Chapter 372
So, if at this critical juncture, Hulei, a serious criminal who has been under strict guard by the Ten Lords' Court of Luofu, suddenly escapes and causes great damage to the Martial Arts Ceremony and even the entire Luofu Xianzhou, thus damaging the Xianzhou Alliance's external image, then Jing Yuan will definitely lose his position as general.
Therefore, Jing Yuan's plan was to give the Dragon Master an opportunity to manipulate things in the Prison of Chains, release Hulei, and then take this opportunity to eliminate Hulei and the Dragon Master together, completely eradicating internal and external troubles and restoring peace and order to Luofu.
The advantage of this plan is that the Prison of Chains is closed off, and the Martial Judges of the Ten Lords' Court are mostly skilled in cunning. This allows them to curb Hulei's ability to recover his strength using flesh and blood, without having to worry too much about casualties. It is an excellent place to resolve potential problems.
But if Feixiao takes Hulei away, things will get awkward—without such a threatening individual, the Dragon Master probably won't bother with the Prison of Chains anymore, making it much harder to catch them.
"This matter doesn't sound complicated, does it?" Himeko asked, puzzled. "If General Feixiao isn't in a hurry to go back, then why not wait until General Jing Yuan's situation is resolved, spare Hulei's life, and then let you bring him back?"
Faced with Himeko's question, the generals all showed somewhat helpless expressions. Huai Yan even responded directly, "Miss Himeko Buli very well. The Buli are always ruthless to others, and even more ruthless to themselves. Therefore, when they know they are no match for the enemy, they will use a suicidal fighting style, which makes it almost impossible for us to capture Buli prisoner alive."
"Among them, Hulei is the most dangerous, because he not only has extraordinary strength, but also a cunning mind and an exaggerated ambition. It can be said that he is the true leader of the Buli," Fei Xiao explained. "His only goal is to Buli continue to grow stronger, and he is even willing to sacrifice his own life for this. Therefore, once he is released, it will be very difficult to capture him alive again."
"We were able to capture Hulei alive back then only because of our Esteemed Teacher's overwhelming strength," Jing Yuan continued, "But having already suffered a loss once, capturing Hulei alive again this time will likely be even more difficult."
Although the Luofu Xianzhou appears to have three Generals in command, making its top-tier combat power unbelievably abundant, the Dragon Master isn't stupid. If they couldn't find a time when three Generals were away from the Prison of Chains, how could they possibly rescue Hulei so easily?
In other words, when Hulei escapes from prison, there will inevitably be a vacuum period where he is unable to resist. Even if this period is short, it will be enough for Hulei to make his own arrangements.
"I see, I understand now," Himeko nodded, a knowing smile on her face. "So, you need someone far stronger than Hulei, someone who can completely manipulate him, to deal with this enemy, right?"
The three Generals were taken aback for a moment, then simultaneously turned their gazes to Ai Yue, who was standing to the side.
"So, after all this talk, you've just completely forgotten about me?" After waiting for so long, Ai Yue finally saw that a few people had noticed him again, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly. "Why does it sound like I'm begging you to help me?"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Ai Yue," Jing Yuan said with a subtle expression, then apologized, "How should I put it? This feeling of having a reclusive master by our side who is always there to grant our requests is truly a first for us..."
Not only him, but Fei Xiao and Huai Yan also showed the same emotion on their faces.
They are the Seven Generals of the Emperor's Bow, each in charge of a celestial ship. In other words, unless it involves a large-scale war with multiple celestial ships operating together, they themselves are the biggest support for the celestial ships. It is precisely because of this that no one considered Ai Yue when thinking about countermeasures.
Once Ai Yue's existence is taken into account, all the arrangements become meaningless. It seems that all that's needed is to throw Ai Yue into the Prison of Chains, and the other generals can simply lie down and sleep in the Divinity Manor.
Unless Hulei can directly summon the Star God of Abundance, even if the Holders of the Dragon stakes all their resources, they shouldn't expect to cause any trouble.
