Chapter 466: Something Happened, My Godfather and I Have Been Captured

Only sixty people were officially taking part in this two-state Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle.

Thirty from Zhao State, and thirty from the Rong tribe.

Each side had also sent over a hundred veteran Sixth-Rank martial artists to the island.

Of the fewer than three hundred Sixth-Rank martial artists in total, at least ninety percent had now been captured.

Hua Zhuo had not expected Zhao Zheng, Qin Kunlun, He Tongchen, Jie Shu, and the others to be here too, and a trace of astonishment crossed his face.

Among those captured alongside him were the likes of Xie Zhihu from Star Observation Academy and Zhao Yan.

The two sides looked each other over, and Hua Zhuo could not help murmuring,

“All thirty of Zhao State’s Sixth-Ranks are here…”

The person who had captured this group of Sixth-Ranks was an old man who looked to be in his seventies or eighties.

His clothes and appearance were unkempt, like those of an ordinary fisherman who had spent his whole life fishing at sea.

A strong fishy smell clung to him.

“River Elder, now that we’ve got them all, we can just lock them up. There’s no need to make trouble.”

Hua Jinsong smiled and cupped his hands.

Old Tu, however, suddenly stood up and laughed.

“River Elder is right. Let them fight the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle. We’ll be waiting here for a while anyway.

There’s no harm in having a look at the skills of Zhao State’s and the Rong tribe’s top prodigies. It’ll be good for our disciples, too.”

There were quite a few Star-Sea Fishing Alliance disciples nearby, among them many powerful Sixth-Rank martial artists.

Their gazes had been arrogant all along, but at these words, they too seemed tempted.

Old Tu’s suggestion struck a chord with the village chiefs present, and one after another they voiced their support.

River Elder looked at Hua Jinsong with a beaming smile.

“You’re such a spoilsport. Look, all the brothers agree with my suggestion. Don’t pour cold water on things.”

Hua Jinsong thought it over, then smiled.

“Fine, then. We can take the opportunity to observe the cultivation methods and martial arts techniques of these two states.”

At that moment, one of the captured Sixth-Rank warriors from the Rong tribe spoke with a cold expression.

“I’m a Sixth-Rank member of the Heavenly Wolf Guard from the Rong tribe’s Capital. Our army is stationed a dozen or so miles from Fire Flood Dragon Island, with Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme Chen Quan, Vice Director Chen, in command.

Your Star-Sea Fishing Alliance has attacked the Rong tribe this time. Aren’t you afraid Vice Director Chen will come and crush you?

You’re only Fourth-Rank Grandmasters, aren’t you? Against a Third-Rank, you’re nothing but weaklings!”

The atmosphere at the scene turned strange for a moment.

The Star-Sea Fishing Alliance’s Fourth-Rank Grandmasters all smiled, as though they had just heard a joke.

Yang Ling was thoroughly impressed. After being beaten up by a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster once, he could never bring himself to call anyone a weakling.

At that moment, the gazes of both Zhao State’s and the Rong tribe’s Sixth-Ranks all turned toward that Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member in unison.

Feeling the hint of admiration in those gazes, the Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member found himself a little bolder and continued,

“Fire Flood Dragon Island is full of dangers. Fourth-Ranks like you will only meet disaster if you set foot on it. If you leave now, you might still save yourselves. Stay a few more days, and you may not make it off alive.”

River Elder could not help laughing.

“Young man, why weren’t you so talkative when we caught you earlier? Now that all the Sixth-Ranks from Zhao State and the Rong tribe are gathered here, you’ve found some courage?

Trying to show them how brave you are?”

Old Tu chuckled in turn.

“You’re clever people. Seeing us here, you should know Fire Flood Dragon Island isn’t what it used to be. Fourth-Rank Grandmasters can land here without triggering any danger.”

“But Zhao State and the Rong tribe don’t know that. So, the Chen Quan you mentioned, Vice Director Chen, and the one Zhao State sent over is… Left Vice Minister of War Xie Jinjia, right?

Even if they had all the courage in the world, they wouldn’t dare come near Fire Flood Dragon Island.”

Zhao Zheng and the others’ expressions changed abruptly. The Rong tribe’s Sixth-Ranks also looked startled.

“Fourth-Rank Grandmasters can land without triggering danger? Fire Flood Dragon Island isn’t what it used to be?”

