This once famed general who had appeared on the Divine General List and later entered the Buddhist Sect had lost the fierce and domineering aura of his banner-carrying days; his brow held a compassionate and benevolent look, genteel and calm, yet he still managed to break through the defenses of five hundred armored imperial guards within fifteen breaths.
Moreover, within a single move, he had laid low Ye Buyi and Zhou Liuying, prominent figures among the younger generation, wielding nothing more than a green bamboo stick.
The flag-bearing Great General of the Taiping Army was indeed the strongest in terms of physical might.
He seemed surprised because he had not taken down Li Guanyi with the first move.
Immediately twisting his wrist, Li Guanyi ceased to resist and was directly sent flying, his Frost Battle Halberd knocked out of his hands. Yan Xuanji, without a moment’s hesitation, meant to knock out Li Guanyi too, but in the next instant, as if hearing some noise, changed his chopping move to a palm strike and directly hoisted Li Guanyi up.
Li Guanyi reached out to grab, and under such circumstances, he still managed to seize his weapon.
Yan Xuanji praised, "Good martial arts."
This once famed general, even after retreating into the Buddhist Sect, still had the style of a Military School Great General, moving rapidly, leaving Li Guanyi no chance to react before being carried off and sprinting over a hundred steps, then turning back to punch the ground.
The punch struck the ground.
The Forbidden Palace collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Sinking directly into the earth.
Li Guanyi suddenly felt that his own strength was nothing compared to that of the monk.
Li Guanyi instantly understood.
Yan Xuanji had used the location of the Chi Xiao Sword to distract the guards of the Chen Country Imperial Palace.
He still possessed the instincts of a general who attacked an enemy’s must-save location.
The reason for knocking down the imperial guards was to spare them from death, so as not to be killed for dereliction of duty, facing the once famed Divine General, these imperial guards and Imperial Guard soldiers had fought to their limit.
But why take him away?
Li Guanyi’s heart stirred with a surmise, ultimately choosing to hold back. With an unclear situation and uncertain standpoint, speaking carelessly could get him killed. This once battlefield slaughterer seemed to have changed his nature, truly showing mercy as would a disciple of the Buddhist Sect.
Yan Xuanji, with his rough movement technique, moved with extreme speed. In an instant, Li Guanyi had no idea where he had been taken, only vaguely hearing some chaotic noises in his ears such as—
’Damn, that treacherous Emperor, to think he had ambushes set up, hiss—those are royal family experts!’
’Damn it, this Emperor, without a sound, has rebuilt the National Protection Manor? This formation!’
’Mr. Liu and the others have been surrounded, they have been sacrificed!’
’Cursed be that old Emperor, did he know we were coming? We’ve been tricked!’
’Difficult to regroup, let’s gather some men first...’
Noise and clamor, the smell of blood, the sounds of weapons clashing nonstop, Li Guanyi knew from these noises that the Emperor was probably laying a trap within the Imperial Palace, and with the endless imperial guards as well as royal family experts, these Martial World warriors were starting to suffer after initially taking the upper hand.
Li Guanyi thought of what Yue Qianfeng had mentioned before, as well as his previous assault on the Imperial Palace.
The purpose was to clarify the map.
And the map, was for these people of the Martial World to make their second charge.
As the warriors of the Martial World became disorganized, Yan Xuanji appeared, knocking down a hundred or so imperial guards, then said, "Gentlemen, experts of the Chen Country Royal Family have suddenly appeared, the crossbows are fierce, let’s retreat into this great hall first!"
"Your humble monk will cover for you!"
"Master Zhi Ge, be careful."
Yan Xuanji let out a loud shout, but with a shoulder charge, he collapsed a pavilion.
Lifting the pavilion with one hand, he threw it towards the front, forcing back the encircling troops. Several royal family experts approached but were suddenly repelled by a fierce Sword Qi, as sharp as water.
Without turning his head, Yan Xuanji said, "Thanks, Sword Immortal."
Using his fists and feet, he created a temporary refuge. The remaining martial artists summoned up their last strength, fighting and retreating within the encirclement, and once inside this hall, Yan Xuanji blocked the entrance with another pavilion he had pulled down, finally settling down somewhat.
"The travel palaces of Chen Country all have special arrangements, impervious to water and fire; everyone can be at ease."
"Let’s rest for now."
Suddenly someone inquired, "Master, who do you have in your hand...?"
Yan Xuanji lifted Li Guanyi slightly and said calmly, "This person, your humble monk recognizes. He is the most outstanding nobleman from Chen Country of late, from below the fifth rank, the County Knight of Qin Wu, deeply favored by the Emperor."
"His origin is from the Royal Family-related Xue Family; the Xue Family head is Duke Xue of Central State, his aunt is the Emperor’s recently favored concubine. With him in our hands, he can serve as a hostage, at the very least, in special circumstances, he can be of some use."
This crafty old monk.
Li Guanyi hadn’t expected that the title he had obtained from Chen Yuyun would become the reason he was targeted. After Yan Xuanji’s explanation, the many warriors of the Martial World ceased their objections, though the looks they gave Li Guanyi were still far from friendly, filled with resentment.
The Emperor’s favorite!
These four words were enough for Li Guanyi to be skewered with countless holes by this group of rash Martial World warriors.
Those martial artists who had come charging in with a rush of blood were all rebels at heart.
Yan Xuanji set Li Guanyi down and said, "Elder Xue has often helped the people and performed acts of valor. Unless absolutely necessary, your humble monk will not harm the young master. Young master, please bear with us."
Someone scoffed, "The Emperor’s favorite, huh. What does that count for, given such an Emperor as Chen Dingye, who favors such people? General Yue, hero of such stature, has been thrown into the dark dungeons beneath the Imperial Palace, deprived of daylight. Loyal officials treated so, those favored are all traitors!"