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

Chapter 606 Self-Mutilation to Beg for Life
Li Daosheng's resounding and relieved words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Zhao Yan and his two princes!

The last trace of color drained from Zhao Yan's face in an instant. His lips trembled, and his obese body shook violently from extreme shock and fear!

The two princes were dumbfounded, their faces pale, as if they had heard the most absurd betrayal in the world!
A powerful third-rank expert, a retainer of the royal court and receiving the emperor's bounty, actually dared to abandon his master and flee alone at the critical moment of life and death?!
"Li Daosheng!"

Zhao Yan's voice was sharp and distorted, filled with the fury of betrayal and a deep-seated fear:
"You...you are the retainer I have hired at great expense! Your duty is to protect me!"

"How...how can we...do such a treacherous act of seeking survival by betraying our master, an act worse than that of beasts?!"

He almost lunged forward to grab Li Daosheng's Taoist robe.

The two princes also came to their senses and, with a fierce but weak expression, tried to echo and rebuke him.

Li Daosheng turned around abruptly, his angry shout like a thunderclap:

"shut up!"

His hair and beard stood on end, and his eyes held a long-suppressed rage and a cold disdain.

The overwhelming and terrifying pressure of the third-grade martial artist was like a tangible tsunami, crashing down on Zhao Yan and his son!
Zhao Yan and the princes were as if they had been struck by an invisible giant hammer, instantly suffocating, their legs went weak, and they almost collapsed to the ground. Their teeth were chattering, and they couldn't utter a single word!
"If you hadn't been so stubborn and refused to listen to good advice, how could you have ended up in such a desperate situation?!"

"I have already been dragged down to this state by you all. Do I have to be buried with you for your foolishness?!"

His voice was as cold as the deepest hell, each word piercing the heart:
"It is your Pingcheng Prince's Mansion that is irreconcilably at odds with Song Jiang, not me, Li Daosheng!"

"From this day forward, I sever all ties with you and have no further connection with you!"

"You all... better watch yourselves!"

The three Zhao Yan father and sons were so overwhelmed by the violent pressure that they were paralyzed, their teeth chattering, and they couldn't utter a single word.

Like three quails waiting to be slaughtered.

Li Daosheng stopped looking at them, quickly turned around, and stared intently at the silent figure on the cliff top, his posture humble.

But inside, he waited anxiously for the final judgment.

The mountain wind howled, carrying with it an overwhelming stench of blood.

At the top of the cliff, Liang Jin's figure stood silently like a mountain, like an ancient, unchanging rock, coldly overlooking the farce below.

Li Daosheng's heart sank.

not enough!
The other party was clearly still not satisfied.

An unharmed third-rank martial artist could become a hidden danger at any time. How could the other party easily let the tiger return to the mountain?
A ruthless glint flashed in Li Daosheng's eyes!
Without further hesitation, the powerful and mellow internal energy within him instantly reversed, like an out-of-control torrent, crashing fiercely towards his vulnerable Qi Sea acupoint!

"puff--!!!"

A mouthful of scalding blood gushed out of his mouth like a fountain!

The bright red blood instantly stained his snow-white beard and front of his shirt!
His originally rosy face turned deathly pale in an instant, his body swayed violently, and he staggered back two steps before barely managing to stand up. His breath instantly became extremely weak!

Create your own dantian!

Self-injury to meridians!

He used such a tragic and resolute method to instantly cripple himself to the brink of death!
Without months of rest and recuperation, don't even think about regaining any of your fighting strength!
If he were to fight again at this moment, he would die on the spot from severed meridians!

It can be said that all threats have been completely eliminated!

He harmed himself like this just to put the person on the cliff top at ease!
This ruthless and decisive act, like a warrior cutting off his own arm, terrified the remaining warriors of the royal palace, sending chills down their spines!

In order to survive, this third-rank expert was so ruthless to himself!

Despite the excruciating pain of his internal organs shifting, Li Daosheng mustered his last strength and bowed deeply towards the cliff top, his voice hoarse and trembling, filled with a humble plea:
"Please... Hero Song... have mercy... grant me a way to live!"

This time.

At the top of the cliff, the cold, indifferent figure finally responded.

Liang Jin nodded very slightly.

Li Daosheng's taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and a wave of immense exhaustion and excruciating pain washed over him. He could barely stand, yet he still struggled to bend over once more:

"Thank you... Hero Song... for sparing my life!"

His voice carried a mixture of weakness and gratitude, a feeling of relief at surviving a disaster.

