Chapter 312: Response
Zhu Xuanji's brows furrowed and did not relax.
He had just defeated Ning Zhuo, Sun Lingtong, and Yang Chanyu in a one-on-three battle, yet he felt no joy.
All along, he had focused on concealing his true combat strength. Very few people knew about his two divine abilities, the "Golden Mountain Stance" and the "Jade Pillar Pose."
This time, because it involved the Lava Immortal Palace and the relics left by the Void Refining experts, he finally made a move in public, revealing a portion of his strength.
"Ning Jiufan fought Zheng Shuanggou, Meng Chong, and Meng Family's Golden Core true disciple. Ning Jiufan was defeated and eliminated. Zheng Shuanggou was defeated and eliminated!"
This simple piece of news contained far more information than it seemed.
After thinking about it for a moment, Zhu Xuanji understood the truth: "The Zheng Family has betrayed the three-family alliance I established."
In fact, he had been mentally prepared for this for some time.
He could even guess the reason behind the Zheng Family's betrayal and secret alliance with the Meng Family—
The Taishang Palace was like a sword hanging over the Zheng Family's head, ready to fall at any moment.
The Zheng Family was already on the brink of destruction!
Under such immense pressure, the Southern Dou royal family had been ambiguous in their attitude, never issuing a clear decree to protect the Zheng Family. Thus, the Zheng Family naturally sought self-preservation, desperately searching for a way out.
Meng Kui must have made some promises, giving the Zheng Family a lifeline, leading them to secretly ally with the Meng Family and betray the alliance.
As for the alliance Zhu Xuanji had established with them, it had undoubtedly been undone by the Meng Family's efforts.
Where there was poison, there was an antidote. Where there was an alliance, there were also ways to dissolve it.
Zhu Xuanji silently evaluated the situation.
"Zhou Nongying, Ning Jiufan, the Golden Core true disciple of Zixiao Pavilion, Zheng Shuanggou, Yang Chanyu, the Booklord, and Ning Zhuo have all been eliminated."
"Now, in the Secret Pavilion of Turning Opportunities, only I, Zheng Jianlian, Meng Family's Meng Chong and their Golden Core body cultivator, along with Song Fuli and Sun Lingtong, remain."
"The one who poses the greatest threat to me should be Zheng Jianlian! The demonic weapon, 'Night Rain,' in his hand cannot be judged by common sense."
"Besides that, the only other threat is the cooperation of these people."
"Once they realize my strength is too high, they will quickly unite against me."
In fact, this was one of the reasons Zhu Xuanji had always concealed his true combat power.
"Now, who else can I join forces with?"
"Song Fuli?"
Coming from a royal family, Zhu Xuanji had a keen sense for weighing situations and forming alliances.
In reality, when he first arrived at Huoshi Immortal City, he had no one to rely on but himself.
At first, Zhu Xuanji had used the pretext of investigating a case, openly borrowing the manpower and resources of the City Lord's Mansion. Even Meng Kui had held a shred of hope for the royal family and Zhu Xuanji during the early stages.
Afterward, Zhu Xuanji used his status to adapt to the situation, forming a three-family alliance with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families.
He not only borrowed the power of the local forces but also avoided the predicament of having to fight multiple people alone, thus preventing the premature exposure of his true strength.
Although the Zheng Family betrayed him, it wasn’t really Zhu Xuanji’s fault.
If anyone was to blame, it would be the Southern Dou royal family for not issuing a timely decree.
"In fact, after all this time, the royal family's delay in issuing any decree has already revealed their stance!"
Zhu Xuanji had not made it this far by relying solely on his identity or natural talents; he constantly employed his own strategies.
After some thought, Zhu Xuanji decided not to ally with Song Fuli.
In his opinion, the timing of Song Fuli's appearance with the Cloud Merchants seemed a bit too coincidental.
He could form an alliance with Song Fuli, but couldn’t the City Lord Meng Kui do the same? If it came down to offering terms, Zhu Xuanji was certain he couldn't outbid Meng Kui.
If both sides competed to win over Song Fuli, his chances of being the losing party were high.
Given that, and having just suffered betrayal from Ning Zhuo, Zhu Xuanji preferred to keep his distance from Song Fuli.
Of course, the main reason behind all these decisions was Zhu Xuanji’s confidence.
He was confident that with his strength alone, he could contend against everyone else's combined forces.
What worried him most wasn’t an alliance of opponents, but rather their dispersal.
...
"Zhu Xuanji battled against the entry-level standard, Yang Chanyu, and Ning Zhuo. Yang Chanyu was defeated and eliminated, and Ning Zhuo surrendered and was eliminated?"
Similar to Zhu Xuanji, Meng Chong and the Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator were also reviewing the battle reports of others.
"Ning Zhuo went up against Zhu Xuanji?" Meng Chong was surprised and then exclaimed, "Zhu Xuanji, the formidable Detective! He’s suppressed down to the Foundation Establishment stage yet has defeated so many people. Can Sun Lingtong still not use the mechanical ape he controls?"
The Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator sneered, "It’s not just Ning Zhuo who’s entangled with the Wukong Monastery. The Ning Family also wants a share of the Lava Immortal Palace! The barbarians of North Wind Country have always been ambitious."
Meng Chong shrugged indifferently, "If I were in their place, I’d do the same. Why not fight with everything I’ve got for the spoils?"
