Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 780: A Goddess

A little earlier, when Tngri retracted his soul fragment, Lady Three and Huangfu Yongxian were already engaged in their most arduous battle.

During the past few days of marching, their forces had been harassed by Chi Li, who exploited the cover of sandstorms to launch ghostly, unpredictable assaults. Cui Yuanyong, Situ Xiao, and others led patrols at the front and rear, ensuring stability in the ranks. Chi Li attempted several ambushes but failed each time.

Chi Li had never encountered Situ Xiao before. This man ranked slightly lower than Cui Yuanyong and was rumored to be a heavy drinker, which betrayed an apparent weakness in military vigilance. At first, Chi Li thought this would make him an easier target. However, after testing him with a few probing attacks from different angles, Chi Li quickly decided he would rather face Cui Yuanyong before every breakfast than lay eyes on Situ Xiao’s unkempt, bearded face again.

What did it mean to be an immovable fortress? A wall of iron and steel?

The fact that Zhao Changhe’s company was able to hold out against Tngri for so long was in no small part owing to Situ Xiao’s master, who played a crucial role with his formidable defensive prowess and perfectly complemented Zhao Changhe’s strategic needs. That same impregnable defense, applied to a conventional battlefield, was even more overwhelming. Just one Situ Xiao was enough to block off an entire army, shrugging off blades, spears, and arrows without a single mark left on his skin.

It was outright cheating.

Fortunately, whether or not the harassing attacks succeeded did not actually matter.

Just as Huangfu Yongxian had anticipated, after several days of the Black Tortoise’s protective influence, the surrounding terrain had turned into a waterlogged, swamp-like barrier. The once-firm ground was now thick with mud, making it nearly impossible for Chi Li to maneuver on horseback. Thus, even the harassing attacks ceased. Whatever they could do was inconsequential anyway.

But the true purpose of those attacks had never been to cause damage but to create a false impression, to mislead Huangfu Qing, who was an inexperienced commander, and Zhao Changhe, who knew basically nothing of actual war. They were meant to believe these skirmishes were an attempt to slow their march, suggesting that no major northern barbarian forces were stationed in the area. Combined with Timur’s previous clash with Zhao Changhe, it reinforced the illusion that Timur was personally leading the main force elsewhere.

In truth, Tngri’s sandstorm had never been intended to cover Chi Li’s harassment forces. It was a veil indeed, but what it truly hid was Timur’s army as they positioned themselves for a decisive engagement. Beyond the obscured horizon, Timur had already woven a vast net of destruction, waiting for Huangfu Yongxian’s forces to step right into it.

This was the true battle that would determine the shifting fate of the Hu and the Han. The scale of troop deployment and the participation of the various Grasslands tribes far surpassed the skirmishes Zhao Changhe’s force had encountered.

It was reminiscent of the division of labor between Wei Qing and Huo Qubing in ancient Han campaigns[1]. But this time, the Han forces seemed to have misjudged the enemy’s main strength—nearly all their top combatants were deployed on the eastern front, leaving only one Black Tortoise to hold the line here.

Swoosh!

Behind her, the enchanting yet fierce Black Tortoise’s snake whip coiled tightly, locking down Tngri’s soul fragment. And before him, another Black Tortoise, steady and imposing, struck with a fist like a descending mountain, slamming into the soul fragment’s core.

All these days, it was unclear whether it was the soul fragment entangling her, or if Lady Three had deliberately been using this second-layer Profound Control Realm soul fragment to temper herself. Otherwise, the battle would never have dragged on this long.

Once she felt she had gained sufficient insight into wielding two souls at once and there was nothing new to be gained from further engagement, she finally decided to strike with lethal intent.

Yet the moment her iron fist landed, the soul fragment simply vanished, not even bothering to cause her any last-minute trouble. Lady Three straightened up, took a couple of steps forward, and as ripples spread through the air like waves colliding, her two souls merged back into one.

She turned to the spot where Tngri’s soul fragment had disappeared, pondering briefly. This retreat was clearly not because she had driven it away. It was obvious that the entity had sensed mounting pressure on the eastern front and had no interest in continuing their fight.

And if it had left, that likely meant Timur’s deployment was already complete.

