My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Meng Chang's pupils were fixed on the silver spear in front of him, the tip still stained with his own warm blood, which gleamed with a blinding cold light under the sunlight.

Shock, astonishment, regret, disbelief—countless emotions surged like a tide, instantly overwhelming his mind.

The iron broadsword that he had been wielding with such force just moments before had now flown out of his hand, spinning as it crashed into a pile of weeds not far away with a dull thud.

He finally understood that the Han army camp was full of fierce generals, far superior to the rough and tumble warriors of the southern barbarian lands. This Han general could kill him instantly with a single blow.

Previously, in the southern barbarian tribes, he relied on his brute strength to defeat all the surrounding tribes and was invincible, earning the nickname "Little Lü Bu". He then truly believed that he had the ability to compete with famous Han generals.

Before setting off, Wu Rong warned him, "Han generals are fierce and brave, so we must not underestimate them." But he took it as a woman's sentimentality and patted his chest, promising to capture Deng Ai alive and let the Han people see the power of the southern barbarian warriors.

But at this moment, that blind confidence has long since shattered into dust.

He was filled with regret, regretting that he should not have listened to the instigation of the clan elders, and even more so, that he should not have acted rashly and volunteered to challenge Deng Ai.

This brief standoff, lasting only a stick of incense, was incredibly fast. From his sword strike at Deng Ai to the opponent's silver spear parrying and deflecting the force precisely, and finally to the seemingly effortless spear thrust that pierced his breastplate, the entire process was lightning-fast. He didn't even see the changes in the opponent's moves.

"So... I was so utterly vulnerable in front of him."

A metallic taste rose in Meng Chang's throat, and only one thought remained in his mind:
His death not only cost him his own life, but also caused the morale of the Southern Barbarian army to plummet. In the end, he met a tragic end, his name forgotten.

Deng Ai sat upright on his horse, his face cold and stern, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he had just killed not the famous "Little Lü Bu" of the Southern Barbarians, but merely an ant blocking his way.

In the instant the two horses passed each other, he lightly twisted his wrist, and the silver spear, like a nimble snake returning to its hole, steadily returned to the holster beside the saddle. The movement was fluid and without the slightest hesitation.

"Uh-"

Meng Chang let out a shrill howl. The force of the spear had completely disrupted the flow of qi and blood in his chest, and a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of broken internal organs gushed out.

His body went limp, and he fell from his horse like a puppet with its strings cut, crashing heavily onto the battlefield covered in rubble.

One strike to kill the enemy!
These four words resounded like thunder across the battlefield, causing the soldiers on both sides, who had been roaring and fighting, to pause instinctively.

Deng Ai reined in his horse, turned it around, and glanced at the dumbfounded barbarian soldiers. He drew his silver spear again, the tip pointing directly at the enemy formation. With a gentle squeeze of his legs, he charged forward like a silver lightning bolt. As the spear flashed, barbarian soldiers fell to the ground screaming in agony.

The barbarian army was completely dumbfounded.

Meng Chang's martial arts skills are recognized as top-notch among the southern barbarian tribes. He wields a broadsword with unparalleled skill and once killed more than thirty warriors single-handedly in a tribal war. The title of "Little Lu Bu" is by no means undeserved.

In their hearts, Meng Chang's combat strength was second only to the tribe's number one female general, Wu Rong, and he was a force to be reckoned with.

But this very war god in their eyes was killed by this Han general with a single, effortless spear thrust?
"Is this...is this Han general a demon god descended to earth?"

A barbarian soldier's hand holding his weapon began to tremble, his voice filled with fear.

These words were like opening Pandora's box, and fear instantly spread through the hearts of the barbarian soldiers.

They were already struggling due to the Han army's charge, and now that their morale had collapsed, they had no fighting spirit left.

The collapse begins from this moment.

The fighting spirit of the southern barbarians crumbled instantly, like a dam breached by a flood.

First, a few barbarian soldiers threw down their weapons and ran away. Then, more and more people followed suit and fled, and the entire barbarian army formation completely broke apart.

