Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 603 Road to Death
This unprecedented reward and promise instantly ignited the flames of greed and madness in the eyes of the guards below!

Fear was dispelled by the enormous profits, and countless eyes turned bloodshot as they stared intently at the top of the cliff!
"kill!!!!"

The frenzied screams instantly drowned out the sound of the wind!

Driven mad by the huge reward, the guards charged up the mountain like a flood bursting its banks!
The once orderly ranks instantly collapsed, with people jostling and pushing, armor clashing, and weapons clashing, creating utter chaos!
Li Daosheng's brows furrowed into a tight knot, knowing that this was a path to death. He suddenly turned his head to try to persuade the Prince of Pingcheng.

However, when his gaze fell upon the figure on the throne, all his words of advice choked in his throat.

Zhao Yan's eyes were bloodshot, and his eyeballs looked like they were about to burst out!

His obese body trembled violently with extreme anger, his hands gripping the sandalwood armrests like iron pincers, his fingernails carving deep marks into the hard wood!

On that distorted face, there was no trace of the majesty of a king, only madness devoured by hatred and despair!

Li Daosheng sighed, his heart turning cold.

The prince has been completely blinded by hatred, and giving advice at this moment would be like casting pearls before swine.

"Quickly summon Sect Leader Wang to protect us!"

Li Daosheng spoke sharply and in a low voice to one of his attendants, his tone unusually solemn:
"Inform Sect Leader Wang that the bandits have plotted a vicious scheme, and the situation is extremely dangerous! He must come immediately to help me protect the Prince!"

Wang Jingchuan, the head of the Yunshan Sect, a major sect in Changzhou, had a close personal relationship with the Prince of Pingcheng.

Originally, Zhao Yan had invited this powerful ally to deal with Qin Feng, but after Yan Zi'an mediated, he switched to joining the army to suppress bandits and is now leading his disciples to cover the rear.

Li Daosheng felt a severe shortage of manpower at this moment, and especially needed a strong person of the same level to share the pressure.

Song Jiang has clearly laid a trap, and he is by no means an easy opponent!
As if to confirm Li Daosheng's worst fears, before he finished speaking—

“BOOM Boom Boom Boom!!!”

A series of deafening, earth-shattering explosions erupted without warning above everyone's heads!

The sound was so violent, like thunder from the heavens exploding in one's ears, causing eardrums to ache and the heart to almost leap out of one's chest!

Everyone looked up in terror, and just one glance was enough to terrify them!
Dozens of jagged boulders, each as large as a house, tore through the thick night, crashing down from a height of hundreds of feet with a terrifying, all-destroying force!
They accelerated as they fell, creating a piercing wind that sounded like the screams of demons from hell!

"boom--!!!"

"boom--!!!"

"boom--!!!"

……

Huge boulders kept crashing down on the winding mountain road!
Each impact was like the earth groaning in pain!
The hard rocky mountain road was smashed and cracked inch by inch, with large chunks collapsing!
The long, winding queue was instantly smashed into several bloody, mangled pieces!

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

The guard who was struck head-on by the boulder didn't even have time to scream before he exploded amidst a tooth-grinding sound of flesh and bone shattering!
Blood, bits of flesh, entrails, and broken bones splattered like ink on the cold rock walls and boulders, creating large, glaring, and viscous crimson stains!

The air was instantly filled with a nauseatingly strong stench of blood and entrails!
This hellish scene completely shattered the survivors' sanity.

Fear spread like a plague!
Some people were huddled tightly in the crevice of the rock wall, trembling like leaves, clutching their heads, and making unconscious hoarse noises.

Some people ran around crying like headless flies, only pushing more of their companions into the abyss.

Many more were completely stunned by the unimaginable horror, standing there dumbfounded, letting the flying rubble hit their heads and draw blood, their eyes blankly staring at the carnage before them.

The falling boulder sent up a shower of rubble that indiscriminately pelted down the mountainside, causing the guards below to bleed profusely and scream in agony.

