Chapter 117: General! I Request to Join the Battle! (Please Subscribe)

Qin Beifeng took a single step forward.

He rode upon the rising gale!

A vast and mighty vital energy flowed through his body. Gripping his blade in both hands, he plunged into the night, clashing with the numerous experts from the various imperial dynasties and noble clans. The radiance of divine techniques flickered incessantly around him, and the pressure of his Ninth-Rank Martial Emperor realm surged and roared like vast, wide rivers.

"Slash!"
"Break!"

With his first strike, Qin Beifeng instantly decimated several Eighth-Rank King-realm experts who were charging toward Cheng Guang and the Princess of Ning. Several experts from minor dynasties coughed up blood and were sent flying backward instantly.

The commotion caused by Qin Beifeng immediately drew the attention of those watching with intent. Wu Qiche shifted his gaze from Cheng Guang to Qin Beifeng, his eyes narrowing as he observed the power behind the strike.

"A peak Ninth-Rank Martial Emperor realm expert—truly invincible beneath the realm of Heaven and Man."

"I never expected that this young master would have such an existence by his side."

Wu Qiche muttered to himself, feeling a slight sting of alarm and a growing headache. Without an expert of Qin Beifeng's caliber, the group from the Lamp-Lighting Bureau would never have lasted long under the siege of the surrounding forces.

But with Qin Beifeng present, they could.

Wu Qiche already regretted not bringing a Heaven and Man realm expert along. After all, bringing such a powerhouse just to capture a remnant of the Great Chu seemed like overkill. But now, it was no longer just one remnant that had appeared, but two: the Crown Prince of the Great Chu, who had supposedly died without a trace, and the Princess of the Great Chu from who knew how many years ago.

A single one might not have been enough to warrant the presence of a Heaven and Man realm expert, but with two, it would not be strange at all.

Wu Qiche pondered for a moment, glancing at Li Longhu beside him and Guan Kezhong of the Great Wei Dynasty. "Gentlemen, Qin Beifeng’s cultivation is profound; he is arguably the strongest individual beneath the Heaven and Man realm. We can no longer stand by and watch. If the Crown Prince of Great Chu and the Princess of Ning escape, none of us will benefit."

"Let us join forces to suppress Qin Beifeng first. Afterward, whoever manages to secure the remnants will be a matter of individual skill."

Faced with Wu Qiche’s proposal, Li Longhu merely smiled and remained silent. Guan Kezhong, however, shook his head, his cold expression unchanging as he spoke in a raspy voice:

"The Great Wei has no interest in the former Great Chu royal family. Not long ago, during the martial arts tournament, the young master saved many of our Great Wei scholars. We owe him a debt, and it would not be appropriate for us to strike."

"If the Third Prince wishes to act, he may make his own decision."

After Guan Kezhong finished speaking, Wu Qiche frowned deeply. Guan Kezhong’s strength was not to be underestimated; he, too, was a Ninth-Rank Martial Emperor. If Guan Kezhong had joined in, the chances of suppressing Qin Beifeng would have been much higher.

Wu Qiche had previously heard Guan Kezhong say that as long as Cheng Guang, the Heir to the Protector of the State, could withstand the pressure of the dynasties and clans, he would not move against him. Wu Qiche had initially assumed these were mere polite words and not to be taken seriously. He never imagined that Guan Kezhong meant exactly what he said; the man was stubborn, and once he made a statement, it was set in stone.

Wu Qiche’s face twitched as if he had a toothache. He looked toward Li Longhu. He found that he could not see through the cultivation realm of this old man at all. He was far stronger than himself—at the very least, a Ninth-Rank Martial Emperor. If he could win over Li Longhu of the Great Yan Dynasty to join him, there were two remnants, one for each, which would be a perfectly fair distribution.

Thinking this, Wu Qiche said to Li Longhu, "Senior, what if we two join forces?"

"Once we suppress Qin Beifeng, with the combined power of the Great Yan and the Great Yuan, we can certainly ensure that the remnants do not fall into the hands of others."

Li Longhu merely smiled at these words, offering no response. Wu Qiche assumed the man had a strange temperament and had already agreed to his proposal. However, just as he thought this and prepared to speak further, he saw Li Longhu take a slow step forward. Using his vital energy to tread upon the air, he rose slowly, walking toward Qin Beifeng, who was locked in battle with the many experts.

"I alone am sufficient. Whether it is the Crown Prince of Great Chu or the Princess of Ning, they all belong to the Great Yan."

Li Longhu wore thin robes. Though his face was aged, his hair and beard were jet black, and his entire being exuded a vitality that belied his appearance. Step by step, Li Longhu trod upon the void, approaching Qin Beifeng.

