Chapter 42: Maze Array

The mountain road is rugged, and small hills rise and fall like waves.

The team entering the mountain moved forward with difficulty in the mountain forest. The Martial Arts Hall students who were somewhat unbearable due to the bumpy carriage ride earlier actually demonstrated stronger quality than the Inspection Academy members at this moment.

These students have rich nutrition on weekdays and perform high-intensity training every day. Their physical quality is much stronger than the Inspection Academy members. Wearing heavy stab-proof clothing, they climbed mountains and crossed ridges, and everyone persisted without appearing too tired.

Li Fei and Lu Changwu and more than a dozen children of the Inspection Academy were quietly arranged in the front row, closely following Lu Sheng and several certified martial masters of the Stop-Goe Academy.

Being in the front row seems dangerous, but it is actually safe because the most elite combat power of the entire team is here. And once there is a good opportunity, Li Fei and Lu Changwu and others can participate in the first time to gain merit.

Having such preferential treatment is naturally because the person leading the team from the Inspection Academy is Lu Sheng.

"Liu Asi, how much further?"

Lu Sheng asked the guide leading the way. He was sweating on his forehead and slightly panting.

The guide Liu Asi is an honest mountain dweller with rough skin and cracked traces. Upon hearing this, he quickly turned around and said cautiously:

"Officer, it should be not far ahead."

In order to cut off the influence of the Anshen Sect, the Inspection Academy posted a large number of leaflets in all villages and strongholds around Xingcheng, reminding people to be vigilant against evil sects and welcoming reports, with rewards for reports.

Liu Asi is an ordinary hunter in Luoshan Stronghold. A few days ago, when he went into the mountain to hunt, he accidentally discovered a stronghold in the mountain. There was an altar in the stronghold, and the symbols on it were exactly the same as the Anshen Sect symbols on the leaflets. So, holding the idea of receiving a reward, Liu Asi went into the city to report to the Inspection Academy. Only then did this action happen.

The Inspection Academy interrogated Liu Asi repeatedly and investigated the other party secretly in Luoshan Stronghold, confirming that there was no problem with this person and that there were indeed traces left by the Anshen Sect in Luoshan Stronghold, only then did they report to the City Lord's Mansion, contact the Stop-Goe Academy, and launch a large-scale action.

The team continued to move forward. After walking for a few minutes, there was gradually mist in the mountain forest, and the temperature dropped sharply.

Li Fei suddenly felt that the steel armor implant in his body was somewhat restless and slightly uneasy, which made him immediately pay attention.

Ever since the steel armor implant started to move, and he was getting closer and closer to the Body-Breaking Stage, he found that his perception of danger was becoming more and more acute. When fighting in the Green Origin Fist Stronghold, sometimes he didn't need to use his eyes to see, and he could sense where the opponent was going to attack him.

The introduction about steel armor implants in the "Complete Diagram of Implants" given to him by Hao Yi only mentioned that this kind of implant could enhance the human body's defensive power, and didn't mention that it would also enhance a person's perception ability.

Li Fei guessed that this should be the difference between the second-grade superior steel armor and ordinary steel armor implants.

"Something is wrong."

When Li Fei had a sense of crisis, the leading Wang Ping suddenly spoke.

Wang Ping is a certified martial master of the Stop-Goe Academy and the Regional Commander of this action. As soon as he spoke, the people around stopped immediately.

"Master?"

Lu Sheng looked at the other party.

Wang Ping looked at the thin mist ahead: "This mist is not quite right."

After speaking, he walked toward a big tree nearby and slapped it fiercely. A red gas visible to the naked eye surged from his palm.

This gas carried high heat, and Li Fei could feel the heat from more than ten meters away.

"Is it innate Qi?"

Li Fei thought secretly.

Only the Body-Breaking Stage can be counted as an official martial artist. After reaching the Qi-Changing Stage, one can be called a martial master. Wang Ping is a certified martial master sealed by the imperial court, so naturally, he has innate Qi.

The red innate Qi dissolved the white thin mist around the big tree, and a burst of white smoke came out of the tree trunk, making a sizzling sound.

After the white smoke dissipated, Wang Ping walked to the big tree and squatted down to check.

The people around gathered around one after another.

Li Fei saw some weird traces carved at the bottom of the tree trunk, with red powder still remaining on it.

Wang Ping dipped a little red powder with his hand, smelled it in front of his nose, and then stood up:

"Sure enough, it's a maze array."

Lu Sheng asked upon hearing this: "Master Wang means that the mist around is made by the array?"

"Yes, someone set up a maze array here. It seems that the Anshen Sect's lair is indeed here."

Wang Ping said.

Lu Sheng frowned upon hearing this and immediately called Liu Asi over:

"When you came here, was there this mist?"

If this maze array has always existed, then how did Liu Asi, an ordinary person, break through and discover the Anshen Sect's lair?

And if this maze array was built recently, does it mean the Anshen Sect has already noticed?

"I don't know. There was no mist when I came here."

Liu Asi said nervously.

Lu Sheng stared at the other party for a while and didn't find any problem, only then turned his head to look at Wang Ping:

"Master, this matter is probably somewhat tricky."

Wang Ping was very calm and said casually:

"Maze arrays also need regular maintenance. It is possible that when this person came, it happened to be the time for the array's maintenance, so he successfully discovered the Anshen Sect's lair. Of course, it is also possible that this array was built recently and the Anshen Sect people have already been alerted. But no matter which one it is, we are here, can we still retreat?"

"This..."

Lu Sheng hesitated.

Wang Ping said confidently: "Don't worry, watch me break the array."

After speaking, he turned to look at Li Fei and others: "Stay further away and cover your ears."

Li Fei immediately followed suit, retreating while covering his ears.

The others also followed suit one after another.

Finally, Wang Ping stood alone at the very front, and he took a deep breath.

This breath was very long, as if a whale was sucking water.

His chest bulged high, his neck also thickened, and then he opened his mouth wide and exhaled fiercely:

"ROAR!!!"

A muffled thunder seemed to sound in the mountain forest. A red gas visible to the naked eye sprayed out from Wang Ping's mouth, then spread around, bringing up a gust of wind, blowing the surrounding branches to sway!

The surrounding Inspection Academy members and students all looked at Wang Ping with shocked eyes, unable to believe that this was a sound a human could make.

Clouds follow dragons, winds follow tigers. Wang Ping's roar was like a tiger roaring in the mountain forest, causing a gust of wind, giving Li Fei goosebumps and subconsciously producing a sense of crisis.

He looked intently and saw that the mist around seemed to have been swept by a gust of wind and dissipated quickly.

"The masculine blood and Qi of martial artists can disturb the rituals of arts and laws, thereby breaking the arts and laws."

These words Hao Yi told him floated in his mind. At this moment, the scene before his eyes happened to confirm this sentence.

Wang Ping gave a roar, and the maze array before everyone's eyes was broken!

After the mist dispersed, several figures appeared on the hillside ahead, holding crude hunting guns in their hands.

"Enemy!"

An Inspection Academy member shouted a warning.

"Charge!"

Lu Sheng gave an order and waved his hand to let everyone rush up.

Clang—

Li Fei drew his sword.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 43 =====