Chapter 78: Confrontation

  This middle-aged man was an elder of the Half Moon Gate, named Chang Bai Tao. Originally, his two personally taught disciples, Meng Jing Tong and Luo Zi Mo, were killed by Tang Qing, which had already made him furious. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the Qing Yu Men, his disciple was surrounded again. How could he tolerate it? But what he never expected was that Tian Jin Gang's Wind Blade Symbol actually had such great power, even able to break through his Protective True Energy.

  "You little brat! Looking for death?"

  Chang Bai Tao's face turned red with rage, and he took a big step forward. His aura burst forth like thunder, and he slapped out a palm that seemed to shake the air. Tian Jin Gang dodged too late, and just as he was about to take out his Wind Blade Symbol again to launch another sneak attack, a loud, thick voice boomed in, "Chang Bai Tao, you dare not be so arrogant!" As soon as the words fell, a figure appeared in front of Tian Jin Gang, clashing palms with Chang Bai Tao. The powerful true energy collided, stirring up waves of air that rippled outward. Chang Bai Tao's expression changed in shock, and he let out a stifled grunt as his body retreated seven or eight steps before finally stabilizing.

  "Lei Hong! You——"

  Chang Bai Tao was furious, but he didn't dare take another step forward because he recognized the person in front of him as Lei Hong, the Grand Elder of Qing Yu Men. He knew that Lei Hong was a retired elder from the Upper Sect, who had been cultivating for over 200 years and was a high-ranking expert despite being afflicted with a demonic injury.

  Lei Hong's face was stern, but inside he felt unwell. The elixir field in his body had been invaded by the evil energy for decades, causing his original vitality to wither and disperse, leaving only a faint aura of life force. Although he had been practicing the sacred wood elixir technique given by Tang Jing for days, it was still in the recovery phase after injury. If he were to engage in intense martial arts training now, it would damage his elixir field.

  As the elder appeared, the chaotic fight in the field gradually stopped. The Qingyu Gate had many people and no disciples were injured, but on the other hand, the Banyue Gate's disciples, especially Zhang Rui, were covered in blood, their clothes torn to shreds, looking like a furious tiger staring intently at Tian Jinguang, as if he wanted to swallow his bones.

  At this time, seven or eight horse-drawn carriages had arrived at the Half Moon Gate. More than a dozen people got out of them. The leader was an old man with a slightly smaller head, grayish-white hair, and a somewhat hunched back. He walked slowly with the support of his cane and a young apprentice by his side. His cold and stern gaze swept across the crowd of disciples in front of the Qingyu Gate before finally falling on Lei Hong's body.

  "Lei Zhanglao, aren't you deceiving me by saying there's no one at the Half Moon Gate?"

  This old man's name is Xiong Hua, also a senior elder of the Half Moon Gate, and his cultivation is at the Pre-Heaven stage.

  The boundary of Qi, the acquired and innate are a dividing line. Although it is only one word different, there is a world of difference between them. Because after reaching the innate, it means that the Ren and Du meridians have been opened, and the orifices in the body are also open to 80-90%. The true Qi circulates freely in the meridians, and the internal force is endless. Between breaths, one inhales the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and exhales the turbid Qi within the body. Moreover, entering the innate stage has another benefit, which is to nourish one's appearance and prolong life. This is exactly what Xiong Huizhen did, who at over 160 years old still looks spirited and robust, with a thick and harmonious breath.

  "Xiong Hua, what brings you and your men-at-arms to my Qing Yu Gate with such fanfare?"

  Lei Hong stood with his back straight, his hands behind him, and gazed directly at the group of people in front of the Half Moon Gate. Unexpectedly, almost all the elders of the Half Moon Gate had arrived, totaling five pre-heavenly masters, each having cultivated for over a hundred years. In addition to them, there were more than twenty post-heavenly masters.

  "Hmph!" Xiong Hualei snorted, his cane striking the ground fiercely as he said coldly, "Yesterday in Yi Market, a disciple of Qingyu Men named Tang Qing killed two of my personally taught disciples from Banyue Men, Meng Jingtong and Luo Zimo. What do you think I should do?"

