Chapter 554: Red Mansion

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The novel 'Zongheng', by author Fenghuo Xizhuhou.Link:WAP link:Red tickets are free. After registering a Zongheng account, you'll receive red tickets once your points reach a certain amount.Every account can favorite 'Zongheng'.Cumulative post for serialized chapters:Before the main text is posted, no interrupting. Please wait patiently.Xueba moderation log link:Xuezhongba application for elite posts link:Anyone who interrupts before the update is fully posted will be sent to the 'dark room' for a day.

Just as Zhongliang burst through the wall, someone else immediately broke through it. Moreover, this newcomer was dressed entirely in vivid red, looking as if his attire was incredibly valuable. This made the money-loving boy's eyes widen in envy, thinking how majestic he would look if he had such an outfit. The food-loving girl, even more gifted than her brother, was no exception; she hid behind Murong Baoding, peeking out her head, her gaze fixed intently.

At that moment, Murong Baoding felt more absurdity than rage. Was this Xu fellow really dispatching him, the Imperial Envoy of Juzhou, with a mere armored puppet? He had heard that among the Liyang Four Grandmasters, there was once a Talisman General, who was a waste, flayed and disemboweled by the Manmao. Murong Baoding had always held prejudices against these so-called masters who relied on external objects to exert power. His face darkened as he looked at Xu Fengnian, saying, "Hong Jingyan refused this King once. This King's patience is running thin, Xu Fengnian. I advise you not to push your luck and exploit your advantage. Be careful not to become a second Zhou Junchen."

Xu Fengnian seemed to be in a good mood. He walked over to the red armor, tapping and touching it here and there, a sense of relief evident. Turning to the Half-faced Buddha, he smiled and said, "Murong Baoding, you really shouldn't take yourself too seriously. Who are you trying to scare by constantly referring to yourself as 'this King'? This isn't Juzhou, and you're not the Emperor of Beimang. As for me, thanks to my father, I've met the Liyang Emperor and the Empress of Beimang. I've also met all the major vassal kings of Liyang. I've encountered many of the 'Ten Experts of the World' who rank higher than you in martial arts, and none of them seemed to put on as many airs as you. So, speak with an arrogance commensurate with your actual abilities."

Murong Baoding's lips twisted into a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes, revealing a strong killing intent. The Talisman Armored Xu Longxiang glanced at his brother, who nodded, signaling him to let loose and enjoy himself. Since Yijie Liu was Murong Baoding's illegitimate son, it was only fitting that the son's debt be repaid by the father. Xu Longxiang turned to face Murong Baoding. Whether due to the close concealment of the talisman armor or pure bluster, Murong Baoding detected no powerful flow of vital energy, which greatly puzzled the highly discerning Imperial Envoy. He wondered where Xu Fengnian had conjured such a joke, and if he wasn't afraid of making a fool of himself. Murong Baoding only knew that Xu Xiao's younger son was born with a Vajra-like physique, clad in black and barefoot, always leading from the front. He had led the Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry to bully three military garrisons, including Junziguang, into submission, rendering them as helpless as three innocent young maidens. Even his own son's exquisite killer sword energy had failed to slay this boy. Thus, the Imperial Envoy of Juzhou naturally could not have foreseen that Xu Fengnian would go to such lengths, dressing his Vajra-bodied brother in the Talisman General's red armor.

Xu Longxiang flexed his fingers, formed a fist, and with a swift movement, instantly punched Murong Baoding in the chest. A powerful surge of energy emanated, shaking the entire plaza. Although Murong Baoding's body only imperceptibly swayed, appearing unmoving, the invisible mirror-like barrier between Xu Longxiang and the Imperial Envoy rippled violently. This force was so immense that it tore apart the two palace walls at the mirror's edges, not to mention instantly pulverizing the peach trees near the wall's base. Murong Baoding extended a hand and gently patted Murong Caiyang's small head behind him. The young girl understood the gravity of the situation and immediately retreated towards the Golden Imperial Hall with Yelü Caiyin. After delivering his punch, Xu Longxiang recoiled, returned to his original spot, and crossed his arms over his chest. This posture clearly indicated he expected the old man Murong to return a punch, and he wouldn't dodge. Murong Baoding let out an 'Oh,' saying, "So it's the Xu family's Yellow Savage, naturally gifted with immense strength. No wonder, no wonder."