His words reached Wu Qiche’s ears, leaving him stunned and rooted to the spot for a long moment. Why did this old man speak with such confidence? How could he remain so composed facing someone like Qin Beifeng? Furthermore, he wanted to swallow up both Cheng Guang and the Princess of Ning all by himself? Did the Great Yan have such a massive appetite? Were they not afraid of indigestion?

While Wu Qiche was wondering where Li Longhu found such courage, he suddenly saw him ascend higher into the sky. His robes fluttered violently, and a vast, formidable aura emanated from his body.

The aura radiating from Li Longhu caused everyone present to hold their breath and widen their eyes.

"This is..."
"The Heaven and Man realm!?"

Everyone stared blankly at Li Longhu high above. His slender, lean figure seemed to transform into a towering mountain at that moment, so majestic that one could not look directly at him. They sensed the aura of Heaven and Man radiating from him, and after a long moment of shock, many of the dynasty and clan experts began to curse under their breath.

"Damn it! The Great Yan Dynasty is truly shameless. None of us have deployed a Heaven and Man expert, and they simply disregard martial ethics and use one to crush us!"

"Regardless, we cannot let the remnants fall to the Great Yan! We must kill the Heir to the Protector of the State and the Princess of Ning first!"

"Kill!"

The experts clamored. After the initial shock, they quickly realized that Li Longhu’s appearance was, unsurprisingly, for the sake of the Great Chu remnants. The Great Chu had fallen too quickly. Its secrets had not been fully unearthed before the entire royal line was wiped out. Now, to the imperial families and noble clans of the world, these remnants were no different from shimmering treasures. Even if they could not have them, they did not want to see Li Longhu or the Great Yan royal family obtain them!

Thus, after the brief shock, they attacked Cheng Guang and the Princess of Ning even more fiercely.

They were temporarily held back by the experts of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau, unable to get within half a step. But the defense line of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau was tightening. It was clear that within an hour, they would no longer be able to withstand the surrounding siege.

Defeat was an inevitable outcome.

Qian Siyuan’s face was smeared with blood—he didn't know whose—and his hair was disheveled. He wielded his blade with both hands, fighting in the fray, when he suddenly noticed Li Longhu walking toward Qin Beifeng. The terrifying aura of the Heaven and Man realm felt like a mountain, making it hard for him to breathe. He stared fixedly at Li Longhu in the distance and gritted his teeth, shouting at Cheng Guang:

"Young Master, run! Run quickly!"

Qian Siyuan’s usually smiling face was nowhere to be seen, replaced by absolute seriousness and madness. He wiped his hand through his hair, spreading the blood across his face, adding a touch of ferocity to his expression.

"As long as I am here, no one will get within a step of my Young Master!"

Several experts attacked Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang, who stood beside him. Voices continued to ring out:

"I respect you men of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau as heroes, but how can you protect him against so many of us?"

"Surrender now, and we might spare your lives!"

"That person is not your Young Master! The real Heir to the Protector of the State was likely killed by this Crown Prince of Great Chu long ago!"

Even with the constant explosions of vital energy, the voices of the experts reached Qian Siyuan clearly. His expression did not change; he swung his blade at the incoming attackers, using his actions as his response!

Li Zhengyang took a moment to repel an enemy and retreated to Qian Siyuan’s side, panting. A smile tugged at his square face. "Old Qian, let’s see who is the last one standing today."

Qian Siyuan swung his blade, shedding the blood from the cold, gleaming edge. "Before I die, I will not let a single person approach the Young Master."

Li Zhengyang laughed loudly. "Good! Well said!"

"Follow me! Kill!"

Figures flickered, indistinguishable. Cheng Guang realized that the space around him, shrouded in night, had become a battlefield for thousands of miles around the teahouse. Sharp, cold glints flashed from time to time, and the roar of vital energy was ceaseless, like thunder and war drums.

He heard Qian Siyuan’s words; he heard him telling him to run. He saw the actions of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau; he saw them protecting him with their very lives.

"You... you should leave quickly..."
"I will stay behind."

The Princess of Ning descended from the high sky and landed beside Cheng Guang, speaking softly. She turned her head, her magnificent face staring blankly at Cheng Guang. Only now did she seem to understand why she had felt a sense of familiarity toward him from the beginning.

That sense of familiarity, born of their bloodline, had been a mystery to her. Until now, she realized that the reason she felt an inexplicable closeness to Cheng Guang was simply because he, too, was of the Great Chu.

