Chapter 733: I Respect Your Choice
Zhang Changchun spoke icily. As the words left his lips, an Array Disk suddenly appeared in his hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately mobilized a portion of his power and infused it into the Array Disk. The Array Disk in his hand trembled lightly, and then a restraining formation instantly materialized.
This restraining formation not only enveloped Yang Haoran and the others but also encompassed the entire mountain!
Zhang Changchun had arrived here today without time to set up a formation. This meant that the sudden appearance of this restraining formation could only be attributed to Zhang Changchun having meticulously prepared it on this mountain beforehand.
The appearance of the restraining light barrier caused the expressions of everyone present to subtly shift. Zhang Changqing and Ma Yuanjin, who had been preparing to leave, found their faces turning incredibly grim.
Both of them, of course, understood Zhang Changchun's intentions better than anyone. Furthermore, Zhang Changchun himself had already stated that no one present today would be allowed to leave.
As soon as the restraining light barrier appeared, the spatial rifts that Zhang Changqing and Ma Yuanjin had just torn open instantly healed. They had only managed to open a crack in space, not yet fully forming a spatial rift, when the restraining light barrier manifested.
Enveloped by the restraining light barrier, the space within the formation immediately changed, becoming far more solid. Without absolute power, tearing through this space was simply impossible.
Zhang Changqing and Ma Yuanjin were already severely wounded at this point, making it extremely difficult for them to tear through space under normal circumstances. With the space now reinforced by the formation, tearing through it became even more impossible.
With the spatial rifts healed, their plan to escape naturally fell through. To tear through space and escape again, they would first have to breach the restraining formation.
The entire mountain was enveloped by the restraining formation. Not only were they two unable to escape by tearing through space, but everyone else present was in the same predicament.
"Zhang Changchun! You bastard! What are you trying to do? !"
Zhang Changqing roared in fury at his cousin, his body trembling with rage.
In truth, he already knew what Zhang Changchun intended to do; he just refused to believe his own conjecture was true.
The fact that the restraining formation encompassed the entire mountain made it clear that Zhang Changchun had long premeditated this. He had buried formation flags here in advance, only activating the Array Disk to trigger the grand formation and release the restraining formation when the time was right.
"Everything I do today is for the Zhang family. Though these turbulent times are dangerous, they are also an opportunity for our Zhang family to rise. I not only wish for our Zhang family to survive this chaotic era but also to become even stronger. Therefore, there are some things I must do."
Facing his cousin's wrath, Zhang Changchun spoke in a deep voice. There was no guilt on his face, only an unshakeable resolve, a determination that no one could sway.
"You want your Zhang family to rise, so you schemed to harm me? ! I, your elder, put aside everything concerning the Lecheng Talisman Order to help you, to help your Zhang family, and you actually want to put me to death, you damn scoundrel!"
Zhang Changqing broke into a torrent of curses. Overcome with emotion, he swayed slightly after spitting out those words, almost fainting from sheer rage. Wang Yiming, seeing this, quickly rushed to support him.
Though he didn't collapse, Zhang Changqing still spat out a mouthful of fresh blood from sheer anger. He glared at Zhang Changchun with eyes brimming with such fury that he seemed to wish he could drink his blood and eat his flesh.
"I have no intention of killing any of you. I merely wish to borrow your strength to weaken this ghost as much as possible. I need your assistance."
Zhang Changchun offered his explanation. His words infuriated Zhang Changqing so much that he spat out another mouthful of blood. He pointed a trembling, furious finger at Zhang Changchun, wanting to continue cursing him, but his emotions were so overwhelming that he couldn't utter a single word.
"You want us to be your helpers, to weaken this ghost for you, and we have already done so! The ghost's current strength is at least halved compared to when it first emerged from the Town Soul Tower. Why do you still activate the formation and trap us here? !"
Ma Yuanjin spoke in a deep voice. Though his heart was equally filled with rage, he didn't break into curses like Zhang Changqing. He didn't want to provoke Zhang Changchun, for if he cursed him, who knew what Zhang Changchun might do if enraged.
"Old Ma, this ghost's power is still too strong; it's still a bit short of my ideal standard. So, I hope you can lend a hand once more and help me weaken this ghost a little further."
Normally, Ma Yuanjin found Zhang Changchun's address of "Old Ma" pleasant and familiar, but now, hearing it, he found it utterly sarcastic and chilling.
"Lend another hand? Heh, how much more can we exert? Look at me now; even breathing is difficult. How can I possibly help you?"
Ma Yuanjin gave a cold chuckle, a look of mockery on his face as he spoke. This mockery was directed at Zhang Changchun, and at the same time, at himself.
Zhang Changchun gently shook his head, seemingly not agreeing with Ma Yuanjin's assertion.
"No. Since you still had the power to tear through space, that means you still possess power."
Zhang Changchun's words made Ma Yuanjin's chest constrict with rage, while Zhang Changqing, infuriated, spat out another mouthful of blood.
"The little power we have left in our bodies is useless. Even if we wanted to help you, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
Ma Yuanjin hadn't given up hope, continuing to persuade Zhang Changchun. His sole purpose in doing so was to get Zhang Changchun to open the barrier and let them leave.
Although Zhang Changchun had previously stated that none of them would leave today, and his words were clear, Ma Yuanjin still clung to a sliver of hope that he could convince Zhang Changchun.
"The less power you have remaining, the more you should pour all of it out. Only then can your sincerity be truly seen. Don't you agree?"
Ma Yuanjin felt utterly helpless at Zhang Changchun's sophistry. He knew Zhang Changchun clearly had no intention of letting them leave, which was why he spouted such unreasonable words.
The last sliver of hope in his heart vanished. Since the other party was adamantly against letting them leave, anything more he said would be useless.
Seeing Ma Yuanjin fall silent, Zhang Changchun said nothing further to him. Instead, he turned his gaze to Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing.
"It's true that those two have little power left in their bodies, but as for you two, I fear you still have quite a bit, don't you?"
At Zhang Changchun's words, everyone else turned their gaze to Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing, including the ghost itself.
The ghost didn't attack at this moment because he wanted to seize this opportunity to recover as much of his depleted power as possible. Since his opponents were having an internal conflict, it was a good thing for him. It would be best if they started fighting amongst themselves, then he could just sit back and reap the fisherman's profit. So, he wasn't in any hurry to make a move.
"Esteemed Envoys, I can see that neither of you has used your full strength. Am I right?"
Although Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing bore injuries and their power fluctuations weren't particularly strong, their reactions were too calm. Zhang Changchun's conjecture that they had held back their strength was based on this observation.
Yang Haoran wanted to reply, but Xu Meijing stopped him with a raised hand.
"Are you going to open this restraining formation yourself, or should I break it open?"
Xu Meijing answered with a non-sequitur. Though no trace of anger showed on her face, anyone could hear the rage in her voice.
"Esteemed Envoys, are you willing to continue helping me?"
Zhang Changchun also answered indirectly. He naturally heard the anger in Xu Meijing's words, but he seemed to pay it no mind. Instead, he was concerned with whether Xu Meijing and Yang Haoran were willing to continue helping him.
Xu Meijing raised Life Ender in her hand, pointing the tip of the blade directly at Zhang Changchun. An icy killing intent emanated from her large eyes!
"I respect your choice!"
Xu Meijing's words and actions were, in fact, a declaration of war against Zhang Changchun. As someone who was originally an ally, she now regarded Zhang Changchun as an enemy.
Zhang Changchun naturally understood what Xu Meijing's words and actions implied. Not only did he show no signs of panic, but he burst into laughter, then retrieved an item from within his personal space!
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