Chapter Eighty-Five: Two Armies Clash, The Fierce Tiger Breaks Through

Let us return to the front of Tiger Pass.

The Allied Forces of the Merchant League launched a direct assault on Tiger Pass. The Grand Xia army charged forth to meet them. At the forefront, the Grand Tutor Ranshenglong positioned himself, his unicorn steed releasing a long, piercing cry as he dashed straight into the heart of the Merchant League’s forces. The ever-victorious General Wu Qigong, wounded yet undaunted, followed on Ranshenglong’s left, while Guo Jingyuan, the Four-Eyed, Six-Eared, advanced on the right. The trio unleashed a ferocious momentum, like dragons plunging into the sea, sand and dust whirling behind them, heads flying wherever they passed, a mist of blood spreading in their wake.

General Guan Longfeng of the Merchant League also fought wounded, his broadsword hacking madly into the ranks of Xia soldiers, blood spraying like fountains in all directions. The Martial King, Chengtang, rode a robust steed, and not far ahead was Ranshenglong, deep in the slaughter. The king’s tiger eyes widened; with a mighty slap of his horse and a thunderous shout of “Kill!”, he charged alone toward the Grand Tutor.

As the vanguard of the Merchant League, the Martial King’s heart brimmed with the urge for slaughter. He recalled the tragic death of Lady Qianniang in her lonely palace, hatred surging to the heavens. He longed to tear into Yudu, storm the palace, and rend the tyrant Xia Jie into pieces.

Meanwhile, the main body of the Merchant League broke through the gorge behind, their war cries echoing through the ravine as countless troops surged forward. Before, they had the aid of Yan Lietian, whose tyrannical might was unmatched. He was infuriated to see the one-eyed giant tribe, once banished from the Eastern Lands, now invading again. Five centuries ago, the one-eyed giants allied with the dragon clan to rebel against the Celestial Court. Yan Lietian himself had led the heavenly armies to suppress them, and the giants had been among the traitors.

Thus, when Yan Lietian soared above the Tiger Pass gorge, he did not join the other immortals heading to Yudu’s Sun City. Instead, he aided the Merchant League in slaughtering the remaining hundred giants of the one-eyed tribe with his divine halberd. Yet, the chieftain Gajir hid before Tiger Pass, and with the Grand Xia army massed there, Yan Lietian, as an immortal of the Celestial Court, could scarcely reveal himself. Still, since he intended to covertly aid the Merchant League, he would not easily depart. He took on a mortal guise, mingled with the army, seized a horse, mounted, and charged into the chaos.

At the center, the leaders of both armies met. Grand Tutor Ranshenglong saw the Martial King charging the field, not far away. He spurred his unicorn forward, and Chengtang met him head-on. The Martial King’s broadsword struck at Ranshenglong’s neck, but the Grand Tutor deftly dodged with a tilt of his head.

In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several blows, neither gaining the upper hand. Ranshenglong cried, “I have always respected you, Martial King Chengtang, as a man of towering integrity. Pity that you have chosen to rebel against Grand Xia!”

The Martial King laughed, “Grand Tutor, is this the time for such talk? The morale of the Merchant League soars. Soon, we shall sweep into Yudu unopposed. In battle, let us keep to our stations!”

Ranshenglong, enraged, gave a bitter laugh. “Don’t be too proud, Chengtang. Even if I lose Tiger Pass, the Grand Xia’s Grand Preceptor remains within the Seven Stars Tower in Yudu. Her powers far exceed mine!”

He paused. “Let us settle this between us. If I lose, I will open the gates to you!”

Chengtang heard the meaning behind his words. The larger situation had been decided; there was no need for further bloodshed. Ranshenglong understood that the fate of Grand Xia was sealed. Even if he fought with all his might, loyalty could not change the outcome. Clasping his hands respectfully, Chengtang replied, “The Grand Tutor is wise. It is agreed!”

