Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

"Roar--!"

Just then, a dragon's roar that shook the streets suddenly rang out, and golden palm wind condensed into the shape of a dragon, sweeping straight towards Jingzhe and the other two, trying to force them back and buy Xiao Yuanshan a chance to catch his breath.

"Lord Dao, spare his life!"

Qiao Feng's voice came from afar, tinged with urgency, "I'll take him away, let's retire to the countryside, never to get involved in the conflicts between the two countries again, and never to set foot in the martial world again!"

He returned, shattering the sword energy of the three Jingzhe with a single palm strike. His figure rushed in from afar like lightning, arriving simultaneously with his voice.

His voice echoed throughout the entire venue, but his body crashed into an invisible wall of qi and blood with a "thud".

Qiao Feng was thrown several meters by the force and landed heavily. He stabilized himself with his internal energy and was not injured, but his face still showed an anxious expression.

Chen Zhan looked at him and said with a faint smile, "You say you won't participate, so you won't participate?"

"Things in this world are never that easy. How about this: you go and persuade the Liao Emperor to order the Liao troops to withdraw from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun and return all the dozens of cities that they have occupied from the Song Dynasty. In return, I will spare his life and allow you and your son to retire to the countryside, and I will never pursue this matter again. What do you say?"

Qiao Feng hesitated, looking troubled.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were a strategic stronghold of the Liao Dynasty, which the Liao emperor cherished. To expect the Liao emperor to voluntarily withdraw from the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was nothing short of a pipe dream and simply impossible.

"If you can't do it, then stay out of the way."

Chen Zhan's tone turned cold, carrying a hint of murderous intent, "If you try to stop me again, I'll kill you too, and reunite you and your son."

The three of them, including Jingzhe, completely ignored Qiao Feng's pleas and Chen Zhan's conversation.

The master's command is the highest order.

The attack never stopped. Xiao Yuanshan was already seriously injured and was suppressed by Chen Zhan, so he was powerless to resist.

In just a few moves, his left wrist was severed by Qingming's sword, both arms were rendered useless, and he could no longer use his palm techniques. He could only dodge in a sorry state, his breath extremely weak.

Seizing the opening, Li Dong flashed forward, his longsword aimed straight at Xiao Yuanshan's heart, piercing through it with a single strike.

Xiao Yuanshan's body stiffened, his eyes widened, his face filled with resentment and despair, blood gushed from the corner of his mouth, and he breathed his last.

Upon seeing this, Qiao Feng's eyes widened in fury: "Father!"

The moment Xiao Yuanshan breathed his last, Qiao Feng called out softly, his voice hoarse.

Chen Zhan slowly withdrew his domain, and the oppressive aura dissipated without a trace.

The battle on the field has now come to a complete end.

The wolf guards and eagle guards were all killed, and the ground was covered with corpses and blood. The dilapidated inn looked even more ferocious and terrifying.

Qiao Feng slowly stood up, walked step by step to Xiao Yuanshan's body, squatted down, looked at the face that was almost identical to his own, and was overcome with grief, but he couldn't even make a sound of crying.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared.

For Qiao Feng, Xiao Yuanshan was his father, whom he had just recognized but who passed away in an instant; he was a blood relative.

But for those Song citizens killed by Xiao Yuanshan and his Liao soldiers, and for those whose families were destroyed in the war, they would only applaud.

Chen Zhan didn't even glance at Qiao Feng, and instructed the three of them, "Let's go. Just now, before Yelü Hong died, he tried to send a signal for help, but it was blocked by my field. However, the Liao army camp will probably send people over to check the situation. A large army will arrive soon."

"We'll rest for one night, and tomorrow morning, we'll join the army to attack the city and capture Fanyang."

"Yes, Master!"

The three of them responded in unison, sheathed their swords, and quickly walked behind Chen Zhan.

Ma Dayuan and Bai Shijing also realized what was happening and quickly instructed the Beggars' Sect disciples behind them: "Everyone, spread out and hide in various parts of the city. Be careful and don't get caught by the Liao soldiers who come to scout. Tomorrow morning, we will cooperate with the army to attack the city!"

"Yes, Boss!"

The Beggars' Sect disciples responded in unison, sheathed their weapons, and quickly dispersed, disappearing into the streets and alleys.

Chen Zhan turned around and looked at Qiao Feng, who was still squatting beside Xiao Yuanshan's corpse: "If you can't figure it out and want to avenge him, you can come to me for revenge anytime. I don't mind sending you to see your parents and reuniting your family of three."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Zhan's figure flashed and disappeared into the night. Jingzhe and the other two followed closely behind, and soon they were also gone without a trace.

Inside the inn, only Qiao Feng remained, surrounded by corpses and blood.

Moonlight streamed through the dilapidated roof, falling on Xiao Yuanshan's corpse and Qiao Feng's face; the cold moonlight added to the desolation.

Qiao Feng slowly picked up Xiao Yuanshan's body, and with a swift movement, disappeared into the night.

He didn't know where to go or what to do in the future. The kindness of the Beggars' Sect in raising him and the father-son relationship with Xiao Yuanshan were like two mountains, making it hard for him to breathe. He was lost and uncertain about the future.

