Chapter 122: The Struggle for Supremacy

"It seems I cannot escape today, as an ambush has been set..."

Luo Hao sighed softly as he looked at the valley before him. Though the valley appeared unnervingly calm, he could already sense the killing intent emanating from within.

"To think the Black Lotus Sect would collude with the Black Armored Army. It seems the schemes of the Prince of Qing’s estate have utterly failed this time," Luo Hao remarked with a smirk.

"Though the objective was not secured, we have at least uncovered the unusual connection between the Black Lotus Sect and the Black Armored Army. It is not entirely without gain," a voice echoed in his ear.

"It is only a pity for me; I am destined to be sacrificed here today," Luo Hao said with a self-deprecating smile.

"Take care of yourself." With those words, the voice vanished completely. Luo Hao knew he had been thoroughly abandoned by the Prince of Qing’s estate.

"At least Yun'er is not by my side..." Thinking of the daughter who had been abducted, Luo Hao felt a sudden sense of relief. Although he was certain to die today, there was a chance his daughter was still alive. He recalled the scoundrel who had taken her that day and wished only to thank his ancestors for eight generations, even though he had no idea if the villain had harmed her.

After steadying himself, Luo Hao walked into the valley.

"Luo Hao?" the six men standing in the valley asked.

"It is I." Luo Hao straightened his clothes, preparing to meet his end with dignity.

"Do you have the relic of the Leopard Tribe?"

"I do."

"Hand it over, and we shall leave your corpse intact."

"I..." Luo Hao began, but was cut off.

"Luo Hao!" A roar suddenly shook the entire valley. "You stole our tribe's relic—you will die today!"

Boom!

A dark shadow descended from the sky, kicking up a massive cloud of dust. The men present turned solemn, standing on high alert as they gazed at the silhouette within the dust. As the debris settled, the figure was revealed.

He was a man with twelve braids, one blind eye, and powerful muscles. His bare chest bore a tattoo of a snow leopard.

"It is the Manke-stu of the Leopard Tribe!" Moyu said, enunciating every word.

The six inspectors of the Black Lotus Sect stared intensely at the newcomer. They had long heard that the Leopard Tribe had sent a Manke-stu to recover their ancestral relic, but they had not expected him to appear today, especially since there had been no trace of him for some time. What a coincidence!

"Luo Hao, hand over our tribe's relic!" The Manke-stu looked at Luo Hao with his single eye, ignoring everyone else as if they were mere specks of dust.

"Very well, here!" Luo Hao’s eyes flickered. Gritting his teeth, he tore something from his chest, threw it toward the six inspectors, and turned to flee in the opposite direction.

"The relic!" The Manke-stu’s gaze locked onto the object. He could sense the aura of the relic upon it.

"I have it!" He leaped into the air, snatched the object, and grinned wildly. "Moyu, cover my retreat—" he started to shout to the other inspectors, but before he could finish...

Boom!!!

He was sent flying!

"The sacred object of my sect is not something you are permitted to touch." The Manke-stu, still clutching the stolen item, glared at the inspectors who were rushing to reclaim it. A phantom image flickered behind him.

Roar!!!

The phantom of a snow leopard appeared behind the Manke-stu, letting out a thunderous roar at the approaching inspectors. The inspectors' movements nearly halted under the pressure of the roar, and they were sent flying backward!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The six inspectors quickly returned to their original positions, though they were now disheveled, with blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

"Do not fear! He may be a master of the Intent Realm, but there are six of us!" one shouted. "I have already notified the Elder. Once he arrives, the Manke-stu will surely be executed!"

Moyu wiped the blood from his mouth and glared at the Manke-stu.

"..." The Manke-stu squinted at the six inspectors. While he was a master of the Intent Realm, taking down six True Qi realm experts simultaneously would require significant effort. Cai Prefecture was not his tribe's territory, and unlike his enemies who had reinforcements, he was currently isolated. However, now that he had the relic, he could use its power to...

Pop.

The relic in the Manke-stu's hand crumbled into fine powder.

"You dare to play me for a fool!" The Manke-stu looked at the dust in his palm with a dark, gloomy expression. He had not expected that he, a Manke-stu of the Leopard Tribe, would be toyed with by an outsider using a fake relic.

"Bastard!" Ignoring the six inspectors, he turned to pursue Luo Hao.

"Baomu'er, where do you think you are going?" A gale of wind whipped up, and a figure stood directly in the Manke-stu's path.

"Greetings, Elder!" the inspectors behind the Manke-stu shouted.

"To think the Black Lotus Sect would conspire to steal our tribe's relic! Are you not afraid of our tribe's retaliation?" the Manke-stu gritted his teeth, sensing the strength of the figure before him, which was in no way inferior to his own.

"Are you certain your Leopard Tribe is truly capable of retaliating against the Black Lotus Sect?" the Elder sneered. "If you wish to exact revenge, you had best cross the Black Armored Army's defense line first!"

"..." The Manke-stu remained silent, but the snow leopard phantom behind him grew increasingly distinct. Simultaneously, the phantom of a black lotus began to bloom behind the Elder.

Boom!

The ground cracked and boulders shattered. The six True Qi realm inspectors joined forces, struggling to hold their ground amidst the collision of the two masters' auras.

"My, it’s quite lively here." A relaxed voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention.

Li Ju stood on the cliffside, looking down at the two factions in the valley. "Since the atmosphere is so lively tonight, perhaps I should kill someone to add to the festivities."

Li Ju turned his gaze to the person he was holding.

"You... how is it you..." Luo Hao, held by the head, stared at Li Ju in disbelief. How could a mere practitioner of the External Arts have become...

Pop.

Red and white matter splattered outward.