txolops Chapter 236 The Cunning Zhang Kui, the Disciple of the Intercepting Sect Seeks Revenge
Chapter 236 The Cunning Zhang Kui, the Disciple of the Intercepting Sect Seeks Revenge
"Jiang Ziya, do you think these clumsy methods can fool this general?"
As soon as Zhang Kui finished speaking, a series of muffled explosions erupted around the burning houses, causing the ground to churn.
In an instant, countless drops of damp soil gushed out from the ground, precisely covering the fires in all directions.
Amidst the swirling dust, the flames and thick smoke were quickly suppressed.
In no time, the raging fire was completely extinguished, leaving only wisps of smoke and a scene of utter devastation.
However, this is just the beginning.
Those noble private soldiers who had received orders and were rushing towards the city gate with the intention of coordinating an attack from the inside and outside, had only gone halfway when the solid ground beneath their feet suddenly cracked.
Countless soldiers, clad in earth-colored camouflage and wielding hard bows, had formed an arrow formation.
The next instant, the bowstring twanged like the low groan of death, and arrows rained down like a swarm of locusts.
Caught off guard, the charging private soldiers fell in droves.
Upon learning of the situation, Jiang Ziya was even more furious and curious about where Yang Jian had gone.
Just as Jiang Ziya was pondering, on the city wall of Mianchi, Zhang Kui was feeling somewhat pleased with himself for thwarting the enemy's plot.
Suddenly, Yang Jian appeared and slashed with his three-pointed double-edged sword.
Although Zhang Kui did not see it with his own eyes, the sense of crisis he had developed over many years of fighting made his hair stand on end.
Gao Lanying reacted extremely quickly, and the forty-nine Sun God Needles in her hand transformed into a golden light, piercing straight into Yang Jian's eyes.
Yang Jian's entire focus was on his fatal strike, but he never expected such a vicious magic weapon to attack him so suddenly. His eyes were instantly filled with excruciating pain, and everything went black in an instant. His downward slashing blade also involuntarily deviated by three points.
It was that fleeting moment of deflection that gave Zhang Kui a glimmer of hope.
He rolled to the side in a disheveled state, the sharp blade grazing his armor and carving deep grooves in the city bricks.
"Wife, let's finish him off now!"
Zhang Kui, still shaken, shouted sternly.
Although he was only a half-cultivator, his spiritual sense was exceptionally sharp, and he clearly perceived the dangerous aura emanating from Yang Jian.
Gao Lanying understood, and the Sun God Needle spun around, following Yang Jian closely, continuing to stab at his face and other vital points.
Zhang Kui also drew his sword and counterattacked, and the surrounding defending soldiers, realizing what was happening, also thrust their spears at him.
In an instant, Yang Jian was surrounded.
However, Yang Jian was not someone to be trifled with.
Even though he couldn't see, he could pinpoint the location by sound and wielded his three-pointed, double-edged sword, blocking all the attacks from the couple and the surrounding soldiers.
From a distance below the city, Master Yu Ding, who had been watching the battle, couldn't help but sigh when he saw his beloved disciple injured and trapped.
Without further hesitation, he spread his robes and floated up to the top of the city wall. With a seemingly casual wave of his whisk, Zhang Kui, Gao Lanying, and a group of soldiers who were besieging Yang Jian staggered backward, and their formation was thrown into chaos.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Ding grabbed Yang Jian and transformed into a beam of light, instantly moving away from the city wall and returning to the main camp of Xiqi.
"Senior brother, Yang Jian, he..."
After examining Yang Jian's injuries, Master Yu Ding said in a deep voice:
"His eyes were injured by the Sun God Needle. He needs to rest and recuperate. There is no immediate danger to his life."
"Junior Brother Ziya, our plan has failed, and Yang Jian is injured. What should we do?"
Jiang Ziya stared at the still heavily guarded Mianchi Pass with a gloomy expression.
He hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:
"Senior brother, in my humble opinion, Zhang Kui is clearly also a Taoist master, and is no longer an ordinary person."
"Your Taoist magic is profound; could you directly eliminate them to break through this barrier?"
Upon hearing this, Master Yuding trembled slightly, slowly shook his head, and spoke with a firm tone:
"Although he possesses magical abilities, his foundation remains rooted in the ways of a mortal warrior, and he also bears the responsibility of defending a city. He is bound by the fate of humanity, therefore I cannot take action against him."
He paused briefly and suggested:
"Vice Leader Ran Deng is highly skilled and is currently stationed at Lintong Pass. Perhaps we should withdraw our troops first and then devise a more comprehensive plan. Maybe we could ask the Vice Leader to devise a way to deal with Zhang Kui?"
Jiang Ziya observed his expression and knew that forcing the issue would be futile, and that a direct attack would obviously not yield any victory.
