บท 146: 146. Grasp Flying Sword With Bare Hands
Lin Fei left Chang City, turning his course towards Chiyang Prefecture. The court's army, engaged in quelling the rebellion, had reached Chiyang Prefecture. And so, a fierce assault was launched. The course of the battle was unknown. With this in mind, Lin Fei pressed on with all haste. His figure was elusive as a faint afterimage.
The closer he got to Chiyang Prefecture from Chang City, the less populated it became. Refugees were everywhere, and so were corpses. Even the sides of the official road were littered with bodies.
Although it wasn't summer yet, the smell of decay wafted from these bodies. The villages Lin Fei passed were merely remnants of broken walls.
Such were the times of war. Whether it was the rebels or the imperial army, their passage was never a good omen for the common folk.
The imperial army was somewhat bearable, some semblance of military discipline still remained. But the rebels, they were utterly lawless, worse than bandits.
Lin Fei knew this. In wars, the directly killed were not the majority. But the devastation brought by war was dreadful. Famine and disease caused by war were the true horrors.
In the cold weather of winter, the chance of corpses breeding plague was minimal. But come summer, if the Paradise Sect's rebellion was not quelled, then the heat and the swarms of untreated corpses would breed plague. And should an epidemic break out, death would claim far more.
The more Lin Fei saw, the stronger the killing intent toward the Paradise Sect grew in his heart.
"At last!"
Finally, Lin Fei beheld Chiyang Prefecture. Above it yet hung the flag of the Paradise Sect's rebels. While outside, a multitude of military camps were stationed. That was the court's grand army, tasked with suppressing the rebellion. Many bodies lay scattered on the ground.
The air was dense with the reek of blood. It was clear that both sides had likely already fought numerous battles. Yet, the lingering resistance of Chiyang Prefecture suggested the court's forces had encountered difficulties.
With a flicker, Lin Fei appeared before the army's encampment after a few leaps.
"Halt, this is a strategic area, approach is forbidden, violators will be executed without mercy!" A soldier roared, brimming with killing intent.
Lin Fei glanced at the camp within. He did not feel the need to announce his arrival. With a soft whistle, Lin Fei stepped forth. He covered a distance of sixty meters in an instant. Just like that, he breezed past the guarding soldiers.
Startled, the soldiers cried out, "Assassin!"
A din arose as countless armored soldiers, wielding hefty sabers and long spears, instantly formed a battle line. Spears stood tall as trees, their sabers gleaming frostily all pointed at Lin Fei, the "assassin" who had audaciously trespassed into their camp.
Such a formidable array would have been difficult to break through even for an innate martial artist.
"Hmph."
Lin Fei snorted dismissively. None could draw their saber in his presence. And so, Lin Fei's figure came to a slight halt. Then, his saber intent trembled minutely.
With a boom, the terrifying saber intent immediately enveloped the soldiers on the front line. Instantly, all the sabers within the formation began to vibrate.
"What's happening? I can't draw my saber."
"Sorcery, this is sorcery!"
"Quickly fetch the camp's immortal masters, only immortal masters can dispel this sorcery."
The soldiers were seized by intense fear. As for the formation, it crumbled at the surge of Lin Fei's saber intent.
Lin Fei silently shook his head. These soldiers hardly constituted an elite force. If they were truly elite soldiers, even with his saber intent pressing down on them, they would have maintained their formation.
And more so, they would have launched a courageous charge. After all, Lin Fei's saber intent could only suppress the sabers. It did not have much of an effect on those wielding long spears.
With a soft whistle, Lin Fei took another stride. He passed this row of soldiers, preparing to step into the commander's tent.
"Whence came this assassin? Trespassing into the military camp is a capital offense!"
A streak of white light shot out from the commander's tent.
A flying sword!
This was Lin Fei's second encounter with such a weapon. Moreover, judging by the spiritual power accompanying the sword, it was evident that it was being controlled by a high-level Qi Condensation cultivator.
Caught off guard, even a martial arts Grand Master might be severely disadvantaged. One would even be pierced through the head by the flying sword.
With a "snap", Lin Fei simply extended a fair hand and seized the white streak of light. As the white glow faded, it revealed a delicate flying sword about a foot long.
The flying sword attempted to struggle in Lin Fei's grasp but was brutally suppressed by his saber energy.
Holding the flying sword, Lin Fei walked straight into the commander's tent.
"Whoosh."
Inside the tent, countless gazes converged on Lin Fei. Especially on his right hand.
Catching a flying sword barehanded! Even a martial arts Grand Master wouldn't dare to attempt such a feat. But now, Lin Fei had actually caught a flying sword barehanded.
What could this mean?
Regardless of whether they were martial arts Masters or high-level Qi Condensation cultivators within the tent, everyone held their breath. Their hearts were filled with shock!
"Immortal Slayer Saber, Lin Fei!"
At this moment, a white-haired Daoist spoke. He obviously recognized Lin Fei.
"You recognize me?"
Lin Fei looked at the white-haired Daoist. He didn't know the man.
