Chapter 286: The Earth-Piercing Divine Boat and Ten Thousand Mountains, Three Sects' Holy Sons

At the Moon Bright Fucheng Li Fire Academy, Zhao Xing's true body felt neither sorrow nor joy, completely emptying his mind.

The projection of one of the seven main souls was still fleeing in Dang Commandery.

If this projection were lost, it would mean losing one-seventh of his soul power.

He could not also differentiate 49,999 divine thoughts; soul-attack methods would be greatly diminished.

Even after consuming Yuan Soul Liquid, it could not be restored in a short while; at least one month was required.

"I should have shaken off the pursuers, right?" Zhao Xing glanced back and landed in the forest.

By now, he had already run out of Dang Commandery.

Ye Ye Yukong simply failed to catch up with him!

Having passed through Chi Tianya and relied on relay escapes via forest jumping.

Ye Ye Yukong had long lost his lock on Zhao Xing.

As for Zhao Xing's split soul body, at that time he only cared about escaping for his life; how could he care whether those behind were allies or enemies?

He had certainly heard Ye Ye Yukong's shouts.

But since both enemy and ally were high-grade, what if he misidentified them or was deceived?

Therefore, if he could escape on his own, relying on himself was best!

In any case, he couldn't help anyway; escaping was the greatest help to the allies!

"King Tianyan has not yet notified the true body that the operation is over."

"Then I shall continue running."

Zhao Xing dared not stay long; he arrived at the commandery with the most forests in Moon Bright Fucheng.

Here, his escape was more advantageous.

After all, forest jumping consumes the vitality of plants.

This way, he could restore some of his vitality.

Chi Tianya consumes quite a lot.

"Everything must be based on King Tianyan's message; everything else is untrustworthy. How do I know it isn't an illusion?"

At this moment, Zhao Xing fully utilized his past-life experience in fleeing.

This forced Ye Ye Yukong to return to assist the Shen Luo Wang and the others.

At this time, in the assassination team, only one person remained, or rather, the dual-soul entity Yu Shanzi.

He was already surrounded by Shen Luo Wang, the Fucheng Lord of Long Yuan, and the Palace Master of Tian Shi.

When Ye Ye Yukong arrived, he could not help but be somewhat surprised.

"The Fucheng Lord of Long Yuan and the Palace Master of Tian Shi are trapped in the sky; have they fallen victim to a ghost wall?"

"Moon Bright Shines on My Heart, Open!" Ye Ye Yukong swept his finger across the sword blade, and then a beam of moonlight flashed from his eyes.

"Woo woo woo~"

Before his eyes, it was almost a ghost realm!

The Palace Master of Tian Shi and the Fucheng Lord of Long Yuan seemed to be crashing about in the air, fighting against the void.

In reality, they were surrounded by ten thousand ghosts; grotesque and terrifying demons blocked the two from rushing to support Shen Luo Wang.

"Moon Bright Falls on Xishan, Ghosts Illuminate the Human Heart."

Yu Shanzi's voice appeared beside Ye Ye Yukong's ear; he discovered that the moonlight in his own eyes had vanished.

"Is this the 'words become law' of the Ritual Cultivator?"

Ye Ye Yukong felt the sky before him darken, and instantly his heart grew cold.

The priestly divine office was already formidable enough; now it had even acquired the abilities of a Ritual Cultivator.

Yu Shanzi was simply terrifyingly strong!

"The Dao of the Ritual Cultivator can already influence the rules, and Yu Shanzi himself has reached a level of Dao that 'influences the rules'."

"This is something even the True Intent of the Five Elements cannot shake, just as that wild monkey could not block my Moon Bright Sword Art." Facing a monster like Yu Shanzi, Ye Ye Yukong did not dare to charge recklessly.

He once again cast Moon Bright Shines on My Heart.

"Yu~"

Not long after it rose, this light dissipated again.

"I shine!"

The light brightened again.

"Yu~"

"I shine again!"

"Yu~"

Ye Ye Yukong used this single technique to constantly drain Yu Shanzi's energy.

The current situation was that Yu Shanzi was trapped within the Shen Luo Great Formation.

The Fucheng Lord of Long Yuan and the Palace Master of Tian Shi were trapped within the 【Yu Shan Ghost】.

Yu Shanzi, strengthened by the Ancient Mr., was stronger than Shen Luo Wang, yet he could not kill Shen Luo Wang nor break out of the Shen Luo Great Formation.

Similarly, the Fucheng Lord of Long Yuan and the Palace Master of Tian Shi could not enter the Shen Luo Great Formation nor escape the 【Yu Shan Ghost】.

Because Yu Shanzi was now not merely a priest, but a second-grade Ritual Cultivator's priest enhanced by the Life Sutra.

This was also the reason why King Tianyan insisted on having Luo Wang join.

When Yu Shanzi fought three opponents, there was still a chance of victory.

