"Announce!"
"The Champion Marquis, Flying Cavalry General, Grand Commander of the Beiliang Grand Commander's Office, and Chief Commander of the Hongze Battalion, Chen Sanshi—ordered to proceed to Jia Prefecture immediately to assume command. Within one year, you must reclaim the two western provinces. Depart at once—no delay permitted!"
Eunuch Hou's sharp, commanding voice rang through the courtyard.
"I, your subject, accept the decree."
Chen Sanshi received the imperial order with a steady expression.
"Then Grand Commander, please depart without delay," Eunuch Hou urged, exhaling in relief. "The front-line troops are now stationed within Yunduan Prefecture—they're awaiting your arrival to take control of the situation."
After repeating his instructions several times, he finally turned to leave with his attendants.
"Bah!"
Steward Wu spat hard at their departing backs. "A bunch of useless fools—always relying on the Grand Commander's Office to clean up their messes, yet still doubting and scheming behind our backs! It was the same with the late Grand Commander, and now they treat the young Grand Commander the same way!"
"Let it be, Uncle Wu."
Chen Sanshi looked at the seventy-year-old steward and said calmly, "We're not doing this just for the court. I reviewed the local reports as soon as I returned. Many places are already short on grain. If the war drags on, the people won't survive it."
Since the collapse of the dynasty's foundation, when the ancestral spirit veins were lost and sects flooded into the land, no one—not even cultivators—had known peace.
"Exactly," Wu muttered with a sigh. "From Yunzhou's rebellion ten days after it began to now, it's been three or four years of constant warfare. Floods, droughts—there's barely any grain left anywhere."
Chen Sanshi handed the decree to a servant. "What worries me," he said, "is that this battle can't be won quickly."
"Oh?"
Steward Wu raised an eyebrow. "You mean even you aren't sure you can defeat the Western Qi army swiftly?"
"There's no such thing as someone who wins every battle," Chen Sanshi replied, his gaze distant. "It's just that until now—every time—it happened to be me who won."
"Uncle Wu, get things ready. I'll depart tonight."
"Yes, sir."
After briefly meeting with Sun Li and Chen Yunxi, Chen Sanshi bid them farewell and headed straight for the military camp. There, he gathered the replenished Hongze Battalion troops and marched out of Liangzhou under the cover of night.
As they approached the city gate, a lone rider caught up from behind—long spear in hand, bow strapped to his back.
"Buqi?"
Chen Sanshi blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Grand Commander!"
Sun Buqi clasped his fists. "I've reached the Meridian-Connecting Realm. Please permit me to join the army!"
"Buqi," Chen Sanshi said seriously, "the Hongze Battalion is already at full strength. There's no open lieutenant position for someone of your rank. Go home—stay with your sister and Chen Yunxi."
"Grand Commander, I don't want a title," Sun Buqi insisted. "Even as a common soldier, let me come!"
Chen Sanshi paused.
Since his master's passing, Sun Buqi had withdrawn from the world, cutting ties with all his former drinking friends. Every day, he trained alone in the courtyard—his talent wasn't extraordinary, but his comprehension was exceptional. In just over half a year, he'd broken through from Transforming Strength to the Meridian-Connecting Realm.
But this campaign was perilous, and Sun Buqi was his family's only surviving heir.
Still… a man's fate is his own to choose.
After a moment of thought, Chen Sanshi nodded. "Very well. Fall in with the central army. For now, you'll oversee camp patrol. Once we reach Jia Prefecture, I'll assign your duties properly."
"Yes, sir!"
Sun Buqi mounted his horse and joined the column without another word.
The Hongze Battalion advanced eastward.
"What damn 'War Immortal,'" Wang Zhi cursed under his breath. "If they'd transferred you to Yiling before that defeat, none of this would've happened."
"You noticed too, Senior Brother."
Chen Sanshi's mind replayed the military routes of both sides since the war began. "After Yiling fell, our defensive line retreated too far. It won't be easy to reclaim those territories."
"Come on now, Junior Brother," Wang Zhi grumbled. "Before I met you in Poyang County, I was already the main commander of the Black Turtle Battalion. You think I can't read a battlefield? But that Han Xiang really is something. Add in those so-called 'Immortal Masters' of Western Qi… things are going to get rough."
"Senior Brother, what's your current cultivation level?" Chen Sanshi asked.
"Peak of Perfection," Wang Zhi said, taking a swig from his flask atop his Black Wind horse. "Maybe in another two years, I'll have a chance to reach the Martial Saint Realm."
