A deep bow

The ten-zhang-tall body was torn to pieces. His head transformed into the King of Zhenbei, his torso into Zhujiu, his hands into a high-ranking wizard, and his feet into Jilizhigu.

None of the four high-level experts were unharmed. The giant python Zhu Jiu had lost a section of its tail, a tail that was a hundred feet long. Ji Lizhi Gu's left side was torn to shreds, with his intestines and internal organs hanging out.

The phantom of the battle spirit above the high-grade wizard's head vanished instantly, and his lower body disappeared without a trace. The gruesome wounds writhed, and the blood-red light expanded and contracted, as if breathing, attempting to heal the injuries.

The Prince of Zhenbei's body was well preserved, but his skin was covered with porcelain-like cracks, and he was bleeding profusely.

His breath had weakened to the extreme.

"Run, run!"

Zhu Jiu was terrified; this person was not a third-rank official at all, but clearly a crippled second-rank official.

The combined power of these four Rank 3 experts from different systems had already reached the threshold of Rank 2, yet they still couldn't defeat him.

What does this tell us?

In its complete state, the opponent was a genuine Rank 2 cultivator. Therefore, after consuming the Blood Pill, he repaired some of his injuries and made up for his deficiencies, which is why he was able to unleash such terrifying power.

This is fundamentally different from them. The four of them compensated for quality with quantity, but their opponent was actually a true second-rank expert, a powerhouse in this terrifying field.

The giant python twisted its mangled body wildly, reaching its peak speed in this life, and swam towards the broken city wall.

Jilizhigu escaped even before it. How terrifying! This mysterious powerhouse is terrifying! For a fleeting moment just now, Jilizhigu felt the same oppressive aura emanating from him as it did from its deceased father.

That was the oppressive aura of a second-grade expert.

The crimson python twisted its body, making a deafening roar, like a savage beast passing by. However, this terrifying giant's vertical eyes were filled with fear, and it only wanted to escape.

Ignoring the viscera that had been shaken off during its frantic run, the blue giant fled in another direction.

On the city wall, the barbarians of the Qingyan tribe and the Demon Race army were terrified and jumped down from the wall, fleeing in panic.

The leader has been defeated; if we don't leave now, we'll lose our lives.

The high-ranking wizard formed hand seals and let out a sharp shriek. A phantom black shadow descended from the the Unseen; it was a giant bird with a wingspan of tens of meters.

Bird-like battle spirits.

It carried the high-ranking wizard soaring upwards, flying towards the northeast.

At the same time, as a wizard at the Spirit Wisdom Realm, a series of countermeasures flashed through his mind: if the opponent were to attack first, from which angle would they strike, and where would their punch land, etc.

He maintained and devised numerous self-protection measures to ensure that he would not be killed on the spot.

Of course, given the abilities of a Spirit Wisdom Realm wizard, he knew that the possibility of the mysterious expert pursuing him was low, because the other party's target was the King of Zhenbei.

They must prioritize dealing with the Prince of Zhenbei, then Jili Zhigu, and only then choose between themselves and Zhujiu.

His chances of survival are extremely high.

The dark Dharma form shrank inch by inch until it returned to human height, but its twelve arms and the fiery halo behind its head remained.

"Prince Zhenbei, blood debts must be repaid in blood."

Xu Qi'an took a step forward, clenched his fist, swung his arm back, and smashed the air.

The body of the Prince of Zhenbei was torn to pieces, and blood splattered all over the ground.

The chunk of meat then turned into a writhing worm, emitting a foul stench.

His figure appeared a hundred feet away, and he fled through the air.

Substitute Gu!

The Heavenly Gu Clan's life-saving method involves raising Gu within the body. These Gu absorb the host's life force and Qi and Blood, assimilating with the host. In life-or-death situations, they can protect the host from disaster.

This Gu only requires a Gu seed to be implanted into the body; anyone can use it.

As a prince of the Great Feng, the Prince of Zhenbei still had ways to protect himself.

"You can't escape!" Xu Qi'an roared.

The monk Shenshu, cooperating with the pursuit, briefly regained the upper hand in conversation, proclaiming loudly, "The sea of suffering is boundless; turn back and you will find the shore."

The Prince of Zhenbei, hovering in the air, stiffened, his neck twitching as if he wanted to turn back. A moment later, however, he broke free from the influence of Buddhist School precepts and continued his escape.

Taking advantage of the moment when the opponent froze, Xu Qi'an caught up with him from behind, and simultaneously unleashed twelve powerful attacks, creating an air explosion effect.

At the critical moment, the Prince of Zhenbei exploded into a cloud of blood mist, unleashing his potential and forcefully pushing him to the side, avoiding the fatal punch.

"Return!"

Twelve hands simultaneously spread out, locking onto the source of energy, and with a sudden yank, pulled the Prince of Zhenbei back. The twelve hands gripped the Prince of Zhenbei's head, arms, and legs.

