Chapter 316: The Demon Empress Attacks

In the drill ground.

Dugu Feng's water-silk dress fluttered as she unfolded her long sword, conjuring a hazy, brilliant expanse of sword light.

She was using the "Hongchen Biluo Sword Technique," a sword art that ranked among the very best on the "List of Extraordinary Arts and Peerless Skills."

The sword light was captivating; the sharp and ethereal Sword Qi cascaded down from the high heavens, the sword momentum transforming into a vast ocean, surging over in wave after wave. It also seemed to reflect the worldly life of mortals, causing one to involuntarily immerse themselves in it—it was truly a top-tier sword technique under heaven.

The brilliance of Dugu Feng's martial arts was such that she had few rivals among the younger generation.

But alas, the one she encountered was the strongest successor in the history of the Yin Gui Sect.

Wanwan's smile was like a flower; a snow-white ribbon flew from her sleeve, twisting and changing like a dragon, yet as elusive as wind and clouds. It carried the strange and unpredictable Heavenly Demon Force Field, pulling and tugging wantonly, making it impossible to guard against.

Bang!

With a flick of the ribbon, it collided with the long sword thrusting toward her.

The ribbon looked soft and gentle, but when it struck the sword body, it instantly caused the blade to vibrate incessantly, as if it had been struck by a Hammer.

Under that single blow, Dugu Feng could not stop herself from flying backward, retreating four or five zhang before she could steady her momentum.

"Sister Feng, you are no match for Wanwan; admit defeat." Wanwan covered her mouth and giggled, full of charm.

"The outcome is not yet decided; Feng'er has not lost." Dugu Feng bit her cherry lip slightly. Although she knew she was no match for Wanwan, she had always been competitive. Forcing down her surging Qi and Blood, she turned her fair wrist and prepared to strike again.

Suddenly, a strange suction force emanated from behind her.

Dugu Feng let out a delicate cry and tumbled backward, falling into the warm and fragrant embrace of Yu Liancheng.

"You... what are you doing? Feng'er is in the middle of a duel with Sister Wan; can you not disturb us?"

Dugu Feng struggled slightly as she was encircled by Yu Liancheng's slender waist. This was the first time she had been so close to a man; her pretty face turned crimson, and her translucent earlobes looked like pink diamonds.

"Does Feng'er want to win against Wanwan?" Yu Liancheng held Dugu Feng in his arms; her body was petite and Linglong, yet full of a young girl's vitality, and the faint fragrance of her body lingered at the tip of his nose.

"Of course I do." Dugu Feng nodded hurriedly upon hearing this.

"Then listen obediently to my guidance." Yu Liancheng lowered his head and blew a breath onto her burning ear, causing her delicate body to tremble instantly, as if struck by electricity.

"You... tell me then." Dugu Feng lowered her head, her dark hair cascading down to cover her face. Her competitive spirit was strong, and she did not dislike Yu Liancheng, so she stopped twisting and struggling.

Yu Liancheng bit Dugu Feng's ear and whispered. A look of suspicion appeared on Dugu Feng's face; she seemed not to fully believe the other's words.

"Young Master is truly biased, only willing to teach Sister Feng and not guide Wanwan." Wanwan sighed softly, feeling sorry for herself. A trace of killing intent flickered in her eyes, then vanished in a flash.

"Go!"

Yu Liancheng patted Dugu Feng's bottom, causing her to dart out like a rabbit amidst her shyness, her long sword thrusting toward Wanwan.

"Well come." Wanwan gave a delicate shout and leaped forward; the Heavenly Demon Ribbon at her sleeve met the sharp sword like a spirit snake, yet the moves seemed subtly more sinister and ruthless than before.

Seeing the ribbon about to wrap around the long sword, Dugu Feng turned her wrist slightly, and the blade swept across in a strange arc, precisely piercing the weak point of the ribbon's rotation, just like a nail driven into the seven-inch spot of a venomous snake.

