Chapter Eighty-Six: The Outbreak of War

Chapter Eighty-Six: The Outbreak of War

After hearing the words of the King of Eastern Chu, Chu Yuxi’s eyes shone with excitement. Without even a word of farewell, she dashed out.

Outside, the sky, which had been clear and bright, was suddenly shrouded by dark clouds. With a clap of thunder, the heavens split open and rain poured down in torrents. The downpour came without warning, and the people on the streets were caught completely off guard. Most had barely looked up before the raindrops splashed onto their faces. At first, it was just a few scattered drops, but in an instant, the rain began to fall in earnest, drumming loudly on the ground. Many people were caught unprepared, for no one had anticipated such a sudden storm.

On a certain street, Shen An led a group of people rushing forward. None of them carried umbrellas. In fact, the rain that landed on them evaporated instantly. Their swift strides and the energy that enveloped their bodies kept them dry. Especially Wang Yuan—before the rain could even touch him, it was already gone, leaving not a single trace on his body, or even beneath his feet. Wherever he stepped, the water vanished in a flash.

Shen An outpaced the others easily. After waiting a moment for his companions, he disappeared from sight once more.

At the headquarters of the Shadow Division, located on the outskirts of the city near the suburbs, the atmosphere was tense. The Shadow Division, shrouded in secrecy, had always been an existence that the great families regarded with wariness. No one wished to become their enemy, but at the same time, the Shadow Division never provoked the major clans either.

Within a dilapidated warehouse, a youthful voice broke the silence. “Where are they? We’ve been waiting so long, and they’re still not here?”

“Who knows, maybe they got lost,” another replied with a laugh.

“Or maybe they’re too scared to show up?”

“Impossible. They’re not that timid. If I’m not mistaken, they’re probably already here.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than shouts erupted outside.

“Something’s happened out there. Be ready, everyone!”

He rushed toward the exit, but suddenly, an invisible barrier appeared before him. He crashed into it, and his body was thrown backward, out of control. The others crashed into it as well, each one falling to the ground.

They scrambled to their feet, eyes full of caution as they stared ahead. “Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Ripples shimmered in the air, revealing the face of the newcomer.

A young woman smiled at them.

“It’s Mu Linqiu! Everyone, attack together!”

With that, the first man charged forward. The others followed close behind, reaching Mu Linqiu in the blink of an eye. But just as they were about to strike, her figure vanished.

Startled, the man lashed out instinctively in the direction he guessed she might be. Suddenly, it felt as if he’d been struck by a car; his body doubled over like a shrimp, pain wracking his form as he stumbled backward, clutching his abdomen, preparing to look ahead.

Suddenly—bang, bang, bang!—a flurry of blows rained down, giving him no chance to resist. The attacker remained unseen, hidden from beginning to end.

Too powerful, thought the Shadow Division member in astonishment.

“This isn’t right! According to the intel, Mu Linqiu shouldn’t be this strong. She can actually attack at high speed while remaining invisible. Our assessment was wrong.”

Cries of alarm echoed as, in the blink of an eye, two more were brought down by Mu Linqiu. They too could not pinpoint her location and could only fight by instinct.

But Mu Linqiu was no longer the person she once was. After her recent cultivation and the effects of Shen An’s spiritual spring water, her strength had soared. The Shadow Division’s misjudgment was understandable, but it had cost them dearly, as their combat strength was quickly diminished.

The remaining Shadow Division members regrouped.

“Pair up! Cover each other! We must take Mu Linqiu down immediately!”

This invisibility was too vexing, and they had no choice but to change tactics. But just as they were about to act, a flash of fire appeared. One man was touched by the flames and instantly engulfed. He rolled on the ground, screaming.

A bald man strode in.

“Your grandpa has returned!” Wang Yuan’s arrogant voice echoed throughout the warehouse.

The other Shadow Division members exchanged worried glances. The pressure was immense—deadly assassinations lurking everywhere, the heat of the flames stifling.

Sweat poured down their faces, anxiety mixing with the oppressive heat. Wang Yuan, his power surging, was brazen and wild. Flames erupted around him without restraint, burning everything in his path, leaving the Shadow Division cursing their luck.

“Wang Yuan, you traitor! Today, you will die!” someone shouted furiously.

Wang Yuan charged without hesitation, appearing before the speaker in an instant.

“Just you?” he sneered, sweeping his hand. Fire shot out like maggots on rotting flesh, chasing the man relentlessly. Sensing the fire’s unnatural heat, the man’s expression changed. He turned to flee, but the flames pursued him, catching him in a heartbeat, igniting his body. He rolled on the ground, screaming, as the others looked on in horror.

Wang Yuan and Mu Linqiu’s strength had far surpassed all expectations—something none of them could have foreseen.

Outside, black smoke coiled through the air—poisonous miasma. Wherever the venomous snakes slithered, people fell to their toxins. Those still unpoisoned tried to flee, but as soon as some escaped the snakes’ range, an arrow struck them down. Hundreds of meters away, Wang Bao munched on a chicken leg, watching the scene unfold with satisfaction.

The man in the golden mask watched the chaos, his fists clenching ever tighter, his face growing darker beneath the mask, twisted as though something were caught in his throat. From his vantage above, he watched his subordinates fall one after another, his heart bleeding with each loss.

He was shocked by the strength of Shen An’s followers. How had they become so powerful in such a short time?

But there was no time to ponder. As his subordinates dwindled, he leaped down from above. With his landing, waves of energy rippled outward, tentacle-like tendrils of power probing for enemies.

Suddenly, he sensed his men in grave danger. With a thought, the masked man vanished from where he stood, reappearing before the venomous snakes just as they struck at their foes. Caught off guard, the snakes had no time to react to this sudden reversal of fortune. By the time they sensed danger, it was already too late.