Chapter 401

In the Western Regions battlefield, the moment Jiang Su saw Gu Daohui, he realized that the ancient wolf had made the same choice as himself—yet this time, the opponent was fiercer, more desperate.

The Wolf King's strategy did not merely aim to sever the tide of the world and cut off Ying Country's vitality.

It also severed his own vitality.

For both others and himself, he left not a single inch of room—this was the very spirit of the world's supreme general. Jiang Su sought to retreat, but Gu Daohui's body had become a quagmire, trapping Jiang Su's weapon in place for a single, frozen instant.

Behind the Divine General, Li Guanyi understood what had transpired—the young man's forehead twitched—after the Divine General had deceived heaven and earth, the Wolf King had slipped through the Chen Cang Pass; both were ruthless men. Li Guanyi suddenly understood why the Wolf King refused to ally with them.

Why had Xiao Wuliang's face turned ashen the moment he saw him, ordering him to retreat immediately.

This place was a death trap!

A death trap prepared for Jiang Su—and for the Wolf King's army.

Wherever the Wolf King was now, he was unquestionably a position more critical than Anxi City in the Western Regions, one capable of striking at Ying Country's fate and the world's balance—and thus, Jiang Su's next move was certain.

Turn back immediately and intercept the Wolf King!

Or kill Li Guanyi, then turn back and intercept the Wolf King!

Until now, all assessments held that the Wolf King's army, though fierce, ultimately lacked stamina after its initial surge—its depth insufficient to wage war against a great nation, destined to be worn down.

But everyone had unconsciously ignored one premise.

Did the Wolf King still care for his own life?

If he still cherished his life, yearned to consolidate power, seize the world, or become a regional overlord, then he must calculate carefully, weigh his strategy—but if he cared nothing for consequences…

Then the great nation's depth and vast army would become a burden.

Precisely because of its size, it could not respond swiftly.

Jiang Su must turn back!

Li Guanyi swiftly assessed the situation—and the next instant, his body reacted: the Nine Provinces Cauldron's enhancement, the Wolf King's army's momentum, converged into one—the Fire Qilin raised its head and roared, Lei Ting exploded, Li Guanyi's aura fused violently with the Fire Qilin's.

Through the method of the Huang Ji Jing Shi Shu, he pushed to the limit, reaching the Ninth Heaven.

He spun and slashed—the Tiger Roar Heaven Halberd reached the power it once held in the hands of the overlord, unleashing a surge of violent, thunderous roars, gathering all momentum to cleave straight down upon Jiang Su's head!

Simultaneously, Xiao Wuliang, already gravely wounded, gritted his teeth.

He stepped forward, his Weight in Hand spear tearing through empty space, emitting a chorus of hissing roars—his qi condensed into a spear nearly formed from gales and flowing light.

Wind and Thunder shook as one!

Li Guanyi's halberd slashed at Jiang Su's neck, aiming to sever his head.

Xiao Wuliang's final act of courageous ferocity pierced through Jiang Su's back!

With Gu Daohui's full strength locked in desperate hold, the three strikes converged—the Fire Qilin roared, the Divine General Jiang Su raised his brows, his aura detonated, a thunderous roar erupting as a pillar of light shot skyward, wind and thunder entwined around it.

Immense force surged through the divine weapon.

Li Guanyi saw only blinding white, heard the roar of Lei Ting in his ears—the searing sound slowly faded, his vision gradually returned, and all who witnessed it turned pale.

The world's foremost general, Jiang Su, sat atop his divine steed.

His divine weapon, Ji Mie, pierced through Gu Daohui; his left arm rose, effortlessly pinching Xiao Wuliang's full-force thrust—Li Guanyi's concentrated strike had not even touched Jiang Su's body.

A visible sphere of three-foot-wide aura coalesced.

With this unparalleled, overwhelming aura, he had forcibly held back Li Guanyi and the Fire Qilin's combined strike—the Tiger Roar Heaven Halberd nearly bent in half, its blade crackling with Lei Ting.

But this did not mean Li Guanyi's technique was inferior to Xiao Wuliang's.