If the sword cultivator Ye Ye Yukong joined the fray, there would be absolutely no chance of victory.

"Aha! You fear me!"

Ye Yukong also keenly noticed this.

"Brother Ye, continue!"

"Bright Moon, do not stop!"

The Lord of Dragon Abyss Prefecture and the Lord of Heaven Eater Palace also sensed Ye Yukong's arrival.

"Rest assured, I know this well!"

Ye Yukong kept casting the same technique.

If this were before, he might not have had such patience and might have tried other methods.

But ever since becoming an unfeeling stamp machine, he found he could accept this repetitive work.

"Ghost Realm reflecting the human heart? Your Ghost Realm is not even as terrifying as those official documents," Ye Yukong muttered.

At this level of battle, Zhao Xing's clone could not participate at all.

His clone could only go around filing complaints.

Originally, Zhao Xing had wanted to find Li Boqian and Tianyang Zhenjun.

But after thinking it over, he realized it was not appropriate.

First, Li Boqian had not yet appeared; Zhao Xing wanted to find someone but could not find anyone.

He had already found Hu Yang; that was enough.

Tianyang Zhenjun is a god of the Underworld and is not suitable for excessive interference in mortal affairs.

If he interfered in specific matters, it would be interfering with Li Boqian's authority as the Grand Minister of Agriculture of the mortal world.

Fighting on behalf of a disciple's disciple is something Li Boqian actively requested.

Of course, afterwards, when Tianyang Zhenjun agreed to give Zhao Xing a gift, it was purely out of appreciation for this ambitious disciple's disciple.

"I am unsure about the Dili Sect, but the Tian Shi Sect and the Benwo Sect will certainly not sit idly by," Zhao Xing thought silently.

After all, to the Dili Sect, he had made no contribution so far.

Although the "Benwo Heavenly Things Treatise: Dili Chapter" touched on it slightly, it primarily benefited the Benwo Sect.

Therefore, his clone at Kunyuan Academy only mentioned it slightly.

"I estimate Meng Kun and Gu Changqing can do very little," Zhao Xing thought.

However, this move by Old Master Zhao was truly a miscalculation.

He simply did not know that Meng Kun and Gu Changqing were actually the first to act!

Kunyuan Academy, the number one spiritual mountain in the world 【Spirit Mountain】, Haishan Ridge.

Haishan Ridge is the burial place of the fourth Grand Minister of Agriculture, Meng Haishan, who is also Meng Kun's grandfather.

Meng Kun flew into the Hall of Haishan Zhenjun in a frantic rush.

"Grandfather! Please, Grandfather, manifest your spirit!" Meng Kun's loud voice startled the priest guarding the hall.

"Who is making such a commotion!" The hall-guarding priest, Meng Li, appeared, but upon seeing the visitor, immediately retreated.

It's the eldest brother; then there is no problem.

"Thump~" Meng Kun knelt on the cushion and quickly lit a large incense stick as thick as an arm.

"Vroom~" The statue of Haishan Zhenjun on the altar instantly came to life, looking down at Meng Kun.

"So frantic, what kind of decorum is this!" Haishan Zhenjun's low shout exploded in Meng Kun's ears.

"Grandfather, your eldest grandson has a request!" Meng Kun kowtowed twice, then looked up at Meng Haishan.

"Speak!"

"Grandfather, there is a student in my academy named Zhao Xing," Meng Kun said. "He is currently in Pinghaizhou, whereabouts unknown, life or death uncertain. Please, Grandfather, manifest your spirit and order the subordinate underworld gods of the Earth Palace to search for his traces!"

To find someone, underworld gods are much faster than other methods; Meng Kun knew nothing now and could only come to find his grandfather.

Otherwise, he could only sit and worry.

"Who is Zhao Xing that you would trouble me to find him?"

"Grandfather," Meng Kun shouted, "He can be called the Holy Son of our Dili Sect, a genius seen once in ten thousand years at Kunyuan Academy!"

To get his grandfather to act, Meng Kun went all out, praising Zhao Xing to the skies.

The reason Meng Kun was so excited was simply because the treatise Zhao Xing promised him had not yet been written!

"Is he truly that talented?"

"Truly, too truly!" Meng Kun said, "Throughout history, there have been countless with extraordinary talent in magical arts, like carp crossing the river, but how many have left treatises for the world? He already has two now!"

"He is a great talent who can fight, can govern, and can compose treatises!"

"Grandfather, stop asking and hurry up and get to work! If it's too late, I'm afraid he will come down below to meet you!"

"You rascal———" Haishan Zhenjun cursed twice, yet Meng Kun was still unhappy that he asked!

But curse as he might, Haishan Zhenjun still acted swiftly.

This place is where Haishan Zhenjun's true body exists; he suddenly inhaled the incense smoke.

Immediately, the two-meter-tall, arm-thick large incense stick turned directly into ash.

