284: Kill the chicken to scare the monkey, beat and kill like a god! [Explosive update]

A moment later, Lu Jiuyuan put down the Secret Manual.

"How is the integration progressing?" he asked instead.

Guan Yutian quickly replied, "Reporting to Alliance Leader, the personnel of both factions have been initially tallied and are being reorganized according to the structure Alliance Leader previously instructed. Resource integration is also proceeding simultaneously. It is estimated that in another seven days, it can be initially completed."

"Mm." Lu Jiuyuan commanded, "The world has been in chaos for five hundred years. After the Fusion of the two factions, the Central Plains is now completely under control.

Unifying the world will be put on the agenda!"

"Yes! Your subordinate will definitely do his utmost!" Guan Yutian and Helian Ba responded in unison, their voices carrying a hint of uncontrollable excitement.

Unifying the world, what a magnificent achievement! When the time comes, I'll kill the Alliance Leader, and this world will be mine.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba's eyes met, and they both saw burning ambition in each other's eyes.

Just then, a Disciple hurried into the hall and bowed to report, "Reporting to Alliance Leader, Military Advisor Liao Rushen is outside seeking an audience."

Upon hearing this, Guan Yutian's eyes flashed with a subtle hint of surprise. What is this guy doing here? Opportunistic?

He quickly explained, "Alliance Leader, Liao Rushen was your subordinate's former Military Advisor. He is exceptionally intelligent and quite familiar with alliance affairs. He must have heard of Alliance Leader's Divine Might and specially came to pledge allegiance."

Helian Ba explained, "Alliance Leader, Liao Rushen is a descendant of the Heavenly Mystery Sect and is currently the Fortress Lord of the Soaring Eagle Fortress. The Heavenly Mystery Sect is best at observing celestial phenomena and discerning people's hearts. He indeed possesses considerable talent."

Lu Jiuyuan sat upon the throne, his gaze calm, as if he had already seen through everything. "Let him in."

A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's long gown, with a lean face and shrewd, flickering eyes, slowly walked into the hall. It was Liao Rushen.

He wore a humble smile and bowed deeply towards the throne, "Your subordinate Liao Rushen greets Alliance Leader!

Alliance Leader's Divine Might is unparalleled, unifying the Supreme Alliance and the Sea Shark Palace. This is truly ordained by Heaven, and you are destined to ascend to the highest position. Rushen admires you greatly and has specially come to pledge allegiance, willing to serve Alliance Leader with all his might!"

Lu Jiuyuan did not let him rise, merely looking at him indifferently, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate his skin and directly peer into his heart.

"Liao Rushen, do you know your crime?"

Liao Rushen's smile stiffened, and his heart sank. What's going on? Shouldn't it be a warm welcome?

Why such a cold reception? He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Alliance Leader, why do you say that? Your subordinate is absolutely loyal to Alliance Leader. What crime have I committed?"

"Loyalty?" Lu Jiuyuan's lips curved into a cold arc. "How did your Master die? What do you intend to do by staying with Guan Yutian? Do you think I don't know?

Now that I control the Supreme Alliance, what is the meaning of your coming to pledge allegiance? Do you think I can't see through it?

Such petty schemes, and you dare to flaunt them before this King?"

Liao Rushen's face changed dramatically. His actions had always been secretive, and the matter of patricide had never been revealed to a second person.

The plot for the ling shuang sword hadn't even begun to be set in motion, the heavenly secrets were obscure, and the Luck of the Son of Heaven had not yet erupted.

Yet, at this moment, Lu Jiuyuan had exposed it all in a single sentence!

He looked up in horror, meeting Lu Jiuyuan's eyes, which were as deep as an abyss, like a pair of eyes containing an endless starry sky. He felt as if all his thoughts had been seen through, and a chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

"Alliance Leader, please see clearly! Your subordinate absolutely has no such intentions! Absolutely no such intentions!" Liao Rushen quickly argued, secretly channeling his Qi, ready to flee if he couldn't talk his way out.

"Stubborn." Lu Jiuyuan was too lazy to waste any more words with him. He stood up, raised his hand, took a step forward, and lightly struck Liao Rushen.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, nor was there a fierce palm wind.

Liao Rushen was greatly alarmed and waved both hands, striking out continuously: "Distracting Palm!"

The next moment, an irresistible, immense force acted upon him.

"Pfft—"

Like a crushed watermelon, Liao Rushen's body exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of blood mist. Before he could even let out a scream, he was utterly annihilated!

Only the lingering scent of blood proved that he had once existed.

Silence!

Dead silence!

Inside the grand hall, a pin drop could be heard.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba's pupils contracted sharply, their hairs standing on end, and a chill rushed from their tailbones straight to their heads.

They knew the new Alliance Leader's strength was terrifying, but they never expected it to be terrifying to such an extent!

One step, one palm, and he annihilated the formidable and cunning Liao Rushen! What kind of method was this?

More importantly, the Alliance Leader seemed to have already seen through Liao Rushen's schemes... "I despise foolish people who are clearly not intelligent but pretend to be, and even think their calculations are precise.

Guan Yutian, Helian Ba, what do you two think!"

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba almost simultaneously knelt on both knees:

"Alliance Leader, please forgive us! Your subordinates are guilty!"

