Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 86: Xue Rengui Breaks Through the Two Realm Passes

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Xue Rengui Breaks Through the Two Realm Passes

But Xue Rengui, holding the Heaven-Defying Taoist’s Great Revolution Seal and the Sun-Shooting Bow and arrows, employed the Earth Escape Technique and headed towards the pass between the two realms in the west.

He was a martial star reincarnated, possessed great fortune, and his cultivation level was that of an Earth Immortal, only lacking a bit to enter the realm of the Supreme Immortal among the nine realms of immortals. The Heaven-Defying Taoist had also infused him with no small amount of mana, making his use of the escape technique seem effortless and extremely fast. After traveling for five hours, he arrived at the pass between the two realms.

Upon reaching the camp’s gate, he was stopped by the soldiers, who demanded, "Who goes there!"

Xue Rengui declared loudly, "The Emperor has issued a sacred edict, commanding me to assist in the breach of the two realms’ pass! Summon Marshal Li Ji to receive the decree!"

The soldiers guarding the camp dared not delay and immediately instructed their comrades to keep an eye on Xue Rengui while they hurriedly ran into the camp to call for Li Ji.

At this moment, Li Ji was deliberating with various generals on how to break through the two realms’ pass, and moreover, according to intelligence, an army of three hundred thousand from Tianzhu Country was marching towards the pass! If that happened, the pass would be defended by a total of four hundred thousand soldiers. Breaching the pass would then become even more challenging.

"Report, Marshal, someone has come bearing the Emperor’s sacred edict, claiming to assist the Marshal in breaking the two realms’ pass!" they announced.

Li Ji slightly furrowed his brow and said, "Oh? Who might this distinguished person be? To actually come with the sacred edict." After speaking, he gestured towards the outside of the camp, "Generals, join me in welcoming the sacred edict of the Emperor!"

Li Ji then led the generals of the central armies to exit the tent and greet Xue Rengui.

Xue Rengui had arrived in a hurry, without changing his attire, still dressed as a flame-clad warrior. But Li Ji was not one to judge others by their appearance. He observed that the young man had red lips and white teeth, starry eyebrows, and bright eyes; his nose was straight and his mouth square, quite handsome indeed.

Xue Rengui was unfamiliar with the protocol of proclaiming edicts and loudly ordered, "Marshal Li Ji, receive the decree!"

Li Ji hurriedly brushed his sleeve robe and knelt on one knee, replying, "Your servant Li Ji, receives the decree."

Xue Rengui unfolded the sacred edict and read, "The walls of the pass between the two realms are formidable, the soldiers robust, the provisions plentiful, and the arms in perfect order. Li Ji, my loyal subject, should you forcefully conquer it, I fear casualties among the soldiers, tarnishing the benevolence of Great Tang. Fortunately, the Great Tang has the aid of the Heaven-Defying Taoist Master, whose magical power is boundless. He has summoned the heavens, calculated the cosmic flow, and has now recommended General of the Vanguard Xue Li to come and assist, which would surely break through the two realms’ pass. Li Ji, my loyal subject, you will for now heed the commands of Xue Li, leaving no room for error. This is the decree!"

"Your servant Li Ji, receives the decree!" Li Ji took the decree with both hands.

After receiving the sacred edict, Li Ji and the generals stood up, and the soldiers, upon hearing that they would be commanded by this young general, were quite dissatisfied in their hearts.

Li Ji showed no sign of dissatisfaction and asked, "Are you General Xue Li?"

Xue Rengui bowed and responded, "I am Xue Li, at your service, Marshal Li."

Helping Xue Rengui to his feet, Li Ji said, "General Xue, you must be tired from the journey; rest inside the tent for now, and we’ll discuss the matter later."

He then had someone arrange for Xue Rengui’s accommodations and treated him to a generous meal, though it was not the proper time for a formal banquet.

Xue Rengui, who had been rushing about all night, was indeed very hungry and only stopped eating after downing twenty-eight bowls of white rice, much to the wide-eyed astonishment of the soldiers serving the food. After Xue Rengui had his fill, Li Ji sent someone to summon him to the central military tent.

"His Majesty has sent General Xue to aid us in breaking the pass, may I ask if General Xue has any insights?" inquired Li Ji.

"I have no particular insights," Xue Rengui shook his head and said.

"Dammit, you little brat, are you here to make a fool of me?" Cheng Yaojin couldn’t help but curse, rolling up his sleeves as if preparing for a brawl.

