Chapter 183: Chapter 174: Aftermath, Celestial Mandate, the Idea Man
"Op...opening a joke...just from that overwhelming force..."
Yang Jin gritted his teeth, struggling to raise his head. The more he fought against this mountain-flood-like pressure, the thicker the surrounding air became, like paste, forcing him to expend all his energy with each breath.
Not only him, but there were only a few present who could ignore Lü Bu’s immense presence.
That sky-covering force felt like dark clouds weighing down, causing a million troops to tremble beneath it. Ordinary soldiers couldn’t move an inch, lacking even the qualification to step forward and drain ’Lü Bu’ of any stamina.
In this situation, Yang Jin felt a wave of powerlessness.
This is the horrifying aspect of the "Mythical Version" of the Three Kingdoms; when a person is strong enough to be extraordinary to saintly, they can truly fight against thousands with sheer power.
Apart from those ethereal legends of Immortal Gods, who else could survive before such a Lü Bu?
"How can the mortal world tolerate Divine Generals acting recklessly!"
At this moment, Yuan Shao raised his hand to the heavens, roaring furiously.
"Lü Bu, dare you assist the Dong Thief, openly defying the Celestial Mandate!"
Suspended in mid-air, Lü Bu was concentrating on understanding the "Divine Intent" that "Guan Yu" had comprehended after breaking through limits. Once his Heart Spirit recovered, he coldly glanced at Yuan Shao.
Again... this kind of...
"Noisy!"
He casually threw a punch.
In an instant, the fist’s wind roared forth like a fierce tiger descending the mountain.
Yuan Shao’s body suddenly revealed a Flood Dragon formed from gathered Fortune, attempting to resist this tiger’s might, but it only lasted for a moment before dissolving in the torrential tiger’s roar of wind.
Not far away, Cao Cao saw that even when the generals joined forces, they couldn’t match Lü Bu, who suppressed a million troops. This mighty general stood like a majestic mountain before the coalition.
Cao Cao was about to step forward, hoping to persuade this peerless general with his eloquence—a "fame advantage" he’s savored through several versions. If he could gain this man’s support, he would be invincible under heaven.
However, Yuan Shao was one step ahead, only to meet death on the spot.
At this moment, Cao Cao’s eyes widened in shock, choosing silence.
"Lord Yuan...is he really dead?"
The various Dukes were equally astonished, left speechless.
Isn’t this off? Wasn’t Lü Bu supposed to be moved, show appreciation, exchange words, and finally awaken, no longer aiding wrongdoers and supplicating himself?
Beside them, a young strategist looked solemnly at Lü Bu.
The Eighteen Lords all bore the "destined Celestial Mandate," able to turn peril into prosperity. Even an assassin’s blade would be influenced by their mandate and turn into their most loyal supporter.
Even "Dong Zhuo" couldn’t escape the influence of the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth.
Yuan Shao’s Fortune overshadowed even Lord Cao’s. Under the protection of the Mandate, even if Immortal Buddhas beyond the Seventh Realm personally acted to kill Yuan Shao, various coincidences would lead to failure.
How could Lü Bu kill Yuan Shao so easily?!
"Feng Xiao, junior disciple, don’t provoke him! Quickly retreat with Lord Cao!"
A low voice suddenly echoed in the young strategist’s ear.
"Avenge the lord!"
At this moment, Yuan Shao’s generals and soldiers, eyes blazing, uniformly raised bows and arrows, firing them like rain towards Lü Bu.
Dang!!
At a distance of ten paces from Lü Bu, the arrows were deflected by an invisible force.
Lü Bu suddenly turned and struck with a punch, igniting a bloody massacre.
Zhao Yun embodied the True Dragon, transforming into a silver-white True Dragon to confront him.
...
At Hulao Pass.
"Truly magnificent."
A stout, rugged man gazed through the crowd at the wanton slaughter, a smile playing at his lips. Each time he witnessed that great strength, he couldn’t help but be astounded.
Then, Dong Zhuo turned to the scholar beside him.
"Wen You, what should our next step be?"
"Those Eighteen Lords, even with powerful backing, are bound to suffer heavy losses at his hands, leaving nothing but a beaten and battered force. Even if they gather a million strong next time, we’ll have already secured Luoyang, and they won’t be a concern."
Li Ru frowned, speaking slowly.
"My greatest worry now is the backlash from the Fortune of the Celestial Dynasty, and also that Celestial Mandate..."
"Hmph, Celestial Mandate?"
Dong Zhuo scoffed, interrupting Li Ru.
"Back in the day, Yuan Gonglu was so mighty, escaping your schemes several times, breaking through the encirclement of three thousand Xiliang cavalry, as if aided by the gods. The Yuan family stood for four generations as Three Ministers, he proclaimed the Mandate’s favor, yet now look, wasn’t he just obliterated?"
"And where is the Celestial Mandate?"
Dong Zhuo gripped the long sword at his waist, sneering:
"Those aristocrats say I lack the Celestial Mandate and are unwilling to assist me... but how could they understand that the sword in my hand is the true Celestial Mandate."
"What that man could do, I can now do the same!"
