Chapter 342: Counterattack

Li Wei, with his keen senses, looked up slightly and detected the Dao Heart manifestation of a Longevity Realm giant enveloping the entire city, with magical energy and consciousness pervading everywhere. He immediately slowed his pace, changed direction, and stopped heading towards the city gate.

At that moment, he naturally didn't know who the Longevity Realm martial cultivator releasing the Dao Heart manifestation was, as he wasn't very familiar with Yao Qian's power fluctuations.

On the wide streets, people were in a state of panic, and carriages sped by.

From the shops on both sides, proprietors and merchants stepped out, gathering at their doorways to watch the direction from which the battle fluctuations were coming.

"The city gates are closed! The second layer of the city protection array has been activated. Could it be that a powerful demon has entered the city?"

"It seems something big has happened in the Fourth Tier city district. Even Longevity Realm giants have taken action. Let's just hope the fight doesn't spread this way."

"I heard that all the experts from the Attendant Hall of Nanyen Pass were dispatched just now. A prominent figure from Lingxiao City has even arrived in person. This is truly a troubled time; is it no longer safe even at the foot of Xian Yuan?"

"Boom!"

Far outside Nanyen Pass, a dull roar echoed. The ground trembled slightly. The light from clashing artifacts briefly outshone the sun. Li Wei stopped and looked outside the city, his chest feeling tight. He suspected something had happened to the Hidden Lord, and his mind raced with chaotic thoughts, then went blank. He quickly entered a noodle shop located at a crossroads.

He could feel the power of consciousness occasionally sweeping over him. This perception was subtle, like ripples disturbing a calm lake. Ordinary martial cultivators would not be able to detect it.

"Shopkeeper... one bowl of noodle soup!"

Li Wei gazed at the white steam rising from the stove next to him, forcing his violently shaking heart to calm down. He breathed using the Jade Void Breathing Technique. Gradually, he entered an unprecedented state of calm, clearing away all confusion, panic, horror, and resentment, falling into deep thought.

Even if the sky fell and the earth collapsed, he could not panic.

Nanyen Pass was densely populated; as long as he concealed his aura and didn't lose his composure, he would be safe for the time being.

He first needed to know what had happened.

He channeled magical power into his ears, extending his hearing out of the noodle shop, through walls, and across streets, to gather useful information.

As time passed, more and more news spread on the streets and reached his ears.

"Young Master, hurry home! The Vice-Minister of the Attendant Hall personally led a team to break into Vice-General Zhou's mansion and capture a high-ranking heretical figure. Nanyen Pass is very unsafe now."

"Vice-General Zhou collaborated with a heretical sect and has committed suicide to avoid punishment."

"It's said that a Longevity Realm giant from the Rice Cult met with him and has escaped the city but was intercepted."

"The Sect Master of the Suizong Sect took action personally. Even Longevity Realm giants would be captured without a fight. That person is among the most formidable below the Transcendent Realm."

The events at Zhou's mansion caused a huge commotion, and with Yao Qian directly using his Dao Heart manifestation to envelop the entire city, it naturally became common knowledge.

"The Vice-Minister of the Attendant Hall, that's Yao Qian. It seems his consciousness was sweeping the entire city just now," Li Wei mused, his gaze solemn. He looked at the noodle soup the shopkeeper placed before him, clenching his hands into fists, a chilling coldness spreading through his heart.

All sorts of rumors were flying around inside the city pass.

Yao Qian and Yang Shenjing had both taken action successively, and their magical energy fluctuations were recognized by many martial cultivators, so it couldn't be false.

Li Wei took a sip of the hot soup, picked up his chopsticks, and thought rapidly.

"Yang Shenjing's involvement explains everything!"

"Only the Suizong Sect truly understands the Nine Li Tribe. Yang Shenjing probably never trusted Yao Qingxuan."

"Zhou Bida was a member of the Nine Li Tribe, and this secret was likely known to Yang Shenjing a long time ago. Therefore, using Zhou Bida, he set up today's trap, aiming to capture both Yao Qingxuan and the Hidden Lord in one fell swoop."

"At the same time, this also allowed him to publicly distance himself from the Rice Cult, gaining greater trust within the imperial court. In the future, even if rumors emerged about connections between the Suizong Sect and the Rice Cult, as long as there was no conclusive evidence, they could use this incident to strongly assert their innocence. It's truly killing two birds with one stone!"

