Chapter 1502 The Pressure Brought by the Nine Tribulations

Half a moment later.

Xiao Zhengyan and Chen Jianlong stood trembling at the edge of a massive crater, cold air seeping from their bodies. Chills ran down their spines as they stared at the gaping hole before them, littered with corpses on the snowy ground. Bloodstains bloomed like plum blossoms, rendering them speechless with shock.

The entire Shi clan’s forces had been annihilated!

Such an outcome had been unimaginable before their departure. What had been a near-guaranteed victory, a virtually foolproof strategic plan, had ended in a devastating defeat.

“How could this have happened?” Xiao Zhengyan asked unconsciously, his body icy cold.

“Yeah, how could this be?” Chen Jianlong’s expression was no better than Xiao Zhengyan’s, his face pale.

The dead were not ordinary experts but at least forty Supreme Masters and numerous ninth-rank Saints. Their deaths would deal an unprecedented blow to the Shi clan and significantly impact the alliance of the eight major families.

“Could it be…” Xiao Zhengyan suddenly looked up at the Pear Blossom Slope, where the Li clan’s base loomed, and people appeared to be observing them.

Xiao Zhengyan mustered his strength and shouted, “I am Xiao Zhengyan of the Xiao clan! Who from the Li clan is here?”

His voice thundered, rolling forward like a wave. As the sound dispersed, heaps of accumulated snow rumbled and tumbled ahead, a terrifying spectacle.

An immediate response came from the opposite side: “I am Li Jinglei! Brother Xiao, you are here as well! What a pleasant surprise!”

Upon hearing the name ‘Li Jinglei,’ Xiao Zhengyan and Chen Jianlong’s expressions changed. Li Jinglei’s position in the Li clan was similar to their own in their respective families. His presence indicated that the Li clan had deployed a large force.

However, how had the enemy managed to seize the opportunity so perfectly?

Above them.

“Damn it! He’s the worst!” Chu Yang was speechless. “If he had kept quiet, Xiao Zhengyan and his companion might have tested an attack. At that moment, the Li clan’s ambush would have struck, and we could have joined in, ensuring at least half of their forces remained. It would have been a brilliant victory! But instead, he blurted out his name… What kind of idiot does that!?”

“And now that he’s revealed himself, when Xiao Zhengyan reports back to Diwu Qingrou, Diwu will immediately know that Tianji and I have arrived here… It will be even more difficult to catch Diwu Qingrou off guard in the future!”

Chu Yang was fuming, “This fool deserves to die! We could have taken advantage of Diwu Qingrou’s hesitation and doubt at least once more, but now we’re left with a direct confrontation.”

Dong Wushang’s tiger-like eyes emitted a sharp, cold glint as he spoke slowly, “However, there is a way to keep this information from spreading.”

“What is it?” Mo Qingwu asked.

“There are not many people below, just over a hundred and forty,” Dong Wushang’s eyes emitted a blade-like chill. “Kill them all, and the problem is solved!”

“No!” Chu Yang shook his head firmly. “There are too many enemies; we can’t swallow them in one bite. Besides, it would cost the Li clan nearly the same amount of strength to consume them. The allied forces can afford such losses, but the Li clan cannot!”

As they spoke, the people below dispersed at the signal from Chen Jianlong and Xiao Zhengyan. Their formation stretched out in preparation for a retreat. The front, middle, and rear forces were clearly divided, ensuring that at least one-third of the soldiers could escape in case of a devastating attack.

Xiao Zhengyan chuckled, “Brother Li, the Li clan’s strength is indeed impressive. I admire that. I just want to ask, who is the great talent that saw through our plan? Or… is there a traitor?”

Li Jinglei laughed heartily, “There is absolutely no traitor!”

Xiao Zhengyan fell silent for a moment, then said lightly, “In that case, farewell!” Suddenly, he let out a whistle, leaped up, and vanished like a whirlwind.

“Retreat!” Chen Jianlong shouted, and the group of over a hundred people rolled away. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the dense snowstorm.

Unprepared for the enemy’s swift departure, Li Jinglei hesitated before saying, “Withdraw! Return and report!” His party immediately retreated, then braved the snowstorm to return.

From their hiding place, two groups of Li clan soldiers emerged from the snow and joined the retreating forces.

“So they’re leaving just like that…” Chu Yang sighed from his perch in the tree. “I really want to slaughter him… He just told Diwu Qingrou that there’s a military advisor here with a single sentence…”

Dong Wushang was taken aback, “When did he tell them?”

Mo Leier couldn’t help but laugh, “Idiot!”

“We should go too,” Chu Yang sighed. “Du Xing’s group has come up empty-handed. Given Gu Duxing’s intelligence, they must be lying in ambush at Centipede Ridge by now… Let’s leave the four of them there and find a cave to sleep in.”

Everyone laughed and leaped into action.

In the allied forces’ camp.

The return of Xiao Zhengyan and Chen Jianlong surprised everyone. Both teams were unharmed, but the problem was that three teams had departed, and only two had returned. Where was the other team?

