Chapter 1004: Resurrection

Wanqisong led over a hundred Bailong warriors, rushing towards the docks. If his nephew hadn't left, they could have split into two groups: one to secure the Hot Spring Villa and the other to secure the dock warehouses, making the process much smoother. Now, with only just over a hundred men under his command, he was stretched thin. Moreover, the Hot Spring Villa still housed the Imperial Advisor of Muguo and his hundred elite soldiers. It was best not to provoke them for now.

The Yangshan Guard still had over four hundred men on Suoding Island, and he suspected the docks were already a chaotic battleground. He decided to go to the docks himself first, where he could rendezvous with the more than hundred clansmen stationed there, and together they would eliminate Helingchuan's remaining forces.

A gentle breeze rustled along Qingyun Road, the wind barrier still active. Wanqisong strode forward vigorously, feeling that the air tonight was sweet. Was this the taste of success? He had fought with all his might and finally secured a decisive victory! The Bailong people, having suffered for so long, had finally seen their luck turn!

Just as they rounded a steep slope, the roadside bushes suddenly stirred. From the corner of his eye, the sprinting Wanqisong caught a glimpse of a cold glint. An ambush? With extensive combat experience, he didn't stop or look back, but instead ducked down and lunged forward. Indeed, a cold gust brushed past above his scalp, and a long blade spun through the air. Had he not dodged quickly, his throat would have been slit.

"Enemy attack!" The Bailong warriors rushed forward, some guarding their leader, others charging towards the shadows of the trees. However, just as they were about to move, the woods on the other side of Qingyun Road rustled, and a massive figure burst into the middle of the road with astonishing speed. It was a golden-armored copper guard, over a *zhang* tall, gripping a tree trunk as thick as a bucket! Tall and long-limbed, yet more agile than a human, it covered three *zhang* in a single leap, meaning it reached Wanqisong in just two steps and swung the tree trunk at him. The posture was like a golf swing, from bottom to top.

Wanqisong, having bent down to dodge the flying knife, hadn't yet straightened up when he felt a massive shadow engulf him. A rushing sound filled his ears, and as he turned his head, the tree trunk filled his vision. A few yellowish-green leaves still clung to its branches. In his haste, Wanqisong had no time to think; he channeled his *gangqi* and raised his axe to block. With a resounding "thud," he, along with his axe, was sent flying, arcing high through the air. Thanks to the golden-armored copper general's immense strength, he flew higher than the treetops, descending towards the roadside jungle. Nothing good awaited him there.

Having taken a direct hit from the golden-armored copper automaton, Wanqisong's arms were numb, but even mid-air, he activated "Shadow Following," darting behind a large tree below, effectively making an early landing. This single combat technique consumed a third of his true energy. But avoiding the enemy's ambush was worth it.

However, just as his feet touched the ground, a silent shadow appeared behind him. Though Wanqisong didn't see it immediately, the hair on his back bristled, knowing an enemy was closing in. He swung his axe backward. The opponent seemed to have anticipated this, ducking and swiveling their hips to deliver a side kick directly to his waist, sending him flying over two *zhang* away. The kick was swift, precise, and ruthless! Wanqisong clearly saw the leg rising, but his body's reaction was ultimately a step slower than his mind.

He had specifically worn double armor, inside and out, that night, and during combat, his body was overflowing with *gangqi*. The opponent's kick felt like striking a leather ball, its force significantly diminished by the time it transferred to his body. Even so, Wanqisong's vision went black, and he nearly gasped for breath. The kick was insidious and cunning, aimed at the kidney area; an ordinary person would have suffered internal bleeding and shock on the spot, dying if not treated promptly. Wanqisong, a seasoned warrior, managed to forcefully hold his breath and endure the pain, flipping over to stand, though his face was flushed crimson.

The opponent had already closed in. The woods were dark, and the opponent's eyes gleamed with a faint, cold light in the night. At such close proximity, Wanqisong finally made out the opponent's face. The next second, his eyes widened, and he cried out in disbelief, "You! Impossible! You're dead!" With sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a tall, sturdy build, it was Helingchuan! But only a quarter of an hour ago, he had clearly beheaded this man with his own blade! The sensation had been unmistakable. Wanqisong had severed countless heads in his life, developing a distinct feel for killing.

Thus, the moment he saw Helingchuan, his mind went blank, a chill spread through his heart, and he froze on the spot. On this bleak, wind- and rain-swept night, with the person he had just killed suddenly resurrected, Wanqisong saw Helingchuan's face and was reminded of the unblinking stare of a severed head. These two images merged in his mind, bypassing reason and instantly giving rise to the deepest fear.

Yet, he was strong-willed. With a brief moment of distraction, he suppressed his instincts and immediately realized: "You feigned..." This kid had faked his death to deceive him and the Beijia people! But before he could finish, a cold glint flashed before his eyes. Helingchuan silently brought his blade down, aiming straight for his neck. Wanqisong raised his axe to block, and to his surprise, it felt as though he were fighting the golden-armored copper general again! Such overwhelming power!

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged over a dozen blows. The young man, seemingly unassuming, possessed astonishing strength and practiced, ruthless combat techniques. Wanqisong was at a disadvantage, startled and unsettled by the suddenness of the attack, but his own defense was solid and impenetrable. After more than a dozen exchanges, Wanqisong was forced to retreat repeatedly, his arms numb, unable to regain the initiative. With the final downward chop, Wanqisong tried his best to shunt the force into the ground, causing his feet to sink an inch into the mud. What kind of pampered young master was this? Lord He was so fierce; he probably had just as many lives on his hands as Wanqisong himself! Only now did he realize that the previous fight on Qingyun Road had been a deliberate feint, designed to expose his weaknesses.

Helingchuan fought with increasing fervor. Seizing an opportunity, he parried Wanqisong's axe, forcing an opening in his opponent's chest. Immediately, his left fist, like a hook, struck the *Juque* acupoint! This was a depression between the chest and abdomen, unprotected by hard ribs. Helingchuan's Zi-Wu True Energy directly vibrated the soft internal organs, sending Wanqisong flying sideways. He spat a mouthful of blood in mid-air and couldn't get up after landing. In a direct clash, he had actually lost.

The ground beneath his feet suddenly caved in slightly—a precursor to a supernatural ability being activated. Wanqisong, ever alert, sensed something amiss even through the intense pain, struggling to shift a few steps away. Then, a colossal creature burst from the ground, standing exactly where he had just been! A house. No, it was a giant snail shell, as large as a wooden cabin. By the faint ambient light, he noticed a strange, slimy creature beneath the shell. Strictly speaking, the creature was carrying the shell on its back. It had two antenna-like eyes and a long, snail-like tail, but its limbs were remarkably long, and its mouth could stretch back to its ears, making it strikingly similar to a frog. It was bizarre and disproportioned; even a monster wouldn't look like such a haphazard assemblage. Wanqisong, who had fought across lands and witnessed countless grand spectacles, was momentarily stunned upon seeing it. What on earth was this thing?