The sun rose from the East Sea, casting brilliant rays of dawn. Between heaven and earth, beyond the northwestern frontier, sunlight advanced slowly from east to west like a tide, bringing endless illumination. The King's banner bearing the character "Xu" atop the walls of Jubei City and the grand standard in the center of the Beiliang army camp outside the city were almost simultaneously illuminated by the sun.
Beneath the grand Beiliang standard, the Crown Prince of Beiliang, mounted on a splendid Ferghana horse and clad in resplendent golden armor, gazed towards the southern city wall, looking triumphant and smiling broadly.
Meanwhile, beneath the King's banner on the city wall, a drum platform had been built, rising more than a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) above the rampart. A young woman dressed in plain white ascended the steps and stood before a large ox-hide drum. She took off the sword-box from her back and slammed it heavily onto the ground. Then, she stepped forward, seemed to hesitate for a moment, finally took a deep breath, and tightly gripped the drumstick. Upon seeing this scene, the old generals and veterans of Jubei City, who had experienced the Spring and Autumn Wars, became uncontrollably excited.
Perhaps the true backbone of the current Beiliang border army, the Beiliang Iron Cavalry, renowned as the strongest under heaven, already belonged to formidable generals in their prime like Li Mofan, Liu Yan, and Ning Emei. Soon, command might even pass into the hands of younger generals such as Yu Luandao, Cao Wei, Kou Jianghuai, and Xie Xichui. This was akin to the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death for an individual, irresistible. Yet, in the hearts of the old timers of Beiliang, especially veterans who had personally experienced the Battle of Xileibi during the Spring and Autumn War, that great drum and the white mourning attire were still fresh in their memories. For this new city, majestically guarding the northwestern frontier and acting as the nation's gateway, the most important event, second only to the hanging of the city plaque, was not the official completion of the Grand General's residence, but the construction of a drum platform—an act deemed quite incredible by outsiders!
This great drum came from the Qingliang Mountain treasury and had been treasured by the Xu family for many years; even the drumsticks were ancient. The drum was crafted during the Battle of Xileibi and accompanied the Xu family army into Beiliang after Xu Xiao, the "Human Butcher," was enfeoffed as a king in the northwest. Since ancient times, military strategists believed in advancing upon the sound of drums and retreating upon the sound of gongs, which is the origin of "beating drums and striking gongs." According to the Yin-Yang School of the Great Qin era, spring's birth, summer's growth, autumn's harvest, and winter's storage represent the cycle of nature. Drums, made of wood, symbolize the generation of vital energy, hence beating drums for battle. Autumn, associated with metal, represents restraint, thus gongs were used in military affairs to signal withdrawal. When the Central Plains heard that after the northwestern Xu family withdrew to the frontier, the "Beiliang barbarians" adopted a tradition: "After Xileibi, the Xu family only beats drums, never strikes gongs." Most in the Liyang court and public were skeptical, thinking no army, no matter how powerful and elite, could truly fight without ever retreating; surely, this was an exaggeration.
The drum was still the ox-hide drum, and while the woman was no longer the one from back then, the sword-box remained, the plain white attire remained, and her breathtaking beauty was still as captivating.
The woman turned her head towards the rampart, where a tall, slender figure was slowly walking towards the middle section of the city wall, towards the city gate above which a plaque hung. He was dressed in a princely python robe woven with gold threads from Lingzhou, and under the sunlight, the black and gold robe shimmered brilliantly.
As if sensing her gaze, the young man turned and smiled back at her. The beautiful woman, who had been somewhat uneasy, immediately felt a profound sense of peace. Where her heart found peace, there was her home. She had never told him that as long as she could see his figure within her sight, she felt secure.
She glanced down at the rosewood sword-box at her feet, then slowly raised her head, her eyes hardening with determination. She gripped the drumstick with both hands, ready to beat the drum. She would now, like the female sword immortal surnamed Wu of yesteryear, strike with one mighty effort, to embolden Beiliang, the Northwest, and him.
Below the city wall, the Beiliang general, after shouting that no one in Beiliang dared to fight, laughed louder, leaning back slightly as he looked up at Jubei City's ramparts. The burly man from the plains was arrogant and self-assured, truly regarding the formidable armored soldiers on the wall as nothing. However, when he saw the Liyang princely python robe appear directly above the city gate, he involuntarily tightened his reins, straightened his posture, and instinctively placed one hand on the hilt of his saber.
