Whale Falls and Becomes a God

Chapter 188 Invincible Golden Body
As the fierce battle raged on, Xiao Ying and the other two became increasingly in sync.

Yuwen Chengdu, whose shoulder blade was injured, frowned and did not continue to fight on the spot. Instead, he squeezed his legs together, and his Red Charcoal Fire Dragon Steed shot out, widening the distance between himself and Xiao Ying and Dugu Feng.

In the process of dodging, the Phoenix Winged Golden Halberd was swung out at lightning speed, transforming into a fan-shaped golden wind, while purple lightning roared and transformed into a lightning curtain, blocking the Heavenly Halberd, the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear, and the iron arrows that were shot at it!
After giving Xiao Ying a deep look, Yuwen Chengdu spurred his horse and rode away without saying a word, heading straight for the solemnly arrayed Xiaoguo Army!

"This……"

Xiao Ying reined in his horse and stopped, watching Yuwen Chengdu ride away. Dugu Feng also decided not to pursue, but stopped beside Xiao Ying, hesitant to speak.

With no other option, even with Xie Yingdeng's sharp arrows providing long-range assistance, Xiao Ying and Dugu Feng, working together, were struggling to fight Yuwen Chengdu and were in a precarious situation.

Dugu Feng would not be so foolish as to pursue Yuwen Chengdu, who was retreating towards the Xiaoguo Army, as that would be walking into a trap, or even courting death!
"The prince's injury?"

Consciously abandoning the pursuit and mentally preparing for Yuwen Chengdu's army to charge, Dugu Feng looked at Xiao Yingguan with worry and asked, then looked at the spot where the tiger's mouth was split open and blood stained the halberd handle.

"It's nothing! Just a minor scratch!"

Xiao Ying shook his head, placed the Fangtian Halberd on the frame of his mount, the Golden Cloud Dragon Scale Beast, and quickly stopped the bleeding from his tiger's mouth as he circulated his internal energy. The bleeding stopped at an extremely fast speed.

This is what makes top-tier body cultivators so powerful and difficult to deal with; their physical injuries heal very quickly!
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Ying instructed, "When the Xiaoguo Army charges later, Phoenix and I will still be responsible for restraining Yuwen..."

"withdraw!"

Before Xiao Ying could finish speaking, Yuwen Chengdu, who was galloping back with his army at top speed, gave a light shout and rode away without stopping.

The vast, orderly army of elite soldiers, stretching for miles, swiftly turned and followed, disappearing into the distance...

"..."

Xiao Ying, who hadn't finished speaking, suddenly fell silent, staring in astonishment at the departing army.

"They left? They just left like that? They made such a big show of intercepting us with their army, and then just left without a word? They really just wanted to... fight us?!"

Dugu Feng was equally astonished and bewildered, muttering in disbelief and confusion.

"Your Highness! General Phoenix!"

As the two watched the Xiaoguo Army depart with puzzlement, Xie Yingdeng rode up and shouted, also seeking permission from Xiao Ying and Dugu Feng!
Because the Dugu clan was one of the four great clans, more and more clan members entered officialdom and the military, including several generals. Therefore, more and more people addressed Dugu Feng as General Phoenix, both to distinguish him and to show respect and recognition.
Xiao Ying nodded, took a deep breath, and frowned, saying, "Perhaps Yuwen Chengdu really did come here specifically to have a duel, so that he could have a better understanding of the situation!"

"Huh?" Dugu Feng opened her mouth but remained silent, appearing both charming and adorable, yet still retaining a heroic air, possessing a unique charm.

Xie Yingdeng nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, just like what the Prince thought before!"

Dugu Feng suddenly realized...

Jiangdu was the third largest city in the country, with high walls, abundant resources, and a large population. It would be extremely difficult to break through from the outside, making it an absolutely massive battle, or even a war.

Once the Yuwen rebels started their siege, they were like wild horses that had broken free of their reins, and they were very difficult to control.

