Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 288: Let Us See if He Can Mend the Sundered Sky

Indeed, Batu had initially overlooked one crucial issue.

He assumed by default that the temple would not interfere in tribal disputes. Even when previous battles had been brutal, the temple had remained silent. Even when Timur had massacred many tribes as he established the Golden Horde, the temple had not intervened.

Due to personal connections, Chi Li was also somewhat inclined to support him. When he was unifying the Warring Lion Tribe, Chi Li had even spoken in his favor, making the consolidation process smoother.

Since the temple had not taken sides, Batu felt that as long as there was someone who assumed the role of khagan, he had nothing to fear. If Timur could become the Khagan of the Golden Horde, so could others!

However, he forgot that backstabbing Timur was different from an open declaration of war—it was considered betrayal of the Grasslands.

The temple would not tolerate such an act.

Upon returning to Huangsha Market and finally stabilizing the chaotic situation, Chi Li learned from Ubalu’s personal guards the reason behind Ubalu’s assassination.

Batu had bypassed Huangsha Market and was heading straight for the rear of the khagan’s army, seemingly planning to backstab Timur. Ubalu had just begun to muster forces to intercept Batu when he was assassinated. They had not even managed to send word to the khagan.

Chi Li felt a chill run down his spine. He could not believe Batu would dare do such a thing!

If Batu truly went through with this, then he, who had helped Batu in consolidating the Warring Lion Tribe, would be accomplice to a great crime!

Unfortunately, Chi Li neither had command over the troops nor knew how to lead an army. Therefore, he had to rely on Ubalu’s subordinates to muster the troops and march. He had no idea if the disordered troops would be effective or if they would even arrive in time.

Chi Li could only ride out alone, hoping to stop Batu himself.

Riding on his own did indeed let him move faster than an army of tens of thousands. After pushing himself to exhaustion, he finally saw the silhouette of the army on the horizon. He knew Yanmen was just ahead.

As long as he could stop Batu before the real battle began, the situation could still be turned into an all-out attack on Yanmen!

He was just one step away!

Chi Li pushed his horse to the limit until it foamed at the mouth. Desperate, he abandoned his horse and ran. But he soon slowed down and came to a stop.

Ahead, a figure in red stood alone, her red horse casting a menacing shadow against the setting sun.

“Chi Li... I’ve been waiting for you.” Yue Hongling smiled slightly. “Now, it’s time for us to have our final battle.”

Chi Li took several deep breaths, looking at this woman who seemed to be his lifelong nemesis. He slowly calmed his emotions.

“You knew I would come to stop Batu.”

“Of course.”

“Is Batu a pig? Do you think you can deceive him so easily?” Chi Li sneered. “I’m afraid your plan will fail because the khagan has shamans from the temple around him, and they will intervene.”

“Do you really think that Batu has not considered that? If it were before, then he might have given up, but now he has no way to turn back. Whether the temple supports him or not does not matter, he only needs the support of the Great Xia. He knows I will stop you and said nothing, that is enough to show his stance.”

Chi Li laughed. “Then why stop me? Would it not be better to let me go to Batu’s army, where he can cut me down directly?”

“You are, after all, the successor of the temple, and you hold significant status. Should you reach the army, while Batu might not be shaken, the same cannot be said for his troops. Keeping you away is the simplest solution, and Batu agrees with this.”

Chi Li looked at the distant sunset and sighed. “These matters are truly not suited for me.”

Yue Hongling smiled and said, “I feel the same way. I’ve been following Zhao Chanhge’s lead, doing whatever he asks. I’ve always felt rather lost. But now, facing you alone like this, I feel a renewed fighting spirit.”

Chi Li slowly drew his blade. “Indeed... Perhaps our brilliance is only truly displayed when we face each other in battle.”

Yue Hongling dismounted and patted her Red Hare, sending it a short distance away. Then, she turned to Chi Li and raised her sword.

“Shall we?”

His scimitar cut through the evening glow, the sound of the blade like a mournful war horn.

