221: Xu Fengnian returns to the cold! Eight exquisite battle swords and armors!

Chapter 219: Xu Fengnian Returns to Northern Liang! Eight Exquisites Battle Saber Armor!

Li Chang'an was naturally very clear about the Pugu Tribe's situation; the Brocade-Clad Guards had already investigated it.

The Huyan Tribe's defection perfectly played into Li Chang'an's hands, as it was an excellent opportunity to implement a strategy of division.

Supporting the weak Huyan Tribe would create a buffer zone on the outskirts of Sha Province, causing infighting among the tribes deeper in the grasslands.

These tribes were all to be kept to a certain scale, with no single one allowed to dominate; this was the most successful strategy proven by history.

The grassland people were never the greatest hidden danger to the Central Plains Dynasty; the Central Plains Dynasty's greatest hidden danger always lay within.

Huyan Guanyin stammered, "The Huyan Tribe is willing to submit to Your Highness the King of Tang and help Your Highness resist those fierce large tribes."

"People have good and evil, and the grassland people and the Central Plains people are all the same. Our Huyan Tribe lives by herding horses and sheep, but we are still harassed by strong enemies."

Li Chang'an's lips curved into a smile, "Aren't you afraid of me?"

Huyan Guanyin glanced at Li Chang'an's eyes, then nervously shrank back.

"Terrified... scared to death. On the journey these past few days, I've had nightmares every night."

Jiang Ni and Qingniao suppressed their smiles, watching Huyan Guanyin describe Li Chang'an as if he were a demon.

Huyan Dahan's face showed a look of despair. Would speaking of the King of Tang in such a way lead to him being killed on the spot?

"Your Highness, my daughter is innocent and means no harm. Please, Your Highness, be lenient."

Li Chang'an said impassively, "This King does not keep idlers. Accepting you would be of no benefit to Sha Province."

"This King is not a lecher. Do you truly think you can exchange a grassland pearl for this King's protection?"

Li Chang'an showed no outward emotion, but Huyan Dahan felt immense pressure, and sweat soaked his back.

If Li Chang'an did not accept their allegiance, the Huyan Tribe would truly be in mortal danger.

Hearing Li Chang'an say this, Huyan Guanyin grew anxious.

"Your Highness, the warriors of the Huyan Tribe are willing to help Your Highness defend Sha Province."

"As long as Your Highness can protect our clansmen, women, and children, one hundred thousand warriors are willing to fight to the death for Your Highness!"

These were words from the heart. Now, it was either be completely devoured by the Pugu Tribe or have Li Chang'an protect their women and children.

If they submitted to Sha Province, even if their young men became cannon fodder, at least their clansmen could survive.

Huyan Dahan prostrated himself on the ground, "Your Highness the King of Tang, as long as Your Highness is willing to protect the Huyan Tribe, the Huyan Tribe will be a sharp blade in Your Highness's hand!"

Li Chang'an was pleased. The internal strife on the grasslands was about to begin.

The Huyan Tribe was just the beginning; other different tribes would join in later.

"Since that is the case, let Huyan Guanyin stay as a maid for now."

"As for whether to protect the Huyan Tribe, this King needs to see your sincerity."

Hearing Li Chang'an relent, Huyan Guanyin's bright eyes sparkled with joy and confidence.

With her beauty, as long as she was proactive, she would surely win Li Chang'an's favor!

"This servant will serve Your Highness with all her might!"

Huyan Dahan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Huyan Guanyin stayed, they had succeeded halfway.

As long as they told the Pugu Tribe that the Huyan Tribe's daughter was a maid in the Tang Royal Mansion, the Pugu Tribe would never dare to harass the Huyan Tribe again.

Otherwise, what awaited them would be the Great Tang Iron Cavalry's sweep and devastation.

Not long after, Huyan Guanyin bid farewell to her father at the mansion gate.

Huyan Dahan repeatedly cautioned Huyan Guanyin not to displease the King of Tang, and to try her best to satisfy any of his requests.

