Chapter 336: Enemy Advances Thirty Li

Pangongcuo, accompanied by Khan Luandi and other skilled experts, was about to pursue Qin Mu when they witnessed a fleet of over two hundred battleships approaching. With flags unfurled, their colossal hulls cast an immense shadow, resembling over two hundred dark clouds moving across half the sky.

Beneath the battleships, an army of exotic beasts emerged from the city gates. Enormous beasts, akin to small hills, spearheaded the advance, carrying archers on their backs. Behind them came chariots, followed by cavalry, and further back, infantry phalanxes, meticulously organized into distinct units based on their spiritual attributes, forming a formidable and sprawling force.

This impressive formation, however, left Khan Luandi feeling bewildered.

Traditionally, Yankang Nation deployed its exotic beast army at the vanguard, with chariots and cavalry interspersed, and infantry engaging the enemy beneath the beasts. The battleships, in contrast, were typically positioned in the central army.

While battleships could float, their limited range made them vulnerable to being shot down, thus necessitating protection from the main army.

Yet, this time, the battleships were leading the charge.

To disable a battleship, one merely needed to launch sword pills from thirty *li* away, causing damage and bringing it down. If the alchemy furnace powering it could be destroyed, its subsequent explosion would often claim the lives of all soldiers aboard. Qin Mu had indeed upgraded the battleships' alchemy furnaces, significantly boosting their firepower. However, this also meant their explosions were now several, or even ten, times more devastating than before, making survival impossible for most divine arts practitioners caught in one. Naturally, Qin Mu wasn't to blame for this. While his improvements to the furnaces granted the battleships increased speed, their offensive firepower hadn't advanced commensurately, thus preventing them from fully harnessing the upgraded furnaces' potential.

"Has the Yankang Imperial Preceptor lost his mind?"

As Khan Luandi pondered this, Pangongcuo's voice suddenly cut through the air, barking, "Luandi, shoot down that Qin boy at once!"

Khan Luandi was stark naked, his trousers having been pulled down to his ankles by the Cripple. The Cripple had also made off with his golden saber and quiver, and even his magnificently luxurious raccoon cloak had been gleefully appropriated.

Despite his predicament, he was still a national ruler with his cultivation intact. Upon hearing the command, he promptly pulled up his trousers, reaching for his belt, only to find nothing there.

The Cripple had even absconded with his gold-inlaid, jade-adorned belt.

"This Cripple's skill is extraordinary! If his intention had been to kill me instead of merely stealing my clothes, how could I have possibly defended myself?"

A shiver of dread ran through Khan Luandi, and cold sweat streamed down his back, drenching him.

However, he had overestimated the Cripple. While the Cripple possessed remarkable agility, his talents lay primarily in thievery and evasion. His footwork was elusive, and his techniques inscrutable. Regrettably, his close-quarters combat relied solely on his legs, as he had few offensive abilities with his hands.

The Cripple's physical divine arts were unremarkable, and his offensive moves lacked potency. If someone truly attacked him, they wouldn't last many moves. His most fearsome attribute remained his movement technique.

Though Khan Luandi lacked a bow and arrows, his cultivation remained. Suddenly, his vital qi surged, and a divine, demonic figure slowly materialized behind him. This entity possessed four arms and a bird's head, wreathed in raging flames and radiating intense light.

This divine demon was his primordial spirit, now manifest with corporeal solidity. Its four arms drew a bow and notched an arrow, instantly engulfing the "Duck's Tongue" area in blazing fire. The flames howled and converged, forming an impossibly bright arrow shaft between the colossal, four-armed bow.

A tremor rippled through the air as the arrow launched. The sky and ground became parched, and a continuous display of fiery yellow sand anomalies appeared. Where the arrow flew, fiery whirlwinds roared across the sandy desert, churning up yellow sand into the sky as columns of flame tornadoes raged uncontrollably!

Bare-chested, Khan Luandi raised his right hand, pressing his thumb against his ring and pinky fingers while extending his index and middle fingers, forming a sword art gesture which he then pressed against his glabella.

