Chapter 223: Reactions from All Sides

The several-li-long river channel from Five Hearts Bridge to where Hua Yuzi was beheaded was a bustling area within the city, densely packed with pagodas, temples, and pavilions, all brilliantly illuminated.

As early as when the formation on Five Hearts Bridge erupted, many Wu Xiu in the buildings on both banks had noticed, triggering exclamations.

The speed at which Li Youyi, Yang Qingxi, and Hua Yuzi exchanged blows was too fast; the ambush and killing were over in an instant. Except for a few high-realm Wu Xiu, the rest had no idea what had happened.

It was not until Hua Yuzi transformed into a six-colored peacock and was killed by a single sword strike on the wide Li River that the sensation gradually spread.

Wu Xiu from the buildings on both banks rushed out, the atmosphere boiling over.

"What? That was Hua Yuzi, second of the Southern Region's First Grade?"

"It is him. This person's ranking was even above the first successor of our Zuoqiu Sect; he is one of the most prestigious young experts in this Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."

"A Dao Seed Realm senior pointed out his identity! The man and woman who killed him... are very strange. Can you believe it? They aren't anyone from the First Grade, tsk tsk..."

"Isn't that nonsense? How could two First Grade Wu Xiu be Hua Yuzi's match? It was most likely Ge Xiantong who struck!"

"That's not necessarily true..."

The names and identities of "Li Youyi" and "Yang Qingxi" were quickly revealed with embellishments by a Dao Seed Realm Wu Xiu who happened to be nearby and witnessed the entire process, causing a massive uproar.

Who could believe that a latecomer at the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas and a Second Grade Wu Xiu from the Southern Region could kill Hua Yuzi, one of the top ten experts of the young generation handpicked by the Due Temple?

By the time Bai Shu, Shi Shishi, and Tao Yanyan arrived, both banks of the river were already crowded with Wu Xiu from all walks of life.

Bai Shu had originally been hiding outside the Sui Sect stronghold, preparing to meet Li Youyi. Seeing three carriages drive out and sensing something was wrong, and failing to find the Jiuli clan experts, he had no choice but to rush back to the Nancheng to seek reinforcements.

He had already dispatched Wu Xiu from the Earth Wolf Army to seek an audience with the successor of the Zuoqiu Sect.

The three of them had arrived ahead of time.

Bai Shu was filled with lingering fear, muttering to himself: "So it was actually terrifying figures like Hua Yuzi, Chen Wenwu, and the two attendants sitting in the carriage. Fortunately, I didn't rashly attack at that time."

Through the accounts of the Wu Xiu around them, the three quickly understood everything.

Tao Yanyan was full of shock, as if listening to a tall tale: "How did they do it? This... this is completely impossible!"

"My brother Youyi is always able to create miracles. It's a pity that Bai Shu ran away; otherwise, how would it be Yang Qingxi's turn to become famous throughout the world? Oh no, this is bad!"

Shi Shishi thought of something, his expression changing.

Tao Yanyan also realized it, immediately taking out her invitation to locate the nearby Dragon Seed Ticket, saying gravely: "Li Youyi must be severely injured. Chen Wenwu and the two attendants didn't even have time to collect Hua Yuzi's corpse; they most likely pursued them. We must find them quickly!"

Shi Shishi said: "That's not what I'm talking about! Think about it, once this happens, the past of brother Youyi and Yang Qingxi will surely be dug up. Driven by this monstrous wind of killing Hua Yuzi, the 'murmuring stream' affair will likely be brought up again. What the people of the world prefer to spread and arrange is actually the latter. Oh my... brother Youyi's reputation!"

"Stop messing around, saving people is the priority!"

Tao Yanyan locked onto the location of a Dragon Seed Ticket and pursued them together with the two.

By the Li River.

In the wind and snow, a carriage sped south.

"Whoosh!"

Chen Wenwu pursued like a wisp of mist, his handsome figure landing in front of the carriage, intercepting it with a wall of magic power mist.

