"Domain Lord Liuli, you really are stubborn, aren't you!"
Elder Shi Hong's face was dark. Even though he looked down on these traitors himself, they had still joined his side. Now, one of them had nearly been killed right under his nose, there was no way he could look good after that.
"Traitors should be dealt with like this," Domain Lord Liuli said coldly. "Don't give me that crap about 'a wise man adapts to the times.' That's all nonsense! A traitor is a traitor. Don't think I don't know, this is all for your selfish interests. You feel like you've hit a wall, so you choose to bow to a third-grade God Territory and then act like it's for the good of Heavenly Spring? I spit on that!"
Her words were fiery, as always, and she held nothing back. She directly exposed the motives of the betraying elders, leaving their faces pale and flushed, they'd been hit right where it hurt.
In truth, it wasn't just self-interest. Fear of Saint Peak God Territory played a big part. They didn't want to die, they wanted a strong backer. If they bet right, they'd enjoy lavish rewards after the God Territory War.
"Domain Lord Liuli, don't be so stubborn! Yes, we have our own ideas, but it's for the good of Heavenly Spring! If our gamble pays off, our territory will ascend and enter the ranks of third-grade God Territories!"
"Exactly! Why be so obstinate? Saint Peak is so powerful. Stop refusing the toast only to be forced to drink punishment. You even injured the Third Elder!"
They resented her, convinced that she was being too inflexible and narrow-minded.
"What a joke! Do you really think Saint Peak is the only one with a shot? Myriad Heaven God Territory is also a powerful contender. Don't think I don't know. Frankly, I'm more optimistic about Myriad Heaven than Saint Peak!"
"And don't think those types of lords who chew you up and spit you out are going to help us soar. If we had been vassals from the beginning, maybe I'd believe that. But I'm certain they've already picked who their allies will be, and it won't be us!"
Those joining late would never receive the same treatment as those who joined early. Thinking they could become a third-grade God Territory overnight was delusional. At best, they'd be cannon fodder.
Elder Shi Hong narrowed his eyes, stunned inside. She was right, they'd snatched up those with hot heads, only to toss them into the meat grinder.
The traitorous elders hesitated. Her reasoning was hard to argue with.
"We won't abandon you. Besides, if you want rewards, you have to fight. After the war, you'll get your share! As for Myriad Heaven God Territory, they're beneath our notice!" Elder Shi Hong declared, cutting off any second thoughts among the elders.
"And now that it's come to this, after what you did to the Third Elder, you think even if you surrender, Domain Lord Liuli will let you live?"
He sneered. There was no going back.
The traitors looked at the heavily wounded Third Elder. If they surrendered now, they wouldn't end up much better. Traitors always met the worst end.
"Don't mind her. Kill them and take control of this place!" the Third Elder barked, climbing back to his feet. Had Elder Shi Hong not saved him, he'd be dead already.
But going up against a Heavenly Venerable wasn't a game.
Elder Shi Hong ignored him. Instead, he looked at Liuli and the others. "This is your last chance, surrender or die. Don't think I wouldn't dare. A mere Heavenly Venerable? You're beneath my notice."
He didn't want to waste such a valuable asset, not even for cannon fodder.
Suddenly, a scream rang out.
Everyone turned to see a figure standing next to the Third Elder, a long spear in hand that had blown the man's head apart.
In front of a Heavenly Venerable, someone had dared to act so brazenly.
It was Yi Tianyun!
No one even knew when he had moved, but now the Third Elder was dead, killed in an instant.
"Traitors shouldn't talk so much," Yi Tianyun said casually, looking directly at Elder Shi Hong. "By the way, you kind of stole my line. A mere Heavenly Venerable? You're beneath my notice."
His voice was relaxed, completely unconcerned. Even though Elder Shi Hong was a mid-stage Lower Heavenly Venerable, Yi Tianyun truly did not fear him.
What third-grade God Territory? Had they heard of Evil Spirit God Territory? He had wiped them out.
Everyone's pupils shrank, even Domain Lord Liuli didn't know when Yi Tianyun had moved. She had been trying to find an opening to take out the traitors, but Elder Shi Hong had already raised his guard and was blocking her path. She couldn't catch him off guard like before.
Yet in that same situation, Yi Tianyun moved like no one could stop him, executing the traitor cleanly.
A devastating slap to the face.
"Who are you!?" Elder Shi Hong's eyes widened in alarm. For someone to kill right in front of him, they were no ordinary opponent.
"Me? I'm the Vice Domain Lord of this place," Yi Tianyun grinned. "And also a Domain Lord of another God Territory. Conveniently, we're bound to become enemies soon. Taking you out now will make things easier later."
His words didn't just startle Elder Shi Hong, even Domain Lord Liuli was shocked.
He had just declared war on Saint Peak God Territory. And not just personal war, a full-scale God Territory War.
A war where only death ends it.
"Domain Lord of another God Territory? Which one?" Elder Shi Hong narrowed his eyes. He didn't strike right away. First, he needed to get the full picture.
"Perhaps you've heard of a newly risen God Territory, Three Realms God Territory. I'm the Domain Lord there. And yes, we'll be joining the God Territory War soon," Yi Tianyun said calmly.
"The Domain Lord of Three Realms God Territory?"
They all froze. The name sounded familiar, but it was a first-grade God Territory, too insignificant for attention.
"Hahahaha! This is rich! A first-grade God Territory dares act arrogant in front of me? Die!" Elder Shi Hong suddenly reached out. At some point, he had already surrounded Yi Tianyun with his power. With a crushing motion, he slammed his palm down, enough to turn anyone into paste.
He wasn't foolish. He had prepared for this the moment Yi Tianyun appeared dangerous.
But what he saw next was Yi Tianyun smirking with disdain.
And then, a terrifying sense of danger rose behind him.
Before he could even react, a spear had already pinned him to the ground. The raging Five Elements Power surged into his limbs, rendering him completely unable to resist!