Chapter 1480: Hasty (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
When Lu Ji said the person opposite him was blind, he wasn't actually insulting him.
She was simply stating an objective fact.
When a martial artist transforms into their own martial arts totem, all aspects of their attributes will be influenced by the totem's race. A typical example is Gong Xichou, who, as a human, also has to endure the side effects of the martial arts totem's periodic molting at least twice a year, resulting in temporary blindness for six or seven days. That period is also the most vulnerable time of the year for him, when his body temperature is lower than normal, and he is prone to lethargy in winter.
These are all effects brought about by the Warrior's Totem.
The higher a martial artist's strength, the better they integrate with their martial arts totem, and the deeper the influence. This was true for Gong Xichou, and it was also true for the enemy general who had stormed the central army's mourning hall. His martial arts totem was the peregrine falcon. Peregrine falcons are not only renowned for their speed, but also for their exceptional eyesight. Ordinary peregrine falcons in nature can easily detect the movement of sparrows a hundred feet away. These two characteristics are amplified when combined with a martial arts totem, making those who possess the peregrine falcon martial arts totem natural-born scouts and vanguards.
Their dive-bombing attacks are top-notch.
In the world of martial arts, speed is the only way to break through defenses.
There are advantages and disadvantages; enjoying the advantages also requires accepting the disadvantages.
Qingyan has poor night vision, so this type of general is not good at night battles, let alone night raids. Even if he could compensate for his blindness with his hearing like Gongxi Chou, he would still suffer greatly when facing an opponent of equal strength, and a single mistake could cost him his life.
Yang Ying said, "Let's deal with this scoundrel first before we talk about anything else."
It was a secret that the Lord had entrusted her with the Arrow of Time; apart from a few people, no one else, including Lu Ji, knew. All that was known was that Yang Ying was deeply trusted by the Lord and entrusted with important responsibilities. She would leave the camp for two or three months without a trace, and when she returned, she would leave early and come back late.
Lu Ji was curious but wouldn't ask any more questions.
Yang Ying dared to speak, but she dared not listen too much.
If she overheard something she shouldn't, and it delayed the master's important business, Yang Ying's future would be in jeopardy, and she herself would be in deep trouble. For the sake of her colleagues and herself, she needed to know what she should know, and what she shouldn't know, she shouldn't know. The day she was meant to know, she would know. This was a workplace lesson Lu Ji had learned while serving as Shen Tang's bodyguard, but no one had told her longtime best friend Yang Ying how she could suddenly overtake her rivals so many times! She was completely dumbfounded!
Numbness in a physical sense.
The enemy general's strength and realm were higher than hers. Although she blocked the attack, the aftershocks from the enemy's dive still made her internal organs tremble and her limbs go numb for a moment. It was as if the connection between her brain and limbs had been temporarily severed, which was very uncomfortable.
Once Yang Ying opened her mouth, he couldn't very well say no.
A real woman cannot allow herself to be incapable.
"Alright!" Lu Ji would think twice if she encountered such an opponent during the day, but it was nighttime, and her opponent was half-blind, and she had quite a bit of experience in bullying the blind. "Then let's go!"
She half-raised her twin hammers, and the scattered fragments of green tortoise shell surged forth like a whale swallowing the sea, transforming into countless spikes on the surface of her hammers. The next instant, one of her hammers shot towards the besieged enemy general like a meteor. The chain between her hammers instantly extended and swelled.
The enemy general didn't take Lu Ji seriously, but his colleagues were a different story.
Lu Ji did not have a good reputation among them.
It wasn't that she was flawed in character; Lu Ji, from a military family, was impeccable in terms of morality. The problem lay in her fighting style. She was someone who wielded double hammers daily, relying on brute force to overcome skill, employing wide, sweeping attacks, yet her fighting style possessed an inexplicable sinister quality. Other generals skilled in heavy hammers, which one didn't swing their hammers with tremendous force? Often, the sound barrier preceded the arrival of the hammer. But she was different; she made no sound.
