Chapter 285: Ambush and Counter-Ambush, Zhao Xing's Backup Plan

"Assassins arrived at Moonbright Prefecture ten days ago?" Zhao Xing couldn't help but be stunned; this news was truly shocking.

He also realized the severity of the situation and listened very well: "King Tianyan, I will return to Fucheng immediately."

After ending the call, Zhao Xing's true body closed his eyes and entered the Memory Palace.

"It is currently late April; Liang Wang's Fortune Gold List opened a bit earlier than expected."

"According to logic, he should have opened it in the second half of the year; now it is advanced by several months—he is much more urgent than in his previous life."

"The function of the Fortune Gold List is similar to the Creation Disk, yet distinct from the Creation Disk; the Creation Disk eats both big and small,

but the Fortune Gold List basically only looks at the strong."

"I got on the Fortune Gold List so quickly, and my ranking is so high; this should be caused by multiple reasons. The strength of the Fortune Gold List does not refer solely to realm or combat power."

"First, my luck is strong. After making a deal with the Destiny Divine Bird, I received a luck enhancement and already possess Sixth-Generation luck; this is 'strength' in terms of luck."

"Second, my power is strong. Although I am only at the Fourth Rank realm, I have cultivated the first layer of the Great Expansion Divine Art and far exceed the average level of the first layer."

"I have mastered top-tier Cloud Arts 【Cloud Gate】 【Inch from the Horizon】, Thunder Arts 【Heavenly Thunder Finger】, Earth Arts 【Vast Sea Earth Palace】, 【Mystic Water Earth Palace】, and 【Earth Spirit Divine Treasury Art】."

"There is also the Kunpeng Transformation and the Dream-Walking Art."

"Through the Ten Thousand Arts Projection and the amplification of the Great Expansion Divine Art, I alone in terms of spells am enough to fight to the death with a Third Rank mid-stage. In terms of escaping and preserving life, I am even stronger."

"I also have the Solar Term Token set, the Primordial Yin Sacred Scripture, the Heavenly Mechanism Robe, the Purple Moon Soul Lamp, and many other treasures in hand; this is strength in terms of power."

Thinking of this, Zhao Xing couldn't help but frown.

Even so, he had not displayed too much; at least, he had not yet experienced a life-or-death battle at full strength.

This Fourth Rank outer shell of his, even if he got on the Fortune Gold List, should not be ranked so high.

Zhao Xing carefully browsed within the Memory Palace; the things he had done before replayed scene by scene in his mind.

"Stop!"

The image froze; Zhao Xing saw himself chatting with Hu Yang at the Profound Heaven Academy, and then the scene of him writing the Treatise on Numerology at his desk.

"It seems it is here."

Zhao Xing took a deep breath.

"Third point: Strong Influence!"

"Treatise on the Three Yin Three Yang Six Qi Great Cycle · Numerology Chapter!"

"It can precisely calculate the cycle strengths of many cave-heaven passages in the Military Realm; in this aspect, it is even more useful than the Wu Annals · Great Cycle Treatise."

"It seems I still underestimated its function," Zhao Xing thought inwardly.

"From a military perspective, my writing of the Numerology Treatise on Military Realm Cave Heavens is enough to decide the life or death of a high-rank legion in either Liang Wang's camp or the Imperial Court camp."

War requires seizing advantageous terrain and holding key passages.

The specific opening dates of the Military Realm passages are extremely important to both sides!

Arriving a day early or a day late yields completely different results, yet arriving too early is a waste of troops.

"Meeting Hu Yang at the end of March, spending a huge amount of time calculating the opening time of the ninth entrance located at the Red Sand Cave Heaven, and then this assassination attempt came not long after," Zhao Xing thought inwardly.

Killing the Xia Wang did not even attract the attention of Liang Wang's camp.

However, not long after calculating the passage entrance, the assassination attempt began; obviously, this cannot be a coincidence.

Zhao Xing continued browsing, and then saw himself in the Star Palace.

He was writing down his insights on cultivating the first layer of the Great Expansion Divine Art.

"There is also this point: the correct direction for cultivating the Great Expansion Divine Art!"

"My cultivation insights will also bring huge influence to other cultivators of the Great Expansion Divine Art."

Those who can cultivate the Great Expansion Divine Art are either high-rank or possess heaven-defying talent.

Zhao Xing quickly locked onto these two reasons.

In terms of influence, there might also be the Treatise on the Self-Nature Heavenly Object, or even the bonuses from the identities of inviting True Lord Heavenly Yang and the disciples of Liu Tianning.

However, the most important are that treatise on calculating the Military Realm passages and the cultivation insights on the Great Expansion Divine Art!

Opening his eyes, Zhao Xing's expression was normal.

Although the assassins have already arrived at Moonbright Prefecture and their strength is certainly not low, Zhao Xing was not in a hurry.

Hurrying is useless.

"Gao Dongpo, you continue to lead people in executing the governance plan."

"Now Moonbright Prefecture only has some relatively special commanderies and counties remaining; the rest of the places, you are fully capable of managing."

