Tens of thousands of Qingming foot soldiers and several thousand light cavalry arrived and immediately set to clearing the battlefield. Several leading commanders approached Li Zhi, bowing in salute.
Most of these troops were actually Li Zhi's Zhenshan Army, merely outfitted in Qingming uniforms to fight alongside the Qingming main force. But before they even had a chance to show their worth, Zhang Sheng had used one hundred thousand Qingming regulars to crush the two hundred thousand Zhao troops head-on. Now the Qingming main force was hastening to reorganize their formations, leaving the cleanup of the battlefield to Li Zhi's subordinates.
Once Li Zhi finished assigning tasks, he led three thousand elite light cavalry and caught up with Zhang Sheng.
At this time, Lu Gaozhi's army had just descended the hilltop when war chariots rolled into view along the crest, looking down from on high and opening fire with their cannons upon the Zhao troops. Unable to take time to reform his battle lines, Lu Gaozhi had no choice but to leave another detachment to cover the rear, speeding the remnants toward the Zhao border.
Yet the Qingming Army consisted entirely of mounted troops, possessing mobility far superior to the mostly infantry Zhao army. Unhurried, Zhang Sheng shadowed them, continuously maneuvering her troops to encircle and devour Lu Gaozhi's rearguards, then continuing the pursuit to force Lu Gaozhi to peel off yet another rearguard, only to swallow that detachment as well.
In this manner, Zhang Sheng dogged the Zhao army, biting off flesh piece by piece from this colossal beast. She even divided the Qingming forces into three shifts, ensuring one-third was resting at all times.
Accompanying her the entire way, Li Zhi watched as Zhang Sheng stood with hands clasped behind her back atop a chariot, eight azure immortal swords orbiting her in defense, casually wiping out pocket after pocket of enemy soldiers. Her bearing was truly peerless in the world!
Li Zhi dared not disturb her command, nor could he be sure whether the figure standing there was Zhang Sheng or Bao Yun. But judging from the sword qi that pricked the flesh with stinging sharpness, it seemed it should be Zhang Sheng.
Up ahead, Lu Gaozhi was in a wretched state, terrified and furious. Now he finally understood why Zhang Sheng had been so polite in inviting him to withdraw to Zhao.
The woman had never intended to let a single soldier return to Zhao; she had said all that merely to get the Zhao army moving.
Once the Zhao army withdrew, she could pursue and nibble away at them along the way. Amid a panicked retreat, even Lu Gaozhi struggled to maintain order; he could barely keep the army from collapsing altogether, let alone organize an effective counterattack.
Dust billowed once more in the rear. The Qingming cavalry had evidently wiped out another rearguard and caught up yet again.
Enraged beyond endurance, Lu Gaozhi bellowed, "Insolent little brat, this is simply pushing too far!"
Several staff officers and subordinate commanders had sprinted for hundreds of li and were thoroughly exhausted. One ventured, "Great General, what if we scatter and retreat?"
"Foolish!" Lu Gaozhi snapped in fury. "Would splitting our forces not play right into her hands? Remaining tightly grouped, we might still bring some men back. Dispersing will only let her sweep us all up!"
The officers understood in an instant. With how exquisitely their opponent commanded, breaking out in scattered groups would be nothing less than lambs leaping into a tiger's jaws.
Resolute determination surfaced on one officer's face. "Then this time, I will cover the rear!"
Lu Gaozhi's expression turned somber, and he gave a slow nod.
Suddenly, a voice drifted down from the sky: "This girl surnamed Zhang is truly a rare talent. With command like this, she would scarcely find an equal in field combat. It is only that she is still young and hot-headed, overly fond of exterminating every last remnant, which is rather unseemly. This prince shall go teach her how one ought to conduct oneself, hoping she may grow into a towering tree hereafter."
The voice was clear and gentle, bringing the refreshing warmth of a spring breeze to the ears, and every Zhao soldier felt their spirits lift.
When the grand army of Zhao marched, Scenery Command cultivators naturally accompanied them, though as Scenery Command masters, they usually felt ashamed to intervene in mortal military campaigns. Only because the Zhao army's defeat had become so utter a catastrophe was this Zhao Scenery Command cultivator forced to reveal himself.
A man with refined features materialized in midair, his simple, plain robes failing to conceal an aura of graceful nobility.
