Dragon Soul Heroes - Chapter 2: Deceit and Intrigue

The main force marched out of Jingyi, with Liang Ming and Wang Dong as the left and right generals respectively, each leading 30,000 troops to protect the two wings, while Long Hui led 40,000 elite troops to guard the central army.
"Brother...do you really want to be emperor?"
Wei Xuexin asked softly beside Long Hui.
Long Hui said, "Xue Xin, our army is now at a disadvantage, and our reputation has weakened. The only way to boost our prestige and morale is to declare ourselves emperor. This is a last resort!"
Wei Xuexin sighed softly, glancing at Bai Lingyu to the side, noticing her cold expression.
Bai Lingyu said, "My husband is a subject to my elder brother. Now, he has launched an attack on Yujing without any legitimate reason. In name, it is a subject attacking the emperor, which is extremely rebellious. Only by... only by ascending the throne and becoming emperor, creating a contest between two emperors, can we reverse our nominal disadvantage and boost morale!"
Finally, she added, "The times are changing, dynasties rise and fall... alas, what power is eternal under heaven?"
The army has arrived at Hungu River, which has become a stronghold of the demon realm. The demon soldiers have built a mountain city and a water fortress by relying on the mountains and the water.
Long Hui ordered the army to set up camp temporarily and sent out Sparrow Shadow scouts to investigate. They learned that 10,000 troops were stationed at Hungu River, including 5,000 Xuan Shui Demon Soldiers, while the main force stationed at Huju Ridge consisted of 5,000 Bi Mu Demon Soldiers. The two new Xuan Shui and Bi Mu Demon Princes were in charge of these two strategic passes.
Long Hui unfurled a military map, its depiction of mountains and rivers in great detail; it was none other than the treasure left behind by King Qi, Huangfu Zheng.
Upon seeing the pictures, Long Hui immediately had a plan in mind. He summoned all the generals accompanying him and asked, "Who can go into battle and capture the two passes?"
Red Lion stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to fight in your place!"
Mu Tianqing also stepped forward and said, "Since leaving the Panlong Sacred Vein, this humble subject has not achieved any merit. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission to engage in battle!"
Long Hui nodded and said, "Approved. You two will each lead ten thousand troops into battle. Mu Tianqing, you are skilled in naval warfare, so you will attack Hungu River. Chi Shi is adept at land warfare, so he will attack Huju Ridge!"
The two generals received the order.
Long Hui then asked, "Wolf Howler and Yue Biao, are you willing to fight again?"
The two were stunned, never expecting that Long Hui would appoint them, these two defeated generals, so quickly.
Yue Biao exclaimed excitedly, "I am willing to atone for my sins with meritorious service!"
Wolf Howler said, "Your subordinate is willing too!"
Long Hui said, "Excellent. You will each lead a thousand elite soldiers to await orders. Yue Biao, you will lead your troops to circle around to the west side of the Hungu River. At sunrise, attack immediately. I allow you to bring ten Lion Tooth Chariots to assist in the battle. Be sure to block the southeast, west, and north sides, leaving only the north side open for the enemy to escape to Tiger Crouching Ridge. Wolf Howling Sky, you will ambush in the dense forest thirty miles behind Tiger Crouching Ridge. At sunrise, beat the drums and shout, but do not engage in battle. I have my own arrangements!"
Long Hui then summoned Xu Hu and said, "Xu Hu, I order you to lead a thousand light cavalry to the crossroads fifty li behind Tiger Crouching Ridge and Hungu River—Dragon Tiger Ravine!"
The generals dispersed and went about their respective duties.
Lin Birou still had doubts and asked, "Our forces are already inferior to the imperial court's, is dividing them into three routes...?"
Long Hui pointed to the marching map and said, "Yujing is the capital of the emperor. It is protected by the Hedong region to the north, the strategic passes of the southwestern counties to the south, and the Chishui River and Chujiang River to the east. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and its transportation is convenient. Logically speaking, the chances of winning by attacking from the south to the north are slim. However, both river basins are now under our control. As long as we deploy heavy troops to the east of Yujing, we can attract the main fighting force of Yujing, and the north and south can take advantage of the situation to enter."
