Chapter 478

Hundreds of tiny flying boats, just three or five zhang long and shaped like flying fish, flashed silver as they darted through the air at astonishing speed, truly like a school of frolicking flying fish on the sea surface.

Translation: Hundreds of small flying boats, only three or five zhang long, shaped like flying fish, their bodies flashing silver light, flying at astonishing speed, darting through the air, truly like a school of frolicking flying fish on the sea surface.

Hundreds of small flying boats, only three or five zhang long

Shaped like flying fish, their bodies flashing silver light, these small flying boats dart through the air at astonishing speed, truly like a school of frolicking flying fish on the sea surface

Each small flying boat carried seven or eight of Zhao Xiu's elite private troops, who gripped strong bows and stiff crossbows, their faces taut as they carefully watched the movements ahead.

Translation: On each small flying boat stood seven or eight elite private troops brought by Zhao Xiu, gripping strong bows and stiff crossbows, their faces taut, each carefully watching the movements ahead.

Seven or eight of Zhao Xiu's elite private troops, armed with strong bows and stiff crossbows, faces taut, each carefully watching the movements ahead

Ahead of the small flying boats, nine Spirit Warships stood in a line, Tie Chi on the bow of the central ship, his fierce gaze locked on the passing boats—clearly, to him, deliberate provocations.

Translation: Ahead of these small flying boats, nine Four Spirit Warships lined up in a row, with Tie Chi standing on the bow of the central warship, his fierce gaze fixed on the coming and going boats, which to him were clearly deliberate provocations.

Nine Four Spirit Warships lined up in a row; his fierce gaze fixed on the bow of the central warship as he watched the coming and going boats, which to him were clearly deliberate provocations

Tie Chi repeatedly clenched his fists, his joints cracking with a crack‑crack sound.

Translation: Tie Chi occasionally clenched his fists, his whole body emitting a "crack-crack" sound of joints.

crack-crack

Had it not been for the White Eagle's strict order, Tie Chi would have already commanded the Spirit Warships to attack.

Translation: If Bai Ying had not strictly forbidden it, Tie Chi would have already ordered the Four Spirit Warships to attack.

How dare the mere Zhao clan of the general's gate so brazenly provoke the dignity of the Eastern Palace?

Translation: How dare the mere Zhao clan of the general's gate so brazenly provoke the dignity of the Eastern Palace?

How dare the mere Zhao clan of the general's gate so brazenly provoke the dignity of the Eastern Palace?

Six thousand years ago, the late crown prince's Eastern Palace retinue included members of the Zhao clan.

Translation: Six thousand years ago, among the late crown prince's Eastern Palace retinue, there were also members of the Zhao clan.

In the late crown prince's Eastern Palace retinue, there were members of the Zhao clan

Back then, whether elder or family head, every member of the Zhao clan showed reverent respect to the Eastern Palace.

Translation: Back then, whether it was the Zhao clan's Elder or the family head, everyone in the clan showed reverent respect to the Eastern Palace.

Back then, whether it was the Zhao clan's Elder or the family head, everyone in the clan showed reverent respect to the Eastern Palace

Though seas have turned to fields and stars shifted, six thousand years have passed—Tie Chi still serves as the Eastern Palace's Martial Minister, while a mere young Zhao junior dares to let a bunch of petty thugs act wantonly provocative.

Translation: Though seas have turned to fields and stars shifted, six thousand years have passed; Tie Chi remains the Eastern Palace's Martial Minister as before, yet a mere young junior of the Zhao clan dares to let a bunch of petty thugs act wantonly provocative.

Though seas have turned to fields and stars shifted, six thousand years have passed; Tie Chi remains the Eastern Palace's Martial Minister as before, yet a mere young junior of the Zhao clan dares to let a bunch of petty thugs act wantonly provocative

"Back then, I'd have already smashed your Zhao clan's ancestral shrine," Tie Chi clenched his fists and shouted, "Go, play with those petty thugs!"

