I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1773 - 206: The Tyrant, The Leader

Chapter 1773: Chapter 206: The Tyrant, The Leader

"Amazing... truly amazing!"

Watching the disciples of the Marshal Star Pavilion repel Ten Thousand Beasts Manor with their hundred Crystal Iron Puppets, Yun Xiu exclaimed in awe, clutching Tang Luo’s arm.

"This is the essence of martial arts. Some exhaust their entire lives as solitary warriors, while others shoulder responsibility and forge new paths."

Tang Luo praised softly as he gazed at the distant, terrifying, battle-hardened Crystal Iron Colossuses.

Compared to Yun Xiu’s amazement at their fierce assault, Tang Luo’s eyes discerned a deeper significance.

The colossuses before them were not mere displays of power; they represented an attempt born of the name of leadership. Since the disappearance of demons, the martial arts of exceptional Human Race warriors increasingly revolved around personal prowess.

Looking across the land, every prestigious and influential clan had birthed awe-inspiring martial arts prodigies, yet none escaped the fate of fading after one generation.

What was even more lamentable was that these dazzlingly talented figures rarely left behind any notable disciples; even their close or final disciples struggled to match their predecessors’ glory, let alone those who were mere initiates or registered disciples.

Strong warriors who couldn’t even teach disciples certainly couldn’t serve as quality leaders.

Most heads of combat departments were merely the strongest individuals within their respective divisions, and under their leadership, battles often relied on commander kills to intimidate and reduce losses.

Cases where personal abilities catalyzed a leap in combat unit strength were seldom seen, particularly in Xiehe.

Yet Du Sha, the seemingly stone-like cold figure of Marshal Star Pavilion, had achieved what even sanctuaries struggled to accomplish, driven by sheer, solitary bravery.

By smelting colossuses with the Stone Heart Bloodline and infusing them with soul power, he passed the authority of joint control via Spiritual Power on to the disciples of Marshal Star Pavilion. The weight of such trust was immeasurable.

It’s important to note that if Du Sha had chosen the path of a solitary warrior, armed with the Stone Heart Bloodline-enhanced Red Cloud Palace and the Black Light Mysterious Cauldron that fused seamlessly with his soul artifact, he could traverse the battlefield unscathed.

Yet by creating soul marks through the Stone Heart Bloodline, he effectively placed fragments of his own soul within the colossuses. If these marks were destroyed, it would cause varying degrees of damage to Du Sha’s soul.

If someone were to instantly annihilate these hundred colossuses, Du Sha would be gravely injured, requiring soul reconstruction.

To take such a massive risk just to empower these seldom transcendental warriors with colossus control was astounding.

Even more amusing was how the disciples of Marshal Star Pavilion, apparently unaware of the special nature of the Crystal Iron Colossuses, assumed they were akin to Du Sha’s Stone Heart Illusion beasts. They engaged in reckless exchanges of injuries with the wild beasts they battled, several times causing the wild beasts and Shi Muzhi to nearly shatter the soul marks, narrowly avoiding calamity.

What a bunch of reckless rookies!

...

Lanshan Crossing

Ten Thousand Beasts Manor fiercely marched out and returned in defeat.

In merely half a day, the majestic, scaled wild beasts with arresting auras and dazzling armors returned, heads smashed and bloodied, in utter disarray.

As the news from the Wind Media spread, everyone knew Red Cloud Mountain harbored a hundred unparalleled Crystal Iron Colossuses capable of shaking wild beasts.

Upon his return to Lanshan City, Shi Muzhi alternated between condemning Red Cloud Mountain’s ferocious ruthlessness and lamenting to the crowd about the rarity and value of the wild beasts he had brought, left maimed and blinded by Unparalleled City’s giants, suffering heavy losses.

Watching the clan leader of a revered sanctuary lament before them, the influential families along Lingjiang displayed varying degrees of concern but refrained from offering any assistance.

