"Escape? The entire Qingzhou City is sealed off, where can you possibly escape to?"
Seeing Sword Obsession taking Zhao Letian away, the General remained indifferent, stepping into the void leisurely as he pursued them.
At this moment, the array enveloping Qingzhou City was extremely powerful; unless he took action personally, no one could leave. Sword Obsession and the others had no chance of escaping.
"Like the General said, all of you heard it, serving the country through military service is a duty that people of Qingzhou City must fulfill. Now led by the four major families, each household must send one person to join the military, regardless of gender. Those who defy the order will be executed without mercy." After the General left, Shentu Yuanba suddenly raised his voice and declared. As soon as his voice fell, a large number of guards rushed out of the City Lord Mansion, surrounding everyone.
"Additionally, from now on, each year the Zhao Family, Sun Family, and Liu Family must hand over two-thirds of their income to the City Lord Mansion; otherwise, they will have no reason to exist." Shentu Yuanba coldly swept his gaze over the other three major families, threatening them overtly.
Now, with the backbone of the other three major families broken, they no longer had the power to contend with the City Lord Mansion, especially with the General supporting the City Lord Mansion. Who would dare to disobey and risk being annihilated?
The faces of Zhao Wuji and others immediately darkened. The City Lord Mansion was ruthless. Though they were not annihilating them, they wanted to enslave them, making the three major families tools for profit for the City Lord Mansion, which was more beneficial than wiping them out.
"Zhao Wuji, do you wish to submit or do you want your clan extinguished?" Shentu Yuanba coldly stared at Zhao Wuji, pressing him. Now, among the three major families, only the elder of the Zhao family was still alive and strongest. Subduing them first, there would be no worry about the Liu Family and Sun Family resisting.
"I, Zhao Family, am willing to offer two-thirds of our income to the City Lord Mansion," Zhao Wuji said with an ashen face. He was very aware of the times, choosing to survive was better than being annihilated.
"Very good, what about the Liu Family and Sun Family?" Shentu Yuanba's lips curled into a satisfied smile, then he turned to address the people from the Liu Family and Sun Family.
"I, Patriarch of the Liu Family, am willing to submit," said the Patriarch of the Liu Family helplessly. The Liu Family elder was dead, what choice did they have?
"I, Sun Family, am also willing to submit," stood out Sun Er, hesitating for a moment. Today, the Sun Family suffered the most with both their elder and clan leader killed, without a capable speaker left, he, Sun Er, had no choice but to come forward and speak for the Sun Family.
"Your choices are very wise. Now, have your people assist my City Lord Mansion in recruiting troops for the General," Shentu Yuanba nodded and said, showing a smug expression on his face. After many years of waiting, he had finally unified Qingzhou City completely. From now on, the four major families would become history, and no one could stand on equal footing with the City Lord Mansion anymore.
Meanwhile, Sword Obsession, wielding a flying sword, was carrying Zhao Letian and two others rapidly towards Zhao Mansion, followed by the General who, appearing unhurried, was actually not slow. Each step he took spanned a great distance, forcing Sword Obsession to stay vigilant and not relax. Love this story? Show your support on *.
"We're almost there, Master, that big compound ahead is Zhao Mansion, and the teleportation array I set up is at the southeastern corner," Zhao Letian guided Sword Obsession.
"Alright, your master understands," Sword Obsession nodded, the True Yuan Power surged within him, and his speed increased by a fraction.
However, just then, a Palm Seal erupted from the street below, shooting directly towards Sword Obsession.
"Scoundrels, come out!"
Sword Obsession furrowed his brows, and with a casual wave, he sent a Sword Qi to shatter that Palm Seal, continuing to aim at the ambusher hidden in the shadows.
"Sword Obsession, you can't escape now."
From a dark corner below, an old man's voice arose, followed by the flick of a whip that shattered Sword Obsession's swordlight, then an old man in a green robe emerged.
"Pan Teng?" Zhao Letian's face immediately darkened; the elder who ambushed them was none other than Pan Qingqing's father and the Guardian Elder of Galaxy Sect, Pan Teng.
"Pan Teng, you've got some nerve to strike at your fellow sect members," Sword Obsession yelled angrily.
"Sword Obsession, I hold no grudge against you and don't want to make things difficult, just let go of Zhao Letian and I will no longer obstruct your path," Pan Teng said coldly, hovering in the air with a chain whip in his hand, staring at Sword Obsession.
"You're seeking death, remember what the Sect Master once said, whoever harms Zhao Letian is an enemy to the whole sect. Are you really willing to become enemies with Galaxy Sect?" Sword Obsession said angrily and anxiously. Although he was not afraid of Pan Teng, the General approaching from behind would soon catch up; if Pan Teng just entangled him briefly, they wouldn't manage to escape, thus he tried to intimidate Pan Teng with the Sect Master's words.
"This place is already enveloped by an Array, and if you die here, who would know that I, an old man, have ever been to Qingzhou City?" Pan Teng sneered coldly.
"You really think that this mere Array can trap me, Sword Obsession? I'm giving you one last chance, get out of the way, or I shall slay you whether in heaven or on earth," Sword Obsession declared, his True Yuan energy swelling and a cold murderous intent surfacing in his eyes, for he had no time to waste on Pan Teng anymore.
"This Array might not hold you, but the General can. If he catches up, do you think you could still live after today? I too give you one final chance, either Zhao Letian dies alone, or all of you die together," Pan Teng said frostily.
"Fine then, you stubborn old fool, even if I have to advance to the Sect Martial Realm prematurely today, I, Sword Obsession, will definitely slay you. Letian, you guys go; I will hold the rear," Sword Obsession said furiously, his tone leaving no room for doubt as he spoke to Zhao Letian.
"Master, take care," Zhao Letian clenched his teeth, nodded, and immediately led Liu Wei and Luo Yao, transforming into a beam of Sword Light and heading straight for the teleportation array within Zhao Mansion.
He knew that with his current strength, he was of no help to his master. Reluctant as he was, he had to follow his master's instructions, otherwise any hesitation or indecision would only hamper his master.
"Don't worry, I won't die. Once I get out, I will come looking for you," Sword Obsession said with a proud smile, speaking boldly while his body, apart from the subtle Sword Energy, suddenly surged with a powerful Nine-layered Wind Force and a Nine-layered Fire Force.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound exploded in the clear sky, dense dark clouds rapidly gathered into a huge vortex overhead, with flashes of lightning flickering within, appearing like a monstrous mouth choosing its victims.
"Master is about to break through to the Sect Martial Realm, he has actually mastered three types of forces." Zhao Letian was deeply shocked. Before stepping into the teleportation array, his last glance made him realize anew the strength of his master Sword Obsession; an ordinary martial artist reaching the ninth level of understanding of one type of force could break through to the Sect Martial Realm, but his master had comprehensively understood three types of forces to the ninth level, even reaching the subtle realm of Sword Force; truly a demon-level genius.
However, what he didn't know was that Sword Obsession originally planned to comprehend the wind and fire forces to the subtle realms before breaking through to the Sect Martial Realm, which would attract more Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi Canisters when breaking through, benefitting even more. But now, to protect Zhao Letian, Sword Obsession had no choice but to break through prematurely.
Meanwhile, the pursuing General and Pan Teng turned ashen, staring in shock at the cloud formation in the sky as Sword Obsession triggered a celestial phenomenon far more powerful than any typical martial artist when breaking through to the Sect Martial Realm.