Chapter 1229: Matryoshka Dolls, One After Another (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"The younger generation is truly formidable; why seek death?"
Gongyang Yongye calmly gazed at the heavily armored ice dragon, a rare sense of powerlessness welling up within him. He hadn't felt this way when fighting the Gongxi brothers last time, even though the latter had escaped his grasp and caused him considerable trouble. Only when facing Yun Ce's unstoppable spear thrust did he truly understand—
He's really getting old.
Those carefree days are gone forever.
His youthful passion and glory were buried in the past. Although his body was as strong as ever, even stronger than in his prime, it had lost a certain edge. Facing Yun Ce was like facing his younger self in his prime, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret: "Given time, you will surely rise to the top and become a Marquis. Why suffer such a crushing defeat here?"
The only response he received was the howling wind and snow.
And the blinding red tassel that suddenly magnified in the young man's hand.
At the critical moment, Gongyang Yongye unleashed a seemingly ordinary slash at the ice dragons. Instantly, the blade energy surged upwards with overwhelming force, countless wind blades shredding more than a dozen ice dragons with unstoppable momentum. The ice dragons let out no mournful cry, scattering into a shower of frost that fell to the ground, spreading a blanket of cold, white frost. The remaining blade energy swept across the sky with domineering force, colliding head-on with the remaining ice dragons.
Yun Ce remained completely unmoved by this scene.
A gunshot streaked across the sky.
A gust of wind tousled his white robes, and a few strands of disheveled black hair obscured the resolute determination in his eyes. In the instant he clashed with Gongyang Yongye, he unleashed a hundred dense, fragmented spear shadows, like a phoenix rising from the ashes or a peacock spreading its tail, scattering dazzling rays of light across the sky. Even an old-timer like Gongyang Yongye couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration, exclaiming, "What a handsome young man!"
Gongyang Yongye's moves all emphasize simplicity. Simply put, don't do anything fancy. A flashy move can kill someone with a single strike, just as a simple move can kill someone with a single strike. Why bother with those fancy tricks that resemble a peacock spreading its tail? However, this doesn't mean he dislikes Yun Ce's style.
Everyone has a love for beauty.
Who doesn't want to look cool and show off when they're young?
Unfortunately—
"You were a beautiful woman, why did you become a thief!"
Upon hearing the label of "thief," the young military officer before him, with his upright features and righteous air, rolled his eyes impatiently, a gesture quite out of character. He said, "We're just serving different masters; what's the difference between good and evil, soldiers and thieves? You old man call me a thief, but I'd say you're blind, lacking discernment, and aiding and abetting evil!"
Gongyang Yongye's good intentions were ruined, and he laughed in anger.
"What a sharp-tongued and ungrateful young man!"
His response was a hail of gunfire.
Gongyang Yongye shouted, "You've come at the perfect time!"
A fierce wind arose, forcefully dispersing the surrounding thick fog and wind, creating a unique space. The swift spear thrust, upon entering this area, moved as slowly as a snail, like an ox entering a muddy sea. The heavens and earth seemed to slow down, frozen in the blink of an eye, but the speed of Gongyang Yongye's blade remained undiminished.
The blade's energy cleaved straight through Yun Ce's face.
Boom—
Nine ice dragons burst forth from the earth.
Frost poured in relentlessly, instantly expanding into a colossal mass that violently disrupted Gongyang Yongye's domain of sword energy. Yun Ce became one with his spear, white streaks of light intertwining with the enemy. The spear tip collided with the blade, exploding into countless orange sparks.
Before the sparks had died down and silence returned, the glistening snowflakes completely enveloped and froze it, seemingly freezing that moment in time forever. Gongyang Yongye had fought many skilled gunmen in his life, but in his memory, Yun Ce was the most handsome among them. His mood strangely brightened: "These young men these days truly broaden my horizons; their eloquence and movements are both excellent."
The moves were filled with murderous intent.
The words were an undisguised expression of appreciation.
