Chapter 638: Pacifying Sibao County (Forty) [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Upon seeing this sword formation, Gong Xichou finally abandoned his previous lack of interest and became solemn. Tens of thousands of eyes, both on and below the city walls, watched this scene with bated breath. Suddenly, the inescapable net descended, and a blindingly bright light erupted from its center.
It illuminated the sky for a fleeting moment.
Gu Chi and the others had no choice but to raise their sleeves to cover their eyes.
Some, however, were stubborn enough to resist, like Xun Ding, who raised his hand and slashed at his helmet, condensing his martial energy into a dark green, glass-like demon mask. The demon mask's eye area was covered by a thin veil, seemingly soft but actually fireproof and blade-resistant, resembling goggles, capable of blocking sudden bursts of bright light. While others were blinded by the glare, he remained completely unfazed.
The instant the sword formation descended, Gong Xichou transformed his halberd into a bow and arrow, nocked an arrow, and effortlessly drew the bowstring with four fingers, channeling ten percent of his martial energy into the bow. A thousand explosions resounded, and countless dark arrows, like celestial maidens scattering flowers, flew in all directions—
The arrows collided with the heavy sword, exploded, and turned to ashes.
A beam of light shot into the sky, dispersing the clouds overhead.
The energy of heaven and earth was thrown upside down and poured into the sky.
As the light faded, the leading Qi giants, wielding long spears and heavy axes, formed an impenetrable encirclement. Though unable to speak, their boiling battle intent silently roared, transmitted unreservedly to their opponents through their weapons. The Martial Spirit Totem loyally protected its master; within its range, all threats were enemies. However, the Qi giants were too numerous; some inevitably slipped through. Riding on the bodies of giant pythons, they charged with unstoppable momentum, leaping through the dust and mist in a few bounds, reaching Gong Xi Chou.
Gong Xichou snorted coldly.
With a flick of his wrist, the bow and arrow transformed into a halberd.
clang!
He easily withstood the three simultaneous attacks, and with a wielding arc of martial energy, he severed the three giants of literary energy in half at the waist! The "body parts" crashed to the ground, but after a short while, their upper and lower bodies were back to normal, and they picked up their weapons and rejoined the army.
They fought bravely, one after another, never retreating.
"Can your dantian withstand such extravagance?"
Gong Xichou discovered another similarity between himself and Shen Tang—before he reached the twentieth rank of Chehou, his Martial Courage Totem possessed the scale that only a person at that level could achieve; and Mama, similarly, could conjure a thousand soldiers with a wave of her hand without ever reaching the top.
One thousand—that's the limit for a martial artist to transform into a soldier.
Although it's only the sheer number rather than the quality and strength that proves their special nature, it's enough. However, no matter how many there are, if the quality isn't up to par, they're useless. These giants won't be repaired for free; each repair will consume a considerable amount of both spiritual and martial energy.
"I have both the civil and military palaces."
Shen Tang stood on the shoulder of a giant.
Arms crossed over his chest, exuding an air of arrogance.
"They have a large family fortune and can afford to squander it."
Gong Xichou doesn't need to worry about her stamina.
"You might as well worry about yourself."
Gong Xichou initially didn't take these words to heart.
until--
With a clash of martial energy, Gong Xichou stood atop the giant python's head, working alongside the Martial Gallant Totem to repel the attacker. At first glance, he seemed to be handling the situation with ease, but in the next instant, his center of gravity shifted, and his legs tightened. Two giants of literary energy, one on each side, spread their arms wide and embraced his legs.
The giants recently understood each other perfectly and attacked from both sides.
Adults don't make choices.
They were covering three fronts simultaneously, while another person was wielding a hammer and smashing heads!
These giants, like Shen Tang, only cared about winning and losing, not about martial ethics. Gong Xi Chou couldn't break free with force, so he simply unleashed his martial energy, condensing it into a powerful aura, and used it to tear these giants apart, temporarily resolving the awkward situation.
He glanced in Shen Tang's direction.
The latter waved its claws at him and raised an eyebrow.
"You're even wearing underwear, why are you so nervous?"