At that, Ranshenglong raised his golden spear high. The two generals behind him broke free from the melee and summoned the army to form ranks. The Grand Xia soldiers raised their long spears, forming a circle. The Merchant League did likewise. The armies, seeing their leaders about to duel, ceased fighting and arranged themselves into a square arena.

Soon, the nine barbarian lords, the feudal lords of the Nine Provinces, Lord Shangguan You of the West, and Lord Tuoba Bushuang of the North arrived. All watched as the Martial King and the Grand Tutor began their fierce duel.

The two urged their mounts forward. Ranshenglong’s immortal golden spear aimed straight for Chengtang’s brow, its power forming a blue whirlwind as it swept forward. In his youth, Ranshenglong had gained renown for his spear technique, defeating countless monsters of the Northern Sea with a single spear. Chengtang, seeing the force of the blow, tightened his grip on his horse, arched his back, and deftly parried with his broadsword.

Ranshenglong’s spear, though, struck the broadsword and sent it flying. Chengtang, now unarmed, ducked low beside his horse, hiding his head behind the horse’s neck. Ranshenglong, seeing his opponent’s awkward state, laughed triumphantly. His unicorn exhaled a blast of blue flame, its fierce heat aimed straight for Chengtang’s horse. The Martial King, caught off guard, lost his grip and fell to the ground.

At once, the Grand Xia soldiers erupted in cheers for their Grand Tutor’s might.

But as Chengtang rose, a silver light shot toward him. He turned his head and saw a silver divine halberd flying his way, a voice calling, “Marshal lends you this divine halberd! Take it, quickly!”

The halberd exuded heavenly power. Ranshenglong’s heart sank; this was no mortal weapon but a true divine armament. Its radiance shone as Chengtang leapt into the air, seized it, and marveled at its weight. The voice called again, “The halberd moves with your will; relax your heart, and its weight will vanish!”

Chengtang tried to calm himself, and instantly the halberd felt lighter. He leveled it at Ranshenglong.

In a flash, the Grand Xia army gasped, while the Merchant League cheered wildly for Chengtang’s imminent victory. The generals drew their breath: truly, Chengtang was the Heaven’s chosen. General Guan Longfeng, who had fled death with the king time and again, knew this well—Chengtang had always received miraculous aid at his most dire moments.

Chengtang swung the divine halberd, sending a silver beam of heavenly power at Ranshenglong, who realized the danger too late. Abandoning his unicorn, he leapt into the air, flipping over and stabbing down with his golden spear. Chengtang dodged nimbly, and as Ranshenglong landed, a loud crack sounded. The unicorn reeled and fell as the silver beam struck its head, silver light bursting around it.

Ranshenglong’s advantage vanished. Anger surged within him as his loyal beast of many years collapsed. He charged at Chengtang, golden spear in both hands, each step sinking deep into the earth. Chengtang frowned, meeting the attack with the halberd. Silver light flashed toward Ranshenglong’s chest, faster than before. Having gotten the hang of the weapon, Chengtang wielded it with ease.

Ranshenglong, still powerful in his age, dodged the silver light, spun low to the ground, and drove his spear at Chengtang’s legs. The Martial King, alarmed, barely managed to block with the halberd, but Ranshenglong’s strength forced him back many steps. As he steadied himself, Ranshenglong pressed the attack, his figure a blur, forcing Chengtang to raise the halberd from below in a sweeping motion, sending dust flying.

Ranshenglong, undaunted, leapt high, spinning through the air. With a sudden strike, his golden spear pierced Chengtang’s chest—one inch deep. Chengtang, stunned, gripped the spear and staggered back, swinging the halberd to force Ranshenglong away. Blood spurted from his chest as he tore a sleeve to staunch the wound, spitting blood as his eyes hardened. In his mind, the graceful figure of “If not for her, who could move the heart of a nation?” floated before him, her smile gentle and elegant as an orchid. A surge of indignant will burst forth as he roared, “Ah—!”