Xu Fengnian lightly slapped Yellow Savage on the head and chuckled, annoyed, "He's Murong, the Half-faced Buddha, ranked eighth in the world. Why are you being polite with him? One punch each, are you playing house? Go all out and beat him! This guy's ranking isn't high among the top ten, but his ability to take a beating is outstanding; his offensive power is lacking, much worse than Deng Tai'a or Han Shengxuan. If it were any other of the 'Ten Experts of the World,' I'd genuinely be worried, but since it's Murong Baoding, it doesn't matter. I can just take this opportunity to test if there are any flaws in the talisman armor meticulously crafted by the Mohist Grand Master."

Xu Fengnian glared at Yellow Savage, saying, "No removing the armor!"

Murong Baoding walked down the steps, scoffing at himself, "You two brothers truly don't take this King seriously, do you?"

Xu Fengnian tucked his hands into his sleeves and retreated far away to the base of the wall, crouching beside the body of the old retainer.

Murong Baoding didn't finish descending the steps. With a mere touch of his toe, he created a pit, then casually pushed Xu Longxiang, who was in the talisman armor, on the head with his palm. Xu Longxiang crashed backward, not only shattering the palace gate but also causing an ear-splitting crack from the city gate. Murong Baoding's body momentarily hung suspended in the air, then floated down like a falling feather. This seemingly light feather, however, crushed the solid blue bricks beneath. No sooner had Murong Baoding landed than a streak of crimson light returned, this time sending Murong Baoding flying backward several dozen feet. In a blink, Murong Baoding stepped forward, his left fist swinging out, meeting Xu Longxiang's right fist in a collision. A torrent of energy surged forward, forcing Xu Fengnian to extend his arm to shield the old Beiliang spy beside him. Then, the two grand Vajra realm martial artists confronted each other with alternating left and right fists, wrestling like two savage oxen. There was no pretense of masterly elegance, but their momentum was astonishingly powerful. Murong Baoding roared, his entire face gleaming with golden light, and roughly shoved Xu Longxiang back several feet. With a stomping kick, the expressionless Xu Longxiang bent down, wrapped his hands around the Half-faced Buddha's leg, and with a twist of his waist, yanked Murong Baoding off the ground like pulling a radish. After a full spin, he flung him away, collapsing half a palace wall. Xu Longxiang leaped after him and stomped down towards Murong Baoding's head. The latter clapped his hand, his body rising in a whirlwind, and a whip kick sent Xu Longxiang crashing into the palace wall near Xu Fengnian. Both palace walls were thus half-destroyed. Xu Longxiang rose from the dust, his palm striking the chest area of his talisman armor. Layers of vital energy surged forward, dispelling the dust accumulated on the armor, leaving the red armor still vibrant and without the slightest damage or flaw.

Xu Fengnian grinned, utterly delighted. For the better part of a year, he had nearly driven the old men of the Bureau of Mechanical Arts to hang themselves. Even the two Mohist Grand Masters, who were usually quite agreeable, gave him no pleasant looks. In fact, on several occasions, as soon as they heard he was approaching the Bureau, they would simply hide, using flimsy excuses like going into seclusion, or claiming old age, backaches, and leg cramps, needing rest, or demanding a good drink before being beheaded. Xu Fengnian, however, was shameless and kept pestering them, seeing who could be more impudent. Fortunately, this talisman armor, which involved vast challenges concerning materials, Daoist talismans, and Buddhist incantations, was finally completed on schedule. In truth, by the end, the old masters themselves had become addicted to its research. When Xu Fengnian suggested taking it out for a spin, the two great Mohist craftsmen looked at him with such resentment, as if he had stolen their wives, vowing to fight the King of Beiliang to the death if it sustained even the slightest scratch. Fortunately, Xu Fengnian dangled an irresistible bait: he declared that no matter how much manpower, material, or financial resources Beiliang expended, the talisman armor must be forged to a level where it could withstand divine lightning. He even provoked them, asking if they dared to defy the heavens in such a way. This immediately made the old men's eyes light up, and they spun around and ran to draw blueprints—genuinely ran, like a wisp of smoke.

