However, Wen Ping just glanced in the direction he came from, then withdrew his gaze, focusing on the collapsed city wall.
What caught Wen Ping's attention first was that beneath the rubble, one could still see soldiers crushed to death.
Their legs, turned white by dust, stretched out like dead sticks. Just moments ago, these legs had been pacing on the city wall, defending Cangwu City, protecting its people.
Wen Ping couldn't help but lament in his heart; these Mountain Suppression Realm individuals indeed treated ordinary lives as insignificant.
Couldn't they fight elsewhere?
Simultaneously, he felt a bit distressed, thinking if he could have been a little sooner, perhaps Cangwu City wouldn't have suffered at all. These small yet great soldiers wouldn't have died in vain.
"Uncle Huan, how is the situation?" seeing Huan Cheng approaching, Wen Ping anxiously inquired.
Huan Cheng sighed and said, "Most of the casualties are soldiers. The city wasn't severely damaged thanks to the buffer of the city walls, a small blessing in misfortune. It's just that these soldiers didn't die fighting the Demon Race, but in this needless calamity, which is somewhat regrettable."
"Understood." A trace of anger flashed in Wen Ping's eyes. Although his spiritual power had grown significantly, he still couldn't suppress his anger. While turning around, he made a promise, "I will make them give Cangwu City an explanation."
Long Ke has already killed five Lower Realm Mountain Suppression members of the Hundred Sects Alliance. Clearly, just five are far from enough.
Wen Ping then looked towards Situ Xiuneng, who was walking out from the rubble, but just as he was about to speak, a voice came from behind.
Xia Jin was rushing towards Situ Xiuneng, shouting as he ran, "Master, save me!"
"Where do you think you're going?"
With a lift of his hand, Wen Ping activated a Meridian Gate, casting the Wind Binding Skill, which held Xia Jin in place. At that moment, Situ Xiuneng suddenly took a step forward, followed by an angry shout, directing a fierce and oppressive aura straight towards Wen Ping.
However, he immediately realized his mistake and quickly withdrew the overwhelming aura.
Situ Xiuneng said, "Hold on!"
While preventing Wen Ping from acting against Xia Jin, Situ Xiuneng's perception immediately probed the forest, verifying Lu Ming's life and death.
Xia Jin couldn't be harmed!
Lu Ming even more so couldn't be harmed!
If Lu Ming died, it would be like losing an arm.
As for the five Lower Realm Mountain Suppression retainers, their deaths did not warrant irrational anger. Furthermore, doing so would only intensify the already fierce conflict.
"Thank goodness," upon sensing Lu Ming's vitality within the forest, Situ Xiuneng secretly sighed in relief.
Then, Situ Xiuneng's gaze shifted to Xia Jin.
Wen Ping glanced at Situ Xiuneng, casually responding, "Rest assured, I won't kill him now."
Situ Xiuneng continued, "Sect Leader Wen, please refrain from harming my incompetent disciple. Whatever the issue is, we can discuss it calmly. If my people are at fault, I, Situ Xiuneng, will not tolerate it."
"No tolerance... Fine, let's discuss calmly then."
A chill flickered through Wen Ping's heart as he stood motionless, not releasing the Wind Binding Skill on Xia Jin.
Suddenly, a black shadow flew out from the dark forest, tracing a perfect arc through the air, landing between Wen Ping and Situ Xiuneng. After tumbling a few times, it came to a halt.
This black figure was Lu Ming.
At this moment, after being kicked by Long Ke, Lu Ming had a swollen face, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, staining his entire chin. The torches held by the City Lord's Mansion soldiers cast a pale yellow light on him, unable to conceal his pallor.
Situ Xiuneng was secretly shocked by the sight.
Though Lu Ming's Spirit Body was not weak, his severe injuries demonstrated the immense power of the one who struck him, indirectly indicating the opponent's strong Spirit Body, certainly of a high rank. Clearly, her background was extraordinary.
He couldn't be sure if he could achieve such a grievous state with just one physical strike against Lu Ming.
Involuntarily, he fixed his gaze on Long Ke, who had just walked out of the forest. While scrutinizing him closely, he searched his memories for any recollection of this person. Attempting to uncover Long Ke's true identity.
Yet, like Nian Feng from Xuanse Lake, although both were Upper Realm Mountain Suppression, his memory yielded no trace of Long Ke.
Since nothing could be found, Situ Xiuneng directly dismissed it, focusing instead on Xia Jin and Lu Ming, asking coldly, "Did I not make myself clear enough? Why did you act against Immortal Sect members?"
With cold eyes fixed on Xia Jin and Lu Ming, there was a sense of wanting to unearth their hearts.
Xia Jin, currently bound, could only make exaggerated facial expressions, hurriedly explaining, "Master, I have always kept your words in mind, none of us have ever acted against Immortal Sect members. It was them... Hidden Dragon Sect sent a Mountain Suppression Realm strongman to harm me, and Senior Lu intervened to help me, which is why the fight broke out."
"Hmm?"
Situ Xiuneng turned his gaze towards Luan Yue and her companion.
He initially thought that Luan Yue and the other person belonged to the Immortal Sect, as the person lying dead beside them was also from the Immortal Sect.
At the same time, a sudden exclamation rang out.
Bainian Xiang and the others, who had arrived late, descended the mountain just in time to hear Xia Jin's words. Bainian Xiang's eyes fell on Luan Yue and her companion, then turned to the lifeless Hei Yu on the ground.
"Uncle Hei!"
After the exclamation, Bainian Xiang hurried over, standing beside Hei Yu with a face full of shock.
"Luan Yue, what happened to Uncle Hei?"
Luan Yue and her companion replied in a dejected and bitter tone, "Miss, Hei Yu has fallen in battle."
Bainian Xiang asked angrily, turning her gaze towards Xia Jin, "Who did this? Was it him?"
Luan Yue, seeing this, quickly grabbed Bainian Xiang's hand, fearing she might do something foolish, and said, "Miss, please don't be hasty. Today's matter is very complicated, and it can't be explained in a short while. Please return to the Immortal Sect first. With the Immortal Sect's maze array protecting you, we can be at ease."
Today, with the Hundred Sects Alliance Silver Level Chief, Situ Xiuneng, present, it was as if they were backed by a sturdy and unyielding jade pillar.