He did not take his leave immediately, but instead openly looked up at the legendary Liyang King of a different surname. This Longyao Prefecture general, with 400,000 grassland cavalry as his backing, felt a vague tremor of panic in his heart, but his innate fervent pursuit of power suppressed that fear. He knew perfectly well that his words during this confrontation between the two armies today would undoubtedly spread throughout Jubei City and beyond, soon reaching the two capitals of the grassland and within Beiliang Pass, even reaching the ears of His Imperial Majesty and the young Liyang monarch in Tai'an City. Even without engaging in battle, this was already an immense military achievement, sure to reach the highest ears and impossible for anyone to conceal. If he could exchange a few more words with the young new King of Beiliang, it would further enhance his reputation in both dynasties. So, he calmed his thoughts, deliberately circled his horse, pointed his whip at the city wall, and, feigning ignorance, shouted with all his might, "Are you Xu Fengnian?!"
Unfortunately, the young man's gaze was fixed on the Beiliang great camp, as if searching for something, and he completely ignored the general who had secured great merit with just a few words. The Beiliang general, finding himself snubbed, was about to continue his provocations when, unexpectedly, with a wave of the golden-armored knight's hand beneath the grand standard, horn calls echoed through the Beiliang army, signaling the start of the siege.
The dense mass of Beiliang infantry first began to slowly advance, like a swarm of locusts, moving from north to south. Looking north from the ramparts of Jubei City, amidst the dense swarm of forces, 2,300 trebuchets of various sizes, under the hurried supervision of Southern Dynasty ordnance officials, finally took root at different positions, forming an arc with Jubei City at its center. Beiliang trebuchets were categorized into six types: from colossal ones requiring over two hundred operators to smaller ones that could be operated by twenty to thirty strong pullers. Compared to the Battle of Hutou City, where Beiliang trebuchets first appeared on a large scale, this assault on Jubei City not only involved an astonishingly greater total number of trebuchets, but also a majority of them were large-scale. This naturally meant that Jubei City would have to endure an even more terrifying barrage, like a "celestial maiden scattering flowers"—a torrential downpour that would only cease when Beiliang exhausted its reserves of giant stones from two mountains.
Among the swarming forces were also specialized ballistas crafted by the Southern Dynasty Ordnance Bureau. Unlike the ballistas in the Central Plains, which were mostly used as defensive weapons, Beiliang, with its inherent cavalry advantage, employed ballistas for a simple purpose: to embed arrow-like bolts, as thick as iron spears, into the city walls, making it easier for siege infantry to climb like ants. The "Death Squad" soldiers, known as "soldiers worth a thousand gold" by the Beiliang border army, similar to the Southern Dynasty's elite "Foot Soldiers," would hide among the siege infantry. Instead of using conspicuous ladders or towering siege towers to attack the city wall, they would forgo shields, wear only light leather armor, hold a battle saber in their mouths, and use the embedded arrows in the wall to swiftly climb and swing upwards, like nimble monkeys in the mountains, acting as unexpected special forces to harass the defenders.
As the Beiliang army advanced, besides the most prominent and eye-catching imperial standard, numerous grassland commander flags fluttered and snapped loudly in the wind. The Crown Prince of Beiliang suddenly frowned, for beside his magnificent steed, a sturdy, taciturn man abruptly appeared. He wore neither iron armor nor a battle saber; only a cloth pouch hung from his waist.
The Crown Prince, personally leading the campaign, slightly bent at the waist, displaying the courtesy of a Central Plains dignitary who respects talent. He asked with a pleasant smile, "Master Deng, why have you appeared so soon? Could it be that someone from Beiliang has managed to fight their way all the way here?" The man, who carried a broken spearhead in his pouch, remained silent.
In just three or four years, the Beiliang martial arts masters had suffered a bleak decline, with their numbers dwindling and their influence waning. The Sect Master of the Moral Sect, who had subdued a young Qilin with unparalleled divine powers, had ascended and left the mortal world. Fifth He of Tibei Mountain died at the hands of the new King of Beiliang. Hong Jingyan of the Chess and Sword Academy died on Longyan'er Plain. The Bronze Man Ancestor's whereabouts were unknown. A large group of masters, including Princess Tomb's Xiao Niantou and Iron Rider, all died within Beiliang Pass. Luoyang, the foremost figure in Beiliang's demonic path, and Huyan Daguan had long since retreated from the world, rumored to be observing the Central Plains martial arts scene with cold detachment. Now, the number of top Beiliang experts was truly countable on one's fingers. Apart from Tuoba Pusa, who still stood firm, and Zhong Liang, the second-in-command of the Zhong family who had joined the army, only this man surnamed Deng could now hold the fort. Therefore, he had been assigned by Li Mibi, the leader of Beiliang's Spiderweb organization, to stay by the Crown Prince's side as a precaution. After all, this brightly armored young man was the nominal commander of Beiliang's 400,000-strong army.
The reason for the appearance of Deng Mao, the "Broken Spear," who had been hidden in the shadows, was simple. He knew that the white-clad devil, who had once made the entire grassland bow its head, had arrived and was about to enter the battlefield! Deng Mao knew better than anyone the depth of cultivation of that woman who had once, alone on horseback, pierced through both Beiliang and the Southern Dynasty's Northern Court.
