Chapter 348

Northern Frontier of Liang Guo.

Outside Pingyao City.

The sound of drums shook the heavens.

On the plains outside the city, the Liang Guo Northern Defense Army and the Han Guo army were engaged in battle, the ground littered with the corpses of Liang Guo martial artists.

After several months of war, both sides had lost the patience for probing.

The battle situation over the last three days had been extremely tragic.

Xiao Yaojin's armor was stained with blood; holding a long spear, he pierced the chest of a Han Guo martial artist. But before he could withdraw the spear, a cold light flashed from the right. Xiao Yaojin leaned back, the cold light grazing his chest and leaving a blade mark on his armor.

Taking advantage of the moment the opponent's long saber had been swung and not yet retracted, Xiao Yaojin withdrew his spear, the tip sweeping across like a dragon, piercing the opponent's throat with a single thrust.

A kill with one strike, yet Xiao Yaojin's expression remained unchanged. Since the war with Han Guo began, this was already the tenth time he had appeared on the battlefield. As the young marquis of the Northern Defense Marquis, he naturally could not hide inside the city.

The Xiao family's ability to command such prestige within the Northern Defense Army was precisely because they led by example.

His eldest uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle...

All sacrificed themselves in the battles against the Northern Frontier demon race years ago. With his father, as the new Northern Defense Marquis, having to command from the center, only he, the son, could go to the battlefield.

On the walls of Pingyao City, Northern Defense Marquis Xiao Pingyao and three elders stared at the battlefield. Beside them were dozens of middle-aged men; these were mid-tier martial artists, ready to support the battlefield at any time.

Bang!

Xiao Yaojin killed his way to the rear, his eyes bloodshot, his long spear thrusting continuously. Together with other martial artists, they forcibly tore open the left flank of the Han Guo army. The Han Guo martial artist formation was broken, and they fled in a frenzy. Xiao Yaojin was just about to raise his spear to pursue when, at that moment, several figures arrived together from the northwest.

"Yo, what a coincidence, to actually catch up with a battle between two armies. But this scale is a bit too stingy."

A contemptuous voice spread across the entire battlefield. At the same time, a majestic voice resounded: "All stop."

The voice was loud and clear. Xiao Yaojin felt the long spear in his hand tremble, and the other companions around him were the same. This scene caused the eyes of all of them to fill with shock as they looked toward the people arriving from the northwest.

On the city wall, Xiao Pingyao also noticed the several figures arriving from the northwest. After that majestic voice arrived, the elders beside him felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy, their gazes fixed on one of the middle-aged men.

There were six of them in total, all riding mounts that were entirely snow-white and somewhat similar to horses. The middle-aged man who had just spoken was wearing a brocade robe with mysterious patterns, leading the way.

However, after a brief, eerie stagnation on the battlefield, the martial artists of both sides clashed again.

Both sides were bloodshot and had not heard the drums change, so naturally, they would not stop there.

"Bastards, this seat told you to stop!"

The majestic voice resounded once more. After the middle-aged man's angry shout this time, a terrifying aura radiated from his body, like a raging sea covering everything. The ice blades in the hands of thousands of martial artists on the battlefield trembled in unison.

And this was not the end; the middle-aged man flicked his finger, and it actually turned into a sword Qi that slashed at the front line where the two armies were engaged.

Hundreds of martial artists from both countries had not yet had time to separate and retreat before they were shredded by the sword Qi, flesh and blood flying everywhere, wails filling the air.

Seeing this scene, Xiao Yaojin's pupils contracted, and at this moment, Xiao Pingyao on the city wall had a gloomy face, his eyes almost spitting fire.

"Marquis, do not be impulsive."

An elder beside him reminded him in a low voice: "The origins of these people are likely extraordinary, and their strength is also mind-boggling."

The elder was a First-Rank martial artist, but facing that middle-aged man, he felt a crisis, especially since among the six of them, although there were three young people, there were two other middle-aged martial artists dressed the same as this middle-aged man.

"This marquis understands."