It was because Jiang Su had activated the power of Wu Gong legend!

Wu Gong legend, amplified by the army's momentum.

This was the Divine General in full state—the invincible man of the world… Li Guanyi felt his palms vibrate, his internal organs struck, a faint metallic tang in his mouth.

Yet precisely because of this.

Li Guanyi felt everything within him stir—he sensed the Wu Gong legend qi transmitted by the Wolf King, now activated and swirling, transforming within his body under Jiang Su's pressure.

His body's foundation was the indestructible physique of the Wu Gong legend: the Green Robe Immortal.

The two auras merged, resisting Jiang Su's divine might.

A ripple flickered in Jiang Su's eyes—Li Guanyi's strike had forced him to instinctively deploy Wu Gong legend techniques. Li Guanyi clenched his teeth, knowing that alone, he stood no chance against the commanding Divine General.

His gaze shifted—he used the point of contact between his halberd and Jiang Su's weapon as a fulcrum.

The Tiger Roar Heaven Halberd jolted violently—Li Guanyi leapt into the air, both feet snapping together to kick the divine steed's head. This steed was a mythical beast, capable of devouring tigers and wolves, and Jiang Su had always cherished it dearly.

Yet this boy had unleashed a strike of Ninth Heaven's might.

His feet crushed wind and thunder.

The force could have shattered a small hill—the steed did not even scream before its head exploded. Jiang Su's face twisted in shock and fury. Li Guanyi seized the moment to retreat, landing atop the Fire Qilin.

The Fire Qilin did not hesitate—it spat a stream of azure flame.

Eat this, old man!

Jiang Su punched the Fire Qilin's flame into shreds.

Li Guanyi assessed the strategy—he knew he had walked into a death trap, understood Jiang Su's plan, and knew Jiang Su would now retreat at high speed; they must delay him as much as possible.

But Jiang Su's edge was unmatched—he had charged through the Wolf King's army with his Wu Gong legend body, unstoppable, impossible to confront head-on.

Especially now that the Wolf King's army morale had collapsed.

As a general, Li Guanyi had come alone—if facing Yuwen Lie, he might still have a chance. But against Jiang Su—the Divine General whose troops, army momentum, and individual martial prowess all surpassed his own—

Li Guanyi must learn from Duke Li: retreat like the wind.

Only with the army's support could he hope to resist.

Li Guanyi shouted: "General Xiao, General Gu, retreat!"

"I'll cover your rear!"

Xiao Wuliang swallowed blood—but Gu Daohui suddenly stepped forward, gripping Jiang Su's arm with all his strength. Jiang Su sought to slay this general, but a strange, uncanny technique locked his arm fast.

Gu Daohui spat blood, his face pale, yet his expression gleeful, eyes blazing: "Finally—I've got you."

"... the mastermind who incited the lord and the Wolf King, and poisoned my lord."

"Young Master!!!"

Gu DaoHui suddenly shouted, his back turned to Li Guanyi—he had once been a fearless war general, but now his eyes were slightly reddened, having betrayed his friend, personally raised his blade to sever his brother's head, knelt before his enemy, and carried this vile reputation for so long.

He had intended to fight this true mastermind to the death, yet never expected to see his lord again, to see someone similar, riding the Fire Qilin, wielding a long weapon, charging across the battlefield.

Heaven has not been unkind to me!

On his rigid, iron-like face, a simple, earnest smile suddenly appeared, as if he had finally relaxed, and he whispered:

"May the world know peace..."

Li Guanyi: "!!!"

Boom!!!

Gu DaoHui's Master aura now carried crimson light, his Dharma Form manifesting—part dragon, part tiger—the divine beast Bi'an, whose unyielding justice embodied the warrior's essence, energy, and spirit.

Amid his roar, the Bi'an Dharma Form revealed its final glory.

This war general, called traitor, traitor to his lord, murderer of his friend, who gained the title Wu Hou.

Even now, he possessed the most piercing and upright divine beast Dharma Form in the world.

This body is a sword.

