Chapter 181 - 136: Regeneration
Or perhaps, it was simply too tender.
If Lu Changfeng were to use an arm in this state to execute another Blade of Annihilation worth fifty Annihilation Value, its strength would be insufficient. The backlash would likely spread to the rest of his body.
Therefore, Lu Changfeng would need to focus on specialized training to strengthen his right arm.
Until his right arm was fully recovered, it would be impossible for him to unleash another skill worth fifty Annihilation Value with it.
His right arm needed time to recover, but if he truly needed to unleash the Blade of Annihilation, Lu Changfeng still had his left arm.
As long as he had this ultimate strike, no enemy would dare to stand before him. It was more than enough for Lu Changfeng to handle the current Martial Arts Realm.
Besides, no one knew that his right arm was temporarily unable to unleash its ultimate move. When they saw that Lu Changfeng’s arm had been restored, they would likely only grow more fearful of him.
"Saint Master, your Demon Fiend Skill is simply too powerful," Bai Touweng chimed in with flattery.
Having personally witnessed Lu Changfeng regenerate a severed limb, Bai Touweng had now seen another of the Saint Master’s incredible techniques.
Lu Changfeng waved a dismissive hand, in no mood to banter with Bai Touweng, and took out the message slip.
On the message slip, the chat group was already bustling with messages.
The various Demon Sect leaders were reporting on their situations.
Lu Changfeng quickly got up to speed.
In the southwest of Yunyang Prefecture, aside from the loss of the Bone-Eroding Demon Sect’s leader in battle, the Demon Sects had not disappointed Lu Changfeng, achieving the impressive feat of slaying three enemy Rebirth Realm experts.
The Demon Sect leaders were now gathered at the Profound Nether Sect’s stronghold, using the sect’s Primordial Medicine to rapidly restore their Spiritual Power.
After a full night, they had all just about fully recovered.
What worried Lu Changfeng most was Yong City, and beyond it, the territory the Saint Demon Sect had occupied for less than a year.
After Lu Changfeng and the Demon Sect leaders had split up, Yong City was left extremely vulnerable. It had only Lin Xiong, a single Rebirth Realm expert, to assist Lin Erfeng, while the Hua Family’s two Demon Generals were still in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Rebirth Realm.
If the Yunyang Prefecture’s Martial Arts Army had marched out then, all the territory Lu Changfeng had just brought under his control would have been lost, forcing him to start all over again.
In that case, the entire endeavor would have been a net loss.
However, the cowardice of Yunyang Prefecture’s Mansion Master, Yinn Zhong, exceeded Lu Changfeng’s imagination.
Even though all reports confirmed that the Saint Demon Sect had few forces left in Yong City, the man still only dared to hole up in Phoenix City, refusing to mobilize.
Now, as news of Lu Changfeng’s battle in the Capital Region began to spread, Yinn Zhong would probably react even more drastically.
After reading the messages, Lu Changfeng first posted in the chat group to report that he was safe.
Saint Master: I have safely withdrawn from the Capital Region.
Saint Master: The results of this battle were quite satisfactory. I personally slew a True Spirit Body from Yunfo Temple!
Lu Changfeng made no attempt to hide his achievements. Announcing his strength served to bolster the confidence of the Demon Sect leaders and Demon Generals under his command.
At the Profound Nether Sect’s stronghold, Xuansha, Yui Ya, and the others received the message, and their furrowed brows finally relaxed.
They all congratulated the Saint Master on his triumphant victory.
However, many of the Demon Sect leaders still found it hard to believe his claim of personally slaying a True Spirit Body.
Even with Bai Touweng excitedly describing the battle in the chat, the other leaders found it hard to accept. The Saint Master was only in the Bone Refining Realm, after all! How could someone in the Bone Refining Realm possibly kill a True Spirit Body? That was a leap of several entire tiers of power!
Lu Changfeng didn’t bother explaining further. The battle in the Capital Region had many witnesses.
He was confident that soon enough, news of the battle would spread throughout the entire Song Country.
At that point, the entire world would know that Lu Changfeng possessed a technique, the Blade of Annihilation, capable of killing enemies far above his own realm!
Any rumors to the contrary would naturally be dispelled.
Just then, amidst the chorus of flattery, a message from Xuansha turned the conversation to business.
Xuansha: Saint Master, should we continue to intercept the Black Dragon Army on their way back to the capital?
In the southwest of Yunyang Prefecture, the Saint Demon Sect’s forces currently held the advantage.
Although Situ Yanbei and Young Master Hong were exceptionally powerful, if the goal was simply to intercept them and slow their return to the capital, Xuansha and the others could accomplish it with ease.
After all, aside from its cadre of Black Demon War Generals, the Black Dragon Army also had a large number of soldiers at the Tendon Transformation Realm.
They just had to be careful not to get surrounded by the Black Dragon Army. Of course, there were still risks. If the Black Dragon Army soldiers fought with no fear of death to trap one of the Rebirth Realm experts, and with the coordination of the Black Dragon War Generals, there was no guarantee that Xuansha and his group wouldn’t suffer a loss.
