Three Kingdoms: Start by marrying Cai Yan, then vie for supremacy.

11

That attack just now actually drew upon the power of the stars!

This forced Xingchen to protect Tai'a!

What astonishing power this is!

Before Xu Chen could even process what was happening, Ba Tu had already attacked with his knife once more!

"Wild Dance Slash!"

Batu's curved blade transformed into a blood-red afterimage, each strike aimed straight for Xu Chen's head!

With each slash, the crimson aura on the blade grew stronger, eventually bursting into raging flames!

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a rapidly spinning wheel of fire!

The sky was filled with the glint of blades, and a chilling aura swept over us.

Xu Chen suddenly felt his body stiffen and his movements slow down. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and hold the Tai'a sword horizontally to withstand the storm of attacks!

In this critical situation, Xu Chen immediately mobilized the vast spiritual power within his body!

A surge of powerful spiritual energy poured into the Tai'a Sword like a raging torrent!

A clear, melodious dragon's roar suddenly resounded from the sword!

Seven stars simultaneously shone with dazzling blue light!

The dazzling starlight illuminated the night sky, as if day had arrived!

Batu felt a sudden burst of bright light before his eyes, his mind went blank for a moment, and he completely lost himself!

Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Chen attacked without hesitation!

This is the perfect opportunity!

"One sword shatters the stars!"

This move once shattered only a single star, but now that all seven stars are aligned, it intends to shatter them all at once!

The seven stars exploded, how many fragments shot out!

With a deafening roar, countless fragments of stars shot out with the force of the sword!

The fragments rained down, each one imbued with Xu Chen's sharp sword energy!

As the sword energy crisscrossed, Batu felt as if his skin was being burned wherever the fragments touched him, and his entire body was about to burst into flames!

"Ah! Xu Chen!"

Looking at the shards scattered everywhere, Xu Chen smiled coldly:

"The Nine Evil Gods are nothing but fodder!"

While Batu was busy defending against the fragments, Xu Chen was already poised to strike with his decisive sword!

That was a fatal blow!

"One Heart Sword!"

Xu Chen roared and thrust out a seemingly ordinary sword!

This sword strike carried no spiritual energy fluctuations whatsoever, yet it contained an astonishing power!

No one dares to underestimate the power of this sword!

Xu Chen's sword strike was originally intended to end Ba Tu's life and seize the inherited power within him!

"clang!"

A sharp metallic clanging sound suddenly rang out, and Xu Chen's expression changed drastically.

Something's wrong!

The sword didn't feel like it was piercing flesh at all; instead, it felt like it was poking into hard granite.

"Heh, is this all the famous Prince Xu Chen of Liang is capable of?"

Xu Chen then realized that Ba Tu had caught his "One Heart Sword" with his bare hands! The pained look he had just shown was gone, replaced by a mocking expression.

"Xu Chen, do you think I'm doomed?"

"Hahaha, you want to take my life? You're not qualified!"

"That's not even enough to tickle me!"

"I really don't understand how those good-for-nothings died at your hands!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Chen examined the other person closely and found that he was indeed unharmed.

Although he had anticipated that the evil general's strength would increase dramatically after obtaining the power of inheritance, he never expected him to be this powerful! He had broken through the power of seven stars, yet he hadn't even scratched the surface of the evil general's body!

"What? Disappointed?"

"Don't worry, I'll give you another chance!"

"Come on, try killing me again!"

Batu threw down his curved knife with a clatter, pounded his chest, and roared at Xu Chen:

"Come on! King Xu Chen of Liang!"

"Come and kill me again if you dare!"

Xu Chen stared suspiciously at Ba Tu, who seemed to have gone mad. The evil general's behavior was completely beyond his comprehension.

Rather than calling him an evil general, it would be more accurate to describe him as a complete madman!

Just as Xu Chen was filled with doubt and surprise, Ba Tu suddenly made his move!

His right fist clenched tightly, a blood-red aura swirling around its tip, and he let out a beast-like roar:

"If you won't lay a hand on me, then I'll beat you to death!"

"Prepare to die, Xu Chen!"

Boom!

