917: Chapter 918 Battle of the Heavenly Kings

Seeing this, the Grand Elder was so enraged that his entire body trembled. His trembling fingers swept across the more than one hundred Elders and deacons who had seconded the motion, his voice carrying an incredulous fury:

"You... You! This is simply outrageous!!"

"Zhao Wuji harbours the ambitions of a wolf and has abused his position, feeding his own descendants with the Sect's Foundation!"

"Can't you all see that he is exploiting the blood feud of Xuanwu Peak to commit treason and usurp power?!"

"Every single one of you is an old-timer cultivated by the Sect for hundreds of thousands of years!"

"To think you would follow him in rebellion today?! How can you face the spirits of our past Ancestral Masters in heaven?!"

Driven to the absolute limit of his fury, his voice cracked slightly, his white beard shook violently, and his eyes were filled with heartache and disappointment.

Among those Elders and deacons who seconded the motion, quite a few subconsciously lowered their heads when his gaze swept over them, not daring to meet his eyes.

But no one stepped back; they had long been secretly bought off and controlled by the Third Elder.

Meanwhile, upon the high platform, Sect Master Liu Zhenshan remained utterly silent.

He simply watched coldly at the more than one hundred figures who had stepped forward below, imprinting every single one of their faces into his mind.

He wanted to see clearly just who had stood on the opposite side of him today.

When the dust settled, he would settle all accounts together.

At that moment, Third Elder Zhao Wuji suddenly smiled, his gaze sweeping past the furious Grand Elder to land upon the Ziyang Peak Master, Tianjian Peak Master, and Biluo Peak Master.

His voice softened a fraction, carrying a persuasive and guiding tone:

"The three Peak masters, you have seen it as well. In today's trend, the Mandate of Heaven is with me. Sect Master Liu Zhenshan acts perversely and has long since lost the hearts of the people."

"The three of you are all wise men; why bother burying your futures along with him?"

"If the three of you are willing to stand by and watch, after I am done, your positions as Peak masters will remain unchanged, and your treatment will only increase, never decrease."

His words were spoken with utmost sincerity, as if he were truly looking out for the three Peak masters.

At this moment, wielding the combat power of five heavenly kings and with over a hundred mid-level factions attached under his command, his confidence was overwhelming. He still wished to win over the three Peaks at the very last moment to completely control the entire Tianyuan Sect!

Tens of thousands of gazes across the audience instantly converged upon the three Peak masters, everyone holding their breath as they awaited their choice.

If the three Peaks defected, the orthodoxy of the Tianyuan Sect would completely collapse, leaving no possibility of a comeback!

Yet just as the words fell, Ziyang Peak Master's expression turned cold. Spiritual light instantly soared into the sky from around his body, and the aura of a heavenly king burst forth without any reservation!

He did not answer the Third Elder's words; instead, he simply turned around and bowed solemnly with cupped fists toward Sect Master Liu Zhenshan upon the high platform:

"My Ziyang Peak swears to death to support the Sect Master."

Tianjian Peak Master did not speak; he merely pressed his hand against the hilt of his sword, silently stepping to the side of Ziyang Peak Master.

His actions had already explained everything.

Biluo Peak Master had even fewer superfluous words. With a light flick of long sleeves, he likewise stood beside Ziyang Peak Master.

The three Peak masters lined up in a row, blocking the space between Sect Master Liu Zhenshan and Zhao Wuji.

The stances of the three Peak masters were resolute, without a shred of hesitation!

Following closely behind, the Grand Elder's body burst with overwhelming pressure, standing firmly by the Sect Master's side!

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan sat composedly upon the high platform as the golden light of the Sect Master slowly rose around him, and the boundless power of the Peak of the Sixth Stage of the Heavenly King realm gradually awakened.

The five heavenly kings of the orthodox faction were all fully in position!

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan, the Grand Elder, Ziyang Peak Master, Tianjian Peak Master, and Biluo Peak Master!

Ten heavenly kings confronted each other across the air, standing at a standoff!

The atmosphere across the entire plaza was taut to the absolute limit, as if a single spark would ignite a battle that would destroy everything.

Zhao Wuji's gaze swept across the three opposite Peak masters, cursing damn it inwardly in his heart.

He had anticipated that several Peak masters might waver, but he had never expected them to stand so firmly on Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's side.

Originally, he had planned to rely on formidable combat power to force the Sect Master to step down. Now that the number of heavenly kings on both sides was equal, forcefully compelling the other party to compromise had already become impossible to achieve.

Five against five.

On his side, he himself was at the Peak of the Fifth Stage, the Peak Master of Xuanwu Peak was at the Fourth Stage, the Second Elder was at the Early Stage of the Fifth Stage, and his two sons were merely at the First Stage of the Heavenly realm.