"Five months," Chen Sanshi said plainly. "I'll help you speed it up."
The Hongze Battalion's journey from Liangzhou to Jia Prefecture required them to march south through Mingzhou, then eastward across two provinces—traveling by both land and water. The trip would take at least three months.
Along the way, Chen Sanshi often stopped to cultivate or refine pills.
He had prepared plenty of ingredients for both Nourishing Meridian Pills and True Martial Pills—mainly for his men.
Breaking into the Martial Saint Realm required a body of extraordinary constitution. Even with a True Martial Pill, there was only about a 1% chance for someone with insufficient physique to succeed. By comparison, advancing from Meridian-Connecting to Profound Manifestation required far less—it could be achieved simply with enough Nourishing Meridian Pills.
During the march, Chen Sanshi opened his alchemy furnace four times—one failed batch, three successful refinements. From those, he produced three superior True Martial Pills. Without hesitation, he tossed one to Wang Zhi.
They would soon face immortal cultivators, and an extra Martial Saint could make all the difference.
"Heh, you really are filthy rich," Wang Zhi said, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
Who would've thought?
Once, he'd been a broken man, washed up in a backwater county. Yet by fate's twist, he'd met the greatest benefactor of his life.
"Grand Commander!"
Xia Cong galloped up with a squad of scouts. "Ahead lies Jia Prefecture's border! I've already sent word to the Commander-in-Chief Army to come meet us."
"How's the situation?" Chen Sanshi asked.
"Dire."
Xia Cong pointed westward. "Two hundred li from here is the Luo River. Across it lies Yunduan Prefecture. The Western Qi army is besieging it now. General Teng Le and fifty thousand men are barely holding the defense."
"Let's set up camp first," Chen Sanshi said calmly.
"Yes, sir!"
—
Western Qi Army Camp.
In the central command tent, a large desk was covered with orange-yellow parchment.
Han Xiang held a brush in his hand, sketching intricate lines of formation patterns across the map, his expression focused yet composed.
The brush was made from the fur of a spirit beast, its shaft carved from refined spiritual wood. Even the paper beneath it was crafted from rare materials mixed with beast hide. When the two were used together, they could produce the legendary talisman seals.
"Buzz—"
A faint spiritual light flared.
The glow signaled that the duplication talisman had been completed.
"Come in," Han Xiang said lightly, putting down the talisman brush.
"Immortal Master!"
Zhong Wuxin strode into the tent, his expression grave. "The Great Sheng Dynasty truly has no one left to use. They've finally decided to mobilize the White Robe from Liangzhou—Chen Sanshi. The latest report says he's already entered Jia Prefecture with 15,000 Hongze Battalion troops."
"Good!"
Han Xiang's eyes gleamed with icy sharpness. "I knew he would come."
"Immortal Master…"
Zhong Wuxin couldn't understand him at all.
A formidable opponent was arriving—shouldn't that be bad news? Yet the Immortal Master looked excited!
It was as if this whole war were nothing more than a chess match to him.
He said cautiously, "That man surnamed Chen is said to be a master of military strategy, and the Hongze Battalion under him is a battle-hardened wolf pack. No one knows what clever plan he'll pull next. What are your orders, Immortal Master?"
"Pass the command," Han Xiang said calmly. "Continue mobilizing troops. Make it look like we're preparing to storm Yunduan Prefecture with full force."
"You mean…"
Zhong Wuxin thought for a moment. "You want to force that Chen to lead his army across the river to reinforce the front lines?"
"When a worthy chess player arrives," Han Xiang said with a faint smile, walking over to the chessboard beside his desk, "it's only polite to prepare a proper match as welcome."
He sat down before the board. "So young, yet already capable of orchestrating four consecutive major campaigns. I want to see what surprises he brings me this time."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and drew his sword fingers together. A pulse of spiritual energy flowed into the talisman on the table.
At once, the talisman ignited into a streak of radiant light that shot into the sky, streaking eastward.
Its destination—Huangpi Prefecture, where the Hongze Battalion was stationed.
—
Huangpi Prefecture.
"Boom—"
The heavy city gates creaked open.
Tong Xiaochu, his face pale and weary, stumbled out on foot. His voice trembled as he grabbed the White Robe's arm in relief. "Grand Commander Chen, you're finally here! Everyone's been waiting for you to take charge!"
