Chapter 697 505 Defeat the Pass_2

"Mage, it's been many years!"

Kongheng squinted and smiled, but he felt that this demonic creature was full of pure and clear demonic power, its figure like wind and rain. The Taoist Foundation of Mansion Water 'Zhao Hanyu' even had a touch of the genuine mystique of the Immortal Path, which surprised him as he said:

"Wushao, your strength has indeed greatly improved."

Li Wushao didn't say a word. A mere small hook snake, his power had soared over the years, certainly not from his own cultivation.

Since he had agreed to stay with the Li family, Li Xijun had used the "Destiny Matching Special Law" to extract his spirit nature. It must be known that the success of the "Destiny Matching Special Law" depends on the quality of the matched spiritual objects.

Li Wushao had been prepared to risk his life, but the quality of the spiritual objects Li Xijun used was so high it was frightening, increasing his strength dramatically and leaving him so moved he was at a loss for words.

'The spiritual objects consumed in the matching... are probably worth more than three like me put together! To ensure success in one attempt and not risk my life!'

This hook snake, tossed about in the East Sea, repeatedly received spiritual objects and took precious medicines; he had no words to say, only silently accepted them, and didn't dare to talk much with Kongheng, only nodding in agreement.

...

At night, in Great Jue City, households were shut, and nobility had been slaughtered not long ago with the bloodstains not yet washed away, leaving the city eerily silent like a dead city.

In the pitch blackness, clan soldiers and the elite of the Jade Courtyard Guards were secretly pulled out and dressed in Shanyue attire, quickly assembled; and by the time Dili Youjie's troops left the city, three hundred soldiers stood in formation like ghosts before them.

In the night, Li Zhouwei, clad in iron armor, with a bright red cloud pearl quietly shining at his waist, his long halberd standing on the ground, sat astride a Fetal Breathing Peak spiritual horse, which glistened with agility in its eyes, staring straight ahead.

As the Shanyue slowly took their positions before him, a red glow began to emerge slowly on Li Zhouwei's long halberd.

"Armor Soul Refining Halberd Technique"

This halberd technique was brought back by Li Xuanfeng from the East Sea, written by a general of the ancient Liang state whose name had long been lost. It was a very old halberd technique, not so much a skill but an art.

The essence of this halberd technique lay in soul refining; each time it turned an army upside down or shattered a clan and broke through enemy lines, it grew stronger. Once mastered, it dyed the halberd with a shadowy aura, and at its peak, a raging soul shadow followed, possessing tremendous power.

As for its grade, it was like other ancient techniques, indeterminate. It even seemed to be outside the Zifu Golden Core Body system, making it all the more difficult to estimate. However, as a halberd technique born out of war and transformation, it naturally had its outstanding aspects in leading armies into battle.

This red glow burned quietly in the night, causing the gathered Shanyue to look up in terror. As more and more people looked towards him, the red light on Li Zhouwei's halberd grew brighter, and he said in a deep voice:

"Dili Youjie! You are commanded to lead your troops forward cautiously; do not stir up a commotion. Wait in front of 'Chenguan' and stand by until daybreak when you will follow my commands."

Dili Youjie knelt down solemnly. As Li Zhouwei galloped forward, the clan soldiers departed like the wind. The Shanyue man stood up and overheard the tribesmen whispering below:

"Ganixi..."

Dili Youjie was shocked and did not want them to spread rumors recklessly, saying in a low shout:

"What nonsense are you shouting! That is..."

But since Li Zhouwei had instructed him, Dili Youjie didn't dare reveal that it was the princely heir of the Li family and could only say:

"We have come from the king to the pass; when the time comes to break through, we will receive royal titles, and after we take down the Northern Shanyue Royal Court, we will be nobility!"

After announcing his ambitions, all the Shanyue tribesmen's eyes widened.

In the North.

Li Zhouwei rode his horse as if it were shooting through the stars, Kongheng following unhurriedly. The youth tilted his head and asked:

"Mage, do you know how many still recognize the name 'Victory is Clearly Known' today?"

Kongheng shook his head slightly and answered:

"That name has been translated many times from Dili, and no one knows it anymore. Even if there are people who know of the Bright King, they are unaware that the title has changed countless times; it's just how we refer to it in Liaohe."

"Good,"

Li Zhouwei responded, feeling reassured, and thought:

"It seems that Mingyang has been lost for many years, with all descriptions vanishing... this is a good thing."

As they conversed, 'Chenguan' rapidly came into view, its blue stones dyed grey-black by the night, looking bleak in the dark. He raised an eyebrow, signalled someone to come forward, and said in a low voice:

"Go knock on the gate."