The next moment, joy turned to sorrow, and the blade of light was already upon them.
The giant of scholarly energy beneath his feet raised its arm to defend, and unsurprisingly, its right arm was severed at the root, slamming into the ground with a loud thud. The light blade hadn't been completely neutralized; its momentum lingered. Shen Tang tilted his head, catching a glimpse of a red wisp drifting down—the red tassel on his helmet. Gong Xi Chou pushed off with his foot, following closely behind with the light blade. Shen Tang was knocked away, landing on the giant's shoulder, sliding several feet before coming to a stop.
Gong Xichou swung his halberd, casually severing the giant's head, but his fervent gaze remained fixed on Shen Tang's face. It was as if what he had severed wasn't the head of the scholar-like giant, but Shen Tang's. He spoke, "Even your mother is wearing a helmet and mask. Why are you so nervous about a mere qi blade?"
Shen Tang: "..."
Gong Xi Chou is really not lovable.
As an all-rounder, Gong Xichou is skilled in both ranged and melee combat, proficient in 180 different weapons, and capable of engaging in brutal, hand-to-hand combat with his bare hands. He wanted to kill Shen Tang, but now he wanted even more to twist her head off with his bare hands!
Shen Tang ultimately paid the price for his careless words.
Gong Xichou's iron fist came straight at him.
The giant legion was bogged down by Gong Xi Chou's Martial Spirit Totem. Occasionally, some would slip through to help, but before they could even get close to the two combatants, they were blasted to pieces by the colliding and bombarding energy. It was unclear whether Gong Xi Chou did this intentionally; previously, the Martial Spirit Totem had only swatted away giants with its tail, but after Shen Tang's boastful words, it would seize one and crush it into dust with its body, or roam and fly, smashing away any giant it saw, its thick, long tail sweeping across entire areas. However, the giants also had their advantages; various unit types cooperated effectively, advancing steadily, with both sides exchanging blows.
The giant has been reincarnated several times, and the Warrior Totem has also been scarred.
Shen Tang and Gong Xi Chou?
The two began a contest of weapons, incantations, and techniques, fighting from one end of the battlefield to the other. As soon as their incantations were unleashed, mountains crumbled, the sea roared, and sandstorms swept across the land. The battle was fierce and chaotic, keeping everyone on edge. Gong Xi Chou had a physical advantage with long arms and legs, but Chen Tang's movements were graceful and agile; their speed, counter-attack ability, and strength were evenly matched.
Xun Ding couldn't help but groan when he saw it, raising his hand to cover his eyes. The memory of being forced to scrub the floor by Gong Xi Chou flashed through his mind, making him wince in pain. The past was too painful to recall.
Unable to achieve a quick kill, the battle was forced to drag on, and both of them were rapidly declining in martial/literary energy, physical strength, and mental energy.
Jiang Sheng calculated the time and realized something was wrong.
If the two fighters continue to battle until both are exhausted, even if the winner wins the duel, it will be a significant burden on their side. This is because the drumbeats not only stimulate the warriors but also the soldiers, slowly boosting morale. However, even the highest morale has its peak, and without the blessing of battle formation incantations, this peak cannot be maintained for long; after the peak, a decline naturally follows. Furthermore, prolonged high morale can produce adverse side effects, ultimately backfiring.
Of all the people, Gu Chi was the most relaxed.
He watched the battle with great interest, only needing to be alert for occasional bursts of power from the two fighters, erecting a barrier of spiritual energy to defend against sonic booms and gales. As he watched, he couldn't even suppress a smile, prompting Liao Jia to ask in bewilderment, "Why is Wang Chao laughing?"
Gu Chi: "It reminds me of someone."
"Someone?"
"Someone's surname is Qi."
Liao Jia initially thought Gu Chi was worried about the battle situation on Qi Shan's side, but then he realized that wasn't right. If he were worried, he should be frowning instead of laughing. He temporarily suppressed his concern for his lord and said strangely, "Why are you thinking about that scoundrel Qi Yuanliang? He's a menace who will live for a thousand years."
