Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Lei Wujie narrowed his eyes, looking at Shen Cangsheng who had stood up. Although he was smiling, a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.

"This guy, once we get the key, the first person we'll kill is him."

But right now, we need to keep the other side calm first.

"Master Shen, you are overthinking it," Lei Wujie forced a smile. "Since our three sects have already made an agreement, we should naturally advance and retreat together. Here, I, Lei Wujie, swear in the name of all the past leaders of the Ming Cult—if we successfully obtain the key to the Azure Lotus Secret Realm this time, our three sects will share all the treasures within. If we break this oath, may we be struck down by heaven and earth!"

After saying that, he silently added a cold thought to himself:

"Hmph, you still want to get into the Azure Lotus Secret Realm? By then, your White Lotus Sect and Joyful Union Sect will have been wiped out by me. That way, it won't be considered that I, the sect leader, have broken my oath!"

Seeing Lei Wujie's confident statement, Shen Cangsheng, who stood up behind him, still wore a cold smile on his face.

He didn't believe Lei Wujie's nonsense at all, but now was not the time to completely turn against him, so he cupped his hands in a gesture of feigned agreement:

"Since Sect Leader Lei has said so, then I, Shen, am relieved."

He sat down again after speaking, his mind racing with calculations. "Hmph! You want our White Lotus Sect to fight head-on against those 30,000 garrison troops stationed thirty miles outside the capital, and you want to reap the rewards? There's no such thing as a free lunch. Why not deliberately create a false impression, letting those 30,000 garrison troops in directly, stirring up the waters, and waiting for you to fight to the death, then I'll swoop in from behind!"

Su Xuanji, standing to the side, quietly watched the two men's hypocritical faces, and the corners of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

"These guys haven't even started yet, and they're already dividing up the profits! Hmph, they don't even realize they're about to die."

She looked up at the sky outside the hall, silently calculating in her mind:

"Judging by the time, it should be about right."

boom--!

Just then, a sudden explosion rang out, and flames shot into the sky around the mansion where Su Xuanji and the others were located. The scorching flames directly dyed the surrounding sky red. Immediately afterwards, a shrill scream came from outside the gate!

"What's going on?!" Lei Wujie suddenly walked out of the lobby and looked in the direction of the door.

Shen Cangsheng, Bai Yunshan, and the others standing to the side also changed their expressions. At this critical juncture, such a situation must be related to the Great Xia Dynasty!

Just then, Lei Wujie grabbed a Ming Cult disciple who was rushing towards them from the main gate. "Tell me, what exactly happened?!"

"Master...Master! Something terrible has happened! The main gate of our mansion is sealed off, and we're surrounded by flames ignited by black oil. We can't get out through the back door either. We...we must be surrounded by people sent by the Great Xia Dynasty!"

"We're surrounded by the Great Xia Dynasty!?" Lei Wujie was taken aback at first, then his face instantly darkened. "Our operation this time was so covert... how could we have been targeted by the Great Xia Dynasty!?"

He abruptly turned his head and glared at Shen Cangsheng, a fierce glint in his eyes. "Shen...Cangsheng! Speak!! Did you deliberately leak it?!"

"Bullshit!" Shen Cangsheng slammed his fist on the table and stood up. "I'd like to ask if there's a traitor within your Ming Cult!"

"That's enough!"

Bai Yunshan, who had remained silent until now, glanced at everyone. "What's the point of discussing who leaked the information? The most important thing is to get out of here! Hmph! Do they really think they can keep us here by using the fire and relying on those ordinary government soldiers? What a pipe dream!!"

"Old Bai is right!"

Lei Wujie suppressed his anger, exchanged a glance with Bai Yunshan, and the two set off at the same time. Their powerful true energy shook off the scorching heat and they rushed towards the gate first.

Shen Cangsheng, Pei Zuoshi, and others followed closely behind. Su Xuanji, however, remained calm and brought up the rear. With a gentle flick of her fingers from her sleeve, a faint fragrance drifted into the scorching air.

"break!"

Bai Yunshan stepped forward first and threw a punch. The powerful fist wind of the Grandmaster realm swept out like an angry dragon, instantly tearing a gap in the iron gate and raging flames that were sealing the door!

however--

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!

Outside the breach, hundreds of Imperial Guards had already formed their ranks, and dozens of heavy repeating crossbows were aimed at the gate. As the gate was smashed open with a single punch, Qin Hu shouted, "Fire!"

In an instant, dozens of specially made crossbow bolts flew out. Each of these bolts was as thick as a child's arm, and in a moment they covered Baiyunshan and the others!

"What? Heavy repeating crossbows from the military camp? These Imperial Guards actually brought over such a big thing! They really think highly of us!!" Pei Zuo Shi, who was behind Lei Wujie, felt his scalp tingle when he saw dozens of cold lights flying towards him.

"Hmph! What are you afraid of!? These things are only good for dealing with people below the Grandmaster level!" Lei Wujie's eyes blazed with murderous intent as he stepped forward and grabbed at the air with his right hand.

"Come here, Your Majesty!"

A terrifying suction force erupted from his palm, causing the dozens of heavy crossbow bolts that had been shot at him to suddenly stop in mid-air. They then involuntarily gathered together and were forcibly controlled by him within three feet of his palm!

"Hmph!" Lei Wujie snorted coldly, clenching his fist tightly!

The steel arrow shafts snapped and fell to the ground with a piercing twisting sound.

However, the astonishing impact of the crossbow bolt caused his blood to surge, and he involuntarily took half a step back.

He looked down at his slightly numb palms, his face turning completely grim.

The ability to mobilize so many heavy crossbows at the same time is definitely not the work of these Imperial Guards... It seems that the Emperor of the Underworld has already laid a trap, waiting for them to fall into it!

Lei Wujie and Bai Yunshan exchanged a glance, both reading the same thought in each other's eyes—they had to break through immediately and could not be trapped here!

"Follow me, all of you, and fight your way out!"

Lei Wujie roared and charged ahead towards the Jinyiwei guards whose crossbows were pointed at him.

At this moment, Qin Hu's face turned ashen.

Xia Jin was originally here with him, intending to take care of these remnants of the demonic cult.

However, just as they were about to make their move, Xia Jin seemed to sense some kind of disturbance in the distance. She hurriedly left behind the words, "Guard this place well, and do not let a single person escape," before disappearing from his sight.

Now that he had to face two grandmasters alone, Qin Hu felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He, Qin Hu, is at the second level of the Grandmaster realm!

Why should I?!

"What are you all standing there for!" Qin Hu roared at the somewhat bewildered Imperial Guards, suppressing his panic. "Get ready! Heavy crossbows! Reload! Quickly!"

He drew his embroidered spring knife from his waist with a clang, his gaze fixed on Lei Wujie, who was charging at the front.

Qin Hu didn't believe he could stop the other party either, and now he could only hope that Xia Jin could return in time!

"Buzz—Boom!"

Another volley of heavy crossbow bolts was fired, the thick bolts emitting a terrifying shriek.

Lei Wujie was prepared this time. Most of the crossbow bolts were deflected and knocked down by his powerful true energy. The few that came close were swept away by his sleeves and flung to the walls on both sides, shattering into countless pieces of stone.

With only two volleys of crossbow bolts between them, Lei Wujie and his men had closed the distance to within a hundred meters of Qin Hu. Lei Wujie could even clearly see Qin Hu's ashen and tense face. He couldn't help but sneer.

"Hmph! A mere second-level Grandmaster dares to block my path? He's courting death!"