Chapter 377

Chapter 377: This is Possible?

Before Zhang Yang could slap him again or question his absurd arrogance, Jin Liuli suddenly cried out, “The moon-returning dragon wasn’t killed?!”

Just as she shouted, a figure burst into the hall, looking disheveled and breathless.

It was Ji Shaolong, the Cold Moon Dynasty’s Black-Clothed Marquis. He froze upon seeing the scene. When his eyes met Zhang Yang’s, his expression shifted dramatically.

“Aren’t you Ji Shaolong, one of the Cold Moon Dynasty’s top ten martial arts marquises?” Yan Chihuo asked sharply.

Ji Shaolong quickly moved to Jin Liuli’s side, knelt on one knee, and said, “Yes, I am Ji Shaolong. I was the Strategist’s planted agent in the Cold Moon Dynasty. Today, under his orders, I was supposed to use the backlash of the moon-returning dragon’s Holy Body to kill him. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yang gave him a Heart of the Saint Pearl as a congratulatory gift for completing his Holy Body, which caused the plan to fail. Please punish me, Princess.”

That answered everything.

All eyes turned to Zhang Yang once more.

The room grew restless again.

The Black Cloaked Strategist himself had arranged this scheme and even personally intervened, yet he had been captured by Zhang Yang. Now, the plan to kill the moon-returning dragon had also been derailed by Zhang Yang’s actions.

Could this still be brushed off as coincidence?

Once might be a chance, but twice?

In the world of martial arts, great importance was placed on luck and destiny. Every martial artist’s journey was shaped by countless encounters. Anyone who reached the Opening the Sky realm had likely experienced dozens, even hundreds, of such moments, big or small.

Thus, when these strange, unexplainable twists occurred, they were never taken lightly.

The way they looked at Zhang Yang began to change radically.

It was important to remember: Zhang Yang had arrived already burdened with infamy, he had killed ten great sages, over a hundred Great Boundless experts, wiped out the Black Wolf Riders and the Zhu Yue Army, and even called upon the Buddha Immortals to strike down the Taixu Palace from afar. He had triggered massive upheaval and reform across the entire Western Desert.

Now, he held complete dominance over the legendary Black Cloaked Strategist.

How could anyone not start imagining deeper meaning in all of this—perhaps even something cosmic?

“I’ve said before that I have never been defeated in my life. One loss is nothing,” the Black Cloaked Strategist said, growing visibly impatient. “Zhang Yang, communicate with the moon-returning dragon, or you’ll regret it.”

Zhang Yang found that funny, and slapped him again.

The Strategist finally lost his composure.

He had always seen himself above all others.

Though he was a master of self-restraint, being manhandled like this had pushed him past the breaking point.

“Speak to the moon-returning dragon,” he growled coldly. “Otherwise, you’ll go from brothers to enemies.”

“You speak as if you’re still untouchable,” Zhang Yang said. “Fine. I want to see just how terrifying the Black Cloaked Strategist, renowned for making the Western Desert tremble, truly is.”

He took out the Spirit Communication Stone and initiated contact.

The stone glowed softly, illuminating the projected figure of the moon-returning dragon. Behind him stood Bing Yuyan and Gu Qianmu.

Zhang Yang and the moon-returning dragon exchanged a brief glance and nodded.

Though the moon-returning dragon looked relieved, he could not conceal his exhaustion. Still, he expressed his sincere gratitude to Zhang Yang.

Thanks to the Heart of the Saint Pearl, he was still alive.

He fully understood the value of the Heart of the Saint Pearl and the reason he had once offered the Mother Bead in return.

But this time, it had been a matter of life and death.

He knew he owed Zhang Yang far too much.

“Brother Yue, this is the Black Cloaked Strategist, whom I’ve captured,” Zhang Yang said plainly. “I brought him to Zi Tian Pavilion to settle accounts with the Taixu Dynasty. He claims that you will beg me to release him.”

Upon hearing this, the moon-returning dragon and Gu Qianmu both visibly stiffened, the shock and horror on their faces made it clear how deeply they were affected by the news.

The moon-returning dragon quickly composed himself, his eyes flashing with cold light as he fixed his gaze on the Black Cloaked Strategist.

He knew very well that the Cold Moon Dynasty had fallen to such depths largely due to the Strategist’s manipulations.

He wanted to see the face of the man responsible for so much of their misfortune.

The Black Cloaked Strategist sneered. “Moon-returning Dragon, you’re quite lucky. If not for Zhang Yang’s unexpected gift—the Heart of the Saint Pearl—you’d be dead by now. And worse, you would’ve died at the hands of a fake Yuchan.”

“Black Cloaked Strategist,” the moon-returning dragon said coldly, “your methods are truly despicable.”

He had already realized the woman in question was a false Yuchan.

The Strategist grinned maliciously. “Shouldn’t you be asking me how I knew such a woman existed, pregnant with your child, and how I found someone who looked just like her? I nearly killed you with her.”

