Chapter 369 Destroyed Indiscriminately
The maneuver in the two academies was little known.
But it was definitely a big deal for Zhongzhou State.
Today’s situation in Zhongzhou State could not be said to have all geniuses in both academies, but most geniuses had a learning experience in both academies.
It was about a three-year course. As the time flew by, each batch of graduates going out of the two academies would gradually grow up and eventually become the backbone of their respective regions, and even the Special Warfare System of Zhongzhou State.
Li Kuangtu, Gu Xingyun, and Wang Tianzong were in the first term.
Gu Qianchuan, Dongcheng Wudi, and Hua Qingfeng were in the second term.
Situ Cangyue was in the third term.
Until now, alive and dead, a small number of graduates from each term of the two academies could embark on the peak of Zhongzhou State’s pyramid, and more people integrated into the Special Warfare System and became the cornerstone of Zhongzhou State.
It was no exaggeration to say that any maneuver of the two academies might determine the pattern of Zhongzhou State in the next ten years and the Special Warfare System in the following decades.
It was especially true of this term.
Li Tianlan had the combat capability in the Invincible Realm.
Wang Shengxiao was at the peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm.
Gu Hanshan was only half a step away from Wang Shengxiao in strength.
Jiang Shangyu was low-key and bearable.
Two of them possessed Wind and Thunder Veins, while the rest owned Heavenly King Heart!
This could be said to be the most interesting final maneuver in the past two decades. It could even be said that whoever got the first place in this maneuver would be the most likely to become the best one in Zhongzhou State decades later.
This was also a maneuver that focused on all the contradictions in Zhongzhou State.
The Li family got strong support from the Giant Group.
Wang Shengxiao was supported by the Southeast Group.
Gu Hanshan was supported by the Special Warfare Group.
The Academics and Prince Group were sandwiched between them, with a subtle attitude.
The North Group remained neutral.
There were too many possibilities for the result of this maneuver, but everyone believed that no matter what the outcome was, the entire Zhongzhou State would not be calm after today.
Therefore, they began to enforce tight security in Huating a few days before the maneuver.
The black Mercedes-Benz was running on Huating’s highway. The closer it was to the Sky Academy, the more lively the road was. There were no civilians within the two-kilometer area of the Sky Academy. Soldiers, policemen, and policemen in camouflage clothes were almost everywhere.
Li Tianlan could almost smell the solemn and serious atmosphere through the window.
Dongcheng Wudi sat on the other side of the back of the vehicle, silently watching the scene outside the window. He looked calm.
Dongcheng Rushi sat before Li Tianlan and Dongcheng Wudi. She kept moving her head and blinking. No one knew what she was thinking.
“This was not the case in previous years.”
Dongcheng Wudi suddenly opened his mouth and whispered, “The scale of security at present is basically equivalent to the first-level alert. Even if there were maneuvers in previous years, they would only appear in the final period. This year’s maneuver should be wonderful, but because of some people’s ambition, the maneuver has changed in nature.”
Dongcheng Wudi shook his head and continued, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.”
Li Tianlan listened calmly to Dongcheng Wudi’s evaluation.
He knew exactly what the other party meant, and the sentence of “In like a lion, out like a lamb” was even more vivid.
Because Kunlun City directly modified the order of the maneuver.
The first day of the maneuver was the team maneuver.
What was the team maneuver?
After three years of training and cooperation, the teams of the two academies demonstrated their strength to the senior staff of the two academies and Zhongzhou State.
It was a preview of a team that would keep a foothold in Zhongzhou State in the future.
In the previous final maneuvers, the team maneuver could be said to be the most quintessential and climactic part of the entire one.
But this time, Kunlun City put a part of this finale as the first.
The purpose was self-evident.
This was more than just bringing several teams together to target Li Tianlan.
They also did not want to let Li Tianlan know his opponents in advance through other maneuver subjects.
“Gu Xingyun really cudgels his brains.”
Dongcheng Wudi’s eyes were a little cold, and there was undisguised scorn and mockery in his tone.
