Chapter 224

"Can't wait any longer."

Wu Zhiheng gritted his teeth.

He was one of the eight Heaven-Man experts who chased the Jianwen Emperor last night; he was already guilty and had just been punished.

The Emperor's decree was "Kill as many Xiaolingwei as possible before he arrives."

But the sun had already set, and the Emperor would likely arrive within an hour at the latest, yet they had only killed some ordinary Xiaolingwei soldiers and hadn't even managed to kill a single Heaven-Man expert of the Xiaolingwei.

Such a result clearly could not satisfy the Emperor.

The Emperor rewards and punishes clearly; if there is a mistake, one must be punished.

They might not be able to withstand the next punishment.

"Gentlemen!"

He roared, stepped forward, and dove into Zhu Shoujing's embrace, trying to avoid the blade and engage in close-quarters combat. But Zhu Shoujing's left-hand blade appeared on his chest out of nowhere; if he continued to approach, he would be slamming his heart onto the blade.

Having no choice, he slammed his elbow to smash away Zhu Shoujing's "Black Blade," and was forced back dozens of steps by the "White Blade."

Taking advantage of this fleeting opportunity, he spat out the second half of the sentence he had been forced to swallow by Zhu Shoujing.

"Gentlemen—it's time to risk our lives!"

Ssh—

Before the words had even faded, in an instant, thick white mist rose around Wu Zhiheng, concealing his figure.

Zhu Shoujing's eyes narrowed, and he slashed out with his blade through the air.

The rooster crows and the world turns white!

The sharp and vast true energy was like a reef splitting the sea, abruptly parting the mist.

It revealed Wu Zhiheng's figure.

Zhu Shoujing frowned.

Wu Zhiheng's appearance had changed.

Just a moment ago, he looked to be in his thirties, but now a few wrinkles had been added to the corners of his eyes, and his hair had been tinged with specks of silver frost, making him look as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"Ten years..."

He said slowly, looking up at Zhu Shoujing.

"Ten years!"

"With this move, I have lost at least ten years of my life!"

"Die!"

Boom!

Zhu Shoujing's vision blurred, and Wu Zhiheng had already appeared in front of him.

Boom!

Wu Zhiheng slammed his right foot into the ground, striking a "forward step punch" stance.

Zhu Shoujing's pupils shrank.

He had read through the martial arts manuals collected by the Xiaolingwei and had dabbled in all kinds of martial arts, so he recognized this boxing technique in an instant.

Horizontal! Vertical! Punch!

Zhu Shoujing raised his twin blades abruptly, crossing them to protect his chest.

Clang!!!!

With a loud bang, Zhu Shoujing retreated violently.

It was a repeat of the encounter of the expert who had just been slashed away by him; he retreated several zhang before dissipating the force.

Looking at his hands, they had already been shaken until they bled.

He looked up at Wu Zhiheng abruptly.

Just by looking at Wu Zhiheng's appearance, he already had a guess.

He knew the method the imperial court used to control the experts. These Heaven-Man experts would see the process of the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" gradually advance as they performed more "errands."

The frail and old posture they displayed on ordinary days was just a side effect of the secret technique. Their appearance after lifting the secret technique truly reflected their lifespan.

When the experts lifted the secret technique and their appearance was still frail, it meant that their "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" were about to erupt and their lifespan was about to end.

Looking at Wu Zhiheng's appearance, it should be another use of this secret technique—actively advancing the process of the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" in exchange for force and true energy closer to their peak!

Ssh—

Ssh—

Ssh—

Zhu Shoujing scanned his surroundings abruptly.

The ten experts of the imperial court were all shrouded in white smoke.

"Tsk!"

Zhu Shoujing gritted his teeth and looked at the Jianwen Emperor.

Whoosh!

He took the initiative to enter the Jianwen Emperor's illusion.

This is another wonderful use of "Jizhao"—pulling allies into the illusion, and by consuming mental energy, exchanging it for a much longer time inside the illusion than in the outside world to conduct exchanges that the enemy cannot spy on.

After all, "Jizhao" is a Daoist term. In Buddhism, it is called "Telepathy."

