Before long, only Bai Yongyan, West Factory Labor Officers, and Wude Army Guards remained in the hall.

A night breeze carrying a hint of coolness swept through, causing the silk curtains to flutter gently and the candle flames to flicker, casting distorted shadows on the walls.

SPLASH.

Bai Yongyan, as if he could never have enough tea, poured himself some more, leisurely inhaling the tea's fragrance as if he hadn't noticed the hostile Labor Officers and Wude Army Guards sitting opposite him.

There was not a trace of emotion in Yu Qingqiu's eyes. As the West Factory's Xing Qianhu, he had personally captured countless enemies and dissidents.

These people, just like Bai Yongyan, had considered themselves powerful in Mana, with deep backing, and faced the West Factory fearlessly.

That was until chains pierced through their collarbones, their cultivation was utterly exhausted, and they were thrown into the West Factory Dark Prison to spend the rest of their lives with skinny rats and crawling insects.

Only then did they profoundly regret and realize the weight of the name "West Factory," which was built upon a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

"According to our intelligence, months ago, your White Lotus Cult began gathering elite members from the Heaven, Earth, and Human factions," Yu Qingqiu stared indifferently at Bai Yongyan and said, "The Crocodile God of the Northern Sea, Yue Yuncang; Choujian Luan Jiang Jin; the Poison Eye Snake Weituotian...

"These people, disguised as Cargo Jacks and vegetable vendors, were lying in wait at various locations in Lvzhou City, ready to attack the Royal Mansion tonight in concert with the White Lotus Demon Cultivators from the inside and outside, to seize the Annam Auspicious Beast.

"What a pity. Had your Guangmu Dharma Protector come to Lvzhou in person... otherwise..."

"Otherwise, you would have been able to capture one of the four major Dharma Protectors of the White Lotus Cult, the Guangmu Dharma Protector, and eradicate all his forces in one fell swoop, dealing a severe blow to the White Lotus Cult," Bai Yongyan shook his head. "This information must have been leaked to you by the deputy leader of the Lvzhou branch, Chen Yongtian, correct?

"He was originally a mole the Xijishi Factory had planted within the White Lotus Cult, intending to lie low at the grassroots level for just two or three years.

"Yet, after three years and then another three, and then another three, he astonishingly worked his way up to the position of deputy leader.

"In a few more years, when the leader of the Lvzhou branch retires, he could even become the legitimate leader. And perhaps, with your Xijishi Factory's hidden support, he might even claim the title of a Dharma Protector Elder."

Yu Qingqiu's expression finally shifted slightly. A deputy leader-level mole was a significant secret of the Xijishi Factory. How did Bai Yongyan find out about this?

Or could it be that the White Lotus Cult had long been aware of the issue with Chen Yongtian, intentionally leaving him unexposed, keeping him as deputy leader, so that at a critical moment—like now—they could use false intelligence to harshly backstab the Xijishi Factory?

After a silent moment, Yu Qingqiu spoke indifferently, "So what? The West Factory Labor Officers and Wude Army Guards have long since known everyone's location..."

As though responding to Yu Qingqiu's remarks, suddenly, a series of thunderous booms rocked the city.

Several streaks of fire shot into the sky from different places in Lvzhou City.

The Wude Army Guards were assaulting the White Lotus Sect Members.

Yu Qingqiu stared intently at Bai Yongyan's face, seeking any hint of panic or unease that would betray a plan going out of control.

"This, this... how is this possible!"

Bai Yongyan turned his head to look at the flashing firelight that even the high walls of the Royal Mansion could not block. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans formed on his forehead, his teeth chattered, and he looked absolutely horrified, as if his very soul were quaking in terror.

But in the next second, his expression swiftly changed, regaining his composure. Looking so annoyingly calm, he even wore a slight, mocking smile—as if saying, "Just kidding."

"Don't mind it. As for the people of the White Lotus Cult, if they die, they die. I'm not concerned."

Bai Yongyan took out a paper filled with writing from his bosom, fluttered it in midair, and read word for word, "Urgent Statement: I, Bai Yongyan, hereby clarify that I have severed my employment relationship with the White Lotus Cult.

"'The White Lotus Cult is a warm and harmonious family, full of talented people who speak pleasantly. It's a place I quite enjoyed being part of.

"'I would like to express my gratitude to the higher-ups of the White Lotus Cult for their help and care, and to my colleagues for the joy they have brought me.

"'However, as my contract has expired and other affairs demand my attention, I have no intention of continuing my career as a sect member. Therefore, my contract with the White Lotus Cult ends here.

"'Everyone has dreams, each of them spectacular. I wish the White Lotus Cult more and more success.

"'Last but not least, I must clarify that White Lotus Sect Members who once worked with me in the same faction, such as the Crocodile God of the Northern Sea, Yue Yuncang, and Choujian Luan Jiang Jin, were merely my colleagues.

"'All the crimes they committed have nothing to do with me, Bai Yongyan. Their accusations against me are also not factual.

"'I wish them a future as bright as brocade, full of hope and promising prospects!'"

Yu Qingqiu and the Wude Army Guards were bewildered, completely unclear what Bai Yongyan was up to.

Only the Auspicious Ape Man seemed to have anticipated something and let out a sinister laugh.

"All right, declaration over."

Bai Yongyan put away the paper and said calmly, "Now I no longer have any ties to the White Lotus Cult. You should go after White Lotus Sect Members if you want to capture them. Don't mind me."

"..."

Yu Qingqiu took a slight breath, deciding to ignore the other's nonsensical words, and said coldly, "Do you think that, just like this, we can let you go? Seize him!"

The West Factory operatives on both sides moved.

They either formed battle formations and drew their swords, or drew crossbows, or took out Magic Artifacts of various shapes and functions.

Crossbow Arrows poured down like rain. An unknown net woven from robust, tough material descended, covering the sky and earth. Countless hidden weapons and Magic Artifacts attacked from all directions.

Faced with an unavoidable, all-encompassing assault, Bai Yongyan—or rather Li Ang—still sat in his original spot, his expression unchanging. He simply stretched out a finger and gently tapped the wooden floor.

The tree branches hidden in the crevices of the floorboards—planted there previously for the "Ginseng Fruit Tree"—instantly activated, growing wildly. Encircling Li Ang, they formed a gigantic wooden sphere that shielded him from the Wude Army Guards' attacks.

Not only that, but the tree branches continued to extend, filling the empty hall with lush shrubs and trees. Verdant leaves flourished, obscuring the Wude Army Guards' vision and blocking their path.

Only Yu Qingqiu's pupils abruptly narrowed. Peering through the gaps in the branches, he spotted another thicket of branches reaching towards the iron cage holding the Auspicious Beast in the center of the hall.

CLANG—

No one saw how Yu Qingqiu drew his sword. He stood still, the tip of his Longsword pointed diagonally towards the ground. In mid-air, countless shrubbery branches and leaves inexplicably flew up, then chaotically fell to the ground.

This single sword strike's drawn-out Sword Qi had astonishingly sliced through most of the shrubbery in the hall, clearing the view.

The Wude Army Guards saw that the cut surfaces of the remaining shrubs were perfectly neat and tidy, as if pruned with a Cutter.

And behind the shrubs, the wooden sphere enveloping Li Ang, along with the iron cage, were being dragged down, sinking into a long tunnel excavated by Swamp God Power and Underground Biological Weapons.

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