"I have other matters to attend to; you are responsible for taking over the subsequent affairs."

"Thank you, my lord, for the guidance." Gao Dongpo bowed and clasped his hands emotionally, "This subordinate will never forget this in his teeth."

Zhao Xing left; this was granting him authority to preside, which would be recorded on his resume.

Of course, he had to thank Zhao Xing.

Gao Dongpo was an official of Moonbright Prefecture; in terms of rank, he was the same as Zhao Xing, and in terms of loose rank, he was much higher than Zhao Xing, but at this moment he was completely subdued by Zhao Xing.

Some superiors are strong in ability, but the merits are basically all the superior's.

Having high skill, understanding how to care for subordinates, and sharing the merits with everyone—where can one find a superior like Zhao Xing?

How could he know that Old Master Zhao was about to escape for his life!

"Do your work well; the Prefect will not forget you."

Zhao Xing smiled, patted Gao Dongpo's shoulder, and then whooshed away.

He also took away the projection here.

He could not leave the projection with Gao Dongpo, lest it harm the innocent.

"Lord Zhao." Gao Dongpo looked at the direction where Zhao Xing disappeared, where a wisp of faint mist appeared, and couldn't help but sigh even more. "Working with him is truly a blessing of three lifetimes."

After sighing for a while, Gao Dongpo perked up his spirit and shouted: "Everyone get moving; do not disappoint the expectations of the Prefect and Lord Zhao!"

"My Lord, someone wants to kill me."

Inside the Government Office of the Bright Moon Manor, in the administrative hall, Zhao Xing walked to the main hall and said to Ye Ye Yukong.

"Oh, approved." Ye Ye Yukong opened his eyes and instinctively picked up the great seal.

Zhao Xing: "???"

What did you approve? Approving someone else to kill me?

Brother, wake up!

"My Lord, there are assassins who want to kill me, not asking you to approve a document."

"What!" Ye Ye Yukong instantly became alert, "Someone wants to kill you? Bold!"

"Chen An, do not rush. With me here, let's see who dares!"

Zhao Xing:

What is with this excited look on your face?

Ye Ye Yukong rubbed his fists together; within a few breaths, even his temperament had changed!

Sword intent flowed through his body, a domineering aura radiated out, and the originally plain-looking Ye Ye Yukong suddenly became much more handsome.

How could he not be excited?

Staying in the Government Office to stamp documents was easy, but it was too boring!

He felt sleepy every day.

Now there are assassins trying to assassinate Zhao Xing; finally, there is work to do!

"Do you know where the assassins are? How many are there?" Ye Ye Yukong asked impatiently.

"Still unclear." Zhao Xing shook his head, "But I received definite information that the assassins have entered the Bright Moon Manor for ten days, and I do not know how many there are."

"But if they were sent to kill me, they would at least be Third Rank; fewer people would not suffice."

Zhao Xing possesses the Ten Thousand Dharma Divisions; this is obvious intelligence within the Liang Wang camp.

Putting himself in the other's shoes, if Zhao Xing were the planner of an assassination operation, he would not send just one person.

Otherwise, it would be very easy to kill nothing but emptiness.

"The assassins could not possibly be in Fucheng! The Bright Moon Manor's garrison is a heavy commandery; it is impossible for them to sneak in."

"Chen An, you possess the Ten Thousand Dharma Divisions; if they want to kill you, it must be at least a team of five Third Ranks, equipped with a Military Farmer, a Sorcerer, a Martial Artist, a Priest, and a Ritual Cultivator." Ye Ye Yukong stated his analysis.

Zhao Xing was somewhat surprised: "How do you know?"

"The Military Farmer knows the Military Farmer best."

"A Third Rank Sorcerer can provide spell amplification, and their own combat power is not bad; if they come from the Liang Wang camp, they will surely also use Fate Divination to predict your location and track you."

"The Priest destroys the soul, the Martial Artist destroys the spirit, and the Ritual Cultivator can cast the Forgetting Worry Technique, the Silence Spell, and the Stupidity Reduction Technique to reduce the commotion caused by the assassination."

"You said the assassins have already arrived for ten days; they must have seen the changes in the Bright Moon Manor. They would certainly not stay in cities where the natural disaster warning has dropped below level five."

"So it can only be a commandery that still has a level six natural disaster warning."

As he spoke, Ye Ye Yukong suddenly drew his long sword.

"Hahaha, I know roughly where they are!"

"I will go get them right now!"

Ye Ye Yukong glanced at the map and was immediately about to issue orders.

Zhao Xing: "???"

No, brother, have you been replaced?

Why do you react so quickly when it comes to military operations?

Zhao Xing was shocked.

He did not even know where Ye Ye Yukong had pulled the military map from.

"My Lord, should we perhaps reconsider this?" Zhao Xing asked. "You have determined the scope so quickly?"

Ye Ye Yukong pointed at the map with his sword and said:

"To escape the dual detection of the Sky-Watching Bureau and the Temple, the assassin team can only be in these commanderies with extreme environments."

