In the late tenth month of the 77th year of the Longqing Era by the old calendar, Zhou Rong used the stratagem of luring the tiger away from the mountain to draw the White Robe away. He then diverted the Luoxiao River, releasing floodwaters to inundate Shouyang City. The court and the common world were shaken. Though newly stepping onto the stage, he became famous across the land overnight. History later called this event The Flooding of Shouyang.
In the eleventh month of the same year, a natural anomaly appeared. Torrential rains fell without cease. During the autumn–winter season, instead of receding, the Luoxiao River's water level rose higher and higher. The floodwaters surged like the heavens collapsing, deep enough to carry massive warships. With strong northwesterly winds, the old court's naval forces marched north along the current and then rapidly turned east, their spearhead aimed straight at Youlan Capital. History called this maneuver The Exhaust-the-River Campaign.
In mid-eleventh month, Sheng Xianzong mobilized 100,000 naval troops to establish camp at Chibi, blocking the old court's advance. At the same time, the Northern Liang army was urgently recalled to reinforce the defense. History called this confrontation The Battle of Chibi.
Maizhou.
Northern Liang Army Camp.
"My lord."
Xu Wencai entered the tent holding several crumpled letters. "As expected, Shouyang was flooded. Sima Yao led more than 20,000 remnants and fled to Chibi. The court then reinforced them with another 80,000, bringing the total to 100,000 troops. Adding our own forces, there are over 200,000 on our side. It's just that…
"This time, the court's troops are elite forces left behind by the Prince of Zhen'nan. They are extremely adept at naval warfare, and their fleet consists mostly of large warships such as tower ships and five-fanged warships.
"As for Northern Liang… it can be said that we practically have no warships at all.
"Youlan Capital does have some, but there are very few large vessels. In terms of raw strength, the gap is enormous…"
"When soldiers come, generals block; when water comes, earth holds,"
Chen Sanshi said as he rose. "Handle whatever matters need to be settled in the city, then we march."
"Understood."
Xu Wencai accepted the order and left.
Chen Sanshi went out into the fields and helped the soldiers clear the last batch of spiritual grain.
This western campaign had not yielded much tangible military gain, but for him personally, it was not without harvest. Along the way, the profound qi within the Mystic Pearl continued to grow stronger.
It made him recall the Dragon Abyss Sword.
Fourth Senior Brother and his master had both mentioned that the Dragon Abyss Sword and the Nation-Stabilizing Imperial Seal were the emperor's greatest trump cards.
Especially the Dragon Abyss Sword.
Back then, Emperor Longqing seemed able to rely on some power contained within the sword to directly cleave open a blood-sacrifice grand formation rooted in a baleful vein and escape alive. Yet because he was reluctant to use it, he suppressed it until the final moment.
As for the Nation-Stabilizing Imperial Seal, its function was tied to the suppression of Heaven and Earth.
Under the seal placed upon the Eastern Divine Continent, even with the seal currently loosening, at most only Qi Refining cultivators could appear. Any Foundation Establishment cultivator who dared to step even half a foot into this land would perish, body and soul.
The reason Emperor Longqing dared to enter seclusion and attempt a breakthrough was certainly because he had something to rely on.
If the other party succeeded in Foundation Establishment, Chen Sanshi could still push himself with all his strength to break through to the middle stage of the True Force Realm to respond.
Thus, what truly required caution was the Dragon Abyss Sword. His master and senior brothers also did not know what kind of power lay within it—so treasured by the old emperor that he was unwilling to use it, whether during the blood-sacrifice grand formation or the assassination attempt by Seeking Immortals Tower more than a year ago.
Mount Ziwei!
As Chen Sanshi pulled up the spiritual grain, his mind returned to Mount Ziwei, to the secret chamber left behind by Great Sheng Founding Emperor Cao Xie. When he first saw the Dragon Abyss Sword, the Mystic Pearl in his chest had reacted.
He had even tried to control the Dragon Abyss Sword, but he could clearly feel another, far more powerful force attached to it—one he could not contend with at all.
At the time, Chen Sanshi had assumed it was a bloodline restriction of the Cao clan.
But even the former crown prince's heir, Cao Fan, could not take the sword away, which meant there was something more to it.
Now it seemed that this was likely related to the power contained within the Dragon Abyss Sword itself.
He carefully recalled the details.
That power seemed to share a similar nature with the profound qi within the Mystic Pearl—not identical, yet akin.
If…
The profound qi within the Mystic Pearl represented the hearts and will of the people.
Then could it be that the Nation-Stabilizing Imperial Seal and the Dragon Abyss Sword contained the national fortune of the Great Sheng Dynasty?
