Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Before the exclamation of the Mongol soldiers had even faded, Yelü Yan charged up the city wall, carrying the wolf-head banner of the "Khitan Army," followed by hundreds of defected Khitan soldiers. Their spiked clubs smashed against their former comrades, shouting "Return our homeland!" in Khitan, their voices shaking the night sky.

The firelight from the City God Temple illuminated half the sky. Shi Feiyang's black armor was covered in bloodstains, but Wanyan Ping carefully wiped them off with an embroidered handkerchief.

Her fingertips touched the arrow wound on his shoulder, where the scar from the Battle of Luoyang still remained, and tears suddenly streamed down her face: "You're wounded again..."

Shi Feiyang said dismissively, "What's a little injury like this?" He took her hand, placed his palm on the wound, and let the icy energy flow through her meridians to force out the poison from the arrowhead. He then said romantically, "Look at the lights of Jinling City, don't they look like the palace lanterns after a snowfall in Zhongdu?"

Yelü Yan suddenly parried two charging Mongol soldiers with her twin swords, then delivered a spinning back kick to their temples. Turning back, she smiled radiantly at Shi Feiyang, playfully saying, "Prettier than palace lanterns!" Her skirt was stained with blood, yet her smile was brighter than fireworks, and she poetically added, "After we break through the city, I will release a thousand river lanterns for you on the Qinhuai River!"

The battle at Jubaomen was raging. Mei Jinghong's iron ruler held the head of the defending general. The Plum Blossom Gang leader's beard was smeared with brains, yet he laughed heartily and said loudly, "My son-in-law's 'chain scheme' is indeed brilliant!" His "Falling Petals Palm" curled up flower petals, forcing the remaining Mongol soldiers off the city wall. He then reported, "Tuohuan's reinforcements have been entangled by Master Qu's Imperial Guards and cannot return!"

Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Sword Twenty-Three" divine skill, his sword energy domain enveloping the entire barbican.

In the frozen space-time, the Mongol soldiers' arrows hovered in mid-air, Tuohuan's personal guards' spiked clubs stopped three inches from Yelü Yan's throat, and Shi Feiyang's palm blade slowly sliced ​​across their necks. When the domain dissipated, hundreds of heads fell to the ground simultaneously, and columns of blood spurted in the moonlight, resembling blooming red plum blossoms.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Ten Thousand Blades Piercing the Clouds" divine skill, raising his palm and pointing it towards the inner city. The icy energy transformed into thousands of sharp blades, soaring into the sky before piercing down diagonally, slaying all the Mongol soldiers on the bell tower and shattering them into ice shards scattered all over the ground.

As the banner bearing the character "Tang" rose atop the bell tower, Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger and Yelü Yan's twin swords simultaneously pointed north, where the firelight illuminated half the sky. It was Qu Kan's Imperial Guards intercepting Tuohuan's reinforcements.

As dawn broke, all thirteen city gates of Jinling had changed hands. Shi Feiyang stood on the city tower of Jubao Gate, gazing at the corpses of Mongol soldiers floating on the Qinhuai River. Yelü Yan had wiped the bloodstains from the black armor with an embroidered handkerchief, revealing the original icy patterns.

Wanyan Ping then used a willow-leaf knife to pick up the token of Tuohuan's personal guard; the wolf head on the token had been carved into the shape of a peach blossom. Shi Feiyang embraced the two beauties and said tenderly, "Look at the Qinhuai River. The water is still the same water, the city is still the same city, only the world has changed."

Wanyan Ping rested her head on his left shoulder, her hair tangled in his brocade robe, and said with emotion, "When I was little, my grandfather told me that Jinling was the capital of the Southern Dynasty and had an imperial aura." Her fingertips drew circles in his palm, and she said with a heroic spirit, "Now that you are here, this imperial aura has truly come alive."

Suddenly, Yelü Yan's golden thread wrapped around the flagpole of the city tower, tightening the "Tang" banner. He accidentally kicked away a loose brick, revealing half a stone tablet with the four characters "Peace Under Heaven" engraved inside. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Look, this is the will of Heaven!" At this moment, the people of Jiangnan emerged from their cellars and looked at the figure in the firelight on the city tower. Some cried, some laughed, and many more laid out clean water on the street to wash away the dust of Shi Feiyang's journey.

On a painted boat on the Qinhuai River, Mei Jinghong was drinking with Qu Kan. Looking at the three people embracing on the shore, Mei Jinghong suddenly sighed, "His Majesty has both the country and the beauty, truly..." Qu Kan's Black Blood Divine Needle suddenly shot into the water, fishing up a golden carp, and laughed, "This is called 'destiny's will'."

He raised his cup and looked up at the city tower, then sighed, "Look at that figure under the moonlight, doesn't it resemble Emperor Taizong of Tang?"

