Chapter 6: The Two Countries Clash
In this era, the power of the Great Sui was at its peak, and it could be said that it was invincible in the world. Compared to the latter half of the 20th century to the early 21st century, it was even more powerful than the old rice. As a member of the royal family, the eldest son of the crown prince, Yang Zhao had long taken it as his unshirkable responsibility to maintain the Great Sui and protect the Yang family. So when he suddenly heard Yi Zhi Wende's absurd theory, he couldn't help but stand up and speak out, just like he used to do in online forums.
Actually, as a member of the royal family who has not yet been granted a noble title, Yang Zhao does not have the qualifications to speak freely in the grand hall of the national banquet. Having stayed in the palace for less than half a year, he naturally would know this much etiquette. However, at that time, his blood was boiling and he impulsively spoke out without thinking about the consequences. As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately knew it wasn't good. Moreover, he heard that Yizhi Wende actually dared to propose such a big bet with him, how could he dare agree? For a moment, he was speechless, looking very embarrassed.
Fortunately, the current situation is a bit special, Yang Guang doesn't need to say much. Even Yang Jian was surprised and pleased with what his grandson said. He liked it so much that he didn't have time to blame him for not understanding the rules. At this point, seeing Yang Zhao dare not speak up, he secretly praised his grandson for being sensible and helped him out by saying: "Alright, I'll take on this bet. Hmph, Goguryeo is a small country, narrow-minded and self-important, ridiculous! The Yang family..."
"Hold on. Emperor Yang of Sui, this wager seems to be a bit unfair, doesn't it?" Before Yizhen Wende could respond, someone else stood up from the seats where the envoys of various countries were sitting. He was about twenty years old, and his sleeves and robe corners were embroidered with golden running wolves. Although the people present may not have known him personally, they would not have failed to recognize the running wolf."
The wolf is the supreme totem in the hearts of the grassland nation. The ruler of the grassland, the Turkic royal family Ashina, claims to be the holy wolf's descendants. The man in front is the second son of Ashina Tuli, the Khan of the Eastern Turks after the split, with the title "Qimeng", Ashina Helu. He bowed deeply to Yang Jian and said: "Great Emperor of China, although Goguryeo is arrogant, but the Chinese emperor has a broad mind, naturally should let Goguryeo people lose also lose convincingly. This Zhufa Ran master, his martial arts are indeed extraordinary, but I suppose he can't win against four hands with two fists. The minister suggests, why not limit it to three rounds, each fighting alone, the first to win two rounds wins. What does the Great Emperor think?"
To know that Tuli was able to make a comeback and establish his country, it was all thanks to Emperor Yang of Sui supporting him from behind. Now, Ashina Heluochuo is actually speaking on behalf of Goguryeo, which caught Yang Jian off guard. The good mood he had just started to feel immediately disappeared without a trace. He sneered, about to respond, when suddenly he heard Yiwen Wende bowing his head and saying proudly: "Ashina prince's kindness, Yiwen Wende has taken note of it. However, this martial arts competition and war have the same principle, more people don't necessarily have an advantage, fewer people don't necessarily lose out. No matter how many masters Sui has, our side is all under the command of Master Zhuge Fangren, who has taken on the challenge."
Yang Jian's face turned gloomy, and he swept his sleeve, saying: "Heaven's fault can be avoided; one's own fault cannot be survived. Yang Qingjia, you come to make arrangements."
Yang Su was secretly delighted. The monk in front of him had exceptionally powerful martial arts skills, and was indeed a rare high-level expert. Looking around the imperial court, it's likely that no one could confidently claim victory. Originally, his own cultivation of the "Eclipse Yin Scripture" was also famous for its overbearing style, and he was eager to take action and fight. However, this strange skill's power was related to the fullness or lack of the moon. Unfortunately, tonight happened to be the 30th day of the lunar year, and there wasn't even a sliver of moon in the night sky.
So Yang Su had already made up his mind, if you want to gang up on us, we'll all gang up on you alone. If you want a one-on-one fight, then you can have a one-on-one fight with all of us. After all, victory is victory, and there's no need to be bound by methods. At this point, Gong bowed his head and said: "Your subject has received the order." Turning around, he said: "Yi Zhongwen De, don't say that we're bullying you because our Great Sui is powerful and your country is small." He turned sideways to the side seat and clasped his hands together, saying in a low voice: "Duke of Tang, Duke of Xu. Thank you both for your trouble."
