Chapter 327: Siege, Charge!

A domineering voice, a domineering slash of blade-light.

Beneath this slash, the once unshakable human destiny surged forth like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, converging into one, forming that clear, domineering blade-light, descending upon Ji Zongcheng.

Ji Zongcheng, such an old hand.

He had traversed all under heaven and the martial world, ruthless beyond measure, one of the Mo Sect's Four Guardian Kings—yet at this moment, he hesitated, his mind flickered for an instant, something that should never have happened—but he still lost focus.

As if, within that brilliant blade-light, he saw the past.

That ink-black imperial robe, unchanged as ever; the iron cavalry of the Western Regions surged with domineering might, waves of qi like rainbows, this arrogant king ascended the spiritual mountains of the Western Regions, personally crushing the invincible Western Buddhist Kingdom.

He threw the Western Buddhist Sovereign into a sack meant for slaves, letting the surging iron cavalry trample him back and forth, grinding the aura and sinews of that Grand Master-level being into pulp beneath the hooves of warhorses.

The Buddhist Kingdom collapsed beneath the hegemon's blade.

Yet the thousand-year Buddhist lineage of the Western Regions still lingered on the fringes; these disciples gathered together, eventually becoming today's Holy Church—but during the lifetime of the Tuyuhun, they dared not emerge.

Only after the death of that once-in-a-thousand-years hegemon of the Western Regions.

They emerged, corrupted his descendants, plunged his homeland into chaos, twisted his laws, and shattered the Western Regions he had unified—thus came the Western Regions of today. But even so, in his dreams, Ji Zongcheng still saw the young boy's glimpse of that ancient, yet still domineering as a ferocious tiger, Tuyuhun King.

The bald man, with beard and hair, broken precepts, tattoos on his scalp, roared: "Tuyuhun is dead!!!"

"He is dead!"

He tore himself from his daze, his body radiating brilliant golden light, his physique formidable—equal to Li Guanyi and the Old Living Buddha's Buddhist Dragon-Elephant body. Li Guanyi's eyes flickered; all the things he had seen before now connected—

More than a decade ago, using a grand array to transmit peerless power to Yao Guang, attempting to forcibly forge a top-tier expert.

Severing the seven emotions and six desires, devoid of sorrow or joy.

The black-robed man who traveled with Xiao Dayin recited Buddhist sutras.

Fu Yan Yinsi's muscles and bones showed no signs of cultivation, yet he possessed third-tier internal qi—and didn't even know how to use it well.

Finally, Li Guanyi suddenly recalled two years ago, in Jiangzhou City, when the Old Living Buddha sighed and spoke those words—he had hoped Li Guanyi would join the Buddhist sect, promising many things, yet paused and said, "The Living Buddha cannot."

The Living Buddha's position is no blessing.

Now, seeing Ji Zongcheng's Buddhist Jin Gang Dragon-Elephant body, Li Guanyi suddenly understood.

The so-called Xiyumo Sect is the remnant branch of the Western Buddhist Kingdom, exterminated three hundred years ago by the Tuyuhun. More than a decade ago, the grand array they set up for Yao Guang simultaneously drew upon both the Buddhist Living Buddha's initiation and the Central Plains Son of Heaven's divine art.

All the things he had seen before now connected—and in that instant, Ji Zongcheng roared, the Xiangliu manifestation bursting forth with boundless brilliant light; he crossed his arms and blocked Li Guanyi's slash that drew upon human destiny, leaping backward.

Ji Zongcheng's face was filled with shock and doubt: "This… you are not Tuyuhun!"

"But this aura?"

Li Guanyi's soul lifted the blade; the power of the Golden King Seal began to wane.

Even with the aid of the Mo Sect's Mystical Realm's human destiny, his foundation was still insufficient—borrowed power had its limits. Li Guanyi's gaze passed over the old man, fixed on the grand array.

With Hou Zhongyu's previous array expertise, Li Guanyi could not have pierced this array.

But his array knowledge had been enhanced by the "help" of the Whale Fisher.

Combined with his current state, infused with human destiny, he could now discern the array's key point. Ji Zongcheng's face turned ashen: "Stop!!"

