Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 1266
Chapter 1970: Couldn't Be More Wrong! |
His thunderous roars stopped everybody from further movements, but they attracted the attention of even more villagers, too.
Everybody knew that the disagreement between Gu Zhengyang and Zhao Lie had been brewing for more than a few days. The bomb of contradictions finally exploded at the most critical moment.
"Recklessness?" Zhao Lie was dumbfounded at first. Then he burst into such fury that he pointed at Gu Zhengyang and shouted, "Are you blind? Even if you are blind, your ears are still working, aren't they? Before those scumbags charged at us last night, it's obvious that several experts blew up our searchlights from very far away, which created an opportunity for the scumbags!
"Just think with your head. After only one moment, all the searchlights were blown up. Which village around here can support such shooters?
"Now, your daughter and your disciple have brought back a few modified guns and four pieces of tattoos, proving that tough bandits from the Black Water Gang played us. What does it mean? It means that somebody set their eyes on us a long time ago!
"Hehe. Had it not been for somebody instigating trouble in secret, how could the starving scumbags from the dozens of villages have reached an agreement so quickly and attacked us?
"Therefore, whatever choice we made last night, those people would have charged at us all the same. Do you understand it all, my great village leader?"
"At the very least, if we had thrown the assets in time, they would have attracted the attention of a large batch of sinners," Gu Zhengyang said solemnly. "Chances are that not so many people would have killed. There would still have been room for negotiation!"
"Negotiation? Hahaha. To this moment, you still do not realize what makes you an idiot. Your biggest problem is that you left too much room for negotiation!"
Zhao Lie laughed so hard that tears were running out of his eyes, but his tears were actually red. Perhaps the blood vessels inside his eyeballs had broken apart, and his fury and his blood had darted out at the same time.
"A few years back, I kept saying that while the Village of Peace was strong and had abundant assets, we should sweep across all the villages in the hundred square kilometers around us, turning everyone into a slave soldier of the Village of Peace. That way, the opponents competing for assets with us would be fewer, and there would be an additional barrier of protection outside of the village.
"But you were indecisive and blinded by your petty kindness. As a result, the potential threat has grown into major trouble. Today, the scumbags that you let go of in the past have killed our own villagers instead!
"You think you are merciful and great, that you can save everyone, huh? Look at the dead bodies on the ground. Look at the villagers who are screaming. It's all your fault! Your way does not work in the Land of Sins!"
Gu Zhengyang's body shook hard. As he listened to the screams of so many wounded villagers, the fury on his face immediately thawed.
Zhao Lie's voice became even more high-pitched, sounding both like the roar of an eagle and the cries of a crow. "Don't you understand? The gangs from the Bloody Worlds have long been coveting us. They have already made up their mind to destroy the Village of Peace. The only way to protect ourselves is to get stronger, whatever the cost!"
Gu Zhengyang struggled to say, "We have a pact with the gangs of Double Dragons Valley, and we offer them tremendous assets every year. There are few profits but a lot of losses if they attack the Village of Peace. Do they have any reason to do such unprofitable business?"
With a gloomy face, Zhao Lie said, "There is only one reason. We are too strong. The Village of Peace gets stronger every year. It will soon get out of the control of the gangs in Double Dragons Valley and be capable of all the villages in the hundred square kilometers around.
"The gangs wish to see a Desolate World that is disorganized and plagued by infighting so that they can ravage us blatantly. There's no way that they want to see a powerful force rising in the Desolate World, threatening their reign.
"Therefore, even if demolishing the Village of Peace is not a profitable business and a minor price must be paid, they will not hesitate to do it."
"We are not uniting all the villages in the hundred square kilometers!" Gu Zhengyang said anxiously.
"No, we are not." Zhao Lie put on a derisive smile. "I believe you, but will the heads of the gangs in the Double Dragons Valley believe you?"
Gu Zhengyang was lost for words.
