Chapter 201: Next Life, Be Careful (6K)

City Number Ninety-Eight.

Zhao Xing and Long Xiao's Swordfish Flying Boat landed.

"Swish~"

The moment they landed, Zhao Xing discovered the Chengnan planting district had been utterly ravaged.

The Earth Fire Lotus had been completely stripped away, leaving a scene of total chaos.

The Agricultural Bureau craftsmen within the city hung their heads in despair, their spirits extremely low.

"Chase them for me!" Liao Liao Rulong roared, "Damn it, these beasts have no memory; they actually dared to ambush my city?!"

But he had been disturbed by Zhao Xing, so fewer than two hundred people formed the array.

The Qi and Blood Battle Array was shattered; the effect was fatal.

"Valiant Camp, Slaughter Sword Array!"

His subordinate, 'Chen Lu', had once been saved by Zhao Xing; back when City Number One Hundred and Nine of the Zhenhai Army was breached and nearly annihilated, if Zhao Xing hadn't happened to pass by, this aggressive commander would have had even more military merit deducted.

A military doctor was inserting needles into Wang Ji.

"Pfft!"

Qian Shougang took out the Long-Distance Transmission Token from his body and frantically shouted for the Black Dragon Army Camp's garrison, instantly transmitting his location to the garrison camp.

"Why are you crying! I ask you, where is Che Shihai?" Zhao Xing barked.

"Boom!"

A bloody gash sliced across his shoulder; at the critical moment, he had dodged the fatal spot.

"Just because I requisitioned your supplies?" Qian Shougang found it unbelievable; he still couldn't believe Zhao Xing would kill him over this matter.

"Whoosh~" The flying sword grazed the edge of the shield, a sword rainbow flashing, as it swept again toward Qian Shougang's neck.

Every command was procedurally sound, but with just a slight manipulation, it was enough to plunge the Shenwei Army into peril.

Whoosh~

The response to him was a golden sword from Long Xiao.

For other powerful armies, Qian Shougang might have shown some respect; for instance, with the Tiger Crocodile Army, he wouldn't dare pull such stunts.

The two hundred Black Dragon Guards connected to him died completely in an instant.

The Shenwei Army was disbanded back then, and the chief culprit was Liang Wang.

How could he know Qian Shougang held such a psychological advantage over the Shenwei Army?

Han Bing was just about to give Wang Gong some water.

"Be careful!"

"If we delay further, variables will arise. So from the very start, you and I must exert our full strength."

Back then, Qian Shougang had witnessed with his own eyes the Shenwei Army's main commander resign his post, disband the Shenwei Army, and watch countless soldiers leave in gloom.

The thick white mist turned purple in an instant.

The Black Dragon Battle Array that had just coalesced was instantly sliced apart!

With just this single strike, his wrist was already fractured, and his entire body was knocked flying backward, crashing into the warship behind him.

"Northeast direction."

A tiny Shenwei Army won a battle and dares to be this arrogant?

Qian Shougang reached out to seize the flying sword; he was confident in his own strength, relying on his status as an official Sixth Rank Upper, with his Tiangang Realm Qi Refinement already perfected, and actually tried to grab the flying sword with his bare hands.

"Chisss~"

Back then, the Shenwei Army could have captured a Grotto-Heaven; Yang An could have been ennobled as Marquis of Shenwei, and even the nomination draft had been prepared.

Stealing someone else's goods and not running faster, actually waiting for people to come knocking on the door.

But immediately after, a thick mist rolled in from the surroundings, shrouding the heavens and earth around them: "Pity, they cannot find you, nor see you."

Zhao Xing patted Han Bing's shoulder, jumped onto the Swordfish Flying Boat, and said, "Wait here; I will go avenge you."

"What's the situation? Zhao Xing said you were attacked?" Xia Jing jumped off the boat, "Why is Wang Gong still lying on the ground?"

"I-in there." The Ninth-Rank Agricultural Official pointed to the Medical Hall.

Although Qian Shougang was arrogant and wicked, he was not incompetent; the array he formed was also a Fifth-Rank Battle Array.

The moment they began casting spells, Zhao Xing had already unleashed his third spell.

A quarter-hour after Zhao Xing left.

