He shifted his stance, but the forty short spears already blotted out the sky, a dense cloud that blocked the brilliant sun—a sky full of short spears, inescapable.

He sensed the malice in it; the forty short spears formed a three-dimensional formation, locking down all possible escape routes. No matter how he dodged, the shadows of the spears were everywhere, inescapable. He narrowed his eyes slightly. His Void Eye looked down, as if parting the clouds to see the mist, and in an instant, he discerned the precise layout of the forty spears. With a swift sweep of his sleeves, "Clang! Clang!" two short spears were knocked away. He followed with a surge of movement, like a carp breaching the water, leaping clear of the spear-encircled area.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang..." The long spears clattered to the ground, the impact shaking the earth with the force of heavy stone pillars plummeting down.

Li Muzhan let out a long breath, realizing how close he’d come to disaster. The guards opposite threw their spears again, instantly forming another dense net of weapons raining down, giving him no room to recover.

Li Muzhan acted accordingly, sweeping his sleeves to knock down two, and in that gap, he slipped out, like a fish severing the line to escape a net.

Before he even landed, the forty guards opposite were already preparing again. Li Muzhan managed multiple tasks at once—deflecting spears with his sleeves while sizing them up. Each man had four short spears left, but in that brief respite, over forty more riders approached, all clad in heavy iron armor, circling the war chariot protectively. The elder on the chariot was imposing, his white beard flowing, his gaze fixed on the distant battle.

Li Muzhan suddenly drew his bow and shot an arrow. The short arrow flew out in less than three breaths, piercing over two hundred meters toward the white-bearded elder, seemingly poised to strike him down in moments.

Two heavy-armored knights abruptly moved to block. The short arrow silently passed through one knight, and when it reached the second, its force was spent, and it dropped harmlessly to the ground.

Li Muzhan frowned. He hadn't expected their armor to be so incredibly tough—far sturdier than the heavy cavalry that charged earlier. By rights, with his strength, he should have been able to penetrate three or four men easily.

It appeared these armored knights all possessed profound body-hardening martial arts.

What felt like a long account transpired in but an instant.

The rain of spears descended again. Li Muzhan loosed two more arrows—"Clink! Clink!"—the crisp sounds causing two short spears to change trajectory as he effortlessly broke free, closing the distance with the white-bearded elder. His left hand continuously plucked arrows, his body flickering as he swiftly approached within a hundred meters of the elder. Suddenly, he halted, ignoring the charging heavy cavalry, and slowly drew his bow, firing two more arrows.

"Whoosh!" One arrow whistled as it soared skyward like a darting dragon; the other skimmed the ground like a venomous snake gliding over the tips of the grass. These two arrows evaded the blockades set by the cavalry and plunged into the war chariot. With a muffled "Bang" like a sudden clap of thunder, the chariot shattered into pieces. These two arrows carried immensely powerful and domineering internal force; upon contact with the carriage, they instantly detonated, scattering the panicked horses, which whinnied ceaselessly while being wrestled back under control by the knights.

Looking over, the white-bearded elder lay slumped to one side, utterly still.

"General..." a wave of shock went through the men, and they rushed forward, gathering him up.

Li Muzhan, observing with his Void Eye, knew he was dead. He then transformed his arrows into streaks of dark light, accurately striking the heavy-armored knights. In the span of a few breaths, another dozen men fell dead.

"Kill him! Avenge the General!" someone roared, and immediately, they surrounded Li Muzhan, charging forward with reckless abandon.

Li Muzhan's arrows rained down with flawless precision, yet they showed no fear, pressing the attack bravely. As he shot, Li Muzhan let loose a long, piercing cry.

The howl ripped through the air like thunder, echoing for miles around. The Huá army troops showed signs of elation. General Hua said gravely, "The flanking cavalry, advance!"

A burly man swung a drumstick, and the war drums began to beat—dong, dong, dong—deafeningly loud, clearly penetrating the chaotic noise of the slaughter across the entire battlefield. The knights of the Divine Light Battalion, the Divine Profound Battalion, and the Divine Mystery Battalion, receiving the order, immediately charged out, sweeping around from the flanks toward the distant fray.

At this moment, the Chu cavalry on the battlefield were like a headless swarm; without direction, they fought individually. Facing the surging onslaught of cavalry, they didn't know how to respond—some tried to advance, some to retreat, some to wheel sideways. Lacking unified command, they devolved into chaos. Seeing this, the Dayǎn cavalry showed no mercy, their morale soaring, and they hacked and slashed fiercely.

The tide of the battle instantly reversed; where Dayǎn had been losing ground, they now pressed the advantage, gaining the upper hand. Though the Eastern Chu cavalry were fierce and fearless, they could not withstand the momentum of the massed assault.

"All sons of Eastern Chu! No retreat, fight to the death for a monument of glory!" A heaven-shaking roar echoed across the field, and the situation shifted again. Having been disorganized head-to-tail, they suddenly unified. Though still without overall command, they fought with passionate valor, meeting the charge of the Dayǎn cavalry head-on, stabilizing a situation that had been on the brink of collapse. Li Muzhan, while shooting arrows, observed the scene below. Seeing the turn of events, he knew this pace would make victory difficult for Dayǎn, or at best, a costly one.

He slowly released an arrow, his expression focused, his movements deliberate, successfully killing the knight who had just roared the challenge, but the effect was minimal; the Eastern Chu cavalry were driven into a frenzy.

