Chapter 244: He Died Far Too Swiftly!
Yu Yuanzhen felt the surging power coursing through his veins, his eyes wide with shock. He looked up at the colossal Rainbow Dragon hovering in the heavens, his heart churning with turbulent waves of astonishment.
The aura this Rainbow Dragon exuded... felt like that of a Spirit Beast with a cultivation base of four or five hundred thousand years.
Yet, it actually obeyed Jiang Bai’s commands?
How on earth did he manage that?
Seeing Yu Yuanzhen standing there in a daze, Jiang Li’er shouted out: "Why are you just standing there gawking? Hurry up and charge!"
Snapping back to reality, Yu Yuanzhen immediately acknowledged her command. Transforming into a streak of blue lightning, he surged into the city.
...
Inside the Main Hall of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Chen Xin strode in briskly, his expression grave.
"Fengzhi, take Rongrong and flee—now! They’ve already breached our defenses!"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head.
"No, Uncle Sword. I cannot leave."
His voice was calm, as if he were discussing a matter of utter insignificance.
"You take Rongrong and Tang San and go."
Chen Xin shook his head in return: "Fengzhi, I will stay and stand with you. We shall fight to the very end."
Ning Fengzhi gazed at him, his eyes filled with a complex blend of gratitude, guilt, and unwavering resolve.
"Uncle Sword..."
Just then, an Elder stumbled into the hall, his face ashen with terror.
"Sect Master, it’s a disaster! They’ve broken through! The city has fallen! The city has fallen!"
Ning Fengzhi closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened his eyes and spoke in a calm voice: "Understood."
He turned to look at Chen Xin: "Uncle Sword, have Tang San take Rongrong and leave first."
Chen Xin gazed at him, remaining silent for a moment. Then, he nodded and turned to depart.
...
The Back Courtyard.
Tang San was recuperating in the courtyard. His complexion remained pale, though it was far better than it had been two months ago.
Ning Rongrong sat by his side.
Upon seeing Chen Xin approaching with hurried steps, both of them rose to their feet simultaneously.
"Grandpa Sword!" Ning Rongrong rushed forward to meet him. "What’s wrong?"
Chen Xin took a deep breath and briefly explained the situation.
"You two must leave immediately. Go via the back mountain; there is a secret passage there that leads directly out of the city."
Ning Rongrong’s tears welled up instantly. She threw herself forward and embraced Chen Xin tightly.
"Grandpa Sword... I don’t want to leave..."
Her voice was choked with emotion; she could barely string together a coherent sentence.
Chen Xin gently patted her back, his voice tender yet firm: "Rongrong, don’t cry. This is something your father and I must face. You have to survive..."
He paused, his voice growing even softer: "For our sake."
He released Ning Rongrong, retrieved a spatial soul tool from his robes, and pressed it into her hands.
"Take this. It contains a few things—enough to last you for a long time."
Ning Rongrong lowered her gaze to the soul tool in her hands, her tears flowing ceaselessly.
Tang San stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Senior Chen Xin, and thank you, Uncle Ning, for your care during this time. I promise I will protect Rongrong with my life!"
Chen Xin looked at him and nodded: "Go now. Any longer, and it will be too late."
Tang San said no more; he took Ning Rongrong by the hand, turned, and ran toward the back mountain.
Ning Rongrong was pulled along as she ran, yet she kept glancing back.
Through her tear-blurred vision, she saw Chen Xin standing exactly where he was, waving goodbye to her. In the morning light, his figure appeared exceptionally aged—and exceptionally solitary.
"Grandpa Sword—!"
Her voice faded away into the wind.
...
Chen Xin watched as the retreating figures of the two youths vanished into the depths of the forest; he took a deep breath, then turned and strode swiftly back toward the main hall.
Inside the main hall, Ning Fengzhi stood before the Sect Master’s throne, gazing at the chair that had been passed down through a thousand years of lineage. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned around.
"Well? Have Rongrong and the others left?"
Chen Xin nodded. "They have already departed."
Ning Fengzhi let out a sigh of relief. He cast one final glance at the throne, then turned to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Xin.
"Uncle Sword, let’s go. It is time to face what we must face."
Chen Xin nodded in agreement. "Mm."
