Bai Qi was rendered speechless by Lu Bu’s abrupt, contextless statement, only managing to regain his composure after a considerable pause to ask, “Who is Diaochan?”

“……”

Ye Wen shook his head from the sidelines, first for Lu Bu, and then for Bai Qi! He hadn't expected that Lu Bu, after being serious for less than ten minutes, would start rambling about Diaochan again. The mighty God of War of the late Han Dynasty (though that title was debatable) was now endlessly caught up in matters of the heart.

And Bai Qi, why did he have to answer whatever Lu Bu said?

Pursing his lips, Ye Wen ultimately restrained himself from interjecting. Meanwhile, Lu Bu continued his incessant explanation to Bai Qi regarding the question of ‘who Diaochan is’—a query that seemed to belong more to philosophy than history.

After a lengthy explanation, Bai Qi’s expression grew increasingly grim. It was only then that he grasped that Diaochan was merely a woman, and furthermore, a concubine originating from the ranks of courtesans! While the status of women during the Qin and Han dynasties wasn't excessively low (in fact, the notion of women’s low status primarily belongs to the Ming and Qing dynasties, with perhaps the Southern Song at best; the Northern Song doesn't even count), circumstances still mattered. A woman of Diaochan’s background...

“She’s just a woman, why fuss over her so much!”

As he spoke, his gaze toward Lu Bu lost the initial admiration, instead turning slightly contemptuous toward this tall, ‘famous general from later generations.’

“Diaochan is unlike ordinary women!” Seeing Bai Qi speak this way, Lu Bu grew displeased. The halberd he had already loosened his grip on tightened slightly, and the atmosphere between the two instantly flipped 180 degrees; it seemed they were about to fight again.

Bai Qi glanced over, finally sheathing his long sword: “You are no match for me. I’ve lost interest in fighting you!” Then he pointed at Chong Lou: “I am here only to take him away!”

Unfortunately, Lu Bu was consumed by anger; whether they fought or not was no longer up to Bai Qi. Seeing him resheathe his sword, Lu Bu roared, “You say we won’t fight, so we won’t?” He stomped forward with large steps, charging ahead in a few thundering strides. His halberd transformed into a silver flood dragon, trailing a burst of dazzling light that immediately enveloped Bai Qi.

This time, Lu Bu’s formidable use of his halberd truly manifested. Observers couldn't discern that he was wielding a huaji (halberd); they could only see layers of brilliant silver light flashing around his hands. The only certainty was that grazing this radiant light, even slightly, would result in immediate, grave injury.

Bai Qi on the other side hadn't expected Lu Bu to charge in a sudden fury, and this attack was even more ferocious than before. Reacting hastily, he was suppressed by Lu Bu and couldn't regain his breath for a while.

“Don’t be ungrateful!”

A fierce roar erupted, followed by a burst of blood-red light soaring toward the sky! Bai Qi maneuvered several times, escaping the silver light, then raised a hand. The blood-red light surrounding him condensed, finally forming a blood-colored huaji. He had actually forged a weapon from his own surging, sanguine killing intent.

However, unlike the aura of central harmony and peace emanating from Ye Wen’s Zixiao Sword, Bai Qi’s halberd, though unadorned and appearing utterly unremarkable—and moreover, being a weapon style from the Warring States period, visually inferior in grandeur to Lu Bu’s huaji—looked like a spear with a small, protruding branch. Yet, the terrifying killing aura it emitted caused an involuntary chill.

The moment the halberd appeared, he swung it once, enveloping Lu Bu in a sky full of blood-red light. Bai Qi unleashed this move, and subsequent attacks followed relentlessly. Lu Bu, who had initially held the upper hand, was quickly suppressed into a purely defensive posture, unable to counterattack!

It was then that everyone realized that Bai Qi before them was a famous general from a previous dynasty, a super-elite who had never tasted defeat! More importantly, no one knew how many years he had lived in this world; his cultivation level was certainly not something a newly appointed Divine General like Lu Bu could contend with.

If the exchange continued much longer, Lu Bu would likely perish by Bai Qi’s hand. After all, this man was no soft-hearted individual. Bai Qi had fought countless battles in his life, killing enemies on the battlefield, and now that Lu Bu engaged him, he was likely categorized alongside his foes.

