Gate of God

Chapter 430: Changing the facts

“Yan Ya?!”

When the soldiers heard the name, their expressions changed drastically. They knew that the Settlement Chiefs took on the names of the settlements they led.

This was a Southern Region tradition.

However, Yan Ya was not just a name, it was a legacy.

The names Yan Ya, Shi Zun, and Thunderous Lion all represented a mysterious force and power. The ones who took on the name were also ambassadors of this power.

“I had no idea you were Settlement Chief Yan Ya. It is my mistake for not recognizing you. Please have a seat!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong felt beads of sweat roll down his forehead.

However, he maintained a smile on his face.

His life was now in Yan Ya’s hands. At that distance, he wouldn’t even have the chance to run.

However, he had never expected that a Settlement Chief would come to deliver a letter personally.

What was he after?

“No need, I am just here to deliver the letter. Once you give me your reply, I will take my leave.” Yan Ya presented the leather parchment once again.

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong smiled.

He did not speak as he shot a look towards the two soldiers.

The two soldiers reacted instantly, taking the leather parchment from Yan Ya’s hands and presenting it to the Crown Prince.

The other soldier exited the tent hastily.

Before long, there was a commotion outside the tent. The sunlight revealed that there were many people standing outside.

Yan Ya continued to stand motionlessly at the same spot, almost as if he had not seen anything. His expression was calm.

Crown Prince Lin Tianrong heaved a sigh of relief and took the parchment in his hand.

However…

As he read it, his expression froze and his eyes began to glimmer icily.

“Call Official Su, and get those outside to fall out.” Lin Tianrong looked at Yan Ya, hesitated, then gave the order to the soldier beside him.

“Your highness… if you’re alone…”

“What are you nagging about? Did you not understand the order?”

“I’m sorry, your highness!” The soldier sprinted out of the tent.

Just moments after the soldier exited the tent, the flaps were opened and Su Qing walked in, dressed in black.

“Greetings your highness, greetings Settlement Chief Yan Ya. I am the Head of the Imperial Academy, Su Qing!” Su Qing bowed to Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and introduced himself to Yan Ya, placing his fist on his chest as he bowed.

Yan Ya was slightly stunned. He could see that Su Qing was greeting him using the Southern Region traditions, specifically, those used in the Yan Ya Settlement.

“Official Su is too kind. Even though I am a Settlement Chief, the Southern Region is a vassal of the Great Xia and you do not have to greet me as a higher official.” Yan Ya returned the bow.

“Settlement Chief Yan Ya, you are too humble. Even though the Southern Region is a vassal state, everyone knows that we are more like brothers. We go through thick and thin together. As such, it is only right for me to accord you such respect.”

“Haha… Official Su is too polite!” Yan Ya nodded, standing still, not wanting to continue engaging in these pleasantries.

“Official Su, please take a look at this letter.” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong glanced at Su Qing and pointed to the letter on the table.

“Yes, your highness!” Su Qing nodded and walked up to the table. He took the letter in his hand and read it twice before returning to his position.

“What do you think?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong asked.

“The Southern Region and the Great Xia are like fish and water. The fish cannot leave the water and the water cannot be without fish. As such, we should try and fulfill their requests.” Su Qing replied.

“Mm.” Lin Tianrong nodded and looked at Yan Ya, “I agree to your terms.”

“Thank you, your highness, the 50,000 Great Xia soldiers in Yan Ya and Shi Zun will be returned to you by noon tomorrow.” Yan Ya had expected such an outcome.

“No need for that. I will issue an order right now for you to pass to the deputy general. He will meet me at the Icy Monkey Settlement!”

“Thank you for your assistance, your highness!” Yan Ya bowed when he heard this.

…

After a brief moment.

Yan Ya exited the tent with orders in hand, but Su Qing did not. The Crown Prince also had no intention of letting Su Qing leave.

“What do you think?” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong asked Su Qing.

“From the letter, the Crown Prince of the Southern Region, together with Princess Shan Yu, is already on the way to meet Xing Hou and Nangong Hao. They should be arriving at the Iron Hill Settlement soon, which means that whatever was mentioned in the letter should be true. This means that… this negotiation… is Fang Zhengzhi’s effort, and he deserves the credit.” Su Qing nodded.

“You are right. But I don’t understand something. Since they are only negotiating with us because of something Fang Zhengzhi did, why does he want Fang Zhengzhi to be punished by them?” The Crown Prince was confused.

“To be honest, it isn’t necessarily bad for us.” Su Qing continued without directly answering the question.

“What do you mean?”

“Your Highness, have you forgot about the messenger you sent to the Icy Monkey Settlement?”

“Mm, I have prepared myself for that.”

“Exactly, you did actually make preparations for that. Even when we get back, no one will dare to pin it on you, but Fang Zhengzhi is not just anybody.”

“Fang Zhengzhi… haha, would I be scared of a powerless rank four official?” Lin Tianrong smirked in disdain.

“If Fang Zhengzhi was to return to the capital, would he still be a powerless rank four official?” Su Qing queried.

“What do you mean?”

“The letter mentioned that Fang Zhengzhi had the Emperor’s token. If my guess is correct, the token should be real, but it was not meant to be used in the way he did. It should be linked to the Ministry of Rites. Now that the Minister is dead, and Fang Zhengzhi just did something great…”

“How can a rank four official jump four levels and become a minister?” Lin Tianrong couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Based on his current situation, it is unlikely that he will be the next minister. However, he could get a promotion. Then, a year later, the Emperor could find a reason to promote him to Minister.”

“So what?”

“He won’t be much of a threat to you as a minister, but what if he aligns himself with King Duan?”

“Fang Zhengzhi has always had conflicts with King Duan. Why would he align himself with my sixth brother?”

“There is nothing impossible in this world. Situations are fluid and can change all the time. Fang Zhengzhi may be powerless now, but once he has power in his hands, who is to say what will happen? Furthermore, he is a mercenary person!”

“Smack!”

The jade cup was smashed into the ground with a crisp sound, shattering into smithereens.

“I will never let something like that happen! I can execute him for misrepresenting the wishes of the Emperor using an Emperor’s token!” The Crown Prince’s knuckles whitened.

“I doubt it…” Su Qing shook his head.

“Why not?”

“Even though Fang Zhengzhi did commit a crime, he did something great for the Great Xia. As such, his punishment will not be death!”

“Are you trying to say that I won’t be able to punish Fang Zhengzhi? Do I need to send people to kidnap Fang Zhengzhi and give him to the Southern Region?”

“No, you don’t have to. Few people know what happened in the throne room. In fact, we can’t be sure that what we know is the truth.”

“The truth? What do you mean?”

“After reading the letter from the Crown Prince, what if our thoughts are… the Minister of Rites had actually negotiated a deal when Fang Zhengzhi barged in. In an attempt to steal credit, he used the Emperor’s Token falsely and had the Minister killed by the Southern Region Crown Prince. What do you think will happen then?”

“Hahaha… Su Qing, Su Qing, it is a good thing that you are not aligned with King Duan. Else, I will really have to guard against your glib tongue!” Crown Prince Lin Tianrong chuckled.

“Haha…” Su Qing shuddered, almost as if he thought about something. However, he calmed himself down quickly and smiled.

“Okay then, we will do as you suggest! I don’t know what Fang Zhengzhi did to offend the Southern Region’s Crown Prince. But we can pin this crime on him and hand him over to the Southern Region. I am sure that the Emperor will be happy with the result. He may even praise me for showing mercy and not executing Fang Zhengzhi on the spot!”

…

About a mile outside the Iron Hill Settlement…

Figures in black navigated through the forest, covering their tracks well despite their rapid speed.

At the front of the squad was a man in heavy leather and rattan armor. Behind him were soldiers dressed in shiny armor.

Shan Ling’s gaze was fixed on the black castle in the distance. He clenched his fists in anxiety.

Princess Shan Yu frowned, her mouth opening and closing constantly, but no words could be heard.

“Are you still thinking about the terms I offered the Great Xia?” Shan Ling motioned to the settlement chiefs around him before whispering.

When they saw his sign, they split up and exuded an aura that separated them from the surroundings, almost like a giant shield.

“Even though he was shameless, he is still an official of the Great Xia, and is the top candidate of the Imperial Exam and Court Theory Examination…”

“The choice is not theirs. 50,000 of their soldiers for one man. Do you think that they will say no to such an offer?”

“Well…”

“Rest assured, they will agree to it. I will hand Fang Zhengzhi over to you. Even though he slapped you, we can forgive him if he is willing to serve us. Else… you have to kill him and prevent him from returning to the Great Xia.”

“I have to kill him?”

“Of course, Fang Zhengzhi is the youngest Supernatural State talent around. If he is with the Great Xia, we will never be able to build our empire… furthermore, I have spoken to Xing Yuanguo and he told me that they had no deal with Fang Zhengzhi. This means that Fang Zhengzhi guessed all of this himself. There is no one else with such intellect in our country!”

“Brother, have you not given up on your ambitions to be an Emperor?” Princess Shan Yu shuddered in shock.

“Sister, you don’t have to worry about that right now. Our first order of business is to get out of this sticky situation. We can’t be a vassal forever! I just gave the order for the release of 50,000 soldiers, but the gate is still under our control!” Shan Ling’s eyes glimmered with determination.

Princess Shan Yu didn’t reply. She clenched her fists tightly and frowned, visibly conflicted.

Chapter 431: Just jump

…

The gates of the Iron Hill Settlement were now a bloody battlefield.

Blood sprayed into the air, landing on the floor as red droplets of rain, staining the black walls of the Iron hill Settlement red.

Countless demon soldiers in black armor gathered at the foot of the walls. Each one of them raised a huge shield to block the rain of arrows.

Screams punctuated the air.

Every so often, the scream would originate from the top of the wall. As the soldiers of the Southern Region were shooting at the Demons, they were being shot at as well.

A hail of arrows rained down from the walls.

But this was quickly answered by another hail of arrows shot from the bottom up. Every now and then, the two waves of arrows will clash, resulting in crisp rings of metal.

War…

Was brutal.

Death was to be expected. In a siege, a life was lost in the blink of an eye.

The demons lunged at the Iron Hill Settlement like a ferocious beast, carrying with them an intense killing aura. They crashed into the walls of the settlement.

There was a spot of white in this sea of black.

Almost like a lotus flower in the chaos, or a rock standing amidst torrential rain… Yun Qingwu stood in the middle of it all.

She stood at the entrance to the settlement, a pure blue light hovering above her head. No demon dared to step within a one-meter radius of her.

She did not give any orders, neither did she move.

However, General Mu’s gaze never left Yun Qingwu for a moment. He knew exactly what Yun Qingwu was doing.

As long as she was at the gate…

Then…

The morale of the demons will never falter. Countless demons will launch wave after wave of attacks against the settlement, laying down their lives to pave a road into the city.

“General, the demons have been attacking for over two hours and we have suffered heavy losses. Would you consider drawing reinforcements from the other gates?” A voice rang out.

“No, continue holding the gate!” General Mu replied without hesitation.

“Yes, sir!” The voice disappeared.

General Mu did not bother taking a second look at the messenger. He clenched his fists and his knuckles whitened. He was on the verge of stabbing himself with his fingernails.

He knew that he could not hold out much longer, but what could he do? He had no other choice!

Even though drawing reinforcements from the other gates seemed like a decent idea…

He would just be delaying the inevitable. Should the demons flank them, it may even result in the settlement falling even faster.

The demons were attacking fanatically.

However, they were only attacking with one formation. The other formation of soldiers had not even moved. In other words…

The cavalry had yet to join the battle!

General Mu was certain that if he drew reinforcements from the other gates, the cavalry would punish that decision instantly.

The city would fall.

He was caught between a rock and a hard place.

His mission here was to delay the demon army. As such, he could not make any risky decisions.

He had to hold out for as long as he could!

This way…

General Mu had already played right into Yun Qingwu’s hands. By attacking only one gate, she would suffer fewer losses.

She wanted to preserve as much of the strength of the army as possible.

General Mu knew this, but he could not do anything to change the fact! He couldn’t meet them out on the open plains! Neither could he transfer troops from the other gates to reinforce the defence here.

He was at a loss…

The only thing he could do was watch as he played right into Yun Qingwu’s hand, trying to hold out as long as possible.

“General, we have lost about 3200 men, also…” Before long, another voice rang out by General Mu’s side.

“I understand, give the order for them to keep up the defence!” General Mu nodded and grit his teeth.

“Yes, general!” The voice disappeared into the chaos below.

In the short span of two hours…

The 20,000 strong defence at this gate was shaved by more than 30%. This number didn’t include the wounded!

No way!

If this went on, he would not be able to hold out for another two hours.

General Mu knew that the defence would get harder as time went on. His soldiers would be plagued by injuries and fatigue.

Based on the way the demons were attacking…

They would not stop until the city was broken.

What was he to do?

General Mu’s mission was to guard the Iron Hill Settlement and delay the advance of the demon army. He was supposed to buy two days of time…

But now, even six hours seemed like a stretch.

Was he supposed to sacrifice all 80,000 soldiers in the defence of this city?

General Mu did not want to see that happen, but he had no choice. Even though the lives of 80,000 soldiers was a hefty price to pay…

It was worth it if it was in exchange for a chance for the Southern Region to survive.

“Brave warriors of the Southern Region! I, Mu Xutie, do not have anything more to say. All I have to say is, we live for as long as the country lives. We die if it falls! This battle concerns the survival of the Southern Region! What do you say?” General Mu drew the blades on his back.

At the same time, he stepped on the wall and knocked off one of the demons. He was so fast his arms looked like a meteor.

That demon didn’t even have the chance to react. It screamed in pain as it fell to the ground.

“Die!”

“Guard the settlement with our lives!”

“Over our dead bodies!”

The Southern Region soldiers were all inspired after seeing General Mu leap onto the walls of the settlement. However, one of them was quickly felled by an arrow.

“General, there… there are reinforce… reinforcements…” One of the Southern Region soldiers rushed over, panting.

“Scram, don’t bother me, I am going to fight it out of the demons today!” General Mu glared as he waved his wolf toothed weapons, ignoring the messenger.

“General, we… have reinforcements!”

“Scram… Wait! What did you just say? Reinforcements? Where did they come from?”

“It’s the princess and Crown Prince Shan Ling. The settlement chiefs, including Shi Zun and Thunderous Lion, are with them… and… and people from the Great Xia…”

“What?! The Princess is here?! And so is the Crown Prince? The Great Xia… could it be that they reached an agreement?” General Mu was stumped.

“They should be reaching soon!”

“Here? No, that cannot happen! They cannot be in the line of fire!” General Mu was just about to stop the messenger when he felt pain in his chest.

There was an arrow sticking out of his chest.

“General, general!”

“The general has been hit!”

“Protect the general!”

All of the Southern Region soldiers in the vicinity rushed over to assist their wounded general.

“Don’t bother about me, guard the city! Guard the city!” General Mu glared as he snapped the arrow in half, kicking one of his own soldiers away.

“I will command the defence of the city!” A voice rang out some distance away. A lady in a leather skirt appeared in front of the crowd.

“Princess!”

“It’s the princess!”

“The princess is here!”

“The Crown Prince is here too!”

“Greetings your highnesses!”

All of the Southern Region soldiers and leaders were excited to see the arrival of these two royalties. There was light at the end of the tunnel.

However, General Mu was still in pain.

He knew what kind of situation they were faced with. To see Princess Shan Yu and the Crown Prince now was not a good thing.

“Get someone to help General Mu to the medic!” Princess Shan Yu ignored the cheers and walked over to General Mu.

“Princess, I can still defend this position!”

“What rubbish are you talking? Just go!”

“Yes… thank you, your highness!”

…

Yun Qingwu locked eyes with a pair of black eyes on the top of the settlement walls. She saw anger in those eyes.

However…

She was not affected by that fury. She did not feel any guilt for what she did.

Princess Shan Yu looked back at Yun Qingwu.

However, her eyes were focused on the patch of blue above Yun Qingwu’s head.

“The Heavenly Rebirth Dao?!” Princess Shan Yu squinted. She had wanted to ask General Mu what was happening.

However, upon seeing the Heavenly Rebirth Dao and a calm Yun Qingwu, she finally understood what kind of enemy General Mu had been up against.

“Crown Prince, Princess, what do we do now?” A middle-aged man whispered as he walked to their sides, spying the blue light above Yun Qingwu’s head.

“Half sage huh?” Shan Ling clenched his fists, his eyes glimmering icily, “I would like to see what he can do!”

“I suggest that you don’t…” Just as Shan Ling was preparing to issue a challenge, a figure in white appeared by his side.

Nangong Hao’s white academic attire danced lightly in the wind, the blade on his back glowing.

“Are you saying…” Shan Ling wanted to say something to rebut Nangong Hao, but he swallowed his words.

Because…

He felt a wave of confidence.

This was an inexplicable confidence. Under such circumstances, he should not have such confidence, but Nangong Hao did.

Just at that moment, Xing Yuanguo, dressed in a purplish golden robe, also walked to the wall. Xing Qingsui was by his side.

“Heavenly Rebirth Dao?” Xing Yuanguo’s gaze froze as he saw the blue light above Yun Qingwu’s head.

“My lord, what do you think?” Nangong Hao asked respectfully when he saw Xing Yuanguo walk over.

“Haha… I think that we have the same idea.” Xing Yuanguo smiled when he saw the look in Nangong Hao’s eyes.

He too was confident.

It was almost as though he felt like the demons in front of him were weaklings. It was almost as though there was no half sage amongst them.

This was an aura that they embodied.

However, the settlement chiefs, Shan Ling, and Princess Shan Yu could not understand it.

What were Nangong Hao and Xing Yuanguo so confident about?

They had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and a half sage in their midst. Where were they getting their confidence from?

Shan Ling couldn’t figure it out.

Neither could the settlement chiefs nor Princess Shan Yu. The soldiers fighting for their lives were equally confused.

“If that is the case, I’ll make my move first.” Nangong Hao ignored the gazes from the Southern Region soldiers as he bowed to Xing Yuanguo.

Then, he leapt off the wall…

…

If there was anything that could shock Shan Ling, it would be Nangong Hao’s actions.

He had thought of many possibilities when he saw Xing Yuanguo and Nangong Hao come up to the wall. He had thought that Xing Yuanguo would negotiate for better terms…

Or ask to be given command of the defence.

Shan Ling had told himself that he would agree to all the terms that Xing Yuanguo proposed, but he never expected Xing Yuanguo to talk to Nangong Hao the moment he came up.

More importantly, after their conversation, Nangong Hao just…

Jumped down onto the battlefield?

Shan Ling had no idea what Nangong Hao was thinking. He did not even know what Nangong Hao was doing.

Jumping off the settlement wall? What the hell was going on? Did he not see the sea of black that awaited him below?

Chapter 432: Half Sage

Shan Ling wanted to ask Nangong Hao what he was doing, but he did not have the chance. Nangong Hao had already leapt off.

He did not even say anything before jumping.

Then, something even more shocking happened.

After Nangong Hao jumped, another figure flashed by his side and leapt off the wall.

He didn’t say anything either…

“Xing Yuanguo?!” Shan Ling was stumped. He never expected that Xing Yuanguo would do something similar.

And then…

He was completely floored.

After Nangong Hao and Xing Yuanguo jumped down onto the battlefield, Xing Qingsui and the Dragon Protection Squad followed suit.

Their eyes were filled with determination.

Shan Ling could not believe his eyes when he saw the figures leaping onto the battlefield.

“Your Highness, open the gates, the Mountain Breaking Army is prepared to fight!”

“Please have faith in us!”

“Open the gates!”

Their voices reverberated in Shan Ling’s ears. Princess Shan Yu and the other Southern Region soldiers could not believe their ears.

Shan Ling’s expression was stony.

If anyone had asked him to open the gates before this, he would have executed them on the spot.

But now…

He couldn’t.

Not only could he not draw his blade, he had to listen to them and open the gate.

In fact, this wasn’t a request, it was an order. It was an order from the Great Xia, an order that couldn’t be refused.

Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu and the surrounding soldiers.

Princess Shan Yu and the other soldiers looked at Shan Ling, their expressions visibly different from before.

