Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Defense as Fragile as Paper! A Hundred-Mile Raid!

Chu Ming had long harbored a killing intent towards Lv Jinhui, but now was not the time.

As he walked towards Mine Tunnel No. 2, he spread out the Sword Gourd Spirit to check the situation on the mines.

Mine Tunnel No. 1 had collapsed severely and couldn’t be mined in the short term.

Continuing further, the aura suspected to be that of an exotic beast was still present three hundred meters underground.

Hmm?

No, something’s not right!

Chu Ming’s expression suddenly changed.

For a fleeting moment, the Sword Gourd Spirit seemed to have caught onto something.

Someone!

Beneath the ruins of Mine Tunnel No. 1, in a certain dark space, there was a person hiding!

That person’s aura...

Meridian Unlocking Realm! Definitely Meridian Unlocking Realm!

Chu Ming’s expression slightly changed.

When he came here yesterday, he hadn’t discovered this.

But today, there was suddenly a Meridian Unlocking realm expert above the mine tunnel!

Chu Ming’s Heart Spirit became instantly alert.

The early stage of the Meridian Unlocking Realm didn’t faze him, and he could fight against the middle stage, but if it was the late stage, he wasn’t so sure.

The aura of the person hiding in the dark was around the early stage, the threat wasn’t very high.

But what Chu Ming worried about was if one Meridian Unlocking Realm appeared, would a second one also appear?

Who could it be?

He retracted his Sword Gourd Spirit and didn’t continue probing.

In Xirong County, the number of Meridian Unlocking Realm individuals was less than one hand, as his master Xiang Yue had said.

Xiang Yue was the strongest, then the second was Xiao Jianxin who guarded the county city of Xirong County, followed by An Hengying from the West Glory County Governor’s Office.

Ranked fourth was the Medicine Maniac, known for his mysterious movements and proficiency in using drugs and poison, and fifth was the Blood Vine Castle’s Fortress Master, whom few knew.

"That person’s aura was old and restrained, with silver-white hair, and a mysterious aura..."

"The Medicine Maniac?"

Chu Ming furrowed his brows.

The Medicine Maniac was just a nickname, but it was this nickname that made everyone tremble with fear.

This person’s high skill in using poison meant that even if a Meridian Unlocking Realm expert wasn’t cautious, they could still risk getting poisoned.

Such a powerful person suddenly appearing at the mine site could not have a simple purpose.

At the same time, the Medicine Maniac, hidden in the dark of the mine tunnel, suddenly opened his eyes, with a hint of doubt in them.

"Just now, why did it feel like I was being watched?"

"Strange..."

His figure flashed, leaving his hiding spot, weaving through the mine like a shadow.

No one saw him, no one knew.

Except Chu Ming!

Even without deliberately using the Sword Gourd Spirit to investigate, he could still rely on his powerful perception to see an elderly figure moving between places.

What is he doing?

Chu Ming felt puzzled.

Soon, the elderly figure left his field of vision.

The Medicine Maniac arrived at the top of the mountain, looking down.

"Over two thousand people who never practiced martial arts, over three hundred in the Blood Circulation Realm, two or three in the Strong Bone Realm..."

"Hehe, let’s use the Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder then."

"A small punishment, not taking lives...," the Medicine Maniac suddenly muttered to himself, "I’m truly getting old, to actually feel compassion, what a pity, what a pity..."

"Forget it, just the Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder then, make you itch for a few days, that should be enough."

He took out something, scattering it into the wind.

"Hmm?"

Just as the Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder was spread, the Medicine Maniac’s eyes suddenly turned towards the southeast of the mine.

A hundred meters outside the mine, a group of people were stealthily approaching rapidly!

The Medicine Maniac paused and put away the Soul-Catching Fragrance Powder, then moved swiftly to a spot not far from the group.

"Tsk tsk, interesting... interesting... the people of Blood Vine Castle actually came here..."

"Over a hundred in the Blood Circulation Realm, fifteen Strong Bone Realm, five Refining Organ Realm, quite a lineup..."

"Could it be they’re here for my Seven-Star Divine Flower?"

The Medicine Maniac hid in the dark.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed sharply.

"No, those three...?"

