Chapter 76: He Is No Longer the National Teacher

In fact, the number of drugs in this world capable of rapid blood regeneration could be counted on one hand.

The few Gu worms were emaciated, which was why Sun Fuping, riddled with wounds from the ballista, couldn't use them for a quick recovery. Ultimately, he had to rely on divine power.

Now, he intended to turn He Lingchuan into his personal blood bank, while also making him experience the agony of his heart and brain being devoured.

He Lingchuan, still unaware of the foreign invaders within his body despite being covered in scratches, saw a demonic bird descend from the sky and land right beside him.

The bird tilted its head, observing him as if in deep thought.

He Lingchuan had no time for such contemplation and roared, "Kill him! If you help me, you help yourself!"

The demonic bird heard him but didn't turn its head. Instead, with a whoosh, it released several bats. As its body was composed of a swarm of bats, this was effortless.

The bats swarmed onto He Lingchuan's wounds, rapidly biting and drawing blood.

A numb and itchy sensation spread through him, but surprisingly, no pain. The young man exclaimed, "Hey, what are you doing?!"

Naturally, the demonic bird offered no reply, merely spreading its wings as if to take flight.

He Lingchuan ignored everything else, drew his saber, and repeatedly slashed at the netting.

Despite its seemingly delicate and pliable appearance, this entangling silk rope was actually forged from blood silkworm silk combined with the core of a three-hundred-year-old iron vine. It was several times harder than steel wire, impervious to water, fire, blades, or axes.

After two attempts failed to cut through, He Lingchuan remembered his newly acquired treasured saber. "If not now," he thought, "then when?"

The new blade indeed proved superior. Once the treasured saber was unsheathed, cutting through the entangling silk rope was as effortless as slicing a fishing net.

In just a few swift movements, he broke free from the fishing net—no, the entangling silk rope—and leaped onto the demonic bird's back, exclaiming, "Give me a ride!"

The demonic bird dipped under his weight, instinctively wanting to dislodge him. Yet, for some unknown reason, it changed its mind, flapped its wings, and began its take-off run.

Its massive body precluded a vertical ascent; it required a running start to gain momentum for flight.

Sun Fuping immediately panicked. Amidst the chaos, he tapped his staff, and the beast's head opened its maw, spewing forth several fireballs like a continuous barrage, aimed at the demonic bird beneath He Lingchuan. While their power couldn't rival a siege cannon, they were certainly capable of shattering its wings or critically wounding He Lingchuan.

The only caveat was hitting the target.

Other demonic birds, already circling nearby, immediately dived down, using their bodies to shield He Lingchuan from the impending danger.

Indeed, not a single one of those dozen-plus fireballs managed to hit him.

As his opponent's makeshift mount soared into the air, Sun Fuping, his face livid, was about to press on when, unexpectedly, over a dozen people rushed forth from behind him. Their leader roared, "Stop!"

It was none other than He Chunhua, leading his followers. The normally gentle County Governor's face was contorted with rage: "Sun Fuping, we risked our lives for you, yet you turn us into sacrifices! How can such a treacherous and vicious person be fit to be the Imperial Tutor?!"

With that brief delay, the demonic bird soared several *zhang* higher and vanished into the sky.

Sun Fuping sighed inwardly, realizing he had lost the optimal moment to detain He Lingchuan. Even if he possessed other means of pursuit, the demonic birds protecting the young man were formidable opponents.

As He Lingchuan ascended with his mount, his heart still pounded from his narrow escape. Upon seeing his father arrive on the battlefield, he couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Dad, he's not the Imperial Tutor!"

He Chunhua froze, forgetting even his rage. "What?" he uttered.

"Go down!" He Lingchuan urged, wanting to reunite with his father, but the demonic bird utterly disregarded him, flying higher and higher.

"He's never used the State Altar Token!" As the distance widened, He Lingchuan had to scream at the top of his lungs, "He can't manipulate the flow of destiny! Go all out and kill him!"

