Chapter 824: Can You Confine Me? (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Is it better to live a wretched life than to die a glorious death?
Zhang He's facial features completely crumbled at Wu Xian's words, contorting and contorting for a moment, his eyes filled with shock.
"Wu Zhaode, you should at least be considered a man!"
"Isn't it better to leave yourself a good reputation after death?"
Zhang He stared intently at the sign that read "Draw a circle on the ground as a prison."
This was a trap set up by several of Wu Xian's most valiant bodyguards, their courage burning brightly. It couldn't save him, only buy him a temporary respite. Wu Xian couldn't get out, and Zhang He couldn't break in. They could only stare at each other through the burning curtain, Wu Xian's eyes wide, Zhang He's eyes narrowed.
Wu Xian was seriously injured and needed to prop himself up with his weapon stuck in the ground. He coughed up blood as he laughed, scoffing, "Zhang Yongqing, you're still the same hypocrite. If I walk out today, wouldn't my men have died for nothing? If you have the guts, smash it; if not, wait for it to weaken itself, or just get lost—"
Zhang He clenched his fist: "Wu Zhaode!"
Wu Xian spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva: "You're following someone like Huang Xiguang, even trying to negotiate with him like a tiger... Either you bow down and submit, or your head will roll. I don't know what you're after, but you can't just be a fool."
In his youth, he mingled with all sorts of people, gathering followers from all walks of life, and his cursing was always harsh and offensive. Only after he established himself and became a father did his personality calm down, and he gradually changed his bad habits, only to relapse now.
Zhang He remained unmoved by his words.
The "Draw a Circle on the Ground" incantation is like a tortoise shell, with very obvious advantages and disadvantages. It is generally used when a large army's attack is hindered and it encounters a strong enemy counterattack, in order to stabilize the front line and prevent the enemy from pushing back. If the enemy's attack cannot break through "Draw a Circle on the Ground," the friendly forces are also bound within the incantation's formation and unable to counterattack. The more they counterattack, the faster their defensive strength weakens.
This is purely a way to buy time.
Wu Xian was gambling, gambling that reinforcements would arrive in time. Zhang He was also gambling, gambling that their "drawn circle on the ground" strategy wouldn't last until then!
Wu Xian and his group were clearly at their last gasp!
Retreat would be tantamount to giving up a duck that was already in our mouths!
Time ticked by, and Wu Xian, who seemed calm and indifferent, was secretly sweating. The sweat flowed over the thick, red blood on his skin, diluting it into a pale, watery red.
finally--
As the flames on the burning curtain wall of [Drawing a Circle as a Prison] subsided and the aura noticeably weakened, Zhang He's eyes brightened a few degrees.
This is one of the signs of the decline of the power of words.
He couldn't help but sneer: "Ten breaths left."
"Nine--"
"eight--"
"seven--"
As Zhang He coldly and mercilessly counted down, Wu Xian took a deep breath, secretly gripping the blood-stained hilt of his broadsword, preparing to unleash his martial spirit for one last battle. His bodyguards were also mentally prepared to die before Wu Zhaode…
"Four--"
Only three breaths remain in the countdown.
The archers behind Zhang He all drew their bows, ready for battle!
Wu Xian gritted his teeth, determined to fight to the death, but unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred at that moment! Countless silver-white arrows rained down from the sky like a dense storm, their target being Zhang He's troops who were besieging Wu Xian!
Amidst the rain of countless arrows, one glint of cold light shone brightest.
"Protect our lord!"
Zhang He reacted extremely quickly.
Layer upon layer of heavy shields rose up in succession to block the path.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
The arrowheads and the heavy shield formed from martial energy clashed and rubbed against each other, producing a piercing, spine-chilling sound. The next instant, the shockwave from the explosion made everyone lose their balance. The violent aura was like a sharp blade, slicing across exposed skin…
Wu Xian's guards also stood in front of their lord to protect him.
Who is it?
Zhang He and Wu Xian both raised the same question at the same time.
The difference is that the former was furious, while the latter was ecstatic!
