Chapter 285: Chapter 228: The True Man of Locking Dragon’s Whim

As Yan Qing activated the Bingzi Pepper Forest, Chu Luoyan had already engaged in combat with Pharmacist’s Wish.

The constables from the Divine Marquis Mansion were clearly coming for them, and Chu Luoyan naturally didn’t mind forming an alliance with the Divine Marquis Mansion. The formidable presence of the Bingzi Pepper Forest even startled him. No wonder this small band of thieves dared to invade this forbidden area. If they could obtain such a legendary artifact like the Bingzi Pepper Forest, what would it matter to intrude into the Chang’an Military Mansion or even provoke a Foundation Establishment Zhenren?

Their goal in coming to this place could only be the treasured minerals of the Foundation Establishment Zhenren.

In other words, as long as they entered this place, they would unavoidably be deemed thieves intent on stealing Foundation Establishment assets—regardless of whether it was the Peak of the Third Transformation outside, or the prison guards inside.

Only by seizing this time to take down the Black Wolf Thieves first, could he possibly protect the assets of the True Man of Locking Dragon, establish an unparalleled achievement, and absolve this unwarranted disaster!

Clang!

At the moment of the clash, an unusual look appeared on both Pharmacist’s Wish and Chu Luoyan’s faces.

Such immense power!

Chu Luoyan was no civil servant. In his youth, like Yao Shi Moke, he was a Military Town Messenger, and when there was no room left for advancement, he turned to governance. Unlike Yao Shi Moke, he excelled in internal affairs and had a keen eye for talent, making him a central pillar of the Six Pillars of the Nation.

But in this world, no matter how outstanding one’s administrative achievements are, they cannot compare to the appreciation of a Foundation Establishment Zhenren. Even though the Zhou Kingdom was in chaos due to Yao Shi Moke, as long as Changqiu Zhenren was alive, Chu Luoyan and others had to yield to Yao Shi Moke. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In the years he was demoted to the local area, Chu Luoyan did not neglect his training. Instead, being away from the political jostling allowed him to break through to the mortal limits! He then led a team to conquer the Third-Turn Great Secret Realm and obtained the Celestial Spirit Dragon-Slaying Tiger-Subduing Rope!

The so-called Great Secret Realm requires numerous Third-Turn Messengers to clear. Solely relying on one or two Military Town Third Transition members could at best conquer the front and mid stages, but they would likely suffer defeat before the Demon King at the end.

But only Great Secret Realms produce Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends!

Although Chu Luoyan was outstanding in combat, to conquer the Great Secret Realm, his family’s cadre of messengers was almost depleted. The accumulated Second-Turn Messengers over decades suffered more than half casualties, draining the Chu family’s reserves to acquire this Celestial Spirit. Had the Chu family ancestor been alive, he might have been willing to help Chu Luoyan procure an Earth Fiend, but the Foundation Establishment Zhenren of the Chu family had passed away thirty years ago.

Thus, Chu Luoyan colluded with the Emperor, ready to launch a fatal strike against Yao Shi Moke as soon as Changqiu Zhenren passed away. Central officials were merely a means to an end; what Chu Luoyan truly desired was to unite the forces of the Ba River Pharmacist and the Imperial Family’s military power to conquer other Great Secret Realms to acquire Earth Fiends for himself!

By collecting both Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends, Chu Luoyan dared to establish his Foundation without a Foundation Establishment Pill. Without the help of a Foundation Establishment Zhenren, this was his only viable path!

Five years ago, Chu Luoyan had already absorbed the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope, spent a year balancing his turbulent Qi and blood, and another three years integrating the power of the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope into his combat system. He was confident that within the Zhou Kingdom, no Third-Transformation individual was his match, not even Rising Dragon Hand Li Long, as the disparity in Qi and blood would tip the scales of victory!

Therefore, Chu Luoyan was acutely aware that a Messenger capable of matching his strength could only be a Third-Turn Messenger who had similarly absorbed a Celestial Spirit! The resources I, as the National Pillar Duke, spent half a lifetime acquiring, yet a Messenger from the Thief’s House possesses them too?

But absorbing a Celestial Spirit is not the same as mastering it!

Chu Luoyan let out a long whistle. At the moment his spear thrust forward, dragon-shaped phantoms emerged from his arms, transforming the pinpoint thrust into a wide-area blast!

