Whale Falls and Becomes a God

Chapter 186 Three Heroes Battle Chengdu

More than a thousand miles north of Jiangdu lies a desolate wilderness!
With the situation in Jiangdu stabilizing and the city beginning to accept refugees, the number of people wandering the wilderness like lost souls has decreased significantly.

In addition, although there was no war near Jiangdu, the world was in chaos, and no one would wander around aimlessly, except for a few righteous heroes who roamed the martial world.

"Report..."

"Reporting to Your Highness! Yuwen Chengdu has led the Xiaoguo Army to appear several hundred miles ahead, numbering approximately 35,000 men, including 5,000 Xiaoguo Imperial Guards and 30,000 Xiaoguo Soldiers."

Xiao Ying led over 100,000 elite troops, stretching for miles, southward to Jiangdu in a grand procession.

During the march, a scout suddenly came to report, which startled Xiao Ying, Dugu Feng, Hong Lingtian, Wang Caixuan and others, who then fell into deep thought.

The rebel army, led by the Yuwen clan, numbered in the hundreds of thousands, and consisted entirely of veterans and elite soldiers, most of whom were from Guanzhong.

Since leaving Jiangdu, the rebels have fought many battles, especially the major battle against the Wagang Army. Xiao Ying and the others didn't know the exact number of casualties, but there was no way they could have only 35,000 men left!

Why did Yuwen Chengdu lead this group of elite troops to the front?
Do they think they are invincible and can defeat or annihilate the more than 100,000 elite troops led by Prince Jingwu with only 35,000 men?

"Your Highness! Yuwen Chengdu is likely heading for our army. We must be on guard! Or... should we take a detour?"

Strategist Wang Caixuan couldn't immediately figure out Yuwen Chengdu's purpose, so she could only rely on her own guesses and analysis, and solemnly offered her advice.

Dugu Feng raised an eyebrow, quite unconvinced, and eagerly said, "A mere 35,000 men are enough to make our army retreat? Even if they are the Xiaoguo Army, so what? Why not take this opportunity to defeat Yuwen Chengdu, annihilate this elite force, and the crisis in Jiangdu will be resolved!"

Wang Caixuan's expression changed slightly, and she forced herself to solemnly remind him again: "After all, they are the universally recognized number one in the world... the number one invincible general and the number one invincible army in the world!"

In the minds of Wang Caixuan and the others, even though Dugu Feng possessed terrifying combat power, was known as the "Peerless Phoenix," and was even said to be the number one female general in the world, she still could not possibly be a match for Yuwen Chengdu.

That said, during the Battle of Eagle Beak Gorge, Dugu Feng was no match for Marquis Wu Yunzhao of Nanyang, and Marquis Wu Yunzhao's first defeat was at the hands of Yuwen Chengdu. Based on this comparison, Dugu Feng is even less likely to be a match for Yuwen Chengdu; the gap is probably quite significant!
As for the Xiaoguo Army, although they are widely recognized as the world's top special forces, theoretically, over 120,000 elite troops could defeat over 30,000 Xiaoguo soldiers—but it all depends on who commands them!

With Yuwen Chengdu paired with the Xiaoguo Army, their combat power would undoubtedly increase exponentially, defying conventional logic!

"Let's give it a try, weigh the pros and cons... Good! So we won't be caught off guard! Let's go!"

Xiao Ying frowned and pondered for a moment, then replied in a deep voice, "I'm quite curious about the gap between myself and Yuwen Chengdu now!"
However, Xiao Ying previously believed that with Wu Yunzhao's Star Soul, she could fight Yuwen Chengdu. But in her past life's memories, Yuwen Chengdu had a glorious record of defeating Wu Yunzhao, Xiong Kuohai, and Wu Tianxi together.

As a result, Xiao Ying became increasingly less confident.

It's much better to weigh the pros and cons now, assess each other's weaknesses, and prepare for any eventuality than to discover, during the Battle of Jiangdu, that we've been defeated, severely wounded, or even killed, leading to a loss of control of the battle and potentially the fall of Jiangdu!
"Hey……"

With the matter now settled, both Prince Jingwu and Dugu Feng were inclined to fight, leaving Wang Caixuan feeling helpless. She could only sigh and offer no further advice.

