A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - Chapter 41 (End)

Volume 45 The Carefree Returns to the Liao Camp Chapter 8 Zhao Yun of Western Shu

Dear readers, thank you for your patience. I've finished taking care of things at home and my interviews are over. I'll be resuming updates today.
"Zhao... Zhao Zilong!?"
"Yes, Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!" Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and said with exaggerated gestures and expressions, "I know you don't believe me, and I couldn't believe it either at the time." "
After passing the four tests of benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, and trustworthiness, I arrived at the central burial chamber of the Wuhou Tomb. After opening the door, what lay before me was a stone coffin. At that time, I felt very strange. This was because after I opened all nine acupoints simultaneously, reaching the yang within yang, my sixth sense was fully activated. Within a radius of twenty zhang, not only people, but even snakes, rats, insects, and ants could not escape my notice."
“But it was that coffin, the feeling of ‘human’ inside was sometimes there and sometimes not, leaving me completely unable to tell whether it was a person, a ghost, or a walking corpse…” Ren Xiaoyao’s expression turned trembling, a look of fear he had never seen before flashing across his eyes. “While I was hesitating and wavering, the coffin trembled slightly, then it grew stronger and stronger, until it seemed as if the entire tomb was shaking!”
Although he didn’t say much, everyone could feel the fear in his heart from his expression. If Ren Xiaoyao, who was the best in martial arts, the best in spiritual sense, the best in judgment, reaction, will, and perseverance, was like this, then what about them…
“Ah—” Lin Yuxiu screamed in fright, covering her mouth. Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, Shui Furong, and Su Hanbi also shrank back in unison.
"Just as I was hesitating whether to forcefully shatter the coffin from a distance to see what secrets lay within, the coffin lid suddenly burst open, and a white figure abruptly flew out."
"White robes, white clothes, white armor, a tall and imposing figure, as majestic as a towering mountain, elegant and handsome, as perfect as a marble statue, and in his hand, a long spear, entirely blood-red, gleaming with a cold light. The moment I saw him, I knew that the person standing before me was a human, one in a million… no, perhaps even one unlike anyone else in the entire era. Yet, despite being such a person, a seemingly flawless individual, I still couldn't quite grasp or sense his aura…"
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but I had no choice but to believe it, especially seeing his Three Kingdoms-era warrior attire and the legendary 'Dragon Gallbladder' in his hand. I immediately thought of the peerless war god of that era, invincible throughout the land—Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!"
"I know perfectly well that Zhao Yun has been dead for nearly eight hundred years. There's no way he could be alive now. But who else but Zhao Yun possesses such integrity, such spirit, such heroic bearing!"
"I forced myself to suppress my excitement and asked in a deep voice, 'Who are you?'"
"He answered me with five words—'Changshan Zhao Zilong.'"
"Is it really Zhao Yun!?' Long Feiyun exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, Zhao Yun." Ren Xiaoyao nodded slowly.
"How is that possible? How can someone who has been dead for eight hundred years be resurrected!"
"That's right, the dead cannot be brought back to life, no matter how skilled the doctor..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted, "You don't believe it, and I don't believe it either, but in the world, who else but Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, could break my sixth sense, withstand my supreme divine skill of 'Yang within Yang,' block my Lingxiao Sword Technique and Yan Fan Secret Sword, and endure most of 'A Thousand Years of Elegance in Laughter' without a scratch?"
"What! You fought with him?" Mina Shinguji asked in surprise. Although she was not Han Chinese, the culture of the Three Kingdoms was widely spread in Japan. In addition, with the cultivation and influence of Hanashi-kun since childhood, her understanding of the figures of the Three Kingdoms, especially Zhao Yun, who was invincible and never lost a battle, was no less than that of everyone present.
"I must obtain the Heavenly Book of Marquis Wu, and Zhao Yun is the last guardian of Marquis Wu's tomb. How can this battle be avoided?" Ren Xiaoyao was filled with endless emotions and sighed, "With all nine acupoints open, the yang within yang, I was confident that I was invincible from the moment I mastered it. However, facing Zhao Yun, facing his mighty dragon courage, facing his seven-kill dragon spear, facing his unparalleled and amazing skills, I couldn't gain the slightest advantage..." "Blood stains the battle robe and pierces the armor red. Who dares to contend with him at Dangyang? Throughout history, only Zhao Zilong of Changshan has charged into battle to protect his lord in times of crisis! In this battle, I finally understand what it felt like for the fifty-four generals of Cao Cao's army who were cut down by his sword at Changban in Dangyang, for the 100,000 Cao Cao's army who were forced back by him single-handedly on the banks of the Han River, for the five tigers of the Han family who were defeated by him at the foot of Fengming Mountain, and for Cao Zhen's 100,000-strong army who were frightened into not daring to pursue him after he single-handedly cut off their retreat at Qigu."
"In this battle, we only exchanged seven moves, yet it was the most perilous I've ever faced in my life..." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with divine light, then faded, and he slowly said, "The Dragon's Regret, Unity of Heaven and Man, Zhurong's Snow Cover, Wings Without Colorful Wind, Holy Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens, and the Swallow's Return Secret Sword—any one of these moves, once mastered, would elevate one to the level of a Grandmaster. Coupled with my supreme innate Qi of Yang within Yang, how many in this world could withstand such a feat!" "
But he blocked it all, blocking every single move, and it was a 50/50 exchange of blows. I was also overwhelmed by the first six moves of his Seven Killings Spear of the Coiling Dragon, constantly on the verge of defeat... In order to obtain the Heavenly Book of Marquis Wu, and to save the Song Dynasty from its perilous state, I was forced to use the Thousand-Year Elegance in Laughter, which I hadn't even fully mastered yet!"
"You won!?" Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Meng Lei asked in unison. At the Seven Great Factions Alliance meeting, facing Kishimoto Masashi's sudden, elusive, and seemingly unbreakable Swallow Return Secret Sword, Ren Xiaoyao only managed to turn the tide of battle by unleashing his ultimate move, "Eternal Elegance in Laughter," forcing this legendary figure in the Japanese ninja world to concede defeat and relinquish his title as the Grand Master of the Martial World.
Yes, "Eternal Elegance in Laughter" was truly invincible; anyone who encountered it faced only one word: defeat or loss!
"No, a draw." Ren Xiaoyao's words were earth-shattering. "Since Father created 'Eternal Elegance in Laughter,' I'm afraid Senior Zilong is the only one who can still make a move against it."
"What!? He...he...he actually saw through...saw through 'Eternal Elegance in Laughter'!!!" Everyone gasped in unison, shocked.
“Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible!” Dugu Yu shook his head repeatedly. “Brother Ren’s ‘Eternal Elegance in Laughter’ has completely surpassed the realm that human beings can reach. I have spent my whole life trying to understand it, but I still can’t even grasp the basics. Even if Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, was a god of war, he was still human in essence…”
“He is not human!” Ren Xiaoyao suddenly blurted out. “What!?” Everyone was stunned.
“The coffin does not contain Senior Zilong, but Senior Zilong’s primordial spirit.” Ren Xiaoyao let out a long sigh and once again made a startling statement, “After Senior Zilong’s death, Zhuge Liang launched five expeditions to Qishan, all of which ended in failure. This was because all five Tiger Generals had passed away, and there was no longer a general in Shu who could take on a thousand men. Zhuge Liang knew that the Wei army feared Zhao Zilong the most. He was the white-horse, silver-spear general who, single-handedly, regarded Cao Cao’s 830,000 soldiers as mere weeds at Changban, so he prayed for his life.” The method hoped to summon back the spirit of Senior Zilong, but the prayer failed, and Zhuge Liang's lifespan had ended. They could only seal half of the summoned spirit within the coffin to guard the final barrier of the tomb. "Because the spirit was incomplete, Senior Zilong could only survive for an hour after emerging from the coffin. It was during this half-hour that we fought seven times, transforming from tomb raiders and tomb guardians into kindred spirits and friends. Senior Zilong said his spirit had merged..." "This embodies his lifelong understanding and pursuit of martial arts, and it reflects his peak physical condition when he faced 830,000 Cao Cao's troops alone at Changban. I am only twenty-four, still young, with endless potential. Besides, in the 'Eternal Glory,' I have only mastered a small part of the moves, and I cannot unleash its full power. Therefore, Senior Zilong considers me the winner, and I have passed his final test." "In the following time, Senior Zilong told me many, many things. I then learned that the Wuhou Tomb not only contains the Wuhou Heavenly Book, but also the treasures left behind by the Five Tiger Generals of Shu Han. Obtaining the Wuhou Heavenly Book allows one to become a strategist who plans and wins battles from afar; obtaining the treasures left behind by the Five Tiger Generals allows one to be invincible on the battlefield, unmatched by any opponent… no, unmatched by ten thousand, unmatched by a hundred thousand, unmatched by a million!"
The crowd was shocked by his words, exclaiming in surprise, "Treasures? What treasures?"
"Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang, left behind a scroll called 'Man and Horse as One,' which describes how to ride a warhorse, how to make man and horse one, and how to maximize the strength of both to unleash power on the battlefield that far surpasses that of man and horse; Zhang Fei, Zhang Yide, also left behind a scroll, which details a superb martial art called 'Yide Heavenly Roar'..."
"Yide Heavenly Roar? Is it a martial art similar to the Shaolin Vajra Lion's Roar?"
“Yes.” Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly, revealing a look of reverence and admiration. “At Changban, at the Battle of Jushui, a fierce roar shattered the liver and gallbladder of Cao Cao’s general Xiahou Jie, causing him to fall from his horse. Cao Cao’s army scattered and fled, with countless soldiers abandoning their spears and helmets. The crowd surged like a tide, and the horses collapsed like a mountain, trampling each other and causing countless deaths and injuries. Compared to the Vajra Lion’s Roar, which is based on great compassion and is used to incapacitate the enemy, the purpose of the Yide Heavenly Roar is only one—to shatter the enemy’s internal organs and cut off all his life force!”
"Ma Chao, also known as Ma Mengqi, wears a set of Azure-Eyed Wolf Armor for his warhorse. It is as hard as a rock and impervious to swords and spears. Not to mention bows and arrows, even if I were to wield the Ice Soul Frost Sword and the Dragon Gallbladder, I would not be able to harm him in the slightest without using my full strength. On the battlefield, he would naturally charge back and forth, and even thousands of soldiers could not do anything to him. Otherwise, how could he have fought the Battle of Tong Pass and the Six Battles of Wei Bridge, forcing Cao Cao to cut off his beard and abandon his robe, almost losing his life? The name of Ma Chao, the Magnificent Ma Chao, is known throughout the world."
"As for Huang Zhong and Huang Hansheng, you all saw them. They were the Heaven-Stealing Bow, made entirely of jade, that I was carrying earlier, and three Sun-Changing Arrows, each over four feet long and too heavy for ordinary horses to carry. Because they were so heavy, I hid them outside the city. I'll have Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng personally lead people to bring them back later. Of course, there are also many written records on bamboo slips about the techniques and tricks of using the Heaven-Stealing Bow and the Sun-Changing Arrows. I've tried it. After mastering them, I can use the Heaven-Stealing Bow and the Sun-Changing Arrows to shoot at long distances. Within five hundred paces, I can kill anyone who stands in my way!"
"As for Senior Zilong, he naturally possesses the Courage of the Dragon, the Phoenix Cry Fighting God Armor, and the..." Ren Xiaoyao paused, then slowly uttered five words, "The Seven Killing Spear of the Coiled Dragon!"
Everyone was both surprised and shocked. If it hadn't come from Ren Xiaoyao's mouth, and they hadn't seen these "real objects" with their own eyes, who would have believed what was hidden in the Tomb of Marquis Wu?
"Then... what happened next?" "Alas, after that, Senior Zilong's primordial spirit was completely annihilated, vanishing into nothingness, while I finally saw the legendary Book of Marquis Wu, which is said to be able to turn the tide of battle and make one invincible!"
"Insight, cunning, psychological warfare, divine secrets, and divine calculation—the Book of Marquis Wu is divided into these five parts, recording the military strategies and tactics that Zhuge Liang devoted his entire life to researching. Its wonders are beyond words. I firmly believe that with it, even if we have 100,000 against 1 million, our army can still defeat the Liao invaders and win peace for the Song Dynasty and the world!"
"The military treatise, where is the military treatise?" Long Feiyun asked impatiently.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled without answering, pointing to his head.

