307: Chapter 307 Assassination

The shockwaves from the clash between Spirit Map experts not only shattered the gates of the Jinyue Martial Arts Hall and General Liang's official vehicle but also instantly killed the dozen guards by his side.

The attacker was Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang.

He launched a surprise attack just as General Liang was getting into his car, delivering a thunderous strike.

But the result...

Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang was sent flying, crashing through several low buildings and kicking up a cloud of dust.

General Liang sneered at the dust, then turned around, punching to meet Yun Zhuoyue's blade, which struck like a rainbow.

With a look of disbelief, Yun Zhuoyue was also blasted away by the immense force, rolling over a hundred meters and carving a trench into the hard, flat road.

Looking at the small wound on his fist where the bone was exposed, General Liang chuckled.

"The Six Marshals' Seven Kills Art used to be unstoppable by anyone in the same realm. After all these years in your hands, you've only mastered the first kill; it's practically a child's toy."

"Do you know why Governor Xu left me to guard Song City?"

"Because the Wuque Method I Cultivate is the world's strongest defense; my body is one with the earth. Unless one is in the Huagai Realm, even if a hundred or eighty Spirit Map experts came at once, they couldn't do a thing to me!"

"Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang, did you think that just because I was keeping an eye on Group Leader Yun, I wasn't prepared for you?"

"Taking advantage of Governor Xu's absence to seize control of Song City—a good idea, but far too naive."

"Do you have any other helpers? If you do, call them out now. If not..."

"I'm going to start killing!"

Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang, covered in dust, walked out from the smoke. Dozens of warriors with red scarves tied around their arms emerged from street corners and rooftops, closing in on the area.

At the same time, the entire Hu Xiao unit quickly approached from the rear.

But General Liang looked at these people and laughed even more heartily.

"Just these few subordinates? Not even one Spirit Map expert among them? Do you think you can kill me with them? It's a joke."

Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang's expression was like iron. "These warriors are loyal soldiers of the country. Although their strength is limited, their will is unbreakable, and every one of them is prepared to die for the nation!"

General Liang nodded upon hearing this. "Very well. Although our ideologies differ, I respect your decision, and I will fulfill your wish."

As he spoke, two figures flew in succession and landed beside General Liang.

It was the masked man who had left earlier and Wei Mingzhu, who had returned to provide support after hearing of the sudden change.

General Liang glanced at them sideways. "Mr. Wu, just protect the Madam. I don't need any help."

The masked man didn't speak, but Wei Mingzhu said, "General Liang, you shoulder the heavy responsibility of city defense; you cannot afford any mishaps. To put it bluntly, the two of us can die, but you must live."

General Liang nodded slightly. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Madam, take care of yourself."

Just then, Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang took a deep breath and shouted loudly.

"Brothers, the time to serve the country has come!"

"Kill!"

A fierce battle broke out on the streets of Song City in the middle of the night.

In a battle at the Spirit Map level, even those in the Open Origin realm could barely participate. The mere shockwaves of their extreme spiritual energy collisions killed many people.

Yun Zhuoyue's blade was incredibly fast, but General Liang's defense was unimaginably strong. That unremarkable, middle-aged body stood like a mountain with no visible Peak.

Under the twelfth strike, her blade could not withstand the force and shattered. She also took a heavy punch to the abdomen from General Liang, collapsing to the ground and unable to rise for a long time.

Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang fought desperately in close quarters, striking General Liang multiple times, but with little effect. After being sent flying by General Liang's counterattack again, he could barely stand, vomiting blood uncontrollably.

As for his death squads and the Hu Xiao warriors, they were like moths to a flame, falling one by one into the fire.

Inside the Jinyue Martial Arts Hall, Miao Manman and the others, who were watching from the window, felt desperate.

General Liang was truly too strong; even with Yun Zhuoyue and Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang joining forces, they still couldn't break his defense.

If they continued to fight, the only outcome would be everyone dying in battle.

Golden Scorpion and Shang Yuqing didn't understand and whispered to Mad Dog.

"Brother Dog, how could it be like this?"

"Mad Dog, what exactly is your plan? Is Tang Long really dead?"

Mad Dog shook his head slightly.

Although he knew Tang Long wasn't dead, he couldn't contact him right now.

He knew Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang had planned this assassination and had notified Yun Zhuoyue in time to cooperate. But the battle was too high-level, and given his limited strength, he didn't understand how they could win at this point.

Watching her comrades of many years die one by one, Yun Zhuoyue gritted her teeth, struggled to stand up again, and let out a sharp, loud cry.

