Chapter 556: New Year, New King, New World

December 28th, 5:00 AM.

Li Sister Tianyu led ten thousand Barbarian-Killing Army troops to leave Killing Barbarian City.

But they were not heading north to fight the Northern Barbarian army outside the city, but heading south toward Beichuan Province.

Earlier, Qin Qin Shixian only sent ten thousand elite border soldiers to form hundreds of hunter squads to hunt down barbarian soldiers within Beichuan Province.

But as more and more barbarian soldiers entered Beichuan Province, the defense of Beichuan Province became increasingly difficult.

If the Northern Frontier defense line were seen as a river channel, and the million-strong Northern Barbarian army were seen as a river.

Then the five large cities like Killing Barbarian City and Polu City were five small mountains on the river channel, blocking the river channel, forcing the river to divert, making the flow downstream become extremely small.

And in Beichuan Province behind the five small mountains, although it wasn't flat, there were no major obstacles in the terrain, at most counting as a ditch full of pits and bumps.

In this situation, the border soldiers sent to Beichuan Province were like bags of cement thrown into the river.

They could hinder the flow of the river, but couldn't completely cut off the river.

In this situation, the Barbarian-Killing Army composed of ten thousand martial artists entering Beichuan Province could be described as sending charcoal in snow!

Actually, Qin Qin Shixian wanted to use this Barbarian-Killing Army from the beginning, but because the Regional Commander of the Barbarian-Killing Army was Li Fei, he didn't issue the order directly.

This Northern Frontier Provincial Military Commander didn't want to offend anyone by arbitrarily mobilizing Li Fei's direct troops.

The Li Fei of today was no longer the Marquis of Jing'an who needed to rely on a golden medal to make the Prince of Cheng back down.

And Li Fei letting Li Sister Tianyu take ten thousand Barbarian-Killing Army troops to Beichuan Province actually had his own selfishness.

Firstly, Li Sister Tianyu was eager to fight, and he couldn't keep her off the battlefield forever. The rear was definitely much safer than the front line.

Secondly, what he was about to do next was very risky; sending Li Sister Tianyu away could avoid the other party worrying.

More and more people from the Northern Barbarians would enter Beichuan Province, and even with the ten thousand Forbidden Army troops coming to reinforce, they couldn't completely hold Beichuan Province.

Therefore, the Northern Frontier border soldiers had to withdraw more people.

When Li Fei left Polu City, Qin Qin Shixian had already drawn ten thousand border soldiers from Polu City to head to Beichuan Province.

Although that Northern Barbarian army defeated by Li Fei only suffered over eight thousand casualties, the military morale had already scattered, and it was unlikely to reorganize a large army to threaten Polu City in a short time; this was the reason Qin Qin Shixian dared to split his forces.

Next, every time Li Fei defeated a Northern Barbarian army, he could "liberate" more troops.

Making the pressure on Beichuan Province in the rear smaller, letting more people avoid the plundering of barbarian soldiers, and letting warriors like Lan Yu and the others suffer fewer sacrifices!

This day, Li Fei waited from dawn until dusk.

Then he left Killing Barbarian City alone.

The setting sun was like blood, illuminating the frozen earth into red.

Inside Killing Barbarian City, over twenty thousand border soldiers all fired their guns toward the sky, cheering for the Grand General—

A golden robe killed into the camp of a hundred thousand people!

The wind and snow roared, the frozen earth cracked, and the earth trembled!

With the battle example of Polu City, this time the Northern Barbarian army's reaction was fast, and clearly made targeted deployments:

Arrays were laid out in advance in various places in the camp, mainly used for encirclement and spatial sealing.

Sorcerers were distributed in various places, ensuring that when Li Fei appeared in a certain area, there were enough sorcerers who could cast spells on all the soldiers in that area.

The barbarian soldiers besieging Li Fei were also arranged in formations in advance, not crowded together messily, but scattered as much as possible, so that Li Fei couldn't kill many people with one move.

All these things made Li Fei's killing efficiency lower and the consumption greater...

Over two hours later, the last ray of daylight disappeared on the horizon.

On the frozen earth, corpses were everywhere, and blood flowed like a river.

The smell of blood rose to the sky.

