Chapter 372 - Went Left or Right

Chapter 372 Went Left or Right
Everyone knew that this final maneuver would not end peacefully.
But similarly, no one could have imagined that the situation would be so intense and lively.
To be willing to die for the marshal.
It was not a slogan.
It was the soul of the entire Border Control Corps.
No one would doubt their determination.


As long as Wang Tianzong dared to pull out his sword, 40,000 elite troops of the Border Control Corps would absolutely charge at the so-called Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State without hesitation until all of them died in battle.
The Standing Minister of the Army Headquarters of Zhongzhou State.
The Governor of Kunlun City.
The Patriarch of the Wang family of Beihai.
The three were magnates standing at the peak in Zhongzhou State. For the first time, they put the conflict before everyone so fiercely.
None of them seemed to have a way back.
But once they went further, they would face a real life-and-death battle.
No one wanted to bear the consequences.
Wang Tianzong watched Dongcheng Wudi quietly.
Dongcheng Wudi looked at Gu Xingyun with a grim smile on his face.


Gu Xingyun looked at Wang Tianzong with an ashen face.
The situation was subtle and deadlocked.
The others sat in their seats in a cold sweat and dared not breathe.

No room for negotiation?

After gods knew how long, Wang Tianzong took the initiative to speak and broke the silence.

What do you think?

Dongcheng Wudi glanced at him.
His expression had become peaceful, but his eyes flickered with divine light.
He was the Standing Minister of the Army Headquarters of Zhongzhou State, so naturally, he had the authority to transfer troops. He transferred the 40,000 most elite soldiers from the four battalions of the Border Control Corps to Huating and directly surrounded the Sky Academy. While declaring force, he trampled the rules without mercy. Regardless of the outcome, he must pay the price afterward.
He took a huge risk to get this far, so for him, there was no room for negotiation.


Wang Tianzong’s gaze flitted across Dongcheng Wudi and fell upon the thickly dotted 40,000 troops offstage.
The troops stood still and remained silent.
Wang Tianzong looked at them one by one. From their eyes, all he could see was unshakable tenacity and persistence.
That was how a soldier should behave.
That was what military spirit should look like.
The Border Control Corps claimed to be the most elite large-scale corps in Zhongzhou State.
These 40,000 people could be said to be the most elite 40,000 soldiers in the entire Border Control Corps.
They were 40,000 soldiers whose lowest strength was at the Qi-controlling Realm.
Dongcheng Wudi was right.
Wang Tianzong was invincible throughout the world. He ranked first on the Divine List and was capable of killing 40,000 people.


He was able to kill so many soldiers.
But he couldn’t do that.
When the Sword Emperor’s sword was aimed at the most elite warriors in Zhongzhou State, even if he only killed one person, he would commit treason in the eyes of the public.
Absolute force, abundant resources, and super strength could represent many things.
But they couldn’t really replace everything.
Even Wang Tianzong must abide by the rules and pay the price if he did anything wrong.
If he drew his sword today, Li Tianlan would surely die.
However, in the face of the counterattack of 40,000 troops, Wang Tianzong only had one sword. Even if he were an immortal, he couldn’t leave Huating unharmed without killing a person. If the worst happened, the Dongcheng Clan, which had made the earlier statement in front of everyone, would have no way back. While announcing that the Wang family of Beihai committed treason, the Dongcheng Clan would have to fight against the Wang family of Beihai to the death with all the troops!
The Border Control Corps faced the Beihai Corps.
Internal conflicts would occur in Zhongzhou State, civil strife in Eastern Europe would spread to Zhongzhou State, and the overall situation would collapse.


