Chapter 987

Outside Baocheng County, Lu Jiande and his party stood beneath the city walls, watching a group of farmers on the ramparts.

A burly man suddenly let out a scoffing laugh: “These guys on top are really just farmers—half of them can’t even wear full armor, and most aren’t even Cultivation Body. You said this great talent held the city with these people?”

Lu Jiande narrowed his eyes, studying the farmers on the ramparts.

Most of these farmers had sallow complexions; the vast majority showed no sign of a Cultivation Body—they were ordinary peasants, incapable even of serving as militia. Yet their eyes were unlike any peasants Lu Jiande had ever encountered: each one stared death in the face without fear. Even when the Law Phase powerhouse beside Lu Jiande unleashed his aura, forcing them to kneel, their fierce determination remained unshaken.

“Big Brother, these bastards didn’t open the gates even after seeing our banners—they clearly don’t recognize you as Grand Commander. A bunch of mud-stained peasants—kill them all?”

Lu Jiande suddenly felt curious—he wanted to know what method the people inside had used to suddenly turn these farmers into men unafraid of death.

The common folk were, after all, ants: when the powerful stepped down, they died in droves, the survivors scattering in panic. In an age where power resided solely in the individual, calling them a rabble was already an overstatement.

But if ants could unite as one, fearless of life or death, and rush forward en masse to meet the foot of the powerful, even the mighty would be startled.

Yet ants were still ants: no matter how their will changed, as long as their bodies remained small, they were still crushed beneath a single step. Among Lu Jiande’s generals were several slaughterers who had razed more than one city—they had no fear of farmers with fierce eyes. The more fiercely the farmers resisted, the more excited they became to kill.

Lu Jiande ordered someone to shout at the city gates, and a young, sun-darkened farmer on the ramparts called out: “The Master said—only one official surnamed Lu may enter!”

Several generals flew into a rage and unleashed a barrage of brutal spells toward the ramparts.

These generals’ offensive spells were devastating—each one could wipe out everyone on the ramparts. But Lu Jiande raised a hand and the spells vanished into nothingness. The farmers above looked utterly bewildered, unaware they had just walked past the gates of death.

Lu Jiande said: “Interesting. You all stay outside—I’ll go meet this high master.”

Several generals tried to stop him, but Lu Jiande waved them off: “No need. A mere county town can’t trap a dragon.”

He was about to walk toward the city when he saw the gates remained firmly shut. Lu Jiande frowned slightly: “I am Lu Jiande. Open the gates.”

The gates remained utterly still, showing no sign of opening.

At that moment, the earth trembled—a line of gleaming armored cavalry emerged from behind the county, numbering several thousand! Their military aura was chilling, faintly taking the shape of a massive halberd!

Lu Jiande’s pupils shrank sharply. Such a formidable imperial heavy cavalry unit, with such a prominent military aura, should have been detectable a hundred li away—how had they reached his very doorstep before he sensed them? This force seemed to have materialized from the ground itself.

The commanding general sported a thin beard and pale golden eyes; behind him, the banner bore a red character: “Lu”!

Lu Jiande was stunned—he recognized this general as the famed Jinjing Shouhu Lu Wenzhao, one of Ji State’s greatest warriors. Lu Jiande had surrounded him multiple times with overwhelming force, yet each time Lu Wenzhao had broken through with his cavalry.

Lu Jiande never imagined he’d meet this old rival here. Lu Wenzhao instantly spotted Lu Jiande, glanced at his meager retinue, and snarled: “Heaven has blessed me today—delivering a monumental victory right to my hands! Brothers, seize the rebel chief, and every man gets three promotions!”

The imperial cavalry charged forward; Lu Jiande retreated while fighting. Both sides had numerous strong warriors accompanying them, and the battle raged from ground to sky, shaking heaven and earth!

Several hours later…

Lu Jiande lost over half his personal guards and two Law Phase generals before escaping under the desperate protection of his subordinates. Lu Wenzhao’s side suffered equally heavy losses: two Law Phase generals fell, and Lu Wenzhao himself fought Lu Jiande to mutual ruin—his injuries severe, his cavalry reduced to a thousand, with seventy percent dead.

Lu Wenzhao, drenched in blood, arrived before Baocheng County. Behind him, his commander’s banner bore a large burn hole—the character “Lu” now only half visible.