The Great Qi’s foremost celestial talent, whose white robes surpassed snow and whose bearing was peerless in the world. Truly a figure this humble one has never before witnessed in his lifetime! He must be the Heavenspan Venerable, the Heavenspan General, who has seized the glory of his entire generation!”

Liu Yitao, the city guard general of Jinming City, commander of five thousand troops and overseer of thirty thousand prisoners, gazed at the Heavenspan Venerable with profound emotion.

Heaven alone knew how genuinely sincere he was. This was the man who had come to save his dog’s life!

That Heavenspan Victorious General was truly a man of his word. Jiang Wang’s reputation for trustworthiness was well-deserved. An aid army had indeed arrived! And they had marched through the Outer Tower realm, arriving like divine presences!

Our Great Qi Empire has not abandoned me, Liu Yitao, after all!

The Heavenspan Venerable subtly checked Liu Yitao’s attempt to rush forward and grasp his leg, his expression playful. “Great Qi’s foremost celestial talent? Did the one surnamed Jiang say that himself?”

“Your younger brother told me personally!” Liu Yitao decided to play the family card. “He admires you immensely, saying you are a celestial talent not seen in a thousand years of human history, the foremost divine presence from ancient times to the present…”

“Enough, enough.” The Heavenspan Venerable turned his head, looking at the distant sky, his tone carrying a touch of inexplicable desolation. “You say, you have all already surrendered to Qi?”

“Yes, yes!” Liu Yitao replied with a joyful expression.

“The entire city has surrendered?”

“Yes, yes!”

“And there are still several tens of thousands of prisoners?”

“Yes, yes!”

The Heavenspan Venerable sucked on his teeth, a somewhat dangerous glint in his eye. “This might not be easy to prove.”

Liu Yitao didn’t catch his meaning and enthusiastically declared, “I have here the military merit record personally written by your younger brother! It’s all recorded there, no mistakes!”

He took out the piece of paper Heavenspan Sheng had given him from his bosom, handed it to the Heavenspan Venerable, and pointed for him to see. “Look, look, it’s recorded here: ‘Liu Yitao has pledged allegiance to Great Qi, assisting the heavenly army in guarding Jinming City, repeatedly intercepting the local aid army, making indelible contributions to the overall situation of Linwu Prefecture…’ Look!”

The Heavenspan Venerable held the piece of paper between his thumb and forefinger, examining it with a hint of disdain as it hung before him.

Within his pitch-black pupils, those few words that were too much of an eyesore were reflected—

“Victory Camp’s foremost merit in Linwu Prefecture!”

He lowered his hand.

A lengthy, verbose boast of military merit—truly nothing worth looking at.

That fellow named Liu Yitao was still eagerly watching him, overflowing with enthusiasm. “You two are truly dragon brothers and tiger brothers, each a top individual of extraordinary talent! General Heavenspan Sheng always spoke of you! His affection for you is truly deep. He knew you would definitely come to support, saying that with you here, he had no worries about the rear!”

“Heh heh.” The Heavenspan Venerable seemed to smile without smiling. “He was that certain I would come?”

“Hahahaha.” Liu Yitao laughed heartily. “Perhaps not! Fighting tigers requires close brothers, going to battle requires father-son soldiers. You two, your hearts are connected!”

Looking at this fellow, who didn’t know if he was genuinely foolish or pretending to be, the Heavenspan Venerable now seriously doubted the criteria by which that fatty had chosen this Jinming City guard general!

Who could be more annoying?

He casually patted the piece of paper back onto Liu Yitao’s chest armor and strode towards the outside. “Assemble!”

He still didn’t believe it!

A Jiang Wang who had temporarily suppressed his breakthrough to the divine presence realm, a Heavenspan Sheng whose combat strength wasn’t worth mentioning—could they really compare to his own swift advance leading the army?

Even if Linwu Prefecture’s fate was decided, there were still Huiming, Fengli, Shaokang, and Jin’an to come!

The war was far from over!

“Eh, General, where are you going?” Liu Yitao frantically followed behind. “Are there any arrangements for this humble one?”

The Heavenspan Venerable was too lazy to pay attention.

With the large flag unfurled, the vanguard camp controlling the city pass quickly completed assembly.