One of the men beside Li Zhouwei pulled on the reins, a man with bushy eyebrows, big eyes and disheveled hair. He was the younger brother of Dili Youjie. Here as a guide for members of the Li family, he bowed his head to listen, only to hear Li Zhouwei say softly:

"Just say that the Great Jue Court is slaughtering nobles, and we are remnants seeking refuge with the Northern Shanyue. This troop is composed of the direct lineage, as long as we are let in, the spiritual objects of our clan will be bestowed upon them."

The man from the Dili Clan nodded and quickly went forward. Li Zhouwei simply stood on his horse, utterly unworried. The strength and intelligence of the two sides were not on the same level at all. Using schemes was merely to save time.

After all, in the eyes of Northern Shanyue, if it really involved the Li family, why would they need so much effort? A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator could just bulldoze through. Naturally, they wouldn't suspect the Li family.

Li Wushao behind him obviously held the same thought. After waiting for a moment, he said ominously:

"Princely Heir... why don't I shatter this pass and charge in one breath?"

Li Zhouwei gently shook his head. Chen Yan lay on his horse in the night, seeming to have figured out the thread, pondering:

"It seems he wants an intact pass, pretending to be the Dili Clan's invasion from the north... Afraid of startling the snake?"

While Chen Yan was thinking, a large basket was lowered from above. The young man of the Dili Clan knelt and said:

"My lord, the Guardian General says the troops should wait outside and the person in charge should come forward."

"That's quite cautious."

Chen Yan cleared his throat, and Li Zhouwei said teasingly in a low voice:

"I guess he may not necessarily be coveting these spiritual objects!"

Chen Yan gave a quiet chuckle, going along with his hint:

"Most likely he wants to present the 'remnants' heads to curry favor with our Li family!"

Li Zhouwei planted his long halberd into the ground, turning his head to say:

"Senior Wushao, please spare that Guardian General's life. I still have use for him."

Li Wushao slowly nodded and floated into the basket, shakily lifting it up. The person on top was lifting it in a rush, which seemed somewhat ironic.

When Li Wushao entered the formation, Chen Yan counted to seventeen, and the Great Formation of the pass was thunderously deactivated, the gates flung open, revealing Shanyue people kneeling inside. Li Zhouwei urged his horse forward, the cultivators on both sides stepping aside to uncover a ground drenched in crimson blood.

A mass of heads rolled on the ground, with the trembling Guardian General offering up his Bone Sword with both hands. Li Zhouwei didn't accept it but walked up the pass step by step. The troops of the Dili Clan had already emerged in the distance.

Only then did Li Zhouwei glance at the terror-stricken Shanyue man on the ground, merely at the fourth level of Fetal Breathing, frightened into submission by Li Wushao's tactic, repeatedly kowtowing and saying:

"I've seen the great king! I've seen the great king! Du Dou wishes to serve in the great king's army, to help the great king recruit troops!"

Li Zhouwei remained silent, making Du Dou sweat profusely. When Dili Youjie hurried over the pass, he saw the youth waving his hand lightly and softly saying:

"Let's rebel."

Chen Yan nodded, already clear on the scheme. He smiled and said:

"Send the order down, draft a proclamation, send it to all the parts of Northern Shanyue, saying that Du Dou, under a secret order from Witch Mountain, let Dili Youjie into the pass, and rose in rebellion at [Chen Pass]."

Dili Youjie heard this, drenched in sweat, being pushed to the forefront of the dilemma. But glancing at Li Wushao and Kongheng, he quickly relaxed. However, seeing Chen Yan moving forward, Li Zhouwei smiled and said:

"We also need a title. Dili Youjie is already our man, and sooner or later, the Northern Shanyue will find out. That might not be very convenient."

Dili Youjie, struggling to grasp Chen Yan's reading of Li Zhouwei's thoughts, still had his own way of curry favor. He immediately performed a big ritual, respectfully saying:

"The great king's brilliance shines like the sun, in the barbarian tongue, it is:[Dahe Mingfang]. I wish to honor you with this title!"

Seeing Li Zhouwei nod, Chen Yan quickly said:

"Then go arrange it... gather the troops, while the Northern Court is still unaware... quickly advance northward!"

Li Zhouwei let him go and arrange it, gazing casually at the sky, wondering where Li Xijun and the others were hiding, and murmured:

"Let's see what kind of reaction the lord of Northern Shanyue will have, it would be best if we could directly disturb Witch Mountain."