Covering the sky: Starting with the holy body, the immortal Taoist comes to attack

Chapter 158 Border Army
When Cheng Luo saw Gu Xuan's face.

My first reaction, besides shock, was fear.

This is because, on this high platform in the training ground, he had indeed traveled to the capital to meet the emperor, as had several of his lieutenants.

The Imperial Guard hidden among the imperial edict-proclaiming squad is none other than His Majesty the King of Zhou!

however.

Cheng Luo's response was also incredibly swift.

He was stunned for only a moment before he shouted, "You audacious madman, daring to impersonate the king! Seize him!"

It was precisely because he knew that the real King Zhou had come in person, and because he largely believed in the miracles of the Great Zhou Divine King's Manual, that the Sima clan could not have been so easily destroyed.

Therefore, Cheng Luocai had to bring Gu Xuan and the others under control as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, once the more than 20,000 elite border troops below the platform and in the drill ground react, it will be hard to say who gave the orders.

After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty had been established for thousands of years, and the prestige of the royal family among the lower-ranking soldiers was still considerable, something that the Sima family and Cheng Luo himself could not shake in less than ten years.

At Cheng Luo's command, his several deputy generals and hundreds of personal guards on the high platform hesitated slightly.

If this were a normal military battle, these people would have been so slow to react that at least half of them would have been executed on the spot.

Because military orders are absolute, it is a grave taboo for subordinates to hesitate when the commander gives an order!

But this moment is different, after all, the one to be taken down is the current King Zhou, and anyone would have to think twice.

but.

Cheng Luo was, after all, a veteran general, and he had a long-standing reputation in the northern border army. At least the more than three hundred personal guards he had won over with his kindness were absolutely obedient to him.

No sooner said than done, twenty burly and fierce guards stepped forward, intending to capture the so-called "imposter of the King of Zhou".

however.

Just as these guards were approaching the imperial edict-bearing squad and about to commit acts of disloyalty...

"Ow..."

All the soldiers in the training ground were astonished to see several magnificent fluctuations appear on the high platform, like huge dragons coiling around, accompanied by terrifying dragon roars.

Gu Xuan stepped forward and took the scepter used for delivering imperial edicts from the eunuch who was delivering them.

This scepter is clearly custom-made, cast from multiple metals; calling it a scepter would be more accurate than calling it a golden mace.

With his inner energy flowing freely, Gu Xuan swept through the enemy ranks with a single move, sending more than a dozen of his fierce guards flying.

One by one, their bones were broken and their tendons were snapped. They were swept away and landed not far from Cheng Luo's feet, whereupon screams of agony filled the air.

Clearly, Gu Xuan's primary aim was to establish his authority, and he did not engage in excessive bloodshed to avoid causing greater fear among the soldiers below.

Otherwise, none of these twenty-odd guards would have survived; they might even have been reduced to pieces.

this? !

Such unparalleled martial prowess was like a miracle, leaving everyone stunned and speechless!

Every human being of the Great Zhou Dynasty knows the Great Zhou Divine King's Manual of His Majesty the Great Ancestor.

Moreover, this divine magnificence, this aura of a true dragon, is clearly the miraculous phenomenon that occurs after the Great Zhou Divine King Technique has been cultivated to its full potential, as passed down from ancient times.

In the past, His Majesty the Great Ancestor performed such miracles more than once, slaying many formidable enemies among the foreign races, thus pacifying a region, establishing the Great Zhou Dynasty, and securing a peaceful place for the human race.

this moment.

Almost everyone began to believe that the message coming from the capital was not fake news, but was very likely true.

Otherwise, how could His Majesty the King of Zhou, a puppet ruler, have overthrown the powerful Sima clan in a single day?

Apart from the screams of agony, the entire training ground was silent.

All the soldiers, including Cheng Luo, stared somewhat uneasily at the Golden Guard in full golden armor, who was none other than His Majesty the King of Zhou.

Gu Xuan didn't stop at all, holding the golden scepter that symbolized majesty, and stepped forward directly.

Let’s talk about it.

Gu Xuan had only been in power for a little over a month, having roughly stabilized the political landscape of the capital, when he immediately went to the northern border to personally lead the army, which was undoubtedly a risky move.

Such a move was clearly unexpected by everyone, and could even be described as extremely illogical.

If one is not careful, the situation in the capital will reverse and chaos will break out again, and all of Gu Xuan's previous efforts will be in vain.

But everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

If he does not personally lead the northern border troops soon, this place will inevitably become an independent kingdom of the remnants of the Sima family in Chengluo, and there is even a high probability that it will form an alliance with the Jie tribe, becoming a major threat to the northern part of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

By then, if we want to solve the problem, we will inevitably have to pay an extremely high and painful price.

During this decision-making process.

In the capital, it was inevitable that some core court officials and trusted generals of the Imperial Guard would raise objections.

