by <unknown>
Yun Chenghua's face was gloomy and unsteady, but his half-drawn saber stopped in midair. He asked solemnly, "Even if you can conquer the Godly Might Prison, so what? What are you going to do in the next step?"
"As soon as the Godly Might Prison is conquered, there will be a whole set of consecutive plans waiting to be activated until we can make our own choice or even take our own place in the Council of Elders. The fewer prices we pay in the conquest of the Godly Might Prison, the greater the odds of success will be in the next phase. Therefore, your role is of paramount importance!"
Lei Chenghu suddenly turned his eyes to Yun Chenghua's side and changed the topic, "However, our strength is much higher than your imagination. Our fellow Cultivators can be found in all the critical posts in the entire Imperium, including those within the Godly Might Prison. Why else do you think my rescue forces have come so fast?
"Opportunities only knock once. I don't have time to talk sense into you. If you remain obstinate, tremendous other people will replace you and cooperate with us pleasantly!"
Yun Chenghua was greatly awed. He was completely caught in Lei Chenghu's pace and even adjusted his breath and heartbeat according to Lei Chenghu.
His eyes also looked at his right side, where Lei Chenghu was looking at.
It was Luo Wenyao, the deputy warden, who was standing behind him on his right side.
Under the stare of Lei Chenghu's scorching eyes, Luo Wenyao's breath was disrupted, and his face was unnatural, as if he were under tremendous pressure.
Yun Chenghua immediately sensed the subtle changes of his deputy.
Thinking of the guy's stealthy behaviors earlier, he was greatly alarmed.
Right then, Lei Chenghu suddenly bulged his eyes and bellowed, "Do it!"
The pitiful Luo Wenyao, although having been bought over by Li Linghai a long time ago with a promise of great rewards to help with the rescue of Lei Chenghu, never thought to attack the warden in person.
He was extremely nervous because of his secrets in the first place, and the mini storm bolter close to his thigh cramped beyond his control.
Under Lei Chenghu's unexpected bellow, he drew his gun out of natural instincts. But he was at a loss about what Lei Chenghu meant after he took out the gun.
Yun Chenghua, on the other hand, had noticed what was happening behind him under the guidance of Lei Chenghu's eyes.
His nerves were even keener than those of a shocked bird, and his saber had been half drawn in the first place. Now that he sensed his deputy had taken out the gun, the alarms in his head turned into shrieks. The saber was unsheathed as quickly as a flash of lightning and swirled backward, and the massive spiritual energy of the Nascent Soul Stage spurted out crazily, concentrating into invincible blade auras that brushed past Luo Wenyao's wrist that had just drawn the storm bolter and then went upward to his neck.
Deputy Warden Luo Wenyao immediately turned rigid. Two narrow and long bloody marks appeared on his wrist and his neck, and his eyes bulged out like those of a dead fish.
Huchi! Huchi! Huchi! Huchi!
Yun Chenghua, the warden, breathed heavily. The seemingly plain attack cost too much of his strength.
Lei Chenghu, however, was absolutely still. He did nothing except for roaring "do it".
Li Yao was still standing behind Lei Chenghu, with the four black crystals hovering around him slowly, ready to fill in at any moment. His mission was to protect Lei Chenghu. Luo Wenyao's safety was naturally not his concern. Besides, he did not expect Lei Chenghu to play such a moment, and how could he have enough time to stop a Nascent Soul Stage expert's intuitional attack?
Most importantly of all—
Neither Yun Chenghua, Luo Wenyao, or Li Yao knew what Lei Chenghu meant at all!
Chapter 2224: No Blood Shed! |
Clang!
Luo Wenyao's mini storm bolter dropped to the ground together with the right hand that was holding it.
He seemed to be gradually swallowed by an invisible swamp, and his face couldn't have been more rigid and weird. He tried to lower his head to check his broken hand, but he could not move his jaw at all.
Three seconds later, the powerful blood pressure heaved the head and tossed it to the side of the broken right hand. There was still a look of confusion on his face.