All of this was conjecture.
Chen Sanshi did not dare to draw a firm conclusion.
Whether the guess was correct would need to be verified personally. The Dragon Abyss Sword lay there, unavoidable. The only option was to meet it head-on.
"Brother Chen."
As he was lost in thought, a voice sounded by his ear.
Wei Xuan and his wife came over. "We're about to head to Chibi to fight the southern naval forces of the Sheng court?"
"That's right,"
Chen Sanshi replied. "True Force cultivators are scarce in the army. This time, we'll be troubling you both again."
"Don't talk about trouble or not,"
Wei Xuan said solemnly. "What worries this old man is that Brother Chen cultivates a fire-aligned breathing method. The Five Elements generate and restrain one another. In naval combat, you'll inevitably be greatly restricted.
"Moreover, the Ling clan of Heavenly Water Isle all practice the Heavenly River Sword Technique. Fighting on water is like fish in water for them.
"Brother Chen would be using his own weakness to strike at the enemy's strength."
Ordinary water might not be enough to extinguish True Force fire, but that did not mean one could contend with vast rivers and seas. What was more, the enemy would certainly have formations to assist them. Switching breathing methods was not something that could be done overnight.
Most martial techniques were compatible with only one breathing method. For example, the Heavenly River Sword Technique only matched water-aligned breathing methods. There might be variants, but they could not escape the core attribute.
The Dragon Scripture left behind by Sun Xiangzong allowed one to choose among the Five Elements, but once chosen, it could not be changed. The divine altars within the body had already taken form under the tempering of the technique.
To cultivate another breathing method would require a different technique and a different circulation of the microcosmic orbit to reforge the divine altars. Whether that would even succeed was uncertain.
Thus, in this Battle of Chibi, it could be said that the court's naval forces possessed the right timing, terrain, and manpower.
"Water does not necessarily overcome fire,"
Chen Sanshi said calmly, pulling up the last stalk of spiritual grain from the field. "March."
In mid-twelfth month.
The Northern Liang army arrived at Chibi.
This was also the first time since becoming an organized force that the Northern Liang army would fight a battle on water.
In land warfare, cavalry and warhorses were precious.
In naval warfare, warships were naturally the most critical.
The Great Sheng Dynasty's warships currently operating on waterways could be broadly divided into the following types.
Tower ships.
They were the largest warships of the age, approximately 5.1 meters wide and 40 meters long. Some had three decks, while others had as many as five decks. They could carry 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers. Tower ships were also known as "Flying Clouds" or "Sea-Coverers."
Five-Fanged Warships.
They were medium-sized tower ships, capable of carrying more than 1,000 people.
Armored Assault Warships.
These were medium-to-small warships with long, narrow hulls and relatively high speed. Each could carry 300 to 500 people. Flags and banners were erected at the bow, stern, and sides, with gongs and drums mounted. Along the gunwales were low parapet walls, with oar ports beneath them. A canopy covered the deck, and atop the canopy were additional parapet walls. This type of vessel was used for surprise attacks and assaults and had always been the mainstay of naval warfare.
Sea Falcon Ships.
Small warships with low bows and high sterns, wide at the front and narrow at the back. Their shape imitated seabirds adept at cutting through wind and waves, making them suitable for skimming over the water at extreme speed. The prow was fitted with sharp iron spikes for ramming enemy ships. Because of this, they were also called "Iron-Walled Chisel-Beak Flat Sea Falcon Warships." Each could carry 200 people.
Horse Transport Ships.
Medium-sized transport vessels, generally used to carry grain and other supplies.
Skiffs.
Small boats that could carry only a few dozen people. They were usually tethered behind larger ships for emergency use.
In this Battle of Chibi,
The new dynasty under the Zhengtong Emperor had amassed a total force of 200,000 troops.
Among them were only 20 tower ships. The vast majority were various medium and small warships.
By contrast, the Chang'an forces were vast and imposing, with 400,000 troops.
Among them, there were more than 100 "Flying Cloud" tower ships alone. As for five-fanged warships, armored assault warships, and the like, they were too numerous to count. Most of these vessels were not even filled to capacity, with ample space remaining.
As for the commanders on both sides—
Under the newly enthroned Zhengtong Emperor,
Chen Sanshi was appointed Grand Commander, overseeing all three armies. Cui Zichen of the Seeking Immortals Tower served as Deputy General. Sima Yao was appointed Left Route General. Wei Xuan and his wife served as Right Route Generals. Prince Cao Zhi of Yan acted as Military Overseer. The rest, including Qian Qiren of the Guiyuan Sect, followed Cui Zichen's command.
