Chapter 64: High‑Level Secret Technique!

While the two were talking, colleagues kept arriving in the main hall one after another.

Before long, more than twenty figures had appeared on the scene.

At that moment, three powerful auras approached from behind.

The two men and a woman were Qin Ruobing and the other two FuduDianZhu.

The three strode forward, taking three steps as if they were two, and soon reached the central platform, overlooking the multitude below.

"We have confirmed Du Ling's information as true; today, those summoned will act together with the Xuanjia Army Commander to rescue Du Ling safely…"

Qin Ruobing scanned the crowd, and, in a cold tone, spoke with authority.

"We obey your command."

The people below shouted loudly, their resonant voices echoing through the hall.

"The person who first discovered Du Ling this time will be rewarded by the County Lord with a High-Level Secret Technique."

Qin Ruobing spoke again, calmly.

Beside her, XiaoTiansi and HeChunlin also smiled and nodded.

She looked at the group of warriors under her command, quite satisfied.

Compared with Qin Ruobing, the warriors under the other two FuduDianZhu were far stronger.

Even among this batch of newly promoted Yellow‑Rank Demon Subduers, there were two who had some fame, both under their command.

One, named Chen Qiushi, had recently earned the title "Thunderclap Blade".

The other, named Zhu Zhiquan, also had some reputation and bore the title "Autumn Water Blade".

Both were around the Refining Meat Perfect level, hailing from a proud lineage of county‑city aristocrats, and were always very arrogant.

Among those who had just been promoted on the spot, these two were also the strongest.

Qin Ruobing looked at her subordinates and felt a bit discouraged.

None of her own underlings had yet shown any promise.

Among the recruits this year, only those at the later stage of Refining Meat were the strongest.

They were far behind those two.

Lu Zhangsheng was also quite interested in that High-Grade Secret Technique.

He only thought of trying his luck; it didn't matter if he didn't get it.

High-Level Secret Techniques are still very precious; the County Lord has spent a lot of resources for his beloved daughter.

Soon, the group took the Order Token and proceeded out of the hall one after another.

Lu Zhangsheng surveyed the people around him.

Among them, most were Refining Meat warriors, with five or six Bone-forging Warriors.

This rescue operation was not a small scale.

The County Office would probably also dispatch some warriors.

Before long, a group followed the mission map and arrived at the central square of the county town.

At that moment, more than ten figures were already standing on the square.

At the front, a person clad in black armor exuded an aura as deep as the abyss, terrifying.

He was the Xuanjia Army Commander Wei Shaoxuan, his face upright and uncompromising.

Beside him stood four Bone-forging Strongmen, the rest being Refining Meat warriors.

The auras of the group intertwined, as if they could suppress everything.

These people on the field, plus the group from the DemonSubduingOffice, already made the force quite terrifying.

As Lu Zhangsheng and the others gathered in the center of the square, Wei Shaoxuan, with a calm expression, said, "All actions in this mission must follow my command; no one may act independently. Let us depart."

After speaking, he waved his hand and led everyone toward the outskirts of the city.

Fulong Manor.

As a large manor, it lay over two hundred li west of the county town; the manor was vast, yet sparsely populated, giving it a very eerie feel.

That day, at dawn.

The entire manor was silent, not even a single figure in sight.

"Boom boom boom..."

At that moment, a large contingent arrived around the manor and completely surrounded Fulong Manor.

It was Wei Shaoxuan and his party.

After several days of traversing mountains, they finally reached their destination.

"Charge in, kill all the cultists, then rescue Du Ling; swift and decisive..."

Wei Shaoxuan's expression was extremely cold.

"We obey your command."

Those around nodded repeatedly.

Then, Wei Shaoxuan rode ahead, leading the crowd forward.

"Tap tap tap..."

The ground rumbled with repeated booms, stirring up clouds of dust.

Lu Zhangsheng stayed at the rear of the formation, together with Yue Shulan, far from Wei Shaoxuan.

Soon, the group entered the manor.

"Jie jie jie... Who do I think I am? So it turns out the court's hounds have arrived. After you were injured last time, your realm can never break through, and the court never gave you any miraculous pills. In my view, such a court isn't worth your loyalty..."

"How about joining my Black Mountain Stronghold? Becoming the fourth chief would be splendid, wouldn't it?"

