The sudden appearance of the women and children brought a moment of stunned silence to the soldiers within the city.
The entire Chen clan?
These people were Chen Sanshi's family?
But—
Hadn't rumors already spread through the city that Chen Sanshi was a spy of Yunding Palace, even of the Qing Kingdom?
If that were true, how could he possibly bring his wife, children, and clan members into Kunyang?
"Brothers!"
Chen Sanshi stood atop the city wall, his voice resounding like a great bell through the night. "Now that matters have come to this, where is there any road of retreat? There are only two outcomes—death or victory!
"Even if you abandon the city and flee, how many of you do you think can survive crossing the river alive?
"Since that is the case, why not stay and fight to the death?!
"You only need to hold the city for a few days. I, Chen Sanshi, will bring back reinforcements and crush the enemy in one decisive blow!
"Today, I leave my wife, my child, and the entire Chen clan within the city as proof of my resolve!
"If the city falls and lives are lost, let my Chen clansmen die first, then the disciples of my Sun clan lineage—tell me, is that enough?!"
This impassioned declaration left the soldiers overwhelmed with shame.
Of course, this referred to the troops under the Zhengtong court.
As for the Northern Liang army, even if Chen Sanshi had explained nothing at all, his authority alone was enough for them to stand their ground to the last man. The trust and tacit understanding between them had long surpassed that of any army in a thousand years.
The Zhengtong court's forces, however, were different.
They came from various garrisons, sects, aristocratic families, and even surrendered rebel armies. Their composition was chaotic, and their hearts were naturally divided.
Moreover, with the supreme commander being the King of Northern Liang—who nominally controlled all armies under Heaven—they had long felt, deep down, like outsiders who could be abandoned at any moment.
That sense of panic had persisted for exactly this reason.
Coupled with the fact that the Zhengtong Emperor and high-ranking officials had repeatedly fled at the slightest disagreement, escorted by cultivators and indifferent to the soldiers' survival, that fear had spread like a plague.
That was why they had previously focused only on fleeing for their lives and had so easily believed the rumors that the White-Robed Commander was a man of the Qing Kingdom.
But now—
The White-Robed Commander had left all his wives inside the city. Was that not proof enough?
The entire clan—
And even his entire sect lineage!
What level of resolve was this? What level of determination?!
If even the supreme commander was willing to do this, what right did they have to cling to life and speak of retreat?
And now, at last, the Zhengtong court's soldiers were beginning to regain clarity.
Even if they withdrew, how many of them would truly survive?
Behind Kunyang lay the Miao River.
If the court army pursued them and attacked while they were halfway across, fewer than one in ten would live!
Yet the Zhengtong Emperor and the high officials could flee freely with the help of cultivators.
Only at this moment did the soldiers under the Zhengtong banner finally understand why, from the Battle of the Miao River until now, the brothers of the Northern Liang army had never voiced a single complaint.
They truly had a commander who did not treat his soldiers as expendable chess pieces, but was willing to live and die alongside them!
With such a commander—
Who would not be willing to entrust their life into his hands?!
"C–Commander Chen—"
A lieutenant general under the Zhengtong banner clenched his teeth, his hesitation turning into resolve. "This subordinate is willing to live and die with Kunyang!"
"This general will stay!"
"I am willing to die!"
"Damn Chang'an for refusing to let us live—then we'll fight them to the end!"
"Fight them!"
"We'll stay in Kunyang and wait for Commander Chen!"
"Running is death—staying might not only let us live, but even win a great victory!"
"M–me too!"
In an instant, without any approval from the emperor or the Ministry of War, the Zhengtong court's soldiers raised their weapons high and swore their loyalty unto death.
This scene left Shangguan Haichang, the Minister of Revenue, and the others on the city wall momentarily at a loss, before expressions of barely concealed displeasure surfaced on their faces.
These were their troops!
How could they truly obey the White-Robed Commander instead?
If the war dragged on, wouldn't they all become part of the "Northern Liang army" instead?!
After considering this, they finally turned their thoughts back to the real issue.
Chen Sanshi—
Had he truly left his entire family in the city as hostages?
Even a tiger does not devour its own cubs.
With even the Northern Liang heir remaining here, it was impossible that he would abandon them.
In that case—
Did this mean the White-Robed Commander truly intended to bring reinforcements to break the enemy, rather than scheming to reap benefits as a bystander?
"Your Majesty, esteemed ministers."
Chen Sanshi's gaze swept across the emperor and the assembled officials. Even without deliberate intimidation, the authority he exuded was unmistakable. "Is this enough?"
