Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 467. The Tiger Tally Shakes the Winds and Clouds; Heroic Spirit Upholds the Sun and Moon.
After Li Cunxu became emperor, he wanted to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai to demonstrate the legitimacy of the restoration of the Tang dynasty.

A few days later, Shi Feiyang was appointed as the Protector of Zen.

In fact, Li Cunxu did not want Shi Feiyang to occupy this important strategic location. Youzhou was a place where the people of the Central Plains exchanged money, grain, and cloth with the Khitans for warhorses. By controlling Youzhou, Li Cunxu would cut off the other kingdoms' route to exchange warhorses with the Khitans.

Shi Feiyang feigned ignorance of Li Cunxu's strategic intentions. Upon receiving the imperial edict, he threw his head back and laughed loudly. The laughter echoed through the snow-covered sky above the city walls, causing icicles to flutter down from the eaves. He tossed the military tally to the general sent by Li Cunxu, his eyes gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and said, "General Zhao, you must keep a close watch on Youzhou City." He patted the man's shoulder, the chilling aura of his Mingyu Gong technique making the man shiver.

Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang chuckled and said, "The Khitan warhorses love to gnaw on the official boots of the Central Plains." Zhu Huiran, with her Suxin sword carrying her packed baggage, her white skirt brushing against the bloodstains on the city bricks, urged, "Guo Lang, what are you dawdling for? If you don't leave soon, you'll miss the morning tea in Jinyang."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Shi Feiyang secretly slip a brocade pouch to a Beggar Clan disciple. Inside was a map of the secret passage for trading warhorses in Youzhou—a map he had drawn with a wolf-hair brush the previous night. On the official road heading south, Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword suddenly pointed at the old locust tree by the roadside.

The tree trunk was marked with a tattered crescent moon in wolf blood, exactly matching the "Wolf Howling at the Moon" code on the wall of a tavern in Luoyang.

She warned, "Husband, this kind of communication code has appeared in seven places in the past three days." She ran her fingertips over the bloodstains, the icy air turning the bloodstains black instantly, and then warned, "The remnants of the Heavenly Wolf Guard are more eager than the hungry wolves on the grasslands."

Shi Feiyang reined in his horse, gazing at the distant outline of Luoyang City, and calmly said, "Replace the Beggars' Sect's 'Lotus Token' with a Snow Plum Dart." He suddenly smiled at Zhu Huiran, "Ran'er's embroidery is good, why not embroider a wolf's head on the end of the dart?" Seeing Zhu Huiran's eyebrows furrow, he hurriedly changed his words, "Just kidding—but this Heavenly Wolf Guard's code looks like it was drawn by a three-year-old child, even worse than a painting."

Inside the Golden Palace of Jinyang, Li Cunxu's dragon robe gleamed with the light of newly made silk. He pushed the golden seal of the Protector of Zen in front of Shi Feiyang, and in the eye socket of the coiled dragon on the seal knob, there was actually half a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror.

Then, Li Cunxu tapped his fingertips on the dragon table, on which lay the congratulatory letter sent by Zhu Youzhen, the ink mixed with cinnabar.

He said meaningfully, "Does Minister Shi know that the envoy from Great Liang said he wants to personally witness the Fengshan ceremony?" Shi Feiyang took the golden seal, his fingertips tracing the jagged edges of the mirror fragments, and said jokingly, "Is His Majesty afraid that Zhu Youzhen will try to steal the title of Fengshan?"

He suddenly chuckled, his glassy eyes darting around in the candlelight of the hall, and said with a playful grin, "Why don't we have the Beggars' Sect disciples dress up as pilgrims and spread pine needles all over the Eighteen Bends of Mount Tai? Zhu Youzhen's gout has flared up, so it'll be perfect for him to use as a stepping stone."

