Soon, the two of them quickly rushed up a small hill. One of them swiftly took out a fireworks stick, uncovered the fire starter's lid, blew to ignite the flame, and lit it.

Sssss.

The fireworks stick immediately ignited with a faint red smoke, drifting into the distance.

"How long will it take for them to come over?" one person asked in a deep voice.

"It shouldn't take more than a quarter of an hour!"

"A bit slow."

"No matter, as long as the situation is confirmed, Zhang Ying can't just disappear with his men, and as long as he can't make a move and kill Zhang Xuan and the others immediately, our goal is achieved."

To shake the Daoist, to shake the relationship between Yue Dewen and the imperial power. That was their inherent goal.

"Be careful, Zhang Ying is really strong. If we're discovered, neither of us will escape with our lives!"

"Understood!"

"Who are you!?"

Just then, on the other side of the hill, two men dressed in the same night-black clothes promptly spotted the two of them.

These two men had come with Zhang Rongfang to the vicinity and were responsible for recon and patrol as secret sentinels.

However, Zhang Rongfang's body technique was so fast that they hadn't caught up earlier. Now having finally arrived, they discovered there were others sneaking around!?

The two immediately shouted out loud.

The two wearing black masks exchanged glances and lunged towards Zhang Rongfang's two subordinates.

"Quick battle, leave immediately!"

"Got it!"

As soon as the four engaged, Zhang Rongfang's two subordinates were struck as if hit by lightning.

The power difference was too great.

They retreated repeatedly, and within a few moves, their faces turned red, and blood gushed from their mouths.

One was of the seventh grade, and the other the eighth grade, both top experts recruited by Wushan Prefecture.

They were also among the top in Songhe Temple.

But at this moment, unexpectedly, two random black masks appeared and were far stronger than them.

Thud!

A sudden muffled sound, and one person flew backward, smashed to the ground, and died on the spot.

A dignified seventh-grade expert couldn't survive even five moves against the opponent.

The other staggered back, struggling to defend himself, his face pale as paper, and was on the verge of death.

In an instant, a black shadow abruptly appeared beside him, reaching out to intercept.

Clang!

The black mask's blade struck the black shadow's arm.

It actually made a sound of metal clashing.

The newcomer was none other than Zhang Rongfang.

At this moment, he glanced at his two subordinates, a chill rising in his eyes.

His right arm shot forward like lightning.

The long-unused Eagle Claw Skill resurfaced, stirring the air with a sharp tearing sound, like an eagle swooping down to capture its prey.

The sharp air current hadn't yet approached, but it made the black-masked man's chest throb with pain.

He wanted to retreat, to dodge, but the move was too fast, too fast.

So much so that he couldn't evade it.

"Spare them!!" Suddenly, a deep voice rushed over from afar.

The voice actually sounded before Zhang Rongfang's move, but at this moment....

Bang!!

Zhang Rongfang's expression remained unchanged as he executed the Eagle Claw Skill, fiercely clutching down the black mask's chest.

With a tear, tremendous power combined with explosive speed, and his now incomparably hard and sharp five fingers.

In an instant, he tore open the opponent's chest, dragging the inner organs out with a swoosh, scattering them all over the ground.

"Not from the god-worshiping sect?" He was slightly taken aback, then nonchalantly looked at the other black-masked figure.

"You kill my people and still dare to shout at me to spare them?"

He didn't look at the trembling black mask but instead raised his gaze to the distant darkness behind him.

"Who are you!?"

In the night, a tall figure, wearing a cloak with a gold-edged black mask, floated in quickly, landing twenty meters away in the open, looking at him.

This person glanced at the dead black mask on the ground, eyes flickering with a trace of anger.

"Good, good, good....! As expected of Yue Dewen's disciple! Both of you are equally arrogant! Zhou Lingsong, if you don't give me an explanation for this, I'll take it to the Great Capital!"

He turned his head to look at the dark shadows on the other side.

"An explanation? You started the killing, what do you want us to explain?" A somewhat thin man in a Taoist robe slowly stepped out from the shadows of the night.

This person had long gray hair and a handsome face, with upturned eyes that indicated he must have been quite charming in his youth.

"Indeed, we made the first move, but can an ordinary-grade mortal compare with my Dao sect's Super Grade!? Moreover, this event, your Daoist colluding with the Righteous Alliance's rebels, has nothing to do with us, right? In fact, we even helped you out a bit." The gold-edged black mask chuckled coldly.

How many rebel forces has the Great Dao Teaching's Jade Void Palace suppressed, how many top experts from the Righteous Alliance have they killed?

The two sides have long been in a water-fire opposition.

Under the leadership of Yue Dewen, the Great Dao Teaching firmly stood as the protector of the throne.

And now, discovering that the Daoist was colluding with rebel forces.

If this were to get out, regardless, Yue Dewen would have to respond for the sake of his relationship with the imperial power.

Zhou Lingsong also looked grim. He was the overall director arranged by Yue Dewen in charge of all the sect affairs in Mountain Province.

Upon hearing this, his expression changed immediately.

"What do you mean? Colluding with rebel forces!?"

Then, the gold-edged black mask immediately recounted the incident involving Zhang Rongfang meeting with Zhang Xuan and the others.

Everyone knew that the Great Dao Teaching were staunch royalists.

At such a sensitive time, if news of the Daoist colluding with the Righteous Alliance got out.... Yue Dewen would definitely have to take measures and reassert his position. At the same time....he would force Zhang Ying to also clarify his stance.

And the simplest method to clarify his stance would be to directly make a move against the Righteous Alliance.

Even that would be considered.

