431 Ziyou’s Retrea (1/2)
Lv Lingyun was lambasting himself inwardly.
”Lv Lingyun, oh Lv Lingyun, why did you even bother to take the initiative?”
”Was it just because your cultivation base is high? Just because you're capable?”
”Just because you intended to defend Ziyou, your homeland?”
”Do you see how are your countrymen treating you right now?”
The man was trembling, momentarily entertaining the thought of putting his life at risk by attacking Yun Yang.
However, as fast as the thought came, it left just as quickly. He was a person who valued his life as he had said earlier, which had led him to retain the bear's mystical core as his bargaining chip.
He would never have expected this life-saving chip to be the hot potato; let it go or hold onto it, he was doomed either way.
While Lv Lingyun was indecisively entangled in his thoughts, he suddenly heard the gushing sound of water.
The crowd was still shaken by what had happened earlier, but it paled in comparison to what they were seeing now. Surging waves frothed and pounded the ground while the tides had risen thousands of feet high. It was growing higher, the top almost impossible to see.
Once the tides breached the seal that held them back, they would be unstoppable; no expert would be able to halt their deadly advance.
”I can tell you all that human effort can only last for so long. I grow tired, and my control over the Lunar River is questionable. ” Yun Yang said coldly, ”If I don't get the mystical core before I lose control, I won't be able to control the waters even if you give it to me afterward.”
”By then, this heinous sin…” Yun Yang looked coldly at Lv Lingyun and said, ”will be shouldered by both of us together. I am the enemy, so I wouldn't mind having even more of Ziyou's lost souls documented under my name.”
The facial muscles of an old Ziyou official twitched as he roared loudly, ”Lv Lingyun! What are you waiting for?”
Lv Lingyun jumped in startled shock. Gritting his teeth, he looked around at the surrounding faces of steel; all his hopes evaporated instantly as if he was a balloon that was deflated.
He slowly stepped out and raised his hand. The mystical core was nestled in his palm.
In that instant, Lv Lingyun seemed to have aged innumerable years.
He walked forward, step after slow step, he did not lift his head even once along the way. Each step taken seemed to be laden with thousands of catties of weight; that was how difficult each stride seemed to be.
Emperor of Ziyou breathed a soundless sigh of relief as he watched him walk forward, but his expression was one of mixed emotions, with shame being the prominent one.
As the emperor of his empire, he had been threatened before his empire's gate and had to watch his people walk out in humiliation without being able to do anything about it. To make matters worse, he was one of the parties responsible for this madness.
The feeling of guilt almost drove him mad.
Still, there was a sense of gratification hiding in a secluded spot deep in his heart.
Are you all not cowards?
Do you not want to put in at least some minimal effort?
Aren't you all being utterly selfish?
Who among you can be exempt when faced with the threat of subjugation?
I hope that from now on, all of you will understand what it means when we say that there will be no unharmed eggs when a nest falls!
If ever we are to survive this, I hope that all of you will cooperate and strengthen Ziyou, to build a defensive wall that can never be breached by an enemy!
Yun Yang watched coldly as Lv Lingyun slowly walked over to him, his head bowed. Only his arms were lifted up in supplication, to hand over the mystical core.
Yun Yang snorted coldly and stretched out his arm to take the mystical core.
Yun Yang walked past Lv Lingyun amidst the gushing waters, like he did not even see the hapless man. He strode over to the little bear's side and engulfed the mystical core with a ball of air of vitality before formally putting it back into the little bear's head.
Looking at the large body, Yun Yang was deeply saddened. It felt like a slab had been cut out from his heart.
Little bear, I shall seek vengeance for you.
I shall kill Lv Lingyun to avenge your death!
Having made his vow, Yun Yang waved his hand and the little bear's huge body disappeared into thin air. He then stood up slowly, turned, and walked back.
He was silent throughout the entire process.
He walked a hundred feet away and returned to the monstrous waves. Yun Yang's back faced Ziyou's emperor and officials, as well as Lv Lingyun, who was still standing like a statue. He said in a low but clear voice, ”A war between two countries will put them in opposing positions. To resort to extreme measures in the battlefield and the imperial court is a matter of course.”
”Even kidnapping the family of an opponent's key personnel to threaten them is an acceptable measure, despite being an uncouth method. This is a personal choice.”
”However, all these have nothing to do with me. I also believe that no one in this world has yet to forget the legend of the Nine Supremes.”
”We, the Nine Supremes, might not be your equal in creating conspiracies and setting up plots. However, I believe no one can perform a stealthy kidnapping as well as we can. Let me hear if any of you wishes to object to this point.”
”After this battle today, it has been proven that there is nothing the Empire of Ziyou will not stoop to. Since you, as the enemy, have no limits, neither will we enforce any limits for ourselves.”
”From now on, let us act based on our tactics and obey the call of fate!”