Saving the Beauty Is a Pretense, Taking Advantage Is the Truth

Shen Xue stood not far away. Hearing this clearly, she could not help but say coldly, You deliberately let them attack first just to force them to prove their loyalty?

Yes, Wang Hao admitted with complete candor.

You really do not hide it at all.

What is there to hide? Wang Hao glanced at her. In chaotic times, the most valuable thing is where you stand. I gave them a stage to fight, which serves as both a trial and a chance to declare their allegiance. If they want to secure a position on the chessboard of the Great Zhou Dynasty, they must first show me their value.

Shen Xue frowned. Are you not afraid that something might happen to them?

Wang Hao said leisurely, I am afraid.

That is why I am watching.

He spoke very lightly, but the words made Shen Xue pause slightly.

The next moment, the battlefield suddenly changed!

On the left wing of the battlefield, Yun Meng sent four people flying with a single thrust of her spear. Just as she was about to press her advantage and pursue them, an extremely sinister aura suddenly erupted from behind her!

That was not the Astral Qi Realm.

That was the Void Flight Realm!

Moreover, it was not one of the seven known experts!

Miss Yun, watch out! someone cried out in alarm.

A gray-robed elder had somehow sneaked into the battlefield. Only at this very moment did he violently strike, his fingers hooked like claws, aiming straight for the center of Yun Meng's back!

His aura was venomous, and the angle of his attack was incredibly tricky. It was clear he intended to kill her in a single blow!

Yun Meng's expression changed drastically.

She had just slain several strong enemies in a row and her momentum was at its peak. She never expected the enemy to have hidden such an old monster specifically waiting to ambush her.

It was too late to pull her spear back.

It was even more impossible to retreat.

In that split second, she could even feel the skin on her back stinging from the piercing energy.

The gray-robed elder revealed a ferocious smile.

A genius?

Only a dead genius is worth the most money!

Yun Meng's pupils shrank.

It is over!

However, at this critical moment of life and death—

Boom!!!

A figure suddenly stepped through the air from behind, as fast as a black thunderbolt tearing through the battlefield.

In the next second, a hand directly grabbed Yun Meng's slender waist, pulling her entire body backward.

The other hand fearlessly met the gray-robed elder's killing strike!

Bang!!!

Airwaves exploded, and the ground cracked apart.

The gray-robed elder let out a muffled groan, actually being forced back more than ten zhang by the raw impact of the blow.

Swept up by that massive force, Yun Meng crashed into a chest that carried a faint scent of medicine and the iron-blooded aura of war.

She was slightly dazed and looked up.

Wang Hao.

This bastard had somehow appeared in front of her.

He held her with one hand and kept the other behind his back. His black hair fluttered slightly in the wind, and his expression was lazy yet dangerous.

He looked like he was here to save someone.

But even more so, he looked like he was here to claim a life.

He looked down at Yun Meng in his arms and the corners of his lips curled up.

Tsk.

I only watched the show for a little while, and you almost got yourself killed?

Yun Meng was shocked, angry, and inexplicably relieved all at once, her ears burning hot with embarrassment and anger.

Let go of me first!

Wang Hao acted as if he did not hear her. He simply looked up at the gray-robed elder in the distance, his eyes gradually turning cold.

A Void Flight Realm cultivator, hiding your face and sneaking up on a woman.

Old thing, you really know how to pick your moments.

The gray-robed elder stabilized his footing, staring at him with suspicion and uncertainty.

You are Wang Hao?

I am indeed.

Good, very good. The gray-robed elder smiled grimly. I originally wanted to slaughter this little girl first before taking your dog life. Since you delivered yourself to my door—

You must be misunderstanding something.

Wang Hao interrupted him, his voice terrifyingly calm.

I did not come over to deliver myself.

I came to send you to your grave.

The battlefield suddenly fell silent.

The gray-robed elder stared at Wang Hao, the suspicion in his eyes quickly morphing into dense killing intent.

Although he was forced back by the clash just now, that was only a hasty collision.

If it really came down to cultivation, how could he, a mighty Fifth Layer Void Flight Realm expert, fear a little emperor who only acted fierce relying on secret techniques and external artifacts?

What was more, they were in the middle of a chaotic battle.

As long as he delayed Wang Hao for a moment, the other experts from the Heavenly Dao Alliance would naturally come to support him.

Arrogant junior.

The gray-robed elder spoke in a sinister tone. Do you think that just because you showed off a bit during the day with some palm technique, you can truly stand on equal footing with the Void Flight Realm?

Since you dared to leave your main army today, do not even think about going back alive!

Boom!

Before his voice even faded, he took a step forward. His gray robe billowed, and a dark green astral light actually surfaced between his fingers, faintly carrying a nauseating stench of blood.

Clearly, the path he cultivated was nothing orthodox.

Yun Meng, who was being held at Wang Hao's side, was just about to struggle free when he casually tossed her behind a broken rock.

Stay there.

Do not cause trouble.

Yun Meng's heart, which was originally full of complex emotions, instantly exploded in anger at his words.

Who is causing trouble?!

