Chapter 201: The secret passage of Sacred Shancheng, a mysterious person

Late at night, outside the underground passage of Sacred Shancheng, this was a thick snowy mountain, silver-clad, moonlight sprinkled on the snow, reflecting faint silver light.

The cold wind was biting, rolling up bursts of snowflakes, and the air was filled with an icy atmosphere.

Li Chen took a deep breath of cold air, and the exhaled breath instantly turned into white mist, dissipating in the cold wind.

It could be seen that this place was truly colder than the Tian Ce Dynasty.

Li Chen's footsteps were steady and powerful, stepping on the snow and making a "squeak" sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Master Master Wanfeng followed closely, his expression serious, his gaze scanning the surroundings sharply.

Li Ling and several Tian Ce Dynasty soldiers walked in front, leading them toward the entrance of the underground passage.

Not many people were needed here; it was easy to be discovered, and Li Chen only brought Master Master Wanfeng, after all, this guy had an obsession with breaking arrays; he had to get back the loss he suffered at Tuoba Zhen's hands.

The entrance was under a cliff, requiring them to climb over some very dangerous places.

However, for the people present, these were not too big of a problem.

With constant approach to the destination, a cave entrance cleverly discovered by Chen Xuannan gradually revealed itself.

Several people climbed over the cliff without effort and walked into the entrance of the underground passage.

The secret passage was dim and cold, and the air was filled with a moldy, damp smell.

It was very dark in the cave; they lit torches and moved forward cautiously, fearing they would alarm the guards inside.

But as a place for the Khan to escape, it was generally impossible for there to be guards, because the existence of guards might expose this place.

Li Chen and the others walked inside smoothly.

The pitch-black secret passage was rugged with strange rocks, and to prevent collapse, there were even reinforced pillars.

This place was very far from Sacred Shancheng, and the group walked for about 47 minutes before arriving at the area near Sacred Shancheng.

However, just as they were getting close, Master Master Wanfeng discovered a restriction.

That was a rune array flickering with cold light, emitting powerful energy fluctuations.

Li Chen looked at Master Master Wanfeng, and after observing, Master Master Wanfeng said, "This should be a perception array. Even if it's somewhat weak due to its age, if we force it to break, it will inevitably attract the attention of experts in Sacred Shancheng, and our operation will fall short of success. If I had known, I should have called Biyou Biyou Tianzun over; he should know how to solve it."

This should be an array of the north, different from the south; even if Master Master Wanfeng was an array master, he couldn't solve it for a while.

"Your Majesty, Biyou Biyou Tianzun is not of our race; what if he plays tricks? If you are blocked here, it will definitely cause huge losses to our army. Should we let the Tian Ce Dynasty's army attack Sacred Shancheng to attract their attention? Then we can force it open?" Li Ling suggested in a low voice.

Li Chen pondered for a moment and shook his head: "No, in that case, our losses will be too great, and we might not be able to successfully attract their attention. Otherwise, Master Master Wanfeng, you record the array, and we'll take it back to ask Biyou Biyou Tianzun. This way, he won't know what we're doing, and we can see if his solution is correct."

Li Chen's method was approved by everyone. Just as Master Master Wanfeng was preparing to record the array, the restriction suddenly emitted a faint light, and then slowly opened.

A figure appeared behind the restriction; it was a plump, beautiful woman with a dignified face, holding a fire starter, barely able to illuminate the nearby area.

Her appearance made Master Master Wanfeng prepare to kill her instantly, scaring the other side, but Li Chen stopped him.

Li Chen looked at the woman in front of him, and a sense of inexplicable familiarity surged in his heart.

That was just a few dozen minutes ago, in the harem of Sacred Shancheng, Tuo Ba Yan and her mother were educating these concubines of Tuoba Zhen about the harem rules, telling them what they should do.

These concubines, although they looked down on Tuo Ba Yan's mother, feeling she was a person of the Tian Ce Dynasty, knew that Tuoba Zhen liked this sister very much, so they were still very respectful to Tuo Ba Yan herself, or rather, didn't dare to offend her.

Tuoba Zhen's harem had hundreds, and only dozens were left here; the others had all gone to the Great Snow Mountain to hide.

Those who stayed were all women Tuoba Zhen liked relatively well.

It could also be said that they were very favored, and Tuoba Zhen couldn't bear to let them leave.

These women were naturally somewhat arrogant.

