Lu Chai

Li Fan chased Lu Chai all the way to his stronghold, saw the Lu Family's forces with his own eyes, and understood A Guang's intentions.

This might really be a rebellion.

This is an underground plaza, roughly in the center of Da'an Fang. The ground underneath has been hollowed out, and the roof is covered with shacks. In the very center stands a teahouse, which looks like a gladiatorial arena.

The ground was covered with swords and spears, gleaming armor, and a variety of bows and crossbows. At a glance, it seemed that all of these were military equipment and weapons that had been brought from the Li Country's armory through the Wang Family's connections. They were neatly arranged in boxes and sets in the square, to be distributed overnight to the assassins recruited from who-knows-where.

Crowds gathered from all directions, some of them might be bullies working hard in the local black market, some were from the Jianghu area near Gyeonggi, some were Northerners who were obviously from other places, and there were also soldiers from the foreign Hulu clan. They were all strong and strong, with big arms and waists, and they all obviously had some background in Kung Fu training.

Moreover, Li Fan also realized that they had probably been taught a body-forging method similar to the Body Domination Technique. Many of them probably already had profound martial arts skills before, and now that they have received the true teachings of the immortals, many of them have already reached a level similar to the Overlord Body. According to A Guang, there are already more than a dozen people in this chaotic army who have cultivated to a level similar to the Golden Core cultivator, which means they have roughly cultivated the Divine Essence Body.

Yuan Xuanbao once mentioned that the Divine Essence Body is a strength classification borrowed from the Body Domination Technique. Martial artists at this level are roughly equivalent to Golden Core Stage cultivators. This is because, compared to the Overlord Body, which is still considered 'human,' martial artists with the Divine Essence Body already have Divine Hardness protecting their bodies and can no longer be considered mortals.

Although Divine Hardness warriors cannot ascend to heaven and earth, fly on swords, summon wind and rain, or enjoy immortality like regular Golden Core cultivators, they at least possess bronze heads and iron arms, immense strength, and are incredibly powerful at beating people. Furthermore, those who cultivate to this level with mortal bodies are truly martial arts prodigies. Combined with their cultivated Divine Hardness Qi, which is both offensive and defensive, Divine Essence Body warriors, in terms of pure destructive power and practical combat ability in direct confrontation, are far superior to most Golden Core cultivators of the same level.

After all, what they're seeking isn't immortality, but killing; everyone has their own area of expertise.

Above the Divine Essence Body, there is said to be an even more powerful Martial God Body, comparable to the Real Person realm. However, mortals have limited aptitude and lifespan, and unless they are martial arts prodigies who appear once every hundred years, it is rare to hear of anyone being able to cultivate it.

In fact, let alone the Martial God Body, very few people can even master the Divine Essence Body or the Body Domination Technique is, after all, a proper body-refining method that requires years of accumulated practice. It not only strengthens the muscles and bones but also has requirements for the cultivation of Qi. Usually, only families that have been military families for generations have the resources and wealth to support their children in practicing this method. Most of the nobles in the Outer Sect of Ink Bamboo Mountain rose to power through military merit, so many of them practice it, but very few of them can break through to the Divine Essence Body. It can be seen that most of the cultivation methods in Taiji Xian Dao really do not have shortcuts.

Compared to the Outer Sect Disciple of Ink Bamboo Mountain, these martial artists lacked the aptitude and comprehension for cultivation. It was a mystery what kind of demonic art they practiced or what secret elixirs they consumed, that allowed them to improve their body-tempering skills so rapidly...

Oh, could it be that the flesh of the Tai Sui is incredibly nourishing? Indeed, the soup cooked by the Tai Sui is so extravagantly given to beggars; perhaps the rapid increase in the strength of these rebel soldiers is due to the consumption of such potent tonics?

However, judging from this, Lu Chai's backing definitely doesn't lie with Ink Bamboo Mountain; Ink Bamboo Mountain wouldn't have that kind of money...

