Chapter 387: You Have Lost!

Ye Buyi's eyes locked onto the sky, the blazing flames spewing violently, nearly scorching his will into agonizing pain—this shock was too immense, freezing his thoughts solid.

Fire Qilin?

Anxi City Lord, Li Guanyi?

Who?

For a moment, he could only stare blankly at the sky, utterly unresponsive.

No elation, no sorrow—only emptiness.

Just empty, as if all this were but a dream, as if the laughter of his youth, galloping over blue stone slabs, still echoed in his ears.

Zhou Liu's camp shouted: "Ye Buyi, are you trying to die?!"

A hook-sickle spear thrust from horseback, its tip spinning, wrapped in internal Qi bursting forth, blocking a Wolf King Captain's heavy slash—Ye Buyi's body reacted instinctively, spinning at once to strike back; the bitter scent of battle shattered his youthful memories.

They were no longer boys; they had no room for sentiment—only speed mattered now: they rode back and forth, fighting shoulder to shoulder. The Wolf King's Gray Wolves were elite to the core, and now entrenched, even they struggled to break through.

In Li Guanyi's hand, Chixiao Sword appeared.

Placed upon the Poyun Zhentian Bow.

A thunderous roar—Dragon and Tiger Law manifested simultaneously.

Fire Qilin, Chixiao Sword, Bai Hu and Chi Long—each layer confirmed this man was none other than Qin Wu Hou Li Guanyi himself, the true master of the Qilin Army; Chixiao Sword and Poyun Zhentian Bow had once been mortal enemies.

But this time, there was no more struggle.

First time stranger, second time familiar.

And this was already the third.

Chixiao Sword's spirit seemed almost numb, no longer resisting fiercely as before—merely held upon the bowstring by Li Guanyi, its overwhelming might erupted violently, as if thunder roared endlessly across the heavens.

The Divine General's martial vigor surged skyward, Bai Hu's Seven Mansions glowed bright, clouds churned and tumbled down.

Fire Qilin trod flame, thunder crashed into the flames, lightning and fire intertwined.

The power was immense.

The Wolf King grinned, then burst into loud laughter:

"Nephew, you've held this back for a full year—and now you just let it out?!"

Li Guanyi replied directly: "Your life, Uncle, is worth this price!"

Li Guanyi locked onto the Wolf King, his entire power surging, rising further.

【Huang Ji Jing Shi Shu】—Heavenly Flame Great Possession!

Facing the Wolf King, Li Guanyi unleashed the Wudao Sect's legendary transmitted art, forcibly merging his own essence with the Qilin's, uniting them as one—this moment's Realm, he could now briefly suppress and delay its explosion.

Eighth Heaven Li Guanyi, reinforced by the Nine Cauldrons' might.

Qilin Army's battle momentum bolstered.

Peak Seventh Heaven Fire Qilin power.

Wudao Sect's ultimate technique.

Layer upon layer of power converged; golden-red flames erupted from Chixiao Sword, roaring—behind Li Guanyi, the clouds in the sky burned into crimson fire clouds.

The Wolf King could no longer laugh; his expression solemn.

Gray Wolves howled to the heavens.

The Gray Wolf Army's battle spirit emerged, forming a colossal celestial wolf; the wolf raised its head and lunged at the general riding the Qilin through the air, stirring wind and clouds, howls unceasing.

At the same moment, the Qilin Army's Yuan Zhi altered the battle formation.

The Qilin Army's battle spirit's malevolent aura surged, transforming into a Qilin that lunged at the Gray Wolf.

The young strategist's face turned deathly pale; an old man beside him moved like a coiled dragon.

Though he commanded no troops, his fist and palm skills had reached the realm of transcendence; he made no mercy—single punch, single palm, flinging every Captain rushing toward him aside—it was Ximen Hengrong, the Wudao Sect Master who had returned to Jiangnan.

Now on the battlefield, serving as the personal guard to the Qilin Army's top strategist.

To prevent these elite strategists from being picked off one by one.

The young strategist watched the sky's transformation, his breath like smoke.

"Change formation!"

The Qilin Army's battle spirit roared, pinning down the Wolf King's momentum; Yuan Zhi extended his palm, his eyes seeming to perceive the entire realm's battle flow—the shifting, flowing, changing breaths of soldiers and Captains, one wave after another.

Interwoven, crisscrossing—it became a chessboard.

