Stranger Danger

Profound Spirit Taoist answered, “As long as you swear your fealty to Chu, we can overlook all of your past transgressions. Not only that, we will assist you in taking revenge and return the Nanjiang Royal Court to you. We will give you unparalleled wealth and glory.”

“And why would you do such a thing?” Meng Feixue asked.

“Because we wish to end the war as soon as possible. Because we need peace and stability to return to Nanjiang.”

Profound Spirit Taoist asked, “So, what is your answer?”

“Haha… it sounds like a sound proposal.”

Meng Feixue’s expression slowly grew scornful. “But I think you’re mistaken about two things, Reverend?”

“Do tell,” Profound Spirit Taoist said.

“One, while the Taili Clan and the Eight Tribes and Nine Fortresses are definitely my enemies, they are accomplices at best. The true mastermind is someone else.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Meng Feixue said slowly, “Do you know who this mastermind is, Reverend?”

“I guess you know.”

Meng Feixue sneered. “Back then, if you haven’t incited disharmony among my people, if you haven’t supported the traitors in secret, if you haven’t grievously injured the Profound King, there is no way they could have conquered the Nanjiang Royal Court and slain the Meng Clan as easily as they had.”

“Therefore, Chu is also my enemy, the biggest enemy of them all. If you truly desire to take revenge for me, shouldn’t you own up to your crimes and commit suicide right here and now?”

“Second, the Nanjiang Royal Court was never yours to give away. It has been and always will belong to the Meng Clan.”

“You shouldn’t believe in baseless rumors, princess. I promise you that Chu did not have a hand in the rebellion a century ago. Even if foul play was involved, I have no knowledge of it since it happened so many years ago.”

Profound Spirit Taoist continued, “Also, you should look ahead, princess. It is inevitable that Nanjiang will become a part of Chu. If not for yourself, you should keep the welfare of your subjects and the people of Nanjiang in mind. I hope you will seriously consider my offer.”

“Are you threatening me, Reverend?” Meng Feixue asked indifferently.

“I wouldn’t dare. I am simply suggesting,” Profound Spirit Taoist answered.

Meng Feixue’s voice slowly became as cold as a snowstorm. “Revenge will be mine, the Nanjiang Royal Court will be retaken by my own hands, and Nanjiang will forever belong to the Meng Clan. Anyone who dares to challenge our birthright shall face our eternal wrath.”

“Must you become an enemy of Chu?” Profound Spirit Taoist’s gaze slowly turned cold and merciless. “Are you sure you can bear the consequences, princess?”

Profound Spirit Taoist wasn’t surprised by this outcome. He negotiated with Meng Feixue because there was no harm trying. If he succeeded, then it would be the best outcome possible. If not, he would be buying time for reinforcements to show up.

No matter how he looked at it, it was a win-win scenario for him.

“That is for me to consider, Reverend.” Meng Feixue said, “As I’ve said before, you should worry about yourself!”

“What do you mean?” Profound Spirit Taoist asked.

“It’s very simple. Do you want to live or die?” Meng Feixue asked.

“What do I do, if I want to live or die?” Profound Spirit Taoist asked coldly.

“If you want to live, then surrender. Otherwise, feel free to resist to the bitter end,” Meng Feixue replied just as bitingly.

“Oh? Do you really think you can breach our Immovable Fortress Formation?” Profound Spirit Taoist asked.

“I wouldn’t make such a claim if I’m not confident!” Meng Feixue declared calmly and confidently.

“With just you and your people? Really?” It was Profound Spirit Taoist’s turn to look scornful.

“Really,” Meng Feixue replied without hesitation.

“Hahaha… show me your prowess then. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy this!” Profound Spirit Taoist guffawed with dripping disdain.

“Are you done laughing?”

Meng Feixue remained unperturbed despite Profound Spirit Taoist’s disdainful laughter. She patiently waited until the old man was done laughing before saying, “Please laugh some more if you’re not satisfied.”

“It will be your last laugh after all.”

“Your scare tactics aren’t going to work on me, princess. Just come at me already,” Profound Spirit Taoist scoffed.

“Patience, Reverend. We will.”

Meng Feixue suddenly broke into a bright, sunny grin. “Do you know why I bothered to waste my breath on you, Reverend?”

“I know you’re buying time, but do you know that I’m buying time as well?”

Before Profound Spirit Taoist could answer, she continued, “I’ll let you in on a secret. The Nanjiang Royal Court is the Meng Clan’s domain. There are many, many secrets that only we are aware of.”

For the first time since the negotiation began, Profound Spirit Taoist’s expression grew a little stern. His instincts were warning him of danger as well even though he was standing at the center of the Immovable Fortress Formation and surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers. Why? Why did he feel like someone was pressing a blade to his neck?

Wait. The Peaceful Nanjiang Palace? Shit!

It was at this moment Profound Spirit Taoist realized something and turned as white as a sheet. He screamed in shock and terror, “All units, mo—”

It was too late. A sudden boom came from the center of the army formation, and the ground collapsed. Caught completely off guard, several hundred soldiers fell into the pit just like that. Not only that, the cracks were spreading and catching more and more soldiers in its everhungry maw.

The center of the Immovable Fortress Formation was annihilated just like that. It was chaos.

“Dammit, it’s the Kun Armor…” Profound Spirit Taoist said with an ugly expression.

Whatever was lurking in the underground and causing the earth to collapse was most likely the Kun Armor. All eight Divine Armors boasted their own unique set of capabilities and power, and the Kun Armor was the one capable of controlling the earth and navigating the underground like it was water.

As it turned out, the woman earlier hadn’t awakened just three Divine Armors. It was four. This fourth Divine Armor had been hiding underneath the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace all this time for the sake of destroying the integrity of the Immovable Fortress Formation; for this very moment.

When the Immovable Fortress Formation was formed, it was as tough as a city and resilient as a mountain. It was impossible to breach it from the outside unless the attacker’s strength was multiple times, even a dozen of times greater than the formation’s.

However, the Immovable Fortress Formation had one huge weakness, and that was the fact that it was weak to attacks from within.

While it was extremely difficult to breach the Immovable Fortress Formation from the outside, the inside was the opposite.

Of course, it was generally difficult for enemies to infiltrate the center of the Immovable Fortress Formation. After all, they would have to do it from the outside, and as mentioned before, the Immovable Fortress Formation was nigh invincible against outside attacks.

But what if the enemy was waiting in the underground at the center of the Immovable Fortress Formation from the beginning? That would no longer be an issue, would it?

What really scared Profound Spirit Taoist was the fact that the woman had predicted his behavior like the back of her palm. She had predicted that he would set up the Immovable Fortress Formation. She also predicted that he would center it around the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace. That was why she had hidden the Kun Armor underneath the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace beforehand.

The woman was so intelligent it was almost monstrous. She needed to die as soon as possible, or she would certainly become a major threat in the future.

Of course, he wasn’t planning on killing her now. Right now, his first priority was repelling the Kun Armor and stabilizing the Immovable Fortress Formation.

Profound Spirit Taoist leaped off the platform and unleashed a palm strike at the Kun Armor. The palm strike split into eight, and the eight palm strikes transformed into eight talismans. It was an attack that covered all directions.