The Beiliang general knew that he should retreat regardless, as the army behind him was about to unleash a volley of arrows on Jubei City to cover the rapid advance of the siege infantry. But at that moment, just as the burly general was about to turn his horse, he felt a light breeze brush past him. He turned in alarm and saw that the young man in the python robe was standing beside his warhorse. One person faced the city wall, the other had his back to it. The world-renowned young man quietly gazed at the grassland army. Unable to comprehend how this dignified prince would personally risk coming out of the city, the terrified Beiliang general stood frozen, his voice trembling as he asked, "How did you get out of the city?! Xu Fengnian, how dare you..." Before the general could finish speaking, his warhorse collapsed as if crushed by a mountain, its four legs breaking under the unbearable weight, its belly hitting the ground with a thud. With a casual wave of the young prince's hand, the general's body uncontrollably slid towards him. Finally, his head was gripped in the young prince's palm, and with a gentle flick forward, the cavalry general's corpse, bleeding from all seven orifices, was flung dozens of zhang away, dying instantly.
On the ramparts of Jubei City, the woman beat the drum. This was likely the first time Beiliang had truly made its voice heard in this world.
Following the drumbeats, as Xu Fengnian appeared outside the city, figures like shooting stars descended onto the ground outside Jubei City, aligning themselves with the young prince, standing facing north. To the young prince's left stood a middle-aged swordsman who had traveled from Western Shu to Beiliang—Deng Tai'a, one of the Four Grandmasters of Martial Arts Ranking. With his hands clasped behind his back and two swords hanging from his waist, the strong wind brushed his face. This Peach Blossom Sword God, who had traveled the martial world for years with an unassuming appearance, never having his identity exposed, finally revealed the peerless demeanor of a sword immortal, unique in all swordsmanship.
To the young prince's right stood a figure in white, none other than Luoyang, the demonic leader with the dual identities of Grand Elder of Princess Tomb in Beiliang and Sect Master of Zhulu Mountain in Liyang. She did not turn to look at Xu Fengnian, but calmly gazed straight ahead and said, "You broke your promise." The young prince smiled without a word.
Xu Yanbing, holding an iron spear, landed heavily to Deng Tai'a's left and softly said, "I never thought I'd have the chance to fight alongside the Peach Blossom Sword God in this life." Deng Tai'a replied concisely, "I am equally fortunate."
A figure in purple landed gracefully, lightly stomped her foot, and the knot in her skirt untied itself with ease. Xuanyuan Qingfeng's smile was one of relief, like that of an innocent, worldly woman. Since the incident at Daxueping all those years ago, this astonishingly talented woman had never felt so relaxed. "After this battle, we will owe each other nothing more, and then, it will be best if we never meet again."
Xu Ying, in scarlet robes, landed beside Luoyang in white, turned her head, smiled charmingly, and looked at them both with a face full of joy. After landing, Sui Xiegou, in pure white, raised his single arm and twirled his snow-white long eyebrows with two fingers. The old man, who had "eaten" countless famous swords in the world, still wore no sword, but simply let out a gentle breath. A cup of wine fills the sun and moon; a breath shatters the Five Sacred Mountains.
Xue Songguan, the blind female zither player, stood holding her instrument, her head slightly tilted. Her two joined fingers lightly pressed on the strings, ready to play at a touch. Tapping fingers to inquire about immortality; tapping fingers to sever immortality.
Wu Liuding, the current Sword Sage of the Wu Family Sword Tomb, looked at the Beiliang army ahead and chuckled, "This formation is much larger than what our Wu family ancestor encountered back then. I'll definitely have a good boast to Wen Busheng later; after going through this, even I can say I've seen some serious action." Cuihua, the sword attendant who always kept her eyes closed, turned and opened them to look at the city wall, glancing at the white-clad woman beating the drum like thunder. After withdrawing her gaze, she asked, "Am I a bit uglier, and is my temper a bit worse?" Wu Liuding paused, then grinned and said, "Cuihua! Ever since I tasted your pickled vegetables, you've been the most perfect match for Wu Liuding in this life! Absolutely!" Not far away, Yu Xingrui, the Grand Daoist Master of Wudang, who carried a peach wood sword on his back, burst out laughing upon hearing this. "You rascal, you have a bit of my junior martial brother's demeanor."
On the other side, Dao Master Mao Shulang, the elderly Confucian scholar Cheng Baishuang, and Ji Liu'an, the chief guest of the Southern Frontier Dragon Palace, stood side by side. Mao Shulang closed his eyes to meditate, his palm resting on the hilt of the saber at his waist. Ji Liu'an squinted his eyes towards the north, viewing the surging Beiliang army like a raging flood, yet remaining perfectly composed. Cheng Baishuang, just one step away from the Confucian Sage realm, held one hand behind his back and raised the other to stroke his beard, murmuring as he looked at the sky, "Sir, who says we scholars lack courage?"
