Chapter 245: The Storm Subsides (Part 2)

Chapter 245: The Storm and Rain Will Cease (Part Two)

From reaching an understanding with the Mound Master's Mansion to conspiring with the Legalist rebels within the Three Legal Offices to weaken the Yanba Region's Ming Law authority. Then to deceiving Qi Huai into defecting and betraying, removing the Silver Tower's armed guards. Finally, using the 'Ba Xia' ability to control the Yanren personal guards, completely seizing control of the Golden Tower.

Since ascending this Hungya Mountain, everything has proceeded smoothly, all under Ding Huan's control.

However, even the wisest must have a moment of oversight.

Ding Huan was well aware that no plan was flawless, so before acting, he had already considered all possible variables.

He suspected that the Mound Master's Mansion had not truly abandoned Zhu Youhong, the deposed prince, but instead intended to use this opportunity to lure him back to the imperial homeland.

He also feared that the Legalists within the Three Legal Offices might turn traitor at the last moment, not only failing to help suppress Yanba Region but instead stepping forward to suppress him during the operation.

He even considered whether the Qingcheng Group in Chengdu Prefecture might have prior knowledge of his movements, arranging for a master above the Celestial Master level to intercept and kill him.

Because Chen Qisheng and Longtu, who entered Chongqing Prefecture after the destruction of Luohan Temple and Qixia Taoist Temple, as well as Li Jun who was acting, were all within his calculations.

Every detail, no matter how small.

Ding Huan was confident that he had not overlooked any variable that could affect the completion of this ritual.

But variables varied in weight and significance; Chongqing Prefecture was, after all, imperial territory, and as a rebel phoenix, he could only act with caution.

Thus, Ding Huan could only focus his limited energy on addressing major variables, while other minor details, if they arose, he believed he could easily resolve.

Yet Ding Huan had not anticipated that the saying about a thousand-mile dike collapsing from an ant hole would actually happen to him!

"A fine Warrior Seven Solitary Master, a fine Dao Seven Golden Elixir Guest, good!"

Ding Huan laughed in anger, spinning mid-air to face the flying sword that shot toward him with blazing flames.

"For the upright, gather in the crooked!"

In the cold, merciless voice, the flames spewing from the black flying sword's tail suddenly trembled. The blade, originally aimed straight at Ding Huan's chest, swayed left and right as if it had lost its target.

Chen Qisheng, standing on the ground, changed expression drastically, realizing his obedient flying sword was showing signs of severing its link.

At the moment the sword whizzed past, Ding Huan suddenly reached out to grab the hilt wrapped in blazing flames.

Amid the crackling sound of burning flesh and blood, he pulled the flying sword and floated down to the ground!

Click!

The tail of the flying sword was crushed, the agitated flames suddenly extinguished, revealing a charred, burned palm.

Ding Huan raised his arm, the flying sword's length cutting through the tie around his neck, revealing silver metallic wires embedded in his skin, forming circles of unknown meaning.

The jet-black flying sword was casually thrown to the ground, clusters of flames intermittently spewing from the broken tail, swaying back and forth like a dead fish.

Li Jun, who had just descended from the roof, happened to witness this scene, his brow suddenly furrowing.

"Little Nose, how did your flying sword get broken by someone?"

Chen Qisheng ignored the Horse Prince, his expression dark and grim.

"You martial arts sequence folks are so formidable? Come on, today I'll give you a chance to make a full effort!"

Ding Huan slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the same engraved circles on his arms.

"Damn it, is this kid some kind of pervert, engraving so many horns on his body?!"

The Horse Prince muttered to himself; others might not know the specific use of these circles, but as a Mo Family Artifact, he immediately recognized their function on Ding Huan's body.

Upon hearing this, Li Jun's heart sank sharply, his eyes unconsciously scanning the surviving Imperial Guards around.

"For the bold and strategic, lead troops in Ba Xia!"

Ding Huan's angry shout soared to the sky, the intense ripple spreading from him, visible to the naked eye, sweeping across the area in a blink.

Over ten severely wounded Imperial Guards, upon being touched by the ripple, their already dim pupils completely lost their luster, struggling to crawl up from the ground like marionettes on strings.

Even Wang Xie, also of the Zongheng sequence, was among them!

"Ancestral Dao, the Immortal Rank shields me! Hold on, everyone!"

Chen Qisheng formed an odd hand seal, his index fingers pressing hard against his eyebrows.

Though his eyes were not clouded like the Imperial Guards, his body was as immobile as an insect trapped in amber.

At this moment, within the entire Golden Tower.

Besides the corpses on the ground and the unconscious Yanba Region, only Li Jun, aside from the buzzing in his ears and a heavy head, was relatively unaffected in his actions.

Pure physical prowess and strength, in this moment, were fully displayed.

"Come on, Li Jun. Let me see if the rumored new branch of the martial arts sequence, the universally opposed Solitary Master, is ruthless enough!"

The re-standing Imperial Guards surrounded Ding Huan, forming an impenetrable human formation, cutting off Li Jun's desperate thought of killing Ding Huan regardless of consequences.

Wang Xie dragged his left arm, nearly severed at the shoulder, holding the embroidered spring blade, staggering toward Li Jun.

Or rather, toward the unconscious old man behind him.

Wang Xie's movements now seemed so slow and clumsy in Li Jun's eyes. Even without using martial arts, Li Jun could easily kill him.

But looking at that familiar face, recalling the voice that laughed and claimed to be an honest man, Li Jun felt the embroidered spring blade in his hand was so heavy for the first time.

"Kill me! Otherwise, when Ding Huan plays with your will, we all die!"

As a Zongheng Seven, Wang Xie, though unable to control his actions, still retained a sliver of clarity in his consciousness.

"You damn fool, still standing there? Move!"

At this point, his hoarse voice shouted, the long blade in his right hand swinging weakly and powerlessly toward Li Jun.

Li Jun stepped back, letting the long blade chop into the floor before him.

He looked at Wang Xie's eyes filled with pain, feeling the blood in his veins as scorching as molten lava, burning so fiercely he could not utter a single word.

"I, Wang Xie, am an honest person. I never raise my hand against my friends. Li Jun, consider this as my plea, let me find peace."

Wang Xie's lips trembled as he spoke: "I don't want to see my subordinates die, and I don't want to see my boss die before my eyes."

Another blade came, and Li Jun remained silent.

He saw him sidestep to Wang Xie's side, his left hand clasped in a palm, gently chopping toward the opponent's nape.

Li Jun intended to knock Wang Xie unconscious; it was the only solution he could think of.

Clang!

Just as his palm was about to touch Wang Xie's neck, a black short blade suddenly popped out from his wrist!

Li Jun's pupils tightened sharply, he forcibly raised his arm, the blade slicing past Wang Xie's hair at the crown of his head.

"Old... I... also... fell for it..."

The voice from the helmet was intermittent.

At this moment, Li Jun clearly felt the assistance from the Mo Armor vanish completely, replaced by mechanical joints throughout his body, attempting to influence his movements.

"So, you can't bring yourself to strike?"

Ding Huan stood among the Imperial Guards, hands clasped around his chest, mocking Li Jun: "With such strong personal feelings, why don't you join them as a pawn and keep me company?"