Before this, the Southern Region soldiers’ expressions were pained.

But now…

They looked insulted and shamed.

This feeling of shame translated into a energy that riled them up. They would do anything to salvage their dignity.

On their home ground…

The Great Xia soldiers were showing greater bravery and will to fight! How could they take it lying down?

Jumping down…

Was a very stupid thing to do…

But it was this stupid act that invigorated the Southern Region warriors and gave them a new lease of life.

“If the Great Xia dares to fight, why should we shy away?!”

“Die!”

“Your Highness, I, Shi Zun, have never been humiliated this way before! I can’t wait any longer!” Shi Zun’s voice rang out.

He leapt down onto the battlefield.

“Hahaha… wait for me! I am going to fight it out with the demons today!” Thunderous Lion followed suit, chuckling as he did so.

The two major settlement chiefs had joined the battle!

They followed the lead of Nangong Hao and Xing Yuanguo without hesitation. They did not even wait for approval from the Crown Prince.

It wasn’t because they didn’t respect him.

It was because they knew that Shan Ling would definitely agree. If Shan Ling still didn’t know what they were doing, he wasn’t fit to be the Crown Prince.

Shan Ling’s eyes widened, his eyes swirling with iciness, almost like a tornado.

“Open the gates!”

“Yes, your highness!”

…

The battle of the Iron Hill Settlement was destined to be a bloody one, much worse than anything Princess Shan Yu had expected.

Princess Shan Yu knew exactly what Nangong Hao was doing.

It was precisely because she knew, that’s why she was so stunned.

Raising morale!

Morale was paramount in battle. Anyone who knew anything about war knew that the army with higher morale had the advantage.

Yun Qingwu understood this very well.

She used her body as a target and countered the onslaught using the abilities of those behind her.

Everything that she did was for only one purpose. She would raise the morale of the demon army and make them fight harder than ever before. She wanted the army to know that she was fighting with them.

This was one of the best strategies Princess Shan Yu had seen.

It was exactly this strategy that caused General Mu to lose the initiative. From start to finish, he had been suppressed, suffering heavy losses in the defence of the city.

However, there was always a counter to even the best strategies. That being said, this counter was particularly difficult to think of, and even harder to execute.

Courage!

That was the only way to counter Yun Qingwu’s strategy.

They couldn’t beat her in numbers!

They couldn’t beat her in terms of abilities!

So how could they defeat her?

They had to best her in courage.

Yun Qingwu had used her courage to raise the morale of her troops. If they were to have any chance of beating the demons, they needed to be even more courageous.

The braver one would emerge victorious.

They had to be even more vicious!

“Die!”

When the gates to the Iron Hill Settlement opened, the Mountain Breaking Army led the charge, like a blade cutting through the demon army.

Countless Southern Region soldiers raised their spears and rallied behind the Mountain Breaking Army.

They threw their spears at the demon army. The spears mixed with the arrows, forming a lethal torrential rain of metal tips.

“Kill! Defend the Southern Region!” Princess Shan Yu leapt onto the battlefield like a black leopard ready to hunt.

The red cloud patterns appeared on her skin and her skin turned black. She held two daggers in her hands as she charged into the demon army.

“Woosh woosh woosh!”

Her hands spun like a blender as she cut through the demons, sending blood spraying into the sky and staining her hair.

Yun Qingwu’s expression finally had some change.

When she saw Xing Yuanguo and Nangong Hao leap onto the battlefield, she knew that the battle situation was about to change.

However, she did not expect the change to be this great and quick.

She had plenty of power behind her. The ten domain chiefs and hundreds of elites were all present.

There was enough power to destroy a country.

But…

The Southern Region was not weak.

The five settlement chiefs were all in the Rebirth State. Furthermore, Xing Yuanguo, Nangong Hao, and Shan Ling could not be underestimated.

The last three were particularly powerful.

Shan Ling and Xing Yuanguo were definitely more powerful than any of the ten domain chiefs. As for Nangong Hao, he could easily go up against any of the ten.

Furthermore, there was the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army…

Yun Qingwu knew that she still had the upper hand. However, she also knew that it would be a pyrrhic victory.

However, could she retreat?

Definitely not.

This had been in the works for so long. She couldn’t give up when victory was in her sights.

Fight, fight to the death!

That was Yun Qingwu’s decision.

“Domain Chiefs, meet the challengers!” She waved her arm lightly. This was the first time she had spoken during the battle.

“Understood!” The reply came in unison from hundreds of black-cloaked demons. Their power was much more intimidating than the hundreds of thousands behind them.

This was a messy battle.

There were dozens of Rebirth State cultivators and hundreds of Supernatural State cultivators. This was a battle filled with waves of power and lightswords.

There was no ordinary soldier who could step into this battle.

Yun Qingwu’s attention was focused on this bloody killing field. She watched on as lightswords flew in her direction.

However, she did not move. She allowed the lightswords to hit the blue light and disappear.

The Heavenly Rebirth Dao.

So long as she stood inside it, she was in a different dimension. She could not be affected by what was happening around her.

15 minutes passed.

An hour…

Two hours…

Countless bodies fell on the ground. There were heavy losses on all sides, their blood staining the ground and collecting in little puddles.

Fatigue plagued all the soldiers.

However…

The battle showed no signs of stopping.

For as long as the battle raged on, they would have no time to rest. They would have to fight tooth and nail to the bitter end.

Shan Ling was being protected by the settlement chiefs, his body riddled with injuries and his face pale. However, he showed no intention of leaving the battlefield.

“Report! Your highness… something… something bad happened! The back… back gate has been breached!” Just at that moment, a voice rang out.

“What?! The back gate was breached? How is that possible? Is General Tai that inept?” Shan Ling’s face paled.

He had come from the Sagely Mountain City and entered from the back gate.

As such, he knew that General Tai was the one commanding the defences there. He also knew that the 50,000 strong demon army from the Sagely Mountain City would be assaulting that gate.

As such, he never asked soldiers from the back gate to reinforce the other gates.

Even though he only had 5,000 soldiers left…

He kept 20,000 soldiers at the back gate to guard against the attack of the 50,000 demon soldiers coming from the Sagely Mountain City.

Shan Ling could not understand it…

Most importantly, he had given explicit orders to General Tai…

He was not to attack… he was to hold that gate at all costs.

“15 minutes ago, there was a small group of demons at the back gate. General Tai was influenced by the battle here and followed your lead. So… he gave the order to open the gates. In the end… in the end… that wasn’t a small group but the entire army. He walked right into a trap…” The Southern Region soldier was flustered.

“What small group?! I had already told him that there are 50,000 soldiers coming for him! Where is Tai Ting?” Shan Ling was furious.

“After being ambushed, he… he disappeared…”

“Disappeared? I will find him at all costs… for now, give the order for the soldiers on both flanks to defend against the demons coming from the back!” Shan Ling knew that this was not the time to assign blame, but he could not accept that fact.

They had sacrificed so much to hold the front gate.

Yet…

The back gate had been breached?

If they were attacked from both sides, it would be devastating for morale.

Having both flanks reinforce the rear was his only strategy left. That being said, he was just delaying the inevitable.

“Time, why is time passing so slowly! Is… is the Southern Region really at its end?” Shan Ling looked at the setting sun, his heart turning to ice.

…

Yun Qingwu was very near to Shan Ling. She had heard everything that had been said.

“It would look like… the end is near. But, why is it that he isn’t here yet?” Yun Qingwu muttered to herself.

Behind Yun Qingwu was a figure in a black cloak.

That position was once filled by the 10 domain chiefs and hundreds of elites.

But now…

They had all joined the battle. Only one figure remained in that position, standing still as a shadow.

Two hours of intense battle.

The screams of the fallen filled the sky.

However, there were no lightswords that flew in his direction. It felt as though everyone was avoiding him.

Even Xing Yuanguo maintained his distance.

Everyone knew how terrifyingly powerful the person in the black cloak was. Of course, no one knew why he was here.

Was he here to protect Yun Qingwu?

No!

If that was the only purpose, there were plenty of demons up to the task. It wasn’t a show of dominance either.

The demon army was sufficient for that.

“The sun is about to set…”

Chapter 433: Fang Zhengzhi coming to save the day

A wrinkled face could be seen under the black cloak. He raised his head and looked at the sky.

The sun lit the sky up a calming red color. When it shone on this face, it gave it an inexplicable glow.

Sunset.

Arguably one of the most beautiful times of the day.

Sunset also represented the last portion of a person’s journey, the time before the curtain falls.

Canyang.

It was a strange name, and a name that had bad connotations. Savagery, death, hurt, incompleteness, viciousness, ferocity…

There were many meanings, and most of them were unflattering.

Can was not his surname.

Canyang was his name.

He had been given this name since he was born. Canyang rarely told his surname to others, so few knew his surname.

Of course, few bothered to ask why his name was Canyang.

The answer was much too obvious.

The sun began to set below the horizon and the sky began to darken ever so slightly. The red light continued to cause his face to glow.

At the same time, they illuminated his eyes.

His eyes embodied the meaning of his name – a lack of hope and light.

He was a demon who had never seen light since birth. He had been abandoned and mocked for his lack of abilities.

Unlike most abandoned demons…

Canyang never blamed the world for being unfair. He never had his eyes set on revenge. He took it all in his stride.

After being abandoned, he learnt to be independent. He learnt to ignore the mockery. He just led his own simple life.

Day after day, year after year.

Eventually, everyone forgot Canyang’s surname.

Those who knew Canyang’s surname had passed away. They didn’t pass away by his hand, but died of natural causes.

No one knew how old Canyang was, but it was certain that he was almost as old as the history of the demons.

He was like an ancient tree.

He was there for the glory days of the demons, and he survived through the worst.

All these while, Canyang never joined the military and never contributed to the demon’s development. All he did was wake up to watch the sunrise and watch the stars before he slept.

Some may find this life boring.

However, Canyang had no intention to change. In fact, he had firmly believed that this was the way life should be.

All that changed one day…

That was the day a five-year-old girl appeared in front of him.

That was the day that this girl told Canyang that she was the daughter of the Demon Lord but she had been exiled to this land.

Canyang smiled but never said anything after hearing her story.

The girl did not ask for anything either. Before she left, she passed him a set of books. There were more than 100 books, each one containing a powerful set of demon techniques.

Can Yang could still remember what the girl had said to him.

“Uncle, these are for you to read!”

Read?

How was he going to read when he couldn’t see?

Canyang did not answer her and did not ask her why she left the books to a blind man. He simply placed them in a corner.

A year later…

The name of the young girl surfaced once again.

That year, there were more than 1000 demons following her. She had also built the village into an orderly society.

Canyang smiled when he heard this.

He went back to his room and picked up the books in the corner. He recalled what the girl had said to him when she left.

“Uncle, these are for you to read!”

Read?

How was a blind man going to read?

Canyang chuckled to himself, but he felt no regret.

He was numb to it all. He had been able to see through many things others couldn’t. He knew how ruthless the world was, and he also knew what warmth was.

“Young lady… you’re still young and naive…” Canyang had no idea why he flipped open the books in his hand.

Maybe he really wanted to ‘read’, or maybe he wanted to confirm the girl’s ‘naivety’.

However…

When he opened the book in his hand…

His smile froze.

He could tell from his keen sense of touch that these books were different. These were books that he could ‘read’ using a sense of touch. Every word, every picture… was so clear.

Canyang kept feeling the books, understanding everything that was written inside. Then, he picked up the second book, then a third…

He only stopped after he ‘read’ every single book.

Then…

Canyang did something that no demon ever thought of. He walked out of his house and went to the little girl’s house.

There were more than 1000 demons there.

“Will you be willing to be my disciple?” Canyang’s voice reverberated throughout the girl’s residence. It was soft and calm, almost like water.

This elicited much laughter from the demons around him.

All of the demons could not believe what they had just heard. This skinny, disable demon wanted to be the girl’s master?

“Canyang, do you know who is in front of you?”

“Canyang, are you crazy?!”

“…”

Countless voices berated him constantly, but Canyang just stood quietly in front of the girl, ‘looking’ at her.

He continued staring at her until she fell to her knees and kowtowed to him.

“Master!”

Canyang could still remember her beautiful voice. Her voice was the best thing he had heard

Four years later…

The girl returned to the Blood Shadow City.

There was a demon behind the girl. He was a blind demon, named Canyang, a name which sent fear into the hearts of demons and humans alike.

He had no surname.

He only had a name, Canyang!

“The sun is setting?” Canyang raised his head, his wrinkled face facing the red sky.

No one understood why Canyang would raise his head when he was blind, but similarly, few understood how to wield the Heavenly Rebirth Dao

Even if that person was…

Fang Zhengzhi!

…

There was a shadow overhead that passed over the battlefield. It was small and easily missed in the heat of battle.

The figure shot through the clouds, almost like a lady jumping out of a golden lake.

This attracted the attention of many.

Few would look away…

Unless…

The lady was actually a young man in a blue long-sleeved shirt.

Did Fang Zhengzhi know how to fly?

He wanted to, but he was limited by his abilities. As such, his only option was to hijack a Heavenly Reflection State winged beast.

One did not need to know how Fang Zhengzhi managed to hijack the beast and make the beast carry him around.

Fang Zhengzhi was rather confused.

He did not understand why a blind man would ‘look’ at the sunset. He couldn’t see!

Of course, this was not an important question.

The more important question to answer was…

Is Yun Qingwu crazy?!

All this while, Fang Zhengzhi had respected Yun Qingwu for her intellect despite them being on opposite sides.

The control she had over the battle at the Icy Monkey Settlement and the current siege were testament to her intellect.

Even though he had always thought that Yun Qingwu was not nearly as smart as him.

But now…

He was utterly disappointed.

Most people learnt from their mistakes.

She should not be making the same mistake twice.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that even the smartest people had to be constantly learning from their failures.

If someone made the same mistake over and over again…

Then the person really was just being stupid…

Fang Zhengzhi had wondered if he could catch Yun Qingwu once again…

For example, when the demons were on the verge of victory, he would swoop down and grab Yun Qingwu. He would shout, “If you want her to stay alive, go back to the Blood Shadow City!”

It would be such a show of force.

Fang Zhengzhi reminisced about the battle at the valley.

It was a pity that he had fainted during that battle. That being said, he had been fed snippets of information about it.

For one, he knew that the wound in his chest was inflicted by Yun Qingwu. And he also found out that it was Yun Qingwu who had kicked him off the cliff.

It was a painful experience.

He learnt the hard way not to show mercy…

If he could do it all over again, Fang Zhengzhi would not be that nice to Yun Qingwu. He would definitely teach her a lesson.

But…

Some things would never happen again.

For example, Yun Qingwu should be smart enough not to make the same mistake. That would mean that it would be impossible to grab her a second time.

That was what Fang Zhengzhi had thought.

But, this thought was rapidly changing.

He could see clearly that there was no one near Yun Qingwu. She didn’t have a bodyguard!!

Of course, there was one…

But, he was a blind and haggard looking demon!

Fang Zhengzhi was not one to underestimate his opponents, but this time was different.

He was confident that he could capture Yun Qingwu.

Up till now, Yun Qingwu had not realized that there were a beast and a person hovering above her.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that this was the perfect opportunity.

He had arrived at just the right time.

He would leave the difficult battles to the others. All he wanted to do was swoop in and save the day.

Of course…

That was what he thought.

There were many factors that went into deciding the result of a battle.

Time was one such factor. With the situation as it was, this was the best opportunity! The second factor was location. He had the high ground and was in an advantageous position. And then there were the people around.

Her bodyguard was blind!

As a Supernatural State cultivator, he did not fear a wrinkled and blind demon!

If he passed up this opportunity to strike…

He would have come all this way for nothing.

Fang Zhengzhi jumped confidently, beaming radiantly as he did so. He felt as though he was in control.

Furthermore, Xing Yuanguo, Nangong Hao, Xing Qingsui, Shan Ling… were all fighting for their lives.

He was the only one who could save them all!

Fang Zhengzhi would never go hunting for opportunities to save the world, but if an opportunity was presented to him, he would definitely take it.

“Don’t move, lay down your weapons!” A voice pierced through the air as a figure shot down from the sky, his hand passing right through the blue light above Yun Qingwu!

Chapter 434: The Power of the Heavenly Dao

Having had the high ground, Fang Zhengzhi’s attack was incredibly quick.

By the time his voice was heard, he was already through the blue light above Yun Qingwu’s head. He was like an arrow…

As he landed on the ground.

“Plonk!”

Columns of dust shot skyward.

…

At that moment, the battlefield quietened down, almost as if gallons of water had been poured onto a raging fire.

In that instant, the fire was doused.

Everyone turned to look at the lone figure. Spears and blades were stopped in mid-air as they all looked on.

He looked embarrassed, his blue shirt stained with dust, almost like a lost teenager.

“Fang Zhengzhi?!” Princess Shan Yu could not believe her eyes. She had thought that Fang Zhengzhi would not appear here.

Even if he did, he would not have appeared in such a fashion.

She knew for a face that Fang Zhengzhi was not one to take on the most difficult challenge. But, he had just challenged Canyang.

Canyang ah!

The one who wields the Heavenly Rebirth Dao!

Did he go to challenge Canyang? Where… where did he get this courage from?

Princess Shan Yu couldn’t believe her eyes.

She wasn’t the only one. Shan Ling and the other settlement chiefs were all in disbelief that a nascent Supernatural State cultivator would dare to challenge Canyang’s authority.

Of course…

Fang Zhengzhi had not attacked Canyang directly. However, he had attacked Yun Qingwu right in front of Canyang.

This was equivalent to challenging Canyang!

All of the Southern Region soldiers looked at Fang Zhengzhi with conflicted expressions.

They admired his bravery, were terrified for him, and mocked his underestimation of his opponent.

Xing Yuanguo and Xing Qingsui were also looking at Fang Zhengzhi. After all, Fang Zhengzhi’s voice was so loud and crisp that it was impossible for them not to have heard it.

Their disbelief was slightly different.

Xing Yuanguo and Xing Qingsui knew that Fang Zhengzhi was a maverick. As such, there was little that he could do to surprise them.

But…

Could he really go up against Canyang?

Xing Yuanguo and Xing Qingsui looked at each other, their eyes filled with anxiety.

Nangong Hao was not nervous, but he was shocked.

He was shocked that Fang Zhengzhi had just done something that even he would not do without much consideration.

…

Fang Zhengzhi had expected that his actions would attract the attention of many. He also knew that the battle would be paused because of what he did.

However… he did not expect it to be because he had failed so spectacularly.

Where did he go wrong?

Fang Zhengzhi could not figure it out.

However, he recovered quickly, spitting out the dust in his mouth and getting to his feet.

“I missed?” Fang Zhengzhi never expected that he would miss. After all, he knew Yun Qingwu’s abilities quite well.

More importantly…

His attack was right on target!

Fang Zhengzhi tried to recall what had just happened. He remembered that his hand passed through a blue light above Yun Qingwu’s head.

At that moment, he added additional power to his attack.

He attempted to smash that blue light to smithereens. However, when he contacted it, he felt no resistance.

He had passed through easily.

How exciting.

After all, Yun Qingwu was just inches away! He could almost taste her.

There was no reason to hesitate!

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t hesitate, deciding to teach Yun Qingwu a lesson! He wasn’t going to let Yun Qingwu speak this time!

He would knock her out!

That was his plan.

He was sure that if he could knock Yun Qingwu out, then the demon army would think twice about attacking.

He would be able to force them back!

This was a simple decision to make.

However, he never expected that his attack would miss and hit the ground!

What happened?

Fang Zhengzhi turned and looked behind. He thought that Yun Qingwu must have used some sort of secret technique to dodge his attack.

This was plausible, considering that she was the Young Master of the demons.

So…

Why wasn’t she running away?

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu was looking right back at him, her eyes glimmering as she stared him down.

“She’s still giving me a chance?” Fang Zhengzhi was stunned. He knew Yun Qingwu’s abilities well. Under most circumstances, she should be running away.

But, she wasn’t.

What was happening?

What was even stranger was that even the blind, frail, old demon behind her wasn’t running either.

More importantly…

None of the demons were moving.

