Chapter 46: Behind the Oriole, an Eagle

“You want to reap the benefits after the fight, isn’t it a bit too early?”

Zhang Hua snorted coldly, having already caught his breath, his sword once again gleaming with a cold light.

“You came out too early,” Cao Ye said indifferently.

“What, are you two even trying to steal from your saviors?”

The leader of the Jin family swung his sword down, repelling the Special Star Demon, and spoke coldly.

“Saviors? You’re just scheming behind our backs.”

Zhang Hua and Cao Ye’s expressions turned icy as they brandished their swords and charged forward.

“The remaining seniors can handle it.”

The two golden-armored men stepped back, blocking their attacks.

Clang!

Longswords clashed, Star Power surged, and all four took a step back simultaneously.

“You two are already injured, don’t even think about interfering!”

The two golden-armored men sneered. After taking a hit from the Special Star Demon’s skill, they still want to cause trouble?

If they were at their peak, they definitely wouldn’t be able to stop them, but now it’s different.

Zhang Hua and Cao Ye’s faces turned pale, their eyes shifting. “Ji Ziling, Ying Yanxue, you two make your move.”

“We’re busy holding off the Star Demons, we can’t spare the effort,” the two said faintly.

“Think about Zhou Wen, think about the grudges between our two schools.”

Zhang Hua’s expression darkened. “If they take the Special Starstone, the consequences are unpredictable.”

“Golden Light as the Boundary.”

The two golden-armored men shouted in unison, a golden sphere descending and exploding, releasing a beam of golden light.

The golden light separated both sides, isolating the three golden-armored men from them.

“We were prepared. Even if you join forces, it will take some time to break through this golden light barrier.”

The leader of the Jin family repelled the Special Star Demon with a sword strike and spoke coldly.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill your Kexiang people?”

Zhang Hua’s expression turned extremely grim.

This Special Starstone was extremely important.

If they couldn’t obtain it, even Cao Ye would give him trouble, and the others would also cause a stir.

They were all counting on selling this Special Starstone to make up for their losses.

Upon hearing this, the Martial Arts School members slightly withdrew their sword energy aimed at the Star Demons, considering retreating.

“If I obtain the Special Starstone, all your weapons will be uniformly upgraded. Second-tier top-grade weapons will be replaced with third-tier low-grade ones.”

The leader of the golden-armored men made a promise, his voice ethereal and pleasing.

The Martial Arts School students were tempted. Compared to the small loss of Star Stones, improving their weapon quality was clearly more appealing.

That bit of Star Power couldn’t even buy a decent weapon!

“We’ll only deal with the Star Demons if our weapons are upgraded.”

Ji Ziling spoke up. “If you deliberately let the Star Demons escape and fail to obtain the Starstone, wouldn’t we be at a loss?”

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly agreed, “Senior is right.”

“Fine, I agree,” the golden-armored man said boldly.

Zhang Hua was almost fuming with anger. “Ji Ziling, you…”

Ji Ziling cut him off furiously, “Shut up! You have no right to speak here. I’ve been tolerating you for a long time!”

Zhang Hua: “…”

Don’t you care about Zhou Wen’s life or death?

You traitors, how could you betray us just like that?

“You want…”

“Can you just shut up?” Ying Yanxue said disdainfully. “Zhou Wen returned to the city long ago.”

Returned to the city?

Zhang Hua was stunned. If she returned to the city long ago, why were you all still listening to me? Was it all an act?

Cao Ye took two steps back, his sword flashing as a Star Demon fell. “I’ll deal with the Star Demons.”

He was only invited by Zhang Hua as a helper. Now, with the benefit of weapon upgrades, he obviously wasn’t going to help anymore.

Third-tier low-grade, Star Sea weapons.

Only a fool would still help Zhang Hua. Of course, it’s better to side with the wealthy Kexiang.

Damn it…

Zhang Hua was truly furious enough to curse. Even Cao Ye betrayed him?

Unable to reach Chen Sanyan, is it because Kexiang promised something?

Should we snatch it or not?

In the shadows, Jiang Changkong was deeply conflicted. Now that the situation had changed, should he snatch it or not?

He bore no grudge against Kexiang; on the contrary, he owed them a favor.

Zhang Xiaoyu had given him a phone and the Primal Martial Compass. If he were to strike now, it would be rather ungrateful.

Forget it. He would wait for them to finish killing and then scavenge the corpses to extract some Essence.

