Shao Chong wanted to ask who Athena was and what the Gold Saints' martial arts positions were, but a golden streak of light appeared on the battlefield, leaving a long tail. Although the golden giant axe that came first was caught by that avatar, the follow-up attack made him stagger.

Shen Tang gestured with her lips: "The Saint Seiya are here."

The newcomer was clad in dazzling golden armor.

There's only one word to describe him—

Exuding an air of nobility!

Even the heavily indebted Shen Tang wanted to rip off a couple of pieces of money.

"Shen Jun, I am late."

Chu Jie spoke calmly, as if he were saying the weather was nice.

"Should we deal with this person?"

Chu, the Gold Saint, was still unaware of the codename Shen Tang had given him. He merely frowned, recognizing at a glance the formidable power of the avatar before him. However, with the real body absent, defeating an avatar shouldn't be too difficult…

Shen Tang wiped the blood from her forehead. The blood was sticky and thick, and flowed slowly, giving her an uncomfortable feeling as if caterpillars were crawling on it. She said, "You're a bit late. If you had come earlier, the three of us could have taken down Jiang Ao, and you would have been credited with getting his head. But you're not too late. Zheng Qiao has left us a sixteenth-rank Grand Master."

Chu Jie knew that Zheng Qiao's forces were formidable, with the sixteenth-rank Grand Master being the foundation of his unbridled power. No matter how many uprisings and rebellions broke out across the land, they could be suppressed by his overwhelming strength. However, he hadn't expected Zheng Qiao to reveal a trump card right from the start: deploying top-tier combat power as soon as the war began.

He keenly sensed that Shen Tang's wording was somewhat strange.

What does it mean that "if he had arrived earlier, he would have been credited with killing Jiang Ao's head"? And what does it mean that "Zheng Qiao also left them a 16th-rank Grand Master"? The implication seems to be that a 16th-rank Grand Master has already been killed...

Shen Tang nodded: "That's exactly what you think!"

Chu Jie's eyes widened slightly, his pupils showing surprise.

Displeased that Chu Jie, an unknown martial artist, dared to ignore him, especially since Chu Jie had his back to him, he launched a backstab. Chu Jie snapped his fingers without turning his head, and a heavy shield blocked the sneak attack in his path.

He turned around indifferently, taking one, two, three steps. The calm aura around him instantly surged, his momentum rising sharply, easily surpassing the fourteenth-rank Right Gentleman realm and entering the fifteenth-rank Lesser Upper Gentleman realm. He conjured a weapon with his hand: "Since Lord Shen has already fought a hard round, then this avatar will be Jie's turn. Within ten moves, I will surely grind him to dust!"

Shao Chong stared blankly at Chu Jie's boastful claims.

He asked, "Within ten moves?"

He wondered, "How is that possible?"

He could sense that although Chu Jie's strength was at the same level as his own, his aura was not as profound. He figured the latter hadn't been at the fifteenth-level Lesser Upper Realm for long and hadn't fully settled in yet. However, he himself was less solid than Chu Jie, lacking combat experience and knowledge. If they were to actually fight, the outcome would be fifty-fifty.

With such a disparity in skill, how dare you say the battle will end within ten moves?

Chu Jie was too lazy to explain the reason. He just watched the enemy avatar that had passed through the heavy shield and was heading towards his face, and made his first move!

Shen Tang suddenly remembered something.

That tells you the game is completely won!

Chu Yao had revealed Chu Jie's background to him, saying that Chu Jie possessed a rather abnormal martial artist's intent—[Fight to the death without retreating]. The effect was simple and brutal: if the enemy chose to dodge his full-force attack, then the power of Chu Jie's next attack would increase by 10%, the second by 20%, the third by 40%, the fourth by 80%... At this doubling rate, what about ten moves?

Haha, it's impossible to get there.

If the enemy is unaware and chooses to dodge, they are courting death.

Knowing this, the enemy had no choice but to confront them head-on.

Chu Jie's boast was absolutely true.

Clearly, the avatar was unaware of this and mocked Chu Jie, saying, "You, a mere fifteenth-rank junior cultivator who hasn't broken through for long, dare to spout such boastful words? Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"

Chu Jie didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

Calmly announcing the numbers: "Second move!"

Just then, the light of the [Five Virtues of a General] fell upon him, making his already golden armor shine even brighter, as if it had been polished to a gleaming finish. Even a fly would break its legs if it landed on it! Chu Jie's eyes lit up, a hint of secret delight in his heart.

Where is the aloofness from before?

because--

Wei Shou looked at Chu Yao who had made his move and clicked his tongue: "No matter how much literary energy you have stored in your literary palace, it'll be almost gone after several large-scale incantations, right? You're already living on a tight budget, and you still managed to squeeze out a [Five Virtues of a General] from between your teeth, and it's not even for your lord. Chu Liangliang, that guy who's as yellow as shit, isn't he the childhood friend Chu Jie you mentioned before?"

