Chapter 681: Hua Tang Attacks Again
Ice Sculpture Capital.
In a room, Zong Ge was lying on a bed, his eyes already shut.
Zi Di stood in front of him, extending her hand to open his eyelids and saw two dilated white eyes.
Since Zong Ge had fallen into a coma, his eyes had turned back over to white.
Zi Di sighed.
She wanted Zong Ge to withdraw from the capital, but the Li Jian Clan saw through it and had him return.
“The situation is quite troublesome!”
“The Pearl Bubbles are almost gone; how long can they last?”
“Half a month? A week, or just a few days?”
This was not good.
Because Deceptive Disguise was depleted based on how detailed and attentive the investigation was.
It was very clear that the moment the Pearl Bubbles were depleted, it would be the beginning of Zi Di’s exposure and death.
“Calm down, keep calm.” Zi Di forced herself to maintain her rationality and subside her mind.
The commander had left earlier, and the auxiliary commander had collapsed.
The lady merchant could only rely on herself now.
“Fei She and the others are weaker, they need me too…”
“Then can I kill my way out?”
Zi Di assessed her combat strength.
“I am an iron level necromancer, not that strong on my own.”
“My undead methods are mostly composed of rat eye and snake shadow ghosts; they can be used for detection but are a huge letdown in battle.”
“My true combat strength is still the silver level gargoyles.”
“Alas…if only I could complete that damaged gold level gargoyle.”
The gargoyle was an alchemy puppet Zi Di and Zong Ge acquired after they beheaded Jia Bing.
Several gargoyles were given Deceptive Disguise and turned “invisible”, and they had saved Zi Di from danger.
Could it be done this time?
Zi Di shook her head.
She lacked faith in facing the Li Jian Clan.
Before, the gargoyle had a good showing at the Wisteria Store mainly because it had the advantage of surprise, catching the enemy unprepared. But despite that, Zi Di was still teleported to the research lab underneath the ice lake.
If it weren’t for Elder Yuan Ci saving her, Zi Di would have been in grave danger.
Now, the Li Jian Clan had acted, placing Zi Di, Zong Ge, and the others under house arrest.
How much could the ice gargoyles do when the enemy was paying attention?
“Zong Ge, if you don’t wake up, then it’s too late.” Zi Di tried to heal Zong Ge with a scroll.
It didn’t do anything.
Zi Di had already tried doing this before.
Things were still the same.
The healing magic easily permeated Zong Ge’s body, but nothing happened.
“Zong Ge has a layer of mysterious divine power around him.”
“This divine power protects him, including suppressing all of the hidden dangers he was affected by.”
“Ther divine power defensive layer does not block healing magic, but so long as Zong Ge is harmed, it will stimulate the layer of divine power protection and strike back.”
Zi Di sighed to herself.
Compared to before, she now knew much more.
“This is a trick of the Li Jian Clan.”
“The root cause was those bottles of sorrow-dispelling red wine.”
“But Zong Ge doesn’t seem to be in a terrible situation…”
Zi Di guessed the reason was the magic contract.
She and the Li Jian Clan had signed a collaboration contract, and they could stab the other in the back, otherwise it would trigger the contract’s backlash.”
The contract was signed by the Li Jian Clan Leader Mian Li Zang.
Although Zi Di was a low level magician, she could still discern the power of the contract and how hard it was to violate.
“Unless Mian Li Zang has an unusual method that can unilaterally rescind the contract.”
“But even if that is done, so long as the agreement is unilaterally terminated and loses effectiveness, I can respond too.”
“Zong Ge’s current condition seems to benefit him. The Li Jian Clan’s steward held that opinion.”
“Therefore, this does not violate the collaboration contract, it just has massive immediate side effects.”
Zi Di sank into a hurried pondering.
The Li Jian Clan putting them under house arrest was a fatal move in her case.
After failing to rouse Zong Ge again, Zi Di had to look for other ways to escape confinement.