The hundred-thousand-strong Northern Barbarian army had already been beheaded by Li Fei by over ten thousand people!

Although it hadn't reached the thirty percent casualty rate required by Boerhu, the psychological endurance of the generals in the army was almost reaching its limit.

Those who died were the sons of their own tribes; even if they were cold-blooded, watching their own tribesmen go to die one after another, their will would waver.

And fighting continuously for over two hours, resisting the interference of various supernatural arts, the attacks of hundreds of Tuo Dou warriors, and the interference of large arrays, beheading over ten thousand people.

Even if it were a peak powerhouse, the consumption would definitely not be small!

"His power probably doesn't have much left."

Holding such a thought, the Northern Barbarian generals in the camp could no longer sit still and chose to make a move—

Giants and giant beasts suddenly appeared in the camp.

This was the military formation of the Northern Barbarians launched!

The upper limit of the Great Lan Dynasty's military formations could reach the peak level, but the upper limit of the Northern Barbarian military formations could only reach the level of a martial arts Grandmaster.

The gap between the two sides could be described as clouds and mud!

However, if the quality wasn't enough, quantity would make up for it.

This time, the Northern Barbarian nine tribes joined forces, each tribe launching over one-fifth of the population in the tribe, and all kinds of trump cards were taken out.

In this army outside Killing Barbarian City, there were over a dozen military formations.

Over a dozen military formations plus over a dozen Ba Dou powerhouses in the army joining forces, against a top powerhouse with huge consumption, there was a chance to behead him!

But—

They still couldn't break Li Fei's defense, and still couldn't stop Li Fei's attack.

The power Li Fei displayed had no sign of weakening at all!

After Li Fei broke seven military formations and beheaded five Ba Dou powerhouses, the powerhouses of the Northern Barbarians collapsed:

"He is a devil!"

"Unkillable! Simply unkillable!"

"Retreat! Retreat quickly—"

Thus, a large-scale rout reappeared outside Killing Barbarian City.

Li Fei didn't stop, continuing to pursue and kill!

It wasn't until late at night that he returned to Killing Barbarian City with a thick bloody smell.

In this battle, the casualties of the Northern Barbarian army exceeded fourteen thousand!

The remaining people, the military morale had already collapsed, and the siege of Killing Barbarian City was lifted.

The military intelligence of Killing Barbarian City also spread out at the first moment, and Li Fei also received the military intelligence of the other large cities:

Just as he left the city to attack that hundred-thousand-strong Northern Barbarian army, eight Northern Barbarian top powerhouses led a group of Ba Dou powerhouses to attack Moyun City!

Moyun City was one of the five large cities of the Northern Frontier; the previously public intelligence was that one thousand Barbarian-Killing Army Imperial Guard Army troops were stationed here.

Relying only on these one thousand Imperial Guard Army troops, plus the large array in the city, they couldn't block the attack of the Northern Barbarian group of powerhouses.

However, at the critical moment, True Person Xuan Chen appeared.

He was at the peak of the Great Perfection of Earthly Fiend and Heavenly Gang, only one step away from a True Monarch.

He was also a direct disciple of the Daoist sect, and the supernatural arts he practiced and the natal magic treasures he refined were all top-tier.

Plus, the Shangqing Sect was known as the number one in Daoist arrays, most skilled in laying arrays and controlling arrays.

So Xuan Chen alone, plus the assistance of one thousand Imperial Guard Army troops and the rest of the powerhouses in the city, steadily blocked the attack of the Northern Barbarian powerhouses.

Relying on the large array, Moyun City could hold on for a day or two, completely no problem.

Without waiting for the rest of the powerhouses of the Great Lan Dynasty to go to rescue, the Northern Barbarian powerhouses only attacked for over an hour before retreating.

That night, this group of Northern Barbarian powerhouses appeared in Yulong City, hundreds of miles away, attacking the city again!

According to the prior intelligence, there were no Imperial Guard Army troops stationed in Yulong City.

When the Northern Barbarian powerhouses attacked, the top-tier True Person He He Yuxi, who belonged to the Military Intelligence Bureau, appeared.

However, she was only at the Earthly Fiend realm, far worse than Xuan Chen.

Not long after the battle started, the large array was in jeopardy.

Afterward, the imperial retainer Bai Meng made a move.