Xu Fengnian looked up. The Golden Imperial Hall was still mostly intact, but the palace walls were utterly gone. Yellow Savage had somehow clamped Murong Baoding's head with both hands, holding him in his armpit. The two then proceeded to crash into things, and after demolishing the palace walls, they went to trouble the imperial city walls. Murong Baoding retaliated; after breaking free, he grabbed Yellow Savage's ankle and used the talisman armor as a blade to cut a trench in the middle of the city wall. Yellow Savage didn't fall behind; he stomped his leg onto Murong Baoding's chest in mid-air, making the Half-faced Buddha, renowned as 'Acala,' stagger. Then, the two began to exchange blows, raining punches on each other's heads. After each punch, the talisman armor and the Half-faced Buddha remained unharmed, while the ground beneath their feet cracked inch by inch. Yellow Savage, protected by his armor, didn't appear much disheveled, but Murong Baoding was already in tatters, resembling an old beggar, with not a shred of his Imperial Envoy of Beimang demeanor left.

Perhaps due to the sheer intensity of the fight, or perhaps sheer humiliation turned into rage, Murong Baoding casually picked up a discarded iron spear from the plaza. He struck the talisman armor at the waist, but the armor was undamaged, and the spear shattered from tip to end. There were many more iron spears on the ground, all picked up by Murong Baoding. During this, two spears were aimed at Yellow Savage's eyes, but neither succeeded; they shattered just the same. With the palace walls gone, Xu Fengnian's view was relatively clear. Witnessing this, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He had intentionally belittled Murong Baoding, the world's eighth-ranked, but while the Half-faced Buddha's techniques might not be as devastating as the other nine, capable of toppling cities and shaking mountains like crashing waves, that comparison was only against powerhouses like Wang Xianzhi, Tuoba Pusa, and Deng Tai'a. It didn't mean Murong Baoding was merely a cowering turtle who only knew how to take a beating. The Half-faced Buddha's punches and kicks only failed to show their immense power on Yellow Savage; had it been an ordinary Vajra realm martial artist, such accumulated energy would have long since rendered them unrecognizable. Xu Fengnian had already discerned that the subtlety of the Half-faced Buddha's attacks lay in the 'lingering effect' they left on the opponent after each punch. The essence of Yijie Liu's sword energy, capable of turning planted willows into shade, was very likely derived from this. Therefore, after no fewer than a hundred of Murong Baoding's punches, how incredibly heavy must the constantly increasing vital energy accumulated on Yellow Savage's talisman armor have become? This was why, when Yellow Savage was pushed by Murong Baoding's punch towards a city wall, the wall surface had already exploded into a large hole from the furious vital energy contained within the red armor, even before the armor physically touched it.

Murong Baoding glanced at the red armor rising from the collapsed ruins, then slowly exhaled a turbid breath. His family had a tradition of revering Buddha. From a young age, Murong Baoding enjoyed accompanying his elders to temples to worship, often gazing up at the gilded Buddhas for several hours. As he grew older, especially after Empress Murong usurped the throne and the Murong clan reached the pinnacle of prestige, Murong Baoding not only dedicated himself to martial arts and military strategy but, whenever he had free time, traveled to famous temples and grand monasteries to 'gaze upon Buddha.' This became a well-known eccentricity throughout Beimang and the Northern Dynasty. In the wars between the two nations, Murong Baoding gained early fame for his skill in long-distance raids with a small number of elite cavalry, ambushing and slaughtering enemy troops. His progress in martial arts, however, was much slower. It wasn't until after that military defeat that Murong Baoding embarked on a solitary journey to clear his mind. While observing a grand Buddha statue, he experienced a profound enlightenment, comprehending the 'Vajra Invincibility' of a seated Buddha. Subsequently, one insight led to another, and he further realized the great enlightenments of the standing and reclining Buddhas. Only then did Murong Baoding achieve the transcendent realm of the 'Great Treasure Vase Vajra Body.'

