Only Got My Martial Arts Modifier in My Old Age
Chapter 276: Chapter 145: Conquering the North, Lu Family’s Dragon Slaying Skill
The civilians watching from a distance stared in awe at the spectacular scene. These young soldiers—some fresh from the farmlands of Shun’an Province, others from the factories of Yifeng Province, and still others from the martial arts halls of Yun Port City.
They came from all corners of the land, their accents all different, yet at this moment, they shouted the same phrase and shared the same thought.
Lu Jingjun gazed at the young faces, at the fire of determination burning in their eyes, and the corners of his lips quirked into a small smile.
’The Northern Expedition has begun.’
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the Imperial Palace in the northern Yinwang Empire, the atmosphere was so oppressive you could almost wring water from it.
Emperor Yin Che sat high upon the dragon throne, his face ashen. The princes and ministers flanking him wore equally grim expressions.
The past month had brought a constant stream of bad news, each battle report a dagger to their hearts.
They had originally believed that with the advanced weaponry provided by the Wa Country and the Western Countries, their army could easily conquer the insignificant Yanjing City.
After all, ever since the Yuan Family’s defeat, the President’s Mansion that once held sway over the nation was long gone. The major powers in Yanjing had fractured and were mired in internal conflict.
How much resistance could such a place possibly put up? Yin Che had even dreamed of sweeping across the entire Daxia New Country and reclaiming dominion over the Divine Land.
Their plan was to take Yanjing City first, then push south to Yun Port City, and from there, fight their way to the very south of the country.
But no one had expected the Lu Family, who had always remained holed up in Yun Port City, to suddenly catch the entire world off guard.
Not only had they absorbed Shun’an and Yifeng Provinces, but large numbers of patriotic Martial Arts masters had also flocked to their cause.
These Martial Artists included Grandmasters of Huajin, Dark Force experts, and passionate young practitioners straight from the dojos.
They weren’t fighting for money, for official posts, or to secure titles and fortunes for their families. They were there for one simple reason: to fight Yin Che and those bootlicking lapdogs of the foreigners.
What was most despairing, however, was that the Lu Family’s firearms and artillery were even more advanced than those provided by the Western Countries and the Wa Country. They were not only immensely powerful but also had a greater range.
As a result, large swaths of the Yin Court’s army had mutinied and surrendered mid-campaign, forfeiting much of the territory they had already conquered.
An elderly prince’s beard trembled with rage, his wrinkled face flushed crimson. "Damn that Lu Family!"
Another minister took up the cry, filled with righteous indignation. "Exactly! They should take a good look at who granted them such favor back in the day! The Lu Family owes all of its current success to the Emperor! Without His Majesty, where would Lu Yun be today?"
Someone beside him immediately chimed in. "Absolutely! By all rights, that Lu Yun was a Martial Champion Scholar of the Yin Dynasty! The Emperor himself even appointed him Assistant General of the River Patrol in Yun Port City."
"It would be one thing if he refused to help us restore the Yin Court, but to repay kindness with hatred! This is sheer ingratitude! He’s a faithless dog, a traitor who bites the hand that feeds him!"
Only a few voices echoed in the vast hall. Most of the princes, along with Emperor Yin Che, remained silent, their faces cold and unmoving.
Those princes sat impassively in their chairs. They were already Outer Celestial Demons; the survival of the Yin Court was of no concern to them. The most important thing was to possess the land of the Daxia New Country.
Seated on the dragon throne, Yin Che looked from the impassioned faces below to the silent figures, and his lip twitched.
The next moment, he raised his hand and gave a slight wave. The clamor in the great hall gradually subsided, and all eyes turned to him.
After a moment, Emperor Yin Che finally forced out two words with extreme reluctance: "Lu Yun."
’Others might not know what Lu Yun is capable of, but I know all too well. The last time five Outer Celestial Demons, all Grandmasters of Divine Intent, went to Yun Port City, the Wa Country’s consul general was killed. The other four fled in disgrace. Oh, and a wild White Fox died, too.’
’Therefore, Lu Yun is unquestionably at the very peak of the Grandmaster of Divine Intent realm. To kill him now, we can only rely on those immensely powerful firearms and artillery.’
At this thought, Yin Che’s gaze swept over the ministers and princes below. "All of you, get out!"
No one dared to utter another word. They scurried out of the great hall in disgrace.
Soon, only Yin Che remained in the vast palace. Suddenly, four columns of black water materialized out of thin air in the hall.
