Chapter 436: Kill One as Tribute!

The swordlight was calm yet tyrannically fierce, slowly spreading; the blue robe fluttered. He Ruo Qinhu saw the figure in blue holding a sword—his heart first eased, thinking it was Murong Longtu drawing his blade—but soon he sensed something was wrong.

The newcomer was powerful, yet not with the reckless, piercing ferocity of the Master Jiankuang Murong Longtu; instead, he carried the solemn, upright aura of a soldier, his face gradually becoming clear within the swordlight.

Young, heroic, brows soaring.

Li Guanyi, whose name had swept across the Western Frontiers.

He Ruo Qinhu's wild joy turned to vigilance—and a bitter resentment.

"Qin Wu Hou…!!!"

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer flew across the sky, radiating auspicious energy; Li Guanyi's wooden sword Longtu locked tightly against He Ruo Qinhu's spear. Though He Ruo Qinhu wielded Ninth Heaven cultivation, he could not break free for a moment.

But then he remembered: Li Guanyi had come alone, without armor or armor.

This might be the perfect chance to capture him.

Li Guanyi turned to the old man behind him. Two years had passed, yet the Master Jiankuang Murong Longtu remained as he had been—while Li Guanyi had grown completely. Li Guanyi's expression softened. "Great-grandfather, step back a few paces."

"Let me drive off these men first, then I'll catch up with you."

Master Siming froze, unable to believe his ears. He turned to Murong Longtu—and saw Murong Longtu, momentarily stunned.

In two hundred years of life!

For the first time, someone had ordered the Master Jiankuang to step back.

Murong Longtu laughed—softly at first, then loudly, finally bursting into uproarious laughter. He released his grip on his sword and roared: "Hahahaha! Good! Good lad!"

Master Siming heard the Master Jiankuang's unrestrained, joyous laughter.

He hadn't heard him laugh so freely in so long.

The last time was when that swordsman had shattered countless sword sects, slaughtered all his enemies, and stood alone atop a pool of blood—that was when his obsession burned brightest, yet also when he could never turn back.

The old sword madman raised a hand, blocking—then a long sword flew into his grasp. He raised it, tilted his head, and drank.

He plucked the blade and sang aloud.

He thought it was a song to break the formation.

It was proof he would not strike again.

Li Guanyi looked at He Ruo Qinhu, who was straining to suppress him, and heard Murong Longtu's sword-song shattering the formation. Suddenly, a surge of righteous spirit rose within him. He called out loudly: "General, you rode so deep into my Fire Qilin Army—do you really think so little of us?"

He Ruo Qinhu: "What?!"

Li Guanyi gripped his sword.

The wooden sword Longtu sang clear and sharp—then suddenly surged with intensity. That clear, piercing song became a gale, sweeping instantly across the vast battlefield, past the roaring Bai Hu manifestation in the sky, past the collapsed mountains and shattered pavilions.

It passed over every corner of the Fire Qilin Army's battlefield, over the ginkgo trees of the Murong Clan—their leaves now turning yellow, falling in the wind, landing upon Murong Qiushui's zither. The woman looked up, stunned.

Finally, the great tripod roared in resonance.

The aura of fate surged like a rainbow.

Soared into the sky!!

The martial energy of the Soldier School shifted, transformed—then exploded violently.

On Li Guanyi's wooden sword, the swordlight surged wildly. He Ruo Qinhu's pupils shrank sharply; his weapon nearly slipped from his grasp. He used the power of his steed, unfolded his manifestation, and dodged sideways—but Li Guanyi's sword qi was majestic. Within a few strikes, he forced He Ruo Qinhu back.

The little Fire Qilin on his shoulder shook its head.

It leapt upward—and as it landed, raised its head and roared. Fire and azure light converged, rising together across the battlefield, finally forming the true form of the Fire Qilin: water and fire entwined, scales of dark gold.

The Fire Qilin's roar echoed through heaven and earth.

The Fire Qilin Army soldiers locked in fierce combat with the enemy raised their heads. They did not know what had changed at the battlefield's core—but they saw the Fire Qilin's presence, saw the Fire Qilin flame of Qin Wu Hou swirling in the sky, proudly asserting itself.

