At this moment, the atmosphere in the scene was stagnant. On one side was Chen Sanliang, on the other side was Zhou Qiucheng. Everyone was swaying back and forth, unable to decide which side to choose.
Zhou Qiucheng noticed that some people’s will began to waver, and he immediately got anxious, his voice echoing throughout the venue like a resounding bell: "Haha, Chen Sanliang’s cruel methods, you are not unaware. How many survivors are left in the territories occupied by the demon race? If you think you can escape responsibility by conspiring to assassinate Chen Sanliang, you are mistaken. Now Chen Sanliang speaks, but it’s just to stabilize you. Once he gains a firm footing, most of you will be killed by him."
As Zhou Qiucheng finished speaking, the atmosphere turned cold, and everyone looked at each other with an expression of embarrassment.
But at this moment, no one stepped forward. Previously, everyone had risked their lives to help Zhou Qiucheng deplete Chen Sanliang’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit, but now that Zhou Qiucheng couldn’t prevail over Chen Sanliang, wouldn’t that just make Zhou Qiucheng seem incompetent and Chen Sanliang appear more heroic?
The situation was now unpredictable, and everyone’s attitude became somewhat ambiguous.
On the sideline, Zhang Chen saw this scene and couldn’t help but shake his head secretly. This group of people could hardly achieve anything great. Everyone had selfish motives, and when faced with life and death, they all knew what choice to make.
Meanwhile, Chen Sanliang, seeing this scene, realized he had already gained control of the situation. Zhou Qiucheng couldn’t be allowed to continue speaking; everything needed to be settled.
Then Chen Sanliang’s Qi Mechanism began to surge: "Zhou Qiucheng, I only ask you one question. Will you submit or not?"
"Haha, although I lost the debate to you, and my Dao collapsed, that doesn’t mean I will hand over Jinling City to you. To capture Jinling City, let’s see if you have the means!" Zhou Qiucheng remained defiant, his body radiating divine light, launching it towards Chen Sanliang, intending to confront him equally.
Seeing this, Chen Sanliang sneered: "How can a Divine Position acquired through external means rival me?"
"Whether it can rival or not is not for you to decide. Do you dare to fight me in the sky?" Zhou Qiucheng reached out his hand, and the Exquisite Tower flew into it, transforming into a small tower about thirty centimeters high, akin to Li Tota, the Celestial King, held in his palm.
Chen Sanliang glanced at the Exquisite Tower, then laughed lightly: "Why wouldn’t I dare? Today, those who follow me will prosper, and those who oppose me will perish. There is no second choice."
After speaking, Chen Sanliang took a step forward and disappeared from Jinling City, reappearing at the top of the sky.
Seeing this, Zhou Qiucheng was about to rise, but suddenly heard a voice in the crowd: "Sir, wait."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiucheng paused his movements and turned to follow the voice, seeing Jiang Nan emerging from the crowd, her eyes swollen from crying, looking at Zhou Qiucheng: "Sir, was everything Chen Sanliang said true? Were you really using me to damage my reputation?"
Looking at Jiang Nan, Zhou Qiucheng’s gaze changed, guilt creeping into his heart: "Jiang Nan, I... I..."
Seeing Zhou Qiucheng’s gaze, Jiang Nan’s face turned ashen: "I understand now!"
"My family is gone, my grandmother too. I thought the teacher took pity on me and accepted me as his disciple. I treated you as family, but who knew that my family would push me into the fire pit, leading me into an abyss. From beginning to end, I was just a pawn. You took me as your disciple only as part of a bargain, with ulterior motives."
Saying this, Jiang Nan suddenly drew a dagger and, without hesitation, stabbed it towards her own throat: "I’m just a rootless drifting weed. If so, why continue to linger in this world? I’d rather die clean."
Jiang Nan’s voice was filled with determination, and as the dagger rushed fiercely, Zhou Qiucheng’s pupils contracted, and he quickly stepped forward to grab Jiang Nan’s arm, preventing her suicide.
He couldn’t let her die in front of him, or what would become of his reputation?
Scheming against a woman was already ruining his reputation enough. If he let Jiang Nan die before him, he would indeed become a laughingstock to the world.
"No! Why are you so extreme? I admit I was wrong..." Zhou Qiucheng held Jiang Nan’s arm, about to say something to save the situation, when suddenly a mist sprayed out of the dagger in his hand, entering Zhou Qiucheng through his nose and mouth.
The next moment, Jiang Nan’s figure flashed, escaping Zhou Qiucheng’s grip, retreating into the crowd, standing before Shen Qiu, looking at Zhou Qiucheng with cold anger: "Old bastard, did you think I was a fool? I knew your scheme long ago, haha... the poison you just inhaled was dug from the Divine Demon Tomb. Enjoy it well, old scoundrel. I embedded myself by your side, just for today."
As Jiang Nan finished speaking, Shen Qiu had already taken her hand and vanished from sight.
Zhou Qiucheng staggered at these words, wanting to pursue Jiang Nan, but the divine power within him was in turmoil. How could he have time to chase?
By the time he suppressed the agitation within his body, Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu were already nowhere to be seen.