The border between the Song Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty.

A cold wind swept through the yellow sand, whistling past the commander's flag in the central camp.

The news that Chen Zhan had captured seven cities of the Liao Dynasty in ten days with only a little over a hundred casualties was delivered steadily to Zhao Qingtan by a dozen messengers.

Inside the main camp's command tent, the lights were on full display. Zhao Qingtan, Liu Changzuo's deputy generals, and a group of military advisors sat on both sides, passing around the battle report. Everyone looked surprised and doubtful, and their voices rose and fell.

"Impossible! Seven cities captured in ten days with only a hundred casualties? Even a god leading an army couldn't achieve such a feat!"

One of the recruits was speechless, his voice filled with disbelief.

As soon as these words were spoken, others immediately echoed them.

The crowd argued endlessly, none of them willing to believe the authenticity of the battle report.

There were more than a dozen messengers, their expressions solemn, with battle reports in their hands, each report detailing everything from the time and situation of the first city's fall to the spoils and casualties of the seventh city.

The inscription at the end bears the handwritten seal of Li Guanglu, the general of Xiongzhou, and the commander-in-chief Wang Guangzu's seal.

Everyone in the military knew that this matter was of great importance, and no one dared to falsify it without authorization, much less fabricate such a major event concerning border warfare.

Zhao Qingtan took the battle report and quickly flipped through it.

His gaze swept over everyone in the tent, his tone decisive and without the slightest hesitation: "Kaifeng is closer to the Yan-Yun region, and His Majesty must have already received the news. Lord Chen has already breached the Yan-Yun region, holding back the main force of the Liao Dynasty. We don't need to wait any longer; prepare immediately and begin the siege!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to look at Liu Changzuo beside her, her eyes questioning. Liu Changzuo was a renowned general whom Chen Zhan had personally reinstated. He was a veteran of many battles and one of the main commanders in the Song-Xia border war.

Liu Changzuo nodded slightly, stood up, and cupped his hands, saying, "Lord Zhao is right. Pursuing the victory is the best strategy. However, I think we should wait a few more days. In the strategy of attacking a city, winning hearts and minds is the first priority. Since we have received news of the Yan-Yun war, the Western Xia must also know about it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Changzuo's deputy general looked puzzled and stepped forward to ask, "General Liu, even if the Western Xia knows about the Yan-Yun war, they may not be able to shake the morale of their troops. The Western Xia army will definitely block the news and will never let the army or the people know about this, so as not to cause chaos among the people."

Liu Changzu smiled faintly, his tone resolute: "Therefore, Lord Chen's plan is far-reaching. The martial arts practitioners under Shuangjiang's command have long been scattered throughout the territory of Xixia. If these people were to actually set up a battle formation for a siege, they might just be a rabble, but when it comes to spreading rumors and sowing discord, they are absolutely adept."

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent suddenly understood.

Shuangjiang has gathered a large number of martial arts masters under his command. He has 36 caves and 72 islands, including righteous disciples as well as unorthodox ones. He acts in a secretive manner, which is perfect for spreading information.

Zhao Qingtan secretly praised Chen Zhan, who indeed had a keen eye. The famous generals he named for reinstatement were all exceptional. Liu Changzuo was not only good at leading troops in battle, but also insightful in understanding people's hearts and making thorough considerations. He truly lived up to his reputation as a famous general.

"I'll go deliver the message."

Shuangjiang had been standing quietly by the tent, eyes downcast and silent. Only after hearing the discussion did she slowly speak.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left the tent. In a flash, he disappeared into the night, displaying superb lightness skill and making no sound.

The people inside the tent did not linger any longer and dispersed to begin preparations for the siege.

For two consecutive days, the air in the air was thick with fear and unease.

No one knows where the news first came from; all that is known is that overnight, rumors spread throughout the prefectures of Western Xia:

"The Liao Dynasty has already lost eighteen cities to the Song Dynasty. Generals Yelü Yuan and Xiao Yulu have died in battle. The Song army is advancing like a whirlwind, having already recaptured several prefectures in the Yan and Yun regions. Moreover, the Song army's casualties are extremely low, almost negligible."

The rumors became increasingly exaggerated, and within a single day, they had spread from the border to the heart of Western Xia.

The Western Xia territory was not large to begin with, and the population was concentrated, so rumors spread extremely quickly.

By the third day, the rumor had become "The Liao emperor is trapped, the Liao dynasty is in grave danger, and will soon be destroyed by the Song dynasty."

In addition to these, there are two more alarming rumors circulating.

The Song Dynasty had already formed an alliance with Tibet and Dali, and the three parties agreed to jointly attack Western Xia.

The Tibetan army will soon launch an attack and enter the country from the southwestern border of Western Xia. Dali has also deployed troops on the border, ready to launch an attack at any time.

Even Emperor Li Bingchang of Western Xia had never heard of such rumors. Upon learning the news, he was furious and immediately sent people to investigate the source of the rumors. He also quickly dispatched experts from the Western Xia First-Class Hall to guard the border between Tibet and Western Xia to prevent a surprise attack by the Tibetan army.