Volume 45, "The Carefree Returns to the Liao Camp," Chapter 9, "The Perfect

Formation for Pacifying the Barbarians." "Zhuge Liang feared that military books and records would fall into the hands of villains, who would then use them to wreak havoc on the world. Therefore, he added a special material to the bamboo slips. All the bamboo slips, including the Heavenly Book of Zhuge Liang and those recording the unity of man and horse, the Heavenly Roar of Yide, etc., would be reduced to dust upon leaving Zhuge Liang's tomb—Senior Zilong told me this beforehand, and I left the tomb only after memorizing them thoroughly."
"You memorized them perfectly, but my mother, Mr. Zhuge, and I waited outside for a whole day and night!" Xuan Qingqiu gave him a reproachful look, her slender fingers lightly twirling the sword tassel, her fingertips fluttering among the bright yellow silk tassels like several plump little jade shoots, speaking in her sweet and gentle voice, indescribable in words.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled apologetically, returning his affectionate gaze: "It's my fault, it's my fault for not being as knowledgeable and forgetful as Fei Yun. I wasted so much time and made you all worry."
"Just kidding. You memorized the five volumes and over 20,000 words of the Martial Marquis's Heavenly Book in just half a day, except for the challenge. You're not much worse than Sister Yun." Xuan Qingqiu smiled sweetly, her snow-white lips moving slightly. Her two thin lips were moist and beautiful. Even though they were bloodless due to the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Technique, they still looked as if they were powdered, delicate and exquisite, inspiring endless reverie. Such beauty could not be more than that of a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and slowly recited: "A million brave soldiers surged like mountains, Changshan Zilong displayed his prowess, his armor stained with the blood of countless families, his silver spear sweeping through the mountain torrents, his heroic spirit at Dangyang still remains, his courage against the enemy on the Han River boundless, may future generations find such a valiant dragon, but a thousand years have passed without a trace—I have received the Dragon's Gall, the Phoenix Cry Fighting God Armor, and the Coiling Dragon Seven Kill Spear from Senior Zilong, I have learned all the Heavenly Book of Marquis Wu, I will emulate Senior Zilong and Marquis Zhuge Liang, to carry on their legacy, to serve the country with utmost loyalty, to swear to protect the Song Dynasty to the death, I will not return to court until my achievements are accomplished!"
Long Feiyun murmured: "Insight, cunning, psychological warfare, divine secrets." "Divine Calculation! Just hearing about it, one knows it's no ordinary strategist. Zhuge Liang was a master strategist, a scholar of unparalleled learning, and Xiaoyao is exceptionally intelligent, a rare talent in the world. Now that he has learned their military strategies, he will surely surpass them. The mere Yelü Changsheng will be easily subdued!" Dugu Yu clapped his hands and laughed: "The Art of Man and Horse as One, Yide's Heavenly Roar, the Azure-Eyed Wolf Armor, the Heaven-Stealing Bow, the Sun-Changing Arrow, the Dragon's Gallbladder, the Phoenix Cry Fighting God Armor, the Coiled Dragon Seven Kill Spear, plus Xiaoyao's supreme innate Qi, reaching the pinnacle of Yang, making him invincible under heaven—what fear is there of a million Cao soldiers alone, spear and horse?"
"A million? Hahaha." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly stood up, laughing loudly. Seeing everyone exchanging bewildered glances, wondering why he had acted so strangely, his laughter abruptly stopped. He pointed his halberd northward and shouted sharply, "When the Khitan army arrives, I will single-handedly charge into the Liao army's camp and take the head of Emperor Yelü Longxu!"
Dawn broke, and birds took flight in fright.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The war drums beat loudly, their deafening sound echoing across the fields.
Before dawn, the Tianji Army, fully equipped and waiting in the darkness, marched out of Tanzhou City in a mighty procession, heading northwest. Their orderly ranks entered the plains outside the city, where they formed their battle array near Tanyuan.
The Tianji Army, with high morale and surging fighting spirit, numbered over 90,000 (having lost 10,000 in the battles at the Three Passes and the previous sieges). Its cavalry numbered 32,000, with the Longxiang and Huyi armies forming the main force in the center, the rest scattered on the flanks. The center consisted of 58,000 infantry, divided into three formations: the front, middle, and rear. The front formation was primarily composed of shield-bearers and archers, while the rear two formations were composed of swordsmen skilled in close combat, armed with long weapons for both ranged attacks and close-quarters combat. All soldiers were clad in gleaming armor, especially the elite Longxiang and Huyi armies, the cream of the crop. Of the 6,000 soldiers in each formation, the vanguard of 2,000 cavalry wielded sabers for charging; the middle 1,000 carried spears forged from pure steel, their red tassels like blood, their tips gleaming, and each spear over 1.5 feet long. The sharp blades gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and their long-range thrusts were undoubtedly devastating to infantry. The last two thousand men (two thousand per army) wielded heavy, dark spiked clubs. These were all burly, muscular men, with quivers slung across their backs and ten short javelins each. Their combined hurling during a charge could instantly inflict heavy casualties on the enemy. Coupled with their heavy weaponry, it would be nearly impossible to withstand them without at least five times the number of soldiers.
The warhorses beneath them and the warriors on horseback, standing still, exuded a chilling, murderous aura that seemed to reach the heavens. Although this aura was invisible and intangible, the intangible did not mean it was nonexistent. On the battlefield where the two armies clashed, every enemy soldier was guaranteed to feel it—to feel that invisible terror and fear.
Since the Battle of Sanguankou and the subsequent crushing defeat of the Liao army, these two elite divisions, formed under Ren Xiaoyao's leadership, have become fearsome forces that strike fear into the hearts of the Liao army. They are invincible, winning every battle and defeating every enemy. Apart from the 30,000 Xuanjia Tiger Leopards protecting Yelü Longxu of the Liao army, who have yet to engage in battle, none of the so-called "elite" or "mighty" troops in the million-strong Liao army can match them. Their battle-hardened, invincible, and domineering spirit is unmatched by any other soldier.
The banners of each army flutter in the wind, symbolizing the Tianji Army's unwavering fighting spirit and determination.
Several miles away, the sounds of drums and horns rise and fall. The Liao army has already poured out its entire force, arrayed in battle formation on the vast plain north of Tanyuan, ready to face the final battle that will determine the fate of both nations… no, the fate of the world!
Upon learning that Ren Xiaoyao was not dead and had been entrusted with important responsibilities by Emperor Zhenzong, being appointed Privy Councilor, Grand Commandant, and General-in-Chief, wielding the power of command, deployment, and control, and bestowed with the Imperial Sword, Yelü Longxu immediately issued an edict, summoning all males aged sixteen to fifty to the front lines, organizing a massive army of 1.2 million men—ten times the size of the Song army!
Furthermore
, Yelü Changsheng, racking his brains, deployed this 1.2 million-strong army in the invincible Ziwei Nine Fiends Heavenly Gate Formation, with seventy-two interconnected passageways, unpredictable and mysterious—the Seventy-Two Formations. Three hundred and fifty thousand cavalry and eight hundred and fifty thousand infantry were deployed within the formation, shields arrayed, and equipped with powerful crossbows, trebuchets, catapults, crossbows, chevaux-de-frise, and other defensive weapons and equipment, enough to crush any enemy offensive.
The Khitan's prized Tiger and Leopard Cavalry suffered a loss of 20,000 men in previous battles against the Tianji Army. After deducting the 30,000 Xuanjia Tiger and Leopard Cavalry guarding the royal tent, only 50,000 cavalry remained at the front. Of these, 10,000 were lined up in a long, single-file formation at the very front, while the remaining 40,000 were divided into 16 battalions of 2,500 men each. These battalions were arranged in a semi-circular, dense formation, arching towards the Tianji Army to form an organic defensive system, ready to support all sides at any time.
The two armies had been locked in a stalemate for several months. Considering the unresolved battles in the west, south, and east, and the enormous depletion of supplies, although Wang Qinruo's collusion with the Liao rebels had been exposed, his followers throughout the land had already emptied the local granaries of grain and weapons before the main battle even began. This had depleted the reserves of the Jiangnan region, a land of plenty, which had held for over a decade, making it impossible to sustain a prolonged war. If the Liao army was not defeated quickly, the country would be unable to sustain itself, leading to chaos even before the battle began. Therefore, Ren Xiaoyao had no choice but to abandon his supposedly defensive strategy and launch a preemptive strike, using one-tenth of his forces to directly confront the Tianmen Formation.
The Yang family army, numbering 15,000, was commanded by Yue Sheng, with the left flank serving as a feint and diversionary force.
The Imperial Guard, numbering 15,000, was under the command of the veteran General Huyan Zan, with the right flank also serving as a feint and diversionary force.
The central force of 90,000 troops, led by the Tianji Army, included Commander-in-Chief Ren Xiaoyao and four generals: Long Feiyun, Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, and Zhu Shunwu. Also included were four auxiliary generals: Yang Yanzhao, Yang Zongbao, Yang Yande, and Mu Guiying.
Yang Yanzhao, the renowned Yang Liulang, had guarded the border for over thirty years,
earning a formidable reputation. Yang Zongbao, a son of a military family, had served as the vanguard in the defense of Tanzhou City, achieving numerous merits and victories.
Yang Yande, the fifth son of the Yang family, had become a monk at Wutai Mountain after the Battle of Jinshatan, but now, with the nation in peril, he resolutely left the mountain, leading eight hundred monks to aid in the battle.
Mu Guiying, the chieftain of Muke Village, was now Yang Zongbao's wife. She was intelligent, brave, and skilled in both literature and martial arts, displaying remarkable prowess on the battlefield and qualifying as a top-tier martial artist in the martial arts world.
The 90,000-strong Tianji Army deployed the Pingrong Wanquan Formation according to the records in the Zhuge Liang's Heavenly Book. This formation was created by Zhuge Liang with his life's work, designed to launch a powerful attack on the Wei army's camp when he marched out of Qishan. No matter how many layers of barricades, how many soldiers, how many powerful bows and crossbows, or how many camps stretched for miles, it would still be a single, decisive blow, invincible and unbreakable, surpassing all formations of the past and present. The most important condition for this formation is that it must be commanded by the Five Tiger Generals to unleash its full power and achieve the effect of defeating the strong with the weak and the many with the few. However, Zhuge Liang devoted half his life to creating this formation, but before it could be put into practice, Guan Yu carelessly lost Jingzhou and fled to Maicheng, where he and his son died. At this time, Shu still had Wei Yan, who was worthy of the title of one of the Five Tiger Generals, and could replace Guan Yu to deploy the Ping Rong Wan Quan Formation with Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong to launch an expedition to Qishan and attack Cao Wei. However, Shu's ruler Liu Bei was eager for revenge and insisted on attacking Wu. He left Ma Chao to guard Yangping Pass, Wei Yan to garrison Hanzhong, and Zhao Yun to supervise the transport of grain. Before the army could move, Zhang Fei was assassinated by villains, and Huang Zhong was killed by Ma Zhong before the Battle of Yiling. Three of the Five Tiger Generals were lost, and Shu Han's elite troops were almost completely wiped out by Lu Xun's burning of the camps for eight hundred miles. From then on, it was difficult to gather the five generals again, and the Ping Rong Wan Quan Formation had no use. It could only follow Zhuge Liang into the yellow earth.
While in the tomb of Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun recounted the entire story to Ren Xiaoyao. Deeply moved, Ren Xiaoyao re-enacted this formation during the Battle of Chanyuan eight hundred years later, appointing himself vanguard to fulfill Zhao Yun's role. He paired eight generals—Long Feiyun, Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, Zhu Shunwu, Yang Yanzhao, Yang Zongbao, Yang Yande, and Mu Guiying—with Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong as his counterparts. The 90,000-strong army advanced in unison, determined to break through the Tianmen Formation!
The Longxiang and Huyi armies were the first to enter the vast grassland stretching over ten miles before the Tianmen Formation, ready to charge at any moment. Their formation was perfectly synchronized, like a single, living organism, and the soldiers were filled with fighting spirit and eager to fight. Ren Xiaoyao raised his Haolongdan (a powerful sword) and pointed it to the sky.
The 90,000-strong army immediately halted, and the entire battlefield fell silent.
Ren Xiaoyao focused his mind, slowly closing his eyes. His nine acupoints opened simultaneously, unleashing his supreme innate energy, the yang within yang, and his spiritual senses expanded dramatically, extending to the infinite distance.
In this ethereal state of emptiness, he felt himself rising upwards, taking in the entirety of the seventy-two Heavenly Gate Formations. The distribution of the Liao army's forces, their formations, their traps—all flashed through his mind with lightning speed. Even the location of the Liao king's tent, even Yelü Longxu's position, were all within his grasp. He had to win! This battle had to be won!
Leaving aside national righteousness and the fate of the nation, for the sake of his beloved wives, for their lifelong happiness, this battle had to be won.
And of course, there was "him."
For "him" future empire, for "him" future rule…
this battle had to be won!!!

Volume 45, Chapter 10, "Reunion with Biyun," describes

an incident that occurred more than half a month ago. At that time, he and Zhuge Wenjie, using the city's secret tunnels—a fact known to the Liao army—secretly launched an investigation. They discovered that Wang Qinruo was a traitorous and utterly wicked villain. They cleverly devised a plan to lure him into a trap, exposing his true nature.
That night, the Liao army launched a fierce attack on the city. He was organizing the defense at the north gate, and all his skilled warriors were mobilized. Unexpectedly, Yelü Changsheng infiltrated the city alone, rescuing Wang Qinruo and stealing the "Map of Mountains and Rivers."
The "Map of Mountains and Rivers" was a secret imperial treasure, crucial to the fate of the Song Dynasty. It depicted the mountains and rivers of the land, strategic passes, and the troop deployments and divisions throughout the Song Dynasty. If the Liao army obtained it, the Song Dynasty's vast border defenses would be rendered useless, and its four hundred prefectures would be rendered ineffective—the consequences would be unimaginable.
When Emperor Zhenzong learned of this, he fell ill that very night from worry and exhaustion. The officials and tens of thousands of soldiers in the city were also extremely anxious. Ren Xiaoyao, however,
bore the weight of the people's fate and the fate of the nation; how could he stand idly by and do nothing? The following night, he left the city alone, displaying his exceptional skills and agility, and infiltrated the Liao camp.
At that time, Yelü Longxu was discussing matters with his generals in his tent. When Yelü Changsheng presented him with the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," boasting that he would capture Tanzhou within ten days and wipe out the Song Dynasty within six months, Ren Xiaoyao did not hesitate to charge in and single-handedly retrieve the map.
That's right, it was retrieved. Inside the tent were Yelü Changsheng, Yelü Longxu's chief bodyguard Yelü Dudie, and two top experts from the Xiao family, Xiao Tianzuo and Xiao Tianyou. Yelü Changsheng was a formidable opponent, on par with Guiming Shenjun, Hentian, Xukong, and Guijianchou. Yelü Dudie, Xiao Tianzuo, and Xiao Tianyou were no less powerful than Tianjue and Dimie. Countless guards, each with exceptional martial arts skills, were also present inside and outside the tent. Their numbers and strength were considerable. More importantly, the map was in Yelü Longxu's hands. If it hadn't been retrieved in an instant and he had escaped, the entire operation would have failed.
Yes, in that instant, the moment Yelü Dudie, Xiao Tianzuo, and Xiao Tianyou formed a human wall, desperately blocking Yelü Longxu's path, he not only remotely reclaimed the Map of Mountains and Rivers, but also delivered a solid blow to Yelü Longxu. This blow caused the Liao emperor to vomit blood, suffer internal organ damage, and be unable to get out of bed for ten days. If Yelü Changsheng hadn't shamelessly and humbly invited Duan Cheng to heal him with the One-Finger Divine Skill, and fed him a whole host of precious medicinal herbs like thousand-year-old snow ginseng, vermilion toad, and lingzhi, the dignified Liao emperor probably wouldn't have been able to participate in the final battle.
That's a story for later, but after retrieving the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Ren Xiaoyao charged out of the camp alone, fighting fiercely for a day and two nights. He swept through the Liao army's 800-mile-long camp, felling seventeen banners. He slashed and hacked with spears and swords, killing over eighty Liao generals and countless subordinate officers. His heroic spirit was like dancing pear blossoms; his body was covered in blood, like drifting snowflakes. Wherever he went, he was unstoppable, and no one dared to stand in his way. Many Liao generals, fierce on the battlefield, trembled with fear and dared not meet him. His battle robes were truly stained red with blood, and who in the world dared to contend with him? He rode alone through the Liao camp, and the chivalrous saint was blessed with a true destiny. From this battle onward, the chivalrous saint's fame shook the Khitan. The mere mention of Ren Xiaoyao's name was enough to make even children afraid to cry at night.
Ren Xiaoyao charged out from the million-strong Liao army, slaying countless enemies and covered in blood. When he returned to Tanzhou, the Liao general Yelü Bei led five thousand elite cavalry close behind. Fearing the Liao army would seize the opportunity to flood in if the city gates opened, Ren Xiaoyao turned back. Under the watchful eyes of Emperor Zhenzong, his officials, and thousands of soldiers on the city walls, he relied on the might of his Dragon Gallbladder and Seven-Kill Spear to slaughter the five thousand battle-hardened and incomparably brave Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
Emperor Zhenzong was deeply moved. Seeing Ren Xiaoyao faint below the city walls, he disregarded everyone's objections and personally rode out of the city to be the first to arrive.
"Your Majesty, the Map of Mountains and Rivers…"
Ren Xiaoyao managed to hand the map to Emperor Zhenzong before his vision went black and he lost consciousness.
"How magnificent! How magnificent!" Emperor Zhenzong was deeply moved, tears streaming down his face. He exclaimed, "In the past, at Changban in Dangyang, Zhao Zilong single-handedly rescued Prince A Dou from the midst of eighty-three Cao army troops; now, outside Tanzhou, Ren Xiaoyao alone, with his sword, reclaimed the Map of Mountains and Rivers from the midst of a million Liao troops. Zhao Zilong of Changshan in the past, and Ren Xiaoyao of today, both are loyal to their country and courageous. With generals like these in the Song Dynasty, the country will be secure and the nation will be safe. What do I have to worry about!"
When he awoke again, seven days had passed.
Ren Xiaoyao opened his eyes and saw a beautiful face, as white as snow and as delicate as jade, as beautiful as a peach blossom. Her hair was disheveled, and her charming and playful bun was slightly crooked. Strands of her jet-black hair were slightly stuck to her peach-blossom cheeks with sweat. Her two captivating eyes, like stars, were filled with tears that welled up when she saw him awake. The woman was neither one of his many wives, nor his eldest sister-in-law, nor his soon-to-be second sister-in-law, nor his soon-to-be third sister-in-law, nor Liu Qianyun or Tang Yan, yet she looked strangely familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.
"You are..."
The woman smiled faintly, but did not speak, her slender hand holding a spoon, bringing the medicine to Ren Xiaoyao's lips. Ren Xiaoyao mechanically drank it, staring in astonishment at the woman before him.
Her clothes and attire were extremely gorgeous, her sideburns were styled into curved hooks, even her forehead hair was styled into cloud shapes, elegantly resting above her long, dark eyebrows. Her cloud-like hair was loosely combed, thin and transparent, ethereal as cicada wings, emphasizing her perfect claw-like face shape and her beautiful, melancholy eyes, truly deserving the description of "fragrant cloud-like hair and thick, dark eyebrows at dawn."
Her slender hands were fair and delicate, slender and straight, possessing a delicate beauty like bone china. Like the plump and smooth skin of her shoulders and neck, they had a creamy, translucent whiteness, as if coated with milk. Her light silk gauze robe had wide sleeves and a cross-collar, adorned with embroidered gold phoenix patterns and two small sashes. It was clearly a magnificent jeweled gown. Her slender
and graceful figure, perfectly proportioned, combined with the wide-sleeved robe and the four-phoenix pearl crown on her head, gave her an ethereal, otherworldly beauty, unattainable and aloof.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized the origin of this garment; throughout the entire world, only one woman could wear this phoenix-patterned jeweled gown and the phoenix crown.
"You..." Ren Xiaoyao's throat went dry. He swallowed hard and stammered, "You are the Empress... Her Majesty the Empress!?"
The woman was stunned for a moment, then tilted her pretty face up and looked at him carefully for a while. Suddenly, she nodded slightly and sighed softly. "Four years have passed, and you really... really forgot about me?"
Ren Xiaoyao was even more astonished. Yes, she was the Empress, the Empress! How could I possibly know the Empress!?
Suddenly, he saw the woman's high chest heaving rapidly, tears welling up in her eyes, her gaze fixed on him blankly, as if she were about to cry at any moment.
"You... I..."
Staring at her resentful yet caring expression, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly felt overwhelmed. Her incomparably beautiful face seemed to have a tremendous force, making it hard for him to breathe. He couldn't help but shrink back.
The Empress's face was deathly pale, her thin, delicate lips trembling uncontrollably. They were as translucent as freshly peeled lychee flesh, and seeing them made Ren Xiaoyao feel as if a thousand needles were piercing his heart. He felt an indescribable sorrow. Suddenly, something flashed through his mind, and his heart clenched. He cried out, "Biyun, you...you are Biyun...Zhou Biyun...from Pianxian Pavilion..." As he spoke, a sharp pain shot through his heart, and he was speechless, choked with sobs, and stared blankly into a daze.
Zhou Biyun, a cold and beautiful woman, was once the top courtesan of the Shuiyue Tower in Yangzhou. She sold her art, not her body. Countless wealthy merchants, nobles, and renowned scholars longed to see her but could not. Just to get a smile from her, a glance from her, not only in Yangzhou, but even in Bianliang, more than a dozen young nobles and hereditary princes would volunteer
, willing to jump into the sea for her… This woman, renowned for her beauty and aloof, pure and proud, gave him her most precious virginity on that romantic night. —In his early days, wandering the world, many, many beautiful women willingly offered themselves to him. He met Zhao Jia in Suzhou; Zeng He in Datong; Wan Fang in Luoyang; Jing Si in Datong; Qin'er on the Qinhuai River; and Xin Wei at Mochou Lake…
They were all beautiful young women in their late teens, some charming, some pretty, some innocent, some elegant. They all had extraordinary encounters with him and spent many nights together.
But the only one who remained chaste for him for three years, keeping their memories forever by his bedside, never forgetting him day and night…
was Zhou Biyun!
She couldn't forget him, and he couldn't forget her either.
Even after their reunion, the knife severed their old love, he still couldn't forget her!
After returning from Japan, he sent people to Yangzhou to inquire, only to learn that Zhou Biyun had been redeemed from the Pianxian Tower by a high-ranking official from the capital and had disappeared without a trace.
He secretly instructed his Beggar Clan brothers (the Heavenly Extreme Sect's actions would be discovered by Long Feiyun, and the harem would be in turmoil) to search everywhere, but after two years, there was still no news.
At the time, he was completely bewildered, utterly unable to understand how such a stunning beauty could simply vanish like that.
Now he knew: Zhou Biyun had been married by Emperor Zhenzong and brought back to the palace, and had even become Empress!
"A zither's melody, a jade-like figure, a captivating gaze, and flowing hair..." When Zhou Biyun... no, Empress Zhou, cried out these poignant words from their parting years ago, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms and cherish her tenderly. But he couldn't!
The Zhou Biyun before him was no longer the famous courtesan of the brothels of yesteryear, but the Empress of the Song Dynasty, the mother of the nation. He, Ren Xiaoyao, had been deeply indebted to the country, and even his life could not repay her kindness; how could he possibly repay the Empress...
"...gazing longingly, yearning only for Jiangnan; alone, leaning against the railing, the setting sun casting its shadow..." Zhou Biyun's shoulders and back convulsed violently, tears welling in her eyes.
Ren Xiaoyao could no longer contain his emotions and abruptly pulled Zhou Biyun into his arms. He stroked her trembling shoulders and back, feeling the increasing dampness on her clothes. A pang of sorrow gripped his heart; he knew that the emotions she had suppressed for so many years had finally broken through their defenses and erupted uncontrollably. From a courtesan to the Empress, how much hardship and suffering must she have endured?
She had borne it all alone, silently…
Ren Xiaoyao was about to whisper words of comfort when he heard footsteps approaching the room.
“…The oriole is lonely, the willow is withered; in the deep boudoir, a melancholy sigh escapes, her hair disheveled, the brocade curtains tasseled, the candlelight cold and desolate.” Just then, Zhou Biyun finished reciting the poem, her full breasts heaving, the red fabric of her bodice rippling like waves of emotion.
“Biyun, I…” Ren Xiaoyao finally couldn’t help but call out her name.
Zhou Biyun suddenly pressed two fingers to his lips, gently shaking her head, and softly said, "No, don't say anything more. Our relationship ended four years ago when we parted in Yangzhou. Seeing you safe and sound, seeing that you still remember me, our... no, we won't... see you again. Biyun... Biyun is content." Her tears subsided, and the previous sorrow vanished.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a pang of grief, wanting to offer a few more words of comfort, when Emperor Zhenzong's concerned voice rang out from outside the door: "Empress, how is Prince Wuling? Has he woken up?" Zhou Biyun quickly rose, her lotus-like steps graceful as she went to greet him at the door. Ren Xiaoyao, meanwhile, swiftly used his divine power to evaporate the tears that had fallen on his shoulder.
There was nothing unusual, nothing amiss.
For the rest of the time, Zhou Biyun maintained the noble elegance and dignified grace of an empress.
Whether Emperor Zhenzong inquired about Ren Xiaoyao's injuries with concern or discussed the current situation and the battle between the two armies, Zhou Biyun acted as if she didn't recognize Ren Xiaoyao at all. She served him diligently from the side, occasionally interjecting a few words, but always from the perspective of the Empress, regarding the only chivalrous saint and hero in the world who could turn the tide and save the Song Dynasty. Even with Ren Xiaoyao's sixth sense, he could hardly detect anything amiss, let alone Emperor Zhenzong.
(This is understandable. Life in the palace is like life in the martial arts world. The concubines are always scheming and deceitful. Even a simple young girl would develop extraordinary cunning after two or three years, let alone someone like him who grew up in a brothel and was used to the ways of the world...)
Ren Xiaoyao was thinking to himself when he suddenly heard Emperor Zhenzong say, "Come, Prince Wuling, I want you to see someone—Zhen'er, come in."
A figure flashed in front of the door, and a little boy with a chubby face, wearing a bright yellow robe, who looked no more than three or four years old, entered with the help of a eunuch.
"Zhen'er greets Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and Prince Wuling." The boy was still young, his speech slightly unclear, but he was very sensible and well-behaved. After bowing to each of them, Emperor Zhenzong picked him up and placed him on his lap, his affection overflowing.
"Crown Prince!?" Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback.
"Yes, my and the Empress's first son. Don't let his young age fool you; he's incredibly intelligent." Emperor Zhenzong stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of kindness. "Four years ago, I made a private trip to Jiangnan and met the Empress in Yangzhou. It was fate, I suppose. I brought the Empress into the palace, and nine months later, she gave birth to Zhen'er. At first, I thought he was born prematurely and might be weak and sickly, unable to inherit the throne. But I never expected... hahaha, this child is not only intelligent but also incredibly strong. He hasn't even caught a cold in over three years. He's far superior to me back then, truly inheriting the legacy of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong."
Four years ago... Yangzhou... nine months... premature birth...
The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.
Ren Xiaoyao abruptly stopped, a thought flashing through his mind that he dared not even dream of.
The beginning of *Eternal Love* was Zhou Biyun, he was mentioned again in the middle, and now, as it neared its end, she reappeared, elevating the story's meaning to an even higher level.
Yes, Ren Xiaoyao's selfless sacrifice for the Song Dynasty in the Battle of Tanyuan was not merely about national righteousness, but also intertwined with a deep, rich father-son bond. Ren Xiaoyao—Ren Xiaoyao—Zhao Zhen, three generations connecting the entire story.
Zhou Biyun was not the female lead of *Eternal Love*, not even a supporting character; at most, she was a minor character highlighting Ren Xiaoyao's dashing and flirtatious nature, yet she witnessed the entirety of *Eternal Love*, from beginning to end, witnessing the 2.5 million-word epic that Canjian Qiong had painstakingly written over eleven years!
Zhou Biyun, you are the indispensable character in Canjian Qiong's heart!

