Chapter 702: Before the Great Battle, There Is a Great Battle

The deployment of the crossbow array not only failed to intercept the eastern purple qi but also resulted in the brutal death of a Sword Dao grandmaster from the Chess and Sword Academy, who was struck by a crossbow bolt while protecting General Liu Gui.

While exceptionally powerful martial artists might quickly gain wealth and status upon entering the battlefield, they often find it difficult to secure their unstable military positions and could meet a sudden death before even getting accustomed to them.

An unremarkable armored officer quickly arrived beside Liu Gui, his face full of apology. Cupping his hands, he offered a wry smile and said, "This subordinate is incompetent; I apologize for startling the General."

There was an unshakeable iron rule in the Beomang army: if the commander-in-chief died in battle, all thousand-man and ten-thousand-man commanders under him would be executed. Everyone present, except for Liu Gui who remained outwardly calm, likely broke out in a cold sweat. Liu Gui simply waved his hand, dismissing the matter with a smile. The middle-aged armored soldier concealed within the crossbow array was no ordinary man; he was the youngest junior disciple of Qilin Zhenren from the Daoist Sect of Morality, a practitioner of the Zhixuan realm. It was entirely logical for him to be in full command of the crossbow array, as weapons themselves are inanimate. Even if crossbow bolts possessed the power of flying swords, they would be useless if they couldn't pinpoint the vital energy of enemy experts. The qi-sensing abilities of Qi Refiners, after all, inherently lagged behind those of true Zhixuan realm grandmasters. In fact, among the volley of arrows, this Daoist Zhenren's final arrow was the most dangerous. However, the King of Northern Liang was enraged by it and harbored killing intent. He not only caught the hundred-step crossbow bolt with his bare hand but also hurled an arrow towards Liu Gui within the army's formation, resulting in the expert from the Chess and Sword Academy becoming the scapegoat. Liu Gui was perplexed: if the King of Northern Liang's journey wasn't to kill and assert his might, then what was his true objective? At this critical moment, with the war between Liang and Mang imminent, why would he venture alone into the desolate region west of Liuzhou? While a Qiang cavalry force was expected to cause trouble there, despite their sharp blades and swift horses, they numbered only just over ten thousand, a force too small to affect the overall outcome.

As Liu Gui pondered, an elderly qi-seer pushed through the circle of mounted guards, quickly approaching him and whispering, "Reporting, General, another top-tier expert has abruptly appeared in the west, whose aura is no less formidable than the King of Northern Liang's. It appears they are about to clash, likely to intercept the King of Northern Liang's westward advance."

The Qiang cavalry launched a sudden incursion, leading to an illogical division of the Dragon Elephant Cavalry.

Liu Gui suddenly burst out laughing, "How interesting! My grand bait couldn't even lure the King of Northern Liang, yet that small Qiang cavalry managed to achieve an unexpected success?"

Liu Gui instantly sobered, his laughter fading. He summoned Lin Fu, the leader of the Black Fox Enclosure, and issued a grave command: "Divide the Qi Refiners into three groups. The first group will lead the crossbow array westward. The other two will guide Huyan Keqin and Yelü Zongtang's respective five hundred personal cavalry on the two flanks. As for you, Lin Fu, take all of the Black Fox Enclosure, and I will also give you two hundred heavy cavalry and ten thousand light cavalry. Disregard the King of Northern Liang's movements; your sole mission is to find and engage any detached units of the Dragon Elephant Army, battling them at all costs!"

After his initial surprise, Lin Fu cautiously inquired, "General, what if the Qingcang City garrison and Dragon Elephant Army Deputy General Li Mofan choose this moment to sally forth and launch a major assault on Guding Beach?"

Liu Gui snorted coldly and retorted, "Even if they possessed such courage, would they truly have the appetite for it?"

Lin Fu instinctively drew back his neck, not daring to utter another word.

Battlefields are inherently perilous, yet opportunities are fleeting. The distinction between an unexceptional individual, neither achieving merit nor fault, and a renowned general capable of turning the tide of war, often hinges on a single decision made by the commander.

Liu Gui observed that the Daoist Zhenren from the Daoist Sect of Morality, despite his youth, held an exceptionally high seniority. The Zhenren appeared to hesitate, likely fearing a feigned retreat, concerned that if Liu Gui were assassinated in Liuzhou by Northern Liang death squads, the Emperor might direct his wrath toward the Daoist Sect of Morality. Liu Gui chuckled softly and said, "Zhenren, there's no need to waste your time by my side, for there's no easy profit to be found here. If we succeed in crushing that Dragon Elephant Army this time, I will personally request commendation for you from His Majesty."

The Daoist, currently dressed identically to a military officer, despite being the junior disciple of National Preceptor Yuan Qingshan, remained exceptionally respectful in front of Liu Gui. Upon hearing Liu Gui's words, his favorable impression of the general increased. Most Beomang martial aristocrats were arrogant, but this Daoist secretly resolved that, regardless of the Liuzhou campaign's outcome, he would persuade his senior brothers upon returning to the sect to place a significant wager on Liu Gui, rather than going all-in with Hong Jingyan, the co-lord of the Rouran Iron Cavalry. Beomang's methods for suppressing Buddhism were far more ruthless and brutal than Liyang's, leading to the escalating influence of Daoism. Particularly after his senior brother's ascension, the status of the Daoist Sect of Morality had soared. He believed that if they could forge a connection with Liu Gui before his "rise," then upon Beomang's eventual unification of the realm, it would undoubtedly integrate Central Plains Daoism. Mount Longhu, currently barely considered the ancestral home of Daoism, would certainly be unable to contend for supremacy with the Daoist Sect of Morality, which was now much closer to the center of power.

