304: Chapter 304 The Winds of Change

Tang Long flew, skimming the surface of the sea.

His speed wasn't fast, barely managing just over a hundred kilometers per hour.

But on this vast ocean where there was nowhere to stand, being able to fly was already a tremendous convenience.

After all, the Mad God was as unreliable as ever, opening the gate to the heavenly change in such a place.

Two days later, as soon as his phone picked up a signal, over a thousand messages popped up immediately.

There were messages from Xie Jin, Yun Zhuoyue, Shi Chengyu, 2nd Division Commander Wei Jun, Elder Jiang and Elder Zheng, several bishops like Lv Yang, and the brothers from the martial arts gym.

After summarizing them, they were mostly about the urgent situation, urging him to make a decision, or asking where on earth he was.

Song City was already under martial Law. Xu Chaoyang had taken a luxurious Spirit Map battle group and headed toward the Divine Ruins, while Elder Zheng was personally tracking and monitoring them.

According to the original plan, Tang Long should have been assembling his strongest combat forces at this moment to set an ambush inside the Divine Ruins.

However, he was still quite far from the Divine Ruins, and it would be another two hours before he could perform a resurrection sacrifice again.

Although his trip to the Ice Wind Realm had been immensely fruitful, it had, after all, cost him two days of time.

It seemed the plan needed some adjustments.

After thinking it over carefully, he didn't reply to anyone's messages for the time being and only sent a message to one person.

"Old Shang, how is the situation?"

High Priest Shang Yuleng had previously entered the Divine Ruins with him and comprehended the Law power of the Yuanwu God, making him the person most likely to step into the Huagai Realm in a short time.

Whether or not he had Huagai Realm combat power would have a decisive impact on Tang Long's subsequent strategy.

Therefore, he had to clarify this point first.

After a full half-hour passed, High Priest Shang Yuleng finally replied.

"I've been rushing, and finally, there's some progress."

Tang Long immediately asked, "Be specific. Have you stepped into the Huagai Realm?"

"I can only say I've stepped in with one leg. The Hua Gai hasn't fully condensed into form, so it doesn't count as truly being in the Huagai Realm. But for a short time, I can fight against the Huagai Realm, and perhaps quickly defeat the weak ones!"

Tang Long's eyes lit up, and he silently cheered.

Given that High Priest Shang Yuleng was still in seclusion at a secret location, he quickly explained the current situation to him.

High Priest Shang Yuleng then asked, "Your Excellency, do you want me to deal with Xu Mingyang? It's a bit far, and it will take me about an hour to get there at full speed."

Tang Long replied, "No! You have another important task now!"

————

Elder Zheng hadn't expected it, and neither had the other Spirit Map experts; there was actually a Huagai Realm expert behind Xu Chaoyang.

And one this powerful, at that.

University Scholar Zong Liangchen, who had been arrogant just a moment ago, only managed to hold on for about ten minutes before being pinned to the ground and crushed.

When Zong Liangchen was thrown in front of everyone like a dead dog, everyone realized that the heavens of Dongyu had truly changed.

Zong Liangchen felt bitter inside.

He had left Huaidu to avoid the sharpness of The Sect Leader's blade, originally intending to give Xu Chaoyang some support in exchange for a prestigious position.

But he never expected that Xu Chaoyang would dig such a huge pit for him.

As soon as he sensed the aura of this unfamiliar Huagai Realm expert, he realized something was wrong and chose to flee immediately.

Unfortunately, the other party was aiming specifically for him, and their strength was far superior to his.

Not only did he fail to escape, but he was also quickly defeated and captured alive.

At this moment, he was beaten to a pulp, no longer retaining his previous arrogance, and while he still had a breath left, he hurriedly shouted.

"Your Excellency, stop! As long as you spare my life, I am willing to be your beast of burden in the future!"

"Governor Xu! Say something for me!"

"When you become Emperor later, you'll need people to assist you! I have no ambition at all. From now on, whatever you say goes. If you say hit someone, I'll hit them!"

"The Sect Leader is powerful, and I am willing to help you deal with him! I can kill all those surnamed Ye with my own hands!"

Xu Chaoyang laughed loudly, and the strange man also laughed, making people's skin crawl.

"University Scholar Zong, there's no need."

"I can be Emperor myself, and besides, there are so many virtuous and capable people to assist me; I don't need you."

"I wouldn't dare to use such a big fence-sitter like you."

"Oh, right, I haven't introduced him to everyone yet. This is my father, Xu Mingyang."

"You said you were willing to be a beast of burden? What a coincidence, my father likes eating beef and horse meat."

Hearing that this strange man was the Xu Mingyang of the past, everyone was shocked.

At this moment, Xu Mingyang let out a long, strange laugh, and things like black ink spilled from his body, quickly swallowing Zong Liangchen.

