Boomboomboom!
All the arrows, attacks, and collisions were blocked by this golden sphere. And that was not all. A moment later, a monstrous energy exploded out of the ground.
The earth shuddered and cracked. No one could describe the power of this energy. Everyone felt like the earth was undulating as if alive, exploding with a powerful repulsive force that wanted to hurl them all away.
No! This wasn't just their imagination! It really did hurl them all away.
Everyone from Deflecting Blade Manor, the spirit vein mountain, the Wang Clan, and the various clans were thrown outward like rain drops by that mighty power.
And those closest to An Yaluoshan—the Zhang Clan elders, the head of the Huang Clan, Zhao Jingdian, Huang Qian-er, Zhao Yatong, and Bai Siling—suffered the greatest injuries.
"Aaagh!"
Screams filled the air as their chests caved in. One by one, they were cut down like wheat and sent flying.
Blood vomited from their mouths!
Zhang Shougui was enraged, so he had dealt these people the heaviest blows. It was only out of conceit and his concern for their identities that he did not simply kill them all.
Too powerful!
The attacks of the several hundred people present had been nullified in the blink of an eye. At this moment, everyone experienced Zhang Shougui's terrifying strength.
Before an authority of the empire like Zhang Shougui, everyone else was insignificant, the gap in their strength beyond reckoning.
Although everyone had already known of this gap, it was only by actually experiencing it that they knew how vast this chasm was.
Anyone who attempted to resist Zhang Shougui would get a true understanding of the meaning of despair.
Just one barrier of light had made An Yaluoshan as steady as Mount Tai. No matter how many people they had and no matter what level they were at, they were all incapable of wounding An Yaluoshan.
And this one stomp of his feet had not only made their efforts fruitless, it had left them all injured as well.
Yet this wasn't even Zhang Shougui's true strength. He probably wasn't even using ten percent.
This was not something that could simply be described with the word 'strength' anymore.
"Anyone who dares to move again will have everyone in their clan drafted into the army and sent to the Goguryeon border…"
Zhang Shougui's complexion was pale and frigid.
There were imperial censors in the capital, so not even Zhang Shougui dared to act lightly. In Emperor Taizong's era, Su Zhengchen was accused by an imperial censor of planning rebellion. Even further back, during Gaozong's era, the Prime Minister made a slip of the tongue, upon which the imperial censor had him removed from his post. And in the current government, even Wang Zhongsi, hailed as the new war god of the generation, as revered as Wang Chong's grandfather, who had assisted the Emperor to the throne, and who had such a sterling record, had still been impeached by an imperial censor. He had been forced to hand over his military authority and return to the palace, where he now lived the leisurely life of Junior Guardian for the Crown Prince.
Although Zhang Shougui had always viewed himself very highly and never cared much about imperial censors, he had to show them some respect in the capital and not act too rashly.
However, if someone thought that meant that he couldn't do anything about these scions, they would be gravely mistaken.
Just because he couldn't kill them didn't mean he was powerless.
As a Protector-General, he only needed one order to send those scions to the army and then transfer them to Youzhou in the northeast.
And there, life and death were at his command!
As expected, Zhang Shougui's voice silenced the courtyard. Everyone's hearts chilled, and fear crept into their eyes.
Everyone knew that the northeast was the region of the empire where the wars were most intense, the resistance the most formidable. The threat didn't come from the Xi, the Khitans, or the Turkic Khaganate to the northwest. It came from the east, from Yeon Gaesomun2 of Goguryeo.
Goguryeo had never been much of a threat to the Great Tang, not until Yeon Gaesomun appeared. Under his rule, Goguryeo flourished, its power soaring.
Although their land was small, the Goguryeons were able to take the strength, strategies, tactics, and martial arts of the Central Plains and mix it with their own special traits to become an existence on par with Ü-Tsang and the Turkic Khaganate of the northeast. Although they did not have many troops, their fighting power ranked above the Mengshe Zhao.
