Chapter 1, The War God King

I wish to give my all to achieve victory for our sect, but I underestimated the military god of the Song Dynasty, Gao Xianzhi! What an impressive figure Gao Xianzhi is! When he was stationed in the southern border, I was unaware of his prowess. Even before that, our army was winning steadily, advancing triumphantly. Unexpectedly, the Song Emperor entrusted all military power to Gao Xianzhi, placing the great army in his hands, as if aided by divine forces, unpredictable and formidable. Our previously favorable situation was completely dismantled by him, and the vast army, like a tide, forced us into a total retreat. The Song Emperor truly is willing to make such sacrifices! Cough, cough!" Chen Taiji said bitterly while coughing. Cough, cough!" Chen Taiji said bitterly while coughing.

The man in white sighed slightly and said: "I lost, still lost. This Gao Xianzhi possesses great abilities. The Chen Kingdom is powerless to turn the tide!"

Your Majesty!" The officials exclaimed in unison

Within and outside the large tent, a multitude suddenly fell to their knees, all lamenting without cease

No, not yet defeated, we still have Hulaoguan, we still have Hulaoguan!" Chen Taiji said, trembling.

"Is it just relying on this group of defeated soldiers? The nation is doomed, and no one can stop it. Taiji, you should think about how to plead for forgiveness from the clan!" said the man in white bitterly

Oh? The man in white was slightly taken aback

"Gu Hai? Ha, I thought I had suppressed his opportunities to contact the sect, but unexpectedly, he had already circumvented my defenses. The hidden dragon lies in the abyss, ha ha ha, cough cough cough!" Chen Taiji coughed up blood and said bitterly

A soldier rushed into the main tent, kneeling on one knee, looking at the pale-faced emperor who was spitting blood, and his expression suddenly froze.

I have seen him; most of the Golden Core cultivators in my sect have encountered him. Once he enters the secular world, that old man can quickly find us, offering all kinds of bribes in hopes of being accepted into the sect. However, his innate talent is simply too poor, and his progress in cultivation is exceedingly slow, making it nearly impossible for him to achieve anything significant. Accepting him would only lead to ridicule from other sects

"Speak!" Chen Taiji fixed his gaze on the soldier.

The man in white looked at Chen Taiji, frowning in deep thought. It was originally a situation beyond remedy, yet Chen Taiji firmly asserted that Gu Hai could turn the tide. Moreover, Chen Taiji's expression did not seem to be feigned. The man in white gradually became more serious. After all, the war between the two nations involved significant stakes, and no detail could be taken lightly

Chen Taiji unexpectedly coughed up a splash of blood from his pale face

Prince, after Gu Hai comes out of the mountains, if you wish to turn the tide, you must follow all his arrangements. Remember, any arrangements, and also, address him as Uncle Gu! He was a sworn brother of your father! Ahem!

Cough cough cough cough cough

An elderly man in a dragon robe, over sixty years of age, sat upon the dragon throne. His complexion was pale, and he coughed incessantly. A nearby attendant served him with great care, occasionally wiping away the blood that coughed from the corner of his mouth

"The wealthiest of the six nations? Ahem, Gu Hai? I never expected that, just before my death, I would once again seek you out!" Chen Taiji said with a grim smile.

"Chen Taiji, you say that Gu Hai has the ability to turn the tide? How can you be so sure? He is merely an ordinary person, possessing only acquired cultivation." The man in white frowned and said

No, not yet defeated!" Chen Taiji said with a grimace, trembling.

Tiger Lock Pass? The troop strength at Tiger Lock Pass is minimal, consisting mainly of some imperial guards, unlike the soldiers at the other three passes. They are merely a group of unblooded sheep, and their numbers are few. How can they withstand the fierce army of the Song Dynasty? Moreover, you are also nearing your limit; your son's abilities are far inferior to yours, and if you cannot hold them back, how can the Crown Prince? Furthermore, the territory is about to lose three-quarters, with the majority of the land gone and the people's hearts lost. What do you have left to fight against the Song Dynasty? Additionally, the opponent is the War God, Gao Xianzhi! The mountains and rivers are shattered, the rivers are declining, and the trend of the situation is unstoppable!" The man in white sighed slightly.

The elder in the dragon robe ignored the officials and instead looked at the man in white who was supplying him with vital energy

He will definitely be able to! If Gao Xianzhi is the God of War, then Gu Hai is the God of War King! Crown Prince, you must lead the civil and military officials to seek him! You must definitely secure his presence! Even if it means kneeling, you must secure his presence!

"It is possible, he can do it, he will definitely be able to!" Chen Taiji's face turned red.

Cough cough cough cough cough! Chen Taiji coughed again.

What? You cannot interfere? *Cough cough!* Chen Taiji coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood again

What? Cough cough cough! Chen Taiji coughed up blood once again

Chen Taiji, let the Crown Prince ascend the throne. The Chen Kingdom only has one Hulaoguan left, and I hope it can be defended for a while longer. Alas, what use is it to hold out any longer? This battle has been lost. It is a pity for your son; I hope the sect leader does not take out his anger on him.

"Third Uncle, do you know?" Chen Taiji looked at the man in white in astonishment

"Chen Taiji, this is not a time for jokes. The Chen Kingdom is almost completely lost now; who has the ability to turn the tide? The Song Kingdom is currently united in purpose, and with the military god Gao Xianzhi advancing triumphantly, their morale is soaring. Without the intervention of our sect, it is impossible to change the course of the battle!" The man in white said skeptically.

