Chapter 1290: The Blade at Liyuan

What resolve Ji Yan Yue and the others held,remains unknown.

Whether Jing held sincerity, or what measure of it,need no longer be spoken.

Regarding the disappearance of the Qi heavenly talent,the terms Ji Yan Yue pledged on behalf of Jing in the Ancient Demon Cave,are no longer needed!

Not long after the eight contemporary Perfected Lords departed the Wuyandu Mountain Range,a piece of news shook the world —Sheng’s City of Liyuan has fallen!

Sheng’s renowned general Qi Hong was slain on the battlefield,only his head returned to Weidu.

The capital of Sheng was named "Wei,"meaning "not yet completed," "not yet reached,"representing the unceasing ambition of the people of Sheng.

Before leaving the capital, Qi Hong pointed to his banner and vowed,to offer his head as guarantee,that he would certainly defeat Wutulu, and capture Wanyan Xiong Lue before the sovereign!

Now...His head has indeed served as guarantee.

Liyuan City has changed masters.Wutulu’s military banner and the Great Shepherding Kingdom’s flag,have been formally planted within the borders of Sheng.

Yet, one matter is even more astonishing than the outcome of this battle.The one who ultimately planted Wutulu’s military banner atop the city walls of Liyuan,was surprisingly not Wanyan Xiong Lue, the commander of the Shepherding Kingdom’s Wutulu cavalry,but Cao Jie of Qi!

The commander of the Qi’s Nine Armies, the Spring Death Army,Cao Jie, who is listed in the Military Affairs Hall!

Cao Jie, who was placed under house arrest due to the death of Huang Yixing,the Prefectural Governor of Hengyang Commandery!

This means,the principal commander on the Shepherding Kingdom’s side in this Shepherding-Sheng war,was never Wanyan Xiong Lue.The one who contested with Qi Hong and ultimately struck him down from his horse,was Cao Jie, this celebrated general of Qi.

In an army, there cannot be two masters.The true Wanyan Xiong Lue had in fact been hidden within the Great Shepherding Royal Court,and only arrived at Liyuan City after the war concluded, to take over defenses.

In the clash of two armies, the contest lies in might,the struggle lies in strategy,and the killing lies in valor.The commander's style dictates the army's style,and also determines the course of the war.

Cao Jie imitated Wanyan Xiong Lue's military style to perfection.The keenly sharp renowned general Qi Hong,thus deployed his forces,and engaged in an offensive clash with his imagined Wanyan Xiong Lue,their forces interwoven, fighting fiercely.

If one were to examine the first half of this battle in isolation,it could be said to be an offensive battle of extremely high caliber.Both sides in the war displayed highly skilled art of military command,especially in offense, both possessing extremely sharp edges.

But at the peak of Qi Hong's military might,when he intended to strike a decisive blow to determine victory or defeat,the Shepherding Kingdom unveiled the veiled sharp edge,revealing within a dense and layered defensive network.

Qi Hong charged headlong into the "net,"and Cao Jie decisively struck, intercepting his edge,and slew him within the formation!

A generation’s renowned general of Sheng, thus perished.

From beginning to end, he faced an opponent beyond his comprehension.To achieve this, it could not be done without the full cooperation of the Shepherding and Qi Kingdoms.

The Qi side stated that Cao Jie leading the Shepherding army to take Liyuan City on behalf of Wanyan Xiong Lue,was to provide an explanation for the Qi heavenly talent Jiang Wang.

But to those with discerning eyes, this was undoubtedly a joke.

When Cao Jie was placed under house arrest due to the Huang Yixing case,Zhao Xuanyang did not even leave his door,and had no designs on Jiang Wang at all.

Therefore, the alliance between Qi and Shepherding came first,the Mirror World Platform announcing Jiang Wang's demon cultivation came later!

Thus, Qi's unusually strong reaction to the matter of Jiang Wang's demon cultivation this time,gained a more sufficient reason —in addition to defending Qi's honor and protecting Qi's heavenly talent,it was also to deceive the public,to conceal the matter of Cao Jie secretly substituting for Wanyan Xiong Lue!

For a figure of Cao Jie's level,thousands of eyes are fixed upon him,every action is repeatedly scrutinized.To do something quietly is truly not easy.

But the Huang Yixing case, which the Equal Country used to plot and instigate the conflict between the old and new Qi people,was an excellent opportunity.

