Chapter 365

However, facing this heaven‑shattering, earth‑destroying power, compared to Lü Bu enhanced by Zhao Kuangyin, Ran Min ultimately was still one move behind.

His strength was great, but before Lü Bu's god‑like combat power, it still seemed somewhat inadequate.

At the instant when their powers peaked in their showdown, Ran Min's body trembled slightly, revealing a flaw.

Lü Bu keenly seized that moment, flickering into view before Ran Min like a ghost, his Heaven-Painting Halberd thrusting with a fierce wind straight at Ran Min's chest.

Although Ran Min reacted swiftly, in that flash of lightning he still could not fully dodge Lü Bu's attack.

"Pfft!" a soft sound rang out as the Heaven-Painting Halberd pierced Ran Min's shoulder, instantly staining his battle robe red with blood.

Ran Min grunted, recoiling several steps, his face darkening.

"General Ran Min!"

Wei Qing, watching from afar, narrowed his eyes at the sight, then gave a slight nod to Li Xinnan and Wu Dongshan before the Feather Forest Army's ranks, signaling them to lend aid.

Li Xinnan and Wu Dongshan before the ranks had the same idea; at the moment Wei Qing signaled, they both drew the Flaming Bow and Wind Hawk Crossbow from beside their warhorses.

Li Xinnan gripped the Flaming Bow, Wu Dongshan tightly held the Wind Hawk Crossbow, and together they stirred their gangqi, aiming their arrows at Lü Bu.

The crimson gangqi on the Flaming Bow blazed like roaring flames, while the gangqi on the Wind Hawk Crossbow whirled like a howling gale; the two powerful forces surged toward Lü Bu at once.

Lü Bu felt the fierce attack from behind, yet he did not panic.

He flickered aside with inconceivable speed, evading the Flaming Bow and Wind Hawk Crossbow's strikes.

He meanwhile snatched the Dragon Tongue Bow from beside his warhorse, nocked an arrow, his whole body surging with black‑red gangqi, and loosed two arrows in quick succession at Li Xinnan and Wu Dongshan.

「Ding! Lü Bu's Tiger Vigor skill effect four activated! 」

When using a bow and arrow, Lü Bu's martial force gains an extra +1, his accuracy greatly increases, and while using a bow and arrow he suppresses the opponent by 1–5 points of martial force.

Lü Bu's current martial force has risen to 134!

"Careful!"

Wei Qing shouted loudly, but it was already too late.

Li Xinnan and Wu Dongshan tried their best to dodge, but facing Lü Bu whose combat power was already about to surge to the extreme.

After all, they were merely two divine generals; even if Li Xinnan could be said to be no weaker than a minor war god with a base martial force of 106.

But the Lü Bu they faced now was no mere beginner war god like Gongsun Yang, let alone that his martial force had already surged to its peak.

Without having unleashed their ultimate skills, facing Lü Bu's martial force of up to 134 was still somewhat difficult for them.

Both let out a muffled grunt; Li Xinnan's body swayed slightly, yet he managed to catch Lü Bu's arrow intact.

But Wu Dongshan wasn't so lucky—he was blasted off his horse by a single arrow from Lü Bu!

"Hahaha!"

Lü Bu burst into laughter: "You filthy little fish and shrimp dare to be my enemies? You truly overestimate yourselves!"

Having said that, he swung his Heaven-Painting Halberd again and charged at Ran Min, who, although now at a disadvantage, still bore several wounds on his body.

But facing Lü Bu, he stubbornly held his ground, gripping his double‑bladed spear, ready to meet Lü Bu's next assault.

However, it was clear his movements had become much slower; against Lü Bu's storm‑like onslaught, he began to feel overtaxed.

"Clang!"

The Heaven-Painting Halberd struck Ran Min's weapon again, the immense force numbing both of his arms.

He staggered backward, his expression shifting, his eyes growing increasingly fierce.

"Hmph! You're really tenacious!"

