Shennong Dao Master-Chapter 1384 - 21: Absolute Heaven and Earth · Battle of Mortals (Part 1)

Although this was the case, Zhao Xing remained cautious and did not increase his speed.

He traveled by night and explored cautiously by day.

It wasn't until the seventh day that he saw a living person.

"Clop clop clop~"

In the open field ahead, the sound of horse hooves rang out. Zhao Xing lay on a slope, observing. Soon, he spotted a group of light cavalry, around a hundred strong, riding warhorses and clad in gray leather armor.

Zhao Xing glanced at the banner, which had a single character embroidered in the script of Great Zhou: Dragon.

The character for Dragon was encircled by an Azure Dragon, beneath which were depicted waves, symbolizing the sea or a river.

Zhao Xing stared for a moment, then rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

"Isn't that Long Xiao's Azure Dragon Flag? Am I seeing things?"

"Wait, that leading cavalryman looks familiar."

"Hmm? Isn't that Zhao Chuanzong?"

Zhao Xing was confused. By rights, Zhao Chuanzong should be in the Divine Might Army and not within the Azure Dragon Army's ranks. What exactly was going on?

...

"Whoa~"

Zhao Chuanzong pulled the reins, stopping by a stream, and his cavalry troop halted behind him.

"One platoon rests for two quarters, let the horses drink water."

"Wang Wu, Ma Liu, you two take some men and carry the components up the hill. See if you can set up a 'Fire Stake' on the south slope."

Zhao Chuanzong ordered from atop his horse. Soon, someone in the cavalry unit was unfastening boxes from their backs and carrying them up the southern slope.

A platoon (fifty men) began leading their horses to the stream to drink, while the remaining cavalry spread out on alert.

"Sergeant Liu," Zhao Chuanzong called to a decenary leader.

"Hundred General." The middle-aged man with a large mole on his forehead ran over.

"Take ten men and keep watch, head to the northern valley slope. I have this feeling that eyes are watching me, so be cautious." Zhao Chuanzong pointed with his riding whip towards Zhao Xing's direction.

"Yes, Hundred General." The man surnamed Liu immediately mounted his horse, leading his nine men swiftly toward the northern valley slope.

Zhao Xing watched his younger brother commanding with such high vigilance, his expression becoming exceedingly vivid.

"Has Zhao Chuanzong really transformed within the army? Is this still my brother who only knew how to have kids?"

Meeting a familiar face in a foreign land is a peculiar feeling, even more so when it's his own brother.

Zhao Xing immediately stopped hiding, jumping down from the northern valley slope and heading towards Zhao Chuanzong.

He hadn't walked for long.

"Whoosh!"

A cold arrow shot over, grazing the top of his head as it flew past.

The arrow didn't miss; Zhao Xing deflected it with a spell.

Ahead, six men led by Sergeant Liu approached in a pincer formation of three-by-three.

Three others crouched low, using the shrubs for cover as they circled behind him.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh~"

Another volley of cold arrows followed.

"Wait a moment!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand and shouted, "I'm one of us!"

Seeing his quiver emptied and the opponent unharmed, Sergeant Liu coldly sneered.

With a wave of his hand, a dull mechanical sound echoed.

Zhao Xing swiftly jumped to the side.

Soon after, two 'Three-section Arrows' appeared at his feet.

"Damn it, it's the Divine Arm Bow."

Zhao Xing cursed aloud.

The Divine Arm Bow, with a bow length of three feet and three inches, and a string length of two feet and five inches.

It originates from the Crossbow Legacy.

Reputed as the strongest mortal single-soldier weapon in Absolute Heaven and Earth.

In the Gathering Essence Realm, one could absolutely not withstand it, and even in the Spirit Bridge Realm, one could be injured by it.

Sergeant Liu evidently didn't believe he was one of their own.

In this desolate wilderness, where would an ally come from?

Even though Zhao Xing couldn't fly, he managed to evade the Divine Shooter's arrow, leading Sergeant Liu to conclude: this was a Gathering Essence

Realm scout of the Southern Barbarians!

"Toot toot——"

Sergeant Liu quickly blew the eagle whistle at his neck, the sharp whistle resembling an eagle's cry, short and rhythmic, echoing swiftly to Zhao Chuanzong's cavalry unit.

"A Gathering Essence Realm demon, and a solitary one at that?" Zhao Chuanzong suddenly stood up, growling: "One platoon, second decenary and third decenary, arm yourselves!"

