Chapter 182

The reason Ji Tianrui and the Ming Sect have always held the initiative is not because she is strong. It is because she has always been in the dark, and has prepared for many years, with countless arrangements and backups. And in Wang Hai's view, in this vortex stirred up by the Ming Sect, the one who can truly pose a threat to Li Miao is not the Ming Sect itself.

It is the imperial court.

As long as he knows Ji Tianrui's exact location, Wang Hai naturally has a way to let the imperial court "inadvertently" receive the news. When the time comes, Ji Tianrui will go fight to the death with the imperial court, and even if she wants to involve Li Miao, she won't have the energy.

Of course, if Li Miao were here and knew that Wang Hai and Xiao Si were taking risks on their own, he would definitely hang them up and whip them like spinning tops.

But it's not strange that Wang Hai and Xiao Si would make such a choice.

They value Li Miao too much and value themselves too little.

Let's return to the present.

The Great Shuo Imperial Mausoleum is located in a mountain col; the entrance to the col is a huge stone archway. Entering from there, layer upon layer of guards, passing through several checkpoints, one arrives at the Dragon-Phoenix Gate. After passing the Dragon-Phoenix Gate and walking across the Seven-Void Bridge, one reaches the mausoleums of the various emperors of Great Shuo, distributed throughout the mountain col. Each one has walls built around it, with sentry posts and watchtowers on the walls, and Imperial Guards guarding them. And inside the walls are various buildings, also with people taking turns to guard.

Great Shuo has passed down to this day and has changed eleven emperors, which means there are eleven mausoleums here, and each mausoleum covers an area of no less than a hundred acres.

With the four people including Wang Hai, it is absolutely impossible to walk through all the mausoleums in one night. So, they can only choose the two where Ji Tianrui is most likely hiding—the mausoleums of the founding emperor of Great Shuo and the current emperor.

The four used their light-body techniques to go up the mountain, bypassed the checkpoints at the entrance of the col, and touched the back of the Imperial Mausoleum. Borrowing the cover of the dense forest, they arrived beneath the wall of the founding emperor's mausoleum.

Xiao Si raised her hand, her sleeve moved, and a centipede crawled out, circling her arm.

It was exactly the one Xiao Si released to clean up the bloodstains when An Ziyang first arrived at the Imperial Guard.

This centipede has a very strong sense of territory and an extremely keen perception. As long as a Gu insect appears nearby, it will react; it is a method for a Great Shaman to guard against their own kind. It is just right for searching for Ji Tianrui.

The four hid their figures using the shadow of the wall, first circling the wall once.

"No Gu insects."

Xiao Si shook her head.

Wang Hai nodded.

"Let's go check the periphery of the other mausoleum."

So the four dived back into the dense forest, circled to the outside of the current emperor's mausoleum, and followed the same method, circling the wall once, but still gained nothing.

The four looked at each other and sighed.

Although all four were willing to die for Li Miao, they were not here to throw their lives away for nothing.

They would not enter the mausoleum if they didn't have to, and would not approach Ji Tianrui's hiding place if they didn't have to. Just circling the periphery was not very dangerous for the four. If Ji Tianrui were hiding on the periphery of the mausoleum and the Gu insect had a reaction, the four would naturally turn around and leave, never staying for long.

But since nothing was found on the periphery, the few had to enter the interior of the mausoleum to investigate.

This was the truly dangerous part.

Wang Hai flipped over the wall first, and after landing, he hid in the shadows with a flash, looking around.

Luck was not bad; this place was far from the main hall, and the guards were not strict. And there were many trees and archways around, which was convenient for hiding.

Wang Hai knocked on the wall, and after a while, Mei Qinghe, carrying Xiao Si, and Gao Ling flipped in together.

The few avoided the patrol routes of the guards and investigated inside the mausoleum.

Suddenly, Wang Hai's footsteps paused.

The other three were instantly on guard, looking around.

Wang Hai did not speak, stood in place, twitched his nose a few times, tasted the smell carefully, and said softly.

"Smell of blood, human blood."

"And, the amount is very large."

Mei Qinghe and Gao Ling were suddenly shocked.

This place is the mausoleum of the current emperor and cannot see blood.

If something abnormal happens, there must be a demon; the abnormality itself is a clue.

Wang Hai closed his eyes and pondered for a while, then raised his hand to point in a direction.

"That way."

Mei Qinghe and Gao Ling looked over; that direction was exactly the main hall of the mausoleum.

It was also the place with the strictest defenses.

"It's not easy to hide with many people. Give me the Gu insect, I'll go."

Wang Hai took the Gu insect, flipped onto the roof, but suddenly lay on the eaves, his whole body sticking to the eaves like a snake, heading toward the main hall.

As long as one is not looking down from above, no one can see Wang Hai on the eaves.

The closer he got, the stronger the smell of blood became.

Finally, Wang Hai could already see the situation at the main hall.

He stopped, hid his whole body in the shadow on the eaves, and held his breath.

In the square outside the main hall of the mausoleum, a carriage was parked, with a cage pulled behind it.

