Chapter 1 "Wangye, that barbarian thief has already broken through eight military formations. We should inform the Zhenbei Marquis's residence and allow us to enter the manor first."

A middle-aged man with a fine beard petitioned the figure behind the curtain.

"What's the rush? Even this spineless fellow isn't panicking. Look at you, tch, shameful."

Opposite the man with the fine beard sat an old man in a blue robe and fur cloak. The old man wore heavy makeup, as if he had a mask on. His lips were red and his teeth were white, and his voice was sharp and thin. The fragrance on his body was overpowering.

"Hehe, Eunuch Zhang is joking. I'm just worried about His Highness. His Highness is of noble birth and must not be harmed in the slightest."

"Alright, you scholars are best at saying one thing and meaning another. I can't argue with you, but have you thought about what kind of place this is?

That barbarian thief calls himself a desert savage. If the Zhenbei Marquis's residence can't even deal with a savage, would His Majesty be so troubled by them?"

"But, swords and spears have no eyes. What if that barbarian suddenly goes mad and comes towards us..."

"Master Chen, I can't enter the manor first. I was sent by my imperial father to celebrate the Old Madam's birthday. Those who understand will know that my imperial family upholds etiquette. Those who don't will think that my imperial family is really afraid of this Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

We were the ones who said to queue up and wait for inspection according to the rules. If we take the initiative to seek entry first this time, hehe, my face doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm not thinking of competing with my second brother for the crown prince, but if my imperial family is looked down upon because of this, then I'll wait to be punished by my imperial father after returning to the capital."

"Ooh, stop it, Your Highness, be gentle..."

"Your Highness, I want it too, I want to eat too..."

"Hahaha, don't be impatient, don't be impatient, everyone gets some."

From within the curtain came the sounds of frivolous laughter.

The man with the fine beard and the old eunuch exchanged glances, and tacitly retreated from the imperial carriage.

Outside, the guards were already on high alert. Although the battle was on the other side, the immense momentum still prevented them from being negligent.

The man with the fine beard faced the cold wind, stroked his long beard, and said to Eunuch Zhang beside him:

"Eunuch Zhang, that barbarian thief is truly powerful, able to withstand a thousand riders alone."

"The Left Guli King of the Barbarian Royal Court. If he didn't have some ability, the Barbarian Royal Court wouldn't even be able to claim to be the nominal master of the desert. They would have been devoured by other major tribes long ago."

"Hehe, I have limited knowledge. I've been writing articles in the Hanlin Academy for the past ten years, so I don't know much about the affairs of the world."

"Yo, yo, yo, Master Chen, you're joking. Our Great Yan has no shortage of martial men, but we lack literary talents like Master Chen."

Along the way, Chen Guangting looked down on the eunuch's incomplete body, and Eunuch Zhang also despised Chen Guangting's pedantic air. But despite their constant bickering, their relationship still progressed.

One was implicated due to his mentor and relegated to a leisurely royal mansion as a lecturer after languishing in the Hanlin Academy.

The other was impeached by his adopted son, demoted from the palace, and assigned to the royal mansion to manage odd jobs.

To some extent, they could be considered to be in the same boat. The highest seats of power for scholars and eunuchs were already out of reach for both of them.

"What kind of trick is the Zhenbei Army using?" Chen Guangting asked.

"Hehe, the aura of a top martial artist of this era is like the rising sun.

If you encounter one on the battlefield, you either need to use one or two equally strong opponents to contain them in a one-on-one fight, or you have to use the method currently employed by the Zhenbei Army, using iron cavalry in a war of attrition to slowly whittle away at their rising sun until it becomes a setting sun.

See? That barbarian thief's aura is already weakening. It's hard to say whether he can withstand the second round of eight military formations.

Even if he does, he'll be exhausted. But the third round of military formations will quickly follow, giving him no chance to breathe!"

"So, they're using the lives of their own men to deplete his aura?"

"You could understand it that way."

"And those soldiers, they know in their hearts that their lives are being used for attrition?"

"Of course."

"And they're willing?"

Eunuch Zhang's thick powder furrowed slightly, and wrinkles appeared as he smiled and said:

"That's why they're the Zhenbei Army. Don't laugh at me, but when I was a kid, before I was cut, my dream was to one day join the Zhenbei Army and go to the desert to kill barbarians."

"My respects, my respects."

"You're too kind, you're too kind."

"But, I'm still curious. Now that the Barbarian Left Guli King has come, doesn't the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, which is said to have 300,000 iron cavalry, have a few real experts guarding it?"

"Of course there are."

"Then why aren't they coming out?"

"Having the Barbarian Left Guli King as a sparring partner, what a rare opportunity to train soldiers. Naturally, they're letting the various units take the opportunity to practice."

