Outside Meishan Prefecture.
Dark clouds smothered the sky. Thunder rolled endlessly.
The storm howled with killing intent.
More than 2,000 cavalry thundered south from the northern bank of the Wushui River, wrapped in a storm of murderous qi. Each flash of lightning illuminated their neat and flawless formation, like divine soldiers descending from heaven under the wrath of Heaven itself.
Along the road, every town and village trembled in fear.
"Red Brows have no virtue—Heaven's army has come to claim them!"
"…"
The deafening chant swept across the northern bank of the Wushui River, echoing through the storm as more and more commoners took up the cry.
This was—
Killing momentum!
"Report!"
Zhao Kang galloped up through the rain. "Sir! Ten li ahead, an enemy formation blocks the only road to Meishan Prefecture. Judging from their position, they must be the troops from Linhe County!"
"Thousand-Commander Chen!"
Lu Shuhua shouted through the rain, "What do we do?"
"Kill!"
Chen Sanshi's voice was cold and firm.
There isn't always a strategy to rely on. Sometimes, there's only one word—kill!
Thunder roared as lightning tore through the sky. The two armies collided head-on.
At a glance—
The Red Brows Army's formation was unlike anything found in a military text.
The Formation of the Heavenly Book!
Their ranks were aligned with unnatural precision, and faintly, one could feel the resonance between heaven and earth. Above them swirled a mass of pure white mystic qi, like a vast fog rising into the stormy night.
"Brothers!"
At the heart of the array, He Xianliang raised his spear high, rain streaming down his face as he shouted, "The Commander has just granted us divine power! We are Heaven's chosen soldiers! The Heavenly Book itself declares that this battle will secure Heaven and Earth for our Commander—it is destined for victory!
"The troops ahead are nothing but the beaten remnants of the Reserve Camp, rats scurrying across Mingzhou! Their leader, Chen Sanshi, is only a mere Thousand-Commander. I'll crush him beneath my horse with a flick of my wrist!
"So, brothers—charge! For every enemy head, one tael of gold!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The Red Brows' shouts rose like thunder.
Chen Sanshi's eyes narrowed. "The Heavenly Book…"
He stared at the white mystic qi above them, his grip tightening around the Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear.
He wanted to see for himself—what kind of "divine treasure" had supposedly been granted to these butchers who slaughtered civilians and burned cities?
If it truly came from an immortal—
Then that immortal deserved death as well!
"Kill!"
There was no longer room for words.
The soldiers of the Reserve Camp charged forward, forming into the Long Snake Formation. As they approached the enemy, they shifted seamlessly into the Heaven-and-Earth Three Talents Formation, breaking through the enemy lines, then into the Four-Gate Encirclement Formation to surround them.
From there, they transitioned into the Five Tigers Devour Sheep Formation to strike from the flanks. Gradually, the 2,000 riders merged into a single entity, forming the Nine-Character Linked Formation—and finally, they transformed into the Tenfold Ambush Formation!
This was—
The Ten Battle Formations of the Military Classics!
The Red Brows, however, employed a formation far more complex. Empowered by the mysterious white qi, their strength soared far beyond mortal limits.
In the first few clashes, both sides suffered heavy losses, and the Reserve Camp's young elites found no advantage.
Through the downpour, Chen Sanshi used [Qi Observation Technique], searching for the flow of energy amid the storm. At last, his gaze locked onto the enemy's core—where a powerful general stood, radiating a force even stronger than Jia Siye's had been. By estimation, his cultivation was around Minor Achievement in the Meridian-Connecting realm.
Another troublesome opponent.
This was also why, after Yu Song's appearance at Luotian Pass, the enemy was so convinced that the Reserve Camp's full strength was committed there—they'd lost their higher-ranking generals.
Without Yu Song's Meridian-Connecting strength, their perceived threat had lessened greatly. Even if they did appear outside Meishan Prefecture, they'd still have to face a seasoned Meridian-Connecting opponent.
Chen Sanshi quickly assessed the situation in his mind.
Beyond the suppression of realms, there was a key observation.
All the "white mystic qi" above the enemy's formation originated from that very commander.
If he could kill him—
The so-called "Heavenly Book's blessing" would collapse!
"Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu—flank left and right! Cover me!"
He spurred his horse forward, spear in hand.
"Yes, sir!"
Lu Shuhua and Xie Sishu responded together, following close at his sides, cutting down every enemy that dared approach.
"Clang—!"
