141: Take action

The next day, the West Lake Festival.

The entire West Lake City was decorated with lanterns and streamers, crowded with tourists. Painted boats shuttled across the lake, and the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments were constant, presenting a scene of peace and prosperity. However, beneath this noisy curtain, invisible Killing Intent had already permeated the entire city.

Inside the City Lord's Manor, a seemingly ordinary pre-festival preparation meeting was taking place at the residence of Vice City Lord Situ Ming.

Inside the banquet hall, fine wines and delicacies were laid out. At the head of the table, Situ Ming was all smiles as he personally poured a cup of amber-colored fine wine for the guest of honor, City Lord City Lord.

"Lord City Lord, today's festival is a grand annual event for our West Lake City. Security is of utmost importance and requires your final decision. Your subordinate offers a toast first, wishing the festival a complete Perfection!" Situ Ming raised his wine cup, a trace of imperceptible coldness and smugness flashing deep in his eyes.

City Lord's expression remained normal as he laughed and picked up the wine cup: "Vice City Lord Situ is very thoughtful. You have worked hard these past few days." He seemingly casually brought the wine cup to his lips, his wide sleeves slightly shielding him.

Under the cover of his sleeves, the Celestial Masters Mansion's sacred detoxification medicine, the "Clear Spirit Pill," which he had already held in his mouth, quietly dissolved. At the same time, the pure True Essence of his Mid-stage Martial Emperor cultivation secretly circulated, forming an invisible filtering barrier at his throat. The moment the wine entered his mouth, the medicinal power and True Essence acted simultaneously. That colorless and odorless "emperor extermination powder" toxin was completely decomposed and forced out before it could take effect, turning into a trace of imperceptible water vapor that quietly evaporated from his fingertips.

"Good wine!" City Lord showed the empty cup to Situ Ming and praised it.

Situ Ming watched City Lord drink the wine, the smile on his face growing even wider, the wild joy in his eyes almost impossible to suppress. He held back his excitement and exchanged a few more trivial security details with City Lord.

Estimating that the time for the poison to take effect was near, a sharp look flashed in Situ Ming's eyes, and he suddenly slammed the wine cup in his hand onto the ground!

"Crash!"

The crisp sound of shattering was like a signal!

The two Martial King confidants behind him instantly exploded with Aura, their weapons unsheathed and pointed directly at City Lord! Dense and hurried footsteps also came from outside the hall; clearly, the men he had ambushed were quickly gathering.

"City Lord! Today is the day you die!" Situ Ming stood up with a sinister laugh, victory in his grasp.

However, the expected scene of City Lord collapsing from the poison and being at his mercy did not occur.

City Lord still sat steadily in his chair, even taking a silk handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth at his leisure. He looked calmly at the crazed Situ Ming, a mocking arc curling at the corner of his mouth: "Vice City Lord Situ, oh no, Situ Ming, remnant of the Former Dynasty, you've put on quite a show. Unfortunately, this City Lord... doesn't like drinking spiked wine."

The sinister laugh on Situ Ming's face instantly froze, his pupils shrinking: "You... you weren't poisoned?! How is that possible!"

"Nothing is impossible." City Lord slowly stood up, his majestic Mid-stage Martial Emperor Aura erupting like a waking lion, instantly suppressing the Killing Intent of Situ Ming and his two confidants. "Your 'emperor extermination powder' was a bit weak in flavor."

Before his voice could fade, Celestial Master Zhang Daoling, who had been sitting beside him with his eyes closed, also opened his eyes. With a gentle flick of his whisk, his Early Stage Martial Emperor Aura was like an unsheathed ancient sword, sharp and vast!

"Situ Ming, you have conspired with the Demonic Sect and led invaders into the city. Your crimes are heinous. Surrender now!" Zhang Daoling's voice was like a resonant bell.

Situ Ming's expression changed drastically, knowing the plan had been exposed! Though shocked, he did not panic; after all, he was a Martial Emperor expert. He shouted sternly: "Attack! Send the signal!"

One of his confidants behind him immediately pulled out a specially made firework signal tube, about to fire it out the window.

However, just as he raised his hand, a peerlessly sharp Finger Wind struck first. With a "poof," it precisely shattered the acupoint on his wrist, and the signal tube fell to the ground with a "clatter." The one who attacked was none other than City Lord!

At the same time, more intense and brief sounds of clashing weapons and muffled groans came from outside the hall, which then quickly returned to silence. Immediately after, the City Lord's Manor's loyal Guard Commander strode into the hall, covered in blood but with sharp eyes. He cupped his hands and reported: "Reporting to the City Lord! All rebels within the manor have been captured! The rebel strongholds outside attempting to respond to the signal have also been cleared by Lord Su, Deacon Qin, and their forces!"

Situ Ming was completely panicked. He looked at everything before him in disbelief. The plan he had laid out for years and thought was flawless had collapsed in an instant!

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!" he roared, acting like a madman. "The plan was so meticulous, how could you have known in advance?! How could you have made preparations beforehand?!"

City Lord didn't bother wasting words with him. He exchanged a look with Zhang Daoling, and both of them attacked at the same time!

"Take him down!"

Two Martial Emperors joining forces against a Situ Ming who was already mentally shaken and had lost the initiative resulted in a foregone conclusion. In less than a dozen moves, Situ Ming's protective True Essence was shattered by a palm strike from City Lord. Zhang Daoling's whisk coiled around him like a spirit snake, instantly sealing his Major Acupoints!

The two Martial King confidants he brought had also been swarmed and quickly subdued by other hidden Martial King experts in the hall.

Situ Ming, the remnant of the Former Dynasty who had dominated the shadows of West Lake City for years and plotted restoration, had now become a prisoner!

City Lord didn't even look at Situ Ming, who was slumped on the ground. He said in a deep voice to the Guard Commander beside him: "Send the message! According to plan, strike the Cao Gang headquarters!"

A special signal firework, carrying a sharp whistling sound, soared into the sky of West Lake City and exploded into a brilliant red lotus.

The general offensive to wipe out the internal threat had officially begun!