Hulao Pass.
Chen Sanshi sat cross-legged, absorbing the incense energy from the Mystic Pearl.
Above his right hand, a small sword constantly formed and vanished, again and again. Each time it reappeared, it looked denser, sharper, and stronger than before. Power radiated from it in waves, each one heavier than the last.
This cycle continued—until one moment, when the sword finally solidified completely. It shimmered with a faint hum like a dragon's cry. Now about the size of a palm, its blade was sharp and gleaming, hovering in the air as if it were a real sword taking flight.
Sword Qi Technique—breakthrough!
[Technique: Sword Qi Technique (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 0/2000]
[Effect: Flying Sword within 100 zhang—kills unseen beyond 100 zhang. Power and range both significantly increased.]
Chen Sanshi quietly sensed the change.
Now, with a single strike of this spell, he could easily kill a Profound Manifestation cultivator at Minor Achievement.
He had seen Deng Feng fight before. He understood clearly the power and defense of those at the Profound Manifestation Realm.
"My lord!"
Outside the room, from a distance, Zhao Kang reported cautiously, "The food supplies in Hulao Pass ran out yesterday, but we just received notice that in two hours, an emergency shipment will arrive."
At least Grand Commander Meng was reliable.
Chen Sanshi knew how difficult it was to move grain over such a short time.
"Good. Then have them cook. Let everyone eat their fill before the final battle."
——
In the Southern Xu military camp.
Deng Feng and the others passed through layer upon layer of formations. Everywhere they looked, there were people—waves of soldiers stretching as far as the eye could see. Hundreds of thousands of troops. The formation itself spread for more than 20 li.
Just to reach the main command tent, they had to walk for over 10 li.
Sha Wenlong's heart sank. "If the negotiations fail, what do we do?"
"What do we do?"
Wang Zhi shot him a look. "We get surrounded. Those who have the skill live, those who don't—die."
Sha Wenlong, only at Profound Manifestation Beginner, was undoubtedly the weakest among them.
Across from them stood three from Southern Xu.
Fan Shuzhen needed no introduction. You Jingzhi was at Profound Manifestation Minor Achievement, while Ran Jingxuan, the strategist, was only at Beginner level.
In short—if things went wrong, they'd all be done for.
But it probably wouldn't come to that…
After all, even Fang Qingyun was here. No one would risk their lives so recklessly.
They could only hope the talks would go smoothly.
——
At the central command tent.
"Eighth Prince, they're almost here," Ran Jingxuan warned. "You should go confirm them personally. Make sure it's truly them, not stand-ins or trickery."
The more he thought about it, the worse it felt. "Especially that bare-handed general. I'm starting to suspect Deng Feng might have disguised himself. They can't possibly have two at Profound Manifestation Major Achievement."
"Got it."
Fan Shuzhen personally went out to welcome them.
Both sides met outside the tent.
"Fourteenth Brother!"
Fan Shuzhen immediately ordered, "Quick! Take Fourteenth Brother down to rest!"
Fan Jiaxiao, shackled head to toe in black iron chains, was swiftly carried away.
Then Fan Shuzhen turned to the rest.
"General Fang, General Deng, General Sha!"
He quickly recognized all three—and then his eyes landed on the last one. "And this general is…?"
"Fan Laoba!"
Wang Zhi took off his iron helmet and grinned wickedly. "Don't you recognize your grandpa?"
"You…"
Fan Shuzhen froze. A few breaths later, recognition struck. "Tang Ruoshan! You're not dead?! The battle at Silver Pine Cliff—it was you?!"
Not far away, inside the command tent, Ran Jingxuan gripped his sword hilt, ready to give the order to attack if something was off. But then he heard that name—one he'd never forgotten.
The Xuanwu Garrison.
They'd been annihilated under his father's command!
"Clang!"
Ran Jingxuan threw open the tent flap and stepped out.
He stared, confirming it with his own eyes. "Tang Ruoshan… you're still alive?!"
No wonder.
Back then, the Southern Xu soldiers had claimed the entire Xuanwu Garrison was wiped out. But in truth—there had been no bodies.
"Who?"
Sha Wenlong blinked in confusion.
That man was the former general of the Xuanwu Garrison?
That was 15 years ago—he had been at Profound Manifestation Major Achievement!
At that time, Martial Saints were almost unheard of, and Profound Manifestation Major Achievement already meant top-tier power in the world.
And now this man… was just a Hundred Commander?
