Outside the Sword Manor, a fierce battle raged.
The Wild Wolf mercenary group, the Duanmu mercenary group, and the Temple of Light were all locked in a bloody struggle, their eyes red with battlelust. They fought indiscriminately, paying no heed to who would ultimately claim the heart of the ruins.
While their fight was intense, to the other factions observing, the situation was a clear rout. Despite the Wild Wolf mercenary group’s superior killing intent and fearless charge, they simply couldn’t bridge the gap in strength. They fell one after another as if marching to their deaths, leaving even Jhelson battered and bruised.
In contrast, the Duanmu mercenary group had also lost many brothers, but their backing from the Temple of Light meant their casualties were minimal, with only one or two divine envoys falling in the intense melee.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the cacophony of fighting subsided. Hasal, the cardinal of the Temple of Light, stood before Jhelson, shaking his head with a sigh.
"Jhelson, you mad dog. You're the last one left. Prepare to die!"
"Hasal, though I, Jhelson, fall today, the Wild Wolf mercenary group will surely avenge me!"
Despite his wounds and inability to resist, Jhelson’s courage remained unshaken as he met Hasal’s gaze with a cold stare. He felt he had gotten his fill from this expedition to the ruins. Though he lost a legion of his brothers, he had also dealt a severe blow to the Duanmu mercenary group and the Temple of Light, significantly diminishing their chances of obtaining the heart of the ruins. As long as the other side didn't reap the greatest benefits in the end, he could rest in peace.
"Then die!"
Upon hearing Jhelson's words, Hasal's face contorted with murderous intent. He flicked his wrist, sending a dagger flying towards Jhelson.
*Clink!*
Just as the dagger was about to pierce Jhelson’s throat, a flash of silver light streaked through the air, deflecting the projectile. In the blink of an eye, a hundred-strong contingent slowly approached. Leading them were Black Belly, the副团长 (vice-leader) of the Rattlesnake mercenary group, and two Jonin from Japan, Ozawa and Tsumon.
"Rattlesnake mercenary group, and the Shinobi of Japan, do you now dare to interfere with the affairs of the Temple of Light?" Hasal's face darkened further as his attack was intercepted. He fixed a cold gaze on the newcomers. The Duanmu mercenary group was all but annihilated under the frenzied assault of the Wild Wolf mercenary group, and he had lost many of his divine envoys. He could not let this insult slide, and the interference from the newcomers ignited his fury.
"Cardinal Hasal, please quell your anger. You have already slaughtered the Wild Wolf mercenary group; surely you won't begrudge us this one?" Ozawa stepped forward, attempting to strike a deal with the Temple of Light. "We have some unfinished business with the Wild Wolf mercenary group. We hope you will hand him over to us. We are willing to offer three spirit stones in exchange..."
The primary objective of the Japanese Shinobi was to sow chaos and incite all factions into conflict, thereby reaping the benefits of the ensuing turmoil. Ozawa merely wished to keep a survivor alive to report back to the Wild Wolf mercenary group outside the ruins. Of course, they could relay the information even without Jhelson. The problem was whether the Wild Wolf mercenary group would believe them, or even suspect the Shinobi of deliberately provoking discord, which would be counterproductive. Thus, after deliberation, the Japanese Shinobi decided to take the risk and intervene.
From a distance, various factions that had been observing the events broke into discussion as the Japanese Shinobi made their move, the Dark Association among them.
"Damn it, these Japanese vermin are truly despicable!" Zi Long spat, his gaze then shifting to Ye Cangtian. "Xuan Qi, do you think the Temple of Light will compromise?" Zi Long believed the Temple of Light could see through the Japanese Shinobi's intentions. The Temple of Light, having just engaged in battle, was not in a favorable position for another fight, especially with the surrounding factions watching like predators. Therefore, the outcome remained uncertain.
