Loan Wusheng

Chapter 236 Old Priest, it's been a long time!

"His Majesty has ordered the entire army to advance and attack the Western Di tribes of Juqu, Xubu, Xiutu, and Helian!"

"The cavalry will advance first, while the infantry will outflank and encircle them. We must prevent the Juqu clan from escaping. The Xubu, Xiutu, and Helian clans can be ignored!"

"..."

The Han army marched at night and attacked the camp of the Juqu clan of the Western Di.

The Juqu clan's camp was the camp where the Western Di high priest was located. This time, they brought 30,000 cavalry. The Helian clan was another tribe of the Western Di. This time, they sent 18,000 of their people to assist the Western Di high priest. The Xubu clan was the tribe that had previously been stationed in Yunzhong County and committed many evil deeds.

After discovering the Han army's whereabouts, the Xubu clan left a small number of slaves to cover the rear, while the majority fled. Some went to the royal court of the Luandi clan, while others rushed to the Juqu clan, numbering about four thousand.

The Xiutu clan was an old rival of the Central Plains. Members of the clan often defected to the Central Plains. However, this was because the Xiutu clan's territory was closest to the Central Plains. Every time they invaded the south, the Xiutu clan was always the vanguard.

This time, the Xiutu clan had a total of 40,000 archers on their southward march.

The Western Di high priest commanded 92,000 men.

The Western Di tribe, on the other hand, was stationed in the area of ​​the Great Wall in the northwest corner of Yunzhong County, forming a pincer movement with the Western Di Huyang Chanyu in the northeast corner, waiting for someone to attack Yunzhong so they could encircle it together.

In addition to the elite Luandi clan of the Xidi Huyang Chanyu, there was also the indispensable Lan clan and Huyan clan, one of the four noble clans, under his command. Other tribes such as Yiqu, Baiyang, Hunye, and Helai were also under his command.

Thus, Hu Yang Chanyu commanded an army of approximately 150,000.

In addition, there were scattered Western Di troops from various tribes, such as the Mingdi clan and remnants of the Donghu. The Western Di army mobilized this time numbered no less than 300,000.

It can be said that the Western Di mobilized all the troops they could. Apart from the 50,000 Huyan cavalry stationed in the Western Regions, this battle can be said to have exhausted the strength of the entire Western Di nation.

Zheng Jun was fully aware of all the intelligence regarding the Western Di.

After all, the Han army had been on a northern expedition for more than a year, while the Western Di had been marching south for half a year. During this time, Xu Shimao stationed his troops here to confront them. It seemed that no progress had been made, but the intelligence work was very thorough, and at least he was able to know a lot of intelligence before the Western Di.

The Western Di had an army of 300,000, while Zheng Jun only had 130,000 men in this battle.

As for the 200,000 troops under Xu Shimao's command, they were immediately relocated to the vicinity of Yanmen as soon as Zheng Jun led his troops north, to be on alert for Wu Liyang's movements.

Zheng Jun took the lead and pressed forward with his troops.

At this moment, time was of the essence. Zheng Jun was racing against time and dared not delay for even a moment. He pursued the Juqu clan's camp as quickly as possible, hoping to eliminate them as soon as possible.

What if he gets wind of it and retreats?
Zheng Jun spurred his horse and galloped away, his spiritual senses radiating outwards, disappearing into the distance.

Before long, Zheng Jun sensed an unusual fluctuation ahead.

"Ok?"

Zheng Jun was taken aback at first, then a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a confident expression: "This Juqu clan high priest not only did not flee, but instead launched an attack on me? Interesting, very interesting."

Since that's the case, don't blame Zheng Jun for being reckless.

"All troops, form ranks and prepare to charge!"

Two and a half magical treasures instantly surged forth from Zheng Jun's body: the gilded Roaring Dragon Sword, the gilded Coiling Dragon Halberd, and the Dragon Abyss Blade, all reverberating around him with overwhelming power.

The three streams of true essence cultivated by the Taixu Ningyu Pian, Qingdi Changsheng Gong, and Dijing also surged out simultaneously, pouring into these three magical treasures and surging forward.

Zheng Jun revealed a cruel smile.