Is it the Qilin?

"Our Lord has returned!"

"It's our Lord!"

All rejoiced.

Qin Wu Hou had returned to the battlefield.

He Ruo Qinhu had been driven back.

The Fire Qilin Army's morale surged!

For a moment, they completely held back the Yingshuo army's assault.

Master Siming grinned. "Kid, you got here fast, hahaha!"

"Did you ride a turtle?"

Old Xuan Gui: "…………"

Li Guanyi sheathed his wooden sword at his waist, extended his hand—and the Tiger Roars the Heavens Battle Spear appeared. He gripped it with five fingers, spun it, and swept it horizontally. The force surged like a wave, tearing through all directions. He smiled and pointed to the sky: "I have other elders aiding me."

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer had already crossed the void, swept over the battlefield—she did not stop, utterly exhausted. Master Siming stared blankly: "... Why does this Nine-Colored Deer elder treat you so well?"

"I don't even get this treatment…"

Li Guanyi thought for a moment. "Maybe… the elder always asks the Nine-Colored Divine Deer elder those really awkward questions."

Master Siming: "…………"

Old Xuan Gui let out a "gagaga" laugh.

Then he feigned a duck's voice: "Nine-Colored Deer elder, can you turn into a person? Gagagagagahaha…"

Master Siming, furious and humiliated, kicked Old Xuan Gui's shell furiously. Li Guanyi gripped the Tiger Roars the Heavens Battle Spear, looked across the vast battlefield, then mounted the Fire Qilin, his blue robe flaring. "Master Siming, Great-grandfather—wait a moment."

"I'll be right back."

Xue Shen on the other side shouted:

"Hey hey hey, stop chatting!"

"If you don't hurry, this Mo Family mechanism will explode!"

He saw Li Guanyi return and eased his force slightly—but the mechanism had already cracked under the collision of great forces. Once cracks appeared, control became impossible. Yuwen Lie struck ruthlessly, targeting only the fissures.

His eyes, fixed on Li Guanyi, flickered with unusual light.

"... Qin Wu Hou."

Jiang Xuantao's expression also shifted slightly; on the western front, due to Lu Youxian, he had never joined forces with Jiang Su, so he had never witnessed Li Guanyi's battle with Jiang Su—but this man's reputation was immense, and likely very hard to deal with.

The Whale Fisher, seeing Li Guanyi had not brought Yao Guang, exhaled slightly in relief.

Li Guanyi, riding the Fire Qilin, began to charge the formation.

The Fire Qilin was wreathed in blazing flame, wielding the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear, surging forward with ferocity; its spear slashed or thrust with crisp precision, breaking through several times to rescue the Qilin Army troops pinned down by the Yan forces, then swung its divine weapon straight toward Yuwen Lie and Jiang Xuantao.

Li Guanyi's battle spear technique was learned from Xue Shenjiang.

His strength and physique far surpassed Xue Shenjiang's.

But Xue Shenjiang's techniques were far more mysterious; when he fought Yuwen Lie, his movements were impenetrable as water could not seep through—he feigned an opening, spun away, and Yuwen Lie's long spear whirled forward to strike—but Li Guanyi had already arrived, both hands gripping the spear, bringing it down in a violent slash.

Their techniques crashed together with furious speed.

Li Guanyi felt his wrists tremble and go numb.

The Fire Qilin raised its head and roared, spewing flame; Li Guanyi and Yuwen Lie exchanged blows several times, then swiftly withdrew, rejoining Xue Shenjiang; both were deep in the chaos of battle, Xue Shenjiang sweeping his spear horizontally, sending several Captains flying.

Li Guanyi held the Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear; none dared approach.

Xue Shenjiang touched the cracked spot on his body, still smiling lightly: "When I taught you Wu Gong, I never imagined you'd end up helping me out—ah, boy, your growth rate is still quite fast, haha."

Li Guanyi's gaze swept the surroundings.

Jiang Xuantao wielded a weapon similar to Jiang Su's Annihilation Divine Spear.