The battlefield is a chessboard.

A strategist must enter the game himself.

Yuan Zhi thought of how, before he came, others had urged him—as a strategist—not to set foot on the battlefield; yet if he did not come here, how could he aid his lord and rotate the battle array?

His mother was the one his lord personally went to rescue.

A soldier dies for one who understands him.

Five fingers clenched.

"Qilin Army, Yuan Zhi—Wolf King, I challenge you."

"Formation—activate!"

The Qilin's roar exploded, then instantly dispersed—the army reformed into eight divisions weaving back and forth, battle momentum shifting, armor plates clashing in a sudden, orderly rhythm like chains rattling.

They became chains, directly suppressing the Gray Wolf battle spirit.

The colossal Gray Wolf battle spirit was bound tight by the Eight Gates Golden Locks, unable to shift further; the white-haired Wolf King turned, altering his formation to counter this sudden move—but it was too late.

The bowstring's wail erupted like spring thunder from the ninth heavens, rolling outward.

Li Guanyi released his fingers; as the bowstring trembled, Chixiao Sword shot forth.

Its power reached its peak.

In the instant of release, it reached Ninth Heaven.

Boom!!!!!

Intense light nearly blinded those who stared directly; after accumulating such immense power, the Chi Xiao Sword transformed into a crimson-gold pillar, the Crimson Dragon let out a long roar, coiling around the pillar, and slammed straight down toward the location of the Wolf King!

Li Guanyi had no intention of killing the Wolf King.

But he knew clearly.

Not a single ounce of mercy could be spared.

Against such an opponent, giving one's all might still not guarantee victory—how could one dare harbor even a trace of侥幸 or hesitation?!

Under the overwhelming force of the attack, all things seemed to slow down; the Ghost Army of the Gray Wolves, trapped by the Eight Gates Golden Lock Array, writhed violently, lifting their heads to howl—yet the Eight Gates Golden Lock's transformations had already begun to crack.

Yuan Zhi's face was pale, blood trickling from his lips, as he desperately controlled the battle formation.

The pillar struck the Gray Wolf's third eye.

Then, the Gray Wolf Ghost Army, forged from the collective might of fifty thousand soldiers, froze; violent ripples spread outward from its center, the pillar and the spectral form locked in furious struggle, and with the glow of the ripples, the Gray Wolf Ghost Army slowly fragmented into the four directions.

The pillar formed by the Chi Xiao Sword also gradually diminished.

Finally, a sharp crack echoed, as if something had shattered.

A violent storm erupted from the point of impact, exploding violently in all directions—horses staggered, clouds and mists scattered.

The Gray Wolf Ghost Army was pierced straight through!

The Shooting-Tian-Lang pillar collapsed.

The Chi Xiao Sword, like a dragon, surged toward the Wolf King; the Wolf King yanked his divine steed around, summoned all his strength, and slashed down hard upon the Chi Xiao Sword—the sword's momentum weakened, its blade repelled the Wolf King's weapon, yet still pressed forward.

The Wolf King extended his left hand—and gripped the blade of the Chi Xiao Sword with brutal force!

His precious armor and arm guards could not halt the divine sword's edge.

Yet the Wolf King did not pause.

He merely strained with wild force, clamping down on the divine weapon.

Blood gushed from the Wolf King's hand.

But he showed no fear, gripping the sword with unyielding determination.

Finally, when the Chi Xiao Sword was merely three inches from his heart, it was seized—blood continuously dripped from the Wolf King's hand; he looked down with supreme arrogance, lifted the Chi Xiao Sword with one hand, and slammed it violently into the ground; his divine steed reared up on its hind legs, its white hair flowing, as it roared with laughter:

"Chi Xiao Sword? Not so impressive!"

"Nephew, you're still far from enough!"

His tone was full of mockery.

Yet his actions were decisive.

Without hesitation, he led his troops to break out toward the Western Regions; Li Guanyi exhausted his last breath, raised his hand, and the Broken-Cloud Thunderbow instantly transformed into golden light—his five fingers clenched, seizing the Tiger-Roaring Heaven Battle Spear.

Li Guanyi's vision blurred.

Even now, he had reached the point of exhaustion.

Yet he would never allow the Wolf King to leave so easily.

You say it is so, and it must be so? You make plans and they must succeed? You come when you wish, leave when you please, pay no price, move as if through your own kingdom?

