Chapter 555: We'll Just Watch the Show |
"There's no way around it, the territory is just too vast."
"We simply can't cover everything. The place we're in right now is just a tiny part of it."
Li Xiangrou sighed lightly, a look of helplessness on her face: "It's like a drop in the ocean."
"I see."
Ning Qi nodded, then shifted his attention to the path ahead.
The dense forest here had black leaves and bark.
Even the stones, and this soil, were black.
Coupled with the sparse sunlight, it was indeed a great place to escape the heat.
"Master, hearing you talk like that, I keep feeling like someone is watching us here."
"It's fine, what is there to be afraid of!"
Ning Qi shot him a glance: "I could use them for some practice anyway. Since my strength breakthrough, I've only killed a few assassins."
"Haven't encountered a proper opponent yet."
"Everyone, let's pick up the pace, hold on tight."
Commander Li led the way in front, directing everyone to accelerate.
Clearly, he didn't want to linger in a place like this either.
Getting through as quickly as possible was naturally better than taking time.
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Everyone responded again.
The team's speed began to increase.
The sounds of carts and horses were incessant.
Everyone obviously didn't want to delay here too much, all wanting to get out as soon as possible.
And so, the team traveled at full speed, on the official road through this heartland, like a long snake.
Swiftly winding its way along the official road.
As they passed the entrance to a valley.
Ning Qi suddenly frowned, looking ahead.
"What's wrong?"
The Pill Spirit also noticed his expression was off and couldn't help but ask.
"Some things are unavoidable."
Ning Qi looked at the road ahead and said, "There should be people over there."
"Seems their strength isn't high, I can't even sense them!"
The Pill Spirit shook his head, smiling as he said: "What a false alarm, thought there'd be some really strong people."
"Whoosh!"
"Fwip!"
Right at that moment, cold arrows shot towards them.
"Thud!"
"Ah!"
Some careless guards were successfully hit.
With a scream, they fell down.
"Enemy attack, everyone be careful!"
At this point, Commander Li also immediately became alert, ordering everyone to be careful.
For a moment, the convoy began retreating into the dense forest on either side of the official road.
Trying to avoid the current arrow attacks.
"Kill!"
...
However, just as they were about to reach the sides, a dark mass of people surged out from the dense forest.
They held cold blades in their hands, shouting as they charged over.
Clearly, these were people they had ambushed long ago.
First, arrow attacks to throw them into disarray.
Then forcing them towards the sides of the road, right into their trap.
"Ah!"
"Thud."
...
Soon, people fell into the traps they had set.
Screams were incessant.
"Damn it, we've been tricked!"
"Defense!"
Commander Li also realized something was wrong and immediately ordered them to start defending on the official road.
But, with attacks from front, back, left, and right, there was simply no space to defend.
Their forces suffered heavy losses in a short time.
Originally a guard team of over a hundred people, after this wave of assault.
Nearly half were killed or injured.
This way, they finally had a chance to catch their breath.
They each hid behind or beside the carriages, and those who had no other choice could only use their comrades' corpses as cover.
Only then did they stabilize.
"Kill!"
But, before they could even catch their breath.
A group of bandits charged out from the dense forest, ready to break their defense.
"Whoosh!"
"Fwip!"
At this point, Commander Li's troops began to act.
They also shot arrows at the enemy.
Shooting down the people charging head-on, one after another on the path of their charge.
Screams, along with blood and severed limbs, were everywhere.
Quickly turning this place into a slaughterhouse.
"You've had a breakthrough in strength, haven't you? Go out and fight them!"
Ning Qi looked at Li Xiangrou in the carriage: "Don't you want to unify the dynasty? Right now, your troops are being slaughtered."
"This is your chance to protect everyone, to make them loyal to you in the future!"
"I... can I do it?"
Li Xiangrou said somewhat unconfidently.
"Why not?"
Ning Qi looked at her, encouraging her: "You definitely can. Don't forget, you're already a Half-Step True Immortal level expert now."
"I've looked over the people here. Unless someone is hiding their strength, from what I can see now, no one can defeat you!"
"Use the moves I taught you last night, and your own."
