Chapter 129: Arousing Attention from All Sides!

Woody’s sudden appearance instantly shifted the landscape of the battlefield. The strength of a Rank 6 martial artist spans a vast range from 5,000 to 9,999 points, and Woody had reached the absolute pinnacle. Compared to her, Zhu Wu was clearly outclassed; after barely a dozen exchanges, he was already vomiting blood under her relentless assault. The formidable power of Zhang Ze’s instructor was evident.

With Xu Ziqiang freed by Woody, he did not remain idle. When dealing with the traitors of the cult, there was no need to observe the niceties of martial ethics. Xu Ziqiang and two others struck simultaneously, quickly pinning down another powerful opponent. As the combat grew more intense, Xu Ziqiang finally sensed something amiss.

Clang!

His long sword clashed fiercely with the opponent’s broadsword. The next moment, both Xu Ziqiang and the Rank 6 cultist recoiled. Xie Xun and Qin Feng surged forward from either side to surround the latter. However, Xu Ziqiang called out, "Patriarch Qian, aren't you being a bit too impatient?"

The cultist’s pupils constricted sharply, and Xie Xun and Qin Feng halted in their tracks, stunned that this man was actually the head of the Qian family. After a moment of hesitation, the man removed his disguise. A resolute face was revealed to the crowd: it was Qian Weishan, the head of the Qian family and father of Qian Xiaoyun and Qian Xiaoming.

Xu Ziqiang sneered, "So it really is you."

"Heh," Qian Weishan stopped hiding and replied, "I didn't expect you to find out. Fine... as a Rank 6 expert, it is beneath me to skulk about in shadows."

At these words, Xu Ziqiang scoffed. He and Xie Xun stepped forward in unison, and the very air around them seemed to churn in upheaval.

"What a massive spectacle!"

Zhang Ze had been trailing Woody, but he was too slow; the Rank 6 experts had been fighting for quite some time before he arrived. He watched the fierce battle from a distance, wondering if he could scavenge some loot or treasures from the bodies once it was over.

Thwack!

Just as Zhang Ze was plotting to skim some profits, a metal rod struck him squarely on the head. Rubbing his skull, he turned to look at the culprit.

"Why is it you, you unscrupulous old man?" Zhang Ze snapped.

The newcomer was none other than Fang Huaide from the Anqing Martial Arts Bureau—the very unscrupulous instructor who had swindled him out of 300 points! As for the later 200 points, wasn't that what Zhang Ze had paid him for a metal rod?

"That’s a question I should be asking you," Fang Huaide retorted, ignoring Zhang Ze’s complaint.

Zhang Ze looked closely, momentarily forgetting why he had come, his eyes fixed on the metal rod in the old man's hand. Good heavens! It was identical to the two he had bought—1.78 meters long with a diameter of nearly 10 centimeters. However, the one the old man used was surely far superior to the ones Zhang Ze had purchased.

Zhang Ze’s eyes darted around, and he demanded, "Why are you holding my weapon? Trying to scam another 200 points out of me, aren't you?" He reached out to grab the rod.

"Hey! Get lost, you brat!" Old man Fang was not pleased. He thought to himself that what he sold Zhang Ze was a replica, while this one was the real treasure. He scolded, "If you had the strength of a Rank 6, I might care about your petty tricks! You’re just a tiny Rank 3, and you want to play games with me?"

Zhang Ze was speechless. The old man had a point. He thought to himself, *Just wait until I reach Rank 6! That treasure will definitely end up in my hands!*

Ignoring Zhang Ze’s inner thoughts, old man Fang stared at the distant battle and asked, "Want to compete with me for the bodies?"

Zhang Ze was stunned.

***

Meanwhile, on a highway in the suburbs of Nanye City, Duan Hong’s expression was grim, and Wen Qing sat in the back, silent.

Duan Hong looked at Duan Qingkuang and asked, "Uncle Qingkuang, what do we do now? If what you said is true, the General Administration of the Investigation Bureau won't let our Jiuhua Sect off the hook!"

Duan Qingkuang’s face darkened at these words, and he had no answer. Wen Qing, sitting in the back, hesitated before speaking up, "Senior Duan, in my opinion, there is no point in continuing this futile struggle. Let me contact my grandfather... The Jiuhua Sect and our Wen family should go together to the He-Yue City General Administration of the Investigation Bureau to plead for mercy."

"After all, we never officially joined the cult."

Duan Qingkuang found this deeply offensive. "Say no more! My Jiuhua Sect will never bow to them! Think of your Wen family of Qingfeng Ancient Town—a martial arts lineage that has existed since the previous dynasty. How could we easily admit fault to these upstart powers?"

Wen Qing fell silent. Duan Qingkuang refused to argue further; in his heart, the Jiuhua Sect remained the prestigious martial arts sect that had enjoyed honor for two or three hundred years. Before long, he pulled out his phone and dialed Duan Qingyang.

***

In He-Yue City, Qian Xiaoyun had just returned home. She approached the old man and asked in a low voice, "Second Grandfather, what exactly is happening? Why do we have to leave now?"

The old man, his face a map of wrinkles, replied in a low voice, "Some things are beyond our control. For our Qian family, staying in Anqing Province now is a dead end..."

Qian Xiaoyun was filled with doubt, but she could not find her father—the renowned Rank 6 expert of Anqing Province. And the second grandfather before her seemed to have suddenly become a complete stranger.

***

At the General Administration of the Investigation Bureau, the appearance of Vice Minister Yang Yunfei surprised Zhao Jinghong. Including Zhao Jinghong himself, four Rank 7 experts had gathered in the small conference room of the General Administration.

Lin Feng greeted Yang Yunfei before turning serious. "General Liu, please describe the situation."

Lin Feng looked at the man on his right. Liu Guang, the leader of the Anqing Province garrison, spoke slowly, "It is a rare occasion for the four of us to be gathered in one place."

Yang Yunfei smiled slightly and asked, "I didn't see you at the Star Gate battle in Nanhe Province and thought I wouldn't have the chance to meet you, but here we are."

Liu Guang smiled back. "In the Star Gate battle in Nanhe Province, we certainly didn't lose to those beasts from beyond the stars..."

"Hmph," Zhao Jinghong chimed in, "The cult has been too arrogant in our province lately. Even the high-ranking cult envoys, who haven't been seen in years, are starting to show their faces!"

"Indeed," Yang Yunfei added. "If those two hadn't suddenly appeared behind the Star Gate back then, Director Yan wouldn't be trapped there now..."

Lin Feng interrupted their indignation. "After I narrowly escaped from behind that Star Gate, those fellows were filled with hatred, and now they want to ambush me." He chuckled. "Let the four of us wait here today and see when these rats decide to make their move."