I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

Lin Chen sneered, "Don't try to trick me into dismantling the Dragon-Shaking Formation. I set up this formation with a premeditated attack on an unsuspecting opponent; how could you possibly have known beforehand?"

"Of course, Sima Shang told us about your plans in advance!"

Qinglong laughed loudly, his face full of mockery, "I must say, Mei Changsu's plan is indeed ingenious. He wanted to save Xiao Tingsheng while also taking the opportunity to eliminate us four grandmasters—killing two birds with one stone."

"What a pity, Sima Shang already revealed your entire plan."

"This...this is impossible."

Lin Chen's expression suddenly changed, and he involuntarily took two steps back, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Why not?"

Qinglong shrugged, saying innocently, "Otherwise, how could we have known about your 'win-win' plan so precisely?"

"Whether it is or not, you'll know once you dispel the formation."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chen's expression immediately became uncertain.

He stared intently at Qinglong, trying to find a flaw in the other's eyes.

However, Qinglong's smug, confident smile made him realize something was wrong.

If what Qinglong said is true, they were prepared in advance, and remaining trapped in the formation would be disadvantageous for him.

The original intention of setting up the Dragon Shaking Formation was to use the formation's advantages to annihilate the four grandmasters in one fell swoop.

However, if the other side has indeed laid an ambush, it may end up trapping itself.

If Qinglong only wanted to trick him into dispersing the formation, it wouldn't matter. After all, eliminating Qinglong would just be a matter of a little more effort.

Having weighed the options, Lin Chen let out a cold snort.

"Hmph, I'll see what tricks you can pull!"

As he spoke, he took out an ancient bronze dragon-seeking ruler from his pocket.

The ruler is covered with mysterious runes, and the dragon-head-shaped head of the ruler glows with a faint blue light.

Lin Chen directly injected his true energy, and the runes on the Dragon-Seeking Ruler lit up one by one.

"To find the dragon vein and divide the gold, look at the winding mountains; each winding mountain is a barrier..."

As Lin Chen muttered the last word, his right hand transformed into a blade and slashed down in the direction of the dragon's head.

"break!"

A clear shout.

In an instant, the thick fog that shrouded the training ground began to surge violently, as if stirred by an invisible hand.

boom!

With a deafening explosion, the thick fog was swept away as if by a hurricane, disappearing completely in the blink of an eye.

The winter sun shines down again.

When the thick fog completely dissipated, Lin Chen looked closely and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He suddenly took a breath of cold air.

All around, on the streets, on the rooftops, and on the distant city walls, were densely packed with soldiers.

Armed with weapons in hand, bows drawn and arrows nocked, they stood ready for battle.

Furthermore, Zhuo Dingfeng, Xia Jiang, Sima Shang, and others are also eyeing the opportunity.

The area was completely surrounded, so much so that not even a fly could get out.

"It really is..." Lin Chen muttered to himself.

Seeing this, Qinglong sneered, then suddenly stomped his left foot on the ground, using the force of the impact to fly backward like an arrow.

At the same time, he shouted loudly to Sima Shang, who was not far away, "Brother Sima, thank you!"

Sima Shang looked completely bewildered.

"Who is this person? Do I know him?"

Upon seeing this, Lin Chen instantly flew into a rage. He now completely believed that what Qinglong said was true. How could Qinglong and the others possibly know Sima Shang, who had secretly entered the capital?

There is only one possibility: he had met Sima Shang beforehand.

"Sima Shang!!!"

He roared, his long black hair moved without wind, and the ribs of the folding fan in his hand gleamed with a chilling light.

"You despicable scoundrel, I'll kill you!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already transformed into a white shadow and rushed away.

That seemingly ordinary folding fan was now sharper than a sword in his hands.

The tip of the fan bone emitted a three-foot-long sword aura, aiming straight for Sima Shang's throat.

clang! !

Sima Shang hastily raised his sword to parry, sparks flying everywhere.

He retreated while shouting angrily, "Lin Chen, are you crazy?"

"Still pretending to be stupid." Lin Chen's offensive intensified.

Sima Shang was forced to retreat repeatedly by this sudden killing move, feeling both shocked and furious.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the sneer of triumph on Qinglong's lips.

This is framing someone.

But Lin Chen, in his current rage, wouldn't listen to his explanation.

boom!

Another heavy blow struck, and Sima Shang's ancient sword was actually cleaved in two, leaving a crack.

His tiger's mouth was shattered, and blood dripped down the hilt of the sword.

Just then, Zhu Houcong strode into the arena with a powerful stride.