Yu Wuhen also asked, "If the Demon Lord divides the forces into three groups, and then gathers his superior strength to defeat them one by one, what will happen?"
Bai Lingyu then said, "We should gather our forces and annihilate them, or disperse and encircle them. If the Demon Lord were to concentrate his superior strength to attack our army even a small area, he would still risk being counter-encircled by our army. Now that we have started the battle, we are still in an active position and can still lead the Demon Realm by the nose for a while!"
A sweet, cloying fragrance wafted by, and a soft, seductive voice rang out: "Well said. Even if the Demon Lord weren't injured, he wouldn't dare to easily concentrate all his forces against just one of our factions?"
Luo Qingyan appeared gracefully in a white dress, her lotus-like steps light and swaying with captivating beauty.
Bai Lingyu immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"
Wei Xuexin also called out "Auntie".
Luo Qingyan smiled and said, "If the Demon Lord concentrates his main force on any one of our routes, the other two routes will definitely be vulnerable. He also fears that we might create a diversion, using a weaker force to draw his main force away, and then his main force can take advantage of the situation. Therefore, the Demon Realm will also fight on three fronts. Whoever finds out the opponent's strongest general first will gain the upper hand!"
Long Hui said, "Sister Luo is absolutely right. We currently have five Void Breaking experts, and the Demon Realm, including the Demon Lord, also has five. Based on their peak combat strength, our experts have a slight advantage over the Demon Lord's side, but the advantage is not significant. Victory or defeat, life or death, often hangs by a thread. Whoever can anticipate the opportunity first will dominate the battle. Therefore, in this fierce battle, Void Breaking level experts will not easily show themselves; the early stages of the battle will be dominated by Celestial Realm experts!"
Luo Qingyan said, "The commanders of the two armies in the southwest are Long'er and Yang Ye, but in reality, even the Demon Lord is not sure how the peak combat power of these three armies is distributed."
Long Hui added, "Sister Luo is absolutely right. With Commander Yang and me in the open, and you, Sister Ting, and Mingluan in the shadows, we can become a hidden force that can revitalize the entire situation. We can both deter the Demon Realm's top combat power and seize the opportunity to annihilate the enemy in one fell swoop. Once we figure out the distribution of the enemy's experts, we can also launch a coordinated attack and wipe them out!"
Lin Birou said, "If that's the case, then Junior Sister's magic will shine even brighter!"
Luo Qingyan and Long Hui both nodded in agreement, which made Yu Wuhen blush and feel extremely embarrassed.
Upon hearing this, Bai Lingyu rubbed her fists and feet together, her wheat-colored face beaming with excitement. "Excellent! That's exactly what I wanted! I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time!" she exclaimed.
Everyone couldn't help but smile.
It is said that Mu Tianqing led a vanguard army to rush towards the Hungu River by waterway. Six ironclad warships entered the Hungu River. Mu Tianqing, sitting at the bow of the ship, could see from afar that the water ahead was dark and the village was built in a chain-like pattern, with the front facing the water and the back against the mountain.
The water fortress has a watchtower. From the top, one can see more than 20 miles of water. As soon as the sentries see the flag of the Dragon Scale Army, they immediately ring the alarm bell, and the soldiers rush out to guard each corner of the fortress, with bows, crossbows and cannons facing outwards.
These six ironclad warships were modified by the Dragonscale Army based on Qiu Baifei's naval warships. They were thick-armored and large, with dragon-patterned flags hanging on them. Inside, there were spirit stone furnaces, and outside, various gears and iron shafts were connected. As long as fire-attribute ore was put into them and a fire array was set up, a continuous source of heat could be generated to drive the gears and iron shafts, rotate the oars, and drive the warships to move. Their agility was in no way inferior to that of small boats and light ships.
Mu Tianqing raised his hand high and shouted, "Bring out the Xuanli Divine Cannon! Give it a good beating!"
Each of the six warships raised a giant cannon carved with a ferocious dragon. Several long whiskers shot out from the rear of the cannon, shaped like dragons. These whiskers flowed into holes on the deck, and then, through a clever mechanism under the deck, they burrowed into the water to absorb moisture.