"What thick Blood Evil Qi!"

"Blood Evil Sect!"

The Medicine Maniac shook his head, blending deeper into the darkness, as if he had never been there.

"Forget it, I’ll just quietly wait for my Seven-Star Divine Flower to mature, to avoid getting into trouble."

...

In the mine, Chu Ming was being led by several Jingyan Guards to the entrance of Mine Tunnel No. 2.

Boom boom boom——

A thunderous noise came from afar.

"What’s going on?!" Everyone present was shocked and questioned.

"It’s bad, the mountain bandits from Blood Vine Castle are attacking!"

Soon, shouts came from that direction.

Blood Vine Castle?!

How could Blood Vine Castle attack here?

In just a few breaths, all the constables and Jingyan Guards headed in that direction.

"Brother Chu, there’s something odd about this," Meng Zhen guardedly expressed beside Chu Ming, with a heavy expression:

"The Jingyan Salt Mines are located in the southern part of Xirong County, while Blood Vine Castle is in the northwest; the two places are over three hundred li apart!"

"Blood Vine Castle is one of the biggest mountain bandits in Xirong County, they wouldn’t engage in such cross-territory plunder, especially of Jingyan Salt Mines."

Aside from Jingyan salt and rocks, there’s nothing else at the Jingyan Salt Mines, no so-called treasures of gold and silver.

Surely, Blood Vine Castle didn’t come to rob Jingyan salt?

For a bandit group, even if they got their hands on Jingyan salt, they couldn’t trade it for gold or silver.

From any angle, Blood Vine Castle’s appearance here defies logic.

"I also feel something’s off," thoughtfully rubbing his bald head, Jin Yu curiously said, "Should we go and have a look?"

"Brother Chu, I think it’s better if we don’t get involved," Meng Zhen disagreed.

Chu Ming looked into the distance, surprise surging in the depths of his eyes.

Under the coverage of the Sword Gourd Spirit, the distant scene was clear in his eyes.

Over a hundred in the Blood Circulation Realm, more than a dozen in the Strong Bone Realm, and five in the Refining Organ Realm!

This kind of lineup, more than enough to conquer Jingyan County.

The most critical thing is, among the five Refining Organ Realm experts, three have an aura... Blood Evil Qi.

A very dense Blood Evil Qi!

Blood Vine Castle! Blood Evil Sect!

If there’s no accident, these people are here to kill me!

"Commander Meng... Commander Meng..."

Amidst the shock, a shadow hurriedly ran over from not far away.

Jingyan Guard Salt Captain Song Yan’s face was full of horror: "That group of mountain bandits from Blood Vine Castle has attacked, the Jingyan Guard... the Jingyan Guard can’t hold on much longer."

"Can’t hold on already?" Jin Yu said indifferently.

From the moment the sounds of fighting were heard, until now it’s been half a stick of incense, how can they not hold on?

"They... they came with more than a hundred people, a dozen in the Strong Bone Realm, and five, there’re five Refining Organ Realm experts!"

Song Yan spoke with fear.

"Five Refining Organ Realm?!" Jin Yu’s eyebrows raised immediately upon hearing this, "That, Commander Meng, I think, we’d better not join the excitement."

"Commander Meng..." Song Yan became even more anxious.

In his heart, Meng Zhen was shocked, where did so many experts from Blood Vine Castle come from?!

"Brother Chu, this mine can’t be defended, we must leave quickly."

His duty is to protect Chu Ming, as for what happens to the mine, it’s none of his business.

At this moment, several more figures fled in confusion.

"Chu Chief Clerk."

The voice arrived before the person.

Merit Officer Goong Lv Jinhui, who had undergone an unknown fright, scrambled back, rolling and crawling.

"Didn’t you leave?" Jin Yu said from the side.

"I..." Lv Jinhui felt aggrieved, he had just left the mine and ran into the Blood Vine Castle mountain bandits head-on. If he hadn’t run fast, his life would have been gone.

"Chu Chief Clerk, Jingyan Salt Ore is the most important salt mine in Xirong County, it must not fall into the hands of mountain bandits..."

...

Jingyan Mine is an important industry in Xirong County, naturally its defensive force wouldn’t be too weak.