The mountain road was filled with cries of despair!
Even Li Daosheng, a third-rank Grandmaster, felt his scalp tingle and his heart pound with fear upon witnessing this carnage!

On flat ground, he could crush such a huge rock with a flick of his wrist.

However, when it crashes down from a height of tens or hundreds of feet with immense force, the kinetic energy it contains is so terrifying that it cannot be resisted by human power!
Even someone as powerful as him can only avoid his sharp edge!
An exceptionally large shadow descended with a piercing shriek, its target the throne of the Prince of Pingcheng!

Li Daosheng's pupils constricted sharply, and his face turned pale instantly!

"Protect the Prince—!"

He let out a fierce roar that shook the valley!

Before he finished speaking, Li Daosheng's figure soared into the sky like a roc, his toes touching the rock wall, instantly rising several meters higher!

While he was in mid-air, he infused his snow-white whisk with immense internal energy, transforming it into a streak of white light.

Instead of attacking the boulder from the front, they slammed it hard against the side!

"Bang——!!!"

With a muffled thud, dust and debris erupted from the point where the whisk struck the boulder, scattering stones everywhere!
Although Li Daosheng's skillful strike failed to stop the boulder from falling, it did deflect its trajectory by several feet!

"boom--!!!"

The boulder grazed the edge of the throne of the Prince of Pingcheng and crashed into the mountain path less than ten feet in front of it!

The terrifying shockwave, like a giant hammer, violently blew the heavy sandalwood throne and the mountain of flesh weighing over 300 pounds on top of it away!
"Your Majesty!"

Li Daosheng landed right behind him and helped Zhao Yan up, who was dazed and covered in dust.

Zhao Yan was so dizzy from the fall that his ears were ringing, his mind seemed to freeze, and he looked around blankly.

What came into his view was a true picture of hell.

The winding mountain path has become a meat grinder.

The elite guards of the royal palace were now like lambs to the slaughter, struggling and howling in despair.

Even the finest armor is as fragile as paper in the face of a giant rock!

Even more terrifying is the chaos brought about by the collapse of people's hearts.

On the narrow mountain path, the panicked escape triggered a brutal trampling and pushing, with countless guards being pushed off the cliff and into the bottomless abyss, their shrill screams echoing for a long time.

The number of people who died from being pushed by their companions or falling off cliffs far exceeded the number who were directly killed by boulders!
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"

The death knell shrieked once more!
In the darkness, poisoned crossbow bolts rained down from all sorts of tricky angles, like a swarm of locusts, their piercing whistling sounds echoing through the air!

The guards, trapped in a dead end, instantly became perfect sitting ducks!
The powerful crossbow bolts easily tore through leather and iron armor, sending up bursts of vivid, bloody spray!
Those struck by arrows screamed as they tumbled down the cliff, or were pinned to the spot!

In an attempt to save their own lives, some officers became extremely violent, brandishing their weapons and hacking at soldiers blocking their way, making the scene even more bloody and chaotic!
However, the nightmare was far from over!

"Crash-!"

From the direction of retreat, countless dark iron caltrops poured down like black hailstones, instantly covering the narrow mountain path and the rock walls on both sides, gleaming with a vicious cold light!
The fleeing guards had just reached this spot. In the darkness, visibility was already difficult, and their minds were clouded, which led many of them to step on the platform without any hesitation.

As soon as their feet stepped on the barbed wire, the spikes immediately pierced the soles of their shoes and dug deep into their feet.

This caused them to fall, their bodies crashing heavily into the countless spikes, accompanied by screams of pain.

Immediately following was the crisp sound of the earthenware pot shattering!
The thick, pungent kerosene spread rapidly along the mountain path and rock walls like a black stream!
"call out--!"

Several burning rockets landed precisely!
"boom--!"

A towering flame instantly shot up!
The scorching flames greedily licked the flowing oil, turning the retreat route into a raging inferno!

