Chapter 296: Waving a Hand to Pluck a Head, Staring to Kill

In the world today, heroes contend for supremacy; the Great Sui has reached the end of its rope, teetering in chaos, while Yang Guang spends his days in the palace drowning in wine and pleasure, ignoring the affairs of state.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that a great upheaval is about to begin.

When the Qin lost its deer, the world chased after it.

The Yuwen Clan likewise has the ambition to chase the deer and seize the tripod; as one of the Four Great Sects, they may not necessarily hold the various rebel armies in high regard, but they must be wary of the other three great sects.

The Song Clan has long resided in Lingnan, headed by the "Heavenly Blade" Song Que, with experts as numerous as clouds and abundant resources. Yet, after all, they are far from the Central Plains, located in a remote area, and have never expressed an intention to chase the deer, so one would think they will only choose a side to bet on.

The Dugu Clan has always been at odds with the Yuwen Clan, locked in open and secret struggles for years. But the Dugu Clan guards the Eastern Capital, Luoyang, making it difficult to expand their influence, and the younger generation is mostly composed of fools, relying solely on that old woman You Chuhong, so they are not worth worrying about.

Only the Li Clan, sitting on the fertile land of Guanzhong, has many soldiers and generals. Although the clan leader Li Yuan is lecherous and cowardly, his sons are all men of great talent and strategy, especially the second son, Li Shimin, who possesses peerless ability.

Therefore, they have always been feared by the Yuwen Clan.

And because the Li Clan and the Dongming Sect have a close relationship and once purchased a large amount of weapons to stockpile, the Dugu Clan has always wanted to seize the Dongming Account Book to present to Yang Guang, using the hands of the dim-witted emperor to significantly weaken the Li Clan's power.

In the original course of events, the Haisha Gang wanted to ambush the Dongming Sect to seize the account book, and later Yuwen Chengdu personally took action, but all were thwarted by Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, falling short at the final hurdle.

But this time, because of the appearance of Yu Liancheng, several traitors emerged within the Dongming Sect, communicating with the Haisha Gang and allowing Han Gaitian to perceive an opportunity to report to the Yuwen Clan.

The Yuwen Clan then dispatched two tiger generals, Yuwen Chengdu and Yuwen Huaji, not only wanting to take this opportunity to seize the account book but also intending to capture the Dongming Sect in one fell swoop, making it a major asset in the struggle for the world.

Yet they did not expect that all of this had long been perceived by Yu Liancheng, hence the scene before us now.

With the two great generals Yuwen Chengdu and Yuwen Wudi injured, a flash of light appeared in the eyes of the "Dragon King" Han Gaitian, and he immediately shouted: "Sink his boat."

Immediately, one after another, fast boats sailed out from behind the two large ships; although each fast boat carried only a few people, they were all experts proficient in underwater skills.

As long as Yu Liancheng's boat was bored through, no matter how powerful an expert he was, once he fell into the water, his cultivation would be greatly compromised.

Yu Liancheng did not even look, merely striking out a Po Kong Palm force toward the water surface.

Only a "Bang" was heard as the water surface exploded into a spray, shooting toward the several small boats like arrows; its power was in no way inferior to strong bows and powerful crossbows.

Only the sound of incessant screams was heard; the several fast boats had already been riddled with holes by the water spray, and the Haisha Gang disciples on the boats were also covered in wounds, falling backward and dyeing the water surface red.

"Damn it!" Yuwen Wudi managed to stabilize his Qi and Blood, a terrifying sharpness shooting from his eyes as he waved his hand and shouted sternly: "Fire arrows and kill him!"

Yuwen Chengdu also revealed a chilling murderous aura, letting the archers on the other ship carry out the execution.

The people on these two large ships were all elite soldiers carefully selected from within the Yuwen Clan, brave and fierce, especially the more than three hundred archers each carried, who were experts chosen from among a hundred.