Ranshenglong, startled, steadied himself. Chengtang, hair disheveled, screamed madly, his bloodshot eyes filled with unyielding resolve and cold hatred. The scene grew tense and silent; no one dared make a sound. The duel had been spectacular—no flashy tricks, only a contest of indomitable will and strength between two seasoned warriors, each with unmatched battlefield experience.

Both armies watched in awe. The leaders’ techniques were like divine matches—every move deadly, every exchange brilliant. Their powers and skills were evenly matched, each narrowly escaping defeat more than once. In a critical moment, Ranshenglong had used Chengtang’s own tactics against him, letting the swirling dust obscure his view and landing a strike to his chest.

Yet Chengtang, steadfast, stood tall. He took a heavy step forward and cried, “Qianniang! I will not fail you!”

Not far off, the Left Chancellor Zhong Hui’s palms sweated as he clenched his fists. He thought back to how Chengtang had risen from a humble tribe under the shadow of the great states to the leader of the Merchant League. If he triumphed in this war, he would be the Sacred Lord of the Nine Provinces. They had suffered so much together—he did not wish to see the king fall here. Memories surged within him, too poignant to let go.

Ranshenglong, meanwhile, did not know why Chengtang had shouted thus. But he was startled by the king’s sudden ferocity, especially as the divine halberd exploded with a pillar of heavenly light. Chengtang swept the halberd in a wild arc, forcing Ranshenglong to leap into the air to escape. But Chengtang suddenly dropped to one knee, reversed his halberd, and swept upward—like a dragon raising its head, three beams of silver light shot skyward.

With a sharp “shoo, shoo, shoo!”, three beams of silver light shot at Ranshenglong, who, eyes wide, barely had time to cross his golden spear before him. Yet the power of those beams was immense—the golden spear withstood most of the attack, but a crack appeared, and then it broke in two. The first two beams shattered the spear, and the last pierced Ranshenglong’s chest, sending him flying from the formation, his fate uncertain.

The duel was decided: Martial King Chengtang had won!

The Grand Xia side suddenly reacted. General Guo Jingyuan, Four-Eyed and Six-Eared, could not accept the outcome, believing the king had relied on a divine weapon to win. He transformed into a half-demon form, exuding a wild and fearsome aura. Yet Chengtang steadied his injuries and declared, “The Grand Tutor and I swore—whoever triumphed would end the war. Neither of us wishes for more needless slaughter.”

Guo Jingyuan shouted, “I do not accept this! You won only by borrowing a celestial weapon—this is no true victory!”

Just then, someone cried, “The Grand Tutor lives—he’s returned!”

All turned to see Ranshenglong, barely standing, supported by the soldiers. His hoarse voice was sincere: “The mandate of Grand Xia is spent. Martial King Chengtang is loyal, benevolent, and just; his words are true. Today’s Xia king is foolish and immoral, inviting outsiders, indulging in debauchery, surrounding himself with flatterers, neglecting the wise, and disregarding the lives of his people and soldiers. If we do not awaken now, this meaningless war will only claim more innocent lives!”

He gestured to the soldiers: “Are they not all living men, with families behind them? Must they die for a tyrant, leaving their children fatherless and sowing hatred for generations?” Ranshenglong’s voice grew wild with pain and wrath.

Guo Jingyuan and Wu Qigong seemed ready to protest, but Ranshenglong held up a hand and spoke, “Open the gates!”

As the gates opened, a figure riding a swift horse galloped up, shouting, “Report!” Both armies parted in neat ranks to make way.

“Reporting, Grand Tutor: In Yudu’s Sun City, the Grand Preceptor Yuanji has unleashed witchcraft, causing the Seven Stars Tower to float in the sky. The people within the city wander like lost souls. The chief physician Zhao Liang has rebelled, gathering the imperial guards to force the Xia king into the Seven Stars Tower! What happened after, I do not know, but the Xia king is surely in grave danger!”

The messenger finished, bewildered by the sudden halt in the battle, and knelt, not knowing what else to do.

At that moment, unnoticed by all, a figure vanished silently into the sky.