"This... is that really possible?"

"Take a look. Today, those who have come here to celebrate the Old Madam's birthday include envoys from various countries, major clans, and even large barbarian tribes.

Those martial arts experts comparable to the current Barbarian Left Guli King are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns in the world, but the Zhenbei Army's iron cavalry, when added together from the Six Garrisons, number a full 300,000.

The major clans and families all have their own scales. Seeing the elite and strength of the Zhenbei Army again today, who will dare to be presumptuous in front of the Marquis's residence in the future?

They were sent a pillow just as they were getting sleepy, and are using this incident to demonstrate their power."

"Oh, I'm finished, but that barbarian isn't finished yet?"

The Sixth Prince, just over twenty years old, lifted the carriage curtain and got out of the carriage.

"Your Highness, be careful, it's cold outside." Eunuch Zhang immediately took off his fur coat and placed it on the Sixth Prince.

The Sixth Prince didn't care that it was something used by a eunuch, and instead held it tightly with both hands.

Just at this moment,

The slovenly man broke through another formation of iron cavalry!

The Sixth Prince clicked his tongue and said:

"Eunuch Zhang, tell me, if you were to fight him, what are your chances of winning?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Zhang's face looked as aggrieved as a daisy,

and said:

"Oh, Your Highness, are you praising this servant or insulting the Guli King?

This servant's meager skills are only enough to deal with petty thieves in the royal mansion. If I were to really face such a character, I could only sacrifice myself to delay him for a few breaths, so that Your Highness can run as far as possible."

"Hahahaha..."

The Sixth Prince laughed.

Chen Guangting then spoke:

"Your Highness, I have a question."

"Master Chen, please speak freely."

At this time, Eunuch Zhang immediately waved his hand to signal the royal guards to move away to defend, lest they hear the following conversation.

Chen Guangting looked at Eunuch Zhang with some gratitude, and then said:

"I heard that this task of offering birthday congratulations was something that Your Highness actively requested from His Majesty?"

"That's right."

"I don't understand. Your Highness has always disliked mundane matters, so why..."

"Because I wanted to come and see the Zhenbei Marquis's residence's County Princess."

"Your Highness, are you interested in..."

"Master Chen, you're thinking too much. This County Princess is not someone I can afford to enjoy. She is being prepared by my imperial father for my second brother, that is, in my imperial father's mind, the future Great Yan Crown Prince's official consort."

Upon hearing this royal secret, Eunuch Zhang clicked his tongue and said:

"The Second Prince is gentle by nature, but this County Princess's personality isn't easy to get along with."

Eunuch Zhang left a lot unsaid, but everyone knew it in their hearts.

As a woman, she can support the operation of the Marquis's residence alone, and she kills the chicken to scare the monkey, and when she makes a move, she wipes out the entire clan, leaving no one alive.

Such a woman is to be chosen as the Crown Princess?

Throughout history, those empresses who have dominated the court have at least been pure, ignorant, innocent, and romantic girls when they first entered the palace.

They need to be tempered year after year in the deep palace, growing step by step, before they can truly preside over the court with their phoenix-like authority.

But this County Princess is equivalent to being a max-level character before entering the palace!

"It's precisely because my second brother is too weak in nature and too upright and modest that my imperial father feels that he needs this kind of Crown Princess to assist him.

She has methods, schemes, and is ruthless enough. Outwardly, she also has the Great Yan's number one fortress as her maternal family. Tsk tsk, when my second brother succeeds to the throne in the future, who will dare to bully them as a couple?"

These were disrespectful words, but Zhang Gonggong and Chen Guangting only exchanged glances, pretending not to have heard them.

"This time, I not only brought gifts for the Old Madam's birthday, but I also prepared some gifts myself after opening my residence in the past few years, especially to curry favor with my future good sister-in-law.

Everything must be prepared in advance. Who knows, one day, if something goes wrong with my second brother's health, he might… um, um, you know;

Then, my good sister-in-law will come out and rule the court,

When it comes to wielding the knife against the imperial clan, hopefully she can remember the relationship we have now and let me off the hook."

"Your Highness, outsiders say that Your Highness is absurd and unruly, but I know that Your Highness's wisdom and foresight are unmatched, so I really don't know why Your Highness doesn't..."

"Master Chen, don't say such things in the future." The Sixth Prince shook his head and continued: "After a generation of great rulers, they often choose a ruler who can maintain the status quo as their successor. My second brother is the one my imperial father favors the most.

How should I put it? My second brother's personality is suitable for cleaning up the mess and recuperating after my imperial father's 'great talent and bold strategy', but I won't honestly and dutifully sit on that chair and do nothing.