Lu Gaozhi's spirits also rose. He bowed toward the sky, then ordered the army to hasten their retreat.
The man had not revealed himself out of so shallow a motive as displaying his might before mortals, but rather to await the Scenery Command cultivator on Qingming's side. The two sides would first negotiate rough terms before discussing anything else.
Sure enough, a woman in red appeared in the sky. Her features were indistinct, and in her hand she toyed with a jade flying dagger. The refined prince's gaze instantly landed on the dagger, and his pupils shrank, revealing intense wariness.
"What is this?" he asked after a moment's hesitation.
"A replica of the Primordial sacred artifact, the Soul-Severing Flying Dagger. I know not which immortal crafted it, but it can still be used once. Once it hits, it severs one of the three heavenly souls or seven earthly souls; which one it extinguishes is entirely up to heaven's will.
"However, it falls far short of the original artifact. After being struck, some remnant will be left behind, and one need only cultivate in seclusion for a few centuries, consuming heavenly treasures, sacred medicines, and immortal herbs daily, to have a chance of restoring the soul. So taking a cut from it isn't anything major—merely delaying ascension to immortality by a century or two."
Merely delaying ascension by a century or two? One had only to look at the precedent of Xu Wangu: never mind one or two centuries, sometimes the difference came down to just a decade or two!
The refined prince's facial muscles twitched. Cupping his hands, he said, "My thanks to Fellow Daoist for informing me."
Zhu Yuanjin replied, "I tell you frankly not for any other reason than to let you know that I am speaking to you from a position of strength. So you can take back whatever words you shouldn't be saying."
The prince gave a bitter smile. "Fellow Daoist, why must you go to such extremes?"
Zhu Yuanjin said indifferently, "Just my routine way of doing things. No need for praise."
Just then, a rough, booming voice rang out: "Brother Li, why waste breath on her! With the two of us here today, could we possibly fear her alone?"
Another burly man clad in battle armor appeared in the sky, clutching a long halberd, his killing intent towering like a mountain!
The moment he appeared, he pointed his long halberd at Zhu Yuanjin and said coldly, "In a moment, Brother Li, you suppress her immortal armaments while I sever her dharma form and physical flesh. Yet conflict is not our intention. Provided you cease your pursuit of Great Zhao's soldiers, return all the wounded and captive, and pay sufficient casualty compensation for the dead, the two of us will not intervene. What say you?"
Down on the ground below, Zhang Sheng rumbled forward with the war chariots. She suddenly raised her head and looked up at the sky.
Li Zhi also looked up toward the heavens, anger surfacing on his face. "Zhao Li truly knows no shame! As Scenery Command cultivators, they actually want to directly intervene in mortal warfare? Are they not afraid of being entangled in karmic debt?"
Zhang Sheng first commanded her subordinates, "The army will continue advancing—let not a single Zhao soldier escape! As for the two in the sky, treat them as nonexistent."
Li Zhi was taken aback. "Those are two Scenery Command cultivators, and Prince Duan's strength is extraordinary. The Palace of Grand Beginning only sent one Scenery Command master—oh, though Patriarch Yuanjin possesses supreme strength and great beauty, it is still two against one. Should we not make early preparations?"
Zhang Sheng replied flatly, "Since our Palace of Grand Beginning sent only one, that means one is enough. Sending more would just be a waste."
She spoke without the slightest attempt to conceal her voice. Li Zhi was startled and wanted to warn her, but it was already too late.
Sure enough, the general in the sky flared with rage, bellowing, "Sharp-tongued chit! It seems today I must teach you a lesson on behalf of your master!"
Zhang Sheng said calmly, "If my grandmaster were here, and you dared repeat those words to his face, I would respect you as a true man."
The general was so furious that fire seemed to shoot from the crown of his head. "Brother Li, back me up! Today, it seems I must bully the young!"
Zhu Yuanjin spoke up then: "You aren't going anywhere. First, look and see what this is."
Another jewel appeared in her hand, rippling with pink light and undulating like waves of water. A single glance left the general feeling dizzy from the ripples. His heart tightened, his rage instantly giving way to caution, and he asked, "What immortal treasure is this now?"
Zhu Yuanjin said, "This pearl is a supreme treasure refined by an eminent Buddhist cultivator in ancient times before his passing. Within it is a ray of Grand Pure Severing of Karma Treasure Light."
