Chapter 562

Li Ergouzi had just brought his old comrades out of the Imperial City Garrison Office when Linghu Jian led his household guards and arrived outside the gate of the Imperial City Garrison Office.

Linghu Jian acts domineering; the dozens of household guards he brought have extremely high cultivation, and they practice Buddhist cultivation methods, having been tempered into an Indestructible Vajra, following the broad and sweeping, dragon-elephant divine power path.

Especially, the thirty-six household guards form a small battle formation; when activated, dragon roars ring out, and though only thirty-plus people, they give the impression of a hundred dragons enraged, blood flowing a thousand li, a feeling of brutal carnage.

From the new office gate of the Imperial City Garrison Office, the thirty-six Linghu household guards formed a formation and charged, relying on seventy-two fists, they beat the garrison's constables until their heads were split open, bones broken and tendons torn, each rolling about like gourds all over the ground.

One could hear the constant cracking of bones, the sky filled with figures flung by violence, the constables of the Imperial City Garrison Office spitting blood and screaming in agony, and some even slammed into thick pillars, breaking the pillars, and shattering countless doors and windows.

Going around the screen wall from the gate, passing through one courtyard, breaking through one administrative hall, then charging through another courtyard, smashing one council chamber, and then rushing through the third courtyard, they arrived at the council hall where Wu Tie was located.

Hearing the commotion outside, Huang Yu had already sounded the alarm; the detachments of the Eastern Garden Forbidden Army on duty inside the office formed ranks in the second courtyard and outside the rear halls to resist the enemy, yet they could not stop the charge of the thirty-six household guards; successive layers of thousand-strong military formations were easily broken, leaving the ground littered with forbidden army soldiers whose limbs were shattered.

Linghu Jian walked along with a smug smile, hands behind his back, heedless of whether before him lay pools of blood or twitching bodies, he strode heavily, trampling over the bodies of the severely wounded soldiers, following behind his own household guards, marching straight in, and directly reached the third courtyard.

Here, the defenders were no longer forbidden army soldiers, but elite experts from the Five Elements Spirits tribe handpicked by Wu Tie.

The five divisions of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth each had a thousand tribesmen arrayed in the courtyard; their power, born of the same source, perfectly merged into one, mutually generating and merging, a layer of five-colored spiritual light like a wall stood outside the council hall where Wu Tie resided.

"Linghu Jian, you have great audacity!" Huang Yu stood outside the threshold of the council hall, pointing at Linghu Jian and shouting sternly.

Earlier, Linghu Jian had once stormed into the Eastern Garden alone, urging Wu Tie to ally with the Linghu clan, but Wu Tie fiercely wounded him, and he eventually fled in disgrace. Afterwards, Linghu Jian's relevant information was also transmitted to Wu Tie by Mr. Li, and many people throughout the Eastern Garden became familiar with Linghu Jian's details.

Huang Yu now serves as Wu Tie's personal military adjutant, handling all correspondence and also involved in intelligence gathering; he recognized Linghu Jian at a glance, and inevitably felt a tremor in his heart.

Linghu Jian, the second son of Linghu Qingqing.

On the surface, Linghu Qingqing's eldest son, Linghu Gu, had already perished in the Eastern Palace incident of that year, so Linghu Jian is the rightful heir of the Linghu clan. With Linghu Qingqing not appearing, Linghu Jian is the person with the greatest authority in the Linghu family.

Linghu Jian leading his household guards to attack the Imperial City Garrison Office can be seen as the Linghu clan tearing aside pretense and directly coming to the door.

And the Linghu clan's assault represents more than half of the Great Jin military ministry, representing seventy percent of the Great Jin Divine Nation's commander clans and the Imperial City Garrison Office turning completely hostile. This inevitably makes Huang Yu feel startled and afraid.

"What's the big deal about the Imperial City Garrison Office—do we really need that much courage?" Linghu Jian grinned, shook his head, and said, "Um, where is Lord Huang Yu? Guests have arrived, yet you don't hurry to serve tea?"

