Chapter 997: Clothes as White as Snow Xu Fengnian

The two main generals, each commanding five thousand cavalry on the northern and right flanks, were almost driven mad. As cavalry, they had the opportunity to participate in the siege and easily earn a significant initial merit. While such military achievements were destined to be minor, they were effortlessly gained. Unlike the thirty thousand infantry who had to fight desperately to push to the city walls and then risk their lives in an ant-like assault, the flanking cavalry merely made symbolic overhead archery volleys from horseback. Their purpose was to help suppress the arrows from the city walls for the elite Southern Dynasty frontier troops. Furthermore, the Northern Mang already possessed archer and crossbow positions, and over two thousand trebuchets served as their primary projectile force, so these two cavalry units bore no actual responsibility.

The Northern Liang iron cavalry had long discovered a pattern: whether Northern Mang frontier forces were "lord armies," "son armies," or "grandson armies" depended on the identity of their commanding general. Generals from Beiting stationed at Southern Dynasty border passes were generally capable, but their rank was never exceptionally high. Consequently, the troops under their command were typically in the upper-middle tier, mostly "son armies." Firstly, the powerful noble families of Beiting and the Grand Xiti looked down upon the Western Capital court. In the eyes of those arrogant草原figures, perhaps only Grand Generals like Huang Songpu, Dong Zhuo, and Liu Gui, and those holding imperial credentials, were truly considered officials. Secondly, the Emperor had consistently implemented a strategy of co-governance for the Southern Dynasty with the remnants of the Spring and Autumn period and the Longguan aristocracy, and did not support powerful Beiting figures interfering in Southern Dynasty affairs. As for local Southern Dynasty generals, their status largely depended on their family's rank. The Longguan gentry were the most esteemed, such as Wanyan Yinjiang, who personally rushed to the battlefield at Old Woman Mountain in Liuzhou. His Wanyan elite cavalry was considered a "lord army" on the Southern Dynasty frontier, unparalleled in both combat strength and equipment. Next were the high-ranking noble families (Jia and Yi) outside the Longguan influence, who were also deeply entrenched in Southern Dynasty military and political affairs, and often very familiar with the Northern Liang's various field cavalry units, not to be underestimated.

These two cavalry units were typical "son armies" of the Southern Dynasty frontier. Their families had long ago secretly pulled strings and sought connections, finally attaching themselves to the Crown Prince who was personally leading the expedition, thus gaining this treatment of almost effortlessly earning merit.

They never imagined that before even entering bow range, they would each run into two iron spikes, leaving them bloody and their hearts aching!

The two cavalry units suffered huge casualties, nearly a thousand riders, yet not a single arrow was drawn from their quivers. In the end, they didn't even touch the walls of Jubei City. How could their generals not be terrified?

On the far right battlefield of Jubei City, two men blocked the cavalry.

Wei Miao of Southern Zhao and Chai Qingshan of Eastern Yue Jie, two Central Plains grandmasters, had never met before, nor had they had the chance to spar. Yet, their cooperation was seamless and impenetrable!

Wei Miao mostly fought the Northern Mang cavalry bare-handed, his movements wide and decisive. Each punch was heavy and powerful, often breaking a charging cavalryman's arm along with his saber, making the high-quality scimitars in the Northern Mang cavalrymen's hands seem as fragile as paper.

Chai Qingshan, on the other hand, was renowned for his exquisite swordsmanship and profound sword energy, which perfectly complemented Wei Miao's powerful punches. This sword master soon stopped deliberately pursuing grand, sweeping killing moves, instead often using picking and thrusting techniques to kill enemies. The sword light extending from his tip was no more than two feet long, but it was like wielding a five-foot keen blade, allowing him to precisely stab the hearts of Northern Mang cavalrymen from the ground, or lightly slash their necks. His long sword remained unblemished by blood.

