Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 521 Breaking the Five Elements Formation and Destroying the Headquarters of the Yuxian Gang!

The headquarters of the Yuxian Gang.

The five disciples were waiting for their master to return when a tremendous aura suddenly came from outside, followed by a rain of sword energy, and the gate was blasted to pieces.

Li Zhaoting was dressed in an official robe, holding a gold medal, with the Imperial Guards following behind him. The leader was Guan Da, and on his left and right were secret agents from the Imperial City Guard and detectives from the Six Doors.

Li Zhaoting shouted sternly, "The Yuxian Gang has colluded with the Manchu traitors and plotted a rebellion. Their crimes are unforgivable! Kneel down and surrender to be spared death. If you resist, kill them without mercy!"

Kang Jinlong was furious. He thought to himself, "You can accuse me of colluding with the Liao Kingdom. I can barely accept it, since I came from the Liao Kingdom. Am I colluding with the Manchus?"
When did I collude with the Manchus?
How come I didn't know I was colluding with the Manchus?
"Li Zhaoting! This is the capital! Not a place for you to run wild. In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how can you frame me and distort the truth?"

You think I have no evidence?

"You are wearing official robes, so you should abide by the law. Even if my crime is unforgivable, I should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice. Your father is the Vice Minister of War, so he has no say in the affairs of the Ministry of Justice!"

"Kang Jinlong, you colluded with Manchu spies to plot the assassination of Marquis Jingyuan. The conspiracy has been exposed, the assassin has confessed, the evidence is conclusive, and the imperial edict is here. How dare you deny it!"

Kang Jinlong said something very true: either don't make a move, or if you decide to make a move, you must go all out and kill the enemy in one blow, and finish the battle quickly to prevent any accidents.

The leader of the Yuxian Gang acted very quickly.

Unfortunately, speed was of the essence in war, and swift action was Li Zhaoting's forte. He acted even faster, capturing the assassin overnight from the moment he received the news.

First, they used the Life and Death Talisman to force out the employer's identity, then raided the assassin's headquarters. Zhu Yueming interrogated the suspects overnight, sent the confession to the palace, and notified the Eighth Prince.

This morning at court, Li Nanxing, the Eighth Prince, and the Minister of Justice jointly submitted a memorial, which enraged Emperor Zhao Zhen. He then issued an edict to Li Zhaoting, ordering the immediate arrest of the Yuxian Gang thieves.

Are you planning to launch an ambush tomorrow afternoon?

Where is tomorrow?

Li Zhaoting never held a grudge overnight.

You wanted to assassinate my father? How could I possibly allow you to live until "tomorrow afternoon"? What a pipe dream! Who gave you the courage? Did the Heavenly King himself grant you permission?

The Imperial City Guard and the Six Doors join forces to solve the case.

The Imperial Guards were responsible for maintaining order.

Li Zhaoting was in charge of chopping people up.

What is murder?
I will sever your lineage, you old bastard!

From this day forward, within the territory of the Great Song Dynasty, any Taoist priest or wandering person who uses the banner of the Yuxian Gang will be treated as a rebel and will be executed on the spot by the constables.

Kang Jinlong gritted his teeth in resentment.

Everyone says that Li Zhaoting is upright and honest, but his ability to smear, slander, distort the truth, and fabricate charges is no less than that of the cruel officials of the Wu Zhou dynasty recorded in history.

Uh……

Li Zhaoting was really not a cruel official.

Kang Jinlong was not wronged at all.

The Yuxian Gang did indeed collude with the Manchu traitors, plotting to assassinate high-ranking officials and genuinely intending to overthrow the Song Dynasty.

Even if Bao Zheng and Gongsun Ce were to review the case file, they would find no fault with it. The evidence was conclusive: the Yuxian Gang harbored wolfish ambitions and plotted a rebellion, and their entire family should be executed.