"Zhou Qiucheng, are you coming or not? If you don’t, I’m going to shatter the entire Jinling City and let it be buried with you." The voice of Chen Sanliang echoed from above, interrupting Zhou Qiucheng’s next move, leaving him to watch Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu leave in frustration. At this moment, he realized who had betrayed him!
Upon hearing this, an overwhelming divine light enveloped Zhou Qiucheng, the Exquisite Tower transformed into a hundred feet tall, wielding a majestic and overwhelming aura, and smashed towards Chen Sanliang. He had already sensed the tumultuous poison gas within his body, knowing his situation was dire and that he needed a swift resolution.
"Zhou Qiucheng, you truly failed as a person! Look at you, even your disciples have betrayed you. What does your scholarship even teach?" Chen Sanliang didn’t forget to wound with words, his voice filled with mockery, and his body exuding powerful righteousness, showing no fear against Zhou Qiucheng.
From among the crowd below
Zhang Chen looked up at the two fighting in the distance, his eyes showing caution: "What a vicious tactic."
If today’s actions of Jiang Nan weren’t incited by Chen Sanliang, Zhang Chen would dare to write his name backward.
Chen Sanliang already held an absolute advantage but still exhausted every scheme and calculation, clearly showing his mentality and methods, like a lion using full force against a rabbit.
During their struggle, divine light was overwhelming, mountains moved, seas overturned, stars shifted; winds and thunders stirred across a hundred miles, the wind and clouds of Heaven and Earth transformed.
Golden light swirled in Zhang Chen’s pupils as he watched the fierce battle between the two in the distance, shaking his head secretly: "Zhou Qiucheng is no match for Chen Sanliang."
"I don’t think that’s the case. The Exquisite Tower in Chen Sanliang’s hand shoots divine light, with terrifying killing intent circulating. I doubt Chen Sanliang can withstand it." Fox Fairy Nannan emerged from the crowd, contradicting Zhang Chen’s words.
"Zhou Qiucheng previously failed in discussions, dispersing his path leading to severe damage to his Essence, Qi, and Spirit; subsequently schemed by Jiang Nan, his body is already beset with external and internal troubles. The key is the Exquisite Tower; with every move Zhou Qiucheng makes using the Divine Power of the Exquisite Tower, the demonic Qi of the tower grows stronger." Zhang Chen’s voice was filled with seriousness.
"Demonic Qi? What demonic Qi?" Fox Fairy Nannan gazed at the dazzling golden Exquisite Tower, where was there any sign of demonic Qi?
Zhang Chen shook his head and didn’t answer Fox Fairy Nannan’s question; the demonic Qi was beyond what ordinary people could see, even Zhou Qiucheng and Chen Sanliang at such realms couldn’t detect it, let alone Fox Fairy Nannan?
Amidst the whirl of Zhang Chen’s thoughts, Fox Fairy Nannan exclaimed with surprise: "What’s with Jiang Nan?"
"What else could it be, realizing she’s been schemed by Zhou Qiucheng, she has thoughts of revenge. Sadly for Zhou Qiucheng, boasting of mastery in schemes and conspiracies, everything under control, ultimately overturned by Jiang Nan." Zhang Chen didn’t know what to say, feeling Zhou Qiucheng indeed deserved it; daring to keep someone like Jiang Nan close and trust her so much, who else would overturn him?
As they spoke, suddenly a huge noise echoed from afar, then the Exquisite Tower rapidly fell from the sky, smashing onto its original position, creating earth-shaking tremors. Zhou Qiucheng fell from the sky onto the street, the impact causing countless houses to crumble, countless civilians instantly turning to dust, and all living beings within a ten-mile radius becoming blood mist. Even Chongzheng Academy’s mountain was crushed by the Exquisite Tower.
Zhou Qiucheng lay on the ground, his clothes tattered, his whole body scattered, spitting fresh blood from his mouth, bones protruding externally.
Zhou Qiucheng had lost, and lost without suspense.
"Zhou Qiucheng, those aware of the times are wise. If you surrender to me and submit to my Universal Education Dao, you may live today. Not only can you live, but all scholars in Jinling City can be saved. Otherwise, today will be your death day. Whether to live or die, the choice is yours." Chen Sanliang descended leisurely from the void, looking as if he hadn’t just fought a battle, resembling a scholar out for a spring outing.
"I would rather die than surrender to the Demon Race!" Zhou Qiucheng’s voice was firm and resolute: "Human King sent me to guard Jinling, how could I betray the Human King? Moreover, do you really think you can kill me? As long as Incense Faith continues, I can live forever, forever existing in the world. Do you have the ability to kill me?"
"Incense Faith continues?" Chen Sanliang shook his head: "Your faith hasn’t spread beyond Jiangnan Dao; can’t I make your Incense Faith completely extinct?"
After Chen Sanliang finished speaking, he turned to the crowd, his voice filled with emotion: "And you? Are you loyal to the Human King or will you submit and become part of my Dao?"
With Chen Sanliang’s words, the atmosphere in the field changed again.
"Do not listen to his demonic words, you once plotted to assassinate him, he has already ordered the massacre of Jiangnan’s lands, after winning today’s discussion, how could he let you go?" At this moment, Zhou Qiucheng shouted in rebuke.