Chapter 110 - 109: Death Spy Plan (Part 1)
At the very instant that Innate Martial Artist collapsed, the old man’s long spear erupted with a dazzling brilliance, blazing like a scorching sun at noon. Yet within that light was a trace of blood-red—that was the power granted by burning his own life force.
The spear lashed out like a dragon, an arc of rainbow piercing the sun!
Gu Zhan struck the long spear with a kick; true qi clashed and he retreated half a step.
The old man’s spear recoiled slightly, then thrust out again. In an instant, it became a meteor shower—over a dozen spear shadows flashed with cold light through the air,
forcing Gu Zhan to dodge and weave ceaselessly,
his feet pounding deep impressions across the floor, yet he could find no chance to counterattack.
His leg skills were completely suppressed by the spear technique,
as it was said: with each extra inch comes extra strength. Leg techniques were indeed deadly restrained in the face of a long spear.
The old man suddenly roared, "Quick! Don’t give him a chance—surround and attack him!"
At once, the other Innate Experts also seized the opening, swarming in fast while Gu Zhan was being suppressed.
The old spear-wielder locked Gu Zhan head-on, while the rest encircled him from various directions.
However, in that fleeting moment,
Gu Zhan tilted his head, dodging a fierce spear thrust, and followed along the spear’s shaft with a thunderous punch,
The old man immediately stepped back, swinging his spear to deflect Gu Zhan’s fist, but in that split second he was shocked to find Gu Zhan had shifted fist into palm, seizing the shaft,
then, with a subtle flick of his wrist, a tempestuous current swirled forth, rendering the spear immobile. That torrent of energy condensed in a heartbeat into a massive imprint of a palm.
"Bang!"
One palm strike landed straight on the old man’s forehead,
whose head burst apart like a watermelon on the spot.
In the next instant, Gu Zhan moved like a phantom, his feet shifting through dozens of dazzling steps, evading attacks from several Innate Martial Artists. In the air, his palm traced illusory shadows,
shadows swift and formless as the wind, impossible to anticipate.
The fist is the peak of power—relentless and strong. The palm, though, is the essence of spirit: agile and ever-changing, its approach the exact opposite.
These two utterly different styles, appearing at once on the same person, caught everyone completely unprepared.
Immediately, two Innate Martial Artists were struck in the chest and killed on the spot.
In this moment,
panic seized the hall—the men of the Six Great Families grew frantic,
Second Master Wu, ever at Wu Yang’s side, turned deeply grave and muttered, "Brother, this is trouble. We never predicted Gu Zhan had so many trump cards. Even facing Wan Yan before, he wasn’t forced to reveal everything. This time, we miscalculated!"
"What’s there to panic for!"
Wu Yang’s face was calm as water. "No matter how strong Gu Zhan is, in the end he’s just one man."
With that,
Wu Yang quickly walked out through another door,
and as he did, all those Noble Family martial artists who’d been chilled to the bone by Gu Zhan’s slaughter started withdrawing en masse.
Gu Zhan slew two more who blocked his path, grabbed two broadswords from the ground, and rushed for the exit.
Yet, at the threshold,
his remaining few guards paled in terror and leapt toward Gu Zhan, shouting, "Sir, fall back! Quick!"
For, in that moment,
the courtyard was engulfed with a storm of feathered arrows, pouring down like torrential rain.
The guards inside the hall hastily piled tables, chairs, and benches at the doorway as a barricade.
"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Under that downpour of arrows, the barricade was shredded and toppled, tables and chairs shot into porcupines. The walls, doors, and windows of the hall were all riddled with massive holes.
The entire main hall was surrounded,
outside, a dense crowd suffocated the grounds: crossbow teams in front, behind them, battalions of Flying Axe Team with axes at the ready.
"Gu Zhan!"
Wu Yang shouted, "Aren’t you hailed as Linjiang County’s finest fighter, proud enough to say a single blade can suppress the whole Martial World? How do you like the decapitation feast I’ve prepared for you today?"
Gu Zhan, concealed behind a pillar, chuckled softly. "Lord Wu, you do me much honor—for such a spectacle! Yet, I’m afraid this banquet is for you yourself."
"Surrender, and perhaps I’ll spare your life."
Wu Yang spoke as he signaled his men to close the encirclement.
"Gu Zhan, stop hiding. There’s no way you’re waiting for backup today. I’ll tell you the truth—the moment you entered the Prefecture Government, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was already under my control. Today, you’re dead for sure!"
Wu Yang called out loudly as a large force of Government Army completed the encirclement.
Gu Zhan could clearly see the situation outside, but gripping two broadswords, he did not move. His voice was deep: "Wu Yang, you’re afraid."
"Hmph!" Wu Yang snorted coldly. "You’re no more than a lamb awaiting slaughter now. What reason would I have to fear you?"
"Heh." Gu Zhan smirked with contempt. "If you weren’t afraid, why waste so much breath trying to shake my will? What’s wrong—so well prepared, yet still fearful? Let me guess... is it that your control over the Embroidered Uniform Guard fell through? If I’m right, they must be coming to aid me. Wu Yang, your tricks won’t work on me, you won’t break my will. I have utmost faith in my people—you cannot control them!"
Wu Yang narrowed his eyes, staring at the besieged main hall, a silent and unreadable expression flickering within.
Indeed, Gu Zhan had guessed correctly,
things had gone awry with the Embroidered Uniform Guard—Rong Yichu was leading reinforcements this way.
He’d hoped to manipulate Gu Zhan’s quick temper, luring him out to lose the main hall’s defensive advantage. With Gu Zhan’s fighting power, if he entrenched himself in the building, they wouldn’t take him easily—Government Army couldn’t charge in full force, and the crossbows and axes would lose their effectiveness.
Clearly, psychological war was pointless now.
"Ready the fire oil!"
Wu Yang snorted, and immediately cartloads of fire oil were wheeled in.
"Boom!"
Fire arrows and oil canisters rained toward the main hall. In a flash, angry flames surged skyward.
Wu Yang’s expression was indifferent. "Gu Zhan, how long can you hide? Doesn’t matter. Hole up like a frightened turtle if you wish. I have plenty of time. The Embroidered Uniform Guard won’t breach the Prefecture Government in a while!"
A relentless hail of fire arrows pounded the main hall.
Within,
Gu Zhan gripped his broadswords, feeling the heat rising unbearably in the hall. He looked at his remaining few guards, giving his blades a faint shake—ready to charge and kill his way out.
But just then,
outside the Prefecture Government, Embroidered Uniform Guard signal flares shot up, the flying fish insignia blossoming across the sky.
A terrifying chorus of shouts and slaughter resounded across the land.
Outside the hall, Wu Yang’s expression remained cool, his voice low and firm: "Don’t panic. Kill Gu Zhan and it all ends. Without him, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is nothing but mud!"
He had barely finished speaking,
when a thunderous explosion rang out. The ground trembled violently, and a barrage of frantic, chaotic hoofbeats erupted,
the walls of the Prefecture Government collapsed,
and a torrent of black armor rushed in like a tidal wave, threatening to devour the world whole.
Nearly a hundred heavy cavalrymen clad in black Profound Armor,
charged with ruthless ferocity, wherever they swept,
walls shattered, men died, blood and flesh scattered,
Heavy Armored Cavalry crushed all before them; nothing could halt their advance—the earth itself trembled beneath their might.
At the very sight of those heavy cavalry,
Wu Yang was thunderstruck,
his eyes wide in disbelief. "The Mystic Armor Guard? How could they be here?"