“So it really is…”

Yang Ling sighed inwardly. He had already learned from Ji Tianming that the mysterious force affecting Fourth-Rank Grandmasters originated from the old flood dragon.

Now that Fourth-Rank Grandmasters were openly walking around here without being affected, there was only one possibility.

The old flood dragon had reached the end of its lifespan!

“If the old flood dragon is dead, then this danger no longer exists…”

“The Star-Sea Fishing Alliance brought so many Fourth-Rank Grandmasters this time. They probably know the old flood dragon possesses the inheritance of the Crimson Refined Fire Flood Dragon Sect…”

Yang Ling’s heart sank slightly, but he was also somewhat relieved.

He could pass the news on to Zhang Wei and have him relay it.

“Besides, I can enter the Devour Heaven Palace dungeon and break through to Fifth-Rank.”

He had been worried that breaking through to Fifth-Rank would expose him to that danger.

Now that he no longer had to worry about it, what was he waiting for?

“Break through to Fifth-Rank! Then add points and advance to Middle Fifth-Rank!”

“Then work with Lord Li and the others to drive off this Star-Sea Fishing Alliance crowd!”

Yang Ling nodded to himself, rather impressed by his own plan.

【Zhang Wei (Private chat): Something happened, my godfather and I have been captured.】

Yang Ling saw the message and did not understand what was going on for a moment.

【Yang Ling (Private chat): What kind of joke is this? Eunuch Xu is the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, a Fifth-Rank Lesser Master. Who could capture him?】

【Zhang Wei (Private chat): I’m not joking. Lord Xie captured my godfather and me. Do you think Lord Xie has betrayed Zhao State? I haven’t advanced to Fifth-Rank yet. I don’t want to die like this.】

What!? Xie Jinjia had captured them!?

Yang Ling was taken aback and hurriedly asked for details.

【Zhang Wei (Private chat): You asked me to pass on the news. After I told my godfather, he went to find Lord Xie. My godfather was captured first, then I was captured too. Now the experts under Lord Xie are watching us, never leaving our side.】

Yang Ling’s heart sank. He had a terrible feeling about this.

Xie Jinjia was a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme!

If he had betrayed Zhao State, they were sure to die on Fire Flood Dragon Island. There was no way they would make it out alive!

“Why? Why would Xie Jinjia betray Zhao State? What is he after?”

“Is he working with the Star-Sea Fishing Alliance?”

No one knew what Yang Ling was thinking at that moment.

Hearing Old Tu’s teasing words, the Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member’s expression stiffened.

So Fourth-Rank Grandmasters could now land on Fire Flood Dragon Island without encountering danger?

If they could not get this news out in time, then the experts with their fleet would not be able to come to their aid in time either…

Their current situation was… they were completely cut off from help!

“Everyone on both sides who’s taking part in the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle, step forward and form your teams.”

River Elder spoke with an easy smile.

The crowd looked at one another, but had no choice but to obey.

Once the two teams had formed, River Elder looked at the Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member with a beaming smile.

“Young man, you’ve had the most to say. You can have the first match. Pick an opponent from the other side yourself.

If you win, you’ll be treated to plenty of food and drink.

If you lose, we’ll have to break at least one of your arms or legs.”

Whether from Zhao State or the Rong tribe, all the Sixth-Rank experts were people of standing, with connections and distinguished backgrounds.

Being treated like livestock now made them feel both humiliated and furious.

The Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member took a deep breath and looked over the thirty Sixth-Ranks on Zhao State’s side.

Yang Ling did not want to draw attention, so he took half a step back and hid behind Xu Qingnian.

The other man’s eyes lit up. He pointed at Yang Ling.

“You. You’re my opponent!”

Xu Qingnian was taken aback, his expression turning a little unpleasant.

“Me?”

“No, the one behind you! Why are you hiding? If you’ve come to Fire Flood Dragon Island, don’t be so timid!”

The Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member vented his anger on Yang Ling, his tone unfriendly.

“Oh, you want to pick Yang Ling as your opponent.”

Xu Qingnian let out a sigh of relief and stepped aside.

“Yang Ling, he wants to fight you. Go on.”

That was Yang Ling? The Sixth-Rank Heavenly Wolf Guard member’s expression shifted, and he immediately pointed at Xu Qingnian.

“I misspoke just now. I choose you as my opponent.”