The screams were endless, lasting for nearly half an hour before Zong Liangchen finally stopped making a sound.

At this time, Xu Mingyang shook off his fur robe, took the military cloak Xu Chaoyang handed him, draped it over his shoulders, and scanned the surroundings.

Everyone was very panicked.

Even those with ulterior motives, after exchanging a few glances, couldn't help but lower their heads.

Governor Gao Gong was the first to smile bitterly, "So the old Governor is still alive and has reached such a height. With you presiding over the big picture, we will naturally follow your orders."

Huang Weiyi also followed up, "Brother Xu, you hid this from us so well. But it doesn't matter. As long as you can lead us to overthrow those surnamed Ye and The Sect Leader, I, Huang, am willing to bow down and submit."

Liu Zhiming also hurriedly spoke up, "The Songcheng Sect will continue to support Governor Xu as always."

Others also expressed one after another that the Xu Dynasty was the trend of the times and the desire of the people, and some even urged the Xu father and son to declare themselves Emperor immediately.

Xu Mingyang laughed heartily.

"I have heard everyone's sentiments."

"Dongyu has suffered under the Ye clan and The Sect Leader for a long time; otherwise, why would we all have ended up on this path together?"

"The world has changed, and heavenly changes happen frequently. Trying to govern the country with the old ideologies won't work anymore."

"I promise you all here that even if the Xu family sits on that chair, each city will maintain a high degree of autonomy!"

"Even for the various city sects, although they won't have the power they had before, they won't lack basic honor!"

"My Xu family will never mistreat loyal subjects and friends!"

"I am old and don't have many years left to live, and I have no interest in sitting on that chair. This land belongs to you young people."

After these words were finished, the stones in many people's hearts fell to the ground.

However, Xu Mingyang's tone suddenly changed.

"However, who is a loyal subject and who is a friend, I still have to vet for Chaoyang. Don't you all agree?"

"Ritual Master Yu Hai, are you a friend of the Xu family?"

Yu Hai felt utterly wretched inside.

He had originally clung tightly to Zong Liangchen's leg, and had been doing quite well for himself in Dongyu.

But he hadn't expected that Zong Liangchen would first flee in fear of The Sect Leader, run to South Song, and then run into Xu Mingyang, only to be directly killed.

Executing a Huagai Realm expert in public, the intention was self-evident.

At this moment, if he dared to utter a single word of dissent, Xu Mingyang would definitely take his life.

So he knelt down immediately.

"I, Yu Hai, am willing to go through fire and water for the Xu family!"

Everyone felt a wave of disdain.

Whether it was Zong Liangchen or Yu Hai, they were both so spineless; the Imperial Academy lineage really had its own characteristics.

Xu Mingyang smiled and raised his hand, "Get up. No matter how loudly you shout slogans, they don't prove anything like actions do."

"Today's trip to the Divine Ruins, I think, is a very good litmus test."

"We will wait and see how you all perform."

"It's getting late, let's go."

Everyone agreed and immediately streaked across the sky like a meteor shower.

After several minutes, Elder Zheng finally appeared in this temple.

Staring blankly at Zong Liangchen's remains for a long time, he finally took out his phone and replied to Tang Long again.

"Zong Liangchen is really dead."

Tang Long replied quickly, "So fast. Xu Chaoyang's old man is even fiercer than I imagined."

Elder Zheng's face twitched, "You brat, so you knew all along that Xu Mingyang was still alive! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

"You are too timid. If I had told you earlier, I was afraid you would have picked the wrong side."

"Zong Liangchen is dead, but the Xu father and son have cowed everyone into submission, and their strength is even greater!"

"Not necessarily, right? I'll tell you straight: half of those Huagai Realm experts heading to the Divine Ruins are my people."

"If you said three or five, I might believe it."

"Believe it or not, it's up to you."

"What will happen next?"

"If you act according to the plan, the Xu father and son won't see tomorrow's sun. If you make a different choice, I can't say for sure."

Elder Zheng gritted his teeth.

After a long while, he replied, "I want to add a condition. Later, you must personally teach my grandson until he comes of age. If you agree, I will shatter this old body of mine and do my best to buy you time!"

Tang Long agreed immediately.

"Deal!"

"You don't need to shatter yourself. Just cooperate well with that sea beast; delaying them for an hour shouldn't be a problem!"

After reading this message, Elder Zheng crushed his phone, then looked at the wind and clouds filling the sky, chuckled, and muttered to himself.

"I've been a coward my whole life, never thought I'd do such a reckless thing today."

"Although I have the advantage of the sea, but... one against twenty-six, plus one Huagai Realm expert, and I have to delay them for an hour?"

"You brat really don't treat me like a human being."