"This is the first reason."

"The other places have been governed almost completely; only these few places remain where you would go. This is the second reason."

"You said they have already been here for ten days; that means they are prepared for long-term operations. But they are assassins and cannot carry large supplies. If they want to maintain peak condition at all times, they must rely on the Military Farmer in the team to provide food."

Ye Ye Yukong moved the tip of his sword, tapping on the locations of three commanderies.

"Extreme environments make it very difficult for a Military Farmer to provide supplies."

"They could not choose other places; they can only lie in wait in these three commanderies: Commandery, Dang Commandery, and Yuyang Commandery, because these places are adjacent to commanderies with normal environments."

"If the assassination fails, it is also most suitable for escape."

"Tell me, if they are not here, where else could they be?"

Zhao Xing looked at Ye Ye Yukong and paused for a moment.

Because he realized Ye Ye Yukong's analysis differed little from his own.

He himself had thought for a while before reaching the conclusion, while Ye Ye Yukong reached the conclusion in a very short time based on just a few words!

Simply awesome!

No wonder the imperial court wanted Ye Ye Yukong to be the My Lord.

Even if his handling of official duties was poor, he would not collapse the Bright Moon Manor in a short time; as long as he was in this position, it would be difficult for the Bright Moon Manor to become enemy-occupied territory!

Being so severely specialized, Zhao Xing was also convinced.

"My Lord is truly a divine person!"

"Hahaha, Chen An, you flatter me, hahaha."

Ye Yukong felt refreshed.

He had finally heard Zhao Xing genuinely praise him.

"Prefect, the person sent to assassinate me is likely not weak in power," Zhao Xing added.

"My ranking on the Tianyun Gold List is quite high; Prefect, you must consider this point."

Ye Yukong naturally knew of the Tianyun Gold List, after all, he was a member of the Ninth Group of the Eastern United Front Department of Pinghaizhou.

"How high can it be?"

"I have entered the top one hundred."

"???"

Ye Yukong was instantly stunned.

"What? Chen An, what did you say?"

"I am already listed within the top one hundred of the Tianyun Gold List."

Ye Yukong was instantly shocked: "Heavens, higher than me! What exactly have you done?"

Zhao Xing could not speak plainly, as the Numerology Chapter was still a secret.

Seeing this, Ye Yukong also realized that Zhao Xing was unable to state the reason.

He pondered for a moment and said, "If this is the case, I alone cannot possibly kill them all.

"This matter requires long-term planning. Chen An, you should return to Fucheng first; do not startle the snake."

"Yes, I am already on the way."

Ye Yukong immediately took out the Earth Mirror, seeming to have already begun preparations.

Zhao Xing did not yet have a concrete concept of how strong Ye Yukong was.

But Ye Yukong was publicly a sword dao expert at the peak of the Third Rank, famous for many years, and his self-created "Bright Moon Sword Art" was a top-tier technique!

The imperial court, knowing full well that Ye Yukong could not do the Prefect's job well, still entrusted this authority to him, which fully demonstrated his immense martial power and strong military capability.

Zhao Xing believed that Ye Yukong could resolve this assassination crisis.

Even if he could not, there were Luo Wang and King Tianyan as a safety net.

"For now, let my true body return safely first."

Zhao Xing's true body rushed back from Sui Commandery to Fucheng; at the same time, many clones rushed to Fucheng from different locations.

Acting simultaneously, even if they wanted to intercept and kill him, with so many clones, he could sufficiently confuse their vision.

Furthermore, Zhao Xing had split his main soul into seven parts.

Therefore, judging solely by the life soul, it would be very difficult to detect which of Zhao Xing's bodies was the true one.

Half a day later, Zhao Xing's true body successfully returned to Fucheng.

At the same time.

King Tianyan and Luo Wang were conducting a secret conversation.

"Luo, quickly dispatch experts to Bright Moon Prefecture; you must ensure Zhao Xing's safety!" King Tianyan had now restored his original appearance, and his hair had grown back, yet he appeared even more aged.

"Tianyan, what has happened?" Luo Wang's expression was serious.

He already knew the news that King Tianyan had just resolved the internal strife among the Fate Officials and that the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion had regained control of the Creation Disc. "Zhao Xing has ascended the Tianyun Gold List, and his rank is extremely high! Now, after fluctuations, it has stabilized at seventy-seventh," King Tianyan said. "I have calculated that assassins have already arrived at Bright Moon Prefecture to intercept and kill Zhao Xing, and they have been there for ten days! They will act immediately!"

"What? Seventy-seventh on the Tianyun Gold List?" A hint of surprise flashed in Luo Wang's eyes.

He fully understood what this meant.

"I will immediately dispatch the Lord of Long Yuan Prefecture and Shen Luo Wang to go there."

"Add two more!"

Luo Wang fell silent: "Tianyan, I can send people, but I must know where Zhao Xing's importance lies."

"Your Heavenly Secrets Pavilion can no longer play at being mysterious; you must tell me why. Otherwise, if I mobilize resources to protect Zhao Xing like this, both you and I will face criticism."