When the moon is incomplete, its light is not diminished; when the sword breaks, its steel remains unyielding.

The Bi'an Dharma Form gazed at Li Guanyi, then raised its head and roared, transforming into crimson light that surged into Gu DaoHui's body; Gu DaoHui raised his head and roared, his power now wreathed in crimson mist.

The heroic fury and blood-soaked valor unleashed by this Seventh Heaven peak Master war general struck fear into all.

Gu DaoHui bled from all seven orifices, roaring:

"This battlefield was promised to me by the Wolf King."

"Xiao Wuliang, take the Young Master away—go!!!"

His primordial energy erupted violently; Xiao Wuliang's eyes darkened with fierce change, he bowed his head, then hurled his long spear—it became a coiling dragon, striking Jiang Su to create an opening for Gu DaoHui's final move.

Then he seized Li Guanyi's arm, gripping hard, teeth clenched:

"Go!"

Li Guanyi's expression shifted.

Finally, the Fire Qilin roared and carried him away; Gu DaoHui sensed Li Guanyi and the Wolf King's army retreating, his inner energy surging, his will as iron, with not a shred of desire to live—he had waited for this day since he himself slew his friend over a decade ago.

Yue Pengwu, General Yue Qianfeng, Yan Xuanji, Wang Shunchen, Pang Shuiyun...

Young Master.

I entrust him to you all.

A faint smile crossed his face; as Li Guanyi ran out, he turned back and saw the heavens darken—Gu DaoHui's Dharma Form, roaring like dragon and tiger, collapsing inward entirely, dissolving into pure, violent energy.

Xiyumo Sect—Secret Art of Self-Explosion Through Flesh and Primordial Energy!

The technique was executed with terrifying speed—even ordinary warriors could threaten martial elites, let alone a famed general of the realm performing it himself; in an instant, swift as hare and hawk, even Jiang Su failed to react.

He absorbed head-on the full, unrelenting Dharma Form self-explosion of a near Eighth Heaven Master.

Gu DaoHui's final curse:

"Jiang Su, you underestimate the heroes of the world!"

Gu DaoHui's final vision was swallowed by the brilliant white radiance of exploding primordial energy—like a path, like in his youth, a road where, after days of battle, too exhausted to move, he had simply fallen asleep by the roadside.

When he woke, drowsy and lazy, he saw Master Zhuge, his old friends waiting there—Master Zhuge held his feather fan, bending over with a smile, speaking to him.

Farther still, was his lord's back.

It was the last good sleep of his life.

He closed his eyes comfortably, lost in it—such a fine dream, let it last a little longer...

Gentlemen.

The guilty general, Gu DaoHui.

Here, I request to return to camp.

Amid a terrifying roar like thunder striking from heaven, the Wolf King's central command exploded—this crisis engulfed portions of both enemy and allied forces; the divine beast Dharma Form Bi'an, head raised, solemn and upright.

Just as in days past, unyielding and just.

Slowly dissolving.

Upon the ancient road, this heart shines like the radiant sun.

Traitor of the Taiping Army.

Chen·Wu Hou Gu DaoHui.

Died in battle.

The fierce flames dispersed; the battle spear, silent and piercing, shattered the wave of energy that had nearly leveled the Wolf King's central camp, then swept horizontally—the wave split, and the Divine General Jiang Su stepped forward, his expression still calm and deadly.

Though the unrelenting last stand of a Master had failed to truly injure this martial legend, even though it did not harm Jiang Su,

it shattered Jiang Su's strategy.

It ultimately delayed Jiang Su's actions.

Upon realizing the Wolf King's strategy, Jiang Su's first move was to fulfill his second objective in the Western Regions: to kill Li Guanyi outright.

Even if Li Guanyi had not been here, he would have broken off combat immediately, while news had not spread, launched a surprise high-speed strike to assassinate Li Guanyi and complete the 【Slayer of Generals】.

But now, Li Guanyi had learned the truth, and Gu DaoHui's decisive sacrifice had allowed Li Guanyi to ride the Fire Qilin away—the divine beast, though weaker in combat than Jiang Su, possessed sufficient speed.