"Yu"

At this moment, in the forty-five prefectures of Pinghaizhou, the three thousand-plus inland commanderies, and the million-plus counties—wherever there was a temple with a statue of Haishan Zhenjun, they all shook together.

In the temple of Dang Commandery, the statue of Haishan Zhenjun opened its eyes.

Then he jumped to the ground and leaned his ear to listen.

Waves of fluctuation entered his ears.

Earth-Listening Technique!

"Capture if possible."

"Run, can you run away?"

"Truly a disciple of Liu Tianning."

"Flee!"

"Block? This sword strike holds three hundred years of power; can you block it?"

"Lord of the Bright Moon Manor?!"

"Yu Shanzi, I never expected you to become someone else's Book Puppet."

Moments later, the divine statue jumped back into place.

At that same moment, inside the Kunyuan Earth Palace, the Haishan Mausoleum, and the Divine Hall.

"Zhao Xing was indeed pursued; the location was Ping Haizhou, the Bright Moon Manor, and the Dang Commandery."

"There were multiple high-rank experts, some Third Rank and some Second Rank."

"Some wanted to kill him, while others wanted to save him."

"One of them is named Yu Shanzi."

Hearing Haishan Zhenjun speak thus, Meng Kun's face instantly changed.

As expected!

"That bastard Liang Wang!!"

Upon hearing the name Yu Shanzi, Meng Kun instantly became furious.

He immediately rushed out of the Haishan Zhenjun Hall.

"Unfilial descendant———"

Haishan Zhenjun cursed and grumbled.

Because Meng Kun had invited the spirit but forgotten to send him off.

"Grandfather, do not be angry."

Meng Li walked out from the side hall, arranged the three sacrificial animals and offerings, and completed the spirit-sending ritual for his elder brother.

Outside the mausoleum, Meng Kun immediately contacted Gu Changqing.

"Changqing, it has been investigated clearly!"

"How?"

"Zhao Xing was indeed pursued by Liang Wang's men! Not only were there multiple Third Ranks, but a Second Rank was involved as well!"

"What? Shameless!"

Meng Kun said, "Liang Wang's actions are hated by both men and gods!"

"However, the immediate priority is to rush and rescue Zhao Xing! I must immediately organize a rescue team of one thousand! You quickly find people! I will go request the Holy Academy's Divine Soldiers!"

Gu Changqing said, "Wait!"

"What for? There is no time!"

Gu Changqing said, "How can you possibly mobilize people to Ping Haizhou in time?"

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Gu Changqing said, "Go to Lüliang Zhou! Attack his stronghold and force Liang Wang to recall the assassination order."

"Going to Lüliang Zhou will also take considerable time," Meng Kun said.

"Old Meng, are you confused?" Gu Changqing said, "Have you forgotten the ancient underground tunnel we excavated in the 192nd year of the Dingxin Era?"

"Which one are you talking about?"

"The Tongming Ancient Road. Back then, we only dug three-quarters of it before halting due to shifts in the earth veins. Later, when Your Majesty launched the Great Campaign against the Man, our Academy shelved this project."

"Oh, I remember now!" Meng Kun realized. "It is the Tongming Ancient Road!"

"I have calculated it," Gu Changqing said. "You go request the Thirteen Sages and have him open the Earth-Piercing Boat."

"Then mobilize fifty Ninth-Rank Earth Dragon Drill Ships to excavate the ancient underground tunnel—the Tongming Ancient Road."

"This way, we can travel from the Kun Tong Ancient Road and the Tongming Ancient Road to the Ming Wang Manor. Once we reach the Ming Wang Manor, going to Liang Wang's Wang Cheng will take only one double-hour!"

"Moreover, the Ming Wang Manor branch has sufficient heavy artifacts and personnel for us to mobilize!"

"Correct!" Meng Kun's eyes lit up. "Old Gu, you are still the smart one!"

"You quickly go to the Earth Palace Academy to find people and wait for me at the Kun Tong Ancient Road. I will go to the Di Zang Academy to request the Thirteen Sages! We act separately." "Good!"

Meng Kun was the Dean of the Di Zang Academy, and he indeed possessed only the realm of the Third Rank.

Yet, as Dean, his power was immense.

For within the Kunyuan Academy, only one person held more power than him.

That was the leader of the Dili Sect, the Dean of the Kunyuan Main Academy, and the Headmaster of Lingshan—Xuanyuan Qingtian. This man was also his junior uncle, and the sworn brother of his deceased father.

Meng Kun swiftly flew to a Sacred Mountain of the Kunyuan Academy.

This mountain was named Di Zhoushan.

The entire mountain peak was constructed from mechanisms; from a distance, the mountain looked like a flying boat standing upright, planted in the earth.

The Thirteen Sages, Xiao Zhe, was at the peak of the Second Rank!

He controlled a Treasure-grade Divine Weapon, the Earth-Piercing Boat.

Xiao Zhe held no official post or title, possessing only a loose rank and a special title: Sage.