Shi Feiyang's black armor gleamed coldly in the morning light, while Wanyan Ping's gold thread and Yelü Yan's jade pendant were both wrapped around his waist. The three shadows clung together on the city bricks, inseparable. On the waters of the Qinhuai River, a thousand river lanterns floated downstream, each bearing the words "Feiyang," casting a warm glow on the spring scenery of Jiangnan.

……

The morning mist over Jinling City had not yet dissipated, but the reflection of the "Tang" banner on the Qinhuai River was already visible. Shi Feiyang trod on the remaining snow at Jubao Gate, the ice patterns on his black armor flowing in the morning light, just like the jade disc that Sun Quan, the Great Emperor of Wu, had hidden in Stone City.

Wanyan Ping used her willow-leaf dagger to part the wine flags by the roadside. The three characters "Zui Xian Lou" on the flags were splattered with blood from the previous night, yet they couldn't conceal the tenderness in her eyes. Her fingertips traced the moss on the broken wall, where the chisel marks of war still remained, and she couldn't help but sigh, "This is the site of Jianye Palace. Back then, Sun Quan established his capital here, relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River to resist Cao Wei's million-strong army, using 'water as his weapon'." As she turned, the hem of her skirt brushed against the ice patterns on Shi Feiyang's black armor, and the ice crystals she stirred up landed on the back of his hand. She suggested, "Your Majesty wishes to build a water empire, and this is the foundation."

Yelü Yan suddenly pointed her twin swords at the river. Several small boats emerged from the mist, their crews casting nets with a rhythmic flair characteristic of the Khitan navy. The Khitan princess took out a sheepskin scroll from her sleeve, on which a map of the Yangtze River's middle and lower reaches was drawn in cinnabar. She reported, "Your Majesty, my brother sent this to say that the Mongol navy is training at Jiaoshan, and most of their helmsmen are captured fishermen from Jiangnan, who are completely unsuitable for their purposes."

Shi Feiyang gently pressed his hand on the broken wall, and the icy air flowed through the cracks in the stone, carving the four seal characters "利涉大川" (meaning "beneficial to cross the great river") onto the site of Sun Quan's former throne. He looked at the water birds circling on the river and laughed, "Sun Tzu said, 'Terrain is an aid to the army.' The Mongols are good at riding and archery but afraid of water, so the Yangtze River is our 'natural barrier.'"

The three walked along the old site of Zhuquehang, the bluestone slabs under their feet still bearing the ruts of the Six Dynasties. Wanyan Ping suddenly stopped by the ancient well. The character "Wu" on the well railing had been worn away by time, but she took out a bronze mirror from her bosom. The mirror reflected the three of them cuddling together, and she said playfully, "I brought this from the Jin Dynasty palace. It is said that it can see the future."

In the mirror, Shi Feiyang's black armor gleamed, and the two people beside him smiled radiantly, while the background was an endless expanse of naval warships.

Yelü Yan's gold hairpin suddenly jingled. She pointed to the training ground in the distance, where the Tang army was practicing naval warfare formations. The followers of the Sun Moon Sect were rowing dragon boats, and the disciples of the Plum Blossom Gang were paddling fishing boats, actually practicing the prototype of the "Eight Trigrams Formation".

She kicked a pebble, which hit the bullseye in the distance, and said with great pride, "Master Qu said that we should lure the Mongol warships into the reeds and burn them to a crisp with fire. I taught them the Khitan's 'ship-cutting technique' to specifically target the gaps in the bottom of the ship."

Shi Feiyang embraced Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping, then used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to skim across the thin ice of the river, his figure rising and falling like a fairy on the water. He released Yelü Yan and Wanyan Ping, then took the live fish handed to him by the fishermen. The icy air flowed in his palm, freezing the live fish into a transparent ice sculpture, the opening and closing of its gills lifelike.

He added meaningfully, "This is called 'showing our true colors to the enemy.' Let Tuohuan think that we only know 'fire attack,' but we don't know that we also have 'ice warfare.'"

As dusk fell, the three ascended the Cuiwei Pavilion on Qingliang Mountain. The river breeze stirred the black armor flying on the stone, and the lights of countless homes were reflected in the ice patterns. Wanyan Ping poured him wine, while Yelü Yan tied his loose hair to a jade hairpin with gold thread.

From the distant naval camp came the sound of bugles; it was Mei Jinghong practicing the "night raid formation," and the rhythm of the bugles was exactly the same as that of Sun Quan's naval bugles from years ago. Shi Feiyang poured the wine in his cup onto the river surface, the liquid freezing into ice beads in mid-air, and said decisively, "Tomorrow's meeting will be here. We must let the Mongols know that the waters of Jiangnan are not for them to wade through."

As the third watchman's clapper struck, a roaring charcoal fire blazed inside the Wuhou Temple on Qingliang Mountain. Mei Jinghong drew a map of the Yangtze River's waterways on the table with his iron ruler. The Plum Blossom Gang leader, his beard still stained with tung oil from oars, said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I have already planted 'water mines' at Guazhou Ferry. They are 'thunderbolts' from the Sun Moon Sect, with the fuses wrapped around the roots of reeds. They will detonate if a Mongol ship rams them."

