Five more days have passed.

The rain kept falling.

The spring rain continues incessantly.

The Southern Zhou army had been hurling insults at Jiangxia Pass for ten days. Apart from Tu Wei and Pu Ke who came out to fight, no one else came out of the pass. As a result, the Southern Zhou soldiers were tired of hurling insults, and their insults were no longer original, which made Zhao Cheng feel bored.

Zhao Cheng remained surprisingly calm and silent about the killings of Tu Wei and Pu Ke, without even asking any questions.

It was only then that the generals of the Dongjing Army realized that the decision to kill Tu Wei and Pu Ke was not solely Zhao Yan's; Zhao Cheng must have been behind it.

The city wall of Jiangxia Pass.

Zhao Yan looked at the dense mass of Southern Zhou troops before him, lost in thought.

Normally, the Southern Zhou army would be lazy for ten days, but today they were fully prepared and had moved forward a little.

Is this a sign that they're stopping the insults and launching a full-scale attack?

There had long been dissent in the army regarding Zhao Cheng's order to remain inactive. The longer it dragged on, the more dissatisfied the generals became. In fact, Zhao Yan was also dissatisfied, but he trusted his elder brother and believed that he would suppress the generals no matter how much pressure he faced.

Zhao Yan was very excited as he watched the actions of the Southern Zhou army.

I've been wanting to beat you guys up for ages, come on over here...

better!

I'll beat you all to a pulp!!

However, the Southern Zhou army moved slowly and stopped outside the pass, showing no intention of advancing further.

The procession parted to make way, and an elderly man with gray hair stepped out, glancing up at Zhao Yan.

The two were miles apart, but when their eyes met, it was as if they were sitting face to face, their understanding of each other so clear.

Zhao Yan's pupils contracted, and he immediately realized that this person was not simple.

His hand unconsciously tightened its grip on the spear.

The old man leaped onto the top of Jiangxia Pass in an instant, saying, "You are already a Grandmaster at such a young age. Would you be willing to have a match with me?"

Zhao Yan stopped the archers who were about to fire their arrows, saying, "It is truly an honor to spar with a senior like you. However, I am new to the martial world. May I ask your name?"

"Nie Zheng".

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan bowed deeply to Nie Zheng and said, "So it is the King of Merlin who has arrived. My apologies for my disrespect."

Nie Zheng sneered, "No need for formalities. I've known your old man for a while now. I never expected that he himself, who is not so great, would raise a grandmaster as his son."

Zhao Yan said, "In my family, my older brother and sister are both better than me, so I'm nothing."

Nie Zheng raised an eyebrow and said, "You mean, I'm bullying you?"

Zhao Yan said, "Isn't that right? He's clearly the same age as my father, yet he takes his anger out on me, a junior."

Nie Zheng laughed loudly and said, "Very good, you dare to speak to me like that, I have no qualms about killing you!"

"Merlin's reputation is great, but as for his strength, I don't know!"

After speaking, Zhao Yan suddenly drew his spear, which seemed to fly out of Zhao Yan's arm like a golden dragon, and thrust it towards Nie Zheng.

The spear tip pierced Nie Zheng's chest, but could not penetrate his body.

Golden rays of light emanated from the tip of the spear.

Zhao Yan said coldly, "Overlord Body Technique."

Nie Zheng put his hands behind his back, as if Zhao Yan's gun didn't exist, and said, "Your gun can't hurt me."

"Yeah?"

Zhao Yan snorted, then suddenly turned around and thrust his spear at Nie Zheng.

"Thirty years of fame and glory are but dust and dirt, eight thousand miles of road are but clouds and moon."

"Man Jiang Hong!"

Nie Zheng's eyes widened, and he immediately leaped up to avoid Zhao Yan's shot.

Zhao Yan followed Nie Zheng to the top of the Jiangxia Pass city wall and said proudly, "Senior, why don't you dare to take it head-on?"

