Azure Heaven Saber
Chapter 242 - 242 18 Identity Exposed

Chapter 242: Chapter 18: Identity Exposed Chapter 242: Chapter 18: Identity Exposed What met the eye was an entire area, utterly scrubbed clean.

All the vegetation, trees, and shrubs were all cleared away, not even a blade of grass was spared.

This method created a fracture in Tiandang Mountain – lush and green all the way up to the peak, and dense with trees and fruitful herbs below, but an entire belt in the middle was flat and barren like a desert, with not a hint of green in sight!

It was as if a tree had been stripped of its bark in the middle.

There was bark above, and bark below.

But this portion was completely barren.

In such a place, even the slightest movement, even a tiny snake slithering by would likely be discovered immediately, and very clearly at that.

“This is too ruthless!”

Zhuang Weiran could only hide in a nearby tree as instructed by Feng Yin, gazing at the bizarre scene before him and cursibly continuously.

“Was it really necessary? To dig away half a mountain?”

“This is clearly a calculation of extermination!”

“This is freaking…”

Even Feng Yin, in this time and place, staring at the sight before him, was dumbfounded, feeling somewhat at a loss.

What could be done?

Everything was barren as far as the eye could see, like turned soil just plowed by a farmer; though ravaged, yet everything laid bare to the eye.

“Can this tree… also be handled the same way?” Zhuang Weiran communicated his question to Feng Yin.

“Definitely not.”

Feng Yin gave a wry smile: “Think about it, Uncle Zhuang. Everything is flat as a plain around here. A sudden tree stump won’t do anything, and even worse, as soon as someone connects the dots, they’ll pretty much be able to deduce our biggest secret, completely exposing us under the enemy’s watchful eyes. That’s would be a devastating blow to my future.”

“Well, that’s true. I oversimplified things.”

Zhuang Weiran nodded seriously: “Your ability must never be revealed. It’s shocking enough to be able to communicate with trees, yet you can even manipulate and utilize them as if they were an extension of your arm… I still can’t believe it, even after witnessing it firsthand, it just feels like a dream.”

The sound of the wind whistled, and a large group of people rushed from their previous hiding place towards their side.

After the three men led their people to search that area fruitlessly, they immediately realized they had been tricked.

Although they hadn’t discovered anything, nor did they know what method the opponent had used, they still immediately dismantled the defense line on that side, retreating back to Tiandang Mountain. With the merging of the two sides’ forces, their combined strength increased, the decision was made quickly and cleanly.

“Based on the timeline, the target and the team should have already reached Tiandang Mountain, but because of the sudden change in topography, they’re temporarily clueless and unable to make a decision. With our gathered manpower and increased strength, the situation is still in our favour.”

Although these were their thoughts, the disturbing fact that they couldn’t detect the enemy’s mysterious methods and were repeatedly broken through, made all the wingmen uneasy as if facing a potent enemy.

The enemy had only struck once and managed to silently pass several checkpoints, reaching the foot of Tiandang Mountain!

If not for the unexpected fortification at Tiandang Mountain that blocked their path, they might have broken through during the time gap just now!

Such power, truly terrifying.

And at this moment, they still hadn’t found anything, which further testified to the enemies’ strength and high skill level. They were not to be underestimated or taken negligently.

As the two sides’ forces converged, Tiandang Mountain was heavily guarded.

However, this also meant that once the enemy managed to break through and crossed Tiandang Mountain, the last line of defence, and reached the plains on the other side, they would most likely be met with support from the Qin Army and the Dark Guards. Then there was even less hope of intercepting them.

This defensive measure was taken in advance because this area fell on the border of two countries. Knowing the enemy’s machine beforehand and seizing the initiative, they were able to deploy in advance.

However, with the arrival of the Dark Guards’ elites, the pressure on the wingmen grew.

After all, Tiandang Mountain was not entirely within Yan State’s territory, half of it belonged to Qin country.

Therefore, the time they had left wasn’t necessarily a lot.

If they waited for the elite Dark Guards to make a move from the other side, the situation between the two sides might undergo a massive change, and the balance of power could reverse instantly.

Then, soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals, all results would return to the battlefield.

Seeing the opponents rushing from behind, Zhuang Weiran gritted his teeth, threw Feng Yin onto himself, and said, “Hold onto me!”

Before his words fell, he was already charging forth with great momentum.

If faced with such a harsh environment, if a solution is truly beyond reach, then might as well barrel through with brute force. Breaking through everything with sheer strength may not be the best way, but it’s the only feasible plan right now!

Hu Lengyue followed closely behind, always within arm’s reach.

Zhuang Weiran’s move was like a silent hidden arrow, instantly propelling himself to his maximum speed, ascending towards the mountaintop, hugging the cliff face as he soared upwards.

Because of the terrain, the oncoming wingmen from the back saw Zhuang Weiran’s action even sooner than those on the other side. Unable to help themselves, they roared out: “They’re making a breakthrough!”

Immediately, countless burst arrows shot up into the sky.

On the cliff top, hundreds of silhouettes appeared simultaneously, spiraling upwards, then like black arrows, shot towards the charging Zhuang Weiran.

