Chapter 678: What Kind of Monster Is This, Really?!

He inhaled deeply, thinking of the current war situation in Xiazhou and that his own army had been delayed by Gancao City for so long.

The Zhou State court must already be in turmoil; Yuwen Hu, as the ruler of Chang'an and holder of military command, facing the Great Qi army pressing the front, can probably only play this trump card, hoping to turn the battle around at once.

Thinking of this, Gao Xiaoyu spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of cold judgment:

"Our army is pressing the enemy, heading straight for Gancao, threatening Ling and Xia two provinces; Yuwen Hu can't sit idle, he will have to play this trump card!"

Liu Zaizhou's complexion grew even worse as he stared at the unstoppable Black Armored Iron Cavalry ahead, recalling the legendary pillar of the realm praised as the contemporary "Blue Sky", and he couldn't help but voice his concerns:

"Crown Prince, I've heard of Chen Yan; though not yet of age, his skill in marching, campaigning, and commanding troops even surpasses his grandfather Chen Hu…"

"Chen Hu was a famed fierce general of Zhou State in his day; this Chen Yan, surpassing his predecessor, will be extremely hard to deal with!"

Gao Xiaoyu heard the words and let out a sudden cold laugh.

The laugh contained no trace of fear; instead it stirred a surge of arrogance.

He is the Crown Prince of Great Qi, trained in martial arts since childhood, well‑versed in military texts, personally overseeing this battle—who has ever frightened him?

Even if the opponent is Yuwen Hu's trump card, a youthful famed general who outshines his grandfather, to him he is merely a foe to be trampled beneath his feet!

Immediately, his eyes burned like torches, staring ahead, his tone laced with condescending contempt as he retorted, "So what?"

When his words fell, Gao Xiaoyu's whole body suddenly surged with soaring fighting spirit; his splendid armor glittered in the night, head held high, chest out, his voice resonant and powerful, exuding the Crown Prince's pride and dominance:

"I am the Crown Prince of Great Qi, personally leading the army here; today I shall meet this Military God of Zhou State myself!"

"Let's see whether he truly lives up to his name or is merely empty fame!"

Liu Zaizhou heard this, his complexion changing abruptly, and hurried forward a step, urgently urging, "Crown Prince! Absolutely not!"

"Your priceless body bears the nation's foundation; how could you recklessly venture into danger?"

"On this battlefield, arrows rain down, the chaotic troops are ruthless; if there is even a slightest slip, the Subordinate General will die a thousand deaths and cannot escape blame!"

He knows Gao Xiaoyu's proud and obstinate nature, but the Crown Prince's stature must not charge into battle like an ordinary commander; if anything goes wrong, their entire side would collapse instantly.

While Liu Zaizhou spoke, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the distance, landing on a towering figure that barreled forward like a mountain.

That Zhou General was terrifyingly massive, tall and robust as a moving hill, wielding a horse spear; amid the chaotic troops he moved as if alone, slaughtering Qi soldiers as easily as cutting fruit, truly a killing god.

If they could cut down this fierce general first, it would surely crush the Zhou Army's morale and steady their own troops.

A fierce resolve flashed in Liu Zaizhou's eyes; he clasped his fists and loudly requested, "Crown Prince, let the Subordinate General go!"

"The Subordinate General will lead my elite unit, behead that rogue general, and present his head to you, Crown Prince!"

Gao Xiaoyu's gaze hardened as he looked at Liu Zaizhou, his mind rapidly weighing options.

He naturally knows his own precious status makes him unsuitable to risk himself, yet the Zhou Army's momentum is too fierce.

If they do not immediately dispatch someone to meet that fierce general's charge, block that fierce general's assault, and wait until their own side is completely shattered, there will be no chance of turning the tide.

Liu Zaizhou is his trusted senior general, valiant and battle‑savvy, loyal to the core; sending him to meet the enemy is the most fitting choice.

After a brief pause, Gao Xiaoyu immediately nodded and in a low voice said, "Fine! Then leave it to General Liu! Be sure to block the Zhou Army's assault and cut down that mad general!"

"The Subordinate General obeys!"

Liu Zaizhou shouted his assent, a resolute flash in his eyes, abruptly turned his horse, drew the long sword at his waist, and bellowed to the cavalry behind him:

"Young men, follow me and kill!"

"Hold back the Zhou Army, protect the Crown Prince!"

When his words ended, Liu Zaizhou rode ahead, leading hundreds of cavalry to meet the charging Zhou Army, spurring his horse at full speed.

The iron armor clanged, hooves thundered, and the hundreds of riders surged like a torrent, charging straight at the fiercest black figure.

And at this moment, within the Zhou Army formation,

Chen Yan rode his horse into the formation, his horse spear still dripping blood, his eagle‑sharp gaze already scanning the battlefield, and he noticed the figure in the Qi Army clad in splendid armor with an extraordinary bearing.