He let out a long cry, like a surging, angry tide, impacting the spirit of the crowd. A massive spiritual presence was contained within the sound, like a fierce tiger roaring on a mountain ridge, terrifying all beasts.

Under the sound of the cry, everyone's minds cleared, snapping awake from the insane fervor. Li Muzhan seized the opportunity, firing arrow after arrow, emptying several quivers in quick succession. In moments, he seized other quivers, continuing his barrage. With a muffled "Bang," he released his grip, and the bow disintegrated, fragments scattering everywhere. Despite the bow being specially crafted, the continuous, extreme force had finally broken it.

........................................................................................................................................................ He shook his head inwardly, his heart cold as ice. He drew his Broken Peak Saber and transformed into a wisp of light smoke, sweeping past the defenders. Wherever he passed, heads flew, and blood sprayed forth. He became a god of slaughter, sweeping from one end of the melee to the other, then turning back to continue his killing—no single foe could withstand him. His gray monk's robe stood out starkly on the battlefield. The Eastern Chu forces, now without leadership, and General Hua and his officers watching from their vantage point, were awestruck by Li Muzhan's divine might. He cut through several waves of men and retreated, his saber a blur, his body untouched by dust or blood, moving with effortless grace, as if strolling in spring. The Eastern Chu cavalry dwindled rapidly; Li Muzhan killed at an astonishing speed, prioritizing the most dangerous opponents. With the Eastern Chu cavalry already scattered, Li Muzhan's slaughter demoralized the rest, allowing the Dayǎn soldiers to clean up the remnants.

His movements were fluid. He sighed inwardly; the strength of one person, no matter how great, was ultimately limited, especially on a battlefield where even someone like him was merely a grain of sand, incapable of turning the tide alone.

The only solution was to assassinate the commander—capture the king to rout the troops. There was no other way.

"Full-scale advance!" General Hua drew his sword and pointed. The drums began to beat rapidly—dong, dong, dong, dong—quick as falling rain, tightening everyone's heart and surging their blood. Li Muzhan floated backward and swiftly returned to General Hua’s side, gently flicking the Broken Peak Saber, sheathing it. He was as composed as a virgin maiden. "Master’s might is truly formidable..." General Hua said with a smile.

Li Muzhan chuckled, "General exaggerates. The bravery of a mere brute is hardly worth mentioning..."

General Hua shook his head. "This victory belongs first and foremost to the Master."

"I will not accept it," Li Muzhan replied, shaking his head with a smile.

General Hua grew serious. "Without the Master assassinating Ximen Zhan, there would be no victory today. You justly deserve the foremost credit, Master; there is no need to refuse..."

Li Muzhan smiled and said no more, following behind General Hua, watching the mop-up operation, the recovery of lost territory, and the rebuilding of defenses. Seeing that everything seemed stable, he excused himself and returned to his tent to take the opportunity to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture. The intense combat had taxed his spirit, though his internal energy was sufficient.

The magnificent battle was finally concluded. Divine Light City erupted in celebration, reveling in Dayǎn’s victory—the first major offensive triumph in a century. While Dayǎn was prosperous, it was not militarily powerful, always ranking below Eastern Chu, relying primarily on defense, aiming for no mistakes rather than achieving glory. But this time, they had decisively defeated the Eastern Chu cavalry, renowned as the second finest horsemen in the world—a truly inspiring and morale-boosting feat.

It was foreseeable that after this battle, General Hua's merits would far outweigh his faults, ensuring his promotion, and everyone in the Divine Light Battalion would receive rich rewards; promotions and honors were certain.

Following the battle at Divine Light City, Li Muzhan vanished from public view. He was rarely seen near General Hua, remaining secluded in a nearby tent, practicing his solitary cultivation. He needed to master the Great Dragon Form, the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture, and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. He became busier than ever, rushing to seize time for training. Time flew like lightning; when he emerged from his meditative ocean, a full month had passed.

Divine Light Battalion had returned to peace. All other contingents had departed; the Swift Cavalry Battalion was also gone. Li Muzhan paid them no mind; he was at a critical juncture in the Nine Revolutions Marrow Cleansing Scripture—one more step and he would master the second layer.

One morning, General Hua's voice sounded from outside: "Master..."

Li Muzhan sighed, opening his eyes. "General, please enter..."

The tent flap was drawn back, and General Hua entered, hands clasped behind his back, clad in violet robes. He smiled: "Master has exited seclusion?"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "Still a bit short of perfection. What brings the General here?"

He had told General Hua he would be meditating and not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary until he finished his seclusion. General Hua's sudden arrival must mean something important. Inside the tent, there was only a meditation cushion; no place to sit. General Hua laughed, "An Imperial Envoy arrived yesterday, and the rewards have already been bestowed..."

Li Muzhan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "That fast?"

By his estimation, after the victory report, there would first be verification, then deliberation over rewards. This victory was unprecedented in a century, so the rewards would be exceptionally generous. For the imperial court, generous rewards were like meat being snatched from their jaws; they would naturally be reluctant, leading to lengthy discussions—usually delaying things by ten to fifteen days was common. Calculating that way, it would take at least two months. He hadn't expected such swift action.

General Hua pulled out a yellow silk scroll from his robes. Seeing Li Muzhan’s calm demeanor, he smiled slyly. "Doesn't the Master wish to know what the reward entails?"

"General, please stop teasing me," Li Muzhan laughed.