"Indeed, Yi Tiannan stated calmly, 'Xuan Yingfei made that point perfectly clear. It is fortunate that the Great City Lord and I have been friends for many years; otherwise, even I would have believed this was all arranged by you, Great City Lord.'"

"Haha, Tiannan, you are perhaps the only one who still believes me at a time like this." Cang Long’s plan was taking shape. He had already guessed nearly all the truth, but he simply was not willing to prove it.

"Great City Lord can still laugh at a time like this. Aren't you afraid the people of the Three Tribes will take action against your rule out of discontent?" Yi Tiannan expressed his confusion at Cang Long's demeanor.

After a brief bout of laughter, Wan Jian Cang Long erupted in another wave of anger: "The dissatisfaction of the Three Tribes toward the rule of my Wan Jian City has lasted for decades. It seems the time for an explosion has come. No matter how much I try to stop it, it is inevitable—this is fate."

Yi Tiannan was left speechless by Cang Long’s frankness, but he knew in his heart that the contradictions among the Four Tribes within the Three Sword Realms had been accumulating for a long time. It was truly the way of the world: what is long divided must unite, and what is long united must divide—a natural law.

"Regardless, the martial arts tournament continues. You should withdraw now and prepare," Cang Long turned away and waved for Yi Tiannan to leave. He had already guessed who the assassin was; he never imagined that a mistake from years ago was now reaping its retribution. However, Dugu Bingchen alone could not possibly shake the centuries-old foundation of Wan Jian City. There must be someone behind him—just who was this person?

At this moment, along a secluded path in Wan Jian City, the Beast Tribe expert Zhan Fengyue awaited someone as arranged. According to the summons, Elder Xie of the Beast Tribe was supposed to meet him, but after a long wait, no one appeared. With a sigh, "Wuhu," the sound of wind brought forth killing intent, and an icy wave of murderous aura swept past him amidst the dust.

"Who? Is that Elder Xie?" Zhan Fengyue had never felt such killing intent before. He couldn't help but place his hands on his Twin Blades of Cold Flame. "Since you've come, show yourself. Why hide?"

"Hmph, you are quite punctual," Dugu Bingchen said, hands clasped behind his back, landing lightly from the treetop with graceful steps. "Zhan Fengyue, do you know Elder Xie is very displeased with you for participating in the martial arts tournament without authorization?"

Zhan Fengyue was confused; he had never seen this person before. "Who are you? You are clearly a Human, how could you possibly know about matters concerning my Beast Tribe?"

Bingchen stepped forward with a cold expression, gazing intently at Zhan Fengyue. "You do not need to know that. Elder Xie sent me to ask you why you are participating in this tournament!"

"Of course, it is to retrieve the Beast Tribe's ultimate treasure, the Raging Sand Sword, for Elder Xie!" Zhan Fengyue had already sensed the malice in Bingchen. The presence of such killing intent suggested that this was more than just a simple interrogation; he was ready for a fight at any moment.

"For the Beast Tribe?"

"Precisely."

Upon hearing this, Bingchen drew his Half-Moon Blade and used internal energy to force it to transform into a full moon shape. "Elder Xie knows your intentions, but also for the sake of the Beast Tribe, he wishes you to accomplish one more thing."

Zhan Fengyue hesitated slightly. He recognized that Half-Moon Blade. It was the weapon Elder Xie carried in his youth. Its full name should be the Yin-Yang Half-Moon Blade. This blade was versatile, its techniques bizarrely complex, rumored to defeat a thousand blades in one moon. If the young man before him truly was Elder Xie in disguise, he certainly would not be his match. "I have always been fiercely loyal to the Beast Tribe; please state what you require."

"Since that is the case..." Bingchen activated the Half-Moon Blade with a single palm strike. The blade darted around in the air, up and down, left and right, finally hurtling towards Zhan Fengyue like a deadly disc. Although Zhan Fengyue was prepared, his speed could not match the rotational momentum of the Half-Moon Blade. With a single strike, both his hands were severed, blood pouring out relentlessly.

"Ah! Why? Did Elder Xie order you to kill me!" Zhan Fengyue's face turned ashen as his hands were suddenly ruined. However, as a Beast Tribe expert, he would not surrender just yet. He sprang up, rotating his body on the ground, and then launched the Twin Blades of Cold Flame on his body, shooting them directly at Bingchen.

Bingchen remained unmoved by Zhan Fengyue’s struggle, closing the distance step by step. With a single upward slash, he sent the Twin Blades of Cold Flame flying away. "Did you not just say you are fiercely loyal to Elder Xie? Now is the time to prove your loyalty. Elder Xie wants you dead, so go and die obediently!" Zhan Fengyue was indeed an expert; even without use of his arms, his leg power was astonishing. He leaped towards the location of the flame blades, grasped one with his mouth, and rushed toward Bingchen.

"Overestimating yourself," Bingchen didn't even spare Zhan Fengyue a proper glance. He slowly drew his long sword from his waist and unleashed another technique: Ten Thousand Swords Pouring from the Heavens. Instantly, Zhan Fengyue's legs were pierced and severed.

"Ah! Ah!" Zhan Fengyue, unable to bear the excruciating pain, let out a heaven-shaking roar. His entire body was submerged in endless, mutilated blood, suffering intensely.

"Heh, this counts as the number one expert of the Beast Tribe!" Bingchen shook the dust from his sword. This sword was named 'Unfalling Frost,' an heirloom left by Dugu Yifang. He had sworn to use this very sword to end Wan Jian Cang Long's life.

"Why? Why would Elder Xie do this?" Zhan Fengyue’s willpower was surprisingly strong; he hadn't passed out from the pain. His body now looked like a crawling caterpillar, pitiable and tragic.

