392 Illusion, Part 2 (Thanks to Alliance Leader Book Friend 20210301106482214548)

Great Capital.

A copper pot, heated by charcoal.

The dark red, viscous liquid inside was boiling and pulsating.

A pair of ivory chopsticks reached in, stirred the meat a few times, picked up a dark red slice of meat, smelled it gently, dipped it in some dried chili powder, and put it in his mouth.

"Hmm, it tastes good. Who made this pig's blood hot pot? It's pretty good!" Yue Dewen said with a satisfied smile, patting his belly.

"You're all high and mighty now, aren't you?" Someone else was sitting opposite him, the Armored Elder had been with him the whole time.

The old man didn't eat hotpot; he just sat cross-legged casually.

The two were surrounded by guards, their presence imposing and cold.

Only the copper pot in the middle was steaming.

"Look at this place right now, doesn't it resemble the world today?" Yue Dewen said with a smile, pointing to the hot pot.

"Wolf heart and dog lungs, I ate wolf heart a while ago, today I'm trying dog lungs. Sliced up, you know what, it tastes really good."

"The Three Divine Generals are the pillars of the empire. They won't easily show favoritism towards either side. Now that you've ascended to the position of the First Sect, everyone's eyes are on you," the Armored Elder said in a deep voice. "The Five Kings aren't heartless, but at a time like this, not fighting could mean certain death. So, tell me, who do you favor?"

"We haven't had much contact, how can I possibly have any good opinions about anyone?" Yue Dewen laughed. "Right now, I'm busy reorganizing the Assembled Sages Institute. Those bald monks from the Western Sect only know how to cause trouble for His Majesty. Now that His Majesty has passed away, it's definitely related to them!"

"Not even a definite answer?"

"How will the letter be delivered?"

"You cunning old fox," the Armored Elder said with displeasure. "You disregard the fact that I'm still supporting you at the Snow Rainbow Pavilion."

"If we join forces, we'll be invincible. You're not just helping me, you're helping yourself too," Yue Dewen replied with a smile.

"Do you know your apprentice? Zhang Qingzhi is out of the question, but what about the other one? You've been pinning your hopes on him, haven't you?" the Armored Elder asked.

"That brat Zhang Ying is always causing trouble. I can't even keep up with sending people to put out the fires." Yue Dewen's smile vanished as soon as he mentioned this.

Instead, a deep weariness lingered.

"He runs around everywhere, and we can't catch him. If I had known this kid would be this troublesome, I wouldn't have let him out."

"You've hidden Zhang Qingzhi away, and Zhang Ying has become the target of everyone's anger. Do you know that he's no longer in Qingchuan Prefecture?" the Armored Elder asked.

"Of course I know. I went to Wushan Prefecture, a place known for its outstanding people and beautiful women. It would be nice to have more offspring before coming back." Yue Dewen continued to eat meat from the copper pot with relish.

"So, where has his Civilian Skill come from?"

"Uh..." Yue Dewen was taken aback. "Let me see." He immediately took a dark purple metal Token from his waist.

He picked up the Token and pressed it; the eyes of the dragon head pattern in the center immediately lit up with a red light.

Yue Dewen stared at the red light for a while.

Suddenly his expression changed.

"That brat! He didn't bring his Token!"

"Do you know that there are rumors circulating outside that Zhang Ying was already in Ci Tong Port and was replaced, and is no longer the real Zhang Ying?" the armored old man said in a deep voice.

"The Token are verified; you can confirm their authenticity just by getting close. Who would dare to make a move against Heaven and Earth now? Those useless trash from the Western Sect? Or that old schemer True One?" Yue Dewen's expression turned grim.

He has been too focused on the big picture and the overall strategy lately, and has indeed neglected the situation of his two disciples.

He immediately stood up and paced back and forth several times.

"Someone come here."

He suddenly shouted.

Whoosh! Two Shadow suddenly rushed into the hall and knelt on one knee on the ground to the side.

"What are your orders, Grand Master?"

"Where is Ming Yuan?"

"Still at Yue Mountain, not yet returned."

"Then let Xin Yue go to Qingchuan, find the Heaven and Earth Token, and take it to Wushan Prefecture."

Yue Dewen was clearly a little angry.

The Token not only serves to detect Civilian Skill, but can also sense Zhang Rongfang's safety and health at crucial moments.

Now he's not even carrying it. What does that mean? Does he know the Token is special and want to keep an eye on him? Or is Yue Dewen recalling his old friend's warning and feeling a little worried?

"Clear!"

The two quickly retreated.