Tang Guogong was a noble title conferred by Li Yuan, and Xu Guogong was Yuwen Shu. Both were renowned for their martial prowess, and no one in the court dared to rank third alongside them. As they exchanged glances, they simultaneously stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yang Jian, saying: "The barbarians are disrespectful. Your humble subjects intend to take action and mete out a slight punishment; we beg your imperial majesty's permission."
"Alright. Let the two of you go all out, it's also good to teach them not to think that there is no one in China who can match them." Yang Jian waved his hand and instructed the eunuch beside him: "Fill a cup for each of the two gentlemen, to boost their morale." The two men thanked him and took the cups, drinking them dry in one gulp. They shouted in unison: "Clear the field!"
Suddenly, the warriors on the platform retreated one after another, leaving a large empty space. The officials and envoys at the banquet held their breath, and hundreds of eyes were fixed on the three great masters, the atmosphere was tense and solemn. However, with the great battle ahead, the Tianzhu monk still lowered his head and clasped his hands together, muttering to himself, and it was unknown what he was reciting.
Li Yuan was cautious by nature and always liked to plan before acting. Yuwen Shu, on the other hand, was known for his swift and decisive actions. Moreover, today's battle concerned the nation's dignity, so he was even more eager to make a name for himself. With a burst of icy energy, a majestic ice tiger took shape, its presence both beautiful and terrifying. The patriarch of the Yuwen clan let out a thunderous roar, like a fierce tiger descending from the mountains, pouncing forward without hesitation, and striking with all his might, his momentum more powerful than that of ten thousand horses!
But only to hear that the Tianzhu monk once again let out a Buddhist chant, his arms swiftly circling and intersecting, stirring up the air flow and condensing it into ice. A transparent ice shield instantly took shape and stood upright in front of him, completely blocking Yuwen Shu's overwhelming fist technique and making it impossible for him to take half a step forward. Yang Zhao, who was watching from the side, had his eyes light up and involuntarily exclaimed: "Ice Wind Shield?"
The sound had barely faded, and the situation in the arena was already changing like a stormy weather. Bing Xuanjin was known for his cunning and unpredictability, rather than brute force. The seemingly overwhelming punches from the front were actually just a facade. In a flash of lightning, Yuwen Shu's virtual force struck, and the cold wind of his fist unexpectedly circled around Tianzhu Monk's head and launched a sneak attack from behind. The cleverness of his move was truly breathtaking. Tianzhu Monk did not expect this, and he stumbled in mid-air. After more than ten loud thunderclaps, he couldn't stand firm again, and his body involuntarily plunged forward, leaving him wide open.
Yuwen Shu's hands were clenched into fists, and with a loud shout of "Come on!", he launched a palm strike that was as sharp as a knife. The full force of his true energy was concentrated in this one blow, which was the strongest killing move in the "Ice Profound Fist" technique: Ice Slashing Ten Thousand Cuts! This move originally relied on dense and complex knife movements to quickly slash out, aiming to make the enemy suffer a miserable fate of being sliced into pieces. However, Yuwen Shu had been practicing his family's secret techniques for decades, and had long since reached the realm of "Returning to the Truth". As a result, his two palm strikes seemed ordinary on the surface, but had actually merged the power of thousands of knives into one, with icy energy simultaneously surging in from all directions, layer upon layer, making it impossible for the enemy to retreat or avoid.
In the face of crisis, the Indian monk showed no fear at all, but instead puffed out his chest and charged forward, looking as if he was intentionally seeking death. Yuwen Shu felt a slight sense of wonder in his heart, but had no time to think about the reason behind it, and his two knives chopped down honestly and without courtesy. The "Ice Profound Power" was like an inverted heavenly river, pouring into the Indian monk's body in great quantities, but not only did it fail to exert its due power, but also seemed to have no reaction at all, as if it had entered the sea without a trace. Yuwen Shu was greatly shocked and wanted to retreat, but it was already too late. He felt the cold ice and fierce fire powers from the opponent's body flowing through his own arms, and in just an instant, he felt his internal organs boiling like blood, his veins freezing, and his entire body stiffening. The Indian monk's eyes revealed a crazy intention, his hands half-clenched, with his thumb, index, and middle fingers curled up like scissors, and he swiftly aimed at Yuwen Shu's heart and throat, the two most vital points. Yang Zhao, who was standing beside Yang Jian, simultaneously cried out in surprise: "Mantis claw finger? It's the Ice Fire Sevenfold Heaven!"