Under the Chang'an court,
Zhou Rong was appointed Grand Commander of the Three Armies. The Prince of Qi served as Military Overseer. Former Upper Pillar of State Yan Hongyuan was appointed Left Route General. Former Duke of Wei State Zeng Ren served as Right Route Grand General. In addition, there were martial families from Heavenly Water Isle, led by the Ling clan, as well as many cultivators from the Shengyun Sect, among whom were numerous formation masters. Finally, there was Nie Yuan, former Northern Liang general and senior brother of the White Robe.
After the great turmoil in Northern Liang, Lü Ji had shut himself away to recover from his injuries, while his troops were stationed near the capital.
With the Battle of Chibi imminent, Nie Yuan came alone to assist Zhou Rong.
Late twelfth month.
Biting cold winds howled, and towering waves churned.
The vanguard forces of both armies met on the Luoxiao River.
On one side, tower ships led the way, followed closely by dense clusters of medium and small warships, like ants floating across the river's surface. On the other side were countless massive warships arranged in special formations, resembling ferocious sea beasts.
Today's encounter meant battle.
If either side retreated, the other would seize this excellent stretch of riverbank, establish fortified naval stockades, and build land-based camps.
Before the clash,
They first attempted to persuade the other side to surrender, then exchanged formal declarations of war.
The two armies shouted across the water.
"So you are Chen Sanshi?"
At the enemy's vanguard,
Zhou Rong stood at the foremost edge of a "Flying Cloud" tower ship's deck, looking down from on high, his voice ringing clear. "Had the court invited me out of retirement a few years earlier, how could there have been a day for you to rise to prominence?!"
"Such arrogance from a mere youngster?"
Before the White Robe could respond, Xu Wencai spoke first. "With your mere Profound Manifestation realm cultivation, you think yourself fit to command three armies? Even if you grasp a bit of military theory, you are nothing more than someone else's puppet."
"Brother Zhou."
Chen Sanshi clasped his hands behind his back, ignoring the insult, and asked calmly, "The court is benighted, using the people to refine pills, trading the lives of border soldiers for private gain. With Brother Zhou's talent, why sell your life to such men?"
"I have lived idly at home for many years and know little of court affairs,"
Zhou Rong replied quietly. "My Zhou clan's Qilin Heir serves with loyalty—what reason does he need?"
"These gentlemen…"
Chen Sanshi looked toward the white-haired veteran generals standing at his side and said, "They should be Elder Yan, Elder Zeng, and General Zhang, correct? If I remember correctly, you all once opposed the construction of Wanshou Palace, opposed spiritual grain, and firmly refused to associate with the Yan faction. That was why you were dismissed and demoted. Now that the truth has come to light, shouldn't you be aiding us in exterminating immortals and purging traitors? Why instead help tyranny?"
"Chen Sanshi!"
The aged Martial Saint Yan Hongyuan said without hesitation, "Even if what you say is true, as a subject of Great Sheng, you should find a way to restore order—not raise troops and conspire with rebels to commit treason!"
"Elder Yan speaks rightly,"
Zhang Jingwu followed. "Chen Sanshi, if you truly care for the world, you should not act in such a disruptive manner. Return to the court now while there is still time! After the realm is pacified, we will again remonstrate unto death before His Majesty. That is the proper path for a minister!"
"Hunter Chen!"
The Prince of Qi stepped onto the deck, cursing loudly. "You are nothing but a backwater villager! If not for my imperial father's promotion, you would still be struggling in some forsaken corner! How could the world breed such an ungrateful wild dog like you?!"
"Junior Brother!"
Third Senior Brother Nie Yuan finally shouted, "Do not continue down this path! You still have a chance to turn back! As long as you redirect your forces, strike toward Youlan Prefecture, and capture the rebellious Prince of Jin, the court will count it as atonement through merit and will certainly spare your life!"
"It seems reason cannot reach you all."
Chen Sanshi stopped wasting words. "In that case, let blades decide."
With that,
He returned to his army's river stockade.
The two armies faced each other across the river.
The court's forces.
Within the central command ship's cabin.
Including Zhou Rong, many generals gathered to discuss how the coming battle should be fought.
"Young Lord Zhou,"
Yan Hongyuan said with some concern, "This is unlike Shouyang. Chen Sanshi has personally come to the battlefield. He is known for breaking formations and is famed as a foe worth ten thousand men. How should we respond when the time comes?"
Zhou Rong sat behind a table laden with wine and delicacies. Several dancers and musicians were present in the cabin.
Yet now, no one dared raise objections to his conduct.