The world does not work that way.

Moreover, one defeat, two defeats—if a third comes as well.

Then even he would be shaken deep within.

Facing a mighty foe, one draws the sword!

Charges forward with courage!

If he charged alone, stripped of the army's formation, even Li Guanyi could not possibly match the Wolf King—but now, Li Guanyi stared at the Wolf King's charge—

There, ten thousand more troops of the Western Regions waited.

Ten thousand—Li Guanyi had never truly commanded ten thousand, let alone an army so untrained, uncoordinated, and untested in unified warfare—but at this moment, Li Guanyi hardened his heart, made his decision.

The Everlasting Immortal Body, the Everlasting Immortality Elixir.

Push the divine power further!

The Fire Qilin no longer showed its former weakness; after being trained by Laoqilin Sect, its aura surged violently, roaring and howling, straining as if to squeeze out the last drop of strength from its bones.

The Fire Qilin stepped through the air; Li Guanyi held the battle spear, abandoned his army, and chased after the Wolf King alone.

At last, the Wolf King showed a change in expression.

"Good, good, good!"

"A fine Qin Wu Hou!"

The title he spoke, the title he now truly thought of, was no longer "nephew."

The Wolf King left twenty thousand Gray Wolf Guards to hold back thirty thousand Qilin Troops, plus the additional forces dispatched by Lu Youxian, forcibly balancing the situation, then led thirty thousand cavalry in a high-speed charge.

This famed general no longer showed calm composure, nor the mentorship of an elder toward a youth—only mastery of the battlefield's timing.

Only the crushing pressure of being pushed to the brink by another famed general.

That pressure, like fire burning his heart, that pursuit, like thunder crashing down, made the Wolf King's blood boil, a sharp pain prickling his third eye.

This was no mere junior.

This was an opponent!

The Wolf King—moved at high speed.

The Western Alliance.

Fan Qing's gaze locked tightly onto the Wolf King; even now, this thirty-something warlord retained a calm demeanor, his eyes fixed on the Wolf King, who had formed a spearhead formation and charged forward with heavily armored cavalry.

And above, Li Guanyi charging alone.

The concentrated volleys from the core of the Western Alliance had ceased; other units now sniped and harassed. Previously, Fan Qing had used war drums to assist the formation—the drumbeats continuous, adding threefold ferocity and solemnity.

But now, the ceaseless drumming had stopped, creating an extreme, oppressive pressure.

That silent, deadly intensity was even greater than before!

General Wang Shunchen of the Divine Shot drew his bow.

The Wolf King's army drew near, drew near—

Entered the volley range.

The soldiers were already wary, unsteady, nearly firing their arrows by instinct.

Fan Qing gripped the war drum tightly, yet did not move again, until the murderous aura of the Wolf King's vanguard struck, until the entire western frontier army felt that prickling sensation at their backs, their bodies tensing instinctively, fingers whitening around their war bows.

Three, two…

Closer, even closer.

Until the Wolf King's vanguard nearly reached the front line.

A flash of icy light exploded in Fan Qing's eyes.

He swung his drumstick and smashed it down hard!

A thunderous drumbeat.

In that instant, the western frontier troops, crushed by the Wolf King's pressure, had blank minds—but still executed their finest coordinated strike by instinct.

Like thunder exploding, the army's momentum surged in succession, and General Wang Shunchen of the Divine Shot fired a single arrow—then the entire army's force converged, ten thousand arrows flying in unison, guided by the formation, pulled by the Divine Shot General.

It became a roaring, snarling lion.

Wolf Wang Chen Fubì's pupils shrank violently.

Still an interception?!

The instant volleys, the ten-thousand-strong army's cascading outburst—even though the final command cohesion did not reach true ten-thousand-army levels, it still neared fifty thousand.

This was a power utterly beyond what any mere martial sect could ever achieve.

The Wolf King had no choice but to gather his formation's momentum.

Change formation—Ten Directions Black Armor!

The Gray Wolf Guards withstood this volley.

General Wang Shunchen's arrow was split clean in two by the Wolf King's blade; the Wolf King consolidated his troops and pressed forward, the Gray Wolf Guards shattered Fan Qing's formation momentum. The Wolf King's gaze swept across—he noticed all thirty thousand of his elite were wounded, their battle aura reduced to less than seventy percent of peak strength.

Moreover, the speed of this high-mobility cavalry formation was continuously being reduced.