"High Priest of the Juqu Clan? Your scepter seems to be a magical artifact as well. You have no use for it; you might as well give it to me!"

……

When the Juqu clan led 90,000 cavalry south, the earth trembled.

The High Priest Di stood atop a bronze chariot, his withered fingers gripping a scepter inlaid with bone symbols.

The north wind blowing from the north of Yinshan Mountain lifted his gray, mane-like beard and revealed a somewhat incongruous left hand, which looked very young and was out of place with his aged figure.

This left hand is not actually the original.

The original left hand was acquired two years ago when the Western Di invaded the south. The Western Di high priest encountered a minor thief from the Central Plains who had reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm. During the pursuit after the battle, he encountered the King of Zhao from the Central Plains and was beheaded by the King of Zhao.

Upon returning to Xidi, the high priest immediately found a Juqu clan martial artist with a high compatibility, took his left hand, and used a Xidi evil secret method to graft the left hand onto his own.

Doing so seems incongruous and represents a decline in martial arts techniques.

Irreversible measures.

This made matters worse for the Western High Priest, who was already a gatekeeper of Yuan Dan and a solid foundation.

Fortunately, the High Priest of the Western Di possessed a magical artifact passed down through generations of the Western Di, making it easy for him to bully some poor Yuan Dan (residual essence) cultivators.

The "poor ghost Yuan Dan" mentioned here does not refer to the Yuan Dan of those aristocratic families in the Central Plains that have been passed down for thousands of years, but rather to the Yuan Dan of those unorthodox practitioners in the Western Regions.

The Western Regions were in a very awkward position. They once had a splendid civilization, but unfortunately, they were located in the middle of two behemoths, which led to frequent battles. Any cultural heritage they had was taken away, either by Buddhist countries or by the Central Plains.

As a result, the Yuan Dan cultivators who later emerged from the Western Regions were somewhat impoverished, possessing only a few magical artifacts and divine weapons in addition to their Yuan Dan cultivation level.

Thus, they were no match for the Yuan Dan of the Central Plains or the Arhats of the Buddhist Kingdom, or even the Western Di, and could only hide and play dead.

Thinking of this, the High Priest of the Western Di couldn't help but sigh deeply.

but……

"Ok?"

Suddenly, the high priest of the Western Di sensed something unusual.

He sensed a vast, continuous aura ahead, an aura so powerful it made the High Priest of the Western Di feel a chill run down his spine.

A Martial Saint of the Yuan Dan realm is coming towards us!

In the Han regime, there were four Yuan Dan Martial Saints.

However, there are three of them, each with their own specific duties.

Only one person could have come this time.

Emperor Zheng Jun of the Great Han Dynasty!
Upon realizing this, the High Priest of the Western Di took a deep breath and immediately said to his attendants, "Prepare to fight!"

Upon hearing this, the leaders of the various tribes around the chariot all paled. The leader of the Helian tribe even said in disbelief, "Wasn't it said that the Han army was currently mopping up the remnants of Murong Lang's forces in Yunzhong? How could this be..."

"Why panic!"

The High Priest of the Western Barbarians slammed his scepter heavily on the ground, the nine skull-adorned scepter clanging together with a chilling sound. His sinister gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the northeast: "The Han army's numbers are roughly equal to ours, and they only have one Yuan Dan Martial Saint in command. What is there to fear? Send a signal to the Great Chanyu of the Luandi clan, telling him that I have already caught Zheng Jun. Tell them to quickly move south to encircle him."

As for the high priest of the Western Di, although the Han emperor was attacking him, he had no intention of fleeing.

After all, he is a Yuan Dan cultivator, and so am I.

He has over 100,000 people, and I have about 100,000 people as well.

What is there to be afraid of?

More importantly, the Great Chanyu of the Western Di was nearby, so delaying the situation would allow him to come to the rescue.

This is also why the high priest of the Western Di did not flee.

Ever since his last encounter with King Zhao, during which he lost an arm, he has developed a fear of these Yuan Dan Martial Saints in the Central Plains.

Especially the Han emperor on the other side.

He arrived and fought a great battle with the King of Zhao, who cut off one of his arms.