Tuo Ba Yan's mother found an excuse and left this place, letting Tuo Ba Yan continue the education.

In this way, she grasped a once-in-a-lifetime plan, able to search carefully in the harem.

If it were normal times, there were many harem concubines and maids, so she really wouldn't have the opportunity to search for clues.

Tuo Ba Yan's mother was named Li Li Xueying, a princess of the Tian Ce Dynasty and Li Chen's aunt.

Li Li Xueying was very smart; she thought that to save his life, the previous Khan would definitely place the secret passage in the few places where he rested.

And Li Li Xueying knew the Khan's sleeping palace, so she looked for them one by one.

She relied on her understanding of the Snow Eagle Wang Ting and the clues in the previous Khan's sleep-talking; it just so happened that Tuoba Zhen wasn't in the palace, so she began to search in Tuoba Zhen's sleeping palace.

She checked one after another, and finally found the entrance to the secret passage on the stone slab under the bed in the third sleeping palace.

The entrance to the secret passage definitely wasn't that easy to open; there were some mechanisms on it, and the mechanisms looked like the totem of the Snow Eagle Wang Ting.

Having lived in the Wang Ting for so many years, the beautiful woman Li Li Xueying definitely knew the meaning represented by the Snow Eagle Wang Ting totem, and had also asked the previous Khan about the totem from the side when he was drunk.

Therefore, when she saw the entrance to the secret passage under the bed, a sense of excitement surged in her heart, because she knew how to solve it.

The totem of the Snow Eagle Wang Ting was a male eagle, and this male eagle had two claws, with four claws on each claw.

They are: the claw-supporting, claw-eating, claw-probing, and claw-flicking techniques.

As long as the claws were adjusted to the correct position, it was estimated that the mechanism could be opened.

Without delay, she didn't hesitate to activate the mechanism according to her method.

Sure enough, this time her judgment was correct, and a secret passage slowly opened under the bed.

Li Li Xueying took a deep breath and walked down with the determination to die.

She knew that once she was discovered, she would face a dead end, and she also hoped there were no guards in the secret passage.

But this was also her only chance to leave, even if it was just running to the Tian Ce Dynasty's army camp.

The basement was very dark; she lit the fire starter, barely able to illuminate the road ahead.

She moved forward along the secret passage, opening one secret door after another; the mechanisms here were very simple.

When she came to the last secret door, there was a restriction, but the restriction was outward, not inward; inside, she could easily twist the mechanism to open it.

Just as the beautiful woman Li Li Xueying opened the restriction normally, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

Her heart tightened, and the fire starter in her hand fell to the ground, making a "thud" sound.

Because in front of her, a strange figure appeared, and this figure was attacking her.

She retreated in fear and accidentally tripped to the ground.

Just when Li Li Xueying felt that her death was imminent, someone stopped this fierce figure.

She looked up in horror, but saw a person of extraordinary martial spirit walk out in the light of the torch.

That person had a handsome face and deep eyes; she had a sense of inexplicable familiarity, as if she had seen him somewhere, but couldn't remember.

"Sixteenth Aunt? Is it you?"

Li Chen's voice sounded in the darkness.

Hearing the person opposite call her this, she reacted.

"Chen'er? Are you Chen'er?"

The beautiful woman Li Li Xueying's words were full of surprise and disbelief.

She would never have dreamed that she could see Li Chen here.

But then again, it had been many years, and Li Chen was truly getting better and better looking, and that imperial aura was fully displayed.

Seeing Li Chen, Li Li Xueying's thoughts were suddenly pulled back to many years ago, and that handsome little prince appeared in her mind.

The bits and pieces of the past seemed to have just happened, vivid in her mind.

Li Chen pulled his aunt up, and Li Ling also came over, respectfully greeting Li Li Xueying.

As the daughter of the Prince of Jing'an, and also a junior of Li Li Xueying, Li Ling had also seen Li Li Xueying when she was a child.

After all, the Prince of Jing'an was a person in the previous Emperor's camp.

Seeing two acquaintances in a row, Li Li Xueying was excited.

After a simple moment of warmth, Li Chen asked, "Sixteenth Aunt, why are you here?"

Li Li Xueying told her thoughts and experiences; this time she was thinking of fighting to escape and giving the news of the secret passage to the Tian Ce Dynasty.

Who could have thought that Li Chen would actually come looking for her.

