Chapter 515 - 307: The Sacrificial Pawn
Celestial Capital
"Kill!"
Three hours ago, the Demon Race’s vanguard launched an attack on the Celestial Capital. At this very moment, the city walls of the Celestial Capital were already rivers of blood.
The Celestial Capital also issued an order to seal the city; everyone could only exit, not enter.
There were rumors that many Demon Race armies were heading towards the Celestial Capital, seemingly preparing for a decisive battle.
For a moment, the people of the Cangling Ancient Country were in a panic.
At this moment, in the National Master’s Institute, Lai Yonghui stepped forward to report to Gu Ning:
"The first wave of the Beast Tide’s offensive has been stabilized; currently, the situation in the Celestial Capital is good, and our military losses are few."
Gu Ning nodded, not surprised. He stood up, and Lai Yonghui beside him asked, "Where is the National Preceptor going?"
"Dubhe Pavilion," Gu Ning said.
Lai Yonghui was delighted and said, "It seems that Dubhe Pavilion is going to agree to restart the Eight Trigrams Nine Cities plan."
Gu Ning also showed a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
Now, with the Demon Race’s army pressing on the city, all the high-level leaders of major forces within the Celestial Capital were afraid of dying.
Even though they knew that a bloody battle with the Demon Race wouldn’t necessarily determine who wins in the end.
However, once the high-level leaders go to war, losses are inevitable.
If anyone most doesn’t want to see the war restart, it is certainly these high-level leaders.
Because once war breaks out, many interests will be redistributed.
Lai Yonghui naturally doesn’t have the qualification to go to such a place, so he waited at the National Master’s Institute.
By the time of the afternoon dusk, Gu Ning finally returned.
"How did it go?" Lai Yonghui asked.
"They’re willing to start the Eight Trigrams Nine Cities plan, but..."
Gu Ning frowned and said, "That person isn’t me."
"Not you?" Lai Yonghui said in disbelief, "You’re the National Preceptor; only someone who understands the Dragon Transformation Skill can control this power. If it’s not you, who else could it be?"
After a slight pause, Lai Yonghui seemed to understand and said, "You mean they want to pass the Dragon Transformation Skill to someone else to let them control this power?"
"That’s right," Gu Ning said:
"Moreover, they’ve already found that person."
"Who is it?"
"Currently, it’s unclear." Gu Ning’s brows furrowed deeply, clearly very unhappy.
"How can they be sure the person they’ve chosen won’t betray them in the end?" Lai Yonghui asked in confusion.
"It’s simple..." Gu Ning said, "Once he’s dead, there’s no issue."
Lai Yonghui fell silent, then his body trembled.
Indeed.
Solving threats and turmoil, this is the best way.
But who will be the discarded pawn?
.....
In the Spirit Academy, although Lin Chen and the others had known for a long time that the Demon Race would invade the Celestial Capital, they didn’t expect it to happen so abruptly.
"It seems the Nine Netherworld Snake has almost recovered." The Great Elder worried.
Right now, the Celestial Capital is issuing a call to the nation through the Guild Machine, hoping Beastmasters from across the land can come to assist.
However, the Great Elder knows very well that the entire nation is in turmoil, and there are not many Beastmasters who can go to offer support.
Currently, the central area where the Spirit Academy is located is relatively safe, but precisely because of this safety, there is a large influx of people from the east, west, south, and north into the central region.
If the Spirit Academy sends out forces to support the Celestial Capital, then if the Demon Race returns to the central region, it would be another bloody battle.
Besides, the Celestial Capital’s power is originally the strongest in the nation. This time, the Celestial Capital hasn’t provided much external aid, so many people are resentful.
Yet, despite their resentment, many remain rational.
The Celestial Capital is the place of faith for the Cangling Ancient Country. Once it falls, the Human Race will certainly have no more good days.
So there are still people going to support the Celestial Capital.
This is like knowing that a child doesn’t have good character, but once they fall, the whole family scatters, so you still have to go to save them.
The Great Elder has also considered this matter. After evaluating the pros and cons, he ultimately decided not to support it.
Lin Chen also, after learning about the situation in the Celestial Capital, understood that the chaos of the Demon Beast might be coming to an end, and by then, the victory in the Celestial Capital will directly decide the fate of other places in the nation.
Therefore, Lin Chen also plans to take Qin Shaoshao back to the south.
In the central area, there is the Spirit Academy, and there are also a large number of Spirit Academy disciples; the power here is countless times stronger than in the south.
The Great Elder did not oppose; with Qin Shaoshao, keeping Lin Chen alive wasn’t a concern.
Just as Lin Chen prepared to depart that day, another scout rushed back to the Spirit Academy, bringing several pieces of news:
Firstly, the Demon Race’s second attack was ten times larger than before; the Nine Netherworld Snake made a move.
"What was the result?" the Great Elder asked.
"Several masters’ Spirit Beasts from the Celestial Capital struck, but were severely injured."
The scout said with dim eyes:
"After severely injuring them, the Nine Netherworld Snake chose to leave, but it set a deadline, demanding the National Master’s Institute to hand over the Dragon Transformation Skill."
"As expected!"
The Great Elder frowned.
This wasn’t good news.
"Dubhe Pavilion decided not to hand it over, but then the Nine Netherworld Snake made an announcement..."
The scout continued rapidly, "If the Celestial Capital does not hand over the Dragon Transformation Skill, the Demon Race will massacre all Human Race areas under their control."
Upon hearing this, the Great Elder and Lin Chen exchanged a look.
What has to come will come.
Earlier, Lin Chen and the Great Elder had already sensed this.
The Dubhe Pavilion was nothing; it was controlled by various major forces.
But the National Master’s Institute has always been the will of the people; if they don’t do something this time and watch so many people be slaughtered, then internal conflict among the Human Race will be the first to break out.
After all, after the war started, the Human Race somewhat resented the Celestial Capital for not providing support.
"Investigate further," the Great Elder frowned, instructing the scout.
The scout unexpectedly said, "I haven’t finished yet."
"Are there more news?" the Great Elder asked, puzzled.
The scout said, "Earlier, you asked me to investigate a girl named Bai Ling, right? This time I discovered some information."
"Speak quickly," Liu Gu and Lin Chen’s expressions both shifted upon hearing this.
Ever since the war began, Bai Ling seemed to have suddenly disappeared, with no trace ever seen again.
"We found traces of her in the city south of Celestial Capital; someone once saw her appear there, but later, it seemed she was taken away." The scout said, "I continued my investigation and found that person..."
"Who?" The Great Elder furrowed his brows.
"The person seems to be from the Gu Family." The scout said, "But whether it’s the National Master’s Institute or the Gu Family responsible is currently unknown."
"Are you sure she was bound?" the Great Elder asked.
"Sure."
The scout said, "At the time, more than one person saw it; the street was even blocked off."
"Dare the Gu Family to move against someone from the Spirit Academy?!"
The Great Elder was furious.
The position of National Preceptor already belonged to the Gu Family, to Gu Ning.
Why would they want to take Bai Ling as well?
After a brief thought, the Great Elder said, "I have to make a trip to the Celestial Capital."
"I’m going too."
Lin Chen said.
The Great Elder was startled, hearing Lin Chen say:
"The thing Zhong Nan gave me in the past, I think it’s meant for use here."