Volume 46, The Heroic Spirit's Name Reigns Forever, Chapter 1: The Battle of Tanyuan

. "For the Song Dynasty, for the Song Dynasty that will belong to 'him' in the future!"
"This battle must be won!!!"
A firm belief surged in Ren Xiaoyao's heart, and he roared, "Beat the drums!" The flag bearer immediately raised his flag, and dozens of drummers at the front responded in unison. The sound of the drums instantly resounded, echoing throughout every corner of the battlefield.
"Woo-woo-woo—"
Immediately following the drumbeats, a powerful and fervent drumbeat resounded through the sky.
The vast plain was filled with a chilling aura of killing intent. Amidst the resounding horns and the stirring war drums, tens of thousands of Tianji Army soldiers formed dense square formations, shouting resounding battle cries, raising their weapons high, their blood boiling, their intense fighting spirit and soaring morale surging within them.
"Whoosh!"
Ren Xiaoyao raised his mighty Dragon Gallbladder, its seven small slits carved into the blade, gleaming in the sunlight, their chilling, menacing light dazzling the eye.
"Boom boom boom!" With the heavy thud of hooves, the Dragon-Soaring Tiger-Winged Army spread out like giant pincers on both sides, ready to crush the flanks of the Heavenly Gate Formation. Countless weapons converged into a death forest, seemingly piercing the ethereal void. The north
wind was like a knife, banners fluttering.
Ren Xiaoyao's sharp, piercing eyes were fixed on the vast Liao army formation stretching for dozens of miles, his handsome face filled with a chilling killing intent.
Ren Xiaoyao swung the Dragon Gallbladder in his hand, its blinding red light illuminating the heavens. The resounding horns and the pounding war drums abruptly ceased, and the Han soldiers' synchronized shouts vanished. An eerie silence descended upon the sky, broken only by the distant cawing of crows.
The entire battlefield was filled with a chilling stillness!
Ren Xiaoyao roared to the sky, his tiger-like cry echoing through the heavens: "The moment of decisive battle has arrived! The Great Song Dynasty is in peril! In this battle, warriors of the Heavenly Army, muster your courage, ignite your blood, take up your swords and spears, and follow me—break through the Heavenly Gate Formation and crush the invading Khitan barbarians!"
"Our army will surely win! The Great Song Dynasty is mighty!"
Long Feiyun was the first to raise her arms in celebration.
"Our army will surely win! The Great Song Dynasty is mighty!"
"Our army will surely win! The Great Song Dynasty is mighty!"
"Our army will surely win! The Great Song
Dynasty is mighty!" The 90,000-strong army responded wildly, frantically waving their weapons, unleashing their fervent patriotism!
"Ren Xiaoyao—here he comes!"
Ren Xiaoyao roared, spurring his swift steed, Wind and Fire Lightning, and charged towards the Heavenly Gate Formation with lightning speed.
The army behind him did not move.
A lone warrior charging into the formation, facing the enemy alone!?
The Liao soldiers within the Tianmen Formation paled. The horrific scene of Ren Xiaoyao single-handedly cutting through eight hundred li of camp, killing over eighty Liao generals and countless subordinate officers, echoed before their eyes.
"Quickly, fire! Fire!!!"
General Yelü Yan, his eyes filled with fear, roared at the top of his lungs.
Upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao, the tens of thousands of Liao soldiers were on edge. Hearing their commander's order, they disregarded the order of the three-volley attack, and with a series of creaking sounds, they drew their bows to their fullest extent. Then, amidst a buzzing sound, thousands upon thousands of sharp wolf-tooth arrows rained down from the city walls, raining down on Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao rode with incredible speed, simultaneously activating all nine of his acupoints. His senses sharpened to their peak in an instant, allowing him to not only grasp the entire surrounding situation but also clearly visualize the angle, speed, and force of each arrow—deflecting such powerful arrows was effortless, but he aimed to do far more than that!
Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes, relying solely on his sixth sense to perceive the surrounding circumstances. His "Heroic Dragon Gallbladder" danced like a pear blossom, seemingly transforming into a swift, swirling bolt of lightning around his body. His innate, supreme yang energy flowed throughout his entire being, moving at will and controlled by lightning-fast thought. Its wondrous nature defied description.
The Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force converged at the Haolongdan spear, its tip ever-changing, yet the force was perfectly controlled. With each flick, deflect, parry, and shift, it redirected arrows from the left towards the Liao army positioned on the right. The right flank responded
in kind, creating a bizarre situation of both armies firing at each other from the left and right. Both sides' soldiers were dumbfounded. At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao seemed to have become an alien entity, his entire being becoming transparent and luminous, seemingly both real and illusory, a feeling of being beyond comprehension, something no one had ever seen before. They could no longer "grasp" Ren Xiaoyao.
While the experts perceived it, the soldiers, unfamiliar with martial arts, were completely misled, watching helplessly as the Haolongdan spear transformed into a rapidly moving "red light," instantly deflecting any arrows that touched it, bearing the brunt of whoever fired the arrow.
The Tianji Army soldiers cheered and waved their flags, their morale soaring. The Liao soldiers, however, stared in terror. Their dense arrow formations, honed through countless arduous training sessions and battles, brimming with confidence that a single volley could inflict massive casualties on the enemy, were utterly ineffective.
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
"Thump!"
The heavy hooves of horses echoed across the grass, each thud reverberating like a blow to the heart of every Liao soldier. In a daze, the hundreds of thousands of soldiers felt the entire Tianmen Formation tremble uncontrollably, as if it were about to collapse. Everyone gasped, their faces turning deathly pale.
This…this is inhuman! This…this is simply…this
is a ghost, a god…a deadly demon!
An overwhelming killing intent permeated the entire battlefield, strangely chilling the hearts of the Liao soldiers.
"General, what…what do we do? Fire or not?!"
A junior officer panicked, shouting in terror.
"Shoot! Shoot! Even if it costs us our lives, we can't let Ren Xiaoyao get close!"
Yelü Yan roared hoarsely, gripping his treasure.
Indeed, stopping Ren Xiaoyao now would only kill the archers, but once he charged into the Heavenly Gate Formation, all the soldiers in the vanguard would die.
"Shoot! Shoot quickly!"
"Ah—"
"Ouch!"
Arrows rained down, relentlessly raining down, completely unable to stop Ren Xiaoyao's unstoppable charge.
Even without the supreme innate energy of Yang within Yang, even without the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to change direction, the Phoenix Cry Fighting God Armor and the Blindfolded Heavenly Wolf Armor he obtained from Zhao Yun and Ma Chao were still enough to make him a one-man army on the battlefield!
"Ren Xiaoyao is here! Those who stand in my way shall die!"
The distance of a hundred zhang was covered in the blink of an eye. Ren Xiaoyao roared to the sky, unleashing the Winged Heavenly Roar. Within a half-mile radius, every Liao soldier felt a jolt of fear, especially the more than three thousand men directly in front. These were usually elite Liao soldiers, each capable of taking on ten men, but now more than half turned and fled, while the other half remained rooted to the spot, too terrified to move.
Ren Xiaoyao charged into the Heavenly Gate Formation like a tiger crashing into a flock of sheep. His mighty spear swept left and right, and wherever his blade pointed, the Liao soldiers who dared to stand in his way were routed. The first few thousand who came into contact with him fell like wheat being cut down. Even those not struck by his spear tips suffered brain damage, disembowelment, broken necks, and snapped backs from the sheer force of his attack. No one could withstand even half a move from Ren Xiaoyao.
"Block him! Block him! Block him at all costs!"
Yelü Yan shouted hoarsely, but his voice only served as a backdrop to the Liao soldiers' screams.
Ren Xiaoyao, caught up in the frenzy of battle, drew his Ice Soul Frost sword with his left hand, slashing and hacking, while his right hand wielded the Dragon Gallbladder, thrusting and stabbing. Each attack, even before it reached the enemy, was enough to injure and knock them to the ground. He moved freely among thousands of troops, causing his men and horses to fall and flee in all directions. Wherever he went, his clothes were stained with blood. The Liao soldiers who had witnessed him break through eight hundred miles of camps and move freely among a million soldiers spread the word among themselves, and they all fled.
Ren Xiaoyao charged left and right, unstoppable, and wherever he rode, the Liao soldiers dared not meet him.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
At the same time, Long Feiyun commanded the Tianji Army to launch a full-scale attack according to the "Complete Pacification Formation" laid out by Zhuge Liang.
The Longxiang and Huyi armies charged out like two angry dragons, their thunderous hooves like rolling thunder descending from the sky, converging into a surging torrent of iron that swept across the Liao army's flanks, billowing smoke and dodging the arrows. The thunderous sound of hooves and the chilling aura of killing intent filled the battlefield.
Jing Si led 5,000 heavily armored infantrymen in a central charge, followed closely by over 70,000 men divided into three divisions.
The Battle of Tanyuan had begun in full force!

(Volume 46: The Heroic Spirit of the Knight Saint, Chapter 2: The Mighty Ironclad Warriors)