*Swoosh—*

The arrow of light and fire was unbelievably swift, darting directly towards the frantically fleeing Cripple and Qin Mu. Its speed was so extreme that the impossibly bright light and flames were invisible; all one could perceive was a fleeting black streak imprinted on their retinas as the arrow vanished.

Pangongcuo's heart pounded. Khan Luandi was renowned as the premier divine archer of the plains, and the sheer power demonstrated by this single arrow sent a tremor even through him!

"If I hadn't acquired the Golden Scroll, allowing me to advance further and become a deity, I would have to seriously guard against this troublesome old man... My Golden Scroll!"

Pangongcuo felt a stabbing pain in his heart, as if a knife had been plunged into his chest and twisted, remembering that Qin Mu had stolen his Golden Scroll.

On his journey to the border pass, he had secretly studied the Golden Scroll, committing its intricate cultivation route map to memory. Yet, the map was exceedingly complex; even a minor deviation could lead to monumental errors, and absolute precision was vital for repairing the divine bridge.

He was uncertain if he could execute it without a single flaw.

As the luminous arrow closed in on Qin Mu and the Cripple, the Cripple abruptly discarded everything he had stolen, scattering items indiscriminately. He then grabbed Qin Mu and, with ghostly agility, flashed away, narrowly evading the arrow's path.

Khan Luandi raised an eyebrow, a flicker of doubt in his mind: "This old man's ability doesn't seem to be as formidable as I had imagined..."

His finger, still pressed to his glabella, remained motionless as the arrow of light veered in mid-air, redirecting itself towards the Cripple. The Cripple's movements shifted ceaselessly, his form almost instantly blurring in and out, creating the illusion that he was traversing spatial barriers.

The Cripple dared not directly confront the arrow, yet his movement technique was remarkably uncanny. His ability to maintain such astonishing swiftness while carrying Qin Mu left observers wide-eyed, making it incredibly difficult for Khan Luandi to land a hit.

As the Cripple drew closer to the battleships, Duke Wei leaped into the sky, grasping his Ducal Sword. With a powerful swing, he brought the sword down to meet the arrow of light!

*Boom—*

An immensely terrifying tremor erupted, sending Duke Wei soaring high into the air. He landed on a battleship, laughing heartily, "Luandi, you certainly possess some formidable skills!"

Khan Luandi's power surpassed his. The arrow's momentum remained undiminished. Then, Grand General Champion Huaihua patted his back, and his *Fangtian* halberd shot skyward, transforming into a long dragon that extended its claws, clamping down on the arrow of light from below.

Grand General Champion Huaihua grunted, his vital qi nearly exploding from the impact. His feet involuntarily shuffled backward repeatedly until he finally managed to block the arrow of light, a sense of shock dawning upon him.

Had Duke Wei not first engaged in a head-on clash with the arrow of light, expending a significant portion of Khan Luandi's shot, Grand General Champion Huaihua would likely not have been able to withstand the attack.

"The Khan of the Barbarian Nation lives up to his formidable reputation, only marginally weaker than the Imperial Preceptor and His Majesty!"

As the luminous arrow dissipated, Grand General Champion Huaihua reached out. The long dragon soared back, transforming into his blood-red *Fangtian* halberd upon landing in his hand, its dragon claws becoming the halberd's buzzing branches.

In the "Duck's Tongue" region, the other Khans and Sorcerer Kings hurriedly pulled up their trousers, though none could find their belts.

Suddenly, the booming sound of horns resonated from Helan Pass behind them. Armies from various prairie tribes poured out of Helan Pass like a surging tide. The prairie forces were primarily known for their cavalry, with the "Sheep Army" spearheading the advance.

The "Sheep Army" did not ride mountain goats; instead, these barbarian divine arts practitioners rode two-legged wild sheep—hybrids of prairie sheep and exotic beasts from the Great Ruins. These creatures, though herbivorous, were exceptionally robust.

