landbeastnovel Chapter 650 Dragnet
Chapter 650 Dragnet
Chapter 650 Dragnet
"What! The Armadillo King is dead? How could it be so fast..."
In a border town of the Di Kingdom, Di Lie was leading his men to strengthen vigilance to prevent conflicts between certain forces from affecting the stability of the Di Kingdom.
When news of the Armadillo King reached the city, it greatly alarmed Di Lie.
Di Lie hurriedly asked, "How did he die?"
The subordinate replied, "I don't know. It's already spread outside. Everyone's saying that Lu Zheng killed the Armadillo King. Hu Qing, who has submitted to Lu Zheng, has already taken over the Armadillo King's territory with her people. Many monsters didn't even have time to escape..."
Di Lie felt a chill run down his spine. The seven-day deadline had passed, and a powerful demon had died. Lu Zheng's actions were far too swift.
He was inexplicably relieved that his king had softened his stance; otherwise, if Lu Zheng had chosen the Di Kingdom as his first target, he, guarding the border, might not have even known how he died.
Di Lie raised his hand and rubbed his tense cheeks to calm his inner panic.
He muttered to himself, "That old monster was supposed to be good at escaping and defending, yet he died even more easily than Lord Huai? Sigh, let's strengthen our defenses. If anyone flees here, don't let them into the city easily."
With the help of certain individuals, the story of the Armadillo King quickly spread throughout the surrounding areas.
The forces that united against Lu Zheng didn't even have time to issue a denial.
The matter caused a great uproar and widespread panic.
Some people had previously dismissed Lu Zheng's letter, thinking he was just making empty promises.
However, once such rumors spread, everyone became uneasy.
In some places, families or individuals have already packed their belongings, ready to flee at any time.
Some beings are self-aware enough to know that they have done too many evils in the past, and if Lu Zheng really takes over their place, they will definitely not be able to live a good life in the future.
Meanwhile, many oppressed people from the lower classes, including demons and monsters, are sharpening their knives and preparing to respond.
Some members of the faction are now considering whether to defect and side with Lu Zheng in hopes of avoiding the death penalty.
They had little background or strength, and even if they fled to other places in the Northern Region, they would be devoured by other powerful demons or forces.
If they stay and surrender to Lu Zheng, they might still be able to survive.
Lu Zheng truly believed in equality; he thought it was better to live a miserable life than to die a good death.
The claim that the Armadillo King is dead is merely a rumor.
But this one sentence has already stirred up quite a storm in the surrounding area.
Even Hu Qing herself didn't expect that her failure to provoke the King of the Armadillo would have such a greater impact.
Hu Qing waited in the lair of the Armadillo King for a whole day, but the other party did not show up to refute the rumors.
Given the speed at which she sent messages to various places, some people should have reacted by now.
As a result, none of the powerful demons who allied with the Armadillo King made any move; instead, they became even more wary.
Only now did Hu Qing realize that she had probably said the great demon Qiu was "dead".
Standing atop the mountain, Hu Qing surveyed the surrounding area, then looked south and said softly, "Was this also within your expectations?"
……
In the mountains and fields, a mound of earth slowly rises from a patch of grass.
Soon, the mound broke open, and a human-shaped clay figure emerged from it.
The clay figure, as tall as an adult, exuded an eerie aura. It shook off the mud, pulled its legs out of the soil, and strode towards the flat road not far away, continuing its journey along the road.
At the end of the road stood a tall city with its gates tightly shut.
Soon, the clay figure arrived outside the city.
The guards on the city wall all looked wary when they saw the newcomers.
The clay figure tilted its head slightly and asked, "Is Lu Zheng here? If not, please pass on a message for me!"
A city guard said warily, "He's not here. What do you have to say?"
The clay figure slowly said, "Negotiation! Before noon three days from now, ask him to go to the Bone Abyss in person to negotiate. If the deadline is missed, we will order a million demons to slaughter the human race. Lu Zheng may be able to protect you and these few cities, but what about the places outside?"
The guards on the city wall changed their expressions, and even the demon city guards had grim faces.
This is absolutely outrageous! Using the human race on their own territory as leverage to try and negotiate with Lu Zheng?
One of the city guards said, "We will report this matter. Do you have anything else to say?"
"Gone."
The clay figure shook its head stiffly, then its entire body crumbled into a pile of mud.
Upon seeing this, one person disregarded the danger and jumped down from the city wall, intending to collect soil to search for clues.
Lu Zheng appeared outside the city. He looked at the pile of earth and saw that the demonic energy within it had almost completely dissipated, making it difficult to trace its source even with magic.
"Master Lu?"
The city guards looked at Lu Zheng with some uncertainty.
Lu Zhengdao said, "I already know about this matter, there's no need to report it to higher authorities."
Upon hearing this, the city guard whispered, "That's definitely a trap. Young Master Lu, please don't go."
Anyone with eyes can see that those forces are desperate and have no choice but to resort to such methods to blackmail people.
Sending Lu Zheng over for negotiations could lead to some kind of elaborate trap being set up in that area.
Lu Zheng said softly, "Given their methods, if I don't go, they will definitely take action. How can we just sit idly by and watch so many lives be lost? I can't not go."
Lu Zheng felt that he had underestimated the limits of some powerful demons.