In fact, all of them looked like statues, rooted to their spot. Not a single demon jumped to the aid of Yun Qingwu. Most of them even looked on in scorn.

What were they thinking?

Were they not worried?

“Are you trying to kidnap me again?” Yun Qingwu’s voice interrupted Fang Zhengzhi’s thoughts. Her voice was calm, like a breeze blowing over a lake.

Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched.

He wanted to reply ‘yes!’, but, under the current circumstances, he found it difficult to give such a straightforward reply.

Fang Zhengzhi had been stabbed and subsequently kicked off a cliff by Yun Qingwu.

Logically…

He shouldn’t feel any embarrassment in admitting that he was here to kidnap her.

However, after she had dodged his attack and still didn’t run…

It was a little embarrassing for him to admit that fact.

“Qingwu, is he Fang Zhengzhi?”

Just as Fang Zhengzhi was contemplating his reply to Yun Qingwu, an aged voice rang out next to him.

The old man’s voice was frail.

But, Fang Zhengzhi had heard an anomaly.

Qingwu?

Shouldn’t he be calling her Young Master?

“Yes, master.” Yun Qingwu replied without hesitation, answering Fang Zhengzhi’s question instantly.

“Master?!” Fang Zhengzhi’s heart skipped a beat.

He looked at Yun Qingwu’s calm eyes and the empty eyes of the wrinkled, aged face behind her.

Then…

He looked at the expressions of mockery from the demon soldiers around him, as well as the perplexed expressions of the Southern Region soldiers, the Dragon Protection Squad, and the Mountain Breaking Army.

A thought flashed by in Fang Zhengzhi’s mind.

“Never touch the old, weak, female, or young!”

The only time Fang Zhengzhi had felt pressure like this was when he was faced with another frail, old man.

That was King Liqin.

And now…

The old man in front of him exuded the same vibes.

He was frail and blind.

At that moment, Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why Yun Qingwu wasn’t running. He also understood why the demons weren’t coming to her rescue.

He also understood why Xing Yuanguo, Xing Qingsui, Princess Shan Yu, Shan Ling, and all the other soldiers were looking at him like that.

Most importantly…

He also understood why Yun Qingwu could stand in the middle of the battle but not be attacked by anyone.

Fang Zhengzhi raised his head.

He wanted to mount his winged beast and fly away, but the beast was now long gone.

He had to find a way to get out.

But, what was he going to do?

There was no way out.

“Hi uncle, how do you do? I am sorry for disturbing you, I must have gone to the wrong place… let me introduce myself. I am Fang Zhengzhi and I have always respected the elderly… if there is nothing else, I’ll take my leave…”

Fang Zhengzhi could not even finish his sentence. He found himself rooted to the ground.

He couldn’t move from his spot!

It was a strange feeling. It felt as though everything around him was different…

Almost as if it was being controlled by a greater power. The power was bending it to suit his will.

It was a strange feeling.

And Fang Zhengzhi was being trapped in a space that he had no control over.

Chapter 435: I was waiting for you

What was he going to do now that he was trapped?

He only had two options, scream for help and pray, or try to wrestle his way out like a snake…

Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t make a decision, so he chose to wait and die.

The reason was simple. If the first method was any good, Xing Yuanguo and the others would be rushing to his aid.

As for the second option… Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t do it.

Fang Zhengzhi had been interrupted.

Canyang had no intention of replying. He stood quietly at his spot, almost like a statue.

“It was you who saw through my plan to attack the Southern Region using the soldiers in the Blood Shadow City right?” Yun Qingwu turned back to look at Fang Zhengzhi.

“Yes.” Fang Zhengzhi admitted.

He knew that Yun Qingwu’s intel was good. Since she asked, she must have confirmed it already.

Furthermore, this was something that he was proud of!

“The alliance between the Great Xia and the Southern Region was also brokered by you right?” Yun Qingwu pressed.

Fang Zhengzhi did not respond directly.

He just nodded. He did not like where this was going, so he waited for Yun Qingwu to continue.

Yun Qingwu had no intention of waiting for a verbal response. Seeing Fang Zhengzhi nod his head, she turned and surveyed her surroundings.

Her lips twitched as she muttered, “It looks like you have the ability to change the tide of the battle. That is even though you guessed most of the things.”

“What do you mean guess? I made logical deductions! This is common sense!” Fang Zhengzhi wanted to spit in Yun Qingwu’s face, but he controlled himself.

“Logical deduction? I would have thought that you would have praised yourself for being smart or having foresight.” Yun Qingwu did not seem angered by that response.

“I wouldn’t object to it if you choose to describe me as such.” Fang Zhengzhi replied after some thought.

“Haha… even in the face of death, you are as shameless as ever.” Yun Qingwu smiled and chuckled lightly. She loved being in control.

However…

Fang Zhengzhi did not understand why Yun Qingwu was so happy.

That being said, if Yun Qingwu was happy, that meant that he had a chance to live.

He cleared his throat and decided to attempt to plead for his life after flattering Yun Qingwu.

However, he was interrupted by Yun Qingwu even before he could start.

“Why don’t you guess why I had the 50,000 soldiers give up the siege on the Sagely Mountain City and attack the Iron Hill Settlement?”

Yun Qingwu asked casually. It sounded as though she was just speaking to a friend, but Fang Zhengzhi could see an aura of confidence in her eyes.

She was deeply confident.

It felt as though she was in control of everything.

Fang Zhengzhi could not understand what she was getting at. The question was simple… Fang Zhengzhi had explained it before in the throne room.

It was precisely because of that…

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea why Yun Qingwu would ask such a question at this time?

What was her intention?

“I know what you said in the throne room. You think that I chose to attack the Iron Hill Settlement in a hurry. As such, to minimize my losses, I had no choice but to get the 50,000 demon soldiers to attack as well, am I right?” Yun Qingwu pressed.

Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched as he wanted to say something, but he chose to remain silent.

After all, Yun Qingwu had read his mind.

“In fact, I have been in control of the Iron Hill Settlement all this while. General Tai had defected to our side a long time ago. Even without General Tai, I have other ways to secure this city. Do you still think I need the additional 50,000 soldiers?” Yun Qingwu asked.

Fang Zhengzhi’s expression changed.

He knew all along that Yun Qingwu was incredibly smart and he never underestimated her. On the contrary, he constantly tried to think from her point of view.

But…

Upon hearing Yun Qingwu’s words, he realized that whilst he was trying to read Yun Qingwu’s mind, she was reading his.

To put it simply, even though he was getting closer to the truth each time, he had never seen through Yun Qingwu’s final plan.

Fang Zhengzhi was not the only one who was stunned by Yun Qingwu’s words. Xing Yuanguo, Xing Qingsui, even Nangong Hao were stunned. Of course, Shan Ling, Princess Shan Yu, and the settlement chiefs were the most taken aback.

“General Tai defected?!”

“She had other methods even without General Tai?”

Shan Ling looked at the other settlement chiefs. He finally understood why the back gate had been breached… and he also understood that…

Yun Qingwu meant it when she said she had other methods!

This sent a shiver down his spine.

He had just been schooled.

“You were waiting for the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army?” Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what Shan Ling and the others were thinking. His only aim was to figure out what Yun Qingwu’s plan was.

“The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army? You could say so, but they are just part of it.” Yun Qingwu nodded.

“Part of it?”

“Mm, do you think that if you stall us here, then you buy enough time for the 300,000 Southern Region soldiers to join with the Great Xia? Do you think you’ll emerge victorious then?” Yun Qingwu asked.

“Is that not the case?” Fang Zhengzhi asked.

“I started planning for this war when I was 10 years old. Do you think that you can win with guesses?” Yun Qingwu questioned.

“You don’t know if you don’t try.” Fang Zhengzhi was quite confident of his plans and was rarely affected by others’ opinions.

“Haha… I must say that you’re quite smart. I wonder what would happen if we were on equal footing?” Yun Qingwu chuckled.

“Equal footing?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yun Qingwu, an unsettling thought rising in his heart. He felt as though he had just been read like a book.

“The biggest difference between you and I is that I have intel… and you don’t!” Yun Qingwu’s tone finally changed.

When Fang Zhengzhi heard the word ‘intel’, his expression changed drastically.

Yun Qingwu was correct.

If you knew yourself and the enemy, then you would win every battle. However, Fang Zhengzhi had been kept in the dark all this while. He didn’t know any of the plans of those involved.

He had been guessing all this while.

If he could guess the entire plan, then the plan was much too simple.

“I recalled the 50,000 soldiers from the Sagely Mountain City because I know that Princess Shan Yu heeded your advice and sent 80,000 soldiers to the Iron Hill settlement. As such, the alliance between the Great Xia and the Southern Region was a matter of time.”

Yun Qingwu had no intention of waiting any longer. She simply rattled off…

“Since I know that you will be teaming up, the Sagely Mountain City was no longer the battlefield of choice!”

“The Sagely Mountain City has been the stronghold of the Southern Region for generations. I do not know how many hidden passages and traps there are. Furthermore, it is situated on a hill and it is easy to be surrounded and cut off from resources.

“But the Iron Hill Settlement is a different story. Nan Ling Settlement is already under my control. If I take Iron Hill as well, I will have a through pass straight here!”

“From this position, I can advance on the Sagely Mountain City. Or, I can retreat back to the Blood Shadow City. Furthermore, controlling the Iron Hill Settlement means I control the weapons factory of the Southern Region.”

“Do you think the joint forces still pose a threat to me?”

Yun Qingwu glanced at Fang Zhengzhi before turning her gaze to all the soldiers on the battlefield.

Xing Yuanguo and Xing Qingsui’s expression changed instantly.

They weren’t alone. Princess Shan Yu, Shan Ling, as well as all the settlement chiefs, were stunned by what they heard.

Even Nangong Hao’s eyes glimmered when he heard this.

They knew that Yun Qingwu was speaking the truth. With hundreds of thousands of demon soldiers controlling the Iron Hill Settlement…

Then…

It would be equivalent to a stab straight into the heart of the Southern Region. It would be too difficult for a joint force of just over 400,000 to retake the city.

Most importantly, winter was coming.

The soldiers of the Great Xia were not prepared to face the winter. Furthermore, the Southern Region winter was the harshest. Snow cut off access to roads and ferocious beasts roamed the land.

This was the season when the beasts were most ravenous.

If they weren’t in a settlement by the time winter came, it would be impossible for them to hold off the beasts.

Retreat…

That was the only option.

However, if they retreated, the Iron Hill Settlement and the Nan Ling Settlement may no longer belong to the Southern Region.

More importantly…

The Sagely Mountain City might not be in their control either.

Shan Ling, Shan Yu, as well as Xing Yuanguo felt a chill down their spine. All of their eyes were fixed on the girl in the white dress under the blue light.

As for Yun Qingwu, she watched Fang Zhengzhi quietly.

Fang Zhengzhi felt a chill down his spine too. Furthermore, beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

Yun Qingwu’s words had made him feel extremely exposed.

Initially, he had wanted to swoop down from the sky and be a hero. However, right now, it felt like he had jumped straight into a trap.

He had gone from a hero, to a…

Prisoner. What a tragedy…

Everything had changed so quickly! An aged and frail old man was actually a master? What was this?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to cry and pray for this to be over quickly.

But it was no use.

Most importantly…

The Iron Hill Settlement was destined to fall into the hands of the demons.

The battle was over!

“There was one other reason that I didn’t mention before.” Yun Qingwu broke the silence.

“What is it?” Fang Zhengzhi did not want to engage her, but he had no choice. He was rooted to his spot and couldn’t run!

“I was waiting for you!” Yun Qingwu replied solemnly.

Fang Zhengzhi was stunned when he heard this.

Waiting for me??

She was looking for revenge!

She was just waiting for the right opportunity before!

Fang Zhengzhi was depressed, but he finally saw Yun Qingwu take action. Yun Qingwu actually removed her veil.

What was happening?

Fang Zhengzhi was stunned as he looked at that beautiful and familiar face in front of him.

“I did that myself this time, didn’t I?” Yun Qingwu smirked as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi. She was like a lotus flower under the light of the setting sun.

A light breeze blew by.

Her dress danced lightly in the breeze.

It was a beautiful sight.

This was the first time Fang Zhengzhi had seen Yun Qingwu this happy.

Before this…

Fang Zhengzhi would have admired her for her beauty, even reciting poems to express his admiration for her.

But he couldn’t do it this time.

He knew why Yun Qingwu was so happy.

Her happiness was built upon his capture.

“Oh yes, why don’t you make a guess as to why I haven’t killed you?” Yun Qingwu was visibly different today.

Gone were her aloof and icy ways. They were replaced by a radiant smile.

Yet…

Fang Zhengzhi felt like he was freezing.

Chapter 436: Are you saving me or not?

Throughout history, there is no shortage of heroes who are not afraid of death…

It must be admitted that…

These were people revered by those who came after them.

However, Fang Zhengzhi had no intention of being a hero. He admired their mental fortitude, but he preferred to stay alive.

Even if he had to die, he wanted to die with as much fanfare as possible. He wanted to die doing something great.

This was no time to die.

Was he going to fake some courage?

Was he going to scold her and ask her to get it over quickly? Was he going to stretch out his neck and ask Yun Qingwu to chop him?

Fang Zhengzhi would never do it.

After hearing Yun Qingwu’s words, the first thing he thought about was how he was going to reply.

“Why didn’t she kill him yet?”

There were many possible responses to such a question.

Some may think that she didn’t want to kill him, but had no other choice. Others may have thought that she was keeping him around because he was still valuable.

However, Fang Zhengzhi did not think so.

If Yun Qingwu couldn’t bear to kill him, she would not have Bai Xing attack him when he was least expecting it. She also wouldn’t have stabbed him and kicked him off a cliff.

So…

He was certain that Yun Qingwu wanted him dead.

If that was the case, the only reason why she hadn’t done it must be because the time isn’t ripe.

If a fruit wasn’t ripe, you had to wait agonizingly until it was before you could savour it. The moment it was ripe…

You would pounce on it immediately!

Fang Zhengzhi did not want to compare himself to a fruit, but he was like a fruit right now. He was Yun Qingwu’s fruit.

If Yun Qingwu wanted him dead, he couldn’t do anything about it.

The difference if power was too great.

Fang Zhengzhi had thought that he was very powerful as he was. Being in the Supernatural State at his age meant that he was virtually peerless!

He didn’t expect that his life would end even before it had truly started!

What was he to do?

He didn’t know whether to plead or defect at this point.

He had thought of doing either, but since Yun Qingwu and him were in different camps, doing either of those now would just shame himself.

He couldn’t act tough, neither could he humiliate himself in an attempt to survive.

Fang Zhengzhi had no way of replying to this question.

Yun Qingwu had no intention of cutting his agony short. From her expression, she was thoroughly enjoying it!

“Did I cause her to become perverted?” Fang Zhengzhi thought back to the previous times he met Yun Qingwu and contrasted those against her currently.

Previously, Yun Qingwu had seemed cold and aloof.

But now…

She was just like a contented little girl.

What the hell was happening?

As the Young Master of the Demons, she should be planning ahead and looking at the big picture! Why was she so focused on me?

Am I really worth her attention?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to calm himself down, but he could not do it. He felt like he was being suffocated.

“You think that I am still of value to you?” Fang Zhengzhi decided to hedge a guess.

“You’re right!” Yun Qingwu nodded.

Fang Zhengzhi felt a huge load off his shoulders. This was the best news for him. That meant that he could still negotiate.

“Erm… what do you need me to do? I will do my best!” Fang Zhengzhi added.

“Nothing. You just have to wait here.” Yun Qingwu shook her head.

“Wait here?” Fang Zhengzhi felt his heart tighten. He was of value but she didn’t want him to do anything?

Did she want him to…

Stand around and wait for death?

“You are right, I want you to just wait here for your death!” Yun Qingwu smiled radiantly as she read Fang Zhengzhi’s mind.

“Go f*ck yourself!” Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t hold it back any longer.

He would rather die than be humiliated.

If there was any hope for survival, Fang Zhengzhi would definitely do anything in his power to stay alive. However, Yun Qingwu had made it clear that she would not let him live.

So…

He might as well scold her and vent his frustrations.

“… should be coming soon…” Yun Qingwu raised her head and muttered to herself.

“Coming? Who…” Fang Zhengzhi swallowed his words almost immediately. He saw a huge black figure in the sky.

“Aroo!”

A crisp sound broke through the air. A huge beast broke through the clouds and blocked out the sun.

It’s huge wings flapped, creating strong gusts of wind.

That was a beast with a huge pair of wings, and flames danced in its eyes. Snow white feathers covered its body. Those were no ordinary feathers, and they were shaped like scales. This beast shared some resemblance to an eagle.

However, unlike an eagle, it had a long tail, almost like the legendary phoenix. Its tail glistened.

The Snow Wind Eagle.

It was a rare beast which was rumored to be from the phoenix’s bloodline.

At the moment, there were two figures on the Snow Wind Eagle’s back. On the left was a figure in red armor. She smirked as she looked down at the battlefield below.

She had an air of arrogance about her.

She was Ping Yang, the most pampered princess in the Great Xia.

The person next to her was Chi Guyan. Chi Guyan was the only person who could be this close to Ping Yang, and she was the only one who could get Ping Yang to be obedient.

Her silky black hair and pink flowy dress danced in the wind.

Chi Guyan was easily one of the most beautiful people in the world. However, she was so outstanding that most people felt that they were not fit to even be close to her.

Her eyes were especially unique.

Her eyes looked like they were fashioned from stars. They were bright and clear.

Fang Zhengzhi had thought that Yun Qingwu was waiting for the right opportunity. However, he didn’t expect that she was waiting for Chi Guyan and Ping Yang.

“Isn’t Chi Guyan at the Heavenly Dao Pavillion? And Ping Yang… shouldn’t she be back in the capital?” Fang Zhengzhi could not believe his eyes.

He had no idea that Chi Guyan and Ping Yang were in the Southern Region.

When they appeared at the Icy Monkey Settlement, he was already in a comatose state. Furthermore, he had been dragged to Princess Shan Yu’s camp right after.

Being in a Southern Region camp…

No one mentioned Chi Guyan and Ping Yang’s arrival.

In fact, unless it was absolutely necessary, no one from the Southern Region would mention the battle there.

However, just because Fang Zhengzhi didn’t know didn’t mean that Yun Qingwu didn’t.

Yun Qingwu knew that Chi Guyan and Ping Yang were in the Southern Region. As such, she knew that Chi Guyan would definitely come to the Iron Hill Settlement.

“You came.” Yun Qingwu stopped smiling, her expression reverting to her trademark iciness. She looked at Chi Guyan and greeted her casually.

“Mm, I did.” Chi Guyan’s calm voice came from above.

Fang Zhengzhi was rather conflicted.

When he saw something appear in the sky, he was ecstatic. He had hoped that someone would come and save him from this sticky situation. However… he did not want that person to be Chi Guyan.

It wasn’t because he cared about what she would think…

It was because…

He knew that she would be in grave danger.

In actual fact, he was biding his time and waiting for someone to save him. He even thought about betraying that person.

But if the person saving him was Chi Guyan…

Could he still bear to betray her?

Fang Zhengzhi did not know what Chi Guyan thought of him, but he was sure that he did not want Chi Guyan to die.

This was why he was so conflicted.

However, he was also anxious and depressed.

Just as he was deciding between betraying Chi Guyan or fighting alongside her…

Chi Guyan stopped in her tracks.

The Snow Wind Eagle hovered in the air as Ping Yang looked down at the battlefield in scorn.

Most importantly…

Chi Guyan began talking to Yun Qingwu! Furthermore, it sounded as though they were old friends reminiscing!

What the hell was this about?

Shouldn’t her first order of business to be to swoop down and save Fang Zhengzhi?

Was she here to save him or not?!

Chapter 437: Roll away, Giant Bird!

Fang Zhengzhi really wanted to scream at the top of his lungs, but he swallowed his words before he shouted. His brain told him that Chi Guyan knew what she was doing.

In his mind… Chi Guyan was still in the Heavenly Reflection State.

The Heavenly Reflection State was such a weak state.

Fang Zhengzhi did not know if he could defeat Chi Guyan, but he was sure that he would not lose.

Even if she was to defeat him, he would not lose too badly.