In ordinary battles, cavalry always leads the charge, advancing from the center to disrupt the enemy's formation. However, this approach inevitably results in heavy casualties against the dense barrage of arrows from the Liao soldiers. Even among the Longxiang and Huyi armies, hailed as the "elite of the elite" and "aces of aces," only about 500 out of a thousand cavalrymen could safely reach the enemy lines. z85x41a65l23
But without cavalry to forcefully break through and scatter the archers with their bare hands, the infantry, whose advance is slower, would suffer three, four, or even ten times the casualties! m17r17y99x29
In the past, Zhuge Liang created the Ping Rong Wan Quan Formation, intending to achieve victory in one battle and destroy the Wei army's Qishan camp. The Wei army was good at defense, and the Qishan camp had ten layers of palisades and a forest of arrows. If cavalry were to forcefully charge, the losses would be heavy. Fortunately, Shu had Zhao Zilong of Changshan, who was good at fighting and could fight a thousand men single-handedly. Moreover, because of the two flanks of Changban and Hanshui, the Wei army was in awe and would flee at the sight of him. Therefore, the Ping Rong Wan Quan Formation made him the vanguard general, who broke into the camp alone and broke through the arrow formation first. q79a98d40n19
Once Zhao Zilong, now Xiaoyao, with unparalleled bravery and the combined might of the Five Tiger Generals, takes on Zhao Zilong's former mission, charging into enemy lines single-handedly and clearing the way for his 90,000-strong army. z84v71y25d93
Wei Qishan's camp numbered at most 300,000 to 500,000, while the Liao army numbered 1.2 million, with 60,000 archers alone at the front. a14h12r74e21
Even if Ren Xiaoyao was incredibly capable, it was still an exaggeration to say he could single-handedly defeat 60,000 Liao troops. However, due to his unparalleled skill in pointing his spear and his overwhelming power to intimidate the Liao army, the 60,000 archers were thrown into chaos in an instant. By the time Yelü Yan had killed several subordinate generals, desperately shouting and cursing, and reorganized an effective defense... u88f75w21y54
5,000 armored infantry had advanced to within 200 paces of the Heavenly Gate Formation.
x96m12h99d35 "Form—Iron Shield Formation!" v97z79d20s24
Jing Si raised his iron hammer high and roared into the sky, bringing the surging armored infantry to an abrupt halt. e97f84r43y53
“Crack—crack, crack…” g25f19h24p28
“Thump!” d16g48b43s88
The most elite infantry group of the Tianji Sect, composed of the inner guards and imperial guards who originally guarded the Three Rivers and Five Pavilions, the two thousand men at the forefront of the formation, slammed the backs of their steel swords three times with deafening clattering sounds, then slammed the heavy shields down on the ground beneath their feet, producing a dull, soul-stirring roar. i71q54v40r97
The earth seemed to tremble, and the heavens and earth seemed to darken. i86v99f79m51
“Forward, forward!”
Jing Si swung his hammer down hard, as if he had returned to the time when he followed Emperor Taizu in his conquest of the Northern Han, single-handedly resisting the city on the walls of Taiyuan, fighting to the death without retreating. f70l34a22d44
"Ha!"
"Roar!" j48l64f92b22
"Drink!" q65j54u83m99
Amidst deafening shouts, the armored army, arrayed in a square formation, marched with synchronized steps, like a herd of giant beasts clad in iron armor, rolling towards the Heavenly Gate Formation.
With Ren Xiaoyao charging left and right from within, and the armored army closing in from the outside, Yelü Yan, his eyes blazing with fury, wildly waved his weapon and roared, "Shoot! Shoot them to death! Archers, fire!"
"Clatter, clatter, clatter~"
Amidst the relatively orderly footsteps, over ten thousand archers hastily raised their bows.
"Release the arrows!"
"Release the arrows!"
Messengers carried Yelü Yan's orders far and wide.
"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—"
A continuous whistling sound filled the air as tens of thousands of sharp arrows soared into the sky, weaving a ceaseless rain of arrows that pierced the advancing armored army with piercing shrieks.
"Frontline troops, heed my command! Form ranks and defend!"
Jing Si shouted, raising his arm. His narrowed eyes suddenly widened, and his roar echoed across the field.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
More than two thousand specially made giant shields, each about eight feet tall and four feet wide, forged from mixed iron, were instantly raised into the air, connecting to form an impenetrable shield wall, firmly protecting the dense iron armor formation.
A rain of arrows whistled down, coldly embedding themselves in the thick shields, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
"Thud thud thud! "
Amidst the continuous muffled sounds, most of the arrows were blocked by the shields, and the armored army's surging momentum was not affected in the slightest. Like an unstoppable rolling iron torrent, it continued to crush towards the Heavenly Gate Formation.
The rain of arrows could not stop them for even a moment!
Occasionally, a few scattered arrows would pass through the shield formation and hit the armor, but after a "clang clang," they would bounce off, none of them causing any damage.
"Hiss—" A collective gasp rippled through the Liao army ranks.
Good heavens, what kind of monsters were these? The sharp wolf-tooth arrows couldn't even scratch them!
Not only Ren Xiaoyao, but even the ordinary soldiers of the Tianji Army were terrifyingly frightening!
Ordinary!?
The most elite central imperial guards of the Song Dynasty, the Imperial Guards protecting the palace, had a set of armor costing two hundred taels of silver, while these five thousand iron-clad soldiers had each suit of armor costing one thousand! The
expensive, high-grade cold iron ore was exclusively sourced by the Tianji Sect.
It was tempered by the Thunderbolt Hall's Burning Sun Heavenly Fire, repeated hundreds of times.
Then, the Listening Rain Pavilion gathered skilled craftsmen from across the land to meticulously forge it.
On the battlefield, ordinary swords and crossbows couldn't pierce it.
One thousand taels was just the cost price, not even including the ore provided by the Tianji Sect; if they were to sell it…it would cost
at least three thousand taels per piece.
While the Liao army was skilled archers, their morale was low, and the arrows they fired had less than seventy percent of their usual power, hardly causing any damage.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill! " A
deafening roar, a thunderous roar that soared into the sky.
In the Liao army ranks, Yelü Yan and his officers gasped. Seeing the enemy soldiers raising massive shields high above their heads, their relentless arrows failing to halt them even for a moment, they knew further measures were futile. They hastily ordered, "Stop! Stop firing! Cease fire!"
"Yelü Shaxi, take ten thousand elite troops and halt them!"
"Yes, sir!" General Yelü Shaxi spurred his horse forward, waving his hand.
"My men!"
Yelü Shaxi roared, raising his massive axe high into the air.
Archers spread to the sides, and ten thousand infantrymen surged forward, gathering behind him, chanting in unison,
"Here we are!"
"Soldiers, defeat the Song army! The Central Plains, the vast lands, will be ours!" "
Gold, silver, wealth, and beautiful women from the Central Plains—you can have as much as you want!"
Yelü Shaxi roared, and thousands of soldiers swarmed in, their eyes blazing with murderous intent, their frenzied desires making them howl like wolves.
"For our king, for the great Khitan's unification of the world, charge!"
Yelü Shaxi thrust his axe forward and spurred his horse into a gallop.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Over ten thousand Liao soldiers followed like shadows, surging forward.
"A rain of spears, a formation of arrows!"
Jing Si roared, and the advancing enemy troops instantly changed formation. The massive shields covering the sky were lowered, and sharp iron halberds shot into the air from within the ranks, their blue light gleaming, their cold blades crisscrossing.
"Kill!"
"Kill!!"
"Kill!!!" "
The five thousand armored soldiers roared in unison, completely unaffected by the Liao army's wolfish charge. Like tigers, they attacked their prey.
"All troops, listen to my command! Change formation!"
Jing Si let out a final long howl, his figure flashing into the ranks, transforming into an ordinary soldier.
The armored soldiers' charge slowed slightly. The first rank of infantrymen raised their sturdy shields, forming a cold, solid shield wall, firmly blocking the surging Liao army outside.
The second and third ranks of infantrymen used their spears and halberds to continuously thrust through the gaps in the shields and from the tops, felling the government troops blocking the shield wall row by row.
This formation was well-trained in the armored soldiers, who were accustomed to cavalry charges first, dividing and scattering the enemy, and then encircling and annihilating them with infantry. The army, witnessing something unprecedented, saw rows of soldiers fall to the ground under the cold-blooded yet meticulously ordered stabbing of the armored troops, their formation gradually crumbling .
"Bang!"
A Liao soldier, pushed off balance by the surging crowd, crashed violently into the massive shield in front of him. The sharp spikes covering the shield pierced his chest and abdomen, leaving over a dozen gaping wounds. The soldier braced himself against the shield, struggling to pull his body out, and looked down in horror. He saw over a dozen spurts of blood gushing from his body, and the terror of death instantly enveloped him. He let out a long, piercing scream.
"Ugh—ugh—"
"Clang!"
Another Liao soldier, exerting all his strength, slashed fiercely at the giant shield, but the shield remained unscathed. "
Swish, swish..."
Two sharp spears, however, emerged from pre-drilled holes on either side of the shield. A flash of cold light, and with a sound of bones breaking and flesh tearing, they pierced the Liao soldier's abdomen, emerging from his back. The sharp, triangular blades still gleamed with a cold light, and crimson blood dripped silently down their edges…
"Ahhh, no—"
The Liao soldier gripped the spears that had pierced his body tightly, raising his head and letting out a long, mournful howl.
There was no wealth, no women, only gushing blood.
The beautiful dreams Yelü Shaxi had built for them hadn't even had time to be realized; their young life force had receded from their bodies like a receding tide…
"Aaaaah!"
A fearless Liao soldier leaped up, slamming his foot heavily onto the giant shield. Sharp wolf fangs pierced his foot instantly. The Liao soldier, seemingly unaware, had barely raised his scimitar when two cold, venomous spears thrust forth like serpents.
"Thud!" "Thud!
"
The sharp blades pierced the Liao soldier's chest and abdomen, instantly pinning him to the ground.
"Get out of the way!"
Yelü Shaxi roared, grabbing his massive axe and bringing it down with devastating force.
"Boom!"
With a deafening roar, the sturdy shield shattered into pieces.
This was a fierce Liao general; the power of his axe strike was overwhelming.
The armored soldier holding the shield was struck as if by a giant hammer, instantly bleeding from all seven orifices, collapsing limply to the ground, vomiting blood, and falling silent.
The instant he fell, another Heavenly Army soldier, carrying a giant shield, fearlessly rushed forward to fill the gap left by his fallen comrade, maintaining the integrity of the formation with his life.
"Swish!"
"Swish!!"
"Swish!!"
Three sharp spears attacked simultaneously from three different angles, aimed directly at Yelü Shaxi's warhorse.
"Clang!"
Yelü Shaxi struggled to parry, barely managing to deflect one spear, but could no longer stop the thrusts of the other two. Amidst splattering blood, the sharp triangular blades easily cleaved his mount's chest.
"Hee-hee-hee—"
The mount reared up, kicking its front hooves in the air before collapsing to the ground.
Yelü Shaxi braced himself with one hand, leaping into the air. While still in mid-air, another sharp iron halberd attacked, slashing towards his vital chest with tremendous force, threatening to cut him in two.
Yelü Shaxi instantly contracted his grip, letting out a roar as he brought his massive axe down, striking the blade before the iron halberd could pierce him.
But being in mid-air, he had no leverage, making the axe strike feel both light and fleeting.
"Clang!" A suffocating metallic clang rang out as Yelü Shaxi cried out in pain, staggering backward several steps before finally stopping.
"Whoosh—" A spear thrust at his side, and Yelü Shaxi twisted to dodge, the spear tip grazing his abdomen. He felt a chill run through him, looked down in shock, and saw a piece of his leather armor had been ripped away. A cold sweat broke out on his body, and he quickly retreated several steps, disappearing into the chaotic Liao army formation.
The Liao army's formation began to crumble. The armored soldiers in the front ranks, carrying massive shields, continued to advance. Behind these shields, spears and halberds continued to spit out blood like venomous snakes, devouring the lives of the enemy soldiers...
"Yelü Guyu, Yelü Zhengliu, Yelü Qiuhan, take your men and hold them off! Hold them off at all costs! Do not let the Tianji Army get close!" Seeing the situation was dire, Yelü Yan sent another 20,000 troops to block them. The Tianji Army and the Liao army clashed, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
"Pass on the order!"
Long Feiyun, watching from afar, sneered.
"Dragon Soaring and Tiger Wing Army, turn around and charge straight at the Tianmen Formation from the center!"

Volume 46, Chapter 3, "Stealing

the Sky and Changing the Sun," Volume 46, Chapter 3, Chapter 3, Volume 46, Volume 46, Chapter 3, Chapter 3, Chapter 3, Chapter 46, Chapter 47, Chapter 48, Chapter 49 ...
The formation shifted rapidly during the march. The front ranks of knights held shields in their left hands and spears in their right, deflecting stray arrows fired by the enemy. Warriors behind them drew their bows or raised their javelins, ready to fire into the enemy ranks as soon as they reached attack range, covering their comrades' advance.
The remaining cavalry, led by Yang Yanzhao, Yang Yande, Mu Guiying, and Yang Zongbao, launched a full-scale attack, shifting positions on the flanks of the Longxiang and Huyi armies to prevent the Liao army's Tiger and Leopard cavalry from launching unchecked flanking attacks. Meanwhile, generals including Long Feiyun led the central army of over 50,000 men, advancing slowly to support the vanguard of the assault.
Twenty-four large drums thundered, further enhancing the imposing presence of the advancing Tianji army.
An army has thousands of soldiers and countless situations, and commanding the Pingrong Wanquan Formation is far more complex than simply issuing commands from left to right, advancing with drums and retreating with gongs. Long Feiyun, in the central command, continuously issued orders, and the standard-bearers behind him displayed various colored flags in different ways, with the flanks responding accordingly.
The Liao army within the Tianmen Formation was thrown into disarray. Three other forces were engaged in close combat with the Ironclad Army, and standing together, they were unsure whether to fire their bows and arrows.
If they didn't fire, Long Xiang and Hu Yijun could easily reach the front lines and slaughter them like vegetables.
If they did fire, they would kill not only the Tianji Army but also their own 30,000 brothers.
"General, what...what do we do?!" a deputy general asked in a panic.
"You're asking me? Who the hell am I supposed to ask?!" Yelü Yan cursed, but his voice was instantly drowned out by shouts of killing.
The battle had finally begun in full force, and the Liao army's morale was in chaos.
"Charge! Charge!" Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng led the charge, their cavalry rushing towards the Tianmen Formation.
Just over a hundred paces away, the two battle-hardened armies, brimming with fighting spirit, were about to breach the formation when suddenly a deafening battle cry erupted. The taut hum of bowstrings filled the air, and thousands upon thousands of sharp, wolf-tooth arrows whistled through the air, spreading out in a vast expanse before raining down like a deluge, each arrow accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, instantly descending upon the two armies.
"Thud!"
A cold, wolf-tooth arrow pierced the skull of an armored soldier through a gap in his helmet, the sharp tip protruding from his chin. Crimson blood dripped from the arrowhead; the arrow had pierced the entire skull. The armored soldier stumbled forward two steps, then collapsed stiffly to the ground.
"Ugh—Help!"
A Liao soldier rolled to the ground, screaming in agony, clutching his thighs in pain. A feather protruded from his skin, and crimson blood seeped between his fingers. His cries for help went unheard; the surging army behind him relentlessly trampled him underfoot. Soon, the Liao soldier fell silent.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!!"
"Whoosh!!!"
Accompanied by piercing whistles, wave after wave of arrows rained down mercilessly from the sky. The armored Liao army, arrayed in formation and protected by shields, was completely unable to withstand the onslaught of arrows. They fell like stalks of wheat being cut down. In just a moment, the plain was littered with the corpses of Liao soldiers, and many more lay in pools of blood, screaming for help…
The Longxiang and Huyi armies, caught off guard, also suffered heavy casualties, with over a hundred riders falling from their horses, struck by arrows.
"What's going on?! Has the Liao army gone mad? They're even abandoning their own men!"
Everyone was shocked and couldn't believe the Liao army's insane actions, especially the more than 30,000 men who were fighting the Ironclad Army. They couldn't believe, even in their dying moments, that their own arrows would hit their own men!
"Change formation! Change formation!" Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng remained calm in the face of danger, deflecting the rain of arrows while directing the entire army.
Their formation appeared to be a wedge formation, with the entire army arranged in a cone shape in the center, using the tip of the cone as the strongest point of attack, aiming to break through the enemy's lines. The offensive was powerful, but the flank defenses were extremely weak and easily breached. However, upon closer inspection, it could be seen that within each large wedge formation on the left and right, there were nine smaller wedge cone formations, each of which was further subdivided into six smaller triangular formations, and each triangular formation consisted of twelve cavalrymen.
This is a formation created by Zhuge Liang. Its offensive power is similar to the Arrowhead Formation, while its defensive power is closer to the Crane Wing Formation. It also has the convenience and flexibility of the Long Snake Formation. This is because each soldier of the Heavenly Pole Army only needs to follow the sergeant at the tip of the triangular formation; and each sergeant in front of the triangular formation only needs to follow the captain in front of the small cone formation; and each captain only needs to obey the commander in front of the large Arrowhead Formation. The commander can direct them to the left or right, so it looks like a large Arrowhead Formation, but as long as the commanders Qin Xiang and Zhang Feng point their fingers, the Arrowhead Formation can be transformed into another formation, instantly turning offense into defense!
For example, to transform this highly offensive Arrowhead Formation into a Shield Formation to block arrows, the captains on the nine cones only need to come together and turn the triangles upside down. All other variations are the same.
This is the unparalleled wisdom and extraordinary abilities of Zhuge Liang, and also the second key to the Tianji Army's victory over the Liao army with superior numbers.
Who was the first key? Ren Xiaoyao!
Ren Xiaoyao charged left and right within the Tianmen Formation, simultaneously relying on his sixth sense to fully control every move on the battlefield. Upon "seeing" the Liao soldiers disregarding the lives of their comrades and forcibly firing with crossbows, he immediately guessed it was Yelü Changsheng's order.
Only he could be so ruthless!
Only he would stop at nothing for victory!
However, Yelü Changsheng, as the Liao army's commander-in-chief, must have been overseeing the overall situation from the center of the main formation, unable and unwilling to personally command from the front lines. So how did his order get through so quickly?
Ren Xiaoyao gazed into the distance and saw a tall wooden building. On the roof, a Liao general waved various brightly colored flags, clearly visible even from dozens of miles away.
"Hmm, so it's a high-rise communication system. No wonder the million-strong army within the Heavenly Gate Formation moves with such speed and efficiency, transmitting orders so swiftly."
Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts stirred.
"Good, I'll dismantle the high-rise and destroy the Liao army's command center, then let's see how Yelü Changsheng issues his orders!"
Deciding on his plan in an instant, Ren Xiaoyao ignored the Liao soldiers firing arrows around him, spurred his horse, and brandished his spear, charging straight towards the high-rise. Two generals charged forward, attempting to intercept him. Ren Xiaoyao roared and thrust
his spear. The general on the left swung his spiked club to meet him, and in a single exchange, Ren Xiaoyao stabbed him to the ground. The general on the right was about to flee when Ren Xiaoyao flicked his finger in mid-air. The scorching heat of his spear tip burst forth, piercing the general's back armor in an instant, sending him and his horse crashing to the ground. Blood gushed from his mouth, and he fell silent in a flash.
The high-rise was heavily fortified by 100,000 Liao troops. Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's arrival, they were all terrified and wanted to flee, but military orders were paramount; running away would only lead to a more gruesome death. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and meet him head-on.
"Hmph, overestimating yourselves,"
Ren Xiaoyao sneered. He didn't even bother with his Dragon's Gallblade technique
. He drew his sword, swung it, and sheathed it. The Ice Soul Frost Sword flashed in the air for only a moment before several generals in front of him were beheaded. They didn't even have time to parry or react. A Liao general charged in from the side, his broadsword whistling as it slashed down.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't even bother to look. With his free left hand, he lightly deflected and parried, the blade instantly changing direction, slicing the Liao general in two with a "whoosh."
Ren Xiaoyao had defeated three generals in quick succession, effortlessly. The Liao army was in an uproar, their morale instantly weakened.
"Stop him! Stop him! Don't retreat!"
the Liao army officers shouted desperately. More and more Liao soldiers, bound by military discipline, surged towards him like a tide, but not one could withstand a single blow, let alone hold him off for even a moment.
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao charging closer and closer, the Liao army erupted in clamor. The commanding general, Prince Taiping Yansage, brandished his Qilin Fang sword and attacked Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao, using his left hand to parry the longsword with his spear, then with a single sword stroke, sliced the opponent's precious blade in two. The force of the blow caused Yansage to scream and fall from his horse, dying instantly on the ground.
The Liao soldiers gasped in shock. Yansage, a fierce general renowned throughout the Northwest, was utterly powerless against Ren Xiaoyao's sword.
The Liao army swelled, forming a human wall of flesh and blood, firmly blocking the path to the tower.
Ren Xiaoyao tried to break through, but couldn't. Who in the world could stop him?
But time was of the essence; every moment he lingered meant another moment of threat from arrows to the Tianji Army soldiers.
Ren Xiaoyao yanked the reins, his Haolongdan spear sweeping across the battlefield, unleashing the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear. Within a radius of twenty zhang, sand and stones flew, men and horses fell, and the Liao army retreated in disarray, too afraid to approach. Ren Xiaoyao planted Haolongdan in the ground, slowly took the Stealing Heaven Bow from his back, drew it with all his might, and as the bowstring snapped taut, he roared, "Listen, soldiers! Watch as my arrows pierce the Liao soldiers' towers!" His voice, imbued with the deepest, most powerful internal energy, resonated far and wide, like thunderclaps, piercing the heavens.
Within a hundred li radius, including those inside and outside the Heavenly Gate Formation and those who hadn't yet charged in, everyone in the Tianji Army heard it clearly. All the fighting and shouting seemed to cease in an instant, and over a million eyes, whether they could see him clearly or not, all turned to look in his direction.
Shoot the towers!?
Ren Xiaoyao was now a full eight hundred paces from the tower. Was such a distance even achievable by human power?
The surrounding Liao soldiers were all stunned by his unexpected words and actions, staring at him in astonishment.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and slowly drew out a Sun-Changing Arrow.
This was the second of three arrows. He had fired the first one from the city tower half a month ago,
killing Xiao Talin, the Liao general commanding the siege, from a distance of five hundred paces. Xiao Talin's death caused Emperor Yelü Longxu of Liao to weep bitterly, suspending court for five days. The Khitan army was shaken, and today's decisive battle also meant that the Liao army was missing a tiger general comparable to Yelü Changsheng.
Ren Xiaoyao drew his bow, nocked an arrow, held the bow in his left hand, tilting the top slightly, his right palm supporting the target, his index finger hooking the target like an eagle's beak, the remaining three fingers and thumb gripping the target tightly. He then drew the arrow to the string, his index finger covering his thumb, the other three fingers gripping his palm, drawing the string across his chest, his elbow firmly against his ribs, easily drawing the bow to a full moon.
The Liao soldiers wanted to stop him, but were intimidated by his powerful strength, daring not to take a single step forward.
The bowstring snapped, and the arrow shot out, moving at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye, flashing across the sky like lightning.
Eight hundred paces—this was the distance between him and the tower, a distance beyond human reach.
But for the sake of the Song Dynasty, for the people, for the martial world, for the countless righteous and heroic martyrs who had sacrificed their lives, he had no choice but to shoot.
Only success was allowed; failure was not an option.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, his mind highly focused. His life's cultivation of pure Yang energy, combined with his loyalty to the emperor and his love for his wife and children, surged towards the tip of the Sun-Changing Arrow.
"Whoosh—"
The bowstring of the Heaven-Stealing Bow snapped, and the Sun-Changing Arrow shot out with tremendous force, traveling at a speed almost invisible to the naked eye, covering a distance of a hundred paces like lightning, striking the main beam of the tall building. Highly concentrated innate supreme Qi
surged forth, scattering from the arrow tip and instantly spreading in all directions. The tall building froze in mid-air, as if struck by lightning that had flashed from the void and another world. It collapsed
with a deafening roar! Everyone was stunned. Eight hundred paces! What an incredible distance! One arrow shattering a tower—what astonishing divine power! The entire arena fell silent; for a moment, all movement seemed to cease. The entire Sky Army stood at attention. To them, Ren Xiaoyao was not only their supreme spiritual leader, but also a martial arts master and invincible war god, worshipped like a god. With him around, even the most difficult situation could be turned around instantly. With him around, even the strongest opponent could be defeated in an instant.

