Gu Jinlai and Gu Chaoyang arrived quickly.
They had just turned a street corner when they saw Su Tong, dressed in snow white, atop a tall horse, leading dozens of elites toward them.
Fearing the leak of information, she did not come with the Meteor Star Guard.
Clearly, she understood that the recently defected Meteor Star Guard were reliable enough for gathering intelligence but not for critical operations.
"Ancestor, it wasn’t us who informed Su Tong; she had already set out before our people got there."
Gu Chaoyang spoke softly.
Gu Jinlai was somewhat surprised.
"Gu Jinlai, my men must not come to harm."
The divine thought of Yang Kan sounded in Gu Jinlai’s ears.
He had followed them here as well.
However, as the matters of Lingxiao City were led by Gu Jinlai, and at Gu Jinlai’s request, Yang Kan had not shown himself immediately.
"Now that things have come to this head, you no longer have a choice. If this woman seeks her own demise, it’s better to just finish her off, forcibly take control of Lingxiao City. After all, Elder Xue is about to make a move soon. Once Elder Xue captures Baihe City, linking several cities together, you will be exposed anyway."
Yang Kan’s voice rose again.
Upon hearing this, Gu Jinlai had a clear understanding.
His lips slightly moved as he transmitted his inquiry.
"They have already arrived outside the county town."
As Gu Jinlai watched Su Tong and her party hurry over, his lips moved subtly, "Seal off Wutong County. From now on, allow entry but no leaving."
Gu Chaoyang nodded and quickly departed.
"I ordered Gu Chaoyang to summon people."
"It should have been done sooner."
Yang Kan’s voice sounded, seemingly with a hint of pride, "As a Golden Robed Elder of the Purgatory Sect, why should you seek compromise in front of someone who doesn’t even reach the Refining God Realm?"
Gu Jinlai said nothing but arrived at the courtyard entrance first.
Seeing this, Su Tong did not waste words and ordered directly, "Surround it."
Gu Jinlai stepped forward and greeted her with a cupped-hand salute.
But Yan Xuejian had already positioned himself in front of Su Tong, ready to prevent any sudden murderous actions from Gu Jinlai.
Others at the Hugging Pill level were also surrounding her, guarding her safety.
Obviously, she was not lacking in caution.
Only after ensuring her safety within a protective ring of a Refining God and several Hugging Pill masters did she slightly raise her head, speaking with some arrogance, "Gu Jinlai, I’ve received a tip-off that people from the Purgatory Demon Sect are hiding in this courtyard, plotting nefarious schemes. I wish to conduct an investigation. Surely you aren’t considering old affections and thinking about stopping me?"
"Of course not, in fact, I too have received similar intelligence and rushed over in haste,"
Gu Jinlai said, adding emphatically, "Moreover, according to my information, this group from the Demon Sect consists not just of about ten Hugging Pill-level individuals and dozens at the Gang Condensation level, but they are also led by a Refining God Elder. With the force led by you, the Su Town Guardian, should the people of the Purgatory Sect resist desperately... I’m afraid all of you will die here."
"Refining God Elder!?"
Yan Xuejian’s expression changed instantaneously.
Even Su Tong was somewhat shocked.
But then, she felt annoyed at the fear within her heart, "Am I to understand that Elder Gu is speaking on behalf of those from the Purgatory Demon Sect and threatening me?"
"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall."
Gu Jinlai said, "With the status of Su Town Guardian, you could have a great future ahead; why bother with a show-down here with an elder from the Purgatory Sect? If anything untoward happens and you meet an untimely end... it would be truly regrettable."
Yan Xuejian also approached Su Tong, "Miss Su, I said that the intelligence seemed like a trap to lure us here. For safety’s sake, we should retreat."
"A trap? If it were a trap, Gu Jinlai would have attacked us by now."
A sharp light flashed in Su Tong’s eyes, "Rather than a trap, I think this is Gu Jinlai bluffing, in a hurry to deceive us into leaving, so he can transfer these Demon Sect disciples about to fall into our hands and let us miss out on this great achievement."
"It’s better to be safe than sorry..."
Yan Xuejian murmured lowly.
"If he could deal with us, would he tolerate our aggressive pressure all these days?"
Su Tong spoke confidently, "I’m certain he has no trump cards up his sleeve!"
At that moment, she felt as if she were possessed by both a sleeping dragon and a lurking phoenix, a sense of seeing through deceit and a surge of superior intellect arose within her.
