Long Live Summons Chapter 949
Previously on Long Live Summons...
Sky Execution and the Dragon Emperor exchanged glances, remaining utterly silent.
However, Chief Steward Ye, jolted out of his shock, stood with a trembling body. “My Lord, if you have any final words, please entrust them to Sir Sky Execution. My humble status makes it difficult for me to shoulder such a significant responsibility.”
Despite his discomposure, Chief Steward Ye was no fool.
In these critical moments, his foremost choice was the powerful Sky Execution.
With Young Master Titan absent, the three Country Lords—Qinglang, Wanjiao, and Louluo—were eyeing each other. If they were permitted to interfere, not only Green Willow City but perhaps the entire Zhi Feng Country might be divided among them. Thus, it was wiser to entrust the Lord’s will to Sky Execution and await Young Master Titan’s return. He could then arrange matters, hopefully fulfilling any last wishes of Country Lord Zhi Feng.
“It seems you are still the loyal one…” Country Lord Zhi Feng managed a bitter smile and abruptly rose.
A blazing light erupted from his body, and he, who had been frail and near death, swiftly regained his former state. The still-embedded poisonous assassination dagger in his back and the blood dripping from him were the only evidence that this dramatic recovery wasn’t a hallucination.
Chief Steward Ye, the other City Lords, and the Heaven-Ranked warriors couldn’t help but erupt in cheers.
After all, no one wanted Country Lord Zhi Feng to perish.
His demise would necessitate a new ruler.
Following a change of leadership, their current prosperity and wealth were not guaranteed. Entrusting matters to Young Master Titan or Sky Execution seemed plausible, as they didn't appear inclined to seize power for personal gain in Green Willow City. It was probable that everyone would retain their shares and rights. However, falling under the dominion of the three Country Lords would extinguish their hopes. Influential City Lords would likely be purged, forcing the populace to start anew. No one desired such regression, so seeing Country Lord Zhi Feng on his feet, restored to his prime, brought widespread joy.
Qinglang, Wanjiao, and Louluo showed mild disappointment, yet their gazes were sharp.
They perceived something imperceptible to ordinary Heaven Rankers, and their lips curved into faint smiles.
While Country Lord Zhi Feng appeared recovered, had he truly healed to his previous condition? That was impossible, given the poisoned dagger lodged in his heart. Country Lord Zhi Feng, lacking an elemental body, had no immunity to such poison. The assassination attempt was, in fact, perilously close to success.
The current Country Lord Zhi Feng was merely projecting strength outwardly.
Yet, with Sky Execution and others present, Qinglang and the other two Country Lords remained still, feigning ignorance of his deception.
“Sir Sky Execution, Zhi Feng is deeply sorry for many things, but I do not wish to amend this merely with words. Today’s incident is entirely Zhi Feng’s fault and has implicated Young Master Titan and all honored guests. All else can be set aside if Young Master Titan is unharmed. May I know how we might locate him to ensure his safety?” Country Lord Zhi Feng fell silent once more. Young Master Titan had also been targeted, but his survival was paramount; otherwise, Green Willow City would face ruin.
“Hui Tai Lang is guarding him, so there should be no issue.” The Dragon Emperor lingered briefly in the hall while Sky Execution departed swiftly.
Ten minutes later.
Sky Execution returned with Hui Tai Lang, whose unassuming appearance belied his status as a Divine Beast, shocking everyone present.
It summoned its Grimoire, which shimmered with golden light, reflecting its brilliance in every beholder’s eyes.
Witnessing the Divine Dog Beast summon a Platinum-Level Grimoire, the assembled crowd, including Country Lord Zhi Feng, felt an overwhelming sense of shame and inadequacy. Among the numerous Heaven Rankers present, only Zhi Feng and the three other Country Lords could summon their Grimoires. Country Lord Zhi Feng possessed a Silver-Level Grimoire, the highest grade among the four, yet it paled in comparison to Gold, let alone Platinum.
The innate talents within the Heavenly Splendour Territory had severely declined, with only a select few capable of contracting a Grimoire.
Furthermore, certain Country Lords resorted to eliminating their own younger generations capable of summoning Grimoires, solely to preserve the scarcity of the title. This act aimed to prevent any challenge to their authority, even if such intentions never existed. Consequently, Grimoire summoners grew increasingly rare, becoming a privilege exclusive to the Country Lords themselves.
"Oh, great Divine Beast, my negligence knows no bounds. Please, grant me your forgiveness," Chief Steward Ye, leading the senior servants of Leader Jin, bowed deeply to Hui Tai Lang, offering their respects.
"Aooooo!" Hui Tai Lang proudly flashed an 'okay' sign, a gesture he had learned from Yue Yang, before releasing his master from the Grimoire World.
