Star Martial Era: The Way of Star Light Cultivation-Chapter 51 - 47 Narrow Path

If these incense masters carrying out the tasks were to be captured and tortured, were to spill everything they had been doing, then Zhou Ji would be…

At this moment, Heavenly River Gang Leader Zhou Ji waiting outside Zhou Qingzhu’s quarters was as scared as a quail.

If this was really the case, then he, Zhou Ji…

But at this moment, Zhou Qingzhu’s complexion was growing even uglier.

Semi-lockdown on Jinshan County city, small teams sent to the six counties under Jinshan County’s jurisdiction to capture the trouble-making bandits, the sudden intensification of demon hunting teams’ actions in the mountainous areas, and increased surveillance of Tianyang Branch’s experts, with some teams even temporarily losing contact.

This series of actions made Zhou Qingzhu feel a strong sensation of malice.

He sensed that Dong Zhao’s continuous moves ultimately aimed at him.

Could this matter really fall on his head?

Yes, it could!

Zhou Qingzhu’s eyes swept over to Zhou Ji waiting outside for orders, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

If he were to kill Zhou Ji right now, no matter how clever Dong Zhao’s methods were, they wouldn’t be able to implicate him.

But for a moment, Zhou Qingzhu was indecisive.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t bear to lose a Zhou Ji, only a distant relative.

The key issue was that if he were to kill Zhou Ji right now, although he would be absolutely safe, it would mean admitting defeat, utter defeat.

If Zhou Ji died now, the Martial World forces he had previously courted and bribed could no longer be mobilized.

Essentially, they would not be able to monitor and target the teams dispatched by Jinshan Taoist Institute anymore.

It would be equivalent to admitting defeat in advance.

But was Zhou Qingzhu willing to admit defeat beforehand?

Absolutely not!

He not only had contingency plans but also support.

In fact, he was not acting alone in this matter; Hall Master Hu of the Tianyang Sub-Hall in Yan State was cooperating and supporting him, complicit in the scheme.

Last night, he had already made contact with Hall Master Hu, who had been activating the Star Artifact to track Qi Shanye’s whereabouts.

Hall Master Hu was already moving towards Jinshan County City and, if nothing went wrong, would arrive at Jinshan County City in the shortest possible time.

With Sub-Hall Hall Master Hu stepping in by then, even if Dong Zhao had something in his hand, he wouldn’t be able to overturn the situation.

After deliberating for a long time, Zhou Qingzhu eventually decided that he absolutely couldn’t admit defeat right now.

To admit defeat now would cause him lifelong regret and also mean losing the support of Hall Master Hu of the Tianyang Sub-Hall, leading to his complete downfall.

“How are the preparations coming along?”

Outside the door, Zhou Ji, hearing Zhou Qingzhu speak, let out a sigh of relief.

Zhou Ji wasn’t foolish; he had thought of many possibilities, even the worst-case scenario.

But as long as his clan uncle needed him, he was safe.

“Reporting to my clan uncle, since yesterday, we have discreetly dispatched one two-star cultivator of the Star Refining Realm, three at the Seventh Layer of Dining Dawn, five at the Sixth Layer of Dining Dawn, and twenty-seven Loose Cultivators from the Third to Fifth Layers of Dining Dawn.

They all carry Star Pigeons and can be contacted at any time,” Zhou Ji said.

“Thirty-six altogether?

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

If they are divided into six directions, it’s a bit insufficient in number; there’s no overwhelming advantage,” Zhou Qingzhu frowned, somewhat dissatisfied.

“My clan uncle, based on the necessary routes for the counties to return to Jinshan County city, I have identified five critical points, all more than forty li from the county city.

We can split into five teams.

Although we have fewer people, our strength is overwhelming.

According to intelligence, for the teams sent out by the Jinshan Taoist Institute, the strongest in each team are trusted aides of Tian Zhang, around the Sixth or Seventh Layer of Dining Dawn.

Other Jinshan Taoist Institute disciples are mostly between the First and Third Layers of Dining Dawn, and those above the Fourth Layer of Dining Dawn do not exceed two in each team,” Zhou Ji reported with precision, obviously well-prepared with intelligence.

“Then go and make the arrangements.

It would be best if none of them return alive.

At the very least, we must get our hands on the captives they’ve taken and their confessions,” Zhou Qingzhu instructed.

“Yes, my clan uncle, I’m on it.”

As Zhou Ji turned to leave, Zhou Qingzhu suddenly instructed, “If anything unexpected happens to you, run towards the back mountain of the branch immediately or send a distress signal.”

“Thank you, uncle.”

The arrangement by Zhou Qingzhu finally allowed Zhou Ji to breathe a sigh of relief; the terrifying possibility he had previously considered had now become very small.

Not long after Zhou Ji left, Zhong Da, the flag master of the Tianyang Sub-Hall’s Star Patrol Guard, arrived.

“What’s the situation?

Where are those five people now?” As soon as Zhong Da arrived, Zhou Qingzhu immediately asked.

Zhou Ji’s methods were his overt tactics, but they weren’t enough.

The orders previously given to Zhong Da were his real trump card.

An expert of the Star Refining Realm in the mid-to-late period or even the Star Condensing Realm could easily annihilate several teams alone.

Zhong Da, somewhat anxious, saluted with his hands clasped, “Mountain Master, the latest intelligence reports that Hua Xin and Lv Yigong failed to secretly break away from the Demon Hunting Team.