During her entanglement with the soul fragment, she had not had the spare capacity to extend her divine sense across the surrounding thousand li. The vast, shifting sands concealed the true situation beyond. And even though Huangfu Yongxian had been observing the path ahead, with him only being at the second layer of the Profound Mysteries, his vision did not extend too far.

She transmitted a message to Huangfu Yongxian, then cast her gaze across the swirling sands. With Tngri’s soul fragment gone, the storm was now on its own. Lady Three suddenly clenched her fist and struck.

The same force that could disperse a tidal wave could certainly scatter mere sand.

As the turbulent storm began to dissipate, Huangfu Yongxian abruptly raised his spear toward the sky and bellowed, “All troops, halt! Shields in front, spears behind! Get into formation! All units, return to positions!”

The order was swiftly relayed through the ranks, and the well-trained soldiers sprang into motion, assembling in formation with practiced precision.

And even as they moved, the keenest among them already sensed the faint tremors in the ground.

“This is... cavalry! A lot of them... coming from all directions!”

The scouts, pressing their ears to the ground, shouted their warning. And at that very moment, the last of the windblown sand finally settled.

Looking out, the horizon revealed a thin, dark line in the distance. Then, like an unrelenting tide, a flood of figures surged forward from all directions, vast and endless, rushing toward their position.

An innumerable horde of Grasslands cavalry!

The dust kicked up by the thundering hooves rivaled the previous sandstorm, obscuring the sky.

This was the true deciding battle of Mobei. The main forces of the various tribes under Khagan Timur’s direct command had all gathered here. Aside from the Han force’s rear, the other three sides were faced with an unending torrent of cavalry, each of which was closing in rapidly.

As for the so-called lack of forces threatening their rear, it was merely a tactic. They were leaving one side open to tempt the Han army into losing heart and attempting to flee. But this Han army consisted mostly of infantry, with only a scarce number of cavalry for strategic purposes. If they broke into a rout, there was no chance they could outrun the tens of thousands of iron cavalry hunting them down. Death would be all but certain.

Fortunately, this army was primarily composed of the original Yanmen garrison, the most elite legion of the Great Han Empire, forged through years of life-and-death battles under Huangfu Yongxian. Though the flood of enemies on three sides was enough to make one’s heart tremble, at least discipline remained intact. They swiftly formed up into battle lines without falling into chaos.

It was a good thing Lady Three had warned them in advance. Had they only realized the danger when Timur’s forces were already upon them, they would have been utterly doomed.

“Huangfu Yongxian... You’ve cowered like a turtle inside Yanmen Pass for decades. But today, at last, you stand on the battlefield to fight me openly. Does it not fill you with exhilaration?”

Timur’s voice, brimming with smugness, echoed effortlessly across a hundred li, a testament to his peak mastery at the first layer of the Profound Control Realm. His claim to the top spot on the Ranking of Heaven seemed indisputable.

Lady Three’s eyes narrowed. Is he already half a step into the second layer? That doesn’t seem right... How did he advance so quickly?

Something was off. She had personally fought in the earlier battle at Yanmen, and back then, Timur had clearly not broken through to the Profound Control Realm. If he had, it would have been no sooner than the rest of them, which was after the “dragon hunt.” There simply was not enough time for him to reach this stage. She thus could not help but wonder if there was something unnatural at play here.

Huangfu Yongxian had no interest in verbal sparring. He silently focused on commanding his troops into formation. Timur, dissatisfied with the lack of response, turned his attention to Lady Three, still hovering in midair. “Venerable Black Tortoise... That soul fragment you encountered before? That was just a game. Your real opponent today is me.”

He paused, his tone laced with mockery. “In truth, you two venerables are not exactly warriors. Your roles are more similar to our Bo’e’s—half warrior, half priest. The one I truly wish to cross blades with is your new Night Emperor, Zhao Changhe. He is a true warrior, cleaving enemies with his saber, loosing arrows from his bow, fearless and peerless. Alas, fate has not yet allowed us to meet. I only had the chance to glimpse his presence through my divine sense. What a shame. Forgive my bluntness, but judging by your earlier performance against the soul fragment, I fear you are no match for me now.”

