Chapter 1423: Seizing the Bridge, Blowing Up the Waterway (Part Fourteen) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Jimo Autumn?

Where did this nobody come from?

Exhausted but having narrowly defeated Gongyang Yongye, Ji Moqiu's challenge was met with a silent glance at the others—a group of varying ages, some of whom looked familiar. The Central Allied Forces had truly gone all out this time, using their connections, both coercion and enticement, to drag out many reclusive martial artists like him in order to keep the main force of Kangguo tied down in the Yudi Mountains.

The scale of the operation was even more impressive than that of the Wu Kingdom back then.

When the Wu Kingdom suddenly appeared, he was just a mischievous child playing in the mud at the edge of the village. Those great figures who could fly and disappear into the sky only existed in the idle gossip of passing merchants. By the time he went out to make his way in the world, the Wu Kingdom had already been fragmented into more than a dozen countries, continuing to fight and kill each other.

He glimpsed the last vestiges of a great power from a superior who claimed to be a direct descendant of the Wu Kingdom—elite troops and strong generals, harmonious relationship between ruler and minister, fighting against the heavens, and the mandate of heaven returning to the heart—who would have thought that such a behemoth could not withstand the pervasive conspiracies and tricks, and would meet its end in regret.

This seems like making a mountain out of a molehill.

He sympathized with the plight of the Wu Kingdom, but also believed that the Central Sector's scheme against Wu Kingdom had completely exhausted the spirit of patriots and heroes, branding the concept of "unification" with an inviolable taboo. For more than a hundred years after Wu Kingdom, no country dared to even entertain such a thought.

Even Kang Guo, who appeared out of nowhere, would be no exception in his reclusive life of vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting. Why should the central branch of society be valued?

They valued it so much that they were willing to lay down all their savings to kill someone.

Even the Kingdom of Wu didn't receive this treatment back then.

He maintained this mindset until Shen Tang left the field.

He sincerely acknowledged Kang's strength, but didn't believe Kang could become an unexpected force surpassing Wu—the more he learned, the more he understood the weight of the phrase "the human heart is unpredictable." Sowing discord and scheming had always been the hallmarks of the Gods' Society; they could easily dismantle a vast empire from within, causing heroes to fall and pride to crumble.

Unexpectedly, the first warrior to fight was Shen Youli.

Is this little girl crazy?

What kind of lord would lead the charge as the vanguard general?

At such close range, if she got caught up in the fight and entered the firing range, she would be in a precarious situation, easily killed by hundreds of well-prepared arrows. Let's not dismiss the idea that assassination is a despicable act; over a thousand years of chaos have long since shattered morality and shame. Even if we assume the worst, which general wouldn't be tempted—to exchange a moment of infamy for an unprecedented victory?

With Shen Tang dead, this battle is basically over.

Kangguo is doomed to defeat!

The future trajectory of the Wu Kingdom will determine the future trajectory of the Kang Kingdom.

This ideal was surely understood by all the civil and military officials of Kangguo, yet Shen Tang still appeared on the iron chain with his sword, disregarding life and death. Not only did he win the battle, but he also killed the unfortunate man with a single spear thrust on the front lines. His gaze quickly swept over the young monarch's face; the latter, though in a lower position at the time, possessed an air of dominance over the world, like a celestial being looking down upon a multitude of ants who were about to die without even realizing it.

On what grounds?

Where does her confidence come from?

Is it solely due to his skill? Or is it the sense of loyalty he possesses?

She has no outstanding qualities; she is merely the next ruler of the Wu Kingdom.

[Master, are you willing to fight and capture this child?]

Everyone present had their own agenda. He glanced around and saw only owls, snakes, ghosts, and thieves. He habitually raised one hand to his chest, sighed inwardly, and knew that this group wanted to send him down to take the fall and test the depths of this pool.

but--

To reiterate, he may enjoy vegetarianism and chanting Buddhist scriptures, but that doesn't mean he only knows how to do that. Why should he cater to others' wishes?

So he challenged Gongyang Yongye to a duel.

Gongyang Yongye's sit-up-like fighting prowess gave him some insight. He had initially thought that Gongyang Yongye, such a stubborn character, had ended up risking his life for someone else because he had been morally blackmailed by Shen Tang.

However, things didn't go as he expected.

Gongyang Yongye's actions were entirely voluntary.

Don't be fooled by the old man's words, "You forced me to do this," and his subsequent sit-ups. Knowing the old man as he does, if coercion were truly effective, Gongyang Yongye would be on the side of the Central Allied Forces right now, instead of fighting for Kangguo.

So, Shen Youli really has something going for her.

Not only is this person quite capable, but she's also quite skilled at managing her subordinates.

Gongyang Yongye suffered a humiliating defeat, but the morale of the Kang State army remained high and unwavering, demonstrating the soldiers' strong will and unity, unaffected by temporary setbacks. This is the kind of army that many generals dream of, one they could never attain in their lifetime.

Then there's Ji Moqiu, who was in charge of the third battle.