At the critical moment of life and death, reinforcements arrived! Li Yuan's family passed down the "Seven Styles of Battle Array" from the military book's array method. At this time, it was just right to use the strategy of surrounding Wei to rescue Zhao. The Ling Snake Swift Body Method advanced and retreated like lightning, flying like the wind. Tang Guogong's palms converged into a cone, his body spinning rapidly like a top, his lifelong skills concentrated and gathered into one point, invincible and unbeatable. This was the most powerful style of the seven: the Fēng Shǐ Zhèn (Halberd Array)!
The fierce move had not yet arrived, but the sharp arrow's intense energy had already caused the monk's back muscles to sink downward. He changed his move quickly, and the mantis's pointed finger brushed past Yuwen Shu's throat and heart, then swiftly turned around and kicked out with his right leg, sending Xu Guogong flying out. With a crash, he sank his body and barely escaped the arrow's piercing momentum. The pointed finger disappeared and reappeared in a flash, striking and hooking in a reverse motion, directly targeting Tang Guogong's lower vital point.
Seven Style Battle Formation, change!
Li Yuan's body was like a dragon flying in the air, and he made a turn at an impossible place, escaping the disaster of being disembowelled by a hair's breadth. His palms suddenly split apart, his ten fingers turned into claws, and from an almost impossible angle, he grasped the monk's wrist firmly. This change of move was as smooth as flowing clouds and running water, without any hint of fire or smoke. Yang Su, who was watching from the side, looked delighted and applauded, saying: "The dragon turns over, entwining and twisting, all things in the world are caught. What a wonderful Dragon Array!"
Pan Long Formation is one of the variations of 'Wu Shi' (No Style), the highest mental state in the Seven Battle Formations. It means that all techniques under heaven are at my disposal, and its changes are endless and unpredictable. The internal power of Tian Zhu monk is strong and his attacks are fierce, but if compared to Li Yuan's technique variations, he is far inferior. At this moment, both wrists have been grasped by the enemy, and the bones are already making a cracking sound as if they are about to break.
However, fortune relies on disaster, and disaster relies on fortune. The Indian monk's technique was no match, but as both sides got entangled in close combat, it turned out to be just what he needed to play to his strengths. Not only did he not struggle to break free, but instead, he reversed the situation with a wrist lock. The overwhelming power of the Seven Heavens Ice Fire erupted like a mountain flood, causing Tang Guogong's body to shake violently. Wanting to let go was no longer an option; under duress, he had no choice but to mobilize his lifelong skills and engage in a fierce internal energy struggle with the Indian monk!
High hands pass, fists come and palms go, even if they occasionally hit each other's moves, as long as the protective aura is not broken, even if injured, it will not be too serious. But if you hard-spar internal strength, the loser will naturally die on the spot with five internal organs ruptured, and the winner will also inevitably suffer great damage to their vitality. Therefore, in general, unless there is a deep feud, both sides will try to avoid direct comparison of internal strength as much as possible. Unexpectedly, this Tianzhu monk was so overbearing and brave, really beyond Tang Guogong's expectations.
At this stalemate, a cold wind suddenly howled and swept through the hall, extinguishing all the candles and lanterns. Xu Guogong Yuwen Shu's eyes gleamed like a sword as he pointed out with full force, releasing a sharp cold air that pierced through Tianzhu monk's back door, striking his acupoints and meridians. This was one of the moves from "Ice Xuan Jing", the icy stab to the bone.
