Chapter 32: The Death of Chang Ke

At this moment, Heibai Xuanzjian's figure flickered unpredictably on the battlefield, sometimes appearing behind the enemies, sometimes at their sides.

Each swing of his sword mercilessly took an enemy's life.

His twin blades were like the Grim Reaper's scythe, harvesting the enemies blocking the battlefield one by one.

At this moment his gaze was firm and ruthless, without any hesitation or pity.

His figure drifted on the battlefield like a wind, coming and going without trace, like a ghost moving through the battlefield, silently harvesting enemies' lives.

Before him, enemies fell like a wheat field.

His figure drifted on the battlefield like a wind, coming and going without trace, the twin blades in his hand flashing like lightning, each swing taking an enemy's life.

This is that net‑killing weapon, Heibai Xuanzjian; at this moment he has successfully ascended to Cultivation thanks to the Cloud Prince's Mansion's lavish resources.

Although he had just broken through, his realm was not yet solid; facing those Cultivation War Gods might still be insufficient.

But assassinating Chang Ke, who was under the protection of a Divine General, would be too easy.

Even if that Divine General was a peak Divine General.

At this moment Heibai Xuanzjian on this battlefield was an unmatchable blade, unbeatable by anyone.

Swish!

"Which scoundrel!"

When Heibai Xuanzjian drew near Chang Ke, Lian'er Xinshan naturally noticed him as well.

After all, Heibai Xuanzjian was using a proper "infiltration," having killed his way here.

But just as Lian'er Xinshan was preparing to meet Heibai Xuanzjian,

Screech!

The black‑armored figure who had been tagging along with Heibai Xuanzjian, loafing around, suddenly shouted coldly; the Yue King's Renowned Artifact in his hand traced a deep‑red silk‑like line, ripped through the void, and thrust toward Lian'er Xinshan's throat.

Yanri, if he doesn't act it's fine, but once he moves it's lightning‑fast!

Moreover, Yanri's sword is one of the Yue King's Eight Swords, and with the boost from Yanri, a peak master of the sect, its power already exceeds that of Lian'er Xinshan, whose skills have not yet erupted.

"What!"

"Adoptive father, be careful!"

Faced with Yanri's sudden assault, Lian'er Xinshan had no choice but to abandon Heibai Xuanzjian and focus all his effort on defending against Yanri's unceasing attacks.

Then he watched helplessly as Heibai Xuanzjian swiftly lunged toward Chang Ke's position, shouting anxiously.

"Who are you?"

"I am the Inspector of Cangzhou; how dare you!"

Chang Ke not far away was naturally no blind man; with such a commotion here, he naturally kept his eyes on it.

But seeing the styles of Heibai Xuanzjian and Yanri, clearly different from this band of foreigners, Chang Ke instantly guessed something in his heart.

One who could be sent by the imperial court under great pressure to face off against the Cloud Prince's Mansion, Chang Ke naturally was no good‑for‑nothing.

One could even say that those lacking ability and spirit wouldn't dare to come.

Know that Cangzhou borders the great plains, and from time to time it must resist the southern incursions of the plains' foreign tribes.

But what Chang Ke or the court didn't expect was that the backlash from Cangzhou's natives would be so fierce, plus the Cloud Prince's Mansion fanning the flames nearby.

Thus Chang Ke found it hard to move in Cangzhou, but that doesn't mean he's weak; it's just the environment that doesn't allow it.

Even a clever woman can't cook without rice!

Therefore, upon seeing the posture and attack style of Heibai Xuanzjian and Yanri, Chang Ke already had a rough idea in his mind.

Will the one from Cloud Prefecture ultimately still not be able to resist taking action?

Although he had anticipated this situation before coming, Chang Ke still couldn't figure it out in his heart.

Assassinate the imperial court‑sent inspector!

The Cloud Prince's Mansion acting so radically—do they truly not fear tearing faces with the imperial court?

Just

Swish!

"Hah!"

A sword light sliced his throat without hesitation.