Yun Ce: "..."
He shouldn't have spoken in the first place.
Fighting only requires using your hands, not your mouth.
However, Gongyang Yongye was one of the few people who praised his eloquence, which suggests that his studies over the past two years have been effective.
What should we learn?
The first thing to learn is how to speak.
Compared to Kang Guowen and Wu, Yun Ce was truly taciturn.
In his youth, he was a man of few words, only speaking more to those close to him. After the incident with his mentor, Yunda, he became even more reluctant to speak, becoming quite withdrawn for a time, often going an entire day without uttering a single word. Over time, this caused Zhoukou some displeasure.
You're less sensitive than a piece of wood. Give a piece of wood a fire, and it will burn brightly; give you a fire, and you only know how to use brute force like a mute. You have a handsome and dashing face, yet you have a tongue more rigid than stone. Is your mouth just for decoration? Getting you to open your mouth is harder than climbing to heaven.
Yun Ce lowered his head, reflecting on his actions.
Having not seen anyone for half a month and being turned away by the Directorate of Works, Yun Ce was in a bad mood and accepted his colleague's invitation to drink.
I couldn't help but confide in someone with experience.
He shared a strong resonance with Wei Shou on this issue.
【Isn't that simple? The Peking University craftsman just wants to hear you say more sweet nothings. They say a charming rogue is endearing, and even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Have you ever seen a beautiful woman who only has a pretty face but no words? If you can't be gentle and sweet enough to make people happy, no matter how pretty you are, you're just a block of wood. You really should learn from him, otherwise, what's the difference between you and Mr. Horn?】
Yun Ce's eyes held a hint of resentment.
Yun Ce began to reflect on himself.
Yun Ce looked at Wei Shou with suspicion, his heart filled with doubt. Putting everything else aside, Wei Yuanyuan and his wife Jin Rui were indeed a model couple, living a loving life, and their children hadn't caused any trouble; the other's advice was worth considering. Wei Shou didn't hold back either, passing on all his experience to Yun Ce. Regardless of the results, Yun Ce's state of mind had indeed become clearer in the past two years; the shadow cast by his mentor Yun Da had largely dissipated, and his resolve in martial arts was stronger than ever.
Mr. Kakuzu... can't be that bad...
The handsome young man with fair skin pursed his thin, red lips, his tone lacking confidence, which paled in comparison to the power of the spear in his hand.
Wei Shou immediately summoned Qian Yong to impart his knowledge and experience to him.
Yun Ce: [...]
Under his deliberate study and correction, Yun Ce has become much more talkative in the past two years, but he still doesn't like to waste words with the enemy, and he currently has no time to be distracted. According to the valuable intelligence sent back by Gong Xi Chou and Ji Mo Qiu, Gongyang Yongye's strength should not be that weak.
Gongyang Yongye noticed the change in his emotions.
The sword formation, spanning over twenty zhang, sealed off all of Yun Ce's weaknesses and escape routes. The explosion from the collision of the two forces almost shaved the ground beneath their feet down by half a zhang! Ravines crisscrossed the area, and sand and stones flew everywhere.
The surging sand almost obscured the thick fog.
The soldiers nearby who were also affected were thrown into chaos.
Faced with Gongyang Yongye's relentless pursuit, Yun Ce remained unfazed, his movements agile and graceful. A white light flashed as he weaved through the shadows of blades, displaying a leisurely and effortless ease. Each time a blade broke through his defenses and aimed for his vitals, it was frozen before it could advance any further.
In terms of skill and ability, Yun Ce is inferior to Gongyang Yongye.
However, Yun Ce is of the same lineage as Yun Da from back then, and a suitable combat environment gives them an advantage. No matter how strong Gongyang Yongye is, it is difficult for him to contend with the entirety of nature. The advantages bestowed by nature can greatly narrow the gap between the two sides. In addition, Yun Ce is proficient in movement techniques, so it is not difficult for him to hold off Gongyang Yongye and fight him for hundreds of moves without dying.