The Liao army was filled with dread, every soldier and general holding their breath, feeling a surge of excitement within them. Only the howling night wind and the neighing of warhorses broke the sudden silence.
In a battle between masters, victory or defeat hinges on the slightest difference; on the battlefield, a single misstep can lead to complete defeat.
Ren Xiaoyao, with his keen insight, instantly identified the key to the situation and, relying on his unparalleled bravery, laid the foundation for victory in a flash.
"Kill! Kill!" Someone shouted, and the battle cries erupted once more, both armies throwing themselves back into a life-or-death struggle.
The tower collapsed, the Liao army's long-range command system completely collapsed, and the seventy-two smaller formations within the Heavenly Gate Formation were forced to fight independently, resisting the onslaught from all sides by the Heavenly Extreme Army.
Before the Tianji Army even arrived, the Liao soldiers at the front lines began to riot. This was because Yelü Changsheng's commands couldn't be relayed in time. Seeing their own soldiers, some of whom were comrades with whom they had shared drinks and meals, being shot to death by their own crossbow bolts, their cries of agony echoing from afar, no one dared to continue firing.
Seeing the enemy's fear before the battle even began, Long Feiyun hesitated no longer. With a single command, the Longxiang and Huyi armies reassembled their wedge formation, thousands of soldiers advancing in unison, ten thousand horses galloping, charging towards the chaotic Liao army.
The powerful central main force also advanced, but unlike the cavalry on the left and right flanks who charged with lightning speed, they advanced slowly. This combination of two fast and one slow force added considerable momentum and pressure.
The long-awaited decisive battle had finally reached the moment of close combat.
Before the Tianji Army even got close, the Liao army within the Tianmen Formation began to riot. Many archers, unable to bear the horrific sight of their own troops being slaughtered, threw down their weapons and fled in a frenzy. One fled, then his unit followed; one unit fled, then a scout; one scout fled, then a whole battalion…
Seeing the increasing number of deserters, Yelü Yan was frantic. His shouts to stop them were futile. In a fit of anger, he swung his sword and fought several deserters, but still couldn't stop the rout.
The tide had turned. With the arrival of the Longxiang and Huyi armies, the Liao troops in the sixteen formations outside the Tianmen Formation completely collapsed. Especially around the high platform, the Liao soldiers, terrified by Ren Xiaoyao, disregarded military discipline and retreated like a tidal wave, abandoning their armor and weapons, fleeing in panic towards the fifty-sixth formation behind them.
Qin Xiang tossed aside his nearly broken spear, worn down from fighting hundreds of men, and with a swift motion, drew his spare steel sword. The biting wind brushed his cheek, instantly clearing his mind.
Looking into the distance, the Liao army's formation was in complete disarray. After three volleys of javelins, less than a third of the five thousand Liao soldiers in a square formation fifty paces away had survived the hail of bullets, most wounded and their fighting strength negligible.
Another square formation was faintly visible afterward.
Qin Xiang gently pulled on the reins, turned around, and his piercing gaze swept over every soldier of the Longxiang Army. All eyes instantly focused on him.
Banners fluttered, swords gleamed; no words of encouragement or desperate shouts were needed. The battle-hardened Longxiang Army was like a pack of ruthless, bloodthirsty wolves.
And he, Qin Xiang, was the alpha wolf leading the pack!
The alpha wolf only needed to stand high in the moonlight, and with a single, chilling glance, all the wolves would follow behind, launching a desperate attack on their prey!
"Kill them!"
Qin Xiang roared, spurring his horse's flanks. The warhorse, in pain, reared up, let out a mournful neigh, and charged forward.
Behind him, over six thousand riders spurred their horses forward simultaneously, their thousands of iron hooves pounding the earth. For a moment, the entire forest trembled slightly.
"Khitan Liao dogs, prepare to die!"
Qin Xiang's face contorted with rage, his burning eyes gleaming with ferocity. He roared hoarsely, raising his cold, thick-backed steel sword high, its chill illuminating the entire void. "Die!" Ben Zhangfeng shouted, jerking the reins. His warhorse neighed mournfully and leaped into the air
. He leaped ten steps through the air, then crashed down like a mountain, his dazzling glint blinding the Liao soldiers. His sharp spear, propelled by the force of his momentum, pierced through the air. Screams erupted, blood splattered, and a Liao soldier directly in front of him, before he could even cry out, had a gaping hole in his chest. Behind Zhang Feng, thousands of Tiger Wing Army soldiers surged forward across the hillside, each standing tall, their sabers raised with all their might. "Boom—" The Tiger Wing Army soldiers, propelled by immense momentum, swept down like a colossal wave, instantly engulfing an entire square formation. Thousands of sharp sabers and spiked clubs mercilessly slashed down, drawing countless eerie arcs in the air. Instantly, a continuous stream of screams rose into the sky. The Liao soldiers, already terrified, were splattered with blood, howling and rolling on the ground in agony… Not all Liao soldiers fled; many fearless warriors fought valiantly against the Heavenly Pole Army. Commander Huli Shi, leading over two thousand men, fearlessly charged towards the Ironclad Army. He launched a powerful attack, his spiked club slamming heavily into a shield. "Boom!" The shield shattered into pieces. As the Ironclad Army gasped in shock, Huli Shi roared, and his spiked club whistled downwards. Amidst the splattering blood, a head was smashed into a bloody pulp. Suddenly hearing shouts of battle erupting behind him, Huli Shi turned around and saw two red-robed generals leading a vast army of cavalry, like two dark clouds, charging towards him from the left and right flanks. The thunder of hooves and the blaring of horns echoed across the land. This was none other than the Khitan's proud elite force—the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry! A fervent passion ignited in Huli Shi's eyes, instantly dispelling the depression and grief caused by the heavy casualties of his allies. Huli Shi raised his mace high, roared, "Brothers! Generals Yelü Guozhen and Yelü Guobao are leading the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry! This must be King Yelü's order! King Yelü has not forgotten us!" "Kill! Fight the Song army to the death!" "Long live the King! Long live the Great Khitan!" The Liao soldiers responded enthusiastically, grabbing their swords, spears, and bows and crossbows, launching a frenzied counterattack against the Tianji army. The seemingly collapsing situation had turned into a chaotic melee. A Tianji army general overseeing the battle stared at Huli Shi, who was raising his arms and roaring orders. A glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes. He tossed his spear aside and grabbed an iron-framed bow. "Whoosh—" A sharp sound pierced the air. Huli Shi's body jolted violently, a searing pain instantly spreading throughout his body. Huli Shi lowered his head, staring in disbelief at his chest. An arrow shot by the Tianji army had pierced his heart, half of the fletching trembling slightly in his chest. Huli Shi gritted his teeth and raised his left hand, pointing shakily forward. Crimson blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and life drained from his body like a receding tide. "Charge...kill...kill!" He shouted hoarsely with the last of his strength, his bright eyes gradually dimming. "For the Great Khitan, kill—" His voice abruptly stopped, and Huli Shi's vision went black. His head slumped limply, a blood-dripping wolf hair sticking out from his back, still flickering with a cold, icy light. "Thump!" His body fell from the horse's back, trembled twice, and then died.

The Tianji Army general sneered, sheathing his iron-framed bow and preparing to rejoin the battle with his sword, when a fatal slash suddenly struck his side, the cold texture brushing past his chest.
Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, who had been dozens of feet away just moments before, were now upon him. A red-robed general galloped past him, his sharp saber gleaming with an unusual cold light.
The Tianji Army general slowly lowered his head. His armor remained intact, but a trickle of crimson blood suddenly spurted from the seam, forming a diagonal line. The next moment, he was horrified to see his upper body slowly sliding off his lower body…
“Ugh—ah!!!”
The Tianji Army general screamed shrilly, then abruptly stopped, his two lifeless bodies crashing to the ground.
"Kill!"
With fervent fighting spirit and soaring morale, the 50,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, led by generals such as Yelü Guozhen, Yelü Guobao, Yelü Shilu, and Yelü Shiliang, advanced along a precisely calculated route, swift as arrows, fast as lightning, and fierce as a storm, swarming forward to engage the vanguard of the Dragon Cavalry, Tiger Wing Cavalry, and Ironclad Army in a fierce battle. Arrows
rained down from the sky, and the soldiers of both armies clashed instantly, engaging in a brutal and brutal close-quarters combat. For a moment, the sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and blood splattered everywhere—a horrifying sight.
In this chaotic melee, only exceptional masters like Ren Xiaoyao, who possessed the extraordinary treasures left by the Five Tiger Generals, could truly dominate the battlefield. Other masters, no matter how high their martial arts skills or how superb their techniques, could only rely on the power of collective cooperation.
Yelü Guozhen's broadsword snapped in two, but he drew his waist saber and continued charging forward, showing no intention of retreating.
Xu Shangheng, the deputy leader of the White Tiger Hall and the militia commander of Guozhou, led a contingent of the Dragon Cavalry, charging left and right, covered in blood, stepping over corpses as they met head-on.
"Clang!" Swords clashed, the sound deafening.
The immense recoil sent both men's hands numb, their weapons flying backward.
Yelü Guozhen's broadsword drew a dazzling arc in the air, piercing the chest of a Liao soldier's swordsman with a thud. The swordsman's wolf-like steps abruptly halted, and he fell straight down like a sawed log. Meanwhile, Xu Shangheng's sword whistled as it sliced off half the head of a Tianji Army soldier...
By this point, the entire Tianji Army of 90,000 men, along with the Yang Family Army and the Imperial Guard totaling 30,000 men, had been committed to the battle. On the Liao side, with the collapse of the outer sixteen formations and the complete dismantling of the Gaolou command system by Ren Xiaoyao, Yelü Changsheng relied on the bizarre arrangement of the Tianmen Formation and his decisive and skillful command and coordination to stabilize the situation with only the remaining thirty-two formations, including 50,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and 500,000 troops. There were still 300,000 fresh troops that had not been used.
While the Pingrong Wanquan Formation was indeed formidable, aside from Ren Xiaoyao, the other generals like Long Feiyun, Yang Yanzhao, and Mu Guiying were simply no match for Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, and Huang Zhong. The 90,000 soldiers of the Tianji Army were far less skilled than Zhuge Liang had anticipated when designing the formation, making its combat effectiveness far weaker than expected.
In contrast, the Liao army, led by Yelü Changsheng, possessed wisdom no less than Sima Yi's in his prime, and their overall quality was generally superior to the Wei army of that era. The Khitan's prized Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, in particular, would have been virtually invincible in the Three Kingdoms period. Furthermore, the Tianmen Formation itself was a first-rate, bizarre, and unpredictable formation; destroying and defeating it under the layered protection of 1.2 million troops was unthinkable under normal circumstances.
So, how did the Tianji Army and the Song Dynasty win this decisive battle that would determine the fate of both nations… no, the world? Did
they rely on the martial arts figures of Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, the Tang Clan of Shu, and the Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces?
How could that be?
The Liao Kingdom also has the Asura Cult, the Absolute Killer Cult, the Ghost Sorrow Palace Cult, the Maitreya Cult, and the Tangut Society.
In terms of strength (the top 20 remnants of each side have been determined), the two sides are evenly matched.
Relying on Ren Xiaoyao?
Indeed, Ren Xiaoyao possesses the ability to fight ten thousand, even over a hundred thousand, but to expect him to single-handedly take on an army of three hundred thousand, along with countless skilled guards surrounding Yelü Longxu, is simply outrageous.
So, this battle is unwinnable?
How could that be?
With Ren Xiaoyao's foresight and brilliant strategies, why would he engage in a decisive battle he wasn't
confident of winning? What... what gave him confidence, certainty, and hope?
What could turn the tide and secure the Song army's victory?
The answer is two words: reinforcements!?
Where would reinforcements come from!?
Besides the ten thousand men garrisoning Tanzhou City and protecting Emperor Zhenzong, the Song army in the north, except for those guarding the river mouths and passes that absolutely could not be evacuated, simply couldn't spare any troops! The Great Song Dynasty
?
With the Liao, Western Xia, Tubo, Goryeo, and Dali kingdoms launching a joint invasion, couldn't the Great Song Dynasty rely on its allies? Don't forget, Japan!!! Twenty miles northwest of Tianmen Formation lies Mituo'ao. This is a depression surrounded by bamboo forests, their lush green waves crashing like waves, the hills and ravines verdant and covered in trees, bamboo, and vines, known as the "Hundred-Mile Hibiscus Tent." In the distance, a swiftly moving figure flashes by. Dressed in black samurai attire, wearing a bamboo hat and two layers of light veils, her figure is slender and alluring, her curves shapely. The samurai sword at her waist, though sheathed, still exudes a chilling aura, as if a raging fire is burning before her, ready to destroy and engulf everything at any moment. The sword is Ryujin Jakka. The person is none other than Shinguji Mina. Unlike other masters who had been preparing for battle from the very beginning, waiting for the Tianji Army to breach the basic defenses within the Tianmen Formation and for both sides to immediately engage in close combat, each using their profound martial arts skills to swiftly sweep away the enemy, Zhen Gongji Mina and Ren Xiaoyao led the attack. They quietly slipped away unnoticed, bypassing the Tianmen Formation and heading northwest. Just as she was about to enter a grove of trees before Mi Tuo Ao, two loud shouts suddenly rang out: "Who goes there?" Zhen Gongji Mina pressed on, not answering. "Halt! If you don't stop, don't blame us for killing you!" Two figures shot out with the shout. Out of the corner of her eye, Zhen Gongji Mina saw the two men's agile and swift movements, clearly first-rate masters. A thought flickered in her mind, a captivating smile playing on her lips, but her steps didn't falter. In an instant, several halberds were thrust at her. The shuriken flashed with a dark light, whistling through the air with incredible speed and devastating force. Two attacks struck her chest, one aimed at her face, while two ninja stars flew towards her sides. This meant that no matter how she tried to rise or dodge, Mina Shinguji was vulnerable to these projectiles. The technique used to launch the shuriken and ninja stars was extremely skillful; the dark glint of the shuriken indicated they were coated with potent poison, and the fact that the attacker didn't shout "Attack!" beforehand was also typical ninja behavior. Mina Shinguji, a Jonin and a master of the Hokushin Itto-ryu style, already knew the attack targets from the sound of the projectiles. She immediately spread her arms slightly, twisted her waist in mid-air, and forcefully changed her direction. With a burst of energy, she leaped backward. Once the shuriken were at their last gasp, she shifted her stance slightly, swung her palms back, and effortlessly knocked away all three shuriken aimed at her.

