Forcing Sanctum Martial Academy to Submit

"What?"

When they heard that the High Heaven Alliance and the Three Heavenly Sects had both fallen to the Military Council, Xander Xuanyuan, Tanner Nangong, and the other two were all shocked and pale.

"Bang!"

Tanner Nangong slammed his palm down on the table, instantly turning the wood beneath into a cloud of splinters. "The Military Council really has some nerve! How dare they do this!"

"How did they pull it off? The High Heaven Alliance and our Three Heavenly Sects have over a hundred Martial Saints—how could they all be captured in a single night?"

Adrian Zhuge frowned deeply, unable to make sense of it no matter how he thought.

The Martial Saint who brought the news said thoughtfully, "Master Zhuge, I hid nearby and saw that everyone who got captured from the High Heaven Alliance and the Three Sects looked drained and dull-eyed. If I’m not mistaken, the Military Council must have used some kind of poison to make them all surrender so easily!"

"What kind of drug could poison a Martial Saint?" Harvey Huangpu asked, puzzled.

"There is a poison in this world that can erode the soul of a martial artist—even a Martial Saint who’s poisoned by it will have ninety percent of their strength sealed away!" Xander Xuanyuan's voice rang out.

"What kind of poison?" Everyone turned to look at Xander Xuanyuan.

"Soul-Eroding Smoke."

Xander Xuanyuan said gravely, "Our High Heaven Alliance records mention it—Soul-Eroding Smoke is a rare and vicious poison, a product of heaven and earth itself. The only place it exists is Mistveil Cliff.

That year, Niall Nian became the disciple of the Mistveil Martial God, so it’s no surprise he has Soul-Eroding Smoke!"

"So what do we do now?" Tanner Nangong was both angry and anxious. If he’d known this was coming, he would’ve moved Heavenly Dragon Sect out of the Holy City ages ago.

Xander Xuanyuan continued, "Niall Nian captured the top brass from our four factions but didn’t kill them—he clearly wants to force us to lead Sanctum Martial Academy in betraying the East and South Domains. So, for now, their lives aren’t in danger!"

Hearing Xander Xuanyuan’s analysis, Tanner Nangong and the others all looked grim.

After a long pause, Adrian Zhuge said, "Old Xander, if Niall Nian really threatens us with our people, what should we do?"

"I don’t know either." Xander Xuanyuan shook his head, troubled. He didn’t want to betray Ian Song, but with the entire High Heaven Alliance in Niall Nian’s hands, he couldn’t just abandon them.

Just then, a guard came to report: Niall Nian had arrived at Sanctum Martial Academy with a group.

At the mention of Niall Nian’s name, Tanner Nangong flew into a rage. "That punk actually dares to show up at Sanctum? I’ll go kill him!"