Li Tianlan watched Dongcheng Wudi’s face quietly.
He could feel the oppression and anger of the other party, as well as the tyrannical and murderous intentions behind all appearances.
Li Tianlan’s eyes looked a little dazed.
He suddenly thought of the mountain in Luojing, Zhongyuan.
He thought of the shrine and villas as well as the wind and jungle on the mountain.
He thought of Dongcheng Hanguang, Dongcheng Wudi, Bai Qingqian, Dongcheng Qiuchi, Dongcheng Rushi, and Thunder God.
There were too many people.
There was too much goodwill.
The Dongcheng Clan seemed to really put everything in front of him as they were, without malice, conspiracy, calculation, or even requirement of return.
Li Tianlan knew what he might face in today’s maneuver.
Everyone knew it.
Dongcheng Wudi was even clearer than him.
So he appeared in the East Emperor Palace, put on the marshal suit that meant power and dignity in Zhongzhou State, and wore all the medals that Zhongzhou State had awarded him over the years.
Li Tianlan knew that the attitude of the other party meant that the Dongcheng Clan would stand in front of him at all costs and face the Wang family of Beihai and Kunlun City.
At the crucial moment of his life and death, the distinctive attitude of the Dongcheng Clan meant that they had no room for retreat.
“Why?” Li Tianlan asked suddenly.
He did not call him the marshal. It seemed that his expression had lost the respect and politeness of the past, but looked a bit complicated.
He had doubted the purpose of the Dongcheng Clan and had also guarded against it.
But now the entire Dongcheng Clan put everything on him, even holding their hearts in the hands to him.
Their kindness and giving were so strong.
Doubt? Alert? On guard?
Li Tianlan suddenly did not know what he should doubt.
Dongcheng Wudi’s fingers trembled, and he turned to look into Li Tianlan’s eyes quietly.
There was a persistent light in Li Tianlan’s eyes.
Why?
The question was simple but too broad.
Dongcheng Wudi did not know what to say.
He turned his head back again and smiled a little forcefully. “How can there be so many questions? You have a marriage contract with Rushi. In the future, you will get married. As a son-in-law, I am your father-in-law. We’re a family. Do you still need to ask why?”
Dongcheng Rushi had clear eyes. She stretched out and pulled Li Tianlan’s palm. Her face was a little ruddy, but there was a touch of joy in her eyes.
“Just because of a marriage contract?”
Li Tianlan held Dongcheng Rushi’s small hand, but he did not relax and kept looking at Dongcheng Wudi.
“Also because of your potential.”
Dongcheng Wudi subconsciously adjusted his sitting posture, took out a cigarette, ignited it, and took a drag on it.
The change of his face meant an intent which was difficult to understand.
“Your performance deserves such an investment from my family. Tianlan, the marriage contract between you and Rushi was made when you were born. Old Master and Senior Li decided it together. The family never thought about destroying this contract. You are not an outsider for this family, and you have never been. And your outstanding performance is worthy of our investment in you.”
He held the cigarette tightly. His fingers seemed to tremble because he held it too hard. “If you didn’t have the potential and the future we can expect now, you might have another end.”
“Rushi will still marry you. The family will give you a fortune that you will never run out of all your life so that you can enjoy life with peace of mind rather than now...”
Dongcheng Wudi’s eyes lost focus.
His face was regretful and somewhat comforted, extremely complicated. “If this is the end, the Dongcheng Clan will slowly transform, gradually give up everything now, and develop forces from the military to the political circle. Do you understand?”
Li Tianlan understood it.
But he seemed not to understand.
All he knew was the way forward for the Dongcheng Clan.
Dongcheng Wudi had two daughters.
The eldest daughter, Dongcheng Qiuchi, was now one of the directors of Huating, or the choice after the transformation of the Dongcheng Clan.
If he had never appeared, or if his potential were not as good as expected, the Dongcheng Clan would fully support Dongcheng Qiuchi, making her a key figure in the transformation of the Dongcheng Clan.