That person's armor was exquisite and finely crafted, surrounded by personal guards and strict protection, clearly of very high rank; combined with earlier intel, the Qi commander outside Gancao City was none other than Crown Prince Gao Xiaoyu.

Chen Yan's mouth curled a cold smile, and he immediately shouted at Lu Ming, who was charging ahead and cutting down foes with relish:

"General Lu!"

Lu Ming was brandishing his horse spear, lifting a Qi Junior Officer into the air and slamming him hard to the ground; hearing Chen Yan's call, he immediately tightened his reins, turned his head, and spoke in a rough, resonant voice:

"The Subordinate General is here!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, pointing at the most conspicuous figure in splendid armor within the Qi formation, his voice clear and echoing around: "Lu Ming, do you see that guy in the splendid armor?"

Lu Ming looked in the direction Chen Yan indicated and immediately spotted the striking Gao Xiaoyu among the crowd, his eyes brightening, his battle spirit intensifying, and he loudly replied:

"Seen!"

Chen Yan stared at that figure, his eyes cold and unclouded, a faint upward curl at his mouth, his tone bearing unquestionable ferocity, and he barked:

"Kill that blocking Qi general! Charge at him!"

He paused, his tone deepening, and said word by word, "Regardless of life or death!"

Lu Ming was already in a killing frenzy; hearing this, it was as if hot oil had been poured over him, and his battle spirit erupted completely.

He threw his head back and laughed boisterously, his laugh booming, his horse spear raised, his voice cracking like thunder, "Understood!"

Before his words finished, Lu Ming's legs clenched hard, his mount sensing his master's battle will, let out a high‑pitched whinny, and the four hooves flew, the speed soaring to its peak.

He no longer cared about the fleeing Qi soldiers, turned his horse, target clear, like a tiger pouncing on prey, and recklessly surged toward Gao Xiaoyu's direction!

And the oncoming force was Liu Zaizhou's Qi cavalry.

One rider on one horse, like an unstoppable spear, drove straight at the Qi battle line with a fierce thrust!

Chen Yan watched Lu Ming's arrow‑like charge, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, then swiftly withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to cold composure as he turned to the two senior generals on his left and right.

He scanned the two, no hesitation, and shouted:

"General Dong! General Pang!"

Dong Xuqing and Pang Chong simultaneously straightened, their bodies tensing, both fists clenched heavily; their armor clanged with a deep resonant sound, and they answered in unison, their voices even and clear across the battlefield: "Here!"

Chen Yan's voice rang like thunder, clear across the battlefield:

"General Dong, General Pang, each of you command a hundred cavalry, spread to the left and right wings, guard the army's flanks, and watch for Qi forces attempting to outflank!"

"Hold the formation firmly, and advance steadily with me!"

"Yes, sir!" Dong Xuqing and Pang Chong shouted in unison, their voices shaking the surroundings.

Each turned his horse's head, armor clanking, and within moments split off two hundred elite riders from the main cavalry, one left and one right, thrusting out like two iron wings.

Dong Xuqing, seasoned and steady, led his troops to hug the left side of the Wilderness, strictly guarding against a rear guard ambush from the Qi army.

Pang Chong, fierce and valiant, commanded the cavalry to open the right flank, blade and spear raised together, ready at any moment to cut down fleeing troops and counter‑attacking enemies.

The two cavalry wings spread like goose wings, shielding the central army tightly, awaiting Lu Ming ahead to break the enemy line, then they would crush forward together.

On the battlefield ahead, Lu Ming was already a lone rider, a blur of dust.

He stood nearly two meters tall, clad in Xuan Armor, and atop his warhorse he resembled a moving hill.

At this moment, having received Chen Yan's order, he had no distractions, his eyes fixed only on the charging commander before the Qi army formation.

He urged his warhorse beneath him to lift its four hooves, wind howling in his ears, the ground trembling under the pounding hooves, his whole body like a fired heavy arrow, charging straight at Liu Zaizhou.

Liu Zaizhou felt both alarm and anger; after years of campaigning, he held himself in high esteem.

Seeing Lu Ming charge alone, he knew the opponent was fierce, yet he would not show fear before the Crown Prince and his young subordinates.

He brandished his Horizontal Blade before his chest, clenched his teeth, drove his mount forward, and shouted fiercely, "Rascal!"

"Do not be reckless; today I will take your head!"

In an instant, the two horses collided.

The black silhouette of Xuan Armor slammed into the Qi army's battle armor, the clashing of metal ringing sharply, echoing across the battlefield.

Liu Zaizhou gripped his blade with both hands, poured all his strength, and delivered a massive, heavy slash.

The blade's edge rode a fierce wind, aiming straight for Lu Ming's neck, seeking a single strike to defeat the enemy and earn merit before the Crown Prince.

He believed this slash was swift, precise, and ruthless; even a common commander, if not killed, would be forced to stagger and dodge.

But Lu Ming merely let out a cold snort.