With such a close-range attack, coupled with Ba Tu's astonishing punching speed, Xu Chen had no time to dodge and could only hastily parry with his Tai'a sword held horizontally.

To his shock, the incredibly hard Tai'a sword began to twist and deform under the opponent's heavy blow!

How is that possible!

Xu Chen was shocked. Was this the power of a fully-formed evil general? There were three evil generals who had already obtained the power of inheritance. Ba Tu alone was already difficult for him to deal with, not to mention that Ke Tu, the leader of the nine evil generals, had not yet appeared.

If the two evil generals join forces, no, even just one more, he will have absolutely no chance of winning!

Why, with such strength, do they not fight directly but instead resort to schemes and tricks?

Before this question could be resolved, the Tai'a sword let out a mournful cry, overwhelmed by its own weight.

Just as the sword was about to shatter, a dazzling green light suddenly burst forth!

Shennongjia has awakened!

The surging natural energy instantly enveloped Xu Chen's entire body, forming an indestructible protective barrier.

Ordinary experts would have fled in panic long ago when faced with such powerful protective force.

But standing in front of Xu Chen at this moment was Ba Tu!

Upon seeing Shennong Armor appear, the assailant not only did not retreat, but his eyes turned even redder, and his killing intent surged like a tidal wave.

He was determined to fight Xu Chen to the death, to the point of mutual destruction!

Bring it on!

Xu Chen was not one to fear battle. Seeing Ba Tu's stance, his blood boiled with patriotic fervor.

Who knew that Batu would suddenly halt his offensive!

The bloodshot color in the man's eyes faded like a tide, replaced by a surging purple aura of evil.

(Xu Chen was about to engage in a fierce battle when his opponent suddenly stopped, which felt like punching a pile of cotton with all his might.)

He leaped back several feet alertly, keeping a close eye on Batu, who was undergoing a strange transformation.

The rampant violence gradually dissipated, and a purple mist spread across the sky.

Batu stared directly at Xu Chen and slowly opened his mouth, his voice suddenly becoming completely different:

"Xu Chen, how have you been?"

The familiar voice made Xu Chen's pupils shrink—the person standing opposite him was clearly the evil god himself!

"Are you manipulating all of this?"

"Which one are you referring to? The three thousand iron cavalry of Xiumi? Taktu? Or the Five Elements Sect?" The figure in the purple mist chuckled. "I know how you judge it, but it doesn't matter."

"

"I have come today to inform you that Taktu made a contract with me back then."

"

Now that he has achieved his goal, it is time for him to fulfill his promise.

As for whether it can be done... we'll see.

"

The evil god was about to leave before his words had even finished.

"What exactly are you plotting?" Xu Chen demanded sharply.

This evil god is completely different from his past adversaries—others either sought power or wealth, but this one...

The desires within that purple mist were as vast and unfathomable as an abyss, yet also contradictory and intertwined, making them utterly unfathomable.

"Me? You'll understand sooner or later."

"The evil god's form is gradually dissipating." Here's a hint: that girl's master can lead you to Xiumi.

"

Whether you can seize the opportunity depends on yourself.

"

As the purple mist dissipated, only Xu Chen remained standing there, lost in thought.

The girl he mentioned... could it be Chu He?

Chu He opened her eyes and was immediately confronted with Xu Chen's face.

"Where am I?" Her temples throbbed, her memories a jumbled mess, like an overturned paint can.

She only vaguely remembered that an evil general almost... but Xu Chen pulled her back later.

You're lucky to have such a tough life.

Xu Chen flicked the blood off his sleeve. "If it had been half an hour later, Ba Tu's knife would have cleaved you in two."

He pointed to the faint outline of the city wall in the distance, "We're still in Jinchun's territory. Let me take you back to recover first."

"

"When you can walk again, take me to the Five Elements Sect."

"

Chu He shivered violently, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Are you crazy? That place is protected by an inner protective array; even the nine generals under the evil god wouldn't dare to force their way in!" She frantically tugged at Xu Chen's sleeve, "Even if you could defeat ten Batu, going there would be a waste of time!"

Perhaps it was the grace of being saved that made the girl's tense back relax without her realizing it.

