Chapter 83 Dongfengling

Inside a hall on Dongfengling, the atmosphere was unusually silent.

The candle flames in the hall flickered faintly, casting light on Cheng Yankun's cold and gaunt face.

He sat in front of an ancient wooden table, his eyes fixed on the map spread out on the table. His fingertips tapped the tabletop from time to time, producing clear echoing sounds.

Some bamboo slips and scrolls were piled up on the table in a disorderly manner, left over from handling affairs earlier.

The howling wind outside whistled through the gaps in the palace windows, as faint as the buzzing of mosquitoes. Accompanied by a few dull creaking sounds of wooden boards, the entire hall seemed to be under the pressure of some intangible heaviness.

"Jiang Li..." Cheng Yankun murmured in a low voice, a deep glint flashing in his eyes. His voice was as cold as ice, tinged with a barely - concealed resentment."You actually barged into Heluo City."

He slightly furrowed his brows, and his eyes became vacant, as if losing their focus.

Recalling the battle with Jiang Li, Cheng Yankun's emotions became even more turbulent.

That man was nothing but an ant in his eyes. Yet, despite his thorough preparations, he not only failed to subdue him but also lost the Yunling Gourd.

The setback and the humiliation had stirred a monstrous rage in his heart.

"He surely doesn't know that I'm right here." Cheng Yankun took a deep breath, and a cold glint immediately sparkled in his eyes. Then, the corners of his mouth curled into a sneer, filled with a bit of gloom and viciousness."No matter how he schemes, since he dared to snatch my gourd, he must pay the price."

He slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over several of his close subordinates, and then he coldly commanded,"Pass the word. Gather everyone tomorrow. Prepare for a surprise attack on Heluo City. We must completely eliminate Jiang Li and his group. I'll lead the team myself this time. He won't have another chance to escape."

Everyone responded in unison, moving quickly and in sync. Cheng Yankun watched them, but his heart still couldn't calm down.

The humiliation brought by that failure lingered constantly, especially the moment when Jiang Li snatched the precious Yunling Gourd from his hands.

At that time, he almost felt that his world had collapsed in an instant. As if everything was no longer under his control, the anger in his heart seemed to turn into a raging fire, burning fiercely and impossible to extinguish.

"Last time, that Martial Saint was trapped by the Illusion - Realm Pearl strengthened by the Yunling Gourd, which actually allowed me to spot some flaws in Jiang Li." Cheng Yankun gritted his teeth, a resentful expression emerging on his face. The anger and humiliation in his heart intertwined, making it hard for him to suppress that impulse.

"However, this time, with so many of us, no matter how powerful he is, he's just an ordinary Martial Saint." He mumbled to himself, a sneer appearing in his eyes, as if everything was already under his control.

Cheng Yankun's gaze grew even more gloomy. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning slightly pale.

Recalling that battle, his heart was still filled with pain. The sense of humiliation of being toyed with by Jiang Li and having the precious treasure snatched away by the enemy was almost unbearable for him.

At that moment, he almost lost his rationality and even doubted for a while whether he had relied too much on external objects.

But now, he knew that everything had changed. His plan had quietly unfolded, and this time, there would be no such mistakes.

Cheng Yankun took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. His gaze turned to a bottle of pitch - black liquid on the table. The mouth of the bottle glimmered with a strange luster.

It was Hundred - Soul Liquid, a medicine that could quickly repair the spiritual soul. As the name suggested, it was made by refining the spiritual souls of a hundred people and adding medicinal ingredients. Things that could repair the spiritual soul had always been rare.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the bottle and tilted the mouth.

Instantly, an icy - cold breath filled the air, as if they had entered the frigid polar region of winter.

The coldness that seemed to cover his whole body like a layer of ice quickly swept over him. Cheng Yankun lowered his head and watched the liquid slide down his throat. Immediately, a violent chill and pain surged through him.