On the opposite side, Sect Master Liu Zhenshan was at the Peak of the Sixth Stage, and the Grand Elder was at the Early Stage of the Fifth Stage.

Tianjian Peak Master was at the Fourth Stage, while both Ziyang Peak Master and Biluo Peak Master were at the Third Stage.

If they truly fought to the death, even if they managed to fortuitously defeat Sect Master Liu Zhenshan, his side would still lose two or three heavenly kings, and the Sect would be torn apart and suffer a heavy blow to its Origin Qi.

By then, even if he sat on the throne of the Sect Master, what he would obtain would merely be a mess.

The surrounding heavenly king factions, eyeing them covetously, would never let go of this opportunity.

It was not worth it.

A fierce look flashed through the depths of his eyes, and he had already made up his mind.

Rather than fighting to the death for a ruined Sect Master position, it would be better to—

strike out on his own with his current crew!

For millions of years, he, Zhao Wuji, had held the resources of the treasury in his hands. The wealth, Spirit Medicines, and heavenly soldiers he had accumulated were far more than what could be seen on the surface.

Coupled with five heavenly kings, tens of thousands of Disciples from Xuanwu Peak, and affiliated forces he had operated in secret over the years,

it was completely sufficient to carve out a heavenly king-grade faction no weaker than Tianyuan!

Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated. His gaze grew increasingly icy as he loudly declared:

"Since the Sect Master persists in refusing a retrial and refusing to abdicate, starting from today, we shall sever ourselves from the Tianyuan Sect!"

"We shall establish our own Sect and henceforth have no affiliation with Tianyuan!"

As these words fell, they left everyone dizzy and lightheaded.

At this moment, the thousands of Disciples of Xuanwu Peak were completely dumbfounded, and even the Second Elder and the Peak Master of Xuanwu Peak were stunned.

This Third Elder simply wasn't playing according to the rules!

Weren't they supposed to pressure the palace to usurp power, force Sect Master Liu Zhenshan to step down, and re-elect a new Sect Master position?!

How did it suddenly turn into splitting the Sect?!

The Peak Master of Xuanwu Peak opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words forcefully back down the moment they reached his lips.

The arrow was already nocked, and the saber was already unsheathed.

If he were to publicly question Zhao Wuji at this moment, it would only cause the already tottering Xuanwu faction to completely split apart.

He could only bite the bullet and say, "All Disciples of Xuanwu Peak, listen to my orders—follow the Third Elder and withdraw from Tianyuan!"

At this moment, the ancient Tianyuan Sect, which had been passed down for endless years, officially faced the crisis of a split!

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu stood shoulder to shoulder, looking at the hair-trigger scene before them, a trace of unbearable reluctance and self-blame flashing through the depths of their eyes.

They had not expected that Sect Master Liu Zhenshan, faced with such pressure, would resolutely protect their group.

No one could have anticipated that this private grudge originating from slaughter in the Secret Realm had long since deviated from its original grievances, evolving into a heaven-shaking civil strife capable of shaking the ancient Foundation of Tianyuan.

"There is no need to be too hard on yourselves."

Liu Qingyao's soft voice came from beside them.

She stood at the back of the crowd, gazing from afar at the multitude of heavenly kings confronting each other in the air, seeing through it all thoroughly.

"The Third Elder's ambition has been deeply buried in his heart for millions of years, secretly accumulating strength and plotting to carve out a territory and stand on his own."

"The matter of the Secret Realm was merely a coincidence that ignited the fuse."

"Even without you, another day he would have found another pretext to stir up a storm. This great chaos was bound to come sooner or later."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruobai was slightly startled, slowly exhaling a breath of foul air.

Liu Qingyao's words hit the nail on the head, yet the heaviness in his heart was still difficult to completely dissipate.

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's eyes surged with chilling light, and his majestic, heavy voice resounded across the heavens and earth:

"Zhao Wuji! Cease your wild talk! Xuanwu Peak belongs to an indivisible part of Tianyuan!"

"To leave the Sect without permission is a grave crime of treason! This seat will absolutely not allow it!"

"Whether you allow it or not is long past being decided by the Sect Master alone!" Zhao Wuji roared in a deep voice.

"As long as we are still here, we will never allow Xuanwu to tear the Sect apart!" Sect Master Liu Zhenshan did not yield an inch, his voice shaking the vast sky.

Previously, his repeated concessions and restraints everywhere were not because he was cowardly, but because he was wary of ten heavenly king-grade powerhouses fighting to the death with all their might.

Once the great chaos began, the entire Tianyuan mountain gate would be razed to the ground by the aftermath of spiritual power, countless Disciples would be buried along with it, and the ancient Foundation of the Sect would completely collapse!

Yet at this moment, Zhao Wuji dared to openly sever the orthodoxy and split the Foundation of the Sect!

This had long since exceeded the scope of private grievances and power struggles!

