The elders tightened their fists as they suffered intense fury and helplessness that they had never experienced before.

They had thought of sending a group of men to serve as distraction while the rest of them attempted a charge into Tianlian Sect, but none of them could stomach the idea of sending their disciples to their deaths.

"Qingshan Sect is here!" Someone's voice thundered suddenly. Elder Ting Feng whipped his head up instantly.

Had Qingshan Sect arrived?

Why were they here?

"Chief Liu is here with his men!"

"Jiang Ning is here too!"

Jiang Ning?

Elder Ting Feng's heart fell from his throat back down into his chest when he heard the mention of Jiang Ning's name. He felt a strange and sudden lightness come over him, as if Jiang Ning's arrival was going to solve all their problems.

He had no idea why he felt that way.

Jiang Ning arrived within moments. Next to him was Liu Chuandao, Liu Zong and Liu Heng.

"Chief Liu, we weren't expecting you," said Elder Ting Feng. "The six sects had tried to attack Qingshan Sect in the past. Yet now, you're trying to save us."

"Our fates are bound with one another's." Liu Chuandao nodded. "Qingshan Sect is going to suffer too if Luo Qi gets what he wants. We're not doing this for you."

He spoken honestly, without attempting to conceal anything.

Elder Ting Feng nodded. He was still grateful.

"We're stuck here." He pointed at the forest ahead of them. "The forest is elevated. We don't know how many archers are hidden in there. They're really skilled. Quite a few of my disciples have died." He gestured at his own hand. The bandages wrapped around it were soaked in blood.

Liu Chuandao took a look and frowned.

They were faced with archers whose shots even Elder Ting Feng couldn't dodge.

Where had Tianlian Sect found such incredible archers?

"That's going to cause us some trouble. Is this the only way up the mountain?" he asked.

"It is. There used to be another path at the back of the mountain but Tianlian Sect sealed it. This is the only way up now."

"Luo Qi must be waiting for the other four sects to surrender and submit to his rule. That would give him complete power over five sects. If that happens, he'll be able to do whatever he wants," said Elder Ting Feng. "What worries me is the possibility that Luo Qi might not be the mastermind behind everything and that Mr Lang is the one pulling the strings all along."

That was his chief worry right now.

"Archers?"

Jiang Ning gave them a look before looking up and inspecting the forest ahead of them. His eyes scanned the forest like beams of x-ray and located a few possible locations the archers might be at within moments. © 2024.

Jiang Ning was the master when it came to assassination and infiltration.

He didn't waste any time on words and prepared to make his way forward immediately. Elder Ting Feng's face paled with terror.

"Jiang Ning! What do you think you're doing?"

Jiang Ning ignored him. As soon as he took his first step forward, a sharp whistle pierced the air.

Elder Ting Feng felt a chill on his back.

Was Jiang Ning trying to court death?

SWOOSH!

An arrow flew right at Jiang Ning. Without sparing the arrow a single glance, Jiang Ning shifted his body minutely with a single light step and dodged the shot.

The arrow sunk into the ground barely ten centimeters away from Jiang Ning's feet. Everyone's eyes widened with incredulity at the sight.

Jiang Ning did not pause in his tracks and continued advancing. But his movements appeared incomprehensible and bewildering, and seemed extremely bizarre. Shrill whistles pierced the air as multiple arrows flew towards Jiang Ning at lightning speed.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

Jiang Ning walked as if he were taking a leisurely stroll in his own backyard. The arrows appeared to be frightened of him, steering away from him without even touching his clothes.

"This..."

Elder Ting Feng and the rest were stunned at the sight. His disciples' eyes had widened as they witnessed the scene before them with disbelief. What a terrifying man!

How did Jiang Ning manage to do that? The archers seemed to be powerless against Jiang Ning.

Before they could recover from their shock, Jiang Ning had reached the forest and darted into its midst like a streak of lightning.