"Kill~!"

However, General Liang suddenly flashed in front of her, grabbed her by the neck, stifling that shrill cry, and tossed her aside onto the ground.

"Fight if you can, die if you must—what are you screaming for!"

"You haven't learned a shred of your Master's elegance, only picked up a bunch of bad habits."

"Six Marshals, my apologies."

"For the sake of the country, I have to..."

Before he could finish, General Liang's pupils constricted. Before he could even turn around, his back took another heavy blow.

A dull, thunderous sound erupted from his body, and blood spilled from his nose and mouth. Yet he didn't even sway, countering with an elbow strike that sent the ambushing Mr. Wu flying.

However, another golden light struck from the side at the same time, hitting him directly on the side of the head.

General Liang was finally knocked rolling, tumbling several times before barely steadying his body.

His old eyes showed incredible shock and confusion. "Madam, Mr. Wu, what... what is the meaning of this! Are even you two going to betray Governor Xu?"

Wei Mingzhu took a deep breath, looked coldly at Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang and Yun Zhuoyue, and then huffed.

"Betrayal? When Xu Chaoyang wanted to divorce his wife and remarry, why didn't he think about what betrayal meant?"

"General Liang, do you think someone who wants to tear down the bridge before even crossing the river can succeed?"

"Our plan regarding you wasn't originally like this; it was just ruined by these two hotheads, forcing us to act immediately."

"General Liang, you are also a person who is devoted to the country. If you turn back now, I can ensure you remain unharmed."

General Liang laughed heartily, a long, continuous laugh.

"What a strange day it is!"

"However, Madam, you and this Mr. Wu seem to have taken my words lightly."

"I, Liang, have said that even a hundred or eighty Spirit Map experts would find it hard to do anything to me! Did you think I was bragging?"

"Do you really think you lot are worthy of making me surrender?"

"Hahahaha, dream on!"

Just then, another golden light flashed on the roof nearby. The figure of Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao appeared there, shaking his head and sighing.

"Old Liang, why have you become so stubborn? How can you still not see the situation clearly at this point?"

Seeing Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao, General Liang couldn't help but be startled.

But then, shouts of battle came from the distance, and his spirits lifted.

"Grand Preceptor Qian, even if you come, what of it?"

"I, General Liang, am not Qiguang Sect. Even if you are at the Peak of the Spirit Map, you cannot kill me!"

"You Sun Worshipers and Blasphemers cannot stand on the main stage; you cannot control Song City!"

"Once my people stabilize the situation, you will all have to get out like stray dogs!"

Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao smiled bitterly and shook his head, calling out to another direction. "Your Excellency Red Hand, it is better for you to speak to him."

Red light flickered, and Red Hand, dressed in a red robe, appeared on the main road.

Seeing Red Hand appear, General Liang's heart sank even further.

He truly didn't expect that The Sect would also be involved in tonight's events.

Hadn't the bishops all gone out with Governor Xu?

The lives of the three bishops were in Governor Xu's hands, and The Sect's armed forces were monitored by an entire division; how did they dare?

However, Red Hand's next sentence left him completely bewildered.

"By the decree of the High Priest, General Liang, I order you to surrender immediately."

"The High Priest? Isn't he insane? Impossible... absolutely impossible!"

"Red Hand! Don't think you can deceive me! I investigated it clearly long ago; Elder Jiang, the High Priest, has long been unable to handle affairs. How could he suddenly issue a decree!"

"To deal with Governor Xu, you really will do anything!"

"First you collude with the Blasphemers and Sun Worshipers, and then you fake a decree from the High Priest—are you still followers of the true Red God?"

Red Hand also sighed. "Who told you I was serving under the order of High Priest Jiang? I am serving under the decree of the new High Priest, High Priest Shang Yuleng."

General Liang laughed even more. "High Priest Shang Yuleng? Hahaha!"

"When there is no tiger in the mountains, the monkey calls itself king!"

"Taking advantage of the absence of the others, he actually dares to openly call himself High Priest? Hahaha!"

"But don't forget, to be the High Priest, one must be a Huagai Realm expert."

"With his meager skills... tell him to come here and call himself High Priest in front of me."

Just then, Yun Zhuoyue shouted, "You two, our goals are aligned now. Hurry up and kill General Liang, and while Xu Chaoyang is away, take control of the city's defense!"

"Attack! Hurry up!"

"Time is tight, what are you waiting for!"

But Red Hand shook his head, and Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao also shook his head.

General Liang also shouted with a laugh, "Come on! I also want to know, what are you waiting for!"