From Yang Qingchan's death, Li Wei could discern the modus operandi of Yao Qian and Yang Shenjing. To achieve their goals, they would resort to any means necessary.

Such individuals were truly terrifying.

With less than half a bowl of noodles eaten, Li Wei couldn't taste anything. His mood was heavy; he had just promised Zhou Bida that the Hidden Gate would not abandon any Hidden ones or their families. Now, half an hour later, they were separated by life and death.

Facing Yang Shenjing, the Hidden Lord's chances were grim.

Moreover, since Yang Shenjing had already attacked Yao Qingxuan at the main altar, Yao Qingxuan would likely not escape either.

Outside, on the streets, soldiers galloped, the sound of hooves and armor clanging endlessly.

The city gates were impassable.

A massive search operation was sure to follow.

It was unknown whether Yao Qian had extracted any useful information from Zhou Bida. Being hunted by Longevity Realm giants, the Attendant Hall, and the entire army of Nanyen Pass, being found and captured was only a matter of time.

Anyone in Li Wei's current position would inevitably feel panic and helplessness. Yet, after finishing the entire bowl of noodles, a strong surge of murderous intent and fighting spirit rose within him.

What if they were Longevity Realm cultivators?

What if he faced the entire imperial court?

He decided to stop holding back and, regardless of the consequences, would fight Yao Qian in Nanyen Pass.

Zuoqiu Hongting once said that cultivating the Disguise Art to a point where it was impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood made one more valuable than a Longevity Realm giant.

Li Wei's Disguise Art, a true inheritance from his spirit-ranked master, had fewer flaws compared to Zuoqiu Hongting's, given his mortal body.

This battle, he would fight using the Disguise Art!

He would see whether the Disguise Art was more formidable or if the Longevity Realm was stronger.

It was noon, and the blazing sun hung directly overhead.

He paid his bill and left.

Fewer pedestrians were on the streets, increasing the danger and making it harder to blend in. However, Yao Qian's Dao Heart manifestation and consciousness had been withdrawn, indicating a significant consumption of magical energy and spiritual power.

Not to mention a martial cultivator who had just entered the Longevity Realm, even a Transcendent trying to find a hidden person in a city of millions would find it exceedingly difficult.

In an deserted alley, Li Wei changed into more luxurious robes, altered his appearance again, and headed directly towards "Guanlan Pavilion," the Rice Cult's largest stronghold in Nanyen Pass.

He had to take this risk.

If Zhou Bida was already dead, his family would lose their value and become extremely vulnerable. This was an outcome Li Wei absolutely could not allow, as he had promised to save them.

To rescue them, he now had to race against time.

He had to rescue them before nightfall...

Nanyen Pass had five city tiers, each housing nearly hundreds of thousands of people. The city was vast, with intricate streets and alleys. It was not just a pass but also a crucial transportation hub connecting Yun Tian Xian Yuan and the Twenty-Eight States of Lingxiao, with countless merchants traveling north and south.

Garrisoned troops and their families were primarily concentrated in the First and Fourth Tier city districts.

The Third Tier city district was the most prosperous, with four main streets and a marketplace like a web. It was where merchants from all directions gathered, lacking the solemn atmosphere of military administration.

Guanlan Pavilion was a garden complex spanning hundreds of acres. Its gateway rose four stories high with ornate, upturned eaves, beautifully decorated. The main gate was open, indicating it was already in business.

However, there were very few customers during the day, making it quite deserted, a stark contrast to the bustling activity of the night.

After Li Wei entered, two beautiful young women approached to greet him.

He waved them away, his eyes sharp. With his keen perception, he located a steward with higher martial cultivation and took out his Divine Son's command token.

The steward, a Fifth Sea Realm Fifth Stage cultivator, showed surprise upon seeing the token and immediately bowed. He then led Li Wei through a covered walkway and garden to a back courtyard equipped with a formation array.

Upon entering the courtyard, Li Wei released his psychic perception and detected several powerful auras.

Indeed, it was a large stronghold, attracting many formidable individuals.

"Greetings, Your Highness, Divine Son."

