A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 13

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Volume 20: Tricks and Schemes, Chapter 6: Internal and External Troubles

. Following Ren Xiaoyao's nature, he went to the prison that very night. However, it was already late, and fearing he wouldn't have enough time after visiting all three locations, he had
no choice but to return to the inn first to seek help from Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhiqi. After navigating several alleys, he arrived at Tianlan Street in the blink of an eye. From about twenty feet away, he could vaguely see more than ten members of the Tianji Sect dressed in Imperial Guard uniforms emerging from the inn's entrance. He was startled, thinking to himself: The Tianji Sect can only mobilize three to five members of the Imperial Guard. Fei Yun and I were talking at the Wufu Teahouse; who could be inside? Could it be that his elder brothers had inadvertently leaked information, allowing the other side to strike first?
While pondering this, he suddenly heard someone call out, "Young Master Ren, you're finally back!" Looking closely, he saw it was Zhao Yi.
Ren Xiaoyao asked in surprise, "Brother Zhao, what brings you to the inn so late?"
Zhao Yi bowed and said, "Vice Leader Zhang heard that Young Hero Ren, Chief Xiong, and General Ye had purchased Guanzhong specialties at the market, so he specially ordered me to lead my men to deliver some over, so as not to trouble you three."
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he said in a deep voice, "If I remember correctly, Brother Zhao is the deputy commander of the Yongxing Army, under the White Tiger Hall. How come you're commanding the Imperial Guards?"
Zhao Yi clasped his hands and said, "Thanks to Young Hero Ren's good fortune, I have been promoted to commander of the Imperial Guards. This is my first task since taking office." He smiled as he spoke, clearly very pleased.
A fleeting look of shock crossed Ren Xiaoyao's face as he forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Congratulations on your promotion, Brother Zhao. I wonder about Commander Jing...?"
Zhao Yi replied solemnly, "Commander Jing... oh, no, I should say Vice Leader Jing... left the main altar half an hour ago to meet the Emperor in the capital."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "What? Commander Jing has been promoted to Vice Leader?"
Zhao Yi nodded, "Yes, the Leader, concerned about the foreign military coup, specially created the position of Vice Leader to oversee the foreign forces. Commander Jing's military achievements are outstanding, and as a veteran of two generations, he is naturally deserving of the title." With Jing
Si gone, the situation has drastically changed. The only trustworthy person in the sect is Liu Ningtao; if he were to meet with misfortune, all else would be lost.
Ren Xiaoyao suppressed his shock, casually exchanging a few words with Zhao Yi. After Zhao Yi left, he immediately found Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhi Qiu, quickly gave them a few instructions, handed them the map, and then rushed to the Azure Dragon Hall.
Although Liu Ningtao had another residence in the city, he usually rested at Hanhai Pavilion. When Ren Xiaoyao arrived, he was surprised to find not only Liu Ningtao, but also Liu Qianyun and Long Feiyun. It seemed that Long Feiyun already knew that Jing Si had left the city and was eager to confess to Liu Ningtao to prevent the imposter Long Yinxiao from getting there first.
Judging from everyone's expressions, the awkward parts seemed to have been discussed. Ren Xiaoyao carefully checked to make sure there were no suspicious people eavesdropping, then lightly touched the ground with his feet and "whoosh" entered the pavilion.
"Swish," "swish," he landed as soon as he did, Liu Ningtao and Liu Qianyun shouted in unison, pounced on him like lightning, each drawing their long swords and pressing them against his chest and back. Their swiftness was astonishing. "
Third Uncle, Sister Liu, this is Young Hero Ren, stop!" Long Feiyun cried out urgently. It turned out that Ren Xiaoyao had disguised himself as a burly man with a thick beard, fearing his identity would be discovered. Long Feiyun recognized him because she had seen him at the Wufu Teahouse.
Liu Ningtao and Liu Qianyun quickly stopped, apologized, and the four of them sat down, getting straight to the point.
Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "The other side is indeed ruthless. Nominally promoting Lao Jing, they actually took back all his military power. Now the Imperial Guard is under Zhao Yi's command, and Liu Yijun is concurrently the commander of the Inner Guard. The situation is extremely dire."
Ren Xiaoyao asked, "Could we try to persuade them, even if they don't side with us, to stand by and do nothing?"
Long Feiyun shook her head, "Difficult, very difficult. Just now after dinner, those imposters called my third, fourth, fifth, and sixth uncles to discuss the matter of electing a vice-leader… I was supposed to attend, but I went to the Wufu Teahouse to meet with you, so I missed it."
Liu Ningtao continued, "Initially, everyone suggested that I become the vice-leader, but I knew my abilities were limited and declined. Then, my fourth brother suggested Feiyun be promoted, and the imposters…" The sect leader insisted on avoiding suspicion and refused no matter what; finally, it was Old Jing's turn, and everyone had no objections, so the matter was settled. "
Long Feiyun said fiercely, "They are really vicious. Not only did they take away Uncle Jing's military power, but they also transferred him to Bianjing, ostensibly to report to the Emperor on the Northern Expedition. In my opinion, they are clearly afraid of Uncle Jing's influence in the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard."
Liu Qianyun interjected, "That's right. Which of the thirteen Imperial Guards, the thirty-six brigades, and the twenty-two officers of the Inner Guard didn't follow Uncle Jing through thick and thin? Even if he is no longer in command, he can still command the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard at will." It was clear that there was a hint of bitterness in her words, obviously caused by the "ruthless" destruction of her first love by Long Feiyun.
Liu Ningtao, having no time to comfort his daughter, continued, "The other side then proposed that Zhao Yi and Liu Yijun take charge of the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard. Rewarding those who excel after the hunting ceremony is a long-standing tradition of our sect, so we agreed… Now that I think about it, Zhao Yi and Liu Yijun were practically handpicked by the other side, and these two are somewhat blindly loyal. Getting them to trust you and me is harder than climbing to heaven."
Long Feiyun frowned, "My and Uncle Liu's men are all stationed in the western military camp and cannot enter the main altar without permission. We only have a few hundred personal guards. If we break off relations and start fighting, we'll be doomed." "
Ren Xiaoyao pressed, "So, it seems there's no way to resolve this without making a big scene?"
Liu Ningtao slowly nodded, "Yes, the main altar has been taken over by the other side. Unless Fei Yun and I mobilize troops and force a coup, we can forget about turning the tide."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Mobilize troops? We're not legitimate, how many followers would be willing to obey?"
Liu Ningtao pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, "With my prestige, at least five of the six armies under the Azure Dragon Hall are willing to come, but they can only put on a show. If it really comes to a fight, I'm afraid..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, then shook his head repeatedly.
Long Feiyun sighed bitterly, "I only took over the Qilin Hall last year. In terms of prestige and status, I am far inferior to my third uncle. Fortunately, thanks to my father's cultivation, the commanders are all loyal... It's no problem to gather seven or eight thousand men."
Liu Qianyun said quietly, "In that case, our forces are about twenty thousand, more than enough to surround the main altar."
Ren Xiaoyao sighed and asked, "If the other side insists that we have committed treason and orders the White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Halls to do their best to wipe us out, plus the Imperial Guards and Inner Guards in the main altar, we will surely be defeated under the attack from both inside and outside."
Liu Qianyun said anxiously, "At worst, we can persuade even our fourth and fifth uncles. As long as Brother Long... no, Sister Long reveals her true identity as a woman and tells them what happened on the night of the hunting party, I'm afraid they won't believe us."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Even if the five halls join forces, what can they do? The Dragon Sect Leader and the two Vice Sect Leaders, Qin and Zhang, are in their hands. If anything happens to them, this..." He stopped speaking.
Liu Ningtao said seriously, "Young Master Ren, do you mean we shouldn't leak this information and should think of another way?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, "Yes, what we need to do right now is not to expose their true colors immediately, but to do everything we can to ensure the safety of the Dragon Cult Leader and the two Vice Cult Leaders, Qin and Zhang."

Volume 20, Chapter 6: Internal and External Troubles.

According to Ren Xiaoyao's nature, he went to the prison that very night. However, it was already late, and he feared he wouldn't have enough time to visit all three places, so he had to return to the inn first to seek help from Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhiqi.
After navigating several alleys, he arrived at Tianlan Street in the blink of an eye. From about twenty feet away, he could vaguely see more than ten members of the Tianji Cult dressed in Imperial Guard uniforms coming out of the inn. He was startled, thinking to himself: The Tianji Cult can only mobilize three or five Imperial Guards. Fei Yun and I were talking at the Wufu Teahouse, so who could be inside? Could it be that my elder brothers inadvertently leaked information, causing the other side to act first?
Lost in thought, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly heard someone call out, "Young Master Ren, you're finally back!" Looking closely, he saw it was Zhao Yi.
Ren Xiaoyao asked in surprise, "Brother Zhao, what brings you to the inn so late?"
Zhao Yi bowed and said, "Vice Leader Zhang heard that Young Hero Ren, Chief Xiong, and General Ye had purchased Guanzhong specialties at the market, so he specially ordered me to lead my men to deliver some over, so as not to trouble you three."
Ren Xiaoyao's heart stirred, and he said in a deep voice, "If I remember correctly, Brother Zhao is the deputy commander of the Yongxing Army, under the White Tiger Hall. How come you are commanding the Imperial Guards?"
Zhao Yi clasped his hands and said, "Thanks to Young Hero Ren's good fortune, I have been promoted to commander of the Imperial Guards. This is my first task since taking office." He smiled as he spoke, clearly very happy.
A fleeting look of shock crossed Ren Xiaoyao's face as he forced himself to remain calm, saying, "Congratulations on your promotion, Brother Zhao. I wonder about Commander Jing...?"
Zhao Yi replied solemnly, "Commander Jing... oh, no, I should say Vice Leader Jing... left the main altar half an hour ago to meet the Emperor in the capital."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "What? Commander Jing has been promoted to Vice Leader?"
Zhao Yi nodded, "Yes, the Leader, concerned about the foreign military coup, specially created the position of Vice Leader to oversee the foreign forces. Commander Jing's military achievements are outstanding, and as a veteran of two generations, he is naturally deserving of the title." With Jing
Si gone, the situation has drastically changed. The only trustworthy person in the sect is Liu Ningtao; if he were to meet with misfortune, all else would be lost.
Ren Xiaoyao suppressed his shock, casually exchanging a few words with Zhao Yi. After Zhao Yi left, he immediately found Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhi Qiu, quickly gave them a few instructions, handed them the map, and then rushed to the Azure Dragon Hall.
Although Liu Ningtao had another residence in the city, he usually rested at Hanhai Pavilion. When Ren Xiaoyao arrived, he was surprised to find not only Liu Ningtao, but also Liu Qianyun and Long Feiyun. It seemed that Long Feiyun already knew that Jing Si had left the city and was eager to confess to Liu Ningtao to prevent the imposter Long Yinxiao from getting there first.
Judging from everyone's expressions, the awkward parts seemed to have been discussed. Ren Xiaoyao carefully checked to make sure there were no suspicious people eavesdropping, then lightly touched the ground with his feet and "whoosh" entered the pavilion.
"Swish," "swish," he landed as soon as he landed. Liu Ningtao and Liu Qianyun shouted in unison and pounced on him like lightning, each drawing their long swords and pressing them against his chest and back. Their swiftness was astonishing. "
Third Uncle, Sister Liu, this is Young Hero Ren, stop!" Long Feiyun cried out urgently. It turned out that Ren Xiaoyao had disguised himself as a burly man with a thick beard, fearing his identity would be discovered. Long Feiyun recognized him because she had seen him at the Wufu Teahouse.
Liu Ningtao and Liu Qianyun quickly stopped, apologized, and the four of them sat down, getting straight to the point.
Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "The other side is indeed ruthless. Nominally promoting Lao Jing, they actually took back all his military power. Now the Imperial Guard is under Zhao Yi's command, and Liu Yijun is concurrently the commander of the Inner Guard. The situation is extremely dire."
Ren Xiaoyao asked, "Could we try to persuade them, even if they don't side with us, to stand by and do nothing?"
Long Feiyun shook her head, "Difficult, very difficult. Just now after dinner, those imposters called my third, fourth, fifth, and sixth uncles to discuss the matter of electing a vice-leader… I was supposed to attend, but I went to the Wufu Teahouse to meet with you, so I missed it."
Liu Ningtao continued, "Initially, everyone suggested that I become the vice-leader, but I knew my abilities were limited and declined. Then, my fourth brother suggested Feiyun be promoted, and the imposters…" The sect leader insisted on avoiding suspicion and refused no matter what; finally, it was Old Jing's turn, and everyone had no objections, so the matter was settled. "
Long Feiyun said fiercely, "They are really vicious. Not only did they take away Uncle Jing's military power, but they also transferred him to Bianjing, ostensibly to report to the Emperor on the Northern Expedition. In my opinion, they are clearly afraid of Uncle Jing's influence in the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard."
Liu Qianyun interjected, "That's right. Which of the thirteen Imperial Guards, the thirty-six brigades, and the twenty-two officers of the Inner Guard didn't follow Uncle Jing through thick and thin? Even if he is no longer in command, he can still command the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard at will." It was clear that there was a hint of bitterness in her words, obviously caused by the "ruthless" destruction of her first love by Long Feiyun.
Liu Ningtao, having no time to comfort his daughter, continued, "The other side then proposed that Zhao Yi and Liu Yijun take charge of the Imperial Guard and the Inner Guard. Rewarding those who excel after the hunting ceremony is a long-standing tradition of our sect, so we agreed… Now that I think about it, Zhao Yi and Liu Yijun were practically handpicked by the other side, and these two are somewhat blindly loyal. Getting them to trust you and me is harder than climbing to heaven."
Long Feiyun frowned, "My and Uncle Liu's men are all stationed in the western military camp and cannot enter the main altar without permission. We only have a few hundred personal guards. If we break off relations and start fighting, we'll be doomed." "
Ren Xiaoyao pressed, "So, it seems there's no way to resolve this without making a big scene?"
Liu Ningtao slowly nodded, "Yes, the main altar has been taken over by the other side. Unless Fei Yun and I mobilize troops and force a coup, we can forget about turning the tide."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Mobilize troops? We're not legitimate, how many followers would be willing to obey?"
Liu Ningtao pondered for a moment, then said solemnly, "With my prestige, at least five of the six armies under the Azure Dragon Hall are willing to come, but they can only put on a show. If it really comes to a fight, I'm afraid..." He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence, then shook his head repeatedly.
Long Feiyun sighed bitterly, "I only took over the Qilin Hall last year. In terms of prestige and status, I am far inferior to my third uncle. Fortunately, thanks to my father's cultivation, the commanders are all loyal... It's no problem to gather seven or eight thousand men."
Liu Qianyun said quietly, "In that case, our forces are about twenty thousand, more than enough to surround the main altar."
Ren Xiaoyao sighed and asked, "If the other side insists that we have committed treason and orders the White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Halls to do their best to wipe us out, plus the Imperial Guards and Inner Guards in the main altar, we will surely be defeated under the attack from both inside and outside."
Liu Qianyun said anxiously, "At worst, we can persuade even our fourth and fifth uncles. As long as Brother Long... no, Sister Long reveals her true identity as a woman and tells them what happened on the night of the hunting party, I'm afraid they won't believe us."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "Even if the five halls join forces, what can they do? The Dragon Sect Leader and the two Vice Sect Leaders, Qin and Zhang, are in their hands. If anything happens to them, this..." He stopped speaking.
Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "Young Master Ren, do you mean we shouldn't leak this information and should think of another way?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, "Yes, what we need to do right now is not to expose their true colors immediately, but to do everything we can to ensure the safety of Leader Long and Vice Leaders Qin and Zhang." Long Feiyun echoed, "The more people who know about this, the greater the possibility of arousing their suspicion. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best to keep it a secret." Liu Ningtao said in a deep voice, "In that case, let's

find the Leader, Second Brother, and Third Brother as soon as possible and find a way to rescue them." Liu Qianyun said anxiously, "We have no clue whatsoever, how... how do we find them?" Ren Xiaoyao said in a low voice, "Feiyun had already predicted that we could get information from the five assassins and the eight hundred death warriors. If I hadn't known that Commander Jing had left for the capital and I was in a hurry to discuss this with you all, I might have already infiltrated the waters." "They're secretly monitoring them from inside the prison." Long Feiyun frowned and murmured, "Judging from their actions, they seem to be speeding up their operations. It's better to investigate the situation inside the prison sooner rather than later. Brother Ren, you should..." Ren Xiaoyao interrupted with a smile, "My presence here doesn't mean no one else is going." Long Feiyun immediately understood and was overjoyed, "Brother Ren, when you return to the inn, please be sure to thank Chief Xiong and General Ye for me." Ren Xiaoyao readily agreed, "We are all from the same martial arts lineage, there's no need for formalities." Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "Feiyun and I will keep a close eye on the situation inside the headquarters. If Young Hero Ren discovers anything, you can come to Hanhai Pavilion to inform me... It would be best to do it at night to avoid being discovered." Ren Xiaoyao nodded in agreement and continued, "I have already sent a message by carrier pigeon to Senior Dugu and Alliance Leader Liu, asking them to lead their experts to Xunfeng City to assist. My third brother has already gone south to meet us and should arrive in less than half a month."