The heavy rain covered almost the entire Allied camp.
Within this area, it is Yun Ce's home ground.
No matter how powerful Gongyang Yongye's sword domain was, he couldn't completely eradicate the endless stream of ice dragons that kept returning. The ice dragons that entangled him were only a portion of the problem; in other areas separated by the thick fog, the ice dragons would freeze dozens of feet in the air upon landing. Ordinary soldiers who touched them would either suffer stiffness and difficulty moving, or be turned into ice sculptures. Some ice sculptures were frozen solid from the inside out, shattering into dust with a single blow.
The chaos did not last long.
As the Allied scribes simultaneously unleashed their incantations, the panicked soldiers felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their feverish minds, replacing it with a will to survive and a desire to defeat the enemy. The experience accumulated during their daily training came into play; they formed small unit formations, pooling their morale, solidifying shields into high walls to resist the pervasive chill. The first to react quickly expanded to over a thousand men, their morale transforming into arrows that pierced the ice dragon's brow, passed through its body, and finally exploded with a deafening roar!
If there is one, there will be two; if there are two, there will be three.
The situation, which was being ravaged by the ice dragon, was quickly stabilized.
Gongyang Yongye sighed, "You're the only one who raided the camp?"
Trading a promising young strategist for hundreds of casualties in the Allied camp? He said, "Only you? Leave your life behind!"
That's all I have to say.
The sudden, loud explosion violently pushed aside the gunshots.
They finally stopped after cutting through hundreds of feet of ravines.
Gongyang Yongye gazed at the billowing dust at the end of the path, a cold snort rising in his heart. His Mo Dao, following his will, shot forth, and he raced after it, his feet treading on the blade's energy. Those insignificant creatures in the path were simply slashed down. A bloody path was worthy of Yun Ce's journey to the Yellow Springs.
Amidst the billowing smoke, the recoil caused his face to darken.
He said, "He's lucky to be alive!"
But this is good, perhaps Yun Ce can help him relive his former state, that high spirits that returned to his body, the feeling of returning to his peak is wonderful! It's just a pity that this kind of mental clarity achieved with the help of external forces has a time limit, only he himself can break through to make it truly eternal! Yun Ce is just right to be his whetstone.
"Use your blood to sharpen my sword anew!"
The response coming from the smoke and dust was not Yun Ce's voice.
Gongyang Yongye was not unfamiliar with this voice.
"Old Deng is old and talks a lot of nonsense. Instead of wasting his time on babbling, why doesn't he slash me a couple more times and scratch me a couple more times?"
The dust and smoke were parted by a strong wind.
A tall figure clad in dark green armor was lifted up by a giant dragon-python. Yun Ce held half a spearhead, his shattered mask concealed, revealing a pale face. Gong Xi Chou appeared, and Yun Ce's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. With a flick of the spearhead, martial energy surged from the broken end, and in the blink of an eye, the spear was restored to its original form.
Yun Ce said, "This person is not easy to deal with."
He was at a disadvantage using his superior marksmanship against an opponent who was a level above him and skilled in the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled broadsword): "Why is it you who has come?"
He knew that Gong Xichou disliked him.
We usually get along quite well and have a lot of exchanges and discussions.
However, this does not include joint defense against an enemy.
No matter how exquisite Yun Ce's spear skills are, they will be greatly diminished when he leaves his home field. To unleash his full potential, he will need the help of the Icebound Thousand Miles skill.
Unfortunately, Gongxi Chou disliked the cold intensely.
With a formidable enemy at hand, he appeared somewhat dejected and listless.
If Gong Xichou cooperates with him, the two will only hold each other back.
Yun Ce had assumed that either Chu Jie or Wei Shou would make the move. It was more likely Wei Shou; Chu Jie rarely intervened while commanding the central army.
Gong Xichou said, "Do you think I came willingly?"
Isn't it all about getting back at them?
"If you fall down there, just tear down that patch of land!"