Thick smoke billowed out, and the heat was oppressive!

Although their escape route was blocked by the flames, the guards, trapped in a desperate situation, were like moths drawn to a flame, pushing and shoving even more frantically toward the sea of ​​fire!

They would rather be burned to death or trampled to death by their comrades than take another step forward.

Because they knew that if they continued up the mountain, they would only die a more horrible death!

Blood soaked the rocks, pooling into dark red streams that flowed downwards, and severed limbs and remains were scattered everywhere.

The piercing wails, curses, cries, and the sounds of boulders rolling down, arrows piercing the air, and flames crackling together created a chilling atmosphere!

Where is this mountain path leading to the thieves' den anymore?
This is clearly the road to death leading to the underworld!
Zhao Yan stared blankly at the scene before him—a mountain of corpses, a sea of ​​blood, and flames burning the roads. A chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his entire body trembled violently.

"Soul-Severing Slope... Soul-Severing Slope... So this is the slope... It truly is... a place where one's soul is instantly severed..."

He snapped out of his daze and burst into a terrified scream:

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!! Escort me down the mountain!!"

"Get down the mountain immediately!!"

His obese body burst forth with astonishing strength as he struggled to flee back the way he came.

Excessive fear even suppressed his deep-seated hatred.

His two sons, who were already terrified and crying their eyes out, followed closely behind.

"Your Majesty!"

Li Daosheng, however, gripped Zhao Yan's arm firmly like an iron clamp, while simultaneously shouting at the servants:
"Protect the prince!"

His gaze was like lightning, fixed on Zhao Yan's narrow eyes filled with fear. His voice was deep and resolute, trying to suppress the other's panic:
"Your Highness! Hold on! The entire army is focused on your banner! If you lose your composure first, the morale of the army will collapse! And there will be no hope of recovery!"

With a flick of his whisk, a gentle yet resilient internal force deflected several incoming arrows:
"A few setbacks and casualties are not the end result! Our top fighting force remains intact! As long as we kill Song Jiang, the bandits will be thrown into chaos! The tide of battle can be turned in an instant!"

Li Daosheng couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

When it was time to leave, Zhao Yan didn't. Now that he's faced setbacks, all Zhao Yan is thinking about is leaving.

A commander like that will only harm everyone.

As if in response to Li Daosheng's words, a calm and confident voice pierced through the chaos:
"Master Li's insight is brilliant! To capture the thief, capture the king!"

"Your Highness, do not worry! I will go and take Song Jiang's head to relieve your worries!"

Everyone followed the sound.

Several lithe figures, like birds flying into the forest, passed through the chaotic crowd and landed in front of the prince.

It was the elite warriors of the army who came to protect the emperor.

The leader, dressed in a blue robe, was upright and honest. Although his hair and beard were already white, he was as tall and straight as a pine tree, with a lean face and eyes that shone brightly when they opened and closed.

It was none other than Wang Jingchuan, the leader of the Yunshan Sect!

He had rushed here and witnessed the tragedy, which weighed heavily on his heart, but he still maintained his composure as the sect leader.

"Master Wang!"

Upon seeing him, Li Daosheng felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and a look of joy appeared on his face:

"With Sect Leader Wang taking action, we're sure to succeed!"

Wang Jingchuan's gaze swept over the hellish mountain path, his eyes blazing with fury. He took a deep breath, his voice booming like a bell, echoing across the chaotic battlefield:

"Disciples of Yunshan, heed my command!"

"Follow this sect leader—up the mountain to slay the bandits!"

Several elite disciples of the Yunshan Sect who followed closely behind responded in unison, their faces solemn but their fighting spirit high.

Wang Jingchuan said no more, and suddenly stretched out his body!
He seemed weightless, his toes lightly touching the steep, slippery, blood-stained rock face, and his figure soared upwards like a crane riding the wind!

