CHAPTER 1097: CHAPTER 602: AT YOUR COMMAND, ESCORTING COMMANDER ZHAO BACK TO THE CITY

The piercing cold wind swept across White Stone Bridge, stirring an array of unknown birds in the surrounding forest, accompanied by the cries of wild beasts.

As Zhao Douan spoke, the smile on his face vanished, his Divine Sense from the Worldly Realm radiating in all directions, facing a group of mediocre soldiers; using a flying knife was already enough.

"Poof!"

A dark golden stream of light flickered across everyone’s eyes, then a thin red line appeared on the officer’s neck. Scalding blood gushed out uncontrollably, the once arrogant rebel officer stared, eyes wide in disbelief. He felt as if his energy was suddenly drained, causing him to lose balance, tumbling backward onto the snowy ground, his body convulsing.

"Ah!" Nearby rebel soldiers instinctively exclaimed, yet before they could react, they saw their companions collapse one by one like straw.

The dark golden flying knife drew slender golden lines, quickly swirling around the crowd, leaving behind a field of corpses.

The soldier holding a spear by the cart beside the coffin stared in terror, legs weakening, stammering, "Cult... Cultivator..."

"Almost forgot you," Zhao Douan turned at the sound, his mind focused, sending the flying knife past to pierce the heart of the soldier with the spear. Then calmly, he extended his hand, allowing the blade, untouched by any blood droplets, to return to his sleeve.

This all happened remarkably fast; within the span of a breath, the searching rebels were entirely slain.

A group of bodyguards beside the convoy stood utterly stunned, mouths agape.

Little Rou’s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at this troublesome noble they often despised and underestimated. Her mind blanked; how could she not realize she had misjudged?

Who could wield a "Flying Sword" and slay so many in the blink of an eye? Even ordinary Magicians of the Divine Chapter Realm couldn’t achieve that, right? Who needed protection from them, the bodyguards? It was more like they required his protection.

Now, thinking back, the fact that the noble willingly underwent the search earlier showed incredible patience...

"Something is terribly wrong," Beside her, the head bodyguard Old Huang was initially shocked but quickly regained composure. As a martial artist who had traveled widely and was connected with the Huai’an Prince Mansion, he immediately recognized these followers weren’t ordinary, thus wasn’t too surprised after the initial shock. Yet soon he lamented:

Be aware, White Stone Bridge isn’t just about a few rebels; there’s a small military town behind.

Killing like this will undoubtedly alarm the large force of rebels behind the bridge; and even though the noble might be a Divine Chapter Realm Magician capable of controlling a "Flying Sword," he couldn’t possibly contend with a large army.

"Go! We must leave! Forget the vehicles!" Old Huang shouted urgently.

Some bodyguards began to realize, but it was already too late.

As the rebels died, the rebels on the other end of the White Stone Bridge blew a copper whistle, then a large number of soldiers from White Stone Town emerged, angrily drawing their swords, charging this way. The first batch crossed on horseback like arrows leaving a bow, charging towards the convoy along the bridge.

"Too late... can’t escape now..." Little Rou also felt a chill settle in her heart.

But in the next moment, Zhao Douan, with a calm demeanor, advanced instead of retreating, walking leisurely towards White Stone Bridge. It wasn’t clear how fast he moved, yet in a blink, he sped past the caravan. In his empty hand, somehow appeared an ancient, straight blade.

Before setting off from Jingchuan City, Zhao Douan had successfully crossed the threshold, stepping into the [High Grade Worldly Realm], with a Qi Sea even more abundant than before. Yet he hadn’t exchanged blows with anyone along the peaceful journey. Now he felt the urge to test his blade.

One man walked towards the bridgehead, facing the oncoming furious cavalry. His Chasing Saber slashed diagonally, the Inner Qi in his Qi Sea transforming into Cold Frost True Qi, pouring into the hilt, spewing from the blade, forming a thick Crescent Moon Blade Qi.

"Poof——"

With a dull sound of sword entering flesh, the leading horse was cleaved in half by Zhao Douan. Two halves of the horse’s corpse, carrying the dead soldier on its back, toppled heavily to the ground under inertia, the wound’s blood frozen by ice shards.

"What monster!" The cavalry’s pupils tightened, attempting to avoid the horse carcass on the ground, was met by Zhao Douan single-handedly wielding his blade, walking atop the stone bridge.

In an instant, heaps of horse and human corpses formed a small mountain. Finally, the large group of terrified rebels halted: "Worldly Martial Artist!!"

Worldly Martial Artist!

To slice and dice like this, effortlessly accomplishing such feats, was indeed far beyond Divine Chapter Realm.

Realizing this, the morale of the rebels instantly collapsed. Zhao Douan stepped onto the pile of corpses, standing at the bridgehead, inserting the Chasing Saber casually downward, a bow appeared in his hand again. Zhao Douan drew the bow and nocked arrows, under the Taibo Bow, not a single shot missed. Every trembling of the bowstring signified at least one soldier pierced through the heart.

In an instant, rebels wailed and scattered, fleeing in all directions, yet still fell regularly, their lives reaped.

In the convoy.

Since Zhao Douan chopped the warhorse, Little Rou stood completely stupefied. Hearing the term "Worldly," she was even more bewildered, thinking:

Not a Magician? How could he be a Martial Artist then? And at the legendary Worldly Realm?

This caliber of individual had already surpassed the realm of imagination for these martial world bodyguards.

When Zhao Douan used the Taibo Bow to kill, Little Rou further felt as though the entire military town was merely pigs waiting for slaughter.

She couldn’t help but turn her head to look at the three women beside her.

Yu Xiu displayed an indifferent expression, unfazed by any wind.

Jin Jian yawned lazily, covering her mouth, seemingly oblivious to the slaughter scene.

Ji Yue timidly shrunk behind the two women, yet carefully used her hands to part the "Zhenzi" styled long hair from her forehead, curiously peeking towards the stone bridge.