Chapter 1109: No Victor

Frowning, the bed-ridden old men looked at each other before staring back into Baili Jingwei's deep eyes, "W-what do you mean?"

"Ha-ha-ha, nothing, just given the impression we're all part of someone's master plan. When two fight, the third wins. None of us are victors."

With anger in his eyes, Baili Jingwei sighed.

The wounded looked on with nothing but doubt in their eyes.

Baili Jingwei shook his head and let out a long and heavy breath, then he composed himself as he spoke, "I bet that wise ass of yours only told you what you wanted to hear of how this will end. Then allow me to share with you the rest.

"First of all, this plan is devious beyond measure. It takes a lot of mettle to send everything at Patriarch. I never dreamed you'd have it in you. Technically it's not bravery, just up against the wall, ending up used. I have to give him credit, this move hit me where it hurt the most. I aimed for instant gains when attacking the four lands. I went for bolstering our Sword Kings numbers, increasing the empire's power, but they are volatile. Once Patriarch is gone to stop them, the four will lash out. They're the biggest threat to topple the empire."

[Didn't Sir Zhuo say the same thing?]

The patients grinned to themselves.

[That's Sir Zhuo's plan, alright. The only reason the wisest in the world even bothered risking his life to come here for a ceasefire is because Sir Zhuo cut him deep.]

"But that's only half of it."

Baili Jingwei could read them like a book, continuing, "Next comes death, though unsure if it'll be yours or mine. Did you think that with Patriarch's death, the four Sword Kings will turn on us? What a joke, they all come to my central area for fame and fortune. Do you really think they'll just give it all up?"

The men gasped, "Y-you mean..."

"Humph, I can't say what they'll do for certain, but if it were me seeing both sides at death's door, I'd definitely revolt. I'd gather a personal army and use retribution for Patriarch as an excuse to keep fighting, dyeing the four lands in blood. And only when the four lands have nothing left to fight with will they turn against the central area."

Giving a devilish smile, Baili Jingwei's eyes shone with guile, enticing them with his words, "That's why I say the fall of my nation marks the destruction of the four lands. the five lands would then belong to the four Sword Kings. That's not a pretty picture, is it?"

The leaders of the four lands in question were sweating buckets.

Baili Jingwei smirked, keeping his voice even yet still piercing, "Toiling so hard, losing so many men to claim to kill the invincible Patriarch, yet all for another's sake. Sea Bright Sect will be finished, Double Dragon Manor as well, Shangguan clan... Ha-ha-ha, with Shangguan Feiyun's hatred for his clan, even if it still exists, what good will come of it? At the very end, the world would belong to the four, oh, and let's not forget Sir Zhuo. It must come at a surprise to know that the central area is facing a rebellion. A hidden power is on a swift rise. I believe that once the major powers of the five lands are out of the picture, a new world order will come. Since Sir Zhuo has the greatest credit in conducting this play, it's only fair to get a slice of the pie, wouldn't you say? Ha-ha-ha..."

Their wounded faces twitched, looking nervous.

If all went like Baili Jingwei said, what were they fighting and dying for?

[Was it all a scheme from Sir Zhuo against the central area and the four lands as well?]

They all grew grave and felt fear as Zhuo Fan's wide smile entered their minds.

[He's terrifying!]

They had no way of seeing through this devious plot and they were perfectly fine doing the work for him. If it really was the case of ending their clans and sects, how would they face their ancestors in the beyond?

They all hung their heads, distressed.

"Damn Zhuo Fan, I just knew that sneaky punk was up to no good. He almost used us! Do you all still remember how he wanted to cause chaos in the central area? It turns out it's all to vie for power!" Bu Xingyun roared, cursing, "Sect Leader Ling, what do we do now?"

Ling Yuntian's brow shook with endless worry. He also happened to turn his eyes on Baili Jingwei as he thought, "Prime Minister Baili, you're not here just to flex your smarts over us, are you? Get to the point!"

Just what he wanted to hear.

Baili Jingwei showed a genial smile, "Sect Leader Ling, I've come to settle this matter. Since both of us are doing the work for that shameless punk, I hope that Sect Leader Ling and every leader shall cease and desist their assault on Patriarch!"

"Stop?! You want us to leave a monster like Invincible Sword alone?"

Ling Yuntian hesitated and for good reason, his fists clenching in rejection, "We've finally have him on the ropes for the first time. When will we ever get such a chance again?"

"Ha-ha-ha, I'd find such a chance equally hard to give up if I were in your shoes, Sect Leader Ling, but everyone should know that Zhuo Fan's scheme rests solely on Patriarch's fate. To unravel it, you must let go of Patriarch. Sirs are all men of your word. Are you willing to lay waste to your foundation for the sake of another? I have to say, I'm touched."

The patients jolted, gnashing their teeth and nodding.

Having gotten his point across, Ling Yuntian turned to Baili Jingwei and spoke heavily, "Fine, we agree. But after Invincible Sword leaves..."

"Rest assured that our empire is in chaos and suffered heavy losses. We have no time to waste." Baili Jingwei's eyes shone and nodded, "Once Patriarch is with us, the war will cease, with neither side a winner. I vow on my Dao Heart, on behalf of the Sword Star Empire, that we'll not step one foot on the four lands for the next century."

The elders found it much easier now to agree.

They would now have a hundred years of peace...

Ling Yuntian nodded as well, then called, "Guard, tell..."

...

Boom~

As silver waves passed, tens of thousands of experts met their end. Baili Yuyu and Baili Yulei shook under the exertion, looking wane and frail. They slumped on the ground, with no more strength to give.

"We can't hold on anymore either!" Gasping for breath, Baili Yuyu looked at the others, equally spent, and shook her head.

The others felt the bitterness of despair.

These days Patriarch and the Sword Kings took turns in fending off the enemy, but this led to aggravating wounds and spent Yuan Qi.

Whoosh~

Here came another wave, men coming to die for their cause, shouting and cursing.

[What's this? Why are they all on the ground? Does this mean...]

Their dead eyes, resigned to their fate, glimmered with hope and jubilation, "B-brothers, they're spent! Attack and take their heads!"

"They're exhausted? Does that mean we don't get to die?"

"Not just live, but take Invincible Sword and five Sword Kings' lives. We'll live forever in history!"

Roar~!

The howls rang through the sky and the suicidal team got pumped, charging the enemy with fervent joy.

A world of fame and wealth was waiting for them, stepping on the bodies of the brothers before them and now plucking it like nothing.

Grinning to their ears, the men went crazy as they lunged like ravenous wolves at the chance to go down in history. Their true and vile natures were laid bare to the world.

Baili Yutian's lips shook, looking furious as he held the divine sword in defiance, "I, the great Invincible Sword, am not about to meet my end in a glorious battle against an expert, but at the nibbling of cockroaches! What a disgrace!"

The Sword Kings were just as unwilling.

Dying from Murong Lie or Ouyang Lingtian, and even that freak, Zhuo Fan, would've been so much better. Now they were shamed having their honor smeared with these bugs.

"Hold! Sect Leader Ling sent orders for everyone to stop attacking Invincible Sword. Any violation means death!"

A shout echoed into the crazed maniacs' ears, making them freeze in stupefaction...