"Ah, naturally it is the current master of this land beneath your feet, the leader of the forces in Chaoli Pass—Shen Youli!" The woman's voice was languid, her hair was blown by the wind, and her clothes fluttered in the wind. "Brother Zhaode, it really made me look for you."
Wu Xian blinked in disbelief.
He blinked so hard his eyes almost cramped, and said, "You?"
Good heavens, he was the only one to be beheaded, but then Shen Youli came too. Is she planning to send them all to their deaths in one go?
Just because someone has the strength of a 16th-grade Grand Master doesn't mean they can run around recklessly. The number of elite soldiers Zhang He brought is enough to keep her here!
Zhang He burst into laughter when he saw Shen Tang clearly.
"Hahaha, Shen Youli—"
After his maniacal laughter, he revealed a ferocious expression.
Raising his hand, he gave the order: "Capture him!"
With a wave of her longsword, Shen Tang unleashed countless sword shadows, temporarily keeping the enemy at bay. Her literary energy surged through her meridians, transforming into a whirlwind that enveloped her and Wu Xian, leaving only her standing there, coldly mocking: "Who told you I was the real deal?"
Although she was always fighting, she was also a scholar with a literary heart.
【graft】!
The scene before Wu Xian and the others changed instantly.
Another Shen Tang appeared before my eyes.
Holding the familiar Mother's Sword, she said with a slightly grave expression, "I rarely use the Spiritual Words of the Heart. The range of [Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees] is limited. It won't be long before Zhang Yongqing catches up. They outnumber us, so our best course of action is to flee!"
A wise person does not stand under a dangerous wall.
Even though Shen Tang is a skilled fighter, she doesn't want to be surrounded and attacked by the enemy.
Who knows what cards Zhang He has up his sleeve?
Shen Tang's literary aura lifted Wu Xian and hoisted him onto her shoulder, unfortunately pressing on his wound, causing Wu Xian to contort in pain. However, in this critical moment, there was no time to worry about such things, and the other guards rallied and retreated together. If it were just Shen Tang alone, shaking off the pursuers would be easy, but with wounded soldiers accompanying her, even with all of them using her [Chasing Wind and Shadowy Scenery] buff, it was still not enough.
Seeing that they were about to be caught up, Shen Tang gave Wen Qi incarnation an order to take Wu Xian and the others away to reduce their burden.
Wu Xian vehemently disagreed: "That won't do!"
If anything were to happen to Shen Tang here, her power, built up over many years, would collapse, making her even worse off than him—at least he had a few good-for-nothing sons who could be brought out to stabilize the people's hearts, but Shen Youli had no children and was a bachelor!
"No problem, consider this my compensation to you."
Unbeknownst to Wu Xian, she had colluded with Zhao Feng and Qin Li—though Wu Xian deserved his fate, it was undeniable that she had undermined his foundation. If Wu Xian were to die here, without witnessing the grand gesture of Da Yi Da Li… no, Gong Su, the two men falling into her arms… no, her tent, it would be like cold noodles without sesame paste, or tofu pudding without sugar—it would be soulless! She wanted Wu Xian to feel indebted to her for saving his life, to watch this unfold, and even have to smile!
Wu Xian was stunned by her words.
Why does Shen Youli have to compensate herself?
Before he could figure it out, his body was carried off the cliff by Shen Tang's avatar of literary energy. The weightlessness of the rapid descent left him no time to think about the problem. He didn't know where she was taking him: "Sister Shen, this isn't heading towards Li Pass."
The avatar of Wen Qi said, "Join Gong Xi Chou."
It is merely an embodiment of literary talent.
The body is formed from spiritual energy; the more energy used, the less there is, and without replenishment from the main body, it cannot be maintained for long. If they encounter other enemies along the way, Wu Xian and the others will still have to perish.
Only by joining forces with Gongxi Chou can we be considered safe.
“We really need to reunite with Gongxi Feng'en as soon as possible. It’s still dangerous for Shen Mei to deal with those enemies alone.” Upon hearing that Gongxi Chou was also going to take action, the shadow of death that had been haunting Wu Xian finally dissipated. Regardless of how their relationship would develop in the future, he and Shen Tang were now inseparable allies, and the collapse of either of them would be self-destruction.