The Heavenspan Venerable had already committed the Xia Country map to heart, silently deciding on his next target, just about to lead his army to depart.

Suddenly—

Woo! Woo! Woo!

Ox-horn military bugles sounded in the distance!

Liu Yitao’s face changed dramatically!

The Heavenspan Venerable flew high into the air to look into the distance, only to see dust rolling on the horizon.

A magnificent army was approaching in a vast wave.

The first large flag, flying in the wind, unfurled.

The flag read—”An Country”.

Great Xia’s Marquis of An Country, Jin Ling!

If it were a one-on-one fight, the Heavenspan Venerable, who had achieved a flawless divine presence breakthrough, would not fear Jin Ling.

But his vanguard camp had only three thousand elite soldiers, and as far as his gaze reached, Jin Ling was leading at least thirty thousand troops!

He had the presence of mind to take his people and leave. With the vanguard camp’s marching speed, they could completely escape now. They were already deep within Xia Country’s interior. They could roam wherever they pleased with soldiers and swords. Where could they not go?

But he couldn’t help but think of the crucial significance of occupying Jinming City to the entire Linwu Prefecture war situation!

This place controlled north and south, absolutely dominating transportation, blocking aid and retreat—truly a perilous spot.

Every day Jinming City remained occupied, it would take at least three days for Linwu Prefecture’s entire territory to change flags!

“Open…”

He opened his mouth, wanting to order Liu Yitao to open the city protection grand array.

Only then did he remember that the city protection grand array had already been destroyed by Heavenspan Sheng.

He couldn’t help but feel that this was also a design by Heavenspan Sheng, precisely to trap him here!

But with a slight thought, he also knew that with Heavenspan Sheng’s military strength at that time, destroying the city protection grand array was the best choice. If it were him, in a situation where he couldn’t guarantee occupying the city, he would have done the same.

But without the city protection grand array, how could they resist the approaching army?

Rely on these prisoners who could mutiny at any time?

“General, General, what should we do? The Marquis of An Country is very fierce in using soldiers.” Liu Yitao followed the Heavenspan Venerable step by step, anxious, fearful, and very noisy. “Or should we withdraw?”

Withdrawing the army was, of course, the most rational choice. It was also, for himself, the safest choice.

Staying here was unnecessary. If he won, it would be Heavenspan Sheng’s great merit. If he lost, it would be like burying his own good situation!

Truly dirty.

That fat fellow was truly dirty!

Early on, when he left Jixia Academy and saw the disorganized state of his subordinates’ businesses, he had already recognized that fatty’s dirty tactics.

Today, he only knew he had seen too shallowly!

The Heavenspan Venerable was not someone who liked to sigh, but this time he let out a sigh.

Finishing the sigh, his white robes lightly fluttered, and he already leaped high into the air—

“This general, Heavenspan Venerable, officially takes over the defense of this city! All soldiers, listen to my order!”

He quickly flew around the city, adjusting deployments, and declaring his voice along the way, making the whole city hear. “This general has only three military rules!”

“First, killing the enemy will be rewarded! After the war, the city’s treasury will be fully opened. You can take as much as you can carry, and this general will absolutely not interfere! I pledge this on the Heavenspan family name!”

“Second, guarding the city has merit! Great Qi’s mighty army of one hundred thousand has already occupied Fengjie, Xiangyou, and Youping! Restoring the entire territory of Xia Country is just around the corner! If this city is defended, Linwu will also be restored! After the war, merits will be recorded, not a single bit less. I will bestow upon you the titles of Qi and grant you the salaries of Qi, becoming heavenly soldiers of an overlord country!”

“Third, disobeying orders—death!”

Saying the last rule, he directly swept horizontally across the sky, actually rushing out of Jinming City at such a moment, heading alone towards the army formation of the Marquis of An Country, Jin Ling!

It was not like suddenly encountering a strong enemy.

Instead, it seemed as though there was infinite backup in this place, and they had long been fully prepared, precisely waiting for the drum to sound three times and for the ambush to kill the general who came out—

Though he was alone, it was like having ten thousand soldiers. He gathered the divine power of the sun, moon, and stars, attached it to his body, wielded Chop Delusion, and unleashed an absolutely powerful strike!

A flash of bright knife light swept across the long sky.