Why would someone so important bring along a mere Hundred Commander?
"Your grandpa doesn't die that easily," Wang Zhi sneered. "But you, Fan Laoba… your Fourth Uncle's head—Tang here used it as a piss pot for a few years. Worked pretty well."
"You—you!"
Fan Shuzhen's voice trembled with rage. "Tang Ruoshan! Where the hell have you been hiding all these years?!"
"Why should I tell you?" Wang Zhi said boldly, chest puffed.
Once their identities were confirmed, Fan Shuzhen, You Jingzhi, and Ran Jingxuan exchanged glances.
It seemed this meeting was indeed real.
Every key force of Hulao Pass was now gathered here.
"Where's Chen Sanshi?"
Fan Shuzhen asked coldly. "He's the main commander—why didn't he come himself?"
"Eighth Prince," Fang Qingyun spoke calmly, "surely you wouldn't expect us to leave Hulao Pass completely unattended?"
"You're right, General Fang. No need to stand around out here."
Ran Jingxuan softened his tone. "Past grudges can be set aside. I've already prepared food and wine inside. Please, come in. We'll discuss the ceasefire in peace."
"You still want us to keep our weapons?"
Sha Wenlong eyed the soldiers around them warily. "What, you planning to kill us outright?"
"Not at all."
Ran Jingxuan gestured. "Make way! Let the generals keep their weapons."
This was the heart of a 100,000-strong army.
What difference would a few weapons make?
If they didn't carry weapons in, that would be more suspicious.
"Strategist."
Fan Shuzhen stayed outside, signaling Ran Jingxuan to proceed while he remained behind. "Li Gong's son is causing trouble again. Seems he found out about our peace talks—and he's already informed Qing. Li Gong will blow his top. How do we deal with it?"
"Let him send word—how is that not a good thing?"
Ran Jingxuan spoke with the calm shrewdness of a seasoned schemer. "This gives us a perfect opportunity. We'll let the Qing Kingdom name their price. Ask them if they're willing to give us Yaozhou and Leizhou. Depending on both sides' replies, we'll decide who to ally with in the end."
"Brilliant!"
Fan Shuzhen clapped in admiration. "That's what it means to sell to the highest bidder! Why didn't I think of that? This way, no matter how it ends, we win big.
"As for Li Gong's son…"
Ran Jingxuan's eyes turned cold. "If the talks with the Sheng people succeed, we kill him and send his head as a gift. If the talks fail, then we do the same to Fang Qingyun. Either way, the initiative stays in our hands."
Fan Shuzhen felt a wave of satisfaction rise in his chest.
"I command 100,000 troops!"
"With this army in my grasp, whoever comes—Qing, Sheng, or anyone else—they'll all bow their heads before me!"
In the end, strength was the greatest currency.
——
Yongle Prefecture.
"Peace talks?!"
"It's from the prince's report—he saw Fang Qingyun and the others enter with his own eyes."
"These bastards call themselves allies?!"
Prince Li Gong of Tang slammed the table. "I've been sitting here waiting for them, and they sneak off to talk peace with the Sheng? How shameless can they be? Wait—"
"Report!"
"A secret letter from Fan Shuzhen!"
Before his fury could fully ignite, another message arrived.
He read it—and his face went pale with rage.
"Your Highness…"
Vice General Liu Huanrong asked cautiously, "What did the Sheng people say?"
"They're taking advantage of the fire!"
Li Gong laughed bitterly. "That Fan bastard has turned this into an auction. He says the Sheng are offering Lánzhou and Mòzhou—and he's asking if we're willing to match that by giving them two provinces of our own."
"Outrageous!"
Liu Huanrong's face twisted. "Your Highness, what now? If we refuse, then the situation flips—Southern Xu becomes Sheng's reinforcements! But if we agree, we'll lose far too much. We're already fighting on the edge, and time isn't on our side. They've already begun the talks in the Southern Xu main camp!"
"Wait."
Li Gong suddenly had a flash of insight. "Do we know exactly who entered their camp for the negotiations?"
"The prince's letter listed them clearly," Liu Huanrong said. "Sha Wenlong, Deng Feng, Fang Qingyun—and one more, Tang Ruoshan, who'd been missing for years."
"So that means everyone from Hulao Pass is there!"
A bold idea formed instantly in Li Gong's mind. He made a firm decision.
