Yunzhou, Cyan Mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, a team of soldiers wearing battle armor surrounded a carriage on the road. On their flag, there was an eagle soaring high, encircled by the prominent character "Chu."
"Your Majesty, after days of long marches, the soldiers urgently need to rest."
Chen Zhong, the leader of the Forbidden Army of Yu Country, respectfully addressed the carriage under the canopy.
"Granted."
A few moments later, a weary voice came from within the carriage.
"Understood." Chen Zhong obeyed the order and had the armored soldiers rest on the spot.
Inside the carriage.
King Yu Chu Yu looked pale, his eyes bloodshot. He hadn't had a good night's sleep in months.
Three years ago, his father and many ministers, including Guo Xian, died suddenly in one night without any wounds on their bodies, suspected to be the work of ghosts and gods.
Thus, he ascended to the throne, working diligently without daring to slack off. Without the checks and balances of ministers, he, as the new king, resolutely employed Elder General Duanmu against the opposition, recruited talent, and actively implemented reforms, thinking he could breathe new life into Yu Country.
But Yu Country had already reached a point of no return. How could it catch up to other countries with a century's worth of accumulation in just three years?
At this moment, the armies of Yu Country and Jin Country had been in a standoff at Pingyang for three years, and the entire nation was running at a deficit.
Internally, the aristocrats were preparing to cede cities and surrender, while other countries, wary of Jin's growing power, were still observing, intending to wait until they had exhausted Yu Country's last resources before offering reinforcements.
King Yu Chu Yu was mentally and physically exhausted, finally understanding why his father indulged in lavishness knowing the impending doom of Yu Country.
The momentum is unstoppable, and such a predicament cannot be resolved in one generation.
Lying flat is the only answer, to discard all worries, and then believe in the wisdom of future generations.
King Yu Chu Yu was unwilling; the eight-hundred-year foundation of Yu Country was about to be destroyed by his hands.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white,
his thoughts unconsciously drifted back to ten days ago.
He was comforting soldiers on the front line, dismissing others to have a private conversation with the main commander, Elder General Duanmu.
"Master, tell me, how much longer can we hold out? Is there any... chance of defeating Wei Xin's army in one decisive battle?"
Elder General Duanmu's expression was grave, and he shook his head, saying:
"Even if we defeat Wei Xin once, what then? Next time? Li Ji and Gao Jin would lead another hundred thousand troops to press the border. They won't give Yu Country a chance to breathe. Jin Country has been strong for six generations, with territory ten times that of Yu Country. They can rise again ten times upon failing."
"Your Majesty, we cannot afford to lose even once."
In the battles, there's no way to destroy the enemy without losses. Yu Country has already failed once, with only the last hundred thousand soldiers to fight, a nationwide effort.
"Is there really no hope for Yu Country?" King Yu Chu Yu felt a wave of powerlessness, collapsing onto his seat in despair.
The hundred thousand troops in Pingyang City consumed vast amounts of manpower and resources daily, almost halting the country's development.
"Your Majesty..." Elder General Duanmu saw this scene, with pity in his eyes, looking beyond the battlefield towards the distant, continuous mountains, "perhaps there is a slender chance of survival for Yu Country."
"Please teach me, Master." King Yu Chu Yu's eyes lit up, hurriedly speaking, as if grasping the last straw in desperation.
"You must go to Cyan Mountain to find a person."
"A person?!!"
"Yes."
Elder General Duanmu recalled the figure who had come walking on air to impart dharma to him.
"If he is willing to come down the mountain and offer his full support, Yu Country might turn the situation around, and even achieve dominance in the world is not impossible."
"Who?"
"Ning Xunqiu, your junior disciple, the current Cyan Mountain Sect Leader."
...
"An immortal descends to the world..."
King Yu Chu Yu fell into deep thought.
In truth, he didn't believe a twenty-year-old youth could possess such ability.
Just then, faint sounds of quarreling and fighting came from outside.