Chen Sanshi followed him into the central command tent. Besides the generals of the Commander-in-Chief Army, there was also a young cultivator seated cross-legged.
From his aura, Chen could tell the man had reached the Perfection Stage of Qi Refining, about equal in strength to Qu Yuanxiang back in Liangzhou—roughly the eleventh layer of Qi Refining.
The Qi Refining Realm was divided into nine layers, with the seventh to ninth considered the late stage. Once a cultivator completed the ninth layer, they could establish their foundation—but that didn't mean cultivation stopped there. The full cycle included twelve layers.
For those lacking a Foundation Establishment Pill—or the confidence to break through—continuing to cultivate beyond the ninth layer was a common choice, deepening their spiritual power as they waited for the right chance.
Each additional layer brought an equal increase in strength.
"This is Immortal Master Wang Jun," Tong Xiaochu introduced. "His Majesty sent him from the capital to stabilize our forces. There's also Immortal Master Qu Yuanxiang—he and General Teng Le are still holding Yunduan Prefecture. Thanks to them, the enemy cultivators haven't dared to assassinate our commanders again."
"So, you're Chen Sanshi?"
Wang Jun opened his eyes, his tone flat as he examined Chen from head to toe. "And you think you can turn this war around?"
The disciples of Shengyun Sect had come this time for one purpose—the spirit veins.
But occupying those veins required manpower, and so, this four-nation war had begun.
As a cultivator, Wang Jun knew little about formations or strategy. He could only watch helplessly as the Great Sheng armies crumbled, their chances of claiming the spirit veins growing dim.
And yet, one name kept resurfacing—White Robe.
In this realm, that name had become synonymous with invincible warfare. They said he was also the final disciple of Grand Commander Sun Xiangzong.
Naturally, Wang Jun paid close attention.
"Hurry up and march toward Mang Mountain," Wang Jun urged coldly. "If we let the enemy sects secure their foothold, not just you, but even your dynasty's court will face punishment from the upper sects."
"The map," Chen Sanshi said, ignoring the cultivator's pressure. Sitting in the command seat, his voice was calm but firm. "I need full details—enemy and ally troop numbers, and both sides' cultivator counts."
Tong Xiaochu hesitated before answering. "After the defeat at Yiling, the Commander-in-Chief Army retreated east, losing 108,000 troops and countless supplies. When we reached Yunduan Prefecture, the Western Qi forces continued their assault. I left General Teng Le and several others to defend while the rest withdrew east of the Luo River to reorganize."
"Now, over half of the western command forces have arrived in Jia Prefecture for support. Including the Hongze Battalion under you, Grand Commander, we have 170,000 troops total—50,000 are stationed at Yunduan Prefecture."
"As for the cultivators, I'll let Immortal Master Wang explain."
"The Western Qi army," Wang Jun said, "has five mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, and one late-stage. Their so-called 'War Immortal,' Han Xiang, like myself, is at the eleventh layer, the Perfection Stage of Qi Refining."
"In our Commander-in-Chief Army, there are two mid-stage cultivators. Together with myself and Qu Yuanxiang, that makes four in total."
Chen Sanshi silently calculated.
On paper—
Western Qi possessed 320,000 troops and seven cultivators at mid or higher stages of Qi Refining.
Each mid-stage Qi Refiner equaled a Martial Saint in combat strength.
Meanwhile, Great Sheng had 170,000 soldiers and four cultivators—barely half of the enemy's total power.
"Grand Commander," Tong Xiaochu said, rubbing his temples in frustration, "the southern and eastern forces are tied down elsewhere. The western garrisons still have some manpower, but we're short on supplies. For now, we can only sustain 170,000 men. Meaning—we'll have to use 170,000 troops to crush their 320,000."
"If my timing is right," Chen Sanshi murmured, his expression unreadable…
Wang Jun said, "Not long from now, some martial cultivators from the immortal world will also join the fight for the bounties. Of course, Western Qi will do the same, but I can guarantee that in terms of cultivator strength, both sides won't differ much."
"Leave me," Chen Sanshi said once he had finished gathering intelligence. He intended to think quietly.
But just then, chaos erupted outside the camp.
"Assassins!"
"There's an assassin!"
"Buzz!"
A flash of silver light gleamed.
The Dragon Gall Silver Spear appeared in Chen Sanshi's hand as he strode out of the central tent, just in time to see a streak of light flying toward the camp.
"Protect the Grand Commander!"
"Protect General Tong!"
Arrows filled the sky, but none could stop that beam of light.