The more troublesome problem now is.... 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The most important thing at this moment is, how did Zhang Ying, the Daoist, acquire such formidable power? Is he... really still Zhang Ying??

Zhou Lingsong's appearance here serves as a turning point.

Zhang Rongfang's martial arts are so advanced that he killed the Super Grade Internal Martial Artist like killing a chicken. Everyone saw it.

Such martial arts skills, no matter what, cannot possibly exist on Zhang Ying or Zhang Rongfang.

With that being the case,

any rational person would have to doubt that Zhang Ying might have long been replaced by someone from the Righteous Alliance....

"Zhou Lingsong, don't blame me for not warning you, this 'Zhang Ying' has probably long been swapped with someone from the Righteous Alliance. If you are not careful, in the future... hehe," the gold-edged black mask sneered coldly.

Zhou Lingsong looked at Zhang Rongfang, his eyes showing indecision and hesitation.

No matter how you calculate it, neither Zhang Ying nor Zhang Rongfang could possess martial arts of such a level.

Only those who have painstakingly cultivated for years, or those who worship gods, can have such power.

So the situation is clear.

Who exactly is Zhang Ying?

Zhou Lingsong's expression showed hesitation and doubt.

"Daoist, the most crucial thing right now is for you to prove your identity,"

"How do I prove it?" Zhang Rongfang recognized the other party then, realizing it was the chief of the Great Dao Teaching of Mountain Province. His heart grew wary, understanding the dire situation.

No matter what, he just came to understand the situation, not expecting the opponent's traps to be set so quickly, so ruthlessly, drawing him here immediately.

"The Identity Token! As long as you provide the Identity Token you carry with you, its function can verify authenticity," Zhou Lingsong said solemnly.

"..." Zhang Rongfang was silent.

If it were some other method, he might think of a way.

But the Token....

He genuinely didn't have it on him at the moment.

Moreover.... his Cultivation of Literature was already at the Refining God's fulfillment... If the Token detects it...

Previously, without the Token, his Cultivation of Literature already stirred the Blood God statue and the Wish Girl to act up.

If he touches the Token now...

Now he understood clearly, from his master Zhang Xuan and others being led by mysterious people, to Zhou Lingsong and others showing up at the right moment.

This was all a setup.

A setup by a third party.

He was unprepared and now found himself caught in the trap....

Previously, the Wish Girl diverted much of his mental focus, fully concentrating on that side, unknowingly allowing others to plot against him.

Now it's troublesome....

He couldn't ignore his poisoned master and others, and he could perhaps still use repaying an old favor to justify his presence here.

But Zhou Lingsong asking him to prove his identity... that was a real dilemma....

"Daoist, can you show the Token for a look?" Zhou Lingsong's eyes had become suspicious.

"The Token is not with me," Zhang Rongfang replied.

"You could send someone to fetch it."

"...." Zhang Rongfang remained silent.

Once fetched, if his Cultivation of Literature's status were discovered.... it would mean that worshipping God could become inevitable...

The other party hit, perhaps unintentionally, right at his critical point.

"Looks like... you are not the Daoist..." Zhou Lingsong finally sighed deeply.

"I certainly am,... the Token is also there with me, it's just that... I have unspeakable difficulties," Zhang Rongfang shook his head slightly.

"What difficulties!?" Zhou Lingsong stepped forward, "As long as you show the Token, no one could question if you are the Daoist! What are you worried about!?"

"...." Zhang Rongfang stayed silent.

"Fine, if it's difficult for you, there's another way to temporarily prove your innocence!" Zhou Lingsong continued.

"What method?!" Zhang Rongfang asked.

"It's simple... kill those people from the Righteous Alliance!" Zhou Lingsong said decisively.

"Such a noble act can wash away any doubts that might arise about you!" He advanced step by step, face stern and severe.

"....kill... them?" Zhang Rongfang's voice lowered.

"Exactly! By doing so, you would remove any traces of suspicion," Zhou Lingsong said sternly.

Zhang Rongfang narrowed his eyes in the darkness, glancing at the man in the gold-edged black mask, then at Zhou Lingsong, standing ahead and to the side.

"To kill them...."

"I will kill you first!!!"

In that instant, his expression turned cold, stepping out, shattering the ground with a roar, blasting mud into the air.

Under tremendous recoil, the dirt flew up like a black rain, showering down like a waterfall.

Thud!

A massive three-meter-tall figure, veins bulging and skin dark red, burst forth from within the waterfall, striking down at Zhou Lingsong with a palm as if a canopy covering the sky.

This was the killer move from the Flame Emperor Talisman — Heaven Covering Earth!

Boom!!!

Zhou Lingsong's expression changed drastically, hastily raising both arms to block with all his might.

At the point of collision between them, flesh and blood scattered, bone-cracking sounds echoed instantly.

"You are mad!! I am the Director of the Mountain Province's Dao Director!" Zhou Lingsong, covered in blood, retreated at full speed, shouting in anger.

Whoosh.

Zhang Rongfang stood his ground, raising an arm to block.

With a thud, he obstructed another heavy punch from the gold-edged black mask on the other side.

The black mud exploded beneath his feet, but his body only swayed slightly, unaffected, blocking the strike effortlessly.

"Your disguise was quite convincing. You knew that I could see through Disguise Skills, so you modified bones and flesh, truly turning your face into Zhou Lingsong's... At first, I really didn't notice."

"But unfortunately...." Zhang Rongfang lifted his head. His eyes were filled with countless blood threads converging into the pupils like worms.

"You can't fool these eyes of mine...."

He spread his arms wide.

"Today, you all must die!"

Before the words fell, his entire body expanded once more by a circle, layering on another Extreme State.

Numerous white hot vapors rose from him like clouds and mist.