"Does it hurt?"

The chairman halted his chanting and asked with interest.

"To say it doesn't, surely would be a lie." A serene smile appeared: "It's just that the world is drenched in rain, all things live precariously, no one bears more burdens for me, I have long hidden my sadness."

"More than being hurt, I'm curious. What kind of offer must have been made, and by whom, to make Wu Zhiqi betray me, betray the tribe, betray his hatred?"

The chairman laughed: "Not all fish wish to live in the same sea; perhaps he just fell for Yanjing's sweet bananas, or maybe he just wanted to forget his hatred... But no matter, when he chose to betray us, it meant he believed leaving us would grant him a better life."

"Moreover, as a demon ape closest to humans," the chairman lowered his voice, "isn't it their trait to forsake righteousness for profit? Behemoth Master, in the long eons you've lived, how many times have you faced such silent betrayals? How many 'fish' seeking to leap out of the sea have you seen?"

"Tonight, after we all land, no more talk of past matters in the sea."

With a raised hand, the entire ceiling was flung open, revealing a moonlit night full of twinkling stars. Those still reeling from Wu Zhiqi's surprise attack on Zong Taiji now looked at the night sky outside, caught in a moment of bafflement as if the restroom door had suddenly burst open while they were engaged.

"Shi Pantuo, Sasajueluo, Jurchen spirits, follow me to confront the enemy, to buy time for the chairman to summon the Holy Sword." With a glance at the dark Naga, he asked: "Sisi, what are your plans?"

They, the various alien species, were gathered for this very reason—to prevent 'accidents'. Now that the accident has occurred, it was time for them to play their roles.

Yet among the alliance of species, only the dark Naga was there purely as a spectator.

Though every year a million Sea Barbarians knock at their gates, and the Radiant people have destroyed many of their coastal habitats, beyond that, there wasn't much conflict of interest; hence, the Naga held little grudge against the Radiant people, being merely a different species after all, since the Radiants couldn't exactly venture into the sea to eradicate them.

But mere differences in species were enough reason for them to sabotage the Radiant people. Even though currently, Radiants still couldn't venture underwater, only navigating the seas, their rapidly advancing weapon technology did not go unnoticed by the Naga, with the border's Luminous Stone focus cannon capable of penetrating the deep sea, vaporizing countless lives.

The Naga sent low-level fish people to knock at their gates both to deplete their population and to probe the Radiants' military strength.

Although the current situation seemed peaceful, the wise Naga, first warlord, 'Mist Lord' Slada believed that the Radiants, having developed every exploitable area on the continent to meet their growing population needs, would inevitably expand outward, either to other continents or deeper into the seas!

Within two hundred years, the Radiants would surely create weapons allowing ordinary people to venture into the deep sea!

No Naga would hope for the Radiants to choose cooperation over mutual benefit, especially since the Radiants, at any moment, could wield the Holy Sword to turn against them, while the Naga had no means of defense.

However, due to the oceanic environment, Naga metallurgy could only develop in coastal areas, but still—compared to Radiants who fought constant border wars, updating their Combat Techniques yearly to pursue higher slaughter efficiency, the Naga's weapon technology was progressing too slowly, lagging behind even humanity.

The path of developing technology to compete on equal footing with the Radiants was too difficult, but weakening the enemy while strengthening oneself was significantly easier.

Aside from Sea Wave Powder, the National Relief Association engaged in many legitimate businesses and had secret channels, where the Naga contributed significantly and even sent Sisi to infiltrate Yanjing, proving their deep desire for the Radiants to erupt into civil war, depleting their population, and abandoning expansion.

Sisi hesitated for a moment, then drew two curved blades: "I will only help you intercept a weaker Martial Pillar, and if anything happens, I'll immediately flee via the river."

Among everyone present, Sisi was the one best at escaping, willing to become a mermaid in the sewers, and if any Martial Pillar dared to pursue them into the sewers to play water games with the Naga, Sisi would gladly let them drown in sewage.

With a smile: "Rest assured, we won't make things difficult for you."

The chairman spoke: "Apologies, the death guards need to protect my safety and cannot go out with you to confront the enemy."

"Stay here and complete your task without worry; with us, it is more than enough to quell the storms of Yanjing."

The smiling demeanor remained calm, yet his words were filled with proud confidence, so much so that it inspired all nearby alien species, dissolving their inner unease, and igniting their fighting spirit!

The wonders of Spirit intimately connected all things, and with a Spiritual Cultivation reaching an unprecedented level, Smile, even without any deliberate intention, every word and action could naturally invoke thoughts and infect souls with spiritual wonders!

With lotus blooming under every step, Smile drifted on the wind without a trace of worldly smoke, gracefully floating out. Others followed closely behind, leaving the underground hall suddenly empty, save for seven silent scabbards, five mute death guards, and one enigmatic chairman.

Looking at the Book of the Dead in his hands, the chairman squinted and uttered a sentence.

His voice was very faint, heard only by the dazed Feng Lv.

"For mere beasts, you all have lived too long."

…

…

Bang!