Liu Gui stood watching the rising dust in the distance and suddenly let out a wry chuckle. "Surely Northern Liang isn't doomed before our own battle even begins, is it? So, it seems there's a major conflict before the major conflict. Grand Marshal, a truly cunning plan."

The eastern purple qi continued its westward journey.

A golden bronze figure, as imposing as a celestial deity, strode forward. The dust kicked up by its feet was more substantial than that raised by a thousand-strong cavalry charge.

The purple qi seemed unwilling to engage with this figure. Although it had not altered its course when passing the crossbow array and Liu Gui's main army, it now subtly shifted direction. However, the golden-hued giant mirrored its movement, stepping sideways and creating a large crater with its foot, effectively continuing to block the path.

Still unwilling to collide, the purple qi maintained its speed but quickly shifted its trajectory once more.

The Grandmaster, the Bronze Figure Ancestor from the Chess and Sword Academy, having gained the advantage, showed no mercy and once again opted for a direct confrontation with the purple qi.

Despite the wide-open path, the Bronze Figure Ancestor adamantly refused to let the purple qi pass unhindered.

After three attempts.

In the blink of an eye, the purple qi, no longer holding back, was now almost upon the Bronze Figure Ancestor.

This was the Bronze Figure Ancestor's first close look at the young man whose fame resounded across the land.

Purple-gold qi flowed around him, and the date-shaped mark on his brow resembled an inverted third eye.

Those cold eyes bore a slight resemblance to Hong Jingyan, a junior from his sect who had been metaphorically "blind" from birth.

"Is this the King of Northern Liang, Xu Fengnian?"

The Bronze Figure Ancestor opened his mouth to speak, but no sound emerged. Simultaneously, his abdomen swelled with a resounding boom, like a striking bell, and a palm pushed forward. The movement appeared effortless, yet it contained the power to sever rivers and cleave mountains.

Xu Fengnian suddenly accelerated, narrowly brushing past. Behind him, the sandy earth collapsed, leaving a ten-zhang long, five-fingered palm print.

The Bronze Figure Ancestor retreated like rolling thunder across flat ground, his speed astonishingly matching or even surpassing Xu Fengnian's. One moved forward, the other backward, yet they remained side by side.

The Bronze Figure Ancestor extended a hand, attempting to hook Xu Fengnian by the neck.

Xu Fengnian raised his elbow to block the golden giant's hooking hand. The two instantly touched and disengaged, opening up a ten-foot gap while still maintaining their original forward momentum.

The Bronze Figure Ancestor planted the tip of his left foot, pivoted his right, and halted his momentum first. In the brief moment he turned, Xu Fengnian's back was already half a *li* away.

After the Beomang martial grandmaster, whose physique was as robust as a Kunlun immortal from ancient legends, halted, he took a deep breath. With a wide-open mouth, he began to absorb the primordial energy of heaven and earth like a whale, sending out concentric rings of invisible vital energy ripples from his magnificent body.

The ground violently shook and cracked, tearing open a spiderweb-like pattern. The golden giant leaped into the air, rapidly closing the distance between them. In mid-air, he raised his arm high and slammed it down heavily towards the back of Xu Fengnian's head.

But Xu Fengnian abruptly paused. The Bronze Figure Ancestor's punch landed six feet above the ground, maintaining a "lion pouncing on rabbit" posture directly in front of Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian tapped his toe, soaring diagonally upward. He lightly touched the Bronze Figure Ancestor's shoulder, attempting to use the leverage to continue his forward surge.

Straightening his back, the Bronze Figure Ancestor roared, "How daring!"

A palm slammed down from mid-air.

Simultaneously, a swirling vortex of wind and clouds abruptly formed in the sky.

At the same time, the Bronze Figure Ancestor lifted his other hand.

A tornado surged up from the ground.

Drawing inspiration from the heavens above and power from the earth below.

The two forces then collided, trapping Xu Fengnian between heaven and earth.

Xu Fengnian spun lightly, barely evading the earth-shattering collision.

However, his progress was finally impeded by the Bronze Figure Ancestor. The latter stepped forward, employing a divine ability to compress space, reached out, grabbed Xu Fengnian's ankle mid-air, swung him in a wide arc, and violently hurled him away.

Xu Fengnian spread the five fingers of his left hand and lightly brushed, abruptly halting his momentum. This was the first time he had stood still, directly facing the Bronze Figure Ancestor, who, despite his power, had always been overshadowed by Hong Jingyan within the Chess and Sword Academy and thus remained less renowned.

The Bronze Figure Ancestor sneered, "Trying to leave?"

Xu Fengnian remained expressionless, offering no reply. His gaze bypassed the golden giant, fixed on the region further to the west.

The Bronze Figure Ancestor glanced at the saber at the young King of Northern Liang's waist and stated flatly, "Without drawing your saber, this will be difficult for you."

This was not idle boasting from the Bronze Figure Ancestor.

While others might not be aware of this person's extraordinary abilities, Xu Fengnian had some knowledge. The Tide-Listening Pavilion held a top-secret file that included information on the Six-Bead Bodhisattva of Lantuo Mountain, whom he had encountered long ago. However, the Bronze Figure Ancestor's concealed power was clearly far beyond that of the female Bodhisattva.

The file, despite revealing little else, contained two phrases that alone were enough to inspire dread.

"Banished Immortal."

"Celestial King's Dharma Body."

Xu Fengnian indeed felt no certainty that he could shake off this individual and continue his journey.

However, this did not mean that Xu Fengnian wouldn't have a chance to kill him if he unleashed his full power in a decisive battle.

Xu Fengnian took a deep breath, his left thumb gently pressing on the saber hilt. He then stated in a low voice, "As you wish."