The Human Emperor c1-2382
Page 194
Their faces turned cold, and the intent to wipe out this group of cavalry sprouted within them. However, the ferocious army of Great Tang came pouring in at this instant, and they found themselves preoccupied.
This time, they had to join the battle themselves as well.
"Prepare yourselves, we'll be going in once more!"
After charging past the hordes of Goguryeon troops, Wang Chong's elite cavalry came to a halt at another hill and gazed coldly down at the Goguryeons.
From Wang Chong's point of view, he could see the Goguryeons slowly reining in their formation to rebuild their defense line.
However, this didn't make a difference to him at all. He could already see it; one more charge and they would be completely defeated.
War is something very different from assassination!
From the moment that the situation turned into a war battle, the Goguryeons were already caught in his tempo.
"Prepare yourself, the second charge!"
Hong long, when Wang Chong led the hundred elite cavalry through the Goguryeon formation once more, the army of thousand Goguryeon elites finally collapsed. They found themselves unable to form a proper defense line anymore.
It broke down into a situation where they had their hands full with just preserving their lives.
Chapter 259: Battle of the Profound Martial
Chapter 259: Battle of the Profound Martial
If the Goguryeon elites were unable to regroup, then no matter how numerous they were or how powerful they were individually, it would be impossible for them to stand against an entire army.
From the moment that Wang Chong charged through their formation for the second time and scattered their formation, the fate of the thousand Goguryeon elites were already sealed.
"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"
Everyone fled chaotically as though birds scattering into the surroundings. No one wanted to retreat to the monastery; they would only be completely trapped then.
Boom!
On the other hand, Wang Chong's troops pursued the Goguryeons, who were marked by brilliant halos in the dark night.
——In truth, they could have posed a threat were they to retaliate. However, with their minds fixed on escaping, death only came faster for them.
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...
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...
A whole bunch of notices cascaded down Wang Chong's head. His Bane of the Battlefield grew to a radius of more than ten thousand meters, and it continued to expand outward swiftly.
The adrenaline from having his strength growing rapidly left Wang Chong feeling exhilarated.
"Another seven hundred, and I would be able to reach level 2 for it!"
Wang Chong thought.
It was getting harder and harder to upgrade his halo the further he progressed. Initially, Wang Chong only had to kill a single foreign soldier to activate his halo.
But from level 0 to level 1, he had to kill one hundred soldiers, and each of these soldiers had to possess a cultivation realm of at least Origin Energy Tier 9. This was no easy task at all.
On the other hand, to reach level 2, Wang Chong would have to kill two thousand foreign soldiers!
At level 1, Wang Chong's Bane of the Battlefield was a destructive nerfing force against all martial artists of True Martial realm 1-dan and below.
However, its effects were limited against martial artists of True Martial realm 2-dan and above.
If Wang Chong wanted to strip the martial halo off a True Martial realm 2-dan expert, his Bane of the Battlefield would have to reach level 2 first.
Roar!
While Wang Chong was in the midst of contemplating on the back of his horse, a furious howl suddenly echoed from the monastery. A huge gust of wind swept into the surroundings, blowing a huge wave of tree leaves down the mountain.
"It's from the monastery. They are currently crossing blows with the Goguryeon heads!"
Miyasame Ayaka's voice whispered in his ear. The frenzied wind had left her night suit fluttering in the wind.
Wang Chong glanced over and saw that the walls of the monastery had been knocked down. Within the monastery, Uncle Li Lin, Ma Yinlong, Old Eagle, Solitary Wolf, Steel Arms, and the austere Imperial Army commander dispatched from the royal court were currently engaged in an intense battle against the three Goguryeon heads.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A deluge of Stellar Energy gushed out and covered the entire area. Everything that stood in its way, be it the walls, monastery, fake mountain, stone tablets, or dormitories, everything collapsed as weakly as though tofu.
As various Stellar Energy clashed with one another, a huge tempest that rose up to several zhang high covered half of the entire monastery.
Amidst this destructive storm of Stellar Energy, all of the Imperial Army soldiers were forced to retreat from the area around the monastery.
Hu!
Several dozen zhang of flames gushed into the air, bringing a bright shade of crimson to the night sky. The saber qi and sword qi intermixed with it threatened to tear even heaven apart. Amidst the searing storm, one could even see some fearsome phenomenon.
Even Miyasame Ayaka couldn't help but blink in astonishment looking at the huge storm on the hill, and she subconsciously retreated in fear.
Profound Martial realm!
Miyasame Ayaka was very certain that all of them were Profound Martial realm experts. Even if that wasn't the case, it was certain that they weren't too far from that level. Because only Profound Martial realm experts could conjure up such a fearsome storm.
"They are strong!"
Miyasame Ayaka thought.
It was impossible for a True Martial realm to stand against a Profound Martial realm. If not for the numerical advantage and the presence of Profound Martial realm experts in the midst of the Imperial Army as well, she would never participate in a fight of this tier.
