An army at the gates

Clang!

The wine jar in Li Lingsu's hand shattered on the ground. His eyes were fixed blankly on Asuluo, and he stammered:

"Ah, ah what?"

Asuro, without changing his expression, repeated:

"Asuro!"

The Holy Son stammered:

"Wh-what Suro?"

Asuro answered patiently:

"Asuro!"

The Holy Son swallowed hard.

"What the hell?"

Asuro touched his brow with his fingertip and suddenly exerted force, causing the golden paint to quickly spread throughout his body, transforming him into a dark golden sculpture.

At the same time, a scorching ring of fire burst forth behind my head with a "hiss," the intense heat dispelling the cold and plunging the surrounding area into the sweltering heat of summer.

Clang

The wine jars in the hands of Chu Yuanzhen, Li Miaozhen, and Master Hengyuan all shattered on the ground.

Their expressions were exactly the same as the Holy Son's earlier; their eyes were fixed, staring blankly at Asura, who had revealed his golden form.

Damn it, number eight is Asura?! A second- or third-rank Vajra in Buddhist School, Asura who cultivates both Zen and martial arts?! Chu Yuanzhen's mind was buzzing. He recalled how he had tested Asura's level several times before and shown a certain sense of superiority. His scholarly face was burning with embarrassment.

Ah, Asura? The son of the Asura King, one of the main members of the chaotic family. I, Li Lingsu and I mocked him in front of Asura, and more than once. The famous Flying Swallow Heroine felt that at this moment, she was utterly disgraced.

I was so ashamed and embarrassed that I wanted to roll on the ground in shame.

Thump!

Li Lingsu's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.

"What's wrong?" Asuro asked understandingly.

"No, it's nothing. Number 8, you really are a hidden talent."

Li Lingsu felt that at this moment, she had finally glimpsed the true meaning of the Supreme Being's Forgetfulness of Emotions. If I had already achieved the Supreme Being's Forgetfulness of Emotions, I could deal with things calmly.

Asuro's eyes were filled with a smile as he swept his gaze over the Holy Son Li Lingsu, the Holy Daughter Li Miaozhen, and Chu Yuanzhen, and said with a smile:

"Please excuse my family's shameful actions."

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

Li Miaozhen blushed, awkwardly turned her head away, and pretended to look at the scenery around her.

Chu Yuanzhen lowered his head, his feet unconsciously digging into the ground.

Li Lingsu's lips twitched, forcing herself to put on an awkward yet polite smile.

This is so embarrassing! This is so embarrassing! The three of them roared inwardly, their Primordial Spirit practically rolling on the ground in agony.

Fortunately, this humble monk did not speak carelessly. Master Hengyuan looked at them with pity.

Master Jinlian drank his wine without changing his expression, acting as if it were none of his business.

Hahaha, I've been waiting for this day for so long. Xu Qi'an almost covered his mouth with his hand, but managed to dissolve the cracked corners of his mouth and the protruding apple cheeks with his own strength.

Asura felt a surge of satisfaction as he watched the members of the Heaven and Earth Society fall silent, caught in an indescribably awkward situation.

In the frozen atmosphere, Master Jinlian coughed:

"Actually, Asuro was the main force behind this operation to eliminate Black Lotus. Let's review the plan again."

"Phew." Li Miaozhen and the other two breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Chu Yuanzhen immediately said:

"The Earth Sect has moved its headquarters to Qingzhou, making it somewhat difficult for us to forcefully kill Black Lotus within Qingzhou's territory."

To ease the awkward atmosphere, Li Miaozhen spoke up:

"Let's see if Xu Ningyan can hold off Xu Pingfeng and the Gara Tree Bodhisattva."

Xu Qi'an took a sip of wine and gave an affirmative answer:

"I have a way to stall Xu Pingfeng and Jialuoshu, but you need to buy time and make sure to deal with Black Lotus within fifteen minutes."

Killing a second-grade expert within a quarter of an hour? That's too difficult! The thought flashed through Li Miaozhen and the others' minds when they heard Asuluo say:

"No problem."

With no questions asked, Chu Yuanzhen and the others were at a loss for words.

The general plan has already been discussed in detail using the fragments of the Earth Book; this is just a simple review. The Heaven and Earth Society will soon disband.

Apart from Xu Qi'an, the others will secretly infiltrate Qingzhou tonight. To ensure their safety and prevent Xu Pingfeng from noticing, Yang Qianhuan specially brought Law Technique to shield their aura, while Xu Qi'an added another layer of protection—the Star Shifting Technique.

In the night sky, Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Li Lingsu flew on their swords, deliberately lagging behind Asuluo and Daoist Jinlian.

Li Lingsu transmitted her voice:

I suddenly remembered something.

Chu Yuanzhen replied via telepathy:

"If number eight is Asura, then the Demon-Sealing Nails on Xu Ningyan can be removed. No, they already have. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so confident."

Li Miaozhen concluded through gritted teeth:

"That guy surnamed Xu is ripping us off."

In the end, it was all a misplaced investment of my trust.

Chu Yuanzhen transmitted his voice softly:

"Master Jinlian is one too."

This matter is not over; they must get revenge. The three of them secretly vowed to themselves.

Xunzhou is the largest city on the border of Yongzhou. To the south of the city is a canal that connects the capital to the north and Yuzhou to the south.

This made Xunzhou an important commercial and transportation hub in Yongzhou, and also a battleground for both armies.

After retreating to Yongzhou, Yang Gong took control of this major commercial city and several surrounding counties, forming a mutually supportive defensive line.

The Prefectural Government Office of Xunzhou.