Their meaning was clear: as a monarch, there was no need for him to personally risk his life. It would be better to proceed cautiously and take a more prudent approach, even at a higher cost, rather than risk any mishap to Gu Xuan.

of course.

A very small number of advisors, such as Zhang Liang and Chen Ping, privately agreed with Gu Xuan's decision, but were still worried about Gu Xuan's safety.

These pieces of advice are not necessarily right or wrong, but simply different choices.

As for Gu Xuan, he would not tolerate the fact that nearly 40,000 elite troops of the northern border army had been pulled to the opposite side by Cheng Luo.

By then, it will be very difficult for him to deal with the northern Jie tribes who had burned, killed, raped, and plundered within his territory.

Therefore.

After weighing the pros and cons, Gu Xuan finally decided to repeat his old trick and arrive here before the situation was completely settled, so as to capture the king first!
He temporarily entrusted the affairs of the court and the imperial guards to a few experienced and prudent ministers and veteran generals, and then set off with dozens of core confidants to the northern frontier.

On this day that followed, taking advantage of the northern border army's oath-taking ceremony and making a move under the watchful eyes of the entire army was one of Gu Xuan's plans.

He wanted all the soldiers to see this, otherwise it would be difficult to win their hearts and minds.

……

On the high platform of the training ground.

Gu Xuan, with his majestic and imposing figure, like a golden deity, stepped forward, staff in hand, amidst the awe-inspiring silence of the crowd.

One step, two steps, three steps.

He was less than thirty paces away from Cheng Luo, who was sitting on the general's throne.

At this moment, the deputy generals beside Cheng Luo could see more clearly that this was indeed His Majesty the King of Zhou!

Because they had once followed Cheng Luo to the capital to meet the emperor, they caught a glimpse of King Zhou on the throne in a flash.

Cheng Luo, who was shocked by the dragon's fluctuations in mid-air and Gu Xuan Shenwei's attack, finally woke up.

No matter what, he was once a core member of the Sima family's elite guards, a fierce individual who had fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

He suddenly stood up, revealing a powerful physique like that of a bear or tiger. He then drew the sword from his waist, roared, and signaled his personal guards to come forward and kill the king together.

Clearly, Cheng Luo knew perfectly well that since the King of Zhou had come in person, he must be planning to use the same decapitation tactic against him as he had against General Sima Shang.

At this moment, even though he already believed that King Zhou had mastered the Great Zhou Divine King Technique and possessed astonishing combat power, he was still unwilling to surrender.

Cheng Luo, having served as the commander of the northern border army for many years, was indeed no easy man.

His several deputy generals, and even hundreds of personal guards, were all loyal confidants who shared his glory and his loss. They would go through fire and water without batting an eye, and they did not hesitate much to join him in attacking the current King Zhou.

"kill!"

With a sharp shout, Cheng Luo was about to lead hundreds of heavily armored soldiers forward to surround and kill Gu Xuan.

In the end, an old general with white hair and beard stepped forward to dissuade him: "General Cheng, since this man claims to be His Majesty the King of Zhou, why not first inquire with courtesy?"

Behind him, several young captains followed, bowing with their hands clasped in greeting.

Clearly, even on this high platform, not everyone was of one mind with the Sima family and Cheng Luo; there were still some who were unwilling to carry out such a rebellious act.

Cheng Luo's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and his face showed a furious expression.

At such a critical moment, things can change in an instant, and any unexpected event could occur.

"Jiang Bushi, do you want to die? Kill him!"

He shouted sternly, and with a wave of his right hand, several guards immediately shot at the old general named Jiang Bushi with short spears.

Dang Dang Dang!
Clearly, Jiang Bushi and his men had been in the army for a long time and were quite skilled in martial arts. They swung their long swords and deflected the short spears that were being shot at them.

This naturally enraged Cheng Luo, who immediately ordered dozens of men to surround and capture him.

however.

In the short time that was delayed, Gu Xuan had already stepped forward.

With a roar, he swung his golden mace, sweeping across the sky. Wherever he went, the dragon-shaped fluctuations in the air became stronger and more obvious, as if a real dragon had descended to earth.

Bang bang bang!
On the high platform, bodies flew several meters into the air before falling back down.

Within just a few breaths, more than a hundred guards were knocked away, their bones broken and tendons snapped, clearly suffering serious injuries.

this? !

With such terrifying military power, who could withstand it?
Upon witnessing this scene, all the soldiers, including Cheng Luo and Jiang Bushi, were stunned.

There is an old saying that someone can be defeated by a thousand men or ten thousand men. They all thought it was a metaphor. Even if Emperor Gaozu of the past was described in this way, it was probably an exaggerated mythological technique.

But at this moment, they truly witnessed that a person could indeed possess such unparalleled martial prowess!

Cheng Luo's face was filled with shock and fear, but he couldn't help but feel a variety of complex emotions.

