Chapter 562 96: On the Way

"Not long ago, the son of the Pai Sect's Foreign Affairs Hall Master ran into danger at Ze Lake. His fate remains unknown."

"The Pai Sect sent people to demand answers, but they were killed en route."

"A group of mysterious people of unknown origin launched a night raid on the Black Dragon Gang. Gang Leader Zhai Yetian was seriously injured and fled. Some say they were from the Pai Sect, seeking revenge for the son of the Foreign Affairs Hall Master. Others claim it was the work of the Demon Race, deliberately sowing chaos. In short, everything is a mess."

The 'young master', stripped of his Soft Armor, knelt on the ground, his face filled with fear as he pleaded,

"I am just an unfavored son from a concubine. I only know that things are chaotic, but I truly don't know the details."

"What about the Han Mansion?" Zhou Ruxuan asked.

"Is the Black Dragon Gang's Vice Gang Leader still alive?"

"Well..." The 'young master' hesitated.

"The Han Mansion was destroyed a long time ago. I'm afraid few survived. Vice Gang Leader Han was killed as well."

"Ah!"

Zhou Ruxuan's face turned pale.

Although she held little affection for the aunt from the Han Mansion whom she'd only met a few times, her heart still clenched upon hearing the news.

SWOOSH!

A flash of Sword Light.

The 'young master's' head hit the ground.

Ming Nianwei recalled her Fuyao Sword and vaulted onto her horse.

"Master, this place is dangerous. We should leave as soon as possible."

"Mm."

Zhu Ju nodded.

......

"HYAH!"

"HYAH!"

...

The clatter of hooves grew from distant to near.

Three powerful steeds with the blood of Exotic Beasts appeared on a narrow mountain path. Under their riders' control, they galloped swiftly, leaping across the rugged terrain and treacherous gorges.

"Master."

Ming Nianwei's eyes glinted.

"There's a burning village up ahead. It looks like a battle took place there recently."

"We'll go around," Zhu Ju said, then sighed softly.

"Magic... it really is convenient."

Beside him, Zhou Ruxuan nodded in agreement.

The Magic Ming Nianwei was using was called the Profound Yin Mirror Light Celestial Observation Technique. It allowed her to send a wisp of Divine Thought hundreds of feet into the air, manifesting the spell to perceive any movement within a radius of dozens of miles.

Zhu Ju had once possessed a similar ability, and his was far stronger than Ming Nianwei's. But now that he walked the path of Qi Blood Martial Arts, he only had a faint reserve of Magical Power left, not enough to perform such a Secret Technique.

"Something's not right."

After they had galloped a while longer, Zhou Ruxuan frowned and spoke up.

"Everywhere we've gone, the docks are destroyed and the towns are in chaos. Even a village in a remote place like this hasn't been spared. No small faction could cause turmoil on this scale."

"Indeed." Zhu Ju's eyes narrowed.

"I hope this isn't another conflict breaking out between the East Sea and the Divine Dynasty."

"Impossible." Ming Nianwei shook her head.

"Back then, the two sides sealed a bloodline Spirit Contract. If the East Sea dared to attack, the entire East Sea Dragon Race would be annihilated."

"The East Sea is still the domain of the East Sea Dragon Race today. They would never make such a brazen move."

Possessing Li Chengxia's memories, she knew the affairs of the Divine Dynasty and the East Sea Dragon Race like the back of her hand.

So she was certain.

Although the East Sea had never been peaceful, it was no longer possible for the East Sea Dragon Race to rebel against the Divine Dynasty as they once had.

"Huh?"

"Master, someone's coming."

"So fast!"

Before Ming Nianwei could finish, Zhu Ju had already sensed the disturbance, turning his head to look at the forest beside the path.

SWOOSH!

Two figures burst out from the woods, one after the other. Seeing the trio, one of them broke into a wide grin.

"Cousin!"

"Cousin." Zhou Ruxuan's face showed her surprise.

"What are you..."

The newcomer was Han Tianyou, whom she had met on a few occasions. The other man also seemed to be one of the rising stars of the Black Dragon Gang's younger generation.

But she swallowed the rest of her words when she saw the pursuers emerge from behind the two men.

Over a dozen Black-Clothed Men, weapons in hand, advanced with an eerie Body Technique. They were silent yet swift as lightning, and their bone-chilling Stern Slaughter Intent was like that of a venomous snake staring down its prey, enough to make one's heart leap into their throat.