He turned around with difficulty, not even glancing at the three faces behind him filled with despair and pleading, and ignoring Zhao Yan's fat hand reaching out in vain towards the void.

He mustered his last bit of true energy, and his figure transformed into a staggering green shadow, plunging into the thick darkness of the night without looking back, disappearing without a trace.

in situ.

Only Zhao Yan and his two sons remained, their faces ashen, stunned and speechless.

Immense fear and the despair of being utterly abandoned, like cold, venomous snakes, tightly coiled around their hearts.

Those warriors from the royal palace who witnessed the entire process were now utterly shaken and terrified!

Just what terrifying being is that person on the cliff top?!
How could it possibly force a third-rank expert to lose all courage to even make a move?!

They'd even risk serious injury just to beg for a chance to survive?!
Although they did not possess Li Daosheng's level of understanding, they could not comprehend how intense the premonition of death was at that moment.

But the vivid scene before them, more awe-inspiring than any legend, was enough for them to understand—

The one on the cliff top is a demon god they absolutely cannot contend with!
"Surrender! We surrender!!"

It's unclear who was the first to shout out, but it was as if a fuse had been lit!

"We are willing to surrender! We are willing to surrender to the hero Song!!"

"We are willing to offer up the Prince of Pingcheng and his son! We beg Hero Song to have mercy and spare our lives!!!"

Cries for mercy and surrender instantly merged into one!
The warriors, who were originally loyal to their master, now seemed to have found an outlet for their fear.

Their blades instantly turned, fiercely pointing at Zhao Yan, who was slumped on the ground, and his two sons who were trembling like leaves!
Several loyal guards who tried to resist were instantly hacked to pieces!

They disregarded the condemnation and treachery they would face from the world.

After all, even a sect leader like Wang Jingchuan died without leaving a trace.

Li Daosheng, a servant in the Prince's Palace, also mutilated himself to survive.

What wouldn't these lowly people do to survive?
The chain reaction instantly ignited the entire battlefield!

The remaining guards of the Prince's mansion on the mountain path, seeing that even the Prince was trapped like a turtle in a jar, completely lost their last bit of fighting spirit!

"Bang! Bang!"

Weapons were thrown to the ground like raindrops!

Large numbers of guards knelt on the ground, raised their hands, and shouted a deafening cry of surrender!

"Oh!"

Zhao Yan's bloated body, weighing over 300 pounds, collapsed heavily onto the cold, blood-stained rocks, like a completely melted mass of mud.

Those eyes, once filled with arrogance and violence, are now only filled with empty despair and lifelessness.

His eyes were vacant as he stared at the night sky stained red with smoke and blood, his lips moving silently, as if he had already foreseen his tragic end.

Cliff top.

Liang Jin looked down indifferently at the scene below where the dust had settled.

The struggles and betrayals of ants are not worth a second glance.

He turned nimbly, his black robe fluttering in the night wind, his figure silently disappearing into the darkness.

There's no need for him to intervene further.

Because the overall situation... has already been decided.

………………

North of Yanshan Mountain, Eagle's Nest.

At the cave entrance, Qian Fu and Xiao Liu sat seemingly relaxed, discussing their bright futures.

A tense, unspoken tension permeated the air.

"Whizzing!"

Two sharp, piercing sounds suddenly rang out, as fast as ghosts!
Xiao Liu's pupils contracted, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Qian Fu swiftly grabbed his arm, a fawning and relaxed smile spreading across his face:

"Don't panic! We're on the same side!"

Before the words were even finished, two figures gracefully landed at the cave entrance.

Like two mountains that suddenly descend, they bring a heavy sense of oppression.

The man at the front was fair-skinned and beardless, with skin as smooth as if it were covered with white powder. His long, narrow eyes shone with a sharp, inner light, exuding the air of an official who had long held a high position.

It was none other than Yan Zi'an, the fourth head of the Criminal Investigation Depot!

The old man beside him had silver hair and beard, each strand like a needle. He was tall and strong, with a straight back like a javelin, exuding an explosive sense of power and a toughness that had weathered many storms.

He is Cen Ruifeng, the former leader of the Fenglei Gang, known in the martial arts world as "Thunderbolt Hand"!
Qian Fu, like a lapdog seeing its master, jumped to his feet, his back almost bent at a ninety-degree angle, his voice trembling with excitement:

"This humble servant, Qian Fu, pays his respects to Lord Yan! And greets Elder Cen!"

Seeing that Xiao Liu was still stunned beside him, he quickly tugged at his sleeve and scolded him in a low voice:

"What are you standing there for! Quickly bow! This is Lord Yan from the Investigation Bureau! This is the renowned Elder Cen, who is famous throughout the martial arts world!"