With Linghu Jian's laughter, the Linghu household guards who had formed a battle formation shouted in unison; thirty-six people simultaneously emitted a round of golden light from the back of their heads, a fervent pure yang aura shot up into the sky, condensing above their small battle formation into a golden dharma aspect with three heads and six arms, stepping on a golden dragon.

With a long whistle, the six fists of the hundred-zhang-tall golden dharma aspect, like meteors, heavily struck the Five Elements Formation composed of the Five Elements Spirits.

With a tremendous boom, the entire Imperial City Garrison Office trembled; a few "boom-boom" sounds followed, and in the wake of the air blast, dozens of halls near Wu Tie's council hall were shattered to pieces, with broken bricks and tiles flung over ten li away.

The newly constructed Imperial City Garrison Office, due to lack of coordination between the Works Palace and the military ministry, had no usable defensive formation within its vast interior. At this moment, as the two military formations clashed, the office that Wu Tie had built at great expense using many precious materials was partially destroyed.

Wu Tie sat upright in the council hall, he gave a heavy cough and said: "The visitor is a guest; lower your formation and invite Lord Linghu the Second to enter."

He snorted coldly, then Wu Tie said in a deep voice: "Right, serve tea, serve good tea, don't let people say our Imperial City Garrison Office lacks courtesy."

Huang Yu took a deep breath and lightly raised his right hand.

The five thousand Five Elements Spirits' eyes shot out radiant light, they gradually gathered their power, and cleared a path.

The thirty-six Linghu household guards laughed arrogantly, they spread out left and right with a swagger, then respectfully bowed deeply to Linghu Jian: "Lord Second, please!"

Linghu Jian smiled, hands behind his back, head slightly raised, stepping with steady, measured paces, he leisurely walked into the council hall.

Wu Tie sat behind the desk, his hands placed on the long table, squinting his eyes at Linghu Jian.

Linghu Jian stood in the threshold, across the vast hall, likewise squinting his eyes to assess Wu Tie.

After they stared at each other for a long while, Wu Tie smiled and said: "Lord Linghu the Second, you suddenly showed up with such a mighty force—is it for the Twelve Guards Forbidden Army?"

Linghu Jian smiled and nodded: "Lord Huang Yu, you are indeed a clever fellow... Well, although I know it's impossible, I still have to ask: Lord Huang Yu, can you truly not command the Linghu clan?"

Linghu Jian spread his hands and said in a deep voice: "Conditions, Lord Huang Yu, lay them out. As long as they're not excessive, the Linghu clan will agree. Power, wealth, beauties, fiefdoms—whatever Lord Huang Yu seeks, we can negotiate."

Wu Tie looked at Linghu Jian and laughed: "What are you saying, Lord Second? I, I don't understand... Well, Lord Second, you must have come specially to block my door, right? Well, regarding the Twelve Guards Forbidden Army, Lord Second, have you made preparations? Do you have confidence to gain the upper hand there?"

Linghu Jian slowly nodded: "'Huo Xiong', after all your foundation is still shallow; even if you have some fortune, don't treat our commander clans, which have been passed down for hundreds of generations, as nothing."

He shook his head, Linghu Jian's smile faded, his face turned cold as he said: "In this world, all petty tricks are empty, all schemes and plots are empty; we of the commander clans believe in fists—might makes right!"

Wu Tie slowly rose, walked around the desk, descended three steps, and stood in the middle of the hall.

Looking at Linghu Jian, a wisp of black qi rose from Wu Tie's crown, and he likewise wore a cold expression as he said: "Might makes right, and I also like that saying... I have the Black Heaven Cauldron suppressing the Imperial City Garrison Office; Lord Second, you coming to block me—aren't you being a bit too overbearing?"

Linghu Jian smiled and took a step back.

Sunlight streamed in from outside the council hall doors, casting a long shadow before Linghu Jian.