This was an even more fatal situation.

Fan Qing's face turned ashen, his breath ragged.

His yuan shen's essence, spirit, and vigor could no longer support another outburst. The Wolf King led his troops, making himself the vanguard, charging straight into the western frontier army. The various Khans, who had previously obeyed Fan Qing's orders, now fought independently out of terror—and none were a match for the Wolf King.

The Wolf King tore through the western alliance army and broke out directly.

He stood blocking, looking down with disdain.

Fan Qing still tried to forcibly control the formation—but pain stabbed his third eye, his vision went black, he staggered, nearly collapsing to his knees. General Wang Shunchen caught him and said: "You are at the Fourth Heaven realm; commanding one hundred thousand troops is already your limit."

"We have already fulfilled our duty of restraining the Wolf King."

"Moreover, managing this formation is not merely the role of a strategist—it is the duty of a general, bearing the burden of the formation's murderous aura. If you go on, you will collapse yourself."

But Fan Qing suddenly slammed a fist down hard, struggling to his feet.

Wang Shunchen fell silent.

Fan Qing gasped for breath, steadying himself on the battlefield, then drew his sword from his waist, gripping it in his palm, eyes blazing with fury—he slashed down hard. Blood fell, the sting jolted his spirit, briefly restoring cohesion. Fan Qing clenched his fist, blood dripping, his hair and beard bristling as he roared:

"Collapse?!"

"We rose from dozens of men, fought our way here—every enemy we faced was stronger than us. If we fell whenever we couldn't hold on, how could we honor what we've endured? How could we honor those who fell beside us?"

"This body has fought over a hundred battles across the western frontier and southern lands!"

"Which one wasn't won from a situation where we were on the verge of collapse? In this chaotic age, if you lie down whenever you can't hold on, how will you ever succeed?"

His scattered spirit, under the sting, barely coalesced.

Fan Qing desperately reorganized the formation, gritting his teeth:

"Tiance Prefecture, Fire Qilin Army—Fan Qing."

"I challenge you—!"

Fan Qing locked his gaze on the Wolf King's charging direction, raised his hand—and in an instant, commanded seven thousand troops, using them as the core anchor, spreading outward. The entire hundred-thousand-strong army instantly came under his control, then performed the same maneuver.

Discard bows, raise shields, form formation.

Charge forward!

Flanks, charge forward!

Boom!!!!!

Shield infantry charged from the flanks.

The Wolf King's charging cavalry flanks were slammed hard by the heavy shields, murderous aura erupting.

The Wolf King's high-mobility cavalry.

Slowed again.

The western army's formation aura shattered, men and horses overturned.

This transformation stirred hearts. General Wang Shunchen watched, blood boiling, his body trembling—such a battle between rival nations, both sides risking everything, even in the era of the Peaceful Army, would still qualify as a true great war.

He turned his head and saw Fan Qing, leaning on his saber, standing tall and unyielding.

His expression solemn, majestic as Rushan. The western army, seeing Fan Qing's posture, felt calm, no longer in disarray, each unit regrouping.

This is what a true commander is.

Not necessarily the one who commands the most, nor the one with the strongest Wu Gong.

But always the most critical core of the entire army.

Still as Rushan, moving like Lei Ting.

The General of Divine Archery could not help but feel admiration: "General Fan Qing, order a withdrawal. The Western Regions army has done its utmost—it can fight no longer…"

There was no reply.

Wang Shunchen froze: "General Fan Qing? Fan Qing…"

He seemed to sense something wrong, reached out, and pressed his hand against Fan Qing's shoulder. The iron-willed war general staggered, his body collapsing sideways. Wang Shunchen's face turned pale; only when he confirmed Fan Qing still lived did he exhale in relief.

Only then did he realize: Fan Qing had truly reached his absolute limit.

The Fire Qilin Army's war general, Fan Qing, collapsed from exhaustion.

Even now, he clutched his weapon tightly.

Had he not undergone constant herbal purification by Shi Dalin, he would have died from exhaustion.

Wang Shunchen supported him, sighing inwardly: such valor—even the Peace Army had never seen such a thing. Perhaps because the world had grown more chaotic than decades past, the younger generation of war generals now possessed greater boldness and resolve.

Yet suddenly, he sensed a change, his expression slightly stunned.

Wang Shunchen lowered his head.