After taking a sip of wine, he said calmly, "Miss Ling, we will be troubling you."
Cultivators of the Ling clan entered the cabin.
At their head was a woman with an imposing, heroic bearing on her face.
Zhou Rong explained to everyone, "They are all martial cultivators of the Ling clan and are the most important force in this battle."
Earlier on the western route,
It was precisely these Ling clan cultivators who had been drawing Chen Sanshi's attention.
After the Northern Liang army turned back, they followed closely behind and returned to the main force to hold the line.
"Everyone, rest assured."
Ling Ling, the Ling clan's senior senior sister, spoke expressionlessly. "In single combat, we are no match for him. But on the Luoxiao River, there is an inexhaustible supply of river water. Coupled with the 'Gui Water Demon-Slaying Formation' that Daoist Shan Liangcheng of the Shengyun Sect prepared for us in advance, with seven of us working together, we may not dare say we can kill him, but trapping him will not be a problem."
Looking across the Northern Liang army,
Chen Sanshi was the pinnacle of combat power.
Just like the earlier stratagem of luring the tiger away from the mountain.
Even though Chen Sanshi knew they intended to flood Shouyang, he had no way to stop it. Without the White Robe present, these people simply did not have sufficient combat strength. Even if the canals and dams were right before their eyes, they lacked the ability to destroy them.
It was precisely because the opponent knew full well that it could not be countered that it was called an open stratagem.
The idea was to rely on the court's abundance of troops and generals, exploit one's own strengths, and strike at the enemy's weaknesses!
Now it was the same. The court's naval fleet held an overwhelming advantage. As long as the White Robe was restrained, once the battle began, the rest would be utterly unable to withstand them.
"Now we not only have martial cultivators who practice water-aligned true force to assist us, but even the White Robe's fellow sect senior brother has personally come to aid us. This can truly be called knowing both ourselves and the enemy, ensuring victory in every battle."
Zhou Rong looked toward the silent figure in the corner, meeting his gaze directly. After deliberately pausing for several breaths, he finally asked, "Isn't that right, General Nie Yuan?"
"That is only natural."
Nie Yuan nodded. "Young Lord Zhou and Immortal Master Shan Liangcheng possess unparalleled strategic brilliance. This time, by forcing the rebels into a decisive battle at Chibi, we will certainly defeat them soundly."
"However, there is one point that I find quite curious."
Zhou Rong toyed with his wine cup, narrowing his eyes slightly as he stared at him. "You and Chen Sanshi were originally of the same sect. In this life-and-death battle, General Nie is actually willing to personally come and assist. That is truly putting righteousness above kinship."
"Judging from Young Lord Zhou's words,"
Nie Yuan abruptly stood up, displeased. "Are you questioning my loyalty to the court?"
"Young Lord Zhou, that is unnecessary,"
The Prince of Qi spoke up. "General Lü Ji and General Nie Yuan's loyalty to the court is something I can personally vouch for—"
"Your Highness!"
Zhou Rong interrupted. "Let General Nie speak for himself."
"Chen Sanshi threw our sect into chaos. We senior brothers should have been able to live out our remaining years in peace, but he insisted on acting recklessly, dragging everyone onto a bandit's ship and making it impossible for anyone to find peace!
"Less than two years ago, in Liangzhou, he nearly took our senior senior brother's life and drove us out of Northern Liang!
"As for the bond between fellow disciples— even if it exists, how much of it is really left?"
At this point, Nie Yuan's expression darkened slightly. "If I must speak of selfish motives, then yes, I do have them. I want to atone through merit on behalf of my junior brothers and sisters, so that in the future I can preserve the lives of everyone except Chen Sanshi."
"In that case,"
Zhou Rong pressed relentlessly, "General Nie should understand Chen Sanshi better than any of us. Why not speak of what stratagems he might employ next, so that we may be prepared?"
"There are two points to watch for."
Third Senior Brother Nie Yuan said solemnly. "First, beware of the Heavenly Book formations. The lesson outside Qiantang Prefecture is still vivid. My junior brother holds a supreme treasure, and his application of Heavenly Book formations far surpasses ours. Extreme caution is required.
"Second, beware of fire attacks!"
He emphasized again, his tone growing heavier. "Our warships may be massive, but in the end they are built of wood. If my junior brother sets them ablaze, a single misstep could reduce them to ashes and cause catastrophic losses.
"Zhou Rong, are you satisfied with my answer?!"
Fire attacks!
With this reminder,
Everyone finally reacted.
Their warships were enormous, but that also meant they would burn all the more fiercely.
Although the current wind direction favored them,
With Heavenly Book formations involved, changing the wind was by no means difficult.