The clash of weapons rang out with the crash of thunder. Sparks and rain exploded through the air. The tremendous force made Chen Sanshi's Vajra Body tremble; his blood surged like a roaring dragon as the White Swan horse reared, illuminated by lightning—like a painting of divine war.
After all, his opponent was a Meridian-Connecting cultivator of Minor Achievement!
If not for the White Swan horse's exceptional strength, that first strike would've crippled the beast.
"Transforming Strength—Minor Achievement?!"
He Xianliang's eyes widened in disbelief.
The reports had stated clearly that before the campaign, Chen Sanshi had only reached Perfection in Tempering Organs—at most, just entered the Transforming Strength realm. Yet in barely half a year, he'd reached Minor Achievement?
What terrifying speed!
Still, he was only at Minor Achievement in Transforming Strength.
While He Xianliang stood firm at Major Achievement in Meridian-Connecting—
A gap of three full realms!
Their mounts thundered past one another, weapons colliding again and again. Spears and halberds clashed like twin dragons locked in combat, both fighting to ascend amidst the storm—knowing only one could rise, and the other must fall.
The Meridian-Connecting realm marked the true beginning of channeling one's meridians.
Flesh, blood, and internal force were all pushed to the limit, laying the foundation for the Profound Manifestation realm.
The gap between Transforming Strength and Meridian-Connecting was as vast as that between Tempering Blood and Tempering Organs—utterly unbridgeable.
And He Xianliang was no common soldier—he was a prodigy from a major sect, his foundation solid and his cultivation genuine, not the hollow strength of mere bandits.
Each clash sent pain surging through Chen Sanshi's body, but with his power of Force Accumulation and the protection of his Mysterious Five Organs, he endured.
Yet as the fight dragged on, the Red Brows' formation grew stronger—
and the white mystic qi around them only thickened.
The enemy formation seemed to merge with the thunderstorm itself, its movements in uncanny harmony with the flashing lightning and crashing thunder. The formation radiated a strange and inexplicable power. Even though the Reserve Camp had drilled its formations day and night, they were gradually being pushed back, their disadvantage widening with every passing moment. The casualties were mounting fast.
The elite troops Chen Sanshi had brought from Poyang County still fought in unison thanks to their long-standing coordination, but the rest of the soldiers weren't so fortunate.
If this continued, all of their formation troops would soon be wiped out. The battle would turn into the enemy's encirclement, picking off the Reserve Camp's martial officers one by one. With the enemy still bolstered by that strange mystic qi, it was uncertain how long Lu Shuhua and the others could hold out.
He couldn't let the bloodshed continue. Too many had already died in this war.
"Clang!"
Chen Sanshi's spear was knocked away by an overwhelming force. He didn't strike back. Instead, he turned his horse sharply and galloped through the rain, spearing down a few Red Brow soldiers who tried to block his way, before disappearing into the storm.
"Stop!"
He Xianliang didn't hesitate. He charged after him.
As the distance between them closed—
The Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear suddenly swung back.
A backhand strike—Return Horse Spear!
"Petty tricks!"
He Xianliang had already anticipated it. His spear moved almost in the same instant, parrying the thrust effortlessly. He twisted his weapon, flicking Chen Sanshi's spear high into the air, and then spun his own weapon with an odd motion, stabbing straight toward his opponent's heart.
"Crack—!"
At that moment, the heavens split with blinding lightning, branching like a spiderweb across the black sky.
In the electric light, He Xianliang saw his opponent—unarmed, cornered, and doomed—yet completely calm. Not a trace of panic, not even anger.
It was as if he had expected this.
As if he had known this backhand strike would be blocked.
Then why use it at all?
In the widening reflection of his eyes, he saw something unbelievable.
That young general—the same man who had crossed the Hongze River four times, who had led only 3,000 men to outmaneuver over 100,000 enemies throughout Mingzhou—wasn't struggling to dodge or flee.
Instead, he pressed his hands together in a gesture of focus, forming hand seals like a Daoist performing a ritual.
And then—
He Xianliang saw it.
A faint image coalesced around Chen Sanshi's fingers—something like a blade of light. It looked like a sword… but so small it resembled an embroidery needle.
What… was that?
"Boom—!"
Thunder roared. The lightning vanished.
The next instant, He Xianliang felt a chilling pain between his brows. The world went black.
He toppled straight off his horse into the mud. Blood trickled from the wound in his forehead, washing away under the rain and mingling with the earth.
It had all happened in a single heartbeat.