As Prince Jingwu, Dugu Feng, and others achieved successive victories and their reputations grew, it was perfectly normal for the Yuwen rebels to send people to assess the situation in advance so as to know themselves and their enemy and make appropriate responses.

Previously, strategist Wang Caixuan had suggested bypassing the enemy, but Xiao Ying insisted on confronting Yuwen Chengdu, which stemmed from the same mentality.

No matter how powerful Yuwen Chengdu is, he still lacks self-awareness. How to deal with the situation will be a big problem. It would be better to take a risk and weigh the pros and cons beforehand. This is much safer and more worthwhile than making a mistake during the siege.

Xie Yingdeng smiled through his dark face and said repeatedly, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness! After this battle, Your Highness's prestige will surely rise to new heights, and the pressure and threat posed by the rebels will be greatly reduced!"

"It's an unfair victory! Why bother... He was wounded by your arrow, not by my own merit!"

Xiao Ying didn't shamelessly claim it, but instead shook her head with a wry smile and honestly replied. She paused, then sighed with admiration:
"He truly deserves the title of the most valiant and invincible general in the world; it's no exaggeration! In this battle, he probably hasn't even used his full strength yet..."

Xie Yingdeng, who had originally intended to modestly decline, suddenly changed his expression and stared incredulously, saying, "This isn't even the best he's done?"

Xie Yingdeng, who had been fighting alongside Prince Jingwu and Dugu Feng, was well aware of their combat prowess. Even a renowned figure like Wu Yunzhao was no match for them. Their willingness to lead from the front in battle was one of the main reasons for the Sui army's repeated victories.

Now, Prince Jingwu has actually said... that Yuwen Chengdu didn't go all out. Doesn't that mean they didn't win this battle? Did Yuwen Chengdu hold back?

"I suspect it's true... With his abilities, if it's a fight to the death, none of us will escape unscathed!"

Dugu Feng sheathed the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear, deeply agreeing and thoughtfully replying, then quickly added, "Putting everything else aside, Your Highness has already unleashed your Dharma Form, which is... giving it your all! Yuwen Chengdu, on the other hand, only used lightning magic and didn't even unleash his Dharma Form..."

"This...this...then why did he retreat? He just appeared out of nowhere, fought for a moment, and then suddenly retreated. What was his purpose?"

Xie Yingdeng remained incredulous, repeatedly expressing his doubts. After a moment's thought, he added, "You must know that the rebels' reputation has already been greatly damaged by being blocked by the Wagang Army, and their morale is unstable! Now that Yuwen Chengdu has also been defeated, his reputation will surely be damaged again, and the Prince... we will rise to fame and power by stepping on his invincible halo. Is he really so kind as to deliberately help us? Could it be... that he has other plans?!"

Dugu Feng frowned, deep in thought but unable to find a solution. She nodded and said, "Indeed! General Xie is right. This is a bit unreasonable! What's the point..."

"Hide your strength and bide your time?! Show weakness to the enemy?!" Xiao Ying frowned and pondered as she replied, as if talking to herself, asking and answering her own question!
"Your Highness is wise! That must be it. They want to feign weakness to lull our army into a false sense of security, and then, when they attack the city, make our army underestimate their strength, and then launch a sudden attack to take the city by surprise!"

Dugu Feng's beautiful eyes lit up, and she quickly said, then paused, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt it was true, and said to herself, "Yes, yes! That's it!"

Xie Yingdeng's expression changed slightly, and he suggested, "How about... we transfer General Shen Lun and Consort Chen back to Jiangdu to assist them?"

Looking at the Sui army as a whole, although it had seven or eight astonishing first-rank supreme celestial beings, surpassing several top forces that shook the world, including aristocratic families, gangs, sects, temples, and academies, those supreme celestial beings were only good at intimidating the common people and the martial arts world. On the battlefield, they were not as useful as ordinary second-rank generals.

