465 - Lure Three (16: I Really Never Wanted to Be the Jade Emperor)

Previously, Di Jiang and Ostandin helped Zhang Rongfang correct many loopholes in the martial arts of the Great Dao Sect.

He should have thought of that back then.

But it's not too late to think about it now.

The sword shadows thrust forward wildly, slashing down and then parrying diagonally.

Daoist Qingxiao was emitting smoke from his entire body, which was the heat emanating from the circulation of his qi and blood to the extreme.

What drove him to despair was that, initially, out of ten of his sword strikes, only one would barely touch his opponent's body.

But as time went on, his sword would only strike once every thirty attempts.

Then, after fifty cycles of twenty breaths, he tried his best, but still couldn't break through even a little bit.

The opponent's arms formed a massive, thick wall, making it increasingly impenetrable!

Seeing this scene.

Suddenly, a terrifying thought flashed through his mind.

"You're perfecting Absolute Defense Circle?!"

He stopped abruptly, stepped back, and looked horrified!

"You're not a Grandmaster?!" The shock in his heart exploded like a tidal wave.

The Absolute Defense Circle represents the absolute perfection of a technique, without any flaws. It allows one to move freely against any martial art without having their defenses broken.

This is a special technique that was only perfected in the arena battles before becoming a grandmaster.

But now, he actually saw Absolute Defense Circle slowly forming on the other person!? This guy, could he not be a Grandmaster at all!? A guy who isn't a Grandmaster actually killed Western Sect Grandmaster in less than five breaths, and then completely suppressed him, bringing him here to play around!?

What... what does this mean?!? "That's about enough." Zhang Rongfang stopped at this point.

Having grasped the conditions for the formation of Absolute Defense, he understood that Absolute Defense requires learning from many schools and experiencing all kinds of techniques in order to accurately deal with all types of martial arts moves.

Only after witnessing all kinds of martial arts and weapons.

Only then can a complete defensive strategy be formed that can cope with any offensive.

Only then can Absolute Defense Circle be truly achieved.

The guy on the other side already possesses the core, strongest martial art ability to completely deflect attacks. Continuing the fight wouldn't be very meaningful.

"I'll ask you one last question. If you can answer it well, I'll let you go," Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

"You say..." Daoist Qingxiao gritted his teeth, and the Final Form on his body began to slowly fade away, but he couldn't care less about anything else at the moment.

The previous exchanges had made him realize that he was no match for the monster opposite him.

This guy might be some new Extreme Realm of the Reverse Time Society!

This person is no ordinary person!

"Who was behind the Special Envoy Team, Zhou Yan?" Zhang Rongfang asked directly the question he had obtained from Di Jiang.

He already knew that someone was taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack and hold off Di Jiang, in an attempt to allow Zhou Yan and the others to surround and kill him.

Now, he wants to know who that is.

Who is secretly orchestrating this plan?

The fact that someone as powerful as Zhou Yan could cooperate with them means that the force behind them is definitely not ordinary! "What do you mean, Zhou Yan is the mastermind? I don't know what you're talking about?" Daoist Qingxiao's face trembled slightly, completely not understanding what the question meant.

At this moment, with his mind wavering, his Final Form began to degenerate more and more, reverting back to his original normal human form.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Zhang Rongfang. He spread his right hand, his muscles tensing and gathering strength.

"Never mind then."

"Wait! If you want to become a Grandmaster, I can help you!" Suddenly, Daoist Qingxiao sensed something was wrong and hurriedly shouted.

"Oh?? How can I help?" Zhang Rongfang asked in surprise.

"You need experts to perfect your Absolute Defense Circle, and you need the help of experts of different types! So, I know where I can help you!" Qingxiao replied quickly.

He took a deep breath.

"However, I have a question. Why don't you ask the other members of the Reverse Time Society for help? There are many grandmasters in the Reverse Time Society. They can exchange skills and martial arts at a rapid pace between those at the Extreme Realm, which would be more than enough to help you improve your Absolute Defense Circle."

"It's too late." Zhang Rongfang shook his head slightly. "Besides, I'm not at the Extreme Realm."