Setting aside Red Cloud Mountain’s murky depths, the mere presence of those hundred colossuses comparable to wild beasts deterred anyone from daring to provoke them.

Yet a certain Puppet Master from Chaochang, upon hearing news of the battle at Red Cloud Mountain, headed to Lanshan City and located the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor’s encampment.

The wax-yellow-faced, emaciated Liu Xiaojiang had closely cropped hair and an austere expression. His narrow, chiseled cheekbones appeared sharp as knives.

After formally stating his purpose, the attendant swiftly entered to notify, while Liu Xiaojiang took the opportunity to survey the camp.

The once spirited Ten Thousand Beasts Manor now resembled a group of defeated soldiers and beasts. The pungent smell of medicinal herbs made the site resemble a clinic more than a camp.

The injuries of the giant beasts in the animal pens were markedly different from those caused by Spirit Arts; most bore scars indicative of heavy blows from oversized weapons.

"I was just about to visit you, Brother Xiaojiang. It seems we are on the same wavelength. Come in, come in!"

From afar, Shi Muzhi greeted Liu Xiaojiang warmly, walking quickly past the wounded soldiers and beasts to meet him.

"There’s no need for formality, Manor Lord Shi. I am only here to verify some facts, nothing of great importance."

Liu Xiaojiang’s tone was cold and detached, as if he were an emotionless glacier, keeping everyone at arm’s length.

Yet Shi Muzhi remained unaffected by his demeanor, familiarly grasping Liu Xiaojiang’s arm and leading him into the inner hall.

Everyone would have thought the stern-looking, emotionless Liu Xiaojiang might shrug Shi Muzhi off, yet to their surprise, he maintained his icy composure as he was pulled into the hall.

After a forced exchange of pleasantries, Shi Muzhi lamented bitterly, "Brother Xiaojiang, you have no idea how greatly I’ve suffered this time. Who could’ve predicted that Xiehe now possesses such ferocious Crystal Iron Puppets? Though we’ve been close friends for decades, why wouldn’t you send word to Yancang about such crucial news?"

Once Shi Muzhi finished his complaints, Liu Xiaojiang calmly and unwaveringly replied, "There is no such thing as colossuses several dozens of feet tall that can still move nimbly."

"How is that not true? We encountered them at Red Cloud Mountain—no less than a hundred of them, assembled with red crystal, wrought iron, and solid copper. Four limbs intact but missing heads, with left arms resembling blades and right arms resembling hammers; they were unbelievably fierce!"

Shi Muzhi retorted with wide eyes.

"These are not puppets."

Liu Xiaojiang stated flatly, "Such massive frames could harbor countless mechanical arrays. If they were truly puppets, Ten Thousand Beasts Manor’s wild beasts would not have escaped the ambush, not even one. Additionally, I have examined the injuries of the wild beasts, and most wounds are from blunt instruments."

"What’s the issue with that?"

Shi Muzhi asked in confusion.

"If the spiritual power used to activate such enormous colossuses numbering in the hundreds were employed as an offensive force, it would have effortlessly wiped out your beast horde."

Liu Xiaojiang replied coolly, "Thus, I said that these Crystal Iron Colossuses cannot be puppets."

Shi Muzhi, unable to grasp Liu Xiaojiang’s reasoning, felt utterly bewildered but clung to the crux of Liu Xiaojiang’s words.

"If these Crystal Iron Colossuses aren’t puppets, then what are they?"

"I don’t know."

Liu Xiaojiang answered calmly.

"How could you not know?"

Shi Muzhi cried out in shock, "You are Liu Pi’s senior brother! What puppet in this world could escape your understanding?"

"This one, I don’t know."

Liu Xiaojiang remained serene, "Which is why I hope Manor Lord Shi will take me there to investigate."

"Bring out this lord’s pure-blood Bi’an immediately!"

Upon hearing Liu Xiaojiang’s request, Shi Muzhi immediately shouted toward the courtyard.

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