Chapter 71: Blocking the Road
Chapter 71: Blocking the Road
What kind of scene would it be with two hundred Profound Rank Martial Artists gathered together?
Most people did not have such a concept. For example, among the three great families in Huangsha City, the strongest Shangguan Family only had about thirty Profound Rank Martial Artists on the surface. Even including those in secret, the number likely did not exceed sixty!
The Fang Family and Qin Family each had at most no more than fifty Profound Rank Martial Artists. As for those above the Profound Rank, they were even rarer. Heaven Rank Martial Artists were considered the ultimate strength of a family!
In the entire Azure Dragon Kingdom, probably no one except the Emperor could muster such a grand display. Seventeen Heaven Rank Martial Artists, fifty Earth Rank Martial Artists, and two hundred Profound Rank Martial Artists… it made people wonder if the kingdom was showing off all its hidden power.
Just from this point alone, it excited and tempted countless clever people. If not for getting reliable information, why would the Imperial Family take such a big risk, leaving themselves vulnerable by sending so many experts here?
That was the real reason why countless martial artists were drawn to Phoenix Lake.
Before this, everyone thought that even if you were from the Imperial Family, you still had to follow the rules of Jianghu. The Ancient Ruins must be enormous, and Phoenix Lake itself was very large. It was impossible for just a few people to explore it fully. Everyone would rely on their own skills, and whoever found treasure would be lucky!
Unfortunately, many things were like this. In imagination, they always seemed wonderful, but reality was often harsh.
That was the situation now.
Phoenix Lake was surrounded by high mountains. Although located in the south, the peaks of these mountains were covered with snow that never melted for thousands of years. They looked majestic, powerful, and grand!
These mountain ranges stretched for hundreds of miles each. If viewed from above, one could see that with Phoenix Lake at the center, eight huge peaks extended symmetrically in eight directions, like a crown! Phoenix Lake itself resembled an oval blue gem, embedded in the middle of the crown, appearing incredibly beautiful!
However, this meant there were only eight roads leading to Phoenix Lake, each blocked by two massive peaks. The most important issue was not how hard these peaks were to climb, but that each of these eight huge mountains was home to countless powerful Spirit Beasts!
Even Heaven Rank Martial Artists would not dare to provoke them lightly, let alone those at the Profound Rank!
The road from Huangsha City to Phoenix Lake was the only one in front of them, and now it was blocked by two hundred Royal Profound Rank Martial Artists. What was even more terrifying was that these Profound Rank Martial Artists each had a fierce and imposing aura, full of a stern, battle-hardened feeling. Each of them carried a heavy sense of killing intent. Without experiencing life-and-death battles or having killed over a hundred people on a battlefield, such an aura would not be possible!
Most of the martial artists from various places had killed and spilled blood before, but they were all intimidated by the aura of these two hundred men. About three to four hundred people were blocked at the last intersection leading to Phoenix Lake. Many in the crowd stirred up trouble and shouted loudly, but no one actually stepped forward to force their way through.
Qin Li and the others walked to the back of the crowd. Watching the excited groups of Jianghu martial artists, Qin Li smiled faintly and said softly to Ahu and the others beside him, “See? This is the biggest difference between the official and the common folks. With just two hundred men standing here, you don’t dare to force your way through. If you do, it’s like rebelling against the kingdom…”
Bu Yunyan gasped and said, “That serious?”
Qin Li chuckled and thought to himself, if you had lived in the world I once knew, you wouldn’t have such a question.
A martial artist in front seemed displeased with Qin Li’s words. He turned around and saw Qin Li, a handsome young man about twenty years old, without sensing any strong energy fluctuations from him. Besides, the later people arrived, the more they were looked down upon. The reason was simple: those who dared to come early had real skills, while those who followed later mostly hoped to pick up leftovers.
Thinking this, the martial artist curled his lip disdainfully and sneered, “Rebelling? Hmph, it’s not as serious as you say, young man. Don’t scare people with alarmist talk! We outnumber them here, and there are hidden talents among us. How do you know there aren’t Earth Rank or Heaven Rank martial artists? Wiping out these two hundred would be easy!”
Bu Yunyan, unhappy that he refuted Qin Li, said coldly, “You make it sound easy. Even though we have more people, we’re like a scattered mess, each fighting on our own. Besides, the Royal Family has many Earth Rank and Heaven Rank experts with them this time. Even if we kill these men, won’t they come after us?”
“Hmph, if you’re scared, why did you come? Just go back the way you came!” The martial artist, feeling mocked by an ugly woman, sneered and curled his lip again. “Or, you can climb over that mountain over there to get into Phoenix Lake!”
Seeing that the man was being unreasonable, Bu Yunyan snorted and ignored him.
At this point, the martial artists from various places began to grow restless. After all, they had come here seeking fortune, but now they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the ruins, blocked right here.
Although these people might not have the same killing intent as the Royal martial artists, most were bold and fearless. Who could willingly endure such frustration?
“Damn it, the Royal Family is too shameless! I worked hard to get here. Why won’t they let me in? Do they really think the Emperor alone decides everything? I’m not afraid! Brothers, I can’t take this anymore. Can you?”
“Take it? Hell no, I can’t take it either! They’ve blocked us here for half a day. Do they really think we don’t dare to fight?”
“That’s right, Royal people, you’ve gone too far! You’re challenging all the heroes under heaven! Anyone with any courage wouldn’t stand this insult! Brothers, grab your weapons and let’s kill these bastards!”
Hundreds of martial artists from different places started to get eager. After all, being stuck here wasn’t a solution. Stirred up by some, their blood boiled. Among them, there were surely some very powerful individuals, often local leaders who didn’t think much of royal authority. Being blocked by Royal people made them even angrier.
The crowd began to slowly move closer to the two hundred Royal Profound Rank Martial Artists.
Naturally, the Royal martial artists felt the pressure. One of them, who seemed to be the leader, widened his eyes and shouted angrily, “What are you trying to do? Rebel? I warn you, this area has been cordoned off by the Royal Family…”
Before the Royal martial artist leader finished speaking, a sharp whistling sound came through the air. Then, everyone saw the leader pierced through the throat by an arrow from nowhere. He fell to the ground dead on the spot!
The Royal martial artists all turned pale.
“Cordon off my ass!”
Only then did a sinister, unpleasant voice, like that of a night owl, emerge from the crowd.
Everyone was stunned by that arrow. The Royal martial artist leader had at least High Profound Rank strength, yet he was killed by an arrow without even reacting.
What level must the archer be? Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.
“It’s someone from the Arrow God Zhe Family!”
“Must be. In the entire Azure Dragon Kingdom, besides the Zhe Family, who else could shoot such an arrow?”
“That was awesome! Hehe, now things are getting interesting. The Zhe Family isn’t easy to mess with. Back then, the previous Emperor sent fifty thousand troops but couldn’t wipe out Zhe Manor…”
Qin Li’s eyes fell on the person who had just shot the arrow. It was a thin young man in his thirties, not very tall, and not very noticeable in the crowd. He held a gray bow and didn’t seem afraid at all after killing a Royal martial artist.
“What’s the background of the Zhe Family? Isn’t he afraid the Royal Earth Rank martial artists inside will come after him?” Qin Li quietly asked Ahu beside him.