Celestial Refining Divine Scripture-Chapter 181 - 179: Retreat into Leizhou
"It’s broken, finally broken!"
"Hahaha, I knew the imperial court wouldn’t abandon us!"
"Hurry, let’s leave the Northern Territory at once!"
"Damn barbarian bastards, once the Daqian army assembles, it’ll be your day of reckoning!"
At this moment, countless martial artists across the Northern Territory were stirred with excitement, tears of joy streaming down their faces!
This past month has felt like a year, every moment spent in panic and dread!
A thousand miles east of Beixuan City.
Those who escaped from Wuhou Hall and the King Beixuan’s palace had gathered together.
"That was the Prefect of Qingzhou who intervened. The Prefect of Qingzhou holds the Qian King’s Seal, yet not a single True Sovereign appeared!" Gon Lang gazed at the slowly fading figure on the side of the sky, eyes filled with shock!
By rights, it really shouldn’t be this way!
He sensed something was off.
"Hall Master, should we go now?" someone asked.
Gon Lang said in a deep voice, "Let’s leave the Northern Territory first!"
"Move out!"
As for anything else, it would have to be set aside for now!
Zheng Qi and Chen Chong glanced back unwillingly, the killing intent in their hearts toward Xu Yang not abating in the slightest.
But even with such hatred, they knew perfectly well, now was absolutely not the time to go back for Xu Yang!
"Xu Yang, you’d better not die at anyone else’s hand!"
On the other side.
Liou Yunfeng and the others had also left the underground cavern, standing atop a high mountain.
Doggy lay contentedly in Bai Jingxue’s arms, utterly enjoying the moment!
"Strange, the court’s response was far too slow!"
"For such an important affair, in the end, it was the Prefect of Qingzhou who acted..."
"By rights, even if the Emperor personally attended, it would not be overstepping!"
"And where’s Zheng Xuan? Where did he go?"
The group of powerhouses were excited, but all found it odd!
None of it made any sense!
After all, this was no trivial matter!
"Mr. Liou, should we go to Qingzhou now?" Zhang Yuanshan came over and asked!
Liou Yunfeng furrowed his brow tightly. "Xu Yang hasn’t returned yet!"
The faces of the crowd shifted minutely!
It had been so long already, Xu Yang...
Jian Chuan said in a low voice, "How about this: you all go ahead and wait up ahead, I’ll scout around!"
With his strength, even if the barbarians found him, he could escape safely!
"Very well!"
Liou Yunfeng nodded slightly.
Jian Chuan didn’t waste words and left straightaway!
A half day later.
Jian Chuan returned, his expression somber.
"So? What did you find?"
The crowd asked urgently.
Jian Chuan shook his head a little and sighed: "No sign of him. That brat fled Beixuan City and caused an uproar with the barbarians—after a bout of pursuit, he vanished without a trace. To this moment, even the barbarians don’t know where he is!"
At those words, the crowd heaved a collective sigh of relief!
At least that’s good!
That meant Xu Yang had escaped!
"And Xu Yang has been gone a while already, yet he hasn’t arrived here..." Jian Chuan looked at Liou Yunfeng.
Liou Yunfeng said decisively, "Given that, let’s leave the Northern Territory first!"
"If he comes looking, he’ll find us in Qingzhou!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
That was the best option!
Zhang Yuanshan was overjoyed!
So many powerful martial artists coming to the Zhang Family at once, plus a Pill King—Zhang Family had struck it rich!
Even if they didn’t stay long, this was enough to solve a host of problems!
...
Somewhere outside Beixuan City.
Song Yuanhao listened with a cold, sinister look as a subordinate reported.
"Young Master, we’ve searched everywhere and still haven’t found Xu Yang!"
Song Yuanhao stared up at the sky as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Now that the array was shattered...
"Mobilize manpower to Qingzhou—keep tight surveillance on the Zhang Family for me!"
"If the chance arises, capture Liou Yunfeng!"
"Yes, sir!"
Song Yuanhao narrowed his eyes and sneered, "I don’t believe it, you won’t go to Qingzhou?"
...
"Shit, are these bastards crazy?"
Xu Yang was fleeing westward, cursing under his breath!
He was taking a detour, but hadn’t gone far before spotting the barbarian army!
The Barbarians’ preparations surpassed even his expectations!
South of the border, every vital route was packed with troops, defenses tight!
If he made a move, countless experts would be drawn in!
After several attempts to circle around, Xu Yang was left with no choice but to slip into Leizhou and figure out a new plan.
To cross the Northern Territory was as hard as ascending the heavens!
