Chapter 551

Chapter 551

After shouting the slogan, the curtain slowly fell, and Zhou Xuqing turned around and walked back to sit down at the round table again.

Li Zhuiyuan pushed a cup of tea in front of Zhou Xuqing and then placed an incense stick upright in the tea. The aroma of the tea and the smoke mixed together, obscuring Zhou Xuqing's face.

The current situation is not just good, it's excellent.

He not only infiltrated the enemy's core, but even became the enemy's leader.

However, the more challenging it is at this time, the more difficult it becomes to operate, because the objectives are different.

If, like Uncle Qin back then, one is lured into the trap step by step, then only the goal of fighting to the death to survive remains.
Alternatively, after seeing through their plan, one could lead their own people to break in ahead of time, disrupt their strategy, and then wreak havoc. As long as one doesn't get surrounded, killing as many people as possible is a win.

But what Li Zhuiyuan wants now is to take everything.

The young man can now control Wangjiang Tower through Zhou Xuqing and attack the group of people in the square. The chances of winning are extremely high, and he can be considered to have it under his control.

But this is only the first batch; there will be a second, third, and fourth batches to come.

We'll have to wait.

When they came in earlier, they only killed Zhou Xuqing's team, which made cleaning up easy. Dealing with the group below wouldn't be difficult, but it would be almost impossible to clean up the traces in time. Moreover, there's a high probability that the next group of people arriving would notice the commotion inside during the operation.

You can't eat it in batches; you have to eat it all at once.

But once the next few groups of people arrive, and the number of people in the square keeps doubling, it will be much more difficult to suppress them by relying on this advantageous location, and they will easily burst.

Besides, you can't just hide inside the building forever. Even if you don't come out, don't they want to come in and take a look?

The group of people outside are all lamplighters, shrewd individuals who have ventured out from the river. You can call them bad and depraved, but you can't think they're stupid.

Fortunately, Li Zhuiyuan did have relevant work experience.

Li Zhuiyuan placed the dragon-patterned compass on the table, and then placed the evil book on the compass.

The compass rotates slowly, performing calculations.

Li Zhuiyuan placed his left index finger on the page and infused it with his spiritual power. Soon, densely packed, tiny characters appeared on the page. This was a condensed version of a secret manual, not meant for human eyes, but translated by an evil book.

Once the manual was filled in, Li Zhuiyuan turned the page, and dynamic clouds and mist appeared on the back.

The boy's right hand then moved in response.

Zhou Xuqing, who was sitting opposite him "tasting tea," made a mudra with his hands.

At the same time, the clouds above Wangjiang Tower changed.

The crowd in the square noticed this, and when they looked up, some quickly recognized that it was a demonstration of a martial arts technique.

A young man in a floral shirt stood there, staring blankly at the sky.

The two people beside the young man asked in unison, incredulously:
"Isn't this Brother Luo's 'Formless Freedom Skill'?"

The Luo family of Xiacheng is famous for their movement techniques, which combine illusion techniques, making them as ghostly as ghosts in movement and combat.

Luo Xinming couldn't understand why his family's closely guarded secret would be so openly revealed at this time.

Right now, many people in the crowd are sitting cross-legged, contemplating the clouds. This kind of interpretation may only happen once, and how much one can master depends entirely on individual talent.

Luo Xinming wanted to stop them. Any lineage should be based on its own unique techniques, so how could they allow it to be spread so openly?

Luo Xinming merely murmured, neither stopping him nor daring to utter a word, because he understood the allure of this level of martial arts to people in the martial arts world. Even if it belonged to the Luo family, daring to stop it now would be an act of public wrath!
Seeing this, Luo Xinming's two friends no longer hesitated. One sat down cross-legged, while the other gestured to one of his team members to quickly begin to meditate.

"Huh...huh...huh..."

Luo Xinming felt an intense sense of shame, as if his clothes had been stripped off. He breathed rapidly and clenched his fists tightly.

But soon, his expression relaxed.

Above, in the clouds, another area was divided up, where another martial art was performed.

Luo Xinming turned to look at a friend beside him.

This friend opened his mouth, revealing the same expression as Luo Xinming.

Luo Xinming: "Brother Zhu, isn't this your Zhu family's 'Breaking the Mountain Long Fist'?"

Although Zhu Tong did not respond, it was tantamount to admitting it.

Luo Xinming felt much more at ease, and he immediately urged his subordinate who followed the pure martial arts path:
"What are you waiting for? Quickly comprehend it."

"Yes!"

Zhu Tong murmured, "Why is this happening?"

Next, new areas were continuously opened up in the clouds, and new techniques were developed as a result.

The emergence of each new cultivation method attracts some people to sit down and study it.

No explanation was given from Wangjiang Tower, and Zhou Xuqing never showed his face again.

Of course, anyone who dares to go into the building to disturb them at this time will only become the enemy of the entire place.