Long Feiyun exclaimed with delight, "At that time, as long as we rescue Father, Uncle Qin, and Uncle Zhang, and with the help of the heroes of the Central Plains, we can surely defeat our opponents in one fell swoop and ensure the peace of our sect."
Liu Ningtao interjected, "That's true, but these ten days or so will be hard to endure."
Long Feiyun's eyes flashed with complex and intense emotions. She pulled Liu Qianyun aside and said softly, "Sister Liu, we still have to pretend to be lovers. I hope... I hope you..." She mustered her courage several times, but stopped herself each time, unable to finish her sentence. After all, she had hurt Liu Qianyun too deeply. Asking her to act with her was like rubbing salt into a wound; how could she bear it?
Liu Qianyun sighed softly, a bitter expression on her face. In a sorrowful, self-pitying tone, she said, "Compared to the rise and fall of our sect, what are my personal feelings? Sister Long... Sister Long, you can rest assured, I will do my best to cooperate with you."
Long Feiyun felt even more guilty. She carefully took Liu Qianyun's hands in hers, her beautiful eyes filled with complex sadness. She said softly, "Sister Liu, I promise you, once this storm is over, even if I have to search the whole world, I will find you a suitable husband. I... I owe you a debt, let... let him repay it." Liu
Qianyun looked at him tenderly, staring blankly for a long time, her expression shifting. Finally, she shook her head and said, "Qianyun has long given her heart to that young, promising, and exceptionally brave 'Thousand-Transformation Qilin.' I will never love anyone else in this life."
Long Feiyun's delicate body trembled slightly, speechless.
Liu Qianyun's gaze was unfocused, as if she were trapped in a memory that pierced her soul. She said, "Don't worry, I will cherish the days to come, because... because this is the last time I will spend with Brother Long." Without waiting for Long Feiyun's reply, she turned away and ran into the inner hall, sobbing.
Long Feiyun was very puzzled and said in astonishment, "Brother Long is clearly me, how... how..."
Ren Xiaoyao sighed and said, "The Brother Long that Miss Liu is talking about is the Brother Long she imagines, the arrogant and self-important Brother Long in her memory, not the one in front of you disguised as a man."
Long Feiyun stood there stunned, speechless for a long time.
Watching Liu Qianyun's receding figure, Ren Xiaoyao was filled with emotion, murmuring, "To be remembered by a young woman for a lifetime is a wonderful thing, but Miss Liu... Brother Long's image is already deeply etched in her heart, and she may not forget it even after ten or twenty years... Alas, love is truly unfathomable."
Liu Ningtao looked up at the bright moon outside the window, his brows revealing a concerned and gentle fatherly expression. Long Feiyun wanted to say a few words of apology, but Liu Ningtao suddenly slammed his hand on the table and said in a hoarse voice, "The greater good of the nation comes first; let's put aside our personal feelings for now."
Ren Xiaoyao knew there was no point in staying any longer, so he got up to take his leave.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
As he left Haotian Gate, he saw a swift and agile figure flying between houses and tiles in the distance. Ren Xiaoyao recognized Ye Zhiqiu from his light-footed footwork and hurriedly used his Flying Immortal Transformation to chase after him.
Ye Zhi Qiu, with his keen senses, detected someone behind him. Mo Lian Feng suddenly drew his sword, sweeping it towards Ren Xiao Yao's face without turning around. This move, "Falling Leaves Sigh in the Lonely City," was cunning and powerful. Caught off guard, Ren Xiao Yao had no time to parry. Just as his Yingxiang acupoint was about to be struck, Ren Xiao Yao, quick-witted, crossed his feet and leaped seven feet into the air, somersaulting over Ye Zhi Qiu's head to narrowly avoid the attack.
"Fourth Brother, it's you!" Ye Zhi Qiu exclaimed in surprise.
Ren Xiaoyao glared at him, feigning anger, and said, "Hmph, how dare you ask? If I hadn't dodged quickly, I would have been cleaved in two."
Ye Zhiqiu sheathed his sword and spread his hands, saying, "Heaven knows who was behind you. I thought I'd been exposed and that experts from the Absolute Killing Sect were chasing after me."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, you've confirmed their true identity?"
A cold smile appeared on Ye Zhiqiu's lips as he said arrogantly, "With your third brother personally taking action, what can't be accomplished?" He paused, then continued, "I just arrived at the water dungeon..." I discovered that the imposter Qin Huaiyu had deliberately dismissed all the jailers to interrogate Duohun alone. I suspected the interrogation was a pretense, a real conspiracy, so I hid on the beam to eavesdrop.
Ren Xiaoyao asked impatiently, "What were they talking about? "
Ye Zhi Qiu laughed, "Duohun complained that he was bored in the water dungeon, couldn't eat or sleep well, and couldn't even touch a woman. He insisted that the imposter Qin Huaiyu release him so he could enjoy himself for a few days before returning. Of course, the imposter Qin Huaiyu refused, so Duohun used his status as one of the five top assassins to pressure him. The two of them argued back and forth, about 'organization' and 'leader'..." "He rambled on for ages, otherwise how would I have known that the imposter Qin Huaiyu was also a master of assassination?"
Ren Xiaoyao patted Ye Zhiqiu on the shoulder in appreciation and pressed, "And then?"
Ye Zhiqiu replied, "The imposter Qin Huaiyu tried everything to persuade Duohun, but to no avail. In the end, he had to lie and say that Hentian was about to arrive in Xunfeng City, asking Duohun to wait."
Ren Xiaoyao asked, puzzled, "How do you know the imposter Qin Huaiyu was lying?"
Ye Zhiqiu deliberately kept him in suspense, waiting until Ren Xiaoyao was getting impatient before answering, "As soon as the imposter Qin Huaiyu finished speaking, Duohun immediately lowered his head..." He scolded, " Don't think that just because I've locked you in the water dungeon, you're out of touch. The leader is in the south; it'll take at least ten days for him to arrive. I can't wait that long."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed happily, "If Hentian weren't here, our situation wouldn't be as dangerous as we initially thought."
Ye Zhiqiu nodded in agreement and continued, "Besides that, I've also discovered an important secret."
Ren Xiaoyao was moved and said, "What secret? Tell me quickly!"

Volume 20: Deceitful Schemes and Tragic Paths, Chapter 8: Killing Two

Birds with One Stone. Ye Zhiqiu pulled Ren Xiaoyao to a secluded spot before saying, "..." Qin Huaiyu, unable to resist Duohun's pleas but fearing that letting him go would arouse suspicion, suggested that he accompany Hall Master Liu for interrogation in three days, seize the opportunity to join forces with Duohun and kill him. Then, he would hold off the guards while Duohun escaped in the chaos.
Ren Xiaoyao was shocked and said in a trembling voice, "Luckily you heard, otherwise Hall Master Liu would have been in danger."
Ye Zhiqiu nodded in agreement and continued, "Duohun immediately cursed, saying that since they could find people to impersonate Long Yinxiao, Qin Huaiyu, and Zhang Jinghong, why not just impersonate Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, Liu Qingping, and Qin..." "If Tianyu were to impersonate them, we could control the entire Tianji Sect without losing a single soldier. Why would we need to constantly worry about them discovering our disguise and causing a coup by the Five Halls?"
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled. "Disguise is simple to talk about, but difficult to execute, especially when it comes to deceiving the target's relatives and family. It requires years of observation and imitation. Moreover, because it lasts for a long time, we can't use human skin masks. We need to find someone whose physique and appearance are extremely similar to the person we're impersonating and train them before we can put it into practice. Juesha was able to send someone to impersonate the Dragon Sect Leader and..." "The two vice leaders, Qin and Zhang, have already done exceptionally well, let alone Hall Master Liu and Hall Master Zhu."
Ye Zhi Qiu said emotionally, "Fourth Brother, what you said is exactly the same as what the imposter Qin Huaiyu said. I almost suspect that you were eavesdropping at the time."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily and asked, "Besides that, what other information did Third Brother find out?"
Ye Zhi Qiu shook his head and said, "They were about to say more when the jailer came in to announce that it was time for the shift change. The imposter Qin Huaiyu thought it was inconvenient to stay any longer, so he took the opportunity to leave." Ren Xiaoyao said
happily, "Third Brother, please accept this ." "A considerable gain, I wonder if you, brother, have also..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiong
Xiaotian's hearty laughter rang out beside them: "As for what I've gained, I only have one thing. Whether it's useful or not, you two can decide for yourselves." Ren Xiaoyao and Ye Zhiqi were both startled. Before they could speak, Xiong Xiaotian had already swiftly moved in front of them. As if sensing their doubts, he said nonchalantly, "Miss Fengyi is incredibly clever. If we brothers return to the inn to talk, she might find out. We'll have to wait for you on your inevitable route."
Ren Xiaoyao gave a thumbs up and laughed, "Brother is indeed brother, you've thought of everything."
Ye Zhi Qiu asked impatiently, "What exactly did you find out? Tell me quickly!"
Xiong Xiao Tian replied casually, as if he had done something insignificant, "I stayed in the prison for half an hour, then went to eavesdrop. I discovered that the eight hundred assassins generally showed signs of disgust and restlessness. Everyone was looking forward to being released, and everyone was longing for the outside world."
Ren Xiao Yao and Ye Zhi Qiu exchanged a knowing smile. Hen Tian's men were, after all, human, and humans have emotions and desires. Being locked up in a dark prison for half a month was naturally unbearable.
Ye Zhi Qiu said coldly, "Mo Lian Feng has been drinking less blood lately. Let's have Hall Master Long release a hundred or so people so the three of us can have a good fight." Xiong Xiao Tian and Ye Zhi Qiu were unaware that Long Fei Yun was a woman; they still regarded him as the handsome and spirited seven-foot-tall man they once knew.
Ren Xiaoyao explained the situation in the water dungeon to Xiong Xiaotian, who wholeheartedly agreed, laughing, "Since the imposter Zhang Jinghong sent gifts, it's only right that we go to the main altar tomorrow morning to express our gratitude. You can take the opportunity to sneak into the White Tiger Hall to warn Hall Master Liu to be on guard, and also say hello to Long Feiyun..."
Ren Xiaoyao, suddenly struck by a flash of inspiration, interrupted, "Since they want to harm Hall Master Liu, why don't we turn the tables on them? Before Hall Master Liu goes to the water dungeon to interrogate the Soul-Seizing Warrior, let a group of assassins escape, and then..." He made a "kill" gesture, continuing, "I think by the time the news reaches the imposter Qin Huaiyu, he won't be in the mood for a sneak attack."
Ye Zhi Qiu clapped his hands and laughed, "Two birds with one stone, brilliant!"
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Three days later, Han Hai Pavilion, inner room.
"Hahaha! Hahaha!" After listening to Qin Xiang, Zhang Feng, and Long Feiyun's account, Ren Xiaoyao laughed so hard he almost fell over. Even the mature and composed Liu Ningtao and the gentle and virtuous Liu Qianyun couldn't help but smile.
Ren Xiaoyao gasped for breath, "Feiyun...you, you're really something! I asked you to release them, I only wanted my eldest and third brothers to have a go, but who knew you would follow the trail and find out the secret headquarters of the Absolute Killer in the city, wiping them out in one fell swoop! Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Liu Ningtao stroked his beard and smiled, "Back then, when the imposter Qin Second Brother and I arrived at the water prison, before we even entered, a guard came to report that the prison had been raided, and about sixty assassins had successfully escaped. You didn't see his expression, at first glance..." He went, seemingly in a fit of rage, but the urgency and panic in his eyes were impossible to conceal.
Liu Ningtao paused for a moment, suppressing his inner turmoil, and continued, "The imposter leader urgently summoned us to Chengqing Pavilion for a meeting, declaring his intention to severely punish the negligent jailers. Knowing he couldn't escape responsibility, Brother Zhu offered to resign as head of the White Tiger Hall. We hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, but the imposters, Brother Qin and Brother Zhang, played good cop and bad cop respectively, arguing incessantly in the main hall."
Liu Qianyun said softly, "Uncle Zhu..." Uncle is old and prudent, and he used to be in charge of the Punishment Hall. Being squeezed out by them makes him feel even more guilty, and he has no choice but to hand over the position of Hall Master.”
Ren Xiaoyao smiled coldly and said in a low voice, “Hmph, Absolute Killer is indeed ruthless. He seizes every opportunity to attack your sect's elders, attempting to take all the key positions in the Five Halls.”
Liu Ningtao continued, “Thanks to Fei Yun's timely arrival, she confessed that he deliberately let the assassins go, intending to lure them out and find Absolute Killer's lair. Only then was Fourth Brother Zhu safe.” "Heart."
Long Feiyun covered her mouth and laughed, "Upon learning that we had outmaneuvered them, the three of them panicked and were at a loss for what to do. On the surface, they praised me for my resourcefulness and gave me a lot of compliments, but I bet they were cursing my ancestors to the eight generations in their hearts."
Ren Xiaoyao slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Hentian has been a master of scheming all his life, but this time he was outsmarted by us. I wonder what he thinks when the news gets to him."
Long Feiyun smiled and said, "Is that even a question—he's like a mute eating bitter melon, he can't express his suffering."
Everyone burst into laughter.

Volume 20: Deceit and Schemes, Chapter 9: A Perfect Solution.

Ren Xiaoyao summoned Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng, and solemnly asked, "Did you two find anything at the secret headquarters of the Absolute Killers?"
Qin Xiang truthfully replied, "My third brother and I led two thousand followers to surround the place completely, then searched it inside and out, but we only found a few insignificant letters. We should have been able to glean some information from the captured leader, but unexpectedly, he took advantage of our inattention and secretly bit off a poison pill hidden in his teeth, committing suicide on the spot… Alas, if I had known the other side was so cunning, I should have knocked him unconscious immediately, removed the poison pill, and then questioned him."
Ren Xiaoyao sighed, "This is the usual practice of the Absolute Killers; you two can't be blamed."
Liu Ningtao said in a deep voice … "What about the rest of the assassins? Did you take care of them all?"
Zhang Feng chuckled. "Big Brother deliberately let fifty-seven assassins escape. Because the act had to be convincing, everyone along the way tried their best to intercept them. With General Ye's help, only twelve of them made it to the headquarters alive. Including the assassins inside, the total number was less than forty... My third brother and I led two thousand men, so naturally we killed them all."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qianyun couldn't help but cover her mouth, almost crying out in surprise. Long Feiyun, however, showed no surprise at all and said fiercely, "Well done! These despicable and shameless villains all deserve to die." Long Yinxiao had fallen into the clutches of the assassins, his fate unknown. It was understandable that his daughters hated him to the bone.
Liu Ningtao said happily, "Today's commotion has greatly curbed their arrogance. They probably won't dare to act rashly for a while. We can take this opportunity to find out where the sect leader is being held."
Qin Xiang interjected, "Yes! As soon as Senior Dugu and Alliance Leader Liu arrive with the Central Plains heroes, we'll go rescue him."
Zhang Feng said with some worry, "I'm afraid they might have guessed that we've exposed the imposters, and they'll become even more cautious and meticulous, making it harder to investigate further."
Long Feiyun pondered, "Impossible. From releasing the assassins to mobilizing troops, I was the one in charge the whole time. The entire process was reasonable and without any flaws. Even if he..." "They'll find it strange, and they'll think I'm arrogant and greedy for credit, so I didn't inform them
of the plan beforehand. They'd never guess their conspiracy was seen through long ago." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes gleamed with wisdom, his tone was firm and each word powerful, yet his demeanor was calm and composed as he said, "Although Juesha always acts meticulously and plans thoroughly, there are always flaws. It's clear that their organization, from Hentian down, doesn't have anyone exceptionally intelligent. Besides, Fei Yun's arrangements are all perfectly timed. Unless Mr. Zhuge of Tingyuxuan personally comes to Xunfeng City, who can guess our true intentions?" He had clashed with Juesha several times and won every time, so his words naturally carried great weight.
Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "That's true, but each of the five assassins is a veteran of decades. Even without Hentian, they can still control their subordinates to hide the leader, Brother Qin, and Brother Zhang perfectly. Finding them will be extremely difficult."
Long Feiyun scoffed, "I'll spread the word later that two of the most treacherous members escaped this morning, and then mobilize the entire Qilin Hall to search the whole city. As long as Father and the others are still in Xunfeng City, I don't believe we won't find them."
Qin Xiang said in astonishment, "What if the leader isn't in Xunfeng City? Then... what will we do?"
Long Feiyun said coldly, "Father's martial arts are so advanced. Even if he uses acupuncture points, drugs, and other methods of restraint, he still needs to arrange for experts to guard them to ensure absolute safety. Now that the five assassins are all in the water dungeon, eight hundred dead..." "Shi Yi is already in prison, and even the Seven Sons of Jiangning, the Eagles of the Northern Desert, and the Twin Vultures of Qilian were all killed by Ren and me during the hunt. I think the only better way is to imprison Father and the others nearby for safekeeping."
Liu Ningtao chimed in, "That's right. I will fully support the search. In addition, since it concerns the reputation of Hall Master Zhu, the entire White Tiger Hall will definitely help. With the combined forces of the three halls, we can search every brick and tile in the city in less than half a day."
Ren Xiaoyao thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "The action must be swift. If the other side finds out and moves the Dragon Cult Leader and the others, then all our efforts will be in vain."
Long Feiyun stood up abruptly and said readily, "Okay, I'll do it immediately."
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly stopped her, "Wait, just in case, it's best to try to stall those three imposters."
Long Feiyun frowned, murmuring, "Wouldn't this... alert them and arouse their suspicion?"
Liu Ningtao pondered, "It's certainly very possible. In my opinion..."
Ren Xiaoyao, regaining his usual nonchalance, interrupted, "If Feiyun and Miss Liu are engaged, shouldn't Hall Master Liu throw a grand banquet, inviting all the leaders of the sect? Let them get completely drunk at the banquet, and it shouldn't be difficult for them to sleep for several hours or even half a day."
Qin Xiang was overjoyed at this, exclaiming, "Excellent! What a perfect solution! It can both dispel their suspicion and allow us to finish our business while they're drunk." "Even if Sun Tzu were reincarnated or Zhuge Liang were reborn, the search and arrest would be no more arduous."
Ren Xiaoyao was about to say a few words of modesty when he suddenly noticed Zhang Feng's sorrowful eyes. He knew that Zhang Feng was afraid of making it real and completely losing hope of pursuing Liu Qianyun. His blood boiled, and he almost revealed the truth. However, he thought that if the truth were revealed, Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng would compete to gain merit in order to win Liu Qianyun's favor. If the two brothers quarreled over this, causing the rescue of the Dragon Cult Leader to change, it would be too late. He was caught in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to speak or not. His face flickered between light and dark.
Long Feiyun was well aware of Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts. She tried to signal him to stop, but fearing Zhang Feng would notice something amiss, she was extremely anxious. Fortunately, Liu Qianyun was sensible and understanding. She took Long Feiyun's arm with tender affection and said sweetly, "Brother Long, although it's just acting, you still have to take responsibility."
Her smile was as bright as a blooming flower, but to Long Feiyun, it was incredibly poignant. Waves of guilt instantly surged through her chest. She felt she had failed Liu Qianyun's pure and innocent feelings, and even a lifetime of effort could not make amends.
Liu Ningtao quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Xiang'er, Feng'er, I'm hosting a banquet at my residence tomorrow at noon. You two should feign illness and not come. Once the banquet begins, immediately lead the entire city in a manhunt... Fei Yun and I will entrust all the members of the Qilin and Qinglong Halls to you two. You must... you must find the leader."
Qin Xiang nodded in agreement. Zhang Feng first showed a dejected expression, then trembled violently, his eyes turning red as if he were about to cry. Finally, he took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions and said in a deep voice, "If we confirm the location where the leader is being held, should we rescue him directly or order people to keep watch day and night until Senior Dugu and Alliance Leader Liu arrive with their troops..." His voice choked with emotion, and he ultimately couldn't finish his sentence.
Long Feiyun pondered for a moment, then resolutely said, "If we are absolutely certain, we will save them at any cost!"
Zhang Feng quickly added, "Brother, don't worry, Zhang Feng will risk his life to protect the leader." His words were impassioned and his tone resolute, clearly showing his determination to die.
Ren Xiaoyao added, "If we are not confident, or if we only find a few clues, we should pretend to know nothing and immediately lead the group away. Remember! Do not alert them."
Long Feiyun turned to Ren Xiaoyao and said, "There must be an inside agent in the army who has arranged a deadly attack. Please inform Chief Xiong and Chief Ye, and ask them to secretly send people to keep watch, so that the enemy does not take advantage of any loopholes."
Ren Xiaoyao readily agreed.

