Chapter 533: In This Human World, There Is Me, Murong Tonghuang

Hutou City.

A great battle is about to begin.

This great battle will not only determine the fate of Hutou City, the premier fortress of the frontier, but to a large extent, it will also determine the trajectory of the Liang-Mang War.

Consequently, it will further influence the Central Plains and Northern Mang.

It is for this reason that this battle has received unprecedented attention.

The Central Plains and Northern Mang have both turned their gazes here.

The whole world watches one city.

Even the Immortals in the heavens are paying attention to this battle.

For the sake of ethereal Luck, and so that this human world might develop according to their designs, they have one after another set their seeds in the human world, and may even intervene directly.

And the two people facing off at this moment are, in a certain sense, both chess pieces, each representing one camp.

Dantai Pingjing looked coldly at the person opposite her, her expression indifferent, saying nothing.

The old man did not mind, looking up at the sky: "The trends of the human world are all chess pieces for the Immortals in the heavens. According to their plan, it was originally intended for Xu Fengnian to inherit the title of Beiliang King, and then die outside Liangzhou, under the iron hooves of the prairie warhorses. After that, the Beiliang Iron Cavalry would be handed over to my disciple Chen Zhibao, who would sit in the Northwest, forming a tripod with Liyang and Northern Mang, vying for the world, with the flames of war never ceasing."

"In the end, the Liyang Zhao Family Imperial Clan's reign could have lasted for over a hundred years. During this period, the Northern Mang prairie would have fallen into civil strife, with the imperial clansman Yelu Dongchuang, the maternal relative Murong Baoding, and the military power-holder Dong Zhuo forming a tripod, with endless civil war and severely damaged vitality."

"Chen Zhibao, who succeeded to Beiliang, would have launched two active offensives. The first northern expedition to the prairie reached the Northern Mang mansions, but was trapped by the freezing weather and could not deliver the final blow. In his twilight years, he chose to attack Liyang, but the latter sent envoys to the prairie, paying the price of ceding a portion of the Central Plains to incite the prairie to attack the rear of Chen Zhibao's Liangzhou. Chen Zhibao eventually reached the gates of Taian City, but could not succeed, retreating in regret, and from then on had no possibility of contending for the world."

"The Liyang Emperor Zhao Zhuan also launched two great wars against Beiliang in his prime and old age, but to no avail. Liyang lost but did not fall, while Beiliang won but lost the overall situation. In the end, the Beiliang dynasty built by Chen Zhibao's own hands ended after three generations, thereby withdrawing from the struggle for hegemony."

The white-haired old man laughed: "This was perhaps the earliest vision of the world's trend in the eyes of Huang Longshi, and it was also the pattern approved by the Immortals in the heavens. But unfortunately, there appeared a Murong Tonghuang in the world; just by propping up Xu Weixiong to become the Beiliang King, he disrupted the world's pattern. Of course, if Xu Fengnian were replaced by Xu Weixiong, and everything else remained the same, it would have been barely acceptable."

"But later... under the interference of Murong Tonghuang, the world's trend changed too quickly. Now Liyang is in great chaos, and Beiliang is swallowing ten thousand miles like a tiger, even potentially aiming for the Central Plains and trampling the prairie. Furthermore, people who should have died, like Li Yishan and Xu Xiao, have not died. This is no longer just a matter of randomly moving a few chess pieces, but of directly overturning the board and starting a new game."

"Clearly, this has already exceeded the acceptance range of the Immortals in the heavens. Therefore, they are almost blatantly boosting the momentum for Northern Mang, a move that is almost tearing off their masks. In the upcoming Liang-Mang War, for the sake of Northern Mang, I fear they will stop at nothing."

The white-haired old man said with a slightly mocking smile: "They, having been high and mighty for so many years, still refuse to let go of this human world, wanting it to follow their rules. Oh, I seem to have forgotten, I, Zhao Zhangling, am also an Immortal. To curse others and include myself in it, what a failure."

The person called himself Zhao Zhangling.

If Xu Weixiong or Xu Fengnian were to hear this, they might be greatly startled.

Xu Xiao trampled the six kingdoms, and under his command were two great strategists.

One was Li Yishan, Li Yuanying, who spent his years writing in the Tingchao Pavilion, and the second was this white-haired, Confucian-robed Zhao Zhangling, who unfortunately died on the Western Shu battlefield; it is unknown how many people lamented his passing.

In addition, there were Xu Xiao's three adopted sons.

Chen Zhibao, Yao Jian, and Ye Xizhen were all his disciples, and at the same time, they were also chess pieces placed by the Immortals in the heavens.

"Hehe, saying so much is useless, it's a pity you are now only a Transcendent Immortal."

Dantai Pingjing sneered.

Immortals are naturally high and mighty, looking down upon all living beings.

But a Transcendent Immortal is a different matter.

Once an Immortal returns to the human world and becomes a Transcendent Immortal, they are restricted by the Heavenly Dao, and their cultivation drops sharply.

Just like the successive generations of Immortals from Longhu Mountain suppressed by Murong Tonghuang in the Capital, most have only Vajra or Mysterious Insight cultivation, and only a small portion of the Three Teachings Saints can barely maintain the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.

