Chapter 257: Chapter 144: Between Wolves and Tigers, A Heaven-Net Trap (Part 3)
Who is General Xu Yanzong, the General Huwei?
He and General Xie Daocheng, the Dragon Soaring General, were renowned as the two generals, pitting against Jiang Yuanhua in the east, and resisting the Seven Fiends Army in the south.
Moreover, he suppressed the various prefectures in the southern region, preventing any thoughts of disloyalty.
This man possesses great strength, particularly adept in military array confrontations, having once created the miraculous feat of breaking through ten thousand with only eight hundred.
Although he never engages in single combat and often relies on military Qi to fight enemies, he is not listed on the Earth List.
However, even those ranked in the top three of the Earth List do not dare to take him lightly when seeing him lead an army.
At this moment, Xu Yanzong’s three hundred cavalry were as one, the sound of hooves pounding, lifting front hooves, raising back hooves, rising and falling in unison, with military Qi connected.
A vast, grand Blood Qi converged on Xu Yanzong, blazing fiercely, almost like a heavenly general descending to earth.
"Xiao Chengyun, Xiongba, this time, I, Xu, took the initiative, so I will not be polite and directly take the Azure Dragon Seal."
Xu Yanzong looked up towards the distant Xingqing Prefecture City, his eyebrows and eyes full of determination.
"Good, good, a truly astute Crown Prince of True Martial King, I, Xiao, indeed underestimated your strategies. However, the ownership of the seal today is not yet settled.
Dear nephew, come out, don’t let General Xu look down on you."
There was also a cannon blast in the right woods.
The short forest opened with a loud noise, as if sliced by a long guillotine...
A unit of elite cavalry, dressed in fiery red armor, holding spears, carrying long knives at their waists, and quivers on their backs, surged out like mercury pouring down the ground.
The leading general was tall and mighty, wearing a fiery red bird-beak mask. He swung an Eight-Flame Fire Spear in his hand, seemingly tearing the sky apart.
A sharp, burning Qi rushed forward like a frenzy.
"East Wood Army, five hundred Vermilion Bird Cavalry.
I didn’t expect Jiang Ziyang would also take such a risk and rush to Xingqing Prefecture, not fearing the East Royal Lord would thus lose his heirs and the army’s morale to crumble."
Xu Yanzong squinted his eyes slightly, his expression serious.
He prided himself on leading troops, with few rivals in the world.
However, Jiang Ziyang’s Vermilion Bird Cavalry, the only heir of the East Royal Lord, was one of the few who could contend with his own cavalry, even though they were few in number.
But this time, when he came to support Young Prince Ji Xuanwu in seizing the seal, he didn’t bring much force either.
They had five hundred cavalry, while his side only had three hundred, though Jiang Ziyang seemed a bit inexperienced, his ability to lead troops was not to be underestimated.
Wanting to defeat him proved to be truly difficult.
"Xiao Chengyun truly lives up to the name of the Divine Strategy Military Advisor, calculating at every turn, even our backup plans are held in check. The outcome of today’s matter is indeed unpredictable."
Xiongba glanced to the left at the Huwei Army and to the right at the Vermilion Bird Cavalry, then looked at Fifth Brother Du Jingyun who he had arranged to ambush nearby, feeling his intelligence being crushed.
He struggled for a moment before finally making a tough decision.
"It seems the Azure Dragon Seal is no longer fated for me, Old Xiong, I’ll pretend I never came."
As soon as he finished speaking, he didn’t hesitate.
The burly figure at this moment was as agile as a mountain sparrow, completely unlike the clumsy appearance when he broke into the Cuihu Residence earlier, retreating into the forest in a flash.
So much so that neither the Huwei Army nor the Vermilion Bird Army could stop him as he withdrew to the distant forest.
"Seven Fiends Celestial Net, King Xiong is the most cunning, truly living up to his reputation."
Seeing Xiongba vanish into the mountains, a few did not pursue further.
Knowing that facing a top-ranking Earth List master head-on, they might be able to crush him.
However, with the opponent escaping first, pursuing him would be very difficult.
Now, the matter at hand was of utmost importance, and the Azure Dragon Seal could not be lost.