Anxiously, everyone watched, praying that Young Master Titan, who had narrowly escaped assassination, would not be provoked by the recent events.
They surmised that a sheltered young master like him had likely never experienced such intense danger. Without the protection of a Divine Beast, everyone believed he would have at least suffered severe, lasting injuries, even if he had survived.
The moment student Yue Yang emerged, he erupted into laughter. "Remarkable! That was quite thrilling. I hadn't anticipated assassins appearing at a birthday banquet, but it was genuinely entertaining. On that note, were those assailants apprehended? I intend to interrogate them personally. Prepare a whip and a soldering iron; I'll show them what true torture feels like!"
Eavesdropping to the pronouncements of this Young Master Titan, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd, followed by laughter.
As long as he remained unharmed, all other concerns paled in comparison!
However, the presence of assassins at a birthday celebration was undeniably unsettling. Such an incident should never have transpired, and they fervently hoped it would be an isolated event. Any recurrence would undoubtedly complicate matters significantly moving forward!
Country Lord Zhi Feng also felt immense relief. While an attack against him personally was of little consequence, any harm befalling the Young Master would have been catastrophic. He stepped forward, offering a slight bow and an apology. "The enemies executed a well-conceived plan, one that I, brother Zhi Feng, was unable to thwart. Fortunately, brother Titan emerged unscathed; otherwise, the situation would have been dire. Regrettably, the assassins vanished without a trace, even absconding with my cherished concubine..."
He proceeded to elaborate on the sequence of events.
Naturally, his private suspicions—that the Central Palace orchestrated the assassination attempt on Young Master Titan, intending to frame the Vengeance Domain Emperor—were omitted for the moment.
These accusations would be raised later, but certainly not in the presence of Qinglang and his companions.
He resolved to await an opportune moment to discreetly inform Young Master Titan.
"I have not yet surrendered."
With Young Master Titan standing firmly by his side, bolstered by the support of formidable figures such as Sky Execution, the Dragon Emperor, and the Underworld Emperor, he still possessed the strength to contend!
"It is of no consequence that the Divine Blood was taken; I can provide another drop, so do not distress yourself over it. As for the fair Zhu Guang, Titan deeply regrets her entanglement in this unfortunate affair. Should I uncover any leads to her whereabouts, particularly if she is located on Zhi Feng's Central Island, I shall exert every effort to rescue her and ensure her safe return. These brutes of assassins are far too presumptuous; how dare they disrupt this Young Master's enjoyment! I have resolved to personally address this matter to its conclusion, lest they perceive Young Master Titan as an easy mark for bullying! Zhong Guan, summon my guards and assemble them forthwith; this Young Master shall reduce those incompetent fools to dust!" Student Yue Yang gesticulated wildly, signaling that the conflict was far from over, merely relocated to the Central Island of Zhi Feng!
Even the stoic Country Lord Zhi Feng was profoundly moved by this declaration. Young Master Titan was his savior; with such a friend, his gratitude knew no bounds!
Qinglang and the others were consumed by envy.
"What in the world? What sort of unearned fortune does that scoundrel Zhi Feng possess? He isn't even reprimanded for the loss of the Divine Blood, and instead, he is offered another drop? Seriously?"
"Had that defective not been injured and incapable of absorbing the Divine Blood, Young Master Titan might have dispatched a fresh supply of Divine Blood directly to this hall as a token of comfort. Damn it all, Zhi Feng's luck, that simpleton, is impossibly good. Why didn't Yu Chao simply run him through when he had the chance?"