A few days ago, King Zhao was captured and killed by Emperor Zheng Jun of the Han Dynasty in a one-on-one battle.

So please,

What are the odds of me winning if I fight Emperor Zheng Jun of the Han Dynasty?

Anyway, not many.

If it weren't for the presence of the Great Chanyu nearby, the High Priest would have run away no matter what.

But with the Great Chanyu here, the High Priest can grit his teeth and persevere a little longer.

As long as the Great Chanyu launches an attack, things will definitely get better!

At that very moment, bluish-gold clouds appeared on the horizon.

The high priest narrowed his one eye and saw that it was not the morning glow at all, but a torrent of true energy sweeping in from all directions!
Immediately afterward, the moment the gilded dragon halberd tore through the morning mist, the high priest's scepter burst forth with a blinding blood-red light, and he whispered, "They've arrived!"

"Form the Myriad Spirits Devouring Soul Array!"

At the high priest's command, hundreds of shamans simultaneously slit their wrists, their blood instantly drawing grotesque totems. In an instant, countless wronged souls crawled out from the ground, forming a black mist that blotted out the sky above the army.

The high priest bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the tip of his scepter: "Sun and Moon, come forth!"

Suddenly, a blinding blood-red light burst forth from the top of the high priest's scepter, and the nine skulls simultaneously emitted a shrill scream, actually condensing into two eerie blood moons in the void!
As the blood moons alternated and spun, countless wronged souls surged forth like a tide, transforming into a ghostly face that blotted out the sky, rushing towards the azure-gold clouds.

At that moment, the Han cavalry arrived with their flags unfurled.

"Old Priest, long time no see. Why are you still resorting to such underhanded and treacherous methods? Do you still have any Blood Puppets? I've forgotten how many I killed last time,"

Zheng Jun's voice was like a thunderclap, clear and resonant, each word carrying a joyful laugh.

Upon hearing this voice, the Western High Priest was first taken aback, then his pupils suddenly contracted to needle size.

It's him?

Is it him?
It was him!!!

He would recognize that voice even if he were reduced to ashes!
This is the little beast from the Central Plains who toyed with me and killed several of my blood puppets back in Suzhou!

Unexpectedly, he was actually Emperor Zheng Jun of the Han Dynasty!
Upon realizing this, the high priest roared, "You little beast, die..."

"The high priest's skills are trivial."

Zheng Jun held the gilded dragon halberd, which suddenly split into nine golden dragon phantoms. The dragon roars reverberated across the grassland. In the instant the halberd blade tore open the ghost mask, the cyan-gold true essence poured out like a celestial river, pulverizing the blood moon!
"puff!"

The high priest suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood, and at the same time, the skull on the scepter cracked!

He looked up in horror, only to see Zheng Jun's figure piercing through the army formation like a ghost. Along the way, the Western Di cavalrymen and their horses were torn into blood mist by the invisible force, plowing a three-zhang-wide gilded ravine on the grassland!
Beside Zheng Jun, the gilded Roaring Dragon Sword swam through the air, its clear, resonant sword cry like a dragon's roar never ceasing.

For a time, nothing could stop them!

Countless Western Di cavalrymen came to stop Zheng Jun, but to no avail; they were torn in two!

Upon discovering the direction of the Western Di high priest, Zheng Jun was filled with extreme confidence.

High Priest of the Western Barbarians? Yuan Dan Realm?
In Zheng Jun's view, he was nothing more than a top-tier half-step Yuan Dan Martial Saint. Why would he need to think about killing him? It's ridiculous!

Therefore, Zheng Jun did not hesitate and went straight for the dragon, intending to take the head of the enemy!
Seeing Zheng Jun charging forward with unstoppable momentum, the high priest's eyes flashed with a ruthless glint. He bit his tongue hard and spat a mouthful of blood onto the scepter. The nine broken skulls glowed with bloody light again and made a piercing shriek as they collided with each other!
"Zheng Jun, you brat, do you really think I'm made of clay?!"

The high priest roared, and a blinding blood-red light suddenly burst forth from the tip of his scepter.

He naturally knew Zheng Jun's thoughts, which was why he was particularly annoyed.