Immortal Master Wang Jun's aura flared as he prepared to form hand seals and cast a spell. But when he looked closely at the light, his expression relaxed. "It's a duplication technique," he said calmly. "A minor art. It has no offensive power—it's only for communicating across distance."
Indeed.
The beam halted directly above the central tent and then transformed into the projection of a refined, scholarly-looking man, radiating an air of celestial grace. He hovered high in the air, gazing down upon the army below.
"I am Han Xiang," the War Immortal said in a clear, commanding voice. "You must be the famed White Robe, Chen Sanshi, who shakes this world with his name?"
"I am," Chen Sanshi answered evenly, looking straight at him. "You've come all this way. What is it you want to say?"
"Meeting an equal opponent—how thrilling," Han Xiang said with a gentle smile, as though they weren't mortal enemies at all. "In the immortal world, I have several old friends who were great masters of military strategy. My hands have been itching for a match. This rare opportunity to play such a game—I fought hard to win it. Naturally, I had to come and see you for myself, to learn what kind of man I'll be playing against."
"Thrilling?"
Chen Sanshi frowned slightly. "You find war thrilling?"
"Doesn't Brother Chen feel the same?" Han Xiang replied, his tone eloquent and calm. "Commanding armies is like playing chess. You and I are the black and white players. Each move is final—no regrets. Every step, every gesture of ours determines the lives and deaths of tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands. Such a grand game—how could one not find it exciting? You—"
"You treat human lives as what?" Chen Sanshi's sudden question cut through his words.
"What?"
Han Xiang was momentarily taken aback. He didn't understand. "What do you mean, as what?"
"I said," Chen Sanshi's voice grew low, his face hidden in shadow, "you think war is something amusing?"
"Of course it's amusing!"
Han Xiang's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone perfectly assured. "I was born to command troops. Those soldiers were born to be my chess pieces. Their fates, their deaths, their honor—that's my chessboard. Isn't that the most fascinating thing in the world? If there existed a realm of endless battlefields and infinite games, I'd gladly abandon the immortal path just to remain a chess player forever."
"What a fine War Immortal," Chen Sanshi said slowly, his tone turning cold. "You truly live up to the name 'Immortal.' A mountain of…"
His voice hardened, each word like a hammer blow. "Corpses."
A mountain of corpses—so that one could become an 'Immortal.'
"Oh? An interesting way to put it," Han Xiang said without the slightest hint of shame. "In any case, whether Brother Chen agrees or not, the game has already begun. I've made the first move. Let's see how you respond."
"You've already lost," Chen Sanshi said suddenly.
"Lost?"
Han Xiang's smile deepened, his tone amused. "Then tell me, Brother Chen—how have I lost?"
"The moment you spoke of your so-called chess theory, your defeat was sealed," Chen Sanshi replied.
He paused, then continued, "Because your pieces are dead, but my people are alive."
"Hahahaha!"
"How interesting! Very interesting!"
Han Xiang laughed aloud in midair. "A true master of battlefield momentum—using thunder and wind to strike, holding back only to advance faster, merging and dividing with no fixed pattern, shifting formations like the elements themselves, overwhelming the foe through speed and force!"
He pointed downward. "You truly have mastered the essence of military form. Even before the game begins, you raise your army's morale by declaring victory in front of them—building momentum before the battle. Good. Very good. I can't wait to see your next move!"
"Boom—"
As his laughter echoed, the figure dissolved, scattering into golden motes of light before reforming into a yellow talisman paper that drifted gently to the ground.
Meanwhile, thousands of li away in the Western Qi army's central tent, Han Xiang opened his eyes and calmly picked up a single white stone from his go bowl.
He placed it on the board.
The match—had begun.
"What the hell is this crap?"
Wang Zhi snatched up the fallen talisman, holding it up to the sunlight and flipping it over. "If that old bastard doesn't shut up next time, I'll cut him in half myself."
"That man…"
Deputy General Chu Shixiong frowned. "That's the so-called War Immortal?"
"Grand Commander Chen," Tong Xiaochu said, tension creeping into his voice. "From the sound of it, Han Xiang's already made his move. The man's cunning beyond measure. Who knows what trick he'll use this time? Should we make preparations in advance?"
"Observe first," Chen Sanshi said calmly.
Making rash adjustments before understanding the enemy's intent would only expose more weaknesses.
He returned to the command tent and studied the Western Qi maneuvers closely. Before long, he grasped Han Xiang's approach.