He was the only person in this world, besides herself, who possessed the blood of the Great Chu.

She felt a complex mix of emotions. At the same time, she seemed to understand why Cheng Guang had not moved against her when he first discovered her identity. Seeing that Cheng Guang’s peerlessly handsome face remained as calm as an ancient well, without a ripple of change, she sighed.

Assuming his silence meant he was unwilling to abandon her and leave alone, she spoke again:

"If I stay, once they have me, they will not focus their minds on you for a while. You can hide for as long as you can. I was already a person who should have died; to be reborn after thousands of years and live these few decades is only supported by a lingering obsession."

"Otherwise, I would have been buried in this earth long ago with the Great Chu."

"You are different. You are still young. You... you must live on."

She spoke softly, her star-like eyes fixed on Cheng Guang, her tone gentle and flowing, as if she were giving her final words.

Cheng Guang lifted his eyes slightly, first glancing at the abyss-like sky, then letting his gaze fall upon Li Longhu.

"There is no escaping now."

Hearing this, the Princess of Ning followed his gaze toward Li Longhu, her brows furrowing slightly before she shook her head.

"Although the Great Yan has sent a Heaven and Man expert, Li Longhu is the only one they have."

"Li Longhu is powerful, that is true, but as the Heir to the Protector of the State, you should have many means of self-preservation. You should be able to escape."

Cheng Guang smiled and shook his head, looking at her. "It is not just Li Longhu. The imperial families of the world have already turned their eyes toward Tianhuo City."

"Before long, the emperors of the four great dynasties and their Heaven and Man experts will descend upon this city."

"My identity is exposed, and I fear the Protector of the State will not be able to sit still either. He will be rushing here from the Boundary Battlefield. How he will treat me, I do not know. Therefore, I cannot run, nor is there any need to."

The Princess of Ning was slightly startled, as if she felt Cheng Guang was right. From the moment their identities were exposed, it felt as though their fate had been sealed.

The Great Chu had been abandoned by the world.

They, the royal family of the Great Chu, were not tolerated by the world either.

The world was vast, yet there was no place for them to exist.

She fell silent. After a moment, her magnificent face softened slightly, and her beautiful red lips curled into a faint smile. Perhaps it had been a long time since she had smiled, or perhaps the current environment was too cruel, but her smile appeared stiff.

"Then let us not run."

She tilted her head, gazing at the sky, tears shimmering in her star-like eyes, like a stubborn child holding back tears.

"To die is simply to die. But you must not die before my eyes."

"If anyone is to die, it must be me."

"I do not wish to endure the pain of seeing my kin die before me again. I do not wish to endure it."

Cheng Guang looked at her, realizing that upon learning his identity, she had already come to view him as kin.

He smiled. "So you want me to endure it instead?"

She wiped the corners of her eyes, laughing through tears, and lightly tapped him. "What is wrong with letting you endure it?"

"Can you not show some consideration for this ancestor of yours who is thousands of years old?"

Hmm.

Calling herself an ancestor was not incorrect. After all, she was a figure from thousands of years ago. But having been sealed for so long, her body had barely changed, and her temperament was much like his own—even younger, in a way.

Her calling herself an ancestor still felt somewhat strange to Cheng Guang. He thought for a moment, then took a yellow flower from his storage ring and held it out to her.

She was startled, not understanding what he meant. Why give her a flower now?

Seeing her lack of reaction, Cheng Guang smiled, shook his head, and gently tucked the yellow flower behind her ear, then smoothed her hair back.

"Very well, Ancestor, you must be patient. This time, you cannot be the one in charge."

Having said this, Cheng Guang seemed to sense something and looked toward the bottom of the teahouse.

Below, Qingluan and Qin Yanqiu were running up, both looking anxious.

"Young Master, the Family Head has sent word... he has learned of your identity..."
"He... he is already on his way."

Qingluan’s pretty face was pale, her jade fingers trembling. In this situation, she felt immense despair. Everything had been fine—how had her Young Master’s identity been exposed so suddenly?

Qingluan was only in the Fourth-Rank Divine Ability realm; her cultivation was not even as good as Cheng Guang’s. Facing this chaotic battle where Seventh and Eighth-Rank experts were crowded together, and even Ninth-Rank and Heaven and Man experts were present, she could not help at all.

She had thought she could help her Young Master protect the Princess of Ning, or at least contact the Family Head for assistance. But now, her Young Master’s identity had been exposed without warning. The shock made her head spin; the world seemed gray and filled with despair.

Cheng Guang nodded slightly, smiling as he patted her head. "Why so nervous?"