The intelligence Li Fei received was just this.

When he received the intelligence, the battle over at Yulong City was still going on.

Bai Meng was only one small realm higher than He He Yuxi; even if the two joined forces to control the large array to resist so many Northern Barbarian powerhouses, it would still be very strenuous.

However, Li Fei had no intention of moving to support.

He was taking elixirs in the room, continuing to stimulate the growth of 【Lie Shan Jia】.

Over two hours later, the latest intelligence came:

The group of Northern Barbarian powerhouses never retreated, until the imperial retainer Zhou Zhou Xuanwo arrived, and the three top powerhouses joined forces to control the large array to defend, only then did these Northern Barbarian powerhouses retreat.

After reading the intelligence, Li Fei's expression was calm.

Clearly, the Northern Barbarians were testing the deployment of the Great Lan Dynasty.

Li Fei dared to slaughter the army so unscrupulously alone, and there must be powerhouses behind him to meet him.

If the other cities didn't have enough powerhouses guarding them, they would take the opportunity to break a large city.

Now, although no large city was broken, two imperial retainers were exposed, forcing out two trump cards of the Great Lan Dynasty.

And the one closest to Yulong City was Baishong City; the Northern Barbarians could definitely infer that Zhou Zhou Xuanwo had rushed over from Baishong City.

In this way, the distribution of combat power in the five cities of the Northern Frontier was basically "open cards."

Of course, the Great Lan Dynasty could also play an "empty city strategy."

After all, top powerhouses hiding their figures and flying in the air were very difficult to be discovered.

It was just that the risk of doing this was very high; any large city being broken would have very serious consequences!

Besides this, they could also do as they did today, temporarily letting powerhouses rush over from other places to rescue.

If top powerhouses erupted with full force, the fastest flight speed could break the speed of sound.

A straight-line distance of two or three hundred kilometers could be reached in over ten minutes.

But unless they possessed flight-type supernatural powers, flying at full speed consumed a lot of energy.

Just like someone who could usually run 3000 meters, if you let him sprint 400 meters at full speed, he would definitely be exhausted.

If they really rushed to support from other places at full speed, their state upon arrival would be very poor.

One careless move, and it might turn into sending heads over a thousand miles.

So how to make trade-offs in this game was a test of the Regional Commander's mentality.

The 49th year of Emperor Hongguang, December 31st.

This was the last day of this year, and also the last day of the Emperor Hongguang era.

The hundred-thousand-strong Northern Expedition Army had arrived in Beichuan Province, and five thousand Imperial Guard Army troops had entered several large cities to be stationed.

The power of the Northern Frontier defense line was once again enhanced.

Good news kept coming from the Northern Frontier, and after it was transmitted back to Lanling City, the whole city celebrated for the Marquis of Jing'an!

Li Fei's two great battles, fighting back fifty thousand and a hundred thousand Northern Barbarian troops alone, made the people of Lanling City so excited they couldn't sleep!

The atmosphere in the court also had a great change.

Before setting off, Li Fei fought seven alone and defeated seven Western Continent Dukes.

This had already given the civil and military officials of the court great confidence, and the most critical thing was that the attitude of the Grand Secretary, Ye Ye Zean, began to waver.

After the news of Li Fei's two unprecedented great victories outside Polu City and Killing Barbarian City came back, a portion of the "pro-peace" officials also changed their minds.

And the attitudes of these court dignitaries could directly affect the combat power of the various armies a thousand miles away!

When these officials changed from "pro-peace" to "pro-war," the attitudes of the people in their families who served as generals in the Forbidden Army, border soldiers, and even the Imperial Guard Army would also change accordingly.

Now, in the court, the pro-war faction had already gained the upper hand, so the battles on the southern and eastern borders also became active and proactive.

Many soldiers, from being conservative at the beginning, now began to consider how to establish military merit.

It could be said that Li Fei had forcefully reversed the general trend by his own strength!

He not only influenced the Northern Frontier battle line but also influenced the battle lines on the southern and eastern borders!

Imperial Palace.

Imperial Study.

The new Emperor, Qin Qin Ziheng, was reading the military intelligence from the front line.

Clearly, there were good news reports from all three battle lines, but his expression appeared somewhat heavy, and his gaze was somewhat gloomy.