Qu Kan pointed to Jiaoshan on the map and reported, "Tuohuan's naval commander Ahema is an incompetent fool. Yesterday, he sent someone to persuade us to surrender, saying that as long as we hand over Jinling, he would make Brother Shi the 'King of Jiangnan'."

He sneered, crushing a pill between his fingers, which emitted a pungent sulfur smell. He then said contemptuously, "Your Majesty, I have sent my followers disguised as surrendered soldiers to put 'ship-rotting medicine' in his shipyard. In less than three days, the planks of those warships will rot like mud."

Shi Feiyang's icy energy condensed into a model of a warship in his palm, with lifelike Tang soldiers on the deck practicing the "Burning of Red Cliffs" formation.

He looked up at Qin Mu, the general in charge of provisions, who was counting the rice seeds in Jiangnan. The accounts were filled with numbers. He asked loudly, "General Qin, can the provisions support the navy for three months of training?"

Qin Mu's calculations were working rapidly, and his eyes gleamed as he looked up.

He confidently replied, "Your Majesty, the granaries in Suzhou are full of new rice, enough to feed 30,000 naval troops for half a year. I have also acquired a thousand fishing boats on Taihu Lake. The fishermen all say they are willing to follow Brother Shi in resisting the Mongols, as long as we can protect the waters of Jiangnan."

Cheng Duoyuan suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up. This general, skilled in using double hammers, still bore scorch marks on his armor, from the fire arrows fired by the Mongols during the recapture of Yangzhou. He pleaded with Ying, "This humble general is willing to lead the vanguard to attack Zhenjiang! The Mongol commander there is a lecherous man. If we send some brothers to disguise themselves as courtesans, we can surely trick them into opening the city gates." Shi Feiyang flatly rejected the idea, saying, "Absolutely not." He reached out and pressed down on Cheng Duoyuan's shoulder, the icy energy of Mingyu Gong flowing through his meridians to calm his agitated blood. He then analyzed, "Zhenjiang is the throat of the Mongol navy. Tuohuan will definitely send elite troops to guard it. This is a 'bait and no bite' strategy."

His icy aura drew an arc on the map, encircling the cities surrounding Yangzhou in a crescent shape. He then advised, "We must 'feign weakness while being strong,' first seizing small cities like Taixing and Jingjiang, making Tuohuan think we dare not touch Zhenjiang. Once he mobilizes troops to reinforce, we can 'take advantage of his unpreparedness' and seize it."

General Yuchi Fu suddenly swung his broadsword at the corner of the table, splintering wood and revealing iron filings hidden inside. He said with great pride, "This humble general understands! This is called 'stealing a sheep while it's in the hand'!" The dark-faced general grinned, the blood groove on the back of his blade still bearing the brains of a Mongol soldier. He proudly added, "I trained a 'diving team' in the naval camp. They can hold their breath underwater for half an hour and specialize in cutting the iron chains of ship anchors."

Luo Zhan's spear suddenly lifted an oil lamp, the oil flowing across the Yangtze River on the map, forming a streak of fire. He said to Ying, "This humble general is willing to lead cavalry in a feigned attack on Taizhou to draw Tuohuan's attention." He twirled his spear tip, drawing an arc beside the lamp, and then declared domineeringly, "Once Your Majesty has captured Zhenjiang, this humble general will launch a surprise attack!"

Shi Feiyang decisively said, "Alright! We'll proceed according to your plan! Leader Mei will lead the navy in a feigned attack on Jiaoshan, Leader Qu will lead the Mongol cavalry to Taizhou, and Generals Qin, Cheng, Yuchi, and Luo will accompany me to take Taixing and Jingjiang. We'll make Tuohuan think this is a 'feint attack,' but little will he know that every move is a 'cutting off the fuel supply'!" By the time the meeting ended, the moon had already begun to set in the west.

Wanyan Ping draped a cloak over Shi Feiyang, her fingertips touching the ice patterns on his black armor, and whispered, "Don't fight too hard tomorrow." She took out a peace charm from her bosom, embroidered with three mandarin ducks, and said affectionately, "Yanmei and I embroidered this for you; it's impervious to water and fire."

Yelü Yan wrapped her golden thread around Shi Feiyang's wrist, tying the amulet to his heart where the ice patterns shimmered softly. She said tenderly, "I taught the brothers in the navy to sing the Khitan's 'war song,' saying that hearing this song meant reinforcements had arrived." She tiptoed and planted a kiss on his lips, her cheeks redder than burning coals, and said shyly, "If you dare to get hurt, I...I'll never speak to you again."

Shi Feiyang's "golden eyes" swept across the night outside the window, his icy gaze piercing through the darkness, just in time to spot three Mongol spies spying outside the ancestral hall.