Both literary scholars and martial artists have good memories.

Wei Shou also knew that although Chu Yao had many friends in his youth, the most special among them was Chu Jie, who was like a brother to him. It was said that Chu Jie and Chu Yao grew up wearing the same pair of shorts, but Wei Shou had only heard of Chu Jie and never met him.

Now I've finally met the real person.

Chu Yao said, "My childhood friend from before."

Wei Shou's expression nearly contorted, almost out of control: "You mean childhood friends have exes? What's wrong, you two broke up?"

The last sentence has a hint of schadenfreude.

Chu Yao: "We've been breaking it off for over twenty years."

Wei Shou nodded thoughtfully and said, "You may be tough on the outside, but your hands tell a different story. You still have feelings for me?"

"He served his lord diligently, and this [Five Virtues of a General] is a reward for him." Chu Yao had initially worried that his lord and Shao Chong would suffer at the hands of the avatar, but Chu Jie's appearance put his mind at ease. Few knew of Chu Jie's martial intent; his enemies might be killed in a single blow before they even had a chance to react.

Wei Shou stroked his chin, gazing at Chu Yao across the sea of ​​people, and sighed, "It seems that Chu Liangliang, you haven't had a very pleasant twenty years..."

I vaguely heard back then that Chu Yao was in a bad situation.

Then came news of his death.

The two chatted while simultaneously directing their respective legions in battle, the clashes and screams creating a bizarre and grotesque scene. They were long-lost friends reunited, yet also sworn enemies, neither showing mercy. Had one been less fortunate, weaker, perhaps this seemingly trivial conversation would have been the other's final words…

"The third move!"

Chu Jie's body erupted with dazzling golden light, his martial spirit in his dantian circulated wildly, and he channeled his martial energy into his weapon, unleashing a powerful attack on his avatar. The avatar vaguely sensed something was amiss. Chu Jie had been using his full strength in every strike, which should have been incredibly taxing and prevented him from sustaining the attacks smoothly in a short time. But reality defied this logic; the third strike proved difficult to handle.

"The fourth move!"

Chu Jie let out a loud shout.

It was another attack that went all out, unleashing its full power.

This attack made the avatar feel an intense sense of crisis looming over him. He tried to dodge, but his body felt as if it were sinking into mud, making movement extremely difficult. Forget dodging, even raising his hand was difficult. The golden crescent moon cleaved by the weapon illuminated half the sky, so bright it was blinding, as if a second golden crow had appeared in the heavens.

Rumble!

A blast of air shot into the sky.

The incarnation was cut in half at the waist.

Even as he dissipated and vanished, he still couldn't understand—

Chu Jie was not just an ordinary fifteenth-rank junior scholar.

After the avatar completely disappeared, Chu Jie patted the four swimming golden dragon patterns wrapped around the front of his arm: "I have fulfilled my mission."

Looking at the golden dragon pattern that had entered Chu Jie's body, Shen Tang asked, "I've heard Wu Hui mention the drawbacks of your [Martial Intent], but you still had plenty of energy left after attacking four times just now?"

"Because my strength has increased." The breakthrough in his realm has made his physical body even stronger, repeatedly pushing his limits, which is why he looks so relaxed. He is not arrogant, though. "If that avatar or the real body were to come, it would definitely be a tough battle."

One-on-one, and you could even lose your life.

But Chu Jie wasn't fighting alone, so he wasn't flustered.

Shao Chong then realized what was happening, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Chu Jie: "This general is so mighty! Shen Jun and I were both helpless against that thing, but you came and sent it packing! So decisive and efficient, it was truly exhilarating to watch!"

Chu Jie always showed a stingy expression to outsiders.

He ignored him, but Shao Chong didn't feel like he was being fobbed off.

"General, your armor...it looks really good..."

Bright yellow, golden.

If this were real gold, I wonder how much sugar it could buy.

Shao Chong secretly counted on his fingers, while Chu Jie joined the battle without hesitation. Although the [Martial Intent] had been greatly depleted, the remaining martial energy was still enough to deal with the small fry.

With Chu Jie's divine intervention, slaying the incarnation of a level 16 Grand Master in just four moves, the momentum that had just been built up at Chao Li Pass was doused with cold water and completely deflated. Taking advantage of the situation, the allied forces advanced their lines, advancing triumphantly, and Chao Li Pass suffered repeated defeats.

After a fierce battle, it continued until the rooster crowed at dawn the next day.

Wei Shou led his elite troops to cover the rear, allowing the main army to escape into Chaoli Pass. With the natural defenses of the pass as their advantage, the allied forces dared not advance further. Nevertheless, the result was gratifying. The army's first victory swept away their previous frustrations.

At this moment, Shen Tang had lost all her martial and literary skills, and her limbs were weak. Every breath she took caused a burning sensation in her chest, a feeling comparable to a homebody who usually keeps single-digit steps on WeChat being suddenly forced to run three kilometers, making it difficult to breathe.

