人人操人人爱人人

Chapter 99: High Stakes

Even though the Yun and Chu clans were relatively strong, it would still be difficult for them to deal with all the factions that had gathered here today.

Yun Bing\'s face remained as impassive as ever. Chu Feng stepped forward, barely curtailing his genetic energy, his intention obvious. They wouldn\'t let anyone disturb Zhang Lie at all costs.

Their opposition, ultimately fearing the orb of primality in Yun Bing\'s hands, reined in their genetic energy and didn\'t dare make a move.

The scene descended into a stalemate, and the tension grew so thick in the air that it was almost palpable.

Amidst the swelling tension, Zhang Lie slowly walked down the stairs of the clocktower and into plain sight.

"Oh? What\'s going on here? Yun Bing, Chu Feng, it looks like you\'re both in trouble!" The moment Zhang Lie appeared, he began teasing Yun Bing and Chu Feng.

He had learned about what had happened during his departure from Li Feng, and he was honestly quite thankful to the two of them for taking on the other three clans in the capital, and even the ministry of ruins, on his behalf.

This was why he chose to step forward now, forcing everyone\'s attention on him, and making it obvious that he was the hunter whom the Chu and Yun clans had deemed fit to head into the treasury.

"Haha! Yun Bing, now that your friend\'s out, surely there\'s no reason to keep us from the clocktower any longer?"

The crowd of hunters had all gathered here in search of wealth, not a fight. Since Zhang Lie had come out of the treasury empty-handed, they might still have some chance at the inheritance.

Yun Bing smiled as she stored her orb of primality. "As you please."

Zhang Lie didn\'t spare the crowd a single glance. Looking at Yun Bing and Chu Feng, he asked, "Did these fellows threaten you while I was gone?"

Of course, Zhang Lie\'s arrogant tone incited the fury of the gathered hunters, and one of the hunters from the other three major clans in the capital was just about to say something when white flames spread down the top of the clocktower, causing it—and the large copper bell—to crumble into ash and dust.

The gathered hunters had a wide array of emotion on their faces.

Some were shocked, wondering why the teleportation array had suddenly self-destructed, and some sighed deeply, understanding that the inheritance of the Eclipse Sage would forever be lost to them. Most, however, were glancing toward Zhang Lie with envy and jealousy.

"You damned bastard! You dared to destroy the teleportation array? ?Don\'t think that you can do what you want just because the Yun and Chu clans are protecting you!" Zhou Hong shouted.

It was obvious that this Zhang Lie had obtained the Eclipse Sage\'s inheritance and whatever wealth he possessed. Now that even the teleportation array itself had been destroyed, they would make him cough up as much as they could.

The members of Team Zenith stepped forward, intending to defend Zhang Lie.

"I didn\'t destroy the array, but you can think what you want." Zhang Lie ignored them and glanced over at his teammates, Yun Bing, and Chu Feng. Seeing that they were all unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief.

He didn\'t intend on provoking the other clans and factions, but that didn\'t mean that he was afraid of them.

"You must be Miss Yun\'s good friend, Zhang Lie." ?Zhang Quan, leader of the delegation from the ministry of ruins, spoke up. He didn\'t know this Zhang Lie fellow at all, and the only reason he was so polite was out of deference for the Yun and Chu clans.

"I\'m an official from the ministry of ruins. The ministry of ruins should have first priority over any ruins that appear in the region. Not only have you entered the ruins without our permission, Zhang Lie, you\'ve even destroyed the teleportation array into the Eclipse Sage\'s treasury. What do you have to say for yourself?" Zhang Quan challenged Zhang Lie, intending to lay the blame for these alleged crimes on him.

"As I\'ve said, I didn\'t destroy the teleportation array—it self-destructed. Perhaps it was because I acquired the inheritance of the Eclipse Sage."

Every hunter present turned toward him. These particular ruins were of no small importance to them, and even more ordinary ruins would require a dedicated team a month or two\'s worth of scouting and surveyance to minimize the danger required for obtaining the ruins\' inheritance.

Of course, there were a few ruins, generally those of the highest echelon of hunters, that would self-destruct after a successor to the inheritance had been found. In that case…

Identical expressions of greed and excitement appeared on many of the hunters\' faces. If Zhang Lie had obtained the inheritance, then they wouldn\'t have to undergo any dangerous trial to obtain the inheritance for themselves: they just had to divest Zhang Lie of his newfound wealth!

Of course, Zhang Lie noticed their killing intent immediately. "Hah, trying to kill me and take the inheritance for yourself, are you?"

Yun Bing immediately stepped up to Zhang Lie\'s side, brandishing her orb of primality and once again setting up the stalemate that had descended right before Zhang Lie\'s reappearance.

In the end, it was an elder from the Zhou clan who stepped forward. "Haha! it looks as though you\'ve grossly underestimated us five major clans of the capital. We do want to acquire the Eclipse Sage\'s inheritance for ourselves, but we surely wouldn\'t stoop to the dishonorable deeds you suggest.

"That said, it simply wouldn\'t do for us to return with nothing, not when we had expended so many resources to gather here. Neither would it make sense to start a fight: everyone has some sort of dead man\'s switch, and a serious fight would hurt us all."

He looked at Zhang Lie expectantly.

"You want a share of the spoils, of course. In that case, what do you propose?"

Zhang Lie circulated his genetic energy throughout his body, ready to call upon it on a moment\'s notice. At this point, it seemed quite likely that he would have to fight, but he would listen to their terms first.

Fortunately, after accepting the Eclipse Sage\'s inheritance, he had gained significant familiarity with these ruins, and he had a way of evading the other clans\' pursuit if he had to.

"Haha! Zhang Lie, if you\'re so confident in your abilities, will you stake the spoils from these ruins on a match?" The Zhou elder finally showed his true colors.