Chapter 352: Zhao Yun, General Skills

"General Skill, Flame Dragon!"

"General Skill, Blazing Slash!"

"General Skill, Flying Knife!"

At the Jinling Hall, in the small courtyard, rocks flew chaotically.

Zhang Xingyu's body was like a flood dragon, his hands like lightning, and he unleashed the General Skills one after another.

These General Skills were personally taught to him by his idol, the divine general Zhao Yun.

One splash of urine, one fish, secured the Wu–Shu Alliance.

As the great contributor to the alliance, Zhao Yun's favor toward Zhang Xingyu rose directly to an intimate level.

Thus, drawing on his past‑life experience playing a Three Kingdoms online game, Zhang Xingyu tentatively asked his idol Zhao Yun to teach him martial arts.

In Zhang Xingyu's expectant gaze, Zhao Yun nodded in agreement.

After Zhang Xingyu unleashed a series of General Skills, not a drop of spiritual energy remained in his body.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and, with a smug grin, asked the Zhao beside him, "Brother Zhao, this combo of General Skills is impressive, right?"

Zhao Yun glanced at the ruined artificial hill in the courtyard, then at the angry embassy attendant, gritted his teeth and forced out two words: "You pay."

An idol is an idol; always sparing words like gold.

Zhang Xingyu nodded, reached into his storage ring and pulled out a handful of soul coins.

Just then, a faint voice came from the side room: "Water!"

It was Ha Li's voice.

Zhang Xingyu rejoiced at the news. That brat Ha Li finally woke up.

He slipped the soul coins into the attendant's bosom, then hurried into the room.

Inside the room, on the large bed.

The demon king Ha Li still kept her eyes closed.

Her complexion remained pale, but her aura had grown much stronger.

"Water!" Ha Li's voice was like a mosquito.

Zhang Xingyu quickly retrieved a water flask and cup from his storage ring.

Overly excited, his hands trembled slightly, and the flask and cup clinked together, producing a crisp "ding-ding-ding-ding-ding".

Zhang Xingyu took a sip and gently brought it to Ha Li's lips.

Their lips lightly overlapped.

By now, he was already very proficient at this way of feeding water.

Ha Li drank, and her long eyelashes fluttered softly.

Zhang Xingyu sat at the bedside, gently holding Ha Li's jade hand, muttering nonstop, "Awake, awake, you should be awake. You've slept so long; if you keep sleeping, you'll become a lazy brat."

"Cough, cough!"

Ha Li suddenly let out a light cough.

A moment later, her eyes finally opened slowly.

"Great! You're finally awake," Zhang Xingyu shouted, gripping Ha Li's hand.

Three days later.

Outside Jianye City, by the Yinquan River, a nine‑story platform was erected.

This platform served as the oath platform for the Wu–Shu alliance.

On the oath platform, banners fluttered.

Representatives of the two nations ascended the steps to take the oath.

Zhou Yu stood on the left, Zhuge Buliang on the right.

The two walked onto the platform together; under the host Jizhou's supervision, they burned incense, swore an oath, formed an alliance, and vowed to defeat Cao Cao.

After completing the three major procedures—praying to the heavens, swearing to the sky, and exchanging covenants—the Wu–Shu alliance was declared formed.

The charismatic Zhou Yu, overwhelmed with emotion, tightly embraced Zhuge Buliang on the oath platform.

The onlookers below clapped and celebrated, and even the usually stoic Zhao Yun shared a heartfelt hug with several Wu generals.

Zhang Xingyu could no longer tolerate this Netherworld celebration style; he bolted, ready to make a run for it.

However, before his legs could move, a sudden gale rose on the Yinquan River, waves roiling and towering.

Immediately, a monster several zhang tall burst out of the river.

It possessed nine snake heads, four sharp claws, and a slender body covered in ink‑black scales.

A chilling aura emanated from the beast, black mist swirling around it, and eighteen lantern‑like red eyes glowed terrifyingly within the gloom.

Netherworld Nine‑Headed Serpent.

One of the Netherworld's most terrifying great demons; legend says it formed when the shadow souls of nine ferocious snake heads devoured each other and fused.

The Netherworld Nine‑Headed Serpent voraciously consumes souls; a single one can devour one hundred thousand at once.

By the Yinquan River, the spectators exchanged bewildered looks.

