The armor on his body was quite extraordinary, not bursting from the surging muscles.

His breathing was like that of a bull, and the momentum was visibly rising, gradually revealing an astonishing oppressive force.

Gongsun Yan and Liang Mu, seeing this scene, were filled with surprise, but soon a fervent expression emerged in their eyes.

"Youngster, today I will act on behalf of Chancellor Lu and His Majesty to slay..."

Luo Qingyang, holding the Imperial Sword, felt the surging power within his body, and a trace of arrogance surfaced in his eyes. Today is the day for the Luo Family to make a name for itself, becoming the foremost of the Seven Great Noble Families.

"Whoosh..."

However, before Luo Qingyang could finish speaking, a sharp explosion resounded in the air.

An arrow shot from Chen Mo's strong bow, so fast that sparks even flew from the arrowhead.

In the shocked gaze of the crowd, it pierced through Luo Qingyang's protective spiritual qi in the blink of an eye and lodged in his brow.

Subsequently, the force of the arrow transmitted to his body, pushing the armored Luo Qingyang off his saddle and flying backward.

The war horse under Luo Qingyang let out a mournful cry, stumbled, and fell to the ground sideways.

Luo Qingyang flew several zhang before hitting the ground heavily, dead on impact.

Liang Mu, Gongsun Yan, Hui Cheng, and others, who hadn't yet reached Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing, opened their mouths to the fullest extent and widened their eyes in direct shock, not responding for a long time.

If not for the surrounding soldiers still engaged in fierce combat, there would have been an eerie dead silence.

Is this invincible below Second Grade?

It's not about defeating Chen Mo.

At the very least, can't you hold your ground for a dozen rounds against Chen Mo?

Yet the result was being shot dead by a single arrow from Chen Mo.

This outcome was too farcical, wasn't it?

Hui Cheng looked at Chen Mo, eyes filled with disbelief: "Is this really Third Grade?"

Their moods hadn't yet settled as they hastily pulled on the reins and turned their horses around.

No kidding, even Luo Qingyang, who could activate the secret technique, died under Chen Mo's arrow; those who hadn't cultivated the secret technique and were merely Fourth Grade in cultivation were no match at all.

Just at the moment they turned their horses around, another piercing sound of an arrow flying through the air echoed.

An arrow pierced through a helmet, shot into the back of Gongsun Yan's head, sending him flying off his horse, ending in the same fate as Luo Qingyang.

"Quick retreat!"

Liang Mu yelled, cracking the whip fiercely.

The horse in retreat galloped away immediately at the pain.

Hui Cheng was not lagging behind, either.

Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing's minds hadn't settled down yet; like Liang Mu and the others, they were incredulous, thinking Luo Qingyang died too rashly.

That was an Upper-Grade Martial Artist, yet ended up being taken down like a common soldier.

Not long after they snapped out of it and decided to pursue, Liang Mu and Hui Cheng were both shot off their horses, one after another.

Against Liang Mu and Hui Cheng, Chen Mo did not deliver fatal blows.

One was shot in the arm, the other in the thigh.

The reason was that Liang Mu was the Patriarch of the Liang Family; if he died, the consequences would be too great.

Moreover, Chen Mo had some use for him.

Another reason was familial ties with Liang Mu, as Liang Xue was also a member of the Liang Family.

Not to mention, capturing Liang Mu and crippling his cultivation at least could extract tens of million taels from the Liang Family.

As for Hui Cheng, he was the junior disciple of Chang En.

Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing hurriedly advanced with their horses, capturing the injured Liang Mu and Hui Cheng, then shouted loudly: "Your commanders are all slain, why not surrender promptly?"

The Chen Army soldiers were quite familiar with this procedure and shouted in unison: "Disarm and be spared!"

"Disarm and be spared!"

"Disarm and be spared!"

...

Leaderless, the enemy alliance army fell into chaos, their eyes darting around.

Meanwhile, the Chen Army, full of vigor, swung their swords and spears relentlessly at those who refused to surrender.