Feeling temporarily safe, Wu Xian couldn't help but think of his son.
He secretly prayed that he could escape alive.
Having escaped with a low-health Wu Xian, Zhang He was now enraged to the extreme by the arrival of a fully healed Shen Tang.
"Shen Youli, you're courting death!"
Looking around, Shen Tang saw enemies everywhere.
"Do you really think you can act recklessly just because your strength is comparable to a sixteenth-rank Grand Master?" As Zhang He's voice fell, the enemy soldiers lurking in the Chaoli Pass Mountains gathered into a cloud of morale. To the naked eye, there were thousands of enemy soldiers, but what Shen Tang sensed were four towering and terrifying giants in the east, west, south, and north. These giants were clad in martial armor, wielding various weapons, and their eyes were filled with tangible killing intent. When these gazes fell upon her, it was as if layers of seals had been placed upon her, or as if a mountain was pressing down on her shoulders.
Morale is always a matter of ebb and flow.
When one side is dominant, the other side will inevitably be suppressed.
Even with ten points of strength, one can only unleash eight.
Feeling the pervasive pressure in the air and the enormous net overhead that seemed to encompass the entire space, Shen Tang couldn't help but sneer: "Zhang Yongqing, you're quite hypocritical. You use encirclement and suppression to deal with Wu Xian, but you use a 'net of heaven and earth' to deal with me?"
It cannot be said that there was no element of revenge involved.
Zhang He: "Today, one person will surely lose their life here."
If Shen Tang rescues Wu Xian, then he will leave his life behind.
What about the sixteenth-level Grand Master?
A single man's strength is ultimately no match for an army of thousands!
Shen Tang said, "Then it's naturally you."
Rumble, rumble, rumble—
As thick thunderclouds gathered on the horizon, soldiers from one of the armies shouted in unison. The silent giant above them raised its hand, conjuring a longbow tattooed with ferocious beasts, and plucked the bowstring. As the golden bowstring was drawn back, lightning brewing in the thunderclouds leaped and transformed into arrows at the giant's fingertips, its aura completely locked onto Shen Tang, who was charging towards him with a sword drawn. The three giants activated their attacks in turn.
Buzz—
The bowstring hums.
Seeing Shen Tang attempt to sever the lightning-infused arrow with his sword, Zhang He's lips curled into a mocking smile. But the smile froze instantly. Shen Tang's lips moved, and the moment he collided head-on with the arrow, his figure vanished, replaced by the phantom of a young man clad in a magnificent robe. The phantom formed hand seals, and a wooden staff suddenly appeared before him: "Seal!"
boom--
The moment the arrow struck the wooden staff, it was met with a greedy and urgent force, and was devoured completely by the whale-swallowing dragon.
The giant seemed surprised by this turn of events and immediately fired two more arrows in another direction. The two arrows, as if possessed by eyes, chased after a target invisible to the naked eye. Only in the fleeting moment when the arrows whistled past did a figure become visible.
The illusory young man remained calm and composed.
He reversed the hand seals, and a sharp whistling sound burst forth from the wooden staff.
A giant arrow crashed into the pursuing arrow.
The collision of the two forces instantly unleashed a heat wave mixed with countless electric currents, forcing the other three giants to retreat several steps. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Tang, with arrows relentlessly pursuing her, charged towards one of them, getting so close they were practically face-to-face.
He swung his sword, unleashing a beam of light dozens of feet long, towards its neck.
"They've moved!"
Shen Tang's figure vanished instantly.
The arrow lost its target and didn't have time to turn back, striking the giant's breastplate with undiminished speed, and then exploded again.
Shen Tang appeared beside the illusory young man.
He laughed and said, "It's a pity you're not a scholar."
It recruits people quickly and accurately, with no delay.