In the cage, a woman whose shoulder blades were pierced by iron hooks was hanging her head low, not knowing whether she was alive or dead.

And in the center of the square was a hole, a square foot in size, pitch-black and bottomless.

The smell of blood was drifting from there.

After a while, a figure wearing a python robe walked out of the hole.

Wang Hai was shocked.

He recognized that person; he had seen him beside the Emperor when the Imperial Guard was protecting the Emperor on his travels.

Eunuch of the Imperial Horse Bureau, Wang Zhi.

The Emperor's confidant.

Wang Zhi walked out of the hole and looked at Xue Jinxi in the cage.

"The last one."

He shook his head and let out a long sigh.

He beckoned.

A few people dressed as eunuchs walked up silently, opened the cage directly, one grabbed Xue Jinxi's hair, two carried the iron hooks piercing her body, and brought her out of the cage.

Wang Zhi pointed to the hole.

Those few eunuchs nodded, still not speaking, and carried Xue Jinxi toward the hole.

Borrowing the moonlight, Wang Hai saw the faces of those few eunuchs clearly.

On the faces of those few eunuchs, several huge scars were stretched across, destroying their appearance. Even their noses had been cut off, revealing two pitch-black holes.

Below those holes were several iron wires, piercing their lips from top to bottom, sealing their mouths firmly. The ears that should have been on the sides of their heads were also gone, replaced by two holes sealed by overgrown flesh.

Wang Zhi did not speak, only signaling with gestures, because they couldn't hear at all.

And they didn't make a sound because they couldn't make any sound anymore.

What on earth was hidden here that required such extreme methods to block the news!

Wang Hai slowly retreated.

He didn't want to investigate at all.

But, at this time, it was not as if he could leave just because he wanted to.

In an instant, Wang Zhi frowned and suddenly turned his head to look at the building where Wang Hai was.

"Seems like there's movement?"

This matter was top secret; if something went wrong, he wouldn't be able to live either.

And the reason the Emperor kept him by his side was precisely because he was always cautious; every errand the Emperor gave him, he would confirm countless times, never allowing the slightest accident.

There was no thought of "maybe I heard wrong"; he immediately stepped forward.

Wang Hai stopped breathing, stopped his Zhou Tian true energy, and moved his gaze away from Wang Zhi.

But Wang Zhi was still approaching step by step.

In a moment, he had already walked to the side of the main hall.

As long as he used his light-body technique to get on the roof, he would see Wang Hai lying on the eaves of the adjacent building.

Wang Hai slowly reached into his bosom, took out his hook-blade gloves, and put them on his hands.

He would not sit and wait for death.

But, Wang Hai also knew clearly that if he were discovered by Wang Zhi, he would absolutely not be able to escape.

Fortunately, the other three didn't come over.

As long as he exchanged a few moves with Wang Zhi and deliberately made some noise, they would hear it and naturally find a gap to escape.

Wang Zhi paused, about to fly onto the roof to check.

And Wang Hai also gritted his teeth, ready to fight for his life.

Just at this moment.

Boom!!!

Behind Wang Zhi, a loud noise came!

Wang Zhi turned his head suddenly.

Flesh and blood splashed out from the hole.

Several heads flew out, landed on the ground, and rolled far away.

The mouths sewn shut by iron wires couldn't make a sound of screaming, while a pair of eyes were wide open, looking at the pitch-black night sky.

Wang Zhi stared fixedly at that hole.

The surroundings quieted down for a time.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

In the silence, dragging footsteps came from the hole.

A head of white hair gradually appeared from the darkness.

Tattered clothes, covered in wounds. Two large holes in the clothes on the back, revealing two ferocious wounds. The fresh blood flowing from her body gathered on her feet, and with every step, she left a bloody footprint on the ground.

Xue Jinxi raised her head, revealing her aged face, her eyes looking at Wang Zhi without focus.

She raised her hand and threw a head in front of him.

That head rolled in front of Wang Zhi and was stepped on by him.

Bang!

The head exploded, and Wang Zhi's foot landed on the ground.

Creak, creak.

It was the sound of Wang Zhi gritting his teeth.

"Jiezi..."

"Heroine Xue... you really can hide..."

Wang Zhi said through gritted teeth.

How could he not see that Xue Jinxi had already fallen into the "Five Decays of Heavenly Humans".

That is to say, she had already cultivated two paths of the Heavenly Human realm.

Xue Jinxi was originally Sumeru, and with her body imprisoned for twenty-one years, it was absolutely impossible for her to cultivate Vajra.

That could only be Jiezi.

And only the characteristic of Jiezi encompassing all martial arts could find a way to break free from the shackles.

Xue Jinxi looked at Wang Zhi blankly.

Suddenly, she parted her mouth, revealing her withered gums, and laughed hoarsely and stiffly.

"Ha... hahaha..."

"Still have to thank... Eunuch Wang, for making the decision for me..."

Wang Zhi's expression suddenly sank, but he cursed inwardly.

"Damn it, I shouldn't have shown this kindness and told her the news about her daughter!"

"Now the last 'furnace' is also ruined!"