"Hahahaha!" Li Cunxu was amused and laughed. Before his laughter subsided, Shi Feiyang suddenly knelt on one knee, raised the golden seal above his head, and pleaded, "Your Majesty, I beg your permission to allow Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue to accompany you in your duties as emperor." He looked at the emperor's face, which had suddenly darkened, and added, "One of them knows the evil arts of the Heavenly Wolf Guard, and the other is skilled in using the Ice Soul Cold Blade. They complement each other perfectly."

Li Cunxu's expression softened, and he nodded.

That night, in the inn, Zhu Huiran was sewing a breastplate for Shi Feiyang.

On the white satin lining the armor, gold-threaded snow plum blossoms and silver-threaded lotus flowers intertwined and coexisted, the stitches so dense they could trap the wind. Shi Feiyang embraced her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, and said, "The petals of these snow plum blossoms look like gold threads polished from your brother's jade pendant."

Zhu Huiran's embroidery needle suddenly pierced her fingertip, and blood dripped onto the lotus pattern. She said sadly, "Does Guo Lang know that I dreamed of my brother last night?" She turned around, and the Su Xin Sword was in her hand at some point, but the tip of the sword was pointed at her heart. She said, "He said that the blood sacrifice array that the late emperor did not have time to use was buried in the earth veins of Mount Tai."

At this moment, Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword pierced through the window crack, with a note wrapped around its tassel: "Three corpses were found in Dai Temple, all with blood congealed in their seven orifices."

Her voice rang out from outside the window, carrying its usual coolness.

Shi Feiyang quickly accompanied Ling Shuangyue and the others to investigate the case!

The Dai Temple at the foot of Mount Tai was filled with the smell of pine smoke and blood. Three corpses lay side by side in front of the incense table. They were all craftsmen who were responsible for repairing the Fengchan Terrace. The wolf head totem branded on their chests had been gouged out with a sharp instrument, and frost flowers were congealed at the edges of the wounds.

Wearing gloves, Shi Feiyang lifted the fingernails of the corpse, revealing ice crystals embedded within that refracted a rainbow of colors in the sunlight. After a careful examination, he said, "It's the ten-thousand-year-old ice from Kunlun Ruins." He brought the ice crystals to his nose; the cold air carried a faint smell of corpse poison, exactly like the poison on Yang Shihou's silver spear. He further analyzed, "Back then, the Heavenly Wolf Guard used this ice to preserve corpses, allowing them to remain uncorrupted for a hundred years—it seems they intended to use these craftsmen as blood sacrifices."

Zhu Huiran suddenly covered her mouth and stepped back, using the Suxin Sword as a support to steady herself.

She recognized the middle corpse as the old silversmith who had repaired her phoenix crown in Bianliang last year. Her voice trembled as she said, "It was done by Zhao Yan's remnants." Her fingertips trembled as she pointed to the ligature marks on the corpse's wrist, and then reminded him, "These were left by the 'heart lock' of the Liang Dynasty's Imperial Guards."

Ling Shuangyue pulled out half a sheepskin scroll from under the incense table. On it was a cross-section of the Fengchan Terrace drawn in cinnabar. At the Jade Emperor Peak, there was a blood-red "eye" character. She read the text aloud: "With blood as the guide, the mirror shatters the Fengchan Terrace." She handed the sheepskin scroll to Shi Feiyang. The Ice Soul Sword lifted the remaining candle on the incense table and analyzed, "This 'eye' character probably refers to the Eye of the Abyss."

"Hahahaha!" Shi Feiyang suddenly burst into laughter, startling the crows on the palace beams.

He brought the parchment scroll close to the candlelight, watching the flames lick the blood-red characters, and analyzed, "Zhu Youzhen wants to use the earth veins of the Fengchan Terrace to activate the blood sacrifice array with the fragments of the Kunlun Mirror." He suddenly stopped laughing, his glassy eyes turning icy, and continued to analyze, "And Li Cunxu probably already knew about it."

Ling Shuangyue and Zhu Huiran both nodded and followed Shi Feiyang back to the inn to rest.