Meanwhile, as the hidden martial artists escaped, the entire Northern Territory had now fallen fully into barbarian hands!
"Mr. Liou and the others surely won’t wait for me long—I should get out of the Northern Territory, that’s the best move!"
"Qingzhou, the Zhang Family!"
Upon reaching the border, Xu Yang hesitated no longer, leaving the Northern Territory directly and stepping onto the land of Leizhou!
To the west of the Northern Territory lay Leizhou and Xiling!
Eastward was Qingzhou!
Central Daqian was even further away!
Xu Yang planned to find a city first, and observe how the situation unfolded!
After the barbarians seized the Northern Territory, what would the royal family do?
And Zheng Xuan!
The Northern Territory, the royal palace—they were his foundation!
Within less than an hour, before spotting any city, Xu Yang instead saw a group of several hundred martial artists.
"What’s going on here?"
Xu Yang’s eyes filled with suspicion.
This crowd of hundreds was a chaotic mix, their cultivation levels all over the place!
The weakest were Innate, the strongest were Manifestation!
Seeing Xu Yang sweep in from the east, someone approached.
"Friend, did you just come out of the Northern Territory?"
Xu Yang’s eyes flashed—he instantly guessed their intentions.
Spectators!
After all, with such a big commotion in the Northern Territory, neighboring Leizhou couldn’t possibly ignore it.
"No, I was checking ahead for the situation, spent half a day and didn’t see any Northern martial artists coming out." Xu Yang shrugged helplessly.
"Could it be all the Northern martial artists were captured or killed?"
The other man didn’t doubt him, but cried out in alarm.
Xu Yang smiled wryly in his heart—only a portion managed to escape!
The weak, the unlucky—dead or captured!
This past month was enough for the barbarians to seize control of most of the area.
Xu Yang blended into the crowd, and quickly picked up the outside news.
The commotion over the Northern Territory Cyan Gang Sect’s treasure was no secret in Leizhou.
Some of the martial artists were still inside the Northern Territory!
The Haoyang Heaven-Sealing Array shrouded the Northern Territory—what shook first was Leizhou and Qingzhou.
Within less than three days, the news swept all of Daqian!
Yet in all that time, the royal family did nothing!
Rumor says even the Emperor never made an appearance!
Then, the Prefect of Qingzhou acted, breaking the array with the Qian King’s Seal!
Xu Yang found it all bizarre.
How could that be?
For such a major event, even the Emperor didn’t show?
It might be mere rumor, unlikely to be trusted, and without entering the capital no one could know the truth, but if action had been taken, it could not have gone unnoticed!
"Sigh, the armies of Leizhou, Qingzhou, and Yuanzhou have all massed at the border, ready against the barbarians!"
"But no one knows where the King Beixuan went—the Northern Territory was his stronghold, and to this day no word of him has come!"
"If he doesn’t return, the world will mock him."
"These barbarian bastards, they truly are hateful!"
...
Listening to the martial artists’ discussions nearby, Xu Yang’s expression shifted sharply.
Where did Zheng Xuan go?
One must know, the Qian King’s Seal from the King Beixuan’s palace was seized by the barbarians!
As King Beixuan, even if he wasn’t present, he couldn’t escape blame!
This was an immense crime!
Judging by precedent, losing the title of King Beixuan would be considered lenient.
At this moment, Zheng Xuan sat cross-legged outside a secret room beneath the imperial palace in the capital.
The secret room’s door was tightly shut, covered with densely packed, arcane and mysterious spirit glyphs. Though all glimmered dark and dull, just a glance sent chills down anyone’s spine!
"Your Majesty, the Northern Territory has fallen to the barbarians!"
"The Prefect of Qingzhou acted and destroyed the array!"
"It looks like the Prefect of Qingzhou is one of their pieces as well!"
Zheng Xuan played idly with a jade seal in his hand, smiling as he gazed at the secret chamber!
The loss of the Northern Territory, the shattering of the royal palace—yet not a trace of anger or bloodlust showed on his face!
As though all was within his expectations!
"The next move for the barbarians, likely is to make trouble in Leizhou or Qingzhou. Since the Prefect of Qingzhou seems to be their pawn, the highest chance is Leizhou!"
"Thank you for managing the situation outside."
From within the chamber came a calm voice!
No person revealed, yet an aura of absolute sovereignty and domineering will filled the air!
Zheng Xuan nodded gently. "Your Majesty, how much longer will you need?"
"Around two years!"
"Heh, Your Majesty has given them such a grand opportunity; let’s hope it’s not all thunder and no rain!" Zheng Xuan chuckled, bowed his head slightly, and in his eyes surged thick anticipation.
...