At this moment, Wei Miao suddenly changed from his previously fierce, deadly punching style. Whether through nimble, swaying movements or shuffling steps that barely lifted his feet, his body swiftly moved. He would twist, sway, and shoulder-check the Northern Mang cavalry's warhorses. Relying on his adamantine physique, he completely disregarded incoming saber slashes and could instantly send a frontier army warhorse flying off the ground. Due to Wei Miao's rapid footwork, he could always find openings between several cavalrymen. Although Northern Mang consciously spread out their charge width, forming a front line of seven, eight, or even a dozen cavalrymen abreast, attempting to break the stable front-and-back formation of the two Central Plains grandmasters and deny them a chance to catch their breath, Wei Miao's swift changes of advance, retreat, attack, and withdrawal still managed to block wave after wave of cavalry charges. Although the Northern Mang cavalry had realized they must sacrifice dozens or hundreds of riders to exhaust their opponents, hoping to slowly wear down these two Central Plains grandmasters, in this perilous situation, Wei Miao's moves, targeting only the mounts and not the Northern Mang soldiers, began to contain immense spiraling hidden energy. This created exaggerated and absurd scenes where many Northern Mang warhorses flew in unbelievable directions—sideways, backward, or even obliquely upward. Such "large" projectiles made it impossible for the Northern Mang cavalry in the same line and those behind them to defend themselves, greatly limiting the Northern Mang cavalry's attempt to advance rapidly and form two encirclements.

Even if some slipped through, trying to bypass Wei Miao and encircle from the sides, Chai Qingshan would naturally not rigidly adhere to the "you front, I back" rule. As the sect master whose swordsmanship was unrivaled in Liyang's southeast, did they really think the old man's sword energy was only two feet long?

After two or three hundred cavalry died, this Northern Mang cavalry unit refused to retreat and dared not show cowardice.

After five or six hundred cavalry died, the thousand-man commander gritted his teeth, hoping to wear down the two martial arts experts with a continuous assault.

After a full thousand cavalry had died, the cavalry commander, who had never dared to personally enter the fray, was bloodshot. Knowing he had no retreat, he ordered all his cavalry to abandon their sabers and rush forward with all their might, using their warhorses to ram the two men!

Subsequently, five hundred frenzied charging warhorses seemed to commit suicide before the two Central Plains grandmasters. Northern Mang cavalrymen who fell from their horses, as long as they were not unconscious or dead, actively rose up and drew their sabers to fight.

Truly elite troops who defy death are not exclusive to the Northern Liang iron cavalry.

In the first Liang-Mang war, at Tiger Head City in Liangzhou, Gourd Pass in Youzhou, and Green Cyan City in Liuzhou, Northern Liang frontier soldiers all fought selflessly, and Northern Mang soldiers also died heroically!

In the second Liang-Mang war, from Miyun Pass in the Western Regions, the northern corridor in Liuzhou, the battlefield at Old Woman Mountain, to the clash between the Liangzhou Left Cavalry Army and the Winter Thunder Elite Cavalry and Rouran Iron Cavalry outside Liangzhou Pass – at every battlefield, both sides fought with passionate intensity!

Therefore, Northern Mang always firmly believed that conquering Northern Liang was equivalent to conquering the vast entire Central Plains.

And Northern Liang always believed that it wasn't that they intentionally looked down on any Central Plains elite or Two Liao Iron Cavalry. In vast open areas suitable for cavalry charges, once confronted with large-scale Central Plains cavalry, no matter how many heads the Liyang army had, it wouldn't be enough for the Northern Mang barbarians to chop off.

In a fireside chat destined to be lost to history, Elder Tantan jokingly asked a close friend who held imperial power, what they would do if they angered the Xu family and they simply rebelled, joining forces with Northern Mang to march south into the Central Plains. Wouldn't they become eternal sinners, with him (referring to the friend as "Jade-Eyed") ranking first on the list and him (Huan Wen) as the runner-up?

The Grand Tutor, then at the zenith of his power in the Liyang court, calmly gave a humorous, non-sequitur reply: "I only hope that at that time, all the high officials in our court don't find the water too cold for martyrdom or claim to have no rope for hanging."