"Although this is relaxing, it still feels a bit strange..." After relaxing, Fei Xiao couldn't help but show a strange expression again. "How should I put it, it feels like I missed something?"
"What makes you say that?" Huai Yan couldn't help but ask. "Could it be that General Feixiao regrets not being able to compete with Hulei?"
"Perhaps that's true," Fei Xiao smiled, not continuing the topic. "However, I can still distinguish what's more important, so this little regret is nothing."
No, this is no small regret.
Of all those present, only Ai Yue, who knew what had truly happened, wore a subtle expression. He knew that Fei Xiao had swallowed the Crimson Moon released by Hulei during their battle, which ultimately earned him the favor of the Hunt Star God and allowed him to be promoted to a true Commander.
If this step is missing, even if Feixiao can still become a messenger in the future, it will ultimately be later than in the original timeline.
Fortunately, this matter is not serious in a strict sense. What is more important is to prevent Hulei from harming the Immortal Ship as he did in the original story.
Ai Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, already plotting in his mind how to solve the Hulei problem.
Of course, solving the problem of Hulei itself is not a particularly difficult issue, or even a problem at all. However, how to use Hulei to complete the experiments that he has not yet conducted in practice is a problem.
Such valuable experimental subjects are not something you can encounter every day; it would be a real shame not to make the most of them.
The conversation within the Divinity Manor concluded with the statement, "Let's leave the problem to Ai Yue." Although the generals seemed somewhat relieved, Jing Yuan clearly had no intention of letting such a rare opportunity slip by—wouldn't it be a huge loss if they couldn't do something more while they had two more generals?
Of course, these things had nothing to do with Ai Yue. After dealing with the major problem of the Mara-struck, he had nothing else to do for the time being and could take a stroll around the Luofu Xianzhou like an ordinary person.
However, just as Ai Yue returned to his resting place, guests soon arrived to visit.
Hearing the knock, Ai Yue went to open the door and found Jing Yuan, whom he had just said goodbye to, standing outside.
"Mr. Ai Yue, I hope I haven't disturbed your rest." After being invited into the house by Ai Yue, Jing Yuan said directly, "The main reason for my visit is that I have a favor to ask of you—"
"Jingliu, right?" Ai Yue immediately saw through Jing Yuan's thoughts from his slightly hesitant reaction. After all, there weren't many things that could make Jing Yuan so conflicted. "You want me to heal her Mara-struck?"
"Yes, my Esteemed Teacher is currently afflicted by demonic energy. Although she can temporarily maintain her composure through special means, she still suffers greatly," Jing Yuan nodded, then said, "I wonder if Mr. Ai Yue can cure her current condition?"
"There's no problem, but unfortunately, she's unwilling." Ai Yue nodded first, then shook his head slightly. "I met Jingliu once before and asked her about this, but Jingliu clearly sees the Mara-struck as a form of punishment for herself, so she's unwilling to accept treatment. If you can persuade her, that would be the best outcome."
Upon hearing this, Jing Yuan couldn't help but show a disappointed expression, but before he could say anything more, there was another knock on the door.
This time, it was Feixiao who appeared outside the door.
"Oh, General Jing Yuan is here too?" Fei Xiao, who had just entered the room, clearly saw Jing Yuan as well and couldn't help but show a surprised expression. "It seems I've interrupted your conversation?"
"No, no, my matter has been resolved." Jing Yuan shook his head. "But General Feixiao, did you come here this time for that matter?"
"Yes, General Jing Yuan knows as well, so there's no need for me to hide it anymore." Feixiao nodded, then looked at Ai Yue, "Since Mr. Ai Yue can even cure that terrible Mara-struck, then I wonder if he can cure my stubborn ailment?"
Chapter Sixty-Two: Buli, Another Greatness...
How far are we from the exit?
In the dark and silent abyss, a tall, gloomy fox-man released his grip, and a withered body slid from his hand to the ground, looking utterly terrifying.