Do you believe me? As soon as I reveal the slightest intention to compete for the throne, tomorrow, the Secret Intelligence Division will be able to dig out a dragon robe from my royal mansion!"

"Your Highness means that His Majesty still has the idea of ​​waging war? South, or north?"

"Master Chen, I'm tired."

Chen Guangting immediately knelt down,

"I misspoke, please forgive me, Your Highness..."

"Chen Guangting, get up now!!!!!!!!!"

Zhang Gonggong shouted excitedly.

"No, if Your Highness doesn't forgive me, I won't get up, Your Highness..."

"Chen Guangting,

That barbarian thief,

is killing his way towards us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Chen Guangting immediately got up and ran.

……………

"Alright, let's pack up and get into position."

Zheng Fan jumped down from the top of the tent, followed closely by Si Niang and Ding Hao.

"Master, what are we doing?" Ding Hao asked, confused.

"To save the day."

"Save the day?"

Zheng Fan nodded and pointed to a camp in front of him, saying:

"Do you see that black dragon banner?"

"I see it. It should be a prince who came to offer birthday congratulations."

"Yes."

Although Ding Hao was still a little confused, he also held his spear in his hand, ready to accompany Zheng Fan.

"Uh... A'Hao, you don't need to go."

"Doesn't the master trust his subordinate?"

"No, it's that he doesn't know you."

"Huh?"

Zheng Fan reached out and patted Ding Hao on the shoulder,

and gestured a square in front of him,

and said:

"If you don't want to go back in a little box, don't come with us."

"Oh, okay..."

Although Ding Hao didn't understand anything, he still stopped in place and didn't continue forward.

From the front came the voices of Zheng Fan and Si Niang:

"Si Niang, do you think I should shout later, 'Zheng Fan, the merchant escort captain of the Great Yan Zhenbei Army, is here. Barbarian thieves, don't be rampant,' or..."

"Master, I think there are a few too many words. There might not be enough time."

"Then shout, 'Zheng Fan is here, don't be rampant?' But it feels a bit chuuni." (Chuunibyou - Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur)

"Or, should I help Master shout?"

"How will you shout?"

"I'll change my voice:

Ah, who is this hero?

Ah, isn't this Zheng Fan, the merchant escort captain stationed in Hutou City of the Great Yan Zhenbei Army!"

"…………" Zheng Fan.

…

Round after round,

Wave after wave,

The Zhenbei Army's iron cavalry were fearless. They were really like parts on a machine, and as long as their superiors gave an order, they would lose all human emotions.

Finally,

in the next round of charge,

Shatuo Qieshi failed to break through the military formation and was instead repelled by the charge.

This was a sign that he was nearing exhaustion!

The commanding officer immediately began to order the formation to be deployed. Next, three military formations would charge together, giving him no chance to move or breathe.

However, just as the outer military formation was changing, Shatuo Qieshi suddenly rose from the ground, and the aura around his body released a dazzling red light. He actually jumped out, trying to escape this encirclement of iron cavalry.

"What, are you afraid of death?"

A low shout came from below,

Immediately afterward,

a middle-aged general in black armor wielding a pair of hammers also rose into the air.

Obviously, this was an expert from the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, who had been hiding until now. Seeing that the barbarian thief had the intention to break out, he immediately came forward to intercept him!

The Zhenbei Marquis's residence is not a place where you can come and go as you please.

One's aura was at its peak,

The other's aura was waning,

But Shatuo Qieshi had no fear,

In his heart,

he already regarded himself as a dead man.

In the previous charge, the Zhenbei Army knights who died at his hands numbered at least several hundred, and the wounded were twice that number. He had already made his money.

"Boom!"

The giant hammer collided with the fist.

"Barbarian Curse, Death Spring!"

Strands of black mist rose from around Shatuo Qieshi. This blood mist was transformed from his essence blood, carrying a strong aura of curse.

He was adopted by priests since he was a child. Although he eventually took the path of a martial artist, he also knew a little about barbarian curses.

The hammer-wielding man retreated,

Not because he was afraid of Shatuo Qieshi,

Nor because Shatuo Qieshi's barbarian curse was so terrifying and powerful,

In fact, as the commander of the Zhenbei Marquis's residence, who was stationed in the desert all year round, he naturally knew a lot about the barbarians and barbarian curses.

The most vicious part of this barbarian curse was that it used the caster himself as a sacrifice to curse another person, and the effect of the curse was determined by the level of the sacrifice.

Once this curse was successfully triggered,

The caster would die instantly,

But the cursed person would also suffer a miserable end.

He would not die, but his martial arts path would be terminated, and he would likely never make any progress in his life. At the same time, he would immediately enter a period of decline, and his aura would gradually weaken.

This barbarian thief's aura was almost exhausted. He was already at the end of his rope. It was not worth exchanging his life for his own martial arts path!

