Chapter 256 Bring Some People
“Third Prince, we should retreat as well!
“Everything is proceeding according to the monarch’s plan. There’s no need for you to remain
here and risk your safety any longer!”
The loyal retainer standing beside Dong Zilong spoke with urgency, his gaze shifting toward the
battlefield where the Wu Kingdom elder had already engaged with the Spirit Root cultivators of
the Five Kingdoms. The plan was unfolding perfectly, and he saw no reason for the prince to
remain in harm’s way.
The strategy was simple: let the Wu Kingdom elder and the Spirit Root cultivators of the Five
Kingdoms battle to mutual destruction.
“Retreating is fine,” Yun Yanshui, the Third Prince, said with a cold smile. “But I’d like to take
some people with me.”
“Take… who?”
The retainer hesitated, not wishing to complicate their departure. However, if bringing a few
others along would ensure the prince’s willingness to leave, he decided to temporarily
acquiesce. If things didn’t work out, he would forcibly escort Yun Yanshui to safety, regardless of
the prince’s displeasure.
“The three Spirit Root cultivators from the Yun Cang Yun clan. I find them intriguing. Bring them
to me.”
Yun Yanshui’s lips curled into a sly grin.
“It’s about time you began expanding your harem, Your Highness,” the retainer replied with a
knowing nod. “If you fancy the three from the Yun clan, we’ll see to it immediately.”
Assuming the prince intended to take the three as concubines, the retainer found no reason to
question the order. Bowing respectfully, he and the other five attendants vanished into the
shadows to carry out the task.
On the chaotic battlefield below, the Spirit Root cultivators of the Five Kingdoms fought valiantly
against the elder.
“The Wu Kingdom cultivators are here!”
A Northern Kingdom cultivator cried out, his voice trembling as he spotted Xia Changfei, Zhang
Tianli, Yun Yueru, and their compatriots joining the fray.
“Are they here to attack us?” Beiyuan asked, narrowing his eyes and scanning the scene.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Nangong Chun replied, her gaze following the Wu Kingdom cultivators. At
first, she shared Beiyuan’s suspicion, but it quickly became apparent that Xia Changfei’s group
wasn’t targeting them. Their focus was on the elder.
“Seems like the Wu Kingdom recognizes the threat that monster poses. Joining forces is the
only sensible option,” Ye Xiaolin thought, his mind racing as he observed the battlefield.
“Xiaolin, should we take this opportunity to eliminate Xia Changfei?” Lu Shanglin whispered,
retreating momentarily to Ye Xiaolin’s side.
“Not now. Let’s deal with the elder first,” Ye Xiaolin replied, shaking his head. Turning on their
temporary allies in the midst of battle would only create chaos and weaken their chances of
survival.
In the shadows, Li Qing observed the Wu Kingdom cultivators’ unexpected actions with a
furrowed brow.
“Strange… why would the Wu cultivators attack their own elder?”
Rain Fairy, Daoist Lu, and Tuxian Master shared his confusion, their expressions mirroring his
unease.
“Perhaps we misunderstood the Wu Kingdom’s true intentions,” Li Qing murmured, his voice low
and contemplative.
“What do you mean?” Tuxian Master asked, his curiosity piqued.
“The Wu monarch’s plan runs far deeper than we initially thought,” Li Qing said, a chill running
down his spine as he grasped the implications.
“Li Qing, explain yourself!” Rain Fairy pressed, her eyes fixed on him.
“From the very beginning, this Five Kingdoms meeting was a trap.
“At first, when Frost uncovered the Wu monarch’s plan, both the emperor and I assumed that
Dong Zilong’s goal was simply to use the Wu elder to eliminate the Spirit Root cultivators of the
other four kingdoms, thereby weakening our foundations.
“But now, seeing the Wu cultivators attacking their own elder, I’ve realized the truth.
“Dong Zilong’s plan isn’t just about eliminating the Spirit Root cultivators of the Four Kingdoms.
He also intends to rid himself of the Wu Kingdom’s own Spirit Root cultivators, addressing both
internal and external threats in one stroke.
“Furthermore, it seems he’s even using this situation to have the Spirit Root cultivators from all
five kingdoms kill the Wu elder!”
“What?! Eliminate both the elder and their own Spirit Root cultivators? How is that possible?”
“The Wu elder is a failed Foundation Establishment cultivator—no longer human, no longer
sane. If left unchecked, he poses a threat to the Wu Kingdom itself.