The journey was uneventful for the time being. On the eve of the Fengshan ceremony, Li Cunxu's imperial tent was brightly lit. Shi Feiyang watched as the emperor placed three fragments of the Kunlun Mirror on the table, and the wolf head totem at the point where the fragments were pieced together seemed to come alive in the candlelight.

"Does Minister Shi know," Li Cunxu suddenly looked up, the golden dragon on his dragon robe facing the shard, and then said meaningfully, "can this mirror reflect people's hearts?" Shi Feiyang played with the golden seal of the Protector of the Monarch, and the mirror shard on the seal knob suddenly became hot. He said coldly, "Does Your Majesty want to see Zhu Youzhen's wolfish ambitions, or does Your Majesty want to see my own heart and soul?"

He suddenly slammed the golden seal onto the table, the cold glint of the shards sweeping across the emperor's instantly tense face. He then snorted coldly and turned to leave.

Li Cunxu stared blankly at Shi Feiyang's imposing figure, as if he had just woken from a nightmare, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

The following day, clouds and mist surged at the Jade Emperor Peak of Mount Tai. Li Cunxu, dressed in a dragon robe with twelve imperial symbols and holding a jade book, slowly walked towards the altar of Heaven amidst the sound of drums and music.

Shi Feiyang led three hundred elite members of the Beggars' Sect disguised as imperial guards, setting up a "lotus formation" around the altar. The cloth handle of the Xuan Shuang Blade was slightly hot in his palm, as if he sensed some kind of danger.

"May Heaven bless the Great Tang!" Li Cunxu's voice echoed through the mountains. Before he finished speaking, a wolf howl suddenly came from the sky, and three hundred black-clad assassins emerged from the sea of ​​clouds like ghosts, their "Bone-Eating Claws," with their fingertips glowing with a ghostly blue poisonous light, aimed straight at the altar.

As the bronze wolf-faced man at the head of the group swept past, the earth fire beneath the altar erupted with a roar, instantly shattering the lotus array set up by Shi Feiyang.

"Haha! Well done! I haven't fought in days! This time I'm going to have a good fight!" Shi Feiyang laughed loudly and joked. He circulated his Mingyu Gong to the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Ice Soul Cold Prison" level, and his skin shone with a glassy luster.

Immediately afterward, he unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move from the Hundred Victories Saber Technique with both palms! The shockwave from his palm strikes collided with the earth fire, igniting a shower of sparks. However, the wolf-faced man's palm force, like a vortex, completely neutralized his attack.

In the heat of battle, the wolf-faced man suddenly threw out half a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror.

Where the mirror's light shone, the imperial guards who had been protecting the emperor turned bloodshot and began to kill each other.

Shi Feiyang's pupils shrank suddenly. The "Eye of the Abyss" totem on the fragment was exactly the same as the cipher he had seen in the inner layer of Zhu Wen's dragon robe—the Heavenly Wolf Guard actually intended to restart the Blood Sacrifice Array with the blood of the emperor!
"Guo Lang, be careful!" Zhu Huiran cried out in alarm. Her Pure Heart Sword transformed into a snow plum blossom, shielding Shi Feiyang. She exchanged three blows with the wolf-faced man, her body trembling violently, and she spat out a mouthful of blood onto her white battle robe. Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword swiftly unleashed a move called "Fishing Alone on the Cold River," saving Zhu Huiran, but her own shoulder was torn open by a poisonous claw, staining a large patch of her clothes crimson with blood.

Shi Feiyang's eyes were bloodshot, and he pushed his Mingyu Gong to its limit, making him look like an ice sculpture shrouded in cold mist.

He roared, "Those who harmed my wife and children, may they be reduced to ashes!"

He then unleashed the "Shocking Calamity" divine skill, and wherever his icy gaze swept, several assassins instantly shattered into ice shards scattered across the ground. Immediately afterward, Shi Feiyang activated the "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill, and those assassins uncontrollably vomited blood, dying from blood loss, their bodies curled up in a shriveled shape.

