Chapter 694

"The Imperial Jade Seal is currently in Yuan Shao's hands!"

That's right, it is Yuan Shao, not Cao Cao.

As for the reason behind this, it was naturally the result of Su Xuan's own doing.

After all, he was not satisfied with just Yuan Shu's fortune; swallowing Yuan Shao's fortune as well was what he wanted.

On the contrary, regarding Cao Cao, even if he takes Cao Cao in the future, he cannot swallow all of his fortune, otherwise, Cao Cao would inevitably die suddenly.

"Yuan Shao?"

Sun Ce was stunned.

Clearly, he did not expect that the Imperial Jade Seal would end up in Yuan Shao's hands after all.

His face sank.

Clearly, he felt this must have been a secret plot by Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao.

It was because these two wanted the Imperial Jade Seal that his father died.

He didn't expect that Yuan Shao would ultimately succeed.

How unpleasant!

"That's right! It is Yuan Shao! It is clear that you hold deep hatred for Yuan Shao, Bofu!"

"Once you join my ranks, when I crusade against Yuan Shao, you can lead a vanguard army!"

"Of course, that is on the condition that Yuan Shao can defeat Cao Cao; otherwise, I fear you won't have the chance to settle scores with Yuan Shao!"

Su Xuan said with a smile.

"Uh... Your Majesty is very confident!"

Sun Ce was stunned for a moment, then smiled and cupped his hands: "Then I thank you in advance!"

He knew his little tricks couldn't be hidden from Su Xuan; Su Xuan clearly knew his purpose for setting the competition, which is why he said such things.

"However, Your Majesty actually thinks Cao Cao can defeat Yuan Shao? That shouldn't be possible, right?"

"In terms of foundation and strength, Yuan Shao should be stronger and have the advantage, right?"

Although he didn't want to admit it, Sun Ce did feel Yuan Shao was stronger.

After all, he is from the Yuan family of four generations of high officials.

Some people are just better at being born; there is nothing to be done about that.

If you want to blame someone, blame them for having a good ancestor!

If their family had possessed Yuan Shao's background back then, they would surely have done better than Yuan Shao, right?

Therefore, Sun Ce didn't admire Yuan Shao at all.

Only someone like Su Xuan, who started almost from scratch, was truly worthy of his admiration.

He is the one who truly relied on himself!

"For the three-battle competition, on my side, Lu Bu will handle the personal combat, Wen Pin will lead a portion of the Xiangyang navy for the naval battle;"

"As for the land battle, it is left to my third brother and my three thousand personal guards, how about that?"

"Huh?"

Sun Ce was dumbfounded: "Lu Bu? Your personal guards, Your Majesty? Do you have to be so ruthless?"

How can this even be fought?

Who in the world doesn't know that Lu Bu is a Heaven-Man Realm divine general?

What is he, a small Gangjin-stage general, in front of Lu Bu?

If the other side strikes with full force, he probably wouldn't be able to take a single move.

But thinking about it from another perspective, Sun Ce felt a bit excited and eager to try...

That is Lu Bu!

He had long wanted to fight Lu Bu and properly test the strength of a Heaven-Man divine general.

Such opportunities are rare.

Therefore, he could barely accept Lu Bu participating in the personal combat.

But Su Xuan sending his personal guards was a bit bullying.

Even if it were just three thousand people, they were absolutely not something other troops could contend with.

Even if it were thirty thousand or three hundred thousand, Sun Ce would not have the confidence to completely defeat Su Xuan's three thousand personal guards.

Who doesn't know that Su Xuan's personal guards are all terrifyingly powerful, with the lowest cultivation being late-stage Anjin?

In fact, most are actually experts at the Transformation Realm or above.

Are these three thousand soldiers?

They are clearly a group of three thousand warriors composed of second-rate generals and above!

As for Su Xuan's third brother, Su Zhan?

Actually, with such troops, it doesn't matter who the commanding general is.

Of course, Sun Ce would never underestimate Su Zhan.

He is Su Xuan's own brother, after all, and has received Su Xuan's personal training; his strength and command ability must be quite good.

Perhaps even extremely strong.

"Hehe! Why? Do you have any objections? It is not impossible to change! I can switch to Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and the others, and the personal guards can also be switched to the Black Armor Army or the Trap Formation."

"Uh... no need! Let it be!"

Sun Ce shook his head speechlessly.

How is that any different from not changing?

Oh! There is a difference!

Zhao Yun is probably even stronger than Lu Bu.

As for the Black Armor Army or the Trap Formation?

They might be weaker than Su Xuan's personal guards, but they would still crush his elite troops!

"It seems no matter how I change it, I will be beaten up!"

"Besides, I set up this competition not to win, but just to go through the motions and give myself a graceful exit!"

"Why think so much?"

Sun Ce suddenly realized everything, and his heart felt light.

"Haha! Fine! Then let it be!"

"Let the competition start at the fifth watch tomorrow morning!"

Su Xuan nodded with a smile, then looked at Zhou Yu, who had been observing him, and couldn't help but smile: "You must be Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin, right? The title of 'Beautiful Zhou Lang' is well-deserved!"

"Your strength is also quite good! Once you join my ranks, achieving the Heaven-Man Realm within ten years will be no problem at all! I have high hopes for you! I look forward to your joining!"

Zhou Yu's current strength is early-stage Danjin; as a commander who is both civil and military, this talent is indeed acceptable.

"Uh... Your Majesty's praise is too much! Zhou Yu is still far from that!"

Zhou Yu cupped his hands modestly.

At the same time, he was secretly shocked: "Prince Qian actually has the confidence to let me break through to the Heaven-Man Realm within ten years? It seems the rumors that Prince Qian has heaven-defying comprehension, created many divine techniques, and even created methods for raising exotic beasts and precious medicines might not be groundless!"

Otherwise, how to explain Su Xuan's confidence?

The Heaven-Man Realm is not so easy to achieve.

Otherwise, the Heaven-Man Realm wouldn't have become a legend over the past few hundred years.

In the blink of an eye, the next morning arrived.

The competition officially began.

First was the personal combat.

Lu Bu and Sun Ce both entered the fray.

They were soon locked in battle.

Of course, Lu Bu started with the intention of guiding and testing Sun Ce's strength; he didn't use his full strength at all, using only ten percent of his power, and was already trading blows with Sun Ce.

A Heaven-Man expert is truly terrifying.

Meanwhile, in Chaisang City,

In Zhu Zhi's mansion, a group of Jiangdong gentry gathered.

It wasn't just these Jiangdong gentry; Zhang Zhao and even Sun Quan were among them.

"You all should know by now, right? Sun Ce is preparing to submit to Su Xuan; this so-called three-battle competition is just a farce he created! It is just to give himself a graceful exit!"

"He is fine with it, taking everyone to submit to Su Xuan, but did he ask us if we were willing?"