Chapter 1254: Robbing the Execution Ground

The square outside the imperial palace was packed with at least a hundred thousand people. A massive platform stood in the center, where Sun Qiang, Elder Xu, and others were imprisoned, their cultivation restricted. It appeared they would be publicly executed at any moment.

“What should we do?” Song Chao and the others looked at the prisoners on the platform, their faces filled with anxiety.

They had arrived early that morning, but those guarding the prisoners were Saint realm experts, including elders at the Primordial Spirit realm. With their current strength, they couldn't even get close, let alone rescue anyone.

“I don’t know either,” Song Chao said. “Sun Qiang is the principal’s butler. Last time, the principal didn't hesitate to cause a ruckus at the Loyal Green Prince’s Manor for him… Given how much he values him, if Sun Qiang is truly killed, the principal will definitely be furious once he finds out…”

He had met Master Zhang in the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance and knew how protective he was of his own. No matter what, Sun Qiang was his subordinate. If he were killed for no reason, wouldn't it cause an uproar? It might even lead to the destruction of the entire Qingyuan Imperial City.

“What about the Combat Master Hall members?” a member of the Suspended Xuan Society asked, sounding a bit angry. “They also received favors from the principal and are practically half-students. Why isn't a single one of them here this time?”

In recent days, they had exchanged knowledge with the Combat Master Hall members, teaching them countless secret techniques and combat methods. Now that trouble had arisen, the Combat Master Hall members had actually refused to raid the execution ground or even show up to help, which had already made them quite unhappy.

“We can’t blame them,” Song Chao said, shaking his head. “A few days ago, the various hall masters of the Combat Master Hall went to request their release, but they were all detained by Master Song, who then issued a Master Token… ordering all combat masters to remain inside the hall and forbidding them from coming out, or face charges of violating military discipline…”

Combat masters are essentially the army of master teachers; military orders take precedence. This quasi 8-star master teacher from the Qianchong Empire personally issued a Master Token, which was equivalent to a military order. Even if they were unwilling and wanted to help, they wouldn't dare to act rashly. It is a soldier's duty to obey orders, and combat masters are no exception.

“Without them, it will be difficult for us to rescue anyone!” The speaker hesitated before saying.

“I know that raiding the execution ground is no minor offense,” Song Chao said, his expression grim. “Regardless of success or failure, we are very likely to lose our master teacher identities, or even be executed… At this point, we can only rely on ourselves…”

Raiding an execution ground where a quasi 8-star master teacher has decreed the verdict is a capital offense, even if unsuccessful. Those who dared to come had already resolved to die. At this moment, implicating the Combat Master Hall would indeed be inappropriate.

Before Song Chao finished speaking, a voice rang out. “Who said you have to rely on yourselves? What, are we not brothers now?”

Everyone quickly turned to look and saw a group of familiar faces: Xiao Qin, Shi Hao, Jiao Tan, Lu Jianling, Dong Rui… They were indeed members of the Combat Master Hall, thousands of familiar faces crowded together.

“You… why are you here? Weren't you strictly ordered not to leave the Combat Master Hall?” Song Chao asked urgently. They had received orders not to act, so why were they here now?

“We did receive the order, but… that order was given to combat masters,” Shi Hao said with a smile. “And from now on, we are… no longer combat masters!”

“No longer combat masters?” Song Chao's body stiffened, and he then realized that all the combat masters who had arrived had shed their combat master robes, which signified their status, and were wearing ordinary clothes!

“You resigned from your combat master status? This…” Song Chao clenched his fists, feeling a warmth surge through his heart. After their interactions over the past few days, he clearly understood how glorious that status was for combat masters. To save Sun Qiang, they had unhesitatingly abandoned their convictions and glory… The eyes of everyone from the Suspended Xuan Society reddened.

“The Master Teacher Pavilion issued an order that combat masters must obey. But we still want to save people, so we had no choice but to resign our status…” Shi Hao shook his head.

“This way, we won’t be bound by the order!” Jiao Tan also nodded.

“But…” Looking at them, Song Chao wanted to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. No words could truly express such emotion.

“Master Zhang is not just your principal, but our teacher too!” Xiao Qin said. “Without him, our strength could not have reached its current level, nor would we have understood that martial arts could be performed in such ways… He is selfless, and as beneficiaries, we cannot remain indifferent!”

“Exactly! Master Zhang is the most magnanimous master teacher I’ve ever met,” Shi Hao added. “It’s my good fortune to learn from him. Now that his people are in trouble, should we just stand by and wait for others to act?” He looked over and punched Song Chao’s shoulder: “What, are we not brothers to you now?”

“Of course not…” Taking a deep breath, Song Chao suppressed his gratitude and clenched his fists. Indeed, Master Zhang possessed such charisma that he gathered countless people around him, who were willing to work for him and assist him. Putting everything else aside, even he himself once had significant conflicts with Master Zhang. He was swindled out of spirit stones daily, to the point of wanting to kill him… But now, he had become Master Zhang's loyal subordinate, willingly obeying orders and finding joy in it.