Holding the Stop-Weapon Sword, he approached step by step with extreme caution.

He dared not take it lightly, fearing he would follow in Hua Yuzi's footsteps and fall into the schemes of this pair of scoundrels, Li Youyi and Yang Qingxi.

The two attendants also pursued, attacking from behind the carriage.

Chen Wenwu released his magic power to investigate, then froze, quickly stepping forward to flip the driver onto the ground.

"My lord... spare me..."

The carriage window was pushed open.

A scream of extreme terror rang out from inside; it was a family of three, with absolutely no sign of Li Youyi or Yang Qingxi.

They searched for a while.

At the bottom of the carriage, they found Yang Qingxi's Dragon Seed Ticket.

At any other time, Chen Wenwu would have been ecstatic, but at this moment, holding the Dragon Seed Ticket, his heart burned with rage, feeling only that he was being fiercely trampled and humiliated.

What was the use of having the Dragon Seed Ticket?

Hua Yuzi was dead!

Only by capturing Li Youyi and Yang Qingxi would the three of them have a way to survive.

Otherwise... they would either die, or live a life worse than death.

The two attendants, transformed into the appearance of Ash Spirits, had sparks erupting from their eyes, their killing intent soaring, wanting to tear the three people in the carriage into pieces.

Just at this moment.

A woman in Daoist robes from the Due Temple arrived late, flying to land on a tree branch piled with snow. She said: "If you strike at innocent residents, this immortal envoy will surely take your lives. Every Wu Xiu holding an invitation is warned only once."

No one expected such a huge change to occur suddenly; it happened so fast that the twelve patrol immortal envoys of the Due Temple hadn't even arrived before the battle ended.

The two attendants restrained themselves.

Chen Wenwu quickly calmed down, analyzing: "The two of them are severely injured, and they still have to hide their tracks and aura; they definitely haven't escaped far. Mobilize all forces; we must intercept and kill them on the road back to the Nancheng."

"What? Hua Yuzi is dead?"

Upon receiving the news of Bai Shu's request for help, Zuoqiu Ting immediately set off, arriving near Five Hearts Bridge, where a spy from the Zuoqiu Sect came to report.

After listening to the spy's detailed account.

Zuoqiu Ting was also stunned there.

One must know, Zuoqiu Ting had exchanged blows with Hua Yuzi more than once and knew the other's prowess well. With such strong combat power, even if two successors joined forces, they might not necessarily win against him.

To kill Hua Yuzi, the difficulty would be multiplied.

Led by the spy, Zuoqiu Ting saw the massive six-colored peacock corpse on the water, sensing the sword Qi on the wound with his intent, and evaluated: "He has become stronger. How can his cultivation speed be so fast?"

"Immediately dispatch all experts from the Zuoqiu Sect and the Jiuli clan above the Fifth Realm of the Five Seas to meet Li Youyi and prevent the pursuit from the Far West Ash Region."

Immediately after, he added: "Before the Wu Xiu from the Far West Ash Region arrive, salvage the corpse and send it to the Prefecture Governor, presenting it to Ge Xiantong and Jiang Ning to congratulate the imperial court's Wu Xiu on killing Hua Yuzi."

Tang Wanqiu sat in the main hall with a cold expression, reflecting on today's defeat and searching for the root cause, realizing that he had been greedy for merit and underestimated the intellect of the world's number one person.

The lights in the hall flickered, now bright, now dim, just like his mood at this moment.

Tang Chen, the second successor of the Snow Sword Tang Court, walked in quickly.

Tang Wanqiu said: "Have Cangli and the others returned to the Nancheng?"

"Wanqiu, something big has happened!"

Tang Chen said with solemnity and shock: "Li Youyi has killed Hua Yuzi..."

Light quickly condensed in Tang Wanqiu's eyes as he looked up: "What did you say?"