The crowd in the square also "figured out" for themselves why this situation had occurred.

This is a joint operation by many forces. Isn't this situation just a sweet treat that many forces are offering to everyone?

Each family contributed a martial arts manual as a reward to those who participated in the event, serving as a morale booster and a way to share resources.

Zhao Yi stood in the crowd, a pipe dangling from his mouth, watching people sit down one after another, the smoke from the pipe flickering in and out of the air.

If the man surnamed Li doesn't make a move, then he'll take over the situation and make sure this "empty city strategy" continues.

Now, he doesn't need to worry about it anymore.

Why bother with any empty city strategy? Just give them plenty of meat buns and beat the dogs with all your might.

Only someone surnamed Li, relying on the collection of books in his basement, could have produced such a work.

Comprehending the secrets of martial arts requires initial awareness, followed by continuous reflection and practice to truly internalize them and achieve an improvement in strength.

Therefore, feeding them these things at this time is not a threat to the enemy, unless everyone in the square is "Chen Xiyuan".

One Miss Chen was enough to make Zhao Yi feel bad. If it were Sister Chen from Manjiang, Zhao Yi would have stopped playing by lighting the lamp twice and gone ashore to treat his angina.

However, this action gave Zhao Yi a very strong sense of déjà vu.

Back in Ji'an, Zhao Yi participated in labor construction and even became the captain of a tractor transport team.

Whenever a project encounters problems and has to be temporarily suspended, a study session is organized on the construction site. This session might involve teaching professional knowledge, inviting people to share their experiences, or even organizing an internal basketball game. In short, everyone's attention and energy need to be focused and not left idle.

Zhao Yi exhaled a smoke ring and thought to himself: I thought you, surnamed Li, went to university just to get a status, but I didn't expect you to really go there to learn skills. After I finish my journey across the river, I really need to take the entrance exam for that university myself.

The various martial arts techniques being performed above were so enviable that even Zhao Yi was tempted by some of them, and some were even suitable for his subordinates. However, Zhao Yi neither sat down to study them nor instructed his men carrying flags at the four corners to learn them quickly.

There's no need for that. Just write down the list of techniques. After this wave ends, send a reimbursement form to that guy surnamed Li. You have to send me the techniques listed there. I don't care for disposable ones; I want handwritten copies.

In addition, Zhao Yi also noticed a problem: the cultivation techniques being demonstrated so far have many categories, but none of them involve formations or feng shui...

And these are precisely the things that someone surnamed Li excels at.

This isn't because the person surnamed Li is being stingy or deliberately leaving himself a backup plan.

When it comes to actually taking action, which type of person in Wangjiang Tower will be the most troublesome and the most capable of breaking the deadlock? Aren't they the ones mentioned above?

First, deliberately don't show them what they want, whetting their appetites. Then, find an excuse, such as that the clouds make it inconvenient to show them, and that they need to go inside the tower to comprehend it.

Imagine the scene: a group of formation masters and feng shui masters who are generally weak and helpless are tricked into the tower and then... hehe.

So, you surnamed Li, you're the most cunning one yet. Not only do you put all the food in your own bowl to eat it all by yourself, but you also have to be mindful of your table manners!
In fact, Li Zhuiyuan had not consulted with Zhao Yi about this matter. Li Zhuiyuan had never liked holding meetings when dealing with Zhao Yi.

Even if Li Zhuiyuan and the others cannot show themselves at this moment, and Zhao Yi will have to organize people to fall into the trap, the young man knows that Zhao Yi will know what to do.

The second fleet arrived, and Zhao Yi straightened his clothes before heading to the dock to greet the second group of lamplighters.

After leading the people to the square, Zhao Yi didn't need to explain anything; they had eyes and could look up and see for themselves.

Moreover, those who are still standing in the first batch, such as formation masters and feng shui masters, can also act as commentators.

The second group of lamp-lighters immediately felt a sense of regret for missing an opportunity. Without hesitation, anyone who could see a suitable practice method immediately sat down cross-legged to meditate.

In this blissful sense of serendipitous opportunity, time flew by. Zhao Yi welcomed the third group. Looking at the people on the ship, Zhao Yi's first thought was:
Wow, they brought so many heavy weapons!
These three batches are of similar size, but the quality of their members increases with each batch. In the third batch, many of the members have lineages comparable to the Zhao family of Jiujiang, which once produced a Dragon King. There are also quite a few members who are comparable to or even belong to the legitimate Dragon King family.

It can be said that more than half of the lamplighters in this third batch are qualified to be brought to the Wangjiang Tower for a meeting by their elders.

The last time Li Zhuiyuan came here, they stood in the square and bowed to him in unison.

And they were also the targets that Li Zhuiyuan most wanted to eliminate in his plan.