Seeing Lu Bu in peril, the others reacted differently! Huang Quan and his companions naturally held no concern for Lu Bu’s life or death; they were merely worried about their own fate should Lu Bu fall to such a powerful Bai Qi. At this moment, none of them were arrogant enough to believe they could face Bai Qi head-on, even if they teamed up.

Artemis also showed little interest in Lu Bu. Ye Wen, however, watched Bai Qi’s bizarre blood-red killing intent with keen interest, muttering inwardly, “This blood energy bears some resemblance to the jinqi of Xue Qiong Cang, but while Xue Qiong Cang’s bloodlight soared to the heavens, it contained vigorous life force. Bai Qi’s energy, however, is the purest form of the Power of Death!”

After a mutual observation, it was hard to declare which was superior. Yet, Bai Qi’s bloodlight smelled overwhelmingly rank, and amidst the rolling crimson energy, grotesque, roaring faces could faintly be discerned—truly eerie and terrifying. In terms of sheer presentation, it fell far short of Ye Wen’s Xue Qiong Cang. But considering Bai Qi’s moniker as the God of Slaughter, and his background in military formations, this presentation was perhaps more fitting. Most people, upon seeing this aura, would likely overlook his somewhat slender appearance.

He was lost in observation, showing no intention of intervening, but Xue Rengui beside him could not hold back.

If one had to determine who had the best relationship with Lu Bu among this group, it was likely Xue Rengui! The two were conferred the title of Divine General almost simultaneously and moved together afterward. Furthermore, due to their shared military experience, they had much in common, making their personal bond the strongest.

Seeing Lu Bu trapped, Xue Rengui could bear it no longer. He raised a hand, grasping the Shocking Heaven Bow, then drew an Arrow Piercing the Clouds, aiming for an empty spot before letting fly.

Both the bow and arrow were treasures acquired from Lady Xuan Nü, their power naturally significant. Although Xue Rengui’s overall strength greatly surpassed Bai Qi’s, the treasure’s aid meant Bai Qi dared not meet the attack casually. Glancing sideways, he saw a streak of white light tearing through the air and immediately leaned backward, evading the lightning-fast arrow.

This slight movement caused his offensive to falter. Lu Bu, trapped within the layers of blood-red light, finally gained a moment to breathe. He roared, and his already towering form seemed to swell by another measure. Then, with a sweep of his halberd, he scattered all the surrounding blood-red light.

Ye Wen noticed then that wherever Lu Bu’s halberd swept past, the blood-red light seemed to be 'nibbled' away, leaving behind empty patches. Lu Bu, standing amidst the crimson energy, had eyes blazing red. He took a deep breath, looking thoroughly satisfied.

Following this with another fierce shout, Lu Bu smashed his halberd forward, and a strange black-and-red glow erupted from it, increasing its power far beyond any previous attack.

When this strike landed, Bai Qi was startled and dared not meet it head-on, swiftly retreating just in time to avoid Lu Bu’s blow! However, even as he retreated rapidly, the blood-red killing intent bursting from him was swept by Lu Bu’s arc, and a significant amount was instantly stripped away.

“What ability is this? It can absorb my killing intent?”

While he hesitated, Lu Bu pressed his advantage, chasing a few steps forward and thrusting again: “Again!”

This time, Bai Qi couldn't dodge. He thrust his halberd forward, then, seeing the opportunity, sharply flicked upward, striking precisely the blade of Lu Bu’s huaji. He then rotated the halberd and immediately pulled back—the crossbar on the blade was not merely decorative. Although the huaji of the Warring States period was still rudimentary, certain techniques were established, including using the halberd to hook the opponent’s weapon, a characteristic function of this type of armament.

Bai Qi had expected that with his profound cultivation, disarming Lu Bu would be effortless. But when he exerted force, he realized his power seemed to sink into the mud, most of it vanishing. Only a fraction of the force reached Lu Bu. How could he disarm him? Thus, Bai Qi’s pull failed to retrieve his weapon. Lu Bu immediately countered with a hook and drag of his own, and the sudden burst of terrifying force nearly caused Bai Qi to drop his own halberd.

