Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 312 321 A lone rider sweeps through an army!
"Commander, this person does not appear to be an easy opponent. If we engage in battle later, you must not..."

"One must not leave the army formation and fight alone against the enemy general?"

Zhu Youzhen chuckled, his eyes fixed on the streak of light, a playful and gleeful expression on his face, like a cat toying with a mouse.

"A son of a wealthy family would not sit under a dangerous roof; do I need you to teach me that principle?"

“Now Li Cunxiao is the one who has lost his home. He is the one who should be worried, not me.”

"We just need to hang behind him and wait for his true energy to run out before we can capture him."

Upon hearing this, the adjutant with two cranes tattooed on his face breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked in confusion:
"Capture? Isn't that just killing them on the spot?"

"I won't let him die so easily," Zhu Youzhen subconsciously touched his already healed severed arm, and seemed to feel a faint pain.

"I heard that he recently got married to the daughter of the Duke of Yue. On his wedding day, dukes and marquises filled the house, making it quite a grand affair."

"But what about now? A stray dog, his wife is probably still at Louguandao. When we break through the mountain gate, I'll taste the noblewoman in front of him."

Zhu Youzhen grinned, already imagining the exhilarating feeling of wiping away his humiliation.

However, the adjutant beside him did not echo him as usual, but instead interrupted him directly:
"Commander, that person is too fast, he's getting away!"

"what?!"

Zhu Youzhen came to her senses and realized that in just a dozen breaths, the distance between them had not only not shortened, but had actually grown further apart.

He had caught a glimpse of Li Cunxiao in the army formation and immediately led his men to chase after him, but he never expected the situation to turn out this way.

"How could this be? He was just like me before, on the Heavenly Ladder. Could it be that he also broke through the barrier?"

Zhu Youzhen's pupils contracted, and the astonishment in his eyes was quickly replaced by murderous intent.

He was almost twice the age of his opponent, yet their cultivation levels were equal. Keep in mind, he only managed this with the help of the Blood Pill.

If this person doesn't die, he may become a great threat in the future!

"Form the Crane Control Formation!"

If he was only hunting down one person, Zhu Youzhen certainly wouldn't bring all two thousand of his Crane Control Army soldiers with him.

But the hundred riders beside him were all elites of the Crane Control Army. He had captured able-bodied men, women and children everywhere and had the Ming Cult refine blood pills for him, creating an elite force through sheer force.

Three-tenths of them were Yellow Court warriors, and the rest were at the Internal Organs Realm. Even if this realm was fragile and there was almost no possibility of breaking through in the future, their addition to the military formation would undoubtedly create a formidable force.

At this moment, upon receiving the order, the group of warriors who practiced the same martial arts all obeyed, and the two cranes tattooed on their cheeks glowed with a bloody light.

In a short while, accompanied by a gust of bloody wind, all 101 riders, including Zhu Youzhen, were enveloped in the giant blood crane. The horses beneath them sped up their hooves, their speed increasing dramatically!

"Who's haunting you, so eager to die?"

Li Cunxiao felt the bloodthirsty aura rapidly approaching from behind, his brows furrowed, and his heart was filled with killing intent.

"We're still too close to the battlefield. If we enhance all four divine weapons, we'll be very fast, but we'll inevitably attract attention. If a grandmaster intervenes, we're doomed."

"We have to wait until we're far enough away before we can unleash our full firepower. Just bear with it, just bear with it."

He wasn't afraid of fighting, but the most important thing at the moment was to find reinforcements in Hedong. Every second wasted could become the last straw that broke the back of Louguandao.

Therefore, Li Cunxiao only glanced back at the pursuers' banners and recognized them as the Crane Control Army under Zhu Youzhen's command. He secretly kept this grudge in his heart and then secretly increased his true energy output, making his speed even faster.

