Chapter 399: Demonic Art?!

Flames shot up into the sky.

The scorching blast wave instantly hurled the surrounding dozen or so Liuren rebels who hadn't had time to react.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Continuous, violent explosions echoed from deep within Auspicious Time Pass, each roar shaking the cliff walls so they rattled, and shards of stone fell like rain.

The detonated Fuel fireball ignited more flammable material, and the chain reaction turned the entire pass into a boiling sea of fire.

"Ah!"

"Aaaah!"

Countless Liuren soldiers were blown into the air by the explosions.

Some were slammed against the cliff by the blast wave and were silenced on the spot.

Others were struck by burning broken logs, their bodies ablaze as they rolled on the ground, emitting gut‑wrenching screams.

Some were hit by the explosion's shockwave, their eardrums rupturing; clutching their ears, they blindly crashed through the thick smoke, uttering garbled wails.

"Help!"

"Someone, save me!"

"My leg! My leg is crushed!"

The mournful cries for help mingled with explosions and the crackle of flames, echoing endlessly within the pass.

The rebels who had been hidden in the shadows were now fully exposed to the sea of fire; many soldiers, panicking, tried to flee outward, only to be driven back by the oncoming wave of flame.

Deep within Auspicious Time Pass, chaos turned the area into a porridge; cries, curses, and dying moans intertwined.

The flames stained half the night sky red.

There was no longer any trace of ambush tactics, only despair being devoured by the fire sea.

When the explosive blast wave, laden with thick smoke, reached the pass entrance, Shen Zhiyan was pulled behind a rock by Ming Shuo just in time to narrowly escape.

A few red burns from splashed sparks dotted his face, yet he remained oblivious.

He clung to the edge of the rock, peeking out, watching the towering flames and the sky‑filled shards; his whole body felt struck by lightning, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and even the hand gripping his blade quivered.

Shen Zhiyan opened his mouth, and after a long moment managed to utter a trembling whisper: "How... how... how... did Chen Yan actually do that?!"

The confidence that had been in his words was long gone, leaving only profound shock and a trace of unmistakable fear.

The thick smoke made Ming Shuo cough repeatedly, yet his eyes stayed fixed on the chaos inside the pass, his mind filled with incredulous doubt: "With the ground shaking and mountains trembling, could that kid Chen Yan possibly be using some demonic art?!"

Having lived so many years, Ming Shuo could be certain that this incomprehensible phenomenon was beyond any human capability.......

The only reasonable explanation was demonic art!

Shen Zhiyan stared intently at the surging sea of fire inside the pass, his complexion as pale as paper, his previous composure and arrogance completely shattered.

Only an uncontrollable panic remained, his teeth trembling ever so slightly.

He clenched his fists tightly, his Adam's apple rolling as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, barely suppressing the dryness in his throat, then turned his head toward Ming Shuo and asked, "Old Ming, do you think Chen Yan could possibly be the reincarnation of some divine powerhouse?"

At present, only this possibility can reasonably explain it.....

The few Liuren soldiers who had luckily escaped the disaster now slumped on the ground, staring at the towering flames behind them and the incessant cries, their faces full of terror.

"Heaven itself is aiding Lord Chen Yan!" the small guard, who had been complaining while on duty, said with a trembling voice, pointing at the fire sea in the valley, "It must be so!"

The short, stout soldier nodded repeatedly, clasping his hands together and bowing toward the flames, "We must not defy the will of Heaven!"

The scarred soldier tossed his short sword aside, his voice full of despair, "Continuing to resist will only lead to death!"

That 'miracle' was so persuasive that the vast majority of the Liuren rebels were left with only reverence for 'Heaven's will' and fear of death.......

On the other side of the pass entrance, three lightly wounded Liuren rebels huddled behind a broken stone, gasping, their faces still haunted.

One of them, a sly‑eyed seventeen‑ or eighteen‑year‑old soldier named Yu Qingze, suddenly tugged at the sleeves of the two beside him and signaled, "Brothers, Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo are over there."