This infuriated Bai Qi. Since achieving fame, he had swept through the Six Kingdoms. Even as a mortal, he led armies that made the other states hesitant to confront Qin. Later, upon obtaining a cultivation method, he became unstoppable. Though he eventually died, that method ensured his soul remained intact, preventing reincarnation, and he used the accumulated blood energy and killing intent to reshape his body, continuing his reign in this world.

In over a thousand years, when had he ever encountered such a thing? This was the ultimate humiliation—and worse, his opponent was a Divine General!

Bai Qi had been in this world for quite some time. In earlier years, he had visited the ‘Upper Realm’ and was not entirely ignorant of certain matters. He knew the Divine Generals were titles conferred by the Heavenly Court after resurrecting famous deceased generals using a magical artifact, granting them divine power, but their strength was limited. He never held such beings in high regard.

He even believed that only truly formidable figures in the Heavenly Court, like Yang Jian, could stand as his equal; what was Lu Bu in comparison? Daring to try and seize his weapon?

In a fit of rage, the blood-red clouds surrounding him churned, his entire body appearing as if coated in a thick layer of vibrant crimson blood. Coupled with his ferocious expression, anyone seeing him would be struck with terror. The halberd in his hand erupted with boundless bloodlight, enveloping both himself and Lu Bu. Finally, the light solidified into a giant blood-colored cocoon, completely obscuring the two from outside view.

Xue Rengui immediately reached for his White Tiger Whip, intending to charge in. Though he couldn't see inside, the appearance suggested Lu Bu was at a disadvantage. He knew his own strength was limited, but with the Water and Fire Robe protecting him, he assumed he’d be fine. However, before he could move, Ye Wen raised a hand and stopped him.

“Don’t worry, Lu Bu is fine!”

The others couldn't see, but Ye Wen could clearly. The Glazed Pupils proved quite useful in this situation; although Lu Bu was trapped by the bloodlight, he wasn't in danger. That strange power on his body seemed to offer protection, and the fierce bloodlight couldn't harm him.

“It seems Lu Bu’s strength is far more profound than what we currently see!”

His gaze sharpened. Ye Wen couldn't figure out what ability Lu Bu had obtained from the Investiture of the Gods Scroll—it seemed quite monstrous now. Moreover, Lu Bu appeared unable to fully control this power at the moment; if he could wield it freely, his strength would likely rise several levels.

Such a powerful individual not serving the Heavenly Court—the Jade Emperor would be infuriated if he knew! But this was none of Ye Wen’s business. He watched the spectacle, musing internally, then flicked his wrist. The Zixiao Sword flew out in response, its surging sword light transforming into a purple sash that cleanly sliced the blood-red cocoon into two halves.

His strike was precisely aimed, separating Lu Bu and Bai Qi. Furthermore, the Zixiao Sword radiated boundless sword energy, its long trailing tail isolating Bai Qi on his side, preventing him from continuing his attack on Lu Bu. Frustrated, Bai Qi could only withdraw his halberd and stand still, turning to squint at Ye Wen.

Compared to Bai Qi’s continued composure, Lu Bu looked far more battered. His Hundred Flower Battle Robe was utterly tattered, and the Beast-Faced Serpent-Headed Linked Armor showed multiple breaches, even tearing the undergarments beneath the armor in several spots.

His Three-Pointed Purple-Gold Crown had fallen off. His neatly combed long hair hung loose, and with bloodstains on his face, he looked utterly disheveled.

Fortunately, Lu Bu only suffered superficial wounds; they looked gruesome but caused no real harm. Ye Wen glanced over and then looked back at Bai Qi, asking calmly, “Does Grand Commandant Bai have any instruction?”

Ever since Ye Wen’s sword strike, Bai Qi’s gaze had not wavered. Now, he turned to face Ye Wen fully, his blood-red halberd pointed vaguely in his direction.

Hearing Ye Wen speak, Bai Qi replied, “This humble one misjudged.”

