CHAPTER 1118: CHAPTER 610: SLAYING THE WORLDLY REALM

"Creak, creak."

In the alley paved with bluish-grey bricks, Wei Xianzong’s military boots halted on the snow as he looked up, squinting his eyes upwards.

Today was cloudy, and the sky was pinched into a "line of sky" by the high walls on both sides.

Under the clear gray clouds, nothing appeared unusual. Wei Xianzong silently withdrew his gaze, his right hand, which was subconsciously placed on the hilt of his sword, relaxing.

He continued to walk forward.

Shortly thereafter, after turning out of the alley, he arrived at a crossroads. Here, soldiers of the court stood guard with spears. Seeing him approach, they hurriedly saluted, "General!"

The former Qingzhou Commander, now the General Wei Xianzong, responded with a sound of acknowledgment, his fierce gaze sweeping over his well-uniformed subordinates, asking, "Any abnormalities?"

"No abnormalities!"

"Continue to stand guard, don’t let your guard down!"

Wei Xianzong said.

Then he stepped forward, continuing to patrol along the cold, deserted street.

As a convicted official, he originally served under Zhao Douan on the Western Front, forming a daredevil team to make meritorious deeds, later following the army to the Eastern Front, also charging in the frontline.

Although now far from his past glory, he had advanced to a mid-level officer.

Responsible for guarding a vital location within the city.

However, Wei Xianzong was feeling uneasy today — the day before, the Governor Mansion issued orders to intensify defenses in anticipation of a possible sneak attack by rebel forces.

And as an officer, he received more detailed information exclusively:

The rebels were likely to dispatch experts to launch a random assassination on the day of the prisoner exchange.

This made Wei Xianzong extremely vigilant.

Yet the battlefield within the city was long and stretched, nobody knew where the rebels might appear, so Wei Xianzong could only patrol his assigned district repeatedly.

As the sun slowly climbed past the gray clouds, time passed by in bits and pieces.

The taut string in Wei Xianzong’s mind gradually relaxed. By the time he once again patrolled the street corner, it was time for his soldiers to change shifts.

"General, take a break; you have been patrolling for quite a while." A little flag officer opened the water pouch on his waist and handed it over with a smile, saying, "With you being so diligent, the brothers dare not let their minds wander."

Wei Xianzong was also covered in sweat; hearing these words, he reached out to take it, saying, "Orders come from above, with Commander Zhao recently appointed, the enemies may soon make a move. We must not, under any circumstances, slack off during this time."

The little flag officer laughed, "The brothers understand, but you see, it’s this hour already, and there’s been no commotion..."

He said halfway when suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!

Wei Xianzong’s ear twitched slightly, hearing a faint vibration of a bowstring in the distance. Almost instinctively, he turned his body to dodge.

"Whoosh!"

In the cold wind, a crossbow arrow gleaming with a chill flew spinning from the shadows, striking the water pouch offered by the little flag officer, still suspended in mid-air.

With a "pop," the water pouch burst open, water splattering everywhere.

The crossbow arrow did not lessen its speed, passing through the water pouch and hitting a soldier’s shoulder.

Wei Xianzong’s face changed dramatically. With a "clank," he drew his saber and shouted, "Enemy attack!!!"

With a boom.

All the soldiers in the block were startled with shock, instinctively drawing their swords and lifting their spears, searching for the enemy.

Wei Xianzong turned his head only to see the direction from which the crossbow arrow came; names dressed in light leather armor—elite rebels—were rushing out like a tide.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."

In an instant, a volley of crossbow bolts followed. Then, the enemy lifted their knives in unison, charging forward.

Their speed was extremely fast, well-trained, each exuding an aura of fierce killing intent.

"Cultivation Martial Artists!"

Wei Xianzong’s pupils constricted, recognizing that this team was unexpectedly a group of cultivators among the Mortal Army.

The governor’s judgment was correct; the rebels indeed took advantage of the prisoner swap to attack.

"Kill!"

In the blink of an eye, the elite of the rebel forces collided, while the soldiers on the court’s side reacted a beat slower, yet immediately formed a military formation, and confronted the enemy.

A close-quarters clash.

As soon as combat commenced, it turned into brutal alley fighting.

Wei Xianzong shouted orders while quickly stepping back, withdrawing from the melee battle group to a broader area.

At the same time, he nervously wielded his saber, casting a sharp gaze in search of the enemy’s main general.

"Creak, creak."

A series of footsteps sounded from the side; Wei Xianzong sharply turned his head, exclaiming, "Bai Ying!"

He saw a prematurely white-haired general in armor, a dark red "scarf" tied around his neck, walking expressionlessly from a distance.

He was unmistakably one of the experts among the rebels, and one of Ye Xin’s two deputy generals, "White-haired Bai Ying"!

After Bai Ying appeared, he didn’t waste any time but quickened his pace, rapidly approaching Wei Xianzong, the bronze sword in his hand stabbing like lightning.

Wei Xianzong marshaled his Qi mechanism, raising his saber to confront the attack.

But at the moment of blade and sword clash, like a kite with a broken string, his body was violently shaken, flung backward, fresh blood oozing from the corner of his mouth!

Worldly Realm!

Despite being a Commander, Wei Xianzong excelled in combat, yet his Martial Arts Cultivation had not reached the Worldly Realm.

In this instant exchange of blows, he was effortlessly suppressed by Bai Ying, struck down to one knee, supporting himself with his saber, his hair in disarray, face pale.

"Heh, I’ve long heard of your name, Wei Xianzong. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve come specifically for you. Killing you would cause Zhao Douan some heartache, wouldn’t it?" Bai Ying chuckled, as he stepped closer to Wei Xianzong amid the background noise of the two sides’ soldiers fighting, holding the bronze sword.

Wei Xianzong weakly succumbed, the chasm-like disparity in cultivation leaving him no ability to resist.

Yet, just as Bai Ying stepped into the range of less than a foot away from Wei Xianzong, already lifting his bronze sword, an alarm bell rang in Bai Ying’s heart!

A strong sense of danger surged up his heart!

Without time to think further, he instinctively retreated rapidly! Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed on both sides, from several closed windows in the distant towers, suddenly spitting out flames, accompanied by a thunderous explosion.