Some people were tripped by their companions while running away, and before they could get up, they were trampled to death by the surging crowd behind them.

Meanwhile, the Han army's White Horse Cavalry, which had been poised for battle, charged out like arrows released from a bow.

These knights were all highly skilled horsemen, their long spears gleaming coldly, moving through the chaotic army as if it were empty.

Where the horses' hooves trampled, barbarian soldiers fell to the ground one after another, their blood staining the battlefield red. Corpses lay piled one on top of another, a gruesome sight to behold.

Deng Ai did not stop for a moment. He charged forward, covered in blood, and no one could stop him wherever his silver spear passed. In the heat of the battle, he suddenly looked up and caught sight of a tattered but still upright battle flag with the character "Zhang" amidst the chaos of the enemy.

That's Zhang Bao's battle flag!
At this moment, Zhang Bao was surrounded by dozens of barbarian soldiers. His armor was torn in many places and blood was dripping from the corner of his mouth, but he still wielded his eighteen-foot spear with great force, protecting the battle flag from falling.

"General Zhang, don't panic, Deng Ai is here!"

Deng Ai shouted loudly, his voice as clear as a bell, piercing through the noise of the battlefield.

He suddenly exerted force with both legs, and his warhorse neighed, its hooves flying as it dragged its silver spear straight towards the encirclement.

He had only one thought in his mind:
We must rescue Zhang Bao as soon as possible. If Zhang Bao is lost, not only will we lose a great general, but it will also affect the entire battle situation.

Just as he was about to reach the vicinity of the encirclement, a rapid sound of hooves suddenly came from the side.

Deng Ai felt a chill run down his spine and turned to look. He saw a well-equipped barbarian army charging down the hillside to his right. Leading them was a large black banner with a striking, powerful character for "shaman" on it.

The vanguard of that barbarian troop was a female general dressed in black leather armor. She wielded a gilded broadsword, and with each swing of the blade, she cut down several Han soldiers who tried to stop her. Her swordsmanship was as swift and fierce as the wind, and truly no one could stop her.

Upon seeing the banner bearing the character "巫" (witch) and the female general's attire, a name instantly flashed into Deng Ai's mind:
"Wu Rong?"

Before setting out on the expedition, he had heard from scouts that there was a female general among the southern barbarians with unparalleled martial arts skills and immense strength, known as the fiercest general of the southern barbarians, who was none other than Wu Rong.

Furthermore, it is said that Wu Rong once fought with Zhang Bao, but was ultimately defeated and knocked off his horse. Since then, he has harbored a grudge against Zhang Bao and is determined to take revenge.

The fact that this female general has appeared at this moment is clearly aimed at Zhang Bao.

"The number one female general of the Southern Barbarians? Hmph, let's see what she's capable of."

Deng Ai sneered disdainfully and shouted, "It's perfect to capture you and present you to the Grand Marshal; that would be a meritorious deed!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already turned his horse around and charged towards Wu Rong, his silver spear drawing a dazzling arc in the sunlight.

At this moment, Wu Rong was filled with hatred for Zhang Bao. She had witnessed Meng Chang's murder, and although she was shocked, she was even more furious.

She believed that Zhang Bao had restrained her, which gave the Han general the opportunity to kill Meng Chang.

She originally intended to rush up and kill Zhang Bao when he was exhausted, in order to avenge her previous humiliation, but she did not expect that Deng Ai would suddenly appear out of nowhere.

"You audacious Han general, how dare you block my way!"

Upon hearing Deng Ai's shout, Wu Rong turned around abruptly and saw a silver-armored general charging towards him with a silver spear in hand, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

She frowned. This Han general's attire and demeanor were definitely not those of an ordinary soldier, yet she had never seen this man before.

In her mind, among the Han army, apart from Zhang Bao, there was no one else who could rival her.

"How dare you underestimate my number one warrior of the Southern Barbarians! I will kill you today to avenge Meng Chang!"

Wu Rong roared angrily. She was already furious because Deng Ai had ruined her plans, and now seeing the other party's disdainful expression only fueled her rage.

