Chapter 358: Night Illumination

"Hmm?"

Li Fei was slightly startled upon hearing the other party's words.

Although he no longer cared much about his identity as the Green-Faced Ghost being known, he hadn't expected to be exposed so quickly.

In the lake pavilion, the Ghost-Slaying Gang leader became even more certain of his conjecture when he saw Li Fei remain silent.

He smiled confidently: "If the Marquis is unwilling to show his true face, then I shall continue to address you as the Ghost King."

As his voice fell, Li Fei felt intense magical fluctuations suddenly appearing around him.

The next second, a massive formation was triggered, enveloping the entire lake along with a range of over ten meters on the shore.

Li Fei understood what this formation was for after a slight perception.

This was a very common 'Illusion Formation', used to conceal the scene within the formation.

Looking from outside the formation, the lake remained as usual, the Ghost-Slaying Gang leader was still enjoying the scenery alone in the lake pavilion, and no sounds from within the formation could be transmitted out.

"You are very confident."

Li Fei was calm and composed.

Having guessed his true identity, the other party didn't run away immediately, but instead activated a formation to conceal things; it seemed the other party didn't fear him, the third-ranked on the overall Wind and Cloud Ranking.

The Ghost-Slaying Gang leader's smile remained unchanged: "Since I know the name of the Ghost King, and still named the gang 'Ghost-Slaying', I naturally have something to rely on."

"Oh."

Li Fei's tone became indifferent, and he took a step forward.

The Ghost-Slaying Gang leader's expression became solemn, sensing the killing intent on Li Fei, and he hurriedly said:

"Ghost King, wait!"

"Naming it the Ghost-Slaying Gang was just to attract the Ghost King's attention; if there has been any offense, please forgive me, Ghost King."

After speaking, the Ghost-Slaying Gang leader cupped his hands and bowed to Li Fei.

This actually surprised Li Fei; he paused his attack, wanting to see what medicine this person was selling in his gourd:

"Now you have my attention."

The Ghost-Slaying Gang leader lowered his raised hand, looking at Li Fei on the opposite shore:

"We noticed the Ghost King not because of your strength, but because of the things you did in Xingcheng."

"Oh?"

"The Ghost King hates evil as much as he hates enemies, killing those corrupt officials; it is truly gratifying!"

"..."

"This dynasty has long since rotted; officials are corrupt and indulgent, preying on the common people. Local powerful families fight for profit, monopolizing resources, desperately squeezing the lower classes... I believe the Ghost King has already seen all of this back in Xingcheng."

"What do you want to say?"

"Since the Ghost King took action to kill officials, it shows that you also have anger in your heart and want to change the current situation. With your own strength, you can temporarily change the officialdom of Xingcheng, but you cannot change Datong Prefecture, you cannot change Feng Province, and you cannot change the entire Great Lan Dynasty."

"..."

"You need like-minded partners! This is our original intention for seeking you out."

"Is the way you get people to join by first establishing an opposing force?"

"It is truly because the Ghost King's whereabouts are unpredictable, and we have never been able to find you, that we resorted to this desperate measure to attract your attention."

"Heh."

Li Fei chuckled.

If they really wanted to contact him, there were many methods; establishing a Ghost-Slaying Gang to stand in opposition probably had more to do with showing off their muscles.

Although the Ghost-Slaying Gang leader opposite him spoke very politely and kept a low profile, Li Fei could still see a bit of arrogance in his demeanor.

This was a very arrogant person.

"What is the name of your organization?"

Li Fei asked.

"If the Ghost King is willing to join, I will naturally tell you truthfully. However, I can tell the Ghost King my name first; you can call me 'Night Illumination'."

The Ghost-Slaying Gang leader stated his name.

"Night Illumination... what are the conditions for joining you?"

"Is the Ghost King willing to join?"

"Let me understand it first."

"Our organization's vision is to change this world, to let there be fewer corrupt officials and powerful families preying on the common people in this world!"

"Rebellion?"

"It can't be called that yet; we are just doing some things that the Ghost King has done before."

"But my people want to completely ban opium in Datong Prefecture, yet your Ghost-Slaying Gang demands the sale of opium."

"It's just an excuse; without holding up this banner, how can we gather those who oppose the Ghost King? As long as the Ghost King is willing to join, you and I can join forces, and we can immediately remove all these enemies!"

"But I heard that in the process of establishing your Ghost-Slaying Gang, you were also preying on the common people."

Li Fei said calmly.

Before coming, he had learned about the Ghost-Slaying Gang in detail from Zhao Yi.

The fact that the other party could rise in just a few months and create such a massive momentum involved many methods that were not exactly honorable.

