Chapter 276 You're such a jinx!

On the third day of the second month, Heavenly King Xue led his army to invade Yongzhou Prefecture.

Yuwen Yi, the head of the Yuwen Clan, fought a fierce battle against Xue Bai for three days and three nights, but eventually died of exhaustion due to his advanced age.

That same day, beneath the walls of Yongzhou City, Xue Bai broke through his Qi Sea Divine Treasury, leaping directly into the Peak of the Dual Divine Treasury stage.

During this battle, Grand Tutor Yuwen Xuan and Divine Constable Fang Yunsong both fell.

The two were slain by the former rank one of the Earth Rankings, "Red Sun Venerable" Li Zhou, with his bare fists.

Lu Zhao, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Saber Sect, was defeated by Venerable Departing Soul and fled with heavy injuries.

Two of the Four Vajras of Nalanda Temple, the Pondering Vajra and Tuoshan Vajra, joined forces but were defeated by "Dual Palms Propping up the Heavens" He Wuzhu. The Pondering Vajra passed away while fleeing, and Tuoshan Vajra vanished without a trace.

Other Heavenly Humans in the great battle suffered various injuries, but no one else fell.

When the news spread, the world was shocked.

...

Zhongzhou, the Capital.

Panic now gripped the Capital. On the originally prosperous and bustling Vermilion Bird Avenue, not a single soul could be seen today.

Countless people packed their gold, silver, and valuables, fleeing out of Zhongzhou.

The rebel Xue Bai had risen in Liangzhou Prefecture. Originally, such a matter should have seemed very distant to the high officials and noble lords of Zhongzhou.

But no one expected that in the blink of an eye, the rebel army would have already conquered Yongzhou Prefecture, with their spearhead pointing directly at Zhongzhou.

At this rate of advancement, the fall of Zhongzhou was only a matter of time.

All the great clans and influential families of Zhongzhou couldn't help but start looking for a way out.

"Father, let's run quickly! Looking at this, the Imperial Court won't last much longer!"

"Nonsense! My Lin Family has received imperial favor for generations. In this time of national turmoil and peril, how can I, a dignified Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, abandon the country and the Imperial Court to flee for my life alone? You unfilial son, you truly disgrace our Lin Family's reputation!"

"Father, I just heard the news—the Family of the Minister has already packed up and run away. Many other high-ranking officials have fled too. What are you still pretending for?"

"What? Is what you're saying true?"

"Of course it's true!"

"Grand Secretary Song of the Hanlin Academy, your closest friend, is the only one left in his house now. He already arranged for his wife, children, and Elders to leave the capital for their ancestral home in Huzhou Prefecture."

"This... Sigh!!"

"Eldest son, you've truly led me astray! Quick, go arrange for your mother and your younger siblings to pack their things!"

"Yes, Father!"

At the Han Family, all the senior members of the Family were gathered together.

The person sitting at the very head was none other than the Han Family Old Ancestor, Han Tianzong. Below him were Han Long, the head of the Han Family, and another Supreme Grandmaster of the Family, the Red Robe Governor of Six Doors, Han Song.

As the legitimate son of the Han Family, Han Yue was also present at the moment.

"Sigh! I didn't expect the situation to change so rapidly!"

"Even the Hanging Temple has started supporting Xue Bai. Is the thirteen-hundred-year-old Great Jin Dynasty really going to end like this?"

Han Tianzong leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply toward the sky, his expression filled with an indescribable complexity.

Below, the Family head Han Long spoke with a tone of relief and lingering fear:

"Old Ancestor, it is truly our Han Family's fortune that you were not sent by the Empress Dowager to guard Yongzhou!"

"Now that the Fang Family's Old Ancestor, Fang Yunsong, has fallen at the hands of Li Zhou, the sky has practically collapsed for the Fang Family. I just returned from the Fang residence this morning; the mansion is draped in white silk, and everyone is clad in mourning clothes."

"Without a backer now, the Fang Family might fade into obscurity in another hundred years, unless they can Cultivate another Heavenly Human."

