Chapter 742: Red Clothes Enter, The Situation is Decided

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Everyone hesitated, afraid to step forward. This caused Leng Qi, who was watching from above, to twitch his mouth in disbelief.

Had these people gone mad?

If they were all suppressed by Cheng Ji now, how would they continue later?

From then on, they would be reduced to crawling forward on their knees.

In Box 209.

Watching Cheng Ji single-handedly dominate the entire venue, Xin Gugu and his companions fell silent.

Cheng Ji's presence was overwhelming.

Contrary to Xu Shao's expectation of a major uproar, the scene had turned into a true one-man show.

The word of Sheng Shen Dian Tang reigned supreme.

Anyone who dared to resist would be branded with an inescapable accusation, like a bucket of filth dumped on them that not even the Yellow River could wash away.

"Too ruthless!"

Xin Gugu, who had followed Xu Shao for a long time, knew well that these major forces feared framing and slander more than outright power suppression.

He had seen Xu Shao use such tactics of heaping praise or accusations, so he understood the dangers involved.

Now, he couldn't help but worry.

Would everyone here really be this cowardly, getting suppressed so easily?

And where on earth had Xu Shao gone? Why hadn't he shown up?

Without him stirring things up, it felt like no one could break the deadlock...

Yet, the venue still had its share of capable individuals.

Even though Cheng Ji's accusations made most people freeze in place,

Some veterans who had roamed the Jianghu for years, with high seniority and status, were all too familiar with such tactics and unfazed.

At the entrance of Box 7.

Xiu Mingyue stepped out, cradling her ancient qin, with Zuo Hufa Mo Qing following closely.

"Cheng Dianzhu, you're joking, aren't you..." Beneath her veil, Xiu Mingyue's red lips curved into a light smile as she said, "I merely questioned your actions. Why go so far as to slap such a label on Leng Zongzhu?"

Cheng Ji turned his head, his expression stern and unsmiling: "Do you want to end up like him?" He glanced at Leng Qi.

"Otherwise."

Xiu Mingyue shook her head and didn't engage further, continuing on her own: "Cheng Dianzhu, if you search your conscience, isn't your approach somewhat biased?"

"Ye Mao is a major force too. Sheng Shen Dian Tang occupied their territory without any prior notice, and as for this matter, we local forces in Wang City were completely in the dark as well."

"Perhaps you face pressure from the Bai Yi and Hong Yi seniors, but being this aggressive... it does seem inappropriate?"

"Moreover, strictly speaking, the top forces in Wang City have the right to veto if we're forced to attend without prior notification."

"In other words, we could choose not to cooperate with your actions this time, couldn't we?"

Gui Yin Ge's statement was immediately clear and logical.

Xiu Mingyue didn't engage with Cheng Ji's bait at all.

She focused solely on the survival principles of Wang City's major forces.

From this angle, everyone felt that Cheng Ji would be at a loss for words, and they quickly voiced their approval, echoing loudly.

However, Cheng Ji only sighed and shook his head: "Xiu Gezhu, I truly agree with your view from the bottom of my heart."

"But this time, the Bai Yi and Hong Yi seniors arrived so urgently that they didn't even notify us in advance."

"How could I have had time to inform you all?"

For a moment, everyone listening felt their teeth itch with frustration.

Cheng Ji was dead set on passing the buck, planning to let the Bai Yi and Hong Yi take the blame for everything!

But the situation hadn't yet slipped from Xiu Mingyue's control.

His expected response only drew a scornful smile from the Gui Yin Ge leader.

Then, everyone heard her say: "Since Cheng Dianzhu puts it that way, this whole affair is just a sudden unexpected event. We're all eager to get back home, so why not..."

Pausing briefly, Xiu Mingyue cleverly suggested: "Why not let everyone go for now, and wait until the formal invitations are delivered to each sect and family? Then we can all head to Sheng Shen Dian Tang together."

"At that time, I believe no one will choose to resist the 'investigation' by the Bai Yi and Hong Yi seniors."

As soon as she spoke, the crowd responded enthusiastically.

"Good!"

"Xiu Gezhu is right; my sect agrees."

"This makes perfect sense. Trapping us here for no reason—my sect has many affairs waiting to be handled. We don't have time to waste here."

"Instead, let's pick an auspicious day and visit one by one, while also congratulating Cheng Dianzhu on his promotion. What do you say?"

"Yes!"

"Exactly!"

"That's the plan!"

The entire venue echoed in unanimous agreement; no one wanted to stay.