Li Fan added another invisibility talisman, concealing his aura and blending into the crowd. The market was bustling with people, and it was impossible to tell how many people were gathered in the sheds. They had been organized into dozens or even hundreds of small teams by the Lu Family's trusted detachments, and then they went together to collect their armor and weapons. Everyone still had black cloth wrapped around their left arm, so they were probably really going to rebel.

Just now, Li Fan watched as those cloaked puppets leaped into the pavilion in the center of the square, and knew that Lu Chai was most likely in that building. He roughly calculated that there were at least two thousand assassins gathered nearby, and that was only because of local restrictions, who came in batches to collect weapons. In reality, there were probably even more rebel soldiers in Da'an Fang.

To be honest, Li Fan wasn't sure if he could defeat this large group of Armored Soldier had been quickly trained with demonic cultivation pills.

If you use a flying sword, it's fine to face those martial artists who have cultivated the Divine Essence Body, but if you go and cut off the helmets of these soldiers who are at most at the Foundation Establishment stage, it's really as the sword intent said, quite painful, feeling that the sword is damaged too much and it's not worth it.

With his current Golden Core Stage Qiankun Flying sword power, he could still break through armor, but a single sword storm would only shatter a dozen or so Armored Soldier directly in his path. The sword wind that followed would likely be blocked by the layers of armor plates. He had previously killed over a hundred incomplete and unformed soldiers in a village outside Xiping Prefecture for quite some time.

Using a magic array to blast them apart? That won't work either. To put it bluntly, the two magic arrays Li Fan knows are the most basic, only good for bullying ignorant fools and bumpkins. Anyone who understands Qimen Dunjia, talismans, and numerology can break the array simply by pulling out the talisman flags he's planted. Besides, there are too many residents in Da'an Fang. If he sets fire to the place with a violent commotion, the resulting massacre will inevitably harm innocent people.

Moreover, if Li Fan were to force a direct confrontation now, his biggest fear would be that he wouldn't even be able to kill a few hundred of the miscellaneous soldiers before his own body went out of control, his killing intent overflowing, and he would directly fall into demonic possession.

Of course, there was another reason: after observing the situation, Li Fan felt that Lu Chai's current bandit forces were clearly insufficient for a rebellion, and were even far from adequate.

In the past six months, he had seen quite a few armies from the Li Country. The Kunlun Mountain Patrol Guards were well-equipped and well-trained, but their individual strength was somewhat lacking. They couldn't defeat some martial arts masters in a one-on-one fight, but if they formed a battle formation and commanded in unison, they could not only surround and kill those sword masters, but they could probably even wipe out things like the evil corpses.

In comparison, the garrison of Li Country Xiping Protectorate, the Xunjiangwei of East River Dao, and the Imperial Guard of Changsi City were better equipped. For a feudal dynasty, a 100% armor coverage rate would be absurd. However, their opponents were either monsters or martial arts masters, so they were probably forced to wear armor due to the circumstances. Saving money on armor would have made it impossible to maintain order, thus indirectly increasing the cost of rebellion...

The group that Lu Chai has gathered is, strictly speaking, a motley crew of bandits. Even if they are given armor, they have no proper military training. Even if they practice some kind of demonic art or take some stimulants to greatly enhance their individual strength, it is still a bit too wishful thinking for this bunch of rabble to think they can break through the guards of Changsi City and those heavily fortified strongholds of noble families.

Even the Outer Sect cultivators of Ink Bamboo Mountain don't need to be used. If these rabble soldiers are allowed to act, they can only launch a surprise attack and cause trouble for two or three days. Once the palace guards gather, they will wipe them out.

So these people are probably just a diversionary tactic to draw attention to their actions elsewhere. At most, they're just a source of chaos, thrown into the pyre of Changsi City; they're definitely not Lu Chai's trump card.

Li Fan mingled in the crowd, cautiously approaching the teahouse in the center of the square. He could see rows of cloaked puppet assassins standing on the eaves and arches of the teahouse. In the darkness, they resembled giant owls perched on treetops. They were like sculptures, devoid of any human presence, yet suddenly they could unleash a thunderous attack, taking a person's head as easily as taking something out of a bag.

