250: Appear

The night was as dark as ink.

Nine hundred li northwest of Fulong Ridge, there was Wailing Mountain, where mountain miasma permeated and snakes, insects, rats, and ants were countless.

In a mountain hollow, several bonfires rose, their flickering flames illuminating dusty faces, mostly around a hundred people.

The crackling sound of firecrackers dispelled the chill in the mountains.

These were the support troops from Guangan Prefecture for Ninth Mountain, currently on their way back.

They followed Ninth Mountain's command, breaking their more than two thousand soldiers into scattered groups to retreat, heading in the direction of Fu City.

They had been on edge for several days, having already traveled over two thousand li, and encountering no anticipated demons, which greatly relaxed everyone's mood.

During the meal, some found joy in their hardship, softly singing army songs, others hummed along, and some passed wine among themselves, taking a sip, the taste intoxicating, feeling incredibly good, happiness was that simple.

Some also spoke in low voices, discussing matters.

"I wonder how Ninth Mountain is doing now. They charged in to buy us time. We didn't help much, and we don't know where they retreated to."

"You'll have to ask the Captain. He gave the order for the main force to split up, probably to avoid demon pursuit, but it's strange, it's been too quiet along the way," another person said, looking towards a blue-armored soldier sitting on a stone stool ahead, wiping his twin blades with a cloth.

Unexpectedly, just as he finished speaking,

A sudden boom resounded.

Outside!

"Something's happening!"

"Alert!"

At once, the hundred or so people who were resting immediately tensed up, standing up with a rustle, gripping their long blades, and flashing towards the outside.

Upon reaching the mountain hollow entrance, they clearly saw a brilliant fireworks display blooming in the southeast, very conspicuous in the pitch-black night sky.

"It's our brothers!"

This was the Heavenly Thunder Bomb of the Prefectural Army, used to summon and warn their own people.

A small team was in trouble!

Demons?

Everyone's hearts tightened. The blue-armored soldier who had just been wiping his blades had now inserted them into his waist, raised his hand, his expression serious.

"I'll go scout. Wait for my signal; don't act rashly!"

With that, the Captain slapped several talismans on his body, then leaped, light as a swallow, flying towards the direction where the fireworks bloomed in the southeast.

Not long after, the Guangan Prefecture Captain arrived near a cliff about seventeen or eighteen li away, silently slipping into the nearby forest first.

But the next second, suddenly, a sneer exploded in his ear.

"Finally, I found one that's somewhat presentable."

The Captain instantly felt targeted, his hair standing on end, and he stomped his foot, about to retreat.

However, just as he turned and fled several tens of meters, his figure suddenly froze, as if stuck in a quagmire, the Void Realm restrained.

Then, a figure appeared from the Void Realm in front of him. The person was dressed in white robes, a withered hand reaching out from a wide sleeve, revealing a green light that shot towards the Prefectural Army Captain, swift as lightning, transforming into a rope that bound him.

A few breaths later, by the cliff, with a "bang," the Prefectural Army Captain, who had almost no power to resist and was instantly bound, was thrown there.

The Captain looked up and saw a white-robed young man with a Qilin tattooed on his chest, walking up with a faint smile, holding an iron rod-like object about a foot long, with a mechanism at the bottom that could be twisted.

"So this is how this thing is used."

Saying that, the white-robed young man squatted down, his eyes fixed on the Prefectural Army Captain, then drew out the blade from the other's waist, looked at the standard inscription, and slapped it back with a "thud." "Wearing blue armor, with Guang'an inscribed on the blade, it seems you are a Captain from Guangan Prefecture. What a pity, you're not from Ninth Mountain."

"Who are you? Where did you get the Sky-Shaking Thunder in your hand?" The Prefectural Army Captain, whose True Qi was restrained, felt the young man in front of him was incredibly powerful. Hearing that the other party seemed to be looking for Ninth Mountain, his heart was cold, but he tried to remain calm and asked.

"Of course, I got it by killing people. No need to guess. I want to know the whereabouts of Ninth Mountain. As long as you tell this Young Master, I can pretend nothing happened, how about it?" Li Rulong said with a casual smile, his eyes finally fixed on the Captain.

Hearing that this person had obtained the Sky-Shaking Thunder by killing his subordinates and was so indifferent, the Captain's heart jolted, and then his eyes widened in anger,

"You wish!"

"Not bad, it seems you really know." Li Rulong narrowed his eyes, then suddenly changed the subject,

"It seems there are many of your people nearby, and another one has arrived!"

"Ai Lao!"

As soon as he finished speaking, within two or three breaths, another figure was thrown down.

"Captain!" the figure exclaimed.

"Commander Wang!"

Before the two could say anything, Li Rulong grabbed the Commander's neck, lifted him up, and said chillingly, "Three counts. If you speak, I'll spare both your lives."

"If you don't speak, he'll be thrown down by me like this."

"One."

"Two."

"Stop, who exactly are you?" The Captain's face twisted, letting out an angry roar.

"Three," Li Rulong continued without stopping, uttering the last count, then smiled chillingly at the panicked Commander, "It seems your Captain doesn't care about your death, does he?"

With that, Li Rulong loosened his grip.

And the restrained Commander let out a scream and fell. If he fell, having lost his True Qi, he would be shattered to pieces.

Seeing this, the Captain's eyes widened, then his face flushed red, and he squirmed his body, looking at the cruel young man, letting out a roar, "You deserve to die! I'm going to kill you!"

