Chapter 387

Deep underground.

Li Rui moved through the rock and soil like a swimming fish.

Precisely avoiding every place where the Purple Chai Jingong had set an ambush.

Even with the Thick Earth Body and the Earth-Escaping technique, he remained very cautious, maintaining a distance of at least two li from the Purple Chai Jingong's experts.

These past few days, it seemed as if he had been staying in the Assistant Regional Commander's mansion.

In reality, every day he would use the Earth-Escaping technique to sneak out of Qinghe City to investigate the situation outside.

There is always someone better.

If he thought he could easily deceive the world with the Earth-Escaping technique, he would be underestimating the world's experts.

According to what he knew.

Those with earth-form true qi could also perform earth-escaping.

Perhaps the Purple Chai Jingong had strange people capable of breaking the Earth-Escaping technique.

He had to be on guard.

Li Rui didn't dare head toward Yunzhou until he was certain he wouldn't be detected by the Purple Chai Jingong's experts.

Having avoided the Purple Chai Jingong experts lying in wait outside Qinghe City.

The rest of the journey was much smoother.

Qinghe was a long way from Yunzhou; although Li Rui could use the Thick Earth technique to escape underground, his speed was ultimately no match for traveling on the ground.

Even so, he still chose to travel the entire way using the Earth-Escaping technique.

As a martial artist, it was common to go a month without eating.

He certainly wouldn't feel fatigue.

He walked for two days and two nights.

Finally arriving at the Yunzhou region.

Outside Yunzhou City.

A lean man in black walked up to Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow.

"Xueying Laozu, intelligence has come from Qinghe City; everything is normal. He Qiannian has not taken a single step out of the Qianhe Martial Arts Hall... that person named Li Rui is also in seclusion and has not taken a single step out of Annan Town. Everyone associated with them is under our surveillance."

After listening.

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow nodded with satisfaction.

Regardless of the situation, as long as they had a connection to He Qiannian, even if they had only entered the Qianhe Martial Arts Hall, they would become targets for the Purple Chai Jingong's surveillance.

This was to ensure nothing went wrong.

Just as Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow was about to turn and leave.

He suddenly asked: "That person named Li Rui, has he been in seclusion the whole time?"

"Yes."

The lean man in black said respectfully: "Since returning to the city to heal, Li Rui has rarely gone out; the only time he went out was to go to the Qianhe Martial Arts Hall, and most of the rest of the time he has been healing in his mansion."

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow's footsteps paused.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly widened them.

"Not good!"

In Yunzhou City.

A Li Rui dressed in simple clothing, looking no different from an ordinary old farmer, walked on the bustling street.

That's right.

Li Rui had bypassed the Purple Chai Jingong's guards and arrived in Yunzhou City.

Just as he had expected.

The Purple Chai Jingong had indeed sent experts to lie in wait at several of Yunzhou's city gates.

Even Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow had come out in person.

Li Rui had spent nearly seven or eight days underground.

He was extremely patient.

Not until he had mastered the entire defensive layout of the Purple Chai Jingong did he find the moment when the defense was weakest and slip into Yunzhou City.

Everything went very smoothly.

After only a moment.

Li Rui arrived in front of a mansion in Yunzhou City that was even more magnificent and grand than the prefectural government office.

Written above were four large characters—"Annan Hou Fu"!

"Who goes there!"

The guards at the door shouted loudly.

Li Rui kept his head low, simply taking a jade pendant from his robes, and said: "I am a relative of Mr. Wang Li of the Marquis's mansion; please report that an old friend has come to visit."

The guard took the jade pendant, frowning in thought.

That Wang Li was often able to enter and leave the inner courtyard and had become the Marquis's confidant; he was not someone he could afford to offend.

He pondered for a moment before saying: "Alright, wait here."

Having said this.

One guard turned and entered the Marquis's mansion.

While waiting, Li Rui took a look at the Marquis's mansion.

Although he had once been the Marquis's instructor and even still had a token to enter and leave the mansion, he had never once come here.

