"Ah... Demon Master, run! This place is too dangerous!"
"I can no longer fight by your side in the Nine Provinces Martial World!"
"Please... take care of yourself, Demon Master..."
"Li Chimei..."
Demon Master Pang Ban stared in disbelief as his beloved general, Li Chimei, died saving him.
Even with his last breath, he worried for his safety.
This trip to Heaven Mocking Palace had been catastrophic for the Demon Master Palace.
No, it was more accurate to say they were nearly completely annihilated.
At the mountainside, he could still protect his men with his own strength.
But nearing the summit.
Terror and despair descended completely.
Even as the Demon Master of the Yuan Dynasty, with status second only to National Master Phagpa.
At this moment, he felt utterly powerless.
His cherished disciple, Fang Yeyu, was beheaded by a sudden sword aura.
He couldn't save him.
Many long-time subordinates also died miserably right before his eyes.
In the end, even Li Chimei died tragically in the formation just to save his life.
"Pang Ban, watch out!"
Suddenly, a voice rang from behind, Meng Chixing's cry, mixed with fear and anger.
Pang Ban saw a blur of motion.
Meng Chixing had leapt in front of him.
The next moment.
A torrential rain of sword qi descended.
Blanketing both Meng Chixing and Pang Ban.
"Master, why would you save me...?"
Pang Ban looked at him in disbelief and asked bitterly.
"Pang Ban... you are this teacher's final hope."
"My own potential has reached its end. I'll never advance again."
"But you, only you, can surpass me, perhaps even surpass National Master Phagpa."
"One day, you may even reach the legendary God Demon Realm."
"You must not die here. You must live!"
"One final piece of advice, until you reach the God Demon Realm, never provoke the Ming Emperor Zhu Houzhao again."
"That man... is far too unfathomable."
"Lastly, let me send you off one last time!"
With the last of his strength, Meng Chixing grabbed Pang Ban and, ignoring Phagpa and the others, shot down the mountain at full speed.
In this final moment of life, he had only one thought.
To get Pang Ban to safety, no matter the cost.
"Master!"
Nearby, Phagpa and Si Hanfei's faces changed.
They had witnessed what just happened.
But they couldn't bring themselves to blame Meng Chixing.
In his heart, Pang Ban's status had always outweighed theirs.
Even outweighed Temujin himself.
"Not good! Danger again!? How is this possible?!"
Si Hanfei's face went pale.
He sensed another deadly wave approaching.
At his current strength, he likely wouldn't survive this next attack.
He watched as his entire force had been wiped out, no one left.
His heart bled.
Before coming, he had underestimated the so-called Azure Dragon Association.
Now, he only felt how small and laughable he truly was.
Phagpa, too, forced a bitter smile.
A Forbidden Land, worthy of the name.
He had thought they could brute-force it with numbers.
Now it all seemed like a cruel joke.
Even God Demon Realm cultivators had only a 30% survival chance.
They hadn't even reached that level, yet acted so arrogantly.
Only now did he truly understand what the ranking's warning, "Do not enter recklessly", meant.
Too bad... There was no medicine for regret.
Pfft!
"Si Hanfei, you–"
Phagpa looked in disbelief at Si Hanfei, who had shielded him.
He never thought this political rival would actually save his life at the crucial moment!
Even with Phagpa's indifferent heart, he was left speechless.
"In the eyes of the Khan, the National Master's status will always be above mine. So... you must not die."
"The future Khan still needs you to assist him!"
Si Hanfei said no more.
Like Meng Chixing, he used the last of his strength to carry Phagpa down the mountain in retreat.
As for this so-called operation to destroy Heaven Mocking Palace.
In hindsight, it was nothing but a joke.
==========
"Black Shadow, so you've been colluding with the Azure Dragon Association all along?"
"Well done, Black Shadow. Well done, Black Ice Platform. Well done, Qin Dynasty."
"Your mission to attack Heaven Mocking Palace was just a cover. Your true target was us, the Bad People!"
Yuan Tiangang glanced at his now completely annihilated subordinates.
Then looked at Black Ice Platform's men across from him, a little disheveled, but completely unscathed.
Even someone as wise as Yuan Tiangang couldn't suppress his fury.
"Bad Marshal, can't you see this is the Azure Dragon Association's scheme?"
"Their goal is to divide our alliance!"
"With your wisdom, surely you can see that?"
Black Shadow, Black Ice Platform Leader, forced a bitter smile.
He hadn't wanted this to happen.
But seeing how the Bad People were completely wiped out.
Even he couldn't help but feel shocked.
Too tragic.
They hadn't even had a chance to fight back.
The threat of the Forbidden Land once again made Black Shadow's heart tremble.
Even though he knew the Azure Dragon Association was up to no good, he couldn't help but feel relieved.
At least his people were still alive.
Otherwise, once they returned, Qin Emperor Ying Zheng would never forgive him.
Yuan Tiangang looked at Black Shadow with suspicion.
Logically, Black Shadow's words made sense.
But emotionally, he couldn't accept the outcome.
What if.
What if the Qin Dynasty really had colluded with the Ming Dynasty?