The Prince of Jingwu was right; it's always better to know in advance than to be caught off guard. This is also the main reason why Wang Caixuan didn't think highly of Xiao Ying and Dugu Feng and didn't offer any further advice.

"Step! Step! Step..."

The thunderous sound of iron hooves and the earth-shaking force of the army's hooves echoed through the air

The 123,000 elite Sui soldiers marched in a mighty and imposing force.

With the mindset of preparing for battle, morale and fighting spirit began to build, causing a fierce and menacing aura to grow and linger. Furthermore, fierce clouds of iron and blood gathered above the army, making the army's prestige and momentum even stronger.

It is worth mentioning that you should not underestimate simple and pure marching. It is also an excellent form of military training, and its effect is no worse than simply training on the training ground. Sometimes, it is even more effective.

Three hundred li...

Two hundred miles...

One hundred miles...

Although the Sui army's scouts covered a long area to guard against attacks from the Yuwen rebels, the Sui army's elite troops still traversed hundreds of miles quickly.

Because they were about to face the world's most recognized number one, Xiao Ying, Dugu Feng, Xie Yingdeng and the others were all in a heavy mood. They kept their heads down and kept on their way, each with their own thoughts, and did not communicate with each other.
Gradually……

Large, dark shadows appeared on the distant horizon; they were clearly the Xiaoguo Army.

Having decided to engage in battle, Xiao Ying and the Sui army did not halt their advance but continued at their pace, exuding an overwhelming and imposing military aura.

The elite troops, densely packed and neatly arrayed, were clad in fine armor, resembling a cold and ruthless steel jungle. No one spoke or whispered, not even the neighing of horses or the clanging of hooves could be heard; the silence was chilling.

Just in terms of momentum, atmosphere, military discipline, quality, and mentality, this group of Xiaoguo soldiers is clearly much stronger than the Sui army!

Well-deserved reputation!

Five thousand elite guards led the way, followed closely by thirty thousand elite soldiers; the former's military might and momentum far surpassed that of the latter.

The weapons and armor of the Xiaoguo Guards are of significantly higher quality; the weapons are sharper, the armor is more exquisite, and the coverage area is larger, making them practically half-body heavy armor. They also have the Xiaoguo Army's exclusive armored dragon-scale warhorses.

The Xiaoguo army's weapons and armor were not bad either, but the difference was obvious. They basically wore light armor, which only covered one-third of their bodies, mainly the shoulders, chest, abdomen, legs and feet, and they did not ride dragon-scale warhorses.

The Xiaoguo army also has its own Xiaoguo cavalry, and there are quite a few of them, but they are not here. This is another place that Xiao Ying and the others need to be wary of, to prevent them from being ambushed by the cavalry!
Nearly five miles ahead of the Xiaoguo army, a lone figure stood out, drawing attention immediately and not being overshadowed by the imposing Xiaoguo army!

Yuwen Chengdu!

Indeed, his skill and daring were remarkable; a general would not usually maintain such a large distance between himself and his army.

The distance is too far; if there is an emergency, the army simply won't have time to react. As the saying goes, distant water can't quench a nearby fire.

Normally, the distance between a general and his army is between 100 and 300 meters, or within one li (approximately 500 meters). Yuwen Chengdu, however, deliberately positioned himself at ten times that distance, determined to face over 100,000 elite Sui soldiers alone!
His courage and spirit alone are beyond the reach of ordinary people and are truly admirable!

close!

close!

Xiao Ying stared intently at the lone figure outside, riding closer and closer.

Dugu Feng, Xie Yingdeng, and Hong Lingtian followed closely behind Xiao Ying, only a few meters to a dozen meters away. Behind them was a vast army that stretched as far as the eye could see, covering the mountains and plains.

Because Xiao Ying did not stop them, and everyone was afraid that something might happen to Prince Jingwu, they followed closely.

Ten miles...

Five Miles...

Three miles...

One mile...

Xiao Ying stopped when she was about 500 meters away from Yuwen Chengdu, while the generals and the army continued to follow closely.