At that moment his shadow writhed, and gradually a gaunt middle-aged man wearing a green long robe, with a pallid complexion and three long whiskers on his jaw, emerged from the writhing shadow.

He wore a green robe, a wooden cap, and at his waist hung a sword in an antiquely mottled scabbard; the sword hilt was dull and lackluster, the blade measuring two feet four inches.

The middle-aged man stepped forward two paces, completely breaking free of Linghu Jian's shadow, smiled, and bowed to Wu Tie: "Linghu Wenwen, I pay my respects, Grand Commander… heh, I have been in seclusion for many years; this time, acting on the order of our clan's elder brother, I have come specially to assist my nephew and hinder the Grand Commander."

After a few chuckles, a flash of extremely ferocious Blood Light flickered in Linghu Wenwen's pupils; he looked at Wu Tie and said softly, "Although my elder brother only asked me to hold you back… if the chance arises, I will surely kill you. Heh, heh, what I despise most is you lot who know no rules and dare to overturn heaven."

Drawing a deep breath, Linghu Wenwen murmured, "Youngsters, you must observe the rules… only by observing the rules can you live long. I have told this to many, yet they never believe they think their modest talent, their slight luck, and imperial favor will let them overturn heaven… but in the end, haven't they all been killed by me?"

"'Not only did I kill them, I slaughtered their entire families, young and old.' Linghu Wenwen chuckled at Wu Tie, 'Those vigorous youths—my blows broke every bone in their bodies, then they watched helplessly as I slaughtered their kin, young and old, one by one; their cries… truly, after all these years, even though I have been in seclusion for centuries, I sometimes still hear them in my dreams.'"

Wu Tie stared coldly at Linghu Wenwen: "Oh? You have confidence you can kill me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Linghu Wenwen nodded firmly: "I had no confidence before, but now I do… as for fear? Heh, what do I have to fear? Everyone in the Linghu clan knows I have the greatest gall—I fear neither heaven nor earth."

He hehehed a few times, Linghu Wenwen licked the corner of his mouth and drawled, "I am not afraid, truly not afraid… are you afraid?"

Wu Tie gave a cold snort; a stream of black energy shot up from his head, and a completely black, unadorned three-legged, two-eared Black Heaven Cauldron emerged, after which vast black mist billowed outward, howling, quickly enveloping the entire Imperial City Military Command Office.

"Cut the nonsense, let's fight!" Wu Tie, seeing Linghu Wenwen's appearance, knew this guy had psychological issues.

Arguing with such a twisted old man is truly a waste of life.

At the slightest disagreement, they went straight to blows.

Li Erdogzi, following yesterday's example, took some men to the Twelve Guards Forbidden Army to attend to affairs; Wu Tie here stood ready to respond at any moment—who had time to waste words with Linghu Wenwen and Linghu Jian?

Inside the Black Heaven Cauldron, strange wails rose continuously; the sweeping black mist swiftly condensed into countless blades, spears, swords, and halberds, forming a spherical killing array that howled as it crushed toward Linghu Wenwen.

Linghu Jian had already said that the Twelve Guards Forbidden Army had made preparations on their side.

So Wu Tie here could not afford to waste time; he had to strike with the utmost efficiency, inflicting heavy damage or even beheading Linghu Wenwen.

As soon as the Black Heaven Cauldron appeared, Wu Tie bellowed, "Feng, give full reinforcements to Li Erdogzi… Lao Tie, bring men to provide support!"

Above the Imperial City Military Command Office, the thirty-six Spirit Warships lying in wait simultaneously flashed a strong light; within a radius of several hundred miles, the heavenly and earthly essence was instantly drawn dry by the Spirit Warships, forming a vast essence void.

The Spirit Warships directly instantaneously moved from within Anyang City to hover above the encampment of the Zi Guard Forbidden Army.

Thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings slowly unfolded, countless fire feathers hovered in the air, and the terrifying heat scorched the vegetation on the ground, quickly withering and charring it.

Translate: "Thirty-six pairs of enormous fire flame wings slowly unfolded, countless fire feathers hovered in the air, the terrifying heat scorched the vegetation on the ground, quickly withering and charring it."

Thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings slowly unfolded, countless fire feathers hovered in the air, and the terrifying heat scorched the vegetation on the ground, quickly withering and charring it.

We'll produce: "Thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings slowly unfolded, countless fire feathers hovered in the air, the terrifying heat scorched the vegetation on the ground, quickly withering and charring it."

Thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings slowly unfolded; countless fire feathers hovered in the air; the terrifying heat scorched the vegetation on the ground, quickly withering and charring it.

Lü Yi, Wu Jian, and the other leaders of the military houses raised their heads, their eyes twitching violently, they stared fixedly at the Four Spirit Warship above.

Lü Yi, Wu Jian, and the other leaders of the military houses raised their heads, their eyes twitching violently, they stared fixedly at the Four Spirit Warship above.

Lü Yi, Wu Jian, and the other leaders of the military houses raised their heads, their eyes twitching violently, they stared fixedly at the Four Spirit Warship above.

Thus line: "Lü Yi, Wu Jian, and the other leaders of the military houses raised their heads, their eyes twitching violently, they stared fixedly at the Four Spirit Warship above."

stared fixedly at the Four Spirit Warship above

The Four Spirit Warship, the founding divine emperor's weapon of conquest of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom, relied on the warship's immense power and terrifying mobility; the founding divine emperor of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom conquered all directions, gaining absolute strategic advantage, and ultimately laid the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom.

The founding divine emperor's weapon of conquest of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom.

Thus: "The Four Spirit Warship, the founding divine emperor of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's weapon of conquest, precisely relying on the warship's immense power and terrifying mobility, the founding divine emperor of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom conquered all directions, gaining absolute strategic advantage, and finally laid the foundation for the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's ten-thousand-year legacy."

ten-thousand-year

Thus line: "The Four Spirit Warship, the founding divine emperor of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's weapon of conquest, precisely relying on the warship's immense power and terrifying mobility, the founding divine emperor of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom conquered all directions, gaining absolute strategic advantage, and finally laid the foundation for the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's ten-thousand-year legacy."

Lü Yi and company didn't just grow up hearing legends of the Four Spirit Warship; they had also personally witnessed its terrifying power on the Three Kingdoms battlefield.

Lü Yi and company didn't just grow up hearing legends of the Four Spirit Warship; they had also personally witnessed its terrifying power on the Three Kingdoms battlefield.

Lü Yi and company didn't just grow up hearing legends of the Four Spirit Warship; they had also personally witnessed its terrifying power on the Three Kingdoms battlefield.

But today, they must face the Four Spirit Warship.

Thus: "But today, they must face the Four Spirit Warship directly."

If the Linghu clan wavers them, if the Linghu clan cannot withstand the Four Spirit Warship's power... then, the many military house representatives present will surely develop divided loyalties, and what happens afterward will be hard to say.

If the Linghu clan wavers them, if the Linghu clan cannot withstand the Four Spirit Warship's power... then, the many military house representatives present will surely develop divided loyalties, and what happens afterward will be hard to say.

We need to keep the ellipsis? The Chinese has "……". We'll keep as "...".

Thus: "If the Linghu clan wavers them, if the Linghu clan cannot withstand the Four Spirit Warship's power..., then the many military house representatives present will surely develop divided loyalties, and what happens afterward will be hard to say."

If the Linghu clan makes them waver, if the Linghu clan cannot withstand the Four Spirit Warship's power... then, the many military house representatives present will surely develop divided loyalties, and what happens afterward will be hard to say.

"Little girl of the Pei family, don't be presumptuous." A hoarse voice came from the garrison of the imperial guards, and then five figures slowly flew up into the air.