Han Tianyou and his companion were injured, their strength greatly diminished. It was clear they were about to be overtaken.

"Zhu Ju."

Zhou Ruxuan looked at Zhu Ju anxiously.

'He's my cousin, I can't just stand by and do nothing. But I don't think I'm strong enough to stop them.'

"Let's see what happens."

Zhu Ju waved his hand dismissively, pulling on his reins to back his horse away.

"You three."

The man with Han Tianyou's eyes flickered, and a savage grin suddenly spread across his face.

"Since you're acquainted with Brother Han, that makes you my friends. I'd appreciate it if you'd help us block these Snake Demons."

Without waiting for a response, his hand shot out, clawing for Ming Nianwei's shoulder.

His attack was swift, his Claw Force ferocious. His Qi Blood True Gang, glinting with sparks of fire, exploded on contact with her Defensive Magic.

His plan was obvious: force the trio to delay his pursuers so he could escape.

BANG!

Ming Nianwei staggered from the impact, her fury erupting.

"You're courting death!"

Having gained over three hundred years of Li Chengxia's memories, she hadn't realized that the more she absorbed, the more her own personality was changing. Her previously reserved and delicate demeanor was now a rare sight.

In its place was the cold detachment of someone long accustomed to power, who saw human lives as insignificant as weeds.

Just like now.

In the past, Ming Nianwei would have panicked, instinctively casting a spell to dodge.

But now...

A surge of anger rose in her heart. The Fuyao Sword, imbued with her killing intent, shot toward the man.

Die!

It was like a river of stars streaking across the void, a myriad of lights twinkling within.

The attacking man, just as his fingers were about to touch Ming Nianwei, was shredded into a bloody pulp by the Flying Sword.

The Fuyao Sword did not stop. Carrying the momentum of its kill, it plunged straight into the pack of 'Snake Demons'.

In an instant.

Flesh and blood flew everywhere.

The three hundred-plus years of memories could not be converted into Ming Nianwei's own experience, but they had broadened her horizons. They made her realize that the Middle Third-Grade Martial Artists she had once looked up to were nothing in the eyes of a true expert.

Her fear vanished.

With her mind unburdened, her Sword Control Method naturally ascended to a new level, the blade moving as if it were an extension of her own arm.

Meanwhile.

Han Tianyou clearly had the same idea as his companion, but he didn't attack Zhou Ruxuan directly.

Instead, with a flick of his wrist, a rope shot out from his long sleeve, snagging the neck of her horse. He gave it a sharp tug.

Zhou Ruxuan's horse was pulled forward against her will, while he used the momentum to launch himself into the air, attempting to flee.

"Cousin!"

"I'll be sure to remember your help today!"

"Hm?"

Before the words had even left his mouth, he found his forward momentum had suddenly stopped.

He saw that Zhu Ju had appeared beside Zhou Ruxuan at some point, one hand gripping the very rope he should have been reeling in.

"Get back here!"

Zhu Ju put his strength into it, and the immense force sent Han Tianyou flying right into the midst of the Snake Demon pack.

The next moment.

"AHHH!"

A bloodcurdling scream rang out.

Zhou Ruxuan's face was a mask of pity, but she only sighed softly as a long spear materialized in her hand and she leaped into the fray.

"These creatures are savage Half-Demons. If we don't kill them all, we won't be able to escape either."

"That's right," Ming Nianwei agreed.

"Snakes are lustful by nature. Snake Demon Caves are often filled with captured men and women, forced to help them reproduce. These Half-Demons are then reduced to being their household slaves, or even their food when they get hungry."

"Demons..."

"They're utterly bestial!"

Zhu Ju casually tossed the Five Elements Mountain with one hand, sending it smashing forward. Each time it landed, it left behind a puddle of bloody pulp.

In just a few moments, the entire pack of Snake Demons had been slaughtered by the trio.

The Snake Demons were not weak; most had Cultivation at the Eighth or even Seventh Grade, and they could spit poisonous mist.

Combined with their numbers, an ordinary Sixth-Grade practitioner would have been no match for them.

A pity.

Before the trio, they couldn't withstand a single blow.

"Master."

Ming Nianwei held up the barely breathing Han Tianyou.

"The one named Han is still breathing."

"Oh?"

Zhu Ju recalled the Five Elements Mountain, raising an eyebrow.

"He's surprisingly resilient. Find out what's going on, then give him a quick death."

"Yes."

Ming Nianwei acknowledged the order.