Xiao Yunlong had another important reason for issuing the South King's decree. Zage Boya, the lord of Canggu Ridge, was inherently suspicious. The more he was asked to aid Guiyun Ridge, the more suspicious he would become.
This was the art of war, where reality and illusion intertwined, making one's intentions impossible to fathom.
As expected, upon receiving the South King's order, Zage Boya, at the Canggu Ridge Lord's mansion, furrowed his brows. He muttered to himself, "How strange. I never expected the South King to want my assistance for Guiyun Ridge? Shouldn't the Southern Border Camp be wary of my intervention?"
Tai Yi, the guardian elder beside him, said, "Actually, Lord Zage, I believe we should intervene this time. Firstly, the lord of Guiyun Ridge has always been your follower and supporter. Morally, as the elder brother, you shouldn't refuse to help him in his time of need!"
"Secondly, if you defeat or even annihilate those three hundred Brahma Kingdom warriors, your prestige and influence throughout the Southern Border will soar unprecedentedly!"
Another guardian elder, Xiu Er, nodded, "I agree. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks if we act this time!"
"No, I just realized. This is the Southern Border Camp trying to provoke us, or perhaps their open ploy. Haven't you seen the army gathered near Chuanlong Ridge? Once we make a move, Canggu Ridge will be left unattended, and they will surely seize the opportunity to raid our homeland!" Zage Boya declared.
"But at this juncture, if they were to do such a thing, it would be unjust. As the saying goes, 'He who loses the Way has little help.' Surely the Southern Border King, Lu Zhengtong, wouldn't be so foolish as to dig his own grave?"
Tai Yi, the guardian elder, analyzed.
"Why wouldn't he? As the saying goes, 'All warfare is based on deception.' If they seize control of Canggu Ridge, then I am utterly finished!"
Zage Boya waved his hand and said coldly, "You don't need to persuade me further. I have decided. As long as we hold our ground and do not move, we will be invincible this time!"
Seeing that they could not persuade him, the two guardian elders could only shake their heads in resignation.
Meanwhile, the three hundred warriors from the Brahma Kingdom, after entering Guiyun Ridge, advanced unimpeded. The martial experts sent out by Guiyun Ridge were simply unable to stop them.
They first arrived at Anya City, the second largest border city in Guiyun Ridge, plundered its treasury, and then headed straight for Guiyun City.
It was at this moment that Miao Rencheng, the lord of Guiyun Ridge, finally panicked. He had received news that the Brahma Kingdom warriors were executing a decapitation strike, meaning those three hundred warriors were specifically sent to assassinate him.
Of course, Miao Rencheng did not know that this news was deliberately leaked by Xiao Yunlong!
"What should we do? Everyone, quickly tell me, what should we do next?" Miao Rencheng, the lord of Guiyun Ridge, roared in exasperation.
Dozens of warriors stood in the hall, but each of them hung their heads, at a loss.
If the Brahma Kingdom army had attacked, Miao Rencheng might have been able to resist slightly. After all, his own army was prepared, with most of them gathered at the front-line checkpoints for defense.
However, the Brahma Kingdom had dispatched warriors from the Brahma Sect, led by a Dharma King, whose martial cultivation was even more formidable than the previous Dharma Protector.
This truly distressed Miao Rencheng. Not long ago, Wu Si, the guardian elder by his side, and even the experts from the Iron Sword Sect, who were sent to Baiyue Ridge, had been annihilated by Xiao Yunlong.
"Lord Guiyun, the opponent has sent a Dharma King from the Brahma Sect. We have no way to resist them. Years ago, I visited the Brahma Kingdom and had the fortune to see him. That old fellow's martial cultivation is terrifying. He could probably kill me with a single palm!"
A warrior elder, standing in a prominent position, spoke. His cultivation was already that of a veteran Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit Martial King.
Among these dozens of warriors, this elder's martial cultivation was among the best. If even he said so, others were even more powerless.
"Damn it, do we really have no way out?" Miao Rencheng angrily slammed his palm onto the table, smashing it into pieces.
The adjutant said, "Perhaps, Lord Ridge Master, you could send another telegram to the lord of Canggu Ridge, requesting his assistance. After all, you have always been his follower and supporter. At this critical juncture, they cannot possibly stand idly by and refuse to help!"
Speaking of this, Miao Rencheng became even more enraged. He gritted his teeth and said, "Damn it, how many help calls have I made? Either they don't answer, or that old fellow Zage Boya makes excuses and stalls me. It's infuriating!"
