Long Live Summons Chapter 955

Chapter 955: Don’t Play Too Long, What If He Makes You Cry?

“Wanjiao has been alongside us throughout, and the three of us have done absolutely nothing. Zhi Feng, you must present evidence to support your claims,” Country Lord Qinglang considered the two assassination attempts highly suspicious but could not definitively attribute them to Country Lord Wanjiao.

“Let’s remain calm. Perhaps this is a counter-strategy by our enemies to cast suspicion elsewhere,” Country Lord Louluo offered a defense for Country Lord Wanjiao as well.

“Present the evidence, or I will never be convinced,” Country Lord Wanjiao’s expression contorted slightly as he forcefully suppressed his anger and defended himself.

“Were it not for Sky Execution and the Dragon Emperor alerting me to pay attention to a specific anomaly, I would not have noticed it either. Let us set aside the current attack for a moment. Recall when we were still within Country Lord Zhi Feng’s palace. Everyone was rendered immobile by the Star Galaxy necklace. During that attack, the initial target was Young Master Titan, but it wasn’t until Hui Tai Lang appeared and brought the Young Master to safety that they shifted their focus to obtaining the Divine Blood... If the primary objective from the start was the Divine Blood, then there was absolutely no reason to impersonate the Vengeance Domain Emperor. Stealing the Divine Blood and taking Zhu Guang was intended to divert attention from my jurisdiction and suspicions, thereby framing the Vengeance Domain Emperor as the culprit. At that time, the very first person to declare that this was the act of the Vengeance Domain Emperor was none other than you, Wanjiao!” Country Lord Zhi Feng fixed a cold glare upon Country Lord Wanjiao.

“No, I was the first to state it was the Vengeance Domain Emperor’s doing!” Country Lord Qinglang immediately corrected upon recalling.

“It wasn’t you; before you spoke, Wanjiao had already softly voiced his suspicions. Influenced by his suggestion, you adopted the same belief. The only distinction was that you proclaimed it quite loudly. Therefore, the individual who truly directed suspicion towards the Vengeance Domain Emperor was Wanjiao, as you were merely swayed by his words!” As Country Lord Zhi Feng elucidated his reasoning, the Heaven Rankers and the others present began to recall that events might have indeed transpired that way. Country Lord Wanjiao had, in fact, uttered the name before Country Lord Qinglang.

Given the claim made amidst such panic and confusion, it was quite plausible that many would have believed it.

It was only when Country Lord Zhi Feng refuted that notion that doubts began to surface.

All eyes turned to Country Lord Wanjiao, awaiting his explanation. If he possessed a reasonable one, then Country Lord Zhi Feng would be in the wrong.

Upon hearing this, Country Lord Wanjiao’s face grew somber. “With a mere unconscious utterance, you accuse me of treason? Are you not mad?”

Country Lord Zhi Feng, seething with anger, let out a cold sneer. “I am not mad, though I certainly surmise you wish I were. However, regardless of anything else, I, Zhi Feng, have endured my share of trials and tribulations which attest to my survival. Although you all gave me the shock of my life by abducting my beloved Zhu Guang and influencing my trusted subordinate, Yu Chao, to betray me, intending to end my fate today, your scheme was far too superficial!”

Country Lord Louluo and Wanjiao had always been the closest of friends. At this moment, he stepped forward to defend his friend against what he perceived as an unjust accusation. “Zhi Feng, all these points you are making do not equate to Wanjiao being the traitor. Unless you possess substantial evidence, I will not acknowledge your reasoning.”

Sky Execution waved his hand. “Naturally, there is evidence. And the proof stems from the Space-Imprisonment treasure utilized by the counterfeit Vengeance Domain Emperor at that time!”

The Dragon Emperor then chuckled. “If it were the treasure’s power, Sky Execution would not have remained imprisoned the entire time, for he possesses a special ability that can instantly negate the treasure’s restriction. Of course, I also possess such a capability, though my power operates at a slower rate than his. Yet, at that moment, none of us could move, and we could do nothing but watch as the fake Vengeance Domain Emperor absconded with the Divine Blood. While such powerful treasures undoubtedly exist in this world, I am absolutely certain that the Star Galaxy Necklace was not among them. It was merely a treasure with auxiliary functions, not one designed primarily for offensive purposes.”

