The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  At this stage in the battle, Ü-Tsang had no means of backing out. If they did not kill off the Tang and make them pay an enormous price, Ü-Tsang would not be able to consider this a true victory. The deaths of all their soldiers and the fall of Dusong Mangpoje would be meaningless.

  Boom! Aybak, Huoshu Huicang, and Ziyad joined hands to attack the heavily wounded Wushang Village Chief. The Wushang Village Chief was in extremely poor condition, but for the sake of the greater army, he could not retreat.

  “A man must die eventually! Come! This old man will fight with you until the end!”

  A stream of blood was flowing from the corner of the Wushang Village Chief’s lips and his head of white hair was dyed red, but his back was straight and his eyes sharp. He was as immovable as a mountain, resolved to never retreat.

  In the blink of an eye, the four of them began a fierce battle.

  “Hmph, don’t let them run!”

  Although Huoshu Huicang and the others had been drawn away by the Wushang Village Chief, their armies were still not done pursuing the remaining Tang soldiers.

  Dama Trimo gripped a massive crimson sword in both hands as he charged after the retreating Tang. His eyes were bloodshot and tinged with madness. On this battlefield, he had finally unleashed all his killing intent, and a gruesome massacre was sure to follow.

  “Kill one Tang and be rewarded with an official rank! Kill ten Tang and you will be made a hero of Ü-Tsang! No one is allowed to retreat! Everyone, follow me!”

  At almost the same moment, Dayan Ersongrong, Darlag Nyetsai, Qili Sulong, and the other young Tibetan prodigies roared as they led their forces in pursuit, killing intent boiling off their bodies.

  Plushplushplush! In this fierce battle, one Tang soldier after another was run through by a scimitar and dropped to the ground. They were engaged in a fighting retreat, fending off the Tibetans and Arabs while withdrawing as quickly as they could, but two legs could not outrun four. It was extremely difficult to outrun the Arab cavalry on this flat and open terrain.

  Tang were constantly being slain on this battlefield, but Tibetans and Arabs were as well.

  Chapter 1138 - Hanging by a Thread!

  Chapter 1138: Hanging by a Thread!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “Everyone, get ready!”

  Zhang Shouzhi stood behind the high steel walls, wearing a look of unprecedented tension, his beard and hair being blown about by the wind.

  The Great Tang had been defeated and had sustained terrible losses. At this moment, there were not many soldiers left in Talas. They were the only ones left on this foreign battlefield that could preserve the embers of the Great Tang, and allow these heroes to escape the grasp of the elite Arab and Tibetan cavalry so that they could return to the Western Regions.

  Five hundred feet, three hundred feet, two hundred feet… the distance was shrinking. The Arabs and Tibetans were so focused on the Divine Martial Army, Divine Prison Army, Dragon Stallion Army, and other Tang armies that they barely noticed the Tang craftsmen that had appeared behind the steel walls. These craftsmen that had originally been repairing the steel walls and weapons were now on the steel walls, their hands gripping the switches for the beehives.

  “Release!”

  With Zhang Shouzhi’s order, the Tang craftsmen pulled. The sky instantly began to howl as hundreds of thousands of arrows poured out of the beehives, descending upon the Arab and Tibetan soldiers.

  Neeeigh! All was chaos as the surprised Arabs and Tibetans were cut down by the storm of arrows. No one had expected these weak craftsmen to take control over the beehives and launch this fierce assault.

  “Bastards! Kill them!”

  The Arab and Tibetan officers were infuriated. Craftsmen couldn’t even be considered soldiers, possessing no fighting power whatsoever, so it was a great humiliation to be ambushed by them. The cavalry quickly began to change their directions, charging at the Tang craftsmen stationed on the walls.

  “Kill them! Don’t leave one alive!”

  The stampeding hooves thundered against the ground as several thousand Arab cavalry charged forward.

  “Release!”

  “Release again!”

  Zhang Shouzhi’s hair was blowing in the wind, an abnormal resolve in his eyes. Most of the craftsmen were just ordinary people, but Zhang Shouzhi had participated with Wang Chong in so many large-scale battles, experiencing countless perilous situations, that he had gained an impressive mentality.