Coupled with the vast terrain of the Western Regions, once Li Guanyi escaped, no one knew where he had gone; by the time he returned to the city's army and prepared defenses, killing him swiftly before the Wolf Wang Chen Fubi caused chaos would be extremely difficult.

Defeating Li Guanyi was not hard—it would merely take time.

Defeating Li Guanyi is not difficult, at most requiring time.

But at this moment, that hungry, ferocious Old Wolf King was behind them.

Every breath, Jiang Su could not afford to waste.

Jiang Su gripped his long spear, stared at the bloody battlefield ahead, then drove the spear into the ground, bowed slightly, and said solemnly:

"Gu Daohui…"

"You were a loyal minister under Tai Ping Gong—steadfast, enduring humiliation, bold and heroic, a true general of your time. I accept this strike of yours; now you may depart in peace!"

He took a deep breath, turned away, and abandoned Li Guanyi outright.

Now that this man had withdrawn and the news was known, if he wished to evade capture, he could not be killed before Chen Fubì's chaos erupted; Jiang Su gazed toward the Yan state direction, his eyes filled with icy killing intent: "Deploy the army—advance!"

"Full speed—return home and intercept Chen Fubì!"

"I will sever the head of this old wolf, cripple his cultivation, rip out his tendons and break his bones!"

At this moment, Yuwen Lie was advancing north; He Ruo Qinhu was severely wounded; Qin Yulong was temporarily unable to fight due to the Eastern Palace incident; Jiang Su concluded that the Wolf King would surely mimic his own strategy, disregarding all else to strike directly at the capital of the Yan state.

At this moment, the Yan state's destiny surged violently, yet felt like oil poured over fire—imposing and fierce, yet hollow within; inside the nation, there was no true general capable of shouldering its weight.

Moreover, even if Yuwen Lie and the others were present, these three might still fail to stop the Wolf King at this stage.

This brutal, merciless, domineering, and majestic warlord, unconcerned with his own life, riding rampant within a nation's heartland, would inflict unimaginable shock and destruction upon the nation's destiny and strength.

Just thinking of it, Jiang Su's face grew cold.

He could not afford delay.

Earlier, the Yan state had seemed to be thriving, its power and destiny at their peak; yet suddenly, after this battlefield, it began to plummet. The Fire Qilin carried Li Guanyi through the breakout, and after distancing themselves from the scene, they met Chen Wenmian and others.

Yan Xuanji, such a towering general who bore the banner, had felt inexplicably uneasy since the start, troubled, as if gripped by an indescribable emptiness; only when Li Guanyi returned did he exhale in relief. Li Guanyi looked at him and said:

"General Gu Daohui held the rear, blocking Jiang Su…"

"He died."

Yan Xuanji's relieved expression froze instantly; he stood dumbfounded, lost in shock.

Chen Wenmian, seeing Xiao Wuliang's severed arm and bloody state, turned pale:

"Master!"

"What happened to you?"

He immediately stopped Xiao Wuliang's bleeding and treated his wounds, then asked:

"Father…?"

Xiao Wuliang sighed, knowing the Wolf King's army was now effectively destroyed; after this battle, Jiang Su and the others could not afford delay, and would not pursue the fleeing remnants with brutality—but without the Wolf King, this army would surely scatter.

The army's morale, its spirit, would dissolve.

It could no longer fight on the battlefield.

He told Li Guanyi and Chen Wenmian the Wolf King's strategy, then looked at Li Guanyi and Yan Xuanji and said: "Both of you… Gu Daohui chose this himself—he begged the Lord for a long time, pleading that the Lord grant him the chance to face Jiang Su directly."

"He had always hoped for such a day."

"Rather, to see Qin Wu Hou one last time was already immense comfort to him."

Yan Xuanji's face was filled with sorrow; suddenly, he recalled three years ago, when he went to rescue Yue Pengwu, standing in the Chen imperial palace, confronting Gu Daohui, furious: "Have you forgotten our oath—to restore the world, to bring peace to mankind?!"