Xiao Ying, who was already feeling guilty, naturally wouldn't "suffer for the sake of saving face" and demand that the generals and the army also stay five miles away from him. That would be too dangerous, a death trap!
Yuwen Chengdu stood like a statue, watching the vast army approach silently, motionless and unresponsive. He neither called for a halt nor showed disdain, simply observing calmly, as if nothing had happened...

This is Xiao Ying's second meeting with Yuwen Chengdu. However, the last time was at the Dugu residence, the situation was chaotic, and it was late at night, so they didn't know the details. This can be considered their first meeting.

Upon closer inspection, Yuwen Chengdu was tall, comparable to the giant god Hong Lingtian. His physique was robust and strong, standing like a mountain, steady and unwavering—the typical physique of a fierce general.

However, looking at his features, Yuwen Chengdu did not possess the rugged and unkempt appearance of most fierce generals. Instead, his face was like jade, his skin fair and delicate, and his brows revealed extraordinary heroic spirit. His eyes were deep and sharp, seemingly able to see into people's hearts. His nose was high and straight, and his lips were full, displaying a resolute and unyielding character. At this moment, he wore a golden crown, a gilded unicorn armor, a jewel-encrusted sword at his waist, rode the magnificent and fiery Red Charcoal Dragon Steed, and held a gilded halberd with phoenix wings that was over ten feet long.

Heroic figure!

Domineering!

Invincible!

Yuwen Chengdu is an exceptionally masculine and domineering man, yet also remarkably handsome, with an outstanding appearance. However, what leaves the deepest impression is three senses, creating a very strong impact!
Especially that invincible aura...

Facing an overwhelming army alone, he stood like a towering mountain cleaving the heavens and the earth, unyielding and unshakeable. He embodied the true meaning of "invincibility"—an absolute conviction!

Yuwen Chengdu's absolute self-confidence and invincible belief were also the inexplicable belief he inspired when facing a massive army... and a clear sense of it!
The specific reasons are hard to describe...

Naturally expected? Perfectly natural?
"how so……"

Despite encouraging herself all the way and carrying an overwhelming military might that seemed capable of destroying everything, Xiao Ying was still intimidated and felt a strong sense of impact when she stopped in front of Yuwen Chengdu.

Xiao Ying, who clearly believed he could fight Yuwen Chengdu, now stood in front of Yuwen Chengdu and inexplicably felt that he was no match for him at all. He even had the feeling of a lowly official meeting a national-level bigwig!
His undefeated experience from childhood to adulthood cultivated an invincible aura that he took for granted.

A person with extraordinary destiny, who has long held a high position and experienced the loneliness of being at the top, has cultivated a natural and refined temperament.

Everything should be this way!
"Tap! Tap! Tap... Cough! Cough! Cough..."

The sounds of iron hooves, footsteps, and horses' neighs filled the air.

After several hundred breaths, the elite troops of Jingwu Guard, Jingwu Army, Central Army, and Eastern Army finally came to a slow halt, their formations solemn and imposing.

Throughout this time, Yuwen Chengdu remained completely still, simply watching calmly. There was not even a hint of hostility or fighting spirit in his eyes; it seemed he was merely admiring…the scenery?

This mentality...

Xiao Ying, who was constantly trying to calm herself down, was genuinely impressed by Yuwen Chengdu's reaction!
Only after the Sui army had largely stabilized did Yuwen Chengdu make a move. His phoenix-winged gilded halberd pointed diagonally at the ground, his sharp eyes fixed on Xiao Ying as he said in a deep voice:

"Prince Jingwu! Do you dare to fight me on the battlefield?!"

He didn't shout or yell, nor did he scream or howl. His tone was deep, but it carried clearly. Even the restless Sui soldiers were silenced, and the atmosphere became quiet and still.

"..."

As far as the idea was concerned, when Xiao Ying actually stood in front of Yuwen Chengdu, she felt even more guilty and didn't react for a moment.

There was no obvious fear, only a complex mix of thoughts, influenced by the battle, and hesitation despite knowing he was no match.

"If you dare not, you may all come at me; I will accept the challenge!"

Xiao Ying remained silent. Yuwen Chengdu frowned and spoke again in a deep voice, still giving off a sense of matter-of-factness, without any hint of disdain or contempt.

"Your Highness, please reconsider!"