Where had they gone?

“Zhengyan! Where are the people from the Shi clan?” Ye Xiaoyao greeted them.

“Dead, completely dead!” Xiao Zhengyan said emotionlessly.

“What?!” Ye Chenchen was shocked and stunned.

A moment later, everyone gathered in the tent, with Diwu Qingrou sitting in the main seat, his face calm. “The allied forces of the two families have returned. Heh, three families went out, one was annihilated!” Diwu Qingrou said, rubbing his temples tiredly, “Everyone, our real enemy is here!”

“What?” The leaders were astonished. The real enemy?

“A true, relentless enemy! An enemy so powerful that we can hardly resist them! And it’s an enemy destined to be!” Diwu Qingrou’s words grew heavier with each sentence. These three statements were like three bolts of lightning, striking deep into everyone’s hearts, causing panic and an immense pressure to descend upon them.

“The Nine Tribulations?!”

“The Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations?”

The crowd began discussing.

“Bang!” Diwu Qingrou slammed the table, his voice crisp. Everyone looked up to see Diwu Qingrou’s stern face and imposing aura, his sharp eyes slowly scanning the faces of those present. He said slowly, “I want to remind you all that the time has come for the Nine Great Families to be replaced. That is to say, the time for the Nine Heavens to change hands has arrived!”

The entire room was silent!

“The Nine Tribulations Sword Master has led his Nine Tribulations and entered the Li family’s territory!” Diwu Qingrou continued, “If we cannot destroy the Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations in this battle, then after this battle, the world will crumble!”

“Our only chance for victory, the chance to turn the tide of fate, lies in this battle! If we fail, there will never be a second opportunity!” Diwu Qingrou’s eyes were icy.

“May I ask, Commander…,” Ye Chenchen hesitated for a moment, “How can you be so sure that the Nine Tribulations Sword Master has arrived? It seems that the information Xiao Zhengyan and Chen Jianlong brought back did not mention the Nine Tribulations Sword Master at all.”

Diwu Qingrou frowned, “Do you have doubts? Do you have any objections?”

“Not at all!” Ye Chenchen stepped back and sat down.

If this conversation had taken place a few months ago, Ye Chenchen would have slapped Diwu Qingrou for speaking in such a manner, but now, all Ye Chenchen could do was retreat and stay silent, not even feeling any anger, and even believing it was justified.

“Before this, we were undefeated, but today’s battle has caused significant losses!” Diwu Qingrou said calmly, “Without the help of a powerful figure, how could the Li family have such means? And now, looking around the world, how many such figures are there? Other than the Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations, there is no one else!”

“Moreover, Li Xiongtu is already one of the Nine Tribulations!”

Diwu Qingrou briefly explained, giving Ye Xiaoyao some face before immediately saying, “Now, I have a few requests. If you cannot agree, I will resign from the position of commander-in-chief.”

Everyone’s faces changed dramatically.

“First, in the past, we could joke around and discuss everything. I would explain every decision in detail… But from now on, there will be no time for explanations. I can only give orders, and you must obey unconditionally! If discipline is not maintained in life-and-death situations, failure is certain!” Diwu Qingrou said.

After finishing, he swept his sharp gaze over everyone and repeated emphatically, “I said—unconditional! Compliance! Do you understand?”

“Yes!” Everyone immediately sat up straight, their faces solemn and serious.

Diwu Qingrou was right. If they continued to joke around in the face of the Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations, they might not even know how they died.

In the past ninety thousand years, the Nine Tribulations Sword Master had overturned the Nine Heavens eight times! This was the ninth time!

Who would dare to underestimate?

“Second, our current military strength is insufficient!” Diwu Qingrou said: “Immediately contact your families and start increasing troops! Surround and eliminate the Nine Tribulations Sword Master!”

“Yes!”

“Third, when the new troops arrive, I don’t want to have to reiterate the importance of discipline. I hope you will have them in order. If anyone violates the rules, it won’t be a punishment, but a beheading!”

“Yes!”

“Our eight great families, together with the Law Enforcers, are participating in the greatest event in the history of the Nine Heavens in a hundred thousand years!” Diwu Qingrou said quietly: “I hope we can… change fate, and alter the ninety-thousand-year cycle of destiny!”

Everyone’s blood boiled.

The pressure of ninety thousand years weighed on everyone, making it difficult to breathe. At the same time, their eyes were filled with intense excitement.

Changing fate against the heavens!

What a magnificent feat! The Nine Tribulations Sword Master and his Nine Tribulations, who no one had defeated in ninety thousand years, could we possibly triumph over them?!

This defeat brought unprecedented pressure and revealed the Nine Tribulations, Diwu Qingrou’s long-awaited opponent! Under such circumstances, Diwu Qingrou’s prestige rapidly rose to an unprecedented height like a rocket!

Diwu Qingrou’s face was calm, neither happy nor angry. He looked up leisurely at the vast clouds and mountains, with a slowly rising fighting spirit in his heart.

Chu Yang, we are finally going to face each other again!