Chapter 153: General Yuwen
The Fire Crow’s cries were sharp and piercing, coming from all directions, like vengeful ghosts filling the sky. Everyone on the ship heard them and felt their blood run cold.
The Sui River here was over three hundred zhang wide, with calm waters, making the large ship seem to glide across a still lake.
By November, the weather had turned bitterly cold.
At night, a light mist rose from the river surface, while the endless hills along the shore were shrouded in darkness.
The ship was forced to a halt.
The three Water Lion Beasts pulling the ship had been shot dead, their corpses floating on the water, their blood staining the great river red.
The ship’s Hundred Script Defense Formation had already activated. Over a hundred Formation Scripts floated in mid-air, forming a glowing sphere that completely enveloped the seventy-plus-meter-long multi-story ship.
Li Weiyi stood at the railing of the first layer corridor, observing the Night City cavalry on the river surface. There were nearly three hundred of them, surrounding from all sides, constantly unleashing arrow barrages and spitting fireballs to attack the multi-story ship’s Defense Formation.
“Rumble!”
The fireballs were spat from the Fire Crow mounts’ mouths, with immense power. Upon smashing into the Formation Light Screen, they instantly dispersed into a several-meter-wide fire cloud.
The entire Formation Light Shield nearly turned into fireballs.
Li Weiyi felt as if he were amid thousands of troops and horses, with the pressure of death pressing down from all sides. He said solemnly, “No negotiations? Logically, these Barbarian Thieves should mainly be after wealth. If they truly force us into a desperate situation, their losses in a deathmatch won’t be small either.”
Yin Shisan said, “Originally, handing over some goods could have gotten us through; we’ve encountered this before. But this time is different. This Night City cavalry likely started reconnoitering us as soon as we entered Zhizhou territory. They know there are many young and beautiful women on the ship—they’re coming to take everything in one go.”
“Usually, Night City cavalry numbering a hundred riders is already considered large-scale!”
“This time, there are fully around three hundred riders. Based on the Fire Crow Cavalry’s ten-to-one ratio, the number of Five Seas Realm experts is probably close to thirty.”
Then Yin Shisan told Li Weiyi that Fire Crow Cavalry were the elite of Night City’s elites, specially tasked with looting Merchant Caravans and wealthy Market Towns to gather military supplies, radiating across the Three Prefecture Land of the Southern Territory. Wherever they went, nothing grew, and anyone who encountered them was in for big trouble.
Examples of Five Seas Realm Martial Cultivators being hunted down were countless.
“There are no Dao Seed Realm experts in this Fire Crow Cavalry, right?”
Li Weiyi had been carefully observing and sensing, trying to gauge the enemy’s true strength.
“How could there not be? Dao Seed Realm figures are almost all Leader level. The presence of such a being would shatter the ship protection formation with one punch.”
Yin Shisan knew all matters under heaven, reciting Southern Territory experts like a catalog. He pointed to a giant three-headed Fire Crow in the night sky and said, “That’s the commander of this Fire Crow Cavalry, Yuwen Chao, a veteran Five Seas Realm Fifth Realm expert with a one-Jia-Zi-long fierce reputation in the Southern Territory.”
Li Weiyi said, “Thirteenth Senior Brother, what is your cultivation realm?”
“Five Seas Realm Fourth Realm.” Yin Shisan stated honestly.
Li Weiyi knew that Hidden Sect’s Hidden Persons were all Nine Springs Supreme Persons, with combat power top-tier in the same realm, even capable of cross-realm kills.
Yin Shisan caught the implication and looked at Li Weiyi, moved. “You’re not thinking of clashing with this Night City cavalry, are you?”
Li Weiyi said, “This Night City cavalry is vast in number and strong in strength, almost all at Six Springs or Seven Springs cultivation, but they clearly aren’t taking us seriously—they haven’t even formed a Battle Formation.”
“Because there’s no need to form a Battle Formation at all.”
Yin Shisan continued, “With thirty Five Seas Realm experts pressing down, Yuwen Chao doesn’t even need to act, and we’re all done for! Moreover, if any mishap occurs, with the Fire Crows’ flight mobility, they can form a Battle Formation in an instant.”