*

Almost simultaneously, the shaman beside Timur rode swiftly toward Batu’s army, shouting from afar, “Where is Khan Batu—”

The shaman had yet to finish speaking when a magnificent black steed suddenly came charging out from Batu’s army. On it was a burly man carrying a broad saber, slashing down with the momentum of the galloping horse.

The shaman bent back urgently to avoid the saber, and the words “I’m a shaman of Tngri” were left stuck in his throat.

From within the army, Batu sighed. “Zhao Changhe is really considerate, making sure my soldiers aren’t intimidated by Tngri.”

A trusted aide beside him gave him a glance.

Batu said, “At this point, do you still want to be cowards, bowing and offering our sheep and cattle as tribute? The cattle and sheep are ours, and so are the women! This is not a gamble. We are striking their rear. Huangfu Yongxian isn’t stupid. He will definitely cooperate with us! This is our best chance—our path to dominion is right before us. If we miss it, there will be no other!”

Batu could see the madness in his subordinates’ eyes, because this truly was their best opportunity. If they missed it, then... there would be no “then.”

Why could others sit on the khagan’s throne, but not them?

Batu raised his blade and roared, “Attack! Crush the Vulture Tribe in front!”

A torrent of soldiers swept forward

The shaman, still trying to speak, exchanged several blows with Zhao Changhe. But as the army surged forward, he was instantly overwhelmed.

Countless scimitars slashed toward him, and the shaman was naturally unable to fend off so many attacks at once. He fell from his horse, meeting Dragon Bird’s edge with his neck.

His head was sent flying into the air, his eyes wide in disbelief. Even in death, he could not comprehend how Batu actually dared to slight him.

Zhao Changhe looked around and saw Batu’s forces already clashing with the Vulture Tribe ahead.

Everything that had to be done had been done. Whether they could win or not depended on this battle!

The lives of those of Great Xia are at stake. If you don’t care about them, I care. If you will not fight for them, I will fight!

Coming to the Grasslands, he had no regrets left!

He took a deep breath, spurred his horse, and charged into the fray.

The Vulture Tribe was not a particularly strong tribe, but its leader, Vulture Beak, was a strong warrior, holding the top place on the Ranking of Man for many years. Recently, with He Lei’s death and the subsequent opening on the Ranking of Earth, he had squeezed into the thirty-sixth rank.

However, his inclusion on the Ranking of Earth was somewhat unmerited. He was unable to truly fill He Lei’s shoes, with him still being at the first layer of the Profound Mysteries.

Even Lady Three had to retreat when facing thousands of troops, despite her ability to single-handedly take on a small army. In the chaos of a massive battle, individual valor could certainly influence the outcome, but there were many other factors that played a part in determining victory.

Lady Three faced such limits, as did Tang Wanzhuang and Maitreya. Vulture Beak was no exception.

Vultures Beak charged left and right within his formation, his spear sending men and horses flying, unmatched by any foe. He seemed unstoppable, as if he could carve a path straight through and seize Batu’s command banner.

But if someone could hold him off for just a few moves, he would immediately be in heaps of trouble.

For instance, right now.

After skewering a soldier, Vulture Beak felt an oppressive aura approaching. Though the person had not yet arrived, their overwhelming momentum matched that of a fierce tiger descending the mountain as they charged straight at him.

Turning to look at who it was, he saw a burly man on horseback charging into the formation. As the man rode, his broad saber slowly rose, seemingly gathering momentum with each stride. By the time their horses met, he would unleash his mightiest strike.

This was a true expert, someone who had gotten a glimpse of the Profound Mystery of “momentum” and could already apply it in battle. His capabilities were far beyond those of ordinary soldiers.

He Lei’s techniques came to mind—Is this a young hero of the Warring Lion Tribe?

As these thoughts passed through his mind, Vulture Beak thrust his spear like lightning, aiming straight for the newcomer’s chest.

Clang!

Dragon Bird descended. Saber and spear collided. The force behind Vulture Beak’s strike caused the man to bend backward over his horse’s back, nearly being forced off his horse.