The headless torso shivered for a moment and fell backward, not knowing what happened at all up to the moment of death.
Looking at the dead body of his deputy that had been cut into three pieces by one attack, Yun Chenghua yelled and stopped his personal guards from attacking. With a gloomy face, he stared at Lei Chenghu thoughtfully again and said in a shivering voice, "Luo Wenyao was your guy… But why did you remind me?"
"Wrong. Luo Wenyao was not my guy; he was the queen's guy."
Lei Chenghu replied, as if it were nothing worth mentioning at all, "I checked his files before. That was a hesitant, cowardly man who was not worthy to join our great cause. He was not a man whom I could trust my back with.
"As I expected, he drew the storm bolter just now, but he hesitated for half a second at the most critical moment. If he had been more resolute, I would've taken a gamble and lunged forward to control you when you were distracted by him. That way, he might've been able to survive. But as it turned out, he was too useless to be helped!"
Yun Chenghua's voice was hoarser than ever. "So, you simply watched me kill him while doing nothing?"
"Exactly. I am trying to save the Imperium right now. Naturally, only the strongest Immortal Cultivators are qualified to cooperate with me. Such a piece of garbage was not worthy of my help."
Lei Chenghu admitted frankly, "Besides, this is my gesture of sincerity for you. Luo Wenyao was the queen's guy and the key to the rescue plan this time. If he were alive, he would be one of the greatest contributors to the battle, and whatever choices you make, Fellow Cultivator Yun, your contributions would be lower than his. It would be possible that he would suppress you for all eternity in the future.
"After all, he joined the queen's cause much earlier than you did, Fellow Cultivator Yun.
"But right now, you have killed him, and you are now the key to the current situation. The future of the Godly Might Prison and even the Imperium hinges on your decision. If you are willing to stand by our side, allowing us to take over the Godly Might Prison and the Godly Might Fleet with no bloodshed, you will be the well-deserved best contributor of the battle.
"We are now competing with the leadership of the four Kurfürst families, and naturally, we need to unite all the forces that can be united. If Fellow Cultivator Yun chooses to join us as the 'warden of the Godly Might Prison', do I need to picture your promising future for you?
"I know a thing or two about your past, Fellow Cultivator Yun. I'm aware that you are a tough warrior, but you were bad at adulation and pissed off the competitors within your family, which was why you were sent to such a place. Compared to the wavering, spineless guys such as Luo Wenyao, I found talents like Fellow Cultivator Yun more admirable. I'm sincerely inviting you to join us. I'm willing to fight by your side and even entrust my back to your protection!"
While talking, Lei Chenghu took a giant step forward again.
The distance between Yun Chenghua and him was already close to each other in the first place. After he took the step forward, the two of them were almost next to each other.
Yun Chenghua's pupils constricted violently, and his facial muscles twitched. He couldn't take Lei Chenghu's overwhelming pressure anymore.
Lei Chenghu, however, made a move that surprised everyone.
He reversed his own saber and stuffed the handle in Yun Chenghua's hands.
"I trust my eyes that have never misled me. A man like you does not deserve to die an unknown death at the land of desolation as a warden. You should rage the sea of stars with me and make unparalleled achievements, making the name 'Yun Chenghua' one that is to be remembered a thousand years later!
"I'm done now. Make your choice!
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"You can kill me and die together with the wretched Godly Might Prison.
"Or you can obey me. I do not have any titles or fortunes right now, but I swear that as long as you make the step, you and your men will have the opportunity to raise the flag of the Imperium on the last planet of the Alliance of the Holy Covenant in the future someday!"
Lei Chenghu's saliva was almost smashing into Yun Chenghua's face like nails.
Yun Chenghua felt that the whole world was shaking, and he was completely at Lei Chenghu's mercy.
Lei Chenghu, however, simply helped him close and clench his hand, one finger after another. He then held the man's hand and helped the warden to place the bloodstained saber on his own neck.
The sharp saber almost cut Lei Chenghu's skin, leaving a zigzagging trace of blood.