The Sun Divine Palace was dazzling, the moonlight was deep and serene like a forest, and the stars were extinguished in brilliant illusions!

Within Jiang Wang’s pupils, a set of white robes was suddenly moving back and forth, driving absolute top-tier divine power with absolute top-tier combat talent, radiating ten thousand rays of dazzling light, creating a myriad of effects for a time.

And his green shirt and sword were locked in a life-and-death battle with him.

The two figures fought faster and faster, performing more and more intensely—

Like a dreamlike illusion, it shattered once again!

This secret technique, obtained from the Five Immortal Gates on the near-sea islands, was no longer sufficient to truly depict the battles between figures of the Heavenspan Venerable and his level.

But the battles he had personally experienced, the dreamlike illusions he had personally used, could still replicate several points of the true meaning. This allowed him to repeatedly replay that battle before the ten thousand soldiers, searching for the winning opportunity that might just be hidden within some detail…

Too difficult!

Even today, he still felt it was too difficult!

In that battle at that time, he had already performed to his limit. But the Heavenspan Venerable’s combat talent was not inferior to his in the slightest. In the end, only through accumulation could it be said that he ultimately did not achieve a flawless divine presence like the Heavenspan Venerable.

Up to now, among all the Outer Tower realm experts Jiang Wang had seen, there were only three people he still had no confidence in defeating within the same realm.

One was the Heavenspan Venerable, one was Dou Zhao, and one was Wang Changji.

These three people, in the Outer Tower stage, had all reached their limits. At least in a certain aspect, they were already the absolute top of this realm. Traversing history, none could surpass them.

Unless there was a major change in cultivation in this realm, later comers could at most catch up.

Besides figures like Senior Brother Zhu Weiwo, because he had not personally witnessed his peak state in the Outer Tower realm before achieving a divine presence breakthrough, it was impossible to judge. But if judged by Senior Brother Zhu’s performance in the Mountain Sea realm when surrounded and fighting ‘Ge Fei’, then Jiang Wang was confident that he already held an advantage.

Perhaps there was also Yin Guan.

Easily suppressing Su She, the master of Ju Bao Chamber of Commerce who followed the master path, and being able to withstand the bombardment of the divine presence catcher Yue Leng to achieve a divine presence breakthrough—this kind of battle record performance also placed him among the absolute top of the Outer Tower realm. His control over the Dao, it was feared, had no equal in the same realm. It was just that he was still too weak at that time, not enough to clearly see Yin Guan’s strength…

Even now, Jiang Wang is unable to judge who among these individuals was stronger or weaker in their peak Outer Tower state. He can only say that they were all on the same level. As for winning, losing, or being stronger or weaker, without a true life-and-death moment, it is impossible to reach a conclusion.

But to reiterate, now these people without exception have all achieved divine presence…

Jiang Wang is still polishing in the Outer Tower realm, only for his own longer-term future, not to compete with anyone.

Among the figures he understands so well who climbed to the top of the Outer Tower realm, perhaps only Yin Guan is possibly close to his age.

Heavenspan Sheng was born in the three thousand eight hundred ninety-seventh year of the Dao Calendar. His father, Heavenspan Mingtu, changed ‘Mingtu’ to ‘Futu’ in the same year.

And he was born in the three thousand nine hundredth year of the Dao Calendar.

Heavenspan Sheng is already three years older than him, and the Heavenspan Venerable is Heavenspan Sheng’s cousin.

Dou Zhao and the Heavenspan Venerable were equally peerless on Guan He Tai, and their ages are also similar.

As for Wang Changji…

Wang Changji’s younger brother, Wang Changxiang, was still his senior brother at the Fenglin City Dao Academy.

Senior Brother Zhu goes without saying; even Wang Changxiang would call him senior brother…

Nothing but hearing the Dao has its before and after.

Nothing but having seen a high mountain, one goes further towards the high mountain.

With Jiang Wang’s nature, he will certainly not find any excuses for himself. He will only continue to walk forward, walk forward…

Only after the scattered dreamlike illusions had dispersed did he ask Heavenspan Sheng this: “How were you so sure that the Heavenspan Venerable would definitely guard Jinming City?”

At this time, Victory Camp was already very far from Jinming City, even having left Linwu Prefecture.