Zhu Youzhen didn't get too close from behind either, but maintained a speed that wouldn't leave him behind, as if waiting for Li Cunxiao to run out of true energy and show signs of fatigue.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Zhu Youzhen hated Li Cunxiao for making him lose face, but he hadn't forgotten how easily the other party had defeated him when they fought.

However, plans can't keep up with changes. Li Cunxiao and Zhu Youzhen had a good plan, but along the way, another group of people were lying in wait.

"Your Highness, someone is approaching, and they're moving very fast!"

"Hmm?" Upon hearing his subordinate's reminder, Zhu Yougui, who was riding on horseback, frowned, put down the helmet hanging behind his helmet, picked up his spear, and stared intently at the blue streak of light being chased by dust and smoke.

This place is three miles away from the gate of Louguandao Mountain. He volunteered to lead a thousand Red Crow Army soldiers to garrison here, just to wipe out any remaining enemies.

This position and these actions meant he was destined not to receive much credit, but Zhu Yougui had his own plans.

The son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall.

His younger brother, being born out of wedlock, had no one to rely on, which is why he had to take risks and gamble repeatedly to earn merit.

Zhu Yougui was different.

He was born to the principal wife, and his uncles all held important positions in the army. Now, many generals in Luoyan City also attach themselves to him. He has also made solid progress in the Xuan Guan realm step by step.

There's no need for him to take any extraordinary or risky actions. As long as he sits in the central command, manages logistics, and rewards those who have contributed, his position will be as secure as Mount Tai.

Therefore, when he saw the banners of the Crane Control Army chasing after a man, his first reaction was not excitement, but vigilance.

"Although Zhu Youzhen is arrogant and extreme, he is not a fool. Judging from the direction, the people coming must be from the Louguan sect. Who is worth him going to such lengths?"

As Zhu Yougui pondered, the pursuers and the fleeing enemy were already very close to his main army formation. With the enhancement of his true essence, he was able to see the faces of the people descending from the escape light.

It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't looked, but once he did, his heart started pounding uncontrollably.

"Li Cunxiao?!"

"This man is skilled in alchemy, and his talent is no less than his master's. After this battle, the Louguan Daoist master will surely die. Doesn't that mean that Li Cunxiao will replace his master and become the next alchemy master?"

"If I could obtain this person..."

Zhu Yougui's expression shifted. Seeing that the dust was less than a hundred meters from the main formation, he decisively gave the order:
"Halt! This is the rear guard's location. I, the Crown Prince, have been ordered to supervise the army. Anyone who tries to escape will be executed!"

Damn! What's with this Zhu Yougui too?

Looking at the thousand-strong army before him, Li Cunxiao felt a sense of foreboding.

The reason he was able to easily defeat Qida's hundreds of elite cavalry last time was because he also had the support of Dao soldiers.

Although the Taoist spiritual form has been elevated to the fourth level, it is still the limit for a single person to deal with an army of one or two hundred people.

Killing one or two hundred people and forming an army formation after killing one or two hundred people are completely different concepts. The difference between the two is like the difference between loose sand and concrete.

The blood and qi of the thousand-strong army were so concentrated that it was probably as solid as an iron wall. Without a magical treasure, it would be impossible to break through it by force.
"What military supervisor? Never heard of him!"

The words of his elder brother immediately darkened Zhu Youzhen's face. Seeing the hesitation of the soldiers beside him, he knew that he could not hesitate if he was going to kill his enemy with his own hands, so he simply drew his sword.

"I am the commander of the Crane Control Army, the second son of the King of Liang! This man is a heretical Taoist priest from Louguan. I have been ordered to capture and kill him. Who dares to stop me!"

"Bastard thing!"

Zhu Yougui's face darkened, and he almost couldn't help but order his men to fire arrows, but he held back in the end.

It was one thing for the two princes to compete for credit, but the long-standing conflict between their own Red Crow Army and Crane Control Army could easily escalate into a bloody battle at this crucial juncture. Even if they managed to capture Li Cunxiao, they would still face the wrath of their father, Zhu Quanzhong, and lose everything.