Zhao Zhangling raised an eyebrow: "Oh, and so what?"

Dantai Pingjing said indifferently: "Roll back to your heavens. If you dare to step forward again, be careful, or I will make you suffer the Annihilation of Body and Soul!"

Zhao Zhangling chuckled: "Dantai Pingjing, you are a chess piece of some great figure in the heavens, and now you are the last remaining master Qi Practitioner in the world. But don't forget, this is Beiliang; there are plenty of people who can suppress you."

Dantai Pingjing said indifferently: "There are indeed some martial artists who can defeat me, such as Deng Taie, Xu Yanbing... but as for those who can suppress me, there is only one, Murong Tonghuang. But he is still in seclusion on Huishan; I advise you best not to seek your own death."

"Sect Leader Dantai, look at how you say that, as if someone in seclusion cannot come out."

An ethereal voice sounded.

Between Zhao Zhangling and Dantai Pingjing, another person suddenly appeared.

Seeing this person in fluttering black robes, peerlessly handsome, who else could it be but Murong Tonghuang.

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Sect Leader Dantai, you are over a hundred years old; at such an age, to still be running around so busily, it seems the treatment given by the Immortals in the heavens isn't so great. How about it? Any interest in defecting to me? Follow me, and you'll get at least seven or eight days of vacation a month, and I will definitely not leave you with no free time even late at night."

"Murong Tonghuang!

"

Dantai Pingjing was suddenly startled and couldn't help but take a step back.

She was not the least bit unfamiliar with the man before her.

As for the other party's strength and methods, she could be said to be one of the few people in the world who understood them most deeply.

But soon, Dantai Pingjing narrowed her eyes: "No, it's the Primordial Spirit Exiting the Aperture, wandering ten thousand miles, and it's not even a complete Primordial Spirit."

Yu Liancheng smiled: "Sect Leader Dantai has a very good eye."

Dantai Pingjing's face turned slightly cold, and she flicked her sleeve: "Since that is the case, do you think a mere wisp of Primordial Spirit can dismiss me?"

Yu Liancheng wore a gentle smile on his face: "Why not try?"

Dantai Pingjing looked at Murong Tonghuang, then at Zhao Zhangling, who was watching the show, hesitated for a moment, snorted coldly, and flicked her sleeves to leave.

A wisp of Murong Tonghuang's Primordial Spirit was not worth worrying about, but there was still a Zhao Zhangling watching like a tiger, not to mention this was Hutou City, where the experts of the Central Plains were gathered. If she really caused a scene, she feared she would truly not gain any advantage.

However, she had only taken two steps when her vision blurred, and a slender black figure appeared before her. Dantai Pingjing's expression turned even colder: "Murong Tonghuang, do you really want to fight to the death?"

"The decisive battle is imminent, and there cannot be the slightest slip-up, so I have decided to invite Sect Leader Dantai to be a guest in Hutou City for a few days." The one speaking was naturally Murong Tonghuang, but the voice did not come from before her.

It came from behind.

Dantai Pingjing turned her head abruptly, and she saw another Murong Tonghuang.

There were actually two Murong Tonghuangs in this Hutou City.

One stood in the previous position, and one blocked her path.

"However, Sect Leader Dantai is right; if it were just a wisp of Primordial Spirit, it would indeed not be easy to stop you, the current number one Qi Practitioner." A third Murong Tonghuang appeared, holding a pot of Green Ant Wine, tilted his head and took a gulp, dashing beyond compare.

Immediately following, a fourth, a fifth...

Seven Murong Tonghuangs appeared.

Some smiling, some solemn, some lying on their sides, some drinking wine, some resting their cheeks on their hands...

Suddenly, the seven Murong Tonghuang merged into one.

"Then, perhaps now I may invite Sect Leader Dantai to stay in Hutou City for a few days." Murong Tonghuang smiled slightly.

Dantai Pingjing's expression changed slightly; she struck quickly, using a posture that embraced the Grand Void to guide and press.

Whoosh.

The airflow moved in an instant, as if stirred into a paste by an invisible giant hand, and visible ripples dispersed outward.

Following the strikes of illusory palm shadows, the invisible airflow roared and transformed into a Fire Dragon. Its baring of fangs and brandishing of claws, its unbridled state, seemed as if it had birthed a spirit. The Fire Dragon roared into the sky, sweeping up and swallowing the heat for dozens of feet around, then lunged at Yu Liancheng, the heat waves scorching.

A smile curled at the corner of Yu Liancheng's mouth, as if he had long anticipated this. He took a slight breath, and a clanging, sharp sound seemed to emerge between heaven and earth. As he opened his mouth to exhale, with a "hiss," a milky-white stream of air flew out; it was actually an ethereal Sword Qi that twisted in mid-air. The lunging Fire Dragon instantly collapsed.

The remaining force of the Sword Qi did not cease; it shuttled like lightning and suddenly shot into the center of Dantai Pingjing's brow.

With a muffled groan, the latter fell backward and lost consciousness.

"She is..." Zhao Zhangling asked in confusion.