In fact, if Li Chen hadn't come, this was the Shengshan, the Great Snow Mountain; outside were not only steep cliffs but also various dangers hidden. Unless Li Li Xueying's luck was very strong, encountering Tian Ce Dynasty scouts nearby, it would be very difficult to head to the army camp.

If she were caught by the Northern Wang Ting's cavalry, she would basically be dead for sure; as long as Tuoba Zhen discovered her betrayal, he would definitely not let her go.

Hearing that Li Chen was going to destroy the array himself, Li Li Xueying said worriedly, "Tuoba Zhen has already recovered his physical body, and the city is heavily guarded." It could be heard that she was still somewhat afraid of Tuoba Zhen; after all, Tuoba Zhen's strength was terrifying, and even his brothers were no match for him.

Hearing this, Li Chen laughed, "Don't worry, I'll kill him every time I see him."

So what if I'm at a disadvantage here? You've just revived, your body hasn't even recovered, and you can fight me?

The reason Master Master Wanfeng followed was actually because he suspected he could beat a dog in the water.

I can't beat the peak-period Tuoba Zhen, but I can definitely beat a crippled one, right?

It seemed that she had made some decision, and the beautiful woman Li Li Xueying said, "Why don't I take you there? I'm very familiar with the palace and Sacred Shancheng."

In fact, Li Chen intended to let Li Ling take his aunt away; who knew his aunt wanted to help.

Having an acquaintance was indeed very convenient for doing things.

Sacred Shancheng was very large, with many experts and soldiers inside; if they were entangled, it would also be very dangerous.

Estimating that the army for the late-night surprise attack would arrive soon, Li Chen also planned to complete the array destruction as soon as possible, so he agreed.

Anyway, Li Chen could still guarantee his aunt's safety; at worst, they would just come out from the secret passage.

!

Entering Sacred Shancheng, apart from Li Li Xueying, Li Chen only brought Master Master Wanfeng, and ordered Li Ling to go back and bring some manpower to lie in wait at this place, and set up traps, saying that perhaps they could catch some big fish.

Li Ling took the order and left, because Li Chen's words were an imperial decree, no need to question.

Under Li Li Xueying's guidance, Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng came out from the secret door of the underground passage and arrived at the palace of Sacred Shancheng.

"Where are we going?" Li Li Xueying asked.

"Near the Nanmen of Sacred Shancheng." Li Chen replied.

Because the array was very huge, the array eye must also be hidden very deep.

Although Sacred Shancheng wasn't as large as the Imperial Capital of the Tian Ce Dynasty, its scale wasn't small either.

Even if someone secretly sneaked into the palace of the Tian Ce Dynasty, it would be very difficult to find the core location of the palace array, let alone the array of the Imperial Capital.

What Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng had to do wasn't to destroy the entire array; if they really wanted to do that, they might not be able to destroy it within a few days.

What they had to do was just to open the array of the Nanmen of Sacred Shancheng when the Tian Ce Dynasty's army arrived nearby, and preferably open the gate as well, letting the Tian Ce Dynasty's army enter.

Because it was on the Shengshan in the north, the temperature was very cold.

Late at night, Sacred Shancheng was covered by a thick layer of white snow, silver-clad.

The palace buildings were even more magnificent in this snowy region; most of them were circular, different from the architectural style of the Central Plains, retaining the habits of nomadic peoples.

Li Li Xueying led Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng through the corridors of the palace with ease.

They observed the surroundings at all times, their footsteps light, trying not to make any sound, so as not to alarm the patrolling soldiers.

The lights in the palace were sparse, and the three moved silently under the moonlight.

Just as they were about to walk out of the palace, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in front.

It was Tuo Ba Yan, Tuoba Zhen's daughter.

She had just finished reprimanding Tuoba Zhen's harem and was walking toward them, seemingly looking for something.

Li Li Xueying's face turned pale instantly; she didn't expect to run into her daughter here.

Seeing this, Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng quickly hid in the shadows on the side; with their speed and strength, Tuo Ba Yan didn't notice anything at all.

Seeing her mother's figure, Tuo Ba Yan quickly approached, calling out, "Mother, is that you?"

Li Li Xueying hesitated, but finally bit the bullet and greeted her.

Seeing her mother, Tuo Ba Yan's face showed a happy smile: "Mother, why are you here? I've been looking for you for a long time."

Li Li Xueying forced a smile: "I... I came out to get some air. Yan'er, it's so late, why haven't you gone back to rest?"