He Ruo Qinhu had switched to a long-handled horse spear; his white beard stirred slightly beneath his helmet, solemn and imposing.

Yuwen Lie's heavy spear radiated sharp, piercing energy.

The Yan Army, already outnumbering the Qilin Army, now had all three forces united, with three Shenjiang present; the mask on Xue Shenjiang's mechanical body shifted to a Solemn expression, slowly scanning the surrounding battle lines.

"Kid, this doesn't look good."

"Can you take on all three together?"

Li Guanyi said: "Me? Fight three?"

"What do you mean, Elder?"

Xue Shenjiang's face remained unchanged—could not be changed—and said:

"I mean, my mechanical armor might just explode."

"Fight a little longer, and you'll be the only one left."

"Three against one—two of them are Ninth Heaven, top-five Shenjiang in true strength—how much confidence do you have?"

Li Guanyi gripped the divine weapon and replied with a question:

"How long can you hold out?"

Xue Shenjiang said: "If facing one, I can last a cup of tea."

"Three against two? I fear those two old men will kick my crippled leg hard."

"Then it'll be gone in an instant."

Li Guanyi said: "Then this question is very simple."

Xue Shenjiang said: "What?"

Li Guanyi suddenly said: "Then please, Elder, guard my back."

The Fire Qilin's roar shook the air; Li Guanyi, mounted on it, suddenly accelerated forward, his Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear slashing with brutal force, charging ahead—any opponent in his path had no chance to retaliate, tossed aside, defeated.

Like a fierce tiger, he surged straight toward Jiang Xuantao's position.

Li Guanyi let out a long roar: "It's simple! If three against two won't work, then kill one first!"

He swung his spear, sending several Yan Captains flying; the Bai Hu roared, and Qin Wu Hou's voice echoed across the battlefield, ringing clearly to the Qilin Army soldiers:

"Thank you, brave soldiers, protect Jiangnan!"

"Li Guanyi thanks you."

"For you all, I shall slay one of their generals!!!"

Bold ambition, majestic spirit.

In an instant, Yan's battle generals paled; several fierce warriors rushed to intercept Li Guanyi—Qin Wu Hou was usually lenient, rarely striking too harshly—but this time, he raised both hands, his weapon suddenly blocking.

A sharp, ringing cry.

The general's weapon was severed.

"Damn it!!!"

The general's face turned pale: "Qin Wu Hou—he's going all out."

The Tiger Roars to Heaven Battle Spear swung down—armor offered no protection—the world went black, and he knew nothing more; to others, this general, once famed for his bravery, had charged forward—and in a single strike, collapsed, spitting blood, motionless.

Li Guanyi spun his spear, charging straight at Jiang Xuantao, brows raised.

"Jiang Xuantao—give me your life!"

Jiang Xuantao's heart trembled violently.

Due to internal strife in the Yan court, the Grand Tutor Jiang Su had not even informed Yuwen Lie of Xue Shenjiang's existence—yet knew this campaign against Jiangnan would decide the future's tide, so he sent Jiang Xuantao here to seize military merit.

He had never expected Li Guanyi to return so suddenly.

Summoning his courage, he bellowed: "Shoot! Shoot!!!"

Ten thousand arrows fired in unison, forming a battle formation that coalesced into a divine soul manifestation—a dragon-like entity, stretching miles long, bristling with countless arrows, immense and overwhelming.

Its gaping maw, fangs bared, could swallow a city whole.

Behind Li Guanyi, the void rippled, forming the Bai Hu divine soul manifestation; the Bai Hu roared, tearing forward.

The old Master Siming watched from afar as the colossal, mountain-sized aura clashed.

He could not help but sigh—what a magnificent dragon-and-tiger battle!

The dragon manifestation shattered outright, its qi surge exploding and sending waves of turbulent energy surging onward; Jiang Xuantao raised his arm and lunged at Li Guanyi, his pupils contracting sharply.

He Ruo Qinhu had already rushed to reinforce; Yuwen Lie could not stand idly by as a great general of the Ying state fell on the battlefield—that would deal a massive blow to the entire army's morale—but as the two charged forward, a spear suddenly barred their path.

