Chapter 68 ：Encounter with Kawashina Nai

With Gu Ning and his team joining the fray, the power dynamic shifted. Their enemies, already at a disadvantage, found it even harder to hold out and soon began to collapse once more.

This time, before they could flee, several Spirit Realm ships crashed into them from the side—ships that had been retreating in panic. Chasing close behind those Spirit ships were numerous Demon Realm vessels.

The fleeing Demon Realm lords collided with the retreating Spirit Realm lords, and the two sides were soon entangled in chaotic combat.

Before long, both groups broke through each other's lines and regrouped with their respective main forces.

There was a brief lull in the battle as both sides observed one another cautiously.

Gu Ning spotted three Level 6 wooden ships among the Demon Realm forces that had been chasing earlier. He assumed they were the ones fighting the Spirit Realm teams that had lacked both him and Bai Xue.

Then, he looked toward the Spirit Realm lords who had just retreated. One of them also had a Level 6 wooden ship and was a male lord—one of the top ten on their side.

Gu Ning noticed that Licole and the others had already gone over to talk with him, so he ordered his team to approach as well.

As Gu Ning got closer, he overheard the male lord blaming Licole.

"This is all your fault, Licole. If you hadn't pulled yourself and Bai Xue away, we wouldn't have lost!"

Although Gu Ning acknowledged that this might've played a part, the guy had no right to be pointing fingers.

Naturally, Licole wasn't about to accept the accusation.

"Hmph! I decide who I work with—that's my freedom. Your loss has nothing to do with me. Blame your own incompetence."

"You think it's got nothing to do with you? Ask these brothers here if they agree!" the man shouted, trying to incite the others who had fled with him.

Already filled with frustration over their retreat, those people began to shift their anger toward Licole, looking for someone to blame.

Failures always look for excuses, not ways to succeed next time.

Licole's face darkened slightly. She knew better than to stir up a mob.

Even Bai Xue looked a bit uneasy—after all, they couldn't deny some responsibility.

As for the lionfolk lord who could transform into a beast, he had already returned to his human form and was watching the drama unfold with interest.

Gu Ning knew this needed to be resolved quickly. If not, their reputations could take a major hit.

These people were some of the top new lords, and most were backed by small factions with real power.

"Hmph. Anyone who joins the Two-Realm Battle should be ready to die. Who comes in thinking they'll just rely on someone else?"

Gu Ning scoffed. Now wasn't the time to be soft. Once you give ground, people start blaming you for everything.

His words made the others pause. Truthfully, none of them had entered the event expecting to be carried.

You don't get into the top ten thousand by being an idiot—they understood the importance of self-reliance.

They had acted emotionally just now, stirred up by that guy's manipulation.

Seeing their changing expressions, Gu Ning ignored the scowling lord and spoke again before the man could react.

"Don't fall for his manipulation. He's just using you to achieve his own goal."

Furious, the man shouted, "What goal? You're just making excuses!"

Gu Ning smiled slightly. Gotcha.

"Your goal is obvious—you want to use this opportunity to take leadership of this fleet," he said calmly.

The man's face instantly changed, confirming Gu Ning's guess.

The others, now realizing what was going on, began looking at him with wary expressions.

He saw this and knew his plan had fallen apart.

Gu Ning had nailed it—he really had hoped to seize command of the fleet to boost his influence and gain future advantages.

But now it was all ruined.

"Who the hell are you to talk here?" the man snapped in frustration, blinded by anger.

Though he could tell Gu Ning's ship was impressive, he'd lost all sense of reason and let his words fly.

Gu Ning chuckled. How foolish. Did this guy really think he could throw his weight around?

"I'm Gu Ning. Is that qualified enough for you to listen?"

As soon as he said his name, the man's face twisted with disbelief.

"What?! Gu Ning?"

"No way! He's the real deal!"

"Licole teamed up with Gu Ning? Maybe those rumors were true!"

"I wonder how strong Summer really is!"

People around them burst into a wave of chatter. Even the previously aloof lionfolk lord's expression turned serious as he looked at Gu Ning with renewed interest.

"So you're Gu Ning, the number one ranked lord. I've heard of you, but this is my first time seeing you in person."

He smiled and introduced himself. "I'm James. I hope we can work together in the future."

Gu Ning nodded politely. "If the opportunity comes, we'll definitely cooperate."

"Haha, I look forward to that. Right now, I'm more curious how you plan to deal with your personal problem."

Gu Ning raised an eyebrow. Personal problem? What personal problem?

James laughed. He hadn't expected Gu Ning to not even recognize his own enemy. He didn't know whether to admire Gu Ning's calm or mock his obliviousness—but he leaned toward the former.

"There." James pointed with a twitch of his lips. "That's He Chuansinei."

What? Gu Ning was stunned. He Chuansinei?

No wonder James said it was a personal problem. It was personal—practically a grudge.

Gu Ning hadn't expected He Chuansinei to look like this. Clearly, the guy had disguised himself back in the arena too.

Gu Ning gave He Chuansinei a long, amused look. But he had no intention of settling things now.

Right now, the priority was fighting the Demon Realm lords. If he acted now, it would show a lack of strategic vision.

Besides, if he didn't kill him right away and let him go after more Demon Realm lords first, then finished him off later, all his gains would become Gu Ning's spoils.

For now, He Chuansinei was just a laborer for him. Gu Ning hoped he would kill more Demon lords first.

That way, when Gu Ning harvested the rewards, the payoff would be even greater.

"Oh?" Gu Ning said casually. "Now's not the time to settle personal grudges. Let's finish off the Demon lords first."