He prided himself on his vast experience in judging people, able to determine with just a glance whether the person standing before him was an old cucumber in a youthful shell or a tender cucumber inside and out. This nobody, however, possessed the aura of a peak-level Grand Master of the Eighteenth Rank, and was indeed a genuine young man.

The old mage said with a half-smile, "The Allied scouts were negligent and derelict in their duties. Why didn't they even know that there was such a prodigy in the Kang Kingdom's army?"

Which country doesn't rely on intelligence in a war?

The Central Allied Forces, backed by the Central Branch, have an intelligence network spanning the globe. How could they ignore such a promising young military commander? What were they thinking? He taunted them to his heart's content, while the others were forced to listen. After all, the old mage had defeated Gongyang Yongye.

Those who have made significant contributions have the confidence to be sarcastic.

The commander said, "Master, you may not know this, but Shen Youli does have a young man named Ji Moqiu by her side. However, he is merely a male concubine who cannot be brought into the open. Shen took him in as a guest in order to win over her brother Gongxi Chou. It is rumored that the two are together day and night and are very intimate. This man serves others with his looks and has never been heard of having any abilities. How could he be the one in front of us?"

There are also rumors circulating in Kangguo that Gongxi Chou is also involved.

The two brothers, driven by power and profit, shared the same woman.

The old monk fell silent at this outrageous rumor, and said quietly, "This old monk observes that the aura of this man and woman is pure, and they are both virgins. Fools are fond of fabricating stories, and the marshal has made a hasty judgment without any corroboration, and with such certainty, it is truly..."

It is possible for two men to serve one woman.

It's impossible for these two men to be both high-ranking officials of the 18th rank.

Only when a wise ruler meets a virtuous minister, and heroes cherish heroes, can a hero truly submit. Why can't their relationship be one of open and honest ruler and minister? Why resort to baseless speculation? Speculation is one thing, but why not verify its authenticity? Is this intelligence? Just present it!

Who relies on rumors to gather intelligence for war?

marshal:"……"

Even though the central branch invested heavily, it's not easy to find generals skilled in fighting here who can rival the eighteen great generals. Those with sufficient skill lacked confidence, while those overflowing with confidence—well, they were stabbed to death in their very first battle.

The old monk does fit the bill.

Unfortunately, he exhausted his strength fighting against Gongyang Yongye.

Even if the scholar buffs him up quickly, he can't be eliminated immediately. Martial energy can be recovered in a short time, but stamina cannot.

The crowd remained silent.

Silence wouldn't work either. Ji Moqiu waited for a few moments but no one came down, which made him, who was eager to make military achievements and establish his authority, feel a little helpless. When he was young, he was lively and outgoing. When he was ignorant, he dared to jump around and act recklessly with Shao Chong, causing headaches for Brother Fang Liu and Uncle Lin Si. As his mind matured and his memories gradually awakened, he became calm and composed without even having time to process them.

She is even somewhat introverted.

Who understands the awkwardness of standing alone on the stage?

Since no one is willing to participate, we can only follow the old master's example and issue challenges.

"I've heard that the Yuan family's Time Arrow is famous throughout the world, and this generation's successor has joined the Allied forces. I wonder if I'll have the honor of seeing his prowess today?" He didn't know who was in the enemy camp, and as a commoner, he had never participated in court affairs, but he had heard of the successor of the Time Arrow.

Don't ask him where he heard it from; Gongyang Yongye is a big mouth.

The Arrow of Time reappeared after many years, instantly elevating Robert from the eleventh rank of Right Attendant to the twentieth rank of Marquis. Gongyang Yongye laughed heartily. Jokes aside, the Arrow of Time truly killed 99% of military generals. A general's promotion is inseparable from the accumulation of time; one arrow sets back sixty years. Apart from Robert, an exceptional case, anyone who came would be killed by it.

At the front, Luo San and Wei Lou both frowned.

Luo San's refusal to leave the field was naturally to wait for the successor of the Arrow of Time.

He was the only one in Kangguo who could steadily restrain the other party.

As a result, Ji Moqiu immediately issued a challenge by name. How old is he? This isn't how you court death.

The eighteenth-rank Grand Master is a rare find, and there are only a few in Kangguo. Wei Lou didn't want Ji Moqiu to lose his life so carelessly, and wanted to remind Shen Tang to call him back: "...Although Ji Moqiu is from the Gongxi clan and has methods unknown to outsiders, the Time Arrow is special. If he rashly challenges us, he may not return."

In short, don't court disaster.

If you act recklessly, you really might die.

Shen Tang replied, "Let's take another look."

Wei Lou said, "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back."

What is shot is an arrow, but what is lost is a life.

“Arrows will turn back. Let alone one arrow, even if there were ten or eight more, it wouldn’t do any good to him.” Unlike Wei Lou and the others’ worries, Shen Tang was surprisingly calm. She stared at the blurry outlines through the thick fog, and the image of the young high priest she had seen in her dream from years ago came to mind. Their relationship had been verified over the years, and it was probably a connection between their past and present lives.