“Even if you are the top talent of our generation, you’re are only fit to be my servant!” Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself. If he could not get out of this situation, Chi Guyan was unlikely to be able to either.

So…

Chi Guyan must be here to watch the show…

Of course, the main difference between her and the rest of the joint forces was that she was able to spectate the situation from above.

Fang Zhengzhi had never felt so humiliated in his life.

He was now a hostage!

A hostage who no one cared about!

Usually, hostages were meant to be rescued!

That was the whole point!

Just as he was thinking about it, the Snow Wind Eagle sprang into action. It’s huge wings blocked out the sun and a tornado flew towards Fang Zhengzhi.

“F*ck me… is it trying to kill me?” Fang Zhengzhi wanted to dodge to the side, but he was rooted to his spot.

Yun Qingwu looked at the tornado flying towards her.

She knew for a fact that this attack was targeted at her.

She did not dodge to the side.

She simply stood at the same spot and let the tornado approach her. She was being assaulted by the wind, but she was still as calm as before.

She simply stared at Chi Guyan and Ping Yang without speaking. She had already greeted them.

That was enough…

“Boom!”

The tornado sent rocks and dust shooting skyward.

Because Fang Zhengzhi was so close to Yun Qingwu, he wasn’t spared. Furthermore, since he was trapped, he had no choice but to hang on for dear life.

The tornado spun around his body.

Logically, Fang Zhengzhi should be closing his eyes and praying for his life. However, he did not…

Because… he saw something strange.

He knew how powerful Yun Qingwu was.

She was extremely weak!

However, Yun Qingwu was standing in the middle of the tornado, her expression calm, her dress dancing in the wind. She seemed completely unaffected by the tornado.

What was strange was…

If Yun Qingwu was in a separate dimension, why was the tornado able to affect her dress?

Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t figure it out.

What was even stranger was that the Snow Wind Eagle was now right in front of him.

It was incredibly quick.

“Chi Guyan… is she really here to save me?” Fang Zhengzhi stared at the Snow Wind Eagle mere inches from him.

He could see the fear in the Snow Wind Eagle’s eyes.

As a powerful beast, it had an extremely sensitive sixth sense. As such, it was keenly aware of the power of the demon underneath the black cloak.

Yet… it still charged down.

The reason was simple.

Chi Guyan willed it to come down. As such, it swooped down without any hesitation.

This was how loyal the beast was.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the lady on the Snow Wind Eagle, the lady in the pink dress, staring at him with her starry eyes.

“Chi Guyan!” Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes locked onto the outstretched arm. He knew how smooth and tender that skin was.

At that moment, Fang Zhengzhi felt that Chi Guyan was quite a great girl. Even though she was slightly arrogant, he had to admit that she was pretty.

She had a good figure, and her complexion was perfect. Furthermore, she was incredibly sexy.

She was a really unique beauty…

If he married her…

Pui!

Since time immemorial, the hostage would inevitably be attracted to his/her savior.

That being said, when one’s savior was Chi Guyan, one could not help but be attracted to her.

When Chi Guyan extended her hand to him, his heart fluttered.

But how could Fang Zhengzhi follow in the footsteps of the hostages in the movies! He couldn’t be like them!

Marry Chi Guyan?

Could he still hold his head up high afterward?

No!

He could not make her his wife! With someone as arrogant and domineering as Chi Guyan, he had to make her his servant!

“Shameless fella, what are you staring at? Hop on!” Ping Yang’s voice interrupted Fang Zhengzhi’s train of thought. She looked slightly angry and frustrated as she pouted.

“Jump? Go f*ck yourself!” Fang Zhengzhi replied rudely.

He really wanted to jump, but he couldn’t! If he could jump, he would have run away a long time ago!

“Hmph!” Just at that moment, an aged voice rang out in discontent.

It exuded an aura of dominance and power.

It felt as though the Snow Wind Eagle had just been shocked. It flapped its wings and soared back into the sky.

But… it was too late.

“Aroo!” A high pitched howl pierced through the air as the snow white feathers fell to the ground. The Snow Wind Eagle’s head tilted to the side, almost as if it had just been slapped.

Then, it flapped its wings vigorously but to no avail. Its huge body crashed into the ground like a cannonball, sending rocks and dust shooting skyward.

It was all over in a flash.

As it crashed into the ground, a tornado flew towards the figure in the black cloak.

An aged face was revealed.

His silver hair was flowy and well maintained. His wrinkled skin was yellow, but it still glowed radiantly with health.

The most unique part of him was his eyes.

They were empty and lifeless, but they were pitch black, almost like two black holes, capable of swallowing anything in their path.

There was something else strange about him.

That was…

He didn’t have a demonic eye!

All he had was a rune on his forehead. It was a simple rune, but it gave people a strange feeling.

It was almost as though that rune encompassed everything in the world.

He was Canyang, someone who struck fear in the hearts of everyone.

He was one of the most powerful lifeforms in the world.

No one would have expected that this quiet, surname-less, and blind demon would have managed to wield the Heavenly Rebirth Dao and become a half sage.

Canyang rarely showed himself, but every time he did, he would prove to everyone that he was the most powerful Rebirth State Demon.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the aged face as well as the howling Snow Wind Eagle.

He was stunned by what he had just witnessed.

He had no idea what kind of beast the Snow Wind Eagle actually was.

However, he knew by its speed and agility that it was an extraordinary beast. Fang Zhengzhi himself did not even have every confidence that he could beat it in a duel.

Yet…

This blind old man had completely wrecked it.

What kind of monster was he?!

…

The wind stopped.

The girl in the pink dress landed on the ground, stroking the Snow Wind Eagle as she did so. Her eyes were glimmering.

To her side was a young lady in fiery red armor.

The girl’s eyes were clear as water, but her eyes were filled with shock. She looked like a scared bunny.

“Sister Yan, who is this blind man?” Ping Yang was visibly discontent, but she did not charge forward with her Blazing Qilin Spear.

After all, the fate of the Snow Wind Eagle was clear for her to see.

“Canyang.” Chi Guyan replied calmly as she looked at the shivering Snow Wind Eagle and Ping Yang.

“Canyang?! The half sage?” Ping Yang’s expression changed to one of terror instantly.

“Mm, that is correct.” Chi Guyan nodded.

“Sister Yan, then we should run. Father once told me that if I ever met some people outside, I should run! He is one of them!”

“Okay, then make your way to Uncle Xing first!”

“Then what about you?”

“I have to save him!” Chi Guyan looked at Fang Zhengzhi, who stood rooted to his spot, her eyes glowing with determination.

There was a gust of wind.

Her pink dress danced in the wind.

Chapter 438: If Heaven is obstructing me, I will break Heaven!

The sky darkened as the sun set.

There was a faint glow on the horizon, the first visible constellation of the night. It was the first source of light tonight.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chi Guyan. He had heard what she just said.

“I have to save him!”

It was a simple sentence, but Fang Zhengzhi’s expression froze. He knew exactly what she meant.

Canyang!

A demon half sage!

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea how powerful this man was, but he knew that there were no weak half sages in the world.

Clearly…

Chi Guyan knew Canyang’s power, but she continued to advance. This was despite the fact that she had just been beaten back.

Why?

Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t understand.

He wanted to find the reason from Chi Guyan’s eyes. However, he had a feeling that Chi Guyan’s eyes were illuminated by a constellation.

It looked like the same constellation in the sky.

Was this a hallucination?

Fang Zhengzhi blinked his eyes. When he reopened his eyes, he realized that the constellation had disappeared from her eyes. Her pink dress continued to dance in the light breeze.

Ping Yang was also looking at Chi Guyan, her eyes filled with worry.

“Save him? But you will be going up against a half sage! He is someone who can’t die! I heard that he has been a half sage for more than a decade! I doubt you can defeat him either?” Ping Yang was confused.

“Mm, I know.” Chi Guyan nodded lightly. She raised her hand and ruffled Ping Yang’s hair.

“Then…”

“But I have to save him. Don’t you want me to save him?” Chi Guyan shook her head and smiled.

She looked like a blossoming flower, filling the world with her beauty.

Chi Guyan…

The pride of the Divine Constabulary, someone who even the Emperor showed respect to. She was the person who was supposed to fulfill the Heavenly Dao Prophecy.

She had the looks and the ability.

It wasn’t a stretch to say that…

No one would be able to match up to her in a decade’s time.

But now…

This same girl was telling Canyang in the Southern Region that she was going to save someone from his grasp. Furthermore, she had done it in such a resolute manner.

Ping Yang looked at Chi Guyan and Fang Zhengzhi, her expression conflicted. After some hesitation, she nodded.

“Yes, we must save him!”

…

Chi Guyan smiled rather casually.

It was almost as though she was a flower in full bloom, her beauty filling up the battlefield.

The next moment, she sprang into action.

She shot into the sky like a star, turning into a shooting star in the sky.

Countless silver rays of light fell to the ground.

Those were raindrops.

But they were also lightswords.

The night sky was completely illuminated by the silver light. In an instant, Yun Qingwu and Canyang were completely enveloped in it.

However, Canyang did not move.

He raised his head and ‘looked’ at the silver light coming down on him. His eyes looked like two bottomless pits.

The silver light crashed into the ground with a deafening boom, creating a crater beneath Canyang’s feet.

“The Xuan Heavenly Dao Body is indeed extraordinary!” Canyang’s voice rang out. It was frail and aged, but it revealed traces of surprise.

“I always knew that she would come and save you, but I never thought that she would actually come.” Yun Qingwu’s gaze was locked onto the stars in the sky as she murmured to himself.

That was a self-contradictory statement.

But Fang Zhengzhi had understood it perfectly. He finally understood why Yun Qingwu kept him alive.

“I see, I was just a pawn…” Fang Zhengzhi’s heart sank as he looked at the silver light.

He wished that the silver light would engulf him as well.

However, it was clear that…

The silver light rays were avoiding him, almost as though they had eyes and knew where to go.

Fang Zhengzhi knew that this was Chi Guyan controlling the Million Sword Illustration. However, this also meant that she was unable to bring its full force to bear.

“Not only am I a pawn, am I also a liability?” Fang Zhengzhi wished that he was more powerful.

All this while, the only thing he wanted was a carefree and happy life.

Fights?

That was something that he frowned upon. Whenever possible, he would always try to outwit his opponent.

But, when faced with absolute power…

All of his intellect…

Was absolutely meaningless. What he had prided himself on all this while was actually useless.

Use his secret weapons?

How could he do that when he couldn’t even move?

Schemes and traps?

What use would that be when his opponent was Yun Qingwu?

Did he really have no other choice?

Could it be…

That his only hope was Chi Guyan?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to clench his fists, but he couldn’t even do that. It was almost as though he had been frozen.

He had been completely immobilized.

He was to wait for death to take him!

Was that his only option?

No, he wanted to live! He wanted to start a family!

“Break!” Fang Zhengzhi screamed as blood rushed to his face. He put everything he had into trying to break this restraint.

He was not going to die in this way!

He was not afraid of death!

But he was not willing to die in such fashion!

“Break, I said break!” The only thing that Fang Zhengzhi could do was speak. Perhaps that was because Yun Qingwu wanted to hear him struggle.

He couldn’t clench his fists.

He couldn’t move his legs.

All of his efforts were to no avail. Even though Fang Zhengzhi used all his strength, his body refused to move a single inch.

This reminded Fang Zhengzhi of the “Journey to the West”. At that time, Sun Wukong was also immobilized in a similar fashion.

The only difference was that Sun Wukong could see the mountain which was immobilizing him, but Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t see his restraints!

What kind of Dao was this?!

“Break!” Fang Zhengzhi knew that Canyang was a half sage, but he didn’t know that he wielded the Heavenly Rebirth Dao. As such, his only solution was to try and break it.

“Boom!”

A wave of force exploded outwards from Fang Zhengzhi’s body.

That was the same force that he had used to fight Nangong Hao to a stalemate for over an hour.

This time…

He was going to use it to break out of the restraints.

A huge boom rocked the battlefield as the power dissipated in all directions.

The force caused Yun Qingwu’s dress and Canyang’s black cloak to be blown backward.

Yet, Fang Zhengzhi was still rooted to his spot.

He still couldn’t move.

However, his actions had attracted the attention of those around him, especially the demons still engaging the enemy.

“Is he trying to escape?”

“Haha… how is he going to go up against Heaven as a human?!”

“What is he thinking?! He has no other choice but to await death patiently. He is just wasting his energy.”

“I guess he’s just unwilling to accept the facts. But what use is that? With his power, he is just grasping at straws! Let him struggle!”

All of the demons began to mock Fang Zhengzhi as they watched him struggle. They knew what kind of situation Fang Zhengzhi was in.

It was precisely because they knew…

That they found his actions to be incredibly comical.

The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army also looked at Fang Zhengzhi helplessly.

Xing Qingsui clenched his fists. He wanted to save Fang Zhengzhi but he knew that he was in no position to.

Xing Yuanguo felt equally helpless. On top of that, he looked like he blamed himself for what happened.

As for Nangong Hao…

He was looking at the silver rain of light as his lips moved slowly, almost as if he was murmuring to himself. However, he could not be heard.

“Third brother, Fang Zhengzhi came here to save the Southern Region, I want to save him!” Princess Shan Yu’s eyes were filled with desperation.

“Save? How do you plan to save him?! Don’t be silly. He is being held by Canyang and is no different from a dead man. Even Xing Yuanguo is standing on the sidelines! You would be courting death!” Shan Ling replied without hesitation.

“But Chi Guyan… she’s already… furthermore… we won’t know if we don’t try…”

“Shut up sister, don’t forget who you are!”

“Brother!”

“You don’t have to say anything else. As commander, I am ordering you to lead the defence within the Iron Hill Settlement! Stop the demons from flanking us!”

“Brother…”

“Do not call me brother! I am now the commander! Are you trying to defy a direct order?”

“No, I would not dare!” Princess Shan Yu’s expression changed as she grit her teeth. However, she was a soldier, a soldier who followed orders.

Even if those orders came from her brother.

“Go, please don’t blame me. You should know where I’m coming from. Are you really willing to sacrifice thousands of our soldiers’ lives just to try and save an outsider?” Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu.

Princess Shan Yu did not speak as she looked at Fang Zhengzhi. Then, she turned and walked back towards the Iron Hill Settlement.

The settlement was currently in chaos.

If she didn’t go…

Then how was she going to face the Southern Region soldiers fighting for their lives against the demons?

She was the Princess…

She had to do what a Princess should do.

Even though she knew that the position was virtually indefensible, she could not give up.

The Iron Hill Settlement was the last hope for the Southern Region.

Even though…

This was something that was virtually impossible.

“Break, break, break…” Fang Zhengzhi was bordering on insanity. With each shout, waves of force gushed out of his body.

The booms echoed throughout the battlefield.

Yun Qingwu looked at Fang Zhengzhi through the silver rain, a little shocked by his actions.

“Actually, if you want to live… I can let you live.” Yun Qingwu recognized the insanity in Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes.

“Let me live?”

“Yes.”

“On the condition that you let me imprison your pocket dimension. That would mean that you can no longer cultivate. Furthermore, you will stay in the Blood Shadow City. Haven’t you always wanted an ordinary life? I can give you food and lodging… if you want women, I will have a lady marry you…”

“Do you think I will agree to that?”

“No, but you have no other choice. Struggling is meaningless. This is the Heavenly Dao, only those who understand it can break its restraints. Even her with her Xuan Heavenly Dao Body can’t do it!”

Yun Qingwu continued in a sincere and calm voice as she looked at the silver light.

“Heavenly Dao?” Fang Zhengzhi’s expression froze.

He knew exactly what the Heavenly Dao was, and that was the top Dao of the six Major ones.

“Yes, the Heavenly Dao! Even amongst the demons, my master is the only one to understand it. If you had not come here, you may have understood it one day… but now, that would be impossible!” Yun Qingwu added.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t seem to register what Yun Qingwu just said to him, “The Heavenly Dao… only those who understand it can free themselves? I understand… I will break heaven!”

Chapter 439: Am I going to die?

Fang Zhengzhi’s voice was not loud, almost as if he was murmuring to himself, but Yun Qingwu heard it clearly…

“I will break heaven!”

Break heaven?!

Fang Zhengzhi had said it extremely calmly. Some may not have thought much of it just from his tone…

But…

What he was trying to do was extraordinary!

Yun Qingwu looked at Fang Zhengzhi, visibly surprised. She tried her best to suppress her surprise and shock…

But it was to no avail.

“He wants to break Heaven? Is that even possible? That can’t be!” Yun Qingwu thought to herself.

Chi Guyan was attacking Yun Qingwu and Canyang from above and heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words as well.

However, she did not reply.

She continued to press on with her attacks, almost as if she hadn’t heard what Fang Zhengzhi said.

Similarly, Canyang didn’t respond. He didn’t even bother to ‘look’ at Fang Zhengzhi. He had a faint smile on his face.

This was not a smile of scorn.

This was his ‘encouragement’ to someone younger.

Fang Zhengzhi was like a three-year-old setting out to accomplish great things. As a senior, all he could do was smile and encourage his junior.

Canyang was encouraging Fang Zhengzhi right now.

He knew that Fang Zhengzhi was talented, but no amount of talent would allow him to break these restraints at his current stage.

Heaven…

Fang Zhengzhi did not own heaven!

Just because Canyang smiled in ‘encouragement’ didn’t mean that the other demons felt the same way. In fact, the demons behind Yun Qingwu and Canyang couldn’t believe their ears.

“Break Heaven? Hahaha… am I mistaken?”

“No, you’re not!”

“No matter how crazily arrogant someone is, he should have some form of self-awareness, no? Why is he so ignorant?!”

“Because he wants to break heaven…”

The demons mocked Fang Zhengzhi maniacally. After all, mockery and humiliation were all part and parcel of war.

Furthermore…

Fang Zhengzhi’s words were so unbelievable that no demon would have been able to hold back his laughter.

The laughter could be heard throughout the battlefield.

The Dragon Protection Squad, Mountain Breaking Army, and the Southern Region soldiers all heard the mockery and laughter.

Fang Zhengzhi was human. As such, on some level, his words also represented what the humans were trying to do.

All of the members of the joint forces wanted to say something in response, but they found no words.

They couldn’t possibly be shouting words of encouragement and telling Fang Zhengzhi that he could definitely break the Heavenly Dao!

That was ridiculous.

If they did so, they would just be embarrassing themselves.

Keep their head down, ignore it, and press on.

That was the only option available to the joint forces. At this point, they had no choice but to tolerate the mockery. Many of them glared at Fang Zhengzhi.

After all…

It was Fang Zhengzhi’s shamelessness that had brought this mockery upon them.

The mockery of the demons…

The battle the joint forces were fighting… the happenings around him… Fang Zhengzhi ignored them all.

After hearing what Yun Qingwu had said, he began to think about it.

Concentration!

That was a talent.

That was also a talent which Fang Zhengzhi had, especially when he really wanted to achieve something.

The Heavenly Dao!

Fang Zhengzhi tried to recall everything he could about the Heavenly Dao. He was also trying to recall everything that he had experienced since his attack.

Was his body stuck? Almost as if he had been frozen in space.

What was happening? Was it because the space around him had been changed? Or was it because the space around him was just being bent?

Furthermore…

The blue light above Yun Qingwu’s head had successfully defended against his attack as well as Chi Guyan’s current onslaught.

His attack had clearly passed through the blue light, but why did his attack end up hitting dirt?

Furthermore, if Yun Qingwu was in a separate dimension, why was her dress still dancing in the wind?

Fang Zhengzhi kept thinking about these questions.

Heavenly Dao!

Was this the power of the Heavenly Rebirth Dao? If this was just a manifestation of it, how powerful was this Dao?

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to understand it.

However, he also knew that this was not going to be easy. He did not know what made it unique, neither did he know where to begin.

How was he going to break it?

“Ah!” Fang Zhengzhi let out a guttural roar as his body began to make sputtering noises.

The Supernatural State allowed him to change the makeup of his body.

After he entered the Supernatural State, Fang Zhengzhi had complete control over his body. Previously, he was only able to control his muscles, but now, he could control his bones as well.