“Moreover, if Dong Zilong truly wished to protect the elder or spare his kingdom’s cultivators, he
would have ensured they didn’t attack the elder. Their actions clearly show they were unaware
of the full scope of the plan.”
Rain Fairy, Daoist Lu, and Tuxian Master exchanged grim looks as Li Qing’s explanation settled
over them like a dark cloud.
The trap had been far more insidious than any of them had anticipated.
Li Qing stood atop a ridge, his gaze fixed on the chaotic battlefield below. The Wu Kingdom
elder rampaged among the Spirit Root cultivators, his movements a whirlwind of death. With a
single, monstrous swipe, he seized a Wu Kingdom cultivator, snapping their neck and
ravenously devouring their flesh.
Watching this grisly spectacle, Li Qing clenched his fists. His thoughts churned as the scene
before him solidified his suspicions.
“So, Dong Zilong’s machinations run this deep,” he muttered. “He’s schemed against the Four
Kingdoms, against his own clans within the Wu Kingdom… even against the elder of his royal
house.”
Rain Fairy and the others were struck silent by Li Qing’s analysis. Though difficult to believe, the
reality unfolding before them seemed to confirm his words.
“Who goes there?!”
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as the four of them sensed figures moving in the
shadows toward Yun Yanshuang and her nieces. A sharp command rang out as they sprang
into action, racing toward the six cultivators attempting to ambush the Yun clan women.
“It’s the Yue Kingdom’s royal enforcers!”
“Hmph! Who would have thought the Yue Kingdom monarch would assign four enforcers to
guard those three Spirit Root cultivators from the Yun Cang Yun clan? Looks like the Third
Prince’s judgment was spot on—they must be crucial to Yue’s plans.”
The retainer under Dong Zilong narrowed his eyes as Li Qing and his allies approached. With a
cold sneer, he signaled to his companions, and the four of them charged to intercept the
attackers.
Battle erupted.
Meanwhile, two other Wu Kingdom wandering cultivators took advantage of the chaos. Moving
quickly, they struck Yun Wenyu and Yun Wenrun, knocking both unconscious and disappearing
into the forest with their captives.
“Stop right there!”
Yun Yanshuang’s face darkened as she saw her nieces being abducted. Abandoning her
position in the main battle, she launched herself after the fleeing kidnappers, her form a streak
of light through the battlefield.
With a roar of spiritual energy, she unleashed a technique, Rising Moonfall, her blade scattering
a rain of sword energy toward the two Wu cultivators in a storm of deadly precision.
The two kidnappers reacted instantly, their hearts pounding as they narrowly dodged the
onslaught. The barrage of sword energy tore through the forest ahead, slicing through ancient
trees as easily as paper.
Boom! Boom!
Massive trunks, thick enough to require dozens of men to encircle, crashed to the ground in a
cacophony of thunderous noise, filling the air with flying debris and falling leaves.
“What terrifying power!” one of the Wu cultivators gasped, his face pale. “If that strike had hit us,
we’d have been torn apart on the spot!”
As Yun Yanshuang closed the gap, preparing to strike again, one of the kidnappers made a swift
decision. Snatching the unconscious Yun Wenyu, he lifted her into the air, his hand gripping her
throat tightly.
“Take another step, and she dies!” he barked, his voice icy and threatening.
“You bastard!”
Yun Yanshuang’s expression twisted in fury. Forced to halt her attack, she glared daggers at the
two cultivators, seething but unwilling to risk her niece’s life.
“Let’s go!”
Seeing their threat had worked, the cultivator holding Yun Wenyu motioned to his companion,
and the two of them retreated quickly toward Yun Yanshui’s position.
Yun Yanshuang followed close behind, refusing to let her nieces slip away. Her pursuit led her to
a boulder where Yun Yanshui lounged casually, watching the chaos below with a faint smirk.
“Return Wenyu and Wenrun to me!” she demanded, her voice sharp and icy.
“Return them? And why would I do that?”
Yun Yanshui’s grin widened as he saw the fury in his sister’s eyes. The sight of her
discomposure amused him, and he waved for the two Wu cultivators to place the unconscious
women beside him.
“Your Highness, this woman is formidable. We’re no match for her,” one of the Wu cultivators
said, his voice tinged with fear.
“No match? Then don’t bother,” Yun Yanshui replied lightly. With a flick of his sleeve, an
overwhelming force surged forth, imbued with the fiery essence of his Sun’s Radiance Wheel.
The two cultivators barely had time to react before they were engulfed. Their bodies were
incinerated in an instant, leaving nothing but ash.
Even in death, they couldn’t comprehend why the Third Prince had chosen to destroy them.