Killing more of those bribed outlaws and inheritors of lower-middle-level forces is pointless. They are like weeds; once you cut one crop, another will grow back. In the eyes of top-tier forces, these guys are just expendable resources.

Only by killing their own precious children can they feel pain and fear, so that the grandmothers watching the ceremony at Qinglong Temple can feel safe and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

"Brother Zhao, what's going on?"

"Brother Zhao, is this arrangement made?"

These people are of different statuses, especially those of high status. When they get together, they are more vigilant as they exchange glances.

Zhao Yi spread his hands and said honestly, "I didn't know about this beforehand. Why don't we go upstairs and ask Brother Zhou?"

Everyone nodded, intending to go inside the building to ask questions and, incidentally, visit the Wangjiang Tower.

In the past, when people accompanied their elders to the meeting, they could only enjoy the scenery and socialize in the square. This time, they not only got to go inside, but also had the opportunity to go to the second floor, which even their elders were not allowed to go up. This was a great temptation and excitement for them.

Zhao Yi led the way confidently, not flustered at all, because he knew that the Li family had plenty of good steamed buns. These picky bastards didn't like ordinary meat buns, so he would make them crab roe buns, which were ridiculously expensive.

The clouds opened up a new area, revealing a martial arts technique of the Dragon King Ming family.

Zhao Yi stopped abruptly upon hearing the footsteps behind him.

Following that, the second, third, and fourth new areas appeared one after another, showcasing the Dragon King's sect's techniques.

In an instant, not only did the atmosphere among the crowd in the square become both excited and tense, but the group behind Zhao Yi also sat down cross-legged.

"The elders are truly broad-minded."

"This is a rare opportunity for us."

"Let's not stand on ceremony. Since we're here to make this a great event, we should share what we have!"

Zhao Yi glanced back and saw that no one was willing to go into the tower to ask questions. He silently pressed more tobacco into his pipe.

There were only four groups of people in total, and three groups have been received so far.

The fourth batch of people is relatively small, mainly consisting of those who were previously sent out to work on side lines, as well as those who are still hesitant or undecided about whether to come or not. It is considered the final roundup and reserve team.

If we want to catch them all at once, we'll have to wait until the fourth batch arrives.

At this moment, Zhao Yi looked up and saw that the original formula of the Zhao family of Jiujiang was actually being performed in the clouds and mist above.

Although the Zhao family of Jiujiang is not a legitimate lineage of the Dragon King, no one can underestimate the value of the secret formula created by Zhao Wuyang himself.

Zhao Yi immediately feigned a look of bewilderment, and sighed:

"This...this...I handed over this technique in exchange for...how could you also give it to my family...oh well, let's just share what we have and make progress together. I hope you won't find it offensive."

This was to cover up a small loophole in his previous conversation. In any case, Zhao Yi was a ruthless and cunning man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. As long as he could gain benefits, he was willing to hand over his own secret technique.

"Brother Zhao, why worry? My family's house is up there too, haha."

"By learning from each other and verifying each other's findings, we can attain the ultimate truth."

Zhao Yi nodded with a wry smile.

The Zhao family's secret formula has been revealed; it was someone surnamed Li who was signaling to him that it was time to close the net, without waiting for the fourth batch.

Zhao Yi guessed that the reason why the man surnamed Li changed his plan was that the equipment carried by these three groups of lamplighters was a bit too good, especially the third group of lamplighters, who probably also brought over the really good things from their own cave.

Before lighting the lamps, a contract was made, and they nominally belonged to them. However, they were not allowed to take them out when traveling on the river. Some important artifacts would be lost if left outside, so they were kept in the cave only for special circumstances, based on the experience of the previous generation.

Chen Xiyuan's cave dwelling doesn't have such a thing. Except for the time when Chen Pingdao went crazy, the Chen family's reputation has always been very good. Tao Zhuming doesn't have such a thing either. The Tao family is too clean and wouldn't keep such a trick up their sleeve. Ling Wuxing's cave dwelling probably does have it, but he broke through the encirclement to Nantong and didn't have time to move. It's even less likely that he would take away the Ling family's important artifact that is easily detected.

Therefore, Li Zhuiyuan had not considered this factor beforehand.

However, the unpredictable nature of the crucial tool forced the young man to close the net prematurely.

Firstly, those who were assigned to support missions in the fourth batch have already been largely dealt with by their own teams. Based on the current timeline, by the time the remaining fourth batch of lantern bearers arrive, their own teams should have already surrounded them. At worst, they can open up another battlefield outside Wangjiang Tower to make a watertight remedy.

Secondly, even though the powerful weapons these guys carried were sealed, they still put a lot of pressure on the environment of Wangjiang Tower. When the third group of people landed, Li Zhuiyuan clearly noticed that the cost of controlling Zhou Xuqing's side had increased by several orders of magnitude, almost to the point of continuously bleeding him dry.

