Freedom? Leaving Mount Yunmeng?

The others looked at Fan Li in bewilderment.

Who was Guiguzi?

A reclusive Confucian scholar of immense prestige, his status was no less than that of Lu Chunqiu of Lu City. Mount Yunmeng was his magical treasure and sacred ground. To suggest that he was trapped there was absurd.

"Hahahahahaha!" Crown Prince Wanli burst into laughter. "Teacher, Guiguzi will undoubtedly join our Great Ming." In his eyes, Fan Li's offer was not only ludicrous but also miserly, like a stingy old miser.

Zhang Juzheng, however, couldn't agree. He even had a hunch that Fan Li might be right.

From the moment Guiguzi first appeared, he had clearly expressed his desire to leave the mountain. Yet, with all the dynasties gathered at Mount Yunmeng, even the Brahma Sound Pure Land sending one of their Sage Rulers, Guiguzi remained seated in the pavilion at the summit, refusing to meet them.

Was it arrogance? A personality quirk? An eccentricity?

Perhaps... it was something he couldn't control.

Zhang Juzheng lowered his gaze to the silk scroll in his hand – a personal imperial edict from the Jiajing Emperor.

Was it now nothing more than a useless piece of paper?

All the other factions had already made their offers to Guiguzi. If the Great Ming were to change their terms or offer more at this point, it would appear as though they were trying to outbid the others, even if they genuinely intended to keep their promises.

"Is it true?" Guiguzi's androgynous, otherworldly voice echoed from the pavilion at the summit.

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.

Had Fan Li truly guessed what Guiguzi desired?

"The Great Ming is also willing to help Master Guiguzi leave Mount Yunmeng!" Zhang Juzheng couldn't bear it any longer. Even if it meant losing face, he couldn't afford to lose Guiguzi.

"The Pure Land can also fulfill any of your requests, Master!" Sage Ruler Jin De hurriedly added. She then glared at Fan Li with resentment.

That damned man! He clearly knew something but kept it to himself, obviously not on the same side as the Pure Land.

"Alas..." Guiguzi sighed softly, and everyone listened attentively. "Everyone, please break through the formation first."

As his words faded, a three-headed, six-armed stone statue materialized in front of the barrier.

The statue stood about four meters tall. Each of its three heads wore an imperial crown, giving it the appearance of an emperor.

It was clad in a golden dragon robe with nine claws and held a spear, a sword, and a broadsword in its six arms.

Upon seeing the statue's features, some couldn't help but gasp in recognition.

"Gaozu?"

"Taizu?"

"The Overlord!?"

The exclamation of "Gaozu" came from Zhuge Liang, while "Taizu" was uttered by Zhang Juzheng.

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Fan Li whispered to Yan Yuan, "Who did you call 'the Overlord'?"

"Duke Jin, you don't recognize the Overlord?" Yan Yuan was astonished. "One of the statue's heads looks exactly like the portraits of the Overlord, the founder of the Chu Dynasty!"

So, one-third of the statue represented Xiang Ning's ancestor?

"How can you call yourself a minister of Chu when you don't even recognize the Overlord?" Lu Fubao whispered mockingly.

Fan Li scratched his nose. "I'm a treacherous minister, remember?"

So, the three heads of the statue represented the Overlord of Chu, the Emperor Gaozu of Han, and the Emperor Taizu of Ming?

"This formation is called the Three Emperors Formation," Guiguzi's voice echoed, carrying a hint of helplessness that confirmed his awkward situation. "Each person is limited to one attempt. No group attacks, only single combat."

"Who will go first?" Sage Ruler Jin De asked.

She was the strongest among them, but she didn't want to be the first to face the formation. She wanted to ensure her success. Ideally, someone from their side would go first, allowing her to observe the statue's fighting style and weaknesses before she made her move.

Crown Prince Wanli shared the same thought.

"Teacher, why don't you go first?" he suggested.