Han Bing: "..."

A lock of hair fell; only then did Qian Shougang realize what he had just experienced.

"Han Bing, what is going on?!" Chen Shijie asked, "Where is Zhao Xing?"

"Did you see the clouds in the sky?"

"The fastest ones will likely arrive in just forty-five breaths."

At this moment, the five hundred and one people seemed as one.

"Which direction?"

He glanced at the temple; at this time, the temple was not yet finished, and like the city walls, it was in a semi-finished state.

The black dragon phantom above Qian Shougang's head was instantly split in two by the golden sword of Long Xiao closing in.

"Not bad; requisitioning these things back will surely allow my Black Dragon Army to equip a batch of magical robes." A subordinate agreed.

"My lord, we were ambushed by a group of enemies disguised as the Southern Expedition Army!" Han Bing pointed to Wang Ji lying on the stretcher, "The main commander is injured and unable to rise; Agricultural Official Zhao has already led people to pursue the enemies."

Seeing this, Han Bing couldn't help but wipe a layer of sweat from his palms.

This is what he said: "Old friend, although I don't know what he is up to, our Zhenhai Army cannot just stand by; Huolong Pass still needs people to guard it. You, old friend, just arrived, so it is the perfect time to show yourself; once you get there, ask nothing, just follow him and fight; you won't suffer any loss."

Zhao Xing's figure emerged from the clouds and mist; the Cloud-Soaring Boots activated as he chased after the heavily injured Qian Shougang.

"Shut up! The enemy attacked, yet there isn't a single trace of battle on you. You're an absolute disgrace to me!" Zhao Xing interrupted Che Shihai again. "Mobilize all five bureaus immediately and send them out of the city. If you can't find the enemy, cut down a few trees and bring them back!"

Yang An back then was also a stubborn man. Facing Liang Wang's order, he remained completely unmoved, and even cast a vote of opposition when Liang Wang took office to manage the Nine Heavens Ying Yuan Prefecture. He simply did not know how to stay alive.

A note: Recently, I update twelve thousand words a day, staying up all night to write chapters, yet people keep bashing the author for cliffhangers... Some even threaten with monthly votes, threaten to stop reading, or threaten to let the book rest. It's truly speechless.

"Pull out the needles," Zhao Xing said. "Let Wang Ji lie on the city wall."

Xia Jing was no fool; hearing Han Bing's words, he knew they had been 'polished'. Needless to say, Zhao Xing must have taught him.

"Why do you want to kill you? Don't you have a clue in your heart?"

His gang qi swirled wildly; he abandoned his subordinates and fled toward the distance.

As soon as the words fell, a drop of rain pierced Qian Shugang's head.

"Which direction?" Liao Liao Rulong asked.

"Pfft~" Qian Shugang spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staring fixedly at a certain spot.

The scene at Huolong Pass was about this much.

As soon as the words fell, rain began to fall from the sky.

"If the Black Dragon Army garrison comes to support, it will be equally difficult to take revenge."

Long Xiao's aura expanded unprecedentedly, surpassing Qian Shugang in an instant.

"Hmph, there is still our army's planted Earth Fire Lotus on his ship. That is stolen goods."

"Have you figured it out? Who did it?" Long Xiao asked urgently.

The Blood Qi Battle Formation's light flickered; the shockwave surged outward five times, instantly blasting away the eight flying boats surrounding them.

"What? Insolence!" Qian Shugang was furious; this was treating him like a barbarian.

"Boss, they are..."

"Over a thousand people, no, perhaps even more."

Qian Shugang was afraid; he was terrified.

If not for Yang An bearing most of the pressure, he and Old Chen and this core team would not have been merely demoted and exiled.

"Boom~"

Having said that, the Swordfish Flying Boat carrying Long Xiao's five hundred Brave Camp soldiers chased toward the northeast.

"Ah—"

"Because under this cloud and mist lies my domain!"

High-grade technique: Five Elements Mist Concealment · Poisonous Miasma!

"Ding ding ding ding ding!"

"I understand." Xia Jing jumped onto the warship, took out a map, calculated in his mind for a moment, then licked his lips and said, "Hehe, old friend, you are the first seventh-rank official daring to stroke Liang Wang's tiger whiskers. I, Xia Jing, will definitely help you hold the fort."