Murong Baoding slowly raised his left palm to his chest, his right hand about to join it in the gesture of a monk's prayer.

A standing Buddha appeared between heaven and earth.

Xu Longxiang turned to glance at Xu Fengnian, who was still crouching in the distance. With both hands, he removed his talisman armor helmet and tossed it at his feet. He had originally intended to follow the method his brother had made him memorize—tapping certain key points with his fingers to effortlessly remove the red armor. However, Xu Longxiang hesitated, only taking off the headpiece but not fully disarming.

Seeing this, Xu Fengnian sighed silently.

Compared to when he went to Longhu Mountain years ago to cultivate Dao under the old Celestial Master Zhao Xibo, Xu Longxiang had grown considerably taller. Although his sallow complexion remained unchanged, the most significant transformation was in his eyes, which now showed much less naivety and confusion, replaced by a touch of obstinate determination.

It was this very youth who had slaughtered the armored soldiers of Beiliang's three garrisons, personally perpetrating the first cruel act of burying surrendered soldiers alive since the Spring and Autumn period.

Xu Longxiang rotated his neck, then punched his left palm with his right fist.

Then, bending his knees slightly, Xu Longxiang's eyes fixed on the Half-faced Buddha, whose body was overflowing with golden light.

He twitched the corner of his mouth.

With Xu Longxiang as the center, not only did the force of Murong Baoding's punches on the talisman armor instantly vanish, but it seemed as though all the ambient energy between heaven and earth was completely absorbed by the young man. The youth resembled an ancient beast, the Taotie.

If gods stood in his way, he would slay them; if Buddhas stood in his way, he would slay them.

Xu Longxiang began to run, each step on the ground carrying the force of a thousand thundering cavalry.

Then, he lightly leaped, his ten fingers intertwined, forming a single fist, which he brought down on the standing Buddha's head!

As Murong Baoding's Invincible Golden Body was smashed into the ground, a slight gap appeared in his tightly clasped hands.

Xu Fengnian stood up, knowing that the overall situation in Qingcang City was decided.

Xu Fengnian did not stop the quiet departure of the young man and woman. Although Murong Baoding's Standing Buddha Treasure Vase Body was shattered by Yellow Savage's punch, if both sides were to truly fight to the death, Xu Fengnian might not have gained much.

Xu Fengnian looked at Yellow Savage's back. Perhaps feeling that he had removed his talisman armor helmet and feared his brother's scolding, Yellow Savage peered into the pit for a long time. When Murong Baoding didn't reappear, he went to crouch down and put his headpiece back on, constantly facing away from Xu Fengnian, squatting there as if in 'contemplation facing the wall.'

Xu Fengnian was somewhat amused yet exasperated, but he didn't pay it much mind. He simply gently hoisted the old spy's body onto his back and walked into the rather unpretentious Golden Imperial Hall. Inside, Zhou Junchen, clad in a dragon robe, was bowing deeply, repeatedly hailing the King of Beiliang and spewing out a torrent of sycophantic flattery. Xu Fengnian placed the old man's body beside a pillar carved with dragons, remaining silent, merely glancing at Zhou Junchen. The latter quickly understood and shut his mouth, realizing that this young vassal king, who had witnessed great storms, was not like the shallow-minded and easily swayed warlords he had previously depended on. Zhou Junchen sighed inwardly. Half an hour ago, he had been waiting for his subordinates to tie this fellow up and bring him to the Golden Imperial Hall, hoping to enjoy the sight of a formidable Liyang vassal king of a different surname kneeling before him. Now, outside, the battle had turned everything upside down; not only had Hong Jingyan, the Lord of Rouran Mountain, made his move, but even Murong Baoding himself had been forced to enter the fray. Thinking of this, Zhou Junchen bent even lower. Xu Fengnian spoke directly, "Originally, I thought I could use my status as King of Beiliang to drink with you and discuss serious matters. However, you, Lord of Qingcang City, certainly put on airs. Well, that's fine; we can settle both old and new scores. Ruan Shandong was a Beiliang native, and so was your Third Retainer. Both died because of you, Zhou Junchen. Your head isn't worth much, and you can't afford to compensate for their lives. When I came in, I estimated that you owe me twenty thousand loyal refugees as compensation. Jiang Heng and He Dajie's personal guards number about three thousand, Shen Congwu, who is outside the city, has another sixteen hundred, plus over a thousand Dragon Scale Guards from the Dragon King's Mansion. None of these are included in the twenty thousand; consider them your welcoming gift."

