Ji Xuan had made a name for himself in a single battle on the Qingzhou front. He had successively destroyed the cities of Dongling and Guo County with overwhelming force, causing the Great Feng’s defending troops to collapse instantly.
The Yunzhou army fought on three fronts. The fronts in Wan Commandery and Songshan County met with resistance, only the troops led by Ji Xuan advanced with unstoppable momentum, suppressing the defending Qingzhou Soldiers, who only had a third rank Arcanist to support them.
This, without a doubt, dealt a massive blow to the Great Feng’s army.
Who would not be wary of such a newly-risen young powerhouse? Some even compared Ji Xuan to Xu Qi’an, as both were beyond-mortal martial artists of the younger generation.
Therefore, when the defenders on the city wall recognised the lone rider approaching the city as Ji Xuan, their nerves instantly tightened. Anxiety, panic, and fear surged uncontrollably.
What does he want?
Is he intending to take the city alone?
Who—who could stop him?
One thought after another flashed through the minds of the Qingzhou defenders, bringing tension, fear, and a hint of despair.
“Fire the cannons!”
A general atop the wall gave the order.
But the artilleryman’s face was pale, his expression tense, as if he had not heard.
It was not that he disobeyed orders on purpose, but he was simply too nervous, so focused that he failed to notice what was happening around him.
The general kicked the artilleryman aside, about to take his place himself, but saw that Ji Xuan had stopped advancing and did not press on.
Ji Xuan reined in his horse, gazing at the city wall, and said calmly:
“Where is Yang Gong? Tell him to come and see me.”
His tone was flat, but his voice carried clearly to every soldier on the wall.
Zhou Mi, the original Commander-in-Chief of Qingzhou, pressed his hand to his sabre’s hilt and stood by the battlement. He said gravely:
“If you have something to say, say it!”
Ji Xuan drew the small sabre at his waist, playing with it in his hand, looking as though Zhou Mi did not even exist:
“You are not qualified to speak with me.”
Zhou Mi, for all that he was the original Commander-in-Chief of Qingzhou and one of the three most powerful men there, had never been so insulted before.
Fortunately, years as an official had worn down much of his martial arrogance. He took a deep breath and turned to his adjutant, saying:
“Go and fetch Provincial Administrator Yang.”
No matter what, the fact that the opponent had not attacked immediately was a good thing. They should at least hear what he had to say.
The adjutant cast a fearful glance at Ji Xuan in the distance and hurried off to carry out the order.
A short while later, Yang Gong, dressed in a crimson robe, ascended the city wall.
“Administrator Yang…” Zhou Mi went over to greet him, then spoke quietly:
“The Yunzhou rebels have massed outside the city. Today, our chances are slim.”
With the Jianzheng no longer holding the Yunzhou beyond-mortal back, how could Xunzhou resist the enemy’s advance?
The reason Zhou Mi spoke by sound transmission was to avoid undermining morale, though the defenders’ spirits were not high to begin with.
Yang Gong nodded solemnly, walking to the battlement and saying in a low voice:
“This official is Yang Gong.”
Only then did Ji Xuan stop playing with his sabre. He glanced over the defenders and said in a loud voice:
“In battle between two armies, envoys are not to be killed.
“The Yunzhou delegation entered the capital to negotiate peace, but encountered a coup by Xu Qi’an and the eldest princess, those two traitorous bastards who consorted with each other to usurp imperial power and throw my Yunzhou delegation into prison. You, as Great Feng soldiers, may perhaps be ignorant of the purge at court, but the dignity of my Yunzhou imperial clan is not to be infringed.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the wall as he continued:
“Xu Qi’an’s cousin, Xu Xinnian, is currently in Xunzhou. Hand him over at once, and your lives will be spared. Otherwise, I will flatten Xunzhou today and reduce you all to ashes.”
Having finished, the short sabre in Ji Xuan’s hand erupted with a brilliant blade radiance. He gave the sabre a flick, sending an arc of energy howling forth, cutting a deep furrow into the ground and then striking the city wall with a resounding “bang.”
Crack, crack, the sturdy wall split, webbed with cracks like a spider’s web, and the defenders atop it felt a tremor beneath their feet.
Such arrogance!
The officers among the defenders felt both fear and anger but were powerless to do anything.