"Truly magnificent."

Although he kept his head up.

His mind was entirely focused on the surroundings of the Marquis's mansion.

The safer it seemed, the more dangerous it might be.

There was no guarantee that the Purple Chai Jingong wasn't deranged enough to set up suicide squads in the Marquis's mansion.

Therefore, he did not reveal his identity directly, nor did he take out his token to find Marquis Yuan directly, but instead settled for the next best thing and looked for Wang Li.

Before long.

Wang Li walked out.

He looked at the unfamiliar old man before him and smiled: "Cousin, you've come."

Upon hearing that he was Wang Li's cousin.

The guards all showed surprised expressions.

Who didn't know that Wang Li came from a great clan? Although he himself was born of a concubine, people of the Wang clan were still far more noble than ordinary people.

They hadn't expected this unremarkable old man to truly be Wang Li's relative, and his cousin at that.

They secretly felt lucky they hadn't done anything too out of line.

Li Rui: "Cousin."

Wang Li immediately pulled Li Rui into the Marquis's mansion enthusiastically.

However, Wang Li did not go to his own courtyard.

Instead, he went straight to the inner courtyard where the Marquis lived, the smile on his face fading, and he said solemnly: "Li Laoge, what exactly happened?"

Li Rui smiled slightly: "Wang, my brother, you understand me; I need to see the Marquis, we can talk about other things later."

Wang Li took a deep breath: "Alright."

Just now.

When he received the jade pendant from the guard, he already knew that the person who had come was not some relative, but Li Rui.

Because this jade pendant was one he had gifted to Li Rui.

Li Rui was already an old friend of the Marquis's mansion.

Coming to Yunzhou and wanting to enter the Marquis's mansion or find him would not have required such trouble.

Wang Li immediately understood.

Li Rui was being watched.

That was why he had cooperated with Li Rui to put on a show.

After finishing.

Li Rui strode toward the inner courtyard.

In this location, even if there were suicide squads, they would certainly be killed by Yuan Yuan Dingting before they could make a move.

Absolutely safe.

The Marquis's mansion was luxurious and elegant, and the inner courtyard was even more opulent than anything else in the world.

Pavilions and towers, magnificent and resplendent.

Li Rui had only walked a few steps when he saw Yuan Yuan Dingting, who was instructing a boy in the courtyard on how to practice boxing.

"Marquis."

Li Rui bowed and saluted.

Yuan Yuan Dingting saw Li Rui suddenly appear in the Marquis's mansion, and a flash of brilliance crossed his eyes.

He patted the boy's head: "Tiger, this is your Mr. Li, whom you've apprenticed to before; do you still remember?"

The young heir had inherited his mother's looks and was extremely handsome.

He looked at Li Rui curiously.

His father and mother often mentioned to him that there was another teacher, but his impression was extremely vague.

Today, he finally saw him.

The young heir saluted very politely: "Greetings, Mr. Li."

Li Rui did not dare to be arrogant: "Your Highness, the Heir."

Yuan Yuan Dingting then spoke: "Alright, Tiger, go find your mother first; Father has something to discuss with Mr. Li."

The young heir nodded obediently.

Then he turned and left.

Once the young heir was completely out of sight, Yuan Yuan Dingting said faintly: "Speak."

Li Rui took a deep breath.

He immediately told Yuan Yuan Dingting the intelligence obtained by He Qiannian and Jiangjiang Linxian in full detail.

Upon hearing the four words "Heaven-Seizing Great Array," Yuan Yuan Dingting narrowed his eyes slightly.

In Li Rui's surprised gaze.

Yuan Yuan Dingting grabbed the silver spear beside him and strode toward the outside of the Marquis's mansion.

Walking as he spoke.

"Let's go, the time has come."

"The Purple Chai Jingong must perish."

Outside the city.

"Trash, all trash!"

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow stood on a hilltop, appearing somewhat exasperated.

After going to such great lengths.

