284: Battle of Gaixia

Lu Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his face as cold as ice.

He looked at Yu Ji, his voice so calm it was almost indifferent:

“Yu Ji, get up. Chu Yu has his own destiny. This is fated by Karma and cannot be changed. His end was written long ago in the river of fate.”

Yu Ji, however, became even more agitated. She kowtowed again, blood seeping from her forehead, staining the stone steps red:

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe in any destiny! Any Karma! I know you have a way! Three years ago, you saved Chu Yu from Wan Hongxiang, why can’t you do it today! Brother Lu… as long as you save Chu Yu, I… I am willing to sacrifice anything! My life, my Divine Soul, everything… I’ll give it all to you!”

Her voice was mournful, carrying a nearly crazy obsession.

Lu Chen merely scoffed, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes:

“Don’t you understand? It’s not that I won’t save him, but that destiny cannot be defied. If I forcibly go Heaven-Defying and change fate, I won’t just fail to save Chu Yu, but I will also invite ‘Heavenly Punishment Lightning,’ and both you and I will turn to ash. His death is the general trend, a historical inevitability. Even if I possess Heaven-Defying abilities, I cannot reverse it.”

Yu Ji still wouldn't give up. She wiped away her tears, her voice suddenly becoming calm and sharp:

“Brother Lu, have you ever considered—if Chu State falls, Lu Family Village will also lose its protection? When Chu Yu was here, who dared to touch a blade of grass or a tree in the Southern Barbarians? But if Chu State is destroyed, and Liu Bang unifies the world, the first thing he will eradicate is you, this ‘hidden danger’ who possesses a heaven-reaching spirit treasures! Saving Chu Yu is not just for him, but also for Lu Family Village, for your own safety! Please… for the sake of our past friendship, save him this one time!”

As she spoke, she kowtowed heavily again, blood flowing from her forehead, staining her white clothes red.

Lu Chen finally turned around, looking directly into her eyes, his voice low:

“With me here, no force dares to covet Lu Family Village. Even if Liu Bang unifies the world, I can protect this place completely. The survival of Lu Family Village does not depend on Chu State, but on me.”

He paused, his tone softening slightly:

“As for Chu Yu…”

“After all, we once shared hardships, like brothers. Although I cannot change his fated end,”

“But I can promise you—”

“I will collect your bodies for you, so you can have a dignified final journey.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ji trembled, as if struck by lightning.

She finally understood—

Lu Chen would not intervene.

Chu Yu’s death was already set in stone.

She slowly raised her head, looking at Lu Chen’s cold face. Her tears had dried, but her eyes had become exceptionally clear.

She asked softly: “We… do you mean me and Chu Yu?”

“Are you saying… that Chu Yu and I are both destined to die?”

Lu Chen did not answer, merely nodded slightly.

Yu Ji suddenly smiled, a desolate yet resolute smile:

“I understand… Thank you, Brother Lu.”

“At least… you are willing to ensure that we won’t die without a complete corpse.”

She slowly stood up, her plain clothes stained with blood, her body swaying, yet her back was straight.

At that moment, she was no longer that delicate woman, but a warrior about to rush to the battlefield.

She turned and walked resolutely towards the cave entrance, her steps firm, without looking back.

“I must return to Chu Yu’s side immediately. I cannot be absent during the final moments of his life.”

Outside the cave, a snowstorm suddenly arose.

Her figure gradually disappeared into the vast night, like a wilting plum blossom, drifting towards that battlefield soon to be stained with blood.

Lu Chen looked in the direction she left, silent for a long time.

He hadn't expected the historical restoration ability to be so strong. In this cultivation world he created, Chu Yu and Yu Ji would ultimately meet the same fate.

But the more this happened, the more Lu Chen was shocked. What kind of energy could influence so many Small Worlds?

Could it be the “Earth” that the heavenly dao system mentioned?

Once Lu Chen completed his training and the heavenly dao system upgraded to Level 10, granting him complete freedom, the first thing Lu Chen would do was thoroughly research Earth… The Tianqi Continent, Luck surged, and heaven and earth changed color.

Location, this ancient battlefield located at the junction of the Southern Wilderness and the Central Plains, would ultimately become the final place to determine the world’s ownership.

Liu Bang used the “Nine Provinces Conferral of Kings Order” as bait, promising Han Xin the title of “King of Qi,” Peng Yue as “King of Liang,” and granting them control over their respective Spiritual Veins and blessed lands.

The two great feudal lords finally led their armies south, their iron cavalry like clouds, their battle banners obscuring the sky!

At the same time, Liu Bang personally ordered General Liu Jia to lead 100,000 elite soldiers, allied with the traitor Ying Bu, to advance north from the Huai region.

