r18novel Page 396
Page 396
On the vast lake, the sword light and the bell shadow collided violently, emitting dazzling rays of light.
The sounds of dragon roars, elephant bellows, and sword clashes rose and fell, leaving the experts on both sides on the shore speechless with astonishment.
Xu Yanbing, who always claimed to be a half-step Earth Immortal, now truly felt his own weakness. "Below Earth Immortal, I am invincible; above Earth Immortal, I can trade one for one"—that was a bit of an overstatement.
At least these two, Hong Xixiang and Li Chang'an, are truly capable of killing Earth Immortals!
Li Chungang stroked his beard and said, "In recent years, there has been an incredible emergence of masters in this martial arts world."
Deng Tai'a nodded. "It is indeed different from decades ago. Back then, anyone with a little skill could be called one of the Four Grandmasters."
In the era when Li Chungang was known as one of the Four Grandmasters, not all of them were actually immortals on land. In terms of combat strength, they were probably not as good as Hong Xixiang and Li Chang'an in the present day.
"Times have changed, who cares if you were born late!"
Hong Xixiang launched a fierce attack but still could not break through the defense. Just as he was thinking of changing his move, Li Chang'an had already removed the Prajna Heart Bell.
Since Hong Xixiang's cultivation level is only so-so, then Li Chang'an can take the initiative to attack.
The Void Cloud Force, Divine Wind Force, and Heavenly Frost Force were unleashed simultaneously, causing hurricanes, dark clouds, and frost to rage across the entire lake surface.
Holding the Lü Zu Sword, Hong Xixiang remained unmoved amidst the three types of celestial energy. "If I can't hurt you, how can you possibly hurt me!"
Just when Hong Xixiang thought Li Chang'an had no stronger moves, the three streams of true energy quietly merged together.
The Void Cloud Force is derived from the fierce and powerful Cloud-Dispelling Palm, the Divine Wind Force originates from the long and continuous Divine Wind Leg, and the Heavenly Frost Force comes from the cold and yin energy of the Heavenly Frost Fist.
Now that the three moves are combined into one, the power is even more refined and domineering. As the saying goes, each takes a part, and the three parts return to the original energy!
Originally, these three types of true energy restrained and circulated with each other. Now, Li Chang'an's Three-Part Returning to Origin Qi has reached its peak, allowing the three types of true energy to create and circulate endlessly.
The three types of true energy gradually condensed into a huge water sphere. The water sphere was compressed again by Li Chang'an, and the true energy inside became even more powerful!
Lu Zu's sword flew out of Hong Xixiang's hand and pierced into the lake.
In the blink of an eye, the ice blocks of the entire Tingchao Lake flew into the air, just like a giant ice sword!
This giant sword was several miles long. Hong Xixiang stood on the blade, looking down at Li Chang'an.
"go with!"
With a low shout, Hong Xixiang unleashed his giant sword, which shot out like a tiger hunting its prey, aiming straight for Li Chang'an!
Although the water sphere in front of Li Chang'an had shrunk considerably, it instantly transformed into a blinding aura!
Suddenly, Deng Tai'a, standing on the shore, blurted out, "罡气 (罡气 is a type of internal energy)!"
"Li Chang'an used the true energy of three great celestial phenomena to condense the protective energy of a terrestrial immortal!"
Li Chungang's eyelids twitched involuntarily. "If a half-step Earth Immortal can condense Qi, who knows what this kid will do after breaking through to the Land Immortal realm?"
Everyone else was stunned. The scale of this battle was even more shocking than when Li Chang'an fought two against one!
With a casual flick of his sword, Hong Xixiang transformed several miles of lake water into a giant sword!
Li Chang'an mastered three kinds of celestial true energy and actually condensed the protective energy of a terrestrial immortal!
The Qi of Three Returns to Origin was shot into the ice sword, and the ice sword was like encountering fiery red magma, turning into water vapor the moment it made contact!
The giant sword, several miles long, crumbled at a speed visible to the naked eye. The middle part was vaporized, and the edges turned into small icebergs before crashing back into the lake bottom!
"So what if it's qi? Can it do anything to my Lu Zu Sword!"
Lu Zu Sword unleashed another sword beam, colliding with the three portions of Returning Origin Qi.
To Hong Xixiang's surprise, the three portions of Returning Origin Qi once again dispersed the sword light of Lu Zu and then shot towards Hong Xixiang!
Hong Xixiang's pupils contracted slightly. Without thinking, he immediately formed a hand seal and used Taoist energy to protect his entire body.
"boom!"
After a loud bang, the three streams of Returning Origin Qi directly dispersed Hong Xixiang's protective true qi and crushed over his body!
Li Chang'an couldn't help but sneer, "Knowing full well that it is the combined energy of three realms of Earth Immortals, you still want to resist it with the Lu Zu Sword."
"Can Lü Dongxuan's syncretism of the three religions compare to my syncretism of the three religions?"
Hong Xixiang spat out a mouthful of blood, then floated listlessly in the air, his eyes desolate and defeated. He couldn't believe he had lost.
"Li Chang'an, I underestimated you, and I underestimated the martial arts of this era."
Li Chang'an remained silent. Hong Xixiang did not underestimate the martial arts of this era; Li Chang'an's martial arts did not originate from this world.
Hong Xixiang said weakly, "Li Chang'an, I have been reincarnated ten times, and in three of them I was a great Taoist master. Now I also bear the destiny of the Taoist sect."
"I'll trade half of my sect's fortune for your decision not to settle accounts with Wudang, how about it!"
A master like Hong Xixiang cannot have his fortune stolen unless he voluntarily gives it away.
