Chapter 456: Chapter 450: This Is What You Call a Surprise: The Old Emperor Appears
These men had also been affected by the sonic waves from the giant dragon earlier, and none of them were in good shape. Still, they held their posts, refusing to open the city gates for those trying to leave.
"Does the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty want to completely annihilate our Major Sects?"
"We only have a treaty of alliance with the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, we’re not here to die for them!"
"That’s right. If you don’t open the gates, then we’ll be forced to act. We don’t mind fighting for a chance to survive."
"The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty has pushed us too far! If you want us to die, then let’s see what you’ve got!"
The City Defense Commander’s words instantly ignited the fury in the hearts of the Sect members.
The frustrations they had been suppressing now burst forth all at once.
With their only way out being cut off, they naturally had to fight back.
After all, they weren’t powerless commoners. Everyone who had survived this long was resourceful. Behind them, disciples from the various Major Sects were slowly gathering.
At this moment, the attitudes of the Major Sects were clearly unified.
This was the result of their prior communication. The Major Sects were all of the same mind; they no longer wanted to wait around in Jinyun City to die.
The range of the battle between the two unknown Golden Giant Dragons was already immense. On top of that, a Martial Saint Ancestor was still lurking somewhere. If the fight continued, it was very likely that Jinyun City itself would be annihilated.
The aftershocks from a battle between Martial Saint experts were also very powerful.
If those two Golden Giant Dragons clashing high above weren’t fighting in the upper atmosphere, but down in Jinyun City or even on the ground nearby, the city would have already been obliterated.
Under these circumstances, even those who had initially wanted to watch the fight—or perhaps even reap some benefits from the Golden Giant Dragons—were now keeping their distance.
A fortuitous opportunity is great, but one must be alive to take it.
Everyone gathered at the city gate to force the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty to compromise and give them a way out.
The few people Song Yunxiang had overheard plotting to escape before were already dead.
They had chosen a lower section of the city wall, a position with fewer guards that they thought would be easier to escape from. In the end, however, they were slaughtered by a hidden Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, unable to put up any meaningful resistance.
Therefore, to escape, they needed to gather a larger crowd and leave openly through the main gate, forcing the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty to compromise.
Otherwise, if they tried to flee from other places and were killed, they would have no recourse, because they could be branded as assassins with a single word.
After all, choosing to escape over the city walls could be interpreted as an attempt to assassinate the city guards, as a threat to those soldiers. Even if they had no such intention, once branded, there would be no way to argue otherwise.
Song Yunxiang was well aware of this, which was why he had brought Yang Chan to the city gate to join the ranks of the Major Sects.
There was safety in numbers. If the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty dared to move against them, all they had to do was send out carrier pigeons with the news. The relationship between the Major Sects and the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty would become irreconcilable. At that point, they would be justified in defecting to other Imperial Dynasties and working together to overthrow Great Zhou.
After all, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had acted unjustly first. They couldn’t expect the Major Sects to continue serving them after that.
In this situation, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty was the first to violate the treaty of alliance by moving against the Major Sects. It would therefore be perfectly reasonable for the Major Sects to turn on the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.
The current incident—the Golden Giant Dragon and the City Defense Commander’s words—was merely the fuse. In truth, the Major Sects had been suppressed for far too long. Now that such a perfect opportunity had presented itself, they certainly weren’t going to pass it up. Moreover, this was a chance to survive, and no one was going to ignore that.
As long as the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty compromised, they would naturally be safe.
As for who would win between the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty and the Jin Meng Empire afterward, the Major Sects would simply sign a new treaty of alliance with the victor.
Although one couldn’t say it would have no impact, for these people in Jinyun City who didn’t want to die, this was already an excellent choice.
"Everyone, do not start trouble! The Grand Ancestor is still overseeing things in Jinyun City. If you don’t want to die, then follow orders!"