Earlier, he had recognized Ye Wen as the leader among this group and had learned Ye Wen was the head of a certain sect, but deep down, he had never taken him seriously. He even suspected Ye Wen might have ties to the Heavenly Court, having two Heavenly Court Divine Generals protecting him in this world. Only after that last sword strike did he realize Ye Wen’s strength was no less than his own—perhaps even slightly greater. He doubted he could have delivered such a precise strike under those conditions.

Ye Wen smiled noncommittally, offering no reply. Instead, he changed the subject to Chong Lou: “May I ask what reason Grand Commandant Bai has for seeking Chong Lou?”

“Chong Lou?” Bai Qi was momentarily stunned, then sneered, “Did he change his name himself?”

“I gave him that name. Does Grand Commandant Bai object?” Ye Wen noticed Bai Qi’s evident disdain for Chong Lou and recalled the hardships Chong Lou had previously mentioned. Although he wouldn't offer sympathy based on those tales, he had shared an association with Chong Lou for over a month, while he shared none with Bai Qi, leading him to lean slightly toward Chong Lou in his tone. Furthermore, he was determined to groom Chong Lou as his disciple—he had decided to accept Chong Lou as a disciple but would not enroll him in the Shu Mountain Sect.

Bai Qi looked from Ye Wen to Chong Lou, his eyes growing sharper. Finally, his face grew stern as he stared at Chong Lou and asked, “You have taken this man as your master?”

Chong Lou remained silent, but his expression—one implying ‘it’s none of your business’—seemed deliberately put on.

Ye Wen also said nothing. He felt this matter had nothing to do with Bai Qi. If Chong Lou’s father had asked, it would be different. No matter how great Bai Qi was, he was merely a subordinate of Ying Zheng; he had no jurisdiction over others' family affairs.

After his question, Bai Qi seemed to realize his inquiry was inappropriate and immediately cut himself off. A tense silence fell over the group, the atmosphere becoming increasingly strange.

Fortunately, this standoff didn't last long. Because Bai Qi and Lu Bu’s fight had caused a huge commotion, and Ye Wen’s final sword strike had shot straight into the heavens, people several miles away could see it clearly. And Bai Qi’s distinctive bloody killing aura quickly attracted a large contingent of soldiers clad in standard leather armor, carrying weapons, who surrounded Ye Wen’s group.

These soldiers wore black uniforms primarily, and their banners were also black. Many carried heavy crossbows, aiming them at the assembled group—Ye Wen examined the crossbows and found that both the mechanism and the bolts were extraordinary items. While the power of a single shot wasn't immense, a barrage from so many would be hard for anyone with lower cultivation to withstand.

However, the most striking sight wasn't the array of powerful crossbows, but the fact that after surrounding them, the soldiers opened a path, and a war chariot emerged from the crowd (a horse-drawn chariot from the Warring States period, absolutely not the kind with steel automation and machine guns mounted on it).

A war chariot itself was unremarkable, but the person riding it was crucial. This individual wore black ceremonial robes, identical to the attire of the person Xue Rengui was seeking. Yet, even so, upon first glance, no one present connected this person to the one they were looking for.

Because this person’s physique differed too vastly from the other—to put it plainly: round! Round head, round body. Standing on the chariot, Ye Wen worried the man might simply roll off!

Yet, the moment this person appeared, Bai Qi immediately retracted all his killing intent, bowed respectfully to the figure on the chariot, and announced, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

“Good heavens, is everything written in my absurdly random YY novel actually true? Is the great, eternal Emperor truly a fat slob? (A tribute to The First Chaos; I often flip through that book to regulate my mood when depressed.)” Ye Wen covered his forehead, looking utterly incredulous. Compared to him, Xue Rengui’s and Lu Bu’s reactions weren't much better.

The latter two certainly knew of Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, and knew that this eternal emperor had somehow arrived here and resumed his game of conquering the world. Such a legendary figure had naturally piqued their curiosity, and they longed to meet him. But upon this first sight... they were instantly stunned speechless.

The round sphere nodded at Bai Qi, then turned to survey Ye Wen and his group. Finally, his gaze settled on Chong Lou. After watching for a long moment, he spoke: “You rebellious son, you have proven slightly more promising than I anticipated!”