Chapter 160: Disciples of the Zhou State Betrayal

The Grand Commander had made up his mind that the young prodigy of the Zhou State must go out to fight. Left with no other choice, the young man ultimately decided to enter the battlefield.

After all, fighting Bai Feiyu might still give him a chance to survive.

If he refused, the Grand Commander was certainly not joking; he would likely end up killed by his own people and go down in history with eternal infamy.

Step by step, the young man walked heavily toward Bai Feiyu.

When he drew close to Bai Feiyu and saw the cold sneer on his face, a sudden chill gripped his heart.

Bai Feiyu’s continuous victories had cast a deep shadow of fear over him, and he had no desire to throw his life away for nothing.

"What is wrong with you people from the Zhou State? Why are you dragging your feet?"

"Could it be that you are afraid?"

Bai Feiyu chuckled mockingly. Shouldering his God-Slaying Spear, he looked like a rogue hoodlum, yet his presence was an insurmountable barrier.

A trace of anger flashed across the young man's face, but this was clearly not the time to bicker with Bai Feiyu.

The people behind him were all watching, hoping he would buy as much time as possible.

On the other side, when the Grand Commander of the Zhou State saw the young man standing there without starting the battle, great joy surged into his eyes.

He assumed this must be a tactic employed by the young man to stall for time. At this rate, the young man might genuinely be able to drag things out for quite a while.

Right now, time was everything. As long as the young man could stall, the grand plan stood a chance of completion.

"Hey, make a move already! What is with all the dilly-dallying?"

"Could it be that you didn't come here of your own accord, but are just a coward who doesn't even dare to fight?"

Bai Feiyu provoked him from across the field, knowing that the commanders above would certainly be pleased to see him humiliate the enemy.

Given his current cultivation base and combat prowess, he had essentially trampled many beneath his feet, and countless people trembled at the mere sight of him.

For a moment, the young man felt a surge of anger, but it quickly subsided into resignation.

Deep in heavy thought, he finally raised his head abruptly, looked up at the Zhao State commander on the city wall, and shouted, "I surrender! I am willing to reveal the secrets of the Zhou State to you."

"I was sent here simply to die and buy time. There is a grand plan behind all this, so please spare my life!"

With these words, the young man laid down his weapon. At the sight of this, many people were deeply shocked.

Could this be a trick orchestrated by the Zhou State to sow discord and confuse their minds?

However, upon hearing the young man's declaration, the commander above immediately commanded his men, "Open the city gates and let him in!"

Under normal circumstances, if it were merely a rival prodigy seeking surrender, the commander might not have agreed. But the man claimed to possess vital secrets regarding the Zhou State.

This was a sensitive juncture in the war, and the recent movements of the Zhou State had indeed been obscure and unpredictable.

Therefore, the commander chose to let him enter and accept his surrender.

The young man's shout had carried far, throwing the Zhou State's camp into instant panic.

Having repeatedly sent forth prodigies only to watch them stall for time, they had initially thought the enemy was merely clever, but now they realized the youth wasn't just clever—he was terrifyingly smart.

At this rate, there was a high likelihood he would leak everything, ruining the Zhou State's entire master plan.

Not only that, but everyone present today might well die right here.

Consumed by panic, the Zhou State commander shrieked hysterically, "Get the crossbows! Take aim at that fellow! Do not let him escape under any circumstances!"

"Damn it! The bastard is a traitor! Listen up, report his information back immediately and wipe out his entire clan, leaving not a single soul alive!!!"

Simultaneously, numerous crossbows locked onto the young man and Bai Feiyu, hoping to use this opportunity to eliminate them all in one fell swoop.

"Run for your lives!"

Seeing this sudden turn of events, everyone's heart leaped into their throats. They cared little for the fate of the Zhou State youth.

However, Bai Feiyu's safety was paramount—after all, as long as Bai Feiyu was around, no one from the Zhou State could defeat them.

Having spoken his piece, the young man readied himself instantly, darting forward with blinding speed, closely followed by Bai Feiyu.

Moments later, the heavy city gates slammed shut, and the volley of crossbow arrows clattered harmlessly against the thick timber.

"Quickly, go and report to your commander! I hold critical intelligence that must be delivered to you at once."

"This concerns the war itself. This time, we must make the Zhou State pay a heavy price!"

The young man spoke with a ferocious expression as he quickened his pace.

His initial hesitation upon arriving had been due to his family remaining behind in the Zhou State.

Yet, human beings were ultimately self-preserving creatures. After careful weighing, the young man decided to save his own skin first and avenge his family another day.

Returning was no longer an option, and he had never had any real desire to throw his life away for a doomed mission.

"Very well!"

Bai Feiyu muttered, keeping his eyes locked firmly on the young man to guard against any sudden, desperate attack on the surrounding soldiers.

After all, the youth's cultivation and strength were formidable.

If he were to suddenly lash out at the crowd, the consequences could be disastrous.

Most of the soldiers were ordinary troops whose cultivation lingered around the Hao Qi realm, with very few surpassing the Shackling realm. Those who had reached the Shackling realm were already considered experts, and a sudden assault by such a warrior would spell absolute catastrophe for the rank and file.

As Bai Feiyu accompanied the youth inward, disciples of the Shackling realm and above, such as Yue Linglong and Gu Tianxun, leaped down from the walls.

They immediately formed a tight perimeter around the young man to prevent any sudden violence.

"Speak. What secrets do you hold? Tell us, and we will grant you the status of a citizen of the Zhao State. Furthermore, you may join the sects on our side to continue your cultivation."

"You will never have to live in hardship for lack of a sect willing to take you in. On the contrary, if the intelligence you provide proves effective, you shall become a meritorious hero of the Zhao State, and we will grant you everything you desire," the commander said, looking down at the young man.

The young man nodded and replied, "It is like this. Do you know why the Zhou State has been reluctant to engage in direct battle, sending disciples out to challenge you instead?"

"Why, even when facing certain defeat, they still insisted on sending me here to die?"

"Because they are executing a grand strategy. Their forces are actually hollowed out and weak at the core. They desperately hoped to stall your advance through these challenges while they covertly redeploy their troops elsewhere."