Chapter 219: 144, Capturing Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, the loss of Lady Wu_2
Once the Immortal Base was complete, and he possessed Magic Power, he would no longer suffer the weaknesses of a Warrior on the Path of the Physical Body.
This time, his Seclusion Cultivation lasted Three Years.
After a year and a half, he had already broken through to the Leakproof Realm.
After that, in one go, he cultivated both Cultivation Methods simultaneously, raising his Cultivation to the Late Innate Stage of the Immortal Path. He was only one step away from building the foundation and restoring his Cultivation in the Immortal Path.
During this cultivation journey, Xu Xing discovered the differences and similarities between the two Cultivation Methods.
The Path of the Physical Body cultivated Blood Qi, while the Immortal Path cultivated True Qi and Magic Power. Both could be pursued simultaneously in the early Realms. However, upon reaching the final Golden Body Realm and Returning Core Realm, they would diverge. According to his speculation, one would have to choose a single path to cultivate and could no longer pursue both.
This was because the core philosophies of the two Cultivation paths were diametrically opposed.
One condensed an Outer Dao Golden Body.
The other condensed an inner Returning Core.
「Yujing.」
「Shooting Sun Marquis Mansion.」
At night, a side door of the Marquis Mansion always remained ajar, never fully closed.
When the burly, blue-coated man guarding the door saw a sedan chair approaching from the alley’s end, he quickly opened the side door. He then summoned Servant Girls to sprinkle flowers in the corridor, instructed the old nanny to bring hot bathwater to the main house, and had the cook from the firewood room deliver platters of delicacies to the side hall’s dining table.
"The Marquis enjoys His Majesty’s favor and discusses state affairs, but he really shouldn’t be returning this late all the time," Lady Wu murmured, perhaps to herself or a nearby Servant Girl.
In the main house, Lady Wu sat before her dressing table, adorning herself. Over thirty years of age, her grace remained, enhanced by a mature charm that was even more captivating than the beauty of her youth.
"With the Chuyun Country provoking our borders, the Marquis is a Brave General of the National Dynasty..." she then said, applying her makeup.
"His Majesty indeed intends for the Marquis to lead an expedition to the battlefield," the Servant Girl beside her chimed in flatteringly.
Seeing Lady Wu finish applying her blush, the Servant Girl brought a bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup for rinsing her mouth and presented it to Lady Wu.
Lady Wu took a few delicate sips.
The old nanny nearby brought a spittoon, and Lady Wu spat the remnants of the Bird’s Nest Soup into it.
However, when the old nanny carrying the spittoon walked out the door, she accidentally tripped. The gilded brass spittoon clattered loudly as it tumbled down the steps by the entrance.
"Punish her by deducting half a month’s salary," Lady Wu stated casually, her red lips barely parting.
"Madam, your management of this household becomes more orderly by the day," the personal Servant Girl by her side spoke sweetly, flattering Lady Wu once more. "The Marquis will surely be pleased when he sees this."
"The Marquis establishes the hierarchy between master and servant..." Lady Wu raised an eyebrow, nodding slightly, quite in agreement with the Servant Girl’s words. "There is a natural order in this world. They are servants, so they must endure their lot; it’s for their own good. Without our Marquis Mansion, they would starve on the streets..."
Just as the mistress and Servant Girl were waiting patiently inside, Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, dressed in a Qilin robe, finally arrived at the main house’s entrance after finishing his evening meal in the side hall. Seeing Lady Wu so alluringly dressed, a smile touched his lips. He had the Servant Girl close the door, then, embracing Lady Wu’s slender waist, prepared to retire to bed.
However, just as the candle inside the room was blown out, a Flying Sword silently pierced through the window paper, appearing behind Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi.
"What lurking fiend is this? Daring to show your despicable face!" Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi, in his golden crown and brocade robes, glared furiously. "You dare assassinate this Marquis?"
His Blood Qi surged violently, instantly corrupting the attacking Flying Sword, causing it to lose its spiritual light and clatter to the ground. Then, his eyes glinting sharply, he kicked back forcefully against the ground, shattering the window as he launched himself out in pursuit of the assassin.