It was the path of strategic manipulation—
'Defend uprightly, strike with surprise. Plan before fighting. Balance yin and yang. Win through skill.'
Those who loved this path always set everything in motion long before the first clash.
Like a game of black and white stones—Han Xiang had already made his opening move.
That night, the first reports arrived.
"Report!"
"Yunduan Prefecture is under siege!"
"General Teng Le reports that Western Qi has reinforced their army and is pressing hard. He requests immediate support!"
"This isn't good!"
Chu Shixiong leaned over the map, his tone grave. "Grand Commander, if Yunduan Prefecture falls, the enemy will seize control of the Luo River supply route. Then they can invade all of Jia Prefecture. If that happens, we'll be forced to keep retreating—"
He jabbed a finger at the map. "The next fallback point would be Guandu! I say we move now to reinforce. Let me lead the vanguard!"
"Wait…"
Now free from overall command, Tong Xiaochu could finally think clearly. "Grand Commander," he said carefully, "could this be a feint? What if Western Qi's attack is meant to lure us west of the Luo River?"
"Yes," Chen Sanshi said, nodding. "It's a feint."
"Then what should we do?" Tong asked. "Should I send word to General Teng Le—tell him to hold at all costs?"
"No."
Chen Sanshi suddenly stood up. "Pass my order to the entire army. Immediately cross the river! All 120,000 troops are to march at once and rush to reinforce Yunduan Prefecture—no delays!"
"Grand Commander!"
Tong Xiaochu followed closely behind, his voice filled with confusion. "We already know it's a feint. Why still cross the river?"
"When falsehood becomes truth, truth becomes falsehood," Chen Sanshi replied calmly as he walked out. "If we don't go, that feint will turn into a real offensive. If the 50,000 troops in Yunduan Prefecture fall, we'll have no strength left to resist afterward."
"Tong Xiaochu, hear my command! You will immediately lead two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators and 500 soldiers. Take 200 small boats. Prepare grappling hooks and iron chains, and wait on both sides of the river bridge."
"Small boats? Chains?"
Tong Xiaochu wanted to ask why, but halfway through opening his mouth, he realized how foolish that would sound. He simply nodded and went off briskly to follow the order.
On the other side, the Commander-in-Chief Army also began to move, preparing to cross the Luo River via the great wooden bridge.
They had been losing for nearly half a year, their morale crushed to the point of lifelessness. Every step felt heavy and hollow. In stark contrast, the 15,000 soldiers of the Hongze Battalion marched with discipline and deadly focus.
"That's the Hongze Battalion?"
"Yeah, I heard the Grand Commander's changed—it's now Commander Chen leading us!"
"Finally, some good news."
"So this time we won't lose again, right?"
"Of course not, idiot!"
Zhao Kang barked, "Think about it—since Commander Chen joined the army, has he ever lost a single battle?!"
"Not once!"
"And I heard that earlier today, in camp, Commander Chen spoke directly with the War Immortal's projection—and said that War Immortal had already lost!"
Encouraged by the Hongze Battalion's confidence, the rest of the Commander-in-Chief Army began to recover their fighting spirit. When they reached the riverbank, they began crossing under the cover of night.
—
Western Qi Military Camp
"Immortal Master!"
Zhong Wuxin lifted the tent flap, his face alight with excitement. "Just as you predicted, all 120,000 of them have started crossing the river! Time is tight, so they're forced to use the bridge. Should we strike them while they're halfway across—to throw them into chaos?"
"Clack."
At that, Han Xiang picked up a black stone and placed it on the board—then set down a white stone opposite it, a faint smile curving his lips as he explained patiently, "Yunduan Prefecture hasn't fallen yet. At most, we can send two or three hundred men to circle around it. Any more would only expose their tracks and risk being surrounded. Two or three hundred—do you really think that's enough to strike a half-crossed army?"
"So…"
He gestured lightly. "Let them cross the bridge. Once they've all crossed, send one cultivator with a storage bag to carry the boats. Take 200 men around the city quietly. When the time is right, burn the bridge and cut off their retreat."
"But…"
Zhong Wuxin hesitated, his chest tight with unease but too afraid to speak bluntly.
"Go on," Han Xiang said with mild contempt but a trace of amusement. "Speak freely. Sometimes, even a fool may stumble upon truth."
Though his tone was condescending, he genuinely welcomed dissenting voices.
He liked hearing different opinions—only then could he confirm which path was truly "right."