Without showing any stance, the two‑zhang‑long Refined Iron Horse Spear was suddenly lifted.

The spear's shaft stood like a horizontal iron beam.

"Bang—" a deafening crash rang out.

Liu Zaizhou's full‑force slash struck the spear shaft, and he felt a torrent of force like a mountain flood raging up the blade.

His arms went numb instantly, the web of his hand throbbed as if about to split, even his bones seemed to be softened by the shock.

Liu Zaizhou's complexion changed abruptly, and only a single thought flashed through his mind:

This man's strength is terrifying!

He hurriedly withdrew his blade, intending to change tactics, but Lu Ming's speed was far quicker than his thought.

Lu Ming neither dodged nor evaded; using the momentum of his charging warhorse, he thrust his arms forward powerfully.

The horse spear surged like a poisonous dragon from a cave, its tip flashing a cold gleam, so fast that only an afterimage remained, thrusting straight at Liu Zaizhou's chest.

Liu Zaizhou hurriedly blocked with his Horizontal Blade, but he was already half a step too late.

"Pfft—"

The razor‑sharp spear tip, bearing a force that could tear anything, smashed his Guardian Heart Mirror, easily pierced his sturdy armor, cut through flesh and muscle, and brutally pierced Liu Zaizhou's chest.

The icy spear tip emerged from his back, carrying scorching blood from his heart and shattered entrails, spraying into the night wind.

All this happened so fast that the soldiers fighting around could barely discern the exact moves.

It was so swift that Liu Zaizhou himself barely felt the searing pain, only a chill in his chest as his strength drained away like a receding tide.

Muscles on Lu Ming's arms bulged, and he let out a deep, fierce shout, raising his arm upward.

The once imposing Qi general Liu Zaizhou, his tall and heavy frame, was effortlessly lifted single‑handed into the air by him, as if raising a bundle of weightless straw in a field.

Fresh blood dripped down the cold spear shaft, staining Lu Ming's Xuan Armor red, and reddening the blood‑soaked ground beneath.

Liu Zaizhou's limbs sagged uselessly, a wheezing "hoho" escaping his mouth; he managed only a few coughs of blood foam before his gaze faded and his life extinguished.

One beat.

Just one beat.

Just moments ago, Liu Zaizhou had challenged Gao Xiaoyu, brimming with confidence, intending to behead the enemy commander, yet he couldn't withstand even three of Lu Ming's moves, was pierced through the chest by a spear, and was lifted to death before the horse.

The surroundings fell silent in an instant.

In the next moment, Lu Ming threw his head back and let out an extremely hearty laugh, the sound shaking people's eardrums.

From his lofty perch, he glanced at the corpse he had hoisted on his spear, a blatant sneer curling his mouth, and spoke loudly, his contempt cutting like a blade into every Qi soldier's heart:

"Hahaha! Exhilarating!"

"I thought the Qi army had such fierce generals, but it's just this level!"

"Such a wretch dares to shout before the formation?"

"Simply unworthy of a strike!"

That voice, clear, arrogant, and overbearing, rang across the four directions.

"General Liu—!!"

Nearby Qi cavalry who witnessed the scene were terrified, their souls scattering, and they shouted in panic.

Some felt their legs go weak, some dropped their weapons, some instinctively reined their mounts back; looking at Lu Ming's gaze, they were no longer facing an enemy but a killing god risen from hell.

The Qi army's previously rallied counter‑attack, in an instant drenched by icy water, froze in place.

And Gao Xiaoyu, who had been holding the rear, was completely stunned.

His eyes widened, pupils contracting, all the composure, authority, and pride on his face shattered in that instant, replaced by incredulous terror.

His body swayed slightly; had his close guards not steadied him, he would have nearly fallen from his horse.

Gao Xiaoyu's lips trembled as he stared fixedly at the demonic figure ahead, his mind a blank, only the roar remaining.

He watched with his own eyes Liu Zaizhou issue the challenge, saw Liu Zaizhou lead his troops forward, and saw the two horses collide......

He had even already imagined in his mind that even if Liu Zaizhou were defeated, he could still fight for dozens of rounds, buying him time to reorganize the army formation.

But reality delivered the heaviest, most brutal slap.

Only a few mere rounds, not even a single breath.

One of his own battle‑proven generals, under his command, was pierced through the chest by a spear, left hanging in mid‑air like a dead chicken being skewered, and was mockingly ridiculed.

Gao Xiaoyu only felt a wave of cold surge from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, as if all the blood in his body had frozen.

He stared fixedly at Lu Ming's towering, mountain‑like figure, at the blood‑stained horse spear, at the corpse hanging from the spear tip, his voice involuntarily trembling, muttering to himself, his tone filled with terror and bewilderment:

"What... what exactly is this monster?!"

"General Liu... he was a valiant general of Great Qi... how could... how could he not even last a few rounds, and be cut down from his horse?!"