In the end, they still couldn't prevent it; Yuan Yuan Dingting must have received the news and personally led troops out of the city; judging by the direction, it was clearly Qinghe.

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow's expression was ugly to the extreme.

This was the critical moment for the Heaven-Seizing Great Array; if Yuan Yuan Dingting made a move, the situation would become extremely dire.

"Retreat."

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow spat out the word unwillingly.

Then he turned and left.

Yuan Yuan Dingting was too powerful; he didn't want to be discovered.

After finishing.

The people of the Purple Chai Jingong vanished into the mountain forest.

The following day at noon.

Yuan Yuan Dingting arrived in Qinghe.

Regional Commander Zhou Zhou Dinghai received the news and hurriedly left the city to welcome him.

"Marquis."

He saw Li Rui standing beside Marquis Yuan at a glance.

Li Rui consciously walked to Zhou Zhou Dinghai's side.

And whispered the whole process of the matter to Zhou Zhou Dinghai in full detail.

Zhou Zhou Dinghai's expression immediately became serious.

Yuan Yuan Dingting said: "The Purple Chai Jingong intends to commit acts against heaven; everyone in the world should kill them. General Zhou, I give you half an hour to assemble the troops and follow me on an expedition."

Zhou Zhou Dinghai and the several deputy generals beside him were all stirred.

Yuan Yuan Dingting said "follow me on an expedition."

Not "go on an expedition."

The difference between the two was too great; this meant that Yuan Yuan Dingting was going to lead the troops personally this time!

When the Saint of War leads troops.

The edge of his blade is bound to be invincible.

They understood even more.

Yuan Yuan Dingting's appearance also meant that the decisive battle had begun early.

Zhou Zhou Dinghai said in a deep voice:

"Yes!"

In just half an hour.

Almost all the experts of Annan Town were dispatched in full force.

That night.

Ten thousand iron cavalry left Qinghe!

Inside the Purple Chai Jingong.

"Palace Master, the Yu Kingdom people are already less than ten li away from us."

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow's eyes were sinister.

Just three days ago, Annan Town launched a fierce attack, and the Jiannan and Huaidong towns, which had been watching, also launched attacks together.

Under the siege from three sides.

The Purple Chai Jingong appeared somewhat unable to hold its ground.

At the same time, the Wu Kingdom's army pointed directly at the Eastern Wu Imperial Court, and no one returned to support them.

The Purple Chai Jingong had reached its most difficult moment.

Si Feng said faintly: "Alright, I know."

There was not much change on his face.

"Palace Master..."

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow wanted to say more.

But he heard Si Feng wave his hand impatiently: "Go."

!

Seeing this.

Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow could only sigh lightly, then retreated slowly.

He looked at the smoke and fire not far away with a stern expression.

Even in the Purple Chai Jingong, one could hear the sounds of slaughter from the battlefield.

After Xueying Laozu Blood Shadow left.

Daoist Sheng walked out from the main hall, still with that strange, cackling laughter.

Si Feng glanced at Daoist Sheng faintly:

"Daoist Sheng, how much longer are you going to hide that Thousand-Soul Banner of yours?"

Daoist Sheng saw that his secret had been exposed, but his expression didn't change in the slightest; he still smiled and said: "Don't worry, I have already refined it, and when the time comes, I will naturally make a move."

"That would be best."

Si Feng snorted coldly.

He had originally intended to eat Daoist Sheng directly.

But now he had changed his mind; the Thousand-Soul Banner was still somewhat useful for the current battle situation, and when it was no longer useful, it wouldn't be too late to eat him then.

After finishing, he flicked his sleeves and turned to walk into the main hall.

In the sleeping quarters.

A pretty, beautiful woman was tied up tightly on the warm red bed.

Wearing clothes.

Looking closely, it was Zhu Yun, who had been taken as a Daoist child by Si Feng.

At this time, Zhu Yun was looking at Si Feng in terror, her eyes full of despair.