This is a happy kind of trouble. Those powerful forces dare to send their own lamplighters to bring important weapons, probably because they feel that the environment here is safe and the Zhou family is in control. Even if something goes wrong and someone dies or something is lost, it can be easily recovered.

For Li Zhuiyuan, after this wave, these important artifacts should all be returned to their rightful owners.

Those days of poverty will be gone. Li Zhuiyuan is even generous enough to give each member of the other teams a souvenir of this team-building activity.

Zhao Yi walked towards Wangjiang Tower.

"Squeak..."

The gates of Wangjiang Tower, which had been tightly closed, slowly opened.

The crowd in the square immediately shifted some of their attention to it, but most of the people remained still. No one was willing to give up the opportunity to comprehend the Dragon King's Sect's techniques, except for those who were themselves array masters and feng shui masters.

They left the crowd and walked towards Wangjiang Tower. There were not many of them, and they were arranged in order of rank, with the array masters who were their attendants staying in place.

Due to their extremely weak survival abilities, pure array masters like Luo Xiaoyu who light lamps are extremely rare on the river. Most array masters follow other lamp lighters as followers to earn merit.

Zhao Yi poked his head through the threshold and looked up, pretending to be talking to Zhou Xuqing on the second floor.

Wangjiang Tower was, after all, a place where major forces in the martial arts world held meetings. Back then, in order to let Li Zhuiyuan see the face of his enemy, Granny Liu deliberately threw a tantrum in the tower and lifted the curtain.
Under normal circumstances, there is a strong barrier between the inside and outside of the building, so not only can sound not penetrate, but even probes cannot get in.

Even when Zhao Yi was talking to thin air, he still made sure his lips were aligned so that those who could read lips could "understand" what he was saying.

As the group of array masters, feng shui masters, and lamplighters approached, Zhao Yi turned his head back, smiled at them, and raised his hand to shout to the people who had been standing in the outer square the whole time:

"Brother Zhou said that there are also formations and feng shui principles, but Brother Zhou's energy is limited and he is not capable of demonstrating them. Moreover, demonstrating these things can easily interfere with the clouds and affect other people's understanding."

Fortunately, these essential insights have all been carved inside the building by Elder Zhou. Those interested may enter to study them, but please refrain from going up to the second floor, as this would interfere with Elder Zhou's control of the Wangjiang Tower's grand formation and delay others' opportunities.

The array masters and feng shui masters were overjoyed upon hearing this, and their followers were almost moved to tears.

"Come, come, everyone, please."

Zhao Yi stood at the door, ushering in the eager people one by one.

The first person to enter, upon seeing the carvings on the pillars inside, became so excited that he couldn't contain himself and displayed an ugly demeanor.
There was something really good there! People immediately swarmed in and squeezed in.

The crowd in the square was not surprised by this. The art of formations and feng shui has an extremely high learning threshold, requiring not only talent from the learner but also even higher learning conditions.

Among cultivation techniques of the same level, those related to formations and feng shui are often more valuable and are rare finds.

Zhao Yi resembled a bus conductor:
"Are there any fellow enthusiasts interested in this kind of thing? Are there any who haven't come in yet? If everyone has gone in, I'll have Brother Zhou close the door."

"Oh my goodness, these guys are usually so aloof and arrogant, but it turns out they're this crazy when they see something good! Haha!"

The people in the square had eyes and saw the excitement of those inside, and they understood the decision to close the gates.

To put it bluntly, even the strongest sense of crisis will become dulled in the face of such an almost impossible massive investment.

"Squeak..."

With the gates of Wangjiang Tower closed, the inside and outside of the tower were separated into two worlds.

Zhao Yi sat down on the steps, smoking a pipe, pretending to be studying the martial arts technique.

The second floor.

While continuing to control Zhou Xuqing's class, Li Zhuiyuan ordered his companions standing beside him, "Make your move."

First floor.

A middle-aged feng shui master was squeezed into a corner and could only try to understand the feng shui secrets on the pillar in front of him with several other feng shui masters who were not physically strong. The feng shui secrets on the pillar were too obscure and difficult to understand, and were not the first choice for the group of people who valued efficiency.

But as he looked at it, the experienced middle-aged feng shui master suddenly began to tremble, pointing at the pillar and exclaiming in disbelief:
"This is an excerpt from the 'Liu Family Qi Observation Technique' in a scrambled order. There is no mistake. The elders of the Gu family have collectively deduced a portion of the 'Liu Family Qi Observation Technique' fragments. The charm here is many times purer than the deduction made by the Gu family!"

The Liu family's mastery of feng shui is unparalleled in the martial arts world. However, the problem is that while any family's martial arts techniques can appear here, it is absolutely impossible for the "Liu Family Qi Observation Technique" to appear. It's not like that old lady Liu also took a stake and used a portion of her family's inheritance as a prize to encourage everyone to kill her family head, is it?