As for the fierce generals of the Sui army, Prince Jingwu was the leader, followed by Dugu Feng, Xie Yingdeng considered himself third, then Commander-in-Chief Yue Han, Hong Lingtian, Shen Lun, Consort Chen, and then several ministers, Consort Xu, Princess Fengming, Liu Ziyi, and so on.

Le Han is a confidant of Empress Xiao and cannot be easily dismissed. Furthermore, Prince Jingwu forbids Hong Lingtian from participating in the battle.

From the strongest to the weakest, only women like Shen Lun and Consort Chen remain, indicating a continued imbalance of yin and yang.

It's a pity that I couldn't recruit the Purple-Faced Heavenly King Xiong Kuohai and the Invincible Wu Tianxi before, otherwise I would have been worry-free in facing Yuwen Chengdu!

"What if... the rebels turn their attention to attacking Hailing City?" Dugu Feng's eyes lit up, and she was about to agree when Xiao Ying asked her question seriously.

Dugu Feng and Xie Yingdeng were speechless for a moment, and the thought of it made their scalps tingle.

The Fengming Army is currently attacking Hailing City. If the Yuwen rebels also get involved, it will be impossible to defend against, and there is a high probability that the city will fall!
"These rebels are really... really... a chronic problem, they've become a major threat!" Dugu Feng spat out, racking her brains.

Xie Yingdeng wasn't as refined as Dugu Feng, and directly cursed, "They're just troublemakers! Yet we can't and dare not underestimate or ignore them!" The most troublesome thing is that the Yuwen rebels are now incredibly powerful, and they don't have a fixed foothold or headquarters, making them really hard to deal with. They can only passively defend and dare not relax their vigilance in the slightest!
Xiao Ying shook her head, glanced at the hidden spies and informants nearby, and sighed, "Let's take it one step at a time! I'll go back to Jiangdu first!"

Yuwen Chengdu's seemingly impulsive and casual battle, in which he did not exert his full strength, has attracted the attention of countless forces.

Ever since the Sui army confronted Yuwen Chengdu and his elite troops, countless powerful figures and experts have come to spy on them. Even now that Yuwen Chengdu has led his army away, many remain nearby to observe!

Xiao Ying believed that as news of this battle spread, he and the Sui army would surely become famous once again, and their reputation would rise to new heights.

Injuring and repelling the "Number One Bravest General in the World" is enough to make anyone proud and a topic of conversation!
To be honest, this battle should have been the first time Yuwen Chengdu was injured and defeated!

Although the Wagang Army blocked the westward return route of the Yuwen rebels, it relied on its large number of soldiers and generals to besiege Yuwen Chengdu with human wave tactics and many generals. Dozens of generals were killed, so it can't really be considered that Yuwen Chengdu was defeated, and he was not injured!

It was precisely because of this that Xiao Ying couldn't understand Yuwen Chengdu's purpose even more!

……

Indeed, as the news spread, it spread like wildfire throughout the world.

The myth of the Tianbao era has been shattered!

"General Yuwen Chengdu of the Tianbao era was defeated by the combined forces of Prince Jingwu Xiao Ying, Peerless Phoenix Dugu Feng, and Iron-Handed Divine Arrow Xie Yingdeng, and fled wounded!"

The martial arts world was in an uproar, and the world was shaken!
Although Yuwen Chengdu did not roam the martial arts world, the legend of Tianbao existed there, making him a martial arts legend. His reputation was no less than that of the most powerful first-rank supreme beings, such as the Three Sages of Confucianism, the Four Monks of Buddhism, and the Seven Masters of Taoism.

Because those supreme beings at the pinnacle of the martial arts world are no match for Yuwen Chengdu, and many of them have admitted it themselves!

"King Jingwu is mighty! Invincible!"

"As expected of Prince Jingwu, Her Majesty the Empress has a discerning eye for talent!"

"Hmph... It's just three against one, an unfair victory!"

"Exactly, if you're so capable, let's fight one-on-one! Three against one, and you dare to claim victory?"

"All's fair in war, but this is a bloody battlefield, not child's play. In any case, Prince Jingwu has won and even injured General Tianbao..."

