Chapter 434: After Sending Coal, Qi Removes Armor

Han Diaosi, like a demon in broad daylight, appeared behind a swordsman. With a single swipe of his finger, then a snap of his thumb and middle finger in the air, he peeled off half the man's skin without killing him entirely. Han Diaosi drifted away, leaving the swordsman to sway, screaming in agony. The 'man-cat' continued his hunt. Not far away, Lu Song, carrying a quiver, had already broken his iron spear. Witnessing the horrific scene, and unable to bear the swordsman's suffering, he pulled an arrow from his quiver and shot the man, ending his misery. The body, eyes bleeding, fell straight backward.

The red ropes and crimson snakes on Han Diaosi's arm, seven or eight tenths remaining, stretched out like whips. To merely lose an arm or a leg upon contact was considered fortunate. Dozens of cavalrymen were cut in half by a single pull, their armor completely shredded as if it were thin paper sliced by a knife.

Perhaps this demon, who had destroyed an entire generation of jianghu, felt it wasn't brutal enough. A single long whip split into several long snakes, lashing down chaotically. Several yards beyond Han Diaosi's center was a living hell, where no one could approach him. After Wang Lin lost an arm, he gritted his teeth and bandaged it himself. He threw his last remaining hammer, only for it to be shredded by the chaotic whips. Hammer fragments splattered like rain, directly striking down several heavily armored cavalrymen around Han Diaosi. One fragment even flew back and forth. If Wang Lin hadn't quickly drawn his sword to parry after throwing the hammer, he would have been killed by a fragment piercing his chest. Even though he blocked it, the force of the blow still sent Wang Lin and his horse tumbling. Lu Song rode past at the opportune moment, leaned down, grabbed Wang Lin's shoulder, and helped him onto his horse, making two riders on one horse.

The cavalry archers with powerful crossbows also fought in vain. Several fierce and clever volleys, fired from gaps in their formations, were like willow catkins, bothersome but harmless. Instead, Han Diaosi absorbed them with a terrifying, whale-like suction. He seemed to have been shot into a hedgehog, but in an instant, all the bolts were fired back in reverse. A circle of cavalry was utterly annihilated. Most of the crossbow bolts, after piercing one person, still flew with devastating speed, creating "gourds" of strung-together bodies on the battlefield, killed by their own weapons, a desolate sight.

Taking the head of a general amidst a million-strong army had always been considered an absurd tale. The Sword Emperor of Western Shu, who guarded the empire's gate for the emperor, couldn't do it. Nor could the older generation of sword masters from Eastern Yue Sword Pond, whose swords broke before their nation fell. Yet, at this moment, Han Diaosi truly moved through several waves of cavalry formations as if no one were there. Lu Song and Wang Lin were already exceptional in leading and managing troops, but they genuinely lacked experience in thousands charging against a single person. For a time, they couldn't devise a perfect strategy, only sacrificing the fresh lives of their soldiers to deplete the demon's internal energy. Fortunately, martial arts masters, including Ren Shanyu, were interspersed, providing support. Han Diaosi killed with casual ease, but he hadn't, after all, completely shattered the morale of the two cavalry armies in one battle. Simply to help stabilize the cavalry's continuous assault, more than eighty Beiliang death-squad members had already suffered significant losses. Apart from a handful of individuals, none were a match for Han Diaosi in a single encounter; without exception, they died instantly upon meeting him. This was only after less than half an incense stick's time. Ren Shanyu, with disheveled hair, had none of her usual charm, even when fighting as a bandit in the mountains. When she found a moment to catch her breath, her peripheral vision caught sight of the white-haired young man, far removed from the chaos. Women are fickle; she had admired the handsome, elegant young lord's mastery of the blade earlier, but now she couldn't help but feel a touch of resentment, begrudging him for not staying in Beiliang to exert his authority, instead choosing to provoke such a formidable living Yama King outside his territory.

The reason Ren Shanyu gritted her teeth and refused to retreat was not to gain favor with her life, but because the green-robed woman, who should have been Xu Fengnian's attendant, wielded a red long spear and sought out Han Diaosi for a fight to the death. The woman's fearless disregard for death, even for Ren Shanyu, whose life was as fragile as paper under Beiliang's shadow and who was terribly afraid of battle, made retreat unthinkable. If a general retreated from a fight to the death, even a humble soldier could kill them.

The green-robed woman, in the eyes of the onlookers, did not simply engage in brute force after joining the battle. If her strike missed, she retreated several yards. Everyone was astonished by her divine spear mastery, yet no one noticed her lips twitching as she swallowed blood again and again.

Ren Shanyu took a deep breath, steadied herself, exchanged glances with a few familiar retainers beside her, and formed a pincer movement to cut into the battle formation.