He coldly watched the two locked in combat, then suddenly waved his hand.

"kill!"

At a single command, the mechanical crossbows surrounding the training ground were activated simultaneously.

shhhhhh! ! !

Hundreds of high-quality steel crossbow bolts shot out from the sky, raining down on Lin Chen like a storm.

Lin Chen's pupils suddenly contracted. While dodging, he channeled his true energy to envelop his entire body, creating a silver light curtain in front of him.

He dodged most of the crossbow bolts, but a dozen or so still hit him, though they were all blocked by his inner energy shield.

Zhu Houcong stood with his hands behind his back and sneered, "Pavilion Master Lin has acted recklessly within the borders of my Great Liang, slaughtering Grandmasters. The whole world has witnessed it. Today, I will bring you to justice."

As he spoke, he raised his hand again.

"Second round, release the arrows."

This time, the rain of arrows was even denser.

Then, while Lin Chen was in a flurry of activity, the imperial army also made its move.

The soldiers launched a fierce attack on Lin Chen.

Chapter 177 Lin Brand Meat Grinder

Seeing the army surrounding him, with a Grandmaster eyeing him covetously, and the traitor Sima Shang in the picture, Lin Chen was overwhelmed.

Knowing that he could not defeat them today, he immediately decided to withdraw.

The golden light of the Dragon-Seeking Ruler above his head surged, and true energy surged beneath his feet.

He was lifted into the air.

Flying dragon in the sky!

This supreme lightness skill in the Dragon Seeking Technique allows him to travel dozens of feet in an instant.

However, just as he leaped into the air, a dazzling and terrifying sword light suddenly slashed down from the sky.

"what?"

When Lin Chen saw the sword light, he felt his hair stand on end and his mind became extremely alert.

In a moment of haste, he transformed his folding fan into a sword and unleashed his full power to meet the attack.

Zheng!

The sound of metal clashing resounded through the sky.

Although Lin Chen blocked the sword, the overwhelming force knocked him back to the ground.

It landed in the crowd.

A look of horror finally flashed in Lin Chen's eyes as he cautiously looked in the direction from which the sword light was coming.

"who is it?"

At that moment, a clear and distant voice suddenly came from the sky.

"It blends with the light, mingles with the dust, and seems to exist in its stillness."

The sound seemed to come from beyond the heavens, echoing continuously throughout the entire city of Jinling.

It also carried a faint, mysterious Taoist charm, which made everyone present fall silent.

Immediately afterwards, a Tai Chi diagram with a diameter of three zhang appeared out of thin air on a rooftop not far away.

The yin-yang symbol slowly rotates, emitting a soft, clear light.

Amidst swirling blue smoke, three figures could be vaguely seen standing on the void.

As the smoke and haze dissipated, everyone was able to see who had arrived.

It was none other than the Imperial Preceptor, Master Xiaomeng, with the Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise standing behind him.

Xiaomeng bowed to Zhu Houcong from afar.

"This humble Taoist priest, Xiaomeng, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Zhu Houcong's lips curled slightly, and he raised his hand to wave it gently: "Grand Preceptor, there's no need for such formalities. Your arrival is perfectly timed."

Xiaomeng nodded slightly, then turned to Lin Chen and said calmly, "Lord Langya Pavilion, now that you're here, why the rush to leave?"

When Lin Chen saw that it was Xiao Meng, he couldn't help but take a deep breath, his eyes filled with uncertain emotions.

He never expected that Xiaomeng, who was supposed to be presiding over the consecration ceremony at Sanqing Mountain, would appear in the capital at this moment.

Please enter the urn!

Four words flashed through his mind, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on the folding fan in his hand.

Now he was certain.

This deadly trap was set specifically for him.

They were even willing to sacrifice a grandmaster to lure him into a trap.

Who else could be the mole, Sima Shang, who could tip off Xiaomeng and the others in advance and give them time to prepare?

Thinking of this, the killing intent in Lin Chen's eyes intensified.

He glanced coldly at Sima Shang not far away, his heart filled with boundless hatred.

If it weren't for this traitor's betrayal, with his cultivation level, he might not have been unable to escape unscathed even when facing a massive army.

But now that Xiaomeng is present, the situation has become even more unfavorable.

In a one-on-one fight, he would be no weaker than Xiaomeng, but in a life-or-death battle, Xiaomeng would lose to him.

With such a lineup, even if he possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, he would have little chance of winning.

Lin Chen's eyes flickered as he secretly regulated his inner energy while searching for an opening to break through.