To the far left, Wei Miao, the foremost figure in Nanzhao, stood with his arms crossed, alongside Chai Qingshan, the Sect Master of Dongyue Sword Pond. Wei Miao asked in a clumsy Central Plains official accent, "Sect Master Chai, I hear the scenery at Dongyue Sword Pond is quite beautiful?" Chai Qingshan nodded and smiled, "It's not as perilous or remote as your Hundred Thousand Mountains, but it has its unique charm. If Mister Wei ever has the opportunity to visit my Dongyue Sword Pond, I will certainly bring out those three jars of my home-brewed apricot blossom wine to host you!"
To the far right, Yu Xinlang and his junior martial brother Lou Huang each carried a saber and a sword at their waists. Yu Xinlang's sword was the Shudao Fujian, one of the ten most famous swords in the world, while their sabers were merely ordinary Beiliang battle sabers. Lou Huang said seriously, "Don't forget our agreement." Yu Xinlang simply smiled.
Outside the northwestern pass, on a single line. Eighteen individuals.
Within the Beiliang army, Tuoba Qiyun, the Spring Imperial Envoy, and Yelu Dongchuang, a member of the imperial family, exchanged glances. The latter finally spoke, "This is allowed? Is Beiliang resorting to a death throe?" Tuoba Qiyun turned to look south and slowly replied, without directly answering the question, "Deng Mao, the 'Broken Spear,' by the Crown Prince's side, plus your second uncle Zhong Liang, and Murong Baoding, the Governor of Orange Prefecture—that's only three martial arts grandmasters. Even if Li Mibi of the Spiderweb organization still has contingencies, it seems a bit stretched." Yelu Dongchuang twitched his lips. "Such a thrilling and epic battle of grandmasters—would your father really be absent?" Tuoba Qiyun's eyes showed a hint of regret as he shook his head and sighed, "My father never said he would come here himself. Perhaps he truly will miss it." Yelu Dongchuang pursed his lips, lightly flicked his horse whip, and lazily said, "Then that would truly be the greatest regret of one's life."
Just then, a burly figure appeared out of thin air in the open space between the two riders. His arms reached his knees, and a faint golden light swiftly flowed over his entire body, like golden dragon-pythons emerging from a cloud of mist. The newcomer said expressionlessly, "You two, immediately retreat ten li back." Tuoba Qiyun, despite being the esteemed Spring Imperial Envoy of Beiliang, immediately turned his horse and galloped north without a word. Even the defiant Yelu Dongchuang, upon hearing the man's undeniable command, did not hesitate to retreat alongside Tuoba Qiyun.
When this figure appeared amidst the Beiliang army, Deng Mao guarding the Beiliang Crown Prince, Zhong Liang the devilish master who was on par with Grand General Zhong Shentong, and Murong Baoding, the Governor at the front lines of the army—the three most elite Beiliang experts—all felt their hearts tremble in unison. This person stood rooted to the spot, unmoving as a mountain. Though on flat ground, his aura was as towering and majestic as Kunlun, the ancestral dragon of all mountains under heaven.
Above Jubei City, the heaviest drumbeat sounded. The young prince, his python robe's wide sleeves fluttering, then silently and heavily uttered, "Kill!" The other seventeen Central Plains grandmasters, with an unspoken understanding, simultaneously mouthed the word "Kill."
As the formidable Beiliang central infantry formation steadily advanced, two elite cavalry units of five thousand men each surged forward from the left and right flanks, their hooves thundering like rolling thunder. These two cavalry units, skilled in mounted archery, coordinated with the central infantry archers, unleashing dense volleys of arrows towards Jubei City's ramparts to hinder and suppress the bows and crossbows on the wall, allowing the siege infantry to rapidly advance to the city base. The "Ten Line Tide"—Lou Huang and Yu Xinlang on the far left, and Wei Miao and Chai Qingshan on the far right—these four Central Plains martial arts grandmasters split into two groups, bravely sweeping forward to block the cavalry's charge.
Along the Beiliang army's rapid advance route, due to the eighteen individuals who had emerged from the city to confront the enemy, the ballistas, which were originally meant to fire after the infantry archers and trebuchets, unleashed their enormous, piercing arrows first onto the battlefield. These arrows, like powerful sword strikes from land-bound sword immortals, shot towards the dozens of grandmasters blocking their path. In the sight of Wu Liuding, the fastest advancing Sword Sage of the Wu family, two black dots instantly arrived. He laughed loudly, "When it comes to sword mastery, who can compare with my Wu Family Sword Tomb?!"