Li Chang'an had no intention of eliminating Wudang, and there was no one in Wudang worth eliminating.
"make a deal!"
Upon hearing Li Chang'an's words, Hong Xixiang's aura changed drastically, and a dazzling beam of light shot out from his body!
Li Chungang exclaimed in surprise, "He's ascending to heaven in broad daylight! He's going to ascend to heaven in broad daylight!"
He was fortunate enough to witness Qi Xuanzhen ascend to heaven in broad daylight, which was actually just him reincarnating.
The beam of light shot straight into the sky, and Hong Xixiang's physical body gradually disappeared within it, his expression filled with regret and resentment.
He looked at Xu Zhihu with a complicated expression, "I leave half of my fortune to you in this life, and from now on we will have nothing to do with each other!"
Then, he looked at Li Chang'an and said, "In the next life, I will be free from personal feelings and will surely be able to reach the peak again, be invincible in the world, and defeat you!"
If Li Chang'an were a native of this world, Hong Xixiang might still have a chance.
However, even if Hong Xixiang were to reincarnate ten times over, he would still be no match for Li Chang'an, a demon from beyond the realm.
Hong Xixiang's figure gradually faded away; Lü Dongxuan's tenth reincarnation had ended!
Within the pillar of light, the invincible power of Lü Dongxuan for eight hundred years and the legend of Qi Xuanzhen cleaving six demons with a single sword strike faintly shone.
Then, the pillar of light split in two, sending the two portions of fortune to Li Chang'an and Xu Zhihu respectively.
Li Chang'an glanced at Xu Zhihu. Even if it was just for the sake of her luck, Xu Zhihu absolutely could not be let go.
After Hong Xixiang's army disbanded, 30,000 guards from the Northern Liang side also arrived at the mountaintop and surrounded Xu Xiao and his son to protect them.
Li Chang'an has achieved all his goals in Beiliang: marrying Xu Zhihu, killing Chen Zhibao, and plundering Tingchao Pavilion.
Incidentally, he also helped Xu Weixiong avenge himself, kidnapped Zhao Fengya, and subdued the Xuanyuan family, reaping considerable rewards.
As for Xu Xiao and his son, Li Chang'an can only kill them by himself and his skilled subordinates.
These people would suffer considerable losses to defeat an army of 30,000. Now that their objective has been achieved, it is time to retreat.
Just then, a huge fire suddenly burst into flames in the Northern Liang King's Palace, and the flames spread rapidly, threatening to reduce the palace to ashes.
"Li Chang'an is indeed ruthless!"
Xu Xiao gritted his teeth, seething with hatred, but he also knew that these 30,000 men were no match for Li Chang'an.
If Li Chang'an is truly angered, he might spare no expense to kill all three of them, father and sons.
Looking into the depths of the Prince's mansion, Li Chang'an clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "The fire was set just in time; there are still experts in the Prince's mansion."
Inside the Northern Liang royal palace, Luo Yang watched the blazing fire and felt extremely pleased.
"Burn, burn! Only after you have nothing left can you unleash your greatest potential!"
Chapter 239 Ambush on Liyang Army, Xu Zhihu Follows Her Husband
A fire broke out in the Northern Liang Prince's Palace. Although the Imperial Guards were numerous, it was too late to put out the fire.
The fire raged, burning down the small mountain of corpses at the entrance of the palace, turning the entire Northern Liang palace into a vast sea of fire.
Under the heavy protection of the Imperial Guard, Xu Xiao and his two sons watched as the palace where they had lived for many years was completely reduced to ashes.
Xu Longxiang was filled with righteous indignation, Xu Fengnian was expressionless, and Xu Xiao's eyes flashed with a deep sense of desolation. Li Yishan was dead, and Xu Xiao suddenly felt that his era was coming to an end.
Xu Zhihu was escorted by Xu Weixiong and Xue Songguan. As the Shazhou entourage drove far away, Princess Zhao Fengya of Suizhu was also bound hand and foot and thrown into the carriage.
The wedding procession from Shazhou left Qingliang Mountain with its head held high, without encountering any obstacles.
Even if Xu Xiao didn't care about the lives of Xu Zhihu and Zhao Fengya, 30,000 Imperial Guards wouldn't be enough to wipe out Li Chang'an's army.
As Li Chang'an headed to Shazhou, the order for Li Yangchao to mobilize troops from various places also arrived.
After joining forces with King Zhao Kai of Shu, Gu Jiantang led 100,000 elite Liyang troops and marched in a grand procession towards Shu.
These 100,000 elite troops were all Gu Jiantang's old subordinates, including some elite troops transferred from the border of Liaoning and Liaodong, as well as troops from prefectures and counties such as Yongzhou and Hezhou.
King Yan received the imperial edict but did not immediately send troops. Although he had 200,000 elite troops, he really did not want to go on a long expedition from the southeast to the northwest.
In his view, the troops in the Northwest were sufficient to suppress Li Chang'an.
Gu Jiantang had 100,000 troops, Jiange garrison had 60,000 troops, Qingzhou navy and garrison had 60,000 troops, and Xu Xiao had 200,000 troops.
All told, there are a total of 420,000 people!
Although Li Chang'an has developed rapidly, it currently only has 200,000 employees at most.
These 200,000 men also had to defend against the Northern Barbarians and garrison the prefectures and counties bordering the Western Barbarians and Western Rong. The fact that Li Chang'an could mobilize 110,000 to 120,000 combat-ready troops already showed his capability.
When Li Chang'an left the Prince's Mansion, he had already begun to mobilize his troops. He would not wait until the enemy's troops were fully assembled before engaging in positional warfare, as that would result in too great losses.