If it were not for you dawdling—

Shut up, Wang Hao said without looking back. If you make another sound, I will assume you are too heavily injured and personally carry you back to the camp in my arms.

Yun Meng was speechless.

This dog!

She was so angry she wanted to curse, but in the next second, the gray-robed elder had already charged right up to them.

Astral winds howled, and dark light tore through the air.

As that claw struck out, it actually dragged out five visible, venomous trails in midair, heading straight for Wang Hao's face!

If this strike landed solidly, let alone a skull, even high-grade black iron would be forcibly torn apart.

Die!

Yet Wang Hao did not retreat.

He did not even dodge.

He simply raised his right hand and flipped his palm.

Buzz—

A palm-sized, pitch-black, and ugly little pagoda suddenly appeared.

The pagoda was densely covered in lightning patterns, faintly exuding the intent of heavenly tribulation. The moment it appeared, the surrounding air felt as if it had been pinned down by some terrifying existence, causing even the chaotic energies on the battlefield to stagnate.

Yun Meng's expression changed slightly.

The Thunder Abyss Demon-Sealing Pagoda!

She had seen this thing before.

It had previously struck down over fifty old monsters.

The gray-robed elder's pupils also shrank violently.

That bizarre artifact that releases heavenly tribulation?

No, Wang Hao grinned. It is your ancestor.

In the next instant, his five fingers clamped down fiercely!

Strike him down for me.

Rumble—!!!

The eighth floor of the Thunder Abyss Demon-Sealing Pagoda suddenly lit up! A beam of red light shot straight into the sky, and dark clouds instantly gathered.

A red lightning phoenix violently crashed down from the dark clouds, moving so fast that the gray-robed elder did not even have the time to curse.

He only had enough time to push his protective astral qi to the absolute limit and cross his arms in front of him.

And then—

The lightning fell!

In that instant, the entire left wing of the battlefield seemed to be swallowed by red light.

Everyone's vision blurred, and deafening thunderclaps rang in their ears.

The gray-robed elder let out a miserable howl that did not sound human. His protective astral qi shattered layer by layer the moment it touched the lightning, and the dark green claw light was directly annihilated.

The blazing thunder pierced down from the top of his head, blasting through, scorching, and tearing apart his body, meridians, and bones inch by inch.

Bang!

By the time the lightning dispersed, that old thing did not even have a complete corpse left. Only a charred remain was left behind, which swayed twice before kneeling on the ground and then crumbling into ash.

One strike.

Instant kill.

The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.

Let alone the Heavenly Dao Alliance, even the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty felt their scalps go numb.

That was a genuine Void Flight Realm old monster!

Not the Astral Qi Realm, not a half-step Void Flight Realm, but a figure capable of flying through the air to command the battle, someone who would be considered a pillar in any faction.

As a result, Wang Hao raised his hand, summoned a pagoda, and directly obliterated him.

Rong Xiaotian stood with his mouth open, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence: I will never call His Majesty black-hearted ever again.

Xiao Chen turned to look at him. Why?

Because I am afraid he might conveniently drop one of those on me too.

Xiao Chen was speechless.

Makes sense.

Makes perfect sense.

High above, the expressions of the Sky-Soaring realm experts of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, who were previously engaged in fierce combat, changed simultaneously.

Han Qianyue was both shocked and furious.

"A Lightning-attribute supreme treasure? It's that bizarre artifact."

"Wang Hao, you—"

"What about me?" Wang Hao held the small tower, looking up at him with a face full of innocence. "I was just passing by and casually struck down an old dog. You guys carry on, don't mind me."

Han Qianyue almost coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Don't mind you?

You're holding a damn thing that can one-shot a Sky-Soaring realm expert, who would dare not mind you?!

The six ancestors of the Wang family felt their spirits rouse.

One of them laughed heartily on the spot: "Such divine might, grandnephew!"

Another's fist momentum surged wildly, fiercely attacking his opponent: "Trash of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, weren't you arrogant just now? Keep it coming!"

The situation reversed in an instant.

Originally, the Heavenly Dao Alliance relied on having an extra hidden Sky-Soaring realm expert, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to kill a few key figures on the Great Zhou's side and tear open their defense line.

But now, their hidden trump card was struck dead by Wang Hao's tower. Instead, their own morale collapsed first.

The left wing was even more pumped full of adrenaline.

"Kill!"

"Follow His Majesty, hit them hard!"

"Kill these bastards!"

Yun Meng stood in the rear, looking at the man holding the tower in the center of the battlefield, feeling a bit dazed for a moment.

This bastard usually had a foul mouth, thick skin, and a heart as black as the bottom of a pot. Every day, he was either scamming people or preparing to scam people. No matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem like a proper emperor.

But in that moment just now, when he rushed over, pulled her away, and then struck down the Sky-Soaring old monster with his tower—

He really looked the part.

Like a man who could hold the fort.

As soon as this thought popped up, she immediately spat at herself fiercely in her heart.

"Yun Meng, oh Yun Meng, wake up!"

"This dog saving you is definitely not just saving you!"

"He's definitely already calculating how to make you pay off the debt! Or he's lusting after your body."

Facts proved she wasn't wrong.