The moment the general heard the name, a chill inexplicably ran down his spine. He wanted to ask for details, yet couldn't bring himself to lower his face. Fortunately, Prince Duan chimed in just in time: "Might I ask what miraculous properties this Grand Pure Severing of Karma Treasure Light possesses?"
Zhu Yuanjin had been waiting for the question, so she explained: "This treasure light is somewhat similar to a great curse of the Shamans, both being used to sever bloodlines and lineage. When shone upon by this light, if one cannot resist that eminent monk's Buddha nature, the karmic cause-and-effect will pass on to all blood descendants. None of those descendants will ever bear children again, ending their lines forever. Hence the name: Pure Severing of Karma."
Both frightened and furious, the general felt a chill seep into his bones. "Such a venomous object—how could it possibly come from an eminent Buddhist monk?"
"That eminent monk held the Buddhist name Master Jimie. He hailed from the Blood Soul Temple and achieved Unity at five hundred years of age. Naturally he was an eminent Buddhist monk."
The two Scenery Command cultivators of Zhao looked at the jade dagger in Zhu Yuanjin's left hand, then at the jewel in her right, their expressions turning as foul as could be. Just then, they noticed a pouch tied at her waist, bulging with unknown contents.
From habit, the general opened his mouth to curse, but the obscenities reached his lips only to be swallowed back down.
Prince Duan smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "How about we each take a step back and no longer interfere in matters below?"
Zhu Yuanjin put both immortal treasures away and replied, "That would be best." Then her figure faded, disappearing into thin air.
The general stomped his feet in anger, yet could not lash out. Just as he was about to speak, he glanced down, and his face instantly changed.
Below, the Zhao army was like a herd of fawns pursued by hungry wolves, racing toward the Zhao border.
The Zhao garrison had already received word, and tens of thousands of troops were marching at full speed to meet them, with more than a hundred thousand following behind. However, the larger force moved sluggishly and would still need over half a day to reach the border.
At that moment, another Qingming force appeared in the distance, a mixed formation of war chariots and cavalry, accompanied by over a hundred cargo wagons.
This incongruous unit marched at astonishing speed, practically sweeping across the land like the wind. Given their velocity and heading, they would cut off Lu Gaozhi's routed troops right at the Zhao border!
"Wh-what do we do?" the general asked anxiously.
Prince Duan remained calm. "That unit is not large. If it dares to intercept, it will face attacks from both flanks. Seeing how skillfully that girl commands, she surely wouldn't do something so unwise."
Prince Duan's voice was gentle and steady, inspiring immediate confidence.
Only, things did not go as expected.
That mixed Qingming force drove itself right between the routed Zhao troops and the relief force, halting just outside the Zhao border.
The moment they arrived, seizing the brief window of just a quarter of an hour, they threw up barricades using the wagons, anchored their firing positions with the chariots, dismounted all cavalrymen to fight as infantry, and set up guns to aim. In the blink of an eye, a defensive line was formed.
Moments later, the routed Zhao troops surged forward while the reinforcements arrived simultaneously. Yet a paper-thin defense line had already risen between them—so close yet separated by an impassable gulf, unable to link up.
Desperate to survive, the routed troops threw themselves forward, while the reinforcements fought frantically to save them. Both launched furious assaults against the line at once, yet no matter how hard they pressed, they could not break through this paper-thin barrier. The soldiers in the line did not rely solely on guns and cannons; whenever the Zhao troops charged in close, they drew blades and shields to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat.
In the bloody clash, the Zhao army found itself thoroughly outmatched. Soldiers who fought tooth and nail to push forward were hacked back down where they stood.
At this juncture, the main Qingming forces arrived from behind. Countless cavalry swept into an encirclement, leaving the Zhao remnants with no way out but surrender. Across the border inside Zhao, the trailing grand army finally arrived, only to witness their comrades laying down their arms.
The Zhao general leading the force cursed in a fit of rage and prepared to lead his men across the border to rescue them. Just then, the Qingming battle lines parted, and an eight-wheel-drive chariot rolled forward from the center.
Standing atop the chariot, Zhang Sheng pointed at the Zhao general, then curled her finger in a beckoning motion. Her fingertip was glowing.
Chapter 719