Gu Daohui had answered him then: "What was that?"

"I forgot it long ago!"

Yan Xuanji opened his mouth but could not speak; he felt a sharp pain in his heart, a suffocating weight. Li Guanyi stood frozen for a long while, then reached out, gripping his weapon, and said: "It's not over yet."

Xiao Wuliang, Yan Xuanji, and Chen Wenmian looked at Li Guanyi.

Amidst the divine general's overwhelming might sweeping the land, in despair—no reinforcements, no Wolf King, no Xue Shen, no Fish-Whale Guest, the Western Regions nearly crushed—only the Chaos-era Fire Qilin raised his head first, still roaring defiantly.

Even in despair, even in disadvantage, the battle fury burning in his chest.

This was the very reason he stood at the forefront of chaos.

Even without the Wolf King, even without Xue Shen or the Fish-Whale Guest, the one standing here was the sovereign of the entire chaos era; feeling the cold touch of his weapon, hearing the roar of the Tiger Roar Heaven Spear, he whispered:

"Fan Qing, return immediately to our main camp."

"Summon General Wang Shunchen and fifty thousand Qilin Guards to join me."

"Wenmian, take General Xiao Wuliang back to Anxi City. Deliver my letter to Chancellor Wei Yi. Tell him the time has come—then mobilize the remaining one hundred fifty thousand troops from Anxi's sixty cities as reinforcements, with subsequent forces as logistics."

His voice was calm, yet carried an unspoken, chilling slaughter.

On his person still surged the aura of a warlord and famed general of this chaos era.

"The Wolf King has entered the Yan state's homeland; we cannot aid him now—only here, we must delay Jiang Su as much as possible. Even if we cannot stop this martial legend, we must at least trap his remaining hundred thousand elite troops."

Li Guanyi whispered: "This chaos era is not over yet."

"I still…"

He gripped his weapon.

He saw faces—his father, his mother, Zu Wenyuan, Master Wang, Gu Daohui—saw fallen comrades. He had come this far; he could no longer turn back, could no longer stop.

He drew the Tiger Roar Heaven Spear, his hair lifting, and whispered:

"We are not yet allowed to grieve."

"I will go before you all."

"Changfeng."

Li Guanyi's forces re-entered the battlefield!

Wang Shunchen and the fifty thousand troops converged behind Qin Wu Hou; with the army's momentum bolstering him, Qin Wu Hou's martial prowess surged far beyond his previous solitary state, and he charged forward, severing the link between the Yuwen clan's three thousand flank troops and the Yan state's main force.

Lu Youxian of the Chen state stood in the divine general's flank, adopting a defensive posture.

He forcibly held back the divine general's flank assault.

This peerless defender of the realm, in this brutal, almost suicidal defense, fought with ferocious courage, shattered the pass, and successfully attained the Master realm.

The various Khans appointed by the Wolf King in the Western Regions harassed the Yan state's flanking forces from the other side.

All the forces of the Western Regions, those heroes and champions who had been enemies of one another, seemed to have converged here, making their move upon the world, with but one purpose: to utterly block Jiang Su and fulfill Yu Langwang's earth-shattering strategy.

Let the valor of heroes and the wit of strategists shatter this world's stalemate.

That day, the great tide of the world shifted in many directions.

Emperor Chen Dingye personally led his troops into battle; the Turkic Tian Kehan, Tie Futu, reappeared.

Qin Wu Hou Li Guanyi charged a hundred li, shattered thirty thousand with two thousand men, his momentum like a rising tide.

Xiao Wuliang was gravely wounded.

The Divine General Jiang Su deceived heaven and earth, appearing in the Western Regions.

Yu Langwang Chen Fubì, reviving the Divine General's ancient stratagem, led a lone army into the heart of Ying State to punish Jiang Wanxiang; the Divine General Jiang Su turned his forces back to reinforce him, but the heroes of the Western Regions all stood before him.

Heroes clashed, champions rose, their names echoing through all ages; within the nearest hundred years, this was universally recognized as the strongest battle, utterly surpassing the era of Li Wanli and Chen Fubì — the grandest war began!