Lu Chai is probably hiding under the protection of this group of assassins! There's no mistake! Because that's what Si Nan pointed out too... Hey Si Nan! At a time like this, why are you shaking your head like that again?!

Li Fan was going crazy looking at the wobbling spoon handle. Where did all these opportunities come from?!

He had no choice but to patiently move through the crowd a little longer, finally confirming that Si Nan was pointing to the black-robed figure hiding in the crowd. Damn, that scared the hell out of me! It's Lu Xing...

Li Fan rolled his eyes and was about to turn away to avoid scaring the mantis by getting too close. But as soon as he turned around, he sniffed and suddenly realized something was wrong.

It smells so good... It's not Lu Xing's scent... And cough cough, Li Fan's 'sixth sense' tells him that this isn't a puppet...

Li Fan frowned and turned around, scrutinizing the black-robed figure not far away. Yes, indeed, he could hear a heartbeat and breathing if he looked closely. This wasn't Lu Xing's puppet; it was a living person. And judging by the full, rounded curves of her hips, and smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her... there was no doubt, it was a woman. And this scent seemed familiar...

At that moment, with a loud bang, the torches on the roof of the teahouse were lit.

The chaotic scene of soldiers distributing weapons around them also ceased its clamor, and a dark mass of people gathered around the teahouse.

What's going on? Are there still midnight shows to watch?

Li Fan temporarily put aside his thoughts and looked up at the top of the teahouse.

Several figures wearing black robes and masks emerged; they were probably guards.

Then he saw the crowd part, revealing Lu Chai in the middle.

He wore a white robe and a scholar's cap, revealing his true face openly. He looked like a young man studying in an academy. He had a handsome expression and a sunny smile, like a fine young college student. He didn't look like the overlord who ruled the underworld of Changsi City at all.

At that moment, Li Fan's heart almost stopped.

Lu Chai's face is exactly the same as Senior Brother Lu Yu's!

Is it because Lu Qi is the eldest son? But they look so alike! They don't look like father and son, they look like twins!

"Thank you, brothers! You've come from afar to lend Lu Chai a hand!" Lu Chai clasped his hands in a half-smile and bowed to the crowd downstairs.

The assassins below remained silent, watching him without uttering a word.

When Li Fan saw Lu Chai's hands, he suddenly realized that those ten fingers were clearly the fingers of a puppet mechanism. This wasn't the real Lu Chai, but a puppet! No wonder they were all made to look exactly the same. Lu Chai was really careful; he probably never showed his true form to anyone.

However, thinking about it this way, Lu Qi must have truly obtained the Heavenly Craftsmanship inheritance from Senior Brother Lu, and is an expert in puppet making and manipulation. The Heavenly Craftsmanship tools of the Lu Family probably fell into his hands. Based on this reasoning, the sword fight at Tiantai Mountain and the conflict between Ink Bamboo Mountain and the Immortal Palace were probably instigated and arranged by him.

"Brothers, some of you have seen Lu Chai, some haven't. Some of you are after him for divine power, some for profit, some for personal grudges, some for food, and some for Lu Chai's head! Isn't that right?"

Haha! Alright! You're a guest from afar, come and take it yourself!

As Lu Chai spoke, he actually bypassed the guards, leaped over the railing of the teahouse, and walked onto the eaves with his arms outstretched, shouting, "Lu Chai's head is here! Whoever is destined to take it, come and get it!"

The crowd below watched his performance without saying a word.

Li Fan glanced at the woman hidden in the black robe in front of him and noticed that her body was trembling slightly, as if she really almost couldn't resist and wanted to go up and take her head.

"Not coming? Hehe, then let's do it another day. Lu Chai will be waiting for you anytime!" Lu Chai smiled, pacing back and forth on the roof with his hands behind his back, shaking his head and saying, "In any case, we have all come together tonight by chance. Even if we each have our own desires, it is still a rare kind of fate."

