Xing Tiexin returned at some unknown time, joining forces with Yang Zhen to seriously wound Zhao Zun, effectively neutralizing the threat.
On the other side, Meng Shuxuan, riding the Golden-winged Roc, had also cleared out the remaining Flower Raccoon Demons.
Wherever the Golden Wind reached, no demon could survive!
"Yang Zhen, how dare you kill me!" Zhao Zun, now gravely injured, was pinned to the ground by Xing Tiexinâs spear, and he roared angrily, staring fiercely at Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhenâs face showed a mix of emotions.
Unlike Song Changming, who was decisive and could kill Zhao Liang without hesitation, he was quite wary of the Zhao Family behind Zhao Zun.
If he were to strike Zhao Zun down now, it might lead to irreconcilable enmity with the entire Zhao Family.
He had no power or influence in the city and understood well the immense power of these top noble families after struggling for so many years.
The strength of a family lies not in individuals but in the deep foundations accumulated over thousands of years!
Normally, an individual is insignificant in front of such a massive entity and cannot possibly oppose it.
Everything he had worked for could vanish, and he could even lose his life.
He didnât have Song Changmingâs miraculous ace of Nirvana Rebirth; every decision he made had no chance for a do-over, forcing him to tread carefully on thin ice in the face of this colossal threat from the Zhao Family.
"Yang Zhen, youâd better let me go, or else..." Zhao Zun coughed up blood and sneered.
"We canât let him go! Today we must kill him, or how will we answer to our fallen brothers!" Xing Tiexin shouted angrily, glaring at the silent Yang Zhen.
He stared at Yang Zhen, showing no sign of cowardice.
"But if we kill him, when the Zhao Family settles this, not only you and I, but even our surviving brothers without power, along with their wives and children, might face retaliation from the Zhao Family! What then..."
Yang Zhenâs lips moved slightly as he spoke his concerns through voice transmission.
Itâs not that he feared death, but he bore too much; killing Zhao Zun was indeed a huge matter!
One he might not be able to bear...
"But if we donât kill him, will he just let us go free?!" Xing Tiexin was stunned at first, then asked with gritted teeth.
Yang Zhen fell silent.
Indeed, regardless of whether they killed or didnât kill, today they had already thoroughly offended Zhao Zun and Zhao Liang.
Letting Zhao Zun go would be like letting a tiger return to the mountain.
"Let me kill him. If there is an inquiry, Iâll take full responsibility," Song Changming said as he landed.
He had also heard the twoâs conversation and could understand Yang Zhenâs concerns for the bigger picture.
The Zhao Family residing in the Core City was indeed too powerful for one or two people to contend with.
"No, this started because of us, so we should bear it together," Xing Tiexin immediately rejected Song Changmingâs offer.
"Thatâs right, Changming, donât underestimate us," Yang Zhen also said seriously.
Although he had concerns, he wasnât willing to sacrifice Song Changming for his own peace of mind.
Song Changming scratched his head and frankly said, "Iâve already killed that old man from the Zhao Family; one more wonât matter."
"What!"
Yang Zhen and Xing Tiexin froze in place, speaking in unison.
Even Zhao Zun, pinned to the ground and gravely injured, stiffened, staring in astonishment at Song Changming.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Zhao Zun seemed to hear the biggest joke.
He knew his family elderâs strength the best; even in old age, there was no way someone like Song Changming, a military commander, could be a match, let alone kill him.
"Kid, whatâs the use of tricking me like this!" Zhao Zun said coldly.
"If that old man wasnât killed by me, where could he possibly be now?" Song Changming glanced at him, approaching slowly with a calm demeanor.
"This..." Yang Zhen and Xing Tiexin actually started to believe a little.
They knew Song Changming rarely joked and wouldnât say something so serious lightly.
However, this matter was quite astonishing, making it hard for the two to digest.
"Youâre talking nonsense!" Zhao Zun cursed, his mentality becoming increasingly imbalanced.