King Tianyan said in a deep voice, "Just make the deployment! I stake my life to guarantee that this deployment is reasonable."

"Tianyan, I also value Zhao Xing equally, but regarding the current grand situation, I must think deeply before any deployment."

"What I need is a reasonable reason, not you staking your life as a guarantee."

"To speak bluntly, for the grand situation, neither your life nor mine is worth mentioning."

Luo Wang's words seemed somewhat ruthless, but this was his rationality as a commander.

King Tianyan shook his head and said, "This is top-secret. If you wish to know, you can only ask Your Majesty."

"Top-secret?" Luo Wang's pupils contracted; he instantly understood.

However, no matter how much he thought, he could not imagine that Zhao Xing could find the correct cultivation path of the Derivation Divine Art.

His cultivation insights might influence the next thousand years!

"Very well, knowing these four words is enough." Luo Wang nodded. "I will also deploy Ling Huan Hou and the Lord of the Tian Shi Palace."

"Be quick!" Having finished, he abruptly cut off the communication.

As soon as Zhao Xing returned to Bright Moon Prefecture,

he received a message from Luo Wang.

"Zhao Xing, the Lord of Long Yuan Prefecture, Shen Luo Wang, Ling Huan Hou, and the Lord of the Tian Shi Palace will travel to Bright Moon Prefecture through a secret passage to cooperate with Ye Yukong in resolving this group of assassins."

"Additionally, King Tianyan will personally come to Bright Moon Prefecture, but he cannot stay long; you should wait for him at the Li Fire Academy."

"Yes." Zhao Xing obediently listened.

He had only heard of the Lord of Long Yuan Prefecture; regarding the other three, he had never heard of any of them.

Clearly, these were high-level forces hidden by the Great Zhou.

"Commandery, Dang Commandery, Yuyang Commandery." Zhao Xing's clone looked at the map, while his true body arrived at the Li Fire Academy to wait.

"The problem must still be resolved from multiple aspects."

"If Liang Wang's camp fails this assassination, they will escalate next time, and I cannot remain in Mingyue Manor forever."

"I must still devise a plan."

On the twenty-seventh day of the fourth month, the Lord of Long Yuan Manor, King Shenluo, Ling Huan Hou, and the Master of Tian Shi Palace arrived at Mingyue Manor.

Zhao Xing did not see these four powerful figures; they had arrived in secret.

According to King Tianyan's orders, before the official operation, he was not to contact these four to avoid creating karmic ties that the enemy's fate sorcerers could calculate.

On the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month, King Tianyan appeared at the Li Huo Academy.

He did meet with King Tianyan.

In a secret chamber, King Tianyan held a compass, shrouded beneath a layer of black-and-white ritual robes.

"Zhao Xing, this time you must provide a primary soul as bait."

"Otherwise, the assassins will certainly not fall for it."

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded. "I am already prepared."

Zhao Xing waved his hand, and a projection stepped out from the shadows behind him.

"This projection's life soul is also at the early stage of the Third Rank."

"Put on this ritual robe." King Tianyan waved his hand, and a black-and-white robe appeared.

"Yes." Zhao Xing immediately had the projection strip naked and change into the robe.

"Now, send this projection out of the city, traveling in sequence to Zhang Commandery, Dang Commandery, and Yuyang Commandery."

"Your subordinate understands." Zhao Xing departed immediately.

As for where the five great experts were?

He did not care; in any case, he could not discover them.

"Your remaining six souls, combine into one and stand within this circle."

King Tianyan tossed the compass in his hand upward.

Black and white beams of light instantly covered the ground, forming a barrier.

"Yes."

Zhao Xing complied as instructed.

He had already understood King Tianyan's intention.

Now, his true body was concealed.

Only the life soul of the bait outside remained the most powerful.

The fragment souls existing within the other projections were very weak and easily distinguishable to high-rank eyes.

"The true body must not generate any thoughts; remain still here and await the result."

"Yes." Zhao Xing immediately emptied his mind.

Dang Commandery, eastern suburbs, within a manor full of maple leaves.

A middle-aged man wearing a Liu Ren Dao robe looked up at the sky.

His room had a skylight; sunlight fell through the skylight, forming a flowing image on the ground.

"Tian Jue, what have you calculated?" A man with dual swords on his back, golden fur on his face, and resembling an ape, walked over.

"King Jin Ye, we can prepare to act. Today at You hour, Zhao Xing will arrive at Dang Commandery." Daoist Tian Jue spoke. "This time, it is his true body coming."

"Are you sure?" A woman emerged from the shadows inside the room, her voice clear. "Don't be like Venerable Jian He and the others; when assassinating Liu Tianning, they ended up chopping only Ten Thousand Dharma Projections."

"King Bing Xuan, you are also a Military Agricultural Minister; you should be able to see it. When the time comes, you will know at a glance." King Jin Ye looked at this enchanting woman wearing a Cloud-Rain Dao robe and a hundred-flower bamboo hat.