This was a crime punishable by the destruction of the Sect, one that severed Tianyuan's orthodoxy and ruined its ancient Foundation!

At this moment, all of Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's forbearance was completely cleared away!

There was no need for any more verbal arguments!

"Since you insist on betraying the Sect and splitting the land—"

"Then this seat shall suppress the rebellion!"

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's eyes held bone-chilling cold light, and the golden light of the Peak of the Sixth Stage around his body burst forth explosively!

The spiritual qi of the entire heaven and earth instantly turned turbulent!

He abruptly turned his head to look at the Grand Elder, his voice as heavy as cast iron:

"Grand Elder, open the Sect-Protecting Grand Array, control the aftermath of the battlefield, and protect the Foundation of the Sect!"

The Grand Elder was startled, instantly understanding Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's intention.

The Sect Master was going to make a move personally, while he was responsible for guarding the rear and preventing the battle of the heavenly kings from destroying the Tianyuan mountain gate!

"Rest assured, Sect Master!"

The Grand Elder nodded heavily, forming hand seals with both hands. A vast array spiritual light soared into the sky from his palms, sinking into the underground of the five main Peaks of Tianyuan!

Sect Master Liu Zhenshan's figure broke through the air in an instant, golden kingly spiritual power traversing the vast sky without the slightest reservation, taking the initiative to punch toward Zhao Wuji!

Boom!!!

Heaven and earth trembled violently! The Sect Master, who had endured for countless years, made his move completely!

Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank abruptly! He had not expected Sect Master Liu Zhenshan to be so decisive.

The previous moment they were still exchanging verbal blows, and the next moment a fatal strike had already arrived!

But the arrow had already left the bowstring, leaving him no room to retreat!

He stamped his foot fiercely, his spiritual power surging violently around him. A shadowy phantom of a pitch-black cauldron suddenly materialized behind him, and the runes on the body of the cauldron blazed with brilliant light!

"Together!"

Following his loud roar, the Second Elder, Ji Linyan, and the Zhao family twins all moved simultaneously, wanting to rush to Zhao Wuji's aid!

But their opponents had already moved a step ahead!

"Second Elder! Your opponent is me!"

Tianjian Peak Master's sword hum soared into the heavens, and an incomparably fierce sword light slashed horizontally across the air, intercepting the Second Elder's path!

"Ji Linyan! You betrayed the Sect, and today I shall clear the portal on behalf of the past Ancestral Masters!"

Biluo Peak Master's long sleeves fluttered, and strands of emerald-green spiritual light wound outward like poisonous snakes, entangling the Peak Master of Xuanwu Peak!

As for Ziyang Peak Master, he met the Zhao family twins alone!

Purple flames rose around his body. Fighting two against one, his palm wind was like a mountain, firmly pinning the two newly advanced heavenly kings of the Zhao family in place!

"You two juniors! Let this seat see how much weight these heavenly kings piled up by Zhao Wuji using the Sect's resources actually hold!"

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four pairs of heavenly kings commenced battle simultaneously!

The Grand Elder stood within the core of the array, maintaining the array seals with both hands, his gaze like torches as he overlooked the entire battlefield.

He did not make a move himself, but he controlled the Sect-Protecting Grand Array, locking the collision aftermath of the heavenly king battle tightly within bounds.

Above the sky, golden light and pitch-black cauldron shadows collided frantically, sword light and emerald flames intertwined horizontally and vertically, and purple fire and earth-yellow spiritual power devoured each other!

The ancient Tianyuan, a melee of ten kings, fully commenced!

The roaring sounds shook across tens of thousands of miles, and the entire Tianyuan mountain gate trembled violently!

Meanwhile, at the summit of Zizhu Peak, towering into the clouds and wreathed in mist,

a breeze swept across the bamboo waves, rustling softly.

Gu Changge stood leaning against the balustrade, his gaze piercing through tens of thousands of miles of clouds to overlook the heaven-shaking battle in the Tianyuan Plaza far below.

Deep within his eyes flashed an extremely faint trace of playful interest.

Millions of years of dormant planning, misappropriating the Sect's principal, secretly raising descendants, winning over rebellious officials, splitting the Sect to usurp power...

This Zhao Wuji had indeed hidden deep enough and acted realistically enough.

Beside him, Ji Qingyi stood quietly beneath the bamboo, her gaze soft as she stood there in silence.

He turned his head to look at Ji Qingyi, a trace of teasing amusement in his eyes:

"Qingyi, let's go. I'll take you to watch a good show."

Ji Qingyi was slightly startled, and before she could reply, Gu Changge had already raised his hand and waved it lightly.

An invisible spatial ripple quietly spread out, enveloping the two of them within it.

The next moment, both of their figures vanished simultaneously from the summit of Zizhu Peak.

Sorry to keep you all waiting. Three chapters today, over seven thousand words. Dear readers, please enjoy!