"Brother Mao, should we still pursue them?"
Jiang Shanao asked Li Xuan.
They looked at the sandstorm erupting before them, feeling utterly despairing.
There was a chasm between the Third Rank and Fourth Rank, making it almost impossible to cross.
Li Xuan was able to repeatedly escape from Belgrade's hands and counter his moves with his current strength, all thanks to his Yin Yang True Qi.
If it had been anyone else, their life would likely have been over the moment they met Belgrade.
Li Xuan himself was well aware that the chances of keeping Belgrade and his group were slim.
But doing nothing left a bitter taste in his mouth.
How could such a valuable enemy prisoner be let go due to internal strife? What a massive loss that would be!
Whether it was the escaped criminals Belgrade and his group, or Prince Zheng who cooperated in the escape plan, Li Xuan absolutely did not want them to have an easy time.
Hearing Jiang Shanao's question, Li Xuan nodded heavily.
No matter how fierce Belgrade's sandstorm was, it always had a limit to its range.
If they couldn't pass through the sandstorm in front of them, then they would just go around it.
Wasting a little time was fine; Li Xuan believed that with the speed of Belgrade and his group, he would definitely be able to catch up with them again before they left the capital.
Seeing Li Xuan nod, Jiang Shanao also realized that this cat had a stubborn temper.
He just raised his head in some confusion, finding that Mo Tiansheng, who had been transmitting messages to them, had not made a move.
Li Xuan, seeing his suspicion, immediately took action, leaving him no time to think further.
As expected, the moment Li Xuan moved, Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao quickly followed.
Chen Tan was easy to understand; after all, Li Xuan was his protective talisman now, so he naturally followed wherever Li Xuan went.
But this Jiang Shanao was a bit interesting.
He was reluctant to get involved in this matter from the beginning, but unexpectedly, after seeing Belgrade display his methods, he did not shrink back and was even willing to take risks with Li Xuan.
The sandstorm left by Belgrade was not too large. Li Xuan led the two of them around for a short while and quickly bypassed the sandstorm's range, then continued to pursue them, following the aura Belgrade left behind.
Li Xuan's perception range was already extremely wide, plus Belgrade's aura as an Upper Three Ranks martial artist was simply too obvious.
Most importantly, Belgrade was continuously exerting power by using the sand and wind to support Bartell and Meng En.
For Li Xuan, who was extremely sensitive to the power of the Five Elements, this was undoubtedly the most conspicuous tracking trace.
If Belgrade knew that the black cat tracking him was a Destined One, he would never have left such an obvious flaw.
Unfortunately, there was no 'if'.
Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao saw Li Xuan's determined pursuit and did not ask further questions.
After all, from their perspective, Belgrade had left no traces at all.
The opponent was not a rookie who had just started walking the martial world, and tonight's escape was meticulously planned, so it was naturally not so easy to be sabotaged.
But unfortunately, they met Li Xuan tonight.
At this moment, they had already pursued them out of Banzheng Ward, speeding westward.
To the west was the nearest city gate, Kaiyuan Gate. Once they passed through there, they would be out of the capital.
At that time, Belgrade and his group would naturally be free as birds, making them even harder to apprehend.
On the main roads between the wards, not a single ghost could be seen tonight; the usual patrols had tacitly disappeared.
Looking further at Kaiyuan Gate, although there was some light on the gate tower, indicating guards on duty, if there wasn't an expert of the same rank making a move, a mere city gate couldn't stop an Upper Three Ranks martial artist.
"Alas, I still know too few experts."
Li Xuan looked back in the direction of the Ministry of Justice Prison, where the terrifying aura still had not dissipated.
He had not expected that Prince Zheng's casual move would involve top experts capable of stopping Zhao Feng and Chief Steward Shang.
It seemed that Prince Zheng's ability to threaten Emperor Yongyuan until now was not just based on schemes, but because he had truly capable individuals under his command.
The balanced power of both sides was the reason why the situation had remained deadlocked until today.
However, Li Xuan was a bit puzzled. Emperor Yongyuan had years of operation to reach his current position.
So, for Prince Zheng back then, Emperor Yongyuan, who had just ascended the throne, should have been easily crushed.
Why did he delay until today, leading to the tail wagging the dog, allowing Emperor Yongyuan to pose a threat to him?
Previously, Emperor Yongyuan had also said that Prince Zheng dared not openly rebel, so there must be some secret behind it.
But no matter what, just as Prince Zheng cannot easily deal with Emperor Yongyuan now, the same is true for Emperor Yongyuan.
Prince Zheng does not lack experts under his command; if both sides were to clash head-on, neither would likely benefit.
"Sigh, never mind that for now. Let's make things difficult for Belgrade again."
From afar, Li Xuan could once again see the backs of Belgrade and his group. He started transmitting his voice again, broadcasting across the whole street.
It was night, and the entire capital, except for some special places, was quiet.