Xiao Pingyao forcibly suppressed his anger. He was now the Northern Defense Marquis; every move he made concerned the life and death of tens of thousands of Northern Defense troops. The origins of these people were unknown, and their strength was shockingly powerful. For the safety of the Northern Defense Army, he had to be cautious.

"We have come from the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao. This seat does not care what grudges you have; both sides must withdraw their troops, and the person in charge must come out to see us."

The middle-aged man stopped the battle between the two countries with a single gesture, as if he had done a trivial thing, his expression unchanged. But this next sentence caused the faces of Xiao Pingyao and the elders to change drastically.

People from the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao!

"Han Guo's Lu Lishin greets the distinguished envoys."

Before Xiao Pingyao could make a move, four elders' figures flew out from the Han Guo army side, appearing in the center of the battlefield for the first time. Not caring at all about the face of a First-Rank martial artist, they actually bowed and bent their waists to the middle-aged man's group in front of the martial artists of both armies.

"Marquis."

The elder reminded Xiao Pingyao. Xiao Pingyao nodded, and his figure also left the city wall, heading straight for the center of the battle with the three elders.

"Liang Guo's Xiao Pingyao greets you, my lords."

Xiao Pingyao cupped his hands in salute. However, a young man from the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao saw that Xiao Pingyao only cupped his hands and immediately snorted: "A martial artist from a mere island land, so rude, deserves to be punished."

After the young man finished speaking, he struck out with a palm, actually causing wind and thunder to rumble. However, Xiao Pingyao and the other three, apart from their clothes being blown, remained completely unchanged.

This scene made the young man's face turn ugly instantly.

The Northern Defense Army on the battlefield, seeing someone move against the Marquis, now turned their gazes toward this side.

"This old man, on behalf of my Liang Guo, expresses welcome to the arrival of you, my lords."

Finally, an elder standing beside Xiao Pingyao bowed and saluted toward the group.

The Marquis could not bow, because the Marquis was the heart of the Northern Defense Army. Unlike the four First-Rank martial artists of Han Guo, these four First-Rank martial artists did not lead armies in their daily lives and could not affect the morale of the army.

Liang Guo was currently facing Han Guo and Zheng Guo; if they offended the forces from the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao as well, they would be in a difficult situation, and it was even truly possible they would face the disaster of national extinction.

The Marquis could not lower his head, but he could.

"Hmph."

The young man saw the old man lower his head and snorted again, somewhat unwillingly, but in the end, he did not say anything more.

"This seat does not care how many countries there are on this island of yours, or what grudges you have. According to the rules promulgated by the Yan Yan Huang Chao, if martial arts lands as desolate as yours do not meet the required martial arts strength, this seat will report it to the Yan Yan Huang Chao. Now, this seat wants you to notify all the monarchs on this island to come for an audience."

The middle-aged man who had struck earlier spoke coldly. Hearing this, Lu Lishin immediately replied: "The request of the distinguished envoys will certainly be cooperated with by our Han Guo. Why don't the distinguished envoys head to our Han Guo capital? Our Han Guo is the number one strongest country among the Nine Nations. At that time, the distinguished envoys can summon the monarchs of the Nine Nations in our Han Guo." Hearing Lu Lishin's words, the faces of Xiao Pingyao and the others changed instantly, yet the middle-aged man had already agreed: "Very well."

"Distinguished envoys, please!"

Lu Lishin heard the other party agree and was also full of smiles. As for the battle between Liang Guo and Han Guo, it was no longer important.

The entry of the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao's forces into the Nine Nations would surely rewrite the outcome of the Nine Nations.

Liang Guo could not see this point, but he saw it very clearly.

The strength of the Nine Nations simply could not be mentioned in the same breath as the strength of the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao. Just from the strength this person revealed, he could change the outcome of the battlefield, not to mention that there were two other such powerhouses.

Han Guo withdrew its troops and left with the people from the Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao.

"Marquis, this matter must be transmitted back to the imperial court at the first opportunity."

"I will write a letter right now and send it to the capital at the first opportunity."

Xiao Pingyao nodded. He also knew that the most important thing right now was not the battle with Han Guo, but these suddenly appearing Yan Yan Yan Huang Chao martial artists.