Huan Wen still stood firm in that court, still the unyielding Elder Tantan, but after autumn this year, he had gradually faded from the court's view, barely participating in minor court sessions. The old man lived a reclusive life, growing more silent and unwilling to speak to others.

Consequently, what Grand Tutor Zhang Julu truly thought of the Northern Liang Xu family and their regional autonomy became even more unknown.

In any case, as the struggle between the Jiangnan aristocratic families and the Liaodong powerful clans intensified in the Liyang court, some upright scholars who championed righteousness, after establishing themselves in Taian City, began to voice their opinions, speaking startling words that wouldn't stop until they shocked everyone. They claimed that the "old national traitor" Zhang Julu not only wielded absolute power over court affairs but also secretly colluded with the Northwest border army, deliberately allowing a tiger to grow (fostering the Xu family's power) to solidify his own position.

Although these individuals were few in number for now, their status was often distinguished. They were seen as scholars with great knowledge and ambition who, during the Yonghui era, were suppressed and ostracized by Zhang Lu, led by the jealous and capable "Jade-Eyed." Now, having finally seen the light after the clouds parted, they felt it was their duty to speak out justly for the common people and the nation.

For a time, praises abounded: scholarly integrity, moral paragons, pillars of the nation.

These scholars, who had "leapt over the dragon's gate" (achieved success), or were born into families of generals, chancellors, and nobles, were few in number compared to the vast majority of common scholars, but they spoke the loudest and had the largest audience.

After autumn in the third year of Xiangfu, at the highest levels of the Taian City court, even the Ministry of War, which had fought against the Northwest Xu family for so many years, did not deliberately conceal the tragic victory at Miyun Pass. Furthermore, the good news from Old Woman Mountain in Liuzhou, transmitted to the capital via the Lianghuai Road postal service, and the complete annihilation of the Liangzhou Left Cavalry Army of the Six Great Distant Tribes, were all reported truthfully, word for word, to the imperial court by the new military commissioners of Lianghuai Road, Han Lin and Xu Gong. Yet, strangely, the entire Taian City, from the deep courtyards of noble families to the bustling markets and alleys where chickens crowed and dogs barked, discussed none of it. Perhaps the former did not wish to speak, and the latter could not hear.

The common people in the Liyang capital at most heard that the Northern Liang Xu family had fought several major battles in Liuzhou, suffered a major defeat outside Liangzhou Pass, and would soon be besieged in Jubei City by hundreds of thousands of Northern Mang troops.

There was nothing that could be done; Taian City, accustomed to twenty years of watching clouds rise and fall, could hardly be blamed. Its pressing concern was Grand General Wu Chongxuan, holding the concurrent title of Minister of War, who was personally leading 100,000 elite southern border troops, yet was still unable to resist the rebel armies of the three vassal kings advancing north.

Grand Pillar State Gu Jiantang's Two Liao border army remained idle.

It was said that Tang Tieshuang, the Vice Minister of War who inherited Gu Lu's legacy, was about to depart the capital, leading most of the capital region's elite troops to form a second line of defense behind Wu Chongxuan's army, just waiting for the two Liaodong Iron Cavalry units to rush south. It was believed that then they would be able to switch from defense to offense, and would surely drive the rebels back to the south bank of the Guangling River in one fell swoop. As for Chen Zhibao's "White Robe Warrior Sage" Shu infantry, Prince Yan Chi Zhao Bing's barbarian forces, and the lone Prince Jing'an Zhao Xun, they were not worth mentioning!

For Liyang, the Two Liao border army, which had taken twenty years and half the nation's resources to build, and was the world's top elite force right beside the Liyang Zhao imperial bed, was seen as their own family, right under Taian City's nose. It was the pillar of the nation, the stabilizing force.

The Northwest Xu family, who wielded their own military power, how could they be trusted?