Wei Lou did not question Shen Tang's words.

They assumed that Ji Moqiu also had a similar extraordinary experience to Luo San.

"Your challenge is certainly welcome, but the difference in our cultivation levels is too great, which might seem unfair." A woman's cool reply came from the direction of the long bridge and iron chains, but two different auras emerged from behind them. "One against two, General Ji Mo, do you dare to oblige?"

Even with his years of self-restraint, Wei Lou couldn't help but utter a curse.

Shen Tang: "Six..."

It's not uncommon for generals to fight one against many. Often, one side is too strong while the other has no one to match them, forcing them to resort to a war of attrition or a multi-person attack. Some generals even enjoy being surrounded – like Gongxi Chou, for example. The more weaker the attackers, the more it proves that he is a feared and powerful figure! The emotional value gained from this is incomparable to any great victory.

Bking's favorite!

Although Ji Moqiu's realm is high, his Time Arrow is also domineering. It's a strange mechanism that can shoot even a level 20 Marquis back to his hometown!

With such an advantage, why would they need to fight two against one?

Upon hearing this, Ji Moqiu was only taken aback for a moment before raising his lips, raising his hand to display his sword in a starting stance, and calmly saying, "I'll accompany you to the end!"

The woman said, "General Jimo is a straightforward man!"

Wei Lou hesitated: "Are you sure he's not mentally unstable?"

Young people are ignorant and arrogant!

Gongyang Yongye's teeth started to ache as he listened to Ji Moqiu's words. Ji Moqiu's arrogant "I'll play along to the end" attitude made Gongyang Yongye hallucinate Gong Xichou's fearless face. No wonder these two are brothers; they really are alike!

They all possess an arrogant self-confidence.

Luo San was the most composed and least expressive of them all: "What's the panic? At worst, we can just switch places with him at the crucial moment and let me take the arrow of time, right?"

Although fighting against stronger martial artists can unlock some of your strength, none of that can compare to the instant power of the Time Arrow.

Luo San's assurance undoubtedly reassured everyone.

Ji Moqiu, oblivious to being bothered, merely watched coldly as the unfamiliar warrior, dragging a spear towards him from the other end of the iron chain, approached. This man possessed a powerful aura and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. He looked at Ji Moqiu, and Ji Moqiu locked onto his movements. In the next instant, the two attacked almost simultaneously. One's spear flashed with countless silver sparks, while the other moved like a dragon piercing the clouds. The tips of spears and blades clashed, creating dazzling sparks.

"What kind of technique is this? I've never seen it before." Perhaps feeling confident of victory, the general didn't fight Ji Moqiu to the death, and his attention was naturally drawn to Ji Moqiu's moves and movements.

It resembles a war dance, bold and unrestrained, powerful and vigorous.

But it also seems to incorporate the mysterious and graceful aspects of Nuo dance.

"It is a secret tradition of our clan."

As their martial energies clashed, countless red flowers of martial energy bloomed in the thick fog. Enemy and ally were entangled in the midst of it, not so much in a life-or-death struggle, but more like a sacrifice to appease the gods. Ji Moqiu was using a movement technique that blended Nuo dance and war dance; an uninformed person might mistake him for a dancer on an altar, carrying offerings to please the gods.

The general focused his attention and dismissed the strange thought from his mind.

"You're not good enough at playing tricks on me!"

Thick fog rolled in, and in the hazy mist, he could vaguely see figures moving about, and even felt a chilling breath on his ear.

Distracted, I turned my head to look, but there was no one there.

Ji Moqiu: "Outwardly fierce, inwardly weak."

The general said he was "playing tricks," but in his actions, he transformed his spear into a demon-subduing pestle, as if having this thing in hand could make evil gods retreat! Ji Moqiu did not pay any attention to him, and his main attention was on the successor of the Time Arrow in the thick fog.

From the start of the battle, arrows pierced through the fog from all directions.

They would either deflect Ji Moqiu's attack with a single arrow or launch a pincer attack with the generals, all using ordinary arrows formed from condensed martial energy.

The arrows weren't very accurate at first, with several even missing their mark, likely due to the negative effect of the Time Arrow inheritor becoming familiar with the battlefield. However, after a few arrows, their accuracy improved dramatically, putting increasing pressure on Ji Moqiu.

He barely managed to dodge, but his armor was still pierced.

The sparks briefly illuminated the ruthlessness and greed on that face: "What a pity, it's just an ordinary arrow."

Instead of the arrow of time.

Otherwise, this arrow could have helped me kill Ji Moqiu.

"But time flies like an arrow."

The once relatively quiet iron chains of the long bridge suddenly became swept by a fierce wind. The dark sky was heavy with thunderclouds, and a mysterious power seemed to pour down like the Milky Way, condensing into a phantom silver bow. Luo San recognized this formation and quickly prepared to intercept the attack.

"How could one know that the way of Heaven is as crooked as a bow!"