The Underworld Emperor, having remained largely silent throughout the proceedings, maintained his low profile.

Nevertheless, he rose and cleared his throat a few times. “Since everyone feels compelled to speak, allow me to add my thoughts! Based on the characteristics and my control over my abilities, I've long suspected that the temporary immobilization was caused by Country Lord Wanjiao's Domain Power, released well before the assassination attempt. Furthermore, I am 80% certain that the power responsible for the curse's self-destruction was also orchestrated by Country Lord Wanjiao. This is because, at that moment, besides Hui Tai Lang who had escorted Young Master Titan to safety, only one other individual remained uncursed: you, Country Lord Wanjiao.”

“What?” The Heaven Rankers were collectively stunned.

Wanjiao was not cursed?

Even Qinglang and Louluo gazed at Wanjiao with astonishment and disbelief.

As those closest to Wanjiao, they were aware of his 'Restriction' Domain Power. Bolstered by dark elements and other treasures, he might have found a way to deflect the enemy's curse upon himself. This would also account for the faint silver-black aura surrounding the assassin and the peculiar self-destructing curse.

The Underworld Emperor gestured towards the ground. “Regarding the second incident: similarly, a silver assassin appeared, this time capitalizing on its speed to strike Country Lord Zhi Feng before eliminating the Liberty Queen's substitute. While the opponent's power appeared formidable on the surface, I must point out that if the assassin possessed such exceptional strength and speed, there would have been no need to concern ourselves with our presence. Direct confrontation would have sufficed; an ambush was unnecessary. Their power was indeed significant, but the true reason for their incredible velocity was external assistance. Among us, only two individuals could provide such a boost: Country Lord Wanjiao and myself.”

The Dragon Emperor then inclined his head towards Yue Yang, resembling a subordinate seeking approval for a demonstration.

Upon receiving Yue Yang’s nod of consent, he divulged another secret. “During the second assault, Country Lord Wanjiao was firmly convinced that the Vengeance Domain Emperor was once again the perpetrator. At the time, we acknowledged the Domain Emperor as a potential suspect, but lacked concrete proof. Consequently, we remained silent and observed. In that second attack, the intended target was not the Liberty Queen, but rather our Young Master Titan.”

“Why is that?” Country Lord Qinglang inquired.

“Because striking the Liberty Queen serves no purpose. She possesses Divine Power within her, making her a difficult target to fell. Even if severely wounded, her Divine Power would rapidly mend her injuries; even our guests are aware of this fact. It stands to reason that the assassin would also be cognizant of this.” The Dragon Emperor elaborated.

“Well, then that means the attacks were aimed at Young Master Titan!” Lord Louluo remained perplexed.

“Young Master Titan merely decided to return to the Grimoire World for rest on a whim,” the Dragon Emperor chuckled erratically. “Country Lord Wanjiao had been covertly signalling the assassin all along and was exerting considerable effort to persuade Young Master Titan to remain outside. Unfortunately for him, our Young Master grew impatient and retired to his Grimoire World earlier than planned, thwarting Wanjiao's meticulous scheme. The incensed Country Lord Wanjiao could only attempt to salvage the situation by secretly releasing a beast with dark abilities, hoping to alert the assassin in time to abort the plan. Alas, Country Lord Wanjiao, you were unaware of Hui Tai Lang's acute sense of smell. He detected it immediately. Indeed, it was he who intercepted your beast, and because of that, Sky Execution and I anticipated his imminent arrival.”

“The alerted war beast was intercepted, yet the attack proceeded as scheduled. To ensure we remained none the wiser to the ploy, Country Lord Wanjiao, feigning displeasure with the plan's execution, had to resort to his abilities once more in secret to enhance the assassin's speed. Concurrently, he had to relay the change in the adversary's strategy to the assassin. Consequently, the initial strike against Country Lord Zhi Feng's visage had its power altered and significantly diminished...” The more the Underworld Emperor spoke, the more grim Country Lord Wanjiao's expression became.

