Chapter 393: Mountain Ridge Defense Battle

The rumbling sound was like thunder, shaking the mountains and rivers. Looking down from the mountaintop, even the clouds and mist that usually obscured the view were dispersed, only to quickly close in again.

Although it lasted only a brief moment, Li Yan still saw it clearly.

A large crater appeared in the mountain forest, with smoke rising; it stood out starkly against the surrounding emerald green.

"It exploded! It exploded!"

Sha Lifei was full of excitement, sweat beading on the tip of his nose.

Li Yan was dumbfounded, "You... how much did you use?"

Gunpowder is a consumable. The new gunpowder formula contains two types of heavenly spiritual treasures, making it extremely expensive; even the imperial court, which monopolizes resources, has to use it sparingly.

For their team, the price was secondary; the key was that the ratio of this substance was also particular.

If used in its entirety, the power would be too great.

Therefore, it was Li Yan and his team's habit to use the new gunpowder in full for firearms, but when using items like fire-caltrops, they usually mixed in half ordinary gunpowder.

The one before them was clearly not right.

"Nothing much, I just used a full portion."

Sha Lifei rubbed his bald head and gave an awkward smile, "Thinking the other side had many people, I wanted to make a loud one. The power is indeed extraordinary..."

Before he could finish speaking, more than a dozen "Jing People" crawled out from the surrounding ground, all of them covered in dirt and grime, and one even had a broken leg.

They waved their arms, jumping and cursing, clearly furious.

Sha Lifei couldn't understand what they were saying, but he knew they weren't saying anything nice. He hurriedly said, "Mistake, mistake. The remaining few won't have this issue."

His mouth was apologetic, but there was no guilt on his face.

When the "Jing People" saw this, they became even more enraged.

"Alright, stop messing around!"

Li Yan frowned as he looked down, "Everyone stay alert. This explosion will likely make them desperate..."

…………

The smoke dissipated, and screams rose one after another.

Everywhere there were severed limbs and arms. Many soldiers were buried by earth and stone, and some unlucky ones were lifted by the shockwave, crashing into tree branches, either pierced by twigs or suffering broken chests and vomiting blood.

Sha Lifei's ground fire-thunder, after increasing the gunpowder amount, lifted the entire ground, killing at least dozens of people and seriously injuring even more.

With just this one blow, the Longxiang Army's vanguard battalion was completely crippled. Although there were still three or four hundred people left, they had been scared out of their wits.

Clatter, clatter...

Guo Xiu shook the dirt off his head and climbed up with difficulty. Looking at the hellish scene around him, his eyes instantly turned blood-red, "Traitorous thieves, how unreasonable!"

He was truly furious.

The traitors within the Cao Gang, the demon chaos in Danyang, Xiangyang's Mount Lumen... although the two sides had never officially met, several of his plans had been disrupted by Li Yan.

More importantly, the other side had also taken his "Thunderbolt Fire Scripture," but he had other important matters at the time and did not continue the pursuit.

Thinking of this, Guo Xiu felt his three corpse gods jumping in rage.

"Feng Feng Shixiong, Feng Feng Shixiong!"

Shouts came from not far away.

It was the man who had previously been dressed as a peddler.

He was also covered in dirt, holding another man, his eyes red and his voice trembling.

The man in his arms was a dwarf, dressed in coarse cloth, unremarkable in appearance, with a massive head.

These two were senior and junior brothers named You San and Wang Si. Although they came from the Longxiang Army, they mostly spent their time mingling in the martial world.

You San excelled in eye-based supernatural abilities, while the dwarf Wang Si excelled in escape techniques. With the brothers cooperating, whether stealing or assassinating, they had never failed.

The dwarf's chest bone was already completely shattered, his eyes couldn't even open, and he was exhaling more than inhaling; soon, he stopped moving.

"Ah—!"

You San roared like a wild beast, picked up a fire-god gun not far away, and without a word, ran toward the mountaintop.

His fire-god gun had also been snatched from the Commandant's Office.