In fact, even if he didn't take action, the barbarian thief would not be able to escape this oasis under the pursuit of the rolling iron cavalry!

However,

The next scene made the hammer-wielding general's eyes widen,

The barbarian thief actually landed in the camp where the envoys were stationed, and rushed directly towards the camp with the black dragon banner!

"Barbarian thief, how dare you!"

………………

"Boom!!!"

Under the tyrannical fist,

the royal guards were like paper, and more than a dozen were torn apart in an instant.

What is meant by "a centipede dies but never falls down" was what Shatuo Qieshi was like at this time. Once he entered the camp, he was like a fierce tiger chasing sheep. No one in front of him could withstand a single blow.

"Your Highness, run, run!"

When Shatuo Qieshi's aura locked onto the Sixth Prince, Zhang Gonggong knew that this time it was impossible to avoid it, so he sternly said:

"This is the Great Yan Prince, how dare you rebel against your superiors? Dare your desert people withstand the wrath of my emperor!"

Facing this threat, Shatuo Qieshi didn't care, and came straight over. By the way, he easily tore apart four guards who dared to stop him.

Zhang Gonggong pressed his hands down, and strands of cyan aura gathered from his palms. His figure suddenly moved forward, rushing straight at Shatuo Qieshi, like a giant python reaching out!

However, Shatuo Qieshi's aura was like steel in the world. No matter how many times Zhang Gonggong struck him with qi-transformed hammers, it was still difficult to shake this person in a short period of time.

Martial artists are so terrifying. As long as their aura has not been completely exhausted, their bodies are the strongest weapons!

The stronger the martial artist, the more so.

Shatuo Qieshi reached out, with the roar of a tiger and the roar of a dragon. Zhang Gonggong's arm was directly grabbed by him, and the cyan practice around him immediately dissipated.

"Bang!"

Zhang Gonggong was directly thrown to the ground by Shatuo Qieshi. With one foot stepping down, Zhang Gonggong spat out a mouthful of blood, and it was unknown how many ribs in his chest were broken.

But Zhang Gonggong did fulfill what he had said before. He did block this terrifying barbarian for a few breaths.

And the Sixth Prince and Chen Guangting had already escaped to the entrance of the camp.

Shatuo Qieshi ignored the seriously injured Zhang Gonggong, and instead stomped on the ground with one foot, sending his whole body rushing towards the Great Yan Prince like a cannonball!

"Presumptuous!"

A giant hammer fell from the sky.

"Bang!"

The iron hammer directly hit Shatuo Qieshi, because he didn't dodge and took the hammer head-on.

Finally,

closer,

closer,

closer!

Shatuo Qieshi saw the panic on the face of the scholar man and the despair on the face of the young Great Yan Prince.

"Master Chen, his target is me!"

The Sixth Prince pushed Chen Guangting away and ran in another direction himself.

This scene also fell into Shatuo Qieshi's eyes;

Heh, this Yan Kingdom Prince is not bad.

However,

Just then,

a hand suddenly appeared from his side and grabbed his ankle.

The hammer-wielding general's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose were already overflowing with blood. He was forcibly and frantically urging a secret technique to accelerate the operation of his aura in order to arrive in time at a faster speed, and succeeded in intercepting Shatuo Qieshi.

Shatuo Qieshi punched the hammer-wielding general with his left fist,

The hammer-wielding general blocked with a single hammer,

"Boom!"

Shatuo Qieshi's left arm shattered and exploded directly.

The hammer-wielding general's face showed a look of shock. The opponent didn't add any strength to his previous fist!

The shattering of his left arm didn't affect Shatuo Qieshi at all. He reached down with his right hand, picked up a long knife left behind by a royal guard he had killed earlier,

Then,

He threw it at the Great Yan Prince!

"Buzz!"

The blade turned into a white light, slashing straight over.

Just then,

a armored captain suddenly appeared in front of the Sixth Prince,

Immediately afterward,

A blinding light that was enough to blind titanium alloy dog eyes was released from his body!

Zheng Fan was blind,

The Sixth Prince behind him was also blind.

"Clang!"

The sound of blades colliding came.

The Sixth Prince only felt a wall hit him, pressing him to the ground.

When his dizzy vision recovered,

The Sixth Prince saw a captain pressing on him. The captain's sword had broken, and the thrown blade had pierced into his armor.

Originally, according to the rehearsal,

Zheng Fan should have turned his head with difficulty at this time and looked at the Sixth Prince under him,

and asked painfully:

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

But at this time,

Sensing the sharp pain coming from his abdomen and the strange cold feeling brought by the intimate contact between his stomach and the blade,

The previous line,

here,

became:

"Crap! It hurts…"