"Quick! Write to His Majesty immediately. Tell her to agree to all of Southern Xu's terms. My only condition is this—those four negotiators' heads! Once they're dead, Hulao Pass collapses without a fight.
"With Southern Xu's 100,000 troops charging into Laizhou, they'll move faster than if they had to siege the fortress. They might even wipe out Meng Quji's forces entirely.
"And when that happens, we'll rally the northern barbarians on the steppe to strike from above, and have Western Qi return to the war from the west! This battle could turn into the one that destroys the entire Sheng Kingdom!"
"Your Highness…"
Liu Huanrong hesitated, torn. "Are you certain?"
"Of course I am!"
Li Gong's eyes gleamed with resolve.
Since it had come to this—he'd go all in!
"Southern Xu's fools are shortsighted and petty," he said through gritted teeth. "But we are not! The lives of Fang Qingyun and Chen Sanshi are worth trading even one province for.
"And this time, there will be no more back and forth.
"The Sheng can't offer better terms than this.
"Fan Shuzhen and the rest—they have no excuse left not to act."
——
Hulao Pass.
Wagon after wagon of grain rolled in through the darkness.
Lieutenant General Liang Pi, who led the convoy, also carried orders—he was to tell General Chen to hold his ground no matter what. But when he entered, the sight that greeted him nearly made him drop to his knees.
Every soldier in Hulao Pass was armored and armed, their formation tight, warhorses lined up in rows, hooves stamping impatiently.
The entire fortress stood ready—not to defend, but to charge out and fight to the death.
When Liang Pi asked around, the answer was the same from every man.
At dawn, the final battle would begin.
Three thousand men…
Against one hundred thousand.
"My lord!"
Liang Pi hurried to the command post. "Commander Meng has given orders! Use the peace talks to stall for as long as possible, and under no circumstances leave the fortress! Just hold out two more months—our reinforcements will break through Yongle Prefecture by then!"
"Two months?"
Chen Sanshi replied evenly, "Lieutenant General Liang, 100,000 enemy troops are pressing against our gates. Once they begin the siege, the fortress will fall within thirty days. How could we possibly hold for two months?"
"But you can't take such a huge risk!"
Liang Pi was stunned. In his mind, 3,000 men charging into 100,000 was nothing short of suicide—like throwing dumplings to feed a dog.
"General, if Hulao Pass falls, the consequences will be catastrophic! Shouldn't we at least report this to Commander Meng before acting?"
"Of course."
Chen Sanshi called for his senior brother's gyrfalcon. He took out a pre-written letter and tied it to the bird's leg.
"I've already written the war report in advance," he said. "It'll reach Commander Meng soon enough. You need not worry."
He hadn't revealed his real plan earlier—because he knew the upper command, especially Meng Quji, would never approve.
That man was too cautious. If he heard about an all-out charge, he'd lose his mind.
So Chen Sanshi chose to speak the truth only now—when there was no longer any time to stop him.
Besides… who would dare take such a risk?
If he had 10,000 men—or even 7,000—he'd have the confidence to hold two more months. But the reality was only 3,000 soldiers, with barely any at the Meridian-Connecting Realm. Everything rested on Deng Feng alone.
To keep delaying was to wait for death.
There was only one way not to lose—
To win.
From the beginning to the end, Chen Sanshi had only ever wanted that—victory.
——
Yongle Prefecture.
Another round of bloody, brutal fighting raged.
After more than a month of slaughter, both sides were exhausted.
The Qing forces had lost over 10,000, and the Sheng army had taken nearly the same toll.
The only advantage Sheng still held was that Yongle Prefecture's supplies were running dangerously low. When the food ran out, the city would fall, and its people would die.
But that looming crisis—Hulao Pass—still hung over their heads like a sword ready to drop.
"Is there any way to spare some troops for Hulao Pass?"
Meng Quji unrolled a bloodstained map with trembling hands. "The surrendered Qing soldiers—we can use some of them. Combine them with a portion of Yongle's garrison. Tell me, how many can we send?"
Zhan Taiming calculated carefully. "At most, we can squeeze out a little over two thousand more soldiers. Even then, it'll take at least ten days before they reach Hulao Pass. And as for high-ranking officers—not a single one can be spared."
"That's fine."
Meng Quji ordered, "Do it. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. Maybe they can help hold the line for a few extra days."
As the two racked their brains for ways to aid Hulao Pass, a soldier rushed in.
"Bad news!"
"Commander! There's a major incident at Hulao Pass!"
