Inside the grand camp of King Gaitian.
Within the military tent, everyone was deep in wine and revelry, the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch.
“Your Majesty, there is nothing to amuse us in camp. Please allow a bout of gladiatorial combat!”
A general, seemingly drunk with glazed eyes, stepped forward and shouted.
“Excellent!”
“Exciting!”
The so-called gladiatorial combat was akin to martial contests held before the emperor, but in the army, valor was prized and lives were treated lightly, often leading to bloody and deadly fights.
However, the rebel kings present were all rough and uncultured men, who, while embracing beauties, eagerly clamored for such spectacles.
“Fine!”
Xu Zongwu’s eyes darkened slightly, but he quickly clapped his hands and said, “Bring forth the arena!”
“Understood, Sir Zhao Cheng!”
“Understood, Sir Yi Xing!”
Two swordsmen stepped forward, bowed respectfully to everyone present, and then faced each other. After circling each other a few times, they let out a loud cry and collided like tigers.
Clang!
Their swords met— one snapped, while the other mercilessly pierced Yi Xing’s body.
Martial prowess in the army was direct and efficient, deciding life and death in a single strike!
Spurt! Blood sprayed, and the beauties screamed, but the rebel kings in the tent were unfazed, laughing heartily. Some even took out jade rings and agates and tossed them into the arena.
“The winner is Zhao Cheng!”
A servant announced loudly. Zhao Cheng bowed deeply, saying, “Thank you, my lords, for your reward!” before retreating respectfully.
Seeing this, Xu Zongwu whispered something to a servant, who hesitated briefly before rushing out.
“Subordinates Xiang Yong and Hong Biao pay homage to the King!”
As if instructed beforehand, the next two swordsmen exchanged blows, attacking and defending in a lively manner.
However, these rebel kings had emerged from mountains of corpses and endless battles, so how could they not see through such tricks? Some nodded slightly in approval, while others smirked in disdain.
“Stop!”
A red-browed rebel king shouted, his face full of brutality, “This is weak and limp like a woman! Not entertaining at all!”
He pointed randomly at Xiang Yong, “You! Step down! I have a general named Pan Feng, who can surely amuse all of you!”
“As you command!”
From behind him, a tall, muscular man over eight feet tall stepped forward. His body was covered with bulging muscles, and his fierce appearance clearly marked him as a rare warrior in ancient times!
“This man is the Red-Browed King, known for his cruelty and bloodthirstiness!”
Whispered the Holy Mother Hong Lian in Wu Ming’s ear. Turning his head, Wu Ming saw her cheeks flushed red, seemingly unable to hold her liquor, which only added to her allure.
“Begin!”
A guard shouted. Pan Feng sneered and spread his fan-like hands, lunging toward Hong Biao.
“Ahh! Qingfeng Nine Form Technique!”
Clearly aware of the life-or-death situation, Hong Biao roared, suddenly accelerating and emitting a hazy glow from his sword, indicating that he had activated a secret technique.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sword qi fell like plum blossoms, drawing blood from Pan Feng’s body, but only penetrating a fraction of an inch before meeting strong resistance.
“Ha ha… Are you trying to tickle me?”
Pan Feng laughed maniacally, drenched in blood, like a demon from hell. Some of the beauties in the tent were already trembling in fear.
“Got you!”
Suddenly, Pan Feng spun around and grabbed Hong Biao’s hands tightly, his face twisting into a cruel grin.
Crack! Crack!
With a mighty squeeze from his iron-like hands, Hong Biao’s wrists shattered, his steel sword clattering to the ground.
“Lift him up!”
Pan Feng struck a pose of a king lifting a cauldron, hoisting Hong Biao high into the air. His eyes flashed with bloodlust as he tore with all his might.
Squelch!
Blood sprayed like a fountain as Hong Biao’s body was ripped apart mid-air, scattering flesh, bones, and entrails.
“Ahh!”
The gruesome scene filled the tent with screams. Some women turned pale and fainted, and the stench of soiling oneself could faintly be smelled.
“Ha ha ha… How about it? Is my general Pan Feng brave enough?”
The Red-Browed King roared with laughter, completely ignoring Xu Zongwu’s darkening expression. Suddenly, his eyes shifted and pointed at Wu Ming behind Han Hulin, “Will this Taoist dare to challenge my general?”
His expression was full of provocation and disregard for human life.
“Hehe… Brother Red-Brow, you’re joking!”
Although Han Hulin was smiling, his eyes had turned cold, “The Taoist is my honored guest. How could I allow such humiliation? If I have offended you, I’ll drink three cups as punishment!”
“Three cups as punishment?”
The Red-Browed King sneered and shouted, “If that three-haired Taoist won’t come, then give me the red-robed beauty behind you! My Pan Feng is good at pleasuring women, hehehe…”
His words were filled with lewdness.
“Hmm? Could this be… a test?”
Wu Ming, holding his wine cup, subtly shifted his gaze, “But is their target me, Han Hulin, or perhaps the Holy Mother Hong Lian? Is there a trace of the Cycle Walker behind this?”
Han Hulin finally could not even maintain his fake smile, his face completely darkening.
He was well aware that this was the military headquarters, filled with generals, where the oppressive military aura would severely weaken any Taoist arts or supernatural abilities.