The other two ninja shuriken weren't even aimed at her, and since she hadn't moved to the left or right, they naturally missed as well.
"Not bad, catch this one!"
With a sharp shout, a barrage of hidden weapons rained down from the trees on both sides—poisonous kunai, shuriken, five-colored beads, and shadow windmill shuriken were all present.
Mina Shinguji slightly raised her slender hand, producing a shuriken that whistled softly, to meet the barrage of weapons raining down upon her. In that instant, her figure slid seven feet away.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
After a series of crisp sounds, she had deflected most of the falling weapons, but the momentum of the three consecutive poisonous kunai striking her left side didn't diminish; they rapidly approached with a sharp, piercing whistling sound.
Clearly, the force with which she unleashed those poisonous kunai was no less than his!
Mina Shinguji frowned slightly, her inner energy flowing as she deftly dodged the poisonous kunai. With a slight lift of her slender arm, she caught a large shadow windmill shuriken, saying with a hint of reproach, "Several years have passed in the blink of an eye. It's one thing if the squad members don't recognize me, but Yachiru, how come you... Hmph, you don't act like a vice-captain at all."
"Hehe, I just wanted to see if your skill in catching hidden weapons has improved, Mina." A small head peeked out from a branch, and it was none other than the eternally nine-year-old Yachiru Kusashi.
“Time is of the essence, we must try after we’ve wiped out the Liao soldiers.” Shinguji Mina removed her straw hat and casually handed it to a member of the Eleventh Division beside her. “Quick, take me to see the Emperor. Xiaoyao has a letter for me to deliver to His Majesty.” ××
... As for the various ninjutsu schools, all those who were supposed to be there were present. The eleven Kage of the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Ice, Wind, Lightning, Mist, Body, and Illusion schools, along with their subordinate schools, were all present. The Hokushin Itto-ryu school even gathered nine-tenths of its thirteen guards, the secret mobile force, and the Anbu, totaling nearly two thousand men. Time was of the essence, so Shinguji Mina didn't linger and went directly to the royal tent to meet Emperor Sanjo. "Is this the battle plan devised by the Taiko-sama?" Emperor Sanjo asked in a deep voice, taking the sealed scroll from Shinguji Mina. "Yes, Xiaoyao instructed me to convey to Your Majesty that upon receiving this scroll, you should immediately deploy troops according to its contents, advancing from the flanks and rear to launch a full-scale surprise attack on the Heavenly Gate Formation." Emperor Sanjo hurriedly opened the scroll, glanced at it briefly, and beckoned Inoue Takehiko over. "By imperial decree, all ninjas under the command of the Eleven Kage are to be transferred to the Hokushin Itto-ryu Jonin, Shinguji Mina. All daimyo are to be summoned here to be assigned duties!" Without hesitation or a moment's pause, this decree, issued by Emperor Sanjo, mandated that everyone in Japan, from the Emperor down to the ninjas, obey. "Sanada Yukimura." "Present!" A young warrior clad in red armor and a deer-antler helmet rose above the crowd. "Two years ago, you came to Kyoto as a hostage, studying military strategy under the Taiko. The Taiko praised you as 'Japan's strongest soldier, unmatched since ancient times,' but today…" Emperor Sanjo snapped his fan shut, his voice rising abruptly, "You are not a soldier, but the vanguard of my Japanese army aiding Song!" The entire hall fell silent, all eyes of the dozens of daimyo turning towards Sanada Yukimura. "Your mission is to break through the Liao army's flank, advance first, and, with the cooperation of the various daimyo 's forces, eliminate all Liao troops near the royal camp except for the Xuanjia Tiger and Leopard units. Remember, in this battle, display the spirit and might of our Fusang army, and do not disappoint the Taiko's high expectations of you." "Your subject obeys!" Sanada Yukimura turned to face southwest, raised his arm, and shouted, "Sarutobi Sasuke, Kirigakure Saizo, Miyoshi Harumi, Miyoshi Izo, Unno Rokuro, Nezu Jinpachi, Mochizuki Rokuro, Anayama Kosuke, Kakei Juzo, and Yuri Kamanosuke, follow me into battle and lead my four thousand Sanada Red-Backed Warriors in a surprise attack on the Liao army!" "Yes!" The ten Sanada warriors under his command responded in unison. ×× ... "Kakizaki Kageie, Naoe Kagetsuna, Usami Sadamitsu, Amakasu Kagemochi, Honjo Shigenaga, Nagao Masakage, Nagao Kageaki, Saito Tomonobu, Yasuda Yoshimoto, Takanashi Yorimasa, follow me into battle!" "Yes!" ×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× "Mikawa Governor Tokugawa Ieyasu." "Present!" "Lead your 5,000 Mikawa warriors, closely following the Sanada army to sweep away the stubborn enemy." "Your subject obeys!" "Honda Tadakatsu, Ii Tadatsugu, Ii Naomasa, Kanbara Yasumasa, Matsudaira Yasutada, Naito Masanari, Hiraiwa Chikayoshi, Torii Mototada, Okubo Tadayo, Hattori Hanzo, Takagi Kiyohide, Yonezu Tsuneharu, Watanabe Moritsuna, Torii Tadahiro, Okubo Tadasa, Hachiya Sadatsugu, follow me into battle!" "Yes!" ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× "Tosa Guardian Chosokabe Motochika." "Present!" "Lead your 3,000 foot soldiers and advance from the left flank to support the Tokugawa army." "Your subject obeys!" "Hamada Zen'emon, Hamada Zenzaemon, Hamada Hisanao, Kagawa Nobukage, Kaneko Mototsugu, Kumon Shigetada, Emura's brother, Kuwana Yoshinari, Satake Chikanao, Tani Tadatsumi, Nakajima Kōnosuke, Nakajima Shigefusa, and Hisatake's trusted subordinate, accompany this Guardian into battle! "Yes!" ×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× "Usu Tandai Mogami Yoshimitsu" "Present!" " Lead your 3,000 foot soldiers to advance along the right flank and support the Tokugawa army." "Your subject obeys!" " Ujiie Sadanao, Kaminori Hidetsuna, Hino Sakyosuke, Shimura Izu, Kusakari Masatoshi, Mogami Yoshiyasu , Tateoka Mitsushige, Kaminori Norizan, Nariki Hakuki, and Kuramasa Yasufusa, accompany me into battle!" " Yes, sir!"

"Imagawa Yoshimoto, the governor of Suruga Province."
"Yes, sir!"
"Lead your 5,000 archers and closely follow the Tokugawa army, using a single bow to deliver a precise strike and annihilate the Liao army's manpower.
" "Your subject obeys!" "
Taiyuan Xuesai, Asahina Yasuhide, Asahina Yasutomo, Okabe Motonobu, Mukai Masatsune, Ii Naomori, Abe Motomasa, Suganuma Sadamura, Kuno Muneyoshi, Yamada Kagetaka, and Kawara Ujitoku, accompany this scout into battle!"
"Yes, sir!"
×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"Date Masamune, the governor of Oshu Province."
"Yes, sir!"
"Lead your 5,000 cavalry crossbowmen and pursue them, roaming freely to mop up the remaining enemy forces."
"Your subject obeys!"
"Katagura Kagetsuna, Satsuki Yoshinao, Isatsuzumi, Rukami Masakage, Tamura Kiyoaki, Gamo Ujisato, ōuchi Sadatsuna, Suzuki Motonobu, Tamura Kiyoaki, follow this commander into battle!" "
Yes!" " The remaining daimyo of the Oda, Sanada main family, Mori, ōtomo, Shimazu, Hojo, and Suzuki clans shall strictly guard this camp." "Your Majesty, I have long heard that Yelü Changsheng, the commander of the Liao army, is extremely skilled in warfare, especially in the command and control of cavalry, which is nothing short of divine. Our army, with only over 30,000 men, may be insufficient for a charge. What if... the Liao cavalry flanks us from both sides and launches a surprise attack on our main force..." Oda Nobunaga respectfully reported, "Should we take precautions?" Mori Motonari interjected, "Indeed, our main force is located in a low-lying area, which provides good concealment, but if the Liao army finds it, we may not be able to hold out against their iron cavalry charge." The daimyo all echoed this sentiment. "Please give the order, Your Majesty, that the Suzuki Gold Mining Corps immediately begin digging trenches." "The Hojo clan has prepared all the necessary equipment for constructing the fortifications." Emperor Sanjo did not grant the order, but instead rose to his feet and laughed loudly. The daimyo exchanged bewildered glances. "My lords, do you think this is where our army will be holding out?" Emperor Sanjo's eyes flickered as he stared intently at the direction of the Heavenly Gate Formation, and he smiled with delight. "His Majesty intends to relocate?" "Even if he does, he must prepare first, otherwise, relying solely on terrain to hold out..." "Gentlemen!" Emperor Sanjo shouted, cutting off the whispers of the daimyo. "What awaits you later is not field battle, nor ambush, nor fortified camp battle, but..." "City defense battle!" "City? Where is the city!?" The daimyo were all stunned, unable to believe what they were hearing. "There, to our southeast." Emperor Sanjo pointed, his tone triumphant, "Taiko Taijin has prepared a city for us, a city built in a single night!" Volume 46, Chapter 8, "The Reversal of Fortune," within the Heavenly Gate Formation, the Khitan royal tent. Guards stood on all sides, heavily guarded, and an overwhelming killing intent permeated the air. The royal tent, large enough to accommodate fifty or sixty people sitting cross-legged, now only had seven or eight people seated inside. These mere seven or eight people were already the supreme rulers of the northern lands. Stepping onto the thick camel hair carpet, Yelü Longxu's expression was extremely solemn, his tiger-like eyes sweeping across the entire room. Those he looked at lowered their heads slightly, not daring to meet his gaze. Only Yelü Changsheng sat quietly, a smile always on his face. "Unstoppable momentum! You told me it was unstoppable momentum!!!" Yelü Longxu's sharp, hawk-like eyes turned bloodshot with rage. Sitting in the main seat, his hands on his knees, he glared fiercely at the crowd before him and roared, "You've gathered 1.2 million mighty soldiers of my Great Liao, yet you couldn't even take Tanzhou City. The Heavenly Gate Formation? The unparalleled Heavenly Gate Formation, impenetrable even to ghosts and gods? It was almost half destroyed by a mere 90,000 Heavenly Extreme Army soldiers! What are you all good for?!" Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to answer. Yelü Changsheng smiled and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the entire decisive battle was within my calculations. Even if Ren Xiaoyao possesses extraordinary abilities, he cannot reverse the defeat." "Defeat?" Yelü Longxu turned around like a whirlwind, his eyes shining. "Your Majesty, please look." Yelü Changsheng unfolded the map and pointed to the center. "The three main forces of the Tianji Army—the Dragon Soaring, the Tiger Wing, and the Ironclad Army—have already reached the Bewildering Formation, the Thunder Sound Formation, and the Primordial Formation. These areas are shrouded in swamps and reinforced with ten layers of deer antlers. Neither the rapid charge of the cavalry nor the concentrated breakthrough of the Ironclad Army is of much use at this moment. Add to that the 50,000 Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and the personal guards of generals Yelü Huage, Yelü Molugu, and Yelü Shilu… I dare guarantee that the Tianji Army will not be able to cross this line." "In terms of individual combat ability and the level of coordination, the Tianji Army's strength is no less than that of the elite troops of my Great Liao. The reason I placed second- and even third-line troops at the front was not to engage the enemy directly, but to wear down their morale and fighting strength. Once the Tianji Army has fought their way to the brink, I will then use the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and other elite troops to launch a full-scale attack, annihilating them in one fell swoop!" "You mean…?" "The Tianji Army is at its last gasp. I guarantee that in half an hour, once their morale is completely broken, our 300,000 troops will press forward, and the Tianji Army will collapse instantly. The victor of this decisive battle will be..." "Woo—woo-woo—woo-woo-woo—" Before Yelü Changsheng could finish speaking, a strange horn blast, three short and one long, soared into the sky and suddenly entered the tent. "What's going on!?" Yelü Longxu was shocked and looked at Yelü Changsheng beside him. Yelü Changsheng discerned for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It's not our army, could it be..." His face darkened, and he abruptly stood up, rushing out of the tent. Everyone in the tent, including Yelü Longxu, followed him without hesitation! To the west, west of the Tianmen Formation, a blood-red banner mysteriously rose from the ground, gradually rising from the open plain. A gust of wind howled, the banner fluttered, and the blood-red flag unfurled against the wind. The first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds at Chaoyang, shining directly on the emblem, instantly revealing the six-coin-shaped emblem in the center. "This...who is this? Whose troops are they?!" Yelü Longxu gasped. "How could they be here? How could there be enemies on our flank and rear?!" "This is impossible!" Han Derang, in charge of scouting, exclaimed in shock. "This is impossible! Before the battle, I sent scouts to search the entire area for dozens of miles, every forest, valley, reed bed—any hidden place that could conceal hundreds of people. There's no way they could hide a cavalry unit...The 800,000 troops at the front have the Tianmen Formation perfectly secure; even if they sneaked in, it wouldn't be possible!" Yelü Changsheng frowned deeply. He had personally set up the Tianmen Formation, meticulously guarded without any flaws. In other words, these cavalrymen must have used some method to deceive Han Derang's scouts. If it were just a few dozen people whom the city of Lighthouse wanted you to visit, concealing your presence would be easy. But if it were an army of thousands, especially cavalry, it would be virtually impossible. "Could it be a bluff?" Yelü Changsheng focused his gaze and suddenly narrowed his eyes. But soon, he realized he was wrong.

As the crimson banner burst from the ground, it billowed fiercely in the wind, and cavalrymen from all over the mountains and plains emerged in dense numbers, gathering menacingly beneath it. Their red armor, reflecting the sun's rays, radiated a dazzling brilliance, and a scorching killing intent spread endlessly across the plains.
"It's...it's the Dragon Soaring Army and the Tiger Wing Army!"
"How did they get here?!"
"The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry have been defeated?!"
Seeing the Sanada cavalry, their armor the same color as the Dragon Soaring Army and their charge like a raging fire, the Liao army panicked.
Not only them, but even Yelü Longxu, Han Derang, and even the usually composed and confident Yelü Changsheng were momentarily bewildered, unable to issue any orders for a long time. "Approximately how many people are on the enemy side?"
Sanada
Yukimura asked Sarutobi Sasuke beside him, riding on his horse.
"According to the intelligence provided by the Taiko, directly facing us are Yelü Lu's 20,000 infantry, Yelü Jianfu and Yelü Jing each 25,000 swordsmen and shieldmen, and Xiao Yanshou's 10,000 cavalry. In addition, about two incense sticks later, the Liao army will have over 60,000 reinforcements, more than ten times our number..."
"More than ten times?" Sanada Yukimura raised his cross-shaped spear, a proud smile playing on his lips. "Even if it's dozens or even hundreds of times our number, I, Sanada Yukimura, will never retreat!"
He turned his horse, Shirakawa Haramo, and addressed the four thousand Sanada samurai behind him: "This is a decisive battle with a huge disparity in numbers. Everyone must be prepared to die! The samurai of the Sanada clan will never retreat, not in Japan, but in the Song Dynasty. Go, brothers, let the Khitans witness the power of the Sanada Red-Backed Warriors!"
"Yes!" The four thousand Sanada samurai raised their weapons in unison, their voices echoing through the heavens. Beneath their fiery red armor and robes, the hearts of samurai burned fiercely.
"Shadow Warrior Tactics!" Sanada Yukimura shouted.
Sarutobi Sasuke, Kirigakure Saizo, Miyoshi Harumi, Miyoshi Izo, Unno Rokuro, Nezu Jinpachi, Mochizuki Rokuro, Anayama Kosuke, Kakei Juzo, Yuri Kamanosuke, and the other ten Sanada warriors, dressed in identical clothing and armor, rode out into battle...
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"Takeda army, heed my command! Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain!"
Takeda Shingen drew his long sword and charged forward like a ferocious tiger, crashing viciously into the Liao army's formation. Two Liao soldiers were instantly sent flying by his incredibly swift collision, followed by more than a dozen Liao soldiers behind him, causing a small disturbance in the originally orderly and disciplined formation.
"Kill—"
Nobufusa Baba, Masatoyo Naito, Masakage Yamagata, and Masanobu Kosaka, the four retainers of Takeda, roared, leading the renowned Kai Tiger Cavalry of Japan forward in a tumultuous surge, engaging the Liao army in a desperate battle. Swift as
the wind, slow as the forest, fierce as fire, immovable as a mountain.
The sixteen-character mantra taught by Ren Xiaoyao was executed flawlessly.
Blades flashed, blood splattered, roars and screams mingled, severed limbs and pieces flew wildly with blood. In this chaotic and bloody night, only endless slaughter, slaughter, and more slaughter!
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"The Great Chariot Formation!"
With Uesugi Kenshin's command, the Echigo Dragon Cavalry began to change from a parallel advance formation.
The "God of War," Uesugi Kenshin, stood at the center of the formation, flanked by two large banners bearing the character "毘" (bi), fluttering in the wind. Embroidered with the sun's finial in dark purple, these banners symbolized the Echigo army's formidable martial prowess that intimidated the Kanto region.
The outer cavalry circled in layers. Unlike the relatively fixed formations of ordinary armies, the "Wheel-Shroud Formation," created by Ren Xiaoyao and passed down to Uesugi Kenshin, involved all mobile forces forming several mobile formations from the outset. During battle, these formations rotated in the same direction, taking turns attacking the enemy formation, resembling a spinning wheel, hence the name "Wheel-Shroud."
The brilliance of this formation lay in its ability to continuously apply pressure to a portion of the enemy army, causing it to collapse from exhaustion, while the opposing force, through its rotating attacks, replenished and rested, recovering its fighting strength.
Such a breakthrough was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the Liao army, whose courage had been shattered by the sudden "unexpected turn of events." Combined with the subsequent advance of the Tokugawa, Chosokabe, and Mogami armies, the deterrent effect was unimaginable…
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
"All prepare, with the bowstring drawn!"
Imagawa Yoshimoto, perched high on his horse, his gaze turning cold and menacing, a hint of murderous intent flashing across his face. He reached behind his shoulder, drew three arrows, and nocked them simultaneously. With a roar, he strained with both arms, and with a piercing creak, the three-stone bow was fully drawn for the first time, like a full moon.
"Whoosh—"
A shrill, ear-piercing whistle ripped through the air once more.
"Ah!"
"Ugh—"
"Ouch!"
In a flash, three Liao soldiers fell to the ground.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Behind him, the continuous sound of arrows echoed across the sky.

Volume 46, Chapter 9: The Heroic Spirit of the Knight-Errant, Chapter 9: Defending the City for One Night.

