1092 Solo Battle in the Strongholds of the Xuntian and Zhantian Halls (2)
“The trial disciple, Han Muye, associated with the Wanshen Trading Company and the town guard, Zhang Zhenbiao of Sanhuo City, are suspected of being involved with the Gale Bandits. Immediately interrupt the trial and detain him in the Sword Tower.”
Commands were issued one after another, and a golden Sword Tower gleamed.
The eight-story Sword Tower was the strongest force in the provincial guard, the symbol of the Sword Sect’s identity.
A golden chain locked Wang Minghe in place, and then Xiong Ke delivered a punch, smashing into Wang Minghe’s chest.
“To prevent Wang Minghe from resisting, it’s better to suppress his cultivation first.”
As the words fell, the golden fist shadow had already collided with Wang Minghe’s chest.
Wang Minghe’s figure trembled and suddenly shattered into pieces.
Everyone in the hall had a look of panic.
Chen Qiu stood there, his face showing a complex expression.
“Junior Brother Wang Minghe knew he couldn’t escape his guilt, so he already disarmed himself, leaving only an avatar. Originally, he intended to reveal various matters, but unexpectedly, Elder Xiong, you… sigh…”
Wang Minghe chose to disarm himself, and his avatar knew everything. Now that the avatar had been shattered, it meant that their group of five elders would be unable to obtain any information regarding matters concerning Yuze Province.
Wang Minghe shouldered everything by disarming himself!
In the grand hall, Wu Chaochen, Su Yunong, and others had extremely dark expressions, while a trace of astonishment flashed across Xiong Ke’s face, followed by furious glares at Chen Qiu.
Chen Qiu must have known all of this, but deliberately kept silent, waiting for him to make a move and shatter Wang Minghe’s avatar before taking action!
As a result, not only could they not obtain any information they needed about Yuze Province, but Xiong Ke would also have to bear the blame for it.
“Terminate the trial!” Wu Chaochen shouted, and Xiong Ke’s expression changed. He took a step forward, his body radiating golden light as he collided with the trial hall’s formation.
“Buzz!”
The formation reversed, and figures appeared one after another.
The disciples who entered the trial with Han Muye stood there with bewildered expressions.
Some still wielded their long swords, while others looked around with lingering fear, their faces filled with vigilance.
They had no idea why their trial had been interrupted.
Wu Chaoshen’s gaze swept over, and his expression became even darker.
He turned his head to look at Chen Qiu, who remained indifferent, and gritted his teeth. “Elder Chen, what is going on?”
Chen Qiu’s expression did not change as he said calmly, “Elder Wu, what are you talking about?”
“Where’s Han Muye?” Wu Chaoshen stared intently into Chen Qiu’s eyes, his body condensing with battle intent.
Su Yunong, Xiong Ke, and Yu Ze, who were following behind, all looked at the intermediate disciples who had returned.
As expected, there was no sign of Han Muye.
At that moment, the trial disciples also realized that Han Muye was missing.
“Elder Wu, are you questioning me?” Chen Qiu’s body also emitted a gathering sword aura as he stared unwaveringly at Wu Chaoshen.
“Perhaps Han Muye died in the trial grounds, and yet you come to question me as if you have the right.”
He snorted and turned to look at the trial disciples.
“We are at fault for interrupting your trials.
“As compensation, I, as an elder, grant all of you the status of official inner sect disciples.”
His words brought joy to the faces of the trial disciples.
Most of them had not even reached the 10th level of the trial grounds yet, but now they were immediately recognized as inner disciples, saving them a great deal of effort.
Among the hundred people, not everyone had the confidence to enter the 10th level and become inner sect disciples.
Xiong Ke was about to speak when Su Yunong raised his hand to stop him.
“However, your trial hasn’t been completed yet. I’ll send you to the Yunteng Wasteland, which borders the Bitter Immortal Realm, with Zhang Zhenbiao, the former guardian of Sanhuo. You won’t be able to return for a hundred years.”
Chen Qiu turned to look at Su Yunong and the others, lightly laughing. “Everyone, the Sword Sect is currently in conflict with the Bitter Immortal Realm. It is a time of need. Let Zhang Zhenbiao make amends and let them continue their trials. Isn’t this a good solution?”
Was it good or not?
Wu Chaoshen, Su Yunong, Xiong Ke, and Yu Ze looked at each other.
Chen Qiu was one of the five temporary members of the Elder Council, and Yu Ze was stationed with him in the Zhenxuan Hall.
“Elder Chen’s words are absolutely correct,” Yu Ze spoke up first.
Su Yunong hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Indeed, he is a useful person. This arrangement is also appropriate.”
He had no grudges with the Zhenhuang Hall or the Zhenxuan Hall, or with Wang Minghe.
Since there was no longer any leverage over Wang Minghe, It was better to go with the flow.
Furthermore, they would soon form the Elder Council governing Yuze Province. By showing Chen Qiu his favor now, their future collaboration would be smoother.
