After Xu Yang, the two groups explored several more caves in succession. Unfortunately, they were all dead ends, and their men suffered heavy casualties. Seeing this, Lei Dong and Yin Shihong could no longer sit still. The losses among their men pained them both.
To reduce casualties, the two immediately dispatched their elite fighters, and at last the dead and wounded became fewer. After an hour of searching with all their might, they finally found the right path. Xu Yang's face lit up, and he immediately rose to follow them inside.
After passing through a long corridor, Xu Yang and the others arrived in a magnificently decorated hall. On either side stood a huge bookshelf, with books arranged upon them. Five large chests sat on the floor at the front of the hall.
Behind the chests stood a raised platform. On it sat a rectangular table, upon which rested a treasured sword and two books. Behind the table, a skeleton sat cross-legged.
Everyone's eyes lit up, and they rushed forward to seize the treasures. The Shunfeng Escort Agency's senior officers, led by Lei Dong, charged straight for the platform, with Yin Shihong and the others close behind. The rest knew their own limits and headed for the bookshelves and wooden chests.
Before they had even made it halfway, the two sides could no longer restrain themselves and began fighting. The hall instantly became a battlefield. Xu Yang was unwillingly swept into the fray, trading blows with a master from Yin Moon Hall. Fortunately, the man's martial arts were far inferior to Xu Yang's. Xu Yang struck out with both palms at full force, driving him back, then took the chance to head toward the bookshelves.
Dodging and weaving through the chaos, Xu Yang soon reached a bookshelf. He glanced over it and saw that it was filled with martial arts manuals, though most were only second- or third-rate. There was nothing particularly valuable.
He looked over the other bookshelf as well, but found nothing of worth there either. Xu Yang was deeply disappointed. Just then, someone opened one of the wooden chests. Xu Yang turned to look, and his eyes were dazzled by a golden gleam: the chest was filled with gold bars. One by one, the other chests were opened, and they too were full of gold, silver, and jewels.
At the sight of this, everyone's eyes immediately turned bloodshot. They panted heavily and glared murderously at one another. Someone shouted, "Kill!" and the chaos in the hall grew even worse. Screams rang out one after another.
Xu Yang's expression changed, and he immediately headed for a corner of the hall. He had no intention of fighting to the death over a little wealth and some manuals he didn't care for. Suddenly, he turned to look to the right. Zhao Qian and Lei Yue were being surrounded and attacked, and their situation looked perilous.
Xu Yang hurriedly leaped in front of them and unleashed Ice Palm at their attackers. A series of sharp cracks rang out as the men opposite him staggered backward and fell, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
After driving off their enemies, Xu Yang turned to Zhao Qian and Lei Yue. "It's far too chaotic here. Let's leave for now and wait in a corner of the hall." As he spoke, Xu Yang started to lead them away.
Hearing Xu Yang's words, Lei Yue's expression changed. "No! We should find my father and Uncle Zhao. They're both highly skilled. They can surely kill the Yin Moon Hall villains and claim the treasure for themselves."
Xu Yang was taken aback. He turned to Zhao Qian. "Miss Zhao, what do you think? To be honest, I don't agree with the young escort chief. Senior Zhao told me to protect you. It's far too dangerous near Chief Escort Lei, and I'm afraid I'm not strong enough to keep you safe there."
Zhao Qian looked troubled. After thinking it over, she said to Xu Yang, "Thank you for saving me, Young Hero Xu. I'm very worried about my father. Please take me to find him." Xu Yang looked at her with a troubled expression. "Senior Zhao has to face the masters of Yin Moon Hall. If you go there, you'll distract him."
Zhao Qian's expression darkened. "In that case, we'll do as you say, Young Hero Xu. I only hope my father is safe." Lei Yue, standing nearby, looked furious. "My father and Uncle Zhao are among the greatest masters in the martial world. How could they be in danger? Don't try to scare us with nonsense." With that, he hurried toward the platform.
Seeing this, Zhao Qian looked frantic and immediately chased after Lei Yue. Xu Yang was left staring in disbelief. He had never imagined Lei Yue could be so childish. When they had first met, Lei Yue had looked so arrogant that Xu Yang had assumed he was extremely confident.
Xu Yang reacted quickly. When he saw Zhao Qian chasing after Lei Yue, he immediately followed them. A short while later, he caught up, but no matter what he said, Lei Yue insisted on going to the platform. With no other choice, Zhao Qian went with him, and Xu Yang could only follow them both.
Working together, the three soon broke through the chaotic melee and reached the foot of the platform. Only when he got close did Xu Yang realize it stood about three zhang high. A flight of steps led to the top, which was roughly ten meters across.
Lei Dong and the others were facing off on the platform. Seeing the scene above, Lei Yue immediately stopped. Xu Yang felt relieved. At least Lei Yue wasn't foolish enough to charge straight up.
Now at ease, Xu Yang stood below the platform and looked up at the confrontation. The atmosphere above was tense. The two sides, led by Lei Dong and Yin Shihong, stood before the table, wary of each other. Neither dared make a move, or they would surely suffer a thunderous counterattack.