Wanwan let out a cry of surprise and immediately changed her moves; the Heavenly Demon Ribbon came out again, but it was still restrained by Dugu Feng's long sword.

However, Wanwan's martial arts were a notch above Dugu Feng's. Even though the Heavenly Demon Ribbon was repeatedly restrained by the sword, by fully activating the Heavenly Demon Force Field, she did not fall into a disadvantage at all.

Both women's martial arts followed a path of agility and speed. This bout of fighting did not look the least bit dangerous or fierce; instead, with fluttering sleeves and graceful figures, it was as if two immortals were dancing.

"It is time to go to Luoyang."

Yu Liancheng picked up his wine cup and took a sip, a smile on his face. His eyes seemed to be watching the two women fight, yet they also seemed to be looking at a place very far away: "I hope this trip can be smoother."

After settling the affairs in Daxing, Yu Liancheng headed to Luoyang alone.

The two places were not far apart. With Yu Liancheng's light-body technique, even when obstructed by mountain terrain, he could arrive in half a day if he exerted his full strength.

But he was unhurried, traveling at a normal pace, his True Qi circulating endlessly within his body, with no fear of exhaustion.

Yet even so, in the eyes of ordinary people, his movement technique was still unimaginably fast.

Around dusk, Yu Liancheng arrived before a small town.

The moment he stepped into the town, he swept his gaze across the entire place and could not help but slow his pace, muttering to himself: "So you were waiting for me here; I knew you wouldn't be able to sit still."

At this time, the sun was setting, and the entire town was silent; not a single human voice could be heard, nor could a single shadow be seen.

Yet the town's buildings were intact, and there were no corpses or blood; it did not look like it had been plundered by Sui soldiers, rebel armies, or mountain bandits, which was baffling.

Against the backdrop of the blood-red sunset, the entire town gave off a strange and terrifying atmosphere, as if it were a sleeping primeval beast, opening its bloody maw, waiting for someone to enter so it could immediately chew and swallow them.

Yu Liancheng chuckled and walked into the town with his hands behind his back.

"Hee hee, Master, Wanwan said it—someone as conceited as Master would step right in to try it, even if he saw at a glance that this was a trap."

Suddenly, a light and melodious voice rang out.

Yu Liancheng had already recognized it as Wanwan's voice, but his expression did not change in the slightest.

At the same time, footsteps sounded in unison, like rolls of thunder.

Hundreds of burly men rushed out from the front and back of the long street, dressed in tight-fitting clothes, carrying crossbows and horizontal blades. Their eyes flashed with sharp light, revealing a murderous aura. Moreover, their formation was strict and their steps orderly; they were clearly well-trained elites, and in the span of a breath, they had blocked the front and back of the long street.

Wanwan pushed open a door and stepped out from a house, like an elf of the forest, possessing an otherworldly beauty.

But compared to the woman behind her, who was dressed in plain and elegant clothes with her face hidden deep within heavy veils, she seemed to pale in comparison.

This woman had a graceful and slender figure, her hair tied in a high bun; even without seeing her beautiful face, one could feel her compelling and elegant demeanor.

Her very posture of walking with lotus steps gave one a feeling of endless admiration, and it was filled with an extremely subtle sense of temptation.

Besides the Demon Empress Zhu Yuyan, who else could possess such peerless elegance?

A smile played on Wanwan's pretty face as she bowed to Yu Liancheng: "Wanwan greets Young Master. Master had something to find me for, so I left Daxing without permission; I hope Young Master will forgive me."

"Consider today your vacation; I approve it, so it won't count as dereliction of duty." Yu Liancheng waved his hand indifferently.

"Many thanks for your understanding, Young Master," Wanwan said with a giggle.

Yu Liancheng swept his eyes around, his gaze lingering for a moment on several hidden spots: "Come out, all of you. With your skills in concealing Qi and hiding, you are still far from being able to deceive me."

As his words fell, several more figures flew out, some landing on the eaves, others standing on the long street.