The fate of the entire Huyan Tribe was still in Li Chang'an's hands. If Huyan Guanyin was driven out by Li Chang'an, or even killed, the Huyan Tribe would be finished.

Huyan Guanyin's eyes gleamed with determination, "Father, rest assured, your daughter will serve His Highness the King of Tang with all her heart."

As Huyan Dahan left, he had already made up his mind: he must work hard!

He had to gather more grassland people. The more valuable he was to Li Chang'an, the more protection he would receive from Sha Province!

After Huyan Guanyin entered the Royal Mansion, she was not an ordinary maid, but one specifically assigned to serve Li Chang'an.

Huyan Guanyin was also diligent and dedicated, willing to do anything, and very docile.

With such a stunning beauty by his side, Li Chang'an would occasionally tease her. The more he teased, the more at ease Huyan Guanyin became.

Hong Shu and Pei Nanwei, the two concubines who were often in the back courtyard, were very friendly to Huyan Guanyin, which made Huyan Guanyin feel the warmth of home in the Royal Mansion.

Time flew by, and another half year passed. Li Chang'an's six commanderies in Sha Province became even more firmly established.

The Huyan Tribe gathered over ten thousand people from other small tribes and migrated them near Sha Province, sending their women and children to settle in Gaochang Commandery.

This weak tribe finally found its footing on the harsh grasslands where the strong preyed on the weak.

Another spring arrived.

Liang Province, Qingliang Mountain.

In front of the Royal Mansion, Xu Xiao was talking with Qi Dangguo.

"Danggou, Li Chang'an's strength has surged in the past two years. I'll have Xu Yanbing accompany you."

Xu Yanbing, the Northern Liang nuclear warhead, was a half-step Terrestrial Deity, at the Peak of a martial artist's Heavenly Elephant, significantly stronger than Hong Jingyan.

He was the King of Northern Liang's Mansion's top master known to Xu Xiao, famed for the saying, "Below a Terrestrial Deity, I am invincible; above a Terrestrial Deity, it's a one-for-one trade."

Qi Dangguo said solemnly, "Please rest assured, foster father, I will safely bring Feng Nian back."

Xu Xiao cupped his hands to Xu Yanbing on horseback, saying, "Mr. Xu, Xu Xiao implores you."

Xu Yanbing returned the gesture, "No problem. I reckon no one in Northern Liang can defeat me."

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly swirled at the mansion gate, and an ordinary-looking old servant slowly walked out from within.

The old servant lightly tore at his face, revealing a plain, farmer-like face with white hair and beard.

The old man had a worn saber at his waist, and his eyes were calm, without a ripple.

"My grandson, I will go fetch him."

As he spoke, he took a step and was already beneath Xu Yanbing's horse.

Xu Yanbing's brows suddenly furrowed, and his steel spear involuntarily tightened in his grip!

The True Qi on the old servant's body suddenly erupted, clearly on par with his own; he was also a half-step Earth Immortal!

At this moment, Xu Xiao's eyes had already widened, and his lips trembled with excitement.

"Father-in-law, Father-in-law!"

"You've been in the mansion all this time!"

This was Qi Lianhua, one of the Thirteen Armor-Clad of the Spring and Autumn Period, Xu Fengnian's maternal grandfather, only a step away from being a Terrestrial Deity.

Hearing Xu Xiao say this, Xu Yanbing dismounted.

Since the two were evenly matched, and the old servant was indeed Xu Fengnian's maternal grandfather, it was naturally most appropriate for the old servant to go fetch his grandson himself.

The old servant didn't even glance at Xu Xiao, directly mounting Xu Yanbing's horse.

"The older you get, the more useless you become. You couldn't protect your wife, nor your son."

After speaking, Qi Lianhua's horse slowly moved forward, appearing very displeased with Xu Xiao.

In truth, he was also speaking of himself, unable to protect his daughter or his grandson.

When Xu Fengnian left Northern Liang for Yong Province back then, Qi Lianhua, like Xu Xiao, never imagined Xu Fengnian would not return.