Chen Sanshi reached up and caught the Five Tiger Soul-Breaking Spear that had been knocked into the air moments before. He thrust it down through He Xianliang's skull, punching a gaping wound through the head—masking the small, precise puncture left by the Sword Qi Technique.
He hadn't lured He Xianliang away for a sneak attack. Against a superior realm opponent, tricks like that were useless. He only wanted to draw him away from the main battlefield—to ensure no one else saw him using a spell.
"He Xianliang is dead!"
"You rebels—surrender at once!"
Chen Sanshi's roar boomed across the battlefield, his blood and qi amplifying his voice until it thundered louder than the storm itself.
He could see it.
The moment He Xianliang fell, the white mist that had hovered over the Red Brows' army began to disperse rapidly. Within a few breaths, it was gone entirely.
The Red Brow soldiers stared at the ghastly scene before them—the severed head illuminated by lightning, the corpse slumped beneath it. Terror shattered their morale.
Panic spread like wildfire.
They broke ranks, fleeing in every direction. The "Heavenly Book Formation" they had relied on collapsed instantly.
In a matter of moments, the battle turned completely—
into a one-sided slaughter.
…
Inside Meishan Prefecture.
"Commander! Commander!"
A Red Brow soldier stumbled into the hall, covered in blood, collapsing to his knees. His voice cracked with despair. "It's over! General He was beheaded by Chen Sanshi! Nearly everyone's dead! The remaining Reserve Camp troops are heading straight for the city—they'll be here in half a day at most!"
"So fast?!"
Liang Jinian slumped back into his chair as if his legs had been cut out from under him. "Chen Sanshi's only at the Transforming Strength realm—how could he kill He Xianliang in such a short time?! I even granted them the divine law!"
This was his last desperate gamble.
He had used up nearly all the immortal treasures in his possession for this final battle.
"We… we don't know either, Commander!"
A few more Red Brow soldiers who had fled early stumbled in behind him, kneeling in a line. "That Chen Sanshi—he's not human! He didn't care about anything—just charged straight at General He like a madman!"
"Commander!"
"What should we do now, Commander?!"
"…"
"Silence!"
Liang Jinian's mind was in chaos. "Reinforcements—how long until the fastest can arrive?!"
"At least fifteen days, Commander!"
"…"
"You—pack up what you can. Take my wife, bring as much silver and gold as possible, and wait for me here!"
His steps were unsteady as he left the manor, mounting a fast horse and riding out into the forest nearby. There, he dismounted and fell to his knees, raising his face toward the storming sky.
"Immortal! Immortal, save me!"
"Immortal! I, Liang, have failed you! I've lost this battle and disgraced your divine gift!"
"Please, Immortal—help me once more! Grant me one more chance to rise again! I can't accept this! Why should those corrupt officials strut above us while we crawl beneath them? Why should they look down on me? I want revenge! I'll kill every last one of those scholars—Immortal, help me!"
"Immortal!"
But no matter how he screamed, the heavens gave no answer.
Rain poured down on his bowed figure.
Liang Jinian let out a bitter laugh, then lowered his head, striking it against the ground with a hollow thud. "It seems… even the Immortal has abandoned me. Then I bid farewell to this world."
When he returned to the mansion, everything was already packed.
There were seven or eight Red Brow soldiers left, along with one woman and an elderly man.
Yet those soldiers—seeing the glittering treasure and the beautiful woman—began to exchange glances, their eyes dark and greedy.
"What are you standing around for?"
Liang Jinian snapped. "Move! If we leave now, we might still have a chance to live!"
"Commander… there won't be any 'chance' left."
One of the Red Brow soldiers, a burly man with a full beard, said grimly, "Even if we don't understand military strategy, we all know there's a nine out of ten chance we'll die next. Unless… we get rid of the burdens slowing us down…"
"That's right, Commander!"
Another followed quickly. "Or maybe, Commander, you could use another powerful immortal spell!"
"Yes, yes!"
The others echoed in unison. "Otherwise, they're coming straight for you, Commander. No matter where you run, you won't escape."
"You…"
Liang Jinian's fists clenched tightly inside his wide sleeves. His face darkened, but after forcing his rage down, he straightened his posture and said coldly, "There's no need for immortal arts. I just consulted the Heavenly Book again and received guidance from the Immortal. The Immortal told me—leave through the south gate, head toward Meishan, and divine protection will descend upon us!"
"For real?"
The soldiers exchanged doubtful glances. "Can the Commander really meet an Immortal again?"
"Bastard! How dare you question me!"
Liang Jinian narrowed his eyes, voice sharp as a blade. "You dare doubt me? Cut him down!"