"This is the law of the Land of Sins," Zhao Lie shrieked. "This is the rule of survival! Leader, I used to really admire your strength, but even if you were ten times stronger, you cannot stay as naïve as this forever! One day, you will get everybody killed if you do not do things according to the rules of the Land of Sins!"
Gu Zhengyang panted quickly and asked, "Then, what do you want right now?"
"Very simple. An assault!"
With a cocky and cruel smile flashing on his face, Zhao Lie said, "Perhaps you do not know this, but I had a lot of boxes that contained compressed-food thrown to the sinners on the other side during the chaotic battle last night. As I expected, they took away all the compressed food during their retreat.
"Everybody knows that those who have been hungered for a long time have a very weak stomach. If they eat excessive food in a short amount of time, it is very easy for their belly to become bloated. Even if they are not killed by indigestion, they must be drowsy and unable to move right now. How much combat ability can they possibly have?
"We had a bloody battle just now. Both parties suffered heavy losses. Nobody will expect us to launch a sudden assault at this moment!
"It must be noted that the dozens of villages on the other side have their own interests and are wary of each other. Their camps are far away from each other. Even if one of the camps is under attack, no reinforcements will ever arrive.
"Therefore, we will take the opportunity to gather our last elites and launch an unexpected attack. We will catch them unprepared and conquer them one by one. All the hidden problems will be eradicated in advance, and all the assets will be ours!"
After Zhao Lie finished his plan, the young and passionate villagers shouted and cheered again. Somebody was also knocking the shield and tanks with their sabers. It was quite chaotic.
"No!" Gu Zhengyang vetoed the plan without any hesitation. "We have just been through a huge battle. Everybody is too exhausted to fight anymore! Besides, we have done no reconnaissance on their camps, and we do not know the first thing about the environment on the other side of the ruins! If what you said is true, and some gangs are behind this, it is not entirely impossible that they have backup plans. We will likely be surrounded by a large batch of enemies when we attack one of the camps.
"The remaining elites are our last bargaining chips. There's no reason we should take such a wild gamble!"
Instead of being moralistic, Gu Zhengyang focused on gains and losses. The villagers who were older and more prudent nodded quickly.
Zhao Lie's face became even gloomier. He squeezed his saber so hard that sweat seemed to be flowing out of it. He gnashed his teeth. "We have suffered heavy losses this time. If we do not take back what we've lost, how will the Village of Peace survive the next year? The time has come for us to make a desperate struggle, and you are still hesitant here?
"Hehe. Nobody is asking you to participate. If you are scared, just stay here and command the non-combatants. I will certainly bring back a large batch of assets for the village!"
Zhao Lie seemed ready to leave, but Gu Zhengyang stepped forward heavily and stood in his way. Glaring at him in the eyes, Gu Zhengyang declared, one word after another, "Captain Zhao, we have to be responsible for the life of every villager. I do not think that you are suitable to be the general commander of the operation."
"Is that so?" Zhao Lie laughed in fury. With blood red brilliance beaming out of his eyes, he looked around and held his chest high. "I also do not think that you are suitable to be the leader of the Village of Peace!"
Upon hearing that, all the villagers were shocked.
Their conflict had been purely about the strategies, but what they were fighting over right now was doubtlessly 'power'.
In the Land of Sins, such a power struggle often came with a miserable price.
After Zhao Lie's declaration, the whispers of the villagers immediately vanished. Everybody looked at the two of them in bewilderment. They even stepped back under the intimidation of the violent and daunting auras from them, clearing an open field for them.
"My father is right. Gu Zhengyang is too indecisive and hypocritical. That's why the Village of Peace suffered the losses today!" Zhao Chong was the first to jump out. He pointed at Gu Zhengyang and shouted, "Look at his sick, wretched appearance. He is not half as strong as he used to be. Why is he still qualified to be the leader of the Village of Peace? Everybody saw how bravely my father fought last night. Only my father is qualified to be the village leader!"