Han Tianzong's expression was one of disappointment mixed with lingering fear as he nodded and said:

"What you say is true!"

"Who would have thought that Li Zhou was actually Xue Bai's fellow disciple? His strength is so terrifying; he must have been hiding it all along. He likely became a Heavenly Human decades ago."

"It's a pity. I've been scheming and fighting with Fang Yunsong for so many years, yet I never expected him to die like this at the hands of Li Zhou."

Han Song also sighed and interjected from the side:

"Those who can dominate the rankings for so many years are indeed not simple at all."

"Li Zhou killed two Heavenly Humans by himself. The great hero He Wuzhu, 'Dual Palms Propping up the Heavens,' fought two Vajras alone, killing one and heavily wounding the other. He is much more formidable than Yan Chu was before!"

Upon hearing the name Yan Chu, the originally somewhat lively Han Family hall instantly grew cold.

Han Yue had been listening to his Elders with great interest.

Hearing that name again, his face instantly flushed red. He gritted his teeth, and his fists clenched with a series of sharp cracks.

Many Han Family Elders looked at Han Song with unfriendly glares.

He really had to bring up the one topic they shouldn't mention!

The Old Ancestor is still right here. He was scared into a frantic retreat by Yan Chu last time, and now you're rubbing salt in his wounds right to his face?

Han Song also immediately realized his mistake and quickly said with a sheepish laugh:

"That fellow Yan Chu is currently escorting the Princess north. Given the Imperial Court's current state, this marriage might just fall through. It's very possible Yan Chu will die in Northern Mang."

Only then did Han Tianzong's expression soften slightly, and he said with a hint of schadenfreude:

"Indeed!"

"I heard that Yan Chu has quite a grudge against Xue Bai. Back then, the Nalanda Temple's Buddha Son, Awakening to emptiness, went to kill Yan Chu on Xue Bai's orders, but was killed by Yan Chu instead."

"If Xue Bai really succeeds, how could that Saber Demon have a good end?"

"Even Nalanda Temple will definitely not let him off!"

"And that's not all!"

Han Long continued from the side:

"I heard that Mao Yi, the former leader of the Changle Gang, led his gang to join Xue Bai early on. He is now highly valued in the rebel army and has apparently become brothers-in-law with Venerable Departing Soul, the Junior Brother of Heavenly King Xue."

"Mao Yi has a blood feud with Yan Chu over the death of his son; there's no way that can be resolved."

"As I see it, Heavenly King Xue will definitely have to destroy Yan Chu!"

"Hmm..."

Everyone in the hall nodded in agreement.

A look of jubilant joy appeared on Han Yue's face.

Originally, ever since the Old Ancestor fled back last time, Han Yue had felt like he was living in constant fear. He truly hadn't expected Yan Chu to be so powerful that even the Old Ancestor didn't dare to make a move against him.

He had thought he would never be able to get revenge in this lifetime and would always live in Yan Chu's shadow.

Who could have imagined that Yan Chu had made enemies everywhere, even offending Heavenly King Xue.

Now he didn't need to worry anymore.

Even if his name was in that little notebook, Yan Chu would have to survive the hands of Heavenly King Xue and Nalanda Temple first.

"Right!"

Han Song remembered something and spoke up:

"Old Ancestor, now that Fang Yunsong is dead, Six Doors is without a leader. Will the Imperial Court let you take charge of Six Doors?"

Han Long said crossly from the side:

"Third Brother, what are you talking about?"

"It's hard to say if the Imperial Court will even have a tomorrow. How could they care about Six Doors now?"

Han Song, having been rebuked, could only scratch his head and laugh:

"Big Brother is right. I'm just worried that in these extraordinary times, the Empress Dowager might summon all the Celestial Being Experts in the capital and demand they help the Imperial Court defend the city against Xue Bai's rebel army."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent once more.

Everyone pondered; it was truly possible the Imperial Court would do such a thing.