She might suddenly attack you from behind or above.
One blow from a hammer, and whose head can withstand it?
It is common for military generals to spar with each other, but Lu Ji has been blacklisted by many of her colleagues who will never fight her again. Those whose strength is weaker than her cannot even break her shell, and they will be half-crippled after taking a double blow. Those whose strength is higher than her cannot withstand her easily either.
It has thick defenses, great strength, and moves as silently as a cat.
Many colleagues who didn't believe in superstition suffered great losses as a result.
As soon as he saw Lu Ji make a move, he took the initiative to dodge.
Well, being elbowed by your own teammate doesn't count as a work-related injury.
The enemy general sneered: "A mere trick."
He didn't notice Lu Ji's attack immediately, but the fact that others saw it and moved aside alerted him. Facing the high-speed impact of the hundreds-of-pounds-weight hammer, he caught it with one palm, the massive hammerhead blocked an arm's length away: "Go back!"
The palm strike unleashed a powerful force to send the heavy hammer crashing back to its original position.
The unexpected happened at that moment.
The heavy hammer suddenly burst open around him, transforming into a tortoise shell that trapped him inside. Countless chains, resembling the hammer's handle, shot out from within the shell, writhing like venomous snakes from a serpent's lair, coiling towards him. To the enemy general, these chains were more fragile than vines.
"You think you can trap me with these?"
Neither these fancy chains nor these tortoise shells could withstand such overwhelming power. He already disliked nighttime operations, and being entangled with these ants only intensified his killing intent.
Gongyang Yongye raised his hand and unleashed a gust of wind imbued with a subtle force, shoving the two living ancestors, master and disciple, towards Shen Tang—he realized that Shen Youli wanted him to do odd jobs for free. Shen Youli was standing inside the coffin, not making a move; Luo San wasn't there; and the other generals who could threaten the invading forces were on missions. After considering everything, only he could step in.
"How dare a coward like a rat call himself a marquis before me?"
He conjured the Hundred Demon Slayer Sword, and with a horizontal slash, he was ready to go into battle.
Perhaps it's because he's been angry too much lately, but Gongyang Yongye feels that his cooperation with his old partner is getting better and better, vaguely reminiscent of his youthful days when he was like a fish in water. Before, he would lose interest in the enemy, fighting if he could and letting it go if he couldn't. Now, when he sees an opponent, he just wants to chop off their head and pretend it's Shen Youli's head to kick.
High in the sky, the enemy general did not rush to break through his armor and emerge.
He had noticed Gongyang Yongye long ago.
Of all those present, this was the only person who could inspire him to fight with all his might.
There was originally another Shen Tang.
He had never seen Shen Tang before, even though she was standing inside the coffin. Her aura was ordinary, and her clothes were simple. She didn't look like the rumored ruler of Shen Kingdom; she seemed more like a stand-in for the ruler, and that was his judgment as well. It was too common for monarchs to keep stand-ins to do their bidding.
The Emperor of Kangguo was dimmed and had been fallen for many days.
The double lies inside to guard against enemy attacks and destruction.
"It's been a long time. How have you been?"
Shen Tang raised her hand and placed it against the backs of Luan Xin and the other man to ease the impact.
Luan Xin and the other man used this opportunity to regain their balance. Xiang Zhao was about to bow when Shen Tang stopped him, saying, "In these special times, we shouldn't stand on ceremony."
Xiang Zhao had no choice but to comply: "This humble subject is perfectly well."
Shen Tang nodded: "That's good."
He watched helplessly as Chu Yao, with his hands tucked into his sleeves and an expression of composure, took two steps forward and, with lightning speed, delivered a chop to the back of Xiang Zhao's neck. The strike was powerful and contained a hint of hidden force.
"Young people sleep so well, they can fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow."
Shen Tang caught the person in time and commented with envy.
Luan Xin: "..."