"Indeed! This is the first time General Tianbao has been injured, isn't it?"

"Rumor has it... it wasn't Prince Jingwu who was injured, but a skilled archer from the Sui army... a sneak attack!"

"Iron Hand Divine Arrow!"

"That would require Prince Jingwu and the Peerless Phoenix to be strong enough. Otherwise, aren't there enough archers? Wagang Village even has the White-Clad Divine Archer, so why couldn't they wound Yuwen Chengdu?!"

"There are many factors involved, but the White-Clad Divine Arrow is definitely stronger than the Iron-Handed Divine Arrow..."

"Iron Hand Divine Arrow is even stronger..."

……

One stone caused a thousand waves!

Not only various rebel kings and bandits, but also various aristocratic families, martial arts circles, and ordinary people were discussing it and debating it endlessly!
Despite Yuwen Chengdu's aloof and secluded lifestyle, he actually has quite a few followers throughout the land, who endlessly admire his invincible power!

In any case, the invincible general, certified by the Sui Emperor as the "most valiant and invincible general in the world," was indeed defeated and injured, and his undefeated status was broken.

Xiao Ying, Dugu Feng, and Xie Yingdeng indeed rose to fame and became renowned throughout the world by stepping on Yuwen Chengdu's invincible status!
Don't underestimate this reputation. At times, it can indeed intimidate thousands of troops and quell disarray. More directly, it can gain the loyalty, submission, and support of countless people!

……

Jiangdu, the Forbidden Palace!
"Report..."

"Yuwen Chengdu was wounded and fled, while our generals, including Prince Jingwu, were unharmed and are...returning in triumph!"

"it is good!"

"As expected of Prince Jingwu! Jiangdu is now safe and sound!"

When Empress Xiao and the Sui generals and officials learned that Yuwen Chengdu was leading an army to "ambush" Prince Jingwu and his Sui army, they were extremely nervous and worried.

When the news of the battle results arrived, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and many cheered.

Even the usually composed and dignified Empress Xiao smiled broadly, clearly pleased, and even exclaimed "good!" several times, somewhat losing her composure!
"Someone! Spread this good news throughout Jiangdu!"

After realizing what was happening, Empress Xiao immediately issued an order to calm the panicked people of Jiangdu.

The threat posed by the Yuwen rebels was far more serious than imagined, especially in Jiangdu, which had not been far from the "Jiangdu Incident," as I had personally experienced.

Don't forget, even the Forbidden City was breached, the Sui Emperor died due to the rebels, and Empress Xiao retreated to Qiling Temple, among other things. Add to that the invincible Chengdu and the strongest warriors, and it was truly a force to be reckoned with.

When rumors spread that Yuwen's rebel army had returned to Jiangdu, the entire city, from the imperial court to the army and the common people, was under immense pressure and filled with anxiety!

When this good news spreads, it will surely reassure the people and boost morale. Even many people or forces that are eager to make a move will back down and dare not act rashly!

"What are the specific details? How badly is Yuwen Chengdu injured?"

The wife of the Minister of War, Ronghua, asked impatiently and requested the intelligence jade slip.

After reading it, Lady Ronghua handed the jade slip to Empress Xiao, and then it was circulated among the high-ranking officials present...

“This… According to this intelligence report, Yuwen Chengdu’s injuries are… just superficial wounds, not even considered serious injuries, and he didn’t even exert himself. What’s going on?” Princess Yang Qingrui of Anding was the first to raise her doubts.

Not only her, but also Empress Xiao, Lady Ronghua and others who read the intelligence jade slip and knew the specific process had the same doubts!
"Testing the waters! Showing weakness!" That was how Madam Ronghua succinctly summarized the situation.

Empress Xiao shook her head with a smile and said softly, "It's alright! In any case, we will defend the city with our full strength. As long as there is no chaos inside the city, no matter how strong Yuwen Chengdu is, he can only break into the city by himself. Can he let those rebels follow him into the city?"

(End of this chapter)