"They probably will, if Hasal isn't an idiot." Ye Cangtian smiled faintly. While the Temple of Light possessed the strength to defeat the Shinobi and the Rattlesnake mercenary group, engaging them would likely result in uncontrollable casualties, effectively removing them from the competition for the heart of the ruins. Zi Long nodded in agreement.
As expected, not long after, they witnessed Hasal reluctantly handing over Jhelson to the Shinobi. The Shinobi and the Rattlesnake mercenary group quickly withdrew from their area.
"Hmph, the Shinobi are no longer a concern," Qing Dao said with a cruel smile. By intervening in the Temple of Light's affairs, the Shinobi had seemingly gained the upper hand and publicly embarrassed the Temple of Light. However, the Temple of Light would not let this matter rest. It was likely they would seek revenge before leaving the ruins. At the very least, they would not allow Jhelson to leave alive. In doing so, the Dark Association found itself with one less problem to deal with.
Ye Cangtian nodded subtly, but a hint of helplessness flickered beneath his mask. At present, the faction with the strongest visible fighting power within the ruins was undoubtedly the Dark Association. With three Earth-tier powerhouses and several Xuan-tier stewards providing support, they were the most likely contenders for the heart of the ruins. If the Temple of Light were to be further weakened, no one would be able to check the Dark Association's influence, which was not a good sign! It might even bring immense pressure to bear on the Hua Xia Hidden Organization. Thinking this, Ye Cangtian muttered to himself, realizing he needed to find a way to thin the ranks of the Dark Association!
*Creak!*
As Ye Cangtian was lost in his calculations, the gates of the Sword Manor slowly opened with a grating sound. Everyone turned their heads. Though seemingly small, the Sword Manor stretched out like an empty city, its expanse seemingly boundless. The towering sword stood at the furthest point in the center.
"Charge!"
Seeing the gates open, many factions were invigorated and charged in without hesitation. However, the Dark Association and the Temple of Light did not move. The path ahead was fraught with danger, and the Sword Manor was unlikely to be peaceful.
*Boom, boom, boom...*
As expected, after the other factions stormed into the Sword Manor, deafening roars erupted from within, causing the very ground to tremble. Stone figures, like an ambush, emerged from the streets and alleys, ferociously attacking those who entered. These stone figures appeared more intelligent than any encountered before. They understood ambushes, coordinated their attacks, and possessed formidable speed and attack power. This was evident from the larger, purer white spirit stones embedded in their chests.
"Be careful, the real danger has only just begun." Zi Long glanced at Ye Cangtian and the other Xuan-tier stewards. Based on their assessment, these stone figures were at least approaching Xuan-tier in strength, making them difficult opponents. And with these stone figures scattered throughout the Sword Manor, they were likely the lowest tier of combatants within the manor. If higher-tier combatants were to appear, even Xuan-tier stewards might perish. After issuing a warning, Zi Long saw that most factions had entered the manor before leading his own men inside.
Chaos reigned within the manor. Despite the Dark Association entering later, they were still met by a surge of stone figures.
"Seek cover and break them down one by one!" Zi Long roared. His men immediately scattered. At this stage, defeating the stone figures was important, but preserving their strength was paramount.
Seeing his companions disperse, Ye Cangtian quietly detached himself from the group. His direction was towards the Dragon Group's area, as the Dragon Group members were injured and would likely struggle against such formidable stone figures. Ye Cangtian was concerned and went to investigate.
However, he hadn't gone far when he noticed someone stealthily following him. A cold smile spread across Ye Cangtian's face. He had already guessed the follower's identity. It was likely Xuan Eleven, who had repeatedly been outmaneuvered by him and harbored suspicions. Coming after him now, he likely intended to catch him in the act. With this thought, Ye Cangtian paid it no mind and did not expose them, continuing his search for the Dragon Group. The Dragon Group members were likely acting with the Pandora mercenary group and the Death God squad. It would be a good opportunity to do a favor and let Zhao Ziyang handle Xuan Eleven, wouldn't it?