Chapter 1164: Eight Gate Team

After hearing Arno's story, Xu Yang and Xiao Hua gained a deeper understanding of his group. Arno also informed them that the prisoners in the other top-tier Eight Gates prisons had, to varying degrees, some connection with him.

"Very well, Arno, you now have an opportunity for a new beginning. We will release you and the other prisoners. Our only condition is that you follow us. I will lead you all to overthrow the rule of the Middle Domain Imperial Family and exact the revenge from years past!"

A glint of excitement flashed in Arno's eyes, but it quickly faded. He shook his head helplessly and sighed, "I know you two are incredibly powerful, perhaps even top experts from the Outer World. However, you cannot imagine the depth of power the Middle Domain Imperial Family has accumulated.

It's far beyond what we perceive on the surface! For us few to contend with them is simply impossible. I can tell you responsibly that even if the seven marquises of Yingzhou Continent were to set aside their differences and unite to confront the Imperial Family's direct lineage, it would still be like trying to crack a rock with an egg!"

Hearing Arno's words, Xu Yang and Xiao Hua were full of doubts. After all, they originally knew little about the Middle Domain Imperial Family. Xu Yang had initially believed that Old Fifth's support would serve as his guiding eyes for the future.

However, Old Fifth had turned out to be the mastermind behind their imprisonment, the Fifth Prince of the Middle Domain Imperial Family. Thus, Xu Yang's valuable 'eyes' were lost just as they were gained. Yet, unexpectedly, encountering Arno and his group seemed to present a new turn of events.

"So, according to you," Xu Yang interjected, "the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage has supreme experts whose power transcends the limits of Yingzhou Continent's cultivation system?"

Arno gave a wry smile and shook his head. "They have two most terrifying aspects. First, they control the secret of access to the Divine Realm. You should be well aware of what the Divine Realm is—it's naturally the legendary area where the God who created Yingzhou Continent resides.

There are even rumors that the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage wields a portion of divine power. Moreover, a treasure akin to a personal divine artifact, left behind by the God, is sealed within the Imperial Palace, completely inaccessible to outsiders.

Their second great foundation of power comes from the support of a powerful force from the Outer World. In other words, at the edge of the wilderness, in certain designated strongholds, there are exclusive experts loyal to the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage.

The duty of these experts is solely to facilitate communication between the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage and external powers. As for the nature of their cooperation and connections, I am not privy to that information. In short, to challenge the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage and their dominion, these two trump cards in their possession must be shattered; otherwise, any such aspiration is mere wishful thinking."

Xu Yang, of course, was not intimidated by this. The first trump card of the Imperial Family, as mentioned by Arno, was precisely what interested Xu Yang the most. His ultimate goal in coming to Yingzhou Continent was to uncover everything related to Yun Wangji from back then. As for the external forces supporting the Middle Domain Imperial Family, Xu Yang held them in even less regard.

Even in the vast Outer World, he was among the absolute top experts. "Rest assured," Xu Yang declared, "I am well aware of these two trump cards you speak of, and I possess more than enough power and confidence to dismantle them—these two great assets protecting the Middle Domain Imperial Family's direct lineage. Now, I simply need your stance: Are you willing to join us? Let us rise up together and challenge the Middle Domain Imperial Family. What do you say? Do you intend to cooperate with us?"

With Xu Yang having made such an offer, and for Arno, the greatest immediate benefit of leaving with Xu Yang and Xiao Hua, even putting everything else aside, was simply to escape this sunless place. How could he possibly refuse?

"I know you two are helping me," Arno replied. "With your strength, you could surely achieve your goals even without my assistance, yet you choose to share such fortune with me. I am deeply grateful, and I am willing to leave with you. However, I cannot make decisions for my companions.

If you can persuade the others to leave with us, I will be the first to answer your call and willingly become your foremost general."

Xu Yang revealed a satisfied smile. "I need a representative token from you. With this item, I will naturally be able to persuade your teammates to join us."

Arno thought for a long time, unsure what valuable item he possessed. He simply handed his battle-axe, which he never parted with, to Xu Yang. "This axe is named Guillotine. It is my personal magical artifact and the only companion that has followed me my entire life. If you hold this battle-axe, they will surely sense my presence."

Indeed, with Arno's personal battle-axe artifact as an aid, Xu Yang and Xiao Hua's subsequent persuasion process became remarkably easy. The six surviving experts from the Dek family, imprisoned in the other six of the Eight Gates, all unhesitatingly chose to join Xu Yang and Xiao Hua's ranks.

It is worth noting that they, too, initially displayed the same haughty pride and resistance as Arno. However, upon sensing Xu Yang's immense power, they all instinctively chose to compromise.

The entire process took only three hours. The team of seven, including Arno, was now complete. Under the leadership of Xu Yang and Xiao Hua, everyone returned to Arno's injured-gate dungeon.

Although they were all imprisoned in the same area, they had not seen each other for a century, each confined to their individual cells. Now, with the help of Xu Yang and Xiao Hua, these old friends reunited, visibly emotional and teary-eyed.

Even hardened men shed tears; it's often said that a man's tears don't fall easily, only when he is truly heartbroken. Given their tragic past, where their once beautiful homes were incinerated by the power of the Middle Domain Imperial Family, such profound hatred was etched into their very bones, impossible to erase.

The only thing that could likely cleanse the hatred from their hearts was the blood of the Middle Domain Imperial Family's arrogant rulers.

"From this moment forward, the seven of us are Lord Ayang and Lady Qingcheng's vanguards. We will surely follow you, fighting alongside you against the Middle Domain Imperial Family. Whatever your commands, simply give them, even if it requires the cost of our lives, we will not hesitate.

Because without your appearance, we were destined to be forever imprisoned in this sunless place. Now that you have arrived, changing our destinies and granting us new life, our Dek family will naturally spare no effort to help you achieve your aspirations."

Xu Yang nodded with satisfaction. "Rest assured, I promise you that as long as we can overthrow the rule of the Middle Domain Imperial Family, the civilization of the Dek family will once again take root and flourish on Yingzhou Continent."

This was a promise worth a thousand gold pieces, yet not a single one of the seven team members, including Arno, doubted the truth of Xu Yang's words. They all knew very well that Xu Yang was a man of his word, and the leadership aura he possessed was simply incomparable to anyone else on the continent.

"Alright, we are now a unified entity," Xu Yang announced. "From this moment on, our sole task is to find the only way out and leave this Lover's City!"