Ding Qiang's words were like a sharp blade in the eyes of many survivors, cutting into the vital point of the Sanctuary.
Some survivors stood firmly on the side of the Sanctuary, believing that there should be no compromise. More people, however, wavered, and in secret, Ding Qiang had several lackeys stirring up emotions.
It was as if a powerful force pressed heavily on everyone's hearts.
Chen Haiping's face looked terrible. He hadn't expected these people to be so well-prepared. He wanted to say something, but didn't know how to open his mouth.
Tang Yu's gaze swept across these Awakeners one by one.
He didn't speak, just walked forward step by step.
The sound of his heels on the stone slabs wasn't loud, but it was unexpectedly clear, resonating in everyone's ears.
The scene became quiet in an instant.
Only Tang Yu's footsteps and the survivors' slight breathing could be heard.
Finally, Tang Yu stopped walking, now only a few meters away from the Awakeners.
Among these people, there were a total of seven Awakeners, making up half of the external Awakeners at the Sanctuary.
Those barely managing to survive in the wilderness, those qualified to reach the Sanctuary by their own power, mostly had one or two Awakeners, which resulted in a relatively high ratio of Awakeners at the Sanctuary.
Even so, seven Awakeners, placed at any small Sanctuary, were still a formidable force.
That was how it was for a normal Sanctuary.
Tang Yu had a cold expression, "Who gave you the confidence?"
"Who gave you the confidence to think that without you, the Sanctuary couldn't fend off the Demonized Beasts?"
"And who gave you the courage to dare stand here and negotiate terms with me?"
Ding Qiang was stunned.
This situation was not what he had anticipated.
The voice was faint yet carried an aura that engulfed him, as if gripping his throat.
He was immediately irritated.
An ordinary person who wasn't even an Awakener...
Ding Qiang caught the side glance of the Awakeners beside him and also glanced at Peng Bo not far away, regaining his confidence. Since terms couldn't be agreed upon, then they would have to show the Sanctuary that they were not only entitled to negotiate terms but were also on equal footing—no, even surpassing the strength of the Sanctuary!
Conveniently, Peng Bo was walking over at this moment, and he smiled, "Director Tang, weren't you just asking where my confidence comes from, then I'll tell you..."
Before he finished speaking.
Peng Bo walked to Ding Qiang's side, then... took a step forward past him, coming to stand in front of Tang Yu.
Were they about to confront each other head-on?
Seeing Peng Bo's fierce expression, Ding Qiang thought inwardly, eager for Peng Bo to make a move.
Yet in the next moment, Peng Bo spoke, and his voice, compared to his fierce appearance, surprisingly sounded somewhat naive?
Ding Qiang wasn't sure if this was an illusion, but then he heard Peng Bo say, "Director, I want to sign up for the Patrol Team. I heard the Patrol Team's food is the best, is this true? And I also heard there are extra rewards for missions. Whatever, I'm the first to sign up anyway."
"Oh, by the way, is there a reward for signing up first?"
Peng Bo rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat... adorable in his contrast?
Ding Qiang was already dumbfounded, his mind a blank.
This storyline was not right.
Peng Bo, this ability user, was clearly his trump card, but what had he just heard? Peng Bo wanted to join the Sanctuary?!
The strongest combat power on his side had, in the blink of an eye, become part of the other side. This feeling made Ding Qiang so stifled that he wanted to cough up blood.
He glared angrily at Peng Bo.
Originally, in his plan, if his side's strength was on par with the Sanctuary, then they would negotiate terms well with the Sanctuary, ideally figuring out where the Sanctuary stored food, and then slowly plot. But if they found that the Sanctuary's strength was not that great, they would make a direct move, seizing the Sanctuary for themselves.
This was Plan A and Plan B.
He thought these plans were foolproof, but he hadn't expected Peng Bo to defect. He couldn't fathom why, in such a favorable situation, Peng Bo would choose to stand with the Sanctuary—didn't Peng Bo have grievances against the Sanctuary?
Yet Ding Qiang knew that now, they were already at a disadvantage.
No matter, there was still the final Plan C.
He took a deep breath, looking at Tang Yu, "Director Tang, I admit your tactics are superior, managing to secretly win over Peng Bo. The terms can be slightly lowered, but just as I said, we Awakeners have our dignity. If you only want us to work ourselves to the bone, then I, along with my Awakeners and many dissatisfied with the Sanctuary, will just have to leave and find another place."