After all, the Ming Dynasty was far away, no immediate conflict of interest.
The Tang Dynasty, however, was a much more direct threat to the Qin Dynasty.
So why not weaken the Tang Dynasty now?
Make a future invasion easier?
With this suspicion growing, Yuan Tiangang's gaze toward Black Shadow changed.
And at that moment.
Another lethal wave of sword energy struck.
Same as before.
The attack only targeted Yuan Tiangang, completely ignoring the Qin Dynasty troops.
"Black Shadow, what else do you have to say?!"
"I admit it, I underestimated you!"
"Next time, I will return today's humiliation in full!"
Even someone as strong as Yuan Tiangang was badly injured under the assault.
He dared not delay, using his last strength to flee down the mountain.
"Leader, should we continue the assault on Heaven Mocking Palace?"
One subordinate from Black Ice Platform asked.
"Continue what!? Are you trying to die?"
"While the Azure Dragon Association hasn't changed their mind, retreat immediately! Get out of this cursed place!"
Black Shadow roared in frustration.
That last move was clearly just for show, meant to fool Yuan Tiangang.
Its goal? Division.
But who knew if the next attack wouldn't be real?
==========
"Yuwen Tuo, what do you have to say now?"
"Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
Huang Shang's gaze was sharp as he stared at Yuwen Tuo.
His clothes were torn and tattered.
Hair disheveled. Breathing erratic.
Nearby, every single member of his Imperial City Division was dead.
Yet despite this, he still suppressed his rage and demanded answers.
In contrast, Yuwen Tuo stood there, still clad in golden armor and wielding a golden sword. Calm and composed.
His subordinates, though slightly ruffled, were all intact.
"I have nothing to say."
"If Director Huang trusted me, you wouldn't ask this question."
"If you don't trust me, then no matter what I say, it's just empty excuses."
Yuwen Tuo's voice was calm.
Huang Shang laughed angrily.
His gaze was as sharp as blades.
"Hahaha... Fine, fine. You won't even bother to pretend anymore?"
"Yuwen Tuo, you're really pushing it too far!"
"Or perhaps... you plan to ally with the Azure Dragon Association and leave me to die here?"
He gathered all his inner strength.
If Yuwen Tuo made any move.
He would fight to the death.
He knew deep down it could be a scheme to divide them.
But the rage in his heart burned everything else away.
He had watched his most trusted subordinates die before him, how could he remain calm?
"If you want to fight, I have no interest."
"Looks like this operation against Heaven Mocking Palace is doomed."
"In that case, my Sui Dynasty has no reason to remain. Farewell."
Casting one glance at Huang Shang, Yuwen Tuo left with his men.
Shortly after his departure, another burst of sword qi targeted Huang Shang.
"Damn you, Yuwen Tuo! You really did plan this!"
"From now on, we are enemies until death!"
Huang Shang was furious.
His hatred toward Yuwen Tuo now far exceeded even his hatred for the Azure Dragon Association.
He was convinced Yuwen Tuo had orchestrated this betrayal.
Slash!
A sword qi pierced clean through Huang Shang's body.
Leaving a large hole behind.
Fortunately, his strength wasn't weak.
Or that one strike would have killed him outright.
Even so, his combat strength was now down to a tenth.
"Run!"
Face pale, Huang Shang fled down the mountain.
==========
Heaven Mocking Palace.
"Reporting to Third Dragon Head, all invading forces have retreated down the mountain!"
"From the Yuan Dynasty, only National Master Phagpa and Demon Master Pang Ban survived, the rest were annihilated."
"From the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty, only Bad Marshal and Imperial City Division Director Huang Shang made it out, everyone else is dead."
"Qin Dynasty and Sui Dynasty only suffered minor losses and have safely withdrawn."
A subordinate quickly reported.
Bai Xiaosheng's lips curved in amusement.
"Interesting, Pang Ban is still alive?"
"Yes. In the final moments, the Shemale Li Chimei and Meng Chixing sacrificed themselves to save him."
"Shall we continue the pursuit and finish him off?"
"No need. A mere Pang Ban isn't worth the trouble."
"Perhaps in the future, he can be a useful pawn."
"After this battle, there's no way the espionage networks of these nations will ever cooperate again."
"Third Dragon Head, with the intelligence of these people, once they cool down, they'll quickly realize..."
"That this was all our scheme. An obvious one."
"Wouldn't that render our efforts pointless?"
Bai Xiaosheng chuckled.
"How could it?"
"Once the seed of suspicion is planted, it will take root. Then it will grow. Then it will flourish."
"Besides, these are espionage agents, the most paranoid kind of people."
"Getting them to cooperate again will be nearly impossible."
"Unless their Emperors personally order it, then maybe. Barely."
"But that's no longer our concern, that's His Majesty's problem."
"Alright. With the outsiders handled, it's time to deal with the traitors inside our own ranks."
"Bring them all up!"
"These are the spies planted in our Azure Dragon Association by the other dynasties."
"Today, they all die."
"Let this serve as a warning to all, never invite death by playing both sides!"