"Your Majesty."

The Imperial Eunuch, Feng Cheng, held a wooden box with both hands and came outside the Imperial Study, "The new dragon robe has been sent, do you want to try it on now?"

Tomorrow was the new Emperor's enthronement ceremony, everything was new, naturally including the new dragon robe.

Qin Qin Ziheng glanced outside the door, somewhat absent-minded:

"No need."

Feng Cheng glanced at him and retreated without changing his expression.

Qin Qin Ziheng put down the memorial in his hand and let out a deep breath.

Inside the Imperial Study, this Emperor who was about to hold the enthronement ceremony and officially open his own era sat until late at night.

The Lanling City at dawn was shrouded in golden morning light, and the nine-fold palace was dyed amber by the morning light.

Altar of Heaven.

The Xuan Armor Forbidden Army stood with halberds, the Golden Guard held nine-streamer dragon flags to form an honor guard, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites of the Internal Affairs Cabinet set up five-colored jade ritual vessels on the white jade steps.

Today, it was the first year of Yuanxing, January 1st!

The Emperor would hold the enthronement ceremony at the Altar of Heaven.

When the morning bell broke through the thin mist above the imperial city, the twelve city gates of the imperial city opened wide.

Bronze bells played Shao music, and hundreds of palace maids scattered cinnabar and gold foil on the imperial road.

On the square outside the twelve city gates, over a hundred thousand people had long gathered, kneeling on the ground one after another.

The civil and military officials lined up to enter the square where the Altar of Heaven was located.

The new Emperor, Qin Qin Ziheng, wore a Xuan Duan crown robe with twelve-chapter patterns, stepping onto the Tongtian Imperial Road, the jade streamers ringing lightly in front of his forehead.

Behind him, on the left and right, were the Grand Secretary, Ye Ye Zean, and the Military Intelligence Grand Marshal, Wen Ren Zheng.

The enthronement ceremony officially began!

At the same time, a thousand miles away, in the Western Extremity Province, Mount Pudu Mountain.

Over a hundred thousand believers had gathered at the foot of the mountain a few days ago.

Inside Mount Pudu Temple, tens of thousands of monks performed their duties, standing in their respective positions, chanting scriptures in unison.

Qin Qin Zihong stood on the square outside the main hall of Mount Pudu Temple, looking up at the golden waterfall flowing on the glazed tiles.

He looked at the steps ahead; as the chanting echoed through heaven and earth, golden lotuses bloomed one after another on the jade steps.

Today was the day the Western Extremity Kingdom was established, and also the day he was crowned King!

"The time has come."

A voice entered Qin Qin Zihong's ears.

He took a deep breath and stepped forward to walk toward the steps ahead.

On both sides of the steps stood monks, all true disciples of Mount Pudu Temple.

Accompanied by the tidal chanting, Qin Qin Zihong stepped on the golden lotuses, walking up the steps step by step, and walked into the main hall.

Inside the main hall, before the solemn Buddha statue, the current Buddha, Jing Heng, wearing a golden cassock, was facing the green lamp before the Buddha.

Beside him, the former "Prince of Li," Qin Qin Mingli, looked at Qin Qin Zihong with an expressionless face.

Qin Qin Zihong's heart trembled, but he soon maintained his composure, stepping into the great hall.

Jing Heng turned around, looking at Qin Qin Zihong with full compassion.

In a trance, the Dharma image of this Buddha seemed to appear from the void, a thousand-armed Dharma image holding the sun wheel and the moon wheel, level with the sky!

"Use Buddha fire to crown you."

The grand voice echoed in Qin Qin Zihong's heart and spirit.

The cry of the Garuda sounded, the golden-winged bird brought red flames, turning into the twelve-streamer crown on Qin Qin Zihong's head.

By the time he came back to his senses, he heard thunderous cheers coming from the mountain.

These were the cheers of ten thousand people!

On the first day of the New Year, Qin Qin Zihong was officially crowned as the new King.

The Buddha Kingdom was established!

Qin Qin Zihong turned to look outside the great hall and opened his arms.

He knew that after today, the pattern of the entire world would change—

The wills of two nations collided like lava, and a thousand miles away, they erupted completely!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 557 =====