Two great masters attacked from front and back, even the monk from Tianzhu's ability was hard to withstand. In a critical moment, only the sound of "chi" breaking through the air was heard, the monk's entire body turned dark and his muscles became crystal clear, revealing all the blood vessels and bones under his skin. This was an extraordinary phenomenon that would only occur when one reached the peak of the seventh heaven. Suddenly, the two opposing forces exploded wildly, sending Yuwen Shu and Li Yuan flying backward at the same time. Yuwen Shu was like being hit by a giant catapult in the chest, involuntarily flying backward, crashing through the wall and out of the hall, his life or death unknown. The monk had no time to pay attention to him, intent on pouncing on Li Yuan, his scissor-like fingers falling like a sharp blade, about to cut this noble Tang Dynasty duke into pieces on the spot.
At the critical moment, Li Yuan exerted all his strength to save himself, and the battle formation changed again! The fierce fire energy surged high, vaguely condensing into a fire ox shape. The icy cold finger and the scorching hot double fists clashed head-on, forcing out a series of explosive sounds. Although injured earlier and not having enough energy to gather momentum, Li Yuan's Fire Ox Formation could only be unleashed at most 1-2% of its full power. Despite appearing majestic, it was actually just an empty show. In the end, he suffered a crushing defeat. The Duke of Tang felt his throat turn sweet, and as he opened his mouth, a huge blood flower spurted out, straight and true, directly at the great Sui Emperor on the throne!
The strange change, Li Yuan was pushed by the fierce force of Binghuo Seven Layers Heaven, and he had already been injured and unable to control himself. He went quickly like thunder and lightning, and although there were many warriors on the platform, not one of them could react in time to stop him. Only Yang Zhao, who was closest to him, reacted the fastest, because of his memories from before crossing over, he knew that the most terrifying thing about Binghuo Seven Layers Heaven was its powerful counter-shock force. When he saw Li Yuan with his back to Yang Jian and ready to fight hard against Tianzhu monk, he already knew it was not good.
In the blink of an eye, Yang Zhao displayed his agility and changed his shadow. Before the afterimage had dispersed, he had already stood in front of Yang Jian to protect him. This was the legendary lightness skill that shook the world: Extreme Speed Shape-shifting. He poured all the internal energy he had cultivated for ten years into his palms. The left palm hid the trigram ??, while the right palm hid the trigram?. The two trigrams were used together to release a powerful gust of wind and water, which pressed down on Li Yuan's straight-on charge. On the spot, it changed the momentum of the Duke of Tang from horizontal to vertical, shooting him straight up into the air towards the rooftop.
The Book of Changes is a profound and mysterious book that uses the eight trigrams to reveal the ultimate principle. It can move and change, and with just four ounces, it can shift a thousand pounds. However, what about the mighty and overbearing power of the seven-layered heavenly fire? Even if it's transmitted through an object, the residual shockwave still makes Yang Zhao's face turn pale as if he was struck by lightning. The momentum of Tang Guogong's upward surge is exhausted, and he turns to fall down. "Plop!" At the same time that he falls softly to the ground, Yang Zhao also lets out a fart, his buttocks hitting the floor, and in an instant, his whole body goes limp, unable to even lift half a finger.
In an instant, the two great masters fell simultaneously, which was beyond Yang Su's expectations. He thought quickly and shouted loudly: "The Goguryeo envoys are plotting to assassinate the Emperor, protect the Emperor!" He jumped out first and stood on the steps below the hall. The officials of the Sui Dynasty in the hall were shocked and immediately got up, slapping their thighs. Yang Xuangan, Yuwen Huaji, Pei Ju, Xue Shixiong, Lai Hu'er, Yang Yicheng, Yu Jueluo, Wang Ren'gong, Feng Xiaoci and other masters surrounded Tianzhu monk and Yi Zhongwende. They were waiting for a signal to rush up together and turn the two Goguryeo envoys into two piles of minced meat. However, they saw the Sui Emperor slowly standing up, his face pale as iron, shouting: "All officials, stop and retreat!"
Yang Su was taken aback and turned around to cup his hands in respect, saying: "Your Majesty, this..." Before he could finish speaking, Yang Jian waved his hand to interrupt him. The great emperor of the Sui dynasty stepped down from the golden steps, grasping the hilt of his sword, and said in a steady voice: "If you lose, then lose; if you win, then win - why must you say more? I admire this master's exceptional martial arts skills. Quickly have the two beloved princes, Tang Guo Gong and Xu Guo Gong, carried away to receive proper medical treatment. Let me personally take action and learn from them."
