Chapter 403 - Checkmate
Chapter 403: Checkmate
Shen Liangshou was in no mood to think about those matters. His mind was currently focused on finding a way out of here. The most powerful forces were gathered in Liang Province. It seemed coincidental and premeditated at the same time.
Liang Province City was suddenly silent. The avatars vanished. The surging of Primal Qi and energy died down as well.
Lu Zhou looked at the sky above Liang Province’s city through the window.
Nearly 1,000 Nether Sect cultivators surrounded the huge flying chariot. They positioned themselves back-to-back in three directions.
The square formation to the west was formed by 2,000 men from Lou Lan and Rouli. The people of Lou Lan wore long, flamboyant robes with bright feathers on their heads. The people of Rouli seemed more capable and experienced. There were shades of red, blue, and green gleaming in their eyes. When they saw Liu Bing’s troops, the Other Tribesmen retracted their avatars and witchcraft spells. They shifted their square formation. The people of Rouli were now in front.
To the north were the current Fourth Prince of Great Yan, Liu Bing, and his six great generals. Apart from his troops below, there were no less than 2,000 cultivators in the air. Liu Bing sat atop a red war chariot. His sharp eyes were fixed on the Nether Sect’s huge chariot.
To the east was Li Jingyi. There was a small flying chariot behind her that was covered by a veil. Since the rider could repel the Nether Sect’s Four Great Protectors, the rider was certainly not Wei Zhuoyan. It had to be one of the eight chiefs of the Imperial guard sent by the palace. However, without seeing the person’s face, it was difficult to be completely sure.
The troops of the three forces surrounded the Nether Sect’s flying chariot.
…
Shen Liangshou lowered his voice and said, “The Nether Sect can only flee south… Alas, that’s where most of the Formation traps are.”
“You don’t wish to see the Nether Sect captured?” Lu Zhou looked at Shen Liangshou.
Shen Liangshou shook his head and said, “I don’t.”
“However, if Yu Zhenghai isn’t here right now, this is a checkmate.” Lu Zhou looked at the flying chariot in the air with his hands on his back.
Little Yuan’er snorted and said, “How shameless of them to win by numbers.”
Shen Liangshou began to view Little Yuan’er in a different light after her little outburst. ‘This little girl seemed fierce back then, but now, she looks kind of cute.’
Lu Zhou said, “Remember, there’s nothing such as fairness in the cultivation world.”
“I know, master.” Little Yuan’er nodded obediently.
…
In the sky.
The Fourth Prince, Liu Bing, was the one to break the long silence.
Liu Bing stood on his war chariot. He cupped his fists at Li Jingyi and said, “I wonder which Imperial guard chief who came to help up in such a timely manner?”
“The Divine Capital’s Guardian of the West, Xiang Lie, offers his greetings, Your Fourth Highness.” The voice was deep and powerful. It sounded slightly weathered as well.
Everyone said that the Divine Capital was a den for crouching tigers and hidden dragons. It was true. There was even a rumor that half of the Eight-leaf experts in the world were in the Divine Capital. However, this had yet to be verified. As time went by, the people understood that regardless of the profundity of their cultivation base, they had to keep a low profile in the Divine Capital.
“I see. It’s Uncle Xiang. I’ve been rude.” Liu Bing said as he cupped his hands together.
The Other Tribesmen were slightly shocked. Great Yan was more powerful than the 10,000 tribes for a reason. Their respect for experts alone was something the other tribes could learn from.
Ha Luo laughed loudly and said, “It’s been a while, Your Fourth Highness.”
Liu Bing snorted. As old adversaries, he knew Ha Luo very well. He said, “Ha Luo, I’ll put our past grudges aside for now. At the moment, it’s more important to deal with the Nether Sect.”
“That won’t do.” Ha Luo raised a hand and wagged his index finger. “Isn’t that tantamount to me allowing you to attack me after you’ve dealt with your internal dispute?”
“Impudent!” Xiang Lie bellowed from behind Li Jingyi. His voice thundered and rolled toward Ha Luo.
Among the huge square formation, the witchcraft cultivators’ robes shone with a purple light. They resonated with each other.
Whizz!
They negated the soundwave.
Even so, a frightened expression appeared on Ha Luo’s face. He was clearly shaken by the soundwave. He asked, “Your Fourth Highness, is this what your hospitality looks like?”
“Uncle Xiang’s temper has always been this way… You’re from Rouli, and the witchcraft cultivators from Lou Lan are behind you. We’re only taking what we need from each other, you and I,” Liu Bing replied.
