Chapter 369

A calm, indifferent voice, laced with blatant mockery of these noble faces, left the slaves stunned as they stared at the nobleman high above, now reduced to a corpse.

A great spray of blood spurted out; the surrounding nobles and warriors turned pale.

It's over, it's over…

Thought the child held by Li Guanyi.

These nobles were so fierce, so powerful, like gods towering above.

He had once seen his best friend killed slowly, whipped to death by a noble for accidentally bumping into the noble's carriage while picking up a piece of rotten meat from the ground.

There was also an older man, dressed in black, barefoot, claiming to be from the Mohist school, carrying a great sword, standing among the common folk, saying he would lead them all away, planning to escape together on a certain day.

But in the end, he was forced to step forward when the nobles threatened to kill the slaves.

That bearded man was hung up and slowly flayed to death.

With the dullest blade dipped in saltwater, they cut away his flesh, slice by slice.

But the child still remembered what happened then—he had never seen such courage, never seen such resolve; even as his entire body was stripped of flesh, he still sang loudly until his last breath.

Singing words he didn't understand, his eyes blazing like fire.

What was that phrase called… Datong?

For some reason, he seemed to forget it.

Such violent nobles, when their gates were bumped into, flew into such rage.

Now that one of them has been killed, they will surely go mad.

The child's face turned white; instinctively, he prepared to drop to his knees as he had before, pressing his forehead to the ground, burying his face in mud and water, tensing his body, waiting for the whip to fall.

Waiting for the nobles' mercy, waiting for their forgiveness.

But the strength in his hand prevented him from kneeling.

Warm, powerful.

Then he saw the proud, noble, godlike nobles turn pale; one by one, these lofty figures knelt on the ground, some even pressing their foreheads to the earth.

Like slaves.

Hao Yuan Xia's expression was complex.

The nobles treated people as slaves.

Then treated themselves as the Emperor's slaves.

This was the custom of the Western Regions.

They didn't just look down on others—they placed themselves as a single link in the world's rule.

But these men had noticed Li Guanyi had no troops entering the city; the chief noble still dared not kneel, only staring at the man holding the long spear, clad in legend, a general revered as a war god in the Western Regions, whose fame was immense.

"Though you have entered, you brought no troops—we cannot recognize you as king."

"Moreover, even if you truly were the Martial Emperor of our Great Xia of the Western Regions, no precedent exists of you striking down nobles—how could you possibly seize all our wealth at once?"

"We can give you a portion, but never all of it."

Li Guanyi looked at him; the world's affairs were never this simple—in this small city, hearts were divided, the so-called slaves trembled in fear; among the nobles, each had their own hidden agendas, chaotic and tangled.

Li Guanyi saw the numbness in the slaves' eyes.

Holding the spear, Li Guanyi suddenly understood.

In their eyes, he was no different from these so-called great nobles—oppressing others with force, seizing people, gathering them under his command.

It was merely changing from being a slave here to being a slave there.

Li Guanyi lowered his gaze, looking at the trembling person he held, then fell silent and said: "I buy them."

The chief noble froze, looking up at him: "Are you certain?"

"How many do you wish to buy?"

Li Guanyi answered: "All of them."

The chief noble opened his mouth to speak, but Li Guanyi raised his hand, letting a single Wang Yin hang down—it was the secret key of the Tangxi Kingdom, the original Wang Yin of Tangxi; its presence drew every eye in an instant.

The nobles, some standing, some kneeling, all stared at the object in Li Guanyi's hand like beasts spotting meat; the air fell utterly silent, the phoenix's spiritual form circling around Li Guanyi.

No one dared cross the line.

Li Guanyi said: "Is this enough?"

"More than enough!"

The chief nobles suddenly shouted:

"Quick, bring all the slaves here!"

Winds rose, clouds surged—the entire lifeless city seemed to awaken.

Hao Yuan Xia seemed to realize something, staring in disbelief at his greedy master; he opened his mouth, confused, lost, whispering: "Why not just take it by force…?"

"Master, you clearly wanted these gold pieces."

Wen He did not answer.

The slaves were far too numerous; this place could not hold them all. Li Guanyi ordered Hao Yuan Xia to bring out all the gold and silver from the royal treasury—these symbols of wealth and power piled up like pebbles.