After being discovered, they resisted tenaciously but were executed on the spot by the Lord-lieutenant Lu Chang on charges of colluding with demons.”

“How dare Lu Chang!” Zhou Qingzhu was furiously wide-eyed, but no amount of anger could change the past.

“Han Shou lost contact; his success or failure is unknown, likely having had no chance to escape.

Currently, only Jin Chi and Lin Lang have successfully withdrawn from the search for the evil demon and are concealing their presence while waiting for orders.

According to reports, the Lord-lieutenant Lu Chang originally intended to dispatch men to hunt down Jin Chi and Lin Lang on grounds of flight, but they were stopped by Huang Yunshu, the Governor of our Tianyang Sub-Hall, so I believe no one was sent after them,” Zhong Da reported.

Zhou Qingzhu’s previously troubled expression eased somewhat; at least two had succeeded.

With two successes, although they were both in the late stages of Star Refining, they could undoubtedly sweep through those six teams.

“Have their arrangements been made properly?” Zhou Qingzhu asked.

“Mountain Master, everything has been arranged.

Only if there are survivors after those Loose Cultivators make their move, will they act,” Zhong Da replied.

“And what about those who are restraining the experts of the Jinshan Taoist Institute?

Are they all in place?”

Previously, the Jinshan Taoist Institute had effectively blockaded Jinshan County City, preventing them from leaving the city to provide assistance.

Now, preparations were made for an ambush on the six teams en route, reversing the situation.

Zhou Qingzhu had long since given orders to firmly monitor the Jinshan Taoist Institute’s experts, to prevent them from aiding those six teams.

“Mountain Master, it isn’t dawn yet, and the Vice Mountain Master, along with various Instructors and instructors, left the city as you directed, each to confront the experts of the Jinshan Taoist Institute.

Only at the west gate, the Vice Mountain Master departed later due to being injured yesterday, and being no match for Ning Yuchan, he swapped places with the Superintendent before leaving.

By the time they arrived, Luo Kexing had already disappeared,” Zhong Da reported.

Hearing the name ‘Ning Yuchan,’ Zhou Qingzhu’s face showed a flicker of anger; he had been too lenient after all.

“Mm, observe their movements and keep me updated.”

******

At noon, after a hearty meal, Niu Gui and Xu Jin led the team towards Jinshan County City.

If all went well, they would reach Jinshan County City by nightfall.

Besides the original members, the team included two prisoners, Hong Li and Liu San.

Without a dedicated prisoner cart, their limbs were dislocated and they were wrapped up and laid across the horses like bundles.

After a night of interrogation, both had sustained heavy injuries, but none were fatal.

Before departure, Niu Gui fed each of them a Star Refilling Pill.

Having had their bodies tempered by Star Power, the prisoners would survive the journey, protected by the pill’s energy.

It is worth noting that Xu Jin’s instructions the previous day had been effective; Qian Xiaohu and the others had used up all their Star Refilling Pills, except for one kept for emergencies, and also all the Mental Awakening Pills distributed daily over the past four days.

Sha Youtian had even broken through to the Second Layer of Dining Dawn, and Qian Xiaohu was not far from making his own breakthrough.

Two other members, who had been Star Pointing slightly earlier, also advanced to the Second Layer of Dining Dawn; thereby, the team’s combat power significantly increased.

As they had ridden quickly when arriving, the return trip was slower due to carrying two prisoners.

They soon left the territory of Heshui County, and the team rested for 15 minutes after traveling for a bit over two hours.

“We will soon be passing through Pear Blossom Ridge, a mandatory route from Heshui County back to the county city.

If there are enemies, they are most likely to wait for us at Pear Blossom Ridge.

We’ll act on the situation as it unfolds.

If the enemy is too strong, I will create an opportunity for you.

You’re riding one-star Warhorses; if you can break through, you’ll live to reach Jinshan County City.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression became exceedingly grave, and a look of sorrow appeared on Qiao Ruonan’s face, “Brother Niu, what about you…?”

“The mission comes first.

Besides, with my Culmination Level of Sixth Layer in Dining Dawn, the probability that I will survive is quite high.

As long as you escape, it’s unlikely they will choose to fight me to death,” Niu Gui said.

“Next, I’m going to talk about several battle plans for facing different enemies.

Listen carefully…”

After 15 minutes, the team set off again, but Xu Jin now carried a multiple-folded package.

Inside it were the silver notes that Niu Gui had been allocated this time, a letter, and an address.

Xu Jin wanted to say something when he received it, but didn’t know what to say; he could only accept it and try his best to survive.

Fifteen minutes later, the team reached Pear Blossom Ridge, a towering mountainous area with many huge rocks and odd-shaped stones on both sides, interspersed with a few pear trees, which is how it got its name.

A small path had been cleared in the middle for passage.

The widest part was about twenty or thirty meters across, but the narrowest part was only four or five meters wide, extending a little over three miles in total.

Upon entering Pear Blossom Ridge, the group became extremely vigilant.

About two miles in, Niu Gui’s expression shifted.

At the narrowest point ahead, massive rocks blocked the road, cutting it off completely, and even one-star Warhorses couldn’t charge through.

Almost simultaneously, eight cultivators armed with swords and guns leaped out from behind the boulders.

Seeing the first man, Niu Gui’s face turned pale, “Yue Chong, Star Refining Realm!”