The Spirit-Wielding General, Are You Still Not Showing Yourself?
He carefully recalled every moment he had spent with Liu Changle.
During those two years in the Inverted Room, Liu Changle and he tried drugs and endured pain together, struggling together in that dark, damp, and run-down room.
Liu Changle once told him about his dreams about the Long River.
At that time, Liu Changle's tone was full of confusion and bewilderment, not at all like someone who knew he was hiding a great secret.
Later, Liu Changle entered the Mystic Wonder Abbey, learned Daoist magic, and once visited the Baosu Marquis Residence's mansion at night, excitedly saying that he wanted to avenge his family together. He even said such childish and bold words as, "I will overthrow the emperor's throne sooner or later, and then I will be the emperor and you will be the prime minister."
This was clearly a native boy from Yuan River Prefecture, not some Great World being in disguise.
Why is that?
Chen Lingxi was increasingly puzzled.
He pondered for a long time, and suddenly a possibility came to mind.
"Could it be that there are two Liu Changle, each living in their own dream... just like that strange Celestial River Dreamscape he once described?"
Just as Chen Lingxi was making his guesses, the spiritual pressure within the Ancestral Mountain grew increasingly heavy.
Chen Lingxi looked up and saw that the warm starlight above this small Cave Heaven was visibly dimming, the light gradually fading, leaving only a gray void.
At this moment, the illusory image of the Long River surged even more violently.
The waves on the river surged higher and higher, creating a deafening roar.
Amidst the surging waves and billowing steam, the Long River appears even more hazy and ethereal.
As the Long River surged, waves swept across it, engulfing the two whirlpools.
Chen Lingxi watched helplessly as the two whirlpools were swallowed up by the surging waves.
The two whirlpools were shattered by the surging waves, leaving only a rushing, roaring torrent on the river surface, with no trace of what had just happened.
The illusory image of the Long River continues to flow, but the deafening sound of the water is gradually fading into the distance.
The river water gradually faded from its initial silvery-white color to a translucent gray, and then transformed from gray into a faint, indistinct shadow.
"As the Long River flows on, the spiritual energy of the Ancestral Mountain grows ever stronger."
Chen Lingxi knew she couldn't stay any longer.
The spiritual pressure from the Ancestral Mountain had become so immense that even the Heavenly Boat beneath his feet was somewhat unstable.
This Ancestral Mountain is driving away all outsiders. If they don't leave soon, they will likely be crushed to death by this oppressive force in this small, soon-to-disappear Cave Heaven.
He thought for a moment, then clasped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the Long River.
This ceremony was performed with great solemnity.
Regardless of the origin of this illusory Long River, and regardless of what the scenes reflected in those two whirlpools foreshadow,
The mere fact that it took the initiative to clear away the clouds and invite him here today, and that it allowed him to glimpse this earth-shattering secret about Liu Changle, is enough for him to offer this salute.
The waves of the Long River surged even more fiercely, as if in response to Chen Lingxi.
The surging waves rose higher and higher, their roar deafening, as if bidding him farewell.
Chen Lingxi then piloted the Heavenly Boat, leaving the sea of clouds. Once he flew out of the sea of clouds, the surging gray-white mist behind him completely closed in.
It swallowed up the illusory Long River, the two whirlpools, and all the secrets that had just been seen, leaving no trace.
Chen Lingxi then passed through the mist and left Ancestral Mountain.
He walked out of Ancestral Mountain; it was evening at that moment.
The setting sun hung behind the western mountains, the Yuan River flowed slowly in the distance, and the outline of the distant city was faintly visible in the twilight.
The scene was exactly the same as before he entered the Ancestral Mountain, as if nothing had ever happened.
He was standing at the Ancestral Mountain, with several streams of spiritual energy flowing and flickering not far away.
Chen Lingxi's eyes flickered.
Those were a group of people who, like many others, had retreated from the Ancestral Mountain in Truth-Seekers.
Their spiritual energy fluctuations were chaotic and weak, clearly indicating that they had suffered serious injuries in the Ancestral Mountain.
They seemed to sense Chen Lingxi's presence as well, and like startled birds, they fled in panic.
Those flashes of light vanished into the distant mountains and forests in an instant, not even daring to turn their heads back.
Chen Lingxi was not surprised.
He truly shone brightly during his visit to that Ancestral Mountain.
First, he publicly chased down Consort Chun, leaving that powerful Qi Circulation Eighth Floor with nowhere to run. Then, he joined forces with Lin Suri to severely injure Xi Yuan and even capture him.
Not to mention that Lu Baizhong's Thunderlight Sword is now hanging at his waist, and Rong Chun's Bright Heavenly Boat is resting in his Hongdong Bag.