This was his final plan, retreating to advance!
Ding Qiang believed the Sanctuary's weakness was having too few Awakeners. Even with Peng Bo's joining, so what? As strong as an ability user might be, he was still just one person, unable to manage everything. Besides, they had seven Awakeners on their side!
Without Awakeners, what would the Sanctuary use to fend off Demonized Beasts? Without survivors, how would the Sanctuary transport materials every day?
Now that he considered himself at a disadvantage and had lowered the terms, shouldn't the Sanctuary side agree?
No matter what, they were Awakeners. Once conflict broke out, even if the Sanctuary had the upper hand, they couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be losses, right?
Tang Yu shook his head slightly as if sighing.
"It's weakness that limits your imagination. How about this, if you can withstand one strike from Luo Zhe's sword, I will agree to all your conditions. But if you can't withstand it..."
Ding Qiang was furious.
He looked at Luo Zhe standing silently beside Tang Yu.
Aura not strong, merely a newly awakened Awakener. Even if Iron-faced Luo's combat skills were superb and his aura powerful, it was too much to say he couldn't withstand a single sword strike!
No, let alone withstanding one strike, even in a real confrontation, he might not lose!
After all, he had slain three Demonized Beasts! He completely disregarded ordinary Awakeners!
This was his true confidence, stemming from his own strength!
Ding Qiang took out his weapon, a sharp machete, "I accept it, just don't regret it!"
Luo Zhe also took out his weapon, a massive heavy sword.
Such a heavy sword, to many, seemed incredulous. Even among Awakeners, not everyone could lift it; even if they could, could they really use that weight in battle?
Peng Bo retreated a few steps, widening his eyes, observing the legendary "Man" up close.
Luo Zhe moved, taking just a light step forward, and with the heavy sword, cleaving downwards with wind pressure.
Ding Qiang's eyes widened, only feeling a breeze passing by, as if... nothing had happened.
Suddenly, his body felt somewhat rigid, his thoughts gradually turning cold. Lowering his head slightly, he saw a line of blood stretching from the right side of his waist straight to the left shoulder.
His thoughts were already fading into darkness. Only the Awakeners around him could see that the line of blood extended, as if painted, before bursting suddenly, with blood spraying out.
In a flash, Ding Qiang died right before their eyes.
The other Awakeners were immediately scared out of their wits.
This was a newly awakened? The fiercest Awakeners they'd seen weren't this fierce! Old Ding had slain Demonized Beasts, yet couldn't withstand even one move. Wouldn't they meet the same end?
Blood was still pouring from Ding Qiang's waist. They took one last look, then turned and fled, not bothering with their subordinates.
They fled in different directions, and downhill from the small square, there were several routes to take. They knew they weren't a match for Luo Zhe and might be quickly caught.
But there were so many of them. No matter how fierce Iron-faced Luo was, he couldn't perform the Avatar Technique, could he? It was all about who had the bad luck to be chosen by Iron-faced Luo.
A few who had plotted together, yesterday still swore brotherhood, each felt victory was assured but now fled for their lives in the blink of an eye.
No one cared about the others' fates, even hoping their companions would run a bit slower to draw Luo Zhe's attention, allowing them to escape alive.
One Awakener sporting a bushy beard kept an eye on the movement behind him, seemingly noticing no one in pursuit, his heart lightened. Suddenly, a plump figure blocked his path.
"It's a mining puppet."
The bearded one snorted derisively. Mere puppets, and a mining one at that, dared block him?
He conceded he wasn't a match for Iron-faced Luo, but he had no fear of a puppet!
The bearded one unleashed his full strength, aiming to swiftly destroy the puppet and then flee far away without encountering that terrifying Iron-faced Luo again.
Wielding an axe, he swung fiercely with the sound of slicing through the wind.
Quick speed and great strength!
The plump puppet didn't react in time, and the axe lodged in its center!
The bearded one grinned, ready to sidestep and pass around what he presumed to be an already broken puppet, but suddenly a massive recoil from the axe nearly caused him to lose his grip.
It was only then that he realized his supposedly fatal blow had only left a small crack on the mining puppet, which, even for a puppet, hardly counted as damage.