At those words, Meng Quji, who had just sat down, sprang to his feet. He rushed forward, face pale and tense. "The talks failed? Did Southern Xu start their assault? Is the fortress falling? Damn it—Zhan Taiming, go there yourself!"
He barely gave the soldier a chance to explain, already planning emergency deployments.
"Me?" Zhan Taiming hesitated. "Commander, if I go, what about you?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince!" Meng Quji said sharply. "The Crown Prince promised to try and send more reinforcements, though he didn't say when. It doesn't matter—you don't need to worry about me. Hulao Pass is the priority. If things go south…"
"Commander—"
The messenger interrupted, shouting hoarsely, "I haven't finished! General Chen is preparing to lead three thousand Black Armored troops out of the fortress for a decisive battle!"
"A decisive battle?"
Meng Quji blinked in disbelief, thinking his sleepless exhaustion had made him hallucinate. "Outside Hulao Pass—aren't there one hundred thousand Southern Xu troops? Who the hell is he going to fight?"
"With those one hundred thousand," the soldier replied grimly. "Commander, you can read the encoded report yourself."
"Where is it?!"
Meng Quji snatched the letter and scanned it. His vision went black; he nearly fainted, gripping the table for support. "What the hell is Chen Sanshi doing?! We agreed to use the peace talks to stall for time—the Crown Prince himself sealed that order! The talks could've dragged on for another ten days, maybe longer. Who knows, we might've broken Yongle by then! Why take such a reckless risk?"
"Send a message!"
Zhan Taiming barked, "Stop General Chen immediately! Tell him we're dispatching reinforcements!"
"It's too late," Meng Quji sighed heavily. "By the time the message reaches them, the battle will already be underway."
He pressed a hand to his forehead and muttered bitterly, "In all my years of war, I've never been this anxious. Chen Sanshi—he doesn't just torment the enemy. He torments his own allies too."
"Commander…"
Zhan Taiming said urgently, "Then what do we do now?"
"What else can we do?"
Meng Quji's voice was low, tired. "At this point, we have no choice but to trust him. Worst case, Southern Xu breaks through Hulao and floods into Laizhou. We'll retreat from Yongle and fight a long, drawn-out war for territory. That was my backup plan anyway…"
——
In the Southern Xu military camp.
The opposing side had three generals at the Profound Manifestation Realm.
To prevent any accidents, Southern Xu's three top generals had also gathered together. Around the main tent, layers of deputy commanders, Transforming Strength experts, and elite soldiers had already been positioned for absolute security.
After a round of hollow toasts and formalities, the real negotiation began.
Fan Shuzhen examined the Sheng Kingdom's peace proposal closely, confirming each official seal one by one.
He asked, "General Fang, if this is all genuine, how long will your nation need to fulfill these terms?"
"Three months," Fang Qingyun answered calmly. "Transferring cities and territories involves complicated logistics. It can't be done overnight."
"Too long," Ran Jingxuan said bluntly. "You expect us to sit here and wait three months while your forces settle into Laizhou? What happens if you change your mind later?"
"Then tell us straight," Fang Qingyun said. "What will satisfy you enough to withdraw from Lingzhou?"
Ran Jingxuan responded without hesitation. "Order the Prince of Zhen'nan to pull his southern forces back immediately. In exchange, we'll station the Southern Xu army north of the Great Wall—Dehua, Mangshan, and Liwan prefectures. Once that's done, both sides can complete the deal within half a month."
"Isn't that too much?"
Sha Wenlong couldn't help but object. "Those three prefectures are the lifeline of the south! If you take them and still decide to launch a northern invasion later, how do we defend ourselves?"
Ran Jingxuan spread his hands. "That's not our concern. If you disagree, then please leave. We'll just continue our siege on Hulao Pass."
"Give us some time to consider."
Fang Qingyun frowned deeply. "This matter isn't small. We must think carefully."
"Fine."
Fan Shuzhen agreed immediately. "You'll stay in our camp tonight. Give us your answer at dawn. If you don't, I'll assume you're stalling for time—with no real sincerity."
Once the talks ended, Fan Shuzhen and his men left one by one, leaving only the Sheng generals inside.
"What should we do now?"
Sha Wenlong paced anxiously. "They're pushing us too far. If we agree, our southern front collapses. But if we refuse, we may never make it back alive!"
He knew all too well—they were already surrounded.
"How about this!" Sha Wenlong said. "We pretend to agree for now. Once we return, we can go back on it."
