But with how much time and effort Jiang Chen and the others had put into preparations, they werenât going to let Lightford regain the upper hand.
Jiang Chen spoke up from the shadows, interrupting Lightfordâs angry spiel. âThis battle will determine Myriad Abyssâs future. What are you all waiting for?â
Lightfordâs heart sank as he recognized the voice. He said hoarsely, âKid, itâs you!â
What answered him wasnât Jiang Chenâs voice, but fierce attacks from all directions.
âBe careful!â Lightford boomed. As soon as he said that, he sensed the two sacred beasts heâd fought in Eternal.
The Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise attacked at almost the same time. Unbridled torrents of flame and Black Tortoise Festering Gas separated Lightford from the others.
All went according to their plan.
Lightford was powerful, but even he couldnât keep an eye on the others while the two spirit creatures were after him.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Moreover, An Kasyapa had been watching, ready to lend the sacred beasts a helping hand at anytime. If Lightford tried to rescue his people, Kasyapa would undoubtedly join the fight.
Jiang Chenâs leadership played an important role here.
Meanwhile, Eternalâs forefather led a dozen divine cultivators in an unstoppable charge against the seven gods Lightford had brought with him.
Everyone knew this was a battle for their survival. No one was to spare any effort. The battlefield turned into a veritable thunderstorm of fire and fury.
The seven cultivators were no easy prey, but had no time to react given that theyâd been caught by surprise. They were already beyond hope when they realized that Lightford couldnât spare the effort to help them.
The sacred lands were two to three times as powerful as Lightfordâs people, and they had the initiative. The outcome of the battle was decided before it even began.
Three of Lightfordâs people were knocked unconscious. The remaining four tried to resist despite being cornered. However, losing three companions compounded their plight.
Resistance was futile. In no time, they were as if candles in the wind. They could be snuffed out anytime!
âResist on pain of death! Surrender, and we let you live.â Jiang Chen exclaimed. âDo you really want to keep fighting?â
That was the final straw that broke their will.
âI and willing to surrender.â
âI, too.â
One by one, they dropped their weapons without hesitation and raised their hands in the air. They knew their enemies could kill them in the span of a single breath. If they didnât surrender now, they would undeniably die.
There was no other way out.
Since theyâd surrendered, Jiang Chen didnât hesitate and plucked them out of the fray. Those who had lost consciousness were retrieved as well.
That left Lightford fighting on his own. A strange mood permeated the air.
Lightfordâs life hadnât been threatened yet, so heâd been keeping an eye on his people. When he saw his subordinates taken care of so easily, he belatedly realized that heâd played into the enemiesâ hands every step of the way.
His chest tightened and he could taste blood in his throat. âYou traitors! Cowards!â he shouted, his face flushed red. âDo you really think the ten sacred lands will let you live after you surrender? Idiots!â
Well and truly enraged now, he still believed he should be the master of Myriad Abyss. Nothing shouldâve been able to stop him. How the scene had unfolded was a grave insult to him.
Jiang Chen watched Lightford with a cool look. Theyâd cornered the old man. He might be as strong as a mid divine cultivator, but that wouldnât change anything. Jiang Chen had more than twenty gods on his side.
They could fight Lightford head-on even when he was at his peak, let alone when on his own, surrounded and trapped. Not even Lightford would be able to escape.
âReaching mid divine realm is your biggest success in life, Lightford,â mocked An Kasyapa. âYour worst failure lies in your overconfidence in your power and your underestimation of others. I knew youâd fail. Youâre paying the price for your own foolishness!â
Adding insult to injury was his forte. Heâd always had an antagonistic relationship with Lightford and wouldnât pass over the chance to kick an old enemy when down.
âWhat gives you the right to mock me, An Kasyapa?â Lightford growled. âYouâre wasting your talents by running around as the ten sacred landsâ dog. Donât tell me they had nothing to do with your imprisonment!â
An Kasyapa smiled faintly. âDo you really think that will sway me? I was also responsible for my own imprisonment. Besides, that experience made me who I am today. It was merely a stop in my pursuit of martial dao. I was born and raised in Myriad Abyss. I wonât allow you to make a mess out of my homeland. I may not be a good man, but I will never stoop so low as to throw the world into chaos.â
âBullshit, bullshit! Donât try to make yourself look good, An Kasyapa. I know what kind of a person you are! Youâre a coward! Hahaha, I never leave a grudge unresolved. Iâll return after this defeat! Youâre all responsible. Iâve memorized all your faces. One day, Iâll make you pay this back tenfold!â
Jiang Chen scoffed. âHow naive of you to think you can still escape.â
His goal had always been clear. He would destroy Lightford once and for all. The old man mustnât be allowed to run rampant in this world.
âItâs our duty to rid the world of this evil, everyone,â commanded Eternalâs forefather. âGet in position and do not waver. Weâll send this fiend to hell today!â
âKill him!â
With a sneer, An Kasyapa joined the fray. Heâd fought Lightford with the two sacred beasts before. He would show no hesitation now.