“Break! Damn it, break!” Fang Zhengzhi screamed as rays of light shot out from his body. These were rays of light that were formed because of changes to his cells.

At the same time, earth-shaking waves of force exploded outwards.

If his body was stuck, maybe he could escape by changing his body! That was what Fang Zhengzhi thought…

But…

He was stopped by reality.

No matter how hard he tried, no matter how he changed his muscles and bones, his body continued to be stuck in that position. He couldn’t even move a finger.

“It didn’t work?” Xing Qingsui looked on disappointedly as he watched wave after wave of force emerge from Fang Zhengzhi’s body.

“There’s no point. The Heavenly Dao… is too difficult!” Xing Yuanguo shook his head as he noticed Fang Zhengzhi’s actions.

As for Nangong Hao, his attention continued to be on the rain of silver light in the sky. He seemed to be contemplating something, his expression changing many times during this time.

As for the demon soldiers…

They couldn’t hold back their laughter.

“Struggle! Keep struggling!”

“The humans really have no self-awareness. They know that it’s impossible, yet, they insist on trying! Breaking the heavens? I would like to see him try!”

“Break it! We are all waiting to see you break it, hahaha…”

The voices reverberated throughout the battlefield, striking at the hearts of the joint forces.

Yun Qingwu’s shocked expression had all but disappeared. Now, she looked rather resigned as she shook her head. It seemed as though she wanted to say something, but decided not to.

However…

She was no longer looking at Fang Zhengzhi. She was looking at the rain of silver light.

Just at that moment, a voice could be heard from within this light. It was a shrill and crisp voice.

“Across all six worlds, the only constant is the rules of nature. Commoners look to the sky, but never understand why the sun rises or sets, or why there are four seasons. Just because they don’t understand it doesn’t mean that these are not governed by the rules of nature. That is the Heavenly Dao.”

“Heavenly Dao?!” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the radiant silver light when he heard this voice.

“The Heavenly Dao is not like any of the other Daos. In fact, it is completely separate.” The voice rang out once again.

It was Chi Guyan.

Fang Zhengzhi knew this.

So did Yun Qingwu and Canyang. However, they did not show any intention of stopping her.

Because…

Chi Guyan was merely reciting the descriptions found in the “Law of Dao”. One still had to break it down.

If people could understand the Heavenly Dao from these lines, then the whole world would be filled with more people who could wield it!

To put it bluntly…

Chi Guyan herself had not even reached that stage. How could she teach Fang Zhengzhi how to? She was merely adding on the hilarity.

“The top talent doesn’t seem to be too clever after all.”

“It would seem… that we have overestimated Chi Guyan. Despite her Xuan Heavenly Dao Body, she is still too naive!”

“Hahaha… exactly. Does she want to let Fang Zhengzhi understand the Heavenly Dao with just these words? Her naivety is hilarious!”

The demon soldiers burst out in laughter when they heard this. They couldn’t believe that Chi Guyan would believe Fang Zhengzhi’s words.

“Shameless fella, aren’t you usually very powerful? Why are you failing at the crucial moment? You have to break this! It is said that the Heavenly Dao takes away some power from your strengths to strengthen your weaknesses. On the other hand, the other Daos simply have you strengthen what is already powerful!”

Amidst the laughter, yet another crisp voice sliced through the air. At that moment, a radiant red light shot skyward. This revealed Ping Yang’s mood.

Anxious, worried.

Even though Ping Yang did not understand the “Law of Dao” as well as Fang Zhengzhi, she was able to say what she knew.

“Anyone who doesn’t understand the Heavenly Dao would easily be swayed.”

“With the Heavenly Dao, one will win every battle.”

“The Heavenly Dao dictates that we sow our seeds in the spring, harvest during autumn, and store it through winter. This is the law of nature.”

“The Heavenly Dao awaits at the end of the road.”

“…”

Voices continued to pierce through the rain of silver light, completely ignoring the mockery of the demons.

Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes continued to glimmer.

Every time a voice rang out, his eyes became brighter, almost as if he was engaging in some sort of ritual.

…

In fact, Fang Zhengzhi did have an inexplicable feeling when he heard the voices.

He felt extremely calm…

Almost as if the voices had a special rhythm to them.

They soothed his anxious and troubled heart whilst sending thoughts to his brain.

“Heavenly Dao!”

“Rules?”

“Nature…”

“All creation?!”

“…”

The voices continued to ring out by his ear as phrases and words flashed by in Fang Zhengzhi’s mind. It felt as though he was being transported into a calm world.

“Heavenly Dao!”

“Heavenly Dao!”

Fang Zhengzhi kept repeating this to himself. His heart shuddered when he recalled what happened when he attacked Yun Qingwu, as well as his current situation.

He finally thought of something.

The Heavenly Dao was the law of nature, it was a law that all creation had to follow.

In his previous world…

This was known as the law of conservation of energy!

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood it. However, just because he understood it didn’t mean that he could do it. For example, everyone knew that the point of a business was profit…

But was every business profitable?

Definitely not.

Different businesses had different profitabilities. It depended on the nature of the business as well as the people in the business.

The Heavenly Dao…

It was using one’s body to understand the laws of nature. Then, by replicating these rules, one could interact and change the constituents of nature…

It was a simple concept…

But it was virtually impossible to do.

For example, if you could outrun the wind, then you would not be affected by it.

But, could you possibly be faster than the wind?

The Heavenly Dao…

It was even more difficult than that. One had to merge and combine with the wind. One’s bodily makeup would have to be the same as the wind.

To put it plainly, you had to be wind.

Once one understood the Heavenly Dao, one could virtually become anything. One could also use one’s body to change one’s surroundings.

“Am I really going to die?!” Fang Zhengzhi felt like the situation required him to do the impossible. Did it really need to be that difficult?

Chapter 440: I am Heaven

Everyone dreamt of going to heaven.

Everyone dreamt that one day we would have wings on our back as we soared through the sky and breathed in the crisp, fresh air.

But to be honest…

If we had wings, then we would be birdmen.

Understanding and execution…

Those were two very different concepts.

That was the problem that Fang Zhengzhi was facing. He understood the meaning and gist of the Heavenly Dao, but he could not wield it.

The simplest example of this was, one may understand a dialect, but that didn’t mean that one could speak it fluently. It also did not mean that one would be able to replicate the accent.

That is something that requires practice and time.

Mere understanding was insufficient. He needs to cultivate and experience it for himself. That was the only way he could achieve this.

This didn’t mean that Fang Zhengzhi’s understanding was completely useless.

It had given him a shortcut to the end. He could now avoid all of the detours along the way.

Effectively… he had been given a straight road to the Heavenly Dao.

But, in order to do it…

He needed time… a lot of it.

He didn’t even know if he could make it to the end.

And when he got there…

It would be a completely different idea altogether.

He had to understand the rules of wind, fire, earth, stone… then, he had to allow his body to adapt to these rules.

Finally…

He had to break and change some of the rules to give himself control over all creation.

The Heavenly Dao…

It was the law of nature.

Previously, Fang Zhengzhi was able to use the Dao of All Creation. He was able to use a blade to generate wind and speed it up. He was able to add fire to increase its power.

This was him using the Dao of All Creation.

However, people skilled in the Heavenly Dao did not merely use the Dao of All Creation. They had complete control over it.

For example, everyone knows that diamond is made out of carbon. However, given carbon, could you turn it into a diamond?

You couldn’t.

If you could, then the world would be filled with genuine diamonds.

But…

Someone skilled in the Heavenly Dao could.

He could change the rules of nature. He could change the way things interacted with each other. Ordinarily, a fire should not be able to burn stone or metal, but he could make it happen.

This was him changing the rules of nature!

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why his attack on Yun Qingwu had missed. In the moment that he passed through the blue light…

Many rules had been changed…

It could have been the concept of space…

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea what method Canyang had used. However, if he was skilled in the Heavenly Dao, then deflecting that attack would have been a piece of cake.

“Only those who understand the Heavenly Dao can break its restraints!” Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly as he thought about this.

Difficult?

This wasn’t difficult!

This was impossible!

Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why Yun Qingwu had said that he couldn’t do it. He also understood why the demons were mocking him.

He also understood why, despite the length of time he had been trapped…

Xing Yuanguo did not come to save him.

This had nothing to do with his talents. No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t absorb decades of experience in mere moments.

It was impossible.

Fang Zhengzhi was losing hope.

Yun Qingwu’s words rang out in his mind. She wanted him to plead with her and live an ordinary life in the Blood Shadow City.

He would be a prisoner…

Oh yes…

Yun Qingwu had mentioned that she would find him a wife. Was she referring to herself?

That was too naive.

Fang Zhengzhi dismissed that thought. No demon would ever approve of someone of Yun Qingwu’s status marrying a prisoner like him.

If his pocket dimension was sealed…

He would be stripped of all his powers. Any soldier who didn’t like him could kill him easily…

Fang Zhengzhi felt a chill down his spine.

He began to think about how he was going to survive if he took up her offer. After all, once he stepped into the Blood Shadow City, he would be the odd one out.

He couldn’t antagonize Yun Qingwu…

Furthermore, he could not make any enemies or exert influence over anyone. If not, someone would be waiting in the shadows to plunge a blade into him.

Having thought about it…

He concluded that he would probably be married off to an unwanted demon and would have to be a servant for the rest of his life…

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Was that the price of survival?” Fang Zhengzhi believed that there were certain sacrifices that needed to be made at times. However, this was below the belt.

He would never go to the Blood Shadow City!

Fang Zhengzhi screamed to himself. He had dreamt of surviving, but he couldn’t even stand the courts in the Great Xia. Accepting this deal would be even more suffocating!

He would have to stay in the Blood Shadow City for the rest of his life. He couldn’t cultivate, be arrogant, or show off. This was torture!

“Break, break, break!” Fang Zhengzhi growled. This was his final, desperate attempt.

He did not want to die…

But he didn’t want to go to the Blood Shadow City either…

What was he to do?

He had to try and escape. But how was he going to do that? He was being restrained by the Heavenly Dao, the rules of nature…

“Boom!”

An immense wave of force gushed outwards, almost like a huge stone had been dropped into a lake. However, Fang Zhengzhi didn’t move an inch.

“What is going on?” Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t bring himself to accept it. He had just broken through to the Supernatural State, and he couldn’t even enjoy it.

If he had known that this would happen, he would not have come.

Why did he send himself to be slaughtered?

“Hahaha… he’s wasting his effort!”

“I think he’s about to give up. Does he want to break the Heavenly Dao? He must be daydreaming!”

“I think his arrogance and confidence stems from ignorance.”

The demons began mocking Fang Zhengzhi’s ‘valiant’ efforts to break his restraints.

Even though they had already expected this result…

It was extremely comical and satisfying to watch Fang Zhengzhi struggle, especially after the events at the Icy Monkey Settlement.

Genius?

No matter how talented you were, you couldn’t possibly break it!

That was simply an impossible task.

Fang Zhengzhi bit his lip as he listened to the chatter around him. His mouth was the only thing that he could move.

“The Heavenly Dao augments and shines light on everything.”

Just at that moment, a beautiful voice pierced through the air. It was calm and rhythmic, almost like the sounds of the ocean.

Fang Zhengzhi’s expression froze.

He subconsciously turned to look at the sky. The silver light was still as radiant.

“Chi Guyan…” Fang Zhengzhi looked at the silver light in confusion. He didn’t know why Chi Guyan would try to save him.

Didn’t she know that it was impossible to break the Heavenly Dao?

What was she trying to prove?

Was she trying to prove that she had tried? Or is she trying to make it up to him?

Was there any meaning to that?

He was a dead man, with no way of resisting.

Canyang was too strong.

Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Canyang would be this powerful.

“The Heavenly Dao punishes evil and rewards good.”

“The Heavenly Dao is all-seeing, and acts like a god.”

“During spring, flowers blossom. During autumn, we harvest the crops. This is the law of nature.”

The voice never stopped and the words continued to flow into his mind.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to ask her to stop!

But, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

“Stop reciting these passages! He can’t understand them, I have to save him!” Just at this moment, another determined, crisp voice rang out as a figure in red appeared in front of Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi was surprised to see this figure appear in front of him. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect…

That Ping Yang would come to save him?!

Wasn’t she extremely pampered? Why would she jump into the fray?

Fang Zhengzhi thought about Ping Yang’s spoilt and willful nature. He also thought about her unreasonableness. None of those were positives.

But, in the World of the Sage, Ping Yang had taken a blow for him.

That was an attack from Ying Shan.

At that time, Ping Yang was only in the Star Conglomerate State. In fact, she was still in that state.

Star Conglomerate…

And yet she’s jumped into the fray?

The flash of red arrived quickly, but also retreated quickly. In the blink of an eye, Ping Yang was back at her original position, blood trickling from the edge of her mouth.

The Red Flame Flower Armor.

One of the best defensive treasures in the Great Xia. Yet, it could not even block an attack from Canyang.

Canyang had done it so casually.

He didn’t even lift a finger. All he did was ‘look’ at Ping Yang and she was sent flying back.

How powerful!

Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang.

Ping Yang was also looking at Fang Zhengzhi. He could see scorn and condescension in her eyes.

“F*ck!” Fang Zhengzhi couldn’t hold back.

He remembered that he was always the one who scorned her. Since when did she have the right to scorn him?

Ordinarily, Canyang’s power should have caused Fang Zhengzhi to despair.

He should have lost all hope.

But, it did quite the opposite. Looking at Ping Yang, Fang Zhengzhi was reminded of himself.

At that time, he had killed a Blue Fire Wolf on Cang Ling Mountain despite not having accessed Dao.

At that time, he was not given an official position, but he had left a gaping hole in the throne room.

At that time, he had not even broken through to the Supernatural State, but he challenged Ying Shan in the World of the Sage.

And now…

He was trapped.

Was he just going to give up?

The Heavenly Rebirth Dao!

So what? Everything had rules that had to be followed. No matter how powerful it was, it wasn’t invincible. He just had to figure it out.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the sky once again.

The silver rays of light continued to rain down on the ground. Even though they had no chance of touching Canyang or Yun Qingwu…

Chi Guyan showed no intention of stopping.

“Hang in there even if you can’t see hope!” Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why Chi Guyan was the top talent of the generation.

Talent was part of it.

But…

Chi Guyan had extraordinary determination. When others would have quit, she would continue to hang in there. When others gave up, she trudged on.

That was Chi Guyan.

She was someone with immense talent and extraordinary drive.

“I can’t lose either!” Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes glimmered as he thought about how to break the Heavenly Dao.

It was too difficult, almost impossible!

No way!

There had to be a method to break this. Nothing was impossible! Maybe he just had to think out of the box… he just had to exhaust all possible options…

Hang on!

He had missed something.

He got it!

Fang Zhengzhi’s eyes brightened as he thought of a plan. It was something that was by his side all this time, but he had ignored it.

“Break heaven? Go to heaven? No, I am heaven!”

Chapter 441: To hell with the Heavenly Rebirth Dao

The light at the end of the tunnel. He had just been thrown a lifeline…

At the very least, that’s what Fang Zhengzhi felt like. His heart began to tremble at the thought.

Heavenly Dao…

It was difficult, impossibly difficult.

Fang Zhengzhi would not be able to understand it fully in such a short period of time.

However…

There was no rule that states that he had to understand it all. The Heavenly Dao includes everything in the universe. What did Fang Zhengzhi have to do now?

Break out of his restraints!

As such, he did not need to understand the rules that governed all creation. He only needed to understand the rules that governed the space around him. Canyang had changed the space around him.

Using it to restrain him.

Fang Zhengzhi needed to understand what Canyang had changed and changed his body to match it. That was how he was going to free himself.

“Space, space, bending space…” Fang Zhengzhi repeated to himself. He had hundreds of Daos in his pocket dimension.

He had Daos of constellations, the sun, nature, wind, water, fire, thunder, earth…

Of course…

It also contained the Dao of space.

There were a lot of explanations of space. Space allowed things to exist.

It was the fundamental property that allowed things to be placed in three dimensions.

There were all kinds of spaces. Spaces that contained thoughts, stars, numbers, etc.

However, Fang Zhengzhi did not have to think about all those other spaces. He only had to consider what was around him.

What was this space made of?

Air.

Air and space were not the same concept.

However, Fang Zhengzhi was being restrained by air, 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.94% Carbon Dioxide… and 0.032% Nitrogen Oxide.

Okay then…

This was not all. If he thought that the entire space was filled with air, then Fang Zhengzhi would have studied for nothing.

In order for the space to bend and restrain him, Canyang had to change the thickness and add power, pressure, and other complex qualities.

Fang Zhengzhi had to first allow his body to understand the powers and the air around him. Then, he would have to let his body adapt to each quality.

Even though it was difficult and complicated…

It was much better than trying to brute force his way through.

Fang Zhengzhi didn’t hesitate any longer. He closed his eyes and allowed his body to feel what was around him. In order to do this, he had to relax.

He had to calm his heart.

Chi Guyan’s voice continued to ring out in his ears, calming his heart slowly but surely.

Fang Zhengzhi also began to feel his cells jumping around as they tried to interact with the air around him.

He felt like he was in a lake…

However, this lake was far from calm, with countless whirlpools trying to pull his body in all directions.

But…

Strangely, these whirlpools also created a sense of balance.

As the whirlpool on the right pulled him in that direction, the whirlpool on the left canceled it out. All of the whirlpools canceled each other out…

Countless whirlpools were tugging at his body, keeping him in the same position.

“I see… he isn’t bending space. He is simply creating countless whirlpools which cancel each other out but their forces actually immobilize me. In order to do this, he needs to leverage wind and pressure to achieve equilibrium…”

That’s it!

He had figured it out!

By constantly feeling his surroundings, Fang Zhengzhi began to understand the rules governing the space around him.

As such…

He had confidence that he would be able to find a way to escape.

…

As the sky darkened, the battle intensified. Under the leadership of Xing Yuanguo, the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army managed to hold their ground.

The bodies were piling up.

The stench of blood filled the air.

As for Chi Guyan, she seemed to have merged with the silver rays of light as they continued to pummel the ground.

“The Xuan Heavenly Dao Body is not easy to defeat…” Canyang ‘looked’ to the sky, his eyes devoid of light.

He absorbed the silver rays of light as they crashed towards him and Yun Qingwu…

Yun Qingwu wasn’t looking at Fang Zhengzhi either. She was looking at the rain of attacks coming from above.

She seemed to be very calm…

However, her eyes glimmered with envy, almost as if something she dreamed about was happening to someone else.

Yun Qingwu…

She was an exiled demon.

She definitely did not have Chi Guyan’s talents. Her demeanor and power could not hide the fact that she was merely a Star Conglomerate State cultivator.

To put it bluntly…

She may not even be able to defeat the injured Ping Yang.

How comical was that?

Yun Qingwu was jealous of Chi Guyan’s talent.

The Xuan Heavenly Dao Body…

Her talent was extraordinary.

Chi Guyan was the reason why Yun Qingwu had lost out so much at the Icy Monkey Settlement. The Xuan Heavenly Dao Body was the reason why Chi Guyan was that powerful.

The rays of light were getting more intense and dense, almost like a waterfall.

A waterfall of attacks coming from the sky.

The demons looked at the domineering attacks coming from the sky in awe and admiration. Then, they looked at Fang Zhengzhi.

Fang Zhengzhi had closed his eyes, almost as if he was asleep.

“He gave up?”

“I’m guessing that he ran out of energy! Hahaha…”

“It is a pity that Chi Guyan’s efforts are being wasted on someone like him. Does he have no shame?”

The demons chattered amongst themselves, their gazes moving away from Fang Zhengzhi. Looking at him was a waste of time.

He was a dead man walking.

He did not deserve their attention.

As night fell, there were only two sources of light, the silver waterfall of attacks from Chi Guyan, and the raging battle at the gates of the Iron Hill Settlement.

No one was looking at Fang Zhengzhi…

Even if they were, they may not have noticed it.

It was a very tiny movement. Fang Zhengzhi managed to raise his right thumb just a little.

However, it’s movement was quickly stopped.

Then…

Moments later, his index finger moved. It was raised ever so slightly that few would notice.

The battle intensified.

Screams and growls filled the air as soldiers clashed and killed.