"It would have been exposed sooner or later. There is no such thing as a perfect lie in this world."

After saying this, he looked toward Qin Yanqiu. Her cold, clear expression remained unchanged. Upon learning that Cheng Guang was not the Heir to the Protector of the State, but the Crown Prince of the Great Chu, her mood did not seem to fluctuate much.

She looked at Cheng Guang with her cold eyes, then lifted her gaze to her father, Qin Beifeng.

"Whether you are the Young Master or the Crown Prince of the Great Chu, it makes little difference to me. One is the person the Protector values most; the other is the person my father values most."

"There is no difference in status."

Seeing her father clash with Li Longhu and be suppressed by a single palm, coughing up blood, she frowned slightly. She turned back to Cheng Guang, her cold eyes flickering.

"Young Master..."

She walked forward slowly, gently hugged Cheng Guang, and brought her red lips close to his ear, her eyes lowered as she spoke softly.

"Young Master, if you can escape, then run."

"It is not just Cheng Zhihai who is rushing here; the Protector is coming too. The eyes of the world’s imperial families are fixed on Tianhuo City, and many dynastic emperors have likely sent Heaven and Man experts as well."

Having said this, she released him without a hint of reluctance, took a step, and followed the steps of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau’s constables, killing her way into the surroundings.

A light flashed in her hand as she drew a silver moon-longsword. Under the moonlight, her figure swayed, her silver hair dancing. Every move was like a spirit of the moon, filled with a rich aesthetic beauty. Her movements were graceful, yet contained lethal intent; every time her figure flickered, it brought forth a spray of blood.

Her cultivation was only at the Seventh-Rank Divine Communication realm, yet she could battle Eighth-Rank King-realm experts. The light of her divine technique flickered around her, exerting immense pressure on the surroundings.

Cheng Guang watched her figure disappear into the night and rubbed his ear; the faint fragrance from her lips still lingered around him.

Cheng Guang smiled and shook his head. "This girl, she seems to have had an epiphany; she’s become so good at being sentimental."

He then looked at Qingluan. Seeing her worried expression, he hesitated, then smiled and patted her head, speaking in a carefree manner:

"Do not be afraid. Even if my identity is exposed, you may not necessarily be in trouble. Just say you did not know my identity. Cheng Zhihai is, after all, an upright man; he will not implicate you."

Qingluan’s beautiful eyes shimmered with tears. She covered her red lips, looking at Cheng Guang, shaking her head tearfully. "Young Master, I... I am not worried about myself; I am worried about you."

"The Protector will not let you go, the Family Head will not let you go, and now the entire world’s imperial families will not let you go."

"Why, Young Master, why are you the Crown Prince of the Great Chu?"
"Why?"

"If you were not the Crown Prince of the Great Chu, even if your identity were exposed, you could have escaped... you could have escaped..."

Qingluan crouched down, seemingly helpless. The usually heroic Qingluan was now a tear-stained beauty, hugging her knees and sobbing.

Cheng Guang was at a loss. His lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out. He sighed.

The Princess of Ning seemed to have just realized something, staring blankly at the yellow flower behind her ear, then looking at Cheng Guang.

"You really do have many admirers."

"Such tactics work on these little girls, but they are superfluous when used on me."

"Also, do not tell me that even at a time like this, you still have some designs on me."

She looked at him, her star-like eyes flickering.

Cheng Guang shook his head, knowing she had misunderstood. His expression remained unchanged as he said, "This flower can save your life. When the time is right, use it immediately."

"Save my life?"

She was startled, not understanding his meaning.

Just then, another roar sounded in her ears. A figure fell from the high sky, crashing into and collapsing houses for miles, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Qin Beifeng, you are worthy of being the Great Wind General of the Great Chu."

"To be able to hold out against me for so long with only the cultivation of a Ninth-Rank Martial Emperor—you are the first."

Li Longhu’s gaze swept coldly over Qin Beifeng, who lay in the dust.

Qin Beifeng was covered in wounds, his battle armor shattered, and the blade in his hand broken. His sturdy chest had a gaping hole. Through that bloody hole, it seemed one could see the world on the other side.

Qin Beifeng’s heart had been pierced through the center, beating weakly.

If Li Longhu’s attack had been a fraction of an inch off, or a sliver more powerful, Qin Beifeng’s heart would have been pulverized. Even with his heart still beating weakly, the life force in his body was rapidly fading.

"Qin Beifeng is finally dead."
"This Great Yan Heaven and Man expert is truly formidable. In just a few breaths, he reduced Qin Beifeng to this state."
"That said, shouldn't Qin Beifeng be stronger for being able to hold out against a Heaven and Man expert for so long?"