Just as the lead scout was about to fire an arrow, his "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill triggered his blood vessels, causing him to spurt blood from all seven orifices at the same time, and his corpse curled up into a shriveled monkey shape.

As Shi Feiyang turned around, the blood droplets on his palm blade had already frozen into blood crystals by the icy energy, reflecting the worried eyes of Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan. He said affectionately, "Don't worry." He grasped their hands, and the icy energy condensed into a twin lotus flower in his palm. He then said steadily, "With you two here, how could I bear to get hurt?"

……

The following day, at dawn, the Yangtze River was shrouded in a misty haze. Mei Jinghong's flagship, the "Breaking Waves," crashed through the morning ice, the iron plum blossom emblem on its bow gleaming coldly in the rising sun. Just as the Plum Blossom Gang leader raised his iron ruler, a splash of black oil suddenly appeared on the port side. Cui Yu, the deputy leader of the "Heavenly Fate Sect," unleashed his "Blood-Transforming Divine Palm," accompanied by a foul stench, as it struck the ship's deck—the old demon's bluish-gray hand pressed against the oil, igniting a raging fire that shot straight towards the helmsman.

Mei Jinghong cursed angrily, "You wicked creature!" He unleashed the "Falling Petals Palm," the fierce palm wind whipping up the snow on the sails. The fire waves exploded upon encountering the ice mist, and the sparks that flew up condensed into ice crystals on his iron ruler.

He saw the corpse poison in Cui Yu's palm wind, and the iron ruler suddenly changed its move. The second move of "Three Variations on Plum Blossom" - "Sparse Shadows Slanting" - swept horizontally along the water's surface. The ruler wind cut open the old demon's robe, revealing the dense poisonous sores underneath.

Cui Yu's "Blood-Transforming Divine Palm" advanced another three points, the palm wind grazing Mei Jinghong's throat, the blood droplets it brought up turning into poison needles in mid-air.

But then Mei Jinghong's figure floated up like willow catkins, using the "Plum Blossom Calamity" lightness skill to step on the railing of the ship, and with her iron ruler, she struck the old demon's "Qi Hai acupoint" with her backhand - that was the force-dissipating method of "Plum Blossom Catkins".

Qu Kan said jokingly, "The Black Wind Sect scum dares to join in the fun!" Suddenly, the Black Blood Divine Needles shot out from behind the sand dunes outside Taizhou City, seven silver needles arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, aiming at Tuo Huan's personal guard commander.

The commander's "Yin Wind Blade" had just cleaved through three silver needles when the remaining four pierced his breastplate, the barbs at the ends twisting in his flesh, causing him to roar in agony on horseback. Tuohuan's wolf-tooth mace swept across, sending Qu Kan's Black Blood Divine Needles flying. This Mongol commander's "Mountain-Breaking Axe," imbued with the true energy of the Tibetan Tantric "Great Seal," cleaved a deep trench in the sand dune with the force of its strike.

He then provocatively said, "Master Qu's 'Star Absorbing Technique' is indeed as good as its reputation, but I wonder if it can absorb my 'Indestructible Body'!"

Qu Kan's Taoist robe billowed in the wind, and the vortex of the Star Absorbing Technique spun in his palm, drawing the true energy from the wind of the Escape Axe towards himself.

He looked at the golden light emanating from the other man's arm and suddenly sneered, "You dare to show off your 'Tantric Protection' in front of me, old lama?" The Black Blood Needle suddenly turned into a red light; it was a poison needle quenched with "Bone-Melting Water," specifically designed to break through external martial arts techniques.

Instantly, Tuohuan was caught off guard and thrown into a frenzy.

The battle raged fiercely atop Taixing City. Shi Feiyang, employing his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill, flew over. The moment his feet touched the ground, he unleashed the "Mountain Splitting" technique from the Hundred Victories Saber Style. The fierce palm strike cleaved open the iron lock of the city gate, and suddenly a dark figure darted out from the shadows—Li Wuhuo, the deputy leader of the "Hell Gate," wielded his "Throat-Locking Claw," barbed and his fingertips were less than three inches from Wanyan Ping's throat.

This evil master's fingernails were painted black and red, clearly indicating they had been treated with "Seven-Day Soul-Destroying Powder," a poison that kills instantly upon contact with blood.

Shi Feiyang used his mysterious "Hidden Body and Name" lightness skill to block Wanyan Ping's way, and said sarcastically, "Your opponent is me!" He then used "Nine Palaces Divine Leg" and a "360-degree spinning kick" that created an ice wave that rose up like a wall. His right boot scraped against Li Wuhuo's wrist, leading Li Wuhuo's claws toward his own left shoulder.

