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Chapter 260 The Jiang family's roots are rotten!!! (Update 25 of 3 words, please vote with monthly tickets~)

The convoy didn't seem to be in a hurry to get going, or rather, their caution bordered on obsessive.

Three black SUVs maintained a speed of forty or fifty miles per hour, weaving through the intricate streets and alleys of Liuli Guangcheng.

Instead of taking the main roads, they chose secluded, dark areas with little surveillance, taking winding routes as if trying their best to avoid all possible sight.

Fang Qingyu and his group of five clung to them like maggots, trailing far behind.

The Eternal Night Territory provided perfect cover, allowing them to clearly perceive the movements ahead without being detected.

Time slips away in silent tracking.

Half an hour later, the three SUVs finally stopped in an area.

This is the outer edge of the Glazed City, where the buildings are generally low and old, forming a stark contrast to the dazzling lights of the core area.

The proportion of crystal buildings has been greatly reduced.

Instead, there are thick layers of special concrete, recycled alloy plates, and simple houses covered with thick, cold-resistant coatings.

The streets were narrow and dimly lit, with only the emergency light sources embedded in the walls emitting a pale glow.

In the distance, the outline of the massive black Great Wall, towering into the clouds and radiating energy fluctuations, was clearly visible; it was only a few minutes' journey from the city.

This is the "leg" of the city, the shadow behind its prosperity.

The car was parked in a relatively open area, which appeared to be a small goods distribution center.

The car door slid open silently, and more than a dozen figures filed out.

Fang Qingyu's pupils suddenly contracted in the darkness.

These people were all dressed in dark gray combat uniforms, and their faces were covered with tactical masks that only revealed their eyes.

They moved swiftly, were well-trained, landed silently, and quickly dispersed to form a perimeter.

And the titles on their heads
A group of martial arts masters and chosen ones!
There were more than a dozen people, and not one of them was below the initial stage of the second tier!
Some of them even possessed auras that reached the mid-stage of the second tier or were close to the peak.
"hiss"

Chu Kuanglan gasped in shock within the Eternal Night Territory, his voice filled with disbelief and astonishment.

"All second-tier?! This is what that fat bastard Chen Ming meant when he said 'there aren't many forces left to use in the city'?! What utter bullshit!"

Wei Banmeng's usually cold face was now covered in frost.

Fang Qingyu's previous guess was now directly confirmed.

Chen Ming, or rather the person behind Chen Ming, the one who arranged for them to enter the observatory and assign them the "needle in a haystack" task, was deliberately delaying and wearing them down.

The so-called "traitor" Jiang Chengyue.

The Jiang family clearly possesses a powerful force for capture.

"Let's see what they're up to."

Fang Qingyu's voice was low and calm.

After the dozen or so second-tier experts got off the vehicle, they quickly formed a team.

The leader made a few simple hand gestures, and the team immediately split into three groups, like experienced hunters, silently infiltrating the low and messy cluster of buildings ahead.

They acted swiftly, yet moved with extreme lightness, advancing rapidly in one clear direction.

Fang Qingyu and his four companions, like true ghosts, remained tightly tucked a few dozen meters behind the Eternal Night Territory, perfectly concealing themselves by using the shadows of the buildings and their own abilities.

"They seem to be surrounding us?"

Wei Banmeng analyzed the opponent's formation and direction of advance in a low voice.

Chu Kuanglan watched as the group cautiously approached a dilapidated three-story building that looked like a converted abandoned warehouse, and couldn't help but mutter, "This is so secretive, what kind of mission are they on? Catching ghosts? Or..."

He didn't finish his words.

The dozen or so second-tier grandmasters in front suddenly stopped at several key entrances and windows of the three-story building.

The movements are uniform.

Immediately afterwards, several of them took a fist-sized, shimmering blue ball from their tactical belts without hesitation and flung it violently to the ground.

Om-! ! !
Several invisible force fields unfolded instantly.

The pale blue energy membrane, like an inverted bowl, instantly enveloped the entire building and the surrounding area within a radius of several dozen meters.