Seeing the situation was dire, the wolf-faced man turned and vanished into the clouds. Shi Feiyang followed the resonant aura of the Kunlun Mirror to the underground palace of Mount Tai. The palace was filled with a putrid stench, and the walls were covered with the corpses of the priests of the Heavenly Wolf Guard throughout the ages, resembling a horrifying painting.

Even more shocking is the mural on the wall that records the origin of the Tianlang Guard—they were actually remnants of the "Plum Blossom Inner Guard" during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, who took it upon themselves to overthrow the Li Tang dynasty for generations.

“So that’s how it is…” Shi Feiyang murmured to himself, the Xuan Shuang Blade trembling slightly in his palm. Just then, a sinister laugh came from the depths of the underground palace, and the wolf-faced man reappeared, now holding another half-fragment of the Kunlun Mirror.

"Shi Feiyang, do you think you can stop the blood sacrifice?" the wolf-faced man roared, piecing the two fragments back together. Zhu Youzhen's figure appeared in the mirror, and he sneered, "Zhu Youzhen has agreed that as long as the blood sacrifice is successful, the Great Liang is willing to recognize my Heavenly Wolf Guard as the legitimate dynasty!"

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly and cursed, "Wishful thinking!" He then used the "Transferring Flowers and Jade" divine skill to cleverly redirect the palm force from the wolf-faced man.

However, the wolf-faced man was prepared this time, using the earth fire as a shield and simultaneously launching the "Bone-Eating Claw," a ghostly blue poisonous light coiling towards Shi Feiyang like a venomous snake.

Shi Feiyang roared, "You're courting death!" and suddenly unleashed the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill! He transformed ice into lightning, and the combined force of ice and lightning suppressed the earth fire. However, the wolf-faced man seized the opportunity to aim the Kunlun Mirror at Li Cunxu, and a blood-red beam of light shot out from the mirror.

At the critical moment, Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue made their moves simultaneously.

Zhu Huiran's Pure Heart Sword unleashed a move called "Snow Plum Triple Strike," while Ling Shuangyue's Ice Soul Sword used the move "Cold River Snow." The two swords combined their attacks, barely managing to block the deadly beam of light. However, both of them were severely injured as a result, coughing up blood and swaying precariously.

Seeing this, Shi Feiyang was filled with grief and indignation. He suddenly unleashed the ultimate move of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Severing Reincarnation." His palm strike was like a blade, carrying a world-destroying force, and cleaved straight at the wolf-masked man. The wolf-masked man tried his best to defend, but ultimately he was no match for him. With a miserable scream, he was cleaved in two.

However, at that moment, Zhu Youzhen's secret envoy suddenly appeared, holding the last half of the Kunlun Mirror fragment. He combined it with the fragment in the wolf-faced man's hand. The complete Kunlun Mirror burst forth with dazzling light, and the blood sacrifice array was about to be activated.

Shi Feiyang charged towards the Kunlun Mirror without regard for anything else, drew his sword, and unleashed the "Breaking Heaven and Earth" technique from the Hundred Victories Sword Art! The Xuan Shuang Blade, imbued with all his life's power, slashed down fiercely. With a deafening roar, the Kunlun Mirror shattered, and the Blood Sacrifice Array collapsed in response.

However, Shi Feiyang collapsed due to exhaustion and coughed up blood.

Li Cunxu rushed to his side, took his hand, and said with heartache, "Minister Shi, why did you do this..." After this battle, he finally completely believed in Shi Feiyang's loyalty.

Shi Feiyang forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty, as long as the Tang Dynasty can be kept at peace, I would gladly sacrifice myself..."

At the summit of Mount Tai, the clouds and mist gradually dissipated. Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue nestled beside Shi Feiyang, the three gazing at the shattered Kunlun Mirror, their hearts filled with hope. Back in Jinyang, amidst the ambergris incense of the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in the imperial palace, Li Cunxu pressed the gilded tiger tally into Shi Feiyang's palm, sincerely saying, "Minister Shi, I entrust the armies of this realm to you." The emperor's dragon robe flashed against the cold glint of the Xuan Shuang Blade, and he continued, "I have heard that Zhu Youzhen has executed five princes, and the Liang imperial family is in constant fear. This is the perfect opportunity to attack Liang."