Moments later, the cannon muzzle emitted a dazzling, eerie blue light, followed by a burst of fire, like a dragon breathing, which swept across the sky and landed on the water fortress. With a deafening roar, the defensive barrier of the water fortress shattered instantly, and at the same time, more than half of the water fortress's front camp was destroyed.
Since the Refining God Pagoda and the Refining God Cannon could only be used in land battles and were limited in naval battles, Long Hui ordered the skilled craftsmen of the Panlong Sacred Vein to create the Refining God Cannon, which could be used in water. The Tianji Academy had many skilled craftsmen. After obtaining the blueprints of the Refining God Pagoda, they used it as a model and, based on the characteristic of the dragon being able to breathe fire in water, created the Flaming Dragon Cannon.
The dragon lineage controls water and clouds, and its fire is the Li Xuan Fire, which becomes even stronger when it encounters water. In later generations, it was also called dragon breath or dragon fire.
"Give me another beating!"
Mu Tianqing gave the order, and the dragon rope on the back of the Xuanli Divine Cannon absorbed the water vapor again, turning it into flames, and immediately spewed out blue flames. This second and third round of bombardment leveled the front camp of the water fortress in an instant.
Just as Mu Tianqing was preparing to launch a third round of artillery fire, black water spread across the waters ahead, demonic energy surged, and a giant, boat-swallowing fish immediately emerged.