Qinglang, Wanjiao, and Louluo exchanged a silent nod, their gazes meeting. They had clearly perceived the vulnerability of Zhi Feng; it was undeniably his 'heart'.Yu Chao, who knew Country Lord Zhi Feng better than anyone, would surely target his weakest points. For a typical Heaven Ranker, a damaged heart wouldn't be a critical flaw, and for a high-tier Country Lord, having their heart destroyed would be inconsequential. Qinglang himself, for instance, could fight unimpeded even with a shattered heart. Yet, Zhi Feng, also a Country Lord, collapsed the moment a dagger pierced his heart. Without Sky Execution's intervention, another strike would have sealed Zhi Feng's demise. This implied that to truly obliterate the wretch Zhi Feng, aiming for his heart once more was essential. The resolute man was merely attempting to prevent his injury from worsening, maintaining a stern facade.Country Lord Zhi Feng shot a frigid glare at Qinglang and the others, then whispered in a secret tongue directly into Yue Yang’s ear, a communication only Yue Yang could decipher. Yue Yang nodded repeatedly, his expression growing increasingly somber, while Qinglang and his companions felt an icy dread creep down their spines.Could Country Lord Zhi Feng be shifting the blame onto them? Or had he uncovered something suspicious linked to their clandestine activities?The truth remained shrouded in mystery.However, the young Young Master Titan, who was encircled by the crowd, reacted swiftly. Clenching his fists, he grinned, a murderous glint in his eyes that sent shivers through the onlookers. "Hmph, how intriguing. In that case, we must prepare ourselves seriously for the ensuing battle. It's been far too long since we've felt this invigorated! Many seek to challenge this Titan, but how many among them will ultimately triumph?"The assembled individuals were astonished to realize that when the Young Master resolved to become serious, a palpable aura of pressure descended upon them. His inherent strength was not exceedingly high, likely akin to a Quasi-Heaven Rank, and he relied on potent artifacts to elevate his power to the Heaven Rank level. Yet, even formidable rankers like Country Lord Qinglang and his peers felt the coercive force emanating from Yue Yang, let alone the ordinary Heaven Rankers.Whoever coined the phrase, 'In the Upper Realm, no one is weak'—they were undeniably correct!They then awaited Chief Steward Ye and his team to finalize preparations for the luxurious airship, setting a course for Zhi Feng's Central Island.Ming Ri Hao, who had been discreetly indulging in his meals, seized the moment of distraction to fist bump Yue Yang. "Damn, your plan actually worked. What truly impresses me is how cooperative those assassins were. What methods did you employ to achieve this outcome?""I utilized my intellect," Student Yue Yang replied evasively, subtly conveying his disdain for the lazy individual's lack of contribution. "Should the opposing forces make their appearance, do you possess sufficient manpower?" Ming Ri Hao, accustomed to Yue Yang's critical assessments, was no longer provoked. "When you say 'you,' remember, it's 'we.' If you continue to be indolent, this Young Master will depart without a word and bequeath the entirety of the Divine Grimoire to you. If you have the mettle, you can leisurely dispatch the younglings in the Central Palace who favor ambushing from the rear. It's simple—deal with them, and the Divine Grimoire is yours," Yue Yang warned Ming Ri Hao against feigning inaction, lest their alliance crumble instantly.This was precisely Ming Ri Hao's greatest fear, prompting him to quickly wave his hands. "Hey, hey, let me speak, Third Young Master. Can we converse cordially? Please refrain from anger. I wasn't being lazy before; I was merely executing your strategy. Furthermore, if Zhu Guang had not departed, she would have instantly detected my disguise upon arrival—wouldn't that have been detrimental? Whatever transpires next, I shall adhere strictly to your commands. If you direct me westward, I shall not stray eastward; if you wish for silence, I guarantee not a sound will emanate from me!""Is there truly a Divine Grimoire here?" The Dragon Emperor remained somewhat skeptical. "Honestly, I hope the Heavenly Splendour Territory is devoid of it." Yue Yang felt it would be preferable if no Divine Grimoires were present. Such an absence would spare him the necessity of confronting a maniac like Ji Wu Ri. "I hold no interest in the Divine Grimoire, but I must personally test the Palace Master." These were the pronouncements of the battle-crazed Sky Execution. He recognized the impossibility of contracting the Divine Grimoire himself, thus preferring the eccentric Yue Yang to decipher it. Nevertheless, he was determined to assess the Palace Master's capabilities.
“There will be an opportunity for you to do so, but if you aren't afraid of hearing the unvarnished truth from me, I'm going to say something you might not appreciate— even if all of you united, you would likely still be insufficient to contend against even one of them,” Ming Ri Hao was fully aware of the combat prowess possessed by the Palace Masters.
“Attempting to intimidate them is futile, as they've already eliminated two Deputy Palace Masters and are exceedingly pleased with themselves. Unless you allow them to land a decisive blow, they simply won't grasp the reality of the situation,” Yue Yang chuckled with evident amusement.
“You lot actually murdered two Deputy Palace Masters?” Ming Ri Hao's astonishment was so profound his eyes seemed poised to detach from their sockets.
Since when did the status of Deputy Palace Masters become as commonplace as ordinary cabbage?
It was no wonder that Sky Execution had declared his intention to challenge the Palace Master!
Feng Ji and Jin Yun, the two recent recruits, felt tears threatening to spill. They now understood their true standing in the hierarchy of power. To even contemplate a confrontation with the Central Palace? Their prospects appeared exceedingly grim!
Just as Yue Yang, Sky Execution, Ming Ri Hao, and the others were engaged in strategizing their subsequent moves, a sound suddenly echoed from a distant location. Resembling a pristine spring cleansing the soul, it instantaneously imbued those present with a profound sense of tranquility. The hearts of the individuals there were once again purified, assuaging the turbulent emotions that had been stirring within everyone.
The Bull Brothers, who had been occupied with eating and drinking, immediately sprang to their feet, exclaiming, “Liberty Queen!”