The person in charge of the Guanlan Pavilion stronghold was named Xu Xiangu. Appearing to be in her forties, she wore a light blue palace dress, resembling a benevolent noblewoman.

Li Wei sat down in the hall without a word. As if to warn, he opened his Heaven-Penetrating Eye and gazed at her. "A Dao Seed Realm Fourth Stage cultivation, your status isn't low. You're responsible for affairs in Nanyen Pass, aren't you?"

"This old woman merely assists the Elder of the Mansion! His status is special, making it inconvenient for him to appear in many matters."

Xu Xiangu realized this Divine Son was not simple; the vertical eye on his forehead just now had startled her. She placed the small white mink she was holding onto the ground and secretly gave a meaningful look to the steward who had brought Li Wei in.

The steward, with his head bowed, understood and took two steps back, preparing to leave.

How could such a small movement escape Li Wei's notice?

"Whoosh!"

Li Wei was in a highly murderous mood at this moment. He pointed a finger, and a finger-force shot out.

"Pfft!"

The steward's head was pierced, blood splattered, and he fell to the ground, dead.

Xu Xiangu froze.

Li Wei casually waved his hand, and a net woven from spiritual light captured the small white mink, pulling it into his grasp. "Without my permission, no living creature shall leave this place. Including you!"

Xu Xiangu glanced at the steward's corpse, trying to suppress her horror. "Your Highness, Divine Son, casually killing like this, the Elder of the Mansion will surely take note."

"Don't try to pressure me with others," Li Wei said calmly, stroking the mink, his psychic field fully released. "Forget a mere steward; even if I kill you, what can the Elder of the Mansion do to me? Answer what I ask. If you dare to deceive me, you will share his fate."

Xu Xiangu was intimidated by Li Wei. This Divine Son had arrived with immense killing intent, possessing an extremely powerful aura.

"Do you know about the actions at Zhou's mansion?" Li Wei looked at her.

Xu Xiangu looked bewildered. "What does what happened at Zhou's mansion have to do with us? Are the rumors true that Vice-General Zhou was really meeting a high-ranking figure from the Rice Cult today?"

Li Wei summoned the Staff-Spear of All Things from his Wind Abode and struck it against the ground.

"Boom!"

Crimson-gold flame spiritual energy surged out, shaking Xu Xiangu, making her stumble and take two steps back.

"Today, I don't have much patience. I'll give you one last chance. Where are Zhou Bida's family members being held?"

Li Wei didn't believe she didn't know. With her cultivation and in charge of the Rice Cult's largest stronghold in Nanyen Pass, how could she not know that the Rice Cult was turning Zhou Bida?

She was only making it more obvious!

Xu Xiangu finally could no longer maintain her composure. A flash of coldness appeared in her eyes, and she suddenly explosively released her Dao Heart manifestation, breaking through Li Wei's psychic field.

Then, her long sleeves waved like clouds.

From her sleeves, a shower of artifact needles flew out with a whooshing sound, like ten thousand cold stars, overwhelming Li Wei.

Xu Xiangu had no desire to fight. She used her movement Dao art, darting out like a shadow, preparing to summon reinforcements. This Divine Son must be the one the Elder of the Mansion had mentioned.

"Boom!"

The silhouette of the Fusang Divine Tree rose from Li Wei, blocking all the incoming artifact needles, freezing them in mid-air and melting them into droplets.

Li Wei sat steadily in his chair and casually swung the Staff-Spear of All Things. The clusters of crimson liquid droplets suspended in mid-air rapidly flew out, all striking Xu Xiangu.

A low, miserable cry rang out!

With a thud, Xu Xiangu fell to the ground, her body covered in burn marks.

Terrified and desperate, she tried to get up and flee again.

"Whoosh!"

A sharp, gleaming spear tip pointed at her glabella, emanating a fiery, scorching heat.

Li Wei stood upright, holding the spear. "A mere inferior Dao Seed Realm Fourth Stage dares to be insolent before me? Do you think you can escape?"

"I was wrong... I was wrong... Your Highness, Divine Son, please spare me. But I truly don't know where Vice-General Zhou's family members are being held. This matter is top secret; only the Elder of the Mansion knows." Xu Xiangu was so suppressed by the Staff-Spear of All Things that she dared not move.