Sensing her daughter's concern, Li Li Xueying's heart was very complicated at this moment.

Because what she was about to do next was an act of subverting the Snow Eagle Wang Ting.

Her daughter was a person of the Snow Eagle Wang Ting and grew up here, so she definitely wouldn't help her; if her daughter discovered the abnormality, she would definitely choose to stand on the side of the Wang Ting.

But her daughter was very good to her and had always been very obedient; if the Tian Ce Dynasty's people killed their way in, what would happen to her daughter?

Perhaps the smile on her face would disappear, right?

It could be said that her daughter was Li Li Xueying's only attachment in the north.

Seeing her now, her heart was somewhat shaken, and two thoughts were already fighting heaven and man.

One was Tuo Ba Yan's mother, the other was the princess of the Tian Ce Dynasty.

Just as she was thinking about thousands of things, Tuo Ba Yan replied: "I have some things I want to ask you; let's go back together."

Saying this, Tuo Ba Yan took her mother's arm.

Li Li Xueying felt anxious inside, but she knew she couldn't refuse her daughter at this time.

So she nodded and followed Tuo Ba Yan back.

Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng followed closely, keeping a certain distance to ensure they weren't discovered.

Returning to Tuo Ba Yan's resting place, she invited her mother to enter the room together.

Li Li Xueying had to agree first, but she was planning how to find an opportunity to continue leading the way for Li Chen.

Because at this time, she seemed to have decided what to do.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; Li Chen was one step away from success, and she had to help Li Chen.

Tuo Ba Yan didn't seem to notice her mother's abnormality; she seriously asked her mother about the trouble she encountered when reprimanding Tuoba Zhen's harem women just now.

Li Li Xueying also explained them one by one.

However, a few minutes later, Li Li Xueying yawned, saying she was very sleepy and asking if they could talk tomorrow.

Tuo Ba Yan thought it was already very late, so she sent her mother out.

The room where Li Li Xueying rested was nearby, so she didn't need to be overly polite.

Li Li Xueying came out of Tuo Ba Yan's room and closed the door lightly.

At this moment, she didn't know where Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng were.

When she came to a place where there was no one, Li Chen appeared beside her, and Master Master Wanfeng continued to hide in the dark.

Seeing Li Chen appear, she breathed a sigh of relief and once again led Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng along the small road of the palace toward the outside.

At this time, Li Chen asked, "Aunt, who was that?"

He was definitely referring to Tuo Ba Yan; Li Chen had also heard Tuo Ba Yan's address to Li Li Xueying, but he still needed to confirm it at this time.

Li Li Xueying respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, that is my daughter. If Your Majesty can, please do not hurt her when the Tian Ce Dynasty's army kills their way in."

She addressed Li Chen as "Your Majesty" instead of "Chen'er," which meant she had some request of Li Chen and lowered her posture.

Since it was her aunt's daughter, Li Chen said no problem; the Tian Ce Dynasty's army had strict military discipline, so as long as Li Chen said a word, and Tuo Ba Yan didn't mess around, it would be fine.

Li Li Xueying said she would definitely persuade her daughter well.

In the gap of the conversation, the two were constantly approaching the Nanmen of Sacred Shancheng.

Li Chen followed Li Li Xueying while carefully observing the surrounding buildings.

They moved cautiously all the way, trying to avoid direct encounters with patrolling soldiers.

Even with Li Li Xueying's status, she shouldn't have appeared in this place late at night.

If they were bumped into by soldiers, they would definitely be taken for interrogation; this was the battle stage, so they couldn't be careless.

As long as they sensed movement nearby, Li Chen would pull her into the shadows to hide.

After the patrol passed, the group continued to set off.

Now, even at night, the soldiers of Sacred Shancheng were heavily guarded, especially near the Nanmen, where patrolling soldiers were even denser.

Li Chen noticed that these soldiers wore heavy armor, held sharp weapons, and their eyes revealed vigilance and murderous intent.

They passed through corridors and courtyards, and Li Li Xueying stopped here, pointing to a small road ahead: "Go out from here, and you'll be near the Nanmen. You must be careful."

Because in that place, it was a military restricted area, and perhaps a fierce battle would break out soon, so it wasn't good for her to continue forward.

Li Chen nodded, let her hide well, and remembered the position where she was hiding.

Then Li Chen and Master Master Wanfeng discussed for a while, and he walked out openly—that's right, he just walked out directly!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 202 =====