  Even though so many cavalry were charging at them, certain to kill them all if they broke through the defense line, Zhang Shouzhi was not panicked in the slightest.

  Boom! The levers were pulled once more, and the beehives thundered as they fired off countless arrows.

  Plushplushplush! Arrows plunged into flesh, immediately cutting down numerous Arab horsemen.

  “Release again!”

  “Release again!”

  Zhang Shouzhi solemnly swung his arm down again and again, and in the face of these fierce volleys, the tens of thousands of Arab and Tibetan horsemen finally began to slow down. The assault of the beehives brought all the Tang soldiers a little space to breathe, a chance at survival.

  “Retreat! Everyone, retreat!”

  Li Siye, Xue Qianjun, Kong Zi-an, and Zhang Que were all anxiously calling out. The army had never been in more dire circumstances. The Arabs were doggedly pursuing them while the Tang army didn’t even have thirty thousand soldiers left. And if one excluded Su Hanshan’s ballista army, the soldiers truly capable of fighting a battle were only ten-thousand-some. As for the Great Generals, everyone except Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi was heavily injured. For the first time in this battle, the Great Tang army was at risk of being completely wiped out.

  “Kill! Don’t let them escape!”

  Seeing that the entire Tang army was on the verge of retreating behind the defense line, Qutaybah’s number one deputy Mansur turned savage, his body seething with killing intent as he pulled out his sword and led the remnants of the Revelation Army in pursuit.

  The soldiers of the northern war zone had lost far too many men in this battle, with even the Revelation Army having suffered heavy losses. Mansur treasured this army even more than Qutaybah, and these heavy losses had made his heart bleed.

  “You bastards! None of you should even think about getting back alive!”

  Mansur’s eyes exploded with killing intent as he led his finest soldiers charging forward. But they had barely charged out when a vicious Sword Qi shot out and struck the soldiers behind Mansur. In an explosion of dust, innumerable Arab horsemen were pulverized. At this moment, it was Wang Chong who had lashed out.

  His eyes were sharply observing everything on the battlefield. The moment Mansur had begun to move out, Wang Chong had unleashed an attack to intercept him.

  “Brat, you’re seeking death!”

  A harsh and enraged voice rang out in everyone’s ears. Qutaybah was an immovable figure with an aloof expression, and it seemed like nothing in the world could affect him, but for Wang Chong to have enough spare attention to keep an eye on Mansur while fiercely battling him, even finding time to launch an attack, was deeply humiliating to Qutaybah.

  The proud and conceited Qutaybah who almost always looked down on his opponent was seemingly angered by Wang Chong’s actions.

  Rumble!

  The sky quaked as a dazzling beam of golden Sword Qi that was originally aimed at the black-armored guard suddenly turned toward Wang Chong.

  Wang Chong’s entire body was burning like a golden pyre, and behind him, a massive golden god crossed its arms to block Qutaybah’s terrifying strike.

  “Master, General Li, Lord Gao, Village Chief! Everyone, withdraw! Abandon Talas and return to the Western Regions!”

  Wang Chong’s bellow exploded like a peal of thunder in the sky, resounding throughout Talas. This order shocked everyone on the Tang side. After three to four months of fierce fighting,
after they had pushed back the Arabs, Tibetans, and Western Turks again and again, in the end, Wang Chong was forced to make the prudent decision. The Tang army would have to retreat at full speed, returning to the Western Regions so that the last of its strength could be preserved.

  Buzz!

  As if a whirlwind had passed through, all the craftsmen and the various tribesmen on the walls of Talas began to panic.

  Lost!

  The Great Tang had lost!

  In the end, the Great Tang had still lost this war against the Arabs and Tibetans. With Talas lost, the trilateral alliance’s army was certain to push farther into the Western Regions.

  In the sky, the Governor of Iron and Blood was stunned at first, but then he began to laugh. “Hahaha, Gao Xianzhi, Wang Chong, you’ve finally lost. Alas, none of you will get the chance to return to the Western Regions!”