“What did you do to Yuchan?” the moon-returning dragon demanded, his voice trembling with fury.

“Don’t be so anxious. She’s fine,” the Strategist said with a sinister laugh. “I intend to keep her safe and well until she gives birth to your child. Then I’ll send her back, so your heir can inherit the Cold Moon Dynasty. Through that child, I will rule your dynasty. Tell me, what do you think of my plan?”

A chill ran through everyone present.

Such a scheme was truly vile.

Yet, it was also terrifyingly feasible.

The moon-returning dragon trembled with rage, but under the Strategist’s mocking gaze, he gradually calmed himself.

“Do you think that just because I said it, I couldn’t make it happen?” the Black Cloaked Strategist continued arrogantly. “What I intend to do cannot be stopped.”

Zhang Yang raised his hand and slapped him again, the force of the blow leaving the Strategist momentarily stunned.

The Black Cloaked Strategist glared furiously at Zhang Yang, on the verge of lashing out once more.

But the projected image of the moon-returning dragon had completely settled. He reached into his storage bag and retrieved a jade plate, an ancient holy treasure. After pricking his finger, he dropped a bead of blood onto it. The jade plate radiated brilliant holy light, making the moon-returning dragon appear even more divine as his deep voice resonated through Zi Tian Pavilion.

“Black Cloaked Strategist, despite all your calculations, you’ve made a fatal error.”

“I feared that the Taixu Dynasty had infiltrated the Cold Moon Dynasty too deeply and couldn’t confirm Yuchan’s safety. So, after the Battle at Heavenly Reaching Mountain, I knew I was close to achieving my Holy Body. I left a protective charm on Yuchan. Once I attained my Holy Body, this sacred plate would draw her to me, no matter where she was.”

As he finished speaking, the jade plate erupted in dazzling light. He casually tossed it to the ground.

The plate expanded, glowing intensely.

And then, from within the light, a woman appeared, her features identical to Yuchan’s, her form clearly seven or eight months pregnant. Upon seeing the moon-returning dragon, she rushed toward him in joy.

The sight caused a flicker of surprise to appear on the Black Cloaked Strategist’s face.

“You knew I had someone watching her all along?” he asked, his voice strained.

“I didn’t,” the moon-returning dragon replied coolly. “I was simply cautious.”

The Black Cloaked Strategist’s expression darkened. His voice turned solemn. “Fate has taught me this time, I must be more careful. I must leave no room for uncertainty. But it’s fine. She’s just a woman, not worth worrying over. I can still save myself. I’ve said this before—no one in this world can kill me unless I choose to die. As long as I live and can speak, no one can.”

Bang!

Zhang Yang slapped him again, this time with such force that the Strategist’s vision dimmed and he nearly collapsed. Zhang Yang seized him by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. He chuckled coldly.

“You talk about killing with your words and controlling the situation, tsk, tsk, how impressive. I’ve decided. I won’t let you speak anymore.”

He turned to the others and declared, “From now on, I control the situation. Everything proceeds by my command.”

The Black Cloaked Strategist writhed in agony, his face reddening as he struggled to breathe.

Everyone present was stunned.

Was this truly the feared Black Cloaked Strategist?

He was being controlled like an ant caught in a life-and-death struggle.

“Zhang Yang, how dare you lay hands on the Strategist! Are you not afraid the Taixu Dynasty will destroy you in the Vast Forest?” Jin Liuli shouted furiously.

Zhang Yang looked at her as if she were a fool, tightening his grip.

The Black Cloaked Strategist writhed in agony, barely clinging to life.

Jin Liuli’s expression changed drastically. She wanted to lash out, but Wind Dragon quickly reminded her of the situation. She forced herself to calm down, now was the time to plead.

Clenching her teeth, she asked, “What will it take for you to let him go? Think carefully, my Taixu Dynasty…”

Zhang Yang interrupted coldly, “Enough with the Taixu Dynasty. I slaughtered ten of your Saints, and none of you did a thing about it.”

Jin Liuli bit down on her silver teeth, trembling with fear. This was probably the first time in history someone had openly scorned the Taixu Dynasty, and she had no choice but to endure it. The truth was inescapable.

“What will it take for you to release the Strategist?” she asked again through gritted teeth.

Zhang Yang replied, “The Black Cloaked Strategist killed my brother and my friends. I can’t just let that go.”

Jin Liuli snapped, “The moon-returning dragon, Bing Yuyan, and Gu Qianmu are all fine, none of them were killed!”

Zhang Yang turned toward the figures inside the Spirit Communication Stone. “You were all killed,” he declared calmly, then kicked the stone. It dimmed instantly, cutting off the images of the moon-returning dragon and the others.

“So, you need to compensate me,” he said.

Everyone in Zi Tian Pavilion was dumbfounded.

This is possible?