Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 779 (2): Their War

If even he could not withstand it, then Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling, and the others certainly had no chance. Every soldier on both sides, regardless of allegiance, would be wiped out in an instant.

The northern barbarian forces numbered over a hundred thousand, while the Great Han soldiers were less than half that number. But on the other hand, some of the most crucial Profound Control Realm powerhouses of the Great Han Empire were gathered here. Tngri was willing to sacrifice even multiple hundreds of thousands of people if that meant he could kill Zhao Changhe and his ilk here.

“Do you truly believe that combining your strength is enough to defy me? I am at the peak of the second layer of the Profound Control Realm!” Tngri floated in midair, arms outstretched, his voice thundering across the battlefield. “You seek to weaken my nation’s vitality by killing its people, but you will all die long before that happens!”

The raging winds howled, sweeping Zhao Changhe and the others several li away. The storm of lightning, now fully charged, descended at last with a deafening roar.

Li Shentong’s eyes flashed with determination as he prepared to make a move. But before he could act, he suddenly noticed that Zhao Changhe was now holding a massive axe.

Where did he get that axe?

Tngri’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Boom!

The devastating thunderbolt descended from the heavens.

At the same time, Zhao Changhe swung the massive axe.

The lightning, thick as a mountain ridge, seemed to be drawn by an unseen force. Instead of obliterating its intended target, it veered off course and was absorbed into the divine weapon.

Electric arcs coiled around the axe, radiating an awe-inspiring divine presence. Zhao Changhe staggered slightly under the backlash, a thin trickle of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

But that was all.

The thunderbolt that should have been capable of annihilating everything within a thousand li... was simply gone. Just like that.

Tngri’s mind momentarily blanked. Then, in a sudden outburst of rage, he roared, “Bo’e! Why the hell didn’t they steal you in the Central Plains instead of my axe?!”

Pa!

A flaming spear shot through the battlefield, grazing the side of Bo’e’s ceremonial staff.

Already rattled by his god’s fury, Bo’e lost his composure and was finally forced back. Huangfu Qing’s relentless assault reopened his unhealed wounds, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

Whoosh!

A radiant sword light tore through the storm-darkened sky, parting the heavy clouds like a falling sunset. Yue Hongling’s sword glowed like an unbroken rainbow streaking toward Tngri’s brow.

At the same time, River of Stars soared into the heavens.

As Yue Hongling carved a fiery arc across the sky, the rift she created was flanked by scattered starlight, a cosmic river cascading from the firmament like a celestial waterfall.

Dragon Bird surged forward, engulfed in a frenzy of bloodlust and battle cries, an infernal tempest sweeping through the battlefield of hundreds of thousands.

The divine might of River of Stars and the demonic might of Dragon Bird—both of these forces erupted simultaneously, divine and demonic intertwined in a cataclysmic clash.

Earth-shattering explosions erupted in the sky, intertwining with the roaring artillery fire below. The entire battlefield resounded with a symphony of destruction as if the very mountains and rivers had joined the battle.

Atop the barren hill, Huangfu Shaozong now held command. He stood beside the artillery emplacement, observing the battlefield with a sharp gaze. After a moment, he nocked an arrow and took aim. He did not aim for Huyinletai, who was locked in combat with Xue Canghai, but for someone just behind him.

There, a northern barbarian warrior was discreetly drawing his bow, his sights locked onto Xue Canghai, who was too consumed by his bloodlust to even notice.

In this one-on-one duel, Xue Canghai and Huyinletai were evenly matched. Huyinletai’s cultivation was higher, but Xue Canghai thrived in this battlefield of slaughter. The overwhelming bloodlust only amplified his strength, and his weapon was a true treasure. Overall, Xue Canghai had the advantage.

Given enough time, Xue Canghai would have turned that advantage into an undeniable victory, achieving the stunning feat of overcoming an opponent ranked far above him. But this was war. No one would grant him such a fair chance.

Clang!

Saber and spear clashed again and again. Xue Canghai’s Blood God Saber came down in a devastating arc, striking Huyinletai’s spear with such force that a deep notch was carved into the weapon. The spear was on the verge of snapping.

Twang!

Amid the chaotic battlefield, the twang of a bowstring was barely audible. The hidden archer let go of his bowstring, but not because he had decided to take a shot—rather, Huangfu Shaozong’s arrow had pierced his throat with incredible precision. The would-be assassin toppled backward and his arrow went far astray, embedding itself harmlessly into the barricade.

A moment later, another resounding clash rang out. With a final, ferocious blow, Xue Canghai cleaved through both spear and wielder. Huyinletai was split cleanly in half.

The battlefield erupted in shock.

“Third on the Ranking of Man? Hah, it turns out you’re nothing special! Now, who else wants to die?!”

His roar thundered across the battlefield, piercing even the cacophony of thunder and artillery fire.

Huangfu Shaozong cast his gaze skyward. The divine battle above was obscured by the dazzling clash of lightning and celestial radiance. He could not get a clear view of the battle. Lowering his eyes, he glanced toward where his sister fought Bo’e, just in time to see Bo’e staggering back with blood spurting from his mouth.

