Kou Yang Zhou stepped into Qingzhou territory again, taunting:

“I’ve crossed over again, come fight me…”

Before his words faded, Xu Ping Feng’s figure teleported before him, a hand reaching out from beneath white robes, striking Kou Yang Zhou’s chest.

You dare to engage in close combat… Kou Yang Zhou joined his palms like a blade, striking fiercely.

One man stood in Yongzhou territory, the other in Qingzhou, palm, and blade colliding forcefully.

Boom!

Like cannon fire, the air rippled like water, the surrounding ground peeling up like a dark spot appearing on human skin.

Kou Yang Zhou didn’t take advantage of the close combat opportunity to kill the physically weak Second-Rank artificer—not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t.

Thump thump thump… Kou Yang Zhou retreated several steps, each footfall causing minor tremors.

“He has the power of the masses supporting him in Qingzhou territory. The plan to forcefully level Qingzhou City won’t work after all.”

Kou Yang Zhou narrowed his eyes, abandoning the idea of fighting in Qingzhou.

Earlier when making plans, the old bastard had beaten his chest saying that no matter how powerful Xu Ping Feng was, he could single-handedly turn Qingzhou upside down.

Showing the full confidence of a Second-Rank warrior.

But now he had to admit that Xu Qi An hadn’t deceived him—he really couldn’t defeat a peak Second-Rank artificer who had refined an entire province’s territory and could mobilize the power of the masses.

However, this power of the masses was far inferior to Xu Qi An’s.

…

Zhuo Hao Ran?

He saw Zhuo Hao Ran!

Xu Xin Nian gripped the Universal Mirror, staring at Zhuo Hao Ran’s face as he enjoyed his moment of release. His heart pounded wildly before being overwhelmed by intense excitement.

What an effortless discovery!

He took a deep breath to calm his excitement and asked coolly:

“Where is this person?”

The Universal Mirror answered:

“Sixty li southwest. Besides him, I’ve found many scenes of males mating and bathing. If you like, I can show them to you one by one.”

Its tone was strange, carrying a sort of “you’re just like your brother, why pretend” mockery.

“Can you lock onto him?”

Second Young Master Xu recalled his brother’s instructions about using the Universal Mirror.

Anyone the mirror had observed before could be marked, then tracked at will within its range.

“Of course.”

Receiving confirmation, Xu Xin Nian breathed a sigh of relief and immediately said:

“Raise the viewpoint, I need a bird’s-eye view of the surroundings.”

He became very calm, like a seasoned commander.

The mirror’s view instantly elevated, showing the top of the military tent, then rows of orderly tents, and soldiers either standing guard or patrolling.

Second Young Master Xu swept his gaze across, and from experience, estimated this force numbered between three to five thousand.

“Continue!”

The view continued rising. When this army camp became a blurry “small block,” new enemy forces appeared in the mirror—an astonishingly large army whose camp was several times the size of Zhuo Hao Ran’s force.

The distance between the two camps was about five li.

“This is a main force of the Yunzhou army, while Zhuo Hao Ran leads the vanguard.”

Xu Xin Nian made his assessment.

Generally, ahead of the main force, there would be one or two vanguard units responsible for scouting. In case of large-scale enemy attacks, they would buy time for the main force to prepare.

An army needed time to transition from rest to battle readiness.

But when troop numbers reached tens of thousands, they needed even more time to assemble.

When Second Young Master Xu fought in the Northern Borders, the barbarian and Great Feng allied forces were scattered by the Pacification Nation Cavalry largely because they lacked time to assemble their troops.

Gathering dozens or hundreds was easy, but thousands were difficult, and tens of thousands even more so.

Therefore, those who boasted “the more the better” during troop inspections were either foolish ignoramuses or military geniuses who wielded troops like gods.

Xu Xin Nian gripped the Universal Mirror and turned to Heng Yuan walking beside him:

“Master Heng Yuan, please contact the Earth and Heaven Society members. Tell them I want to hunt Zhuo Hao Ran.”

Heng Yuan was stunned momentarily, his gentle eyes suddenly brightening as he clasped his hands and smiled:

“Please wait a moment, Benefactor Xu!”

He quickly took out the Earth Book fragment, released the reins, and rapidly transmitted:

[Six: Benefactor Xu asks this poor monk to inform everyone that he wants to hunt Zhuo Hao Ran.]

Phoenix Chick was the first to respond:

[Two: I also want to hunt Zhuo Hao Ran, but first we need to find him.]