"Shut up, Zhao Chong!" Han Te could not help but step forward and curse, too. "You think that all a village leader needs to do is fighting? So, any random guy with more brawn than brains can be a village leader? My master is considerate and meticulous! What if the gangs have set up traps on the other side of the ruins, waiting for us to jump in? If you do what your father said, you won't even know how you are killed in the end! My master is saving your life out of good will, and you are still throwing out bullsh*t?"
Zhao Chong almost went crazy. "Good. Come on. You didn't get enough of a beating half a month ago, did you? Why don't we have a fight first?"
The two teenagers both had their supporters in the village. A lot of hotblooded young people were immediately shouting and calling each other's names.
"Enough!"
Gu Zhengyang and Zhao Lie stopped the conflict among the juniors almost at the same time.
"Leader, there is no need for the juniors and the villagers to take sides because of the disagreement between us," Zhao Lie said coldly. "Why don't we resolve the problem straightforwardly with the rules of the Land of Sins!"
Looking at the ruins behind, Gu Zhengyang said solemnly, "Zhao Lie, you have to choose such a moment to resolve the problem?"
"It is exactly because the Village of Peace is in peril that I have to resolve the 'greatest problem' immediately." Zhao Lie warmed up his wrists and ankles hurriedly. Thick veins protruded on his skin, as if countless snakes had been tamed inside his body. "There is no personal grudge between us. On the contrary, you saved my life three times, and I save yours four times from the claws of mutated beasts. We used to be life-and-death brothers.
"However, I cannot watch you lead the villagers down on the wrong path anymore!"
Chapter 1971: Fight Blood Eagle! |
After saying that, Zhao Lie shut his mouth and stopped talking. He stabbed his dented machete into the ground before he took off his armor that was embedded with sharp thorns and even his leather clothes, draping them over the grip of his weapon, revealing a muscular body.
His body was like a combination of a bear, a tiger, and a leopard. His shoulders were as broad as a bear, his chest was as thick as a tiger, and his back was as tensile as a leopard. In a perfect triangle, his body was brimming with explosive strength even when he was not moving.
On his entire chest, a red, flying eagle had been painted. Its wings extended all the way to the biceps on his arms.
After a few warmup movements, the bloody wings of the eagle were flapping up and down, as if an eagle were going to rush out of his body and tear all the prey apart!
Emotionlessly, Zhao Lie slowly straightened his right arm, gesturing that he was ready.
Zhao Chong and the Iron Blood Youths behind him were exclaiming. A lot of villagers also turned on the tanks that were fully embedded with iron plates and connected the vehicles into a giant circle about twenty meters in diameter around the two of them.
It was an arena.
In the Land of Sins, the experts always had the biggest say. Resolving disagreements in a one-versus-one duel before everybody was already the most merciful and 'peaceful' way.
With everything coming to this point, Gu Zhengyang had nothing more to say. He called Han Te and Liu Li and reminded them of something before he waved his hands and asked them to leave the circle of tanks. Then, he tore off the armor and suit on his body, too.
There were no tattoos on his body. But the moment he tore apart the suit, his skin that had been sallow because of his disease suddenly emanated bronze colors.
His body was thinner and did not look as impressive as Zhao Lie's, but the hundred shocking, interconnected scars on it were medals a hundred times more intimidating.
"Cough, cough. Cough, cough, cough, cough!" Gu Zhengyang coughed lightly. The many hideous scars on his body wriggled at the same time, like insects that were gnawing his flesh.
Seeing his body that was full of wounds, and recalling the contributions that he had made to the Village of Peace in the past and how he had transformed it from a tiny, struggling village to such a thriving one today with thousands of people, many villagers sighed in mixed feelings.
Even the villagers who were more inclined to Zhao Lie lowered their heads in embarrassment, wondering whether they should support Gu Zhengyang or Zhao Lie.
Even the eyes of Zhao Lie himself shuddered when Gu Zhengyang exposed so many scars.
However, the feelings in the eyes were soon frozen by brilliance that was colder and more ruthless.
Shua!
