Chapter 248

At the same time, the various peaks of Luoshen Peak were clearly far from calm.

The Zhang Sect of Luoshen Peak and several Zunzhe suddenly moved, catching everyone off guard.

Including the peak leaders, all present had vaguely suspected something, yet none wished to believe it in their hearts.

"Yu Shimei, what do you make of this?"

Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi, peak leader of the Fifth Peak, gazed toward the direction of Bailian City and asked with a frown.

Especially Yumianjiao's mirror reflection stared at the sky churned by rolling black clouds; her expression was solemn, and after a moment of silence, she spoke:

"All we can say is that we vastly underestimated the martial prowess of that Da Li expert in Bailian City."

Hearing this, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi turned to look at her, his gaze unreadable, and said:

"Earlier, the messenger from Bailian City said this Da Li expert was very young. Yet now it seems his martial strength may even surpass Master Chihuo. I have never heard that Da Li's imperial court ever produced such a terrifying expert."

Especially Yumianjiao's mirror reflection slowly shook her head and said:

"Sometimes even what you see with your own eyes isn't true. For us, whether that person is old or young, he has only one identity now: our enemy."

"The only thing we need to worry about now is whether the Zhang Sect and the several Zunzhe can subdue him. This matter concerns the survival or destruction of Luoshen Peak."

At these words, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi's expression also grew solemn. After a long pause, he asked:

"Do you fear that even if the Zhang Sect and the others act, they still won't be able to defeat the expert from Bailian City?"

Especially Yumianjiao's mirror reflection trembled slightly in the air, and she sighed:

"Before, I had not the slightest doubt or worry—but now…"

Here, she did not continue.

Since the incident in Bailian City, from Zheng Yunfeng, peak leader of Bailian Peak, to Master Chihuo, every one who faced that expert in Bailian City met an outcome beyond her expectations.

Now, Especially Yumianjiao had begun to deeply doubt her own judgment, and an invisible thread of distrust had formed toward Luoshen Peak's strongest figures.

Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi seemed to understand Especially Yumianjiao's feelings. After a moment of silence, he suddenly gazed toward the distant horizon and asked:

"If the Zhang Sect fails again this time, what will you do, Shimei?"

Especially Yumianjiao's mirror reflection glanced at Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi, her gaze flickering slightly, then turned away, her face calm:

"Naturally, I will perish with Luoshen Peak."

Hearing this, Ouyang Beiqi Ming Qi withdrew his gaze, stared at Especially Yumianjiao for a moment, then slightly narrowed his eyes—but said nothing.

Then both turned their heads together toward Bailian City, clearly determined to witness the outcome firsthand.

…

At the same time, the old man Wu Yong and Lin Tang and others moved through the mountains and forests, occasionally turning back to gaze toward the direction of Bailian City.

"Wait—stop everyone!"

At that moment, the plump woman Lin Tang suddenly spoke.

Her figure halted abruptly, turning to look toward the sky above Bailian City.

Hearing this, Wu Yong and the others frowned, but since they were already far from Bailian City and no danger surrounded them, they did not press forward.

"What's going on?"

Wu Yong stopped and looked at Lin Tang in confusion, only to see her pointing at the rolling black clouds and thunder in the distance, speaking gravely:

"Again, such a powerful innate divine ability—clearly, it's the Zhang Sect and others who have acted. Haven't you wondered why?"

Hearing this, Wu Yong and the scholar Sui Zhen exchanged glances, then frowned and pondered for a moment.

Soon, both suddenly narrowed their pupils—they had finally guessed something.

Lin Yueru beside them reacted the same way, then looked at her elder sister with disbelief:

"Could someone who wields such a terrifying flame-based innate divine ability really be defeated by that Imperial Prince?"

Wu Yong and Sui Zhen also turned to look at Lin Tang. Though they had vaguely suspected something, they clearly found it hard to believe.

At this moment, Lin Tang shook her head and said:

"Too far to be certain, but all signs suggest the weight of what Little Sister said is growing."

Hearing this, Wu Yong and Sui Zhen both showed surprise, staring at Lin Tang and asking:

"What did Mo Mo say?"

Lin Yueru glanced at the two, then took a deep breath and said:

"Mo Mo quietly told us that the Imperial Prince's martial strength is already… the strongest in the world."

At these words, Wu Yong and Sui Zhen froze, standing motionless for a long while without speaking.