Battle meant death, blood, and fire. Countless people had died in the many battles throughout history.

However, battles were also training and opportunities to be accorded great honors.

In every battle, countless warriors will survive the trial by blood and fire and end up stronger because of it.

“Die!”

“We will die with the Southern Region if we have to!”

“Our parents, brothers, and kids are all here! We must not let the demons in!”

Their voices filled the air together with their arrows. These arrows fell to the earth, forming dense patches of spikes.

Blood stained the ground as the fire lit up the black walls.

The sounds of killing grew louder by the second.

It was clear that the defence within the Iron Hill Settlement was being forced back and towards the main gate.

Shan Ling bit his lip, a fresh trail of blood dripping from the edge of his mouth. He knew exactly what the sounds meant.

“Is the Southern Region really going to fall?” Shan Ling wasn’t willing to accept this fact.

“Your highness! You should leave! We can still rebuild the nation after this. You have to retreat to the woods where the demons cannot follow!” A voice rang out beside Shan Ling.

“Shut up!” Shan Ling’s eyes were bloodshot.

He knew the situation they were in, but he couldn’t retreat! He was the Crown Prince of the Southern Region.

“Your highness!”

“Charge with me! If I have to die, I will die here!”

“Yes, sir!”

Blood sprayed skyward, briefly staining the view of the stars red.

Just at that moment, a pair of eyes opened slowly. No one on the battlefield noticed.

However…

That pair of eyes began to survey his surroundings.

He watched the radiant silver light above him and heard the screams of the battle. He looked at the flickering stars in the sky.

“Boom!”

A domineering wave of force exploded outwards, dissipating into the surroundings.

This attracted the attention of many.

“He hasn’t given up?”

“He doesn’t give up until the very end huh?”

“It doesn’t matter, let him struggle. It is useless anyway. Do you really think that he can break the secret of the Heavenly Dao?”

“Hahaha… if he does, the sun will rise from the west.”

All of the demons shook their heads in scorn. They were all numb from his previous attempts and didn’t think that he would be able to do anything different this time.

Struggle…

Struggling was pointless. His fate would not change.

It was the Heavenly Dao!

Fang Zhengzhi would only be able to escape in his dreams.

None of the demons believed that he could do it. Even the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army didn’t believe that he could do it. It was an impossible task.

The wave of power attracted the attention of many.

However, the attention was brief. No one bothered to take a second look, convinced that it was just a fruitless attempt.

The wave of force blew towards Yun Qingwu’s dress.

Her dress was blown backwards, but she did not look at Fang Zhengzhi. She continued to focus her attention on the silver waterfall.

Canyang didn’t care about the explosion of force either.

As Yun Qingwu’s master, he was one of the most respected demons around. Even the Demon Lord would welcome him at the front gate of the Blood Shadow City.

However, Canyang understood one thing.

No matter how powerful or respected he was, he was still a demon, and Yun Qingwu was his master.

He wanted Fang Zhengzhi dead.

From the moment he saw Fang Zhengzhi, he had wanted Fang Zhengzhi dead. However, if Yun Qingwu didn’t give the order…

He couldn’t kill Fang Zhengzhi.

At least…

Not yet!

Canyang had once lamented his lack of sight. However, after many years, he realized that he may not be able to see the world, but he could feel it.

He could keenly feel the existence of everything around him, as well as their appearance and changes.

As a result, he was able to open the door to something countless others wanted to open.

The Heavenly Rebirth Dao!

“Go f*ck yourself!” A booming voice cut through the air. It was filled with excitement, excitement from breaking finally breaking free.

It was as though a dormant volcano had finally erupted. The heat from this explosion caused the space around all of them to bend ever so slightly.

A breeze blew past…

A blue long sleeved shirt danced in the wind, just like Yun Qingwu’s white dress.

Chapter 442: Unexpected result

The night was far from calm.

It was filled with screams and shouts of the battle.

But at the current moment, the entire area became calm, almost like the surface of a frozen lake.

There were no commands shouted, no killings, no screams.

Time seemed to freeze as everyone turned to look at the epicenter of that powerful force.

Because…

A ray of light flashed right by it.

It was an incredibly quick ray of light, so fast that no one could make out the true identity of the light.

However, that was not the most important point.

Most importantly, that ray of light was headed straight for Canyang. In fact, it was right in front of him.

Less than 50cm away!

Shock, helplessness, terror…

A plethora of emotions filled the faces of the Dragon Protection Squad, the Mountain Breaking Army, the Southern Region soldiers, as well as the demons. However, no one spoke.

They were all stunned by what they saw.

They watched wide-eyed as the blue figure morphed into a ray of light and flew towards Canyang.

What was he trying to do? Why did he do it? Was he courting death? Or was he tired of living?

They couldn’t figure it out.

All they could see was that the figure appeared right in front of Canyang and raised his hand.

“Boom!”

An earth-shaking sound echoed out, almost as if a bomb had been detonated. Everyone’s ears rang from the impact.

Clouds of dust were sent flying in all directions.

No one knew if the dust cloud was a result of the explosive force, or the shockwave resulting from the subsequent attack.

Canyang and the blue figure were completely covered by the dust cloud.

The night…

Was calm and quiet.

The wind blew across the battlefield, bringing with it the stench of blood and assaulting the soldiers.

“Clang!”

Someone’s weapon fell to the ground, right onto a broken spear, giving off a bright, crisp ring.

It was not loud.

If the battle had been as intense as before, the sound would have been lost amidst the sounds of the battle.

But right now…

It was like a rock being dropped into a still lake. It broke the silence and shook everyone from their trance.

The expressions began to change as eyes widened and jaws dropped. Faces also began to pale…

“He… he moved?!” A stammer could be heard some distance away.

“This… this… the Heavenly Dao… he escaped?!”

“That’s impossible! How is that even possible?!”

“The Heavenly Dao! How did he manage to free himself! That is impossible, it is the Heavenly Rebirth Dao. This cannot be happening…”

Various voices began to join in the caucus.

Everyone on the battlefield, humans, and demons alike, couldn’t believe what they had just witnessed.

The Heavenly Dao had been broken?

And…

Was it broken by a nascent Supernatural State cultivator?

What could possibly be more ridiculous and unbelievable?

Maybe if the sun was to rise from the west…

No, even if the sun was to rise from the west, they would not be as surprised.

The Heavenly Dao was known as the last obstacle before one could enter the Sage State. Countless people were willing to sacrifice everything for a chance to wield it.

And Fang Zhengzhi cracked it so easily?

That can’t be!

In order to crack it, he had to wield it!

Is that even possible?!

How?

Countless eyes were fixated on the cloud of dust. They couldn’t bring themselves to believe what they were seeing, but it was clear that…

Fang Zhengzhi’s original position.

Was now…

Empty!

“He broke free, he really broke free!”

“He broke free from the restraints of the Heavenly Rebirth Dao?!”

Even though no one could bring themselves to believe it, they had to face the facts.

The light and the blue figure…

That was…

Fang Zhengzhi!

Xing Qingsui was completely floored by what he saw. He had wanted Fang Zhengzhi to escape from the restraints.

However, when Fang Zhengzhi actually escaped, he was in shock.

“He is younger than me!”

Xing Yuanguo was also equally surprised. He was the leader of the Stabilization Constabulary and someone who could keep his cool in the heat of battle.

But this time…

His jaw dropped and eyes widened in disbelief… “He is so much younger than Qingsui!”

The voices continued to echo throughout the battlefield.

Nangong Hao’s gaze had shifted from the silver light to the cloud of dust. It was partially due to the fact that the silver light had disappeared…

But more importantly…

Even he raised his hands and rubbed his eyes vigorously in disbelief.

“He… he actually managed to do that?!” Nangong Hao was rarely shocked, and in the rare case that he was, he almost never revealed it.

However, right now, even Nangong Hao could not suppress his disbelief.

Ping Yang’s eyes glowed with disbelief, but she was also extremely excited.

“Shameless fella, you didn’t disappoint me! You managed to break free from the Heavenly Rebirth Dao?! Wait… damn it, he really did it?!”

Ping Yang rarely cussed, but she did so this time, probably out of excitement as well as influence from her interaction with Fang Zhengzhi.

Shan Ling’s blade stopped right above the head of a demon, the wind blowing at the feathers on his hat.

His face was drenched with sweat, and he felt a chill down his spine.

The other settlement chiefs also felt the same chill. Their weapons may have been different, but their weapons were all shaking.

The silver waterfall had all but disappeared.

A figure appeared at the source, her starry eyes looking to the ground. Her pink dress danced in the wind as pride filled her face.

She was incredibly beautiful.

This was Chi Guyan. She was proud and extremely intelligent. She had peerless talent and skill, and outstanding determination.

There was another beautiful face on the ground.

However…

This person was also filled with shock. This shock was a stark contrast from her usual cold and aloofness.

Yun Qingwu was really shocked. Even though she was known to be able to predict many things, she never predicted that Fang Zhengzhi would be able to break free.

“Only those who wield the Heavenly Dao can break it!”

This was something that she had said to Fang Zhengzhi moments ago. But now, Fang Zhengzhi had disappeared.

He had disappeared without a trace.

Almost like the invisible Heavenly Dao!

“Master!” Yun Qingwu managed to recover from her shock before anyone else could. She looked at the cloud of dust behind her, her tone filled with anxiety and shock.

As Yun Qingwu screamed…

The hundreds of other demons and demon elites also responded.

After breaking free from his restraints, Fang Zhengzhi had made a beeline for Canyang. In fact, at the very last moment, he seemed to strike at Canyang.

If the fact that Fang Zhengzhi had managed to break free from his restraints was unbelievable, then the subsequent attack on Canyang was…

Ridiculous and audacious!

Where did he manage to get the courage to challenge Canyang! He would be sending himself to his death right after managing to escape its clutches.

None of the domain chiefs could believe their eyes.

All of the members of the joint forces finally managed to recover from their shock.

All of them looked at each other…

They had the same look in their eyes.

That was one of…

Surprise!

Their minds were blank.

Until now, they still could not figure out how Fang Zhengzhi had managed to break free from his restraints.

Did he manage to wield the Heavenly Dao?

That’s impossible!

So how did he do it?

No one could figure it out. Then, Fang Zhengzhi had done something that could only be described as suicidal…

…

The cloud of dust covered both figures completely. However, they were revealed almost just as quickly.

Countless pairs of eyes were fixated on the two figures.

Normally, they should not be guessing what the result was, but they couldn’t help themselves.

However…

When they saw what was in front of their eyes, their expressions froze over instantly.

The blue long sleeved shirt continued to dance in the wind, the skinny man standing his ground, his face lightly coated with dust.

However, he was smirking.

In front of him was a figure in a black cloak, his white hair resting on his shoulders. He was ‘looking’ at Fang Zhengzhi with dull, empty eyes.

It was a strange sight.

It caused everyone on the battlefield to reel in disbelief.

“What happened?!”

“That’s impossible, this can’t be true!”

“He… he actually… actually…”

“That’s Canyang, the half sage!”

Countless pairs of eyes looked at Canyang on one knee. They couldn’t believe that Fang Zhengzhi’s attack had hit home.

What the hell?

That was unfathomable!

“Could it be that he really wields the Heavenly Dao?! The Heavenly Rebirth Dao… he… he is a half sage?!”

“How is that possible? How could he possibly be in the Heavenly Rebirth State?!”

“If not, how did he manage to escape his restraints. How did he manage to hit Canyang? Canyang is a half sage!”

No one could understand what just happened. Countless thoughts flew through their minds, so much so that they forgot that they were still in a battle.

All of them looked at Canyang and Fang Zhengzhi, trying to figure out what happened.

Unbelievable?

That was the understatement of the year.

There were no words to describe this. This was completely unfathomable.

“Master!” Yun Qingwu’s voice rang out, her face paling as she screamed.

Fang Zhengzhi escaping his restraints…

That was not something that she had planned or expected.

Over the past decade, there were few things that could surprise her. Even the events at the Icy Monkey Settlement were within her plans and expectations.

But, she had not expected this.

Soon after…

Fang Zhengzhi had charged Canyang!

She knew why Canyang had been hit by Fang Zhengzhi, what she couldn’t understand was how this was all possible!

Chapter 443: Venting Anger

If Fang Zhengzhi’s initial attack on Yun Qingwu stemmed from ignorance, then… his attack on Canyang despite knowing Canyang’s powers…

What was that?

“How dare he?” Yun Qingwu looked at the figure in blue. She really wanted to ask him where he found the guts to do so, but she swallowed her words.

She already had an answer.

Fang Zhengzhi.

He seemed like someone who was ignorant and afraid to die, yet at times, he had terrifying courage.

Was there anything that he didn’t dare to do?

Yun Qingwu looked at Canyang, who was on one knee. She knew better than anyone that Fang Zhengzhi had not gotten lucky.

The distance.

He was too close!

Yun Qingwu and Canyang were not far apart to begin with. Furthermore, Fang Zhengzhi was in between the two of them. He was closer to Canyang than anyone else.

He had been restrained by the Heavenly Dao.

This was supposed to mean that his death warrant had been signed.

Initially, Canyang had raised his guard against Fang Zhengzhi. However, after seeing Fang Zhengzhi struggle to no avail, he had let down his guard.

After all, Canyang had an even more important mission.

That was…

He had to protect Yun Qingwu!

He had to protect Yun Qingwu from being struck by Chi Guyan’s attacks.

Of course, the more important reason was that Canyang was blind.

That, compounded with the distance factor…

Even if he was Canyang…

He would not be able to block Fang Zhengzhi’s strike.

Shock, disbelief, and terror.

Everyone looked at the figure in blue. They were not Yun Qingwu and did not know the same things that she did.

A half sage!

Fang Zhengzhi had actually managed to hit a half sage!

A cold breeze blew past as the night continued to darken. The stars in the sky provided some source of light, but no warmth.

“Half sage?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Canyang and smiled confidently.

He knew that Canyang was a half sage.

But so what?

If Ping Yang was willing to try her luck despite being in the Star Conglomerate State, he should definitely try it since he was in the Supernatural State.

Furthermore…

He had no other choice.

Run?

Fang Zhengzhi had toyed with that option, but where was he to go. He was faced with a demon army to his front and the gates to the Iron Hill Settlement at his back.

He would be like a lamb walking into a pack of ravenous wolves if he stepped forward. If he turned back, he would be diving into a slaughterhouse…

A single misstep…

And he wouldn’t even know how he died.

Fang Zhengzhi was not stupid. More importantly, he knew that he would not be able to gain much distance.

Even if he tried to run, he would not be able to run far.

As such, instead of running away…

Why not…

Fight it out!

When it came to sneak attacks, Fang Zhengzhi was an expert.

For a blind man like Canyang, what was the sense that he relied on most? It would be his hearing of course! He would use his hearing to determine position.

As such, in order for his attack to succeed.

He would have to confuse and muddle up Canyang’s sense of hearing.

Fang Zhengzhi did it by using an immense wave of force to cause Canyang to lower his guard before using the aftershock to give him the perfect opportunity to strike.

Success.

Sometimes, it was just that simple.

Fang Zhengzhi was enjoying the fruits of his labour, but he was not consumed by it. He knew that his attack…

Had barely even scratched Canyang.

Kill Canyang?

That was not something that he was even thinking about.

One needed to know when to retreat and take the small wins.

Fang Zhengzhi knew this very well. As such, he merely smiled to Canyang before turning to look at Yun Qingwu.

Yun Qingwu was his real target.

The cold and aloof Young Master of the Demons was staring at him, wide-eyed. Her white dress accentuated her great figure, making her look like a white lotus in the night.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yun Qingwu with fire in his eyes. He was a hunter who had spotted his prey.

The pressure and restraints had nearly pushed him over the edge.

But now…

He had his chance. There was no more blue above Yun Qingwu’s head.

Since Canyang had been hit.

The blue light disappeared as well.

Fang Zhengzhi sprang into action before anyone else could react. He shot towards Yun Qingwu like a ray of light.

“Come on, I will let you know what humiliation is!” Fang Zhengzhi screamed as he watched Yun Qingwu’s jaw drop in shock.

He could even feel the warmth exuded by her body.

He was close!

As long as he could control Yun Qingwu, then they had a chance at turning this around. He would also be able to turn around and tell the others.

“I’ll take my leave first!”

That would be the perfect outcome.

Fang Zhengzhi chuckled, relieved to be finally free from his restraints. He was going to prove to everyone…

That his decision to jump onto the battlefield…

Was the right one!

The wind screeched past his ear as he approached the speed of sound. His body became a ray of light and Fang Zhengzhi felt as though he was in control of everything.

However… his body was eventually stopped.

He was stopped a mere inch away from Yun Qingwu, his arm already prepared to grab Yun Qingwu’s waist.

His initial intention was to grab Yun Qingwu by her waist, do a 360-degree flip before placing Yun Qingwu on the ground.

Then…

Okay.

There was nothing after that.

He was immobilized.

Fang Zhengzhi wanted to turn around, but he couldn’t move, almost as if his body had been imprisoned. His teeth couldn’t even chatter.

Damn it.

That bloody Heavenly Rebirth Dao.

Fang Zhengzhi did not need to look to know that Canyang had already recovered. He also knew that he had fallen into a trap.

“Aroo!”

Just at that moment, a howl rang out through the air as a humongous figure charged.

That figure blocked out the moonlight and the starlight.

The snow-white wings flapped and a powerful wave of force swept towards the person behind Fang Zhengzhi like a blade.

There was someone in red fiery armor on top of the beast, her eyes filled with determination.

They even glowed golden.

That was an animalistic glow, almost like a death god. She stabbed at Canyang with incredible speed.

“Boom!”

Columns of flame shot skyward as the red light illuminated everything below. It even stained the night sky red.

Ping Yang!

Fang Zhengzhi turned to look at that small figure flying back and spitting out blood. This was the first time he admired her barbarism.

This girl…

She must be mad!

Isn’t she afraid of dying?!

What was she thinking?

Just as he was thinking about that, he saw a ray of silver light on the horizon, almost like a bolt of lightning, shoot towards the ground.

“Boom!”

A loud explosion rang out.

This was vastly different from Ping Yang’s attack. This time, a crater was formed in the ground as columns of dust and rock shot skyward.

“Chi Guyan?!” Fang Zhengzhi was shocked by what he saw. He realized that Ping Yang was not the only daredevil.

Chi Guyan was one as well!

They clearly spend too much time together…

The question is, who was the one who had influenced the other?

Fang Zhengzhi could not confirm anything, but he knew that he now had the opportunity to strike back.

For his initial strike…

Fang Zhengzhi had not chosen Yun Qingwu as a target because she still had that blue light above her head.

As long as it was there, Yun Qingwu could not be hurt.

But now…

The blue light was gone.

Fang Zhengzhi would be an idiot not to seize this opportunity.

“Break!” Fang Zhengzhi bellowed as light shot out from his body.

Then…

He moved.

Yun Qingwu was stunned. Even before she could try and escape, a hand grabbed her by the waist.

This hand was extremely warm.

Fang Zhengzhi could not help but feel slightly aroused by this, but he was in no mood to entertain any of those thoughts now.

He made up his mind.

With a sudden burst of strength, he raised Yun Qingwu up.

“You…” Yun Qingwu’s eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets. She wanted to ask how Fang Zhengzhi had managed to break free.

However, Fang Zhengzhi clearly had no intention of answering her questions.

Her feet were lifted off the ground and she was being held by her waist.

This was not a good feeling. Even the usually calm Yun Qingwu struggled to break free. However, to her surprise, her body felt like it was being trapped by some form of force.

“Heaven… Heavenly Dao! He… he really figured it out?!” Yun Qingwu was stunned. She knew exactly how the restraints were formed.

She also knew what they represented. She really wanted to scream out loud, but she realized that she was being pushed to the ground. More importantly…

She was heading for the ground, head first!

“Bang!” Yun Qingwu’s eyes widened. Even before she could say anything, she felt her head impact the ground and her world went dark.

She had fainted.

“Heavenly Dao, he now wields the Heavenly Dao…” Yun Qingwu thought to herself as her eyes closed.

…

It was quiet…

Countless eyes stared at the pale and comatose Yun Qingwu. None of them could figure out what had just happened.

