40th generation of Liu family in Mengmen, Yizhou

  "The power is out at a critical moment!"

  Wu Song stopped in his tracks, the demonic tiger's yuan energy behind him was like a small electric motor, constantly providing energy, which allowed him to be so fierce. However, when the demonic tiger escaped from the dragon vein, it forcefully collided with the dragon vein and suffered serious injuries, making it impossible for it to sustainably supply yuan energy. At this moment, the yuan energy was exhausted, and Wu Song involuntarily fell into a dormant state to continue healing.

  Wu Song did not dare to go after Chen Xizhen alone, Chen Xizhen's martial arts were in no way inferior to his, and he also had a strange treasure in his hand, making it difficult to kill him.

  However, if he doesn't kill him now, once he recovers his cultivation and has all his magic at his disposal again, it will be even more difficult to kill him. Wu Song waited for a moment, and saw that the thick fog shrouding Kaifeng City gradually dissipated, and Yang Jiaolai led Li Erniang and others out of the city.

  "Wu Song said: 'Chen Daoyi is not my opponent, he has escaped. To kill someone, one must see blood; to cut grass, one must pull out the roots. Everyone, chase after him and behead that Taoist, seize his treasure!'"

  Li Erniang and others secretly admired him, only now did they thoroughly get on the war chariot with Wu Song. After all, they had offended the Taoist priest of Mount Dragon Tiger, if that Taoist priest came to seek revenge, who could resist? Wu Song was on the one hand wanting to get rid of Chen Xizhen, and on the other hand also wanted to tie their fate together with his own, so that they would not have a second heart, and die for him.

  The crowd chased after him, following the footprints left by Chen Xizhen, but he had already left Kaifeng and was heading straight for the northeastern province of Shandong. The Taoist priest was cunning and laid a false trail on the road, then slipped into the mountains, and the crowd couldn't catch up with him. They had to return, and as soon as they entered the city, they were surrounded by a group of runners, but were invited by the Kaifeng prefect to "have tea" and asked about the explosion in the Evil-Expelling Alley.

  Wu Song ordered people to inform Duan Wang, and soon Zhao Jie sent someone to bail them out. The prefect had no choice but to release them. After all, the news had already spread in the palace that Duan Wang would ascend to the throne in a few days, and Wu Song didn't want to offend him at this critical moment, or he wouldn't have any good outcome after Duan Wang's ascension.

  The governor and several senior officials in the court were on good terms, and he mentioned this matter, saying: "His Majesty attaches great importance to Taoist priests, but those ten or so men and women are not good people at first glance, and I'm afraid they will not be a blessing to the country in the future."

  Several ministers were frowning, when suddenly a small official at the gate stood up and sneered: "Isn't it auspicious for the country to have an official like Master Tao? Lord Teng was also quite decisive!" With that, he turned and left.

  Teng Fu Yin and a group of officials stared with their mouths agape, shaking their heads: "Could it be that this person is also a sorcerer?"

  Teng Fu-yin shook his head and said, "I don't know either. I only know that this little official Gao Lian has been relying on our mansion for three to five years and there's nothing unusual about him. He told me he had an uncle or elder brother who was also a small official in the Duan Wang Fu, named Gao Yan."

  All the officials present did not think much of it, shaking their heads and saying: "It's just a gatekeeper's dog, yet it dares to be so rude, how annoying!"

  Gao Lian left the Kaifeng Prefecture, still feeling indignant in his heart: "These officials only know how to criticize the imperial court, they don't know that if it weren't for Wu Jun and others accepting the challenge of the Three Kingdoms' masters, those barbarian envoys would be causing even more trouble! However, thinking about it, two days later Wu Jun and others will have a decisive battle with the Three Kingdoms' masters at Mount Shaoshi, which is a good opportunity for me to take the lead. If I can achieve some merit, when Gao Yuan rises to prominence, I'll also rise to prominence, no need to look at his face!"

  Gao Lian thought as he went, rushing to the Tianji Pavilion. He also thought: "I don't know that Wu Jun master, if I go rashly, I'm afraid I won't be reused. Why not go find Gao Yun again?" So he ran to the Duanwang Mansion to see Gao Yun.

  Gao Jue, because he had learned a set of evil skills, was somewhat unwelcome to his younger cousin, but for the sake of his uncle's face, he didn't dare show him a cold expression. He then took Gao Lian to visit Wu Song at the Tianji Pavilion, only to learn that Wu Song and Yang Jie had already set out with their group of evil demons and heretics towards Shaoshi Mountain.