He calculated that the old demon wouldn't dare to confront him head-on. Sure enough, just as Li Wuhuo's claw attack deviated, Shi Feiyang's left palm pressed down on his crown. The icy energy of Mingyu Gong surged into his palm, and just as the old demon's primordial spirit was about to escape, it was frozen into an ice block by the cold light of Shi Feiyang's "Shocking Calamity".

Wanyan Ping seized the opportunity to slash back with her willow-leaf dagger, the blade flashing as it entangled the chain of the Mongolian centurion.

The centurion's "Madman's Staff Technique" carried the evil aura of the Black Wind Cult. Suddenly, the skull at the end of the staff opened its mouth and spewed out three streams of poisonous smoke.

She recalled the "four ounces deflect a thousand pounds" technique from the Tai Chi sword style taught by Shi Feiyang. Suddenly, the tassel of her blade wrapped around the opponent's wrist. Using the force, she spun around and the back of the blade slammed heavily into the centurion's elbow. With a crisp cracking sound, the mace flew out of his hand and struck another charging Mongol soldier in the face.

Seeing Yelü Yan in danger, Wanyan Ping hurriedly reminded her, "Sister, be careful!"

The words had barely left his mouth when Timur, the centurion of the "Red Wing" among the "Thirteen Wings," swung his scimitar toward Yelü Yan's back. The blade was etched with blood grooves, and the scalp of the Han Chinese man still dripped blood, clearly indicating that he was a ruthless bandit who killed without hesitation.

Yelü Yan's "Mandarin Duck Sword Technique" suddenly changed its move. The two swords crossed into a cross shape in the "He Feng" style. The back of the swords blocked the curved sword. At the same moment, she spun around and kicked out with a "step-and-slide kick" as fast as lightning.

She anticipated that Timur's riding boots would lose their footing on the icy city bricks, and her kick landed squarely on the back of his knee. The centurion had barely knelt down when Yelü Yan's twin blades swept across his neck—the blades still held the amulet that Shi Feiyang had tied for her the night before, the gold thread gleaming softly in the blood.

The battle situation on the Yangtze River suddenly changed. Just as Mei Jinghong's "Breaking Waves" capsized Cui Yu's flagship, a bowstring suddenly snapped on the starboard side. Batu, the grandson of Jebe, the Mongolian "Eagle Shooter," pierced the chests of three Tang soldiers with a wolf-tooth arrow. The arrowhead, with barbs, strung the three men together.

The archer's rapid-fire arrows drew three arcs in the rising sun, the third arrow aimed directly at Mei Jinghong's face, a truly vicious move.

"Watch out for the ruler!" Mei Jinghong roared, his iron ruler suddenly flying out. The ruler spun in the air like a wheel, snapping the shaft of the wolf-tooth arrow in two. As he caught the rebounding ruler, his left palm was already pressed against the bottom of Batu's boat. The force of his palm strike spread with the wind, and several cracks suddenly appeared in the boat's planks. Just as Batu was about to jump into the water to escape, he was frozen to the side of the boat by the icy energy of Shi Feiyang's palm strike, turning him into a grinning ice sculpture.

Behind the sand dunes outside Taizhou City, Qu Kan's Black Blood Needle finally pierced Tuohuan's protective breastplate. This Mongol commander's "indestructible body" gradually crumbled under the poisoned needle, his skin visibly withering away.

Looking at his corpse curled up like a monkey, Qu Kan suddenly remembered what Shi Feiyang had said about "evil blood calamity," and couldn't help but spit out his mouth, cursing, "My 'Black Blood Needle' is a hundred times more powerful than your 'Bone-Dissolving Water'!"

At the crossroads of Taixing City, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Severing Reincarnation" technique of the Hundred Victories Blade Technique, the fierce blade energy cleaving open the head of the last Mongol centurion.

The centurion's "mountain-breaking axe" had just cleaved the hoes of two civilians when it was frozen in mid-air by Shi Feiyang's icy breath. The blood droplets on the axe blade condensed into blood crystals and fell onto Yelü Yan's newly embroidered "Tang" character battle flag, which looked just like adding flowers to brocade.

Yelü Yan suddenly exclaimed, "Your Majesty, look!"

Her twin swords pointed towards the river, and Mei Jinghong's navy had already surrounded Cui Yu's remaining forces in the reeds of Jiaoshan.

The iron rulers of the Plum Blossom Gang disciples gleamed in the mist, while the soft whips of the Sun Moon Cult members were wrapped around burning torches. The Mongolian warships, soaked in "rotten ship medicine," were exploding in the fire, with fragments flying higher than the masts.

Wanyan Ping suddenly thrust her willow-leaf dagger towards the city gate, where Mongol soldiers were raising their "Huihui cannons" to bombard the city walls. She cried out anxiously, "Your Majesty, it's terrible! Those treacherous dogs are about to light the cannons!"