His lightness skill was so superb that it far exceeded ordinary people's imagination!
He moved with incredible agility on the rugged, steep cliff, each step precisely avoiding falling rocks of all sizes. His movements were fluid and graceful, displaying the demeanor of a master!
In just a few breaths, it had already risen more than twenty feet!
Along the way, he rolled up his sleeves, casually picked up a handful of scattered pebbles, and without even looking at them, flicked his wrist and threw them into several rock crevices in the darkness above!

"Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!"

Those pebbles were infused with powerful internal energy, moving faster than a crossbow bolt, and emitting a sharp, piercing whistle!
"Ah—!" "Ugh!"

Several shrill screams immediately rang out from the darkness!
Several bandits from Yanshan Village, who were hiding in the crevices of the rocks and about to fire their crossbows, suddenly had bloody holes burst open in their chests or throats, and their bodies rolled like broken sacks as they fell into the abyss!

This move of killing the enemy with a flying stone is clean, efficient, ruthless, and precise!
The guards and warriors below, who had been in despair and chaos, were invigorated by this sight and burst into cheers as if they had survived a calamity:
"Excellent! Sect Leader Wang's divine skill is unparalleled!"

"Kill all these bandits!"

Even Zhao Yan, who was still in shock, was affected by this powerful force, and a trace of color returned to his face.

He screamed at the top of his lungs:
"Sect Leader Wang! If you can capture and kill Song Jiang, I will reward you handsomely!"

"What a great kindness, I will never forget it!"

Hearing the prince's promise, Wang Jingchuan felt even more emboldened. He pushed off with his feet and his body rose rapidly into the air once more.

The target is the cliff top where Liang Jin previously appeared, where the giant bell is located!

"Your Highness, please wait a moment! I will destroy this unsightly and ominous object for you first!"

Wang Jingchuan responded loudly, his voice echoing through the valley.

Several of his disciples behind him also displayed their light-footed skills, striving to climb upwards.

Although far less graceful and swift than the sect leader, he was still as agile as a monkey.

On the cliff top, Liang Jin and Zhong Lihan had long since disappeared.

Only the enormous bronze bell, like a silent tombstone, stood mockingly, emitting a dim light under the cold moonlight.

A cold glint flashed in Wang Jingchuan's eyes as he lunged straight at the bronze bell!

He wanted to smash this symbol of humiliation and provocation into dust with a single blow!
Sure enough, along the way, in the crevices and fissures of the rocks, there were still fearless bandits from Yanshan Village trying to stop them.

Stones and crossbow bolts rained down sporadically, unable to harm Wang Jingchuan, but they caught two of his weaker disciples off guard, causing them to scream and fall into the abyss!

Those who stand in my way—die!

Wang Jingchuan was furious!
His protective instincts and the dignity of a master were completely violated!

His figure suddenly stopped in mid-air, and with his left hand pointing like a sword, he slashed at the empty space above the mountain wall!
"call--!!!"

A violent and incomparable cyan gale was generated at the command, instantly transforming into a terrifying vortex with a diameter of about ten feet, which roared upwards along the steep rock wall!

Within the cyclone, gravel and dust were swept up and spun wildly, emitting a shrill shriek like the howling of ghosts!
Wherever the gale-force winds passed, it was as if they were being brutally scraped by an invisible giant plow!

"Puff! Puff! Puff!"

The bandits hiding in the rock crevices didn't even have time to scream before their bodies were instantly torn apart by the storm containing sharp sword energy!

Limbs, broken weapons, and thick blood splattered out as if they had been thrown into a meat grinder!
The rock wall within a ten-zhang height was instantly dyed a dazzling scarlet red, and then there was no sound at all!
Wang Jingchuan unleashed a furious attack, its ferocity overwhelming!

In an instant, the last obstacle to the top of the cliff was cleared!
"call!"

Wang Jingchuan moved with lightning speed, finally landing steadily on the platform at the top of the cliff, facing the huge bronze bell.

