Chapter 243 - 241: Taking Charge

Chapter 243: Chapter 241: Taking Charge

Chu Hongshang was actually quite low-key among the younger generation of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect.

Normally, she focused solely on her cultivation. As long as you didn’t provoke her, she wouldn’t bother you.

But if you did dare to provoke her, she was merciless.

Now, Chu Hongshang was asking Yin Kuang to spread the news that she had killed Feng Wushang in order to get on the Hidden Dragon Rankings. Although this was out of character, Yin Kuang had already come up with a reason for her.

’It must be that Xu Tianhong’s constant bragging about his own rank on the Hidden Dragon Rankings finally got on her nerves, so she wants to get on the list and compete too.’

However, this was something Yin Kuang was more than happy to do.

Currently, among the major powers on the Jianghu Wind and Cloud Rankings, each one only had a single person on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

If their Ten Thousand Demon Sect had two people on the Hidden Dragon Rankings at the same time, wouldn’t that prove that their younger generation was powerful and flourishing?

Especially since this accomplishment had occurred while he was leading the team on their trial, it would be a major credit to Yin Kuang’s name as well.

So, Yin Kuang excitedly used an Array Secret Technique to send the message back to the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, telling them to find the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower and spread the news.

Seeing Yin Kuang comply, Chu Hongshang felt relieved. She sat cross-legged on the ground and began to restore her nearly depleted Qi Blood.

The Ten Thousand Demon Sect moved quickly.

After Yin Kuang sent the message, the Ten Thousand Demon Sect immediately contacted the Celestial Wind Listening Rain Tower to have Chu Hongshang’s achievement recorded on the Hidden Dragon Rankings.

As it happened, the Hidden Dragon Rankings were updated the very next day. Chu Hongshang leapfrogged countless talented prodigies, securing the eighteenth spot with that single battle.

There was a certain logic to this ranking.

If Chen Yuan had killed Feng Wushang under his own name, he might have been ranked tenth directly.

Feng Wushang was not some backwater rogue like Zhu Xinwu, nor was he an incompetent Grandmaster like Ouyang Xun.

He was the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall, one of the Four Martial Halls of Zhenwu. He held a high and powerful position, and in his youth, he had followed Chao Hongtu in his campaigns. He was not a nobody in the Jianghu.

Therefore, the feat of killing him was enough for Chen Yuan to enter the top ten.

But it was different with Chu Hongshang. After all, she had never been ranked on the Hidden Dragon Rankings before, and the details of this battle were opaque.

Letting her jump directly into the top ten would be too shocking. Thus, they gave her the eighteenth position, allowing her to advance easily with any future achievements.

But when the White Tiger Hall received this news, it was as if the sky had fallen.

Before they could even counterattack the Hu Yan Tribe, their own Hall Master had been slaughtered by the enemy. What the hell was this?

Although Feng Wushang was useless, he was, after all, the Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall. His death was undoubtedly a major blow.

So the numerous Inspectors, Guardian Envoys, and even the men from the Po Jun Guard and Celestial Martial Guard were all momentarily thrown into disarray. They halted their offensive and gathered in Kaiping Prefecture to discuss matters.

At this moment in the Kaiping Prefecture Council Hall, everyone was gathered in a circle. Only Li Tiancheng and Yang Yanxing occupied the main seats; Feng Wushang was nowhere to be seen.

"What’s the situation with Feng Wushang? He’s a renowned Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster, how could he be killed by a junior Martial Artist? Was he ganged up on?"

Li Tiancheng frowned, looking slightly irritated.

The Celestial Martial Guard’s offensive was going well; he had even fought and repelled Nihachu in the past two days.

But he never expected Feng Wushang to suddenly get himself killed in the midst of it all.

A Guardian Envoy who had been with Feng Wushang at the time said in a low voice, "It seems a disciple from the Ten Thousand Demon Sect really did ambush the Hall Master. The Hall Master went to hunt him down but never came back."

