CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 142: FLEE YUN CANG—THE FARTHER, THE BETTER

"A bet? No matter the outcome, I won’t lose. How is this a bet?" Lu Chengfeng couldn’t help but shake his head. Whether Zhu Yuxian fell or became an immortal, it was a good thing for him.

If she fell, she’d become his plaything; if she became an immortal, she would be his wife. What was there to bet on?

"I think this woman clearly just wants to find an excuse to be publicly humiliated by me, so she can enjoy this dark and twisted thrill with peace of mind."

Lu Chengfeng muttered a few words internally, feeling somewhat helpless. The Great Five Elements Extinction Sword Array required five Sword Orders to be activated simultaneously, and yet this woman chose to go crazy at such a time, as if nothing else mattered.

He immersed his spirit in the Black Fiend Talisman, sensing the profound mysteries of the Black Fiend Soul-Stealing Qi divine technique. Unknowingly, he had gained another Law Intent Talisman.

In his sea of consciousness, the Cloud Light True Intent gathered into a cloud of auspicious clouds, and the Five Elements Divine Light Talisman was like an Immortal Sword, wrapped in a five-colored halo. A Red Dragon and a Black Snake coiled around it.

With a thought, a Red Dragon and a Black Snake appeared around Lu Chengfeng, coiling incessantly, ready to protect or attack at any whim.

"Not bad, I’ve gained another means to counter enemies!"

After a brief trial, he stopped. The Lord of Youdu was not an enemy that could be handled with these tricks. No matter how many talismans he had, they were of little use.

Time ticked by, the scorching sun climbed to the zenith, the temperature rising ever higher, even the cliffs’ rocks became scorching hot, almost unbearable to stand on.

Lu Chengfeng had already sent spies to scout the movements of Youdu along the way, but no news had returned.

Standing with hands behind his back, draped in a black robe without any sign of sweat, his skin seemed to be as cool as jade.

With cultivation at his level, he was immune to the elements; the seasons’ changes had no effect on him.

But the ordinary disciples were not so lucky. Already tense and waiting for so long, with the added heat, many were drenched in sweat, their faces and foreheads beaded with perspiration.

The atmosphere grew increasingly restless and uneasy.

At this moment, two mighty Liangzhou horses galloped forth.

As they neared, the eight Hall Masters guarding the mountain gate found that these two were disciples of the Yuncang Sword Sect, the ones sent earlier to gather intelligence.

The two dismounted before the mountain gate, collapsing onto the ground with a thud.

Du Hongyue and others rushed to check, finding the disciples’ faces filled with horror, their breaths erratic, pale as sheets, and drenched in rain-like sweat.

"What happened? Weren’t you sent to gather intel? Why are you back so late? Where are the others?"

Seeing their condition, the eight Hall Masters felt a sinking feeling. Clearly, they were terrified. Those sent out were elite disciples, bold and careful, yet now appeared so broken. The news from the front could not be good.

At Du Hongyue’s questioning, the two seemed to come to themselves, one bursting into tears, tears streaming down.

"Ah... ah... Elder, it’s all over, all over... boo hoo..."

He wept uncontrollably, speaking in a mess, unintelligible to those listening.

Yet the other disciple, though chattering teeth, somehow recovered enough to explain what had happened.

"Elder... the Lord of Youdu led three thousand cavalry, leaving You State, entering Liangzhou, slaughtering every city they came across, killing everyone they saw, paving roads with blood and bones, charging ahead."

"Everyone within their sight is dead. No one survived to send back news. They’re all dead... all dead..."

"From the border of Youdu to Yun Cang Mountain, passing through three prefectures, thirteen cities, all thirteen cities turned to ruins. Men, women, old, young, infants, all perished, corpses piled high, rivers of blood everywhere, millions massacred."

"Birds dare not land, beasts avoid, insects wiped out, sinister aura towering, clouds turned red..."

"Tragic, tragic, such tragedy!"

The eight Hall Masters’ faces changed dramatically, fear gripping their hearts.

"Has he gone mad? Using such brutal tactics, how could he win the people’s hearts? How could he unite the Thirteen States of the World? He’s digging his own grave."

"I see this as him aiming to set an example with Liangzhou and our Yuncang Sword Sect, establishing rules for the world, to clear obstacles for future conquests and weaken the enemy’s morale."

"Where is King Xiang now?"

The Hall Masters spoke in a flurry, clearly shaken.

This news was beyond expectation; they never imagined the Lord of Youdu’s methods would be so bloody and ruthless.

"Then how did you two survive?" Du Hongyue asked through clenched teeth.

The disciple laughed and cried as if mad, "All the others were killed; those sent to gather information, all senior brothers died, only seven or eight of us who surrendered remain."

"We were scared, scared to death, we knelt and begged for mercy."

"They beat us, whipped us, stomped on our heads..."

"Boo hoo hoo..."

He sobbed, voice thick with fear and pain, "Then he made us kill each other, killing and killing... ah..."

"In the end, only I and Junior Brother Lu survived, only we survived..."

"Hehehe... they... they want us to return the message..."