It was precisely because of the guarantee of this group of soldiers that, after witnessing Yu Liancheng's astonishing strike, Yuwen Chengdu and Yuwen Wudi still had the confidence to deal with Yu Liancheng.

Five or six hundred archers were all deployed across the upper, middle, and lower decks of the large ship; after a resounding response, they drew their bows and nocked their arrows, aiming at Yu Liancheng's small boat.

Instantly, a chilling murderous intent permeated the entire sea surface, making one's whole body feel cold.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of breaking through the air was incessant; under the bleak starlight and moonlight, one could see arrows continuous like rain, dense and thick, pouring down toward Yu Liancheng like a covering sky and earth.

Yu Liancheng, however, was calm and composed, as if he did not take it to heart at all.

When the arrows were near, he suddenly stamped his foot.

Boom!!

True energy exploded, and the entire sea surface seemed to be under the continuous bombardment of hundreds of bombs, with waves surging into the sky, raising a vast and thick water wall that swept the rain of arrows into it.

As the water force gradually dissipated, the arrows fell into the sea along with the spray.

Before Yuwen Chengdu and Yuwen Wudi could launch a second round of arrow rain, Yu Liancheng's figure had already disappeared.

"General, he is on General Wudi's ship." Just as everyone was looking around, Han Gaitian suddenly pointed to the other large ship.

Yuwen Chengdu turned his head and happened to see Yu Liancheng standing gracefully on the other ship.

A smile overflowed from the corner of Yu Liancheng's mouth: "Alright, I should send General Wudi down now."

Yuwen Wudi's gaze swept toward Yu Liancheng's figure, a fierce, murderous aura exploding from his eyes as he shouted: "All troops, obey the order, form the battle formation, kill him."

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The soldiers on the ship immediately shouted in unison, the sound of killing shaking the heavens.

Hundreds of soldiers drew their weapons and surrounded him.

Although they were numerous, their steps were uniform and orderly, not in the least bit chaotic.

In this world, experts are as numerous as clouds, and there is no lack of experts who can fight a hundred alone.

Likewise, sets of battle formations specifically designed to deal with experts have been developed; as long as an expert falls into them, they will be subjected to continuous encirclement and killing, and if they reveal the slightest flaw, they will be pierced into a sieve by weapons from all directions.

Yu Liancheng seemed not to see the blade light and sword light filling the sky, merely walking toward Yuwen Wudi with a calm and relaxed demeanor.

Yet the long swords and battle blades stabbing at him seemed to be struck by thunder, and amidst "crackling" sounds, they suddenly shattered and exploded, shooting out in all directions and causing a chorus of wails and screams.

"What kind of martial art is this?"

"Sorcery, it must be sorcery!"

In an instant, hundreds of soldiers had already died on the spot. The remaining soldiers were terrified to the extreme; even with strict military discipline, they were so scared that they retreated, clearing a path for him.

"Trash, a bunch of trash! Do not be afraid! Do not retreat! All of you, get up there!"

Yuwen Wudi revealed an aura like a prehistoric beast, as if he might choose someone to devour at any moment. He swung his long spear violently, actually piercing through a soldier who was fleeing in terror.

"Oh, this seat would like to see if you are trash yourself."

Yuwen Wudi suddenly felt a blur before his eyes; Yu Liancheng had already appeared before him, looking at him with a leisurely expression.

"How bold! Go to hell!"

Yuwen Wudi shouted loudly; he did not retreat but advanced, stepping with his toe to break the floorboards, his whole body rushing out like lightning, the long spear in his palm suddenly scattering thousands of spear shadows, enveloping Yu Liancheng from head to toe.

Every spear shadow carried a tragic and fierce aura, pressing forward without hesitation.

Only a general who has experienced many battles could use such martial arts moves. Ordinary martial artists, let alone receiving this spear, might even be unable to move from fear just by facing it.

