Chapter 2228 - 2217: Plots and Schemes

Unable to retort to Beiming, Dongfang Ziyue’s delicate face grew even colder. The veins on her jade hand gripping the Green Phoenix Sword bulged, and she said in a deep voice, "Hmph, I suppose the two of you are here under the orders of White Sky Venerable, just like Xiluo!"

Knowing well the fate of Xiluo, Dongfang Ziyue spoke these words merely as an opportunity to stall for time. Unnoticed, she quietly hid her jade hand behind her back, letting a trace of Elemental Power surge into the token Dongka had given her.

The Human Sacrifice Tower was quite a distance from Dongka’s residence. What Dongfang Ziyue needed to do now was to hold off these two until her master and Lin Zifeng arrived, making Beiming and his companion regret their actions!

However, just as Dongfang Ziyue’s voice fell, Beiming saw through her intentions. He let out a cold laugh and signaled Nantong by his side, who nodded and drew a short sword hidden in his sleeve, lunging towards Dongfang Ziyue.

As for why Beiming didn’t personally engage, there was a reason. The nature of cunning people is often tinged with suspicion, especially since Beiming was unaware of Lin Zifeng’s situation. That concern never faded from his heart, causing his brows to furrow as he watched the two fight.

Among the lords of the Four Directions, Nantong had the lowest realm, being only at the Fifth Layer Heaven of the Sub-Saint Realm. Although Dongfang Ziyue was somewhat inferior to him, her intent was merely to delay. Her Green Phoenix Sword wavered between real and illusory, avoiding direct confrontation with Nantong, because she knew very well that if she appeared to be losing and Lin Zifeng didn’t come to her aid, Beiming would not hesitate to kill her once his concerns were alleviated...

At this moment, clad in a white robe, Dongka knelt before a stele, unflustered by the dirt staining his immaculate attire.

Gazing at the stele, worn and aged by time, Dongka reached out to gently wipe away the soil, revealing four bold and vigorous characters above!

Venerable Master Dong Qing!

"Master, your unworthy disciple, when the Five Supreme Venerables killed you back then, only knew to hide, causing such undue blame to fall upon you in your later years!"

Before he could finish, Dongka gripped the token even tighter, the patterns on the stone’s surface deeply embedding into his palm, a few drops of blood pearl dripping out.

"But this time, with Ziyue facing a life-and-death situation, if your disciple hesitates just to protect his position among the Four Lords, he would be dishonoring your spirit in heaven!"

As Dongka spoke, a determined look emerged on his handsome face, and with a resolute tone, he said, "This journey to the Human Sacrifice Tower may cost me my life, but I beseech your spirit in heaven to protect Ziyue and let her escape this prison!"

Having said this, Dongka bent down, knocking his head heavily three times before standing up, wiping the dirt from his forehead, taking a deep breath, and looking towards the east where the Human Sacrifice Tower was, his figure then transformed into an afterimage, disappearing from sight...

"Clang!"

A crisp sword ring, accompanied by sparks, stood pronounced against the silence within the Human Sacrifice Tower.

Dongfang Ziyue gritted her teeth, confronting Nantong’s murderous gaze without yielding in spirit. However, the hand holding the sword showed faint cracks at the tiger’s mouth, and the bright red blood against her pale jade-like skin appeared particularly menacing.

"Ha!"

Nantong roared fiercely, forcing Dongfang Ziyue back. The longsword in his hand transformed into several afterimages, striking directly at Dongfang Ziyue’s vital points!

"Dongfang Ziyue, surrender your sword! Perishing here is no different than being sacrificed!"

At this point, Nantong pressed Dongfang Ziyue continuously, his momentum growing more fierce, and his words were filled with confidence.

But although Dongfang Ziyue was on the defense, showing no sign of defeat, the confrontation with Nantong made her think deeply.

Why does Nantong only fight using cold weapons and not Elemental Power? If he used Elemental Power, with her cultivation at the First Layer Heaven of the Sub-Saint Realm, she wouldn’t stand a chance...

Could it be that Beiming and Nantong never intended to take her life!?

Dongfang Ziyue thought of this, a flash of astonishment appeared on her solemn face, which she quickly dismissed. Secretly infiltrating the Human Sacrifice Tower, why, if not to kill her?

It was laughable that Dongfang Ziyue, even now, did not know that for Beiming, she was merely a bait. When she hid her hand behind her back to call for Dongka with the token, Beiming had already anticipated it and took note. Now, he was just waiting for Dongka to fall for the trap and come to her rescue!

By then, he could seize the opportunity to kill Dongka, claiming Dongka and his disciple harbored dissent intent and attempted to destroy the Human Sacrifice Tower, justifying his kill. Then, he would secretly reveal his and Nantong’s ambition to rule the Four Lords to the Five Supreme Venerables. Even if they weren’t rewarded, there would be no blame upon them!

Beiming thought of this, his somber face showing even more amusement, as he watched Dongfang Ziyue continuously driven back by Nantong, his heart increasingly exhilarated.

However, before coming, Beiming had already given Nantong a strict command: heavily injuring or even disabling Dongfang Ziyue was permissible, but under no circumstances could she be killed! Taking over the position of the Four Lords was insignificant compared to killing the clan’s most important sacrifice, which would incur severe consequences.

"Woosh..."

Nantong’s right hand shook, the longsword tracing a bizarre arc, slicing open Dongfang Ziyue’s robe at her waist, revealing the jade-like skin beneath.

Blood oozed from the pale skin where the sword had cut, and Dongfang Ziyue felt the cold pain from her abdomen, making her expression darken, anxiously hoping for Lin Zifeng to come to her aid!

"What’s going on with that Lin Zifeng... Is he really facing a formidable enemy, even though I’m already in such dire straits, and he still hasn’t appeared?"

While Dongfang Ziyue pondered, a flaw appeared in her handling of the Green Phoenix Sword, which Nantong exploited with a sudden offensive, cutting another gash into her pale jade-like abdomen.

"Ah... Nantong... if you want to kill me, do it straightforwardly! Why this humiliation!"

Dongfang Ziyue cried out in pain, covering her wounded abdomen with a jade hand, stepping back over ten strides, with a tone of bitterness, even her stern face bore a grim expression.

Facing the opponent in front of her, she seethed with anger, for this wasn’t a duel, merely humiliation.

Hearing this, Nantong sneered, about to press the advantage, but was halted by a shout from Beiming behind him: "Nantong, hold your hand, my Lord has some questions for her!"

Stopping in his tracks, Nantong gazed respectfully at Beiming approaching slowly, sheathing the sword in his hand.

Standing before Dongfang Ziyue, Beiming, with his concealed face, carried an air of authority, even his words bore the might of a Saint Middle Stage figure: "Dongfang Ziyue, my Lord asks you, where is your servant, the one beneath you, now!"