Hearing the report, Chengtang pressed his wound and came to Ranshenglong’s side. In a low voice he said, “In this situation, it’s unwise to continue fighting. Let the army enter the city and rescue the people.”

Ranshenglong, moved, nodded gravely. Turning to his generals, he ordered, “Grand Xia generals, hear me. The Xia king is unworthy; the Martial King of the Merchant League is righteous and virtuous. From this moment, I pledge myself to the Merchant League and the Martial King. Let us all acknowledge him as our lord and join together to save our people from disaster. Our families suffer within the city—we must lay down arms and unite to rescue them!”

His words resonated. The million-strong Grand Xia army responded in unison. The Left Chancellor Zhong Hui was overjoyed. Under Tiger Pass, the two armies reformed their ranks and marched as one into Yudu.

Let us leave aside the effortless subjugation of the Xia army by the Merchant League, and turn now to Sun City above.

Haodan stood behind the immortals, lost in a state of ethereal detachment, yet to regain full awareness. Yuanji and I, Luoyu, likewise failed to notice anything amiss with him. Their eyes were fixed on Xiaobailing, who stood like a heavenly maiden, surrounded by a storm of silken banners, each one charged with the might of divine retribution. The other immortals drew back in awe. Bailing’s eyes were cold and merciless as she stepped forward and halted before her foes.

With a voice laced with hate, she cried, “Su Moran was my benefactor, yet you treated me so! Today, even if I must die with you, I will slay you here and offer your head to his spirit!”

At that, the silken banners contracted, rushing to enfold Yuanji. I, Luoyu, retreated quickly at the sight, for the banners moved with terrifying speed. Yet Yuanji only smirked, her lips curling in disdain, as though finding the attack amusing. Just as the banners would have ensnared her, she moved—her body so ethereal, so graceful, that she seemed to slip through every gap. Bailing, sensing her own agitation had made her reckless, realized too late that Yuanji excelled at exploiting such flaws—a lesson learned at bitter cost.

As the banners’ assault failed, Yuanji’s ghostly figure reappeared. She said coolly, “Your momentum was impressive, but your methods are unimpressive. And you think you can avenge that fox with such paltry skills? Foolish!”

“Now, let me show you what true power is!”

Tension gripped the immortals. I, Luoyu, noticed a figure slipping into the formation—it was Marshal Yan Lietian, who had rushed over after aiding the Merchant League’s entry into the city. The immortals exchanged worried glances as the Celestial Array prepared to fully activate. If the ancient seals within the array were broken, no one could predict the outcome.

Now, the immortals acted as one, closing in on me, Luoyu. Across the way, Yuanji advanced on Bailing. Bailing, her brows arched, summoned the silken banners into her hand. Yuanji only smiled cryptically and vanished. Bailing swiftly spread the banners wide, as if to cast a net over the heavens, but to no avail.

Yuanji reappeared behind her. With a casual wave of her pale hand, a sudden surge of energy struck Bailing in the back. Blood spattered her snow-white robes.

It was an incredible sight—Yuanji had attacked from the front, yet the blow landed from behind, violating all logic and understanding. In the tense moment, Zhao Gongming, who harbored mixed feelings toward Bailing, called out, “Be careful! The sorcery of the Wu clan is cunning and strange. Be wary!”

I, Luoyu, sneered, “You’d best worry about yourselves, Zhao!”

At that, the Celestial Star Array shuddered. The Seven Stars Tower rose into the clouds, drawing the souls of the city’s people upward in a harrowing spectacle. The situation spiraled out of control, and the immortals knew that, even with all their power, they might not avert disaster.

At that moment, Haodan suddenly awakened. Seeing Bailing wounded, his heart ached. He dashed to confront Yuanji, who dodged skillfully. Bailing joined him, and together they attacked, but even facing two foes, Yuanji moved with leisurely grace, evading every strike.

Elsewhere, Zhao Gongming, angered by my taunts, unleashed the Tiger Strides Across the World technique, a massive black tiger spirit charging at me. The other immortals unleashed their arts: Lu Tianming’s floating sigils, Yanruo’s celestial lute, Kong Qiandao’s myriad swords—all converged at once.