Ying Bu, under the name of “Former Chu Great General,” performed the “Soul Imprint Secret Art,” stirring resonance among his old subordinates, actually causing Chu State’s Grand Marshal Zhou Yin to lead 100,000 defending troops in Jiujiang to defect!

Five routes of armies, a total of 600,000 mighty soldiers, like five giant Dragons, converged from all directions—

Han Xin led 300,000 “Soldier Immortal Iron Army” as the vanguard, wielding the “Soldier God Sword,” and activating the “Constellation Battle Formation”;

Peng Yue led the “Wandering Soul Light Cavalry,” specializing in raiding supply lines and burning Chu Army granaries;

Guan Ying led the “City-Breaker Camp” directly to Peng City, capturing the Chu State capital in one fell swoop;

Liu Bang personally led the central army, seated in the “Emperor Dragon Carriage,” protected by the “nine tripods Nation-Suppressing Formation,” with Zhou Bo, Chai Wu, and other Foundation Establishment experts as backup;

And Ying Bu and Zhou Yin combined their forces, attacking Chengfu from the south, cutting off Chu Yu’s retreat.

Chu State was in dire peril!

Chu Yu led 100,000 remnant troops, originally intending to hold Gu Ling, but after losing Peng City and Jiujiang, morale wavered.

Moreover, a heavenly omen warned— “White Tiger Star falls, Overlord will perish”!

Chu Yu roared to the sky, but was powerless to turn the tide, and could only lead his army to retreat southeast, falling back to Location.

He knew—

In this battle, there was no retreat.

Location, a snowy night.

600,000 Han Army soldiers deployed the “Five Directions Great Formation”!

The Formation was based on the Five Elements spiritual power, drawing on the Evil Qi of the earth veins, forming five “Battle Soul Altars.” Each altar enshrined the Divine Soul of a fallen Chu General, used to disintegrate the Chu Army’s morale!

Han Xin stood on the central command platform, clad in “Soldier Immortal Battle Armor,” holding the “Soldier God Sword,” and pointing his sword at the Chu camp:

“Today, let soldiers break the hegemon!”

With his command—

The 300,000 vanguard troops split into five routes:

Chu Yu stood on a high platform, his halberd “Heaven-Breaker” pointed forward, behind him 100,000 Chu Army soldiers, all armored, their Battle Intent undiminished!

Although he had lost his “White Tiger Hegemon Body,” he still possessed a heroic courage!

“Today, with my broken body, I will fight against the world!”

Han Xin initiated the attack first!

He activated the “Soldier God Sword,” drawing on the power of the “Big Dipper Seven Stars,” transforming it into a golden sword river that surged directly towards the Chu Army’s central army!

Chu Yu roared, without his Hegemon Body, but he still had his domineering Qi, activating it, he swung his halberd—

“Heaven-Breaker Strike!”

The halberd and the sword river collided, shaking heaven and earth!

Golden light exploded, and Qi waves swept for a hundred miles!

Han Xin was forced back three steps, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth;

Chu Yu was even more severely struck by the recoil, his Qi and blood surging, he knelt on one knee!

Han Xin, instead of retreating, advanced, shouting: “Left and right flanks, encircle!”

Kong Xuan and Chen He led their armies to attack from both sides!

Ten thousand Black Armored Cavalry unleashed a volley of arrows, the arrow rain like a dark cloud pressing down on the city, each arrow affixed with a “Armor-Piercing Talismanic Incantation”;

The Thunderfire Heavy Armor, meanwhile, bombarded the Chu Army’s Formation with “Heavenly Thunder Cannons,” blasting out countless deep pits, with flames soaring into the sky!

The Chu Army’s Formation was in chaos!

Tens of thousands of soldiers were shot dead by the arrow rain, dismembered limbs flying everywhere;

Under the bombardment of the Thunderfire Cannons, the battle Formation collapsed, and morale plummeted!

Just then, Han Xin suddenly activated the “Soldier Soul Banner,” summoning the remnant souls of ancient soldier immortals!

A phantom figure appeared, holding a giant sword, and with one slash, the Chu Army’s vanguard was completely reduced to dust!

Chu Yu roared, forcibly stood up, and once again swung his halberd to meet the attack!

But he was exhausted, his halberd movements slow, and Han Xin pierced his left shoulder with a sword!

“Pfft!”

Blood gushed out!

Han Xin pressed his advantage, and soldier soul guards surged into the Chu Army’s positions like a tide!

The Chu Army was utterly defeated, suffering countless casualties, and the remnant forces were forced to retreat into the main camp, holding their ground without coming out.

Chu Yu looked at the myriad stars in the sky, roaring loudly: “Am I destined to die here in Location?!”