Night Illumination was startled upon hearing this, then smiled:

"It's just an expedient measure; after all, we have too few people. If we want to accomplish things, we have to use those martial arts people, and naturally, it's hard to make them disciplined and not commit the slightest offense. When we completely unify the martial arts world of Datong Prefecture in the future, we can slowly rectify it."

"An expedient measure?"

Li Fei shook his head, "Is that how everyone in your organization does things?"

Night Illumination felt the disdain in Li Fei's tone; his expression sank, and he sneered:

"Ghost King, the Qingyuan City Management Company you established in Xingcheng, and your Green-Faced Villa in Datong Prefecture, are also not as clean as you think."

Li Fei certainly knew that an organization could never be completely clean; no matter how good or strict the rules he formulated were, there would always be people who would find loopholes in execution.

In terms of results, Li Fei seemed to have no qualification to mock the Ghost-Slaying Gang.

But he always firmly believed one point:

Holding a good intention and choosing to work hard in a difficult but correct way from the beginning, versus choosing an expedient measure from the start.

The two are fundamentally different.

"If your organization is full of people like you, then I really have no need to join."

Li Fei looked at Night Illumination and said so.

He didn't intend to debate with the other party on the topic of 'whether wrong means can achieve correct results', but directly stated his decision.

"People like me?"

Night Illumination's expression sank completely, and there was obvious anger in his tone.

He did indeed think highly of himself and had pride in his heart, so he couldn't bear being looked down upon by Li Fei:

"In my opinion, you are just unwilling to make changes because you have been enfeoffed as a Marquis and have become a 'meat-eater'. What, can't bear to part with your high-ranking title?"

Li Fei was not angered, but instead smiled: "Is your organization really sending you to win people over?"

Night Illumination's anger grew, and just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly sounded within the formation:

"Ghost King, calm your anger."

This voice was exactly the one that had been conversing with Night Illumination in the lake pavilion earlier.

"Oh, so you are the one in charge?"

Li Fei was not surprised that someone was hiding in the dark.

When the formation was triggered just now, that magical fluctuation didn't come from Night Illumination, which meant there was at least one other sorcerer hiding in the dark.

"Night Illumination was momentarily agitated; please don't take it to heart, Ghost King."

This sorcerer said.

Night Illumination clenched his fists upon hearing this, feeling very unhappy.

Compared to Li Fei, he seemed to be the younger one.

"I am Zhulwu; we are indeed very sincere in wanting to invite the Ghost King to join us, and we also believe that the sincerity in the Ghost King's heart has never changed!"

The sorcerer codenamed Zhulwu said.

"No need, our paths are different."

Li Fei said indifferently.

He had never thought of being a saint who 'establishes a life for the people'.

His actions in Xingcheng back then were for 'following his heart', for the sake of satisfaction, and to remove the Hudao Gang that was blocking his path.

If there happened to be innocent commoners being bullied in front of him, Li Fei wouldn't mind helping.

Or if he happened to encounter someone doing evil, he wouldn't mind removing them along the way.

But if someone told him that there were thousands of commoners suffering in many places, and countless villains doing evil.

He found it hard to generate the thought of wanting to change all of this.

Li Fei knew very well that he couldn't become a great person like his master, Hao Yi.

He was just an ordinary person who wanted to master his own destiny and live his life happily.

"How can our paths be different? The things the Ghost King did in Xingcheng are exactly what we want to do, and are doing."

Zhulwu said.

"For example, the Ghost-Slaying Gang?"

"The Ghost-Slaying Gang is just a means; what kind of results can be achieved is what's most important."

"Then there is no need to talk further."

Li Fei shook his head.

"Ghost King..."

"Why are you still wasting words with him?!"

Night Illumination suddenly interrupted Zhulwu, looking coldly at Li Fei, "Since our paths are different, from now on, the Ghost-Slaying Gang and the Green-Faced Villa are enemies!"

"Night Illumination!"

"You were right before; he really can't be won over, so what else is there to talk about?"

"..."

Zhulwu was speechless.

Who was the one who confidently said they could try just a moment ago? As a result, he was now the first to give up, even before him.

Night Illumination's talent and strength were indeed beyond reproach; he was one of the organization's hopes.

But this personality was truly...

"Actually, I'm very curious, what makes you so confident?"

Li Fei took a few steps forward, walked to the lake shore, and said to Night Illumination.

Night Illumination sneered, and an unparalleled internal energy surged from his body.

Hum—

The entire lake pavilion was like tofu being crushed hard, instantly collapsing into powder!

"Try it, and you'll know what I rely on!"

Night Illumination was in a white robe, his sleeves fluttering under the agitation of his internal energy.

Zhulwu, hiding in the dark, sighed.

Looking at that black robe standing calmly on the shore, he suddenly understood Night Illumination a little.

If the Green-Faced Ghost King really was Li Fei, then Li Fei was a peerless genius even younger and more accomplished than Night Illumination.

