Chapter 248: Wuguluo

Great Li Country.

The Governor’s Mansion in Chixia Town.

Tu Fang, the Chiyan Governor of the Great Li Country and Commander of the northern Border Army, sat expressionlessly in the main seat. His generals stood on either side below him.

All of them had their heads bowed, not daring to speak.

Great Li’s long-planned counterattack had ended in a crushing defeat. The Great Li Army’s casualties were still being tallied, but conservative estimates placed the number above three thousand men!

Most importantly, all seven of their mining fortresses in Longling Canyon had been captured by the Wu Country.

Not only had they failed to seize any of the Wu Country’s resource-rich territories, but they had been driven back, forcing Great Li to pull back its front line in Longling Canyon.

The Border Army Commander’s fury was palpable.

“Who is going to explain this to me?”

Tu Fang’s gaze was ice-cold as he scanned the generals below him. He asked slowly, “The Wu Country was clearly unprepared. We had already taken seven of their mining areas. How did we lose all seven in a single night?”

The generals were dead silent, none daring to speak for fear of drawing his wrath.

“Have you all gone mute?”

Tu Fang narrowed his eyes.

The temperature in the hall seemed to plummet.

The lead general on the left, Tan Lin, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and bowing. “Reporting to the Governor, the Wu Country was indeed caught off guard. Our army was victorious in one battle after another at first. It’s just that later…”

Tan Lin paused slightly. “Later, an Innate Martial Artist from the Wu Country named Lu Bai appeared. This man is far too powerful. With just him and his sword, he’s practically invincible in the Innate Realm. Forget the Great Li Army; even the Divine Brilliance Guard would be no match for him.”

“One man, one sword, invincible in the Innate Realm?”

Tu Fang asked coldly, “How much combat power can a single Innate Martial Artist have? My Great Li Army has thousands upon thousands of soldiers. As long as they fight without fear of death, can they not overwhelm a single Innate Martial Artist?”

This explanation was indeed somewhat beyond his comprehension.

An Innate Martial Artist had yet to cultivate a Blood Qi Golden Core, so their power had a clear ceiling.

No matter how strong one person was, they couldn’t withstand the charge of a massive army. It was impossible for them to change the course of a battle single-handedly like a top-tier Martial Artist could.

With Tan Lin having broken the silence, another general mustered his courage and stepped forward. “Reporting to the Governor, that man has already reached the Blood Qi River Realm. He also wields a Tier Two Unparalleled Treasure Artifact. Our army’s weapons and Armor are completely useless against it. When he charged into our ranks, it was like he was cutting through melons and vegetables…”

At this point, the man felt he might have said something wrong and stole a glance at Tu Fang.

Seeing Tu Fang’s grim expression, he quickly shut his mouth.

Tan Lin continued, “If he were to face our Great Li Army head-on, he certainly wouldn’t be able to withstand our charge. But his Body Technique is too profound, and he can even achieve Flying…”

“Flying?”

Tu Fang frowned. “Is he a Dual Cultivator of Magic and Martial Arts?”

“I don’t believe so.”

Tan Lin explained, “We never saw him use any Magical Power. He can tread on air using nothing but his Martial Arts Body Technique.

He would charge in and kill for a while, and the moment our army tried to surround him, he’d flee, find another spot, and continue his slaughter. We couldn’t pin him down at all.”

“Yes, it’s not that the Great Li Army isn’t strong enough. It’s just that this man’s combat power is overwhelming, and he can come and go as he pleases. He attacks from above and is impossible to deal with.”

“The soldiers routed because there was truly nothing they could do.”

The other generals quickly nodded in agreement, each adding their own bitter complaints.

Tu Fang’s brows were tightly knitted.

If what they said was true—that a mere Innate Martial Artist could achieve Flying and was aided by an Unparalleled Treasure Artifact—then the situation was indeed tricky.

“Governor, the main issue is our apprehension regarding the Peace Alliance.”

A general said, “I heard the Eastern Desolate Martial Emperor ascended long ago. So many years have passed; there’s no need to abide by the Peace Alliance anymore. If any one of our True Master Martial Dao were to act, they could easily slay this whelp!”

Tu Fang fell into a thoughtful silence.

No one among the various Vassal States of the Celestial Divine Land had set such a precedent yet.

Once someone broke the treaty, the delicate balance between the nations would be shattered, and war would inevitably follow!