Shi Feiyang unleashed a powerful "Splitting Palm" from afar, knocking over the Mongol soldiers. He then used his unparalleled "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" lightness skill to fly over and perform the "Shifting Flowers and Jade" divine skill in mid-air. The iron chains of the cannons seemed to be pulled to the side with great force, causing the cannons to turn and the fired stone projectiles to hit the Mongol soldiers right in their own ranks. The screams and the sound of breaking bones mingled together, even more intense than the tolling of temple bells.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang unleashed the "Flying Dragon in the Sky" move from the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms." The fierce palm wind whipped up icy mist that condensed into ice sculptures on the walls of Taixing City—sculpted from the corpses of Mongol soldiers. The base of the ice sculptures was engraved with the character "Tang," and at the top, Shi Feiyang seemed to be protecting Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan. The figures of the three were lifelike in the morning sun, and even the movement of their hair was clearly visible.

When Qu Kan's Imperial Guards arrived from Taizhou with the remnants of Tuohuan's forces, the battle on the Yangtze River was nearing its end. Mei Jinghong's iron ruler held Cui Yu's severed head; the old devil's eyes were still wide open, as if he couldn't believe he had been defeated by the Tang army's Jiangnan navy even in death. Shi Feiyang stood on the city wall of Taixing, watching the Mongol soldiers' corpses floating on the river; the ice patterns on their armor reflected the setting sun, as if draped in a layer of golden gauze.

Shi Feiyang grasped Wanyan Ping and Yelü Yan's hands, placing their palms on the base of the ice sculpture, where the ice patterns were slowly flowing. He then remarked with emotion, "This is the power of 'using water as an army.' Even with a million iron cavalry, the Mongols could only become homeless dogs when they arrived in this water town of Jiangnan."

Wanyan Ping lightly tapped her willow-leaf knife against the ice sculpture, and the gleam of the blade reflected the returning warships on the river.

She said sadly, "If Emperor Aizong of Jin had understood this principle back then, Zhongdu would not have fallen." As she turned her head, the warm jade hairpin in her hair touched Shi Feiyang's black armor, and the soft sound it made was in sync with the distant naval horns of returning sailors.

Yelü Yan's golden thread suddenly wrapped around the top of the ice sculpture, tying her golden hairpin to the hair of the Shi Feiyang ice statue. She declared boldly, "Once we've recaptured Lin'an, we'll celebrate our victory on a pleasure boat on West Lake. Let those evil bastards see who the true masters of Jiangnan are!"

With two beautiful women in his arms, Shi Feiyang used his "Thousand Miles Without Leaving a Trace" technique to leap down from the city wall, the ice patterns on his black armor drawing three silver lines on the bluestone slab.

On the distant surface of the Yangtze River, Mei Jinghong's flagship was raising the "Victory" signal flag. The flag unfurled in the twilight, blending with the myriad lights of Taixing City, creating a magnificent picture in the world.

As dusk deepened, a celebratory bonfire blazed in the commander's mansion in Taixing City. Shi Feiyang unfurled a map of Jiangnan, while Mei Jinghong's iron ruler, Qu Kan's Black Blood Needle, Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger, and Yelü Yan's twin blades all pointed towards Jingjiang.

Shi Feiyang ordered the heroes to lead their troops by boat to support the Tang army in Jingjiang. He then used his unparalleled lightness skill, "Leaving No Trace for a Thousand Miles," to fly away.

The fighting in Jingjiang intensified. Just as Cheng Duoyuan smashed open the city gate with his double hammers, the Mongol soldiers' "Huihui cannons" suddenly came blasting in.

Shi Feiyang snorted coldly in mid-air, his palms waving as he unleashed the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill. His Mingyu Gong ice energy transformed into thousands of thunder pearls, which collided with the cannonballs in the air, causing the explosions to shake the river water and create huge waves.

Immediately afterwards, Shi Feiyang used the "Heavenly Silkworm Skill," a crystalline light flowed through his palm, and Heavenly Silkworm Silver Threads flew out at the same time. As the crystalline light flashed, they wrapped around the iron chain of the cannon carriage, forcibly pulling down this deadly weapon and smashing it into the ranks of the Mongol soldiers, with screams rising and falling one after another.

When the "Tang" banner was raised in Zhenjiang, Tuohuan's reinforcements arrived at Jiaoshan.

The river was littered with the corpses of Mongol soldiers, and Tang warships were towing the captured Mongol navy toward Jinling. Yuchi Fu's "diving team" surfaced, holding Ahbin's head in their hands. The head's eyes were still wide open, filled with disbelief and terror.

Standing atop the Zhenjiang city tower, Shi Feiyang gazed at the Tang navy on the Yangtze River. The ice patterns on their armor reflected the setting sun, making them appear as if draped in a golden veil. Wanyan Ping poured him a cup of celebratory wine, while Yelü Yan handed him a newly embroidered naval flag. The flag depicted a dragon riding the waves, its eyes embroidered with strands of their hair.