“Then why was there ultimately another wave of attacks?” Country Lord Qinglang was beginning to grasp the situation but still had one final question lingering.

”Because the initial two assassination attempts fell short, the enemy deployed a top-tier assassin for the task. This assassin, having infiltrated secretly, lay in wait within Country Lord Wanjiao’s Grimoire World. They intended to strike when Young Master Titan released the Liberty Queen from the storage ring. Once identification was confirmed, the assassin emerged to deliver a fatal blow. Regrettably for Wanjiao, the keen eyes of Hui Tai Lang and Tao Tie were not so easily fooled. At midday, when Country Lord Wanjiao's concealment abilities were at their peak, Young Master Titan intentionally emerged to meet us, thereby cooperating with the enemy's assassination plot. Country Lord Wanjiao, had you demonstrated more patience and caution, you would surely have noticed the shadow rune patterns at Hui Tai Lang’s, Tao Tie’s, and my positions. These patterns facilitated the phantom transformation during Young Master Titan's attack,” the Underworld Emperor finally chuckled, “Your dark abilities are employed skillfully, but must you assume everyone else is a simpleton?”

”...” Country Lord Wanjiao was left utterly speechless.

At this juncture, Country Lords Qinglang and Louluo were also covered in a cold sweat.

The observational prowess and strategic acumen displayed by Sky Execution and Long Xuan were truly formidable. If such powerful individuals were merely a handful of guards, then the true might of the powerhouses residing in the Upper Heaven Realm was unimaginably great! Even the seemingly carefree and extravagant Young Master Titan proved to be no easy mark.

Had Wanjiao attempted to confront just one of them alone, it might have sufficed. Yet, his misfortune lay in challenging a collective whose caliber far surpassed his own. It would indeed be a surprise if his schemes remained undiscovered.

To say nothing of the humans, even the seemingly useless, indolent canine, Hui Tai Lang, presented a significant obstacle.

What a remarkably cunning hound—it not only apprehended Wanjiao’s war beast but also saw through the opposing strategy. Following this, it even returned to the Grimoire World to relay the situation to its master as if nothing had transpired.

What depth of wisdom was this?

What level of emotional intelligence did it possess?

How could such an intelligent dog exist in this world?

Country Lord Zhi Feng found no need for further explanation. The other two Country Lords, Qinglang and Louluo, with a shared sigh, turned away from Wanjiao.

In that moment, any perception of Wanjiao as an ally vanished. Not only had he plotted against Zhi Feng and Young Master Titan, but he had also deceived them. Every individual present had been ensnared by his machinations, including Qinglang and Louluo. They had always considered Wanjiao a friend, a brother, yet this supposed brother’s return to them was nothing less than a devastating betrayal!

“I must admit, your canine companion is exceptionally intelligent. It truly lives up to its reputation as a dog from the Upper Heaven Realm; no wonder it proved so difficult to overcome,” Country Lord Wanjiao murmured with a low sigh. “Had you all not been present, and only Zhi Feng, Qinglang, Louluo, and the others were here, no one would have even dared to dream of unraveling my stratagem. How unfortunate, when I had anticipated revealing my grand design upon our arrival at Central Island.”

“Fear not, we shall gladly assist you in unveiling your plans; we are more than happy to oblige,” Yue Yang, who had remained silent until now, declared with a smile. The more genial he appeared, the deeper Wanjiao’s despair grew. Ultimately, it was this Young Master Titan who had truly thwarted his elaborate scheme.

But how could he possibly contend with him?

This Young Master Titan possessed an arsenal of treasures and even the extraordinary ability to alter his form and manipulate shadows.

With a Divine Beast and an Earth Divine Soldier at his disposal, complemented by his three formidable guards and a contingent of Heaven Rank cultivators, vanquishing him seemed an insurmountable task!

Country Lord Wanjiao turned to Qinglang and Louluo, his voice laced with apology. “Qinglang, Louluo, the curse was not my wish, but it became unavoidable. Friends of many years, Wanjiao feels a pang of guilt in orchestrating your demise so swiftly. Following my self-destruction, I urge you to end your own lives promptly, for the curse will intensify, plunging you into ever greater suffering. Moreover, the power I serve is not something you can contend with. Compared to them, you possess less might than a shrimp. If you still consider me a friend, then your best course of action is to perish upon my death...”

