Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

All those with ambition could no longer contain their wild desires and began their respective actions. As the saying goes, "When a single hair is pulled, the whole body is affected," and thus, the entirety of Great Chen fell into the throes of war.

Li Xin of Jinzhou naturally did not want to miss such an opportune moment and marshaled the vast army of Jinzhou to march grandly toward Yuzhou.

Since his last failure, King of Pingnan, Li Xin, had remained in Jinzhou, silently recovering his damaged strength and waiting for the chance to exact revenge. When the world suddenly shifted, and the White Lotus Sect's rebellion unfolded the grand curtain of the dragon struggle, he could no longer hold back and prepared himself to cleanse his previous disgrace.

At this moment, Li Xin was within his private residence listening to his scouts report back. He paced back and forth in the hall, frowning as he spoke, "So, it's Liu Qingyun who has taken the lead in Yuzhou?"

Seeing the scout nod, he couldn't help but sigh, "How did Lu Zhang come across such good fortune to have such a fierce general? I used to serve in the same court as Liu Qingyun's father and intended to recruit him to my side. Yet, no matter how I tried to entice or incite them, they were not taken in."

"Your Highness, there's no need to worry. Liu Qingyun is indeed formidable but not invincible. A few days ago, a valiant hero arrived at my residence, exhibiting exceptional martial skills and boundless strength, capable of contending with him.

I was just about to recommend him to your Highness." This was Shi Jin, a very scholarly gentleman from the prominent Shi family of Jinzhou, who always served as Li Xin's chief advisor.

"Oh! You're not one to praise others lightly, bring this person to me for an audience." Shi Jin's words successfully captured Li Xin's interest.

Knowing that Liu Qingyun once, with his white robe and Silver Spear, had moved almost invincibly through the battlefield, leaving a profound impact on him, Li Xin was convinced that if Shi Jin deemed this person comparable to Liu Qingyun, he must be extraordinary.

Soon, a burly giant over two meters tall walked in, a mass of muscle with fierce eyes, dragging an enormous Wolf Fang Club that etched a deep mark in the Green Stone Slab, indicating the club's weight. Bowing before Li Xin, the man said, "My humble self, Zhu Gang, pays his respects to the King of Pingnan!"

The moment Li Xin laid eyes on Zhu Gang, he was certain that the man was no ordinary individual. Such physique and strength were indeed rare, and he was somewhat convinced of what Shi Jin had mentioned. Naturally, he adopted the demeanor of a gracious noble who respects talent, "Truly a valiant hero. It is indeed a blessing accrued over three lifetimes for this prince to have Zhu Gang's assistance."

He then scrutinized Zhu Gang, asking, "Such a powerful hero, how come you're not adorned in armor?"

"To speak the truth, my size is excessively large and I have found no armor to fit, leaving me exposed as such."

Li Xin immediately called over the person responsible for weapon manufacturing and instructed, "Don't delay in taking the hero's measurements for custom-made armor."

Li Xin could already imagine the outcome once this massive man charged into battle clad in armor. It would surely be a devastating blow.

The more he observed Zhu Gang, the more satisfied he became. At last, he too had a peerless fierce general capable of charging into enemy formations, and his hope for the upcoming battle was rekindled.

"Steward, instruct the kitchen, I want to hold a banquet to honor Hero Zhu," said Li Xin, in high spirits, ordering the servants. He planned to gather his civil and military officials and introduce them to Zhu Gang to boost morale.

Afterward, he appointed Zhu Gang as Vanguard General and personally led a force of one hundred thousand toward Yuzhou City.

As time flows like water, Zhu Gang, as Vanguard Officer, successfully arrived at Yuzhou City after several days of travel. By that time, Yuzhou City had long since shut its gates. Countless soldiers were gathered for its defense, and the sun reflected off their blades, casting a stark white, chilling light, filling the scene with a deathly silence.

"Yuzhou City is not easy to conquer," Zhu Gang had already concluded in his heart.

A messenger was sent out to call for a duel, and in no time, the city gates opened. Out rode a young man in a white robe, wielding a Silver Spear. It was none other than Liu Qingyun.

As soon as he appeared, he saw Zhu Gang, who had been recently appointed by Li Xin as the Vanguard General for this siege. Zhu Gang was a burly man, cloaked in heavy armor, mounted on a rhinoceros, looking imposing and majestic. Zhu Gang's massive body was too much for an ordinary horse to bear, so it was only through Li Xin's previously acquired exotic beasts that such a mount was found for him.

"Who is this coming general? State your name!" Liu Qingyun called out.

"You insolent boy, I am Zhu Gang, the vanguard of the King of Pingnan. Surrender quickly; my iron rod does not feast on vegetables. Soon, I'll scatter your brains," Zhu Gang retorted.

Liu Qingyun couldn't be bothered to engage in a war of words and charged at him, spear in hand. As soon as they clashed, both felt a shock of fear.

"Where did Li Xin find such a freak with such great strength?" Liu Qingyun thought, recalling the intelligence gathered from Yuzhou. He found no mention of someone named Zhu Gang, but from their brief exchange, he already sensed this man would not be easy to handle.

Zhu Gang was equally startled; though Liu Qingyun looked frail, he possessed tremendous strength, and the force conveyed seemed mixed with an extraordinary power that made Zhu Gang quite uncomfortable.

Casting aside any underestimation, both fought with all their might. The battle instantly reached a fever pitch; they struck at each other with all their force, neither gaining the upper hand. Liu Qingyun's firepower was fully unleashed, with starlight shimmering, his Silver Spear creating an impenetrable defense.

Zhu Gang was not to be outdone, enveloped in a black aura, wielding the Wolf Fang Club with the force of a thousand jun.

The battle lasted from day until dusk, the sun had already set behind the hills, yet neither man could determine a victor. In the heat of the battle, Zhu Gang suddenly threw off his armor and let out a terrifying roar, his face appearing incredibly fierce in the night.

Liu Qingyun was unafraid. The Destroyer Star in the sky radiated a dazzling light, shining upon him as if he were clad in a layer of armor made from starlight. The two engaged in close combat, sending a massive surge of energy in all directions that caused the watching soldiers to involuntarily step back.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

When they parted, Liu Qingyun's hands shook slightly as he tightened his grip on the Silver Spear. Zhu Gang didn't fare much better; Liu Qingyun's recent thrust had pierced his belly, and if not for the protective layer of fat, the blow could have been fatal.

As the battle reached this point, both were gasping for air. Seeing this, both commanders realized that continuing the fight was unlikely to yield a clear winner, so they sounded the retreat, planning to fight again the next day.

Liu Qingyun entered the central tent within the city, removed his armor, revealing clothes already drenched with sweat, looking as though he had been fished out of water.

"Are you alright, Qingyun?" Lu Zhang, looking at the panting Liu Qingyun, asked with concern.

"My lord, do not worry. It's just that the battle was long, and I am somewhat exhausted. I'll recover after a short while," Liu Qingyun reassured him.

"Zhu Gang is indeed a tough adversary. It's a good thing that you faced him alone today. The thought of such a force charging into our ranks is too dreadful to contemplate," Lu Zhang felt uneasy even thinking about Zhu Gang's towering figure during daylight.