Li Ru wanted to persuade Dong Zhuo, but Dong Zhuo was already laughing heartily, turning around and striding swiftly down from the tower at Hulao Pass.
Watching Dong Zhuo’s receding figure, his shadow stretching ominously to devour everything, Li Ru opened his mouth, but ultimately did not call out.
...
Under Hulao Pass, everything gradually returned to calm.
The allied forces of the Eighteen Lords, the command banner collapsed, nearly a million troops almost completely perished, with most Dukes either dead or wounded. Only a scant few, with the aid of their strategists, managed to stay away decisively from Lü Bu and survived.
The figure shrouded in golden aura refrained from a total massacre, casting a distant glance at "Hua Xiong," nodding slightly, then slowly dissipating into the realm between heaven and earth.
Due to "Hua Xiong’s" presence, Liu Bei and his group escaped Lü Bu’s ruthless hands, now gazing at the scattered remnants.
These are but fragments of the battlefield’s remains; many innocents merely caught in the aftershock of Lü Bu’s power had already met their end. Those military generals who faced Lü Bu directly, vanished without a trace.
Zhao Yun, possessed by the True Dragon, was fully intent on stopping Lü Bu, but in mere moments, under Lü Bu’s heavy punches, fell into a faint. Surprisingly, after witnessing Zhao Yun breaking through his own limits, Lü Bu did not go for the kill.
The first-class generals, at worst severely injured, had a high likelihood to survive. In stark contrast, the Dukes met a grim fate.
Yang Jin, his face still marked by fear, leaned against a large tree, retching continuously, bile almost being vomited out.
"I warned you not to attack Lü Bu..."
Hua Xiong, looking grim, sighed, "Once one harbors killing intent in battle, Lü Bu shows no mercy. When they attacked, they should have been prepared to die."
"Isn’t there a way to deal with Lü Bu?" Yang Jin gasped heavily, daunted by such an invincible being.
"No solution." Hua Xiong cast a sidelong glance at Yang Jin, saying lightly, "If Lü Bu turns murderous against you, the best tactic is to obediently wait for death, and then wait for his Divine Thought to dissipate on its own."
"You’ve already seen it. The more resistance, the more terrifying Lü Bu becomes, with no current limit."
Hua Xiong turned his gaze to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, who were pretending to be dead on the ground.
Under Hua Xiong’s slightly mocking gaze, Zhang Fei could no longer keep his act, declaring, "My second brother and I, joined forces, managed to shatter Lü Bu’s Treasure Armor and Divine Weapons, Lü Bu was already heavily injured, if we could..."
"Since Lü Bu was severely injured by you, with neither Treasure Armor nor Divine Weapons, why didn’t you seize the chance?" Hua Xiong cut off Zhang Fei’s words with a cold laugh.
An unarmed Lü Bu is the real terror, fighting the Eighteen Lords couldn’t even pique his interest, while the Throne Great Demon and Yellow Turban Warriors were much more formidable.
"At that time, my second brother and I were already seriously wounded." Zhang Fei tried to change the subject, "This battle, both my second brother and I broke through one realm, we gained a lot... next time, the outcome is uncertain!"
"Oh?" Hua Xiong said, "I know where Lü Bu is, once your injuries heal, feel free to find him, whether it’s a duel, or a group fight, as you wish."
"This... this..."
"If you can, go ahead and do it."
No matter what Zhang Fei said next, Hua Xiong always responded tersely with that sentence.
Zhang Fei was speechless, looking at Guan Yu, this time their bold assault was due to not knowing Lü Bu’s true strength; now that they do, he’s no fool.
"Second Brother, why are you silent?" He tugged on Guan Yu’s sleeve.
"..."
Hearing this, Guan Yu, who was previously half-squinting his eyes, closed them tightly, quietly prying Zhang Fei’s hand off, pretending not to hear.
If you want to go, you go, henceforth, I won’t recognize you as a third brother.
Yang Jin, having calmed down, looked at Hua Xiong, suddenly asking: "Lü Bu’s true form isn’t in Luoyang?"
"Why, you want revenge?" Hua Xiong looked at Yang Jin, amazed, pondering internally, having witnessed Lü Bu’s earth-shattering power, yet someone still dared harbor thoughts of resistance?
"No."
Seeing that Hua Xiong did not deny it, Yang Jin, contemplating, said: "Lü Bu hasn’t made a move in years, could it be he doesn’t belong to Dong Zhuo? Instead, due to some unknown reason, he assists Dong Zhuo? Where is he right now?"
His mind whirled with countless thoughts on how to confront Lü Bu’s invincible strength; after all, even Yuan Shao, a Duke with such power, perished at Lü Bu’s hands.
What four generations of Three Ministers? It’s simply a joke.
And what abilities does Dong Zhuo possess to command such a powerful Lü Bu? Perhaps their relationship isn’t as close as in past histories.
Hearing this, Hua Xiong was taken aback, retorting: "Why should I tell you?"
"Just because you don’t wish to return." Yang Jin affirmed confidently,
Hua Xiong was stunned.
Immediately after, Yang Jin shared a sudden idea that flashed in his mind.
"All we need is to find Lü Bu, then leveraging Lü Bu’s power, swiftly push through the land, ending the chaotic times."
...