The barriers and prohibitions of Zhoushan were completely ineffective against Meng Kun, the Vice Dean.

He flew directly to the peak palace atop the boat.

"Sage! Sage Xiao!" Meng Kun shouted loudly.

The floor suddenly cracked, and a figure slowly rose up.

"Do not be so loud; I can hear you." The gray-haired Xiao Zhe picked his ear. "Dean Meng, what is your business?"

Meng Kun immediately took a token from his robe, upon which were the two characters 'Di Zang'.

"Saint, I, in my capacity as Dean of the King Di Zang Institute, request you undertake a confidential mission."

Xiao Zhe's expression immediately grew serious. He put away his carefree demeanor and bowed to Meng Kun: "Please instruct, Dean."

"The content of the confidential mission is to open the 【Tongming Ancient Road】 and transport a batch of heavy artifacts."

"Open the ancient underground passage? When do we start?"

"Now," Meng Kun said. "We must depart immediately. I have already mobilized fifty Ninth-Rank Earth Dragon Drill Ships, waiting at the Kun Tong Ancient Road, just awaiting your arrival, Saint."

"Good."

A quarter-hour later.

Zhoushan began to sink.

Zhoushan, Zhoushan; the mountain is the boat, the boat is the mountain.

"Boom~"

Where the mountain once stood, a deep abyss appeared.

The abyss was filled with dense Earth Qi.

The treasure exceeding Ninth Rank, the 【Thorough Earth Boat】, was thus activated.

Quickly heading to the 【Kun Tong Ancient Road】 to await orders.

Meng Kun, without pausing, immediately took out the Earth Mirror and began contacting his friends.

He still had not abandoned the idea of entering Ping Haizhou.

Although he was at the Main Institute, Meng Kun could still summon powerful figures from nearby.

A string of names scrolled by as Meng Kun continuously tapped them.

There were martial artists, priests, and also shamans—this was entirely Meng Kun's network of connections!

He intended to organize a rescue team to enter Ping Haizhou!

"Zhao Xing, you must hold on," Meng Kun murmured to himself. "You haven't written the scripture for me yet."

"Mm."

Soon, the first person responded in the Earth Mirror.

"Dean Meng, I am Su Chen." A middle-aged man with a sword on his back appeared in the Earth Mirror.

"Brother Su, I have a request to make. It is like this—"

"No problem!" Su Chen nodded. "Back then, Dean Meng, you let me enter the Number One Mountain under Heaven to comprehend the Dao; otherwise, I would not have been able to comprehend the Heavenly Sword Technique. I am departing right now."

"Thank you."

Just as the call ended, a second figure appeared in the Earth Mirror.

"Brother Meng, what is the matter?"

"Brother Song, I have a request to make—"

Walking along, chatting along.

By the time they reached the entrance to the 【Kun Tong Underground Passage】, Meng Kun had already rallied over a hundred high-rank powerful figures!

These powerful figures were all independents, holding no official posts, merely inheriting their original titles or obtaining special cultivation qualifications.

Among them, if Meng Kun ordered some to die, they would not even blink an eye.

"Old Meng, ready?"

Meng Kun glanced at the hundred-plus people behind Gu Changqing, as well as the fifty Earth Dragon Drill Ships.

"Let's go, depart!"

Lvliang Prefecture, Youyou Commandery.

Youyou Commandery was one of Liang Wang's fiefdoms.

There was a royal palace here, but it did not belong to Liang Wang.

It belonged to his son.

Named Ningle Wang.

Wang Ji Tao, the fourth son of Liang Wang.

Ji Han had no older brothers before him, so he became the eldest.

Ji Han had followed Liang Wang in campaigns during the Dingxin Era, earning his kingship; he was also the chosen one to guard Liang Wang's main base.

Originally, Ji Han was only Third Rank, but after Liang Wang split his fortune, Ji Han received the Black Dragon Fortune, rising smoothly to Second Rank, the Heavenly Fortune Realm.

However, the situation in Lvliang Prefecture was not the same as in Ping Haizhou.

In Lvliang Prefecture, the rebellion was far less severe than in Ping Haizhou.

Ji Tao had not yet recruited many high-rank powerful figures.

Most were originally only Middle Rank, promoted to high rank only by consuming the Black Dragon Fortune.

Ji Tao was currently worrying in the temporary palace about recruiting high-rank powerful figures; now that his father had opened the Heavenly Fortune Gold List, he had also received the roster.

However, the efforts of the ritual scholars under his command to persuade were minimal; either they were rebel kings planning to act alone, willing to cooperate but not submit, or they had outrageous demands, with Third-Rank Marquises daring to ask for the throne.

"Hah~" Ji Tao rubbed his temples. "Mr. Li, why are there so many shameless fellows? They possess no ability whatsoever, yet dare to make such outrageous demands."