"This…"
The soldiers hesitated, but seeing the scholar's unshaken expression and calm authority, they dared not disobey. One of them suddenly drew his blade and stabbed the questioning soldier straight through the chest.
"Commander!"
The others quickly dropped to their knees. "Please give the order! We'll escort you and Madam out of the city!"
Liang Jinian barked, "Go fetch the horses—only black ones! Tonight, only those riding black horses will be able to meet the Immortal. Move!"
"Yes, Commander!"
The Red Brow soldiers rushed out.
Inside the hall, only Liang Jinian, the elderly steward, and a woman remained.
"Uncle Wu!"
Liang Jinian hurriedly shoved all the gold and silver treasures into their hands. "You're the only ones I can trust. You must take Peiwen to the Western Qi Kingdom. Minister Zhang will see to your safety there!"
"Little Liang," the old steward said, confused and worried, "so we lost the battle. It's all right, you don't need to feel bad. But what's going on? Why can't we all go together?"
"Yes, husband," said Gao Peiwen softly, gripping his hand. "Won't you come with us?"
"No."
Liang Jinian's face twisted with conflict. "The Great Sheng army is targeting me—me, the commander of the Red Brows. Wherever I go, you'll be hunted down too. Only if we split up will you have a chance to live."
"Yanlang!"
Tears streamed down Gao Peiwen's cheeks as she threw herself into his arms, sobbing.
"Uncle Wu, I'm counting on you!"
After comforting her briefly, Liang Jinian pried her away and pushed them toward the back. "If you hadn't stolen food and books for me from your old master's house, I'd still be an illiterate beggar. I owe you my life, old man. I'll repay that debt in my next one!"
He bowed deeply, then turned and strode away without looking back.
"Little Liang, don't worry!" Uncle Wu's voice trembled. "Even if it costs this old life of mine, I'll get your wife safely to Western Qi!"
"Dear!" Gao Peiwen cried out behind him.
"Thud!"
Uncle Wu struck her from behind with a wooden staff, knocking her unconscious. He called for two servant girls to help him carry her to a carriage, then slipped quietly out the back gate.
"Hurry!"
At the front gate, Liang Jinian saw that the soldiers had gathered seven black horses, just as ordered. They mounted up together and galloped toward the east gate.
But after escaping barely twenty li, they were suddenly surrounded on all sides. A white horse led the charge, followed by over 1,000 riders, sealing every direction tight as a drum.
"Commander, you…"
"Liang—you lied to us!"
Only then did the Red Brow soldiers understand.
Liang Jinian wasn't leading them to safety—nor was there any "Immortal" waiting. He had brought them here to die, just to buy his wife more time to escape.
"Hahahahaha!"
Liang Jinian threw his head back and laughed wildly. "That's right! You filthy bandits—your deaths mean nothing to me!"
"Damn you!"
"I'll kill you myself!"
"No, don't kill him! We'll hand him over—they'll spare our lives!"
"Bang!"
The bearded Red Brow soldier kicked Liang Jinian hard.
He flew several meters, rolling through the mud before crashing to a stop, coughing up blood.
"Damn it!"
The Red Brow men leapt from their horses, pinned him down, and dragged him before the encircling army. Then all at once, they dropped to their knees before the Great Sheng soldiers.
"Spare us, my lords!"
"We're innocent! We were forced to join the Red Brows!"
"Yes, yes! We never meant to rebel!"
"We'll make up for our crimes!"
"This man is Liang Jinian, commander of the Red Brows! We surrender him to you!"
"…"
"The Heavenly Book! Where is it?!"
"Search him!"
The soldiers rifled through Liang Jinian's robes until they found several sheets of gold-colored paper—thin as silk, forged by hammering real gold flat.
"This is the Heavenly Book!"
"We offer it to the Great Sheng Dynasty!"
"Please, spare our lives!"
"…"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Before their pleas even finished echoing, the white horse's rider loosed his bow. The bowstring snapped like thunder, each arrow piercing clean through a chest.
All seven men dropped dead in an instant.
"Whoa."
Chen Sanshi reined in his horse, towering above the scholar. His voice was calm. "You're Liang Jinian?"
"I am…"
Liang Jinian wiped the blood from his chin with a filthy sleeve, lifting his head. "You're Chen Sanshi, aren't you? Brother Chen! You and I have no personal hatred—why go this far?"
Chen Sanshi said nothing.