"Use them flexibly, there won't be a problem!"
"If there really is a problem, I can still protect you!"
"Alright!"
After hearing Ning Qi's words, Li Xiangrou finally made up her mind to take action.
She took a deep breath, then leaped down from the carriage.
Her whole body lightly touched the ground.
And then abruptly soared out.
Landing steadily at the very forefront of the battlefield.
"Princess Xiangxiang!"
"It really is her!"
...
And among these bandits, someone actually recognized her identity at a glance.
Greedy expressions appeared on their faces one by one.
"Young Miss, come back quickly, it's dangerous!"
Seeing this, Commander Li immediately urged her to return quickly.
"Commander Li, you've protected me all this way. Now it's time for me to protect you!"
"Everyone, you've all worked hard. I won't let you get hurt anymore!"
Li Xiangrou looked at the people behind her, then shifted her gaze to the bandits ahead: "Since you recognize me, there's no need to hide."
"I know you were sent by my eldest sister. Well, today you'll all stay here!"
"Arrogant!"
"Kill her, reward of ten thousand spirit stones!"
...
At this point, the people behind began issuing orders one after another.
"Kill!"
...
Where there is a heavy reward, there will be brave men.
After they gave the order, everyone began charging over madly.
Ready to tear Li Xiangrou apart and go back to claim the reward.
"Hmph."
Li Xiangrou snorted coldly, an aura that made it hard to breathe erupted from her entire body.
This aura burst forth, like a tornado, sweeping the people in front of her away.
In mid-air, they were shredded by each other's weapons.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
Large amounts of blood splattered onto the ground.
And even more chunks of flesh fell down together.
For a moment, it stunned everyone.
Commander Li looked at Li Xiangrou in front of him in shock.
"When did the Princess become so strong?"
"What kind of power is this?"
"Don't know, it's too strong."
...
Many of the guards began to discuss.
In their eyes, Li Xiangrou had suddenly become a god-like existence.
"This... it's at least Half-Step True Immortal strength. Otherwise, it couldn't have such destructive power!"
Commander Li swallowed hard, only then coming back to his senses: "I never expected the Princess to be this strong."
"Whoosh!"
After killing the people in front of her, Li Xiangrou had no intention of stopping.
Continuing to slice through the void, her hands flying.
Large waves of aura began to undulate under her manipulation.
Immediately after, she swept all the enemies into the sky.
One after another, she shredded them.
"Ah!"
"Save me!"
...
The screams were incessant, hundreds of times more brutal than when they were killing her people just now.
Many of their corpses were mangled.
Then mixed together, making it impossible to tell who was who.
"Halt!"
Right at this moment, someone shouted coldly.
Immediately after, a figure flew over from the distance.
Stopping steadily not far from Li Xiangrou.
A pair of eyes fixed dead on her.
"Here comes a powerful one!"
Li Xiangrou's eyes flashed, looking at the person before her.
He gave her a sense of crisis.
Although she could feel that this person's strength was the same as hers.
However, she clearly understood that she was no match for this person.
Just from the aura, you could tell.
He was absolutely ruthless and vicious.
"Princess Xiangxiang, I never expected you to have been hiding your strength all along."
This person clearly recognized her too, directly calling out her name as soon as he spoke.
That face was full of mockery.
He just looked at her with icy eyes.
Like looking at a dead person walking.
"My sister sent you, didn't she!"
"You go back and tell her now, she forced me into this, I didn't want to compete with her."
"Since she doesn't want to let me go all along the way, then when I return, I'll definitely let her know my strength!"
Li Xiangrou looked at the person before her, saying each word clearly.
"Oh? Do you think you still have a chance to return?"
Upon hearing her words, this person acted as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
He couldn't help but double over with laughter: "Princess Xiangxiang, you've indeed improved your strength a lot along this journey, but have you lost your mind?"
"Making you unable to recognize reality, wanting to throw an egg against a rock?"
"Whether I'm throwing an egg against a rock, I know in my heart!"
"Today, I'll let you see if I'm throwing an egg against a rock!"
Li Xiangrou looked at the person before her, unleashing all her strength completely.
