May I seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and live a long and prosperous life.

Blood rained down from the sky.

Two nameless old masters, one Buddhist and one Taoist, each dragged a peak-level grandmaster along on their journey, a tragic and heroic affair.

This greatly intimidated the other side.

But the battle continued, and the blood continued to flow.

However, the fighting spirit of the Yuncheng masters grew stronger with each battle, while the masters in Chen Tianwang's camp grew more and more fearful.

"Madmen, they're all madmen!" One of the opposing grandmasters cried out in fear, trying to flee the battlefield.

On the other side, Grandmaster Zheng Yuheng was fighting against two Grandmaster-level experts, one at the peak of Grandmaster level and the other at the late stage of Grandmaster level.

At this moment, Zheng Yuheng ignored the attack of the late-stage Grandmaster and tightly entangled the peak Grandmaster.

This was a completely reckless fighting style, even though the opponent was being very careful to prevent Zheng Yuheng from getting entangled in the fight, in case he self-destructed and they were dragged down with him.

But Zheng Yuheng still managed to seize the opportunity.

"Fellow comrades, I, Zheng Yuheng, will take my leave first!"

The moment Zheng Yuheng embraced the other person, he immediately unleashed all his internal energy!

Then, a tremendous force from the explosion enveloped all three people present, and the two in the center of the blast were immediately torn to shreds by the incredibly violent force.

The late-stage Grandmaster martial artist who was a little further away immediately tried to defend himself, but he was still thrown far away by the shockwave. Although he did not die, he was seriously injured and lost his ability to fight.

Grandmaster Zheng Yuheng has fallen! Blood rained down.

On the battlefield at this time.

On Yuncheng's side, there are still seven Grandmasters left, while on Chen Tianwang's side, there are only nine Grandmasters left who can fight.

By this point in the battle, Chen Tianwang's camp had suffered heavy losses, with three peak Grandmaster-level martial artists killed and one late-stage Grandmaster-level martial artist seriously injured.

At this moment, the leader of the Blood Lotus Sect, who was stationed at the main camp, decisively called a halt to the battle.

The master-level martial artists on Chen Tianwang's side, upon receiving the order to retreat, did not linger in battle. Instead, they felt somewhat fortunate and quickly left the battlefield.

Only the three swordsmen were still somewhat unsatisfied. Not long after they each injured a late-stage Grandmaster martial artist from Yuncheng, they were ordered to retreat.

After the battle ended, news reached Yuncheng.

The people and martial artists of Yuncheng were filled with grief and indignation.

That night, some martial artists secretly left the city, bringing back items left behind by the fallen grandmasters.

They brought back a staff broken in two, a sword case, and an iron sword stained with blood.

The Third Prince ordered that these relics of the Grandmaster be solemnly enshrined to inspire the people of Yuncheng and to remind them that they must never forget the humiliation of today!

Those martial artists below the Grandmaster level all resented their inability to intervene in the battle.

"If you don't become a master, you're just an ant!" In the tavern, a lame Taoist priest, dressed in rags, was drowning his sorrows in alcohol, completely devoid of any fighting spirit.

He was none other than the Mad Daoist, a first-rank master with a very famous reputation in Yuncheng.

His fighting spirit was severely crushed in the Grandmaster battles over the past few days.

Meanwhile, in a mansion in Yuncheng, a middle-aged scholar dressed in a scholar's robe, missing his right arm, sat in the courtyard, lost in thought, his eyes vacant.

He was formerly a renowned first-rank master in Yuncheng, known as the Drunken Scholar.

The condition of these two people represents the mindset of many martial artists today—despair!

……

This battle also dealt a heavy blow to Chen Tianwang's camp, so for several days in a row, Chen Tianwang's camp did not take the initiative to provoke a Grandmaster battle again.

A pall of gloom hung over Yuncheng, for they knew that the most perilous moment was fast approaching.

The Third Prince had already ordered a complete state of emergency, forbidding anyone from leaving, with violators to be executed without mercy.

