Ding Ding Little Stone
Chapter 731 Now, Who Holds the Advantage?
Even the most foolish person would realize that he had been a fool all along, thinking he had gained Chen Yuan's trust and led him to Dongshan Valley.
But in reality, he was... being used as a pawn to lure the Prince Zhennan, Nangong Lie, here, creating an opportunity for him to resolve the Nan Prefecture issue in a short amount of time.
"When... when did you... realize?"
Chen Peilu asked, his voice trembling.
"Naturally, from the moment you first met me."
Chen Peilu looked astonished:
"Back then... weren't you very trusting of me?"
"If I didn't trust you, how could I have lured Nangong Lie here?"
A faint smile played on Chen Yuan's lips.
These words were, of course, a deception to Chen Peilu. In reality, Chen Yuan did not suspect anything at the time, and even thought he was a protagonist template that could be cultivated in the future.
Perhaps he could become a valuable subordinate.
But...
As always, Chen Yuan was a very cautious individual, and not only cautious, but also suspicious.
His initial suspicion arose when he returned to Tangshan and used his past experience to re-examine the entire event, and then he discovered several suspicious points.
Why did Chen Peilu encounter him so coincidentally?
Why was Prince Zhennan, Nangong Lie, not staying in the well-governed Nan Prefecture city, but appearing so coincidentally on the border at that time, and even rescuing Bai Niansheng of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan?
Why?
Everything sprouted from the suspicion in his heart. At first, he thought his feeling was wrong, that coincidences do happen in the world.
Nangong Lie's appearance on the southern border meant he was colluding with the demon race.
But this answer clearly could not convince himself.
Because his sudden action was when Bai Niansheng was unprepared. After a great battle, he severely injured her and seized the Su family's territory as his own.
If Bai Niansheng had been prepared and contacted Nangong Lie in advance, why would she have fled in such a panic? It would have been much more advantageous to besiege him.
This was the biggest suspicious point, and the beginning.
From then on, Chen Yuan ordered people to investigate Chen Peilu's background and the matter of Wu Ying, while also instructing Su Ziyue to secretly monitor all of Chen Peilu's actions.
And then...
No suspicious points were found. Everything Chen Peilu said was true, and he desperately tried to repay Chen Yuan's life-saving grace.
There were no loopholes, everything was perfect.
Logically speaking, such a perfect answer should have been enough to dispel his suspicion, but... it was precisely this perfection that made Chen Yuan even more suspicious.
Because everything was like a script. The information he investigated was almost identical to Chen Peilu's description of his background.
How could someone tell a person they just met their background in such detail, without any omissions?
From that moment on, Chen Yuan began to pay attention to Chen Peilu, while also planning for this day.
Sure enough, when Chen Yuan led Chen Peilu into Nan Prefecture, he immediately showed his powerful ability, eliminating all potential worries with meticulous care, performing perfectly.
He also achieved Chen Yuan's goal.
Zhu Huai, standing to the side, looked shocked. He never expected such a thing. Dongshan Valley was just an appetizer, the real feast was Prince Zhennan, Nangong Lie!
"I... I..." Chen Peilu suddenly stammered, not knowing what to say.
"Nangong Lie does have foresight, starting his move against me so early. You are indeed a good talent, but unfortunately, you chose the wrong master."
"No... that's not how it is..." Chen Peilu shook his head.
"Oh? There's more to it? While Nangong Lie hasn't shown himself yet, tell me, I'm happy to listen." Chen Yuan smiled. Even if Nangong Lie went all out today, staking all his forces to give him another scheme within a scheme within a scheme, he was still confident he could leave.
Therefore, he seemed very confident.
"This subordinate... this subordinate's encounter with Your Highness was not planned. Back then..." Chen Peilu seemed to have resigned himself to fate, showing his last bit of existence.
It turned out that his encounter with Chen Yuan was indeed a coincidence. He was originally a pawn that Nangong Lie had scattered in the Jianghu, but they rarely contacted each other.
When Wu Ying betrayed him and had the people of Dongshan Valley chase him, he contacted Nangong Lie in advance, hoping he could help him.
Later, Nangong Lie did send people, but they were not paying attention to him, but to the fight between Chen Yuan and the Great Sage of the demon race. Then, they contacted Nangong Lie, who was nearby.
This was how they intercepted him on the southern border.
And his encounter with Chen Yuan was really just a coincidence. However, later, when Nangong Lie found out that Chen Peilu had been rescued by Chen Yuan, he ordered him to hide in the shadows.