These two-legged wild sheep galloped across the ground like colossal, flightless birds. They were also exceptionally tall, standing like small towers. Their most potent weapon was their pair of spiraled horns. When charging, they would lower their heads and ram forward, plowing paths dozens of *zhang* long like a harrow, violently sending everything in their wake flying.

Overhead, the prairie flying cavalry soared on "Eagle-Carved Wolves"—carnivorous beasts resembling giant winged wolves. The strongest archers and blade wielders of the plains rode atop these creatures; the archers fired arrows, while the blade wielders manipulated sword pills.

The prairie forces, known for their swift, wind-like movements, consistently prevented Yankang Nation's army from gaining any tactical advantage.

The combined armies of the prairie tribes charged forward with an earth-shattering aura, their numbers vastly outmatching Yankang Nation's forces.

Khan Luandi and the others hastily tied their trousers around their waists with a tight knot.

Khan Luandi let out a hearty laugh. "What does it matter if a petty thief stole our treasures and clothes? True heroes and hot-blooded men fight bare-chested on the battlefield! Gentlemen! We may have had our disputes in the past, fighting for land and livestock for our own tribes. But though the prairie is vast, it has its limits. Yankang Nation, however, is rich and prosperous, teeming with women and fertile land! Today, on this battlefield, let us fight to our heart's content. Once we shatter Qingmen Pass, Yankang Nation will be ours to graze!"

The numerous Khans of the prairie were invigorated, standing together bare-chested and roaring with laughter. Their heroic spirit surged skyward, dispersing the white clouds and leaving the heavens crystal clear.

Their cultivation and strength were considerable; there were many masters at the Heavenly Human Life and Death realm, and several Khans had even attained the Divine Bridge realm.

Each of them unleashed their vital qi, their primordial spirits manifesting as various powerful phantom images of gods and demons behind them, as they awaited the charge of their respective tribal armies.

As the prairie army surged forward, each leader employed their unique skills; some ran wildly, while others flew into the air, all heading towards Yankang Nation's fleet.

Pangongcuo hesitated, choosing not to join the charge. He summoned a Sorcerer King and stated gravely, "Escort me into the pass."

The summoned Sorcerer King acknowledged the order, while the other Sorcerer Kings proceeded directly towards the Yankang Nation fleet.

Aboard the battleship fleet's flagship, the Hall Master of the Sword Hall stood at the bow, his garments flapping in the wind. Yu Yuan Chuyun stood beside him, and both generals observed the rapidly approaching prairie army.

"Reporting, General! The enemy is within 160 *li* range!" the flag officer, who was measuring the distance, called out from atop the tall mast, clutching a rope.

The Hall Master of the Sword Hall remained impassive. "Continue advancing," he commanded. "Notify me when they reach 80 *li*."

Yu Yuan Chuyun's expression was equally calm, though his eyebrows subtly rose upon hearing "80 *li*." The flag officer signaled, relaying the command for all ships to proceed.

"General, the enemy has reached 80 *li*!" the flag officer reiterated.

Yu Yuan Chuyun took a sword pill into his hand, his eyebrows arching. The Hall Master of the Sword Hall continued, "Notify me at 40 *li*."

Yu Yuan Chuyun frowned slightly, casting a glance at the Hall Master of the Sword Hall, but remained silent.

The flag officer's tense voice rang out: "The enemy has reached 40 *li*!"

Yu Yuan Chuyun exhaled slowly, his eyes gleaming like the brilliant sun. The Hall Master of the Sword Hall commanded, "Order all ships to preheat the vital qi cannons. Open fire at 30 *li*."

Yu Yuan Chuyun's palms were slick with sweat. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "General Jian's patience is truly extraordinary! To dare wait until 30 *li*... 30 *li* is already within the enemy's attack range..."

The flag officer immediately waved his flag, relaying the command to all ships. The turrets on each vessel promptly began drawing energy from their alchemy furnaces, preparing for discharge.