Si Feng's lips curled slightly, and he reached out a finger to stroke Zhu Yun's delicate skin:

"Have I not treated you well? Why do you want to leave?"

Zhu Yun's pupils widened.

The bad premonition had indeed come true.

She and Qi Tong had actually been guessing why the two of them had been taken as Daoist children by Si Feng.

Later, Qi Tong died.

And she was the only one left thinking about it.

As for one day, she saw Si Feng's alchemy furnace, and finally understood the purpose of Si Feng taking apprentices.

It was clearly to refine both her and Qi Tong into Great Elixirs!

Zhu Yun panicked.

That was why she had been plotting to escape the Purple Chai Jingong.

She hadn't expected that Annan Town would attack at this time, and Si Feng would find her at the same time.

The smile on Si Feng's face grew wider:

"This skin is quite good; refining it into a Profound Water Elixir should be even better."

The next instant.

A fierce fire ignited on Zhu Yun's body.

Heart-rending screams echoed in the sleeping quarters.

The firelight illuminated the palace roof.

At the other end.

Amidst the ruins of a palace.

Squads of soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield, guarding the branch halls of the Purple Chai Jingong; now only seven remained.

When everything was swept clean, that would be the day of the decisive battle.

"Damn things."

Ning Ning Zhongtian spat on the ground and cursed softly.

But his eyes were filled with excitement.

In this battle, he had earned quite a few merits.

The Purple Chai Jingong's resistance was fierce, but it was useless.

He glanced at the man in silver armor on a white horse not far away.

Marquis of Annan, Yuan Yuan Dingting.

Everyone in the Yu Kingdom knew one truth: on any battlefield where Yuan Yuan Dingting appeared, there was no losing.

Ning Ning Zhongtian looked at Li Rui beside him: "Li Laoge, why do you think the Purple Chai Jingong hasn't reacted at all?"

These past few days.

Although they had fought several great battles with the Purple Chai Jingong, they were actually all people from the branch halls; the main hall hadn't even sent a single reinforcement.

Li Rui shook his head:

"I don't know."

Just as the two were talking.

The world changed suddenly!

At first, the ground began to shake slightly, and slowly the magnitude of the shaking grew larger.

The earth dragon turned over!

All the soldiers' faces showed shock.

At this moment, it was unknown who said in a trembling voice: "Look, look, what is that?!"

Everyone in Annan Town looked up in unison, gazing toward the direction of the Purple Chai Jingong.

They saw.

A golden light curtain slowly appeared above the Purple Chai Jingong, covering the entire Purple Chai Jingong like a large bowl.

Li Rui's pupils contracted violently.

Mountain-protecting array!

At this time, Yuan Yuan Dingting, Zhou Zhou Dinghai, and Xue Gui also looked at the movement not far away in unison.

Xue Gui opened his mouth: "What a powerful array."

He had seen many great arrays, but one with such magnificent momentum as the one before him was unheard of.

Zhou Zhou Dinghai took a deep breath:

"Marquis, could this be the legendary Heaven-Seizing Great Array?"

Yuan Yuan Dingting narrowed his eyes:

"The person holding the array eye must be a master of arrays to be able to reverse the great array."

Even he said so.

It showed how extraordinary this array was.

Zhou Zhou Dinghai and Xue Gui looked at each other.

Both saw the solemnity in the other's eyes.

There was no doubt that what followed would be a protracted and hard battle.

The methods of the Transcendent Immortal were truly extraordinary.

Li Rui turned his head to look at the direction of Yuan Yuan Dingting and the other two; he had heard everything the three of them had said.

A hint of strangeness flashed in his eyes as he looked at the great array.

Just because.

He actually felt a trace of the Five-Spirit Body-Refining Art's aura from that Heaven-Seizing Great Array.

The branch halls on the periphery of the Purple Chai Jingong were all uprooted by the Annan, Jiannan, and Huaidong towns.

The three armies joined forces.

Completely surrounding the Purple Chai Jingong.

The Yu Kingdom's great army couldn't get in, and the people of the Purple Chai Jingong couldn't get out.