"Little girl of the Pei family, don't be presumptuous." A hoarse voice came from the garrison of the imperial guards, and then five figures slowly flew up into the air.

We need to keep quotes. So: ""Little girl of the Pei family, don't be presumptuous." A hoarse voice came from the imperial guards' garrison, and then five figures slowly flew up into the air."

In the high sky, first came the sound of surging waves.

Thus: "In the high sky, first came the sound of surging waves."

Immediately followed, a vast black tide surged across heaven and earth; above the imperial guards' garrison, a black sea with a radius of several hundred li appeared out of nowhere, the turbulent black waves roiled, emitting a grim Cold Qi that completely canceled out the scorching heat released by the Four Spirit Warship's condensed fire-flame wings.

Immediately followed, a vast black tide surged across heaven and earth; above the imperial guards' garrison, a black sea with a radius of several hundred li appeared out of nowhere, the turbulent black waves roiled, emitting a grim Cold Qi that completely canceled out the scorching heat released by the Four Spirit Warship's condensed fire-flame wings.

completely canceled out the scorching heat released by the Four Spirit Warship's condensed fire-flame wings.

Then a Bing Fire Mirror shimmering entirely with red fire light shot up into the high sky; inside the Bing Fire Mirror a roar sounded, and the thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings instantly vanished, turning into slender threads of fire light that the Bing Fire Mirror sucked dry in one gulp.

Then a Bing Fire Mirror shimmering entirely with red fire light shot up into the high sky; inside the Bing Fire Mirror a roar sounded, and the thirty-six pairs of enormous fire-flame wings instantly vanished, turning into slender threads of fire light that the Bing Fire Mirror sucked dry in one gulp.

We need to keep numbers: thirty-six pairs.

Before Pei Feng standing on the Four Spirit Warship could react, a Golden Dragon Whip transformed into a golden dragon ten thousand zhang long, letting out a heaven-shaking dragon roar, and fiercely lashed the hulls of several Four Spirit Warships.

Before Pei Feng standing on the Four Spirit Warship could react, a Golden Dragon Whip transformed into a golden dragon ten thousand zhang long, letting out a heaven-shaking dragon roar, and fiercely lashed the hulls of several Four Spirit Warships.

A thunderous roar echoed as huge waves surged across the black sea in the sky; several four‑spirit warships, each over 3,600 zhang long, were struck and sent soaring aloft, and the massive vessels were whipped by a single lash, hurling them dozens of li into the air.

With a tremendous roar, huge waves rolled on the black sea in the sky; several Four Spirit Warships each 3600 zhang long were actually blasted into the air, the massive warships forcibly lifted by a single whip strike to a height of over ten li.

The surface of the Four Spirit Warship shimmered with spiritual light, emitting a low rumble; then a dark-yellow square great cauldron appeared out of nowhere in the air, its mouth aimed downward at the Four Spirit Warship, as vast earth qi surged forth, dark-yellow mountain phantoms like meteors howled downwards.

The surface of the Four Spirit Warship shimmered with spiritual light, emitting a low rumble; then a dark-yellow square great cauldron appeared out of nowhere in the air, its mouth aimed downward at the Four Spirit Warship, as vast earth qi surged forth, dark-yellow mountain phantoms like meteors howled downwards.

The thirty-six Four Spirit Warships were shaken east and west, their spiritual light violently trembling; the soldiers and Five Elements spirits aboard could not keep their footing, and many people 'gurgle' rolled across the entire deck.

The thirty-six Four Spirit Warships were shaken east and west, their spiritual light violently trembling; the soldiers and Five Elements spirits aboard could not keep their footing, and many people 'gurgle' rolled across the entire deck.

We need to keep the quotes? The Chinese uses 【】 which are quotation marks; we can keep as single quotes or double? We'll keep as single quotes: 'gurgle'.

On the ground, Lü Yi and the other military house representatives' pupils suddenly shrank to the size of a pinprick.