Yun Chenghua, his hundreds of guards, and everybody else in the control center, including Li Yao, all held their breath as they looked at Lei Chenghu's crazy action that bordered on suicide in astonishment.
"I… I…"
Yun Chenghua almost couldn't believe his eyes and ears. Nor could he believe that the legendary "God of War" had truly put his life in his hands. The saber stopped beside Lei Chenghu's carotid artery, not moving at all, but the veins on the warden's arm that were as thick as dragons bounced crazily.
"If you are still hesitating, you will be such a disappointment."
Lei Chenghu frowned hard. "I don't know what you possibly have to hesitate about. Besides me, the Godly Might Prison has also locked countless political criminals who were all powerful big shots in the past and know countless secrets about the Imperium. They can make a comeback at any moment.
"The four Kurfürst families have kicked you to such a bitter cold world to waste your life. But they do not know that they have given you the most valuable treasure!
"It was not your fault that the political criminals were caught and kept here. However you have been treating them, it is your job and you do not have a choice.
"But if you can control the entire Godly Might Prison and set them free in person so that they can join our side, who will not be in your debt? If they do make a comeback one day, will they forget who rescued them from their miseries in person?
"Don't presume that Luo Wenyao was the only spy in the Godly Might Prison. If you are unwilling to seize such a precious opportunity, Fellow Cultivator Yun, a lot of other people will!"
Lei Chenghu's words bombarded him like a heavy cannon.
Yun Chenghua finally collapsed.
"But—"
With a face full of cracks and more twisted than ever, he wailed, "My wife and children and those of my guards are mostly in the heartland of the Imperium!"
"Then, it is all the more reason why you should make the right choice now."
Glancing around gloomily, Lei Chenghu said, "If you die an uncanny death here, would your widow and orphans end up well in the cruel, dog-eat-dog environment in the four Kurfürst families?
"Don't think that you will be the hero of the families after you die, or that your wife and children will be protected. Somebody must be responsible for the great upheaval this time. Dead men do not talk, which makes them the best candidates for scapegoats. After all the dirty water is poured on your dead body, even fewer people will care about your wife and children.
"Only if you are alive and you are gathered into a massive force can your wife and your children be protected in your big family. Do you not understand such simple logic?"
Yun Chenghua hesitated, "But—"
"Enough!"
Lei Chenghu bulged his eyes and interrupted the warden. He leaned even closer to the edge of the guy's blade and roared, "If you want to kill me, just do it! Why are you wasting my time!"
Yun Chenghua's hand shook because of shock, and the edge slightly cut Lei Chenghu's neck. Blood immediately spilled out.
All the jailors and guards nearby exclaimed.
Yun Chenghua retreated his hands like he was electrocuted. His face was even paler than that of a dead person.
Lei Chenghu ripped off part of his clothes casually and covered his neck where blood was erupting. The cloth was immediately dyed red, but he seemed to have sensed none of it but simply pursed his lips, staring at Yun Chenghua without blinking.
Yun Chenghua swallowed hard; his face even paler than before. But the flames of resolution surfaced in his eyes.
Looking around, he seemed to have gained new strength from the leadership of the Godly Might Prison and his personal guards. Holding the saber with both hands, he returned it to Lei Chenghu respectfully and said, "Marquis Liaohai, please… give your orders. Everybody in the Godly Might Prison will obey you!"
Li Yao had been observing from the back the whole time. Finally, he opened his mouth slowly in shock, to the point that one could stuff a coconut into it.
Lei Chenghu took his saber and wiped the stains of blood that were as intense as ink. He turned around and glanced at Li Yao, speaking through the technique of private talk. "Forgive me for getting one of your spies killed. Has Her Grace told you what you should do under such circumstances?"
"That… That's alright. It doesn't matter."
Li Yao said in a hurry, "I did not expect that General Lei would be so majestic. I am truly overwhelmed by your dominance. My admiration for you that has always been part of me since my childhood is now rolling up from my heart again. I almost can't stop myself from pledging loyalty to General Lei and work under your command!"