Xue Rengui replied, "Before coming, the Heaven-Defying Taoist gave me two magical treasures, claiming they will definitely break the pass."

Li Ji exclaimed with joy, "Oh? What magical treasures?"

Xue Rengui took out the Great Revolution Seal and said, "It is this seal. Once raised to the sky and unleashed, it can crumble the walls of the two realms’ pass."

Cheng Yaojin stepped forward and shouted, "What nonsense is this Taoist spouting! The walls of the two realms’ pass are protected by magic. How can they be destroyed? Is this green seal really that powerful? If so, I, old Cheng, could gnaw a hole through the wall myself!"

As he finished speaking, he snatched the Great Revolution Seal. Xue Rengui, caught off guard, let go, and as Cheng Yaojin grabbed the seal, he suddenly felt its weight as heavy as a mountain. Pulled down by its force, he tumbled to the ground, howling in pain.

The generals couldn’t help but laugh, and Qin Shubao said with a chuckle, "Look at you, Cheng the Demon, didn’t believe it, and now you’ve suffered, losing face?"

Cheng Yaojin, his hand nearly torn off by the powerful pull and having fallen hard, grumbled as he got up, spit out a mouthful of saliva, and said, "Fine, let’s say I, old Cheng, didn’t say anything! And don’t you all tease me anymore, or I might just have to use my axe on someone!"

Seeing Cheng Yaojin’s temper flare up, everyone stopped teasing him. Even the Heavenly King and Laozi would fear this old ruffian when he was in a foul mood.

"What a magical treasure, even General Cheng can’t lift it!" Li Ji applauded and laughed.

Everyone knew of Cheng Yaojin’s prowess and brute strength; since even he couldn’t move the item, the rest chose not to embarrass themselves and remained spectators. Xue Rengui then courteously bowed to Cheng Yaojin and easily lifted the Great Seal.

Xue Rengui was able to lift the Great Revolution Seal because he was endowed with a great destiny and aligned with the revolutionary will, the cause and effect of which were extensive. But that is a story for another time, which we will not delve into now.

Li Ji then said, "Let’s have General Xue survey the two realms’ pass with me and see how you propose we breach it, shall we?"

Xue Rengui nodded and said, "It would be my pleasure!"

They proceeded to scout the two realms’ pass, examined the terrain, and then returned.

Li Ji asked, "What strategy do you have?"

Xue Rengui said, "Taking the city is inevitable, but we must reduce our soldiers’ casualties to a minimum. We could do it like this..."

Li Ji then gave the order, dividing the million-strong army into groups of one hundred thousand and launching a feint attack on the Two Realms Pass.

Thus, the ten divisions began to take turns feinting attacks, each time with overwhelming momentum, thunderous war drums, and soaring battle cries, putting the Tianzhu Country soldiers defending the city on edge. They bent their bows, notched their arrows, heated oil in cauldrons, and rolled rocks and logs to the walls. But each division advanced with shield bearers in front, blocking a volley of arrows, then retreated once they saw the defenders rolling down rocks, only for another division to surge forth in the same manner. The ten divisions split into two groups, taking turns attacking two different sections of the wall.

This series of feints left the defenders above in agony, exhausted to death, yet hardly killing any Tang soldiers.

While the divisions took turns attacking, they had already prepared their meals earlier, slaughtering cattle and sheep, all well-fed and spirited.

When it came time for dinner in the evening, the ten divisions took a break, pretending to cook in their camps.

The Tianzhu Country defenders finally breathed a sigh of relief, nearly collapsing from exhaustion, reviving only to eat their meals.

In no time, Xue Rengui rode to the eastern wall and whispered an incantation under his breath, "Great Revolution Seal, revolutionize the world, equality for all beings, the will of revolution, courageous and diligent, unyielding in spirit!"

With a gesture towards the sky, the Great Revolution Seal grew in the wind, expanding to the size of a mountain in an instant, and crushed against the wall mightily.

A deafening "boom" rang out. The earth quaked, the mountain crumbled, and the defending soldiers had no idea what was happening when a shadow descended upon them. Together with the city wall, they were crushed to dust. The city wall, enchanted with great magical power, stood no chance against the immense, heaven-like weight of the Great Revolution Seal!

"Charge!!!"

Five divisions, totaling five hundred thousand soldiers, boiled with rage and, under their commanders’ directives, charged towards the collapsed eastern wall.