  He knew a little of the Tang language, so he could clearly understand Wang Chong’s order. After paying such an enormous price, Arabia had finally won the war. This protracted fighting had made Abu Muslim forget that his initial goal had been to occupy Talas and use it as a bridgehead to attack the Great Tang.

  Now, Abu Muslim’s wishes were about to be fulfilled, but he no longer wanted just Talas.

  “All of you should stay here!”

  Abu Muslim’s entire body shivered, and the bronze ‘Eye of the Demon God’ gauntlet on his hand began to exude a dazzling light. Raaaa! An ancient and bleak roar emerged from the gauntlet, akin to the furious and bloodthirsty roars of the now-lost Seventy-Two Demon Gods. Boom! Roiling torrents of Stellar Energy shot forward like black dragons toward Gao Xianzhi and Wang Chong.

  “Eight Ultimate Sunderings Art!”

  With no time to think, Gao Xianzhi spread out his fingers, the pillars of the Eight Ultimate Sunderings Art shooting forward to block Abu Muslim’s attack. As these energies clashed, Gao Xianzhi’s body shivered and his aura wavered. He was forced to take several steps back as his face turned ghastly pale.

  Gao Xianzhi had consumed an enormous amount of Stellar Energy over the course of this battle, and even he was finding it hard to endure any longer.

  “Wang Chong, you go first. The Great Tang can’t lose you! I’ll cover the retreat!” Gao Xianzhi sternly said, his eyes shining with resolve.

  Dalun Ruozan’s plan had been too vicious. None of them had accounted for that ritual tool in their plans, and it had completely upset the Great Tang’s arrangements. Moreover, Qutaybah was simply too powerful, preventing them from easily retreating.

  If someone did not pay the ultimate price and cover the retreat, no one would be able to leave.

  And in this situation, the black-armored guard, Wushang Village Chief, and the Demonic Emperor Old Man were all heavily injured, and their injuries were only getting worse. They simply didn’t have the strength to cover the retreat. As for Wang Chong…

  Never in Gao Xianzhi’s life had he so ardently wanted to protect a junior. Gao Xianzhi could see hope for the entire Great Tang in the person of Wang Chong. His intelligence and grasp for strategy, his resolve and persistence, his undying loyalty to the Great Tang—these were precisely the things that this era, that the Great Tang, needed.

  If Gao Xianzhi could protect him and keep him alive, he could die without regrets.

  “No! Leave this place to me! Lord Gao, take everyone else and get out of here!”

  Wang Chong immediately knew what Gao Xianzhi was trying to do. The army needed someone to cover its retreat, but Gao Xianzhi was definitely not the man for the job.

  “Wang Chong, don’t be stubborn! Get out of here!” Gao Xianzhi anxiously said.

  They didn’t have much time left. Every second wasted was another bit of strength shaved away, leaving them even less capable of escaping.

  Chapter 1139 - Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor

  Chapter 1139: Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “Hmph! Stop arguing! Both of you won’t be able to leave!”

  Abu Muslim’s icy voice resounded in everyone’s ears, and while Qutaybah didn’t understand the Tang language, the topic of Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi’s conversation was no secret. But to think about escaping at this stage of the battle was simply wishful thinking.

  “Asmodai’s Fury!” Abu Muslim fiercely bellowed. The giant three-headed demon god once more manifested behind him, sending torrents of Stellar Energy that could sunder mountains howling forth at Gao Xianzhi. Boom! Their Stellar Energies clashed once more, but this time, Gao Xianzhi was forced back ten-some steps, his face turning even paler.

  Abu Muslim was constantly draining away his energy. If this continued, even if he wanted to cover the retreat in Wang Chong’s place, he would be incapable of fulfilling the task.

  But Gao Xianzhi was far from the only person to want to persuade Wang Chong to leave.

  “Chong-er, you go first! I’ll cover the retreat!”

  The Demonic Emperor Old Man’s robes flapped in the wind, but his expression was serene.

  “Do you remember what I told you last night? Go now! You’re the only one who can do it!”