If everything above really happened, the Dongcheng Clan would inevitably break up, which was the price paid by the Dongcheng Clan regardless of the overall situation.
But at that time, even if the Dongcheng Clan were wiped out, the Wang family of Beihai would not be much better. The Wang family of Beihai might become the next Li family, even worse than the Li family in those days.
Wang Tianzong had a headache.
At this moment, he finally found that Li Tianlan had become one of the most sensitive figures in Zhongzhou State.
He affected the Dongcheng Clan.
And the Dongcheng Clan could affect the general trend.
The strength of Dongcheng Wudi seemed to be nothing to Wang Tianzong. Given Dongcheng Wudi’s aptitude, it was not difficult for him to enter the Invincible Realm. But as he had just said, over the years, countless wars and serious injuries had long since worn his potential away. The potential that enabled him to enter the Invincible Realm turned into more than twenty medals. Now Dongcheng Wudi was in Half-step Invincible Realm. With Wang Tianzong’s strength, he could kill him with a single move.
The problem was that although Dongcheng Wudi’s strength was nothing, his identity would even put Wang Tianzong under pressure.
He was one of the nine directors of the Zhongzhou Decision Making Committee, ranking third and serving as the Standing Minister of the Army Headquarters.
He was the virtual supreme leader of millions of troops, including the navy, the land force, the air force, and special forces in Zhongzhou State.
If it was during the war, Dongcheng Wudi’s authority was second only to the President, and he was the genuine second in command in Zhongzhou State. Even in peacetime, he was second only to the President and Prime Minister.
To kill him with a single move?
No matter how crazy Wang Tianzong was, he wouldn’t have such an idea.
Wang Tianzong narrowed his eyes, glanced at Gu Xingyun calmly, and already began to calculate the consequences of the thorough cooperation between the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City, which would make all conflicts broke out.
If the two really joined hands, it was not difficult for them to use the absolute strength to suppress the rebound of the Dongcheng Clan.
Even if he killed Li Tianlan today and even fought his way out of the siege of 40,000 troops, with the support of the Special Warfare Group and the Southeast Group, the risk of the Wang family of Beihai’s collapse would be minimized.
If the two sides could really trust each other and joined forces, the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City would definitely have to sacrifice a lot of bargaining chips to calm down the anger of the entire Zhongzhou State after the event. The Southeast Group and the Special Warfare Group would suffer losses. Some of the Wang family of Beihai’s core technologies would be forced to open, and Wang Tianzong would even have to give up some leadership of the Beihai Corps. As the Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State, he would even be likely to face years of imprisonment…
All this may be in return for the complete destruction of the Dongcheng Clan and the complete disappearance of the Li family.
Was it worth it?
Wang Tianzong looked at Gu Xingyun and wanted to find a tacit understanding in him.
Dongcheng Wudi also watched Gu Xingyun.
His expression was bland and indifferent.
He could think of what Wang Tianzong thought of.
However, facing a huge temptation, Wang Tianzong virtually reduced the risk that the Wang family of Beihai would completely collapse after its cooperation with Kunlun City.
But no matter how low the risk was, it still existed.
Dongcheng Wudi had no way back. He meant to protect Li Tianlan today. If Wang Tianzong really dared to take action, no matter who he cooperated with, Dongcheng Wudi would make him regret it for the rest of his life.

Marshal Dongcheng is too sensitive. Today’s maneuver is normal. It is a battle between young students. To win, lose, live, or die, is their destiny. I agree with you, marshal. No one outside the maneuver can intervene in the result of the maneuver.

In the embarrassing silence, Gu Xingyun gritted his teeth and expressed his attitude word by word with a livid face.
No one spoke.
But everyone who heard what he said was shaking inside.
The meaning of this remark could not be more obvious.
Kunlun City had abandoned the plan against Li Tianlan.
At the very least, it had abandoned the plan against Li Tianlan during this maneuver.
Whatever the outcome of the maneuver, Li Tianlan would no longer face pressure from Kunlun City.
Dongcheng Wudi said indifferently,
That would be the best.