"So that's how it is!"
The Prince of Qi slapped his thigh. "If the White Robe uses fire attacks, what should we do?"
"Hahahaha—"
However,
Just as the generals were all worrying over this, Zhou Rong burst into loud laughter. "Everyone, rest assured. Zhou has long been prepared. I will absolutely not allow him to succeed so easily. General Nie's reminder to beware of fire attacks proves that he is one of us."
Nie Yuan snorted coldly. "Grand Commander Zhou, you go too far! If that is the case, I will take my leave!"
"Yes, Young Lord Zhou,"
The Prince of Qi said. "I already told you that General Nie is absolutely one of our own. Why insist on testing him like this? Doesn't that only hurt everyone's goodwill?"
"Indeed,"
Yan Hongyuan followed. "General Nie broke through to the Martial Saint realm not long ago and immediately rushed here to assist. His intentions are commendable. Young Lord Zhou's words were indeed somewhat infuriating."
"My apologies, my apologies."
Zhou Rong immediately clasped his hands and bowed in apology to the White Robe's senior brother. "I have lived in seclusion for many years and was not aware of the grievances between you fellow disciples. This Battle of Chibi is of immense importance, so Zhou naturally must be extremely cautious. I hope General Nie can understand!"
"Spare me!"
Nie Yuan made as if to leave.
Zhou Rong hurriedly said, "If Brother Nie is truly angry, after we return to the capital, I am willing to carry thorny branches on my back and publicly beg General Nie's forgiveness before all civil and military officials. How about that? I give you my word!"
To publicly bear thorns and beg forgiveness was sincerity indeed.
At present, manpower was urgently needed. Relying on these elderly generals alone was ultimately insufficient, not to mention that Nie Yuan was, after all, a Martial Saint.
Under everyone's persuasion, Nie Yuan finally chose to stay.
"Very well. Since we are all acting for the court, and Young Lord Zhou has spoken to this extent, if I were to continue dwelling on it, it would make me seem narrow-minded."
Nie Yuan exchanged a cup of wine with him, and the misunderstanding was considered resolved.
He set down the cup and suddenly asked curiously, "Earlier, Young Lord Zhou said you had long prepared against my junior brother's fire attacks. I wonder what preparations have been made? If it is inconvenient to say, then forget it."
"No inconvenience at all!"
Zhou Rong said. "Long before this northern expedition, Immortal Master Shan Liangcheng had already prepared a large number of formation flags and formation discs. They can envelop the exterior of the ships with a Water-Repelling Formation. Any flames will be completely unable to penetrate from the outside!"
Nie Yuan lowered his head and said thoughtfully, "So that's how it is. Young Lord Zhou truly lives up to being the Qilin Heir, having already considered everything in advance. For Great Sheng to have Young Lord Zhou holding the line at such a perilous moment is truly a blessing for the nation."
"Excellent. This time, not only do we have martial cultivators who practice water-aligned true force to suppress this man."
The Prince of Qi spoke with confidence. "Now all of our warships have also been equipped with Water-Repelling Grand Formations. When combined with Heavenly Book formations, we will certainly be able to crush the enemy!
"I will go to the front myself and serve as the vanguard!
"To boost morale!"
The new dynasty's navy.
Xu Wencai, Cui Zichen, Sima Yao, and the others all gathered aboard the central command ship, preparing to discuss the next course of action.
At the commander's seat,
A flame rose in Chen Sanshi's palm, burning a sealed letter to ashes.
"Grand Commander Chen,"
Sima Yao said urgently, "The decisive battle between our two armies is right before us. How should we break the enemy?"
"Indeed,"
Cui Zichen said quietly, "If this were on land, it would be one thing. But on the river, I fear we can only rely on Brother Chen using sheer force to break their formation."
"Forgive my bluntness,"
Sima Yao continued, "Zhou Rong is no fool. Since he dares to confront us head-on here despite knowing how formidable Grand Commander Chen is, it means he must have countermeasures prepared. In this battle, we cannot rely on Grand Commander Chen alone. But once the two armies engage, the enemy's massive warships will be extremely difficult to deal with!"
"Xu Wencai."
Chen Sanshi looked toward Wolong. "Stop holding it in. I can tell you have something to say. Go ahead."
"Nothing escapes you, my lord."
Xu Wencai curled his lips and suggested, "Why don't my lord and I each write our idea on our palms and see whether my thinking aligns with yours?"
"Sure."
Chen Sanshi did not refuse.
The two of them used the black ink on the table to write on their palms.
Not long after,
They exchanged smiles.
Only then did everyone else see.