As he spoke, the young Sword Sage turned sideways and continued forward, extending his arms, his fingers like hooks. Two ballista bolts, which had been aimed almost simultaneously at his shoulders, were loosely grasped by him, one after the other. The spear-thick arrows, carrying immense momentum, fiercely rubbed against the dense vital energy between the young Sword Sage's fingers, erupting in incredible sparks and flashes. Wu Liuding's body was dragged backward for over a dozen steps by the two arrow-length bolts, his feet sliding on the ground and kicking up dust. Finally, he tightened his loose grip into a firm one, each hand gripping a spent arrow. With a twist, he spun once, and roared, "Giving them back to you!" He threw the two "long swords" from his hands with speed no less than before; they sliced through the air and consecutively impaled six or seven shield-bearing infantrymen in two rows, their bodies strung together like candied hawthorns.
The young Sword Sage was still not satisfied. He planted his feet one in front of the other, joined his two fingers, and pulled backward, shouting, "Sword Tomb Qi Nurturing, Seventh Stance: Wild Geese Returning!" The two fierce arrows that had shattered the formation and slain enemies were instantly pulled back, sweeping towards the young Sword Sage. Cuihua, the sword attendant beside Wu Liuding, drew her ancient sword Suwang and casually chopped forward, splitting a powerful arrow in half. The two halves flew uselessly behind her, less than a foot from her shoulders, then slid dismally onto the ground twenty zhang away. The female sword attendant, now standing shoulder to shoulder with the Sword Sage again, frowned and softly said, "Just attack when you attack. Shouting during combat is a great taboo for cultivating vital energy in the Sword Tomb style; it harms your breathing the most." The young Sword Sage let out a light shout, "Here you go!" After throwing the two arrows forward again, he turned to her with a brilliant smile and said, "I always feel that fighting silently doesn't really show off a master's style." Cuihua, the sword attendant, smiled helplessly and slowly stepped forward, raising her hand to swing her sword again, cutting a giant arrow that was flying towards the city wall from her right side into two pieces.
A ballista bolt flew straight towards the figure in purple from Daxueping. She lightly tapped her toes, gracefully leaped up, and as she landed, she perfectly stepped onto the middle of the arrow. The arrow's tail suddenly dropped and hit the ground, causing the arrowhead to tilt up as it continued to slide laboriously southward until it finally stopped. Xuanyuan Qingfeng stood atop the arrow. Shifting her gaze slightly, she saw a figure in a scarlet robe, intentionally shielding the young prince, swirling like a butterfly before the princely python robe. Wherever the figure passed, mighty arrows, like eggs striking a stone, instantly shattered into dust. One arrow did not accurately strike the old sword-eating ancestor but narrowly grazed past him. Yet, the bored Sui Xiegou still proactively extended his single arm, placing his palm against the arrow. The old man's arm remained motionless, but the arrow snapped inch by inch. Dozens of stray ballista bolts, like fish that slipped through the net, passed through the gaps between the grandmasters and narrowly shot towards the city wall.
The blind female zither player, who had unconsciously positioned herself behind all the grandmasters, suddenly halted. She placed her ancient zither before her, and under her mastery of Qi, which ranked among the top three in the world, the zither floated suspended in mid-air. The zither player, eyes closed, listened to the wind's sounds between heaven and earth. Her thumb lightly brushed the strings, and her fingers moved faster and faster. Each time a string subtly vibrated, no musical sound emerged, but an arrow would inexplicably explode in mid-air around Xue Songguan. After the powerful volley from the ballistas, a suffocating boom echoed through the central Beiliang army. Immediately, a dark, overwhelming shower of arrows rose from the ground.
The figure in purple from Huishan, standing atop the arrow, subtly lifted her chin, her gaze following the majestic arrow rain that approached like a darkening cloud. Just then, within the ears of Xuanyuan Qingfeng and the others, the blind female zither player Xue Songguan's unique husky voice resonated: "Everyone, pay no mind to what's above you." Then, the elderly Confucian scholar Cheng Baishuang smiled and said, "Let this old man lend Miss Xue a hand." This scholar from the former Southern Tang, designated to achieve Confucian sainthood on Wudang Mountain's Small Lotus Peak, closed his eyes. Listening to the clear zither music from behind him, he murmured, "Among all instruments, the zither possesses the finest virtue. Hence, since ancient times, a scholar never abandoned his zither without cause. I never thought I, Cheng, would not play the zither for twenty years." Facing the overwhelming wave of arrows pouring towards Jubei City, Xue Songguan took a deep breath. For the first time, she pressed both hands onto the strings, and as she plucked them with all her might, Cheng Baishuang simultaneously declared in a loud voice, "Great sound has no voice! Utmost joy is joyless!" Tens of thousands of rapidly flying Beiliang arrows, high above Jubei City, froze in mid-air, responding to the voice of the Southern Tang Confucian Sage and the strings of the Western Shu zither player. Xue Songguan curled her pinky finger, hooked a string, and abruptly snapped it. The volley of arrows that had suddenly frozen in the air outside the city all shattered and plummeted straight down. A trickle of crimson blood seeped from the corner of Xue Songguan's expressionless lips. Cheng Baishuang, whose communion with heaven and man was now exceptionally profound, turned his head to look. The blind female zither player, her eyes still tightly closed, gently shook her head, signaling to the elderly Confucian that she was not seriously harmed.