"!!?" Daoist Qingxiao's expression changed drastically.

Not the Extreme Realm!!?

So he's neither Worship God nor reaching the Extreme Realm?

What exactly is he?!

"Are you absolutely sure you're not at the Extreme Realm?! Then why are you so strong?!" Daoist Qingxiao suddenly became agitated.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Rongfang smiled slightly.

"Have you ever heard of the Three Flowers Gather on Crown and the Five Energies Merge to Origin?"

*** King Mu Li Residence.

"What?! Zhou Yan is dead?!"

King Mu Li abruptly stood up from his seat. The composure and gentleness on his face, which had been appreciating the songstress's singing, quickly faded and disappeared.

Instead, a somber and solemn atmosphere prevailed.

"How did he die?! He was Great Grandmaster the Snow Rainbow Pavilion, who dared to kill him? Who could kill him?!"

"The officers from the Snow Rainbow Pavilion have reported that their military Fierce General's Token has been broken, and Zhou Yan is confirmed to be truly dead." The leader of the Teaching Alliance Kexiwo, also looked extremely grim.

They only had a handful of Great Grandmaster to gather, and now that one of them has died, the entire strategy will have to undergo major changes and adjustments.

"Where is Yue Hongdie?" King Mu Li asked in a deep voice.

"She's still operating over there. But her temperament is unpredictable and hard to forecast." Kexiwo shook his head.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Zhou Yan is dead, and I suspect it's related to the Reverse Time Society."

"Originally, we wanted him to cooperate with Red Butterfly in faking his death, but we never expected..." King Mu Li sighed. "That was Great Grandmaster! A Worship God Great Grandmaster is a top-tier expert who can suppress a region, and he died so mysteriously."

"I've already arranged for people to arrest those close to Zhang Ying Daozi," Kexiwo said in a deep voice.

"You mean? You suspect that this was a scheme orchestrated by Zhang Ying and the Reverse Time Society?" King Mu Li's expression brightened.

"I can't think of any other possibility. In any case, let's arrest him and interrogate him first. I have a feeling that Zhang Ying might really have a big secret," Kexiwo sighed.

"Although the goal has been achieved, many things still remain unresolved," King Mu Li sighed as well.

"It hasn't been long since I had a heart-to-heart talk with Zhou Yan, but now..."

"Yue Dewen's disciple is connected to the Eastern Sect's great secret and even cooperated with the Reverse Time Society assassinate the Great Grandmaster Snow Rainbow Pavilion. We can spread this news. It should be able to provoke a conflict between the Great Dao Sect and the Reverse Time Society."

"With so many Grandmasters dead in one fell swoop, the Snow Rainbow Pavilion of the True One Sect's Western Sect will not let this go easily. This matter is no longer something that Yue Dewen can decide on his own," Kexiwo said.

"I must say, the fact that the Reverse Time Society take action because of Zhang Ying was something I never expected. It seems that Zhang Ying truly has exceptional talent."

"But that's fine too. Whether it's Yue Dewen or the Reverse Time Society, they all value one person. This makes it easier for us to take advantage of that."

King Mu Li pondered for a moment.

"Here's what you'd like to do: send a message to Xiaodie and tell her to continue doing what she was doing before."

Kexiwo was taken aback.

"So, the secrets of the Eastern Sect aren't enough?"

"Most people don't believe it. If we want to create chaos, we need to increase the amount." King Mu Li slowly shook his head.

"Your Prince is right," Kexiwo stopped speaking, "But it's a pity, a pity for Zhang Ying's unparalleled talent."

"Alas, who told him to be born at the wrong time? Zhou Yan died because of him, and a Great Grandmaster was buried with him, which is enough to honor him," King Mu Li sighed.

*** Shan Province, Western Sect General Leader— Golden Ridge Temple.

As Heavenly Light broke, the temple gate was smashed down with tremendous force, the door panels crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of fine dust.

"Kill!!"

First Squad Golden Ridge Temple Martial Monks, wielding Bronze Staff, roared as they charged toward the tall figure entering the gate.