He gazed at the weary soldiers and the wounded Yang Jian, finally sighing in despair and waving his hand weakly.
"That's it, the timing is bad, and our plans are doomed. Issue the order to withdraw the troops."
Upon receiving the order, the already demoralized Xiqi soldiers felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They quickly reorganized their formation, turning the rear into the front, and began to retreat.
However, the army had only been moving for a short time and had not yet completely left the sight of Mianchi Pass when Yu Ding, who had been on guard, suddenly changed color.
He appeared beside Jiang Ziya in a flash, his tone more urgent than ever before:
"Junior brother! Quickly! Immediately order the entire army to halt the retreat and form defensive formations in place! Hurry!"
Jiang Ziya was taken aback by his reaction, his face full of confusion:
"Senior brother, what do you mean by this? Why the sudden halt to the troops? Isn't now the perfect time to withdraw?"
"Several extremely powerful auras are rapidly approaching this area. Stop immediately!"
Jiang Ziya was taken aback at first, then suddenly recalled the terrifying scene of Qiu Shou Xian devouring the sky and earth when he revealed his true form at Chuanyun Pass, and a chill instantly ran down his spine.
He dared not hesitate any longer, and used his magic to spread his voice far and wide:
"Halt! Cease retreat! Form ranks and prepare to engage the enemy!"
"Halt! Cease retreat! Form ranks and prepare to engage the enemy!"
However, the Xiqi army mobilized a force of up to 100,000 men, so how could orders be transmitted to the entire army in an instant?
The vanguard hesitated and slowed down upon receiving the order, while the central and rear armies continued to surge forward due to inertia, inevitably causing some chaos and sluggishness in the formation.
In the midst of this brief chaos, a series of sharp, piercing sounds came from the distant horizon.
More than twenty streaks of light, each a different color, suddenly descended upon the edge of the battlefield.
Lingya Xian and Jinguang Xian laughed wildly, revealing their true forms as a massive white elephant and a golden-haired roarer, their gaping maws emitting a terrifying suction force.
In an instant, hundreds and thousands of Xiqi soldiers screamed as they were helplessly swept into the giant maw and swallowed up, leaving no trace of their flesh and blood.
The other immortals of the Jie Sect also used their own methods, unleashing all sorts of violent magical powers and abilities, such as flying swords, thunder, poisonous fire, and ice, without any mercy, into the most densely packed area of the Xiqi army.
In an instant, severed limbs flew everywhere, blood stained the earth, and cries of agony filled the air.
"It's too late, save as many as you can!"
Fortunately, Master Yuding had already brought the Taiji Formation with him; otherwise, he and the 100,000-strong Xiqi army would probably have perished here today.
He took out the core of the Tai Chi formation and threw it high into the air.
The great formation unfolded in response, doing its utmost to protect the Xiqi soldiers within.
Even so, more than 20,000 soldiers still died before the formation was completed.
The only saving grace was that Hu Lei was also trapped inside the Tai Chi formation the moment it was activated.
Seeing that the great formation was complete, Hu Lei sensed something was wrong and immediately flew towards the direction where Lingya Xian and Jinguang Xian were.
Upon reaching the edge of the formation, he began to attack the formation walls frantically, attempting to break through a gap.
Seeing this, Lingya Xian and Jinguang Xian, who were outside the formation, also launched a fierce attack at the same time.
Even Hu Lei's master, the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit, immediately joined the offensive.
But the Tai Chi formation was impregnable; no matter how they attacked, it remained completely unmoved.
The commotion quickly alerted Jade Cauldron Immortal.
He flashed and appeared behind Hu Lei, capturing him in a single move.
"Yu Ding, if you dare harm my disciple, I will tear you to pieces!"
Seeing Hu Lei captured, the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit was furious and her attacks became even more ferocious.
"In terms of seniority, you should call me 'Uncle-Master.' Such a loud address is rather impolite."
Master Yu Ding spoke calmly, and with a flick of his hand, he had already bound Hu Lei firmly, completely ignoring the angry shouts of the Holy Mother of Fire Spirit outside the formation.
"Jade tripod!"
Hu Lei was, after all, Duobao's grand-disciple. Yu Ding had no intention of taking Hu Lei's life, so he brought Hu Lei to Jiang Ziya.
"Junior brother, don't worry. I have already asked Senior Brother Guang Chengzi for help, and reinforcements will arrive soon. This man is yours to deal with."
A series of setbacks had already left Jiang Ziya feeling frustrated.
Now, with the loss of another 20,000 soldiers, his anger was boiling over.
He drew his God-Slaying Whip and walked step by step toward Hu Lei.
"Jiang Ziya, if you dare to harm my disciple, I will never forgive you!"
Jiang Ziya acted as if he hadn't heard anything, raised his arm, and brought the God-Slaying Whip straight down on Hu Lei.