Chapter 572: Is There Still a Court?

Xu family ancestral land, Xu Xu Lanshan was personally demonstrating and teaching the Five-Blade Spear Technique.

The spear techniques were all basic movements, with thrusting as the core focus. At this moment, tens of thousands of soldiers on the drill ground were repeatedly practicing the first form: "Level Spear, Straight Thrust." Each soldier's spear was tied with a blue brick; the tip must remain level upon thrusting to pass inspection.

As a top-tier Law Form, Xu Xu Lanshan had personally created this Blade-Spear Technique by combining the characteristics of fire-arm blades with battlefield slaughter—clearly showing immense importance. She also ordered all soldiers to discard their random personal weapons—cutting knives, hand axes, treasure swords, long sabers—all forbidden; hand-to-hand combat was permitted only with the blade-spear.

They had trained for nearly half an hour; soldiers and officers alike secretly groaned, but none dared utter a word. Those who complained had long since become corpses, and even their most powerful behind-the-scenes patrons were no match for Xu Xu Lanshan's authority.

Mid-training, a man suddenly flew in at full speed and delivered an urgent military report to Xu Xu Lanshan. She opened it and saw: "Grand General Wei Wei Boyang of Great Tang, riding the Imperial Barge, is approaching Han Yangguan. Garrison forces tried to stop him but have been injured by many."

Another image floated above the report: a magnificent flying barge hovered outside Han Yangguan, its prow standing a stern general confronting a group of Xu family cultivators.

Xu Xu Lanshan frowned slightly. She had reviewed the intelligence: Wei Wei Boyang was coming to support Qingming.

Wei Wei Boyang appeared coarse and bold, but in truth he was meticulous and skilled in commanding troops. Born to an ordinary family, he had befriended the current Regent since childhood, growing up together. Because of this bond, after achieving cultivation, Wei Wei Boyang served exclusively in Great Tang—though his official titles were prestigious, he was effectively confined to Tang territory, spending most of his life accomplishing nothing.

How could such a man suddenly appear at Han Yangguan, and why had he clashed with the Xu family?

Xu Xu Lanshan immediately said: "Continue your training. I must attend to military affairs."

Then she rose into the air and flew at full speed toward Han Yangguan.

Above Han Yangguan, Wei Wei Boyang's voice boomed like thunder in a clear sky, echoing across the entire fortress: "Open your dog eyes and look closely—this is the Regent of Great Tang's imperial barge, equivalent to the Son of Heaven's personal tour! You dare block this vessel? You're blocking the Son of Heaven's chariot! Someone just said you're from the Xu family? Come on, say it louder again—who are you, the ones blocking the Son of Heaven's barge?"

Before the barge, several Xu family Law Form Elders exchanged glances—none dared respond to this topic at this moment.

Wei Wei Boyang added: "Still silent? Still blocking the way? Are you all dead men? Fine—launch the barge! First, crush these dead men under the wheels!"

Two voices came from the heavens: "Wait!"

Two figures flew in from different directions, at nearly identical speeds—one was Xu Xu Lanshan, the other was Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun.

Xu Xu Lanshan and Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun exchanged glances; Xu Xu Lanshan stepped back half a pace, signaling Qiong Niu to take the lead. Wei Wei Boyang was a powerhouse of the Yu Jing realm; Xu Xu Lanshan's cultivation and status still fell slightly short—Qiong Niu, also a Yu Jing, was the more appropriate representative.

Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun said: "General Wei, why such rage? This is a frontier pass—flying barges are forbidden overhead. That's common knowledge. Moreover, if you're returning to court, you needn't take this route at all—this detour is unnecessarily large."

Wei Wei Boyang sneered: "I act under imperial decree—I go where I please. I've never heard of any ban on flying over passes. Even if such a rule existed, it applies only to ordinary barges—who dares ban the Son of Heaven's barge? You have audacity! I suspect you're plotting rebellion!"

Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun frowned but still held his temper: "I merely fear harm to you and the Son of Heaven's barge..."

Xu Xu Lanshan thought inwardly: Disaster—Qiong Niu just made a fatal mistake.

True enough, Wei Wei Boyang's brows shot up, his voice shaking the land: "Why worry? If the Son of Heaven's barge is damaged, it's an assassination attempt on the Son of Heaven—you die, and your nine clans are exterminated."

Qiong Niu's face flushed crimson with rage, yet Wei Wei Boyang's logic seemed sound—he had no rebuttal, only muttered: "I..."

Wei Wei Boyang cut him off: "Who are you to call yourself 'this seat' before me? In these frontier wastelands and barbarian lands, the only one I know is Li Li Shenji. The rest aren't even worth my notice."

Let me say something blunt: you, a wild Yu Jing with shaky foundations, dare speak to me? 'This seat'? Look at your own rank—you're not even a seventh-rank official. Do you even have the right to call yourself 'this seat'?"

Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun's fury surged to his crown, roaring as he lunged to engage Wei Wei Boyang in combat. Wei Wei Boyang wasn't afraid—he already gripped his treasure blade.

Xu Xu Lanshan saw the danger and flew to block Qiong Niu, then said to Wei Wei Boyang: "General Wei! To insult so recklessly over a single word—aren't you a high official of the court? How can you act so beneath your dignity?"

