Chen Ping's Sword

The armor on Cold Water General Zhang Wang was broken, and his warhorse was dead. With great difficulty, he endured his injuries, seized a horse, and mixed in with the soldiers to escape.

As for Cyan Dragon General, his emotions remained unreadable. Even though he was outmatched, he remained silent, fighting as he retreated, seemingly about to head into the forest.

"Hold on, just a little longer, generals. Don’t lose heart... do you really think I would abandon my own thirty thousand elite soldiers here even if I were deceiving you?

Don’t worry, this battle won’t be lost. A change will come soon."

Fang Qingzhu’s heart sank heavily.

She also realized that all the ambush troops at Jieyuan Ferry had been deployed, and Chen Ping was indeed not here.

’Could it be that he’s really using these thirty thousand troops and the East Wood Remnant Army as bait, ready to abandon them?’

’Is this the proverbial "severing a limb to survive," sacrificing the least to gain the most?’

’No, he’s not that kind of person.’

Fang Qingzhu sighed deeply, discovering that since leaving Lii Island, she had sighed more today than on any previous day combined.

At this moment, she chose to believe in Chen Ping, trusting that he would definitely come to the rescue.

With these thoughts, this Fairy of the South Sea Purple Bamboo Forest finally understood responsibility and commitment, as three-colored brilliance emerged from her, transforming into a magnificent sword light, charging towards the array of the Imperial Army.

Endure as long as you can.

This battle must not be lost.

As Fang Qingzhu began to fight bloodily, leading the charge into the formation...

Miraculously, King Ping’s Army and the East Wood Remnant Army began to stabilize.

Though they remained at a disadvantage and suffered heavy losses, they did not immediately collapse.

"Clang, clang..."

At this moment.

From the direction of the northern plains, the sound of metallic clashes suddenly echoed.

As if dozens or hundreds of soldiers were mustering all their strength, striking golden gongs and cymbals...

’This...’

Fang Qingzhu’s eyes brightened.

Black Tortoise General, Cyan Dragon General, and others all showed expressions of joy.

They had been beaten until their formation was no longer a formation, and their combat power had dwindled, with morale near rock bottom, but they hadn’t turned blind or deaf.

Upon hearing, they understood the sound’s significance.

The signal to retreat.

The Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry was no longer pursuing.

Furthermore, seeing those more than forty thousand elite cavalry hurriedly forming an array, facing north, ready, it was clear what had occurred.

"Are we to counterattack?"

Black Tortoise General’s spirit immediately lifted.

Previously, he’d been badly beaten, losing nearly half his men; his eyes were red with anger.

Seeing reinforcements from the north, and with the Imperial Iron Cavalry clearly unable to focus on both fronts, it was the perfect opportunity for vengeance.

"Why counterattack now? Trust in King Ping.

Since I’ve known him, I’ve never seen him lose a battle. Especially... not on the battlefield."

Fang Qingzhu’s eyes sparkled brightly.

This kind of trust was extraordinary.

Without questioning the enemy, without asking how strong the opponent is.

As soon as that person appears, victory is assured...

There’s no need for the already exhausted remnants here to help.

"Just watch; the previous fight didn’t even qualify as a battle...

When facing King Ping’s Army, even the elite Imperial Forest Brave Cavalry is just a disorderly crowd, not worth mentioning."

"Really that uncanny?"

Upon being refuted and belittled, Black Tortoise General and Cyan Dragon General were, for the first time, not the least bit angry.

Instead, a deep sense of hope rose from their hearts.

They truly hoped for his victory.

Otherwise, this gamble would end in utter defeat.

Rumors spread widely that King Ping was only seventeen years of age, already earning the title "Divine General," and it was said, his formations were unbeatable.

The provocative tales, understandably made fellow Commanding Generals like Black Tortoise General and Cyan Dragon General feel a sense of dissent.

Yet, those who told the tales described it with such detail, as if they’d personally witnessed Chen Ping leading, annihilating the ten thousand Rushing Wolf Cavalry—legendary stories of blossoming lotuses and celestial assistance.

To the common folk, he wasn’t a mere mortal but akin to a deity descending to earth.

How could anyone believe such absurd rumors?

Black Tortoise General and Cyan Dragon General knew well enough that perhaps these were just ignorant country wives spreading tales.

Maybe Chen Ping was indeed adept at warfare, coincidentally achieving great fame.

But to say his cavalry could surpass the Profound Armor Imperial Forest Army, honed by the Great Li Dynasty’s centuries-old foundations, was laughable.

’Let’s only hope he doesn’t lose too badly.

Once we recover some strength, regroup, and counterattack, we might preserve most of our forces, to fight another day.’

Black Tortoise General and Cyan Dragon General exchanged a secret glance, both surveying the distant battlefield while rallying the soldiers.

Suppressing anxious thoughts, silently restoring True Qi and strength.

Then, they both suddenly looked north, eyes filled with shock.

They saw...

Light.

A vast starlight.

Even at dawn, even in the bright morning light, the brilliance of those dazzling stars remained undimmed.

As the earth rumbled.

Everyone saw an ocean of light appearing on the distant northern horizon.

Like stars twinkling. As soon as it appeared, it pierced deep into the soul, evoking an unstoppable surge of emotion.

"The convergence of stars, Seven Stars Dipper..."

With a groaning tone, Black Tortoise General murmured these words.

He remembered when he heard the old storyteller in an East Sea City tavern say.

"When the starlight falls from the sky, and the wasteland turns silver-white, under the shining brilliance, nothing can stand in its way..."

Do you think you’re reciting poetry?