“I told you, I don't know. All the secrets will only be revealed once I reach the imperial capital and receive His Majesty.”
Zhong Cheng took a deep breath as he spoke.
“So, is there anything else you want to ask?”
Zhang Tinglei thought for a moment.
“In the last National War Dungeon, how many people did His Majesty the Emperor lose around him?”
Although he had informants planted in the imperial capital, the intelligence he received wasn't very detailed.
The reason he knew the Emperor had sent Zhong Cheng a secret letter was because the Dark Dragon Guard delivering it was likely a recent promotion and had accidentally been spotted by his men on the road!
After careful tracking, they saw the man head all the way to the western border and enter Zhong Cheng's General's Manor.
What he had said earlier about the Emperor's secret letter requesting troops to deal with the northern border was entirely made up.
He hadn't expected that he would actually hit the nail on the head.
Zhong Cheng fell silent for a moment before saying, “Elder Gu is gone.”
Elder Gu!
Zhang Tinglei was visibly startled.
The only one who could be referred to as Elder Gu was Gu Hedao, the old man who had been in the Xiantian Rank for many years by the Emperor's side.
“He died in the dungeon?”
Zhong Cheng said, “Supposedly, yes.”
“And not only that, but out of the top six Xiantian Rank experts of the Dark Dragon Guard, only one remains. He has taken over Xuan Yi's position, and the positions of Xuan Er to Xuan Liu are currently vacant.”
“One-fifth of the civil and military officials in the court are dead.”
“Every single Xiantian Rank and Houtian Rank member of the Tianlong Guard has been wiped out. The acting Commander of the Tianlong Guard is now a martial artist who just recently broke through to the Houtian Rank.”
“Supposedly, he was originally just a Chiliarch, but because he broke through in a timely manner, he was exceptionally promoted to Commander.”
“As for the northern border...”
“You must have noticed by now. Zhang Shenli is dead, along with many high- and low-ranking officials scattered across the Great Xuan Dynasty. The entire country is currently in utter chaos.”
Zhang Tinglei snorted and made no comment, but he no longer had any intention of attacking Zhong Cheng.
“I'll believe you for now.”
What he wanted to know most was how many subordinates the Emperor had lost in the National War Dungeon. Only after learning about the losses of Elder Gu, the Dark Dragon Guard, and the Tianlong Guard did he truly put his mind at ease.
Because... the powerful players in his rebel army had also suffered heavy losses in the National War Dungeon—it could even be said they were completely wiped out!
If the imperial court's losses had been minimal, his rebel army would likely be finished. Even with a Xiantian Rank expert like himself, he would be left to stand alone.
Fortunately...
As for Zhong Cheng before him.
Zhang Tinglei actually didn't dislike him much. In fact, he hadn't planned on killing him from the very beginning.
Zhong Cheng asked, somewhat suspicious, “You don't plan to attack me anymore?”
Zhang Tinglei snorted softly.
“What are you thinking? Do you think I'd actually kill you in a specter dungeon?”
Zhong Cheng was slightly surprised, but he also breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then...”
Zhang Tinglei sneered, “Though I won't kill you, it doesn't mean I'm going to help you. You're on your own.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he instantly closed in on Zhong Cheng. Just as Zhong Cheng thought his opponent was going back on his word, he realized the man had merely tapped his chest with a finger.
He then felt the chaotic strand of true qi that had been sealed inside him being pulled back by Zhang Tinglei. Before he could even speak, the man drifted away.
Zhong Cheng stood frozen in place. Feeling his meridians return to a state of calm, he finally believed that Zhang Tinglei had truly spared him.
“Whew...”
He slumped straight to the ground.
“He's a man of his word, at least.”
Zuo Lin'an watched the entire scene from the shadows.
To be honest, this outcome was completely unexpected.
He hadn't expected Zhang Tinglei to have this kind of character.
Because Zhong Cheng was a dutiful and responsible general who had protected the people of the western border from foreign bandits for many years, Zhang Tinglei had shown him mercy.
In other words, unless Zhong Cheng lost his mind and actively attacked Zhang Tinglei, there probably wouldn't be any further conflict between the two.
“What should I do...”
Hidden in the dark, Zuo Lin'an had been thinking constantly ever since he learned of Zhang Tinglei's talent. He had formulated many plans in his head.
But no matter which plan he considered, he didn't have a hundred percent confidence in killing Zhang Tinglei.
It was an unsolvable problem.
And the only way he could think of to make Zhang Tinglei die was... to stall for time.
As long as he could hide well and prevent Zhang Tinglei from finding him.
Then his opponent would eventually die of hunger and thirst. However, he didn't know how long a Xiantian Rank martial artist could last without food and water.
Thinking this over, Zuo Lin'an took out his phone and sent a message to Feng Xingyun.
【Zuo Lin'an: If it were you, excluding other factors and based on the current conditions in this dungeon, how long could you survive?】
Feng Xingyun was sitting on a boulder outside the dungeon's white mist. Only after noticing that Zuo Lin'an had messaged him again did he retrieve his phone to check.
By now, he had become quite adept at using the phone.
“Me?”
【Feng Xingyun: I can only say that it's uncertain.】
【Feng Xingyun: Recalling when I was a hundred and twenty years old, I was pursued by the imperial court's Dark Dragon Guard, the Tianlong Guard, and members of the Martial Alliance—thirteen Xiantian Rank martial artists in total.】
【Feng Xingyun: During those thirteen consecutive days, I only ate three raw fish in total. At other times, when I was hungry, I would just grab a handful of grass from the ground or tear off a piece of tree bark and stuff it into my mouth.】
【Feng Xingyun: As for water... I drank plenty whenever I encountered a water source. If I didn't find any, I would chew on some grass leaves. The longest I went without water was about two days and two nights. Ultimately, I successfully escaped on the night of the fourteenth day.】
【Feng Xingyun: I recall that Zhang Tinglei is only in his sixties now. For a Xiantian Rank martial artist, this age is obviously still very young!】
【Feng Xingyun: If you plan to stall for time against him, then with the food and water in the dungeon, plus the withered trees covering the mountains, he could last for as short as a month, or as long as two or even three months!】
Seeing Feng Xingyun's estimated timeframe, Zuo Lin'an's scalp tingled.
One to three months?
You've got to be kidding me!
His One-Star difficulty dungeon was nothing like the National War Dungeon!
Once the dungeon was activated, the time flow inside was one-to-one with the outside world. That meant if he stayed inside for three months, three months would pass outside as well!
In such a long time, the 【Wuxia World】 might have already fallen!
By then, their world would have collapsed while his dungeon was still running.
If word of this got out, he would lose all face!
【Zuo Lin'an: Do you have any way to deal with him?】
Feng Xingyun's reply came quickly.
【Feng Xingyun: Without knowing his talents and specter items, I cannot make an effective assessment.】
Zuo Lin'an frowned, realizing he indeed hadn't mentioned them.
After careful consideration, he decided to share all the information about the talent 【Heavenly Punishment Divine Fire】 that he had seen on the forum.
【Zuo Lin'an: What do you think?】
Feng Xingyun's eyes burned as he read extremely carefully. Once he finished reading word by word, his expression grew exceptionally solemn. Finally, he let out a long breath.
【Feng Xingyun: You're bound to lose!】
Rate on N.U.