“Weiyi, you wouldn’t have been moved by compassion, would you? Yes, there are many children on the ship, even infants. If we flee, they’re definitely dead. But their lives aren’t even that valued by their own fathers—what are we fighting for? Tonight’s situation is beyond our capabilities.”
Li Weiyi said, “There has to be some right and wrong, doesn’t there?”
Yin Shisan was stunned.
Li Weiyi said, “Tonight’s situation is dangerous, but not impossible to fight. Li Ling, that day when we were pursued and killed by Chen Lian, you asked if I wanted to ambush, if I wanted to fight. I said the risk was too great, not at the point where we had to fight, so we kept fleeing!”
“The same situation—why fight today?” Li Ling knew the answer but still asked.
“Because that day, fighting would have been just a dispute of pride. Today, fighting is for the convictions in our hearts. People must have some humanity! Cultivators must have a bit of responsibility!”
Li Weiyi silently pondered and calculated the possibility of breaking the enemy, then said, “These Barbarian Thieves burn, kill, and loot without restraint, leaving nine out of ten homes empty and fields littered with corpses wherever they pass. Since we’ve encountered them, even if we flee, I must make them pay a price.”
Li Ling greatly admired the fighting spirit and warm human nature shining from Li Weiyi, fully agreeing. “I’ll assist you!”
Yin Shisan was infected by Li Weiyi’s emotions, seeing the qi soul and responsibility of a Hidden Person in him, but unsure of his confidence, he ultimately chose compromise. “Alright, but once I shout to flee, we must go.”
“Good, do our utmost and leave the rest to destiny.” Li Weiyi nodded in agreement.
The three headed to the bow.
As Great Mind Masters, Li Weiyi and Li Ling simultaneously channeled Spiritual Light Flames into the formation core. Instantly, the ship protection grand formation’s over a hundred Formation Scripts erupted with even brighter radiance than before.
Guard Commander Wu Zhaonan was under immense pressure, dispatching his only three Five Seas Realm subordinates to various positions on the multi-story ship to control the chaos, manage the overall situation, and calm the people.
“As expected of Attendant Hall Secret Agents—they’re all Great Mind Masters.”
Wu Zhaonan glanced at Li Weiyi and Li Ling, sighing, then his gaze fell on Yin Shisan. He sent a low voice transmission. “Fire Crow Cavalry are full of experts; we’re no match. Once the formation breaks, we immediately join forces to break through and flee. How about it? Stuck with this disaster, we have no choice—no need to fight to the death for those officials’ outer chamber families.”
Yin Shisan’s face turned stern, and he snorted coldly. “How can Commander say such words? People must have some humanity, right? Not for anyone, just for the principles and responsibility in our hearts. If you want to flee, flee then—Chen will fight to the last drop of blood anyway.”
Wu Zhaonan hadn’t expected the other to be so uprightly stubborn, giving an awkward smile. “With Clerk Chen’s words, Wu is reassured! Fire Crow Cavalry three hundred riders have this place sealed tight—how could we escape? Only by fighting to the death might there be a slim chance of survival.”
…
Standing on the back of the three-headed Fire Crow, Yuwen Chao was a Deformed Humanoid Race member with a green face and tiger head, four meters tall, covered in armor, holding a two-zhang-long spear, his aura overwhelmingly strong, like a demon.
Seeing the ship protection formation’s light grow even brighter, hard to breach in the short term, he snorted coldly. “All Five Seas Realm experts, obey orders—attack with this general to break the formation. Leave no males on the ship alive, seize all the women, and divide the resources and wealth equally.”
“Swear to follow General Yuwen to the death.”
The slogan shook the heavens.
The Fire Crow Cavalry’s morale instantly peaked. Nearly thirty riders surged forward, all dashing and heroic, their Magic Energy weaving into clouds, their spears thrusting out bright Battle Intents.
Yuwen Chao mobilized his full power, hurling his spear.
The spear became a brilliant light pillar, tearing through the night sky with a piercing whistle, slamming into the ship protection grand formation’s Formation Screen. The screen dented sharply, teetering on the brink.
Nearly thirty spears were also hurled from nearly thirty Five Seas Realm Martial Cultivators, crashing down as well.
“Boom!”
“Rumble!”