"Why must you go this far, worthy brother?"
Cao Huan replied awkwardly. "This is, after all, a battlefield. Leaving your wife and my worthy nephew here is ultimately unsafe. Perhaps they should first be escorted out—"
"Your Majesty, is it enough, or not?"
Chen Sanshi interrupted the feigned concern, repeating the question with an expressionless face.
"Such words are unnecessary. I have never doubted my worthy brother!"
Cao Huan said righteously. "It is only that Kunyang cannot be without you for even a single day. However, since you insist on leaving the city, I naturally will not stop you. Esteemed ministers, what do you think?"
"Heh."
Shangguan Haichang said, "We would not dare raise any objections!"
"This old minister is willing to trust the King of Northern Liang!"
"I am willing to stay and hold the city."
They were well aware that, at this point, retreat would mean enormous losses. Their earlier hesitation had only stemmed from fear of being exploited.
Since the White-Robed Commander was willing to leave his wife behind as a hostage, then perhaps it was worth trying.
In the end—
Only the cultivators of the Guiyuan Sect remained silent.
"Cooperating with Yunding Palace is truly difficult…"
Qian Qiren looked troubled. The two sects had never gotten along, and with the Mang Mountain ancestral vein at stake, cooperation was nearly impossible—because even if it succeeded, it would only bring even greater trouble afterward.
"Forgive this old man for speaking out of turn."
Huang Laojiu said cautiously, "It's true that our sect does not get along with Yunding Palace, but even if disputes arise later, that is still better than abandoning the city and fleeing. Don't you all agree?"
At present, this truly was the only option left.
The cultivators of the Guiyuan Sect could only agree.
"However, Fellow Daoist Chen," Huang Laojiu reminded him, "this old man doesn't have many spirit stones left. You must go and return quickly."
"I will," Chen Sanshi replied.
The matter was finally settled.
Bringing his family here was both helplessness and resolve.
Under the current circumstances, Ling Kui was determined to slaughter his entire family, and Kunyang City was instead the safest place.
From the day he picked up a bow and arrows, he had never had a path of retreat.
"My lord," Xu Wencai asked in a low voice, "there may be spies within the city. The news that you're leaving the city to seek reinforcements will likely reach the court very soon. Should we take some measures to delay the leak as much as possible?"
"No," Chen Sanshi cut him off. "They need to know."
"I understand," Xu Wencai replied at once, grasping his intent, and went off to give instructions.
"Wait for me to come back for you."
After a brief farewell to his family, Chen Sanshi then turned to face all the soldiers, cupped his fists, and said in a ringing voice, "I rely on you brothers to entrust your lives to me. I will not fail that trust!"
With those words, he departed alone. Before Kunyang City was completely sealed by the grand formation, he rose into the air and swiftly vanished beyond the horizon, leaving no trace behind.
By dusk the next day.
After the final deadline given by the court had passed, they indeed showed no mercy.
"Since you rebellious traitors are bent on seeking death!"
"Then the court can only grant your wish!"
As Shan Liangcheng swung the Profound Jade Golden Radiance Bamboo, several heavenly pillars descended from the sky, drawing upon the earth's yellow essence and unfolding the Thick Earth formation. Layers of earthen-yellow barriers formed, encircling the entire city of Kunyang.
It was completely sealed off.
Immediately afterward, the court army launched its final, ferocious assault.
The Thick Earth barrier was likewise a one-way defense. The defenders inside the city could not get out, yet the troops outside could attack endlessly. If this continued, the fall of the city and the loss of all lives was only a matter of time.
With the King of Northern Liang absent, Kunyang City could only maintain the Black-Armored Xunwind Formation at full power at all times. Coupled with leaks from internal spies, abnormalities were soon detected by the court.
"Father Emperor!"
The Prince of Qin rushed into the central command tent. "Father Emperor, this is bad—Chen Sanshi has run off!"
At these words, everyone in the tent was shocked.
The Longqing Emperor, seated cross-legged on a prayer mat, slowly raised his eyes.
The eunuch Huang Hong at his side hurriedly asked, "Where did he run to?"
"According to the intelligence," the Prince of Qin replied, "Hunter Chen left his wife and children in Kunyang and departed alone. It seems he's planning to go to the Qing Kingdom to bring reinforcements!"
"The Qing Kingdom?"
The officials erupted into discussion.
"So he really is deeply colluding with the Qing Kingdom!"
"It seems his collusion with the Prince of Jin in rebellion was a lie as well!"
"What should we do?!"