Out of trust, he didn't stop Chu Yao from doing what he saw, but he wanted an explanation afterward. Just as he was about to ask, he suddenly remembered that Xiang Zhao's message had gone unanswered, and he figured that Chu Yao's sneak attack was related to that. Chu Yao was surprised by his calmness.
"Why isn't justice in a hurry?"
"Can you, Chu Wuhui, not give an explanation?"
As long as Chu Yao's explanation holds water, that's fine. If it doesn't, Luan Xin isn't going to take it lying down; he'll get justice for his student.
Chu Yao smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "It is a matter of public justice and righteousness."
He had just straightened up when Gongyang Yongye was about to make his move.
Even faster than Gongyang Yongye was a beam of golden light that cleaved the sky.
"May the nation's destiny be with me!"
The arrow forced Gongyang Yongye to twist his body mid-air, dissipating the force and halting his momentum in an instant. He looked at Yang Ying, who maintained his archery stance, staring at the target. The target, however, disregarded the arrow, sneering: "This kind of thing can actually hurt someone?"
It has amazing visual effects but is not very lethal.
It was just an ordinary arrow.
This is the assessment of the invading enemy general regarding Yang Ying's arrow.
It was also the last judgment he made in his life.
The expected annihilation of the arrowhead by the palm wind did not occur; the arrow pierced through the armor without hindrance and went straight into his palm.
Time flies like an arrow, but the ways of Heaven are as crooked as a bow.
Feeling the movement of the meridians in his body, his expression twisted horribly.
A name trembled as it escaped his throat: "Yuan Fu!"
This is the Arrow of Time, yet it differs from the Arrow of Time I'm familiar with. As everyone knows, the Arrow of Time is a legacy of the Yuan family, with Yuan Fu being the most outstanding successor. Wasn't it said that the last successor of the Arrow of Time died in battle? Why would he defect to Kang State?
Not only did they defect to Kangguo, but they also used it to launch a sneak attack on us?
Central Branch...
"...You bastards, you've lied to me!"
The moment he recognized the arrow of time, he tried to escape without hesitation.
Regardless of how Yuan Shikai switched sides, and no matter how well the Allied forces planned, he only cared about his own life.
However, his actions came a little too late.
The Arrow of Time first depletes the martial energy of the person struck, and then their age.
Sixty years ago, he couldn't break free of Lu Ji's shackles at all. The chains that were once like vines that could be swept to dust with a wave of the hand were now like a swarm of sharks smelling blood, excitedly rushing over to entangle him. The tighter and tighter the force was making his bones ache.
"A time arrow that can rejuvenate someone by sixty years in a single shot—the effect looks pretty good, it's the real deal. Has this been mastered?"
Shen Tang put one hand on her hip and the other on her eyelid.
Yang Ying praised, "Well done, Shengmei!"
The Arrow of Time is not easy to learn.
Ji Moqiu's race is unique, and she is also a divine servant who cultivates divine power. Previously, Yuan Nujun possessed a special bloodline, giving both of them a natural advantage in learning this secret technique. Yang Ying, however, possesses neither of these qualities. This technique is difficult for her to learn, and the threshold for mastery is high.
In theory, one's lifespan can be exhausted in just a few lifetimes.
This is even considering that she has talent.
This technique can only be used to intimidate enemies and opponents.
Gongyang Yongye was stunned for a moment, then roared, "Are you crazy?"
It's unclear whether this statement is directed at Yang Ying or Shen Tang.
Using it in this situation, against an enemy he could handle, wasting a precious opportunity and his lifespan, would be a terrible waste—it shows a lack of common sense! However, if he knew Shen Tang well enough, he wouldn't have said that. She showed no worry.
I can only praise Yang Ying.
Even more insanely, Yang Ying drew the bow a second time amidst everyone's shock.
This arrow wasn't the Arrow of Time, but rather a pure armor-piercing arrow forged from refined martial energy, which pierced through the iron chain ball in one shot.
The iron chains snapped inch by inch, and the people inside fell from the sky.
It fell to the ground with a thud, like a kite with a broken string.