But regardless, Vulture Beak’s previously unstoppable momentum was halted. And while the newcomer was knocked back, countless blades closed in, forcing Vulture Beak into a melee.

His own troops began to suffer casualties as their spearhead was blunted, and screams filled the air.

The newcomer steadied himself, turned his horse, and swung his saber again.

Vulture Break parried with his spear and shouted, “What’s your name?!”

Zhao Changhe pointed his saber at Vulture Beak and replied, “Zhao Changhe from the Central Plains, here to test the valor of the Vulture Khan!”

His voice spread for several li, causing both sides involved in the battle to take notice.

This was a young man who had been virtually unknown just a year back. How could anyone take him seriously when he was barely ranked two hundred and fiftieth among the hidden dragons?

Now, here he was, charging on horseback, challenging a renowned warrior of the Grasslands without a trace of fear.

“The sixth hidden dragon? Your reputation is well-deserved.” Vulture Beak spurred his horse and thrust his spear. “It’s a pity that you will die here today!”

“Really? Khan, you might want to consider that your men are dying around you. If you keep fighting with me, you won’t be able to escape,” said Zhao Changhe.

His eyes suddenly turned blood red.

He entered the No Man’s Land state. His muscles bulged, his rationality faded, and his entire figure appeared to grow larger.

His blade then began to glow red. With the blessing of the Scattering the Gods and Buddhas, Dragon Bird’s power surged, entering its own berserk state.

This was Zhao Changhe’s strongest state—his full-power state that he rarely dared to use.

Of course, if he did not use it now, he might never get the chance again.

The spear strike being sent his way was the culmination of a lifetime’s worth of power from the strongest warrior on the Ranking of Man.

In his irrational state, the spear before him seemed not like a spear but rather a meteor falling from the sky, a divine finger tearing through the sky, bringing with it a fiery blaze of destruction.

Though surrounded by people and amidst the din of battle, no one could intervene.

It felt like he was sailing alone on a raft in the vast, open sea. And at this moment, an overwhelming force of annihilation came down on him.

Roar!

Zhao Changhe’s frenzied saber rose to meet the meteor.

Space seemed to freeze and a bloody light covered everything in sight.

If I am neither in heaven nor on earth, if the gods and Buddhas are no longer present, then where is this?

Hell!

The Vicious Blood Saber Art’s most powerful killing move, a move that reached the threshold of the Profound Mysteries!

Clang!

A thunderous clash shook the sky. The hellish vision disappeared, and the meteor shattered the earth. Space was torn apart, and the battlefield returned.

Zhao Changhe spat a mouthful of blood and leaned over his horse, retreating.

He had survived.

He had managed to withstand the other party’s strike.

It was not an overwhelming victory, but it was enough!

Having had his strike blocked by Zhao Changhe, Vulture Beak truly lost all his space. All around him were shadows and masses of people, his elites reduced to almost nothing.

Countless blades and spears surrounded him, like he was in the Hell of the Mountain of Knives[1].

He did not have the leisure to strike Zhao Changhe again. He quickly broke through the formation of spears behind him, shouting, “Retreat!”

Vulture Beak desperately broke out of the encirclement, and the Vulture Tribe’s formation fell apart. The troops of the Warring Lion Tribe roared and charged forward. In the blink of an eye, their vanguard quickly reached Timur’s central army.

Zhao Changhe weakly lifted his head from his horse. Beside him, Batu had a peculiar expression. “I must admit, you’re really... amazing. I’m starting to admire you.”

Zhao Changhe coughed up blood and weakly replied. “Don’t give me that. I thought you were going to take this opportunity to kill me.”

“Why would I kill you? I still need you to connect me with the Great Xia... Also, Timur is here. Where is the Ranking of Heaven expert you mentioned?”

Zhao Changhe suddenly raised his head, and the sky darkened.

Sand and stones flew, and the sun and moon lost their radiance.

A fierce man with a golden band around his forehead and carrying a giant ax appeared in midair, coldly stating, “Batu, your crimes are unforgivable!”

The giant ax fell.

A flash of sword light came from nowhere and struck the side of the ax. “Calm down, Khagan Timur.”