Zhou Junchen, with a mournful face, wailed, "Your Royal Highness, I don't possess the ability to conjure soldiers from beans! Gathering twenty thousand refugees is harder than ascending to heaven, let alone ensuring their loyalty. It's not that I don't wish to serve Your Royal Highness with all my might, but truly, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak..."

Xu Fengnian suddenly clamped Zhou Junchen's neck with one hand and slammed him against a main pillar. Zhou Junchen's feet dangled off the ground, his back against the column, gasping for breath. Xu Fengnian's arm, wreathed in a red serpent-like energy, sneered, "Then go die. It seems your head, once severed, will be more effective at intimidating the Qingcang refugees than remaining on your shoulders."

Zhou Junchen desperately tugged at Xu Fengnian's arm, struggling for his life. He had only heard that this young man, who was still a prince last year, was an unruly profligate. He had no idea that he was so disinclined to be bogged down, taking a life at the slightest disagreement. It was precisely because Zhou Junchen was shrewd that he knew how to bide his time and negotiate a fair price for himself, not selling himself too cheaply to Beiliang. Did this King of Beiliang dislike clever people? If he had known this earlier, even with the courage of a bear and a leopard, Zhou Junchen wouldn't have dared to play any hidden schemes or tricks. Xu Fengnian reached out, drew the 'Across the River' blade, turned the flat of the blade, and lightly pressed the tip against Zhou Junchen's forehead, smiling faintly, "If I were to horizontally plunge the blade into your skull, it would probably pin you dead to this pillar. The Emperor, I've indeed always wanted to kill one. Trying my hand on you first isn't a bad idea."

After an unknown period, Zhou Junchen slowly regained consciousness, his eyelids struggling open. His expression was dazed, his vision blurry. Had he arrived at the underworld, or was he still on the Road to the Yellow Springs, yet to cross the Bridge of Helplessness? Zhou Junchen instinctively touched his forehead; there seemed to be no blade mark. He wanted to curse the ruthless Xu fellow, but his throat felt as if a burning coal had been shoved into it, making it unbearably painful. He reached up and touched it, and his body trembled with pain, cold sweat streaming down. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he looked up, seeing the pristine white linen robe, and above it, the young face that filled Zhou Junchen with dread down to his very bones. Xu Fengnian looked down at the local emperor, now slumped on the ground, and twitched his lips, "Zhou Junchen, you owe me another life. Tell me, how many refugees will you use to repay this debt now?"

Zhou Junchen, now truly enlightened after his brush with death, embraced the King of Beiliang's leg, his voice hoarse as he cried out, "Your Royal Highness, whatever number of tens of thousands you say, that's what it will be. This humble servant will obey your every command. If I dare utter a single word of defiance, Your Royal Highness can just bestow a blade upon me; you won't even need to lift a finger..."

Xu Fengnian kicked Zhou Junchen away and walked out of the hall. Yellow Savage was still crouching there.

The not-so-tall youth, clad in red armor, stood like a tall building.

Between Beiliang and Beimang, there is a Red Tower.

To kill the King of Beiliang, one must first pass this tower.