The sandstorm was blocked by the Xuanwu Dharma Form, preventing any harm to the soldiers. However, outside the protection of the Dharma Form, the sandstorm continued to roll, interfering with visibility and hindering marching. Only Huangfu Yongxian from the Earth List had the ability to see through the storm, leading the troops straight northward, with the Xuanwu Dharma Form following along to shield them, "intelligently" as ever.

Who wouldn't want an intelligent Guigui?

The soldiers' visibility was limited to within the Xuanwu's protection, but they didn't mind. Wherever General Huangfu went, they followed.

That was the absolute trust built over years of life-and-death experiences.

"Swish, swish, swish!" Amid the roaring gale, hidden within, was the sound of crossbows—arrows launching a stealth attack!

Naturally, the God of Longevity wouldn't come alone. If blocked, they needed other harassment units to restrain Huangfu Yongxian.

While San Niang had to split attention to ensure Xuanwu guarded along with the soldiers, the God of Longevity also had to focus on keeping their harassment team unaffected by the sandstorm. Xuanwu guarding against the sandstorm was already impressive, but it couldn't specifically shield against piercing arrows. The arrows, slightly weakened, still required the soldiers to deal with them.

Ultimately, it was gods against gods, humans against humans.

"Raise shields!" Cui Yuanyong shouted loudly. The soldiers swiftly raised their shields, catching the weakened arrows which dropped to the ground.

A flash of saber light suddenly appeared from a bizarre angle, aiming at Cui Yuanyong's throat.

"Clang!" Cui Yuanyong wielded his sword horizontally, precisely intercepting the saber. The light dissipated, revealing the opposing general's slightly surprised expression.

He hadn't seen Cui Yuanyong, nor had Cui Yuanyong seen him, but they'd long been spiritual rivals.

This was "Demon Fox" Chi Li, once the leader of the Hidden Dragon List.

Many recalled that year's Hidden Dragon List: Chi Li first, Yue Hongling second, Cui Yuanyong third. People also remembered Cui Yuanyong challenging Yue Hongling for this, and Yue Hongling once battling Chi Li in Yangzhou. It was a community of young warriors, pure and fiercely ambitious.

But few remembered that Cui Yuanyong traveled thousands of miles to Beimang to challenge Yue Hongling not simply because of a lower rank but because Yue Hongling advanced to second after defeating Xue Canghai, inexplicably pushing him down—originally, the second was Cui Yuanyong.

Originally, the one who had long been spiritually connected and wanting a showdown with Chi Li was Cui Yuanyong, far longer than Yue Hongling.

"Qinghe Swordsmanship, Cui Yuanyong?"

"Spiritual Fox Saber Technique, you are Chi Li..."

Both spoke simultaneously, then smiled slightly.

Speaking of the Hidden Dragon rivalry now seemed laughable—not because times changed, but because there were two anomalies that year in the Hidden Dragon List. While contemporaries seriously contended for the Human List rankings, those two rebels were listed in the Heavenly List. Not only are they on the Heavenly List, but now facing the opponent who ranked first there.

Crazy, right!

Being ranked alongside those two wild beasts was tragic; everyone else on the list seemed dim. Their improvements were indeed significant, surely surpassing previous years, yet to the world, it was like being in the worst class ever.

Mutual rivalry became childlike games. Look at what others are doing, and what are you doing? They're fighting gods, while we're one a deputy general at the military flank, the other leading a small team for steath attacks. Competing seems pointless, doesn't it? Challenges like the past have vanished, becoming tasteless.

But at this moment, the two armies clashed at a narrow pass.

"Clang clang clang cling~" The continuous clashing of curved sabers and longswords resounded, accompanied by deafening cries of battle.

Cui Yuanyong wielded his longsword, rapidly battling Chi Li, while speaking leisurely: "I wonder, being left far behind by Yue Hongling, if you, once believing she was your lifelong rival, have lost your fighting spirit. I felt a bit like that. But later, I realized Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling, maybe including my sister, are not here to compete with us ordinary folks; they have their own destined places. Our so-called lifelong rivals aren't them; we chose the wrong opponents."

"It's ourselves?"

"Indeed, for me, the target should be you. I believe you now see me that way."

That's quite logical. These should be the opponents a normal martial artist should face. Just accept those few eccentrics as excluded from this class, those like us are still worthy opponents!

"Clang!" The curved saber grazed his neck, again precisely deflected. Purple Qi erupted, counterattacking Chi Li's throat.

Chi Li jumped back, gave a whistle: "Retreat!"

The rear army had encircled them, but Chi Li wouldn't tangle with Cui Yuanyong, swiftly leading his troops in retreat.

No casualties caused on site, extremely brief contact, coming and going like wind, akin to phantom demon foxes traversing the sand.

Cui Yuanyong looked around, outside remained a sandstorm oblivion, obscuring the sun. The long expanse of the army stretched for miles. How to guard against such constant stealth attacks?

This was the opponent's harassment tactic... Cui Yuanyong glanced toward Huangfu Yongxian at the front. Huangfu Yongxian hadn't moved during the battle, merely watching his performance. Seeing Cui Yuanyong looking over, Huangfu smiled slightly and loudly ordered: "Continue marching! Spirits of mischief, we fear not!"

"Commander! Commander!" A horseman dashed from the rear, shouting from afar: "Yanmen..."

Huangfu Yongxian suddenly swung his hand, an arrow pierced through, accurately entering the mouth of the incoming rider, who fell before finishing his words, raising a cloud of dust and sand.

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