Chapter 187 : Chapter 187

Chapter 187. He Had Been Thoroughly Fooled

When ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yuntian turned ruthless, he was still rather terrifying, especially with that gaze of his, as cold as ice tempered to its sharpest edge.

The ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍burst of pressure emanating from his body was enough to make even Shi Ritian tremble slightly.

But ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍then Shi Ritian remembered that this was his own territory, so what was there to fear?

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍swallowed hard at once, then lifted the corners of his mouth into a confident yet sly smile.

“Brother ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yuntian, I think you’re truly confused, or could it be that you simply don’t trust me? You saw clearly enough what happened inside the tent just now, didn’t you? Haven’t the leaders of the eight clans already agreed to join forces with me?” Shi Ritian gave a smug smile, golden light flickering in his eyes.

“To ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍be honest, at first, I thought it would already be twice the result for half the effort if six clan elders and leaders agreed to activate the Ancient Killing Array with me. But I never expected so many leaders would be willing to stand against the enemy together with me.

Even the Fire Phoenix Clan and the Kunpeng Clan have agreed. With eight clans joining forces, how could Chu Feng, a mere human, possibly escape?

This time, we will definitely grind that petty human to ashes and make sure he can never rise again for all eternity. He must learn clearly that this is the price of provoking our Ancient Royal Clan.”

Shi Ritian truly hated Chu Feng to the bone. Whenever he brought up these matters, his eyes looked as though they had been steeped in poison, as if he wanted to grind Chu Feng to dust on the spot.

Yuntian’s pupils contracted slightly. “Eight clans? How exactly did you manage that? Are you certain those people won’t change their minds?”

“Of course they won’t!” Shi Ritian said. “The Dragon King has already given the order personally. This matter is nailed down beyond any doubt.”

Madness flickered in Shi Ritian’s eyes as he proudly thumped his chest. “The True Dragon Clan, the Nine Netherworld Mastiff Clan, the Heaven-Splitting Armor Clan, the Fire Chi Clan, the Fire Phoenix Clan, the Desolate Battle Kui Ox Clan—that is to say, your clan—the Kunpeng Clan, and the Heaven Horned Ant Clan. The eight clans will join forces to lay down the Ancient Killing Array.

Let alone one Chu Feng—even ten of him would have no power to resist. He will die inside the formation without question.”

Shi Ritian hated Chu Feng with every fiber of his being. Whenever these matters came up, his gaze turned venomous, as though he wished he could reduce Chu Feng to dust immediately.

Yuntian fell silent for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, “What about Cailin? If Cailin is by Chu Feng’s side when the time comes, what then? Are we supposed to let Cailin enter the formation as well?”

Shi Ritian sneered inwardly. He had long since disdained Cailin in his heart.

Although he had once intended to win Cailin over, that had only been because of the Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura within her. Now that her Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura had long since been stripped away by Chu Feng, Cailin was, in Shi Ritian’s eyes, nothing more than a useless cripple, damaged goods.

He even felt that if Cailin continued to exist within the Ancient Royal Clan, it would be an insult to the entire Ancient Royal Clan. It would be better for her to be executed alongside Chu Feng.

But Shi Ritian had always been skilled at reading expressions and judging the mood. He knew how important Cailin was to Yuntian, so although his heart was full of contempt, his face revealed none of it.

He even put on an understanding expression. “Don’t worry. The killing array is only aimed at Chu Feng. As long as Clan Leader Cailin doesn’t protect him, she naturally won’t be harmed...”

“And if she does protect him?” The moment the words left Yuntian’s mouth, even his eyes widened. He did not even know why he had said such a thing.

Shi Ritian’s smile stiffened, then he let out a sigh. “Then... we can’t be blamed for that, Brother Yuntian. You should prepare yourself mentally.”

Yuntian said nothing. He merely clenched his fists tighter.

Shi Ritian glanced at Yuntian’s expression, then continued fanning the flames. “Brother Yuntian, I really must say this to you. If Cailin protects Chu Feng when the time comes, then what else is there left to say?

If she shields a human that way, then that is basically the same as betraying the Ancient Royal Clan. We will absolutely show no mercy to such a traitor.

And think about it. The reason you suffered such severe injuries in the first place was all because of Cailin, wasn’t it? If, when the time comes, she still can’t tell right from wrong and insists on siding with that shameless human, then even I would feel that your devotion was wasted. In that case, why should you still pity her?”

It had to be said that Shi Ritian truly was skilled with honeyed words. In just a few sentences, he laid everything bare, struck directly at the heart of the matter, and also pierced straight into Yuntian’s heart.

Because the truth now really was exactly as Shi Ritian had said...

Although Yuntian had always wanted to rescue Cailin from Chu Feng’s hands, his heart was more tormented and conflicted than anyone else’s.

Because Yuntian had no choice but to admit one fact in his heart: Cailin and Chu Feng had already shared an indescribably intimate relationship.

Although Yuntian had never doubted his own feelings for Cailin, nor doubted Cailin’s feelings for him, the fact remained that what had happened had already happened. There was no changing it now.

No man could accept such a thing without any lingering resentment. Yuntian had always cared deeply about that issue, so Shi Ritian’s words just now had directly lit the fuse in his heart.

That was also why he had asked that question almost instinctively.

Because this was the very issue Yuntian had been wrestling with all along. If Cailin truly protected Chu Feng when the time came, then how was he supposed to choose?

After a long silence, Yuntian finally spoke in a slightly hoarse voice. “I want to be the vanguard!”

Shi Ritian raised a brow, somewhat unable to understand, because the vanguard was the force that charged at the very front and also the most dangerous position.

“Oh? Brother Yuntian, what do you mean by that?”

Yuntian shot Shi Ritian a sidelong glance, his eyes full of disdain. As far as Yuntian was concerned, Shi Ritian had never been anything good.

It was only because the situation was special that he had no choice but to cooperate with him.

“What other reason could there be? That human trash bullied me and bullied Cailin. I must kill that human with my own hands. Only then can I settle the knot between Cailin and me.”

Yuntian enunciated every word, his eyes filled with bone-deep hatred, and his voice grew colder and colder, like frozen ice. “This time, even if I have to borrow the strength of the entire Ancient Royal Clan, I must make that little human bastard understand what happens when he touches someone who belongs to me!”

Shi Ritian was secretly delighted. If a fool like Yuntian was willing to charge at the front, then everyone else would be much safer.

In fact, Yuntian had basically taken Shi Ritian’s place directly.

Why would Shi Ritian refuse such a thing?

With Yuntian, a man who hated Chu Feng to the marrow, involved in the vanguard, the power of the killing array would increase by at least another thirty percent.

Shi Ritian suppressed the urge to laugh and put on a sympathetic expression instead, giving Yuntian’s shoulder a heavy pat.

“Good! With such determination from you, Brother Yuntian, that human is as good as dead! I admire you deeply as well, Brother Yuntian. Your resolve to give up everything for the one you love is truly moving. Once we rescue Cailin, I will make sure to tell her properly just how much you have done for her.”