  The whole capital is abuzz with news, on one hand discussing the ascension of Emperor Ping to the throne, and on the other hand debating the magical duel between the great Song Dynasty's national master and the Hu people's national teacher, from high-ranking officials to ordinary citizens, everyone is stirred up.

  In the gambling dens, they even set up betting pools on which of the two countries' martial artists would return alive. Those who bet on Hu people were beaten by gamblers and thrown into a dung pit to soak. The storytellers in wine shops and tea houses also started telling stories about Wu Song, Yang Jia, Gong Shu, and Lu Da, turning them into performances that blew things out of proportion, making the three men sound like gods descending from heaven, leaving the audience stunned and satisfied after listening to the story.

  As for those truly powerful people in the capital, they didn't think much of it at all. Neither the Three Kingdoms' masters nor Wu Song and others were even worth their notice.

  Gao Lian couldn't find Wu Song, so he turned to Gao Qiu and said: "From here to Mount Shaoshi, there are still 200 miles of road. Brother, write a letter for me, I'll take it with me to chase after him. My wealth and glory all depend on this letter from you!"

  Gao Chai couldn't bear to see him rise, and had no choice but to write a letter. He subtly hinted in the letter that Gao Lian's cultivation was demonic, hoping that Wu Song wouldn't trust him. Unaware of his brother's sinister intentions, Gao Lian put the letter in his sleeve and left New Song Gate, heading straight for Shao Shi Mountain.

  Chen Xizhen was seriously injured and fled in a hurry, day and night without stopping, to Shandong Yanzhou, ran into the gate of a Liu's house, fell down on his back, and fainted.

  The head of the Liu family, named Liu Guang, rushed out and took a look. "This is my brother-in-law," he said. "How did he get hurt so badly?" He quickly ordered his men to carry him inside and take good care of him. It wasn't until three days later that he barely came to.

  Liu Guang held up a cup of ginseng tea and supported Chen Xizhen, letting him drink the tea. Only then did he say: "Brother-in-law, your Taoist skills are so divine that even I admire you greatly. Who could possibly harm you?"

  Chen Xizhen took a weak breath and said, "I'm ashamed to say that it was the demon who escaped from Longmai Town's suppression, along with several young disciples of Huimen, who used fire medicine to blast me. I didn't expect it, which is why I suffered serious injuries. Those bandits pursued and killed all the way, and I fled overnight without stopping until I reached this place. Thinking that you are a high-ranking official of the Mo family, I came to seek refuge with you."

  Liu Guang exclaimed: "Is that the giant demon who tore apart the dragon's pulse? How can you and I possibly subdue him? Why not go invite Zhang Tian Shi..."

  Chen Xizhen said, "Impossible. That martial thief was severely injured by the Dragon Vein and lost his cultivation. If I let Master take action, not only will Master not bother with him, but also scold me for being incompetent. I heard that your beloved daughter is superior to you, I don't know how many years of cultivation she has?"

  Liu Guang furrowed his brow and said: "Hui Niang was taken away by a nun from Nanhai."

  Chen Xizhen hastily asked what was the reason, Liu Guang said: "The people of Nanhai saw that the dragon vein was divided into four or five, and they knew that Liao Xia and Tubo were not working, so they abandoned the three countries and explored other places where the dragon vein fell. They are preparing to support the Dragon Court and cultivate a new generation of Tianzi to compete for hegemony in the world. Just recently, an old nun passed by my house and saw Hui Niang making wooden cows and horses, and she took her away, leaving a letter saying that she would definitely return Hui Niang four years later. Although I am a disciple of the Mo School, after all, I am not a core disciple, and I cannot persuade the school to take action to rescue Hui Niang."

  Chen Xizhen said: "My injuries are too severe, and I've lost a lot of energy from rushing around. It'll take me two or three years to recover. At that time, I'll definitely help you with one arm, and reason with that old nun! But for now, my revenge is not yet fulfilled, and that martial thief has also taken away my family's Liqing... pitiful..."

  Liu Guang angrily said: "The military thief deserves to die!"

  Two men from Pingyang shook their heads and sighed, Chen Xizhen said: "That martial thief is extremely cunning, slippery and ruthless. If he defeats the national masters of the three countries, I'm afraid that once the Lord ascends to the throne, he will be appointed as the national master. His aura will become even stronger, making it even harder to eliminate him."

  Liu Guang smiled and said, "Although the people of Nanhai have withdrawn from those three countries, there are many powerful martial artists in their palaces. Wu Zei has little magical power, so this time at Mount Shaoshi, he will surely die!"

  Chen Xizhen smiled and said, "I hope so."

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  Vote for me, collect and share, in the cold winter of the New Year, I won't go streaking anymore, wish all book friends a happy solar new year!