Although Guo Xiu was equally angry, he calmed down at this moment and ordered repeatedly, "Retreat first, be careful of more ground fire-thunders in the forest!"

"You all, save Feng Feng Shixiong You San first. He cannot die. Without his supernatural ability, it will be difficult to avoid the imperial court's pursuit!"

Although Guo Xiu's commands had failed time and again, leading the Longxiang Army to such a state, this sentence was correct.

You San's eye-based supernatural ability was extremely rare. Although it wasn't clairvoyance, his vision was sharper than a hawk's, able to see through mist formations, as if using a telescope; everything within his line of sight was seen clearly.

The reason they had been able to avoid the pursuit of the Law Enforcement Hall and the Commandant's Office all these years was largely due to You San's supernatural ability.

These experts within the Longxiang Army glanced at each other, didn't waste words, leaped onto the surrounding trees, jumped between thick branches, avoided the ground fire-thunders one by one, and headed toward the mountaintop...

Longxiang Army Zhao Tongling Feng Lei also luckily dodged the ground fire-thunder. With a gloomy face, he stepped forward and asked, "My Lord, what should we do?"

Guo Xiu gritted his teeth and said, "This is the ground fire-thunder from the 'Thunderbolt Fire Scripture.' Clear the mines one by one first, then send troops up the mountain to encircle and suppress them."

"They are using this item to block us, so they definitely don't have many people. As long as Li Yan is killed, the rest are not to be feared!"

"Yes, My Lord!"

Feng Lei bowed solemnly and then ordered the mine clearing.

The Longxiang Army was one of the earliest forces to come into contact with firearms. Although their luck was poor, they had accumulated quite a bit of experience.

Led by a captain who was also skilled in the supernatural ability of smell, and holding two hunting dogs, they soon found another ground fire-thunder.

"Quick, it's right over there!"

The captain said in a deep voice, "The ground fire-thunder has a trigger mechanism. Remember to clear the floating soil around it first, then dig carefully."

"Yes, Sir!"

Several soldiers stepped forward carefully with tools.

Their method was indeed correct; after all, any firearm needs to be triggered. As long as the mechanism is destroyed, it can be disarmed.

But they never imagined that the trigger method of this ground fire-thunder truly took a different path.

Sss!

In the tunnel, several "Jing People" lit the fuse, immediately danced with joy, and used earth-escape techniques to flee wildly.

Another roar sounded, earth and stone splashed everywhere, and the soldiers who went to clear the mines all suffered, lifted high into the air, vomiting blood from the explosion, and fainting.

Guo Xiu's eyelids twitched wildly, "Why did it explode again?"

The captain responsible for clearing the mines swallowed his saliva and said tremblingly, "This subordinate is also unclear. They used some method, but the power of the ground fire-thunder was clearly much smaller."

Guo Xiu was thoughtful, gritted his teeth and said, "Find more people, test it and then immediately turn back. I'm afraid there's something underneath."

Although fearful, two Longxiang Army soldiers stepped forward carefully, scratched twice, and turned to run.

Boom!

Sure enough, they lured the "Jing People" to light the fuse in advance, the ground fire-thunder exploded, but no one was injured.

"My Lord is wise!"

Zhao Tongling Feng Lei immediately began to flatter him.

Guo Xiu had also just tried it randomly, not expecting it to actually succeed. He was overjoyed and kept sending people to test it.

The "Jing People" were ultimately unfamiliar with gunpowder.

Not long after, accompanied by roars, the ground fire-thunders buried by Sha Lifei were triggered one by one...

………

Above the cliff, Li Yan closed his eyes slightly, his little finger twitching lightly.

Near the dense forest at the foot of the mountain, a paper doll was hiding in the bushes. Even with the thick mist blocking the view, it saw everything clearly.

Swish!

You San's figure appeared in a tree, then leaped down, picked up the fire-god gun, dark energy erupted under his feet, and he scurried up the hillside.

The Commandant's Office's fire-god gun?

When Li Yan saw this, he became vigilant.

He knew that in the mountains and forests of Jingshan a few months ago, assassinating each other with firearms had become mainstream.