Volume 20: Deceit and Schemes, Chapter 10: Nothing Gained

Midnight, inside the Liu residence.
"What? Nothing gained!" Ren Xiaoyao slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed.
Qin Xiang, looking utterly helpless, spread his hands and said, "Sigh, let alone finding the place where Juesha is imprisoning the sect leader, we haven't even found the slightest clue... We've searched everywhere to no avail."
Liu Ningtao looked incredulous and said in a deep voice, "Could there be any omissions? For example..."
Zhang Feng interrupted, "Inns, warehouses, houses, shops... we've searched everywhere that could hide people, even my and my second brother's residences have been searched inside and out several times." He shook his head repeatedly as he spoke, clearly also greatly disappointed with the result.
Ren Xiaoyao frowned and said, "In that case, it will be difficult to explain tomorrow. After all, mobilizing 50,000 to 60,000 followers from three halls to conduct a large-scale search and arrest of the remaining members of the Extinction Order has already caused quite a stir in the city. If we don't get convincing results, not only will those three imposters be suspicious, but even the people in the city will become suspicious."
Qin Xiang said casually, "Actually, it's not like we didn't get anything at all. At least we caught dozens of people carrying the Extinction Order... most of them were second-in-commands of restaurants, inns, and teahouses, as well as pawnshop clerks and runners."
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, "Hmph, Extinction Order..." "The Killer Sect is adept at planting spies. They did just that in Hangzhou, and now even your sect's headquarters... It seems most of the gathering places of the major martial arts factions and sects in the Central Plains are under their surveillance. No wonder I couldn't hide my every move when I returned from searching for the Jade Blood Pearl in the East Sea."
Zhang Feng continued, "Besides, we've also uncovered dozens of wanted criminals, notorious bandits, and even long-vanished underworld figures. I never imagined our sect's headquarters would be targeted by these shameless scoundrels and treacherous villains." "Small gathering places."
Long Feiyun said calmly, "The most dangerous place is often the safest place. Everyone thinks Xunfeng City is heavily guarded and that evil spirits wouldn't dare to come here, but they just happen to flock here."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled bitterly, "It seems our operation hasn't completely failed. At least we've caught all the villains hiding in the city. Brother Qin and Brother Zhang, just be careful with your words when you give your report, and they won't see through our true intentions."
Long Feiyun lowered her head and sighed softly, "Alas, where exactly are Father and the others being held?" "?"
Liu Ningtao looked thoughtful, and slowly said, word by word, "Since they're not in the city, then... the leader and the others should be imprisoned at the main altar!"
Qin Xiang exclaimed in astonishment, "No way, right under our noses?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded and said in a deep voice, "As I said before, the most dangerous place is the safest place."
Long Feiyun said solemnly, "Think about it carefully. Although you and I often travel between the main altar and the various halls, making at least seven or eight trips a day, the main altar covers three thousand hectares, with halls, pavilions, and towers everywhere you look." "Which places do we frequent, and which places are unsuitable for imprisoning people?"
Zhang Feng showed an expression of sympathy and murmured, "Leaving aside other matters, there are over forty warehouses just for storing goods. Hiding Father and the leader in there would indeed... would be very difficult to discover."
Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice, "Could you find an excuse..."
Before he could finish, Liu Ningtao suddenly interrupted, "From releasing the assassins to wiping out the Absolute Killing Hall, and then mobilizing a large army to search the entire city, although we have been able to give a reasonable explanation each time, there are still more or less..." "A hasty investigation will only arouse suspicion. Even with a thousand reasons, we cannot rashly investigate the headquarters."
Zhang Feng echoed, "Given the current situation, any further rash actions will surely lead to an unmanageable situation. We should
devise another plan to avoid wasting all our previous efforts." Long Feiyun sighed, "Alas, it's a pity Uncle Jing has already left office. Otherwise, if he had sent his trusted confidants to secretly investigate, perhaps they could have uncovered some clues."
Qin Xiang frowned, "Neither left nor right works. Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?"
Long Feiyun said in a deep voice, "No, there is a way..." "We must think about it. Although a large-scale search is impossible, a small-scale investigation should be achievable. However, there are still many details to consider, and we're afraid we won't be able to reach an agreement tonight,"
Liu Ningtao said in a low voice. "That's alright, we're not in a rush anyway. The problem is..."
Long Feiyun pressed, "What are your concerns, Uncle Liu?"
Liu Ningtao said solemnly, "We have ways to investigate everything. At most, we can manipulate the timing. But we absolutely cannot touch the Three Halls and Five Pavilions, especially since those are where secret rooms and hidden compartments are most numerous."
Long Feiyun paused for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Uncle Liu, you're overthinking it. If we can't investigate openly, we can always go secretly. Anyway, with Brother Ren here, there's nowhere we can't go."
Ren Xiaoyao quickly waved his hand, modestly saying, "The guards of the Three Halls and Five Pavilions are even stronger than those of the Imperial Palace. Even if I went in lightly equipped, I might not be able to come out."
Liu Ningtao laughed, "It's alright. We'll set a date, find a way to get rid of the fake cult leader and some of the guards, and have Feiyun draw a detailed map for you. As long as you memorize it beforehand, I guarantee no one will notice."
Ren Xiaoyao's wisdom combined with Long Feiyun's quick wit truly made them a "perfect match." While Liu Ningtao, Qin Xiang, and Zhang Feng racked their brains on how to complete the search quickly without arousing suspicion, the two had already devised a flawless plan.
Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhiqi led their group out of the city in a grand display. Given their status in the martial arts world, it would be proper for the imposter Long Yinxiao to personally see them off. You might ask, since the four martial arts masters are like brothers, wouldn't it arouse suspicion if Ren Xiaoyao wasn't present? Well, Ren Xiaoyao did accompany them all the way, but this Ren Xiaoyao was not the real Ren Xiaoyao; it was Long Feiyun in disguise. As for our dashing thief, he had already taken this opportunity to infiltrate the inner altar of the Tianji Sect, heading straight for the Three Halls and Five Pavilions.
Since it was daytime, a long leap through the air wouldn't escape the guards' notice. Therefore, Ren Xiaoyao first went to the Qilin Hall as a guest of Tingyuxuan, ostensibly to discuss the procurement of weapons with Long Feiyun. Upon entering Wangyue Pavilion, he immediately changed his clothes, quietly slipped out of the window, and cautiously made his way towards the Three Halls and Five Pavilions.

(Volume 20: Deceitful Schemes and Treachery, Chapter 11: Clever Plan)

Although Xiong Xiaotian and Ye Zhiqi would try to delay, Ren Xiaoyao only had a maximum of one hour. With that time alone, it was impossible to thoroughly search all the Three Halls and Five Pavilions. Therefore, after discussion, Long Feiyun and Liu Ningtao decided to focus their search on the Yeting Hall, Guangtian Pavilion, and Ganlu Pavilion.
The Yeting Hall was the primary venue for various ceremonies and rituals, and although it occupied a large area, it was rarely used in normal times. The Guangtian Pavilion was originally used to store gold and silver treasures. Before the Qiande Treasury was built, all the wealth of the Tianji Sect was stored there, so it had many hidden compartments and secret rooms. The Ganlu Pavilion was the sect leader's personal training room, and ordinary people were not allowed to enter without permission. All three locations were excellent places to secretly imprison Long Yinxiao, Qin Huaiyu, and Zhang Jinghong.
After bypassing several sentry posts, Ren Xiaoyao quietly arrived at the Guangtian Pavilion. The daytime security was indeed much weaker than the nighttime security. There were only two shifts of guards on duty outside the pavilion, and the intervals between their patrols could be avoided even by walking. The only troublesome thing was that all thirty-two lattice windows of the Guangtian Pavilion were tightly closed, and even with the internal force of Xiaoyao Wuji Palm, they could not be opened. Obviously, they were not simply bolted with wooden pegs, but completely locked from the inside with copper locks.
The only way is to enter through the main gate, but the four guards outside never leave. Unless one forces their way in, it is difficult to find out the true strength of Guangtian Pavilion. Of course, this is just the thinking of ordinary people. In Ren Xiaoyao's eyes, what can ten guards do, let alone four?
Outside Guangtian Pavilion is a square covering thirty acres. The ground is paved with fine marble, which is bright and dazzling. With the constant cleaning by the followers, it is spotless. Even the inner guards on duty have to walk carefully to avoid slipping and falling flat on their faces.
He Ziqiang, the captain of the internal guard, known as "Honest He," had been a member of the Tianji Sect for ten years. He rose through the ranks from humble beginnings as a kitchen helper to his current position, always diligent and conscientious, never making a single mistake. The twenty elite soldiers accompanying him on patrol were all top-tier members of the internal guard, each capable of taking on a hundred men, possessing exceptional martial arts skills. Even their gait and bearing revealed them to be far superior to ordinary members.
He Ziqiang practiced internal martial arts and had extremely keen senses. Although he hadn't been ordered to be extra vigilant, since the city-wide manhunt began yesterday, he had been constantly cautious and focused, fearing that Jue Sha might act recklessly in a fit of rage.
As they approached the main gate of Guangtian Pavilion, He Ziqiang nodded rhythmically to the four officers to indicate that the patrol had proceeded without incident. At this moment, the guards would typically relax, as the main gate was the safest place compared to the rest of the pavilion. However, He Ziqiang's attention was heightened. He knew that true masters of stealth often preyed on the guards when they were most vulnerable.
Sure enough, the instant his gaze fell upon the main gate, a swift, dark figure flashed past at the end of the left corridor! Although it was just a fleeting glance, He Ziqiang, with years of experience, immediately recognized the intruder around the corner and shouted, "Who goes there? Halt!"
Before the words were even finished, the guards split into two groups, flanking the intruder from both sides. He Ziqiang himself, along with two officers, leaped onto the roof of the pavilion to prevent the intruder from circling around and using a feint.
However, Ren Xiaoyao used a diversionary tactic. The so-called shadowy figure was merely half a banner he had torn down, and the so-called swift movement was simply a flag fluttering in the wind, caught in a gap in the main beam. As for He Ziqiang seeing it, it was deliberately created by Ren Xiaoyao using the internal energy of his "Flick of the Finger" technique. Of course, the entire scheme was extremely meticulous, cleverly utilizing the wind and the specific environment. Even a seasoned veteran would mistake it for a banner blown down by a strong wind, just happen to be stuck near a corner, and thus be mistaken for a human figure.
He Ziqiang's roar attracted everyone's attention. As the inner guards rushed towards the corridor, Ren Xiaoyao leaped onto the roof first, moved several feet to the side, and then immediately jumped down, creating a time difference with He Ziqiang and his men. The two guards at the gate had already panicked. One looked up, and the other stared at the inner guards, completely unaware of their surroundings. They only felt a light breeze brush past their ears, but when they looked again, there was no one there.
"What was that? It's just a tattered flag." The curses of the guards completely drowned out the creaking sound of the door closing. Ren Xiaoyao entered Guangtian Pavilion effortlessly.
After the completion of the Qiande Treasury, Guangtian Pavilion was converted into a storage space for books, paintings, calligraphy, and various scriptures and files of the sect. Looking around, there were at least eight hundred or a thousand fine nanmu wood bookshelves. Moving any one of them could reveal a secret compartment. If one were to try them one by one, it would take at least half a day to search through them all. Fortunately, Long Feiyun loved calligraphy and painting and often came to Guangtian Pavilion to borrow them. Although she might not know all the details of the place, Ren Xiaoyao's familiarity with the layout of mechanisms and his rich experience in "entering through walls and stealing treasures" made it not entirely impossible to complete the search in a short time.
After confirming that the first six bookshelves were normal, Ren Xiaoyao began to inspect the seventh shelf on the left. According to Long Feiyun, there was a mechanism to open a secret chamber after the fifth grid. With a gentle press, the bookshelf would move, revealing a hidden chamber concealed in a wall crevices.
An ordinary person, given such precise instructions, would undoubtedly move the stacked books in the grid without hesitation and then activate the mechanism. However, Ren Xiaoyao was extremely cautious. First, he checked for any accumulated dust. If there was, even the gentlest movements would leave indelible marks. A moment later, Ren Xiaoyao smiled. It seemed the cult members responsible for cleaning were quite diligent, having swept the entire bookshelf spotless. Second, he put on gold-threaded gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints on the mechanism when touching it, which would alert the other party.
"Boom—Boom—" The secret chamber burst open, revealing a dazzling array of calligraphy and paintings to Ren Xiaoyao. Compared to the main hall, this place was noticeably dustier. Ren Xiaoyao dared not be careless and began his third step—removing his shoes and leaping into the secret chamber to avoid leaving footprints.
In the blink of an eye, Ren Xiaoyao emerged, slightly disappointed. The secret chamber was only a few feet in diameter, with only a few boxes, some piled high with documents, others completely empty. It was impossible to lock someone inside, let alone knock them unconscious and stuff them in.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he had searched all thirteen secret chambers known to Long Feiyun, but to no avail…
Ren Xiaoyao found the other seven himself, and the same…
Helpless, Ren Xiaoyao had no choice but to head to his next target: the Yeting Palace.
But a new problem arose—getting in was easy, getting out was difficult. What method could he use to deceive the officials and guards at the gate and successfully leave Guangtian Pavilion?