He lowered his voice, a mischievous grin curling his lips, "I have an idea....."

He looked every bit the schemer.

"What do you mean?" the two asked instinctively, bewildered.

Yu Qingze licked his cracked lips, his gaze growing ever more Dark Hawk, "The tide is already irreversible; we can't remain empty‑handed, should we defect to Lord Chen Yan?"

The defeat of the Tongtian Society was already sealed.....

For our own future, we must give Lord Chen Yan a Letter of Allegiance!

The other two exchanged glances and instantly understood.

They quietly picked up the coarse hemp rope and stones from the ground, crouching low, using the broken rocks and tangled grass as cover.

Step by step, they moved toward the fire sea inside the pass, where Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo were intently focused, feeling their way forward......

The explosions inside the pass finally subsided, leaving only the crackle of lingering flames and occasional moans.

But before the people inside Auspicious Time Pass could recover, an earth‑shaking, thunderous killing shout suddenly came from outside—

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The sound rang like thunder in the ears, making eardrums ache.

The surviving Liuren rebels at the pass entrance looked up, seeing countless torches flare up on the distant mountain path.

Crowded silhouettes, brandishing swords and spears, charged toward the pass, their armor glinting coldly in the firelight.

"It's... it's the Court's heavenly soldiers arriving!" a soldier, collapsed on the ground, pointed at the surging flames, his voice full of despair.

"It's the heavenly soldiers under Lord Chen Yan's command arriving!"

The others also panicked instantly, seeing the rainbow‑like momentum of the troops; recalling the horrors inside the pass, who would still dare to resist.

"Surrenderers are not killed!"

"Surrenderers are not killed!"

"Surrenderers are not killed!"

The Wei Zhou soldiers who reached the pass first formed a neat line, their Chang Qiang pointing at the surviving Liuren rebels; the leading Colonel's voice boomed like a bell: "All living, lay down your weapons, clasp your heads with both hands, and squat on the ground!"

The words fell, and several squads of Wei Zhou soldiers quickly scattered.

They surrounded the pass in a circle; the clatter of armor and the sound of weapons being drawn intertwined, adding further intimidation.

The surviving Liuren rebels were already demoralized, and seeing this display, they dared not resist—

The short, stout soldier was the first to toss his short sword, clasp his head with both hands and "thud" to the ground, shouting continuously: "Don't kill me!"

"Don't kill me!"

The others, seeing this, followed suit; some hurriedly threw their weapons aside, others went limp and collapsed on the ground, hands clasped over their heads, curling into a ball, repeatedly shouting: "I Surrender!"

"I also surrender!"

"Heavenly soldiers, please spare this humble man's life!"

In a short moment, the nearby Liuren rebels all surrendered, laying down arms and yielding.

One by one they crouched on the ground with heads clasped, lacking even the courage to lift their heads, leaving only alternating pleas for mercy mixed with heavy panting.

Yuwen Ze, clad in silver armor and a long sword at his waist, stepped forward slowly; his sharp gaze swept over the surrendering rebels, then he turned his head to the nearby Wei Zhou Governor Hua Jiao, whose stern face was resolute, and said in a deep voice: "Governor Hua, you lead men forward to suppress the remaining defiant ones!"

Hua Jiao raised his hand in a fist salute and replied gravely: "As you command!"

As the words fell, he spun sharply and shouted loudly at the lined Wei Zhou soldiers: "Boys! Follow this Governor into the valley! Anyone who resists shall be killed on the spot!"

"Understood!" the Wei Zhou soldiers answered in unison, their voices shaking the surrounding stones, then they followed Hua Jiao, weapons in hand, rushing swiftly into the still‑smoking valley.

Yuwen Ze stood with his hands behind his back at the pass, gazing at the lingering thick smoke ahead and the distant silhouettes of Wei Zhou soldiers clearing the remnants, a faint smile curling his lips as he thought to himself: "A Xiong's strategy is truly formidable!"

