Chapter 2449 - 449: I Will Fight You in This Battle!

Like a tidal wave, the swarm of long-toothed rats surged forward, densely packed and menacing. From afar, no one could discern their exact numbers. Yet, the sight of these rats was etched clearly into everyone's eyes—their protruding fangs and fierce gaze evoked an inexplicable sense of dread.

Those who had previously encountered the swarm of long-toothed rats were naturally terrified at the sight. Even those who hadn't faced such a swarm before were rendered speechless as they saw this multitude of rats charging toward them. Though they hadn't seen the power of this swarm firsthand, seeing them rush ahead was already chilling.

Faced with this situation, Helian Tiehua sighed with regret, lamenting, "Still a step too late!"

"What do we do now? What do we do now?" one of the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance quickly asked. They had witnessed the swarm's potency firsthand, and now, surrounded by so many rats, their legs were trembling.

Helian Tiehua was also at a loss; the swarm moved like an unstoppable tide through the entrance, and who knew how many more were behind them? Even with formidable strength, it was impossible to break through. Therefore, escape was not an option.

"Retreat!" Helian Tiehua commanded in a low voice, as the swarm encircled them, leaving no choice but to retreat.

Everyone hurriedly followed Helian Tiehua, rushing toward the Sword Saint Sect. But they all knew this retreat led to a dead end. Besides the encroaching swarm, the people from the Sword Saint Sect and the Wanyan Family behind wouldn't let them pass easily.

Yet, they had no choice but to run toward the Sword Saint Sect.

"Damn it, this is the long-toothed rat swarm!" Ding Lianshun cursed incessantly as he ran, "Why didn't the Wanyan Family send out such a lethal weapon earlier? Waiting until we try to escape to surround us—isn't this trapping us?"

"Don't you understand?" Helian Tiehua replied sternly, "This is actually the Wanyan Family's scheme, aimed squarely at us."

"What scheme?" Everyone was baffled, unable to grasp the situation immediately.

"This time, the Wanyan Family deliberately lured us here to annihilate both us and the Sword Saint Sect together!" Helian Tiehua declared in a low voice, "I was always puzzled as to why someone who fought against the Sword Saint Sect's people could still escape afterward. Now I understand—the Wanyan Family wasn't careless; they deliberately let that person go. The Wanyan Family probably anticipated us attacking them from behind, hence placing the swarm last. After luring us inside, they used the swarm for encirclement, trapping us all. Wanyan Hongfeng is indeed cunning; we fell into his trap!"

Upon hearing this, everyone finally understood what Helian Tiehua meant earlier by getting duped. It turned out Helian Tiehua had guessed this was Wanyan Hongfeng's strategy.

"Wanyan Hongfeng, that bastard!" Ding Lianshun shouted angrily, "Using such a despicable method to lure us in, it's utterly disgraceful!"

Everyone was incensed, though none cursed like Ding Lianshun. After all, this was a battle between two sides, and since ancient times, deceit has been permissible in warfare; Wanyan Hongfeng employing such a tactic to ensnare them was a testament to his skills, and they couldn't say much.

"If we retreat now, wouldn't we still be heading to a dead end?" a Peak Master looked at Helian Tiehua and stated seriously, "The Wanyan Family is at the Sword Saint Sect's side. If we rush over, wouldn't we conflict with them too?"

"Don't engage them—try to hide behind the Sword Saint Sect and let them fend off the rat swarm!" Helian Tiehua ordered sternly.

"The people of Sword Saint Sect probably can't hold back the swarm either," Yin Xianzi said gravely. Though she was seeing the swarm for the first time, she was genuinely shocked by them.

Helian Tiehua furrowed his brow; he knew that regardless of where they hid, the outcome would be the same. But now, there was no alternative, so they had to take it one step at a time.

Pursued by the rat swarm, everyone's speed accelerated, and soon they reached the platform in front of the Sword Saint Sect.

The chaotic battle between the two sides had persisted for a long time. After the Nalan Family joined the fray, it indeed influenced the course of the battle. The Sword Saint Sect's strength equaled that of the Wanyan Family, but with the addition of twenty-plus members of the Nalan Family, the Wanyan Family was struggling to hold on. This situation delighted the members of the Sword Saint Sect and Nalan Family greatly. If things continued like this, they would have a chance to defeat the Wanyan Family.

Wanyan Second Master, observing this, grew anxious and slowly retreated beside Wanyan Hongfeng, whispering, "Brother, the Nalan Family's sudden intervention has caught us off guard. If we continue fighting like this, I fear we're not their match!"

Wanyan Hongfeng did not respond to Wanyan Second Master's words but slowly opened his eyes, looking towards the Sword Saint Sect's exit, and softly said, "It's time!"

"What do you mean, it's time?" Wanyan Second Master asked, surprised.