The surrounding experts saw this scene, their bodies pausing as they whispered in discussion. They looked toward Li Longhu, who stood in the air, their faces turning pale. They felt that if it were them facing this Heaven and Man expert, they wouldn't have lasted even a single breath.

Li Longhu watched Qin Beifeng for a moment, nodded slightly, and then turned his gaze toward Cheng Guang. Just as he was about to strike, a flash of silver light cut across his side.

Li Longhu raised a hand, his two fingers steadily catching the silver light.

It was a longsword.

The wielder was Qin Yanqiu.

Li Longhu studied her, his eyes narrowing, and then he smiled. "You must be Qin Yanqiu, the famous figure in the Northern Expedition Army of the Great Zhou, right?"

"Your father could still put up a fight with me, but as for you, you are not enough."
"So young, it is a pity."

Li Longhu moved the longsword aside.

Qin Yanqiu’s cold eyes remained unchanged. She stared fixedly at Li Longhu, exerting her vital energy to its limit, wanting to resist. But even though Li Longhu did nothing, he stood before her like a mountain.

He moved the sword aside calmly. The movement was so ordinary, with no great fluctuation of vital energy, yet it carried an irresistible force that made her feel utterly powerless.

Under her gaze, after moving the sword, Li Longhu struck out with a palm.

It struck Qin Yanqiu from a distance.

Her body trembled slightly.

At first, there was no sensation. Then, she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her cold eyes widening, and her beautiful body shattered like a broken mirror. Her skin broke apart, and blood turned into a pool of gore.

She disappeared in the space of a breath.

At this moment, the world fell silent.

Everyone seemed to perceive something; their movements paused, and the roars of vital energy in the air lessened significantly. They looked up at the blood raining from the sky.

Li Longhu waved his robes, his expression indifferent, as if he had done an insignificant trifle. He continued to walk slowly toward Cheng Guang.

Halfway there, he suddenly seemed to sense something and turned his head slowly to look at the spot where Qin Beifeng had just fallen.

Qin Beifeng had been on the verge of death; even if Li Longhu did nothing, he could not have lasted long. But at this moment, Qin Beifeng, whose heart had been almost completely pierced, suddenly stood up.

Covered in blood and wounds, leaning on his broken blade, he looked up at the sky, tears of blood flowing from his tiger-like eyes.

"Dead?"
"Just like that?"

Qin Beifeng’s voice was hoarse, muttering to himself. Suddenly, he let out a miserable laugh. "Silly child, truly too silly."

"How could you hope to be an enemy of a Heaven and Man expert all by yourself? You were proud for so long; you finally suffered for it, didn't you?"

Qin Beifeng laughed, his voice growing louder, then followed by a fit of coughing. Large amounts of blood sprayed like a fountain from his mouth and his wounds.

"In this life, I, Qin Beifeng, have no regrets toward my heart."
"In this life, I, Qin Beifeng, have no regrets toward my country."
"But in this life, the only person I have failed... is you..."

"Why were you so foolish? Did you think I was dead and wanted to avenge me?"
"I don't need it. I don't need it."

Qin Beifeng muttered to himself. A point of luster began to flicker at his heart. At first, it was faint, but then it grew increasingly intense.

Li Longhu watched him, and as he watched, his originally indifferent expression began to change.

Qin Beifeng’s body was gradually enveloped by a vast and mysterious power. The wounds all over his body were being curbed.

"This is... the Heaven and Man realm..."
"Qin Beifeng has ascended to the Heaven and Man realm??"
"Hiss, how old is Qin Beifeng? Not even a hundred, right?? A Heaven and Man realm expert under a hundred years old!?"
"That is too outrageous!?"

All the martial artists present saw this change, their eyes constricting. Their brows were instantly written with disbelief and shock.

At the same time, Li Longhu’s brows furrowed tightly. Without hesitation, he took a step and appeared before Qin Beifeng in an instant.

He struck out with a palm.

Qin Beifeng’s body moved instinctively. He raised his blade and crossed it before him.

BOOM!!!

The two collided.

Qin Beifeng, who had previously been unable to block a single strike from Li Longhu, now directly withstood the attack, merely trembling slightly.

He did not retreat a single step.

Li Longhu’s eyes narrowed. "What does it matter if you have just ascended to the Heaven and Man realm? With such heavy injuries, you are merely struggling for a little longer."

"I do not have time to accompany you further!"

Li Longhu did not want to waste time on Qin Beifeng. Although he had ascended, his injuries were too severe; his heart was almost shattered, and he was already in a death-bound situation. Li Longhu knew that wasting time here was meaningless.