Yet, because he offended Liang Wang, all efforts turned to smoke and vanished.

"You deal with these people; I will go kill him. Leave no survivors."

Hearing this, Han Bing knew what Zhao Xing was planning. "That person is Qian Shugang, commander of Liang Wang's Black Dragon Army. We..."

The battle armor of the nine Military Bureau Farmers lit up, weakening the heavy blows.

"Y-yes!" Che Shihai immediately walked out.

Under the threat of death, he finally could not help but beg for mercy from the Shenwei Army general he had always looked down upon, even though he did not know Zhao Xing's name.

He simply did not put Qian Shugang in his eyes, nor did he put Liang Wang in his eyes!

"Worthless bones, you only know how to submit after being beaten." Qian Shugang recalled the scene where Wang Ji blocked him and sneered disdainfully.

It is true that Qian Shugang is of official Sixth Rank, but at this moment he was at the end of his tether, sustained only by the vitality of the other Black Dragon Guards. The faster he flew, the heavier his injuries became.

Long Xiao is a sword cultivator, and the five hundred people behind him all use swords.

Finally, the conclusion was reached:

"Long Xiao, we have at most two quarters of an hour of combat time."

However, as soon as Jiang Ming heard that Zhao Xing was calling for reinforcements, he rushed to find Li Que.

Qian Shugang had sent people to demand the Earth Fire Lotus some time ago, but he didn't even get to see Liao Liao Rulong's face.

"My lord, the Earth Fire Lotus has been counted."

The golden sword struck the Black Dragon phantom; some of them suddenly had their hands severed, others had their feet cut off, and even more were directly cut in half at the waist!

Qian Shugang was also greatly affected; as the core of the battle formation, a terrifying bloodstain appeared from his right shoulder to his left waist.

Han Bing met Zhao Xing's gaze and couldn't help but shiver: "I, I understand."

"Lord Zhao? You have finally arrived..." This ninth-rank Bureau Farmer said with a tear-stained face.

The third high-grade technique—【Earth Fiend Thunder】

"I might as well tell you, the reinforcements you wanted have already arrived, just five kilometers away."

"Northeast." Han Bing pointed.

"Heavenly Thunder Slash!"

"They will catch up to this warship in about two quarters of an hour."

"You scoundrel! You, you actually dare..." Qian Shugang was both furious and terrified. He drew his battle sword with a backhand motion, pointed forward, and shouted: "Daring to attack this official, kill them all!"

Six of them were directly blasted away by the Earth Fiend Thunder, dying instantly.

But in the end, they were one step slower than Zhao Xing.

He never took this operation seriously because he had once been in the Black Dragon Guards and witnessed the disbandment of the Shenwei Army.

"But this place is very close to the Northern String Territory; there are six military cities nearby. If this person escapes into the large camp within the city, it will be difficult to eliminate him again."

Zhao Xing stood at the bow of the ship; a spirit bridge appeared above his head, connecting heaven and earth, and began searching the layer of strong winds for traces of the warship passing through.

Meanwhile, Qian Shugang received replenishment; the wound from his shoulder to his waist healed by more than half.

"Clang!" The flying sword struck the shield, the tremendous force making Qian Shugang's wrist ache.

Immediately, eight flying boats were deployed, forming a cordon that completely surrounded the Arrow Fish flying boat.

Just as Liao Ru's forces had left, Xia Jing arrived at City No. 98 in a warship.

"Plop~" Qian Shugang, pierced like a sieve, fell to the ground.

Liao Ru descended in six warships outside City No. 98.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Yang, remembering Zhao Xing's instructions, struck Wang Ji with a hand chop, knocking him unconscious again.

"He actually turned off the warship's barrier?" Zhao Xing sneered twice. "Seeking his own death."

Had a battle formation protected him, Qian Shugang would not have suffered internal injuries from Zhao Xing.

But after Zhao Xing's actions, Qian Shugang's mental state completely exploded.

Zhao Xing pulled Han Bing over and said, "Collect everyone's Mirage Pearls and Earth Mirror Instruments. You don't need me to teach you how to do it."