At that moment, from the great hall ahead, more than thirty silhouettes emerged, each radiating intense killing aura.

The leader brandished a feather fan; it was Liu Shiqi, the third chief of the Black Mountain Thieves, whose words had just been spoken moments ago.

Beside him stood an elderly man in a red robe, his sunken eyes like a fierce ghost.

He was a helm‑master‑level expert of the Wenxiang Sect, Wei Zhongyuan. "Hum… you thieves actually ally with a demonic cult; you're getting more and more degenerate."

Wei Shaoxuan's face was full of murderous intent.

"Kill."

Liu Shiqi's expression hardened, and he ceased idle talk.

He then swept his arm dramatically, leading the crowd to charge forward.

"Swiftly slash the enemy."

Wei Shaoxuan issued the same order.

The massive battle between the two sides erupted instantly.

Boom—boom—boom…

Wei Shaoxuan rode ahead, charging straight toward Liu Shiqi and Wei Zhongyuan.

He intended to take on two opponents simultaneously.

The County Office's forces quickly matched the Black Mountain Thieves and the Wenxiang Sect members.

The two sides collided violently.

The fierce clash reverberated through the heavens, stirring layers of dust around.

The ground began to crack in patches, a scene of utter ruin.

Kill…

Both sides' troops engaged in melee on the field, growing ever more intense.

Bang—bang—bang…

Wielding his long blade, Wei Shaoxuan moved like a war god, firmly suppressing the two opponents beneath him.

Taking on two and still holding the advantage—that's the strength of the Xuanjia Army Commander.

The Wenxiang Sect helm‑master was the weakest of the three; without Liu Shiqi's aid, he would likely have been cut down within a few moves.

The opponent's strength was evidently far below Wei Shaoxuan's.

Lu Zhangsheng was in a corner at the outer edge of the battlefield.

While slashing with his blade against a young man in black, he surveyed the entire battlefield.

The aftershocks of the three top‑tier warriors' clash were astonishing.

Lu Zhangsheng guessed that these individuals must possess at least blood‑changing level strength.

To avoid collateral damage, everyone on the field instinctively kept a safe distance from the three strongmen.

As soon as the troops met, the County Office's warriors seized the upper hand.

If this continues, the Wenxiang Sect and others will soon be routed.

The black‑clad man fighting Lu Zhangsheng, seeing the two evenly matched, intensified his assault.

Lu Zhangsheng maintained his mid‑stage Refining Meat strength, matching the man; their duel was exceedingly "intense."

The black‑clad man seemed to have met a kindred spirit; no matter how he unleashed his power, it remained a stalemate.

After a tea‑time.

"Retreat."

At Liu Shiqi's command, he and Wei Zhongyuan swiftly withdrew together.

After a few flickers, they vanished nearby.

A group of Wenxiang Sect members immediately fell back.

"Ah…"

Some who hadn't fled were instantly cut down on the spot by County Office strongmen.

The ground was littered with corpses, blood staining the numerous surrounding bluestone bricks.

All of this happened so swiftly it seemed eerie.

Even Lu Zhangsheng felt something was off.

"This mission was too smooth; could there be deception?"

They barely exerted any effort, yet the enemy fled.

That was clearly abnormal.

Lu Zhangsheng didn't believe it—after years of operation, could they be that weak?

Otherwise, the County Office authorities would have eradicated them long ago.

"Quickly go find Du Ling."

Wei Shaoxuan shouted loudly, opting not to pursue.

He also chose not to overthink for now, intending to locate Du Ling first.

Everyone, hearing this, scattered to search in all directions.

The lure of a high‑level secret technique was indeed quite enticing.

Lu Zhangsheng also sprinted rapidly toward the western side of Zhuangzi.

On Zhuangzi's ground lay many circular covers made of wooden planks.

Lifting the cover revealed an underground chamber beneath.

Inside were many detained civilians and warriors.

As County Office experts acted in succession, many were rescued, yet Du Ling's figure remained unseen.

As time passed, the others were still searching.

Lu Zhangsheng, after probing several underground chambers, again arrived at a cover plate in the farthest corner.

Clang clang…

He drew his long sword and instantly sliced through the chain ahead.

Then he opened the cover plate and jumped down.

(End of chapter)