Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 694 - 624 Eyes and Ears

The halberd burst into the crowd, whipping up a storm of blood and gore. Dressed as Lu Bu, the Ink Silk Clone was like a Demon God, destroying all enemies in his path.

Innate Martial Artists were no match for him, and ordinary Magic cast upon his armor could not even leave a trace.

The slaves suffered heavy casualties. Lurking hesitantly in the back, they allowed the Ink Silk Clone to clear the way in front, moving through the area as if unopposed, leading Li Ang towards the outskirts of the city.

The Ya Jiu Puppet narrowed its eyes and pointed a finger at several slaves attempting to flee, then suddenly clenched its fist.

BOOM!

The collars around the slaves’ necks burst open. Their heads shattered into pieces, scattering on the ground. The headless corpses, spurting blood from their severed necks, staggered a few steps forward before collapsing powerlessly.

The ice-cold gaze of the Ya Jiu Puppet swept over all the slaves, its expressionless voice stating, "Stop him."

In the original plan devised by Jun Qianzi, Lian Xuanyao was supposed to come to Xingzhou alone to pay respects to his parents, without any followers or Disciples.

Li Ang’s presence was an unexpected factor that needed to be erased as soon as possible.

The slaves exchanged glances and, gritting their teeth, hurried to catch up.

Viewed from above, the city’s slaves swarmed like ants, converging from all directions.

The Ink Silk Clone protected Li Ang with his left hand while wielding the Fangtian Halberd in his right, knocking down Flying Swords and Telekinesis Control Devices.

Ya Jiu grew restless and anxious, and Li Ang was equally agitated. His other Ink Silk Clones, transformed into flying birds, surveyed Xingzhou from above and clearly saw bridges collapsing and roads being inundated.

Zhao Ming’s surprise attack was extremely ruthless. The city’s officials, military officers, and Cultivators were assassinated by the Ya Jiu Puppets in the first wave. Below, the soldiers and government troops wanted to help with disaster relief but were as disorganized as headless flies, unable to coordinate effectively.

Occasionally, some brave villagers tried to shore up the riverbank with sandbags, but faced with the continuously crumbling embankment, their efforts were futile.

Li Ang took in the entire situation at a glance and turned to look at the Ink Silk Clone.

"Lu Bu" immediately understood. He opened his fan-sized palm, allowing Li Ang to step onto it. With his right hand, he swept the Fangtian Halberd to drive back the pursuing slaves. Then, his colossal figure lunged forward several paces, his left arm windmilling to build maximum kinetic energy before he hurled Li Ang skyward like a javelin.

The throw was so swift and sudden that Li Ang soared over the city walls. He timely activated his Qi Sea, releasing his Telekinesis to propel himself beyond the city limits. In mid-air, he drew the Radiant Crossbow, loaded with a Wind Talisman, and pulled the trigger, aiming back at his pursuers.

BUZZ—

The Wind Talisman triggered, creating a roaring gale that pushed Li Ang forward, flinging him westward away from his pursuers.

And now, the Ink Silk Clone, no longer needing to protect Li Ang’s physical Body, flexed its wrists, finally able to unleash its full power.

...

Faster, even faster.

Li Ang skimmed over the treetops of the dense forest, gliding through the air, clutching the Academic Palace Patrol’s Jade Pendant tightly in his hand.

In the distance, the sky took on an eerie bluish-black hue. Massive clouds spun slowly, resembling a hideous demonic face, overlooking the Human World below.

THUD!

Li Ang crashed to the ground, his feet plowing two narrow trails through the forest. He had finally moved beyond the reach of the Chaotic Wind.

Without waiting to steady himself, he hastily picked up the Jade Pendant.

After flickering a few times, the Jade Pendant finally radiated a soft, warm glow.

Communication was effective. Li Ang swiftly tapped and swiped on the Jade Pendant, sending distress signals to the Luoyang Academy, the Academic Palace, the imperial court, the local garrison, and all influential powers.

With the message successfully sent, Li Ang heaved a long sigh of relief. He reached into his robes and produced the Ten Thousand Spirit Book, saying in a solemn voice, "Tell me how to stop the flood."