On the ground, Lü Yi and the other military house representatives' pupils suddenly shrank to the size of a pinprick.

These several Five Elements secret treasures possess unmatched power, their aura immensely strong, clearly they are innate spiritual treasures of state-protector divine artifact level!

These several Five Elements secret treasures possess unmatched power, their aura immensely strong, clearly they are innate spiritual treasures of state-protector divine artifact level!

The Linghu clan actually mastered a precious treasure of state-protector divine artifact level!

The Linghu clan actually mastered a precious treasure of state-protector divine artifact level!

The Linghu clan indeed has the confidence to stand against the Sima clan!

The Linghu clan indeed has the confidence to stand against the Sima clan!

On the state-protector divine artifact, the Linghu clan already holds its own; then, with the Linghu clan grasping seventy percent of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's military houses and commanding countless elite troops and fierce generals... plus Linghu Qingqing's shrewdness, plus the Linghu clan's foundation, plus the Sima clan's two successive generations of foolish rulers' wanton devastation...

On the state-protector divine artifact, the Linghu clan already holds its own; then, with the Linghu clan grasping seventy percent of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's military houses and commanding countless elite troops and fierce generals... plus Linghu Qingqing's shrewdness, plus the Linghu clan's foundation, plus the Sima clan's two successive generations of foolish rulers' wanton devastation...

We need to keep ellipsis as "...". So: "On the state-protector divine artifact, the Linghu clan already holds its own; then, with the Linghu clan grasping seventy percent of the Great Jin Divine Kingdom's military houses and commanding countless elite troops and fierce generals... plus Linghu Qingqing's shrewdness, plus the Linghu clan's foundation, plus the Sima clan's two successive generations of foolish rulers' wanton devastation..."

It seems that this day could be changed?

Thus: "It seems that this day could be changed?"

Lu, Zhao, Sun, Wu clans... these top-tier military houses, in the Great Jin Divine Kingdom are merely first-rank dukes, yet they actually hold the same rank as that little brat who made it in, the Duke of Yuzhou.

Lu, Zhao, Sun, Wu clans... these top-tier military houses, in the Great Jin Divine Kingdom are merely first-rank dukes, yet they actually hold the same rank as that little brat who made it in, the Duke of Yuzhou.

Thus: "The Lu, Zhao, Sun, and Wu clans—these top-tier military houses, in the Great Jin Divine Kingdom are merely first-rank dukes, yet they actually hold the same rank as that little brat who made it in, the Duke of Yuzhou."

Lu, Zhao, Sun, Wu clans... these top-tier military houses, in the Great Jin Divine Kingdom are merely first-rank dukes, yet they actually hold the same rank as that little brat who made it in, the Duke of Yuzhou.

But the Linghu clan's promise to them is, however, enfeoffment as king!

Thus: "But the promise the Linghu clan gave them is to be enfeoffed as kings!"

Being enfeoffed as king means possessing a territory of a state.

Thus: "Being enfeoffed as a king means possessing a territory of one's own."

A state's territory at least includes more than ten major prefectures; this is reasonable, lawful, and completely under one's own control as a fief!

Thus: "A king's territory at least includes more than ten major prefectures, which is reasonable, lawful, and completely under one's own control as a fief!"

In the high sky, the five Five Elements secret treasures and the Four Spirit Warship collided with each other, the tremendous roar shaking the ground within a thousand-li radius, making it tremble.

In the high sky, the five Five Elements secret treasures and the Four Spirit Warship collided with each other, the tremendous roar shaking the ground within a thousand-li radius, making it tremble.

On the ground, the hearts of Lü Yi and the other military house leaders also experienced a Heaven-Man Struggle.

On the ground, the hearts of Lü Yi and the other military house leaders also experienced a Heaven-Man Struggle.

Gradually, Linghu Qingqing's face completely suppressed the expressions of Sima Xian and Sima Fa, father and son.