Successful Rescue
Seeing Zhao Tianming turn from defence to offence, charging at him with full strength, Wu Ming felt a sense of joy.
His goal wasn't to kill Zhao Tianming but to hold him back, preventing him from supporting the Yuan Sword Sect disciples on the ground.
Within the camp, Zhao Tianming was kept at bay by Wu Ming, while the remaining Grandmaster-realm Silver Sheath Stewards of the Yuan Sword Sect were tightly engaged by the Grandmasters from the Imperial Academy.
The other Yuan Sword Sect disciples, ranging from Martial Masters to Grandmasters, posed little threat to the Imperial Academy's team.
Though Zhao Tianming's sword was not as powerful as the one displayed by Qin Wufeng in the palace examination that day, it was still incredibly sharp.
The sword's energy aimed directly at Wu Ming in mid-air, closing in an instant.
The Yuan Sword Sect's sword techniques were renowned for their powerful attacks. If this sword struck, even Wu Ming, a Martial Venerable powerhouse, would struggle to withstand it.
But would Wu Ming be hit? Of course not!
As the sword qi surged towards him, Wu Ming narrowed his eyes and abruptly transformed into a puff of black mist, disappearing from sight!
The sword light shredded through the black mist in an instant, but it was futile.
Zhao Tianming was slightly stunned. Wu Ming's footwork was too elusive.
He could actually disappear into thin air!
Such skill was difficult even for Martial King-realm experts. Usually, only Emperor-realm powerhouses, who possessed the ability to traverse space, could achieve such an effect.
In the blink of an eye, Wu Ming reappeared behind Zhao Tianming, his hand gathering black energy once again, forming a giant black hand that fiercely slapped towards Zhao Tianming.
With sharp senses, Zhao Tianming turned around and countered with a strike!
The sword light and the black giant hand clashed in mid-air, momentarily locked in a stalemate before exploding violently.
The massive shockwave caused the entire mountain range to tremble!
The fighters on the ground were all struggling to maintain their balance!
Seizing this opportunity, another small squad from the Imperial Academy sensed the timing and swiftly rushed into the Yuan Sword Sect's camp.
The earlier ambush had drawn a large number of Yuan Sword Sect disciples towards the central tent, and most of the disciples guarding the Mo family members had also joined the battle.
***
At this moment, the guard at the small tent at the edge of the mountain was at its weakest.
Moreover, the fierce battle between the two powerful individuals in the sky caused tremors, diverting the attention of the guarding disciples.
They would never have imagined that the Imperial Academy had already learned their camp's details and had even left out a second team to raid them.
Underestimating their opponents, the Yuan Sword Sect disciples guarding the Mo family's experts were caught off guard and had their throats slit while they were still unsteady on their feet.
A Grandmaster from the Imperial Academy slashed open the small tent and pulled out a medicine from his pocket: "Gentlemen, we were sent here by the capital to rescue you. Quickly take this antidote and join the fight!"
From his vantage point, Mo Qingkuang saw inside the small tent: "There is Fifth Elder, Sixth Elder, and the Supreme Elder too, along with several clan stewards. I remember them all."
Fifth Elder and the others were overjoyed upon hearing this. They had already been alarmed by the sounds of battle outside and had prepared themselves for the arrival of reinforcements.
Forced to take the Bone Softening Powder, they had lost their combat effectiveness. With the Yuan Sword Sect no longer restraining them, they were free to move, albeit unable to muster any true qi.
They knew that the Yuan Sword Sect had kept them there to coerce the Mo family into submission! If Mo Shan submitted, wouldn't Mo Qingkuang in the Capital be at their mercy?
Now that Mo Qingkuang had brought reinforcements from the Capital, they were able to break free from captivity. How could they not be overjoyed?
The group quickly divided and took the medicine, then began to meditate to restore their true qi.
Several Grandmasters from the Imperial Academy stood guard here, but when Yuan Sword Sect disciples came to disturb them, they dealt with them without hesitation.
In mid-air, Zhao Tianming also noticed the situation below and realized that his plan had been exposed.
Seeing the important figures of the Mo family being rescued, he was furious and charged towards the camp with his sword!
However, Wu Ming wouldn't let him get involved. The black energy in his hand swelled again, forming into a large black club!
With a flicker, he appeared beneath Zhao Tianming and swung his hand upward!
The club fiercely struck Zhao Tianming, who countered with his sword.
Upon contact, the tremendous recoil force sent Zhao Tianming soaring high into the air, further away from the camp.
The blow was effective, and Wu Ming relentlessly pursued. The black club condensed into a solid form, capable of contending with Zhao Tianming's sword.
In fact, the strengths of Zhao Tianming and Wu Ming were similar —Zhao Tianming had sharp attacks, while Wu Ming had elusive speed. Neither could overpower the other.
But if it came to a protracted battle, Wu Ming's elusive speed gave him the advantage. He repeatedly intercepted Zhao Tianming's path, forcing him to confront him directly!
Meanwhile, the Mo family experts below had partially recovered their strength and eagerly joined the fray.
Although the Yuan Sword Sect had more disciples guarding the camp, their cultivation quality was inferior to the elite forces of the Imperial Academy.
Not to mention the additional participation of several Mo family members in the fray. The Imperial Academy side quickly gained the upper hand and had already taken control of the central tent in the camp.
"Everyone, take your clan members and head north. Thirty miles ahead is Zhennan Pass in the Central Province! Once you enter Zhennan Pass, you'll be safe!" A Grandmaster from the Imperial Academy chopped down a Yuan Sword Sect disciple and addressed the Mo family elders.
"Thank you!" Fifth Elder shouted, too rushed to perform a proper salute. He rushed to the front of the central tent, brandishing his sword to strike at it.
Inside, the elderly and weak of the Mo family were silent. Most of them were elderly, children, or women who had never practised martial arts. Being held captive by the Yuan Sword Sect had long terrified them, and the sounds of battle outside only added to their fear of being caught in the chaos.
When they saw that it was the Fifth Elder attacking the tent, they breathed a sigh of relief! It seemed they were saved.
The Fifth Elder had always been in charge within the clan and was highly respected. Seeing the seventy to eighty clan members before him, he shouted, "Follow me! Elderly in the front, women carrying children in the rear!"
An elderly man glanced at the supplies piled up in the centre with some reluctance. "Fifth Elder, what about those things?"
Fifth Elder glared at him fiercely, disregarding his seniority as his uncle. He coldly snorted, "Forget about them! What's more important, lives or belongings? Let's go!"
With that, he drew his sword and went to clear the way ahead. Turning back, he shouted again, "Sixth Elder, Supreme Elder! Come help me clear the way!"
Elder Six and the Supreme Elder hurried to the front of the group to clear the way, while the other Mo family experts followed the elite troops of the Imperial Academy, fighting and retreating to cover the others.
Mo Qingkuang felt somewhat bitter. Although they had managed to safely rescue their clan members, many more had died in this attack. Apart from a few strong individuals who had fought desperately to escape like Mo Shan, those whose cultivation was not strong enough had perished in the resistance.
The Mo family, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, now seemed to number no more than a hundred people at best, with more than half of them lost! And these were all from the main lineage. The branches and branches of the family were still left in Tiannan City and had not been brought over.
***
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