From a height advantage, even a lion wouldn’t dare to underestimate a rabbit!

An innumerable amount of hidden weapons were unleashed, forming the first wave of attack—

In an instant, the air was filled with soul-piercing sounds akin to those of howling ghosts and wailing wolves. It was a scene enough to make one’s blood curdle.

At this moment, to the eyes in the distance, Zhuang Weiran, who was moving at high speed, looked akin to a highly visible target.

Wherever they looked, a hazy fog filled the air, a storm made up of hidden weapons.

After the onslaught of the hidden weapons, dark figures emerged from around them, looking like lethal arrows.

In front of them stood a steep mountain cliff.

Above, the enemies clad in black were attacking.

And behind them, more black-clad enemies!

Even more black-clad enemies amassed before them, ready to strike.

The situation was highly perilous to an unacceptable degree.

This was precisely the moment for Zhuang Weiran, in this critical juncture, to showcase the elegance of a Heavenly Level powerhouse. With a swift movement of his hand to his waist, he withdrew a knife that glinted ominously as it sprang out.

With a hum of motion, the blade danced, and a mountain formed purely of the blade’s light emerged out of nowhere, rising from the ground!

Under the sunlight, it shimmered brilliantly, its splendor boundless.

All the hidden weapons, regardless of their types, size, or whether they were as small as hair-sized needles or as aggressive and crude as iron pellets, had turned into dust the moment they met the shimmering blades of light.

Even after eradicating the storm of hidden weapons, Zhuang Weiran shot upwards another fifty feet, unweakened in his momentum.

At this moment, he was already within a hundred feet from the mountaintop!

A dark figure descended, laughing weirdly, “I know who you are now!”

“I’m your Daddy!”

Zhuang Weiran’s magnificent display of blade-light continued unabated, transforming into a rainstorm of energy.

Ding, Ding, Ding…

A string of collision noises echoed like wind rustling lotus leaves, and rain pounding on bananas leaves — it was so intense it seemed like one continuous sound.

Zhuang Weiran, with sheer determination, nullified the descending onslaught, blocking the joined strike of three enemies, and advanced eight more feet upwards!

The faces of the three black-clad assailants above were filled with terror.

Because they had exhausted all of their strength, even meticulously planning their next move, yet they still failed to stop Zhuang Weiran’s momentum.

But they finally recognized the figure on his back. He was an old man with white hair and beard — the famed divine doctor!

Their distraction had momentarily weakened their attack, allowing their enemies to close in.

Zhuang Weiran, at this time, was at his limit and could not continue.

Even for a Heavenly Level powerhouse, there comes a point when effort exceeds endurance. Here, they face their most dreaded situation — being surrounded by a vast number of enemies without having a chance to regain energy. A single mistake could result in their demise, fallen in an instant!

Just when things were turning critical, Hu Lengyue appeared beneath Zhuang Weiran, supporting his footrad with one hand and giving a powerful push upwards.

Swoosh!

With the support and added boost from Hu Lengyue, Zhuang Weiran was granted a moment to breathe, recover, and rise higher into the sky!

It was truly remarkable, the synergy between husband and wife was extraordinary, which led to breaking through the fatal encounter and causing a sudden change of circumstances.

After Hu Lengyue’s palm push, she shielded Zhuang Weiran’s rear, then issued a long, shrill cry. Resembling a bolt of green lightning, she rose in the face of a storm of blades, with blood dripping continuously. Suddenly, a blue wave seemed to surge forward.

At first, it was just a blue ripple, then it transformed into a towering tidal wave.

This was her sect’s signature move, East Sea’s Ultimate Blade, a wave of endless slashes!

The endless waves rolled, churned, and surged, filling the air with their thunderous roars!

The husband and wife, one representing the mountain, the other the sea, successively launched their attacks, with an overwhelming momentum!

People couldn’t help but gasp —

“It’s the Western Heaven’s Peak! The Blood Lady of the East Sea!?”

True enough, when their signature moves were performed back to back, it became clear to discerning eyes who they were.

At this moment, Zhuang Weiran had already regained his youthful appearance, the handsome middle-aged man and Hu Lengyue had turned gorgeous like a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.

“Knowing who I am, aren’t you going to get lost!?”

After regaining his energy, Zhuang Weiran unleashed his full fighting power, slashing with his blade, kicking with his legs, and punching with his fists. The three black-clad men were backtracked several steps due to the hit suffered on their organs.

But by then, the winged enemies from behind had arrived and joined the fray.

“Get them!”

Everyone attacked at once.

Just as this happened, a long howl suddenly sounded. Numerous gray figures leaped into the air and forcefully blocked the men behind Zhuang Weiran, with swords and knives frantically flying.

“Who gave you the permission to kill the people of Great Qin on our land?”

A man in a wide-sleeved grey robe, his face adorned with a warm, lazy smile, appeared in the sky, sweeping his hand to release a massive burst of energy in all directions.

With a series of thuds, the black-clad men on the cliff were knocked back, retreating with blood spraying from their mouths.