Chapter 1061

He had seven or eight hundred men behind him, while the Jade Balance garrison opposite numbered only two or three hundred, and with the civilian helpers controlled by the insect demons, his side had the numerical advantage. But with a Red General added in, how much chance of victory did he have? The Great Wind Army was a famed shock unit, always adept at fighting many with few. Most crucial of all, they always followed the Red General's movements.

He had studied the Red General's tactics; the enemy liked ambush warfare.

Was she hiding her troops somewhere, waiting for him to walk into the trap? Fu Shanlie had earlier cursed his subordinates, saying this Red General's appearance was too coincidental, certainly a fake.

But, to say however, if it were real? If he had known earlier that the Red General was in the city, he would most likely have cancelled this operation. Alas, now they had met on a narrow path; if he retreated without fighting, what face would he have left to stand in Beijia? "The Divine Artifact of the Void Spirit, famed far and wide." Saying this, Fu Shanlie felt even more regret. His own dark-multitudinous army was all squeezed into the narrow Wengcheng, while the enemy unleashed the Seven Blessings Wheel, perfectly positioned to reap a wave of lives—his side could hardly dodge!

Even harvesting leeks wasn't that swift.

The water demons in the river were no match for it alone, let alone these Xiji pseudo-troops?

At this moment, another two hundred infantry arrived behind the Red General.

A clever wife cannot cook without rice; Chao Qian had risked his life, only able to scrape together this many troops from elsewhere.

Now Fu Shanlie and the Xiji pseudo-troops had to avoid the Seven Blessings Wheel's might, unless they charged into the open ground before the Wengcheng—that is, where the Red General stood—which would inevitably lead to a great battle.

The Red General really had his position pinned down, neither advancing nor retreating.

Either advance to seize life, or retreat out the city gate.

Before Fu Shanlie lay only these two roads. With his wisdom and courage, he still found it hard to choose for a moment.

Probably the standoff had lasted a bit long; his confidant whispered low: "General, the Gold Rush troops are coming from behind." All were crowded outside the city, unable to enter.

The Red General's fiddling with the Seven Blessings Wheel suddenly paused; he swayed it toward the opposite side.

Behind him, several cavalry of the Great Wind Army pointed their lances forward, step by step pressing in, horse hooves clippety-clop, especially resonant beneath the quiet South City Gate.

The Jade Balance infantry likewise followed step by step, blades and shields in hand, their eyes turned red and breath ragged from the spiritual nectar drifting down from above.

The Xiji pseudo-troops involuntarily began to retreat.

Fu Shanlie flew into a rage, turning back to scold, when just then a breeze blew from the opposite side, and he suddenly sensed something amiss.

There was a trace of the smell of fresh blood.

Though very faint.

He sniffed lightly into the wind twice, then fixed his gaze on the Red General's right hand, a faint red light appearing in his eyes.

"Your hand, is it injured?"

Earlier, the arrow had flown; the Red General caught it barehanded, broke it, and tossed it aside, neither side paying it any mind.

But she was actually wounded, only she had desperately concealed it.

Ha, the true Red General—how could he fail to catch even a single arrow?

But the fragrance of the imperial nectar all around was truly too strong, overwhelming this trace of blood, even fooling him.

"You are not the Red General! The Red General is not in the city at all!" Fu Shanlie's eyes turned red, and with a great shout heard far and near, "Kill them all for me! Leave not a single piece of armor!"

Turns out it was a fake, stalling for time.

Once Fu Shanlie exposed her true face, where would he still be willing to waste the battle opportunity?

Upon hearing the Red General was not present, the Xiji pseudo-troops instantly cheered, shouting as they raised their swords and blades and charged forward.

The two armies faced off, surging together like a tide.

This battle, in the end, could not be avoided.

The next second, the Red General put away the Seven Blessings Wheel, took down the bow and arrow on his back, and shot several arrows with a swoosh swoosh.

His archery was indeed exquisite, every arrow taking an enemy.

But why didn't she use the Seven Blessings Wheel? Fu Shanlie's heart settled, and he laughed long: "Drag that fake off her horse—I want to see what this impostor 'Red General' looks like!"

He moved like a ghost, slipping past several Great Wind Army soldiers' interceptions, and lunged straight from the ground at the "Red General." The latter's lance tip pointed, thrusting straight at his face.

Upon this test, he immediately felt something was off.

The Red General's spear technique was fierce, his reaction quick, yet he lacked the domineering aura and ferocity to pluck a general's head from amidst ten thousand troops!

He was indeed a senior general, but not qualified to be called a "half-god"! Fu Shanlie first felt amused, then angry.

He had been deceived by this fake for so long! Only by draining her blood could he quell the anger in his heart! His movements were erratic and unpredictable; the "Red General" played by Liu Baobao wielded left spear and right sword, riding a hybrid beast, exchanging several bouts with him, while he secretly marveled.

This zombie's movements were truly too fast and too fierce; even using her spiritual power, she found it increasingly hard to cope.

The Great Wind Army's spiritual power was no joke—whether strength, speed, or armor-piercing ability, it would be greatly enhanced over the original, and moreover exert suppressive force on the enemy.

Moreover, with the imperial nectar descending frequently these past two years, she felt her cultivation advancing rapidly, incomparable to when she had gone to the mines before to capture and slaughter the necrophages.

Yet even so, she could not erase the gap between herself and Fu Shanlie.

The pressure was too strong—was this the strength of a Beijia great general?

With a soft "ding," her left arm armor was slapped away by Fu Shanlie, three gashes on her arm, blood flowing freely.

"Your armor doesn't seem very sturdy?" Fu Shanlie gave a sinister laugh, flipped in midair, and lunged at her neck from behind.