His heart surged. Without hesitation, he seized the moment, his voice cutting through the chaos like the sound of a heavenly bell. “King Zhao has shattered your false god’s technique! The supreme commander has grievously wounded the second on the Ranking of Heaven! And General Xue has slain the third on the Ranking of Man! As we unleash our divine punishment, where is your so-called divine protection?!”

BOOM!

Another deafening barrage of artillery fire, another round of so-called “divine punishment” crashed into the enemy rear lines. But this time, the cannons could take no more. One by one, their barrels overheated and exploded, injuring several artillerymen.

The enemy, however, had no way of knowing.

All they saw was an unending cascade of pure death hammering down upon their formations. Their lines were in complete disarray. And yet, the heavens remained silent. No gods answered their prayers. They were merely flesh and blood. How long could they withstand this relentless onslaught?

The warriors of the Divine Temple had always believed that, after Xia Longyuan’s death, their Great Shaman Bo’e would be invincible among mortals. But now, they had just witnessed him being forced back and spitting blood from the strike of a mortal warrior of the Four Idols Cult.

Meanwhile, the gate of the encampment remained unbroken.

At its entrance, a horde of what seemed like mini-Zhao Changhes had entrenched themselves and were biting like rabid hounds, their bloodlust insatiable. The once-valliant warriors of the Divine Temple had thrown themselves against this defense in waves, yet all that remained were mountains of bodies—their bodies.

And now, their great general, Huyinletai, had been chopped in twain.

The unstoppable assault finally faltered. The hesitation was visible. Thousand-man and hundred-man commanders alike could sense the shift, the creeping doubt taking hold of their ranks.

Huangfu Shaozong took a deep breath. Without another word, he leaped from the hill, landing swiftly atop his warhorse. “The enemy is in disarray! Their will to fight is broken! Open the gates! Light cavalry, charge!”

The gates swung wide. From within, cavalry surged forth in a furious tide, their formation a perfect storm of momentous rage and steel.

It was an all-out offensive. Aside from the thousands of members of the Blood God Cult who could match the speed of galloping horses on foot, this charge was an almost entirely mounted force. It was a relentless, overwhelming wave of cavalry poised to crush the enemy’s spirit once and for all.

The northern barbarians, having abandoned their horses for the siege, found themselves in complete disarray. Their front lines were now on foot, while their rear forces had been devastated by relentless artillery bombardment. The formations were broken, their coordination in shambles, and their leaders hesitated. None were willing to push forward into certain death.

And now, facing the full force of the Han cavalry, rested and poised for battle, how could they possibly stand a chance?

Huangfu Shaozong spearheaded the charge, his long spear sweeping through the enemy ranks. With each thrust, northern barbarian warriors were impaled and flung away as the young general carved a bloody path through the chaos.

Raising his voice above the din of battle, he roared, “This is no retreat, it is a counterattack! Whoever claims the head of the enemy’s main commander, Chishan, will earn a thousand taels of gold and the rank of senior general! Whoever claims the head of Great Shaman Bo’e will be rewarded with ten thousand taels and shall be named a marquis!”

For over thirty years, ever since Xia Longyuan’s campaign into the north had forced Tngri into a defensive stance, no Great Xia warrior had set foot upon the Grasslands in an offensive campaign.

Now, the sons of Han thundered across the open plains not as defenders, but as conquerors, tearing through the Divine Temple’s elite forces.

The enemy ranks crumbled. The once-unbreakable warriors of the Divine Temple scattered in all directions, their last remaining numbers fleeing northward under the leadership of Right Protector Chishan. The Great Shaman Bo’e, battered and humiliated, broke away from Huangfu Qing’s pursuit, retreating in disgrace further north into the mountains. That was where their true sanctuary lay—the heart of their faith, the Divine Temple itself.

Huangfu Qing had no interest in chasing Bo’e down. The moment he disengaged, she turned and shot toward Zhao Changhe’s position. She knew the battle on his end was nothing more than a desperate stalling effort. The true weight of the battle had fallen upon his shoulders. That battlefield was the most dire, the one that demanded her aid.

If the ranking of warriors in this war followed conventional wisdom, then the strongest would face the strongest. But somehow, Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling, and Li Shentong had been designated as the “weaker” side meant to hold off an overwhelming force.

Being the weaker side in this battle meant being in the most danger. It meant facing death at every turn.

Zhao Changhe had already been wounded, and his injuries were even older than Bo’e’s. If this stalemate dragged on any longer, there was no telling how things would turn.

But was this not a war waged with lives on the line?

Even with her support, it was uncertain whether they could truly defeat Tngri. The real outcome would be determined not just by the divine battle but by the battlefield below, by how much they could shake Tngri’s foundation.

Huangfu Qing relinquished command to her younger brother. Taking charge, Huangfu Shaozong led 20,000 cavalry, joined by Xue Canghai’s 5,000 Blood God Cult warriors, in a relentless pursuit of the Divine Temple’s scattered forces.

Their destination: Langjuxu.