巨鱼长达二十丈，浑身鳞甲，头有五目，齿若利锯，正是魔界黑水玄海的独特魔种——五目锯齿鱼。
那五目锯齿鱼生得最为庞大，几乎填满半个河道，足以比拟两艘战舰，鱼脊上站着一个身披黑色鳞甲，脖下有腮，面目狰狞的魔将。
那魔将手持一枚丈许分水刺，麾下统领魔兵恶鱼。
五目锯齿鱼出现后，河中又冒出不少怪鱼，每条怪鱼最小的也足有马匹大小，大的足有数丈，有的浑身光光滑，有的浑身鳞甲，也有的长满尖刺，各种各样，看得人眼花缭乱，心惊胆颤，而且鱼背皆装有鞍座，上端皆有黑衣玄甲的魔兵操控，正是魔界水师——玄水魔兵。
魔将喝道：「玄水魔子泺灏在此，鼠辈还不引颈受戮！」
木天青哼道：「魔孽既然敢现身，那便先吃一番箭矢！」
说罢喝令战舰架起弩炮，这些弩炮正是当初替仇白飞制造的破邪弩枪，对准魔界水兵便是一番激射，密密麻麻的箭矢带着火光涌向魔兵。
泺灏脸色一沉，高举分水刺，口吐魔道异咒，五目锯齿鱼四周的怪鱼便开始游蹿，鱼背上的魔兵元功倾吐，相互糅合，发出玄蓝光盾，竟以血肉之躯形成一道牢实防线，当初将煞域尸化邪鱼打得片甲不留的破邪弩枪竟被这股玄黑色的气盾挡下。
泺灏冷笑道：「我玄水魔兵久经水战，千锤百炼，又岂是区区淫物巧器可伤，你莫要以为我麾下儿郎都是煞域那些不生脑子的蠢怪！」
这玄黑气盾乃是玄水魔兵一种集体防御的阵法，讲究以水练气，元功聚合，御敌门外。
木天青不禁暗吃一惊，心想道：「不愧是天生水魔，水中能耐战果然惊人！」泺灏道：「水骑兵给我砸了那些破炮！」
众魔兵呼啸一声，策动怪鱼坐骑游向龙麟军战舰。
木天青那容他们靠近，立即派出十艘玄鲸舟在水下阻击这些水骑兵。
玄鲸舟可升可潜，灵动迅敏，炮火凛冽，但魔兵也是身负魔能，怪鱼亦凶狠异常，玄鲸舟毕竟只有十艘，久战数回合便显出支拙。
木天青见状也不保留，默诵盘龙密咒，顷刻间水浪翻涌，乌云密布，紧接着十道巨硕身躯横贯河床，荡开魔兵攻势，正是蛟龙再现。
魔界怪鱼虽是异种，但蛟龙却是先天控水异兽，如今封神法印解开，体内灵元完全开启，不但有了神智，亦有了神通，胜过一般的天人高手，只看龙口一张，蓝色火焰喷射而出。
魔兵欲故技重施，引水汽护体，谁知这由蛟龙吐出的玄离火遇水则燃，水汽护盾完全成为燃油，反而是引火烧身。
而蛟龙吐息蕴含水火之元，水克火的五行法则倒也失了效果，魔兵可谓是遇上了克星。
泺灏当机立断，下令道：「散去水元护盾，短兵相接，先灭长虫，再沉旗舰！」
众魔兵立即招办，散去护身水汽，拔出兵刃，驾驭怪鱼坐骑扑向蛟龙。
泺灏心知蛟龙霸道，便让魔兵不断分散，逐步合围，分为十队，每队五百人，先派三百人正面诱战，再引两百人袭击蛟龙两侧。
木天青心知魔兵骁勇，那会让蛟龙孤军奋战，立即摇动旗语，六艘铁架战舰派出梅花六方之势，十艘玄鲸舟则穿梭在蛟龙身旁，一方面与铁架战舰呼应，一方面协助蛟龙。
没了两翼之忧，蛟龙放开手脚大战，时而翻浪，时而吐火，打得这支玄水魔兵难取上风。
泺灏见状立即改换战阵，让小型的怪鱼坐骑游弋在蛟龙附近，吸引蛟龙注意力，然后再集合几条丈许长的大鱼趁势扑杀。
蛟目眼观八方，见有怪鱼逼近，蛟龙猛地一个甩尾巴，力道千钧，将两条大鱼拍飞至半空，紧接着蛟龙腾身一跃，张口咬死一条，伸爪挠破另一条的肚子。
泺灏暗喜，喝道：「就是现在，给我杀！」
话音甫落，十名魔兵驾着小型怪鱼腾出水面，手中刀枪便朝蛟龙刺来。
蛟龙出水之势头刚尽，还未回到水里，正是薄弱之破绽，难挡魔兵暗算，只见十几个魔兵跳上蛟龙身上，手中刀剑连环劈砍，竟将鳞甲剖开，蛟龙鲜血直流，痛得不住翻腾。