Zhang Juzheng rolled his eyes. "...Your Highness, we have fewer people on our side. It would be disadvantageous to be the first to challenge the formation."

Wanli frowned. "You want those people to go first? If they break through the formation on their first attempt, how am I supposed to explain myself when I return to the Great Ming?"

"That won't happen," Zhang Juzheng said with a wry smile. "In my opinion, Guiguzi is indeed trapped by this formation. If even he cannot break it, our opponents won't be able to do it on their first try either."

No matter how much Wanli insisted, Zhang Juzheng refused to be the first to challenge the formation. It wasn't that he was afraid; it simply wasn't worth the risk.

A wise strategist never acts rashly. This was a principle that Crown Prince Wanli failed to understand.

"In that case, allow me to try first," Zhou Yu suddenly said with a smile.

"Excellent," Guo Jia replied. "Commander, please take the lead. If things don't go well, I will give it a try."

"I shall follow as well," Zhuge Liang added, gently waving his feather fan.

The three of them had come to assist and were unconcerned about success or failure.

Zhou Yu drew a silver spear, a high-quality spiritual treasure.

"Let me test my 'Long River Chant'!"

He channeled his spiritual energy into the spear tip, transforming it into a surging river. The river of spiritual energy flowed along the rocky mountain path, smoothing it out until it was as smooth as a mirror.

BOOM~~~~~~~~~~~~!

The river crashed against the stone statue, producing a deafening roar. However, the three-headed statue merely took a step back.

"You... are... not... a... king," the head of the Overlord spoke, its voice slow and its words enigmatic.

Despite its slow speech, the statue moved with incredible speed. One of its six arms, wielding a spear, swept forward, creating a streak of black and red light that shot towards the river of spiritual energy like a flying blade.

The moment the light touched the river, it ripped through it like a piece of cloth.

"Commander, be careful!"

The others shouted in unison, but it was too late.

The terrifying black and red light grew longer with every inch it advanced. Within a split second, it had reached Zhou Yu, transforming into a towering pillar of light that engulfed him.

"Hahaha! One down!" Crown Prince Wanli rejoiced, then turned to Zhang Juzheng. "Teacher, it's a good thing you didn't go first."

Zhang Juzheng felt embarrassed. Had the Crown Prince forgotten that he was the one urging him to go first?

"Is Commander Zhou dead?" Lu Fubao asked in alarm.

Unfortunately, she had chosen the wrong person to ask. Lu Fubao was at the Nascent Soul Realm, while Fan Li was only at the Foundation Building stage, unable to see clearly what had transpired.

"Don't worry, Junior Sister," Yan Yuan reassured her. "Although that attack was impressive, Commander Zhou is a renowned general of Eastern Wu. He wouldn't perish so easily."

As the black and red light dissipated, a giant crater appeared where Zhou Yu had been standing. He stood at the center of the crater, his hands gripping his silver spear in a defensive stance.

"Cough!" Zhou Yu coughed up a mouthful of blood but remained standing. He smiled at the onlookers. "I apologize, it seems enduring a single strike is my limit."

"Hmph."

Sage Ruler Jin De let out a dissatisfied snort. She had discerned that Zhou Yu's strength was likely at the Unity Realm, but his exact level remained unclear. It seemed he was hiding his true abilities.

And it wasn't just Zhou Yu; Zhuge Liang and Guo Jia were also concealing their true strength.

"Look! It changed faces!" Lu Fubao exclaimed, as if she had made a groundbreaking discovery.

Everyone turned their attention to the statue. The head of the Overlord, which had been facing them earlier, had rotated, replaced by the head of Emperor Taizu.

"Does it change heads after each attack?" Fan Li wondered inwardly. With limited information, he could only make guesses.

"Guo Jia, is it your turn now?" Jin De urged, showing little concern for his well-being.

"Alright, alright, Sage Ruler, don't rush me."

Guo Jia checked Zhou Yu's injuries, then, with a carefree smile and no trace of fear, he stepped forward to face the Three Emperors Formation...