"How...how can there be so many?! Where did these troops come from?! Han Derang, have you searched the city?" Yelü Longxu shouted, his face ashen.
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, I am guilty, I deserve to die..." Han Derang's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground.
"No, it's not General Han's fault."
"Fusang?!" Everyone gasped in surprise.
"Yes, Fusang." Yelü Changsheng pointed. "Look, all the soldiers have flags on their backs, and their armor and uniforms are all different. This is a unique feature of the Fusang army; other countries can't imitate it."
"How did the Fusang army get here?" Yelü Longxu asked urgently.
"Ren Xiaoyao and the current Emperor of Fusang are sworn brothers, and Ren Xiaoyao once served as Kanpaku, governing Fusang for two years. Given the critical situation facing the Song Dynasty, it's not surprising that he sent troops to assist them..." Yelü Changsheng said, narrowing his eyes as he intently watched the battlefield where the two armies clashed. "Six coins... Takeda Hishi... Tokugawa Aoi... Half of Fusang's powerful daimyo are here, could it be..."
"The Emperor of Fusang has also arrived!" Yelü Changsheng's mind raced, and he beckoned to Xiao Tianzuo and Xiao Tianyou.
"Quickly, go and find out exactly how many troops the Fusang army has mobilized."
"Yes." "
Reporting to Your Majesty, the Fusang army..." About two incense sticks later, Xiao Tianzuo and Xiao Tianyou returned on horseback, reporting all the important information they had gathered.
"As expected, the Emperor of Fusang has indeed come, personally leading the army to aid Ren Xiaoyao."
"Your Majesty, the enemy has at most thirty thousand men. Why not concentrate our forces to wipe them out, and then..."
"There is no time!" Yelü Changsheng said decisively. "We are facing the elite forces of some of Fusang's most powerful subordinates, especially the three cavalry units charging forward. Their tactics, strategies, and individual combat skills are all top-notch. Our Tiger and Leopard Cavalry have been fully committed to the battle against the Tianji Army, and the Xuanjia Tiger and Leopard Cavalry are His Majesty's personal troops, which must not be used unless it is a matter of life and death. With the forces we currently have, wiping them out is not difficult, but it will take too much time. If we miss the best opportunity to annihilate the Tianji Army, we will only regret it."
"Then... what is Your Majesty's intention?" "
To relieve the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao!"
Yelü Changsheng coldly uttered four words.
"Attack the Emperor's main camp, forcing the Fusang army to return to reinforce. Use the time difference between their advance and retreat to annihilate the entire Tianji army. By then, the Song Dynasty will be finished. How could the tiny Fusang nation possibly cause any trouble?"
Everyone suddenly realized.
Emperor Sanjo, accompanied by daimyo such as Oda Nobunaga, Shimazu Yoshihisa, and Hojo Soun, stood solemnly at the rear, gazing at the fierce battle in the distance. The deafening sounds of battle almost numbed his eardrums.
"Report—General Xiao Yuantai of Liao has been defeated (killed) by General Sanada!"
"Report—General Yelü Litai of Liao has been defeated by the Sanada army!" "Report
—General Yelü Tatar of Liao has been defeated by General Sanada!"
"Report—General Yelü Hong of Liao has been defeated by General Sanada!"
...
Listening to the constant reports from the messengers, Emperor Sanjo couldn't help but smile.
Brother, your judgment was truly correct. The number one soldier of Fusang... no, it should be the number one general of Fusang, the most capable general. These six words belong to none other than Sanada Yukimura.
"Report—"
"Han Derang, the deputy marshal of the Liao army, is leading an army of 100,000 towards Mituo'ao!"
"Hahaha!"
Sanjo Tenno laughed instead of being surprised.
"Everything is just as the Taiko predicted. Yelü Changsheng has indeed used the strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao.'"
All the daimyo were stunned.
How could the Taiko even foresee this!?
"Your Majesty, should we set off immediately for... the city?" Hojo Soun asked respectfully.
"No rush." Sanjo Tenno smiled faintly.
"Report—Han Derang's vanguard cavalry is less than ten li from Mituo'ao."
"Report—Han Derang's vanguard cavalry is less than eight li from Mituo'ao."
"Report—Han Derang's vanguard cavalry is less than six li from Mituo'ao."
Hearing the Liao army getting closer and closer, the daimyo's hearts were in their throats. Many secretly sent their men to begin arranging defenses, preparing to defend the place.
Emperor Sanjo observed this, neither intervening nor reprimanding, but simply waiting quietly.
"Report—" Beneath the golden gourd banner, a middle-aged man in general's attire, but remarkably short and monkey-like in stature, rushed over. "
Your subject, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, has, as instructed by the Taiko, constructed a castle along the banks of the Tan River, two miles away. I request Your Majesty and all daimyo to move your troops here to subdue the Liao army."
"Good!"
A long-awaited, knowing smile bloomed on Emperor Sanjo's face.
"All troops, proceed to the castle!"
"This…this is…"
Gazing at the magnificent earthen castle before them, constructed of solid wood and rammed earth, even the daimyo renowned for their castle construction and defense preparations, such as Hojo Soun and Sanada Masayuki, were utterly astonished.
"Following the brilliant plan given by His Excellency Taiko, I sent men to inspect timber upstream on the Tan River, prepare rafts, and then float them downstream. Here, we quickly stacked and combined them, while simultaneously accelerating the construction of various defensive fortifications, reinforcing the city walls with rammed earth and rocks. In a full twelve hours, this truly magnificent 'city built in one night' was completed."
"Excellent! Well done!" Hojo Soun, Sanada Masayuki, and others were deeply moved, while Emperor Sanjo laughed heartily.
"The entire army shall immediately enter the city and prepare to defend against the Liao army."
"Yes!" the daimyo responded in unison.
"Sagami no Kami Hojo Soun, Awa no Kami Sanada Masayuki."
"Present." "
Odawara Castle of the Hojo family, and Sanada Maru of the Sanada family, are both 'unyielding castles' of Japan. Today, your two families must join forces to protect and defend this castle that lasts a night!"
"Your Majesty, rest assured, the Hojo clan and the Sanada family will do everything in our power to defend this castle to the death."
"The castle stands, we stand; the castle falls, we fall."
"Hojo Tsunashige, Hojo Ujimasa, Hojo Ujiyasu, Matsuda Yasusato, Matsuda Norihide, Matsuda Morihide, Hojo Ujiteru, Hojo Ujikuni, stand in formation with this commander!"
"Sanada Nobuyuki, Karita Shigekatsu, Izuura Morikiyo, Yazawa Sanjuro, Yazawa Tsunayori, Tsuchiya Masaji, Suzuki Shusui, stand in formation with this commander!"
"Owari no Kami Oda Nobunaga, you are hereby ordered to lead your troops to defend Ichinomaru using the three-stage attack method."
"Yes, sir!"
"Shibata Katsuie, Takigawa Kazumasu, Niwa Nagahide, Akechi Mitsuhide, Hayashi Hidesada, Sakuma Nobumori, Ikeda Tsuneoki, Maeda Toshiie, Murai Sadamatsu, Niwa Nagahide, Akechi Mitsuhide, Tsutsui Sadatsugu, Niwa Nagashige, Maeda Toshinaga, Matsudaira Nobuyasu, Mizuno Tadatane, stand in formation with me, the governor!" "San'in
garrison commander Ashikaga Yoshiaki, I order you to lead your troops and assist the Oda army with the Ichinobu."
"Yes, sir!" "
Ashikaga Yoshiteru, Hosokawa Fujitaka, Asakura Yoshikage, Azai Nagamasa, Honganji Kennyo, Hosokawa Harumoto, stand in formation with me, the garrison commander!" "Matsu no Kami Mori Motonari
, I order you to lead the Mori clan's troops to garrison the Ninomaru. Once the Ichinobu falls, after the Oda and Ashikaga soldiers have safely withdrawn, immediately burn the outer castle walls to the ground with torches."
"Remember, do everything in your power to delay the Liao army's advance."
"Yes, sir!"
"Mori Takamoto, Mori Terumoto, Yoshikawa Motoharu, Kobayakawa Takakage, Yoshikawa Hiroie, Ukita Hideie, Ukita Naoie, Ukita Tadahie, Masuda Motoyoshi, Anatomo Genji, Kumagai Motonao, Sugimori Motoyoshi, Shimizu Muneharu, and Mori Hidemoto, line up with me, the governor!"
"Southern Kyushu Kanrei, Shimazu Yoshihisa, lead the Satsuma soldiers to defend the Sannomaru, and in conjunction with the 'Monkey Cry' technique, annihilate all invading enemies!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Shimazu Yoshihiro, Shimazu Toshihisa, Shimazu Iehisa, Shimazu Toyohisa, Musashi Tadatsumoto, Chojuin Morijun, Shimazu Toyohisa, Kimotsuki Kanemaru, and Kawakami Tadakatsu, line up with me, the governor!" "Otomo Sōrin, the governor of
the six provinces of Buzen, Bungo, Chikuzen, Chikugo, and Kita Higo, fully equip fifty 'Kokubō' (National Collapse) missiles and place them on the Shinnomaru. Once the Liao army enters range, fire at full force without mercy."
"Yes, sir!"
"Tachibana Dōsetsu, Tachibana Muneshige, Takahashi Shōun, Itō Yoshisuke, ōtomo Yoshitaka, ōtomo Inori, ōtomo Chikamori, Takikita Kaneki, Takikita Shōtetsu, Tahara Chikayoshi, line up with this guardian!"
"Brother..."
After assigning tasks to the various daimyo, Emperor Sanjō ascended the castle tower, gazing towards the direction of the battle between the two armies within the Tenmon Formation.
"The Liao Kingdom's last 300,000 troops, thanks to Wei Guang's utmost efforts, have held back a full 250,000 for you. Whether you can create a miracle, achieve victory in this decisive battle that will determine the fate of the world, depends on you!"

Volume 46, Chapter 10, The Opportunity for Victory:

"Report—The Fusang army has built a city two miles southeast of Mitō'ō, and our attack has been thwarted.
" "Report—The Fusang army is defending the city with powerful bows and crossbows in conjunction with giant catapults, and our army has suffered heavy losses." "Report—General
Xiao Daoning's entire army has been annihilated." "Report—General
Yelü Wuyu's entire army has been annihilated."
"Report—General Xiao Poluhuo's entire army has been annihilated.
" *Slap!
* "Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down!
Your Majesty need not worry. Even though this battle was difficult, we will still be the final victors."
Despite the unfavorable situation, Yelü Changsheng maintained the composed demeanor he had at the start of the war. His sharp, hawk-like eyes gleamed as he spoke slowly and deliberately: "I originally planned to sacrifice 500,000 miscellaneous soldiers in exchange for the complete annihilation of the Tianji Army, and then use the remaining 700,000 troops to march south, conquer Western Xia, destroy Tibet, pacify Goguryeo, take over Dali, and unify the world under Fusang. But given the current situation, we won't need that many.
"How so?"
"Tens of thousands of Japanese troops have arrived here, yet our military has received no intelligence. Clearly, the Goryeo navy, which controls the sea, has been completely annihilated by the Tianji Army's Dongting navy, or perhaps the combined forces of the Japanese navy and Goryeo. The entire Goryeo army is wiped out, and all the powerful daimyo of Japan, along with their emperor, have arrived here… In other words, if we win this battle, the Song Dynasty, Japan, and Goryeo will all fall into our hands. The remaining three kingdoms—Western Xia, Tibet, and Dali—will fight the Song imperial army to the death with just a little manipulation. We
can then finish off the remaining 300,000 troops. Are you saying that we can not only win this battle but also preserve our 300,000-strong army?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I have carefully studied all the battles in history where the many defeated the few. In each case, the losing side was not completely annihilated, but rather their morale collapsed, leading to a rout. When I set up the Heavenly Gate Formation, I specifically addressed this point. From the Fifty-Six Formations onward, all the square formations were placed in natural or deliberately created deadly terrain. The soldiers had nowhere to retreat, nowhere to escape, and could only choose to fight to the death against the Heavenly Pole Army!
In other words, if the Heavenly Pole and Fusang allied forces want to win this decisive battle, they must slaughter my 1.2 million troops. Is that even possible?!"
Ren Xiaoyao charged forward on his horse, his heroic spirit unleashed like the wind, creating a chilling gust of wind. Enemies fell from their horses wherever he went, their spears striking them. Any enemy rider who entered his attack range was sure to bleed and fall!
Ren Xiaoyao fought with all his might, his eyes darting around like lightning, constantly monitoring the surrounding battle. The Tianji Army and the Khitan Army surged forward like a tide, their battle cries deafening, blood and flesh flying everywhere—a scene of carnage as far as the eye could see!
Suddenly!
"Well done, Yelü Changsheng! His desperate gait, his back-to-the-river formation, his strategy of fighting to the death, makes it impossible to defeat the Liao army. It seems the only way to win is—
"Kill the Liao emperor, Yelü Longxu!"
Having made up his mind, Ren Xiaoyao spurred his horse and charged towards the royal tent, oblivious to his surroundings, focusing solely on unleashing all the techniques he had learned. Thousands upon thousands of moves flowed through his mind like a revolving lantern. His only thought was to use all his martial arts skills to take Yelü Longxu's head as quickly as possible! The air was thick with the sounds
of battle, blood flowed like rivers, and sandstorms raged, all carrying a chilling, bloody aura. Suddenly,
a thunderous roar erupted, and a towering man, over twelve feet tall and clad in heavy armor, charged forward on horseback. His eyes were like copper bells, and he wielded a pair of iron halberds, sweeping towards Ren Xiaoyao like a storm. The attack was swift
as lightning
, a mere instant. Ren Xiaoyao parried with his spear, sensing the assailant's incredible strength and the extraordinary weight of the halberds—the profound power of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra combined with ferocious external brute force!
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in admiration, "Excellent skill! Who are you?!
" "Yelü Jin, the Imperial Mausoleum Guard!"
The giant swung his halberds, deflecting each attack. Although struck by the overwhelming innate qi, he wasn't thrown from his horse and killed instantly like the others. Instead, he roared and launched three counterattacks!
Ren Xiaoyao met him head-on, his powerful inner strength, infused with innate supreme qi, parrying three moves in succession. The clash of their weapons produced a continuous buzzing sound, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the air.
"He can withstand six of my moves without injury! This man's cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra is probably no less than Yelü Changsheng's!"
Yelü Jin, seeing him distracted, roared, his twin halberds whistling through the air as he swept them horizontally from left to right towards Ren Xiaoyao's waist. He had anticipated Ren Xiaoyao's unpreparedness, attempting to eliminate the greatest obstacle to the emperor's unification of the world with this single strike. The force of his blows penetrated the halberds, the wind howling fiercely, truly unstoppable!
Ren Xiaoyao, who was plotting his assassination of the Liao emperor, snapped back to reality when his twin halberds were already at his waist. With a sudden shout, he spurred his horse, his figure leaping into the air in an instant, soaring above Yelü Jin!
Yelü Jin was greatly surprised, never expecting Ren Xiaoyao to be able to use lightness skill even on horseback!
"Give me your life!"
Blue light flashed, illuminating the sky.
He had no wings to fly like a phoenix!
"Clang—"
The double halberds snapped in two, cleaved into four pieces without a doubt.
Ren Xiaoyao, high above, suddenly somersaulted and spun around, deflecting the broken halberds with his sword, and then delivered a flying kick with his right foot. "Bang!"
The supreme innate qi, reaching the highest level of yang within yang, was incredibly powerful. Even with his iron armor and the protection of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra, Yelü Jin couldn't withstand the force of that kick. His iron-tower-like body flew backward, falling from his horse, coughing up blood, struggling and rolling, then lying still.
From all directions, the sounds of fierce fighting and screams rose and fell. Wherever Ren Xiaoyao passed, blood flowed like rivers, and with each step his warhorse took, a bloody footprint was left, only to be blurred by another pool of blood.
Behind him, ten thousand troops clashed, war drums thundered, the ferocity of the battle unprecedented in history.
Before him, hundreds of thousands of Liao soldiers were scattered like stars, fiercely guarding the road leading to the royal tent.
"Long live the King! Long live the Great Khitan!
" "Those who block my way shall die!"
Ren Xiaoyao ignored them, spurring his horse forward at breakneck speed. He had only one target. "
Liao King Yelü Longxu!! "

Volume 46 The Heroic Saint's Fame Spreads Through the Ages Chapter 11 Unparalleled Demonic Skill