In other words, Dongcheng Qiuchi represented a future choice for the Dongcheng Clan.
As for another way, the Dongcheng Clan did not pin their hopes on Dongcheng Rushi.
They rested hopes on Li Tianlan.
“Even if I don’t show up, you still have Rushi.”
Li Tianlan whispered, “For the potential of Rushi, isn’t it worth the investment?”
“I can’t.”
Dongcheng Rushi shook her head honestly. “I can’t beat Wang Shengxiao and Gu Hanshan. I can’t beat Jiang Shangyu.”
She took Li Tianlan’s hand and felt a little sad, thinking that if she were stronger, wouldn’t she have to abstain from this final maneuver?
Dongcheng Wudi tried to speak, but finally, he said nothing.
“You haven’t answered my question yet.”
Li Tianlan no longer asked much but clung to his initial doubt.
The question “why” he asked aimed at the kindness of the Dongcheng Clan to him regardless of return.
Dongcheng Wudi said a lot.
But Li Tianlan did not think that was the whole reason.
Engagement and potential could only be part of the cause.
Dongcheng Wudi smiled bitterly.
This time he was silent for a long time.
The Sky Academy ahead was near.
“The Dongcheng Clan owes you. Tianlan.”
Dongcheng Wudi slowly said, “You deserve all this today.”
“Owes me? Or owes the Li family?”
Li Tianlan narrowed his eyes.
Dongcheng Wudi kept silent.
“Is that all?”
Li Tianlan continued to ask.
Dongcheng Wudi slowly turned his head, watching Li Tianlan deeply.
His eyes were a bit intense.
It was a kind of intense emotion that was about to burst out of his heart.
But in the end, his fierceness turned into flinching and even cowardice.
“Yes.”
He said, “That’s all.”
“Oh,” Li Tianlan replied and stopped talking.
The Benz car drove directly into the campus along the temporarily open road of the Sky Academy.
“Don’t think too much!”
Dongcheng Wudi looked at the crowd coming and going outside the window. He said in a low voice, “Focus on the maneuver. Tianlan, I assure you that no one can hurt you as I am here today. Just do it.”
The Mercedes-Benz slowly parked in the parking lot temporarily provided by the Sky Academy.
The moment the car stopped, another Black Rolls-Royce of the extended version drove in from another direction and parked next to the Mercedes.
The two sides got off the cars and were stunned at the same time.
There were two men and one woman in both cars.
Dongcheng Wudi, Li Tianlan, and Dongcheng Rushi.
The one who got off the Rolls-Royce was Li Tianlan’s biggest opponent today.
Wang Shengxiao, with a pale face, held Song Ci’s hand and stood behind Wang Tianzong.
Dongcheng Wudi and Wang Tianzong greeted each other with a smile and shook hands.
Wang Shengxiao looked at Li Tianlan, smiled and nodded, very friendly.
Li Tianlan did not look at Wang Shengxiao.
He just looked at Wang Tianzong and calmly said, “Where is Yuetong?”
Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State, who was talking to Dongcheng Wudi, turned his head and glanced at him.
It was just a casual glance.
“You will meet her.”
Wang Tianzong calmly said, “After today.”
He spoke slowly, so the last two words were particularly meaningful.
Dongcheng Wudi’s eyes contracted.
Li Tianlan’s expression did not change at all.
He believed in the promise that Dongcheng Wudi had just made.
But he also believed in Wang Tianzong’s strength.
Today, if Sword Emperor of Zhongzhou State wanted to kill someone, in the entire Zhongzhou State and even the entire Dark World, no one could stop him.
The Sword Emperor’s sword edge was strong enough to tear any solid guarantee.
Li Tianlan was neither sad nor unhappy nor frightened.
For the worst, he was mentally prepared before Dongcheng Wudi appeared in front of him.
He might die today.
But when he died, the heir to the Wang family of Beihai—Wang Tianzong’s most valued son, was bound to die with him.
The Li family was stubborn.
The equally stubborn Li Tianlan never lacked the courage to destroy indiscriminately in a desperate situation.