这时候泺灏脚下那只锯齿鱼大口一张，吐出上千万手指粗细的小鱼。
那些小鱼迅速逼近蛟龙，顺着它破溃的鳞甲钻入血肉，进而蔓延至骨髓，几个呼吸间便顺着脊骨龙髓钻入大脑。
那条蛟龙双目顿时绽放黑芒，身上青灰色的鳞片也变作黝黑，全身上下透出一股魔气，眼眸绽露凶光，竟向着主舰扑去。
木天青暗叫不妙，单掌托天，凝气成枪，一记灭神枪便投了出去，将魔化的蛟龙射杀贯穿。
蛟龙本就强壮，身躯破了个大洞依旧凶悍，龙尾一扫，将左翼的两艘玄鲸舟打碎。
「所有主炮对准魔化蛟龙！」
木天青忍痛下令，六口主炮同时打出，将那条蛟龙炸成粉碎。
其余九条不由得呜呜悲鸣，木天青暗中以神念沟通蛟龙：「对不住了，我只能这样做……」
剩余的九条蛟龙似乎能理解，一齐扬天长啸，龙吟悲鸣，同时喷出九道玄离火，火焰烧入云层，云气中立即有电光闪烁。
泺灏大叫一声不好，紧接着便是雷火降落，水上的一大片魔兵惨遭屠灭，四下怪鱼也死伤不少。
泺灏转头看向铁甲战舰，只见木天青站在船头冷笑。
木天青迎上他的目光，哼道：「卑鄙小魔，可敢跟吾一战？」
泺灏魔气倾吐，扬起分水刺指着木天青道：「有何不敢，本大爷还要在你的战舰上拿下你的狗头呢！」
说罢提气御水，灵活地掠过战场，护航的蛟龙竟无法捕捉到他行踪，被他一下子窜到主舰甲板上。
木天青凛然不惧，抽出腰间佩刀，在泺灏落下之时一刀劈了过去，刀中蕴含灭丧之气，毫无属性，只有最本源的摧毁之力，正是灭卷之能。
泺灏分水刺转了个半弧，宛若水光泄地，流畅无比，十分绵长，将木天青的灭丧之气推开。
泺灏冷笑道：「不外如是，也配上阵厮杀！」
木天青眉宇泛煞，气息一凝，掌心运起一股浑厚罡气，紧接着双掌左右一合，罡气流转四周，使得空间集聚凹陷，泺灏散出的黑水魔气也被扯得七零八落，难以为继。
泺灏惊得连忙收敛外放魔气，转为全守，而四周空间越发越凌乱，泺灏宛若被困在一个牢笼中。
他勉力稳住内息，将手中分水刺往侧面点去，集合刺破一点，波的一声，木天青布下的气场破碎。
前式被破，木天青仍有后招，只见他右掌一翻，罡炁席卷而来，左右流窜，杂乱无章，却是叫人无法捉摸。
泺灏越战越是吃惊，忖道：「龙麟军的能战之将我界都有详细调查，对于这厮的情报却是少之又少……」
魔界收集了不少关于龙麟军的情报，军中高手摒除那几大破虚武神之外，天人境界中，龙辉内院家眷最为厉害者无外乎楚婉冰、魏雪芯、林碧柔、白翎羽，玉无痕等五人，而军中能战勇将则以妖族一干长老和妖将为主，铁壁关旧部的王栋、梁明只是靠灌功提上去的天人，尚不足畏惧，唯有那兵马大元帅凌霄是最为厉害，泺灏起初也接到密令，若遇上凌霄或者是妖族长老便立即退避三分，其余人皆可一战。
但如今形势却是出乎其意料之外，只看木天青掌拨千钧，罡炁猛地压来，泺灏轻敌在先，无形之中已添三分败机，手忙脚乱地舞动分水刺抵御，但蓄力不足，被罡气压得左摇右摆，体内气血翻涌，难受欲吐血。
「这究竟是什么武功，怎地如此难应付！」
泺灏暗自吃惊。
木天青一直在后方整顿刑法，鲜有露面，但毕竟也是武人心性，隐居后方的同时便日夜苦练灭之卷。
九霄真卷并无特定的招式，一切皆由修炼者领悟，日夜苦练之后，木天青竟悟出一套属于自己的武功招式，取名为「寂灭天」，此法的精要分为乱、逆、灭三决，逆则是干扰敌人之气，逆则是将对方的真气属性逆转，再返还敌手，令其重创；灭则是直接摧毁敌人命脉。
寂灭天乃是一种气场功法，一旦敌人被陷入其中，木天青的攻击便陆续有来，除非根基远胜于他，否则难有胜算。
泺灏陷入寂灭天之中，狼狈抵挡，刚一提气，便感觉气息逆冲，好不难受，他正想稳定气机，却又感觉到水性魔气之中涌起阵阵炙热，仿若烈火烧身，叫他难以放开手脚。