Arrogant he may be, but the man’s power was undeniably real.
Only a beyond-mortal could deal with another beyond-mortal martial artist.
While the officers could at least feel anger, the ordinary soldiers dared not even feel that much. Terror crept through their hearts, their spines tingling with cold.
If that sabre slash had fallen among them, everyone would have perished several times over. No number of lives could satisfy this terrifying young man’s slaughter.
“That brat’s become even more arrogant now.”
Miao Youfang gripped his sabre hilt tightly and ground his teeth:
“Back in Yongzhou City, Silver Gong Xu alone had them running scared. Now, with no tiger on the mountain, the monkey calls himself king.”
Miao Youfang bore a grudge against Ji Xuan.
When he still carried Dragon Qi, he was pursued from Qingzhou to Yongzhou by Ji Xuan’s group and was caught in a brothel.
Were it not for Silver Gong Xu, would Miao Youfang have survived till today?
Xu Xinnian kept his head down, staying out of Ji Xuan’s sight, looking grave:
“You know that was then. Now, Ji Xuan is also a beyond-mortal martial artist.”
Mosang snorted:
“My dad could flatten him with one hand.”
To the rear, in the Yunzhou camp, Ge Wenxuan held a monocular telescope, observing the soldiers on the city wall, and could not help but laugh:
“Young Master Ji Xuan truly became famous in one battle.
“One man and one horse have frightened the Great Feng garrison into silence. Once he’s taken the Central Plains, this will go down in the history books, a name for the ages.”
Senior officers of every regiment had their own monocular telescopes and watched the Xunzhou city wall closely.
After his sabre strike, Ji Xuan slowly looked over the wall’s defenders. Seeing no answer, he laughed:
“What is it? Now that a woman is emperor, have you all become women too?”
“Never! Silver Gong Xu is loyal and righteous, serving the state and the people. We would rather die in battle than let you have your way!”
A general shouted from atop the wall.
Without a word, Ji Xuan flicked his wrist, sending his sabre whistling out.
That general was no weakling; having sensed danger, he dashed to the side.
“Boom!”
That stretch of wall exploded, stones flying everywhere.
The general had dodged that terrifying strike, but was grievously injured by the shockwave and fell to the ground, unable to get up.
“Anyone else so ignorant can step forward now,” Ji Xuan pressed aggressively.
The Great Feng soldiers dared not speak despite their anger, clutching their weapons as they gnashed their teeth.
Seeing the defenders still refusing to comply, Ji Xuan drew his long sabre with an expressionless face. His handsome features twisted in a cold smile:
“It seems you are unwilling to accept my good intentions. Very well, today I, Ji Xuan, will break the city alone, a coronation gift for your woman emperor.”
Were it not for the risk of accidentally crushing Xu Xinnian like a bug, he would never have wasted so many words.
As the long sabre left its scabbard, the pressure of a beyond-mortal martial artist swept forth like a tide or a landslide, falling upon every defender’s heart.
For the ordinary soldiers, it was as if doomsday had come, robbing them of the will to resist.
Yang Gong was just about to invoke a Confucian technique to rally “military spirit” and help them weather the pressure of a third rank martial artist.
Just as terror overwhelmed the garrison—
Suddenly, the clouds above churned, rapidly shifting and coalescing into a vast face that gazed down on Xunzhou, looking down on the tiny Ji Xuan as if he were an ant.
“Mere third rank, and you dare boast so shamelessly!”
A deep and dignified voice descended from the heavens.
Many among the defenders recognised the face formed of clouds:
—Silver Gong Xu of the Great Feng.
…
Qingzhou City.
In a restaurant just outside the two main streets of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, Chu Yuanzhen stood by the window, overlooking the not-so-crowded main road below.
“When I travelled through Qingzhou back in the day, this place was blooming with prosperity, and the people lived in peace and happiness. I never expected that, in just a few years, it would fall into such desolation.” Chu Yuanzhen held his wine cup, full of emotion.
Qingzhou’s decline was half due to disaster, half due to war.
In fact, Qingzhou City was still comparatively fortunate; after the Yunzhou army occupied it, they only plundered the people’s money and grain once, and afterwards there had been no further looting.
Instead, they had used the money and grain robbed from the people to provide relief, taking from the people to benefit the people, and thereby winning a wave of gratitude and appreciation.