Xue Shen's lance formation had already blocked Yuwen Lie and He Ruo Qinhu.

The Array Chief personally presided over the entire army, perfecting the formation of the hundred-thousand Fire Qilin troops beyond their original standard, relieving much pressure from Xue Shen; otherwise, the mechanism would have shattered long ago.

Yuwen Lie's eyes brimmed with killing intent; He Ruo Qinhu's beard and hair bristled with fury.

The spear Xue Shen had seized from Jiang Xuantao barred them ahead; he alone held off Yuwen Lie, barely managing; when facing both Yuwen Lie and Jiang Xuantao, he barely held on; yet when confronting both He Ruo Qinhu and Yuwen Lie, he still barely held on.

It seemed almost as if a single thread could break through this first divine general of five hundred years ago.

But that single thread was like a chasm, a bottomless abyss.

It could be seen—but never crossed.

All three were seasoned warlords; they understood the situation instantly, spoke not a word, and immediately clashed.

He Ruo Qinhu and Yuwen Lie joined forces to attack the cracks in Xue Shen's mechanical armor.

With aid from the Array Chief and his battle spirit enhanced, Xue Shen wielded a battle halberd, pushing its technique to its absolute limit; in terms of mastery over the halberd alone, no one under heaven could surpass him.

He Ruo Qinhu thrust his horse spear, but Xue Shen caught it beneath his arm.

He Ruo Qinhu roared, nearly yanking Xue Shen off his feet.

Yuwen Lie coldly cried: "Bai Hu Da Zong, peerless archer—how can the great Marquis of Xue serve a mere youth?"

Xue Shen was startled.

Then he sneered, replying lazily: "It's fun."

Still the same frivolous nature that once enraged Chen Baxian into bursting from his coffin.

Yuwen Lie was not provoked; his chest's killing intent grew heavier, like frost-rimed steel. At this moment, Li Guanyi had caught up to Jiang Xuantao; He Ruo Qinhu's heart burned with anxiety—Jiang Xuantao was the current patriarch of the Jiang Su bloodline, young in years yet already ranked among the top thirty generals.

Not to mention his lineage as the Grand Tutor's descendant and lord of a great clan.

Merely his age and rank as a divine general should spare him from dying here.

He Ruo Qinhu roared, spun his horse spear, and unleashed a torrent of deadly qi, forming a manifestation that suddenly hurled the spear forward as a pillar of light, striking Xue Shen's arm with a crack—the crack spread rapidly.

He Ruo Qinhu, reckless and relentless, charged forward with full force, arms outstretched, locking Xue Shen in place; the latter could not move an inch, yet twin killing qi slammed into He Ruo Qinhu's chest and abdomen.

He Ruo Qinhu ignored the counterattack, gripping Xue Shen with one hand.

With the other, he clamped down hard on the crack in Xue Shen's mechanism.

He was trying to pry the mechanism apart.

In this brief exchange, He Ruo Qinhu had glimpsed Xue Shen's weakness.

The battlefield's killing qi flowed, compensated by the Array Chief; his battle formation and Wu Gong techniques reached their peak—but his vitality was insufficient, not at full strength; his physique and blood qi were only at the level of a Ruo Sect master; every clash required his weapon's technique to deflect force.

He Ruo Qinhu's reckless ferocity stunned all around him; his tiger-like eyes glared at Yuwen Lie and roared: "Yuwen Lie, are you going to watch my nation's great general be slain by the enemy's lord?!"

"Go!"

Yuwen Lie's expression turned icy; he abandoned this spot, spurred his dragon steed forward—and saw the Fire Qilin charging like flame, its frontline warlords falling one by one, all toppled by Li Guanyi, who had already closed in behind Jiang Xuantao.

Li Guanyi raised his Tiger Roaring Heaven Battle Halberd.

The halberd swirled with battle-spirit qi, exhaling cold radiance; in just two strikes, the equally Grandmaster-ranked general Jiang Xuantao was left with split palms; his surrounding guards, captains, and deputy commanders all fell from their mounts, dead.