Xiao Liu then mechanically followed Qian Fu in bowing.

Qian Fu immediately introduced himself as if to take credit:

"Lord Yan, Senior Cen, this is Xiao Liu, the sworn brother of the notorious bandit Song Jiang!"

"It was because I successfully persuaded and turned him that I was able to finally find this place where the silver was hidden!"

Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng were already extremely anxious after receiving Qian Fu's secret letter.

The northern wall of Yanshan is a sheer cliff thousands of feet high, making it difficult for large armies to traverse.

The two men, confident in their unparalleled martial arts skills, abandoned their army and came alone.

With two powerful and three-tiered individuals joining forces, they are confident they can sweep away everything!
At this moment, Yan Zi'an had no time for pleasantries. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, piercing straight into the depths of the cave, and his voice carried an undeniable urgency:

"Where is the silver?"

Qian Fu stood ramrod straight, like a hero leading the way:

"My lord, please follow me!"

He led the way, taking Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng quickly toward the depths of the cave.

When the mountain of wooden crates, reflecting a cold, silvery light, came into view, even Yan Cen and his companion, who were used to all sorts of things, couldn't help but gasp for breath!
The two rushed forward like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey, roughly lifting the lid of the box, grabbing the heavy silver ingots, and eagerly identifying the fire mark on the bottom—"Shen's Wanshi Trading Company"!
"That's it! It's the one!"

"The silver is correct! The amount is roughly correct too!"

The moment they confirmed it was true, their tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and they exhaled a long, heartfelt breath!
The huge weight that had been pressing on my heart for days has finally been lifted!

Yan Zian's career and Cen Ruifeng's employer have finally been saved!
However, after a brief period of euphoria, Yan Zian's fox-like intuition immediately detected a hint of discord.

His sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, his brows gradually furrowing:
"The silver has been found... but how do we transport it?"

He pointed to the silver chest that filled half the cave, his voice laced with cold skepticism:
"With such a massive quantity, how did Song Jiang manage to transport it up to this cliffside eagle's nest without anyone noticing?"

Qian Fu's smile froze instantly!
He wanted to explain, but when he opened his mouth, he was speechless! Yes! How was it transported up?

Relying on a convoy? Absolutely no way out!

Relying on the Divine Eagle? No matter how strong the eagle is, it would be absolutely impossible for it to carry so many boxes of silver ingots on a long journey!
Moreover, despite the spies keeping a close watch on the Divine Eagle's whereabouts every day, they never saw it carrying a large load!

Transported via an underground river? The edges of the fissure are as smooth as a mirror, without any signs of dragging or wear!

The mountain of silver seemed to have appeared out of thin air in this desolate place!

A chill ran down Qian Fu's spine and up to his head in an instant!
If something doesn't make sense, then there must be a problem or something suspicious about it.

This place is rarely visited by people and is a natural barrier, so a large army cannot follow.

Furthermore, being completely far from the eastern army of Qin Feng and the southern army of the Prince of Pingcheng, they could not expect their experts to provide support in a short period of time.

It gives the impression that...

This silver is like bait, luring those who covet it into this deadly trap of the eagle's nest.

Yan Zi'an's gaze suddenly sharpened, like two poisoned daggers, fixing on Qian Fu's face:
Who brought you here?

Qian Fu shuddered and instinctively looked toward the cave entrance in terror.

Xiao Liu remained standing there alone, not following them into the depths.

Yan Zian's gaze followed closely, instantly locking onto Xiao Liu at the cave entrance!
The pressure and scrutiny contained in that gaze were enough to terrify ordinary martial artists!
Yan Zi'an's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth:
"You don't have the ability to set up such a grand scheme."

"Say!"

He took a step forward, and an invisible pressure, like a mountain, pressed down on Xiao Liu:

"Who orchestrated all of this?!"

Everyone thought Xiao Liu would defend himself and beg for mercy.

however.

Xiao Liu remained silent.

He slowly turned around, facing the dark abyss outside the cave that swallowed everything, leaving everyone with a resolute and indifferent back view.

He took half a step forward, his toes almost dangling over the edge of a sheer cliff!
This posture clearly shows that he has already completed his mission, so he is too lazy to even act anymore!

Qian Fu's internal alarm bells were ringing, but he forced a smile, trying to smooth things over.

"Sixth Brother Xiao, what are you standing there for? Come here quickly, Lord Yan has some questions for you..."