Han Tianzong's expression shifted, his heart conflicted.

The current Great Jin Imperial Court was like a great ship that could capsize at any moment. Whoever boarded the ship now would surely drown in the sea.

Just then, a sharp but clear voice came from outside the Han residence:

"By the decree of the Empress Dowager, Purple Robe Divine Constable Han Tianzong is summoned to the palace for an audience!"

Dammit!

Inside the hall, everyone looked at Han Song simultaneously, causing his expression to stiffen.

Han Tianzong, who had still been contemplating, completely lost his composure and pointed at Han Song, cursing loudly:

"You and your jinxed mouth! Don't you ever show your face in front of me again!"

...

...

As the situation in Great Jin shifted and surged like rising winds and scudding clouds, Yan Chu and his group set out on the road to Northern Mang.

The group of over twenty people landed on the vast and boundless frozen grasslands of Northern Mang like a grain of sand, without causing the slightest ripple.

Princess Yunshu had taken off her pink palace dress and changed into a suit of black martial attire.

With her peerless beauty and celestial grace, after changing into male clothing, the usual gentleness in her eyes faded, replaced by a spirited aura like a bright moon and a clear breeze—a different style of beauty altogether.

A beauty from the beauties ranking list possessed a stunning aesthetic regardless of her attire, something other women could not compare to.

Princess Yunshu followed closely behind Luo Jin, her expression somewhat joyful and excited.

What their group was about to do was a major event that would affect the entire world.

By completely uprooting the threat of Northern Mang, the borders of Great Jin would have no more worries in the future.

Not only Princess Yunshu, but the others were also full of ambition and determination.

Northern Mang was an alien race, and no one had any good feelings toward them. At the thought of the tens of thousands of soldiers who had died in Longsheng Pass not long ago, a heavy killing intent rose in everyone's hearts.

Thinking that they could soon avenge them, everyone became invigorated.

Even Pang Chong was the same.

Although he had some misgivings in his heart, he still followed Yan Chu and the others north to destroy the Northern Mang Imperial Court.

Prince of Zhenbei had the best understanding of the various powers in Northern Mang. As they traveled, he introduced them to Yan Chu:

"The five major tribes of Northern Mang are the Pucha, Helian, Tuoba, Murong, and Huyan Tribes."

"Except for Murong Yuan, the supreme leader of the Murong Tribe, the leaders of the other four major tribes have already died at your hands, Great Hero Yan—namely Helian Clan Chief, Huyan Zhuori, and the others."

"The Tuoba Tribe we are heading to now is the weakest of the five major tribes. Other than Tuoba Hong, there are no Heavenly Humans guarding the tribe, only six Supreme Grandmasters."

"When the time comes, there won't even be a need for you to act; we can handle them easily."

Yan Chu nodded and asked:

"What about the Xiao Sidao who escaped? Isn't he the Great King of the Northern Court? How is the strength of the Family behind him?"

"The Xiao Family is Northern Mang's consort clan!"

Prince of Zhenbei explained:

"Every Empress of Northern Mang has come from the Xiao Family because their bloodline is extraordinary; every generation produces a peerless beauty. The current Empress, Xiao Yuan Jia, is among the most charming on the beauties ranking list."

"The Xiao Family's strength is even above that of the five major tribes!"

"Besides Xiao Sidao, there are two other known Heavenly Humans in the Family: his younger brother Xiao Wendao and his cousin Xiao Nanxu."

"This is only the Xiao Family's strength on the surface."

"Because Khan Luan Di Tianye is tyrannical and heartless, the various tribes of Northern Mang fear provoking his suspicion, so most of them like to hide their strength. It's possible the Xiao Family has hidden Heavenly Humans as well."

"Besides the Xiao Family and the five major tribes, what other powers are there in Northern Mang?"

"Besides those, there is the Khan's Royal Court, the Longevity Cult, and the Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult."

Li Shuoting listed them one by one, knowing them like the back of his hand.