Wang Tianzong’s eyes were calm again.
Gu Xingyun kept breathing deeply. He clenched his fists, and his body seemed to be trembling imperceptibly.
Didn’t he know that the cooperation between the Special Warfare Group and the Southeast Group had a good chance of winning?
But he really couldn’t afford such a big bet.
The Special Warfare Group was not weak.
But Gu Xingyun was not as good as Wang Tianzong.
The Zhongzhou Sword Emperor, who was still in his heyday, may be able to get through the close siege after killing Li Tianlan.
But as soon as Li Tianlan died, a severely injured Zhongzhou God of War was bound to die without an intact body.
Gu Xingyun had to abandon the plan.
He didn’t want to let go of Li Tianlan.
But he didn’t want to die, either.

Principal, what do you think?

After remaining silent for a moment, Wang Tianzong suddenly glanced at Zhuang Huayang.

I agree with His Highness Gu Xingyun.

Zhuang Huayang smiled.
The final maneuver is a normal competition. Any attempt done by anyone outside the maneuver to intervene in the result of the maneuver is tantamount to destroying the future general situation of the Zhongzhou Special Warfare System.

His attitude was clear.
But that was merely a clear attitude of him as the principal of the Sky Academy.
Nevertheless, everyone knew what Wang Tianzong asked.
Zhuang Huayang was one of the big shots in the Academics.
Li Huacheng, President of Zhongzhou State, was now the leader of the Academics.
Dongcheng Wudi transferred troops into the Sky Academy privately. President Li Huacheng was a real-power figure who had every reason to blame Dongcheng Wudi.
Wang Tianzong looked at Zhuang Huayang.
Zhuang Huayang smiled faintly and calmly.
The attitude of the Academics was very subtle, but it was clear that it did not want to give up its relationship with Li Tianlan.
They wanted to protect Li Tianlan, but they didn’t want to take too much risk.
Therefore, the Academics only implicitly expressed a certain degree of support for the Dongcheng Clan.
That, of course, was only implicit support.
It was impossible for the President to stand entirely behind Dongcheng Wudi and support him, at least not now, because the outcome of all the conflicts had not yet been clear at present.
President was now visiting abroad.
He wouldn’t come back to clean up the mess until the maneuver of the two academies was over and things had come to a close.
If the Dongcheng Clan couldn’t hold on by then, then the Academics’ previous implicit support would naturally disappear, and the President would take the stance of Kunlun City and the Wang family of Beihai to suppress the Dongcheng Clan.
However, if the Dongcheng Clan could continue to be domineering, then the Academics’ implicit support would become real support. President Li Huacheng would personally make a statement, and Dongcheng Wudi’s private deployment of forces would become a minor event.
Of course, no matter how minor the incident became in the end, the Dongcheng Clan would surely hand over the leadership of the entire Border Control Corps.
The breach of faith, capriciousness, cooperation, betrayal, trade, balance, compromise—when all the words were combined in the general trend, there was only one word.
Politics.
Wang Tianzong took a deep look at Zhuang Huayang and slowly sat in his seat.
Sword Emperor never lowered his head.
So he said no more.
His meaning could not be more obvious. He wouldn’t take action now, but he still hadn’t given up the plan of killing Li Tianlan.
Dongcheng Wudi narrowed his eyes. He moved, stepped on the railing, crossed it, and landed directly in front of Li Tianlan.
The 40,000 troops turned around at the same time, and their eyes were fixed on Dongcheng Wudi.
Dongcheng Wudi silently looked at Li Tianlan.
Li Tianlan and Dongcheng Wudi looked at each other.
There was no gratitude or joy in his eyes. But there was a sparkle in his eyes that Dongcheng Wudi wanted to see the most.
It was indescribable intimacy.
Li Tianlan’s heart was stirred like never before.
He heard the declaration that Dongcheng Wudi had just said aloud.
He, too, heard the simultaneous, heroic oaths of the 40,000 hot-blooded troops, who were ready to die for him.
That was the frankest and truest attitude of the Dongcheng Clan.
It was the greatest kindness.
The kindness that wrapped him tightly almost made him breathless.
It wasn’t until this moment that Li Tianlan knew that it turned out that his so-called hesitation and uneasiness were actually illusory. When the Dongcheng Clan, regardless of the consequences, truly stood in front of him to block all storms, he had no choice but to accept this all.
All the protection and responsibilities.
Li Tianlan’s mouth moved, and he wanted to say something, but he couldn’t speak and could only bend down to Dongcheng Wudi.
Dongcheng Wudi reached out and supported Li Tianlan. He pointed at the 40,000 troops behind him and calmly said,
You don’t owe the Dongcheng Clan anything. But you owe them.


