Chapter 476: Unyielding Resolve

Yenir!?

For several seconds, Zhao Hongtu on the other end of the comm was utterly dumbfounded before regaining his senses. Reading Yenir’s final words, he couldn’t help but feel that everything was absurd.

Just as he instinctively tried to send a message, he was shocked to realize that Yenir had somehow closed the comm.

“That kid…”

He shook his head.

Zhao Hongtu sighed and managed a bitter smile, not taking it too seriously.

Although Yenir’s emphatic remark had stunned him, he wouldn’t take it at face value.

“Killing Lu Tianming with a single sword strike—I couldn’t even manage that myself…”

“No, any proper duel below his peak would never allow it. Even a Peak Third-Stage fighter would have to give it their all to possibly one-shot Lu Tianming…”

Even at his peak, Lu Tianming was no ordinary Third-Stage cultivator.

As a high-ranking military officer and a seasoned Third-Stage, he surely wasn’t without his hidden cards.

Not to mention, his equipment was no worse than Yenir’s—if not even superior!

Remember, Lu Tianming was once a prodigy. His background and talent were exceptional. Decades of experience meant there was simply no way he could be outclassed!

Frankly speaking, although Lu Tianming didn’t display his abilities as dramatically as Yenir, he still towered over his peers, optimizing every attribute. In truth, at that time, Yenir’s fundamentals weren’t even on par with Lu Tianming’s!

“Man, that kid… forget it, a little hardship might do him some good…”

Shaking his head, Zhao Hongtu clasped his hands behind his back and left the meeting room. The whole matter with Yenir had ruined his mood for the meeting.

As one of the strongest believers in Yenir, he naturally hoped the young man would work miracles and win.

But some things just wouldn’t work out…

The higher the rank, the less likely an escalated confrontation. With such an enormous gap between their conditions, Yenir’s chances were essentially zero! Against an ordinary Third-Stage Advanced, perhaps his superior equipment, skills, and talent might have bridged the gap.

But his opponent was none other than Lu Tianming—the illustrious Third Chief of the Army!

As if sensing his minister’s mood, several members of the Special Operations Group couldn’t help but follow Zhao Hongtu as he headed out.

“Minister, I heard you mention something… does this have to do with Yenir?”

They asked cautiously.

Although the Middle-Level Official wasn’t too familiar with Yenir, as a member of the Special Operations Department, he naturally held a deep fondness—and even gratitude—for him.

Especially after Ming Luo and the others rejoined the team. Even though confidentiality rules prevented them from saying too much about Yenir’s performance in the dungeon, the few words exchanged left them in constant admiration, their hearts pounding in awe!

Anything concerning Yenir struck a chord with them.

“That’s right—it’s that kid.”

“A troublesome little rascal. Don’t you think it’d be better for him to join our mission instead of stirring up trouble here?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhao Hongtu glared irritably at the setting sun in the distance.

He knew that by this time tomorrow, another storm was bound to break out…

He had no doubt that since Yenir had dared to make that remark, he was determined to start a fight tomorrow! The Capital had only enjoyed a brief calm, and now chaos would erupt once again…

“Is this got something to do with the death duel?”

“Minister, is he refusing to join our mission?”

Surprise colored their voices.

Quick on the uptake, the Middle-Level Official immediately thought of Yenir’s death duel.

From the tone in the minister’s voice, it seemed this wasn’t as simple as it appeared.

“Minister, doesn’t he know that everyone’s waiting to see him fail and laugh at him!?”

“I heard Lu Tianming is also frantically gathering intelligence on Yenir, clearly unwilling to underestimate him!”

They couldn’t comprehend it.

In their eyes, sending Yenir on this mission was the perfect way for Minister Zhao to give him an easy way out. As long as he could stretch out the death duel, no one would dare mention it.

After all, Yenir’s official task meant he couldn’t return to the death duel.

That way, his dignity remained intact and things wouldn’t turn too ugly.

Because in everyone’s eyes, Yenir’s initiation of the death duel was nothing more than youthful impetuosity—a rash decision made in the heat of the moment…

Young men are bound to be bold and impulsive.

But after all this time, he should have calmed down…

“I suspect he just can’t swallow his pride!”

Turning his head, Zhao Hongtu’s scarred face twitched, a flash of helplessness in his eyes:

“Remember when Yenir’s men came to us for help?”

“Lu Tianming deliberately stirred up trouble with that batch of ore—clearly aiming to provoke the kid. He was itching to see Yenir act rashly, disregarding all consequences, and force a death duel.”

“He might have even been pushing Yenir to strike first.”

“Heh, perhaps he was actually worried too.”

With a cold laugh, Zhao Hongtu’s gaze turned distant as he looked toward the Capital.

Everyone knew Yenir’s potential was terrifying; his power had soared in just a few days. Thus, he suspected that beneath Lu Tianming’s arrogant façade lay deep scheming—calculated and ever-vigilant.

Even though postponing for three months wouldn’t have doomed Lu Tianming, he’d rather risk his own reputation than give Yenir any breathing room.

Three months was a cunningly chosen timeframe.

Perhaps Lu Tianming was also secretly afraid—afraid that Yenir might actually have what it takes to defeat him after three months!

Listening to Minister Zhao’s analysis, the previously speaking Middle-Level Official fell silent, his mind filling with unspeakable anger.

Such roundabout tactics were hardly befitting of a true soldier.

For a mere Third-Stage Beginner to scheme so despicably and disregard his status was downright pathetic!

“Then, Minister, shouldn’t we try to rein Yenir in?”

“If Lu Tianming deliberately humiliates him in the death duel, stooping to underhanded tactics despite his own status, I fear disaster will follow!”

Worry etched their faces. As Third-Stage officers who had once been top among their peers in the Special Operations Department, they knew Yenir’s mindset all too well.

They understood his mentality perfectly.

Such geniuses are often supremely confident in themselves! And Yenir, a genius among geniuses, only grew prouder.

This was both a blessing and a curse!

What is overly rigid will eventually break!

Having never faced a setback before, if Yenir couldn’t handle this blow, he might never recover!

Such outcomes have happened before!

Listening to his subordinates’ urgent voices, Zhao Hongtu remained calm and spoke in a measured tone:

“I won’t let that happen!”

“By that time, not only will I watch the battle in person, but Fang Hao will also return! With both of us on guard, even if Yenir loses, he won’t come to any harm. Anyone planning to pull a stunt right in front of us is dreaming!”

With authority radiating from him, Zhao Hongtu’s eyes turned steely, as if he were already plotting how to preserve Yenir’s dignity for tomorrow.

Even if it meant putting himself at risk, he would never let Lu Tianming humiliate Yenir in the slightest!

As if struck by a sudden thought, he waved his hand amidst his stunned subordinates and spoke again:

“By the way, get the Military Intelligence Section to fetch Lu Tianming’s documents immediately—tell them they’re mine!”

“Once you have them, send them over to Yenir right away! Otherwise, we’ll run out of time!”

“Hmm? Not enough time? Isn’t the death duel scheduled to begin three months from now?”

Everyone was momentarily stunned; before they could even ask, they noticed three escort fighter jets taking off from the Air Force Base, intercepting an incoming jet.

That direction led straight to the southwest Far Frontier!

Yenir’s back!