  "Yesterday's matter, everyone knows that whether it was Guan Ming or Luo Zimo and Meng Jingtong, they all gambled with Tang Qing for life and death. Since it's a matter of life and death, naturally one should be willing to admit defeat and each go their separate ways! Lei Hong said calmly and lightly, "Moreover, it was Guan Ming and the others who proposed this gamble of life and death. Xiong Hua, if you were to mobilize your troops and come to my Qingyu Gate to demand justice for this matter, wouldn't that be a bit too far-fetched?"

  Lei Hong argued with reason and strength, while the Half Moon Gate faction insisted that Tang Qing was the murderer and must pay with his life. The two sides argued endlessly, until Xiong finally closed his eyes and stopped speaking, as if waiting for something.

  Herod's Law

  The sound of horse whinnies came in waves, and a group of dozens of people rode in on horseback. These people were all wearing magnificent armor, holding weapons, and exuding an aura of majesty. At the forefront were two middle-aged men. The one on the left was also wearing armor, while the one on the right had a stout build and a face full of anger.

  Many people in the arena knew these two men, they were Luo Zimo's father, Luo Tianxing, and the man on the left was Wang De, the commander of the Imperial Guard of Yongyang City, with the armored warriors behind him being the Imperial Guards.

  Suddenly, another neighing sound came, followed by the rapid galloping of horses.

  Four or five horse-drawn carriages arrived, and seven or eight people got out. These men were wearing white long robes, and they were the masters of the Tianyao Formation Method. The leader was none other than Gao Dequan, the father of Gao Yingcai, who was also a well-known talisman master in Yongyang City.

  However, things didn't end there. Another whinnying sound came, and a line of more than 20 white-clad monks with windbreakers on their backs rode swiftly on fine horses, led by Zhang Taiyan, the patrol chief of Yongwang City's Holy Hall, alongside several others who were Guan Ming's father.

  "Yong Yang's guard army, King Tong, I don't know what you're doing here at Qing Yu Men with these soldiers and horses."

  Lei Hong faintly inquired.

  Wang Tongling pulled the reins and responded, "Yesterday, Tang Qing cruelly harmed Luo Zimo, Meng Jingtong, Guan Ming and others in Yishi Market. The crime was heinous, and this time I am naturally here to arrest him on orders."

  Lei Hong let out a loud laugh and turned back to look at Zhang, saying "Director Zhang, what brings you here again?"

  "I suspect that Tang Jing is an evil demon, and this time I have been ordered to capture and interrogate him."

  "What is it that makes you masters unaware of the Tianyao Formation?"

  Gao De snorted coldly, "Tang Qing harmed my son and crippled his arm. How could I let him off easily?"

  "Hahaha!"

  Lei Hongcang burst out laughing and said disdainfully, "Don't mention that Tang Qing was not in the wrong. Even if he was wrong, it's a matter between Qingyu Gate and Banyue Gate, and Wuji Xingguan will make the final decision."

  At this time, the semi-lunar gate elder Xiong Hua said, "The entire upper and lower floors of Wuji Xingguan will go to the Upper House to attend the meeting. Since Wuji Xingguan is not here, naturally someone will take charge."

  "Haha! Xiong Hua, you've really become bold! To suppress Qing Yu Men, you didn't hesitate to invite the Holy Temple, the Guardian Army, and even the Tian Yao Zhen Fa Tower... haha..."

  Xiong's eyes drooped, with a calm demeanor, but he didn't say a word. In fact, it was true that whether it was the Half Moon Gate or the Luo and Guan families, they all knew that this matter was a life-and-death gamble. They knew they were in the wrong, so this time they came, not to reason with Qingyu Gate, but to directly take people by force.

  "Lei Zhanglao, Tang Qing killed someone in public at the Yi's house, an unforgivable crime. If you don't hand him over today, don't blame this commander..."

  Wang Tongling's words had not finished, Lei Hong immediately shouted, "You don't hand over, what can you do!"

  "Hmph! Don't blame me then! I won't give you any face!" In Wang's view, although Lei Hong was a senior elder, the duty of the Imperial Guard was to protect the lives and safety of Yong City. Tang Qing's murder was a fact, and based on this, Wang naturally had nothing to fear from anyone.

  "Give it to me!"

  At the command of King Wang, the guards galloped into action.

  Lei Hong stood with his hands behind his back as usual.

  At this time, a cold voice suddenly came, "Wang De, who gave you the order to come here and take people."