Volume 20, Chapter 12: The Gentleman on the Beam

. Ren Xiaoyao was a dragon among men, but not omnipotent.
Although the officials and guards had been fooled by him once, they were all rigorously trained and possessed a strong sense of responsibility. To fool them again would be harder than climbing to heaven.
Therefore, Ren Xiaoyao would not be reckless and would not arrogantly challenge the elite guards trained by Jing Si again.
Did he have another way to leave Guangtian Pavilion?
Of course he did!
The Heavenly Secret Manual that Meng Fei gave him not only recorded Meng-style hidden weapons, but also covered various miscellaneous arts such as Jianghu numerology and Qimen Dunjia. How could a simple trick like picking locks be difficult for him?
In the blink of an eye, Ren Xiaoyao slipped out of the window, then took out a silver thread and, using his unique technique, tied a cross knot to the loop of the copper rope. He then closed the lattice window, gently pulled the silver thread, and with a "snap," the copper rope snapped shut. The silver thread, tied to the loop, slipped through the only remaining gap between the two wooden windows and returned to Ren Xiaoyao's hand.
The entire process was seamless; no one could tell that the lattice window had been opened from the inside.
Hidden among the locust and willow trees on both sides of the imperial road, gazing through the swaying shadows at the distant colorful pavilions and golden palaces, Ren Xiaoyao was uncontrollably awestruck by the magnificent architecture. Thinking that one day he might become the master of Xunfeng City, his emotions surged even more. He secretly resolved that he must rescue Long Yinxiao no matter what, and help the Tianji Sect overcome this current crisis.
However, the subsequent results left Ren Xiaoyao utterly disappointed. The Yeting Palace and Ganlu Pavilion were also deserted. The places most likely to imprison Long Yinxiao within the inner altar were all empty. Could it be… could Juesha have hidden them in the White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Halls, or somewhere under the control of Long Feiyun and Liu Ningtao?
Ren Xiaoyao dared not speculate, but giving up halfway was not in his nature. Therefore, even though he knew the imposter Long Yinxiao was about to return, and that staying in the three halls and five pavilions would likely lead to his discovery, his stubbornness, aroused by Juesha's bizarre arrangement, prevented him from leaving. Ren Xiaoyao knew too much about the character of Hentian and his subordinates. He was well aware that in the eyes of the narrow-minded and vengeful Juesha, they would never delegate anything they could do themselves. So he was going to gamble—gamble that the imposter had hidden the real Long Yinxiao by his side!
The Martial Virtue Hall and the Yanjia Pavilion were his other two targets. The Martial Virtue Hall was used to receive guests and seemed to be used frequently, but in reality, only distinguished guests of state rank or above were qualified to stay there. In the current martial arts world, unless Dugu Yu, Liu Yuxu, or Xiaoming personally visited, the Martial
Virtue Hall would never be used. Therefore, all fifteen bedrooms, six studies, and even three reception rooms inside could be used to imprison people. The Yanjia Pavilion was originally the residence of Long Yinxiao's beloved wife, Lin Yutong. After Lin Yutong passed away, it was permanently sealed off. Even Long Yinxiao and his daughter Long Feiyun would only enter to pay their respects on the anniversary of Lin Yutong's death. Compared to the former, although this place was secure, the chance of an imposter Long Yinxiao arriving was extremely slim, so Ren Xiaoyao chose to go to the Martial Virtue Hall first.
"Master!" Not long after the search began, the distant salutes of the inner guards came from afar. Ren Xiaoyao's heart tightened, and he thought to himself, "Good heavens, they're back so fast." He quickly opened a small crack in the window and quietly looked towards the imperial road.
This sight terrified him. Not only did he see the "Dragon's Roar," but also two imposters, Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, who, surrounded by a dozen officials, strode towards the Wude Hall.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind went blank. If he ran into them here, not only would all his plans be ruined, but even escaping would be a major problem. Without using his supernatural powers, he couldn't break through the dense encirclement of the guards; using his identity would expose him. Therefore, he had no choice but to hide!
After quickly placing the tables, chairs, and beds back in the distance, Ren Xiaoyao leaped onto the main beam. Looking around, he saw no place to hide, so he had no choice but to crawl behind the four-character golden plaque that read "Humble Abode Shines Brightly."
As the footsteps drew closer, Ren Xiaoyao grew increasingly nervous. He had witnessed countless major events, but this time, his heart pounded, and sweat beaded on his forehead. Whether they had evaded the enemy's notice was crucial to the success of the entire search operation, and even to the rise and fall of the Tianji Sect's fifty-year-old foundation!
"You few guard the gate. No one is allowed to enter without my permission," the imposter Long Yinxiao commanded. The guards on duty outside the hall and the officials behind him responded in unison.
Judging from the footsteps, only three people had entered the hall. It must be "Long Yinxiao," "Qin Huaiyu," and "Zhang Jinghong." Ren Xiaoyao was overjoyed: "They came to the Wude Hall specifically and ordered the sect members to guard it closely. Could they be discussing some important secret here?"
Thinking of this, he quickly gathered his inner strength, and immediately heard every subtle sound within a ten-zhang radius, not even the soft, long breaths of the officials could escape his notice.
Unexpectedly, "Dragon's Roar" and the others did not immediately begin their discussion. In fact, only one person sat down in the main seat, while the other two gradually walked away, only returning after a long while. Ren Xiaoyao was certain that the two of them had gone to search other rooms, and exclaimed that he had been extremely close to danger. Fortunately, he was hiding behind the plaque and was not worried about being discovered by the other party, otherwise it would not have been as simple as all his previous efforts being in vain.
Qin Huaiyu muttered, "Boss, there's no need to be so cautious. We brothers are so hesitant even when we're having a private conversation. If we were to discuss what the leader entrusted to us, wouldn't that be..."
Long Yinxiao slammed his hand on the table, interrupting, "Hmph! If you hadn't spoken nonsense during the interrogation of the assassins, Long Feiyun would have been able to slip through... Now look what's happened, all our spies in the city are gone. How are you going to explain this to the leader?"
Qin Huaiyu said hoarsely, "I just told Dai Hang, Xu Tao, and Pan Zhengguang that I'd find a way to get them out for some fun in a few days. Who... who would have thought that the next day Long Feiyun would deliberately... sigh!"
Long Yinxiao angrily said, "You know Dai Hang is vicious, Xu Tao is lecherous, and Pan Zhengguang is greedy! They go around provoking us all the time. How can things not go wrong?"
Zhang Jinghong said nervously, "Boss, have they already seen through our identities?"
Long Yinxiao coldly replied, "Hmph, if that were the case, would we still be sitting here alive?"
"Zhang Jinghong" said in a trembling voice, "Perhaps... perhaps the other side is hesitant to act rashly, worried that we
might harm Long Yinxiao, Qin Huaiyu, and Zhang Jinghong, so... that's why..." "Long Yinxiao" interrupted, "If Long Yinxiao dies, Long Feiyun will not only succeed as the leader of the Tianji Sect, but also inherit her father's title of One-Word King, becoming second only to the emperor. What's not to like?"
"Qin Huaiyu" chimed in, "That's right. We've been infiltrating the Tianji Sect for over a decade. With our accumulated observation and imitation, plus the accurate intelligence provided by the organization, how could we possibly have given ourselves away? You're overthinking it!"
"Zhang Jinghong" said with lingering fear, "Thanks to the leader's order for us to detain Long Yinxiao nearby, otherwise he would have been rescued by Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng during the city-wide search."
Hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao's spirits lifted.

Volume 20, Chapter 13, "Major Gain,

" Qin Huaiyu continued, "Thinking about it carefully, Long Feiyun is truly exceptionally clever. The entire elaborate scheme, from its timing to its execution, is almost flawless. Plus, the Seven Sons of Jiangning, the Eagles of the Northern Desert, and the Twin Vultures of Qilian all died at his hands. I even feel that Long Feiyun is... is practically a second Ren Xiaoyao."
"Long Yinxiao" said in a deep voice, "You're wrong. He and Ren Xiaoyao are completely different people. Long Feiyun is humble and elegant, a typical young master from a noble family; Ren Xiaoyao, on the other hand, is eccentric and arrogant, best described as a heartbreaker." This was
the first time Ren Xiaoyao had heard such an evaluation of him from someone of unparalleled skill, and he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Just then, a bead of sweat the size of a bean slid down his forehead. Coincidentally, the gap between the roof beam and the plaque was only a few fingers wide, yet the bead of sweat passed right through it and fell straight to the ground.
Standing atop a height of five zhang, even a tiny bead of sweat touching the marble floor could easily be heard by the other party.
His eyes widened, his hair stood on end, and Ren Xiaoyao's heart leaped into his throat!
He couldn't let his fate be in someone else's hands!
Suddenly remembering his mentor's earnest instructions before leaving Coconut Island, he didn't hesitate. He concentrated all his power into his index finger's Shangyang acupoint, and with a powerful thrust, a fiery burst of true energy shot out, shattering the bead of sweat in mid-air.
What a close call! He had narrowly escaped death.
Ren Xiaoyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, refocusing his attention on the conversation between "Long Yin Xiao" and the others.
"Qin Huaiyu" smiled bitterly, "If either of them were willing to work for the organization, we wouldn't be in this predicament now."
"Zhang Jinghong" asked cautiously, "What if... I mean, what if the place where Long Yinxiao is being held is accidentally exposed? What... what then?"
"Qin Huaiyu" said coldly, "No one expected they would be..."
Just as he was about to reveal the location, "Long Yinxiao" suddenly interrupted, "Have you forgotten the leader's orders?" In his haste, he cursed repeatedly, "Damn it, I don't even know how to explain the raid on our headquarters. If... if you keep messing around, forget about the reward for completing the mission, you won't even save your life. You bastard, you're living a life of misery! I don't want to die!"
"Zhang Jinghong" said with a forced smile, "Boss, I was just kidding, don't take it seriously."
"Dragon's Roar" was still furious and said angrily, "When will he ever get rid of his big mouth? If it weren't for the leader sending a message by carrier pigeon to let me transfer Jing Si away under some pretext, our identities would have been exposed long ago. Would we still have time to sit in the Martial Virtue Hall and chat idly?"
As soon as he finished speaking, "Qin Huaiyu" and "Zhang Jinghong" dared not say another word. All Ren Xiaoyao could hear was the panting and the footsteps of the guards outside the door.
After a long while, "Dragon's Roar" sighed softly, "Alas, let's end today's secret meeting here. In short, before the leader arrives at Xunfeng City, we must not make any more mistakes. Also... try our best to meet the demands of Soul Stealing and Life Chasing. After all, we are inferior to them in terms of status, martial arts skills, and seniority in the organization, so it's best not to offend them."
"Qin Huaiyu" and "Zhang Jinghong" agreed and left. "Dragon's Roar" also got up and left after sitting for a while. The Martial Virtue Hall quickly returned to its former empty state. Although the two situations just now were extremely dangerous, Ren Xiaoyao felt a sense of satisfaction that the trip was worthwhile. At least he knew that he and Long Feiyun's judgment was almost completely correct. They were only missing that last step.
Staying in the Martial Virtue Hall would obviously yield no further results, and as for the Yanjia Pavilion, he was too lazy to waste time investigating it. After all, "Qin Huaiyu" had made it very clear that the place where Long Yinxiao was imprisoned was not something easily guessed, and the location and layout of the Yanjia Pavilion were extremely suspicious, meaning it was impossible for it to have been chosen by the assassination.
He hurriedly returned to the Azure Dragon Hall, where Long Feiyun and Liu Ningtao had been waiting for a long time in the secret room of the Hanhai Pavilion. Seeing the expressions on their faces, Ren Xiaoyao knew that the search of the outer altar had not yielded any results for the time being. However, seeing his cheerful appearance, the two of them stood up at the same time and asked in unison, "Any results?"
Ren Xiaoyao frankly said, "No results, but you might be interested in the process." He then recounted his encounter in the Hanhai Pavilion in detail.
Long Feiyun was overjoyed upon hearing this, exclaiming, "Good heavens! You've survived a great calamity and are sure to have good fortune. You overheard their secret conversation perfectly! Impressive!"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled wryly, somewhat regretfully, "Alas, even after the negotiations ended, they still didn't reveal the exact location where the Dragon Sect Leader is being held. It's truly a pity."
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes shone with wisdom as she said resolutely, "To be honest, I don't expect to solve this once and for all. I want to use my own thinking and speculation to gradually unravel the mystery, personally rescue my father and the others from their predicament, and personally save our sect."
Liu Ningtao was moved, saying, "You have ambition. No wonder you're the Sect Leader's chosen successor..." Before he could utter the words "successor," Long Feiyun's cheeks flushed red. Even Ren Xiaoyao felt a little embarrassed, regretting his earlier slip of the tongue, which had revealed his private agreement with Long Feiyun to Liu Ningtao.
Long Feiyun quickly regained her composure and said in a deep voice, "Actually, if you analyze their words carefully, it's not hard to find many carefully chosen phrases, such as..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "For example, 'Thanks to the leader's instruction, I imprisoned Long Yinxiao nearby,' which directly points out that the Dragon Cult Leader is at the main altar. Add to that the half-spoken phrase, 'No one expected they would be...' The correct location for imprisonment is practically obvious."
Long Feiyun pondered for a moment and then said decisively, "If we're talking about the most unexpected place, it would naturally be the seven main buildings within the Qilin Hall and Qinglong Hall—Hanhai Pavilion, Haixi Tower, Huanshen Pavilion, Qingfeng Hall, Wangyue Pavilion, Xiaoxiang Pavilion, and Qinfang Garden. Uncle Liu and I have absolute privacy rights there. We can come and go as we please, and even if we burn them down, it's entirely up to us."
Ren Xiaoyao looked incredulous and asked in astonishment, "If that's the case, then imprisoning the Dragon Cult Leader and the others inside is practically handing them over to us." Liu Ningtao shook his head and said, "
Young Master Ren, do you know that if you hadn't overheard their conversation, I would never have investigated Haiqi Tower, Huanshen Pavilion, and Qingfeng Hall, even if you beat me to death. After all, those are my exclusive territories. Although I've been busy with teaching duties lately and rarely have time to be there, who knows when they might suddenly decide to use such methods? It's too... too risky."
Long Feiyun confidently and decisively said, "Juesha has always been good at exploiting human weaknesses, but... they won't take advantage of our moments of complacency!" She then turned to Liu Ningtao and said in a deep voice, "Uncle Liu, if you have no objections, let's split up and start investigating immediately, shall we?"
Liu Ningtao objected, "No, it would be too conspicuous to act today. Let's do it tomorrow."
Long Feiyun choked up and said, "If we delay our actions by one day, Father, Uncle Qin, and Uncle Zhang will suffer one more day. I... I really can't wait." If she didn't know any clues, fine, but now that she did, how could she suppress her concern for her father?
After much deliberation, Liu Ningtao finally nodded and instructed, "If you're going to investigate, investigate Wangyue Pavilion first. Maybe your place has really been used by Juesha."

Volume 20, Chapter 14, "Sudden Attack

": "What? Still nothing!" Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed, dumbfounded.
“Uncle Liu and I searched every corner ourselves, but still found nothing.” Long Feiyun spread her hands and said with a bitter smile, “It seems we didn’t truly understand the meaning of those words; we need to think about them more carefully.”
Liu Ningtao frowned and said, “There’s not much time left. If we don’t find the leader before Hentian arrives in Xunfeng City, the situation will become increasingly unfavorable.”
Long Feiyun nodded in deep agreement, turned to Ren Xiaoyao, and said in a deep voice, “When will Senior Dugu and Alliance Leader Liu’s Central Plains heroes arrive?”
Ren Xiaoyao answered truthfully, “Five days. The problem is… we don’t even know where Leader Long and the others are being held. Even if we use all the strength of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, we’ll hardly be able to do anything.” Long
Feiyun said fiercely, “Damn it! I don’t believe it…”
"Bang!" Before the words were even finished, the door was suddenly kicked open. The three were still wondering what was
happening when Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng rushed into the inner room, exclaiming in unison, "Something terrible has happened!" Liu Ningtao was about to ask a question when Qin Xiang, panting, said, "The five...the five assassins have all confessed, implicating dozens of elders in the sect. There are...six deputy hall masters alone, and most of the other flag leaders and commanders have also been accused. The inner altar is now in complete chaos. Those imposters ordered Zhao Yi to lead the inner guards to arrest them immediately. My and Zhang Feng's Dragon Soaring and Tiger Wing Armies are completely unable to intervene."
Liu Ningtao was stunned. "This...this is clearly a frame-up! Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother actually believed it?"
Zhang Feng smiled bitterly. "The five assassins all gave the same answer. Uncle Zhu and Uncle Liu only said that they were being held separately in the water dungeon, so there was no possibility of them colluding. That's why they were deceived by the other side's fabricated lies."
Long Feiyun asked in a panic, "Uncle Zhu and Uncle Liu, what do you plan to do with them?"
Zhang Feng said in a deep voice, "Those who betray the sect will be killed without mercy. The ironclad law set by the founding emperor cannot be changed."
Qin Xiang sighed, "Fortunately, there are only witnesses, otherwise..."
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly interrupted, "I know the way Juesha operates all too well. Since they are willing to make trouble, they must have both witnesses and physical evidence. I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." He said "I'm afraid" twice, his expression becoming extremely solemn, almost afraid to think any further.
Liu Ningtao abruptly stood up and resolutely said, "Let's go! To Chengqing Pavilion!" Chengqing Pavilion was known as the "Inner Court," where only the five hall masters qualified to make decisions could enter and participate. Major matters of the sect were often discussed and decided here first, before being discussed and implemented in the Lizheng Pavilion. For a shocking event like "gathering a crowd to rebel against the sect," those three imposters would have to summon Long Feiyun, Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, Liu Qingping, and Qin Tianyu to solemnly discuss countermeasures.
Liu Ningtao, Long Feiyun, Qin Xiang, and Zhang Feng filed out, leaving only Ren Xiaoyao sitting blankly in Hanhai Pavilion.
Why... why did this happen? Was it because he was discovered while eavesdropping behind the plaque yesterday, or was it because he inadvertently left a flaw during the search, or perhaps Hentian sent a new action plan via carrier pigeon, prompting them to strike first and gradually eliminate the deeply rooted elder forces within the Tianji Sect.
Ren Xiaoyao stood frozen, silently analyzing the various possibilities he had come up with. He recalled his every move after infiltrating the Three Palaces and Five Pavilions, and even relearned the lessons learned from his several encounters with Jue Sha. He racked his brains, pondering deeply, but still couldn't reach a definite conclusion.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Unbeknownst to him, the sun was already setting.
A series of hurried, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, growing faster and closer…
Ren Xiaoyao's heart leaped into his throat, and he involuntarily held his breath. He knew it was Liu Ningtao and Long Feiyun coming, and they would surely bring back some devastating and sorrowful news.
"Three days later, at the entrance of Yunlong Street, all will be executed." Long Feiyun's first words upon entering were already expected by Ren Xiaoyao, but hearing them with his own ears still caused him to tremble violently, and he couldn't help but scream out in shock.
Liu Ningtao sighed deeply, his voice hoarse, "As you predicted, the witnesses and evidence are all there, and with those three imposters stirring things up, Feiyun and I are truly... truly powerless."
Ren Xiaoyao's expression shifted between light and shadow, his mood unpredictable, and he slowly said, "The consequences... I mean, once all the falsely accused elders of your sect are executed, what... what will the consequences be?"
Long Feiyun took a deep breath, suppressing her agonizing pain, and said in a low voice, "If we consider our sect as a palace, then... without a doubt, Father is the main beam, and they are the framework of the entire structure..." Although he didn't finish his sentence, Ren Xiaoyao already knew the outcome: if the framework crumbles, what will become of the palace!
Liu Ningtao slumped down, muttering, "This... this... what should we do... what should we do?" Even he, who was usually calm and composed, was so flustered, demonstrating the severity of the situation.
Long Feiyun pondered, "No matter what, we must rescue all the elders, otherwise Uncle Liu and I will become eternal sinners of our sect, and we will have no face to live in this world."
Liu Ningtao asked in return, "Rescue them? How? Produce evidence to prove their innocence? Do we have any?"
Long Feiyun's delicate body trembled slightly, and she was speechless.
Ren Xiaoyao resolutely said, "Break them out of prison! If the Qilin and Qinglong Halls can't act, I'll have my eldest and third brothers send people. Anyway, we know the situation in the prison very well. We can do some tricks then, what's there to be afraid of..."
Long Feiyun interrupted, "It's useless. Even if the prison gates are wide open, the elders won't leave. If they leave, the charge of betraying the sect will be confirmed. They'd rather die to prove their innocence than live on with the stigma of buying their way out."
Liu Ningtao suggested, "Or we could just tell them the truth and then have the five halls force them to resign."
Long Feiyun rejected the idea, "That would certainly save the elders, but what about Father? What about Uncle Qin and Uncle Zhang? The assassins are holding hostages. We're afraid to act rashly and can't do anything to those three imposters."
Liu Ningtao was speechless.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and slowly said, word by word, "Perhaps... I have a way!"

