Wow!

Suddenly, a gigantic wave surged ahead, and beneath it emerged a sea beast with numerous figures standing densely on its back. Leading them were a green-robed elder and a man in black, both of formidable strength, reaching the Ninth Level of the Sky Apex Realm, appearing to intercept Ling Chen's ship.

"Not good!"

The commander's face changed; it seemed as though these two had locked onto Ling Chen specifically and were heading straight for him, apparently intending to capture him.

"Speed Sword Domain!"

The Red Sky Sword descended, and streaks of lightning-fast sword qi shot out. Where they passed, the sky turned dark, and dark golden marks cut through between them.

Whizz, whizz, whizz...

Without any suspense, all twenty or more strong individuals, including the green-robed elder and the man in black, were blasted away by this single sword, with flesh flying everywhere and lights flickering.

The commander was dazzled; he couldn't even see clearly what Ling Chen's sword looked like, only the streaks of lightning-like sword qi crossing each other. Immediately after, the enemies were slaughtered with flesh flying all around, utterly defeated.

"Such terrifying swordsmanship!"

The commander was shocked; with one sword strike, corpses were everywhere, and two Nine-fold Strong in the Sky Apex Realm individuals were killed, incredibly terrifying.

He finally believed in the matter of Ling Chen killing the White Dragon Half-Saint.

"The gap has opened, everyone, break through quickly!"

Sheathing his sword, Ling Chen shouted sharply at the crowd.

The remaining three ships activated at maximum speed, taking advantage of the opportunity to charge through the gap and break through the encirclement.

As for the two heavily damaged ships, their personnel had already transferred onto these three ships, seizing the moment to break through the siege entirely.

"They actually escaped!"

Escaping from the dead, the commander also showed a post-disaster relief smile, clearly not expecting that he could survive and escape alive, all thanks to Ling Chen.

Without Ling Chen, surrounded by Witch Fiend Sect forces several times more powerful than his own, it would undoubtedly have been a dead end.

In no time, Ling Chen's prestige among this group soared to an unmatched level.

"All personnel, full speed back to Qinglong Island!"

Ling Chen turned and glanced at the Witch Fiend Sect forces behind him. If not for someone secretly helping from the opposite side, this escape wouldn't have been so smooth.

However, this time the Witch Fiend Sect marshaled such a large force, giving him ample face. The more dire the situation, the more precious the victory seemed, and his battle merits grew greater.

...

Qinglong Island.

The Central Hall was already gathering many Allied Forces leaders.

Standing in the center of the hall were several figures: the Heaven Cloud Half-Saint and the three, Ling Hai and Ling Feng.

"Are you saying everyone else, besides you three, was ambushed by the Witch Fiend Sect and couldn't return?"

On the main seat, the Fourth Elder frowned slightly and asked.

"Although it is a painful message, this is the truth."

Heaven Cloud Half-Saint looked regretfully and bowed toward the Fourth Elder, "Ling Yu, relying on his status as Envoy, acted recklessly, changed the marching route on a whim, and thus fell into the Witch Fiend Sect's ambush."

"Yeah, even his death alone wouldn't matter, but he dragged so many people down with him, this crime can't be absolved even in death."

Beside him, Ling Feng also spoke viciously.

"With so many people not returning, how did you escape?"

Someone raised doubts.

"We used the trump cards granted by the family, plus Heavenly Cloud Clan Uncle's complete sheltering, leading us to break through the encirclement. Otherwise, I'm afraid neither of us would have returned." Ling Hai sighed and said.

"How could this happen, three Half-Saints were sent out, only one came back, and Ling Yu was the extraordinary genius of the Ling Family, huge losses indeed."

"Well, I thought this action carried great risks, handing over such a large force to a young lad, how could it not result in total defeat?"

"No idea what the Ling Family's Fourth Elder was thinking, trusting the action to Ling Yu, leading to such a disaster, it's inexcusable for the Fourth Elder."

For a moment, the discussion in the hall broke out.

Upon hearing these remarks, both Ling Hai's and Ling Feng's lips curled into sly grins.

It seemed many people believed their fabricated lie, the situation smoothly progressing as they envisioned, and as for Ling Chen, surely he wouldn't return, the Witch Fiend Sect's primary target was Ling Chen, they didn't believe he could come back alive.

Once Ling Chen is dead, no one else poses a threat to them, even if some small fry escaped back, they could handle them with bribes.

But the Fourth Elder wouldn't easily believe these three since Ling Chen still has the Destroying Heaven Map he was given, at least one should survive, even with a total annihilation of forces.

These three's words, whether true or false, needed verification from others who would return.

"Fourth Elder, Envoy Ling Yu led the army back!"

At this critical moment, a Deacon burst into the hall, reporting with a face of joy.

"What?"

Not only the Fourth Elder was shocked, but also Heaven Cloud Half-Saint, Ling Hai, and Ling Feng were incredulous; Ling Chen, alive and back?

"Impossible, I saw the boy fighting with two Half-Saints from the Witch Fiend Sect, certain death, how did he return?"

Heaven Cloud Half-Saint was filled with uncertainty.

"Bring them in quickly!" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The Fourth Elder waved his hand promptly.

With the sound of his voice fading, several figures walked in the hall entrance, unmistakably the breakout group headed by Ling Chen.

"This boy is really alive!"

Seeing Ling Chen standing visibly in front of them, Ling Hai's face also darkened to the extreme.

"Oh, very disappointed?"

Ling Chen looked at Ling Hai and his cohorts with a half-smiling expression.

"Haha, what are you saying, Envoy Ling Yu, your return brings us great joy, how could we be disappointed."

Heaven Cloud Half-Saint reacted swiftly, immediately putting on a bright smile.

"Is that so? You three were probably hoping we wouldn't come back, right?"

Ling Xue sneered, then stepped forward, cupping her fist toward the Fourth Elder, "Fourth Elder, when under assault by Witch Fiend Sect forces, these three not only disobeyed orders, but also attacked us. If it wasn't for Envoy Ling Yu's strength, defeating Heaven Cloud Half-Saint, we might have perished at the hands of our own."

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Elder's eyes turned cold as he looked at Heaven Cloud Half-Saint, "Is this true?"

"Fourth Elder, not true at all!"

Heaven Cloud Half-Saint immediately denied; admitting would mean doom, "This is plain slander, personal vendetta."

"Ling Xue, empty words hold no weight, what proof do you have?"

"Exactly, apart from your people, who saw it? Clearly fabricated, made up nonsense!"

Ling Feng spoke fearlessly.

"Never mind admitting,"

Ling Chen stopped Ling Xue who wanted to argue further, a smile rising at his lips, "You may deny, but there's one charge you can't escape."

"Why did you three return without the main force, choosing to flee ahead?"

With a gleam in his eye, Ling Chen cupped his fist towards the Fourth Elder, "Fourth Elder, as the commander, I request judgment for these three's crime of desertion!"