"This is the beginning of the new Tang Dynasty's maritime empire," Shi Feiyang said boldly, sprinkling wine onto the river. The wine condensed into ice beads in mid-air, creating ripples as it fell into the water. He then declared domineeringly, "From this day forward, south of the Yangtze River, there will be no place for the Mongol navy to stand."

A river breeze ruffled the hair of the assembled heroes, carrying their laughter into the distance. In the distance, the lights of Nanjing gradually illuminated the city, merging with the fishing lights of the naval warships, creating a scene like a galaxy fallen to earth. As night deepened, a roaring charcoal fire blazed in the general's mansion in Zhenjiang.

Shi Feiyang spread out a map of Jiangnan. Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger and Yelü Yan's twin blades were both pointed towards Suzhou in the south. The Mongol camp there was still lit up, but it was already a flickering candle in the wind.

The icy air swirled across the map, slowly outlining the blueprint for the next naval battle. The underlying theme of this blueprint was the three people's tightly clasped hands and their undying love for their country.

……

During the plum rain season on the Yangtze River, turbid waves crash against the rocks of Jiaoshan Mountain, sounding like a thousand horses roaring.

Shi Feiyang stood on the watchtower of the "Breaking Waves" ship, the ice patterns on his armor shining brightly from the water mist.

The naval deployment map in his hand was being meticulously outlined by Wanyan Ping with gold thread—each of the twelve sluice gates on the map was marked with the infiltration routes of the remnants of the Mongol forces and the evil sects, which was a secret letter that Qu Kan's Embroidered Uniform Guard had risked his life to steal from the headquarters of the Black Wind Sect.

Wanyan Ping pointed her willow-leaf dagger at the reeds in the picture, the glint of the blade reflecting the solemnity in her eyes.

She whispered, “Your Majesty, the new leader of the Black Wind Sect, Helian Tieshu, has invited the Five Poisons Sect and the Blood Blade Sect. The secret letter says that they plan to take advantage of tonight’s high tide to use the Centipede Boat to carry poisonous substances downstream and pollute our water sources.”

Her fingertips brushed across the ice patterns on the scabbard, where ice crystals still remained from when Shi Feiyang shielded her from the "bone-dissolving water" yesterday.

Yelü Yan suddenly spun his twin swords three times in his palms, water droplets rolling down the blades and forming small eddies on the deck. He said calmly, "I have already had my former Khitan troops set up a 'hook and sickle formation' in the reed marshes."

She took out a leather pouch from her sleeve, filled with dried datura pollen, and said confidently, "This is 'Misty Poison' that I obtained from the Duan family of Dali. It dissipates when damp and is especially effective against the snake venom of the Five Poisons Sect." The gold hairpin in her hair jingled, but it couldn't hide the tension in her voice—last night, while patrolling the camp, she had witnessed the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect feeding live people with venomous insects, and those writhing venomous creatures still haunted her.

Suddenly, a whistle sounded from the watchtower, and Mei Jinghong's iron ruler pointed downstream into the mist. Dozens of green lights flickered on the crests of the waves there, and the Five Poisons Sect's "Centipede Boat" glided close to the water's surface. Bamboo tubes hung from the deck, emanating the hissing of venomous snakes. At the bow, the Blood Saber Ancestor stood shirtless, his chest crisscrossed with scars and skulls drawn in blood. The evil power of the "Blood Saber Scripture" made the surrounding mist glow crimson.

Mei Jinghong roared and ordered, "Release the 'mines'!" His iron ruler slammed into the signal drum on the ship's side. As soon as the drum sounded, more than a dozen water jets suddenly exploded on the surface of the water. These "mines," disguised as driftwood, were the work of Qu Kan and the Sun Moon Cult. They were filled with the Sun Moon Cult's "thunderbolts" and lime powder. In the white mist that erupted, the Five Poisons Cult's venomous snakes, which had just poked their heads out, were blinded by the lime and fell into the river to become fish food.

Blood Blade Ancestor's "Blood Blade" suddenly turned into a red light, its blade energy cleaving through the white mist and rushing straight towards the mast of the "Breaking Waves". The old demon's "Blood Sea Demon Art" had been cultivated to the seventh level. Where the blade light passed, the river water was split open, revealing a water mark more than ten feet wide, revealing the dark river mud below.

Shi Feiyang cursed angrily, "You wicked creature!" Facing the Blood Blade, he swung his palm and unleashed the "Severing the Sky" move of the "Hundred Victories Blade Technique." The palm wind and the blade energy collided in mid-air, and the resulting icy waves froze the Blood Blade Ancestor's Taoist robe into an ice shell.

He saw the flaw in the old demon's sword move and used the "Nine Palaces Divine Leg" technique's "Changing Line Kick" to suddenly kick out from an unbelievable angle. The sole of his boot struck the old demon's wrist, which was holding the sword. The blood sword flew out of his hand and plunged into the bottom of the "Centipede Ship," pinning the poisonous ship to the river surface.

