Let them offer their loyalty!

To be honest, there wasn't much animosity between Pang Haichen and Qiu Tu. However, Qiu Tu indeed blocked his path, even potentially threatening him.

He had no choice but to plan ahead.

Like Huang Shangzong... he didn't actually hold much of a personal grudge against him either.

It's just that Huang Shangzong was pushed forward by Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng, aiming to disperse his authority within the "Academic Faction".

The two are locked in a competition of life and death.

He must deal with Huang Shangzong.

Thinking of this, Pang Haichen couldn't help but recall some recent job adjustments within the Sanctuary.

Ever since the last time when the "Academic Faction's" general Pei Jing was stripped of military power and transferred to the New State, the Sanctuary had undertaken some simple personnel adjustments.

As expected by "Kou Xuan", they all indeed involved the "Academic Faction".

But... contrasting with "Kou Xuan's" prediction was that the Sanctuary did not suppress the "Academic Faction", but instead increased their reliance on them.

Like the two major officials of the "Academic Faction" stationed locally, successfully entered the high ranks and were placed in critical departments.

One was appointed as Deputy Director of the General Investigation Bureau, while the other entered the military and became a member of the Military Committee.

More importantly, a core member of the "Academic Faction" who held military power locally, was transferred by Rao Shou to Beiyun State to succeed "Pei Jing" and began to control Beiyun State's military power.

This suggests that neither Rao Shou nor Tang Wanfeng intended to suppress the "Academic Faction", but rather were "supporting" them.

During this period, Pang Haichen also probed Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng several times.

He found that Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng's motives were indeed straightforward: the Academic Faction is indeed the faction producing the most elites within the Eighth Sanctuary.

But precisely because it produced too many elites, the two aimed to balance power, preventing the "Academic Faction" from dominating.

Thus, over the years, they've been tacitly suppressing the "Academic Faction".

Now, however, both have advanced to the Fifth Order and believe that with personal strength and prestige, they can overpower the Academic Faction.

Moreover, with the recent smooth progress in developing several New States, the Eighth Sanctuary urgently needed a large number of talents, so they lifted the suppression on the "Academic Faction" and even provided compensation.

After understanding all this, Pang Haichen gradually eased his mind.

Thus, he shifted his attention back to the affairs of the New State and Dongye State.

Yesterday's information about the Yaksha single-handedly defeating six Fifth Order Evil Gods had already reached him.

He also keenly realized this was a golden opportunity for expansion.

However, before he could consult with Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng, he discovered that the New State had already taken action on its own.

He called to question it, only to find out that Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei had bypassed him, directly contacting Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng, and received authorization.

This made him feel his authority was challenged, intensifying his thoughts of eliminating Qiu Tu.

Right now, Qiu Tu was linked to too many things.

"Princess Zhao Ji and Larilo, the Evil God sisters", "The earth vein flower of the Fog Hidden Association", "Influence in the high ranks of Liangzhou", "Background with Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng", "The Disaster Zone 36-city development plan".....

As long as Qiu Tu is eliminated, all these will disappear like smoke.

Princess Zhao Ji and others will return to a neutral stance on everything; the Fog Hidden Association's mission will be completed; the high ranks of Liangzhou will lose cohesion;

Rao Shou and Tang Wanfeng will no longer be able to intervene in Liangzhou; and the development plan for the 36 cities in the Disaster Zone, including the military power of the two states, will all fall into the hands of the "Academic Faction".

Thinking of this, Pang Haichen couldn't help but clench his hand, his sharp eyes gazing into the dark night.

'It all depends on tonight's battle!'

...

Besides Larilo and Pang Haichen, several others who knew of Qiu Tu's action tonight.

For example, Rao Shou, Tang Wanli; for example, Tang Feifei, Guan Xiao, Princess Xi; for example, Chen Feng, Zhu Huoyan, etc., all were silently waiting....

Even though they didn't know when the battle would start or end.

But they knew this could be a battle of profound significance!

Even many Evil Gods were secretly keeping an eye on this battle!

After all, this battle could very well influence the direction of the Four States, even the Eighth Sanctuary, for the next decade!

....

At this moment, Qiu Tu didn't know how significant his fate had become.

He, having dodged over ten times, finally made a mistake when his spiritual power was not fully focused!

"Buzz!!" was just a hum!

In the next second, blood scattered everywhere!

Half of Qiu Tu's arm, along with a layer of skin and flesh on his body, was directly sliced off!

If he hadn't dodged quickly, his body might have been blown apart!

'Strong. So strong....'

Qiu Tu clutched his wound, which was bleeding nonstop, his face pale, his whole body in such pain that sweat began to form on his forehead.

At this moment, Little Yaksha was standing at the temple's entrance, grinning at Qiu Tu, for once not pursuing further victory.

She said in her unique soft and childish voice, "Qiu Tu, right?"

"You actually look quite handsome."

"After you die, can you give me your head to use as a chamber pot?"

Qiu Tu:??

Little Yaksha smiled wickedly, "Don't worry, I'll definitely preserve it well with Cataclysmic Material, so that your handsome face can face me every night."

Qiu Tu:.....

Honestly, as much of a maniac as Qiu Tu was, he felt that this Little Loli before him was a bit too manic.

"0:26"

But now, he's really barely holding on, and being able to keep from immediate movement and have a chat was a good way to let the last 20 seconds or so pass for him.