Li Lingsu asked:
“Brother Yang, is Heilian still in the constabulary?”
Chu Yuanzhen took a step to the side, giving up his spot.
Yang Qianhuan strode to the window, back facing the others. Beneath his veiled hat, his eyes lit with a clear light. After carefully gazing for a while, he closed his eyes and two streams of hot tears rolled down.
“He’s still there!”
With the body of a fourth-rank Arcanist, looking at the aura of a second-rank powerhouse would inevitably bring some backlash.
Yang Qianhuan would be blind for the better part of a quarter hour.
They were lucky. Not long after lurking in Qingzhou, they discovered that the Yunzhou rebels were massing their forces to attack Yongzhou.
And Heilian, being at the Provincial Surveillance Commission, hadn’t set out with the army.
That gave the Heaven and Earth Society a chance to catch someone alone.
Members of the Heaven and Earth Society booked into an inn near the Provincial Surveillance Commission, remaining inactive for the time being, awaiting news from Xu Qi’an.
If Xu Pingfeng and Agaruka appeared in Yongzhou, then they would strike immediately and surround Heilian.
If not, they would remain in hiding, or cancel the plan entirely.
However, Daoist Jinlian felt the latter was unlikely. After all, the Yunzhou army was Xu Pingfeng’s base of power. There was no way he would not join the campaign, for if they ran into Xu Qi’an or any other beyond-mortal of the Great Feng, the army could be annihilated at any moment.
On the other hand, it was only natural and reasonable for Agaruka and Xu Pingfeng to lead the army out, leaving the somewhat weaker Heilian behind in Qingzhou to hold the rear.
“There’s one more thing to note: no one knows where Baidi has gone,” reminded al-Asura, sitting at the table.
“There are no first ranks in Qingzhou City,” said Yang Qianhuan mildly, still with his back to them.
“Since the Jianzheng was sealed, Baidi hasn’t appeared again,” Daoist Jinlian added.
He had, in secret, entered the dreams of several Yunzhou generals, only to be surprised to find that, after taking Qingzhou, none of them had seen Baidi again.
As they spoke, everyone felt a familiar lurch in their hearts and, as one, took out their Earth Book fragments to see Xu Qi’an’s message:
【THREE: Take action!】
…
“Silver Gong Xu, it’s Silver Gong Xu!”
“I’ve seen Silver Gong Xu, it’s definitely him.”
Atop the city walls, the troops of the Great Feng raised their heads, gazing at the face in the sky formed by the gathering of white clouds, and cried out in delight.
“Is it really Silver Gong Xu?”
“For heaven’s sake, don’t be lying to us!”
Those soldiers who had never seen Xu Qi’an’s true face questioned anxiously and nervously.
“It’s him, no mistake. Aside from Silver Gong Xu, who else is there who’s that powerful?”
“Exactly… Silver Gong Xu has finally come, finally come.”
Discussion erupted along the city walls. Joy lit up the face of every soldier, replacing the previous tension and despair.
It was as if a pack of wolves had found their leader, as if isolated troops suddenly had someone to rely on.
All their dejection and gloom vanished.
With Silver Gong Xu on the battlefield, their hearts were at ease; even if they died in battle, it would not feel pointless.
Yang Gong let out a silent breath of relief. Mhm, his student had come.
Miao Youfang’s eyes reddened with excitement and relief:
“He’s here. I just knew he would come.”
As he spoke, Miao Youfang drew his long sabre, raised it high and roared,
“I Swear to follow Silver Gong Xu to the death! We’ll defend Xunzhou, defend Yongzhou!”
With his lead, a chain reaction broke out. All along the wall, soldiers drew their sabres and raised their spears, shouting in unison:
“I Swear to follow Silver Gong Xu to the death!”
“Defend Xunzhou!”
“Defend Yongzhou!”
Xu Xinnian looked around, his heart surging, and murmured:
“So this is big brother’s reputation in Great Feng nowadays: absolutely unmatched.”
Amid a tidal wave of shouting, Xu Qi’an burst through the clouds like a meteor hurtling to earth.
Boom!
The ground caved in, forming a deep pit. Five miles away, the Yunzhou troops could clearly feel the tremor.