  Just like the Wushang Village Chief, the Demonic Emperor Old Man was covered in blood. He had consumed far too much energy, and his shattered dantian was currently constantly drawing the Stellar Energy from the other areas of his body and leaking it out. The problem of his dantian was not simply a problem of him no longer having one. A martial artist could not go without a dantian, but when the Demonic Emperor Old Man was sufficiently powerful, he could suppress the problems with his supreme strength and techniques. But now that his energy was reaching its limits, he could no longer suppress these ailments.

  The situation was growing more perilous by the second. Qutaybah’s Sword Qi was continuing to add onto everyone’s injuries, and without a person of similar strength to oppose him, he only needed to use a fraction of his power.

  Bang! A palm suddenly shot out and grabbed the Demonic Emperor Old Man’s arm. Rumble! Stellar Energy poured out from Wang Chong’s body and through the Demonic Emperor Old Man’s.

  The Great Yinyang Heaven Creation Art could not only absorb an opponent’s energy, but could also be used to transfer one’s own energy to others.

  “Master, say no more! No matter what, I will never give up on you!” Wang Chong determinedly said.

  Countless thoughts flitted through his mind, and Wang Chong quickly turned to the Stone of Destiny in his mind.

  “Stone of Destiny, how many points are needed to exchange for the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor?” Wang Chong called out in his mind.

  The Karmic Battle Armor alone was not enough to contend with Qutaybah. If he wanted to oppose Qutaybah and cover the retreat, surviving the combined attacks of Qutaybah, Abu Muslim, and Aybak, he would need the higher-level Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor.

  “User is not at a high enough level to exchange for Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor!”

  The Stone of Destiny’s cold and emotionless voice resounded in his ear. Wang Chong froze, his heart rapidly sinking. Never had he expected that he wouldn’t have the right to exchange for the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor.

  Without the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor, he would never be able to escape so many opponents alive, not even after he had become a Great General. A dark cloud of worry appeared on his brow.

  “……”

  “But out of consideration for user’s special circumstances and situation, for an additional fee of Destiny Energy, user can be granted the right to buy the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor in advance. Does user wish to exchange in advance?”

  To Wang Chong’s surprise, just as his heart was sinking, the Stone of Destiny spoke again. After a moment of shock, Wang Chong was filled with joy.

  “Confirm! I want to exchange in advance!” Wang Chong immediately said.

  “User confirms that the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor should be unlocked early!

  �
�The Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor has been unlocked!

  “User has consumed 15,000 points of Destiny Energy!”

  As the Stone of Destiny spoke, a string of golden characters appeared in front of Wang Chong’s eyes, rapidly morphing until they finally settled on the number of 15,000. This number was far greater than the fee Wang Chong had paid for any previous reward, and this was only to unlock the item. It did not mean that Wang Chong had actually bought the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor.

  In the past, Wang Chong would have been greatly pained to see such an enormous expense and might rethink his decision, but at this moment, Wang Chong had no time to think about how much Destiny Energy he was spending. As long as he could get the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor, nothing else was important.

  “Stone of Destiny, exchange for the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor!” Wang Chong yelled at the Stone of Destiny.

  “Exchanging for the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor requires 40,000 points of Destiny Energy, and because user has yet to complete the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor’s training mission, user cannot obtain the full abilities of the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor. Does user still wish to exchange?”

  The Stone of Destiny’s emotionless voice rang out in his mind.

  “Confirm!”

  Wang Chong’s insides were aflame with worry.

  Wang Chong had always known that the speed at which time passed in his mind was completely different from how much time passed on the outside world. Although he had exchanged many words with the Stone of Destiny, not even the time needed to snap one’s fingers had passed in the outside world. But no matter how slowly time passed in his mind, time was still passing. A clash between experts could be decided in a single second. For the first time, Wang Chong felt like the exchange procedure for the Stone of Destiny was too slow and complicated.

  “User confirms exchanging for the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor!

  “User has consumed 40,000 points of Destiny Energy! Karmic Battle Armor is commencing the upgrade!”