After teaching Luo Li the movement technique, Liu Bai received the Kunpeng Divine Art as a return from the System. He originally wanted to pass this technique on to Luo Li as well, but no matter how he tried to explain it, she simply couldn’t grasp its profundities. Her face was full of confusion, as if she were listening to a heavenly scripture.
Liu Bai immediately understood. The Kunpeng Divine Art was too advanced, and Luo Li’s cultivation wasn’t high enough to comprehend it. But he was different. The System had directly returned this Kunpeng Divine Art to him, and its mysteries were instantly clear in his mind. Although he couldn’t unleash its full power, he could still use it—this was the true strength of the System.
Though slightly regretful that Luo Li couldn’t understand the technique, Liu Bai smiled and said, “When your cultivation is higher, I’ll teach you.”
“Alright.” Luo Li didn’t know what kind of combat art Liu Bai was referring to, but she didn’t insist on knowing. She trusted that Liu Bai had her best interests in mind, and that was enough.
She continued cultivating the advanced movement technique, Soaring Swallow Cloudstep. Before long, her movements started to show real form. Paired with her spear technique, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
After a short rest, the group continued their march. The next day, a cavalry scout galloped toward them from afar and reported, “General! At the northern border, 100,000 Northern Xiongnu troops are already at the gates of Jubei City! The city can’t hold out much longer! Please send reinforcements at once!”
Upon hearing this, Luo Feng’s expression grew heavy. “I didn’t expect the Northern Xiongnu to act so quickly—they’ve already reached Jubei City!”
There were two lines of defense at the border. The first was the frontier garrison stationed at the edge of the Great Zhou, always on alert for any sign of Northern Xiongnu movement. If any anomaly was spotted, they would send word back immediately. The second line of defense was Jubei City itself, the primary fortress against the Northern Xiongnu. If it fell, the Northern Xiongnu would be able to march deep into the heart of the Great Zhou. Countless civilians would be at risk.
“Father, we’re still 100 li away from Jubei City. Even if we march at full speed, the army won’t arrive until a full day and night later! Let me take a cavalry unit and rush ahead first!” Luo Li said.
“Mhm, that’s our only option,” Luo Feng nodded.
Cavalry was fast. Only they could reach Jubei City in time.
Liu Bai’s heart stirred. According to the original Life Script, Luo Li would lead 3,000 cavalry to reinforce Jubei City, holding out for a day and night before the main army arrived. But by then, most of the cavalry would have been wiped out, and she herself would be severely wounded. It would make future resistance much harder.
Liu Bai couldn’t let that happen.
He stepped forward and said, “A’Li, Uncle, I’ll go ahead to check on Jubei City.”
“You? Alone?”
“Mhm. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. My cultivation is decent. I should be able to buy some time for Jubei City before you all arrive,” Liu Bai said calmly.
Luo Feng frowned, but he knew the situation was urgent.
“Xiao Bai, be very careful.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Brother Liu Bai, please stay safe. I’ll be bringing the cavalry soon!” Luo Li said.
“Mhm, I’ll be waiting for you.” Liu Bai smiled. In the next instant, he soared into the sky. Behind him, a faint Kunpeng phantom appeared!
A surge of wild, ancient aura erupted forth!
Even Luo Feng, a Battle King, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. “What kind of technique is that? So refined! That speed… incredible!”
Watching Liu Bai disappear into the distance, Luo Feng suddenly sensed that the youth’s speed might already rival his own.
Too astonishing.
After all, Liu Bai was still only at the Battle Spirit Realm.
What would happen if he broke through a realm or two?
A smile formed on Luo Feng’s face. “Xiao Bai really hides his strength. With such a movement technique, there’s no need to worry about his safety.”
No one noticed a shadow following closely behind Liu Bai. It was the Dark Dragon, the secret guard sent by Liu Jianglong to protect him.
But seeing Liu Bai’s speed, already seeming faster than his own, the Dark Dragon couldn’t help swallowing nervously. “Young Master actually has this kind of movement technique? I can’t even catch up—how am I supposed to protect him?? Does the patriarch know about this?”
At this moment, Liu Bai, in the Dark Dragon’s eyes, had become even more mysterious.
Whoosh!!
Liu Bai soared through the sky, using the Kunpeng Divine Art to rush toward Jubei City at extreme speed.
As he moved through the clouds, he felt an immense thrill.
“So this is the Kunpeng Divine Art? As expected, it’s extraordinary! Normally, only those at the Battle Marquis Realm can fly.”
“But I’ve done it with just Battle Spirit cultivation!”
“This is the Kunpeng Divine Art’s true mystery!”
Wearing a smile, Liu Bai raced toward Jubei City.
Along the way, some travelers noticed a shadow flash across the ground. Looking up, they vaguely saw a massive Kunpeng phantom soaring across the sky. The ancient aura left them in awe.
Some even fell to their knees, crying out to the divine bird.
Outside Jubei City, the 100,000 Northern Xiongnu soldiers were launching a full-scale assault. Catapults and siege crossbows fired repeatedly at the city gates.
Murderous intent surged into the sky, stirring the clouds.
Limbs were scattered, blood ran like rivers.
It was a living hell.
The Northern Xiongnu soldiers wore savage beast armor, attacking like feral animals. The city defenders stood firm and charged back.
No one retreated.
If Jubei City fell, hundreds of thousands of civilians within and tens of millions in the heartlands of the Great Zhou would be exposed to the Northern Xiongnu, as cruel as wolves and tigers.
The thought alone drove the soldiers mad with fury. They fought with bloodshot eyes, unwilling to fall back.
But no matter how resolute their will, the city gates had begun to give under the Northern Xiongnu’s assault.
Inside the city, the commander was preparing to lead men to the gate.
“If the gate falls, we’ll use our flesh and blood as the wall! Not one Northern Xiongnu soldier must be allowed to enter!!” the commander roared.
Boom. Boom. Boom!
The gate thundered louder and louder.
Cracks began to spread across its surface.
Just as it was about to collapse, a shadow suddenly fell from the sky.
Then, like a divine bird of ancient times, a Kunpeng descended, landing before the city gate and unleashing a violent storm!
Northern Xiongnu soldiers were flung into the air.
They looked up and saw a white-robed figure standing before the gate.
His eyes were cold, and a trace of killing intent lingered between his brows. Powerful spiritual energy surged around him, making the ground beneath his feet sink.
“Behind me, not one Northern Xiongnu soldier shall pass!!”
It was Liu Bai, who had arrived at lightning speed using the Kunpeng Divine Art.