The chaotic whips were like a tangled mess of flowers. At some point, Han Diaosi, with one hand, grabbed a head, pulled the body free, and threw it back, smashing Ren Shanyu's broadaxe to pieces. The woman spat out a mouthful of blood, falling to her knees, hands covering her mouth, blood dripping continuously between her fingers.

With a cavalry general fighting to the death first, waves of cavalrymen followed, one after another, rushing to their demise.

Four hundred dead.

Nearly an incense stick's time had passed. Han Diaosi lowered his head and glanced at the red whips, now less formidable than before, with only four or five tenths remaining.

Outside Kuimen Pass in the Western Regions, there were three ambush points. Han Shengxuan, caught in one of them, failed to reach the crucial Iron Gate Pass. He did not get entangled with Wang Zhi's three thousand elite cavalry, instead cutting straight through their dense formation and heading west, but he still couldn't make it in time to save Prince Zhao Kai. In the eyes of this former Imperial Seal Holder of the Directorate of Ceremonial, for his young master to ascend the throne, he, as a servant, had to withdraw step by step: first relinquishing his position as the Chief Eunuch, then gradually retreating behind the scenes, transforming from a man with immense power to a living dead man, staying discreetly in the shadows, and finally dying before the current emperor. He guarded the Zhao family like a loyal watchdog, eliminating countless "rats" during and after the Spring and Autumn periods. Besides the Talisman Generals in Red Armor, there was also a hidden Celestial Phenomenon master, later transformed into the Talisman Generals in Gold Armor. As for those at the first-rank Vajra Finger-Mystery double realm, there were over a dozen of them. Han Shengxuan was truly worthy of being called a demon. If Huang Sanjia and Xu Xiao together destroyed an era of the Spring and Autumn period, then Han Shengxuan's subsequent assassinations and Xu Xiao's military campaigns together destroyed the jianghu. Han Shengxuan knew his loyalty to the Zhao family was foolish, but he lived his life without regret or shame.

Han Diaosi threw all the long whips high into the air. They exploded like firecrackers and moved like dragons traversing a river, signaling yet another bloody storm.

Wang Xiaoping, the Sword Obsessive, standing on the carriage, spoke softly: "Only after descending the mountain and entering the world did I realize that peace exists everywhere except for the northern frontiers, where smoke from war beacons darkens the sky year after year."

He swept his hand to his second sword box behind him and drew out "Beacon Fire."

The first sword, "Small Barking Hanging on Great Rainbow," had been used. The second sword, "Beacon Fire," after emerging a yard from its scabbard, did not ascend further. It did not thrust directly at Han Diaosi, but advanced with an ethereal, flickering movement, like a snake catcher, strangling all the murderous crimson snakes and red whips.

After destroying the few chaotic crimson snakes, "Beacon Fire" was exhausted. Unable to attack Han Diaosi, the one who released the snakes, it disintegrated into dust in the low air and vanished with the wind.

Wang Xiaoping formed a hand seal. Wind and clouds surged, all entering his sword box. The final sword, "Cutting Deer Head," shot straight into the sky.

Han Diaosi, with only a few red ropes left on his arm, extended his left hand, caressing the crimson snakes he had spent most of his life with. He looked up at the sky, then stomped his foot, causing the ground to shake.

All warhorses and cavalrymen heard a muffled earthquake-like rumble.

The young death-squad member on the carriage roof slumped to the ground.

The second iron arrow, painstakingly concealed, was still crushed by Han Diaosi's foot.

Han Diaosi, who had been gazing at the sky, unexpectedly smiled and murmured, "When I was young, I also envied those who roamed the jianghu with a sword and a green robe."

The 'man-cat', who had shown no signs of fatigue despite being encircled, gently clapped his hands. All the red ropes peeled off, converging into a single line, showing signs of forming a sword.

A "Cutting Deer Head" sword descended from the sky, accompanied by several thick, swirling bolts of lightning.

Before Han Diaosi, a three-foot sword, a red line, gracefully ascended into the air.

Han Diaosi, finally without any red ropes on his hands, shot up from the ground like a comet with a tail, directly streaking towards Xu Fengnian, just as his 'line-sword' blocked "Cutting Deer Head"!

Qingniao's face lit up as if in a final burst of energy, her spirit vibrant. She desperately threw the "Instantaneous Spear" she held.

It was almost a life for a single strike.

The Thunder Pool Sword Formation was deployed ten yards away. Han Diaosi tore outwards with both hands from his chest.

All nine flying swords were torn away, drifting dozens of yards distant, like ownerless, solitary spirits, devoid of any vitality, falling lifelessly to the ground. It was clear Xu Fengnian couldn't divide his attention to control the swords.

Xu Fengnian now held the Beiliang Blade in his left hand and the Spring and Autumn sword in his right. The "Green Snakes from Two Sleeves" technique, taught by the old man in the sheepskin coat, surged forth. More visually similar to Wu family's sword maid Cuihua's "two-sleeve swords," Xu Fengnian's sleeves, however, surpassed them in spirit and had fully grasped the essence!