Suddenly, Yin Shihong gave a sinister laugh. "Why haven't you attacked yet? What are you waiting for?" The moment the words left his mouth, Zhang Yi, standing behind Lei Dong, suddenly struck, thrusting a finger toward Lei Dong's back.
It happened so suddenly that Lei Dong had no time to dodge. With no other choice, he twisted aside at the last moment, protecting his vital parts, but Zhang Yi's finger struck his left shoulder. A crack rang out as his shoulder bone snapped.
Lei Dong grunted and used the impact to dart aside, evading Zhang Yi's follow-up attack. The yellow-robed elder beside Lei Dong reacted at once and struck toward Zhang Yi with a palm. Zhang Yi's expression changed, and he swiftly leaped away, landing beside Yin Shihong.
"Ha ha ha! How does it feel, Chief Escort Lei? Never thought Zhang Yi was one of my men, did you?" Yin Shihong laughed triumphantly. Across from him, Zhao Qiankun looked incredulous. "Why? How could you betray the escort agency?"
Zhang Yi replied with scorn, "I serve Prince Fu. I was never part of the Shunfeng Escort Agency. Now that Yin Moon Hall has pledged itself to Prince Fu, you lackeys of the imperial court must all be eliminated, lest you ruin Prince Fu's great undertaking."
"Precisely. Brother Zhang is quite right. But if you're willing to join Prince Fu, we'll naturally spare you," Yin Shihong said with a chuckle.
"Pfft!" Lei Dong spat out a mouthful of blood. His face twisted with fury. "So you're Prince Fu's men. It seems Prince Fu has long harbored rebellious ambitions. Dream on if you think we'll surrender! Today, I'll kill you traitors." As he spoke, Lei Dong lunged forward and raised his right hand to strike Zhang Yi.
Zhao Qiankun exchanged a glance with the yellow-robed elder, and they joined the fight at once. The two sides clashed. Lei Dong struck toward Zhang Yi with a palm, but Yin Shihong intercepted him. Furious, Lei Dong snarled, "Fine! Let me experience Hall Master Yin's Heavenly Yin Palm." Yin Shihong gave a sinister smile. "I've been wanting to test Chief Escort Lei's Primordial Thunderbolt Hand and see if it's as formidable as the rumors say." The two immediately fought.
Elsewhere, Fire Venerable intercepted the yellow-robed elder. "I've long heard that Huang Zhonggong's Earth-Covering Palm is immensely powerful. Today, I'll have to see it for myself." The elder was none other than Huang Zhonggong. He regarded Fire Venerable solemnly. "I never expected the renowned Fire Venerable to have pledged himself to Prince Fu. I, too, have long heard of the fame of your Separated Fire Finger. I suppose I'll have to experience it today."
Nearby, Zhao Qiankun was locked in combat with Zhang Yi, his face flushed red. As he used Qiankun Palm, he said, "You treacherous scoundrel! You deceived me for years. I even treated you as a sworn brother. I doubt you had nothing to do with that ambush last time."
Zhang Yi replied dismissively, "What sworn brothers? You were just using me. Did you think I didn't know you'd always coveted the position of chief escort?" Zhao Qiankun's expression immediately changed. He shouted, "You scoundrel, you still dare to sow discord! Take my Qiankun Boundless!" As he shouted, both his palms suddenly swelled, and their power surged.
Zhang Yi's face changed dramatically. He swiftly raised two fingers and unleashed his signature technique, Heavenly Snake Finger, aiming at the palms rushing toward him. The two sides collided with a pair of muffled thuds, and the tremendous force sent them both staggering backward.
Zhao Qiankun stared at Zhang Yi in shock. "A supreme master! I can't believe you broke through. And you even know Yin Moon Hall's Heavenly Snake Finger. You've hidden your strength so well." As he spoke, Zhao Qiankun gritted his teeth in anger.
Zhang Yi looked shaken. "You're quite something, Zhao Qiankun. I didn't know you had such a powerful move. You really are devious. Good thing I came prepared."
For a time, the two sides were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand. After a while, Lei Dong, already wounded, gradually fell behind Yin Shihong. Zhao Qiankun and Huang Zhonggong wanted to help, but their opponents kept them firmly occupied.
Lei Dong grew anxious. He glanced around and spotted the treasured sword on the table. Delighted, he immediately poured all his qi into a strike that forced Yin Shihong back. Seizing the opening, he leaped to the table, snatched up the sword, and turned to thrust it at Yin Shihong.
Yin Shihong was startled and quickly leaped backward. The sword had belonged to Old Man Tianjue, the renowned divine weapon, the Tianjue Sword. He wouldn't dare test its edge with his own body. With the Tianjue Sword in hand, Lei Dong immediately gained the upper hand, and the situation turned around.
Yin Shihong dodged frantically, rapidly searching for a way to counter him. Suddenly, his expression shifted. He spotted Xu Yang and the others watching from beneath the platform. Immediately, he sprang backward and hurtled down toward them.
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