Standing side by side, the two men walked out of the main hall.
Outside the hall, the sunlight was blinding.
The Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan... the forces of the five great sects had already completely encircled the area.
Standing at the very forefront, Jiang Bai stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Upon seeing Ning Fengzhi emerge, he smiled.
It was a smile as light and airy as the drifting clouds.
"Ning Fengzhi—it truly has been a long time."
His voice was soft, yet it carried clearly into the ears of every person present.
"Back in Soto City, why did you depart so hastily?"
Ning Fengzhi looked at him; after a moment of silence, he spoke slowly: "Jiang Bai, I never imagined this day would arrive so soon."
Jiang Bai gave a cold snort. "From the moment you took Tang San away from Spirit City, you should have realized that this day was inevitable."
His voice suddenly turned frigid.
"Of all the things you could have done, why did you insist on taking Tang San? What is so special about that Tang San that he warrants such importance in your eyes?"
Ning Fengzhi had no reply.
Jiang Bai turned his gaze toward Chen Xin. "Chen Xin—you’re still here?"
His eyes settled upon Chen Xin’s hands, which were trembling ever so slightly, and the corners of his lips curled upward.
"Is your sword... still usable?"
Chen Xin’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Jiang Bai spoke no further. He raised his hand and gave it a gentle wave.
"True Dragon’s Fury!"
"Chrysanthemums Wither—Wounding the Earth; Falling Petals—Breaking the Heart!"
"Hellish Specters!"
"..."
Several Title Douluo powerhouses unleashed their attacks simultaneously, causing the very heavens and earth to change color!
Amidst the blinding radiance of countless Spirit Skills, the figures of Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were reduced to dust.
Leaving not even a speck of ash behind. ...
After the battle concluded, Jiang Bai instructed Yue Guan and Gui Mei to lead their troops in thoroughly scouring every inch of Seven Treasures City.
The treasury was thrown open, and chests upon chests of wealth were hauled out.
Gold Soul Coins, medicinal herbs, Soul Tools, and various rare materials... they piled up into veritable mountains.
Standing at the entrance to the treasury, Yue Guan watched the soldiers as they carted away the loot; his effeminate face was beaming with delight.
"Good heavens! The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect truly is filthy rich."
Gui Mei stood silently by his side, offering no comment.
...
Jiang Bai did not remain within the city walls.
Taking Jiang Li’er and Bi Ji with him, he took a stroll around the city’s outskirts.
Jiang Li’er trailed behind him, observing how he would stop and start, occasionally releasing his spiritual energy to probe their surroundings. Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked, "Jiang Bai, what are you looking for?"
Jiang Bai offered no reply. Instead, he ascended a cliff overlooking the landscape; gazing out at the distant, undulating mountain ranges, he suddenly spoke: "Ning Fengzhi—that old fox—he died far too calmly."
Jiang Li’er was taken aback. "Calmly? But wasn’t he killed by you?"
"Indeed. Far too calmly," Jiang Bai replied, turning to face them.
"He didn’t even put up a fight; he simply stood there, waiting for death. Does that strike either of you as normal?"
Bi Ji looked thoughtful.
"Are you suggesting... that he had already arranged an escape route?"
Jiang Bai nodded.
"Ning Fengzhi is an old fox; it is inconceivable that he wouldn’t have a contingency plan. The fact that he met his end so readily implies that he had already sent away the people who mattered most to him."
Jiang Li’er’s eyes widened in sudden realization.
"His children!"
"Ning Rongrong—and Tang San," Jiang Bai added.
He gazed into the distance, a glint of playful amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Let them run for a little while first."
Jiang Li’er blinked in confusion. "You’re not going to chase them?"
Jiang Bai smiled.
"What’s the rush? In a game of cat and mouse, you have to give the mouse a little glimmer of hope before you crush it—that’s the only way to make it truly entertaining."
Observing the expression on his face, Jiang Li’er couldn’t help but shiver.
This guy... he really is wicked.
Bi Ji let out a soft sigh but remained silent.
The three of them turned around and began walking back toward Seven Treasures City. In the distance, two young figures were struggling to make their way through the mountain woods.
Little did they know that a pair of eyes had already locked onto them.
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