"Brother Chen!" Liang Jinian struggled to his feet, desperation gleaming in his eyes. "The Great Sheng Dynasty is corrupt! Its fate has run out! Why serve the Cao family? With your talent and brilliance, why not join me? Together, we could rule this land. Who's to say the world couldn't bear the name Chen one day?"
Still no reply.
Liang Jinian bent down and picked up the golden scrolls, holding them up. "Brother Chen, look! This is the Heavenly Book—bestowed upon me by an Immortal! Kill me, and you'll only hand it over to the court—you'll get nothing! But if you work with me, I'll share it with you!"
Silence.
He finally understood—there was no escape left for him.
"Fine then… do it."
Liang Jinian closed his eyes.
But death didn't come. After a few seconds, he opened them again, glaring at Chen Sanshi. "What are you waiting for, Chen? Do you mean to humiliate me first?!"
Chen Sanshi didn't respond. He simply stared quietly toward the south.
Before long, the sound of hooves approached.
A troop of cavalry arrived, escorting an old man and a woman.
"Sir!"
Zhao Kang clasped his fists. "We caught his household. Two maids resisted and were killed. Only these two survived."
"My wife!"
"Ahhhh!!!"
"Chen! I'll kill you!"
Liang Jinian snatched up a fallen war blade and rushed forward like a madman.
"Kneel!"
Zhao Kang kicked out hard. The sound of bone snapping echoed through the rain as Liang Jinian's right leg broke. He collapsed, rolling in the mud, screaming in agony.
"Ahhh!"
He dragged himself forward, his tone shifting from fury to desperate pleading. "Chen Sanshi—Lord Chen—I beg you! My wife has nothing to do with this rebellion! Please, don't harm her! Punish me however you want—cut me to pieces if you must—but let her go!"
"'Don't punish the family,' huh?"
Chen Sanshi finally spoke. His voice was low and cold as he bent slightly toward him, enunciating each word. "Liang Jinian, do you have any idea how many cities your men slaughtered on our way here? You have a family. Did those people not have families too?"
"I…"
Liang Jinian froze, unable to answer.
"Give your woman a dignified death yourself."
Chen Sanshi's tone was calm, but heavy. "Otherwise, she'll be taken away. And what happens to her after that… won't be under my control."
"Ahhh!"
Liang Jinian clutched his head, letting out a guttural scream of pain.
"Yanlang, I don't blame you."
Gao Peiwen picked up a knife from the ground. Before Liang Jinian could react, she slit her own throat, collapsing silently in the mud.
Right after her, Uncle Wu followed suit, ending his life beside her.
"Kill him."
Chen Sanshi gave the order softly.
"Crack—"
A blade flashed. Liang Jinian's head fell, rolling across the muddy ground.
Only then did Chen Sanshi dismount.
"Thousand-Commander Chen, shouldn't we have captured him alive?"
Lu Shuhua frowned slightly. "Bringing him back alive would've earned more merit than killing him outright."
"There are still enemy remnants behind us," Chen Sanshi said calmly. "Carrying a prisoner would only slow us down. His head and the Heavenly Book are enough to break the rebels' morale. There's no need to drag along the dead weight."
"Reasonable."
No one objected.
Chen Sanshi stepped forward and bent down, picking up the golden book.
The texture in his hand felt like thin sheets of gold foil.
He turned back slightly. "If you want to see it, come look."
"Thank you, Brother Chen."
Yan Changqing stepped forward first.
Lu Shuhua and Xie Sishu followed after receiving permission.
Bai Tingzhi, however, showed no interest—he was already checking the corpses nearby, making sure no one was still alive.
"My lord," said Lu Shuhua after glancing over the pages, "these characters—they're not from our Central Plains, nor from any of the four neighboring kingdoms!"
"Right," added Xie Sishu excitedly. "They must have been written by an Immortal!"
"…"
Chen Sanshi slowly flipped through the golden book.
The glowing words across the pages caught his eye. To others, the script was incomprehensible. But he recognized it—it was the same ancient language recorded in the 'dictionary' his Fourth Senior Brother had once deciphered, the same script used in the Sword Qi Technique.
He could read it clearly.
The book indeed contained formations—some were military arrays, others were genuine magical ones.
But those "magical formations" required divine instruments and celestial tools to construct—things mortals could never hope to possess.
The rest described formations composed of people—large-scale army arrays, and smaller, more specialized ones.
Among the smaller ones were strange formations like the Sword Array, the Spirit-Sealing Array, the Demon-Suppressing Array, and the Evil-Banishing Array. He could understand every single rune individually, but once combined, they became obscure and unfathomable.