Without hesitation, he gathered his powerful inner strength in his right palm, which shimmered with a faint jade-like luster, and with overwhelming force, he was about to smash down on the giant bell!
Just as his palm strike was about to be unleashed, at the critical moment...
A sudden change occurred!

Behind the enormous shadow of the giant bell, a ghostly black figure appeared without warning!

The dark figure was completely shrouded in a wide black robe, its face hidden deep within the darkness of the hood, as if it had blended into the night.

A chilling, decaying, and nauseating aura of death swept over us!

The man in the black robe was moving faster than anyone could imagine!

As if teleporting, a withered, claw-like hand, with sharp, black nails, approached Wang Jingchuan and, carrying a chilling wind, went straight for Wang Jingchuan's heart!
Their moves are ruthless and vicious, aimed directly at taking lives!

A warning sign was blaring in Wang Jingchuan's mind!
He forcefully reversed his palm strike, turning it into a block, and the condensed cyan palm energy instantly met the attacking ghost claw!
"Bang——!!!"

Two incredibly powerful forces collided violently!
A deep, thunderous explosion rang out!

A visible circular shockwave suddenly spread out, stirring up dust and debris everywhere!

"Boom——!!!"

The violent airflow slammed into the giant bell beside it, and the deafening chimes once again resounded through the night sky, as if sounding the battle drums for this top-level duel!
Wang Jingchuan felt a cold, eerie, and highly corrosive force penetrate his palm, causing his blood and qi to churn.

He was involuntarily thrown back several meters away by the shock before managing to regain his balance in mid-air, his face grave.

The man in black robes was also forced backward by Wang Jingchuan's powerful palm strike, his feet carving two deep furrows into the hard rocky ground, sending stones flying everywhere!

Wang Jingchuan's pupils contracted sharply, his heart filled with surprise and uncertainty:

"Third rank?!"

"Besides Yin Leiling and Song Jiang, Yanshan Stronghold actually has a third martial artist hidden away?!"

The serious error in this intelligence cast a shadow over his mind.

An unknown third-rank expert is enough to become a huge variable that can influence the course of the battle!
The two sides clashed head-on, their energies intertwined, resulting in a temporary stalemate.

However, in that split second—

"Boohoo, boomboo-!"

Several sharp, blurry sounds, so fast they left only afterimages, pierced the air without warning, whistling down from the night sky high above everyone's heads!

The target was not Wang Jingchuan, but the few elite disciples of the Yunshan Sect behind him who had just climbed to the edge of the cliff and were not yet firmly established!
The arrow came too fast, too tricky, and the timing was too precise!
Like being called out by Death!
"Ugh!"

"Pfft!"

"Do not--!"

Screams rang out almost simultaneously!
The Yunshan Sect disciples who were at the forefront were either shot in the throat or had their hearts pierced!

Their faces were filled with utter astonishment and resentment. Their bodies were thrown backward by the immense force of the arrows, and then they screamed as they fell into the bottomless dark abyss behind them!

"You scoundrel! How dare you!!!"

Wang Jingchuan's eyes were bloodshot and his liver and gallbladder felt like they were about to shatter!

These are all the future of the sect that he has carefully nurtured!

He suddenly looked up!
In the vast expanse of night, a gigantic black shadow with wingspan that blots out the sky glides silently past!

The moonlight outlined its magnificent and extraordinary silhouette!
On the broad back of that divine eagle sat a petite figure!

The bowstring of the long, powerful bow in his hand was still vibrating and humming!

"It's that divine eagle?!"

Wang Jingchuan instantly recognized the ferocious beast beside Song Jiang of Yanshan Stronghold, and a surge of overwhelming anger and icy chill welled up in his heart!

The eagle flew too high, beyond the reach of his light-footed skills!

We could only watch helplessly as our enemies went free!

"What a cunning thief! What brilliant methods!"

Wang Jingchuan was so angry that he trembled all over, and his hair and beard stood on end!

The hatred was almost bursting out of my chest!
Just as his mind was reeling, the black-robed man beside the giant bell, like a leech, pounced on him again!