[Four: No rush, we’ll face him eventually.]

[Two: But this way, no one can guarantee a second massacre won’t happen. The Yunzhou army is determined to turn Yongzhou into scorched earth.]

[Six: Rest assured, Benefactor Xu has already captured Zhuo Hao Ran’s trail.]

The Earth Book chat group suddenly went silent, then came Chu Yuan Zhen’s transmission:

[Have you encountered Zhuo Hao Ran? How’s the situation? Are you in danger? What’s your position? I’ll fly over immediately by the sword.]

Li Miao Zhen and Li Ling Su also transmitted messages, showing both eager killing intent toward Zhuo Hao Ran and concern for Second Young Master Xu’s safety.

[Six: No need to worry, we haven’t encountered Zhuo Hao Ran. Benefactor Xu has locked onto Zhuo Hao Ran’s position using that treasure that can observe within a thousand li.]

Li Miao Zhen and Chu Yuan Zhen were stunned, taking a moment to react, while Li Ling Su immediately thought of the Universal Mirror, having once possessed it himself.

[Seven: Heh, that dog thief Xu Ning Yan gave his cousin his heart and soul.]

“Dog thief Xu Ning Yan” was the Earth and Heaven Society members’ inside joke nickname for Xu Qi An, originally spreading from Yang Qian Xuan’s mouth, later “promoted” to the Society by Li Ling Su.

Next, through Heng Yuan, Xu Xin Nian informed Chu Yuan Zhen and others of Zhuo Hao Ran’s position, as well as the locations of his vanguard force and the main force behind it.

[Six: We’ll act at dusk. The beheading must be quick—there might be Fourth-Rank experts in the vanguard, and even more in the main force behind. Five li is only a dozen breaths’ time for Fourth-Rank experts.

[Therefore, we must make detailed plans.]

…

At dusk, Zhuo Hao Ran pulled up his pants and got off the bed, looking at the dying delicate youth with torn innards. He clearly wouldn’t survive, though some precious medicines and pills could save him.

But it wasn’t worth wasting medicines and pills on a lowly captive.

There were many such attractive youths in the military camp.

Though Zhuo Hao Ran wasn’t picky, he usually preferred women. Only when bored would he change tastes?

In his eyes, the delicate youth was just a disposable plaything.

“Useless, worse than a woman.”

Zhuo Hao Ran hung his sword at his waist and spat.

At least women didn’t break after one use.

Looking at the thin youth’s body on the bed, Zhuo Hao Ran inexplicably thought of Xu Qi An’s cousin, that beautiful youth who had cost him dearly and nearly got him court-martialed.

Red lips, white teeth, bright eyes—his looks outshone most women he’d seen.

“Heh, given the chance, I’d like to taste him. Tsk tsk, violating Xu Qi An’s cousin would be even more thrilling than bedding Xu Qi An’s women.”

After capturing Song Mountain County, Zhuo Hao Ran’s great revenge was satisfied, and he no longer hated Xu Xin Nian so intensely.

As his killing intent faded, lust arose.

He believed capturing Xu Xin Nian would bring greater benefits than killing him—many commanders in the army favored male beauty and would surely enjoy taking liberties with Xu Qi An’s cousin.

Zhuo Hao Ran came to the table and drained the strong wine from the flask, feeling refreshed.

In thirteen days, that surname Xu would die without burial, and after the Yunzhou army captured Yongzhou, their dominion over the Central Plains would be set in stone.

Oh, and that Empress—when the army stormed the capital, she would surely become the prize fought over by the Yunzhou troops.

“Which city should we massacre next?”

Zhuo Hao Ran stared at the map on the stand, lost in thought.

Just then, in the military tent, six figures appeared like ghosts in a flash of pure light.

In the center was a white-robed figure, the transmission array slowly retracting beneath his feet. On the left were a young woman in light armor with a scarlet cape, and a devastatingly handsome young man in Daoist robes.

On the right were a blue-robed swordsman with a streak of white hair at his temples; a handsome youth holding a bronze mirror; and a burly monk with a deeply suffering expression.

Yang Qian Xuan, Chu Yuan Zhen, Li Miao Zhen, Li Ling Su… Zhuo Hao Ran’s pupils contracted as portraits and information about these people flashed through his mind.

Except for Xu Xin Nian and the unknown bald monk, they were all Fourth-Rank experts.

