Chapter 4928 — The Chief Alchemist of Dingcheng

As expected of the East Continent, where the finest masters gathered in droves—even a mere Yellow-Tier Academy Alliance possessed such astonishing depth of strength. Truly no small matter!

Their leader, a master of the mid-Kaishan stage, was evidently the captain of the guard. At his command, two early-Kaishan masters immediately stepped toward Wei Zhao, one from each side.

In that instant, Wei Zhao's thoughts raced. Truthfully, this Giant's Path trial had not only advanced him to the Xuan Ascension stage but also granted him command of such formidable thunder power—he was at the very peak of his confidence. Yet for all that confidence, being suddenly confronted by two early-Kaishan giants was still crushing pressure!

After all, these two were not like the two unlucky libationers before them. Thunderous Thousand Bursts could handle a late Xuan Ascension opponent, but to claim it could likewise deal with a full early-Kaishan giant would be pure fantasy—others would not believe it, and even Wei Zhao himself scarcely did.

But this situation was plainly to his disadvantage. Surely Wei Zhao was not about to simply fold his hands and wait to be captured?

To resist was impossible; not to resist was even worse. Wei Zhao found himself caught between a rock and a hard place, and regret crept into his heart.

Not regret for having dealt with Chang Laiting and those two unlucky libationers—rather, regret that after finishing off those three, he had not fled with all his might back to the treasure ship.

Had he been aboard Morning Star Academy's treasure ship at this moment, even the Academy Alliance's guard corps could hardly have seized him openly in front of everyone. At most there would have been some wrangling.

A misstep! Wei Zhao sighed inwardly. Just as he was about to make his decision, someone suddenly stepped forward from behind him. It was Lu Xiaozhong.

"On what grounds are you arresting Master Lin! They were the ones causing trouble in the first place—Master Lin was only defending himself. Everyone here saw it with their own eyes!" Lu Xiaozhong shouted at the top of his lungs.

That said, facing so many Kaishan-stage giants at such close range, he too, like everyone else, found it hard to stand his ground. But he was not one to shy from trouble—and besides, his own father was a Kaishan-stage giant, in fact somewhat stronger than these men. In his heart, he simply saw nothing to fear.

Wei Zhao was moved at the sight. He and Lu Xiaozhong had never been close—at most he had looked out for him a little along the Giant's Path, without conferring any great benefit. For him to step forward now and speak in his defense without fear of authority was truly rare and precious.

"That's right. Wei Zhao is innocent—on what grounds are you arresting him!" Wang Xinyan and Huang Xiaotao also rushed out to shield Wei Zhao.

"What? You want to be arrested too?" The guard captain narrowed his eyes, looking coldly at the three of them. Displeasure, savagery—even murderous intent—crept onto his authoritative face.

As the only armed force the Academy Alliance possessed, the League Guard Corps wielded no small authority; killing was among the most basic of its powers.

On any pretext whatsoever, they could easily put to death a disciple of any academy. Should anyone dare defy them even slightly, they could cut down Wei Zhao and the others on the spot—and it would all be for nothing. Morning Star Academy would not even have the standing to pursue the matter afterward!

Under such circumstances, most people, upon sensing the guard corps' killing intent, would have fled to some remote corner long ago. Yet Lu Xiaozhong was astonishingly stubborn. Craning his neck, he said, "I have done nothing wrong—I merely asked a question. Is that not allowed? Do we disciples of Morning Star Academy not even have that right?"

As a mid-Kaishan master, the Alliance guard captain disdained wasting words on such a nobody. He coldly ordered, "Arrest them all!"

That he had not said "kill them all on the spot" was already great restraint. Of course, he was no fool—if he truly ordered a slaughter without a word, Morning Star Academy might not be able to pursue it openly, but privately they would hate him to the bone. The Three Giants of Morning Star were not to be trifled with.

Seeing the two early-Kaishan masters about to move, Wei Zhao frowned. He had never been in the habit of surrendering with hands bound—back when he was merely at the Jindan stage, he had dared to defy the Old Sect of the Western Hills. How much more so now?

To be honest, with Wei Zhao's current early Xuan Ascension strength, these Kaishan-stage giants were no longer out of reach. If he truly fought with everything he had, he might well have a fighting chance!

Just as Wei Zhao was about to fight with all his might, a stern and somewhat familiar voice suddenly came from afar: "What are you doing? Blocking the whole road—clear the way at once!"

The crowd turned at the sound and let out another round of hushed exclamations. No wonder the voice had sounded familiar—it was the young-looking Alliance Chairman.

At the sight of the Alliance Chairman, the mid-Kaishan guard captain instantly shrank a head shorter. After bowing with a fearful expression, he reported respectfully, "Chairman, there is a brawl here. I am handling it."

"Then be quick about it! Blocking the road like this—what sort of conduct is that!" The Alliance Chairman glared at him, then, with a touch of deliberate humility, turned to a woman beside him and said with an apologetic smile, "Master Zang, my apologies. I am afraid you have witnessed a sorry spectacle."

"Hmph. It is nothing," the woman snorted coldly. Though she kept a youthful face, her bearing made it easy to judge that she was an old woman who had lived longer than anyone could guess. The arrogance and acerbity on her face were undisguised, as though everyone before her must bow a head lower—the Alliance Chairman beside her included.

"This way, please. This way," the Alliance Chairman said, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. After signaling the guard corps to clear the way, he hurriedly invited the woman to go first.

In truth, he was a proud man himself, and in strength far above hers. Had this matter not required a favor of this Master Zang, he would never have stooped so low—he might well have fallen out with her on the spot.

The woman swept her arrogant gaze over the assembled Kaishan-stage giants, then passed among them with her head held high. To her eyes, these Kaishan giants were probably nothing more than a pack of household guards. That disdain and contempt were written plainly on her face.

Yet before she could maintain her grand-lady air to the end, the moment her eye caught the scene ahead, she froze entirely.

The next instant, the woman rushed to Chang Laiting like a gust of wind, gathered up that scorched thing in her arms, and cried out in shock, "Ting'er, what happened to you? Ting'er, wake up! Who on earth did this?!"

At this, everyone understood the woman's identity. Beyond a doubt, she was Chang Laiting's mother—Zang Zili, Chief Alchemist of Dingcheng Academy!

"Whoever dares strike my child, I will leave not even a patch of ground for his burial!" By now Zang Zili had completely shed her great-lady manner. Like a wounded lioness, she turned hysterical, her face hideous as she roared, "Who was it? Step forward this instant!" (To be continued.)