As a result, Li Xuan's voice transmission, like thunder, spread far and wide; almost the entire west side of the city could hear it.
However, the common people were very cautious and dared not come out to investigate casually. They all observed through the cracks in their doors first, and only after realizing that there was nothing happening nearby and the sound came from further away, did people gradually dare to open their doors and stick their heads out to look.
In the surrounding wards, more and more common people came out onto the streets, looking in the direction of Banzheng Ward.
There, Upper Three Ranks experts were battling, and the night sky was like blooming fireworks, a riot of colors, incredibly magnificent.
And Li Xuan's voice transmission continuously echoed in the air. The common people listened for a while and immediately understood what was happening.
"Someone escaped from the prison!?"
"And it's a Great Desert dog!"
"This voice claims to be Hero Mo of the Red Scarf Squad, is it true?"
"That's right, I was fortunate enough to hear Hero Mo's voice with my own ears a few days ago, and it's this exact sound!"
"Hero Mo is even getting involved in this matter; he truly has an ancient and warm heart. The good deeds done by the Red Scarf Squad are becoming more and more renowned!"
"…"
The common people discussed animatedly, realizing that the danger was far from them, and surprisingly watched the show with great interest.
At night, the gates of the wards were closed, and ordinary people like them could not freely enter or exit the wards, so there was no possibility of watching the show up close.
Even if the ward gates were open, it was estimated that few would have the courage.
But as the saying goes, the more skilled one is, the bolder one is. What ordinary people dared not do, there were plenty of powerful individuals who came and went as they pleased who dared to do.
In the capital, many martial artists heard the commotion and couldn't suppress their curiosity, rushing to the scene to watch the show.
If they were lucky, they might even see Mo Tiansheng, who had recently been gaining fame, which would make for a good topic of conversation over drinks.
When Belgrade heard that annoying voice again, his face couldn't help but darken.
"Red Scarf Squad, Mo Tiansheng."
"I'll remember you!"
Belgrade looked at Kaiyuan Gate, whose outline was appearing in the distance, and dared not stop for a moment.
Prince Zheng had made arrangements, that was true, but it was impossible to arrange for everyone in the entire capital.
If troublemakers were indeed attracted by the voice behind him, there would likely be unexpected complications.
Failure of the prison break was secondary; Belgrade's position in the Wolf King's heart would inevitably be weakened.
After all, if he couldn't even do this small thing well, how could he share the Wolf King's worries?
But what he feared, came to pass.
Suddenly, powerful auras surged from a ward beside the road, and there was more than one.
The next moment, three figures blocked Belgrade's path ahead. From their stance, they were clearly not to be trifled with, and it was impossible for them to be helpers arranged by Prince Zheng.
Belgrade made a decisive move, immediately using the sand and wind to lift their bodies high, attempting to fly over the people in front of him.
But the people below uttered only one word, and they fell back down obediently.
"Fix!"
A golden light flashed on Belgrade and the two others, then they fell headfirst, crashing to the ground with a thud.
That's right, among the people who came out to block the way, there was indeed Master Chenghai.
The other was Monk Clear Sea from Fuhu Temple, and as for the old monk standing between the two of them, Li Xuan did not recognize him.
"Three Masters, thank you for your righteous intervention."
"Please help me subdue these three fugitives and hand them over to the authorities for punishment!"
Li Xuan immediately shouted in Mo Tiansheng's voice, then secretly transmitted a message to Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao:
"Grab the two smaller ones, ignore Belgrade, who is in front!"
After Li Xuan finished his instructions, he charged forward first.
Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao followed closely behind.
Li Xuan instantly reached the three of them.
Belgrade was ignored by Li Xuan. With Master Chenghai and others present, they would naturally handle him. Li Xuan directly locked his target on Bartell and Meng En.
Li Xuan, with a claw and a tail, fiercely struck the two of them, sending their figures flying backward, directly colliding with Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao, who were closely following Li Xuan.
Seeing this situation, Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao's reactions were not slow at all. Each seized one, then immediately fled backward.
Seeing his objective achieved, Li Xuan also pulled away, while simultaneously letting out a powerful roar at Belgrade's back.
"Roar—"
The visible sound wave hit Belgrade, but at the same time, the binding of the immobilization spell also disappeared.
In just an instant, Belgrade summoned protective sand and wind, blocking Li Xuan's subsequent sound waves.
But the current situation did not make Belgrade happy.
Compared to Li Xuan, the three monks blocking the way in front of him were what gave Belgrade a headache.
"They are all Upper Three Ranks…"
But how could Belgrade sit back and await his fate? He put his palms together and performed a Buddhist salute:
"Masters, why involve yourselves in worldly karma and disturb your own serene cultivation?"
Although Belgrade spoke politely, the implied threat within his words was clear to those who understood.