After striking, he prepared to use a divine technique to imprison Qin Beifeng and then take Cheng Guang and the Princess of Ning back to the Great Yan Imperial Palace to hide them.

He could feel that countless eyes in this world were fixed on Tianhuo City. The longer he delayed, the weaker his home-field advantage became. Once the other dynasties reacted and their Heaven and Man experts arrived, it would be impossible for the Great Yan to claim the Great Chu remnants alone.

Li Longhu raised a hand, divine light flickering around him. Just as he was about to move, Qin Beifeng’s body suddenly appeared beside him.

Li Longhu waved his robes, and a sharp attack transformed into blades, sweeping toward Qin Beifeng.

He expected Qin Beifeng to dodge.

To his surprise, Qin Beifeng grabbed him instead.

Li Longhu felt his body tighten.

Qin Beifeng’s body trembled, and with several tearing sounds, he was pierced through again like a rag. Qin Beifeng spat blood from his mouth; because they were so close, it sprayed directly onto Li Longhu’s face.

Li Longhu’s black hair and beard were stained with blood.

"What are you doing! Let go of me!!"

Li Longhu was both shocked and angry. His aura trembled, and bursts of vital energy exploded from his body, trying to shake Qin Beifeng off.

However, even though Qin Beifeng’s body was on the verge of falling apart, he did not loosen his grip even slightly.

Qin Beifeng had lost too much blood. His Heaven and Man cultivation had only allowed him to regain a bit of vitality. Now, that vitality was almost entirely gone.

"I will not let go. You old dog, you Heaven and Man experts aren't all that great, are you?"

Qin Beifeng’s eyes were filled with exhaustion. His lips twitched as if trying to smile, but they trembled and then went limp.

His vital energy began to churn, and an aura of destruction rose from his body.

Li Longhu sensed this aura, and his eyes instantly constricted. His originally composed demeanor vanished.

"You want to self-destruct?!"
"A Heaven and Man realm self-destruction! Do you know that the entire Tianhuo City will be destroyed??"
"Stop!! Stop now!!"

Qin Beifeng’s eyes were closing. He held Li Longhu tightly, his voice faint. "Leave Tianhuo City, and do not touch my Young Master, and I will stop."

Li Longhu’s vital energy exploded several more times. Qin Beifeng’s body was like a piece of dead meat, but no matter how he attacked, Qin Beifeng’s hands remained locked together, not moving a step away from his body.

Sensing the terrifying destructive aura within Qin Beifeng growing stronger, Li Longhu was truly afraid. Beads of sweat as large as beans covered his forehead. He hurriedly said, "I agree! I agree to your terms!"

After saying this, he rushed outside Tianhuo City.

Within a single breath, Li Longhu was already outside the city.

"Is this enough? General Qin? I can heal your injuries! You do not have to do this!"

Li Longhu shouted to Qin Beifeng, who was still locked onto him.

"Also, I promise not to touch your Young Master! Not only will I not touch him, but I will help him get away!!"

Qin Beifeng’s eyes drooped, his gaze weary, and they closed.

"Not enough. Further."

Li Longhu rushed into the distance again.

"Is this enough now!?"
"General Qin!!"

Li Longhu was genuinely terrified.

"Not enough..."
"Not enough..."

Feeling the terrifying aura within Qin Beifeng becoming increasingly dense, and seeing that he still refused to let go, Li Longhu was truly scared. He could only bury his head and flee further away from Tianhuo City.

Not until they were nearly ten thousand miles away from Tianhuo City did Li Longhu stop, panting.

"General Qin!!"
"How is it now??"

Li Longhu turned his head to look at Qin Beifeng, only to find in astonishment that he had already closed his eyes. His body was filled with exhaustion, and his breathing had become incredibly faint.

The terrifying aura on his body had merely been a facade.

This Qin Beifeng... he had long since lost the strength to even self-destruct.

Li Longhu’s expression was complex. He looked toward the distant Tianhuo City and sighed. He felt that even if he returned now, unless the aged Great Yan Emperor himself acted, the Great Yan would have no chance of obtaining Cheng Guang or the Princess of Ning.

Li Longhu reached out and tried to pry Qin Beifeng’s hands apart, but found them unmoving.

He looked silently at Qin Beifeng’s face, which was gradually growing cold and stiff.

In a trance, Li Longhu saw Qin Beifeng’s lips move slightly, as if saying something. Li Longhu leaned in to listen.

"Great Chu, Great Wind General."
"The North Wind rises, and I have no regrets."