Li Yang bowed and said: "Your Highness, this is how the great families and noble houses are. Those who branch off are mostly illegitimate sons, unworthy offspring. Joining us is merely to spread their risks."

"However, among these people, there may well be talented individuals. During the Taizu period, Wu Cheng was merely a Seventh-Rank Field Official of the Wu State."

"He followed Taizu to conquer the world, growing step by step, until he finally reached the First Rank position."

"But if it were back then, in the era of wars among ten thousand states, who could have imagined it?"

"Your Highness must have more patience."

Ji Han nodded: "Mr. speaks wisely. Talents are cultivated; I, the Lone One, should have more patience to discover talent."

"Your Highness is wise," Li Yang praised.

"Report!"

Just then, a guard suddenly flew hurriedly to the outer gate of the hall.

"Speak."

"Within the Wang Fu territory, Xie Changlin, a general of the Yaoguang Army, has led a large force to appear on the Tianhai Plain and is currently attacking Young Master Xi's military camp."

"Young Master Xi has sent back an urgent report!"

"Xie Changlin? He has great audacity." Ji You's expression instantly turned cold. "Quickly summon the Wang Fu's five hundred Xiaolong Guards to proceed to the Tianhai Plain!"

Ji Han was just preparing to depart when another battle report arrived.

"Report! Young Master Xi has been captured by the enemy, and the Yuan Ye camp has been breached!"

"What? How could this happen so quickly!" Ji Han was instantly startled.

Young Master Xi was his most cherished son, and at the military defense camp in Yuan Ye County, there were five hundred thousand elite soldiers and powerful generals.

Young Master Xi himself was Third Rank, protected by over a hundred Third Rank strong ones.

How could he possibly be captured so quickly?

He tore open the battle report; inside were attached a Mirage Pearl and a Echo Conch.

"Yu~"

Ji Han instantly saw the scene unfolding on the Tianhai Plain battlefield.

"Yu~"

The battle replayed.

On the boundless plain, a force appeared from both ends of the plain,

one hundred thousand Yaoguang Army soldiers clad in green battle armor, flying over the boundary marker and charging toward the defensive line controlled by Young Master Xi.

"Only this many people?" Ji Tao frowned.

At this moment, he thought Young Master Xi had made some mistake.

However, everything was perfectly normal.

Young Master Xi had not, as Ji Tao thought, made any mistake.

He held fast to the fortifications for defense, utilizing magic arrays, mechanisms, and border defenses to repel the enemy.

Five hundred thousand against one hundred thousand Yaoguang Army; this tactic could even be considered conservative for his son!

It was utterly impossible for the Yaoguang Army led by Xie Changlin to cross the heavily defended Yuan Ye Pass.

However, just at this moment—

"Boom~"

The ground began to shake.

The land of the Tianhai Plain rose and fell like ocean waves, and then a massive sinkhole appeared on the ground.

Amidst swirling earth qi, a mountain peak slowly rose.

It quickly exceeded a thousand zhang in height!

"What? This—."

Ji Tao's eyes instantly widened.

"The Earth-Piercing Divine Ship, how, how could it appear here?"

Ji Tao watched this scene.

He saw that after the Earth-Piercing Divine Ship appeared, the originally unbreakable Yuan Ye Pass barrier began to collapse from the ground upward,

disintegrating like foam.

Fifteen people flew out from the Earth-Piercing Ship.

When Ji Tao saw the leader, his heart trembled.

"Meng Kun?!"

Immediately, a scene that shocked Ji Tao appeared.

The fifteen Dili Sect Agricultural Officials led by Meng Kun.

Each one carried down a small mountain from the Earth-Piercing Divine Ship!

"The Ninth Rank Supreme Divine Weapon of the Kunyuan Academy, Ten Thousand Mountains! And there are fifteen of them?!!"

Ji Tao was completely dumbfounded.

He finally understood why Young Master Xi had been defeated so quickly.

Five small mountains, by the time they flew over the city, had already expanded dozens of times!

The entire Yuan Ye Pass was shrouded in shadow!

Then they crashed down violently!

"Boom!"

The five military camps within Yuan Ye Pass were all crushed by the mountains!

Dense yellow light restricted the surrounding territory.

No earth-shifting possible! No escape!

Because the lowest control threshold for the Ninth Rank Supreme 【Ten Thousand Mountains】 requires mastering the Top-Rank Mountain-Moving Technique to the Fourth Turn level!

And these fifteen people were absolutely the strongest among the strong,

in just an instant, the five hundred thousand troops of Yuan Ye Pass completely vanished!

Now, Young Master Xi could only lead the high-rank strong ones to flee for their lives.

However, the other ten small mountains descended from the sky.

Yellow mist rose between the mountains.

"Yu~"

All the high-grade experts flying in the air involuntarily retreated!

The Ten Thousand Mountains' Inverted Earth Palace!

As the Dili Sect's ultimate weapon, the Ten Thousand Mountains almost contains all of the Dili Sect's spells!