The Golden Core body cultivator fell into deep thought and spoke gravely, "If Sun Lingtong can unleash that mechanical ape, Zhu Xuanji’s true strength would be terrifying."
"The Wukong Monastery still has another Foundation Establishment-level mechanical puppet in reserve. It wears a bamboo hat and can control ghosts."
The City Lord’s Mansion had naturally gathered intelligence on the battle between the three families.
Even if they hadn’t, Ning Zhuo had frequently arranged for the Golden-Blooded Battle Ape Dasheng and the Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai to disguise themselves as part of the trial, blocking the trial disciples many times.
Thus, the City Lord’s Mansion had long predicted that the Netherworld Envoy Qi Bai was a hidden trump card.
"Don’t forget, with the weakening of the restrictions, we can now use our own belongings. Although Ning Zhuo is only in the middle stage of Qi Refining, with cultivation similar to you, young master, he has indeed brought a Golden Core-level mechanical ape with him."
"Even if the mechanical ape is suppressed to the Foundation Establishment stage, it’s still a huge threat."
"Add to that the Wukong Monastery's Golden Core true disciple Yang Chanyu..."
"For Zhu Xuanji to defeat these three, his strength is terrifying! He has hidden himself well."
Meng Chong lazily rested his hands behind his head. "Why speculate so much? Let’s just fight Zhu Xuanji directly, and everything will be clear."
The Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator felt exhausted and quickly waved his hand, "War is perilous. Avoiding conflict whenever possible is the best strategy. As the saying goes: 'The best generals defeat strategies; next, they defeat alliances; next, they defeat troops; the lowest strategy is to attack fortresses.' We should try to avoid fighting and aim for victory through the most secure means."
"Not fight Zhu Xuanji?!" Meng Chong's eyes widened. He was genuinely looking forward to this fight, and now someone was saying not to fight?
Meng Chong immediately responded, "It’s a rare opportunity. Zhu Xuanji is being suppressed at the Foundation Establishment stage, and I can use my talent to fight him. If we really fought, how exciting would that be?"
The Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, no, young master, you seem to have forgotten. To claim the position of Immortal Palace Lord, we need to find the correct path in the Secret Pavilion and be the first to enter the main hall. The one who sits on the throne will become the Lord of the Lava Immortal Palace."
"What you should focus on is that task, not an uncertain battle with Zhu Xuanji."
"If a fight does happen, it should be me joining forces with Zheng Jianlian to stop Zhu Xuanji and buy time for you."
Meng Chong’s eyes lit up. "Precisely because it’s uncertain, the battle will be more interesting. This might be a rare chance for our Meng Family to compete with the Zhu royal family! I want to see for myself why the Zhu Family stands above my Meng Family and rules a kingdom."
Too tiring.
The Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator sighed inwardly. Seeing that he couldn’t persuade Meng Chong, he had no choice but to bring up Meng Kui.
"Young master, please restrain yourself."
"Our mission is critical, and these arrangements weren’t made by me but were personally calculated by your grandfather."
"Do you listen to Lord Meng Kui or not?"
Now it was Meng Chong’s turn to sigh. "Sigh! I listen, of course I have to listen to grandfather."
His face was filled with regret.
The Meng Family’s Golden Core body cultivator finally breathed
a sigh of relief.
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit also let out a long breath. It had been watching Meng Chong, seeing how the latter, unaware of the danger, wanted to challenge Zhu Xuanji, and it wished it could smack his head a few times!
Do you even have a brain?!
Zhu Xuanji with three divine abilities! Is that an opponent a young mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator like you can handle?!
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit clearly saw through the battles and was certain that Zhu Xuanji was the strongest in this competition. The only thing that could possibly threaten him was that demonic weapon, Night Rain.
"Everyone has mostly left."
"Next, the Secret Pavilion will be reshuffled."
"Under my guidance, Meng Chong might be able to escape the Secret Pavilion and be the first to enter the main hall!"
Crack... crack...
The Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit shrank back into its shell to think.
Around it, dozens of fiery whips constantly lashed it.
The weakening restrictions allowed it to cheat and secretly tell Meng Chong which way to go. For example, whether to take the left door or the door straight ahead.
It still couldn’t reveal any information about other cultivators.
It still suffered harsh whipping for cheating! Worse yet, it might even be decapitated by the fiery guillotine!
"Ning Zhuo is already out of the picture."
"After the reshuffling, Zhu Xuanji and Meng Chong will be separated, and Zhu won’t be able to stop Meng Chong from breaking through the Secret Pavilion."
Never before had the Dragon Turtle Fire Spirit felt so close to success.
"As long as Meng Chong becomes the Palace Lord, everything I’ve sacrificed will have been worth it!" It silently encouraged itself.
Lava Immortal Palace.
The halo spat out Sun Lingtong.
As soon as he came out, a beast’s roar filled the air, and a fiery monster lunged at him.
Sun Lingtong’s heart skipped a beat, and just as he raised his dagger, the fiery beast’s head was cut off. Scorching blood spurted like a fountain from its neck.
Sun Lingtong quickly retreated, narrowly avoiding being splattered with blood.
"Yang Chanyu!" Sun Lingtong saw his fellow disciple, who had taken action to help him and slayed the fiery beast.
Yang Chanyu didn’t look well; her face was pale like gold paper, and her breath was weak.
(End of the chapter)