Yang Hao, upon hearing this, inwardly cursed his misfortune at letting such a large amount of faith and killing points slip through his fingers.
However, Yang Hao also understood. Tian Yue Island could no longer endure the ravages of war. It was best to resolve the issue of peace through a duel between the two nations.
"I accept!"
Yang Hao said softly with a solemn expression, giving Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom no hint of Yang Hao's inner turmoil.
"Many thanks, King of Han!"
"Very well, we shall meet at the Duel Arena in three days!"
"This humble subject takes his leave!"
As soon as the words fell, Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom bowed, offered a slight bow to Yang Hao, and then, led by Wei Zhongxian, departed from the Xuanzheng Hall.
"Changsun Wuji!"
Yang Hao watched the departing Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom, then turned to Changsun Wuji standing by his side and said.
"Your Majesty!"
Changsun Wuji bowed respectfully.
"Immediately, along with Bao Zheng, select qualified officials. After the duel, swiftly take over the governance of the Chu Kingdom!"
This duel, in Yang Hao's view, was merely a formality. The power of Tian Yue was already firmly in Yang Hao's grasp. To pacify the south in the form of a duel would minimize costs.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Changsun Wuji bowed and received the order before leaving.
"Wei Zhongxian!"
"Your Majesty!"
Wei Zhongxian immediately prostrated himself upon hearing this.
"Instruct Shi Wansui, Yuchi Gong, and Wang Baobao to represent Great Han in the duel!"
With these three present, the King of Chu was already a trapped beast!
"Your command is my honor!"
,,,
,,,
On the twenty-ninth day of the first month of the Great Han year, the King's command was dispatched from the city of Chang'an to the army of Yuchi Gong in the homeland of Loulan!
That night.
Yuchi Gong, alone on his horse, sped through the night, arriving at the border of Jingzhou and meeting up with the armies of Shi Wansui, Wang Baobao, and Lu Kang.
On the first day of the fourth month of the first year of Great Han, as dawn broke, dust clouds rose from the north and south of the border, and tens of thousands of troops surged forth!
The Great Han army, led by Shi Wansui, slowly advanced towards the border!
The Chu army, led by King Chu Liu Hong, had arrived early at the duel site and set up the duel stage!
A quarter of an hour later, the two armies converged, and the duel marked the beginning of the great unification of Tian Yue Island, which had been millennia in the making!
For over ten thousand years, with frequent power transitions among sects, clans, and various states, each change in power had been accompanied by brutal conflict. Tian Yue had not enjoyed any respite during this long period.
At the desolate border, the two top powerhouses of Tian Yue, the kingdoms, were about to commence their decisive battle. There was no clash of armies or battlefield slaughter; instead, a massive arena was erected between the two forces.
On the twenty-ninth day of the first month of the first year of Great Han, the duel between Great Han and Chu attracted numerous factions. They arrived at the scene one after another, eager to witness the birth of Tian Yue's most powerful kingdom.
One side, led by King Chu Liu Hong, with two Bixi elders as escorts, arrayed in the south. The Chu Kingdom's forces were highly favored among Tian Yue's many sectarian forces. King Chu Liu Hong himself possessed considerable strength, and with the support of the two Bixi elders from the Prison Spirit Abyss, he was the biggest draw.
The other side, led by Shi Wansui, with Yuchi Gong and Wang Baobao as his lieutenants, arrayed in the north. The subordinate troops of the ancient heroes were not deployed; only soldiers recruited from the local area were brought along.
To the disappointment of everyone present, the mysterious King of Han did not appear in person. From the founding of Great Han to its current status, rivaling the Chu Kingdom among the various states, this mysterious King of Han had never revealed himself. Only at the founding ceremony of Great Han did observers catch a fleeting glimpse from afar, but never his true face. The mystery of the Han King lingered in everyone's minds.
Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom strode forward and stood on the arena, facing the crowd, and roared, "Below us is the most crucial moment in the ten thousand years of Tian Yue's history. Whether the Chu Kingdom or Great Han emerges victorious, it will represent the lineage of Tian Yue!"
"Now, through the form of a duel, we shall decide the ultimate ownership of power. Each side will send out three combatants. Two out of three matches will determine the victor, and it shall be stopped once a winner is decided!"
"Next, please have both sides send out their first dueling candidate to the stage!"
"Om~~"
As Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom's voice faded, a Bixi elder to the right of King Chu Liu Hong responded, his cultivation of the fifth level of the Divine Mansion instantly erupting. He flashed onto the arena in a single step.
"Hiss!"
"This Bixi elder has grown even stronger since the time in the Xuanyuan Dynasty's secret treasury in the Prison Spirit Abyss!"
The fluctuations of Yuan energy dispersed, causing the onlookers to gasp. If the demonic beasts of the Prison Spirit Abyss were to form their own faction, they would have a considerable chance of conquering Tian Yue.
"I am Bi An, a sworn protector under King Chu!"
Bi An cupped his hands and bowed slightly towards Great Han, his true form briefly manifesting as a light projection.
"General Shi, this battle is mine!"
Wang Baobao stepped forward and landed steadily on the arena. "General of Cavalry of Great Han—Wang Baobao!"
His voice, enveloped by his fourth-level Divine Mansion Yuan energy, echoed throughout the entire venue.
"Can he do it?" a man scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain.
"The opponent is a Bixi demon beast at the fifth level of the Divine Mansion, a being that has lived for thousands of years. Its vitality is extremely robust, and its combat experience is surely immense!"
"I doubt it. Although Human King Mang doesn't interfere in Tian Yue's affairs, King Chu is, after all, his blood relative. How could he not intervene? He must have some backup. You wait and see, Great Han is going to suffer greatly, perhaps even be annihilated?" a middle-aged man said grimly, his words filled with worry.
"I think Great Han will win. Since its founding, has Great Han ever failed to subdue its formidable opponents? The Jin Kingdom, the Liao Kingdom, the Lingyin Sect – which of these were not destroyed by Great Han!"
"The Xianyu Sect and the Danyun Cave Mansion now submit to Great Han. I believe Great Han will win!!" a woman exclaimed, her words laced with indignation.
"Heh heh, that was in the past. This Chu Kingdom is not comparable to those forces. After Human King Mang awakened, he disappeared for a whole month. Who knows what he did!"
"You don't even look at King Chu. His strength has become even more unfathomable. Who in Great Han is there besides Yuchi Gong and Wang Baobao? Anyone else? Hmm?" an old man shook his head, his voice filled with deep lament.
"Look at the Great Han man beside General Yuchi Gong. To be able to stand in front of Yuchi Gong, he must be the trump card general of Great Han this time!"
"I think that Great Han man is also in trouble. He is likely no match for the Chu Kingdom either!"
"Om!~"
"The duel, the first match, officially begins. I hope both sides will stop when a victor is decided, preserving strength for our Tian Yue lineage!"
Grand Tutor Liu Ao of the Chu Kingdom cast a deep glance at the two, then roared loudly. After speaking, he strode back to King Chu's side.