Chapter 561 - 466: Inducing Surrender

Chapter 561: Chapter 466: Inducing Surrender

Ning Songzhi?

He’s actually been captured by the Shouzhuo Sect!

Lu Qian’s mind raced, and he immediately ordered the group from the Shouzhuo Sect to be ushered in. Thus the Grand Array opened up, and over ten people entered the scene. Upon seeing the ruins within the city, their faces changed, and their steps slowed.

Behind Qin Zhiyi, a young cultivator couldn’t help but tug at Qin Zhiyi’s sleeve.

Qin Zhiyi understood his meaning and couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile.

Being held by a few disciples, Ning Songzhi, who was battered and stumbling, mocked: "Ha, you traitor, you’ve picked the wrong master this time. Even if the Yunshan Sect has triumphed, given this sight, how long they can sustain themselves is still unknown."

Qin Zhiyi weakly retorted: "Absurd. Victory is victory. If we don’t pledge allegiance to the victor, are we supposed to bury ourselves with the Xuanguang Sect?"

Ning Songzhi smirked coldly: "The Yunshan Sect’s strength is now exhausted; those two allies, the Mingyu Sword Sect and Huanggen Sect, have swallowed Chongming County. The next target is likely to be the Yunshan Sect. Collaborating with tigers will only lead to peril."

Qin Zhiyi’s face turned darker. Previously he had led his sect’s disciples outside Lingsha City, hoping to exploit some advantage amidst the chaos. But the battle was so fierce, and they were merely a dozen Qi Cultivators; any incident would lead to total annihilation, so they had to wait quietly.

During this time, the Ten Extremes Grand Array of Lingsha City was mostly active, obscuring any view. It wasn’t until Master Fengfeng arrived, the array was broken, then Ye Xiao and Master Cangfeng came one after another, with Master Yeguang escaping and the array re-erected, trapping Master Fengfeng inside.

Qin Zhiyi was instantly shocked—the outcome was settled, Master Fengfeng was likely to fall within the array!

Who would have thought, in the end, it was the Yunshan Sect that achieved victory!

Seeing no opportunity for his forces to rush in and seize advantage, Qin Zhiyi had to order a retreat. Yet he never expected to encounter the heavily injured Ning Songzhi during the retreat.

At that time, Ning Songzhi was too severely injured and stayed at the fringes to observe. Upon seeing his sect master trapped in the array, he was instantly overwhelmed with grief and fury, spitting blood and staggering away.

Ning Songzhi understood well; the real master, Sect Leader, both faced dire fates, leaving him as the sole Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Xuanguang Sect’s direct lineage!

He had to return to the Xuanguang Sect immediately to oversee matters and convene the disciples for evacuation.

The Shouzhuo Sect group happened upon Ning Songzhi, and Qin Zhiyi hesitated only briefly between the opportunity to gain favor and the chance to rectify the chaos, immediately deciding to shatter the drum and push down the wall, capturing Ning Songzhi to present to the victorious Yunshan Sect for advancement.

Yet now entering the city, his heart grew cold. Ning Songzhi’s words, though mocking, held truth. If judging by the current situation, the Yunshan Sect seemed unreliable as a strong support.

So be it. If necessary, handing Ning Songzhi to Master Cangfeng and switching allegiance to the Mingyu Sword Sect wouldn’t be bad either.

Thinking this way, the group slowly made their way to the Central Square, just in time to see Lu Qian turning around, with Guh Niqiang beside him opening her eyes.

Raging and violent spiritual pressure surged forth, terrifyingly intense. As her golden eyes glanced at the group, several disciples behind Qin Zhiyi immediately fell to their knees with a thud.

Qin Zhiyi was speechless, his eyes wide open in shock.

Ning Songzhi was both terrified and despondent, feeling utterly hopeless.

Golden Core? Golden Core!

Guh Niqiang of the Yunshan Sect, has become a Golden Core Master!

All previous speculations turned out to be useless. Qin Zhiyi was wildly jubilant within, immensely relieved that he had captured Ning Songzhi and presented him before the Yunshan Sect.

Lu Qian quietly observed Qin Zhiyi. Once a brilliant young talent, due to the sect’s misfortune and failing in Foundation Establishment, he remained in a precarious state, now showing a weathered face with a heavy air of decline, prematurely graying at a young age.

Reuniting with an old acquaintance brought memories to Lu Qian’s mind, and seeing the similarity in their experiences, he felt some understanding and pity. He was about to reminisce over past stories when he saw Qin Zhiyi studiously offer a flattering smile, bowing respectfully.

"Small Sect Leader Qin Zhiyi, pays respect to Upper Sect Master, pays respect to Sect Leader Lu."

Lu Qian paused, suddenly feeling disinterested.

In a flat tone, he said, "Sect Leader Qin, you are too courteous. Come to speak of it, you are still a subordinate sect of the Xuanguang Sect. What brings you here this time?"

Indeed, this was a rhetorical question, but such tone made Qin Zhiyi even more fearful, not daring to raise his head.

"Reporting to Sect Leader Lu, your sect has always been the backbone of Chongming, carrying the weight of the county. Xuanguang Sect’s wicked deeds and harassment of the loyal have long disgusted me, but unfortunately, my words held no weight, and there was nothing I could do."

"Upon hearing that Xuanguang Sect attacked Lingsha City, I immediately defected from Xuanguang Sect and led my disciples here to assist—"

A sneer interrupted him, as Ning Songzhi laughed and interrupted his loyalty speech.

Qin Zhiyi glared at Ning Songzhi viciously and continued: "Just happened to encounter the remnants of Xuanguang Sect along the way, so I captured him and presented him to the Upper Sect for judgment!"

Lu Qian was uninterested in addressing his flawed narrative and turned his gaze to the blood-soaked and pale-face of Ning Songzhi.

Ning Songzhi stood tall, laughing heartily.

"Laughable, pathetic, pitiful! Qin Zhiyi, look at yourself, wagging tail in submission and flattering the mighty!"

"Back in the day, you were so eager to please me, yet today you opportunistically switched allegiance, kicking the fallen."

"A capricious villain without principles, utterly laughable!"

Qin Zhiyi trembled all over but kept his head bowed, veins bulging on his neck.