Liu Baobao, riding on the hybrid beast's back, found it hard to turn.

Fu Shanlie needed only about seven breaths to drain a living person.

Could he break the fastest record today? He had the mind to try.

Liu Baobao remained agile, lunging forward to the ground, lance tip touching the earth, then using the momentum to sweep backward, pointing straight at Fu Shanlie's face.

Fu Shanlie, in midair, did not change his orientation, reached out to strike the lance shaft, and used the rebound to spring out one or two zhang away.

"Now that's a bit interesting."

Facing an opponent of this level, Liu Baobao focused completely, yet felt a buzzing from behind, as if a large swarm of bees were diving down.

Were they black-shelled insects?

Without thinking, she made a side roll, dodging the first dive of the black-shelled insects.

But Fu Shanlie was simultaneously launching an assault.

She had just steadied herself when this zombie rushed forward, claws stabbing straight at her neck.

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several more rounds.

The harassment from the black-shelled insect swarm from the side left Liu Baobao struggling to cope.

Taking advantage of Little Fushan's leap, she finally couldn't hold back and flung an explosive arrow at the swarm of black-shelled insects.

She had extraordinary talent with ranged weapons; this homemade throwing arrow contained special oil, and once detonated, it would trigger a chain explosion.

The black-shelled insect swarm exploded in midair into a large ball of red flame, with sound and light effects maximized.

But in that very instant, Fu Shanlie dove underground, as if sinking into water.

The next second, he burst from the ground behind Liu Tiao, his left claw plunging deep into the "Red General's" shoulder, using the momentum to lunge for her nape.

The battle armor indeed couldn't withstand his attack; his claws pierced the plates instantly. Liu Tiao couldn't react in time, drew her dagger with her right hand, and stabbed backward at his chest and abdomen.

This monster had bronze skin and iron bones—blades couldn't penetrate—but with spiritual power assisting, perhaps it could wound its vital points.

Unexpectedly, Fu Shanlie seized her arm in the momentum and twisted it hard.

With a crack, Liu Tiao's forearm was snapped cleanly.

She screamed in pain.

The crimson falcon in the sky let out a sharp cry and dove like an arrow to claw at his eyes.

One second later, Liu Tiao would have no way to survive.

Fu Shanlie struck with a claw; the crimson falcon flapped its wings and retreated.

Then he tilted his head and lunged to bite Liu Tiao's neck!

If he bit her, her strength would drain away with her blood.

But at that moment, someone from behind grabbed Fu Shanlie's shoulder and yanked him away.

That force was fierce and domineering, not inferior to Fu Shanlie's.

In fact, a gray shadow had already approached swiftly a breath earlier, too fast for the eye to discern. The two Xiji pseudo-army soldiers blocking his path—one was kicked three zhang away, the other clutched his neck, eyes wide, but couldn't make a sound.

When blood spurted from his neck through the fingers, the gray shadow swung a second blade straight for Fu Shanlie's nape!

Having just harvested a life, the Floating Life Blade grew ever more murderous, craving to drink deeply of the blood of the Bekka demon commander.

Fu Shanlie wanted to bite Liu Tiao's nape; this man would slash Fu Shanlie's nape.

He came too fast—Fu Shanlie sensed the killing intent but had no time to turn, so he simply dove underground.

This left Liu Tiao exposed to He Lingchuan's blade! He Lingchuan naturally wouldn't make such a basic mistake; the blade tip slanted, lifted and flipped, like a skimmer touching water and returning, tracing half an arc before returning to his side.

He wielded it with ease, no recoil of energy backlashing.

He Lingchuan also spoke in time: "It's me!"

Liu Tiao heard that familiar voice and couldn't help but exhale in relief.

Finally holding out until the leader returned—truly not easy!

"Hold on!" He Lingchuan grabbed her waist and flung her backward, shouting loudly, "A Luo, treat the wound!"

With Fu Shanlie present, Liu Tiao shouldn't stay here.

He applied force skillfully—though Liu Tiao's arm was injured, she landed with only mild pain.

A Luo rode a hybrid beast over from behind, didn't wait for the mount to stabilize, grabbed the medicine box and jumped down, crouching before the wounded.

"Here I come!"

After running dozens of miles with He Lingchuan, he panted heavily while checking the injuries.

Liu Tiao removed the "Red General's" mask and helmet with one hand, revealing a pale face.

Her breathing was still somewhat difficult.

A Luo sealed several of her acupoints to stop the bleeding, while telling the guards: "Support her well—the wound contains poison!"

The Baihu's claws are poisonous; the wound must be treated quickly.

Two zhang away, Fu Shanlie surfaced from the ground, coldly staring at He Lingchuan.

How could this mortal enemy appear? Did he sneak back from the Liang River?

I just left the Liang River with my front foot, and this guy followed with his back foot?

So how many people did he bring back, or was there already an ambush in Yuheng City?

His thoughts raced here, while He Lingchuan flourished his blade: "The Jinniu troops have already been repelled by us—you have no chance. Now bow your head and surrender, or submit willingly, and I'll still give you a way to live."

If he hadn't spoken, it would've been fine, but with those words, Fu Shanlie laughed: "Do I still need to thank you for your generosity?"

Almost fooled again by the other side!

If the Jinniu troops were truly repelled, why would this kid tell him directly? Silently mobilizing troops to come block my seven or eight hundred—wouldn't that be better?

So this grand leader, though panting as he rushed back to Yuheng City, is hardly different from a bare-pole commander—he has few men under him!

His mind set, he immediately clashed with He Lingchuan.

When the two leaders fight, their subordinates naturally won't idle.

The battle between the Xiji pseudo-army and the Yuheng army instantly erupted into fierce intensity.

(End of chapter)