After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Embroidery needles darted about in the courtyard, dazzling the eye, and the man in black was forced into a frantic struggle, unable to escape.

Chen Futu realized that with Xuan Yuanrong present, the man in black dared not reveal his identity and could not use his full strength.

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Bubai laughed wildly, "You cowardly coward, afraid to use your full strength, then die!"

"Tangled threads, tangled and chaotic."

Dongfang Bubai's move was still the embroidery needle, but it was extremely dazzling. Countless rays of light flashed in the courtyard, and the red threads formed an absolute space similar to a laser trap, completely sealing the man in black inside.

The man in black growled in a low voice, "You bitch, are you looking for death?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, even the wild dogs outside Blackwood Cliff can't bark as well as you."

"asshole!"

The man in black robes was furious. He knew that the cage formed by the red threads was a trap. If he touched the red threads, the embroidery needles would attack him from an unknown place. Moreover, the target was too small to be defended against. Most importantly, Xuan Yuanrong was watching from the room, so he couldn't go all out.

If this continues, he might not be able to leave.

Thinking of this, the man in black steeled his heart and decided to stop pretending. He was willing to risk being exposed and could say that there was a traitor in the desert. So he suddenly blew away the red line blockade with all his might, and at the same time, he turned around and grabbed fiercely, using his qi to forcibly take Chen Futu away.

Chen Futu raised an eyebrow and kicked Xuan Yuanrong.

Caught off guard, Xuan Yuanrong cried out and bumped into the man in black. Chen Futu's voice echoed in her mind, "He won't kill you. Take this opportunity to remove his mask!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Rong trembled and, in a daze, reached out to grab the mask. By the time the man in black reacted, the mask had already been torn off, revealing an old face—it was Xuanyuan Lie.

"Second, Second Elder?"

Xuanyuan Rong was dumbfounded, and so was Xuanyuan Lie.

When he finally realized what was happening, Xuan Yuanlie glared at Chen Futu, his beard practically leaping up in anger. "You despicable, shameless brat!"

Who would have thought that Chen Futu would kick Xuan Yuanrong away? He had anticipated Xuan Yuanrong's identity and was certain that Xuan Yuanrong would not harm the Holy Maiden.

Chen Futu sneered, "Second Elder, all's fair in war. You're playing a feint, and I'm fishing for you. We're even. Do you think you can capture me by luring Old Zhang away?"

"You lad are indeed worthy of being an emperor, you have a skill. Today, I was outmaneuvered."

The facts are obvious. Zhang Sanfeng was lured out of Dantu to search for the "enemy's" whereabouts. Then the real drought demon attacked Dantu. Chen Futu cooperated by sending out all his forces, just waiting for him to walk right into his trap. Now his identity has been exposed; he is the traitor.

"Second Elder, how could it be you!"

Xuanyuan Rong could not accept it. Although the Second Elder was not the strongest in terms of combat power among the clan elders, he was the most respected and virtuous. Why would he obstruct the alliance?

The Second Elder sneered, "What do you know, you little brat! Chen Futu is insatiable. Judging from his behavior in the Peacock Kingdom, his wolfish ambition is evident. If we cooperate with him, our clan will be swallowed up sooner or later. I cannot stand by and watch everyone fall into his hands in the end!"

The Second Elder was considering the future of the entire Sand Sea tribe.

Chen Futu has grown too fast, and now he also has the national fortune to rely on. If the Sand Sea continues to help him from behind, the day when the Great Xia wipes out Lizhou will be the day when the Sand Sea completely becomes a vassal of the Great Xia. As a top power in Lizhou, how can it be willing to be controlled by outsiders?

"Second Elder, stopping the spread of trachoma is our clan's mission, how can you do this!" Xuan Yuanrong shouted sternly.

"Nonsense! What mission? I don't want to acknowledge it anymore! Our clan has suffered too much and carried too heavy a burden. A thousand years! A whole thousand years! We all died in that damned sand eye. It's time for us to leave! Wouldn't it be more carefree to settle down in the outer realms!"