Lei Chenghu slightly frowned. "Aren't you the queen's personal guard? Shouldn't your loyalty be with Her Grace?"
Li Yao said, somewhat in embarrassment, "You may find it hard to believe, General Lei, but I'm in fact not very familiar with the queen. We only join each other for the lofty ideal to save the Imperium. But after witnessing what you have done today, General Lei, I find that you seem to be even greater than the queen. So, I can't help feeling admirable for you and crave to fight by your side so that we can 'rage the sea of stars' together. Isn't it perfectly understandable?"
Lei Chenghu had the whole situation under control with only a few words and no bloodshed, but he was caught in a rarely-seen confusion right now. "What kind of Divinity Transformation Stage expert are you?"
"The kind that rejects lowly entertainments and personal desires and is completely devoted to the overall interests of the Imperium and the civilization of mankind, just like General Lei."
Li Yao coughed and said, "Therefore, General Lei, you can absolutely trust me. I did volunteer to save you, and I am totally on your side!"
Chapter 2225: Make the Best Use of Things |
Looking at Li Yao's sincere face and earnest eyes, Lei Chenghu failed to come up with any reply until a long time later. "Is this some kind of lousy trick to win my trust through fake loyalty so that you can monitor me from close up?"
"Absolutely not."
Li Yao shook his head quickly. "Trust me, General Lei. I mean it!"
"I trust nobody right now. None of the guys from the capital, either from the Council of Elders or the royal palace, are easy to deal with!"
Lei Chenghu looked at Li Yao thoughtfully but had no time to talk more to the strange guy. He turned around to Yun Chenghua again and said, "Warden Yun, what is the situation right now? How good is your control over the Godly Might Prison? Where is the Godly Might Fleet deployed? Is it under your absolute control?"
Just now, he addressed Yun Chenghua as "Fellow Cultivator Yun" because they were negotiating for cooperation.
At this moment, he began to call Yun Chenghua as "Warden Yun", implying that he had accepted the man's pledge of loyalty.
Yun Chenghua took a deep breath. Now that he had taken the step, there was no turning back. Lei Chenghu was quite right. In order to keep their wives and children safe, and for them to distinguish themselves in the vast stage in the sea of stars, they had to build up their strength as much as possible!
Therefore, he refreshed himself and was completely
devoted to his new role. His hands moving as quickly as wind, he retrieved a hundred surveillance light beams and said while he operated anxiously, "The Godly Might Prison has just experienced a very serious artificial earthquake. Tremendous underground magma has been squeezed into the bottom level of the Godly Might Prison by the high pressure. The five floors at the bottommost level have all collapsed. Even the four energy supply bases were seriously wrecked. The emergent backup energy reserve is only enough to power the most fundamental defense system and the anti-air firing points on the ground.
"Besides, our mainframe crystal processor was hijacked by the weird viruses from the Covenant Alliance. When the magma swallowed the energy supply base and the mainframe was under the most pressure, it was hijacked by the enemy, who opened part of the prison cells in the first district and all of them in the third district through remote control, setting abundant prisoners and captives free.
"As a result, the first and the third districts have been completely occupied by the rampaging prisoners and captives. Most of the jailors inside have been killed by them. The situation is rather terrible.
"However, the defense system of the Godly Might Prison has been time-tested for hundreds of years after all. Even if the prisoners and the captives can completely take over the districts, it is absolutely impossible for them to get away.
"Right now, I have taken back the control of the mainframe crystal processor and cut off all the channels from the first and the third districts to the outside world. Not an ant would be able to crawl through. The crystal suit legions stationed at the upper levels of the Godly Might Prison have also set up bastions at the critical locations. They haven't marched into the fallen districts yet only because the environment down below is too complicated.
"As for the Godly Might Fleet, it has learned of the riot in the Godly Might Prison too and is breaking into the atmosphere and switching to the 'firepower blockage' mode. They will descend to a low altitude of two to three hundred meters and lock onto every channel from the Godly Might Prison to the ground. Any prisoner or captive who is bold enough to crawl out will be the most obvious target in the snowy world!