"I follow the Heaven-Timing Sect." King Bing Xuan shrugged. "Before the Xuan Tian Academy split, no one looked down on the Shangluo Academy, let alone those cultivating the Straw Man Method."

"If not for Liu Zonghai and Wu Cheng compiling this method, that group of Agricultural Ministers would have been nothing more than farming slaves in our eyes."

"One ultimate technique changed the future of an entire sect. The Dharma is truly marvelous."

A middle-aged man in scholar's robes, holding a scripture, walked in, shaking his head and swaying.

Behind him followed a blind priest carrying a deity statue and holding a spirit tablet.

Upon seeing the weak scholar enter, the three of them involuntarily stepped back a pace.

"Gentlemen, do not be like this; I do not eat people." The weak scholar smiled. "What were you just discussing?"

"Mr. Gu." King Jin Ye said respectfully, "It has been confirmed that today at You hour is the moment to complete the mission; Zhao Xing will appear at Dang Commandery."

"Good news." Mr. Gu said, "I thought we would have to wait three or five months; Brother Tian Jue is truly formidable."

"Mr. Gu overestimates me." Daoist Tian Jue replied with a humble tone.

Facing this Ritual Cultivator, the four of them were all very respectful.

There was no choice; Mr. Gu was the strongest here, a Second Rank Ritual Cultivator!

Of course, he was a Second Rank Ritual Cultivator conferred by Liang Wang.

Do not think Mr. Gu is easy to talk to now; in reality, he is extremely sinister.

Tian Jue, Bing Xuan, King Jin Ye, and the blind priest were all very afraid of him.

The Ritual Cultivator's Stupidity-Inducing Technique, Oblivion Method, and Silence Spell are all too painful.

"It is settled then; act today at You hour." Mr. Gu smiled. "Capture him if possible; if captured, he can be used to restrain Liu Tianning. If not captured, kill him, which will also drive Liu Tianning mad."

"Remember, at least leave a corpse."

"Yes."

On the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month, precisely at You hour, the Cloud-Rain Skyship slowly appeared over Dang Commandery.

"We have already reached Dang Commandery; it is truly cruel."

Zhao Xing looked at the thunderclouds ahead with emotion.

"Above, the sky is thick with heavenly thunder; below, countless ground-thunder bombs are exploding, and storms are attacking."

At this moment, Zhao Xing had completely forgotten the ambush.

To avoid revealing any flaws, the moment he left the city, he sealed off this portion of his memory.

His current visit to Dang Commandery was purely to inspect the situation and consider how to provide disaster relief.

"Dang Commandery already had a harsh environment; now that turmoil has arisen, the situation has become even worse," Zhao Xing shook his head.

"Fortunately, Huang Shanggong evacuated early, allowing the vast majority of the common people to enter the shelters."

"After subsequent transfers, eighty percent of the counties in Dang Commandery are basically uninhabited."

"Let us first look at the most severe area."

Zhao Xing piloted the Cloud-Rain Tower Ship toward the region of Dang Commandery where the thunderstorms were most severe.

He was entirely unaware that a pair of eyes was watching him.

"The target has appeared." Bing Xuan Wang looked down from within the Lei Chi, "Confirmed, it is Zhao Xing's true body."

"Act." The voice of Mr. Gu came to his ear.

"Yes." Bing Xuan Wang immediately manipulated the thunderclouds, causing rain to fall from the sky.

In an instant, visibility became extremely low.

The Cloud-Rain Tower Ship began to sway in the air.

Bing Xuan Wang and Jin Ye Wang slowly closed in.

"He has entered the range of the Forget-Worry Array." Below, Tian Jue spoke, "Bing Xuan, Jin Ye, you may capture him now."

"Swish~"

Bing Xuan Wang and Jin Ye Wang suddenly appeared before the Cloud-Rain Tower Ship.

"What?" Zhao Xing was startled, "Who are you people!"

"Boom boom!"

Jin Ye Wang swung his dual blades; two golden blade shadows, like mountains collapsing, pressed down upon the Cloud-Rain Tower Ship.

"Not good!"

Zhao Xing immediately abandoned the Cloud-Rain Tower Ship to flee for his life.

"Running? Can you really escape?"

Bing Xuan Wang instantly blocked Zhao Xing's path; she licked her lips.

"Fine, then I won't run."

Zhao Xing's eyes became clear.

Upon seeing these two strange Third Rank individuals, his Dream Storage Art unsealed itself, and he then understood why his clone had come.

"You, you really aren't running?" Bing Xuan Wang was stunned, "Aren't you the disciple of Liu Tianning? Haven't you learned a top-tier technique? Won't you struggle at all?"

"He who recognizes the situation is a hero. Since you are so powerful, why would I run?"

"I surrender. Please take me to see your leader." Zhao Xing was also happy to stall for time with her.

"???"

Jin Ye Wang and Bing Xuan Wang were momentarily bewildered.

Why wasn't he following the expected script?

Wasn't it said that this person was demoted after cursing Liang Wang? Wasn't it said that this person had a fiery temper?