Li Zhaoting adjusted his hair ornaments slightly, revealing a cruel smile befitting a hypocrite, and slowly drew his imperial sword from his waist: "Men, seize him!"

At this moment, the leader of the Yuxian Gang was instigating Zhao Yuanyan in the Eighth Prince's Mansion. The affairs of the sect were all managed by the eldest disciple, Kang Jinlong. Seeing that Li Zhaoting was up to no good, and knowing that as long as he was sent to the Heavenly Prison, his fate, whether he lived or died, would be entirely in the hands of outsiders, Kang Jinlong did not hesitate to draw his nine-ringed broadsword and slash at Li Zhaoting.

"Li Zhaoting, prepare to die!"

Kang Jinlong's innate attribute is "metal," and his name is Kang Jinlong, but his main cultivation method is the White Tiger Dharma Form.

With a single slash, the white tiger roared, its phantom appearing and disappearing. The killing intent of Geng metal enveloped the area for ten zhang, causing the ground to tremble and half of the headquarters to be shrouded in killing intent.

Li Zhaoting put away the Imperial Sword. This thing could only be used as a symbol, excellent for showing off. When fighting against top masters, the Purple and Green Twin Swords were much more convenient.

"Qiang!"

The Azure Sword shot through the air, its azure light flashing.

With a loud clang, Kang Jinlong was blasted several feet away. If it weren't for the fact that his nine-ringed broadsword was a treasured blade forged through countless hammer blows, he would have likely met his end.

With a single sword strike, Kang Jinlong was sent flying. The overwhelmingly powerful latent force slammed into the ground. This force was so domineering that it seemed endless, spreading towards the headquarters of the Yuxian Gang.

To everyone's horror, the ground cracked open like a centipede, spreading all the way to the main headquarters, along the central axis to the Ascension Hall, and when it reached the supporting pillar of the Ascension Hall, it suddenly exploded from five feet underground!
"Boom!"

The Ascension Palace, built at great expense by the Yuxian Gang, was completely shattered into ruins by Li Zhaoting's sword. The ground was still shaking, and a figure flew out from the crack, crashing into the ruins like a cannonball.

Earth Boy.

He is proficient in the art of burrowing underground.

It can dig underground at high speed, and its breath is long and deep.

Li Zhaoting's sword strike was too domineering. The Earth Boy, who had intended to ambush Li Zhaoting from underground, found the ground as hard as iron. If it weren't for the crack above his head, he would have been crushed into minced meat by the mud if he hadn't used earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique for escaping through mud).

Hidden and dormant, it soars into the sky!
The power gathers in the legs, penetrates the earth, and the hidden force suddenly bursts out from underground, with power comparable to a volcanic eruption.

Li Chenzhou is skilled in boxing, but the Thirty-Six Strange Paths to Heaven are not a boxing manual, but a universal amplifier.

Swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, forks, tridents, clubs, whips, maces, hammers, halberds, cleavers, fists, palms, fingers, and claws—hundreds of weapons can all be imbued with power by this method.
Regardless of the martial arts practiced, one can enhance their power with the Thirty-Six Extraordinary Techniques of Heaven-Turning. Just as Li Zhaoting was about to find someone to test his moves, the Yuxian Gang barged right into his door.

A wicked and treacherous cultist who brings ruin to the country deserves to die!
Li Zhaoting swept his tiger eyes and sensed five opposing forces of energy surging from the left and right sides. A person rushed out of the ditch on the left, holding a harpoon, while a beautiful woman walked out of the garden on the right, with the surrounding flowers swaying gently. A spark exploded in mid-air, shooting out seven or eight fireballs.

Adding Kang Jinlong and Tu Tongzi completes the Five Elements formation, which is actually a Five Elements Formation.

Kang Jinlong wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Li Zhaoting with murderous intent: "Li Zhaoting, everyone says your swordsmanship is unparalleled. Do you dare to challenge the Five Elements Formation?"