Li Tiancheng wanted to curse him for being useless, but since most of those present were from the White Tiger Hall, he forced himself to hold his tongue.

"Feng Wushang is dead. The White Tiger Hall has no leader; we can’t continue fighting.

First, let’s return to Lujiang Prefecture, use an Array to contact the Main Hall, and request the Grand Commandant’s orders.

We’ll see if he wants the other three Hall Masters to take action, or if the Grand Commandant or Military Advisor Liu will come personally."

Li Tiancheng no longer wanted to continue the fight.

He had brought the Celestial Martial Guard here as reinforcements. Now that the party they were meant to assist was gone, what was the point of continuing the fight?

Yang Yanxing, however, frowned slightly.

During his past few days in the field, he had seen the situation on the Ning Province border for himself.

If they waited to request instructions from the Grand Commandant, and then waited for others to arrive, this area would likely be ravaged by the Hu Yan Tribe again.

But he, too, was here as reinforcements, so he wasn’t in a position to make the final call on certain matters.

Just then, Chen Yuan suddenly spoke up. "Commander Li, though the Hall Master is dead, the White Tiger Hall’s White Tiger Guards are still here, as are the many Inspectors and Guardian Envoys.

The battle is urgent, and time waits for no one. Every day we delay is another day our Zhenwu Hall border is plundered by those Barbarians of the Grassland.

Therefore, now more than ever, we should throw caution to the wind, attack with all our strength, and in one fell swoop, crush the Hu Yan Tribe and drive the Ten Thousand Demon Sect out of Zhenwu Hall!"

"Easy for you to say. But we are now short one Primordial Pill Realm Grandmaster, while the enemy has three Primordial Pill experts, plus two prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Rankings who can threaten a Grandmaster!

Besides, with no leader, will your people from the White Tiger Hall listen to my command, or the command of the Po Jun Guard?"

Li Tiancheng snorted coldly.

"That’s not the right way to look at it. The one who killed the Hall Master must be completely drained of combat power and won’t be a threat for a short time, at least.

As for the other one on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, Xu Tianhong, leave him to me. I will kill him!"

Chen Yuan’s voice was deep as he continued, "And to everyone from the White Tiger Hall, the Hall Master is dead, but the White Tiger Hall has not disbanded!

The Grand Commandant previously bestowed a Token upon me, giving me the authority to command all Inspectors in times of crisis.

Now that the Hall Master is absent, all Inspectors and Guardian Envoys of the White Tiger Hall shall obey my command to annihilate the Hu Yan Tribe and expel the Ten Thousand Demon Sect!

Of everyone present, who agrees, and who objects?"

After a moment of silence in the Council Hall, Yu Yousong, the Inspector of Kaiping Prefecture, spoke directly. "This old man is willing to follow Lord Chen’s command!"

Du Tianfeng, the Inspector of Linzhong Prefecture, also stepped forward and declared loudly, "I too am willing to follow Lord Chen’s command!"

Although Chen Yuan had only been in the White Tiger Hall for a short time, everyone knew he was powerful and his abilities were astonishing.

With Feng Wushang dead, who among all the Inspectors of the White Tiger Hall could command everyone’s respect?

Yu Yousong, the most senior among them, couldn’t, which meant the others certainly couldn’t either.

Only Chen Yuan had the strength, the achievements, and most importantly, the legitimacy!

The Token the Grand Commandant had given him was practically equivalent to making him the Vice Hall Master of the White Tiger Hall.

It was just that with Feng Wushang holding him down, Chen Yuan had no way to display this authority.

But now that Feng Wushang was dead, he could logically take over the entire White Tiger Hall. Procedurally, at least, there were no issues.

Li Tiancheng gave Chen Yuan a deep look.

He had not expected Chen Yuan to step up and take charge of the situation at a time like this.

Before he could speak, Yang Yanxing said directly, "Since Lord Chen is confident, my Po Jun Guard will continue to take action."