I, Luoyu, remained composed. Before me, a dark rift opened, and from it sprouted a blood-red flower—the flower of the other shore. Time seemed to slow as the immortals’ attacks froze inches from my face. Suddenly, a wave of sorrow washed over them, paralyzing body and soul—except Yan Lietian, who, immune, pursued me as I flickered like a ghost, knocking three gods from the sky.

With a cold smile, I declared, “Mere tricks.”

The three gods were struck by mighty blows, their bodies plunged to the city below, shaking the earth with thunderous impact.

Yan Lietian stared in disbelief as their proudest arts—swords, music, and the black tiger—were frozen in the air, rendered utterly powerless.

A wave of helplessness swept over him. After a millennium of dominance, never had he felt such humiliation. Just then, in the sky, countless figures riding clouds appeared—the entire Celestial Sect had come to aid them, led by the chief disciple, the Four Golden Immortals, Daobao Daoist, and others. Behind them came the Eight Immortals, thirty-six cave lords of the Nine Provinces, seventy-two wandering immortals from the Central Sea—a force never before seen, even in ancient wars.

I, Luoyu, grinned mockingly. “Interesting.”

Yan Lietian turned and declared, “Today, the Celestial Sect will annihilate every last one of you!”

Suddenly, Yuanji spread her hands and stepped forward, chanting in an unknown tongue. On the Seven-Petaled Lotus Throne, the Empress Suxu screamed in agony. At that moment, the Donghuang Bell beneath Haodan’s feet was drawn away by a gesture from afar, flying to the center of the Celestial Star Array to hover and ring ceaselessly.

Haodan’s mind was thrown into chaos as he tried in vain to summon the Eastern Lord.

Bailing, sensing danger, pulled Haodan back to a safe distance. Yuanji and I, Luoyu, exchanged a meaningful smile, then together activated the Celestial Star Array. Instantly, Haodan, Bailing, Yan Lietian, and the rushing immortals outside the clouds were shocked by a chorus of eager voices echoing within the array, their anticipation palpable across time and space.

I, Luoyu, then moved, appearing beside Yuanji. From behind me, a colossal abyssal maw opened like the Eye of Heaven, and within it stood ten shadowy figures. Yan Lietian’s pupils contracted in horror: “The Ten Lords of the Nine Heavens?!”

Each figure was shrouded in a dark aura, impossible to see clearly, their presence instilling terror and despair.

Yan Lietian roared, “Why are the Ten Lords, my own subordinates, here?”

I, Luoyu, chuckled, “You should thank the one behind you.”

His gaze fell on Haodan. The truth was clear to any with eyes—the Ten Lords behind me had long since perished. What remained was only a chilling void, the aura of death.

At that moment, the Celestial Sect’s immortals, led by Daobao, combined their powers to attack the Celestial Star Array. But their myriad techniques, dazzling and mighty, were absorbed and dissipated by the array’s unbreakable barrier, as if striking a wall of bronze and iron. The immortals exchanged uneasy glances.

Above the array, the Donghuang Bell tolled: “Gong!”—its peal resounding through Heaven and Earth, to the ends of the world. All beings—gods, demons, mortals, even hidden recluses—looked skyward in alarm. The bell’s power pierced to the thirty-sixth heaven, startling the Jade Emperor himself in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Celestial cranes, beasts, and floating ships reeled from the shock. The gods, caught off guard, scrambled in panic—those once serenely playing chess, dancing, or making music now scattered in fright, their composure shattered.

Though the heavens knew no chickens or dogs, the scene was comical: the gods, thrown into a frenzy, like birds startled by a sudden clap.

Just then, a voice of majesty rolled across the heavens: “Immortals and gods, do not panic. Calamity befalls the mortal world; the Eastern Emperor returns. The karma of a thousand years must be repaid.”

At the Jade Emperor’s words, order was instantly restored, serenity descending once more upon the celestial realm.