木天青以寂灭天压制住黑水魔子，但却感觉对方体内还有一股浑厚异力抵抗，使得灭绝之气难以完全攻入。
木天青心想道：「定是那来自天外的星辰元力，若不然早就废了这魔孽了！」再缠斗数十回合，木天青窥准一个机会，大喝一声着，一记灭神掌猛地拍向泺灏胸口，泺灏忙将分水刺挡在胸口，但仍是被木天青一掌拍散护身气劲，灭丧之气如跗骨之蛆般钻入体内，侵蚀心脉。
泺灏喉咙一甜，鲜血溢出口角，生出退意，连忙虚晃几招便跳出战舰，水中的五目锯齿鱼立即游来接住主人。
「兀那贼子，留下姓名，待吾日后再续此战！」
泺灏回首吆喝道。
木天青冷笑一声，嘿道：「手下败将，且顾好你自己再说吧！」
话音甫落，锯齿鱼侧面忽然窜出一条蛟龙，龙尾一扫，狠狠地将那重逾万斤的锯齿鱼拍飞出水，身上的泺灏也是抛在半空，好不狼狈。
蛟龙犄角再猛地刺入锯齿鱼的肚子，顺势一拉，整条恶鱼便被开膛破肚，血染浑谷河。
泺灏见坐骑被杀，着实惊怒，却不料那蛟龙昂起龙头，张开大嘴对准了他。
泺灏脸色一变，暗叫糟糕，一道龙息扑面而来，泺灏的水性功体亦同样助燃，顷刻间便被烧成一团火球，哀嚎连连地朝寨内飞去。
木天青大手一挥：「敌将已败，全力拿下敌营水寨！」
全军士气大增，六艘铁甲战舰开尽船桨冲了过去，九条蛟龙也是兴奋长啸，横扫整个浑谷河，再配合玄鲸舟的助攻，很快便冲散黑水魔兵，直扑水寨而去。
战舰趁势西进，火炮齐鸣；蛟龙翻水咆哮，龙息喷射，敌营水寨顿显一片火海，火势一发不可收拾，由水中蔓延而上，就连朝廷军建造在陆地的营寨也被焚之一空，士兵慌忙夺路逃生。
泺灏一边后退一边收拢残兵，环顾四周，发觉逃出来的人马不足三成，就连自己手下的五千玄水魔兵也折损过半，大多是被那遇水则烧的玄离火所灭。
他身为堂堂黑水魔子，麾下士兵亦是水魔，竟遭逢水战溃败，叫他好不憋屈。
望着四下残兵，泺灏忖道：「这个情形断不可靠近水域，唯有向虎踞岭靠拢，向古木桢求援方为上策！」
这时阵阵蛟龙咆哮传入耳中，夹杂着悲愤和仇恨，听得泺灏一阵心寒，哪还敢多留，立即率部往虎踞岭方向靠近。
刚走了十余里，忽闻四周杀声震天，泺灏抬眼一看，漫山遍野竟都是龙麟军的旗帜，为首军旗乃是一个岳字，只看岳彪宛若一尊铁塔般昂然挡住去路，身边的白眉熊率先按耐不住，纵身扑出，一记熊掌扫出，击倒大片敌兵，那些兵将多是朝廷兵马，而玄水魔兵则是败而不颓，依旧身手惊人，轻易避开白眉熊的攻击。
岳彪哼道：「这里四周不是泥巴就是木头，老子看你还如何御水！」
泺灏大喝道：「就算没有地利相助，本魔也不怕你这败军之将！」
说罢手势一挥，玄水魔兵迅速结集，环绕成圆，护在泺灏四周。
岳彪嘿嘿一笑，摆了摆手，身后立即驶出十尊狮牙战车，泺灏脸色一变，立闻火炮同时轰响，四下的魔兵被炸得甲碎肢断，血流成河。
泺灏被战车的威力惊得目瞪口呆，这些战车的炮火就连豸冠、百战这等勇猛巨妖也不敢轻易去接，区区玄甲魔兵又岂能比拟妖族的长老巨擘，被炸得粉身碎骨也是理所当然。
岳彪嘿嘿笑道：「居然遇上这么傻的人，聚在一起来给老子包饺子！」
泺灏气得面色铁青，却也不敢逞强，命令士兵四下散开，化整为零朝着虎踞岭奔去。
岳彪也不追赶，排出厚实的攻坚战阵，原地待命。
岳彪心想道：「魔兵力强，咱们却有巧器相助，起初我舍长取短，战败被擒也是活该，这次有了将功赎罪的机会，说什么也不会让这些魔崽子过得轻易！」
泺灏逃了好一段距离，已可看见虎踞岭的山脉地势，忽然间听到一阵嘈杂的呐喊声，叫他一阵纳闷，心头乱颤。
走了片刻，忽而见前方扑来一道翠绿身影，定睛一看，竟是碧木魔子——古木桢。
见对方正领着一支残兵往这边赶来，泺灏叫道：「古木桢，你怎地如此狼狈？」
古木桢道：「能有什么，还不是吃了败仗！你怎地不在浑谷河，往这边跑作甚？」