Li Ji burst out laughing, "Good, good, good! Truly a fantastic magical treasure!"

Xue Rengui retracted the Great Revolution Seal and then led the other five divisions towards the south.

Upon seeing Xue Rengui’s formidable power, the Blazing Flames Zen Master didn’t dare let him wield the Great Revolution Seal and immediately flew out on his cloud, ready to fight!

Xue Rengui merely scoffed, took up his Sun-Shooting Bow, and notched an arrow.

The Blazing Flames Zen Master, realizing Xue Rengui had taken out the Sun-Shooting Bow, felt an overpowering intent to kill that made him tremble with fear. He couldn’t help but shout out loud and turn to flee! But while it was easy to come, leaving was not so simple. Xue Rengui was already an exceptional archer, and now with the Sun-Shooting Bow, his prowess was like a tiger growing wings.

With wide-open eyes and a voice that cracked like thunder, Xue Rengui shouted, "Hit!"

The arrow flew from the string, turning into a blazing golden streak, heading straight for the Niwan Palace of the Blazing Flames Zen Master.

Alas, Xue Rengui’s mana was too weak, and the arrow lacked power. The Blazing Flames Zen Master turned back to raise his Dharma Seal desperately to block, narrowly succeeding. But Xue Rengui had already twisted a second arrow onto the string! This second arrow shot forth with even more ferocity than the first, directly hitting the tail of the previous arrow, employing a technique as if a meteor chased the moon.

The Blazing Flames Zen Master, already exhausted from blocking one arrow, had no strength left to parry the second.

Both arrows struck him through the Niwan Palace. With a loud explosion, his head burst open, his Primordial Spirit was annihilated, meeting a grisly end.

Later generations hailed with a poem, "He held the Marshal’s great seal beyond his years, his renown shook all directions near and far. With two arrows he slew the old Zen Master, with one seal he breached the wall causing Tianzhu alarm."

With the death of the Blazing Flames Zen Master, chaos ensued within the Two Realms Pass. Xue Rengui caught his breath for a moment, lifted the Great Revolution Seal into the air, and smashed it down upon the city wall. A thirty-zhang section instantly crumbled, and the five divisions stormed through! The slaughter was so brutal that heaven and earth turned dark with confusion, fulfilling the saying: "Gloomy clouds cast shadows on the sun, boiling seas and turbulent rivers dismay gods and demons alike!"

Xue Rengui put away his arrows and the Great Seal, returning to the camp on his horse, feeling so weary that stars danced before his eyes, his legs wobbled, and he staggered.

Li Ji hurried forward to take hold of Xue Rengui’s horse, laughing heartily, "Having General Xue is truly heaven’s aid to us!"

After catching his breath, Xue Rengui asked, "Is there food to eat?"

Li Ji was taken aback at the request for food, but then laughed heartily, "Yes, there is!"

He immediately slaughtered a fat sheep. Xue Rengui ate a whole bucket of rice and the entire fat sheep, filling his belly to the brim before finally stopping. He laughed and said, "Using that magical treasure just now truly drained my strength. I hope the Marshal doesn’t find my appetite off-putting."

Li Ji, watching Xue Rengui eat with the ferocity of a tiger pouncing down a mountain, was secretly impressed and thought to himself, "This man is indeed a true hero!" He said, "General Xue need not be polite, in the army we are all one family! Ha ha, ha ha ha!"

After Xue Rengui had his fill of food and drink and patted his belly, he said, "I’ve finally recovered some strength, but I still need to return to Chang’an to report. I’ll take my leave now."

Li Ji nodded, and ordered his attendants to bring his steed. This steed was a divine horse of the finest breed, capable of the Five Elements Escape Technique and could travel a thousand li in an instant.

Li Ji said, "The journey is wearying, but with this mount, you’ll spare yourself some fatigue."

Xue Rengui, delighted, bowed and said, "Thank you, Marshal!"

He then mounted the divine horse and set out toward Chang’an. When he encountered water, he used Water Escape; facing mountains, he employed Earth Escape, making his journey smooth. But let’s not dwell on this.

After the pass was eventually breached, by nightfall, the Tang army soldiers, torches in hand, surged into the city streets, clashing with the Tianzhu Country defenders in street battles. After two more hours of fighting, the Tianzhu army was utterly destroyed, with only a few managing to escape.