The Ten Thousand Spirit Book remained silent for a long moment before a line of words slowly materialized on its pallid pages.

"One eye and one ear, in exchange for ten years of life."

"Deal."

With Li Ang’s resolute words, his left eye and right ear immediately disintegrated, turning into bloody fluid that dripped onto the pages.

Agonizing pain pierced straight into his mind. Li Ang summoned Mo Si to fill his wounds, while his remaining Heart Thought stayed calm, focusing intently on what was to come.

Murky blood continued to flow, transforming into a complex, web-like pattern: the hydrographic map of the Dark River beneath Xingzhou.

...

"I still can’t understand, Teacher."

In the eye of the storm, Jun Qianzi formed talismanic gestures with both hands, relentlessly bombarding Lian Xuanyao with lightning, and shouted, "If the great disaster wasn’t going to befall our generation, why did you stop me nineteen years ago? And if it is going to befall our generation, then these people below will die regardless. You never intended to save them from the start, so why are you stubbornly fighting to the death here now?"

Lian Xuanyao wielded his Sword to dissipate the wind and thunder, calmly saying, "To practice benevolence is up to oneself."

"Hypocrite."

Jun Qianzi shook his head. "The former emperor of Yu Country, for his own selfish desire for longevity, triggered the Demon calamity in Lingnan. Did the Academic Palace ever intervene? The Five Families and Seven Hopes dominate their regions, treating servants like pigs and dogs, and the common people as household slaves. Did the Academic Palace ever intervene? The filthy Ghost Market hidden beneath Chang’an, the gangs in Chang’an City who bully men and abduct women—if you wished, Teacher, you could take their heads in a single day and restore clarity to the world, couldn’t you? But you didn’t. Essentially, you and I are the same kind of person: unscrupulous in achieving our goals. Everything else—benevolence, righteousness, propriety, integrity, honor, or disgrace—can all be cast aside, all can be sacrificed."

Facing Jun Qianzi’s scornful accusations, Lian Xuanyao flicked his Longsword. The blade drew dazzling thunder, hurling it towards a hillock and leveling its summit.

"Damn it."

Feilian, dressed as a lavishly attired young nobleman from Jing Country, spat as he watched the lightning streak past nearby.

The sky had become the stage for the battle between the two Divine Talisman Masters, Jun Qianzi and Lian Xuanyao. Divine thunder ravaged the heavens, and Gang Wind danced wildly. Feilian, as a Candle Cloud Mage, could only dodge the rampant winds and thunder like a fly, occasionally finding gaps to release Magic and slightly disrupt Lian Xuanyao’s movements.

The humiliation was truly unbearable for the prideful Feilian.

"Only 15 minutes left!"

Shangyang, whose chest still bore a terrifying wound, shouted against the wind and thunder to his comrades, "It’s about time to retreat!"

Previously, the Zhao Ming members had secretly infiltrated deep into the territory of Yu Country via the Nine Nether Dark River tunnels, their entry aided by You Qiong-kun shielding the heavenly phenomena. Now, most of the Dark River tunnels were filled with torrents, used to intensify the floodwaters, leaving only a few escape routes.

Reinforcements from Yu Country could arrive at any moment. They had to escape along the dark passages before that.

"Wait a bit longer!" Suo Luo, the young girl in the yellow dress, snapped, her voice tinged with frustration. She was extremely reluctant to look away from Jun Qianzi and Lian Xuanyao, who were locked in combat high above.

For this ambush, Zhao Ming had been preparing for over a decade, making countless preparations. They had to achieve their goal, no matter what.

WHOOSH—

Yuan Sou swung his Sword toward the sky, then dove, plummeting into the murky river.

"Yuan Sou, are you trying to escape?!" Suo Luo shouted sternly. However, Yuan Sou plunged into the water as if he hadn’t heard her.

With one less member of the Candle Cloud Sword Sect, the pressure of the battle sharply increased. The Zhao Ming members had no choice but to redouble their efforts in channeling their Qi Seas to support Jun Qianzi.

SPLASH!

Yuan Sou sank into the river. His Sword Qi swept out, creating an air bubble around him to keep the water at bay, while his Longsword pierced into the riverbed, tearing open a rift.