Yang Ying forced down his inner turmoil, turned around with his bow, and knelt before Chen Tang, bowing respectfully: "The intruder has been captured. Please give your instructions, my lord."
She bowed her head respectfully.
Gongyang Yongye: "..."
Yang Ying was fully armored, and he couldn't see if her hair had turned gray, but judging from her aura, the arrow hadn't affected her at all. This deduction left him somewhat bewildered, unable to understand why.
Could it be that Yang Ying is exceptionally gifted?
Does she possess a purer and more mysterious bloodline?
Neither.
The answer is simple.
The essence of the Arrow of Time is an equivalent exchange: the caster uses their own lifespan to inflict a temporary negative status on the target, thereby achieving the goal of killing and winning. Shen Tang initially let Yang Ying practice it, but soon changed his mind and consulted with Ji Moqiu.
Does it have to be the caster's lifespan?
[Lifespan is the most cost-effective factor.]
To put it bluntly, it offers the best value for money.
Using other methods would only incur higher and heavier costs.
Shen Tang, however, detected a glimmer of hope: "Then tell me about other things that aren't worth it! In my opinion, nothing is more important than lifespan."
Ji Moqiu did not directly refute this conclusion.
For short-lived species, a short lifespan is certainly precious, but for long-lived species with long lifespans, lifespan is actually the cheapest thing they possess. The Time Arrow technique is inherently more suitable for long-lived species to learn. Of course, those long-lived species may not necessarily have much interest in this technique.
One arrow only lasts for sixty years, a mere sixty years.
For some long-lived species, sixty years is not even enough to complete adolescence; they are still children at sixty years old.
Ji Moqiu said: [For example, luck or something.]
A few words silenced Shen Tanggan: "Could you choose something else?"
It wasn't that Shen Tang was reluctant to part with him, but rather that she already had Kang Shi, and if another Yang Ying came along, the king felt he couldn't handle it.
Yes, Shen Tang did not intend for Yang Ying to pay that price.
What's the difference between a general who loses his luck on the battlefield and waiting to die?
Shen Tang: [For example, money?]
Ji Moqiu: [Heaven doesn't care about these things.]
[Bullshit, if Heaven didn't care, it wouldn't be so stingy with money.] If it weren't so obsessed with money, there wouldn't be Xun Zhen, this insurmountable enemy!
Jimo Qiu: [...]
That is simply the inevitable calamity of the five deficiencies and three lacks suffered by those undergoing tribulation.
[If it were a matter of national destiny...]
Shen Tang made the decision: 【This is it!】
Spending money on other things might hurt, but spending the nation's fortune won't. This thing is invisible and intangible. Over the years, Shen Tang has used the national fortune in various ways to offset the salaries of officials and soldiers, control the national weather to ensure a good harvest. This thing is just a number on the books.
Jimo Qiu: [...]
Shen Tang asked, "Is it not working? Or is the nation's fortune insufficient?"
[Your Highness governs the country effectively, leading to prosperity and a fortunate nation.]
He meant that the fate of the nation is the most valuable thing.
How many ancient races have spent their entire lives fighting and scheming for that little bit of fortune? This deal is something even the Heavenly Dao could laugh about.
Yang Ying: [...This humble general's luck is probably insufficient.]
She had achieved considerable military merit, but compared to the cost of a single arrow, her years of savings were insufficient. She was willing to sacrifice her lifespan to make up for it. This is equivalent to asking an ordinary person whether to choose one hundred million or ten years of lifespan; given the possibility of fulfilling the promise, a normal person would choose one hundred million.
Who can earn 100 million in ten years?
Shen Tang waved his hand dismissively: "It's alright, we'll use the national budget!"
She specially opened a "family supplementary card" for Yang Ying. Although Yang Ying couldn't use it without restrictions, after studying the national fortunes late into the night, Shen Tang felt that once every seven days was acceptable during this special period.
|ω`)
For long-lived species, lifespan is worthless.
Sixty years isn't enough for Monkey King to serve his sentence under the Five Fingers Mountain...
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