Although these martial arts grandmasters from Beiliang and Liyang stood blocking the army's front, the Beiliang central infantry formation continued to advance steadily according to its established strategy, especially the shield-bearing infantry at the front, who almost universally faced death with unwavering resolve. In less than a hundred steps, the heavily armored Beiliang infantry could clearly see the distinguished figures who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts. They saw the young King of Beiliang in his Liyang princely python robe, the vibrant scarlet robe beside him, and Luoyang in white not far from the young prince—the notorious foremost figure of the demonic path on the grassland. They also saw the middle-aged swordsman who had yet to make a move, and the man with the spear positioned slightly behind. This group was relatively centrally positioned, with several other individuals slowly advancing to their left and right.
The contemporary Sword Sage of the Wu Family Sword Tomb carried a ballista bolt on his shoulder, his hands loosely resting on its shaft. Beside him, Cuihua, the sword attendant, held the Suwang sword, her sleeves brimming with sword energy. On the other side, Mao Shulang finally slowly drew the saber from his sheath—a saber named "Great Clumsiness." Ji Liu'an held his sword horizontally before him, lightly flicking the blade with his finger, the sound clear and resonant like the cry of a young phoenix. Dozens of steps behind the young prince were three grandmasters: Xuanyuan Qingfeng from Huishan, Sui Xiegou the sword-eater, and Yu Xingrui from Wudang.
The two cavalry units that had surged forward from the flanks of the central Beiliang infantry formation encountered an interception that was utterly unimaginable beforehand, both absurd and tragic. Yu Xinlang and Lou Huang. Chai Qingshan and Wei Miao. Each pair had blocked five thousand elite Beiliang cavalry. The clash of cavalry formations on the battlefield and the confrontation with martial arts masters shared a similar essence: the pursuit of a continuous, fluid momentum. So what would happen when battlefield cavalry encountered martial arts grandmasters, with neither side willing to retreat?
At that time and place, there was once a Western Shu Sword Emperor who, alone with his sword, forcefully clashed with the Xu family's Iron Cavalry outside the palace gates, only to be trampled into a bloody pulp by the cavalry. Now, at this time and place, there were also four individuals undertaking this very feat.
Chai Qingshan and Wei Miao, without needing any verbal communication, chose to position one in front and one behind. When the former needed to catch his breath, he would boldly retreat, and the grandmaster behind him would naturally advance to fill his position. One was the contemporary Sect Master of Dongyue Sword Pond, the foremost figure in the southeast of the Liyang Dynasty. The other was the undisputed top master of the southwest, the leader of the martial arts world in Nanzhao. Chai Qingshan, in his green robe, wielded a three-foot sword. His internal energy surged like a rainbow. When he thrust his sword, if vertical, it would cleave Beiliang cavalrymen and their horses in half; if horizontal, it would bisect either man or horse at the waist! Wei Miao, unarmed, relied solely on his fists. He was one of the few boxing grandmasters in the world, his prowess even surpassing that of Lin Ya, the female boxing expert from Martial Emperor City!
When Chai Qingshan's burst of energy was nearly spent, he leaned back slightly, took light steps, and slid backward, showing no signs of weakness or discomposure. Just then, the poised Wei Miao swept forward one step, perfectly passing the sword grandmaster who needed to catch his breath. Wei Miao's fist smashed into the head of a Beiliang warhorse, causing the tall steed to instantly drop to its knees. The cavalryman lurched forward, desperately hacking out with his saber. Wei Miao raised both arms and swept them outwards, sending both the cavalryman's and the warhorse's bodies flying horizontally to their respective sides, where they crashed into other Beiliang cavalry. When a rider from the rear charged straight at Wei Miao, he bent at the waist and sidestepped, then used a fierce "shoulder against mountain" stance to collide with the horse's neck, sending that rider and horse tumbling. Then, Wei Miao seized the warhorse by its upraised hooves with both hands, lifted it high, spun it around, and then flung it away with tremendous force, further disrupting the surrounding cavalry formation.
After Wei Miao had killed over sixty elite cavalrymen in quick succession, he tapped his toes and swept backward. Immediately following, Chai Qingshan arrived with his sword, fully embodying the profound and enduring sword aura of Dongyue Sword Pond, like towering mountains and long rivers. With what could only be described as flawless and meticulous cooperation with Wei Miao, the two grandmasters, who had originally never met, absolutely refused to let the Beiliang cavalry advance even half a step!