The blade-light fell; the roar of the tiger never ceased. This array, sealing part of Yao Guang's emotional capacity, was locked—unable to change further, unable to self-destruct as designed; Ji Zongcheng could not destroy it.

Ji Zongcheng's face darkened: "Who are you?"

"Playing tricks with spirits and demons!!"

He roared, internal qi surging, unleashing endless brilliant radiance that shot skyward through Aqi Ni City, stirring the surrounding elemental qi into vast, ceaseless waves; he clasped his hands, and behind him appeared a Buddha over ten zhang tall, crashing down toward Li Guanyi.

Li Guanyi released the Golden King Seal.

Thus, the brilliant, clear Buddha-light merely scattered his soul-body into mist and clouds. Ji Zongcheng's pupils contracted; in his vision, black robes flared—was this the enemy before him, or the invincible hegemon of his memory?

The black-robed hegemon raised his hand, voice low as a tiger's growl:

"The one who takes your life."

Ji Zongcheng's pupils shrank violently.

In his mind, he recalled again that domineering edict from over two hundred years ago—

【All who recite sutras or worship Buddha shall have their three clans exterminated】

His heart pounded violently.

In a daze, the ink-black radiance faded; the domineering blade, the slow silhouette of the tiger—vanished as if it had been nothing but a daydream of this old man. But when he looked up, he saw the array was broken.

He saw a massive, grotesque gash carved into the floor of the vault—crafted from special material like a divine weapon—while the array, at its most critical point, had frozen. Such an array, self-sustaining and endless—if he forced it, he might not shatter the girl's emotions.

Instead, he risked utterly destroying the array, rendering it impossible to mobilize human destiny to fight the Array Master. Ji Zongcheng stood stunned for a long while, raised his hand, touched his forehead—his fingers came away slick with sweat.

"Why break this array?"

"To ruin my Holy Church's plans? Or to await the Whale Fisher's arrival?"

"Or perhaps fearing we might use this array to defeat the Whale Fisher…"

"Or simply to save the girl's emotions?"

This thought arose in Ji Zongcheng's mind.

And almost instantly, he crushed it.

How could that be?

Impossible!

Long Han'er, the Mo Sect's Holy Maiden, had been sent to notify the remaining nobles and high officials of Aqi Ni City. But when she returned after delivering her orders, she froze—seeing his disheveled state, as if he had just endured a great battle.

"King…"

Ji Zongcheng fell silent for a long while, then said: "Forget me. Inform the city's generals—they must immediately take gold and silver and flee this Dacheng. Aside from the Whale Fisher, another has come."

"Inform the Sect Lord."

"No matter her thoughts, in this chaotic age, with the martial world in turmoil, if we cannot firmly hold onto the remnants of the Tangut Kingdom now in our hands, our Holy Church may not endure."

Long Han'er said: "But… Your Majesty, won't you leave with us?"

Ji Zongcheng burst into loud laughter: "Never mind that the Whale Fisher's soul has locked onto me—I am one of the Holy Church's Four Guardian Kings. If I flee now, what am I?"

"Since I am a protector of the Holy Church, this matter concerns me."

"Then you should go head-to-head with that legend of the martial world."

"I became a monk in childhood, witnessed the entire rise and fall of the Holy Church, and once saw the dominion of the Tuyuhun. I still remember what he said: all Buddhas in the world died by his hand. No matter the reason, now that I see him, perhaps it is my time for Nirvana."

"Tell the Church Lord: if I do not die, I will go to Wang Cheng and kill her!"

"But if I die, let her lead our Holy Church well. In this chaotic age, if she can rebuild the glory of the Western Heaven Buddhist Kingdom, then for me, it would be a death worth dying. You all—go!"

Long Han'er looked at the rugged old man, pressed her lips together, and departed with the many Gongyang Suxiang, leaving behind the great array; the process of taking the Gongyang Suxiang amounted to severing the state akin to a dragon vein rooted here, releasing vast amounts of human destiny qi.

Human destiny qi had all converged here through the array.

After this affair in the Western Regions was settled, they should have left immediately, but the nobles refused to accept it—they even abandoned many weapons and armor, locking them all away in the armory.

