Chapter Sixty-Three: Taking Action!

"Where?!"
Tu Lu opened his eyes.
Zi Ling closed her eyes in silence for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Shuangyu Gorge."
At her words, Tu Lu's eyes lit up.
Shuangyu Gorge was a nearby canyon, barely a dozen miles from them. More importantly, its terrain was shaped like a fish, deeply recessed within, flanked by towering mountains—perfect for an ambush!
The two of them moved immediately!
"We must not act rashly. If we strike, it must be a thunderous blow!"
Tu Lu nodded.
The main force of the attack remained the semi-Purple Mansion cultivators under the Prefect's command. What puzzled him was why Zi Ling chose to join forces with him.
No matter how confident he was, he could not believe his apparent strength surpassed all the semi-Purple Mansion cultivators on the Prefect's side.
"We’re here!"
Zi Ling suddenly spoke as Tu Lu was lost in thought.
Tu Lu composed himself, setting aside distractions, and focused on the gorge.
Shuangyu Gorge stretched for dozens of miles. They were at its far end, yet could already sense the fluctuations of heaven and earth energy from the other side.
How fierce!
"Over there, we have more than a dozen semi-Purple Mansion cultivators, and with those arriving one after another, there are forty-three in total. Even if they can't stop the enemy, they can certainly inflict serious harm!"
Tu Lu nodded.
In truth, it was almost inconceivable that, with over a hundred cultivators on the Prefect's side, Zi Tuo Feng had managed to escape to this spot!
Zi Ling landed halfway up the mountain. "We’ll lie in ambush here. Since they’re taking this route to the Provincial Capital, they must pass through here!
Even if they break through the encirclement of forty-three semi-Purple Mansion cultivators, by the time they reach here, they will be exhausted. We will strike then!"

"Agreed!"
The two quickly used their breath-concealing techniques, hiding on opposite sides of the mountain, reducing their presence to nothing, indistinguishable from mere stones.
Tu Lu marveled inwardly.
She truly deserved to be a disciple of the Venerable. With the Heavenly Dragon Order and the Nine Locks True Spirit Technique, he could achieve this, but not easily. Yet Zi Ling managed it effortlessly, leaving him in awe.
Thus, the two rested quietly behind the rocks.
About three hours passed.
Zi Ling suddenly opened her eyes.
"They’re coming!"
Tu Lu tensed.
Even forty-three semi-Purple Mansion cultivators couldn't block the enemy?
But after so many interceptions, the Prefect's semi-Purple Mansion cultivators were no pushovers. Surely, whatever cards Zi Tuo Feng had left must be spent by now.
But he dared not probe with spiritual sense as Zi Ling did. His Nine Locks True Spirit Technique truly sealed his aura completely; if he used spiritual power to probe, his disguise would be revealed.
Gradually, several gray shadows appeared in the distance.
Even without spiritual sense, he could vaguely make out several blurred figures.
His attention sharpened like never before, his consciousness focusing on the red orb in his mind.
"Careful!"
Just as he was about to act, Zi Ling’s voice rang in his ear.
He paused, only to see Zi Tuo Feng’s party halt as they approached.
"One, two, three, four..."
Tu Lu narrowed his eyes, shrinking further behind the rock.
Zi Tuo Feng’s group was reduced to four: Zi Tuo Feng himself, two middle-aged men in matching green robes, and Jin Donghe.

The three surrounded Zi Tuo Feng protectively.
One of the green-robed men, perhaps sensing something amiss, cautioned the others to silence and approached cautiously.
As the four passed between Tu Lu and Zi Ling—
"Attack!"
A cold gleam flashed in Zi Ling’s eyes.
Tu Lu hadn’t even reacted.
In an instant, the mountain trembled, the earth shook, a sword aura shot skyward, thunder roared above, and the air itself was blasted violently!
A human-shaped bolt of lightning surged straight toward Zi Tuo Feng!
"Break!"
Both green-robed men’s faces changed, rushing to block the sword aura together.
But at that moment, Tu Lu understood and struck!
The red orb in his mind erupted, a terrifying surge of blood force burst forth.
The entire mountain range shook violently!
His aura soared, reaching the level of the Purple Mansion—no, not quite, but equal to it!
"Die!"
The Blood God Gauntlet appeared, and suddenly, a giant blue-black hand crashed down from the sky upon Zi Tuo Feng!
"Young Master!"
Jin Donghe’s eyes reddened, and he hurled a punch at the giant blue-black hand!