[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-965":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290263,4477,"Chapter 965: There Should Be a Fine Here","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-965",965,"\u003Cp>Within Guantun County, all was bustling activity; of the five hundred Dao Foundation warriors who should have been guarding the city walls, four hundred were busy dismantling crates and placing blocks of blazing Wilderness Realm stone in designated positions, then inserting pre-cut century-old spiritual wood into the pre-set arrays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan sat within the Fu Ling Great Array, using its power to restore his Dao energy, while holding a rice bowl filled with Qi-replenishing elixirs the size of grapes; one hand held the bowl, the other wielded chopsticks, shovel-like, cramming every elixir into his mouth before tossing his head back and swallowing them whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of fine, rapid cracking sounds emanated from his abdomen; all the elixirs were crushed into powder, then ignited by Dao energy, transforming into clusters of spiritual energy that were directly absorbed by his flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Wei Yuan’s spiritual sea was too vast, his body too strong, his stored Dao energy boundless as an ocean; even with such frantic replenishment, it was like using a bucket to fill a pond—only slowly rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several cultivators beside him swiftly unpacked medicine boxes and elixir vials, pouring bottle after bottle into a large bowl before delivering it to Wei Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan was about to take another bowlful when he suddenly remembered that many Dao soldiers in the city were still performing menial tasks—and these soldiers were all under someone’s control!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many eyes watching him! Wei Yuan immediately set down the large bowl, straightened his posture, and with a light fingertip tap, crushed all the elixirs into dust, which then coalesced into two white wisps drawn into his nostrils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This method of ingesting elixirs had a touch of immortal grace, though it was slow; by the time one absorbed a bowlful, one could have shovel-fed three bowls already. Moreover, the lungs lacked the strength of the stomach and absorbed more slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thirteen Law-Form Dao soldiers had been standing still, slowly accumulating power; yet one unremarkable soldier at the edge suddenly formed a hand seal, and the golden immortal sword atop his head split into two, then four, then in an instant became sixty-four flying swords that shot toward the rebel army like lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wherever the flying swords pointed, whether rebel Law-Form or Dao Foundation warriors, all were thrown into panic and fled; yet the swords were not aimed at them—they suddenly veered in all directions, striking instead the Heart-Phase World!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These swords carried fire infused with wood and concealed thunder arts; as they struck the Heart-Phase World simultaneously, Liu Heihu let out a cry of agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other twelve Law-Form Dao soldiers, seeing one act first, also launched their attacks—unimaginable cultivation techniques erupted, yet none targeted the rebels; all were directed solely at Liu Heihu’s Heart-Phase World!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu’s cry of pain instantly became a shriek; blood trickled from the corners of his eyes, and his aura plummeted sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the combined surprise assault of the thirteen Immortal Forms, his Heart-Phase World suffered catastrophic damage—especially from a pure orchid flame and several crimson sword qi, which inflicted far greater harm than expected, as if two massive holes had been torn clean through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a Yu Jing cultivator, Liu Heihu could not withstand the assault of thirteen Immortal Forms; he immediately conceived of retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Liu Heihu stepped back, Wei Yuan panicked, abandoning all pretense—he grabbed a handful of elixirs and shoved them into his mouth, leaping onto the city wall, shouting through a mouthful: “You bastard, stop right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu snorted. “If I want to leave, who’s to stop me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Wei Yuan opened his mouth to reply, a sharp crack echoed—the flagpole beside him split open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan’s expression shifted, then calmed instantly. “Why would I stop you? Scatter your army, and you’re nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu paled. “How do you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan snorted coldly. “Siphoning collective energy to secretly steal others’ life destinies and vitality to bolster yourself—this is clearly demonic cultivation. How could it not be obvious? And your method is crude, inefficient, ugly, and utterly unhidden—not even a proper Dao path! In my Tai Chu Palace, we have at least three or four similar techniques, each far more refined than yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu was half-skeptical, yet Wei Yuan’s demeanor gave no hint of deceit; for a moment, he actually felt a flicker of admiration for the Tai Chu Palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan said no more, ordering the Dao soldiers into full assault; the thirteen Immortal Form soldiers focused solely on attacking Liu Heihu’s Heart-Phase World. After his earlier setback, Liu Heihu no longer dared to be careless—he concealed most of his Heart-Phase World, revealing only its combat aspects to counter the Immortal Forms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Liu Heihu had no chance against thirteen Immortal Law-Forms—but Dao soldiers were not true Law-Forms; after the second round of attacks, their auras began to decline, becoming Celestial Forms. After two more rounds, they became Terrestrial Forms, then one by one were crushed by Liu Heihu’s blows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the rebel army’s morale was already crumbling; Liu Heihu swept his spiritual sense across the battlefield and found casualties nearing twenty percent. Even with his Heart-Phase World suppressing the tide, large sections of his troops began to break and flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu himself was utterly exhausted; defeating the thirteen Immortal Form soldiers had drained nearly all his Dao energy. Meanwhile, Wei Yuan stood firmly within the county, refusing to leave the city or even move far from the soldiers blessed with fortune. Any attack on Wei Yuan would inevitably strike them too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Heihu snorted, realizing the battle was lost. Fuming at Wei Yuan’s cunning, he also felt deep dread—and added Wei Yuan to his list of lifelong enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave the order: sound the gong, withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wei Yuan would not let him escape; summoning his remaining Dao energy, he summoned ten thousand pixel Dao soldiers and three hundred Wood-element Dao soldiers, launching them in pursuit of the fleeing rebels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebels were already a rabble; now utterly demoralized, and knowing these Dao soldiers were conjured by magic, who would fight? Retreat turned instantly into rout—everyone fled for their lives; though they couldn’t outrun the Dao soldiers, as long as they outran their comrades, they were safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a colossal hand appeared in the sky, sweeping from left to right across the battlefield; it seemed tangible yet intangible—rebel soldiers felt nothing, but Wei Yuan’s Dao soldiers all exploded into dust, their controllers’ spiritual senses severely wounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wei Yuan remained standing on the city wall, calling out clearly: “Sir, to strike at mere foot soldiers? How undignified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky darkened abruptly; the sun vanished, the heavens turned pitch black, stars glittered, and light—unknown in origin—illuminated all things under heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the night sky appeared a handsome young man, sleeves billowing, standing aloft, looking down: “This is none of your affair. Pack your things and leave Ji State. Now. On the strength of Yan Shi’s name, I’ll overlook your past misdeeds—for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1164,"2026-06-20T03:38:38.899Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","64ea86305f4b0365187b3d06755530e807263e736d2cf0592688dd57ac8482ad","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-966","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-964",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]