But later, when Xu Fengnian was captured, this half-step Earth Immortal Saber Armor was also helpless.

Even if he went to kill Li Chang'an, he still wouldn't be able to find Xu Fengnian.

Xu Xiao's eyes welled with tears as he bowed deeply to Qi Lianhua's receding back.

"Father-in-law, your son-in-law is ashamed..."

Qi Lianhua said from afar, "When this old man goes, I will let Li Chang'an know that the Jianghu is much deeper than he thinks."

At Jiayu Pass, at the junction of Sha Province and Liang Province.

Dust rose from the west as a team of riders galloped eastward. Two of them drove a carriage, but atop the carriage was a cage.

Inside the cage, a thin, emaciated young man stared blankly in the direction of Jiayu Pass.

His lips were cracked, and he wore only a prisoner's uniform, stained with blood. His hands were also bloody, having endured countless tortures.

Xu Fengnian had been imprisoned for three full years. During this time, the Eight Exquisites had tormented him relentlessly, yet kept him barely alive.

This was intentional on Li Chang'an's part, to make Xu Fengnian harbor immense hatred for Li Chang'an, but without breaking his will.

Because Xu Xiao was a man with almost no weaknesses, and now his only weakness was Xu Fengnian.

Keeping a radical, irrational Xu Fengnian alive would be of great benefit to Li Chang'an in eliminating Northern Liang.

If Xu Fengnian were killed directly, Chen Zhibao taking charge of Northern Liang would complicate matters.

Having an incompetent and muddle-headed person as the leader of Northern Liang was in Li Chang'an's best interest.

Qi Dangguo, accompanied by a group of masters from the Qingliang Royal Mansion, waited a hundred zhang outside Jiayu Pass. The white-haired Qi Lianhua's eyes were filled with hatred and ferocity.

What prestige did the King of Northern Liang hold? His mansion was filled with masters, yet his esteemed heir had been kidnapped for three years.

As his maternal grandfather, he was both remorseful and furious. As soon as Xu Fengnian returned to Northern Liang, he would unleash a massacre!

No matter who the opposing party was, once Xu Fengnian was handed over, they would all be immediately slain!

No matter how arrogant Li Chang'an was, he had no half-step Earth Immortal figures under his command.

Don't be fooled by the various rankings in the Jianghu; true masters are always hidden in the shadows.

He, Saber Armor Qi Lianhua, was one of them.

As the Eight Exquisites gradually approached, Qi Lianhua's eyes flashed with fierce light, and killing intent arose in his heart.

The Aura of the eight opponents indicated that four of them had only recently stepped into the First-Grade.

"Whoa!"

Qian Sha reined in his horse and stopped. Gen Shi and Zhen Hou jumped off the prison cart. Two horses slowly pulled the prison cart towards Qi Dangguo.

Xu Fengnian's blank expression instantly regained its luster. He saw Qi Dangguo, and he saw his maternal grandfather whom he had met as a child!

It's the people of Northern Liang! The three-year period is up, and I, Xu Fengnian, am finally free!

At this moment, Xu Fengnian's heart was filled with hatred, and his chipped teeth clenched tighter and tighter.

Li Chang'an, I, Xu Fengnian, will definitely have my revenge!

My Northern Liang's three hundred and fifty thousand elite soldiers, whose might shakes the world, will surely flatten your small Sha Province!

Qi Dangguo saw the battered and bruised Xu Fengnian and couldn't help but be consumed by rage, flying into a furious tantrum.

"Bastards, why did you abuse the heir!"

Qian Sha chuckled, "What a joke. This bastard tried to harm the Prince; the Prince was merciful enough to spare his life."

No sooner had this sentence left his mouth than a hurricane suddenly swept in. An old man, enraged, rose into the air.

In an instant, the heavens and earth changed color, and a raging sandstorm swept forth!

"Who are you calling a bastard?!"

Seeing the opponent's half-step Earth Immortal cultivation, the Eight Exquisites immediately dismounted and took up defensive positions. Their True Qi connected, and they stood firmly in the storm.