泺灏苦笑道：「浑谷河也失守了，我正想向虎踞岭求援呢！」
古木桢道：「那狮子精用炼神火炮连环轰击，将我这边实在顶不住了！」
古木桢讶异地道：「你布有苍藤木灵界守护，除非是炼神浮屠的炮击，或者是小妖后那等级别的高手攻击，若不然如何破你结界！」
古木桢道：「就是遇上高手袭击，那女人一身碧色衣裙，武功高得出奇，我的守护结界根本没用，被她一掌就拍碎了！」
泺灏惊讶不已，思索片刻，说道：「碧色衣裙的女人？应该是那林碧柔，传闻她的武功不逊小妖后。」
古木桢叹道：「哎，败得憋屈啊，若阳魔拨给我更多兵力，我又岂会将这重要据点拱手让人！」
泺灏道：「阳魔少主乃奉魔尊密令行事，用意高深，非吾等能明，只要将敌军主力引入深处，咱们任务便完成了！」
儒门总坛旧址，两道身影暗夜潜入，竟是孔丘与孟轲。
本该是在天外星域寻找荒神笔的两人，此刻却是神不知鬼不觉地折返总坛旧址。
自从儒门分东西两宗，设大小教主之后，三大宗脉也相应调出了不少弟子，只余乐、射两坛艺执事镇守。
两人熟练地避开巡夜弟子，轻易潜入沧海阁内。
孔丘摇头苦笑道：「师兄，这是咱们第几次偷偷摸摸地回自己家了？」
孟轲也是莞尔道：「记不清啦，自从师尊仙逝后，咱们兄弟俩就没有几次可以正常回家的！」
孔丘道：「只盼能赶在宗师叔回来之前，部署好一切。」
孟轲道：「且不说其余之事，如今此地有乐凝、封羿两人镇守，要想瞒过他们也不容易啊！」
孔丘道：「咱们分头行事，如果这两人也被魔界控制了，咱们便施以雷霆手段将其制服，若他们还保持本心，咱们便给他们道明真相，请他们协助！」
孟轲点头道：「然也！师弟，封坛主那边就由你负责，我则去乐坛主那边！」两人迅速散开，孟轲赶往乐凝居所，心里正是百感交集。
原来他们在天外星域寻找荒神笔花费了不少时间，终于感应到圣物所在，但却被宗逸逍捷足先登，两人合计一番，自知难以强夺，于是便在折返神州的路上布下多重暗招和阵法，不求伤敌，只求阻挠宗逸逍行程。
两人随后马不停蹄赶回神州，决定来个智取荒神笔，于是便有了折返沧海阁的这一幕。
孟轲进入沧海阁西院，眺望而去，只见一座雕花玉琊楼上烛火盈盈，映在珠帘轻纱上，勾勒出一抹优雅窈窕。
孟轲心头一颤，喉咙宛若被什么堵住一般。
紧接着琴音奏响，宛若珠落玉盘，又似高山流水，亦如河转九曲，更似莺燕娇啼，宛若天籁，叫人沉醉其中。
孟轲心念一动：「音若其心，如此清澈曼妙的琴音绝非心性大变之人能演奏，乐师姐还是原来的她！」
孟轲喜出望外，身形一纵，跃上绣楼。
「乐师姐！」
乐凝正在抚琴，见有人闯入花容倏地一变，道：「教……你居然还敢回来？」她本想呼教主，但却想到眼前之人跟龙麟军同流合污，拐走太后和贵妃，高举反旗，再兴干戈，所以理解改口称对方为你。
孟轲摇头苦笑道：「师姐，此事并非你想象那般简单。」
乐凝咬紧银牙，说道：「我只知道江南一派为了私欲而举旗造反，不顾百姓存亡，将天下再度推入兵燹之中！」
说话间玉指已经扣在琴弦，只待随时发出音波功。
孟轲道：「乐师姐，你可否听我一言！」
乐凝道：「有话快说，但你只有三句话的机会！」
孟轲叹了一声道：「现在的宗、尹两位师叔已经被魔尊控制了心神！」
乐凝脸色不见表情，冷冷地道：「还有两句！」
Meng Ke asked, "Senior Sister, have you forgotten the chaos of Haotian?"
Le Ning's brows twitched slightly, her lips pressed tightly together, and she said, "The last sentence!"