They could only let go of this second-in-command, the most capable in the Seven Fiends Celestial Net Army.
...
"Fortunately, they didn’t pursue."
Retreating into the forest, Xiongba had a layer of cold sweat on his forehead, having inwardly cursed when seeing the two cavalry units appear.
Where is the trust between people?
Is there no way to cooperate properly?
Coming alone, he brought only a little brother.
Yet unexpectedly, the East Wood Army and True Martial King’s forces even sent elite cavalry, supported by powerful masters, how could this contest be conducted?
"If you can’t compete, then don’t. Letting the Azure Dragon Seal fall into anyone’s hands is better than it falling into the hands of Beizhou Yuwen Ying." Du Jingyun, drawing a bow and nocking arrows, his five fingers holding seven or eight arrows, poised to strike.
Seeing Xiongba escape smoothly, he too let out a long breath, consoling.
"Second Brother need not be too disheartened, initially, seizing the Azure Dragon Seal was more of a casual attempt, opportunistic at best. Being weak now, let’s just call it off."
"It must be."
Xiongba’s face showed disappointment as if he had missed a celestial opportunity.
"Fortunately, from beginning to end, we never had a chance to touch the Azure Dragon Seal.
The worst off is Brother Chen, who already has the seal in hand. If it were to be forcibly taken, that would be truly heart-wrenching."
"Should we lend him a hand?
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Now, among several forces, Chen Ping is the weakest. Helping him take root could potentially make him an ally in the future, countering the Huwei and East Wood Army."
Du Jingyun suggested.
"Difficult, very difficult. Brother Chen, though fortunate and somewhat capable.
But this time, he has already lost the initiative, plunging headlong into the military array of the Huwei and Vermilion Bird Cavalries, helpless to aid."
Xiongba shook his head.
Many adorn a flower on the brocade; few send charcoal during snowfall, why?
Because some help comes at too high a price, with virtually no gain, it ends up being futile.
The disparity in strength is too great, blame none.
"Moreover, if I’m not mistaken, the Beizhou Barbarians’ experts must have received news and begun to mobilize.
Even if Ji Xuange and the Cui Family’s forces can’t remain inactive. Hopefully, they won’t unite and mobilize the entire army."
...
"Outrageous, truly outrageous?"
The Thirteenth Prince, always calm and composed, neither hasty nor impatient, completely indifferent to the tumult in Xingqing Prefecture.
Yet now, he had long lost his former demeanor, becoming furious as a storm.
"Clearly, Heaven’s Mandate is with me, the conferment day is today, yet such events unfolded.
When my uncle breaks through the pass and unsheathes his ten thousand troops, will I have such a result to show him?"
His eyes blazed as he disregarded etiquette, ordering harshly: "Master First and Master Second, this time I must trouble both of you to act... Chen Ping, Chen Ping, what audacity do you have to thwart my plans.
If I had known earlier, despite casualties and lost soldiers, I should have captured him first, it’s infuriating."
As he spoke, he gave an order, and over sixty Jianghu masters from all over the Celestial South filed out.
Northern Thirteen Strongholds, Seven Peaks of the South, Five Demonic Sects, and strong individuals from various Noble Martial Arts Halls now no longer concealed their identities, revealing their fangs.
Each one dashed high and low, drawing their swords and knives, Qi Force roaring as they charged towards the North City Gate.
"Inform Ji Xuange to remember the agreement... the Celestial Gate Pass is breached, Yuann Tong has perished, and Qin Shanhai has fled with three thousand defeated soldiers.
Now, our Great Zhou’s ten thousand troops have crossed southward, even Master Qiuye, gravely wounded, has returned to the Qingwei Sword Sect.
Who in the southern region can stop the forces of Great Zhou... let him not be mistaken, and move his troops quickly. Otherwise, what’s promised to him will cease to be mentioned."
"Understood, as commanded."
A person whipped the horse, rushing straight to the Jinghai Prince’s Mansion.
Soon, the long-silent Jinghai Prince’s Mansion immediately teemed with heads.
A great army charged out, Iron Armor rolling like a furious torrent...
