Slave Empire [Complete] - 18

Volume 8, Chapter 143: The Ambition of the Japanese
. Outside Jianning City, at the Japanese army camp,
Emperor Kurosawa Hideyoshi stared with satisfaction at the high-ranking Japanese generals who had arrived on time to receive orders. Although almost everyone had abducted several beautiful women from the Hua Long Continent for their own pleasure the previous night, these Japanese generals were still able to arrive on time for the meeting—their iron will and military discipline were the fundamental guarantee for the Great Japanese Imperial Army to conquer the Great Liang Kingdom and then the entire Hua Long Continent!
"Generals," Kurosawa Hideyoshi began, "the success of our Great Japanese Imperial Army in capturing Jianning Prefecture and landing a million troops is largely due to the contributions of Generals Qiu. Therefore—" After a string of broken Japanese phrases, he switched to somewhat halting Hualong language, "I have decided to establish the Jianning Legion, recruiting 160,000 men from the Hualong people of Jianning Prefecture. I appoint General Qiu Denghui as Legion Commander, General Qiu Shuibian as Deputy Legion Commander, and General Okamura Ningji as Officer Training Corps Commander."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" At the far end of the tent, Qiu Denghui and Qiu Shuibian exchanged a glance, their understanding unspoken, yet each secretly delighted.
While the Free Army's friendly Hai Tianqing Navy was attacking Tenglong Port, Qiu Shuibian had secretly lured the lurking Japanese ninjas aboard the Jade Dragon Army warship under his command. The Jade Dragon Navy warship that had suddenly fled east before the great battle was the very gift Qiu Shuibian had seized to present to the Japanese.
For a long time, Japan lacked the most advanced shipbuilding core technology from the Hualong Continent. Its ships, especially warships, were consistently too small, far inferior in terms of carrying capacity, sturdiness, and resilience, putting it at a disadvantage in naval warfare.
In recent years, although Japan had purchased some large warships through its dealings with various countries on the American continent, particularly the United States, it had only purchased and used them; it had not yet mastered the core technology to manufacture large or even super-large warships.
Upon receiving the intact warships of the Jade Dragon Army presented by Qiu Shui-bian, and especially the secretly collected core technical data on large shipbuilding, Emperor Kurosawa Hideyoshi was naturally overjoyed by such a great gift! Furthermore, Qiu Shui-bian had indeed put in considerable effort to understand various aspects of intelligence on the Hualong Continent; such a loyal servant was rare indeed. He immediately appointed Qiu Shui-bian as deputy division commander and senior staff officer.
The Japanese army, with over 600,000 troops, initially positioned themselves in Wuyi County, creating the appearance of a large-scale invasion from east to west. This was actually a feint by Qiu Denghui and Qiu Shuibian—to divert the main force of the Liang army's Imperial Guard from the central prefecture. As a result, apart from the tens of thousands of Liang soldiers trapped in Jianning City, the entire Jianning Prefecture was almost entirely undefended by regular troops. This allowed the million-strong Japanese army to land so easily and occupy large swathes of Jianning Prefecture overnight.
"Your Majesty the Japanese Emperor! Our great Japanese army has mobilized four army groups and two navy groups, totaling 2.88 million men. The destruction of the Liang Kingdom is imminent. Why then is there a need to establish a separate armed force for the Hualong people?" The objector was General Matsui Iwane, commander of the Japanese First Army Group, which commanded 480,000 men across three army corps and was the main force attacking the central prefecture of Liang.
Since the reign of the previous Japanese emperor, Emperor Jijin, Japan has embarked on the so-called "Jijin Restoration," comprehensively learning from the economies, military, and cultures of countries such as Hualong, Oba, and Meisi Continent. The organization of this army group and its rank system were respectively adopted from the United States and the Kingdom of Faria.
"General Matsui, according to estimates from the Cabinet Intelligence Agency, the Hualong Continent, excluding the Baiyi, the grasslands, and the Sahara Desert, has a population of 250 million in just five countries. If everyone were to fight to the death, how much military strength would my great Japan, with its 50 million subjects, have to contend with them? Only by using Chinese against Chinese is the best strategy." Kurosawa Hideyoshi, with his mixed-race face of yellow and black, appeared crude and brainless, but was actually exceptionally shrewd.
Before invading the Hualong Continent, Kurosawa Hideyoshi had already discussed the basic policy for dealing with the Hualong countries with the Shogun Koizumi and Prime Minister Tojo Hideyoshi, heavily relying on figures like Qiu Denghui and Qiu Shuibian, intending to encourage the Hualong people to surrender and become their lackeys.
"Your Majesty is wise! The two Generals Qiu are well-versed in the politics, history, military affairs, geography, and human relationships of the Hua Long Continent; they are the best representatives of our Great Japanese Imperial Army." The speaker was General Takeda Shingen, commander of the Second Army Group and one of the six daimyo of the Japanese mainland.
In this landing attack on the Great Liang Kingdom, Emperor Kurosawa Hideyoshi and General Koizumi used both soft and hard tactics, offering daimyo who obeyed the order to contribute troops a share of the conquered Hua Long territory based on the number of troops they sent and their war merits. Those who refused to contribute were threatened with elimination! Therefore, apart from Togo Hachiro, who suffered heavy losses at Zhenbao Island, the other five daimyo were all drawn into the war effort. Each daimyo mobilized two legions totaling 320,000 men, while the Japanese Imperial Family's direct forces mobilized 1.28 million men, nearly 60% of Japan's total military strength!
Located in the vast ocean, the land of Wa (Japan) is barren and resource-poor, plagued by frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It has always harbored a sense of rootlessness and a yearning for the mainland, a desire fueled by its ambitions.
Within Wa, after years of bloody wars and conquests during the Warring States period, the largest power emerged, led by the Emperor and the Shogunate of Koizumi, controlling over 30 million people and most of the island. Meanwhile, six daimyo—Togo Hachiro, Takeda Shingen, Uesugi Kenshin, Sanada Yukimura, Date Masamune, and Suzuki Shigehide—controlled a combined population of 20 million.
Although Wa's national strength was not overwhelming, years of reform and the substantial gains from the conquest of the Goguryeo Islands allowed it to continuously expand its military and secretly prepare for war for decades, patiently waiting for the opportune moment to strike on the mainland.
It's lamentable that most countries on the Hualong Continent still hold the same level of understanding of the Japanese Empire as Emperor Liu Suifeng did fifty years ago. They consider themselves a "Celestial Empire" and their intelligence work on the Japanese Empire is practically nonexistent. In contrast, Hua Yinghong, driven by a natural animosity towards the Japanese, has gathered far more comprehensive intelligence!
"Issue the decree!" Kurosawa Hideyoshi, as the Japanese emperor personally leading the expedition, was naturally the commander-in-chief. His generals immediately stood up and respectfully listened: "General Matsui! You are ordered to capture Jianning City within three days and advance into Shouning Prefecture within six days! Anyone who resists, kill them!"
"Yes, sir!" Matsui Iwane's First Group, numbering 480,000, consisted of the elite troops directly under the Japanese emperor. Facing Jianning City, with only a little over 100,000 Liang reserve troops, and Shouning Prefecture, which was no longer defended by regular troops, should be no problem.
"General Takeda! You are ordered to capture Shunchang Prefecture within six days, then attack Shouning Prefecture to the north, and enter the western part of Nanping Prefecture to block the central army of the Liang army and the East Sea Navy's eastward return route. Anyone who resists will be killed!"
"Yes, sir!" Takeda Shingen's Second Army Group, numbering 480,000 men, comprised of two corps personally commanded and one corps directly under the Japanese Emperor's command. Last night, with the support of one corps of the Second Navy Army Group, they advanced over 80 li by land and sea towards Shunchang Prefecture, which had no regular troops. Advancing several hundred li within six days, as if on a march, would be no problem!
"General Sanada! You are hereby ordered to lead the First Naval Army Group in a combined land and sea advance eastward to flank the Liang army's Wuyi Legion and Imperial Guard Legion..."
"Yes, sir!" Sanada Yukimura stood at attention, feet together...
More than two million cunning and ruthless Japanese soldiers, who had been plotting for a long time, were about to unleash a bloodbath across the vast lands of the Liang Kingdom's Central and Wuyi counties, turning millions of Hualong people into slaves of a conquered nation, plunging them into misery...

Yu Chenglong, with a bewildered expression, was acupunctured and bound hand and foot on the execution platform outside the Meridian Gate.
He never imagined that his lifelong loyalty to the Zhu family would be so inexplicably met with beheading and public display! This stark contrast left Yu Chenglong with a mixture of emotions, like a jumbled mess of flavors.
A thousand highly skilled Jinyiwei, a thousand fierce Eunuchs, and two thousand Imperial Guards kept the onlookers at a distance. The chief executioner, Gao Zhongxian, sat smugly on his executioner's throne, awaiting noon.
A year ago, when Gao Zhongxian presented the stunningly beautiful Cheng Yuanyuan to Zhu Wen, the King of Liang, he had been gradually infusing Zhu Wen's mind with a soul-destroying incense, a secret recipe from the Japanese Ninja Clan, through the beauty's body. Because the amount used each time was extremely small, and it was done little by little during the beauty's sexual encounters, even the most skilled imperial physicians of the Liang Kingdom could not detect it.
Yu Chenglong has always been a major threat to the Japanese Empire—not only because he holds power in the Ministry of War and the Imperial Guard, but more importantly, because his uprightness and unwavering loyalty to the country have won over the entire Liang Dynasty, making him a true pillar of the Liang Kingdom. If Yu Chenglong falls, the Zhu family of the Liang Dynasty will lose all popular support and fall apart, allowing the Japanese army to advance unimpeded!
Gao Zhongxian is the most successful and cunning "dead spy" in the Hua Long Continent for the Japanese Empire: twenty-five years ago, he castrated himself to enter the Liang royal palace, which has always highly valued eunuchs. Gao Zhongxian climbed step by step from a lowly eunuch to the high position of Grand Eunuch of Ceremonial and Grand Commander of the Eastern Depot. Even Wang Zhi, the only person not controlled by eunuchs and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was secretly manipulated by him and became his adopted son.
Gao Zhongxian effectively controlled two major intelligence organizations of the Great Liang Emperor: one for monitoring officials and the other for handling criminal cases. Over the years, he had subtly relayed various intelligence reports to the Japanese and even secretly assisted them. Anything that could weaken the Great Liang Kingdom and its army was beneficial to the Japanese.
When sending his adopted son and confidant Gao Qiu as an envoy to the Free Army on Zhenbao Island, Gao Zhongxian even secretly ordered Gao Qiu to verbally abuse Hua Yinghong, the "Son of Freedom," in a self-inflicted beating, deliberately putting the Long family's hundreds of thousands of troops in a difficult situation—if the Long family could use the Free Army's help to destroy the Qiu family, their strength would greatly increase, posing a significant threat to the Japanese's future invasion.
Intentionally misleading the Great Liang King Zhu Wen into misjudging the situation and rejecting Yu Chenglong's proposed military expansion plan was also Gao Zhongxian's doing!
Cheng Yuanyuan's Japanese name was Kawashima Yoshimi, and she was a near-perfect person in the Japanese "modified human" program. She possessed almost all the best qualities of the beauties of Hualong and Japan, and was trained by the finest geishas to master the secrets of pleasing men—it's no wonder that Zhu Wen, the King of Liang, unknowingly fell into her trap due to his trust in Gao Zhongxian and his affection for Cheng Yuanyuan.
He had begun arranging for "suicide spies" more than twenty years ago. This shows just how far Japan's ambition to seize control of the Hualong continent had gone!
"Lord Yu! We've served as ministers together for many years, and I truly regret your plight," Gao Zhongxian's shrill, androgynous voice was incredibly grating. "Now that you've fallen to this state, who will save you?"
A sinister "ga! ga! ga!" sounded from Gao Zhongxian's throat, sending chills down one's spine.
Gao Zhongxian was not in a hurry. He had used his bewitching powers to induce the release of the soul-disrupting incense, thus confusing King Zhu Wen of Liang and leading him to reveal the royal decree to behead Yu Chenglong. Anyone who tried to storm the execution ground could be executed on the spot—a perfect opportunity to lure out Yu Chenglong's loyal followers and capture them all!
Yu Chenglong spat and closed his eyes, remaining silent. Talking to a villain like Gao Zhongxian would only tarnish his reputation. He didn't want anyone to rescue him; that would be a pointless death. He only hoped that his son, Yu Jiuzhou, would follow his prior instructions, escape from Yajing City with his family under the protection of the guards, and return to their hometown in Wuyi County to live in seclusion in the mountains.
Suddenly, the Imperial Guards on the east side of the execution ground erupted in commotion! Dozens of martial arts masters, their faces veiled in black, brandished their swords and spears, their powerful energy surging, and charged towards the execution platform! Whether intentional or unintentional, the Imperial Guards, usually renowned for their superior martial arts, seamless teamwork, and formidable combat power, suddenly retreated, allowing dozens of men to carve a path through them!
"A bunch of good-for-nothings!" Gao Zhongxian knew that Yu Chenglong, with his reputation for loyalty and righteousness, had countless supporters, both openly and secretly, throughout the Liang court. The Imperial Guards' lack of effort clearly indicated their intention to secretly aid the executioners in rescuing Yu Chenglong. He immediately shouted in a shrill voice, "Imperial Guards, Eastern Depot Guards, seize all those attempting to break into the execution ground, dead or alive!"
"Yes!" The executioners numbered only sixty or seventy, but each was highly skilled in martial arts; even the weakest were at least ninth-rank. Their sword and saber auras surged, their power astonishing! Figures flashed across the west, north, and south sides of the execution ground as experts from the Imperial Guards and Eastern Depot leaped and charged, instantly engaging the attackers in a fierce battle!
From the crowd watching to the west, two figures, one in red and one in white, suddenly leaped nearly six zhang high, swiftly covering over thirty zhang. A dozen or so Imperial Guards rushed to intercept them, but the two men unleashed a barrage of sword light, lightly touching the Imperial Guards' weapons and instantly repelling them! Using the momentum, they swept another ten zhang, landing before the execution rack! A flash of sword light, and the two executioners, who had received the secret order to "kill Yu Chenglong first if someone tries to storm the execution ground," had no time to react before their necks were severed by the sword energy, their heads falling to the ground!
"Jiuzhou! It's you?" Yu Chenglong felt a gentle flow of true energy penetrate his body. The major acupoints within him, previously sealed by the Imperial Guards' Saint-rank experts, suddenly opened, and the tendons as thick as fingers on his body snapped inch by inch. The young man in white was actually his third son, Yu Jiuzhou, whom he had always thought disliked martial arts. He was both surprised and delighted! He never imagined that his son, who loved poetry and painting, was actually a hidden master!
"Junior Sister Fang, please take my father and leave first!" Yu Jiuzhou casually swung dozens of swords, the sword energy filling the air and forcing back the Imperial Guards experts who rushed towards the execution platform. He said leisurely, "Tell Junior Sister Shui that I will join you shortly!"
"Senior Brother Yu, be careful!" The red-clad girl's words of advice were full of affection—it was Fang Fengxia, a disciple of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion who had accompanied "Lingbo Fairy" Shui Xinyue on her travels from Penglai Immortal Island to the mainland. Fang
Fengxia swung her longsword, powerful sword energies forcing back several Imperial Guards experts. She cried out sweetly, "Sword Inquiry Pavilion disciple Fang Fengxia is ordered to save people. Those who block my way shall die!"
The three words "Sword Inquiry Pavilion" seemed to possess boundless magic, striking heavily on the hearts of the Imperial Guards who were about to leap forward to attack!
Wherever Fang Fengxia's sword energy pierced the air, everyone except Gao Zhongxian's confidants dodged: firstly, given Fang Fengxia's overwhelming power, very few could withstand it head-on; secondly, everyone was wary of the supreme authority represented by the Sword Inquiry Pavilion on the Hua Long Continent—if the Sword Inquiry Pavilion had intervened to forcibly seize the execution ground, wouldn't that mean the Zhu family of the Great Liang Kingdom had been abandoned from their path to conquer the world?
At that very moment, Yu Chenglong's figure flashed, closely following Fang Fengxia who had forcefully carved out a passage. In a few leaps, he swiftly covered dozens of feet, disappearing into the vast sea of people and escaping…