This wasn't merely personal charm; more importantly, it was his magnanimity. Whenever he knew precious inherited cultivation techniques and secret manuals, he would teach them unreservedly, with no privacy or reservations! Only a true teacher could inspire so many people to willingly shed their blood and sacrifice their lives for him, without retreating or regretting it.

“If you consider us brothers, then stop with the idle talk…” Shi Hao chuckled. “Have you figured out how to raid it? We’ll act together soon!”

“Okay!” Knowing that more words were useless, Song Chao stopped being sentimental and said: “Soon, before the execution, the crimes will certainly be read aloud. We plan to act at that moment. Everyone will attack together using the Myriad Star Formation method. Although each of us is far from being a Primordial Spirit realm expert, by gathering the energy of so many people, we can even contend with a Primordial Spirit realm expert and should be able to rescue them!”

“The Myriad Star Formation… it’s indeed the best formation for combined attacks!” Shi Hao nodded.

The Myriad Star Formation is a battle formation used by imperial armies. It can gather the strength of an entire army of soldiers to launch a fierce attack on a target. Although the members of the Suspended Xuan Society were not individually strong, mostly between Grand Phantasm 7th and 8th layers, if tens of thousands of them united to use this formation, even Primordial Spirit realm experts definitely wouldn't be able to withstand it!

“However… have you considered how to get them out of Qingyuan City after rescuing them?” Shi Hao continued. “If they can’t escape, what good is a short-term rescue?”

“This…” Song Chao and the others fell silent. They knew their own strength meant the chances of success were slim, and they had long prepared to sacrifice themselves for justice, without considering where to place the rescued individuals. Now, with the addition of the Combat Master Hall members, their chances of success had greatly increased, but without proper arrangements for their placement, they would simply be recaptured.

“Do you have a plan?” Unable to think of anything, Song Chao asked.

“I do have a plan… instead of raiding the execution ground, we should find a way to subdue Master Song!” Shi Hao said.

“Subdue Master Song?”

“Precisely. Master Song is the key. If we defeat him and make him revoke the order to execute Butler Sun and the others, it will be equivalent to rescuing them…” Shi Hao continued.

“That’s true!” Song Chao and the others’ eyes lit up. The reason Sun Qiang and the others were being publicly executed was precisely Master Song’s order. If he were dealt with, there would naturally be no danger.

“Tell us your plan then…” Seeing that his method was better, Song Chao and the others all turned to look at him.

“It’s simple. Just follow my orders in a moment…” Shi Hao nodded, just as he was about to explain his method, a booming voice rang out, silencing the conversations of over a hundred thousand people in the square.

“I am Song Xuan, a quasi 8-star master teacher!” An elder floated above the platform, surveying the crowd with imposing dignity. It was Master Song from the Qianchong Empire!

“This Sun Qiang, in collusion with members of the Poison Hall, poisoned the Qingyuan Imperial family during the night and murdered His Majesty, the Emperor of the Conferred Empire. His crimes are heinous. He is hereby sentenced to decapitation, to be carried out publicly!”

“He is Master Song?” Hearing the name, they hadn't felt much, but seeing the person, Shi Hao and the others all felt an intense pressure. A peak Leaving Aperture realm expert was simply too powerful; sheer numbers couldn’t contend with him.

“Alright, it’s noon. Proceed with the execution immediately!” Looking around and not spotting the escaped Liu Yang, Master Song barked coldly.

As he spoke, a series of execution blades floated into the air, appearing ready to fall on the heads of Sun Qiang, Elder Xu, and the others at any moment.

Seeing that there was no more time to hesitate, Shi Hao roared: “Act!”

Boom! Following his command, countless streams of True Qi immediately converged, forming a massive True Qi dragon that shot directly towards Master Song in the air. Over ten thousand members of the Suspended Xuan Society, along with several thousand former Combat Master Hall members, despite their individual low cultivation, were formidable when united. The True Qi dragon appeared as if it would tear through space as it materialized before Master Song.

“How audacious…” Master Song had not expected anyone to dare raid the execution ground and attack him. His eyes immediately narrowed, and he suddenly pressed down with his palm.

Whoosh! A powerful surge of energy instantly restrained the True Qi dragon in mid-air. A peak Leaving Aperture realm expert, infinitely close to the Domain realm, was no longer someone who could be resisted by mere numbers.

“Dare to raid the execution ground and attack a quasi 8-star master teacher? I’ll kill all of you right now…” Having blocked the attack, Master Song sneered and lightly tapped with his other palm. The countless hovering execution blades immediately began to descend towards the necks of Sun Qiang and the others.

However… before they could fall, they stopped in mid-air once more. Immediately after, a chilling voice rang out, sweeping like a hurricane and reverberating in everyone’s ears.

“Killing my people, Zhang Xuan? I just want to ask… how many heads do you have?”

As the voice faded, a figure flew through the air, like a celestial being.