Chapter 235

What Li Miao's side lacked tonight was too few Heaven-Man level experts, and there was not even a peak expert other than Zhu Zai.

But under An Ziyang's operation, several retainers had already rebelled. With the other retainers caught off guard, several people had already been beheaded.

This caused a crisis of trust among the retainers, eventually evolving into a life-and-death game similar to "Werewolf."

The imperial court collects retainers without looking at their background. Both righteous and evil paths are used, and sometimes they are even more inclined to collect evil path experts. Because they have lower moral bottom lines and are more sophisticated in dealing with things, they are also more likely to bow to the imperial court, unlike some righteous path experts who "have things they will do and things they will not do."

And whether those who were originally from the righteous path and have done dirty work for the imperial court for decades can still be counted as "righteous path" is hard to say.

These people are easy to use against others, and they are equally handy against their own people.

For a time, everyone among the retainers was in danger, and they could no longer distinguish between friend and foe.

An Ziyang sat leisurely on a tree stump, took a piece of pastry from his bosom, put it into his mouth, and chewed slowly.

Retainer Zhou flew to his front and threw a head on the ground.

"Ten sentences."

An Ziyang barely managed to swallow the pastry, carefully examined the head, and after confirming that it had the characteristics of the five decays of Heaven and Man, he opened his mouth to recite.

"Locking the eight wildernesses, meridians reversed and tendons destroyed;"

"Seizing essence and devouring strength, all sources wither."

"The cycle reverses, the dantian boils;"

"The enemy decays and I flourish, flesh and blood serve as a furnace..."

Before he finished reciting, another retainer carried dozens of Imperial Guards' heads and flew to his side.

Retainer Zhou hurriedly raised his hand to stop An Ziyang from continuing to recite, and then looked at the retainer who came later with a vigilant expression.

"Why is Brother Zhou so stingy?"

"The more incantations we exchange, the sooner we can leave. If we fight on our own, we won't be able to finish exchanging before the Emperor comes out, and then it will be like fetching water with a bamboo basket!"

That retainer said.

"Hmph! I worked hard to fight for people and exchange for incantations, and you want to share them with one mouth?"

Retainer Zhou let out a cold snort.

With more and more retainers rebelling, the situation had already escaped his control.

A friend's friend is not necessarily a friend.

The retainer in front of him was an enemy of his in the past.

"Hmph!"

That retainer let out a cold snort, did not argue, got half a sentence of incantation from An Ziyang, and turned to leave.

An Ziyang touched his chin.

"Is the trend of going separate ways appearing so quickly? The Commander is indeed a master of calculation. This method called 'multi-level marketing' is indeed easy to use!"

"Next, is the second step!"

He suddenly opened his mouth and said to Retainer Zhou.

"Senior Zhou, it seems that your side is not all of one mind."

Retainer Zhou frowned.

"What other tricks do you have?"

"Sigh, I am just a second-rate expert, without the strength to truss a chicken, how dare I play tricks in front of you?"

An Ziyang smiled.

"However, if you fight on your own, I fear it will be difficult to contend with the imperial court's side. Just now it was just your side catching them off guard; once the enemy and we are clearly divided, it will be difficult to kill people again."

An Ziyang frowned, seemingly hesitant.

After a while, he suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Fine!"

"Senior Zhou, you are the first to abandon darkness for light; I can't trust others, only you are trustworthy!"

"How about this, from now on, you don't need to take action anymore, just focus on collecting heads. I only recognize the heads you hand over; no matter how many others hand over, I won't recognize them!"

"Really!?"

Retainer Zhou was overjoyed.

"Could that be fake?"

An Ziyang smiled.

"You just focus on doing things; since I pulled you into the group, I naturally won't let you have any worries!"

"Good! Good boy!"

Retainer Zhou laughed.

"In the future, when you reach the Jianghu, just mention my name! I recognize you as a friend!"

An Ziyang was moved to tears and responded excitedly.

"Big Brother!"

"Worthy Brother!"

The two dragged each other's arms, cherishing each other.

After a while, Retainer Zhou left happily.

"Pah."

An Ziyang spat.

"Still mention your name, when have you ever said your name? You've been a dog for the imperial court for decades, your name is still worth a fart! Is it as useful as the Commander's name?"

"Trash."