At that moment, the scene descended into complete chaos. Some people even slipped away stealthily toward the main gate amid the confusion.

As they squeezed forward, they tried to head out of the Ling Zhen.

The doors of the various force boxes were also pushed open.

Whether they had shown themselves earlier or planned to stay hidden, they all emerged now, fanning the flames in the disorder.

Among all the attendees, aside from a few young newcomers here to gain experience,

Most were seasoned veterans at the Wangzuo or even Zhan Dao levels.

With these people in disarray, the combined forces created a scene like a marketplace of Wangzuo-level experts—utterly uncontrollable.

"Charge!"

"Sheng Shen Dian Tang plans to imprison us—break out first, then talk!"

Someone shouted amid the chaos.

Others gathered their Ling Yuan and began bombarding the surrounding Ling Zhen, attempting to force a breakthrough.

"It's chaos..."

In Box 209, Xin Gugu saw this and felt ecstatic inside.

He knew that in such a situation, not even ten Cheng Jis could suppress it.

He turned back to Mo Mo, ready to urge her to act and secretly seal the Ling Zhen.

Once the array was gone,

Everyone would scatter like birds and beasts.

What investigation could Sheng Shen Dian Tang conduct then!

"Wait..." But at that moment, Mo Mo didn't act impulsively. Instead, she opened her mouth and reached out to stop Mu Zixi and the others from leaving the box.

"What?" Mu Zixi was stunned.

This was the perfect chance to escape in the confusion.

She didn't even need to wait for Mo Mo to seal the array; with her Shen Mo Tong activated, she could spot any flaws in the great array instantly.

"Why wait? Let's go!" Liu Changqing was even more anxious.

As a newly born Gui Shou host, he feared the Hong Yi the most.

He couldn't handle that crowd at all.

Just hearing their transmissions made him, even as a Zhan Dao, lose all will to resist.

Seeing the situation teetering on the edge of control, Mo Mo knew she lacked the authority to handle it. She tilted her head and lifted the cross-legged Xu Shao.

This move was brilliant!

Everyone froze on the spot: "???"

Mo Mo's commanding presence in the box, as if wielding authority in Xu Shao's name, not only stunned everyone present but nearly scared the meditating Xu Xiaojiji to tears.

"Xu Shao said everything is up to me—everyone, get back here!" Mo Mo shouted sternly.

Liu Changqing's hand was on the door, his brow furrowed, but in the end, he let go.

While everyone was still baffled,

They saw the chaos in the venue suddenly halt. Those who had been desperately rushing toward the trade fair's entrance began timidly retreating.

"What's going on?"

Now, everyone was astonished.

Not just those in the box like Mu Zixi and the others, but even the bustling crowd near the stage was surprised.

Retreating?

Was there some monster outside?

Soon, as everyone was forced back from the entrance and huddled in the corners, shivering,

A mocking laugh echoed, and at the doorway appeared a figure in Hong Yi, along with his derisive voice:

"How is it that the forces in Wang City have all become so bold?"

"Are you ignoring Cheng Dianzhu's words now?"

"Do you need this old man to come in and make you see with your own eyes that Hong Yi is really here before you'll drop your disputes and behave?"

The Hong Yi stepped forward.

He said he was bringing people,

But in reality, he walked in alone.

Yet, as the Hong Yi advanced, a thick, murderous aura of blood and malice enveloped the entire venue.

This kind of presence could only be forged by those who lived on the edge of life and death, constantly escaping the jaws of Yan Wang.

"Hong Yi!!!"

As the Hong Yi stood at the entrance, everyone's hearts skipped a beat, and their pulses quickened.

"Really here?"

"The Hong Yi senior?"

"Could this be... the Guardian of Bai Ku?"

Many recognized the face of the burly, gloomy man in Hong Yi.

If you asked which Hong Yi was most famous in Dong Tian Jie,

It wasn't the teams in Wang City, but those from the Eight Palaces, especially the Hong Yi team led by Lan Ling in Bai Ku!

Not that Wang City's Hong Yi teams were weak,

But Wang City was a peaceful place, with few Gui Shou daring to appear.

Out in the barbaric lands, fierce beasts roamed!

The Hong Yi guarding those areas were the true paragons of merit.

Not to mention anything else, just in recent years, in Bai Ku alone...

First, there was the unprecedented sealing of a Gui Shou.

Then, the emergence of the Four Fierce Swords, rallying Sheng Nu, Xu Yue Hui Gong, various dark forces of the Jianghu, and scattered Gui Shou.