"Find your master."

"Xu Chen's scabbard suddenly hummed, "Xiu Mi and his three thousand elite soldiers vanished into thin air—this answer is probably engraved on your master's bones."

"He narrowed his eyes," the evil god himself said.

"

"An evil god?!" Chu He's pupils suddenly contracted.

That demon, who lived only on the tongue of storytellers, actually tore through the legend and crawled out.

......

"Master is no longer in the sect!" Chu He squeezed the water pouch so hard it made a cracking sound.

When she mentioned this, her voice sounded like it was mixed with sand: "It's been three years... The last time I saw her was on a barren mountaintop above the snow line."

"

Xu Chen noticed her knuckles were white: "Specific location?"

"The place where the white sty winds blew so hard it hurt people's faces."

The girl suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

If Master were here, how dare those demons and monsters get close? What evil generals and evil gods? They wouldn't be enough for Master to cut down with one sword.

"interesting.

Xu Chen stroked the frost pattern on the hilt of the knife.

In the past few days, he has figured out the true nature of the Five Elements Sect—they don't cultivate spiritual power at all.

What flows through the veins of those people is more like... borrowed power.

But he was different.

Every inch of its bones is imbued with the essence of the sun and moon, and the mountain mist flows with every breath.

This body, honed and refined by the system, has long since reached a pinnacle that is unattainable for ordinary people.

It was as if a vast ocean of spiritual energy was hidden within Xu Chen's body!

However, practitioners of the Five Elements Sect are completely different; their bodies are circulated with the five natural forces of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

These powers all originate from the gifts of heaven and earth.

As a disciple of the Water Element Sect, Chu He's master must be proficient in water-based magic.

However, what those who cultivate the power of water fear most is the extreme cold—when the temperature drops suddenly, the flowing water will freeze into ice.

This is not only a huge drain on water-based cultivators, but also leaves wounds that are difficult to heal if they are in the icy and snowy environment for a long time.

Strangely, Chu He's master had been able to cultivate on the summit of the snow-capped mountain for many years! This mystery puzzled Xu Chen, but he believed that as long as he found this master, everything would naturally become clear.

After settling the frail Chu He to recuperate in Jin Chuncheng, Xu Chen returned to his residence only to find Jia Xu already waiting outside for a long time.

"Your Majesty, a message has arrived by carrier pigeon: Mr. Sima Hui, General He Qi, and the chivalrous Jing Ke will arrive in Jinchun City at dawn tomorrow."

"

Xu Chen nodded slightly.

These three have just inherited the legacy of the Evil General, and their strength is now on a completely different level.

The journey to the snow-capped mountains is uncertain, and someone must remain in Liang Kingdom to protect its territory.

It would be most appropriate to leave these three newly promoted powerhouses at the main camp. The reason for summoning them here was to personally test the depth of their cultivation.

"Any unusual activity within the territory of Liang?" Xu Chen suddenly asked.

Since Xiu Mi's mysterious disappearance, no clues have been found around Jin Chuncheng.

He concluded that this was no accident and that someone must have been behind it all.

Since the local search yielded no results, the Imperial Guards were ordered to investigate the situation nationwide.

Jia Xu clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "This humble general has dispatched all the Imperial Guards to thoroughly search the territory, but still has not found any trace of General Xiu Mi."

Seeing Xu Chen wave his hand in greeting, he bowed and left the courtyard.

Xu Chen knew in his heart that this matter could not be rushed.

Now that we've obtained a clue from the evil god, the most important thing is to make thorough preparations before setting off.

No matter how much effort it takes, Xu Chen is determined to find Xiu Mi and his group!

He would never allow his people to disappear without a trace, neither alive nor dead!

"By the way, any news from the Kushan Empire? Anything unusual?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu's expression hardened, and after a moment's hesitation, he replied, "King Liang, there has been no news from the Embroidered Uniform Guards sent to Kushan."

'

"I have already sent others to investigate, and I expect to hear back soon."

'

Upon hearing Jia Xu's words, Xu Chen felt a sudden unease—could something have happened to the Kushan Empire?