"It's the Military Steward!"

The other three Seventh-Rank officials, though they survived, were still blasted into a daze; their spells lost accuracy and even interfered with their own side.

Seeing Zhao Xing approach, Che Shihai was instantly overwrought with emotion, while Han Bing remained with a gloomy expression.

"Water... water..." Wang Ji, on the stretcher, with dry lips, woke from his coma.

The Prince was magnanimous and did not continue to trouble Yang An, yet later, when the imperial court reinstated the Divine Might Army, this fellow still failed to show gratitude.

"Get this straight: the enemy disguised themselves as a private army of Liang Wang, the Black Dragon Army, commanded by Qian Shugang," Zhao Xing said.

Seeing the situation, Han Bing could only repeat the words Zhao Xing had spoken.

"How many people?"

The Black Dragon warship actually stopped on its own.

That scene was deeply imprinted in Qian Shugang's mind.

"Get out," Qian Shugang waved his hand.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

At this moment, Che Shihai had a bandage on his left shoulder, Wang Ji lay in bed with a pale face, and Han Bing sat in a corner.

Remembering Zhao Xing's instructions, Han Bing gritted his teeth and said, "My lord, we were ambushed by a group of enemies disguised as the Black Dragon Army and the Censor."

"Based on the traces in the Gao Wind Layer, the Fifth-Rank Black Dragon warship was not moving at full speed."

"Black Armor Army, all units, listen up! Target northeast, full speed ahead!"

Chen Shijie, however, saw through the ruse at a glance. He approached, staring at Han Bing: "What is the actual situation? Tell me the truth. Why is Wang Ji not being treated?"

But before he could finish speaking, his heart suddenly tightened, as if gripped by a giant hand.

Zhao Xing said calmly, "I will repeat myself: they are enemies disguised as Liang Wang's private army, just as we pretended to be barbarian generals when we infiltrated Fire Dragon Pass."

"Stop the ship," Qian Shugang said contemptuously. "Let me see what these people intend to do."

Nine Seventh-Rank Military Stewards appeared on the Black Dragon warship. Upon receiving the order, they immediately entered combat mode to counter Zhao Xing's spells.

"Li Que of the Town-Sea Army, which direction did Zhao Xing go?"

Zhao Xing caught up and landed before Qian Shugang in just three minutes.

Fire Dragon Pass could not mobilize everyone; some had to remain to guard it, so Jiang Ming naturally took on this responsibility.

Standing on the hilltop, Qian Shugang looked down and shouted at the Arrow Fish flying boat: "I am..."

Offending Zhao Xing and still trying to escape?

The Black Dragon Guards who jumped down onto the warship.

Seeing Long Xiao charge forward with five hundred soldiers of the Brave Camp in formation, he felt death approaching.

Unlike General Ming Yan's warships, the Black Dragon warship had strong alert capabilities and immediately detected the Arrow Fish flying boat behind it. "My lord, a flying boat has appeared behind us, seemingly flying the banner of the Divine Might Army," a subordinate quickly reported.

"My lord is right to scold," the subordinate trembled inwardly.

"What are you staring at? Do it!"

But facing the Divine Might Army, Qian Shugang felt no psychological pressure at all.

"You... who are you?! Why do you want to kill me!" Qian Shugang questioned unwillingly.

"Che Shihai, you immediately order the sounding of the city-wide alarm horn, highest alert!" Zhao Xing directly cut off Che Shihai's words.

Zhao Xing's fingertips swept over the six military cities.

"This person is either overly arrogant or utterly stupid," Zhao Xing thought.

After swiftly arranging everything, Zhao Xing left the Medical Hall; by then, chaos had already erupted outside.

Zhao Xing estimated it would take two quarters of an hour to catch the Black Dragon warship; in reality, less than two quarters of an hour passed before he saw the shadow of the Black Dragon warship.

Moments later, Zhao Xing spread out a map.

"It doesn't matter," Zhao Xing's voice rose from the mist. "In your next life, be more careful."

The Drop-Rain Spell was extinguishing his life flame.

It struck the nine Seventh-Rank Military Stewards squarely.