"Good idea," Wang Zhi sneered. "Then we'll leave General Sha here as a hostage."
"What?!"
Sha Wenlong's face went pale. "General Fang, General Deng!"
Fang Qingyun closed his eyes, resting silently. Deng Feng was focused on the sand table, saying nothing.
No one answered him.
Hours passed unnoticed.
Dawn was breaking.
At that moment, a falcon from Yongle Prefecture swooped into camp with a message.
"Good!"
Fan Shuzhen's face lit up with excitement. "Strategist, Li Gong agreed! So, shall we make our move?"
"Not yet," Ran Jingxuan said coldly. "Let's ask the Sheng people again—see if they're willing to raise their offer."
——
At Hulao Pass.
Chen Sanshi raised his spear toward the endless waves of Southern Xu troops beyond the walls.
His voice rang out. "The enemy numbers one hundred thousand. We have three thousand. Tell me—are you afraid?"
Silence.
They weren't exactly afraid, but facing such a vast army—it was hard not to feel the crushing weight of that disparity.
"It seems your hearts still lack courage," Chen Sanshi said, his tone calm but sharp as a blade.
Chen Sanshi's voice was firm and sonorous. "To you, the enemy looks vast and unstoppable. But to me, their ranks are full of flaws. Therefore, our army holds ten advantages, while the enemy holds ten failures. Add them together—how could we not win?"
Xia Cong stepped forward respectfully. "General, forgive our dullness, but could you tell us—what are those ten victories and ten defeats?"
"Good. Then listen closely!"
Chen Sanshi's gaze swept across the gathered men. His voice rolled like thunder, igniting their spirits.
"First victory—The victory of righteousness! The Southern Xu scum are nothing more than hyenas feeding off scraps while our Great Sheng Dynasty defends the frontier. We fight to reclaim our homeland, to restore the ancestral temple. That is moral strength—the Dao stands with us!
"Second victory—The victory of arms! On paper, our numbers are small. But every one of our soldiers wears full black iron armor—axes can't cleave it, blades can't pierce it. Even our steeds are pure-blooded warhorses. Look at the enemy—half of them wear old armor, most without mounts at all!
"Third victory—The victory of men! The enemy's ranks are swollen, yes, but half of them have trained less than two years. Our Black Armored soldiers? Every one of them has practiced martial arts since childhood. Each one can fight a hundred foes!
"Fourth victory—The victory of morale! We defend our homeland, our families, and our ancestors' honor. Their hearts are scattered and bought by silver.
"Fifth victory—The victory of discipline! The Southern Xu army is a patchwork of hastily gathered troops, led by men with no unity. Our army follows a single command—move when ordered, strike when commanded!
"Sixth victory—The victory of courage! The enemy fears death; our men seek glory. Between those who wish to live and those who are unafraid to die, victory is already decided.
"Seventh victory—The victory of will! The longer this war drags, the more restless their hearts become. But we've endured hunger, blood, and hardship. Our resolve only grows stronger.
"Eighth victory—The victory of terrain! Hulao Pass stands tall, the plains before it wide and open. The enemy can't use numbers to encircle us—they can only rush forward into our spears.
"Ninth victory—The victory of momentum! Since entering Lingzhou, the enemy hasn't won a single battle. And our Great Sheng forces—have we ever been defeated?"
"Never!" all the soldiers roared in unison.
"Never defeated!"
Chen Sanshi's eyes gleamed like fire. "That is the ninth victory—the victory of momentum!"
He took a breath, his gaze sweeping the faces before him, voices of three thousand echoing faintly across the morning mist. Then he shouted the final words:
"And last—the tenth victory, the victory of Heaven!"
"Brothers, do you remember the Battle of Silver Pine Cliff? The thunder that fell from the sky to strike down our enemies?"
The men nodded, some eyes shining with awe.
"The enemy may number one hundred thousand, but they are nothing but rabble! We, the Black Armored Army, are soldiers of the Heavenly Book. Every formation we march is written in immortal script. Every man among us fights as one blessed by Heaven itself!
"Can mere earthbound dogs and chickens stand against Heaven's soldiers?!"
"This is the tenth victory—the victory of Heaven's will!"
His words crashed down like a storm.
The soldiers' hearts ignited.
Heaven's aid? Could it be true?
They all knew the formations they drilled day and night came from the Heavenly Book—techniques left by immortals. At Silver Pine Cliff, lightning itself had struck the enemy. Could that miracle happen again today?
