Early the next morning, Zhao Wushuang, who hadn’t slept all night, was still restless.

Then he suddenly heard a noise.

Thud!

A window was smashed open by a large bird.

Zhao Wushuang’s eyes widened. He saw the giant eagle carrying a box in its beak.

The eagle glanced at Zhao Wushuang, dropped the box, and immediately flew away.

Zhao Wushuang quickly got up and ran to the window. He picked up the box and opened it carefully.

Inside were dozens of talismans.

There was also a letter, which read:

Place talismans upon the ship taking to the water route. They will keep the provisions safe.

Zhao Wushuang understood.

“Provisions?”

He froze for a second, then quickly shouted, “Someone come!”

Within just one hour, a convoy loaded with provisions was ready to leave.

When they reached the ‘Evil Spirit’ lands, ships were already waiting.

A talisman was stuck onto a ship, which then carried the provisions towards the Frontier Pass.

When the provisions were unloaded from the ship…

The accompanying official, very anxious, opened a sack to check the grain. He froze suddenly.

“It hasn’t gotten damp or moldy!”

After checking everything, the official was amazed.

“It’s miraculous!”

He had thought he was going to lose his head. He hadn’t expected to survive, or even possibly earn credit.

“Quick, quick! Load them onto carts swiftly!”

Just as Dongyu City’s army had run out of provisions, this batch of supplies arrived in time to meet the critical need.

Morale was restored, and the frontier soldiers, after eating, gradually regained their strength.

But there was one person still troubled.

An accompanying general asked, “Your Majesty, the provisions problem is solved. Why do you still sigh?”

Zhao Zhen shook his head but offered no explanation.

Getting to this point, he felt he had run out of good options.

What came next was surely the final battle.

Zhao Zhen then said, “Prepare the Three Armies. The Xiang Army is coming…”

Just as predicted.

That night, Dongyu City suffered a night attack.

Outside the city, countless torches flared. Battle cries rose again in the Borderlands.

“Kill!!”

Long sabers dripped blood, countless arrows rained down.

Yet this time, things unfolded unexpectedly for Shang Lu.

He saw the Xiang Army clearly in the torchlight. They seemed ready and their fighting strength showed no weakening.

“I’ve misjudged…”

By now, Shang Lu understood Zhao Zhen must have found another way to get provisions.

This forced a direct assault.

“Gather every soldier, now!” Shang Lu commanded coldly. “This battle decides the fate of the land!”

The wind howled fiercely that night.

Amid the swaying flames, blades flashed and swords gleamed.

The aging Zhao Zhen, clad in armor, stood atop the City Tower watching the battle.

Every face on the battlefield was fierce and determined.

Life and death hung on a moment.

The night’s relentless fighting left countless bodies beneath the city walls, heavy smoke swirling, blood flowing like a river.

Shang Lu mounted his warhorse, leading his troops forward.

He held his long saber, pushing deep into the enemy ranks.

He swung his blade; a shockwave vibrated through the air.

In the flickering firelight…

Zhao Zhen on the City Tower looked towards Shang Lu battling on the field.

Shang Lu seemed to sense the gaze. He turned to look.

A ray of dawn broke.

The light suddenly illuminated both their faces.

Shang Lu and Zhao Zhen both paused.

Shang Lu frowned, quickly looked away, and kept fighting.

But Zhao Zhen up on the tower seemed lost in thought.

“It’s him…”

Both had recognized each other.

How utterly coincidental life could be.

After a long silence, Zhao Zhen spoke, “Bring my longbow!”

Zhao Zhen drew the longbow, nocked an arrow. His gaze shifted slowly, aiming squarely at Shang Lu wielding his blade in the fray.

He pulled the string to its fullest, then released.

Swish—

The arrow sliced through the air.

Shang Lu felt a chill down his spine. He whirled around and snatched upward.

The flying arrow was grabbed in his hand.

Shang Lu looked at bow-wielding Zhao Zhen on the tower. Gripping the shaft like a spear, he hurled it back.

“Return it!”

An Eighth-grade Warrior needed no bow. The arrow flew even faster than Zhao Zhen’s full-draw shot.

“Your Majesty, look out!!”

A soldier beside Zhao Zhen reacted swiftly, raising his saber to block the weapon.

“Ting…”

A sharp sound rang out. The arrow flew off course and stuck into a wooden post on the City Tower.

The soldier’s palm hurt badly from the shock, as if it had split open.

The soldier said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Zhen waved his hand and said, “He is an eighth-grade warrior, I don’t blame you…”

The soldier paused, dazed, and said, “Eighth-grade…”

If he wasn’t eighth-grade, how could Shang Lu have joined the battle?

He felt sure of himself; otherwise, Shang Lu wouldn’t have risked his life.

At least in that battle, no one could stop him.

Shang Lu saw Zhao Zhen was fine. Then he turned back to fight fiercely, moving forward without anyone blocking him.

The fight went on from sunrise to noon, yet neither side won.

Shang Lu breathed out. Covered in blood, he got on a white horse and went back to his camp.

“His Majesty!”

“His Majesty!”

As soon as he returned, he was rushed by others.

“We beg Your Majesty not to put yourself in danger again.”

The generals were very frightened.

Shang Lu snorted coldly and said, “I reached eighth-grade long ago; who can stop me? I told you I’d live and die with my soldiers. Should I hide in camp like you?”

Hearing this, the generals felt embarrassed.

Shang Lu wiped blood off his face and said, “If we lose this fight, our nation will fall! Even if you live by luck, the Xiang Army won’t spare you! Either go to battle or I’ll behead you now!”

When he spoke, the generals trembled.

Shang Lu, drenched in blood, seemed furious. No one dared to say no.

The two sides were equal. When a person fell, another took their place.

From sunrise to sunset, they fought.

Then from night to dawn, they fought again.

By the second day, many lives were lost.

“Zhao Zhen!!”

A shout came from below the city.

Zhao Zhen looked and saw the bloody Shang Lu.

Shang Lu stared at him and said, “Three days from now, at Ying River, we fight to the death. Will you take my challenge?!”

Zhao Zhen looked at him and said, “I accept!”

Both armies pulled back to prepare.

Three days later, each side brought over a hundred thousand soldiers to face off at Ying River.

Horses stepped in water; army flags waved.

The two commanders gazed at each other from afar.

One was old; the other in his prime.

They thought of the old days. Riding horses side by side, heading south to see the Taoist Temple together.

Shang Lu felt mixed up inside. In the blink of an eye, they met on this battlefield for a deadly fight.

After this battle, win or lose, the world would unite as one.

“Charge!!”

“Charge!!”

From the silence, a battle cry suddenly broke out.

The armies crashed together. Blood flew into the air. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Countless bodies fell. Blood spilled into Ying River, turning it bright red.

Smoke signals soared; war drums pounded!

In that blur, the sky seemed to darken as thunder boomed.