Chapter 53

Yesterday and the day before, I had to go out due to some matters, so I only managed one update. To make up for all of you, I will do three updates today. I still owe you one update, which I will find an opportunity to make up later. ^0^

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Amidst the sound of voices, Li Shimin led the generals of the Tian Ce Fu and retreated into the ranks of the Black Armor Elite Cavalry. Chai Shao glared at Kou Zhong with hatred and raised his hand. The Black Armor Elite Cavalry immediately dispersed, forming a semi-circular encirclement. Each man held a long spear in his left hand and a Zhuge Divine Crossbow in his right, not daring to advance recklessly. They maintained their formation and slowly pressed forward.

Such an array was virtually impregnable. The members of the Twin Dragons Gang were in a dire situation, struggling to save their lives, let alone the treasure.

The Twin Dragons Gang looked to Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling for leadership. In an instant, everyone stared at the Twin Dragons, hoping they could create a miracle. But in this situation, what good methods could the Twin Dragons have?

With no other choice, Kou Zhong clenched his teeth, reached out, and firmly gripped the precious saber Jingzhongyue. He said in a deep voice, "There's no way. We have to give up the treasure. Everyone, prepare to fight and break through the encirclement!" After a pause, he added with a look of shame, "Sigh~ Senior, I'm sorry. This time, it's our fault for dragging you into this. When the fighting starts, you don't have to worry about us. Just go first."

"Why say such discouraging words? Ha ha, with me here, everything will be fine."

Xiao Sheng burst into a long laugh and then stepped forward. Under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked to the middle between the Black Armor Elite Cavalry and the members of the Twin Dragons Gang, stopped, and suddenly extended his right foot, lightly stepping forward!

At that moment, it seemed as if a giant, holding a massive axe to cleave the chaos, struck the ground with a mighty blow. A "crack" echoed in all directions, and a deep, ten-zhang-long fissure appeared at Xiao Sheng's feet.

The Black Armor Elite Cavalry were dumbfounded, almost unable to believe their eyes. The scene was filled with an eerie silence, making Xiao Sheng's voice sound particularly clear.

"Those who cross the line, die!"

A straight line, like the gate of the netherworld dividing yin and yang, stood before them. Turning back could save one's life by a stroke of luck. Crossing the line would surely lead to a tragic death. In an instant, Xiao Sheng's presence intimidated over a thousand Black Armor Elite Cavalry! From Li Shimin down, no one dared to speak or move recklessly.

In a desperate situation, the members of the Twin Dragons Gang, led by Gao Zhanda and the other three righteous men from the East Sea, let out a thunderous cheer after a brief moment of shock. Everyone's morale was instantly boosted.

Seeing the opportunity, Kou Zhong immediately gave orders, "Gao Zhanda, Niu Fengyi, and Zha Jie, lead everyone to retreat. Follow the prearranged plan without any mistakes. Brother Hou, please help us hold the line."

As he spoke, Kou Zhong drew Jingzhongyue and walked toward Xiao Sheng. Xu Zeling, by his side, silently recited the Nine-Word True Seal. The Twin Dragons were determined to protect the others even if it meant their own death, and not to drag them down because of their own reasons.

However, just as the Twin Dragons took two steps, a gust of wind followed as Xiao Sheng swung his arm and said with a faint smile, "Young Masters Zhong and Zeling, you are not needed here. If you stay, you will only be a burden. So, go! If we meet again, it will be on the rivers and lakes."

His light and easy tone carried an unchallengeable authority. The Twin Dragons recalled the miracles this senior had created since they met—defeating the evil king and the dark queen together, annihilating the dark queen's lineage of the demonic sect, and wiping out the seven great experts of the Li family below Li Jiancheng—all feats that no one else could accomplish. If so, then Xiao Senior must be capable of handling it alone.

The Twin Dragons were not indecisive. Once they understood the situation, they made a quick decision and shouted, "Everyone, follow us." They turned and led the gang members, pushing the large cart, to bypass the encirclement of the Black Armor Elite Cavalry and continue eastward.

Since Li Shimin had led the Black Armor Elite Cavalry here, how could he let the tigers return to the mountains without achieving anything? Seeing the Twin Dragons Gang attempting to break through, even though he was intimidated by Xiao Sheng's presence, the future Emperor Taizong of Tang could not help but take action.

Li Shimin let out a cold snort and made a gesture to Chai Shao. Chai Shao nodded in understanding and shouted, "Where are the two bandits, Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling, trying to go? First squad, attack!"

As he spoke, ten Black Armor Elite Cavalry simultaneously galloped forward. In the blink of an eye, they had already crossed the life-and-death line created by Xiao Sheng's step, charging toward Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling. Ten Zhuge Divine Crossbows were raised, and with a single press of the trigger, thirty arrows would immediately pierce the air. Even if the three great masters of the Central Plains, the Turkic Wu Zun, and the Goguryeo Yi Jian were present, they would likely also be forced to bleed on the spot! However...

"I have already said it. Those who cross the line—die!"

A loud shout, and death came to claim its victims! Without turning his head or moving his body, Xiao Sheng swept his hand backward. Instantly, a burst of golden light flashed and disappeared. The ten Black Armor Elite Cavalry, galloping on horseback, suddenly had ten thin red lines appear around their necks.