Volume 8, Chapter 144: The Immortal Sword Repels the Enemy
in the East of the Capital. "Lingbo Fairy" Shui Xinyue and over two hundred retainers of the Yu family escorted Yu Chenglong's convoy of over forty people, traveling along the official road leading to Wuyi County.
Before Yu Chenglong sounded the drums at court, knowing he might face the calamity of having his family and clan wiped out, he arranged for Yu Jiuzhou and his trusted retainers to carry the Ministry of War's token and send their families out of the capital to their ancestral home in the Wuyi Mountains for refuge.
At this time, with the Japanese army launching a major offensive, the Great Liang King Zhu Wen and Gao Zhongxian might not be able to dispatch a large army and numerous Imperial Guards and secret police to destroy the Yu family's ancestral hall. The small number of Imperial Guards and secret police were not yet a threat to the Yu family of Wuyi—of course, pursuit by the Imperial Guards and secret police along the way was inevitable.
Because Yu Chenglong's seventy-year-old mother and several young children of Yu Sihai were in the carriage, the convoy moved slowly. Only about twenty li from the east gate, the deafening sound of hooves could be heard from behind, as countless pursuers came rushing in!
"Miss Shui, you mustn't hurry! Don't let this old man delay you here," Old Madam Yu said to Shui Xinyue, lifting the carriage curtain.
Although Shui Xinyue's face was veiled, judging solely from her figure and demeanor, and hearing her melodious voice, the experienced Old Madam Yu could imagine her celestial beauty—it would be such a pity to be burdened by her own impending death.
"Grandma, don't worry, go on your way with peace of mind." Since leaving Penglai Island again, Shui Xinyue had been traveling throughout the Central Prefecture and Wuyi Prefecture of the Great Liang Kingdom to prepare for the invasion of the Japanese invaders, contacting the Wenjian Pavilion and various martial arts factions within the Great Liang to repel the Japanese invasion.
The Jinyiwei and Dongchang experts under Gao Zhongxian's control only knew how to exploit the people and wreak havoc in the countryside, remaining indifferent to the actions of the Japanese ninjas. Shui Xinyue was utterly disappointed with the Great Liang Dynasty under the Zhu family's rule.
If it weren't for the martial arts forces of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion blocking most of the assassinations by the Japanese ninjas in Wuyi County, and if it weren't for the large number of loyal and righteous men in the Ministry of War, the Wuyi Army, and the Imperial Guard under Yu Chenglong's command, Wuyi County would have fallen far more than just Fuqing Prefecture by now. If Yu Chenglong and his family had been spared, the vast and beautiful land of the Great Liang Kingdom might not have been lost to the Japanese, awaiting the arrival of capable individuals to rescue the millions of people suffering in dire straits!
"Water Fairy, please go first. We'll hold them off for a while!" A valiant young man carrying a long sword rode forward and said to Shui Xinyue, "The pursuers number three thousand cavalry. Water Fairy carries the fortune of the Hualong martial arts world and the entire realm; it's not advisable for her precious body to take such a risk."
"Young Master Shao, you go first. A mere three thousand cavalry can't harm me. If you don't protect the caravan and leave first, the old lady will be frightened," Shui Xinyue said calmly, her tone leaving no room for disobedience.
"Young Master Shao," whose full name was Run Run Shaw, was a close friend of Yu Jiuzhou. Suddenly, he sensed an aura emanating from Shui Xinyue that was as imposing as a mountain and as vast as the ocean, inspiring a sense of unapproachability. He realized that the "Sword Master's Successor" truly lived up to her name; her swordsmanship had reached a state of perfect harmony with nature. Even amidst a thousand troops, she could easily escape if she wished. He, at such a young age and already a newly advanced Innate Saint-level expert, was still worlds apart from her! His protective instincts subsided, and he bowed respectfully, saying, "Take care, Fairy. Until we meet again!"
Watching the convoy disappear into the distance, Shui Xinyue turned her horse and stood in the middle of the official road—before her eyes, two thousand Jinyiwei and Dongchang experts, dressed in fine clothes and riding spirited horses, followed by a thousand Imperial Guard cavalry, had already galloped within three hundred feet like a giant dragon, kicking up clouds of dust!
"Why be so ruthless!" Shui Xinyue seemed to utter a soft sigh, but her melodious voice, like a divine decree, pierced the heavens, drowning out the thunderous hooves and neighing of countless warhorses, reaching clearly to the ears of every pursuer...

Baiyi Kingdom, Baoyi Prefecture.
Hua Yinghong stood atop the highest building of the city's garrison, gazing silently towards the direction of the Great Liang Kingdom. Beyond the mountains, the sun must have already risen, its rays filtering through the peaks, bathing him in golden light, his resolute face glowing red. The
more Hua Yinghong learned about the Hua Long Continent and even the entire Holy Continent, the deeper his doubts grew—the people, culture, geography, including country names and place names, of this other world were vastly different from his original world, yet connected in so many ways. Even when he had Nangong Jun speak a few words of a language commonly used by his oppa, it was almost identical to English. The current large-scale invasion of the Great Liang Kingdom by the Japanese invaders bears a striking resemblance to that unbearable and heinous period of history. Is it real? Is it fiction? Already somewhat confused, he was now even more unable to make sense of it.
Perhaps the parallel universe theories in those fantasy novels are actually true? Is this world and the other world merely two different planes branching off from the same point in time? If it's true, will his actions affect the historical trajectory and balance of another world?
The ambiguity between fantasy and reality was driving Hua Yinghong to distraction!
"Hua Lang! Don't worry." Miao Youlan gently embraced Hua Yinghong's left arm, nestling against him like a little bird, whispering, "No matter what, wherever you go, we will be with you."
"Brother Hong! Reality and illusion are both empty. Illusion is reality, and reality is illusion. Why trouble yourself with such questions?" Xue Qianqian embraced Hua Yinghong's right arm, her stunningly beautiful face resting gently on his shoulder.
Since receiving the urgent report from the Military Intelligence Bureau last night, informing him of the large-scale Japanese invasion of the Liang Kingdom, particularly the siege of Jianning City by Matsui Iwane, commander of the First Army Group of the Japanese forces, Hua Yinghong had asked Xue Qianqian many questions about his trip to Liang. He then spent the night passionately with the two beauties, only resting near dawn. In his sleep, he kept muttering incoherently, "Is it a dream or reality?" This morning, Hua Yinghong went alone to the high rooftop and remained silent for nearly an hour, causing the two women considerable worry.
The three women shared a deep connection, and Xue Qianqian and Miao Youlan knew of Hua Yinghong's anguish, but they didn't know how to alleviate it. They only hoped that their tenderness would bring him to his senses and prevent him from going astray.
"Youlan, Sister Qian, I'm fine!" Hua Yinghong said, "I was just overthinking things. Nangong Jun just received news that the Sword in the Stone from the Kingdom of England has been created. According to information Sister Qian has gathered, the Japanese invaders are attacking Daliang, with the Meisi Continent secretly supporting them. Meanwhile, our Hualong nations and families are engaged in endless internal wars for their own selfish interests. Last night, the Ding family's 200,000-strong army marched west to Wuling Prefecture, and the Jianghan Army also dispatched two additional divisions, intending to kill the Sima family, completely unaware that the entire continent is facing a crisis. How lamentable! How hateful!"
"Brother Hong is destined by heaven, the true savior of the world. Who among the heroes of the world can rival him?" Xue Qianqian's beautiful eyes flashed with a strange light. Once her young lover returned to reality, his insight into the world's affairs was so profound and his thoughts so comprehensive that they were beyond anyone's reach.
"Hua Lang! What do you plan to do? Continue the campaign against the Baiyi, or turn back to fight the Japanese invaders?" Miao Youlan, with her keen insight, knew Hua Yinghong's deep hatred for the Japanese invaders and, having also learned some military strategy, understood that he was facing a dilemma.
"That's exactly what troubles me. The Free Alliance's current strength is absolutely insufficient to handle a two-front war. In my heart, I cannot bear to see the millions of people of Daliang become slaves of a conquered nation, living under the slaughter of the Japanese invaders. But if we stop the campaign against the Baiyi and instead declare war on the Japanese, after the army withdraws, Sima Zhao and the Duan family will launch a massive counterattack, and the Baiyi rebels will certainly be unable to withstand it. The millions of slaves of the Baiyi, who had just seen the light at the end of the tunnel, will once again be plunged into deep suffering, and ultimately, it may even bring disaster to Tianshui Prefecture." Hua Yinghong sighed, "I never imagined that even with a million troops in the Free Alliance, we still feel the lack of manpower. I really underestimated the ease of unifying Hualong!"
"Brother Hong, you've been silent for an hour before speaking. You must have already made up your mind, right?" Xue Qianqian said to Miao Youlan with a charming smile, "Sister, look at his troubled expression, where is there even a trace of distress on his face?"
Hua Yinghong smiled broadly, "Sister Qian is still as sharp as ever! Nothing can be hidden from you. The choice is difficult, but I have indeed made up my mind..."

"Eh!—" Wang Zhi, the commander of the Liang Imperial Guards, known as "Soul-Snatching Blade," reined in his horse when he was still forty feet away from "Lingbo Fairy" Shui Xinyue. The three thousand men behind him also hurriedly reined in their horses. The magnificent warhorses reared up, their iron hooves pounding heavily on the official road, raising a cloud of dust.
"Lingbo Fairy" Shui Xinyue, dressed in white, stood alone on a bend in the two-foot-wide official road. The terrain she had chosen was impeccable—to her left was a mountain wall eight or nine feet high, and to her right was a ravine more than ten feet deep. To pass through this area, there are only two options: First, abandon their horses. But that's clearly not feasible. Although the pursuers are all highly skilled, their internal energy has been severely depleted from the long journey, and even if they catch up with the Yu family's convoy, they're unlikely to be able to withstand the Yu family's guards. Second, charge head-on. Run three thousand iron cavalry over the lone rider, Shui Xinyue—but "Soul-Snatching Blade" Wang Zhi felt an utterly absurd feeling: it seemed that this second option was far more difficult than the first!
Shui Xinyue's earlier sigh hadn't deterred "Soul-Snatching Blade" Wang Zhi's determination to continue the pursuit. If three thousand iron cavalry were deterred by a sigh, how could the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot maintain their dignity? But seeing Shui Xinyue standing calmly on her horse, this confidence wavered!
The rising sun in the east passed directly overhead, as if casting a dazzling halo around her. Shui Xinyue and her horse seemed to merge with the mountainside and the ravine, becoming part of the mountain, part of the earth. She possessed no imposing aura, yet gave off a strange, unshakeable feeling—"Soul-Snatching Blade" Wang Zhi, having fought hundreds of battles, had never faced such a powerful opponent!
"Successor of the Sword Inquiry—Fairy Lingbo?" Wang Zhi rode slowly to within ten feet of Shui Xinyue and asked. If one couldn't recognize "Fairy Lingbo" Shui Xinyue, or the Sword Inquiry Pavilion's unique skill "Nine Transformations of Wishful Thinking," simply because her face was veiled, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard should have been replaced long ago.
"Shui Xinyue greets Lord Wang. Would you do me the honor of stopping here?" Shui Xinyue's voice was gentle and polite, without a trace of arrogance, making it impossible to refuse.
"With the Water Fairy before me, I should obey your command. However, I am bound by imperial orders, and if my three thousand iron cavalry retreat now, I will be unable to fulfill my duty. Please forgive any offense I may have caused." Wang Zhi knew he was no match for her in a one-on-one fight, and he called out in a low voice, "Where are the Nine Guards?"
"Yes, sir!" The Nine Guards in brocade robes beside Wang Zhi responded
in unison, their voices booming like bells. "We seek instruction from the Water Fairy." Each of the Nine Guards was a master, and they had mastered a set of combined attack techniques. Even with all nine of them working together, Wang Zhi himself was not confident of victory. Victory was a given, and if the Nine Guards were to lose, given Shui Xinyue's special status, it would be easier to explain back
home. What if they all attacked at once? This thought flashed through Wang Zhi's mind. Even if he could break through Shui Xinyue's blockade in this narrow space, and even if he could defeat her, how could he face the accusations from the "Sword Inquiry Pavilion"?
"Please enlighten me, Fairy!" The Nine Guards leaped from their horses, forming a triangular formation in mid-air, wielding their longswords from three directions—left, right, and top—spanning ten zhang across the sky. Waves of sword energy surged towards Shui Xinyue like turbulent waves!
Shui Xinyue closed her beautiful eyes, and the ancient longsword on her back sprang from its sheath into her jade hand. A dazzling light refracted from the sword; was it the light of the sword, the light of true energy, or the reflected sunlight? The Nine Guards, rushing towards her, involuntarily closed their eyes tightly, focusing their minds on Shui Xinyue's position—
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!" In the instant of the dazzling light, "Soul-Snatching Blade" Wang Zhi and the Jinyiwei experts watching the battle had not yet fully seen "Lingbo Fairy" Shui Xinyue's move when they heard nine almost indistinguishable sounds of swords clashing! The Nine Guards landed in unison, assuming different sword-holding postures, standing motionless.
"Every move can be countered, but speed is the only thing that cannot be broken!" The speed of Shui Xinyue's "Ruyi Heart Sword" was so fast that even Long San, the "Fast Sword" who had already died under Hou Mubai's blade, would likely be far inferior. In that instant, she unleashed eighteen sword strikes, intercepting the attacks of nine masters, forcing the Nine Guards from mid-air to the ground, and then using sword energy to strike their pressure points in mid-air. If Shui Xinyue hadn't been unwilling to indiscriminately kill, the Nine Guards would likely already be beheaded!
The sword remained on Shui Xinyue's back, as if it had never left its sheath. "Soul-Snatching Blade" Wang Zhi's heart sank: if he charged relentlessly, how many men would his three thousand iron cavalry have to lose to exhaust Shui Xinyue's true energy and bring her down? The Sword Inquiry Pavilion reigns supreme in the Hua Long martial world; its reputation is not to be underestimated!
Moreover, with the name "Lingbo Fairy," one could gauge Shui Xinyue's exceptional lightness skill; almost no one in the world could match her. Shui Xinyue could easily escape using her lightness skill after inflicting heavy casualties on the Imperial Guards. If the Sword Pavilion were to come looking for trouble in the future, let alone a mere Commander of the
Embroidered Uniform Guard, even the King of Liang, Zhu Wen, might not be able to bear the responsibility! "Respectfully seeing off the Water Fairy!" Wang Zhi stopped the eager Embroidered Uniform Guard experts, watching as "Water Fairy" Shui Xinyue turned her horse around, her exquisite figure slowly disappearing into the morning sun, her eyes flickering uncertainly, her thoughts unknown…