"~It seems your bones aren't very hard after all." Jin Ye Wang slung the back of his blade over his shoulder, flew forward, and reached for Zhao Xing. "Then come with us."

"Two Lords, I can fly myself." Zhao Xing seemed somewhat fearful, "Two Lords, please do not use force to injure me."

Seeing Zhao Xing in this state, Jin Ye Wang and Bing Xuan Wang grew even more contemptuous.

Bing Xuan Wang even mocked, "Liu Tianning truly took in a fine disciple."

"Hahaha, then let us go down."

Jin Ye Wang and Bing Xuan Wang immediately brought Zhao Xing down to the Maple Leaf Manor on the ground.

"Mr. Gu, we have completed the mission and captured Zhao Xing alive."

Jin Ye Wang could not help but report the good news.

"Oh?" Mr. Gu appeared at the doorway.

Upon seeing the two of them surrounding Zhao Xing in the middle, his expression immediately changed.

"Swish~"

Mr. Gu, without a word, grabbed the priest beside him and fled.

He didn't even have the mind to remind them!

He was unwilling to waste a single instant of time escaping!

"Mr. Gu——you?" Bing Xuan Wang and Jin Ye Wang were both stunned.

Tian Jue Daoist also reacted, immediately diving underground.

Zhao Xing, taking advantage of the two's moment of confusion, also fled rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, only Bing Xuan Wang and Jin Ye Wang remained in the courtyard.

"This is bad!"

Bing Xuan Wang and Jin Ye Wang also reacted, immediately rushing to catch Zhao Xing.

However, just at that moment, a beam of moonlight from above the sky fell upon the two of them.

The rain had stopped at some point.

A beam of moonlight instantly pierced through Bing Xuan Wang.

"What?!" Jin Ye Wang was halted.

"The moon?!" Jin Ye Wang saw that enlarged full moon within his field of vision; his expression changed drastically, and he swung his dual blades, striking at that full moon.

"Block? This sword strike holds three hundred years of cultivation. Can you block it?!"

Amidst the bright moon, a domineering voice rang out.

Jin Ye Wang suddenly saw a figure standing on the rapidly enlarging moon.

"Master of the Bright Moon Mansion! It's you!!" Jin Ye Wang roared. Only now did he realize this was a trap. "Block it for me!"

Jin Ye Wang's hair stood on end. Misty Jin Guang surged on his twin blades, the True Intent of Geng Metal intertwining as they endlessly sliced the sword intent pressing in.

His speed was extreme; he was truly a Third Rank peak existence!

Yet he could not shatter this round moon.

He held out for merely three breaths before being completely crushed by this moon.

"Pfft!"

A beam of moonlight fell, and Ye Yukong appeared behind Jin Ye Wang, his long hair flying.

The moon phenomenon vanished quickly.

In Jin Ye Wang's eyes, the moon killed him; he had been just one step away from blocking it.

However, from an outsider's perspective, Jin Ye Wang's blades never struck anything from start to finish.

Indeed, his final two blade techniques were instinctive moves performed after he was already dead.

Before that, he had already perished.

"Hmph, Third Rank martial True Intent is merely within the rules anyway." Ye Yukong sheathed his sword.

He then swiftly chased after Zhao Xing: "Zhao Xing, do not run·————-?"

Ye Yukong was shocked to find he could not catch up to Zhao Xing for the moment.

"What technique is this? It is so fast."

Zhao Xing flashed within the thunder clouds; within a few breaths, he had put distance between them.

"Without the Bright Moon Body Technique, I still cannot catch him?" Ye Yukong muttered. "No wonder they dispatched a Third Rank peak combination to kill him."

While the assassination and counter-assassination unfolded in Dang Commandery,

Zhao Xing's clone sought out Sima Yunhai.

"Teacher Sima, someone wants to kill me. The assassination team arrived at the Bright Moon Mansion twelve days ago. I am currently fleeing in Dang Commandery. I estimate they are Third Rank peak, totaling five people."

"What?" Sima Yunhai was instantly startled. "I will go to your aid immediately!"

"No, Teacher." Zhao Xing shook his head. "I came to inform you, not to ask you to save me."

"I have entered the top one hundred of the Heavenly Fortune Gold List, likely drawing Liang Wang's attention. I suspect this is due to the Great Zhou Tian Treatise I wrote."

"Even if you can save me this time, it will only be for a moment. I hope you will report this situation back to the Profound Heaven Academy."

"I understand." Sima Yunhai immediately returned to the tower ship. "I will inform the Academy at once."

"Thank you, Teacher." Zhao Xing clasped his hands.

The Profound Heaven Academy has many factions internally; Sima Yunhai is a high-ranking member of the 'Cloud Faction'.

Zhao Xing's clone in the Profound Heaven Academy's Tianyuan Mansion also suddenly stopped writing.

"My Lord Hu, I can no longer continue the calculation."

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Hu Yang was somewhat puzzled.

"My original body has been targeted by rebels from the Liang Wang camp and is being hunted."