And provide any help he could.
This led to him repeatedly making meritorious contributions, standing out, and being valued by Chen Yuan. Later, there was Chen Yuan's great battle in Zijin Mountain, and that was when Nangong Lie began to secretly contact him.
Looking forward to this day.
No, to be precise, both sides were looking forward to this day.
After listening, Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. It turned out that the clues he had discovered were not entirely accurate. It was indeed a coincidence on top of coincidence.
"I see, but that doesn't matter. Both Nangong Lie and I have achieved our goals. Peilu, you... did a very good job."
Then, Chen Yuan paused, as if he sensed something, and smiled:
"Look, he's here!"
As Chen Yuan's voice fell, suddenly, a series of magnificent auras rose from all directions, and rays of light scattered in the void, directly sealing the void within dozens of miles.
At the same time, endless dark clouds began to gather near Dongshan Valley.
A deep and dignified voice echoed throughout the world.
"Chen Yuan, since you've come to Nan Prefecture, how can you not let me, the host, entertain you? Hehe... Are you perhaps嫌弃(xianqi - dislike) that I'm not hospitable enough?"
In the void, a middle-aged man wearing a Flood Dragon King's robe slowly solidified in the sky, his immense aura revealed without reservation.
Then, five more figures materialized next to Nangong Lie, and most of them were very familiar to Chen Yuan.
It was none other than the people who had wreaked havoc in Mount Shu and fled.
Tongbei of the Mixed Heaven Divine Ape Clan, the burly man of the Azure Demon Bull Clan, and the Sky Roc Demon Saint, whose arm had been torn apart by Chen Yuan. Except for 噬魂 (Shi Hun - Soul Eater) of the Scarlet Nether Blood Tiger Clan, the other three all appeared at this moment.
In addition to these, there were two others. One was a middle-aged woman in a black纱(sha - gauze) dress, somewhat similar to the Nine-Spider Demon Saint that Chen Yuan had killed, and was her elder sister.
The other was wearing Xuan armor and holding a spear, was Nangong Lie's adopted son, and also his shadow, never seen by the world.
He was his arm!
Including Nangong Lie himself, there were actually six Yang God True Monarch-level experts present, standing between heaven and earth, blocking all paths.
Then, roars suddenly erupted outside Dongshan Valley. Tens of thousands of elite Zhennan (Pacify the South) soldiers appeared simultaneously in the four directions of east, south, west, and north.
Divided into four corps, each with 50,000 men, all elites cultivated by Nangong Lie, no less than the Northern Liang Army's Central Plains elites.
Almost comparable to two True Monarchs who had just entered the Yang God realm!
Even more powerful than the 300,000 Imperial Guards that Jingtai had deployed in Zijin Mountain.
Royal flags fluttered, and the cold wind howled.
After the Zhennan Army roared, it was silent. Only their warhorses breathed heavily, some of the horses were even more mutated, their bodies larger.
Even stronger than the best warhorses in Northern Border.
They were the alien warhorses that Nangong Lie had improved himself, a breed crossbred with alien beasts from the demon race, even more terrifying and powerful. These warhorses were also covered in armor, with array patterns engraved on them, exuding extremely powerful auras, making the power of the battle formation even more terrifying.
But the more this was the case, the paler Chen Peilu's face became, because this was almost all of Prince Zhennan's wealth. If he lost it here today, he would have no chance to contend for the world!
He... was guilty!
But at this moment, he was suppressed by Chen Yuan and could not move at all.
"Chen Yuan, you dared to kill Nine-Spider Sister, today, you will pay with your life!" the middle-aged woman roared fiercely at Chen Yuan.
"Chen Yuan, the grievances of the past should also be settled today!"
The Sky Roc Demon Saint snorted coldly, his eyes filled with blood red.
The arm that had been torn apart by Chen Yuan almost severely injured him, and it took him so long to recover, and he also used a lot of the Sky Roc Clan's resources.
These grudges, these debts, all had to be settled!
"Hahaha, Chen Yuan, what other means do you have? What 千古无二(Qian Gu Wu Er - Unparalleled throughout the ages), today, you must fall under this Saint's iron fist!" Tongbei Demon Saint was full of confidence.
Not only him, to be precise, everyone was very confident!
But except for Chen Peilu, no one noticed that even after Nangong Lie and others appeared, Chen Yuan still showed no sign of panic, and neither did the soldiers under his command.