Chen Sanshi saw the burning question in their eyes.
"Today," he said, voice like steel, "there will be not only thunder—but Heaven itself descending!"
"In half an hour, from the Ninth Heaven, divine soldiers will descend into the mortal world! They will merge with us, body and soul! Then we shall become Heaven's army incarnate! When we charge, the one hundred thousand Southern Xu scum will break ranks, throw down their armor, and flee in terror!"
"Nine Heavens descending?! Truly?!"
The soldiers' excitement was uncontrollable.
"Real or not," Chen Sanshi said, "you'll know soon enough!"
Then—
The sky began to pale in the east.
Yet, instead of the horizon brightening, the soldiers' vision grew hazy. The vast enemy army—one hundred thousand strong—vanished from sight.
Because—
On the twenty-fifth day of the third month, a vast fog fell from the heavens!
Mist rolled across the wilderness, covering hundreds of li. The white vapor coiled and swirled like divine clouds, turning the land into a fairy realm. Was this not the descent of the Nine Heavens?
"Heaven's time has come!"
"Form the lines!"
"The Nine Heavens Heavenly Soldiers Formation!"
"When the formation completes, we shall ascend as Heaven's warriors!"
Chen Sanshi raised his spear. His white stallion reared high, and from the Mystic Pearl in his arms, the gathered white qi surged outward all at once. The dense, radiant energy condensed into a celestial dragon, coiling above the heads of the three thousand Black Armored soldiers.
"Rumble—"
The soldiers, having drilled the formation countless times, completed it instantly.
Then the extraordinary happened.
The moment the formation locked into place, it was as if the army became the eye of a massive vortex between Heaven and Earth. The thick fog over hundreds of li began to whirl and draw inward, engulfing the three thousand completely. Outside the vortex, the sky cleared, and the field shone bright again. From afar, it looked as if the army had vanished—swallowed by a sea of mist.
Under that divine shroud, within that boundless energy, their morale surged to an unprecedented peak.
At this moment, every soldier believed with all his heart—
Just like at Silver Pine Cliff, Heaven would once again send down its soldiers to fight by their side!
The Mystic Pearl!
The Immortal Formation that borrowed the power of Heaven and Earth!
According to the Heavenly Book, every celestial phenomenon had its corresponding formation—thunder, flood, wind, fire… even the stars themselves.
Each formation, when aligned with its proper moment, could unleash miraculous power. Its strength depended on the density of spiritual qi—or the strength of those who formed it.
Like how Silver Pine Cliff had drawn real lightning, so too could a fire formation harness flame, or a star formation call down a meteor if the qi was strong enough.
Such feats demanded immense energy—an ocean of power.
But right now, the qi from the Mystic Pearl was more than enough to fully awaken the might of the Nine Heavens Heavenly Soldiers Formation.
How could one hundred thousand mortals stand against Heaven's army?
Their defeat was already sealed!
"Three thousand Black Armored soldiers!"
"Follow me!"
"Charge—!"
——
Meanwhile, in the Southern Xu main camp.
All their top experts—those at the Profound Manifestation Realm—were still at the negotiation table.
"General Fang, have you decided?"
Fan Shuzhen's voice grew hard. "You really won't add one more province?"
"Isn't that too excessive?"
After a long silence, Fang Qingyun finally shook his head. "Prince Fan, you've shown no real sincerity in these talks. You're asking for the impossible."
"Oh?"
Fan Shuzhen narrowed his eyes. "Then you mean there's no point continuing?"
"Give me a little more time to think," Fang Qingyun said calmly. "You've pushed too hard."
"Half an hour," Fan Shuzhen replied darkly. "That's all you get."
——
At the frontlines.
Southern Xu's one hundred thousand troops, stretched over twenty li, had already been arranged for the final siege the night before.
But suddenly, the order came—pause the attack.
So they waited.
And waited.
From dusk till dawn, they stood on the wasteland, cold wind cutting through armor. No one slept.
Now, with the morning sun rising, nothing had happened.
Exhausted and confused, some soldiers slumped down where they stood.
"Are we even fighting today?"
"Maybe not."
"I heard they're negotiating."
"If they're not fighting, that's fine by me. I heard there are thirty thousand inside Hulao Pass!"
"And that white-robed Chen Sanshi—he can summon heavenly thunder to strike people!"
"Everyone, on your feet!"