Li Tiancheng thought for a moment before adding, "Since you are confident, Lord Chen, and are willing to shoulder the responsibility for this situation, my Celestial Martial Guard can also continue to act.

But let’s be clear beforehand. My Celestial Martial Guard are elites, carefully cultivated by Zhenwu Hall over the years. They can fight to the death, but they cannot be sent to their deaths.

If I see that things are going south, I will immediately withdraw the Celestial Martial Guard from the White Tiger Hall’s territory."

Previously, Li Tiancheng had wanted to leave only because there was no one present who could take charge of the situation.

If things worsened and the Grand Commandant later assigned blame, he, having come only as reinforcements, was unwilling to take responsibility.

Now that Chen Yuan had declared he would take charge of the situation for Zhenwu Hall, Li Tiancheng had no reason to refuse.

In any case, if the Hu Yan Tribe was dealt with, the Celestial Martial Guard would surely receive credit.

And if the situation worsened, he could simply pull back. The Celestial Martial Guard would suffer no losses, and the blame would definitely fall on Chen Yuan.

Chen Yuan could see through Li Tiancheng’s thoughts, but he didn’t say anything more. It was only human nature.

"In that case, everyone will follow the previous plan: pick off the Ten Thousand Demon Sect Martial Artists one by one and annihilate the Hu Yan Tribe.

Since the Ten Thousand Demon Sect killed a Hall Master of my White Tiger Hall, I will go kill one of their prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Rankings!"

As his voice fell, Chen Yuan walked straight out of the Council Hall. He was a man of action, decisive and ruthless.

This left the Inspectors, who had become accustomed to Feng Wushang’s style, feeling a bit unsettled.

According to Chu Hongshang’s intelligence, Xu Tianhong was currently in Qingyan Prefecture.

Qingyan Prefecture was very close to the central region of the White Tiger Hall’s territory, where many Jianghu Sects had not yet had time to withdraw.

According to Chu Hongshang, Xu Tianhong was crazed and bloodthirsty, and he took sadistic pleasure in slaughter.

So, his reason for following the Ten Thousand Demon Sect to Ning Province this time was purely for recreation.

He had killed too many people from Major Sects in the Central Plains Martial World, which had led to him being hunted by their experts.

If it was just the Vajra Prajna Temple, it would be fine; his father, Xuan Hong, could still go easy on him. But other powers would not indulge him.

So after being brought back to the Ten Thousand Demon Sect by Xu Baiwei, he had been terribly stifled. Now that he finally had a chance to get out, how could he not have his fun to the fullest?

At this moment, inside the Zhang Family estate in Qingyan Prefecture, Xu Tianhong had gathered all one hundred-plus members of the family. He said with a grin, "Do you want to die, or do you want to live?"

The Zhang Family’s old patriarch, who was over a hundred years old, knelt trembling on the ground and begged for mercy. "Of course we want to live! I beg you, please let us live! We are willing to offer up all the wealth the Zhang Family has accumulated over hundreds of years, if only you’ll spare our lives."

Xu Tianhong pointed to himself. "Do you recognize me?"

"Of course I do. You are Master Xu of the Ten Thousand Demon Sect, the talented prodigy ranked twelfth on the Hidden Dragon Rankings," the Zhang Family patriarch answered cautiously.

The next moment, Xu Tianhong sent him flying with a kick, his face expressionless. "You know who I am, yet you still try to disgust me with your worthless junk? Do you really think I, Xu Tianhong, am a beggar who’ll take any trash you offer?"

His gaze swept across the crowd as he said with a smile, "Wanting to live is simple. I’ll randomly point out two people. You will fight each other. Only one can survive."

With that, Xu Tianhong pointed to two people who looked very similar, like a father and son, a mocking expression on his face. "You two. And only one of you gets to live."

The color drained from the father and son’s faces. They looked at Xu Tianhong as if they were looking at a demon.