Today, we're determined to expose Gongyang Yongye's true colors!
Gongxi Chou's arrogant words were mercilessly commented on by Gongyang Yongye: "Arrogant brat, daydreaming! Last time I let you escape with your life by chance, now it's time to make up for that mistake!"
When facing Yun Ce, all his composure vanished; the look in his eyes as he stared at Gong Xi Chou was enough to kill him by a thousand cuts. Gong Xi Chou let out a sneer, and a dark green venomous snake, shaped like a mountain peak, slithered out from his armor, baring its fangs and lightly biting his earlobe.
Then, like ice and snow melting away, it dissipated and merged into the shoulder.
Only a single, coiled serpentine pattern remains.
Gong Xi Chou's dark eyes turned crimson, his martial energy surging wildly, stirring up the heavens and earth. His eyes had lost all reason, reduced to pure predation, watching Gongyang Yongye like a hawk eyeing a hare in the thicket, a venomous snake eyeing a field mouse. His mouth was dry, causing him to unconsciously lick his lips, a bloodthirsty, maniacal laugh spilling from between his teeth. His voice boomed like thunder, the condensed energy blasting through any obstacles in its path, creating a momentary vacuum. He unleashed a palm strike, martial energy churning within his palm, countless menacing fangs of venomous snakes faintly visible.
Is this someone preparing to catch his Hundred Ghosts Blade with their bare hands?
Black mist accompanied screams, and ghostly figures emerged from beneath our feet.
The hideous ghostly faces, appearing and disappearing intermittently, eagerly tried to tear apart the delicious flesh and blood of the living people in front of them, and then put it into their mouths to savor it.
Gong Xichou led the attack, with Yun Ce's spearhead close behind.
In terms of chemistry, the two of them don't have that kind of understanding.
But their task was merely to delay Gongyang Yongye; a slight lack of coordination wouldn't affect the final outcome.
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
At my age, I've tasted the bitterness of unspeakable suffering.
On the neighboring battlefield, Shen Tang gracefully held up her umbrella, raised her hand to gaze at the area where the explosion had been the loudest, and quipped in a detached tone, "Hey, two strong young men ganging up on a centenarian, is this the extinction of humanity or the decline of morality?"
She then stared at Qi Cang, whose face was dark, beside her.
"As a general of the Qi Kingdom, it seems inappropriate for General Qi to still be here, doesn't it?" The other party is watching him too closely.
Qi Cang retorted sarcastically, "Isn't the Prefect of Zhongli also a subject of the Qi Kingdom? If my actions are inappropriate, do you think they are appropriate?"
"I didn't make a move. Firstly, my strength is not as good as General Qi's, and secondly—I've been watching closely, and the main force of Kang State hasn't truly shown itself yet. If I were to get bogged down now, wouldn't that ruin the overall situation?"
Qi Cang, shameless as ever, said, "You and I share the same view."
The real reason is that they don't want to deal with feces and urine.
Who knows how long that group in Kangguo had been hoarding the gold juice?
This night raid was a widespread frenzy across the Allied camp, each attack appearing as a massive, well-intentioned assault. However, upon engagement, it turned out to be nothing more than a series of deceptive maneuvers. What seemed impressive was in reality a mere show of force; the Allies suffered at most a hundred casualties—a negligible but infuriating defeat! It also psychologically damaged the Allied forces! The main raiding force was incredibly elusive, always managing to precisely evade Allied encirclements.
Qi Cang cast suspicious glances at Shen Tang several times.
Allied strategists had long suspected the problem, guessing that the rain and fog had exposed their operations. But even after they had gone to great lengths to clear the fog and rain, the enemy ambushers remained elusive, always managing to pinpoint the gaps in their encirclement.
There's a mole! There's definitely a mole!
(ˇˇ)…
The Gao Kingdom was divided into four states, a proposal put forward by Shen, Wu, Tang, Di, and Tangmei. Wu Xian was very resentful, but his opinion was of little use.
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