"Immortal Masters," the Prince of Qi said urgently, "why aren't you chasing after him at once?"
"Do not pursue him," Shan Liangcheng rejected the idea. "The mountains are high and the roads long—beware of a ploy to lure us away. Under the present circumstances, those qualified to pursue him are either Ling Kui or Cao Kai, and the most secure method would be for both to go together. But the problem is that they can't be located in a short time, and who knows what changes might occur on the frontal battlefield during that interval? It may very well be the White-Robed Commander's trick."
"Pay him no mind," the Longqing Emperor suddenly said. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here and wait for him to return."
With his wife left in the city, it meant that this man would certainly come back.
"Your Majesty's judgment is wise!"
"Order the soldiers below to attack the city day and night without pause!"
Shan Liangcheng issued the command. "I want to see whether his reinforcements arrive faster, or we take Kunyang faster!"
Above the clouds.
Chen Sanshi sat cross-legged atop the flying boat, continuously circulating his cultivation to recuperate. The injuries within his body were finally healed, and his meridians returned to their optimal state.
He formed hand seals with both hands, increasing the speed of the flying boat—but his direction was not toward the Qing Kingdom.
What reinforcements?
He himself was the so-called reinforcements!
The ancestral veins of sects such as Shengyun Sect, Guiyuan Sect, and Fallen Leaf Valley—and Yunding Palace as well—were all involved. Cooperating with them at this moment would be no different from inviting wolves into the house.
The wars of this world should come to an end.
Chen Sanshi did not wish to stir up further conflict, nor did he need those people's help.
Since the other side claimed he was an internal agent of the Qing Kingdom, he would simply turn their scheme back on them.
He altered course and flew toward the Chibi region.
After the Battle of Chibi ended, most of the troops had been redeployed to take part in the Battle of the Miao River. Only 20,000 soldiers remained to garrison the prefectures around Chibi and handle the transport of supplies.
Of these, 10,000 were under Liang Shan.
The other 10,000 were commanded by Sima Yao.
These 20,000 were the last remaining forces of the Zhengtong court capable of mobilizing quickly to the Miao River.
"This subordinate pays respects to the King of Northern Liang!"
From atop the city wall, Sima Yao saw the figure in the sky and immediately cupped his fists in respect.
After receiving the notice, Shan Qunyu also rushed over in a flurry. "Commander Chen, please accept this subordinate's bow!"
As he spoke, he performed a deep salute.
After the Battle of Chibi, Shan Qunyu had learned from Zhang Shun that Hero Zhang was Commander Chen, and Commander Chen was Hero Zhang. Unfortunately, military affairs had kept him occupied, and only today did he finally have the chance to personally thank him for saving his life.
"Sima Yao, Shan Qunyu!"
Chen Sanshi wasted no words. "Immediately assemble all troops. At dawn tomorrow, we march for Bagong Mountain!"
"All of them?" Shan Qunyu asked respectfully. "We won't defend the local cities?"
"If the Fei River falls," Chen Sanshi paused, "there's no point in defending them."
"Understood!"
The two immediately went off to mobilize the troops.
"Shi ge!"
Zhang Shun climbed up the city wall with a fish spear in hand. "Fang Qingyun—Scholar Fang—heard you'd arrived and wants to see you."
"Senior Brother is here?" Chen Sanshi said.
He knew that after the uprising in Liangzhou, his senior brother's health had been poor, and he hadn't participated in several subsequent campaigns. Only after Chibi ended had he come from Youlan Prefecture to this area to oversee civil affairs.
Thinking back, since parting in Liangzhou, the two of them had only met once in the past two or three years—and that had been in Youlan Prefecture.
Zhang Shun led the way.
Chen Sanshi quickly arrived at the prefectural office.
Before he even stepped inside, he heard the soft, desolate sound of a flute drifting from the courtyard.
Fang Qingyun, dressed in mountain-green robes, sat in a wheelchair, playing a tune tinged with quiet sorrow. As the white-robed figure crossed the threshold, the piece came to a natural end.
"Junior Brother—cough, cough, cough—"
He had only just begun to speak when a violent bout of coughing overtook him.
Chen Sanshi said with concern, "Senior Brother, once this battle is over, I'll go to Heavenly Water Isle and search around. The cultivation world is full of wonders—there must be a spiritual pill capable of curing your old ailment."
"Dead wood returning to spring is something only true immortals can accomplish."
Fang Qingyun raised a hand while catching his breath. "How could someone at the Qi Refining realm even come into contact with that?"
"That's not necessarily true,"
Chen Sanshi said in a deep voice. "It's still worth trying."