Deputy General Cheng Guangyao, who was in charge of the front army, shouted from horseback, "Hold the formation! Anyone who keeps spouting nonsense—I'll cut your tongue out myself!"
"What thick fog!"
"Yeah, can't see a damn thing."
As daylight began to brighten, mist spread across the barren plain, shrouding everything in a gray haze that made it almost impossible to see ahead.
"It's just fog! What are you so jumpy about?"
Cheng Guangyao lashed his whip, striking a few soldiers who had squatted down to rest. "Get up! The fog will clear soon enough—wait, what's this? It's clearing so fast?"
He rode forward a short distance, only to realize the fog that had just risen was now dissipating at an unnaturally rapid pace.
In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the misty morning turned bright and clear again.
"What the hell?"
"What kind of weather is this?"
"Yeah, never seen fog vanish that fast!"
"No—look closely!"
"The fog's not gone—it's…"
"Running away!"
That's right.
The fog was running away.
Above their heads, the endless shroud of mist was drifting in one direction—all of it.
And there was no wind.
The fog moved as if alive, drawn toward something unseen.
"Hey!"
"This is unreal!"
"What's going on?"
"Whoa!"
At that bizarre sight, the Southern Xu soldiers—who had been exhausted from standing guard all night—sprang to their feet, craning their necks to look northward.
That was where Hulao Pass lay.
More and more fog gathered in that direction until the entire horizon turned white, swallowing Hulao Pass completely from view.
Southern Xu was a land of rivers and mountains—its soldiers were used to fog. But that only made it clearer that what they were seeing was wrong.
"What's happening?"
Even Cheng Guangyao found himself entranced, forgetting his duty to maintain order.
"The fog!"
"It's coming back!"
"Look! Look there!"
Before their stunned eyes, the massive wall of mist that had gathered over Hulao Pass began to surge forward—rolling like a living tide toward the Southern Xu army.
"What the hell is that?!"
"Mother of Heaven!"
"The fog's alive?!"
As it drew closer, faint sounds began to echo from within.
It sounded like—
Hooves.
And war drums.
"Boom, boom, boom—"
"Da-da-da—"
The sounds grew louder, shaking the ground.
The earth trembled underfoot, and the soldiers' chests thudded painfully from the deep, rhythmic drumbeats.
In just moments, the fog that had been miles away engulfed the Southern Xu front lines.
"Not good!"
"It's the enemy—"
Cheng Guangyao's eyes widened as realization struck, but before he could finish shouting, an arrow whistled out of the mist like a bolt of lightning. It struck his throat clean through, the force so immense it threw him from his saddle.
"Thud!"
He hit the ground, dead before he could draw breath.
"Enemy attack!"
"We're under attack!"
Only now did the Southern Xu troops finally understand—the fog wasn't natural. The enemy was inside it!
But it was already too late.
The thick, endless mist rolled forward like a devouring beast, swallowing the vanguard whole.
Once inside, the Southern Xu soldiers finally saw—
A heavenly army.
Heaven's soldiers and generals!
Their armor was black as night, gleaming like iron under divine light. Their blades flashed like lightning, their warhorses roared like thunder.
The fog churned with gold and silver light, and as the first rays of the sun pierced through the white veil, it illuminated the Black Armored Army.
Their armor gleamed like divine metal. The holy brilliance and murderous aura mingled together—it was like witnessing gods descend from the heavens, celestial soldiers walking the earth.
For a moment, the Southern Xu troops stood frozen.
They couldn't even move, let alone fight back.
"Clang—"
A torrent of steel swept through them.
Blood burst like fountains within the white mist.
Then, screams erupted. Panic spread like wildfire.
"Immortals!"
"There are immortals!"
"Heavenly soldiers! Heavenly generals!"
"Pfft—"
The air filled with the wet, slicing sounds of blades.
And so it began—the plague of fear. It spread through the one hundred thousand Southern Xu troops faster than fire through dry grass.
"They're not heavenly soldiers…"
Deputy General Xin Qifan shouted hoarsely as his eyes locked on the banners within the fog—black banners lined with crimson silk, dancing wildly in the storm.
Etched upon them in shining gold was a single, killing character—Chen!
"The 'Chen' banner!"
"It's Great Sheng!"
"It's the White Robe Army!"
"They've charged out of Hulao Pass!"
Xin Qifan's voice cracked as he roared, "Hold the line! Form ranks—form ranks now!"