She spurred her horse's flanks, and the warhorse neighed and accelerated. In her hand, she wielded a gilded broadsword, which flashed like a golden light and whistled through the air, as it slashed down at Deng Ai.

"clang--!"

The silver spear and the golden sword clashed violently, and a deafening explosion resounded across the battlefield.

The shockwaves from the collision of the two immense forces rippled outwards, sending several barbarian soldiers who couldn't dodge in time flying. They crashed heavily to the ground, coughing up blood and struggling to get up. Deng Ai sat upright on his horse, his figure as imposing as an iron tower. Despite the raging shockwaves, his body remained motionless, not even blinking, his face still bearing that cold, stern expression.

On the other hand, Wu Rong felt an endless force coming from the blade, spreading from his arm to his whole body. His blood and qi surged instantly, and a sweet taste came from his throat. A mouthful of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, staining the leather armor on his chest red.

One blow was enough to severely injure him!

Wu Rong was greatly alarmed, and his hand gripping the hilt of the knife began to tremble slightly.

She never dreamed that this unknown Han general would possess such terrifying martial arts skills.

The force of that attack was several times stronger than Zhang Bao's at his peak!
Zhang Bao's spear technique was already incredibly fierce, making it difficult for her to defend herself, but the Han general in front of her was simply a monster!

"How is this possible... Zhang Bao's martial arts are already incredible enough, but this Han general's martial arts far surpass his? How can there be such a powerful person in this world!"

Wu Rong muttered to herself in a hoarse voice, her eyes filled with disbelief and terror. She looked at the seemingly ordinary silver spear in Deng Ai's hand, and for the first time, she felt fear in her heart.

"You lowly barbarian woman, with your abilities, you dare to call yourself the number one warrior?"

Deng Ai's voice was filled with disdain. With a flick of his wrist, he deflected Wu Rong's golden sword with his silver spear.

"It seems your Southern Barbarians are truly out of talent, which is why they have to send someone like you to fill the ranks!"

Before he finished speaking, he brandished his silver spear once more, the spear shadows fluttering like pear blossoms, aiming for Wu Rong's vital points.

Deng Ai raised his silver spear, the tip reflecting thousands of cold glints in the sunlight. The dense spear shadows poured down like a sudden rain, covering all of Wu Rong's vital points.

The spear strikes appeared chaotic, but each strike actually locked down Wu Rong's dodge positions. The wind from the spears howled, stinging Wu Rong's cheeks and making it difficult for him to breathe.

Wu Rong's last shred of fighting spirit completely collapsed—she chickened out.

The head-on collision just now had made her clearly perceive Deng Ai's unfathomable strength, and now this impenetrable rain of gunfire made her realize that the gap between the two sides was as vast as an insurmountable chasm.

Although Zhang Bao's spear technique was fierce, it was still traceable. However, Deng Ai's spear technique was both agile and fierce, so fast that she could not catch the trajectory of his moves at all.

"This Han general is several times more terrifying than Zhang Bao..."

Wu Rong had only one thought left in his mind; his previous hatred for Zhang Bao had long been replaced by the instinct to survive.

She knew perfectly well that if she continued to fight head-on, she would be pierced through the body by that silver spear within three moves, ending up like Meng Chang, with her head separated from her body.

"As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!"

Wu Rong gritted his teeth and made up his mind. With a sudden flick of his wrist, the gilded broadsword swept out with brute force, barely deflecting the nearest spear shadow in front of him. Using the recoil, he abruptly turned his horse around. His warhorse neighed in pain, its hooves flying as it fled wildly towards the dense forest to the south.

She didn't even dare to turn around, hoping to use the terrain to shake off this menacing figure behind her.

"Want to escape? Dreaming!"

Deng Ai's fierce roar exploded like thunder behind Wu Rong.

He had already seen through Wu Rong's intentions, and he was unwilling to let this top general of the Southern Barbarians escape so easily.

Deng Ai gripped the horse's belly tightly with both legs, his right hand gripping the silver spear and dragging it at his side, the spear tip scraping the ground and sparking a string of sparks. With his left hand, he suddenly raised the whip and lashed it heavily onto the horse's rump.