On the other side, Yu Xinlang and Lou Huang from Martial Emperor City, the two favored disciples of Wang Xianzhi, who had once claimed to be the second-ranked in the world for sixty years, acted even more aggressively than Chai Qingshan and Wei Miao! If the latter pair's joint effort was to forcefully block the charge of five thousand Beiliang cavalry, then these two were simply absurdly arrogant. Yu Xinlang and Lou Huang, one on the left and one on the right, had not yet drawn their Beiliang sabers. Instead, they used the Shudao Fujian, two of the heaviest and most powerful swords, to cleave through the enemy with irresistible force, growing stronger with each battle, continuously charging forward. The renowned Shudao sword in Lou Huang's hand twisted and turned unpredictably, leaving no discernible trace in its path. Every horizontal sweep, diagonal flick, or direct thrust was fierce, sharp, and incomparably domineering. Whether it was a Beiliang warhorse or an armored cavalryman, one strike of his sword resulted only in dismemberment and death.
Yu Xinlang, whose swordsmanship attainment and cultivation were deeply favored by Wang Xianzhi, had remained relatively unknown in the Central Plains martial world due to his own disinterest in fame and gain, not even as renowned as his fellow disciple Lin Ya throughout the land. However, Yu Xinlang's cultivation was absolutely beyond doubt. Both the young prince Xu Fengnian and Huyan Daguan, who had recently replaced Cao Changqing as one of the Four Grandmasters of Martial Arts Ranking, believed that Yu Xinlang's true strength in swordsmanship was the closest to Deng Tai'a in the current era. If one were to consider who had the most hope of standing shoulder to shoulder with the new and old Sword Gods, Li Chungang and Deng Tai'a, on the peak of swordsmanship, it was undoubtedly Yu Xinlang, rather than Qi Xianxia of Longhu Mountain, who, despite his similarly exceptional talent, had abandoned his old swordsmanship to forge a new path. The gentle gentleman, who seemed to always greet everyone with a warm smile and polite demeanor, possessed a martial arts future so vast and profound that it was immeasurable.
Most of Yu Xinlang's sword strikes were executed with effortless grace, like the casual pointing of a commoner observing a spectacle, truly reaching a natural state of complete freedom. However, every seemingly nonchalant "pointer" would cause a cavalryman to fall from his horse and die, his body showing no trace of injury from a long sword. Nevertheless, compared to Lou Huang's expansive and aggressive moves, Yu Xinlang's progress through the formation, leisurely as a stroll in a garden, was evidently a step slower. Lou Huang, ahead, turned around and casually flicked his sword, sending a Beiliang cavalryman's head into the air. He then smiled at Yu Xinlang behind him and asked, "I've killed sixteen more cavalrymen than you, how about that?" The composed Yu Xinlang chuckled, "Slow and steady wins the race." Lou Huang snorted coldly and turned back to continue slaying enemies.
After his junior martial brother Lou Huang turned his back to him, Yu Xinlang still had the leisure to stand on his tiptoes and look towards Wei Miao and Chai Qingshan's battlefield. Seeing the two senior martial artists coordinating, one in front and one behind, he secretly nodded. Their own audacious advance with Lou Huang was not reckless; these individuals from Martial Emperor City, under their master's guidance, had almost all diligently practiced "tiding" since childhood. Consequently, their vital energy, or "single breath," was exceptionally vigorous and profound, giving them a natural advantage. Given that martial artists of comparable vital energy and realm did not differ significantly, Yu Xinlang, Lou Huang, Lin Ya, Gong Banque, and others, might only need to replenish their breath twice while their opponents might have already done so three times.
Yu Xinlang lowered his head and looked at the Fujian sword in his hand, which came from the Tingchao Pavilion's armory. He felt a sudden, inexplicable sadness, wondering if it was born at an inauspicious time for such a peerless renowned sword to break on the battlefield. Yu Xinlang suddenly burst out laughing, sheathing his sword while simultaneously drawing his Beiliang saber. His body shot upwards, moving freely over the backs of the charging Beiliang Iron Cavalry, impaling one unseeing head after another. The usually reserved Yu Xinlang, for the first time, laughed heartily and boldly, "Lou Huang, how about switching to sabers! On the battlefield, taking heads with a Beiliang saber, just like how we shattered the tides on the city wall in our youth, can be considered the two greatest joys in the world!" Lou Huang, ahead, sneered, "Talk to me when my Shudao sword breaks!" Yu Xinlang teased, "You brute, you don't understand romance, no wonder you can't find a woman to warm your bed!" Lou Huang ignored his senior brother's jibe, his sword strikes becoming even fiercer and more decisive.