"Heh heh, a brute's loyalty, sacrificing your subordinates for people who are irrelevant. In my opinion, it's as foolish as a pig, and in the end, you can only resort to empty threats." Li Rulong sneered, about to step on the squirming Captain.

But just then, an angry roar suddenly exploded in the sky.

"I think you, Li Rulong, are the one as foolish as a pig! How dare a sycophant mock a loyal and righteous person? You truly live up to your name as the Eldest Young Master of the Li family!"

The rolling roar, like thunder, and the next second, a silver light suddenly rose from beneath the cliff, followed by a dazzling silver light, crashing towards Li Rulong.

Li Rulong pushed out his palm.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous explosion, the Void Realm vibrated, and trees within tens of meters shattered.

As the energy dissipated, the silver-lighted figure stood unmoving, while the Eldest Young Master of the Li family retreated more than ten meters before stopping.

Li Rulong's upturned lips turned grim, his indifferent eyes becoming sharp after seeing the figure in the silver light,

"Zhao family's second son? Why aren't you staying on Wudao Mountain and running here?"

"And you dare to fight me!"

However, on the opposite side, the silver light converged, revealing the sturdy figure of Zhao Quanzhen, a Disciple of Wudao Mountain from Jinguancheng.

Zhao Quanzhen's arm was currently supporting the Guangan Prefecture Commander who had just fallen. He set him down, then helped the Captain on the ground up, and dispelled the green Restriction on his body with a slap.

"Gentlemen, please step aside and watch. I, Zhao, will deal with this Eldest Young Master of the Li family."

With that, Zhao Quanzhen cast a spiritual light barrier to protect the two, fearing that the aftermath of the upcoming battle might affect them.

Then he looked at Li Rulong again, his face stern and unyielding. Previously, he had not wanted to follow his father's wishes and interfere in the dispute between the two families, but now, the actions of this Eldest Young Master of the Li family had stirred his killing intent.

"Stop putting on airs as the Eldest Young Master of the Li family. Let's fight, and bring your retainer too!"

Having said that, Zhao Quanzhen stomped his foot, and at the same time, raised his right hand, a dazzling silver light coalescing into a long halberd, which he slammed towards Li Rulong.

"Young Master, be careful!" The white-robed old servant appeared like a ghost in the Void Realm, bringing out a large red scissor.

"Zhao Quanzhen, how dare you! If you've come to die, then I shall grant your wish!" Li Rulong said with a sinister tone, shaking both hands, and a green long blade appeared.

The three, holding Dao Soldiers, instantly engaged in a fierce battle.

A powerful Aura instantly ravaged this cliff.

All three were in the Dao Fruit Realm of the Fourth Heavenly Gate, having entered the second layer. However, Zhao Quanzhen's Foundation was deeper, and he did not fall behind in his fight against the Li family's master and servant. In fact, his Aura grew stronger with each roar, making the Li family's master and servant roar in frustration.

Soon, in the sky, three Dao Fruit phenomena shook the heavens, spreading the battlefield to the surrounding ten li of mountains and forests, causing mountains to shatter and thunder to roll.

And the tremendous roar of this battle shook an area of tens of li.

In the dark night, there were exclamations, and in the darkness, even more mysterious figures arrived.

Just as Zhao Quanzhen unleashed a Divine Ability like a Buddhist Vajra, sending the Eldest Young Master of the Li family flying with a punch,

A thunderous roar came from the sky, "Zhao family brat, you seek death!"

In the darkness, a withered, tree-like yellow giant palm, a hundred zhang in size, descended with terrifying Qi and firelight, crashing down.

But the next second, a furious snort, "I didn't expect the old geezer from the Li family to come too. When the juniors are fighting, why does an old geezer interfere? How dare you bully my Disciple, have you asked this old man first?!"

As he spoke, an equally jade-colored giant palm suddenly condensed in the night, striking fiercely towards the yellow giant palm.

The two collided, deafening, shaking heaven and earth, spiritual light radiating in all directions.

Neither gained the upper hand.

Suddenly, a loud laugh.

"Lively, lively! You two fight first; I just want one person."

Above the original cliff, a dark figure rushed towards it. There, the Captain was still staying in the light shield left by Zhao Quanzhen.

The dark figure arrived there through the fireworks and witnessed the scene just now. He had a soul-searching method, so it seemed he could get the information he wanted.

But as he moved, the wind and clouds stirred.

"Stop!"

Zhao Quanzhen roared, his silver light shining brightly, about to rush over.

"Zhao Quanzhen, stay here for me."

But Li Rulong rushed over, his face sinister and sneering, "What are you pretending for? Don't you also want that Qi Luck Spiritual Root?"

"Nonsense!" Zhao Quanzhen tried to break through but was blocked.

And the white jade palm, with a thunderous impact, pushed away the earthy yellow giant hand, about to grab the dark figure.

But a beam of light shot out from the yellow giant hand, entangling the white jade giant hand.

The dark figure was about to succeed. The Prefectural Army Captain, at this moment, was jumping with fright amidst these oppressive and powerful Auras.

They all wanted news of Ninth Mountain!

Just then,

A horse's neigh came, and the sound of hooves clattering.

A large horse came stepping through the air, swift as a shooting star, followed by an urgent shout.

"By order of my General, I have come to capture and kill you all!"

As he spoke, a strange chant sounded.

Immediately after, a golden phantom rose into the sky, a pair of golden eyes shining brightly.

The phantom raised a hand towards the dark figure.

The dark figure let out a muffled grunt.

Following that, a piercing gun roar vibrated between heaven and earth.