Chapter 81

Just as Shang Xia jumped onto the iron chain suspension bridge and charged past Jin Guanchao, Sang Youqi, who was supposed to be restrained in his dantian and internal energy, suddenly burst into the speed of a Martial Intent Realm, rushing towards the opposite side.

The situation once again took everyone by surprise. Yuan Zilu, who had already rushed onto the bridge, along with Yuan Zhen and Yun Yifei, had not even had time to fully understand Yuan Zilu's intentions and could only instinctively follow his shouts.

Thus, when Yuan Zilu's voice, filled with shock and anger, came from behind them again, they once again excellently completed their instinctive reaction: act first, think later!

"Sang Youqi is also a traitor, he wants to save Jin Guanchao!"

When Yuan Zilu, Yun Yifei, and Yuan Zhen arrived, Jia Yuntian had already cut the second iron chain suspension bridge between Kaiyuan Peak and Qiling Peak, and was holding Sang Youqi hostage, facing off with them at both ends of the iron chain suspension bridge connecting Tongyou Peak and Kaiyuan Peak.

Due to their eagerness to save Sang Youqi's life and their urgent desire to regain control of Kaiyuan Peak, they overlooked some small details, such as Tang Yuan, a third-layer Martial Intent Realm expert, who, even if ambushed, would not so easily fall to a fellow cultivator of the same realm.

After all, as the patrol supervisor, Tang Yuan, though perhaps somewhat stubborn, was not stupid. Knowing that the Tongyou Peak was secretly investigating the Rose Society's spies and with a major battle imminent, how could he not be on guard against those around him?

Unless he was extremely unlucky, and the two fellow Martial Intent Realm cultivators beside him were both Rose Society spies, who ambushed him together!

For example, apart from Tang Yuan, there were at least twenty to thirty other Martial Origin and Martial Extreme Realm cultivators stationed on Kaiyuan Peak.

However, since Yuan Zilu and the others arrived, Kaiyuan Peak had been eerily quiet, with no other cultivators appearing, clearly indicating that they had all been killed.

How could so many people be killed without any commotion, especially with Tang Yuan dead?

And so on...

When Shang Xia, seemingly rashly, jumped onto the bridge, Sang Youqi's sudden actions made Yuan Zilu, who had previously overlooked these details, suddenly realize: this was a trap!

The true intention of the other party was probably to delay time and, secondly, to give the other Rose Society spies on Tongyou Peak a chance to survive!

After all, Jia Yuntian had already realized that the Tongyou Academy had somehow learned of their plan to break the protective array of Tongyou Peak and had secretly arranged for people to wait for them to show up and fall into a trap.

When the informed ones were dead, and the others saw Sang Youqi being "held hostage" by Jia Yuntian, they would instinctively overlook the suspicion on Sang Youqi.

The so-called "exchange of hostages" would, when the two met in the middle, allow Sang Youqi, who was not actually restrained, to burst into action and bring the heavily injured and restrained Jin Guanchao to Kaiyuan Peak.

If they were fast enough and the other party was slow to react, Jia Yuntian might even be able to wave the Gold Devouring Scissors to threaten the other party, increasing the chances of a safe escape!

Even if the other party reacted quickly and jumped onto the bridge to pursue, by the time they reached the middle, Sang Youqi and Jin Guanchao would already be halfway across, making it impossible for the other party to catch up.

Moreover, Jia Yuntian would be waiting on the other side!

However, no matter how well Jia Yuntian and Sang Youqi had planned, they did not expect Shang Xia, a "reckless" young man, to jump onto the bridge without regard for the "life and death" of his fellow disciples or the threat of Jia Yuntian cutting the iron chains with the Gold Devouring Scissors, determined to kill Jin Guanchao!

But at this moment, Sang Youqi was not a true "fellow disciple," and with both companions on the iron chain bridge and not yet met, one of whom was truly restrained, Jia Yuntian also dared not easily cut the chains!

The situation was sudden, and Yun Yifei acted immediately to try to stop Shang Xia, causing Jia Yuntian and Sang Youqi to misjudge again, thinking that Shang Xia would soon be captured by Yun Yifei.

Especially Sang Youqi, who did not reveal himself immediately.

By the time he realized the situation was dire, Shang Xia had already used the martial talisman left by Shang Xi to gain the speed of a Martial Intent Realm cultivator, not only avoiding capture by Yun Yifei but also closing the distance with Jin Guanchao even further!

Sang Youqi was shocked and, without regard for revealing his true identity, immediately displayed his unrestrained Martial Intent Realm cultivation, trying to snatch Jin Guanchao from Shang Xia!