They also took fine Jiangnan porcelain, splendid Central Plains silk.

They took the jade so beautiful it resembled the eyes of gods and Buddhas.

They took dazzling gold and silver, stuffing coins and jewels into their pockets, forcing their valiant knights' warhorses to carry these burdens, along with their delicate, beautiful concubines.

Thus they deliberately delayed their midnight departure until the horizon glowed faintly with the pale white of dawn.

Ji Zongcheng sat cross-legged, his eyes lowered, seeing his own face in the mirror: a face full of heavy flesh, tattoos on his scalp. He closed the mirror, his hands awkwardly forming the Buddhist Jin Gang Fearless Seal.

As he gazed downward, he recalled the old Monk who had taught him Buddhist teachings.

Buddhist teachings promote goodness, yet all Buddhas tower above all living beings.

I will become a Buddha.

I will not be a living being!

His mindset had never wavered an inch; only when the sky gradually whitened did he slowly open his eyes, sensing a terrifying presence approaching. Ji Zongcheng's gaze turned icy: "The grudges from over a decade ago—now it is time to end them."

"The Array King!"

One of the Four Great Legends of the martial world: the Array King.

He has arrived before the city.

Master Siming, watching the man in black robes and silver hair, grinned and said: "So this is truly the time for a bloody massacre…" Master Siming sat cross-legged atop the Black Tortoise, which floated slowly through the air.

Hanging from the Black Tortoise were countless ropes.

Each rope ended in a sack, filled with Western Region copper coins.

Already thirteen million coins.

Even though the Whale Fisher himself had enchanted these sacks, they were still absurdly heavy—so heavy that even the Black Tortoise's Dharma Form, famed for bearing heavy loads, now doubted itself.

It doubted it was not the Black Tortoise.

It was a camel of the desert.

One open eye, and it had to carry burdens.

Damn it, carry until death.

And carry a chattering old man too.

Master Siming scratched his old lower back, staring at the desert, at the silver-haired man, sensing layer upon layer of shimmering light emanating from the Agni Great Array. Master Siming said: "... the capital of one of the thirty-six ancient kingdoms: Agni."

"This place was destroyed long ago—never thought we'd come back after so many years."

"This array stretches endlessly—it seems those you've locked onto are determined to fight you to the death. Hmph, this ancient array is truly intricate beyond measure, repaired generation after generation, infused with human destiny qi—it has reached the 【Ultimate Weight】."

"Whale Fisher, can you even do this?"

The Black Tortoise lifted its claw and pressed it against its forehead.

Old man, stop stoking the fire.

Master Siming grinned: "Since Elder Murong's retirement last year, there's been no big event in the martial world—you've got to prove yourself."

The silver-haired man shook his head, gazing at the array: "Watch."

"Senior, stay here—lest you be injured."

Master Siming laughed loudly: "I'm not afraid."

He slapped the Black Tortoise's Dharma Form beneath him: "I've got my old friend!"

The Black Tortoise wondered whether it should just bury this old man somewhere.

The silver-haired man said calmly: "Then do as you please."

Dozens of Mo Sect experts stood ahead, weapons in hand, ready, having swallowed pills—their veins bulged, faces flushed red like demons, staring at the Whale Fisher.

One side was numerous; the other, only two.

Yet despite their overwhelming numbers, all the famed martial artists of the Western Regions sweated profusely, their weapons slipping from trembling hands, while the black-robed, silver-haired man remained calm, even bored.

"If you want to watch a show, then watch."

The silver-haired man reached out and seized a wisp of Western wind.

Casually tied back a strand of silver hair falling to his waist.

His waist-hung wine flask, his sleeves swirling, he stepped forward. Before the Western experts' eyes, the silver-haired man vanished—they panicked, striking simultaneously with life-or-death moves, hoping to exhaust the Whale Fisher.

The Whale Fisher walked past them. The next instant, dozens of men spat blood and collapsed together.

They had been struck by their own attacks.

In an instant, the array reversed—all their moves were redirected, deflected, and turned upon themselves. In a flash, blades and swords rained down, blood scattered—the silver-haired man remained spotless, already standing before the city gate.