Wanyan Ping's willow-leaf dagger was like a silver snake entering the river, its blade light entwining the "Yin Wind Whip" of the Black Wind Cult's protector.

The protector's whip had barbs at the tip, and was still covered with the flesh and blood of Tang soldiers. She used the Tai Chi Sword Sect's "four ounces deflect a thousand pounds" technique, suddenly spinning to avoid the whip's shadow. The tassel of her knife wrapped around the opponent's ankle, using the force to pull him into the river—there was already a "fishing net formation" set up by the Plum Blossom Gang disciples there, with poisoned iron spikes wrapped around the mesh. The protector's screams echoed for a moment underwater before falling silent.

Yelü Yan unleashed her "Mandarin Duck Blade Technique" and clashed with the Five Poisons Sect's Holy Maiden's "Snake-Shaped Fingers." The Holy Maiden wore snake-head rings on all ten of her fingers, and her venomous fangs emitted blue smoke as they pierced the air. However, she deliberately created an opening, allowing her opponent's fingertips to brush against her protective mirror—a mirror condensed by Shi Feiyang using the Bright Jade Technique, where the poisonous smoke instantly crystallized upon contact with the ice.

Yelü Yan's "flying kick" followed closely, the sole of her boot striking the saintess squarely in the face, smashing her venom-covered face to pieces.

Downstream in the reeds, Qu Kan's Black Blood Needle pierced the throat of a Blood Blade Sect elder. The Imperial Guard commander's Taoist robe was soaked in blood, yet he laughed maniacally: "Old man, your shady dealings of using living people to practice your swordsmanship will be settled today!"

Suddenly, the Star Absorbing Technique was activated, absorbing all the elder's "Blood Blade Scripture" internal energy. Looking at the elder's shriveled, monkey-like corpse, he suddenly shouted towards the river, "Your Majesty, look! Your humble servant has broken through another evil technique!"

The battle on the river suddenly changed course. Helian Tiegui's "Black Wind Ship" suddenly released hundreds of carrier pigeons, each pigeon's claw wrapped with a sulfur packet.

Shi Feiyang unleashed his "Shocking Calamity" divine skill, his icy gaze sweeping over the flock of pigeons, freezing half of them into ice sculptures in mid-air. The rest, just as they were about to fly close to the Tang army's warships, had their wings entangled by Yelü Yan's golden thread and were dragged into the river to become food for water birds.

"Release the 'Fire Crows'!" Helian Tiegui roared, slamming his spiked club against his own deck. The fire crows hidden in the hold suddenly took flight, those crows with sulfur tied to them rushing straight for the sails of the "Breaking Waves".

Shi Feiyang leaped into the air, unleashing the "Emperor's Heavenly Thunder" divine skill. The icy energy of the Mingyu Skill transformed into countless thunder pearls, colliding with the fire crows in mid-air. Amidst the explosion, the fire crows' remaining feathers, mixed with ice crystals, fell like a strange snowfall.

He landed on both feet and used the "Heavenly Silkworm Skill" again. A crystalline light flowed through his palms, and the powerful true energy formed the Heavenly Silkworm Silver Threads, which flew out at the same time. As the crystalline light flashed, they wrapped around Helian Tiegui's wolf-tooth club, and he suddenly exerted force to pull him down.

The old demon's massive body crashed onto the ship's side, breaking three railings. The instant he fell into the river, his blood vessels were activated by Shi Feiyang's "Evil Blood Calamity" divine skill, causing him to spit blood from all seven orifices and die. His shriveled corpse shrank into the shape of a monkey.

As dusk settled, the river was littered with the corpses of the evil sect members and the charred remains of their boats. Mei Jinghong's iron ruler held the head of the Blood Blade Ancestor, whose eyes were still wide open, as if he couldn't believe he had been defeated on the water.

Shi Feiyang stood at the bow of the "Breaking Waves" ship. The ice patterns on his black armor reflected the setting sun, turning the river surface into a golden-red hue. Wanyan Ping wiped the bloodstains from his palm, while Yelü Yan used gold thread to tie the captured evil sect flags to the mast. The flags fluttered in the evening wind, as if they were repenting.

"Reinforce the sluice gates and practice the 'Eight Trigrams Formation' overnight." Shi Feiyang looked at the Mongolian water camp downstream, icy air condensing into a new defensive map in his palm, and said in a deep voice, "They will definitely come again, and the next time will be the decisive battle."

Mei Jinghong's iron ruler carved a channel in the water on the boat's deck as he reported, "Your Majesty, I have already ordered the burial of 'chain stakes' at the bottom of the river. If any Mongol ships dare to enter, they will surely be destroyed and all crew members killed." Qu Kan's Black Blood Needle, dripping poison from the tip of a captured blood-stained knife, resounded, "Your Majesty's Imperial Guards have infiltrated the Mongol camp on the opposite bank. Tonight, they will burn their provisions." (End of Chapter)