Li Chungang, in his prime when he was invincible, once declared, "With one sleeve sword, I can sever all swords in the human world; with another, I can destroy the brows of all beauties."

This was true elegance.

But Xu Fengnian was, after all, not Li Chungang, the Sword God invincible in both swordsmanship and sword intent. His stolen celestial phenomenon cultivation and Finger-Mystery techniques were naturally countered by Han Diaosi. The 'man-cat', brimming with murderous intent, disregarded his tattered sleeves, slid his hands along the sword's edge and the blade's back, then slapped Xu Fengnian's head with his left hand.

Xu Fengnian's head jerked to the right, and then Han Diaosi struck hard again with his right hand.

Behind Xu Fengnian, the crimson-robed spectral entity fell to its knees. One compassionate face began to bleed purplish-gold blood, while the other joyful face bled golden-yellow blood.

Han Diaosi roared, "If Zhao Kai can't sit on the dragon throne, do you, Xu Fengnian, deserve to be the King of Beiliang?!"

After speaking, Han Diaosi gripped Xu Fengnian's neck with one hand and formed a fist with the other, smashing it into the Beiliang Young Lord's glabella.

The head of the kneeling spectral entity snapped backward as if struck by a fatal hammer blow, nearly sliding eighteen yards away. Its five arms clawed at the ground, nails tearing off, yet it refused to let go, finally stopping sixteen yards away.

This trench was stained with shocking purplish-gold blood.

Han Diaosi laughed coldly, "Beiliang Blade?"

The old eunuch brought down an elbow, Xu Fengnian's arm cracked audibly, and the crimson-robed spectral entity sixteen yards behind him had an arm broken.

The Beiliang Blade gently dropped.

The "Instantaneous Spear" thrust towards the 'man-cat's' back.

Han Diaosi, with his free hand, casually waved it.

Xu Fengnian, expressionless, seized the opportunity to painfully lift his right hand, a Spring and Autumn sword weakly pressing against Han Diaosi's chest.

Han Diaosi, as if possessed and having deviated from his cultivation, tightened his grip on Xu Fengnian's neck with increased force, lifting him upwards. Xu Fengnian's feet left the ground, and a deep bruise appeared on the neck of the crimson-robed spectral entity.

Han Diaosi chuckled softly and asked, "With only six hundred cavalry remaining, plus Wang Xiaoping, who hasn't reached the Land Immortal realm, and Yuan Zuozong, who rushed here to collect bodies, if I, Han Shengxuan, want to leave, can anyone harm me in the slightest?"

The sword tip trembled, remaining pointed at the 'man-cat's' heart.

Han Diaosi's expression returned to calm as he said, "Don't worry, after you die, I won't leave. After fighting to the death to kill Wang Xiaoping and Yuan Zuozong, I will kill you again on the path to the Underworld."

Looking at that unusually young face and those exceptionally cold peach blossom eyes, a violent hatred surged within Han Diaosi. He chuckled softly and said, "Die!"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

"Die."

A sword pierced his chest, chilling him to the core.

The Spring and Autumn sword traveled a thousand *li*.

Someone in Martial Emperor City of the Eastern Sea had borrowed the Spring and Autumn sword.

He had once exchanged an arm with Li Chungang at his peak.

He had consumed countless famous swords.

The ferocity of this sword strike not only pierced Han Shengxuan's entire heart, which was at the peak of its stored power, but also forced his body to drift backward with a desolate motion.

This was not only Xu Fengnian's first sword strike delivered this time, but it was also equivalent to the Sui family's old ancestor personally piercing Han Shengxuan's heart with a sword.

Sacrificing a thousand cavalrymen to their deaths was merely an eye-catching distraction, an added embellishment.

This sword, traveling ten thousand *li*, was the true salvation in a time of dire need.

Xu Fengnian strode forward, leaped, and brought a palm down on the head of Han Shengxuan, whose face was filled with a complex expression.

The Immortal stroked the great crown.

A single palm strike forced Han Diaosi to his knees in the snow!

The 'man-cat', his heart shattered, was bleeding from all seven orifices.

He struggled to stand.

Xu Fengnian delivered another palm strike to his head.

With a thud, Han Shengxuan, his silver hair disheveled, knelt down once more.

Xu Fengnian, with a diagonal hand chop, severed the head of the world's most powerful eunuch.

Without a glance at the headless body that remained kneeling, he turned to pick up the crimson-robed spectral entity lying in a pool of blood, retrieved the Beiliang Blade, and then walked towards the brutal battlefield strewn with severed limbs and shattered remains, supporting the barely clinging-to-life Qingniao.

All armored cavalrymen dismounted in unison.

Xu Fengnian stated gravely, "Dismantle your armor!"

Beiliang armored soldiers, wield only the Beiliang Blade, wear only Beiliang armor!