“Ying Five!” Timur roared with rage. “Do you intend to completely break ties with us? After this, there will no longer be a place for your people in the Grasslands!”

A handsome middle-aged man appeared, smiling gently and speaking softly, “Khagan, perhaps you should first consider whether you can still command those of Monan...”

“Do you think you can stop me on your own?”

“But it’s not just me...” Another sword light came from the east, filling the sky with purple qi.

“Cui Wenjing...” Timur lowered his head and looked at the weakened Zhao Changhe. “This conflict is not in your clan’s interest. Are you here because of him?”

Cui Wenjing looked unhappy. “If I didn’t come, my son would end up dying here. God knows why he refuses to leave.”

Far to the north, a disheveled monk was rushing southward.

His speed was akin to that of gods and Buddhas, each of his steps seeming to cover a hundred li.

Suddenly, his footsteps abruptly halted. “Benefactor Li, why are you here?”

A man with bronze-colored skin appeared in front of him, looking troubled. “My disciple has gone mad and refuses to leave the front lines. As his master, I have no choice but to show my face.”

It was Li Shentong, the sect master of the Divine Brilliance Sect.

The confrontations of those on the Ranking of Heaven could no longer influence the mortal battlefield.

At Yanmen Pass, Huangfu Yongxian noticed the retreat of the barbarians. He looked into the distance and saw smoke and dust rising, accompanied by thunderous battle cries from behind the enemy lines.

The experienced general was overjoyed. “The enemy’s rear is in chaos. Open the gates! All troops, charge!”

The gates swung wide open, and the Great Xia cavalry surged out.

Meanwhile, the Warring Lion Tribe struck the rear of the Golden Horde. The defenders of Yanmen, charging out from the pass, helped launch a pincer attack, causing even greater chaos among the barbarian forces. The enemy suffered countless casualties and fled a thousand li, retreating into the desert.

The balance of power in the Grasslands shifted. The Warring Lion Tribe had lost their leader, who had been on the Ranking of Earth, yet they were rising in prominence in Monan, which was somewhat ironic.

Large tracts of snow fell, covering the thousands of corpses as if mourning.

Golden light from the sky shone through the falling snow, seemingly narrating the details of the battle that had ended.

Amidst this grand spectacle, Chi Li was wounded in the left arm by Yue Hongling and fled, no longer interested in the fight. Cui Yuanyong, Situ Xiao, Han Wubing, and others saw their rankings change on the Tome of Troubled Times. But regardless of how many people fought for rankings, everyone’s eyes remained on the last entry.

The long entry was as if a legend were being told.

On the anniversary of Zhao Changhe stepping into the world of martial arts, he has reached the eighth layer of the Profound Gate both internally and externally.

He and Yue Hongling assassinated Timur’s envoy within Batu’s army. Along with Han Wubing, they assassinated Ubalu inside Huangsha Market. On the battlefield, he slew a shaman from the temple of Tngri and held off Vulture Beak, aiding the Warring Lion Tribe in defeating the Vulture Tribe and ultimately forcing Vulture Beak to flee.

Finally, this allowed for a pincer attack to be carried out against Timur’s army, leading to the defeat of the Golden Horde at Yanmen.

From autumn to winter, traversing a thousand li, sweeping across Monan, he achieved countless victories of immeasurable impact.

The Ranking of Hidden Dragons has changed.

Rank 1: Zhao Changhe!

Until death, a man’s heart is as steadfast as iron. Let us see if he can mend the sundered sky!

Whether the final comment of the Tome of Troubled Times referred solely to Zhao Changhe or to all the heroes who shed blood to defend their nation, it did not matter.

These glorious achievements shone brighter than any judgment of a divine artifact, surpassing even the most illustrious hidden dragons of the past, and even those on the Ranking of Man.

He was undoubtedly the strongest First Hidden Dragon in history.

One year after coming to this world, his name now resounded throughout it.

[END OF THIRD ARC]

1. The Hell of the Mountain of Knives is the seventh of the eighteen levels of hell in Chinese mythology. ☜