At this moment, he also felt the deep resentment and unwillingness of his boss, Ma Shang.

If the Great Zhou Divine King Technique is so miraculous, why is it that, for thousands of years, apart from His Majesty the Great Ancestor, no Zhou king throughout history has achieved any success in cultivating it?

But how come this generation's king has quietly cultivated to such a terrifying level?!
Cheng Luo wanted to curse. He realized that he was likely to follow the Sima clan to the end, and his so-called "establishment of himself as king" and "domination of the northern territory" would all become nothing but a mirage.

He was also filled with regret, regretting that he had been too careless and had not brought the crossbowmen up to the high platform, otherwise they could have surrounded and shot at His Majesty the King of Zhou.

However, on the other hand, he also realized that even with the presence of the crossbowmen battalion, perhaps not much could be changed.

Because the current king is truly terrifying!

Cheng Luo's regret didn't last long.

In just a few breaths, Gu Xuan had cut through all of Cheng Luo's personal guards and arrived directly in front of Cheng Luo's general's seat.

Moreover, the golden armor he wore was the most precious of all royal treasures. The attacks from ordinary guards were like scratching an itch through a boot, posing no obstacle to Gu Xuan, let alone causing any harm.

Under these circumstances, Cheng Luo had no face to run away. He also knew that even if he escaped from the platform under the cover of his guards, he wouldn't get very far.

"you……"

Tall and imposing as he was, with furrowed brows and angry eyes, he was about to draw his sword and shout something.

However, the next moment, he was knocked unconscious by Gu Xuan's mace and collapsed to the ground in front of Gu Xuan like a limp bear.

Even under these circumstances, two or three lieutenants and dozens of personal guards still risked their lives to attack Gu Xuan, trying to snatch Cheng Luo back.

This also shows how fierce these people are; no wonder they were chosen as confidants by Cheng Luo in the border army.

However, their martial prowess, even with Gu Xuan's efforts, was clearly far from sufficient.

What truly means to be a match for a thousand men, and to be a master of the Great Zhou Divine King Technique—this was vividly demonstrated by Gu Xuan at this moment.

Dang Dang Dang!
Bang bang bang!
After dozens of loud explosions, all of Cheng Luo's loyal followers who were still putting up a stubborn resistance were defeated, either killed or wounded.

The remaining people, stunned and speechless, no longer had the will to resist, and knelt down, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

On the high platform, the intense scene left the border soldiers in the drill ground below dumbfounded.

How did a planned rally turn into such a spectacular confrontation?!
The eyes of many soldiers were drawn to the majestic golden figure on the high platform, as if by a magnet.

There's no other reason than that everyone in the world admires the strong.

Moreover, Gu Xuan's soft sigh before that was too stunning.

The words, “Cheng Luo, I originally intended to spare your life, but it seems I cannot do so,” resonated throughout the training ground with boundless majesty and confidence, like a divine voice that shook everyone.

Afterwards, the dragon aura fluctuations he displayed and his unparalleled martial prowess in sweeping away Cheng Luo's personal guards were witnessed by the soldiers and deeply shocked them.

Too divine and majestic, too domineering!
Perhaps only the legendary Emperor Gaozu possessed such divine power!

This is what all the soldiers who witnessed this scene were thinking at that moment.

……

After completely controlling Cheng Luo and the others, Gu Xuan ordered his trusted confidants in the imperial edict squad to work with the veteran general Jiang Bushi to stabilize the situation on the high platform.

Then, he went to the edge of the platform, faced all the border soldiers below, and shouted loudly.

"Cheng Luo has sided with the Sima clan and plotted rebellion. I have come here today only to execute the ringleaders, not to question those who were coerced into submission. All those who have surrendered are meritorious and should be rewarded!"

Its sound was like thunder, grand and clear, full of power and majesty, spreading to every corner of the entire training ground.

this moment.

Gu Xuan almost perfectly recreated the scene of pacifying the Sima clan in the capital, like a golden deity, shaking thousands of soldiers.

Meanwhile, the accompanying officials who were delivering the imperial edict, as well as Jiang Bushi and others, were quite perceptive and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

At first, there were dozens of people, then hundreds, and then all the soldiers in the entire training ground shouted "Long live!"

Under these circumstances, even though there were still many of Cheng Luo's confidants in the army, they were powerless to do anything about it.

Since even a powerful general like Cheng Luo, protected by hundreds of personal guards, was captured by His Majesty the King of Zhou, what could these lackeys possibly do?

If they make any further moves, they will surely face certain death.

As for Gu Xuan, he was able to achieve this by making the most of his strength, timing, royal prestige, and decisiveness.

Otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible to win over 20,000 border soldiers to his side so smoothly.

But he ultimately succeeded, gaining initial control of the border army and finally having the possibility of taking revenge on the Jie tribe!
(End of this chapter)