While dealing with the Star Demon, Ying Yanxue asked, “Would you be willing to sell this Special Starstone?”

“This Star Demon skill suits you well, but I won’t sell it.”

The golden-armored figure slashed at the Star Demon with his sword, coldly refusing.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Ying Yanxue’s face, but she said nothing more.

If a trade was impossible, then so be it. She would search for another opportunity later.

Ji Ziling couldn’t help but speak up, “What if we forgo payment this time and only ask you to sell the Special Starstone?”

The golden-armored figure paused briefly, “I’m sorry, but this concerns the college entrance exam.”

With that, Ji Ziling gave up hope. If it involved the college entrance exam, there was no room for negotiation.

The Special Star Demon was besieged and brutalized by the three golden-armored figures.

Despite its Star Cloud Peak strength, it had exhausted itself using a special skill during the earlier battle and was now being overpowered.

The three golden-armored figures, relying on their battle armor, were no weaker than a Star Cloud Peak opponent.

Watching the Star Demon being brutally beaten, Zhang Hua’s eyes flickered as he slipped his left hand into his pocket once more.

Roar!

More and more Star Demons swarmed the surroundings, putting immense pressure on the students from both schools.

Some had already been injured.

Ji Ziling and Ying Yanxue went all out, suppressing the Star Demon at Star Cloud Peak.

Cao Ye shouted sternly, “Finish this quickly. No more delays.”

“Resolve it immediately.”

The three golden-armored figures responded at once, their sword light descending and severing one of the Star Demon’s claws.

Golden light flashed, Star Demon blood splattered, scales fell off, and the Special Star Demon let out a shrill, agonized cry.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rang out as the golden barrier shattered violently.

It turned out that Zhang Hua had shattered the golden barrier, his body radiating a powerful aura.

A golden pellet dropped as he swiftly retreated.

“Zhang Hua, how dare you…”

The three golden-armored figures paled in horror, staring fearfully at the pellet.

“Zhang Hua, damn it…”

The others also turned pale with shock, abandoning the Star Demon and scrambling away in panic.

Boom!

A tremendous explosion erupted, brilliant golden light bursting forth as violent Star Power surged in all directions, sending the three golden-armored figures flying.

Dust billowed, and the terrifying Star Power shockwave struck Ji Ziling and the others as well. They spat out blood and were flung aside.

Several of the weaker cultivators died on the spot, reduced to lifeless corpses.

The nearby Star Demons were directly engulfed by the Star Power, torn to shreds.

The approaching Star Demons were frightened and fled in panic.

Crack!

The golden armor shattered, helmets exploded, and two young men bled from all seven orifices, looking utterly disheveled.

The leader of the golden-armored figures fared slightly better, his jet-black hair disheveled and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

“So it was you after all—selling me information about the Special Star Demon and secretly following.”

A trace of ferocity appeared on Zhang Hua’s pale face. “What remarkable skill. But did you really think I’d be so foolish?

Would I dare bring a group of people without preparing a backup plan?

How do you like this gift—a third-grade low-tier Starlight Force Bomb from Kexiang?”

“The cost of a Starlight Force Bomb is extremely high. Only the federal military is permitted to possess and use them.”

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his golden armor now tattered, the leader’s fair face was filled with rage. “What you’ve done is illegal!”

“Zhang Hua, you’ve truly gone too far,” Ji Ziling and the others said angrily.

To actually bring a Starlight Force Bomb here? This is Federation weaponry!

Zhang Hua swept a mocking glance over everyone, his gaze settling on the Special Star Demon.

Already severely wounded, the Special Star Demon was now caught in the blast of the Starlight Force Bomb, teetering on the brink of death.

Not daring to delay, Zhang Hua rushed forward immediately, grabbing the Special Star Demon. “This place, I leave to you.”

“Stop him!” The group was furious. Zhang Hua intended to abandon them all and escape with the Special Star Demon.

However, everyone had been injured in the recent explosion, and they were too far away.

Only the three from Kexiang could intervene in time, and they did just that.

“Without your battle armor, you’re no different from trash!”

Zhang Hua sneered, sending out a flash of sword light that forced the three back.

“Farewell…”

As Zhang Hua turned to leave, a blade of light suddenly appeared in the darkness—silent, abrupt, and unexpected.

“Ah…”

A scream echoed as Zhang Hua’s left hand, clutching the Star Demon, was severed, blood gushing forth. “Chen! San! Yan!”