Volume 8, Deep Waters and Scorching Fire, Chapter 145, Difficult Choice,
December 5th, Noon. Yunyuan County, Meijiang Prefecture, Liang Central Army Headquarters.
"Brother Yunfei, the Japanese army is coming with overwhelming force, marching from Jianning Prefecture straight towards Shunchang Prefecture. It's rare that you can remain calm and composed, your self-cultivation is truly admirable, I admire you to the extreme." Long Feiyang still smiled at Shangguan Yunfei, the commander of the Central Army.
Since the war with the Qiu family began, the Liang Western Army and Eastern Navy under the Long family had suffered heavy losses in numerous battles, but with the help of the Free Alliance, over 300,000 of their main forces had returned to Baiquan Prefecture, and their basic strength remained intact.
However, Long Feiyang discovered that Shangguan Yunfei, this visitor from afar, was lingering in Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture, seemingly reluctant to leave:
During Long Feiyang's confinement in Qingjiyuan Prefecture, Shangguan Yunfei, under various pretexts, replaced most of the pro-Long family generals in the reserve divisions and other forces assembled by the Long family in Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture with generals from the Shangguan family of the Central Army, led by his son Shangguan Ruoyu. The Central Army, originally only 200,000 strong, expanded to 400,000 with an additional reorganized reserve army, occupying most of the areas and key locations in Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture.
Only the Quanzhou naval force and its reserve divisions, along with the reserve divisions from Baise Prefecture that were crossing the Yangtze River, remained untouched by the deeply entrenched power of the Long family. This left Long Feiyang with the valuable strategic city of Quanzhou and a surrounding area of sixty li, along with 120,000 troops.
The guest was overbearing. Shangguan Yunfei, clearly belonging to the same Liang lineage, intended to take advantage of the Long family's inability to withstand another major battle after their recent defeat. He planned to keep the central army and reserve armies in Meijiang and Baiquan prefectures, expanding the Shangguan family's influence.
This overbearing behavior from the Shangguan family left Long Feiyang speechless, unable to voice his grievances. After all, a defeated general is not worth mentioning, and the Long family, at least for the time being, lacked the resources to contend with Shangguan Yunfei.
Long Feiyang wasn't in a hurry; he focused on resting and reorganizing his troops and replenishing equipment in Quanzhou and the surrounding area. With the backing of Quanzhou, a key town at the mouth of the Yulong River, painstakingly built by the Long family, and the three prefectures of Donghai County across the river, the Western Army Corps and the Eastern Navy Corps recovered their former strength, at least in terms of numbers, within a few days. The framework for expanding the Baiquan Army Corps and the Baiquan Naval Corps was also newly established based on the reserve forces.
At least the Long family now controlled three land-based armies, one Baiquan Naval Corps, and one Eastern Navy Corps in Baiquan Prefecture and the three prefectures of Donghai County, with a regular army of up to one million men. A large number of reserves were also scattered throughout the three prefectures of Donghai County, undergoing training and ready to be assembled at any time.
Although training was insufficient and combat effectiveness needed testing and improvement, Long Feiyang, emulating the Free Army, the Qiu family, and the Ding family, ordered the widespread dissemination of the basic techniques of the Long family's unique martial art, "Dragon Elephant Skill," among the soldiers and civilians to enhance their combat capabilities. Given time, the Long family's army would surely be fearsome!
Victory and defeat are common in war, and Long Feiyang's ambition to conquer the world remained undiminished! King Zhu Wen of Liang was greedy, short-sighted, and indulged in debauchery and pleasure, neglecting state affairs and reaching the pinnacle of incompetence. This naturally fueled Long Feiyang's already somewhat rebellious ambitions.
The Long family had managed Donghai County for generations, and for ten years had managed Nanhai and Yunyuan Counties, monopolizing the vast manpower, resources, and wealth accumulated in these three counties. Only now was this truly being put to use!
It wasn't until the Japanese invasion of Zhongyang County, and the Shangguan family's stronghold—Shunchang Prefecture in Zhongyang County—and Shouning Prefecture, where the Shangguan family held considerable influence and potential power, were in dire need, that Long Feiyang personally led two hundred Dragon Cavalry Guards to Meijiang City to negotiate with Shangguan Yunfei.
“Brother Feiyang, I’m truly worried! Unfortunately, the Jade Dragon River is an obstacle, and the Central Army has no navy, leaving us with no way back. I was just about to consult you when fate intervened, and you just happened to be here.” Shangguan Yunfei’s expression and tone were half-serious, his old face revealing no flaw—truly a seasoned cunning fox.
“Oh? The Jade Dragon River is deep and swift, wide and wide; crossing it without warships is indeed unsafe,” Long Feiyang said with a double meaning. “If you wish to set off, the Quanzhou Navy can escort you. However, the Central Army has a large number of soldiers and supplies, so transportation will be difficult and will take considerable time.”
Without a navy, the Central Army’s crossing of the Jade Dragon River and traversing the territory controlled by the Long clan in Donghai County would be extremely difficult. However, if the Central Army continues to linger in Meijiang Prefecture, according to the intelligence held by the Long family, even if the Shangguan family, who controls Shunchang Prefecture in the Central Commandery, has untapped potential, they are absolutely no match for the million-strong army of the Japanese invaders!
If their ancestral home is occupied by foreign tribes, even if Shangguan Yunfei holds Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture in his hands, it will be a net loss! This is also the source of Long Feiyang's confidence to remain calm and put himself in Shangguan Yunfei's hands—at this moment, even if Shangguan Yunfei had the guts, he wouldn't dare to touch Long Feiyang in the slightest!
"The Central Army has been lingering for too long. Now that the Japanese army has invaded, the Central Commandery and the capital are in danger. The soldiers are eager to return home. Considering that we are both subjects of the same court, my brother, you should lend a hand." Shangguan Yunfei cursed inwardly, but had to put aside his pride.
Although the Shangguan family had the capacity to mobilize no fewer than 200,000 troops from the millions of people in Shunchang Prefecture, and possessed numerous skilled protectors, their intelligence network urgently reported that the Japanese army's scale was simply too vast, and that countless high-level ninjas were also participating in the battle—if the Central Army could not return in time, even the ancestral halls of Shunchang Prefecture would be lost!
Previously, Shangguan Yunfei had wanted to linger and seize the opportunity to gain the greatest benefit, but now he had to beg Long Feiyang for help to leave quickly—but Long Feiyang's words clearly implied that he should abandon the wealth he had amassed in Meijiang Prefecture and the troops he had acquired through cunning and force; the Central Army's long and arduous journey would be in vain!
Shangguan Yunfei had already cursed every woman in the eighteen generations of Kurosawa Hideyoshi's ancestors in his heart: if the Japanese army had delayed their landing by another month or two, the situation for the Shangguan family would have been completely different!
“Easy, easy.” Long Feiyang changed the subject, getting straight to the point: “Let’s not beat around the bush. Brother Yunfei, you’ll keep 70% of the wealth you’ve gained in Meijiang and Baiquan prefectures, and the reserve soldiers registered in both prefectures will also remain. I’ll send warships and transport ships to escort your Central Army back to Shunchang Prefecture along the coastal route.”
“Hahaha! Brother, your appetite is far too great!” Shangguan Yunfei laughed angrily. “Don’t forget that most of the two prefectures are still in the hands of my Central Army, including Meijiang City!” According to Long Feiyang’s conditions, the Shangguan family will gain nothing!
"If you have the leisure, brother, why not accompany me for a few days to explore Meijiang Prefecture? The plum blossoms in Meiling should be in bloom by now, shouldn't they? It's a pity that I've been so busy with official duties these past few years that I've almost forgotten my love for sightseeing." Long Feiyang seemed oblivious to the threat in Shangguan Yunfei's words, and said calmly,
"If you are worried about the situation in Shunchang Prefecture, brother, my Donghai Army has already crossed the river overnight and, together with three newly established reserve divisions from Donghai County, is heading to the border between Baise Prefecture and Shunchang Prefecture, preparing to march eastward to fight against the foreign invaders. To uphold the might of our Hualong Heavenly Might is the duty of every citizen. The sons of the Long family are not afraid to shed their blood for the millions of people of the Great Liang Kingdom!"
"You!—" Shangguan Yunfei slumped down in defeat, saying helplessly, "As you say, brother, send my Central Army back to Shunchang Prefecture within five days. The Shangguan family can still protect itself in the short term in Shunchang Prefecture. I appreciate your kindness."
Although Long Feiyang had failed in the power struggles and battles against the Qiu family and the Free Army, he was still a worthy general. Taking advantage of the Japanese invasion, he had won a silent victory against the Shangguan family—
if the Long family's army had entered Shunchang Prefecture, the Shangguan family's stronghold, under the pretext of fighting the Japanese, would the Shangguan family be caught in a pincer movement and have no place to stand?

"Zhiqiu, the battle against the Baiyi is now in your hands! I'll give you a month and a half to wipe them out. Do you have the confidence?" Hua Yinghong originally intended to personally lead the army to conquer the Baiyi Kingdom, but the sudden change in the situation in the Great Liang Kingdom forced him to return to Changlong Prefecture to take charge. At the military conference he chaired before leaving, he once again entrusted the increasingly mature Ye Zhiqiu with the responsibility of leading the charge.
Perhaps due to ample nutrition and improved martial arts skills in recent months, Ye Zhi Qiu, who had just turned eighteen, had grown a head taller, almost as tall as Hua Ying Hong. His previously somewhat impetuous face now showed a more composed expression. He said solemnly, "Brother, rest assured. With the combat strength of the First Legion and the Special Operations Division, as long as the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of the Interior can take over in time, there shouldn't be any problems."
In the Battle of Loushan Pass, over 30,000 enemies were killed and nearly 50,000 surrendered. Ye Zhi Qiu's First Legion suffered almost no losses. After passing Loushan Pass, they marched straight towards Baoyi Prefecture, splitting their forces into several routes. Most of the private armies of the local chieftains fled at the first sign of trouble, and those who resisted were easily routed. The First Legion marched almost in a straight line and occupied Baoyi City, which was no longer defended by regular troops!
Subsequently, the First Army Corps split its forces overnight to advance south and west. The latest news from the front lines was that Qin Zhong's First Division, advancing westward, had reached Sinan Town, at the border of Baoyi Prefecture and Tongzi Prefecture, and had to stop when it encountered a Jade Dragon Army division that came to block its way. Meanwhile, Mu Shanzhu's Second Division, advancing southward, had entered Tongren Prefecture, while Li Tianhao's Third Division and Gao Baisheng's Fourth Division were heading straight for Songtao Prefecture in the southwest...
In one night and half a day, the three divisions and the special operations division of the First Army Corps advanced in three directions like autumn leaves being swept away, each advancing more than 130 li! Apart from Tongzi Prefecture, where there was still one regular division each of the Baiyi Army and the Jade Dragon Army, Baoyi Prefecture, Tongren Prefecture, and Songtao Prefecture were left with only some private troops, and they were captured within a few days!
"The Military Intelligence Bureau and the Ministry of the Interior have long been prepared to take over the newly occupied territories; there are no problems. Intelligence shows that Sima Zhao's men are secretly building and training over 200,000 Jade Dragon Army reservists. The Baiyi Army is slightly weaker, but still no less than 300,000 strong," Hua Yinghong said. "The real challenge in pacifying the Baiyi is not only to win quickly but also to minimize losses. The Baiyi Legion must be established as soon as possible, and its training must be intensive to form combat power."
"Yes! Please rest assured, Marshal!" the newly appointed Baiyi Legion Commander, Pang Yihong, responded. Hua Yinghong had already devised a strategy of using one barbarian against another for the western expedition against the Baiyi: the liberated Baiyi slaves were one of the best sources of manpower for the Free Army. As long as enough Free Army generals and veterans were selected to fill the ranks of the army, teach them martial arts techniques and skills, and strengthen their training in discipline, formations, and weaponry, it wouldn't be long before they formed a formidable army again!
Pang Yi was one of the veterans of the Free Army who had participated since the Battle of the Iron Mine Camp. He had rich experience in training troops and had fought countless battles. He and Ye Zhi Qiu belonged to the original "Freesmen" faction, so he would naturally provide strong support to Ye Zhi Qiu. Only such a combination could reassure Hua Yinghong about the situation in the Baiyi war.
"Brother Bai, I hope you can use your expertise in the customs, culture, and geography of the Baiyi to cooperate well," Hua Yinghong said meaningfully. "Pay special attention to the unity and cooperation between the various ethnic groups. No matter how big or small the ethnic group is, they all have the right to live equally. This is the consistent policy of our Free Alliance."
"Please rest assured, Marshal, Jingfei will fully cooperate with the two legion commanders," Bai Jingfei, the newly appointed deputy legion commander of the Baiyi Legion, also stated readily.
In the Battle of Loushan Pass, nearly 30,000 enemy soldiers were killed and 50,000 were forced to surrender. The Free Army suffered only more than 3,000 casualties, with no more than 2,000 actually killed in action, fully demonstrating the Free Army's powerful strength.
In contrast, the 30,000 Bai ethnic militia suffered more than 12,000 casualties in such a large-scale frontal battle, with more than 6,000 killed in action. If Bai Jingfei had previously harbored a sliver of illusion about military power after joining the Free Alliance, he was now grateful to have become the deputy commander of the Baiyi Legion.
Only the Free Alliance possessed sufficient weaponry and equipment to arm and train the common people and slaves of the Baiyi tribes into a truly powerful army in the shortest possible time. In the newly formed Baiyi Legion, the four division commanders and a large number of regimental commanders, battalion commanders, company commanders, platoon leaders, squad leaders, and even platoon and squad leaders were all drawn from the First Legion of the Free Army. If communication with the Baiyi tribes through the Bai people had been considered, even Bai Jingfei's position as deputy commander and his brother Bai Jingxiang's position as deputy division commander of the Second Division might not have been possible!
As the marshal of the Free Army, "Son of Freedom" Hua Yinghong would never easily entrust the control of a legion to someone he could not fully trust, especially one involving the Baiyi Kingdom, a vital source of manpower and a resource-rich rear area. He had to entrust it to someone he could trust—a point that Bai Jingfei, who was well-versed in the traditional ruling methods of the Hualong Continent, naturally understood.
However, Bai Jingfei believed that with his talent and his special influence over the millions of lower and middle-class people and slaves in the Baiyi Kingdom, he would eventually get the position he deserved in the Free Army. Moreover, given the sisterly bond between his sister "Saintess" Bai Sisi and the Free Alliance Leader Liu Yufei, he believed that it wouldn't be long before the Bai people were fully trusted and able to stand alone.
"Very good, unity is strength," Hua Yinghong praised. "I've said it before, everyone in the Free Army has the potential to become a general or even a marshal. No matter what race or place they come from, once they're in the Free Army, they're all brothers, with the same military discipline, the same treatment, and the same opportunities. Keep a long-term perspective; look further ahead..."
Following Hua Yinghong's profound gaze, there was a map encompassing the entire Hualong Continent, as well as Japan, the Aegean Sea, and even the continents beyond the Aegean Sea—a map obtained from his secret partner, Nangong Jun.
The chaotic situation on the Hua Long Continent remains unclear, with the Free Alliance surrounded by powerful enemies. Could it be that Hua Yinghong's mind has already turned to the vast lands beyond the Aegean Sea? ...

Not everyone has a long-term vision, and not everyone can make the right choice at every crucial moment.
As another night falls, the "Protector of the Nation" Sima Cheng and his son, the new King of Yulong Sima Yuan, already on the verge of destruction, launched a fierce attack on the Yinming Sect's besieging army led by "Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng outside Yulong City, due to the Ding family's large-scale westward invasion of the neighboring Wuling Prefecture from Jianghan Prefecture! An unprecedented
battle has broken out again!

Volume 8, Chapter 146: The Decisive Battle of the Royal City
. It is already past midnight. Outside the south gate of Yulong City, the camp of "Young Marshal" Xu Shaopeng of the Yinming Army is still brightly lit.
"Jade-faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng sits on the commander's chair with a slight weariness on his handsome face, pondering the best course of action for the Yinming Army.
In the twenty days since the Yinming Sect launched its uprising, Xu Shaopeng had been working tirelessly day and night on military affairs, deploying troops, rectifying military discipline, and training his forces. He had barely slept a wink. Even with his peak Innate Saint-level cultivation, comparable to the sect's veteran experts, he was finding it difficult to keep up.
"Hua Yinghong's abilities are truly beyond the reach of ordinary people!" Xu Shaopeng felt a mixture of admiration, envy, and even a touch of jealousy towards the suddenly emerging "Son of Freedom," Hua Yinghong! The
Freedom Alliance, which had risen from humble beginnings, was nominally led by Princess Liu Yufei of the former Tang Dynasty, and there was a "Supreme Five Council" for constraint. However, in reality, all decision-making power rested entirely in the hands of Hua Yinghong. Hua Yinghong's decisions were the final, sacred decrees of the Freedom Alliance and the Freedom Army, obeyed without question, and no one dared to disobey in the slightest—this was one of the key reasons for the Freedom Army's legendary invincibility!
Looking at himself, Xu Shaopeng couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth: Although he had the powerful Yinming Sect as his backing, which could create a huge momentum with a single move and control hundreds of towns and cities of all sizes in Yulong County, including Longshan Prefecture, Yushan Prefecture, and Shiyan Prefecture, like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, occupying almost 80% of the area of Yulong County and having a population of more than 12 million, Xu Shaopeng was also constrained by the elders of the sect in many matters.
The internal affairs and intelligence departments, headed by Xu Shan, the "Azure Blade," offered Xu Shaopeng extremely limited support. They subtly and deliberately obstructed him in matters of weaponry, provisions, warhorses, and the recruitment and training of reservists, leaving him speechless and unable to voice his grievances. To gain the support of the internal affairs department, Xu Shaopeng sometimes had to compromise with Xu Shan on personnel arrangements within the army, appointing senior members of the faction who lacked military expertise as commanders.
Xu Shaopeng was an orphan from a young age. His adoptive father, Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," discovered his talent by chance, not only taking him in as his son but also passing on his unparalleled martial arts skills. Xu Shaopeng was deeply grateful for the trust and care shown to him, wishing he could repay it with his life. However, Xu Shan, Wei Wuxie, and other elders of the Yinming faction did not necessarily share this view. In their hearts, the rightful heir of the Yinming faction was still the "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao, that spoiled brat, and Xu Shaopeng was the greatest threat!
The Free Army announced its advance into the Baiyi Kingdom, capturing Loushan Pass within a day and heading straight for the heart of the Baiyi Kingdom. This brought mixed feelings to Xu Shaopeng, the "Jade Dragon Gentleman": on the one hand, he no longer needed to worry about the Free Army advancing westward from Tianshui Prefecture into Jade Dragon Prefecture, thus reducing the defensive forces deployed in that direction; on the other hand, it also caused him concern: the Ding family, whose threat from the Free Army had also been reduced, was launching a major offensive against Wuling County, forcing Sima Cheng and Sima Yuan, facing a desperate situation, to fight like cornered beasts!
According to intelligence from the Yinming Sect's inside agents within Jade Dragon City, since the new King Sima Yuan ascended the throne, his control and consolidation of military and political power in the capital had been continuously strengthened. Most of the pro-other prince forces in Jade Dragon City had been eradicated by ruthless methods.
Excluding the imperial guards, Jade Dragon spies, Jade Dragon Daoist masters, and martial arts experts from various sects, the city currently has the Imperial Guard, the First and Third Divisions directly under the Imperial Guard, three divisions of the Wuling Army, and a special division of Baiyi brought back by Sima Yuan. The city's well-trained garrison has reached 440,000 men, the vast majority of whom are elite soldiers trained for many years, possessing formidable combat power and having fought countless bloody battles.
The Sima clan is also recruiting strong men from the private armies of nobles from the four prefectures of Yulong County (Longshan, Yushan, Yulong, and Shiyan) who fled to Yulong City after being terrified by the Yinming Army's bloody massacre, as well as refugees who have fled to Yulong City. They are currently recruiting to form five new reserve divisions.
The Sima clan has managed Yulong City for many years; official statistics show that the original permanent population exceeded 1.4 million, and with the addition of refugees, it certainly exceeds 2 million. Furthermore, with ample military equipment and provisions, its potential is limitless, making it no easy target!
The *Hua Zi Art of War* states, "If ten times their strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if twice, fight them." Xu Shaopeng's initial decision to lead a large army directly to Yulong City and capture the garrison was made when Yulong City only had the Imperial Guard and two Imperial Guard divisions. This was a strategy based on the assumption that Sima Cheng had fewer troops, confining his most elite forces to Yulong City, allowing the remaining Yinming Army and its followers to sweep across the entire Yulong Prefecture despite their lack of training.
However, the Sima clan first sent 120,000 of their main Wuling Legion troops into Yulong City, followed by Sima Yuan's 70,000 cavalry. After consolidation, Yulong City's forces now far exceed half of the besieging Yinming Army! Although Xu Shaopeng has reinforced the siege with reserves from various prefectures, bringing the total force to 800,000, he has little chance of victory if the Sima clan launches a decisive battle. Moreover, even if he achieves a Pyrrhic victory, how can he then compete with the Ding family, the Free Army, and other powerful forces?
"Marching into the barbarian tribes, letting tigers fight amongst themselves. Hua Yinghong's methods are truly brilliant!" Xu Shaopeng, almost like the Seventh Prince Sima Lang, spent time every day carefully studying "Hua Zi's Art of War," holding boundless respect for this prodigy!
Wu County Prefecture borders Yulong Prefecture to the south, Binjiang Prefecture to the north, Jianghan Prefecture to the east, and Yichun Prefecture to the west. It boasts a developed economy, abundant resources, and an official population of 3.5 million, making it the most important prefecture in Wuling County.
If the previous balance of power had been maintained, and Sima Cheng and Sima Yuan's large reserve forces in Wuling County and Yulong City had become well-trained, and the Yinming Army's reserves in the four prefectures of Yulong Prefecture had also been fully trained and equipped, the Free Army might not have gained much advantage. However
, with Hua Yinghong's order, the Free Army's main force, the First Legion and Special Operations Division, launched a campaign against the barbarians, eliminating the Ding family's worries about their westward advance from Jianghan Prefecture into Wuling Prefecture. This effectively drove the new King of Yulong, Sima Yuan, and his "Guardian King," Sima Cheng, to the brink of despair! In their desperation, Sima Yuan and Sima Cheng would inevitably engage in a fierce battle with the besieging Yinming Army, hoping to win and then march north to reinforce Wuling Prefecture, which was only defended by a single regular army division of the Wujun Legion and was sparsely manned.
Hua Yinghong clearly held a grudge against the Yinming Sect for the assassination attempt by the "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao, but this revenge was so silent, so insidious, and so discreet—if one disregarded their positions, it was simply ingenious!
Having seen through Hua Yinghong's plan, Xu Shaopeng, being an exceptionally intelligent man, carefully weighed the options and decided that if he followed Long Feiyang's strategy of withdrawing the siege of Baiyang City and capturing Qingyuan City, he could secretly withdraw the siege tonight, slightly retreating the battle line…
Sometimes, retreating is a better strategy than relentlessly advancing. Taking a step back opens up a vast expanse. The Yinming Army has already achieved its initial objective of besieging the city; it now holds the vast majority of Yulong County in its grasp. A slight retreat to consolidate its rule and observe the fierce competition is undoubtedly the best option for the Yinming Army at this moment!
It's already past midnight, and the order to quietly withdraw has already been issued. The Third Legion, responsible for blocking the eastern side of Yulong City, and the Fourth Legion, responsible for the northern side, should have almost finished withdrawing, right?
"Report! The Third Legion's positions are under heavy attack by the Yulong Army!" Just as Xu Shaopeng was unwilling to engage the Yulong Army in a direct confrontation, the Yulong Army had already taken the initiative to attack, and an unprecedented battle was now unavoidable!

