C8 Battle

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Taking up the mantle to protect and serve for a price, the valiant trio of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning sprang into action.

Among them, the Wind and Thunder Heroes charged at the Coldhammers' mid-stage Oceanic Wheel warriors.

Lightning Hero, however, had set his sights on He Shun!

Boom!

The battle erupted in the blink of an eye.

Almost immediately, the Coldhammers' two mid-stage Oceanic Wheel warriors found themselves at a severe disadvantage.

The disparity between the mid and late stages of the Oceanic Wheel realm was vast.

Even together, they stood little chance against a late-stage Oceanic Wheel warrior, much less in single combat.

By contrast, He Shun was faring much better.

He was at the peak of the late Oceanic Wheel stage, while the Lightning Hero was merely at the late stage.

Furthermore, Mo Ling, the Second Elder of the Mo Family, had not yet entered the fray.

Should Mo Ling join the battle, He Shun's defeat would be inevitable.

Amidst the clashing of forces, within the Wen Peak Temple, Su Li's brow furrowed.

The Death Monarch had informed him that the Mo Family's warrior sent to besiege the Su Family was none other than the Second Elder, Mo Ling.

Yet, according to the Death Monarch, Mo Ling wasn't due to arrive in Suuton City until the following afternoon.

So why had Mo Ling appeared now?

Su Li's expression grew grave.

The tide was turning against him.

He had ways to mask his presence, but he couldn't remain hidden forever.

Especially since, once the Coldhammers' warriors were decimated, Mo Ling would surely lead the trio of Wind, Thunder, and Lightning straight to the Su Family's doorstep.

"What's the best course of action?" Su Li pondered, his gaze shifting as he strategized.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, he observed something peculiar about Feng Xiao.

"A Heart Devouring Gu Insect?"

It was something no ordinary warrior could detect, not even Feng Xiao himself.

The Heart Devouring Gu Insect typically lay dormant within a warrior's body, harmless unless activated by someone.

Su Li was able to detect the Heart Devouring Gu Insect within Feng Xiao because, in his past life, he had once nurtured one for a period of time. This insect possessed a horrifying ability to devour. A late-stage Oceanic Wheel practitioner like Feng Xiao could be reduced to a skeleton in a moment of inattention.

With a swift motion, Su Li's senses shifted from Feng Xiao to the Thunderbolt Duo. Clearly, they too were hosts to the Heart Devouring Gu Insect. By now, Su Li was almost certain that the small drum in Mo Ling's possession was the key to controlling the Heart Devouring Gu Insect. A smile of realization spread across his face.

Having previously raised a Heart Devouring Insect, Su Li was aware of two methods to control it: striking the drum or emitting a specific sound wave, with the latter holding higher priority. This meant that the Heart Devouring Gu Insect would obey the warrior who could produce the particular sound wave.

As Su Li pondered this, the battlefield saw its share of tragedy. Two mid-level Oceanic Wheel warriors from the Coldhammers met their demise at the hands of the Wind and Thunder Heroes, one with a fatal punch to the head.

After dispatching the mid-level Oceanic Wheel warrior, the Wind and Thunder Heroes swiftly changed direction and charged at He Shun. In a desperate move, He Shun produced a pill and swallowed it, causing his aura to surge dramatically. In the blink of an eye, and with a dull thud, his cultivation leaped from late-stage Oceanic Wheel to the pinnacle of the Oceanic Wheel realm.

"Violent Pill," Mo Ling muttered with a hint of chill in his voice, surprised that He Shun had such an item. A fourth-grade pill, the Violent Pill could temporarily boost an Oceanic Wheel warrior's cultivation by one level.

Without further hesitation, Mo Ling commanded the Wind and Thunder Heroes, "All of you, attack at once and make sure He Shun stays here!"

Mo Ling wasn't concerned about whether He Shun would advance to the Celestial River Realm; his primary concern was the possibility of He Shun fleeing. The Mo Family from the capital had already allied with the royal family to clamp down on the Coldhammers. The decisive strike was scheduled for three days later, and if word got out, the entire operation could end in failure.

The Mo Family and the royal family's joint attack on the Coldhammers wasn't solely to eliminate their formidable members—it was primarily to capture the Coldhammers' resources. Therefore, it was imperative that He Shun not be allowed to leave.

"Everyone, fall back!" The Wind, Thunder, and Lightning Trio were no fools. They were acutely aware that He Shun now possessed the power to annihilate them. Even though He Shun could only sustain the peak of the Oceanic Wheel Realm for a brief period, he could easily take one or two of them down during that time.

"Damn it!" Mo Ling muttered a curse upon seeing the trio attempting to escape. He quickly retrieved a small drum and began to beat it furiously. Bang! Bang! Bang! The dull thuds echoed, and the trio instantly felt their insides being invaded.

Screams of agony erupted from them. "You! Mo Ling, what have you done to us?" Wind Hero demanded, his face a mask of icy fury.

"Nothing much, just laced your food with some Heart Devouring Gu Insects," Mo Ling replied coolly. "A word of advice—better engage He Shun obediently, or this time next year will mark your demise."

"Brothers, let's take down He Shun!" Despite his reluctance, Wind Hero knew they had no choice but to confront He Shun. Facing He Shun meant risking death, but not facing him meant certain doom from the Gu Insects. In such a moment, anyone with a shred of sense would choose to fight He Shun.

"Xie Yan, take Su Li and get as far away as you can, now!" He Shun commanded, his aura bursting forth as he pressed against those around him. "I'll hold off Mo Ling and the rest. Your task is to make it back to the Coldhammers and alert the pavilion master!"

"What? Su Li?"

Upon hearing He Shun's words, Mo Ling's face subtly shifted.

Wasn't Su Li supposed to be with the Su family? And with Mo Wentian and Yang Qian keeping watch, how could he be here?

"Alright!"

Xie Yan was not one to hesitate.

He had stayed earlier because Mo Ling was eyeing him like a hawk.

But now that He Shun had taken the Berserk Pill, buying him some time, he knew he had to make a swift exit.

With a nod, Xie Yan leapt up and dashed toward Wenhui Temple.

"Sigh."

Inside Wenhui Temple, Su Li let out a light sigh, realizing he had no choice but to step out.

Ideally, he had wanted He Shun to engage Mo Ling and the others in battle first, forcing Mo Ling to reveal his hand before making his own appearance.

However, now that he was discovered, continuing to hide seemed unrealistic.

The sound of footsteps echoed as Su Li quickly exited Wenhui Temple, coming into view of Mo Ling and his group.

"So it is you, you worthless scoundrel!"

Mo Ling's face was a mask of icy fury.

Su Li's presence here indicated that Mo Wentian and Yang Qian's lockdown of the Su family had been breached.

Moreover, the Death Monarch had recently attempted to ambush Su Li at the Su family residence.

It seemed likely that the Death Monarch had met his end!

"Hahaha!"

Mo Ling's frosty demeanor swiftly melted away as he threw back his head and let out a wild laugh.

Once the laughter subsided, he fixed Su Li with a chilling gaze and declared, "It's amazing how effort is spared when the sought comes to the seeker! Su Li, regardless of how you evaded the Death Monarch's ambush, by coming here today, you've sealed your fate to be captured by me!

The Berserk Pill's effects last only three minutes. You three handle He Shun!

As for Su Li, this waste of space, he's mine to deal with!"

While speaking, Mo Ling's lips twisted into a smirk as he unleashed the formidable presence of a late-stage Oceanic Wheel practitioner, bearing down on Su Li with overwhelming force.