By now, Ji Xuan had already retreated over a hundred paces, leaving behind a warhorse that died on the spot from the shock, bleeding from all orifices.
At this moment, a strange phenomenon erupted among the Yunzhou troops: two towering Dharma Aspects appeared.
The Dharma Aspect on the left was sixty feet tall, as if cast in gold, muscles knotted and bulging, twelve pairs of arms fanned out behind it, with burning rings of fire around its head.
It seemed to be the incarnation of might and flame; as soon as it appeared, the air temperature soared, as if midsummer had arrived. Crushing pressure swept out in waves of qi.
The one on the right was a pale-gold Dharma Aspect, sitting cross-legged, head lowered and eyes downcast, hands pressed together. It symbolised weight as mighty as a mountain. Around it, space seemed frozen, there was not a hint of breeze.
Standing between the two Dharma Aspects was a tall and burly Bodhisattva, who looked down coldly and indifferently.
On the other side, the figure of the white-robed Arcanist appeared, standing on a circular array, calmer and purer than snow.
The array beneath his feet slowly rotated; the powers of lightning, wind, fire, water, earth, metal, and wood surged around him, powerful and awe-inspiring.
It was as if the white-robed Arcanist couldn’t bear Xu Qi’an’s arrogance, and had appeared especially to suppress him.
Ji Xuan stood at the front, Agaruka Bodhisattva on the left, Xu Pingfeng on the right, forming a triangular formation to face the lone Xu Qi’an.
Atop the city wall, the defenders’ cheers came to an abrupt stop. The sight of the two Dharma Aspects in the distance made their souls tremble.
“We’ve waited a long time for you!”
Ji Xuan grinned and said,
“I heard you helped a woman take the throne and become emperor. Quite a few say you’re at the end of your rope, putting up a last-ditch resistance, so do I.
“The Jianzheng left you some trump cards, so you’d best use them now. Otherwise, once Agaruka Bodhisattva and the National Teacher make their moves, you won’t even get the chance.”
To him, this assault was about killing and taking captives. With Xu Qi’an’s cousin in his hand, he was not afraid Xu Qi’an wouldn’t agree to an exchange.
As for the National Teacher, this was an opportunity to “draw the snake out of its hole”, a test to see exactly what gave Xu Qi’an the nerve to stake everything alone like this.
At this moment, a beam of clear light soared up behind Xu Qi’an, transforming into Sun Xuanji’s billowing white-clad form.
Senior Brother Sun, ordinary in height, looks and bearing, gazed deeply at Agaruka and Xu Pingfeng, then suddenly roared in a harsh voice:
“Come!”
He lifted his foot and stomped hard!
The teleportation array radiated outwards. In the clear light, a figure manifested, hair white as snow, dressed in hemp robes, hands clasped behind his back. He proclaimed proudly,
“Wulin Alliance, Kou Yangzhou!”
Yet another figure appeared in the array, dressed in feathered robes, with lotus crown, a vermilion mark on the brow, devastatingly beautiful, holding a rusty iron sword.
“Human Sect, Luo Yuheng!”
Though it was mainly for show:
A third figure appeared in the array, wearing the Lesser Sage’s cap, Confucian robes, one hand behind his back, the other on his abdomen, smiling as he said,
“Confucian, Zhao Shou!”
One figure after another materialised in the array, summoned by the teleportation formation.
“Gold Gong Yang Yan.”
“Jiang Lyuzhong.”
“Zhang Kaitai.”
“Chen Ying.”
“Cao Qingyang.”
“Xiao Yuenu.”
“Dai Zong.”
“Old Qiao.”
“Fu Jingmen.”
“……”
Nearly thirty fourth ranks appeared in the formation, some of Wei Yuan’s old subordinates, some leaders of the Wulin Alliance, some masters recruited by Huaiqing.
They stood behind the beyond-mortal experts, and the beyond-mortal experts stood behind Xu Qi’an.
The hair on Xu Qi’an’s temples fluttered, his sleeves billowed, as he pronounced each word slowly and clearly:
“By order of Her Majesty, suppress the rebels!
“Better to be Broken Jade than an intact tile!”
Upon Xunzhou’s city wall, the soldiers who had been under immense pressure ever since Qingzhou fell were instantly moved to tears.
Who said the Great Feng had no heroes?
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