Chapter Fourteen: The Martial Lord and the Martial God (Part One)

Chu Gaoge and Ling Luo both gasped in shock, realizing that they had underestimated the aging God of War, Zhou, before arriving.

Ling Luo’s cultivation at the eighth stage of the Divine Decision: physical strength of 100, inner force of 3600 (with her refined inner power doubled by talent and tripled by divine endowment, base inner force at 900), spirit 10, intelligence 5. Combat power at 7200, absolute combat power at 36,000.

Chu Gaoge’s cultivation at the eighth stage of the King’s Decision: physical strength of 500, inner force of 1000 (refined inner power doubled by innate talent, base at 500), spirit 10, intelligence 5. Combat power at 3000, absolute combat power at 15,000.

The Princess of Tianlai at the seventh stage, Supreme Sovereign of the Ten Directions: physical strength of 450, inner force of 1350 (divine endowment doubling the base of 450), spirit 10, intelligence 4. Combat power at 3600, absolute combat power at 14,000.

For their age, their cultivation stood out; for their aptitude, their combat power was extraordinary. Yet, facing Zhou, the God of War’s absolute combat power of eighty thousand, their strength was like eggs thrown against stone—utterly vulnerable!

Apart from Ling Luo’s exceptional inner force from her dual talents and Chu Gaoge’s King’s Sword, which increased lethality tenfold, even the Tianlai Princess, with her treasured sword at her waist, could not threaten or harm Zhou, the God of War.

As Ling Luo and Chu Gaoge entered the courtyard, the old man finally spoke, his gaze growing more amused as he sized up the three young disciples in turn.

“All disciples of Zheng Feixian and Li Kuang. With their pride, those they accept must be outstanding. However, you are still too young, needing tempering and growth. Had you all attacked together earlier, I might have been concerned for the young lord’s safety. Now, as the young lord has surely fought his way out of the new city, I have no worries left. You alone are insufficient to bar my path. I’ll be on my way now. Treasure your lives—do not make pointless sacrifices.”

Having finished, Zhou, the God of War, began to walk leisurely toward the collapsed wall. As the surrounding Chu soldiers moved to block him, Chu Gaoge shouted loudly, “Let him pass!” The troops squeezed together, opening a narrow path down the alley for him.

“God of War Zhou, your prowess remains undiminished. Allow us to respectfully escort you out of the city!”

Ling Luo, though not fond of this approach, understood Chu Gaoge’s reasoning. Rather than futilely sacrifice lives to delay, it was better to feign courtesy and wait for the upcoming opportunity. She refrained from opposing the plan and silently followed Chu Gaoge as they walked with Zhou, the God of War, out onto the main street.

Once on the street, Chu Gaoge called out, “Escort God of War Zhou out of the city!” Chu military officers relayed the order, and soldiers tending to wounded comrades hastened, clearing a path for those killed or injured by Bu Jingxian.

Troops hurried outside the city gates, lining up in formation.

Passing through the gate, Ling Luo saw a thick iron door bar inside, one twisted, two thrown six lengths away into a civilian house, piercing the roof and half-buried in the rubble. Presumably, this was the work of Zuo An’s divine strength. Those steel bars were about six lengths long and half a length wide; normally, only soldiers atop the city tower could raise or lower them using iron chains. Her respect for Zuo An’s power deepened.

Disciples of the Divine and King’s sects were baffled by Chu Gaoge’s actions. Seeing that Ling Luo and the Tianlai Princess remained silent, though worried Zhou, the God of War, might escape, they dared not object.

Zhou walked slowly, like a truly frail old man. The ten-length bridge leading from the city gate took him half a quarter of an hour to cross. Reaching the end, he paused and turned, smiling as he asked Chu Gaoge, “Will you keep escorting me, young one?”

“God of War Zhou—please continue.”

“Good, good.” Zhou kept walking at his slow pace, covering another two quarters of an hour but only gaining seventy lengths from the gate. He paused again, looked back, and asked Chu Gaoge with a smile, “Still escorting me, young one?”

“To escort one a thousand miles ends with a parting. God of War Zhou, your power is unmatched—we junior generations ought to express our respect. Let me offer some advice: the fate of the Zhou nation is ordained by heaven, not to be reversed by human effort. Even if you cannot persuade Ao Pan to return, you should see through the illusion and remain in Bian Nan to enjoy your twilight years. If you wish, we would gladly escort you back to Bian Nan.”

“A loyal minister does not betray his lord; a brave general does not fear death!” Zhou’s aged face grew solemn as he spoke.

“In that case, despite our respect, each serves his own master. Today, we must fight to the death!”

Zhou laughed heartily. “I’ve long heard the eldest grandson of the King of Chu is clever and resourceful, brave and wise. Seeing it in person at last, I rejoice for the King of Chu.” He finished speaking and raised his face to gaze at the top of the city wall above the new city gate.

Many followed his gaze, only then noticing a red-robed woman sitting atop the watchtower, drinking deeply. She drained her wine in one gulp and tossed the empty jug, which flew through the air and shattered at Zhou’s feet.

“Old Zhou, do you still drink these days?”

Zhou laughed again.

“The most impolite in Feixian Sect is you, little girl. Long time no see—now you’ve inherited Zheng Feixian’s martial prestige. Yet, it seems upon becoming Martial Lord, you’ve lost that wildness you once had.”

Atop the watchtower, Autumn Leaf stood up drunkenly, her skirt billowing in the wind. She yanked off her phoenix ornament and tossed it down as casually as the wine jug. Her neatly arranged long hair instantly unraveled, whipping wildly in the wind.

Chu Gaoge quietly pondered how to attack later, whispering his plan to Ling Luo, who quickly warned against it.

“You should know, Feixian Sect never joins outsiders in killing. Elder Autumn Leaf is eccentric—if outsiders intervene, she might even turn against us. Do not be clever and ruin everything!”

Chu Gaoge hadn’t expected Autumn Leaf to be so peculiar. Worry crept into his heart. From his divine sight, Autumn Leaf’s stats: physical strength 1600 (doubled by refined energy, base 800), inner force 800, spirit 10, intelligence 14. Combat power 4800, absolute combat power 67,000.

Her combat power and absolute combat power were less than Zhou, the God of War. Though both were at the level of “an army unto themselves,” raw power did not guarantee victory—but in terms of strength, she was already behind.

“No need to worry, Elder Autumn Leaf is not one to rest on empty reputation,” Ling Luo said.

As she spoke, Autumn Leaf atop the tower clenched her fists, suddenly unleashing the Supreme Sovereign Divine Art. Her body radiated golden-red light, her unraveled hair whipped more fiercely, her expression grew fierce, sinister, even monstrous. As she threw her head back and howled, her power surged.

Above the new city gate, a wild wind sprang up, swirling dust and debris within half a mile.

Chu Gaoge shielded his eyes, fearing injury from the gust-driven sand and stones, which battered his armor with a metallic clatter.

Moments later, the wind faded and ceased.

Chu Gaoge looked again to the tower; Autumn Leaf hunched her back, fingers curled like hooks, her flying hair completely shrouding her face.

Her stats now: physical strength 2400, inner force 1600, spirit 10, intelligence 14. Combat power 8000, absolute combat power exceeding 110,000!