Just then, a fierce pressure, like heavy clouds, bore down on this direction, making the crowd of Spirit Map experts feel a bit suffocated.

General Liang's smile instantly froze on his face.

This... this is...

The Huagai Realm?

Immediately after, the figure of High Priest Shang Yuleng flashed and appeared in mid-air.

"Was it you calling for me just now? Old Liang?"

General Liang's body trembled involuntarily. He stared straight at him, unable to say a complete sentence.

"You... you..."

"I was fortunate enough to advance to the Huagai Realm, so naturally, I am qualified to succeed as the High Priest of the Songcheng Sect. Even if the others were here, I don't think anyone would object, would they?"

"Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang, Yun Zhuoyue, Elder Governor Jiang Shiqi has succeeded as the Governor of Song City. You two, take your subordinates to his residence immediately and await orders."

"Red Hand, take The Sect's armed forces to take over the Jingan Division, contact Director Zheng of the Bounty Office, clear out the remaining enemy factions, and stabilize the situation."

"Grand Preceptor Qian, I have already cleared out the major sources of instability in the city. Tang Long needs support, so come with me."

High Priest Shang Yuleng appeared with the might of the Huagai Realm, instantly reversing the situation with overwhelming force.

Red Hand adapted quickly and immediately went to carry out the orders.

Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang and Yun Zhuoyue were overjoyed, even finding it hard to believe.

Hearing that Tang Long was still alive, Yun Zhuoyue immediately asked, "High Priest Shang, is Tang Long really still alive?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng nodded. "What kind of question is that? Of course he is alive. The entire situation in Song City is within the plans and control of Tang Long."

"What! All of this... was arranged by Tang Long?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng huffed. "Otherwise what? Isn't this battle just now enough to explain the situation? If not for some of you acting on your own initiative, there would have been no need for such pointless sacrifices."

Yun Zhuoyue and Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang were silent, both very embarrassed and heartbroken.

In the battle just now, they had each lost more than half of their subordinates and comrades.

Even more embarrassed was General Liang.

Looking back now, everyone around him was... Tang Long's people. Even the Governor's wife had been turned—can you believe it?

"What are you standing there for? Do you want to cry your hearts out? Governor Jiang needs people to take over military authority, go!"

Yun Zhuoyue and Commander-in-Chief Wang Jintang could only suppress their grief and call their subordinates to move out immediately.

General Liang wanted to speak, but before he could even open his mouth, a hand struck the top of his head, causing his spine to pop in a series of cracks, yet he remained standing straight.

"The Earth-type Wuque Method, the World-Fixing Stake, truly has its unique merits. Impressive."

High Priest Shang Yuleng praised him, then delivered another palm strike to his neck, and only then did he collapse into the dust with an expression of disbelief.

High Priest Shang Yuleng killed General Liang, then called to Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao.

"Grand Preceptor Qian, let's go."

Grand Preceptor Qian signaled to Wei Mingzhu, then followed High Priest Shang Yuleng, turning into two streaks of light and speeding away.

Wei Mingzhu looked at the corpses covering the ground, especially General Liang, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

After all, they had been husband and wife for over twenty years; it was not easy for her to betray Xu Chaoyang.

But for the sake of the Wei Family and the Sun Worshipers, she had to do it.

After stooping down to close General Liang's eyes with her own hands, she stood up and called into the building.

"Have you watched enough! The adults still have important business to attend to; come out and clean this up!"

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, and the group of young people in the building finally rushed out.

"Wow! We really won!"

"I thought we were all done for just a moment ago!"

"It's just like a dream."

"Young Miss Shang, you are the High Priest's sister now; please look after us in the future!"

"I knew Big Brother Tang would be fine! Did you hear what the High Priest said just now? All of this was arranged by Big Brother Tang!"

"That's right, that's right. The layout by Tang is absolutely flawless!"

"Brother Dog, what are you staring blankly for? Come, have a cigarette first."

Mad Dog took the cigarette handed to him by Golden Scorpion, still remaining silent.

The only other person not very excited, Miao Manman, came up to him and asked in a low voice, "Where is Tang Long?"

Mad Dog didn't know where Tang Long was either, but he knew it was too early to be happy.

The new High Priest, High Priest Shang Yuleng, had left the city in a hurry before his seat had even warmed.

Grand Preceptor Qian Wenzhao and Wei Mingzhu were both Sun Worshipers; he, a High Priest of the Red Religion, actually had to temporarily join forces with the Sun Worshipers.

Could the situation on Tang Long's side be optimistic?

At such an important moment, he actually couldn't help at all.