“Can I contact Elder Yuan Ci, could he find some way out?” Previously, Zi Di pretended to be Magician Gui Teng and contacted the Wisteria Merchant Alliance Elder Yuan Ci.
But soon after, Zi Di shook her head.
This method was not reliable.
Leaving aside that Elder Yuan Ci did not fully trust Zi Di, him coming to her rescue would expose many of Zi Di’s secrets. Not just the identity of Magician Gui Teng, but also the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ connection with Zi Di’s identity.
“Can Elder Yuan Ci vie with the Li Jian Clan?”
“He is just a silver level.”
“He could avoid the Imperial Secret Spy Agency’s manhunt, mainly because he relied on the Ice Sculpture Capital and hid in the Millennium Frozen Lake for years on end.”
Zi Di looked around, “No, the biggest obstruction is the Li Jian Clan’s surveillance!”
“This time, I used a new Deceptive Disguise spell to evacuate, yet I was still intercepted.”
“If I contact Elder Yuan Ci, will the Li Jian Clan notice?”
The answer was no.
Up till now, Zi Di never sensed any monitoring indicators.
She had to admit that the Li Jian Clan possessed formidable surveillance abilities!
“The Li Jian Clan’s alchemy technology is not outstanding, otherwise, they wouldn’t have energetically collaborated with us in the area of refining magic medicine.”
“Perhaps, their surveillance method is used through the Inner World bloodline?”
The Inner World bloodline was a well-known spatial bloodline, and it was the foundation of the Li Jian Clan.
Contacting Yuan Ci would be considerably stupid without eliminating or blocking this surveillance skill.
Zi Di had no idea where to start on resolving the targeted surveillance.
She had no confidence in this field.
But time waited for no one!
After a moment of silence, Zi Di thought of something, “Perhaps I should get help from Jiu Jin?”
The Alchemy Guild Elder Jiu Jin was once sponsored by the Wisteria Merchant Alliance. During prior negotiations, Jiu Jin was blackmailed by Zi Di and was forced to give in, he even divulged exam questions to Zi Di voluntarily.
Zi Di’s preparations allowed her to pass the first part of this year’s Warm Snow Cup.
But because of that outstanding performance, it triggered the Li Jian Clan’s vigilance, and the latter forced Zi Di to make concessions and sign an exclusive collaboration clause.
Zi Di could contact Elder Jiu Jin openly.
Even if the monitoring problem wasn’t solved, there was no harm in doing so.
“In fact, it is the time to exploit Jiu Jin into doing something for me.”
“The Li Jian Clan knows Zong Ge’s current state and also knows that Elder Jiu Jin is under my thumb.”
“They will be somewhat wary of this.”
“Moreover, in light of Elder Jiu Jin’s authority and status in the Alchemy Guild, how much of the guild’s power can he leverage for me?”
“When he learns of my current situation, will he really help me sincerely?”
Zi Di’s brows tightened, the more she analyzed, the more she despaired.
The execution noose was already around her neck, causing the boulder in her heart to grow ever heavier.
Despite thinking from different angles, Zi Di had no other ideas.
Finally, there was just one path.
“Surrendering…to the Li Jian Clan?”
“We have a collaborative relationship with the Li Jian Clan and are bound with deep benefits.”
“The reason the Li Jian Clan put us under house arrest, excluding the magic contract, is because of benefits, that is why they act and move this way.”
“So long as I renounce our interests completely, I should be able to exchange the Li Jian Clan to…”
Boom!
Suddenly, an explosion interrupted Zi Di’s train of thought.
Zi Di’s head looked up lightning fast, and she quickly ran to the second floor balcony.
A moment later, her pupils contracted fiercely when she saw a familiar enemy.
He had a slender figure, wore a silver mask on his face, and wore a white robe that had all kinds of exquisite and gaudy flowers on it. He was jumping around and attacking as flower petals sprinkled everywhere, exuding a beautiful aura of cold killing intent.
It was Hua Tang!
“He’s come to attack us again, and at this point in time, was information leaked?” Zi Di’s heart sank to rock bottom, thinking of a possibility.
