Chapter 98: The Four Great Elders of the Martial Alliance in Shu City!

The aura emanating from the gray-robed elder was formidable and overwhelming. His piercing gaze felt like twin blades, instilling a chill in anyone who dared to meet his eyes. Deputy Chief Yao Wu of the Xuantian Pavilion was visibly unsettled by the elder's imposing presence, his face filled with open wariness.

Beside Ye Tianci, Tang Ying spoke in a low voice, "Big brother, this man is one of the four elders of the Martial Alliance in Xucheng, Song Fenglin, a true powerhouse on the Xuan ranking list."

"He's also the third-in-command of the Song family in Xucheng. His strength is formidable."

Ye Tianci's expression stayed calm and composed as he asked indifferently, "I know the Song family, but I've never heard of the Xucheng Martial Alliance before. What exactly is it?"

Tang Ying replied gravely, "The Martial Alliance is also known as the Martial Dao Alliance. By its name, it's the union of all martial cultivators."

"It has branches across the country, and the Xucheng branch is one of them, gathering martial cultivators from all walks of life."

"In Xucheng, when it comes to sheer strength, no other faction can rival the Xucheng Martial Alliance."

Ye Tianci nodded and turned his gaze toward the gray-robed elder, Song Fenglin.

Song Fenglin fixed him with a cold, ominous stare. Their eyes locked in the air, as if sparks were shooting between them.

"An elder of the Xucheng Martial Alliance? A member of the Song family?"

Ye Tianci spoke calmly.

"Knowing my identity should be enough. Now, tell me—how would you like to die?" Song Fenglin narrowed his eyes slightly.

Ye Tianci's lips curled into a cold smile. "It seems you have great faith in the Xucheng Martial Alliance and your Song family. But allow me to remind you of one thing—don't court disaster."

"You dare threaten this elder?" Song Fenglin's eyes turned icy.

"I was only offering advice. If you choose to take it as a threat, so be it."

Ye Tianci's face held an innocent, harmless expression.

Song Fenglin glared fiercely at him, but found his own gaze powerless to intimidate the young man.

"Brother... save me... please save me."

Mu Shihu, legs shattered, lay slumped on the ground, gasping weakly as he begged for help. He had lost too much blood and was already at death's door.

"First, get Shihu and Qi Er Ye out of here!" Song Fenglin waved his hand dismissively.

The men behind him immediately surged forward to rescue their fallen allies.

"No one can save them," Ye Tianci declared, his voice like ice, stepping in front of the group to block their path. His sharp eyes gleamed with unyielding arrogance. His solitary figure stood like a drawn sword, releasing a bone-chilling killing intent that made everyone around him recoil in fear.

"You brat, do you have any idea what you're doing? You're opposing Qitian Mansion! You're defying the Qi family! You're also insulting the Song family of Xucheng—and the Xucheng Martial Alliance itself! No matter which faction you face, they can make sure you have nowhere to die!"

Song Fenglin's threat echoed through the hall.

Ye Tianci's gaze was cool and disdainful. "Even if the Qi and Song families are powerful, they have no right to threaten me. The Qitian Mansion has committed too many crimes. Mu Shihu and Qi Changhe must be punished today, and no one will be able to shield them."

Song Fenglin turned to Yao Wu beside him and roared, "Deputy Chief Yao, as the deputy head of the Xuantian Pavilion, why aren't you defending Qitian Mansion? Capture this audacious fool!"

Yao Wu's expression turned grave. He moved to stand beside Ye Tianci, speaking neither obsequiously nor defiantly. "Elder Song, I believe you may have misunderstood. I came to Qitian Mansion to arrest someone, and Mr. Ye is correct—Mu Shihu and Qi Changhe are the main culprits. No one can protect them."

Song Fenglin grew even angrier, his stare turning glacial as he fixed Yao Wu with a cold glare. "You dare arrest people here in Qitian Mansion?"

"Yao Wu, aren't you afraid the Martial Alliance or the Song family will punish you?"

His words were a blatant threat.

Though suppressed by Song Fenglin's overwhelming aura, Yao Wu remained unfazed. With a faint, mocking smile, he replied, "Elder Song, you still can't intimidate me. I was sent here by orders from Shen Guosheng himself. No matter how powerful your Song family or the Martial Alliance may be, they cannot suppress the city lord."

Song Fenglin's fury boiled over. He stepped forward, his voice booming like thunder, "In Xucheng, the Xuantian Pavilion and the Martial Alliance have always kept their distance, but if the Martial Alliance decides to act, if the Martial Alliance chooses to protect someone, nothing in the Xuantian Pavilion can stop them!"