But Yuwen Wudi's opponent at this moment was Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng reached out his arm, his five fingers spread wide, covering Yuwen Wudi, and an even more overwhelming momentum surged from all directions, sealing off all paths of retreat.

And in Yuwen Wudi's eyes, this palm was constantly enlarging, crushing down like a vast, boundless, and ancient force.

He was nothing more than an ant in the palm, which could be crushed to death with a casual flick.

At this moment, the usually fearless Yuwen Wudi felt a sense of terror he had never known before.

Immediately following, a vast and incomparable force surged over, and the long spear in his palm flew from his grasp.

A pain in his neck, the scene before his eyes blurred and shifted; a headless corpse appeared before Yuwen Wudi, still standing perfectly straight.

"Whose body is this, why does it look so familiar?" This was Yuwen Wudi's final thought, and in the blink of an eye, it was extinguished.

"Damn it, he actually killed Wudi." On another large ship, Yuwen Chengdu's face revealed a look of fear and sorrow, much like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox, and he immediately assumed a guarded expression.

With Yuwen Wudi dead, wouldn't the next person the opponent came to deal with be himself?

Having witnessed the opponent's unfathomable martial arts, he did not believe he would be a match for Yu Liancheng.

"General Chengdu, do not grieve; I will send you down to see your brother immediately."

Yu Liancheng's figure suddenly appeared on this warship, wearing a smile, holding Yuwen Wudi's head in his hand, with fresh blood still dripping from the neck.

"Attack, kill him!" Yuwen Chengdu's expression changed, and he let out a sharp shout, using his sword to strike down two fleeing soldiers in succession, finally managing to maintain military morale and force the soldiers to form a formation to attack this unprecedentedly great enemy.

But Yu Liancheng continued to step forward; these soldiers were not only unable to stop him for even half a step, but they also fell to the ground like cut wheat, with countless dead and wounded. Finally, they collapsed and fled in all directions.

A fierce look appeared in Yuwen Chengdu's eyes; his figure suddenly darted out, covering Yu Liancheng like a great bird, making the same choice as Yuwen Wudi.

He understood, of course, that on the vast ocean, fleeing was undoubtedly seeking his own death; only by meeting the enemy head-on might there be a glimmer of survival.

At this moment, Yuwen Chengdu abandoned his life and forgot death, his state of mind reaching a wondrous realm.

Swish!

His long sword was drawn, suddenly giving rise to a biting cold wind that swept through with a whistling sound; the temperature plummeted, and many soldiers shivered from the cold.

At this most critical moment, Yuwen Chengdu had actually mastered the "Ice Profound Energy," which made the Yuwen Clan famous throughout the Edo.

The "Ice Profound Energy" was ranked among the top of the list of strange skills and absolute arts, but its cultivation was arduous; only the Clan Master Yuwen Shang and the number one expert of the younger generation, Yuwen Huaji, had mastered it within the Yuwen Clan.

Yuwen Chengdu had spent several decades, yet he had only just glimpsed the threshold, with his energy merely carrying a hint of chill.

But at this moment, his mind and spirit were under intense pressure from Yu Liancheng, and he achieved the breakthrough he had dreamed of.

With the Ice Profound Energy complete, Yuwen Chengdu felt incomparable confidence, and his long sword transformed into a bolt of lightning. But where this lightning passed, the temperature dropped sharply, and a cold, swirling energy coiled around the long sword, like an ice dragon, charging toward Yu Liancheng.

"Ice Profound Energy? I wonder how it compares to the ice energy cultivated by my 'Ten Thousand Phenomena Returning to Origin Art'?"

Yu Liancheng extended two fingers and casually clamped onto this sword strike, which was filled with Yuwen Chengdu's confidence.

At the same time, he sent a cold and strange True Qi through the long sword into Yuwen Chengdu's body.

Before Yuwen Chengdu could even be surprised that the opponent had so easily neutralized his sword technique, he felt a chill suddenly surge over him.