After his expression shifted several times, Zhu Yougui finally gave the order in a deep voice:
"Formation."

The Red Crow Army generals were excited upon hearing this, thinking they were finally going to fight the concubine-controlled Crane Army. However, as the soldiers were all surging with energy and moving closer to their commander, Zhu Yougui suddenly became sluggish.

"Your Highness, without your presence at the central command, this force won't be able to stop them."

The Red Crow Army was frantic as the pursuers and fleeing soldiers were almost upon them. Only then did Zhu Yougui ascend his spiritual form and fully deploy his general's formation.

But how fast was Li Cunxiao? How sharp was the ability of his Pure Heaven Eye to see?
Seizing this obvious weakness, he immediately rode the Azure Lion out.

"Something's not right. What's Zhu Yougui up to? He's definitely not the kind of person who'd willingly hand over credit."

Zhu Yougui watched the army formation slowly take shape and immediately felt something was wrong, but seeing that the stream of light that Li Cunxiao had transformed into had already passed through, he couldn't care less about anything else.

A crimson crane carrying a hundred elite cavalrymen charged out of the still-forming formation. The weaker soldiers were sent flying, coughing up blood in mid-air.

"Your Highness!"

The Red Raven Army members were furious. Since its establishment, when had their personal guard ever suffered such a great loss?

"Don't be impatient. When have I ever let my brothers suffer a loss?"

Seeing that Li Cunxiao and the others had run almost a mile away, Zhu Yougui finally showed a faint smile on his face, but it quickly disappeared and turned into a grimace.

"Zhu Youzhen, the commander of the Crane Control Army, is greedy for merit and acts recklessly! On the eve of battle, he instead attacked the rear guard, undermining morale and violating military orders. Even if he is the second son of the King, he cannot be tolerated!"

"Two hundred Red Crow Guards, follow me in pursuit. The rest of you, hold your ground and do not move!"

The Red Raven Army's generals were taken aback for a moment, then their hearts began to pound uncontrollably, and a series of thoughts involuntarily raced through their minds:
If he was raised by a maid, and if the Second Young Master was accidentally killed by her while pursuing the enemy, Your Highness should capture and kill the thief to avenge him.

Thus, the only adult and capable son of the king is His Highness, who will rightfully inherit the throne in the future.

Could it be that the eldest son had this idea from the beginning?
To be able to kill even one's own brothers with such a justifiable cause is truly a testament to one's profound cunning and ruthlessness. Such a person should be our lord!
"This humble general swears to follow Your Highness to the death!"

As soon as one person expressed his opinion, the others realized what was happening and rushed to follow Zhu Yougui on horseback.

The two hundred Red Crow Guards were the elite of the Red Crow Army, and their families' lives, honor, and disgrace were deeply tied to Zhu Yougui.

Only these people could follow him and do things that couldn't be told to outsiders.

Of the two hundred elite cavalry, two-fifths were at the Yellow Court Realm, and the rest were at the Internal Organs Realm. Once they formed a formation, their immense blood and qi flowed like an inverted river of blood, and a crimson crow shrieked as it galloped like a whirlwind.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Zhu Youzhen and his group came into his sight.

"This place is more than ten miles away from the main army camp. Father and the others are fighting with the Grandmaster and have no time to pay attention to this place for the time being."

"Today I will get rid of this lowly servant's son, and take a genius alchemist as my servant to clear away all obstacles in my path!"

Even Zhu Yougui's usually calm face couldn't help but reveal his unrestrained ambition at this moment.

However, before he could get close enough, with eyesight beyond what the naked eye could see, a bloody scene came into view. Zhu Youzhen, who had been so confident just moments before, fled in a sorry state, with a dazzling streak of light rapidly approaching behind him:
"Zhu Youzhen, die!"

Half an hour ago.

"No, Commander, we can't catch up!"