Without witnessing firsthand the transformation, it would be hard for ordinary people to believe that this fox-person is actually the protagonist of the terrifying legend among fox-people that can stop children from crying at night, the leader of the Buli, Hulei.
At this very moment, this heinous criminal, who should have been imprisoned at the lowest level of the Prison of Chains, enduring the eternal torture of the Sword Tree, has now regained his freedom.
Not only that, but also around him were Bu Li people who also retained the appearance of fox people, but whose eyes were full of Buli. It was clear that Hulei's ability to break free from the cage was inseparable from them.
And indeed, this was the case. These Buli were able to infiltrate the Prison of Chains and plot a riot in order to rescue Hulei through a meticulously designed plan.
Unfortunately, simply breaking free from constraints is not enough. If one cannot escape the Prison of Chains, then this level of freedom is merely a change to a larger cage.
"It'll be soon, War Leader. Please be patient for now."
The one who answered Hulei's question was a fox-man with a headband, who called himself Modu. He was a Strategist Official for the Xiquan Hunting Pack and the mastermind behind the escape plan.
Of course, after releasing Hulei from his restraints, they naturally took Hulei as their leader, since in the tradition of the Buli, the strongest always holds the power of speech.
Hulei didn't speak, but silently raised his hand. Bu Buli was next to him, seemed to understand the meaning of this gesture, and stepped forward with a satisfied smile, voluntarily displaying his vulnerable neck to Hulei.
Hulei didn't stand on ceremony and simply grabbed his body, bringing it to his mouth.
During his more than 700 years of imprisonment, the Prison of Chains never provided Hulei with even the slightest bit of sustenance. Although Hulei did not die thanks to the power of the Blessing of Abundance, he is now extremely weak and needs to eat flesh and blood to recover.
However, whether it was deliberately targeting Hulei or due to the underlying rules of the Ten Lords' Court, as they fought their way to the entrance of the Prison of Chains, they encountered all sorts of mechanical golden figures. These creatures appeared to have the appearance of ordinary people, but their internal structure was entirely made of metal, making them unable to absorb nutrients. Therefore, Hulei had no choice but to feed on his own kind.
Despite this, the Buli had no complaints. After all, they had already risked their lives to save Hulei, and in Buli tradition, sacrificing oneself for the strong was considered an honor.
After once again draining the flesh and blood of his own people, Hulei's face regained a sliver of color. At the same time, his subordinates, Buli, had finished clearing out the nearby guards. In order to disrupt the Ten Lords' Court's pursuit and reduce the pressure, they even released other prisoners to cover their movements.
"Who taught you these techniques?" Hulei suddenly asked, watching Buli skillfully use the various devices of the Prison of Chains. "And how come you are so familiar with the routes inside the Prison of Chains? Could it be that someone else is helping you?"
"Yes, War Leader," Modu explained, eager to reveal everything he knew. "We've reached a cooperation agreement with a certain force within the Immortal Ship. They not only gave us pills to change our form and a map of the Prison of Chains, but they've even sent helpers to assist us."
"Hmph, judging from your explanation, it seems you don't know the other party's true identity either, do you?" Hulei sneered, a subtle expression flashing across his face. "The mysterious forces within the Immortal Ship, and the envoy of the Lord of Longevity... It seems I've been completely outmaneuvered."
"War Leader, what did you just say?" Hulei's mutterings were so soft that even Modu, standing beside him, didn't hear them clearly. "What scheme?"
"This is not something you need to worry about," Hulei wanted to explain, but seeing Modu's fanatical expression, he finally gave up. "Fine, so be it. A Luofu Xianzhou that is not united internally will become my first prey after regaining my freedom."
He walked forward, leaving behind only one sentence. "I will let these people from the Celestial Ships know what a real disaster is!"
With the help of various forces, Hulei finally escaped from the Prison of Chains and, with the cover of other Buli, hid in a mansion in Changle Heaven.