From Fang Zhengzhi escaping his restraints…

To Fang Zhengzhi’s attack on Canyang… and Ping Yang and Chi Guyan’s subsequent attacks…

All the way to…

Fang Zhengzhi’s attack on Yun Qingwu.

He had lifted Yun Qingwu off the ground. And then, to everyone’s surprise…

He had slammed her head first into the ground!

“Young master!”

“Ah, this fella, he… how dare he…”

“Kill him, we must kill him!”

All of the demon soldiers were infuriated. They could even have accepted seeing Fang Zhengzhi cut a way through them after escaping his restraints.

However…

They could not stand seeing Fang Zhengzhi humiliate their Young Master.

Head first?!

What was he thinking?!

Even if he wanted to take Yun Qingwu as a hostage, he should have kept her conscious! What was the meaning of knocking her out like that?

No one could understand.

“Rubbish!” Just at that moment, an aged voice rang out discontentedly. The tone was filled with anger and hurt.

Canyang was finally triggered.

For many years, Canyang had not felt such rage. Even after hearing about Fang Zhengzhi’s actions at Feng Su…

He had not felt this enraged.

Humiliation!

This was unadulterated humiliation. He never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would have managed to break free from his restraints, twice!

The Heavenly Dao…

The Dao that he had spent his entire life trying to understand. Had it just been broken by a human? A teenager?

Canyang had never seen such a talent.

If it was possible, he would write down everything that he had learnt and pass it to Fang Zhengzhi, even if Fang Zhengzhi was not a demon.

He could ignore the feud between the demons and the humans. In fact, he did not want to kill unless it was absolutely necessary.

If not…

Ping Yang would have been dead by now…

However, there was one thing he could not tolerate.

That was Yun Qingwu being humiliated.

His primary mission on this expedition was to protect Yun Qingwu. Yet, Yun Qingwu had just been knocked unconscious in the most humiliating fashion!

“Kaboom!”

A bolt of lightning shot through the sky, illuminating the night sky.

Canyang clenched his fists and his black cloak was blown back by the wind, revealing a blue robe. That blue… was the color of the sky.

Chapter 444: We’ll go down together

The wind was strong and dark clouds covered the sky.

A gargantuan wave of force rushed out from Canyang’s body. If the blast from Fang Zhengzhi was a lake, Canyang’s was a vast ocean.

A raging ocean.

It was so terrifying that even the demon soldiers standing behind Canyang took a step back, their bodies trembling.

“Is this the rage of a half sage?”

The joint forces could all feel the immense rage that Canyang was showing. They all felt a chill down their spines.

The Heavenly Dao…

What a scary existence!

All of the joint forces could not help but feel shock and awe as they watched Canyang. Then, they turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi.

Canyang’s power could be keenly felt by everyone. However, the terror that Fang Zhengzhi instilled cut straight to their heart.

None of them knew how he had done it.

But the fact was that Fang Zhengzhi had escaped his restraints and successfully knocked Yun Qingwu unconscious.

In order to do this…

The only explanation was that he had understood the Heavenly Dao.

He was not even 16 years old…

He was still so young.

And yet, this young teenager had already done something that billions of his seniors couldn’t! How talented was this person? How terrifyingly powerful could he be?

No one knew how powerful Fang Zhengzhi would end up being… but they knew that he would not be weaker than Canyang.

That meant…

That there would be a half sage amongst the humans sooner or later.

Furthermore, he would be a half sage with hundreds of Daos in his pocket dimension!

Monster!

In fact… that would be an understatement. There were no words to describe Fang Zhengzhi’s talent.

They were all shocked by Canyang’s power as well as their realization of Fang Zhengzhi’s talent.

Nangong Hao looked at Fang Zhengzhi.

For the first time, Nangong Hao seemed under immense pressure. This was something that he had never felt before.

However, Fang Zhengzhi did not look at the others around him. He looked at the raging Canyang innocently and wiped the dust off his clothes.

“What do you want? A fight? Come on, hit me!” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Canyang in disdain as he plucked an arrow from the ground and brought it to Yun Qingwu’s neck.

Negotiation…

With Yun Qingwu as a hostage…

That was Fang Zhengzhi’s goal.

However, there was no need for Yun Qingwu to be awake. She did not need to be the one to give the order for them to lay down their weapons.

One needed to be a genius to think of this plan.

In fact, many kidnappers made the mistake of negotiating directly with their hostages. In the end, they died by the hand of their hostages.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fang Zhengzhi was not going to make the same mistake again.

Furthermore, Yun Qingwu was an extremely intelligent lady and there was no guarantee she would give the order for them to lay down their weapons.

As long as Yun Qingwu was conscious…

There was an unknown element.

As such, he had to knock her out.

That was the safest option.

As long as he didn’t kill Yun Qingwu, then he would still have the initiative. As long as he had control over Yun Qingwu, the demons would definitely follow the orders!

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Canyang as he resisted the pressure from Canyang’s power, smirking as he did so.

Was he really the savior of the world?

Let the applause and the cheers of victory begin!

Fang Zhengzhi waited.

But…

The entire battlefield was silent, terrifyingly silent.

Then, a figure landed right next to Fang Zhengzhi, her pink dress dancing in the wind.

But, something was wrong.

Hang on…

Why was she alone?!

Fang Zhengzhi’s expression changed. He knew exactly what was happening.

He looked to the side.

He saw exactly what he had predicted. There was a figure in red armor levitating in the air. She gripped a fiery red spear in her hand.

However…

The spear had lost all of its domineering aura.

“Hmph!” A snort cut through the air.

Then, with a wave of his right hand, Canyang sent the Snow Wind Eagle tumbling out of the sky.

It crashed into the ground, dead.

“F*ck… me!” Fang Zhengzhi’s expression changed. He knew exactly what had happened, but he never expected that his actions had not paralyzed the demons.

The old man still knew what to do!

Fang Zhengzhi had knocked Yun Qingwu unconscious in that manner for a very special reason.

He wanted to infuriate Canyang.

In order to get to Yun Qingwu, Chi Guyan and Ping Yang had to sacrifice themselves.

In that time, Canyang also had the opportunity to take control of Chi Guyan or Ping Yang.

Amongst the two…

Ping Yang was the likelier option.

Ping Yang was much too weak.

In order to distract Canyang from this, he had to make a decision to infuriate Canyang. He also issued a challenge.

Like…

Asking Canyang to fight him.

This was the best thing that Fang Zhengzhi could come up with. However, it did not seem to be of much use.

Canyang was angry…

But he had not lost his rationality. Instead, he immediately went for Ping Yang, levelling the playing field.

How many people would be able to keep their cool in that fashion?

“Princess!”

“Your highness!”

Many voices began to ring out from the ranks of the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army.

Xing Yuanguo paled.

Princess Ping Yang was captured?

This was something that could threaten the Great Xia’s existence.

“Ah ah ah… I can’t move! Shameless fella, come save me, I can’t move! Didn’t you figure out the Heavenly Dao? Help me get out of it! I saved you just now, you must return the favor!” Ping Yang’s voice rang out.

It was clear that…

Ping Yang was someone who treasured her life very much. She was not one to sacrifice herself for the greater good.

Her words had just told Fang Zhengzhi that she would have his life if he didn’t save her.

Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly as he looked at Ping Yang.

He really wanted to save her, but, how was he going to?

The Heavenly Dao…

Fang Zhengzhi wished that he knew how to wield it, but he knew that he hadn’t made it to that point. He could break free of the restraints because he had figured out the rules behind the whirlpools.

In other words, he could save himself but not others.

Even if Fang Zhengzhi could help unravel the whirlpools around Ping Yang’s body, what good would that do?

How far could Ping Yang run?

She was going to go up against a half sage who had been in that state for more than a decade…

Fang Zhengzhi tried repeating some of the passages regarding the Heavenly Dao to Ping Yang.

“Shameless fella, what are you muttering? Come and save me!” Ping Yang bellowed.

“Your Highness, I believe in your talent. I am sure you can understand the Heavenly Dao!” Fang Zhengzhi complimented.

“Scram!”

“Okay, I’ll be on my way.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Your highness… what would you like me to do?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I want you to save me! I am still young and have my whole life ahead of me! I cannot die here!”

“Then try to understand, try to understand the Heavenly Dao! I can teach you. First, you must calm down, and imagine that you are in a huge lake. There are many whirlpools around you…”

“F*ck your whirlpools, come and save me!” Ping Yang interrupted.

“Aish… you are unteachable.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head in disappointment. He had told her what he knew, but she wasn’t willing to accept it.

He looked to Chi Guyan.

He felt like it was her turn to think of a plan.

However, Chi Guyan didn’t seem to have any plan in mind. She looked at Fang Zhengzhi, her eyes glistening like the stars in the sky.

“Why don’t you save her? Repeat to her what you said to me?” Fang Zhengzhi looked to Chi Guyan with anticipation.

“Lame.” Chi Guyan glanced at Fang Zhengzhi, unwilling to entertain his nonsense.

Fang Zhengzhi sighed.

This was not something that would be easily resolved.

What was he going to do now?

He had Yun Qingwu but his opponent had Ping Yang. He only had two options. Exchange, or bluff.

“Come on, we can hurt them both!” Fang Zhengzhi knew that he normally had two options. But in this case, he did not.

Even if he had tried for an exchange, he may not be able to save Ping Yang and may even lose his life.

He was heavily outnumbered.

That was the current situation.

“I will never make a deal with you. Release our princess now, or I will kill Yun QIngwu!” Fang Zhengzhi decided to make his position clear.

“Is that so? Even though I am blind, but if I am correct, I have the legendary Princess Ping Yang in my control!” Canyang replied calmly.

“The legendary Princess Ping Yang?” Fang Zhengzhi had no idea why he would describe Ping Yang in that manner.

Was it because Ping Yang was the favorite princess?

Or was it because of her reputation in the capital.

Fang Zhengzhi shook his head. Although these were possible, it did not seem very likely.

His opponent was Canyang, a half sage. Why would a half sage bother with insignificant details like that?

Fang Zhengzhi did not understand it, but when he turned to look at Chi Guyan, he realized that her expression had changed.

“What’s happening?” Just as Fang Zhengzhi was at a loss, he realized that the expressions of Xing Yuanguo, Xing Qingsui, as well as the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army, had all changed.

Most importantly…

Even Shan Ling and the settlement chiefs paled when they heard the name “Princess Ping Yang”.

Was she really that famous and popular?

“Blind man, since you know that I am Princess Ping Yang, you should let me go! You should know the consequences if I am hurt!” Ping Yang’s voice was rid of terror and replaced with arrogance.

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea where Ping Yang was getting this confidence from.

Hurt?

She was being completely immobilized.

Fang Zhengzhi felt that Canyang would ignore Ping Yang.

However, after hearing Ping Yang’s words, he did not seem to make a mockery of it. Instead, he began to contemplate the words he had just heard…

Chapter 445: I want you dead

This caused Fang Zhengzhi great confusion.

Why would Ping Yang’s name cause a half sage to hesitate?

The night was cold and the moon was bright. After a long pause, Canyang nodded.

“Mm, you are right. I know exactly what the consequences are, however… this consequence will not only be born by the Blood Shadow City. Your Highness, are you prepared to have the Great Xia bear this consequence as well?” Canyang replied raspily.

“Humph, bloody blind man! I know what you are thinking. Do you think no one dares to say it? Let me warn you… let me go now, or I will not let you off when I mature!” Ping Yang’s expression froze when she heard this.

“Mature? Hmm… that’s a different problem altogether. If you had matured, I would not dare to do anything to you. But now, you are only 14 years old. You are still two years away from maturity.”

Canyang shook his head and waved his right hand. Ping Yang was pulled right in front of him.

“Maturity? Two years? Wouldn’t dare to do anything to her?”

Fang Zhengzhi was stunned when he heard the exchange. What was happening? What was so great about Ping Yang?

A Star Conglomerate State cultivator…

Able to instill fear in a half sage after maturity?

Is this a joke?

Fang Zhengzhi did not buy any of it. If it were true, then he would be the first one to die after what he did in her residence.

Canyang must have made a mistake. Maybe he suffers from brain damage as well. If he was Canyang, he would have silenced PIng Yang.

If not, Ping Yang’s words…

“Let me go, let me go, bloody blind man… ah ah, release me! Fang Zhengzhi, you shameless fella, I saved you! It’s your turn to save me now!”

Just as he expected, Ping Yang was not only cussing, she was embarrassing Fang Zhengzhi.

“Make her shut up!” Fang Zhengzhi screamed to himself.

However, Canyang did nothing. He looked on calmly as Ping Yang threw her tantrum.

Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth twitched as he listened to Ping Yang.

He was simply going to ignore her.

There was nothing more to it.

Mm…

Fang Zhengzhi felt that something was off. The more Ping Yang screamed, the greater the attention was on him.

He was utterly embarrassed.

Fang Zhengzhi smiled bitterly.

He wanted to ask them what they were looking at. He wanted to ask them to save Ping Yang if they had the courage to.

But, he could not bring himself to say it.

Fang Zhengzhi admitted that he was generally quite shameless. However, for him to ignore a lady who had just tried to save him…

That was something…

That he couldn’t bring himself to do.

What was he to do now?

Was he going to ignore the fact that she had tried to save him?

“Fang Zhengzhi, come and save me. Haven’t you figured out the Heavenly Dao? Come and fight him and beat him up for me!” Ping Yang’s voice rang out.

The Dragon Protection Squad, the Mountain Breaking Army, as well as the Southern Region soldiers looked at each other.

They really wanted to save her…

But they couldn’t do anything about it.

Right now…

Their only hope was Fang Zhengzhi.

But why wasn’t Fang Zhengzhi taking any action?

They were all looking at Fang Zhengzhi, waiting for this genius to take action.

Ordinarily, they would never have faith in Fang Zhengzhi.

But under such circumstances…

They had to pin all their ‘hopes’ on Fang Zhengzhi.

“Father, what do we do?” Xing Qingsui looked at Xing Yuanguo, his eyes filled with worry. He knew that Ping Yang must be safe.

Xing Yuanguo looked at Canyang.

He did not speak. He knew that this was not the opportune moment to strike. If he held back, there was a chance at negotiation, but if he struck…

Things would take a turn for the worse…

After all, the demons had the advantage now. If they continued the battle, more would die. If they could just drag it out a little longer…

Perhaps, things may take a turn for the better!

“Wait!” Xing Yuanguo blurted out.

“But…” Xing Qingsui wanted to say something. However, seeing Xing Yuanguo’s expression caused him to swallow his words.

…

“Fang Zhengzhi, you shameless b*stard, are you really going to leave me alone? If I die now, I will haunt you forever!” Ping Yang was getting increasingly anxious.

“Shut up!” Fang Zhengzhi could not take it any longer.

What was she thinking? Right now, stalling for time was the best option. In fact, having the princess rattle off may not be a bad thing.

“I won’t shut up you ungrateful b*stard! I just risked my life to save you yet you are now watching from the sidelines? Did I help you for nothing? If you don’t save me, I will curse you, curse you…”

“Can you shut up!” Fang Zhengzhi finally raged as he turned to look at Canyang exasperatedly, “I can exchange the hostages with you, but, I have a request.”

“What is it.” Canyang nodded, not surprised by this request.

“Withdraw your troops.”

“Impossible.”

“Okay then, I will make some concessions, withdraw your troops from the Iron Hill Settlement.” Fang Zhengzhi had expected this answer.

“Also impossible.” Canyang replied.

“Then there is nothing left to discuss. I do not have any ambitions nor do I want to meddle in the affairs between the humans and the demons. My appearance here was an accident. I only want t live. If I swap the hostages, I would be signing my death warrant. I might as well kill Yun Qingwu then.”

Fang Zhengzhi waved Canyang off.

Canyang wanted to force Fang Zhengzhi to save Ping Yang. That way, he would be able to take Fang Zhengzhi down.

Not forgetting who his benefactor…

But, Fang Zhengzhi was not about to sign his own death warrant.

“Do you think that if we withdraw from the Iron Hill Settlement, you will be able to live?” Canyang ‘looked’ at Fang Zhengzhi, his eyes filled with icy, murderous intent.

“At the very least, I will have a chance to live.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.

“What if I told you that I only want your life?” Canyang asked calmly.

“Firstly, you must be able to take it.” Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth twitched. He was not about to be outpostured.

“Okay, I will agree to your terms, but you must be the one to carry out the swap!” Canyang nodded after some hesitation.

“I have to stay behind?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at his surroundings before looking at Chi Guyan.

After hearing the exchange, Chi Guyan looked at Fang Zhengzhi, her mind working before she nodded towards him.

“F*ck me! What does that mean? Are you going to stay?!” Fang Zhengzhi cussed in his heart.

However, he didn’t make a sound.

Fang Zhengzhi knew exactly why Canyang wanted him to be the person to execute the exchange.

However…

He didn’t have a choice.

He couldn’t possibly ignore Ping Yang.

If the demons withdrew from the Iron Hill Settlement…

The Southern Region would have a chance of survival. That also meant that he had a way of ‘escaping’.

However… he had to be able to get to the escape route first.

That being said, at least this choice left him some options.

Fang Zhengzhi knew that Canyang would not delay this any longer. Getting the demons to withdraw from the Iron Hill Settlement temporarily was the best deal they were going to get.

“Okay, I agree to your terms!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

He did not have any other option. Ping Yang needed to be saved. He may have to use Ping Yang as a human shield after…

Considering that she had the Red Flame Flower Armor…

She should be able to take a few hits.

“Give the order, have the army withdraw from the Iron Hill Settlement.” Canyang showed no hesitation.

He gave the order immediately.

“Yes, sir!” The demon domain chiefs all nodded when they heard the order.

After nodding, the demons looked at Fang Zhengzhi with dagger-like stares.

Fang Zhengzhi was their number one enemy.

This had to do with the fact that he was a talent.

But more importantly…

They had a problem with Fang Zhengzhi’s actions.

His actions on the Feng Su cliff as well as his recent attack on Yun Qingwu which rendered her unconscious was intolerable!

The demons had their pride to defend.

“Withdraw!”

“Withdraw!”

“Pass the order, withdraw our troops!”

The voices of the demons rang out as they began their withdrawal in an orderly fashion.

Shan Ling looked at the orderly, withdrawing demons in shock.

He knew exactly how the demons were like years ago.

Yun Qingwu!

This reputable leader of the demons… what technique did she use to organize the demons into the state they are today?

“Withdraw!”

“Withdraw!”

These voices reverberated through the settlement.

Before long, all of the bloodthirsty demons at the gates of the Iron Hill Settlement had all withdrawn back to their camps.

“Brother, what is going on?” Princess Shan Yu was completely floored when she saw the demons withdraw.

She was not comfortable with it.

“Don’t ask any questions now. Just withdraw back to the settlement and strengthen our defences!” Shan Ling ordered.

Princess Shan Yu was about to nod when she spotted a thin figure in blue.

That was not the most important point. More importantly, there was a lady in white lying down next to him.

“Yun QIngwu?! How is that possible?” Princess Shan Yu was stunned.

She could not figure out how Fang Zhengzhi had managed to escape the restraints of the Heavenly Dao! After all, she had been in the settlement coordinating the defences

How did Yun Qingwu end up in a comatose state?

And…

What the hell happened here?

“Aren’t you going to carry out your orders?” Shan Ling frowned.

“But…” Princess Shan Yu looked at Fang Zhengzhi, Chi Guyan, as well as the comatose Yun Qingwu and hesitated.

“Aish, Fang Zhengzhi has accessed the Heavenly Dao.” Shan Ling looked at Princess Shan Yu and sighed, knowing exactly what she was thinking.

“What?! He… he managed to wield it?!” Princess Shan Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Yes, we have no idea how he did it, but those are the facts. He freed himself from the restraints and knocked Yun Qingwu out.” Shan Ling could understand the shock and confusion.

Even he himself was stunned when he saw it.

Fang Zhengzhi was only 16 years old!

If he could access and wield the Heavenly Dao at this age, what could he do in the future? If Shan Ling was to become an Emperor, Fang Zhengzhi must be disposed of.

Of course…

Fang Zhengzhi’s death was a foregone conclusion.

