The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1039 - 577: Want to Kill Them? Have You Asked Me First?

Yu Xiu glanced at him faintly, playing dumb, "Intervene in what? Did I do something? Who can prove it?"

Zhao Douan was taken aback, then laughed silently!

So, even a principled Daoist is quite an interesting person.

Passing the checkpoint, the group began to ascend the mountain. The terrain of Zhengyang Mountain was gentle, and the gradient of the slope gradually increased. To facilitate travel, a winding mountain road was built.

During the ascent by carriage, the academy buildings on the mountain became increasingly clear, with ancient pines standing out under the thin clouds.

When they reached the halfway point, there was a resting pavilion, and to Zhao Douan’s surprise, a young man emerged from it, waving at them.

"Stop the car," Zhao Douan said, then lifted the curtain and looked at the man about thirty or forty, with a graceful and scholarly demeanor, wearing a scholar’s long robe, feeling a sense of familiarity.

Frowning and thinking for a moment, he blurted out, "Are you... Lu Cheng?"

Lu Cheng!

The chief disciple of the Zhengyang School and a respected student of Mr. Zhengyang. Back in the Capital, Zhao Douan had discussed Heart Learning with Zhengyang at Bailu Academy, accompanied by this chief disciple Lu Cheng and Scholar Song from Song Family Manor.

"Scholar Zhao!" Lu Cheng also seemed quite surprised upon seeing him and saluted him promptly.

Referring to him as a scholar.

Zhao Douan asked in surprise, "Were you waiting for me here?"

Lu Cheng nodded, smiled, and said, "Indeed, under the order of my master, I am here to await your distinguished presence."

How did that pedantic Zhengyang know I would come? Zhao Douan wondered aloud, "When I came over, I saw Zhengyang Mountain had been sealed off."

The implication was that he wanted an explanation.

Lu Cheng let out a bitter smile, "Indeed, after my master returned from the Capital, the Mu Prince Manor became cold and dissatisfied with him. When the uprising began, my master tried to stop it, which displeased the Mu Prince, leading to further disfavor, and to prevent us from spreading misleading words, he ordered the mountain to be sealed. Thankfully, out of reverence for my master’s reputation, they did not resort to force against us."

Pausing, seeing Zhao Douan still wary, Lu Cheng continued, "Just a few days ago, a friend of my master’s bypassed the lines and came up the mountain as a guest, staying at the academy for a few days already. It was this friend who said someone would come today, so my master ordered me to wait here early in the morning, though I didn’t expect the visitor to be Scholar Zhao."

Zhengyang’s friend? The four in the carriage exchanged glances, their expressions growing more peculiar.

But no matter how many doubts there were, they would ultimately be resolved only by going up the mountain.

Zhong Pan glanced at the unicorn, which was already exhausted and unable to continue climbing, and said with concern, "It’ll be difficult to travel further by carriage; let’s ascend the mountain on foot."

Zhao Douan nodded. Immediately, they got off the carriage and followed Lu Cheng along the mountain path.

However, at that moment, Jin Jian, who was walking behind, suddenly sensed something, turned her head sharply to look down the mountain, and cried out, "He’s coming!"

Zhao Douan turned and looked back, his pupils suddenly constricting!

In the distance, large dark clouds gathered, and the sky visibly darkened as the sunlight was obscured.

A billowing thick smoke rose from the forest, and then a figure armored and wild, rushed to the mountain’s base like a cannonball.

Looking up, he let out a sinister laugh, "Zhengyang Mountain, you actually came to Zhengyang Mountain? Haha, it’s perfect for me to wipe you all out at once!"

Xu Jingtang!

He had finally caught up at the last moment!

After days of chasing, even with divine power, Xu Jingtang was travel-worn and looked somewhat battered.

His crown had fallen off at some point, his hair disheveled, his expression grim and angry.

What was his status? A few lives he thought were easy to capture had made him chase this long.

"Run! I’d like to see how many more times you can run!?"

Furious, Xu Jingtang, stepping towards the mountain, emitted billowing smoke from his armor in his rage; it was intense mourning energy, spreading and withering the vegetation instantly.

"This is bad... Quick, up the mountain!" Zhao Douan’s expression changed wildly, and the group had no way to save their lives. Instinctively, he wanted to pull everyone up the mountain.

However, Zhong Pan remained still, simply leaning on his great sword, calmly saying, "It’s too late."

Xu Jingtang came too quickly; he would catch up in just a few breaths, making escape impossible.

Zhao Douan, Jin Jian, and Yu Xiu all turned pale. They had escaped all this way, and now, upon reaching their destination, would it end in failure?

Yet, Zhong Pan had already stepped forward, blocking in front of everyone, the Little Heavenly Master without turning his head said, "Continue up the mountain, I’ll try to hold him off for a while."

"Senior Brother!" Yu Xiu’s face changed.

Zhong Pan said lightly, "These past few days, many of the curses on my body have been broken, and I’ve regained a fair amount of cultivation. If I urge the Secret Technique, I can temporarily restore my realm. Only I can try to stop him. Don’t waste time, go quickly!"