"Oh, you have quite the insight, but daring to covet my family's secret technique is a death sentence."

Tan Wenbin's voice came from behind Gu Chunyu, but his voice also clearly reached the ears of everyone on the first floor.

The soft sword was held horizontally against Gu Chunyu's neck, and with a gentle slash, it was drawn.

Feng shui masters' heads are easy to cut. Those who practice martial arts are still hard even when they are dead. Unlike this time, Tan Wenbin didn't exert much effort and picked up a human head in his hand.

Xiao Yuan was the planner, while Tan Wenbin was the team leader who carried out the plan.

The deliberately made sound was to notify the other partners to take action.

Run Sheng opened his door, the ink on his chest surging, and like a ferocious god, he jumped down from the second floor and crashed heavily into the first floor.

"boom!"

With that single strike, along with the shockwave, many people around him turned into a bloody mist.

Lin Shuyou activated his True Monarch state and began his spirit writing again. Wielding the Meishan Twin Blades, he swept down like a whirlwind, indiscriminately circling the floor and reaping the lives of those present. The boy exclaimed, "Hahaha, so satisfying! So satisfying! The array masters and feng shui masters without protection are just like those without protection..."

General Zeng: "Like whom?"

The spirit medium said, "Just like us who have lost the protection and support of spirit mediums!"

Thank goodness, I almost forgot that this guy is here too.

Tong Zi knew that no matter how much he talked, A You wouldn't tell on him. But General Zeng was different. General Zeng couldn't communicate with A You because of Young Master Zhao's seal, but he could hear what he was saying. He might just report him.

Ah Li didn't go downstairs; she just stood at the top of the stairs. The Blood Porcelain Bottle summoned the Corpse-Driving General, who stood in front of her to prevent people below from taking the opportunity to rush upstairs and affect the boys on the second floor taking cloud classes.

However, the corpse-driving general's mouth was open, and a bloody hand reached out from it, drawing in the essence that had passed away below.

This group of people may not be physically fit, but they are of a very high level and have great nutritional value. For those with blood porcelain, this is a veritable feast.

Ah Li would occasionally pull out some black paper and scatter it down, hoping to help the recently deceased people in the Western Paradise of Fengdu to reach the Western Paradise as soon as possible.

Let alone so many people, even if it were so many pigs, it would be difficult to kill them all at once.

However, the space was too narrow, and the Wangjiang Tower itself had a strong suppressive effect. Even those among them who were good at instant formations and could use feng shui secrets had great difficulty using them. Even if they managed to use them, they would interfere with each other because they were too close to each other.

The consequence of many people's hasty and forceful actions is that they fail to attack the people who are slaughtering them, but instead affect those around them or even themselves.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

On the steps at the entrance, Zhao Yi felt an extremely subtle sensation through the crack in the doorway.

It's very lively inside.

The soundproofing in this building is really good. I was sitting so close that I could only sense the slight sound leakage through the crack in the door between life and death. Of course, the people in the square in front of me couldn't possibly notice it.

After this wave, it would be great if I could take a few door panels or windows back with me and build two private rooms for myself in the Taoist temple on Mount Lu, so that Ah Jing's wolf ears wouldn't hear anything unsuitable for children.

Huh?
Why build two rooms? We'll have to bring so many materials. We can just build one room for our future wedding. We're family, after all. Wouldn't it be awkward if we slept in separate beds?

Inside the first floor, several array masters and feng shui masters suddenly took to the air, drew their melee weapons, and rushed towards the second floor.

They knew the layout of the place, so instead of making a pointless banging on the door, they wanted to go upstairs to find the person in charge of everything.

Just as some martial artists have many ulterior motives, there are also some array masters and feng shui masters who will neglect their proper duties and learn some martial arts.

The Corpse-Driving General acted ruthlessly, his claws piercing through the chests of these people or smashing their heads.

One student, who was even more unprofessional and possibly not even a student in the field, had deliberately come in to audit classes for the sake of learning. He used his superb agility to bypass the Corpse-Transporting General's obstruction and successfully reached the second floor, using others as a backdrop.

He saw Zhou Xuqing making hand seals like a puppet following the movements of others, and then he saw the boy sitting opposite Zhou Xuqing.

This boy looks so familiar, like I've seen him somewhere before?
The sudden change in the situation caught his mind off guard and his instincts failed him. After a moment of stunned silence, he remembered that this was the very person they had come here to kill.

At that moment, his worldview collapsed. He forgot to launch an attack and was instead enveloped in a great fear.

Of course, even if he remained calm enough, it wouldn't matter, because Ah Li had already appeared behind him. The girl pulled out a "corpse-driving bamboo pole" from behind the corpse-driving general and pierced his chest with perfect accuracy from behind.

Ah Li slapped the bamboo pole with her palm, injecting feng shui energy that created a terrifying resonance that instantly shattered its internal organs.