At this moment, these hundred experts' speed decreased greatly, and some were even sucked back.

In the blink of an eye.

The Dashan pressed down!

"Boom-boom-boom~"

Over a hundred high-grade experts were crushed to death directly.

And Jixi was pinned beneath one of the pale golden Shanfeng mountains.

Only his head was exposed.

"Yu~"

The image rapidly zoomed in, as if using camera movement, bringing the lens closer.

Meng Kun pulled the Mirage Pearl closer with one hand and grabbed it.

He then shouted into the Mirage Pearl:

"Ji Tao, your son is now pinned by me beneath Jin Shan."

"Tell your father the king."

"If Zhao Xing dies, the next one pinned will be you!"

"From the moment you received the Mirage Pearl, you have only two quarters of an hour to deliver the message."

"If I do not receive Zhao Xing's message after two quarters of an hour..."

"!"

The Mirage Pearl suddenly exploded into fragments.

The meaning of the threat was self-evident.

Ji Tao felt both shock and anger in his heart.

Kunyuan Earth Palace is in Daoyuanzhou!

How could it appear here, and with absolutely no prior information?

He never expected that his location would provoke so many Sifeng experts to mobilize, even dispatching the 【

Earth-Piercing Divine Ship】!

Not to mention an ultimate weapon like the Ten Thousand Mountains.

I, Ji Tao, He Deheneng?

Of course, after the shock passed, Ji Tao quickly remembered a serious question.

"Mr., who is Zhao Xing?"

Zhao Xing currently had no idea that such a major event had occurred in the distant Lvliangzhou.

Meng Kun's hardcore rescue method was something he could never have imagined.

Almost at the same time, in Daoyuanzhou, at the Shangluo Academy, the Primordial Courtyard.

In a dense primeval forest.

"Swish"

A figure walked out from among the towering ancient trees.

He then hurriedly flew forward.

The ancient trees around were carved with exquisite runes and mysterious patterns, faintly shimmering with strange light.

The branches stretched out in all directions like a massive canopy, the leaves shimmering with multicolored light,

each leaf seeming to contain boundless magic.

Soon, the figure flew out of the forest and arrived at a plain.

The entire plain contained only one massive Divine Tree; no other trees existed.

Its leaves alone were over ten meters long, and its trunk was like a Dashan.

Beneath the Divine Tree lay a strange land of flowers and grass. There were blue flowers with petals as transparent as crystal, their stamens shimmering with tiny starlight, emitting a charming fragrance.

Many vines wound their way up the Divine Tree, covered in small, exquisite fruits that emitted an enticing aroma.

Pang Yuanzhen looked at this scene and felt greatly stirred, but he did not forget his current purpose and continued flying forward.

"Swish"

He quickly approached the Divine Tree.

Beneath the Divine Tree stood an exquisite courtyard.

Strange flowers and grass grew in the courtyard. These spiritual herbs had slender leaves emitting a faint luminescence, with spiritual energy lingering around them as if present yet absent. They seemed to possess their own consciousness, swaying slightly as if communicating with the surrounding environment.

"A Legendary Divine Tree." Pang Yuanzhen looked at the great tree ahead, his mind swaying; this was his first visit.

Of course, what he had come as now was not his true body, but a straw-man clone (not a Ten Thousand Arts Clone, capable only of delivering messages).

In the center of the courtyard stood a small fountain.

The fountain's water was crystal clear, emitting a mysterious aura. Bubbles constantly rose from the water; each bubble, upon bursting, released a wisp of pure spiritual energy.

An old man wearing a patterned long robe stood beside the fountain, nodding repeatedly at a flower shaped like a trumpet.

"Good, I understand."

"Be careful on your end as well; the assassinations you encounter will only be more severe than those faced by your disciple."

"Mm, rest assured, I will make arrangements. At this point, what is there for the Shangluo Academy to fear?"

"You need not be distracted; I will make the arrangements——"

"Pang Yuanzhen has arrived; I will inquire carefully."

As he spoke, a straw-man clone flew into the courtyard.

"I pay my respects to the Dean," Pang Yuanzhen clasped his hands.

This was none other than the Dean of the Shangluo Academy, and thus the leader of the Benwo Sect, Xu Xing.

"Yuanzhen, I already know your purpose. Speak of the situation. How is Zhao Xing now?" Xu Xing asked.

"Yes." Pang Yuanzhen immediately recounted the entire sequence of events to Xu Xing, mimicking the tone and demeanor of his own dialogue with Zhao Xing.

Having finished, he pulled two books from his bosom and handed them to Xu Xing.

"Dean, these are the 'New Treatise on the Self and Heavenly Things' written by Zhao Xing."

Xu Xing took the two books, glanced at them, and immediately nodded with a smile.

"Just these two books, in ancient times, would have been enough to establish a sect."

"You mentioned feeling unsatisfied after the debate on the Dao; what did you mean by that?"

