"Brother!"
"The siblings have actually come to Yunzhou! This is great!"
"When we catch them, we must also capture their neighbors and acquaintances, flay them, and slowly cut them into pieces to avenge my deep-seated hatred!"
Beside Chen Kun, Zhuo Yijian, dressed in white, echoed eagerly, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Yijian, let's head to Longjing City at once!"
Chen Kun rubbed his hands together, turning the letter in his hand into powder, as if he was crushing not a letter, but the Qin siblings!
"Understood!"
Zhuo Yijian nodded, signaling to the two guards beside him, and the four of them headed towards Yunzhou.
At this moment, Zhuo Yijian was unaware that Yunzhou County had already changed rulers.
The next day.
9 AM.
Fuyun Inn, fifty miles from Yuntian Prefecture.
Qingstone Town, similar in size to Qingniu Market.
Qin Wang sat cross-legged on the bed in the Fuyun Inn, chewing on the last slice of 300-year-old ginseng, silently practicing the Five Elements Gathering Technique.
"Currently, my spirit stones and ginseng are all used up."
"After killing Chen Kun, I will head to Little Dan Mountain."
Qin Wang looked at his bundle, calculating silently.
According to his estimates, the news of the entire Zhuo family being wiped out overnight must have spread like wildfire in Yunzhou County. Such a major incident meant Yunzhou couldn't be without a leader. Either the Cang Dynasty would appoint a new governor, or Yunzhou's governor Zhang Shiqing would take control.
However, this had nothing to do with him anymore. Zhuo Qiuhang had already been eliminated.
Qin Wang reviewed the useful information he had received early in the morning, lost in thought.
1) The Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense you used on first-rate Zhuo Qiuhang yesterday was ineffective. You have obtained the formula and antidote for the more potent Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense. Click for details '●'.
2) After killing Zhuo Qiuhang yesterday, you obtained information that Zhuo Qiuhang's son, Zhuo Yijian, has learned of your presence in Longjing City and is rushing there with Chen Kun from Jinyun County, vowing to dismember you.
3) After killing Zhuo Qiuhang yesterday, you learned that Jin Wang, Cang Tianxiong, was expecting Zhuo Qiuhang to hand over Yunzhou but learned of his assassination and the control of Yunzhou by Zhang Shiqing, a pro-war faction leader, leaving him furious and vowing to find you.
4) After observing the Three Corpses Gu King Jar yesterday, you learned that Jin Shifeng has sensed the exact location of the Smell Spirit Gu and will recover some of his injuries in a month and track the Three Corpses Gu King Jar.
"This Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense can seal the magic power of cultivators below the fifth level of the Qi Refining stage for an hour!"
"This is great timing!"
Qin Wang was very satisfied with the formula revealed in the intelligence.
The Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense: made from the poison of the first-rank demon beast Moon Demon Spider, the poison of the paralyzing moth, the essence blood of the Scarlet Snake, and 36 other herbs. Once made into incense, it ignites easily and takes effect quickly. Cultivators below the fifth level of the Qi Refining stage will have their magic power stagnant and limbs paralyzed for an hour, gradually recovering afterward.
"This is potent, but the Moon Demon Spider's poison and other ingredients are not available in the mundane world; they might be obtainable in Little Dan Mountain."
Qin Wang thought eagerly about going to Little Dan Mountain.
"Chen Kun is coming to die?"
"Jin Wang, Cang Tianxiong, wants to find me?"
"Jin Shifeng will find the Smell Spirit Gu in a month and track the Three Corpses Gu King Jar?"
Qin Wang considered the remaining three pieces of information, deciding to kill Chen Kun first to completely resolve the issue, then head to Chiyong County to obtain Su Tianhai's materials for refining magical artifacts before going to Little Dan Mountain.
Currently, Chen Kun was rushing to Longjing City. All Qin Wang needed to do was set up an ambush outside Longjing City.
Two days later.
Jin Wang's Mansion.
In the central gilded hall.
A man in white robes with a crown, exuding an extraordinary aura, sat at the desk, looking at the triumphant report in his hand with satisfaction, muttering, "General Li Jingzhong of Tianyun has completely taken over Youzhou! Excellent!"
"As long as Zhuo Qiuhang fully submits, with Yunzhou under my control, I will command Jinzhou, Youzhou, Yanzhou, Liangzhou, Yunzhou, and Cangzhou, a total of eight regions!"
At this moment, Cang Tianxiong was in an excellent mood.
Out of the 36 regions of the Cang Dynasty, he controlled eight, with the Snow Lotus Sect and the Taiping Dao each holding three regions. The other various rebel forces were like mushrooms after the rain, leaving the Cang Emperor truly in control of only 16 regions.
"Report! Your Majesty, a message from the secret agents in Yunzhou!"
At this moment, a general in black armor hurried in, kneeling on one knee, walking with the gait of a dragon and tiger.
"Oh? Is it news of the Yunzhou governor?"
Cang Tianxiong's eyes lit up as he reached out and grabbed the letter from the general's hand, opening it swiftly.
"What?"
"Zhuo Qiuhang, the governor of Yunzhou, assassinated? His entire family exterminated?"
After reading the contents of the letter, Jin Wang Cang Tianxiong's face turned gloomy.
Originally, he had expected that Zhuo Qiuhang's exposure of misconduct would lead to a loss of popular support and an investigation by the Imperial Detective Department.