Not long before, someone had driven a flock of sheep past not far from the army. Yu Country's soldiers, after a long journey, found their mouths tasteless, so someone stepped forward, intending to slaughter a sheep to satisfy their cravings.
"Those are my sheep." At this moment, a young girl in a simple light-green dress emerged from the flock, stopping the actions of Yu Country's soldiers. Her voice sounded delicate.
"Your sheep?" A Yu Country centurion grabbed a goat, pointing at the fluttering flag, saying, "Little girl, look carefully at this flag. Everything within Yu Country's borders belongs to His Majesty."
"Those are my sheep." The girl emphasized.
"Forget it, give her a piece of gold, buy the flock, and reward the army." Chen Zhong came over, seeing a delicate girl, slightly frowning.
"Yes, General." Although the centurion was reluctant, he still took out a piece of gold and tossed it casually near the girl's feet.
The surrounding Yu Country soldiers burst into laughter, stepping forward to seize the sheep.
"I don't want it." The girl shook her head, waving a bamboo rod in her hand, driving away the approaching Yu Country soldiers.
"Courting death!!" A soldier was hit by the bamboo rod, and anger flared at the pain, immediately drawing his sword.
The sword's edge carried a fierce gust of wind, seeing this girl who was like a flower about to perish.
"Bang bang bang!!"
The girl lightly shook the bamboo rod in her hand, her figure agile. In an instant, the surrounding Yu Country soldiers fell to the ground one after another.
For a moment, the scene fell silent, with soldiers staring in shock at the seemingly delicate girl, not expecting her to possess such skill.
"Assassin!" A sudden exclamation broke the silence, causing a stir.
"What is happening?"
King Yu Chu Yu frowned, stepping down from the ornate carriage. His voice was tinged with displeasure and confusion.
Chu Yu's eyes swept over the chaotic scene, finally landing on the girl wielding the bamboo rod amidst the military array.
His Forbidden Army comprised over eight hundred personnel, many of whom had been his retainers during his time as Crown Prince, among them were highly skilled Third Realm Martial Artists.
Yet in the hands of this young girl with a bamboo rod, not one could withstand her.
The girl's steps were light, like a deer weaving through the forest.
Where the bamboo rod struck, soldiers either lost balance and fell or felt a sharp pain, forcing them to retreat in droves. Even the Third Realm Martial Artists could not withstand her seemingly simple attacks.
"Capture her together!"
Inner Qi Realm expert Chen Zhong shouted angrily, teaming up with eighteen Inner Qi Realm experts, attempting to subdue this formidable girl.
Yet the girl's bamboo rod seemed to have spirituality, always finding a break-through at the most improbable angles. After several rounds, Chen Zhong and these Inner Qi Realm experts were all knocked to the ground, in disarray.
King Yu Chu Yu watched, dumbfounded, shock overwhelming his heart.
"Your Majesty, be careful!" A soldier's cry jolted him back to reality.
Only then did Chu Yu realize that the girl had already broken through layers of encirclement and was charging toward him.
He hastily gathered Inner Qi, throwing a punch to block her.
Bang!
With a soft sound, the girl's bamboo rod skillfully redirected Chu Yu's punch aside.
Then, with a backhand sweep, the bamboo rod struck like a spiritual snake, precisely hitting Chu Yu's side waist. A sharp pain surged, causing Chu Yu to involuntarily bend over, cold sweat quickly soaking his clothes.
When Chu Yu looked up again, the bamboo rod was already pressing against his forehead.
The surrounding soldiers held their weapons, surrounding them, yet dared not act rashly.
Chu Yu swallowed, feeling an unprecedented threat.
Even a Grandmaster Level expert, if they charged into an armored army with over ten Inner Qi Realm Martial Artists seated, would be swiftly overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
This young girl, with just a bamboo rod, easily breached the defenses. Her strength far surpassed a Grandmaster, at least tenfold.
The method of the bamboo rod could be said to be number one in the world.
The girl coldly spoke:
"Sect Leader Senior Brother said to capture the leader first to seize the bandit. You, you must be their king."
...