Chapter 620: Sun and Moon Shining Together
At this moment, Xu Hong and Zhao Hanhu were still locked in a fierce battle, their figures interweaving chaotically as they unleashed one powerful martial technique after another, leaving the Quicksand Gorge riddled with damage. The gorge was nearly leveled to the ground.
As Red Desire Star Envoy and Shi Buchou joined the battlefield, Zhao Hanhu gradually began to lose the upper hand before long.
"Lost Illusion Realm."
Red Desire Star Envoy unleashed a rather profound illusion technique, channeling it through her Crystal Saint Staff and sending it forth. Instantly, Zhao Hanhu was trapped within the illusion, his attack speed slowing by a mere instant.
In that very instant, Xu Hong seized the opportunity, executing a Blazing Flame Wild Dragon Palm that struck Zhao Hanhu square in the chest.
Immediately, the sound of bones shattering echoed from within Zhao Hanhu's body as his chest caved inward.
"Pfft!"
Zhao Hanhu was sent flying backward, crashing down dozens of zhang away.
Shi Buchou descended rapidly from above, stomping down on Zhao Hanhu's waist with a sharp "crack." Zhao Hanhu's spine snapped in two, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
"Heh, the so-called Glass Knight Commander is nothing special."
Shi Buchou and Xu Hong retreated to the left and right, clearing a path for Red Desire Star Envoy.
Red Desire Star Envoy walked up to Zhao Hanhu and said coldly, "Tell me, where is Di Yi?"
Zhao Hanhu, pale-faced and barely clinging to life, lay on the ground with a dry chuckle. "Red Desire Star Envoy... I advise you not to oppose the Young Master... You can't defeat him..."
"A tough one indeed."
Red Desire Star Envoy furrowed her brows slightly, her gaze gradually turning icy as she began to gather her spiritual power, raising the Crystal Saint Staff.
From the top of the staff, a streak of red light shot forth, like a small stream of crimson water, flying toward Zhao Hanhu and enveloping his body completely.
Red Desire Star Envoy asked again, "Where is Di Yi?"
Zhao Hanhu was instantly plunged into an illusion, his brows tightly knit as he seemed to struggle against it with his will, letting out muffled groans.
Zhang Ruochen watched Red Desire Star Envoy interrogating Zhao Hanhu from a distance, also curious about where Di Yi was hiding.
Suddenly, he caught a faint, subtle fragrance. Turning his head, he saw Mu Lingxi silently approaching his side.
Mu Lingxi's gaze swept over Red Desire Star Envoy, and she smiled. "I never noticed before—Red Desire Star Envoy isn't just a bewitching little vixen; her mastery of illusion arts is also extraordinary."
"Earlier, if she hadn't used her illusions to affect Green Robe Star Envoy, with my current cultivation, it would have been very difficult to defeat him. A pretty face, a perfect figure, and top-tier illusion skills—any one of those could make a man fall for her."
Zhang Ruochen noticed the sarcastic tone in Mu Lingxi's voice and smiled slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Mu Lingxi blinked and said, "Her illusions are so powerful—you haven't been fooled by them, have you?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a laugh. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Once I kill Di Yi, I'll leave the Eastern Region Evil Lands. You don't really think I'd stay as Red Desire Star Envoy's chief protector forever, do you?"
Mu Lingxi nodded with a smile. "That's more like it."
Zhao Hanhu's willpower was formidable. He struggled against Red Desire Star Envoy's illusions for a quarter of an hour before finally succumbing.
However, he still didn't reveal a single word. Instead, he channeled his true qi to sever all his meridians and blood vessels. Even in death, he refused to disclose Di Yi's whereabouts.
"Young Master... will... avenge me..."
Zhao Hanhu's eyes bulged as he uttered his final words, then fell silent forever.
"As expected of the Glass Knight Commander—such immense willpower." Red Desire Star Envoy withdrew her illusion, letting out a long sigh, a look of disappointment on her face.
Suddenly, the corner of her eye caught sight of Zhang Ruochen, standing beside a masked woman in green robes.
Red Desire Star Envoy's gaze turned cold.
She dismissed Xu Hong, Shi Buchou, and the others, then walked alone toward Zhang Ruochen, her steps light and her face carrying a seductive smile. "Chief Protector, there's something I'd like to discuss with you in private."
She emphasized the word "private."
Mu Lingxi, seeing Red Desire Star Envoy's flirtatious demeanor, grew quite displeased and said sharply, "Is there something I can't hear?"
Red Desire Star Envoy cast a light glance at Mu Lingxi, her eyelashes fluttering as she revealed a charming smile. "Sacred Maiden, after all, you're an outsider. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to hear some things."
Mu Lingxi's forehead darkened with anger. She immediately extended a slender arm and linked it with Zhang Ruochen's, as if staking her claim, puffing out her chest to reveal a rounded curve. She said proudly, "Red Desire Star Envoy, you're quite the ingrate. If I hadn't helped you repel that strong enemy earlier, would you be standing here so calmly now? Besides, I have a very close relationship with your chief protector—how am I an outsider? Is there really something I can't hear?"
Red Desire Star Envoy's eyelids narrowed, and her fingers gripping the Crystal Saint Staff tightened slightly. She snorted coldly, "I didn't ask for your help. Besides, since when does the Demon Sect meddle in Black Market affairs?"
Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, Zhang Ruochen feared the two might come to blows and quickly interjected, "Very well, I'll speak with Star Envoy alone."
Zhang Ruochen pacified Mu Lingxi with a word, then walked toward Red Desire Star Envoy.
Red Desire Star Envoy also lifted her proud, ample chest, flashing a victorious smile as she shook her head tauntingly at Mu Lingxi, as if to say, "You can't compete with me."
Seeing the provocation, Mu Lingxi ground her teeth in fury and kicked a stone away. If not for Zhang Ruochen's restraint, she would have charged at Red Desire Star Envoy to settle the score.
Zhang Ruochen and Red Desire Star Envoy each cast a spell, soaring into the air and landing atop the Quicksand Gorge, standing at the edge of a cliff.
After a full night of battle, dawn had arrived, and a faint crimson glow appeared in the eastern sky.
Red Desire Star Envoy spoke with a hint of reproach, "Chief Protector, what exactly is your relationship with the Demon Sect's Sacred Maiden?"
Zhang Ruochen replied indifferently, "Is that important?"
"Of course it is. If the Black Market's higher-ups learn that the Demon Sect's Sacred Maiden is with me, they'll think I'm colluding with the Demon Sect against our own people. That would be very detrimental to me." Red Desire Star Envoy added, "I think it's best if the Demon Sect's Sacred Maiden leaves."
In truth, Zhang Ruochen didn't want Mu Lingxi involved in this matter. Killing Di Yi was too dangerous, and she shouldn't be dragged into it.
From the start, Zhang Ruochen had discussed it with Mu Lingxi, asking her to stay hidden and not intervene.
However, when Green Robe Star Envoy had attacked Zhang Ruochen earlier, the situation was perilous. Mu Lingxi, worried for his safety, couldn't help but step in to stop Green Robe Star Envoy, thus revealing herself.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Alright, I'll try to persuade her not to get involved."
Red Desire Star Envoy finally relaxed a little, a charming smile spreading across her pretty face.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Did you find out where Di Yi is?"
"No. Zhao Hanhu's willpower was too strong. Even with my forty-third-level spiritual power, I couldn't suppress him. In the end, he severed his own meridians and died." Red Desire Star Envoy's eyes dimmed as she shook her head gently.
If her spiritual power had reached the forty-fourth level, she could have easily extracted everything she wanted from Zhao Hanhu.
Ultimately, her spiritual power wasn't strong enough.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Perhaps I can guess where he is."
Red Desire Star Envoy's eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, "Where?"
"Red Willow Manor," Zhang Ruochen said.
Red Desire Star Envoy was momentarily surprised but quickly caught on, laughing, "That's right, Di Yi might have already entered Red Willow Manor. When I rushed to the Fallen God Mountain Range, I only brought my most loyal subordinates. Everyone else stayed behind at Red Willow Manor."
"Among those left behind, there are definitely people planted by Di Yi. Once Di Yi receives the intelligence, with his arrogant nature, he'll surely enter Red Willow Manor as a victor at the first opportunity."
"He thinks occupying Red Willow Manor is a victory, but in reality, it only exposes his whereabouts. We, on the other hand, can shift from the open to the shadows and take full control of the initiative."
Only now did Red Desire Star Envoy understand the meaning of the letter Zhang Ruochen had given her.
The disadvantage in her confrontation with Di Yi had finally shown signs of turning around.
Red Desire Star Envoy's eyes sparkled as she looked at Zhang Ruochen, admiring his wisdom even more. She said, "Di Yi has lost three major generals—Ice Demon, Hunter, and Zhao Hanhu—one after another. He's bound to be furious. Once he gets angry, he'll make mistakes. I just need to seize one opportunity to completely turn the tables."
Zhang Ruochen could tell that Red Desire Star Envoy's strategy was still defensive, waiting for Di Yi to err so she could deliver a fatal blow.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Since we know Di Yi is likely at Red Willow Manor, why not take the initiative to attack?"
Red Desire Star Envoy shook her head gently. "Ice Demon, Hunter, Zhao Hanhu, and Green Robe Star Envoy are indeed top experts by Di Yi's side, but his most formidable ally isn't them. With the forces I currently command, if I clash head-on with Di Yi, I'd still be more likely to lose than win."
"You mean Purple Wind Star Envoy?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Red Desire Star Envoy nodded. "Exactly. Just Purple Wind Star Envoy alone has the power to kill us all. Unless your spiritual power reaches the peak of the forty-fourth level, you might have a chance to suppress him."
"Moreover, besides Purple Wind Star Envoy, Di Yi has several other formidable figures by his side, each extremely dangerous."
Zhang Ruochen fell silent for a moment, then suddenly turned his head and looked toward the eastern horizon.
What was he looking at?
Curious, Red Desire Star Envoy followed Zhang Ruochen's gaze toward the sky.
On the horizon, a blazing red sun slowly rose, casting a warm glow that illuminated the dark world once more.
Right beside the sun, a silver full moon suddenly appeared, bursting with bright radiance, creating the rare spectacle of "sun and moon shining together."
The silver moon flew closer, hovering above the Quicksand Gorge, hidden behind the clouds. Moonlight cascaded down like a waterfall, covering the ground for a hundred li in a layer of silver brilliance.
Focusing her vision, Red Desire Star Envoy could faintly make out a figure standing at the center of the silver moon.