Smiling, I watched a wisp of fireworks bloom in the sky, then turned to the still dazed Zong Taiji: "Where's Wu Zhiqi?"

"He... he fought with me for a while and then suddenly ran away." Zong Taiji's face was full of confusion: "Suddenly attacked, suddenly ran away, is this how your barbarians are with Maraca? Also, his ears aren't good; I never cursed Hanuman—"

"He just wanted an excuse to beat you up." Sasa Jueluo sneered: "Still haven't figured it out yet, long ears? Wu Zhiqi has betrayed us!"

"What!?" Zong Taiji was just in the midst of it and hadn't thought along those lines; being pointed out naturally made him understand the cause and effect, and his face showed astonishment: "Why would he betray us? Doesn't he also hate humans?"

"Behemoth Master," Shi Pantuo staggered up, looking lost and broken: "Has Old Wu really... betrayed us?"

"Get used to it, Shi Pantuo," Smiling said calmly, "That's my least favorite thing about this world: the most loyal and considerate people always have to endure the worst feelings and outcomes."

"Alright, they're here."

They were in a courtyard that seemed not to have been repaired for a long time, where the nominal owner was a regular wealthy merchant with no connection to the National Relief Association. Smiling jumped onto a 'Grand Ancestor statue' in the courtyard, peering into the distance: "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, seven Martial Pillars and a small number of guards. It seems unrest in other parts of Yanjing has been suppressed; the Martial Pillars can free their hands, but it looks like Lijian Li isn't here; it seems he's guarding the center..."

"Seven?" Sissi scanned the surroundings: "If your Wu Zhiqi doesn't come, we only have five here."

"Let's start assigning tasks." Smiling paid no mind, spoke: "Silver Bell Bai Crane Tears, Star Position Martial Pillar, not weak, known as 'First Divine Speed of Glory'. Sasa Jueluo, can your third eye see his shadow?"

"No problem." Three-eyed Titan Sasa Jueluo drew out two short knives—it should be daggers by Glory's people's standards—he said proudly, "It's time to use the Martial Pillar as a sacrifice to let the world know the infamous name of the Three-eyed Titan."

"Grand Minister of Justice and Dark Judge Cui Yan, holding the Department of Punishment's Illusion Divine Weapon 'Purple Grudge', having many bizarre effects such as deepening enemy injury, enhancing pain perception, dissipating memory." Smiling: "Zong Taiji, can you handle it?"

"Only someone like me, honed from Black Mountains and White Water, can handle him," Zong Taiji said proudly: "I am the true essence of heaven and earth, the spirit of all things, possessing the call of the earth and the favor of the forest; mere Purple Grudge cannot dissolve my spirit, nor harm my body."

"Patrol and Punishment Department Head Mo Yu, Deputy Commander of Twelve Guards Bai Letian, the former is a newly promoted Martial Pillar, the latter has followed Yu Ke for many years, promoted to Martial Pillar five years ago, his combat power is not inferior to Crane Tears or Cui Yan..."

"Leave Bai Letian to me," Shi Pantuo said.

Smiling glanced at him, Shi Pantuo returned a resolute look, earnestly said: "Bai Letian wants to go to the underground hall, the only path is over my dead body!"

With Hanuman's death, Wu Zhiqi's betrayal, tonight, which was supposed to be full of hope, continuously compelled Shi Pantuo into despair. He desperately needs a bloody battle to awaken himself, or use an honorable death to sink forever!

"Alright."

Smiling looked at Sissi, Sissi laughed: "Then I'll graciously go meet young Mo Yu."

"Given this, those guards they brought, please handle them."

"No problem," Sissi asked: "But Crane Tears, Cui Yan, Bai Letian, Mo Yu are just four Martial Pillars, who are the other three?"

"Cha Huan, Yu Ke, Xie Chenyuan."

Upon hearing these three names, the atmosphere in the courtyard immediately tensed. Although they have not had any experience fighting them, the reputation of people precedes them, during the chaos in Yanjing over the past two years, Xie Chenyuan could firmly control the most brutal violent institution Statistical Department in a hundred years, Yu Ke always sat in the biggest military group Twelve Guards within Yanjing City, Cha Huan more wantonly intervened in politics, enough to prove their martial power is top-notch in Yanjing, hence able to intimidate Yanjing!

"Rest assured, they can't escape."

In the astonished eyes of the crowd, Smiling gently stamped the Grand Ancestor statue underfoot into pieces, levitating in the void, calmly said: "Those three, I will deal with."

"You just need to delay without defeat, once I solve them, I'll come help you solve your opponents."

Though it sounded incredibly absurd, somehow the arrogant words from Smiling's mouth made them unintentionally give birth to a sense of belief!

"I never expected anything from the President; the principle of differing minds among those not of our race is known by everyone."

Smiling sneered: "His link after link of conspiracies, if successful it's surely good, but if failed, I don't mind. Because..."

"The simplest violence surpasses all complex schemes."

"Let's go, kill all the enemies over there, and we can attain the right to live under the sunshine."

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