Poyang County.

Lin Chen followed his teacher back to Poyang County.

"Village Chief, Lin Chen is back!"

Zhao Canghu was lying under the big tree in the village to cool off. Hearing the villagers' shouts, his old eyes opened, somewhat dazed. Lin Chen is back?

"Ouch, the coffin I entrusted the coffin shop to make hasn't been finished yet, and he's back so soon?"

"Coffin?"

Xu's eldest son heard his village chief's words and was full of confusion. What does Lin Chen coming back have to do with making a coffin?

Could it be that the village chief not only wants to sell grave sites but is now so insane that he wants to sell coffins to those powerful and wealthy people too?

"Who sent Lin Chen back?"

"No one sent him; Lin Chen came back alone. He just entered the village entrance."

"Alone?"

The expression on Zhao Canghu's old face changed from dazed to confused, and finally turned into ecstasy: "You mean Lin Chen is still alive?"

"Alive, yes. Village Chief, what's wrong with you today?"

Xu's eldest son was a bit baffled by his village chief's words. Isn't Lin Chen alive and well? Could it be that a corpse came back by itself?

"Quick, quick, help me... forget it, I'll walk myself. You go call your second brother and go clean the ancestral hall."

"Need to offer sacrifices to ancestors?"

Xu's eldest son was even more bewildered. Every time Lin Chen comes back, the village chief has to offer sacrifices to ancestors. Is this behavior too ugly? The empty land in the village is almost full of graves.

"I told you to go call him, so go! Why so much nonsense? The ancestors have manifested their spirits to protect Lin Chen's safety, so of course we must offer sacrifices."

Zhao Canghu's old eyes glared, and Xu's eldest son dared not ask more, running off to notify his second brother.

Every time Lin Chen comes back, his second brother has to be busy for quite a while.

At the village entrance, Lin Chen greeted the villagers with a smile, while his teacher returned to the Lakeside Villa by himself.

Soon, Lin Chen also saw the old village chief walking over in a hurry.

"You're back. It's good that you're back."

When he saw Lin Chen truly standing in front of him intact, Zhao Canghu's eyes were slightly red. These days, ever since he learned that Lin Chen's life or death was uncertain, he had also secretly cried for quite a while and didn't dare tell Lin Chen's father and mother the news.

"Yes, I've made the village chief worry about me."

Lin Chen stepped forward to support the old village chief. On the way back, his teacher also told him that the old village chief also knew about his life or death being uncertain.

"In the future, don't take risks. Being alive is the most important thing."

Zhao Canghu patted the back of Lin Chen's hand. There were many villagers present, so there were some things he couldn't say too clearly: "Go back quickly and see your father and mother; they have been missing you."

"Very well."

Lin Chen let go of the old village chief's hand, his gaze also looking forward, seeing his eldest brother, and his sister-in-law holding an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.

With a few strides, Lin Chen arrived in front of his eldest brother and sister-in-law, first nodding toward his eldest brother, then looking at the infant in his sister-in-law's swaddling clothes.

"Little Uncle, this is Zhao'er." Sister-in-law Chen Ting took the initiative to speak.

"So it's our Lin family's little princess."

Lin Chen took the baby girl from his sister-in-law's arms. The little one was currently sucking her finger, a pair of big eyes staring at him, very curious and fresh.

"Zhao'er is usually very shy with strangers and won't let outsiders hold her; she cries as soon as she's held. I didn't expect you, Little Uncle, to hold her without her crying. It seems she's also a snob."

Chen Ting joked. Lin Chen smiled faintly. A snob? Not at all. He knew why Zhao'er didn't cry when held by him. As a martial artist, his Qi and blood were more vigorous than ordinary people, just like a warm baby, so the little girl felt comfortable and naturally wouldn't cry.

"Let's go, Little Uncle will take you to see your grandfather and grandmother."

Lin Chen held the little girl and walked toward home. This trip to the Li Huo Dao and the life-and-death crisis he encountered also made him miss his family even more. This was also why he followed his teacher back to Poyang County. This time, he planned to stay in the village for a good while.

(End of Chapter)