Jinzhou Prefecture.

Watermere.

This place is crisscrossed with waterways and swamps, seldom visited by anyone.

Even the nearby fishermen, skilled in rowing and fishing, wouldn’t come here unless absolutely necessary.

"Swish!"

A silhouette leapt out from the mire, arms spread wide in mid-air like a crane.

The crane flapped its wings, flashing towards the two figures below.

Crane Cry in Nine Heavens!

"Bang!"

"Thud thud..."

Palm force erupted, and both fell to the ground, their bodies soon sinking into the mud, vanishing entirely.

"Come out,"

Yuan Zhongdao, pale-faced and trembling, gasped:

"There aren’t any more pursuers nearby for now."

"Splash..."

Not far away, the water surged as several figures hidden beneath the surface leapt out, stumbling upon landing.

They were summoned by King Kang to Jinzhou Prefecture to suppress the rebellion.

Who would have thought.

The rebellion wasn’t subdued; instead, they fell into peril.

Though they’ve escaped the siege using various means, they’ve been pursued relentlessly, unable to catch a breath.

"Brother Yuan."

Fang Heng, lips pale, spoke up:

"Miss Cai Shu’s injuries are worsening. Is there anywhere nearby to rest and heal, otherwise..."

He glanced back, eyes resting worriedly on a weary-looking lady.

"Healing?"

Yuan Zhongdao shook his head:

"I’m unfamiliar with this place..."

He was well aware of the predicament.

Not to mention Miss Cai Shu from the Exclusion Sect, he himself had unresolved hidden injuries, needing urgent recovery and adjustment.

"I know a place." One among them raised a hand:

"Deep within this Watermere, there’s a force led by Leaping Stream Jiao Cao Zhong, separate from Three Sages Manor."

"Leaping Stream Jiao?" Fang Heng’s eyes lit up:

"What background? What’s his cultivation base?"

"No significant background," that man explained:

"Just a group trying to avoid the Imperial Court’s labor, opting for a peaceful life here. Cao Zhong’s cultivation base seems to be only a Minor Circulation Martial Artist."

"Minor Circulation!" Yuan Zhongdao breathed a sigh of relief:

"Then it’s alright, where is it?"

He is already without flaw, Fang Heng is also a Great Zhou Celestial Martial Artist, and though few in number, everyone present is a master.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to break through the siege.

Even though they’re heavily injured now, facing a Minor Circulation Martial Artist poses no threat.

"I’m not sure of the exact location," the person stood upright, looking deep into Watermere:

"I just know it’s inside."

"Then let’s venture in," Fang Heng said:

"We must evade the pursuers behind us anyway; there’s nowhere else to go, might as well explore inside."

"Be careful," the weakly Miss Cai Shu struggled to speak:

"Don’t stay away from the water too long; my Exclusion Sect Secret Technique can only mask my aura using the water veins’ power."

"Our pursuers’ cultivation bases are rising; I suspect..."

"We might be targeted!"

Upon hearing this,

everyone’s expressions turned grave.

......

"Giddy up!"

"Giddy up!"

"..."

Along the official road, more than thirty sturdy horses galloped, kicking up a trail of long dust behind.

Fang Zheng held the Wind and Cloud Banner, shaking it occasionally.

As he shook, wisps of breeze silently wrapped around the horses’ hooves, speeding their gallop.

More than that.

With magic support, the horses remained energetic, running with ease, increasing their endurance significantly.

Regular inferior horses with such support might travel hundreds of miles a day, let alone these horses with a trace of Exotic Beast bloodline.

A thousand miles a day posed no problem!

Moreover, a mysterious aura connected Fang Zheng with the thirty-six riders, the air swirling and lingering.

Military Array?

Ling Shan was among them too, his gaze sweeping across, his heart slightly uneasy.

All thirty-six riders were Martial Artists, including one without flaw, their auras connected, their formidable might imaginable.

Added to the thirty-six horses with the Exotic Beast bloodline, a direct charge might even be hard for a Martial Sect to withstand.

Not to mention Fang Zheng’s own tactics...

Impressive!

No wonder he could kill the Mad Daoist, no wonder the Commandery Princess specifically cautioned not to underestimate this man, indeed formidable.

"Fellow Daoist Ling?"

Fang Zheng turned his head:

"What are you thinking?"

"Military Array," Ling Shan didn’t conceal. Having seen the Ghost King, he now regarded Fang Zheng as an equal, replying:

"According to the sect’s texts, the Military Array has been around since ancient times, the best tool for the Human Race to resist Gods and Demons."

"Hmm..."

"The Immortal Sect’s Daoist Soldier Technique evolved from this."

"Oh!" Fang Zheng raised his eyebrows:

"Little Night Palace indeed is a longstanding Immortal Sect, such secrets are a first for me."

"Mortals resisting Gods and Demons..."

"Fellow Daoist Ling, Little Night Palace is far in the Arctic, hasn’t engaged in worldly matters for centuries, why now?"

Not just Little Night Palace.

Recently, many masters from East Sea, Southern Border, once withdrawn from the world, hidden disciples from Immortal Sect, have emerged.

Such strange circumstances couldn’t help but arouse Fang Zheng’s curiosity.

"In times of great turmoil, comes great contention," Ling Shan spoke calmly:

"Chaos is imminent in Central Plains, Heaven and Earth’s Qi Mechanism is shifting dramatically; there’ll be many opportunities in the next century."

"If one contends, further progress isn’t out of reach!"

"Typically, it’s extremely hard for a Master to become a Rogue Immortal; the existing ones are mostly predecessors from centuries ago. This chaotic world holds the opportunity to transcend; naturally, one would seize it."

Fang Zheng raised his eyebrows.

Is there such a notion?

Suddenly, many doubts in his mind unraveled.

Indeed!

Since the chaos emerged years ago, Martial Artist numbers have skyrocketed, and those without flaw have become common.

In recent years.

The number of Masters has steadily increased, even he became a Martial Sect, possibly due to the shift in Heaven and Earth’s Qi Mechanism.