Unexpectedly, Monk Clear Sea directly stepped forward, pointed at Belgrade's nose, and asked:
"If I shatter your karma, won't it be peaceful?"
Belgrade's pupils constricted. He hadn't expected such a tough character among the Buddhist sects in the capital.
Before he came to Great Xing as an envoy, he had investigated all the experts in the capital.
Among the three monks blocking the way, the one in the middle was Master Shanle, a highly respected monk from Chongfu Temple, holding a very high position in Buddhism. The one on the right was Master Chenghai, the abbot of Cien Temple.
Both of them were excellent fighters among the Upper Three Ranks, and Belgrade remembered them well.
However, he had no impression whatsoever of the burly monk on the left.
Yet, the opponent's aura was not weak at all, indicating Upper Three Ranks strength.
Such a domineering monk blocking his path gave even Belgrade a headache.
"Are the Buddhist sects truly going to oppose the Great Desert?"
"Do you think my Buddhist sects fear your Great Desert?"
Before Belgrade's words had even finished, Monk Clear Sea directly retorted with a domineering question.
Li Xuan watched this scene from afar, thinking to himself, "This Monk Clear Sea actually has some agreeable qualities."
Monk Clear Sea's few words indeed made Li Xuan change his view of him considerably.
Seeing that these monks refused to give way, Belgrade no longer wasted his breath.
He glared back at Li Xuan and the others, seeing Bartell and Meng En in their hands. The immobilization spell on these two had not yet been lifted, so they could only be captured blankly, unable to resist.
How could Master Chenghai's full-power immobilization spell be broken by those of their strength?
"I will come back for you!"
This statement from Belgrade, whether directed at Li Xuan and his group or at Bartell and Meng En, certainly carried no good intentions.
Belgrade made a decisive move, directly transforming into a sandstorm, with astonishing momentum.
"Spirits of sand and wind, let us become a sandstorm and bury our enemies!"
Boom—
A thick sandstorm tornado instantly formed before everyone's eyes. Belgrade was at its center, slowly rising and becoming the eye of the storm.
In an instant, the two surrounding wards were completely covered by the sandstorm tornado.
Crack, crack, crack…
A dense, piercing sound erupted. Li Xuan saw his vision turn a murky yellow, and felt a series of fine stings on his body.
"Copper Head Iron Arms!"
Li Xuan fully unleashed his protective cultivation method, and only then did he feel a little better.
The power of the sandstorm tornado was completely incomparable to before.
It seemed Belgrade had been pushed to his limit, unleashing his ultimate technique.
Otherwise, how could the sight before them be something an ordinary Third Rank martial artist could unleash?
Of course, it wasn't ruled out that Belgrade, like Darughachi Shibai Wolf Mountain of the White Wolf Guard, was an old-hand Third Rank martial artist on the verge of entering the Second Rank.
Li Xuan realized the danger of the sandstorm tornado and immediately retreated, not forgetting to transmit a warning to Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao.
At this moment, he could no longer see the two of them, only remembering that they had been standing seven or eight zhang behind him earlier.
Li Xuan didn't care if the sound transmission reached them or not; he just planned to get out first.
Fortunately, they were far enough from Belgrade at the time, and Li Xuan soon exited the range of the sandstorm tornado.
Upon emerging, he saw Chen Tan and Jiang Shanao, also in disarray, but still holding Bartell and Meng En, so they hadn't lost their captives.
"Cough, cough, cough, it's good that you're alright too, Brother Mao."
Jiang Shanao was currently emanating golden light, like a Buddha statue in a temple, clearly a profound external cultivation technique of body tempering.
Only some of the golden paint on his body had flaked off, and it was slowly repairing itself, so his injuries did not seem serious.
"That old fox is cunning. Just now, the sand only hit us, not these two youngsters. He even wanted to snatch them away, but fortunately, Gang Leader Chen and I aren't pushovers."
Jiang Shanao boasted.
Chen Tan, beside him, was not as lucky. His clothes were full of holes, and his hair was disheveled, looking utterly miserable. There was no trace of a gang leader's demeanor; he was practically a handsome middle-aged beggar.
Chen Tan had no time for chatter, only gasping for breath. Unlike the effortlessly relaxed Jiang Shanao, he had barely managed to escape just now.
At this moment, the cat and the two men slowly looked up at the colossal sandstorm tornado, which was now close at hand, and couldn't help but feel a sense of powerlessness in the face of divine might.
"Is this the power of the Dao?"
Chen Tan murmured to himself, lost in thought.
Jiang Shanao, beside him, also showed a similar expression.
They were both Fourth Rank martial artists, and they shared the same intense yearning for the "Dao."
But while yearning, they couldn't help but doubt whether they would truly have that day of breakthrough.
This kind of feeling was understandable to every martial artist.
However, Li Xuan's feelings were subtly different.
"I wonder what my Dao will be like?"
Compared to the two beside him, Li Xuan firmly believed that he too could master such power.