"Don't worry, their fight won't affect us."
Wang Chong smiled.
Even though Miyasame Ayaka was skilled, she had never been on the battlefield before so she wasn't very experienced with this. 'Soldier against soldier, general against general', while the others could escape, the three Goguryeon heads couldn't possibly flee, needless to say, rush over here to get rid of them.
This was also the reason why the Imperial Army general which the royal court dispatched had been waiting alongside Wang Chong before. This was also the same reason why the Goguryeon heads didn't flee—it was impossible for Great Tang to let them get away.
Unlike normal soldiers, many eyes were on them, and unless they were confident of getting away, they wouldn't escape.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Stellar Energies that was far beyond the capability of any True Martial realm expert clashed furiously, their fearsome shock wave diffusing into the surroundings. Even the entire mountain shook beneath the might of these top-notch experts.
In just a short moment, the monastery which took four months to build was destroyed by two-thirds. Shattered bricks and wooden fragments were swept into the air by the Stellar Energies, mixing together with the searing storm.
Ever since his reincarnation, this was the first time Wang Chong was seeing a fight among Profound Martial realm experts.
A battle of this fight was far beyond Wang Chong's tier, and it would be impossible for him, or any of his allies such as Miyasame Ayaka or the troops from
the Zhuang Clan and Chi Clan to lend their assistance.
However, it was still possible for him to slightly interfere in it.
"Call Luo Chong over!"
Wang Chong instructed with a smile.
Luo Chong was the name of the brawny master archer whom King Song assigned to Wang Chong's side. It had taken him much effort before he managed to get the name out of the other party.
That fellow was simply way too reticent!
"Gongzi."
Amidst frenzied wind, the fully-armored Luo Chong arrived behind Wang Chong with a specially-crafted humongous bow behind his back.
Standing at two-meters tall, his presence was pressurizing in itself.
As a subordinate highly-regarded by a qinwang of Great Tang, Luo Chong's archery was indubitably formidable. In this battle, he had killed several times the number of True Martial realm experts as compared to the master archers from the Imperial Army.
This was a true disparity in capabilities.
Without a doubt, Luo Chong was the strongest person he had here, as well as the one he trusted and relied on the most.
"Luo Chong, can you see the situation within the monastery?"
Wang Chong pointed to the bottom of the hill and said.
Those words immediately caught the attention of everyone around Wang Chong. The hundred elite cavalry troops that Wang Chong brought immediately turned their sights to him.
"It's useless, they're moving too quickly. Besides, the interference from the storm of Stellar Energy is too great. I fear that I might accidentally friendly fire."
Luo Chong's voice echoed from within his thick armor. Wang Chong's intentions were clear.
His thought was good, but it wasn't feasible.
'Every split second counts in the fight between experts'. With Luo Chong's capability, he could pin the heads of True Martial realm martial artists onto the ground with certainty—they wouldn't even have a chance to dodge at all. However, against Profound Martial realm experts such as the three Goguryeon heads, the effectiveness of his arrows would be greatly lowered.
Their reaction speed was simply too fast!
Besides, his enemies and his allies were in close proximity to one another. In such close combat, the slightest error in one's actions could lead to one's death. Should his arrow miss, he could end up hindering his own allies instead.
Furthermore, given the huge number of potential interferences to his arrows around the monastery—the tree leaves, soil, brick, wooden shavings, flames, saber qi...—he wasn't entirely confident that his arrows would stay on his anticipated trajectory.
Since that was the case, he was of little use at all.
This was also the reason why he hadn't made a move despite seeing the battle in the monastery.
Wang Chong was simply underestimating things.
"Do you see the toad's head behind the monastery?"
Wang Chong smiled as he suddenly lifted his fingers and pointed to the bottom of the hill.
"Toad's head?"
Luo Chong was taken aback. Along with many other astonished gazes, he turned to look in the direction where Wang Chong was pointing at.
Of the one-third of the remaining monastery, at a part closest to the battlefield, there was indeed a toad standing at the top of the roof.
In the construction of buildings, this kind of design was rather common.
Just that, no one could understand how it would help them deal with the Goguryeons.
"Later, when the flames blaze up to eleven zhang, I'll issue an order and you'll lower your wrist by three fen, four li, and two hao from the toad's glabella and shoot."
(1.199cm)
With his hand behind his back, Wang Chong pointed at the distance and instructed confidently.
Weng!
Hearing Wang Chong's words, Luo Chong's heart suddenly jolted. A hint of astonishment reflected in his eyes. 'Three fen, four li, and two hao', such precise measurement terms were used only by archers.
As preciseness stood at the core of archery, there was very little room for errors in the values. Top-notch Imperial Army archery instructors would usually use such terms to correct the shooting position of their trainees.
However, as everyone had different height, arm length, bow-wielding habit, and center of gravity, this correction had to be specially tailored to the individual.