As the clouds and mist dispersed, he saw reinforcements arriving in the sky; unfortunately, he could not hold on until that moment and died completely.

But just then, a cloud of mist suddenly appeared, enveloping the eight surrounding flying boats.

"There is only one Arrow Fish flying boat. Based on the monitoring of the Blood Qi Array, it is estimated to have around five hundred people."

Thus, although no one notified the Town-Sea Army, Li Que rushed over immediately, arriving only slightly behind Xia Jing, because he was aggressive, his ship was good, and it flew incredibly fast.

"Understood," Long Xiao nodded.

Long Xiao also reacted at this moment: "Yes, yes, it's the enemy!"

"Boom~"

If he could just hold on for forty-five breaths, he would survive!

Zhao Xing symbolically cast a spell at Qian Shugang, discovering that the man was indeed brimming with fighting spirit and an overwhelming will to survive.

Hearing these words, Qian Shugang's eyes instantly lit up.

Zhao Xing's fourth high-tier spell — the Flying Snake Transformation!

Yet his battle formation shattered in an instant; Zhao Xing's spell breached his gang qi defense, disrupted the Five Elements Qi within his body, and caused violent changes in his internal Five Elements realm — such was the eerie nature of the Hou Transformation Method!

Unable to kill Qian Shugang with two consecutive strikes, Long Xiao merely wounded him; he immediately waved his hand, and the golden sword flew back into his grasp.

Having lost the desperate will to fight for survival, he merely waved his battle blade instinctively to hold on, his wounds growing ever more severe.

A gust of Yin wind blew toward the warship.

He was a dignified official of the Sixth Rank!

Zhao Xing sneered, "You think you can stall me? You're still too green."

"What? Liang Wang!" Long Xiao's eyes blazed with fire. "It's him again!"

The military physician Yuan Yang said, "He suffered internal injuries, but nothing serious; he can be cured within a few hours."

"My hand!"

"What Black Dragon Army? What Commander?" Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes, staring at Han Bing. "City Ninety-Eight suffered an enemy attack, the main general was injured, and the precious military supply, the Earth-Fire Lotus, was seized. Remember this: even if the King of Heaven himself came, you would say the same."

When it came to brains, Zhao Xing's were still the sharpest.

The Arrowfish Flying Boat also descended in altitude.

Just for this favor, he had to go help; moreover, Li Que still depended on others for shelter. Although Zhao Xing was only Seventh Rank, he was the bond of the three armies; in Li Que's view, his role was even greater than Liao Ru's.

"Old... Boss..." Che Shihai was just about to speak.

"What 'not bad'?" Qian Shugang roared, "Must I personally send someone to demand it? You know no manners at all, acting just like that stinking Yang An!"

Qian Shugang's eyes bulged round, his death unaccompanied by peace.

"How long has he been gone?" Zhao Xing interrupted.

Yet even so, Qian Shugang had not died. A Sixth Rank Tian Gang Realm perfection, cultivated with Earth Fiend Qi and Heaven Gang Qi to strengthen the body, his flesh was unimaginably powerful.

And luckily, they had captured the Fire Dragon Pass.

"S-stop! This official is..."

"There are five hundred mature fifth-tier Earth-Fire Lotuses, plus two thousand seeds and seedlings."

Eight hundred Black Dragon Guards had originally surged onto the warship, but now they were swept by the 【Yin Wind Fiend】.

The final result was the dissolution of the Divine Might Army; Yang An, who could have been enfeoffed as a First-Rank Marquis, ended up with the title of County Marquis.

Within the Gang Wind Layer, inside the Black Dragon Warship.

Li Que immediately led his men to set out.

Seeing Long Xiao's formidable momentum, Qian Shugang also roared.

If there was anyone Long Xiao hated most, it was not the barbarian enemy generals, but Liang Wang!

"Speak."

Qian Shugang suddenly drew the entire Black Dragon phantom into himself.

After Xia Jing departed, twelve more warships flew over; these belonged to Li Que of the Town-Sea Army.

In that instant of battle, Zhao Xing, facing many opponents, completely suppressed the Military Agriculture Official aboard the Black Dragon Warship.

"One quarter-hour."

It leaped fiercely from the Arrowfish Flying Boat, heading straight for Qian Shugang's head.

