Invincible Dad-Chapter 622 Strategic Retreat_1

"Father."

Qi Jiuyang shouted loudly, "I will wait for your return!"

The old Sect Master of the Blade Sect, Qi Wanhai, paused his steps. For a moment, his back, as straight as a pine tree, stooped. But it was only for a moment. Qi Wanhai straightened up again, waved his hand without a word, and stepped into the Starry Sky Gate.

Qi Jiuyang bowed deeply, his eyes slightly red.

Ever since he could remember, Qi Jiuyang had rarely called Qi Wanhai, the then Sect Master of the Blade Sect, ’father.’ His mother had required him to call the man ’Sect Master’ along with all the other disciples. The last time he had called him ’father’ was thirty years ago when Qi Wanhai stepped down and passed the position of Sect Master to him. Qi Jiuyang had whispered the word softly then. To this day, he still remembered the first time his eternally stern-faced father had smiled at him, his son. The smile was filled with guilt.

Today, Qi Jiuyang suddenly felt a strong urge to call out to him as ’father’ because he was afraid he might never get another chance.

"We await our Master’s return!"

"We await our Martial Uncle’s return!"

"We await our Senior Sister’s return!"

The other nine Holy Land leaders bowed in unison. Among them were fathers and sons, as well as martial brothers. They watched the eleven departing figures, their eyes reddening as one. The trip to the Moon was fraught with danger. Although most of the eleven old Sect Masters and Pavilion Masters were at the Peak of the Golden Core Boundary, venturing deep into Moon Clan territory was truly a cause for worry.

The eleven didn’t respond as the Starry Sky Gate gradually closed.

Beneath the Blade Sect’s Holy Artifact, the ten Holy Land leaders, including Daoist Chi Huo and Qi Jiuyang, fell into a collective silence. It was a long while before anyone spoke.

It was Mo Lian of the Dao Sect who whispered, "We should disperse now."

"Sect Master Mo," Daoist Chi Huo said pensively, "how much truth do you think was in what Tan Chang said today? Does the Moon Clan really have control over the Yunxiao Sect?"

"I don’t know," Mo Lian replied calmly. "But Mr. Tan never said that the Yunxiao Sect was only a shadow of its former self because of the Moon Clan."

"You mean..." Daoist Chi Huo’s pupils shrank.

Because of the Starry Sky Gate, the gaze of the Three Sects and Nine Pavilions had never been confined to Earth; they had made contact with many cultivators from other stars, such as Mercury and Venus in the Solar System. Furthermore, many of the Demon King Realm Demonic Beasts that ruled the Sea Cities in the vast oceans were not all native to Earth, driven into the sea by the Human Race. Some ’demons,’ strictly speaking, actually came from Mercury. Their ancestors had arrived on Earth thousands, even tens of thousands, of years ago, and they came to rule nearly seventy percent of the planet’s sea areas.

Some Sea Demons kept to themselves, and the waters they governed were calm and peaceful. Others were cruel by nature, fond of eating humans, forcing the Human Race to fight against them. The Yunxiao Sect might not have fallen prey to the Moon Clan after all.

After all, there was an old saying in the Hua Country: Those who are not our kind are sure to be of a different mind.

"I’m tired. I will take my leave." The Dao Sect’s Sect Master gave Daoist Chi Huo a deep look, choosing not to discuss the matter further, and was the first to depart.

After exchanging farewells, the other Holy Land leaders also left the island.

Only Qi Jiuyang remained motionless. He gazed at the bright moon in the sky and sighed deeply.

He knew. Regardless of whether the Yunxiao Sect’s situation was as Tan Chang had described, the Three Sects and Eight Pavilions had now completely severed ties with their superior sect. This was because there were eyes secretly watching their every move at all times.

"Who exactly are you?" Qi Jiuyang said, staring into the void.

「The Moon.」

The dilapidated Chang’an City was being repaired in an orderly fashion. The scent of blood lingered in the air, but the people were no longer desperate. Instead, they were filled with hope. As long as the city stood, the Moon Clan could not invade Earth in large numbers.

In contrast to the hopeful atmosphere in Chang’an City, a bleak air hung over the Moon Clan, especially for Crown Prince Ji Gui.