And to do so, one had to possess a deep understanding of archery. However, there wasn't the slightest archery callus on Wang Chong's hands. On top of that, he had never seen Wang Chong wield a bow before.
He found it hard to believe that Wang Chong would possess an expertise in archery as well.
But doubtful as he was, Wang Chong's confident expression and posture made it hard to doubt him.
Chapter 260: An Arrow!
Chapter 260: An Arrow!
Xiu!
Drawing a specially-crafted arrow from his quiver and holding it between his forefinger and middle finger, Luo Chong doubtfully walked over to the place Wang Chong pointed at before nocking the shaft onto his bow. After which, he turned around to look at Wang Chong.
Wang Chong found the sight rather hilarious. How could he possibly not know what Luo Chong was thinking?
He indeed did not know much of archery, nor was he a master archer. However, he didn't need to rely on his archery talent to guide Luo Chong; just his experience and sharp judgement were enough.
“'Master one and you master all. Having neared the peak of martial arts in his previous life, peaking at Saint Martial realm pinnacle, it was a walk in the park for him to gauge Luo Chong's height, arm length, and center of gravity so as to correct his shooting angle.
He might be only be at Origin Energy Tier 9 at the moment, but hidden within his young body was the bona fide soul of a Saint Martial realm pinnacle martial artist.
On the entire battlefield, he was the only one who was qualified to interfere in the battle within the monastery.
"Wait for my order!"
Wang Chong shot a glance over before turning around to staring intently at the scene of the monastery below, not moving in the slightest.
However, his head was whirring into action.
It has been too long!..., Wang Chong thought.
This was the first time he made use of the experience from his previous life to interfere in a fight far beyond him.
The mountain wind raged, rustling the trees and the shrubs. Wang Chong and the hundred Imperial Army cavalry remained motionless on top of the hill.
Within the deep darkness of the night, it seemed like the huge uproar in the monastery had turned into the center of the world.
After some time-
"Release!"
Wang Chong uttered sharply, and boom!, a thick metal arrow whizzed out, seemingly ripping the sky into two. The intense wind from the sheer might of the arrow slapped on faces like whips.
This was the first time Wang Chong and the others had seen Luo Chong in action beside him. In that instant, even the night sky seemed to have dimmed further.
Weng!
Like a work of magic, amidst a shrill shout, a massive storm of crimson flames rushed into the sky. Behind the crimson flames, a figure miraculously leaped up and appeared at the point between Luo Chong and the toad on the roof.
Hong long!
The arrow pierced through the chest of the Goguryeon expert in an instant, and the astounding momentum of the arrow threw him out of the crimson storm.
Weng!
In that instant, the eyes of everyone on the hill widened in shock.
"Gongzi?!" Miyasame Ayaka turned around to stare at Wang Chong in shock, trying to reassess the young man before her.
In this battle between Profound Martial realm experts, even she was unable to intervene at all. There were simply too many interfering factors.
Yet, Wang Chong was able to accurately predict the moment when the Goguryeon commander would leap out, as well as his position, and even issued precise instructions of Luo Chong
to shoot him.
She had never known Wang Chong to possess such capabilities.
"Th-this is too incredible! To think that the Wang Clan's heritage was this powerful!"
In truth, the hundred Imperial Army elites deployed under Wang Chong's command weren't too content with their role. Even though Wang Chong had led them on two crucial charges that destroyed the formation of the Goguryeons, they still thought that he was too young and inexperienced to command them.
But upon seeing this sight, every single one of them fell silent.
Wasn't this youth of the Wang Clan a little too formidable?!
But the one who was the most shocked of all was Luo Chong!
Only he himself knew exactly what had happened. “Every split second counts in the fight between experts”; when he drew his arrow and released the bowstring, the Goguryeon didn't step away from the surface of the ground at all.
But as if Wang Chong had peered into the future, the Goguryeon abruptly leapt up and fell into the trajectory path of his arrow.
In that entire process, he did nothing more than to pull the arrow. All he did was lend his strength to Wang Chong.
"It is no wonder why His Highness King Song has such a high view of him... He really cannot be gauged through common sense!" In that instant, countless thoughts flashed across Luo Chong's mind.
He was a man in the field of archery, and only experts in the same field could win his respect. And at this very instant, Wang Chong had won his acknowledgement!
Luo Chong finally understood why Wang Chong favored him so much. In his entire life, he had never seen a talent like that.
"Lord!"
A shout in Koguryoan suddenly echoed from the monastery. Putting aside Luo Chong and the others, even the other Goguryeon heads were stunned by the sight.
The two Goguryeon heads suddenly exerted a monstrous strength, and despite the numerical disadvantage, they pushed back Li Lin, Ma Yinlong, and the others, and immediately rushed in the direction where the Goguryeon head was shot.
"Seems like we shot quite a formidable figure!" Wang Chong muttered in surprise. But soon, a smile crept up on his lips.