"The number of Heavenly Humans in the Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult should be similar to the Xiao Family. However, their Cult Leader, Meng Ge, is the number one person of the Demonic Path, a top expert with all three Divine Treasuries fully opened, someone who could trade blows with the Old Palace Master of Qingyang Palace."

"But Meng Ge has long since stopped concerning himself with Jianghu affairs and hasn't appeared in nearly three hundred years. Currently, the Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult is managed by Vice Cult Leader Lu Chenxing."

Luo Jin interjected from the side:

"The Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult is not subordinate to Northern Mang; it's just that because they are located in the Northern Desert wilderness, they have a cooperative relationship with the Northern Mang Royal Court."

"If Meng Ge doesn't want to, Luan Di Tianye cannot command them at all."

"So if we take action against Northern Mang, we don't necessarily need to provoke the Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult."

"Fellow Daoist Luo is right!"

Li Shuoting smiled and said:

"The Great Black Heavenly Demon Cult has always listened to requests but ignored orders; Luan Di Tianye has no way to deal with them either."

"If they don't act, there's no need for us to act either."

Although based on the results of Yan Chu's battle with the Howling Moon Wolf God, everyone speculated that Yan Chu had at least the strength of the Three Divine Treasuries and could contend with Earth Immortals of the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown level.

But it was best not to fight if possible.

The best outcome of this battle would naturally be to fight into the Northern Mang Imperial Court, eliminate the Khan of Beiman, and completely destroy Northern Mang.

If that couldn't be done, eliminating two or three of the five major tribes would also be good.

Li Shuoting continued his introduction:

"As for the remaining Northern Mang Royal Court and Longevity Cult, the strongest person on the surface is naturally Khan Luan Di Tianye, at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown stage."

"But the most mysterious is the Great Priest of the Longevity Cult."

"Since the founding of the Longevity Cult, the priests who preside over the fire and war sacrifices have been replaced, but according to rumors, the Great Priest has never changed; it has been the same person for over a thousand years."

"This is a figure as mysterious as the Master of the Number One Estate Under Heaven."

"Back then, Luan Di Tianye was able to secure the position of Khan precisely because of his support."

"A thousand years?! Can someone live for a thousand years?!"

Hearing this, Princess Yunshu couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

The others also clicked their tongues in secret; if there really were such an ancient figure, how would they be any different from a living fossil?

A look of yearning appeared on Li Shuoting's face as he said:

"Theoretically, characters who live for a thousand years do exist."

"When martial cultivation delves into the three Divine Treasuries to the extreme and reaches the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, the essence, Qi, and spirit have all been cultivated to the Peak. One's internal energy is completely sealed, allowing them to lock in their body's essence and go a hundred years without eating, drinking, or excretion."

"Their Lifespan exceeds the Three Divine Treasuries stage and can reach eight hundred years."

"At this stage, various miraculous means have surpassed mortal understanding. Finding a way to extend one's life by another hundred or two is not a difficult task."

"For example, the Old Dean of the White Deer Academy in Southern Wei is known to have a Lifespan exceeding eight hundred years and is currently the stabilizing force of Southern Wei."

"It is precisely because of his existence that several hundred years ago, when our Great Jin was at its Peak, we were unable to destroy Southern Wei and unify the entire Divine Land."

"But Prince..."

Cui Yiting couldn't help but ask:

"If the Great Priest of the Longevity Cult is such a figure, how can we hope to match him on this trip? Wouldn't it be a journey with no return?"

Li Shuoting smiled and said:

"Our goal for this trip is not to destroy Northern Mang entirely, but only to kill their elites, causing Northern Mang to suffer a great loss of vitality so that they cannot invade the south for a hundred years. That would be considered a success."

At this point, he looked at Yan Chu and said:

"Great Hero Yan, according to the plan I've made, after we destroy the Huyan Tribe, we will then head to the Murong and Huyan Tribes, which are furthest from the Royal Court, and destroy them. We'll retreat in time before the other Northern Mang powers can react. This way, there shouldn't be any risk."