Chapter 1078: The Complex Situation in Northern Bingzhou

When Lü Bu mentioned this matter to Gao Shun, the latter felt a slight dissatisfaction, but he knew Lü Bu’s personality well. Lü Bu had always been indulgent toward his family, especially after Yan’s death, leaving only Diao Chan. His love for her had become almost excessive.

The same was true for Lü Qiling. Fortunately, both Diao Chan and Qiling were inherently kind-hearted. Otherwise, with Lü Bu’s indulgence, it would have been easy for them to become spoiled.

“Understood. I and the Formation Breakers will ensure the lady’s safety,” Gao Shun nodded. Though Diao Chan possessed considerable internal energy, to Gao Shun, it was more ornamental than practical.

“I’m counting on you!” Lü Bu said, patting Gao Shun on the shoulder. “Gongzheng, do you have any wishes?”

“Wishes?” Gao Shun furrowed his brow. “None.”

“Alright, then,” Lü Bu twirled the Sky Piercer in his other hand and left, leaving Gao Shun puzzled.

Time flew by, and the leader of the Xianbei’s Yibu tribe, Bufen Yi, led an army of 30,000 to the border line drawn by Lü Bu the day before.

If Lü Bu hadn’t been so rebellious and had never threatened him, Bufen Yi would have considered recruiting him. Lü Bu was simply too strong, strong enough to command his respect.

Although individual valor might seem insignificant compared to an army in times of war, extraordinary personal strength still commanded respect. So, before defeating Lü Bu, Bufen Yi had no intention of crossing the line that Lü Bu had drawn.

The next day, Lü Bu appeared at the agreed-upon battlefield with 3,000 elite cavalry and 800 Formation Breakers.

Seeing the sparse enemy forces, Bufen Yi breathed a sigh of relief. If Lü Bu had brought 10,000 troops, he might have been worried. But with just over 3,000 cavalry, there was no fear in the heart of the man commanding 30,000 warriors.

“Huh, is that...” Bufen Yi noticed Lü Bu clad in golden armor, wielding the Sky Piercer, but his eyes were soon drawn to the beautiful Diao Chan behind him. As imposing as Lü Bu was, the graceful beauty of Diao Chan was even more captivating to the men watching.

“Lü Bu, you finally arrived!” Bufen Yi laughed as he charged forward on horseback. “In today’s battle, if you die, worry not for your wife and daughter. I, Bufen Yi, will gladly take care of them!”

Lü Bu completely ignored Bufen Yi, his gaze coldly fixed on the giant eagles circling in the sky. He knew they were the eyes and ears of the nomadic tribes, but he didn’t care. Today, he intended to show the entire steppe what he was capable of.

“Are you done talking?” Lü Bu’s icy words, laden with killing intent, echoed in everyone’s ears. “Today, every Hu warrior will be slain without mercy!”

A bone-chilling aura erupted from Lü Bu, turning the previously warm weather, altered by Hu Zhao, back into the dead of winter in an instant.

As Lü Bu raised his Sky Piercer, Gao Shun poured all the Army Soul power and the protective will of the Great Wall’s defenders into him.

"It’s all up to you now, Fengxian!" Gao Shun thought to himself as he transferred most of the power to Lü Bu.

Bufen Yi, initially ready to curse Lü Bu for not recognizing fate, was forced back by the sheer force of Lü Bu’s killing intent. As Lü Bu’s body began to glow with a golden light, Bufen Yi sensed that something was terribly wrong.

“Charge the enemy!” Bufen Yi roared, and in the next moment, the warriors of the Xianbei’s Yibu tribe began their assault, shouting as they charged toward Lü Bu’s forces.

Meanwhile, Lü Bu slowly absorbed the centuries-old will that had settled in the land. Visions of countless battles against the Hu people over the past millennium unfolded before him like a vast scroll.

“Your will shall be carried out by me!” Lü Bu’s eyes slowly turned from black to gold as his aura continued to surge.

“Haa!” Lü Bu roared toward the sky, his hair billowing in the windless air as his golden internal energy mixed with vibrant red blood energy. A beam of gold and red light shot up from Lü Bu’s position, piercing the heavens, causing the earth beneath him to crack.

The eagles that had been circling above scattered wildly as if they had encountered a natural predator. Meanwhile, the Xianbei army’s formation began to falter, their cloud energy shattering under the pressure of Lü Bu’s aura.

“What is that...?” Zhang He, observing from afar, felt his blood and internal energy boiling.

“Lü Bu, that’s Lü Bu!” Gao Lan exclaimed, though his mood quickly darkened at the thought of his current situation.

“Yuanbo, you lead the army forward. I’m going to help. If Lü Bu’s doing something like that, the situation ahead must be dire. Regardless of our relationship with him, we people of the Central Plains cannot let the Hu people gain the upper hand!” Zhang He said resolutely as he tightened his reins.

“Go ahead. I’ll lead the army,” Gao Lan nodded. “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

Zhang He nodded in return, and in a flash of green and black light, he sped off toward the north.

“What is that!?” Cao Ren exclaimed, staring in shock at the gold-red pillar of light piercing the sky in the east. Even from a great distance, he could sense the immense power within.

“That’s Lü Bu,” Xiahou Dun said, squinting with his one good eye toward the direction of Lü Bu. “There’s no one else in the world capable of displaying such power. No matter how many times I see it, it’s terrifying.”

“It really is,” Xiahou Yuan nodded in agreement.

“What is that!?” Ke Bi Neng, chieftain of the Xianbei, was utterly shocked by the pillar of light, which was clearly several hundred li away, yet the power it emitted was enough to make him tremble.

“Hahaha, another great treasure for the Xianbei!” the Xianbei Chanyu, Helianshoku, laughed as he saw the pillar from dozens of li away. “Speed up the central army’s advance. Bring that thing to me!”

“Chanyu, our primary target is east of Beidi. This area is merely part of our route. Not to mention, the Yibu tribe is already attacking there. If we head toward Jiuyuan now, not only will we lose our advantage, but we might also clash with Yufu Luo and Bufen Yi,” Helianshoku’s elder brother, Putou, urgently advised, sensing the impending danger.

“Hmph, why should we fear the Xiongnu? Yufu Luo dares to defy my orders?” Helianshoku growled, clearly displeased with his brother’s caution.

“Chanyu, if we deviate toward Jiuyuan now, we risk separating from the vanguard. Besides, Jiuyuan is already part of the battlefield of the Duan and Tufa tribes. If we act recklessly, the other tribes may grow dissatisfied,” Putou gritted his teeth and continued to advise.

“Hmph, what do I care if they’re dissatisfied? The Duan and Tufa tribes should be grateful I’m leading them personally! Let the others attack western Bingzhou. The Duan and Tufa will follow me to assault Jiuyuan!” Helianshoku dismissed the concerns, clearly unconcerned.

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