Northern Liang Province, a barbaric place where military families were as numerous as oxen and scholarly talents as rare as phoenix feathers, how could it be qualified to sit at the same table as Taian City, the best under heaven, or Guangling Province, the wealthiest in the Central Plains, or Jiangnan Province, renowned for its literary flourishing?

Outside Jubei City, in what was probably the most disproportionate and fierce battle in history, someone died.

The deceased was Cheng Baishuang, an old Confucian scholar from the former Southern Tang.

This elderly scholar, who had almost achieved the realm of a Confucian Sage, along with the blind female zither player Xue Songguan, were among the Central Plains grandmasters positioned behind the main battlefield. They should have been the last to die.

The old man died from sheer exhaustion.

Wei Miao, Chai Qingshan, Lou Huang, and Yu Xinlang each blocked five thousand Northern Mang elite cavalry.

Wu Liuding of the Wu Family Sword Mound, his sword attendant Cui Hua, and Xu Yanbing, who had his spear planted behind him, firmly held back the advance of the Northern Mang's ten-thousand-man army on the left flank.

Mao Shulang of Southern Jiang, Ji Liuan of Dragon Palace, and Yu Xingrui of Wudang Mountain – these three grandmasters were already deeply encircled by the ten-thousand-man infantry formation on the right flank and two units of reinforcing elite cavalry. Insidiously mixed within them were nearly a thousand "Spider Web" assassins and Northern Mang martial arts experts.

In the Northern Mang's central infantry formation, Xu Ying in her scarlet robe, along with Luoyang who had withdrawn from the army's depths, and Sui Xiegu providing support from the rear with his sweeping sword energy, finally managed to barely contain the surging tide of soldiers rushing south.

During this time, although Luoyang had gone to the Northern Mang's archer and crossbow positions to wreak havoc, she still felt powerless against the more than two thousand trebuchets spread along the long line. And if she focused on these siege weapons, relying solely on Xu Ying and Sui Xiegu to block the central infantry and the continuous waves of cavalry rushing through the two wide corridors, it was highly likely that the two of them would become completely bogged down. The central force, originally an unprecedented lineup, had become vulnerable after Xu Yanbing and Yu Xingrui had to move to the flanks, and Xu Fengnian needed to confront Tuoba Posuo, while Deng Tai'a had to face the celestial immortals directly to ensure the young prince could fight the Northern Mang's military god without worries. Otherwise, Tuoba Posuo, already "blessed by heaven" and with celestials constantly "fanning the flames" overhead, if he successfully ascended to the peak of martial arts, even for just the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a distracted Xu Fengnian would have no chance of survival, let alone killing Tuoba Posuo; even returning alive to Jubei City would be a luxury!

Thus, Luoyang was forced to contend with the awkward situation of "a clever cook cannot make a meal without rice," having her hands tied. Otherwise, with her cultivation realm, and with Xuanyuan Qingfeng already engaging Deng Mao and Murong Baoding not coming to obstruct her, it would not have been impossible for her to move through the Northern Mang army as if unopposed, destroying half the trebuchets and then safely withdrawing.

Previously, Xue Songguan, using her Profound Finger mastery to pluck the zither strings, and the aged Confucian scholar, with his formidable righteous energy, together blocked wave after wave of trebuchet projectiles and successive volleys of arrows attacking the city.

Whether the hurled boulders or the arrow swarms like locusts, their deadliest aspect was not their overwhelming, all-encompassing force, but their sheer density and rapidity.

At that time, Xue Songguan, sitting cross-legged, had spots of crimson blood on the ancient zither resting on her legs, broken strings, and her blind fingers were mangled and bloody, silently testifying to one fact: she, not known for her physical fortitude, was rapidly reaching her breaking point.

So Cheng Baishuang told Xue Songguan not to push herself, saying he, the old man, would take on the burden. In his words, there was no reason for a junior, especially a young woman like Miss Xue, to bear such a heavy responsibility. For a young woman like her, marrying and raising children was the true beauty of life.