However, the murderous intent in his words had lessened somewhat.
Meng Ke added at the end, "Uncle-Master Jin sacrificed more than half of his foundation by using the Life-Sustaining Elixir!"
Because he was limited to three sentences, Meng Ke could only say the most important things. The first sentence stated the facts, the second sentence reminded the other party not to repeat the same mistake, and the third sentence introduced a mystery, which made Yue Ning half believe and half doubt.
She released her grip on the strings and said, "You've passed for now. Now, tell me the whole story, and I'll consider it before making a decision!"
Meng Ke breathed a sigh of relief and briefly recounted the whole story, which made Le Ning's eyebrows furrow in dismay.
How do I know whether what you're saying is true or false?
"Le Ning said."
Meng Ke sighed, "Senior Sister, you yourself must have had your suspicions, right? Our Grandmaster Uncle and the Dragonscale Army used to be quite close, so why did they suddenly become enemies without any warning?"
"Senior Sister Yue, if you still have objections, why don't you just observe from the sidelines?"
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out, and Confucius pushed open the door and entered, followed by Feng Yi.
Le Ning was stunned and said, "Senior Brother Feng, you too..."
Feng Yi said, "Zhongni has already told me the whole story, but it's too shocking for me to fully believe. I wanted to ask you, my junior sister, for confirmation!"
Confucius took out two garments from his robes and said, "These two garments are called Spirit Concealment Garments. Wearing them will allow you to hide your aura for half an hour. As long as you don't make any rash moves, even a master like Grandmaster Uncle will have difficulty detecting you! Why don't you two put on the garments first, and then observe the situation quietly from the sidelines? The truth will eventually come to light!"
These two Spirit Concealment Robes were secretly given to them by Long Hui for protection before their departure.
Le Ning said, "Very well, if you're lying, don't blame us for being impolite!"
Confucius laughed and said, "That's natural, but if what we say is true, we would appreciate your help in substituting this fake for a genuine one!"
When Yue Ning and Feng Yi took a look, they were shocked to find that this was clearly a counterfeit of the Desolate God Brush.
Confucius said, "When Ksitigarbha encountered a calamity, he scattered the sacred artifacts of the three religions into the void before his death. The two of us were here to retrieve the Desolate Divine Brush, but unfortunately, our Grandmaster Uncle beat us to it. So we decided to switch it with his own!"
Le Ning bit her lower lip and said, "You really trust us that much?"
Meng Ke said, "I believe that the true Sister Yue is someone who can distinguish right from wrong!"
Confucius also said, "Originally, we intended to use the Spirit Concealment Robe to secretly steal the Desolate God Brush, but we were always outnumbered and lacked the confidence to succeed. Now, with the help of the two altar masters, things will be much easier!"
Feng Yi was the first to reach out and take the Spirit Concealment Robe, saying, "Alright, I promise you!"
Le Ning nodded in agreement.
Meng Ke clapped his hands and laughed, "The original plan was for the two of us to appear at the same time, join forces to fight the Grandmaster Uncle, and gradually lure him away. In the heat of battle, whoever had the opportunity would immediately use the Spirit Concealment Robe to escape and steal the Desolate God Brush!"
Kong Qiu said, "But this plan is also quite risky. Even if we fight Grandmaster Uncle one-on-one, neither of us has a chance of winning, not to mention there are other gatekeeper disciples... Moreover, the one who escapes must steal the Desolate God Brush before the other can't hold on anymore, otherwise all our efforts will be in vain! Now that we have the help of the two of you, my brother and I can join forces to fight the enemy and ensure that this feint attack has enough time to be completed."
Le Ning asked, "If Pavilion Master has the Desolate God Brush on him, how will he steal it?"
Meng Ke laughed and said, "No, Confucian scholars value appearance above all else. Even if my master's temperament has changed drastically, he will still retain these daily habits. He will definitely bathe and change clothes after his long journey from beyond the heavens. We'll make our move then!"
Just then, purple energy surged in the sky, and Confucius and Mencius' expressions darkened. They said, "They're back!"

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Dragon Soul Heroes - Chapter 2: Deceit and Intrigue

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