At this moment, the plump woman Lin Tang withdrew her gaze and said:

"We previously thought Little Sister might have had a crush on the Imperial Prince, so her words were exaggerated—and we didn't mention them."

"But now it seems that even if she overstated things slightly, the Imperial Prince's strength far exceeds our imagination. At the very least, he might truly be capable of destroying Luoshen Peak."

At these words, the forest fell silent. All four remained quiet. After a while, the scholar Sui Zhen hesitantly asked:

"Then what should we do now? Should we still keep leaving?"

Wu Yong remained silent, still weighing Lin Tang and her sister's words.

But then Lin Tang gazed toward the sky and said:

"I suggest we wait here for now, don't rush to leave—let's see how things unfold. We're already far from Bailian City; no matter the outcome, we can advance or retreat."

Hearing this, Wu Yong exhaled slowly, then nodded and said:

"Then let's stay and watch—tonight, who will be the last to laugh: Luoshen Peak or the Da Li imperial court?"

…

Bailian City.

The robed old man and Lin Xun'er, still hiding in the tavern not far from Baixiang Pavilion, watched the ink-black clouds above, lightning writhing like serpents, and the deafening thunder echoing in their ears; they exchanged glances.

"They came fast indeed!"

Lin Xun'er gently swallowed, and under the oppressive pressure of such celestial phenomena, her small body could not help but tremble.

The old man in hemp clothes immediately infused martial arts true qi to help her resist the powerful atmospheric pressure from the sky above.

Immediately after, the old man in hemp clothes quietly glanced at the roof of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, and with a slightly uneasy tone, he said:

"Young Master Li should be fine, right?"

Hearing this, Lin Xun'er glanced at the old man in hemp clothes, her slender eyebrows furrowing as she said:

"Grandpa, how can you still not learn your lesson? Have you forgotten what you said before? How many times have you been proven wrong?"

The old man in hemp clothes quickly coughed lightly, his old face looking embarrassed as he said:

"I am not doubting Young Master Li's strength; I was just worried about him."

Lin Xun'er pouted, and at this moment, a very faint sound suddenly came from the wine tower behind the two of them.

Originally, this sound, mixed in with the rolling thunder above, seemed insignificant, yet it still did not escape the old man in hemp clothes' ears.

His gaze immediately darkened, and he turned his head sharply to look, but the next moment, an unusual expression appeared on his face.

A large black cat with oily, glossy fur appeared in the room of the wine tower, its tail held high, walking towards the two of them with feline grace.

At this time, Lin Xun'er also noticed her grandfather's abnormality, turned to look, and upon seeing the big black cat, her eyes immediately shifted, recognizing the other party's identity.

Previously, on their way to the Falling Divine Peak, they had met Hu Rui'an and his group, and had seen this cat in the other party's carriage.

The big black cat before them seemed to be Li Musheng's pet cat.

The big black cat saw the two looking at it, but did not care; it let out a soft meow and walked over to stand beside the old man in hemp clothes and Lin Xun'er on its own.

Immediately, the four cat paws came together as it squatted, lifting its cat head to look at the sky above Bailian City, its pair of green eyes motionless.

Seeing this, the old man in hemp clothes and Lin Xun'er exchanged a glance; at this moment, they both recognized that this cat belonged to Li Musheng.

However, although the other party appeared without any warning, as the saying goes, one must look at the owner before hitting the cat, so naturally, there could be no thoughts of taking action against the big black cat.

On the contrary, Lin Xun'er's black, clear eyes lit up; seeing such a large black cat, she could not help but extend her small hand, wanting to touch the other party's fur.

However, the next moment, the big black cat's pair of green eyes suddenly glared, and it raised a paw to scratch Lin Xun'er's hand.

Seeing this, Lin Xun'er was instantly startled and immediately withdrew her palm, still feeling a lingering fear.

But she could not attack the big black cat or poison it, so she could only mutter:

"This cat is so fierce!"

The old man in hemp clothes did not have thoughts of petting the cat; he was just observing the other party, thinking that a cat chosen by Li Musheng might have some special qualities.

Moreover, the cat before him was indeed the largest cat he had ever seen in his life, possessing very distinctive features in itself.

However, after observing the cat for a long time, the old man in hemp clothes could not figure out anything specific.

Finally, he withdrew his gaze, looked up towards the direction of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion's roof, and said to the big black cat:

"You must have come to watch the battle for your master; you are quite loyal."

"But do not worry; Young Master Li's martial arts are godlike, so he will definitely be fine."