"My lord, we've finally found you."

Ning Yan almost ran over.

Shen Tang said, "Tu Nan."

Ning Yan has a special identity.

She was the widow of Yan An, who was a top figure in the circle of literati. As a result, many people were familiar with her face, and even more were familiar with Yan An's literary style. The couple maintained a high degree of unity in both their scholarly ways and their literary aura.

It's possible that there are acquaintances among the allied forces.

Because of her concerns, Ning Yan didn't make much of a contribution in this match, mainly assisting Jiang Sheng in manipulating his own soldiers to evolve military formations and defend against the enemy.

Otherwise, Jiang Sheng would have been so angry that he would have quit long ago.

Everyone else was having fun, but he was the only one guarding the rear.

Is this reasonable?

Shen Tang politely declined Ning Yan's offer of support.

"No need, I'm fine."

Perhaps it was because she had been in one position for too long, but when she stood up, her vision went black. Just then, a gust of wind blew in, carrying with it the stench of blood, feet, and salty fish from the battlefield. Shen Tang's throat tightened, and she almost vomited.

"I'm really fine..." She refused Ning Yan's help again, then slowly straightened up and looked around. "Tu Nan, this is the first time I've participated in such a large-scale war. Although the previous ones were also brutal, the impact was far less than this one."

The original terrain of the battlefield is no longer visible.

Corpses lay scattered everywhere, their bodies in disarray. The ground was crisscrossed with ravines, and the marks of flooding and burning were particularly striking.

Ning Yan: "This is my first time too."

Shen Tang asked her, "How do you feel?"

Ning Yan pondered for a moment and said, "The view is good, and the scenery is good too."

Shen Tang: "???"

Ning Yan murmured softly, seemingly speaking to Shen Tang, or perhaps confiding in her deceased husband who had vanished into the heavens and earth: "War has winners and losers, but to participate in the game as a player, even in defeat, is better than being an ordinary woman who doesn't even qualify as a chess piece. One must climb to the summit to see all the mountains below. I am a scholar with a literary heart, on the mountainside; I am an ordinary woman, at the bottom of the cliff."

Shen Tang said, "We will be the victors, on the mountaintop!"

After saying that, he walked straight towards the camp.

She had just taken a step when a sudden burning sensation on her forehead and a strong feeling of dizziness made her lose her footing and fall forward.

Fortunately, Ning Yan reacted quickly and caught her.

My first reaction was to check Shen Tang's pulse.

The pulse is steady, and the breathing is gentle.

Ning Yan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly returned to its place. She scooped up Shen Tang around the waist and hurried back to the camp.

She still managed to disturb people along the way, and before everyone could worry, she spoke up: "My lord is just asleep; he was too exhausted beforehand."

Upon inspection, Chu Yao and the others found it to be exactly as Ning Yan had described.

But no one expected that Shen Tang would sleep for three days and three nights, and no one could wake her up no matter how they tried; she was fast asleep.

This matter even alarmed Alliance Leader Huang Lie.

Zhang He even volunteered to treat Shen Tang.

"To put it arrogantly, I doubt anyone in the allied forces has better medical skills than me. Lord Shen has made great contributions to the allied forces' great victory. If anything were to happen to him, it would undoubtedly be a heavy blow to morale." He spoke with sincerity, but the matter did not come to fruition.

Gu Ren, the kind-hearted man, retorted from the sidelines.

"Indeed arrogant. Prefect Zhang has been busy governing the land these past few years, so he probably hasn't had the energy to improve his medical skills. His skills must have become rusty. My sixth brother is different. He sees patients for ten out of every ten days. In terms of medical skills, he should be able to compare with Prefect Zhang in his younger days. Shen Jun is also the savior of my thirteenth brother, and even more so, the benefactor of all of us brothers. It is only right that my sixth brother should see him."

Zhang He's face darkened slightly.

"Gu Ziyi, what do you mean?"

Gu Ren said calmly, "It means exactly what you understand it to be."

Zhang He was slightly angry: "You—"

Just as things were about to escalate, Huang Lie stepped in to act as a peacemaker.

"Alright, alright, everyone, let's all keep quiet. There's no need to ruin our harmony over this. We're all worried about Prefect Shen's safety, so why be so confrontational?" Huang Lie appeared to be neutral on the surface, but in reality, he was taking sides.

Wu Xian looked at this and that, but didn't get involved in either.

Gu Ren's sixth brother went to check, and the result was the same.

"Shen Jun is asleep."

Gu Ren was worried: "How can a normal person sleep for so long?"

The sixth brother carefully examined his medical instruments, and without looking up, said, "Big brother, look at this Mr. Shen. What part of him looks like a normal person? Anyone associated with the Gongxi tribe is not normal at all. In my opinion, you should stop worrying about him."

Gu Ren: "...That makes some sense."

at the same time.

Shen Tang's Literary Palace.

She slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "That doesn't make any sense at all!"

_(:з」∠)_