With a firm wave of her hand, she commanded, "Men, enter the courtyard, search! Leave no disciples of the Purgatory Demon Sect, capture them all. Should anyone dare to resist, show no mercy!"
Over a dozen experts by her side swiftly advanced.
Gu Jinlai stepped aside to stand at the doorway, looking at Su Tong, "Are you sure you want to search?"
"Do you intend to stop me? It looks like you indeed have colluded with the people from the Purgatory Demon Sect."
Su Tong’s lips curved into a slight smile, full of anticipation for a great achievement, "On my command, if Gu Jinlai dares to obstruct, show no mercy."
Gu Jinlai looked at Su Family’s Miss, who stood there with bright eyes and white teeth, brimming with self-satisfaction, and eventually, he stepped aside, "You go ahead and search."
"Enter the courtyard."
dozens of people burst into the courtyard at once.
Almost simultaneously with their intrusion, dozens of people who were already alerted by the noise had gathered, waiting quietly in the courtyard.
The moment Su Tong’s entourage entered, the gazes of ten Hugging Pill experts and forty at the Gang Condensation level turned towards them simultaneously.
The atmosphere in the field stiffened slightly.
Su Tong was also taken aback.
"They are all experts."
Yan Xuejian immediately guarded Su Tong and inspected the situation closely. After a moment, he let out a slight sigh of relief, "However, there’s no Refining God Elder."
No sooner had he spoken than another voice came from behind him.
"Gu Jinlai, where are your men? What are you waiting for, get ready to take action."
It was Elder Yang Kan, who had been hiding outside, finally revealing himself with two Hugging Pill experts."
Upon his appearance, Yan Xuejian, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly changed his expression drastically, "Purgatory Demon Sect’s Golden Robed Elder Yang Kan!"
Considered experts even among the Refining God Realm.
If one were to categorize the stages of the Refining God Realm into early, middle, late, and peak, Yang Kan would definitely be in the middle or even late stage of the Refining God, with strength undoubtedly superior to his, a Heavenly Gang Sect elder who had been at the Refining God Realm for only six years.
"With Elder Yang Kan and the protectors here, why would I need to mobilize any troops?"
At this point, Gu Jinlai’s voice rang out.
He and Yang Kan stood side by side, their gazes turning towards Su Tong and Yan Xuejian, who had entered the courtyard.
"A real Demon Sect elder?!"
Su Tong, who thought she had the upper hand, felt her mind go blank, her head buzzing from the shock of the scene before her.
What happened to the empty show of strength?
What happened to the clever strategizing?
How did it all suddenly change ?
"Su Town Guardian, weren’t you here to capture someone? What are you waiting for, take action."
Gu Jinlai calmly said.
Su Tong, looking at Gu Jinlai standing beside Yang Kan, guessed what was happening, her pretty face turning slightly pale, "You... you’re really still in secret collusion with the Purgatory Demon Sect..."
"Isn’t this the evidence you wanted to take me down?"
Gu Jinlai said, "Now, the evidence is before you, look at it carefully, make sure you see it clearly."
"You... what do you all want to do by gathering here?"
Su Tong widened her eyes.
A terrible guess formed in her heart.
"What do we want to do?"
Gu Jinlai looked at Su Tong. "What do you think?"
"Break out, fight our way out!"
Realizing the situation was irretrievable, Yan Xuejian decisively gave a low shout. Immediately after, his long sword broke the sky, and Sword Gang roared, sweeping towards Gu Jinlai.
"Miss Su, keep close to me!"
He directly took Su Tong to leap over the wall, attempting to break out of the courtyard.
But a startled Su Tong reacted a beat too slow, allowing others to react in time.
"Kill all of them, leave no one alive!"
Yang Kan issued a command.
He knew that to ensure Gu Jinlai was entirely cut off, Su Tong must die.
Otherwise, if he was willing to pay the price, there might still be a chance for Meteor Star Guard to protect him once more.
With that thought, Yang Kan exploded with power from underneath his feet, leaped up, and quickly intercepted Yan Xuejian and Su Tong, whom he needed to protect.
He also bellowed loudly, "Elder Gu, you’re not going to refuse to act, are you?"
Gu Jinlai was silent for a moment before suddenly revealing a grin, "Why would I? I never mind giving a ride to those who seek their own death."
His gaze instantly locked onto the only two with Red names among the dozens.
His figure soared like an eagle striking the sky, carrying an Upper Demon’s ferocious aura, and plunged into the battlefield where Gang Qi and Sword Qi were bursting.
The great battle erupted in an instant.