Twenty miles southwest of the east gate of Yulong City,
in the biting cold wind, "Guardian King" Sima Cheng and the newly appointed commander of the Imperial Guard, Sima Xiangru, stood on their horses atop Lantern Mountain, silently gazing at the fiery dragons that covered the distant mountains and plains.
The outcome of tonight's battle will determine whether Sima Yuan, after seizing the throne, can reverse the passive situation of the past few days and gain a foothold against the aggressive attacks of the Yinming Army, the eldest prince Sima Tai and the Ding family, and the third prince Sima An and the Li family. Therefore, Sima Cheng personally commanded this great battle—only his prestige could suppress the various generals and prevent them from preserving their strength and refusing to fight to the death in this unprecedented battle.
Just as night fell, an arrow was driven into the gate of the Protector King's Palace from afar, and the skilled guards couldn't even see the person. The letter read, "The Yinming Army intends to retreat, withdrawing its troops overnight…", without a name or signature.
Sima Cheng, who had been overwhelmed by the unfavorable situation for days, was overjoyed upon receiving the letter. He immediately ordered all his troops to prepare for battle and dispatched dozens of top spies from the Jade Dragon Secret Service to infiltrate the city and monitor the situation. Once he was certain that the Yinming Army was indeed withdrawing, he immediately imposed martial law to block all news from within the city and mobilized a large force to the east and south gates. He was ready to pursue the Yinming Army after the majority of its third legion withdrew from its fortified positions, determined to cripple the Yinming Army at the lowest possible cost and regain the strategic initiative. If the Yinming Army were to withdraw easily, and when Jade Dragon City sent troops to aid Wuling Prefecture, the Yinming Army could launch a counterattack against Jade Dragon City, wouldn't they be in trouble again?
As night deepened, Wei Wuxie's Yinming Army's Third Legion largely withdrew, leaving only a cavalry regiment and an infantry regiment to hold key positions and cover the rear. They were also preparing to abandon their camp and retreat when Sima Cheng finally ordered the east gate of Yulong City to be opened wide. Sima Yuan's Third Guards Division and the Baiyi Special Division, totaling 80,000 cavalry, rushed out from Baiyang County!
With a single charge, the Yulong cavalry broke through the Yinming Army's rearguard line. After a series of flanking maneuvers, they annihilated the remaining 10,000 Yinming cavalry and pursued Wei Wuxie's central army. The First Guards Division, with its overwhelming advantage, launched a massive attack on the 10,000 Yinming infantry. Arrows rained down, swords and spears clashed, and morale soared. The main battle was resolved in less than half an hour!
Sima Cheng and the newly appointed commander of the Imperial Guard, Sima Xiangru, personally led 80,000 elite troops from the Imperial Guard's direct subordinate divisions and the First Division of the Imperial Guard, completely ignoring the predictable battle, and marched directly to pursue the two cavalry divisions.
With their unparalleled familiarity with the terrain of Yulong Prefecture, the Third Division of the Imperial Guard and the Baiyi Special Division cavalry quickly encircled and cut off the rear of Wei Wuxie's remaining 140,000-strong Yinming Army Third Legion from the east, south, and west!
The Yinming Army launched several breakout charges, but each was met with heavy casualties from the powerful impact and flexible, effective tactics of the Yulong cavalry. Lacking warhorses, the 10,000 Yinming cavalry left to cover the rear comprised almost the entire cavalry of the Third Legion. Without their defensive positions, any infantry charge would be a futile and suicidal effort!
In the darkness, where even those with profound skill could only vaguely see a dozen or so feet ahead, countless Jade Dragon cavalry blades and spears awaited to drink the blood of the Yinming army soldiers… After nearly 20,000 casualties and still unable to break through, the remaining 120,000 Yinming soldiers had no choice but to organize a defense on the spot, sending out emergency smoke signals to await rescue!
Sima Cheng and Sima Xiangru arrived with 80,000 elite troops and immediately joined the battle. Originally only responsible for cutting off the rear, the Jade Dragon cavalry, once the reinforcements arrived and surrounded them, began to systematically attack the Yinming army's flanks, gradually opening up the main road to the Yinming army's southern camp to the west—the First Legion and four reserve divisions of "Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng, totaling 320,000 troops…
Attacking three and letting one go! If it were "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng or "Son of Freedom" Hua Yinghong here, they would definitely remain unmoved, organize their formation, and hold their ground while awaiting reinforcements—Xu Shaopeng's southern camp is less than twenty li away, and he has already dispatched 160,000 troops, with the vanguard of 40,000 cavalry arriving soon.
In the vast darkness of night, with superior numbers, the Yinming Army, as long as they hold their ground, even with heavy casualties, might still have a chance of victory! But unfortunately, the commander is "Blood-Stained Sword" Wei Wuxie, and unfortunately, the Third Army Corps was severely damaged by the Jade Dragon Army just over ten days ago. The nearly 80,000 newly replenished reservists are far inferior in discipline, overall training, and individual combat strength. Therefore, after Wei Wuxie gave the order, "Charge to the southwest!", apart from leaving 20,000 to cover the rear, the remaining 100,000 rushed out towards the gap of about two li deliberately left by the Jade Dragon Army!
"Tonight, our army is assured of victory. Although Xu Shaopeng is brilliant, is Wei Wuxie truly a capable commander? The Yinming Army, with generals who know nothing of warfare, is like a blind man riding a wild horse, approaching a deep pool at midnight. Even with a million strong soldiers, how can they not be defeated?" Sima Cheng pointed his long whip at the distant battlefield, commenting with great interest.
"Your Highness's strategy is brilliant, and our army is fighting with all its might; how can we not be victorious?" Sima Xiangru, formerly the commander of the First Division directly under the Imperial Guard, was Sima Cheng's trusted right-hand man. With their current skills, coupled with the Jade Dragon Army's special banners and smoke signals, they could naturally see that the Yinming Army on the distant battlefield had completely fallen into Sima Cheng's trap:
when their retreat was completely blocked, the Yinming soldiers could still form ranks and fight to the death. But once they saw a way to escape, the Yinming Army would only care about fleeing, and where would their morale be? Despite their fearless courage, how long could the 20,000 men left to cover the rear resist the Jade Dragon Army? With the Jade Dragon Army's infantry and cavalry pursuing them together, the annihilation of Wei Wuxie's 100,000-strong force that had broken through the encirclement was not far off!
"Guardian King" Sima Cheng's assertion that this battle would be won was entirely reasonable. As for the Yinming army that came to their aid, if they were scattered by the defeated army... wouldn't that be exactly what Sima Cheng wanted?

Ten miles southwest of Lantern Mountain, "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng, his handsome face pale, led 40,000 Yinming cavalry at breakneck speed!
Xu Shaopeng couldn't understand why the Third Army Corps had been completely surrounded by the Jade Dragon Army. Before the retreat, he had meticulously planned the operation, instructing the Third Army Corps Commander, Wei Wuxie, to have traps, tripwires, and flammable materials laid at several strategic points along the main road. He planned to deploy several thousand skilled cavalrymen and elite troops to block the road and light fires along the rear, allowing the army to safely retreat to the vicinity of the Southern Camp and rebuild its defenses.
"Could it be that Wei Wuxie is disobeying orders?" Thinking of the consistent behavior of the Yinming Sect elders, Xu Shaopeng felt a chill run down his spine.
"Quickly!" Even if Wei Wuxie's disobedience was his own fault, Xu Shaopeng had to rescue him. After all, he was his adoptive father's sworn brother and a senior member of the sect. Besides, those were the lives of over 100,000 Holy Sect brothers! But doing so would disrupt Xu Shaopeng's entire plan to sit back and watch the fight!
"Immediately order Commander Wei to hold the line and await reinforcements! Immediately order Deputy Division Commander Xu Liang, who is stationed at the South Camp, to be on high alert and prevent the Jade Dragon Army from storming the camp from the South Gate! Immediately order Commander Yang Shidao of the Second Army Corps at the West Camp to launch a full-scale attack on Jade Dragon City from the West Gate at all costs! Immediately order Commander Tang Tianxiao of the Fourth Army Corps to launch a full-scale attack on Jade Dragon City from the nearest city wall at all costs..."
As he galloped away, Xu Shaopeng's urgent orders still clearly reached the ears of the messengers, and smoke signals rose continuously, bursting into dazzling light in the night sky...
Just then, three miles away, a dark mass of Yinming Army soldiers, fleeing for their lives, appeared in Xu Shaopeng's eyes...

Volume 8, Desperate Situation, Chapter 147: Rivers of Blood
No one would have thought that Wei Wuxie, in dire straits, would dare to break the "unspoken rules" of the Hua Long Continent and use the forbidden power of a Xiantian Saint-level expert on ordinary soldiers on the battlefield!
Wei Wuxie was filled with resentment: he couldn't accept that his 160,000 Holy Cult brothers, the Third Legion of the Yinming Army, had been wiped out by the Jade Dragon Army's swords! Therefore, he personally led the 20,000 most elite core disciples of the Yinming Sect to cover their retreat, while
he personally engaged the pursuing Jade Dragon Army! —To hell with the unspoken rules! Recalling the days when he, his elder brother "Yinming Divine Fist" Xu Ling, his second brother "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao, and his fourth brother "Overlord Spear" Tang Tianxiao, roamed the martial world freely, their joys and sorrows boundless, Wei Wuxie's blood boiled!
The older one gets in the martial world, the more timid one becomes. Over the years, his skills had deepened, propelling him towards the pinnacle of martial arts. Wei Wuxie felt that, following his elder brother "Yinming Divine Fist" Xu Ling, he was becoming increasingly cautious.
Watching the Yinming Army soldiers and their families being slaughtered in droves by the Jade Dragon Iron Cavalry, who charged forward like the wind, and seeing the Holy Sect disciples lying dead on the ground, their blood flowing like rivers… Wei Wuxie felt a surge of heat in his mind. He could no longer care about concealing his true strength, nor about any consequences—had the "Blood-Drifting Sword" Wei Wuxie, who once struck fear into the hearts of the martial world, truly been forgotten?
Taking advantage of their cavalry's momentum, the Jade Dragon Army wielded their long swords and steel spears, relentlessly attacking and slaughtering the routed Yinming Army soldiers. The defeated army, their morale shattered, was the perfect target for glory.
Suddenly, a faint killing intent rose on the battlefield. Though subtle, it permeated the air, almost enveloping everyone. Almost everyone could smell the pungent stench of blood, sending a chill down their spines!
This killing intent emanated from a gaunt old man dressed in greyish-white robes, resembling a pedantic gentleman—"Blood-Drifting Sword" Wei Wuxie—carrying a strange, sinister power that captivated the soul!
"Yinming Iron Guard, follow me to kill the enemy!" Wei Wuxie spurred his horse and charged forward. Reaching the Jade Dragon cavalry formation, his figure transformed into a wisp of smoke, instantly plunging into the dense ranks of the Jade Dragon Iron Cavalry. He abandoned his horse and leaped forward, dodging left and right, his long, slender, blood-red sword flashing like lightning, unleashing countless sword strikes. Wherever it passed, a rain of blood rose. Only when his figure was more than ten feet deep within the Jade Dragon cavalry did more than a dozen Jade Dragon elite cavalrymen behind him, each with a sword in their throat, fall from their horses!
"Blood-Drifting Sword Technique!" What a terrifying sword technique!
Behind Wei Wuxie came the sounds of fierce fighting. A thousand elite Yinming Iron Guards charged into the Jade Dragon cavalry formation, each displaying their unique skills. Dozens of experts who had reached the Innate Saint Rank even unleashed forbidden techniques, drawing upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth. The violent sword and saber energies cleaved some Jade Dragon cavalrymen and their horses in two, exploding them into heaps of flesh and blood, forcefully halting the Jade Dragon cavalry's charge. Except for warhorses that had lost their masters, no rider could penetrate the Yinming Iron Guards' formation and slaughter the more than ten thousand Yinming soldiers who were now in disarray!
Wei Wuxie's "Blood-Drifting Sword Technique" was like a dream. The slender, crimson blood sword, activated by his internal energy, emitted a dazzling crimson light, exuding a strange and alluring hallucinatory color in the darkness. The primordial energy of heaven and earth and the stench of blood in the void continuously flowed into Wei Wuxie's body, condensing on the blood sword. After continuously reaping the lives of the Jade Dragon soldiers, the blood sword became even more bizarre, spitting out a crimson sword beam more than ten feet long!
Within fifteen zhang of Wei Wuxie, the already thick stench of blood in the air became even more nauseating—in the blink of an eye, more than fifty well-trained Jade Dragon Army elite cavalrymen had fallen to the blood sword!
Blood splattered everywhere! This time, it was the blood of the Jade Dragon Army soldiers who held an absolute advantage! Under the powerful surge of blood-red energy, Jade Dragon Army soldiers below the fifth rank perished one after another, while experts above the fifth rank could only barely defend themselves from being knocked back. Under Wei Wuxie's frenzied, blood-splattering sword strikes, none could withstand a single blow!
The remaining ten thousand or so members of the Yinming Army, who were covering the rear, were greatly encouraged, their morale suddenly soaring! Although surrounded by ten times their own strength, there was no longer a trace of panic in their eyes. With Wei Wuxie and the "Yinming Iron Guards" charging left and right, unstoppable and supporting each other, the Yinming Army formed simple formations, calmly and orderly resisting the Jade Dragon Army's attacks, causing the Jade Dragon Army's casualties to rise sharply!
"What a powerful Blood-Staining Sword!" From afar, "Guardian King" Sima Cheng watched the blood splattering from the Jade Dragon Army soldiers' sword wounds and the violent fluctuations in the天地元气 (heaven and earth's energy) caused by the unleashed forbidden techniques. Far from showing fear, a subtle, enigmatic smile played on his lips. The
"unspoken rules" of the Hua Long martial arts world were like a thin sheet of paper, never openly broken. Even when Saint-level experts intervened in battles, it was always confined to small areas. But if someone were to break through this paper, deploying large numbers of Saint-level experts into the war, the entire nature of warfare would be rewritten! The accumulated super power of various nations and major forces would finally have a chance to be unleashed—an inevitable trend that even the strongest power could not suppress!
"Please, Dao Sect, make your move!" Sima Cheng calmly ordered.
In conventional warfare, the Sima clan, especially the Sima clan already fragmented and embroiled in a power struggle, was no longer able to cope with powerful enemies on all sides. With the immense power accumulated by the Sima clan over the years in their occupation of the Jade Dragon Kingdom, they should be unafraid of any major power when ordinary warfare escalates to another level. Of course, this excludes super-powerful entities like the Sword Inquiry Pavilion and the "Three Gods"!
However, Sima Cheng dared not be the first to openly break the "unspoken rules," and the members of the Demonic Sect, known for their unrestrained and reckless behavior, were the best candidates to do so!
At the foot of Lantern Mountain, hundreds of elderly men in Taoist robes, moving with lightning speed and accompanied by dazzling golden light, streaked across dozens of feet of empty space, heading towards the powerful Wei Wuxie and the Yinming Iron Guard!
The experts of the Jade Dragon Dao Sect—the Sword Sect—finally intervened in the war head-on!