The edge of the force field even grazed the outer perimeter of the Eternal Night Territory.

Fang Qingyu and his group of five were also included within the force field's range.

Chu Kuanglan exclaimed in shock within the territory, his voice filled with astonishment, "A ghost of death is here?!"

Force fields are generally used against spirits.

This is common sense.

However, before anyone could answer Chu Kuanglan's question...

Changes occur suddenly.

The target has appeared.

Boom——! ! !
A deafening, terrifying explosion, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, suddenly erupted from inside the small building enveloped by the force field.

It was neither the roar of a ghost nor the muffled sound of an energy explosion.

Instead, it was a massive, incomparably sharp blade aura!
The blinding white light instantly tore through the warehouse's thick metal walls and roof, like a hot knife cutting through butter.

The violent blade energy, carrying metal fragments, concrete blocks, and ice shards, swept outwards like a storm.

The grandmasters who had just set up the force field were clearly prepared. The moment the blade energy erupted, they retreated like ghosts, narrowly avoiding the devastating frontal impact.

The violent blade energy slammed into the newly risen dark blue force field membrane, producing a piercing "sizzle" sound. The membrane fluctuated violently, but stubbornly remained intact.

Smoke and dust filled the air, and debris flew everywhere.

A figure slowly emerged from the gaping hole, stepping through the billowing smoke and ruins.

He was tall and wore a faded, old-fashioned combat uniform, covered by a badly worn dark gray winter cloak.

His face was resolute, etched with the marks of time and the fierce aura honed by the battlefield, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.

It was the target in the archival photograph.

Jiang Chengyue!
"Jiang Chengyue!!"

When Wei Banmeng and the others saw the figure clearly, their expressions suddenly hardened, and then their faces turned extremely ugly.

Anger, confusion, and the humiliation of being mocked surged into my heart instantly.

"They knew Jiang Chengyue was here."

Lu Jiuyuan's voice was icy cold.

"And they sent so many elite troops to capture us!" Chu Kuanglan gritted his teeth. "They made us wander around like headless flies during the day, wasting our time, and then they come to reap the rewards at night?! Damn it!"

Fang Qingyu stood in the darkness, expressionless, his molten gold vertical pupils fixed on Jiang Chengyue and the pursuers in the arena.

He had already had this guess when he saw those dozen or so second-tier elites.

The appearance of Jiang Chengyue now completely confirms the previous deductions.

This task is deliberately delayed and misled.

It's basically a smokescreen, a way to exclude them from the core, and possibly even to wear down their patience.

"Jiang Chengyue! Stop being so stubborn and resisting!"

The leader of the encirclement master, a burly man with an aura approaching the peak of the second tier, spoke through his mask with a cold, commanding tone, "You know very well that in this Glazed Light City, you have no way to escape. Surrender and you might still retain some dignity!"

Jiang Chengyue stood on the ruins, his cloak fluttering in the breeze stirred by the force field.

His gaze swept over the dozen or so powerful individuals of the same level who had surrounded him, his expression extremely complex. He recognized familiar auras among them, and even some of his former comrades-in-arms.

Jiang Chengyue did not answer immediately.

He simply tightened his grip on the ancient-looking longsword, its blade gleaming with a cold light.

Silence, like a cold tide, spread through the space enveloped by the force field.

"What should we do, Aoko?"

Wei Banmeng looked at Fang Qingyu, her voice extremely low, her eyes filled with inquiry and a hint of cold fighting spirit.

"Should we continue to observe from the sidelines? Or...?"

Fang Qingyu did not answer immediately, his gaze fixed on Jiang Chengyue.

This "traitor's" state was strange. Facing the encirclement of more than a dozen powerful individuals of the same level, his aura, though sharp, lacked the madness of a desperate criminal. Instead, it exuded a profound sorrow and an almost stubborn determination.

Moreover, his strike that pierced through the wall was incredibly powerful, yet it clearly avoided the nearest pursuers. Otherwise, given the power and suddenness of that blade's energy, it's impossible that he wouldn't have injured a single person.

