Chapter 630: Chapter Six Hundred Twenty-Six: Not Leaving

Facing the unfolding scene, Tang Zhi, the clan leader who seemed preprepared for it, calmly gave his decisive orders: “Notify the Third Elder. Have him lead the Western Foot’s garrison to back up our Martial Ancestors retreating to the Broken Cloud Peak. And inform the frontline defenders. This green mist is a secret art specifically researched against our clan by the Mi Clan. It has a strong restraint effect against metallic spiritual power. Once this green mist is discovered, immediately use the Vermillion Bird seal to counteract it.”

The young Wind Media messenger, who was just lost in panic, stabilized his heart upon hearing Tang Zhi’s organized orders, and immediately ran back to deliver them.

Tang Luo’s expression turned even grimmer within the council hall. If maintaining calm is the compulsory course for someone of high standing, then Tang Zhi’s premeditated arrangements for the Transcending Mortals team behind the West Foot hill was a representation of his capability. However, knowing the battlefield conditions beforehand and immediately giving out countermeasures without thinking, this was beyond what intelligence and wisdom could achieve.

Tang Zhi turned to look at Tang Luo, whose face was full of complexity, earnestly saying, “By next Spring, everything will come out in the open. If Chief Luo still wishes to trust me, set off with Lord Bai Chuan right now.”

While he had a handle on every action of the Mi Clan, the surprise visit from the Grandmaster had indeed thrown off all his arrangements. Even if the other party only harbored a tenth of ill-intent, he would also pay tenfold of caution.

Looking at Tang Zhi’s sincere expression, Tang Luo felt a pervasive sense of powerlessness. He felt that those who followed different principles should not make plans together. He was aware that Tang Zhi’s schemes were for the sake of the clan, but he was unable to accept the way this man used his family as pawns.

Instead of probing into these insidious plots, he preferred to do something for the clan members who had yet to evacuate North Mountain.

“Since everything is under the clan leader’s control, there is no need for me to flee from Kunwu.” Tang Luo rejected the kindness offered by the clan leader, excusing himself: “As the defense chief of North Mountain, I should prepare defenses.”

“Wait,” Tang Zhi suddenly stopped him and tried to persuade him again, “Chief Luo, please don’t act impulsively. Staying in North Mountain will only increase your own risk. Why do you have to insist?”

He truly couldn’t understand. Even if Tang Luo didn’t agree with his methods, he should consider his own safety. At this moment, he could very likely be targeted by a Grandmaster. Staying stubbornly in North Mountain was harmful but not beneficial at all. The only reason he could think of was Luo’s stubbornness.

“Acting impulsively? Not at all…” The defense chief turned at the entrance, revealing half of his expressionless face: “I cultivated martial arts diligently for ten years. It was not for the purpose of fleeing before women and children.”

Until now, only the first four ranks evacuated from North Mountain. Elder Tang Zhi’s own family was still stranded on the mountain, let alone Uncle Fu and the others. If Tang Luo was to simply abandon them and leave, his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

Because he knew, the Tang Clan of North Mountain had not reached the end of the road. He would leave fleeing to others.

The young defense chief left the council hall, leaving Clan Leader Tang Zhi and Tang Baichuan in an awkward situation.

The former First Head of the Martial Hall looked at the young man’s departing defiant figure and scoffed: “This youngster, is he saying I am a coward?”

Although Tang Baichuan’s face did reflect some awkwardness, his eyes couldn’t conceal admiration. If not because he cherishes talent like his life, how would he give up his position of the First Head of the Martial Hall.

Even during his retreat, he was more than familiar with the name Tang Luo. The original perception of the gifted talent had turned into a perspective of a bold her joining the clan. It was indeed joyous.

“Since Chief Luo is unwilling to go, Lord Bai Chuan, please take those children to Kunwu County.” Clan Leader Tang Zhi shook his head with resignation, finalizing the matter.

…

West Foot of North Mountain

When Tang Sen arrived as reinforcement, the Mi Clan’s coalition army had already stepped onto North Mountain’s land. The former undefeated Sect Head could only passively defend.

The grim green poisonous cloud turned into the best cover for the Mi Clan’s coalition army. Even the strongest Extreme Mang Finger technique couldn’t penetrate this thin mist, making people shudder in fear.

Watching the poisonous cloud about to engulf a clueless clan member who was resisting the Mi Clan’s Martial Ancestor, the infuriated Sect Head landed in the center of the battlefield. The earth-controlling divine technique erupted, with the fierce Qilin in the spirit soul roaring towards the sky.

The entire west foot of the mountain turned golden in an instant. A rock wave raised tens of feet, covering the poisonous cloud in the ground.

As the terrain changed, Tang Clan’s Martial Ancestors knew that Tang Sen had come to their rescue. Their morale boosted, they gathered in the direction of the Sect Head one after another, forming a new line of defense. However, looking at the still-spreading poisonous cloud in the distance, their hearts couldn’t help but tremble in fear.

Great Elder Tang Siyuan, after finishing off a Mi Clan Martial Ancestor with the point of the Extreme Mang Finger, landed next to Tang Sen and asked in a low voice: “Do you have a way to deal with this poisonous cloud?”

Since he was seriously injured by the poisonous cloud last time, he had been on guard against this trick from the Mi Clan. When he saw the Mi Clan’s follower suddenly bursting into the crowd, he immediately ordered his people to retreat. However, that Mi Clan Martial Ancestor came too suddenly and quickly, causing two Martial Ancestors from the main vein to fail in evading and be enveloped by the poisonous cloud, dying on the spot.

Luckily, this round of poisonous cloud was inferior in scale and toxicity to the one the Mi Clan used last time. As long as they didn’t directly come into contact with the mist, those who had strengthened their bodies using the Undying Battle Body could still resist it. This was considered a piece of good fortune amidst the misfortune.

Then, seeing Tang Sen using the rock wave to cover a portion of the low-floating green cloud, they couldn’t help but raise their hopes.

However, Tang Sen looked up at the green mist in the sky and shook his head: “It’s too high.”

Given that he had only fused with the fierce spirit of Qilin and gained the earth-controlling technique, even a true Qilin wouldn’t be able to flip the rock wave to reach such a great height. If it was on a plain, there might be a chance. But this was on a mountain, and it was simply impossible to achieve that.

Battles between Fierce Realm fighters often came down to who had stronger control over the sky because secret arts launched from the sky were usually more powerful than those launched from the ground, in terms of both accuracy and range.

But with the poisonous cloud enveloping them, the Tang Clan’s Martial Ancestors could only dodge the cloud, retreating while battling. They could only unleash 70% of their full strength.

If it wasn’t for the all-rounder Sky-picking Hand, the west foot frontline might have been obliterated by now.

The Tang Clan’s Martial Ancestors gradually gathered behind the Sect Head, struggling with the Mi Clan’s Martial Ancestors under the defense of the golden rocks. However, the Mi Clan’s coalition army, backed by the poisonous cloud, was becoming more aggressive. A single charge could tear a hole in the defense line. In a short while, four Martial Ancestors of the Tang Clan’s west foot defense line had to use Xuanji Jade because their armors were shattered, bringing the verge of collapse.

Suddenly, a strong surge of spiritual power appeared behind the west foot mountain. A team of transcending mortals, consisting of several thousands of individuals, suddenly burst onto the battlefield. Their hands holding joint strikes were thrown at the sky.

Close to a thousand red Flood Dragons soared out, dyeing the entire sky golden red, stirring confusion amongst the Mi Clan’s coalition army. Even though each joint strike was only at the level of a Mystery-Rank Spirit Art, the combination of thousands of these strikes was daunting.