The girl pinched the bamboo pole between her fingertips and pulled it back, sending the corpse flying backward and pressing tightly against the back of the corpse-driving general.

Liu Yumei imagined her granddaughter to be an ethereal female sword cultivator.

The girl practiced martial arts in advance only to better protect the boy, following an absolutely pragmatic approach, using fish bones and bamboo poles as weapons.

Li Zhuiyuan smiled.

Every time he saw Ah Li kill someone, he thought the girl was so cute.

The great-grandfather's "terrifying impression" of the girl was still that she could scratch people with her claws.

Theoretically speaking, that should be Ah Li at that time, expressing her uncontrolled emotions under extreme restraint.

The old man, who had been scratched, felt no anger towards the little girl, only pity; otherwise, the good fortune would surely have backfired on Ah Li.

Downstairs, they've finished killing everyone.

If this group of people were placed in an open environment and given some time to set things up, it would be incredibly terrifying.

Without Li Zhuiyuan, if Runsheng and his group had broken in alone, their fate would have been very tragic.

But when they are grouped together and approached by powerful warriors, it can only result in a one-sided massacre.

They must have died a very unjust death, firstly because they had cultivated themselves so diligently and never expected to die in this way; secondly, their souls were already stronger than most people on the river, and their powerful resentment would make them even stronger if they chose to become vengeful ghosts.

Fortunately, those who died this way were more suited to be sent to the underworld to serve as the finest mules and horses.

The underworld of Fengdu is far from covering the complete order of Yin and Yang; this is merely the ultimate ambition of the Great Emperor. At that time, He will be Hell, and the Heavenly Dao will dare not touch Him.

These people in the martial arts world have countless ways to ensure a clean death, especially those with strong willpower in life. Even if they want to become evil spirits after death, they can do so more easily and calmly.

Therefore, sending so many highly skilled geniuses down to the underworld at once would surely make his master extremely gratified, as they could effectively contribute to the development and construction of Fengdu Underworld.

Tan Wenbin: "Finish it off! If the body parts are intact, chop them up a bit more!"

Runsheng and Lin Shuyou, each armed, patrolled the first floor, and those who were only missing limbs were given a blow to the head.

They've gathered here to kill us; they won't feel any pity for their enemies, not even for Ayou.

Amidst the series of "smack, smack" sounds of watermelon shattering, occasional screams and convulsions could be heard.

Some people were lying on the ground pretending to be dead using secret techniques like the Turtle Breathing Technique, and there were more than one or two of them. Unfortunately, this time they encountered a highly disciplined river-crossing team.

The rule that one must loot the body after every murder inherently includes the requirement to finish the job with a fatal blow.

As for the books, compasses, whisks, and other items scattered on the ground, no one was in a hurry to pick them up.

No need to rush. Wangjiang Tower isn't going anywhere. We'll deal with everyone in the square outside first, then we can clean up the battlefield. It's a lot of work, so we'll have to ask other teams for help.

Even so, Tan Wenbin still managed to retrieve a bronze Bagua mirror and a painting titled "Wind, Moon, River and Mountain" separately from the pool of blood.

These two items are close to being important artifacts, and it's truly unbearable to let such precious things continue to be soaked in filth.

When Tan Wenbin first made his move, he saw that the owners of the two items had jointly unleashed them. However, the two powerful weapons were too close together, and when they were activated, they instinctively suppressed each other as a threat, resulting in a wasted effort. Before they could readjust, they were smashed to pieces by Runsheng's punch.

Runsheng's rotating Yellow River shovel opens the skull at the bottom, unleashing a blast of air that cleans the area thoroughly.

Lin Shuyou squatted down, took out a whetstone, and began to sharpen the knife with the blood.

The blood-filled porcelain bottle looked somewhat bloated and wobbled.

Ah Li glanced at it, and the blood porcelain bottle calmed down.

Tan Wenbin went upstairs and reported:

"Brother Xiao Yuan, the area downstairs is all cleaned up."

Li Zhuiyuan nodded and closed the evil book with his left hand.

However, the boy's right hand did not stop moving, and Zhou Xuqing continued to make hand seals.

Li Zhuiyuan:
"We can tell them that we've arrived."

The clouds above Wangjiang Tower first paused, then quickly churned together.

The people in the square who were immersed in contemplation outside all looked around blankly.

"Is this... over?"

"It seems that person is arriving soon. Should we prepare ourselves?"

"Alas, what a pity. There's still a part of the martial arts technique I've been focusing on that I haven't finished demonstrating."

Everyone seemed to want more, wishing the experience could last forever.

Just then, the clouds changed again, and a new martial arts technique began to be performed.

"Haha, it's not over yet!"

"Young Master Zhou must have been tired just now, let him rest."

"Continue, continue... wait, this technique seems quite unusual..."

Even among the many Dragon King Sect techniques that have been performed before, it stands out as particularly dazzling.