Chang Ke widened his eyes at Heibai Xuanzjian before him, hands clutching his bleeding neck, face full of unwillingness, he slowly collapsed onto the Cangzhou battlefield.

He was destined never to receive the answer he wanted.

"No!"

"Adoptive father!"

At the battlefield's center, a fierce duel was unfolding.

Yanri, wielding the Yanri Sword, and Lian'er Xinshan, holding the Combined Fan Board Gate Blade, faced each other on the battlefield.

The black‑armored Yanri moved with agility and vigor, darting across the battlefield like a bolt of lightning.

His sword technique was fierce and precise; each swing flashed like a cold light, making one's heart chill.

And Lian'er Xinshan, wielding a Combined Fan Board Gate Blade, was tall and mighty, his great blade as heavy as a mountain peak.

His blade technique was strong and powerful; each strike swept in like a raging wind, impossible to resist.

Their duel was like a dance—graceful yet intense.

Yanri's swordplay flashed like successive bolts of lightning, while Lian'er Xinshan's blade technique rolled in like successive gusts of wind.

Their figures intertwined on the battlefield, their motions constantly shifting, as if performing a symphony of death.

Seeing Heibai Xuanzjian's assassination succeed, Yanri's hand movements grew faster and his swordplay ever more fierce.

Each swing made the martial commander feel a chill surge.

Their duel grew ever fiercer, their figures intertwined on the battlefield, their motions constantly shifting, each seeking the other's opening.

However, upon seeing his foster father Chang Ke meet with disaster, Lian'er Xinshan's sword technique was the first to fall into chaos.

Finally, the sword tip of Covering Sun pierced accurately into Lian'er Xinshan's body.

After a single strike he immediately retreated, taking advantage of Lian'er Xinshan's distraction to turn and flee swiftly.

In the blink of an eye he vanished among the foreign tribes and the Cangzhou army.

Left on the battlefield, Lian'er Xinshan clung to Chang Ke's corpse and wept bitterly.

As an assassin, being able to fight is useless; you must know how to run!

At Taiping Pass, Su Ye held the net information just delivered by Item, standing together with Yao Guangxiao.

"Sir, Chang Ke is dead."

Su Ye's expression showed neither sorrow nor joy; he felt no animosity toward Chang Ke, and even held some admiration.

During the years he served as Inspector of Cangzhou, even though the Cloud Prince's Mansion allied with local Cangzhou forces had sidelined him, he remained the most active whenever the foreign tribes besieged the pass.

Moreover, over these years the situation under Cangzhou's governance has also recovered, and even the bandit troubles that previously ran rampant within Cangzhou have been somewhat quelled.

To the commoners of Cangzhou, Chang Ke, the Inspector who could resist the foreign tribes and quell bandit troubles, was absolutely a true parent-official.

But he still died, dying on the eve of the chaotic era.

It was still an order issued by Su Ye himself.

Because he blocked the way, blocking the path of the Cloud Prince's Mansion and even Su Ye's.

He was not wrong; the only mistake was that he should never have become the Inspector of Cangzhou.

"Then the Taiping Sect should also rise in revolt."

Yao Guangxiao beside him naturally sensed Su Ye's poor mood, but he did not offer words of comfort.

This is a gate Su Ye must pass; if he cannot even get through this hurdle, what's the point of contending for hegemony?

Just go home and nurse the child!

On the road to hegemony, it is destined to be stained with the blood of countless innocents, mounting the throne upon their bones!

"Then issue the order to Meng Zhang; we can begin!"

"Let me, Su Jinyu, formally open the curtain of this chaotic era!"

Su Ye quickly adjusted his affectation and then spoke.

"Zhang Jue, Zhang Jue, as the first gift I, Su Jinyu, give to the Great Qian royal house, if you do not turn this world upside down, how can you live up to my painstaking efforts!"

Su Ye's expression flashed a hint of coldness, as he secretly thought.

Yao Guangxiao looked at Su Jinyu before him, a flicker of relief passing through his eyes.

Nursing Tiger Roar Valley, all beasts startled!

This world is about to usher in a golden great age!

(End of chapter)