Lady Three was indeed half a priestess, which was precisely why she had not intervened in the cavalry charge. She had been silently casting some spells to buy her side time. But upon hearing these words, she unexpectedly paused for a moment... and then laughed. “So you’re saying that you have some admiration for my man, but you look down on me?”

Timur roared with laughter. “Did you not once pour wine for people at Huangsha Market? Why not return to it? The heroes of the Grasslands would be more than happy to visit.”

A hint of killing intent flickered in Lady Three’s eyes, but her lips remained curved in a bewitching smile. “It seems, Khagan, that you still fail to understand one crucial thing... We are at war, not engaged in a duel of warriors. In warfare, the value of a spellcaster is beyond your reckoning. In our eyes, Bo’e is far more troublesome than you...”

Timur laughed heartily. “The fact that I do not use spells does not mean I cannot break them. And more importantly... you will not have the opportunity to cast those spells.”

His voice suddenly turned cold, filled with murderous intent. “We are in range. It’s time to strike! Venerable, you will not be shielding them any longer. Die!”

Boom!

A spear tore through the air, reaching Lady Three’s face in the blink of an eye.

Her expression grew solemn. The Black Tortoise manifestation, which had been continuously protecting the army below for days, had already been withdrawn. She could no longer afford to divide her attention. With a graceful flick of her slender hand, a curved mirror of ice materialized in front of her. Timur’s spear struck the ice but skidded off its surface, unable to break through.

Even so, Lady Three staggered ever so slightly. She had held firm, but in terms of raw power, she truly could not match Timur... What kind of bullshit is this? How did he bring himself up to this level in such a short time?

Timur brushed past her, spear in hand, twisting around to thrust another strike as he laughed. “So, Venerable, can you still cast your spells?”

Lady Three spun gracefully, lashing out with her whip, her voice carrying an airy ease as she simply replied, “Yes.”

Timur’s laughter cut off abruptly.

Below them, the cavalry charge had reached terrifying speeds. In the span of their brief exchange, the front line of the northern barbarian horde had surged from a distant blur on the horizon to within a li of Huangfu Yongxian’s vanguard. They were close enough that they could soon unleash a deadly volley of arrows. Once the battle entered the rhythm in which they excelled, there would be no need to worry about further developments; victory would be inevitable.

But in that very moment, something utterly bizarre happened within the ranks of the northern barbarian cavalry. Out of nowhere, countless plump water figures emerged from the earth. The moment they surfaced, they latched onto the bellies of warhorses, causing an instant catastrophe. Horses reared in panic, throwing their riders off as the formation collapsed into chaos.

At such high speeds, the cavalry had no chance to react. Those in the rear plowed straight into the fallen, entangling in a disastrous domino effect. In mere moments, what had been an organized charge of tremendous momentum had devolved into utter disarray.

The water figures were relentless, even launching water arrows at the disoriented riders.

Timur’s face twisted with fury. “This is the northern edge of the Gobi Desert! Where in the hell did you find so much water to summon these things?!”

With a flick of his wrist, countless bolts of qi shot forth like arrows, piercing every single water figure within several li, blasting them into mist.

Yet, that brief moment of distraction cost him dearly. His spear was suddenly entangled, and from behind, a crushing wave of fist force surged forth. Lady Three had somehow split her body and was now behind him, unleashing the devastating power of the Black Tortoise’s Fist onto his back.

“Khagan, you may be mighty,” her voice whispered teasingly, “but you don’t seem to understand certain basic things. The sand might be dry, but deep underground, there is water, and far more of it than you can possibly imagine.”

Timur erupted with vigorous qi, narrowly shifting his position to deflect the brunt of the blow. But Lady Three’s two figures pressed their relentless assault, instantly flipping the battle from defense to attack and then defense again.

Timur barely had time to process his own predicament. His mind was still locked onto the battlefield below.

The sheer size of his hundreds of thousands of troops was simply too vast. Despite the disruption caused by Lady Three’s water figures, they did not affect the entire army. Numerous cavalry units were still advancing, their momentum unstoppable.

More importantly, he knew Lady Three could not do this again. Summoning such a massive force of water figures had taken time, roughly the length of their earlier exchange. And she herself had admitted that the water was deep below. No matter how powerful she was, she could not simply call upon it at will.