The largest among the nobles, named Xianyu Vanguard Commander, said: "Then all the slave contracts are here, our slaves are handed over to you—now give us the gold and the Wang Yin."

Li Guanyi said: "Let them come and take the gold themselves."

"Redeem themselves."

Xianyu Vanguard Commander didn't understand the point; he laughed: "They will be your slaves, you their master—your paying to buy them is only natural."

Li Guanyi replied: "They are their own masters."

"So they must redeem themselves."

Xianyu Vanguard Commander couldn't help sneering inside.

What a foolish, rigid Central Plains merchant—slaves no better than cattle or sheep, willing to trade gold and the Wang Yin? What an absurdly losing deal!

But the Wang Yin is there, and the legitimacy is there!

They naturally wish to trade.

Exchange these so-called hundreds of thousands of slaves for the legitimacy of the Wang.

There is no greater or more profitable deal under heaven.

The slaves had their chains removed; from the great nobles, they stumbled toward Li Guanyi, then reached out and carefully picked up a piece of gold—this gold and silver from the Tangxiang state treasury soon began to vanish.

Xianyu Vanguard Commander ordered: "Bring me the gold!"

Li Guanyi whispered: "Throw it to them."

The two sides' words left the slaves bewildered; Li Guanyi smiled, picked up a stone, weighed it in his hand, then directly pushed them—slightly, in the manner of a military formation.

They threw the gold away, as if hurling it at stray dogs.

But the nobles rushed to pick up and fight over the gold.

The scene descended into chaos.

Li Guanyi laughed freely; beside him, the young slave stared blankly at this scene, at the merchant's back, and the merchant seemed to sense his gaze—he turned, and released the boy's hand.

"Don't bow your head anymore. Don't kneel again."

"Lift your head. Look—what do you see?"

The Central Plains merchant's voice was warm and calm.

So the young slave lifted his head; for the first time in years, his eyes no longer saw muddy earth, no longer whips, no longer blood—but boundless sky, and beneath it, the merchant's back.

"The Eternal Heaven…"

Hao Yuan Xia felt a pang of pity and said:

"There won't be much gold or silver left…"

Li Guanyi, who once starved himself to lead Nangong Wumeng in raiding desert bandits and delivering them to Fan Qing, who scrimped and saved with meticulous care, now seemed to utterly disdain the gold and silver capable of corrupting countless heroes' ambitions.

He stood there; gold and silver meant nothing to him, no more than sand and soil.

His gaze carried the vastness of the open sky.

Hao Yuan Xia was utterly stunned.

Wen He watched this scene, pointed a finger at the child beside Li Guanyi, and suddenly said: "Pity. Pity—this child will die a violent death."

Hao Yuan Xia froze: "What?"

Wen He replied: "Today he saw this sight, saw his lord's back. Even if he dies on the battlefield for his lord tomorrow, he will not hesitate for a moment."

"And if he survives, from now until the year his hair turns white, he will be his lord's finest warrior."

"Even if not on the battlefield."

"Even if not in the Tiance Prefecture, not in the Fire Qilin Army."

"Even others are like this."

Wen He suddenly smiled: "Pity. Pity—they are merely enslaved here, heads bowed, treated like oxen and horses. Though their lives are unbearable, their hearts are equally closed, so they feel nothing."

"But now that they've met our lord, they suddenly feel the pain of their surroundings, they grow restless, they devote themselves wholeheartedly to that dream, rushing forward, dying without regret."

A change from within.

Truly…

Hao Yuan Xia said: "Is this not better than staying here?"

Wen He did not answer, only said: "This gold and silver is the blade our lord uses to shatter the chains in their hearts—he will not hesitate. Only thus is he my Master Wen Qingyu. Yuan Xia, haven't you understood yet?"

"What is the legitimacy of the Wang Hou to our lord?"

Wen He spoke these words, his voice gentle, his gaze disdainful.

Hao Yuan Xia looked.

Li Guanyi raised his hand and casually tossed the Wang Yin away; the nobles surged forward to fight over the Wang Yin's legitimacy. Li Guanyi lifted his eyes toward the high ground, where Wen He and Hao Yuan Xia stood.

