Chapter 178: At This Very Moment!
Zhu Gangkai insisted that after emerging from seclusion, he had encountered several Demon Race tribes.
So on a whim, he had taken them all under his command.
Xuan Hong naturally did not believe this.
It was about to slap this suspicious Pig Demon to death on the spot.
But just as it was about to act, a thought suddenly surfaced in its mind.
This time, the Honored One has led the entire clan to war. The spoils are certain to be plentiful.
If I stay behind in the clan alone, and can take the opportunity to win over some of the remaining demon tribes, that could count as a contribution to the clan.
When the Honored One returns, perhaps it will count as merit on my part too!
Xuan Hong pondered inwardly, and its surging aura gradually subsided.
“Fine. Since you sincerely wish to submit to our Northern Sea Xuanji Clan, then I will give you a chance!”
“Remember this: from now on, you are a Guest Elder of our Northern Sea Xuanji Clan. You will obey my commands, or you will be killed without mercy!”
“Yes, this subordinate respectfully obeys the Lord’s teachings!”
Zhu Gangkai hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.
“Good. Go now. Take those subordinates you picked up and go get yourself a Commander position with the City Guard.”
Xuan Hong waved a hand.
“Thank you, Lord!”
“Thank you, Lord!”
Zhu Gangkai bowed respectfully, his face full of flattery.
With that, he bent low and withdrew from the palace.
And the moment he was far enough away, a highly concealed Communication Jade Talisman at his waist lit up.
Seeing this, Zhu Gangkai did not dare look at it yet.
Only after he reached a secluded place did he quietly take it out and release the message within.
The Sect Master is coming…
I wonder if they can actually beat this Xuanji Clan.
That Xuan Hong seems to be a mid-stage Great Vehicle, and right now the clan still has three Tribulation Crossing demon beasts.
With that kind of fighting strength, they're more than a notch above the Chaotian Sect.
Zhu Gangkai stroked his chin, hesitating once more.
The Chaotian Sect had a Great Vehicle Elder. He knew that.
But Ma Liang was only an early-stage Great Vehicle.
And apart from Ma Liang, the only other one was Lu Qingyang, a Void Return.
Forget Tribulation Crossing — they didn’t even have a single Dao Integration cultivator.
Seen that way, the Chaotian Sect coming to exterminate the Xuanji Clan really did seem like a mouse serving as bridesmaid for a cat.
Should I… turn traitor?
The thought surfaced in Zhu Gangkai’s mind once again.
But in the very next instant, when his gaze fell on the Communication Jade Talisman and the news that the Sect Master was coming.
He gave another shudder.
No… every time I think about this, my spine goes numb.
Best to maintain the status quo for now. At worst, when the situation turns bad, old Pig here will just bolt.
In the end, Zhu Gangkai still could not make up his mind, and decided to hold off for now.
As night deepened, the lights of Xuanji City gradually brightened.
The Northern Sea Xuanji loved to roam at night, and at this moment the city was lively beyond measure.
Whether Xuanji clansmen who had taken human form or ordinary demon tribes who had not, every one of them was full of vigor, appearing abnormally excited.
They ate meat, roughhoused, and were utterly carefree.
And atop the massive city walls, Zhu Gangkai was leading a squad of Sea Star Monkeys on a listless patrol.
The Northern Sea Xuanji Clan did not take in vassals.
Even when they did, the treatment was extremely poor. Not only did the vassals have to provide their own food and lodging, they also had to stand duty every single day.
Sure enough, Zhu Gangkai had just arrived and was already put to work.
And as a vassal, he was thoroughly mocked by the Xuanji clansmen who had taken human form.
“Heh heh, a Pig Demon leading a bunch of monkeys. Laughing this demon to death.”
On the city wall, a Sixth Order Xuanji clansman in red scale armor mocked Zhu Gangkai.
Hearing this, Zhu Gangkai could not help but roll his eyes.
He could not be bothered to argue with the other party.
But seeing that Zhu Gangkai did not talk back, the Xuanji clansman only grew more animated.
“Yo, what’s the matter, not saying anything? Not convinced?”
“Come on, say something!”
“Huh… why is the moon gone?”
But just as the Xuanji clansman was jeering, he suddenly felt the moonlight was not very bright, and hastily looked up.
He was startled to find that the bright, clear moon hanging in the sky had been blotted out by a massive dark cloud.
“Hm? How unlucky. Where did this cloud come from?”
“Get lost!”
The Xuanji clansman, a Sixth Order greater demon, flew into a rage at the sight of the cloud blocking the moon.
With a wave of his hand, his demon power surged into a giant claw that grabbed at the dark cloud.
But the moment it touched the cloud, he abruptly discovered that his five fingers seemed to have struck an unyielding iron mountain.
The iron mountain did not move in the slightest, but his five demon-power fingers shattered outright.
“Hiss…”
“This… what is that thing!”
The Xuanji clansman was terrified beyond measure.
And what answered him was a mechanical voice that seemed utterly devoid of emotion.
“Beep! Thirty-Three Heavens High-Altitude Strike Platform is unfolding.”
“The First Heaven is unfolding. Please wait…”
“Unfolding complete. Charging.”
“The second heaven is unfolding. Please wait…”
“Unfolding complete. Charging.”
“The Skybase Weapon is being deployed. Please wait…”
“Deployment complete. All Columns, prepare to attack.”
Boom!
Crack crack!
Boom boom boom!
As this emotionless mechanical voice resounded throughout Xuanji City.
A thick, immeasurably vast metal platform abruptly appeared beneath the moon.
Immediately after, densely packed cannon barrels and electromagnetic towers flickering with blue arcs extended from it, beginning to gather power.
And this scene left the numerous Xuanji clansmen in the city stunned and dumbfounded.
“This…”
“What’s going on? This…”
“This… what is that thing?”
“…”
The Xuanji clansmen in the city looked at the strange, never-before-seen object, and for a time they were not even afraid.
Only astonished.
Like someone seeing a flying saucer.
Their first thought was not to flee, but to examine it curiously.
As for Zhu Gangkai on the city wall, when he saw this scene, his pupils contracted sharply.
It’s here!
Should I hide first?
No, I can’t hide now!
If the Sect Master wins, I’ll be the one who suffers!
Zhu Gangkai’s thoughts churned, and finally he gritted his teeth.
Screw it! Let’s do this first and talk later!
Zhu Gangkai clenched his jaw, directly circulated his spiritual power, and released his true form.
One hoof stomped toward the Xuanji clansman beside him who had just been mocking him!
And that Xuanji clansman, caught completely off guard, was actually kicked flying several zhang, smashing through several houses.
“Monkey boys! Kill!”
“The time to give your lives for Lord Sect Master has come!”
“KILL!”
Zhu Gangkai roared, leading a group of Sea Star Monkeys in a slaughter right there on the city wall.
At the same time, high in the sky.
The Thirty-Three Heavens High-Altitude Strike Platform had finished charging.
As the densely packed cannon barrels gradually lit up, balls of blazing lightning slurry began to condense on the platform.
In the next instant.
The sky above Xuanji City was lit up.
The dark curtain of night was torn in two by dazzling light.
Terror gradually crept across the faces of the Xuanji Clan.
At this very moment, it was exactly like the Great Zhou all those years ago…