Perhaps among you are some of my Lu Chai. Therefore, I, Lu Chai, will speak of my desires and see how many of you brothers are willing to fight alongside Lu Chai."

He suddenly stopped, raised his right hand high, and pointed directly at the shack above his head.

"I will defy the heavens! Because the heavens are unjust! They only want me dead!"

... What...

But Lu Chai was clearly not insane; he was just spouting nonsense to himself.

"Brothers! Why is Heaven so cruel! Why do the people in Heaven only think of destroying the world and killing all living beings!"

What have we done? We, the common people, are as fragile as duckweed, and all we've done is endure hunger and thirst, kneeling and begging! For a mere grain of rice that slips through the fingers of the gods, we kill one another!

We are already so lowly! We have been driven to this corner to wait for death! Yet, heaven still refuses to let us go!

Why does Heaven hate us? Why does it despise us? Why does it slaughter us?

You don't understand, do you? But I Lu Chai, understand!

Because of the miserable plight of these people, even Heaven feels ashamed to look upon them!

Heaven sees us mere ants as insignificant beings, but the more we ants struggle to survive, the more we linger on, the more Heaven and Earth witness our cruelty!

So Heaven hates us! It hates us ants for not dying sooner! For making us feel guilty, ashamed, and disgraced! For letting all things in the world know the incompetence and ruthlessness of Heaven!

Therefore, this day will destroy the world! This day will exterminate us ants! Out of sight, out of mind! Only then will it be satisfied!

Because Heaven knows! A bunch of ants! They can slaughter and harm at will, but they would never dare to disobey them!

"Right?! Do you dare to defy the heavens?!"

A furious roar erupted from the crowd; a terrifying rage was suppressed in the darkness.

Lu Chai, however, revealed a radiant smile amidst the flames of hatred.

"Heh, you wouldn't dare. How could ants defy the heavens?"

But it doesn't matter, we can still make them fear us!

Let them hate us!

They hate us! Just because they know they're afraid of us!

Because when you are just an ant, you can surprise them and outmaneuver them. When you are so vulnerable, no one will pay you any extra attention!

When the time comes, you will catch them all off guard!

When the time comes, they will be afraid of us!

Because of this day, we are reduced to weak and powerless ants!

That's why we have the courage to be fearless!

Let this day be!

They all fear us!

The crowd erupted in a mandrill-like roar, a cathartic release of pent-up anger and resentment. The deafening roar, like a raging storm, shook the western capital, sending their pent-up anger and resentment soaring to the heavens.

But far from the Liqiu Palace, outside the city, they enjoyed peace and tranquility. Even the gentry of the eastern city merely turned over and cursed that the stray dogs in the shacks were barking wildly again. No one in the sky cared about the howling and barking of cockroaches and stray dogs in this corner, or their anger.

So what if we're dissatisfied? What can a bunch of ordinary people do?

Just as Lu Chai said, looking down from the towering Zhulou, the common people are so insignificant, not worth considering, are they?

Amidst the howling of a group of soldiers and bandits, Li Fan's head was buzzing from the noise, yet his mind remained surprisingly calm and serene.

Regardless of whether Lu Chai was telling the truth, he managed to instigate and arrange a rebellion right under the noses of these nobles. And what were the other three young masters doing?

Guo Bao was still drinking, Wang Lang was still riding his horse, and Wei Hu, who still seemed to have some prestige among the commoners, was simply kicked to the sidelines to eat sand.

Those celestial beings in the city are probably still indulging in a life of luxury and debauchery, preoccupied with trivial matters involving Li Kuan Li You, Qingyue, completely unaware of what the true foundation of the nation really is.

Outside the vermilion gates of the Golden Pavilion and Purple Shop, where wine and meat rotted and decayed, a storm was brewing, with howling winds.

Alas, the fate of this Li Country is truly sealed. Changsi City, this powder keg, is bound to explode sooner or later.