In the past, being in charge of a province was nothing remarkable, and even Immortal Realm powerhouses were not interested.
But now, it was a chaotic time, with conflicts against powerful demons from the Bitter Immortal Realm and the struggle for control over the Ascension Platform with other sects. Those who governed a region would have many opportunities.
Of the five temporary members of the Elder Council, three agreed, while Xiong Ke and Wu Chaoshen, though displeased, did not speak up again.
That settled the matter.
Chen Qiu laughed, shook his head, and walked out of the trial hall.
The trial disciples hurriedly left as well.
“Everyone, the affairs of the sect are of utmost importance. Let us work together to guard Yuze Province,” Su Yunong said, looking at Yu Ze and Elder Wu, among others.
“That goes without saying,” Wu Chaoshen nodded, then turned and walked out of the trial hall with Xiong Ke.
“Find out where Han Muye is and also the whereabouts of Zhang Zhenbiao,” Wu Chaoshen stood on the stone steps and spoke in a deep voice.
The two sword cultivators in green robes, standing below on the stone steps, nodded and swiftly departed.
“Junior Brother Xiong, go and see if Zuo Baichou from the Wanshen Trading Company is still around. I will pay a visit to the Lingzhao Hall and meet Uncle-Master Fu Yu,” Wu Chaochen said, heading towards the direction of the transmission array.
After Wu Chaoshen finished speaking, he headed towards the teleportation array.
Xiong Ke nodded and turned around to look for the Wanshen Trading Company’s base in the city.
Unfortunately, when he arrived, Zuo Baichou was no longer there, and he didn’t know where he had gone.
In Yunlu City, everything was in disarray. The disciples who were originally under the jurisdiction of Wang Minghe either secluded themselves or did not return from their missions. Xiong Ke and the others had no leads to follow in order to understand the situation.
After three days, when Wu Chaoshen returned in frustration from being denied entry to the Lingzhao Hall, Xiong Ke had still made no progress.
It wasn’t until half a month later when Chen Qiu took action, wielding the token left by Wang Minghe, that the information began to converge through various channels.
During that half month, many things had happened.
Most of the disciples stationed throughout Yuze Province took advantage of this time to settle their affairs. Eighty percent of them remained in their positions and were not replaced.
The elites arranged by the various halls could not effectively control their respective territories and were reduced to being mere operatives for completing tasks.
In half a month, the Wanshen Trading Company had already shed their own responsibilities and sent a high-grade spiritual treasure as a gesture of understanding.
It was said that Zuo Baichou had been assigned by the firm to a location near the Bitter Immortal Realm, balancing his merits and faults, starting anew.
As for the elite trial participant Han Muye, whom everyone was concerned about, his whereabouts and arrangements were known only to the late Wang Minghe.
Unfortunately, Wang Minghe’s avatar had been shattered by Xiong Ke.
The fate of Han Muye had become a secret.
In reality, it wasn’t much of a secret.
After all, Wang Minghe had made arrangements during the last hour, quietly allowing Han Muye to leave Yunlu City. With a bit of effort, everything could have been traced back.
However, in the end, Han Muye’s traces disappeared from the Yunteng Wasteland.
Zhang Zhenbiao, Zuo Baichou, and even Zhao Chen from the Jujin Trading Company, seemed to have gone to the Yunteng Wasteland.
Although the Yunteng Wasteland was under the jurisdiction of Yuze Province, it was an area bordering the Bitter Immortal Realm, beyond the reach of the power of the Mystic Spirit Sword Sect.
Here, it was a semi-autonomous state.
Now that the Bitter Immortal Realm was in chaos, the Yunteng Wasteland was naturally in chaos as well.
This was what Han Muye saw when he arrived at the Yunteng Wasteland.
However, upon setting foot in the wilderness, he temporarily had no time to appreciate the scenery or deal with the chaos in the wilderness.
Standing in front of him were two sword cultivators who demanded his serious attention.
“Xuntian Hall, Zhu Yong.”
“Zhantian Hall, Gong Shu.”
The two sword cultivators cupped their hands and spoke at the same time.
Behind Han Muye, Zhang Zhenbiao and the others all looked at the two legendary experts from the Xuntian and Zhantian Halls in surprise.
“How many levels have you passed after the Trial of the Three Towers?” Gong Shu stared at Han Muye, his fighting spirit surging.
Zhu Yong also looked at him with rapt attention.
Han Muye shook his head.
“You didn’t pass?” As soon as Gong Shu finished speaking, his body trembled and he quickly retreated.
Han Muye’s figure flickered, his sword radiance resembling two long dragons that could cleave the heavens and the earth.
“It’s boring to ask too many questions. Let’s find out by trying,” Han Muye said lightly as the two sword shadows simultaneously slashed towards Zhu Yong and Gong Shu.
Single-handedly, he fought against the two powerhouses of the Xuntian Hall and the Zhantian Hall!