In the next moment, ten heads flew into the air. Blood spurted from the wounds in their necks like fountains. But the horses, unaware, continued to gallop with the headless bodies.

After running a few feet, the ten warhorses suddenly let out a chorus of mournful whinnies, and along with the iron armor they wore, split in half, "thud" falling to the ground. Large piles of steaming entrails, "pitter-patter," scattered everywhere. Dark red blood flowed freely, quickly forming small streams.

The armed color wave pattern—Nan Dou Heng Zhan Chong.

A simple display of power had already shocked the entire scene. At this moment, the generals of the Tian Ce Fu truly understood the terrifying meaning behind the simple four words, "Those who cross the line, die."

In an instant, the Black Armor Elite Cavalry, who had never known fear on the battlefield, involuntarily shivered and instinctively tightened their reins, fearing that their horses would be frightened and run out of control. That would truly be "seeking death."

Li Shimin's face turned ashen, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who are you, and what is your relationship with Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling? Why are you protecting them? Please step aside. Otherwise, don't blame me for offending you."

"My name is Xiao Sheng, and I am a friend of Young Masters Zhong and Zeling." On the broad road, under the sunlight, the young man in white stood alone, intimidating a thousand soldiers. He smiled warmly and said, "The kind of friend who would die for each other, not the kind who call each other brothers while plotting to kill each other."

Li Shimin's face turned slightly red. He then said solemnly, "On the battlefield, public duty comes first, and personal feelings come second. I am also forced to do this. Mr. Xiao, you..."

"Li Shimin, you'd better not speak again. Stand still and don't move, and you might still keep your life."

Xiao Sheng showed eight white teeth and smiled, "To be honest, Li Shimin, to me, you are like a thousand-year-old ginseng or a ten-thousand-year-old snow lotus, a miraculous tonic. You have no idea how much willpower I need to restrain myself from killing you. So, don't make any rash moves. Otherwise, next year today will be your anniversary."

What kind of miraculous tonic? You are crazy and beyond reason." Xiao Sheng's words were completely incomprehensible to Li Shimin. Seeing the members of the Twin Dragons Gang getting farther and farther away, almost out of sight, the Qin King of the Tang Dynasty steeled his heart and shouted, "Mr. Xiao, since you insist on acting alone, then I have no choice but to be impolite. Black Armor Elite Cavalry, form the formation, charge!"

Li Shimin was a strict commander. At his command, even if they knew it was a ten-thousand-foot cliff ahead, the Black Armor Elite Cavalry would still unhesitatingly jump down. How much more so when it was just one person?

In an instant, over a thousand Black Armor Elite Cavalry rallied their spirits, rising with a fierce killing intent. Amidst their fierce shouts, they formed a black torrent, surging toward Xiao Sheng, determined to crush, drown, and trample him into a bloody pulp!

Two fists cannot defeat four hands. The only thing that can oppose an army is another army. No matter how strong one's martial arts are, in the face of a charging army, one can only flee. This was an ironclad fact and an absolute truth in the minds of everyone in the Tian Ce Fu!

Unfortunately, sometimes, even the truth can be unreliable.

The iron cavalry charged like a bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, they had already crossed the life-and-death line. Xiao Sheng's face darkened, and he shouted again, "Last warning. Those who cross the line, die!"

As he shouted, Xiao Sheng raised his palms and struck his chest. "Bawang Se—Wave Pattern Rapid!"

In an instant, an invisible aura of power spread rapidly. The horses, hit by this aura, were as if struck by five thunderbolts, their hooves stiffening, and they knelt on the spot, unable to move even a step. Amidst their mournful whinnies, over a thousand Black Armor Elite Cavalry were also immobilized by their own mounts.

Li Shimin was both shocked and angry, and he shouted, "Fire the arrows! Fire the arrows!" Before his voice had even faded, hundreds of arrows from the Zhuge Divine Crossbows, carrying sharp, piercing whistles, shot from all directions.

With a sigh, Xiao Sheng had nothing more to say. His left hand casually waved, slicing the rain of arrows into fragments. His right hand flicked, and a crystal cylinder appeared in his palm. He pressed the trigger with his thumb. A point of ghostly blue fire immediately shot out like a meteor, landing precisely on a Black Armor Elite Cavalry.

"Boom~" A deafening explosion echoed in all directions! A mere point of ghostly blue fire instantly transformed into a raging inferno, turning the Black Armor Elite Cavalry into a blazing human torch.

The Black Armor Elite Cavalry screamed in agony, immediately falling to the ground and rolling, trying to extinguish the fire on his body, but to no avail. The smell of burnt flesh quickly spread with the wind, making people want to vomit. It was clear he was beyond saving.

Several other Black Armor Elite Cavalry, unable to bear the sight of their comrade suffering, raised their weapons and stabbed him, trying to give him a quick death. Unexpectedly, as soon as their weapons touched his body, the ghostly blue fire suddenly flared up, spreading rapidly along the weapons.

In the next moment, these several Black Armor Elite Cavalry were also engulfed in flames. No matter how they thrashed and struggled, it was all in vain. Not only that, the ghostly blue fire, nourished by the abundant fuel, seemed to have developed an evil spirit, greedily craving more and more sacrifices.