Chapter 84 – Half a Shattered Smiling Mask

Northern Luocheng.Lu Changkong personally escorted the old eunuch out of the city.Lu Fan's refusal to accept the imperial edict did not take Lu Changkong by surprise. Given Lu Fan's unfathomable cultivation, mundane imperial authority held little sway over him."Fan'er suffers from a leg ailment and possesses a violent and disrespectful temperament. I implore you to report this to His Majesty with understanding and leniency," Lu Changkong clasped his hands toward the old eunuch in respect.The eunuch hurriedly returned the gesture. Today… he had personally witnessed the awe-inspiring power of a true cultivator, a sight that shook him to his core.

The Grand Preceptor had long warned that cultivators were formidable and would become unpredictable forces of change in the realm. As a so-called Master of the Seven Echoes, the old eunuch had once scoffed at the claim. But today… he was afraid.When the imperial edict hovered unnaturally in the air, threatening to pierce his skull at any moment, his legs truly faltered.

"City Lord Lu, it is this humble servant who has disturbed Young Lord Lu…" The eunuch's expression was a complex swirl of emotions."Now, the philosophers of the Hundred Schools have allied with Governor Tantai Xuan of Northern Prefecture and taken both Yuanchi and Tong'an. His Majesty has issued two decrees—one to Zuilong, and one to Northern Luo. With this decree delivered, I must swiftly return to the capital."The eunuch once again offered a parting salute.

Lu Changkong's eyes sharpened. As he had suspected—Northern Luocheng was not the only city under siege; the other five fortress cities had come under attack as well.The appearance of cultivators from Wolong Ridge's Celestial Palace had thrown the previously dominant Mohist School into disarray."Take care on the road, Eunuch. I shall not see you off," Lu Changkong said flatly.The eunuch bowed and galloped away.

Lu Changkong narrowed his eyes as he watched the receding figure, then turned and headed for Heartlake Island.

Heartlake Island, Northern Luo.Lu Fan handed a refined pot to Ni Yu.Ni Yu had consumed a flawed Qi-Gathering Pill and, by chance, entered the third tier of the Qi Pill realm. She now wore a delighted grin.However, the pill—though not highly toxic—still carried side effects. The breakthrough had left Ni Yu with an uncontrollable tendency to break wind.

The persistent "poot poot" sounds echoed across the entire island.

Lu Fan ascended to the second-floor terrace of the White Jade Pavilion.Ning Zhao brought plum wine gently simmered, and the breeze danced lightly. Lu Fan arranged a game board with casual elegance.Suddenly, his expression shifted.His perception flared, transforming the scene before him into vibrating lines. His vision expanded rapidly.

He saw the towering Mechanical City, the glint of blades, the clash of steel…

The Tantai Clan of Northern Prefecture, allied with the Mohists and other Hundred Schools, had seized Yuanchi.

Ten miles beyond Yuanchi's walls, Jiang Li stood in silver armor. Behind him were elite imperial troops dispatched from the capital.

Wooden barricades and trenches stretched before them, locking in a tense standoff with the Northern Prefecture forces within the city.

Jiang Li rested his hand on the hilt of an unsheathed sword at his waist, staring coldly at the city.He could faintly make out three figures atop the city wall—A hunched elder: Mo Beike, head of the Mohist School;Beside him, Tantai Xuan, Governor of Northern Prefecture;And his strategist: Mo Ju, fan in hand, scarf on brow.

Mo Ju, though not a direct disciple of the Mohists, had long walked his own path.Yet fate had drawn him back—his lord had ultimately allied with the Mohists.Despite his complex feelings, he did not resist; an alliance with the Mohists was Northern Prefecture's best play.

The Mohists had originally supported the Overlord of Western Prefecture. But should the Great Zhou fall, chaos would erupt, and the contest for dominion would rest among three:The Western Overlord, the Tantai Clan of the North, and the Tang Clan of the South.

Now, with the Mohists siding with the North, the Tantai clan's path to the imperial capital grew ever clearer.

Jiang Li watched a moment longer, then withdrew his gaze, eyes narrowing.The enemy's troops remained still—They were waiting.Waiting… for Jiang Li to expose his weakness.

His hand brushed the sword at his waist.

There was pain in his eyes.