Just then, Jiang Chengyue spoke. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a deep-seated weariness and bitterness. His gaze slowly swept over the masked figures: "Sixth Brother, Ah Kun, and you guys, you still... don't believe me?"

This form of address carries a sense of familiarity from the past.

The bodies of the pursuers within the encirclement stiffened almost imperceptibly.

"shut up!"

The burly man at the head of the group suddenly shouted, interrupting Jiang Chengyue's words. His voice was filled with barely suppressed anger and a hint of wavering.

"Jiang Chengyue! How dare you mention trust?! You defied the rules set by our ancestor, questioned his decisions, and even openly slandered his reputation in the council hall. Do you still deserve to be a member of the Jiang family?! You have betrayed the Jiang family and betrayed Liuli Guangcheng!"

His voice echoed in the force field, full of accusation.

"I advise you to obediently lay down your weapon!"

The burly man took a deep breath and pointed at Jiang Chengyue, "For the sake of our past relationship, I can plead with the patriarch to spare your life."

Spare my life?

Jiang Chengyue forced a bitter smile, a smile filled with endless sorrow and mockery.

He slowly shook his head, the bitterness in his eyes instantly replaced by an almost burning determination. "No, you're wrong. I'm not the one who's wrong!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a penetrating power, and he roared with unwavering resolve:

"It's you! It's the entire Jiang family! They've been rotten to the core!"

"Insolence!!" The burly man roared in fury, as if his deepest taboo had been touched. "Take him down!"

Upon receiving the order, the dozen or so second-tier grandmasters and chosen ones erupted without hesitation.

Blade flashes, sword energy, fist strikes, and various other skills.
Like a torrent bursting its banks, it crashed down on Jiang Chengyue in the center of the ruins from all directions.

"kill!"

The roar and the burst of energy instantly shattered the brief silence.

Facing the combined attack of more than a dozen experts of the same level, Jiang Chengyue showed no fear whatsoever; instead, an astonishing fighting spirit erupted in his eyes. The ancient longsword in his hand emitted a clear, resonant hum!

"Sky-Splitting Thousand-Blade Slash!"

A flash of light appeared from the blade.

In an instant, dozens of sharp and incomparable sword shadows seemed to appear around him simultaneously.

It met attacks from all directions with perfect precision.

Ding-ding-ding-ding!

Boom! Sizzle—!
The sounds of metal clashing and the explosive roar of colliding energy instantly intertwined.

Jiang Chengyue's figure moved like a ghost within the narrow encirclement.

He did not choose to confront all the attacks head-on, but instead used his exquisite footwork and swordsmanship to find gaps in the raging wave of attacks, either parrying, deflecting the force, or using the force against the attackers!

His combat experience was terrifyingly rich; he could always evade fatal attacks at the last second, and even force the attackers to retreat with a single counterattack.

The battle was extremely fierce and destructive.

The surrounding ruins collapsed and shattered under the violent energy impact, and deep trenches were plowed into the ground.

The pale blue force field membrane firmly locked up the dissipated energy and debris, and also isolated all sound; otherwise, the commotion would have already alarmed the entire city.

Fang Qingyu and the other four could see everything clearly within the Eternal Night Territory.

"What a powerful swordsmanship!"

Chu Kuanglan couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes flashing with fighting spirit and a hint of admiration, "This Jiang Chengyue is definitely a top expert among the peak second-tier fighters! He can still fight like this even when surrounded by more than a dozen people!"

Wei Banmeng frowned, observing more closely: "He held back with his knife. He had at least three opportunities to severely injure or even kill the attackers, but he chose to force them back or make minor cuts each time. Especially with that burly leader, he was clearly deliberately avoiding vital points."

Lu Jiuyuan, holding the knife, his sharp eyes like those of a hawk, said, "He's hesitant. He doesn't want to kill these people."

Fang Qingyu nodded silently.

This was exactly the abnormality he had sensed before.

Jiang Chengyue's knife was incredibly sharp, but it lacked the ruthlessness and decisiveness of a true life-or-death struggle.

Deep in his eyes, the grief and helplessness far outweighed any murderous intent.

And the things he just said.
Something's clearly not right.