All of it required cultivators—those who practiced true immortal arts—to activate.
In the hands of ordinary mortals, such things were useless.
The same applied to the large-scale military formations.
Theoretically, they could draw upon the power of heaven and earth—but only if the user already possessed strong cultivation. Martial artists alone were insufficient, and common soldiers even less so.
Then how had the Red Brows managed it?
Qi.
That white, mist-like energy—neither smoke nor fog—was a form of mysterious qi that temporarily substituted for true cultivation, empowering the formation.
But in the Heavenly Book itself, there was not a single mention of this "qi."
"Brother Yan, can I trust you to keep the Heavenly Book safe?"
Chen Sanshi had already committed every word to memory through his [Perfect Memory]. He had engraved both what he understood and what he didn't deep into his mind.
The book itself held no power—it was merely knowledge. Keeping it would only invite suspicion from the court.
Besides—
After Liang Jinian's death, he noticed something.
The [Blood Oath of the Battlefield] trait still remained active on his men. Even Lu Shuhua and Xie Sishu—who had once resented him deeply—were still willing to fight and die under his command.
Yet strangely, Yan Changqing—who had been outwardly friendly and supportive ever since Liangzhou—had lost that trait entirely.
He was, after all, a man sent by the imperial court—
the grandson of the Grand Secretary himself.
He represented the empire, the emperor's will, and the court's interests.
Once the war ended, he and Chen Sanshi would no longer be on the same side.
"That wouldn't be proper," Yan Changqing said, politely refusing. "I haven't yet reached the Transforming Strength stage. This thing carries immense weight. It's better if Brother Chen keeps it for now."
"Fine."
Chen Sanshi turned to the others and declared, "Then, brothers, bear witness. I'll hold onto this for now. Once the campaign ends, I'll hand it over to the court immediately."
"Thousand-Commander Chen, what do we do next?"
Lu Shuhua and Xie Sishu spread a map on the table in front of him.
"Wait."
Chen Sanshi pointed at the position of Luotian Pass. "The troops stationed here likely still don't know about the fall of Meishan Prefecture. If we wait another ten to fifteen days, the imperial army from the capital should have crossed the Great Wasteland and begun attacking Luotian Pass.
"What we must do now is hold our ground. When the time comes, we'll strike in coordination with the capital army—attacking from both sides to seize the pass. Once we've secured it, we'll establish our foothold in southern Mingzhou, coordinate with General Lü and General Rong, and slowly crush the remaining rebels and the Western Qi forces.
"For now, we'll rest in Meishan Prefecture. Remember our rule—no looting, no bullying the commoners. If I catch anyone breaking that order, I'll kill them myself."
"Understood!"
The army entered the city in steady ranks.
Chen Sanshi's supply of Spirit Grain Paste had long run out. Even Qianxun, his horse, hadn't gotten a single mouthful. All that remained were the court-issued elixirs. He swallowed one, then continued cultivating without pause.
[Technique: Dragon Spear of Nation-Suppression — Transforming Strength (Minor Achievement)]
[Progress: 566/2000]
Late into the night, he moved silently through the darkness on foot, using his Qi Observation Technique to ensure no one was tailing him. Once certain, he slipped beyond the city gates and walked several dozen li east of Meishan, where the battlefield corpses still lay strewn across the wilderness.
There, he found the headless body of Liang Jinian.
Drawing the Mountain-Suppressing Sword, he sliced open the corpse's abdomen and began searching inside.
He hadn't killed Liang Jinian merely because taking him alive was inconvenient—there was another reason.
That man was hiding something.
He hadn't told the truth.
The Heavenly Book was one thing, but that white mystic qi was another. The two worked together, but they weren't the same.
From the moment Chen Sanshi had met Liang Jinian, he'd noticed that strange "qi" inside him. If it wasn't the product of cultivation, then he must have been carrying some kind of treasure. If it was the latter, Chen was determined to find it.
Sure enough—
After digging for a while, his fingers brushed against something cold and round. He pulled it out—a crystal-like orb, covered in faintly shifting runes. Inside, misty light swirled like fog, but the energy within was nearly depleted, flickering weakly as if about to vanish.
"This is it."
Chen Sanshi was certain.
Liang Jinian hadn't truly drawn power from the so-called Heavenly Book—it had come from this orb. The "Heavenly Book" was merely a prop, a cover for the real artifact. The orb's internal qi had strengthened his formations, allowing him to mimic divine military power.
So in truth, the "Heavenly Book" was likely a fabrication—a clever ruse to divert attention and conceal the real treasure.
Without this orb, no one could activate the formations even if they possessed the Heavenly Book. Over time, others would naturally believe Liang Jinian was uniquely blessed by heaven, the only one capable of commanding such power—and they'd follow him without question.
"What a cunning mind."
He muttered to himself. "But how does this thing work? How is the qi within replenished?"
"When the Red Brows first began their rebellion, they fought like divine soldiers. But the longer the war dragged on, the weaker they became. This orb's energy must have been used up."
"So why didn't Liang Jinian ever recharge it? Maybe… he didn't know how either."
"Perhaps even he never figured out what it truly does."
"Forget it. I'll take it first."
He crouched by a muddy puddle, rinsing the blood off the orb until it gleamed faintly under the moonlight. Then he slipped it into his inner robe.
Whatever it was, wherever it came from, it belonged to him now.
'Did they really think I'd keep working for that old emperor for free?'
Scanning the area one last time to ensure he was alone, Chen Sanshi turned and headed back toward the city, taking a narrow, unmarked path.
The storm had passed.
The sky cleared.
The wind was still.
…
At the Xuanwu Garrison encampment near Jianmen Gorge—
Third Senior Brother Nie Yuan trudged into the command tent, his face streaked with dirt. He snatched up a water skin, gulped deeply, then finally spoke.
"This Zhong Wuxin has improved a lot since twenty years ago. If we want to break into Jianmen Gorge, it'll take serious effort. I say we take it slow."
"That won't do," Lü Ji said firmly, voice steady as a mountain. "The Crown Prince's heir and Sha Wenlong are both waiting behind their lines. We can't delay any longer. Pass my command—select three thousand soldiers from the Xuanwu Garrison's Blood Oath Battalion. We attack Jianmen Gorge tomorrow at midnight, no matter the cost. I want that gate open."
Nie Yuan sighed. "Then I'll stay behind to guard the camp. But it'll be a heavy loss. Even if you break through, you'll only save the heir and the others. The Western Qi forces can still hold Mingzhou's western front and drag us into a long war. If only their ranks would fall into chaos somehow."
"Have we contacted Dong An's two deputy generals yet?" Lü Ji tapped his fingers on the desk. "Tell them this rebellion was Dong An's doing alone. If they abandon him now, the court will not punish them. In fact, they'll be promoted, rewarded, and given new fiefs."
"I've already tried," Nie Yuan said helplessly. "Those men are diehard loyalists. Besides, after all these years, most of the empire's resources have gone to the northwestern provinces. Mingzhou's officers have been underfunded for too long—they're full of resentment. That's why their rebellion runs so deep.
"They'll never switch sides again—unless Dong An dies suddenly. Otherwise, this war will drag on for at least another year."
"I know," Lü Ji said quietly. "But try again. Even if one of them turns, it could change everything."
He paused, frowning. "What about the others?"
"The remnants under Zhao Wuji—we last heard they had only a few dozen men left. No word since. Likely dead."
Nie Yuan hesitated. "And as for our little junior brother, chances are he's—"
"Chirp!"
Before he could finish, a sharp cry cut through the night air.
A gyrfalcon swooped into the command tent and landed on the massive arm of the Grand Marshal.
"Isn't that the falcon Ninth Junior Sister gave to our Little Junior Brother?"
Nie Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief. "After all this time, he's still alive? Incredible. Big Brother, hurry and check where that rascal's gone hiding this time."
"Mm."
Lü Ji untied the message tied to the falcon's leg, unfolded it, and began to read.
After so many years of battle, the man known as the Invincible War God of the Great Sheng Army froze in place. His body went stiff, and his eyes widened as if struck by lightning.
"Big Brother?"
Nie Yuan blinked. "What's wrong? Did our Little Junior Brother pull off some clever trick again and fool the enemy?"
"Fool them? He did far more than that."
Lü Ji held up the message for Nie Yuan to see. His expression was no longer merely one of shock—it was a swirl of emotions: excitement, astonishment, unease, and even a trace of irritation. All these feelings twisted together into something indescribable. His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
"Our Little Junior Brother didn't die at Luotian Pass. Instead, after crossing the Hongze River four times, he forced a crossing over the Wushui River, then marched straight for Meishan Prefecture, executed Liang Jinian, and seized the Heavenly Book of Divine Military Arts. The southern front—has been secured!"
"What did you just say?"
Nie Yuan snatched the report and reread every line, word by word, over and over again.