He had once wished to give her a life of peace—untouched by the filth of the world, simply raising chickens in tranquility.But fate was not so kind.

Meanwhile, at the Mechanical City of the Mohists by East Lake—The skies wept in torrents.The city had descended into chaos and bloodshed.

Eighty-one steel chains stretched out—Finally, some Xiliang warriors braved the withering crossbow fire and reached the city walls.

But the surface of the Mechanical City stirred—gears groaned.Countless steel spikes burst forth, skewering the climbing warriors.

Even masterful warriors fell like common soldiers into the abyss.The cascading waterfalls and torrential rain merged into a misty haze, washing away the stench of death.

So many brave Xiliang men perished.Even the iron-hearted Xiang Shaoyun flinched.

Amidst the army, shirtless warriors pounded war drums, their thunder shaking the skies.

With solemn steps, the Overlord strode forth from his chariot—His boots splashed water two feet high.

The Mohist Mechanical City, truly, was the most impregnable fortress in all the land.

Xiang Shaoyun raised his gaze.He saw Mohist disciples rushing about…And then—a woman, draped in robes like crimson mandala petals, radiant in the storm.

To breach this fortress, brute force must forge the first crack.Even the sturdiest shield, once breached, quickly crumbles.This, Xiang Shaoyun understood well.

He slowly closed his eyes.Visions of Wolong Ridge flooded his mind—five thousand men had once besieged him.He saw bloodied Xiliang warriors fall to their knees, unwilling but defeated.He heard the mournful tune of Ming Sang's flute, even louder than the roaring tempest.

Suddenly, the Overlord's eyes snapped open—Cold and merciless.

"Kill!"

With a roar, the rain exploded around him.He swung his Gan-Qi axe and leapt, parting the downpour as he dashed along the thick iron chains.

Xiliang's warriors burned with fury—The Overlord's charge ignited their belief like a holy flame!Weapons raised, hearts ablaze—even the storm could not quench their wrath.

Inside the city—

Ah Zhu, her eyes gleaming beneath a half-silver mask, murmured:"Eliminate the Overlord."

Rows of crossbows locked onto the charging figure.

Thwip! Thwip!Bolts tore through the rain like venomous fangs, screaming toward Xiang Shaoyun's towering form.

With steady steps, he danced on the chains.Raising his shield, he deflected every bolt—Not one could touch him.

Ah Zhu's expression remained unchanged.Her red lips parted—

Boom!The city wall cracked open.

A massive mechanical beast—an eighteen-segmented centipede—crawled along the chains.

Forged by both the Mohists and the Engineers, this was their masterpiece.

Steel blades adorned both sides of the beast, shredding all in its path.The downpour could not wash away the blood.The path forward was carved with sacrifice.

The Overlord roared and surged forth, unafraid.

Suddenly—His eyes narrowed.A gleaming raindrop, sliced clean by unseen force, hovered two meters to his flank.

With a shake of his rain-soaked hair, he swung his great axe—Blood and qi surged, thunder echoed.

A smiling mask emerged from the shadows.A sword stroke split the air like silk through water—Swift, silent, deadly.It aimed straight for the Overlord's throat.

A killer without a trace.The world's number one assassin—Mo Yihen.

The Overlord had heard the name.

Above the city wall—Ah Zhu's scarlet robes fluttered.Slender legs clad in embroidered shoes perched on the railing.From her sleeve slipped a sword, and she soared forth—A single drop of red ink in clear water.

Several Mohist warriors drew their weapons, leaping down behind her, all charging toward one goal—

Slay the Overlord.

Without him, the Xiliang army would collapse.Hold the city—Kill the Overlord.

The best defense… was ruthless offense.

Bolts shrieked, warriors roared—Every blade aimed for one man.

Wmmm—The sword sang.Mo Yihen's strike hit true—

But the blade stopped one inch into the Overlord's dark armor.

The axe came crashing down.Mo Yihen spun, rain flying from his blade, retreating along the chains.He struck again and again—Each blow clashing with a single point on the Overlord's axe.

The force hurled him backward along the slick iron.

The world stilled.

The Overlord stood tall—His cloak shattered the storm.

Mo Yihen gasped for breath.

A Grandmaster of the Nine Echoes.A son of the Engineering School.Crossbows. Machines.Yet—Before the Overlord, none could stand.