Chapter 456: Underground Deadly Trap

Liang Wang and Liu Yao were also informed. They hurried out to investigate, gazing doubtfully at the black wave in the distance. Suddenly, their expressions changed: "It's the rebels! Prepare for battle!"

They couldn't understand why they were encountering the rebels here. Although this location wasn't too far from Luoshui Commandery, it wasn't close either, with other prefectures and commanderies separating them. How had this rebel force suddenly appeared? Had the garrisons in the prefectures and commanderies along their route been completely useless?

Liu Yao instinctively wanted to retreat, but his subordinate general firmly stopped him: "General Wei, you cannot retreat now. The rebels are already charging, and there are many cavalrymen among them. If we try to flee now, we won't escape. Instead, our formation will collapse, leaving us defenseless and easily cut down from behind."

"Exactly. It's better to form a defensive line and face the enemy. Although the rebels are numerous, their individual strength is far inferior to our elite Imperial Guards. If we can hold out for a while, the nearby prefectures and commanderies will receive word and send troops to support us. Then we'll be safe, and we might even achieve extraordinary merit."

As the Imperial Guards were, after all, the most elite troops in the entire empire, there was no shortage of discerning individuals among them who quickly offered their counsel.

Liu Yao was somewhat flustered and quickly asked Liang Wang, who was beside him, "Your Highness, what should we do?"

Liang Wang, being a Grandmaster, remained calmer: "Then let's form ranks and meet the enemy!"

"Form ranks, form ranks!" Liu Yao came to his senses and quickly rode around, shouting instructions.

The Imperial Guards quickly moved their carts and provisions to the periphery, then formed a line, holding shields and pointing their long spears towards the charging rebels.

Liang Wang, meanwhile, flew into the air, rapidly conjuring two orbs of light in his hands, which he hurled directly at the approaching rebels.

Boom! Boom!

With two thunderous explosions, the charging rebels were thrown into disarray, horses rearing and riders falling. However, the rebels were so numerous that this minor setback could not halt their advance.

Liang Wang quickly conjured two more orbs of light and hurled them down again. Without pausing, he continued to conjure and launch more orbs.

The rebels finally fell into disarray. Firstly, they were intimidated by the power of the exploding orbs. Secondly, the previous explosions had caused many of their comrades to fall, and many couldn't stop during their charge, leading to an increasing number of fallen soldiers.

From inside the prison cart, Zu An watched in astonishment. Liang Wang's style was exactly like a bomber; an air force attacking ground troops—it was incredibly effective.

Just then, a thin, transparent shield appeared in the air above the rebel ranks. Clearly, they also possessed corresponding formations. Although it didn't seem as thick and robust as the Chu Clan's Red Robe Army's shields, its strength lay in sheer numbers, and it barely managed to withstand Liang Wang's bombardment.

Seeing this, Liu Yao also snorted coldly, drew his waist-saber, and charged forward to assist. He unleashed a forty-meter-long elemental energy blade directly at the rebel shield. With Liang Wang's bombardment added to the mix, the rebel shield quickly began to waver.

Just then, a figure burst from the rebel formation and flew directly into the air.

With a single punch, he shattered Liu Yao's elemental energy blade and simultaneously blocked Liang Wang's attack.

Their fists and palms met, and both sides were forced to retreat.

"Lu Sanyuan, you rebel! I didn't expect you to come in person!" Liang Wang's expression was grim. Although both had retreated significantly, appearing evenly matched, the opponent had first repelled Liu Yao before clashing with him. Clearly, his strength surpassed Liang Wang's.

"Lu Sanyuan?" Hearing the name, Zu An paused, clearly unfamiliar with it.

Sang Hong, who was nearby, explained, "He's the leader of the rebels in Luoshui Commandery. The imperial court has sent large armies to suppress him multiple times, but all have failed. Seeing him today, I didn't expect his cultivation to be so profound. No wonder the imperial court's campaigns were fruitless."

Zu An vaguely recalled hearing people discuss this individual in Mingyue City, describing him as a fierce and malevolent figure, like a man-eating demon king. But the middle-aged man in the air now had a face like fine jade and flowing long hair, making him resemble a reclusive hermit, not a rebel leader.