Ha Luo said in a deep voice, “The Nether Sect’s Yu Zhenghai once charged into Lou Lan alone and killed up to 10,000 cultivators. He used his strength to mistreat my people. I will avenge my kinsmen, and I won’t rest until I’ve succeeded! I’ll take you up on your offer today, my adversary.”
Lu Zhou shook his head when he heard this. Since Yu Zhenghai left the Evil Sky Pavilion, his actions had always been controversial. If Lou Lan was not subservient to Great Yan, it would be a big deal to kill the Other Tribesmen in Lou Lan. However, Lou Lan had paid its tithes and even offered its own princesses since it pledged its allegiance to Great Yan. Yu Zhenghai’s actions had put great strain on the relationship between Great Yan and Lou Lan.
Shen Liangshou said skeptically, “Although Sect Master Yu is the Evil Sky Pavilion’s first disciple, he’s not someone who acts without rhyme or reason. He won’t attack the people of Lou Lan for no reason.”
“Not someone who acts without rhyme and reason?” Lu Zhou asked, raising an eyebrow.
“If he’s not charismatic, he wouldn’t be able to stay the master of a sect with hundreds of thousands of members or gain the unswerving loyalty of the Four Great Protectors,” Shen Liangshou said.
Managing one’s subordinates was an art.
Lu Zhou nodded. In this regard, his host, Ji Tiandao, was not as accomplished as his own disciple, Yu Zhenghai.
…
In the sky.
A voice dripping with contempt rang from the Nether Sect’s flying chariot. “Isn’t it too early to say talk about taking down the Nether Sect?”
The Azure Dragon Hall’s First Seat, Hua Chongyang, walked out in his long robes. He looked around before finally resting his gaze on the flying chariot behind Li Jingyi. The only person the Four Great Protectors were wary about was Xiang Lie.
Liu Bing said, “Hua Chongyang… All these years, you’ve wreaked havoc all around Great Yan. The Imperial family has always viewed this as a quarrel of the cultivation world and turned a blind eye to it… However, this doesn’t mean that you can do whatever you like! How dare you covet the Imperial family’s authority?!”
“The powerful rules and the mediocre serves. This has always been the way of the world… Have the people ever enjoyed a good day in their lives since Liu Gu ascended the throne?” Hua Chongyang asked.
Those who covet the throne had always argued in the people’s favor.
Liu Bing laughed and said, “Hua Chongyang… You’re not fit to talk to me yet. Tell your sect master to show himself…”
“Who do you think you are? You think you’re worthy of meeting our sect master just because you want to?”
Liu Bing said, “It’s useless to try to win with words. You don’t have a choice.”
The cultivators on three sides advanced slightly. They were now 100 meters away from the Nether Sect.
The atmosphere was tense. A great battle could break out at any moment.
Hua Chongyang calmly said, “You might not be a match for the Nether Sect if we get serious about this battle. Xiang Lie… are you brave enough to withstand a blade strike from my sect master?” He projected his voice to the flying chariot behind Li Jingyi.
Onboard the flying chariot, Xiang Lie frowned. His hands on the chair’s armrest clenched into fists. His knuckles whitened, and he shook slightly. He said nothing.
Hua Chongyang continued, “Liu Bing, would the six generals behind you dare to fight Bai Yuqing and me?”
Hua Chongyang and Bai Yuqing were both Seven-leaf cultivators. They were more than enough to deal with the six generals. Among the six, there were four Five-leafs, one Seven-leaf, and one Six-leaf cultivators. In theory, Hua Chongyang and Bai Yuqing had the upper hand.
“Ha Luo, you’ve pursued Yang Yan for so long. Do you really think that Yang Yan and Di Qing can’t take you down?” Hua Chongyang asked. It had to be said, he was adept at handling the situation. When he compared their strength in this manner, the Nether Sect did appear to have the upper hand. So what if they were going up against three forces? If they were to fight in earnest, the outcome was not set in stone.
“You can save your psychological warfare. Yu Zhenghai, if you’re man enough, come out and fight me now!”
Boom!
Xiang Lie slammed his palms on the armrests, and he flew into the air. He looked down at the Nether Sect’s flying chariot with his hands on his back. His body was wrapped in layers of energy. Various shining, golden glyphs and talisman seals appeared around him.
When Shen Liangshou saw this, he said in a hushed voice, “Xiang Lie is from the Celestial Masters Sect.”
The Celestial Masters Sect was skilled in Daoist talismans. As the name suggested, they imposed Daoist seals on talisman seals. The Celestial Masters Sect was a major sect that developed the Daoist and talisman seals to a great height.
“Come out, Yu Zhenghai!” Xiang Lie looked down from the skies.