(Volume 20, Chapter 15, "Dividing the Force into Two Groups

") Liu Ningtao and Long Feiyun asked simultaneously, "What way?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled confidently, his words clear and resounding, "Break through the inner altar, rescue the sect leader, storm the execution ground... Divide the force into two groups. Eldest Brother and Second Brother will lead the Beggars' Sect disciples and the heroes of the thirteen provinces to the execution ground to stop the execution. Hall Master Liu, Feiyun..." Yun then led her trusted men to storm the three halls and five pavilions with me, determined to capture those three imposters and extract the whereabouts of the Dragon Cult Leader and the two Vice Cult Leaders, Qin and Zhang, from their mouths. I think if we use ruthless methods, we should have results in less than half an hour.”
Liu Ningtao frowned and said, “The three halls and five pavilions are heavily guarded; if we try to force our way in, I’m afraid we’ll be powerless.”
Ren Xiaoyao smiled and asked, “Who was the executioner on the day of the execution?”
Liu Ningtao was quite surprised by his question and replied in astonishment, “Third Brother Zhu and Fourth Brother Liu, from the interrogation of the five assassins…” "From the beginning, the entire case was handled by the two of them."
Ren Xiaoyao countered, "If the two hall masters, along with Hall Master Liu, had led their subordinates to the inner altar with several boxes of files just before your execution, claiming to have important evidence to present to the sect leader, I think entering the Taiji Hall and the Lizheng Pavilion would have been a piece of cake."
Liu Ningtao suddenly realized, exclaiming, "Brilliant! Brilliant! In this way, Juesha's meticulously planned counter-espionage scheme not only failed, but also created an opportunity for us to capture him in one fell swoop... No..." "But we only have three days. Can you two guarantee that you can fool all the guards on duty after disguising yourselves as Brother Zhu the Third and Brother Liu the Fourth?"
Long Feiyun said confidently, "I've known Uncle Zhu and Uncle Liu for over ten years, so imitating their mannerisms is no problem. As for Brother Ren... I'll say everything, and with Uncle Liu by my side, I don't think the guards on duty will suspect anything."
Ren Xiaoyao stood up and said solemnly, "Alright, I'll leave the city immediately and tell my elder and third brothers the plan."
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
In the blink of an eye, the execution day arrived. Xunfeng City was deserted as countless people flocked to the execution ground like a swarm of locusts. Some lamented and regretted; some were heartbroken; some cursed; some blocked the road to protest their innocence, completely blocking the forty-zhang-wide Yunlong Street.
Several miles away, Haotian Gate presented a completely different scene. As the first gateway to the inner altar, its defenses were not only not strengthened, but were much laxer than usual. It turned out that most of the dozens of "traitors" to be executed held high positions and commanded large armies. No one knew whether the execution would cause a mutiny, so a large number of imperial guards had to be redeployed to maintain order, naturally reducing the number of people guarding the inner altar.
The Heavenly Pole Sect had a clear rule that no one should whisper while on patrol, guard duty, or protection duty. Therefore, although the twenty-eight imperial guards and four officers in charge of the two teams near Haotian Gate had a lot to say, they dared not speak out. They all thought: What's wrong with the sect leader and the hall masters? Many senior members who have served the sect for decades are being dismissed and executed without warning. Even if the evidence is conclusive, they should at least be given a chance to repent. While killing them all might eliminate potential threats, being too ruthless will discourage the brothers.
"Look! It's Hall Master Liu, Hall Master Zhu, and Hall Master Liu!" a soldier patrolling the corner tower shouted. All the guards nearby gathered in front of Haotian Gate and looked towards the straight imperial road.
Sure enough, Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, Liu Qingping, and more than ten Qinglong Hall members dressed in blue were seen carrying two large camphor wood chests and walking briskly.
The guards saluted in unison, and the head officer asked in astonishment, "Hall Master Liu, what are you doing here..."
Liu Ningtao said in a deep voice, "I have found evidence to prove that Vice Hall Master Zhao and Deputy Commander Zhou were framed by the Five Great Assassins and have no history of treason. I must immediately present this to the Hall Master and request an order to postpone the executions."
The guards did not dare to delay and immediately made way for Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, and the others to enter. Zhao Pingwei, the deputy head of the Qilin Hall, and Zhou Guotai, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, happened to be their superiors. They were upright and incorruptible, deeply loved by the soldiers. Seeing the hall masters rushing to the inner altar to clear their names, they were overjoyed and had no reason to stop them.
Passing through the Haotian Gate, Zhu Shunwu and Liu Qingping exchanged approving glances and led the group forward.
Upon entering the inner altar, the search became even more rigorous. Liu Ningtao used the same trick again, this time targeting Wei Dayong, the deputy commander of the inner guards. The guards, upon hearing this, did not stop them at all and allowed them to enter.
Arriving outside the Taiji Hall, Liu Ningtao explained his purpose to the officer on duty, asking him to inform "Dragon's Roar." However, the officer said that the leader had disappeared half an hour earlier and had not yet returned.
Liu Ningtao asked in astonishment, "Where are Vice Leaders Qin and Zhang?"
The official replied truthfully, "Neither of the Vice Leaders is here."
Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, and Liu Qingping exchanged glances. The latter pondered and said, "In that case, let's carry the things into the Taiji Hall first. You take men and go find them immediately, quickly!"
The official hesitated and said, "But...but the leader instructed that no one is allowed to enter the Taiji Hall without permission when he is not here."
Liu Qingping's eyes widened, and he said angrily, "There's still half an hour before the execution. If we delay the time to clear Vice Commander Wei's name, can you afford the consequences?"
Zhu Shunwu sneered, "Do you only have the leader in your eyes and not us?"
The official's face immediately turned red, and he stammered, "Hall Master Zhu is joking...This subordinate...this subordinate will go find them right away." In front of the three furious hall masters, how could he dare to say a single "no"?
Liu Ningtao coldly said, "Summon all the guards from the three halls, five pavilions, and eight squads. If you can't find the leader
within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I'll hold you all responsible!" The guards nodded repeatedly and vanished in an instant.
Zhu Shunwu and Liu Qingping opened the wooden box, and Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng jumped out impatiently, exclaiming in unison, "What, not going to make a move?" They had deliberately hidden in the box, intending to launch a sudden attack and catch "Dragon's Roar" off guard, but before they could even signal, the box was gone...
Zhu Shunwu coldly said, "Those three imposters aren't here. They must have gone to welcome Hentian. Let's find them ourselves."
A moment later...
"What! The Taiji Hall isn't there, the Lizheng Pavilion isn't there, and the Chengqing Pavilion isn't there either!" Liu Qingping exclaimed. "Impossible, absolutely impossible! I've searched the Wude Hall, the Yeting Hall, the Guangtian Pavilion, the Ganlu Pavilion, and the Yanjia Pavilion. Besides these three places, where else could someone be imprisoned?"
Qin Xiang said in a deep voice, "Could they have changed locations?"
Zhu Shunwu said decisively, "Absolutely not. I've had people watching the three halls and five pavilions these past few days, and nothing unusual has happened."
Liu Ningtao murmured, "Could it be... could it be that there's another place we haven't thought of?"
Everyone shook their heads. They had checked all the nearly eight hundred buildings in the main headquarters, and they couldn't think of anything else.
Liu Qingping turned around like a whirlwind, his eyes shining like the brightest star in the darkest night sky, and slowly uttered nine words: "I know, there's one more place!"

Volume 20: Deceitful Schemes and Tragic Paths, Chapter 16: Qiande Treasure Vault.

At this point, everyone should be able to see that Zhu Shunwu is Long Feiyun, and Liu Qingping is Ren Xiaoyao.
Long Feiyun's eyes brightened, and she said in a deep voice, "You wouldn't be talking about..."
Ren Xiaoyao raised his eyebrows slightly and slowly said, "Qian-de Treasure Vault!"
Zhang Feng was stunned and said, "You...you must be joking, how could the other side open the Qian-de Treasure Vault?"
Qin Xiang echoed, "That's right, even if Father is confused, he wouldn't hand the key to Juesha."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a low voice, "Feiyun, when we first met at Wangyue Pavilion, I heard you say that the Dragon Sect Leader entrusted you with the key to the treasure vault, and instructed you to protect the Three Treasures of Tianji no matter the cost, right?"
Long Feiyun nodded and recalled, "At that time, I thought Father was referring to you...Ah! Could it be that before leaving the main altar, he already knew that Juesha coveted Qian-de..." " The treasure within the vault will soon be put to use,"
Ren Xiaoyao analyzed. "The Dragon Cult Leader's key, along with your own, can only open the second level. Imagine if the other side can't even get through the main gate, why would they need to carefully guard the Three Heavenly Treasures hidden in the second level?"
Zhang Feng suddenly realized, "The main gate keys held by Father and Uncle Qin are likely already lost, which is why..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted him abruptly, "Time is of the essence, let's go!"
The Qiande Vault is located in the heart of the Qilin Hall. At first glance, it looks no different from ordinary buildings, but in reality, it is entirely cast from refined iron and covered with nanmu wood, forming an indestructible defensive structure. In other words, there is no other way to enter the vault except through the main gate.
Speaking of the main gate, the configuration of the Qiande Vault is even more astonishing. The two door panels alone cost three thousand catties of high-quality refined copper, and their thickness alone reaches five feet. Let alone forcibly breaking in, even with the key, it would take several people to push the door open.
The guards of the Qiande Treasury were members of the Qilin Hall. Long Feiyun had already removed his human skin mask on the way there, revealing his true appearance. With a slight wave of his hand, the dozen or so guards on either side of the gate immediately made way.
A sense of dejection washed over everyone; of the four keys, only one was kept close to Long Feiyun's body. How could they open the bronze door and enter the treasury?
Long Feiyun said in a deep voice, "Brother Ren, it's up to you."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled confidently and said seriously, "Don't worry, I'll do my best." He then reached into his robes and took out a large number of tools, including wire and tweezers, and began to pry open the lock… no, to be precise, to unlock it.
Time ticked by, and Ren Xiaoyao's expression grew increasingly grave. His initially smug smile gradually vanished, replaced by a barely perceptible tension and hesitation in his eyes. Everyone sensed this subtle change and held their breath in fear. They knew that if they couldn't open the treasury before the imposter Long Yinxiao returned to the main altar, they would be accused of treason and rebellion, with unimaginable consequences.
A crisp "click" rang in everyone's ears.
The lock was open!
"Bang—" Ren Xiaoyao collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat, clearly exhausted.
"Brother Ren, are you alright?" Long Feiyun rushed forward to help him up, asking with concern.
"No... I'm fine. This lock was made by Du Tou Lao Si of the Hangzhou Yunhai Society. It was a little... a little troublesome to open," Ren Xiaoyao said with a furrowed brow and a wry smile. He leaned weakly against Long Feiyun's chest, showing no intention of leaving. Firstly, he needed to recover his energy quickly to pass through the second door; secondly, leaning against the beautiful woman's shoulder was an unparalleled pleasure, and he wouldn't be a "romantic thief" if he didn't seize the opportunity to kiss her.
Long Feiyun carefully helped Ren Xiaoyao into the treasure vault. Neatly arranged rows of wooden chests, presumably for storing gold and silver, stood to the left and right. Further away were more than ten wooden shelves piled high with jewels, jade, and rare antiques, each item priceless. Judging from Ren Xiaoyao's professional eye, the quality and quantity of these treasures were comparable only to those in the Imperial Palace and the Tingyu Pavilion.
Except for Liu Ningtao and Long Feiyun, everyone else was entering the treasure vault for the first time. They were all dazzled and speechless, almost forgetting the purpose of their trip.
Liu Ningtao sighed and began to inspect the items himself. Finding no signs of moving or alteration, he murmured in bewilderment, "The treasure vault…it seems no one has been in there. Could it be another mistake?"
Long Feiyun pondered, "The purpose of the Absolute Kill is to imprison Father. As for the wealth…hmph, according to their plan, after eliminating the elders of our sect, they'll deal with the five hall masters, and then control the entire Xunfeng City. Why rush things when we can still use anything from the treasure vault?" She glanced at Ren Xiaoyao beside her, seemingly seeking his opinion, but then realized the true purpose of his feigned exhaustion. Her pretty face flushed slightly, and she lightly spat, "Enough already? Do you need my help?"
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled and whispered in her ear, "Not enough, not enough, not even for a lifetime." Ignoring Long Feiyun's charmingly reproachful expression, he walked straight towards the second door.
Long Feiyun glanced around, afraid that their conversation might have been overheard and reveal her identity. Fortunately, Qin Xiang, Zhang Feng, and the others were too engrossed in the treasures to notice her, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Remembering that she hadn't given her key to Ren Xiaoyao yet, she hurriedly ran over and tossed it to him.
Ren Xiaoyao caught it and said in a deep voice, "This is a double-lock, much harder to open than the cross lock from before. Luckily, you have the key to the inner lock, otherwise it would have taken at least an hour to get in."
Long Feiyun asked softly, "Then... how long will it take now?"
Ren Xiaoyao replied casually, "At least half an hour, at most... well, I'll do my best anyway. By the way, besides the Three Heavenly Treasures, are there any other things on the second floor... like mechanisms or hidden weapons?"
Long Feiyun thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "There's no entrance or passageway, but there's a platform where the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword and the Vast Snow-Treading Armor are placed ." "A lot has been set up. As for the Taiqing Tiger Tally, it's hidden in a secret compartment at the end of the second floor, but I'm not entirely sure of its exact location."
Liu Ningtao leaned closer and whispered, "Could the sect leader and the others be on the second floor?"
Ren Xiaoyao replied solemnly, "Very likely, which is why I inquired about the layout of the mechanisms inside, to avoid any chaos when rescuing people later... Please keep an eye on Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng, Hall Master Liu. I'm afraid they might act impulsively and cause trouble."
Beads of sweat dripped from Ren Xiaoyao's forehead. He gripped his tools tightly, constantly hovering near the lock, having no time to spare for anything else. Long Feiyun watched, feeling both moved and tender. Her heart was even more drawn to Ren Xiaoyao, and she couldn't help but raise her sleeve to wipe his sweat, imagining the beautiful scene of them supporting each other and living in harmony in the future.
Fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao was completely absorbed in manipulating the interlocking lock and didn't notice Long Feiyun's tender gaze. Otherwise, having caught a glimpse of her alluring glance, he wouldn't have been able to concentrate on anything else.
"Clang—" The interlocking lock fell to the ground.
Long Feiyun, as usual, helped Ren Xiaoyao up, while Liu Ningtao, Qin Xiang, Zhang Feng, and the others worked together to push open the door.
"Ah!" The exclamations of surprise echoed throughout the treasure vault!