Shi Feiyang toyed with the tiger tally, his glassy eyes reflecting the candlelight, and teased, "Does Your Majesty know that when Zhu Youzhen killed his brother, he used the seventh move of the 'Throat-Locking Sword'?" He suddenly chuckled, "I saw this move when I was a beggar in Bianliang—it's specifically used to deal with people who stab you in the back."

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxu fell into deep thought for a long time.

At this moment, the Bronze Sparrow Terrace in Bianjing (Kaifeng) of the Great Liang Dynasty was indeed soaked in blood. Zhu Youzhen's iron sword dripped with the blood of Prince Kang, Zhu Youjing. Gazing at the chaotic palace, he kicked aside the assassin's corpse and cursed, "The imperial family? They're nothing but ungrateful wolf cubs!"

Before he could finish speaking, a secret report arrived: news had come that Shi Feiyang had been appointed Grand Marshal of the Army. Zhu Youzhen crushed the jade cup in his hand and said angrily, "Li Cunxu actually dared to use this Jianghu outcast... Issue an order to wipe out Prince Heng and his ilk... completely eradicate them!"

At the Guo Mansion in Jinyang, drizzle fell on the gilded tiger tally, splashing up tiny water droplets.

Shi Feiyang lightly traced the tiger tally's pattern with his fingertips, his glassy eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. Suddenly, he threw his head back and laughed loudly, saying, "Thirty thousand men will turn the world upside down! That old scoundrel Zhu Youzhen, let's see how I take this tough nut of Xuzhou!"

The following day, he led his troops on an expedition, hiding during the day and moving at night, so that the enemy could not detect any movement.

Half a month later, outside Xuzhou City. Thirty thousand Tang troops pressed in like dark clouds, yet the north gate remained unobstructed. Shi Feiyang leaned against a couch in front of a large cowhide tent, his Xuan Shuang Blade resting on his lap, tapping the bluestone idly as he said, "Someone, pass down the order to let Jiang Yin's messenger out of the city. If Zhu Youzhen is willing to send reinforcements, that would be perfect—we'll trap him like a turtle in a jar."

He turned to Li Xing, the Beggar Clan elder beside him, and advised, "Brother Li, I'd like to trouble you to take some brothers and bury 'bewitching incense' on the official road leading to Bianzhou, so that the reinforcements from Daliang will have a good dream first."

Li Xing stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "Don't worry, Master Shi, I guarantee they'll sleep like the dead!" With that, he turned and left.

As night deepened, Shi Feiyang used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to leap onto the city wall like a ghost.

Under the moonlight, his glassy skin radiated a faint chill, startling the patrolling Liang soldiers. Shi Feiyang raised his hand and unleashed the "Viewing the Vast Ocean" move from the Hundred Victories Saber Technique! The palm wind surged like a tide, instantly sending three soldiers flying.

He Quan and Awang followed closely behind, their dog-beating sticks flying up and down, scattering the guards on the city wall.

"Shi Feiyang is here!" Shi Feiyang laughed loudly, then roared, "You will all surrender immediately to avoid suffering!"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and the "Shocking Calamity" divine skill was silently activated, instantly turning hundreds of soldiers who tried to resist into ice shards scattered on the ground. Wails of agony rose from the city walls as the soldiers of Liang watched the figure that moved like the wind, their hearts filled with fear and despair.

……

Deep in the dense forest north of Xuzhou City, Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue led the elite Beggars' Sect to set up an ambush.

Zhu Huiran, dressed in a plain white outfit, with her Suxin Sword slung across her waist and her cloak embroidered with gold plum blossoms fluttering in the wind, said sullenly, "Sister Ling, this time we must ensure that the reinforcements from Daliang never return!" The news that members of the Daliang royal family had been executed one after another by Zhu Youzhen had filled Zhu Huiran, the former Princess Zhenning of Daliang, with indignation, and she had long wanted to avenge this blood feud.