The army was now wearing the uniforms of the Fengli Prefecture army. Of course, the orders, flags, and seals were all complete this time. They had captured an unknown number of them in Jinming City, more than enough to use.

Heavenspan Sheng casually replied, “Because Jinming City now plays a crucial role in ending the Linwu Prefecture war as quickly as possible. As long as he rushes to Jinming City, it means he recognizes the importance of Jinming City… If he arrives late and Jinming City has already changed hands, then he will certainly attack it fiercely. If he arrives early, then he just has to guard it. I have confidence in his strength and wisdom, tending to believe he can arrive in time.”

“Then didn’t we also not guard it?” Jiang Wang asked.

Heavenspan Sheng sneered, “You only achieved the Fourth Star Building before this expedition, a new star among the four beyond the Outer Tower. I only established the First Star Building on the battlefield, even more so a new star in the Outer Tower realm! We, merely two Outer Tower cultivators, what do we have to guard with? Guarding for four days was already taking a big risk, doing our utmost. No one can say anything about us!”

He changed his tone. “But the Heavenspan Venerable is different! He is both Great Qi’s foremost celestial talent and full of confidence on the General Selection Platform, suppressing you before the ten thousand-strong army, achieving a flawless divine presence. His strength, his realm, are undeniable. To have the ability to guard Jinming City yet not guard it is simply not considering the overall situation! It is simply being timid! I will not fail to go to Marshal Cao and accuse him of several dozen charges!”

Jiang Wang: ……

Heavenspan Sheng kept saying they had taken a big risk, guarding Jinming City for four days, but he truly didn’t feel any risk.

Before the risk even arrived, didn’t they already run away?

In a situation where long-distance communication was blocked, the entire battlefield of Xia Country was actually chaotic.

Did you not see that even a great commander like Cao Jie, who perfectly controlled details, could only focus on the defense of Zhong City? For the northern and eastern lines of the Xia Country battlefield, he only gave the two characters “Ren Ziqian” (let them decide for themselves).

How Heavenspan Sheng accurately judged the movements of the Xia army, how he pointed east and struck west in the fog of war without a single miss—Jiang Wang had already become accustomed to it.

But he truly hadn’t thought that cultivation realm being inferior could actually be used as an advantage by this fatty and arranged as such!

It allowed them to calmly withdraw, taking away most of the merit from Linwu Prefecture, yet throwing the burden onto the Heavenspan Venerable’s shoulders.

If the Heavenspan Venerable failed to guard Jinming City, Heavenspan Sheng could casually pin several hats on him; it would be too easy. Even if he succeeded in guarding it, it would be helping to consolidate Victory Camp’s great merit; he would at most get a secondary merit.

More importantly… the act of guarding the city itself had already nailed him there, making it impossible for him to free himself in a short time, let alone turn the situation around in other places.

Meanwhile, Victory Camp had won ample space and time.

Truly a brilliant move!

This move made Jiang Wang think back to the initial step Heavenspan Sheng took in sending the Heavenspan Venerable to Jixia Academy. It was truly a move of genius, a stroke of brilliance beyond words.

He thought for a moment, then still said, “Actually, even if he arrives in time, he could also pretend not to know that Jinming City has already been occupied by us, and attack it fiercely again…”

“Why do you think I need to count merit?” Heavenspan Sheng glanced at him. “Were so many handprints pressed for nothing? Were so many faith seals taken for nothing? It’s already kind of me not to embezzle others’ merit! How could I let others embezzle mine?”

Jiang Wang said again, “Then he could also pretend not to rush to Jinming City and quietly slip away before the Xia army surrounds him, covering his flag!”

“Impossible.” Heavenspan Sheng said with certainty.

“Why?”

Heavenspan Sheng laughed. “He cares about face!”

Looking at the laughing Heavenspan fatty, who resembled a cunning fox, Jiang Wang vaguely remembered the first time he saw Heavenspan Chu Liang.

In the carriage outside Southyao City, Heavenspan Chu Liang said at that time that what Heavenspan Sheng was stronger than Heavenspan Venerable in was not courage… but thickness of skin.

At that time, he only thought it was a joke.

Looking at it now, Dingyuan Hou was truly serious!