At this moment, on the city wall, pairs of eyes gazed at this place, at the Prince of Zhenbei whose life hung by a thread.

No one spoke.

The silence was eerily profound.

Within the body of the Prince of Zhenbei, streams of pure Qi and Blood overflowed, and his twelve arms were like twenty-four black holes, frantically draining his life essence.

"Although I don't know why you can use the Zhenguo Sword, you are not a member of the Great Feng royal family. What do the 380,000 people of Chuzhou City have to do with you?"

Sensing the loss of his life essence, this top warrior of the Great Feng finally revealed a look of despair.

He could understand if the supervisor wanted to kill him. He could also understand if the court officials impeached him.

However, this person was neither a member of the Great Feng nor a benevolent individual. His demonic rage was boundless, and he wanted to kill him for the sake of all the people of Chuzhou City.

"Then what does it matter to you if I kill you?"

Xu Qi'an sneered, "You have no sense of justice, you worship the law of the jungle, then today I will tell you something on behalf of the 380,000 lives."

He paused, his expression disdainful, and said, "Actually, aren't you just as insignificant as an ant?"

"No!"

The Prince of Zhenbei let out a desperate roar, like the mournful cry of a beast before its death.

The massacre of the city was one of his most brilliant schemes. He used the Blood Refining Pill to increase his cultivation, and at the same time, he lured his enemies into a trap, using the National Protection Sword to kill Jili Zhigu and Zhu Jiu.

If he succeeds, the world will only remember his great achievements and sing his praises. Who will remember the 380,000 innocent souls lost?

They exchanged a city for two foreign third-rank experts, and for a second-rank expert from Great Feng. Their deaths were worthwhile.

But it was precisely this most brilliant plan that ultimately ruined him.

The roar of the Prince of Zhenbei abruptly ceased, his flesh withered and shriveled, turning him into a dried corpse.

Xu Qi'an tore it off with force, ripping off his head and limbs, and then discarded them.

This tear shattered the prime of a prince, a martial arts master, half a century of his life.

The wind from the north blew against his body, dispelling the gloom in his heart. He felt his mind was clear and his conscience was at peace.

When Li Miaozhen discovered the massacre of three thousand miles, Xu Qi'an initially felt only a sense of heaviness in his heart, but didn't have any profound feelings. After all, it was something far away.

Subsequently, he was ordered to go to Chuzhou to investigate the case, and he decided to take charge.

As the truth was gradually revealed and he realized the tyranny of the Prince of Zhenbei, he made up his mind that night after seeing the memories of Provincial Governor Zheng Xinghuai.

We must thwart the Prince of Zhenbei's plans, stop him, and punish him.

It was for the sake of those 380,000 innocent lives, and also for his own beliefs. If he swallowed his anger and shrank back, this matter would become a lifelong knot in his heart.

I can't control everything in the world, but I can control what's in front of me.

On the city wall, more than 20,000 northern soldiers and hundreds of martial artists saw the figure with twenty-four arms on his back, and they restrained their fierce aura, bowing deeply to the Chuzhou City below.

Upon seeing this scene, Imperial Censor Liu suddenly burst into tears, collapsed to the ground, and wailed loudly.

With red-rimmed eyes, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review meticulously straightened his clothes and bowed to the person in the air with the utmost sincerity of a scholar.

Yang Yan gazed intently into the distance and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Officer Chen clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Centurion Chen Xiao clasped his hands in a fist salute.

More than 20,000 soldiers clasped their fists in unison.

He worshiped the people who had died in the city, and more than 20,000 people on the city walls worshiped him.

After the death of the Prince of Zhenbei, the power balance in the northern border was disrupted. I need to kill another third-rank official. Xu Qi'an communicated with Master Shenshu in his mind.

"I'll be entering a deep sleep in the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn. Have you decided who to kill?" Monk Shenshu's voice was filled with unparalleled exhaustion.

If Shen Shu hadn't absorbed the life essence of the King of Zhenbei, she would already be fast asleep.

The combat power of the Twenty-Four Armed Dharma Form reached the second rank, while Shen Shu only had one arm, with enormous potential. This Dharma Form Secret Method was not something he could perform with his severed arm.

"Jili Zhigu."

Xu Qi'an made his choice without the slightest hesitation.

Most of the northern Demon Race' territory borders the Witch God Sect, and the conflict between the two sides is extremely fierce. Zhu Jiu can be left to entangle with the Witch God Sect and keep each other in check.

Jili Zhigu must die.

The barbarian tribes inflicted the most devastation on the northern border of the Great Feng.

After making his choice, the monk Shenshu flew away, following the scent to track down Jili Zhigu.

Above the clouds, loud laughter erupted as the white-robed Warlock laughed so hard he bent over backwards, laughing heartily.

