Chapter 2280: Someone Arrives

At this moment, Bai Wuchang was devastated by the loss of his puppet, realizing he would return empty-handed. He shouted, “President Yan, don’t be fooled by them! This guy is already at the end of his rope. Trust me, he definitely can’t swing a second sword!”

Unlike the United Federation, their Bone Painting Tower had invested heavily in Sheng Jingxuan from Yiling Academy. If the mission failed, they would suffer great losses.

Let alone having to risk the key members, including Elder Bone Silence, still in the city, they would inevitably face revenge from the old Dean Sheng Yanlin later.

Sheng Yanlin was well-connected in the world of martial arts, respected by both righteous and evil factions. Once he regained his footing and gathered his allies, he would surely become a major issue for their Bone Painting Tower in the future.

Moreover, the most crucial point was that the destroyed puppet was connected to Bai Wuchang’s senses. He clearly sensed the opponent’s aura weakening after the previous sword strike.

However, at this moment, Pei Yan could no longer listen to him. That previous sword had frightened this old man out of his wits.

Bai Wuchang saw this clearly and felt anxious. He didn’t expect this old man, despite his big name, to be so pathetically timid.

Many of the bigwigs in the Union have this flaw — eager to take advantage but retreating faster than rabbits when things go wrong.

Although belonging to one of the three major forces, the number of Apostles under the United Federation exceeds those of the Patrol Defense Office and Chamber of Commerce combined. But when there are too many people, things get chaotic, and the result of blind expansion was the inclusion of many unscrupulous characters.

Usually, these big names ride the Union’s coattails, exploiting various opportunities. Others often accommodate them due to the Union’s reputation and influence. But now, reputation is useless; they are fleeing at the mere sight of one sword strike. It’s simply shameful.

No wonder, despite the United Federation and Chamber of Commerce’s overall power, they are always overshadowed by the Patrol Defense Office. Bai Wuchang found the root of the problem — lacking the courage to fight desperately.

Yet Pei Yan apparently heard Bai Wuchang’s words. Although he led his men to retreat, they didn’t go too far, about 200 meters away, and stopped their cars without anyone getting off, obviously still observing, waiting to see how the situation would change.

In his heart, Bai Wuchang had cursed Pei Yan ten times over, but he knew deeply that if he could hold on and set an example for Pei Yan, showing that the so-called Northwest Sword Leader was just a paper tiger, Pei Yan would shamelessly return and continue cooperating with them at Bone Painting Tower for benefits.

When faced with choices between interests and face, this old-timer Pei Yan knew his priorities.

And when Bai Wuchang showed his intent to resist to the end, Mo Shasheng didn’t hesitate for a moment, tightening his grip on the sword hilt, slowly raising his hand, seemingly delivering another plain, average slash.

There was no reference group this time. In Qu Muzhi’s eyes, this sword strike moved extremely slowly, like slow motion, but anyone could sense the power contained within.

Among the swordmasters Qu Muzhi encountered, the sword as a weapon usually won through sharpness or intricate sword moves.

But this Northwest Sword Leader was entirely different; his sword felt heavy and blunt, with straightforward and unremarkable moves, slowly swung out like a mountain toppling down.

Bai Wuchang used another puppet to shield himself; this puppet was different from the previous one. It was tall and sturdy, with a bronze face armor covering its face.

This puppet was once the Sect Leader of a martial arts sect, renowned for its defensive capabilities in life. Augmented by Protective Magical Artifacts, it boasted copper skin and iron bones. Bai Wuchang had indeed gone to great lengths to acquire this one.

There’s no free lunch in the world; sacrificing something big was necessary to catch the wolf. He had already decided that even if he lost these two High-level Puppets today, as long as he could capture the fat prize of Yiling Academy, the Bone Painting Tower would score big.

Additionally, he had his own subtle agenda. Their Bone Painting Tower was founded on Corpse Refining and Corpse Control, with the most precious items being the corpses of High-level Apostles. Now, he had set his sights on this Northwest Sword Leader.

But soon, he realized things weren’t unfolding as planned—Mo Shasheng’s sword had already become formidable.

Moreover, Mo Shasheng’s hand holding the sword didn’t tremble at all, showing no sign of exhaustion or burnout. More critically, Bai Wuchang keenly sensed the taste of danger.

His rationale reminded him that the opponent was a paper tiger, ready to be torn apart. But his experience and instinct told him this sword, once slashed, wouldn’t be blocked by the puppet before him, and hidden behind the puppet, he would at least be severely wounded, possibly even slain by a single strike.

Within a few seconds, Bai Wuchang’s nerves were tugged by two forces repeatedly. Until the last moment, survival instincts prevailed, and Bai Wuchang immediately signaled a Bone Painting Tower elder behind him, their figures blurred and vanished from the spot.

Along with Bai Wuchang, the only remaining puppet disappeared as well.

Seeing the bigwigs retreat, the remaining Bone Painting Tower experts did not persist any longer. They quickly got in their vehicles and left; honestly, they were unwilling to go against the Northwest Sword Leader and the Patrol Defense Office.

As the Bone Painting Tower’s car drove by, Pei Yan and the United Federation members urgently started their vehicles, fleeing first, fearing they might be caught by the Northwest Sword Leader if they lingered.

Even from a hundred meters away, Pei Yan could still feel the terrifying power of that sword, even surpassing the previous one. It was imaginable that the Northwest Sword Leader would become his nightmare for a long time ahead.