His lips trembled, and his whole body felt as if he had plunged naked into a river of freezing water, and the freezing water was constantly congealing into ice, freezing his entire body stiff.

With every passing instant, the chill on his body intensified.

Yuwen Chengdu hurriedly released his long sword, but it was already too late.

That chill had thoroughly invaded his entire body, every inch of skin, every meridian...

He was actually frozen to death alive.

His whole body was still radiating a chill, with ice crystals on his eyebrows.

Han Gaitian, who was to the side, did not know the details and only thought the two sides were deadlocked, so he hurriedly took down the twin axes from his back and slashed toward Yu Liancheng with a move called "Force Splitting Mount Hua."

Although the move was simple, it was peerlessly fierce, with the wind whistling, leaving no doubt that he could split Yu Liancheng into three pieces with two axes.

Yu Liancheng looked back, his eyes overflowing with a peculiar red glow, as if reflecting the cruel scene of corpses strewn across the field and blood flowing like a river.

Once Han Gaitian was looked at by him, he felt an indescribable terror surge into his heart, scaring him so much that his liver and gallbladder split; his face turned deathly pale, then from white to red, and finally became iron-blue. The twin axes in his hands hung down powerlessly, and he staggered back two steps before falling down stiffly.

—He had actually been scared to death alive.

Yu Liancheng casually plucked off the heads of Yuwen Chengdu and Han Gaitian, and along with the head of Yuwen Huaji, he tossed them up to hang beneath the flagpole.

"Yuwen Chengdu, Yuwen Wudi, and Han Gaitian are dead; why do you not surrender quickly?" He let out a long shout, his voice rolling back and forth across the sea surface.

The soldiers on the two large ships and the Haisha Gang disciples on the dozen or so small boats looked up.

At this moment, the dark clouds happened to part, and the radiance of the bright moon spilled down, shining on those three bloody heads, carrying an indescribable, terrifying meaning.

Instantly, the entire sea surface became quiet, and one could hear a pin drop. Everyone's eyes revealed shock, their bodies trembling, yet they could not utter a single word.

Yu Liancheng's figure rose slowly like a dark cloud, drifting to stand atop the mast; the moonlight draped a veil over him, making him appear even more ethereal and agile, as if he were a being from the heavens.

Hum, hum~

The next moment.

A grand energy surged from Yu Liancheng's entire body, as if a great Buddha were sitting cross-legged on a double-lotus Sumeru throne, solemn and dignified, looking down slightly, with clear insight into the suffering of all living beings.

Immediately following, Yu Liancheng struck downward with his palm, and the great Buddha made the same motion.

A palm force as vast as a pouring galaxy struck down from the sky; one could only hear the continuous, thunderous roar as the sea surface churned up a water wall ten zhang high, pouring out in all directions like a tsunami, making everyone's scalp tingle, feeling as if they had fallen into a nightmare.

"Tell me, do you want to die? Or do you want to live?"

This was not a difficult question to ponder.

Especially when facing an expert of Yu Liancheng's caliber, who exceeded all standards.

"We are willing to surrender..."

Clang, clang... Weapons fell to the ground one after another; the Sui soldiers and Haisha Gang disciples knelt on the ground one after another, their faces revealing looks of worship and fear.

Before this transcendent, peerless expert, they had no second choice.

At the same time, firelight flickered on the sea surface, and more than ten small boats sailed over from the distance; the person in the lead was none other than the Dongming Princess, Dan Wanjing.

Her beautiful eyes looked toward Yu Liancheng, filled with worship, clearly having seen the scene that had just occurred.

Yu Liancheng exhaled gently; from here on, everything could be left to the Dongming Sect to handle.

Although he had been the leader of many factions, most of the time he was a hands-off manager, leaving things to the appropriate people to handle.

"Having arrived in the Central Plains, the next step is to find those two brats, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling."