Chapter 458: A Failed Test

Chapter 458: A Failed Test"You saved our lives, champion of mankind! Now that Renhuang's facing a trial, we'd like to do what we can to help.

"Martial Sage Hong Tianqi is trying to rally a group of hunters to come to your aid, but because of the time difference between the second realm and the real world, along with the active obstruction of the presiding member of the highest authorities of the world federation, he's been having a hard time.

"Each human city has begun amassing a group of forces to support you—champion of mankind, you won't be facing the sura alone. All of China, all of mankind, stands behind you!"

After Zhang Lie met with those who had once been prisoners in the sura capital, he headed out to see the citizens of Renhuang cleaning up the rubble that had resulted from the fight.

With the rock spirits around, it was easy enough to patch up the walls of the city, but patching up the walls of their heart would be a different matter instead.

Every race in the city had suffered significant losses. Although they had won in the end, no one seemed particularly happy about it.

Zhang Lie suddenly said, "I don't much like defensive battles. Whether or not we win or lose, there's too much we have to patch up afterwards."

"What do you plan on doing, then, Governor?"

"I'll speak with the sura king Shouta." Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

At the present moment, Shouta had been tied up firmly, and the citizens of Renhuang given free rein. Not only had he destroyed the city walls, he had even killed quite a few citizens within, rousing the ire of many of Renhuang's citizens.

His body was mutilated beyond compare, scarred and defaced, and there was nothing he could do but grit his teeth and bear it all.

A funnel was pierced through a gag in Shouta's mouth so as to facilitate administering healing potions to him—they couldn't have him dying so easily, after all.

Upon seeing Zhang Lie approach, Shouta began to writhe and squirm, making noises with his gag as though he had something to say.

Su Hong ungagged him and Shouta shouted, "My brothers are going to descend on this city at any moment now, and the combined forces of the seven kingdoms will crush your city and slaughter everyone within! If you want to save them, kneel down on the ground and beg me. I can still help you save them—"

Zhang Lie shook his head. "Gag him again. He's too noisy."

Su Hong did so. "How do you intend on carrying out the interrogation, Governor?"

Zhang Lie pressed a hand against Shouta's head, and his moonlight wyrm swam into Shouta's mental space.

The process was over in a matter of moments. After recalling the wyrm, Zhang Lie rubbed his head, whereas Shouta's eyes went slack.

"He's strong, so he should be able to survive this ordeal. Give him a chance to recover—don't keep torturing him right now. You wouldn't want to kill him too quickly, after all."

Those who had their souls consumed by the moonlight wyrm wouldn't die instantly; they would live on as shells of their former self. Zhang Lie suspected that, given time, Shouta's mind would recover.

Zhang Lie strode off the city walls and told Su Hong, "Call Yu Huantian over."

By the time Yu Huantian appeared, Zhang Lie had sketched out a map, which he passed to him. He instructed, "Bring some of your kin to scout these seven directions. Prioritize safety at all costs; report back the moment you see something."

Yu Huantian asked, "Is this related to the sura assault?"

"Yes. Be careful!" Zhang Lie turned to Su Hong again. "Have the members of Team Zenith and the three clan leaders to the palace. I have instructions for them all."

"Yessir!"

The Shouta kingdom's elder was currently wondering where Shouta was.

It had been quite some time after he had left, and he had sent no word back. Given his skills, he should have been able to deal with Renhuang in no time at all—could he be building one of his sculptures instead?

Given his personality, the elder really could imagine him doing so. And by the time the other six sura kings made their way inside and saw his tower of heads that pierced the clouds, he'd ask them proudly, "What do you think of my creation?"

The more the elder thought about it, the more he shuddered at what the other kings' reactions would be. No, he'd better resign! Given how arrogant Shouta was, his other brothers might well band together against him, and he might be caught in the aftermath, too.

Just as the elder was contemplating leaving the army and delegating all his responsibilities to a subordinate, a scout suddenly rushed toward his quarters.

"Elder, his highness Shicang has arrived!"

The elder noticed that the sura scout seemed rather unmotivated, but that hardly mattered to him. He was planning on resigning, after all. He didn't want to deal with being an elder of this sura kingdom any longer!

"Please send his highness Shicang into the tent."

When Shicang made his way over, the elder greeted him politely. "How may I help you, your highness?"

Shicang's words and demeanor were cold. "There are some things I want to do."

"His highness Shouta has advanced ahead of our main forces, and he's likely within Renhuang by now. Once the forces gather, your highness will be able to talk to him then."

"The butcher's dead."

"What?!"

"Shouta is dead."

The elder frowned. "Your highness, pardon my temerity, but how can you be so confident in this extraordinary claim?"

"I left part of my presence on Shouta a few days ago when we were all gathered in the empire of stars. If his soul is dramatically weakened or entirely dissipated, I'll be able to sense it—and I did so a few moments ago. Even if the butcher isn't dead, he's just a few steps from death. If I'm not mistaken, he made his way to Renhuang with just his elites, and now he's been caught in a trap!

The elder hurriedly stood up. "In that case, we have to inform the other five kings immediately and rescue his highness at any cost!"

"Have you considered why our opponent didn't kill the butcher?"

The elder stilled. "Do you mean to say that this might be a trap?"

"It's very possible."

"Your highness Shicang, since you've made your way here, you must surely have a plan?"

"Indeed. The successive deaths of three of my brothers demonstrates that our foe possesses considerable strength, and I'd like to get your assistance."

"Anything we can do for the sura, for his highness!"

"Oh, this is something all of you can do. It's very simple, you see."

"What is it?" the elder wondered. Something everyone was able to do, which would assist in rescuing Shouta?

"Die!" Shicang snapped his fingers.

The guards standing behind the elder suddenly grabbed his shoulders and pierced his body with their weapons, causing the elder to clutch his chest in pain as he forced them aside. "When did you defect to Shicang?!"

Shicang shook his head. "They didn't defect. They're simply dead."

Only then did the elder notice that the faces of his guards were completely lifeless; their eyes were as vacant as those of a corpse—no, they were the eyes of a corpse.

"The deaths of my first, fifth, and seventh brothers makes it clear that this battle won't be as easy as we thought. The backer behind this city of Renhuang must have some considerable amount of strength. I've been looking for an opportunity to improve my strength and amass more strength. Thankfully, the butcher is an idiot. As I predicted, he left his army behind in order to test the strength of Renhuang—and his strength was found wanting."