Zhou Yuji stared intently at the moving target, a murderous intent burning in his eyes. Suddenly, his right hand, nocked on the bowstring, unfurled with a thunderous crack!
*Tsing!*
The precious bow emitted a clear, crisp sound!
*Boom!*
The arrow, carrying Zhou Yuji's full power, shot towards the fleeing Wang Chai.
The peerless arrow energy, infused with terrifying explosive Yuan Li, tore through layers of void, like a ferocious beast, savagely rending the air!
A powerful impact swept through, causing houses to crumble and explode, lifting the flagstones from the ground and hurling them wildly!
Wang Chai, desperately fighting for his life, suddenly felt his hair stand on end, cold sweat breaking out. A potent Yuan Li fluctuation surged towards him.
Before the arrow even arrived, the powerful Yuan Li storm shredded his back clothes inch by inch.
Wang Chai abruptly turned his head, his eyes widening in disbelief. He saw a meteor hurtling towards him.
"No, no, no!"
Wang Chai frantically dodged to the right, but the arrow was already upon him!
*Boom!*
A blinding light erupted within Anding City, accompanied by a piercing scream.
"Ah!"
*Rumble!*
A torrent of destruction tore through the houses in Anding City, kicking up dust and debris. A deep, bottomless chasm, dozens of meters long, appeared.
A blood-drenched figure stood before the chasm. His entire left side was gone, only his head remained intact.
"You..."
"Cough, cough!"
Wang Chai, his eyes filled with terror and shock, collapsed into the yawning chasm behind him.
"Hmph!"
Zhou Yuji snorted, his gaze, sharp and cold, fixed on the corpse in the chasm. "To die like this, it's too easy for you!"
"All troops, listen to my command! Show no mercy to the bandits in Anding City! Those who disarm and surrender will be executed without exception!"
The order was given, and the Ningwu Iron Cavalry let out a resounding cheer. They scattered instantly, pursuing the fleeing bandits with full force.
*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!*
Arrows of light shot from Zhou Yuji's hands, each one taking the last breath of a bandit.
*Boom!*
As the Ningwu Iron Cavalry fanned out, a blue light slowly flickered within Anding City. A terrifying Yuan Li instantly enveloped the entire battlefield.
"Slash!"
A thousand voices roared in unison!
Spearlight crisscrossed the air!
Heads flew, blood sprayed, staining the heavens and earth red.
*Hee-haw!*
Warhorses whinnied, the sounds of slaughter filled the air, and the glint of swords pervaded Anding City.
Shortly after.
Zhou Yuji led his army to occupy the Prefectural Governor's mansion. From the city gates to the mansion, bodies lay in heaps, houses collapsed, the earth caved in, and blood flowed like rivers.
The bandits of Anding City were annihilated!
One day later.
A vast army of ten thousand arrived at the city gates. The leader was Liao Hua, who had marched from Wudu.
"General Liao Hua, both Wudu and Anding have suffered devastating blows. The northern lands are likely in grave peril!"
Zhou Yuji said, his brow furrowed with worry.
"Of the people of Anding, less than one in ten survive. It's even more tragic than Wudu!"
Zhou Yuji gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing coldly. These bandits were truly detestable, and Liangzhou was truly plagued with misfortune!
A thousand years ago, the entire Liangzhou suffered a devastating blow from the Soul Refining Hall. The corpse poison lingered in Liangzhou for a hundred years before it barely dissipated.
It wasn't until three hundred years ago that the imperial court transferred 850,000 people from other provinces to settle in Liangzhou. After centuries of cultivation and recovery, it finally regained its vibrant vitality.
But now!
Alas!
Liangzhou, finally recovered, had once again faced the sharp edge of bloodshed. Looking at the three mounds north of the city.
Zhou Yuji slammed his palm against his thigh.
"General Yuji, this is not our fault!"
Liao Hua quickly consoled him.
"General Yuji, we shall part ways here. The people of the north are still in the midst of fire and water."
Liao Hua clasped his fists in a salute and, mounting his horse, led his army straight towards the northern lands.
...
...
Shortly after.
The army marched into the Wuling Mountain Range. The terrain here was treacherous, and fierce beasts roamed, but it was the shortest route to the county seat of Beidi.
*Swish!*
A robust figure landed steadily before Liao Hua. Liao Hua looked up and saw a man in a long robe, holding a golden-topped Zao Yang spear.
Liao Hua sensed a similarity in his presence and knew that the man before him was also from a previous life.
He appeared imposing and filled with heroic spirit.
"General Liao Hua, I am Shan Xiongxin. I have been ordered by my lord to investigate the ruins of the Soul Refining Hall."
Shan Xiongxin bowed slightly and spoke directly.
Ever since Wan Mizhai used the poisonous venom, modified from the maggots of the Soul Refining Hall, to kill Liu Ji, he had learned about the secrets of the Soul Refining Hall outside the city and increasingly felt that something was amiss.
A few days ago, Ji Shu, the Provincial Governor of Yizhou, who had been absent for some time, suddenly appeared in Guanghan Commandery. After staying for half a day, he disappeared into the remaining peaks of the Wuling Mountain Range in Guanghan Commandery.
Wu Yong felt that Ji Shu's actions were strange, especially under the current circumstances. He immediately reported the matter to Yang Hao for a decision.
After analysis by Zhu Sheng and others, Yang Hao decided to dispatch Shan Xiongxin to infiltrate the Wuling Mountain Range to investigate Ji Shu.
He also ordered Lu Kang to lead his troops to rendezvous with Gao Shun's contingent in Tianshui Commandery.
Upon hearing Shan Xiongxin introduce himself, Liao Hua quickly returned the salute.
"General Shan, we have urgent matters to attend to, so we will not be overly polite. We will meet at my residence once this is resolved!"
Liao Hua spoke directly, bowed slightly, and led his army towards Beidi.
Liao Hua understood the urgency of the situation; every moment of delay meant more suffering for the people of Beidi.
"I wish you a victorious return, General!"
Shan Xiongxin stepped aside and watched the army disappear into the forest. He muttered to himself, "Why is Ji Shu here? What is it that makes a Grandmaster expert abandon his foundation?"
Shan Xiongxin, identifying his direction, soared into the air and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Beidi Commandery, with its mountainous terrain, was mostly surrounded by mountains. It was once the military camp of the Liangzhou Provincial Government.
Bandits roamed freely here, frequently raiding Beidi Commandery, causing its people to flee. To stabilize Beidi, the Liangzhou Provincial Government specifically dispatched a general at the fifth level of Xiantian to garrison Beidi.
Later, when the world fell into chaos, a group of bandits, led by Ma Sanye, broke through Beidi. The general dispatched by the provincial government defected and joined the bandits.
After occupying Beidi, Ma Sanye led his army straight to Tianshui, leaving this general and his disciple, Si Yan, behind in Beidi.
As Liao Hua led his army, the major cities of Beidi had already turned to ashes. Along the way, broken bones lay everywhere.
Large trees were cut in half, exuding dry, black blood, and a foul, decaying stench filled the air.
After an unknown amount of travel, a grand city rose in the distance, built against the mountain. Not far from it, a sturdy military camp echoed with shouts.
"We've arrived!"
Liao Hua waved his hand, and the entire army halted. They dismounted and began to meditate, recovering their Yuan Qi and physical strength. The arduous journey through rugged mountain paths had exhausted them.
The army was already at its limit and could not withstand another battle. Liao Hua meticulously polished his three-pointed, double-edged sword. This attack on Beidi would be a challenge for him.
Beidi was guarded by two experts at the fifth level of Xiantian, whose strength should not be underestimated!