A refined, elegant, and dashing middle-aged man was the most eye-catching. He held a copper flute and possessed a scholarly air, looking dashing and leisurely. But his eyes gave one a feeling of coldness, as if one would have the blood in their entire body frozen just by being looked at by him.

This person was none other than Zhu Yuyan's martial uncle, the highest-ranking Elder of the Yin Gui Sect, known as the "Cloud-Rain Dual Cultivation" Pi Shouxuan.

Beside him stood a tall woman with peach-blossom cheeks, cherry lips, and skin whiter than snow; her beautiful eyes looked toward Yu Liancheng with a sense of curiosity, and even a hint of greed, as if a flower-plucking thief had spotted a beautiful maiden—this was the Yin Gui Sect Elder Wen Cai-ting.

On another rooftop stood a strange woman dressed in a golden, ornate robe, her features quite beautiful. Her face was so pale it lacked even a trace of human vitality, and her eyes flashed with eerie, vicious, and sharp glares, looking just like a beautiful ghost that had slipped out of the underworld to claim a life—this was the "Silver-Haired Enchantress" Mei Danmei.

Aside from the Yin Gui Sect Elders, there were three others who were extremely conspicuous; they stood together in a cluster, clearly having a rather close relationship.

Among these three, the leader was a burly man carrying a meteor hammer, with a claw-wielding Green Flood Dragon tattooed on his forehead, about the size of a palm. His physique was tall and imposing, his skin a bronze color, and his eyes shot out cold and sinister light.

If Yu Liancheng had not guessed wrong, this person was the one known as the "Green Flood Dragon," Ren Shaoming.

Ren Shaoming was the Gang Leader of the Iron Cavalry Association and a pivotal figure in the Jiangnan martial arts world; aside from failing against the "Heavenly Blade" Song Que while competing for territory, he had never encountered an opponent. But being able to escape from Song Que's hands was enough for him to be proud.

In reality, Ren Shaoming's connections were extremely complex.

He was the illegitimate son of the "Tie Le Flying Eagle" Qu Ao and had secret collusion with the Yin Gui Sect. If not for this, how could he have quickly opened up a situation in the Central Plains and become an overlord dominating a region?

As for the two people behind Ren Shaoming, they were Earth-level disciples of the Yin Gui Sect, the "Evil Monk" Fa Nan and the "Enchantress Nun" Chang Zhen, both of whom were top-tier experts in the pugilistic world.

In order to deal with an expert as unprecedented as Yu Liancheng, Zhu Yuyan had mobilized the majority of the Yin Gui Sect's experts.

The "Yin Empress" Zhu Yuyan gazed at Yu Liancheng with mysterious and profound eyes, bowed gracefully, and said in a soft, pleasant, and bewitching voice: "Zhu Yuyan greets the Imperial Tutor. Thank you for taking care of my little disciple these days."

Although surrounded by a group of evil-path experts, Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back, completely unmoved, and smiled: "It is nothing, it is nothing. Wanwan has also helped me a great deal, and I am very fond of her."

Zhu Yuyan slightly closed her bright eyes and said in an unhurried tone: "I have a question, and I hope the Imperial Tutor can resolve my confusion?"

"Speak."

"Judging by the Imperial Tutor's demeanor, you do not seem surprised by our Yin Gui Sect's surprise attack; could it be that you had anticipated it long ago?"

"Of course. The Yin Empress wanted to make a move against me before, but because you wanted to wait until I unearthed the Yang Gong Treasury to play the mantis stalking the cicada. But I spread the news of the Yang Gong Treasury and the Evil Emperor Relic to the whole world, and declared that I would open the treasury in over half a month."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "By then, experts from both the righteous and evil paths will gather, and even with the Yin Empress's abilities, you might not be able to seize the treasury and the relic. So the Yin Empress wanted to strike early; as long as you can capture me, the treasury and the relic would be within your grasp. I wonder if I guessed correctly?"

