Chapter Forty-Nine: Breaking into Pieces

Feeling he had suffered a great loss, Qu Wenbei began to consider retreat. He discussed with Xia Hao ways to eliminate the defenders of Gunzhou City; otherwise, even an army of three hundred thousand elite soldiers would be marching to their deaths.

Xu Cheng, loosing arrow after arrow, found each one thwarted by the enemy’s magical barrier, yet the act itself brought him a certain satisfaction.

Just then, Liao appeared before Yun Sheng, seeking to borrow his supernatural ability.

While the Little Sword Demon and Xu Cheng puzzled over this, Liao, employing the Lion’s Roar once more, began to hurl insults. He hoped to repeat his previous tactic; if Wu Wenhou had a weak temperament, he might well rush to his death.

“Could it be that Liao drove Xia Hao mad with this very ability?” Xu Cheng whispered. A burly soldier beside him immediately replied, “Exactly so! The Daoist’s taunts made Emperor Xia Hao cough up blood and flee—truly a... remarkable talent!” He’d nearly called Liao a rare flower, but thought better of it and changed his words.

Unlike the stubborn Xia Hao, Qu Wenbei was not so easily provoked by Liao’s verbal assault; it barely affected him at all.

As a result, the soldiers of the Great Xia Dynasty began to watch Liao atop the city wall as if he were a performing monkey.

Liao, embarrassed by the lack of effect, was at a loss to continue. He wondered why Qu Wenbei was so different from Xia Hao.

In that moment, Xu Cheng recalled a dolphin call performed by a singer in his previous life. If paired with a large megaphone, perhaps it would yield surprising results.

After much consideration, Xu Cheng, with his current intelligence, managed to work out the method for producing the dolphin call. Then, using a secret voice transmission technique, he conveyed his idea to Liao and instructed him to find something to amplify the sound.

This method, a basic skill available in the early stages of spell sigil formation, was not yet a true spell.

Ceasing his insults, Liao, struck by inspiration, found a large bronze bell and knocked a gap into its top.

All the cultivators paused their attacks, staring blankly at Liao, curious to see what bizarre act he would attempt next.

The man flew to the roof of the gate tower, gripped the “amplifier” with both hands, and took a moment to prepare.

With the Lion’s Roar, his “Oooo-ahh—ahh—” erupted, soaring high and sharp, carrying for dozens of miles. The fierce sound waves kicked up clouds of dust; those Great Xia soldiers who were too close died instantly, blood streaming from every orifice.

Even though the sound was not aimed at his own side, both cultivators and ordinary soldiers covered their ears and fled from the building.

Fortunately, the magical shield protecting the Great Xia Dynasty’s forces could not withstand the devastating sonic assault.

Although the sound wave had little effect on those at the Nascent Soul level or above, those below could barely endure it, and ordinary soldiers suffered the most—casualties were innumerable.

After sustaining this for nearly half a stick of incense, Liao was red-faced and thick-necked, and over ten thousand Great Xia soldiers had perished—a truly meritorious feat.

At this, Qu Wenbei gave up any thought of continuing the siege on Gunzhou City. A few more rounds of this, and his remaining two hundred seventy or eighty thousand troops would be gone. With those left, he ordered a retreat.

“Well, well, well! You’re full of surprises! On my word as a Daoist, as long as it doesn’t violate morals or ethics, whatever you wish for shall be granted!” Grandmaster Xuan Chun clapped his hands in delight and proclaimed.

“Cough, cough, I’d like to learn the Lion’s Roar technique,” Liao half-joked, half-serious, stealing a glance at Yun Sheng to gauge his reaction.

Grandmaster Xuan Chun also looked at the little monk Yun Sheng, knowing full well he was of the demonic path and not easily persuaded.

“If you wish to learn, I can teach you. But you must promise never to use this technique against me,” Yun Sheng said expressionlessly.

“Really? Wonderful! If you’re willing to teach me, you’re half my master—how could I ever use it against you?” Liao patted his chest in assurance.

The little bald-headed monk wasted no words; he seized Liao’s hand, withdrew his own supernatural power, and transmitted the cultivation method for the Lion’s Roar directly into Liao’s mind.

During this interval, Grandmaster Xuan Chun addressed the other cultivators: “Fellow Daoists, given the current situation, we cannot remain on the defensive. We must take the initiative! Yet, if we march with tens of thousands of common soldiers, we become a massive, unwieldy target. Thus, I propose that all cultivators break up into small teams and target other Great Xia Dynasty cities—only then will we have respite, and more time to make further arrangements.”

“I agree,” responded Grandmaster Ling Yu, the first to consent.

“So do I!”

“Agreed!”

...

Everyone recognized this as one of the best possible courses, and the Nascent Soul elders quickly voiced their approval.

The strategy of splitting into small groups and forming teams reminded Xu Cheng very much of guerrilla warfare in his previous life.

“However, at least eight Nascent Soul experts must remain here with me to oversee the overall situation!” Grandmaster Xuan Chun’s proposal passed almost unanimously, so he immediately arranged for eight such experts to stay, ensuring Gunzhou City would not fall should Xia Hao attack again.

Those most eager for battle were mostly of the demonic path, so the eight who remained were all orthodox Daoist cultivators.

Normally, given Liao’s temperament, he would have chosen to leave with an assault group, but whether he realized he’d drawn too much enmity or truly wished to focus on cultivating and improving his strength, this time he did not opt for guerrilla warfare.

The remainder of the team assignments were left to individual discretion. Surprisingly, the Little Sword Demon wished to follow Xu Cheng, but was refused.

In the end, the Little Sword Demon joined his Nascent Soul master—the legendary Sword Demon, Chen Beixuan.

Xu Cheng decided that only Ju Hua, Cen Ningyue, and Niu Dazhuang would accompany him.

Unexpectedly, Yan Mengdie made her intention clear—she wanted to follow Xu Cheng as well. Since she was so insistent, he had no choice but to agree.

Qing Man had also wanted to join Xu Cheng, but could not withstand Chu Tiancheng’s objections, and so stayed behind in Gunzhou City. Her cultivation was still shallow, with only basic martial arts skills, equivalent to the Talisman Sigil stage for spell cultivators. For her safety, Chu Tiancheng remained with her in the city.

To avoid unforeseen complications, Grandmaster Xuan Chun urged them to set out that very night. If they could destroy a few more cities before Xia Hao could muster the full might of the Great Xia Dynasty, the troubles would become Xia Hao’s—war on all sides, beset from every direction.

According to Grandmaster Xuan Chun’s plan, since Xu Cheng’s group lacked Nascent Soul experts, they were to head south, where the cities were less well-defended by such powers, making their guerrilla mission relatively easier.

Under cover of darkness, teams fanned out in all directions.

To move quickly, each member of Xu Cheng’s group relied on their own abilities.

Xu Cheng’s Shadow Step, marked by the Yellow Spring Seal and pushed to its limits, was not much slower than Yan Mengdie’s Auspicious Clouds.

Ju Hua’s Ink-to-Sky technique, Cen Ningyue and Niu Dazhuang’s Netherworld Evasion—all were excellent for rapid travel.

By dawn, having traveled through the night and passed through the ruined, deserted city of Qingzhou, the five finally arrived at a small southern town.

Weary from their overnight journey, the group found an inn to rest and consider their next move.