The battle-hardened warhorse, possessing supernatural powers, instantly understood its master's intention. It strode forward like a silver lightning bolt, chasing after Wu Rong in the direction he had fled, rapidly closing the distance between the two horses.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wu Rong caught a glimpse of dust billowing behind him, and Deng Ai's figure drew ever closer, making him increasingly anxious.

She secretly glanced back, and when she saw the distance between the two horses, her pupils suddenly contracted—no more than eight steps apart!
This distance is precisely the optimal range for her signature flying stone attack.

A sinister sneer instantly crept onto Wu Rong's lips. Her tense nerves relaxed abruptly, and she even deliberately slowed down her horse's speed.

"Finally got fooled!"

Wu Rong was secretly delighted, "No matter how skilled you are, you can't escape my flying stone technique that I've practiced for thirty years!"

She began practicing throwing stones in the mountains at the age of twelve, developing an unparalleled skill of hitting the target every time. In her hands, the stones were as powerful as strong bows and crossbows. Over the years, at least fifteen or twenty tribal warriors and Han generals have died under her flying stones.

Wu Rong's movements were extremely discreet. His left hand seemed to rest casually on the leather bag beside the saddle, while his fingertips quietly picked up a pebble the size of a pigeon egg.

The stone, after being rubbed by her for many years, had a surface as smooth as jade, but its edges carried a subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness.

She secretly gathered her strength into her wrist, waiting for the right moment to deliver a fatal blow to Deng Ai.

"It's now!"

Wu Rong suddenly turned around, a fierce glint in his eyes. He suddenly exerted force on his wrist, and the pebble shot out like a cannonball, whistling through the air with a sharp "whoosh," heading straight for Deng Ai's face.

This attack was as fast as lightning and at an extremely tricky angle. Ordinary people wouldn't even have time to react, let alone dodge it.

The moment the pebble left his hand, Wu Rong's lips curled into a cold, triumphant smile once more.

She could almost see Deng Ai being struck in the face by a stone, blood splattering, and falling from his horse.

"So what if they are Han generals? In the end, they will all die under my flying stones!"

Wu Rong was overjoyed and even began to plan how to boast to the tribal elders about his "heroic feat" of killing the Han general when he returned.

But in the next second, Wu Rong's smile suddenly froze, his pupils dilated sharply, and his eyes were filled with unbelievable horror.

Despite the whistling flying stones, Deng Ai remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.

Just as the pebble was about to hit his face, Deng Ai's eyes suddenly narrowed, and he swung his silver spear horizontally with extreme speed, the tip of the spear striking the pebble precisely.

"clang!"

A crisp clang rang out, like the sound of metal clashing.

The pebble, imbued with Wu Rong's full strength, was easily deflected by Deng Ai's silver spear, its trajectory altered, and it embedded itself in the nearby earthen slope with a "plop," leaving only a shallow crater.

The smile on Wu Rong's face vanished completely, replaced by a deathly pallor.

No, it wasn't just that her smile disappeared; her body even began to tremble uncontrollably, her face turned pale with horror, and her lips trembled, yet she couldn't utter a single word.

Deng Ai... Deng Ai actually blocked her flying stone with ease?

Moreover, the way it was blocked was so nonchalant, as if it were just swatting away a fly.

For a moment, Wu Rong even thought she was hallucinating. She blinked hard, looked at the silver spear that Deng Ai was still holding steadily, and then at the cobblestone embedded in the earthen slope. Her mind went blank and buzzed.

His flying stones were as fast as lightning, impossible for even gods or ghosts to avoid, especially at such close range of eight steps, where they were always accurate and never missed.

How could anyone in this world possibly stop him? How did Deng Ai manage to do it?
Wu Rong stood frozen on horseback, dumbfounded, forgetting even to try to escape.

As Deng Ai drew closer, her eyes filled with fear and confusion; any lingering hope she held was utterly shattered at that moment. (End of Chapter)