Seeing that Xiao Liu had no reaction, Qian Fu's voice also turned cold, filled with undisguised sarcasm and threat:

"Brother Xiao Liu, with your meager ninth-rank cultivation, it would be difficult for you to even climb down this godforsaken cliff safely!"

"You have nowhere to go! What? You really expect to... fly down, don't you?!"

Before Qian Fu could finish speaking—

"唳——!!!"

A powerful, piercing cry, capable of splitting rocks and shattering metal, abruptly tore through the silent night sky, arriving in an instant from afar!

Qian Fu's face changed drastically, and he cried out in alarm:
"The Divine Condor?!"

In a flash, he understood everything!
So this is what Xiao Liu relied on!

At the cave entrance, a relieved yet mocking smile finally appeared on Xiao Liu's face.

Without further hesitation, he leaned forward and leaped off the bottomless, howling cliff!
Their stance was resolute and unwavering!

In the night sky, that magnificent black shadow with wingspan covering the sky swooped down like lightning, precisely tracing the trajectory of Xiao Liu's descent!
In just a moment, I can catch him safely and fly away!
Just as Xiao Liu's figure was about to merge into the huge shadow cast by the Divine Condor—

"Hmph! Such trivial skills, yet you dare to show off in front of me?!"

A chilling, piercing snort, brimming with boundless authority, exploded right next to Xiao Liu's ear!

The next moment!

Xiao Liu felt a sudden tightness all over his body!
An invisible force, so powerful and irresistible, as sticky as glue, instantly imprisoned his falling body in mid-air!
He was like a moth drawn into a spider's web, struggling desperately but unable to budge an inch!
He turned around in horror!
Deep inside the cave, Yan Zi'an stood with his right hand, fingers slightly outstretched, palm facing his direction!

A terrifying internal force, vast and condensed to the point of being tangible, captured him firmly from ten feet away!

Cen Ruifeng and Qian Fu stood beside Yan Zi'an, their faces bearing cruel, cold smiles like cats toying with mice, as they contemptuously watched Xiao Liu struggling futilely in the air.

"Ants!"

Yan Zi'an's lips moved slightly, uttering two cold words.

In his eyes, a ninth-rank martial artist was indeed no different from an ant.

He gently closed the five fingers that were clenched in the air!
"Snap! Snap! Snap—!!!"

A series of teeth-grinding bone-crackling sounds rang out like popping beans!
Xiao Liu's limbs, sternum, ribs... countless bones were crushed in an instant by this immense force from a distance!

"what--!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream, so shrill it was inhuman, burst forth from Xiao Liu's throat!

The intense pain caused his eyes to bulge, the veins on his forehead to twist and throb like earthworms, and large beads of sweat to instantly soak his entire body!
He was like a boneless lump of mud, writhing and convulsing in the air in agony!
The divine eagle roared in anger.

Its enormous wings stirred up violent air currents as it fearlessly charged toward the cave entrance, its sharp claws gleaming coldly as it lunged straight for Yan Zi'an!

"You feathered beast, you're asking for death!"

Cen Ruifeng's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and with a roar, his giant palm, as large as a fan, suddenly slammed out into the air!
"Boom——!!!"

A deafening roar, like a muffled thunderclap, exploded in the cave!

The violent palm force condensed into a visible pale golden pillar of energy, carrying destructive power, and slammed into the oncoming divine eagle!

Sensing a deadly threat, the eagle let out a sharp cry and twisted its massive body at the last second!

Even so, the edge of that sharp palm wind still grazed its wing tip!

"Tsk-!"

A large patch of glossy black, hard feathers was forcibly torn off, scattering like black snowflakes in the night sky!

The eagle let out a painful cry, its massive body tumbling and flying backwards from the shock.

It could only hover in the distant night sky, no longer daring to approach this deadly opening!

Although the Divine Eagle is the overlord of the sky, it does not yet have the strength to fight a third-rank martial artist in close combat.

Yan Zi'an looked at Xiao Liu, whose face was contorted in agony in the air, and his voice was like a chilling wind blowing from the icy hell:

"That bird can't save you."

"You've got one last chance, speak!"

His five fingers tightened slightly, and the air around Xiao Liu groaned in agony under the strain.

"Otherwise, next time, it won't be bones that break... it will be your life!"

however.

The only response he received was Xiao Liu's silent gaze, twisted with pain yet clenched tightly, filled with hatred and defiance!
He would rather die than utter a word!
"Stubborn!"

Yan Zi'an's eyes revealed a murderous intent:
"Then I'll grant your wish!"