"Third Brother!" Just as Wei Wuxie unleashed his Blood Sword, sixty miles south of Lantern Mountain, in Tianfeng Town, Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," who was gazing at the sky, suddenly changed his expression. His figure flashed and disappeared from the sight of dozens of Yinming Golden Guards surrounding him. A command echoed from the void: "Commander Jin! Lead the Golden Guard to arrive and join the battle within two quarters of an hour!"...
"Third Brother!" "Third Brother!" Almost simultaneously with Wei Wuxie, the "Floating Blood Sword," gathering the energy of heaven and earth to launch his attack, Yang Shidao, the "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade," who was commanding the Yinming Army to attack the west gate of Jade Dragon City, and Tang Tianxiao, the "Overlord Spear," who was attacking the northwest section of the city wall, both suddenly erupted with powerful auras. Their figures blurred, they swept across the moat several dozen feet wide, personally using their unparalleled cultivation to launch a surprise attack on the city walls, initiating a fierce assault on Jade Dragon City!
Once the "unspoken rules" are broken, there is no turning back. Only strength can be relied upon; only strength can lead to victory!
In the struggle for supremacy on the Hua Long Continent, ultimately, only one's own strength can be relied upon!

"Damn it! A chaotic charge!" Xu Shaopeng's face paled as he watched the 100,000 Yinming Army soldiers, their flanks firmly blocked by the Jade Dragon cavalry, rushing towards his cavalry along a narrow escape route. Under the Jade Dragon army's deliberate manipulation and pressure, their chaotic formation was bound to break his cavalry's ranks. If the Jade Dragon cavalry seized the opportunity to charge, not only would his 40,000 cavalry be in danger, but even the 120,000 infantry arriving later would be caught in the chaos, making defeat irreversible!
"Brothers of the Holy Sect! I am Xu Shaopeng! Reinforcements have arrived! Fight to the death for the Holy Sect!" Xu Shaopeng's powerful voice, carrying the weight of countless clashing swords, neighing horses, and screams of pain, could be heard clearly within a radius of several miles!
"Young Marshal is here! Reinforcements are here!" The Yinming Army, previously fleeing in panic from the Jade Dragon Army, saw the well-organized, imposing, and murderous First Legion Yinming cavalry ahead. Hearing Xu Shaopeng's voice, imbued with a hidden "Mind-Bending Technique," they miraculously stopped their escape! Although still somewhat disorganized, the Yinming disciples' demonic nature flared, and they launched a desperate attack on the Jade Dragon cavalry on both sides, using their flesh and blood to hold back the tide!
"Holy Sect disciples, there are no cowards! Kill!" Xu Shaopeng raised his voice again, using the "Mind-Bending Technique" to stimulate the fighting spirit of the Holy Sect disciples!
At this moment, no matter the casualties, they had to hold on! Once the 120,000 infantry reinforcements arrived, the chance to turn the tide was still extremely high!
But after only two shouts, "Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng's face turned deathly pale! —Having twice used the extremely energy-consuming "Mind-Bewitchment Technique" on an army of 100,000, he had greatly depleted his true energy and mental strength!
"Kill!" Forty thousand Yinming cavalry launched a fierce attack on the Jade Dragon cavalry on the right flank—Xu Shaopeng's eyes were like lightning; even in the inky darkness, he could still clearly see the banner of the Baiyi Special Division. Perhaps this was the key to victory in tonight's great battle…
Just then, Xu Shaopeng, who was leading the charge, suddenly sensed the violent fluctuations in the天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) caused by Wei Wuxie's activation of the forbidden move "Blood-Drifting Sword Technique"...

Blood kept gushing from the throats, chests… and vital points of the Jade Dragon soldiers. After drinking its fill of blood, Wei Wuxie's blood sword became even more unpredictable…
More and more Jade Dragon Army soldiers died under the Blood-Stained Sword, the sword's red light growing ever brighter. With each strike, the sword unleashed a rain of blood, like a demonic sword from hell, mercilessly reaping lives! The remaining less than eight thousand Yinming Army soldiers, led by Wei Wuxie's Blood-Stained Sword, actually managed to hold off the eighty thousand elite troops of the Jade Dragon Guard's direct division and the Second Division, inflicting nearly ten thousand casualties! Until—
"Clang!" A sword beam flashing with dazzling golden light streaked through the air, forcefully intercepting the rampaging, demonically possessed Wei Wuxie.
"Whoosh!—" A raging storm raged, waves of energy surged, and Wei Wuxie's shimmering gray-white figure was thrown back two zhang. Three zhang in front of him, the golden light faded slightly, revealing an old Taoist priest with an ancient, venerable air, wielding a simple longsword.
"Ma Menglong!" After a fierce battle, Wei Wuxie's true energy was greatly depleted. He was knocked back by the lightning-fast sword and felt a slight loss. His eyes flashed with a blood-red light. The old Taoist in front of him was none other than Ma Menglong, the Heavenly Gang Sword, the junior brother of Yuan Tiangang, the sect leader of the Jade Dragon Sect and the Yinming Sect's longtime nemesis!
"It is indeed I, Brother Wei. Ten years have passed, and your skill has greatly improved, but the murderous aura
of your Bloodstained Sword is even stronger," Ma Menglong bowed and said, "Such indiscriminate killing is surely against Heaven's virtue of cherishing life!" "Ha! Ha! Ha!..." Wei Wuxie laughed wildly, "The strong bullying the weak is an age-old practice. Only you self-proclaimed righteous people would be so hypocritical, speaking grandly while secretly committing despicable acts. Enough nonsense! Ten years ago, we did not settle our differences, but today, in this battle, it is either you or me who dies!"
Out of the corner of Wei Wuxie's eye, he saw hundreds of Daoist masters with sword qi like rainbows, charging into the Yinming Iron Guard's cavalry formation. Wherever they passed, even the powerful Yinming Iron Guard could not withstand their onslaught, and dozens were immediately killed or wounded! Knowing that he had fallen into the trap set by the Sima clan and the Daoist sect in his momentary rage and had preemptively broken the "unspoken rules"—only to invite a more powerful retaliation!
Most of the Yinming Sect's guardians, at the Saint-level or higher, are controlled by the Golden Guard of their leader, "Yinming Divine Fist" Xu Ling, and rarely leave the main altar. Only a few dozen members of the Yinming Iron Guard have advanced to the Innate Saint-level. Because of Wei Wuxie's impulsive act, tonight not only the Yinming Army's Third Legion, but the entire 800,000-strong besieging army will face a bloody massacre by the Saint-level experts of the Sima Clan, the Dao Sect, the Jade Dragon Spy Corps, the Imperial Guards, and the Imperial Army!
Wei Wuxie's greyish-white figure suddenly shot six zhang like a whirlwind, unleashing the incredibly powerful "Blood Flower Blooming" move from the Drifting Blood Sword Technique, descending upon Ma Menglong! In an instant, countless shimmering, blood-red flowers seemed to descend from the sky, radiating dazzling colors that made one's heart tremble and one unable to resist the allure of those blood-red blossoms…
Tiangang Swordsman Ma Menglong dared not be careless, leaping forward to meet them. With
a flick of his longsword, it transformed into a sky full of golden sword shadows— “Clang!” With a deafening roar, the blood-red flowers suddenly bloomed, like countless beautiful fireworks exploding. Intense, blood-red and golden true energy surged in the air, and the Jade Dragon Army and Yinming Army, densely packed together in a radius of over forty feet, were instantly shaken to their sides by this terrifying energy. A crater large enough to hold a hundred people appeared at the point where the true energy converged and collided, demonstrating the immense power contained in this attack!
"Hahaha! You're still slightly inferior!" Wei Wuxie was knocked back more than three zhang, but he laughed loudly. He lightly touched the ground with his toes and flew five zhang into the air, unleashing his ultimate move, "Blood Sea Waves," sending waves of blood-red water surging towards Ma Menglong, who was flying backward in the air!
Ten years ago, the two had fought, and Ma Menglong, wielding the Heavenly Gang Sword, was slightly inferior. In the previous exchange, Wei Wuxie, exhausted from a long battle, was slightly at a disadvantage, but he managed to fight to a draw, and his heart swelled with pride!
Ma Menglong, disregarding his shocking feat, frantically channeled his "Heavenly Gang Technique," drawing countless primordial energies from the void into his body. Golden Heavenly Gang True Qi enveloped his entire body, and his longsword flashed with golden light, creating thousands of golden sword shadows in the air as it flew towards Wei Wuxie's blood sword!
The blood of the Jade Dragon Army and the Yinming Army were both equally crimson, flowing together indistinguishably, forming countless small rivers of blood that meandered across the ground…
This night was so bloody…

Volume 8, Chapter 148: Who Fell into the Trap? On
the battlefield of Lantern Mountain, the Jade Dragon Army and the Yinming Army were locked in a frenzied battle. At this moment, human lives and blood were the least valuable things!
“King Protector” Sima Cheng and the commander of the Imperial Guard, Sima Xiangru, watched with satisfaction as the battle unfolded in the Jade Dragon Army’s favor: With the Daoist masters joining the fray, “Blood-Floating Sword” Wei Wuxie was tightly entangled by Heavenly Gang Sword Ma Menglong. Hundreds of Daoist Saint-level masters and hundreds of Jade Dragon spies, including Long Ba to Long Twelve, who were mixed in with the Jade Dragon Army, launched a massacre of the Yinming Iron Guard and other Yinming Army soldiers!
In just a quarter of an hour, Wei Wuxie, who had led the eight thousand Yinming Army soldiers left to cover the retreat, was reduced to less than a thousand! As the party that suffered the first loss, "King Protector" Sima Cheng did not need to bear the responsibility of breaking the rules for using the super power of a large number of Saint-level experts—even if the Sword Inquiry Pavilion or a God-level expert intervened, they would only have to hold the Demonic Sect accountable first!
The most important role of Saint-level experts in large-scale wars is not in how many ordinary soldiers they can directly kill, but in killing the enemy's elite experts or high-ranking generals, causing chaos, and constantly tearing open the enemy's solid formation, leading their own soldiers to divide the enemy into pieces, and then surround and annihilate them!
The main forces of the Jade Dragon Guard's direct subordinate division and the First Division of the Imperial Guard have already bypassed the battlefield where Wei Wuxie and Ma Menglong were fighting fiercely, and are heading straight for the fleeing rear guard of the Yinming Army. The area where the two masters, Wei Wuxie and Ma Menglong, were locked in fierce combat had become a death zone. Crimson and golden sword energy enveloped an area of thirty feet, the sky was filled with turbulent clouds and flying sand and stones, and the ground had been ravaged by the powerful true energy, sinking more than three feet!
Apart from a limited number of people with extremely high skill, the soldiers with lower skill could only hear the continuous sounds of true energy colliding and exploding at the site of the two masters' duel, and could not see the two fighting in the swirling sand and dust!
"Immediately order Murong Bo of the South Gate, the Wuling Legion, and the Imperial Guards to attack! Destroy the Yinming Army's Southern Camp!" Seeing victory in his grasp, "Guardian King" Sima Cheng was in a very good mood.
Given the current situation, even without the arrival of the First Guard Division to annihilate the Yinming Army's rearguard, the 160,000 elite Jade Dragon Army currently engaged in the battle could completely wipe out the Yinming Army's Third Legion, and the Jade Dragon Army's losses would not exceed 30,000!
Because of accurate intelligence beforehand, tonight's battle was won far too easily. Regardless of which divine being provided the intelligence, as long as it resulted in the satisfactory outcome of annihilating the Yinming Army, we should be grateful!
Now, as long as Murong Bo's three divisions of the Wuling Legion, the Second Imperial Guard Division, and the Imperial Guards attack from the South Gate and capture the Yinming Army's Southern Camp, Xu Shaopeng's 160,000-strong army reinforcing Lantern Mountain will fall into the Jade Dragon Army's encirclement and attack! As for the Yinming Army's Second Legion, led by "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao outside the West Gate, to reinforce the Southern Camp, they would have to travel nearly forty miles around the city wall, unlike the Jade Dragon Army's convenient movement within the city. By the time the Yinming Army's western reinforcements arrive, it will be too late!
"Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng is a brilliant strategist; he saw the immense danger of besieging the city with an army less than twice the size of the defenders, and his withdrawal was indeed a sound military strategy. Unfortunately, "Duke Protector of the Nation" Sima Cheng wouldn't leave such a threat so easily. He established absolute superiority in troop strength and combat power at both the east and south gates, coupled with the assistance of numerous Saint-level experts. If nothing unexpected happens, in this decisive battle, "Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng will suffer a crushing defeat!
"Report! Urgent news from the west gate! The city gate has been breached! The Yinming Army has launched a massive attack into the city!"
"What!" Sima Cheng, who was secretly pleased with his military strategy, was dealt a devastating blow by this sudden bad news! Without even bothering to inquire how the West Gate, guarded by 40,000 elite Imperial Guards of the Third Division, thousands of imperial guards, Jade Dragon spies, and martial arts masters, and protected by strong walls and a moat, could have fallen so quickly, he immediately changed his orders:
"Send word! Leave one division of the Wuling Legion to guard the South Gate. The rest of the Imperial Guards, spies, imperial guards, and martial arts masters from various factions, immediately proceed to reinforce the West District. You must annihilate the Yinming Army and recapture the West Gate!"
A biting wind howled, and even Sima Cheng, the "Guardian of the King," a top-tier expert among Saint-level masters, couldn't help but shiver. The situation, which had seemed entirely under his control, had suddenly taken a sharp turn for the worse with the fall of the west gate of Jade Dragon City. Could it all be just a scheme within a scheme by Xu Shaopeng?
Recalling the mysterious letter of betrayal, Sima Cheng suddenly felt as if he had sunk into an ancient ice cellar...

On the rooftop of a ten-zhang-tall building in the western district of Jade Dragon City, "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao and "Overlord Spear" Tang Tianxiao roared to the sky, their voices shaking the heavens!
Despite the recent fierce assault on the city, in which the Yinming Army suffered nearly 30,000 casualties from catapults, super crossbows, hot oil, rolling logs, and boulders, the supposedly invincible Jade Dragon City was finally captured by the two men. The remaining 300,000 troops advanced rapidly and, guided by their Yinming faction inside the city, have firmly controlled nearly a quarter of the western and northern sections of the outer city of Jade Dragon. This is truly a cause for celebration!
"Second Brother, your Demon Blade Guards are indeed extraordinary!" Tang Tianxiao praised. "A thousand Demon Blade Guards are enough to defeat a hundred thousand soldiers!" Just now, "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao used his supreme demonic skill to climb the city wall alone with his sword, controlling an area of over thirty feet in radius. A thousand secretly trained elite "Demon Blade Guards" followed, routing the Jade Dragon Imperial Guards, the Imperial Guards, and martial arts masters from various factions responsible for the defense, and controlling the hundred-foot-wide city wall near the west gate.
The relentless advance of countless Yinming soldiers widened the breach, and with the support of the formidable "Demon Blade Guards," they withstood the frenzied counterattacks launched by the Dao Sect, Jade Dragon spies, martial arts masters from various factions, and the Imperial Guards. It wasn't until Tang Tianxiao led a thousand "Overlord Spear Guards" to breach the city wall north of the West Gate that the main force of the Fourth Legion swiftly scaled the wall and attacked the West Gate. The combined assault of the two armies caused the Jade Dragon Imperial Guards' defenses to crumble!
"Fourth Brother, your Overlord Spear Guards are truly awe-inspiring!" Yang Shidao exclaimed in return.
The Yinming Sect was most renowned for the Yinming Iron Guards trained by Wei Wuxie. However, while Wei Wuxie himself possessed high skill, he wasn't particularly adept at training his disciples. In reality, the Yinming Sect secretly trained a large number of highly skilled and loyal elite disciples at its headquarters. The thousand Demon Blade Guards, one thousand Overlord Spear Guards, one thousand Silver Guards, and one thousand Gold Guards were personally trained by Yang Shidao, Tang Tianxiao, Xu Shaoling, and Xu Ling, respectively. These four thousand men are far stronger than the Yinming Iron Guards trained by Wei Wuyuan, the "Blood-Drifting Sword". They are the true secret strength that the Yinming Sect relies on to contend for supremacy!
"I wonder if the eldest brother can arrive in time?" Tang Tianxiao said with some worry, "This incident happened suddenly. According to Shaopeng's original plan, we were to retreat and reorganize the army, and watch the Sima and Ding families fight it out. Because Sima Cheng was pursuing the third brother's third army too closely, we decided to launch a full-scale attack. The Sima family is deeply rooted in Yulong City, with countless Yulong spies, Daoist masters, and experts from various sects. Moreover, now that the third brother has broken the taboo first, I'm afraid that if Sima Cheng launches a full-scale counterattack, our ordinary disciples and soldiers will suffer heavy casualties!"
"Fourth brother's concerns are very valid. Frost Blade Li Xinghai and Yulong Elder Yuan Tiangang have not yet shown up. If the eldest brother and the Yinming Golden Guard do not arrive soon..." Yang Shidao suddenly stopped speaking, his eyes flashing with divine light, and met a cold and sharp gaze dozens of feet away, shouting, "Is it Brother Li who has arrived?"
The two gazes locked together across dozens of feet of void, as if they were solid, and would never separate again!
A gentle voice rang out: "Ten years have passed. Brother Yang's Bloodthirsty Demonic Art has reached its peak. I'm afraid I, Li, am no longer a match for you!"
"Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai! At the critical moment when Jade Dragon City was on the verge of collapse, Li Xinghai finally couldn't resist making his move!
"Junior Ying Fei and Junior Brother Long Er humbly request Senior Tang to teach us the Overlord Spear Technique!" On the rooftop of a tall building on the other side, an equally gentle and melodious voice politely challenged Tang Tianxiao to a duel. It was Ying Fei, the deputy chief of Jade Dragon's secret service.
"Very well!" Tang Tianxiao's voice was full of domineering power. He leaped fifteen zhang diagonally, standing three zhang opposite the two young masters, his entire being seemingly transforming into a domineering spear!
The more Li Xinghai practiced his unique "Yinluo Frost Art," the colder his words and actions became. But when he truly reached its peak, he would return to simplicity and authenticity. At just over twenty years old, Ying Fei had already reached the Great Completion Realm, clearly qualified to challenge Tang Tianxiao, especially with the addition of Long Er, whose cultivation was no less than Ying Fei's and who remained silent!
But the Overlord Spear was fearless, its might overwhelming the world! Tang Tianxiao, with his spear in hand, had never feared any opponent!