Wei Wei Boyang sneered: "Your Xu family openly rebels against the court; I've only cursed you twice—I haven't even insulted your ancestors yet, and that's being kind. Still unrepentant? When I dismantled the Yin Witch, where were you, you vile creature? Hiding behind your mother's skirts, trembling?"

Qiong Niu Master Fenhai Zhenjun's crown erupted a stream of True Yang Flame—he prepared to charge and fight to the death.

Xu Xu Lanshan desperately held him back, then ordered men to escort Qiong Niu away. She then spoke coldly: "General Wei, state your purpose plainly! Otherwise, the Xu family has Immortal Ancestors guarding us—we are not a target for any stray cat or dog to bully!" Wei Wei Boyang sized her up; Xu Xu Lanshan met his gaze without fear. She was on the verge of breaking into Yu Jing—afterward, though still slightly below him in cultivation, she would have enough strength to defend herself. If their realms were equal, she had confidence she could even gain the upper hand—this was her foundation.

Wei Wei Boyang suddenly grinned: "You female cultivator's looks are decent enough, but you're too thin—wouldn't be much fun to hold."

Xu Xu Lanshan's face turned icy: "General Wei, if you persist in this thug-like behavior, you'll bring shame upon the court."

Wei Wei Boyang sneered: "You still recognize the court?"

Xu Xu Lanshan had no reply. She thought: Across this vast land, beyond the old men of Tang territory clinging to faded glory and living in memories, who still recognized the court?

But this thought could not be spoken. After all, the Tang dynasty was still the universal sovereign, the legitimate symbol. You could shout rebellion against another state and flee to another. But if you dared rebel against the Tang, no corner of the world would shelter you.

Xu Xu Lanshan did not answer Wei Wei Boyang's question, only said: "If you believe flying over the pass is the only way to save face, then fly. But you're using court authority for private gain, merely satisfying your own vanity—this matter we will report to the court."

Wei Wei Boyang grunted: "I'm afraid of your report? Go ahead—file it anywhere you like! Since you're letting me pass, stop wasting words—clear the way!"

Xu Xu Lanshan flew aside and ordered the Elders to open the path.

The barge slowly activated and flew toward Han Yangguan.

At that moment, an Xu family Elder suddenly pointed beyond the pass: "More people have appeared over there! Looks like bandits!"

Xu Xu Lanshan turned and saw a group of mounted bandits on a small hill twenty li from Han Yangguan, busily leveling the ground and digging foundations—as if preparing to establish a camp.

Nothing was wrong with what was seen!

The hill was only dozens of zhang high, small in area, barren of vegetation and lacking resources. Xu Xu Lanshan had paid it no mind—but now, bandits had seized it in the chaos.

Wei Wei Boyang stood atop the barge as the massive vessel slowly passed over Han Yangguan. The imperial guards aboard all looked arrogant, making lewd gestures at the garrison below and throwing debris, spitting. Though the barge flew hundreds of zhang high—spit couldn't reach them—the insults and gestures were clearly visible.

This time, Wei Wei Boyang did not repeat the spectacle of a thousand men urinating midair. The barge glided calmly over Han Yangguan, passing without incident.

Behind the pass, tents stretched across mountains and plains—countless merchant caravans were blocked here. On hillsides and grasslands, masses of refugees lay sprawled, many too weak to stand; even the sight of the enormous, magnificent barge flying overhead failed to rouse them to cheer.

Seeing the refugees spread across the land, Wei Wei Boyang understood what Little Wei Yuan had sent him to witness. He immediately ordered: "Record the scene below—oh, make sure it's loud and clear. Let the Xu family see we're documenting this."

The imperial guard commander perked up: "General, rest assured—I'll make sure it's done perfectly."

The commander assumed Wei Wei Boyang wanted to gather evidence against the Xu family, to force them to negotiate and extract a favorable price. He gathered a full hundred imperial guards, lined them up on the barge's rear deck, and shouted: "Set up the Image-Recording Array properly! If it ruins my recording, I'll peel your skins!"

The imperial guards roared in response.

The commander turned back—and found no one behind him. The Xu cultivators had all flown toward the pass.

Xu Xu Lanshan now flew above the small hill, watching the bandits' activity, and said to an Elder: "Go ask them who they are and what they want."

One Elder said: "All the bandit leaders wear masks—they look like the Heaven-Subduing Gang."

At the name "Heaven-Subduing Gang," several Elders' faces grew uneasy; some even showed fear.

Fortunately, one Elder said: "What's to fear? Little Wei Yuan himself submitted a petition to court claiming he'd wiped out the Heaven-Subduing Gang—there is no such gang anymore. Can Little Wei Yuan eat his own words?"

The questioning Elder descended lower—but at a hundred zhang, he felt a chilling presence, as if hunted by a natural predator. His heart tightened—he knew these bandits were no ordinary group. He hovered in midair, bowing respectfully: "May I ask, who are you, and what brings you here?"

A massive, muscular man wearing a mask stepped forward and roared: "We are the Heaven-Annihilating Gang—the greatest mounted bandits of the Western Regions! The so-called 'Fifty Heaven-Annihilating Outlaws' of the cultivation world? That's us! We've deemed this hill a fengshui treasure—planning to establish our stronghold here and build a great enterprise!"

The Elder's body trembled—he nearly fell from the sky.

(End of Chapter)