Although these Truth-Seekers may not have witnessed his battle with Xi Yuan and Lu Baizhong, the fact that he was able to leave Ancestral Mountain alive and the Thunderlight Sword at his waist were enough for them to deduce many things.
Consort Chun, Lu Baizhong, Xi Yuan, among the most powerful figures, have all died at his hands.
Some people also witnessed him chasing after Consort Chun and Xi Yuan.
These two cultivators are among the best of the Truth-Seeking Realm.
Consort Chun, at the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor, with the blessing of the Sacred Character Rune, possessed combat power far exceeding that of others in the same realm. Xi Yuan, also at the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor, unleashed the Longevity Bridge supernatural Divine Ability, causing even the top figures at the Seventh Floor, such as Lu Baizhong, to retreat in fear.
Since Chen Lingxi was able to kill these two people, they could guess Chen Lingxi's cultivation level.
Moreover, those Truth-Seekers survived in the Ancestral Mountain probably vaguely guessed that the one who refined the Ancestral Mountain Mother Qi was either him or Lin Suri.
Now that Chen Lingxi concealed his aura completely using the Concealed Edge Method, how could ordinary Qi Circulation Realm cultivators possibly fathom his true strength?
They couldn't see through Chen Lingxi's cultivation level, but they dared not harbor any covetous thoughts.
Chen Lingxi was preoccupied with the opportunity presented by the Star Destiny and the treasures in Xi Yuanhong's cave bag, so she had no time to concern herself with these few cultivators at the sixth level of the Qi Circulation Realm.
He watched the fleeing streaks of light disappear into the twilight before turning his gaze away.
However... this time, Chen Lingxi was unwilling to stay in Capital Prefecture any longer.
His gaze turned toward Capital, toward the direction of the Imperial Palace.
"There are still powerful figures within the palace."
Chen Lingxi pondered silently.
Chen Lingxi still remembered that during his Sight-Roaming, he had witnessed the fortuitous opportunity Immortal Husk from Lin Suri's perspective.
The pale golden arm, submerged at the bottom of the Long River, had intricate array patterns flowing endlessly on its surface. Strands of spiritual light gathered from all directions, following the patterns on the arm upwards, eventually transforming into an incredibly thick torrent of spiritual energy that shot straight toward the imperial palace in the capital.
That scene was breathtaking.
I still remember that Immortal Arm, where array patterns flowed, strand by strand, yet gathered into a thick Spiritual Qi, condensing in the Capital Imperial Palace.
"Such a feat could not have been accomplished by an ordinary cultivator."
Chen Lingxi thought to herself.
Moreover, in that illusory scene of the Fated Star, Rong Chun was severely injured by Xiao Changlü, but a white radiance descended from the sky, almost completely healing her injuries.
"Besides that, Yuan Yuan, who once assisted Consort Chun in resisting Xiao Changlü, is incomparably powerful in battle!"
Chen Lingxi still remembers that great battle.
Xiao Changlü leaped high from the shattered mountain peak, spanning several miles, and his slash was like Heavenly Punishment descending upon the world, the blade light covering the sky and the earth.
Yuan Yuan simply walked through the air with his hands behind his back, each step unhurried. With a single press of his hand, a golden palm print that blotted out the sky descended, colliding fiercely with Xiao Changlü's world-destroying sword light.
Chen Lingxi has entered the Qi Circulation Eighth Floor, his combat power has become increasingly formidable, and he also possesses a wealth of hidden strength.
However, he had no doubt that if he were to encounter Yuan Yuan, even if he were to refine the Fated Star fortuitous opportunity and reach the Ninth Floor of Qi Circulation Qi Circulation Eighth Floor cultivation, he would still be unable to defeat him.
"Figures like Yuan Yuan and Xiao Changlü must possess the fighting strength of the Heavenward Third Floor!"
"Furthermore, when Xiao Zhushan assassinated Crown Prince Ying Chi on Inlaid Gold Mountain, a beam of spiritual light flew from the depths of the palace, blocking Xiao Zhushan's sure-kill attack. Now that I think about it, that beam of spiritual light was definitely not Rong Chun's doing."
Chen Lingxi recalled these many things in her mind.
"Deep within the palace, there must be many powerful figures, and now that I have killed Rong Chun..."
Chen Lingxi wreaked havoc on the Ancestral Mountain, but remained cautious even after leaving Ancestral Mountain.
If there truly is an even more powerful being lurking deep within the palace, then his staying in the capital region would be tantamount to a lamb entering a tiger's den.
"Let's leave Yuan River Prefecture for now and go hide in Azure Splendor Prefecture where Xiao Changlü is."