"you……"

Xuanyuan Rong had nothing to say.

This is also the biggest reason for the divisions among the desert tribes.

Some wanted to uphold their mission, while others no longer wanted to live a life of hardship and hoped to relocate their entire clan.

While the two were arguing, Zhang Sanfeng had somehow already appeared on the roof. He didn't make a move immediately, but instead coldly watched the enraged Xuanyuan Lie.

Chen Futu secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing him arrive; otherwise, he and the current Dongfang Bubai alone would not have been able to stop Xuanyuan Lie at full power.

Chen Futu walked out the door, and Xuan Yuanlie glared at him, ready to strike, but Xuan Yuanrong quickly stopped him, "Elder, you mustn't make another mistake!"

"You're saying I'm wrong?"

Xuanyuan Lie asked blankly, then suddenly covered his face and burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down his face. Then he looked in a certain direction, and suddenly a red-haired monster jumped into the courtyard—it was the drought demon!

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Bubai quickly approached Chen Futu, the embroidery needle gleaming coldly between his fingers.

Instead of attacking, the drought demon bent down and approached Xuanyuan Lie, swaying and rubbing against his clothes, seemingly very affectionate.

Xuanyuan Lie chuckled and patted the drought demon's head, then sarcastically asked Xuanyuan Rong, "Do you know where the drought demon of the Black Sand Sea comes from?"

Xuanyuan Rong's gaze froze, realizing something, and tears silently streamed down his face.

"The man in front of you is your third uncle, Xuanyuan Jie. Don't you recognize him? He died in a trachoma outbreak ten years ago."

"That's not true."

"All the drought demons in the desert are your blood relatives! Otherwise, how could people who die in the black desert become drought demons? Only those who fall into the sand's eye can turn into this inhuman and ghostly form!"

"I do not believe!"

"I released them, letting them plunder and kill passing caravans and travelers. This is the blood debt the people of Lizhou owe my people!"

"I do not believe……"

Xuanyuan Rong shook his head and collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her beliefs were completely shattered at that moment.

Chen Futu never expected that the desert had hidden this history of blood and tears, and suddenly he felt less hostile towards Xuan Yuanlie.

From a macro perspective, it's perfectly normal for the Xuanyuan family, represented by Xuanyuan Lie, to harbor resentment. This is because generations of people have risked their lives to maintain the prosperity of Lizhou. If it weren't for the existence of the Sand Sea Clan, Lizhou would have been destroyed long ago.

So there is no such thing as a peaceful and tranquil life; it's just that someone is bearing the burden.

Xuanyuan Lie's change of heart cannot be judged as right or wrong. If anyone were in the position of the Sand Sea Clan, they could not have done better.

Zhang Sanfeng suddenly appeared in front of Chen Futu, saying, "There are extenuating circumstances, so why not let him go?"

This was the first time Zhang Sanfeng had asked for help. He was born from the dark side of the world and harbored hatred in his heart, so he now fully understood Xuan Yuanlie's actions.

Chen Futu sighed, "I personally may not pursue his assassination attempt, but he did kill the guards, so he should make amends."

In chaotic times, life is as fragile as grass, and it is difficult to judge right and wrong.

Chen Futu suddenly felt exhausted and didn't want to get involved in this matter anymore.

Xuanyuan Lie mocked, "You, as emperor, do understand right and wrong, but unfortunately, you still can't change my mind."

"I'm too lazy to waste words with you. If it weren't for your clan's achievements, I would have killed you today. And if you want to move out, then go ahead. No one is stopping you."

"If my clan leaves, we will follow the same path; how can we abandon our bloodline?"

"Do whatever you want, I don't care anymore."

Chen Futu was upset and turned around to close the door.

Ding!

[The system has detected that the host intends to relinquish the binding of the nation's destiny; all related rewards will be revoked.]

Even during system upgrades, they don't forget to remind you to do tasks; you'll have to be bound to the national destiny even if you don't want to.