Li Zhaoting sneered: "Break through the formation? I was already within the formation, why would I need to break through? Hiss... Your auras are a bit off, you old bastard, what a vicious heart you have!"

Li Zhaoting obtained the Four Directions Mysterious Technique and the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique in the Western Regions, which are methods for manipulating the primordial energy of heaven and earth. He is exceptionally sensitive to changes in primordial energy. Kang Jinlong and the others' Five Elements Formation may be very strong, but the internal energy cultivation methods of the five people clearly have some flaws and can be countered by special cultivation methods.

This feeling is just like—Hosh!
The cultivation techniques passed down in the Great Golden Roc Kingdom grant the royal family absolute control over its ministers. If the royal family so desires, they can seize the lifelong cultivation of any minister.

Including Huo Xiu's childhood training.

Kang Jinlong's Qi also has this deficiency. If Li Zhaoting is not mistaken... what's there to guess! There's no need to guess. It must have been done by that old bastard.

He regarded his five disciples as furnaces and elixirs.

When the time is right, he will use evil magic to devour the essence of his five disciples and use the power of the five elements to cleanse their marrow and bones. Even if he cannot achieve immortality, he can at least live a few more years.

As expected of a demonic cultivator.

They don't do anything worthwhile.

They are adept at all kinds of intrigue and scheming.

Treating disciples as furnaces for cultivation is commonplace and a basic practice of evil sects.

Originally, I wanted to steal the Five Elements Formation diagram to cultivate the Five Rats, but now it seems that's unnecessary. Since it's not necessary, in other words...

—No need to capture them alive!

A murderous glint flashed in Li Zhaoting's eyes.

With his hands outstretched, he entered a state of oneness with nature, and hundreds of sword energies emanated from his body. Kang Jinlong and his five companions had already set up their formation, their energies interconnected and complementing each other.

"Bah!"

As the eldest disciple, Kang Jinlong must set an example and charge ahead. Among the five elements, "metal" has the strongest offensive power, the strongest killing intent, and the most intense baleful aura.

With the help of the formation, Kang Jinlong's power was almost inexhaustible. In just a moment, Li Zhaoting was enveloped by dense sword energy. The aftershocks of the collision between the sword energy and the blade spread in all directions, sealing off the space like a net, with killing intent everywhere.

"Li Zhaoting, you've been too careless. With the Five Elements Formation's blessing, my power is inexhaustible. You're not dealing with one person, but five monsters with inexhaustible power. I'm going to chop you into pieces!"

"Your demonic nature outweighs your sword energy, making it a classic demonic sword technique, but unfortunately, your mind is filled with too many distractions, making it not pure enough! Compared to a true demonic sword, you've only grasped a fraction of its essence!"

Li Zhaoting strolled leisurely through the jungle of swords, effortlessly deflecting the surrounding blades. His Purple Rose Soft Sword moved like a swimming fish, deftly flicking its tail.

"brush!"

Layer upon layer of sword energy transformed into a long whip, slamming towards Kang Jinlong's ribs. Mu Qingxia flew over, wielding a soft rattan spear, and unleashed a burst of spear light.

At the same time, the three children representing water, fire, and earth rushed towards Li Zhaoting, each unleashing their unique skills. Some unleashed raging flames, some created towering white waves, and some manipulated earth and stones into hidden weapons. The five elements both generated and restrained each other, yet also complemented each other, truly creating a marvelous formation.

The five individuals appeared to be fighting individually, but in reality, their energy was connected as a whole. Their attacks seemed scattered, but their internal strength was actually condensed into a millstone, crushing all life within the formation's coverage area into dust and annihilating it completely.

Even if one's skill is far superior to that of the five, the longer the endless depletion of the five elements' energy lasts, the worse one's condition will become. If one is careless and one of them seizes the initiative, it will be an endless siege.