This revelation was utterly shocking. He Chunhua had previously met Sun Fuping in the capital and confirmed his identity as the genuine article. However, upon closer reflection, after Sun Fuping entered Blackwater City, he had indeed never seemed to use his own State Altar Token for casting spells, always borrowing either Nian Songyu's or He Chunhua's.

Someone had previously raised this question, and Sun Fuping had explained that he feared the aura on his kite coins would attract attacks from the Three-Corpse Worms and vengeful spirits.

Looking back now, this was indeed a critical flaw in his story.

He Chunhua made a decisive move, pointing at Sun Fuping and shouting, "Attack! Take down this imposter!"

Sun Fuping's beard trembled with rage. "He Chunhua, you are in rebellion against your superior! Any who dare take a single step forward will have their entire clan subjected to the death by a thousand cuts!"

In a moment of carelessness, a demonic bird's sharp beak pecked him, and blood gushed out.

He Chunhua chuckled. "You think not killing him will lead to a favorable outcome? Consider the Blood Sacrifice Array, and remember your comrades sacrificed by him!"

The gruesome deaths of their comrades within the Blood Sacrifice Array were vivid in their minds. Recalling this, everyone steeled their resolve to fight without restraint.

In fact, He Chunhua's thoughts mirrored his son's: the He family, both father and son, had already mortally offended Sun Fuping. Regardless of whether he was an imposter, they had to kill him first. Otherwise, if Sun Fuping escaped, the He family would face utter destruction!

If both Sun and Nian perished, County Governor He would find it easier to account for the situation.

At this moment, several more of He Chunhua's subordinates arrived. After entering the Pool Well, they had been dispersed throughout various parts of the illusion. These particular individuals had been assigned to Panlong City and rushed to join the battle upon hearing the clash of weapons.

Twenty breaths later, the thunder of hooves echoed.

The Great Wind Army also arrived, nearly two hundred individuals with expressionless faces.

The Blackwater City army felt a slight apprehension upon seeing them, but these heroic spirits stared intently at Sun Fuping, not bothering to spare a glance for anyone else.

The leading commander was the first to initiate the charge.

He Lingchuan had already flown to a high vantage point. From his perspective, Sun Fuping was completely surrounded, layers deep, as if about to be swallowed by the vortex formed by the demonic birds, the Great Wind Army, and the Blackwater City army.

Anyone with eyes could see that Sun Fuping had reached the end of his rope.

He Chunhua said grimly, "These are all vengeful spirits. As long as the Imperial Tutor uses the State Altar Token, he will surely turn this danger into safety!"

However, even as He Lingchuan's mount flew far into the distance, he still saw no light emanating from the State Altar Token below.

So, that old scoundrel really wasn't the Imperial Tutor after all?

Just as he was sighing, he suddenly cried out in pain with a sharp hiss. He turned his head to see that the few bats clinging to him had gnawed open his wounds, pulling out black maggots from inside. Regardless of how desperately these creatures wriggled, they placed them right before their host's eyes.

"From my body?" Unaware of when he had been ambushed, He Lingchuan inwardly thought, "That was a close call." He had almost been made to join him in death; that old Sun fellow was truly malicious.

He tried to use his small knife to stab these worms, but the bats nudged it away.

"I can't kill them? Are they useful?" It was no delusion; these bats truly possessed intelligence! He had no choice but to find a small, sealable bottle and collect these Gu worms.

The demonic bird was incredibly fast, reaching the southern battlefield in the blink of an eye. It then descended, placing him at the ideal vantage point on the city gate.

Situ Han approached him. "Young Master, the County Governor has gone down into the city to look for you!"

"I know, they're besieging and killing old man Sun," He Lingchuan retorted impatiently. "Why didn't you go with them?"

"Someone has to stay here and keep watch, don't they?" Situ Han gave a dry chuckle. "We were outmaneuvered by the Imperial Tutor outside, losing over eighty men! Now we're short-handed."