After hearing this, Li Longhu shook his head.

"Great Wind General."
"You have lived up to your name."

Li Longhu sat down, leaning against a large tree, looking toward the distant sky.

A moment later, Qin Beifeng’s breathing stopped completely.

Li Longhu rose slightly, shook off Qin Beifeng’s body, and stepped into the air. Just as his figure vanished, he suddenly reappeared.

He flicked his robes.

Dust flew.

The earth churned, covering Qin Beifeng’s body. After doing this, Li Longhu disappeared again.

...

Inside Tianhuo City, after Qin Beifeng left, the battle did not cease.

Instead, because Qin Beifeng and Li Longhu were gone, every expert present felt they had a chance to seize Cheng Guang and the Princess of Ning.

The attacks became even more ferocious.

The members of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau were exhausted by now. Facing the siege, they were struggling.

Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang leaned against each other, their bodies covered in wounds. Against the backdrop of the numerous corpses around them, they radiated a heroic spirit.

"Old Li, the two of us are likely to die here."
"I wonder if the Young Master still has a chance to escape."

Qian Siyuan panted, his face still holding a smile.

Li Zhengyang shook his head. "I do not know. Regardless, as long as we are here, these people cannot hurt the Young Master."

Qian Siyuan nodded slightly. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a vast fluctuation of vital energy.

In the crowd, Wu Qiche led the experts of the Great Yuan forward. Dozens of Seventh-Rank experts, Eighth-Rank experts, and Wu Qiche himself, a Ninth-Rank expert.

Even if the Lamp-Lighting Bureau had not gone through the previous battle, their combat strength was not much higher than that of the Great Yuan experts; it was barely an even match. After the grueling fight, the Lamp-Lighting Bureau members were already depleted, with less than ten percent of their strength remaining.

In this situation, how could they be a match for the Great Yuan?

"The people of the Great Yuan finally couldn't help themselves."

Qian Siyuan scoffed twice and forced his body to stand. "Come then! Good!"

"Fight again!"

Li Zhengyang and Qian Siyuan supported each other. The two Deputy Chiefs of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau stood before the remaining constables, their bodies stained with blood, facing the approaching Wu Qiche and the others.

By now, half of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau’s experts were dead or injured. Those left standing had no intact skin on their bodies. Even so, they stood firm, facing Wu Qiche.

Wu Qiche led his experts to a halt before Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang.

Even though they were from different factions, Wu Qiche could not help but feel respect for them. Other minor dynasties and noble clans had not been able to crack the bone that was the Lamp-Lighting Bureau, suffering heavy casualties. If he had acted from the start, he would likely have suffered heavy losses too.

Fortunately, he had waited and watched; reaping the rewards now was perfect.

"It is truly his honor that the Heir to the Protector of the State has subordinates like you."
"That said, why are you still protecting him so fiercely when his identity is exposed—that he is not the real Heir, but likely the Crown Prince of the Great Chu?"

Wu Qiche did not understand.

Qian Siyuan smiled. "What would you understand?"

Li Zhengyang silently raised his blade, panting, and pulled his lips into a smile. "Why waste so many words? If you want to fight, come. If not, get lost."

Wu Qiche shook his head.

"How foolish. You are just slaves selling your lives for a master, yet you truly think of yourselves as someone important. To be willing to fight to the death for him in this situation... utterly stupid."

Wu Qiche waved his hand, preparing to let his experts trample the remaining Lamp-Lighting Bureau members.

Suddenly, he noticed something.

On the teahouse not far away, a peerlessly handsome figure, not like a mortal, walked down slowly.

He landed before him.

"Oh?"
"You actually came down. I thought you would hide until the end, watching these fools all get killed by me, before kneeling and begging for mercy."

Wu Qiche’s refined face watched Cheng Guang with interest.

Cheng Guang ignored him, his gaze falling on Qian Siyuan, Li Zhengyang, and the rest of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau.

"You may all withdraw now."
"This time, leave it to me."

Qian Siyuan had been stunned to see Cheng Guang walk down. He had assumed Cheng Guang would try to escape, or at the very least stay in the teahouse under their protection.

But... Qian Siyuan really had not expected the Young Master to walk out at a time like this!

"Young Master... you..."

Cheng Guang did not say much, looking at Wu Qiche. "The Third Prince of the Great Yuan, right?"

Wu Qiche studied him, not knowing his purpose in appearing now. Did this Heir to the Protector of the State still have tricks up his sleeve?

Wu Qiche was suspicious and did not attack directly, nodding instead. "That is correct."

Cheng Guang smiled again. "I will stay behind alone. Let my subordinates leave."

