Chapter 82: Ambush?

Inside the Central Army Camp.

Many soldiers remained on guard here and did not take part in this encirclement; they stayed both to secure logistics and to prevent the strongest Heavenly Person Realm beings of the Zhi Sheng Dian from recklessly charging in, destroying their supplies and dragging them out for a while.

But that was the plan before; now the Zhi Sheng Dian can no longer stop the army's assault, and the battle is expected to end within the next two days.

"Alas, this time we really lost big. Had I known, I would have gone to encircle the rebels; staying here yields no military merit!"

"Just keeping a single life alive is good enough; you still crave merit—your strength...."

Pfft!

Before the gate guards could react, three figures had already rushed to the front of the camp.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!"

"Uh oh, are the three Holy Lords of the Zhi Sheng Dian coming?"

"What? Has our Grand General been defeated? How could there be so many elites..."

"Form formations; we must not let them breach the camp!"

"Yes!"

The camp instantly descended into chaos; even the bravest soldiers forming battle lines were instantly pierced by the supreme power among mortals.

"Sect Master Ji's strike was truly decisive; these soldiers are the court's elite troops. Even if a Grandmaster fell into their formation they'd be trapped for a while, yet they couldn't stop the Sect Master's casual blow," Yang Qing laughed.

"Hmph, what meaning is there in slaughtering mortals? Here they come!" Yan Buji turned his head, suddenly looking to both sides.

"You treacherous scoundrel, you actually dare to come to your death?!"

"Never expected the Grand General could release you... Wait, who are you? Aren't you a Holy Lord of the Zhi Sheng Dian?!"

More than a dozen Grandmasters and peak experts were arrayed nearby, and a large number of jianghu masters stood in strict formation on the side.

The three inscrutable leaders on the court side instantly realized, the moment they looked at Yan Buji, that he was not a person of the Zhi Sheng Dian!

Could the Zhi Sheng Dian have hired outside aid?

"You?!" The old man with the heavy sword widened his eyes, and upon seeing Yan Buji instantly recognized him.

"Zhao Elder, do you know this person?"

"It's you, Ji Bu?! I thought you were just an ordinary merchant, yet you pulled a trick right under my nose. I truly underestimated you. Tell me, where is Liu Qingqing?!"

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow; he hadn't expected that Zhao Zhen, the Elder of the Boundless Sword Sect, hadn't gone to besiege the Zhi Sheng Dian, but instead lay in ambush at the Central Army Camp.

"Hehe, Zhao Elder, why do you think I am here?"

Zhao Zhen's expression changed; his anger flared like a volcano about to erupt, and he gripped his long sword tightly.

"If my disciple gets into trouble, I will kill you!"

"Let's see if you have the skill!"

I told you why only two Heavenly Person Realm auras showed up on the mountain; I thought others were hiding well, but they were waiting here.

Yang Qing and Yang Lan's faces changed dramatically: "Zhao Zhen of the Boundless Sword Sect, wielding the 'True Extreme Sword'; Liu Yun of the Canghai Gate, the 'Sea‑Overturning Hand'; and the northern blade hero Luo Tianfeng! We didn't expect you to be waiting here for us?!"

"Hmph, the Grand General certainly missed nothing; he had already guessed that the two Holy Lords would be eager to leave, and the best route out of the Zhi Sheng Dian was blocked by the army's camp tents. You can't say you didn't go this way," Liu Yun smiled faintly.

Yan Buji, too lazy for idle talk, pointed at Luo Tianfeng, who brandished a nine‑ring great saber, and said to Yang Qing and Yang Lan, "You block him; I'll take care of the rest."

"You brat!"

"Arrogant!"

Yang Qing and Yang Lan's expressions grew solemn, realizing that Yan Buji had handed them the relatively weaker Luo Tianfeng to block. Luo Tianfeng was originally a mountain wanderer with no sect, who at some point obtained a sword manual and self‑trained, spending decades to break through the Heavenly Person Realm—events that occurred during that period—so he naturally couldn't match their years of immersion in the Heavenly Person Realm.

Luo Tianfeng's face also darkened; he glared at Yan Buji, brandishing his great saber to strike, but Yang Qing and Yang Lan immediately moved to intercept him:

"Luo Tianfeng, your opponent is us!"

"You two old pious crones, I'll slash you both with two blows and then go settle scores with Ji Bu! You think you can send your frail, weak, sickly old ones to face me?!"

"Hmph! The junior truly is rude, must be beaten!" Yang Lan's face darkened, and together with Yang Qing they struck simultaneously, halting the enraged Luo Tianfeng.

At this moment, Yan Buji also engaged Zhao Zhen and Liu Yun directly.

Honestly, the one who puts more pressure on me is Zhao Zhen's swordsmanship, which is truly superior, even surpassing the Kūn Gate Master of the Iron Tiger Guard!

In contrast, the Kūn Gate Master's sword intent is domineering, whereas Zhao Zhen follows the upright royal path: "When my sword is drawn, it cannot be blocked! With my sword in hand, ten thousand foes retreat!" This belief, combined with the royal sword intent honed in the Boundless Sword Sect, amplifies his techniques manyfold, making them extremely hard to evade.

Clang—clang!

Accompanied by a dozen crisp metallic clangs, Zhao Zhen's expression changed.

Everyone present heard the dragon‑roar, tiger‑howl emanating from Yan Buji's body; after a series of impacts, his clothing was torn by sword qi, revealing a majestic upper body, and the Yan King Judgment Ghost tattoo became visible to all.

What a big man!

Yan Buji's expression remained ordinary; to outsiders the tattoo seemed unremarkable, and the master who gave it to him showed no change, which is evident.

Only those familiar with Guān Tiān Dēng Mó Zhuàng would notice anything unusual about Yan Buji's tattoo.

As for the battlefield, who would still care about Yan Buji's tattoo when they see his body unmarred, even two Heavenly Person Realm beings hesitate to approach:

"Horizontal cultivation perfected?! And this bizarre blood aura, are you from the Blood Flow Sect?!" Zhao Zhen's face darkened, furious.

Although he wasn't fully aware of the Blood Essence Skill's prowess, he had heard it was an internal art that vastly amplifies qi and blood, lacking internal qi, so combining it with horizontal cultivation wasn't hard to grasp.

But how notoriously difficult horizontal cultivation is, evident to all; one cannot achieve perfection merely by having abundant qi and blood!

Yet the Blood Flow Sect is an even more hateful demonic sect than the Zhi Sheng Dian; it was once hunted by the Kūn Dao Imperial Court and fled to the Kǎn Dao region, causing considerable trouble. Who would have thought that after all these years it produced a supreme Heavenly Person Realm strongman?

"Hahaha, not bad, I am the current Sect Master of the Blood Flow Sect, Ji Bu!"

Yan Buji laughed a few times, unconcerned about stirring resentment from the Blood Flow Sect; after all, resolving these two before they could escape was now inevitable.

The key was the Grand General they mentioned, which made Yan Buji somewhat solemn.

Since this Grand General dared to assign other Heavenly Person Realm beings to guard the Central Army while he alone assaulted the Zhi Sheng Dian, it follows that the Grand General himself must be of the Heavenly Person Realm!

And not just any Heavenly Person Realm!

If that's the case, we must finish quickly!