"It took almost no effort, with minimal casualties, to capture this Auspicious Time Pass!"

His eyes flashed with admiration as he looked toward the mountain path beyond the pass—

There, the Central Army where A Xiong was stationed.

Another day of learning something.

At that moment, Peng Chong, clad in Xuan Armor, hurried forward, fist‑saluting: "Crown Prince, someone has brought the rebel leaders here and has come to Surrender!"

Hearing this, Yuwen Ze withdrew his gaze from the Central Army, gave a slight nod, and gestured to Peng Chong with his hand: "Bring them up!"

"Umm…"

The "clang—" sounded twice as Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo, bound in thick ropes, were forcefully shoved to the ground.

With coarse cloth bundles stuffed in their mouths, they could only emit muffled sounds; as they struggled, the ropes chafed their wrists and ankles, turning them red and bleeding.

Shen Zhiyan stared with bulging eyes, veins popping on his forehead, fixedly glaring at Yuwen Ze.

"Greetings, Sir!"

The three soldiers escorting them bowed, were led forward by the personal guards, and hurriedly "thud" knelt to salute.

"No need for formalities!"

From his elevated position, Yuwen Ze glanced at the three and said lightly, raising his hand: "So you wish to Surrender?"

He paused, his gaze falling on the struggling Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo on the ground, and asked again: "These two on the ground are the rebel leaders you mentioned......?"

Yu Qingze hurriedly nodded, pointing at the two and said: "Answering you, Sir, the one on the left is Shen Zhiyan, the one on the right is Ming Shuo....."

"They are high‑ranking traitors of the Tongtian Society!"

"They were dispatched by the Tongtian Society's leader to Auspicious Time Pass to ambush Lord Chen Yan!"

Then, after choosing his words, his voice trembling yet unable to hide flattery: "Sir, please discern, we few were exiled to Hezhou, forced to join them, we are not willful thieves!"

Having said so, he hammered his head heavily onto the ground.

The other two, seeing this, also mimicked the action.

"Since you have abandoned darkness for light, the past shall be forgiven entirely!"

"Moreover, capturing the rebel leader merits a reward!"

Yuwen Ze stepped forward, helped Yu Qingze to his feet, let out a light laugh, and spoke.

These people not only deserve a reward, but a great reward, and their deeds must be widely publicized…

It is to tell the Hezhou Liuren rebels that as long as they surrender, they can avoid death; capturing the rebel leader and surrendering brings a great reward.

It serves as an incentive worth a thousand gold to buy a horse's bone!

"Thank you, Sir!" the three exhaled a long breath together and thanked in unison.

Yuwen Ze's eyes flashed with approval as they fell on Yu Qingze, a faint smile tugging at his lips: "You are indeed clever and decisive…."

He paused again and asked: "What is your name?"

This kid clearly has a knack for ideas and shows some insight; he is a talent worth cultivating.

Yu Qingze was startled, quickly bowed and replied: "I, the lowly Yu Qingze!"

Yuwen Ze extended his hand, gently patting his shoulder with a moderate pressure, his tone carrying some affirmation: "I'll remember you...."

"This Sir's status is certainly not simple....." Yu Qingze keenly sensed that the man before him was no ordinary commander, but a person of great prestige; his eyes shone like burning torches, his flattery‑laden smile deepened, a patron for his rise.

The night was deep, and the lingering embers inside Auspicious Time Pass gradually faded, leaving only scattered sparks flickering in the darkness.

Yuwen Ze ordered the Wei Zhou soldiers to tally the spoils and clean the battlefield, then led the troops back, racing toward the Central Army Camp beyond the pass.

Inside the tent, candlelight shone brightly; Chen Yan sat upright at the desk, eyes closed, resting his spirit.

Yuwen Ze, leading Hua Jiao and others, hurried forward, fist‑saluting: "Report, A Xiong, this battle has slain over two thousand enemies and captured over four thousand!"

"We have captured the rebel leaders Shen Zhiyan and Ming Shuo!"