Eight immortals and their eight powerful auras clashed against each other. They were about evenly matched; it would be difficult to determine a winner without a long drawn out battle. Qu Shen and He Zicheng continued to glare at each other while the six Spirit Lords remained silent, waiting for their lord's command.
Qu Shen was shocked beyond shocked that He Zicheng would pull the same move he did. He almost didn’t want to fight anymore but if he backed down now, it would be a huge loss of face. He could not afford this loss!
He had gained a huge edge over He Zicheng after the first rounds of the immortal sect competition. The sight of He Zicheng’s prized new generation being pounded into the floor was an exhilarating sight. He had also heard that He Zicheng lost a large number of experts in a failed attempt to kill Chen Wentian’s disciples. His own experts on the contrary were doing well in the last round of the immortal sect competition. His men were bound to get a part of the coveted reward.
But all of that paled in comparison to the Nine Tailed Fox. What were a bunch of underlings compared to the possibility of increasing his own cultivation?
Deep down, Qu Shen feared that he might never see the Nine Tailed Fox gain. It could already be dead for all he knew. No, he had to hurt He Zicheng today, he may not get a chance like this again.
The oath between the three sworn brothers prevented each of them from injuring and killing the others’ family and subordinates within Beast God City. Jasmine was different because she was a beast and the oath did not recognize her. That’s how He Zicheng was able to scheme a method to use Jasmine to break apart the Snake Lord’s faction from the inside.
An oath that had been active for five hundred years was powerful and it would not be broken. It could only be transferred. This was how they discovered the second loophole. Zhuge Ming desired the nine tailed fox, but he was also tired of living in his father’s shadow. He wanted to completely take over the Snake faction and they were glad to help and found a way to transfer the target of the oath to a direct blood descendent. However, the oath did not actually protect the three brothers from each other and what where the two of them supposed to do with a traitorous son? After Zhuge Ming had served his purpose, He Zicheng ended his life with a swipe of his paw, it was that simple!
He Zicheng watched Qu Shen’s dark face with a gleeful sneer. He would hold back Qu Shen’s last-ditch effort and afterwards, he would savor that divine beast all by himself. Then there would be no one to challenge his power within Beast God Sanctum. He would kill Qu Shen after his cultivation increased and he would claim the entire sect for himself.
He Zicheng was fully confident… but unfortunately that feeling only lasted for a few seconds before his face became pale white.
"Father! What is it?" He Xinghan asked urgently, seeing his expression.
"Fuck! Return to the city!" He Zicheng roared and shot into the sky.
His three immortals followed but they were immediately blocked by Qu Shen.
"Haha, what's gotten you so spooked? You're not going anywhere." Qu Shen didn't know what was happening but he also noticed the ugly look on He Zicheng’s face.
He Zicheng had no more time for this nonsense, he had to return to the city. That fox had escaped! He had no idea how it could have happened. Was there a traitor in his faction? How would they even know where she was imprisoned? The underground prison was dug by Qiu Chuyi under his supervision. No one else knew.
"You idiot, get out of my way!" He Zicheng transformed once again and swiped at all four of them in front with his paws.
Qu Shen felt his attack was unfocused and desperate and his confidence rose. "Attack! Don't let them leave."
His men at his side transformed for battle. One turned into an owl-like creature with a huge round featured head, another into a werewolf, and the last one into a hairy ape man. Qu Shen led the way, his wings blotting out the sun, as they charged down. They each picked out their targets and attacked with full force.
Four pairs of roars erupted as He Zicheng and his men met the attacks in midair. The shockwave from the collision blasted all six of the Spirit Lords back a hundred meters while Qu Shen and He Zicheng remained locked in combat. Razor sharp claws once again clashed against crimson feathers that could cut through steel.
“Fuck! Kill! Kill them all!” He Zicheng roared, going completely crazy. This idiot former brother of his was about to ruin everything!
The Spirit Lords fought each other around the central maelstrom that was the two lords. The wasteland raged in chaos as four pairs of combatants chased each other and clashed together. Although it looked evenly matched at first, it soon became apparently that He Xinghan was struggling the most. He was the youngest immortal out of them all and he also was trying to protect his precious treasure, the Comet Lynx!
He was against the ape man immortal who was slippery and quick with queer attack patterns. He did his best to protect both himself and his prize using his defensive arts but this meant that he had no chance to counter attack. His opponent took full advantage and attacked him from all angles with impunity.
"Ooo! You better drop that kitty or you'll lose your head!" The ape man taunted between his attacks.
He Xinghan tried to swipe out in frustration but he was rewarded with a painful counter kick to his side. The ape man hollered and hooted with laughter as he continued to dance around. He Xinghan gritted his teeth and gripped the Comet Lynx tighter against his body. What he didn't expect was for the beast to awaken at the worst moment.
The lynx had actually woken up a while ago and had been biding its time. It had not become a wisdom beast but its intelligence had increased a great deal. It had been waiting for this moment to escape!
“Ahhh!” He Xinghan screamed as the beast ripped apart his arm with its teeth. He felt flesh tear and bones crack.
The lynx then used its spiritual aura to slam He Xinghan to the ground before flying off in a random direction at its fastest speed.
“Come back here!” He Xinghan screamed and shot off after it.
But in his moment of panic and confusion, his opponent had found an opening for a devastating attack. He had not left the ground for a few moments before a powerful kick landed squarely on his head.