"Can Xin Yue confirm Zhang Ying's identity?" an old friend asked from behind.

"No, but the Token can."

Yue Dewen didn't believe that someone as clever as Zhang Rongfang would leave without his Token for no reason.

There can only be two reasons why it's not included.

"He must have discovered something, that's why he deliberately didn't bring it," he said softly.

"It seems your apprentice has been hiding something," the Armored Elder said.

"Everyone has secrets, but as long as he still acknowledges me as his master, and as long as he is still willing to wear the Token, he will always be Daozi of my Great Dao Sect!" Yue Dewen replied in a deep voice.

***November 1188.

After Ling Emperor's death, Five Kings vied for power, and war broke out in various places.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the Rebel Alliance launched an uprising, and the flames of war instantly spread to eleven provinces.

In just half a month, hundreds of the Righteous Army rose up.

At the same time, legends about the Three Great Secret Caches of the Eastern Sect spread rapidly.

Among the Righteous Army were two Human Seed mentioned in the Three Great Secret Caches — You Shifei and Xu Qingyou —who also served as key generals.

The special secrets hidden within the Secret Cache gradually spread through certain mysterious channels.

In the same month, the Great Dao Sect dispatched experts to cooperate with the Snow Rainbow Pavilion in suppressing rebellious armies in various regions. They beheaded tens of thousands, achieving significant results.

Wushan Prefecture, Pine Crane Temple.

Seeing the old pharmacist emerge from his master's room, Zhang Rongfang quickly stepped forward.

"Pharmacist, may I ask how the people inside are doing?"

"The poison is troublesome, and the damaged vital energy needs to be replenished." The pharmacist shook his head slightly.

Zhang Rongfang nodded.

"Thank you for your help, pharmacist."

"It's nothing. It's my honor to be able to serve you, sir," the old pharmacist replied gently.

Zhang Rongfang inquired about the sources, types, and Taboo of the toxicity.

Only after understanding everything did they send a gift of money and see the person off.

After visiting the others, he returned to the main hall to Qing Su's report on the recent situation and Ding Yu's feedback.

However, for some reason, Ding Yu never replied.

"How have things been lately?" Zhang Rongfang sat down in the main seat and looked at Qing Su as she approached.

"Everything is fine around Wushan Prefecture, but in the rest of the Shan Province, thirteen uprisings have broken out. The leaders show no trace of the Rebel Alliance; they are all from local prominent families, and many are led by the younger generation. Their common characteristic is that they are either men who love their wives very much or women who love their husbands very much."

Their spouses were almost all core members of the uprising. "Qing Su's investigative abilities are far superior to those of a few years ago."

"Furthermore, according to feedback from the Great Dao Sect in other provinces, methods for killing the monsters that Worship God are already circulating in other provinces."

"Is it a matter of Human Seed Secret Treasure?" Zhang Rongfang paused for a moment before answering.

"Exactly. This time Rebel Army is far larger than before, and it no longer collapses at the first sign of trouble; on the contrary, it is extremely resilient."

As for the rumored method of killing the monster that Worship God, we have no clue yet, but we will continue to follow up and collect information.

"Alright, so what about the Wish Woman? How's the investigation going?" A person suddenly flashed through Zhang Rongfang's mind, but he quickly suppressed it and continued to ask.

"We have some results. Thirty of our people inside have fallen into a deep sleep, and upon examination, it was found to be some kind of hallucinogenic gas poisoning. They claim to have dreamed of the strange woman you mentioned."

Qing Su gets goosebumps all over her body whenever she mentions this.

If Zhang Rongfang hadn't given the order, she wouldn't have discovered, even after all this time in Wushan Prefecture, that such strange things were hidden there.

If she hadn't asked them one by one herself, she still wouldn't believe it.

"What about the rest? I remember we mobilized over a hundred people to go in, right?" Zhang Rongfang frowned.

Qing Su paused for a moment before referring to the "others".

"What's wrong?" Zhang Rongfang frowned. "Speak!"

"We just received news that more than thirty people are missing and have not been found yet; the rest are dead."

"Dead!?" Zhang Rongfang's voice suddenly rose. Although he had been sending people into Crimson Flame Gorge through bounties and missions.

Although most of those people were not from Pine Crane Temple.

So many people died in one go!? Those weren't chickens, but skilled martial artists! "How did they die?" Zhang Rongfang's eyes turned solemn.

"Most of the corpses died from attacks by some kind of small venomous beast, and a few appear to have committed suicide," Qing Su replied quickly. "But you don't need to worry, we have obtained the information and maps you need."