Chen Wenmian brought Xiao Wuliang to Anxi City for treatment, gathered the remnants of Yu Langwang's army, and delivered Li Guanyi's secret letter to Po Jun; Po Jun fell silent for a long while, then sent word to all quarters.

Within the territory of Anxi City, every city ignited a special mechanism; dried wolf dung burned, transforming into streams of thick smoke, rising like towering, surging curtains.

Chen Wenmian settled Xiao Wuliang, then asked where Po Jun was. When he found Po Jun, the strategist in charge of logistics and overall coordination stood atop the high city wall of Anxi, gazing into the distance.

Chen Wenmian said: "Mr. Po Jun…"

Po Jun smiled: "General Chen? You've fought long and just returned — won't you rest?"

Chen Wenmian said: "No need. I'm taking another force to the front to support my elder brother. But…" He paused, then said: "But can we stop Jiang Su and his reputation and Wu Gong?"

Po Jun chuckled lightly: "Stop him?"

He gazed into the distance, murmuring: "On the grand scale, this is the best moment to weaken Ying State. If this battle succeeds, Ying State's momentum will collapse instantly — only then will it be the perfect chance for heroes to rise."

Chen Wenmian fell silent; he still felt this was an impossible task.

But having spent so long with Li Guanyi and Yu Langwang, he knew.

At such a moment, this impossible task was often the one that must be done.

Suddenly, with his peak Sixth Heaven cultivation, he sensed a faint tremor — subtle yet continuous, humming like thunder marching across the earth. Chen Wenmian's expression changed slightly: "Cavalry?"

"Enemy troops?!"

Po Jun's lips curled: "Not enemy troops…"

The young strategist squinted, speaking slowly, word by word: "Yu Langwang and Jiang Su's grand plans, Chen Dingye's transformation and boldness, Yu Langwang, the Divine General, and the Poisonous Dragon."

"Everyone in the world has underestimated them."

"But how have they not underestimated our Lord?"

The thunderous roar of the cavalry column erupted fully — like lightning splitting open. Chen Wenmian strained his eyes to the horizon and saw a banner suddenly pierce the solemn air, surging skyward.

Then came a cavalryman bearing the standard.

Behind him came ten, then a hundred, then tens of thousands!

The thunderous charge surged forward like the tidal wave of Jiangnan, riding at high speed with solemn discipline; the distant sky was deep blue, and banners rolled beneath it like clouds fallen from heaven.

Stretching from one end of sight to the other.

Like a surging tide, rolling forward.

Flags of different tribes, armor of different kinds, steeds of different breeds — converging into a river of soldiers; thousands upon thousands of fierce cavalry galloped beneath the sky, crossing land and cities.

Following ancient sacred mountains and the new alliance.

Crossing myths and epic songs, arriving here.

In the hand that stirred this chaotic world, it was not only the old heroes who held power. Without doubt, Qin Wu Hou was this world's brand-new force — he held his sword, his gaze calm, ready to contend with the greatest heroes of this world.

That day —

The allied armies of the Thirty-Six Khans under the Heavenly Tian Kehan.

Arrived at the battlefield.

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? Also, recommend a book to your friends: 【Note, This Is Not a Game】

? Ten thousand years ago, the mysterious Chaos Realm descended.

? Technology ceased to function; science was no longer truth; humanity instantly fell from the apex of the food chain to its bottom, plunging the world into despair.

Heaven did not abandon humanity—in despair, some discovered the Chaos Mark, which could condense a data-based law-body.

? The law-body had a lifespan of one hundred and fifty years, free of illness or disaster, always maintaining peak physical condition, perpetually youthful until the end of its life.

? When the law-body killed monsters within the Chaos Realm and gained killing experience, it leveled up, gaining attribute points to enhance its strength.

? When strength reached a certain threshold, a qualitative transformation occurred, granting extraordinary powers, even becoming a deity.

? Thus, humanity entered the Age of Gods.

? But please note: This is not a game!