This would force Zhuo Qiuhang to decide to join him. But now, with Zhuo Qiuhang and his entire family dead, the pro-war faction leader Zhang Shiqing controlled Yunzhou, making it more difficult for him to seize Yunzhou, necessitating a military assault.
"Zhang Wu, send a message to investigate who killed Zhuo Qiuhang!"
Cang Tianxiong stood up slowly, looking towards Yunzhou with a murderous gaze.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The armored general Zhang Wu turned and left.
"To kill Zhuo Qiuhang at this critical moment!"
"Ruining my plans!"
"Despicable!"
Jin Wang Cang Tianxiong exhaled a breath of frustration, his fists clenched and cracking.
Thirty miles south of Longjing City.
White Stone Mountain, the only way from Jinyun County to Longjing City.
Qin Wang, carrying the Jinghun Dao, sat cross-legged in a mountain hollow, a booklet of the Fire Spirit Blade technique in front of him. From this vantage point, the official road ahead was clearly visible.
[Technique: Fire Spirit Blade (Initiated)]
[Progress: (1/800)]
[Effect: Condenses a spirit blade from fire, shooting out with unmatched sharpness, burning with flames, achieving minor success in five years.]
Time passed.
Suddenly, Qin Wang's panel trembled, indicating that the Fire Spirit Blade had been initiated.
"Not bad!"
"Finally initiated the Fire Spirit Blade!"
Qin Wang looked at the Fire Spirit Blade displayed on the panel with satisfaction.
This was his first spell.
According to the records of the Fire Spirit Blade, this spell could condense a spirit blade from magic power, shooting out to kill or infusing the spirit blade's power into a magical weapon to enhance its sharpness and burning lethality.
"Hmm?"
At this moment, Qin Wang saw four riders galloping down the official road ahead!
Leading was a man in red with a feathered cap, followed by a man in white, both carrying swords. Behind them were two gray-robed elders, about fifty years old.
In no time, the four approached the official road below the mountain.
"Chen Kun! It really is him!"
As the four approached, Qin Wang recognized one of them as Chen Kun, the head of the Chen family in Yanyun County!
Although Chen Kun was a first-rate master now, Qin Wang, as a second-level Qi Refining stage cultivator, killing a mere first-rate master like Chen Kun was no challenge. However, even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit!
He ignited a Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense bundle in his hand, flashed, and used the Flying Eagle Technique to move towards Chen Kun and his group.
"Hyah!"
"Hyah!"
At this moment, Zhuo Yijian's eyes were bloodshot with urgency. He had just received news from the Divine Eagle that his father and elder brother were assassinated by a mysterious man at night, leaving him as the sole survivor of his family.
Suddenly, Zhuo Yijian saw a sallow-faced young man in gray flying down from the rocks, immediately reining in his horse.
The four horses neighed and reared due to their speed!
"Who are you?"
"Why are you blocking our way?"
Zhuo Yijian glared at the sallow-faced man in gray, his expression dark.
His family was in turmoil, and he was in a hurry to return to Yuntian Prefecture. This person blocking his way was courting death!
He just wanted to ask clearly before killing. Although he felt that the person in front of him was not weak, he was not afraid, as he had his first-rate cousin and two first-rate guards with him!
"Heh! Chen Kun, you've been chasing my siblings for so long, it's time to end this!"
Ignoring Zhuo Yijian, Qin Wang looked at Chen Kun, throwing the Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense towards Zhuo Yijian!
He had calculated that Zhuo Yijian's cultivation was the weakest, and his two guards would surely come to his rescue, thus falling into the incense's trap!
As expected, Zhuo Yijian's two guards drew their swords to block, but the bundle exploded in mid-air, scattering sparks over several feet!
Enveloping Zhuo Yijian and the two guards!
"It's you?"
Hearing Qin Wang's words and seeing the bundle explode into sparks, Chen Kun's body shuddered, eyes filled with venomous hatred, trembling as he shouted, "Disabling incense! Cousin, dodge! It's that Qin family brat!"
Reacting swiftly, Chen Kun retreated several yards, avoiding the range of the bundle.
He stared at Qin Wang from a distance, eyes filled with murderous intent.
Unexpectedly, the person he had been searching for so desperately was right before him.
"You little bastard!"
"I've been searching for you so long! You think using poison can stop me? Once the poison dissipates, I'll dismember you! I'll use your flesh and bones to honor my Chen family's over a hundred souls!"
"You wretch!"
Chen Kun, standing several yards away, glared venomously at Qin Wang, sword in hand, exuding killing intent.
At this moment, Zhuo Yijian and the two guards, hearing Chen Kun's warning, tried to retreat, but it was too late.
The Bewitching Soul-Sealing Incense acted quickly!
Zhuo Yijian immediately collapsed, while the two guards felt their magic power stagnate and their movements freeze for a moment. They circulated their energy, partially clearing the stagnation!
In this split second!
Clang!
With a knife's hum, Qin Wang drew the Jinghun Dao!
Infused with his magic power, the Jinghun Dao turned crimson, slicing through the air towards the two first-rate guards!
Slash!
Slash!
The two first-rate guards were instantly cut in half, dead on the spot!
"No!"
Zhuo Yijian's eyes widened, and in the next moment, he felt a burning pain in his throat as his consciousness faded!
"How can this brat be so strong?"
Chen Kun, standing safely away from the incense's range, was horrified by the knife light that killed the two first-rate guards.
He realized he was no match for Qin Wang!