Your Majesty, the Tongguan Pass has fallen!" the young soldier exclaimed in panic

Report

Chen Taiji closed his eyes, his entire body trembling as if in a fit. After a considerable time, he finally spoke: "No, there is someone, he, he has the ability to turn the tide, he surely can!"

Finally, please tell him I am sorry; it was I who wronged him back then Chen Taiji revealed a trace of sorrowful bitterness

I will do so. The sect master has delegated certain powers to me this time, and as long as it is not excessive, I will do my utmost to fulfill his requests

On the dragon bed, there was also a man in white, appearing to be around forty years old. At this moment, he had both hands pressed against the back of the elderly man in the dragon robe, as if he were channeling vital energy to heal the elderly man.

Within the grand tent, all the civil and military officials displayed expressions of panic.

The elder in the dragon robe spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The healing had reached a temporary pause. However, the elder's injuries showed no signs of improvement, and his complexion had become even paler.

"Uncle Gu?" The Crown Prince displayed a look of surprise

I have told you that the battle between the State of Chen and the State of Song involves a scope that you cannot imagine. The sect behind the State of Song, like ours, has issued a death order, mandating victory. Whichever side wins will allow their sect to claim the newly discovered spirit stone mine

Your Majesty

"Grandson earnestly requests Grandfather San to personally eliminate Gao Xianzhi, otherwise, my Chen Kingdom will face utter defeat, or even face annihilation!" Chen Taiji pleaded

"Gu Hai? Is he the old man with poor aptitude who only began his cultivation after turning thirty and later foolishly dreamed of joining our sect?"

Father Emperor!" The head of the officials, a middle-aged man dressed in a dragon robe, suddenly exclaimed

After finishing the last sentence, Chen Taiji closed his eyes, his flushed face seemed to fade in an instant, becoming pale and silent.

Inside the large tent, there was a profound silence, with only the hurried breaths of the officials and the cough of Chen Taiji remaining.

Gu Hai!" Chen Taiji struggled to utter this name, as if he were deeply repulsed by this person.

Report

The man in white furrowed his brows deeply, as if he could see that Chen Taiji was on the verge of returning to his former self, almost at the end of his strength

Another soldier rushed into the main tent

The great tent was filled with officials, all anxiously gazing towards the dragon throne in the north.

The man in white let out a faint sigh: "The heart's pulse is completely shattered, Chen Taiji, you have been too greedy and reckless this time! Why did you not wait for me?"

A mere merchant? The God of War, Wang?

Dark clouds cover the sky, and a chilling wind sweeps across the ground. At Mount Luolong, tens of thousands of wounded soldiers are stationed, presenting a scene of despair and defeat. The troops guard a large yellow tent at the very center.

The man in white furrowed his brows and shook his head, saying: "I have mentioned before that this matter involves too many parties. Initially, it was only about a spirit stone mine, but now it has attracted the interest of a significant figure. That figure wants to observe the battles in the secular world and has ordered us not to intervene. Not just me, even the sect leader would not offend that significant figure for the sake of a mere secular nation like yours"

"What? The lord's wrath?" Chen Taiji suppressed his cough and looked at the man in white.

"Who? Father Emperor, who is it?" the Crown Prince asked in astonishment

Your Majesty, the Jiayu Pass has fallen!

Report

The prince in the python robe also expressed curiosity

Chen Taiji's complexion had turned bright red: "Using troops like a god? Using troops like a god, feigning to the east while striking to the west, breaking through three barriers, the morale of the army completely scattered, what a formidable Gao Xianzhi, how powerful Gao Xianzhi, cough cough cough cough!"

The man in white nodded affirmatively and said: "The sect behind the Song Kingdom also cannot interfere, so do not think that your injury was caused by the sect behind the Song Kingdom; it was entirely directed by Gao Xianzhi"

"Third Uncle, do your best to meet his demands. He is indeed a merchant, and he is also an ordinary person. Only he has the ability to turn the tide. If we want to win back, we can only ask him! I guarantee it with the life of the Crown Prince!" Chen Taiji's face had already turned a deep shade of red.

Chen Taiji suddenly trembled all over, his eyes flickering as if he were making an extremely difficult decision

Father Emperor

"The wealthiest man of the six states, Mr. Gu Lao?" the Crown Prince exclaimed in surprise

Puff

The man in white fell silent for a moment, then nodded and said: "Perhaps, I too will be implicated. In this battle, a significant figure is watching. Once the State of Chen is defeated, that figure will undoubtedly be disappointed with the sect. The sect master cares greatly about that figure's opinion. Hopefully, the sect master will not vent his anger on us, after all, the opposing military god is too formidable..."

"Third Uncle, you need not save me any longer; I am aware of my condition. My heart pulse is shattered, and it was my carelessness!" The elderly man in the dragon robe sighed slightly and spoke bitterly

Crown Prince, you go and plead with him. As long as he is willing to come out of seclusion, we can still turn the tide, we definitely can! *Cough cough cough!* Chen Taiji coughed.

Father, is there any other way for us? The Immortal Sect refuses to intervene...!" The Prince in the python robe said with a bitter expression.

The Emperor has passed away

"Father, if we lose the three passes of Tongguan, Chengshan, and Jiayu, what awaits the Song Kingdom is nothing but a flat expanse. I, I will have lost three-quarters of the territory of the Chen Kingdom, and it will be essentially over!" The man in the python robe displayed a look of terror.

June 6th! The Great Chen Kingdom, Falling Dragon Ridge

Indeed, Father, he is merely a merchant; can he command troops in battle?

Your Majesty, the defense of Chengshan Pass has been breached