To the north is a valley, filled with sand and stones, unsuitable for horseback riding. Besides, the distance isn't far, we can run there.

"Hoo~"

A net was pulled straight from behind, about eight meters long, covered with tiny spikes, swiftly targeting Zhao Xing.

In the middle, a person wielding a long spear quickly approached, intending to stab Zhao Xing with large holes once his comrades trapped him.

Zhao Xing was at a loss, how could they not understand human speech?

"Stop! I am Minister of Sinong Zhao Xing..."

"Clang!"

An arrow hit the stone beside him, and Sergeant Liu discarded the Divine Arm Bow, drew his sword, and leaped, delivering a powerful strike as if splitting a mountain.

"Damn it."

One attack after another assaulted him, leaving no time even to catch his breath or explain.

Helplessly, Zhao Xing had to deploy a martial technique.

"Roar!"

Kui Niu Thunder Roar!

The soldiers who were about to reach five meters away suddenly collapsed after hearing this angry roar.

Even Sergeant Liu, who had jumped into the air to attack with his sword, was repelled by the strong soundwave.

With just this roar, ten people were lying flat.

After all, they were merely ordinary people, while Zhao Xing was no ordinary in the Gathering Essence Realm.

"Thud~"

Sergeant Liu fell at Zhao Xing's feet.

Despite that, he continued to resist, suddenly shooting three cold arrows from his arm.

With a tricky angle, they directly targeted Zhao Xing's lower body.

"Snap~"

Zhao Xing lifted his leg to kick them away, then stepped on Sergeant Liu's back.

"Stop it, what's with you, I've already said I'm one of us, why don't you listen?"

"Humph, Minister of Sinong? Why don't you say you're the Luo Hou King?" Mr. Liu struggled, gripping Zhao Xing's ankle with both hands: "Southern Barbarians really don't even know how to lie properly."

Zhao Xing: "..."

Just then, Zhao Chuanzong rushed over. He paused upon seeing Zhao Xing but continued attacking.

Because many times before, enemies had impersonated his elder brother, luring the army into rescue attempts.

After enough occurrences, no one believed it anymore.

"Zhao Chuanzong! I taught you the Sitting Mountain Stake when you were eight! You don't recognize your elder brother?"

"What? Stop!" Zhao Chuanzong was shocked and immediately ordered his men to cease their attacks.

Sitting Mountain Stake was his father Zhao Ruide's martial cultivation technique, but Zhao Xing had taught it to him out of boredom at home years ago.

An enemy might impersonate the elder brother's appearance, but childhood memories can't be faked.

Zhao Chuanzong promptly stepped forward.

"You, are you really my elder brother?"

Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief, Zhao Chuanzong finally recognized him.

"Chuanzong, it's me."

"I have returned."

Zhao Chuanzong was still somewhat incredulous, his voice trembling: "Big brother, during the Yuan Shuo family banquet, that person mother led..."

"Named Zhao Chen, I had Zheng'er kill him, then sent you to Divine Might Army." Zhao Xing quickly responded.

"Big brother!" Zhao Chuanzong no longer doubted, kneeling down with a thud, crawling over, and embraced Zhao Xing's legs. "It's really you, sob sob."

"Alright, don't cry." Zhao Xing patted Zhao Chuanzong's head, "You're already hundreds of years old, how unbecoming to cry like this."

The remaining soldiers, witnessing this scene, looked at each other in disbelief, even now unable to trust that this person was indeed the legendary figure of Great Zhou.

Wasn't it said that Zhao Xing was killed by the Witch God of the Southern Barbarians eight years ago?

"Big brother, how did you..."

"We'll talk about it later." Zhao Xing created a breeze, lifting Zhao Chuanzong to his feet, "You're already in the Gathering Essence Realm, if I'm not mistaken, you're under Long Xiao's command... you captured a Witch City?"

"Yes, big brother." Zhao Chuanzong wiped his face, "General Long is at 'Wind Witch City' fifty miles ahead, it's a seventh-grade city."

"In the city, besides General Long, General Xia and General Chen, even second brother is there."

"Oh? How many of you are there?" Zhao Xing asked, somewhat surprised.

"The troops surrounding Wind Witch City total around thirty thousand." Zhao Chuanzong said. "But only twelve thousand are inside Wind Witch City."

"So many?" Zhao Xing was a bit curious; thirty thousand soldiers is not a small force. And Long Xiao and the others are actually all here?

"Let's go, take me to Wind Witch City quickly."