Azure Splendor Prefecture was Xiao Changlü's stronghold, a separatist territory controlled by rebel kings, beyond the reach of the imperial court.
Chen Lingxi made up her mind and was about to set off.
He had already quietly activated the Cloud-Riding Technique, and a wisp of pale blue cloud gathered beneath his feet, about to lift him into the air and fly towards Azure Splendor Prefecture.
Right now!
But then, from the distant Inlaid Gold Mountain, an extremely powerful surge of Qi and Blood suddenly arose.
The scalding Qi and Blood transformed into a plume of smoke that shot skyward!
That fluctuation of Qi and Blood was extremely intense!
Chen Lingxi has now broken through to the Martial Dao Nine Revolutions, with his Qi-Blood Nine Revolutions transformations, each layer solidifying and refining itself. Each transformation is like repeatedly forging ordinary iron, removing the dross and retaining the essence.
His vital Qi and Blood was like refined gold, each drop containing terrifying power capable of destroying cities and fortresses.
A martial artist who has just entered the Nine Revolutions Realm is by no means inferior to a cultivator Qi Circulation Seventh Floor but whose foundation is not deep enough in terms of combat power.
Once they get close, even Qi Circulation Seventh Floor would likely die with a single punch!
At this moment, the Qi and Blood fluctuations emanating from Inlaid Gold Mountain were even stronger than Chen Lingxi's simple martial Qi and Blood.
Its Qi and Blood and blood were so profound, so concentrated and so domineering, that it could be described as extremely powerful!
Each breath exhaled a scorching wave of air, like flames, distorting and deforming the air within a radius of several feet.
"Nine Revolutions, Minor Success!"
Chen Lingxi's eyes flickered as she carefully looked at Inlaid Gold Mountain.
With his current eyesight, he can see the scenery on Inlaid Gold Mountain clearly even from a distance of twenty or thirty miles.
On Inlaid Gold Mountain, a figure in brocade robes stood with his hands behind his back, staring straight at Chen Lingxi!
The person was dressed in a flowing robe, appearing exceptionally elegant.
The face was obscured by the shadows of twilight, making it difficult to see clearly. Only a pair of eyes could be vaguely seen piercing through the Void for dozens of miles, landing directly on Chen Lingxi.
A condescending, almost indifferent attitude!
"Who is this person?" Chen Lingxi in surprise.
The man stood atop the mountain peak; a martial artist at the Nine Revolutions of cultivation, his eyesight was extraordinary, and he gazed at Chen Lingxi from afar.
And in front of him was a woman!
The woman was forced to kneel on the ground by the Qi and Blood emanating from the man in the brocade robe. Her hands braced against the ground, and her bones creaked and groaned from the terrifying Qi and Blood.
Her long hair was disheveled by the wind, her face was pale, and there was a trace of blood that had not yet dried at the corner of her mouth, which trickled down her chin and dripped onto the gravel at her feet.
This person was none other than Lin Longyue!
At this moment, Lin Longyue's face was pale, her breath was weak, and there was still a hint of despair in her eyes.
She knelt there, her body trembling slightly.
Lin Longyue's cultivation level was not high to begin with. Even though she entered the Golden Body realm because of Chen Lingxi, Golden Body cultivator was like an ant facing a tiger in front of a cultivator who had just completed the Nine Revolutions. There was not even the slightest room for resistance.
He was constantly suppressed by that person at the Nine Revolutions of the cultivation realm.
The man in the brocade robe didn't even make a move; he simply released his own Qi and Blood and pressure, which was enough to immobilize Lin Longyue!
At this moment, the man looked down at Chen Lingxi and clearly saw her all along. A slight smile appeared on his lips, a smile with a hint of mockery, like a cat that had caught a mouse but wasn't in a hurry to eat it, but wanted to play with it first.
He turned his head again and looked down at Lin Longyue as if she were an interesting toy.
"Where exactly is this Spirit-Wielding General you speak of?"
He asked in a cold voice, his tone carrying a chilling undertone.
"What methods does he possess? How can this general find him?"
Lin Longyue remained silent.
This imposing general reached out and suddenly gently pressed down on Lin Longyue's head.
In an instant, an invisible yet terrifying Qi and Blood erupted from his palm, transforming into fine, hair-like blood-red threads that burrowed into Lin Longyue's head!
Instantly, Lin Longyue's face showed an expression of extreme pain.
She began to tremble violently, biting her lips until they bled profusely, looking as if she were in great pain.
"The Crown Prince told me that this person can cure your poison!" The man in the brocade robe slowly spoke, "There must be some connection between you and him. You only need to tell me where he went or what his methods are."
I will... let you go.
