Don't let Yu Ding take on any more disciples.

Chapter 509 Ghost Valley! A not-so-famous place!

Nighttime, the moon is bright and the stars are few!

In the general's mansion at Chentang Pass, the flickering candlelight illuminated the main hall.

Having just finished assigning defensive tasks, Lu Xiong, still in full armor, rested his right hand on the table and began to squint, the flickering candlelight illuminating his gray hair.

He held the official position of Left Army General of the Yin Shang Dynasty. Later, when Li Jing, the General of Chentang Pass, left office, he was sent here to take over the position of General.

In recent years, the Shang Dynasty has faced threats from the east, south, and west. Only the Northern Marquis Chong Houhu has remained loyal to the Shang Dynasty, thus ensuring stability in the north.

A few days ago, Xiqi led an army of 100,000 to launch a northern expedition to attack Chongguo. He heard that Marquis Chong Heihu of Caozhou had led his army to support his elder brother.

With Chongguo and Caozhou combined, dealing with Xiqi shouldn't be a problem.

Unexpectedly, news spread within a few days that a major upheaval had occurred in Beichong. Chong Heihu's support was a pretense; his true intention was to betray the country. He had colluded with Xiqi to capture the elder brother's entire family and kill the elder brother and nephew, taking control of the entire Chong state through forceful means.

By then it was too late for him to provide support, so he had to quickly deploy defenses at Chentang Pass.

Sure enough, after Chong Heihu secured his position as the Marquis of the North, he led a coalition of 300,000 northern lords to attack Chentang Pass from the south.

Chentang Pass is the northern gateway to Chaoge and cannot be lost. The only thing that reassured him was that the former general Li Jing had left behind a considerable fortune. The troops inside the pass were strong and well-equipped, and the supplies were sufficient to defend it for ten years.

However, he was getting old, his blood and energy were declining, and he couldn't keep up with his younger self. He had only intended to take a nap, but he eventually fell asleep.

He didn't know how long he slept, but suddenly he woke up with a start. As he was rubbing his temples, he suddenly felt something and his hair stood on end.

In an instant, a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

A figure had appeared in the hall at some point.

The figure was tall and slender, and was quietly looking at the military deployment map hanging on one side.

"Is your...friend a human or a ghost?"

Lu Xiong felt a bit parched, because he was in the General's Mansion of Chentang Pass, which was heavily guarded and the most important part of the pass.

Moreover, even if he is old and tired, he has entered the martial arts realm. His vigilance on the battlefield should be such that he would not notice a living person touching him.

The figure said calmly, "It's a person!"

"Humans..." Lu Xiong calmed himself down a little with this answer, but his mood remained heavy. Humans were always easier to deal with than ghosts.

Even he failed to realize just how high this person's martial arts level had reached.
Is it the legendary Heavenly Realm where one can travel thousands of miles with the martial arts primordial spirit?
"Who is a friend?"

Lu Xiong asked, "What brings you here so late at night?"

Given that the other party could easily have taken his head off, the fact that they didn't make a move suggests that while they might not be friends, they certainly had something to say to him.

"solitary……"

"solitary?"

After the figure finished speaking, both he and Lu Xiong were stunned.

The figure raised his hand and coughed lightly, then took out a black bird jade seal, saying in a hoarse voice, "I am Ziyu, a special envoy dispatched by the Great King, codenamed Lone Wolf!"

Ziyu, Lone Wolf… Lu Xiong’s expression changed. After verifying the authenticity of the seal, he quickly stood up and bowed: “This humble general Lu Xiong greets Lord Lone Wolf!”

Zi was the most prestigious surname in the Shang Dynasty, as it was the surname of the royal family. With the seal on the document confirmed, he had identified the other party as a person.

It wasn't until the other party took out the seal and turned around that he saw that the special envoy was wearing a black robe with cloud patterns and had an ordinary face.

The other person had a very special pair of eyes that were unforgettable once seen.

Profound! Powerful! Sharp...

Upon seeing that he had passed through smoothly, the special envoy breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief: "Chong Heihu murdered his brother and nephew to seize the throne, committing treason and rebellion, a crime that cannot be forgiven. Today, I am here on the orders of the King to handle the rebellion. Everyone is at your disposal. Anyone who disobeys will be executed without mercy!"

Lu Xiong hurriedly asked, "I wonder what the envoy intends to do?"

"Don't ask, just listen to me!"

Ziyu's sharp gaze swept over.

Lu Xiong quickly shut up.

Ziyu said, "Tomorrow, send someone as my deputy to accompany me to negotiate peace."

"Peace talks?" Lu Xiong was taken aback.

Ziyu said with disdain, "It's called a peace negotiation, but it's actually an assassination attempt. When the time comes, you will order the entire army to prepare, and when the enemy is in chaos, you will lead your troops to launch an attack and win in one fell swoop."

Lu Xiong asked in astonishment, "What...this...assassination?"

Special Envoy, do you want to hear the nonsense you're spouting?
Ziyu asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"It's more than just a problem..." Lu Xiong whispered a reminder, "The enemy has an army of 300,000!"