"Let's not talk about that."
After regaining his composure, Fang Qingyun reached into his sleeve and took out a slip of paper. "Over the past few days, cultivators from Yunding Palace came by. They wanted to take part in the war, on the condition that they be given the Mang Mountain ancestral vein. I made an executive decision and rejected them on your behalf.
"They were displeased, but perhaps out of regard for your wife's younger sister, they didn't say much. Instead, they left behind a piece of extremely important intelligence.
"It concerns the Guiyuan Sect, and for us, it's very bad news."
"The Guiyuan Sect?"
Chen Sanshi took the paper and read through its contents. His gaze grew increasingly deep. "As expected. A fine calculation."
"Heh."
Fang Qingyun chuckled. "Yes. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Junior Brother, what do you plan to do?"
"Do what must be done."
Chen Sanshi took a deep breath. "At the very least, until the war is over, the Guiyuan Sect remains our most loyal ally."
"Junior Brother."
Fang Qingyun suddenly changed the subject. "How good are the odds?"
"No matter how many parts,"
Chen Sanshi said firmly, "we can only win."
"And after winning?"
Fang Qingyun continued. "If the Battle of the Miao River is truly won, and everyone survives, what do you plan to do after that?
"One must always think long-term when doing things.
"If we die, then none of this needs consideration.
"So we only need to think about what happens if we win."
"If the Miao River is won and the world is at peace,"
Chen Sanshi replied without hesitation, "I'll be able to devote myself wholeheartedly to the martial path and the immortal path."
"Is it truly peaceful then?"
Fang Qingyun narrowed his eyes slightly and pressed, "Will this world still bear the surname Cao?"
At those words—
Chen Sanshi's pupils trembled.
He suddenly realized something.
If he were to die at the Fei River, there would naturally be no aftermath.
But if the Miao River were won, then on this Eastern Divine Continent, whether in personal cultivation or in the combat strength of the troops under his command, he would already be—
Number one under Heaven.
Without realizing it,
He had gone from a mountain hunter in Swallow-Edge Village of Poyang County, hunting tigers just to pay his taxes, to standing step by step at the very pinnacle of this world.
If he truly wished it,
That supreme seat long coveted by all under Heaven was not something he could not contend for.
But his heart was not there.
"Looking back through history, from ancient times to the present, countless heroes and great figures have bowed their heads for that throne, but I will not."
Chen Sanshi paused briefly. "Senior Brother, preserving peace under Heaven does not necessarily require wearing the yellow robe. Wearing plain clothes can be the same."
If there were no martial path or immortal arts in this world, then some matters would indeed require holding supreme authority to accomplish.
But precisely because—
In this world, great power could be concentrated in the individual.
As long as he maintained cultivation at the absolute pinnacle of the world, if he said no spiritual grain was to be planted, then it could not be planted; if he said there was to be peace, then there would be peace.
"And besides—"
Chen Sanshi added, "Senior Brother must not forget that there is still the Guiyuan Sect, that 'oriole,' waiting behind us. Now is not the time to consider the future."
"Yes, there is still an oriole."
After pondering for a moment, Fang Qingyun seemed to make a certain decision. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and he said quietly, "If Senior Brother were to help you drive that oriole away—what then?"
"Drive away the oriole?"
Chen Sanshi joked, "If Senior Brother could really drive away the oriole, you'd be the number one cultivator in the southern lands."
"That's an interesting way to put it."
Fang Qingyun laughed twice.
"Thank you for the reminder today, Senior Brother. After returning to the Fei River, I'll be sure to stay on guard."
Chen Sanshi said this as he cupped his fists, preparing to take his leave.
"Wait."
Fang Qingyun called out to him. "Junior Brother, take me with you."
Chen Sanshi hesitated.
"What?"
Fang Qingyun snapped, "Do you think I'm useless? Don't worry—I won't hold you back."
"That's absolutely not what I meant,"
Chen Sanshi explained. "I'm worried about your health."
"What, do you really plan to have me kill enemies while sitting in a wheelchair?"
Fang Qingyun said. "If not, then what's the problem?"
"All right."
Chen Sanshi no longer refused. "Senior Brother will come with me."
After half a day of preparations, at the Mao hour the next day.
Sima Yao and Shan Qunyu led 20,000 troops by waterway, advancing toward the Fei River at the fastest possible speed.
Chen Sanshi, meanwhile, calculated the travel time and temporarily remained at Chibi, cultivating the Dragon Scripture day and night without pause. In the blink of an eye, a full 8 days passed.
During these 8 days.