Descendant of Jiang Su!

At this moment, Li Guanyi's killing intent was at its peak.

Xue Shen began to counter.

He Ruo Qinhu's lips bled; his eyes bulged with rage.

Yuwen Lie glanced at the battlefield and knew: the Fire Qilin was too fast—he could not catch it. He plunged his battle spear into the ground, seized his longbow, nocked an arrow, drew the string—and behind him, the Bai Hu manifestation unfolded.

He did not aim—only uttered a soft command.

The Bai Hu manifestation surged into the arrow; the arrow became a streak of light, piercing straight into Li Guanyi's back; the Bai Hu manifestation lunged forward—and Jiang Xuantao's taut nerves relaxed.

The arrow struck Li Guanyi's back.

But it did not pierce; with a chilling metallic shriek, dark gold light spiraled, forming heavy armor on Li Guanyi's back—and where the arrow landed, the rest of his body likewise transformed into armor.

This instantly boosted the defensive power of that small area, blocking Yuwen Lie's ultimate strike; the Bai Hu Da Zong's aura was fierce and overwhelming—Li Guanyi's body was instead shoved violently forward by the arrow's force.

The Fire Qilin surged forward.

Closing the distance to Jiang Xuantao instantly.

The Jiuli Divine Weapon Iron was pierced through by Yuwen Lie's arrow!

After all, it was still only a 【Divine Weapon Prototype】.

It had not yet reached the rank described in the Jiuli clan's ancient texts—the sovereign of all divine weapons, capable of subduing all others.

Yet even in this 【Divine Weapon Prototype】 state, after Yuwen Lie's top-tier divine general's arrow pierced through the Jiuli Divine Weapon's iron, the power within it was reduced to less than one-tenth.

The arrow plunged into Li Guanyi's shoulder—but only one-third of the tip entered before it could move no further.

First breath.

Ripples surfaced in the air; Jiang family death assassins appeared, blocking ahead.

Li Guanyi gripped the Tiger Roaring Heaven Battle Halberd in his right hand, swung it high and horizontal—several Jiang death assassins were smashed in the abdomen; the halberd lifted and whipped, and those three assassins flew away like rag dolls.

Second breath: Li Guanyi seized the arrow with his left hand and yanked it out.

The arrow still carried his blood, blazing fiercely; Li Guanyi hurled it to the ground; his Jiuli Divine Weapon Iron flowed across his body, instantly forming armor that covered him; his gaze locked onto Jiang Xuantao.

Jiang Xuantao gathered his strength and struck, thrusting his spear with Jiang Su's divine spear technique toward Li Guanyi's heart; under overwhelming terror, he surpassed his own limits—this was the technique closest to his ancestor's he had ever wielded in decades.

"I am the lord of the Jiang family, descendant of the Divine General, the Grand Tutor."

"I will not die here!!"

Before Jiang Xuantao's eyes, he saw his ancestor, the Divine General, worried before the campaign—and his own resolve: a true man does not shun the battlefield, does not fail to seize glory. He saw Yuwen Lie arrive.

The next instant, Li Guanyi reached out and seized the spear Jiang Xuantao thrust.

Jiang Xuantao's pupils contracted.

Li Guanyi said nothing; in the gaze of Yuwen Lie and He Ruo Qinhu, he swung his battle halberd violently sideways.

Third breath.

Three breaths—charge the formation, sever the head.

The halberd's blade sliced directly into Jiang Xuantao's neck, tearing open major vessels; the martial aura surged, and blood gushed out at once.

Around him, silence fell instantly.

Jiang Xuantao's personal guards, escorts, and the Captains rushing to fight their way over—all the generals of Ying State—held their breath.

Jiang Xuantao.

One of the strongest young warlords of Ying State.

And—

Descendant of the Divine General Jiang Su.

Rumors claimed he was Jiang Su's own son, the bloodline left behind decades ago; from birth to growth, from learning literature to training in martial arts, Jiang Su had personally taught him.

The purpose was so that after Jiang Su, the legendary martial master, passed away,

Ying State would still have a top-tier general.