The life of a mere ninth-rank ant is not worth mentioning in his eyes!
He suddenly clenched his five fingers inward!
We must crush this eyesore of a weakling!
Xiao Liu closed his eyes in despair.

At this critical moment, when life and death were hanging in the balance—

"boom--!!!"

An overwhelming and terrifying force, like a meteor falling from the heavens, suddenly and without warning, crashed into the cave from above!

It struck with perfect precision the invisible internal force that Yan Zi'an was using to imprison Xiao Liu!
"Bang—!!!"

It was as if glass had shattered!

Yan Zian's condensed and steel-like grappling energy was torn apart and collapsed by this sudden attack!
The violent aftershocks even caused the hard rocks at the cave entrance to flake off, filling the air with dust!
A dark shadow, like a demon tearing through the night sky, appeared ghostly amidst the billowing smoke and dust!

With one hand, he firmly grabbed Xiao Liu, whose body was limp and whose bones were shattered, and then, without even looking at him, threw Xiao Liu hard into the night sky outside the cave!
“Violent——!”

The divine eagle, which had been circling outside, let out a sharp, spiritual cry.

Its massive body drew a perfect arc, precisely carrying the falling Xiao Liu on its broad back!
Then, with a violent flap of its wings, it whipped up a howling gale and instantly transformed into a black arrow that shot off a bowstring and disappeared into the boundless darkness of the night.

Disappeared without a trace!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye!
The smoke and dust at the cave entrance were dispersed by the gale whipped up by the divine eagle.

A tall, imposing figure, straight as a spear and towering as a mountain, appeared clearly at the cave entrance, blocking the only way out!
His black robes fluttered in the wind, his face was cold and hard, and his phoenix eyes gleamed with a cold light more chilling than a blade in the dim light!
"Song Jiang?!"

The three people deep inside the cave, upon seeing the newcomer's face, had their pupils suddenly contract and exclaimed in unison in horror!

Liang took another step forward, his heavy boots echoing loudly on the cold rocks.

His gaze, as cold as ice, slowly swept over Yan Zi'an, Cen Ruifeng, and Qian Fu. His voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the empty cave:

"Just now……"

"Who called my battle pet a 'feathered beast'?"

"Who is it that called my sworn brothers 'ants' again?!"

With each question he asked, his aura surged even more!
An invisible pressure, like a rising tide, surged and filled the entire Eagle's Nest Cave!

"I'd like to take a good look..."

A cold, chilling smile curled at the corner of Liang Jin's lips as he relentlessly pressed forward into the cave.

"And what are you?!"

Yan Zi'an and Cen Ruifeng's faces were ashen, their hearts filled with surprise and doubt!

How dare Song Jiang come alone?
Still so arrogant?
Could it be... that Mu Shanqing and the man in black robes are nearby?
The two focused intently, their senses like invisible radar, frantically scanning every corner and every shadow inside and outside the cave...

Empty!

There was no one else but Song Jiang, who was pressing him relentlessly!
Yan Zi'an calmed down slightly, then laughed in exasperation, his eyes flashing with cold light:
"How brave!"

"Neither Mushan Qing nor the man in black robes were by your side, yet you dare to venture into the Dragon Pool alone and spout such nonsense before me?!"

He slowly raised his right hand, and a terrifying palm force that was cold and piercing, as solid as a substance, rapidly gathered in his palm, causing the surrounding air to hiss and freeze!
"I, too, would like to weigh you, you bandit... just how much you're worth!"

Before he finished speaking, his palm strike, which he had been preparing to unleash, transformed into a pale white, icy streak that tore through the air.

With an aura of death that freezes everything, it crashed down on Liang Jin, who was closing in step by step!
Liang Jin's face was as cold as iron. Facing the terrifying palm force that was enough to freeze a third-grade martial artist, he neither dodged nor avoided it!
He suddenly exerted force with his feet, and the hard rock ground shattered in response!
He was like an ancient, ferocious lion that had been completely enraged.

With an unstoppable, mountain-crushing, and ferocious momentum, it charged straight at Yan Zi'an, meeting the icy palm force head-on!

A great battle... erupted instantly!
aside.

Qian Fu and Cen Ruifeng, who had initially been watching with a detached, spectator's attitude, found themselves caught up in the heat of battle after only one exchange...

Their pupils suddenly contracted to the size of pinpoints!

The cold smile on his face froze and shattered instantly, replaced by... a vision that defied all reason and was utterly terrifying!

That expression was filled with indescribable horror and...unbelievable fear!

(End of this chapter)