For a long time, she and Zong Ge were barely able to keep the situation afloat and did their best to present an appearance of strength.
They had no choice but to do so.
The mysterious power was gigantic and gold level enemies seemed to breed like flies.
Only by showing strength could the enemy be restrained by fear, making them apprehensive and unwilling to act lightly.
But now, Hua Tang attacking once again seemed to forebode that this powerful and mysterious enemy had learned of their delicate situation.
“The Li Jian Clan monitored us and saw through my evacuation.”
“Could it be that there was a traitor planted here that quickly leaked information?”
“Hold on, perhaps this is a golden opportunity to escape the Li Jian Clan’s control?”
Zi Di’s mind moved, smelling an opportunity in the enormous dangers.
“Magician Yao Ma, please be at ease. Even if it is Hua Tang, it is impossible to break out!” The noble steward pushed open the door and strode in.
He was the person in charge here and was personally keeping watch over Zi Di and Zong Ge.
The Li Jian Clan’s steward also walked onto the balcony, stood by Zi Di, and shouted, “Hua Tang, do you think you can break in here a second time?”
“You really don’t care about the Li Jian Clan’s prestige? Then this time, you shall pay for your contempt in blood.”
Just as he spoke, a magic formation activated.
A half spherical light shield instantly appeared, covering Hua Hang and preventing him from escaping.
A moment later, a white ice wall condensed between Zi Di and Hua Tang.
Snow ball, Ice Arrow, and other ice type spells interweaved into a network of firepower that covered Hua Tang.
Hua Tang chuckled, and gold battle qi surged from his body into a defensive battle skill, then he charged on ahead.
He endured the densely packed magic attacks and made it to the ice wall.
He used a gold level battle skill in passing that shook the ice wall and caused cracks to quickly spread through its entire surface.
The noble steward’s expression changed, “Do you really think I’m the only one in the clan?!”
As he said that, parcels of land in the garden were inverted into a number of tunnels.
From the tunnels came out experts.
This was the Li Jian Clan’s elite battle squad – Space Armor Guards!
With the same equipment, Inner World bloodline, and matching battle skills, the Space Armor Guards had an unusual and outstanding defense.
Hua Tang used a gold level attack against these guards, only causing the surface of guards’ equipment to stir with a spatial vortex formation.
After the vortex banished the attack, it quickly subsided.
The Space Armor Guards was composed almost entirely of silver levels, and the twenty silver levels surrounded Hua Tang.
Hua Tang dashed left and right, keenly moving as gracefully as a butterfly.
The Space Armor Guards relied on their peculiar defenses and peerless coordination to maintain the encirclement.
Seeing this, the noble steward showed a complacent smile, saying to Zi Di, “You see Magician Yao Ma, even if Hua Tang attacks, so long as my clan is prepared enough, nothing will happen.”
Zi Di’s heart went ice cold.
The Space Armor Guard battle squad was quite strong. Just now, Zi Di thought she could rely on her personal strength to break out.
But now, she knew that even if she had ice gargoyles with Deceptive Disguise that were “invisible”, the ice gargoyles would be ineffective against the Space Armor Guards.
“Relying just on myself, I won’t be able to break out. The Li Jian Clan assigning this elite battle squad here seems to mean they value us greatly.”
Seeing Zi D silent, the noble steward looked at Hua Tang and yelled, “Hua Tang, last time I let you get away. But this time, you won’t do anything.”
“Run along now, the moment you attacked, the alarm was triggered. Many city guards are already rushing over!”
But Hua Tang didn’t withdraw, and he suddenly laughed, “So that’s how it is.”
He attacked again; this time his offensive had distinctly changed.
After a gold level battle skill was used, it formed a continuous attack.
The Space Armor Guards’ spatial armor vortex absorbed the first offensive, barely absorbed the second, but the third was difficult to deal with, and few were able to withstand it.