Steel sword, spear, flag, harpoon, and shovel—five weapons simultaneously bombarded Li Zhaoting. Whether Li Zhaoting drew upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth or swung his sword to counterattack, as long as his internal strength remained within the range of the Five Elements, such as the Water God's Wrath, it would be able to be both empowered by water and restrained by earth. To break through the formation, he had to break through the restrictions of the Five Elements!

Li Zhaoting sheathed his two swords and clasped his hands together.

A two-zhang-tall image of the Thunder God rose from behind.

Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique: Thunder God's Wrath!
The attacks of Kang Jinlong and his group of five landed on them, only causing ripples. In terms of protective qi, the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique was on par with the innate qi.

"Li Zhaoting, you're out of options now! As long as you're within the Five Elements, you'll be countered by the Five Elements Formation!"

Junior brothers and sisters, keep up the good work!

The Five Elements Millstone ground him to dust!

Kang Jinlong roared and spun around, his blade drawing upon the white tiger's malevolent energy to transform into hundreds of golden blade beams.

The Fire Boy held a fiery red flag, the "Blazing Flame Flag," passed down through generations of the Yu Xian Gang. It was created by Yan Ling Ji, a master of the Baiyue tribe during the pre-Qin period. Each wave of the Blazing Flame Flag unleashed a massive inferno capable of scorching mountains and boiling seas, fireballs raining down on Li Zhaoting like a meteor shower—a truly formidable attack.

With a flick of his harpoon, the water boy stirred the water in the pool and the ditch, transforming it into twelve water tornadoes.

The earth boy slammed his shovel into the ground, and countless spikes shot out from under Li Zhaoting's feet, locking him in place.

Mu Qingxia's soft rattan spear was like a venomous snake spitting its tongue. The spear tip shook out a sky full of green shadows, which grew wildly with the help of water vapor. In an instant, the forest of spears and vines blocked all directions and reached everywhere.

Metal affliction breaks the body, raging fire burns the sky, weak water entangles the body, the earth sinks and kills, Yi wood is trapped, the five elements grind each other down!
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Five Elements Killing Array turned the Yuxian Gang's headquarters into a meat grinder and barbecue grill. The Six Doors experts wanted to go up and help, but Jiang Yuyan stopped them. Jiang Yuyan pointed to the scattered soldiers around and signaled the Six Doors and the Imperial City Guard to arrest people and not let even one of them escape.

Li Zhaoting slowly extended his right hand.

Normally at this time, Li Zhaoting would either form hand seals to unleash the Tathagata's divine light or use his sword to kill enemies, but now he spreads out his five fingers, wide apart.

Sword energy was flicked from the fingertips.

It is not the Six Meridian Divine Sword, nor the Tathagata's Divine Light, nor the Return of Ten Thousand Swords to the Source. Instead, it is a fusion of the concepts of the Four Directions Profound Skill, the Heavenly Will Four Symbols Technique, and the Six Meridian Divine Sword, which is derived by reversing the Five Elements Sword Qi based on the changes of the Five Elements Array.

The thumb is as sharp as gold, its power is astonishing.

The index finger is as nimble as wood, with subtle and exquisite movements.

The middle finger's invasion is like fire, ten suns appear in the sky.

The ring finger is thick and heavy, like earth, signifying a steady and reliable approach to victory.

The little finger is as gentle as water, as boundless as the ocean.

The five sword energies complemented and restrained each other, forming a five-element formation to break another five-element formation. Under the horrified gazes of Kang Jinlong and the others, Li Zhaoting condensed sword light in his left hand.

The Five Elements are divided into Yin Five Elements and Yang Five Elements.

The Yang Five Elements can form the Five Elements Formation, and the Yin Five Elements are no exception. Li Zhaoting is a dual Yin-Yang body, and Yin and Yang transform, cycle repeatedly, and generate endlessly.