…
At the Western Qi military encampment—
Martial Saint Zhong Wuxin received the same report almost simultaneously, sent from the scouts near Meishan Prefecture.
He stared at the parchment in disbelief. "Liang Jinian… dead? Who confirmed this?! Even if they reached Meishan, only Chen Sanshi remained—and he's merely at the Transforming Strength realm! Liang Jinian still had the Heavenly Book! How could he possibly die so easily? Ridiculous! Is this report genuine?!"
"Marshal, it's… it's true!"
"Ten days ago, Luotian Pass received a desperate plea for aid from Liang Jinian. After that, all contact ceased. Scouts sent to investigate near the Wushui River confirmed that Chen Sanshi's troops fought the remaining rebel forces from Meishan and achieved a decisive victory."
"Right now, Liang Jinian's head is hanging from Meishan's city walls for all to see."
"And there's a slogan spreading across the region—something like, 'The Red Brows are without virtue, the Heavenly Soldiers have come to reclaim justice!' Everyone on both sides of the Wushui River knows it."
"So… it's definitely true."
"…"
Zhong Wuxin's chest burned like thunder, though his face remained calm as still water. His voice, however, carried the weight of ice.
"To think—our Great Qi's five-year campaign, a battle that was meant to be a certain victory, has been shattered… by a mere Thousand-Commander from Sheng. What a disgrace. A humiliation beyond words."
"Marshal, what should we do now?"
"Do not panic!"
Zhong Wuxin's tone steadied. "Our foothold in Mingzhou still stands. We'll only lose the south and east for now. Send immediate orders to Dong An—he must lead his forces westward at once! We'll consolidate all remaining troops in western Mingzhou and fight a prolonged campaign against the Sheng forces.
"If we can advance, we strike Mingzhou and threaten Liangzhou and Yanzhou. If we must retreat, we'll fall back beyond the Great Wall.
"This battle may no longer be winnable, but it is far from lost. We can still fight—though it will cost us dearly."
He paused, his voice deepening. "Dong An's eighty thousand troops must be preserved! Without those soldiers, continuing this war is meaningless."
"I've heard," Zhong added coldly, "that the man's spirit broke after being outmaneuvered by that Chen fellow who crossed the river four times. Stabilize him at all costs!"
"Yes, Marshal. I'll deliver your orders to Dong An immediately!"
"Go."
…
In the rebel encampment at Yangchun Prefecture—
For over half a month, Dong An had lain bedridden, rarely rising. Anxiety spread through the camp like wildfire.
"Report!"
A soldier entered the tent and knelt on one knee. He opened his mouth but hesitated, unable to speak.
"News from Meishan Prefecture, isn't it?"
Dong An forced himself upright, his voice hoarse. "Read it."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier quickly read the report aloud, detailing the situation. "Liang Jinian's head now hangs from Meishan's city wall. The Heavenly Book of Divine Military Arts most likely… also fell into Chen Sanshi's hands."
He remembered vividly how those who'd once brought bad news about Luotian Pass had been executed in horrific fashion. As he finished, cold sweat drenched his body, and his throat moved constantly as he swallowed hard.
To his surprise, Dong An did not erupt in fury. He simply took the report and sat there in silence—his calm as still and lifeless as stagnant water. After a long pause, he whispered weakly, "I see. Leave me."
"Report!"
Another messenger entered. "Marshal Zhong Wuxin sends word—he urges the Marshal to immediately lead the army westward in retreat!"
"You may go too."
"This…"
The two messengers exchanged uneasy glances, then reluctantly withdrew from the tent.
"Heh…"
Dong An looked down at the letter in his hands and let out a hollow laugh. Within that smile was despair—yet also relief.
He slowly released the letter, letting it drift to the floor, then stood and walked toward the general's sword hanging behind his seat.
…
"What's wrong with the Marshal?"
"Probably can't accept losing to some young upstart. He's always been stubborn like that."
"Yeah, our Marshal's got many strengths—but he can't let things go."
"Someone should talk to him."
"At a time like this? Who dares?"
"But the Western Qi command ordered us to withdraw west immediately!"
"If we don't move now, we'll be surrounded."
"I'll go!"
Finally, one deputy general clenched his jaw and stepped inside the tent.
"Marshal—"
A horrified cry rang out.
The others rushed in.
Dong An sat upright in his general's seat, hair disheveled, his undershirt stained dark red. He clutched his sword for support, his head hanging loosely as fresh blood dripped from his neck, pooling into a spreading crimson lake beneath his feet.
Dong An had slit his own throat.
…