Yes.

Li Tianlan nodded and raised his hand to salute the 40,000 most obsessed and enthusiastic elite soldiers.
The 40,000 people raised their hands to salute him in return.
It was a picture of silence and oppression, but it was extremely agitated and feverish, like soundless martial impartation.

I will give everything back to the Dongcheng Clan, whatever you will lose today, marshal.

Li Tianlan put down his arm and looked at Dongcheng Wudi’s face that looked a little young because it was clean.
As long as I’m alive, the future brilliance of the Dongcheng Clan will never fade.

His face was solemn.
That’s my promise.


It should not be your promise.

Dongcheng Wudi’s facial expression was complicated.
He patted Li Tianlan on the shoulder and said softly,
You deserve it…

He paused, without saying anything. And then he chuckled and said,
Do your best in the maneuver. As long as you can win, the Li family will thoroughly embrace a new life today. Everyone participating in the maneuver today is your enemy. Come on. No matter what situation you are in, tens of thousands of people will be looking at you from the sidelines.

Li Tianlan nodded.
Wang Tianzong and Gu Xingyun also appeared in front of Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan.

Dad, rest assured.

Wang Shengxiao’s expression was calm and determined.
I will do whatever it takes to win.

Wang Tianzong nodded and said calmly,
Be careful.


To maim him!

Gu Xingyun stood in front of Gu Hanshan, his tone hoarse and cold.
To keep him alive? So what? Injure him severely today, and you must do it!


Rest assured.

Gu Hanshan whispered,
We can do it.

That was also their confidence to participate in the final maneuver.
After all, Li Tianlan was alone.
What he would face was a combination of several teams.
What Li Tianlan didn’t know was that after he showed his combat power of the Invincible Realm, within a few days, Gu Hanshan had broken through to the peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm from the stabilization phase of this realm.
And Jiang Shangyu, who had stayed in the Fire-flaming Realm for three years, also made a breakthrough and reached the stabilization phase of the Thunder-shocking Realm at one stroke based on his accumulated strength.
If the three of them joined forces, they were definitely not weaker than Li Tianlan. Even if Li Tianlan had the battle strength of the Invincible Realm, the odds of the three of them winning as a whole were as high as 60 percent.
The three big potatoes returned to the stand.
Gu Xingyun waved his hand toward Zhuang Huayang to signal the start of the maneuver.
Zhuang Huayang, who had wanted to make an opening statement, suddenly didn’t know what to say. He held the microphone, hesitated, and finally smiled, waved his hand, and spoke directly,
The maneuver begins.

The content of the maneuver—game of strength.
Everyone entered the maneuver area at the same time. There was no rules or time limit, and one could freely hunt down others with all means. The winning individual and the team he belonged to would win first place in the team maneuver.
The content of the maneuver was without reason.
All students entered the dense forest on the fringe of the maneuver area from different directions in silence.
Li Tianlan’s heart was like a raging fire, but he was like ice on the surface.
When he entered the maneuver area, almost all cameras were catching him in a flash, because he was the only villain in this maneuver.
Li Tianlan’s silent standing figure appeared on the big screen.
The maneuver area was large.
There were roads in the four directions around him. He couldn’t see any enemy.
To go left or right?
In the gaze of everyone on the platform, Li Tianlan reached out and broke a branch of a tree beside him at will.
He held the branch in his hand as if he were holding a sword.
The next moment, everyone on the platform was suddenly plunged into an uproar.
In the uproar, not only Gu Xingyun, but even Wang Tianzong suddenly stood up from his seat.