The other side must have accumulated quite a bit of experience.

Not daring to be the slightest bit careless, as Li Yan's little finger twitched, the paper doll immediately slid along the ground, following You San closely.

Seeing the distance between the two sides getting closer, You San suddenly raised his gun.

When Li Yan saw this, he felt it was strange. Now the distance between the two sides was still three or four hundred meters, and the other side was still in the clouds and mist. At such a distance, even with a fire-god gun, there was no accuracy at all. What was the use of firing?

But soon, he was startled, turned around quickly, and with a leap, jumped behind a giant rock.

Bang!

Gunshots rang out from the foot of the mountain.

In an area ten meters away, earth and stone splashed instantly.

Just as Li Yan expected, at this distance, the fire-god gun had lost its accuracy, but it was not far off.

The other side had the blessing of eye-based supernatural ability; he was a sharpshooter!

Li Yan immediately shouted, "Old Sha, it's eye-based supernatural ability, hide first!"

Sha Lifei, who was raising his gun to aim, heard this, hurriedly grabbed the bewildered Wu Ba, and hid behind the giant rock.

And in this short time, You San had rushed out of the thick mist and stopped at a distance of two hundred meters from the crowd.

He didn't rush to get closer, but quickly replaced the magazine, stood there, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth, and aimed his gun upward.

!.

The reason You San could occupy a special position in the Longxiang Army and even dare to confront Guo Xiu was not just because of his supernatural ability.

His martial arts couldn't be considered powerful, and he only knew some side-door bewitching evil arts, but after obtaining the fire-god gun, combined with his supernatural ability, his combat power increased instantly.

Quite a few experts had died under his gun.

Encountering this situation, Li Yan was not panicked, but blew a long and short whistle, then threw out a smoke pill, and chanted in a low voice while forming seals: "Nuogao! Heavenly Truth Great Purity, Essence of Ren and Gui. Inner response to the kidney storage... act quickly according to the law!"

Once the Mysterious Water Escape was used, his whole body was immediately wrapped in water mist, his figure faded, and under the cover of thick smoke, he circled from the side toward You San.

When practicing at Lake Liangzi, they had conducted some drills and coordination for this situation.

To deal with this kind of sharpshooter, they thought of three ways.

First, let Lu San control the hawk to throw fire-caltrops from the air.

Second, Li Yan uses escape techniques to get close and kill.

Third, Wang Daoxuan performs curse techniques.

Now that Lu San was not there and Wang Daoxuan had to preside over the Dharma altar, it was naturally up to Li Yan to use escape techniques to get close and kill in close quarters.

The thick smoke emitted by the smoke pill attracted You San's attention. He held the fire-god gun, aimed at the surroundings of the smoke, and was ready to pull the trigger at any time.

Li Yan's eyes revealed murderous intent, and he approached quickly.

But just at this moment, You San suddenly turned the muzzle.

This guy could see through escape techniques!

Li Yan's hair stood on end, and he directly did a lazy donkey roll.

Boom!

Gunshots rang out, and gravel splashed everywhere.

Li Yan dodged dangerously. After getting up, dark energy erupted under his feet, and at the same time, he held his blade horizontally and rushed toward You San.

At this distance, the other side had no time to change the magazine.

However, You San was also not panicked and retreated quickly.

At the same time, two sharp arrows flew out of the thick mist; it was the Longxiang Army experts coming to help.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Arrows whistled, heading straight for Li Yan's face.

Li Yan didn't stop at all, stepped on the mud-treading steps, blocked with his blade horizontally, deflected the sharp arrows, and accelerated again.

His eyes were full of murderous intent, and his speed did not slow down at all.

That protruding-eyed gunman was truly a hidden danger.

Even if he got injured, he had to clear this person first.

However, he was ultimately one step too late.

Seven or eight figures had already rushed out of the thick mist.

Two men were the fastest. Their faces were somewhat similar, and their clothes were the same; both were in gray robes, and both held long spears.

But the two men's spears were different.