Not only that, but upon realizing that his three grandmaster friends, including Ji Liuan, on his right were in peril, the aged Confucian scholar made an immediate decision, urging Xue Songguan to go help and absolutely prevent large numbers of Northern Mang infantry from reaching the Jubei City walls too early.

The young, blind zither attendant hesitated. Although she couldn't see the old man's withered appearance with her own eyes, how could Xue Songguan, ranked among the top three in Profound Finger mastery, not sense the dying man's last breath, that twilight aura?

She knew full well that if she left, the old man would surely die.

She couldn't bear to leave him.

Although the old man and the young woman had only met briefly and fought side by side for reasons unknown to each other, Xue Songguan already regarded this elderly gentleman from the distant former Southern Tang as her own elder. Perhaps he was somewhat rigid in character like the old master Zhao Dingxiu, and possessed a scholarly spirit unfamiliar to her, but he was ultimately a kind and benevolent old man.

"Miss Xue, you cannot delay the battle!"

Cheng Baishuang took a deep breath, forcibly swallowed a mouthful of blood that had risen to his throat, and seeing the woman pick up her zither and stand, he gently chuckled with great effort: "Miss Xue, there was once a great Jiangnan literary master, exiled to my homeland. Before he died in that foreign land, he left behind many little-known poems. Among them are two lines that this old man absolutely must give to Xue Songguan: 'Eat three hundred lychees a day,' and 'This journey is uniquely splendid, surpassing all in my life.' Miss Xue, you must find a chance to visit that place someday. Even if you don't enjoy the scenery, those lychees that are as expensive as gold in the North, there they are only dozens of coppers a catty..."

At this point, Cheng Baishuang suddenly stomped his foot, sending energy deep into the ground. He raised his arm and flung a sleeve, like a great calligrapher splashing ink on Xuan paper. Then, as if remembering something amusing, he laughed a few times, and after catching his breath, slowly said: "Miss Xue, if you haven't yet found that special someone, perhaps in the future you could consider marrying a scholar and growing old together. While they might speak a bit sourly at times, at least your home won't need to buy vinegar."

Xue Songguan, already with her back to the old man, did not turn around, but simply nodded vigorously.

She vanished in a flash.

Cheng Baishuang withdrew his gaze, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

At this moment, the aged man, his hair like frosted snow, could no longer conceal his utterly exhausted state, like a lamp running out of oil.

Although each swing of his sleeve brought heart-wrenching internal turmoil, the old man remained serene, muttering, "Do I feel ghosts and gods in my grand song, or do I wonder if I'll starve and fill a ditch? So I cannot do it... Do not lament for old friends and homeland, but try new tea with new fire. I cannot do that..."

Cheng Baishuang felt the magnificent sword rain above his head.

The aged man, clinging to a final breath to prevent his withered Dantian from collapsing, was too weak to turn his head or open his eyes. He could only vaguely sense the sword rain falling into the Northern Mang infantry formation on Xue Songguan's side. A look of contented satisfaction spread across the old man's face.

"A nation's misfortune is a poet's fortune. My first wish is that in later generations, there will be no more frontier poems, no more great poets. My second wish is that in later generations, all scholars may be joyful and forget sorrow, unaware that old age is approaching, unaware that old age is approaching..."

Cheng Baishuang raised his arm for the last time, his long robe and wide sleeves flowing with scholarly grace.

"A child tugs at my clothes and asks, 'Why did you return so late?'"

Why return so late?

When his arm finally fell limply, the old man's lips moved slightly, but he could no longer raise his arm.

With his back to Jubei City, that northwest gate of the Central Plains, and facing hundreds of thousands of Northern Mang troops, the old man silently lowered his head, utterly still.

While Cheng Baishuang was alive, not a single boulder or trebuchet arrow from Northern Mang fell into Jubei City.

Who says a scholar is utterly useless?