The man had long black hair, bright eyes like stars, a cold and stern face, and a faint beard.

It stands 2.5 meters tall, with a robust and broad build, and its ten fingers are pale and sharp, as if carved from jade.

Dozens of Martial Monks, layered upon each other, charged toward him with clubs.

The first row of Martial Monks swung their Bronze Staff, shouted together, and created a violent gust of wind as they smashed down on him.

"Boring." The man stepped forward, his figure moving with ease amidst the shadows of many sticks, as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Not a single Bronze Staff could touch him or injure him in the slightest.

"It's you!!" At this moment, five high-ranking members of Golden Ridge Temple arrived together.

The leader was dressed in a silver-trimmed kasaya, with a large White Jade Prayer Beads around his neck. He had a long, thin white beard and bright eyes. He was none other than the temple's foremost master, the former Abbot Master Yuan Du.

The one who had just shouted was none other than a middle-aged monk standing next to him.

The man glared angrily at the burly man at the door.

"Zhang Ying?! You are Dao Child Zhang Ying Great Dao Sect!!"

The middle-aged monk shouted loudly.

"Since you recognize my name, then I can't let you stay any longer," the man sneered, clapping lightly.

Suddenly, First Squad masked men dressed in black jumped into the temple and onto its walls.

These Black-Clad Man were well-trained; as soon as they landed, they took out short crossbows and fired a burst of shots at the group of monks.

Amidst the powerful clanging of the mechanism, the monks wielding Bronze Staff fell in droves, utterly outmatched.

A few High Grade and Super Grade experts tried to dodge, but were also shot at by crossbowmen from the same experts and became targets in the blink of an eye.

The Abbot and others immediately roared in anger and attacked Zhang Ying and the leader of the men in Black-Clad Man.

Time passed second by second.

Before long, the entire Golden Ridge Temple exploded and turned into a sea of fire.

First Squad Black-Clad Man had already withdrawn in an orderly manner, and under the leadership of 'Zhang Ying', they sped away into the distance.

In the following days.

The newly established branches of the True One Sect, Heaven Lock Sect, and Black Ten Sect in several other provinces were also attacked.

Under the overwhelming power of the attackers, no one survived.

Only outside the massacre site, a few herbalists who were gathering herbs in the mountains saw the burning Heaven Lock Sect Church from afar, and also saw the leaders of the group.

The Five Sects Circle successively dispatched investigation teams to track down the perpetrators.

Among the two remaining herb gatherers, one of them was identified as having physical characteristics, height, and build that perfectly matched those of Dao Child Zhang Ying of the Great Dao Sect.

It is said that some people hiding far away witnessed Zhang Ying using the martial arts of the Great Dao Sect, and that his cultivation level was exactly as rumored—at the level of Super Grade External Medicine. He was also skilled in Eagle Claw Skill.

Although the news was temporarily blocked by the investigation team, it quickly spread to the upper echelons of the Five Sects Circle Alliance through the efforts of certain individuals.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rongfang was still secretly protecting the Aloeswood Manor caravan as they approached Wushan Prefecture.

In the mountains and forests, the Daoist Qingxiao looked noticeably thinner. He was staring intently at Zhang Rongfang, who was meditating and cultivating, hoping to glean some secrets of Immortal Method from him.

"Since you've told me the secrets of Immortal Method, why can't you cultivate them?!"

"Why should I teach you Immortal Method?" Zhang Rongfang asked, opening his eyes.

"My devotion to the Dao is unparalleled! In terms of profound Daoist techniques and Civilian Skill Cultivation, there are few in the entire True One Sect stronger than me! Moreover, I can help you investigate what's behind this. Although I don't know who's behind Zhou Yan, someone has contacted me to cooperate in arresting those around you. I can also help you perfect your path to breaking through to the Grandmaster level!" Qingxiao said quickly.

Zhang Rongfang's eyes were complicated. He hadn't expected that this Daoist Qingxiao, who claimed to be the governor of a province of the True One Sect, would not Worship God any gods!

To possess such formidable martial prowess without even Worship God demonstrates his exceptional talent.