Gu Chi said, "Thinking of his appearance right now."
Liao Jia: "???"
What else could Qi Yuanliang look like?
Shen Tang raised her hand to wipe away the remaining blood from the corner of her mouth, panting heavily, but her eyes were fixed on Gong Xi Chou, who was wearing half of his martial armor again, but this time it wasn't a show of bravado, but rather a passive act.
Gong Xichou was in a sorry state, and Shen Tang wasn't much better off either.
Despite their best efforts, they still suffered quite a few injuries.
But overall it seems much lighter than Gongxi Chou.
Gong Xichou squinted, raised his hand and used his thumb to wipe the blood that had trickled down to his brow, and said, "Mama, you have someone on your mind."
She had several opportunities to exchange her severe injuries for his, but she chose to retreat each time. The Shen Tang he knew wasn't so risk-averse. In the face of victory and death, what did these injuries matter? As long as she was alive, that was enough.
Shen Tang sighed, "What do you know, you're a single dog?"
Does he know that killing just one of her would give him a pentakill and godlike status?
She carries a heavy burden of lordly responsibility.
Qiu Cheng looked down with a sinister gaze.
He hadn't expected that even Gong Xichou couldn't easily take Shen Tang's head; the two were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand. If Shen Tang didn't die this time, he would be in danger. Miao Shu shared the same thought, her eyes growing increasingly sinister and cold.
It was a rare occasion for the two to be so in sync.
Qiu Cheng gave a wink to his trusted general.
Regardless of victory or defeat, one of them will die.
The one who has died must be Shen Youli!
That beloved general was skilled in archery and understood the strategy perfectly.
A visible spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. A battle's outcome isn't always on the field; it can also happen off it. Is it fair or dishonest? Ah, warfare is based on deception. The details are left for the living to write their stories, but the dead have no right to discuss them.
Little did he know, a pair of indifferent eyes glanced at him.
This person was naturally Gu Chi. Although he had been carefully cared for, Gu Chi was a scholar and strategist, and it was impossible for him not to go to war with the army. Everyone was used to his perpetually unwell complexion, but Liao Jia noticed that he looked particularly bad at this moment, with his lips turning bluish.
"Is Wangchao feeling unwell?"
The confrontation between the two armies was extremely unfavorable to Gu Chi, and the burden brought by the scholar's way was more than doubled.
Why did he suddenly unleash his killing intent?
"Send a skilled archer."
"A master archer? The assassin of Gong Xichou?"
Although their lord and Gongxi Chou were chatting idly, they showed no mercy in their actions, clearly indicating they were irreconcilable enemies, a fight to the death. Keeping this valiant warrior alive, especially if he improves his strength in the future, could become a major threat to their side.
It's better to be dead than to live.
"Qiu Wenyan is going to use underhanded tactics."
If Qiu Cheng does the first day of the month, don't blame them for doing the fifteenth.
Liao Jia gestured: "No problem."
Gu Chi closed his eyes wearily, concealing the cold, calculating glint in them. He harbored selfish motives; Qiu Cheng didn't want Shen Tang to die, and he similarly didn't want to see Gong Xi Chou alive and kicking.
The reason is quite simple.
Firstly, this person travels around fighting for others and assisting other forces in their expansion, which is tantamount to opposing one's own forces. For example, this time he helped Qiu Wenyan defend Xiaocheng, but who will he help hinder them next time? Gong Xichou is an uncontrollable variable.
Secondly, based on the current clues, the Lord is a "sacred object" of the Gongxi clan, but Gongxi Chou's attitude and handling of this "sacred object" are still unclear. What if Gongxi Chou insists on returning the "sacred object" to its rightful place? Wouldn't that hinder the Lord's great cause? What if, what if his guess is wrong, and the Lord is truly an outsider who has usurped the throne rather than the amnesiac "sacred object" itself... then what will Gongxi Chou do?
Rather than creating unnecessary complications, it's better to cut the Gordian knot quickly.
_(:з」∠)_
This chapter is a little longer than I expected...
Qishan Cat: "..."
(End of this chapter)
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