Volume 20: Deceitful Schemes and a Misguided Path, Chapter 17: Treasure Vault

Storm. The Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword and the Vast Snow-Treading Armor were nowhere to be found!
Liu Ningtao stammered, "As expected... as expected, Juesha has obtained all the keys and taken... taken the three treasures."
Long Feiyun remained relatively calm and said in a deep voice, "No, the Taiqing Tiger Tally might still be there, but the primary task is to find it as soon as possible..." Before she could finish speaking, Qin Xiang impatiently stepped into the door, shouting, "Father! Are you here? It's me, Xiang'er!" Although impulsive, he remembered Liu Ningtao's instructions and simply walked along the corridor without going to the sides. Zhang Feng, holding a long sword, followed closely behind, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry. The key to the main entrance of the Qiande Treasure Vault was Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong's biggest bargaining chip for their safety. Now that the enemy had even broken into the second floor, then...
Long Feiyun vaguely felt that the situation was dire, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what the problem was. She could only furrow her brows and, by the light of the dozen or so ever-burning lamps on both sides, scrutinize her surroundings with burning eyes.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he cried out, "Qin Xiang, Zhang Feng, danger!"
The two, who revered him like a god, immediately stopped in their tracks. Just as they were about to retreat, a sudden change occurred!
A whooshing sound filled the air! A dozen or so steel arrows, gleaming with a blue light, shot out from the darkness ahead, raining down on Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng. The whistling of the arrows was particularly jarring in the dark and silent treasure vault.
These super-powerful crossbows, activated by a mechanism, were a hundred times more powerful than arrows fired from ordinary bows and crossbows. Fortunately, thanks to Ren Xiaoyao's warning, the two were not completely panicked, and their martial arts skills were considerable. Qin Xiang swiftly drew his longsword, slashing forward, while Zhang Feng lunged forward, crouching low to sweep diagonally, protecting his lower body. Their coordination was so perfect that they seemed to understand each other perfectly.
In the blink of an eye, the arrows were either deflected or knocked down; several that missed their mark even managed to pierce the wall, penetrating an inch deep! Compared to the hardness of granite, the force of the arrow was unimaginable.
Although Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng were unharmed, their four arms were numb and tingling, and seeing the still-swaying arrow fletching, they felt a sense of relief at surviving. They hurriedly retreated to the group, no longer daring to make any rash moves.
Liu Ningtao asked in astonishment, "Young Master Ren, how did you know there would be danger on both sides of the passageway?"
Ren Xiaoyao pondered, "The assassins are masters of footwork and traps. Since the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword and the Mangcang Snow-Treading Armor are lost, the enemy must have already figured out the situation on the second floor of the treasure vault. Given Hentian's cautious and meticulous nature, why wouldn't they have set traps in the passageway to lure us in?"
"Xiang'er, is that you?" A weak voice came from around the corner.
"Father... Father!" Qin Xiang exclaimed, gritting her teeth and still wanting to go forward.
Zhang Feng quickly grabbed him, shouting, "Second Uncle, is my father here?"
"Yes...yes! Third Brother fainted from hunger...Don't come any closer, there are traps along the way!"
Everyone was overjoyed at the news; their arduous search of the past ten days had finally paid off, they had found the right place.
Liu Ningtao pondered, "What do we do now? The passageway is fraught with danger; if we force our way through, I'm afraid..." Ren Xiaoyao's
eyes flashed with brilliance, and he solemnly said, "You all step back, I'll destroy the traps."
Long Feiyun murmured, "Time is of the essence; we can't dismantle them one by one."
Ren Xiaoyao arrogantly declared, "I'm not going to dismantle them!" With that, he swayed slightly and rushed straight into the passageway.
What was he planning to do? A question arose in everyone's minds simultaneously. It seemed Ren Xiaoyao wasn't relying on his flying immortality to traverse the passageway, but...he wanted to trigger and dismantle all the traps by himself!
With a series of explosive sounds, countless hidden weapons, including powerful arrows, nets, flying stones, and falling shackles, surged out from all directions, striking Ren Xiaoyao with lightning speed. Even the two masters, Liu Ningtao and Long Feiyun, were sweating profusely and trembling with fear. These hidden weapons were not only cunning in their angles but also incredibly powerful, and their sheer number was astonishing. Although Ren Xiaoyao was renowned for his lightness skills and palm techniques, could he guarantee his survival against such a dense barrage of hidden weapons alone?
Ren Xiaoyao roared to the sky, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword clattered into his hand. It twisted and turned, humming and vibrating rapidly. The blue light crisscrossed and suddenly formed a whirlwind-like circle of light. The whistling energy, accompanied by flashes of cold light, protected Ren Xiaoyao completely, leaving the onlookers dazzled and mesmerized.
The sounds of clashing weapons echoed continuously as more and more shattered pieces of hidden weapons littered the ground. Long Feiyun was secretly amazed, recalling that Dugu Yu, Xiao Yusun, and Long Yinxiao had all said that the power of the Lingxiao Sword Technique was unparalleled in the world. At first, she hadn't fully believed it, but now, seeing its divine power, she knew that what she had heard was true.
After unleashing the three moves, "My clothes grow looser, yet I have no regrets," "It's hard to meet, and it's hard to part," and "Drawing my sword to cut the water, the water flows on," all nine types of hidden weapons and eleven mechanisms missed their mark. Ren Xiaoyao, however, remained calm and unharmed, showing no trace of the earlier complaints of fatigue he had made while leaning on Long Feiyun's shoulder.
The crowd surged forward, turning a corner through the passageway. The scene before them stunned them. Not far away, Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong were bound to two sets of wooden pillars. Both were disheveled, almost skin and bones, their hands and feet tightly chained, a truly pitiful sight.
"Father!" Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng cried out and rushed forward, frantically trying to break the chains.
"Don't bother, it's useless," Qin Huaiyu sighed. "These chains are made of meteorite iron. Unless we get the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword... sigh, in short, ordinary weapons definitely can't cut them."
Ren Xiaoyao stepped forward, handed his sword to Qin Xiang, and said in a deep voice, "Try it, maybe it will work."
Qin Xiang knew that the Ice Soul Profound Frost Sword could cut through iron like mud, so he quickly took it and with two or three strikes, the chains snapped. Zhang Feng supported his father, continuously channeling his inner energy into him, trying to wake him up, while Long Feiyun asked impatiently, "Uncle Qin, where's my father?"
Qin Huaiyu forced himself to stay alert and said in a deep voice, "Juesha forced the sect leader to hand over the Innate Supreme Qi Manual
. The sect leader pretended to agree, then placed the Heavenly Stone to block the entrance, intending to perish together with the enemy. However, the mechanism had fallen into disrepair, and the three imposters escaped, leaving only the sect leader inside." Ren Xiaoyao said decisively, "There's no time to lose. Activate the mechanism immediately and rescue the sect leader."
Long Feiyun sighed and shook her head, saying, "Brother Ren... you don't know, the Heavenly Stone weighs ten thousand jin. Once the mechanism is lowered, it will also be damaged and unusable. Even if we rely on manpower to move it, it will take at least several days."
Ren Xiaoyao was shocked by this and said in a trembling voice, "The situation is critical right now. If the sect leader is not in charge, I'm afraid... is there really no other way?"
Long Feiyun slowly shook her head.
Qin Huaiyu suddenly said, "Yes! But the chances of it happening are extremely slim."
He paused and continued, "Feiyun, don't you have a Nine Phoenix Jade Pendant?"
Long Feiyun asked in surprise, "Yes, can it be opened with that?"
Qin Huaiyu said solemnly, "No, we still need a Nine Dragon Jade Pendant to activate the second backup mechanism—this huge secret is known only to the current Emperor, the Sect Leader, and me. The problem is, the Sect Leader has been searching for it for eighteen years without finding its whereabouts. Where can we get it in such a short time?"

(Volume 20, Chapter 18, "Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road

") Long Feiyun and Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in unison, "Nine Dragon Jade Pendant!"
Qin Huaiyu Yu asked in astonishment, "What? You've heard people mention it?"
Ren Xiaoyao, unable to contain his joy, stammered, "The...the Nine Dragons Jade Pendant is with me!"
Qin Huaiyu stared at Ren Xiaoyao in disbelief, stammering, "You...you are...Ren...Ren..."
Long Feiyun interrupted, "Uncle Qin, there's no time! Let's open the Heavenly Stone quickly!"
Qin Huaiyu gestured for everyone to stay where they were, and led Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun to a secret chamber. He reached out and turned the mechanism in the hidden compartment. With a "click," a small section of the wall in front of him immediately caved in, forming two grooves whose outlines perfectly matched the Nine Dragons Jade Pendant and the Nine Phoenix Jade Pendant.
Long Feiyun and Ren Xiaoyao placed the jade pendants in one after the other. Qin Huaiyu twisted the mechanism forcefully, and with a "creaking" sound, the entire secret chamber seemed to vibrate. The three of them rushed to the Heavenly Stone, only to hear the unpleasant creaking sound of pulleys rubbing against the granite from the opposite side. Then, the boulder began to slowly move upwards.
Concerned for her father's safety, Long Feiyun darted across the narrow gap with a swift, three-flippery movement. Ren Xiaoyao, without hesitation, used the "One Reed Crossing the River" technique he'd "stolen" from Xiaochen to leap over the Tiankui Stone.
Long Yinxiao stood on a high platform three zhang away, seemingly meditating. His temples were streaked with gray, and his broad forehead revealed extraordinary wisdom. A strange, enigmatic aura emanated from his calm demeanor, inspiring awe.
"You won't appear until the Tianji Sect is facing a life-or-death crisis, will you?" Long Yinxiao slowly rose and spoke. His captivating voice, full of strange charm and compelling obedience, combined with his tall, robust physique and imposing bearing, truly exuded the intoxicating aura of a top-tier master.
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun exchanged bewildered glances.
Long Yinxiao opened his tiger-like eyes, his gaze burning like fire. He stared intently at Ren Xiaoyao's true face, then gasped in shock, "Ah! You...you're not..." Midway through his sentence, he suddenly caught sight of the Ice Soul Frost Sword, and burst into laughter,
stroking his beard, "So that's how it is...so that's how it is...hahaha!" Ren Xiaoyao was completely bewildered. Just as he was about to ask a question, Long Feiyun threw herself into Long Yinxiao's arms, sobbing, "Father, are you...are you alright?"
Long Yinxiao said calmly, "Don't worry, even if I starve for half a month, I can still deal with Jue Sha."
Long Feiyun asked in astonishment, "What...what exactly did they do to you?" "
Long Yinxiao sneered, "They're just trying every means to force me to reveal the location of the Innate Supreme Qi Manual. Hentian is quite shrewd; knowing I won't fall for Xing Xun's tricks, he threatened me with the lives of your Uncle Qin and Uncle Zhang. Originally, I wanted to turn the tables and fight them to the death, but alas... bad luck. What's the situation outside now? How did you see through their disguise?"
Long Feiyun leaned forward and whispered the whole story to Long Yinxiao. As he listened, the latter couldn't help but show surprise, his gaze repeatedly glancing at Ren Xiaoyao, even with the air of a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law.
After listening to his daughter's concise account, Long Yinxiao's eyes flashed with a sharp, murderous light. He slowly and deliberately said, "Immediately go to the Imperial Guard to mobilize the Imperial Army. Coordinate with the Qilin and Qinglong Halls to control the situation at the main altar. Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng, lead the Longxiang and Huyi Armies to the execution ground to stop the execution." At this critical juncture of life and death, he remained calm and composed, commanding with unwavering resolve. He truly deserved to be the leader of the Tianji Sect, and indeed, the invincible military genius of the Northern Song Dynasty!
Qin Huaiyu, Liu Ningtao, and Zhang Jinghong, who had just regained consciousness, echoed in unison. The Tianji Sect members were instantly invigorated. Successfully rescuing their leader meant firmly grasping the initiative in the fight against the deadly attack. The perfect opportunity to turn the tide and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat was right before their eyes!
The gate was just inches away when Ren Xiaoyao suddenly noticed seven or eight people rushing towards the treasure vault from the far end of the plaza. Though they were several dozen feet away and he couldn't see them clearly, his keen intuition allowed him to sense an unusually chilling killing intent.
Sure enough…
as soon as they emerged from the treasure vault, they were met by the five assassins and the imposters "Long Yinxiao," "Qin Huaiyu," and "Zhang Jinghong.
" Qin Huaiyu, with his volatile temper, shouted first, "Fine, what a small world! Today I'll give you a taste of your own medicine and let you experience imprisonment too!" He had been locked on the second floor of the treasure vault for half a month without a single grain of rice. If it weren't for his years of martial arts training and superior stamina, he would have starved to death in the dark and gloomy Qiande treasure vault.
Long Yinxiao raised his hand, and everyone immediately stopped, each grabbing their weapons and spreading out to surround the five assassins and three imposters. The enemy numbered only eight, while their side had Long Yinxiao, a top-tier expert whose strength was no less than Dugu Yu, Guiming Shenjun, or Hentian; Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, though hungry, were perfectly capable of fighting; Liu Ningtao, Long Feiyun, and Ren Xiaoyao were full of fighting spirit and in excellent condition; plus Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng, two newborn calves, a dozen or so Qinglong Hall members dressed in blue, and the elite Qilin Hall who had rushed to the scene—their numbers were four times that of the enemy. The outcome was uncertain.
Unexpectedly, not only Fen Ri, Jue Yue, Zhui Ming, Duo Hun, and She Po, but even the imposters "Long Yinxiao," "Qin Huaiyu," and "Zhang Jinghong" showed no sign of panic; instead, their lips curled into smug smiles.
Long Yinxiao's eyes gleamed brightly as he coldly stared at "Long Yinxiao," saying in a chilling voice, "Don't think that just because I wear the Mangcang Taxue Armor and wield the Nine Heavens Xuanqiong Sword, I can't do anything to you."
"Long Yinxiao," intimidated by his firm and imposing kingly aura, took a half-step back, lowering his head and daring not to speak.
Fen Ri remained leisurely and composed, pointing his halberd and shouting, "Ren Xiaoyao, you're quite capable, actually figuring out that we would imprison someone in the Qiande Treasure Vault.
" Ren Xiaoyao drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword with a clang, arrogantly declaring, "Back in Xishou Mountain, this sword hadn't drunk enough of the blood of the heretical cultists; today, I will make it taste its own desire." His words were impassioned and resounding, brimming with unparalleled confidence, a force that alone was enough to terrify his opponent.
A fleeting look of shock crossed Jue Yue's face as he laughed, "At this very moment, I fear dozens of elders and high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Extreme Sect have already lost their heads. I wonder what Leader Long and the rest of you think of the scene of corpses strewn across the execution ground?" Both sides were trying to use psychological tactics to demoralize their opponent, but unfortunately
, his words came at the worst possible time. Long Feiyun casually tossed aside her sword sheath, raised her sword in her left hand, and laughed, "Chief Xiong and General Ye have already led the Beggars' Sect and the Green Forest Alliance from the thirteen provinces to Yunlong Street to stop the execution! Your schemes will not succeed!"
Jue Yue was horrified, his voice trembling, "You...you..."
The perfect moment to attack finally arrived. Long Yinxiao gave a signal, and the group roared and swarmed forward.
"Hahaha—hahaha—" Something even more unbelievable happened. The eight opponents showed no intention of dodging, retreating, or defending. Instead, their previous panic vanished, and they all burst into laughter.
Fen Ri laughed so hard he almost dropped his weapon, gasping for breath as he said, "Long Yinxiao, Ren Xiaoyao, did you really think the organization only sent the eight of us?"

Volume 21: The Fall of the Empire, The Lament of the People, Chapter 1:

Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides. Fen Ri waved his hand, and a large number of black-clad assassins surged out from all sides, surrounding the Tianji Sect members.
The situation instantly reversed. Facing an enemy force that outnumbered them by more than tenfold, a dark cloud immediately settled over Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng. Even the battle-hardened Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong felt a sense of despair, as if "Heaven has forsaken us."
Liu Ningtao's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in shock, "Eight...eight hundred assassins? Imprisonment is impossible! The Circular Prison and the Prison are heavily guarded. How...how could they have escaped?"
"Dragon Roar" sneered, "I merely issued a decree to send all the Imperial Guards to the execution ground. Dealing with the remaining few dozen prison guards will be a piece of cake."
Long Feiyun remained calm and composed, and said in a cold voice, "The ten thousand Imperial Guards and three thousand Inner Guards stationed at the main altar can arrive in no time. You dare to run wild in the Qilin Hall with just a few hundred assassins? Your Juesha is simply overestimating yourself."
"Qin Huaiyu" laughed loudly, deliberately drawing out his words, "Is that so? Fine, then I will make you utterly despair."
"Come out!" "Qin Huaiyu" clapped his hands, and two men immediately stepped out from the group of assassins. It was Liu Yijun and Zhao Yi. The former looked slightly embarrassed and remained silent with his hands at his sides, while the latter chuckled sinisterly and said, "The Imperial Guards and the Inner Guards have long been transferred by us. They will definitely not come if we wait."
Liu Ningtao was furious and said in a trembling voice, "You...you actually betrayed the sect!"
Zhao Yi shamelessly said, "A wise man submits to circumstances. I have been a member of the Tianji Sect for ten years and have only become the deputy commander of the Yongxing Army. My monthly salary is only a few dozen taels of silver. Hentian not only gave me five thousand taels of gold, but also promised to make me the deputy leader immediately after the matter is settled. Do you think I should surrender to him, Hall Master Liu?"
"Long Yinxiao" mocked in a pretentious manner, "Deputy Leader Zhao, now is the time to quell the rebellion and make a name for yourself. Why don't you make your move?"
Zhao Yi nodded and bowed repeatedly, showing the face of a servile lackey who obeyed orders without question.
Everyone cursed loudly, and even Liu Yijun felt contempt. His lips twitched repeatedly, and he wanted to speak several times, but for some reason, he forcibly held back.
Long Yinxiao seized the opportunity and said in a deep voice, "Vice Hall Master Liu, among the brothers under the age of thirty in our sect, apart from Fei Yun, you have the highest rank. I really can't think of any reason why you would defect to Juesha."
Qin Huaiyu sneered, "Reasons? Fine, let me tell you. Liu Yijun's wife and children are in the hands of the organization. Does he dare disobey our orders?"
Liu Yijun looked up at the sky and sighed, as if to vent the resentment he had been holding back. Just as he was calming down, tears suddenly welled up in his tiger-like eyes, and he choked out, "Master... I... I really had no choice."
Zhang Jinghong said solemnly, "Twenty years ago, your brother Liu Qingping was in the same position you are in now. After returning from the Northern Expedition, the Emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Wuding, not because he had fought bravely in several battles and made outstanding contributions, but because he was loyal and righteous, devoted to the country, and always put the interests of the Song Dynasty and our sect first."
Liu Yijun's body trembled violently, and he quickly regained his previous look of utter despair and despondency. Although he did not immediately turn against his own side, he was deeply touched by Zhang Jinghong's words.
Burning Sun's eyes flashed with murderous intent, then vanished just as quickly. He chuckled sinisterly, "Trying to stall for time? Not so easy!" Turning to his assassins, he shouted, "The leader has decreed that whoever takes Long Yinxiao's head will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" the assassins roared, but they didn't rush to attack. The difference in strength between the two sides was too obvious; they barely needed to fight, their mere presence was enough to crush their opponent.
Sure enough, the twenty-odd members of the Qilin Hall and Qinglong Hall were already terrified. Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng were no better off; their initial high spirits had long since vanished, replaced by growing fear in their eyes.
Long Yinxiao revealed a bitter smile, looking up to the sky and roaring, "I, Long Yinxiao, once galloped across the battlefield, winning every battle, but today I've ended up surrounded by enemies. Fate is cruel... fate is cruel indeed!" His expression was somber, his tone tragic, filled with the desolation of a hero's end.
Before the words were even finished, Long Yinxiao coughed up a mouthful of blood, splattering Ren Xiaoyao's sleeves and weapons crimson. His towering, mountain-like body swayed precariously, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
At this critical juncture of life and death, Long Yinxiao, the opponent's only source of strength, had been consumed by rage and lost all fighting power. The five assassins couldn't help but exchange knowing smiles.
Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, and Liu Ningtao rushed forward in unison: "Master..."
Amidst their exclamations, an unbelievable scene unfolded!
Long Yinxiao suddenly looked up, his tiger eyes shooting out an unprecedentedly sharp and piercing light. Without a word, he snatched the Ice Soul Frost Sword from Ren Xiaoyao's hand and thrust it out with a burst of power, hurtling straight towards "Long Yinxiao." The crimson blood on the sword instantly transformed into a streak of bloody light, swiftly becoming a fierce, piercing blade that swept through the air. The sharp, piercing sound of the sword cutting through the air was like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger, its incomparably powerful and chilling energy shaking the surrounding area!
"Dragon's Roar" was terrified, struck dumb as if by lightning. Everything before him seemed to lose its original color. Though surrounded by his own brothers, he felt utterly alone in the world, without any support, forced to rely solely on his own strength to withstand Dragon's Roar's overwhelming onslaught.
Dragon's Roar's "Cloud Sea Thunderclap" was the culmination of his life's work; its speed was so great that none of the five assassins had time to react or intercept it. By the time Dragon's Roar raised his Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword to meet it, it had already traversed several meters in a flash, arriving before him in an instant.
The two swords clashed, sparks flying, and Dragon's Roar remained frozen in mid-air, not advancing an inch.
The five assassins, regaining their senses, were overjoyed. Dragon's Roar wore the impenetrable Mangcang Snow-Treading Armor; as long as he could withstand the onslaught of Dragon's Roar's inner force, his life would be safe.
Was this truly the case?
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, "Dragon's Roar" suddenly trembled violently, blood gushing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, his chest gradually caved in.
"No... something's not right!" Fen Ri, the most powerful of the five assassins, was the first to realize this.
Dragon's Roar's internal energy had not been neutralized; instead, it had completely penetrated his body without missing a single detail. The powerful impact shattered his internal organs and severed his limbs!
"Boom!" The second sword energy exploded like thunder, bursting forth instantly. As everyone watched in disbelief, "Dragon's Roar" was flung far away like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground with a thud, no longer moving.
Staring at the slowly spreading bloodstains on the ground, Burning Sun, Absolute Moon, Soul Stealer, Soul Deterrence, and Life Chaser stood frozen in shock: "'Dragon's Roar' was second only to them in the organization, yet he was killed by Dragon's Roar in a single move. The impenetrable Mangcang Snow-Treading Armor was completely useless. Such skill surpasses even the leader's!"
Dragon's Roar smiled disdainfully and slowly walked towards Dragon's Roar's corpse. The eight hundred assassins were so intimidated by his overwhelming power that not a single one dared to stop him.

Volume Twenty-One: The Fall of the Empire and the Lament of the People, Chapter Two: The Sword Saint Displays His Might .

Dragon's Roar leisurely retrieved the Mangcang Snow-Treading Armor and the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword. His movements were relaxed and elegant, full of the domineering aura of a king who looked down upon the world, completely disregarding the assassins who were feared by the entire martial world.
"You...you..." Fen Ri tried her best to calm down, but as soon as she met Long Yin Xiao's icy gaze,
she couldn't help but shiver. Long Yin Xiao returned to the group and carefully handed the Mang Cang Ta Xue Armor and the Jiu Tian Xuan Qiong Sword to his daughter, saying softly, "Use them for self-defense. I won't have time to take care of you later."
Long Feiyun exclaimed in astonishment, "Father, you..."
Long Yinxiao said calmly, "Ordinary weapons are enough to deal with them."
Jueyue composed herself and shouted, "Long... Long Yinxiao, don't push your luck!"
Long Yinxiao stepped forward, his body becoming ethereal and seemingly without any flaws. He sneered, "You're the ones pushing your luck... Second brother, third brother, fourth brother, I'll deal with the five assassins. The rest are yours!" With that, he casually picked up an iron sword, lightly touched the ground with his toes, and leaped into the air, aiming directly at Fenri's face from above.
"Form the formation!" Qin Huaiyu shouted. Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, Qin Xiang, and Zhang Feng immediately drew their swords to meet the attack, engaging in a fierce battle with the eight hundred assassins who surged forward like a tidal wave, seemingly charging with the force of a thousand troops. Their formation, called the Mysterious Heavenly Formation, was created by Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin. It was initially passed down to his personal guards Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, Zhu Shunwu, and Liu Qingping—the current Five Swords of Heavenly Extremes. Later, it gradually became a fundamental martial art practiced by everyone in the Heavenly Extremes Sect. The main purpose of this formation was to protect the emperor, thus its defensive power was extremely strong, often producing unexpected results in situations where the enemy was outnumbered.
Seeing that Long Yinxiao's attacks had been building up for a long time, becoming incredibly fierce, Fen Ri and Jue Yue dared not be careless in the slightest. They unleashed their swords simultaneously, flanking him from both sides. The timing and angle of their attacks were extremely skillful, making them impossible to defend against.
Their unpredictable swordsmanship ignited Long Yinxiao's fighting spirit. Taking advantage of the momentum, he sprang forward, his toes striking the very spine of the sword. Fen Ri and Jue Yue secretly thought, "Your internal strength, though strong, is still no match for our combined power." They immediately channeled their energy, intending to kill Long Yinxiao on the spot.
Unexpectedly, the force of Long Yinxiao's two kicks was strangely different, one light and one heavy. The lighter kick was soft yet resilient, not only preventing Fen Ri from releasing his true energy but also sending a wisp of true energy into his palm, attacking his internal organs with a long, straight thrust. The heavier kick was fierce and incomparably powerful, like a rapidly spinning drill, slamming into Jue Yue's palm, causing his tiger's mouth to feel as if it were on fire, and his weapon almost slipped from his hand.
Seeing his companion suffer a great loss, Duo Hun feared that the enemy would press their advantage, so he stepped behind Long Yinxiao, his sword flashing, its light dazzling, and attacked Long Yinxiao with unparalleled sharpness. She Po and Zhui Ming rushed forward from both sides, taking over from Fen Ri and Jue Yue, their swords spinning left and right, diagonally circling towards Long Yinxiao's sides while he was still in mid-air. The force of the kicks surged and splashed like a boulder thrown into water, instantly blocking all his escape routes.
Long Yin Xiao sneered, his attack suddenly changing. His sword tip instantly split into three, two of them aimed at She Po and Zhui Ming, while the remaining blade flashed, drawing a crescent-shaped arc like lightning as it hurtled towards Duo Hun. At a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, the two brushed past each other. Duo Hun, staggering forward, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest, blood splattering everywhere. Luckily, Long Yin Xiao had reserved some strength to deal with She Po and Zhui Ming; otherwise, this single move would have killed him instantly.
Long Yin Xiao gathered his inner energy, instantly changing direction, his longsword thrusting forward at Long Yin Xiao's chest, creating streaks of white light as it aimed directly at Fen Ri. Seeing the unexpected angle of his attack, Fen Ri dared not attempt a counterattack, instead blocking with his sword held horizontally across his chest. As their weapons clashed, a deafening boom resounded. Fen Ri, renowned for his internal strength, was so shaken that his fingers spun out, and he staggered back several steps before finally regaining his footing.
Fen Ri trembled violently, his voice trembling with disbelief, "You... your inner strength is stronger than the leader's, no... no way, no way!"
Long Yin Xiao wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and coldly snorted, "With me here, anything is possible." His longsword hummed as it traced a beautiful arc, its light unwavering, heading straight for Jue Yue's heart.
Jue Yue was shocked and leaped up abruptly, retracting his longsword slightly before thrusting it out again, not to attack Long Yin Xiao, but to slash at the incoming sword energy.
Little did he know that Long Yin Xiao's move was a feint. Taking advantage of Jue Yue's full-force charge, he suddenly twisted his sword, slashing diagonally at Jue Yue's left ribs, rendering all his subsequent moves useless and throwing him into disarray, forcing him to dodge to the side.
Almost simultaneously, Fen Ri, She Po, Zhui Ming, and Duo Hun attacked from the east, west, south, and north. Long Yin Xiao unleashed the Nebula Sword Technique, his inner energy surging through the air, instantly shattering the silver light and unleashing a fierce sword wind, shattering the combined attack of the group in one fell swoop.
The less powerful Zhui Ming and Duo Hun retreated first to protect themselves. Long Yin Xiao seized the opportunity and launched a fierce attack on She Po. She Po suddenly felt a vortex of energy pressing down on his body and knew something was wrong. When he tried to draw his sword, his own energy was either forced to the sides or bounced back, running wildly through his meridians and causing his blood and qi to churn.
Jue Yue flew to his rescue, but Long Yin Xiao pretended not to notice. Only when the enemy's sword was about to strike did he quickly move half a step. Jue Yue's powerful strike grazed past his nose, just a hair's breadth away from splitting him in two.
Fen Ri was about to cheer when Long Yin Xiao moved sideways. The scattered sword light suddenly converged into one, faintly shimmering with cold smoke, and in the blink of an eye, it stabbed towards Fen Ri's face. Wherever the silver light went, a deafening sound of air being torn apart filled the air.
Before the sword even arrived, a chilling aura enveloped Fen Ri's entire area in front of him. But he was, after all, the leader of the five assassins. Even facing a dire situation, he remained calm and composed, his sword flashing as he met Fen Ri's attack with unstoppable force.
Long Yin Xiao roared to the sky, lightning striking the ground. His "Overturning Clouds and Rain" technique, like a raging torrent, struck the enemy's blade. The indestructible vortex of energy instantly penetrated Fen Ri's body, piercing his true energy, causing him to cough up blood and stagger backward, temporarily rendering him powerless.
Jue Yue, She Po, Zhui Ming, and Duo Hun were horrified and momentarily lost their composure. Long Yin Xiao unleashed his "Sky-Seizing Illusion," moving like lightning and agile as an eagle, freely changing his landing point and attacking from different angles, leaving them scrambling and unsure how to respond.
Meanwhile, the life-or-death battle between Ren Xiaoyao, Long Fei Yun, and the other assassins raged on.

Volume 21 The Fall of the Nation and the Lament of the People Chapter 3 Divine Might Such is

Ren Xiaoyao's figure moved swiftly, his sword never missing its mark. The blue light that swept across the land was like a death warrant, and deadly warriors were sure to fall to the ground. In a short while, his entire clothes were stained red with blood, a truly gruesome sight.
With the aid of the Mangcang Taxue Armor and the Nine Heavens Xuanqiong Sword, Long Feiyun was almost invincible. After killing more than a dozen people in succession, she used the "Clouds and Mist" technique to cut a burly man who tried to sneak up into four pieces, along with his sword. She shouted, "Brother Ren, do you still want to fight head-on?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly and used the One Reed Crossing the River technique to move sideways. He not only avoided several long swords that came down on him, but also cut two long spears in half. He even knocked the first enemy out of the way, causing him to spit out blood and fall several feet.
Long Feiyun followed closely behind, charging forward with Ren Xiaoyao. Her left palm, using the "False Step Elbow Break" technique from the Taizu Long Fist, unleashed a spiraling burst of energy, sending several assassins flying. Her Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword struck from mid-air, employing a sweeping, overwhelming spear technique to relentlessly attack. Five enemies, unable to dodge in time, were struck in the chest and abdomen, collapsing to the ground, blood splattering.
The encirclement instantly crumbled due to their movement, no longer as tightly organized as before.
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun, their pressure greatly reduced, immediately separated and launched a full-scale counterattack.
Ren Xiaoyao wielded the Ice Soul Frost Sword, transforming it into a ball of blue light. Its fierce and incomparable power pressed down on the six assassins charging towards him. With a loud clang, the six assassins, who had managed to parry with their weapons, were overjoyed when Ren Xiaoyao suddenly used the momentum to shift sideways, slashing diagonally with his sword. The six assassins were startled and unable to dodge in time, screaming and being thrown to the ground, leaving behind a trail of gruesome corpses.
The members of the Absolute Kill Sect had always feared Ren Xiaoyao, and now, witnessing his divine might, they were even more terrified. But with the Ice Soul Frost Sword unleashed, no one dared to confront him head-on, scattering to the sides. This allowed Ren Xiaoyao even greater freedom of movement. He unleashed his full power, leaping freely through the enemy ranks, slaughtering his opponents.
Long Feiyun, enraged by the Absolute Kill Sect's cruelty towards its brothers, became increasingly ruthless in her attacks. Every now and then, assassins would let out earth-shattering screams as they were instantly killed by her. The fear the assassins had of her was clearly less than that of Ren Xiaoyao. Spears, knives, and axes continued to rain down on her from all directions. Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, seeing that those attacking her were all highly skilled in coordinated attacks, secretly thought that weakening her first was the best strategy. Therefore, they positioned themselves on the perimeter, waiting for the opportune moment.
At this moment, Long Feiyun displayed to the world her exceptional skills, no less than Ren Xiaoyao's. Whether in internal or external strength, the coordination of her hands, eyes, ears, and feet was flawless.
What surprised the assassins most was that most of Long Feiyun's moves seemed to land in empty air, yet they were always struck squarely by these "empty attacks," utterly powerless to retaliate.
Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong could see that they had anticipated the enemy's attack route, but anyone could admit that in such a fierce battle, even if they could see through the enemy's moves, it would be difficult to match their precision in timing and position, leaving no time to change tactics even when they knew they were about to die.
Long Feiyun parried the assassins' fierce onslaught, her clothes now bearing seven or eight wounds. Fortunately, her Mangcang Taxue Armor protected her, preventing her from bleeding profusely, but her internal organs were inevitably invaded by the internal energy, and her movements were no longer as swift as before. Fortunately, she was meticulous and resourceful, and even surrounded, she could still use unexpected tactics to inflict broken bones and torn flesh, causing blood to splatter everywhere.
Ren Xiaoyao was in slightly better condition. He used his two peerless lightness skills, Flying Immortal Transformation and Crossing the River on a Reed, in turn, often dodging enemy blades with mysterious and profound movements at critical moments of life and death. Combined with the borrowing force technique of the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm, he made the assassins completely unable to predict his fluid attacks.
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen more dead and wounded lay on the ground, their cries of pain echoing everywhere.
The situation was critical, and "Qin Huaiyu" and "Zhang Jinghong" could not afford to be complacent any longer.
"Long Feiyun, try taking a few of my moves!" "Qin Huaiyu" raised his saber high and slowly approached the battle circle. With each step, a footprint three inches deep appeared on the ground, showing that he was constantly gathering his strength. The horse-slaying saber is a weapon specifically designed for felling warhorses on the battlefield. Its length and weight far exceed ordinary swords, and few can wield it perfectly. In martial arts battles, the chances of it appearing are even slimmer. However, it is precisely this weapon that counters divine weapons like the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword, preventing it from being severed in a short time.
Long Feiyun spun around, sweeping away five or six enemies. Her figure swayed slightly, changing her sideways movement to a forward charge, swiftly appearing beside "Qin Huaiyu" like a ghost. The Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword, instead of being skillful, used a blunt force, slashing down at his waist with sharp energy.
"Qin Huaiyu" roared, and his horse-slaying saber conjured up a series of overlapping waves, like rolling quicksand. Each wave, its timing, and its angle of attack were perfectly controlled, converging into a powerful force that could shatter walls and split rocks.
Swords clashed, light flashed, and the clanging sound was like raindrops pattering on banana leaves, incessant and deafening. Suddenly, a deafening roar, like thunder, pierced the heavens! Unexpectedly, their weapons clashed, as "Qin Huaiyu" used the skillful force of the Eighteen Falling Techniques to try and hold him back.
In a one-on-one duel, Long Feiyun would have nothing to fear, but surrounded by powerful enemies, he couldn't afford to entangle himself with Qin Huaiyu. He immediately gathered his inner strength, unleashing a powerful surge of energy that sent Qin Huaiyu flying several feet away. He landed slightly staggered before regaining his footing.
Long Feiyun was secretly surprised; "Qin Huaiyu's" martial arts skills were nearly equal to his own, so there was no reason for him to be so weak.
In that fleeting moment of distraction, "Zhang Jinghong" silently attacked with both palms. At first, it seemed unremarkable, but as Long Feiyun focused on countering, she was suddenly shocked to find it unstoppable. She was enveloped by the palm winds from all sides, with nowhere to retreat or dodge. Her only option was to forcefully block and parry. Unexpectedly, wherever the palm strike landed, a tremendous force crashed down like a tidal wave, shattering her sword energy with unstoppable force.
Long Feiyun realized that "Qin Huaiyu's" feigned weakness was a trick to lure her into underestimating him. Her sword spine had already been struck squarely by "Zhang Jinghong," and her delicate body shuddered violently, thrown backward. Knowing that if she fell to the ground, the full force of the palm strike would be absorbed into her body, she knew she wouldn't be able to withstand it. She hurriedly used her Illusionary Shadow Technique, crashing into the crowd. "Bang!" "Bang!" The first two assassins, unable to dodge in time, were struck squarely by the residual palm force transmitted through Long Feiyun's shoulders, instantly dying.
Long Feiyun spun away smoothly, quickly regulated her inner energy, and then launched a full-scale attack on "Qin Huaiyu." "Qin Huaiyu" laughed loudly, his broadsword transforming into lightning-fast attacks on Long Feiyun, determined to finish her off in one fell swoop.
Long Feiyun's furious attacks were met with a relentless barrage of blades, but fortunately, she possessed exceptional resilience and did not easily retreat despite her opponent's powerful offensive. Using unpredictable footwork, she shifted her position, appearing behind "Qin Huaiyu" in an instant, swift as a ghost, seemingly real yet illusory.
In a flash, "Zhang Jinghong" led seven or eight assassins to attack from both sides. Long Feiyun cried out in alarm, but suddenly a brilliant idea flashed into her mind—a clever plan to eliminate the enemy.