Ling Shuangyue drew her Ice Soul Sword, its tip touching the ground and instantly drawing a line of ice. She said with a resounding clang, "Don't worry, sister. I've already had the Beggars' Sect disciples administer 'Seven-Day Powder' at the water source. Those reinforcements from the Southern Wu Kingdom are probably squatting in the latrines, complaining bitterly right now." A cold smile played on her lips as she added smugly, "Zhu Youzhen tried to use the Southern Wu to relieve the siege of Xuzhou, but little did he know that we've already crippled those hands!"

Three days later, the reinforcements from the southern Wu Kingdom arrived in a grand procession. The general at the forefront, wielding a mountain-splitting axe, roared as he led his troops forward. Suddenly, a strange wind swept by, carrying a faint, unusual fragrance. Moments later, groans of abdominal pain echoed throughout the army.

"Oh no! We've fallen into their trap!" The general's face turned ashen, but he was powerless to command them. He could only watch helplessly as his soldiers staggered and lost their fighting ability.

Zhu Huiran brandished her Su Xin Sword: "Attack!" Beggar Clan disciples surged forward like a tide, their Ice Soul Sword and Su Xin Sword clashing, the cold light striking down Southern Wu soldiers. Ling Shuangyue further unleashed "Fishing Alone on the Cold River," her ice sword drawing an arc that froze all the resisting enemy soldiers in place. This ambush ended in less than half an hour; the entire Southern Wu reinforcements were annihilated, not a single soldier escaping.

Inside Xuzhou City, Jiang Yin gazed at the battle flags fluttering amidst the blood-soaked rain atop the city walls, his eyes filled with exhaustion and despair. Months of fierce fighting had severed the city's food supplies, slaughtered all its warhorses, and left its soldiers emaciated and severely weakened. What disheartened him even more was the long-awaited absence of reinforcements.

"Report! Enemy ladders spotted at the south gate!" A soldier rushed in to report. Jiang Yin drew his sword and charged onto the city wall, where he saw Tang general Niu Cunjie personally leading his troops to attack the city. "Jiang Yin, you have nowhere to escape, surrender immediately!" Niu Cunjie's roar echoed below the city.

Jiang Yin gripped his longsword tightly, his nails almost digging into his palm. He suddenly thought of Zhu Youzhen's suspicion and cold-heartedness, and of the innocent members of the imperial clan who had been killed, and a wave of sorrow washed over him.

"Zhu Youzhen is ruthless, so don't blame me for being unrighteous!" He tore off his military governor's robe, roared, and forcefully planted the Southern Wu's battle flag on the city wall. "I, Jiang Yin, betray Liang today not for wealth and glory, but only to live up to my loyalty and righteousness!"

However, he was unaware that the battle flag was merely Shi Feiyang's final scheme. The so-called Southern Wu reinforcements had already perished en route. By the time he discovered the truth, the Tang army outside the city had already flooded into the city like a tidal wave.

When Jiang Yin led his remaining troops out of the city gate, he was already prepared to die.

However, he saw Shi Feiyang standing alone in front of the army, his hands behind his back, his Xuan Shuang Blade sheathed, his expression calm. "General Jiang," Shi Feiyang greeted him with a smile, cupping his fists and saying, "I have long heard of your reputation for loyalty and righteousness, and seeing you today, I can confirm that it is indeed well-deserved."

Jiang Yin was taken aback, and asked in astonishment, "You're not going to kill me?"

"Hahahaha!" Shi Feiyang laughed loudly, "Why kill you? What I, Shi Feiyang, want are talents like you, General, and peace for the people of the world!"

He stepped forward, grasped Jiang Yin's hand, and said gently, "The Liang dynasty is now in a state of chaos, Zhu Youzhen is persecuting loyal officials, and the people are suffering terribly. If you, General, are willing to surrender, I will petition His Majesty to ensure the safety of you and your family. In the future, let us raise the banner of righteousness together and restore a bright and just world!"

