Chapter 59: A Terrifying Scheme

"Good!"
"Good!"
"Good!!!"
The Blood Phoenix Sovereign was so furious that she laughed instead, stepping into the sky, shouting “Good!” three times in succession.

She had originally thought that Fan Li’s painstaking scheme within the Dragon God Hall was already the limit of his capabilities. Yet she had not expected Fan Li’s ambitions to be so grand—he had calculated against all four divisions of the Lihuo Sect?

Now it was not the Lihuo Sect seeking the destruction of the Fan Clan, but the Fan Clan poised to annihilate the Lihuo Sect?

This far exceeded Fan Li’s supposed abilities. With the Fan Clan’s resources and strength, such a feat should be impossible! Yet, he had somehow coordinated the forces of Yin and Yang, borrowed power from Lü City and the Great Han, and his plan was nearly complete?

“If I, as Sovereign, now depart and lend my support to any side, your whole arrangement will collapse.”

High above in the void, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign gazed down with a detached arrogance, mocking Fan Li below.

Such was the disparity of absolute strength!

What did it matter if Fan Li had set fourfold schemes? The Blood Phoenix Sovereign was absolutely confident that, should she turn around and act now, she could at least rescue two divisions!

From the Peach Blossom Grove, she would save her daughter, Nangong Zhi. In the manor, she would save that useless man, Nangong Yan. As for the southern mountain division—though it contained all the elite disciples and an elder of the Lihuo Sect—they were not as important as her own daughter and husband. She would go there last, saving whoever she could.

“The Sovereign jests,” Fan Li replied. “Since I have revealed the entirety of my plan, I will not permit you to leave.”

A cold glint flashed in the Blood Phoenix Sovereign’s eyes. “Lü Chunqiu wishes to protect you, but do you think Wuzhui alone can stop me?!”

Fan Li nodded. “Indeed she cannot, which is why Marquis Wenxin must act.”

As Fan Li’s words fell, the protective barrier formed by “The Annals of Lü” suddenly expanded several times over! This time, not only the main hall of the Dragon God Hall, but the entire temple complex was enveloped.

The protective shield was now a cage!

Fan Li, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign, Lü Chunqiu, and Wuzhui were all temporarily trapped inside by “The Annals of Lü.”

The Blood Phoenix Sovereign exclaimed, “Are you courting death?!”

She was not mistaken. The cage formed by “The Annals of Lü” could only contain her for a short time. For the Sovereign, escaping would not be too difficult.

Even under the combined assault of Lü Chunqiu and Wuzhui, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign was absolutely certain she could break free—though it would take more effort.

The problem was that Fan Li, now deprived of protection, was in grave danger.

The Blood Phoenix Sovereign’s patience was at its end; unwilling to waste more words, she prepared to strike immediately.

“I have always cherished my life,” Fan Li’s voice sounded from outside the Dragon God Hall. “A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall—why would I seek death?”

His voice, even through the great barrier of “The Annals of Lü,” was somewhat muffled.

The Blood Phoenix Sovereign turned in surprise—and indeed saw another Fan Li?

What was this?

Inside and outside the Dragon God Hall, there were two Fan Lis?

Could he be a twin?

She did not believe it. Both Fan Lis were body-refining weaklings; there was no illusion or secret technique so exquisite as to deceive her!

But the Fan Li inside the hall was clearly a sacrificial decoy.

The Blood Phoenix Sovereign’s rage boiled over.

It was only now that she truly admitted to herself—she had been utterly outmaneuvered by Fan Li, to the point of near irredeemable ruin.

With venom in her voice, she said, “Your calculations are indeed exquisite! But the minor injury from Wuzhui’s earlier sneak attack has now fully healed. Within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, I will break free. Fan Li, from now on you shall live in constant fear of my assassination!”

She could not calm her fury without venting a few threats.

She also knew that rescuing the three divisions had become all but impossible.

Her husband and daughter might well come to harm.

Fan Li merely laughed. “Stalling for time? Sovereign, you are truly muddled. If you can stall, can I not stall as well? Once the other three routes are handled, all my forces will converge here to support the Dragon God Hall.”

The Blood Phoenix Sovereign scoffed, “Do you think the Lihuo Sect is so easily defeated? Nangong Yan is at the peak of the Dao Fusing Realm, and all the other elders and disciples are elites!”

Fan Li nodded, then shook his head.

“Apart from holy lands like the Pure Sound Sanctuary, the Lihuo Sect is already a first-rate great sect.”

“However, I have opened the Great Chu’s national treasury, equipping all my ambushers with the finest gear, weapons, and elixirs.”

“I even borrowed treasures from the Xiang royal vault.”

“If strength is insufficient, equipment makes up for it. Believe me, Sovereign, the three divisions of Lihuo Sect will be routed with astonishing speed…”

Fan Li had not finished speaking when the Blood Phoenix Sovereign was suddenly engulfed in a bloody radiance!

Wings sprouted from her back—she resembled a descending deity, albeit one saturated with murderous intent.

Secret Art: Blood Immortal Maiden!

Like the incarnation of a blood god, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign gazed at Fan Li outside the cage with eyes full of killing intent.

Once she broke free, he would be the first to die!

This battle would not last long; Fan Li would not even escape the borders of Peng City.

Lü Chunqiu too must die!

The Lü Clan had remained neutral for thousands of years, and now dared side with Fan Li.

And Wuzhui—another woman, yet she had chosen to serve a worthless man. Such disgrace to womankind must be punished with death!

The Sovereign said coldly, “Wuzhui, Lü Chunqiu—come at me together. With your cultivations, you are barely worthy of making me take this form seriously. Within a hundred moves, you will surely die!”

The strength gained from burning fifty years of life—how could it be taken lightly?

Since rescuing the three divisions was now impossible, she would slaughter to her heart’s content!

Lü Chunqiu bowed to the Sovereign, her tone calm and steady.

“Sovereign, your talents are admirable. I sincerely pay my respects. But today, Lord Jin’s plans are flawless. He foresaw that you would have a secret art to vastly increase your power, but that it would come with dire hidden costs. So Lord Jin instructed me and Daoist Wuzhui to do nothing but stall, waiting for your hidden injuries to erupt before engaging in true combat.”

“I possess the family treasure, ‘The Annals of Lü,’ which ensures my safety.”

“Daoist Wuzhui, though she stands alone, has been granted the Overlord’s Battle Armor from the Xiang royal vault—it will keep her alive.”

As Lü Chunqiu spoke, she could not help but glance at Fan Li’s true body outside the Dragon God Hall.

A trace of fear rose in her heart.

This man might well be the first in history, at the body refining stage, to plot the death of a Great Ascension cultivator!

She remembered how Fan Li, explaining his plan, had once grumbled:

“It’s a pity the Overlord Spear is restricted by bloodline, or I would have borrowed it for Wuzhui as well.”

Hearing Lü Chunqiu’s words, the Blood Phoenix Sovereign suddenly felt a chill down her spine!

Fan Li’s cunning ran this deep?

She looked instinctively at her own body. The “Blood Immortal Maiden” secret art, even as it unleashed tremendous power, was also draining her very life force.

Even if she survived this battle by some miracle, ascension would be forever out of reach…