Chapter 369: The World Shakes

The entire world seemed to plunge into an indescribable Tension and expectation because of the impending, epochal war between Northern Liang and Northern Mang.

Countless gazes and countless discussions converged upon that northwestern frontier land filled with iron, blood, and the aura of slaughter.

"Did you hear?! The Northern Mang's five hundred thousand iron cavalry have already assembled, their military might pointing directly at Beicheng in Northern Liang! It seems a great battle is inevitable!"

"Heavens! Five hundred thousand troops! This... this is simply... the full might of a nation! That Northern Mang Empress truly possesses extraordinary resolve!"

"That newly promoted Long Wang, Ning Chuan, though possessing vast divine powers and boundless magical strength, but... can he withstand the charge of those five hundred thousand tiger and wolf soldiers?! After all, this is a mortal war, not a clash of Immortal Realm beings!"

"Hard to say, hard to say! I heard that the Northern Mang's God of War, Tuoba Pusa, has long surpassed the ordinary Immortal Realm, reaching a Terrifying realm beyond our imagination! Combined with his martial arts and the killing aura of the military formation, he is unstoppable and invincible!"

"Exactly! I heard that too! It is said that Tuoba Pusa once, single-handedly, at the Northern Mang Border, withstood a full-force strike from an otherworldly demonic fiend without dying! His strength is simply unfathomable!"

"Sss—! So it seems that the Dragon King, the Jiaolong, this time... has truly met a real opponent!"

"Yes, yes! On one side is the mysterious Jiaolong capable of summoning heavenly thunder to suppress Immortal Realm beings! On the other is the Northern Mang God of War, commanding five hundred thousand troops, with strength equally unfathomable! This... this is truly a dragon-fighting-tiger struggle!"

"Regardless, this battle will surely determine the world's political landscape for the next several hundred years! We... shall wait and see!"

"..."

Above the Jianghu, discussions were rampant, and speculations endless.

Almost everyone felt their hearts stirred and unable to calm down over this impending, epochal war filled with unknowns and variables.

They both looked forward to witnessing a divine battle worthy of being recorded in history.

And yet feared the tragic consequences this great war might bring: devastation of living beings and rivers flowing with blood.

In Northern Liang, inside an inconspicuous small-town inn.

Gai Nie, the number one sword saint of the world, dressed in a white long robe with a refined demeanor yet exceptionally sharp eyes, was quietly listening to the discussions of those Jianghu travelers within the inn, a strange light flashing in those ancient-well-like, undisturbed eyes.

Beside him, the youth Jing Tianming, who looked about twelve or thirteen years old yet carried a determination and liveliness in his eyes unbecoming of his age, looked at his Master somewhat nervously and asked in a low voice:

"Master, is what they say... all true? That... that my lord Long Wang, is he really going to fight the Northern Mang's five hundred thousand troops?"

"Can... can he win?"

Upon hearing this, Gai Nie gently patted Tianming's head, a hint of gentle smile appearing in his eyes, and spoke calmly:

"Tianming, in this world, there are no absolute victories or defeats."

"But, your Master believes that my lord Long Wang is by no means a rash person."

"Since he dared to proclaim to the world, to make Northern Liang his enemy, and dared to face calmly the Northern Mang troops about to march south."

"He must, in his heart... already have complete preparations."

He paused, those deep eyes gazing toward the distant direction of Mount Qingliang outside the window, and continued:

"If... if in this battle, my lord Long Wang can create another miracle and hold back the Northern Mang's five hundred thousand iron cavalry."

"Then it proves that he possesses not only supreme divine might capable of destroying heaven and earth, but also a heart of a benevolent person... capable of protecting all living beings."

"At that time, your Master will take you with me to go and join him."

"Perhaps only under the protection of such an existence can we, master and disciple, truly escape the pursuit of Great Qin and live a peaceful life."

His voice was filled with longing and a touch of... expectation.

Upon hearing this, Tianming nodded as if understanding yet not fully, then asked with some worry:

"Then... then at that time, will Master Huichushou Gang help?"

"Of course." A sharp sword intent flashed in Gai Nie's eyes, and he spoke firmly, "If needed, this Yuanhong of your Master shall also, for the sake of protecting the common people of the Central Plains, cut down all enemies who dare to invade!"

Although he had long grown weary of the Jianghu's conflicts, the chivalrous heart within him had never been extinguished.