[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dragon-lies-hidden":3,"chapter-the-dragon-lies-hidden-the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-956":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dragon Lies Hidden",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290254,4477,"Chapter 956","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-956",956,"\u003Cp>The howling wind whipped the large Xu banner, beneath which tens of thousands of rebel troops surged in chaotic disorder, their faces twisted with fury, brimming with murderous intent as they stared at the opposing imperial forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial army of Ji State numbered roughly ten thousand, clearly outnumbered; though many soldiers looked gaunt and trembled with fear, they still held their formation under the gleaming blades of their general’s personal guards—a sight rarely seen in Ji State, such a formidable force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the Xu banner stood a massive, sun-darkened man, his chest bare and thick with black hair; his aura surged upward, forming a grotesque, asymmetrical ghostly apparition with two heads and five arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heavy breaths blasted from his nostrils, as if he could barely contain himself, yet his narrowed eyes gleamed with sharp, clear calmness. The Ji army’s formation remained orderly; if they fought now, the cost would be steep. He casually scanned his own ranks, weighing the cost against the potential gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several rebel officers exchanged startled glances—they had never seen General Hu this unusual. Normally, he would have charged long ago; these few imperial troops would have shattered at the first assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Xu Kuang could not shake a sense of dread, and slowly raised his hand, circling it before pointing backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Retreat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel officers could hardly believe it, but the order stood, and none dared defy it. The Ji general was equally tense—he too found it hard to believe, yet he desperately held his formation. Only with a tight line could he hope to fight back and find a chance to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A military aura suddenly appeared in the distance—dense and sharp, shaped like a blade, radiating piercing intent—but it was unnaturally thin, likely no more than a few thousand men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade-like aura moved swiftly, arriving on the battlefield in moments—revealing merely a hundred-man squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only a hundred, their aura rivaled that of an entire army. Each soldier carried a large, unfamiliar pack on their back, its purpose unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a thunderclap split the clear sky, followed by a deafening roar like the heavens cracking and the earth splitting: “Xu Kuang, come forth and die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Kuang had never endured such insolence—he slashed his hand downward, halting the retreat, and narrowed his eyes at Xiang Weiyuan. Xiang Weiyuan, meanwhile, looked down with disdain, his gaze sweeping the field and locking onto Xu Kuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Kuang’s heart tightened—he sensed his opponent was equally a Full Manifestation cultivator. Since raising his rebel banner, he had never encountered such a formidable foe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Kuang bowed respectfully, then said: “I’ve never met you before. What offense have I given you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rebel officers were stunned—they had never seen Xu Kuang so courteous, so reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan replied coolly: “You’re Xu Kuang? Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan waved his hand—the hundred soldiers instantly spread into a horizontal line, leveling their strange long spears, advancing in perfect step. Then he pointed upward—dozens of lightning bolts streaked down in a near-continuous line, striking straight at Xu Kuang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above Xu Kuang’s head, the ghostly apparition appeared, its five arms each wielding a different magical artifact, meeting the lightning. The first bolt struck one artifact, exploding into a storm of thunder and fire—the ghost let out a mournful cry, its spirit trembling with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Kuang’s eyes widened—these were ordinary lightning strikes! How could they be so powerful? A single bolt had already wounded his manifestation—this was no less than celestial divine lightning meant to purge evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xiang Weiyuan’s lightning was not one or two bolts, nor even ten or twenty—it unleashed two hundred at once!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the onlookers, it looked like a waterfall of lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the lightning faded—the ghostly apparition was riddled with wounds, reduced to only three arms, its head barely half intact. Xu Kuang’s soul nearly fled his body, for Xiang Weiyuan appeared utterly calm, as if he hadn’t even expended much spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Weiyuan did not hesitate—he raised his hand again toward the sky, summoning another torrent of lightning!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a sigh echoed through the air: “Show mercy when you can. Why must a young man insist on total annihilation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small umbrella descended from the sky, spinning rapidly, catching every falling bolt—remarkably, without a single strike breaking through. Yet after absorbing them all, the umbrella’s surface had dimmed noticeably.\u003C\u002Fp>",726,"2026-06-20T03:38:38.899Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","851a0c934fe3ea4e82f87adfc35debbb1584278cead083deeab373a11a44e2cd","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-957","the-dragon-lies-hidden-chapter-955",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dragon-lies-hidden-cover.jpg"]