Then, holding a Profound Sword, she charged over.
This was also given to her by Ning Qi. Although not a supreme treasure.
For ordinary people, it wasn't something easily blocked either.
"Clang!"
Seeing this, that person directly moved to block.
The heavy blade in his hand steadily deflected Li Xiangrou's attack.
At the same time, his hands weren't idle either.
Directly extending an iron fist, he smashed it towards Li Xiangrou in front of him.
"Whoosh!"
Li Xiangrou seized the moment, pulling back to retreat.
"Trying to leave?"
Seeing her about to leave, that person couldn't help but smile.
Then his figure directly pursued.
Not giving her any chance to create distance again.
"Young Miss, be careful!"
Commander Li quickly warned, simultaneously charging forward.
"Fwip!"
However, what greeted him was a cold arrow.
Forcing him back forcefully.
And the Li Xiangrou in front had already been caught up by that person.
The heavy blade in his hand was already slashing towards her neck.
If hit by this, she would definitely be decapitated.
Li Xiangrou also sensed the threat.
While pulling back and retreating explosively again, the Profound Sword in her hand wasn't idle either.
"Whoosh!"
"Clang!"
Under her dance, it slashed down towards the heavy blade in front.
"Clang!"
"Screech!"
From time to time, sharp metallic clashing sounds erupted.
Making one's hair stand on end.
Just like this, using the impact force of his heavy blade, she retreated explosively again.
This time, she successfully put distance between herself and that person.
No longer giving him a chance to get close to her.
"Whoosh!"
The next moment, Li Xiangrou landed steadily on the ground.
Holding the Profound Sword, she looked at the person before her.
After this round of combat, Li Xiangrou gradually grew more courageous.
So, they weren't invincible. As long as she had enough skill.
And was careful enough, she could put up a fight.
She thought with certainty, her eyes fixed dead on the person before her.
"Tsk tsk, not bad."
That person clicked his tongue, smiling as he said: "Originally thought you were just bluffing, but you really have some skill!"
"However, the more you're like this, the more we can't let you return!"
"Oh? Then come at me."
"Let me see what other trump cards you have!"
Li Xiangrou grew braver the more she fought, saying without fear.
"Don't be arrogant, you won't be laughing in a moment!"
That person narrowed his eyes, waving towards the back: "How long are you all planning to watch the show?"
"Waiting for her to grow braver with each setback?"
"Really interesting, never expected our Princess Xiangxiang to become so strong!"
At this moment, another person walked out from the dense forest.
A burly middle-aged man, his eyes fixed on Li Xiangrou.
He walked over step by step.
Standing together with that person, looking coldly at her: "Your people, none of them can fight."
"Commander Li is also quite strong, but he's not as strong as you."
"The two of us joining forces is enough to kill you!"
"Hmph, if you want to kill my Princess, you'll have to get through me first!"
Commander Li stepped forward without fear.
"Kill us!"
"If you want to touch the Princess, you'll have to step over our corpses!"
...
The guards behind also showed expressions of fearless bravery.
Li Xiangrou's appearance just now helped them get a chance to catch their breath.
And her willingness to disregard life and death for everyone had already moved them all.
At this point, even if they had to go through fire and water for Li Xiangrou, they wouldn't hesitate.
Ning Qi looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but smile.
"Master, it seems they've truly united this time!"
The Pill Spirit also looked at the scene before him, smiling as he said: "Especially this Princess, she's really a completely different person from before!"
"She is a Princess by status, this is her duty."
Ning Qi instead said calmly: "If it were me, from the very beginning I would protect my guards as if they were my own life."
"However, it's not too late for her to turn over a new leaf now!"
"Master, there seem to be a few more people here. She probably isn't a match for them!"
The Pill Spirit looked left and right, saying worriedly: "We should still go help her."
"Don't rush, I want to see her potential!"
Ning Qi shook his head: "With me here, she'll be fine."
"But..."
The Pill Spirit was still somewhat worried.
But seeing Ning Qi's completely unconcerned expression, the words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down.
"No buts, let's just watch the show."
Ning Qi said with a smile again.