449: Chapter 449 You seize the opportunity to escape, I'll stay behind to cover your retreat.

When the Grand Elder saw Cang Bozi rushing over, his expression changed drastically, and he shouted sharply, "Sect Master, run!"

He, the Fifth Elder, and Granny Liu attacked simultaneously, pushing Xu Ruyu back before turning to face Cang Bozi!

"Want to leave? That's impossible!"

Cang Bozi sneered and struck out with his palm; a cyan palm energy descended like a mountain!

The Grand Elder roared, drew his long sword, and a sharp sword light met the palm energy!

"Boom!"

The sword light shattered, and the Grand Elder was sent flying backward, vomiting blood, and crashed heavily onto the ground!

His long sword flew from his hand, embedding itself in the ground several zhang away, the blade humming and trembling!

Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan followed closely behind, her short sword piercing toward Cang Bozi's throat like a venomous snake!

Cang Bozi didn't even glance at her; he waved his hand casually, a gust of wind deflecting her short sword, and immediately struck her chest with a palm!

"Pfft!"

Hua Xunhuan spat out a mouthful of blood, flew backward, crashed into the cliff wall behind her, slid to the ground, and her face turned paper-white!

Granny Liu had the highest Cultivation among the three: Half-step Saint Realm.

Her short dagger, carrying a sharp, cold light, pierced straight toward Cang Bozi's back!

Only then did Cang Bozi turn his head, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but he immediately sneered and struck out with a palm!

"Boom!"

Granny Liu's short dagger was knocked away, and she staggered backward, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth!

Her face was pale, but she still stood straight, staring fixedly at Cang Bozi, her eyes filled with unyielding spirit!

"Half-step Saint Realm?" Cang Bozi scoffed. "In front of me, there is no difference between a Half-step Saint Realm and an ant!"

He struck with his palm, and a cyan palm energy headed straight for Granny Liu!

Granny Liu gritted her teeth, thrusting both palms out to meet the strike head-on!

"Boom!"

Granny Liu was forced back several steps, her feet leaving deep imprints in the ground!

More blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, but she remained standing, refusing to fall!

Cang Bozi frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by her tenacity.

Just as he was about to strike again, Cang Songzi spoke: "Second Brother, that's enough."

Cang Bozi stopped and turned to look at Cang Songzi.

Cang Songzi's gaze passed over him and landed on Xu Ruyu.

His voice remained calm, as calm as if he were discussing something unrelated to himself: "Xu Ruyu, your people cannot escape anymore. Surrender."

Xu Ruyu stood in place, looking at the Grand Elder lying on the ground, at Hua Xunhuan leaning against the cliff wall with a pale face, and at Granny Liu, who was standing straight despite the blood spilling from her mouth. An unspeakable sense of anger and sorrow surged in his heart.

In his hand, he still gripped the psionic rocket launcher.

But he knew that this shot wouldn't be able to hit many people.

Situ E and Zhao Qianyi were waiting for him to fire, and Cang Songzi was waiting as well.

As soon as he fired, they would swarm him and tear him to pieces.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart. His gaze swept over Cang Songzi, Cang Bozi, Cang Yunzi, then over Situ E and Zhao Qianyi, and finally landed on Mo Feng.

Mo Feng was watching him, his eyes filled with triumph and gratification.

His lips moved, emitting a hoarse and grating voice: "Xu Ruyu, Holy Master Xu, aren't you very capable? How did you end up like this today?

Completing the saint tablet, breaking the Forbidden Array, gaining the recognition of the taihu tripod, and blasting me away with one shot—aren't you very impressive?

What about now? Your people have run away, your Spiritual Artifact is useless, and your backing is gone.

What else do you have? What else do you have!"

His voice grew sharper and crazier, like the screeching of a night owl, echoing across the cliff.

His face was twisted in a smile, his eyes filled with resentment and gratification, as if all the humiliation of these past days were being released in this moment.

Xu Ruyu did not look at him.

His gaze fell on Cang Songzi, and his voice was terrifyingly calm: "Senior Cang Songzi, I will ask you one last time—are you really going to do this?"

Cang Songzi looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he nodded.

"Xu Ruyu, you are a Genius. Unfortunately, you are not a member of the Taihu Clan. The stronger you are, the greater the threat you pose to the Taihu Clan. Today, you must die here."

His voice was very calm, but within that calmness hid a chilling indifference.

Xu Ruyu laughed, his smile filled with mockery and sorrow.

He suddenly remembered that back in the Taihu Clan, Clan Chief Yuehua said she would be his Dao Protector, the Taihao Clan backed him, and Lady Qingli protected him at every turn.

He thought that the Taihu Clan was his ally, his backing.

He thought that as long as he worked hard enough and was strong enough, he could protect the Hehuan Sect and ensure everyone lived a good life.

But now he knew that in the eyes of those people, he was always an outsider.

His contributions, his efforts, and his sacrifices were worthless in their eyes.

All they needed was an obedient tool. Once this tool stopped being obedient, it had to be destroyed.

He took a deep breath and pushed down all his emotions. Now was not the time to be sentimental.

His gaze swept over the Grand Elder, Hua Xunhuan, and Granny Liu, and he sent a secret transmission: "In a moment, I will hold them off. You take the chance to leave quickly. Don't worry, the person the Taihu Clan wants to keep is me. As long as I don't leave, you have a great chance of escaping. After you leave, immediately go and rendezvous with Xiao Nianyin. From now on, the Hehuan Sect will depend on you..."