In the central area of the battlefield, for some unknown reason, the princely python-robed king, the Peach Blossom Sword God, and Luoyang in white all stopped simultaneously, gazing northward. The three were not merely waiting for the Beiliang infantry to approach; it seemed they were secretly searching for their true opponents. The young prince finally looked towards the strikingly conspicuous grand standard of Beiliang in the distance and softly said, "Shall I go first, then?" Luoyang in white gave no answer, neither confirming nor denying. The Peach Blossom Sword God Deng Tai'a pushed his sword out of its scabbard by an inch with his thumb and calmly stated, "I will help you find Tuoba Pusa first." Just as the princely python robe was about to vanish, Luoyang finally spoke slowly, "After Tuoba Pusa makes his move, you don't need to worry about your back. Just break through the formation and advance." Xu Fengnian nodded, and his figure vanished into thin air.
The next moment, the young prince appeared directly above the Beiliang infantry formation, stepping onto a large stone that had just been launched by a giant trebuchet. The hundreds-of-pounds-heavy stone instantly froze, then hurtled back to the ground at an even faster speed. Not only did it smash the trebuchet, but the giant stone, rolling like thunder from the heavens, continued to slide and tumble, crushing dozens of operators into a bloody pulp on the spot.
Luoyang in white closed her eyes and sniffed gently. The battlefield where the Great Qin fought for supremacy eight hundred years ago was just as bloody, and eight hundred years later, the scent of battle was eerily similar. She murmured softly, "Luoyang of Great Qin is here."
Deng Tai'a finally located his target behind layers upon layers of countless armors. He leaned slightly, then his thumb, resting on the sword hilt, gave a light flick. The Taia sword, which had never followed the Peach Blossom Sword God from the Wu Family Sword Tomb, finally unsheathed today, revealing its peerless majesty with full force. This flying sword moved too swiftly, its sword energy was too vast, and its sword intent too profound, creating an astonishingly slender and brilliant white rainbow stretching for two li between Deng Tai'a's scabbard and the flying sword! It was as if there was a sword in the world, whose blade was two li long!
Not to be outdone, the young Sword Sage Wu Liuding chuckled, "Cuihua, as my sword attendant, just stand behind me and watch how I break the formation!" Just as Wu Liuding flicked his wrist, about to use a ballista bolt as a great sword to break the formation, his peripheral vision caught sight of a figure in purple, crashing madly into the Beiliang infantry formation with an unstoppable momentum. Around that purple arc, countless shattered iron shields and dismembered limbs flew, like countless crimson flowers blooming. Wu Liuding couldn't help but mutter, "That crazy woman!"
Beneath the grand standard, the Crown Prince of Beiliang issued orders for Murong Baoding, the Governor, and Zhong Liang to each lead two thousand private cavalry to reinforce the two blocked cavalry units. They were to retrieve the heads of the four Central Plains grandmasters who dared to defy the overwhelming force; each head would count as military merit equivalent to a third-rank general of the Beiliang border army! Then, in front of the grand standard, a vast open space, one li in circumference, was intentionally cleared, clearly demonstrating no fear whatsoever of the Central Plains grandmasters breaking through and advancing. The Crown Prince of Beiliang acted with such audacity, yet neither Halian Weiwu, the seasoned and prudent Governor of Xihe Prefecture, nor Wang Yong, the shrewd Governor of Baoping Prefecture, raised any objections. Even Deng Mao, the "Broken Spear," who was fully responsible for the Crown Prince's safety, remained indifferent. Everyone waited calmly for the young prince to appear.
The relaxed Crown Prince Regent of Beiliang turned to his Crown Princess, who had won first place in the Chess and Sword Academy's lyric competitions with the words "Gu Han," and smilingly asked, "Do you think that Xu fellow will dare to come?" Her expression was cool. "Of course." The Beiliang Crown Prince looked completely dismissive. "It's better if he comes. It'll be a good chance to let this King of Beiliang understand a truth: there are thousands of miraculous elixirs in this world, but not a single one for regret." She stopped speaking, letting out a soft sigh. Before marrying into the imperial family, she had read extensively in the Central Plains' poetry and books, and it seemed that heroes always died at the hands of cunning villains. However, she glanced at the man beside her, her husband, who had finally gained immense power, and a cold sneer filled her heart. "You, Xu Xiao, the Human Butcher, were a hero throughout your life, yet your eldest son, Xu Fengnian, will ultimately die by the hands of such a fool. How truly pitiful."
Halian Weiwu, the Beiliang Governor, had a dark and complex look in his eyes. The old man thought of the hidden scheme he had only learned of last night, sighed, and thought, "Making enemies of the whole world, this is what it amounts to." The old man, who had halted his horse not far from the Beiliang Crown Prince, reined in his thoughts. He gazed at the empty ground before him, filled with emotion, hoping that the young man would fight gloriously here, yet also not wishing for him to die a stifled death.
But the young prince, who alone could break formations and shatter two thousand armors, had finally arrived.
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