Pop, plop, pop…
The Space Armor Guards coughed up blood in succession, and the front was suddenly thrown into chaos.
Hua Tan g did not press the attack, instead he flew towards the ice wall and ruthlessly struck it.
Kaboom…
The cracks in the ice wall spread further, then with a bang, it collapsed completely.
But the noble steward did not panic, he maintained his poise because in the twinkle of an eye, a second ice wall formed to stop Hua Tang.
“It’s Hua Tang!”
“Is it really Hua Tang?”
“Catch him, this will be a great merit.”
The city guard had just hurried over to the scene.
The noble steward’s words were not bluster; the city guard had been alerted.
Hua Tang’s last attack caused the Li Jian Clan to lose face. So they learned from their mistakes and adjusted and made contingencies.
Unlike the silver level Space Armor Guards, the city guard commander was a gold level.
“Hua Tang! I’m afraid I won’t be able to catch this big fish by myself!” The gold level commander was self-aware, and after he arrived on the scene, he arranged to have a defensive line laid out.
At the same time, he also made an urgent call to a colleague.
This was the Ice Sculpture Capital, there were eight commanders, and more than eight gold levels in the city guard!
The city guard’s appearance allowed the noble steward to secretly relax.
He still felt psychological pressure.
After all, it was Hua Tang!
Seeing the casualties below, the noble steward sighed, “The Space Armor Guards are only silver levels, and in the end, are unable to stop Hua Tang for long.”
“But I don’t need to withstand it completely, I only needed to stall long enough for the city guard to save the situation.”
“Hua Tang is Hua Tang after all, no ordinary gold level.”
Boom.
Another loud sound.
It was actually Hua Tang throwing an alchemy bomb.
The bomb set off flames and clouds of dust as Hua Tang suddenly retreated.
“Be careful, he is escaping!”
“Capture him, don’t let him get away!”
The Li Jian Clan members and the city guard shouted together.
The noble steward immediately took control of the light shield and instantly increased its strength to the maximum in an attempt to slow down Hua Tang a little.
But a moment later, the defensive magic formation collapsed. The light shield violently shuddered, and after distorting, it rapidly dissipated.
Hua Tang vanished, only leaving a few petals behind.
“Damn it!”
“What just happened?”
“The magic formation’s underground core was actually attacked?”
“How did Hua Tang accomplish that? Don’t tell me he had an accomplice?”
Just as he thought of that, the noble steward’s expression radically changed, “Not good!”
Those were his last words.
A moment later, Hua Tang suddenly appeared behind him, dagger in hand.
Plop.
The noble steward turned as stiff as a puppet as he looked down at the dagger tip appearing from his stomach.
Gold battle qi rushed into his body and tore it apart recklessly.
The noble steward’s eyes glared tenaciously as his vitality was extinguished!
This scene shocked everyone, including Zi Di who was next to the old steward.
Danger!
As a magician, a fighter actually got up close to her.
Furthermore, Zi Di was only an iron level while Hua Tang was a gold level!
In that moment of life and death, Zi Di’s mind went blank, and she subconsciously wanted to use necromancy.
But Hua Tang’s dagger was already stabbing towards her face.
It was too late!
In a split second, Zi Di felt she had fallen into an icy cave, and her body and mind flooded with deathly stillness and despair.
Time seemed to slow at this moment.
Zi Di blankly stared at the dagger filled with gold battle qi that was about to stab into her eye.
Ding.
A hand suddenly appeared, precisely grabbing the dagger.
The dagger suddenly stopped, the tip only a centimeter from Zi Di’s eye.
But Zi Di’s attention wasn’t on the dagger.
She unwaveringly stared at the large hand that appeared.
The hand was covered in dragon scales, and it was tough and powerful. As it held the dagger, it seemed to spark with friction.
How familiar!
“Could it be, could it be…”
Zi Di quickly shifted her eyes, and from the hand, her eyes streaked across an arm covered with the same red dragon scales.
Then she saw that person of her dreams.
The one she yearned for day and night.
The dragonman youngster!!