The Hall Master of the Sword Hall observed the overwhelming prairie army, spearheaded by Heavenly Human Life and Death realm experts. He spoke unhurriedly, "The Imperial Preceptor's command is to flatten Helan Pass, not merely to defeat the enemy. At 160 *li*, the enemy still has an opportunity to flee with their main force largely intact. At 80 *li*, approximately 60% of the enemy could escape. At 40 *li*, only 30% might escape, though their main commanders could still get away. But at 30 *li*, at most 30% of the enemy commanders will survive!"

Yu Yuan Chuyun sighed in admiration. "Teacher Jian is still Teacher Jian. It was only by studying swordsmanship under you that Chuyun achieved what he has today."

The over two hundred battleships abruptly turned sideways, emitting creaking sounds. Their colossal hulls seemed to transform into an impenetrable brass wall suspended in mid-air. Instantly, cannon light erupted, and thousands of light beams, each as thick as a bowl, materialized in the sky!

In that single volley, the barbarian kings, khans, and sorcerer kings at the forefront were instantly riddled with holes and plummeted from the sky!

Many powerhouses of the Life and Death and Divine Bridge realms were startled. Duke Wei, Grand Commandant, Grand General Champion Huaihua, and others charged out, engaging them in battle!

Meanwhile, on the flagship, the Hall Master of the Sword Hall personally waved the flag, directing the cannons to pivot and aim downwards. The resulting light beams sliced through the advancing ground army like countless luminous swords!

The Hall Master of the Sword Hall waved his flag, splitting the over two hundred battleships into two fleets: one hovered above, the other below, separated by no more than a hundred *zhang*. Yu Yuan Chuyun commanded the upper fleet, targeting the enemy's flying cavalry, while the Hall Master himself directed the lower fleet to sweep the ground. As the fleets advanced horizontally, bursts of cannon fire erupted, leaving a trail of overturned men and sheep in their wake!

Meanwhile, Qin Mu and the Cripple returned to Qingmen Pass. There, they found the Village Chief and the Yankang Imperial Preceptor seated casually on the city wall, sipping tea, seemingly unconcerned by the ongoing battle.

"Jian Sansheng possesses remarkable patience, and his mastery of swordsmanship is truly exceptional. He handles the battlefield like a sword; he's an expert now."

The Yankang Imperial Preceptor poured tea for the Village Chief. The Village Chief waited, expecting the Imperial Preceptor to lift the cup to his lips, but then remembered he wasn't the Apothecary. He sighed, used his vital qi to lift the tea himself, took a sip, and remarked, "His swordsmanship has traces of yours, but strangely, it also has traces of mine."

The Yankang Imperial Preceptor shook his head. "I never taught him," he stated.

Both men simultaneously turned their heads to look at Qin Mu, who had just ascended the city wall. If neither of them had taught the Sword Hall Master swordsmanship, then the only possibility was Grand Cult Master Qin.

Both immediately frowned deeply. Grand Cult Master Qin stood before them, holding a strange, gleaming golden book in one hand and a pair of underwear in the other.

"Mu'er, I've discarded what I stole, but you haven't thrown yours away yet. You're now the world's greatest divine thief!" the Cripple exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up.

Qin Mu shook his head. "My skill is nowhere near Cripple Grandpa's," he replied.

"Throw it away! Just throw it away!"

The Cripple covered his nose. "What's so great about a Supreme Being's underwear? Get rid of it quickly!"

Qin Mu tossed the underwear from the city wall, then approached the two tea drinkers. He casually placed the Golden Scroll onto the tea table, sniffed the tea's aroma, and chuckled, "I actually have some excellent tea here. A Young Master Xu, named Xu Shenghua, brought it from the High Heavens. I shamelessly persuaded him to part with half a packet."

"The High Heavens?"

The Yankang Imperial Preceptor and the Village Chief's hearts leaped. They pulled their gaze from the golden book, and the Village Chief hastily inquired, "You encountered a visitor from the High Heavens? He didn't attack you?"

"No," Qin Mu replied.

Qin Mu looked perplexed. "Xu Shenghua is a very amiable person. I had a brief skirmish with him, and we were evenly matched. Village Chief, he's also a Hegemon Body! Just like me!"

The young man grew visibly excited.