Forty thousand Yinming cavalry formed a powerful arrow attack formation. The arrowheads were a thousand Yinming Silver Guards in silver armor, black cloaks, and wielding gleaming silver halberds, while the arrow tips were Xu Shaopeng and his hundred personal guards.
If the First Legion was Xu Shaopeng's personally trained elite force, then these thousand Yinming Silver Guards were his trump cards, and "Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng was the soul of these thousand Yinming Silver Guards! Now that
the taboo of the "unspoken rules" had been broken, Xu Shaopeng no longer needed to hold back, personally serving as the arrowheads of the Yinming cavalry. Only by shattering the Jade Dragon Cavalry's formation could the entire battle be turned around! Since "Guardian King" Sima Cheng was so eager for a decisive battle, he had no choice but to accompany him to the end!
"Jade Dragon Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng was completely enveloped in Yin-Yang True Qi. His halberd gleamed silver, its crescent-shaped blade flashing coldly. Carved on the halberd was a lifelike, menacing dragon, seemingly about to soar into the sky…
the Flying Dragon Halberd! Streams of primordial energy, like whirlpools in the ocean, continuously gathered around Xu Shaopeng, even enveloping his galloping crimson warhorse in a layer of Yin-Yang True Qi. With each strike, a five-zhang radius was enveloped by the halberd and countless sharp beams of light. Its domineering and chilling aura was like a raging storm, lightning and thunder, a colossal, overwhelming wave. The cavalry of the Hundred Yi Special Division seemed to have encountered a demon god, falling one after another to the ground!
Even the Jade Dragon Army experts with sixth or seventh-grade cultivation could only be thrown back by the force of the attack! Those with slightly weaker cultivation were instantly reduced to flying flesh and blood, or coughed up blood and died on the spot!
One hundred personal guards and one thousand silver guards, like an unstoppable giant plow, tore a gap in the originally orderly cavalry formation of the Baiyi Special Division. Forty thousand Yinming cavalry followed closely behind, and the gap continued to widen. In just one charge and contact, the outcome was already decided!
Xu Shaopeng's tactics were extremely appropriate: he changed the usual tactic of the Hualong Continent, which reserved the most elite troops for the crucial moment—if they did that, it would take an unknown amount of time, and they might not be able to reach Wei Wuxie in time. Moreover, the newly formed Yinming cavalry, apart from their high morale, were far inferior to the well-trained Jade Dragon Iron Cavalry in terms of battle formation changes, and would be at a disadvantage in a prolonged battle. Therefore, from the very beginning of the battle, he placed his strongest forces, including himself, at the forefront. "There are no constant formations in warfare, just as water has no constant shape." Xu Shaopeng deeply understood the essence of the "Hua Zi Art of War"!
"Retreat!" A loud shout reached the ears of every cavalryman in the Baiyi Special Division!
As Xu Shaopeng had predicted, the Baiyi Special Division under Sima Zhao, the "Duke of Dingyi," who was originally a guest force, was not entirely of one mind with the newly appointed "Guardian King" Sima Cheng. They were willing to help win battles when the situation was favorable, but now that the Yinming Army had annihilated thousands of cavalry so easily, the commanding general, Sima Gang, belonging to Sima Zhao's faction, was unwilling to fight the Yinming Army to the death.
"The Jade Dragon Army has been defeated! The Jade Dragon Army has been defeated!" Xu Shaopeng ordered his Yinming cavalry to shout in unison!
Instantly, seeing the Jade Dragon cavalry on one side indeed fleeing the battlefield, the remaining 80,000 to 90,000 Yinming infantry of the Third Army Corps, who had been chased like frightened birds, suddenly felt their morale soar. They fought desperately, subtly coordinating with the newly victorious Yinming cavalry to form a counter-encirclement of the Jade Dragon Army's Imperial Guard Division cavalry!
"Jade Dragon City has fallen! Jade Dragon City has fallen!" Xu Shaopeng suddenly saw the smoke signals shooting into the sky from the northwest of Jade Dragon City. It was the signal that Yang Shidao's Second Army Corps and Tang Tianxiao's Fourth Army Corps had entered the city, and he was overjoyed!
Xu Shaopeng's original intention in ordering the Third and Fourth Army Corps to launch a strong attack on Jade Dragon City was to test the Jade Dragon Army's troop distribution and prevent them from launching a large-scale attack on his southern camp from the south gate. He never expected that "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao and "Dominating Spear" Tang Tianxiao would unexpectedly capture the west gate with their formidable martial arts skills—a truly unexpected and delightful surprise!
Within Jade Dragon City, a large number of Yinming Sect disciples had already infiltrated as internal agents. With a large contingent of Jade Dragon Army's elite troops venturing out for the decisive battle, the breach of the city walls practically guaranteed Jade Dragon City's fall to the Yinming Army—Xu Shaopeng, in a moment of quick thinking, had inadvertently succeeded!
"Jade Dragon City has fallen! Jade Dragon City has fallen!..." Hundreds of thousands of Yinming soldiers shouted in unison, their morale soaring! Meanwhile, the Jade Dragon Imperial Guard cavalry, seeing the Baiyi Special Division retreat first and indeed witnessing the smoke signals rising from the west gate of Jade Dragon City, began to panic...
"Order Commander Xu Liang of the Southern Camp to mobilize the entire army and launch a full-scale attack on the south gate of Jade Dragon City!" Xu Shaopeng knew that the key to this decisive battle was to capture Jade Dragon City in one fell swoop. Even with heavy casualties, as long as they could take the capital of the Jade Dragon Kingdom, it would all be worthwhile!

Volume 8, Chapter 149: Unexpected Turn of Events
. Wei Wuxie, the "Blood-Drifting Sword," was in dire straits: he was firmly entangled by Ma Menglong, the "Heavenly Gang Sword," and unable to break free. Meanwhile, the Dao Sect, besides Ma Menglong, had over a hundred Saint-level experts, hundreds of Jade Dragon spies, and Saint-level experts from the Imperial Guards, all working in conjunction with the two thousand elite cavalrymen of Sima Xiangru's personal guard division, launching a massacre against the Yinming Army's rearguard!
Around Wei Wuxie, only less than five hundred highly skilled Yinming Iron Guards remained, desperately holding on; their complete annihilation was only a matter of time!
Ma Menglong, the "Heavenly Gang Sword," sought no merit, preferring only to remain defensive, keeping Wei Wuxie pinned down and unable to escape. The Daoist sect's Heavenly Gang True Qi is most effective in prolonged battles, its energy flowing continuously and enduringly. As time went on, Wei Wuxie, already exhausted from the long battle, and with his agitated mind, found himself even more at a disadvantage! The
earth-shattering shouts from several miles away, "The Jade Dragon Army has been defeated! Jade Dragon City has fallen!" jolted Wei Wuxie's spirits. His Bloodstained Sword Style abruptly changed, shifting from purely offensive to a three-part offense and seven-part defense. This tactic served two purposes: firstly, to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to replenish his own true qi; and secondly, to await reinforcements: "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng, though young, was no less skilled than him!
"Heavenly Gang Sword" Ma Mengminlong's expression changed—the Jade Dragon Daoist sect had mobilized a large number of experts to assist Sima Cheng in the battle because of a tempting condition: that after Sima Cheng defeated the Yinming Army, the Daoist sect would be established as the state religion of Jade Dragon! Compared to the declining magic sects in the Later Tang Empire in recent years, the sword sect will become the orthodox sect of Taoism, and all Taoist sects in the world will naturally submit to it!
However, if Sima Cheng's Jade Dragon Army is truly defeated and even Jade Dragon City is lost, wouldn't such an effort be a complete waste?
"Heavenly Gang Four Symbols Formation!" With a roar from Ma Menglong, three Taoist masters who were unleashing their killing blows on the Yinming Iron Guards flew through the air, forming a four-symbol formation with Ma Menglong, trapping Wei Wuxie in the center.
Golden sword energy crisscrossed, surging towards Wei Wuxie!
Four Saint-level experts besieging one person, one of whom was evenly matched with Wei Wuxie, even if Wei Wuxie had extraordinary abilities, his fate was predictable!
"Third brother, don't panic, eldest brother is here!" A voice initially came from more than ten miles away, but as soon as the last word "了" (le, meaning "already") fell, it sounded like it was only seven or eight miles away, its speed astonishing!
"Big Brother!" A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Wei Wuxie's eyes. He was about to unleash the "Yinming Disintegration Technique" to forcibly boost his power for a desperate battle when he suddenly heard his elder brother, Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," and was overjoyed!
"Boom!" Wei Wuxie's Blood Sword unleashed a "Rolling Blood Wave," directly clashing with the powerful true energy formed by the Four Symbols Formation of four experts, including Ma Menglong of the Heavenly Gang Sword. Using the momentum, he rose more than ten feet into the air, his mouthful of blood transforming into a sky full of blood arrows that shot towards Ma Menglong and the others!
Wei Wuxie was already severely injured after taking this attack! His thin body spun in the air, drifting like a ghost towards the battlefield where the Yinming Iron Guards and the Jade Dragon Army were still locked in fierce combat!
With his qi pulling him along and his internal injuries, it was impossible for Wei Wuxie to escape the pursuit of the experts, including Ma Menglong of the "Heavenly Gang Sword." However, in the midst of the chaotic battlefield, he skillfully evaded the situation and held out until his elder brother, "Yinming Divine Fist" Xu Ling, arrived—with Wei Wuxie's lightness skill and strength, he believed there wouldn't be much of a problem!
"Where do you think you're going!" Tiangang Sword Ma Menglong was determined to take advantage of the Dao Sect's superior numbers to kill Wei Wuxie. He led his three junior disciples, who were also considered experts among Saint-level masters, in hot pursuit, following the aura—but how easy would it be to surround a highly skilled Saint-level master who was deliberately trying to escape!
The five top masters chased and dodged each other on the battlefield with lightning-fast movements, their powerful sword energy spreading everywhere. Wherever they passed, the Jade Dragon Army and Yinming Iron Guards who were engaged in fierce battle suffered collateral damage, one after another crashing into them and dying or getting injured!
Suddenly, "Floating Blood Sword" Wei Wuxie stopped, no longer fleeing—because suddenly, as if from underground or from the void, another person appeared beside him! A familiar large hand rested on his shoulder, and a powerful yet gentle stream of true energy flowed into his body, smoothing out his chaotic and injured internal energy, instantly healing more than 60% of his internal injuries!
"The Jade Dragon Dao Sect is still doing those pathetic things of outnumbering the weak!" With a disdainful snort from Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," the Heavenly Gang Swordsman Ma Menglong and the others, who were pouncing through the air, suddenly felt a jolt in their hearts! An ordinary-looking fist struck the tips of the four swords accurately, and an irresistible force traveled up the swords, sending the four flying more than ten feet into the air!
"Sect Leader Xu, what a powerful Mountain-Breaking Fist!" A hoarse voice came from a hundred feet away.
"Sect Master of the Dao Sect, the Jade Dragon Elder Yuan Tiangang!" Xu Ling's eyes lit up, his fighting spirit soaring—a duel with a peerless master was the dream of every martial artist at the pinnacle of martial arts who had made little progress!

The stench of blood in the night wind grew stronger, so strong it was nauseating! For miles to the west and south of Lantern Mountain, the area had become a bloodbath.
Due to the sudden retreat of the Baiyi Special Division, the cavalry of the Jade Dragon Army's Third Guard Division was surrounded by 40,000 cavalry and over 80,000 infantry of the Yinming Army. Their operational space was shrinking, and soon only a little over 20,000 remained.
Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," arrived just in time, allowing Xu Shaopeng to stop rushing to reinforce Wei Wuxie. Therefore, he commanded his army to construct a strong defensive line of over 50,000 men between the Jade Dragon Army's Third Guard Division cavalry and the main force behind them, determined to annihilate this most mobile and threatening all-cavalry force of the Yinming Army!
"Guardian King" Sima Cheng and the Guard Division Commander Sima Xiangru never expected that their plan to use the chaotic army to disperse Xu Shaopeng's reinforcements would, under Xu Shaopeng's "Mind-Bending Technique," miraculously transform the demoralized army into fierce warriors!
It was a battle of wits. Now, the Yinming Army's ferocity has overwhelmed the Jade Dragon Army. The thousands of imperial guards, spies, and even hundreds of Saint-level experts who were originally sandwiched between the Jade Dragon cavalry and infantry are not gaining much advantage under the onslaught of the Yinming Silver Guards led by "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng!
Tonight's entire plan has failed—after the arrival of 120,000 infantrymen from the Yinming Army's First Legion, the Jade Dragon Army's defeat was irreversible: in the chaotic battle of the night, the 230,000 to 240,000 Yinming Army soldiers with their morale soaring against the Jade Dragon Army, which now numbers only 120,000 to 130,000 and whose morale has been shattered by the fall of Jade Dragon City, can only come to one conclusion!
"Order the entire army to retreat to the East Gate!" Sima Cheng, true to his reputation as a decisive and ruthless leader, made a clean break, even abandoning the cavalry of the 3rd Guards Division who were trapped in the siege, and directly issued the order to retreat.
"Chase!" The Jade Dragon cavalry in the encirclement had dwindled to just over ten thousand. Xu Shaopeng personally led twenty thousand Yinming cavalry and two infantry divisions in pursuit of the retreating Jade Dragon army...