Tang Chen said: "Hua Yuzi is dead, his head severed by Li Youyi's sword. This matter is absolutely true. It is said that the final killing sword strike manifested five types of combat method intent, suspended in mid-air, transforming into five gods, just like those legends and myths in storybooks; even the ancient Son of Heaven was no more than this in his youth."

"When I was sending Cangli and the others out just now, someone happened to come to report. Several people from the Jiuli clan have all rushed over at this moment! This is simply unbelievable; it happened right near Five Hearts Bridge..."

"Five Hearts Bridge."

Tang Wanqiu had the ability to never forget what he saw, having long memorized the map of Qiuzhouzhoucheng in his mind. After listening to Tang Chen's detailed account, he quickly accepted this incredible fact.

"Regardless of how he did it, facts are facts. I imagine that on the Due Temple's side, his evaluation is already no less than Luan Sheng Lin You, Ge Xiantong, and Zuoqiu Hong."

Tang Chen's eyes were deep: "Hua Yuzi is the first of the top ten experts to fall, and he was killed by someone crossing two realms. I think, as long as Li Youyi doesn't die, there is a significant chance he will be rated as a Hidden Dragon. The Jiuli clan is powerless to plot for the world; the Zuoqiu Sect is rising with the tide."

Without Tang Chen needing to explain, Tang Wanqiu had already realized the severity of the situation.

This matter affected not only the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival but also the situation of the world.

If the Due Temple firmly supports the Zuoqiu Sect, the Zuoqiu Sect will surely be the biggest competitor to the Snow Sword Tang Court in the near future.

Then he, Tang Wanqiu, would be a total failure at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival.

Tang Wanqiu said: "I understand what you mean! Since Li Youyi is severely injured, the Far West Ash Region and other forces will definitely go all out to hunt him down, not letting this Hidden Dragon return to the Nancheng alive or join forces with the Jiuli clan experts. For now, let's not play the villain; the Jiuli clan still has utility value."

"How about this, let Wanyan Xiaose go find Li Youyi; we must put on a gesture of saving people."

Western City.

Luan Sheng Lin You walked out from his closed-door healing, standing on the corridor, his long hair like a silver waterfall, listening with a calm expression as the left attendant knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

"Understood! In just seven days, his cultivation has already reached a higher level."

Luan Sheng Lin You's eyes were without waves, and he added: "Mobilize all forces of the Three Chen Palaces, Night City, and Coffin Mountain to find him and kill him. If you can't even handle one severely injured person, the three of you should never come back!"

The left attendant knocked his head heavily on the ground, then retreated.

"Ming Niansheng, gather all experts above the Third Realm of the Five Seas from the demon race, Ash Spirits, Que Rong, and Quan Rong to attack the Zhu Gate tonight," Luan Sheng Lin You said.

Ming Niansheng was very surprised: "Attack the Zhu Gate tonight? Shouldn't we first avenge Hua Yuzi? I think we should take advantage of this chaotic situation to deal with the Jiuli clan first, catching them off guard."

Luan Sheng Lin You said: "When everyone thinks we are going to take revenge tonight, that is precisely the perfect opportunity to take down the Zhu Gate."

Qijin, who was still wearing the human skin of Zhuang Yue, praised: "This move of 'making a feint to the east while attacking in the west' by the Young Master is truly wonderful! Mobilizing all Wu Xiu of the Three Chen Palaces, Night City, and Coffin Mountain for a grand city-wide manhunt is just a facade; it will surely cause the Zhu Gate's biggest ally, the Zuoqiu Sect, to misjudge, using their strength to search for Li Youyi and protect the Jiuli clan."

"After all, the Jiuli clan is the true ally; the Zhu Gate is only a partner during the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival."

"Who would have thought that we could suppress our rage and, while suffering major losses, find the perfect opportunity to unify the Western Region?"

Luan Sheng Lin You looked at her: "Qijin, with Hua Yuzi's fall, you should raise the banner and hold up the situation. Tonight, I leave the headquarters of the Ash Region and the Longevity Pill tickets to you!"

"I will definitely not fail the mission," Qijin said.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 224 =====