Chapter 661: 0539: Today, annihilate Hulong Manor! (Added more chapters for reader Zuo Qiu who has cast quite a few monthly tickets)
"Since the confidant at the Marquis Imperial Palace urgently transmitted the intelligence report back using Yunying, only less than half a day has passed, yet I didn't expect the Black Wind Village Chief to arrive here right after leaving the Forbidden City. Looking at the situation now, it seems he's about to do evil once again."
"There are those Abnormal People who have often helped us in the manor on ordinary days, yet as soon as the Black Wind Village Chief appears, they all unanimously support him. What kind of Magic Power does this man possess? Could it be that he himself is also one of the Abnormal People?"
Shangguan Haitang said this, her pupils contracting.
Beside her, Illusion Sword Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yidao also fixed their gazes with a concentrated look.
It was an extremely terrifying conjecture that could not be ignored.
If the Black Wind Village Chief were also one of the Abnormal People, with their ability to revive or even vanish suddenly, then who in the world could control him?
Duan Tianya shook his head, "That shouldn't be the case. Our Hulong Manor has detailed records about this Black Wind Village Chief in our scrolls; he has never vanished suddenly like the Abnormal People, nor has he ever behaved or spoken as oddly as they do."
Gui Hai Yidao spoke coldly, "To know whether he is one of the Abnormal People is simple; kill him, and you'll find out."
Shangguan Haitang smiled wryly, "Even the Marquis can't do anything to him, and we three haven't even entered the Heavenly Human Realm. It's impossible for us to kill him, not to mention that people like Dongfang Bubai are by his side.
Now we just have to see what he's planning on doing after rallying so many Abnormal People!"
Suddenly, right at that moment, several ghostly figures accompanied by strange laughs appeared within the manor.
The three of them focused their eyes sharply.
"The Xiangxi Four Ghosts?"
Shush, shush, shush —
Four ghostly shadows, swifter than spirits in the wind, circled around the trio once and positioned themselves in four directions, surrounding them in the center, and uniformly greeted with a bow and a laugh.
"Our elder has sent us to pay a visit to Miss Hai Tang and deliver his gift. We did not expect such perfect timing to protect Miss Hai Tang."
Gui Hai Yidao said coldly, "With us here, Hai Tang will not be in danger."
One of the Xiangxi Four Ghosts sneered, "You, Gui Hai Yidao, and Illusion Sword Duan Tianya, although formidable, have yet to step into the Heavenly Human Realm. You're probably not qualified to protect Miss Hai Tang in front of the Black Wind Village Chief!"
"Realm is realm! Strength is strength!"
Gui Hai Yidao's eyes emitted a chilling and ruthlessly resolute luster as his hand already gripped the knife.
"Yidao!"
Duan Tianya frowned and shook his head, "With a great enemy at our doorstep, since the Xiangxi Four Ghosts are willing to stay and help us, we should also consider the bigger picture."
"Ah, you're mistaken. We're only here to protect Miss Hai Tang, not to help your Hulong Manor!" one of the ghosts waved his hand.
Gui Hai Yidao huffed coldly and said nothing.
Duan Tianya sighed inwardly; he knew well that Gui Hai Yidao was fond of Hai Tang.
However, his cold facade prevented Hai Tang from ever noticing, and now the immensely wealthy Wan Sanqian seemed to have taken an interest in Hai Tang, naturally displeasing the sensitive Gui Hai Yidao.
As they finished their conversation, other experts within the manor began to gather as well.
The Thirty-Six Sky Gang and some trained disciples of the manor, all rushed over with solemn expressions.
The best intelligence-gatherer in the world, All-Known, stepped forward and said, "I've gathered some quite troubling news from the Abnormal People; the target of the Black Wind Village Chief this time is our Hulong Manor.
Moreover, he has spread the message that it was the Marquis who attempted to assassinate the Emperor, not him. The Marquis has framed him, thus his visit this time is for vengeance and to find evidence of the Marquis's rebellion within the manor."
"Ridiculous!"
Duan Tianya spoke with a heavy voice, "The Marquis has been loyally devoted to the Emperor, and our Hulong Manor has resolved so many troubles and dangers for the Imperial Family over the years; we will not tolerate such slander and defamation from the Black Wind Village Chief."
Others around also spoke out righteously and loudly in agreement, declaring that no matter the danger, they would vow to share the fate of the manor.
Just then...
A series of battle cries followed by long lines of fire dragons rolled in from the distant road.
In the mid-air...
Two giant birds circled like dark clouds, giving a strong impression of dark clouds pressing down upon the city, threatening to crush it.
Jiang Dali sat in the Ice Soul Jade Chair, resting his chin in his hand, watching Hulong Manor already prepared for battle not far away, and spoke indifferently, "I've heard that the Iron Gall Divine Hou's Hulong Manor specially cultivated The World's Number One Manor, where the people inside all claim to be the number one in their respective fields.
Many of these people are probably inside the manor right now, and even though I don't see them as anything special, they are also talented.
If I can subdue some for my use later, then I would recruit them all."
"If they can't be put to your use, then are you going to kill them all?"
Dongfang Bubai spoke faintly from the side.
"No! Why kill them."
Jiang Dali smiled lightly, "I not only won't kill, but I will let them go.
Because the Iron Gall Divine Hou will definitely not give up the Imperial Throne, and before long he will reveal his true intentions.
At that time, these people will naturally realize the ambitious nature of the man of the dragon they have always regarded as a hero.
This is a crime that implicates the entire clan; all his trusted followers will be implicated; some might even seek out the Divine Constable to fight to the death. Even if some don't dare, at the very least, they will remember what I have done, and perhaps they will even come to join me."
"You are very clever."