So the arrogant Night Illumination could never bear being looked down upon by Li Fei!

"Good."

Li Fei stepped forward, his internal energy pushing his body to skim across the water surface, rushing toward Night Illumination in the middle of the lake.

Watching Li Fei rush over, Night Illumination revealed an excited expression.

He had been 'lonely' for a long time.

Without seeing him make any move, the water surface suddenly exploded, and a 'peak' rose up.

The originally soft water flow became incomparably sharp at this moment, and a 'mountain peak' rose up from under Li Fei's feet!

The sharp water flow was like countless blades, enveloping Li Fei within them.

The next second, the water flow was broken open by a touch of dark golden blade light.

Li Fei was enveloped in the Hunyuan Star Armor, holding his blade and breaking through the 'mountain peak'.

"You really are Li Fei!"

Night Illumination recognized the Hunyuan Vajra Energy.

The opponent had changed from the tenth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking to the third, and he was even more excited instead.

He took the initiative to meet Li Fei, pointing a finger out.

Streams of water flew out from the lake surface, surging toward Li Fei from all directions.

The water flow just now was a sharp divine weapon, but now it was an incomparably tough rope.

The internal energy Night Illumination practiced was somewhat similar in nature to Li Fei's Hunyuan Vajra Energy, also having two characteristics: one was extremely rigid and sharp, the other was extremely soft and tough.

Facing the water flow surging from all directions, Li Fei held his blade and slashed horizontally; the dark golden blade light turned into a full moon, cutting these water flows from the middle.

But the severed water flows still didn't disperse, but continued to surge toward Li Fei, covering the Hunyuan Star Armor on his body surface.

The characteristic of 'Dou Zhuan Xing Yi' (Star Shifting) was activated, but these water flows neutralized the rebounded internal energy during their rapid movement, firmly binding Li Fei!

Night Illumination took the opportunity to fly over, striking Li Fei's chest heavily with a palm, the immense force carrying unparalleled sharpness stabbing into his protective internal energy.

Bang—

A loud explosion, and the wild wind stirred up waves.

Li Fei retreated rapidly, the Hunyuan Star Armor on his body surface covered in cracks!

"Third on the overall Wind and Cloud Ranking, is that very impressive?"

Night Illumination looked at the retreating Li Fei and said loudly.

His talent was extremely high, and after being discovered by the organization, he had been secretly cultivated.

But for the sake of secrecy, he had to remain anonymous and could not expose his true strength.

Watching those peerless geniuses in the Martial Arts Tournament, watching those world-famous experts on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, Night Illumination had long been itching to act.

If the organization hadn't forbidden him from exposing himself, he could also have been ranked on the Wind and Cloud Ranking!

He took the initiative to strive for the mission to Datong Prefecture to win over the Green-Faced Ghost King and establish a Ghost-Slaying Gang, just because he harbored the thought of wanting to suppress the other party.

Tenth on the Wind and Cloud Ranking, that's all.

Now that he knew Li Fei was the Green-Faced Ghost King, he was even more delighted.

"The reason you can be ranked third is just because I haven't taken action!"

This was the fact he wanted to tell Li Fei.

The Hunyuan Star Armor on Li Fei's body surface shattered; he himself was not injured, just still bound by the streams of water.

The next second, a jade-green Vajra Dharma Image flashed and disappeared.

Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

The water flow was like broken steel cables, snapping one by one, and then completely dispersed.

Li Fei stopped his retreating body, his feet standing on the lake surface.

His body began to expand, tearing the black robe he was wearing, revealing the dark green protective clothing underneath.

Boom!!!

The water surface under Li Fei's feet suddenly sank into a large pit, as if a giant rock had fallen onto a large net.

He disappeared from where he was.

Night Illumination confidently raised his right palm, holding it in front of his chest, and a translucent water shield enveloped him within it.

Boom—

Another loud noise, and Night Illumination was smashed into the water by an immense force, smashed into the silt at the bottom of the lake!

His expression changed; while activating more extraordinary abilities, he circulated his internal energy.

The next second, the lake water above his head was slashed open.

A brilliant golden light flashed; Li Fei's body was parallel to the lake surface, holding his blade with both hands and slashing downward, the lake water surging wildly to both sides.

One blade to open the lake!

Night Illumination only had time to condense a circular 'water mirror' above his head before the blade edge slashed onto this flowing mirror.

The mirror surface sank downward, while simultaneously expanding to the surroundings, from a diameter of ten meters to enveloping the entire lake.

Dao Energy—【Flowing Wave Water Mirror】!

The 'Water Mirror' transmitted the impact force it received to this lake, letting the ten thousand tons of lake water bear this impact for itself.

But the next second, the entire lake began to boil...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 359 =====