As he spoke, without waiting for Zhao Douan and the others to react, he suddenly raised the scarlet greatsword he was leaning on, and the broad blade suddenly lit up with a crimson light, with a majestic aura slowly rising.

The Little Heavenly Master remained expressionless and slashed out a sword through the air!

A rainbow-like Sword Qi separated from the blade, transforming into a beam of shimmering light, colliding with Xu Jingtang who was enveloped by thick smoke.

"Mere Worldly Realm, and you dare to try to stop me?!" Xu Jingtang’s mental state appeared somewhat deranged, and he laughed loudly, throwing a punch.

As his fist was thrown, layers of gray smoke condensed into a fist, easily shattering the thick Sword Qi!

Xu Jingtang’s feet also landed on the mountain path. He looked up contemptuously at Zhong Pan and mocked, "Is this all the skill of the Heavenly Master Mansion’s prized disciple? This prince originally had no intention to become enemies with the Heavenly Master Mansion, but as you insist on being obstinate, don’t blame this prince for showing no mercy!"

Zhong Pan remained expressionless, silently suspending the greatsword in the air before him, pointing its tip directly at the Mu Prince.

With one hand on the sword hilt, he suddenly traced a circle in the air. In a flash, the scarlet greatsword also traced a circle in the air, multiplying into dozens of common swords.

On Zhengyang Mountain, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was gathering fiercely.

Dozens of greatswords formed a circular Sword Array, spinning madly behind the Little Heavenly Master, brewing a force of utter destruction.

Zhong Pan pursed his lips, and amidst the hideous and vicious face, his eyes became heavy. His right elbow suddenly drew back to charge up, and a sound of thunder echoed from the mountain.

Then, Zhong Pan’s right fist suddenly struck forward, smashing onto the sword hilt!

Suddenly.

On Zhengyang Mountain, the wild wind swept, and the clouds in the sky seemed to be drawn, as the scarlet greatsword roared out, dragging the entire Sword Array behind it, like the raging waves of the East Sea, bursting with dazzling rainbow light, fiercely thrusting towards Xu Jingtang!

Zhao Douan’s heart trembled; he clearly felt the strength of this sword.

This was a sword nearing the strongest that could be unleashed by the Worldly Realm.

"Overestimating yourself!" Xu Jingtang’s eyes merely turned cold. He stepped forward, opening five fingers, reaching to grasp the longsword!

A fierce wind howled, the world changed color, and the entire Zhengyang Mountain was shrouded in gray clouds. An area of several miles fell into darkness, as if countless creatures were lamenting, with a phantom Divine arm appearing, drawn by Xu Jingtang, meeting the sword.

The next second, Xu Jingtang’s right hand clutched the sword tip, squeezing fiercely.

"Crack!"

The scarlet greatsword’s tip cracked open. Enraged, Zhong Pan pushed with both hands, and within his body, the Mountain Lord faintly appeared. Strong kinetic energy propelled the longsword, actually shaking Xu Jingtang’s arm away.

In Xu Jingtang’s shocked eyes, a wound deep enough to reveal bone appeared on his hand. Then, the giant sword boldly struck Xu Jingtang’s armored chest.

However...

The giant sword failed to penetrate; instead, with a sound like teeth aching in pain, the scarlet sword body fragmented, twisted, and deformed section by section...

Finally, only a sword hilt remained, with a heap of twisted blade remnants piled on Xu Jingtang’s chest.

He opened his arms and gently shook, sending the broken sword flying. Zhong Pan suddenly tilted his head back and spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backwards!

In the eyes of Zhao Douan and the others, he crashed heavily onto the mountain rocks, his body almost embedded into the ground!

"Senior Brother!" Jin Jian and Yu Xiu were anxious and dashed over, while Zhao Douan’s mind buzzed, quickly rushing forward too.

One could see Zhong Pan with blood staining his chest, struggling to sit up from the ground with difficulty, his face gloomy, shaking his head and saying, "I’m okay... cough, cough... this Divine... is so strong..."

Xu Jingtang raised his palm, seeing the flesh rapidly healing, with even greater anger in his eyes, "You all know nothing about this prince’s power. It’s folly to act against the tide. Alright then, this prince will send you all on your way together."

As he spoke, he stepped forward once again, spreading his five fingers, preparing to Curse Kill Zhao Douan and the others from afar.

However...

At this moment, everyone suddenly heard a calm voice coming from the Zhengyang Mountain academy:

"Want to kill them? Have you asked me first?"

That voice was extremely gentle, yet effortlessly traversed a thousand meters, entering everyone’s ears as if whispering beside them.

Xu Jingtang suddenly looked up, strong warnings rising in his heart.

Zhao Douan also suddenly lifted his head, only to see in his vision, in the sky, a magnificent azure light suddenly... erupted!

——

Slapped in the face, didn’t remember to finish the kill...