The whole world was watching the Qi Emperor in distress,and the Qi court seemed to be indeed struggling to cope.But in fact, the Qi Emperor’s move was in Liyuan City!

Looking back at this year,first there was Cui Zhu's assassination attempt on the Emperor,then Zhang Yong weeping at the shrine.Immediately after the death of Huang Yixing, the Prefectural Governor of Hengyang Commandery,it was seized upon to incite the conflict between the old and new Qi people.

The Equal Country's hand was not small,its scheme was not gentle,one could even say its moves were fatal.

However, how did the Qi Emperor respond?

Facing Cui Zhu's assassination attempt and Zhang Yong weeping at the shrine,the Qi Emperor directly overturned the chessboard,sent troops to Sword Edge Mountain,and harshly slapped Xia Kingdom,forcing Xia Kingdom to hand over the person!

Once this person was handed over,Xia Kingdom and the Equal Country lost the possibility of further cooperation.The courage Xia Kingdom had painstakingly accumulated,was shattered in one battle.

Facing the conflict between the old and new Qi people, which almost shook the foundation of the state,the Qi Emperor's response was to use the opportunity to hide Cao Jie,set up a plan in the Central Domain,and strike at Jing Kingdom!

With this strike, between the old and new Qi people...there was indeed nothing left to contest.

The old and new Qi people are all Qi people,Qi people should contend with Jing people!

Contest for what?Contest for overlordship of the world,contest for peerless heroism!

The Equal Country's various moves,deeply embodied the essence of being steady, accurate, and ruthless.

But when contrasted with the actions of Emperor Jiang Shu of Qi,they became rather laughable "minor disturbances."

All the intricate plans and moves calculated by the Equal Country,were entirely torn apart by the Qi Emperor and turned into disguises,transformed into actions that provided cover for Qi's various moves.

Those unaware might even think that the Equal Country was a blade in the hand of the Qi Emperor!

Otherwise, how could it be that they contacted Xia Kingdom,and Xia Kingdom was beaten in return.They incited internal contradictions in Qi,allowing Jing Kingdom to seize the opportunity to strike,and then the border city of the first vassal state was lost?

From beginning to end, the Equal Country,which everyone paled upon hearing of,was not even placed in the eyes of the Qi Emperor.

To turn the clouds with a wave of the hand, to cover the rain with another,is merely thus!

What does the sudden fall of Liyuan City signify?

It signifies that the Shepherding Kingdom's southward passage into the Central Domain,has been completely opened.

The soft underbelly of Sheng Kingdom,has been fully exposed before the sharp edge of the Shepherding Kingdom's great army.

The thousands of miles of fertile land of Sheng,are already beneath the hooves of the Shepherding Kingdom’s iron cavalry.

Sheng, this sharp blade in the hand of Jing Kingdom,is clearly on the verge of breaking!

And the Qi Emperor, not hesitating to loan out Cao Jie, this "most skilled warrior in the world,"was it merely to do a good deed for the Shepherding Kingdom?What does the Qi Emperor desire?

This is a question everyone must confront,and the answer the entire world awaits.

Outside the multitude of feudal states,there are naturally those who are unconcerned with these matters.

The path of official cultivation has its advantages and disadvantages.On one hand, it flourishes and can rapidly produce powerful cultivators.On the other hand, many powerful figures consider it "difficult to achieve the great dao."

There are countless paths in the world, and countless travelers.New is not necessarily good, nor is old necessarily rotten.

Most of the top sects existing today,have ancient inheritances and adhere to their "dao."Enduring strength, in itself, is a testament to being correct.

In a quiet room, a ink painting depicting misty clouds and distant mountains,hangs on the central wall.

A three-legged beast censer,sends up curls of green smoke.

A nun sits facing the painting.The green smoke drifts above her head,forming various shapes of flying birds,soaring freely.

Her captivating eyes,are now serene.

Her stunning face,is now solemn.

The green smoke birds and the beautiful robed figure,are in themselves a scene of exquisite beauty.

Not until a voice,sounding freely from the distant mountains in the ink painting,called people back to reality —

"Do you regret?"

(The green smoke birds circled the censer three times,then scattered, transforming into a line of large characters —Warmly celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China!In the Starting Point book review section, our operators have organized many events,including giving away Starting Point gift boxes, Jiang Wang and An An water cups, Jiang Wang standing figures...Legitimate readers can actively participate!)