In the western district of Jade Dragon City, "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai mobilized all the top Saint-level experts hidden within Jade Dragon's secret spies, including the "Jade Group
," to join the battle. They barely managed to stabilize the situation in the street fighting for the Imperial Guards. Every inch of ground was at stake, and the battle now hinged on a decisive battle between the top experts of both sides! "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" versus "Frost Blade Saint"—would the hot blood melt the ice, or would the cold ice freeze the blood? Before the battle between "Bloodthirsty Demon Blade" Yang Shidao and "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai, no one could say for sure, and no one dared to make a definitive statement!
"Pop, pop, pop..." Near the West Gate, at the site of the duel between Li Xinghai and Yang Shidao, thousands of corpses of the Yinming Army and the Jade Dragon Army seemed to be drawn in by a mysterious force, their still-warm blood bursting out of their bodies, spraying into jets of blood that flew into the air and gathered on the demonic blade that Yang Shidao held high, condensing into a blood-red demonic blade that was ten and a half feet long!
Countless drops of blood swirled around the demonic blade in the air, resembling a ferocious blood-red dragon! Yang Shidao's "Bloodthirsty Fiend Technique" could unleash its full power when there was more blood—the countless corpses of the soldiers who had just died on both sides were the best medium to unleash the power of the demonic technique!
Was it too unwise for "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai to fight Yang Shidao in such a bloody place?
No! After the fierce battle of over a hundred moves, "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai remained calm and composed, not even panting. Any flying blood dragon that came within three zhang of him would freeze into clumps of blood and fall to the ground. The chill of the winter night was the best aid to his "Yinluo Frost True Qi," allowing him to recover his strength with ease—blood will always run dry, but when has the chill of the void ever ended? Although
the Saint-level experts on the Hualong Continent are no longer divided into upper, middle, and lower ranks, there are still differences in the depth of their cultivation and strength. Those revered as "Saints" are definitely quasi-god-level experts, only a hair's breadth away from god-level experts!
"A vast sea of blood!" Yang Shidao roared, his blood-red demonic blade unleashing endless waves of blood that surged towards Li Xinghai. He himself became one with the blade, flying towards Li Xinghai, blade and all.
It was either you die or I die! Yang Shidao knew that a prolonged battle would be disadvantageous, and finally unleashed his desperate move!
"Freezing cold!" Li Xinghai soared into the air, his longsword unleashing bursts of dazzling, white, icy true energy that surged towards the towering blood waves—the endless blood waves, encountering the extremely condensed icy true energy, froze into chunks of blood and ice, falling continuously to the ground like a hailstorm of blood! The ferocious blood dragon, even its head turning to ice, crashed to the ground, gradually revealing the true form of the demonic blade. A crystal-clear, jade-like ice dragon, as cold as ten-thousand-year-old glaze, coiled around the ice blade in Li Xinghai's hand, standing out vividly in the darkness—
the "Bloodthirsty Demonic Blade" was ultimately no match for the "Ice Blade"!
A hundred feet away, Tang Tianxiao, the "Overlord Spear," was overwhelmed by the combined attacks of the two young masters, Ying Fei and Long Er .
Just as the Demon Blade and the Ice Blade were about to clash, and Yang Shidao was about to be either killed or seriously injured, a sudden change occurred—
"Ah!—" Suddenly, an extremely shrill scream reached the ears of "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai from a hundred feet away, causing his calm and composed mind to tremble, his steady hand to tremble, and his chilling and awe-inspiring aura to falter!
In a battle between masters, there is no room for the slightest lapse in concentration! Yang Shidao's Demon Blade flipped, sliding rapidly up the back of the Ice Blade, scraping against Li Xinghai's hard, stone-like arm with a screeching sound, before striking heavily on Li Xinghai's right shoulder!
"Clang!" Like a knife slicing through ice, Yang Shidao's thunderous demonic blade only managed to penetrate two inches before succumbing. However, the incomparably fierce and bloodthirsty evil energy surged into Li Xinghai's body, violently assaulting his eight extraordinary meridians!
"Boom!" Li Xinghai punched Yang Shidao in the right chest with his left fist, ignoring the disarmed Yang Shidao who had been thrown back. He simply turned to face the battlefield beside him, uttering each word clearly: "Long...Er...why?"
The scream was from Ying Fei—
Although Tang Tianxiao's spear technique was incredibly powerful, it was no match for the combined attack of Ying Fei and Long Er, two young masters!
After the "Peach Blossom Duo's" playful pursuit at the Restoration Society's headquarters, the two young masters, under Li Xinghai's guidance, had diligently practiced for months, greatly improving their skills. Coupled with their seamless teamwork, they gained the upper hand in their battle against Tang Tianxiao!
But Ying Fei never dreamed that, while Li Xinghai and Yang Shidao were displaying their ultimate moves, and while the two were attacking Tang Tianxiao together, Long Er suddenly punched him in the lower back from behind, sending him to the ground by the overwhelming force of the spear, which pierced his heart!
"Long... Er, why...?" Although Ying Fei was pierced through the heart by the spear, he was not dead for the time being. His handsome face was filled with confusion. He did not understand why Long Er, who had trained with him for fifteen years and was as close as a brother, would attack him.
"Master Li, Senior Brother Ying, I'm sorry." A look of pain flashed across Long Er's face. He silently channeled his inner energy, and his ordinary face suddenly transformed into an incomparably handsome one, his entire aura becoming dashing and elegant. "I know that Senior Brother Ying's original surname is Li, and I also know that Master Li intends to push Senior Brother Ying onto the throne of the Jade Dragon King. Whatever you do is fine, but Senior Brother Ying shouldn't have plotted to frame and humiliate my master's wife. I was merely following my master's orders to avenge her!"
"Your master's wife?" Li Xinghai, enduring the pain of his "Bloodthirsty Fiend Technique" about to explode, spat out a mouthful of blood and said, "My first wife died in childbirth after giving birth to our daughter, Ruyu. Little Ying's mother also died of illness more than ten years ago, before you even entered the sect..."
Ying Fei's real name should be Li Yingfei, the illegitimate son of "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai. Over the years, Li Xinghai has recruited numerous disciples within the Jade Dragon intelligence and military, meticulously cultivating his power to create conditions for Ying Fei, hoping to place him on the throne of the Jade Dragon King at the opportune moment.
When he took in Long Er, he was merely an orphan with no parents. However, possessing exceptional talent and remarkable comprehension, Li Xinghai took him as a prized disciple, teaching him diligently. Long Er also made many significant contributions to the Jade Dragon intelligence. Unexpectedly, it was Long Er who delivered the fatal blow at the most crucial moment!
"My master's wife is named Qiu Shuiyun, and my former master is named Long Ge! My true identity is Long Xiaofeng, a secret disciple of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion!" Long Xiaofeng's figure and aura began to change constantly...
"What a powerful Ruyi Nine Transformations!" Li Xinghai never expected that Long Xiaofeng's "Ruyi Nine Transformations" could actually deceive his discerning eyes and have been lurking under his nose for so many years. His mind relaxed, and he could no longer suppress the "Bloodthirsty Fiend Art" raging within him. Suddenly, a burst of blood light shone from his body—
"Boom!" Li Xinghai was exploded into pieces of flying flesh and bone...
The Sword Inquiry Pavilion's "Ruyi Technique" can imitate the characteristics of almost any martial arts technique at will and in countless variations: that night at the Echo Valley, the headquarters of the Restoration Society, when Long Er, that is, Long Xiaofeng, escaped from the sword formation of the Five Elders of Plum Blossom, he used the "Ruyi Technique" in an instant and merged with the aura of the Five Elements Sword Formation of Plum Blossom to escape in one fell swoop. Miao Youlan immediately noticed something amiss, realizing it might be a disciple of the Sword Inquiry Pavilion lineage, which is why she stopped the "Five Elders of Plum Blossom" from pursuing them further. However, Miao Youlan naturally couldn't have imagined that "Long Er's" identity would be so bizarre…
Long Xiaofeng's betrayal at the crucial moment resulted in the deaths of Ying Fei and "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai, two top experts of the Jade Dragon Secret Service. Such an unexpected turn of events was unimaginable to anyone beforehand!

Volume 8, Chapter 150: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
. December 6th, 994 of the Hualong Calendar. Changlong City, Free Army Headquarters.
"Commander Hua, this is all the latest news from Jade Dragon City. Commander Hua is incredibly resourceful, truly unpredictable." Mo Yan, the Military Intelligence Director, still showed little expression on his cold face, but his eyes couldn't hide his respect for Hua Yinghong… even a hint of fear!
According to the latest news: the four gates of Yulong City have been captured by the Yinming Army overnight. The "Guardian King" Sima Cheng and his son, the new King of Yulong, Sima Yuan, led the remnants of the Imperial Guard, Wuling Army, and Royal Guard, totaling over 200,000 men, in a hasty escape from Yulong City towards Wuling Prefecture!
The ever-unpredictable superior, Hua Yinghong, merely ordered the Military Intelligence Bureau and Peach Blossom Palace to cooperate closely. The Peach Blossom Palace's informant within the Yinming Army provided the "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng's plan to withdraw his troops. Then, a skilled infiltrator within the city shot an arrow at the gate of the "Guardian King's" residence… ultimately resulting in the Sima family suffering casualties, being captured, and having 200,000 troops trapped within the city, and losing the capital, Yulong City!
The victorious Yinming Army also fared poorly: under the overwhelming power of the Sima Clan, the Daoist Sect, the Jade Dragon spies, and various martial arts masters, especially a large number of Saint-level experts, Wei Wuxie's Third Army was reduced to almost a single division. Yang Shidao's Second Army and Tang Tianxiao's Fourth Army also lost more than a division each. Only "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng's First Army fared slightly better, but even it lost more than 20,000 men in the annihilation of the Jade Dragon Guard's Third Division cavalry and the pursuit! In terms of the number of soldiers killed or wounded and rendered combat ineffective in a short period of time, the Yinming Army even surpassed the Sima Clan's Jade Dragon Army!
At the most opportune moment, using accurate intelligence to instigate a bloody battle between the Sima Clan and the Yinming Army, causing losses of more than 200,000 men on each side—only "Son of Freedom" Hua Yinghong could have come up with such a tactic! The key is this: even if the source of this intelligence is dubious, even if it's known to be a provocation between two powerful figures, as long as the intelligence is genuine, "Guardian King" Sima Cheng, pressured by the Ding family's attack on Wuling Prefecture, will have no choice but to submit!
"Goddess of Liberty" Liu Yufei was attacked by Jade Dragon's spies at the Restoration Society headquarters, and Hua Yinghong himself was assassinated by "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao. This composed superior didn't show any drastic action, nor did he order the Military Intelligence Bureau to retaliate—but wouldn't such a retaliatory act without a knife cause even more pain for the Sima family and the Yinming Sect?
"Mo Yan, you don't need to flatter me." Having led the Freedom Iron Guards hundreds of miles from Baiyi Baoyi Prefecture back to Changlong City in half a day and a night, Hua Yinghong showed no signs of fatigue; after the success of his brilliant plan, he showed little joy, but rather a worried expression, saying:
"The decisive battle between the Sima clan and the Yinming army is inevitable and not hard to predict. With our army marching towards the Baiyi tribes, the Ding family will inevitably launch a large-scale attack on Wuling Prefecture without any worries about their rear. Sima Cheng and his son, in order to escape their predicament, will inevitably rely on the well-trained and powerful Yulong army, as well as the opportunity of the fortified city to annihilate part of the Yinming army's mobile forces, thus lifting the siege of Yulong City, so that they can transfer troops to reinforce Wuling Prefecture. Xu Shaopeng is shrewd and capable, so it is reasonable for him to take the initiative to withdraw his troops to avoid battle and watch the tigers fight. The intelligence we provide is merely to fuel the flames, strengthen Sima Cheng's confidence, and make the battle bigger. But there are three things about this battle that have surprised me—"
Mo Yan did not answer, knowing that Hua Yinghong would continue.
"Firstly, Wei Wuxie's willingness to break taboos and use the super power of a Saint-level expert against ordinary Jade Dragon soldiers greatly surprised me. This will escalate the war further, leaving neither side with any scruples.
Secondly, Xu Shaopeng's impromptu decision to launch a strong attack on the west gate of Jade Dragon City, and his decisive victory that turned the tide of the battle, demonstrates his sensitivity and decisiveness in dealing with the battlefield situation. He will be a major rival to me besides Qiu Shuibo. Based on my original assessment, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Sima Cheng should have had a 70% chance of winning this battle."
"Thirdly, the Yinming Sect, the Sima Clan, the Dao Sect, the Jade Dragon Secret Agents, and other factions have displayed overwhelming strength, far exceeding my expectations."
Hua Yinghong said slowly, his expression somewhat solemn. "However, this is also a good thing. Knowing the enemy's strength early allows us to prepare and avoid future losses. In fact, these three unexpected points are what I consider the biggest gain from instigating this war." "
In short, let them fight like dogs, battling to the death, while our army remains unscathed. This is Commander Hua's brilliant strategy. Who cares who wins or loses!" The usually taciturn Mo Yan chuckled lightly—it was rare for him to be so humorous.
"The Military Intelligence Division will secretly provide me with a list within five days of all current allies and all experts of the ninth rank or higher within the Free Alliance's controlled territory," Hua Yinghong told Mo Yan. "The Military Intelligence Division's most important task next is..."

Jade Dragon Royal Court, main hall.
"For such a throne, countless heroes have shed their blood and sacrificed their lives, fearless even in the face of death," said Xu Ling, the "Yinming Divine Fist," sitting on the Jade Dragon King's throne carved from a single piece of warm jade, filled with emotion. "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. The funeral arrangements for our fallen soldiers and the medical treatment for the wounded must be handled properly."
"Yes! I will make the arrangements immediately," replied Xu Shan, the "Azure Blade." "Now that our army has occupied Jade Dragon City and is enjoying great momentum, should we take this opportunity to establish a nation to reassure our soldiers and the people?"
"These matters will be handled by my second brother. A nation has its own system, and a dynasty has its own rules; we must make thorough and appropriate preparations," Xu Ling suddenly added. "Shaopeng has rendered great service this time. From now on, you will be in charge of internal affairs; you must give him more support."
"Yes! Brother, it's time to lift Xiaoyao's confinement." In Xu Shan's heart, no matter how bad "Amorous Young Master" Xu Xiaoyao was, he was still his blood-bound nephew. The empire that the Yinming Sect had painstakingly built over many years couldn't be passed on to outsiders. The more capable and meritorious "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng was, the greater the threat he posed to Xu Xiaoyao's inheritance of the Yinming Sect leadership and the Xu family's empire.
"Sigh! You always have a prejudice against Shaopeng and don't trust him." Xu Ling felt somewhat helpless. Last night, he and Dao Sect Master Yuan Tiangang fought to a draw. Apart from shearing off more than ten zhang of the summit of an unnamed mountain near Lantern Mountain, neither could do anything to the other.
When the Yinming Sect's thousand Golden Guards arrived, the Dao Sect's overall strength was at a disadvantage. However, Xu Ling and Yuan Tiangang fought to a standstill and agreed that the Dao Sect would withdraw from Jade Dragon City and no longer intervene in the power struggles among the various families of Hualong Continent. After that, Xu Ling let the Dao Sect go. If the Dao Sect were pushed to the brink of a desperate fight, the Yinming Sect would have to lose countless experts to annihilate them. What was the point?
The adopted son, "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Xu Shaopeng, had demonstrated decisive leadership, making significant contributions in repelling Sima Cheng's army, rescuing the Third Legion, and capturing Yulong City. He was still leading the army and its Yinming Sect allies within the city to eliminate opposing forces and the remnants of the Yulong Army trapped in the vast city. His achievements were immense, and he worked tirelessly. However, this second brother, who was solely focused on maintaining the Xu family's orthodox bloodline, was plotting how to elevate his incompetent son, Xu Xiaoyao—a decision that even the highly skilled Xu Ling found difficult to make.
“Brother, blood is thicker than water. Although Xiaoyao made mistakes, he has learned his lesson.” Xu Shan said, “Xiaoyao is still young, and we should give him a chance to reform.”
“Alright, issue my order to send Xiaoyao to Yulong City to learn how to manage government affairs from you.” Xu Ling was reluctant to truly confine his only son for life. “However, neither you nor Xiaoyao are allowed to interfere in military affairs. In the art of war, Shaopeng is better than either of us.”
“Yes!” Xu Shan was overjoyed—Xu Ling’s actions undoubtedly favored his beloved son, Xu Xiaoyao, clearly intending to groom him as his successor. As for military affairs, as long as those generals and elders in the faction supported Xu Xiaoyao, Xu Shaopeng wouldn’t be able to pull any tricks!
“Reporting to Godfather, the entire Yulong City is basically under control, and the few who resisted have all been executed!” Xu Shaopeng’s voice rang out outside the hall, whether he had overheard the conversation inside the hall just now…

Jianghan City. Ding Family, Zhaixing Tower.
"Baijian, it seems we still underestimated Hua Yinghong's terrifying power!" Ding Zixing said to his beloved son, Ding Baijian. "Although Sima Cheng and his son lost Yulong City and retreated to Wuling Prefecture, they still control over 200,000 troops and a large number of Yulong secret agents. This conveniently hinders our clan's westward advance into Wuling Prefecture, affecting our clan's plan to conquer the entire Wuling Prefecture. That Xu Shaopeng is no simpleton either; he managed to turn the tide when defeat seemed inevitable. Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"
"A single intelligence report, a behind-the-scenes maneuver, has included the Sima clan, the Yinming Army, and our clan in his schemes. The most terrifying one is still Hua Yinghong." A sharp glint flashed in Ding Baijian's eyes; clearly, his Ding clan's intelligence system was not to be underestimated. Everything that happened in Yulong City was reported to him as quickly as possible. "Now that the taboo has been broken, should we also send out our experts to take Linjiang City as soon as possible?"
"I originally hoped to persuade the garrison of Linjiang City to take the best course of action, but the current situation allows no room for hesitation. Baijian, you personally lead fifty Saint-level experts and a thousand Northern Nether Guards to Linjiang City. You must take Linjiang City with minimal losses and in the shortest possible time, then march west to Changyin Prefecture." Ding Zixing said, "I will personally lead the army to Wuling Prefecture to fight Sima Cheng! Once we take Wuling Prefecture, our clan will have complete control."
"Father, you only left two divisions in Nanjiang Prefecture. What if the Qiu Clan attacks Nanjiang Prefecture from Shunde Prefecture..."
"There's no need to worry about this. Long Feiyang has already taken back Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture from Shangguan Yunfei. The two major legions, totaling 400,000 men, are intensifying their preparations for war. The Qiu family faces immense pressure in the east, and the Free Army is also watching us closely in Maoming Prefecture, Tenglong Port, and Changlong City in the south. They would never dare to start a war with our clan lightly. The most urgent task now is to mobilize a large army to take Wuling Prefecture, only then will we have the resources to confront the Free Army..."
"Father, do you still believe that the Free Army is the biggest threat? Why don't we..." In the end, Ding Baijian's voice became barely audible...