Around the mine is a wall three to four zhang high, equipped with powerful crossbows on top.

More than a hundred Jingyan Guards and over five hundred constables from the Jingyan County Criminal Defense Bureau stationed here permanently.

But this kind of defense force, in the face of the aggressive Blood Vine Castle, is like thin paper.

At this time, the mine gate was tightly shut, Blood Vine Castle experts were madly attacking the wall.

The loud noise was caused by the Blood Vine Castle experts bombarding and scaling the wall.

Suddenly, two figures were climbing swiftly up the wall.

"Not good, they’re coming up."

Someone shouted in fear.

Poof!

Poof!

As the words fell, two Refining Organ Realm experts from Blood Vine Castle leapt onto the wall, almost instantly breaking the defense into chaos.

"They... they’ve broken through the line of defense!"

In just a moment, the situation turned one-sided.

Blood Vine Castle’s experts poured into the mine, slaughtering anyone they saw without mercy, whether guards, Jingyan Guards, or miners.

The cries for mercy, the screams of pain, were endless.

"Kill!"

"Brothers, kill to your heart’s content!"

"There’s someone over there, brothers, kill them!"

The two Refining Organ Realm experts led the Blood Vine Castle mountain bandits on a rampage.

"They’re here, they’re here!"

Lv Jinhui trembled all over, Song Yan’s face was extremely troubled.

"Yo, judging from your attire, your official rank is not small, huh?"

The two Refining Organ Realm experts from Blood Vine Castle arrived in front of Chu Ming and the others.

"Brothers, haven’t you always been bullied by these officials? Today is your chance for revenge, kill them for me!"

At a command, the Blood Vine Castle mountain bandits swarmed.

"Brother Chu, stay close to me!"

Meng Zhen protected Chu Ming, fighting while retreating.

"Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, I’m not a big official, he is," Lv Jinhui, scared out of his wits, clutched his head and ran away, pointing at Chu Ming and Meng Zhen, yelling.

"He’s the Chief Clerk, he’s the Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander, if you’re going to kill, kill them..."

These words immediately attracted the two Refining Organ Realm experts from Blood Vine Castle.

"Damn it!" Jin Yu had been mixed in behind Meng Zhen, upon hearing this, speaking curses in anger.

He was only at the late stage of Primordial Qi Unity, capable against Evil, but against two Refining Organ Realm experts, he was no match.

"Chu Ming, you little devil, a disaster seems to follow you, yesterday I went into the mine with you and experienced a collapse, today bandits, it’s ridiculous, utterly absurd!"

Jin Yu was truly panicked.

He had been cultivating in the Divine Mystery Bureau since he was very young, seldom going out, and when he did, it was merely to perform missions. He rarely experienced such life-and-death situations.

"Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander? Haha, brothers, today not only shall we slay corrupt officials but also the Tiger Armor Army!"

The two Blood Vine Castle experts surrounded Meng Zhen.

Meng Zhen’s rage was on the verge of eruption, he almost stabbed Lv Jinhui with his spear.

Clang! Clang! Clang! ——

The clash of gold and iron, the two Refining Organ Realm experts attacked together, Meng Zhen had to passively defend due to his concern for Chu Ming.

To the rear side.

Jin Yu’s expression tightened, raising his right hand, one ring after another condensed.

When three rings appeared...

Boom——

"Primordial Technique, Ten Rings of Primordial Qi!"

Accompanied by the sound of an explosion and a loud shout, both sides were startled.

"Whoever comes, dies!"

Jin Yu conjured three more rings, retreating slowly.

Even the two Refining Organ Realm experts from Blood Vine Castle were so bluffed that they watched Jin Yu retreat for a dozen meters.

Then, Jin Yu, seemingly aided by the wind beneath his feet, stepped onto several structures, leaving under the watchful eyes of all.

"That little bald guy..."

The eyes of the two Refining Organ Realm experts from Blood Vine Castle wavered, they merely glanced and didn’t send anyone to chase after.

It seemed... intentional to let Jin Yu escape?

"Kill everyone!"

The two experts attacked Meng Zhen again, while more Blood Vine Castle mountain bandits attacked outside.