"Where are the Martial Alliance disciples?"

"Here!"

A hundred sturdy warriors stood tall, all disciples of the Xucheng Martial Alliance, each a seasoned martial cultivator.

"If someone offends the Martial Alliance, offends this elder, how should it be handled?" Song Fenglin thundered.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The hundred disciples raised their arms in unison, their voices rising like a tidal wave of fury.

The killing intent rolling off them was terrifying.

Qi Changhe could no longer contain himself. He leaped forward, laughing arrogantly, "Mr. Ye! Yao Wu! Even if you two collude, what of it? Do you see? Behind me stands not only the Qi family, but also the Song family and the Xucheng Martial Alliance! Hahaha! In Xucheng, no one can touch me, Qi Changhe! No one can touch our Qi family or Qitian Mansion!"

His wild laughter echoed through the hall.

But at that very moment, a deep, commanding voice suddenly rang out from the doorway, filling every corner of the grand hall: "No one can touch your Qitian Mansion?"

The words hung in the air like a challenge.

Everyone turned their attention toward the entrance.

A tall, middle-aged man strode in wearing full military uniform, two bars and four stars gleaming on his shoulders.

A colonel?

A senior general!

An absolute powerhouse of the war zone!

Why would such a high-ranking officer suddenly appear at Qitian Mansion?

As if to answer every unspoken question, in the next instant, countless warriors in military attire surged through the doors like a tidal wave.

"The Xucheng War Zone is now in charge of this location!"

"Anyone who acts without authorization will be executed on the spot!"

A deputy officer shouted as he hurried after the middle-aged man, climbing onto the raised platform.

"Thud!"

The moment Qi Changhe recognized the man's face, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor once more. He knew exactly who he was—this was Li Zhenhua, the legendary Iron Fist Master and head of the Xucheng War Zone. It was said he shared an unbreakable bond with City Lord Shen.

Why had Li Zhenhua personally led troops here?

Could it be that the real mastermind behind the assault on the Qi family and Qitian Mansion was none other than City Lord Shen himself?

Qi Changhe's mind spun wildly, panic seizing his every thought.

Li Zhenhua walked straight onto the platform and headed directly toward Ye Tianci. The two exchanged a single glance and gave a subtle nod of acknowledgment. Li Zhenhua was the contingency plan Shen Guosheng had arranged for Ye Tianci, so the young man had expected such an intervention.

Looking down at the broken Qi Changhe, Li Zhenhua asked calmly, "Qi Changhe, no one in Xucheng can touch you, no one can touch Qitian Mansion of your family, correct?"

"Li... Li Master, our Qi family has no grudge against you, no past grievances—why bring so many troops here?"

Qi Changhe lay on the ground, his legs utterly limp, unable to rise.

Song Fenglin stepped forward and asked, "Li Master, you bring these soldiers to Qitian Mansion for what purpose? As far as I know, without an order from above, you have no authority to mobilize troops on your own."

Li Zhenhua's stare turned ice-cold as he fixed Song Fenglin with a piercing gaze. "Elder Song of the Martial Alliance, are you threatening me?"

His eyes burned like swords, his presence overwhelming. With nothing more than a few words, he forced cold sweat to break out on Song Fenglin's brow.

Song Fenglin quickly averted his eyes and answered with veiled provocation, "Of course not. I was merely reminding Li Master to remember his place. You may command the Iron Fist Master, but you still belong to the Xucheng War Zone. Don't forget that the Xucheng War Zone falls under the jurisdiction of the Nanzhou War Zone, and the deputy commander of the Nanzhou War Zone is none other than Qi Dingfeng."

Li Zhenhua's lips curved upward. "You mean Qi Dingfeng, the deputy commander? From what I know, the deputy commander married your sister, didn't he?"

"Threaten me with Qi Dingfeng?"

Song Fenglin sneered coldly. "Threatening is not the word I would use. I merely hope Li Master keeps his actions measured and avoids unnecessary trouble for himself."

"Is that so?" Li Zhenhua gave a cold hum, then turned to Ye Tianci. "I wonder what orders Mr. Ye has for us."

"All arrests."

Ye Tianci spoke succinctly and waved his hand dismissively.

Li Zhenhua's eyes narrowed. "Arrest them! Take Song Fenglin, Qi Changhe, and Mu Shihu into custody!"

The heavily armed soldiers immediately charged forward.