Chapter 182 - 181: It’s Time to Settle Accounts

"Xiang Qiancheng, where has the Female Master gone?"

After arriving with his tribe, Hu Qiumu had been searching for Chu Liangyu but hadn’t been able to find any sign of her.

Xiang Qiancheng shook his head. "I’ve been busy with the tasks she assigned me. I don’t know where she went."

"What’s the rush? She’s here now," Feng Qiwu said, jutting his chin to gesture in a certain direction.

Seeing that everyone had assembled, a smile tugged at Chu Liangyu’s lips. Her spirits soared. "Alright, let’s move out!"

They had made extensive preparations for this operation, so Chu Liangyu was quite confident.

Perhaps the World Origin had been soothed by the Origin Pearls, for the rain had finally stopped. Gradually, the lands of the Beast World began to return to normal.

The Black Market in the Beast World Center was a major hub for Jiang Li’s forces. In fact, he controlled nearly every Black Market in the entire Beast World.

His network was complex and deeply entrenched beyond imagination. The fastest solution Chu Liangyu could devise was to strike directly at his main base—ideally, to destroy it in a single blow.

"Leader, what should I do?"

The Alien Flower Clan was not among the tribes that had come. It wasn’t for a lack of loyalty; they were simply not suited for combat.

As the only member of the Alien Flower Clan present, Hua Youyue naturally stood out. Aware that he wasn’t skilled in combat, he nervously inquired about his role.

Chu Liangyu sensed his urgency. "Don’t worry," she said. "Your time hasn’t come yet."

Hua Youyue’s eyes lit up. "So when will it be my time?"

"It depends on Cheng Miao’s progress."

----

"Master, a message has arrived. Several tribes from the Xihe Tribe are heading toward us."

Xiaoqi’s expression was anxious. He added, "I don’t know what happened. The message should have arrived much earlier, but we only got it now that they’re almost here. I’m worried we have a spy in our midst."

Jiang Li found it strange as well. Not only had he received no news from the Xihe Tribe lately, but when he tried to access his avatar’s memories, all he found was darkness. He couldn’t see a thing.

He had a faint, unsettling feeling.

"Set that aside for now. Gather our men and prepare for battle." Jiang Li’s expression darkened. He stood and started walking outside.

Then, a thought struck him. "Where did Cheng Zheng go?" he asked suddenly.

"I think he went to the Water Prison," Xiaoqi replied after a moment’s thought. "Should I go get him?"

’Ever since capturing his former arch-rival, Cheng Zheng had been going there daily. Xiaoqi wasn’t sure what he did, but he guessed it was just to humiliate and torture the prisoner.’

"Get him. He’s coming with me."

"Yes."

As he waited, the deep furrow in Jiang Li’s brow never eased. A long time passed, yet Xiaoqi did not return.

"Master, something seems to be wrong with the two young masters. Would you like to go and see?"

The speaker was one of his ten most trusted aides, whose primary duty was to look after his two cubs. He rarely appeared unless summoned.

For him to show up unbidden was highly unusual. It could only mean something had genuinely happened to the cubs. ’But with the current situation...’

"You say something’s wrong with them. What, exactly, is wrong?"

"And where are they now?"

’His cubs weren’t ordinary Beastmen; they didn’t get sick easily. How could he not be suspicious when told there was a problem with them?’

"It seems to be a problem with their bracelets," the man offered his theory. "They’ve gone completely stiff, unable to move. It happened suddenly while we were training on the back mountain. I didn’t dare to move them, so I just had men stand guard."

Jiang Li’s breath hitched, and a dangerous glint lit his eyes.

’The two brats had secretly gone to the Xihe Tribe, and Chu Liangyu had given them the gifts she’d promised. Jiang Li knew about that.’

’He had thought that since she was their mother, after all, she wouldn’t stoop to using them.’

’But now she was deliberately using them to manipulate his emotions. Truly cold-blooded.’

"Go. Take me to them."

"Yes."

However, when they arrived at the so-called back mountain, Jiang Li saw nothing.

A strange feeling prickled at him. He turned around, but the man who had led him there was gone.

A thought flashed through his mind. Though it seemed unbelievable, he understood at once.

His composure wavered for just an instant before he calmed himself. Facing the empty space before him, he said, "Come out. I know you’re here."

"Clever."

Chu Liangyu clicked her tongue, genuinely impressed by his sharp reaction.

Since he’d figured it out so easily, Chu Liangyu couldn’t be bothered to stay hidden. She appeared directly in front of him.

"So that’s how you see me," she said. "Cold and heartless enough to use my own cubs."

An unnatural expression flickered across Jiang Li’s face, but he simply stared at her without a word.

"I don’t want to waste any more words with you. Today, we settle this."

’It wasn’t just about the Childbirth System he’d created, but also about Chi Yizhong.’

’For either of those reasons, Chu Liangyu had to kill Jiang Li. No one could stop her!’

RUMBLE...

The Thunder Spirit sensed her intent and instantly appeared by her side. The moment it manifested, the sky was immediately blotted out by dark clouds, and thunder began to roll unceasingly.

This phenomenon was confined to the mountain peak. Normally, such a sight would have drawn curious Beastmen to investigate, but today, not a single soul approached.

The reason was simple: the forces Chu Liangyu had brought had completely surrounded Ten Thousand Beasts City.

That was why no one was coming.

By now, Chu Liangyu and the Thunder Spirit were of one mind. A single thought from her was all it needed. In the next instant, a dense web of Thunder crashed down upon Jiang Li.

At the same time, Chu Liangyu rapidly closed the distance between them. Coordinating Taiyin Fist with her footwork, she lunged at Jiang Li with incredible speed.

The Thunder Spirit’s relentless assault was deliberate; if Jiang Li wanted to dodge the Thunder, his only path was toward Chu Liangyu. This was a tactic to force him into close-quarters combat.

Chu Liangyu knew Jiang Li wasn’t skilled in close combat, and she attacked without mercy. All the while, she kept her Soul Chasing Needle ready, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.