The Yin Empress tapped her jade palm and said: "The Imperial Tutor is indeed clever. As long as you tell me the secret of the treasury, you can immediately become a Great Elder of the Yin Gui Sect, with power second only to my own."

Yu Liancheng chuckled: "The Yin Empress is joking. I am currently the dignified Imperial Tutor, managing the world; how could I be moved by the position of a Yin Gui Elder?"

Zhu Yuyan did not seem surprised at all: "I have two disciples, Wanwan and Bai Qing'er, both of whom are peerless beauties. As long as the Imperial Tutor agrees, I can promise them to you, so you may enjoy the blessings of both; I wonder how this condition sounds?"

Wanwan giggled, her charming voice echoing through the long street: "Wanwan agrees, but Young Master must not be too intimate with Junior Sister Qing and Sister Feng, otherwise Wanwan will be jealous."

"This condition is indeed somewhat tempting." Yu Liancheng shook his head: "But once I have thoroughly beaten your Yin Gui Sect into submission, let alone Wanwan and Bai Qing'er, even the Yin Empress will have to be at my beck and call."

A trace of murderous intent appeared in Zhu Yuyan's eyes, but her tone remained unhurried: "Before the operation, Wanwan told me that the Imperial Tutor's cultivation is profound and nearly invincible, telling me to plan before acting. I wonder if the Imperial Tutor can escape alive under the combined siege of two hundred and twenty heavy crossbows, the Yin Gui Sect experts, and myself?"

"I cannot!"

Yu Liancheng answered very decisively, and a cold, grim smile immediately curled at the corner of his mouth: "Because I can only beat you all until you are in shambles, too horrible to look at."

Seeing Yu Liancheng's arrogant appearance, Zhu Yuyan's eyes turned icy, and her voice grew colder: "Very good, very good, the Imperial Tutor is indeed arrogant. I will give you one last chance: surrender voluntarily, or... suffer a fate worse than death!"

Yu Liancheng did not speak; his figure surged, suddenly transforming into a streak of lightning, appearing before Ren Shaoming.

Ren Shaoming was an alien sent by the Tiele people to divide the Central Plains; ever since he founded the Iron Cavalry Association, he had committed every crime, from murder and arson to rape and plunder.

Encountering Yu Liancheng, this Imperial Tutor of the Great Sui, he naturally had no path to survival.

And while Ren Shaoming's ability to escape from Song Que's hands relied on the help of the Yin Gui Sect, his own strength was not to be underestimated.

His eyes shot out terrifying, sharp glares, and as he shook his arm, the meteor hammer transformed into two meteors, tearing through the sky and suddenly crashing toward Yu Liancheng's face.

At the same time, the "Enchantress Nun" Chang Zhen and the "Evil Monk" Fa Nan behind Ren Shaoming attacked Yu Liancheng simultaneously.

Yu Liancheng flicked his sleeves, and as his robes rolled back, they wrapped around the meteor hammer; driven by his internal energy, Ren Shaoming's whole body trembled violently, and the meteor hammer flew out of his hand, smashing toward the Enchantress Nun and the Evil Monk respectively. The momentum was even greater than before, and even the air was blasted apart.

Only hearing two 'bang' sounds, these two Yin Gui Sect disciples who had committed countless evils were struck in the chest by the meteor hammer, flew backward for several zhang, crashed through a wall, spat out a mouthful of blood, and lost their breath in an instant.

Ren Shaoming's figure staggered, his breathing chaotic, and a look of panic appeared in his eyes. Even when facing Song Que, he had never been this disheveled and terrified.

The next moment, a large hand covered him, with nowhere to hide and nowhere to evade.

Amidst a world spinning around, Ren Shaoming was decapitated, turning into a headless corpse, with blood splashing three zhang high.

Yu Liancheng held Ren Shaoming's head and looked indifferently at Zhu Yuyan: "This is my answer. Has the Yin Empress seen it clearly?"