The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 384 Your Honor, Old Prince An

Chapter 384 Your Honor, Old Prince An

The so called ‘Destroying Cities’ was not actually destroying a city, it was more like uprooting the whole army to attack. Though it was not the most logical attack when facing a Military Formation. ‘Continuous Tides’ was the much better option.

Usually, this kind of ‘off the point’ attack would result in a loss when faced against the opponent’s Military Formation.

Yet with Li Xian’s ‘Destroying Cities’ attack, Li Cunxiao’s Military Formation was completely destroyed. Almost half of the soldiers within the formation could hardly stand still; it was apparent they had incurred serious wounds.

Such a result had proved that Li Xian’s strength was far greater than that of Li Cunxiao.

The direct result was that not only did Li Xian defeat Li Cunxiao’s Military Formation, but he also destroyed the majority of this part of Taiyuan’s line of defense.

What ensued was the Pinglu army charging bravely towards Li Cunxiao’s sect.

When the scene returned back to calm. All Li Keyong could see from afar was that the Pinglu army had killed its way into the crowd of the Hedong Army like a bunch of wolves charging into a sheep pen. They were killing left and right, few soldiers could stop them.

Li Keyong’s limbs had gone cold and his heart had also sunk into a valley.

“How could this be?” Li Keyong’s eyes froze because he couldn’t accept the scene in front of him. “Li Cunxiao has reached the realm as a senior general of Militarism, who in the world could match up with him? Who could defeat him? And defeat him in such a lopsided manner, which’s just impossible!”

He had hoped that Li Cunxiao would die on the battlefield, but that was on the condition that he defeated the Pinglu army first. He wanted Li Cunxiao to win on the battlefield because he had confidence in Li Cunxiao. Because he had not heard of any warrior in the world who had reached a higher realm than Li Cunxiao.

When he lost to Li Xian in yesterday’s battle, the strength that Li Xian exhibited was far inferior to that of today. It seemed Li Xian’s strength was just enough to defeat him. He knew clearly that Li Xian only needed to have reached the realm a senior general of Militarism owned to defeat him.

But now the ease with which Li Xian defeated Li Cunxiao was just like when he defeated Li Keyong yesterday. It seemed he did it with such ease, could he have even more strength in reserve?

But how was that possible?

Who else in the world had such strength?

Even if Li Ye were present, with his logic defying talent in cultivation, there was no way he could have reached such Militarism realm!

Who exactly was this middle-aged man in green robes?

Li Keyong couldn’t accept the scene unfolding before him, because it just defied logic. It wasn’t that he couldn’t accept defeat, but he couldn’t accept such an illogical loss!

Atop the city wall, Li Cunxiao was covering his chest, hardly able to stand. Just as he gripped his blade, he couldn’t help spitting a mouthful of blood.

In the battle between the two Military Formations, the power of his formation was shattered, and he too flew back dozens of steps. Just as he recovered enough to be able to stand up, everything was over.

Yes, everything was over.

After the power of his formation was destroyed, every soldier incurred injuries, especially the ones at the front half of the formation. The soldiers stumbled and fell; none of them had much combat power left. Thus when the Pinglu soldiers came charging, no one could stop them?

Hundreds of soldiers were either hurt or dead after just moments. He knew that it wouldn’t take long before the casualties would increase exponentially. With so many casualties in such a short time, the formation was suddenly in chaos, and all the soldiers began fleeing.

Li Cunxiao was not willing to surrender, he roared like a beast, “Kill! Kill them all!”

He charged forward with his blade in hand and going against the flow of the frightened soldiers. Just as he got to the Military Formation, he was faced with the opponent’s iron wall like formation and waves of armored guards.

Standing in front of those armored guards, was that gray-haired man. His imposing manner was like a mountain. It seemed that not even mountains, rivers or oceans could stop his attack.

Li Cunxiao was taken aback.

His face and eyes had all turned red as he roared, “Who are you?”

When the gray-haired man approached, his expressions were still calm. But in Li Cunxiao’s eyes, his calmness exhibited his immeasurable confidence.

Because he was confidence, because he knew the gap between their levels, and that there was nothing the opponent could do to him, he was calm.

Li Cunxiao attacked again wielding his blade!

Before his blade could even land, he flew backwards again.

The moment the two men connected, Li Xian said softly, “Young general, you have such talent, but why are you asking for death? You will achieve great things in the future.”

Li Cunxiao was too familiar with such words, for he had just said the something similar to Shangguan Qingcheng.

He also saw talent in Shangguan Qingcheng, and did not want to see a hero fall. Thus he said similar words to her.