Volume 21 The Fall of the Nation and the Lament of the People Chapter 4 A Sudden Change

"Boom!" A powerful force suddenly arrived, pressing in all directions; it was Zhang Jinghong's Vast Universe Thunder Palm. The Vast Universe Thunder Palm originated from the Great Monument Smashing Hand, renowned for its swiftness and ferocity. When mastered to the highest level, "Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens," each move is like a sudden clap of thunder, shaking heaven and earth. Zhang Jinghong's skill was not yet fully refined, only reaching the slightly inferior "Thunderous Roar of the Earthen Pot," yet it was still incredibly powerful, resounding with each strike.
Seeing the powerful true energy, like a burst of thunder and fire, rushing towards her, Long Feiyun seemed oblivious. With a low shout, she darted forward like lightning, focusing solely on attacking Qin Huaiyu, completely disregarding her own safety.
With Zhang Jinghong's assistance, Qin Huaiyu felt the pressure lessen slightly, and his cleaver slowed down considerably. He was immediately overwhelmed by Long Feiyun's unpredictable Nebula Sword Technique, struggling to defend himself. Finally, as Zhang Jinghong closed in, Long Feiyun let out a long howl. Without any visible movement, she suddenly moved to Qin Huaiyu's left. The myriad points of light from the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword surged towards his face like a cascading waterfall, the piercing sound of the force filling the ears of the assassins.
Qin Huaiyu had no time to think and hastily parried with his cleaver. However, Zhang Jinghong's palm strike was too fast to stop, striking him from the right. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, using a backflip to narrowly avoid the blow. Otherwise, he would have absorbed the full force, coughing up blood and dying instantly.
"Zhang Jinghong" cursed loudly, his palms clapping together as he struck at Long Feiyun again. Long Feiyun remained unmoved, relying on her agile movements to dodge and relentlessly entangle "Qin Huaiyu," giving him no chance to breathe.
Seeing the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword like a leech, raining down attacks, "Qin Huaiyu" cried out for help, knowing that if this continued, he would only suffer. The only way to reverse the situation was to find a way to block Zhang Jinghong's sword strikes and create a fatal opportunity for him.
In the midst of his haste, "Qin Huaiyu" gave Zhang Jinghong a wink, suddenly stopped, and drew a complete semi-circle with his saber, thrusting forward swiftly. This move greatly surprised Long Feiyun; she hadn't expected "Qin Huaiyu" to be able to reverse his inner energy, shifting his movements so quickly that he stopped instantly at the crucial moment of his retreat. What was even more formidable was that his strike completely disregarded Long Feiyun's sword attack, the blade swiftly aimed at his throat, seemingly intending to take him down with him.
Long Feiyun's mind raced, immediately discerning his treacherous trick. The mutual destruction was a feigned attempt to delay, but if she hesitated even slightly, "Zhang Jinghong" would seize the opportunity to attack from both sides. Even with the protection of her Mangcang Taxue Armor, she would likely die on the spot. However, if she could use this opportunity to turn the tables on him, it would greatly benefit her.
Long Feiyun's eyes flashed with divine light, seemingly oblivious to "Qin Huaiyu's" divine and dazzling swordsmanship, completely unfazed by its changes. She casually sent out a sharp burst of energy, thrusting it straight towards the core of the ripples in the sword's wave. Simultaneously, her clothes fluttered and her steps faltered, as if she were about to unleash a phantom-shifting technique, moving laterally.
Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, thinking he was using the same old trick to lure them into fighting each other, simultaneously withdrew seven-tenths of their strength, waiting for Long Feiyun's footwork to wear down before unleashing their full power, aiming for a decisive blow.
Unexpectedly, Long Feiyun's initial force dissipated, but her subsequent force arrived immediately. In the blink of an eye, within a confined space, the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword struck a single point on the horse-slaying saber seven times in succession. The force erupted like thunder, shattering Qin Huaiyu's remaining thirty percent of true energy and splitting the saber into pieces. Qin Huaiyu, as if struck by lightning, screamed and fell backward, his chest torn open, blood splattering everywhere; it was clear he was beyond saving.
"Second Brother!" Zhang Jinghong roared in a fit of rage, his right arm slamming into the air with a single palm pointing skyward, unleashing a deafening boom as he unleashed the Haoyu Thunder Palm in a relentless and frenzied attack. Long Feiyun wielded her sword with the speed of the wind, deflecting all of Zhang Jinghong's relentless onslaught. To conserve her strength for the upcoming series of fierce battles, she did not intend to fight Zhang Jinghong head-on. Instead, she retreated step by step while parrying his attacks, using this to neutralize his momentum.
Zhang Jinghong struck with his right palm, followed by his left, a relentless barrage of blows that gave Long Feiyun no chance to catch her breath. Long Feiyun thought, "If this continues, the situation will only worsen. It seems I must use this feint again." She immediately pretended to be struck by the palm strike, involuntarily staggering backward. Zhang Jinghong, as expected, fell for the trap, his arms spinning rapidly, suddenly shifting to a split stance, unleashing the full power of his Haoyu Thunder Palm, sweeping it towards his opponent with earth-shattering speed.
Suddenly, a deafening boom resounded. Long Feiyun abruptly turned her blade, using the spine of her sword to meet Zhang Jinghong's overwhelming attack. An ordinary weapon would have been shattered by a single blow from the Haoyu Thunder Palm, but the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword, a divine weapon of its time, withstood the immense power of the thunder without a scratch. The palm strike resonated with a buzzing sound, like the roar of a divine dragon.
"Zhang Jinghong" roared, frantically channeling his inner energy. His left fingers formed a hand seal, ready to continue his attack, when suddenly he felt a chill in his chest. Looking down, he saw the Ice Soul Frost Sword piercing through his chest. It turned out that Ren Xiaoyao had come to his aid.
"Traitor, you've finally met your match!" Long Feiyun grabbed Ren Xiaoyao's right hand and forcefully pulled it out. Blood immediately splattered everywhere, and "Zhang Jinghong" collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Fen Ri, with his sharp eyes, had seen everything and was so shocked that he almost dropped his sword. Nearly half of the eight hundred elite warriors had perished, while the enemy had only lost a few ordinary cult members. Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Liu Ningtao, Qin Xiang, and Zhang Feng defended flawlessly with the Heavenly Extreme Sword Formation, while Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun were even more formidable, using the sharpness of their weapons to kill as easily as cutting melons and vegetables. Even with the combined strength of the five assassins, they were still no match for Long Yinxiao. Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong, whose martial arts were second only to them, had both perished. Who could possibly stop Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun, two fierce tigers descending the mountain? In his panic, his movements slowed, and Long Yinxiao, with his seemingly clumsy yet miraculous sword strike, seized the opportunity, slicing a long gash in his shoulder.
Fen Ri retreated hastily, and the surviving Long Yinxiao pressed his advantage, his weapon flashing rapidly, protecting his entire body completely. But Long Yinxiao ignored him, his eyes blazing with almost frenzied hatred. With a furious roar, he thrust his sword at Jue Yue, becoming one with his sword. When Long Yinxiao was captured, Jue Yue had spoken rudely several times. Seeing Long Yinxiao's deadly attack, he was terrified, managing only to raise his sword to parry with less than half his usual strength.
As the two swords clashed, Long Yinxiao's fierce blade energy forced his true energy back into his hands, causing it to surge against his meridians. His blood churned, and he saw stars. Forget about counterattacking; simply managing to stand firm after taking a half-step back was a struggle.
Long Yinxiao laughed loudly, his laughter like thunder, piercing the clouds. The Soul Chaser, Life Stealer, and Soul-Slaying Assassins all halted, daring not to make another move. Long Feiyun and Ren Xiaoyao rushed to his side, flanking him. The three stood in a triangular formation, an unbreakable barrier, ready to attack the five remaining assassins.
Just when the situation seemed perfect, a sudden change occurred!

Volume 21 The Fall of the Empire and the Lament of the People Chapter 5 The Arrival of the Heavenly Emperor

Just as Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun were charging towards Fen Ri and Jue Yue with all their might, and Long Yin Xiao was closing in on Zhui Hun, Duo Ming, and She Po, the four exquisitely carved lattice windows of Guan Lan Pavilion, which were about two zhang off the ground and facing them, suddenly exploded, turning into thousands of wood chips containing powerful energy, which shot towards Long Yin Xiao. Immediately afterwards, a figure seemed to be filled with endless explosive power, and like a ghost, he leaped out of the air, accompanied by fierce true energy that was so strong that it was suffocating, and roared down on him.
Long Feiyun glanced back and immediately felt a strange sensation. The attacker wore an extremely eerie bronze mask, his entire body wrapped in a black cloak, revealing only a pair of piercingly cold eyes, like a ghost blending into the night. Especially his incredible speed, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, gave her a sense of unreality, as if he had no physical form, just a mere phantom. She cried out in shock, "Hate... hate the heavens!"
In the blink of an eye, Long Yinxiao found himself in a perilous situation he had never encountered before. With his own cultivation, he had barely managed to deal with Fen Ri and Jue Yue alone after going without food and drink for more than ten days. The reason he had managed to overpower the five assassins earlier was because he had used some strange technique to multiply his internal energy in a short period of time. However, the effect of this technique could only last for half an hour, and the side effects were too great. If used continuously, it could potentially leave him with a lifelong disability. Ironically, Hentian's seemingly ordinary moves were not only fierce in their aura but also seemed to possess a powerful suction force. Even if one wanted to dodge, it was impossible, leaving only the option of a direct confrontation.
He immediately withdrew his longsword, which had been aimed at Soul Chaser, Life Stealer, and Soul Terrifying, and used his strength to block. This horizontal block was a unique technique from the Nebula Swordplay. It appeared ordinary, but in reality, it contained extremely profound techniques for deflecting force and skillful use of true energy, enough to wear down Hentian's moves and leave him unable to continue.
"Boom!" The two swords clashed, sparks flew, and a dragon's roar surged forth, urging on his power. Taking advantage of the last moment before the technique disappeared, he forcefully pushed Hentian back three steps. Then, the sword's momentum expanded, transforming into a myriad of sword shadows in the air, each point of sharpness and energy surging like boiling water. With the domineering power of thunder and lightning, it relentlessly swept towards Hentian.
Hentian let out a chilling, murderous laugh. His longsword trembled in the air like a snake's tongue before straightening, its tip transforming into a point of lightning that swept across half a zhang of space, soaring upwards and piercing into Long Yinxiao's sword shadow.
"Clang!" The two swords clashed again, freezing in mid-air and unleashing a surge of sword energy. Even Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun, watching from several zhang away, felt the force of the wind cutting through their bodies, their clothes rustling. Terrified, they involuntarily retreated.
Long Yinxiao roared, his voice like thunder, as the heat accumulated in his dantian surged upwards, rushing through his eight extraordinary meridians and flowing continuously into the point where the two swords met, intending to severely injure his opponent in an instant. Who would have thought that Hentian would borrow his accumulated spiraling energy, leaping backward in an instant, his longsword transforming into countless points of light, reflecting the blazing sun, raining down upon him from all directions. The wall-like, impenetrable energy transformed into countless tiny, needle-like stabs of energy, striking with the sword's attack, truly like a celestial anomaly, terrifying and surging. It was clearly an attempt to take advantage of Long Feiyun's exhaustion after a long battle, aiming to finish her off with overwhelming force.
Suddenly facing the evil master of the martial arts world, feared by all, Long Feiyun remained fearless. Her figure flashed like lightning, the Nine Heavens Profound Sky Sword unleashing a blue light, instantly laying down thousands of stars, as if a glass bottle had shattered in the air, the light scattering like clouds, beautiful yet serene, a transformation from movement to stillness, a wondrous change.
The onlookers were dazzled, but Long Yinxiao and Ren Xiaoyao inwardly cried out in alarm. The beautiful points of light conjured by the Hentian Sword were merely deceptive tricks, concealing deadly attacks of immense power. While Long Feiyun's strategy of responding to complexity with complexity and offense with offense was undoubtedly the best option to turn the tide in the current situation, attempting to single-handedly defeat the Hentian Sword, whose swordsmanship had reached its peak twenty years ago, with her current martial arts cultivation was nothing short of a pipe dream.
Staring at the overwhelming bursts of light points that erupted towards Long Feiyun like fireworks, the light points, reaching within five feet of her, suddenly contracted, transforming into a ball of light about a foot in diameter composed of individual points of light. This ball of light miraculously shattered Long Feiyun's sword energy, forming a raging torrent that instantly engulfed her.
"Feiyun!" Ren Xiaoyao cried out urgently, but he was entangled by Fen Ri and Jue Yue, and by the time he managed to break free, it was too late.
"Bang—" Long Feiyun was grazed by the edge of the sword's force, her internal energy surged backward, her whole body trembled, and she collapsed to the ground. She could hardly believe her eyes, feeling that what was about to attack was no longer Hentian's weapon, but a spiritual object beyond any description in the world.
Just as Long Feiyun was about to be struck by the core of the sword's force, resulting in her tragic death, Long Yinxiao's swift figure arrived in an instant. His clothes tucked up, his sleeves even torn, his entire body condensed true energy, his eyebrows bristling, and the sword force he had gathered at its peak slammed fiercely towards Hentian's back.
Hentian seemed to have anticipated his rescue, and in mid-air, he suddenly turned, his body instantly flipping over, meeting Long Yinxiao at an astonishing speed.
"Oh no! He's deliberately luring Master Long!" Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in shock. Long Yinxiao was solely focused on protecting his daughter, completely disregarding his own safety. While his attacks were fierce, their angles and movements were extremely limited. With Hentian's sharp eyes, he could instantly see through the flaws and deliver a powerful blow.
However, the internal energy generated by Long Yinxiao's strange technique had not yet dissipated. The two clashed, and their strength was evenly matched. The roar of their energy intensified wildly, and the shockwaves spread to a radius of two zhang.
Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun, Fenri, Jueyue, Duohun, Shepo, and Zhuiming could not withstand the raging energy and staggered backward. More than ten assassins who were closer even died on the spot from the impact of the energy—this was the true strength of the two most powerful masters in the world.
Ren Xiaoyao stared in disbelief. He had once naively believed that mastering the Flying Immortal Transformation and the Carefree Limitless Palm would allow him to gradually reach the pinnacle of martial arts. It wasn't until he learned the Soaring Cloud Sword Technique at the bottom of Cloud Valley that he realized such exquisite martial arts existed in the world. Today, witnessing Long Yinxiao and Hentian's life-or-death struggle, the mere trace of true energy emanating from their swords clashing was enough to cut his skin like a knife and stop his breath. He realized that despite over a decade of arduous training, he was still nothing more than a frog in a well.
The world seemed to spin. Two incredibly powerful sword energies, centered on the point where the swords crossed, suddenly contracted, narrowing to a tiny point, yet possessing a fierce, expanding momentum ready to explode.
Life and death hung in the balance!
With a sudden, swift movement, a willow-leaf-shaped throwing knife gleaming with a bluish light shot out from Hentian's sleeve. Long Yinxiao was only three feet away from him, and was completely focused on the clash of their internal energies, having no time to retreat or dodge. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, which suddenly burst open, and blood splattered everywhere.
"Boom!" Long Yinxiao's true energy ran out of control, and his entire body's strength suddenly went out of control, causing him to fall backward like a kite with a broken string.

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