"It is because I wrote the Numerology section of this Great Zhou Tian Treatise and calculated one of the channel's opening entrances," Zhao Xing said. "I can no longer spare my attention; I must focus entirely on escaping."

"What?!" Hu Yang was greatly shocked, then his expression turned serious. "Good, Chen An, quickly find a safe place and protect yourself!"

"I will report this immediately! I will certainly not let you come to harm!"

Hu Yang primarily cultivates the Hou Bian Method.

The Hou Bian Faction has always been the most powerful in the Profound Heaven Academy, because there are three known, inherited ultimate Hou Bian Methods.

Zhao Xing's 'Treatise on the Three Yin, Three Yang, and Six Qi Great Zhou Tian' first became famous for its method of measuring Hou Bian,

which is why it drew the attention of the high ranks.

Now that Zhao Xing can also solve the problem of the Soldier Realm channel, how could Hu Yang tolerate such talent falling to Liang Wang's hands?

He immediately transformed into a giant golden bird and flew out to summon reinforcements.

In Dang Commandery, Daoist Tian Jue kept drilling underground, fleeing frantically.

He fled a thousand li in one breath, escaping directly beyond the borders of Dang Commandery.

"!"

Suddenly, he seemed to collide with something.

His entire body bounced up, and his skull was knocked dizzy.

He had no choice but to end his evasion technique and surface.

As soon as his head broke the surface, a glowing rope looped around his neck.

Strangled, Daoist Tian Jue's face immediately swelled. "Mmm..." Seeing Daoist Tian Jue's dazed look, Ling Huan Hou, whose skin was Bai Xi and whose features were extremely handsome, squatted down.

He placed one foot on Daoist Tian Jue's shoulder and put a finger to his lips: "Shh~ Don't scream. Dizziness is normal. Relax~ Relax~"

Daoist Tian Jue's pupils instantly dilated, reflecting illusionary realms.

Ling Huan Hou unhooked the hook-lock from his waist.

"Pfft~"

The hook pierced the back of Daoist Tian Jue's head.

"Yu~"

Daoist Tian Jue's Yuan Soul was instantly hooked out.

The hook-lock wrapped around Daoist Tian Jue's Yuan Soul several times, then Ling Huan Hou casually tied its soul to a nearby silver-black wooden stake.

Around it stood a small Earth Temple, along with the Mirage Pearl and the Earth Mirror.

Before the temple, a pot of oil burned fiercely, and a weapon rack held various torture instruments.

"Now, you may confess," Ling Huan Hou said with a smile. "Who sent you to kill Zhao Xing?"

On the other side, Zhao Xing's clone had also found Pang Yuanzhen.

"Mr. Pang, Lord Wei, Lord Yang, I fear I cannot discuss the Dao with you all any longer."

Pang Yuanzhen, Wei Zhao, and Yang Song were instantly stunned.

"Marquis Yuan, what has happened?"

Zhao Xing spoke with deep sorrow: "Liang Wang Sect has dispatched an assassin squad and is hunting me down in Dang Commandery."

"If not for my Ten Thousand Methods Clone, I would already be a corpse by now."

"However, given the power held by Liang Wang, even if this assassination fails, as long as he remembers to kill me for one more day, I cannot escape death."

Zhao Xing spoke mournfully, then suddenly shifted his tone, becoming impassioned and fervent.

"Yet all men must die; some die heavier than Ji Qingshan, others lighter than a goose feather."

"You all need not worry for me. I was born in the army and serve as the Minister of Agriculture. I will die on the road of suppressing rebellion, die in the governance of natural disasters; it is a death well spent!"

If Jin Ye Wang and Bing Xuan Wang were to hear this, they would surely be so angry they would rise from the dead.

Who exactly is hunting whom here?!

"It is a pity that my new treatise on Heavenly Nature remains unfinished, and I cannot sit and discuss the Dao with you all; truly regrettable."

After this speech, both Wei Zhao and Yang Song had become extremely furious!

"Damn Liang Wang! He claimed the noble cause of purging the king's evil advisors, yet now he persecutes a genius of the Ministry of Agriculture; it is an outrage to both men and gods!"

"Marquis Yuan, I am willing to die alongside you! Even in death, I will splash him with my hot blood!"

Pang Yuanzhen saw through the act but said nothing, immediately clasping his hands and bowing: "Marquis Yuan, everyone, do not be hasty. I will immediately report to Shangluo Academy; I will not let you suffer the slightest harm!"

Dang Commandery, Mashan County.

In the gloomy sky.

"Damn Tian Jue, damn Jin Ye and Xuan Nu, they have ruined me!" Mr. Gu, carrying the Blind Taoist,

ran on relentlessly.

Behind him, a golden point flickered, appearing and disappearing.

"Unable to distinguish a clone from the true body; you are utterly useless, utterly useless!" Mr. Gu wailed.

"Sir, there is someone ahead," the Blind Taoist suddenly spoke.

"I see it, I see it!" Mr. Gu roared. "But what can you do? Everything is within their calculations. The officials cannot defeat them. Wherever we flee, someone will be waiting for us!"