…
The Hundred Script Defense Formation couldn’t withstand the joint attack of dozens of Five Seas Realm Strong Practitioners. In just one wave, the Light Screen shattered. Over ten spears descended from the sky; some pierced the Ship Hull, sending wood splinters flying. Others pierced the armor of guards on the ship, passing through their bodies, blood pooling everywhere.
“Haha! Kill, leave none!”
“Whoever grabs it, keeps it.”
Outside, killing shouts, whistles, and Fire Crow cries filled the sky as they charged and swooped toward the ship.
On the ship, a group of highly tense family members could no longer hold back, crying and shouting. They huddled in rooms, embracing each other, trembling in fear. Only those with decent cultivation stood with the guards, holding War Weapons to meet the enemy.
Yuwen Chao swung his arm, unleashing a Magic Energy river that swept back the spears embedded in the ship. Then, riding his eight-meter-long three-headed Fire Crow, he attacked Guard Commander Wu Zhaonan at the bow.
Strong Practitioners drew each other; he had long targeted this Guard Commander.
The three-headed Fire Crow’s throat glowed bright green, spitting a jet of green Flame that ignited the wooden Ship Hull, exposing the steel structure inside. The green Flame Waterfall spread all the way to Wu Zhaonan.
Wu Zhaonan faced the great enemy, releasing a two-zhang-tall Battle Intent figure that blocked the green flames. His war saber slashed out, sending a ten-plus-meter arc of saber light flying straight upward.
“Pfft!”
The three-headed Fire Crow’s abdominal armor cracked open, massive blood surging out. It let out a mournful cry and immediately fled.
“You dare injure this general’s mount—seeking death!”
Yuwen Chao flew into rage, leaping off the three-headed Fire Crow’s back, his Magic Energy surging like a sea. A bright light-pillar-like spear fell from the sky, its Battle Intent locking onto Wu Zhaonan, the spear tip radiating Destruction energy.
Wu Zhaonan swung his saber to meet it, but upon contact, he sensed something wrong—the opponent’s power was like heavy mountains pressing down.
“Bang!”
The deck underfoot couldn’t bear the force, collapsing into a large hole. Wu Zhaonan spat blood and fell toward the lower cabin!
Yuwen Chao shot down after him.
Yin Shisan exchanged a glance with Li Weiyi and shouted, “Commander Wu, Chen Chuan comes to lend a hand.”
Yin Shisan jumped down the deck hole, releasing Battle Intent and striking a palm at Yuwen Chao.
Wu Zhaonan knew full well that fleeing today was pure delusion; he had long been targeted by Yuwen Chao. Fortunately, Clerk Chen beside him was reliable, willing to fight to the end. If it were some irresponsible partner, he couldn’t imagine how dire the situation would be today.
“Clerk Chen, a true man!”
Wu Zhaonan raised his saber and charged up.
The ship was already in chaotic melee everywhere, flames burning all around.
Fire Crow Cavalry leaped down from their crow backs one after another, swarming onto each level of the Ship Deck, constantly killing guards one by one and throwing them into the water.
“Bang!”
A cabin door was kicked open by a Fire Crow Cavalryman, instantly filled with screams and cries shaking the heavens.
Li Ling’s fingertip shot out a burning Spiritual Light Chain, yanking him out and throwing him into the icy river water, turning him into a sunken corpse. In the yanking process, the Spiritual Fire Chain had already crushed his throat.
Li Weiyi wielded the Yellow Dragon Sword, decapitating a Five Seas Realm cavalryman’s head. While charging with killing intent at the next Five Seas Realm cavalryman, his eyes quickly scanned the battlefield.
Only half the Fire Crow Cavalry boarding the ship, but all the Five Seas Realm experts among them were on board. The soldiers outside were leaderless; it was just that the ship’s space was limited and saturated, so they hadn’t all swarmed up—they handled killing those jumping into the water to flee.
“They’re too arrogant! Barbarian Thieves are still Barbarian Thieves—can’t compare to true regular troops.”
Li Weiyi felt even more confident, so he decisively released seven Phoenix Wing Moth Emperors, telling them to attack with full force. If the Fire Crow Cavalry outside tried to form a Battle Formation, they were to rush and shatter it immediately.
This was Li Weiyi’s trump card!