Sui Xiegu, closest to this survivor of the former Southern Tang, did not turn his head, but let out a soft sigh. From his standing position, within a twenty-zhang radius, over a hundred thick, bowl-sized white sword energies had formed a net. Suddenly, the sword energy expanded by ten zhang, adding sixty more strands. Over eighty shield-bearing infantrymen, who had cautiously circled around and rushed forward, were instantly killed, their fates more gruesome than being torn apart by five horses.

In the Northern Mang infantry formation on the right, Ji Liuan, the guest elder of Dragon Palace, cleaved a heavily armored Northern Mang centurion in half with a single sword stroke, then abruptly turned back and roared, "Old bookworm!"

At this instant, seven or eight spears clustered and thrust forward. The master of saber techniques, Mao Shulang, strode forward, cutting down over a dozen steps, blocking in front of Ji Liuan and sweeping his saber horizontally. A powerful protective energy swept out, severing all those Northern Mang infantrymen at the waist.

Wudang Grand Daoist Yu Xingrui lightly exclaimed, "Audacious rats!" His peach wood sword flashed and vanished, piercing the necks of three Spider Web assassins on Mao Shulang's flank. The power of his single sword was like an immortal's flying sword decapitating.

On the left side of the battlefield, Yu Xinlang and Lou Huang, the two master and apprentice from Wudi City, one with a standard Liang saber and the other with the famous sword "Shu Dao," advanced side by side. Because Xu Yanbing was helping block the infantry formation behind them, these two favored disciples of Wang Xianzhi confidently pushed forward to break through the lines.

With a half-step Martial Sage holding the rear, they didn't need to worry about being blocked and could simply focus on killing. Yu Xinlang and Lou Huang seemed to be even more unstoppable than Ji Liuan and his two companions.

Lou Huang's sword force was utterly rigid, his sword moves utterly simple, like a woodcutter chopping wood. Under his single sword, whether Northern Mang cavalrymen or warhorses, there was never a complete corpse.

Yu Xinlang sheathed his soon-to-break Liang saber, drawing out the ancient sword Fuzhen, which had been vibrating incessantly in its scabbard. He continued to point and tap with an understated grace, moving like a rabbit springing and a hawk swooping, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, taking exactly one life with each move. Although his killing presence was not as terrifying as Lou Huang's, even Xu Yanbing was somewhat surprised when he noticed the subtle changes in Yu Xinlang's aura. Truly worthy of being Wang Xianzhi's disciple, Yu Xinlang showed signs of breaking through his realm amidst the battlefield slaughter, a natural progression, just a hair's breadth away from stepping into the threshold of a Land Sword Immortal. Although even after stabilizing his realm, he wouldn't be a true Land Immortal, once his realm reached that height, it would be far beyond what Profound Finger and Heavenly Elephant realm swordsmen occasionally comprehending a move or two of Sword Immortal power could compare to. He would likely be another successor after Deng Tai'a.

Yu Xinlang's sword point touched a Northern Mang cavalryman's forehead. Without looking at the falling body, he leaped onto a horse's back, looked forward, and gravely warned Lou Huang ahead: "Another thousand Northern Mang elite cavalry are approaching, and there's a hidden top master among them."

Just as Lou Huang was about to speak, Yu Xinlang laughed and sped away, "Let me meet him first!"

On the far right, just as Chai Qingshan and Wei Miao were crucially switching positions, a figure, swift as a startled swan, descended from above, striking with a thunderous punch at Chai Qingshan's chest just as he was about to retreat. Although this renowned sword master of Liyang instinctively brought his sword horizontally forward, and faced the enemy with its edge, hoping to deter the uninvited guest, the punch unexpectedly struck the sword edge without hesitation!

The Sect Master of Eastern Yue Jie, caught off guard during a breath-changing interval after a long battle, was actually wounded by the edge of his own long sword. Fortunately, Wei Miao swiftly moved forward, grabbing Chai Qingshan's shoulder with one hand and pulling him back, while blocking the Northern Mang martial arts grandmaster's second punch with the other.

Chai Qingshan was sent flying back several zhang by the momentum, a deep, bone-revealing gash across his chest, blood gushing out and soaking his robes.