"This is a martial arts technique, and it's the best of the best!"

At this moment, the expressions of several lamplighters from powerful families gradually turned grim.

Soon, some people also noticed something amiss, and their bodies began to tremble.

As the martial arts technique was performed, some anthropomorphic movements appeared in the surrounding clouds, a treatment that had never been seen with any previous martial arts performances.

The previous numerous techniques were merely replicas, which everyone could understand as the seniors of various schools deliberately leaving them in Wangjiang Tower for Zhou Xuqing to demonstrate. But what we see now is not just a simple replica; it demonstrates that Zhou Xuqing has a deep understanding and mastery of this technique.

Even those who cannot understand the martial arts technique will not be unfamiliar with this unique Qi-opening movement; at the very least, they will have heard of it.

The square gradually quieted down, and for a moment, no one whispered anymore.

A figure materialized from the clouds, surrounded by nine ferocious dragons, emanating an extremely terrifying sense of oppression.

Anyone who has heard their elders tell stories about the river will not miss the previous generation closest to them. The most outstanding person in the previous generation on the river was not Qi Longwang, who came from humble origins and quickly fell, but the Qin family member who was able to fight his way out of a joint attack on the river.

At the same time, this is what everyone in the square came here to do, but the fact that this is now appearing in the air is not just a simple matter of tearing away everyone's sanctimonious facade and bad luck, but rather signifies that something extremely terrible is gradually becoming a reality.

The enormous Qin Shu, composed of clouds in the sky, opened its gates wide and smashed a fist toward the plaza below!

The sea of ​​clouds pressed down, surging and churning, causing no real harm, yet everyone present clearly felt that if this man had actually appeared in front of them and thrown that punch, they would have had no chance of survival.

This punch wasn't entirely ineffective; at the very least, it seemed to have blown up a curtain on the second floor.

A young boy stood by the window, looking down.

Among the crowd in the square, some were astonished, some were terrified, some were angry, some were fearful, and many others even habitually began to bow to the senior.

Li Zhuiyuan opened his hand, and behind him, A Li took out Aunt Liu's account book from her bag and placed it in the boy's palm.

It is very heavy, not only because it is thick, but also because it embodies decades of forbearance and grievances of the Qin and Liu Dragon King families.

Aunt Liu, a born mental patient, was able to be forced to live a normal life for so many years by this great hatred.

Li Zhuiyuan let go, and the ledger fell. Along the way, pages of paper flew out, like black snowflakes falling and narrating the events.

The boy's voice, amplified by the grandeur of the Wangjiang Tower, resonated throughout the entire square:
"Thank you all for coming and for giving me, Li, a chance to settle accounts."

……

Qinglong Temple.

Tao Yunhe only had the opportunity to speak up because his grandson had finally moved.

He didn't say much; he was calm, reserved, and cautious, as if he were giving a speech at his grandson's funeral.

After saying those words, he waited for his grandson's death.

Because the Golden Lotus, which was fighting with her grandson, was involved with all the guests present, one of them was even involved with the Dragon King Xiao family elder sitting in the pavilion.

Not to mention winning, Tao Yunhe couldn't even think of a way for his grandson to survive.

After a fierce collision, a golden lotus shattered. Tao Yunhe breathed a sigh of relief. Although he couldn't witness the battle, he could imagine that his grandson had taken someone down with him during the attack.

Okay, at least I died a quick death, so it wasn't a bad deal!

As a result, after a while, Tao Yunhe discovered that not only was his grandson's golden lotus still there, but another golden lotus on the other side had shattered, then the second, the third... until all of the opponent's lotuses were completely destroyed!

The golden lotus representing his grandson, though withered and incomplete, still remained.

Many guests looked at Tao Yunhe with surprise and doubt.

Jiang Xiuzhi was generous in giving her side a platform, and she was genuinely surprised by the performance of the Tao family children. It was a one-against-six battle, including one of the Dragon King family inheritors, who was twice as strong as her precious granddaughter, whose talent in the history of the Chen family was no less than that of the Dragon King ancestor!

"Yunhe, you've really raised a fine grandson without making a sound."

Tao Yunhe was shocked. He knew his grandson was very talented, otherwise he wouldn't be able to represent the Tao family in this generation. But he didn't expect his grandson's talent to be so exaggerated. This grandson has been hiding his talent very well!

But soon, Tao Yunhe realized something and his rationality returned: "Kong Yi, some people's golden lotuses won't be displayed here?"

Kong Yi nodded: "Since no one is at home, it naturally cannot be displayed."

Tao Yunhe: "My question is, if someone is present at home, can the information still not be displayed?"

Kong Yi nodded again: "Indeed."

Tao Yunhe: "How many of these golden lotuses are there?"

Empty space 1: "Two flowers".

Tao Yunhe: "Is Yiduo that traitorous monk from your Qinglong Temple?"