On both of their palms was written a single, bold character:
"Fire."
Fire attack!
"An excellent idea."
Sima Yao praised, "Their warships may be massive, but they fear fire all the same. Even if the wind direction is unfavorable, we can use the agility of small boats to charge into the enemy formation and set fires everywhere. As long as we can get them burning, no matter how many large ships they have, it will be useless."
The generals all agreed with this plan.
"Pass the order."
Chen Sanshi made the final decision. "In three days, deploy 50,000 vanguard troops to engage the enemy. At that time, use 200 armored assault warships loaded with oil and dry grass to charge into the enemy formation and ignite fires everywhere. The remaining large ships and main forces will hold position in the rear."
"This subordinate obeys!"
Sima Yao and the others immediately went to make arrangements.
Watching their departing figures, Xu Wencai shook his feather fan and said, "The enemy's warships are arranged in a dispersed formation. Igniting one will not set them all ablaze, but it should still have some effect."
"It won't have much effect."
Chen Sanshi said abruptly.
"Oh?"
Xu Wencai was taken aback, then quickly realized. "My lord means that Zhou Rong has likely already made preparations?"
Chen Sanshi tacitly acknowledged it.
"That makes sense. Zhou Rong is not a mediocre man."
Xu Wencai muttered to himself. "Since he has already anticipated our use of fire attacks, does my lord have another method to break the enemy?"
"No. The method to break the enemy is indeed 'fire,' but not now."
Chen Sanshi said calmly.
"Still fire attacks…"
Xu Wencai pondered. "My lord means that even though he knows we will use fire, in the end we will still use fire to defeat the enemy—just as we knew he would flood Shouyang back then, yet were powerless to stop it."
"Three days from now."
Chen Sanshi issued another order. "Have Wei Xuan and Wang Zhi do everything possible to seize a complete enemy ship and bring it back. Spare no cost."
"Understood."
Xu Wencai accepted the order while pondering his lord's intent.
Three days later.
At around 6 a.m. on the fourth day, an immense fog spread across the river's surface.
A figure in white robes rode a single narrow boat, parting the dense fog. Alone, he approached the enemy's naval formation. Only when he was within 200 steps did anyone suddenly notice.
"Enemy attack!"
"Enemy attack!"
On the court's vanguard warships,
The Prince of Qi, who had been gazing into the distance, felt his heart jolt upon hearing the alarm. Then he saw that in the White Robe's hands, a golden bow with silver bullets had appeared at some unknown moment. Flames surged within the fog, finally transforming into a Vermilion Bird carrying vast, overwhelming true force as it came crashing down.
The Prince of Qi turned pale with shock.
"Protect His Highness!"
Two loyal warriors immediately raised their shields and rushed forward. Yet under the tremendous impact, their shields were torn from their hands in an instant, and their bodies were engulfed by the flames, reduced to ashes.
The Vermilion Bird pressed on relentlessly.
The Prince of Qi could already feel the air before him growing increasingly scorching.
At the critical moment,
Ribbons of icy river water descended from the sky, forcibly extinguishing the Vermilion Bird.
On the deck appeared martial cultivators clad in long robes, wielding supple long swords. At their head stood a woman with a cold, aloof countenance. The gaze she fixed on the White Robe was filled with surging, bone-chilling killing intent.
At the same time,
Behind the White Robe, within the dense fog, two tower ships held the line as countless armored assault warships surged toward the court's navy. It was clearly an attempt to exploit the speed of light, agile vessels to close in and launch a surprise attack.
"Enemy attack!"
The court's navy reacted swiftly. Under the command of the vanguard officers, they launched a counterattack.
Meanwhile, the Ling family's martial cultivators leapt directly off their warships. Skimming across the water like dragonflies touching the surface, seven Early Stage True Force martial artists charged toward the White Robe on the lone skiff from all directions.
As they moved, they maintained a precise formation. Each had a formation flag hanging at their waist, and under the augmentation of spirit stones and spiritual energy, the flags resonated with one another from afar, clearly forming some kind of array.
The Guishui Demon-Slaying Formation!
Ling Ling, the Ling family's senior senior sister, occupied the array's core. Upon reaching the White Robe, she let out a cold shout: "Move!"
Aside from her,
The other six swung their longswords in perfect unison.
Empowered by the formation, each of them could draw upon the waters of the Luoxiao River. The water they wielded carried both mana and true force—it was no longer mere mundane water. Six water dragon cyclones took shape. Countless fish were swept up from the river, only to be shredded into clouds of blood mist under the terrifying twisting force.