The restrictions of the Peace Alliance had indeed been weakening over the years.

Coupled with several hundred years of peace and recuperation, the Martial Artists of every nation had grown stronger. With the long period of tranquility, many Vassal States were growing restless.

Sooner or later, the Peace Alliance would lose its deterrent effect.

However, for Great Li to be the one to break the treaty just to kill a single Innate Martial Artist was simply not worth it.

Tu Fang pondered for a long time before suddenly asking, “I heard this man killed Liang Bin of the Witch Race?”

“That is correct.”

Someone replied.

A cold glint flashed in Tu Fang’s eyes. “Men, send word of this back to the Capital City. Inform Elder Wuguluo of the Witch Race.”

“Governor, are you thinking of using Elder Wu’s hand to deal with this?”

The generals guessed Tu Fang’s intentions.

Tan Lin asked tentatively, “That Elder Wu has refined the Three Gu. He’s considered a True Master Golden Core…”

Tu Fang said flatly, “The Peace Alliance has few restrictions on the Witch Race. That Liang Bin was Elder Wu’s disciple. If he wants to avenge his disciple, that has nothing to do with our Great Li.”

“The Governor is wise!”

Velvet Antler Fruit Garden.

Following Lu Bai’s consecutive victories over seven of Great Li’s territories, the Wu Country’s Border Army had reacted with extreme speed. Reinforcements from the Huben and Longxiang armies arrived and established a garrison. Lu Bai was assigned to guard this very fruit garden.

It was also the fortress closest to the Great Li front line.

At the same time, Yue Qianshan sent a man to deliver Lu Bai’s rewards.

Besides some silver taels and silks, the most important item was a Top Grade Meridian Opening Pill.

‘This is good stuff.’

Lu Bai held the Elixir, sniffed it, and tucked it away with satisfaction.

He was currently at Innate Nine Meridians. Once he broke through another meridian, he could take this Meridian Opening Pill and unblock at least one more.

He might even have a chance to unblock all Twelve Meridians at once!

Over the past few days in the Velvet Antler Fruit Garden, Lu Bai had not slacked off, practicing the Martial Dao by day and Cultivation by night.

The Velvet Antler Fruit was itself a fruit that replenished Blood Qi.

By consuming it daily, he would soon break through to his tenth meridian.

He had even made some progress in Cultivation and Qi Refining. The sensation of qi was growing stronger, and with a little more practice, he would have a chance to condense his first wisp of Spiritual Qi.

After this battle, Lu Bai had firmly established his footing in the army.

Never mind his own Fuhu Camp; even the soldiers from the other seven camps of the Huben Army, as well as the Longxiang Light and Heavy Cavalry, were all respectful when they saw Lu Bai.

Lu Bai, however, didn’t plan to stay in the Border Army for too long.

His recent military achievements were more than enough to absolve him of his previous crimes.

He planned to wait until the end of the year and then talk to Chen Shihu about whether he could return to Bluestone City.

Although Marquis Jingzhong had been stripped of his title, he was still alive and remained a lingering threat.

After this battle, Great Li did not counterattack and became much more docile.

The night grew deep. Lu Bai had just finished cultivating the Piercing Fire Chapter and was about to lie down and rest when a thought suddenly struck him. He recalled the strange activity from the Immortal Vine when he had released the Nether Candle outside Fujiao Manor.

With a thought, Lu Bai willed the Immortal Vine out of the Ancient Mirror and into his hand.

He used the Cyan Cloud Sword to prick his fingertip, squeezing out a drop of essence blood onto the Immortal Vine.

The Immortal Vine still showed no reaction.

This was the same as when he had tested it before.

Lu Bai channeled his Blood Qi and tried to infuse it into the Immortal Vine, but there wasn’t the slightest ripple of response.

‘Strange.’

Lu Bai was lost in thought. ‘Why did the Immortal Vine suddenly react that night and actively devour my Blood Qi?’

Lu Bai sent the Immortal Vine back into the Ancient Mirror and stimulated the mirror with his Blood Qi.

The Ancient Mirror instantly released a shadowy glow, and a massive vortex materialized on his chest, emitting a terrifying, sinister aura.

But it only lasted for a moment. The Immortal Vine deep within the Ancient Mirror seemed to sense something and suddenly erupted with a powerful suction force, once again beginning to absorb and devour Lu Bai’s Blood Qi!