To her shame, this was the first time Shen Tang had summoned her Martial Courage Totem. She had tried unsuccessfully before and had almost given up. So what if she didn't have the Martial Courage Totem? She could still win fights! She was willing to give up, but someone wouldn't allow it.
This person is Gong Xichou.
His emotions were even more intense than those of his master, Shen Tang. He pleaded and begged relentlessly, even going so far as to return the IOU that Shen Tang had given him.
Why are you even more concerned than I am?
Gong Xichou said: "Mama, I have my reasons!"
You speak, I listen.
His reason was that he wanted to meet the high priest of the Gongxi tribe.
Shen Tang: [...Are you sure???]
Gong Xichou exclaimed excitedly, "[The other party is definitely a high priest from the family tree, or perhaps even an earlier one...]"
Shen Tang: [I can't summon it.]
Perhaps that three-year-old version of myself could do it.
However, ever since the last tribulation ended, Shen Tang has been unable to find her "self" within her body. She still gets drunk easily, but Chu Yao and the others say she hasn't switched personalities. As for three-year-old Shen Tang, finding her requires contacting Xun Zhen, but Shen Tang is reluctant to spend the money.
But if Gong Xiqiu wants to see him, she can give it a try.
Gong Xichou's eyes were filled with trust.
No, you can! You are a sacred object!
The sacred objects of the Gongxi people are omnipotent!
Shen Tang: [...]
Gong Xichou was not a good teacher, and Shen Tang was not a good student either. The two of them together made slow progress in their studies. However, Shen Tang was naturally gifted and actually managed to get a feel for things. Strangely enough, after that tribulation, Shen Tang had a vague feeling that she had more control over her body.
Like this time.
She had never been able to find a clue how to summon the Martial Courage Totem before, even with the generous sharing of experience from people like Gong Shuwu, she simply couldn't grasp it, as if she had never understood. But that day, she had a premonition that she would succeed the next time!
Hey, a genius like her, she actually succeeded.
The only awkward thing is that the totem is a "person".
Despite being told this by Gongxi Chou, who claimed it was a "person" disguised as the high priest of the Gongxi tribe, she still marveled at the magical setting of this world when she successfully summoned it... What exactly is the form of the Martial Gallant Totem related to?
On second thought, it's not surprising that as a sacred object of the Gongxi tribe, her martial spirit totem represents the image of the Gongxi tribe's high priest.
Yes, relics are treated very well...
They come with built-in support when they go out to fight.
"Attack together!"
Gong Xi Chou said that his master and the Martial Courage Totem were of one mind, and the other would cooperate tacitly without any commands. After using it, she said that Gong Xi Chou's strategy was finally somewhat useful.
"I am willing to be driven by my god."
Raising his hand and waving his staff, he was filled with both literary and martial energy.
Shen Tang chuckled: "Let's see who can outlast whom!"
You're kidding me, she has milk!
Let's hold out until reinforcements arrive, and then see who loses their head!
Meanwhile, at Wu Xian's camp.
Upon seeing the Wu family's whistle arrow ascend into the sky, the generals knew that their lord and the second son were in danger, and immediately mustered their troops to rush to their aid. With their lord on the verge of death, who could remain idle?
Apart from Qin Li's faction.
Qin Li looked at [Cloudy Sky and Mist] with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
He glanced at the assembled crowd.
"Gentlemen, someone's coming!"
|ω`)
Because I posted pictures on her door and car headlights, she finally responded and arranged for someone to contact her saying she delivered my first batch of Bento boxes to my door at 11 PM on the 8th. I immediately thought she was lying. My dad usually comes home around midnight after playing cards and chatting; how could he not see such a big delivery box? She took pictures of the package being opened at home, but not a single picture of the Bento box at my doorstep? Does she dare post the dates of those pictures? I have evidence that she took my package; does she have evidence that she got it back? In the end, a relative from my village intervened, and I agreed to let her buy a set on Xianyu (a secondhand marketplace app) to compensate me. She only sent me a 188 RMB red envelope! I'm so angry! (╬◣д◢) You can't even get a first batch of Bento boxes on Xianyu for that price!
(End of this chapter)
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