In such a situation, even a true immortal might not be able to defeat a common warrior, let alone a fierce brute like Pan Feng?
“So? If you refuse, just give me the beauty!”
The Red-Browed King laughed heartily, “Brother, I’m just advising you, there are many frauds in the world, don’t be easily fooled!”
“Since the King insists so, this humble Taoist shall reluctantly accept the challenge!”
Wu Ming stood up with a slight smile, stopping Han Hulin’s movement.
“Good! Pan Feng, treat this ‘True Lord’ well!”
With a clap, the Red-Browed King roared with laughter, while Pan Feng grinned viciously and mimed slitting his own throat.
“Very well, Hong Lian, you go!”
Wu Ming pointed casually, and the Holy Mother Hong Lian was momentarily stunned, her cherry lips slightly parted.
If she were a true immortal or a Celestial Master, she might be able to forcefully use her powers despite the suppression of the military aura and kill Pan Feng. But as a second-tier cultivator whose Mao Shan sect techniques were especially vulnerable to military auras, she would likely be just a helpless woman on the battlefield.
“What’s going on? Could this young Taoist be trying to get rid of me?”
As Hong Lian was filled with doubt and uncertainty, she saw Wu Ming smile slightly and a small white-gold gourd fell into her hand, “This treasure is temporarily lent to you. After you kill Pan Feng, come back!”
His tone was full of confidence, and he secretly transmitted a few incantations to her.
To be honest, such a provocative challenge fight—what status did Wu Ming have? Regardless of the outcome, just stepping onto the battlefield would be a loss for him, an unnecessary degradation of his dignity. Therefore, he immediately found someone to do the job for him.
If Bai Yulian had been present, he might have chosen her, but since she wasn’t, Hong Lian would do just fine.
“Understood, Master!”
After listening, the Holy Mother Hong Lian’s eyes lit up, and she stepped onto the battlefield with a delicate and graceful posture, “General Pan, please!”
The other rebel kings were all stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
They had never seen Hong Lian’s skills and only thought she was an ordinary woman. Only Xu Zongwu, staring at the gourd in her hand, showed a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Ha ha ha… Such a beauty belongs in a boudoir, not on a battlefield. Han Hulin, you have no men at all!”
The Red-Browed King was delighted and quickly said, “Don’t kill her too quickly!”
“As you command!”
Pan Feng laughed heartily and suddenly lunged forward like a huge bear roaring toward her.
“Quickly, as per the decree! Kill!”
With the fierce wind rushing toward her, Hong Lian gritted her teeth, raised the gourd, channeled her spiritual power, and recited the incantation.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, a brilliant array of starlight emerged from the Qisha Gourd, accompanied by the sounds of dragons roaring and tigers growling. Seven silvery-white sword beams, like long dragons, flew out.
“What is this?”
The sword qi slashed through the air, rising high into the sky. The refined metal essence made even the knowledgeable spectators present change expressions in alarm.
“Ahh!”
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The seven sword beams swirled around Pan Feng like swimming dragons, occasionally accompanied by his screams. No one knew how long it lasted before they all returned to the gourd.
Pan Feng remained in a pouncing posture, standing in the arena, his expression oddly strange: “I…”
As the single word escaped his lips, one of his arms fell off, followed by a piece of flesh. Clatter! In an instant, his entire body seemed to collapse like a pile of building blocks.
Hiss! Hiss!
This scene was extremely terrifying and brutal, immediately drawing many gazes toward the gourd in Hong Lian’s delicate hand.
“This… the winner of this round… under the command of the One-Eyed King, the Holy Mother Hong Lian!”
The announcer’s voice also trembled slightly, as if unable to believe it, and somewhat fearful, stuttering out the words.
Hong Lian gracefully curtsied and returned to her seat. As she walked back, wherever the Qisha Gourd pointed, the people in that direction showed expressions of alertness on their faces.
“Thank you, True Lord, for lending me this treasure. I return it now!”
Hong Lian respectfully handed back the gourd, her heart still aching, “What a treasure! Truly a treasure! These seven flying swords can slay Grandmasters and even ignore the military aura. They are even better than my own Red Lotus Demon Lord by several degrees! Unfortunately, this ungrateful man only let me use it for such a short time…”
But putting herself in his place, even she would treasure such a treasure as her very lifeblood, hiding it away and not letting anyone see it easily.
Although she was tempted to keep it, the pricking gazes from all directions made Hong Lian’s heart tighten, leading her to make the right choice.
“Good!”
Wu Ming retrieved the gourd. Facing the others’ inquisitive and reverent gazes, he exuded a calm, deep demeanor, as if suppressing all heavens and remaining immovable.
…
“What do you think?”
A woman beside Song Jin asked, “Do you have confidence?”
“Treasures are just inanimate objects. Being able to forge such a treasure, it seems this person has indeed reached the level of a Celestial Master… I’m no match for him!”
Sighed Song Jin.
On the other side, the expression of Gun God Li Zizai was quite complex: “This item… seems to be a treasure of the military school? And with the power of the stars? Could it be that this Sanmao True Lord is actually from the military school rather than the Taoist sect?”
Despite his unmatched prowess with the spear, facing those seven flying swords, he still felt uncertain in his heart.
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