Do you really think you can disregard me?!

They don't even want to form an array!
Today is your death day!

With a roar, the high priest's mutilated left arm suddenly swelled and deformed, transforming into a hideous ghost hand covered in scales, its five fingers like hooks, directly turning into a ghost claw that grabbed at Zheng Jun's face.

At the same time, the nine skulls on the scepter detached from the scepter and formed a nine-palace formation in the air, spewing out a foul-smelling blood mist!
Zheng Jun sneered and swept out the gilded dragon halberd. The azure-gold true essence wrapped around the halberd blade surged like an angry dragon, instantly shredding the blood mist.

But the remaining six skulls suddenly exploded, and the shockwave turned all the Western Di cavalry within a hundred feet into bloody foam!
"Has the High Priest started killing his own people again?"

Zheng Jun rolled up his sleeves, and the Longyuan Blade was suddenly drawn.

"Qiang!"

Where the blade sliced ​​through, the blood mist melted away like snow meeting the blazing sun.

The high priest's ghostly hand had barely touched within three feet of Zheng Jun when three of its fingers were severed by the blade's energy, and black blood spurted out!

The priest roared in pain and plunged his scepter into the ground.

"Trap them!"

In an instant, the entire grassland collapsed, and countless stark white bones burst forth from the earth, weaving together like a tide to form an impenetrable cage of skeletons, imprisoning Zheng Jun tightly.

These white bones were still wreathed in eerie blue flames; they were actually the 'Yellow Springs Bone Prison', a secret technique passed down by the Juqu clan of the Western Di!
"Die!"

The high priest's single eye became bloodshot, and the remaining six skulls suddenly fused together, transforming into a three-zhang-tall crimson blood skull.

The giant skull opened its mouth wide, carrying a terrifying aura as it lunged down at Zheng Jun!

This strike embodies the Netherworld Evil Technique he has painstakingly cultivated for a century. Even a Yuan Dan Martial Saint would suffer shattered bones and severed meridians, as well as great damage to his vital energy, if struck head-on!
However, Zheng Jun, who was in the bone cell, couldn't help but chuckle: "Is that all you've got?"

Before he finished speaking, Zheng Jun suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light. The Emperor's aura cultivated through the Emperor Scripture erupted, mixed with 'Radiant Sunlight', and the white bones instantly melted away like snow under the scorching sun!

At the same time, the Dragon Abyss Blade transformed into a hundred-foot-long blade of light, cleaving the blood skull from bottom to top.

"Crack!"

Zheng Jun moved like smoke, suddenly emerging from between the shattered bones. His gilded dragon halberd transformed into a deadly golden rainbow, piercing straight for the high priest's throat!
Upon seeing this, the high priest's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly raised his staff to meet the attack. But a crisp sound like tearing silk was heard, and the skull scepter, which had been passed down for twelve generations, shattered directly, cut in two by the halberd's blade!
His pupils contracted sharply, and before he could retreat, Zheng Jun's left palm pressed down heavily on the top of his head like Mount Tai.

"Old man, do you still remember how you chased after me two years ago? With your claw techniques, huh?"

Zheng Jun's five fingers were like hooks, and the true essence of the Tai Xu Ning Yu Pian and Qing Di Chang Sheng Gong (Azure Emperor's Longevity Technique) penetrated his body. He said in a stern voice, "Today, I will use their methods against them!"

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the skull was blown off, and the high priest let out a shrill scream, black blood seeping from every pore of his body.

The high priest struggled desperately, and his mutilated left arm suddenly exploded, turning into a blood arrow that shot towards Zheng Jun's eyes!
Upon seeing this, Zheng Jun suddenly had a dazzling golden pattern bloom between his brows. He activated his Heavenly Eye Barrier-Breaking Divine Power, and the brilliant golden light was like the rising sun. Before the Soul-Devouring Blood Arrow could even get close, it turned into a wisp of foul-smelling green smoke in this sacred radiance!
At the same time, Zheng Jun's right arm veins bulged, and he suddenly unleashed a palm strike, causing the High Priest's remaining head to explode like a ripe berry, with red and white matter scattering everywhere!