What Song Changming mentioned also echoed his doubts.
Zhao Liang had yet to appear â this was the reality!
Within the range of his perception, there was no trace of his elderâs presence.
An unsettling thought took root and grew within him; he was becoming doubtful.
Seeing the three shaken by his words, Song Changming didnât delay, placing the blade on Zhao Zunâs neck.
This time, Yang Zhen did not obstruct him.
Since Zhao Liang was already dead, and the matter couldnât be reversed, Zhao Zunâs life no longer seemed important.
As for who would kill, it made no difference; they wouldnât sever their ties with Song Changming.
"No..." Zhao Zun sensed the unmistakable murderous intent emanating from Song Changmingâs body.
At this moment, he truly panicked.
For he knew, even the Zhao Family behind him couldnât save him now.
"I didnât want to kill you; why force my hand?" Song Changming slowly placed the blade on his neck.
"I was wrong, it was my fault, I..."
Zhao Zun completely let go of his pride, apologizing to the people he had always looked down upon, including Song Changming, who he considered lowly.
However, before he could finish his sentence, Song Changmingâs blade moved, easily severing his head.
Zhao Zun didnât even have time for a final scream.
"Phew..."
Yang Zhen exhaled deeply, still feeling a heavy weight in his heart.
For now, they were safe, but the real challenge awaited them upon their return.
Or maybe, should they really return...
At this moment, Yang Zhen even entertained thoughts of abandoning everything in the main city to lead his family far away.
Perhaps only by staying far from Cui Bai Dao, where the Zhao Family was, could they be somewhat safe.
Elsewhere, Song Changming also let out a long breath, the Armor Seals on his body receding.
The boiling qi and blood, stimulated by his Secret Technique, also gradually calmed.
A long-lost sense of weakness began to envelop him, almost making him exhausted and causing him to sit down heavily to rest.
He hadnât felt this tired in a long time.
This fight against Zhao Liang, a formidable foe in the Innate Perfection Realm, was a true test and challenge for him.
The entire battle process was not easy.
Donât be deceived by Zhao Liangâs exhaustion and eventual defeat at Song Changmingâs hands.
If Zhao Liang had held on a little longer, it might have been Song Changming who succumbed.
Currently, his stamina, spirit, qi and blood, Gang Qi, all were depleted.
Even his Immortal Body, with its accelerated healing, required vast energy from within to heal his injuries, which was not possible out of thin air.
Today, his injuries might have been more than those accumulated over the past ten years combined.
Without those twenty Armor Seals protecting him, Zhao Liang would have been enough to kill him a thousand times over!
"Changming, how are you?" Yang Zhen asked with concern.
"Iâm fine, just too tired, need to rest a bit," Song Changming waved his hand.
"Alright," Yang Zhen nodded, instructing the heavily wounded Xing Tiexin to rest as well, and then went to gather the commanders to count the casualties of this battle.
Particularly for the troops led by Xing Tiexin, the situation was worrisome; many commanders were lost in this battle!
Xing Tiexin naturally understood this point, his face somber.
"Damn Zhao Zun, damn Zhao Family!" Xing Tiexin gritted his teeth.
He hated Zhao Zun and Zhao Liang to the core for the loss of so many brothers.
Their men hadnât died at the hands of the Demon Race but rather at the hands of their own side.
Song Changming pulled some jerky from his Storage Pouch, munching on it.
At this moment, eating was the best way to replenish energy lacking in all aspects.
Therefore, he always had plenty of powerful Demon Beast jerky for emergencies.
After downing several large pieces, he somewhat regained his qi power and wasnât entirely drained.
"General, what do we do now..." a commander asked, stuttering as he eyed Zhao Zunâs headless corpse.
"If this matter is pursued, I am the one who killed; Iâll take full responsibility," Song Changming told the commanders.
The commanders exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
They only knew this was a catastrophe waiting to happen.
...