Guan Yutian spoke first, "Your subordinate... your subordinate did indeed harbor selfish motives when offering 'A Sword Separates Worlds'!

This technique is heavily laden with malevolent Qi, created by an ancestor. Because it is too overbearing and easily causes self-injury, your subordinate did not dare to practice it. Fearing Alliance Leader's blame for hiding it, I therefore... therefore offered it, indeed with the intention of probing and... using a borrowed knife to kill. Your subordinate deserves ten thousand deaths!"

At this moment, he dared not conceal anything further, directly revealing his schemes.

Helian Ba also quickly kowtowed:

"Alliance Leader, please discern! In the Secret Manual 'Avatar Demonic Shadow' that your subordinate presented, there were indeed... indeed several key Qi circulation routes that were altered, leaving hidden dangers,

I originally... originally intended to keep it as a trump card! Your subordinate deserves ten thousand deaths! Please, Alliance Leader, have mercy!"

The two knelt on the ground, cold sweat instantly soaking their backs.

Liao Rushen's fate was a vivid lesson before their eyes. They had no doubt that as long as the Alliance Leader wished, he could make them follow suit with a mere flick of his finger.

Lu Jiuyuan looked down at the two warlords kneeling at his feet, his voice betraying no emotion: "This King knows."

"It's just that I still find you useful, which is why I spared your lives."

Inside the grand hall, there was dead silence.

Only the faint scent of blood still lingered in the air, reminding them of what had just happened.

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold floor. Cold sweat had long soaked their inner garments, trickling down their temples and splattering on the ground, creating small, dark stains.

Lu Jiuyuan's words, "This King knows," exploded like thunder in their minds.

It turned out that their supposedly secret schemes had long been seen through by this unfathomable Alliance Leader!

Fear, like a cold viper, coiled around their hearts, almost suffocating them.

Lu Jiuyuan slowly sat back on the throne, looking down from above at these two warlords who had once dominated the Jianghu.

He did not speak immediately, allowing the suffocating silence to persist. The invisible pressure, like a giant boulder, weighed heavily on Guan Yutian and Helian Ba's hearts, grinding down their will.

Time passed bit by bit, each second feeling as long as a year.

Finally, Lu Jiuyuan's indifferent voice broke the silence once more:

"Rise."

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba felt as if they had been granted a great pardon, yet they dared not truly relax. They cautiously raised their heads, still not daring to look directly at the throne, their eyelids lowered, their posture as humble as dust.

"Thank Alliance Leader for sparing our lives!"

"Not killing you is not because I cannot, but because I choose not to."

Lu Jiuyuan lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertip, his voice calm, yet each word was like a hammer, striking their hearts:

"Liao Rushen was overly clever, and his heart deserved to be punished, hence he was punished. As for you two..."

His gaze swept over Guan Yutian, then landed on Helian Ba.

"Although you harbored selfish motives, you still have your uses. This Supreme Alliance has just begun to unify, and everything needs to be rebuilt. The great task of unifying the world is just beginning, and it is a time when people are needed."

Guan Yutian and Helian Ba's hearts settled slightly, but then they heard Lu Jiuyuan's tone suddenly shift, becoming chillingly cold:

"However,"

Their hearts tightened again.

"Using those who have erred is better than using those who have achieved."

Lu Jiuyuan looked at their fearful expressions, his tone softening slightly, "You two are both warlord figures, with considerable abilities. Since this King can use you, I naturally can tolerate you."

"All past matters, this King can overlook.

But from now on, if this King ever discovers you harboring rebellious intentions or being outwardly compliant but inwardly disobedient..."

He paused slightly: "Liao Rushen's fate will be your example. At that time, do not blame this King for not warning you."

"Your subordinates would not dare! Your subordinates are absolutely loyal to Alliance Leader, with no second thoughts!" Guan Yutian and Helian Ba said in unison.

"Remember your words today." Lu Jiuyuan waved his hand. "Helian Ba, you are primarily responsible for integrating the forces and managing the gang affairs.

Guan Yutian, you are responsible for the emergence of the ling shuang sword. I know you understand! And I know your identity."

"Your subordinates would not dare! Your subordinates are absolutely loyal to Alliance Leader, with no second thoughts!" Guan Yutian and Helian Ba responded in unison.

Lu Jiuyuan's calm yet all-knowing gaze, and the words "I know you understand! And I know your identity," exploded like two thunderclaps in Guan Yutian's heart, causing his recently settled mind to churn with colossal waves once more.

He... he actually knows!

He knows the secret of the ling shuang sword, and perhaps even my true identity, that I am Murong Hua, a survivor of the Demonic Sword clan!

Guan Yutian's heart was greatly shaken, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Then, does he know that I have hidden a Supreme martial art, Innate Protective Aura?

"Remember your words today."

Lu Jiuyuan waved his hand, his tone returning to its previous indifference: "Helian Ba, I expect to see results from your side."

"Yes! Alliance Leader! Your subordinate will definitely exert himself to the utmost!"

Helian Ba quickly responded, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

"This King hopes you understand what your foundation is!" Lu Jiuyuan stood up and patted both of their shoulders.

"Loyalty!"

"Loyalty!"

The two shouted loudly.