Pharmacist’s Wish certainly wouldn’t meet his charge head-on. As she sidestepped, Chu Luoyan kicked the ground fiercely, his body exuding a black bear’s phantom as he rammed towards Pharmacist’s Wish in an Iron Mountain Lean manner—ferocious and fierce!

As for the Seven-Star Sword slashing towards him, Chu Luoyan didn’t even spare it a glance!

This attack, powerful enough to break through thousand-year-old trees, only forced Pharmacist’s Wish back a few steps, but before she could regain her footing, Chu Luoyan’s successive assaults continued, again with dragon-shaped phantom thrusts! Despite such rapid and fierce attacks, this elder, well past sixty, showed no fatigue, with withered muscles instead filling out, Qi and blood surging all over his body, as if he had regained his youth.

This was the foundation that emboldened Chu Luoyan to challenge the Great Secret Realm again, integrating the Battle Blood Messenger, the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope, the secret technique, and whole-body phantom artifacts into a unified combat system!

His Third-Turned Profession as a Battle Blood Messenger was rather unique, featuring a trait named [Beast Nature]. When he activated the beast phantom within the artifact, his Qi and blood along with spiritual power temporarily increased. [Beast Nature] was not the core trait of a Battle Blood Messenger, and Chu Luoyan had not valued it before—until he comprehended Secret Technique: Form and Will.

Form and Will allowed Chu Luoyan’s attacks to mimic those of certain beasts, inflicting greater damage and more easily triggering beast phantoms. At this moment, Chu Luoyan finally realized his serendipity and began collecting phantom artifacts. Sure enough, after combining the Secret Technique Form and Will, [Beast Nature], and phantom artifacts, Chu Luoyan’s strength underwent a qualitative change.

Chu Luoyan could frequently trigger phantoms during battle. Each trigger enhanced his Qi, blood, and agility, with cumulative effects increasing over time. Back when Chu Luoyan defeated the Secret Realm Demon King, it was by relying on his family’s Second-Turn members to delay for half an hour, allowing him to stack the phantoms dozens of times before delivering a lethal blow to the Demon King.

Even more marvelous, phantom attacks would shake the enemy. Even if Chu Luoyan charged into enemy attacks on purpose, it was difficult for him to sustain damage, making it an offense-defense blend!

In just a few breaths, Chu Luoyan had completely suppressed Pharmacist’s Wish. The latter had no opportunity to counterattack beyond dodging and blocking, her defensive barrier teetering on collapse. Even if she kept reinforcing it, once her spiritual power was exhausted, it would spell her demise!

However, Chu Luoyan was also growing cautious at this moment.

The time was just about up; he couldn’t drag this out any longer. He had to end it now!

Though the longer it went, the stronger his Qi and blood would become, the other Yellow Dog Thief could resolve the constables from the Divine Marquis Mansion at any time, and not even Chu Luoyan wanted to face the blade of the Bingzi Pepper Forest.

The best outcome would be him defeating the Black Wolf Thieves while the Yellow Dog Thief had yet to overcome the constables from the Divine Marquis Mansion, becoming caught in a pincer attack instead!

Chu Luoyan took a deep breath, his murky eyes turning sharp.

He originally thought this Illusionary Battle Technique was flawless and could only be further enhanced after establishing his Foundation... until he completely absorbed the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope.

Not only did this Celestial Spirit significantly boost his Qi and blood, it also perfected his Illusionary Battle Technique.

"Die!"

Chu Luoyan let out a furious roar, and the dragon-shaped illusion charged forward with a sudden thrust. Pharmacist’s Wish dodged again, but this time she couldn’t escape—the dragon-shaped illusion seemed to have intelligence, turning around to hit her!

When Chu Luoyan executed the Iron Mountain Lean again, even though separated by five or six steps, the black bear illusion still closed the gap and slammed Pharmacist’s Wish against the wall!

This is the effect of the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope, which allows the illusion’s attacks to have a chance to track the target, making it unavoidable! The more the illusions are triggered, the greater the tracking probability, but Chu Luoyan can suppress the Dragon-Slaying and Tiger-Subduing Rope, waiting for the Qi Blood to accumulate to a certain extent for an explosive attack, giving the enemy no chance to strategize, aiming to instantly kill the enemy!

The Black Wolf Thief fell from the wall, although not dead yet, was like a candle flickering in the wind, just two more hits away from being smashed into a pool of blood!