Shan Ling knew for a fact that since Canyang had ordered the withdrawal of the demons, he wasn’t going to let Fang Zhengzhi escape.

“Okay, we can begin the exchange now.” Canyang’s voice rang out.

Fang Zhengzhi looked at the calm Chi Guyan, wondering why she wasn’t leaving.

“Are you going?”

“No.” Chi Guyan replied calmly.

“Are you not afraid of dying?”

“Nope, he wants your life, not mine.” Chi Guyan replied calmly.

“F*ck!” Fang Zhengzhi had initially been moved by Chi Guyan’s answer, but her subsequent response made him want to raise his middle finger to her.

However, he quickly turned to look at Ping Yang.

Now…

What was he going to do?

Chapter 446: What a man should do

The demons had already withdrawn and he had Yun Qingwu as a hostage. If Fang Zhengzhi steeled himself and ignored Ping Yang…

Then…

He should be able to survive.

However, Fang Zhengzhi had no way to bring himself to do something so despicable. He was shameless, but he was not that vicious.

He had never truly considered leaving Ping Yang in the lurch.

The hostages had to be exchanged and Ping Yang had to be saved.

As for Yun Qingwu…

Even though Yun Qingwu was his opponent, he did not actually have any personal feud with her.

There was no clear right or wrong between the two of them.

The hostage exchange would be simple, and he would have to deliver Yun Qingwu safely.

Those were things that Canyang believed.

Fang Zhengzhi did not think that Canyang would hurt Ping Yang in the process, just like how Canyang expected that Fang Zhengzhi would save Ping Yang.

The key here was not the hostage exchange.

It was what came after.

Fang Zhengzhi frowned. His current position meant that he was slightly nearer to the demons. If he tried to break for the Iron Hill Settlement…

It was unlikely that he would be able to get very far.

Even though he had not clashed with Canyang, he was not that arrogant to think that Canyang would be slower than him.

So what was he going to do if he couldn’t beat Canyang in speed?

Was he going to throw a bag of ashes at Canyang’s eyes? Use some of his hidden weapons?

These were some of the most common attacks that Fang Zhengzhi had used against his opponents. And then, there was his flashbang…

It was a pity that…

None of these were effective against Canyang…

Canyang was blind. Throwing ashes, using secret weapons, or even activating a flashbang would only disadvantage himself.

A sneak attack…

Didn’t seem very helpful here.

Beads of sweat began to form on Fang Zhengzhi’s forehead. A sneak attack was his forte, but it was useless when going up against a blind man.

If he couldn’t launch a sneak attack…

How was he going to find an opportunity to escape?

Was he supposed to go up against Canyang head on?

That would be impossible!

Fang Zhengzhi did not even want to consider this option. Canyang was a half sage who knew the Heavenly Rebirth Dao. Going up against him would be akin to suicide.

He couldn’t sneak up on Canyang, neither could he face Canyang.

Fang Zhengzhi was in an extremely sticky situation. He had wanted to use Ping Yang as a meat shield, but Chi Guyan had decided to stay behind.

Ping Yang couldn’t possibly block for both of them.

More importantly, Chi Guyan would never let him use Ping Yang as a shield.

Having Chi Guyan in the picture complicated things greatly.

What was he supposed to do now?

Fang Zhengzhi looked at Chi Guyan and evaluated his position. He concluded that he would die after the hostages were exchanged.

“Are you done? There is a limit to my patience.” Canyang interrupted Fang Zhengzhi’s train of thoughts.

“Why are you in such a hurry? My death is a foregone conclusion, but I would like to leave a will.” Fang Zhengzhi replied.

“Okay.” Canyang nodded.

“I am about to tell you my last words, come closer to me. I do not want this guy to hear it.” Fang Zhengzhi whispered to Chi Guyan.

“It’s no use. With Canyang’s abilities, he would be able to hear you no matter how soft you are.” Chi Guyan replied.

“Oh…” Fang Zhengzhi responded.

He had heard that the blind tend to have enhanced hearing. However, he did not expect Canyang’s abilities to be augmented to such an extent.

That being said, Chi Guyan would never lie to him about something like this.

A will?

Fang Zhengzhi would never bother about something like that.

Actually, he wanted to discuss his plan with Chi Guyan. He couldn’t possibly do that if Canyang could hear them.

That would be suicidal.

Just as he was thinking about it, a white, smooth hand appeared in front of him. It looked like the world’s most exquisite art piece.

“You can’t say, but you can write.” Chi Guyan did not look at Fang Zhengzhi. Her expression was calm as she extended her hand.

“Ahem…” Fang Zhengzhi cleared his throat.

He had not thought of this method, but since Chi Guyan had proposed it, he could not turn her down.

He was a man after all.

He had to be decisive. Sometimes, he just had to suck it up and do what was right, even if it made him uncomfortable.

Furthermore…

In the face of the enemy, sometimes, ‘sacrifices’ needed to be made.

Fang Zhengzhi took Chi Guyan’s hands in his and touched it, feeling its smoothness and warmth.

Chi Guyan’s body trembled slightly.

However, she showed no intention of pulling her hand back. She looked extremely calm.

She had been raised in a military family and grew up amongst soldiers. Even though she was a lady, she carried herself like a soldier.

…

On the walls of the Iron Hill Settlement…

Countless pairs of eyes looked at the few figures at the gate. They were all looking at Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan.

The eyes of the Dragon Protection Squad widened.

The jaws of the Mountain Breaking Army dropped.

The Southern Region soldiers wanted to launch their spears at them. None of them saw this coming.

Fang Zhengzhi had not spoken loudly, as such, they could not possibly hear them. Naturally, they didn’t understand what was happening below.

She was the pride of the country, Chi Guyan!

She was so beautiful that even the brightest stars and prettiest flowers paled in comparison. So why…

Why would Chi Guyan let Fang Zhengzhi hold her hand?

The Dragon Protection Squad and Mountain Breaking Army knew that there was a special relationship between Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan. However, the Southern Region soldiers did not.

They only knew that Chi Guyan was the lady meant to fulfill the Heavenly Prophecy. She was above everyone…

She may even make her way into the royal family in the future.

“Am I going blind?”

“I don’t think so… I saw it too…”

“Even though Fang Zhengzhi is immensely talented, Chi Guyan is special! Most importantly, they aren’t even married yet!”

All of the Southern Region soldiers were in disbelief.

Princess Shan Yu clenched her fists and bit her lips. She seemed slightly shocked, but there were also traces of other emotions amidst the shock.

Nangong Hao was also looking at Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan.

He looked at Chi Guyan’s hand which was being held by Fang Zhengzhi. His expression was complicated, but he didn’t seem very surprised.

The night sky continued to darken.

Not much time had passed since the battle stopped and the demons withdrew. However, the sun had yet to rise.

Chi Guyan looked at Fang Zhengzhi, slightly confused.

“Why haven’t you written anything?”

“Write? Oh… yes, I should write, but… what should I write?” Fang Zhengzhi asked as he began to think.

“Shameless!” Chi Guyan knew Fang Zhengzhi’s character, but she could not help but berate him.

Canyang heard the exchange.

“Let’s not waste any more time. Let’s get on with the exchange.” Even though Canyang could not see what was happening, he could tell based on the conversation he heard.

“I haven’t even written my will! Humans shouldn’t break promises!” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head, showing his disapproval at a suggestion of breaking the deal.

“Haha, I am a demon, not a human.” Canyang smiled. He knew that Fang Zhengzhi was trying to stall for time.

The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for the demons.

“Give me two hours.” Fang Zhengzhi offered.

“I will count to 10. If we don’t exchange the hostages by then, I will kill her.” Canyang was in no mood to negotiate.

“Okay okay okay, what the f*ck. Where are you rushing off to? An abortion?” Fang Zhengzhi replied in exasperation as he began ‘writing’.

“10…”

“Nine…”

“…”

“One.”

“Just give me a moment, I’m not done yet. Why don’t you start over.” Fang Zhengzhi replied anxiously.

“Hmph!” Canyang snorted icily, having expected that Fang Zhengzhi would pull such a stunt.

He…

Moved his finger slightly.

“Ah!” Ping Yang screamed in pain. She looked like she was being suffocated, “Fang Zhengzhi… you… you shameless fella, I… I am about… about to die… I will haunt… haunt you… forever!”

“Wait, wait! If you want to exchange hostages, we should find a safer way to do it!” Fang Zhengzhi replied anxiously when he heard the screams.

In fact…

He had already made a decision.

Since no attack would work out against Canyang, his only option was to stall…

If he could stall until the reinforcements arrived, then he would have a chance of survival. The longer he stalled, the greater his chances. That being said, his chances were still slim.

He made up his mind.

He would reject Canyang’s proposal, regardless of what it was.

Then, he would propose an unreasonable method, like asking Canyang to release Ping Yang first.

Who would agree to it?

That was what Fang Zhengzhi thought.

However, Canyang had already seen through his plan. He ignored Fang Zhengzhi as his finger moved once again.

“Ah… I… I… I…” Ping Yang’s face turned as red as a tomato as her lips turned purple. She was about to be strangled.

“Okay, we will swap now!” Fang Zhengzhi was truly worried.

“Mm.” Canyang nodded and stopped.

“Ahem… ahem… Fang Zhengzhi, you shameless b*stard. I will definitely let you try what this feels like when I get back.” Ping Yang was furious.

Fang Zhengzhi was bitter.

He was willing to try out how it felt, but the issue was that after the hostage exchange was successful, he would be killed.

What was he to do now?

He couldn’t stall any longer.

But, if he didn’t stall, he couldn’t possibly survive.

He had to continue to stall.

The hostage exchange must happen, but it can only happen after reinforcements arrive. Right now, Yun Qingwu could not be handed over to Canyang. She was his trump card.

“Watch Yun Qingwu!” Fang Zhengzhi grit his teeth as he looked at Chi Guyan. He let go of her hand and walked towards Canyang.

Chi Guyan’s expression changed slightly as she felt Fang Zhengzhi release his grip.

“Shameless fella, come back. Canyang’s target is you. I would be a better person to hand Yun Qingwu over!” Chi Guyan knew what Fang Zhengzhi was doing.

However, Fang Zhengzhi was too quick for her.

She wanted to stop Fang Zhengzhi, but Fang Zhengzhi was already walking over. She could not give chase.

Because…

She couldn’t leave Yun Qingwu alone.

“You? Haha… do you know the Heavenly Dao?” Fang Zhengzhi hesitated as he turned around and smirked scornfully.

He knew that Canyang was targeting him.

However, he could not possibly let Chi Guyan risk her life to save his.

Furthermore, Ping Yang was only captured because she was trying to save him.

Chapter 447: Is this a reenactment of “Journey to the West”?

“It’s just one-half sage. At least it’s not two, or three, or four… it’s just one! The pressure… urgh…” Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched as he looked at Canyang. He regretted his decisions, but he couldn’t back down now.

“Kill him, kill him!”

“Avenge our Young Master! Wipe clean the slate!”

“Die!”

“Die!”

The demons began screaming the moment they saw Fang Zhengzhi walking over. Their voices shook the earth.

On the walls of the Iron Hill Settlement…

Everyone was watching Fang Zhengzhi as he walked towards Canyang. All of them had an illusion…

They felt like he was extremely courageous and unafraid of death.

The entire world seemed to quieten down and time seemed to stop. All that was left was the figure on the battlefield.

Proud, calm, and unafraid of death.

However, this kind of aura and demeanor didn’t seem to fit Fang Zhengzhi very well. As a result, they were all stunned by it.

They knew what Fang Zhengzhi was doing.

However…

When Fang Zhengzhi took the step out, they couldn’t bring themselves to accept it.

“Why would such a shameless man, so afraid of death, become so courageous at such a critical moment?” Princess Shan Yu couldn’t bring herself to believe that the fate of the Southern Region would rest on Fang Zhengzhi’s shoulders.

She really wanted to ask Fang Zhengzhi her questions.

Why would he sacrifice himself? To what end? Money? Power? To appeal to a beautiful woman? What would it come to if he lost his life?

Courage, lack of fear, and pride.

These were all attributes respected by the people of the Southern Region.

However, she had not seen these attributes in a Southern Region soldier for many years. That was because she was strong, much stronger than most of the men around her.

But right now, Princess Shan Yu felt such an aura coming from that figure.

It was a strange feeling.

It made her want to tremble, and it also made her want to cry.

Then…

Princess Shan Yu ‘cried’.

“Shameless, shameless person!” Princess Shan Yu’s voice reverberated through the air, her tone filled with anger.

Shan Ling, as well as the other settlement chiefs, smiled bitterly when they saw the scene unfolding before them.

Because…

Fang Zhengzhi made a break for it.

After taking a few steps out, he immediately ‘reverted’ to his original self and sprinted towards the Iron Hill Settlement like a terrified bunny.

“Shameless!”

“Utterly shameless!”

“How does someone like this even exist in this world?!”

The Southern Region soldiers looked at the fleeing Fang Zhengzhi with fury in their eyes. They raised their spears at him.

Where did he come from?

He had just assured them that he would take care of it!

But now…

He just left Chi Guyan behind.

No matter how shameless a person was.

There had to be limits.

“Fang Zhengzhi, you shameless fella, how dare you leave me and Sister Yan in the lurch. I… I will never let you off!” Ping Yang was slightly touched when she saw Fang Zhengzhi step out, but he ran off soon after.

He had made a break for it so decisively too.

He had simply pushed Chi Guyan forward, ran around her, and headed straight for the settlement.

Most importantly…

He was screaming.

“Open the gates!”

“Open the gates!”

“…”

This could not be tolerated!

Ping Yang wanted to kill Fang Zhengzhi.

Chi Guyan was also slightly stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief. However, she did not move.

She still had Yun Qingwu in her hands.

As such…

She could not move.

No matter what Fang Zhengzhi did, she had to stand her ground.

“Scram!”

“You coward!”

“The Great Xia does not have a coward like you! You do not deserve to be a part of us!”

The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army could not help but berate Fang Zhengzhi.

They were utterly disappointed in Fang Zhengzhi.

They felt like they had just been lied to.

If Fang Zhengzhi was afraid of death, he should not have tried to capture Yun Qingwu and have Chi Guyan battle Canyang.

He could have stalled for time in other ways.

But now…

What was with this attempted escape?

Isn’t he just leaving Chi Guyan in the lurch?

And then there was Ping Yang.

Ping Yang was a princess, the most pampered one at that. Most importantly, she had just risked her life to save his.

The Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were furious. They were all embarrassed by Fang Zhengzhi’s actions.

How could they ever hold their heads up high if they associated with someone like that?

“Father, the gates…” Xing Qingsui was also smiling bitterly. He turned to look at Xing Yuanguo as he watched Fang Zhengzhi close in.

“Pass the order, open the gates!” Xing Yuanguo was focused on Fang Zhengzhi as he gave the order.

“Why? My lord, why should we open the gates for a coward?!”

“Exactly! We do not wish to be associated with him!”

“Such a shameless coward should just be fed to the demons! He is a disgrace to the Great Xia!”

The soldiers of the Great Xia were all extremely agitated when they heard Xing Yuanguo’s orders. They were not about to accept a ‘deserter’.

“Shut up, open the gates!” Xing Yuanguo frowned and his tone changed.

“Yes, sir!” Even though the soldiers of the Mountain Breaking Army were not happy about the orders, they shut up and followed them.

“Open the gates now or it will be too late!” Fang Zhengzhi screamed anxiously as he neared.

Hearing Fang Zhengzhi’s anxiety…

The soldiers were not happy but they did not dare to defy an order from Xing Yuanguo.

“Creek… creek!”

An ominous sound rang out as the gates opened slowly.

Canyang’s expression was ugly. His expression had been that way from the moment Fang Zhengzhi turned and ran.

His calm demeanor was completely gone.

He frowned as his sky blue robe danced in the wind. He seemed to be contemplating something and he clenched his fists subconsciously.

He finally sprang into action when he heard the heavy gates of the Iron Hill Settlement open.

“Good, very good! Fang Zhengzhi, you are the greatest danger to the demons indeed!” Canyang’s frail voice rang out. He had been forced into making a decision.

As soon as his voice rang out…

He disappeared from his spot, almost as if he had been sucked into the air.

In the blink of an eye…

He appeared right in front of Fang Zhengzhi.

He walked out of a pale blue light, wearing his long, sky blue robe. His silver hair flowed to his shoulders and his wrinkled face was clear for all to see.

“How quick!”

“Is this the power of a half sage?”

“The Heavenly Rebirth Dao! Fang Zhengzhi can’t escape!”

“Indeed… but I don’t understand. Why did Canyang call Fang Zhengzhi the greatest danger to the demons? He is a shameless coward, what danger could he possibly pose?”

The soldiers of the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were confused.

“You will understand when you see Princess Ping Yang.” Nangong Hao’s voice rang out as he grabbed the hilt of his sword.

Xing Yuanguo did the same thing.

However…

Xing Yuanguo’s sword was at his waist.

His purple robe danced in the wind as a purple glow was emitted from his body. That glow represented Xing Yuanguo’s battle intent.

The soldiers of the Dragon Protection Squad and the Mountain Breaking Army were stunned.

They did not really understand what Nangong Hao meant initially. However, when they looked to Ping Yang, it all made sense.

There was someone beside Ping Yang.

This was a beautiful lady in a pink dress which danced in the wind and had starry eyes which glared at the demon soldiers in front of her.

“Sister Yan, you are the best! We can’t rely on that shameless fella!” Ping Yang looked at Chi Guyan excitedly.

“No, he was the one who allowed me to come and save you.” Chi Guyan shook her head as she looked at the demon soldiers with their bows drawn.

Just now…

When Fang Zhengzhi had held her hand, she had not withdrawn it.

The reason was simple.

Fang Zhengzhi had written many things on her hand, one of them being…

“I will lure Canyang away!”

Initially, Chi Guyan did not understand what Fang Zhengzhi meant. However, when Fang Zhengzhi stepped forward, she understood immediately.

When it came to acting skills.

Chi Guyan was an amateur.

As such, when she had exclaimed that she was the more appropriate candidate, it was not too convincing. However, she knew that Canyang would have no other choice.

Because…

He could never let Fang Zhengzhi run into the Iron Hill Settlement!

…

“You can’t escape.” Canyang ‘looked’ at Fang Zhengzhi, his wrinkled face containing a myriad of expressions. He knew Fang Zhengzhi’s plan.

Just like how Chi Guyan had predicted it.

He had no choice but to fall for it. He could not let Fang Zhengzhi leave, especially not after he knew Fang Zhengzhi’s plan.

“That is true, but you have also lost your ace.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded and raised his head.

He did not have to turn back.

He knew that Chi Guyan was by Ping Yang’s side.

“Have I? I do not think so.” Canyang shook his head as he pointed towards Ping Yang, who was still trapped in the same position.

“That would mean that you’re blind. Oh, I’m sorry… you are!” Fang Zhengzhi’s lips twitched in scorn.

Canyang frowned but showed no signs of anger. He seemed to be deep in thought.

However, his frown disappeared almost just as quickly.

“I see. You have told her how to unravel the restraints of the Heavenly Dao. However, do you think that your words are sufficient?”

“Of course, have you forgotten? She is Chi Guyan!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded.

“Yes… she is Chi Guyan! The most talented female in the entire empire. However, even Chi Guyan would need time. Do you think you can really buy her enough time?” Canyang nodded after a brief moment of thought.

“We’ll have to find out.” Fang Zhengzhi waved.

“Okay then, let’s find out.” Canyang nodded.

As he nodded, the entire space around them began to twist and change. It felt as though they were being transported to another dimension.

Fang Zhengzhi had no idea if this was an illusion, but he could feel a wave of mountainous pressure coming down from above.

When he looked up, he was stunned.

Because…

There really was a mountain above his head. This was a mountain over 100 yards high, complete with flora and dense forests.

The breeze rustled the canopy and caused the grass to bend.

Fang Zhengzhi was completely stunned when he saw the mountain just above his head. He had a feeling that this mountain was real.

“What the hell?” Fang Zhengzhi had never thought that there would be a mountain on top of his head.

How ridiculous was that?!

Is this the power of a half sage?

Isn’t this an excerpt from the “Journey to the West”?