There was a reason he didn’t want his opponent to die. Aside from the fact that they were all elite warriors and wanted to befriend someone of equal talent, there was also the fact that too few such warriors existed in the world—very few men in the world could reach such heights, which was why they were often lonely.

It was lonely at the top.

When such warriors were lost, it was difficult to find another. And the loneliness of the warriors left would grow.

When a man could not find his soulmate, or someone who truly understood him, he would be lonely no matter the status.

Yet such words could only come from the mouth of a victor. Only the strong could say such words. You could only spare a warrior when you controlled the fate of your opponent. If you were the loser and your fate was in the hands of another, you had no such right.

At this moment, Li Xian was the one controlling the fate.

Li Cunxiao once again flew backwards. This time he flew back even further.

But his wounds did not worsen.

Still, his pride and reputation was completely gone.

Li Cunxiao was supposed to be angry and annoyed with his pride wiped on the ground.

But he was not.

He was frozen on the spot.

As gazed at the horizon, he saw that Li Xian led Pinglu army to take over the city wall, and that Li Xian had come to the unhindered place, he suddenly understood something.

He had finally understood.

Being a military warrior of Militarism, especially one who had reached the senior general realm, in the chasm between the battle of life and death, he could sense something if he focused.

He felt it now.

Because in his eyes, the man standing before him, Li Xian’s superiority was unparalleled.

There just weren’t enough words to describe Li Xian’s imposing manner.

Because words seemed too insufficient.

It could only be seen, only be felt.

As a talented military warrior of Militarism who was destined for the status of a famous general, Li Cunxiao had the pride and superiority of a military warrior of Militarism. At the same time he also looked up to other heroes of Militarism, and idolized heroes from yesteryear.

That was the sense and manner of a true warrior.

In terms of Militarism, there had been many warriors in the past hundred years with the Tang Empire constantly fighting to defend the borders. But there were very few generals. Only one came to mind. He fought the north and the south for two decades, his record had not had one loss. He had become a senior general at such a young age, and he was already staring at the famous general realm!

Every Militarism cultivator knew that.

He was the hero, and guiding light, the star, he was the aim of all Militarism cultivators. He was the idol all cultivators looked up to. He was the brightest flag the last hundred years.

He was the man whose army didn’t even suffer defeat despite himself dying on the Bagong Mountain battlefield, Li Xian!

Li Cunxiao was calm now. He had no anger left, no pain, no self-blame and no regret.

When Li Xian fell on the Bagong Mountain, he was still young and unknown. He had no right to befriend such a man. But as the young talent of the Vassal State Army, he had followed Li Guochang to Chang’an City.

He had seen Li Xian before at some ceremony.

He was the least impressive among the crowd of hundreds of ministers and stood at the back of the line. But Li Xian was the lord of a generation and the commander of all the armies. He stood the tallest along with the emperor, and he was the most glorious.

Back then, he looked up to Li Xian like an ant looking up at the sun.

He made up his mind then to work hard on cultivation with the hope that one day, he too, could stand shoulder to shoulder with Li Xian.

Many years had passed, and he had become a senior general of Militarism. He had reached the realm of his idol. He was well known in Hedong, the brightest of the Thirteen Grand Guardians, and the Sea-stabilizing Magic Cudgel of the Hedong army.

Now they had met on the battlefield.

But he did not expect that not only did the lord of a generation, who disappeared after the Battle of Bagong Mountain, not die, his cultivation actually elevated to new heights!

Li Cunxiao had lost.

He didn’t care.

It was an honor to be able to fight against such an opponent.

The battle was still going on. Li Cunxiao stared blankly at the man of battlefield and forgot to move.

Zhang Yichao had once said that Li Xian, who died young, made the Tang Empire lose three famous generals.

Back then, Li Xian, Zhang Yichao and Gao Pian were just one step away from being a famous general. If any one of them had reached the famous general realm first and gave a few pointers to the other two, they would all get over the hump. And the one expected to get over the hump first was definitely going to be Li Xian.

Though Li Cunxiao had lost, the blood in his body was boiling.

His body trembled as he stared at Li Xian. Yes, Li Xian’s face was not the same as he had seen in the past, even his imposing manner had eased up. He no longer shined as brightly as he did in the past. But Li Cunxiao was still able to recognize him before anyone else could.

This was the connection between top cultivators of Militarism.

Li Xian finally appeared in front of Li Cunxiao again.

But this time, no more Hedong soldiers were around the city wall.

The Pinglu army had completely taken the eastern wall.

Li Cunxiao clasped his fist in a salute towards Li Xian and bowed. “Old Prince An your highness, it’s an honor, I am Li Cunxiao!”