How did they manage such precise teleportation… Without hesitation, Zhuo Hao Ran’s legs became a blur as he lunged toward the tent’s exit while shouting:

“Ene—”

His voice suddenly choked off as his collar wrapped tightly around his neck, and the sword at his waist unsheathed itself, furiously slashing its master.

Objects in the military tent crashed “ping pang” toward Zhuo Hao Ran.

The next moment, these miscellaneous items were all blasted away by the Fourth-Rank warrior’s qi. Just as Zhuo Hao Ran was about to break through the tent, Second Young Master Xu flicked his wrist, directing the Universal Mirror at him.

Zhuo Hao Ran’s figure was reflected in the bronze mirror surface.

His body instantly froze, unable to take another step.

Li Miao Zhen and Li Ling Su’s spirit forms left their bodies. The master-disciple pair swooped toward this warrior known for his bloodthirst, simultaneously pressing their palms against Zhuo Hao Ran’s chest.

They struck with explosive force!

Zhuo Hao Ran’s primordial spirit was immediately blasted from his physical body.

Following this, the flying sword behind Chu Yuan Zhen unsheathed with a “whoosh,” piercing through Zhuo Hao Ran’s primordial spirit.

Heart Sword!

The already semi-ethereal primordial spirit grew even dimmer.

After enduring this sword strike, Zhuo Hao Ran’s primordial spirit immediately descended, attempting to return to his physical body.

But at this moment, a golden light had already flashed to his physical body. Master Heng Yuan, his entire body gleaming with golden paint, stepped forward with a twist of his waist, drew back his right arm, and unleashed a punch.

Bang!

Zhuo Hao Ran’s head exploded like a watermelon, bone fragments and flesh spraying everywhere.

Unable to return to his physical body, the primordial spirit had no choice but to rapidly ascend, attempting to flee the tent.

However, Li Miao Zhen and Li Ling Su’s spirit forms seized Zhuo Hao Ran’s primordial spirit by the legs, preventing his escape.

To Fourth-Rank Daoists specialized in spirit cultivation, a warrior without his physical body was nothing but an ant to be crushed at will.

Whoosh!

Chu Yuan Zhen’s flying sword returned, piercing through Zhuo Hao Ran’s primordial spirit once more.

The Fourth-Rank warrior released a silent, shrill scream before dissipating into nothingness.

The Earth and Heaven Society members’ coordination was impeccable, aided by magical treasures, the entire process taking no more than five breaths.

Yang Qian Xuan said flatly:

“Let’s go!”

“Wait!”

Li Miao Zhen quickly glanced at the naked, dying youth on the bed and said:

“Take him with us!”

Yang Qian Xuan didn’t object, stomping his foot to activate the transmission array that enveloped everyone, making them vanish from the tent.

Seconds after they left, two armored commanders rushed into the tent, one carrying a bronze hammer, the other wielding a great sword. Their gazes swept around, falling upon Zhuo Hao Ran’s headless corpse and the scattered objects.

“Dead…”

The commander with the bronze hammer said gravely:

“From when we detected movement to arriving here was only three breaths, and Zhuo Hao Ran didn’t have any chance to fight back.”

The two exchanged glances, terror rising in their hearts.

If they were honest with themselves, had the attack been directed at either of them, the outcome wouldn’t have been any better than Zhuo Hao Ran’s.

The warrior with the great sword pondered briefly and said:

“Don’t panic. First, notify the Grand General.

“Tonight we’ll stay together, no one moves alone.

“The assassins seemed to target Zhuo Hao Ran specifically, probably because his army’s massacres provoked public outrage.”

Hearing this, the commander with the bronze hammer relaxed slightly:

“He was too brutal. I knew he’d bring death upon himself sooner or later.”

…

In the evening twilight, Yang Qian Xuan led the five back to Second Young Master Xu’s cavalry camp. Master Heng Yuan caught the healing pills and wound-treatment ointment tossed by Li Miao Zhen, walking toward the half-dead youth to patiently clean his “wounds” and feed him medicine.

Li Ling Su, excited after slaying the villain, suggested:

“Should we use the same method to hunt down Commander Qi Guang Bo?”

Li Miao Zhen was equally cheerful and refreshed, but that didn’t stop her from immediately rejecting her senior brother’s suggestion with a jibe:

“Go die if you want, don’t drag me along with you.”

Second Young Master Xu said:

“Qi Guang Bo’s cultivation level isn’t important, but as the Yunzhou army’s commander, he must have numerous powerful guards. With just us few, killing him would be extremely difficult. The best outcome would be mutual destruction, more likely we’d be walking into a trap, seeking our deaths.”