"The Prince of Zhenbei is dead! He's finally dead! Good riddance!" The white-robed Warlock clapped his hands in delight.

At that moment, a silvery laugh rang out, and a woman in a white dress, seemingly floating on clouds, swayed her hips as she slowly approached, her gaze alluring and seductive.

She was stunningly beautiful, with a small, rosy, and alluring mouth that shone with a glossy sheen; a pair of captivating, foxy eyes that sparkled with life; a delicate, straight nose; and long, straight eyebrows.

These delicate features, outlined on a sharp, oval face, unconsciously evoke the phrase "a beautiful woman is a source of trouble."

Furthermore, the ties accentuated her wasp waist, making her breasts appear full and rounded, resulting in an excellent body proportion.

Even the most discerning man couldn't find a flaw in her.

"Was killing the Prince of Zhenbei part of your plan?" the woman in the white dress asked with a smile.

"You want to know?"

The white-robed Warlock paused his smile, looking at her calmly. "How about we exchange information? Do you know that person?"

The woman in the white dress nodded. "I know her."

The white-robed Warlock pondered for a moment and said, "He is the demonic monk that the Buddhist School delegation is looking for."

"He is a respectable man."

What is your relationship with him?

The woman in the white dress smiled mischievously and said, "Guess."

The white-robed Warlock remained silent, composed and unperturbed.

She sighed and said softly, "I respect him very much."

After speaking, the woman in the white dress looked at the Warlock and said in a soft voice, "It's your turn."

The white-robed Warlock stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the vast landscape, his tone exuding confidence that everything was under control, and slowly said:

"I'll only tell you two things: first, I was the one who bewitched Emperor Yuanjing into cultivating immortality; second, with the death of the Prince of Zhenbei, the Supervisor could no longer withstand the overwhelming force. As for the reasons and details behind it, I won't go into them."

At that moment, the two of them turned their gazes to the distance, where a figure rode a sword and came flying by, ignoring them completely.

"This generation's Heavenly Sect Saintess has good aptitude; she has the potential to reach the third rank, and may even break through to the second rank," the woman in the white dress commented, not bothering to conceal her voice.

The white-robed Warlock chuckled and said, "For us, the most anticipated event in the next two years is the battle between the Celestial Person and the human."

Once Xu Qi'an's figure disappeared from sight, some sounds slowly rose from the city wall. These sounds eventually converged into a river, becoming noisy and chaotic.

With the death of the Prince of Zhenbei, Chuzhou City reduced to ruins, the northern border was leaderless, and the more than 20,000 surviving soldiers were plunged into great confusion.

Yang Yan noticed the soldiers' unusual behavior, gathered his strength in his Dantian, and shouted, "All soldiers, listen to my command! I am Yang Yan, the chief officer of this mission."

"Now that the Prince of Zhenbei is dead, I hereby assume all military and political responsibilities in Chuzhou City. Quickly descend from the city walls and assemble outside the city."

The soldiers immediately felt reassured and orderly left the dilapidated wall, gathering in the open space outside the city.

In his youth, Yang Yan followed Wei Yuan and participated in the Battle of Shanhai Pass. He still had the experience of leading troops and quickly calmed the soldiers and maintained order.

Just then, Li Miaozhen arrived on her sword and stopped above Chuzhou City.

The sky was already a deep blue, and in a few more moments, it would be completely dark.

Looking down at the ruins and devastation of Chuzhou City, she thought to herself, "I'm too late. Chuzhou City has fallen. Judging from the state of things, a battle between high-ranking martial artists must have just taken place in the city."

Li Miaozhen glanced briefly at the ruins, then turned to look at the army gathered outside the city.

This was illogical. The young female general, with her rich military experience, immediately realized that something was wrong. Logically speaking, such an intense battle should have been fierce and brutal.

It's impossible for so many soldiers to survive.

"Yang Jinluo, what happened in Chuzhou City? Where are the Prince of Zhenbei's men?"

Li Miaozhen hovered low in the air, riding her flying sword, not far from Yang Yan and the others.

Yang Yan had already seen her. The two had crossed paths when they were suppressing bandits in Yunzhou, so they could be considered to have some acquaintance. However, Yang Yan was a stoic martial arts fanatic with a rigid personality. Even when he saw someone he knew, he would at most nod slightly when their eyes met, but he would not deliberately greet them.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Dali Temple official and others became strange.

Yang Yan explained, "The Prince of Zhenbei massacred the city and was killed."

Li Miaozhen's face stiffened as she stared blankly at him.

Yang Yan nodded, indicating that that was the case.

What kind of explanation is that? You're just teasing us. If I didn't know your personality was like this, I would have rolled up my sleeves and punched you right now. Oh, I can't beat a peak fourth-rank martial artist, then it's alright. Li Miaozhen muttered to herself.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review coughed and added, "At dusk, the northern demon and barbarian armies joined forces to attack the city. The leader of the Qingyan tribe, Jili Zhigu, and the Demon Race leader, Zhu Jiu, came to compete for the Blood Pill."