A commander must possess pride, but never arrogance; otherwise, he was merely a brute.
Encouraged, Zhong Wuxin spoke openly. "But if all 120,000 of them cross and we destroy the bridge after, won't that drive them to fight like cornered beasts? The Battle of the Agate River—it was less than a year ago!"
"Agate River…"
Han Xiang repeated the name slowly. "I've read the records of that battle. I've used the 'fight with your back to the river' tactic myself. But tell me, what you call a cornered fight or 'breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats'—do you really think that's all it is? No. It works only when soldiers still have hope to cling to."
"The Agate River battle succeeded because that idiot from the Yu Wen clan emptied his entire garrison, leaving his main base undefended. That kind of stupidity won't happen here."
He smiled thinly. "As for Chen Sanshi's army—aside from the Hongze Battalion, most of his men aren't his personal troops. They don't trust him that deeply. If we cut off their retreat, they won't fight like trapped beasts. They'll panic, lose hope, and collapse completely."
"I understand."
Zhong Wuxin bowed. "Thank you, Immortal Master, for your guidance. I'll see to it right away!"
—
The Luo River
After the Great Sheng's 120,000 troops had crossed the river, it was deep into the midnight hour.
A massive warship silently glided along the water's surface.
Around it, countless small boats drifted, each piled high with dry kindling and brush. The Western Qi soldiers lit the stacks and let the burning boats float freely downstream toward the wooden bridge.
"Hurry! Move faster!"
"The Luo River's a natural barrier. That bridge is hard to rebuild! Once it burns, the Sheng army will be trapped on the east bank!"
Deputy General Meng Dayi hissed orders under his breath. "Quickly now!"
From atop the warship, a Western Qi cultivator rose into the air. Hovering over the bridge, he clasped his hands in a seal. A glowing fireball formed before him as he prepared to ignite the structure himself.
"Buzz—"
But in that instant, a blade of condensed frost spun through the air toward him.
The cultivator's eyes widened. He hurled his fireball to intercept.
The two spells collided and canceled each other out.
Then a Great Sheng cultivator appeared, riding a sword through the air. Stroking his beard, he called out calmly, "Fellow Daoist—shouldn't you be running along by now?"
"Heh."
The Western Qi cultivator sneered. "Don't rush me. I'll leave—after my men finish burning this bridge."
"Oh, really?"
The Great Sheng cultivator clicked his tongue. "I'm afraid you won't be burning anything tonight."
"Huh?"
Only then did the Western Qi cultivator notice—on both sides of the bridge, countless small boats were already waiting. Each one was equipped with iron chains. Before the blazing fire boats could drift close, the small boats had already hooked and dragged them ashore, locking them firmly in place. The flames could not approach the bridge at all.
"You were prepared for this?"
The Western Qi cultivator frowned. "Fine then, fellow Daoist, we'll meet another day!"
Seeing more Great Sheng cultivators rushing over, he didn't dare linger another second. In a flash, he activated several talismans and spells, his body turning into a streak of light that vanished hundreds of feet away, fleeing without a trace.
"You bastard! You're just gonna run off like that? What about us?!"
Deputy General Meng Dayi of Western Qi cursed furiously.
There were cultivators on both sides, but unless it was absolutely necessary, none of them would fight to the death. The moment danger arose, they ran faster than anyone else.
Without the support of their cultivator, Meng Dayi and his men—those sent to set the fire—were swiftly slaughtered, leaving not a single survivor.
—
Western Qi Camp
"Immortal Master! Bad news!"
Zhong Wuxin rushed in, panting. "The bridge-burning operation failed last night! Chen Sanshi had already prepared for it! Our deputy general and over 200 men—none made it back alive!"
"Countering a move with a move," Han Xiang murmured calmly, his tone as smooth as still water. He idly picked up several white stones that had been surrounded and sighed. "White Robe isn't a fool. Tricks like that were bound to fail."
"What now?"
Zhong Wuxin asked urgently, "All 120,000 of their troops have crossed the river. They're about to reach Yunduan Prefecture. Should we continue the siege?"
"Withdraw," Han Xiang said simply.
He placed another white stone on the board. "But before we pull out, allow ourselves a few small defeats. During the retreat, abandon all spare armor, weapons, and cooking cauldrons. Leave some wounded behind, too. Do everything you can to lure them 300 li west—to Fragmented Stone River."
"Yes, Immortal Master!"
—
Yunduan Prefecture
"Brothers, hold the line!"