Bam!
He Xinghan crashed into the ground like a heap of flesh. He tried to get up, but the attack shook his entire brain like a pinball and he was dizzy and unfocused. The ape man was about to finish the job when he jumped back in alarm, barely avoiding a phantom claw.
He Zicheng abandoned his fight with Qu Shen to rescue his son. Everyone in the world could die, but his immortal son absolutely could not. The fighting paused after that as He Zicheng stood protectively in front of a still dazed He Xinghan. An unfortunate variable had caused them to lose ground, there was no more time to lose.
The Lion Lord swallowed his pride and spoke, "Qu Shen, let's stop. I absolutely have to get back to the city. I’ll tell you the truth. The Nine Tailed Fox escaped from my prison! I can still track it down if I return now."
"Hahah, He Zicheng! Are you senile? Who's the idiot now? I'm winning this battle and you come up with something so ridiculous."
“It’s the truth!”
Qu Shen pointed a finger at him, "Even if it is true, what does it have to do with me? You hid the beast after we agreed to share. So now neither of us gets to enjoy the beast, we're just back where we started. Since that is the case, I think I'd rather kill your son here today!"
"Qu Shen!" He Zicheng spat in fury.
Qu Shen was about to mock him some more when he received a spiritual signal from a message talisman. His castle was under attack? He was stunned. Who would dare? At the same time, He Zicheng also received a similar message from the men in his castle. The entire city was under attack from Immortal Embracing Python Mei Qiaofeng and another strange immortal!
Qu Shen saw the change in expression in He Zicheng. "Did we get the same message?" He asked.
"Mei Qiaofeng?" He Zicheng asked back.
“Shit!”
“That bitch, she’s still alive!”
“What do we do?”
Qu Shen stared at his enemy for a hard moment. He was extremely unwilling and resentful. He had He Zicheng cornered but his city was also important. He couldn't let it fall, it had to be done...
"Let’s call a truce. We need to head back before that bitch destroys everything."
"Fine, truce!"
The two groups separated but still kept each other in sight as they rushed back to the teleportation array. He Xinghan also had to follow and abandon the Comet Lynx.
All of them, the other six immortals included, were continuously receiving emergency messages from their subordinates and disciples. The losses were massive, that crazy woman was truly going crazy!
This was the first time in a hundred years that something so devastating had occurred in Beast God City and it was caused by the lords themselves. Living for over five hundred years didn't mean a person was wise. It only meant that they had lived a life of power and luxury since no one could challenge their rule. They were riding high after destroying their older brother and they had lowered their guard. They all deservied the Snake Lord’s retribution and they could do nothing but hope that their rivals and enemies would lose more people than them.
Dang they kinda screwed themselves over... If they didn;t make a move rn these two would've just fought it out and both lost.
Also shouldn't MC have been aware of the eagle faction's plans since he had his mercenaries plant over 50 shadows on their elders? Seems like he forgot about that.
wait so the oath was transferred to the son and then they killed him? sounds like a worthless oath that didn't need to be transferred. I'm so confused.
The oath doesn't protect them from each other. But the 3 were at the same strength. It's like, if the brothers have any conflicts or issues, they settle it themselves and not take it out on their family and subordinates.
The son thought the two lords were on his side in reality they just wanted to both the Snake lord and the son and everyone else dead to take over their assets.
And once the son dies, that part of the oath is gone for good and the faction is donezo.
ah, ok. So the oath only protects family members and subordinates, but not the person who has the oath transferred onto them. I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but does the Dad not count as a family member? Like, when the oath was transferred to the son, wouldn't his Dad/family be protected even if he himself was not protected? Or did they kill the son first and then the Dad?
I'm enjoying the story by the way, so I hope this doesn't come across as overly critical, lol.
@scribblehubanon its fine. i don't profess to be infallible in terms of logical errors n stuff. tho i try to make sure things make sense sort of.
But yeah. if u go back a few chaps to jasmine's story. basically, they talked the son into poisoning his father. Then they killed the son and then killed the father? I dunno i guess in that order?
I guess also what I had in mind that oath, it would protect those 'under' the person, whereas the father is above. i dunno, either way. :)
@Kirbyisgreen works for me! thanks for the chapter.
@Kirbyisgreen Although that raises another question, It seems like he transferred the oath to his son (the He family), why would he have done that? if it is an under that person type thing would that enable the father to now attack the other factions as he would no longer be a part of the oath?
Or did I just misunderstand and they didn't also transfer the oath.
@goofydude Transferring the oath is also like a ceremony where the two lords would recognize the son as the new third lord. the son thought the two were on his side but they just wanted him dead.
The father was poisoned by the son and he was weakened.
@Kirbyisgreen the way i see it, the oath does not work retroactively. the father was poisoned before the oath transfer thus him dying from the poison doesnt trigger the oath.
@Sabruness cause the son poisend his own father so it's internal strife with didn't trigger the oath
@Kirbyisgreen If we think that the oath is human and can think, I would think that its power protects those who are under the power of the one who started it. That is, protecting all related people of the Spirit King who are weaker than him (does not prevent his related from attacking him). If the oath is transferred to someone under the spirit king, it means that he no longer needs protection so when he is killed, the oath is broken on his side unilaterally for lack of contractor.