"What the hell's happening?!"
"Weren't they negotiating?!"
"Why are we fighting again?!"
"Thirty thousand—!"
"They've got thirty thousand men!"
"It's three hundred thousand!"
"Look over there!"
"Bullshit! Three hundred thousand my ass—at most fifty thousand!"
Xin Qifan drew his blade and slashed down the panicked soldier who was spreading fear. But even that didn't stop the chaos.
The Southern Xu army—
Was completely unprepared.
And worse—
There was no one commanding.
At a time like this, what they needed most was someone to stabilize the troops. But none of the deputy generals could handle it.
They needed a top general.
Yet every one of them—
Was still in the central camp ten li away, in the middle of peace negotiations!
"Ahhhh!"
Screams began to echo one after another.
The vanguard was breaking apart.
"Run for your lives!!!"
"General!"
"Send word to His Highness and the generals!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Great Sheng's army has charged!"
"General Fang!"
Fan Shuzhen turned toward Fang Qingyun. "Time's up."
"Yes, General Fang," Ran Jingxuan added coldly. "What's your decision?"
"Fine."
Fang Qingyun's expression didn't change. "I agree to everything."
"All of it?"
Fan Shuzhen laughed mockingly.
No one believed that. Not even ghosts would.
If that were true, it'd be like pies falling from the heavens.
"Well then," Ran Jingxuan said smoothly, pretending to accept it, "since that's the case, please sign and seal the agreement as Sheng Kingdom's representative. Then, as discussed, you'll all come with us back to Great Xu's camp immediately."
The implication was obvious—
They intended to keep them as hostages.
"General Sha!"
Fang Qingyun said calmly, "You'll stay. The rest of us will leave."
Before Sha Wenlong could protest, Ran Jingxuan shook his head. "That won't do, General Fang. This is too important. Until everything is finalized, not a single one of you can leave. But rest assured—if you truly honor the terms, Great Xu will treat you as honored guests."
"All stay?"
Fang Qingyun's tone stayed even. "Surely someone must return to deliver the message? If we're to show sincerity, shouldn't Great Xu do the same?"
While they argued, noise suddenly erupted outside.
"What's going on?!"
Fan Shuzhen barked the question.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
A deputy general stumbled into the tent, covered in dust, shouting frantically, "It's bad! It's terrible! The soldiers from Hulao Pass suddenly attacked our formations! We don't even know how many there are—we can't hold them! We can't hold them!"
"What!!"
Fan Shuzhen's fury exploded. In one motion, he snatched up his massive sword, veins bulging in his neck. "Fang Qingyun! This is your idea of a peace talk?!"
Ran Jingxuan was equally stunned.
He could hardly believe it.
All the enemy's top generals were right here, surrounded.
Chen Sanshi led only a few thousand men—charging an army of one hundred thousand?
That was—
Suicide.
"Chen Sanshi broke through?!"
Sha Wenlong tore at his hair. "He's lost his damn mind!"
This lunatic—was he trying to get them all killed?!
"Your Highness, stay calm!"
Ran Jingxuan said quickly, "There's no meaning in this. If they kill these few, Hulao Pass will be left without a single Profound Manifestation expert. That Chen fellow is marching to his own death."
"You're right!"
Fan Shuzhen's anger turned into a cruel grin. "I have one hundred thousand men—why would I fear one petty Meridian-Connecting cultivator?"
"Guards!"
Fan Shuzhen lifted his giant blunt-edged sword and pointed it toward Fang Qingyun and the others. "Take them!"
At once, the hidden troops surged out from all sides.
Thousands of spears, halberds, and heavy black iron shields locked together, sealing the central tent like an iron fortress.
"Wait, wait! This is a misunderstanding!"
Sha Wenlong shouted in panic. "Prince Fan, we're really here to negotiate! Chen acted on his own—it has nothing to do with us! Right, General Fang?"
But then he noticed—
Fang Qingyun and Wang Zhi showed no surprise at all. Their expressions were calm, almost… expectant.
"You…"
Sha Wenlong's face turned pale. "You knew?! You planned this from the start?!"
He was completely in the dark.
Deng Feng didn't know either—but he didn't care. He followed orders. If that meant dying, then so be it.
"Fang Qingyun!"
Fan Shuzhen's fury erupted. "I truly thought you meant to talk peace. But you—treacherous, shameless worm! How dare you toy with me! Men—kill them all!"
"Die!!!"