While Wei Miao blocked the first punch with his left hand, because his right hand had been needed to help Chai Qingshan dodge that sword edge, his subsequent punch was a fraction slower than the Northern Mang expert's. Yet, it was precisely this millisecond difference that allowed the insidious assassin, with his deep calculations, to seize a tremendous advantage.

Wei Miao was struck in the forehead. He stomped his foot resoundingly, only retreating half a step before stopping his backward movement, refusing to yield an inch, demonstrating the fierce character of Southern Zhao's top expert!

Wei Miao exchanged blows with the newcomer, punch for punch!

Both retreated three steps!

Wei Miao struck the man's chest with a punch, while his own forehead suffered another punch.

Wei Miao's ears were bleeding crimson due to the severe head injury.

Through his blurred vision, the Northern Mang general, clad in shining silver armor, grinned hideously: "Wei Miao, the 'Fist of No Equal'? I'm here to kill you!"

Taking advantage of the tall general's momentary pause to speak, Chai Qingshan hurriedly took a breath, intending to turn the tide for Wei Miao. But at this moment, the old man heard the blind female zither player cry out, "Watch your head!"

A second Northern Mang assassin, a ghostly figure, descended from the air, silently and without any aura fluctuations, like a wandering spirit.

The silver-armored general's apparent vulnerability was clearly a deliberate feint, a smokescreen. This was likely the true, hidden killing move of the two Northern Mang martial arts grandmasters, appearing after a series of coordinated actions!

Chai Qingshan quickly retreated a step.

While calling out the warning, Xue Songguan fiercely dragged her palm across the zither strings!

But a scene that filled the blind zither player with grief appeared: the assassin completely ignored the severe chest injury that had exploded, as if he felt no pain whatsoever. His extremely slender, willow-leaf-like four-foot long sword, without a tip or a gleam, simply slashed straight down towards Chai Qingshan's brow!

"A Segment of Willow," Li Feng of Northern Mang, truly a lingering specter!

In that moment of life and death, Chai Qingshan still put all his strength into delivering what might be his last sword strike.

Directly thrusting at the man's heart.

The Sect Master of Eastern Yue Jie only hoped this sword could pierce that man's heart.

"It doesn't matter if I, Chai Qingshan, die, as long as I can kill one more person."

This was supposed to be the opportunity for Li Feng to kill Chai Qingshan, followed by the silver-armored general's two fists pummeling the struggling Wei Miao, whose aura was in turmoil.

That would have been a perfect scenario for a double victory!

But at this moment, Chai Qingshan was suddenly shocked to realize that although the long sword had carved a skin-deep gash on his forehead, which only needed a little more force to cleave his skull, and even more force would easily dismember him...

...why did the incredibly elusive swordsman seem to be holding back?

At the same time, Murong Baoding, the silver-armored general and Credential Bearer of Northern Mang's Orange Province, seemed to be under a freezing spell cast by an immortal, completely wasting a once-in-a-lifetime chance to strike.

Chai Qingshan's eyes widened. Even for an experienced sword master like him, the scene before him was too preposterous!

The Northern Mang assassin's body was suspended in mid-air, his arms hanging limply, and the willow-leaf sword fell to the ground.

"A Segment of Willow," Li Feng, was held by the neck, lifted into the air by someone from behind him!

Murong Baoding dared not move, behaving unbelievably obediently.

Even though he could clearly see the man's back.

That purple-gold python robe!

The King of Northern Liang, Xu Fengnian, who had broken through the sea of clouds and returned to the mortal realm.

The young prince's five fingers, like hooks, utterly destroyed the internal energy of "A Segment of Willow."

The boneless Li Feng twitched the corners of his mouth, a sinister smile.

In an instant, Wei Miao wanted to punch, and Chai Qingshan wanted to draw his sword, but both were far too slow.

The two top martial arts grandmasters admitted that even at their peak, they could not have stopped the sneak attack of the Northern Mang's third "assassin."