"Because the Beast Tribe needs you!" A hoarse, aged voice suddenly echoed on the secluded path. A shadow of cold light descended, startling countless leaves and weeds into motion. The Beast Tribe's Elder Xie arrived in a flash, holding the Eight Desolations Profound Orb, positioning himself directly in front of Zhan Fengyue's head.

"Elder Xie, Elder Xie! This..." Zhan Fengyue was crippled and lacked the strength to move.

Elder Xie wore an expression of distress but didn't look at the gruesome scene on the ground. "Bingchen, did you bring Wan Jian Cang Long's golden plaque?"

Bingchen retracted his blade and sword, bowed slightly, and presented the golden plaque given to him by the beast-faced man. "Elder."

"Very good. Just toss it on the ground." Elder Xie raised an eyebrow and, using one hand to manipulate the power of the Eight Desolations Profound Orb, levitated Zhan Fengyue's mutilated body into the air.

"Elder Xie, what is going on? What are you doing!" Zhan Fengyue was bewildered, a feeling of impending death surging into his heart. "Elder Xie! I, Zhan Fengyue, have done so much for the Beast Tribe in my life. If I have erred, please spare me."

"An error!" Elder Xie continued to stir the Profound Orb, emitting a mysterious power that lifted Zhan Fengyue higher. "I heard you planned to meet with the Second City Lord, Wan Jian Xuanhu, regarding this tournament? Were you planning to claim the Raging Sand Sword all for yourself in the end?"

"No, truly not!" Veins bulged on Zhan Fengyue's forehead as he tried to argue, "I was merely using Wan Jian Xuanhu to obtain the Raging Sand Sword so I could present it to you, Elder. Please see clearly."

"Hahaha, if that's the case, you are quite kind-hearted after all." Elder Xie laughed sharply, then suddenly stopped applying force, causing Zhan Fengyue to crash heavily back onto the ground again. "Seeing your loyalty, I shall assign you another task. This task is simple. Since you have always acted for our Beast Tribe, I will give you one more chance."

Zhan Fengyue was terrified, thinking he was done for this time. Hearing Elder Xie speak, he immediately prepared to grovel and bow.

"Sacrifice your worthless life for the future of the Beast Tribe," Elder Xie closed his eyes, unwilling to look at such a person again. "Only with your death will the Beast Tribe have an excuse to raise an army and attack Wan Jian City. Your death will be worthwhile."

"..." Zhan Fengyue was drenched in a cold sweat but could not utter a single word. He knew that Elder Xie never changed his mind once a decision was made.

Elder Xie turned and looked at the cold Bingchen behind him, speaking dismissively: "End him with your sword, then throw Wan Jian Cang Long's golden plaque onto him. From this moment on, you are the vanguard of the Beast Tribe's Ten Thousand Beast Generals. When the final battle of the Three Sword Martial Arts Tournament arrives, that will be the day our Beast Tribe army tramples Wan Jian City."

Dugu Bingchen's eyes widened. He finally had the chance to face Wan Jian Cang Long directly. He cared nothing for racial distinctions; as long as he could kill Wan Jian Cang Long, all the suffering he endured over the years would be worth it. He threw his head back and tossed the golden plaque onto Zhan Fengyue's body. Then, Unfalling Frost was drawn once more, instantly causing the mountains and rivers to change color and clouds to churn violently.

"This..." Zhan Fengyue knew his death was imminent, yet he was still terrified by the murderous aura radiating from Bingchen, his face turning the color of dead ash.

"Eighth Level of the Ten Thousand Swords Arts," Bingchen flicked his sword, stirring up violent clouds and cracking the earth. No one would have guessed that at this inconspicuous starting point, an orphan of the former rebels could cultivate the Ten Thousand Swords Arts of Wan Jian City to the same level as Wan Jian Cang Long. "Ten Thousand Swords in All Directions!"

"Rumble." The sound was like the summons of a death spirit. The Unfalling Frost in his hand was instantly enveloped by a powerful airflow. In a flash, the sword became immensely large, crashing down upon the earth like a massive log. Then, with a fierce thrust, it moved like a galloping wind, directly cleaving Zhan Fengyue in half.

"Heh, such astonishing power," Elder Xie toyed with the Profound Orb in his hand, his expression gloomy. "Perhaps even the beast-faced man who taught you the Ten Thousand Swords Arts never knew you surpassed him."

"Clang..." Bingchen did not speak. Instead, he flicked the blood from the sword. Indeed, the sword lived up to its name—not only did the frost not fall, but not even a drop of blood could cling to it.

"Remember, there is still one more person you need to deal with. I will wait for you in the Forest of Extinction," Elder Xie gritted his teeth fiercely, then dissolved into a puff of dust and vanished.

"One more person!" Dugu Bingchen shook his head and smiled. The experts of the Three Tribes were either killed or terrified by him. Now, only the swordsman of the Human Tribe remained. The whereabouts of Soul-Drawing Boy Sword Master Hong Chen were uncertain, so it would be better to seek out that suddenly appearing swordsman, Ye Xiu, and kill him under the name of Wan Jian Cang Long. "Hahahaha!"

"Achoo..." Ye Xiu suddenly let out a yawn. He wiped his nose with his hand, feeling annoyed. He supposed his intense battle with Shen Ying over the past two days had been excessive. After all, he had to step onto the stage in two days; he must control himself and not succumb to desire every night.

"Isn't this Young Hero Ye? Why are you standing here alone!" Unexpectedly, Wan Jian Qinglin had also arrived at the Star Gazing Tower at this moment. He had heard about the recent situation and wasn't sure whether to feel joy or sorrow.

"Third City Lord." Ye Xiu straightened up, glanced around to confirm no one else was present, and pulled Qinglin into his room. "Third City Lord, did you know Lang Taotian was attacked?"

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