Ziyu said calmly, "But the central command tent can't hold 300,000 people."

Lu Xiong's imposing aura waned upon meeting that gaze, so he could only add, "And Chong Heihu is not only heavily guarded, but I've also heard that he studied under an immortal in his youth. Not only is his martial arts unfathomable, but he also has Taoist magic to protect him. He can be considered an immortal among men."

Even someone who was an expert in military strategy and had fought battles his whole life felt a bit overwhelmed when he heard about this method of warfare.

This method isn't just crude, it's downright ridiculous!
What's the difference between this and sending a few people to their deaths? There's absolutely no chance of success.

Assassination attempts, collusion from within and without... He admitted that the envoy had some skill, but he didn't think he could be a match for Chong Heihu.

"A human immortal? Ha!"

Ziyu chuckled and waved his hand, "Got it, get ready!"

If those rebels weren't still useful, he would have carried out the decapitation operation himself.

Lu Xiong: "..."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade them, he could only sigh and go to choose someone.

The next day, two figures emerged from the north gate of Chentang Pass, holding tallies and riding horses toward the allied forces of the northern lords.

On the city wall.

As Lu Xiong watched the two figures walk further and further away, his heart sank. Could this envoy be someone sent by the royal family to gain prestige?

If he dies here, he'll probably face some trouble in the future!
Ziyu's second-in-command was a strong man with a resolute expression and an air of fearlessness in the face of death.

Before long, the two arrived at the gate of the allied forces of the feudal lords, where sentries were holding up their bows and arrows.

"Don't fire the arrows!"

The burly man held up his tally and shouted, "We are envoys from the Great Shang Dynasty, sent by Your Majesty to negotiate peace. Please convey our message."

Upon hearing this, someone immediately went to report it.

Ziyu laughed and said, "Brother, your martial arts skills are not bad. Are you joining the army with your skills?"

This person exuded a calm and composed aura, indicating that he possessed considerable martial arts skills.

The man shook his head and said, "This is the martial arts technique that General Li taught us. He used the flesh and blood of various rare and exotic beasts to help the brothers lay a foundation, so all the brothers in the army know a little bit about it."

“Li Jing…” Ziyu’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

At this moment, the soldier who had gone to report returned, opened the gate, searched the two men, and then took them to the central tent.

It was late autumn, and the weather was getting cold, but a grand feast was being held inside the tent, with everyone bustling about. In addition to some standing servants, there were more than ten people in the tent. The person in the lead sat high above, and he was very tall, with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot and a wisp of red beard under his chin.

Next to his chair stood a gourd that was three feet long!
There were more than ten people sitting at the tables on the other two sides, presumably the feudal lords who had joined the rebellion.

As the two entered, everyone's attention turned to them.

Ziyu said, "I am Ziyu, the envoy sent by the King to negotiate peace with you lords."

Chong Heihu picked up a bowl of wine and drank it all in one gulp before saying, "You say you are envoys sent by that brat Yin Shou to negotiate peace?"

Ziyu handed the talisman to his deputy, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That's right!"

Chong Heihu laughed, "First there were the righteous armies of the East Route and the South Route, and now that brat Yin Shou has sent a large army to conquer Xiqi. This time he comes to us to sue for peace. It seems that he and the Great Shang have finally reached the end. Ah, hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent burst into laughter.

The air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

Ziyu looked at him calmly and said, "May I ask you a question, Lord Marquis?"

Chong Heihu said, "Ask away!"

Ziyu said, "Your family is already among the four great vassal states, overseeing two hundred vassal states in the north. I am very curious about what benefits Ji Fa has promised you that would make you kill your brother and nephew and follow Ji Fa in rebellion. Does this mean that Ji Fa will give you even more if he gains control of the world in the future?"

Chong Heihu laughed: "You're wrong. Ji Fa didn't promise us anything. If there is anything, it's only eight words... A battle for supremacy, each relying on their own abilities."

Ziyu nodded slightly: "I see, then I have no further questions."

Ji Fa's stay in Guigu was certainly worthwhile; his ability to make grand promises was first-rate.

He offered these feudal lords something they couldn't refuse: the throne and the world. Ultimately, who would win would depend on their own abilities.

But there's a prerequisite: we must first work together to defeat the Shang dynasty.

Of course, based on the Guigu School of Diplomacy he had learned, he could also offer such a condition, saying that he would step down and yield the position to a more capable person afterward, thus breaking the complex and intricate scheme that Ji Fa had set up for him.

Anyone can make empty promises.

Given the current predicament of the Great Shang Dynasty, which is surrounded by enemies on all sides, it is no longer a matter of alliances and counter-alliances.

Of course, he would have used this method before, but he doesn't now.

Because he had realized that his enemy was not Ji Fa in front of him, nor Xiqi, and was not even... a human being.

Chong Heihu glanced at the unremarkable and somewhat scholarly Ziyu, and finally his gaze fell on his deputy. A glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes: "This brother has a strong killing intent. You say you are envoys here to negotiate peace, but in my opinion, you are assassins sent to assassinate me, aren't you?"