The white-haired Daoist sighed deeply, "I saw 'Immortal Slayer Saber' Master Lin from the sidelines during the Royal Competition."
Lin Fei understood. The man was probably a Qi Condensation cultivator of the royal family whose hiding in the crowd. Lin Fei, of course, hadn't noticed him.
"Master Lin, what is the purpose of your audacious entry into the military camp?" The Daoist asked.
Lin Fei did not answer directly. Instead, he held up the flying sword in his hand. His gaze swept across those within the tent, "Whose sword is this?"
At his question, another black-robed Daoist stood up. His face flushed, but he was compelled to speak, "Master Lin, it is mine."
Seeing that Lin Fei had made no move to return the flying sword, the Daoist continued, "I acted rashly. Please forgive me, Master Lin."
Seeing the Daoist admit his mistake, Lin Fei said calmly, "The material of the flying sword is too poor, it can't compare with Yuan Gangzi's flying sword."
Afterward, Lin Fei casually flicked the flying sword.
"Whoosh."
The flying sword flew back into the Daoist's hands. The Daoist's face grew even more uncomfortable. However, the fact was right in front of him. Lin Fei had caught his flying sword barehanded. What else could he say?
As for the comparison with Yuan Gangzi, he was naturally far inferior. Yuan Gangzi, after all, was a core elder of the Guardian Primordial Mountain. A top-notch Qi Condensation cultivator! How could he compare with Yuan Gangzi?
Although the Daoist felt frustrated in his heart. He was also quite shocked.
No one knew better than him how formidable his flying sword was. But Lin Fei had actually caught the flying sword with his bare hands. And it seemed to have been done effortlessly.
Such power was truly terrifying. Living up to the renown of the "Immortal Slayer Saber"!
Lin Fei's gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on a burly but already aging general.
"Are you General Li Yuhu?"
Lin Fei asked.
"I am indeed Li Yuhu. May I ask why Master Lin is trespassing into the camp?"
"Take a look. The emperor's imperial edict." Lin Fei directly took out the imperial edict and tossed it in front of Li Yuhu.
Upon careful examination, Li Yuhu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately stood up, respectfully returned the imperial edict to Lin Fei, and said, "Master Lin, the emperor has dispatched you to assist the imperial court in quelling the rebel army. If necessary, the emperor has ordered me to follow your command. I will certainly obey!"
Lin Fei asked indifferently, "General Li, the imperial court's army has been in Chiyang Prefecture for many days. Why have they been unable to break through Chiyang Prefecture and crush the rebels?"
Upon hearing Lin Fei's question, General Li Yuhu gave a bitter smile, "Master Lin may not be aware, but the military under the rebel banner, though a ragtag bunch, is receiving aid from a significant number of evil demonic beings within their camp.
Among them, there is no lack of high-level Qi Condensation cultivators. Some Daoist masters from the royal family and the court have gone into battle, but they were no match for those demonic beings.
Moreover, the entire city wall and gate have been reinforced by formations from those demonic beings. Even if our army attacks for several days in a row, they cannot breach the city gate. At present, we can only besiege Chiyang Prefecture, hoping to find a way to breach the city.
However, our army's food and forage supply is somewhat insufficient. If we cannot breach the city after a prolonged period, I fear we may have to retreat."
Li Yuhu was also helpless. Leading soldiers in battle was not a problem for him. Against these ragtag rebels, if it were a field battle, he could crush them in less than an hour.
But this was a siege. The rebels were huddled in Chiyang Prefecture, guarding the city gate and walls with formations by those demonic beings. Ordinary soldiers were completely helpless.
"Demonic beings? Where do these demonic beings come from that they can withstand the Qi Condensation cultivator of the court and royal family? It must be the support from some immortal sects or Daoist schools."
Lin Fei's eyes turned cold. Then, he looked at Li Yuhu and said solemnly, "General Li, you immediately muster the troops. I'll go and blast open the city gate and walls. When the time comes, I will take care of those demonic beings. The task of crushing the rebel Paradise Sect is yours. Any problems?"
"Ah? Master Lin wants to go and blast open the city gate alone? Even the Daoist masters casting magical artifacts couldn't do that..." Li Yuhu was somewhat surprised.
"Speed is of the essence in war, I will go and return quickly."
After saying that, Lin Fei turned around and took a step out, leaving the tent. Despite being somewhat surprised, Li Yuhu understood. The emperor's decree had made it very clear. If necessary, everything would follow Lin Fei's command.
Thinking of this, Li Yuhu gritted his teeth and immediately shouted, "All generals, muster the troops immediately and prepare to siege the city!"
"The general of the rear obeys!"
And so, the imperial court's army to quell the rebellion also started to move.
"Blasting open the city gate... Even for the 'Immortal Slayer Saber', is it possible?"
People still had some disbelief in their hearts. The strength of a martial artist was indeed powerful. But in terms of destructive power, it was far inferior to the magical artifacts of Qi Condensation cultivators.
Magical artifacts couldn't break open those city gates and walls reinforced by formations, what more a martial artist?
The crowd could only hold their doubts in their hearts. They also quickly followed the army, preparing for the siege.
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