A moment later, someone shouted, "Run, the river demon is coming!"

Thus, officials, soldiers, and civilians all fled at a sprint, fearing that a single step later they'd become food in the serpent's belly.

Zhang Xingyu did not move.

Beside him stood the divine general Zhao Yun, while rows of Wu generals faced them. The Wu generals remained composed, and Zhao Yun wore an indifferent expression.

Zhang Xingyu originally wanted to run, but thinking of so many masters present, he figured that the Netherworld Nine‑Headed Serpent wouldn't be able to stir up much of a wave.

Moreover, as a representative of Shu in the alliance, he could not afford to lose face.

Thus, he forced himself to appear calm, even suppressing his heart that pounded like a drum.

On the oath platform, Zhou Yu brushed his smooth chin, Zhuge Bu Liang shook the feather fan in his hand, and the two exchanged a smile.

"Honorable junior, you come!"

"Brother, you invite!"

The two exchanged courtesies, and then Zhou Yu addressed the Netherdark Nine-Headed Serpent.

"All who come from afar are guests. I have long heard that Guo Jia Guo Zixiao, the Wei state's foremost minister, excels at beast taming. Seeing you today, indeed you are extraordinary. Since Brother Zixiao is here, why not step onto the platform for a chat."

"Hahaha, people say Zhou Yu, Zhou Gongjin, is clever and wise, but seeing you today, you are merely a name without substance. Haha, haha......"

Zhang Xingyu followed the sound and only then noticed that on one head of the Netherdark Nine-Headed Serpent, a handsome white‑robed youth was sitting cross‑legged.

The youth pointed at Zhou Yu and laughed wildly, "Hahaha."

Zhou Yu's pale face turned crimson. At that moment, he realized he had spoken incorrectly.

The youth on the Netherdark Nine-Headed Serpent looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, so he could not possibly be the world‑famous Guo Jia Guo Zixiao.

The youth smiled for a moment, then stood and cupped his hands toward Zhou Yu, saying, "Let Governor Zhou know, I am but an unknown foot soldier of Wei. Today, by order of the Wei King, I have come to present tribute to the King of Wu."

"Tribute?" Zhou Yu's face showed puzzlement.

"Indeed, tribute. Our great Wei is willing to offer five thousand li of land upstream of the Yinquan River as tribute," the youth said.

"Five thousand li of land upstream of the Yinquan River—that is the Jingzhou and Yuzhou of Shu State, isn't it? So you are here to undermine our Wu–Shu alliance," Zhou Yu's eyes flashed with keen light.

"Exactly. As long as Wu remains neutral, you need not spend a single soldier, and you will gain an additional five thousand li of territory," the youth replied.

"What a load of crap!" Hearing the youth's words, the usually refined Zhuge Bu Liang also let out a profanity.

He pointed his feather fan at Zhao Yun and said, "General Zhao, go confront him."

"Understood!"

Zhao Yun accepted the order. His silver spear buzzed, and he surged from the riverbank toward the youth.

"Martial skill, Flame Dragon!"

"Martial skill, Blazing Flame Slash!"

"Martial skill, Flying Knife Control!"

These martial skills, unleashed by Zhao Yun, were naturally ten times more powerful than Zhang Xingyu's.

A fire dragon ten zhang long, a flame blade five zhang long, and a silver‑glinting flying knife.

They flew successively from Zhao Yun's hands, bearing a terrifying whooshing sound as they rushed toward the Netherdark Nine-Headed Serpent.

Seeing Zhao Yun's attack, the youth atop the serpent's head remained unhurried.

He let out a clear shout, "Martial skill, Netherdark Ghost Shield!"

As soon as his words ended, massive black shields rose on all sides, completely shielding the Netherdark Nine-Headed Serpent.

Boom— Boom— Boom!

The three martial skills Zhao Yun unleashed struck the Netherdark Ghost Shield, producing earth‑shaking booms.

In an instant, the fire dragon, flame blade, and silver flying knife were all shattered.

At the same time, the pitch‑black Netherdark Ghost Shield emitted three crisp sounds.

Zhao Yun and the youth felt a sudden jolt in their hearts simultaneously.

Zhao Yun looked at the youth: "Young man, your martial arts are impressive!"

The youth looked at Zhao Yun: "Uncle, your martial arts are also impressive!"