In that Bai Ku battle,

The Bai Yi suffered heavy losses but captured Sheng Nu's second-in-command, Sang Qi Ye, enough to stabilize half the underworld.

The Hong Yi's achievements were even more outstanding; publicly known, they had captured at least three Gui Shou in that fight.

And that was just what was public.

Who knew how many more they caught in secret.

More importantly,

This Hong Yi team from Bai Ku was one of the few among the Bai Yi and Hong Yi present at the Eight Palaces that day who could retreat unscathed under the full force of Sheng Nu's leader.

The Bai Yi lost seven hundred,

But the Hong Yi, with just a dozen or so, finished capturing the Gui Shou and wisely withdrew from the Eight Palaces, with only a few remaining.

The intricacies of that were unknown to outsiders,

But even thinking with your knees, it was terrifying.

And now,

The one who had arrived at the trade fair was one of Bai Ku's Hong Yi team's four giants—the Guardian!

In an instant, forget about chaos;

The moment everyone saw that face, silence fell.

With the Guardian here,

There had to be at least one or two Gui Shou in the venue, right?

Causing a ruckus now—aside from those connected to Gui Shou, what else could it mean?

"Cheng Dianzhu."

The Guardian merely showed himself, nodded briefly to Cheng Ji, handed the scene back to him, and retreated outside on his own.

Everyone: "..."

It's over!

Tonight's investigation was inevitable!

A victorious smile spread across Cheng Ji's face.

Then, the smile faded from his lips as he looked at Leng Qi, his expression calm: "Still causing trouble?"

Leng Qi straightened his chest, then let out a deep sigh: "Cheng Dianzhu, tell us the truth—how many Bai Yi and Hong Yi have come this time?"

"Many."

Cheng Ji had no intention of explaining.

He knew that hidden in the void outside was a genuine net of heaven and earth.

Every node there held a distinguished war general whose appearance alone would shock the outside world.

These people were prepared for the unexpected in Wang City's trials.

Acting early would cost nothing more than a sleepless night.

Even if there was no gain, it wouldn't result in any real loss.

But if they reaped a harvest or two, for Cheng Ji, tonight's claim of "possible Gui Shou here" would yield enormous merit!

What exactly were the demons and monsters in the venue? Cheng Ji wasn't sure.

These were things he had deduced from recent and future events, based on intuition and Tian Ji predictions...

How much they could net tonight,

In the end,

Was all up to fate!

The entire venue was deathly quiet, where a pin drop could be heard.

After Leng Qi fell silent, Xiu Mingyue also stepped back a few paces, saying nothing.

With the two dominant force leaders like this, the others were even more on edge.

"Form a line!"

Cheng Ji chuckled softly: "Since there's no objection, start from Seat 1 in the VIP area to the end, then from Box 2 onward—head out one by one through the gate. Whether you get home safely depends on your own abilities!"

There were a few heavy thuds.

Some people sat down heavily,

Waiting for their judgment.

In Box 209, Liu Changqing and his group sat down listlessly as well.

It was over!

Things had developed in the worst way Xu Shao had predicted...

Cheng Ji's backup was too strong, and too many had come.

The scene was completely suppressed!

Liu Changqing glanced at Xu Shao, who was back on the sofa meditating and reciting sutras, and started to feel like cursing.

How could this be?

At a time like this, still reciting sutras?

What exactly had Xu Shao achieved in his Ban Sheng Jie Dao state?

If you have a divine ability, use it quickly! Waiting any longer, and the dishes will go cold!

In the Yuan Fu.

In Xu Xiaoshou's small world.

After swapping with Xu Xiaojiji and entering the new small world in Yuan Fu, Xu Xiaoshou didn't even have time to check the growth state of the Bodhi ancient tree.

He hurriedly grabbed dozens of boxes of pills that Tan Shen had refined and categorized, then left.

The secretly eating Tan Shen was baffled.

It felt like its master had appeared, but also hadn't fully appeared...

"Invisibility Technique!"

Emerging from Yuan Fu, without a second thought,

Xu Xiaoshou popped pills while constantly monitoring his Ling Yuan to prevent the invisibility from wearing off. He passed through the box, over the Ling Zhen, flew past the wine pavilion, and arrived outside the trade fair.

He had to get out.

He needed to see what Sheng Shen Dian Tang's encirclement looked like.

He planned to use the invisibility technique to fish in troubled waters and pull Tian Shang First Tower out of this mess completely.

But,

As soon as he stepped out,

And reached the long street outside, Xu Xiaoshou froze.

"This..."