The Western Xia First-Class Hall brings together top experts from all over the Western Xia territory. They are usually responsible for protecting the royal family, assassinating enemy generals, and gathering intelligence. This time, they have been ordered to go to the border to guard the border.

A few days later, an urgent report came from the southwestern border of Western Xia: Tibet has really started an army!
Although the Tibetan army was small, with only 30,000 troops, it did indeed enter the country from the border between Tibet and Western Xia, and successively attacked two small cities of Western Xia. Although it did not cause too many casualties, it confirmed part of the rumors.

Previously, everyone thought it was just rumors, but when the news of the Tibetan army entering the country reached Xingqing Prefecture, the capital of Western Xia, the already tense atmosphere in the Western Xia court was on the verge of breaking.

The people were thrown into complete chaos, filled with fear and anxiety.

The morale of the soldiers was low, with many discussing the matter.

Even the mighty Liao Dynasty couldn't stop the Song army. The Western Xia Dynasty was far weaker than the Liao Dynasty and faced a three-way attack, so it had no chance of winning.

Just as the Western Xia court was in a state of panic and the army's morale was low, on the border of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Qingtan gave an order, and the Great Song army officially launched an attack, marching westward to conquer the Western Xia cities.

The Song army advanced with unstoppable momentum and high morale. Within three days, they captured three cities of Western Xia: Baibao City, Jintang City, and Mizhi Village. The Western Xia generals either died in battle or surrendered. The Song army encountered almost no resistance.

At the same time, news came from the Dali border: Duan Zhengchun, the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, personally led an army of 50,000 to the border between Dali and Western Xia.

Although they did not enter Western Xia territory, they held firm to all the routes by which Western Xia fled south.

For Dali, a country with a small territory and limited military strength, an army of 50,000 was almost the entire nation's strength.

Everyone knew that Dali had gone all out this time, determined to join forces with the Song Dynasty and Tibet to completely defeat Western Xia.

As a result, the Western Xia was completely trapped in a desperate situation.

In the four directions of east, west, south, and north, the Liao Dynasty was at war with the Song Dynasty to the north, and the Liao Dynasty was too busy to help the Western Xia.
To the east, the Song Dynasty's 100,000-strong army pressed forward, conquering cities and seizing territory along the way, their momentum unstoppable.

A large Tibetan army entered the country from the southwest, pressing forward relentlessly.

To the south, the Dali army of 50,000 blocked their retreat, making escape impossible.

Within the territory of Western Xia, public sentiment was unsettled, and chaos ensued.

The Jianghu people under Shuangjiang's command took the opportunity to stir up trouble everywhere, cut off the Western Xia army's food supply routes, assassinate Western Xia generals, and even infiltrate various prefectures and cities of Western Xia, burning down government offices and looting granaries, causing chaos and unrest in Western Xia.

Even worse, several martial arts masters dared to sneak into the Western Xia imperial palace and set it on fire.

Although no one was injured, it terrified the royal family and greatly undermined the prestige of the Western Xia royal family.

Zhao Qingtan personally led the troops, taking the lead in battle. Her martial arts skills were unfathomable, dominating the entire Western Xia.

Emperor Li Bingchang of Western Xia was furious and dispatched all the experts of the Western Xia First-Class Hall, along with the eminent monks of Chengtian Temple, to besiege Zhao Qingtan. The experts of the First-Class Hall suffered heavy casualties, and many eminent monks of Chengtian Temple also died in battle. The rest fled and never dared to show their faces again.

Meanwhile, Shuangjiang, Bailu, and Guyu stirred up trouble in the heart of Western Xia, cooperating with the Song army in battle.

All three are top-tier experts with superb martial arts skills. Among them, Shuangjiang and Guyu have the highest cultivation level, having reached the initial stage of the Tongxuan realm, while Bailu is also close to the Tongxuan realm. When the three join forces and unleash their unique true energy, their power is boundless, and they are fully capable of contending with an expert at the middle stage of the Tongxuan realm.

As for Western Xia, since Chen Zhan and Wu Xingyun caused a great disturbance in Xingqing Prefecture, most of its top experts have been lost. There are no more experts at the middle stage of the Tongxuan realm within its territory, and only a few at the beginning stage of the Tongxuan realm remain, and they dare not show themselves easily.

Taking advantage of the situation, the three of them joined forces and infiltrated various prefectures of Western Xia, assassinating Western Xia generals, burning military rations, and even once infiltrating the Western Xia imperial palace, stirring up trouble.

On one occasion, when the three of them infiltrated the palace, they were unexpectedly surrounded by the Western Xia army and found themselves in dire straits.

In the critical moment, Gu Yu did not hesitate to activate her secret technique of qi and blood to forcefully break through a gap and escape from the battlefield with Shuangjiang and Bailu.

After this incident, the three of them dared not be careless again and became more cautious in their actions.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The Western Xia had lost nearly half of its cities; the capital, Xingqing Prefecture, and the important town of Xiliang Prefecture had both fallen to the Song army. Li Bingchang, leading the imperial family and the remaining troops, was forced to retreat westward. (End of Chapter)