The Yin Five Elements Sword Qi, the Yang Five Elements Sword Qi, and the "Wrath of the Thunder God" enveloping the body, along with the ten sword beams imbued with the power of lightning, seemed to have a catalyst added, increasing their power by 50% out of thin air, and making the surrounding energy even more violent.

Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and lightning are inherently interdependent.

Thunder arises from the anode; no further explanation is needed.

Yin and Yang are mutually generative; where there is Yang thunder, there is also Yin thunder.

The five elements and lightning can also transform into each other.

Li Zhaoting observed the Five Elements Formation and flicked his fingers to unleash sword energy, creating a unique skill on the spot.

The Great Five Elements Yin Yang Thunder Control Sword Scripture

His sleeves fluttered without wind, and countless rubble and debris suddenly rose from the ground within fifteen feet around him. Streaks of lightning sword energy gathered around him, flashing with terrifying power.

"Ten Thousand Swords Return to Their Origin!"

Before he finished speaking, sword energy shot out.

The sound of a snapping string echoed through the air.

The fireball was pierced by the sword energy and turned into blue smoke.

The water dragon was dismembered in mid-air into a torrential downpour.

The spikes shattered into dust the moment they broke through the soil.

The green shadow of the soft rattan spear and the sharp blade light that could cut through anything disintegrated silently, like snowflakes meeting the warm sun, eight feet away from Li Zhaoting's robes.

Kang Jinlong suddenly realized that the nine-ringed broadsword in his hand was as heavy as a thousand pounds. It was not that the sword had become heavier, but that the metal-type internal energy in his meridians was being forcibly drawn out of his acupoints by countless fine sword energies, making him feel like a puppet.

Li Zhaoting's sword energy was like countless threads, piercing through all the acupoints and meridians of Kang Jinlong's body. Kang Jinlong's attacks and defenses, his kneeling and standing up, and even his breathing were all under Li Zhaoting's control.

Mu Qingxia and the other three felt the same way.

When they were besieging Li Zhaoting earlier, the Five Elements Formation was able to seize 50% of the offensive. However, as Li Zhaoting changed his tactics, the Five Elements Formation, which also involved changes in the Five Elements, ended up overwhelming them.

The Five Elements Qi, cultivated diligently for decades, flowed into Li Zhaoting's body like rivers flowing into the sea. After circulating through Li Zhaoting's eight extraordinary meridians, it was completely transformed into Thunder Sword Qi.

Sword strikes the abandoned acupoint!

Li Zhaoting didn't need to use any of his own strength; he used all the energy of Kang Jinlong and the others. It wasn't Li Zhaoting fighting them, but rather the others themselves.

The stronger the attack, the more violent the rebound.

They are moths drawn to flames, reckless men charging against walls, and carriages plunging off cliffs.

Knowing that the road ahead was a dead end, they were powerless to resist. The rhythm of the battle was completely controlled by Li Zhaoting. The five people were like puppets on strings, and Li Zhaoting was the craftsman who controlled the strings. He came and went in an instant, using their own methods against them.

The power of the Five Elements Formation lies in the mutual generation and restraint of the elements, using the power of the five elements to deplete the enemy's true energy. It is somewhat similar to the Four Ghosts of Xiangxi and is not good at taking the initiative to attack.

Li Zhaoting realized that the five were potential battle vessels, so when the battle started, he allowed them to unleash their power, only defending and not attacking.

When the five people unleash their full power, they will inevitably reveal the flaws hidden by the leader of the Yuxian Gang. Li Zhaoting will then use this opportunity to develop the Five Elements Sword Qi, creating a situation where the big eat the small.

Kang Jinlong's mental cultivation technique includes a body-tempering effect, which can temper the muscles and bones with the energy of Geng metal, making them more resistant to blows.

Mu Qingxia once joined the Heavenly Mandate Sect and learned various secret methods of absorbing yang energy to replenish yin, making her quite skilled.

The Earth Boy's greatest love in life was for strengthening his muscles and bones.