Wealth seized is fleeting.

Around him stood the common people.

Great poverty, great wealth—like dragons, like tigers.

True my lord.

The greatest talents of the world all possess pride and integrity; not just anyone can earn their loyalty. Wen He bowed respectfully, then softly said: "Tell me—"

"Which side carries the aura of the Wang?"

"Hao Yuan Xia."

Li Guanyi abandoned the Jin Yin, leading his new people and grain together through the passage, departing. The rebel army would storm the city at any moment; Li Guanyi had no time to waste, nor any wish to speak a single word to the nobles drowning in desire.

And several days earlier:

Yu Langwang gazed at the Western Regions map in his hand; the accumulated wealth of the Western tribes had formed a coalition, which he had shattered through profit and ambition, and now it was advancing toward the last territory he had not yet swallowed.

If Tangxiang State fell, even if the Western tribes withdrew, his strategic goal would be achieved—he would hold this vital stronghold, balancing both the steppe and Chen State.

The armies and commanders of the Western Regions valued different things than the warlords of the Central Plains.

Chen Wenmian and Xiao Wu Liang entered the war tent.

Even though Yu Langwang commanded five hundred thousand troops, his quarters remained simple and plain: only the most basic bed, table, and bookshelf—no luxury, no indulgence, utterly humble.

The map lay spread upon the table.

At its center stood Ducheng of Tangxiang State.

Arrows pointed at the city from all directions, signifying that Yu Langwang's strategic goal was nearly complete—his great momentum fully formed: inward, he would choke the Western Regions; outward, he would occupy the critical pass and balance the steppe and Chen State.

He preserved his army's strength to guard against true rivals across the realm, while this Western Regions campaign guided the coalition to act.

The strategy of driving the tiger to devour the wolf.

Yu Langwang said: "Wu Liang, Wenmian—you've come. Sit."

He wore armor here too, but his brow lacked much of its former ferocity; he seemed like a simple, amiable old man who loved dates and strong green tea. Xiao Wuliang reported the strategy, and the Yu Langwang tossed a date into his tea cup and said:

"What strategic movements have there been in Anxi recently?"

Xiao Wuliang said: "None."

The Yu Langwang said: "Ah, I see…"

He stared at the map, at the Dangxiang Wang Cheng, and said: "If that's the case, I suspect Li Guanyi is already here in this Wang Cheng. Such a vortex of great destiny—he would never abandon it."

Chen Wenmian said: "But does Li Guanyi also want to become king of the Western Regions?"

The Yu Langwang suddenly said: "If that's true, then it's even better."

"Whatever king he wants, I'll give him that king."

"If he's Li Wanli's son, he'll probably go to rescue them…"

Xiao Wuliang stared in shock: "But no large army has been reported moving."

The Yu Langwang mused: "As for Dangxiang, I know of a secret tunnel. Five hundred years ago, when the Red Emperor was besieged by the steppe, my Chen ancestors and the Xue ancestors—two Divine Generals—dug it together to link the city's interior and exterior."

"If Li Wanli's son has old ties to the Xue family, he might know of it."

Chen Wenmian said: "But, Commander, this strategy is far too risky."

The Yu Langwang looked kindly at his son: "Among the world's top generals, who hasn't executed a strategy others deemed impossible? If anyone could achieve what they did, how could they be famed across the land?"

Chen Wenmian had no rebuttal. Xiao Wuliang was ordered to mobilize troops; Chen Wenmian followed to assist. The Yu Langwang watched them depart, murmuring: "Pity… pity…"

"You have the heart to save the people. Here, you're no worse than Li Guanyi. But the difference between you is this: Li Guanyi will try. My son, you cannot even defy your own father."

He fell silent for a long while, sighed deeply, and merely stared at the map.

The Yu Langwang's army mobilized—ready to conclude!

With the Western Regions' great tide nearly complete, they would use it as a foundation to step onto the whole realm. But just days after mobilization, at this final, grand moment, Xiao Wuliang rushed back and reported: "Anxi has moved!"