"War Leader, we only have two hours. We must get to the Star-chasing Sea quickly!" Modu advised from the side. "There, other disguised brothers will prepare an escape ship for you."
"Escape?" Hulei scoffed, uttering a single syllable. "No, I won't escape, at least not in this way. I've said it before, I'll let the Immortal Ship people know what true disaster is. How can I announce my return without giving them a deeply etched fear?"
"But..."
Modu wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by a huge roar from above. Everyone looked up and saw a huge ship, almost big enough to blot out the sky, hovering above them.
At the same time, majestic and stirring music echoed overhead.
Hulei was the first to recover from this abrupt change. He looked at Modu and asked in a low voice, "What is this?"
"Damn it, it's the Jingfeng Ship! The starship holding the Martial Arts Ceremony is about to set sail!" Modu's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. "The Divination Department will definitely clear the route. If our starship tries to escape, it will definitely be discovered!"
"Calm down, Modu!" Hulei growled. "Look at you now, hiding and cowering, Buli?"
"I've said it before, I don't care about my dignity if it means your safe return!" Modu, who had Modu obeyed Hulei's orders, unusually showed a firm stance. "As long as you can return to the Buli's hunting party, there's still hope!"
"Hope? If I run away now, that would be truly losing all hope!" Hulei scoffed at Modu's words, clearly having already understood everything through his experiences. "Modu, answer me, what is the content of the 'Ancient Wolf's Teachings'?!"
"Give the wolf a dead end, so it can find its way forward. Feed the wolf with death, so it can have enough to eat. Those who seek only comfort will find no way to survive; those who fight to the death will live on forever..."
Under Hulei's fierce gaze, Modu repeated the Ancient Wolf's Teachings maxim. In the process, his expression gradually calmed down, and his tone became less flustered, as if he had undergone a transformation and been reborn.
"It seems you are not so weak as to have completely forgotten the ancient teachings," Hulei said, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes as he looked at Modu's performance. "Only weak beasts place their hopes on the protection of the strong, while strong beasts will fight their way out on their own!"
Having already understood what was going on, Modu lowered his head deeply, listening intently to War Leader's words.
"Your desire to welcome back 'Hulei' instead of choosing a new master proves the corruption of your entire race. And the prophet who manipulated you to come and rescue me is nothing but a fraudster trying to exploit the Dulan bloodline!"
As he spoke, Hulei stood up, shedding his fox-human disguise to reveal his Buli fangs. He stepped past Modu and walked towards the gate of the mansion.
"Modu, let me tell you how the Buli rose to power! We will never hide like rats in the streets and alleys of the Immortal Ship. You should be a hungry wolf baring its fangs, walking among a flock of lambs."
Seeing Hulei reach for the door, Modu grew anxious again. "War Leader Chief, our wolf pack isn't here! We can't start a war rashly!"
"The wolves aren't here?" Upon hearing this, Hulei's lips curled into a disdainful smile, then he resolutely pushed open the door. "No, wherever I go, there are wolves!"
Hulei's arrogance was not unfounded. In fact, he possessed a creation called "Blood Moon," which bestowed upon him Blessing of Abundance. This blessing not only granted him powerful vitality, allowing him to remain alive and kicking even after being tortured for seven hundred years without any resources, but also granted him another terrifying ability.
His blood can infect the fox people, who share the same ancestry as the Buli, causing this race, which has taken a different evolutionary path, to be assimilated into the Buli!
Having recovered some of his strength, he only needs to shed his crimson blood to instantly raise a ferocious and tyrannical army on this immortal ship teeming with fox-people!
Then, in this way, we can wash away the shame and weakness of the past seven hundred years, bring the "Ancient Wolf's Teachings" back to the hearts of the Buli, and save the fallen race!
Unfortunately, ideals are often grand, but reality is often harsh.
When Hulei confidently pushed open the gates of the mansion, ready to unleash a wolves' calamity, what greeted him was not a sunny street and countless fox-people, but a cold, dark light.