The Royal Clan’s territory lay deep within the Moon, where the Spiritual Energy was most abundant. A magnificent city rose from the ground, its walls alone ten zhang high and three zhang thick. The ramparts were heavily guarded by the Moon Clan’s elite troops. This city was the residence of the Moon King, and it was named ’Ji City.’ It was not only the city of the Ji Family but was also named after the Moon King himself. However, few in the Moon Clan dared to be so disrespectful as to call the Moon King by his name, so they usually referred to it as the Royal City.

Not many were qualified to reside within the city—barely a hundred people, most of whom bore the Ji surname.

At this moment, Ji Gui knelt outside the city’s central black hall, his face deathly pale. He had been there in silence for nearly ten hours. The attack on Chang’an City had resulted in the deaths of nearly half of the one hundred thousand elite Moon Clan troops—an immense loss. Had they captured the city, Ji Gui would have naturally been credited with the greatest achievement. But after such a disastrous defeat, he had to shoulder the greatest blame.

Ji Gui braced himself, clenched his teeth, and said, "Father Emperor, I had already led our forces to capture Chang’an, but a sword flew from the heavens, causing heavy casualties among our Moon Clan elites. Furthermore, my sister sent word that Xu Lai was on the Moon and strictly ordered me to retreat. Of course, I was mainly concerned for your wellbeing, which is why I withdrew the troops. Father Emperor, this battle was not a loss. It was a strategic retreat."

The great hall’s doors remained tightly shut. Not a sound came from within.

The words Ji Gui wanted to say next caught in his throat. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he suddenly felt a chill. The Moon Clan tribes all lived underground; logically, there should be little to no wind. Yet, at that moment, the Crown Prince felt a chilling draft blowing at his back.

CREAK—

The dark doors of the great hall swung open.

Crown Prince Ji Gui’s eyes brightened. He looked over eagerly, but it was not his Father Emperor who appeared. Instead, it was a delicate little girl, about seven or eight years old.

This was the Moon King’s third child, Ji Yu.

Ji Gui’s expression dimmed for a moment before he forced a smile. "Little Yu, it’s been some time. You’ve become even more beautiful."

"Second Brother, Father is tired," Ji Yu said, blinking her large eyes. In a soft voice, she continued, "Mother says you are to return to your fief to rest. Unless summoned by a royal command, you are not to enter the Royal City again."

Ji Gui felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

Rest? This is a form of imprisonment!

The Crown Prince dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. His smile became even more strained. "Third Sister, is Father Emperor very angry?"

Ji Yu glanced back timidly at the darkness within the hall and didn’t dare to answer. She just pursed her lips and said, "It’s a long journey, Second Brother. Be careful."

The little girl retreated into the great hall, and the door slammed shut.

Ji Gui’s expression turned bleak.

He knew that after today, his position as Crown Prince would likely face a major upheaval. He was filled with hatred! Such intense hatred! His name could have been immortalized, but it was all ruined by that one sword that came from nowhere. And, of course, there was that damned Xu Lai! Why couldn’t she stop Xu Lai? Why did she let him reach Chang’an City?

Amidst his questioning, a Moon Clan cultivator rushed in from outside the city, his face frantic. "Report! Tang Yu, the son of the chief of the Southwest Great Tribe, has been killed, and the Spiritual Field where the Primordial Grass was grown has vanished!"

Ji Gui was taken aback. First, he was filled with rage, which then turned to immense joy.

Just as the joy began to bubble up, an indifferent voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out from the hall.

"Crown Prince, you will handle this matter."

"Yes, Father Emperor!" Ji Gui suppressed his ecstasy and feigned concern. "However, if I leave, your safety..."

"That is not your concern."

"Yes."

Ji Gui had no real intention of managing it, but he had to go through the motions. How else could he demonstrate his filial piety?

Upon leaving the Royal City, Ji Gui couldn’t help but laugh to his confidant, "Who sent such a timely rain?" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The confidant hesitated before speaking with a complicated expression. "Your Highness, according to the deductions of the Southwest Great Tribe’s chief, the murderer is very likely Xu Lai."

"..."