But it was too late!

Shang Xia, who had already taken the initiative and possessed the speed of a Martial Intent Realm expert, had closed the distance with Jin Guanchao.

The palm force he had been building up for a long time was unleashed, a thick golden and red lightning bolt crossing over ten yards, transforming into a vast lightning net that enveloped the completely defenseless Jin Guanchao.

"I said it, Jin Guanchao must die!"

The lightning flickered, and a charred corpse fell from the iron chain bridge, rolling and falling from the thousand-yard height below, leaving nothing behind, truly dead without a trace!

"No—, you must die!"

Sang Youqi roared, his figure, which had been rushing towards Jin Guanchao, leaping up on the swaying bridge, pouncing towards Shang Xia, who was not far behind.

He was determined to tear this Martial Extreme Realm young genius to pieces!

"Quick, get out of the way!"

Yuan Zhen, who was rapidly approaching, shouted involuntarily.

But on a bridge only five feet wide, where could one hide?

But Shang Xia could retreat!

At this moment, his only reliance was the martial talisman given to him by Shang Xi, which allowed him to possess a speed not inferior to a Martial Intent Realm expert and possibly even greater agility!

Sang Youqi's attack missed, and the wooden planks between the two iron chains were instantly torn away, revealing a gap several feet wide.

As Sang Youqi's figure fell, his legs had to spread apart, each foot landing on an iron chain, and he leaped into the air again, like a diving eagle, reaching out to grab Shang Xia's head.

This claw attack covered all of Shang Xia's escape routes in mid-air.

"This time, where will you run?"

Sang Youqi seemed to see Shang Xia's skull shattered, blood and brains flying, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

But at this moment, Jia Yuntian's shouts came from Kaiyuan Peak behind him.

"Come back! Come back! Fool! The person is dead, save your life first!"

"He's luring you, you bastard, fool! Go back! I'm going to cut the chains..."

Sang Youqi was startled, only then noticing that Yuan Zhen and Yun Yifei, who were chasing Shang Xia, were already close!

It was too late to back out now!

Sang Youqi decided to go all out, kill this young man first, and vent his anger!

"Assistant!"

Yuan Zhen shouted again, knowing it was futile, but Shang Xia was determined and could not escape this time.

At the critical moment, Shang Xia suddenly jumped off the iron chain bridge!

Outside was a thousand-yard drop!

"Huh?"

Sang Youqi's attack missed again, but he was confident Shang Xia would die, and his anxious mood eased as he began to think of a way to escape.

But at this moment, his peripheral vision caught the young figure who had jumped off the bridge, now leaping two steps in mid-air, not only not pulling away but almost crossing paths with him!

"Staggered Steps? What use is that?"

Sang Youqi recognized this as the Shang family's inherited martial technique.

Although this technique was exceptionally exquisite, it could not allow one to walk in mid-air. Under insufficient cultivation, the limit was to turn around in mid-air!

"Clang!"

As this thought flashed through Sang Youqi's mind, Shang Xia, who was calm and composed in mid-air, suddenly drew the Jade River Sword from his waist, extended his arm, and hooked the iron chain a few feet away!

The Two Instruments Yuan Qi in his body easily transformed, the Yin force extending through the sword, the tip of the Jade River Sword bending like a hook, hanging onto the iron chain.

Shang Xia's figure swung in mid-air, and when he landed on the bridge again, he was already behind Sang Youqi.

At the moment of landing, Shang Xia's internal energy surged, the Yin force transforming into Yang, the flexible Jade River Sword instantly becoming taut, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, cutting down towards Sang Youqi's back.

At the same time, Sang Youqi's figure also landed on the bridge, but he did not have time to turn around, and a sharp and fierce killing intent made the hair on his back stand up!

"You..."

Sang Youqi roared, but he was facing away from Shang Xia and could not counterattack in a hurry. He imitated Shang Xia's method, grabbing the iron chain above his head, and leaped to try to flip over Shang Xia's head.

Shang Xia's missed strike was not unexpected. He did not rush to attack again but instead retreated quickly, and with a flip of his wrist, a lightning-patterned talisman board shot out from his sleeve and was held between his fingers.

"Lightning!"

A bit of internal energy surged, and the lightning-patterned talisman board was activated.

Countless lightning bolts exploded, rushing towards the iron chain that Sang Youqi was grabbing, as well as towards Sang Youqi himself!

Sang Youqi's martial will erupted, instantly suppressing the lightning, but his hand holding the iron chain was numb, unable to use it for support, and he had to land back on the bridge.

But Shang Xia was also extremely alert. He did not engage Sang Youqi head-on but retreated again, maintaining