Hulei was very familiar with this light, because he had endured unbearable pain under this cold light for seven hundred years—it was the cold light of the Prison of Chains!
But why? Isn't this the Eternal Heaven, the most prosperous region of the Luofu Xianzhou?
Such confusion flashed through Hulei's mind before the reality came into view.
There were no bustling streets, nor any fox-people to infect or assimilate; only a deep, cold cave and a few immortal boat people standing before him.
Among these people were an elderly man with white hair and beard wearing a straw hat, a man in battle armor with a languid look in his eyes, and a woman with fox ears and a heroic air, but the most eye-catching was—
"Wherever I go, there are wolves!"
Among the group of people from the Immortal Ship, a man in a white trench coat was repeating Hulei's words in an exaggerated tone, then shook his head slightly. "What an inspiring speech, too bad, it's useless."
"Mr. Ai Yue, let's not tease him," a man in battle armor with a languid look in his eyes chimed in, standing next to the man called Ai Yue. "After all, the current situation is rather awkward."
Who are you people?!
Although Modu by his eagerness to protect his master, was also taken aback by the change in the scene, nothing could compare to Hulei's safety. Therefore, upon spotting the group of people in front of him, he almost instinctively rushed forward, trying to stop them and create an opportunity for Hulei to escape. "War Leader, hurry—"
Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, a long knife flew in, piercing his neck and pinning him to the ground.
Even in his dying moments, Bu Buli stared intently at Hulei's figure, as if urging him to flee.
But where can we escape to?
Hulei stood still, his wild instincts telling him that the people in front of him were extremely dangerous.
The other three people combined are far inferior to that young man in the white trench coat!
Damn it, how could so many powerful figures appear on a single immortal ship at the same time? Those idiots from the Modu, what kind of time did they choose to rescue me?!
Hulei's mind raced, but he still couldn't figure out what was happening. At the same time, the fox-woman who had hurled her longsword and killed Modu in one strike stepped forward. She withdrew her weapon and stared intently at Hulei: "Hello, War Leader of the Buli army. I am Fei Xiao, general of the Yaoging Xianzhou."
"The weak fox-people clan can actually produce such a powerful figure?" Even at this moment, Hulei still maintained his arrogant attitude. He glanced at the fox-people woman, then frowned. "Wait, I sense... a familiar aura?"
After a moment of silence, Hulei burst into laughter. "Interesting, truly interesting! The Xianzhou Alliance would actually allow a fox-person with the bloodline of Bu Li to be their general?"
But then he shook his head. "Forget it, it seems my defeat is inevitable. I'm afraid this so-called rescue plan is just a flaw you deliberately created."
If Hulei couldn't understand what had happened just now, after calming down, he roughly understood everything.
"That's one way to understand it, but it's actually a bit more complicated than you think," Ai Yue said with a smile. "After all, minimizing the losses is quite troublesome."
"Alright, Hulei, now that you know you've failed, just obediently return to the Prison of Chains. That way, you might save your life." Fei Xiao had no intention of wasting any more words with Hulei. "Don't try any tricks. In front of Mr. Ai Yue, all your schemes are meaningless!"
"Is that so? But I don't think so!" Hulei suddenly grinned maliciously, raising his left hand and grabbing at his own chest. "At least, I can take you down with me!"
As he spoke, a Crimson Moon rose from Hulei's chest, its terrifying light staining the surrounding environment blood red.
That was the "Blood Moon," the Blessing of Abundance within Hulei's body. Such an extreme outburst was enough to trigger Fei Xiao's "Moon Frenzy" curse, causing him to enter a state of madness!
Of course, that's how it is in theory.
But as we mentioned before, reality is often disappointing.
Hulei's maniacal laughter abruptly stopped, for he saw the Blood Moon, as if under invisible suppression, begin to shrink and dim rapidly. In just a few breaths, the Blood Moon, radiating a violent and dangerous aura, transformed into a red pellet the size of a finger joint, which fell into Ai Yue's hand.
Hulei:?