Translation: "Back then, I would have already led people to smash your Zhao clan's ancestral shrine." Tie Chi clenched his fists together and suddenly shouted, "Go, play with that bunch of petty thugs!"

I will smash your Zhao clan's ancestral shrine," he clenched his fists together and suddenly shouted, "Go, play with that bunch of petty thugs!"

A Spirit Warship surged ahead, an azure dragon phantom appearing above it as a great gust wrapped the ship; its massive hull turned into a straight blast of clear wind that slammed into the tiny flying boats.

Translation: One Four Spirit Warship suddenly accelerated, an azure dragon phantom appeared above it, a great gust of wind wrapped the warship, its massive hull turning into a straight blast of clear wind that slammed into those tiny flying boats.

An azure dragon phantom appeared as a great gust of wind wrapped the warship, its massive hull turning into a straight blast of clear wind that slammed into those tiny flying boats

Like a giant whale lunging at a sardine school, hundreds of flying boats fled, but the massive Spirit Warship—3,600 zhang long—outran the tiny three‑or‑five‑zhang craft, striking over a dozen of them before they could escape.

Translation: Just like a giant whale charging at a school of sardines, hundreds of flying boats scattered in flight, yet the enormous Four Spirit Warship, stretching 3,600 zhang long, moved far faster than those no longer than three or five zhang, and over a dozen flying boats couldn't escape in time, getting hit squarely by the warship.

Just like a giant whale charging at a school of sardines, hundreds of flying boats scattered in flight, yet the enormous Four Spirit Warship, stretching 3,600 zhang long, moved far faster than those no longer than three or five zhang, and over a dozen flying boats couldn't escape in time, getting hit squarely by the warship

Over a dozen flying boats were shattered on the spot, bursting into flames.

Translation: Over a dozen flying boats shattered on the spot, exploding into clusters of fire.

Dozens of Zhao family private troops were slammed into the warship's thick armor, crushed like eggs under a millstone—each breaking bones and tendons, spraying blood as they fell from the air.

Translation: Dozens of Zhao family private troops were involuntarily slammed into the warship's thick armor, crushed like eggs under a millstone, each breaking bones and tendons, spraying blood as they fell from the air.

Dozens of Zhao family private troops were involuntarily slammed into the warship's thick armor, crushed like eggs under a millstone, each breaking bones and tendons, spraying blood as they fell from the air

Several narrow flying warships about a thousand zhang long descended from the clouds; Zhao Xiu stood on the flagship's bow, suppressing his anger as he called out to Tie Chi: "Tie Chi, sir, we both belong to Great Jin…"

Translation: Several narrow flying warships about a thousand zhang long descended from distant clouds, Zhao Xiu standing on the bow of the central flagship, suppressing his anger as he loudly called to Tie Chi in the distance: "Tie Chi, sir, after all we both belong to Great Jin..."

Several narrow flying warships about a thousand zhang long descended from distant clouds, with Zhao Xiu standing on the bow of the central flagship, suppressing his anger as he loudly called to Tie Chi in the distance: "Tie Chi, sir, after all we both belong to Great Jin..."

Zhao Xiu wanted to lecture Tie Chi, saying that when facing a strong enemy we all belong to the same Great Jin lineage and should unite against it, and so on.

Translation: Zhao Xiu wanted to give Tie Chi a grand lecture, such as: when facing a strong enemy, we all belong to the same Great Jin lineage and should unite to resist it.

Zhao Xiu wanted to give Tie Chi a grand lecture, such as: when facing a strong enemy, we all belong to the same Great Jin lineage and should unite to resist it, and so on

Tie Chi laughed "ha ha", swept his hand crudely across his neck in a throat‑cut gesture, and snarled: "Kid, cut the nonsense—come half a step closer and I'll crush your balls and make you serve your master in the palace!"