The adjutant added, "If all else fails, Lord Ridge Master, we could abandon the Ridge Master's mansion and temporarily retreat. After all, these Brahma Kingdom warriors are executing a decapitation strike. As long as they can't find you, then..."
"Nonsense! Who do you think I am? To ask me to abandon the Ridge Master's mansion would be to desert. Miao Rencheng would never do such a thing!"
Miao Rencheng roared, surprisingly showing a bit of backbone.
"If all else fails, there is one last option. You could try contacting the Southern Border Camp," the adjutant asked weakly.
Miao Rencheng raised his eyebrows but remained silent. It seemed he was considering it, but he had not yet made a decision after weighing the pros and cons.
Just then, a guard hurried in and reported, "Reporting to Lord Ridge Master, we just received intelligence from the Southern Border Camp. The South King has issued a decree, ordering Canggu Ridge to provide assistance to our Guiyun Ridge."
Miao Rencheng's face lit up with joy, and he quickly asked, "What about it? Did Canggu Ridge agree?"
"No, Canggu Ridge refused. They directly rejected our request for assistance!" the guard said, cupping his fist.
"Bastard..."
Miao Rencheng was utterly enraged, trembling all over from the sheer fury. After a few seconds of hesitation, he suddenly waved his hand and said, "Quick, contact the Southern Border Camp for me!"
Soon, the South King received a call from Guiyun Ridge. At this time, Xiao Yunlong had also arrived at the South King's mansion.
After answering the phone, the South King, Lu Zhengtong, immediately turned to Xiao Yunlong and said with great joy, "North King, it is exactly as you predicted. Guiyun Ridge finally couldn't withstand the pressure and requested our assistance, agreeing to compromise and hand over power. However, Miao Rencheng has some personal conditions."
"What conditions?" Xiao Yunlong asked, remaining seated.
"Miao Rencheng said he is willing to abdicate and hand over all power for the camp to take over, but he requires his safety to be guaranteed, his family to be treated well, and his assets to remain untouched!"
Xiao Yunlong raised his sword-like eyebrows and pondered for a moment before saying, "At this critical juncture, he did not choose to abandon the Ridge Master's mansion and become a deserter. He does have some backbone. We can agree to his conditions, but we also have a condition. He can choose any city in the Southern Border to live out his remaining years, but he must never leave the country. He knows too many secrets, and we cannot let him cross the border!"
"Yes, I also believe this condition must be added. I will discuss it with him now!"
Lu Zhengtong immediately entered the side study. After about two minutes, he quickly came out and said, "Agreed. Miao Rencheng has accepted our conditions and requests us to act immediately, demanding that we arrive before the Brahma Kingdom warriors reach the Guiyun Ridge Master's mansion!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's depart directly!" Xiao Yunlong stood up abruptly.
In fact, prior to this, Xiao Yunlong had already given instructions for all the elite warriors of the Southern Border Camp, including Zhuge Wushuang and the others, to wait at the airport in advance.
There were only about two hundred people, not a large number, and they could directly take a special flight to the Guiyun Ridge Master's mansion.
After Xiao Yunlong and the South King, Lu Zhengtong, boarded the plane together, dozens of helicopters roared into the sky, flying directly towards the southwest.
About forty minutes later, Xiao Yunlong and his party arrived at the dedicated airport of the Guiyun Ridge Master's mansion.
Miao Rencheng, who had been waiting there, saw Xiao Yunlong and Lu Zhengtong disembark from the plane. He let out a sigh of relief, but also with a hint of trepidation, he immediately went to greet them.
"Greetings to Your Highnesses, the South King and North King!" Miao Rencheng immediately cupped his fists and bowed without needing to be instructed.
"Rise, there is no need for such formality!" The South King, Lu Zhengtong, waved his hand slightly.
Xiao Yunlong then said, "South King, you immediately go with the Lord of Guiyun Ridge to handle the handover matters. I will lead my men to engage the Brahma Kingdom warriors!"
"Alright, I'll leave the rest to you. Be careful!" Lu Zhengtong instructed, then immediately took Deputy Zhou and others to handle the handover with Miao Rencheng.
Xiao Yunlong then waved his hand, leading Zhuge Wushuang and his close brothers, along with over two hundred elite warriors from the Southern Border Camp, to move quickly.
However, as they just walked out of the Guiyun Ridge Master's mansion onto the square in front, a rumbling sound suddenly came from ahead. Immediately, all sorts of off-road vehicles belonging to the Brahma Kingdom's special forces, carrying three hundred Brahma Sect warriors, charged towards them with imposing momentum.
"You've come at the right time!" Xiao Yunlong stood on the steps and said coldly, his sharp gaze like a blade, filled with intense killing intent.