Seeing that the distance between them seemed to remain unchanged, the guards were both shocked and furious.

"How could a person possibly outrun a beastly foal enhanced by a grand formation?"

Zhu Youzhen's face was equally gloomy. His elder brother had deliberately created an opening for him to charge into the enemy lines, which gave him a very bad feeling.

Everything has its risks; if we delay, things may go awry. For now, we must act quickly and return to our base.

Otherwise, if they are too far away, who knows if there are still remnants of the imperial army ahead? Li Cunxiao is the son-in-law of the Duke of Yue, so such a thing is entirely possible.

"But this kid can run way too fast!"

Thinking of this, Zhu Youzhen calmed down somewhat, his anger subsided, replaced by a mocking smile, and he raised his voice:
"Li Cunxiao, why are you running? Aren't you a prodigy of the Daoist sect? Aren't you a guest of honor at the Marquis's mansion?"

"Why are you now in such a sorry state, like a stray dog, all panicked and disoriented?"

The curses rang out, and the figures ahead seemed to move even faster. Seeing this, the surrounding Crane Control Army soldiers also understood and shouted out a torrent of vulgarities from the streets.

The more these people insulted him, the faster the person in front of him not only ignored them but also sped up.

As Li Cunxiao sped up, the Konghe Army had no choice but to speed up as well. Half an hour later, they had run for several miles in one go, but they still couldn't even touch the hem of the other's clothes.

The hundred-horse crane guards couldn't help but relax a little; even Zhu Youzhen, the leader, couldn't help but have some thoughts of giving up.

But at that moment, the streak of light rushing ahead suddenly stopped.

"Hahahaha, Li Cunxiao, you've been unleashing your true energy for so long, you finally couldn't hold on any longer, could you?"

Upon seeing this, Zhu Youzhen's face lit up with joy, but in the next moment, a deafening roar suddenly rang in his ears, accompanied by what seemed to be several screams.

A sudden gust of wind swept past, and a foul-smelling, warm liquid splashed onto her body. It felt both familiar and strange, causing Zhu Youzhen to momentarily lose her composure.

what?
What happened?
"what!!!"

"What is that! What is that!"

"It's that person up ahead! It's that person up ahead!"

"Fire arrows! Fire arrows now!"

"No, it's too fast, I can't see it at all!"

"Form ranks! Form ranks! Second Young Master! Second Young Master!"

Zhu Youzhen suddenly shuddered, as if his soul had returned in the middle of the night. His spiritual energy surged, drawing upon the blood energy of the remaining soldiers. The blood crane solidified again and moved closer to the center.

In that instant, a powerful impact came from above, a force as overwhelming as Mount Tai pressing down, forcing Zhu Youzhen to swallow the command he was about to utter, leaving it stuck in his chest, like his body crashing into a steel-forged city wall.

The horses neighed, and despite the support of the military formation, half of them were still directly knocked to their knees by this blow.

The circular depression, along with the cracked soil and rocks, spread for fifty or sixty meters, leaving a spiderweb-like trail.

"Heh~~"

The terrifying force was barely neutralized by the military formation, and Zhu Youzhen couldn't help but let out a sound like a broken bellows as he exhaled.

Only then did he realize that beyond the huge circular crack, four radiating pools of crimson had stained the ground, with pink minced meat and yellowish-white bone fragments neatly spread on the soil.

Looking at the soldiers around him, the elite cavalry that originally numbered a hundred had dwindled to only fifty or sixty men in the blink of an eye!

The culprit behind all this was a nine-headed blue lion riding atop a mountain, surrounded by wheels of fire and wind, wielding a dragon-tiger spear, his blue phoenix armor billowing in a whirlwind, and a long crimson brocade with dazzling golden dragon patterns circling his body, making him appear as if he were a celestial being descending to earth.

His amber eyes were filled with indifference, and as he spoke, two majestic spiritual figures rose from the ground:

"Who did you just call a stray dog?"

(End of this chapter)