Wuling Prefecture is located north of Yulong Prefecture in Yulong County, bordering Jianghan Prefecture in Jianghan County to the east, Linjiang Prefecture in Wuling County to the north, and Yichun Prefecture in Wuling County to the west. Wuling Prefecture is a vast territory, averaging about 420 li from east to west and about 320 li from north to south, with an official population of about 3.5 million. Besides Wuling City in the central area, which served as the political and economic center, the entire prefecture encompassed four other large cities with populations exceeding 200,000 each, spanning approximately 120 li. These were strategic locations for the Jade Dragon Kingdom.
In the southern part of Wuling Prefecture, the more than 200,000 Jade Dragon soldiers, their banners fluttering and morale low, marched silently along the official road leading from Jade Dragon Prefecture to Wuling City. Last night, Xu Shaopeng led the Yinming Army to the east gate of Jade Dragon City before ceasing their pursuit. However, after receiving news of the deaths of "Frost Blade Saint" Li Xinghai and Ying Fei, and the Yinming Army's coordinated advance towards the Forbidden City, "Guardian King" Sima Cheng decisively ordered the Sima clan, including Sima Yuan, and all civil and military officials to urgently evacuate through the north gate and retreat to Wuling Prefecture!
With the west gate already breached, the remaining 300,000-plus Jade Dragon soldiers were no match for the 500,000-plus Yinming Army, whose morale was high. Moreover, the Yinming disciples who had previously infiltrated the city had begun to coordinate their attack. Rather than fighting to the death in the city and suffering total annihilation, it would be better to temporarily retreat to Wuling County, hold off the Ding family's attack, and then regroup and recruit a large army to make a comeback.
The "Blood Dragon Token" in the hands of the eldest prince, Sima Tai, could mobilize a vast hidden force. Although even Sima Cheng didn't know what kind of force it was, he believed that the seemingly honest Sima Tai wouldn't be blind to the Ding family's trick of using the Ding family's name as a pretext
. What Sima Cheng and his son needed most now was to stabilize the morale of the army and then find a way to obtain the "Blood Dragon Token" in order to make a comeback.
"Father, the soldiers' morale is low and they need to be encouraged." Inside the royal carriage, Sima Yuan said to Sima Cheng in a low voice, "Grandfather has unfortunately passed away, and Mother's emotions are extremely unstable. She also needs to be comforted." Having only been the Jade Dragon King for a little over ten days, Sima Yuan was driven out of the capital, which was extremely unlucky. Perhaps because those in high positions are good at concealing their true feelings, it was rare that he didn't show much grief on his face.
"That arrow wasn't Xu Shaopeng's trap." Sima Cheng seemed deaf to the warning, still deeply immersed in the profound reflection on last night's battle. After much thought, he finally understood the crux of the matter: "I, Sima Cheng, who has been so clever all my life, have been manipulated by that free-spirited Hua Yinghong. Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Father!" Sima Yuan, seeing Sima Cheng's seemingly insane state and his inexplicable burst of laughter, worried that he had lost his mind due to the shock of defeat, and asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"
"Yuan'er, I'm fine! It's just a bit funny. Don't worry, despite the rampant Yinming Army and the Ding family's aggressive advance, there will be people who don't want to see our Sima family perish too quickly and will lend a helping hand. We still have a chance to rise again!" Sima Cheng asserted confidently.
“We have just suffered a major defeat, losing even the capital, Jade Dragon City. Our forces are far inferior to those of the Yinming Sect, the Ding Clan, and the Li Clan. Who would be willing to help us?” Sima Yuan, being less cunning than Sima Cheng, had limited strategic acumen and asked somewhat nonsensically.
“Yuan’er, remember, in the struggle for supremacy, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.” Sima Cheng, having figured things out, reverted to his usual wise demeanor and said with a hint of instruction, “When you face an enemy, helping the enemy of your enemy is also a form of benefit…”
“Report! The outpost reports that a person claiming to be a messenger from the Free Alliance requests an audience…”
Perhaps to confirm Sima Cheng’s judgment, an unexpected ally appeared when Sima Cheng and his son were almost at their wits’ end!

Volume 8, Chapter 151: Strengthening Alliances and Enemies
"What? You want to give the Divine Crossbow to Sima Cheng?" Inside the Alliance Leader's Mansion in Changlong City, Liu Yufei, Miao Youlan, Hua Yinghong, Lü Jingwei, and Hai Tianqing were holding the Free Alliance's "Supreme Five Meeting" to discuss the Free Alliance's next development direction and major decisions.
Regarding Hua Yinghong's first proposal to gift or sell the Divine Crossbow to the newly appointed Jade Dragon King Sima Yuan, Hai Tianqing asked with an incredulous wry smile, "Marshal, I really can't fathom your intentions."
"Yes, the Divine Crossbow is incredibly powerful. Once it falls into the Sima clan's hands, imagine the losses our army will suffer when facing the Sima clan's Jade Dragon Army!" Lü Jingwei, the Director of the Internal Affairs Department, had left Zhenbao Island for Changlong City a few days ago, busily planning the reorganization of the Free Alliance's institutions.
With the rapid expansion of the Free Alliance's controlled territory, population, and army, the existing organizational structure of the Internal Affairs Department and the Military Affairs Department could no longer meet the needs of the ever-evolving situation. Regarding Hua Yinghong's suggestion to either gift or sell the Divine Crossbows to Sima Cheng and his son Sima Yuan, who had fled to Wuling Prefecture, Lü Jingwei, though not particularly knowledgeable in military affairs, understood Hua Yinghong's thinking from a political perspective. However, he was also concerned about the crossbows leaking out of the country.
The Free Army's ability to achieve significant victories with minimal losses in a series of major battles, including the Yangwei Xingshi Campaign, the Landing Battle, the Phoenix Rebirth Plan, and the invasion of the Baiyi Kingdom, was certainly due to Hua Yinghong's ingenious military strategies, but the overwhelming firepower of the "Dragon Blood Bullet" and the Divine Crossbows played a crucial role!
"What our army needs most right now is time to rest and train, to strengthen ourselves and consolidate our internal power in the shortest possible time. During this period, we must also prevent potential adversaries from easily expanding their strength." Hua Yinghong, not wanting to rely on Liu Yufei and Miao Youlan's unconditional support to pass this motion, patiently explained:
"The Ding family already has 300,000 troops controlling a vast area of nearly two million people in Linjiang Prefecture under the name of Prince Sima Tai. Another 280,000 troops are advancing westward into Wuling Prefecture. Without external assistance, the remnants of Sima Cheng and his son's defeated army will find it difficult to hold out for long against the well-rested Ding family army. If the Ding family's 500,000 troops sweep through Wuling Prefecture, they will control over 20 million people and vast resources. Coupled with the super-experts accumulated by powerful families over the years, they will become a very dangerous enemy of the Free Alliance, a powerful neighbor that makes our Free Alliance sleep soundly."
“Helping the enemy of your enemy is helping yourself,” Hua Yinghong continued. “With the power of the Divine Crossbow, 10,000 Divine Crossbows are equivalent to supplying Sima Cheng with 120,000 crossbowmen in a short period of time, or even more, because only 10,000 people could achieve the effect of more than 120,000 crossbowmen, especially when used to defend fortified cities.
If the Sima family mass-produces the Divine Crossbow, they will quickly become a force comparable to the Ding family. The Ding family, fearing heavy casualties, will have to slow their advance. As for the future threat the Divine Crossbow poses to our army, that is not a consideration for now.”
“Firstly, no weapon can remain a secret forever; any advantage gained is temporary. According to intelligence from the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Ding, Qiu, and Long families have all begun to replicate samples obtained during the war. Secondly, the technology for manufacturing the Divine Crossbow has been improved by the Ordnance Department, resulting in products with superior performance, longer range, and stronger penetration, which are now in mass production. Thirdly, the top-secret Project No. 1 that I gave to Brother Lu when I left Treasure Island has produced a prototype, which will greatly reduce the effectiveness of the Divine Crossbow.”
“Top-secret Project No. 1? What is so powerful?” Hai Tianqing couldn’t help but ask curiously. In his eyes, the Divine Crossbow and the “Dragon Blood Bullet” were already extremely powerful weapons of war; he wondered what other powerful weapon Hua Yinghong’s genius mind had come up with.
“Since it’s top-secret, of course it won’t be declassified now. Everyone will know in due time,” Hua Yinghong said with a mysterious smile.
“I support Brother Hua’s proposal.” Miao Youlan would still maintain a reserved way of addressing Hua Yinghong in front of others, but her support for him was unequivocal.
“I agree as well.” Liu Yufei’s statement was considered a pass. “The second item on the agenda is the status of the new Baiyi ally…”

"Feng Qingyang greets the Protector King." Feng Qingyang, known as the "Cold Stone Youth," bowed to Sima Cheng according to the rules of the Free Alliance, unlike most people who would kneel and pay homage to a noble prince.
"Is the Free Alliance without anyone capable? Sending such an ill-mannered brat as a messenger!" Chen Xuanli, the commander of the Imperial Guards and the commander of the Imperial Guard Corps, shouted loudly, "You dare not kneel before the Prince and perform the proper rites!"
"How dare a servant speak before his master!" Feng Qingyang, though young, was shrewd and sharp-tongued. He was also the top-ranked martial artist in this year's Nangong family elite trials, otherwise Hua Yinghong wouldn't have sent him to Mo Yan's military intelligence unit for training. "Our Free Alliance sends envoys according to their station. If it were the Later Tang Emperor, perhaps Marshal Hua would go personally. As for this desolate village inn, even I, Feng Qingyang, would find it shabby! Marshal Hua said, 'A man's knees are worth gold; he kneels only to heaven, earth, and his parents.' The people of the Free Alliance never kneel to anyone else!"
"You!" Chen Xuanli, a marquis, was furious at being rebuked by a child, his face turning ashen. He was about to explode!
"Xuanli, why bother arguing with a child!" Sima Cheng sized up Feng Qingyang for a while before speaking. "What exactly does the Free Alliance intend by sending you as a messenger?" He was secretly surprised that Feng Qingyang, at only sixteen or seventeen years old, possessed such profound skill that he couldn't discern the Free Alliance's true strength.
"Marshal Hua said that the Free Alliance is in dire need of rebuilding and lacks funds. If Your Highness is willing to engage in trade, we can reach an agreement with Your Highness on the exchange of all goods, without any restrictions." Feng Qingyang remained expressionless, revealing no trace of his true intentions, truly living up to his name, "Cold Stone Boy."
"Oh?" Sima Cheng sensed a hidden meaning in Feng Qingyang's words and couldn't help but ask, "Are you also selling military equipment, including the Divine Crossbow and the Demon Dragon Blood Bullet?" These two weapons of war, along with the Free Army's undefeated myth and glorious achievements, had indeed become famous throughout the world.
"The Dragon Blood Bullets are not for sale. The Divine Crossbow is for sale if you can afford the price!" Feng Qingyang stated decisively: "Fifty gold coins per Divine Crossbow, one silver coin per specially made crossbow bolt." The results of the Nangong family elites' trial were fully demonstrated.
"So expensive?" Both the Divine Crossbow and the Dragon Blood Bullets were new items, making pricing difficult. However, Sima Cheng knew that the old-style single-shot Divine Crossbow cost only five gold coins. Even with the Divine Crossbow's incredible power and the war causing a rise in strategic resources, it shouldn't be this outrageously expensive, right?
"Expensive?" Feng Qingyang sneered. "A single Divine Crossbow can fire twelve consecutive shots, or fire twelve bolts at once. Ten thousand Divine Crossbowmen on the battlefield would be far more effective than one hundred thousand Divine Crossbowmen, and would also reduce the food, pay, armor, and other equipment for ninety thousand men. Considering this, Your Highness won't think it's expensive! If Your Highness weren't currently far from Tianshui Prefecture and posed no immediate threat to the Free Alliance, and if our Free Alliance weren't in dire need of construction funds, who would sell such a powerful weapon? The Ding family, the Qiu family, and even the Yinming Army are all eager to buy the Divine Crossbows!"
"Very well, we'll buy twenty thousand Divine Crossbows and two million bolts first. How will they be delivered to our army? How will we pay?" One million two hundred thousand gold coins for the equivalent of adding over two hundred thousand troops in a short time—everyone would be willing to do such a deal. Sima Cheng, of course, also understood: the Free Army's combat power was extremely strong, winning battle after battle, and the Divine Crossbows had played a crucial role in that!
"Our alliance has its own way of delivering it to the Prince's army. As for payment, the Nangong family owns a bank in Wuling City and has dealings with the Zhonghua Gold Exchange on paper. Once 1.2 million gold coins are deposited into the bank, our alliance will confirm and deliver it to Wuling City within five days. Dozens of people will be responsible for teaching how to use it. The prerequisite is that Wuling City is still under the Prince's control after five days." Feng Qingyang's face was cold, but he was inwardly smug:
Hua Yinghong's bottom line was that if Sima Cheng was truly unwilling to spend money, they should find a way to force it on him! Now, thanks to his silver tongue, the Freedom Alliance had gained 1.2 million gold coins for free—the Nangong family's first place in this year's elite trials was no fluke.
"Deal!" The official road from the northwest border of Tianshui Prefecture to Wuling City is more than 200 miles long. Currently, the Ding family's army still controls the eastern and northern regions of Wuling Prefecture, and there are also many Ding family cavalry harassing the southeastern region from Tianshui Prefecture. Sima Cheng did not know how the Free Alliance was so powerful that it could transport these weapons of war into Wuling City, but with the Nangong family's bank acting as an intermediary, he was not afraid that the Free Alliance would renege on its debt.
"According to the rules of business, if this batch of weapons fails to arrive within the stipulated time, the Free Alliance will compensate Your Highness an additional 1.2 million gold coins." Feng Qingyang suddenly said, "Marshal Hua hopes that Your Highness can ensure the safety of the official road from Tianshui Prefecture to Wuling City within five days. Otherwise, if it is seized by the Ding family, the Free Alliance's financial loss is a minor matter; it may even affect the war in Wuling County. Please weigh the pros and cons yourself, Your Highness. I take my leave!"
Watching the still-youthful Feng Qingyang's proud departing figure, Sima Cheng suddenly felt that he was still caught in Hua Yinghong's scheme. He knew that these 20,000 crossbows, capable of influencing the war situation in Wuling County, were like poisoned honey, yet he had no choice but to swallow them—
if these 20,000 crossbows fell into the hands of the Ding family, what chance would he have of turning the tide?

Baiquan Prefecture, Quanzhou Port Wharf.
The surging Yulong River had become calmer at its estuary near Quanzhou Port City. The Devil's Sea's surging waves crashed against the shore, colliding with the rushing river to create towering white sprays.
Shangguan Yunfei, commander of the Central Army of the Great Liang, had no time to appreciate the magnificent view of the Yulong River estuary. He watched as the last batch of soldiers boarded massive seagoing vessels, preparing to return to Shunchang Prefecture, engulfed in war—the phrase "eager to return home" was no exaggeration.
In just over a day, the Japanese army under Takeda Shingen, advancing westward from Jianning Prefecture, had swarmed over a hundred li like locusts. Any resistance encountered along the way was met with massacres of villages and towns, burning, killing, looting, raping, and plundering—committing every imaginable atrocity!
Latest news indicated that over 400,000 Japanese troops were only a little over a hundred li from Shunchang City, the stronghold of the Shangguan family. Large numbers of Japanese troops were still landing in Jianning Prefecture, while the two major Japanese naval legions had advanced eighty li along the coast!
Hundreds of thousands of refugees surged towards Shunchang City and the western part of Shunchang Prefecture like a tidal wave. Many refugees fled directly into Haifeng Prefecture, Lufeng Prefecture, and Baise Prefecture in Donghai County, which were controlled by the Long family. Those with connections even escaped directly by boat to the "paradise on earth," Zhenbao Island!
Although the Shangguan family had a huge hidden influence in Shunchang Prefecture, and within a day announced the establishment of the Shunchang Legion, revealing the 200,000 elite soldiers secretly trained by the Shangguan family since the war on the Hualong Continent, along with the more than 800,000 people in the city, they should be able to hold out for a while. However, the Japanese army's advance was too great. If the Central Army did not return to rescue them, the Shangguan family's century-old foundation and ancestral hall might be completely destroyed!
As agreed with Long Feiyang, the Central Army, including the reserve army, a total of 280,000 men, boarded ships at Quanzhou Port and returned to Shunchang Prefecture. From assembling in Meijiang Prefecture and Baiquan Prefecture to the main force boarding ships at the Quanzhou Port, the Central Army only took one day, which was incredibly fast.
Long Feiyang cooperated readily, with over two thousand transport ships already prepared and a naval division dispatched for escort. In this time of national crisis and ethnic conflict, the Long family would never dare to defy the world and plot against the Central Army; Shangguan Yunfei was extremely confident in this.
"Reporting to the patriarch! There's a man over there claiming to be a messenger from the Freedom Alliance requesting you to board the ship, saying he has a great gift to offer!" Just as Shangguan Yunfei was about to board the ship, his personal guard captain, Shangguan Jianxiong, came to report.
"A messenger from the Freedom Alliance?" Shangguan Yunfei frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.
He was already very familiar with the name and methods of "Son of Freedom," Hua Yinghong. If it weren't for the Free Army's intervention at a crucial moment, Long Feiyang's army of over three hundred thousand would have been wiped out by the Qiu family during the Battle of Qingyuan Prefecture; how could the Central Army have fallen to its current state? What conspiracy did the Freedom Alliance have in offering this "great gift"?
"You will lead ten personal guards to accompany me." Shangguan Yunfei, with a "let's see it for now" attitude, gave the order to Shangguan Jianxiong and took the lead towards the transport ship bearing the ship's insignia, which was a few dozen feet away.
"Junior Gong Jun greets Senior Shangguan," said Nangong Jun, the newly appointed Director of the Foreign Trade Department of the Free Alliance, standing tall against the wind on the transport ship. His appearance had been altered, and he bowed to his junior, Shangguan Yunfei. Then, he uttered a startling statement:
"By order of Marshal Hua of the Free Army, this ship carries 30,000 divine crossbows and 3 million specially made crossbow bolts. Ten thousand of these crossbows and one million bolts, along with the ship itself, will be donated to the valiant men of Hualong for the purpose of killing the Japanese invaders. The remaining amount is valued at 1.2 million gold coins. Is the deal acceptable?"
Having received Hua Yinghong's urgent order late on the fourth night, the Free Army garrison at Tenglong Port quickly prepared the crossbows and bolts, loaded them onto the ship, and set sail eastward. They arrived at Quanzhou Port just before Shangguan Yunfei's Central Army departed, presenting the Shangguan family with a grand gift. Hua Yinghong had spared no effort in resisting the Japanese invaders!
"Deal!" Shangguan Yunfei agreed without the slightest hesitation. This batch of powerful crossbows was more heartwarming than sending charcoal in the snow!

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