Inside the hall, Yang Gong sat on a large chair, looking at the officials seated as guests, and said:

"Tell Governor Yao that after arranging affairs in Xunzhou, I will proceed to Yongzhou City."

The official breathed a sigh of relief, rose, and bowed.

"That's good then. I'll take my leave."

Early in the morning, Li Mubai came in, stroking his goatee, and said with a smile:

"That old bastard Yao Hong is a master at changing his tune depending on the wind."

Yang Gong took a sip of tea:

"Who would be a fool to reach the position of Provincial Governor? The situation in the capital has been settled. The Princess, no, His Majesty and Xu Yinluo are both pro-war. Now, whoever dares to advocate for peace will lose their official position."

"The peace treaty with the Yunzhou rebels was submitted by Yao Hong; he was also afraid of being punished by His Majesty and Xu Yinluo."

In fact, amidst the turmoil of the change of imperial power in the capital, there was also a struggle for the right to speak in Yongzhou.

The power struggle between Yang Gong, the former Provincial Governor of Qingzhou, and Yao Hong, the former Provincial Governor of Yongzhou.

Yang Gong was a staunch advocate of war, while Yao Hong was the opposite, a proponent of peace.

The conflicting strategic goals made Yang Gong uneasy about entrusting the rear to Yao Hong. He worried that Yao Hong might cut off their supplies and reinforcements at any time. As a scholar, he knew that such examples were common in history books.

At the height of the conflict, Yao Hong pulled a fast one, revealing the peace talks in Yunzhou to the capital.

After that, Yongxing and the other officials agreed to make peace. Yang Gong, in a fit of anger, returned to Xunzhou and began to work on the city's defenses, preparing to meet the attack of the Yunzhou rebels who would eventually break the treaty.

Unexpectedly, Princess Huaiqing and Xu Qi'an joined forces to stage a coup, ousting Yongxing from the throne.

When the news reached Yongzhou, Yao Hong immediately backed down and sent someone to invite Yang Gong to Yongzhou City to strategize.

How is Cijiu's injury?

Yang Gong asked.

"The recovery is going well; it won't leave any lasting effects," Li Mubai said.

Upon hearing this, Yang Gong was immediately relieved.

Having been stabbed by a fourth-rank expert, the Xu Cijiu that he managed to survive was not only due to his own good fortune, but also because he had a good older brother.

Xu Cijiu wore a soft armor that was impervious to swords and spears. It was a protective magic Law Artifact made by the Bureau of Astronomy, and it was this Law Artifact that blocked the powerful blow from the fourth-rank martial artist.

Otherwise, a mere seventh-rank benevolent person would probably not even have a chance to be saved and would die on the spot.

Given Xu Cijiu official position and status, he would not possess a protective Law Artifact of this rank.

There is no other possibility besides a gift from Xu Qi'an.

Just then, an aide rushed into the inner room, his voice urgent:

"Lord Yang, scouts report that the rebel army from Yunzhou is gathering at the border and is heading towards Xunzhou."

Yang Gong and Li Mubai's expressions changed slightly.

"Send the Flying Beast Army of the Heart Gu Tribe to scout again. Pass down the order to prepare to defend the city and meet the enemy. Have the three thousand cavalry of the assault battalion leave the city, find a place to lie in wait, and await further orders."

Before long, the drums of Xunzhou sounded loudly on the city wall, and the defending troops quickly assembled on the city wall, while the militia carried out defensive equipment.

In the army's barracks, Xu Xinnian, hearing the drumbeats, stepped out of his room and gazed towards the city wall.

His face was slightly pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

This made Xu Erlang, who was already known for his rosy lips, white teeth, and handsome appearance, even more pitiful, the kind of man who could soften a woman's heart.

In the next room, Miao Youfang and Mo Sang, who were playing chess, also came out.

Mosang swore in the Southern Frontier language, then switched to Central Plains Mandarin:

"Damn it, the Yunzhou army is attacking again?"

Xu Erlang frowned. The number of rebels in Yunzhou was limited. It would take a long time to digest the entire Qingzhou and stabilize the situation.

An unstable rear area can be disastrous during wartime.

Logically speaking, they shouldn't have attacked Yongzhou so quickly.

The three immediately left the barracks and, together with the other soldiers, climbed the city wall, ready for battle.

As the sun gradually rose higher, climbing from the east to its zenith, finally, the defenders on the city walls, gazing out at the horizon, saw a massive, dark army.

Guns and spears stood like a forest, and banners fluttered in the wind.

"This... this is going to fight us to the death?" Miao Youfang's expression changed.

The orderly formations advanced slowly, their momentum overwhelming, with a total number of at least 50,000.

The main force of the Yunzhou army has arrived.

This posture clearly indicates an intention to take Xunzhou in one fell swoop.

The soldiers guarding the city walls stirred slightly.

The guards gripped their weapons tightly, swallowing hard, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The artillerymen looked tense, their bodies stiff as statues.

It's no wonder they were afraid. Compared to the people of the capital and other places, these soldiers who retreated from Qingzhou to Yongzhou truly understood how terrifying the Yunzhou army was.

The valiant elite rebels were secondary; what was truly terrifying were the extraordinary powerhouses within the rebel ranks.

The peerless martial artist who collapsed the walls of the Eastern Mausoleum, and the terrifyingly powerful figure who killed the supervisor—these god-like figures were actually within their power to contend with.

On the other hand, there wasn't a single extraordinary expert in Xunzhou.

The Yunzhou army slowly came to a stop outside the range of the cannons on the city walls.

Then, a rider stepped out of the ranks and galloped toward the city gate.

Ji Xuan.

Miao Youfang gritted his teeth as he watched the knight getting closer and closer.