Translation: Tie Chi laughed "ha ha", crudely swept his hand across, forcefully slit his own throat in a gesturing throat-cut salute: "Kid, cut the nonsense; if you dare come half a step closer, I'll crush your balls and let you serve your master in the palace!"

Tie Chi laughed "ha ha", crudely swept his hand across, forcefully slit his own throat in a gesturing throat-cut salute: "Kid, cut the nonsense; if you dare come half a step closer, I'll crush your balls and let you serve your master in the palace!"

Zhao Xiu seethed with anger but kept a blank expression as he stood silently on the bow, gazing at the round peak encircled by over a hundred waterfalls.

Translation: Zhao Xiu felt angry inside, yet kept a blank expression, silently standing at the bow, gazing far off at the round peak encircled by over a hundred waterfalls.

the round peak encircled by over a hundred waterfalls

Zhao Xiu had already contacted Long Lang and realized that this round peak was the late crown prince's mausoleum.

Translation: Zhao Xiu had already made contact with Long Lang, knowing that this round peak was the late crown prince's mausoleum from back then.

Long Lang

Long Lang

Sima Sheng

Long Lang

Now we need to add Long Lang to glossary.

Now continue.

On each small skiff, seven or eight elite private troops brought by Zhao Xiu stood, holding strong bows and stiff crossbows, faces taut, each cautiously watching the movements ahead.

Ahead of the small skiffs, nine Four Spirit Warships lined up in a row; Tie Chi stood on the bow of the central warship, his fierce gaze fixed on the coming and going vessels, which to him were clearly deliberate provocations.

Tie Chi occasionally clenched his fists, his whole body emitting a 'crack-crack' joint sound.

If it weren't for Bai Ying's strict order forbidding it, Tie Chi would have already ordered the Four Spirit Warships to attack.

How dare the mere Zhao clan of the gatehouse provoke the East Palace's majesty like this?

Six thousand years ago, among the staff of the late crown prince's Eastern Palace, there were also people of Zhao lineage.

At that time, whether the Zhao clan's Elder or patriarch, the whole household—who did not show reverence to the Eastern Palace?

The seas have turned to mulberry fields, the stars have shifted; six thousand years have passed, Tie Chi remains the Eastern Palace's martial minister of old, yet a mere young Zhao junior dares to let a bunch of petty lackeys act wantonly provocative.

"Back then, I would have already brought people to smash your Zhao clan's ancestral shrine." Tie Chi slammed his fists together, then roared: "Go, play with that bunch of lackeys!"

A Four Spirit Warship suddenly accelerated, an azure dragon phantom appeared above it, a great gust of wind wrapped the warship, and its massive hull turned into a straight blast of clear wind slamming into those small flying fish skiffs.

Just like a giant whale charging into a school of sardines, hundreds of flying fish skiffs scattered in flight, but the massive Four Spirit Warship, 3600 zhang long, was actually much faster than those skiffs only a few zhang long; over a dozen skiffs couldn't escape in time and were hit squarely by the warship.

Over a dozen flying fish skiffs were shattered on the spot, exploding into balls of fire.

Dozens of Zhao family private troops were involuntarily slammed into the heavy armor plating of the Four Spirit Warship, like eggs under a millstone being crushed, each with broken bones and torn tendons, blood spraying from their bodies as they fell from the sky.

Several narrow, thousand-zhang-long flying fish warships descended from distant clouds; Zhao Xiu stood on the bow of the central flagship, suppressing his anger as he loudly called out to Tie Chi in the distance: "Tie Chi, we ultimately belong to the same Great Jin..."

Zhao Xiu wanted to give Tie Chi a grand lecture, like when facing a strong enemy, we all belong to the same Great Jin lineage and should unite to resist the strong enemy, etc.

Tie Chi laughed 'hahaha', crudely swept his hand across, forcefully made a slicing motion across his own neck, gesturing a throat-cut: 'Kid, cut the nonsense; if you dare come half a step closer, I'll crush your balls and let you serve your master in the palace!'