Wang Caixuan and Xie Yingdeng spoke up in unison. Even Dugu Feng, who had been eager to try, and Hong Lingtian, who was fearless, were now silent and solemn, clearly also shocked!
"I, the King, will go first, followed by Phoenix, and then Yingdeng to bring up the rear!"

Xiao Ying tightened his grip on his halberd, his tone resolute as he slowly gave the order, showing no stubbornness in insisting on a duel despite knowing he was outmatched. He paused, then looked at Hong Lingtian and instructed him:
"Ling Tian is stationed at the army headquarters and must not engage in battle under any circumstances... This is a military order!"

Hong Lingtian, now fused with his Star Soul, is far more powerful than Xiao Ying knew in his previous life. He can be considered one of the most formidable warriors of this era, perhaps ranking among the top ten or even fifteen. However, he is still far inferior to Yuwen Chengdu, especially since Hong Lingtian focuses on strength but is slower in speed and reaction. If he were to fight, he would be unable to dodge or escape, and would most likely die in battle!

Xiao Ying didn't want herself and the Sui army, whose top-tier generals they had finally managed to acquire, to die in this extraordinary, bug-level battle...

"Ah? Yes!"

Everyone was taken aback, especially Hong Lingtian, who hadn't expected the Prince of Jingwu to give such a special instruction, but he still obediently agreed.

"If anything happens to me, you must immediately lead your troops to detour through Jiangdu or retreat back to Hailing!"

After a moment's hesitation, Xiao Ying solemnly reiterated her instructions, and before anyone could react...

"boom……"

"Star Soul Possession (Wu Yunzhao)!"

His aura surged, the image of the Human Emperor appeared, and six ancient treasure cauldrons gathered and surrounded him, making Xiao Ying even more awe-inspiring. It was as if heaven and earth responded to him, and the wind and clouds roared!

“Cheep! Cheep! Cheep… Tap! Tap! Tap…”

Xiao Ying's Golden Cloud Dragon Scale Beast, which he obtained from Yuwen Huaji, roared several times and shot out as fast as a streak of crimson gold light, heading straight for Yuwen Chengdu!
Everyone held their breath, watching intently, afraid of missing even the slightest detail...

Wang Caixuan frowned, but solemnly instructed the four Supreme Celestials: "If anything goes wrong, I urge you four to act immediately and protect the Prince at all costs! It would be even better if you could surround and kill Yuwen Chengdu, absolutely..."

Because Yuwen Chengdu was far away, the Xiaoguo Army's military prestige and strength were relatively weak, so it didn't have much impact on the two monks and the two elders of the Demonic Sect. This was an excellent opportunity!

However, Wang Caixuan didn't finish her sentence. She felt it was impossible, as it might kill her own celestial beings. She would be lucky to save Prince Jingwu!

Yuwen Chengdu had a illustrious life, but he was assassinated multiple times in his early years. However, as it turned out, ordinary Celestials were no match for the young Yuwen Chengdu, and no one dared to assassinate him after he grew up, let alone now; they probably wouldn't even last three moves against him.

Five hundred meters...

Three hundred meters...

One hundred meters...

The Golden Cloud Dragon Scale Beast moved with the speed of the wind, covering a hundred meters in an instant, leaving behind a trail of golden and red afterimages.

"Heavenly Dance of the Wild Halberd!"

"Rumble..."

Holding the halberd with both hands, he poured all his strength into it, locked on, swung it up, and slashed out...

The Emperor's gaze fell upon them, the six cauldrons exerted their oppressive power, and there was a terrifying, muffled roar.

"boom……"

Yuwen Chengdu calmly watched Xiao Ying rush in and attack, then raised his spear in both hands to parry...

The halberd and the phoenix-winged gilded halberd clashed with a thunderous roar!
The deafening roar and the violent shockwave churned up dust within a radius of several dozen feet, blinding and disorienting people, giving them the illusion that the heavens and earth were trembling!

Yuwen Chengdu remained motionless, while Xiao Ying rode back several steps.

The difference in quality is immediately apparent!

A terrifying force surged back, numbing his hands. Xiao Ying was horrified; he hadn't expected Yuwen Chengdu to be several times stronger than the rumors and estimates, his strength definitely exceeding a million...

(End of this chapter)