Pang Yuanzhen said, "When Zhao Xing debated the Dao, he stated that plant soldiers could also be used to transform grotto-heavens and blessed lands, yet this is not mentioned in these two books."

"Wei Zhao, Yang Song, and I often find ourselves unable to understand what he is saying in our daily interactions."

Xu Xing smiled as he tucked the two books into his bosom: "It seems he truly possesses extraordinary talent."

"Dean, I wonder what we should do?" Pang Yuanzhen asked.

"Your strength is insufficient to participate; do nothing." Xu Xing's smile faded as he said calmly, "Others will handle it."

Pang Yuanzhen's heart tightened; he had already reached the peak of the Third Rank, yet Xu Xing claimed he could not participate?

Could it be that the Dean intends to deploy someone of the Second Rank, or even the First Rank?

Liang Wang has truly offended the Benwo Sect grievously this time!

After Pang Yuanzhen's straw-man clone withdrew.

Xu Xing sat down beside the fountain.

"Assassinating the Benwo Sect's two most promising geniuses in succession—Liang Wang, I am merely old, not dead."

He closed his eyes and lowered his head.

In the distant Lvliang Prefecture and Ping Haizhou, over a thousand Xu Xings opened their scarlet eyes.

Some had been waiting in a state of silence within safe houses established by the Fate Official Agency.

Others were in secret residences at the Shangluo Academy branch campuses.

Some were buried beneath the earth, resembling withered branches.

And one of these Xu Xings.

had also arrived at Youyou Commandery.

His speed of arrival was merely a quarter-hour slower than Meng Kun's.

If Meng Kun could conceive of the strategy 'Besiege Wei to Rescue Zhao,' Xu Xing certainly could as well.

However, he did not enter Liang Wang's fiefdom from the Yaoguang Commandery border.

His target was not as simple as capturing just one of Liang Wang's direct descendants.

"Mr., who is Zhao Xing?" Ji Tao asked; before he could finish, Li Yang prepared to answer.

Looking up again, he discovered that Ji Tao, who had just been standing in place, had vanished!

"Your Highness, Your Highness?"

Li Yang was filled with immense shock.

The Quangong was silent; he activated the spells of the Ritual Cultivators to search continuously, yet found not the slightest anomaly.

Only at the spot where Ji Tao vanished did a flower resembling a trumpet suddenly grow.

Two characters, seemingly formed by nature itself, appeared on the petals.

Xu Xing.

Li Yang immediately collapsed in front of the Quangong.

"Quick, quickly notify Liang Wang!"

On the other side.

Ji Tao found his vision blurred, and suddenly he appeared in another location.

He looked around carefully and realized he was actually inside a closed lotus space!

"This——" Ji Tao was instantly bewildered.

He was of the Second Rank realm!

Who could have moved him away without a sound?

Ji Tao immediately broke out in cold sweat.

He could not fathom it at all.

One second ago, he was asking, "Mr., who is Zhao Xing?"

The next second, he suddenly appeared here.

How could he not be afraid?

"I-Is it a senior?" Ji Tao spoke with difficulty.

"You need not ask too many questions. If Zhao Xing is unharmed, you still have a chance to live." Xu Xing's voice appeared within the lotus space.

Zhao Xing? It's Zhao Xing again!

Everyone is looking for Zhao Xing!

Hearing Xu Xing's words, Ji Tao felt like crying but had no tears, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly: "I don't even know who Zhao Xing is!"

Pinghai Prefecture, Bright Moon Manor, Departed Fire Academy.

King Tianyan revealed his face from the shadows.

"Zhao Xing, it is over."

The original body nearby, hearing King Tianyan's voice, immediately returned to active thought.

"Your Highness, it is over?"

"Yes, all four assassins are dead; one was left alive to serve as evidence." King Tianyan nodded.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhao Xing also breathed a sigh of relief.

He could now recall his avatar.

As for why a living prisoner was left, he understood clearly: setting aside the omniscient view, Liang Wang's achievements were comparable to the Grand Ancestor in the eyes of many feudal kings, after all, he had once led troops to attack the Yin You Mountains!

The Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Prefecture, and the vast expanse of the Southern Wasteland, were all created by Liang Wang commanding the Pacification Barbarian Legion!

The Emperor's reforms over the past few hundred years, however, had shaken the interests of many feudal kings and great families.

Thus, Liang Wang indeed had many supporters.

Liang Wang's issuance of the edict to punish bandits was, at its root, not a rebellion against Great Zhou, but a rebellion against Liu Si.

Right now, Liang Wang's main legions had hardly killed anyone or besieged any cities; it was the other enfeoffed kings and feudal lords doing the work. But if Liang Wang committed more wrongs, the legitimacy of his campaign to aid the throne would weaken.

As public support and reputation continuously eroded, the more untenable his position would become.