Good heavens, three waves of people have arrived in such a short time.

"P-please, spare my life..."

"Wind of Revival!"

"Meow!" Long Aotian also waved a paw nearby, as if cheering them on.

Wang Ji: "..."

Yuan Yang: "?"

Long Xiao's Brave Camp, these five hundred personal guards, whom he had trained for years, had also reached the fifth-tier battle formation.

This caused the one thousand Black Dragon Guards originally brought by Qian Shugang, upon receiving orders, to have fewer than two hundred activate the 'Blood Qi Battle Formation', providing strength to Qian Shugang.

"Pfft~" The golden sword pierced the warship, but Qian Shugang was no longer in his original spot.

Black Dragon Army? Chen Shijie's heart trembled.

Moreover, just as he formed his formation, Long Xiao had already completed his and charged forward.

Countless water droplets linked into ten thousand lines, bombarding Qian Shugang; Qian Shugang waved his battle blade, resisting desperately.

"Black Dragon Guards, form the formation!"

Each one stood unsteadily, their entire bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"Good, I understand." Chen Shijie stared at Han Bing, "Even if the King of Heaven himself came, you must say the same."

At the moment the flying sword approached, Qian Shugang's expression changed; he shifted from grabbing to blocking, his arm guard instantly extending to form a small shield.

Swish~

Zhao Xing immediately rushed into the Medical Hall.

"Oh?" Qian Shugang raised an eyebrow, "The Divine Might Army has caught up? How many?"

Han Bing nodded.

Seeing this, Long Xiao immediately turned his sword's edge and began to clear the remaining Black Dragon Guards.

Whoosh~ Li Que leaped swiftly onto the warship and chased toward the northeast.

Qian Shugang snorted coldly, "Hmph, this bunch of mud-legs from the Divine Might Army has no other skills, but they are quite capable at farming."

The damage was shared, transferring the trauma to the two hundred Black Dragon Guards.

"Die for me!" Han Bing's face was expressionless, but he roared in his heart.

"Yes." Yuan Yang immediately waved, ordering men to carry Wang Ji up onto the city wall.

On the surface of the warship, spheres of interlaced blue and black suddenly erupted.

Zhao Xing said, "Once we catch up to them, attack immediately. Do not give them any chance to speak. He claims to be an Inspector; he would never bring many people to City Number Ninety-Eight."

The five hundred brave battle soldiers behind him immediately shouted in unison, sending a surge of blood qi shooting skyward, condensing into a great sword of gold and red.

"Northeast."

"Who is Your Excellency...?" Han Bing looked at the newcomer with confusion; he did not know Li Que.

If previously Qian Shugang being pierced by the golden sword was merely a minor injury for a Sixth-Rank martial artist, now it was a critical wound!

Between masters, a single slip determines victory or defeat!

"Pfft~"

"Where is Che Shihai?" Zhao Xing grabbed a Minister of Agriculture and asked.

"Pierce Jin Yan!"

Long Xiao nodded fiercely: "Yes, yes, exactly like that!"

While blocking the Black Dragon Guard's line of sight, it instantly put them into a poisoned state!

However, this was not the end.

Zhao Xing also did not know what Qian Shugang was thinking in his heart.

Qian Shugang ordered the warship to stop on a hill, closed the warship's barrier, raised the Black Dragon Army's flag, and stood there brazenly on the deck.

"How is Wang Ji's injury?"

However, facing Liang Wang Ji Mingxian, they had no avenue for complaint, because years ago Liang Wang, controlling the military and political power of the Nine Heavens Yingyuan Office, had used the method of issuing orders and creating information time lags to deliberately trap the Divine Might Army in a four-sided battle, causing defeat, and then proceeded to hold them accountable.

I can understand the readers' urgent desire to see the next chapter, but writing a book requires a sense of anticipation; without anticipation, what is there to write? This writing style is itself perfectly normal, yet it is treated as if the author has committed a great crime. Recently, people have become obsessed with it, continuously spamming reviews.

Making such threats cannot force an experienced author to adjust their writing pace. Do I need others to teach me how to write? Urge for updates if you must; the author is also trying hard to write. What is the point of using this to threaten?