"The renowned Liang Wang is nothing special. If you surrender to me today, I can spare your life. Otherwise, this day next year will be your death anniversary." Lu Sanyuan stood in mid-air with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an inexplicable air of disdain.

Under everyone's gaze, Liang Wang could not afford to lose face. He steeled himself and retorted, "Hmph, I say today is the day your head will fall, you traitor!"

"Bold words!" Lu Sanyuan's face turned cold. He lunged at Liang Wang like a great roc spreading its wings. As he moved, the wind and clouds behind him changed color, and dense black energy billowed, vaguely forming the shape of a colossal devil's head.

Liang Wang's expression changed. He quickly spread his arms outwards, and soon a thin, transparent film enveloped him, making him resemble an egg.

The two quickly collided, and the billowing black energy rapidly enveloped Liang Wang.

Liu Yao, who had initially intended to leave, was also surrounded by the black energy. Clearly, Lu Sanyuan did not want him free to deal with the rebels below.

The three of them began to fight in mid-air, exchanging blows. Although Liang Wang and Liu Yao fought together, Lu Sanyuan showed no signs of falling behind; in fact, he was primarily on the offensive.

Watching the black energy fill the sky, Liang Wang and Liu Yao's figures were only occasionally visible, like two small boats in a furious sea, liable to be capsized by the waves at any moment.

Zu An couldn't help but remind Huang Huihong, who was beside him, "Aren't you going to help? Last time you boasted about summoning an imperial decree or something, hurry and summon it again to suppress this Lu Sanyuan!"

To his surprise, Huang Huihong remained unmoving: "Liang Wang and General Wei can hold their own."

Zu An remarked, "I suspect you're selling out your teammates."

Huang Huihong was speechless.

He snorted and stopped responding.

By this time, the rebels had charged forward. The Imperial Guards' formation inflicted heavy losses on the rebel vanguard, with many bodies impaled directly on the long spears.

However, the rebels were too numerous, and each one seemed to be on a stimulant, their eyes bloodshot, howling as they trampled over their comrades' corpses to continue their charge.

Soon, the two sides engaged in close-quarters combat. Initially, the Imperial Guards tried their best to maintain their small group formations, but they couldn't withstand the ceaseless wave of rebels. Furthermore, with Liu Yao tied up and no unified command, they quickly devolved into individual skirmishes.

Huang Huihong used his Soul-Reaping Chain to whip away nearby rebels. He and the other Embroidered Envoy guards tightened their defensive perimeter, encircling Zu An's prison cart in the center.

Since they were in the very center of the formation, only a minority of rebels could reach them.

Even so, Huang Huihong's expression was grim, as it was only a matter of time before the rebels surrounded them en masse.

"Commander, what do we do now?" another Embroidered Envoy guard anxiously asked.

Huang Huihong surveyed the situation on the battlefield and said gravely, "We'll retreat to a safe place first."

Zu An couldn't help but say, "Isn't that deserting in the face of the enemy?"

"Silence!" Huang Huihong snorted, "My primary mission is to deliver you safely to the capital. I can't, and won't, concern myself with anything else."

Sang Hong, who was nearby, spoke up, "Commander Huang, why not lift the restrictions on us? As an official of the imperial court, I have a duty to contribute against the rebels. Moreover, I have family in the capital, so there's no need to worry about me attempting to escape once my powers are restored."

"Yes, Master Sang is at least an eighth-rank cultivator; he should be able to influence the battle," an Embroidered Envoy guard whispered to Huang Huihong. Clearly, the current situation on the battlefield was making them nervous too.

"Absolutely not!" Huang Huihong flatly refused, unwilling to take any risk. "Let's go!"

With that, he led the two carriages away in another direction. If they reached the nearest prefecture or county, they would be safe and could even summon troops for assistance.

Seeing them leave, a portion of the rebels immediately broke off and pursued them. However, Imperial Guards quickly intercepted them. Clearly, the Imperial Guards also understood their mission; if anything happened to Zu An and the others, even if they miraculously survived the battle, they wouldn't escape death upon returning to the capital.

Huang Huihong and his group seized this opportunity and hastily fled into the nearby mountain forest.

Just as they thought they had escaped the battlefield and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, several sharp swords suddenly shot out from the ground, accurately piercing the lower bodies of the Embroidered Envoy guards.