The City Defense Commander’s attitude was resolute, and the city guards raised their long spears, bows, and other weapons. They were ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
"The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty moved against us first, violating the treaty of alliance! Even if we perish here, our Sects will avenge us!"
"That’s right! The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty forced us to come to this border city because they want us to die on the frontier, to drain the foundations of the Major Sects, and even to destroy the Major Sects entirely!"
"I’ve heard the Emperor always say that the Major Sects ’refuse to be civilized by royal decree.’ He wants to use this as a pretext to destroy us! We’ve already sent out carrier pigeons to inform our Sects of the situation. Even if we die, we will serve as a warning!"
"We are the vanguards, serving our Sects! It will be a glorious death!"
"Open the gates, or we’ll storm the city!"
With everyone from the Major Sects shouting over one another, the situation grew even more heated. Above them, two Destiny Golden Dragons were still locked in combat, the outcome undecided.
The constant rumbling sounded like apocalyptic thunder. If that power were to fall upon them, it would be world-shattering.
Jinyun City wouldn’t be able to last long before such power.
Naturally, the situation grew more and more intense.
Some people were already eager to make a move.
"Everyone, please calm yourselves. I am Yang Yu, Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, and I have no intention of breaking my treaty with the Major Sects."
"The treaty of alliance was signed long ago, and the Great Zhou Imperial Family will not violate it. In a moment, I will have the city gates opened. Those who wish to leave may leave. Those who do not wish to leave may remain in Jinyun City."
"The Grand Ancestor and I are both remaining in Jinyun City. We would certainly not allow ourselves to remain in a place of danger. If that were the case, we would have already led everyone to safety."
The Old Emperor Yang Yu suddenly appeared, the cultivation of a Peak of Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster erupting from his body. He hadn’t expected this situation.
’That City Defense Commander is really something else,’ he thought. ’He actually managed to push the Major Sects to the brink of open rebellion against the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.’
Under these circumstances, he naturally couldn’t just sit by.
He originally wanted to wait patiently for the right moment, but now he was forced to show himself.
If these Sect members became direct enemies of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, then the aura of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s Destiny Golden Dragon would likely plummet instantly. At that point, it might be devoured by the Jin Meng Empire’s Destiny Golden Dragon.
This was not a situation they wanted to see. Thus, the Grand Ancestor Yang Sheng had sent him a telepathic message, telling him to stabilize the situation here. He could not let Jinyun City fall into chaos first, and especially, the Destiny Golden Dragon could not be affected.
They had already arranged everything; they couldn’t let this accident affect their plans.
At this moment, the Old Emperor Yang Yu was so furious he could have eaten the City Defense Commander alive. ’If he’d just had a better attitude and placated them a little, this huge mess could have been avoided.’
’He actually thought these Sect members were like commoners with no power to resist. He’s been sitting on his high horse for so long he can’t even read the room.’
Yang Chan, on Song Yunxiang’s back, was not surprised by the Old Emperor Yang Yu’s appearance. While observing the Destiny Golden Dragon earlier, he had noticed two extremely powerful golden threads of connection. One of them was only slightly weaker than that of the Martial Saint.
This led Yang Chan to guess that it was related to the Old Emperor Yang Yu. The aura of the person connected to this golden thread was formidable. Although their Qi and Blood hadn’t reached a level that could pierce the heavens, it was second only to such power, and it was the strongest among the several Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster auras present.
He knew the Old Emperor’s cultivation was at the Peak of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm and that he wanted to break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm. However, the last time he had the Alliance Leader of the Pharmacist Alliance attempt to refine an Earth Element Supreme Pill, the process had been sabotaged.
’The subsequent details were unclear, but given his status, it’s highly likely he tried to have it refined again. Still, it seems his Martial Arts Cultivation hasn’t broken through yet, which explains the current situation.’
’He’s so close to becoming a National Guardian Martial Saint, and his aura is incredibly powerful. But I just can’t figure out why the Old Emperor would show up here. It’s baffling.’
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