Zhao Lie took out a fully-sealed metal can from a bag that was bound to his thigh. He tossed it to Gu Zhengyang and said, "Village leader, in case somebody says that I am taking advantage of your illness, this is a battlefield exhilarant of the latest formula. It can suppress wounds and increase the sensitivity of nerves. It only fell from the sky last night. Do you want to give it a try?"
Gu Zhengyang weighed the metal can in his palm for a while before he tossed it back to Zhao Lie softly. He then raised his eyebrow and bellowed, "That will be unnecessary!"
When his voice was still echoing, the thin, sick man suddenly turned into a furious warrior. He stepped forward, covering about five meters with every step, and lunged at Zhao Lie, leaving deep footprints on the ground.
With every step he took, the metallic brightness on his body became more intense. By the time he arrived before Zhao Lie, he seemed to be entirely made of metal.
His right arm was even more intimidating. There was a transparent feeling beyond the metallic brightness, as if it were carved out of diamonds!
"Good!" Zhao Lie bulged his eyes and shrieked. Instead of picking up the metal can that Gu Zhengyang had thrown back, he simply raised his leg and kicked it back to the enemy.
When the can was still in midair, it could not withstand the spiritual energy that he had blown in. It expanded nonstop until it exploded!
Bam!
The exhilarant and the pieces of the metal can smashed into Gu Zhengyang.
Despite the metallic body that Gu Zhengyang had, his vision and his pace were somewhat disrupted by the fluids and the metal scraps that were flying everywhere.
Zhao Lie took the opportunity to breathe quickly before he uttered the roars of a steam engine.
When he breathed in the air, his entire lower abdomen collapsed deeply and was only one layer of skin away from his back, but his chest rose high as if a hundred bombs had exploded inside.
It was exactly the opposite when he breathed the air out. His abdomen became as round as a drum, whereas his chest collapsed weirdly, and his every rib was clearly visible.
He took such deep breaths three times every second. In the blink of an eye, the redness of the eagle tattoo on his chest covered his entire body.
His right arm was almost twice as large and half a foot longer. His fingers became longer with a series of cracking noises, and coldly-shining bone spurs protruded from his joints and fingertips!
Boom!
The two of them attacked and evaded almost at the same time.
A gargantuan claw appeared out of nowhere and brushed past Gu Zhengyang's shoulder, taking away three threads of flesh from his shoulder that was as tough as iron. After it hit the ground behind him, the claw left a crater half a foot deep and more than two meters long. The mark was almost like the footprint of a dinosaur.
A golden wind mixed with purple electric arcs was also blown out of Gu Zhengyang's fist, which narrowly passed Zhao Lie's abdomen and blew into an iron tank behind him, raising a deafening explosion.
When the attack was still almost five meters away, the door of the tank that was made of three layers of iron plates collapsed deeply as if it had been hit by a battering ram. After a series of ear-splitting noises, the entire tank back ten meters, with dust and smoke popping up!
All the villagers were so deeply intimidated by Gu Zhengyang and Zhao Lie's shocking attacks that they even forgot to cheer for them.
Even Li Yao felt shocked and inspired by the weirdness and aggressiveness of the arts in the Land of Sins.
Gu Zhengyang and Zhao Lie's strength was certainly far from a super expert in the Divinity Transformation Stage.
However, the exploitation of their life and soul had reached the highest level.
To put it more simply, if Li Yao had one hundred life and soul points and could bring out 105 points of combat ability, those guys perhaps only had twenty life and soul points but could trigger thirty points of combat ability under the motivation of all kinds of extreme arts and deadly techniques!
The Immortal Cultivators who created those arts and techniques and even the entire Land of Sins were definitely unpardonable scoundrels, but they were doubtlessly evil geniuses!
Without saying anything, Li Yao perceived the flow of spiritual energy from the two experts of the Land of Sins. He learned the essence in it and was prepared to include it in his own model of spiritual energy.
"Grandpa Yao…" Han Te grabbed Li Yao's mechanical arm.