The Yu Langwang lifted his gaze. Xiao Wuliang's expression was calm:

"As our forces mobilized, all sixty-plus cities in Anxi deployed troops. The commander is a young Central Plains warrior—he wears a crimson battle robe embroidered with Fire Qilin patterns…"

"He possesses the tactical command ability of a hundred-thousand-strong formation!"

"And he's advancing toward our rear."

The Yu Langwang spoke slowly: "Fire Qilin Army. Yuan Zhi."

Arriving at the battlefield!

Unfolding the map, the Yu Langwang picked up his brush, dipped it in red ink, and drew several lines. The current situation: centered on the Dangxiang Wang Cheng, dozens of arrows encircled it as part of the Yu Langwang's final strategy.

The Yu Langwang intended to swallow this land, so his forces advanced toward the Dangxiang Wang Cheng.

Among the sixty cities under Anxi's command, crimson arrows now pointed at the Yu Langwang's rear. The situation stalled. The Yu Langwang suddenly laughed: "The mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind—what a huge appetite, what a grand move! You even see me as the mantis."

"A madman's tactic!"

"If he has such audacity, he's surely allied with the Ying State's Duke's Mansion. Once our army moves, we'll be crushed between two fronts."

Xiao Wuliang and Chen Wenmian watched the situation grow suddenly fierce, like opposing spears. The Yu Langwang was effectively neutralized—though no direct clash had occurred, their strategists and commanders were already clashing.

More perilous than open warfare.

This is what is called "temple calculation."

This is what "attacking strategy, attacking diplomacy" means.

Unlike the current battle in the Western Regions—this is not "attacking troops."

The Yu Langwang bit into a steamed date, speaking lightly:

"Yuan Zhi of the Fire Qilin Army once swallowed the entire Jiangnan region with the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation. He's one of the rare strategists today capable of managing large-scale battlefields. Had his Wu Gong not been insufficient to bear the formation's burden, he'd rank among the top thirty generals."

"I'll guess: given Jiang Wanxiang's nature, the long-idle piece He Ruo Qinhu must have been placed in the Ying State's Duke's Mansion by now. Hmph… Yuan Zhi's hundred-thousand Anxi troops, He Ruo Qinhu's Ying border army."

"Central Plains generals still stir the spirit."

"This is interesting."

Xiao Wuliang's expression tightened. Chen Wenmian gripped his weapon.

He Ruo Qinhu plus Yuan Zhi could shatter their combined force.

This was a pairing capable of restraining the Yu Langwang amid the chaotic tide—the strongest strategists and generals of Jiangnan, and the Fifth Divine General of the realm, allied.

Chen Wenmian felt the surging tide of the world.

One hair pulled, the whole body trembles. They were not beasts to be driven off by wolves—they were tigers and leopards, fierce and formidable. Precisely because of that, this was true struggle.

The Yu Langwang laughed: "Now I understand."

"To attack without attacking—merely a distraction. Li Guanyi's strategists are cunning. Now I'm certain: Li Guanyi, Li Wanli's son, is right here in the Dangxiang Wang Cheng!"

"The mastermind of Anxi is putting on this show to intimidate us."

"When wind and clouds gather, how could I not go?"

Xiao Wuliang said: "Lord—!"

The Yu Langwang, Chen Fubi, laughed loudly: "You hold the main army here. I'll take only five thousand light cavalry to see what this nephew of mine is truly made of." Xiao Wuliang felt the sharpness in the Yu Langwang's gaze.

Since last time, the Yu Langwang had grown even more respectful of Li Guanyi.

Respect so great that, when given the chance, he'd sacrifice a certain level of gain just to break him.

………………

Li Guanyi gathered all the civilians and, after nearly ten days of relentless day-and-night travel, emerged from the tunnel. Anxi troops had already awaited them, with horses and carts ready.

Li Guanyi personally brought up the rear. As he and Yao Guang stepped out, Master Siming was still speaking—but Li Guanyi suddenly felt a bone-deep chill. He raised his hand, and golden light swirled within his palm.

The divine weapon reappeared—suddenly slashing down!

【Crush Mountain】!

Boom!!!

Li Guanyi felt his halberd strike something. A colossal force surged back—he felt his palms tremble, his blood churn—but this time, he held it.