Within moments, four Westerners stood in the center of the hall, with a faint black miasma swirling around their bodies.
Yin Che looked at them and said coldly, "The Lu Family is now unstoppable. If you don’t act, the Daxia New Country will fall into Lu Yun’s hands."
Duke Joseph snorted. "You don’t need to tell us what to do. I will kill both Lu Jingjun and Lu Jingteng."
They had already gathered intelligence: that old monster, Lu Yun, was still holed up in Yun Port City. This was a golden opportunity.
Hearing this, Yin Che frowned and stared at Duke Joseph, enunciating each word carefully. "If you kill Lu Yun’s two sons, what happens if he goes berserk and comes for me?"
If that old monster really shows up, who in the entire Daxia New Country could possibly stop him?
Just then, the consul general from France let out a sinister laugh. "Heh heh heh, it would be perfect if Lu Yun came. We could lay enough landmines here to destroy the entire Imperial Palace. It’d be impossible for him to survive."
Yin Che was instantly tempted. For his Yin Court to reclaim Daxia, they had to eliminate the greatest stumbling block in their path—Lu Yun.
No one under heaven would dispute this. That old man, Lu Yun, was on the verge of being worshipped by the masses as a living Saint.
Just look at the regions surrounding Yun Port City. Under the Lu Family’s leadership, everyone was shouting, "Equality for all, freedom for all."
This idea was more terrifying than any firearm or cannon; it was the ultimate power that could topple the ruling class—people like them.
Guns and cannons destroy the body, but this idea attacks the hearts of the people. What guns and cannons cannot kill, this idea can tear out by the roots.
Yin Che had also heard that this ideology was being spread by those close to Lu Yun. They called it the "Dragon Slaying Skill," and it was designed specifically to eliminate landlords, gangsters, and...
Within the Lu Family, Lu Jingyao, whose body had been invaded by a phantom soul a month ago, was now a completely different person.
That tenth of the Immortal Flesh had propelled both Lu Jingjun and Lu Jingteng to Late-stage Huajin.
Yet Lu Jingyao, an ordinary man who hadn’t even reached Ming Jin a month ago, had broken through directly to become an Early-stage Grandmaster of Huajin.
His willpower had become frighteningly resolute; Lu Yun now believed he had the greatest hope of breaking through to the Grandmaster of Divine Intent realm.
It was a true blessing in disguise. Who could have imagined that the phantom soul would inadvertently forge Lu Jingyao’s will?
Of course, this method was incredibly perilous, with a near-zero chance of survival. It was absolutely not a shortcut that could be used for breakthroughs.
Lu Jingyao’s survival was a miracle in itself. Anyone else’s consciousness would have been annihilated, their body transformed into a mindless, shambling monster.
It was one of the few things that had ever truly terrified Lu Yun; he had come dangerously close to the tragedy of a parent burying their child.
Lu Jingyao stood before Lu Yun, his gaze firm and unwavering. "Father," he said, "I plan to go to the Southern Dongxi Federation to promote my ideals."
Lu Yun didn’t ask why. He simply nodded. "You’re a grown man now. You can make your own decisions."
Meanwhile, in Ping’an Town, several dozen miles from Yun Port City, was the very place the White Fox had last been seen.
Ever since the town mayor’s eldest son died, the mayor’s wife had kept herself locked in her room all day.
No one knew what she was doing in there, and no one dared to ask.
If anyone were to see inside, they would be shocked by the sight of curling incense smoke and fluttering white banners, for there stood the Holy Mother’s Tablet of the Lifeless Lotus Sect.
The woman, in her forties, was recalling the events of a month ago, when the pain of losing her only son had driven her to the depths of despair.
That was when an old crone appeared, claiming she could resurrect her son.
The crone wore a greyish-white robe and leaned on a bamboo staff, her eyes shining with a frightening light.
She had believed her. She had no other choice. Losing her son felt as if her entire world had collapsed.
She had to grasp at any sliver of hope, no matter how small. Now, Ping’an Town had become a secret stronghold for the Lifeless Lotus Sect.
Everyone knew that Lord Lu, in a thunderous rage, had ordered every last believer of the Lifeless Lotus Sect to be rooted out of Yun Port City.
Outside the gates of Ping’an Town, an aloof woman in a black dress stood shoulder-to-shoulder with three burly men.
Gong Ning’s cold, beautiful face was devoid of expression. She was determined to carry out Lord Lu’s order with all her might.
The Gong Family would stop at nothing to eliminate these charlatans who swindled people under the banner of the "Lifeless Mother."

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