"That Sword Qi was transformed by my divine intent, so Sect Leader Dantai suffered damage to her heart and body and fainted; she will likely be muddled for a few days." Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back and smiled: "Sect Leader Dantai once did me a favor and has also done a few things for Beiliang. Although her goals were for herself, and she has intricate ties with Xu Fengnian, I did not take her life."

"Understood, understood." Zhao Zhangling laughed: "I had heard of Alliance Leader Murong's great name while in the heavens; he is truly invincible in the world. Dantai Pingjing is also a Land Immortal who can Open Heaven Gate at any time; I never thought she wouldn't even last one move in Alliance Leader Murong's hands."

"Heh, it is because she was scared out of her wits; otherwise, it would have taken some effort." Yu Liancheng shook his head: "By the way, Li Yishan is also in Hutou City; do you want to see him?"

Zhao Zhangling shook his head with a smile: "Since we are separated by the divide between the Heavenly Human and the mortal, why meet again? Besides, I still have things to do."

Yu Liancheng said: "What things?"

"City Lord Murong, please follow me to the city wall."

Zhao Zhangling drifted away.

Yu Liancheng pondered for a moment, then followed behind at a leisurely pace.

Before long, night fell.

At the transition between day and night, sounds like rolling thunder suddenly erupted in the world outside the Beiliang Pass.

For some reason, only a very small number of people, such as Murong Tonghuang and Xu Weixiong, could hear it; all other Martial Dao Grandmasters, even those with profound realms like Deng Taie and Li Chungang, did not perceive the slightest anomaly.

Zhao Zhangling had already arrived at the wall of Jubei City and laughed toward the sky: "Everyone, the time has come. If we do not descend to the human world now, when shall we?"

As his words fell, a celestial being in the Heavenly Palace was heard saying loudly: "How can our magnificent Central Plains sink beneath the cavalry of the grasslands?"

Another celestial being in the nine heavens laughed heroically: "The Beiliang Iron Cavalry has guarded the Northwest gateway of our Central Plains, fighting to the death for twenty years without retreating. To witness this with my own eyes—how fortunate!"

A celestial being clad in black armor looked down at the human world: "Yo, the grassland barbarians have set up quite a formation. Is being numerous and powerful something to be proud of?"

One celestial being after another descended from the sky, intending to transform into the Luck of Beiliang to increase the odds of victory in this Second Liang-Mang War.

The celestial beings in the sky did not all view human life as grass, nor were they all born celestial beings or ascendants from Northern Mang.

The Central Plains has its own elegance.

However, just as they opened the Heavenly Gate and drifted out from it, transforming into rainbows to fall toward Beiliang, a long rainbow rose from the ground in Hutou City and reached outside the Heavenly Gate in the blink of an eye.

Yu Liancheng glanced into the Heavenly Gate twice, then kicked out, sending the celestial being who had walked halfway out of the Heavenly Gate back inside.

Amidst the gasps of the crowd of celestial beings, Yu Liancheng brought his hands together.

The Heavenly Gate suddenly closed.

"You..." Zhao Zhangling flew into the sky and stared dumbfounded at Murong Tonghuang, who had closed the firmament: "What are you doing?"

On one hand, he was astonished by Murong Tonghuang's cultivation—closing the Heavenly Gate so casually, especially while in a state of Exiting Aperture. On the other hand, he did not understand Yu Liancheng's actions; why not let the celestial beings transform into rainbows and enter Northern Mang? Those celestial beings were all great, elegant figures from various dynasties, and integrating their own Luck into Northern Mang would have a crucial impact on the upcoming battle.

"Look at my memory, how could I have forgotten you."

Murong Tonghuang shook his head, used his finger as a sword, and with a move of Li Chungang's "Sword Opens Heaven's Gate," opened the Heavenly Gate as easily as eating or drinking. He grabbed Zhao Zhangling, stuffed him inside, and closed the Heavenly Gate again as easily as eating or drinking.

"Beiliang has me, Heavenly Venerable Murong Tonghuang, and Beiliang King Xu Weixiong; why do you need to sacrifice your immortality?"

Hutou City.

In a simple room.

A woman in white sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, her demeanor stunningly beautiful, ethereal like Guanyin.

It was none other than Liuzhu Bodhisattva from Lantuo Mountain.

After dual cultivation with Murong Tonghuang and these days of seclusion, this female Dharma King had reached the realm of a Land Celestial, her cultivation unfathomable; in terms of cultivation realm alone, she was likely not below any expert in the world today.

This time, she had come in response to Beiliang's invitation, bringing eight hundred monk soldiers to support Hutou City.

Suddenly, the white-clad Guanyin felt the space before her darken. She opened her eyes and saw a stunningly handsome face smiling at her—who else could it be but Murong Tonghuang, who had been wandering the world in spirit?

The white-clad Guanyin said calmly: "You have come."

Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold not a single ripple.

Yu Liancheng smiled: "I have come."

He walked to the front of Liuzhu Bodhisattva and kissed her lips lightly: "Your cultivation is fast, but your foundation is somewhat unstable; let me help you with your cultivation."

"Mm."

After a long silence, an extremely faint response came from the room.