The six cyclones surged forth, blotting out the sky. In the blink of an eye, they surrounded the White Robe, then rapidly contracted, intent on grinding him into dust like a fish caught in the current.
"Weng!"
Spiritual light flashed.
Dark, ancient Talisman General Iron Armor enveloped the White Robe, and a silver long spear wreathed in raging flames appeared abruptly. A fire dragon erupted from the great river itself, charging skyward to meet the water dragon tempest head-on!
The river's surface exploded in layers, heaving wave after wave of towering swells.
True force fire and true force water collided and dissolved one another, erupting into a sky full of steam. The already fog-choked river grew even denser, to the point where one could barely see their own hand before their face.
"Rumble—!"
After the surging true force dissipated, the blazing flames on the Dragon Gall Bright Silver Spear weakened somewhat, yet they ultimately shattered all the water dragons and continued to burn, unextinguished.
At the same time,
Ling Ling—who had not directly attacked—stood lightly upon the water's surface, her toes barely touching it. The longsword in her hand drooped down like a boneless rope, sinking into the river.
Beneath her feet and those of the other six, a vast azure formation pattern spread out.
Through this formation,
Ling Ling, as the array core, continuously drew upon the power of the Luoxiao River. Her longsword gradually vanished, merging completely with the river water, as though the entire great river were clenched within her grasp.
Each attack launched by the other six further strengthened her.
Until the power reached its limit.
Then—
With a single sword stroke, the woman lifted the Luoxiao River itself and sent it crashing forward toward the blazing flames.
"Rumble—!"
A colossal wave more than sixteen meters high surged forth. It looked less like a river wave and more like a tsunami in the open sea, or as if the heavens themselves had torn open, letting the Milky River of the Nine Heavens pour down unrestrained!
Within the torrent of Heavenly River water surged boundless true force.
The explosive roar of colliding true force mixed with the shrill hiss of vaporizing river water.
The lone skiff beneath the White Robe's feet shattered instantly, splintering into countless fragments that fell into the roaring river. He and the woman were each blasted backward dozens of steps, only stabilizing themselves at last by stepping onto leaf-shaped flying artifacts.
There was no time to catch a breath.
The other six True Force martial artists unleashed their full strength once more, attacking in rapid succession. The senior sister remained in the rear, continuing to gather power for another river-lifting strike.
The flames on Chen Sanshi's spear, which had just died down, flared anew. Behind him, more than fifty strands of purple sword qi materialized, along with irregular, rotating Thick Earth shields.
Giant Strength Talismans and Divine Speed Talismans were all applied to his body. When he thrust his spear again, it carried not only fire-aligned true force, but also countless sword qi flowing along the spear's edge as it struck.
Purple sword qi coiled within the flames, further amplifying their might. The Thick Earth Art shields helped deflect the relentless assaults from all sides, though the actual effect was limited—the mana strength of the middle stage of Qi Refining simply could not provide overwhelming support.
When Chen Sanshi forced the six attackers back once more,
Ling Ling, aided by the formation, completed her charge again. Another sword stroke lifted a towering wave, crashing down. Chen Sanshi had no time to kill—he had to meet the next strike head-on.
These six were, after all, all Early Stage True Force martial artists.
Ling Ling herself, as senior sister, had already opened seven of the Eight Central Scenic Deities, lacking only the final step to enter the Middle Stage of True Force. With the formation and her clansmen's support, her strength was infinitely close to that realm.
Even so,
Ling Ling was shocked to discover that she had gained no advantage whatsoever. Every time her opponent struck, his power grew stronger by an indescribable margin.
If they had not cultivated water-aligned true force, even seven people forming an array together would not have been able to hold out for long.
Fortunately, there were no "ifs" in this world.
The Ling family
Just happened to cultivate water-aligned true force!
With the entire Luoxiao River lending its might, the mutual generation and suppression of the Five Elements was displayed to its fullest.
Ling Ling and the others could not deal with the White Robe—but neither could he swiftly kill them.
That was enough.
As the high-end combatants remained locked in stalemate, everyone else was dragged into chaotic melee.
Cultivators of the Shengyun Sect and the Guiyuan Sect exchanged spells, entangled without end.
One armored assault warship after another exploited its agility to surge into the enemy formation. Arrows filled the sky, and the clash of blades and weapons rang out without pause.
Sima Yao gripped a long saber in his hand. As his breathing method was unleashed, his pupils turned blood-red. His body suddenly swelled several times over, his bones warping with cracking sounds. His palms mutated into claws and fangs, while black-gray fur sprouted across his skin. His entire appearance became demonic.
With a single leap, he landed on the deck of a five-tooth warship. His saber flashed, cleaving more than ten soldiers cleanly in half at the waist.