He stared rigidly at the aura emanating from Fan Qing—his soul force was birthing anew, signifying that this war general, born of the lowest pedigree, had utterly shattered the ceiling of the Fourth Heaven, transcending into higher realms—Current Realm—

At thirty, Fifth Heaven.

The Manifestation appeared prematurely—

A majestic lion, wreathed in thunder, stood silently beside Fan Qing.

Solemn as Rushan.

The Yu Langwang led his forces, having broken through the Western Regions Alliance's blockade; yet this cavalry, derived from the Night Gallop Corps and built upon stealth and high-speed raiding, finally lost all momentum—the battlefield aura of the formation plummeted straight down.

Fiery flames swept across the sky. Li Guanyi rose, descending from the Fire Qilin.

Clutching the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear, he poured every ounce of his courage and strength, falling like a meteor toward the Yu Langwang. At this moment, the divine weapon in the hands of the overlord had fully awakened its ancient power, matching the overlord's own legendary might.

The Canglang Guard cavalry formation's strength had dropped to only half its original.

The Yu Langwang turned to intercept.

His formation aura was split open by a single strike from Li Guanyi. The Yu Langwang's pupils contracted—he instantly realized that even now, Li Guanyi still bore battlefield aura. He sharply turned his gaze toward the scattered Western Regions army, and an unthinkable thought formed in his mind.

Could the Western Regions army's battlefield aura also be bestowed upon Li Guanyi?!

Not an alliance!

But a sovereign!

In that instant, there was no time to ponder the terrifying implications of this conclusion. The Yu Langwang summoned all his strength, swung his divine weapon, and slashed horizontally—colliding directly with Li Guanyi's battle spear. The surrounding air surged violently; the Canglang Guard's elite were thrown off their mounts.

The Yu Langwang strained to hold his ground against Li Guanyi, no longer calm or composed.

This boy…

Damn it, he's more troublesome than his father!

No wonder he was granted the title "Wu"!

As the Yu Langwang and Li Guanyi clashed fiercely, the Yu Langwang's pupils contracted—he suddenly felt searing heat behind him, his eyes snapping wide.

The Yu Langwang's flank was thrown into chaos.

The Fire Qilin appeared at the Yu Langwang's side.

The Fire Qilin who, in their first encounter, had been humiliated by the old wolf king with a single hand.

It held a deep grudge.

The Fire Qilin was born of the Confucian school, Gongyang tradition.

The Fire Qilin pressed its paw, revealing its divine beast form, opened its mouth, its throat now glowing gold-red. Its once-crimson-gold eyes locked onto the Yu Langwang's back, curling into a snarl.

A gentleman seeks revenge after ten years—but I am not human.

A good qilin seeks revenge—from dawn to dusk!

Here's your punishment!

"Eat it, little master!!!"

A torrent of blazing fire erupted. Li Guanyi roared in unison, pouring every last ounce of strength, his eyes bulging with fury.

The Yu Langwang lifted his head and roared, unleashing his full power.

Time seemed to slow. The surrounding sounds faded—only the violent pounding of his heart remained, the howling wind, the ringing of swords and spears.

Chen State, Ying State, battlefield, court, past, future.

That court and wilderness, those heroes and champions, those conspiracies, those passions, those rivalries, those games of strategy.

They seemed to pass in turn—frozen.

And then—

Shattered by this spear!

BOOM!!!!!

The aura exploded, the battle spirits scattered.

The Yu Langwang and his steed were flung backward. The famed general fell from his mount, tumbling through the air several times before his back slammed violently into a hill—cracking the low peak wide open, blood spurting from his mouth.

His blood and qi churned—the Yu Langwang's weakest point was always his physical body.

The mountain rock shattered.

The Yu Langwang landed, driving his weapon hard into the ground, his gaze sharp and piercing.

Li Guanyi gasped heavily, his hands still trembling as he gripped the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear.

Completely drained.

The thirty-thousand-man formation still surrounded Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin, yet all were stunned by this scene. The Western Regions Alliance watched as the invincible Yu Langwang's aura dissipated, blazing flames surging skyward—his former might had been so overwhelming that the shock now was immense.

Many Khans trembled, kneeling on one knee and crying out "Tian Kehan!"

Li Guanyi still gasped for breath.

His eyes blazed like torches.

He gripped his battle halberd tightly, raised it, and pressed it against Yu Langwang's throat:

"You are defeated!"

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