waiting for you.” Wu Tuo smiled brilliantly when he spotted a lady leading a delegation of Snow Valley Sect toward them.
Su Bai Xue nodded arrogantly as she approached them. While Shi Jing Yun commanded the other six of the Seven Valley Sects, she commanded Snow Valley Sect. Snow Valley Sect, after all, was one of the eight major sects of the Martial Arts Alliance, and this possessed a prestige and status above the other six Valley Sects.
That was why they operated differently and independently of Shi Jing Yun and the other six Valley Sects.
It was also the reason why none of the other nine invading sects complained when she arrived late. With her higher status, she had the right to come anytime she wanted. While technically the various sect leaders or commanders were in charge of their respective sects, officially Su Bai Xue was the overall commander of the invading forces.
”Fatty Wu, aren't you guys a little too early?”
Su Bai Xue's lips curled into a mocking smile. Wu Tuo merely laughed politely.
”It's impolite to keep a lady waiting.”
”You certainly know your manners.” Su Bai Xue nodded in approval. She then glanced around and frowned, her brow crinkling her snow-white skin. ”Where is Di Shi Jiu?”
”He's still pursuing Lang Xie,” Liang Yang Zu replied darkly. ”He won't rest until he confirms Lang Xie's death.”
”I see.” Su Bai Xue turned her frosty gaze on him. ”What about Blood Shadow?”
Liang Yang Zu didn't flinch, meeting her pale blue eyes with his own dark, shadowy orbs. ”Blood Shadow should be with Di Shi Jiu at the moment.”
Su Bai Xue tilted her head, her expression unreadable. Anyone close to her would know that she was concealing her impatience very well. ”Do we need to wait for them?”
”No.” Liang Yang Zu snorted icily. ”Don't worry about them. I'll lead Divine Shadow Sect by myself.”
”All right.” Su Bai Xue's shoulders relaxed a millimeter. ”Then let's begin.”
”I'll take point.” Cloud Sky Mountain's Wu Tuo cheerfully stepped to the front, his bloodlust increasing tremendously. He held up a hand, and a thick phalanx of Cloud Sky Mountain Sect members gathered around him. ”Iron Hammer Formation!”
The entire group of them linked up, placing their hands on the backs of the martial artist in front of them. In a few minutes, they gathered into a wedge-like formation and coalesced their qi, solidifying it into a shimmering but steely grey aura that shrouded them like armor.
Marching forward in disciplined ranks, the Cloud Sky Mountain Sect's Iron Hammer Formation charged inexorably like a battering ram, getting ready to smash the gates.
They were met with a storm of heavy firepower. The Blood Blades atop the fortress walls protecting the main sect grounds of Nine-Tailed Fox Sect poured down a withering hail of Mauler bolts and plasma. Initially, the fierce bombardment ricocheted off the Iron Hammer Formation, the dense, steely aura protecting the Cloud Sky Mountain martial artists and rendering them impervious to the projectiles.
The martial artists from the other nine sects unfortunate enough to be near the Cloud Sky Mountain Sect members were struck and killed by the ricochets, or maimed grievously, screaming in pain as they collapsed. Despite the collateral damage to their allies, Cloud Sky Mountain Sect did not falter. If anything, their pace increased.
”Don't let them in!” the Blood Blades Sergeant in charge of the wall shouted. He was Jing Wei, the guard in charge of security, but today his skills would be sorely tested like never before. He shouted orders into his comn-bead, directing all fire into the unstoppable human battering ram formed by the Cloud Sky Mountain Sect members.
Responding to his instructions, the Castellax battle-automata controlled by the Blood Blades present all turned their primary weapons on them, unleashing a hurricane of bolts or a barrage of superheated plasma. The Iron Hammer Formation began to crack gradually, the formerly impenetrable defensive qi that protected them shattering. Dozens of Cloud Sky Mountain Sect disciples went down, cut apart by Mauler bolt rounds that detonated in their bodies, spraying their comrades with blood and viscera. More were disintegrated outright, the volatile plasma consuming their bodies and incinerating them into ash.
Even so, Wu Tuo and his surviving subordinates refused to stop. Charging at the head of the formation, Wu Tuo withstood a punishing barrage of blows from a devastating hail of bolts and plasma, blood streaming down his face. The subordinate behind him vanished, engulfed in plasma, and charred burns appeared on Wu Tuo's back. Without so much as a grimace and ignoring the fiery agony that lanced through his body, the chubby martial artist roared and dove headfirst at the gates. The Castellax battle-automata tried desperately to track him, but he vanished from their sights, and they had to content themselves with scything down huge numbers of stumbling and staggering Cloud Sky Mountain Sect members.
But for every one they killed, two more appeared to take his place, bellowing bestially as they surged forward at the expense of their comrades, refusing to let their sacrifices be in vain.
And then Wu Tuo reached the gate. With an inhuman snarl, he shouldered the thick metal and ceramite plating, cannonballing into the double doors like a battering ram. His first charge didn't have an effect other than leaving a small dent, but Wu Tuo tried again, smashing his fist against it. The dent deepened, but not too significantly.