Chapter 1507 - 1487: Peril on All Sides

Vice Dean Deng Xiao of Wuji Academy said a few final words expressing deep regret, and then the entire light-shadow recording concluded.

The meeting room was deathly silent; individuals like Black Wood sat in a daze, as if frozen.

Black Wood and Vice Dean Deng Xiao were old acquaintances, and upon seeing Deng Xiao's holographic recording, he confirmed the authenticity of the situation.

Flying Tiger bit his lip, unable to control the bean-sized tears.

Flying Tiger used to follow Black Wood, but since joining Yang Xiao, he received guidance and care from multiple angles, witnessed Yang Xiao's character and style firsthand, and developed deep admiration and affection for Yang Xiao.

Fan Chen came with Yang Xiao from Witch Star; they were classmates at Flying Leopard Academy and had endured many life-and-death trials together, their bond akin to brothers.

Now, having confirmed the news of Yang Xiao's death, his heart was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was filled with sadness.

Even Suonan felt a sense of melancholy at Yang Xiao's passing at this moment.

Suonan was once the master of Cold Wind Valley, defeated by Yang Xiao, losing his city to him, harboring some resentment initially.

However, Yang Xiao later made him the City Lord of Firebird City. Suonan witnessed the benefits Yang Xiao's new policies brought to the citizens, garnering popular support, and he couldn't help but feel admiration.

Suddenly, everyone was engulfed in grief.

The news was so sudden,

the blow to everyone was overwhelming!

Elder Qi straightened his body, glanced at everyone, and said solemnly:

"We are all deeply saddened by the leader's accident, but there's an extremely urgent matter we must handle right now."

Ma Kui, one of the five-person leadership committee, glanced at Elder Qi and said:

"Elder Qi, do you mean that since the leader is suddenly gone, you're worried those external forces might attack us?"

Elder Qi nodded,

"That's right, everyone knows that we are here together today, have developed the City of Hope to its current prosperity, and that three hundred people across five cities can live and work in peace because of Leader Yang Xiao's presence.

There's no need to emphasize the leader's importance. Now, if news of his disappearance spreads, I'm worried Ba Tianhu and others will be the first to launch an attack, leading to another bloody battle with bodies piled high!"

Upon hearing Elder Qi's words, everyone was shocked, waking from their sorrow.

Black Wood said:

"Elder Qi, who else knows about this news?"

"Currently, only us within the City of Hope. Everyone here is a trusted confidant of Yang Xiao, so I only told you, hoping we could come up with a plan to preserve our home and honor Yang Xiao's efforts."

Chen Peng said:

"Isn't there also the Dark Web? Even though the leader is gone, we still have the Dark Web's support, so Ba Tianhu and others shouldn't dare attack us."

Elder Qi sighed worriedly and said:

"You're right, we do have the Dark Web behind us. The Dark Web initially declared that the City of Hope and the other five cities were part of its territory.

However, the Dark Web accepted us back then entirely out of respect for Yang Xiao.

Now that Yang Xiao is gone, even if the Dark Web is willing to help us resist Ba Tianhu and others, have you considered this? What if the Dark Web uses this event to directly bring our five cities under its direct control? From now on, we would truly become part of the Dark Web."

After Elder Qi spoke, everyone finally saw the situation clearly.

Because Yang Xiao was here, he, being Mr. Eight of the Dark Web, ensured that his territory received support from the Dark Web.

The Dark Web had only sent Mr. Five as a representative to the City of Hope and did not interfere in its management or construction, nor did Yang Xiao allow the Dark Web to meddle.

This current situation was what Elder Qi and others preferred: having the Dark Web's support so that Ba Tianhu and others didn't dare to attack easily, while still maintaining independence from the Dark Web's constraints.

However, now that Yang Xiao is gone, the entire situation has fundamentally changed.

The City of Hope, over the past year, has absorbed many migrants from neighboring cities and across the Central Continent, offending many City Lords, directly challenging Ba Tianhu, and snatching business agreements from the Wind Eagle Trade Union, making numerous enemies.

Before, with Yang Xiao supporting them, everyone simply followed his lead.

Yang Xiao always turned danger to safety, bringing surprises to everyone, who became accustomed to relying on him.

Now that Yang Xiao suddenly left, leaving behind a perilous situation, no one present had the ability to hold this situation together.

They discussed for a while, emotions bleak.

Finally, Elder Qi said:

"For now, all we can do is temporarily seal off the news, delay as long as possible. Only we in this meeting room know about it and should not publicize it for the time being."

Black Wood said:

"But, this news can't be sealed off for long. Wuji Academy has already publicized it, and many on the Central Continent are cultivating at Wuji Academy, so the news will eventually return."

"Take it one step at a time, delay one more day if possible; we still have the Dark Web behind us. Hopefully, the Dark Web will support us."

"But what if Mr. Master of the Dark Web demands we directly submit to him and follow his orders; what do we do?"

Elder Qi sighed helplessly and said:

"What other path do we have? Besides having offended Ba Tianhu, there are dozens of City Lords around us who resent us deeply; we've seized over a million immigrants from them."

Fan Chen thought for a moment and said:

"Elder Qi, Wanyan Bai and I can visit Wuji Academy to understand the situation on the ground. Didn't Vice Dean Deng Xiao say Yang Xiao was just missing? The explosion hasn't found his body yet."

Suonan glanced at Fan Chen and said:

"Fan Chen, you might not be aware of the power of a nuclear generator explosion, which is basically a small nuclear bomb. Didn't Vice Dean Deng mention it? The entire mountain flattened, regardless of how advanced Yang Xiao's genetic evolution level is; in the end, he is still flesh and blood."

Suonan's implication was clear; Yang Xiao was likely reduced to ashes.

Flying Tiger, displeased, said, "Suonan, what do you mean, wishing the leader dead? Who is the leader? Someone who's repeatedly created miracles. Is it just a small nuclear explosion?

If the leader reacted in time, it's possible he survived. Besides, I've been to Wuji Academy's cultivation field, and those tunnels are hundreds of meters underground, winding like a maze. What if the leader hid in one of them?

He might already be out now."

Suonan: "..."