Qinglang’s fury flared, feeling as though he had been brutally slapped. “Thank you, but I shall determine my own fate. I require no assistance from you regarding my life, even from a friend!”

Louluo’s relationship with Wanjiao was somewhat warmer than Qinglang’s. He sighed softly and said, “Wanjiao, must you truly meet your end in such a manner? Please, revoke the curse. Allow Zhi Feng and myself to implore Young Master for clemency. Let us bear our transgressions together and return to our brotherhood!”

Wanjiao shook his head, stating, “Honestly, I never considered making any friends upon arriving in the Heavenly Splendour Territory. All of you were merely pawns, and my heart remained steadfastly devoted to that one place…”

As Country Lord Zhi Feng, Sky Execution, and the others adopted an offensive stance, Country Lord Wanjiao suddenly erupted into laughter.

He looked skyward and guffawed, “You may have discerned my scheme, plotted against me, and now seek to attack, but you will never manage to apprehend me. I possess the Dark Restriction Domain, along with dark curse abilities. Even under this bright sun, I am an unstoppable force. Should I perish, all your curses will intensify tenfold, transforming each day into an ordeal of agony. Farewell, my adversaries and companions— no matter your intellect or wisdom, you are nothing more than ants struggling futilely!”

Wanjiao’s physique rapidly expanded, swelling dozens of times over in mere seconds.

The dark Qi coursing through his body reached a level of terrifying ferocity. It was believed that the slightest contact would ignite an earth-shattering detonation.

Just as Country Lord Wanjiao surveyed his surroundings with a sneer, intending to self-destruct and take everyone with him, Ming Ri Hao, an observer of the unfolding events, could no longer refrain from intervening. His action was not to stop Country Lord Wanjiao, but rather to propel Yue Yang, who had been observing with folded arms, forward.

What in the world? It’s one thing not to act yourself, but to push this Young Master into the fray? Unbelievable.

Yue Yang seethed with anger internally.

Nevertheless, under the public gaze, it would be unbecoming for him to openly defy Ming Ri Hao’s forceful nudge.

“Cough, cough,” Yue Yang, caught off guard and under the scrutiny of all present, felt compelled to speak, “I must say, young Wanjiao, you can’t simply self-detonate the moment you fail an examination. There’s always a chance for a make-up test!”

“…” Everyone present collapsed onto the ground in disbelief.

At the precise moment Wanjiao was grinning, preparing to detonate, a diminutive shadow detached itself from Yue Yang’s form.

It was an adorable, diminutive snake demon loli. The instant she emerged, her eyes focused on Country Lord Wanjiao. He, who was moments from self-immolation, suddenly found his actions and the rampant dark Qi within him frozen in time. This snake demon loli not only fixed her gaze upon the suicidal Country Lord Wanjiao but also lightly tapped him with her delicate hand, causing the already spherical Country Lord Wanjiao to bounce like a ball.

With her small hand making a gesture in the empty air, she wordlessly batted the sphere, sending the colossal, spherical form of Country Lord Wanjiao ricocheting like a simple plaything.

Yue Yang observed that the little one was indulging a bit too much and quickly urged her, “Good girl, you’ve played for a while now, but you shouldn’t continue indefinitely, alright? What if that fellow makes you cry?”

Xiao Wen Li was remarkably obedient and ceased her actions promptly. However, Hui Tai Lang and Tao Tie were just beginning to enjoy themselves.

The pair surged forward, joining in the game of batting the ball.

The onlookers watched, their expressions shifting until they too fell to the ground, utterly stunned.

Good heavens, why were they still concerned about this Young Master Titan? He was entirely unnecessary; he even commanded a more potent beast capable of effortlessly toying with Country Lord Wanjiao as if he were a mere ball. Country Lord Wanjiao had truly believed he could perpetrate mass murder in such a manner, but it had devolved into the most ludicrous jest. Did he honestly presume it would be that simple to extinguish a Ranker from the Upper Realm?

Country Lord Wanjiao felt an urge to weep, tears he could not shed. Now, there was truly nothing left for him to do,