After another while, the retainer who had a grudge against Retainer Zhou also came to this place and threw down a head.

An Ziyang stood up and welcomed him enthusiastically.

After a while... "Big Brother!"

"Worthy Brother!"

The two dragged each other's arms, cherishing each other.

After a while, that retainer left happily.

Only then did An Ziyang take out the pastry again and sit on the tree stump to eat slowly.

Suddenly, Retainer Zhou returned, but he was covered in wounds and full of anger.

"Kid! What kind of trick are you playing!"

"Big Brother!"

An Ziyang threw away the pastry and immediately squeezed tears from his eyes.

"He, he forced me!"

!

"I am just a second-rate expert, but he is a Heaven-Man level expert! Just now he came over to hand over the head, and when he heard I only recognized you, he immediately flew into a rage and threatened me!"

"What could I do? I could only pretend to comply!"

"Big Brother, you must make the decision for me!"

An Ziyang said aggrievedly.

"What!?"

Retainer Zhou's veins bulged.

"I thought when I went to collect heads just now, why some people wouldn't give them and fought with me; it turns out he was making trouble from the middle!"

"Hmph! Wanting to snatch things from my hands!"

"Die!"

An Ziyang also hurriedly opened his mouth.

"Big Brother, rest assured, I still only recognize you!"

"Good! Worthy Brother!"

Retainer Zhou patted An Ziyang on the shoulder.

"Just watch! When it comes to killing, I will definitely kill more! I definitely won't let you suffer a loss!"

"I'm off!"

After saying that, Retainer Zhou flew away.

After a while, the retainer who had a grudge against Retainer Zhou also came to An Ziyang's side, also covered in wounds and full of anger.

"Kid! You—"

"Big Brother! You must make the decision for me!"

An Ziyang hurriedly stood up and said this and that.

"What!? That surnamed Zhou is actually eating alone!?"

"Yes! Big Brother, I am just a second-rate expert, how can I withstand him!"

"Worthy Brother, wait here for a moment! I'm going to ask for an explanation!"

That retainer flew away.

An Ziyang finally let out a long breath and collapsed on the ground.

This operation of his was no different from skinning a tiger for its skin.

But if either of them had any suspicion and wanted to kill him, he would not have the slightest chance of survival. Last night, Li Miao also made it clear to him that if he was unwilling to do it, he could go to Wang Hai's side, and Li Miao could find someone else to do it.

But he still came.

Because—

"Ha, hahaha, hahahahaha!"

An Ziyang laughed loudly.

"What damn Heaven-Man level expert, aren't they still being played in the palm of Little Master's hand!"

"Commander!"

He said excitedly.

"Fortunately, fortunately I met you, only then did I have today's excitement! Playing with dozens of Heaven-Man level experts in the palm of my hand, it's worth it even if I die!"

"What hidden weapons, what strange poisons, what lime powder! In front of Heaven-Man level experts, they are all powerless toys!"

"Only by following your side can I catch a glimpse of this excitement that far exceeds the ordinary world!"

Li Miao's eye for picking subordinates was truly poisonous; the people he chose all had a bit of madness, and An Ziyang was no exception. It was just that it was hidden deep, and now that his heart was surging, it was revealed.

"Alright! That's all I can do!"

An Ziyang's excitement was put away as soon as it was released, and he turned to look in the direction of the Xiaoling Mausoleum, muttering to himself.

"After this series of events, the two 'downlines' will compete with each other. With competition, they won't just think about protecting themselves as before, but will try their best to pull people in and kill as many as possible; the Imperial Guards and the retainers of the imperial court will find it difficult to survive."

"Once everyone else is killed, I will guide them to fight each other, which will greatly reduce the number of people. This will limit the cultivation method flowing into the Jianghu to the minimum."

"The retainers are no longer a cause for concern."

"I have done my best."

"Commander, the rest is all up to you."

Although there was a lot of noise outside the Imperial Mausoleum, everyone knew that the outcome of today did not lie outside the Imperial Mausoleum, but inside.

If the Emperor wins, the world will be clear.

If the Jianwen Emperor wins, things will be set right.

Everything depends on who among Li Miao, Ji Tianrui, the Jianwen Emperor, and the Emperor can walk out of the Imperial Mausoleum alive.

(End of Chapter)