Xue Jinxi had been imprisoned for twenty-one years, and during these twenty-one years, the one responsible for guarding Xue Jinxi was precisely Wang Zhi.

Twenty-one years, even a stone pier at the door would have a feeling of intimacy.

So, after Wang Zhi prepared to send Xue Jinxi on her way, a feeling that could not be described in words surged in his heart, as if he were sending an old friend on her way.

By some strange coincidence, he informed Xue Jinxi of the news that her daughter had died.

But he didn't expect that it was because of this moment of kindness that such a big mess was created! If Xue Jinxi didn't know the news that her daughter had died, to prevent him from retaliating, even if she had hidden methods, she would never dare to use them!

Xue Jinxi was already the last "furnace"; if something went wrong, how could he explain it to the Emperor!

Wang Zhi felt as if he had been betrayed.

"I clearly told you the news about your daughter out of kindness, but you caused me such big trouble!?"

He said in a fit of anger.

Xue Jinxi heard this and looked at Wang Zhi strangely.

After a moment, she laughed hoarsely.

In this extremely short time, she had become increasingly aged. Her full head of silver hair gradually fell off, gathering into a pile at her feet, soaked through by blood, drawing scarlet patterns on the ground.

Xue Jinxi raised her hand and looked at her withered skin.

"Eunuch Wang... the ones who want to kill me are you and the imperial court."

"The ones who imprisoned me for twenty-one years are also you and the imperial court."

"You caused me to be separated from my daughter, leading to her miserable death on the road to finding me, while I was hung in that room without light, unable to even erect a monument for her with my own hands."

"No small favor, but a great hatred."

"Why are you acting so indignant..."

"The one who should be angry is me."

Xue Jinxi raised her head and looked at Wang Zhi.

She said slowly and calmly.

"I want to kill you."

————————

Wang Hai jumped off the eaves and galloped in the shadows.

As soon as Xiao Si and the other two saw him, they didn't speak and immediately turned to flee outside together.

On the side of the main hall, because of Wang Zhi's instructions, the guards didn't dare to go over to investigate.

But that loud noise just now had already attracted all the surrounding guards.

In another moment, once a heavy encirclement was formed, they wouldn't be able to leave even if they wanted to!

The four flipped over the wall, suddenly dived into the bushes, and looked at the surroundings secretly.

All felt that it was bad.

The mausoleum of the current emperor was originally the place with the strictest defenses; hearing the sound, the guards of other mausoleums also surged over from all directions.

Although an encirclement had not yet been formed, people were already everywhere, and it was impossible to leave secretly.

They could only force their way through!

Mei Qinghe drew her sword and suddenly rushed out of the bushes, running wildly in one direction.

The surrounding guards discovered her immediately, shouted, and people surged toward her from all sides.

Gao Ling gritted her teeth.

The direction Mei Qinghe rushed to was not the direction outside the mausoleum.

She was attracting the guards to create a gap for the three of them to escape!

Mei Qinghe waved her long sword, swinging away the weapons in front of her, but she was not using the Huashan Sword Technique.

Having been recognized by her sect before, resulting in trouble, how could she not learn her lesson? After arriving in Shuntian Prefecture, she had already learned another long-lost sword technique; although it didn't fit her hand, she could still exert sixty or seventy percent of her ability.

The other three didn't waste this opportunity either, found a gap, suddenly rushed out, and ran wildly toward the mountain forest outside the Imperial Mausoleum with all their might.

"Don't let the thieves go!"

Suddenly, a sharp shout came from the side of the three.

Swish!

A sharp true energy suddenly shot toward the three!

Gao Ling drew her sword to block.

Clang! ——

With a sound of a sword, Gao Ling's figure retreated violently, retreating more than ten steps before unloading the force.

Peak expert!

An aged eunuch galloped over, his hands pointing continuously, and more than ten sharp true energies shot out, coming toward the three.

And the surrounding guards had also surrounded them.

Wang Hai put down Xiao Si on his back and clenched his fists.

"Can't get away."

Xiao Si nodded, scratched on the hook-blade of Wang Hai's glove, and fresh blood gushed out. Her clothes moved all over her body, and dozens of Gu insects were ready to go.

Gao Ling dodged the sharp true energy, flashed in front of Xiao Si, and gritted her teeth.

Just at this moment.

Boom!!!

That aged eunuch suddenly disappeared, flesh and blood splashed, leaving only a pile of remains on the ground.

A figure fell from the sky and stood firm.

On his face, he wore a bronze mask.

"Ji Tianrui!"

Gao Ling exclaimed.

"Bullshit, call me Sect Leader!"

From under the bronze mask came Li Miao's cold voice.

He turned his head to look at Wang Hai and Xiao Si, making them lower their heads involuntarily.

Li Miao raised his hand, and the Profound Heaven Finger shot out in mid-air, knocking away the weapon that was about to hit Mei Qinghe. Then he grabbed into the void, and Mei Qinghe's figure suddenly retreated violently, flying to Li Miao's side.

Li Miao raised his hand and slapped Mei Qinghe on the back of the head, making her stagger.

"I'll settle accounts with you when we get back!"

(End of chapter)