Hearing this, the big black cat glanced sideways at the old man in hemp clothes, its expression as if to say, "Who needs you to say that."

However, it quickly shifted its gaze again, looking at Li Musheng's figure on the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, let out a soft meow, and then sat quietly to watch the battle.

The roof of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion.

Li Musheng sat on the ridge, stroking his chin and looking at the sky above his head.

The vast dark clouds were about to press down; the sky above Bailian City became viscous like lead and mercury, the wind in the city roared fiercely, and the thunder rolled in the heavens.

It must be said that the innate divine abilities of a divine being are indeed somewhat beyond the standard in certain aspects.

The scene above Bailian City before him, in Li Musheng's view, was merely someone using innate divine abilities to manipulate the wind, blowing the clouds to gather above Bailian City.

The thunder within the clouds was the Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak releasing lightning with innate divine abilities to create momentum.

But looking at the entire scene, it seemed as if the people of the Falling Divine Peak possessed the power to summon wind and rain like gods, which was indeed extremely shocking.

Of course, the danger contained within was equally immense; a general Heavenly and Mortal expert would likely be turned into charcoal just by enduring a single bolt of thunder falling from the Falling Divine Peak's Zhang Sect.

At this moment, the dark clouds above churned like boiling ink; within the black dome, the clouds slowly parted, revealing an old man with purple lightning stretching across the sky behind him and wearing simple clothes.

"Young man, is it you who killed my junior brother Master Chihuo?"

The Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak's voice rolled like thunder, with lightning flickering faintly in his eyes.

His gaze fixed on Li Musheng sitting on the roof of the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion below; however, he did not focus on Li Musheng's age, but was constantly sensing the other party's aura and martial arts true qi.

However, he soon frowned because he could not see through Li Musheng at all; no matter how he investigated, the other party seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary person.

Facing the Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak's question, Li Musheng slowly nodded, then spoke to confirm and ask:

"Are you the Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak? Besides you people, should there be no one more powerful than you on the Falling Divine Peak?"

Hearing this, the Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak narrowed his eyes, looking at Li Musheng's careless appearance, completely disregarding him.

A hint of anger flashed faintly in his gaze, and then he spoke coldly:

"The Falling Divine Peak and the Great Li Court have always kept to their own waters, never interfering with each other, and have always lived in peace. Now, your Tianjin Guard suddenly invaded my sect, killed my disciples and followers, and slaughtered the elders and peak seats. Such unprovoked, domineering, and brutal acts will surely be spurned by the martial world under heaven."

Listening to the Zhang Sect of the Falling Divine Peak immediately putting on a hat of accusation, spouting a string of lofty words to condemn the Great Li Court and place the Falling Divine Peak on the side of the invaded and the righteous.

Li Musheng shook his head; he could only say that it was no wonder he was a sect Zhang Sect, different from those other experts who only knew how to shout for fighting and killing.

Before fighting, he still knew how to stand on the moral high ground to condemn his opponent and maintain his own and his sect's reputation and image.

The main point was that no matter the win or loss, the momentum must not be lost first.

However, Li Musheng was obviously not Fu Qiwen, the Commander of the Tianjin Guard; the other party might, for the sake of the court's face, have to argue a few points before taking action.

He did not care about any of that; in his view, the Falling Divine Peak, one of the four major sects of the martial world, although appearing problem-free on the surface.

On this journey, it had publicly maintained the dignity and image of a top-tier martial sect, and in most cases, acts of bullying men and women were not seen.

However, this was actually an undisputed cancer.

Not to mention its hegemonic acts oppressing other martial sects, and how many dirty deeds of murder and arson it had secretly committed.

Whether it was the Shenfengzhang Sect extorting vast wealth from all sects, ultimately poisoning and harming the common people, or their disregard for court law and destruction of the martial world order, they were a boundless calamity to both the people and the nation.

Such a martial power should have been eradicated long ago; Li Musheng would show not the slightest mercy, nor would he waste words with them.

Gazing at the Zhang Sect of the Shenfengzhang Sect within the clouds, he said calmly:

"Stop with all that nonsense. I do not care about these things, and they are useless to me. Since you are the Shenfengzhang Sect's final measure, then it is time for this to end."

As his words fell, Li Musheng suddenly raised his hand and reached down toward the bottom of the Hundred Incense Pavilion.

At the same time, the entire street below trembled; bricks and stones surged like water waves, then transformed into a stone dragon dozens of zhang long.

(End of this chapter)