"Has the antidote for the poisonous miasma been prepared yet?"

"It's out, and the results were good, but it failed to prevent attacks from the poisonous beasts inside."

"Alright, that's about it. Lead the way to Crimson Flame Gorge."

Zhang Rongfang answered in a deep voice.

"I want to go and see for myself what kind of den of dragons and tigers this place really is."

The Wish Woman attacked him before, but judging from his performance last time, this guy doesn't seem to be that strong.

He had a premonition that if he wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the world in which the Gods and Buddhas and Statue resided...

Perhaps this time will be the best opportunity.

Qing Su immediately dispatched personnel.

Zhang Rongfang went back and gave his master some instructions. He then put on his equipment, took various medicines, and headed towards Crimson Flame Gorge.

Leaving the Wushan Prefecture City to the north, continue along a secluded mountain road, crossing two streams and a hillside.

Just before sunset, Zhang Rongfang and his group quickly arrived at the location of Crimson Flame Gorge.

A pale yellow mist permeated the vast, V-shaped canyon.

Even a casual breath sent a burning sensation through my lungs, clearly indicating that the mist was poisonous.

Zhang Rongfang's group consisted of over a hundred people, and this time they were truly the best of the best from Pine Crane Temple. They were all well-prepared and came to seal off the surrounding area.

"Give me the map." Zhang Rongfang held out his hand.

Immediately, someone brought over a hand-drawn map.

Unfold the map, and you'll see tiny place names clearly recorded on it.

The entire Crimson Flame Gorge consists of three parts.

'Crimson Forest Entrance, Valley Bottom, Flame Beast Stream.'

"Our people slumber in the Flame Beast Stream," Qing Su explained.

"Where are the people who came out?" Zhang Rongfang frowned and looked up at the fog, where visibility was no more than three meters.

"They are all recuperating. However, I have offered a large sum of money, and two people are willing to go in again. I have already brought them with me," Qing Su replied quickly.

"Well done!" Zhang Rongfang nodded.

Qing Su quickly selected both women from the group.

Both of them were tall and muscular, with arms thicker than the average man's.

His face was weathered and worn, clearly indicating that he came from a poor family.

"Zhong Wang".

"Xu Siyi".

"Greetings, Your Excellency."

The two women bowed respectfully to Zhang Rongfang.

"No need for formalities. Now, lead the way to the place you visited last time," Zhang Rongfang said quickly.

"Yes."

The two had clearly agreed beforehand, and without hesitation, they carried their bags and walked to the front.

Zhang Rongfang waved, and the dozen or so people with him quickly followed, carrying all sorts of things, and caught up with the two women.

No one noticed that a strange blue glint flashed in the eyes of the two women who were leading the way.

Dear fellow book lovers, I've been writing for 10 years and have never made it onto the bestseller list. This September, I'm Roll Away to try and make it. In the past, I didn't try to make it because I felt it was pointless and I didn't have the writing skills to keep my work from falling apart.

Everyone knows I write slowly, so I haven't been able to add extra chapters, and I'm too embarrassed to ask for extra credit.

I've been writing books for over ten years, and apart from Gargamel asking me to ask for votes a few times, I've basically never asked for them. At most, I'll mention it in the title, but I'm too embarrassed to ask my readers for it.

I am a storyteller. People read books, I write books, that's all.

This time, I'm aiming for the top of the charts because of a feeling. After writing for so many years, I feel there are some things I should try. So, if you can support me and think Old Gun's writing is alright, please give it a hand. If you think it's not good, I won't say much; let's all part ways amicably.

Let me report on the results. The average daily subscription for this book has just exceeded 50,000, which is great. It's all thanks to everyone's support over the years.

This book hasn't fallen apart yet, and I have plans for the later parts of the story. I can guarantee that it won't fall apart, so please trust me.

My writing approach prioritizes mindset, which is the fundamental reason why I was hesitant to write before – I was afraid my mindset Jueying confident this time. After years of writing, while my skill level may not be exceptionally high, I feel I've developed a better mindset.

Finally, since we need to improve our ranking, let me mention an extra chapter: one extra chapter for Silver rank, and three chapters for Gold rank (this is probably impossible, so I'll just leave it here for now).

I'll strive to get into the top five, since it's my first time. Let's all Roll Away and see the scenery in the top ten, climb high and look far, so as not to let everyone down, and not to let myself down after ten years of writing.

Finally, let me say it again: Old Gun is a man. If you call me Gun Girl again, I'll send Bad Gargamel to your house~ Roll Away.