The moves became even more sinister and vicious, with dark claw shadows accompanied by a shrill whistling sound as they tore through the air, enveloping Wang Jingchuan's vital points!
They clearly took advantage of his momentary lapse in concentration and launched a fierce and relentless attack!
Wang Jingchuan suppressed his grief and indignation, roared, and unleashed his cyan palm energy once more, engaging the black-robed man in battle!
The life-or-death struggle between the two third-rank martial artists instantly reached a fever pitch!

"Bang! Bang! Boom!"

The palm strikes and claw shadows clashed fiercely, and the energy surged outwards!

The hard cliff top rocks shattered like tofu beneath their feet, whipped up and sent flying by the violent force, turning into a deadly rain of stones that fell down the mountain path below!

Each exchange of fire was like a muffled thunderclap, causing the entire cliff top to tremble slightly!
Wang Jingchuan possessed profound skill and exquisite moves, maintaining a firm advantage.

However, the black-robed man's movements were strange, his claw techniques were vicious, and his internal energy was cold and corrosive, making him extremely difficult to deal with.

Although Wang Jingchuan could suppress him, he could not completely defeat him in a short period of time!

What made him even more uneasy was that Song Jiang, the most dangerous man, had never shown up!

While he was dealing with the black-robed man's relentless attacks, he also had to keep a sliver of his mind alert to his surroundings!
This invisible pressure prevented him from focusing all his strength on the battle at hand, making it difficult for him to turn his advantage into a victory.

The battle is becoming increasingly fierce and dangerous!
Sweat beaded on Wang Jingchuan's forehead; his internal energy had been depleted far beyond expectations.

The unease in his heart grew stronger. Even if he could eventually defeat the man in black, his internal energy would be greatly depleted. What if Song Jiang suddenly appeared at that moment...

The consequences could be disastrous!

at this time.

Suddenly, a battle cry rang out from below:
"Kill the government soldiers!!!"

"Kill the bandit king!!!"

From the darkness, the bandits of Yanshan emerged one after another, brandishing their weapons and charging toward the guards of the royal palace on the mountain path.

The two sides quickly engaged in battle.

The bandits of Yanshan were unstoppable, and the guards of the Prince's Palace, already terrified by the ambush, were forced to retreat in disarray.

Fortunately, Prince Pingcheng is protected by Li Daosheng and will be safe for the time being.

"We must fight quickly!"

Wang Jingchuan hardened his heart and spared no effort to expend a large amount of internal energy. His attack suddenly became violent and fierce, with palm shadows flying, forcing the black-robed man into a dangerous situation!

He gained more and more momentum as he fought, and the man in black robes kept retreating.

Victory is in sight!

suddenly!

An indescribable chill, like a polar wind, suddenly enveloped the entire cliff top!
Wang Jingchuan's hair stood on end, and the palm strike he had been gathering faltered!
He abruptly turned his head and looked into the depths of the cliff-top platform, at the area shrouded in the shadow and darkness of the giant bell.

A figure slowly emerged from the deepest darkness.

The man's steps were steady, yet carried a cold rhythm that seemed to control life and death.

The moonlight shone down sparingly, and the first thing it illuminated was those phoenix eyes, as cold as a frozen pool!

It’s Liang Jin!

Liang Jin walked steadily, his footsteps making a clear sound on the gravel, as if stepping on everyone's heartbeat.

As he walked, he spoke, his voice not loud, yet clearly drowning out the wind and the distant fighting, carrying an indifferent air of complete control:
"I just returned to the mountain stronghold to take care of some trivial matters, I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting."

He kept walking, his gaze sweeping over Wang Jingchuan.

"Then now..."

Liang Jin's voice suddenly turned cold, like a chilling wind from the depths of hell. An overwhelming and terrifying aura erupted from his tall and imposing body, instantly enveloping the entire cliff top!
"It's time to send you all on your way!"

(End of this chapter)