Looking into Shi Feiyang's clear, glassy eyes, Jiang Yin saw no murderous intent, only sincerity and expectation. His heart warmed, and he knelt down with a thud, clenching his fist and swearing, "Jiang Yin is willing to serve you like a dog!"

Shi Feiyang quickly helped him up and turned to Awang, saying, "Prepare a fast horse immediately to escort General Jiang back to Jinyang. Also, write a letter to His Majesty, detailing General Jiang's decision to abandon the darkness and embrace the light." Awang, the Beggar Clan elder, immediately accepted the order and left.

Shi Feiyang looked towards Xuzhou City, gazing at the people ravaged by war. A trace of pity flashed in his eyes as he resolutely declared, "This war will eventually end. But after it ends, I will ensure that there are no more displaced people in this world, and no more scenes of starvation covering the fields!"

Half a month later, in the Jinyang Palace.

Li Cunxu unfolded Shi Feiyang's letter and laughed loudly, "Minister Shi has indeed lived up to my expectations! This strategy of besieging the enemy's stronghold and attacking their reinforcements, and winning their hearts and minds, is truly brilliant!" He immediately issued an edict, appointing Jiang Yin as a third-rank civil official and bestowing upon him a residence and fertile land as a sign of favor. When this news spread, all the civil and military officials of the Great Liang were moved.

They contrasted Zhu Youzhen's suspicion and cruelty with the Tang Dynasty's magnanimity and benevolence, and had already made their own judgment.

More and more generals secretly corresponded with Shi Feiyang, discussing their surrender.

Shi Feiyang stood on the bank of the Yellow River, gazing at the surging waters, his Xuan Shuang Blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Zhu Huiran and Ling Shuangyue stood side by side, their Su Xin Sword and Bing Po Sword shining brightly together. "Guo Lang, where do we go next?" Zhu Huiran asked softly.

Shi Feiyang turned his head and smiled, his glassy eyes filled with heroic spirit, and said domineeringly, "Naturally, we will continue to conquer cities and territories, and march straight to Bianliang! Zhu Youzhen's end is not far away!"

He held the hands of his two wives tightly, "When the world is at peace, we will go to Kunlun to see the snow-covered plum blossoms and never ask about the affairs of the martial world again!"

A river breeze howled past, whipping the three men's clothes. In the distance, the Tang army's battle flags fluttered in the wind. The siege of Yanzhou had lasted for three hundred days. Tang general Liu Xun's catapults had smashed holes in the city walls, but Zhang Wanjin held firm with his "Eight Trigrams Formation."

Standing atop the Jin army's watchtower, Shi Feiyang tapped his Xuan Shuang Blade against the railing and instructed, "Li Xing, have the brothers shoot 'bone-rotting powder' into the city, and then throw 'laxative pills' into the water source." He turned to his deputy and smiled, "I heard Zhang Wanjin loves lamb spine hotpot, send him two baskets of it with laxatives." Li Xing and his deputy laughed heartily and left. When Xing Shiyu opened the city gates, three thousand people had already starved to death inside Yanzhou.

Liu Xun's steel knife cleaved Zhang Wanjin in two.

Shi Feiyang gazed at the corpses scattered throughout the city, then suddenly poured wine on the ground and said sadly, "This wine is a toast to those innocent people who shouldn't have died." His glassy eyes reflected the blood-red setting sun, and he looked up to the sky and roared, "Zhu Youzhen, you owe the world a blood debt."

Subsequently, he led an army of 100,000 to continue attacking other cities of Daliang.

In the reed marshes outside Chenzhou City, the soldiers of the Great Liang were killing each other.

Zhu Youneng's rebel army surged in like a tide. Huo Yanwei's spear decapitated a rebel, but Wang Yanzhang's broadsword had already cleaved a bloody path, and he angrily cursed, "Zhu Youneng, you little brat, prepare to die!" In the melee, Zhang Hanjie's hidden weapon, the "Plum Blossom Nail," grazed past Shi Feiyang's ear, but he used "Shifting Flowers and Receiving Jade" to deflect it back, striking him right between the eyebrows.