The water and fire children were the first to succumb to the pressure.

Flames erupted from the blazing banner, igniting the fire child's beard and hair, and causing him to exhale white mist.

The water boy's mouth and nose were stuffed up, as if Zhu Yueming had pasted over fifty layers of kraft paper on him to promote him to official rank.

"boom!"

The earth boy's feet sank deep up to his knees.

"Crack!"

Mu Qingxia's soft rattan spear turned into wood chips.

"puff!"

Kang Jinlong felt tightness in his chest and blood was flowing from his seven orifices.

"I'll fight you!"

Kang Jinlong formed hand seals, activating the Remnant Life-Slaying Technique passed down from the Yuxian Gang. The white tiger phantom behind him gradually solidified into a tangible form, holding a long sword in its mouth.

Kang Jinlong severed his meridians and shattered his acupoints, forcibly breaking through Li Zhaoting's control. He gathered all his essence, energy, and spirit into a single blade, unleashing a blood-red blade of light.

"laugh!"

Li Zhaoting extended his thumb and touched the center of his forehead.

With a flick of his fingertips like a brush, as if pressing a handprint on the Book of Life and Death, a flower of blood bloomed on Kang Jinlong's forehead. His desperate attack quickly dissipated, and the blade's edge shattered inch by inch, leaving only an "empty shell."

"Clap!"

Kang Jinlong fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

His energy and spirit were completely exhausted, and his body was as stiff as porcelain. When he fell to the ground, he shattered into pieces like a toppled block.

"You four, trying to run away?"

Li Zhaoting simultaneously pointed his index, middle, ring, and little fingers at the four people, and the remaining spiritual energy around them condensed into eight colorful sword beams, divided into four colors: green, yellow, red, and black, each corresponding to wood, water, fire, and earth.

Two lines for each color.

One way to defeat the enemy, the other to behead them.

A flash of blue light, and Mu Qingxia's head fell to the ground.

Sparks flew as the fire child's chest and abdomen were pierced through.

The turbid waves surged to the sky, and the water boy's muscles and bones were broken.

The earth and rocks collapsed, and the Earth Boy was blasted into a wall by the Earth Sword's light. The wall collapsed with a loud crash, accompanied by a shrill wail, and foul-smelling blood flowed from the ruins.

"Snapped!"

Li Zhaoting withdrew four fingers and clenched his fist.

The scattered primordial energy of heaven and earth surged in all directions like a volcanic eruption. Five sword beams, carrying the remains of the Five Elements disciples, crashed into various parts of the Yuxian Gang headquarters. The supporting pillars broke like tofu, and the eaves and brackets turned into wood chips in the ripples of sword energy. The towering Ascension Platform completely collapsed after the earth element sword energy pierced through the foundation, leaving only smoke and dust.

Li Zhaoting stood in the center of the ruins, his robes spotless. The disciples of the Yuxian Gang, seeing this, had no courage to resist and knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

The Imperial City Guard and the Six Doors, who had come along to bolster their reputation and claim credit, were already mentally prepared. Guan Da was the fastest; before the sound of the collapsing buildings had even stopped, he rushed in to arrest people, hoping to capture as many as possible.

The Imperial Guards are far more prestigious than the secret agents of the Imperial City Guard or the detectives of the Six Doors. The palace is full of experts, so you will basically not encounter any danger, but the chances of making meritorious contributions are greatly reduced.

If you're just coasting along, the Imperial Guards are definitely the most comfortable.

If you want to make meritorious contributions, get promoted, or get a raise, the Imperial Guards are inevitably a bit lacking. Low-level fighters can't even enter the palace, while experts like Yuan Shisanxian and Mi Cangqiong can handle them. The Empress Dowager is also the unpredictable leader of the Heavenly Gang, whose power fluctuates greatly.

This is the best opportunity to make a name for yourself.

Guan Da would definitely not miss it.

(End of this chapter)