"Ughhhhh—"
In an instant, the surrounding scenery seemed to distort. An invisible yet tangible, powerful force seemed to pull everything inward, then suddenly burst forth!!
Amidst the deafening roar, clusters of scorching flames, seemingly tangible, surged up on the battlefield. Accompanied by the earth-shaking tremors, it was as if burning meteorites were falling from the sky, crashing onto the battlefield. Smoke, dust, and debris rose and fell, blurring even the vision.
Ye Zhi Qiu, positioned to the left of Ghostly Lord, was the first to be struck. Despite possessing the highest level of Heavenly Dao Divine Art, the Saintly Dao Overlord's protective power, he couldn't withstand the attack and was sent flying backward. The
others—Duan Cheng, Xiao Chen, Yi Tian Han, Fu Long Yuan, Meng Fei, Meng Lei, Xiao Xing Chen, Lin Fei Fan, Nan Gong Bu Bai, Hua Shi Jun, Aoki Jun Zhi, Hitsugaya Toshiro, Kato Taka, Minami Yoshiya, Ishida Akira, Miyaya Mamoru, and Yama—
were also caught up by the distorted space. Their figures froze, their bodies twisting and trembling, and suddenly blood appeared at the corners of their mouths. He vomited violently and couldn't get up after landing...!
How could this be?!
Why could Ghost Lord single-handedly fight against nearly twenty top masters from the Central Plains martial arts world and the Japanese ninja world?!
It all stemmed from Yelü Changsheng!
He had predicted that Ren Xiaoyao would charge towards the royal tent alone, attempting to kill the Liao emperor amidst a million two hundred thousand troops. Therefore, he arranged for Ghost Lord, Hentian, Ghost Sorrow, and numerous masters from the Asura Sect, Absolute Kill, and Ghost Sorrow Mansion to wait at a roundabout two miles from the royal tent, a necessary passage to the tent.! As
soon as Ren Xiaoyao arrived, he was faced with the sky... Surrounded by almost all the evil masters, he was fortunate that Duan Cheng, the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, who had saved his life years ago, was forced by the Liao, Western Xia, and Tubo kingdoms to raise an army against the Song Dynasty. From the perspective of the individual and the nation, this was a decisive victory!
When Ren Xiaoyao retrieved the Map of Mountains and Rivers from a million-strong army, he fought with Duan Cheng and found that
Duan Cheng had shown mercy. Duan Cheng's martial arts were superb; he was proficient in all the unique skills of the Tianlongmen and Diancang sects, and had created his own method of striking sixteen acupoints with double brushes, supplemented by the Heavenly Sword Qi. His strength was comparable to that of Guiming Shenjun and Hentian.
And so, he led a group of experts from Dali Kingdom, managing to hold out against the siege of the Asura Sect, Juesha, Guichou Mansion, Maitreya Sect, and Dangxiang Society until the Central Plains heroes arrived!
Then, an unprecedented battle began, a contest of strength between the Central Plains martial arts alliance and the Asura Sect, Juesha, Guichou Mansion, Maitreya Sect, and Dangxiang Society!
Fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao and Xuan Qingqiu combined their swords, forcing Guiming Shenjun, Hentian, Xukong, and Li Daozong to join forces against Hell, and Duan Cheng also entangled Guijianchou, thus preventing heavy casualties!
When the Eleven Shadows arrived with a large number of Japanese ninjas, the situation instantly reversed. Needless to say, Aoki Shunji used absolute defense to force Guiming Shenjun to a standstill, while Kato Taka, Nan Jiaye, and Zaraki Kenpachi engaged Hentian, Xukong, and Li Daozong one-on-one, freeing up Ren Xiaoyao and Xuan Qingqiu. Under the combined attack of their swords, who could withstand them!
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the battle was over. The Asura Cult, the Absolute Kill, the Ghost Sorrow Mansion, the Maitreya Cult, and the Tangut people were all dead or wounded, with the remaining forces surrounding the center of the battlefield. "
Eliminate evil completely!! "
This was a principle everyone knew.
If the heroes of the Central Plains still possessed some sense of benevolence and morality, then the ninjas from Fusang were utterly ruthless killers, attacking without hesitation the moment they saw their opponent incapacitated.
Their movements were swift.
But someone was even faster!
Ghost Netherworld Lord!
Without hesitation, without delay, as everyone retreated together, back to back, preparing for a final desperate attack, Ghost Netherworld Lord suddenly struck with both hands, abruptly pressing down on the crowns of Hentian and Xukong while they were completely unprepared. These two grandmaster-level experts didn't even have time to react; their bodies withered instantly after a violent tremor, having had all their power drained by Ghost Netherworld Lord!
Press down—absorb power—end. !
Less than ten strikes in total!!
Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to believe that such a bizarre demonic art existed in the world. !
Not only them, but Gui Jianchou, Li Daozong, Tianjue, Dimie, Hei Bai Wuchang, and others were all caught off guard and had their power drained by the Ghostly Lord. !
"Mani's Dao-Responding Great Art!!!"
Mei Ruoxue was shocked. !
"This...this is the legendary divine art that the successive leaders of this sect mastered after comprehending the profound mysteries of Mani, assimilating with the Holy Maiden and ascending to immortality in a hundred days. You actually...
"Yes, you are right, this is the Mani's Dao-Responding Great Art.
The decisive battle lasted for a whole day. The torches burning around illuminated his increasingly blood-red, flowing hair, his thick eyebrows the same color as his sideburns, reflecting the blood-red candlelight on the horizon. !
"Come on, I will let you know who the final victor of this decisive battle is, who is truly invincible!"
"Outrageous words!"
The crowd gasped in shock, letting out a shout and charging forward.
The Ghostly Lord neither dodged nor evaded, suddenly spitting out a large spray of blood. His palm strike injured and threw everyone to the ground. Except for Ren Xiaoyao, who had reached the pinnacle of Yang, and Mei Ruoxue and Xuan Qingqiu, whose power was naturally his counter, no one could stand. The combined power of five Grandmaster-level experts and over a dozen top-tier masters, amplified several times by the miraculous effect of the Demonic Lament, was something no mortal could withstand.
"No matter... no matter how you improve it, once the Mani Daoist Great Law is activated, it lasts no more than three hours, especially with the Demonic Lament. You..."
"Seeking death, so what?"
With a sudden roar, he stomped his foot on the ground, causing the bluestone to shatter. The shockwave traveled over ten feet, and the surrounding soil and rocks tumbled as if plowed by an iron rake. The protective qi barriers in front of Xuan Qingqiu and Mei Ruoxue were completely destroyed. Instantly, grass and gravel whistled up, forming a crimson mist that swallowed the two women whole!
"Mother, Qingqiu—"
Ren Xiaoyao was terrified. Since his night with Xuan Qingqiu and the simultaneous opening of his nine acupoints, no palm strike or internal force had ever been able to break through his Supreme Qi, causing even the slightest damage to his body. Knowing the situation was dire, he barely managed to suppress the surging qi in his meridians, spitting out a mouthful of blood to relieve the pressure. He pressed his right palm to the ground, rapidly circulating his true qi, attempting to rise again and fight the Ghost Netherworld God Lord once more!
Unexpectedly, the Ghostly Lord of the Underworld struck, his movements faster than a flying bird. Giving him no chance to extend his hand, who was injured and unable to use the Free and Easy Wandering Technique in mid-air, a
barrage of attacks, two, three, even five or ten times stronger than usual, crashed down upon them. The impact forced them to cough up mouthfuls of blood, their bodies moving like puppets, completely out of their control. The scene was utterly gruesome and unbearable to witness.
"Boom!
" "Free and Easy—
" "Ren Xiaoyao, this is my current power, invincible power!
" "What innate supreme qi, what Lingxiao Sword Technique! Ren Qiaocui, Dugu Yu, compared to me now, what are you two?!" "Invincible under heaven, hahaha!"
The sonic waves rippled through the air, causing the blue bricks of the courtyard to shatter and surge forward like a tidal wave. Even Long Feiyun and Zhen Gongji Mina, both top-tier experts, were unable to withstand the onslaught. They were instantly severely injured, coughing up blood and collapsing beside Ren Xiaoyao. The rest of the women were no match for him.
"See that? Hahaha!
" "Ren Xiaoyao!
" "Twenty-four years! Twenty-four years! The hatred of having my wife stolen, the resentment of having my night destroyed—I have finally avenged it tenfold, a hundredfold! Uh, hahaha!" His palm strike, a unified force, shattered the surrounding blue bricks and surged with energy, instantly reaching Ren Xiaoyao and striking him with all his might towards the top of his head.

Volume 46, Chapter 12: A Thousand Years of Eternal Glory, Amidst Laughter and Talk:

"Don't hurt Xiaoyao!"
Eight sharp shouts rang out simultaneously. Xuan Qingqiu, Long Feiyun, Zhen Gongji Mina, Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, Su Hanbi, and Shui Furong gritted their teeth, enduring excruciating pain, and stood up together. Some drew their swords, others raised their knives, working together to block his deadly attack filled with hatred and resentment!
In an instant, Ren Xiaoyao was stunned!
At this moment, the Ghostly Lord's demonic arts were unparalleled throughout history, difficult for even humans and gods to resist. Even after being hit, he found it difficult to get up. Yet, the women, despite their severe injuries, gritted their teeth and stood up unanimously, using the last bit of strength in their lives to protect him!
Yes, in this critical moment, where life and death hung in the balance... In that split second, what they cared about most wasn't themselves, but him!
A sudden realization dawned on Ren Xiaoyao's mind.
He used to be invincible, dominating the world, always protecting his women, never needing them to protect him.
His father was the same; his Lingxiao Sword Technique was unparalleled!
However, the true meaning of love lies in mutual support and companionship; one-sided selfless devotion is far from enough.
Therefore, despite his parents' unwavering love and his enduring affections with his women, they could never truly achieve their goal of "eternal romance in laughter
." This was because he and his father were focused on loving, protecting, and cherishing their women, never considering the women they loved and cherished so deeply needing to protect them.
This single misjudgment led to the tragedy of twenty-four years of separation between husband, wife, and son!
Love is mutual, requiring selfless devotion from both sides.
This is the ultimate secret to achieving true romance in laughter! No
need for too many actions, too many words, or anything like "we'll die together."
In an instant, the flames of love ignited in Ren Xiaoyao's heart. It wasn't just love for the women, but a boundless love; a deep affection for heaven and earth, an endless love!
The battlefield blurred.
Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes, retreating into the depths of his soul. Physical sensation vanished, leaving only the touch of his heart.
He would do everything in his power to protect the women.
The women would also do everything in their power to protect him.
"You…
" Xiaoyao…
The call from the brink of death bound the lovers' hearts tightly together, merging seamlessly, indistinguishable from one another. Supporting them was their fiery love.
The world spun and danced, their nine beating hearts, united in passion, soaring freely in this moving world. An inexplicable heat, like the rising sun, shattered the darkness, illuminating all things, bringing the dawn to the earth! It also brought boundless hope to this decisive battle on the verge of defeat! !!
An unknown amount of time passed, perhaps only a fleeting moment, when a completely opposite force surged within Ren Xiaoyao's heart, instantly stirring up vortexes that expanded outwards like a vast ocean, filling the Ice Soul Frost Sword!
It was not innate supreme qi, nor any internal energy he had ever practiced!
It was the power of love, transcending all things in the world, the most sacred, the purest, and the most irresistible force!!
"A thousand years of elegance and charisma are discussed in a moment of laughter—
the Ice Soul Frost Sword slices through the void like a startled rainbow, leaving behind a sky full of azure sword light! Volume 46, The Heroic Saint's Fame Spreads Through the Ages, Chapter 13, The Number One Under Heaven
: The north wind howls, and yellow sand fills the sky!
The fields of Tanyuan are filled with the stench of blood and the chill of death!
Looking into the distance, what comes into view is not lush pastures and herds of cattle and sheep, but...!
Hundreds of thousands of dismembered, gruesome corpses and countless tattered banners!
In the distance, nine fine horses gallop in!
Leading the way is a man of unparalleled elegance and handsome appearance!
White clothes, white robes, white horse, and the mighty dragon gall bladder carried on his back...!
It is none other than Ren Xiaoyao!
"The land of marshes and rivers is turned into a battlefield, how can the people find joy in their simple lives? Do not speak of the matter of being enfeoffed as a marquis, for one general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand"—this poem is indeed true.
Amidst a soft sigh more beautiful than heavenly music, Xuan Qingqiu rode forward, riding alongside Ren Xiaoyao, her beautiful eyes gazing at him with tender affection.
Ren Xiaoyao lowered his head in thought, remaining silent.
Long Feiyun spoke firmly, her voice clear and resonant, like shattered jade striking pearls, enough to move one's soul.
"In the Battle of Tanyuan, the Tianji Army, the Fusang Army, the heroes of the Central Plains, and the ninja world lost nearly 100,000 souls, but in return, the nation was preserved, and peace was restored to the borders. The loss of every hero was heavier than Mount Tai!
"Of the Liao Kingdom's 1.2 million troops, 600,000 died on the spot, and over 300,000 perished in the ensuing trampling. The Asura Sect, the Absolute Killing Sect, the Maitreya Sect, the Ghost Sorrow Mansion, and the Tangut Society were all wiped out. The border troubles were eliminated, and the martial world finally achieved peace!"
"This victory is entirely due to Xiaoyao's efforts, surpassing even the Battle of Red Cliffs and the Battle of Fei River.
"In the past, at Changban Pass, Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, charged in and out seven times; on the banks of the Wei River, Ma Chao, Ma Mengqi, won six battles in six victories. These are recorded in Qing history and praised as legendary tales. Xiaoyao, you, single-handedly, charged through 1.2 million Liao troops. The Southern Court King Yelü Changsheng, the Northern Court King Yelü Zongyuan, the Yishi King Yaoquzhi, the Xi King Yili Jin, and many generals from the Five Courts, Six Courts, Yishi, and Xi tribes lost their lives at your hands. In the end, you even wiped out 30,000 Xuanjia Tiger Leopards in an instant... Your achievements are unparalleled, your fame will last for generations, and you will still be talked about thousands of years later." "!"
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly reined in his horse, sighing with regret, "It's a pity I was a step too late, Yelü Longxu escaped...
" "This isn't your fault!
" "Yelü Changsheng... Hehehe..."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled with deep emotion, gently stroking the Heaven-Stealing Bow on his back.
"At that time, my strength was almost gone, I couldn't kill him at all. It was you... it was the eight of you working together, shooting the last Sun-Changing Arrow, that helped me eliminate Yelü Changsheng.
"We are husband and wife, we should support each other and give selflessly.
" "Yes.
" Ren Xiaoyao felt a warmth in his heart, turning around to look at the women.
The women were also looking at him.
A thousand tender feelings, ten thousand sweet sentiments, all melted into an instant.
After a long... long time...!
Lin Yuxiu suddenly said, "Big brother, now you are truly the number one expert in the world, right?
" "Number one in the world?
" "No, it's the number one in the world, unprecedented and unparalleled, never to be surpassed!"
"The number one in the world...
Nangong Fengyi smiled gently, her orchid-like fingers brushing her hair, revealing her soft and lustrous hands, even more beautiful than jade: "How could a mere empty title like Xiaoyao take it to heart, right?"
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, looking up to the sky and reciting:
"A man who is not romantic in his youth is wasting his life, a thousand miles of mountains and rivers accompanied by a beautiful woman, becoming a marquis or prime minister are all other people's wishes, only I am carefree in this mortal world."
Add to favorites Volume 46 The Legend of the Heroic Saint Endures Through the Ages Epilogue
Epilogue
"The story ends here, Di'er, how many days has it been?"
The woman wore a short palace dress with a black base and gold patterns, embroidered with exquisite phoenix patterns, and a seven-colored shawl like two jade belts, wrapped around her neck and hung in front of her chest, with a gold and jade pendant hanging down, indescribably noble and beautiful, with a graceful demeanor.
"It's the forty-sixth night, Mother."
"After winning this battle, Ren Xiaoyao will only be twenty-four. How can you say it's all over already?"
The woman extended a pair of fair and delicate hands, gently stroking the boy's cheek with affection. "Every story has an end. Today is your last night in the palace. If you want to know anything, ask your mother. Tomorrow, Di'er will go to Beiping to become the Prince of Yan. It will be a long time before I can come back to see my mother."
The boy nodded understandingly and asked, "After leaving Tanzhou City, where did Ren Xiaoyao and his wives go?"
"Wandering the world, roaming the martial arts world.
" "Then the wedding must have been very lively.
" "Yes, Ren Xiaoyao has friends all over the world. He drank wedding wine for seven days and seven nights." Emperor Zhenzong bestowed upon him the title of "King of Leisure," granting him no fiefdom or stipend, yet placing him on par with the emperor and above all other princes in the court. He could decide political affairs and control military matters without any constraints. The heroes of the Central Plains presented him with a "Sacred Decree of Leisure," agreeing that any descendant of the Ren family who possessed this item would be able to command the world, and none would dare disobey.
"Wow, isn't that even more prestigious than being the leader of the martial arts alliance?
" "Yes, Ren Xiaoyao was righteous and benevolent beyond compare. Even centuries later, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, people still remembered his kindness. Your uncles Hong and Wu were able to gather the strength of heroes from all over the world by holding the Sacred Decree of Leisure, helping your father overthrow the tyranny of the Yuan Dynasty, pacify the world, and establish our Great Ming Dynasty."
The boy nodded as if he understood, then asked, "In the Battle of Chanyuan, the Song army won a great victory. Why didn't they take the opportunity to launch a northern expedition and conquer the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun?"
The woman raised her head, sighed softly, and said gently, "The ultimate goal of war is peace, to stop war with war, so that the people can live a happy and stable life. Only when a large number of warriors shed their blood can the world achieve peace and stability. From the Battle of Banquan and the Battle of Zhuolu, when the Yellow Emperor captured and killed Yingyou, laying the foundation for our Chinese civilization, wars have continued one after another, recorded in history. For example, Tang's conquest of Xia, King Wu's conquest of Zhou, the struggle for hegemony among the heroes of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the unification of the world by Qin Shi Huang, the struggle between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu at the end of the Qin Dynasty, the Western Han Dynasty's expedition against the Xiongnu, the Yellow Turban Rebellion at the end of the Han Dynasty, the wars between Wei, Shu and Wu, the internal strife and external troubles of the Western Jin Dynasty, the stalemate of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the unification of the north and south by the Sui Dynasty, the establishment of the Tang Dynasty at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the end of the Five Dynasties period by the Song Dynasty, and even your father's conquest of the north and south, sweeping away the barbarians, all for the sake of peace and well-being for the people."
"In the Battle of Chanyuan, the Liao Kingdom suffered a crushing defeat, but the Song Dynasty also suffered considerable losses. Ren Xiaoyao predicted that Emperor Zhenzong would appoint him as commander-in-chief to launch a northern expedition against Yan and Yun, which would only cause hardship and suffering to the people. Therefore, he relinquished his position and left. Emperor Zhenzong was moved by his words and decided to end the war and reclaim the land that originally belonged to the Han people through negotiations."
"Emperor Zhenzong sent Cao Liyong as an envoy to the Liao camp for peace talks, while he himself disguised himself as an attendant, hoping to witness this great historical moment. Unexpectedly, Cao Liyong's momentary carelessness revealed Emperor Zhenzong's identity during the negotiations. And the Liao Kingdom… no, it was Empress Xiao, the true number one evil master in the world, who actually broke through the protection of three masters—Xiong Xiaotian, Xiao Xingchen, and Ye Zhi Qiu—and captured Emperor Zhenzong.
"Ah—
" Empress Xiao captured Emperor Zhenzong and coerced the Song Dynasty to hand over the Guannan region and the Ying and Mo prefectures. Emperor Zhenzong, a wise and capable ruler, refused to agree, preferring to sacrifice his life rather than cede an inch of land and tarnish the prestige of the Song Dynasty. Empress Xiao, left with no other choice, had to demand 300,000 taels of 'military aid' annually from the Song Dynasty. Coincidentally, the three kingdoms of Tibet, Western Xia, and Goryeo had been defeated and were paying the Song Dynasty 100,000 taels annually. Thus, the Song Dynasty did not suffer a loss, and the Treaty of Shanyuan was formed.
The boy pressed on, "Was Empress Xiao really that powerful? How did she compare to you, Mother?"
"Compared to the Empress Dowager...
"What was the result?"
"How could the invincible Ren Xiaoyao lose? One move, just one move, 'A Thousand Years of Elegance in a Laugh,' and Empress Dowager Xiao suffered a crushing defeat, without even the strength to retaliate. But Ren Xiaoyao didn't kill her; instead, he left behind a bold statement that would influence centuries—go back and tell the Liao Emperor that from this day forward, if a single Khitan soldier dares to enter Song territory, Ren Xiaoyao will surely use his seven-foot-long sword to take their head!
" "I know, I know.
" "But...
" "Silly child, a monarch entering enemy territory and being captured alive is a great disgrace to the nation; how can this be written in a book?"
The boy murmured, "Mother said that Emperor Zhenzong was actually a wise ruler, but in order not to betray the bloody battles fought by Ren Xiaoyao, the soldiers, and the heroes of the Central Plains, and not to betray the spirits of the tens of thousands who died in the Battle of Chanyuan, he resolutely chose to change the history books and take all the blame upon himself!
"Yes, the Song Dynasty produced four wise rulers: Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong are remembered in history, but Emperor Zhenzong is still called a 'weak ruler,' and then there was Emperor Renzong later…
"Remember!"
The boy was still young, repeatedly pondering his mother's words, trying to grasp their deeper meaning.
Looking at his still-childish yet heroic face, the woman was suddenly filled with endless emotion, slightly raising her bright, watery eyes and gazing affectionately out the window.
"Ren Hong, are all the members of your Ren family born amorous...? Your ancestor, the Duke of Xiaoyao, would occasionally enter the palace as Grand Tutor to visit Empress Zhou and his Zhen'er. Why...? Eleven years have passed, why haven't you come to see me, to see Di'er? That night at the Golden Summit of Mount Emei... Xiuying will never forget it in her life...
...!
The End!"

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/11711.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=11711&aspx=1

Previous Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 40

Next Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 21

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - Chapter 41 (End)

comment Open a new window to view comments