"boom!"

Yellow, red, and white.

Scattered all over the place.

The battlefield was deathly silent.

All the Western Di cavalrymen stared in disbelief at this scene, their god-like high priest being beheaded like a chicken!

Zheng Jun, carrying the dripping head, unleashed his azure-gold true essence, which swept across the battlefield like raging flames. Then, from within the High Priest's mangled corpse, a Yuan Dan suddenly flew out, carrying the essence of the Western Di High Priest, intending to escape.

The High Priest of the Western Di might have some other means of escaping and then possessing another body to be reborn.

Zheng Jun's gaze was like lightning, instantly locking onto the Yuan Dan that was trying to escape.

With a cold laugh, Zheng Jun's sleeves fluttered, and the gilded Roaring Dragon Sword transformed into a golden streak of light, soaring through the air. The dragon patterns on the sword's body shone brightly, emitting a clear and resounding dragon roar that shook the heavens and the earth!
"Old man, you still want to escape using the Yuan Dan? Today I'll annihilate you, body and soul!"

Before the sword even arrived, Zheng Jun's true essence had already wrapped around it like vines, firmly imprisoning the Yuan Dan!

The high priest's spirit within the Yuan Dan emitted a shrill scream, its surface surging with blood-red light, transforming into countless ferocious ghost faces that attempted to tear apart the true essence chains!

"sucker Punch!"

Zheng Jun brought his two fingers together, and the golden light that shone like the sun was flowing back into the sky poured into the Yuan Dan through the Xiaolong Sword!
In an instant, a crisp sound like porcelain shattering came from inside the pill. The seven life-supposing blood puppets that the high priest had forged in the primordial pill with evil magic were crushed one after another by this pure golden light!
Yuan Dan trembled violently, and the High Priest's distorted face appeared on its surface: "Zheng Jun! If you destroy my essence, the Great Chanyu of the Luandi clan will fight you to the death!"

"Noisy."

Zheng Jun's third eye, with its golden markings, suddenly shone brightly, its radiant light like a blazing sun falling to earth, illuminating his primordial core as clear as crystal.

The essence within the pill was scorched by this overwhelming heavenly power, causing it to let out an inhuman scream, and black smoke billowed out from within the pill!
The Dragon Abyss Blade slashed down from mid-air, its blade not even touching the Yuan Dan, yet its chilling blade intent had already cleaved it in two.

The moment the pill shattered, Zheng Jun pressed down with his left palm, and the Emperor's Qi cultivated from the Emperor Scripture transformed into nine five-clawed golden dragons, swallowing up all the scattered fragments of essence.

As the golden dragon roared, one could vaguely see the remnant soul of the high priest being torn into wisps of green smoke by the dragon's teeth, and finally igniting pure yang fire in the dragon's belly, burning it completely into nothingness!

In an instant, the sky above the entire battlefield changed color, and thick, blood-red clouds surged and gathered like raging waves, completely obscuring the light of day.

Large drops of blood poured down from the clouds, striking the scorched earth with a corrosive sound.

Amidst this bloody storm, countless twisted vengeful spirits could be vaguely seen wailing in the clouds. This was the 'Weeping Blood and Heavenly Sorrow' phenomenon, formed from the interaction of the life essence and spiritual energy of heaven and earth when the High Priest, a Yuan Dan Martial Saint, fell.

Wherever the blood rain touched, vegetation withered, and even the sand and stones were stained dark red.

Zheng Jun stood with his hands behind his back amidst the rain of blood. Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but shake his head: "This is the most useless fallen Yuan Dan I have ever seen. The other Yuan Dan that fall at least contribute to this world. How come when it comes to the High Priest, it's so disgusting?"

The entire grassland was silent.

The Western Di cavalrymen, bathed in this rain of blood, stood there dumbfounded.

None of them expected that it was a high priest who was also at the Yuan Dan realm.

The emperor of the Han Dynasty so easily and simply charged into the enemy ranks and took their heads amidst the vast army.

Even their grand formation was completely ineffective!

Only now did they understand a profound truth.

Even a Yuan Dan Martial Saint is not immune to this!
(End of this chapter)