He did not negotiate with Wu Qiche; his tone was like a command. This tone made Wu Qiche feel uncomfortable. But then he thought that although the Lamp-Lighting Bureau members had little strength left, dealing with them was still a bit of a hassle.

Since the Heir was willing to stay behind alone, that was perfect. Obtaining the Heir alone and returning to the Great Yuan would not be a loss.

Wu Qiche nodded slightly.

Cheng Guang glanced at Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang.

"Uncle Qian, Uncle Li, take the people and leave."

Qian Siyuan instinctively wanted to refuse, but looking at Cheng Guang’s indifferent gaze, he hesitated and finally gritted his teeth and agreed. He was incredibly respectful toward Cheng Guang; he dared not contradict him.

Qian Siyuan led the members of the Lamp-Lighting Bureau away.

Below the teahouse, only Cheng Guang and the group from the Great Yuan remained. The experts from other dynasties and clans retreated into the surroundings, silently observing. They did not understand what confidence Cheng Guang had to face the Third Prince of the Great Yuan alone in this situation.

Just as everyone was filled with doubt, Cheng Guang made a move.

Under the gaze of all, he took out a talisman.

He shook the talisman slowly, and it ignited in mid-air.

In a trance, an ethereal voice seemed to echo.

"General’s Decree."
"In my name, summon the troops! Hear my command and descend upon this world!"

Strange rays of light bloomed around Cheng Guang.

The sound of hooves trampling the dust!
The sound of military horns!
The roar of war drums!

In an instant, knights clad in heavy armor, wearing ghost masks, stepped out from the void as if trampling the earth from hell.

They lined up beside Cheng Guang.

In unison, they saluted.

"The Hundred Generals of Great Chu, pay respects to the General!"
"The Hundred Generals of Great Chu, pay respects to the General!"
"The Hundred Generals of Great Chu, pay respects to the General!"

The voices shook the ages.

The knights beside Cheng Guang were covered in black armor, their faces obscured, but the aura radiating from them was anything but simple.

When the crowd heard what these knights called out, they were struck as if by lightning!

The Hundred Generals of Great Chu!?
Cheng Guang, the Heir to the Protector of the State, the real Crown Prince of Great Chu...
He had summoned the Hundred Generals of Great Chu!?

How could this be possible!?
Had the Great Chu not fallen!?
Had the Hundred Generals not all died, save for Qin Beifeng!?
What was happening!?

Everyone stared in shock, their eyes trembling.

Wu Qiche looked at the soldiers appearing like a miracle around Cheng Guang and was stunned. The words he had prepared to attack Cheng Guang suddenly died in his throat.

The aura of these soldiers was at least Eighth-Rank.

So many Eighth-Rank experts gathered together could battle a Ninth-Rank!

If given a chance, Wu Qiche suspected they would dare to swing their blades at a Heaven and Man expert!

The Hundred Generals of Great Chu, who die but never retreat!
The soul of the Great Chu, never to perish!

Wu Qiche faced the Hundred Generals of the world’s number one dynasty of the past; his breath hitched.

Suddenly, he seemed to see a familiar pair of eyes among the Hundred Generals. Those eyes were dead, without a glimmer of life.

They felt familiar.

It was as if... they were Qin Beifeng, who had just left.

Hadn't Qin Beifeng left? How could he appear here?

No!!

Wu Qiche suddenly realized that the Hundred Generals around Cheng Guang were all dead men. If that were the case, did it mean Qin Beifeng was already dead?

Wu Qiche felt a sense of relief, knowing Qin Beifeng would not suddenly kill his way back, and that even Li Longhu would not return easily.

However, facing this eerie Heir and the Hundred Generals who had appeared like a miracle, he still felt immense pressure!!

Regardless, this was his only chance. If he missed this opportunity, it would not be so easy to capture the Great Chu remnants and take them back to the Great Yuan to dig into the secrets of the Great Chu.

"Kill!"

Wu Qiche waved a hand. He did not believe that a group of ghosts could stir up any great waves!

At this moment, the Hundred Generals began to move.

They did not need Cheng Guang’s command.

"General, I, the Yellow Sands General, request battle!"
"General, I, the Mountains and Rivers General, request battle!"
"General, I, the Heaven-Facing General, request battle!"
"..."
"General, I, the Great Wind General, request battle!"

Voices rang out!
With each voice that fell!
A rider stepped out on horseback!

All who witnessed this scene felt their hearts tremble and their spirits unsettled.

At this moment, they seemed to see the glorious Great Chu of the past.

...

(End of chapter)