For a time, they were in a stalemate.

This stalemate lasted for a full month.

On this day.

Li Rui, as usual, was leading troops to patrol the periphery of the Purple Chai Jingong's array to prevent anyone from running out.

Just as he arrived at a thicket.

The thicket shook.

The expressions of the soldiers behind him immediately became tense.

Li Rui raised his hand to press down.

Then he saw a middle-aged man walk out from behind the thicket.

When they saw who it was, those soldiers were all stunned.

A smile appeared on Li Rui's face: "Brother Jiang, you really are fine."

Ever since he learned from He Qiannian that Jiangjiang Linxian had been hunted by Purple Chai Jingong experts and fled to the Wu Kingdom, he hadn't seen him again.

Just as he had expected.

Jiangjiang Linxian was indeed perfectly fine and still jumping around.

"Li Laoge, long time no see."

Jiangjiang Linxian laughed.

There was no sign of the wretchedness of being hunted.

He looked full of spirit and energy.

"Li Laoge, is Senior He doing well?"

Li Rui said with a smile: "Very well; after eating my Great Elixir, he can now lift ten thousand jin of iron."

Jiangjiang Linxian chuckled: "That's good."

Afterward, the two walked into the depths of the forest.

Jiangjiang Linxian told everything that had happened to him over the past few days.

It was mostly consistent with what He Qiannian had said.

He and He Qiannian went to the Purple Chai Jingong, discovered the secret of the Heaven-Seizing Great Array; to let He Qiannian escape, he took three palms from the Daoist of Ten Thousand Evils, and then fled to the Wu Kingdom.

Fortunately, the Great Shaman made a move.

Only then was he able to return to the Ten Thousand Mountains before the great battle.

Li Rui also told Jiangjiang Linxian his own experiences in full detail.

Jiangjiang Linxian praised:

"Li Laoge handles things truly properly."

If it were anyone else, they might have been intercepted and killed by the Purple Chai Jingong halfway.

Military operations are inherently one step slow, and every step is slow.

If they had waited for him to return, perhaps the Heaven-Seizing Great Array would have covered more than just the main hall of the Purple Chai Jingong.

Li Rui looked at the Heaven-Seizing Great Array, which was less than a li away:

"Brother Jiang, this Heaven-Seizing Great Array is truly powerful; tens of thousands of troops charging at it couldn't shake it at all; it's worthy of being the method of a Transcendent Immortal."

Jiangjiang Linxian smiled mysteriously:

"Don't worry, Li Laoge, within three days, this array will be broken!"

At the other end.

Deep inside the Purple Chai Jingong.

Before the underground altar, Si Feng sat quietly alone on the Heaven-Seizing Great Array.

With him as the array eye.

Even if another hundred thousand troops came, they still wouldn't be able to break it.

A smile appeared on Si Feng's lips.

Violent spiritual energy poured into his body continuously, and his immortal power was recovering rapidly.

At this moment.

His spiritual root had been forcibly elevated to a top-grade spiritual root by the powerful spiritual energy, and his cultivation had reached its peak.

Unprecedentedly powerful!

This was his trump card.

After taking the Profound Water Elixir, he had completed the final link in reversing the great array.

Thinking of this.

He cursed "trash" in his heart.

Originally there should have been a Flame Elixir, but Qi Tong died, so he had to use the Profound Water Elixir to forcibly reverse the Heaven-Seizing Great Array, and the effect was naturally discounted.

Otherwise, what would be covered by the array now would be a radius of hundreds of li!

That kind of phenomenon would be truly terrifying.

Just as Si Feng was frantically absorbing spiritual energy.

The space before him fluctuated suddenly.

Then two Daoist priests appeared out of thin air before him.

When he saw who it was.

Si Feng's pupils contracted violently.

That young Daoist priest was none other than Gu Gu Changsheng!

Gu Gu Changsheng looked at Si Feng with a smile:

"Look, keep looking, we've come to collect you..."

(End of chapter)