Yeon Gaesomun practiced scorched-earth policies and had also constructed a large number of defensive fortifications. Even someone of Zhang Shougui's caliber was only able to suppress the Goguryeo Empire and make it no easy task for them to leave their borders.
Attacking the Goguryeo Empire required a massive price, making even the dictatorial and determined Zhang Shougui push away any ideas of assaulting it. One could easily imagine just how fierce a resistance the Goguryeo Empire could put up.
And one could also imagine the number of casualties!
If one was sent there, death was certain.
However, before the crowd could imagine anything more, a scream rang through their ears.
"Aaagh!"
Under everyone's eyes, a Wootz Steel sword was plunged into Ashina Sugan's chest and through his back. Ashina Sugan was vomiting blood, his lips twitching, but not a word could come out. His eyes were wide open as he stared at Old Eagle. Even at his death, he still seemed confused as to why Old Eagle would not attack An Yaluoshan and instead attack him, someone he didn't even know.
"Impossible, this is impossible…"
Ashina Sugan's mind was blank. He had come to save An Yaluoshan. These people had come to kill An Yaluoshan, not him.
These thoughts had been in Ashina Sugan's mind from the start, so during this entire battle, he had placed himself closer to the perimeter of the troops.
When their commander appeared, he thought that the battle had concluded. Not once had he ever thought about his own safety.
Ashina Sugan had never expected that even though An Yaluoshan wasn't dead, that person would come for him.
"Success!"
Old Eagle didn't know why Wang Chong wanted him to kill this young Hu standing on the perimeter, but he had developed a tacit understanding with Wang Chong and thoroughly understood what he desired.
The gesture Wang Chong had made had indicated precisely this Hu, and he had even given Old Eagle his Wootz Steel sword.
Since Wang Chong wanted him dead, this Hu had every reason to die.
Gush!
As the sword was pulled out, blood fountained into the air. Old Eagle, seeing his success, immediately retreated, but though he was fast, his reaction had still been a little slow.
"You're seeking death!"
Golden Stellar Energy flew forward. Before Old Eagle could even dodge, it exploded on his body and sent him flying like a shooting star.
Zhang Shougui's expression was contorted in a grimace.
But none of this could alter Ashina Sugan's fate. Although he was a peerless martial artist, he was still a man, not a god. He had not expected Old Eagle to strike the insignificant Ashina Sugan, who seemingly had nothing to do with any of today's events.
He could defend An Yaluoshan from the attacks of hundreds, but he couldn't stop Old Eagle's fatal strike against Ashina Sugan.
A mental blind spot was the hardest place to defend.
"Noooooo!"
When Ashina Sugan's corpse toppled to the ground, An Yaluoshan, under the protection of the golden shroud, opened his eyes wide and let out a heartrending roar of fury.
His eyes were as red as a wounded beast's.
Not once in this dogged pursuit and battle had An Yaluoshan's eyes ever gone red. But when Ashina Sugan collapsed, An Yaluoshan seemed like he had been dealt a severe wound, his entire body falling out of his control.
"Congratulations to
user! For killing Ashina Sugan and greatly altering history, you are awarded 200 points of Destiny Energy!"
The moment Ashina Sugan fell down, Wang Chong heard the voice of the Stone of Destiny in his mind.
Ashina Sugan was dead!
The future Shi Siming was no more!
The two powers of the Youzhou rebel army had been cut down to only An Yaluoshan!
At this moment, Wang Chong felt like a great weight had been lifted off his back!
______________
1. This stratagem dates back to the Warring States period. The kingdom of Qi was allied with Zhao. The kingdom of Wei began a large-scale war against Zhao, and Zhao's capital, Handan, was besieged. However, Wei had left its capital relatively undefended, so the Qi strategist Sun Bin proposed that Qi should attack Wei's capital. Wei's army began to move back to protect their capital, but they were ambushed and decisively defeated.↩
2. Historically, Yeon Gaesomun was a noble of Goguryeo who lived during the era of Emperor Taizong. He essentially ruled Goguryeo as a military dictator, and during his reign, the Tang failed to conquer Goguryeo. After his death, however, the Tang and their Silla allies were able to conquer Goguryeo. Thus, by this time in Emperor Xuanzong's reign, Goguryeo hadn't existed for about a century. Things are clearly different in this book.