"A monster!"
"A monster!"
The soldiers of the Great Sheng Dynasty had never seen such a foe. Many were terrified out of their wits.
A Qi Refining Perfection-stage cultivator from the Shengyun Sect rushed over in time, controlling his flying sword to contend with him while spitting disdainfully, "You martial brutes will stop at nothing for power! As humans, you actually beg for the strength of the demon race!"
The Heavenly Demon Breathing Method!
It was said that
One hundred thousand years ago, when the demon race ruled vast territories, certain human ancestors created a special breathing method to resist them—one that required fusing demon beast blood into one's own body.
Those who cultivated this method would have their physical bodies grow ever closer to that of demons, and thus it had always been despised by orthodox cultivators.
What Sima Yao cultivated was a branch of the Heavenly Demon Breathing Method—the Silver Moon Wolf Breathing Method.
On the surface of the Luoxiao River, chaos reigned!
"Set fire!"
"Quick!"
After the medium and small warships charged into the enemy formation, Wang Zhi shouted loudly. Nearby brothers immediately tossed torches onto the dry grass and oil paste prepared in advance aboard their ships. Raging flames erupted at once.
They steered their ships toward the massive tower ships, then leapt onto nearby skiffs just before impact. They thought this would surely ignite the enemy vessels.
But at that very moment, a Shengyun Sect cultivator shouted sharply.
"Activate the formation!!!"
In an instant,
One gigantic tower ship after another burst forth with spiritual light. Countless formation flags could be seen rotating within the hulls, while wave after wave of runes lit up in response.
"Crash—!"
Immediately afterward,
Walls of water rose up across the surfaces of the tower ships!
The water walls formed circular barriers, completely enveloping each vessel. Flaming boats crashed into them only to shatter apart. The flames were extinguished instantly by the ceaseless river water.
The Water-Repelling Grand Formation!
"What is this thing?!"
Wang Zhi raised his long-bladed saber and hacked down with all his might. It felt as though he had struck a wall of bronze and iron—he failed to break through the water wall and was instead jolted backward, his arm numb.
He scanned his surroundings.
Nearly all of the enemy's high-value large warships had deployed this formation capable of summoning water walls for defense, rendering them completely unafraid of fire attacks.
The smaller and medium warships lacked such formations—clearly, the formations consumed enormous resources.
But protecting the large ships alone was enough.
As long as the big ships did not burn, trading small ships for small ships was meaningless. Enemy vessels were spaced far apart, making it impossible to ignite one and spread the fire to others.
Worse still,
The formation provided one-way protection.
Those outside could not break in,
Yet those inside could still fire arrows outward.
"Old Six!"
Amid the intense fighting, a familiar shout rang out from behind.
Wang Zhi turned around and saw Nie Yuan standing atop a skiff, sword in hand, approaching with two court martial generals at his side.
Nie Yuan called out, "Old Six, it's useless. This Water-Repelling Grand Formation was laid down by a Tier Two formation master—it's not afraid of your fire attacks at all! In this Battle of Chibi, you are doomed to lose. Why not surrender early and accept amnesty? I will personally ensure your lives are spared!"
"Really?"
Wang Zhi beckoned with his hand. "Don't lie to me. Things have already gone this far—will we really live if we surrender? Come closer and explain what method you have!"
"Only if you—"
As Nie Yuan came within roughly three meters, Wang Zhi suddenly exploded into motion, smashing down with his saber. Nie Yuan barely dodged in time. The skiff beneath his feet shattered instantly, and the two martial generals beside him hastily jumped onto other boats.
"Old Six, are you insane?! You really want to kill me?!"
"I'm killing you!"
Wang Zhi cursed furiously. "The eldest is a traitor who serves three masters, and you're worse than him—a dog of a three-master traitor! Die—!"
The two senior brothers—one wielding a saber, the other a sword—clashed fiercely, neither gaining the upper hand.
"Weng—"
Only after a quarter of an hour,
More and more enemy skiffs closed in.
If Wang Zhi and his men did not withdraw after the failed arson, they would be completely wiped out. The rear was forced to sound the gong to retreat.
"Old Six, I tried to advise you out of kindness, and you repay it with betrayal. From this moment on, the bond between us senior brothers is severed!"
As Wang Zhi retreated, Nie Yuan slashed him across the back. Blood sprayed out immediately.
Wang Zhi's eyes burned red with fury, but he knew that if he delayed any longer, he would die there. He could only accelerate his retreat, breaking through the encirclement at the final moment before the enemy closed in.
On the Luoxiao River,
The first clash between the two armies came to an end.