Instead, they quickly gathered together to form a battle formation.
Zhu Huai, who might have been flustered and distrustful, not knowing what was going on, was now full of confidence after hearing Chen Yuan's words.
His lord had planned everything in advance!
"The world is not yet settled, when did Nan Prefecture become your territory, Nangong Lie?" Chen Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, calmly and indifferently, not at all shocked by Nangong Lie's appearance.
But Nangong Lie, looking at Chen Yuan's expression, felt a faint sense of unease.
But he quickly dispelled these distracting thoughts. Chen Yuan's calm and composed demeanor must be a bluff, it must be!
This time, six True Monarch-level experts and 200,000 elite heavy cavalry were ready to strike, far exceeding Chen Yuan's current forces.
No matter how you look at it, 200,000 versus less than 100,000, six True Monarch and Demon Saint experts versus four Demon Saint experts.
The advantage was on his side!
How could he lose?
Hmm?
How could he lose!
Nangong Lie constantly told himself, preventing himself from feeling fear towards Chen Yuan. Since he had all the advantages, why fear a mere Chen Yuan?
"Since the demise of the Former Chu and the establishment of the Great Jin, this Prince has been guarding the frontier in Nan Prefecture for the Central Plains. This is a great merit to the human race, and Nan Prefecture is this Prince's fiefdom.
How can I not be considered the host?"
Nangong Lie asked rhetorically.
But Chen Yuan placed his hand on Chen Peilu's head, pressing down gently, turning him directly into nothingness, like fragments drifting in the sky.
Nangong Lie didn't even look at him.
He was just a pawn. Now that his mission was completed, it didn't matter whether he lived or died. He had many experts under his command, and he didn't lack a mere Heavenly Core Grandmaster.
"You are just a rebellious dog who betrays the human race, where do you get the face to say you are a meritorious official of the human race? Colluding with the demon race in the Southern Border, devoid of all conscience...
Nangong Lie, you... deserve to die!"
Chen Yuan's eyes narrowed and he berated.
"Hahaha, are you perhaps treating this as the time when you judged Jingtai? Thinking that by judging this Prince's crimes, you can win? Right now, you are already a skeleton in a grave.
This Prince knows that Heavenly Sword True Monarch Jiang He and Underworld True Monarch Chu Changfeng are in Dongshan Valley, but... so what? You think you can destroy Dongshan Valley and then annihilate this Prince.
That's just wishful thinking. Today, luring you here is to treat this Dongshan Valley as your grave, allowing you, the world-renowned True Monarch of the human race, to fall here.
From the moment you killed Jingtai, you became the most famous existence in the world, but that's precisely why you completed your mission and deserve to die!"
Nangong Lie snorted coldly, confidently revealing Chen Yuan's trump cards.
But Chen Yuan didn't show any reaction. Use your brain and you'll know that he couldn't have only brought Zhu Huai, a True Monarch who had just entered the Yang God realm, into Nan Prefecture. There must be others.
And although Chen Yuan hid them, he deliberately revealed them to Chen Peilu, and then conveyed it to Nangong Lie, just to let him understand.
The advantage was on his side!
But... the truth was not so.
"It seems you know a lot, but... did you ever expect that you lured me into Dongshan Valley, and I, in turn, lured you here?"
Chen Yuan laughed heartily, his laughter shaking the heavens.
"What did you say?!"
Nangong Lie and the people around him changed their expressions drastically.
The next moment, a dazzling blood light suddenly lit up on the ground, shooting straight into the sky. Then, the ground began to shake, and huge cracks suddenly burst open.
A gigantic, massive tortoise poked its head out. Zhao Danqing stood on the giant tortoise's back, with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face.
To his left, Jiang He in white robes and Chu Changfeng, in armor and wielding a divine halberd, slowly emerged. To his right, Monk Xuyan clasped his hands together, chanting Buddhist scriptures.
Behind them, the sound of swords soared into the sky, and cracks were torn open in the void. Lingxu Daoist, the head of Mount Shu, held the Immortal Slaying Sword, staring coldly at several Demon Saints.
In front, Qingxu Daoist of Mount Shu stood with his sword, vigilant against the opponent.
Front, back, left, right, and center, all around, instantly surrounded Nangong Lie and the others.
The heavens and the earth fell into an unspeakable silence.
Chen Yuan curled his lips, step by step, he stepped into the void, looking at Nangong Lie at eye level, and said lightly:
"Now, who has the advantage?!"