Seeing that they couldn't destroy this region, they turned around and attacked the humans in their own territory?
Such acts of slaughter may not be able to intimidate others, but he is Lu Zheng, and he cannot ignore them.
The city guards were excited, their eyes red, and said, "Young Master Lu, lead us in the charge! We're not afraid to die, and we can help in some way..." If it weren't for Lu Zheng, many of them, both human and demon, would still be living in darkness.
Now that Lu Zheng is willing to risk his life to protect them and rescue more people, how can they stay in the city with peace of mind?
Lu Zheng smiled and said, "There's no need to risk our lives. We don't need to risk our lives. Trust me. Just hold this place well."
Even seeing Lu Zheng like this, the city guards were still unable to calm down.
"If I don't go to hell, who will? You truly have a compassionate heart, benefactor..."
At this moment, Ku Xin appeared in front of Lu Zheng and asked, "But aren't you afraid that this is a ploy to lure us away from our prey?"
If Lu Zheng goes to negotiate, no one else can completely protect this place.
At that time, those forces will launch another sneak attack...
Lu Zheng said calmly, "If I were a tiger, they would have to be able to trap me."
After thinking it over carefully, he said, "This humble monk will accompany you. If necessary, I will simply reveal my identity, and they will not dare to do anything to us."
The reputation of the Four Noble Truths School is not small in the Northern Region.
The Anguo Dynasty may not be able to reach this place, but if he were to die here, a Buddhist master would surely come to suppress the demon very soon.
Lu Zheng replied, "Master, you don't need to worry about me. I can go alone. This is exactly what I wanted."
Lu Zheng was worried about not being able to find the whereabouts of those powerful figures in a short time, but the other party actually came up with such a scheme, which in a way suited his wishes.
When the time comes, we'll arm wrestle head-on and see who has the greater strength.
……
To maintain public morale, Lu Zheng did not allow news of the negotiations to spread in various cities.
However, some forces spread the word and leaked the information in order to put pressure on Lu Zheng.
For a time, people in various places were even more shaken.
Not only were humans terrified, but even the demons and monsters at the bottom of society were filled with fear.
They all knew that if those powerful figures really wanted to lead their subordinates in a massacre, they wouldn't distinguish between humans and demons when they went berserk...
People from all ethnic groups in the lower classes who have no status or power will be slaughtered.
This unexpected turn of events has led even more people from various ethnic groups to eagerly anticipate Lu Zheng's arrival and his plan to eliminate those powerful figures.
Some forces have become even more unpopular, but the big shots don't care at all.
As long as Lu Zheng is not in this place, what does it matter if they lose the people's hearts? No one can stir up trouble, and they will still be enslaved by them.
Two days felt like an eternity.
Some neutral forces in the vicinity, who were observing from the sidelines, inexplicably felt a sense of pressure.
……
The Bone Abyss is the territory of a powerful and mysterious demon.
According to ancient legends, Bone Abyss was once a plain where a war took place.
A top-tier expert cleaved the earth, burying countless soldiers here.
Although the veracity of the rumors is unknown, the White Bone Abyss is indeed filled with various white bones, and the yin energy is as thick as mist, permeating the entire abyss year after year, and has not dissipated for hundreds of years.
Even the spiritual veins deep underground have transformed into a yin-attribute earth vein.
When Lu Zheng stepped into the Bone Abyss, he felt that the Yin energy here was even stronger than that of the Ghost State of Chu, only the area was not as wide.
The fog ahead surged, and a white skeleton appeared before Lu Zheng's eyes.
Within the skull, a pale green spirit flickered.
The skeleton dared not approach Lu Zhengtai and said in a low voice, "Young Master Lu, please come with me. My master is waiting for you inside."
Lu Zheng followed behind the skeleton with a calm expression.
As they hurried along, the surroundings grew increasingly dark, with malevolent energy rampant and whispers of sobbing echoing through the air, like weeping and lamenting, captivating the mind.
Lu Zheng remained calm and composed, unaffected in the slightest.
Soon, a pavilion came into view.
A beautiful woman in white stood outside the pavilion.
Upon seeing Lu Zheng, the woman's eyes flickered slightly, and she gracefully bowed, saying, "Young Master Lu, it's been a while since we last met. You seem to have become even more charming than before."
Lu Zheng said calmly, "Madam Bone. Where are the others?"
This woman is the mistress of the Bone Abyss, and everyone calls her Lady Bone.
Lu Zheng had met this woman not long ago at Huai Jun's birthday banquet.
Lady Bone replied, "The yin energy here is too heavy, and some fellow cultivators dislike this place. They have prepared another place for you to discuss this further with the young master..."
Lady Bone waved her sleeve lightly, and the pavilion behind her transformed in an instant, revealing a gate.
Lu Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, and without even the slightest hesitation, he stepped into the doorway in an instant.
Lady Bone raised an eyebrow upon seeing this, not expecting Lu Zheng to be so impatient, and a sense of foreboding arose in her heart.
She hesitated for a moment, then waved to the skeleton not far away, before transforming into a beam of white light and entering the portal.
The portal vanished swiftly, and the entire Bone Abyss trembled violently, with Yin energy surging.
A powerful Yin-severing formation was formed at an extremely fast speed, severing the connection between heaven and earth.
(End of this chapter)