Chapter 190: Cheating
Of the five Celestial Human Five Declines, three had already died.
The remaining two were of the “"Jiezi"” foundation, also cultivating “"Jiezi",” but lacking “Vajra.”
To put it bluntly, they were two squishy targets.
With just the two of them, they probably couldn't hold back Li Miao for even the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
“If the Tang Sect member hadn't been scared witless, with her poisoned hidden weapons, there might have been a sliver of a chance!”
Wang Zhi gritted his teeth.
The Tang Sect's heritage was based on hidden weapons and poison; practicing this kind of martial art was not about seeking direct confrontation, and someone with a brave disposition might even use it poorly.
The Tang Sect's Celestial Human Five Declines was also a woman; in the face of life and death, she made a foolish choice and ended up dying for nothing at the hands of her own people.
Wang Zhi flicked his hand, casting off the corpses of the 蠱蟲.
Immediately, he looked at Li Miao, sighing deeply in his heart.
“Where did he come from… Today, I'm afraid I can't stop him…”
Li Miao calmly shook off the blood from his hands, first casting his gaze towards the two Celestial Human Five Declines, scaring them into retreating half a step; they didn't dare to make a move.
Then, he looked at Wang Zhi.
“Eunuch Wang, do you have any more tricks?”
Li Miao stepped towards the cave.
“If not…”
“Then I, am I going in?”
“Your master's secret, is it going to be completely exposed to me?”
He deliberately slowed his steps, looking mischievously at Wang Zhi.
The struggle between Celestial Human Five Declines, apart from the difference in their respective foundations, was, frankly, a process of relentlessly pummeling the opponent's imperfect realm.
Those without “Vajra” would trade injuries for lives; those without “"Jiezi"” would slowly deplete their true qi; those without “"Jiezi"” were even easier to deal with—every martial art had flaws, and among the five Celestial Human Five Declines present, they could always find martial arts to counter them.
But Li Miao was different.
Although the “emolument” he received after killing the Miao King did not give him a qualitative breakthrough, his speed in switching realms in battle was much faster.
This was Li Miao's reliance, knowing it was a trap but still daring to charge in.
If the opponent wanted to trade injuries for lives, they would face the Vajra's bones and muscles, and the "Jiezi"'s protective true qi; if the opponent wanted to wear down Li Miao, after fighting for a long time, one “"Jiezi"” would replenish everything; if they wanted to find flaws in his moves, no one knew if Li Miao was currently “"Jiezi".”
Perhaps he was, perhaps he wasn't; they would only know when Li Miao's fist landed on them.
Coupled with the “emolument” Li Miao had accumulated over many years of serving in the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), he had created countless martial arts unheard of in the martial world, possessing a technique to break any situation.
This was the fundamental reason why Li Miao was able to relentlessly pummel the five two-path Celestial Human Five Declines—he cheated.
If the opponent played scissors, he was a hammer;
If the opponent played cloth, he was scissors;
If the opponent played hammer, Li Miao just stood up and slapped them directly in the face.
There were only two ways to stop Li Miao: either call over a dozen or twenty Celestial Human Five Declines and use their lives to stall until Li Miao's “eight hours” passed and he fell into slumber; or, there had to be a three-path perfected Celestial Human Five Declines who could completely suppress Li Miao.
Wang Zhi looked at Li Miao with a grim expression.
Having led the Celestial Human Five Declines to hunt down Celestial Human Five Declines for many years and being responsible for the secrets of this place, how could he not see how to defeat Li Miao? The other Celestial Human Five Declines were all sleeping within the Imperial City; even if they received the news, they would never be able to arrive in time.
As for the other way to defeat Li Miao…
In this world, was there truly a Celestial Human Five Declines who could suppress Li Miao?
Others didn't know, but Wang Zhi did.
Yes.
And, he was right here within the Imperial Mausoleum.
But he would rather let Li Miao enter that cave than wake “that person.”
Because the consequences of waking that person might be ten times more severe than failing to stop Li Miao.
Now he could only hope that Yin Ruihua, along with the five Celestial Human Five Declines who had gone over, could stop the scoundrels on that side and prevent them from breaking into the tomb within the Xiaoling Mausoleum… This was far more important than capturing this freak in front of him.
It was hateful that he had made such thorough preparations… ten Celestial Human Five Declines, ten two-path Celestial Human Five Declines! How was it that five were taken away, and he just happened to encounter such a freak!
No matter… no matter!
Wang Zhi's gaze sharpened, and he suddenly spoke.
“Your martial arts are indeed astonishing. No wonder you dared to impersonate Ji Tianrui, take over the Ming Cult's affairs, and come here alone, knowing it was a trap.”
“Since I cannot stop you, I have one more thing to tell you.”
Li Miao shrugged, motioning for him to continue.
Wang Zhi pondered for a moment, then slowly began.
“Since you have come here, you should roughly know the secret of this place. I will speak frankly. Indeed, the Celestial Human Five Declines in the martial world have all been brought under the court's control. But there are distinctions among them.”
“Two-path Celestial Human Five Declines who fall into the Celestial Human Five Declines, as long as they are willing to submit to the court, can obtain a secret method for extending their lives, and their sects and families will also receive care from the court, with their descendants free from worry.”
“One-path Celestial Human Five Declines, however, are to be escorted here.”
Wang Hai's investigation of the movements here had already been noticed by Wang Zhi that day. So he had no intention of concealing it.
“But I must clearly inform you, the secret of this place is not something you can explore.”
Wang Zhi slowly said.
“The Great Shuo has enjoyed all four seas and established its capital in the Central Plains for nearly two hundred years. During this period, there have been geniuses, and there have been astonishingly brilliant Celestial Human Five Declines.”
“But, Great Shuo is still Great Shuo, and in the martial world, no Celestial Human Five Declines dares to appear.”
“If you think that by defeating five Celestial Human Five Declines tonight, you can contend with the court… then you are mistaken.”
Wang Zhi slowly reached into his embrace.
“You might as well stop here and leave Shuntian. I have clearly seen your power; killing you would come at a great cost, but Great Shuo… can afford it.”
“I have said all I have to say. You should do what you think is best.”
“Are you done?”
Li Miao said.
Wang Zhi did not answer, secretly clutching something in his embrace.
“How boring.”
Li Miao shook his head, striking down with a punch. He shattered the stone slab covering the cave entrance into dust.
At the same time, Wang Zhi's expression darkened, and he exerted force with his hand, crushing the object in his embrace.
Bang!
Bang!
With two crisp sounds, the faces of the two Celestial Human Five Declines beside him suddenly turned pale, blood overflowing from their mouths and noses, and they trembled as they raised their hands to point at Wang Zhi.
“Eunuch Wang, you—”
Wang Zhi said indifferently.
“The secret of this place is not for you to see.”
“Rest assured, your relatives, wives, and children will be well taken care of by the court.”
The two Celestial Human Five Declines collapsed with a thud, never to stir again.
And the moment the cave beneath Li Miao's feet was revealed, a strong smell of blood suddenly rose.
It was so thick that Li Miao even frowned.
This was truly the first time he had smelled such a strong scent of blood.
Li Miao raised his hand and grabbed at the air.
“Ugh!”
Wang Zhi only felt an irresistible true qi, grabbing him in mid-air, his body uncontrollably flying towards Li Miao.
Pop.
Li Miao seized Wang Zhi by the back of his neck.
“Eunuch Wang, it's dark down there, and I'm a little scared.”
“I'll trouble Eunuch Wang to accompany me on a trip inside.”
Li Miao, holding Wang Zhi, stepped into the cave.