"The Blood Pill was refined by the Prince of Zhenbei after slaughtering 380,000 people in Chuzhou City. For his own selfish reasons, the Prince of Zhenbei massacred the entire city."

At this point, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review showed a sorrowful expression. Then, he saw that Li Miaozhen remained calm, without the slightest shock.

"You seem indifferent?" The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was somewhat angry.

"I already knew that, but I didn't know what happened after that. Please continue," Li Miaozhen said.

"Alright," the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review cleared his throat and told Li Miaozhen in detail about the battle that had taken place in the city, the number of experts involved, and so on.

The valiant and spirited Heavenly Sect Saintess, dressed as a female soldier, stood there dumbfounded.

She knew about the massacre of the city by the Prince of Zhenbei, and the involvement of high-ranking wizards from the Witch God Cult was not surprising to her. After all, Xu Qi'an had already analyzed that the Prince of Zhenbei had the assistance of other high-ranking figures from other systems behind him, and now she just felt that it was indeed the case.

But Li Miaozhen never expected that this battle would also involve the demon-possessed leader of the Earth Sect, the National Sword Master, the mysterious woman, and the expert who swept across the entire arena.

Wasn't it the King of Zhenbei who massacred the city for his own selfish desires, thus provoking a counterattack from both the demon and barbarian races?

Why are there still so many experts involved? The relationships are too complicated. I need to calm down and analyze this. No, I need to Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen thought with some shame.

How did Master Li know about the massacre of the city by the Prince of Zhenbei?

Scholars are meticulous, so Imperial Censor Liu bowed and asked the question.

Reminded by him, Li Miaozhen raised her eyebrows, ascended into the air on her flying sword, circled among the 20,000 soldiers, and shouted:

"Yang Jinluo, immediately capture the Commander-in-Chief, Duke Protector of the State, Que Yongxiu. The Prince of Zhenbei is the mastermind behind the massacre of the city, and he is the Prince of Zhenbei's executioner. It was this man who led the army to massacre the city that day."

"What?!"

Not only Yang Yan, but also the Dali Temple official and others changed their expressions.

Without time to ask for details, they immediately cooperated with Li Miaozhen to search for Que Yongxiu, but after searching the entire army and the ruins of the city, they could not find Que Yongxiu.

He has already escaped.

Perhaps they escaped together when the barbarians were routed, or perhaps they secretly fled after witnessing the death of the King of Zhenbei.

At the time, everyone's attention was on the battlefield. Without knowing that Que Yongxiu had committed an unforgivable crime, who would pay much attention to him?

Not only him, but also the spies of the Prince of Zhenbei had already secretly fled.

Everyone was furious and angry, but there was nothing they could do.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said in a deep voice, "Thank you for the reminder, Master Li. If it weren't for you, we might have overlooked this thief and let him go unpunished. After the delegation returns to the capital, I will submit a memorial impeaching him and issue an arrest warrant to capture this villain."

Imperial Censor Liu was extremely excited. "That's right, Que Yongxiu is a close confidant of the Prince of Huai. If the Prince of Huai wants to deceive everyone in Chuzhou City, he will need this scoundrel's help. Thank you for reminding me, Daoist Priest Li. Please accept my bow."

Li Miaozhen truly lives up to her title of Flying Swallow Heroine; her abilities are outstanding. She must have heard about the massacre of three thousand miles or the barbarian invasion of the border, which is why she traveled thousands of miles to Chuzhou. Compared to her, we only learned the truth today after everything was revealed, which is truly shameful. While the members of the delegation were grateful, they couldn't help but feel ashamed.

The delegation was large, including Yang Yan, a fourth-rank official, a seasoned chief constable of the Ministry of Justice, and the legendary Xu Qi'an, who was secretly investigating. However, after so long in Chuzhou, they found nothing.

Constable Chen clasped his hands in greeting. "Master Li, Que Yongxiu is a descendant of a founding hero, a first-class duke, and concurrently the commander of Chuzhou. He holds a high position and great power. Even in the capital, there are very few people with higher positions and status than him."

"The Prince of Zhenbei massacred the city, and tens of thousands of soldiers witnessed it, serving as witnesses. But Que Yongxiu... Please, Master Li, explain how you investigated this case?"

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the two Imperial Censors all looked at Li Miaozhen.

Yang Yan, who is usually indifferent and lacks enthusiasm for other things, also showed a rare thirst for knowledge.

PS: I wrote until 3 a. m. yesterday before going to sleep. I got up this morning and finished writing this chapter on and off. The thank-you chapter for the 100 Alliance members will have to wait until after get off work. Well, this chapter counts as yesterday's.