Zhao Xiu was furious inside, yet kept a blank expression, silently standing on the bow, gazing far at the round peak encircled by over a hundred waterfalls.

Zhao Xiu had already made contact with Long Lang, knowing that this round peak was the mausoleum of the late crown prince.

Back then, Sima Sheng unknown how many treasures he took from the Great Jin Divine Kingdom; heaven knows how many rare items are buried in his tomb. Zhao Xiu looked at that round peak and only felt his heart throb.

If his strength were sufficient, he truly wanted to lead troops up and seize that round peak, occupying the late crown prince's mausoleum.

A heaven‑rewarding merit lies before him; if he could seize the late crown prince's mausoleum… how much reward would the current Great Jin Divine Emperor give Zhao Xiu?

Thinking of the various possibilities, Zhao Xiu couldn't help but tremble slightly all over.

But looking at those nine Four Spirit Warships, Zhao Xiu forcibly suppressed his urge.

Just those nine Four Spirit Warships alone—never mind the dozens of Zhao flying fish warships Zhao Xiu brought, even if you added the thousands of varying-quality warships under Wu Tie's command, they'd still not be a match.

"Old thief!" Zhao Xiu cursed fiercely in his heart.

Beside the round peak stood an altar; Bai Ying and Zhu Ji, accompanied by Su He and the rest of the Eastern Palace retinue, were burning incense and paper, offering three animal sacrifices, kowtowing to ask forgiveness from the mausoleum of the late crown prince within the round peak.

Here, it will become the head‑on battlefield where Great Jin and Great Wu clash.

Unlike the Three Kingdoms battlefield that has settled into a fixed offensive‑defensive stance, this is a barbaric, newly opened battlefield; no one can estimate the scale of this war, nor how many weapons each side will commit, nor how many killing tricks they will employ.

In short, mountains within tens of thousands of li radius could all be flattened.

Placing the late crown prince's mausoleum here is like putting a big slab of fat meat before two ferocious tigers; if the mausoleum isn't moved, both Great Jin and Great Wu will likely rush to attack it first.

Zhao Xiu watched, his eyes spitting fire, his breathing becoming hurried.

Near the round peak, over a hundred waterfalls like giant dragons suddenly surged violently; the waterfalls falling from hundreds of li high were like mad white dragons, suddenly rolling upward, howling as they shot straight into the sky.

The void within tens of thousands of li trembled; the heavenly‑earthly primal energy surged violently; in the high sky a huge primal‑energy vortex slowly appeared, rings of seven‑colored rosy light wrapping thin clouds spewed out from the vortex, quickly drawing out spiral smoke rings.

Around the round peak burst dazzling spiritual light, almost condensing into substantive spiritual mist that blew out with a 'whoosh'.

On the round peak, countless extremely ancient, enormous precious divine medicines simultaneously withered, shrank, and turned into fine dust that drifted away.

The massive medicinal power was completely absorbed by the round peak; the ancient, variegated archway on the peak shot out heavenly‑reaching rosy light, then came a thunderous boom; within tens of thousands of li, countless screen‑shaped mountains hundreds of li high collapsed, unknown how many.

The round peak—its connection to the earth veins severed by a terrifying force—the huge round peak floated up slowly, surrounded by spiritual light.

Bai Ying and Zhu Ji simultaneously chanted incantations, forming hand seals, continuously pouring sigils into the round peak. The massive round peak emitted dazzling light all over, then began to slowly shrink.

Zhao Xiu clenched his fists.

Bai Ying and Zhu Ji are intending to completely move the entire mausoleum.

To avoid disturbing the late crown prince within the mausoleum, they chose to use heaven‑defying means, packing up and carrying away the entire mountain where the mausoleum lies!

Zhao Xiu's body leaned slightly forward; he gritted his teeth, suppressing the urge to order a charge to seize the late crown prince's mausoleum.