"Reinforcements are on the way!"
On the city wall, Teng Le's armor was split and bloodied as he roared and swung his blade, fighting desperately.
Above him, Qu Yuanxiang led two other cultivators in a chaotic battle against Western Qi's spellcasters.
The battle raged from afternoon until deep into the night before the Western Qi forces finally pulled back temporarily.
"My talismans!"
Qu Yuanxiang gritted his teeth in pain, nearly crying as he landed. Grabbing Teng Le by the collar, he shouted, "Where are the reinforcements? If they don't arrive soon, I'm leaving! Do you even know how many spirit stones worth of talismans I burned through tonight?!"
"Immortal Master, please calm yourself…"
Teng Le's face darkened, but he held his tongue—he needed the cultivator's help to hold the city. "Once we retake Mang Mountain, all this will be worth it. Commander Chen should be arriving any day now!"
"Two days? Then you can keep fighting on your own!"
Qu Yuanxiang cursed, "If reinforcements don't come by dawn, I'm out of here!"
"Immortal Master! You can't leave!"
Teng Le panicked. "If you go, what will happen to the 50,000 soldiers in this city?"
"Not my problem!"
"Get lost!"
By dawn, Western Qi launched another full assault on the city.
True to his word, Qu Yuanxiang was about to take off.
But just then—
The Great Sheng reinforcements arrived!
A mighty force of 120,000, led by the Hongze Battalion as vanguard, appeared suddenly on the plains outside Yunduan Prefecture.
"Reinforcements!"
Teng Le's eyes lit up with relief. "Open the gates! Follow me—kill the enemy!"
"That damned Chen Sanshi finally showed up! If he hadn't come soon, I was going to fly out there myself to chop him!"
Qu Yuanxiang took a huge swig of wine and glared at the Western Qi army beyond the walls. "A bunch of beasts! Wasted my spirit stones—I'm taking them back with blood!"
"Kill!"
"Not good!"
"The Great Sheng reinforcements are here!"
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Caught between the defending troops and the charging reinforcements, the Western Qi army collapsed completely. Armor, weapons, and banners scattered everywhere as they fled in disarray.
"Ha! That's more like it!"
During the pursuit, Qu Yuanxiang personally struck down a Western Qi cultivator, laughing as he pocketed the man's storage bag.
"So, you're Chen Sanshi?"
He rejoined Wang Jun and the others, glancing at the white-robed commander with faint recognition. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
"Report!"
Zhao Kang, blood-soaked and breathless, rushed over. "Grand Commander! The Western Qi army has fully retreated to Fragmented Stone River. Shall we pursue?"
"Of course we chase them!"
Qu Yuanxiang said, his breath reeking of wine. "This—this is what they call… uh, striking while the iron's hot!"
"Never chase a desperate enemy."
Chen Sanshi ignored him and ordered calmly, "All troops, return to Yunduan Prefecture."
"Not chasing them?"
Tong Xiaochu asked cautiously. "Grand Commander suspects there's an ambush ahead?"
"Ambush, my ass! You think I don't know tactics?"
Qu Yuanxiang pointed at the scattered armor and equipment the Western Qi army had left behind and sneered. "Look— they even threw away their cooking pots! I already beat them so hard they're pissing themselves. How could they possibly set an ambush? Chase them! I said chase them!"
"Hey, Chen! I'm talking to you! Didn't you hear me? Give the order—pursue!"
"Qu Yuanxiang," Chen Sanshi's tone turned hard, "you're here to stabilize morale, not to command. If you disrupt my formation again—military law will handle you."
"Huh?"
Qu Yuanxiang froze, disbelief flashing across his face. His eyes bulged. "What did you just say? What law?!"
"Military law," Chen Sanshi repeated coldly.
Wang Zhi interrupted, grinning. "Let me put it simply—it means we cut your head off."
"I'll cut all of you first!"
Qu Yuanxiang snapped and summoned his flying sword on the spot.
Chen Sanshi stood firm, unflinching, his calm eyes fixed on him. He turned slightly to another cultivator and said in an even voice, "Wang Jun, if your Shengyun Sect still wants to win this war, you'd better keep this drunkard under control."
"Senior brother, stop!"
Wang Jun drew his own flying sword and blocked Qu Yuanxiang's path. "The spiritual vein determines not only victory but also our cultivation prospects. If you keep causing trouble here, I'll report you to the sect myself."
"You—"
Threatened by his sect brother, Qu Yuanxiang restrained himself and didn't act rashly.