"Your Majesty, we can't hold them off! Are you still not going to make a move!?"

Inside the illusion, Zhu Shoujing said anxiously.

"It is not yet time."

The Jianwen Emperor said slowly.

"But if we can't hold off these experts and let them break into the interior of the defense line, my subordinates will be useless!"

Zhu Shoujing said anxiously.

"The number of our Heaven-Man experts cannot be compared to the imperial court's. These ten experts are clearly just the vanguard. If the defense line is broken, my Xiaolingwei soldiers will fall into chaos after being charged by a few Heaven-Man experts."

"By then, without the cover of bows and crossbows, relying only on these Heaven-Man experts, I'm afraid we won't even be able to fight the experts, let alone the Jiajing Emperor!"

He had already been dragged onto the pirate ship by Ji Tianrui and the Jianwen Emperor; the Emperor would not listen to his explanations, and the Xiaolingwei had already been forced to stand on the opposite side of the Emperor, so he no longer called him "Your Majesty."

But, just as Zhu Shoujing was sweating profusely with anxiety, he heard the Jianwen Emperor say.

"If you can't hold them off, then don't."

"What?"

Zhu Shoujing said in shock and anger.

Clearly, you are the rebels; my Xiaolingwei were fine, but we were dragged onto your pirate ship. How is it that now I am the only one anxious, while you have an indifferent attitude!?

"Your Majesty!"

"Go out; if you can't stop them, let a few in."

The Jianwen Emperor said.

"Calculating the time, he should be arriving soon."

The illusion shattered abruptly, and Zhu Shoujing gritted his teeth and forced back the Wu Zhiheng in front of him with his blade.

Hesitating for a moment, he still shouted angrily.

"Take care of yourselves!"

"If you can't stop them, let them in!"

"Yes!"

Although the few Heaven-Man experts of the Xiaolingwei were puzzled, they would not question Zhu Shoujing's orders and responded in unison. The few Heaven-Man experts of the Ming Cult and the Yang family also looked at each other and nodded.

In an instant, the offense and defense changed.

The experts had consumed their lifespan, their offensive momentum suddenly became fierce, and they were attacking in anger, reversing the situation in an instant and suppressing Zhu Shoujing and the other Heaven-Man experts.

But Zhu Shoujing and the others were no longer intercepting as desperately as before, switching to a defensive stance instead.

Wu Zhiheng spotted an opening Zhu Shoujing had left, punched Zhu Shoujing back with all his might, and with a flash of his figure, approached the Jianwen Emperor at the entrance of the Imperial Tombs.

He was not careless; he held his left arm horizontally to protect his chest and abdomen, and punched out with his right fist through the air!

Shaolin—Hundred-Step Divine Fist!

Whoosh!

Bang!

Wu Zhiheng's pupils shrank.

This punch actually passed directly through the Jianwen Emperor's body and hit the ground behind him, blasting out a pit several feet square!

"Illusion!"

"When!?"

"Not good!"

Wu Zhiheng flashed, moved horizontally several feet, raised his arms to protect his front, and scanned his surroundings.

Since he had fallen into an illusion without realizing it, the Jianwen Emperor could appear anywhere now!

He might even be behind him!

Swoosh!

He turned around abruptly and smashed his elbow, striking behind him.

He used all his strength for this move, and the speed was so fast that it tore a shrill whistle in the air.

But he hit nothing!

"Not behind me! Where is he!?"

Wu Zhiheng scanned his surroundings.

The Jianwen Emperor had already disappeared.

"Left?"

"No, I can't wait! Now is the perfect time to break into the Imperial Tombs! As long as we tear open a gap, let the imperial guards charge in, and shred the Xiaolingwei's defense line, Zhu Shoujing and these rebels will have no reliance!"

"If the imperial guards charge into the Imperial Tombs and surround them from inside and out, we will definitely be able to capture this group of Heaven-Man rebels!"

Seeing that Zhu Shoujing had already chased behind him, Wu Zhiheng did not hesitate any longer and flashed into the Imperial Tombs.

(End of chapter)