The power of the Black Dragon Army’s Battle Array was not to be underestimated.
Lu Changfeng thought for a moment.
He decided to have Xuansha and the others withdraw for now.
Hongg Zai was recalling the Black Dragon Army in disgrace, but this also revealed his firm resolve to bring the Capital City to heel.
Lu Changfeng put himself in the other’s shoes. ’If I were the Emperor, and an outside enemy had attacked my Imperial Palace while the so-called Martial Arts Powers just stood by and watched...’
’...I would make a point to deal with those Martial Arts Powers afterward, too.’
He would let Hongg Zai and those factions in the Capital City wear each other down with internal conflict.
’I’m not afraid of them gathering together.’
’What I fear is them hiding in the shadows.’
’Gathering together is perfect. It will make it easier to take care of them all at once next time!’
He believed that after this incident, Hongg Zai wouldn’t dare send the Black Dragon Army out of the capital for some time.
Lu Changfeng would use this opportunity to rest and reorganize before bringing the entire Yunyang Prefecture under his command!
By doing so, the Capital Region would be completely trapped in the north by Lu Changfeng’s forces. The old dragon that was the Song Country’s Royal Family would finally be put to sleep!
On the message slip, the various Demon Sect leaders and Demon Generals replied in agreement.
Back at the Profound Nether Sect’s stronghold, Xuansha and the others who had been gathered around the Primordial Medicine rose to their feet. Despite the protests of Lii Tianxing and his men urging them to stay, they left the stronghold without hesitation.
"Sect Leader, why did they leave in such a hurry?" a Profound Nether Sect Elder asked, clearly confused.
Lii Tianxing shook his head. "Perhaps they received some news."
"It’s possible the Yunyang Prefecture army took this chance to make a move on the Saint Demon Sect’s territory."
"Never mind them. Keep an eye on the Black Dragon Army’s movements."
The Profound Nether Sect Elder nodded. He soon received the latest intelligence: the Black Dragon Army was still heading north, seemingly in a rush to get back to the Capital City.
Lii Tianxing breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t know what had happened, but it seemed the crisis had passed.
Several days later, when Lii Tianxing received the news from the Capital City, he was left utterly dumbfounded. But of course, that is a story for another time...
...
Over twenty thousand Black Dragon Army soldiers were rushing north at a forced march.
Inside a new horse-drawn carriage, Situ Yanbei sat cross-legged with three of his subordinate War Generals.
Situ Yanbei took out a Beast Hide Scroll.
On the Beast Hide Scroll, a line of large, blood-red characters flashed before disappearing.
Situ Yanbei’s eyes widened, the line of text seared into his mind.
This was the special method of communication between the Black Dragon Army and Hongg Zai, allowing for the real-time transmission of messages.
Earlier that morning, Situ Yanbei had received a message ordering the Black Dragon Army to turn back.
Although Situ Yanbei found it strange, as Hongg Zai’s most trusted Grand General, he suppressed his desire for revenge, immediately abandoned their recent gains, and led the Black Dragon Army back toward the capital.
Several hours later, Situ Yanbei received another message on the Scroll.
This time, the message detailed the strength and accomplishments of the Saint Demon Sect Master.
’How is this possible? The Saint Demon Sect Master actually possesses such strength!’
’He killed a Rebirth Realm Second Layer expert in a single strike!’
He drew a sharp breath. ’Thank goodness that monster didn’t choose the Black Dragon Army as his target!’
’Otherwise, even if the Black Dragon Army managed to form an array and trap the Saint Master, I, Situ Yanbei, would have undoubtedly died in the process.’
’A Rebirth Realm Second Layer expert was felled in a single blow; I have no confidence I could have survived the Saint Master’s blade.’
’In that case, only Abbot Lingkong of Yunfo Temple would be able to confront the Saint Demon Sect Master head-on.’
Situ Yanbei thought to himself.
He immediately ordered the Black Dragon Army to return to the capital at maximum speed.
The Scroll had already made his mission upon returning to the capital crystal clear.
Bring the Capital City’s Martial Arts Powers to heel!!
’They certainly need to be dealt with,’ he thought. ’Those leeches, fed fat by the Capital Region.’
’Leeches must either become nourishment... or be crushed to death.’
Situ Yanbei’s gaze was icy. He had initially been worried that the Saint Demon Sect’s leaders would try to intercept him.
But to his surprise, the Saint Demon Sect’s leaders seemed to have left as well. For the rest of the journey back to the capital, they never reappeared to interfere with the Black Dragon Army’s march.
「One day later.」
Lu Changfeng returned to Yong City, riding the Fire Qilin.
Inside the Yong City Mansion, the Demon Sect leaders who had returned ahead of him were already eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Only when they saw Lu Changfeng land with the White Tiger Guardian and Bai Touweng did the gathered Demon Sect leaders finally breathe a true sigh of relief.