With the enemy commanders killed and the deputies dead or captured, the already disarrayed enemy alliance army, due to artillery, completely collapsed.

Facing the Chen Army's offense, they scattered like headless flies, wanting to escape the battlefield.

"It's over..."

The mid-to-low-ranking officers of the enemy alliance, witnessing this scene, lost the light in their eyes almost entirely.

There were still some loyal to King Chong and Lu Sheng.

They tried desperately to salvage the situation, shouting: "Deserters, die!!!"

"Avenge the Generals!"

Wielding their great sabers, any soldier who attempted to flee fell under their blades.

Under their iron-blooded measures, the alliance army managed to reorganize a portion of its formations.

However, this resistance was quickly crushed by the Chen Army led by Xiao Jing, who killed the stubborn alliance leaders.

With no high-ranking forces left, Xiao Jing and Wu Yanqing were like unrestrained War Gods, with no one able to stop their charge.

Chen Mo did not join the battle but continued to observe the battlefield, with a look of puzzlement.

Even at this stage, Lu Sheng and King Chong had not appeared.

That led to only one conclusion.

Lu Sheng and King Chong had never come to the front.

Chen Mo furrowed his brow, feeling somewhat underestimated.

But just in case, Chen Mo did not let his guard down, ordering the army not to chase too closely to avoid potential ambushes, advancing slowly instead.

...

The sun hung high over the mountains, the scorching sunlight mercilessly baking the land, heating rocks to the point where you could fry an egg on them.

In the shade of the walls of He County, Diwu Fusheng looked at the wine and meat brought by the soldiers before him, yet felt no appetite at all.

Being a part of Prince Huai's staff and responsible for the logistics like a rear officer, he did not go to the front but remained at the rear.

Since morning, Diwu Fusheng's right eyelid had been twitching nonstop and still hadn't stopped.

This filled him with a sense of unease.

"Report, a large number of troops are approaching He County."

"Report, our troops found ten li ahead, seemingly suffered a defeat."

"Report, General Gongsun and General Luo are dead, General Liang and General Hui captured by the Chen Army; our army failed miserably, and the Chen Army is pursuing our forces toward He County."

Within less than a quarter of an hour, scouts sent out returned in succession to report the findings to Diwu Fusheng.

Upon hearing this, cold sweat immediately broke out on Diwu Fusheng's back.

Despite the sweltering summer, he felt a chill in his heart.

"Retreat, quick retreat."

Diwu Fusheng hesitated not for a second and issued the order to retreat.

He County still had over eight thousand troops in reserve.

But Diwu Fusheng dared not defend it.

Not to mention He County was not a vital fortress, even if it were, he couldn't hold it.

Gongsun Yan and Luo Qingyang were dead.

Liang Mu and Hui Cheng were captured.

News would quickly spread through the city, gouging the morale and spirit, making them unusable.

If they stayed in He County, only being captured would await them.

"Open all the city gates."

Before retreating, Diwu Fusheng ordered the gates to be opened.

This way, the defeated forces from the front could escape more easily.

Upon retreating to Yan State, they could regroup more remnants.

...

Under the glow of the setting sun, Chen Army reclaimed He County effortlessly.

On the city walls, the alliance flag was replaced once more by the Chen Army's banner.

The exhausted soldiers of the Chen Army rested against the walls, under the eaves, covered in blood, with notches on their blades.

Looking at the twilight in the sky, Chen Mo couldn't help but feel poetic.

Just at that moment, Sun Meng came to report: "Elder Xiao and the others have returned."

Before long, Xiao Jing, Wu Yanqing, and Zhao Liang appeared before Chen Mo.

Zhao Liang cupped his hands and reported: "The enemy has fled back to Yan State. As per Duke An's orders, we did not pursue further."

Chen Mo nodded: "Quick, count the casualties and tally the prisoners."

"Understood." Zhao Liang retreated.

"He County still had enemy troops in reserve, and quite a few escaped this time," Xiao Jing said.

"It's no matter." Chen Mo narrowed his eyes slightly, knowing this wouldn't end here.