Jiang Chen was embedded among the Disha Elders' contingent when he spotted the Vientiane Wind Dharma King bringing in captives from the Treasure Tree Sect. Fury blazed through his chest.
The Wind Cloud Sect truly had no bottom to its depths.
Jiang Chen had long worried about this very possibility from the Wind Cloud Sect, which was why he had preemptively warned the Dan Qian Palace — those with whom he had close ties.
As for the Treasure Tree Sect, it belonged to a secular kingdom. In the world of martial cultivation, secular kingdoms were rarely dragged into the fray.
Yet the Wind Cloud Sect observed no principles whatsoever. They had laid hands on even the Treasure Tree Sect's people.
Jiang Chen suspected that someone had planted this rotten idea in Xiahou Jing's ear. Given Xiahou Jing's status and standing, he would never have thought of this himself, let alone bothered targeting a sect from a mere secular kingdom.
Moreover, these people were cunning as serpents — the handful they had seized were all individuals close to Jiang Chen. Elder Ye Chonglou, and Tang Hong.
These were people Jiang Chen could not simply stand by and watch suffer.
The greater his fury burned, the calmer Jiang Chen became.
The four brothers of the Stone Goliath Clan were currently assaulting the Wind Cloud Sect's foundation, the great army of the Myriad Dragon City had already closed in, and within the Moon God Sect itself, panic was spreading among the ranks.
Under these circumstances, there was no telling what extreme measures the Wind Cloud Sect might resort to.
And so, Jiang Chen reminded himself — he absolutely could not afford to take risks.
"Brother Shu, shall we go have a look at the spectacle together?" Xiahou Jing flashed a leisurely smile.
Shu Wanqing's face broke into an equally amused grin. "Naturally, I shall accompany you."
"Vientiane Wind Dharma King, take these people along. Guard them well — they're precious little treasures now," Xiahou Jing ordered with a light joke in his voice.
"Understood." The Vientiane Wind Dharma King waved his hand, and several subordinates ushered Elder Ye Chonglou and the others ahead.
Jiang Chen followed within the ranks, his expression betraying nothing, though his mind was already turning over plans. He had originally intended to seize this opportunity to eliminate Xiahou Jing and Shu Wanqing.
He had not anticipated this wrench in the works — the capture of the Treasure Tree Sect prisoners.
There was no denying it: the appearance of Elder Ye Chonglou and the others had thrown Jiang Chen's entire strategy into disarray.
The Myriad Dragon City's army was stationed three hundred li away and had not yet reached the heartland of the Wind Cloud Sect. But from top to bottom, the sect had clearly braced itself for battle.
At the forward defensive line, Xiahou Jing and Shu Wanqing had already arrived.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The senior figures of the Wind Cloud Sect manning the forward positions all stepped forward and bowed.
"There's no need for formalities. You've all worked hard. I know you have concerns — worries that the Myriad Dragon City's forces are too vast."
Xiahou Jing smiled blandly. "But put your minds completely at ease. First, the Myriad Dragon City's momentum may seem overwhelming, but their objective is a swift victory. They cannot afford a drawn-out campaign. All we need to do is hold for ten days to half a month, and the Myriad Dragon City will be forced to retreat without a fight. Otherwise, the Barbarian Tribes will strike at their rear!"
"Furthermore, I already hold leverage over Jiang Chen. Caught between a rock and a hard place, that brat wouldn't dare act rashly before me."
As he spoke, he gestured for the Vientiane Wind Dharma King to bring the Treasure Tree Sect hostages forward.
"See these? They are Jiang Chen's seniors and former brothers-in-arms. That boy has always prided himself on loyalty and righteousness. If he doesn't want to be cursed for all eternity, he cannot disregard their lives."
The assembled members caught sight of the Treasure Tree Sect captives the Vientiane Wind Dharma King had seized, and the uneasy dread that had been gnawing at them brightened considerably.
"Good. I've said what needs to be said. Before the Myriad Dragon City's army arrives, everyone get back to work and make our defenses as airtight as possible. Remember — hardship is only temporary. Our Wind Cloud Sect is destined to become the sovereign power of the human domain. I am the rightful future ruler of the human domain!"
Xiahou Jing's voice rang with unshakable confidence.
There was no denying that Xiahou Jing possessed genuine talent for oratory. On top of that, hailing from the Abyssal Island, he held a certain credibility in terms of identity that Jiang Chen could not match.
This gave him a host of unique advantages in commanding the Wind Cloud Sect. Even if the sect suffered defeats, a great many of its followers would remain steadfast — willing to be swayed by his rhetoric.
None of this was without reason.
The identity of the Xiahou clan from the Abyssal Island afforded Xiahou Jing advantages that Jiang Chen simply could not replicate.
"Vientiane Wind Dharma King, take a few capable aides and watch over this batch of prisoners closely. When the Myriad Dragon City's army arrives, I'll still have use for them!"
Xiahou Jing was unwilling to expose these Treasure Tree Sect captives to too many prying eyes. After all, they were of critical importance, and he could not afford any mishaps.
The forward position had stabilized for the time being, but on another front, the four Stone Goliath brothers' assault on the Wind Cloud Sect's foundation had not relented.
Reports kept flying in, and the news grew worse with every message.
Xiahou Jing's temper flared. "That bastard Jiang Chen — his army camps three hundred li away while sending those giants to strike at our foundation. Does he truly believe I have no way to deal with those oversized fools?"
"Brother Shu, those Stone Goliath giants are Jiang Chen's greatest trump card. If we could eliminate those lumbering oafs, the Myriad Dragon City would be no more threatening than a tiger without its claws. Why don't we join forces and go meet these behemoths?"
Shu Wanqing smiled faintly. "As you wish."
He had witnessed the Stone Goliath Clan's power firsthand and knew full well that these giants were far from having recovered to their peak strength. If he, Shu Wanqing, were to face one or two of them, they would not concern him in the slightest.
As long as he was not surrounded by all eight at once, he was confident he could extricate himself.