Nie Zhengdao said, "You are indeed very strong. No wonder you were able to defeat the Gun Demon."

Zhao Yan raised his spear and said, "Defeating the Spear Demon was not my achievement alone; my wife, Yang Huanyun, played a significant role!"

Nie Zhengdao said, "It's a pity your wife isn't here today."

Zhao Yan said, "I am enough to deal with you on my own."

Nie Zheng smiled and said, "I am not alone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Yan suddenly felt a murderous aura coming from behind him. He glanced sideways and saw a one-armed man standing behind him.

One person, one arm, one sword.

Cui Wuming.

Zhao Yan laughed and said, "Very well, today you've come to take my life."

Cui Wuming said, "Surrender, let us enter the pass, and you will not die."

Zhao Yandao said, "My older brother likes to swear, and I've always thought it's wrong, but today I want to learn from him. You two... are you idiots? You think I'd let you through? I'm not Zhao!"

As he spoke, Zhao Yan did not attack Nie Zheng, but instead thrust his spear at Cui Wuming.

Cui Wuming had already exchanged blows with Zhao Yan several times and reacted extremely quickly, immediately leaping backward.

He was a fast swordsman, and if he could get close to Zhao Yan, Zhao Yan would be at a disadvantage. However, Zhao Yan never gave him a chance to get close.

This is also why he has always been suppressed and beaten by Zhao Yan.

Just as he retreated, Nie Zheng made his move.

With the two grandmasters attacking Zhao Yan, Zhao Yan was immediately put on the defensive.

The soldiers on the city wall looked up, powerless to do anything about this level of fighting.

Just then, a wave of sword energy suddenly descended, separating Nie Zheng and Cui Wuming.

Then, a handsome young man appeared on the city wall.

The boy's equipment was simple: a white shirt and a long sword.

Nie Zheng's eyes gradually narrowed.

"So you're the Prodigal Swordsman, Xiao?"

The young man glanced at Nie Zheng but did not respond. Instead, he focused his gaze on Cui Wuming's face and said, "I've heard you claim to be the fastest swordsman?"

Upon hearing Nie Zheng's words, Cui Wuming already knew the boy's identity and said in a deep voice, "Quick Sword Wuming is a title given to him by his fellow martial artists."

Xiao said, "I don't admit it."

Nie Zheng said, "Xiao, you've come at just the right time. Let's capture Zhao Yan and let the Southern Zhou army enter the pass."

Xiao spat out the foxtail grass from the corner of his mouth and said, "I did come at the right time, but I'm not here to help you."

With that, Xiao pointed his sword at Cui Wuming and said, "Let's test our swordsmanship."

Nie Zheng shouted, "Xiao! This is a war between two armies. If you're not going to help, fine, but don't cause trouble!"

Xiao glanced coldly at Nie Zheng and said, "What does the battle between the two armies have to do with me?"

"you!"

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Zhao Cheng's voice came from below, saying, "I heard that the three grandmasters of Southern Zhou do not participate in the military and political affairs of the Southern Zhou court. How come the Merlin Overlord has become a lackey of the court?"

"You're asking for death!" Nie Zheng roared and threw a punch at Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Hu immediately blocked Zhao Cheng's path and slashed down with his sword.

Nie Zheng withdrew his fist, turned around, and leaped back onto the city wall.

"Two-sectioned sword!"

Zhao Cheng pushed Zhao Hu aside, led Yuan Fei and Cheng Xu forward a step, and said, "Who is Xiao? He pursues the pure way of the sword. You are using the imperial court to suppress him. This is an insult to martial arts and a defilement of the way of the sword."

Zhao Cheng raised his chin at Xiao and said, "Mr. Xiao, you can have a good fight today. My third son is holding this old bastard back, so he won't get in your way."

As he spoke, Zhao Cheng looked at Zhao Yan again and said, "Third brother, this old scoundrel is impolite. Beat him up for me!"