"Qu Yuanxiang," Chen Sanshi said coolly, "if you doubt my orders, you're welcome to fly your sword to Fragmented Stone River yourself and see if Han Xiang isn't waiting there."
"Fine, I'll go!"
Qu Yuanxiang retorted, but in the end, he didn't take that step. Instead, he sneered darkly. "Alright then, Chen, for the sake of the spiritual vein, I'll tolerate you for a few days."
With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and left.
"Sound the retreat!"
The Commander-in-Chief Army struck the gong, signaling withdrawal.
Since their defeat at Yiling, the army that had suffered loss after loss finally tasted victory again. Their morale, once crushed to dust, began slowly rising from the bottom.
—
Fragmented Stone River.
On a mountain peak, Han Xiang sat upon a massive rock with a chessboard before him.
That chessboard was his map of war.
Behind him, every cultivator of Western Qi waited in silence, ready to strike the instant the enemy entered the trap.
Zhong Wuxin, hand resting on his sword hilt, scanned the horizon anxiously. "Why haven't they arrived yet?"
"General!"
A scout rushed up. "Chen Sanshi has withdrawn! Their army chased us to within 20 li of Fragmented Stone River—then suddenly struck the gong and pulled back!"
"So the man won't take the bait."
Zhong Wuxin sighed in disappointment. "Well, at least we didn't lose anything."
But Han Xiang's eyes didn't move from the board. He lifted several white stones—each representing a Western Qi battalion—and quietly removed them.
That symbolized their losses.
"Immortal Master, what do you mean?"
Zhong Wuxin blinked, confused. "We only lost a little over 2,000 men. Nothing serious, right?"
"The loss of troops is visible," Han Xiang said softly, "but the loss of morale is invisible. In this round, Chen Sanshi has taken a small victory—by three points, at least. This game is getting more and more interesting."
He held a stone between his fingers, suspended it midair for a moment, then let it fall with a firm clack. "Pass my command. The army will set camp on the plains 80 li outside Yunduan Prefecture. Day and night, they'll challenge the enemy to open battle. Let's see if the Commander-in-Chief Army dares come out."
"Yes, Immortal Master!"
—
Twenty days later.
The two armies had entered deadlock.
Since retreating to Yunduan Prefecture, the Commander-in-Chief Army hadn't shown themselves again. No matter how Western Qi taunted or provoked them, they stayed inside the walls, refusing to fight.
"What a fine move—avoiding the edge of the blade."
Han Xiang still sat before his chessboard atop the windy peak, his hair and robes fluttering in the autumn air. Holding a chess piece aloft, he murmured to himself, "Then I'll simply make sure there's nowhere left for you to hide."
"This move…"
He lowered the piece with a smile. "Is called 'Forcing the Phoenix to the Clouds.'"
Clack!
The stone landed.
—
Yunduan Prefecture.
After their small victory and 20 days of rest, the Commander-in-Chief Army had reformed and regained discipline. Their spirits were renewed, but even so, they couldn't remain trapped in the city forever.
"Report!"
"A scout brings urgent news!"
"The Western Qi army has divided 50,000 troops and is bypassing Jia Prefecture to strike directly at Feng Prefecture!"
"Grand Commander Chen! Feng Prefecture is undefended!"
Tong Xiaochu's hair had gone noticeably grayer. "If they break into Feng Prefecture, Ming Prefecture will be in danger too! And if Ming Prefecture falls, we can't hold Liang Prefecture either! Most of our Northern Liang forces are locked in a standoff with Qing, leaving only a few garrison troops behind!"
"We can't keep defending this city any longer. This Han Xiang—he's vicious! He's trying to force us into open battle!"
Chu Shixiong, Wang Zhi, Teng Le, and the others all looked grim.
Even the Hongze Battalion had never encountered such a situation before.
They hadn't lost—but they hadn't gained ground either.
Someone had finally managed to stalemate the White Robe.
So this was the true strength of the War Immortal.
"If it comes to that," Wang Zhi said grimly, "give me 10,000 men. I'll go to Jinghai Prefecture in Feng Prefecture. Even if it kills me, I'll hold for half a year."
"No."
Chen Sanshi's eyes left the map. "Since Han Xiang is so desperate for a face-to-face confrontation, we'll grant his wish."
"Pass my order."
"In five days…"
"All 170,000 troops will march out and form battle lines."
"We'll meet Western Qi's 300,000 troops head-on."