Chapter 456: Wang Jiuling!
Chapter 456: Wang Jiuling!
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
In the future rebel army, Shi Siming would play an extremely important role. As An Yaluoshan's left and right arms, he would help to resolve many problems.
Without him, An Yaluoshan's sudden rise would be greatly hindered.
An Yaluoshan couldn't be killed, at least for the moment. As the future leader of the rebel army, An Yaluoshan had the protection of fate. The inexplicable energy of the world shielding him was enough to see that.
And Zhang Shougui certainly wouldn't let Wang Chong prevail.
Only Ashina Sugan could serve as a target that nobody would expect, not Zhang Shougui, An Yaluoshan, or even the people on his own side.
But to avoid the obstacles he had encountered with An Yaluoshan, Wang Chong had still decided to use Old Eagle's hands to commit the deed.
"Damn it!"
He could hear Zhang Shougui's furious bellow. Wang Chong didn't need to turn his head to know that Zhang Shougui had an extremely ugly grimace on his face.
But Wang Chong didn't care.
One day, Zhang Shougui would understand that he was not humiliating him, but helping him.
"It's over!"
Wang Chong raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the dark clouds. The rain was still pouring down, but between the lightning and clouds, he could see a massive eagle unfolding its wings. Letting out a bright cry, it flew circle after circle in the sky.
A bright red silk belt had been tied to one of the eagle's legs, extremely striking among the dark clouds.
Boom!
Golden Stellar Energy surged into the sky like a dazzling wave, seizing everybody. A powerful attractive force simultaneously latched onto everyone like countless invisible threads.
"Aaah!"
There were screams from all over as Zhao Jingdian, Bai Siling, Xu Gan, Huang Qian-er, Zhao Yatong, Old Eagle, and even Wang Chong, Elder Ye, Elder Zhao and Li Siye, over two hundred people, were flung into the air by this monstrous strength. Flailing and powerless, they were all being dragged toward Zhang Shougui.
Zhang Shougui was enraged!
Ashina Sugan's death had thoroughly provoked the murderous intentions of this Imperial Protector-General.
At this moment, everyone felt a dread welling up from their hearts.
This was Zhang Shougui's true strength. When he was angry, not even Li Siye, Elder Ye, Elder Zhao, or even everyone together could do a single thing.
"Audacious things, you've gone too far! Since all of you want to die, I'll fulfill your wish!"
Zhang Shougui's icy voice resounded through the heavens.
He no longer cared about dignity or imperial censors. The moment Ashina Sugan died in front of him, Zhang Shougui felt a nameless rage blazing in his mind.
The censure of the imperial censor couldn't be ignored, but even so, the rage in one's heart needed to be vented.
There was no need for these people to exist.
Buzz!
A golden light blazed, its terrifying radiance stretching to the horizon, painting the entire world gold. Before this furious storm of rage, everyone else was a speck of dust.
"Lord Protector-General, please stay your hand!"
Just when Zhang Shougui was prepared to kill them all, a black silhouette shot like an arrow into the deepest part of the golden radiance.
Bang! Bang!
There were two explosions, and then the black silhouette retreated as swiftly as it had come. Meanwhile, that destructive golden light also began to fade into nothingness.
Splashsplashsplash. Those people who had been dragged into the air by the golden light now began to drop back down into the rain water.
Everyone was as quiet as a corpse, unable to speak.
"It's you?"
Upon seeing who that figure was, Zhang Shougui took in a deep breath and fell quiet.
"Lord Zhang, long time no see."
The old butler's hands were thrust in his sleeves and his beard was shaking. Although his breathing seemed disordered, his two feet were firmly planted on the ground.
The courtyard was so quiet that it was possible to hear a pin drop.
Everyone was dumbstruck by this sight.
Zhang Shougui was an Imperial Protector-General, stronger than Li Siye, Duke Ye, Elder Zhao, the Zhang Clan elders, and the Huang Clan leader all working together.