"Then what does Sir plan to do?" the Blind Taoist asked. "It seems we can only stop."

"I know, I know! Let me think, stop shouting!" Many characters moved across Mr. Gu's face, like insects.

"Oh ho, it is the Heaven Net Earth Formation; we have already entered." The Blind Taoist grinned. "Sir, your life is at an end!"

"Damn it, you are useless too!" Something on Mr. Gu's face seemed about to burst out.

"Heh, Sir, let me help you." The Blind Taoist suddenly laughed, his hands moving like lightning, instantly digging into Mr. Gu's eyes.

"Rip~" Two eyeballs were immediately gouged out, then placed into the Blind Taoist's mouth to chew.

"Damn it, you ate too early!" Mr. Gu's clothes began to tear apart. The characters on his body suddenly burst forth, then fell one by one onto the Blind Taoist.

"Heh~"

The Blind Taoist thrust one hand into Mr. Gu's chest, digging and digging repeatedly.

"Yu"

Characters drilled into the Blind Taoist's body, while Mr. Gu himself began to disintegrate.

Moments later, Mr. Gu vanished completely, leaving only a scroll of fragmented pages floating in the air.

The Blind Taoist had completely changed his appearance.

"Shen Luo Wang."

The Blind Taoist opened his mouth; the voice within contained both his own and Mr. Gu's mixed together.

"Yushan Zi." Shen Luo Wang stood in the sky, riding a bamboo horse, with dozens of mechanical constructs of various sizes floating around him.

Seeing the Blind Taoist's appearance, Shen Luo Wang's eyes flashed with a hint of pity.

"The famous Yushan Priest has fallen to such a state, willingly becoming a book puppet for another."

"Who is not a servant of the strong?" Yushan Zi said indifferently. "Shen Luo Wang, are you not also a marionette of Luo Wang?"

"More words are useless." Yushan Zi looked at the opponent and tossed the spirit tablet behind him.

The Jin Guang pursuing from behind was instantly blocked.

"Shen Luo Wang, we have fought two battles at the Dao Field before, one victory and one defeat."

"Today's battle will decide both victory and life or death."

"Come!" Shen Luo Wang's battle spirit was impassioned, his eyes sharp as lightning. "Let us see if you can kill me after falling into the Evil Path!"

Kunyuan Academy, Kunshan.

"Lord Meng, Lord Gu."

"Thank you both for your care over these past few years. Zhao Xing fears he can no longer listen to your teachings. I hope you both will take care."

Zhao Xing's clone appeared in the Kunshan Palace, looking as if he were delivering his last words.

"What does this mean? Chen An, what is wrong with you?"

However, before Zhao Xing could let the two inquire further, the divided soul within this clone fell silent, becoming barely perceptible.

Meng Kun and Gu Changqing exchanged a glance and instantly grew anxious.

Recalling Zhao Xing's words just now, the two immediately realized something.

"Chen Anding has met with misfortune!"

"Investigate! Quickly find out what happened!"

Meng Kun paced frantically and shouted: "Changqing, immediately order all branches of the Kunyuan Underground Palace in Pinghaizhou to investigate!"

"Damn it, if the Liang Wang killed Zhao Xing, I'll storm straight into Pinghaizhou!"

"Old Meng, don't act rashly," Gu Changqing gripped Meng Kun's hand. "Let's start from Lüliangzhou—"

"It would be better to strike at the Liang Wang Fu's stronghold."

After speaking with these two, Zhao Xing's avatar sent messages via Earth Mirror to Liu Tianning and Princess Youruo.

Facing these two, Zhao Xing did not indulge in sentimentality; he told them plainly, laying out the events, his analysis, and the objective facts already unfolding.

After waiting a quarter-hour, Liu Tianning did not respond.

Princess Youruo replied quickly.

Her message was brief: only three characters: Understood.

"Princess Youruo's style is becoming more and more like Old Liu's."

"I wonder what Old Liu is up to," Zhao Xing thought to himself. He hadn't received any word from Liu Tianning in a long time.

He only occasionally saw the name Liu Tianning in official reports and battle summaries.

Yet his true self had vanished as if into divine concealment.

Though distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, Zhao Xing did not now seek help to survive this wave of assassinations—he sought to secure his future.

"The Liang Wang sent assassins to kill me; I won't swallow this humiliation. I must escalate this matter, or I have no chance to survive."

"He claims he wants to cleanse the court of corruptors, that he stands on the side of righteousness—yet now he wastes effort killing me, a lowly Minister of Agriculture. If the world finds out, his two-hundred-year-old prestige will crumble."

"He can seal off Pinghaizhou, but he cannot silence the tongues of the people."

"Only by escalating this can I survive; otherwise, endless assassinations will leave me alive but powerless," Zhao Xing thought.

"I've grown strong enough now—I no longer need to hide. All my hidden plans must be deployed!"

"Liang Wang, let's see if your armies can even leave Pinghaizhou once you've angered three Ministers of Agriculture at once!"