Li Guanyi lifted his gaze to the high ground beside the fleeing civilians, where an old man rode a tall gray divine steed, gripping a battle bow and looking down upon him, while the Wolf Guard cavalry behind him raised their weapons and locked onto Li Guanyi.

Yu Langwang, Chen Fubì.

Fierce, cruel, domineering.

Under the spontaneous alliance of Pojun, Yuan Zhi, and He Ruo Qinhu, he had plunged deep alone to intercept Li Guanyi; the aged divine general smiled: "Nephew, your forces are far too few."

He had originally intended to slaughter these civilians and disrupt the situation, but as he gazed at the young general standing firm with his halberd, for some reason, he vaguely saw a long-lost friend—and so this cunning, ruthless divine general chose not to immediately kill these civilians.

"It's truly like him…"

Chen Fubì murmured: "Truly, the likeness of an old friend."

"But alas, like your father, you've thrown yourself into this trap trying to save so-called civilians. A man of noble stature does not sit where danger looms. Nephew, this time, the tide has already turned."

"I won't let you go this time."

"Let me teach you, young one: remember, think thrice before you act!"

The Wolf Heavy Cavalry surged with majestic might, their battle formation empowering Yu Langwang as he swung his divine weapon and charged toward Li Guanyi—the pinnacle of the Ninth Heaven's Grand Master, amplified by the battle formation's lethal aura and the might to topple nations, struck at Li Guanyi with ferocity!

Li Guanyi seemed unable to react; he simply stood still before this strike.

The wolf king's blade slashed down, unleashing a storm of air—but this technique, capable of shattering even a famed general of the Seventh Heaven unaided by troops, failed to land on Li Guanyi.

Ripples spread across Li Guanyi's body, expanding into a formation, the formation endlessly connected, until a hand slowly reached out and seized the wolf king's blade.

Beneath the blade's edge, the formation shattered continuously.

Yet it regenerated at even greater speed.

Boom!!!

Two of the world's most supreme energies erupted—Yu Langwang's eyes narrowed as he saw a silver-haired man suddenly appear beside Li Guanyi, his brow sharp and indifferent, one hand gripping the weapon Yu Langwang had swung down.

The greatest array master of a thousand years, Zhen Kui!

Li Guanyi raised his gaze; the sword qi of Chixiao erupted: "Then, Uncle, how do you think I wasn't prepared?" As the Fisherman controlled the wolf king's blade, the light of Chixiao's sword slashed sideways.

Flames of energy erupted.

Hao Yuan Xia and others changed expression; the civilians stirred in unrest. Li Guanyi raised his weapon and said: "Hao Yuan Xia, receive my order!"

Hao Yuan Xia froze, staring fixedly at the mounted figure over there; even the civilians turned to look at Li Guanyi. He said: "The rebel troops are about to enter the city. Take them, hurry to the rendezvous point, and return within Anxi's borders."

"There is no time to waste!"

The young general said: "This is my command."

"Do not look back!"

"Survive. Live until Anxi City."

Live until spring blooms, live until the snow on the mountains melts into streams flowing across the earth—survive. As long as you live, you will still see the future.

Li Guanyi's dark temple hairs lifted as the Qilin's divine form spread its wings, circling and howling around him; the world's famed generals raised their weapons, their gazes locked unblinkingly on Yu Langwang. He smiled, whispering:

"Give me this honor."

"I will hold the rear for you."

All of them remembered that day's words, saw the silhouette beneath the Qilin's outstretched wings—even when old and near death, they never forgot. Hao Yuan Xia's nose grew stiff with emotion: "Yes!"

"Your servant obeys your lord's command!!"

He turned, his eyes red, carrying his Zhan Ye Dao: "Go!!!"

Yu Langwang withdrew, his eyes cold, staring at Li Guanyi, then at the Fisherman who had stepped into the mortal world. The Ninth Heaven's peak Wolf King gripped his weapon, feeling his blood boil.

He looked at Li Guanyi—not as Tai Ping Gong's son anymore.

Li Guanyi gripped his weapon.

The Fourth Divine General, five thousand of the most elite frontline troops, Ninth Heaven Grand Master.

One who pierced the heart's illusion, the Array Sovereign, the legendary Fisherman of the Jianghu.

The world's strongest combat power, here.

One battle!

The air surged!

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