"But it's a shame—you're not my match!"

Lü Bu gave a cold snort.

Having said that, he swung his halberd again to cleave at Ran Min.

This attack was many times fiercer than any before!

"Alas, please, all five of you, lend me your aid!"

Seeing Ran Min reduced to that state, he still refused to yield, wanting to keep fighting.

Wei Qing before the Feather Forest Army ranks let out a faint sigh—how could he, who had known Ran Min for so long, fail to understand him?

He also realized that if this continued, Ran Min would soon have to resort to his life‑risking technique.

At this point Wei Qing no longer worried about martial virtue or whether it would weaken his aura.

First, drag this stubborn ox back, then we'll talk!

The five stepped forward together, their five‑element powers converging, as if they sought to overturn this very heaven and earth.

Yet, facing the five charging at him on variously colored warhorses, Lü Bu showed no great alarm.

He gave a cold smile, a flicker of contempt and provocation flashing in his eyes.

"Hmph, is this what you call reinforcements?"

Lü Bu glanced at the Five-Element Armor, his Heaven-Painting Halberd tracing an elegant arc in the air, and said, "Let me see what's so special about you five, who almost left General Gongsun on the battlefield, you worthless rabble!"

No sooner had his words fallen than Lü Bu swung his Heaven-Painting Halberd and charged at the Five-Element Armor.

His movements were as fast as lightning, dazzling to behold.

Li Xinnan took the brunt, waving his Flaming Blade to meet Lü Bu's attack.

The crimson‑flame gangqi on the Flaming Blade clashed violently with Lü Bu's Heaven-Painting Halberd, producing a deafening roar.

Yet Li Xinnan felt a tremendous recoil, forcing him to step back involuntarily.

"Hmph, not bad."

Lü Bu gave a cold chuckle, flickered past Li Xinnan, and turned his assault on the other four.

Wu Dongshan immediately brandished his Wind Hawk Sword to rush forward and assist; his swordplay was as agile as the wind, elusive and hard to read.

Yet Lü Bu, as if able to see through all illusion, easily dodged his attack.

Bei Miao, Kun Zhong, and Xi Zhao also launched attacks on Lü Bu, but each of their strikes was neutralized by him one by one.

"Ding! Currently in a group battle, Lü Bu's skill Tiger Vigor effect three activates, martial power +2."

"Effect two additionally activates once, martial power again +3."

"Currently Lü Bu's martial power rises to 138!"

"The whole battlefield seemed to become a contest between Lü Bu and the Five Elements Armor, with both sides going back and forth, the fight indecisive."

"Ding! "Ding! Currently the Five Elements Armor are on the same battlefield, fighting side by side, combo skill Heaven and Earth Five Elements activates!"

"Heaven and Earth Five Elements: exclusive combo skill for the owners of the Five Elements Armor; only when three or more owners of the Five Elements Armor are on the same battlefield and fighting side by side can it be activated."

"Ding! Currently five Five Elements Armor are present at the same time, total martial power +4"

"Xi Zhao's base martial power 104, weapon and warhorse +2, Five Elements skill +4+4+1, Thunderbolt skill +6, Heaven and Earth Five Elements +4, current martial power rises to 125!"

"Li Xin Nan's base martial power 105, weapon and warhorse +2, Five Elements skill +4+4+1, Seal Demon skill +8, Heaven and Earth Five Elements +4, current martial power rises to 128!"

"Bei Miao's martial power +4, current martial power rises to 122!"

"Kun Zhong's martial power +4, current martial power rises to 121!"

"Wu Dong Shan's martial power +4, current martial power rises to 121!"

"Ding! Heaven and Earth Five Elements effect two activates!"

"Five Elements Cycle, when more than three of the Five Elements Armor join forces against an enemy, depending on the enemy's strength, they can suppress the enemy by 1 to 6 points of martial power."

"Currently reduces Lü Bu's martial power by 4 points, currently Lü Bu's martial power drops to 134!"

(End of chapter)