He neither ate nor drank, neither slept nor rested. Within his eyes, only spear radiance and blazing flames remained, as the internal spirit within his body was pushed beyond its limits to drive True Force.
By the 10th day.
He finally reached—
The edge of breakthrough!
Within the courtyard.
Beside the stream.
A spirit pearl hovered in midair, continuously emitting spiritual energy, as though merging with the morning dew, before being tugged away by a mysterious force. Within the dense fog where one could not see an outstretched hand, it formed a white vortex.
And at the end of that vortex—
Stood a tall, slender figure.
White robe, black hair, standing firm while practicing martial arts.
With every breath, he drew in the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth as though forming the eye of a storm. His arms slowly pushed forward as he practiced a fist technique. The movements seemed unhurried, yet the sound of air being torn apart rang out without pause. Space twisted again and again, and a fire dragon coiled and circled around his body.
It was not that his movements were slow—
Quite the opposite!
They were already so fast that ordinary human eyes could no longer capture them!
It looked like he was practicing fists, but in truth, he was wielding a spear!
The fire-aspect breathing method precisely retained the spiritual energy within his body, while his consummate spear art—standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Eastern Divine Continent—drove the circulation of his meridians. Spiritual energy flowed through every limb and bone, nourishing one manifestation spirit shrine after another.
The upper eight manifestation spirits had long since fully opened.
Of the middle eight manifestation spirits, seven were already open. Only the final one remained—flickering faintly amid mysterious radiance, dim and unlit, refusing to awaken no matter how the spiritual power washed over it.
Chen Sanshi even developed the illusion that the Dragon-Gall Bright Silver Spear in his hands was nearly melting under the ceaseless tempering of fire-aspect True Force—yet he still could not connect to the middle manifestation spirit.
As a result, his temper grew increasingly irritable. The speed of his spear swings rose higher and higher, until after crossing a critical threshold—
The meridians within his body began to throb violently, and fire-aspect True Force surged chaotically in all directions.
"Junior Brother!"
"Do not rush!"
"I once heard Master say that when cultivating the metal-aspect breathing method, which emphasizes slaughter, one must still balance hardness with softness."
"By the same logic, when cultivating the fire-aspect breathing method, the spear must move like a sky-burning roaming dragon, while the heart must be like a still, icy pool. Only then can yin and yang balance, and Heaven and Earth be made whole!"
His senior brother's clear voice rang out beside his ears.
Chen Sanshi suddenly came to his senses. He hurriedly halted his cultivation, inverted the spear and drove it into the ground. With a single breath, the hot air he exhaled scorched a tree in front of him to death.
Haste makes waste!
In his eagerness for success, he had nearly fallen into qi deviation!
At the True Force realm, purely in terms of combat power, one already matched the Foundation Establishment level.
According to records, a martial cultivator of average talent usually required 20 years to advance from early True Force to middle True Force.
Even those of superior talent needed more than 10 years.
And even exceptional geniuses required around 5 years.
Yet Chen Sanshi had done it in just 2.5 years.
This speed had already departed from common sense.
He could not rush any further.
There were still a few days left.
Chen Sanshi took deep breaths to steady his heartbeat. After resting for several hours, he lifted the spear once more, silently reciting the teachings his senior brother had relayed from their master.
"The spear like a sky-burning roaming dragon, the heart like a still, icy pool!"
He slowly mobilized his True Force, already prepared to delay the breakthrough by several more days if necessary.
Yet precisely at that moment, Chen Sanshi felt the upper and middle manifestation spirits within his body begin to resonate with one another.
His meridians became incomparably smooth.
The manifestation spirit shrines lit up one after another.
The brain spirit, named Jue Yuanzi, clad in white!
The hair spirit, tongue spirit, right kidney spirit…
They ignited in rapid succession!
From the upper-left region of Chen Sanshi's abdomen, golden auspicious radiance suddenly burst forth. In an instant, it spread to fill heaven and earth, draping the surrounding forest in resplendent gold, as though divine auspicious light had descended from the skies.
Finally—
The last of the middle eight manifestation spirits slowly awakened.
The spleen spirit, named Bao Yuanquan, styled Dao Qian, measuring 7.3 inches in height, pure yellow in color!
Breakthrough.
Middle Stage of True Force!
[Technique: Dragon Scripture (True Force · Middle Stage)]
[Progress: 0/500]
[Effect: Burn to Ashes: Heavenly-Scorching Fire that incinerates all things. During combat, it continuously burns the opponent's mana and True Force, until both are exhausted completely, like a candle burned down to ash.]