Tie Chi commanded the nine Four Spirit Warships to slowly advance; Tie Chi now wore a set of Heavenly Stars Battle Armor, and he shouted sternly: 'Zhao brat, get out of the way; if you dare poke your head here again, don't blame me for disregarding the old friendship with your grandmother—I'll finish you on the spot!'

Zhao Xiu was so angry his eyes twitched; he almost jumped up and cursed loudly.

What does 'the old friendship with your grandmother' mean? Six thousand years ago, Zhao Xiu's paternal grandmother wasn't even born… Tie Chi's insult is just that of an old scoundrel, a foul‑mouthed old rascal!

"Tie Chi, you, you, you stop spouting nonsense!" Zhao Xiu roared in extreme anger.

"I'll just spout nonsense—what can you do about it?" Tie Chi waved his hand; the nine Four Spirit Warships quickly took up positions in the Nine Palaces formation, and on each side huge flame wings condensed out of thin air, the temperature in the void rising linearly.

"Get lost, or fight me!" Tie Chi threatened Zhao Xiu while quickly glancing into the distance.

Further off, a lone skiff hovered in mid‑air; Wu Tie and Pei Feng stood shoulder‑to‑shoulder on the bow, gazing far toward the round peak.

Unlike Zhao Xiu, Wu Tie only brought a civilian transport vessel, just over twenty zhang long, basically no combat power, not even a threat. Moreover, besides a few crew handling operations, only Wu Tie and Pei Feng were aboard.

Tie Chi also didn't regard Wu Tie as anything; most of his attention was on Zhao Xiu.

Zhao Xiu gripped his fists tightly, watching the approaching Four Spirit Warships draw nearer; he turned his head toward the deckhouse of his flagship.

The deckhouse hatch opened, and several old men walked out.

Eight old men; six wore heavy armor, holding heavy polearms like spears and halberds; the other two had handsome faces, wore long robes, tall caps, and were faintly surrounded by a layer of spiritual light.

The eight old men slowly approached Zhao Xiu; a red‑faced old man in heavy armor planted his spear beside him, stepped forward, and clasped his hands toward Tie Chi: 'Tie Chi, it's been six thousand years; you're still as ginger‑sharp—old but ever more pungent… but the Great Jin now is not the Great Jin of old, nor the Eastern Palace… hey!'

Tie Chi widened his eyes, looking at the red‑faced old man, and said coldly: 'I was wondering who it was—Zhao Tie Gu? Tsk tsk, back then you were my deputy; look at you, all sleek and oily—weren't you purged as an Eastern Palace faction?'

The red‑faced old man Zhao Tie Gu gave a faint smile: 'I am loyal to the present ruler.'

Tie Chi, while slowly driving the Four Spirit Warships nearer, spat a mouthful of phlegm: 'Hah, you claim loyalty to the current emperor? Heh, you forget that back when you were part of the Eastern Palace, you once competed on the drill field and broke the leg of his lackey.'

Shaking his head, Tie Chi said coldly: 'How much money did your Zhao family spend just to keep you alive?'

Zhao Tiegu smiled and shook his head: "This must not be spoken of to others, hehe. But Sir Tie, you—turning back is the shore!"

Before Tie Chi could speak, Zhao Tiegu shouted: "The present Divine Emperor has issued an edict: if Sir Tie you can repent from your wrong path, His Majesty will not begrudge bestowing a princely title… Sir Tie, you not only think of your own future, but also consider your descendants!"

Tie Chi slowly raised his right hand, then clenched his fist and thrust forward forcefully: "Ram into them, smash them!"

The nine Four Spirit Warships accelerated simultaneously, kicking up a raging gale as they rammed into the warship where Zhao Xiu and the others were stationed.

The Flying Fish Warship custom-built for the Zhao private army is inherently known for its speed.

But facing the Four Spirit Warship, the sleek, swift Flying Fish Warship became as slow as a snail. The Four Spirit Warship rammed head-on, and the flagship where Zhao Xiu and the others were, accompanied by a tremendous crash, was smashed to pieces.