Wanyan Hongfeng still did not answer, but slowly stood up and suddenly shouted loudly: "Stop everyone!"

Wanyan Hongfeng's loud shout was like a sudden thunderclap, ringing in everyone's ears and shocking them all. Everyone turned to look at Wanyan Hongfeng and really did stop the battle, slowly stepping back to stand divided into two sides, all wanting to see what exactly this Family Head of the Wanyan Family intended to do.

On the side of the Sword Saint Sect, an elder carrying a long knife also stood out from the crowd, coldly glanced at Wanyan Hongfeng, and said, "Youngster, calling a stop now, do you intend to admit defeat?"

This elder was indeed the current Sect Leader of the Sword Saint Sect, and his strength was also the strongest among the current members of the Sword Saint Sect.

Upon hearing the Sword Saint Sect Master speak, Wanyan Hongfeng merely gave a cold smile and said, "Admit defeat? Hmph, do you think that is possible?"

"In my Sword Saint Sect, nothing is impossible!" the Sect Leader shouted loudly.

"Hahaha..." Wanyan Hongfeng threw his head back and laughed, saying, "You are very confident, I admire you. In the future, if you work for me, I will definitely not treat you poorly!"

"Nonsense!" the Sect Leader said coldly: "Wanyan Hongfeng, you'd better think about how to save your own life. You dare to lead people to besiege my Sword Saint Sect; this has already violated a major taboo of my Sword Saint Sect. Today, none of you should think about leaving!"

"Why would we leave?" Wanyan Hongfeng sneered, saying: "From now on, the Sword Saint Sect will be a branch of the Wanyan Family. Our people from the Wanyan Family will come and go as we please, and no one can control us!"

"Arrogant!"

"Seeking death!"

"Stop talking nonsense with him, keep fighting!"

The people of the Sword Saint Sect immediately shouted angrily; naturally, they were very displeased with Wanyan Hongfeng's arrogant words. This was to be expected; the Sword Saint Sect had stood for three hundred years, and everyone who knew them treated them with respect; no one dared to speak to them so arrogantly. It had always been they who were arrogant toward others. Now suddenly there was someone even more arrogant than them, and of course, they found it hard to accept.

The people of the Wanyan Family were not to be outdone and also clamored to continue fighting back. As for the Nalan Family, they had long sided with the Sword Saint Sect, and Nalan Jingwei was even more expressionally united against a common enemy, clamoring to destroy the Wanyan Family and rid the world of a menace.

Wanyan Hongfeng, with a cold smile on his face, loudly said: "You just asked me, why call a stop now? Well, I'll tell you. Because I don't want my subordinates to suffer too many casualties!"

The Sword Saint Sect Master said coldly: "Hmph, your Wanyan Family's people came here this time and should not think of going back. Not wanting too many casualties is impossible!"

"Hahaha, you still haven't understood what I mean!" Wanyan Hongfeng laughed, saying: "What I mean is that from now on, everyone here is a subordinate of the Wanyan Family, and I don't want you to suffer too many casualties. Because no matter which side has casualties, they are all my subordinates. Waiting longer would just deplete the strength of my Wanyan Family, so why bother?"

Upon hearing these words, everyone just realized what Wanyan Hongfeng meant, feeling this guy regarded them all as subordinates of the Wanyan Family. At this moment, everyone was even more furious, shouting continuously, seeming ready to charge at any moment.

But Wanyan Hongfeng was as steady as Mount Tai and looked at the Sword Saint Sect Master with a cold smile, saying: "Since the Sect Master is here, why don't we make it straightforward? You and I fight one battle, to decide victory or defeat. If you lose, the Sword Saint Sect from now on will be a branch of the Wanyan Family. If I lose, then the Wanyan Family will be a subordinate of the Sword Saint Sect. I wonder if the Sect Master dares to fight me?"

Upon hearing these words, all eyes were fixed on the Sword Saint Sect Master. With these words, Wanyan Hongfeng blatantly challenged the Sword Saint Sect Master. Would the Sword Saint Sect Master dare to accept the challenge?

The Sword Saint Sect Master furrowed his brow deeply. In terms of pure strength, he was not afraid of Wanyan Hongfeng, because he had great confidence in his own strength. But the key problem was that now Wanyan Hongfeng had the scabbard of the Minghong Knife. With such a scabbard, Wanyan Hongfeng could use the Unity of Heaven and Man power without restriction. But he was different; if he used the Unity of Heaven and Man power, it would bring about Heavenly Retribution. This battle simply couldn't be fought.

However, now Wanyan Hongfeng had issued a challenge. If he did not respond, wouldn't that be losing face for the Sword Saint Sect? If he accepted the challenge, he would certainly fail. What should he choose? It's a troublesome matter!

At this crucial moment, when everyone was watching the Sword Saint Sect Master, suddenly, a bold voice came from afar: "In this battle, I will fight you!"