Chapter 946: Chapter 946

Within Yongjia City, inside a pitch-black "secure house."

An ancient door frame stood silently, and inside the room, the Gold Shadow Guard Scholar clutched a handkerchief, nervously watching the [Two-Life Gate], occasionally turning to look at the distant firelight outside the window.

Suddenly, the ancient double-leaf wooden door emitted a ghastly green light, and a figure "walked" out of the door out of thin air!

"Sir?!" The scholar’s face lit up with joy and hurriedly reported, "Everything is proceeding according to plan. I am here to provide support."

Zhao Douan took a step out of the [Two-Life Gate], still in shock, a fine sheen of sweat appearing on his forehead, as he looked somewhat apprehensively at the ancient door frame.

Fortunately, he was cautious enough to have left a lifeline; otherwise, tonight would have met with disaster.

His expression was extremely grave; Zhao Shixiong’s cultivation far exceeded expectations. He even suspected that the opponent had already stepped into the "Half-step Celestial."

"Good, let’s leave immediately." Zhao Douan dared not linger long, nodded at the scholar, raised his hand to put away the Two-Life Gate, took just one step, and suddenly "thudded" to the ground, lying still.

The scholar was shocked, quickly turning Zhao Douan’s prone body over, continually calling out, "Sir? Sir? What’s wrong?"

But Zhao Douan lay like a soulless shell, utterly unresponsive.

Zhao Douan, in a daze, was startled to find himself out of the "secure house" and back on that street.

The surroundings were bathed in a crimson glow, and the bright moon seemed to be tinged with blood.

"What’s happening? Am I in a... Divine Travel state? Has my Divine Soul left my body?"

Because of previous similar experiences, he immediately understood his current situation. Looking up, it was the massive rebel army surrounding him, was Gongsun holding a Longsword, a grim look in his eyes.

It was Zhao Shixiong, with a high-raised saber, suspended over his head, seemingly about to cleave him in half in the next moment.

"Are you surprised?" Zhao Shixiong smiled, looking down at him condescendingly. "When you killed Supervisor Wang Qi, you understood the rationale of keeping some distance. Why did you think you could escape unscathed under my saber? Let me tell you, once this saber falls, your Divine Soul will shatter. Even if the physical shell flees, it will become nothing more than a ’living dead’ that won’t survive long. You were too careless."

At this moment, this border general spoke with complete confidence.

Zhao Douan paused in silence, raising his head, feeling the [Soul-breaking Blade] hanging in mid-air like a guillotine, not doubting the opponent’s words.

The gap in strength was too vast.

At this moment, he seemed to return to his encounter with the "Magic God" in Jianning Prefecture.

Back then, the opponent had given him unprecedented pressure. It was just unexpected that he had long since outgrown his old self, advancing to the Middle Grade of the Worldly Realm, and had Pei Niannu by his side, yet still struggled against a true powerhouse.

"Indeed, His Majesty was right; always being sheltered, hiding behind others, makes it challenging to become a genuine powerhouse. Even if there isn’t a large gap in realms, a renowned general who has defended the border for years cannot be compared to an ordinary Worldly Realm practitioner."

At this moment, Zhao Douan seemed to understand; there was no oversight in this operation. The opponent was simply too strong, nothing more.

"It seems you are indeed stronger than the court’s records depict, and I am not yet your match," Zhao Douan said, exceptionally calm, facing him directly, with no fear but instead smiling, "Thank you for the lesson this time; I will handle you more seriously next time. But it’s late, and I should go. You cannot keep me here."

Zhao Shixiong was momentarily stunned, suddenly feeling a vague unease. Yet he couldn’t fathom how the opponent could escape under his blade.

It was just in this moment of distraction that Zhao Douan closed his eyes, silently visualizing the Human World.

He intended to use the unique trait of the "Martial God Path" to enter another world.

Soundlessly, his Divine Soul vanished into thin air once again. This time, even with the [Soul-breaking Blade] hanging high, it could not reveal him.

"Husband..." Gongsun Yuanrun’s face, radiant as a full moon, showed astonishment.

Zhao Shixiong furrowed his brows, slowly sheathing his blade. After a brief consideration, he relaxed his brow and smiled, "Have I underestimated this person? No matter, I will capture him later."

At this moment, the sound of approaching hooves suddenly came from the long street’s exterior. A scout squeezed through the crowd, shouting, "Great General! There’s chaos in the government office’s prison! A master took advantage of the commotion to rescue the court’s prisoners!"

Zhao Shixiong was stunned, his eyes flickering, as he seemed to suddenly realize, "Feign one action to attain another... Tonight’s antics were all for a rescue mission?"

He immediately intended to turn back for a search, knowing the night was long and that a group of weakened mortals who had undergone punishment wouldn’t escape easily.

But just then, his ear twitched, hearing a cannon blast from the north.

Since the distance was substantial, the cannon sound wasn’t too clear; however, the "flare" fireworks that rose from the northern outskirts’ barracks during the night brilliantly seized everyone’s attention.

"It’s a call for help! The court’s army is crossing the river tonight!" Gongsun exclaimed.

Compared to a group of prisoners, losing the frontline position would undoubtedly be an unacceptable loss.

Zhao Shixiong took a deep breath, gritting his teeth, "Good lad, Zhao Douan..."

Shortly, a group of them set off in force towards the city’s north gate. As the commander, he had to go to oversee the situation.

In a teahouse within the city.

The Du family stared dazedly at the glaring fireworks in the night. Du Ruhui softly said, "Could it be the court’s army has arrived?"

Beside him was the robust Mrs. Du, holding onto several bundles tightly, the apprehensive Du Xiaobao dressed warmly, and the expressionless Du Shishi, with a bell hanging at the waist.

Du Shishi had returned home earlier and then caught up with his father, forcibly bringing the whole family to the location given by Zhao Douan.

On the way, whenever encountering the rebel army, they avoided them using the hypnotic bell, surprisingly passing through without incident.

"Let’s go. It’s time. Everyone follow me, there’s a secret passage leading out of the city. Once we escape, there are others outside to guide us back to Linfeng by a small path."

Song Jinxi spoke up. He also stood in the teahouse, accompanied by the Yongjia Prefect and several returning Shadow Guards.

In a shop within the city, Feng Xiaolian, dressed as Qingshan Jianghu Guests, looked at the fireworks in the night with a heavy expression.

She murmured bitterly with a headache, "Troublesome indeed, truly on a pirate ship. The Prince wasn’t wrong; dealing with this Zhao Yan is certainly difficult, but such is the situation... A promise is a promise, but it seems delivering the message might be somewhat easier than expected."

"What’s wrong with the officer?" In a secluded alley, Hong Ye saw the scholar coming with Zhao Douan, who appeared to be in a coma, on his back, her voice changed.

"I don’t know, but he’s still alive with no injuries on him, appearing to be unconscious," the scholar also looked worried. "Perhaps it’s the cost of using the Suppressing Object? Or maybe his Divine Soul is injured. There’s no time to explain. The siege has begun outside the city walls, and with Zhao Shixiong lured away, we must leave immediately and take the officer back to Linfeng for treatment."

Hong Ye nodded, covering for the scholar as they swiftly disappeared into the night with Zhao Douan’s body.

In the Capital, the Imperial Palace. Thıs content belongs to 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅✦𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾✦𝗇𝖾𝗍

In the depths of the Martial Arts Hall, within the weather-beaten fourth-floor pavilion.

On the quiet surface of a stone wall, a thin layer of light suddenly undulated, and then Zhao Douan, with a body dim and dull, stepped out from within the painting!