The fierce battle lasted for several minutes. Although Jiang Chengyue was strong, he was exhausted by the combined attacks and tacit cooperation of more than a dozen experts of the same level. His old combat uniform was torn in several places and blood seeped out, making his movements slightly sluggish.

But he persevered stubbornly, his determination unwavering.

"Now! Lock him up!"

The burly man seized an opportunity when Jiang Chengyue's old strength had just been exhausted and his new strength had not yet been generated, and shouted sharply!

Two masters skilled in entanglement and restraint immediately closed in. One conjured energy chains with his hands, while the other exhaled and struck out with both palms, creating a heavy binding force field in an attempt to seal off Jiang Chengyue's movement space!
A fierce glint flashed in Jiang Chengyue's eyes, as if he had finally made up his mind.

"Sky Rift - Flow Interruption!"

With a sudden low roar, his internal energy and blood erupted like a volcano.

The long sword in his hand burst forth with an unprecedentedly dazzling light, sweeping forward in a fan shape.

The power of this strike far surpassed any of the previous moves.

"Rewind! Rewind!!"

The burly man's expression changed drastically, and he roared fiercely!
The men who were attacking Jiang Chengyue felt the earth-shattering sword intent and were terrified. They dared not take it head-on and pushed their movement techniques to the limit, retreating in a sorry state.

boom--! ! !
The blade's energy slashed fiercely at the surrounding ruins.

Smoke and dust rise into the sky!

"cough cough"

"puff"

Several pursuers who were slower to retreat were caught in the crossfire, their blood churning and blood trickling from their mouths. Although they were not seriously injured, they were in a sorry state.

As the smoke and dust cleared slightly, everyone looked again at the center of the ruins.
Jiang Chengyue's figure had vanished without a trace.

Only the terrifying knife mark on the ground tells the story of his earth-shattering attack.

"Damn it! He got away again!"

The burly man slammed his fist into a nearby half-collapsed wall, causing it to collapse with a crash. His face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with frustration and anger.

After a brief silence, the burly man spoke into the tactical communicator in a low, suppressed voice: "Report, target area A7, capture operation failed, target escaped again. Requesting logistics team to come and clean up the scene and eliminate traces."

A brief confirmation command came from the other end of the communicator.

The burly man put down the communicator, his gaze sweeping over the ruins with a complex expression, finally settling on the direction where Jiang Chengyue had disappeared, and remained silent.

At this moment, a relatively thin and somewhat young-sounding member of the manhunt hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice, his tone filled with confusion and a hint of barely perceptible wavering: "Boss, is Brother Yue, Jiang Chengyue, really wrong?"

The burly man suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze piercing the speaker like a knife.

The eyes behind the mask were full of warning and severity.

The young man who was part of the encirclement was stung by that gaze and froze. He quickly waved his hand and explained, "Boss, that's not what I meant! I meant that with Brother Yue's strength, if he really wanted to kill us with that slash just now, at least three or five of us would probably be lying on the ground!"

"But each time he only forced us back, at most suffering minor injuries. I always felt something was off. If Brother Yue was really as described above, why did he show us mercy? He clearly had countless opportunities."

These words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred ripples in the hearts of the other hunters around them.

Several people stiffened slightly, their eyes flickered, and they subconsciously avoided the burly man's sweeping gaze.

Yes, they all personally experienced the battle just now.

Jiang Chengyue's sword is sharp and domineering, yet it always carries an indescribable restraint.

That restraint, so abrupt yet so real in the life-or-death struggle.

The young hunter's words touched upon a deep-seated doubt they had never dared to dwell on.

The burly man's eyes flickered violently as he looked at his men's silent reaction.

Didn't he feel the same way?
He knew Jiang Chengyue's strength and personality better than anyone else!

Jiang Chengyue was once the commander of the Third Battalion of the Garrison Army, their superior, and a brother they could entrust with their backs on the battlefield.

He is brave and decisive, loyal and righteous, and his loyalty to the Jiang family, the City of Glazed Light, and humanity is beyond question.