Lin Longyue's body convulsed, and she was unable to speak.
The man appeared to be interrogating Lin Longyue, but his gaze was fixed on the foot of Ancestral Mountain and on Chen Lingxi, the mocking look still lingering in his eyes.
Chen Lingxi squinted her eyes.
This person deliberately tormented Lin Longyue, actually wanting to humiliate her.
He used Lin Longyue as bait to provoke him into showing himself, angering him, and causing him to lose his mind, so that he could capture and kill him on this Inlaid Gold Mountain.
At that moment, the pain on Lin Longyue's face intensified.
She struggled to speak, her words broken and fragmented. "Your Highness... I did indeed see that Spirit-Wielding General; he killed the princess right before my eyes! Yunhe and I are good friends..."
The prince's smile widened as he withdrew his hand, a chilling murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
He looked down at Lin Longyue, whose heroic face was cold and terrifying.
"You actually dare to cover up for that Spirit-Wielding General; it seems you do indeed have a deep relationship with Spirit-Wielding General."
As he said this, he suddenly raised his head, shifted his gaze from Lin Longyue, and looked back down at the foot of Ancestral Mountain.
A fierce killing intent flashed in those eyes!
"But... if I were to kill you here, I don't know if that Spirit-Wielding General would dare to come to my rescue."
Lin Longyue took a deep breath, knowing in her heart that this person was the Eastern King, whose cultivation was unparalleled among the younger generation, and who was also a general and warrior charging into battle under the Eastern King's command.
Who is the Eastern King?
Emperor Daye himself praised him, calling him "the unparalleled Eastern King of the Mystic Entry Realm Dong!"
He is a true master of the Mystic Entry Realm!
Ying Ju of the Eastern King, grew up in the army with the Eastern King since childhood. His Qi and Blood level had already reached the Nine Revolutions, and he had earned a formidable reputation on the battlefield.
This person is ruthless and merciless, never caring about the lives of others. Anyone who falls into his hands will find it difficult to die even if they want to.
Moreover, this prince did not come alone this time!
At this moment, many powerful figures were still waiting in the mountains and forests behind the prince.
They lay in wait in the shadows, awaiting the arrival of the Spirit-Wielding General.
Once the Spirit-Wielding General appears, these people will all attack simultaneously, surrounding and killing him on this Inlaid Gold Mountain.
"With so many powerful figures, and Ying Ju here, even if the general were here, he would probably be in grave danger."
The pained expression on Lin Longyue's face eased slightly, and she recalled the mysterious and tall Spirit-Wielding General, as well as the many events from half a year ago.
The masked man was dressed in a dark robe, with a long sword at his waist. Starlight swirled around him like fireflies, and with a soft shout, he caused the Qi and Blood of all the powerful figures in the courtyard to freeze.
With a wave of his hand, the man summoned powerful warriors from the clouds, who slaughtered Yunhe Commandery Princess, Chu Linzi, and the others who were committing evil deeds!
That kind of power, that kind of skill...
"But... there are only two generals, how can they possibly deal with such a large number of powerful figures surrounding and attacking them?"
Lin Longyue took a deep breath.
"The general and I were merely exchanging tokens. If I were to describe his characteristics—such as the elusive figure under his command, or the lightning-infused sword at his waist—..."
The thought, "Could this save my life?" lingered in her mind.
As Lin Longyue thought of this, she suddenly recalled several nights that she found extremely unforgettable.
"If I betray the general, even if I survive, the general will likely be disappointed in me."
Lin Longyue's thoughts were in turmoil. In a moment of distraction, a bitter smile appeared on her lips. She wondered to herself, when had she become like this? Willing to die for others?
At this moment, Ying Ju's smile widened.
He took in the fleeting complex expression on Lin Longyue's face, and the mockery and amusement in his eyes grew even stronger.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the Inlaid Gold Mountain and Ancestral Mountain, landing at the foot of the low mountain in the distance, and on the young man.
The young man was dressed in a dark robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist. Faint golden lightning patterns were slowly flowing on the scabbard.
He stood there, his aura calm and still as water.
It stood there quietly, like a famous sword hidden in its sheath, its sharpness concealed, yet a chilling aura emanating from it.
It was Chen Lingxi who had just emerged from the Ancestral Mountain.
Ying Ju stared at the young man, a hint of coldness in his eyes.
He opened his mouth, and his Qi and Blood contained the profound and powerful energy of a Nine Revolutions martial artist.
The sound was like an invisible drum being struck heavily in the Void, causing sand and stones to fly in the valley and ripples to spread across the surface of the Yuan River!
"Spirit-Wielding General, aren't you going to show yourself?"