Zhao Tiegu roared in anger, waving his spear with both hands, and fiercely chopped down at the Four Spirit Warship where Tie Chi was.

The spear elongated to a thousand feet, bringing down a massive arc of cold light heavily.

With a tremendous bang, the spear broke into several sections, and the huge dragon head of the Four Spirit Warship slammed hard into Zhao Tiegu's body; even Wu Tie far away heard the thunderous crack of his bones breaking.

Zhao Tiegu spat blood mouthful after mouthful, his body swayed, and he stomped his right foot heavily on the dragon head of the Four Spirit Warship, about to push off and flee, when Tie Chi let out a great shout, suddenly drew a long blade, stepped forward in one motion, and heavily chopped at Zhao Tiegu's neck.

Zhao Tiegu, terrified out of his wits, let out a loud shout; a golden rope flew from the hand of another Zhao Elder, swiftly wrapping around his waist and yanking him backward in retreat.

Tie Chi's blade slashed diagonally across Zhao Tiegu's chest, leaving a gruesome wound that cut straight to his entrails.

Zhao Tiegu roared, blood spraying, and with his extraordinary ferocity he somehow produced a meteor hammer the size of a fist, shaking his hand to hurl it at Tie Chi.

As soon as the meteor hammer left his hand, it burst forth with sheets of electric fire, accompanied by a low thunderous roar, transforming into a streaming bolt that shot down swiftly.

Tie Chi let out a strange cry, his body swayed slightly, and the meteor hammer struck his shoulder heavily.

The shoulder guard of the Heavenly Stars Armor exploded with a blaze of light.

The meteor hammer shattered to pieces; Tie Chi shook his shoulder and gave a heh-heh laugh: "Zhao Tiegu, is that all you've got? Back then you could only be my lieutenant."

Zhao Tiegu was dragged backward by the golden rope, staring fixedly at Tie Chi, letting blood flow all over his body.

Wu Tie watched the desperate battle between Tie Chi and Zhao Tiegu, when suddenly he heard the distant booming of war drums coming from the direction of the traveling palace.

Flames shot up into the sky, vast tracts of forest ignited in a short time, and the bamboo groves for tens of thousands of li outside the traveling palace were instantly engulfed in towering infernos. In the high sky, fire meteors tens of zhang in diameter fell one after another, slamming heavily into the ground and erupting in terrifying booms.

Clusters of firelight exploded, and countless pandas with some cultivation fled in disarray through the bamboo grove, shielding their young as they ran toward the traveling palace.

The war drums thundered so loudly they shook heaven and earth, making the mountains tremble.

Vast masses of warships, dark as storm clouds, surged forward like a tsunami; countless spellcasters stood at the bows, jointly casting the Meteor Heaven-Fall technique, as fire meteors rained down like a downpour, hysterically destroying everything outside the traveling palace.

A corner of the Myriad Dragon Palace emerged in the void, with countless bronze divine chains rolling and weaving through the void, seeking to suppress the falling fire meteors.

A huge black cauldron, three-legged and two-eared, with no ornamentation on its surface, shot out of the void and slammed heavily onto the Myriad Dragon Palace. With a tremendous bang, rings of fiery explosions spread outward, layers of earth were overturned, countless forests were utterly pulverized, the land within a thousand li sank down, forming a gigantic circular pit.

A middle-aged man clad head-to-toe in black armor, his long beard reaching his lower abdomen, stood in the void, his right hand supporting the towering black cauldron that rose several li high, his face bearing an undisguised look of ecstatic joy.

"What the Crown Prince said was true—indeed, the Myriad Dragon Palace has no master!"

"Hahaha, such a generous gift—I shall shamelessly accept it!"

The vanguard of the Great Martial God State that conquered the Jin army has arrived.

Shockingly, within the army there is a Great Martial Prince who wields a national divine artifact of the same rank as the Myriad Dragon Palace!