Because the next moment, Wang Hao had already turned his head to look at her, the corner of his mouth hooking up into a smirk.

"What are you spacing out for?"

"Aren't you going to come over and thank me?"

Yun Meng: "..."

Thank you my ass!

She walked over angrily, just about to curse him out, when her legs suddenly gave way.

She hadn't completely dodged that sneak attack just now after all. The gray-robed elder's sinister Qi had still grazed her shoulder and back. Now that her tension relaxed, the injury immediately flared up.

Wang Hao was quick-eyed and deft-handed, reaching out to support her again.

This time was even more excessive than before.

His hand clamped directly onto her waist.

Yun Meng's body stiffened, a mix of shame and anger, as she suppressed her voice: "Where are you putting your hand?!"

"Supporting a wounded person," Wang Hao said self-righteously. "Otherwise, if you fall on the ground, are you going to blame me?"

"You could hold my arm!"

"The waist is closer."

"..."

Yun Meng was so angry her vision went dark.

She knew it!

This dog playing the hero saving the beauty was fake; taking the opportunity to take advantage of her... to manipulate her was real!

Unfortunately, her Qi and blood were indeed churning right now, and half her body was numb. For a moment, she really couldn't break free.

"Your Majesty!"

At this time, Wei Zhongxian hurried over. "The right wing and the center line have gained the upper hand. The Heavenly Dao Alliance's formation is starting to fall into chaos!"

Wang Hao swept a glance over the battlefield and decisively ordered: "Have the six ancestors keep the pressure on. Don't give them a chance to escape."

"Encircle them with the left and right wings."

"Order the artillery positions to prepare to advance three hundred paces."

"Bombard those who dare to retreat. Bombard those who dare to group up, too."

"Today, I'm going to make sure they can come, but can't leave."

"Yes!"

As soon as the order was given, the Great Zhou side launched a complete counterattack.

The people of the Heavenly Dao Alliance were already shaken by the lightning tower's strike. Being pincered from the left and right, they immediately retreated in defeat.

A few Half-step Sky-Soaring experts had just tried to form an array when they were blown off their feet by a volley of artillery fire.

Those rogue cultivators and vassals who had originally been shouting "Crusade against the tyrant" and "Save our comrades" showed their true colors on the spot. They yelled louder than anyone when they were winning, but when they actually saw blood and lightning, they ran faster than anyone else.

"Retreat!"

"Retreat quickly!"

"This tyrant is protected by a supreme treasure, we can't fight him head-on!"

"The Heavenly Dao Alliance has doomed me!"

It was chaos.

Total chaos.

And while the outside was fighting until the sky turned dark, Wang Hao had already brought Yun Meng back to the temporary rear command tent.

Inside the tent, the military doctor had already prepared the items needed for healing.

After Yun Meng sat down, her face was slightly pale, and a wisp of black Qi faintly appeared on her shoulder and back.

The military doctor only took one look, and sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Your, Your Majesty, this sinister Qi has already invaded her meridians. Ordinary medicine will take effect too slowly. If it isn't forced out as soon as possible, I'm afraid it will damage her foundation."

Yun Meng's face looked even worse.

What did martial artists fear the most?

They feared damaging their foundation the most.

She could lose, she could be injured, she could even be bedridden for ten days or half a month, but if it ruined her future path, that would truly be fatal.

"Then force it out," Wang Hao said.

The military doctor smiled bitterly: "It requires someone with vigorous Qi and blood and extreme Yang astral energy to personally guide it out. Furthermore, during the process, they must stay in close contact to stabilize the meridians. Otherwise, if the sinister energy runs rampant, the consequences will be even more troublesome."

After speaking, he tactfully lowered his head.

Inside the tent, it was momentarily quiet.

Yun Meng understood.

Close contact guidance.

Translated into human language: someone had to press against her body to heal her.

Her ears immediately burned up. She looked up and glared at Wang Hao: "Don't get any crooked ideas! I can do it myself—"

"You can't do it yourself," Wang Hao interrupted directly.

"How do you know I can't?"

"Because your lips are completely pale right now, yet you're still trying to act tough."

Yun Meng choked on her words.

Wang Hao waved his hand to dismiss the military doctor, then walked up to her, looking down at her from above.

"Two choices."

"First, I lend a hand and ensure your foundation remains undamaged."

"Second, you keep being stubborn, and gamble on whether the Illusory Sea Immortal Sect will still want a Holy Maiden with damaged meridians in the future."

Yun Meng gritted her teeth: "You're threatening me!"

"I'm reminding you."

"You—"

She wanted to say more, but Wang Hao had already leaned over, his fingertips rapidly tapping several major acupoints on her shoulder and back.

Yun Meng let out a muffled groan. The strength in her body seemed to be instantly stripped away, and her whole person went slightly limp.

"What are you doing?!"

"Sealing your acupoints so you stop moving around."

"Wang Hao!"

"Why are you yelling so loudly? People who don't know better would think I did something to you."

"..."

Yun Meng was so angry she really wanted to bite him to death.

But what made her feel even more stifled was that she knew clearly in her heart that this bastard was right.

The injury couldn't be delayed.

If it was delayed any longer, something bad would really happen.