Grinding to Martial Emperor from the Border Army

Chapter 194: Chapter 147: Uniting the Buffer Zone

CREAK!

The sound of bowstrings being drawn rang out.

On the city walls, everyone drew their bows to a full moon.

It would take time for thirty thousand men to pour through the city gates. Even with their cavalry leading the charge, the pursuers closing in from behind left a straggling tail. This rearguard was well within the range of the archers on the walls.

And it was these very men who became the bait to lure out Wu Ming.

This time, he had brought all the cavalry from his camp. He wanted revenge, but he also wanted to see if he could swallow up the Celestial King Stronghold. With such a golden opportunity before him, how could he possibly let it go?

Waving the longsword in his hand, he charged forward. The warhorse under him neighed incessantly as he whipped it.

As he neared the city wall, he leaped, soaring into the air in an attempt to land on top of it.

A cold glint flashed in Lu Yuan’s eyes.

He simply stated, "Kill!"

Then, bowstrings were released. Feathered arrows tore through the air as the other archers followed suit.

Wu Ming knew the Celestial King Stronghold had an expert archer.

But his Body Refining Technique was incredible, and he had never paid any mind to weapons like bows and arrows.

While in mid-air, his entire body erupted in a golden sheen.

It was as if he had transformed into a Golden Body Arhat.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A barrage of arrows rained down on him, producing crisp metallic sounds and showers of sparks, completely unable to harm him in the slightest.

However, just as a smile touched his lips and he was about to land on the wall...

PFFT!

A single feathered arrow pierced through his chest, the force sending his body reeling backward.

It was, of course, Lu Yuan’s feathered arrow.

Forget Wu Ming’s physique; even a body forged from Refined Steel would have found it difficult to withstand that shot.

Disbelief filled his eyes.

But Lu Yuan didn’t stop.

He drew his bow again. With another sound of a sharp weapon sinking into flesh...

Wu Ming’s body plummeted, his golden form broken.

He could no longer resist.

He fell to the ground.

He was engulfed by feathered arrows.

The feathered arrows rained down relentlessly. From a distance, it looked as though a great waterfall was pouring from the city walls, a torrential current of shafts that enveloped everyone who got too close.

Bodies fell one after another.

Endless screams echoed as a great number of Village Soldiers and the high-ranking officers leading the charge were killed.

RUMBLE!

After mowing down the Village Soldiers at the front...

The city gates opened, and the army of the Celestial King Stronghold surged out like a dark tide.

Their Village Chief was dead, their leaders slaughtered. The soldiers of Tianya Village were now in complete disarray.

They tried to flee for their lives in every direction, but of course, Lu Yuan wouldn’t give them the chance.

The four city gates opened, and the troops of the Celestial King Stronghold moved to encircle them from all sides.

Surrounding the Tianya Village army, Lu Yuan roared, "Surrender, and you won’t be killed!"

In the buffer zone, this phrase was the most effective.

The major strongholds were constantly warring with and absorbing one another, so many Village Soldiers had no so-called loyalty. They would fight for whoever won, for whoever gave them silver.

Thus, with no effort at all, Lu Yuan gathered the remaining two hundred thousand-plus men of Tianya Village.

Now, his army had reached a terrifying five hundred thousand.

They could now absolutely crush Ice Mirror Lake.

This series of events seemed simple, but by the time Lu Yuan had fully gathered the men, it was already dawn the next day.

Only then did some semblance of order return to the Celestial King Stronghold.

All the surrendered soldiers from Tianya Village were brought into the city, broken up, and reassigned to new squads.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Fan Chen watched the scene on the battlefield, his face deathly pale. He knew he was finished.

The Eldest Prince would never let him go.

At first, Fan Chen had thought the Celestial King Stronghold would merely wear down some of Tianya Village’s forces.

But who could have expected that a Divine Origin Realm expert would die, and that Wu Ming would recklessly charge out in pursuit?

That pursuit was even more disastrous; he had barely entered the battlefield before he too was shot and killed.

By then, it was too late for Fan Chen to send reinforcements. If he had charged in rashly, his own fate would have been no better.

And now, leading his two hundred thousand Village Soldiers, he had no idea what to do.

The Eldest Prince would be furious. He would surely face a terrible end if he returned.

The Third Prince would probably want to flay him alive.

For a moment, he stood there, stunned.

His back was soaked with sweat.

Just then, as he gazed at Lu Yuan on the distant city wall, a sudden inspiration struck him.

’There’s another way. Surrender to the Celestial King Stronghold. I can’t defeat them anyway. If I surrender to them, I should be able to save my own life. After all, they’re a power backed by the Seventh Prince.

’As long as I choose to surrender... the Seventh Prince is the Crown Prince. Even if the Eldest Prince and the Third Prince want me dead, they’ll have to show the Crown Prince some respect.’ Fan Chen thought.

After glancing at the few leaders beside him, he said coolly, "Bring the men and follow me."

With that, he headed directly for the Celestial King Stronghold.

From a distance, Lu Yuan saw this and a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. ’Shouldn’t the men from Ice Mirror Lake be fleeing right now? They actually dare to run this way. Are they really not afraid of death?’

But as the army drew near, it stopped about an arrow’s flight away.

Then, Fan Chen fell to his knees on the ground and shouted to Lu Yuan, "Village Chief, I, on behalf of Ice Mirror Lake, wish to surrender! Please spare our lives, Village Chief!"

After speaking, he unhesitatingly kowtowed, pressing his head to the ground.

The army behind him was stunned by this scene. They had thought they were coming to fight to the death, but they never expected their Village Chief to lead them in a direct surrender.

However, everyone knew they couldn’t defeat the Celestial King Stronghold. Not dying now was the best possible outcome.

So they too dismounted from their warhorses one after another.

Only a few of the leaders exchanged hesitant glances before kneeling, a beat too slow.