But now.
The burly man closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the cold air mixed with smoke and the smell of blood.

Images flashed through my mind: Jiang Chengyue, almost manic with excitement, pointing at the ancestor and berating him in the council hall; and the cold, hard arrest warrant issued by the elders' council.
A few seconds later, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze turning cold and resolute again, as if he had used all his strength to suppress the turbulent waves surging in his heart.

He stared intently at the young man who was leading the pursuit, speaking each word in a low, authoritative voice:
"Ah Zhe, remember who you are! And remember what I said!"

"Since the City Lord did not oppose the Ancestor's decision or deny the Elders' Council's ruling, everything is correct! Jiang Chengyue is a traitor! This is an ironclad rule!"

"Keep your thoughts to yourself! Otherwise," the burly man's voice carried a chilling warning, "next time, I won't be able to protect you either!"

After saying that, he ignored the various expressions on his men's faces and abruptly waved his hand: "Withdraw! Logistics will be here soon!"

The dozen or so pursuers silently and swiftly closed in, their movements still rapid, but the atmosphere was many times heavier and more oppressive than when they arrived.

They disappeared silently into the dark streets, just as they had come.

This left behind ruins ravaged by battle.

the other side.

Jiang Chengyue's figure was like a wounded lone wolf blending into the night, rapidly traversing the complex and dilapidated streets and alleys outside Liuli Guang City.

He was clearly very familiar with the area, weaving through the maze of streets at an extremely fast pace.

Be alert to any possible tracking.

After confirming there were no tails, he finally turned into the end of a narrow alleyway, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, piled with discarded debris.

At the end of the alley was an inconspicuous, rusty little metal door.

It looks like the entrance to an abandoned basement.

Jiang Chengyue skillfully pulled out a key from behind a loose brick, quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and then carefully locked the door from the inside.

Behind the door is a narrow, steep, downward-sloping metal staircase.

Jiang Chengyue leaned against the cold wall and walked down the stairs step by step, his footsteps sounding particularly clear in the silence.

At the end of the stairs was a small room of less than ten square meters.

The walls were cold concrete, and they smelled damp and musty.

The room was sparsely furnished, with a simple cot, an old table piled with various papers, books, simple instruments and maps, a portable power stove, and a small amount of compressed food and water in the corner.

Jiang Chengyue leaned against the cold metal door, slowly slid down to the ground, and let out a sigh that was suppressed to the extreme.

He took off his hood, revealing a tired, haggard face covered in dust and sweat.

A wound on his forehead, slashed by a fragment of energy, was slowly oozing blood.

He stared blankly at a spider spinning a web in the corner of the ceiling, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath.

In this moment of deathly silence, exhaustion, and despair...
A calm, deep voice, yet like a thunderclap, suddenly rang clearly in Jiang Chengyue's ears:

"Jiang Chengyue?"

The moment the sound rang out, Jiang Chengyue's body felt as if it had been struck by a high-voltage electric current.

He sprang up from the ground, his muscles instantly tensing like steel.

A terrifying glint flashed in his eyes, and his long sword was instantly drawn, the blade pointing in the direction from which the sound came.

The deepest shadow in the corner of the room.

"Who?!"

Jiang Chengyue's voice was filled with shock, vigilance, and disbelief.

This is a safe house that he meticulously prepared and is absolutely secluded!
How could someone possibly sneak in silently?!

Under his horrified gaze, the darkness in that corner came alive.
The thick, inky darkness, like a living tide, slowly receded and contracted, eventually coalescing into five clear figures.

The leader was tall and stern-faced, carrying a long sword in his hand.
In the dim light, his vertical pupils, like molten lava, gazed at him calmly.

It was Fang Qingyu!
Behind him stood Wei Banmeng, Chu Kuanglan, Lu Jiuyuan, and Jiang Wei, whose figure was small.

The realm of eternal night vanished silently.

Fang Qingyu's gaze calmly fell on Jiang Chengyue, who looked as if facing a formidable enemy and exuded a dangerous aura. He spoke again, his voice echoing clearly in the small safe room:
Can we talk?

(End of this chapter)