The gate of Zhenxi Xiongcheng was immensely thick, like a mountain—or rather, this entire great city was built clinging to the mountainside. The silver-haired man looked at the city and recalled Li Guanyi's words from yesterday—he truly did not care.

The Array King lifted his wine flask and drank. The pain and fury of over a decade ago returned as if before his eyes. The wine slid down his throat but could not quench his rage. He set down the flask, then calmly raised his hand and knocked on the gate.

BOOM!!!!!

The gate, capable of withstanding an entire army, trembled violently.

Across the entire Agni Ducheng, the dozens of ancient, layered, impenetrable arrays—built over centuries—collapsed in an instant. Visible ripples spread, each array fragment shattering like spring river ice.

Falling from the sky, drifting slowly downward.

The Whale Fisher turned his wrist slightly.

Countless arrays converged in the void, coalescing into a vast azure dragon, head raised, roaring thunderously as it surged skyward. The Array Master reversed his hand and pressed down, his brows lifting as he said: "Li Guanyi, do you truly believe that the world's legendary figures are limited to the Sword Madman?"

"Array—OPEN!"

The dragon's roar echoed vast and deep; the great array struck.

The four gates of Agni Nicheng collapsed simultaneously, crashing down with a thunderous roar!

All ten directions of the roads lay open.

The silver-haired man laughed aloud: "Step forward!"

"Come to your death!"

…………………………

After that slash, Li Guanyi set down Wang Yin. He sensed the boundless primordial energy within the Mystical Realm, heard Ji Zongcheng's plan, and knew the moment had come to determine whether this first step could stand at this critical juncture in the Western Regions.

Li Guanyi reached out and pressed his hand to his chest, feeling the beat of his heart.

The next morning, everyone woke early.

Li Guanyi ordered each unit to light fires early and cook, slaughtering one-third of their cattle and sheep, converting all remaining rations and supplies into rich meat porridge to feed everyone fully.

He ordered all luggage, cooking cauldrons, and equipment abandoned here.

Leave markers to retrieve them after victory.

The ten thousand troops obeyed. They slaughtered part of the cattle and sheep, cooking them simply by roasting, piling pottery and iron cauldrons beneath the great stones.

Even the remaining cattle and sheep were tied to the rocks in this area.

Batuer felt an inexplicable solemnity. He stared at the abandoned belongings, pressed his lips tight, reluctant—but trusting Tian Ge'er, they followed orders, then gripped their swords and spears.

They mounted their horses in unison.

The ten thousand no longer had cattle, sheep, or logistics. No supplies remained.

Under poor morale and a corrupt commander, this would be a fatal blow to troop cohesion—but now, morale blazed like fire.

Instead, a chilling, urgent aura rose within them—a quiet, persistent pressure that tightened their spirits and pressed their lips shut.

Batuer clutched his tribe's banner. When the front ranks began to gallop, he spurred his horse almost instinctively. Hooves merged into a single thunderous roar. He cast one final glance at the pots, equipment, and livestock left behind.

Then he turned.

The thunderous pounding of hooves crashed into his heart, shattering the last hesitation.

Blood quickened; his grip on the reins felt his own heartbeat.

In that instant, the entire ten thousand transformed, forging a sharp edge. They were no longer a migrating tribe burdened with baggage, rations, and livestock—they became a charging army. In every sense, victory was the only path left.

Po Jun pressed his lips, watching the army, breathing heavily.

His heart quickened slightly. As a strategist, he understood clearly.

What stood before him was an extraordinarily rare, brutally demanding state.

Only if the commander possessed extraordinary personal charisma—or his command reached an unimaginable height—could such a state arise. And now, whether because of Tian Ge'er's legend or the Golden Wang Yin—

The ten thousand had become a morale-burning, isolated force.

Conditions were harsh; morale was fragile.

If they did not win swiftly, the army's morale would collapse rapidly.

Extremely risky.

Po Jun could list countless flaws—but unquestionably, this state had formed. His eyes glowed with excited purple light as he watched the young lord galloping at the front.

Li Guanyi was armored.

………………

Long Han'er heard distant sounds. She pressed her lips. All the nobles of Agni Nicheng had emerged, preparing to follow their choice from over a decade ago—evacuate the city once more, fleeing to other lands to avoid the storm.