Right now,

He died on the battlefield.

Jiang Xuantao opened his mouth; blood gushed forth, his vision blurred. Li Guanyi seized his spear and hurled it to the ground. "Your spear—compared to Jiang Su's—is far too weak."

Jiang Xuantao raised his hand and gripped Li Guanyi's halberd tightly, eyes blazing.

"I am the descendant of the Divine General Jiang Su—how dare you kill me…"

"I am the Marquis Lie of Great Ying State!"

As he roared, his Dharma Form coalesced instantly behind him—wind surged, clouds churned.

In the brink of life and death, he unleashed power beyond his limits!

Jiang Xuantao's hidden foundation, the reason even he had never realized—he was Jiang Su's blood kin, one of the few Marquises in all under heaven, and a Divine General ranked among the top thirty on the Divine General List.

Together, these three meant that no matter which faction,

A living Jiang Xuantao held far greater meaning and value than a dead Jiang Xuantao.

He was not like the son of a commoner; even if defeated, he would not be killed—hence his reckless bravery, charging onto this battlefield without regard for his life.

Li Guanyi stared at this defiant Divine General, gripped the halberd with both hands, unleashed all his strength, and slowly shattered Jiang Xuantao's final resistance, driving the blade deeper into his neck.

"To others, your living self holds greater meaning. If it were Chen Dingye, he would spare your life."

"But my father and mother died in Jiang Su's hands."

"My uncle died in Jiang Su's hands—his body severed. General Gu Daohui died by Jiang Su's hand—his corpse never whole. Blood-deep vengeance burns my heart and liver—how could I ever abandon this blood feud for so-called interests?!"

My uncle died at Jiang Su's hands, his body severed; General Gu Dao Hui fell to Jiang Su, his corpse left unwhole; this blood-deep grudge burns my heart and liver—how could I possibly abandon this vengeance for so-called gains!?

"I have only one word."

"Kill!"

He gripped the halberd with both hands and swung it violently sideways.

The Bai Hu Dharma Form roared, shaking heaven and earth.

Jiang Xuantao's golden-armored figure, resembling the Divine General Jiang Su, had his throat torn open.

The halberd's crescent blade sliced through, tearing and dragging, spraying a mist of blood. Jiang Xuantao's vision went black—he fell utterly silent. Blood gushed forth. He swayed, then this top-tier general of Ying State toppled from his divine steed and crashed heavily to the ground.

The soldiers of Ying State turned pale. Li Guanyi exhaled. The Fire Qilin leapt into the air, dodging Yuwen Lie's spear thrust. The Divine Commander of Ying State stared at Li Guanyi with icy eyes.

From the moment Li Guanyi rescued Xue Shenjiang, to his rapid charge through the formation, breaking enemy after enemy, and finally slaying Jiang Xuantao with one halberd strike—all took no time at all, like lightning and sparks.

To onlookers, this young Marquis of Qin Wu had charged the formation with overwhelming ferocity, ignored Yuwen Lie's arrows, and forcibly slain a top general.

In that brief span, Xue Shenjiang had broken free from He Ruo Qinhu's restraint; blood stained He Ruo Qinhu's beard, proving that this seasoned former top general was no easy foe.

In that brief moment, General Xue Shen had broken free of He Ruo Qinhu's restraint; blood stained He Ruo Qinhu's beard, proving that this seasoned, former top-tier general, Xue Shen, was no easy opponent.

Xue Shenjiang versus He Ruo Qinhu.

Yuwen Lie watched Jiang Xuantao's headless corpse fall onto the battlefield. He did not know whether this young Marquis had deliberately sought revenge—for the Wolf King's beheading, his head hung on the eastern gate, sent as a trophy to Chen State.

The Fire Qilin growled softly. Li Guanyi planted his halberd on the ground, expression cold. He lifted it, pointing at Yuwen Lie.

The Fire Qilin growled low; Li Guanyi's battle halberd rested on the ground, his expression icy, as he lifted it and pointed at Yuwen Lie.

he said, "it's two against two."

"Fair enough."

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