One used a long iron spear of eighteen feet.

One used a soft vine spear.

The man using the iron spear suddenly lunged forward, the spear thrusting in a straight line, using the "White Snake Spits Its Tongue" move, stabbing straight at Li Yan's chest.

Just as Li Yan wanted to block, the other person lowered his body, rolled on the ground, and the vine spear in his hand was like a poisonous snake, turning a corner in the air, heading straight for his lower body.

Li Yan had no choice but to retreat with the momentum.

And the man using the iron spear advanced again, shaking his arms at the same time, his mouth emitting a whistling sound, and the iron spear instantly shook out more than a dozen spear shadows, enveloping Li Yan's whole body.

Both of them were dark energy experts, far inferior to Li Yan, but their spear techniques combined odd and straight, actually forcing him back.

Li Yan was annoyed, having already seen the trickiness of their spear techniques.

The man using the iron spear was using the "Yang Family Spear."

This "Yang Family Spear" was not the spear technique of the Yang Family Generals, but was created by Yang Miaozhen, the wife of Li Quan, the leader of the Red Coat Army in the late Southern Song Dynasty, known as the "Twenty-year Pear Blossom Spear, invincible in the world."

If it were only this person, it would be easy to talk about.

Although his spear technique was exquisite, his internal power was weaker.

But his brother used the Jiangnan "Ground-Rolling Spear," with flexible body techniques, good at overcoming hardness with softness, specializing in attacking the lower path, extremely insidious.

The brothers cooperated, and it was seamless.

For this situation, Li Yan also had a way to deal with it; once the Soul-Severing Flying Blade was out, it could be broken immediately.

However, others had also made their move.

One of the men had already pulled a flintlock gun from his waist.

The most troublesome was You San, full of murderous intent, having already replaced the magazine, ready to aim.

Li Yan didn't say a word and turned to leave.

He was fast, dark energy erupted under his feet, he walked a zigzag route, his figure was erratic, and he returned to the mountaintop.

Bang! Bang!

Two consecutive gunshots behind him, earth and stone splashed, but none hit.

"Hahaha!"

Although You San missed, he laughed wildly, "What kind of rising star in the martial world, the reputation is blown loud, but that's all."

"Fellow Daoists, he is only one person. Let's join forces to capture him. I want to skin this kid and light a sky lantern!"

"No rush!"

The Daoist who had set up the altar earlier spoke hurriedly, solemnly saying, "This kid is cunning, his Dao techniques and martial arts are not bad. There must be traps ahead. Wait for this poor Daoist to force him out."

After speaking, he took a piece of yellow paper from his bosom, folded it into a knife shape in two or three moves, bit his fingertip, drew a blood talisman on it, aimed at the giant rock where Li Yan was hiding, and muttered words, speaking in the local language of Yun-Gui.

Seeming to sense something, the old Daoist suddenly opened his eyes.

"Summon!"

Swish!

The paper knife flew out instantly, turned a corner in the air, bypassed the giant rock, and headed straight for Li Yan's brow.

Paper Knife Soul-Severing Technique?

Tongtian Sect!

Li Yan immediately recognized this technique.

The Tongtian Sect was also a major school, mainly circulating in the three provinces of Chuan, Yu, and Qian. Some worshiped Taishang Laojun as the ancestor, and some worshiped the Tongtian Sect Zhao Tongling as the master.

This Dharma sect's techniques were extremely fierce, specifically targeting the soul, and had many taboos, including not eating beef, dog meat, scaleless fish, and flat-feathered livestock meat (i. e., poultry feathers), and not passing under spider webs.

The more taboos, the stronger the power naturally.

Even through the giant rock, the soul could be locked.

But just as the paper knife was about to pierce his brow, Li Yan's face was cold, and he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the paper knife in his hand.

Sizzle!

Electric arcs flickered, and the paper knife instantly turned into flying ash.

Pfft!

The old man on the opposite side had his technique broken and his mind shaken. He only felt stuffy in his chest and immediately spat out a mouthful of blood...

Second update in the afternoon.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 394 =====