Zhang Hanjie died tragically in the reeds.

The bloody battle at Huliubei lasted for three whole days. He Gui's "Fire Dragon Formation" burned half the sky red, while Shi Feiyang led three thousand elite soldiers to attack from the flank. He unleashed the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, "Severing Reincarnation!" Wherever his palm wind passed, the shields of the Liang army shattered.

He Gui barely managed to raise his sword before his head was severed by Shi Feiyang's Xuan Shuang Blade.

The blood of 30,000 Liang soldiers stained the waters of Huliubei red.

Standing atop the city wall of Dongjing, Zhu Youzhen gazed at the retreating remnants of the army, tore the memorial to shreds, and roared, "Shi Feiyang! Li Cunxu!" His nails dug deeply into his palms, and he roared again, "I'll show you that the walls of Daliang are not so easy to breach!"

When the "Liang" banner on the city wall of Tongzhou was torn down, Zhu Youqian was drinking with Shi Feiyang. The old general said sincerely, "Hero Shi, you'll feel more at ease with the seal of the Zhongwu Jiedushi." After saying that, he pushed the seal over the table and angrily cursed, "That brat Zhu Youzhen doesn't even trust his own uncle."

Shi Feiyang took the seal and said with a smile, "Does the old general know that Liu Xun, sent by Zhu Youzhen, loves to drink apricot blossom wine the most?"

He sprinkled some medicine powder into the wine jar and said, "Send him ten jars and tell him that I, Shi, respect him as a true man."

Half a month later, Liu Xun's army lost its fighting capacity due to diarrhea and was defeated by the Jin army.

On opposite banks of the Yellow River, the Tang and Liang armies faced each other.

Inside Shi Feiyang's command tent, the map was covered with small flags.

Ling Shuangyue pointed her Ice Soul Sword at the location of Bianzhou and said, "Guo Lang, why not take advantage of the situation to attack the city?" Zhu Huiran picked up her wine cup with her Pure Heart Sword and said jokingly, "He is trying to lure the snake out of its hole."

A sly glint flashed in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes as he smiled and said, "Both ladies are right—I want Zhu Youzhen to open the city gates himself."

Subsequently, Shi Feiyang led an army of 200,000 to Bianzhou, and the city of Dongjing was thrown into chaos.

Duan Ning's reinforcements were lured to the desolate mountains by the Beggars' Sect disciples, and Yin Hao's provisions were burned to ashes by the "heavenly fire".

Holding his ancestral Panlong sword, Zhu Youzhen gazed at the "Tang" banner below the city and suddenly recalled Shi Feiyang's figure during the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai—that man as pure as ice and as beautiful as jade, who would eventually take his empire.

"Zhu Youzhen, do you still remember the wronged souls of Baima Post Station?" Shi Feiyang stood under the banner of the commander, his Xuan Shuang Blade pointing directly at the city wall, and questioned sharply. He then roared, "Today, it is time for blood debts to be repaid in blood!" He unleashed "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder," turning ice into lightning. The ice and lightning in his palm blasted open the city gate, and the Beggar Clan disciples poured in like a tide.

Zhu Youzhen, wielding the Panlong Sword, personally engaged in a duel with Shi Feiyang.

The two blades clashed, sparking dazzling flames.

Zhu Youzhen sneered, "Shi Feiyang, do you think you can gain the world by killing me?"

His internal organs were damaged, and blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth.

A look of pity flashed in Shi Feiyang's glassy eyes, but he said righteously, "What I want is not the world, but peace."

He parried Zhu Youzhen's sword, then turned to look at the myriad lights of Bianzhou City, and said with righteous indignation, "I want to ensure that the people no longer go hungry and that children can go to school. This is the empire that I, Shi Feiyang, desire."

Having said that, he raised his left palm and unleashed a "Slaying the Mortal World" strike, slicing Zhu Youzhen into countless pieces.

(End of this chapter)