"My mind has always been sharp, but all of my qualities are overshadowed by my most prominent feature, making me appear like a brash brute, isn't that also a good thing?"
While the two conversed...
A large group of Players had already arrived before Hulong Manor.
Yet, deterred by the rows of crossbows aimed at them from the manor's stone walls, they dared not approach, looking up instead at Jiang Dali sitting on the back of Demon Hawk in the sky.
Jiang Dali's mouth curved slightly, signaling Demon Hawk to approach the manor.
His imposing figure rose from the Ice Soul Jade Chair, his eyes like cold lightning, overlooking the many experts of the Martial World standing on the walls of the manor below.
As he approached so closely, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense and oppressive, with a sense of foreboding that loomed over the hearts of everyone within Hulong Manor like a spider's web—delicate yet persistently entangled.
Sweaty palms clutched weapons atop the stone wall, legs numb with tension, eyes fixated unwaveringly upon the formidable figure drawing closer on the back of the eagle.
Looking down from above, he appeared somewhat ludicrous with a black eyepatch, yet no one dared to underestimate him.
He seemed like a majestic and imperious Thunder God—in his bulging muscles and the depths of his commanding stature, there seemed to lurk a wild and unmatched Divine Thunder, any movement emanating a ferocious and valiant aura like that of demonic royalty.
Duan Tianya's heart tightened as he frowned and called out to Jiang Dali who was getting closer in the sky, "This is a restricted area of Hulong Manor, but for what purpose has the Black Wind Village Chief led numerous Abnormal People to provoke and harass us today? Please leave at once!"
"Leave at once?"
Jiang Dali laughed lightly, lids slightly lifting as he crossed his arms and retorted coldly, "Iron Gall Divine Hou, that hypocrite, attempted to assassinate the Emperor of Ming Country and failed, then schemed to pin the crime on me, the village chief.
As a return favor, I will destroy Hulong Manor today; consider it a small warning to Iron Gall Divine Hou."
"How audacious!"
Someone from the manor shouted angrily.
Jiang Dali's eyes flashed fiercely as he interrupted, "Audacious are you! I give you ten breaths of time—if you do not wish to die, leave at once. Otherwise, do not complain later about my ruthless and callous nature when fists, kicks, and weapons show no mercy!"
His roar was like a mighty bell, resembling the roar of a lion or the chant of a dragon, thunderous as lightning on a clear day, causing the flagpoles below to sway and many legs to tremble on the wall.
Despite the shock and fear, the people below continued to shout defiantly, showing no sign of backing down.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng and Lu Xiaofeng on the back of Divine Phoenix shook their heads secretly.
Although they also did not wish to cause unnecessary slaughter, under the current circumstances, they definitely would not stop Jiang Dali.
"Stubborn fools! It seems I must take action personally!"
Jiang Dali snorted coldly and stamped his foot on the Demon Hawk.
At once, the Demon Hawk cried lowly and dived directly towards the stone wall below.
"Release the arrows!!"
Someone on the wall commanded.
Instantly, more than a dozen crossbow carts and dozens of archers let fly their arrows simultaneously toward the sky.
The air was filled with the whooshing of crossbow arrows, thick as locusts, a chilling and sharp stream almost hitting their faces.
Caught in the center of the dense arrow rain that whipped at his clothes, Jiang Dali could see the reflection of the overwhelming arrows in his unaffected eye, his expression steely and cold.
He snorted coldly, grabbed the golden knife next to him, and in a burst of strength, he slashed horizontally in rage.
Boom! Boom!
Two enormous Cross Blade Qi, seven or eight meters in length each, combined into a massive cross in the sky, passing furiously amidst countless shocked gazes.
The air-filled arrows were instantly cleaved in two by the two incredible Saber Qi, some shattered, some broken into pieces.
Even the stray arrows that managed to pass were caught by Jiang Dali's sweep of his cloak—a black cloak that under the infusion of True Qi, became like a dark cloud, tough and flexible, sweeping the arrows back towards their origin.
Panic erupted amongst the archers on the wall.
Before some could react, amidst the howling wind, Demon Hawk had already landed on the stone wall, extending two giant claws, solid as steel anchors, crushing several unlucky souls into a bloody pulp.
"Stop!"
Duan Tianya bellowed, suddenly drawing his sword and charging forth, his wrist flicking to send out dazzling cold lights in four directions—left, right, above, and below. Where the Sword Qi passed, the air itself seemed to tear, creating an illusion of invincibility.
Illusion Sword!
"I pity you, Duan Tianya, for being deceived by Iron Gall Divine Hou until now. I'm going to awaken you," Jiang Dali snorted coldly. As his voice lingered, he had already stepped out the Sky Dragon Seven Steps, ghostlike, drifting ten yards forward and suddenly stretched out his right hand.
Whoosh!
With the energy rolling and turbulent like clouds.
And within those clouds, a robust, domineering pale golden claw, accompanied by a mighty dragon's cry, shot forth.
Clang!
With just a simple Cloud Dragon Probe Claw, Duan Tianya's face turned pale as his Longsword twisted into a pretzel-like shape, shattering into pieces.
He immediately released his grip, employed Ninjutsu, and retreated swiftly, scattering droplets of blood like plum blossoms, which stained the front of his robe.
"Hmph, you reap what you sow!"
With his hands behind his back, Jiang Dali seemed to stand on an invisible Qi Wall, the Black Cloak flaring behind him rustling loudly, and slowly landed, standing amidst the crowd surrounded by walls of people.
As he finished.
A flash of noble golden aura passed over his venerable face, and an imposing majestic Dragon Power radiated from his being.
Whoosh—
Those nearby felt a shocking and involuntary trepidation, their hairs standing on end as they retreated involuntarily...
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