However, just as he reached the Artificial Mountain in the courtyard, nine light columns suddenly rose from the ground, forming a Five-colored Light Barrier resembling an overturned jade bowl, instantly trapping him at its center.
Immediately after, Xu Xing and the Three Great Demon Immortals revealed themselves.
"What kind of nefarious trick is this?" Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi exclaimed, astonished at the scene.
Although array techniques existed in this world, none could instantly trap a person within a specific domain like this Large Array. Moreover, this array had materialized so swiftly that he had no time to react.
While Wuyi was disoriented by the Small Five Elements Reversal Array, Xu Xing charged into its midst. He directly engaged Wuyi, creating an opportunity for the Three Great Demon Immortals to deliver a killing blow to Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi.
"Wu Xing," Wuyi roared, enraged upon seeing Xu Xing enter the fray. "I, this Marquis, am your biological father! How dare you defy moral bonds and try to kill me?"
Although he knew there was no familial affection whatsoever between him and ’Wu Xing,’ Wu Xing’s strength had now reached a level comparable to his own. Coupled with the support of the Three Great Demon Immortals, a sense of unease crept into him.
Even for a seasoned general like him, victorious in a hundred battles, a flicker of panic was unavoidable.
In the past, no matter how perilous the situation, he had always been confident in shattering it with his own strength.
But now, with Xu Xing collaborating with the Three Great Demon Immortals, and this mysterious array technique weighing on his mind, he sensed the approach of death for the first time. Therefore, his words were intended to unsettle Xu Xing’s mind, to make him falter, thereby buying himself a chance to break free.
"Wu Xing?"
Inside the house, Lady Wu watched the battle in the courtyard through the gaping hole Wuyi had smashed in the window, her expression anxious as she paced restlessly.
When she heard Wuyi’s words, she instantly recalled that harlot’s son from Yuhua Studio, thirteen years ago.
"Impossible! That harlot’s weakling son... How could he possibly possess strength comparable to the Marquis?
" Lady Wu couldn’t believe it.Then, she moved closer to the doorway for a better look. Before she could clearly discern Xu Xing’s features, her eyes were drawn to a Chicken Egg-sized pebble glowing on the steps of the main house.
It was this pebble, in conjunction with other similar pebbles placed elsewhere, that formed the array.
"Earlier, when Old Liu stumbled and fell..." Lady Wu’s expression changed slightly.
Previously, while she and her Servant Girls were preparing to welcome Wuyi, they had been dressing and applying makeup. Old Liu, while carrying the spittoon out of the main room, had stumbled and fallen. "With Old Liu’s experience, those steps were like flat ground to her; how could she possibly have fallen? At the time, I didn’t even realize it!"
"It’s my fault... I’ve doomed the Marquis..." Lady Wu was consumed by regret.
Before her regret could fully engulf her, the battle among the five in the courtyard reached its conclusion.
One of Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi’s arms had been severed by a Flying Sword.
At the same time, his golden crown lay on the ground. His once meticulously arranged hair, secured by a Jade Hairpin, was now disheveled and scattered across his forehead. His aura was utterly depleted, bearing no resemblance to the imposing Martial Arts Expert he had been moments before.
"Shooting Sun Marquis Wuyi..." Xu Xing observed with keen interest the towering man kneeling on the ground, the bones in both his legs shattered. A cold sneer played on Xu Xing’s lips. "Or should I say, Emperor Hongcheng?"
The relationship between this sovereign and minister is far from simple, he mused. Although I don’t know if Wuyi is actually Emperor Hongcheng, it doesn’t prevent me... from using this to bluff him.
"What?"
"The Marquis... he’s Emperor Hongcheng?"
Upon hearing this monumental secret, Lady Wu’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, utterly incredulous.
If the Shooting Sun Marquis is Emperor Hongcheng, then all these years... haven’t I... defiled myself with the Emperor? And I even dared to call Shi Yuyan a harlot. I am the true harlot, the one deserving of universal condemnation Under the Sky!