Timur allowed himself a small measure of relief, only for his expression to darken once more.

Whether it was the water figures dissolving into liquid upon their deaths or Lady Three’s earlier spell guiding underground water to the surface, in an instant, the golden sands of the desert were drenched. The dry ground swiftly transformed into a vast swamp.

Countless warhorses galloped straight into the marsh, their hooves sinking in before they could react. The sheer force of their charge became their downfall, sending them tumbling forward in an unstoppable chain reaction. The Han soldiers, who had just finished setting up their battle formation, could only stand there, dumbfounded. The seemingly endless cavalry charge pressing upon them just moments ago had suddenly turned into a grand spectacle of mass dismounting, leaving them in a surreal daze.

They had seen Lady Three soften the ground before, using it to interfere with Chi Li’s ambush. Back then, it had merely made the terrain slightly unstable, making it inconvenient for swift and silent movement but still passable for a horse charge. It had seemed like nothing more than a minor inconvenience, yet it turned out it had been an intentional misdirection to lull the enemy into underestimating her true capabilities. If Chi Li had realized the full extent of her power, he and his forces would have never made it back alive.

And now, she revealed more of her power, transforming an area spanning dozens of li into a quagmire.

Is she still human? No, this is the power of gods.

Grand Priestess Black Tortoise of Great Han’s state religion, the Four Idols Cult... She had once claimed she was nothing more than a lazy woman who wanted to sleep. Yet, in truth, she was worshiped as a goddess by millions across the seas. She had already spent half a year wearing the mantle of the Sea Emperor, making her even more of a god than her alleged superior, the new Night Emperor.

“I’m rather lazy, you see. If I find a useful trick, I tend to refine it to perfection, so I can use as little energy as possible. I hope that you didn’t think I was bluffing.” Lady Three smiled, her expression ever so charming. “Khagan, you claim that raw strength can break all spells, and I have to admit, you’re quite strong. So go ahead and break it.”

Timur’s teeth made a sound like gears coming to a grinding halt.

Break what, exactly?!

Even if he unleashed his most precise and peerless control of vigorous qi, evaporating every last drop of moisture in the terrain to restore the land... the battlefield had already collapsed. His cavalry formation was utterly shattered, horses flailing and sinking into the swamp. How was he supposed to recover from this?

And Huangfu Yongxian sure as hell was not going to stand around and wait.

Swish, swish, swish!

Arrows rained down like a swarm of locusts, launched from the Han army’s immaculate formation, cutting into the disarrayed Hu cavalry like a scythe through wheat.

They were already within range.

Screams of agony filled the battlefield. Timur’s rage boiled over. “Dismount! Fight on foot! We have the numbers! We’ll bury them in corpses if we have to! Vulture Beak, take the lead!”

And so, a pitiful master of the Profound Control Realm, locked in aerial combat, still had to personally issue battlefield commands. Even the Bo’e had not been this pitiful, and Huangfu Qing had her brother to lead alongside her. As for Timur? Timur commanded a massive coalition of tribes, each with their own agendas. He was the only one capable of keeping order.

Vulture Beak gritted his teeth, rallying his forces despite the chaos. He surged forward under a hail of arrows, leading the charge into the Han army’s unbroken formation.

From the side, hoofbeats thundered again. On a stretch of ground that Lady Three had not affected, Chi Li and his raiding forces circled from the rear, attempting to support Vulture Beak’s advance.

But before them, within the Han army’s lines, a forest of gleaming spears rose high. The polished tips flashed coldly under the searing sun, blindingly sharp. They were so bright that Chi Li found himself momentarily unable to look directly at them.

In terms of sheer numbers, he still had confidence in their ability to win this battle. But his warrior’s instincts whispered a grim warning.

This battle... is going to be brutal.

Lady Three, all by her lonely self, had already nullified their advantage. Even if they somehow won, it would be at a cost they could not afford.

And that cost... might very well include his own life.

When two warriors meet on a narrow path, victory belongs to the one with the courage to step forward.

If he could not set his life aside, this battle was already lost.

1. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing are ancient Chinese generals of the Western Han dynasty. ☜