As he spoke, he smashed the wine bowl in his hand on the ground with a crack.

Suddenly, the ground trembled slightly, and the sound of a large number of soldiers rushing to the tent could be heard outside.

Zi Yu's deputy's expression changed drastically. He pulled off the top of the staff with the talisman, revealing a spear. He leaped into the air, and a cold light flashed in the tent. The spear shot out like a dragon, stabbing towards Chong Hei Hu.

Roar!
The spear shone brightly, condensing into a black dragon that roared and howled as it instantly appeared before Chong Heihu.

"What?" Chong Heihu's pupils contracted sharply. The assassin's strength was somewhat beyond his expectations. He quickly grabbed a large gourd from the side and used it to block in front of him.

With a loud bang, the phantom of the dragon roared and slammed viciously into the gourd. Then, with a 'clang,' the spear tip pierced the gourd, but did not penetrate it. However, the powerful force still shattered the chair beneath Chong Heihu, and he fell to the ground in a disheveled state.

After missing his target, the burly man swept his spear horizontally, creating a gust of wind and a loud explosion as it crashed into the fallen Chong Heihu.

However... Chong Heihu kicked away the incoming spear with one foot, then smashed out the gourd in his hand. The big man hurriedly raised his spear to block, but the gourd was as heavy as a mountain, directly knocking him away and causing him to stagger backward, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, leaving no time for others to react.

It wasn't until Chong Heihu repelled the assassins that the others reacted, and the warriors outside rushed in, surrounding Ziyu and the big man.

"Damn guy!"

Chong Heihu stared at the burly man as he slowly rose to his feet: "You've got some nerve! You didn't even bother to find out my name before attempting an assassination. Get out of the way, I'm going to finish this off myself... This is bad."

He was about to step forward when suddenly the hairs on his body stood on end. He felt a terrifying sword aura emerge from the tent, instantly making his heart pound with fear.

Then, his eyelids suddenly twitched.

He saw that the unremarkable messenger had a sword in his hand, and the terrifying sword aura was emanating from him.

No, where did that guy get the sword?
"You're wrong, this isn't an assassination attempt."

The sword energy surging from Ziyu's sword was like flames: "I am the King's special envoy, and this is a righteous... execution of a traitor!"

Before the words had even finished, he had already flashed towards Chong Heihu. Chong Heihu was shocked and hurriedly kicked up the table in front of him to block, but it was shredded by the sword energy before he could get close.

However, Chong Heihu also grabbed his double-edged axe, crossed the two axes, and blocked the sword that was coming down on him.

boom!
As the sword and axe clashed, a powerful force emanated from the sword, causing Chong Heihu's legs to sink into the ground up to his knees. For the first time, a look of terror appeared on his face, but then the second and third swords came slashing down...

In the blink of an eye, the large tent was torn apart by a powerful force.

A disheveled figure tumbled and flew out, landing on the ground with blood gushing from his mouth. When he looked up, his expression was full of panic, and he shouted, "Where are the Flying Tigers?"

As he finished speaking, three thousand well-equipped warriors, clearly different from the other soldiers, arrived and formed a battle formation. They wore armor and bronze tiger masks.

A fierce and murderous aura rose from the three thousand people.

Ziyu glanced at the three thousand Flying Tiger soldiers, held his sword horizontally in front of him, took a deep breath, and instantly a light blue sword aura rose from the sword. The next moment, like a sword drawn from its sheath, he flashed and rushed into the three thousand battle formation.

At this moment, the world lost its color, and sword energy swept across all directions.

A splash of crimson added color to the colorless world.

One Flying Tiger soldier fell, and then one after another, Flying Tiger soldiers fell.

They collapsed and died without even letting out a scream.

Ziyu was the only one left on the spot. He glanced at the fallen corpses, exhaled, and looked around. Everyone was dumbfounded and speechless.

The silence in this place is terrifying.

"Ten years to nurture a sword, its edge is not yet... no, I've been down the mountain for twenty-two years, but twenty years to nurture a sword doesn't quite rhyme..." Zi Yu's thoughts flashed. Oh well, in any case, he hadn't tested the sword's edge yet, but he was very satisfied with the effect of drawing the sword today.

This is a testament to his years of hard work!

Chong Heihu and the other feudal lords were already trembling, and the ordinary soldiers dared not approach.

No, brother... the big man who was the assassination's second-in-command was just standing there blankly, so you were the main force, right?

Chong Heihu exclaimed in horror, "You...where did you learn this swordsmanship?"

"Ghost Valley!"

Ziyu added, "It's a small, relatively unknown place."

As the first generation of Guigu School's successor, he felt it was his duty and responsibility to bring fame to the school.

"Ghost Valley... What kind of place is Ghost Valley?"

Chong Heihu was somewhat bewildered and his defenses crumbled as he said, "I don't believe it. I don't believe there's a sword technique there that's more powerful than the Jie Sect's."

Is this not very well-known?

I've never even heard of it!
"how about you?"

Ziyu said calmly, "You've become a disciple of the Jie Sect's True Man and are cultivating Taoist arts, which could make you a human immortal, but are you very strong?"