It was as if tens of thousands of ghosts were howling inside his body, tearing at his soul. The pain was like being cut by knives, and he could barely hold back a groan.

Cheng Yankun's face instantly turned pale, and a pained struggle flashed in his eyes. However, he still gritted his teeth tightly, enduring the excruciating pain.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and felt the chaotic energy invade his body. It was as if he had entered a deep and gloomy ghost realm, filled with indescribable horror and endless pain.

Yet, precisely in this sea of pain, his spiritual soul gradually recovered, and the speed of recovery surprised him.

As time passed, the icy power rapidly spread within his body. Although there was still a slight twinge of pain, Cheng Yankun's soul had gradually mended. It was as if he had just broken free from the abyss and been reborn. He opened his eyes, his face gradually regaining its color, and a cold glint sparkled in his eyes once again.

"The spiritual soul is being restored. In just a little more time, I'll be back at my peak." Cheng Yankun muttered to himself, a cruel and vicious sneer curling the corners of his mouth."Jiang Li, no matter what magical artifacts you have in your hands, this time, I'll send you to your grave with my own hands."

Cheng Yankun sat cross - legged on the bed, no longer relying on any temporary magical artifacts or methods. Instead, he was determined to completely eliminate Jiang Li through a more elaborate layout and plan. This enemy, who had repeatedly challenged his bottom line, was destined to have no chance of survival.

"Your death is coming, Jiang Li, once I'm fully recovered."

As Cheng Yankun's voice faded, the cold wind outside the hall howled again.

Early the next morning, Jiang Li slowly opened his eyes and took a deep breath of the morning air.

The peace and clarity brought by meditation invigorated every cell in his body. His internal energy surged like a river, filling his entire being, as if every drop of his blood was boiling.

The power that cultivation brought him filled him with confidence in the future and also gave him a sense of fulfillment and stability he had never felt before.

He stood up and stretched his muscles and bones. His movements were elegant yet full of strength. Sensing the spiritual power continuously circulating within his body, he closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and silently perceived the huge energy inside. Jiang Li smiled slightly, filled with self - assurance.

Last night, he almost spent the whole night researching the mysteries of the Yunling Gourd. This treasure was not just a storage tool; its true value far exceeded his expectations.

Jiang Li discovered that as long as he infused spiritual power into the gourd, it would absorb and transform it into even richer spiritual energy. It seemed to have infinite potential, capable of enhancing any item, and even reversing the situation in a battle, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Especially when attached to a weapon, the effect of spiritual energy transformation was particularly remarkable.

With the blessing of spiritual energy, the sharpness of the Molijian (Morley Sword) became extremely keen. It could easily break through the spiritual - power shields in the air.

Jiang Li raised the Molijian. The sword body glistened with a cold light in the morning glow, and the sword energy was extremely fierce. Gently stroking the sword body, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes."I bought this sword for only five taels of silver. I never thought it would be so durable."

He couldn't help but sigh with emotion, his eyes looking into the distance."Along the way, the Molijian has accompanied me through countless difficult battles. It's truly a reliable companion."

Jiang Li smiled slightly, a sense of sentiment welling up in his heart."It was originally just a tool for training, but I never expected it to become so powerful. It's really an unexpected gain."

He sheathed the sword, his eyes resolute, and a hint of determination at the corner of his mouth."After we go back, I'll go to the blacksmith's shop and equip each team member with a sword. Victory or defeat often lies in the details. A good sword can bring unexpected changes."

Just then, Zhao Meng came over and interrupted his thoughts."Big brother, Xu Anmin is ready. He's waiting for your instructions."

Jiang Li nodded and then commanded,"Zhao Meng, go and inform Xu Anmin to get his men ready. Once the mountain - protecting great formation is broken, they should charge in immediately."

Zhao Meng responded and left. Jiang Li turned around and called to the team members,"The rest of you, follow the guidance of the map and head towards Dongfengling." His eyes were firm, and there was no hesitation in his tone, as if everything was already under control.