But the old butler had forced his way into that golden light and compelled Zhang Shougui to stop. No one had expected this. Even Wang Chong was a little dazed.
He had seen the old butler's strength before, and he had also worked with him many times, but not even he had expected that the old butler could go toe-to-toe with Zhang Shougui.
Wang Chong looked at the unfathomable old butler standing nearby, his eyes shifting through countless emotions.
The old butler was very strong!
Wang Chong had known about this point long ago. Even when he was just a stubborn good-for-nothing, Wang Chong had already had an impression of this old butler that kept close to King Song.
But Wang Chong had never found out how deep the old butler's foundations went.
He seemed very strong, but he had never revealed his talents. The last time he had moved, it had only been to strike down the fleeing King Sosurim, and it seemed like he had not used his full strength.
Thus, it was impossible to determine just how powerful he was.
But Wang Chong had not foreseen that the old butler would be so strong that he could exchange blows with Zhang Shougui. This was no longer just strong, it was ridiculously strong.
Wang Chong quickly recovered from his daze. Of all the people present, he was probably the person least surprised by the old butler's appearance.
With a sweep of his sleeve, Wang Chong quickly began to walk toward his forces.
Since the old butler had appeared, there was no more fight to be had. Everything had come to an end.
"How are you doing?"
Wang Chong walked up to Old Eagle, who was lying unmoving in the mud and rain. Upon hearing Wang Chong's voice, he opened his visor with a clang, revealing a pale face flecked with blood.
"I'm still okay. This armor truly is very powerful, and if you hadn't told me to dodge beforehand, I would already be dead," Old Eagle said as he propped an arm under him and panted for breath.
The Meteoric Metal was extremely hard, and it was also extremely difficult to forge. It was for these reasons that Wang Chong had only been able to forge a few sets of armor: one for Li Siye, one for Old Eagle, and one for himself.
Wang Chong had pla
nned to forge a set of armor for Li Siye long ago. His power was critical for Wang Chong. As for Old Eagle… he controlled all the information channels and was extremely important for speedy communications and message delivery. His role was essentially that of an information hub.
Old Eagle absolutely could not be allowed to die. Thus, the second suit of Meteoric Metal armor went to him.
It was only because of this armor that Wang Chong dared to give Old Eagle the mission to assassinate Ashina Sugan. At times, the discrepancy of a single hair would lead to an error of a thousand li.
Not even Zhang Shougui could have imagined that Old Eagle would be wearing an incredibly tough suit of armor made from Meteoric Metal.
"It's fine as long as you're not seriously injured. Swallow this pill. It'll protect your internal organs."
Seeing that Old Eagle was okay, Wang Chong felt like the greatest weight on his mind had been lightened. Putting his two arms behind him, he slowly sat himself down.
On one side, Old Eagle looked at Wang Chong with worry in his eyes. But he said nothing and quickly turned to look at the old butler.
On that end, the conversation between the butler and Zhang Shougui had reached the critical stage.
"Hmph, Old Butler, are you also opposing me?"
Zhang Shougui had an icy grimace on his face.
The old butler faintly smiled and leisurely replied, "Ha, Lord Protector-General is such a mighty individual. Who is this old man as to be mentioned in the same breath as Lord Protector-General? This old man has only been ordered by His Highness, King Song, to invite Lord Protector-General to the King Song Residence for a party."
Zhang Shougui stared at the old butler, his expression flickering.
This old butler had served two generations of King Song, and Zhang Shougui had met him when the old King Song was still alive. After several decades, he had clearly gotten even stronger.
"Old Butler, does His Highness King Song really think these juniors are worth it?" Zhang Shougui asked, staring at the old butler.
Zhang Shougui knew that delivering King Song's invitation was just an excuse. He had really just come for these fellows.
"Haha, Lord Protector-General said it yourself. These are just a few juniors. Lord Protector-General is a cornerstone of the empire. With such an esteemed status, is there a need to entangle yourself with these juniors?" The old butler's lip curled as he indifferently replied.
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