By then, Liang Wang would lose the support of the Yin Spirits, and simultaneously, the Black Dragon fortune would be weakened.

The damage to Heavenly Zhou could also be suppressed to the minimum.

"So many high-rank experts coming to assassinate a mere minor Agriculture Official would cause many to question Liang Wang; it would be a blow to him," King Tianyan said.

"Once public support is lost, fortune will diminish. The fortune of the state is the same; once the Emperor is foolish, the fortune on the bodies of all officials and soldiers throughout the realm will weaken accordingly, and their strength will be greatly reduced."

Zhao Xing nodded: "Thank you, King Tianyan."

Pinghai Prefecture, Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Prefecture.

The former government mansion had been converted into a royal palace.

Liang Wang Ji Mingxian was currently inside the palace.

Although he had withdrawn most of his legions back into Great Zhou territory, his original body remained in the Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Prefecture.

Liang Wang Ji Mingxian was currently standing before the Latitude Spirit Sphere, which displayed a rough map of Pinghai Prefecture; however, unlike a sand table, it showed golden and black auras constantly fighting and entangling.

Above the Latitude Spirit Sphere floated a scroll.

The Heavenly Fortune Gold List!

This could assist Liang Wang in observing the movements of experts in Pinghai Prefecture.

Behind Liang Wang stood more than ten statues.

These statues were all divine images of Great Zhou.

Liang Wang glanced at them, then walked out of the room.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw a ritual cultivator wearing a scholar's robe kneeling outside.

"Mr. Gu, what is the meaning of this?" Ji Mingxian asked.

"Your Highness." Mr. Gu prostrated himself on the ground. "I am guilty. The assassination attempt failed. Daoist Tian Jue was taken alive; the rest are all dead."

Liang Wang said indifferently, "It matters not. Mr., please rise."

But Mr. Gu did not rise; instead, he reported a second piece of bad news.

"A quarter-hour ago, the Yuan Ye Military City was destroyed."

"Meng Kun, Dean of the Di Zang Hall at Kunyuan Academy, suddenly appeared in Yaoguang Commandery and launched an attack accompanied by Xie Changlin."

"Thirteen Sages drove the 【Earth-Piercing Divine Ship】, while Meng Kun and others carried the heavy artifact 【Ten Thousand Mountains】, crushing five hundred thousand troops; Jixi was taken alive, and it was declared that if Zhao Xing was not released within two quarter-hours, Jixi would be executed."

"The Eldest Young Master was preparing to rescue them; on the way while organizing the troops, he also vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a blooming Divine Thunder Flower inscribed with the two characters Xu Xing."

"At the same time, forty-nine high-ranking generals of our army have vanished from various locations."

Hearing this, a flash of strangeness passed through Liang Wang's eyes.

If the Shangluo Academy had intervened, it would be one thing, after all, he had long been an enemy of the Shangluo Academy.

One of his reasons for campaigning to aid the throne was that the Transportation Bureau had been inactive, leading to a lack of military supplies.

Liu Tianning, as the Transportation Commissioner of Pinghai Prefecture, was his primary target for punishment.

The intervention of the Shangluo Academy was within his expectations.

However, he was killing Zhao Xing; why did the Kunyuan Academy intervene?

And they even deployed the 【Earth-Piercing Divine Ship】 and the 【Ten Thousand Mountains】?

Ji Mingxian still said, "Mr., please rise; this is not your fault."

However, Mr. Gu remained prostrate on the ground and continued to report a third piece of bad news.

"Ling Ling Tianchen of the Waiting for Change Faction at Xuantian Academy has led fifty-nine people to the 'Ruoshui Passage,' one of the military realm channels. He claims that his sect member Zhao Xing was wantonly attacked and killed by rebels."

"The Purple Feather King and the Black Boot King, the two enfeoffed kings guarding the Ruoshui Passage, have been severely injured—life and death unknown; the passage has fallen into the hands of the imperial court."

Mr. Gu's voice was trembling.

This was because the Ruoshui Passage was in the west, a place ordinary humans generally could not defend; only powerful alien races could guard it!

And the Ruoshui Passage was a crucial part of Liang Wang's military strategic plan.

The Agriculture Officials of the Waiting for Change Faction specialize in shapeshifting, making them right at home in the Ruoshui Water.

In other words, Liang Wang could disregard his son, but he could not do without the Ruoshui Passage.

Losing the Ruoshui Passage was more terrible than the death of ten sons!

After Mr. Gu finished speaking, his entire body prostrated itself on the ground.

He could not fathom how a single Zhao Xing could provoke such a fierce counterattack from three factions of Agriculture Officials.

Is he not the genius of the Benwo Sect?

Why does it now seem like he is a Holy Son of the Three Sects? Every sect must protect him?

"The Weak Water Dao has fallen," Liang Wang murmured, storms gathering in his eyes as a dark glint fixed on the strategist prostrate on the ground.

This time, he did not let Mr. Gu rise again.