The young prince's back suffered an unimaginable heavy blow. After shifting his feet slightly, he bypassed Chai Qingshan and crashed against the towering wall of Jubei City.

Wei Miao and Chai Qingshan retreated almost simultaneously.

Unexpectedly, that person had no intention of pursuing them. He stood still, looked towards the base of the city wall, and sneered, "He truly seeks death!"

"You, Xu Fengnian, didn't stay safely hidden above the sea of clouds, relying on Deng Tai'a's protection to completely stabilize your aura, and you dared to return to the battlefield to save others?!"

Murong Baoding glanced at the man standing beside him, filled with mixed emotions.

Even though he knew they were on the same side and their statuses were not that disparate, Murong Baoding still instinctively felt as if facing a formidable enemy, not daring to be even slightly careless.

Murong Baoding quietly asked, "What about 'A Segment of Willow'?"

The burly man, surrounded by eighteen golden dragons, said nothing.

Murong Baoding's eyes darkened, but he did not press further.

Beneath the wall of Jubei City, in the cool shadow, Xu Fengnian, his back to the battlefield, still gripped Li Feng's neck. The latter was pressed tightly against the wall, his entire face a bloody mess, his body beyond recognition, practically shattered.

Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, "Last time, you didn't die after being cut in half. But this time, you should be dead, right?"

"A Segment of Willow," whose true identity was extremely secretive and prominent, slowly opened his mouth, seeming to want to laugh gleefully, but no sound came out. He rasped hoarsely, "Me? I've long felt that living is worse than dying. Having you, Xu Fengnian, as a burial companion, it's not a loss."

Xu Fengnian let out an "Oh."

Li Feng slowly closed his eyes, as if relieved, as if having found the greatest liberation. He said disjointedly, "Don't worry, I'm truly dead this time... But let me tell you one last secret: Tuoba Posuo doesn't need to avenge me. I, Li Feng, can do it myself, Xu Fengnian, do you believe me?"

Xu Fengnian patted his neck and smiled, "What's your guess?"

Tossing the body aside casually, Xu Fengnian turned and looked up at the sky.

He knew what Tuoba Posuo was waiting for.

The heavenly suppression that Northern Mang had planned earlier had two purposes: first, to erode his Northern Liang's destiny, which was what the celestial immortals cared about most; and then, to coincidentally destroy his physical body, adding another layer of advantage for the Northern Mang's military god.

This was because they hadn't anticipated that many exiled immortals, led by Zhao Changling, would descend upon Northern Liang, adding so much to its destiny. Coupled with Deng Tai'a's arrival with Tai'a, and his aerial sword strike, the pillar of light, which was only meant to target Xu Fengnian, had to withdraw prematurely.

As for where half of the heavenly dao was, Xu Fengnian didn't know and didn't care. However, it definitely had something to do with this utterly dead "A Segment of Willow." It was probably Li Feng acting as a catalyst; whoever killed this illegitimate son of Li Mibi would incur the next suppression. Xu Fengnian was certain that even if he hadn't actively killed Li Feng, this madman would have stretched out his neck for him to chop. Perhaps Li Feng's deeper identity was that of an exiled immortal, either a fallen monarch whose kingdom was destroyed by Xu Xiao in a past life, or perhaps his origins traced back even before the Qin Dynasty. In short, it was an old grudge that couldn't be reasoned away in a hundred lifetimes. Xu Fengnian had long come to terms with it: "Too many debts don't weigh you down," but since there was no next life, he would resolve it cleanly in this one!

Xu Fengnian stepped out of the shadow, one step at a time.

On and below the city wall, this Liyang king with a different surname ripped off his python robe!

His clothes were as white as snow.

Just like when he left Liangzhou in white clothes all those years ago!

The young man, no longer concerned with being some Liyang vassal king, smiled radiantly for no apparent reason, then looked up and declared loudly, "Xu Fengnian, eldest son of Xu Xiao, is here to seek death!"