Some people with their own ideas were preparing to join the enemy after the city fell, while many more felt that their homes were going to perish and were ready to take up arms and fight the enemy to the bitter end.

……

The Zhou family ancestral home in Yuncheng.

The head of the family, Zhou Zhengqing, sat in the main seat, with the heads of each branch of the family seated on both sides.

Now, the situation in Yuncheng seems quite clear: Chen Tianwang's side has a clear advantage, and the next Grandmaster Battle will likely be the final showdown.

At that point, unless there are other turning points, the fall of Yuncheng seems inevitable.

Today, Zhou Zhengqing summoned the heads of each branch of the family to the ancestral home to discuss the future of the Zhou family in Yuncheng.

At this time, the heads of each branch of the family split into two factions: one faction advocated resolutely refusing to surrender and sharing the fate of Yuncheng, while the other faction advocated joining Chen Tianwang's camp in order to preserve the family's strength.

The two factions engaged in a heated debate, arguing fiercely in the ancestral home.

"In my opinion, our Zhou family in Yuncheng is a large and powerful family. There is no need for us to live and die with Yuncheng. Our Zhou family has great strength in Yuncheng, and our family members are from all walks of life. I believe that King Chen will definitely need our Zhou family and will not slaughter us."

"You're talking nonsense! In the hundreds of years since the Zhou family of Yuncheng was founded, we have never produced a traitor! To side with rebels is something that will be condemned by the world! A hundred years from now, how will you face your ancestors?"

The two factions refused to yield, and their numbers were equal.

"Since the two sides are deadlocked, let the head of the family make the decision!" one of the people in charge said.

"Master, please make the decision!"

Zhou Zhengqing had already made up his mind and said:

"My Zhou family of Yuncheng has existed for over four hundred years. Our family is involved in all walks of life, and there are members with bad records, but we have never produced a single traitor! No matter what you branches think, the Zhou family's main branch will never betray the country! We swear to defend Yuncheng to the death!"

"The patriarch is right! My second branch of the family would rather die in battle than be a traitor!"

"A subject does not serve two masters, nor does a woman serve two husbands. My third wife is determined to live and die with Yuncheng!"

……

Today marks the fifteenth day since the Grandmaster Battle began.

After resting for six days, Chen Tianwang's camp once again launched a Grandmaster Battle at noon. This time, Chen Tianwang used all his trump cards, sending all the Grandmasters, both overt and covert, except for the seriously injured, into battle.

There are a total of thirteen master martial artists, including the Three Musketeers of the Great Snow Mountain.

Yuncheng now only has seven wounded Grandmaster-level martial artists left.

The gap has widened to the point that it cannot be reversed unless a miracle occurs.

This time, the seven grandmaster martial artists fought with the determination to die.

……

The residence of the Third Prince of Yuncheng.

"Your Highness, it's too late. Yun City is doomed to fall. You are of noble birth and cannot die here. I implore Your Highness to prioritize the greater good and quickly retreat to the heart of Chu." Lu Maode, the Third Prince's confidant, knelt on the ground, his head bowed, and pleaded.

The Third Prince looked coldly at Lu Maode and said:

"I'm not going anywhere. If Yuncheng falls, the area behind will be open plains, allowing bandits to advance unimpeded and causing widespread devastation. I would then be a sinner in history! Rather than live a life of ignominy, I'd rather die a glorious death!"

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Your body is of inestimable value; there is no need for you to put yourself in such danger!"

"Don't try to persuade me anymore, I won't leave. Anyone who tries to stop me will be sentenced to death!"

On the other side, Li Heng had just left the Poison Dragon Pool and, after gathering information along the way, learned that the Grandmaster Battle in Yun City had fully commenced. He then rushed towards Yun City with all his might.

Although Li Heng once said that a wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall, the best choice at this moment is not to go to Yuncheng.

However, the classic books he read in his previous life told him that there were some things he had to do!