Kong Yi: "Yes."

Tao Yunhe picked his nose, his gaze wandering among the guests who weren't bound by the golden lotus, finally settling on Zhou Huai Ren:
"And the other one, is it Wangjianglou?"

Zhou Huai-ren slightly raised his eyelids and asked, "Patriarch Tao, why do you suspect me?"

Tao Yunhe pulled his hand out of his nostril, rubbed his fingertips together, and flicked it towards the pavilion where Zhou Huai Ren was, saying:
"One flower represents Qinglong Temple, which is the very meaning of the title;"
The other flower should be the one least likely and least suspected—that's you, Wangjianglou.

Zhou Huai-ren remained silent.

Liu Yumei: "What a perfect beginning and end."

After Tao Yunhe splashed this mud, there was no way to explain it, and Liu Yumei seemed unwilling to listen to any explanation.

Further sophistry and silence are pointless.

Zhou Huai-ren began by saying:

"Wangjiang Tower only hopes for peace in the martial world, to prevent bloodshed and turmoil, and does not want to see the righteous path decline and evil forces take advantage of the situation."

Liu Yumei: "When we, a widow and her children, were forced to the brink of extermination, why didn't you stand up and say these words?"

Zhou Huai Ren: "Because Elder Liu, you don't need to hear these things, don't want to hear these things, and are even less willing to say these things to me."

Tao Yunhe: "In the end, this world of martial arts must be governed by some principles. You can't do shameless things while shamelessly spouting moral principles at the same time."

Zhou Huai-ren: "If Elder Liu wishes to speak, then this old man and all the fellow martial artists present are willing to listen to Elder Liu speak."

Just then, a new round of strange changes occurred within Bixi. This time, it wasn't just a minor disturbance involving a few dozen golden lotuses on the periphery. Instead, the golden lotus that had been pulled from Liu Yumei's body moved and became entangled with hundreds of other golden lotuses.

All the guests stood up and watched this scene. Some were puzzled, but most couldn't help but smile.

It's here, it's here, it's about to begin!

But some people frowned.

Take Zhou Huai-ren, for example. He had changed from his previous old and frail appearance to one where his eyes gleamed with intelligence.

The Golden Lotuses on the periphery, who were clearly on the side of the Li family head, did not make any move. Why would the Li family head suddenly come to Wangjiang Tower alone? And why did he come so early?

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Among the golden lotuses locked in this struggle, some shattered, while the rest, caught in the vortex, all lost a petal.

Zhou Huai-ren looked puzzled; he couldn't understand the situation.

Many family heads and elders in the pavilion also widened their eyes. What kind of situation was this? Shouldn't they all attack together?
If they are already in Wangjiang Tower, why are there still so many golden lotuses in Bixi without any movement? What are they waiting for?
The next moment, an even greater change occurred.

The golden lotus, which originated from Liu Yumei and represented the head of the Li family, actually detached from the surface of the stream and floated up.

In the entire pond, apart from a few scattered ones on the periphery, almost all the remaining golden lotuses frantically gathered together in one place, forming a tower of lotuses.

A tower made of golden lotuses stands in the pond, with the golden lotus of the Li family head standing alone at the top!

"impossible!"

Why is this happening?

"what is going on?"

Even the family members who weren't involved in the matter could tell that something had gone wrong, and the situation was completely out of the control of those who orchestrated it. Otherwise, so many respected old foxes in the pavilion wouldn't have collectively lost their composure.

Tao Yunhe's expression also changed.

He initially donated his grandson simply to show the attitude that a legitimate Dragon King family should have. But looking at this posture, and recalling Liu Yumei's confidence when she said "When my flowers bloom, all other flowers wither," this is not an act, not a forced attempt to save face, and certainly not a fit of pique. It comes from having complete confidence!
Damn it, I clearly wanted to be a man of high moral character and noble integrity, but how come it seems like I'm about to become a last-minute opportunistic choice to take sides?
Oh no, oh no! From today onwards, the Tao family's clean reputation is truly going to be tarnished.

"Hehehehe..."

Liu Yumei's unrestrained laughter echoed throughout the venue. In this laughter, there was an unexpected surprise, but it was not a sign of good fortune after adversity; rather, it was an unexpected delight.

The guests then realized that the old lady Liu's earlier mockery and ridicule had actually been restrained; she had been patiently and subtly enduring it.

"What Lord Zhou said is right. I have never been interested in complaining to those insidious and despicable people, nor do I feel there is any need to reason with them."

Throughout history, when dealing with enemies, the only thing truly worth mentioning is actually just two words…

Liu Yumei's gaze slowly swept over the many guests present. The past scenes of heartache and bitterness, the suppressed anger and resentment of facing the altar full of ancestral tablets alone night after night, finally coalesced into those two words, which she uttered here:
My condolences.

(End of this chapter)