Just as Chu Luoyan launched an attack again, the Black Wolf Thief suddenly threw the Seven-Star Sword at him. Chu Luoyan tilted his head to avoid it, thinking, has she given up? She actually threw away her weapon... even the most cowardly soldier wouldn’t let go of their weapon.

But at this moment, a Fine Steel Long Spear suddenly appeared in Black Wolf Thief’s hand. She raised the spear high and spun it, and an invisible airflow forced Chu Luoyan towards her, even though he was gripping his own spear tightly.

Secret Technique: Rotating Lamp!?

Anyone who learns this secret technique is likely to possess a counterattack token!

Even though Chu Luoyan saw the core of the secret technique, it was too late as the dragon-shaped illusion was already unleashed.

The dragon-shaped illusion crashed into Black Wolf Thief’s embrace, not shaking her in the slightest, more like she absorbed it into her own power. Black Wolf Thief’s eyes were fierce, as the Rotating Lamp Spear covered in her pent-up fury and injuries was about to strike down like thunder!

Chu Luoyan did not dodge but chose a more violent approach—

Counter-attack with attack!

He let out a beast-like roar and activated Iron Mountain Lean again, the black bear illusion lunging at Black Wolf Thief. He intended to crush and send Black Wolf Thief flying before the Rotating Lamp Spear descended, thus dismantling this counterattack!

But Black Wolf Thief dodged.

At the moment the black bear illusion touched her, she sidestepped, and the black bear illusion that should have hit her was penetrated, even enveloped onto her spear, as if... she absorbed the black bear illusion?!

Is this a profession trait, or the effect of a token?

In the blink of an eye, Chu Luoyan’s mind raced with thoughts, but none of these could help him escape the fate about to unfold—

BANG!

With a frighteningly loud crash that made one’s teeth chatter, Black Wolf’s Fine Steel Long Spear completely shattered, its spearhead flew and lodged into the rock wall.

Chu Luoyan’s defense barrier was mostly shattered but ultimately did not break. As a consequence, his Three-Turned Marvelous Treasure Liquefying Spring Spear, bent almost at a right angle, rendered useless, was as good as broken.

As Black Wolf Thief brought out a new Fine Steel Long Spear, Chu Luoyan also retreated to a safe distance and drew out a Fine Steel Long Spear of the same style.

At this moment, Chu Luoyan suddenly asked:

"Pharmacist’s Wish?"

Pharmacist’s Wish hesitated slightly but immediately attacked because she saw Chu Luoyan replenishing Spiritual Power!

"It really is you. Third transformation, Rotating Lamp, long spear, no wonder you use a sword, this tactic is too easily seen through." Chu Luoyan didn’t expect Pharmacist’s Wish to respond, continuing, "This is the exclusive territory of True Man of Locking Dragon, have you considered the consequences of doing this?"

"But I must thank you, you gave me a chance to regret. If you hadn’t escaped back then, you wouldn’t have been recognized by True Man of Locking Dragon, and True Man of Locking Dragon wouldn’t have imprisoned me just to reward you... years of meticulous planning, painstaking efforts, all for naught like this."

So it was like this... Pharmacist’s Wish hadn’t expected that True Man of Locking Dragon would go this far, though True Man of Locking Dragon probably didn’t care much, perhaps merely asked who was the mastermind behind killing Yao Shi Moke, and then conveniently locked Chu Luoyan in the dungeon secret realm as a side affair.

To Foundation Establishment Zhenren, a Peak of the Third Transformation Messenger is not much more noble than a pet.

But to Chu Luoyan, it’s a cruel joke played by fate.

He cleared his enemies, dominated the court, only to lose everything due to this inexplicable reason... no wonder he became so downtrodden and aged, his failure unrelated to himself, or the times, merely due to True Man of Locking Dragon’s momentary whim.

Who can let go? Who can be content? Who can accept their fate?

BANG!

Two long spears collided, resonating with thunderous echoes!

Pharmacist’s Wish and Chu Luoyan’s eyes held no excess emotions, only relentless killing intent. At this juncture, any words were superfluous, grievances, interests, the path, all entrusted to this battle to decide.

Like the spears, the victor stands, the defeated breaks, there is no other outcome!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yan Qing also engaged in close combat with the constables from Divine Marquis Mansion, both battles simultaneously escalating to a fever pitch, in places closest to hell, using iron and blood to settle life and death!