Only then did Qi Lianhua realize that these eight people had formed a Formation, firmly blocking his Heavenly Elephant's might.

The Eight Exquisites consisted of two Confucian scholars, two Buddhists, two Daoists, and two martial artists. Now, there were two Confucian Heavenly Elephant masters, two Buddhist Vajra masters, two Daoist Finger-Profound masters, and two martial artist Vajra masters.

Any single one of them would be instantly killed by Qi Lianhua, but their combined strength was not inferior to a half-step Earth Immortal.

Qi Dangguo and the other Northern Liang masters watched in disbelief as Qi Lianhua confronted the eight, that the Eight Exquisites could actually contend with a half-step Earth Immortal!

Qi Lianhua suddenly recalled Xu Yanbing's boast, and he himself was not to be outdone.

"Below a Terrestrial Deity, I am invincible!"

The worn saber at his waist emerged from its sheath, and a Saber Intent several zhang long shot into the sky, like a giant floodgate in the heavens and earth, charging towards the Eight Exquisites' Protective Aura.

Seeing the might of this half-step Earth Immortal, the Northern Liang crowd's morale was instantly boosted.

Xu Fengnian's eyes gleamed fiercely, and he roared almost hysterically.

"Grandfather, kill them, kill them!"

"These eight bastards tormented me for three years!"

"Grandfather, I want them dead!"

The massive Saber Qi had an overwhelming Aura, as if it would cleave a gash in the earth!

"Crack, crack..."

The ground in front of and behind the Eight Exquisites indeed cracked, split open by the Saber Qi!

However, at this moment, within the Eight Exquisites' Formation, flute sounds, Xiao sounds, Saber Qi, and Sword Qi flew wildly!

A phantom figure, over ten zhang tall, shot into the sky. A human figure with eight faces and sixteen hands forcefully held up Qi Lianhua's Saber Qi.

The eight faces had different appearances, men, women, old, and young, but all eight mouths spoke the same words.

"Form does not meet shadow, shadow does not leave form; different hearts, one body; one body, eight faces."

Eight voices, like rolling thunder, caused the soldiers on Jiayu Pass to become dizzy and disoriented.

The eight-faced figure's Protective Aura was immense, crushing Qi Lianhua's Saber Qi!

Qi Lianhua stared dumbfounded at the Void Realm figure, and the worn saber in his hand unknowingly dropped to the ground.

"Earth Immortal... the might of an Earth Immortal!"

After his offensive was neutralized, the eight-faced figure suddenly merged into one, taking on the appearance of a middle-aged man!

In fact, although the Eight Exquisites were eight templates, their original form was already one person.

After the eight of them stepped into the First-Grade, they could perform the Body Integration technique.

The male phantom looked coldly at Qi Lianhua, saying disdainfully, "Eight faces merge... Slaying an Earth Immortal!"

No sooner had he spoken than a towering Sword Qi rose from the phantom, and a hundred-zhang giant sword descended from the sky!

Qi Lianhua immediately landed on the ground and, along with the other Northern Liang masters, surrounded Xu Fengnian in the center!

"Everyone, with the combined strength of us dozen or so people, we can definitely block this Sword Qi!"

At Qi Lianhua's command, everyone exerted their full strength. They all knew very well that if they couldn't withstand this Sword Qi, they would all die here.

The earth continued to tremble, and the powerful True Qi pressure made it impossible for Qi Lianhua and the others to lift their heads!

"Pfft!"

Qi Lianhua, the strongest, spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The others also turned ashen, sweating profusely!

"Rumble!"

Qi Lianhua only heard a violent tremor behind him. The majestic Jiayu Pass, starting from the top of the city tower, developed a huge crack!

In a moment, the wind was light and the clouds were calm, and the Eight Exquisites had already turned and left.

The Northern Liang group had survived, but Jiayu Pass behind them was already split in two, and the city gate had been forcibly cleaved open.

Xu Fengnian looked fiercely to the Northwest, letting out a furious roar!

"Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts!"

"I want to personally lead an expedition to the Northwest and flatten Sha Province!"