“Aiyoh, what happened to this brother?”

Miao You Fang jogged to the youth’s side, clicking his tongue:

“It’s so swollen you could fit an egg in there, poor thing, poor thing.”

Then Mo Sang also came over, and they started discussing back and forth.

“Taking the dirt road instead of the water road, Zhuo Hao Ran deserved worse than death.”

“Indeed, indeed, such a twisted person wouldn’t exist in our Southern Borders.”

“Come off it, your Southern Border Poison Tribes don’t even spare animals and corpses.”

“But what does that have to do with our Strength Poison Tribe? Anyway, our tribe’s men prefer girls. You Central Plains people are truly perverted, ruining a perfectly good man’s backside forever.”

“Speaking of which, Imperial Censor Xu practices poison arts, do you think he’s perverted like your Poison Tribes?”

Listening from the side, Second Young Master Xu’s heart sank, suddenly feeling the Universal Mirror’s words might have some credibility.

Li Ling Su thought to himself, oh, this Miao You Fang dares to secretly criticize dog thief, Xu Ning Yan, I should quietly tell the dog thief later and let him discipline this unworthy disciple.

…

When Qi Guang Bo was having his evening meal, he received news of Zhuo Hao Ran’s assassination.

He continued eating his rice without changing expression: “Zhuo Hao Ran was brave in breaking formations, a rare sharp blade. What a pity.”

The deputy commander attending him echoed the sentiment, adding worriedly:

“Those assassins came and went like ghosts, killing in an instant. The army’s commanders are all living in fear because of this.”

Qi Guang Bo said calmly:

“Issue orders—experts of Fifth-Rank and above are to move in groups of three, never separating for a moment. If they can survive the enemy’s instant-kill techniques, it will be the assassins who die.”

This wasn’t a major issue, easily dealt with.

Qi Guang Bo continued:

“This battle won’t last much longer, it will be decided within thirteen days. Before the Garuda Tree Bodhisattva and White Emperor kill Xu Qi An, I must also take Yang Gong’s head.”

…

In Chu Province.

On the desolate plains, an immortal maiden in flowing robes stood in the vast wilderness holding a long sword, raising her gaze to the dark sky above.

Layer upon layer of ink-black clouds rolled, occasionally lighting up with blue-white radiance as terrible thunder brewed within.

The clouds churned so violently that they resembled surging river waters.

Within a hundred-li radius, all living beings felt an apocalyptic presence, either trembling and prostrating themselves or dropping dead on the spot.

Fortunately, Chu Province was sparsely populated, and the surrounding civilians had already been evacuated once, ensuring the hundred-li radius was devoid of people.

At the edge of the gathering ink clouds, a fierce yet majestic dragon head descended. Between its horns, a “water-thunder ball” with a black core and jumping electric arcs on its surface slowly condensed.

By the time the dragon head descended, the water-thunder ball had fully formed.

“Boom!”

With a sonic boom, the water-thunder ball transformed into a streak of light crossing the sky, leaving dense electric arcs in its wake.

Luo Yu Heng’s delicate features remained composed as she raised her head, focusing intently on the tribulation clouds in the sky, unmoved by the terrifying water-thunder ball.

A green-robed figure appeared out of thin air between the water-thunder ball and Luo Yu Heng, slowly spreading his arms in an embracing gesture.

During this process, streams of power from the masses swarmed toward him, merging into his body.

“Hum!”

The water-thunder ball was caught between Xu Qi An’s palms, constantly trembling, pushing him to slide backward.

A gleam flashed in Xu Qi An’s eyes as his arms swelled several times their size, bursting his sleeves. With a “bang,” he violently extinguished the thunder ball, his arms also being violently shattered, leaving his shoulders empty.

Bones rapidly regenerated, and flesh regrew.

Xu Qi An shook his fair-skinned arms and grinned:

“Powerful force, exhilarating.”

The White Emperor’s voice was grand and majestic as he said slowly:

“Compared to the Supervisor, you’re far inferior.”

Xu Qi An smiled:

“Compared to the Great Wilderness, you’re also far inferior. Why doesn’t your true form come?”

Obvious emotional fluctuations appeared in the White Emperor’s azure vertical pupils as he said gravely:

“You know my identity?”

Xu Qi An stretched lazily, his smile calm, appearing fully confident and in control of the situation.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, I’m the Dao Sovereign’s reincarnation.”

The Dao Sovereign’s reincarnation?!

Extreme shock appeared in the White Emperor’s eyes.