They would return after the Whale Fisher departed.

The Lord of Agni Nicheng, a high-ranking Mo Sect adept, smiled: "The martial legends may be powerful—even incomparably so—but they cannot kill the entire world."

"Once he leaves, we can return."

"Just like before."

Long Han'er nodded, distracted. She couldn't help thinking of what the Guardian Heavenly King had said—and of another person. Who could that other person be? A martial world master?

The noisy chatter around her scattered her thoughts. She frowned:

"What is that sound?"

"Is it going to rain?"

The Lord of Agni said: "There is indeed some distant thunder, but it's not autumn yet—not even close to the rare rainy season in the Western Regions…" He frowned. Long Han'er looked up toward the distance—

The dry weather had darkened the sky with dust, yet far ahead, the land stretched endlessly, evoking a sense of open serenity. The Lord of Agni smiled: "Rest easy, Holy Maiden. Our Sacred Sect's power is immense."

"No ordinary sect can match it!"

Long Han'er nodded, still pondering the sound. The low thunder grew louder and louder. Martial guests and masters felt an unease they couldn't explain. Their mounts grew restless.

Even dragon-blooded dragon horses showed inexplicable agitation. The scouts sent out had not returned. Long Han'er's unease deepened.

Due to the sandstorm, visibility was low. Suddenly, a sharp cry of an eagle pierced the air. She looked up and saw a great eagle circling overhead—like the messenger of a god or hero from Western Region myths.

The mount of someone beside her reared violently, hooves crashing heavily to the ground.

Yet, inexplicably, the terrifying thunder-like sound ceased abruptly. The persistent noise at her ears vanished. This sudden silence amplified the unease instantly.

Long Han'er suddenly realized what the sound was.

The color drained visibly from her face. She saw figures burst forth from the sandstorm ahead. By coincidence, the endless sandstorm ahead shifted—revealing one man charging out!

His battle cloak billowed in the air; his divine steed shook its body. The man lifted his gaze. Simultaneously, the thunderous roar fell silent. Heaven and earth stilled. The faces of the Agni nobles turned ashen.

Thunder walked the heavens—but the earth's roar was that of a vast cavalry. Long Han'er saw behind the man countless warhorses standing in solemn silence. A chilling aura rose.

Their faces turned deathly pale as they stared at the halted army.

Li Guanyi stared at the city over ten li away, watching the hundreds of nobles and their thousands of elite soldiers—these were hardened troops, yet now their faces were filled only with fear.

"H-how many...!"

"A thousand? Five thousand?"

"Thirty thousand?"

It was one hundred thousand followers, Li Guanyi thought, as he raised his Weight in Hand, silently; behind him, the Nine Tribes of the Tiele, the Batu'er Clan, and many more tribes unbound their tied banners.

One after another, the great banners fell like clouds rolling down from the sky.

These banners, once destined to vanish into history, dim and forgotten, now returned once more behind the King, appearing upon this ancient, boundless land.

The Mo Sect's martial elites and these city-state nobles stared toward this place; they knew this region well, knew it had once been an endless, desolate desert stretching beyond sight—but now it was gone, not due to a sandstorm, but for other reasons.

Countless horses stood still, shifting their hooves and tossing their heads, stirring up billowing dust; people could feel the earth trembling, as if a furious tide surged beneath restraint.

And this furious tide had not yet broken forth, simply because the leader had not yet nodded.

These falling, rolling banners became the leader's cloak behind him.

Li Guanyi sat upon his divine steed, the golden Wang Yin at his waist glinting, his scaled armor and battle robe shimmering, the heavy iron spear in his hand, behind him, three thousand fully equipped golden curved-sword cavalry, tens of thousands of mounted raiders, unfolding in sequence, ancient banners like clouds falling from the sky, following in his wake.

Before this magnificent spectacle, all the martial heroes felt like ants trying to shake a tree, swallowed by fear in an instant.

On this day, everyone realized.

The difference between the world and the Jianghu.

Then Li Guanyi raised the weapon in his hand.

Pointing the spear's tip forward, he said:

"Follow me—charge!"

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? Peacefully lying dead